Cdk1-dependent lamin aggregation underlies oxidative stress-induced nuclear shape abnormalities.

Altered nuclear morphology, one of the characteristics of cancer cells, is often indicative of tumor prognosis. While reactive oxygen species (ROS) are known to induce nuclear morphology changes, mechanisms underlying these effects remain elusive, particularly regarding nuclear assembly. We hypothesized that mitotic cells might exhibit increased susceptibility to ROSinduced nuclear deformation due to the dynamic nature of nuclear envelope during mitosis, i.

Factors influencing delayed attainment of low disease activity in rheumatoid arthritis patients continuing targeted therapy.

Background/aims: To identify factors associated with achieving low disease activity (LDA) after 48 weeks of targeted therapy in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) despite not meeting treat-to-target (T2T) criteria at week 24.

Methods: Data were collected from a multicenter, prospective observational cohort of Korea patients with RA receiving targeted therapy between April 2020 and July 2023. Patients who continued their initial targeted therapy despite not achieving LDA at week 24 were assigned to the LDA and non-LDA groups at week 48.

Discovery of natural RORγt inhibitor using machine learning, virtual screening, and in vivo validation.

Introduction: Retinoic acid receptor-related orphan receptor gamma t (RORγt) is a crucial transcription factor regulating Th17 cells, which secrete the cytokine IL-17. RORγt inhibitors are regarded as a therapeutic modality in a wide range of autoimmunity including psoriasis.

Objectives: The objective of the study is to investigate novel RORγt inhibitors from natural products (NPs), combining machine learning (ML)-based virtual screening, chemotaxonomic analysis, molecular docking, and molecular dynamics simulations, and biological validation.

Screening-Detected versus Interval Lung Cancer in the Biennial Korean National Lung Cancer Screening Program: Proportion, Characteristics, and Mortality.

Introduction: Interval lung cancers (ILCs) are key indicators of lung cancer screening (LCS) performance. However, data on the proportion, characteristics, and mortality of ILCs under biennial screening in Asian populations remain limited.

Methods: We analyzed participants from the baseline biennial Korean national LCS program between 2019 and 2020.

Public perception and changing attitudes toward antidepressants over a decade in social media: Lessons learned from online discussion using artificial intelligence.

Background: Antidepressants play a crucial role in treating mental health disorders such as depression and anxiety. Understanding of patients' perspective on antidepressants is essential for improving treatment outcomes; however, year-to-year change in the public's perception of antidepressants remains unclear. We aimed to analyze changes in public sentiments and predominant perceptions regarding antidepressants using artificial intelligence pipeline.

Non-invasive PCO monitoring during polysomnography: transcutaneous versus end-tidal measurement.

Purpose: The objectives of this study were to monitor transcutaneous and end-tidal partial pressures of CO simultaneously during polysomnography, determine the advantages and disadvantages of each method, and identify relevant factors that can affect the results.

Methods: This cross-sectional study enrolled 55 adults who underwent polysomnography at the Ajou University Hospital Sleep Center between February 2021 and September 2022. They were volunteers who spontaneously breathed room air.

MetaboGNN: predicting liver metabolic stability with graph neural networks and cross-species data.

The metabolic stability of a drug is a crucial determinant of its pharmacokinetic properties, including clearance, half-life, and oral bioavailability. Accurate predictions of metabolic stability can significantly streamline the drug discovery process. In this study, we present MetaboGNN, an advanced model for predicting liver metabolic stability based on Graph Neural Networks (GNNs) and Graph Contrastive Learning (GCL).

Characteristics and management of mechanically ventilated patients in South Korea compared with other high-income Asian countries and regions.

Background: This study investigated the characteristics of mechanically ventilated patients in South Korean intensive care units (ICUs).

Methods: We conducted a subgroup analysis of a multinational observational study. Data from 271 mechanically ventilated patients in South Korean ICUs were analyzed for demographics, ventilation practices, and mortality, and were compared with those of 327 patients from other high-income Asian countries.

Evaluation of mandibular bone abnormalities in patients with chronic kidney disease using cone beam computed tomography: A retrospective study.

Objective: This study evaluated mandibular cortical thickness and morphological changes in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients using cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) and their correlation with bone metabolism markers.

Methods: CKD patients were divided into CKD-I (eGFR (estimated glomerular filtration rate) < 30) and CKD-II (eGFR ≥ 30) groups, with healthy controls for comparison. Mental index (MI), antegonial index (AI), and panoramic mandibular index (PMI) were compared using Kruskal-Wallis test.

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.

Establishing consensus recommendations for metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer in South Korea: A modified Delphi study.

Purpose: Consensus is lacking among South Korean urologists on the appropriate treatment of metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer (mHSPC). A modified, Delphi-based consensus on managing mHSPC patients was developed to support clinical decision-making.

Materials And Methods: Thirty-six questions on mHSPC treatment were developed by an expert committee (five urologists).

Drosophila Pyruvate Kinase Links Metabolic State with Circadian Output via TARANIS and PDF.

The circadian clock generates ~24-hour rhythms that anticipate daily environmental changes. Circadian clock and glucose metabolism are tightly interconnected, and both are disrupted in aging and disease. To examine how glucose hypometabolism impacts circadian rhythm, we downregulated glycolytic enzymes - - (-), (), and () - in clock cells.

Changes in antiviral treatment rate for hepatitis B virus before hepatocellular carcinoma diagnosis: a nationwide Korean study.

Background And Aims: Antiviral treatment (AVT) reduces hepatitis B virus (HBV) reactivation and hepatocsellular carcinoma (HCC) development; however, the impact of AVT timing - before versus after HCC diagnosis - on prognosis remains unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the current status, changes, and clinical outcomes of AVT before HCC diagnosis in Korea.

Methods: Data were extracted from the Korean National Health Insurance Service for patients newly diagnosed with HBV-related HCC from 2008 to 2018.

Effects of Quantitative and Qualitative Visual Feedback on Motor Learning in Male Novices During a Badminton Underhand-Clear Striking Task.

In the biomechanics of striking tasks, different types of visual feedback for the upper extremities influence motor learning and control in distinct ways. Quantitative feedback (QN), which provides precise numerical data, and qualitative feedback (QL), which offers descriptive or interpretive guidance, may facilitate different aspects of motor skill acquisition. Given that ballistic motor skills, such as the badminton underhand-clear stroke, require not only rapid and coordinated movement execution but also precise control of distal joints for accuracy, the underlying feedback processing mechanisms play a crucial role in optimizing motor control.

REV-ERBα regulates brain NAD levels and tauopathy via an NFIL3-CD38 axis.

Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) is a critical metabolic co-enzyme implicated in brain aging, and augmenting NAD levels in the aging brain is an attractive therapeutic strategy for neurodegeneration. However, the molecular mechanisms of brain NAD regulation are incompletely understood. In cardiac tissue, the circadian nuclear receptor REV-ERBα has been shown to regulate NAD via control of the NAD-producing enzyme NAMPT.

Discovery of ETI41 and ETI60: novel selective endosomal Toll-like receptor inhibitors for the treatment of autoimmune diseases.

Endosomal Toll-like receptors (TLRs, including TLR3, TLR7, TLR8 and TLR9) play crucial roles in immune responses by recognizing pathogen-associated molecular patterns; however, their aberrant activation is implicated in inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. Developing endosomal TLR inhibitors against autoimmune diseases is clinically essential. Here we synthesized and optimized a series of compounds based on a candidate structure.

Optimizing Vancomycin Area under the Concentration-Time Curve Targets in Enterococcal Bacteremia: Balancing Efficacy and Nephrotoxicity.

Purpose: Vancomycin is critical in treating enterococcal bacteremia; however, its optimal pharmacokinetic (PK)/pharmacodynamics (PD) targets remain unclear. This study evaluates the association between vancomycin PK/PD parameters and clinical outcomes in patients with enterococcal bacteremia.

Materials And Methods: This retrospective cohort study included 70 patients with enterococcal bacteremia treated with vancomycin at a university-affiliated teaching hospital.

Real-World Effectiveness of Omalizumab Treatment in Adult Asthma Patients.

Purpose: Omalizumab improves clinical outcomes for patients with severe asthma (SA), but its long-term effectiveness and potential biomarkers for predicting patient response require further investigation. This study aimed to evaluate the real-world effectiveness of omalizumab in treating SA and to identify potential biomarkers for predicting a favorable treatment response.

Materials And Methods: Clinical outcomes were compared between asthma patients receiving omalizumab (omalizumab group) and those on inhaled corticosteroid with long-acting beta-agonist (ICS-LABA) alone (ICS-LABA group).

Blockade of TLR2 activation in macrophages by self-assembled hyaluronic acid nanoparticles alleviates psoriasis-like skin dermatitis.

Self-assembled hyaluronic acid nanoparticles (HANPs) exhibit promising therapeutic effects against psoriasis, yet their precise targets and molecular mechanisms remain inadequately explored. Here, we demonstrate that HANPs target toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2) to alleviate psoriatic skin inflammation in preclinical settings. This action is mediated by the HA-derived hydrophilic shell surrounding the NPs, rather than free HA or the hydrophobic core.

The Influence of workload measures by weight, repetition and height during one-handed handling.

This study aimed to evaluate the workload effect of weight, repetition and height between muscle activity and fatigue, and perceived fatigue during one-handed handling. Twenty-five right-handed male subjects performed lifting and lowering tasks for 10 min under varying conditions: weight (1, 4 and 7 kg), repetition (2, 6 and 10 cycles/min) and height (30, 60 and 90 cm). Electromyography signals were recorded from the anterior deltoid, posterior deltoid and upper trapezius muscles.

Association between long-term exposure to a mixture of ambient air pollutants and the incidences of bladder and kidney cancers.

Background: Evidence regarding associations between air pollution and urinary system cancers, including bladder cancer (BC) and kidney cancer (KC), remains limited and inconsistent. This study assessed the impact of long-term exposure to air pollutant mixtures on BC and KC incidence.

Materials And Methods: Using data from the Korean National Health Information Database (2011-2021) and air pollution estimates (2007-2019), we conducted a nested case-control study involving 3788 BC cases with 15,152 matched controls and 4084 KC cases with 16,336 matched controls.

Quantum geometry in hexagonal circuit QED lattice with triple leg stripline resonators.

In this study, we investigate various geometric aspects of a photonic hexagonal lattice made of triple-leg stripline resonators (TSRs) in a circuit QED system. The inherent two-fold degenerate spatial modes of the TSR act as two distinct orbitals in our 2D lattice system. Remarkably the energy spectra of the system exhibits the dispersive quadratic band-touching to the top and bottom flat bands.

Authentication of Counterfeit Electronics Using Rapid THz Time-of-Flight Imaging.

In this study, we used rapid terahertz (THz) time-of-flight (ToF) imaging to identify counterfeit electronics prevalent in the online market. THz-ToF allows the nondestructive reflection imaging of portable electronic devices enclosed by plastic cases with a spatial resolution of 1 mm and a depth range larger than 5 mm. For instance, we could identify a counterfeit solid-state device because there was a striking difference in the internal structure compared with that of an authentic device, although its appearance was similar.

Mortality Risk of Colistin vs. Non-Colistin Use in Cancer Patients with Multidrug-Resistant Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections: Stratified by Resistance Profile and Concomitant Medications.

Cancer patients are particularly susceptible to infections caused by multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacteria (MDR GNB) due to chemotherapy- or radiation therapy-induced immunosuppression. Colistin is often prescribed as a last-resort agent for MDR GNB infection, but its clinical benefit in oncology patients remains unclear. This study aims to evaluate the mortality risk associated with colistin versus non-colistin regimens in cancer patient with MDR GNB infections, stratified by resistance profiles, infection sites, and concomitant medication use.

Preparation of double-metal cyanide catalysts incorporating ZnOAc and ZnOBu components for propylene oxide/CO copolymerization.

Double metal cyanide complex (DMC) catalysts, widely used industrially for the ring-opening polymerization (ROP) of propylene oxide (PO), have garnered attention for PO/CO copolymerization due to their ease of preparation and high catalytic activity, although their ability to incorporate CO remains relatively limited. In this study, we report DMC variants with well-defined compositions, specifically incorporating ZnOAc and ZnOBu components. These catalysts were synthesized a distinct route from conventional DMCs by reacting KCo(CN) with 2 eq.