The Burden of Motor Neuron Diseases in the United States, 1990-2021: A Systematic Analysis of the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021.

Introduction/aims: There is a lack of up-to-date information on the burden of motor neuron diseases (MNDs) in the United States (US). This study aimed to estimate trends in the prevalence, incidence, mortality, and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) for MNDs in the US from 1990 to 2021.

Methods: We performed a secondary analysis of MNDs in the US using estimates of prevalence, incidence, and mortality obtained from analyses of the Global Burden of Disease 2021 dataset.

Evanescent-Field-Guiding 2D Ultrathin Waveguides for Seamlessly Integrated Devices.

Seamless integration of active devices into photonic integrated circuits remains a challenge due to the limited accessibility of the optical field in conventional waveguides, which tightly confine light within their cores. In this study, we propose a two-dimensional (2D) ultrathin waveguide as a photonic platform that enables efficient interaction between guided light and surface-mounted devices by supporting optical modes dominated by evanescent fields. We show that the guided light in a monolayer MoS film propagates over millimeter-scale distances with more than 99.

Adult onset cryopyrin-associated periodic syndrome due to germline missense mutation in in a previously healthy middle-aged woman.

Background: Cryopyrin-associated periodic syndrome (CAPS) is an autoinflammatory disease caused by a gain-of-function mutation in the gene, which regulates inflammasome-mediated interleukin-1β (IL-1β) production. This leads to recurrent episodes of fever, rash, and arthritis, typically beginning in childhood.

Objective: To demonstrate the role of a missense mutation, c.

Design strategies for energy-harvesting photovoltaics in diverse environments.

Indoor photovoltaics (IPVs) are small and not optimized for versatile environments, making them environmentally sensitive. To expand the application of energy-harvesting photovoltaics, overcoming the current problems and mismatch loss is important. In this study, we found that IPVs are sensitive to changes in current density under low illuminance, and we introduced a protocol to reveal the modules resulting in the smallest standard deviation using current maps.

Longitudinal analysis of oral microbiome changes during the neonatal period in full-term and preterm newborns.

Background: The neonatal period is critical for oral microbiome establishment, but temporal patterns in preterm newborns remain unclear. This study examined longitudinal microbiome changes in full-term and preterm newborns and assessed perinatal and clinical influences.

Methods: Oral swabs were collected from 98 newborns (23 full-term, 75 preterm).

Pregnancy after breast cancer treatment in young patients.

Introduction: Breast cancer (BC) treatments can impair fertility in young women, causing considerable distress and potentially influencing treatment decisions, yet comprehensive real-world data on pregnancy outcomes after BC remain limited. This study aims to provide comprehensive real-world data on pregnancy following BC treatment to guide clinical practice and patient counseling.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study using medical records from a single tertiary medical center in South Korea.

Transient electronics for sustainability: Emerging technologies and future directions.

Transient electronics are emerging as a promising class of devices designed to disappear after a defined operational period, addressing growing concerns over sustainability and long-term biocompatibility. Built from biodegradable materials that undergo hydrolysis or enzymatic degradation, these systems are particularly well suited for temporary implantable applications, such as neural monitors, wireless stimulators, and drug delivery vehicles, as well as environmentally benign electronics for soil or aquatic disposal. Despite their potential, key challenges remain in expanding the material set for diverse functionalities, achieving high-density integration for advanced operations, and enabling precise lifetime control through strategies such as protective encapsulation.

Retraction: Optimized Cu-doping in ZnO electro-spun nanofibers for enhanced photovoltaic performance in perovskite solar cells and photocatalytic dye degradation.

[This retracts the article DOI: 10.1039/D4RA01544D.].

Characterization of subsp. isolated from human vagina: prevalence, phenotypic, and genomic insights.

The genus is a heterogenous group of commensal and pathogenic bacteria. Members of this genus are classified into two major groups, the pyogenic group and the viridans group streptococci (VGS). VGS are frequently found as normal members of the human microbiome and are regarded as commensals.

Antimicrobial susceptibility profiles of thermophilic species from human, pig, and chicken feces in Rwanda.

Globally, and have been associated with human gastroenteritis. More importantly, there are increasing reports of strains that are resistant to commonly used antimicrobials. In Rwanda, the prevalence and the antimicrobial susceptibility profiles of thermophilic strains remain underexplored.

Corrigendum to: Impact of the COVID-19 outbreak on the field of hematopoietic cell transplantation in the Asia-Pacific region: APBMT Activity Survey 2020/2021 [Blood Cell Therapy. 2024; 7(4): 129-137. doi:10.31547/bct-2024-020].

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.31547/bct-2024-020.].

Biomechanical comparison of locking plate and pin-tension band wiring fixation for 3D-printed canine patellar fracture repair.

Introduction: The conventional pin and tension band wiring (TBW) technique remains the standard for fixation, but is frequently associated with complications such as wire breakage, loosening, and delayed healing in patellar fracture. Locking plate fixation has demonstrated superior biomechanical stability in human studies. This study aimed to compare the biomechanical performance of locking plate fixation versus TBW in canine transverse patellar fractures and to evaluate the influence of plate design on fixation strength.

Effect of five non-invasive treatments on body composition, physical function and quality of life in elderly sarcopenia: a network meta-analysis of 22 randomized controlled trials.

Introduction: While exercise interventions are widely used for sarcopenia management, the comparative efficacy of different non-invasive treatments remains unclear. This network meta-analysis evaluated five interventions (aerobic training, resistance training, aerobi-resistance training, whole-body electrical stimulation, and electrical stimulation with protein supplementation) on body composition, physical function and quality of life in elderly sarcopenia patients.

Methods: Six databases, including PubMed, Embase and Web of Science, were systematically searched, and 22 randomized controlled trials with a total of 1062 elderly patients with sarcopenia were finally included.

Mitigation of mycotoxin residues and activation of endogenous stem cells in broiler chickens using a toxin binder: Implications for meat safety and performance enhancement.

Background And Aim: Mycotoxin contamination in poultry feed, particularly with aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) and ochratoxin A (OTA), poses significant threats to broiler health, meat quality, and consumer safety. Toxin binders are commonly used to mitigate these effects; however, their impact on endogenous stem cell activity and overall broiler performance remains underexplored. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of a commercial toxin binder in reducing AFB1 and OTA residues in broiler meat, inducing endogenous stem cell production, and improving growth and feed performance indices.

Bifactor Modeling of the Social Interaction Anxiety Scale-6 and the Social Phobia Scale-6 in a Korean Community Sample.

Background: The Social Interaction Anxiety Scale-6 (SIAS-6) and Social Phobia Scale-6 (SPS-6) are self-reported measures of social anxiety. The aim of this study was to identify the best model for SIAS-6 and SPS-6 using the newly advanced method of exploratory structural equation modeling (ESEM).

Methods: Both confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and ESEM were utilized to assess the factor structure of the SIAS-6 and SPS-6.

Identification and Characterization of Five Previously Unrecorded Species of Subgenus Isolated in Korea.

In a survey of freshwater and near-freshwater soils in Chungbuk, Gyeonggi, Gangwon, Gyeongbuk, and Gyeongnam provinces in Korea, seven fungal strains were isolated and identified as members of the genus based on the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions sequence analyses. Identification was performed through observing morphological characteristics and conducting phylogenetic analyses based on concatenated partial ITS, β-tubulin, calmodulin, and RNA polymerase II subunit gene sequences. The phylogenetic analyses revealed that strain NNIBRFG6577 was distinct from known species, and based on morphological comparisons with the closest related species, CGMCC 3.

Morphology and molecular phylogeny of from and .

The main objective of the present study is to compile and comprehensively reevaluate all known records of in order to establish a standardized framework for the accurate characterization and identification of this species. Nine isolates of obtained from and from various regions of Korea were analyzed. The morphological features of the fungus and isolated colonies were described and illustrated.

Morphological and Phylogenetic Characterization of Four Additional -associated Species: Three New Species and One Newly Recognized Species in Korea.

The genus Hill ex Schrank is an ecologically significant group of wood-decaying fungi that contribute to nutrient cycling and ecosystem stability in forests worldwide. Despite a recent global increase in the descriptions of new species, Korean species have rarely been reexamined using modern taxonomic frameworks. In this study, dried specimens preserved at the Korea National Arboretum were re-identified through integrative morphological and molecular analyses using four genetic markers (ITS, ACT, TUB2, and RPB2).

Unveiling host plant associations and cryptic genetic diversity of (Aphididae: Lachninae) on cherry trees in South Korea.

This study presents the first record of Kanturski & Lee, 2024 (Aphididae: Lachninae) in South Korea, thereby extending its known distribution beyond Japan and identifying a new host plant, (Rosaceae). We describe diagnostic morphological traits across multiple life stages and compare them with those of Japanese populations. Comparative analyses with Japanese populations demonstrated consistent morphological differentiation, notably elevated ratios of the ultimate rostral segment to antennal segments across multiple morphs in the Korean population, indicating potential ecological adaptation.

Polystyrene particles induces asthma-like Th2-mediated lung injury through IL-33 secretion.

Plastics, particularly polystyrene (PS), are extensively used worldwide, especially in disposable packaging, which contributes to environmental pollution by generating microplastic particles. Herein, we investigated the pulmonary toxic effects of PS microplastics, focusing on airway inflammation and immune response. PS microplastic (50 nm to 1 μm) exposure was more likely to cause a severe pulmonary inflammatory response, particularly with smaller particle sizes.

Clinical Characteristics of Individuals with COPD, Pre-COPD, Smokers with Normal Lung Function in Korea: Updated Analysis of the KOCOSS Cohort.

Background: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a heterogeneous lung disease characterized by persistent airflow limitation and is a leading cause of mortality worldwide. Pre-COPD refers to a pre-disease state associated with an increased risk of COPD development. This study aims to evaluate the clinical characteristics of individuals with COPD, pre-COPD, and smokers with normal lung function in South Korea, and to provide an updated analysis of the KOCOSS cohort data.

An infographic on laboratory animal veterinarians.

Background: Laboratory animal veterinarians play a crucial role as a bridge between the ethical use of laboratory animals and the advancement of scientific and medical knowledge in biomedical research. They alleviate pain and reduce distress through veterinary care of laboratory animals. Additionally, they enhance animal welfare by creating environments that mimic natural habitats through environmental enrichment and social associations.