The Role of β-Core Fragment hCG in Embryo Implantation and Early Pregnancy.

Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) is a pregnancy biomarker, and five forms of this hormone are involved in female physiological regulation. β-core fragment hCG (bcf-hCG) is a fragment of hCG whose biological role in female reproduction has not been completely elucidated. This study aimed to investigate its role in embryo implantation and maintenance of a pregnancy-supportive environment.

Injectable Thermosensitive Hydrogel Containing Bakuchiol Reduces Periodontal Inflammation and Alveolar Bone Loss in a Rat Model.

This study aimed to develop and evaluate a bakuchiol-loaded thermosensitive hydrogel (BTH) as a novel local drug delivery system for the management of periodontitis. Bakuchiol, a natural phenolic compound extracted from , was incorporated into a hydrogel composed of poloxamers and carboxymethylcellulose. The gelation behavior, physicochemical properties, and drug release profile were analyzed.

Longitudinal study of Orthohantavirus hantanense in Apodemus agrarius and disease risk assessment in the Republic of Korea during 2000-2019.

Orthohantavirus hantanense (HTNV) is a zoonotic pathogen transmitted by rodents and the causative agent of hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) in East Asia. Long-term reservoir population ecology studies have enhanced our understanding of hantavirus infection patterns and support disease risk assessments critical for military and civilian populations in HTNV high-risk areas. Here, we evaluated fluctuations in the population dynamics of Apodemus agrarius, the primary reservoir of HTNV, assessed hantavirus seroprevalence, and conducted a descriptive analysis of HFRS disease risks in the Republic of Korea (ROK).

A thymine-challenge test to prospectively evaluate dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase activity for risk of severe 5-fluorouracil-induced gastrointestinal toxicity.

Purpose: Inherited dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase (DPD) deficiency is a risk factor for severe 5-fluorouracil toxicity. We report a phenotyping approach (thymine challenge test) to prospectively determine DPD activity and the association with severe adverse events.

Methods: The primary aim of this prospective study was to determine whether a thymine challenge test could prospectively identify patients at risk of severe toxicity from treatment with 5-fluorouracil/capecitabine in combination chemotherapy schedules or monotherapy.

Alterations in color stability and anti-biofouling properties of various computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing glass-ceramics following ultraviolet weathering aging.

Objectives: This study is aimed to investigate ultraviolet weathering (UW) aging influences the optical, mechanical, and surface behaviors, as well as microbial adhesion, of computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing (CAD-CAM) glass-ceramics.

Methods: A total of 270 specimens from feldspar-reinforced aluminosilicate (VITABLOCS Mark Ⅱ; B), leucite-reinforced (IPS Empress CAD; E), lithium disilicate (IPS e.max CAD; M, Initial LiSi Block, L), and zirconia-reinforced lithium silicate (Celtra Duo; C, VITA SUPRINITY PC; V) glass-ceramics were analyzed.

MIT-001 ameliorates ferroptosis-induced mitochondrial dysfunction and enhances embryo quality in preimplantation embryos from aged female mice.

Advanced maternal age is closely associated with reduced oocyte and embryo quality, impaired mitochondrial function, and decreased implantation potential. Ferroptosis, a regulated form of cell death driven by iron-dependent lipid peroxidation, has emerged as a key contributor to the age-related decline in reproductive capacity. In this study, we investigated the therapeutic potential of mitochondria-targeted 001 (MIT-001), a novel anti-ferroptosis agent, to improve the quality of preimplantation embryos derived from aged female mice.

DNA damage and Nuclear Anaplasia Induced by Trastuzumab Deruxtecan in Cancer Cells with Variable HER2 Expression and Homologous Recombination Deficiency Status.

Purpose: Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) is amplified or overexpressed in various malignancies, including breast and gastric cancers, and is associated with poor prognosis. Although HER2-targeted therapies, such as trastuzumab, improve outcomes in HER2-positive tumors, resistance often develops, and HER2-low tumors remain largely untargeted. Trastuzumab deruxtecan (T-DXd; DS-8201a) is a HER2-targeted antibody-drug conjugate with potent activity in HER2-positive and HER2-low tumors.

Optimized preprocessing methods for marine RNA metavirome studies.

The pathogenicity of marine RNA viruses has been extensively studied, as they infect a wide range of hosts. Recently, interest in the diversity and ecological roles of marine RNA viruses has been increasing. Marine RNA viruses are generally smaller than DNA viruses, making them more challenging to concentrate, and their inherent instability leads to rapid degradation.

(Makino) Ling ex Kitam. Flower Extract Ameliorates Oxidative Stress-Induced Cellular Damage in HaCaT Keratinocytes by Regulating MAPK Signaling.

Oxidative stress plays a critical role in skin aging and in various dermatological disorders by promoting inflammation, apoptosis, and cellular dysfunction. Among reactive oxygen species (ROS), hydrogen peroxide (HO) readily penetrates cell membranes, triggering oxidative damage. This study investigated the protective effects of the (Makino) Ling ex Kitam.

Comparison of rebamipide and tegoprazan combination therapy and tegoprazan monotherapy for ESD induced gastric ulcers a randomized multicenter study.

Currently, no consensus exists on optimal treatment for post-endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) gastric ulcer. This study aims to compare rebamipide and tegoprazan combination therapy with tegoprazan monotherapy for post-ESD ulcer healing. Between May 2022 and September 2023, 140 patients (141 lesions) who underwent ESD for gastric epithelial neoplasms at five tertiary hospitals were randomly assigned to tegoprazan monotherapy or combination therapy groups.

Cyclin dependent kinase 9 inhibitor induces transcription-replication conflicts and DNA damage accumulation in breast cancer.

Background: Cyclin-dependent kinase 9 (CDK9) is a crucial regulator of transcriptional progression of RNA polymerase-II (RNAP2). RNA polymerases trapped in DNA can be a source of transcription-replication conflict (T-R conflict), which is a common source of replication stress. AZD4573, a highly selective CDK9 inhibitor, has been shown to induce apoptosis in leukemia cell lines, while its anti-tumor potential in breast cancer has yet to be elucidated.

Experts' Perceptions Regarding Testing for Helicobacter pylori Infection During Upper Gastrointestinal Endoscopy and Subsequent Eradication Therapy.

Helicobacter pylori causes gastric cancer and peptic ulcers, and eradication therapy can reduce the incidence of cancer in high-risk groups. In Korea, discrepancies between the reimbursement criteria and clinical guidelines create clinical challenges. This study investigated the perceptions and practices of experts regarding H.

Erdafitinib diminishes LPS-mediated neuroinflammatory responses through NLRP3 in wild-type mice.

Introduction: Erdafitinib is an FDA-approved inhibitor of fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR) that is used clinically to treat metastatic urothelial cancer. FGFR activation is involved in proinflammatory responses, but the potential effects of FGFR inhibitors like erdafitinib on neuroinflammatory responses in the brain have not been fully established.

Methods: The effects of pretreatment with 1 μM or 5 μM erdafitinib on proinflammatory responses induced by 1 μg/mL or 200 ng/mL LPS were evaluated in BV2 microglial cells.

New Technique of Double-Layer Alveolar Ridge Preservation Using Collagen Matrix on Periodontally Collapsed Extraction Region: Proof-of-Concept Case Study.

Alveolar ridge preservation (ARP) is widely used in clinical practice to prevent horizontal and vertical bone loss following tooth extraction. Conventional ARP uses a single coverage material with bone graft materials on a simple tooth extraction site. The objective of this study was to evaluate the clinical efficacy of a new double-layer ARP technique that additionally covers a collagen matrix at the top position, especially on the periodontally collapsed region following tooth extraction.

Effects of environmental factors on the population dynamics of potential pathogenic bacterial community attached to marine plastic debris.

Marine plastic debris (MPD) harbors potentially pathogenic bacterial communities (PPBs); however, their substrate specificity and environmental influences remain unclear. We aimed to identify the key drivers for the formation of PPB and to elucidate the ecological mechanisms regulating these assemblages. We analyzed MPD samples in South Korea to evaluate PPBs across plastic types, seasons, sampling hot-spot sites, and environmental factors, in comparison to ambient seawater.

Neolitsea sericea attenuates oxidative stress-induced cell death in human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells via MAPK and NF-κB pathway Inhibition.

Background: Oxidative stress is a key contributor to the pathological mechanisms that underpin various neurodegenerative diseases. Hydrogen peroxide (HO) is a well-known inducer of oxidative stress, which produces highly reactive hydroxyl radicals, resulting in cellular injury. The identification of bioactive compounds with potential neuroprotective properties is crucial for the development of novel therapeutic strategies.

OsPRK1/2/3-mediated reactive oxygen species signaling is required for pollen tube germination in rice.

Pollen hydration, germination, and tube growth are vital processes for the successful fertilization of flowering plants. These processes involve complex signaling pathways. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) generated in apoplast involves signaling for the cell wall expansion during tube growth, however molecular regulators are less known.

Establishment and characterization of 24 breast cancer cell lines and 3 breast cancer organoids reveals molecular heterogeneity and drug response variability in malignant pleural effusion-derived models.

Intratumoral heterogeneity of breast cancer cells causes undesired drug resistance and predispose to disease recurrence. We investigate the molecular heterogeneity of breast cancer cells derived from malignant pleural effusions (MPE) to understand variations in drug resistance and cellular evolution. MPE provides a unique environment, with cells experiencing significant microenvironmental changes that promote intratumoral heterogeneity and therapeutic resistance.

and genotoxicity assessments of Thunb. leaves extract support its functional and pharmaceutical potential.

Thunb. has been used to treat various inflammatory diseases owing to its anti-inflammatory and antioxidative properties. However, scientific evidence on the safety of extract is limited.

Reinforcing Stromal Cell Spheroid Through Red-Light Preconditioning for Advanced Vascularization.

Despite the promising potential of stromal cell therapy in treating myocardial infarction (MI), its effectiveness is limited by poor cell retention and engraftment in ischemic environments. This study introduces a novel strategy that combines the preconditioning of human adipose-derived stromal cells (hADSCs) using OLED-based photobiomodulation (OPBM) and culturing these cells into 3D spheroids. The preconditioned 3D spheroids (APCS group) exhibit significantly enhanced angiogenic, arterialized, and tissue remodeling capabilities compared with those of traditional 2D cultures and non-preconditioned spheroids.

Microtubule Integrity Is Associated with Mitochondrial Function and Quality of Murine Preimplantation Embryos.

Poor embryo quality is a major cause of poor clinical outcomes in assisted reproductive medicine, and there are no currently available interventions that can improve embryo quality. Mitochondria dysfunction is linked to low-quality female gametes and zygotes. Previously, microtubule integrity was also associated with mitochondrial function in oocytes.

Elimusertib, a Novel ATR Inhibitor, Induces Anti-Tumor Effects through Replication Catastrophe in Breast Cancers.

Purpose: Sustained cell proliferation and cell cycle acceleration in cancer cells inherently increase DNA damage, which interferes with homeostatic replication and transcription. Ataxia telangiectasia and Rad3-related (ATR) is crucial for initiation of the DNA damage response, and ATR inhibitors, such as elimusertib, induce increased replication stress and DNA damage. We investigated the anti-tumor effects of elimusertib and its mechanism of action in relation to replication stress.

Global identification of key genes for pollen germination in rice through high-throughput screening and gene editing.

Successful reproduction depends on the stable germination and growth of the pollen tubes (PT). However, the molecular mechanisms involved in rice PT growth and development remain largely unknown. In a previous study, microarray transcriptome analysis identified 627 genes preferentially expressed in the tricellular and germinating pollen of rice (i.

Hydrogel-Based In Situ DNA Extension Assay for Multiplexed and Rapid Detection of MicroRNA.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are important biomarkers for liquid biopsy, with extensive applicability to diverse diseases. Among diverse miRNA sensing platforms, graphically encoded hydrogel-based miRNA detection technology is a highly promising diagnostic tool, in terms of sensitivity, specificity, and multiplexing capability. However, the conventional hydrogel-based miRNA detection process suffers from a long assay time (more than 3 h) and redundant assay steps, limiting the practical applicability to actual clinical fields.

Ameliorative Effects of Escin on Inflammation via Glucocorticoid Receptor (GR) in Atopic Dermatitis (AD) Mouse Model.

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic, relapsing inflammatory skin disease characterized by intense itching. Escin, derived from , has several pharmacological functions, including anti-inflammatory and anti-viral effects, and exhibits glucocorticoid-like actions in inflammatory responses. However, its impact on AD has not been extensively studied.