Unprecedented high-temperature triggers a rapid shift in ecological characteristics of phytoplankton succession in the southern coastal waters of Korea.

Marine heatwaves (MHWs) are increasing in frequency and intensity worldwide, significantly impacting marine ecosystems. However, studies on phytoplankton community changes in coastal waters under such conditions remain. In the summer of 2024, an extreme high-temperature event (>28 °C) occurred in the southern coastal waters of Korea, providing an opportunity to investigate phytoplankton community dynamics under thermal stress.

Prognostic Value of A/T/N Biomarkers: Comparing Plasma and Imaging Modalities in Alzheimer Disease.

Background: Alzheimer disease (AD) is characterized by amyloid-β plaques (A), tau tangles (T), and neurodegeneration (N), collectively defining the ATN framework. While imaging biomarkers are well-established, the prognostic value of plasma biomarkers in predicting cognitive decline remains underexplored. This study compares plasma and imaging A/T/N biomarkers in predicting cognitive decline and evaluate the impact of combining biomarkers across modalities.

Synthesis of Polymer Nanohybrids for Glycerol Sensing, Fluorometric Viscosity Detection, and Metal-Free Electrocatalytic Glycerol Oxidation.

This research provides a constructive approach for developing high-performance polymer nanohybrids toward enhancing optoelectronic properties, fluorogenic viscosity sensing, and metal-free electrocatalytic oxidation of glycerol to value-added organic(s). Herein, reduced graphene oxide (RGO) and mildly oxidized RGO (MRGO) are strategically combined with fluorescent electroactive polymers (FEPs) to develop a promising sustainable metal-free electrocatalytic system suitable for amplifying opto-electrochemical properties, multiplatform sensing capacity, and electrocatalytic efficiency. The optimized polymeric counterpart (FEP2) promotes dual-state emission in the supramolecular network of RGO-/MRGO-incorporated fluorescent electroactive hybrid polymers (RFEHPs/MFEHPs) through physicochemically confined atypical electron-rich -C(═O)NH-/-C(═O)O-/-SOH fluorophores of (hydroxyethyl)methacrylate and 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropane-1-sulfonic acid monomers.

Clinical Utility of Salivary Steroid Profiling for the Differential Diagnosis of Adrenal Diseases.

Context: Although salivary steroid sampling offers several advantages, the diagnostic potential of salivary steroid metabolites remains largely unexplored.Objective To evaluate the diagnostic utility of salivary steroid profiling in patients with adrenal diseases.

Design: Prospective multicenter study.

The Clinical Impact of Intravascular Imaging-Guided Percutaneous Coronary Intervention in Acute Myocardial Infarction Patients with High Thrombus Burden.

Despite the established clinical efficacy following intravascular imaging (IVI)-guided percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) than angiography-guided PCI, evidence regarding prognostic benefits of IVI-guided PCI in acute myocardial infarction (AMI) patients with high thrombus burden remains limited. Using the nationwide registries of KAMIR-NIH and KAMIR-V, we evaluated the prognostic impact of IVI-guided PCI in AMI patients with high thrombus burden. A total of 4,074 patients with AMI and TIMI thrombus grades 4 or 5 who underwent aspiration thrombectomy were selected, of whom 892 patients (21.

Quality Matters: Effect of High-Quality Early Palliative Care in Advanced Cancer.

Context: Early palliative care (EPC) is an integral treatment for advanced cancer patients, improving quality of life and symptom management, but the impact of its quality on outcomes is less understood.

Objectives: This study aimed to quantify the quality of EPC and analyze its longitudinal association with depression levels, quality of life (QoL), patient survival, and self-management strategies in patients with advanced cancer.

Methods: This secondary analysis included 144 advanced cancer patients from a randomized controlled trial in South Korea.

KU4 inhibits adipocyte senescence in aged mice through necdin regulation of p53 activity.

Previously, we reported that KU4 (LKU4) ameliorates diet-induced metabolic disorders by regulating adipose tissue (AT) physiology. Since metabolic disorders and age-related pathological conditions mutually exacerbate each other, this study hypothesizes that LKU4 may protect against adipose senescence during aging. Thus, this study demonstrates that LKU4 administration suppresses age-related metabolic dysfunction and aging phenotypes in AT of 24-month-old mice.

Evolving Strategies for the Optimal Management of Common Bile Duct Stones.

Management of common bile duct (CBD) stones has evolved substantially with the advent of endoscopic techniques and dedicated high-end devices. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) has become a widespread essential technique for managing CBD stones, with high success rates in standard cases. However, for patients with large stones, stones in an impacted state, and stones in anatomically challenging regions, advanced strategies using various dedicated devices may be needed.

Development of a prediction tool for kidney function decline in children with chronic kidney disease.

Background: A paucity of literature exists on the development of predictive tools for the decline of kidney function in pediatric chronic kidney disease (CKD). The objective of this study is to develop and internally validate a tool for the short-term prediction of a kidney function decline in pediatric patients with CKD.

Methods: A total of 539 patients participating in the KNOW-PedCKD (KoreaN cohort study for Outcomes in patients With Pediatric Chronic Kidney Disease) were evaluated for 48 variables related to sociodemographic characteristics, laboratory data, and treatment use.

Left ventricular geometry and the risk of heavy coronary artery calcification in patients with pre-dialysis chronic kidney disease: the KoreaN Cohort Study for Outcome in Patients With Chronic Kidney Disease (KNOW-CKD).

Background: The association between abnormal left ventricular geometry (LVG) patterns and the presence of coronary artery calcification is unclear in patients with CKD.

Methods: A total of 2,038 patients with pre-dialysis CKD at stages 1 to 5 were categorized by LVG patterns, which were echocardiographically determined by the presence or absence of left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) and relative wall thickness (RWT): normal, concentric remodeling, eccentric LVH, and concentric LVH. The study outcome was the presence of heavy coronary artery calcification, which is defined as coronary artery calcium score >1,000 Agatston units.

A New Species and Eight New Records of Ascomycetes from Freshwater Niches in Korea.

Freshwater ascomycetes are fungi that play an important role in the decomposition of submerged plant debris in freshwater habitats. At present, approximately 3000 species of ascomycetes have been described from freshwater habitats. However, the number of fungi in freshwater habitats in South Korea is small, and many species are still completely unknown.

The Change of Noncoding RNA Expression in Olfactory Bulb of Hepatic Encephalopathy Mouse Model: Transcriptomic Analysis and Cellular Analysis.

Objectives: Hepatic encephalopathy (HE) is a neuropsychiatric disorder associated with cirrhosis and chronic liver disease primarily driven by ammonia (NH3) toxicity, which leads to neuroinflammation and cognitive deficits. Recent studies have identified olfactory dysfunction as a potential early indicator of HE, linked to ammonia-induced neurotoxicity in the brain.

Methods: After confirming physiological alterations in olfactory cells induced by ammonia, we assessed gene expression changes in olfactory bulbs of bile duct ligation (BDL) mice as an HE mouse model.

OM-85 and Respiratory Symptoms in Korean COPD: A Multicenter Observational Study.

Background: Although OM-85 may lessen respiratory symptoms and reduce acute exacerbations in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), its overall effectiveness remains incompletely proven.

Methods: This prospective, observational, single-arm study was conducted at four university hospitals in South Korea from June 2022 to December 2023. Adults with spirometry-confirmed COPD who were prescribed OM-85 were enrolled and followed for six months (3-months treatment, 3-months observation).

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.

Impact of medical crisis on the critical care system in South Korea.

Background: The ongoing medical crisis in Korea has severely impacted the operational environment of intensive care units (ICU), posing significant challenges to quality care for critically ill patients. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of the ongoing crisis on ICUs.

Methods: A survey was conducted in July 2024 among intensivists in charge of ICUs at institutions accredited by the Korean Society of Critical Care Medicine for critical care.

Immediate versus staged complete revascularisation during index admission in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction and multivessel disease (OPTION-STEMI): a multicentre, non-inferiority, open-label, randomised trial.

Background: The optimal timing of complete revascularisation for patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and multivessel coronary artery disease remains unclear. We aimed to assess whether immediate complete revascularisation was non-inferior to staged complete revascularisation during the index admission.

Methods: We conducted an open-label, randomised, non-inferiority trial at 14 hospitals in South Korea.

Analysis of Risk Factors for Coronary Heart Disease in Middle-Aged Men Using the Framingham Risk Score: Based on the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2014－2015).

The Framingham risk score (FRS) is used to assess an individual's risk of developing coronary heart disease (CHD) within 10 years by evaluating CHD risk factors. Despite the increasing mortality rate from CHD, there are limited studies examining the association between the atherogenic coefficient (AC), atherogenic index of plasma (AIP), dietary intake (assessed using a food frequency questionnaire), and FRS-CHD in Korea. The FRS is based on the following coronary risk factors: age, sex, total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, smoking habits, and systolic blood pressure.

Antitumor Effects of Metformin in Squamous Cell Carcinoma under Leptin Treatment Conditions.

Sinonasal squamous cell carcinoma (SNSCC) is a rare, aggressive malignancy with poor clinical outcomes. Metabolic syndrome components, including obesity-associated hyperleptinemia, may promote tumor progression. Leptin is an adipokine that is elevated in obesity and activates oncogenic pathways that drive cancer cell proliferation.

Dual Effects of a Combination of and Inflammation and Hyperuricemia.

This study developed an effective combination of and (SNE) and evaluated its anti-inflammatory and anti-hyperuricemic effects under conditions. First, the effect of SNE was tested on xanthine oxidase (XOD) activity. To investigate the anti-inflammatory effect of SNE, nitric oxide (NO) production was detected by Griess assay, and proinflammatory cytokines were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in RAW264.

How Do Patient Outcomes in Mechanical Thrombectomy for Large-Core Stroke Vary Based on Neuroimaging Modalities Used for Patient Selection? A Multicenter Multinational Study.

The role of different imaging modalities-non-contrast CT (NCCT), CT perfusion (CTP), and diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI)-in selecting patients with large-core stroke for endovascular thrombectomy (EVT) is a subject of ongoing debate. This study aims to determine whether patients with large-core acute ischemic stroke (AIS) undergoing EVT triaged with CTP or DWI in addition to NCCT had different clinical outcomes compared to those only triaged with NCCT. We queried the Stroke Thrombectomy and Aneurysm Registry (STAR) for patients enrolled between 2014 and 2023 who presented with anterior-circulation AIS and large ischemic core (ASPECTS < 6) who underwent EVT in 41 stroke centers in the USA, Europe, Asia, and South America.

Salmon Nasal Cartilage-Derived Proteoglycans Alleviate Cartilage Degeneration in Osteoarthritis by Modulating Inflammation and Apoptosis.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a chronic degenerative joint disease characterized by progressive cartilage damage, inflammatory responses, and apoptosis of chondrocytes. In this study, we investigated the therapeutic potential properties of proteoglycans (PG) extracted from salmon nasal cartilage in both (HTB-94 human chondrocytic cells) and (monosodium iodoacetate-induced OA rat model) approaches. Rats were treated with PG, and key parameters related to cartilage integrity, inflammation, and apoptosis were evaluated.

Association of mean platelet volume-to-platelet count ratio for 24-hour mortality in patients with severe trauma.

Mean platelet volume (MPV) may be associated with trauma patients' outcomes. However, the relationship between the MPV-to-platelet count ratio (MPR) and the result of severe trauma has not been reported. This study aimed to analyze and compare the prognostic performances of MPV and MPR in severe trauma.

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).

Molecular regulation and subtype-specific effects of naringenin and naringin on nicotinic acetylcholine receptors expressed in Xenopus oocytes.

Naringenin and naringin, bioactive flavonoids from citrus fruits, exhibit neuroprotective effects, showing promise for neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. Additionally, they demonstrate significant anticancer potential, modulating key signaling pathways involved in tumor growth, apoptosis, and metastasis, thus expanding their therapeutic applications in cancer treatment. These compounds interact with nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs), a class of ligand-gated ion channels critical for modulating neurotransmission within the central nervous system.