Hye Jin

Laboratory Animal Research Center, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon 16499, Republic of Korea

Department of Manufacturing Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy and Research Institute for Drug Development, Pusan National University, Busan 46241, Republic of Korea

Tandem autologous stem cell transplantation can improve the prognosis of patients with multiple myeloma. However, the precise role of tandem transplantation remains debatable. We evaluated the clinical benefits of tandem transplantation retrospectively. Of the 655 included patients, 117 underwent tandem transplantation; the remaining were assigned to the control group. After a single transplantation, the tandem group achieved a complete remission (CR) rate of 24.8%, which increased to 46.2% after a second transplantation. The tandem group had a significantly longer median PFS than the control group in patients with International Staging System (ISS) III and high-risk cytogenetics (23.1 vs. 14.7 months, p = 0.007 for ISS III; 21.7 vs. 13.2 months, p = 0.042 for high-risk cytogenetics). The tandem group exhibited significantly superior PFS to the control group (20.3 vs. 12.6 months, p = 0.003) among patients who failed to achieve CR after a single transplantation. Tandem transplantation was associated with significantly improved PFS after adjusting for maintenance therapy in patients with ISS III, those with high-risk cytogenetics, and those who did not achieve CR after a single transplantation. Following propensity score matching, the tandem group exhibited significantly longer PFS than the control group (30.3 vs. 13.5 months, p = 0.028). Tandem transplantation should be considered in high-risk patients.

BK21 FOUR Community-Based Intelligent Novel Drug Discovery Education Unit, Vessel-Organ Interaction Research Center (VOICE, MRC), Research Institute

We evaluated the thermal and chemical stratifications of Paldang Lake using Schmidt's stability index (SSI) and the chemical stratification index (IC-i) with weekly data from 2013 to 2022. The temporal trends of stratification were analyzed alongside correlations with meteorological, hydrological, and water quality variables. Thermal stratification intensified with rising air temperature and sunshine duration, while hydrological factors like discharge and retention time affected SSI during periods with less than five days of water retention. During summer, fewer occurrences of intense rainfall or early rainfall before August led to stronger stratification. In fall, nutrient influx from external sources during summer stimulated algal growth, increasing Chlorophyll-α (Chl-α) concentrations. Summer rainfall had a significant impact on the strength and duration of stratification in Paldang Lake. Annual rainfall patterns and subsequent changes in discharge were key factors affecting the physical environment of the lake, which in turn determined water quality and the extent of algal blooms. We provide insights into the seasonal stratification and water quality variations in temperate river-type reservoirs like Paldang Lake. SSI and IC-i from this research can be applied to understand stratification and mixing dynamics in other lakes.

Chestnut honey has various benefits, such as antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, antibacterial, and antiviral effects. However, the effects of chestnut honey or the ethyl acetate fraction of chestnut honey (EACH) on neurodegenerative diseases and their related cognitive impairment and neurotoxicity have not yet been established. Therefore, in this study, we investigated the mitigating effect of the EACH on scopolamine (SCO)-injected cognitive decline in mice and glutamate-exposed neurotoxicity in HT22 cells. EACH administration significantly reversed SCO-induced cognitive decline in mice, as demonstrated through the Morris water maze and passive avoidance tests. The EACH treatment showed a significant alleviation effect by recovering more than 80% of the cell viability decrease induced by glutamate exposure in the HT22 neuronal cell model. Furthermore, the EACH significantly reduced reactive oxygen species accumulation, lactate dehydrogenase release, mitochondrial depolarization, and neuronal apoptosis. The EACH regulated the level of apoptosis-related proteins, induced the nuclear translocation of nuclear factor-E2-related factor 2 (Nrf-2) and the expression of related antioxidant proteins, and induced the phosphorylation of tropomyosin-related kinase receptor B (TrkB)/cAMP-calcium response element-binding protein (CREB) and the expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor. These data indicate that the EACH can prevent neurons from oxidative damage and improve cognitive dysfunction by activating Nrf-2 and TrkB/CREB signaling pathways. Therefore, the EACH demonstrates potential therapeutic value in mitigating oxidative stress-induced neurotoxicity, cognitive decline, and related neurodegenerative diseases.

In recent years, researchers have found that certain conditions can change white fat cells into beige fat cells, a process called “browning.” In this study, scientists focused on finding new genes that help in the browning of white fat cells. They did this by treating mice with a compound that starts the browning process and studying changes in gene activity. They found that the Lace1 gene is very active in brown fat tissue and its activity increases during the browning of white fat. The main discovery of this research is that not having the Lace1 gene leads to browning of white fat tissue in mice, suggesting that Lace1 may slow down this process. The researchers conclude targeting the Lace1 gene could be a new way to promote the browning of white fat and fight obesity. This summary was initially drafted using artificial intelligence, then revised and fact-checked by the author.

Abstract In clinical practice, the effect of a high vault on corneal endothelial cells after implantable collamer lens (ICL) implantation remains unclear.

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In this study, we conducted a comparative analysis of the catalytic behavior of Ni-CaO-Al2O3 dual functional material (DFM) and a physical mixture of Ni-Al2O3 and CaO-Al2O3 in the integrated carbon capture methanation (ICCM) process for promoted methane production. H2-temperature-programmed surface reaction (H2-TPSR) analysis revealed that in Ni-CaO-Al2O3 DFM, CO2 adsorbed on the CaO surface can spillover to metallic Ni surface, enabling direct hydrogenation without desorption of CO2. Ni-CaO-Al2O3 DFM exhibited a rapid initial methanation rate due to CO2 spillover. The Ni-CaO-Al2O3 DFM, with Ni and CO2 adsorption sites in close distance, allows efficient utilization of the heat generated by methanation to desorb strongly adsorbed CO2, leading to enhanced methane production. Consequently, Ni-CaO-Al2O3 DFM produced 1.3 mmol/gNi of methane at 300 °C, converting 35% of the adsorbed CO2 to methane.