A LEGO®-inspired pipette-free approach for a fully-integrated molecular diagnostic kit isothermally operated at near body temperature for the detection of antibacterial resistance.

Herein, we introduce a LEGO®-inspired molecular diagnostic microdevice fully integrated with DNA extraction, loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP), and colorimetric detection functionalities for rapid detection of antibacterial resistance in a pipette-free manner. The microdevice system is composed of a ready-to-use microdevice containing all necessary reagents and stamps that offer sample-to-answer diagnosis in a pipette-free manner. In particular, antimicrobial resistance was analyzed through LAMP at a significantly reduced temperature of approximately 40 °C, combined with DNA extraction and detection, which were performed at room temperature (RT).

Prenatal psychosocial factors and postpartum post-traumatic stress disorder in low-risk postnatal women: a longitudinal study.

Purpose: This study aimed to identify prenatal psychosocial factors influencing the development of postpartum post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in both short-term (4-6 weeks postpartum) and long-term (4-6 and 14-18 weeks postpartum) assessments using the wheel model.

Methods: This study employed a longitudinal design with 359 women in their third trimester who received care at two maternity hospitals in City B. Surveys were used to measure depression, anxiety, resilience, and pregnancy-related PTSD during the third trimester (n=318).

Development and evaluation of a comprehensive QA phantom for image quality and geometrical accuracy in CT and CBCT for radiotherapy.

Purpose: This study presents MZ CUBE, a newly developed multipurpose phantom designed to assess both image quality and geometrical accuracy in image-guided radiotherapy.

Methods: The phantom is a 16 × 16 × 16 cm cube made of acrylonitrile butadiene styrene and designed to evaluate HU constancy, HU uniformity, spatial integrity, spatial resolution, low contrast resolution, and geometrical accuracy. Two CT simulators (Big Bore RT and Discovery RT Gen3) and two cone-beam CT (CBCT) systems (XVI and OBI) were used for verification alongside commercial phantoms (ACR 464 and CatPhan 504).

Proliferation of tumor-related regulatory T cells in circulation dictates efficacy of chemoimmunotherapy in triple-negative breast cancer.

Purpose: PD-1/PD-L1 blockade modulates the responses of T cells including regulatory T (TREG) cells. Understanding the changes of TREG cells upon PD-1/PD-L1 blockade in cancer patients and their association with therapeutic response will provide clues regarding the mechanisms underlying resistance to treatment.

Experimental Design: Peripheral blood samples were acquired before and at 1-week post-treatment from 65 patients (triple-negative [TN], n = 35; luminal, n = 30) enrolled in KORNELIA phase 2 trial, which evaluated the efficacy of chemoimmunotherapy combining nivolumab and eribulin in HER2 negative breast cancer (BC) patients.

Cryogenic Tensile Strength of 1.6 GPa in a Precipitation-Hardened (NiCoCr)C Medium-Entropy Alloy Fabricated via Laser Powder Bed Fusion.

A (NiCoCr)C medium entropy alloy (MEA) was developed via laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) using pre-alloyed powder feedstock containing 0.75 at%C, followed by a precipitation heat treatment. The as-built alloy exhibited high density (>99.

An Endolichenic Fungi-Derived Fatty Acid, cis-10-Nonadecenoic acid, Suppresses Colorectal Cancer Stemness.

Endolichenic fungi (ELF), symbionts of lichens, have been reported to produce diverse bioactive secondary metabolites with promising pharmaceutical potential. In this study, we isolated and identified an ELF, EL001668 (KACC 83020BP), from Rass., and assessed its crude extract and bioactive compounds against colorectal cancer (CRC) stem cell activity.

Public willingness to pay for chemicals regulation policies in South Korea: Insights from socio-economic factors.

This study investigates the socio-economic determinants influencing public willingness to pay (WTP) for reducing health risks from phthalate exposure in South Korea. The study focuses on dibutyl phthalate (DBP), benzyl butyl phthalate (BBP), and di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) that are currently under regulatory consideration. Using the contingent valuation method, a national survey of 1,000 respondents employed both single-bounded (SBDC) and double-bounded dichotomous choice (DBDC) formats.

Gender differences in the associations among adolescent problem behaviors: a secondary data analysis of the 2023 Korea Youth Risk Behavior Survey.

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the association among various adolescent problem behaviors in South Korea, focusing on gender differences.

Methods: This secondary analysis was conducted using cross-sectional data from the 19th Korea Youth Risk Behavior Survey, conducted in 2023 which included 52,880 middle and high school students in South Korea. They completed an anonymous self-administered survey regarding problem behaviors (drinking alcohol, smoking, drugs use, and sexual experiences).

Physiologically Based Pharmacokinetic Simulation of Tofacitinib in Humans Using Extrapolation from Single-Species Renal Failure Model.

Tofacitinib is a Janus kinase 1 and 3 inhibitor that was developed to treat rheumatoid arthritis. Accordingly, this study aimed to predict plasma tofacitinib concentrations and pharmacokinetic parameters in patients with renal failure through physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) simulations. : PK-Sim and Simcyp simulators were used, as well as conventional Dedrick plot analysis, employing a single animal extrapolation method.

Dual-Drug Delivery Systems Using Hydrogel-Nanoparticle Composites: Recent Advances and Key Applications.

Dual-drug delivery systems using hydrogel-nanoparticle composites have emerged as a versatile platform for achieving controlled, targeted, and efficient delivery of two distinct therapeutic agents. This approach combines the high loading capacity and tunable release properties of hydrogels with the enhanced stability and targeting ability of nanoparticles, providing synergistic benefits in various biomedical applications. While significant progress has been made, previous research has primarily focused on single-drug systems or simple co-delivery strategies, often lacking precise spatial and temporal control.

Diagnostic accuracy of preoperative ultrasound in predicting diffuse sclerosing variant papillary thyroid carcinoma: a retrospective diagnostic accuracy study.

Purpose: Diffuse sclerosing variant papillary thyroid carcinoma (DSV-PTC) is a rare and aggressive subtype of PTC. Preoperative diagnosis is challenging owing to the overlapping of imaging characteristics with those of other thyroid conditions. This study aimed to evaluate the accuracy of preoperative ultrasound (US) in predicting DSV-PTC and to identify significant diagnostic factors.

Factors influencing quality of life in adolescents with type 1 diabetes mellitus: A cross-sectional study in South Korea.

Background: The promotion of quality of life for adolescents with type 1 diabetes mellitus enables them to achieve physical, psychological, and social development. Improving quality of life positively influences their well-being in adulthood.

Objective: This study aimed to identify the factors influencing quality of life in adolescents with type 1 diabetes mellitus.

Validity and Reliability of a Korean Diabetes Eating Problem Survey-Revised.

Purpose: This study was to translate the Diabetes Eating Problem Survey-Revised (DEPS-R), originally developed for adolescents with type 1 diabetes mellitus, into Korean, and to determine its factor structure while testing its validity and reliability among Korean adolescents with type 1 diabetes.

Methods: The participants were recruited from the Diabetes Center of a university hospital or type 1 diabetes camp. A total of 205 Korean adolescents aged 13-18 years diagnosed with type 1 diabetes completed a self-reported questionnaire.

Genome-Wide Identification and Functional Characterization of Brown Spot Resistance Genes in Rice ( L.).

Rice brown spot (BS) caused by affects both rain-fed and upland rice production, causing both yield and grain quality loss. Here, we used a genome-wide association study (GWAS) to analyze the resistance of 130 rice cultivars to BS disease. We identified two quantitative trait loci on chromosome 4.

Two-dimensional dynamic multileaf collimator (2DDMLC) technique for improved treatment quality in intensity modulated radiation therapy.

This study aims to evaluate feasibility of the two-dimensional dynamic MLC (2DDMLC) technique through analytical and experimental investigations, focusing on its potential to improve intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT). The leaf motion calculator (LMC), which calculates the leaf motion of the MLC during the treatment, was developed to obtain the MLC sequence including the bank's movement and anticipate the actual fluence delivery. The effect of the y-axis MLC motion was evaluated by calculating the actual fluence distributions from the optimal fluence maps.

Targeting the HER2-ELF3-KRAS axis: a novel therapeutic strategy for KRAS colorectal cancer.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most prevalent cancers worldwide, with KRAS mutations playing a significant role in its tumorigenesis. Among the KRAS variants, the G13D mutation is associated with poor prognosis and distinctive biological behaviors. This study focuses on the role of HER2, a critical prognostic and predictive biomarker, in modulating the unique characteristics of KRAS-mutated CRCs.

Spontaneous formation of robust two-dimensional perovskite phases.

The two-dimensional on three-dimensional (2D/3D) perovskite bilayer heterostructure can improve the stability and performance of perovskite solar cells. We show that the 2D/3D perovskite stack in a device evolves dynamically during its end-of-life decomposition. Initially phase-pure 2D interlayers can evolve differently, resulting in different device stabilities.

Comparison of Risk Factors for Habitual Substance Use Among Adolescents in Korea by Maternal Nationality: Analysis of 18th and 19th Korea Youth Risk Behavior Surveys (2022 and 2023).

: This study identified the risk of habitual substance use among multicultural adolescents, focusing on health behavior characteristics and cultural differences based on their mother's country of origin. : This secondary data analysis used data from the 18th (2022) and 19th (2023) Korea Youth Risk Behavior Web-based Surveys, which are repeated cross-sectional surveys conducted annually. The analyses of 82,520 adolescents included descriptive statistics, the Rao-Scott χ test, and logistic regression.

KF1601, a dual inhibitor of BCR::ABL1 and FLT3, overcomes drug resistance in FLT3 blast phase chronic myeloid leukemia.

Blast phase chronic myeloid leukemia (BP-CML) poses significant clinical challenges due to its drug resistance, resulting from BCR::ABL1-dependent mutations and BCR::ABL1-independent pathways. Previously, we reported that FLT3 pathway is activated in ~ 50% of BP-CML cases, indicating a potential avenue for therapeutic intervention via dual inhibition of BCR::ABL1 and FLT3. Here, we aimed to evaluate the efficacy of KF1601, a dual inhibitor of BCR::ABL1 and FLT3, in overcoming drug resistance in BP-CML while also comparing its thrombo-inflammatory responses with those of ponatinib, known to have severe cardiovascular adverse events in human.

Ovarian Function Restoration with Biomimetic Scaffold Incorporating Angiogenic Molecules and Antioxidant in Chemotherapy-Induced Perimenopausal Model.

Chemotherapy-induced premature ovarian insufficiency (POI) is a major cause of infertility and hormonal imbalance in young female cancer survivors. In this study, developed a biomimetic scaffold is developed that incorporates polydeoxyribonucleotide (PDRN) and melatonin to restore ovarian function. The scaffold is designed to mimic the ovarian extracellular matrix (ECM), enhancing angiogenesis, promoting antioxidant effects, and reducing reactive oxygen species (ROS).

Efficient Perovskite Solar Cells Achieved via Rapid Photonic Annealing of all Stacking Layers: Unveiling the Crystallization Energy Window.

In this study, we report high-performance perovksite solar cells (PSCs) with rapid photonic annealing (RPA) of all stacking layers, enabled by ultraviolet (UV) light-emitting diode (LED) sources, to replace lengthy and energy-intensive thermal annealing (TA). The UV-LED annealing technique allows for layer-specific annealing, where the selected light source provides a precise UV wavelength for maximizing the amount of light absorption by the target layer. The disparity in optical absorption between the target layer and the underlying films allows the stack of the underlying films to remain relatively unaffected, making this process ideal for heating sensitive substrates.

Ensemble Learning Approaches for Automatic Detection of Chronic Kidney Disease Stages during Sleep.

This study investigates the use of ensemble learning methods for the automatic detection of chronic kidney disease (CKD) stages during sleep. We applied and evaluated four ensemble learning approaches-CatBoost, random forest, XGBoost, and LightGBM-to analyze polysomnography (PSG) data from 730 participants of the Cleveland Family Study (539 control subjects and 191 CKD patients). Our analysis involved extracting 1,210 phenotypic parameters from the PSG data, which enabled the classification of CKD into four stages: mild (stages 1 and 2), moderate (stage 3), severe (stage 4), and critical (stage 5).

Real-world efficacy and toxicity of olaparib maintenance therapy in Korean ovarian cancer patients with an exploratory analysis of BRCA mutations.

Objective: To evaluate the real-world efficacy and toxicity of olaparib maintenance therapy in Korean patients with BRCA-mutated ovarian cancer (OC), with an exploratory analysis of BRCA mutations.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of Korean BRCA-mutated OC patients treated with olaparib maintenance therapy as first-line (1Lm) or second-/subsequent-line (2Lm +) at Asan Medical Center, South Korea, from August 2015 to April 2023. Survival outcomes, including progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS), as well as toxicity, were analyzed with patient characteristics and BRCA mutations.

Carbon Quantum Dots with Tunable Size and Fluorescence Intensity for Development of a Nano-biosensor.

Carbon quantum dots (CQDs) are a class of nanomaterials known for their remarkable photostability, chemical inertness and biocompatibility. Changing their size, structure, and surface chemistry enable the tuning of their luminescence property, which gives them tremendous potential for various applications. CQDs synthesis typically involves long tedious processes, requiring multiple steps and harsh reaction conditions.