Environmental and genetic effects on phytochemical and nutritional composition of onion ( L.) varieties in South Korea.

Onions ( L.) are widely recognized for their antioxidant properties, bioactive compounds such as flavonoids, organosulfur compounds (OSCs), and phenolics. This study evaluate the antioxidant activities, phytochemical composition, and nutrient variations of two onion varieties, Katamaru (KM) and Sunpower (SP), cultivated in two different locations, Muan and Changnyeong, Korea.

Impact of Glycemic Control After Reperfusion on the Incidence of Acute Kidney Injury Following Living Donor Liver Transplantation: A Propensity Score-Matched Analysis.

Glucose instability has been established to be related to postoperative morbidity and mortality in liver transplantation. To date, the impact of maintaining optimal blood glucose (BG) levels on the incidence of acute kidney injury (AKI) following liver transplantation (LT) remains unclear. This study aimed to determine the impact of optimal BG level after reperfusion (REP BG) on the incidence of AKI after living donor LT (LDLT).

Benzestrol Isomer Stereochemistry Determines the Distinct Estrogenic Activities and Conformations of the Eight Isomers When Bound to Estrogen Receptor α.

The nonsteroidal estrogen, benzestrol, has potent estrogenic activity, and through a recent stereocontrolled synthesis, we have obtained all eight of its constituent stereoisomers. We find that only one of them, RSS benzestrol, has very high binding affinity for estrogen receptor alpha (ERα); the other seven isomers have 60 to 600-fold lower affinity. We now show that the potencies of the isomers in two cell activity assays, proliferation of ER-positive breast cancer cells and stimulation of estrogenic gene activity, reflect their varying binding affinities for ERα.

Diagnostic value of visual stethoscopes for detecting bronchospasm in a patient under general anesthesia - A case report.

Background: Bronchospasm is a rare but potentially life-threatening complication during anesthesia that requires prompt recognition and management. Traditional auscultation plays a key role but is limited in objective interpretation and continuous monitoring.

Case: We report a case of intraoperative bronchospasm during laparoscopic surgery, detected early through real-time acoustic visualization using a digitalized esophageal stethoscope.

Determination of Spatiotemporal Gait Parameters Using a Smartphone's IMU in the Pocket: Threshold-Based and Deep Learning Approaches.

This study proposes a hybrid approach combining threshold-based algorithm and deep learning to detect four major gait events-initial contact (IC), toe-off (TO), opposite initial contact (OIC), and opposite toe-off (OTO)-using only a smartphone's built-in inertial sensor placed in the user's pocket. The algorithm enables estimation of spatiotemporal gait parameters such as cadence, stride length, loading response (LR), pre-swing (PSw), single limb support (SLS), double limb support (DLS), and swing phase and symmetry. Gait data were collected from 20 healthy individuals and 13 hemiparetic stroke patients.

Inhibition of FOXM1 Synergizes with BH3 Mimetics Venetoclax and Sonrotoclax in Killing Multiple Myeloma Cells through Repressing MYC Pathway.

Relapsed and refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM) remains the leading cause of MM mortality. FOXM1 is strongly associated with RRMM, making it a compelling therapeutic target. Through three low-throughput screenings, we have identified nine FDA-approved drugs, including the BH3 mimetic Venetoclax, that synergize with FOXM1 inhibitor NB73 in killing MM cells.

FOXM1 targeting alters AURKB activity and reshapes antitumor immunity to curb the progression of small cell lung cancer.

Background: Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is a lethal lung malignancy and patients are often diagnosed with distant metastasis. Nearly all patients suffer from disease relapsing with inherent chemoresistance. Lack of targeted SCLC therapies further worsens disease outcomes, making it highly desirable to identify novel and effective therapeutic targets.

Novel causative indel variant with exon and intron involvement inducing exon 13 skipping in a family exhibiting catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia.

Catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia (CPVT) is a genetic disorder marked by exercise or stress-induced arrhythmias that lead to syncope or sudden cardiac death. Mutations of the gene can cause either CPVT or calcium release deficiency syndrome, with varying impacts on calcium release in cardiomyocytes. These mutations are predominantly missense variants associated with a gain-of-function mechanism.

Empowering Agrobacterium: Ternary vector systems as a new arsenal for plant transformation and genome editing.

The continuous evolution of plant transformation technologies is pivotal for accelerating genetic advancements in agriculture. Among these, ternary vector systems have emerged as a transformative innovation, significantly enhancing Agrobacterium-mediated plant transformation by overcoming critical biological barriers. Unlike traditional binary vectors, ternary vector systems incorporate accessory virulence genes and immune suppressors that overcome the intrinsic transformation barriers of recalcitrant crops.

Temporal convolutional neural network-based feature extraction and asynchronous channel information fusion method for heart abnormality detection in phonocardiograms.

Background And Objective: Auscultation-based cardiac abnormality detection is valuable screening approach in pediatric populations, particularly in resource-limited settings. However, its clinical utility is often limited by phonocardiogram (PCG) signal variability and a difficulty in distinguishing between pathological and innocent murmurs.

Methods: We proposed a framework that leverages temporal convolutional network (TCN)-based feature extraction and information fusion to integrate asynchronously acquired PCG recordings at the patient level.

Enhancing Cricothyroidotomy Training for Novices Using Three-Dimensional-Printed Patient-Specific Models of a Patient with Obesity.

This study aimed to enhance cricothyroidotomy training for novice practitioners using three-dimensional-printed patient-specific models based on computed tomography images of a patient with obesity, evaluate these models compared to conventional training phantoms, and suggest possible effective training methods. A prospective, randomised crossover study was conducted with 30 medical students with no prior cricothyroidotomy experience. Participants performed the procedure on a conventional and a patient-specific model.

Arthroscopic Evaluation of Cyclops Lesions and Clinical Outcomes Following Remnant-Preserved ACL Reconstruction: A Comparative Study of Two Truncated Remnant Preservation Techniques.

Introduction: This study aimed to compare the prevalence of cyclops lesions and the clinical outcomes between two types of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction using a truncated remnant technique: tie with allograft ACL reconstruction and re-tensioning of remnant ACL with allograft ACL reconstruction.

Materials And Methods: This is a retrospective study of 58 cases of ACL reconstruction using a truncated remnant preservation technique performed by a single surgeon from March 2019 to December 2022. Second-look arthroscopy was performed in each group, and pathologic evaluation was performed focusing on cyclops lesions.

Evaluation of a silicone-based flexible dry electrode for measuring human bioelectrical signals.

The development of conductive polymer-based dry electrodes with high conductivity is promising for practical applications in daily life due to their biocompatibility, flexibility, lightweight, and comfort. The objective of this study is to demonstrate the feasibility of using a novel silicone-based dry electrode for measuring various bioelectrical signals.The silicone-based electrode, manufactured using an optimized polymer matrix, combines high conductivity with flexibility, ensuring superior wearability and reliable bioelectrical signal monitoring.

Tumor suppressive effect of low-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation on glioblastoma progression.

Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is used as a non-invasive treatment for various diseases, and its potential application in cancer treatment has been proposed by researchers. However, the precise mechanisms and effects of rTMS on many types of cancer, including glioblastoma (GBM), remain largely unknown. This study aimed to investigate the effects of low-frequency rTMS on in vitro and in vivo GBM models and to elucidate an underlying biological mechanism of rTMS on GBM.

The N-Linked Glycosylation Asn191 and Asn199 Sites Are Controlled Differently Between PKA Signal Transduction and pEKR1/2 Activity in Equine Follicle-Stimulating Hormone Receptor.

Equine follicle-stimulating hormone receptor (eFSHR) contains four extracellular N-linked glycosylation sites, which play important roles in agonist-induced signal transduction. Glycosylation regulates G protein-coupled receptor mechanisms by influencing folding, ligand binding, signaling, trafficking, and internalization. Here, we examined whether the glycosylated sites in eFSHR are necessary for cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) signal transduction and the phosphate extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (pERK1/2) response.

Liver transplantation outcomes in patients with primary tricuspid regurgitation with coaptation defects: a retrospective analysis in a high-volume transplant center.

Background: Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of mortality after liver transplantation (LT). Although the impact of secondary tricuspid regurgitation (TR) with severe pulmonary hypertension (PH) is well investigated, the impact of primary TR with tricuspid valve incompetence (TVI) on LT outcomes remains unclear. We aimed to investigate the prevalence and impact of primary TR with TVI on LT outcomes in a large-volume LT center.

Nature-inspired surface modification strategies for implantable devices.

Medical and implantable devices are essential instruments in contemporary healthcare, improving patient quality of life and meeting diverse clinical requirements. However, ongoing problems such as bacterial colonization, biofilm development, foreign body responses, and insufficient device-tissue adhesion hinder the long-term effectiveness and stability of these devices. Traditional methods to alleviate these issues frequently prove inadequate, necessitating the investigation of nature-inspired alternatives.

Efficacy of Chemotherapy Following Prior PARP-Inhibitor Treatment in Patients with Ovarian Cancer.

Purpose: Considering the current lack of consensus on post-poly (adenosine diphosphate-ribose) polymerase inhibitor (PARPi) treatment strategies, this study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of subsequent therapy and compare the outcomes of regimes in patients with recurrent ovarian cancer after PARPi treatment.

Materials And Methods: This multi-center retrospective cohort study analyzed data on patients diagnosed with ovarian cancer between January 2012 and June 2023 who had previously used PARPi after first- to fourth-line platinum-based chemotherapy. The primary endpoint was progression-free survival (PFS), which was the interval between recurrence after using PARPi and subsequent recurrence in the case of recurrence.

Harnessing myeloid cells in cancer.

Cancer-associated myeloid cells due to their plasticity play dual roles in both promoting and inhibiting tumor progression. Myeloid cells with immunosuppressive properties play a critical role in anti-cancer immune regulation. Cells of different origin, such as tumor associated macrophages (TAMs), tumor associated neutrophils (TANs), myeloid derived suppressor cells (also called MDSCs) and eosinophils are often expanded in cancer patients and significantly influence their survival, but also the outcome of anti-cancer therapies.

Enhancement of phonocardiogram segmentation using convolutional neural networks with Fourier transform module.

The automated identification of the first and second heart sounds (S1 and S2, respectively) in phonocardiogram (PCG) signals plays a pivotal role in the detection of heart valve diseases based on the known occurrence of heart murmurs between S1-S2 or S2-S1 in valve disorders. Traditional neural network-based methods cannot differentiate between heart sounds and background noise, leading to decreased accuracy in the identification of crucial cardiac events. Therefore, a deep learning-based segmentation on PCG signals that can distinguish S1 and S2 heart sounds with the Convolutional Fourier transform (CF) modules, which are two sequentially connected CF modules, was proposed in this study.

Inhibition of LGR5/β-Catenin Axis and Activation of miR134 Are Critically Involved in Apoptotic Effect of Sanggenol L in Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Although Sanggenol L (SL), derived from the root bark of Morus alba, has hepatoprotective, neuroprotective, and antitumor effects, the antitumor mechanism of SL remains unclear to date. Thus, in the current work, the apoptotic mechanisms of SL were investigated in HepG2 and Huh hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells in relation to leucine-rich repeat containing G protein-coupled receptor 5 (LGR5)/β-catenin and miR134 signaling axis. Herein, SL significantly incremented cytotoxicity, sub-G1 population, and the number of terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase deoxyuridine triphosphate (dUTP) nick end labeling (TUNEL) positive apoptotic bodies and also inhibited proliferation in HCCs.

The immune sensitivity caused by DUSP11, an RNA 5'-end maturation phosphatase, is adjusted by a human non-coding RNA, nc886.

All cellular transcripts initially have a tri-phosphate (PPP) group at the 5'-end, recognized as a pathogen-associated molecular pattern (PAMP) by a cell's innate immune system. The removal of 5'-PPP occurs to varying extents, causing immune imbalance. However, how cells manage this situation has not yet been documented.

Prevalence and lesion distribution of atopic dermatitis in small-to-medium breed dogs in Korea.

Background: Canine atopic dermatitis (cAD) varies in prevalence and lesion distribution across breeds. In contrast to Western countries, many Asian countries favour small-to-medium dog breeds. However, previous studies have focused primarily on medium-to-large dog breeds.