Role of Lateral Pelvic Lymph Node Dissection Following Neoadjuvant Chemoradiation Therapy in Rectal Cancer: A Multicenter Retrospective Study (KROG 22-09).

Background: Lateral pelvic lymph node (LPLN) metastasis is a poor prognostic factor in rectal cancer, but the optimal management strategy is debated. This multicenter retrospective study investigated the role of LPLN dissection (LPLND), with total mesorectal excision (TME), after neoadjuvant chemoradiation therapy (nCRT), aiming to identify patients who may benefit from LPLND.

Patients And Methods: A total of 559 patients with locally advanced rectal cancer and LPLN involvement from 2009 to 2018 were included (KROG 22-09).

Impact of the 2024 medical-policy conflict on hepatocellular carcinoma management in Korea.

In 2024, a nationwide conflict between the South Korean government and the medical community, the medical-policy conflict, profoundly impacted healthcare delivery. This study aimed to evaluate the changes in the management of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) following this crisis. We analyzed retrospective real-world data from university hospitals in the Seoul metropolitan area, supplemented with national healthcare data from the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service.

Cross-Reactive NSAID Hypersensitivity: Clinical Findings From Aspirin Provocation and Alternative Drug Challenge Testing.

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) hypersensitivity reactions are commonly reported but often overestimated due to reliance on clinical history alone. Accurate diagnosis and identification of safe alternative medications are essential for appropriate management. This retrospective study aimed to evaluate the clinical manifestations of NSAID hypersensitivity, assess the diagnostic value and safety of aspirin oral provocation testing, and investigate the tolerability of alternative medications, including acetaminophen, meloxicam, and celecoxib.

Modular multi-enzyme cascades enable green and sustainable synthesis of non-canonical amino acids from glycerol.

Non-canonical amino acids (ncAAs) bearing diverse functional groups hold transformative potential in drug discovery, protein engineering, and biomaterial science. However, their industrial-scale production remains constrained by the inefficiency, high cost, and environmental burden of conventional chemical and enzymatic methods. Here, we present a modular multi-enzyme cascade platform that leverages glycerol-an abundant and sustainable byproduct of biodiesel production-as a low-cost substrate for ncAAs synthesis.

Crotonylation of IDH1 alleviates MASLD progression by enhancing the TCA cycle.

Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), potentially ameliorated by bariatric-metabolic surgery, remains a global health concern in the absence of approved drugs. Protein post-translational modifications (PTMs) are crucial for MASLD. However, the functional significance of lysine crotonylation (Kcr) remains unclear.

Noninvasive Prediction of Programmed Cell Death Protein-Ligand 1 Expression in Locally Advanced Non-small Cell Lung Cancer by F-Fluorodeoxyglucose Positron Emission Tomography/Computed Tomography-Based Metabolic Habitats: A Multicenter Radiomic and Biological Study.

Background: Programmed cell death protein-ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression is an important marker for immunotherapy in locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer (LA-NSCLC). PD-L1 expression has a bi-directional positive feedback relationship with glycolysis status.

Objective: This study aimed to develop a metabolic habitat model based on F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (F-FDG PET/CT) images to predict PD-L1 expression levels in patients with LA-NSCLC, and to explore relevant biological characteristics.

Aberrant white-gray matter functional coupling in rhegmatogenous retinal detachment: evidence from resting-state functional MRI and machine learning.

Background: Emerging evidence suggests that blood-oxygen-level-dependent signals in white matter reflect functional activity; however, it remains unclear whether white matter function is altered in rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) and how it interacts with gray matter.

Methods: We conducted resting-state functional MRI analyses in patients with RRD and healthy controls to investigate regional white matter activity using amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations/fractional ALFF (ALFF/fALFF), and cross-tissue white matter-gray matter functional connectivity. Voxel-wise analyses were performed to identify aberrant white matter regions, and seed-based connectivity mapping was applied using affected white matter tracts.

Toward Flexible Low-Voltage Complementary Circuits with Solution-Deposited Organic Semiconductor Single-Crystal Films.

Organic semiconductor single crystals (OSSCs) hold promising prospects in high-performance organic field-effect transistors (OFETs) owing to the advantages of longrange ordering and few defects. However, until now, OSSCs have not shown their strength in flexible complementary integrated circuits, partly due to the lack of high-quality dielectric layers suitable for both large-area crystal growth by solution method and the construction of high-performance n-channel and p-channel transistors simultaneously. Herein, flexible OFETs are fabricated with solution-processed large-area OSSCs and dual-crosslinked bilayer dielectrics, in which the bottom high-k polymer provides key dielectric properties and the top low-k polymer offers improved semiconductor/dielectric interface.

Dynamic variations in the amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations during resting states with the eyes open and closed in the human brain.

Objectives: Accumulating evidence indicates distinct differences in static brain activity between eyes-open (EO) and eyes-closed (EC) resting states. However, whether dynamic alterations in intrinsic brain activity are significantly associated with ocular states remains unsubstantiated. This study aimed to investigate state-dependent modulations of dynamic intrinsic brain activity across EO and EC conditions through dynamic amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation (dALFF) - a methodological framework integrating conventional amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation metrics with sliding-window analytical approaches.

Targeting RARγ Decreases Immunosuppressive Macrophage Polarization and Reduces Tumor Growth.

Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) play a critical role in the tumor microenvironment (TME), interacting with cancer cells and other components to promote tumor growth. Given the influence of TAMs on tumor progression and resistance to therapy, regulating the activity of these macrophages is crucial for improving cancer treatment outcomes. TAMs often exhibit immunosuppressive phenotypes (commonly referred to as M2-like macrophages), which suppress immune responses and contribute to drug resistance.

Refractive index and magnetic field sensing based on bent microfiber functionalized with graphene oxide.

A bent tapered multimode fiber structure for refractive index (RI) and magnetic field sensing applications is proposed and investigated. The bent tapered region deposited with gold film to excite surface plasmon resonance (SPR) functions as the sensing area. Further surface functionalization with graphene oxide (GO) enhances the SPR effect.

Design and evaluation of highly selective histone deacetylase 6 inhibitors derived from the natural product tryptoline.

The development of isoform-selective histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors offers a promising approach to minimize the adverse effects of nonselective HDAC inhibitors. HDAC6, due to its unique structural and functional properties, regulates critical cellular processes like gene expression, proliferation, senescence, and apoptosis. Inspired by a tryptoline-derived natural product, callophycin A, a series of compounds were synthesized and evaluated for HDAC6 selectivity.

Altered white matter integrity and structural network topology in rhegmatogenous retinal detachment: A diffusion tensor imaging study.

Background: Rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) has been associated with gray matter alterations, but its effects on white matter microstructure and brain network organization remain largely unexplored.

Methods: This study included 40 RRD patients and 36 healthy controls (HCs), who underwent diffusion tensor imaging (DTI). Tract-Based Spatial Statistics (TBSS) was used to assess white matter microstructure, and graph theory was applied to quantify structural network topology.

The Association Between Frequency of Fingertip Blood Glucose Measurement and Delirium in Intensive Care Unit Patients: A Retrospective Study Based on the MIMIC-IV Database.

Background: Tight blood glucose monitoring is crucial in the management of intensive care unit (ICU) delirium because glycaemic disorders were suggested as initiating risk factors. However, the association between the frequency of fingertip blood glucose measurement (FFBGM) owing to tight blood glucose monitoring and delirium in ICU patients remains unclear.

Aim: This study aimed to investigate the association between FFBGM and the risk of delirium among ICU patients.

Oral Metronomic Delivery of Atorvastatin and Docetaxel via Transporter-Targeted Nanoemulsions Enhances Antitumor Efficacy and Immune Modulation in Colon Cancer.

: This study aimed to enhance the oral delivery and therapeutic synergy of atorvastatin (AT) and docetaxel (DT) through a metronomic schedule using a transporter-targeted nanoemulsion (NE), with the goal of improving antitumor efficacy and immune modulation. : AT and DT were co-encapsulated in a NE system (AT/DT-NE#E) incorporating deoxycholic acid-DOTAP (D-TAP), biotin-conjugated phospholipid (Biotin-PE), and d-α-tocopherol polyethylene glycol succinate (TPGS) to exploit bile acid and multivitamin transport pathways and inhibit P-glycoprotein efflux. The optimized NE was characterized physicochemically and evaluated for permeability in artificial membranes and Caco-2/HT29-MTX-E12 monolayers.

Exploring the Reaction Network of Acetic Acid in Supercritical Water via Machine Learning Interatomic Potential.

Supercritical water oxidation offers promising solutions for waste treatment, but understanding its complex molecular reaction mechanisms remains challenging due to extreme experimental conditions. We compare two computational approaches, a machine learning potential (NequIP) and a reactive force field (ReaxFF), to model acetic acid oxidation in supercritical water, a key industrial process. While ReaxFF predicts the apparent activation barrier closer to experimental measurements, NequIP more accurately reproduces the observed product distributions and reaction pathways.

ZmMYB155 is involved in starch synthesis and basal endosperm transfer layer development in maize.

ZmMYB155 acts as an important regulatory factor in starch synthesis and BETL development in maize. Starch synthesis is a critical process determining both the grain quality and quantity of a crop. The basal endosperm transfer layer (BETL) plays a crucial role in nutrient transport and defense against pathogens.

The impact of parity on the risk of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease defined by hepatic steatosis index: A nationwide cohort study.

Despite the impact of pregnancy and parity on the prevalence of metabolic diseases, there are limited epidemiologic data regarding the association between parity and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). We examined the association between parity, parity number, and NAFLD risk in pre- and postmenopausal women using data representing the entire Korean population. This cohort included 28,003 women (13,145 premenopausal and 14,858 postmenopausal) from the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

Capturing intrinsic protein dynamics for explaining beneficial substitutions from protein engineering campaigns.

Directed evolution and knowledge-based design have been proven to be successful strategies for engineering proteins to desired applications. Traditional engineering strategies have focused on analyzing "hot spots" such as the substrate binding pocket to identify key positions. Yet, with a deeper understanding of protein structure-function relationships, many protein residues could significantly contribute to protein functionality, as they have the potential to influence one another and consequently alter protein conformation through the interconnected network formed by amino acids.

Photocatalytic Direct C3-Amidation of 2-Indazole.

The direct functionalization of privileged heterocycles could efficiently and site-selectively functionalize pharmacophores to expedite the construction of a focused library for mapping druglike chemical space. A variety of biologically active 2-indazoles have been documented, but the direct amidation of 2-indazoles remains underdeveloped. Herein, we report the first transition metal-free 3-amidation of 2-indazoles under photoredox conditions.

Predictive value of the pretreatment serum sialic acid/total protein ratio for bone metastases in newly diagnosed prostate cancer patients: development of a nomogram model.

Background: Bone is a common site of distant metastasis, and its metastasis is one of the major causes of death in prostate cancer (PCa) patients. Currently, there is a lack of effective predictive methods. This study aimed to evaluate the potential of pretreatment serum sialic acid/total protein (SA/TP) ratio as a biomarker for predicting PCa and its associated bone metastases.

Associations of circulating apolipoprotein J and myostatin with sarcopenia in older adults with and without type 2 diabetes: a cross-sectional study.

Introduction: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) is a known risk factor for sarcopenia. Apolipoprotein J (ApoJ) and myostatin (MSTN) have been implicated in muscle glucose metabolism. We aimed to examine the association between serum ApoJ and MSTN levels and sarcopenia in older adults, with and without DM.

Expert survey on systemic therapy indications for hepatocellular carcinoma in Korea: bridging clinical practice and reimbursement criteria.

This survey aimed to collect expert opinions from multidisciplinary specialists involved in the management of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in Korea regarding real-world criteria for systemic therapy indications. In response to discrepancies between national reimbursement policies and clinical decision-making, members of the Korean Liver Cancer Association and Korean Association for the Study of the Liver participated in a web-based survey from February 4 to 14, 2025. A total of 89 respondents, primarily experienced clinicians, provided their views on major clinical scenarios including infiltrative HCC, bilobar multifocal disease, huge tumors, vascular invasion, extrahepatic metastasis, and transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) refractoriness.