Natural Product-Derived Compounds Targeting Keratinocytes and Molecular Pathways in Psoriasis Therapeutics.

Psoriasis is a chronic autoimmune inflammatory skin disorder that affects approximately 2-3% of the global population due to significant genetic predisposition. It is characterized by an uncontrolled growth and differentiation of keratinocytes, leading to the formation of scaly erythematous plaques. Psoriasis extends beyond dermatological manifestations to impact joints and nails and is often associated with systemic disorders. Although traditional treatments provide relief, their use is limited by potential side effects and the chronic nature of the disease. This review aims to discuss the therapeutic potential of keratinocyte-targeting natural products in psoriasis and highlight their efficacy and safety in comparison with conventional treatments. This review comprehensively examines psoriasis pathogenesis within keratinocytes and the various related signaling pathways (such as JAK-STAT and NF-κB) and cytokines. It presents molecular targets such as high-mobility group box-1 (HMGB1), dual-specificity phosphatase-1 (DUSP1), and the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) for treating psoriasis. It evaluates the ability of natural compounds such as luteolin, piperine, and glycyrrhizin to modulate psoriasis-related pathways. Finally, it offers insights into alternative and sustainable treatment options with fewer side effects.

Evaluation of large-scale poultry manure-derived biochar for efficient cadmium removal in zinc smelter wastewater.

Cadmium (Cd), a carcinogen, is released from industrial activities like metal refineries and battery runoff, with significant contamination reported near zinc smelters in Korea. This study addresses the issue using an efficient, economical adsorption process with waste-derived biochar-based adsorbents known for high Cd removal. Poultry manure (PM), typically used as fertilizer, can lead to environmental pollution if mismanaged; therefore, it was pyrolyzed to produce biochar. The resulting poultry manure biochar (PMBC) was produced on a large scale (15 ton/day), demonstrating feasibility for large-scale implementation. The effectiveness of PMBC as an adsorbent for Cd was evaluated using wastewater discharged from a zinc smelter. The Cd adsorption capacity of PMBC (60.39 mg/g) was lower than that (302.0 mg/g) of hen manure biochar produced at a laboratory scale in our previous study but was comparable to other biochars reported in the literature. Response surface methodology analysis indicated that reaction time, dose, and agitation significantly influenced Cd removal by PMBC, whereas pH had a negligible impact. Notable contributions to Cd adsorption include the release of K+ from PMBC and the presence of O-containing functional groups. Under continuous flow conditions with real wastewater, Cd was not detected in the effluent for the initial 8 h, and PMBC sustained a removal efficiency of 40.77% until saturation was reached. The results from wastewater treatment and large-scale biochar production offer valuable insights into the potential of biochar as a medium for addressing environmental issues in real-world applications.

Value-added application of cattle manure bottom ash for phosphorus recovery from water and replenishment in soil.

This study addresses ways to circulate the flow of phosphorus (P) from water to soil to improve water quality and provide a sustainable supply of P into soil. Here, bottom ash (BA_CCM), the byproduct of the combustion of cattle manure, which is performed for obtaining energy, was used to remove P in wastewater. Next, the P-captured BA_CCM was used as P fertilizer for rice growth. BA_CCM was primarily composed of Ca (49.4%), C (24.0%), and P (9.9%), and the crystalline phases of Ca were calcium carbonate (CaCO3) and hydroxyapatite (Ca5(PO4)3OH). The mechanism of P removal by BA_CCM involves the formation of hydroxyapatite by reacting Ca2+ with PO43-. A reaction time of 3 h was required to achieve P adsorption to BA_CCM, and the maximum P adsorption capacity of BA_CCM was 45.46 mg/g. The increase in solution pH reduced P adsorption. However, at pH > 5, the P adsorption amount was maintained regardless of the pH increase. The presence of 10 mM SO42- and CO32- reduced P adsorption by 28.4% and 21.5%, respectively, and the impact of the presence of Cl- and NO3- was less than 10%. The feasibility of BA_CCM was tested using real wastewater, and 3.33 g/L of BA_CCM dose achieved a P removal ratio of 99.8% and a residual concentration of <0.02 mg/L. The toxicity unit of BA_CCM determined for Daphnia magna (D. magna) was 5.1; however, the BA_CCM after P adsorption (P-BA_CCM) did not show any toxicity to D. magna. BA_CCM after P adsorption was used as an alternative to commercial P fertilizer. Rice fertilized with a medium level of P-BA_CCM showed better agronomic values for most agronomic traits, except root length, than that seen with the commercial P fertilizer. This study suggests that BA_CCM can be used as a value-added product to address environmental issues.

Poncirus trifoliata Aqueous Extract Protects Cardiomyocytes against Doxorubicin-Induced Toxicity through Upregulation of NAD(P)H Dehydrogenase Quinone Acceptor Oxidoreductase 1.

Doxorubicin (DOX), an anthracycline-based chemotherapeutic agent, is widely used to treat various types of cancer; however, prolonged treatment induces cardiomyotoxicity. Although studies have been performed to overcome DOX-induced cardiotoxicity (DICT), no effective method is currently available. This study investigated the effects and potential mechanisms of Poncirus trifoliata aqueous extract (PTA) in DICT. Changes in cell survival were assessed in H9c2 rat cardiomyocytes and MDA-MB-231 human breast cancer cells. The C57BL/6 mice were treated with DOX to induce DICT in vivo, and alterations in electrophysiological characteristics, serum biomarkers, and histological features were examined. The PTA treatment inhibited DOX-induced decrease in H9c2 cell viability but did not affect the MDA-MB-231 cell viability. Additionally, the PTA restored the abnormal heart rate, R-R interval, QT interval, and ST segment and inhibited the decrease in serum cardiac and hepatic toxicity indicators in the DICT model. Moreover, the PTA administration protected against myocardial fibrosis and apoptosis in the heart tissue of mice with DICT. PTA treatment restored DOX-induced decrease in the expression of NAD(P)H dehydrogenase quinone acceptor oxidoreductase 1 in a PTA concentration-dependent manner. In conclusion, the PTA inhibitory effect on DICT is attributable to its antioxidant properties, suggesting the potential of PTA as a phytotherapeutic agent for DICT.

A survey of the perceptions of barriers to and facilitators of cardiac rehabilitation in healthcare providers and policy stakeholders.

BACKGROUND: Cardiac rehabilitation (CR) is a prognostic management strategy to help patients with CVD achieve a good quality of life and lower the rates of recurrence, readmission, and premature death from disease. Globally, cardiac rehabilitation is poorly established in hospitals and communities. Hence, this study aimed to investigate the discrepancies in the perceptions of the need for CR programs and relevant health policies between directors of hospitals and health policy personnel in South Korea to shed light on the status and to establish practically superior and effective strategies to promote CR in South Korea. METHODS: We sent a questionnaire to 592 public health policy managers and directors of selected hospitals, 132 of whom returned a completed questionnaire (response rate: 22.3%). The participants were categorized into five types of organizations depending on their practice of PCI (Percutaneous Coronary Intervention), establishment of cardiac rehabilitation, director of hospital, and government's policy makers. Differences in the opinions between directors of hospitals that perform/do not perform PCI, directors of hospitals with/without cardiac rehabilitation, and between hospital directors and health policy makers were analyzed. RESULTS: Responses about targeting diseases for cardiac rehabilitation, patients' roles in cardiac rehabilitation, hospitals' roles in cardiac rehabilitation, and governmental health policies' roles in cardiac rehabilitation were more positive among hospitals that perform PCI than those that do not. Responses to questions about the effectiveness of cardiac rehabilitation and hospitals' roles in cardiac rehabilitation tended to be more positive in hospitals with cardiac rehabilitation than in those without. Hospital directors responded more positively to questions about targeting diseases for cardiac rehabilitation and governmental health policies' roles in cardiac rehabilitation than policy makers, and both hospitals and public organizations provided negative responses to the question about patients' roles in cardiac rehabilitation. Responses to questions about targeting diseases for cardiac rehabilitation, patients' roles in cardiac rehabilitation, and governmental health policies' roles in cardiac rehabilitation were more positive in hospitals that perform PCI than those that do not and public organizations. CONCLUSIONS: Hospitals must ensure timely referral, provide education, and promote the need for cardiac rehabilitation. In addition, governmental socioeconomic support is needed in a varity of aspects.

Space Target Classification Improvement by Generating Micro-Doppler Signatures Considering Incident Angle.

Classifying space targets from debris is critical for radar resource management as well as rapid response during the mid-course phase of space target flight. Due to advances in deep learning techniques, various approaches have been studied to classify space targets by using micro-Doppler signatures. Previous studies have only used micro-Doppler signatures such as spectrogram and cadence velocity diagram (CVD), but in this paper, we propose a method to generate micro-Doppler signatures taking into account the relative incident angle that a radar can obtain during the target tracking process. The AlexNet and ResNet-18 networks, which are representative convolutional neural network architectures, are transfer-learned using two types of datasets constructed using the proposed and conventional signatures to classify six classes of space targets and a debris-cone, rounded cone, cone with empennages, cylinder, curved plate, and square plate. Among the proposed signatures, the spectrogram had lower classification accuracy than the conventional spectrogram, but the classification accuracy increased from 88.97% to 92.11% for CVD. Furthermore, when recalculated not with six classes but simply with only two classes of precessing space targets and tumbling debris, the proposed spectrogram and CVD show the classification accuracy of over 99.82% for both AlexNet and ResNet-18. Specially, for two classes, CVD provided results with higher accuracy than the spectrogram.

Inhibition of melanogenesis by Aster yomena callus pellet extract in melanoma cells and patients with skin pigmentation.

Plant tissue culture holds immense potential for the production of secondary metabolites with various physiological functions. We recently established a plant tissue culture system capable of producing secondary metabolites from Aster yomena. This study aimed to uncover the mechanisms underlying the potential therapeutic effects of Aster yomena callus pellet extract (AYC-P-E) on photoaging-induced skin pigmentation. Excessive melanogenesis was induced in B16F10 melanoma cells using α-melanocyte stimulating hormone (α-MSH). The effects of AYC-P-E treatment on melanin biosynthesis inducers and melanin synthesis inhibition were assessed. Based on the results, a clinical study was conducted in subjects with skin pigmentation. AYC-P-E inhibited melanogenesis in α-MSH-treated B16F10 cells, accompanied by decreased mRNA and protein expression of melanin biosynthesis inducers, including cyclic AMP response element-binding protein (CREB), tyrosinase, microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF), tyrosinase related protein-1 (TRP-1), and TRP-2. This anti-melanogenic effect was mediated by mitogen-activated protein kinase (MEK)/extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) and protein kinase B (AKT) phosphorylation. Treatment of subjects with skin pigmentation with AYC-P-E-containing cream formulations resulted in 3.33%, 7.06%, and 8.68% improvement in the melanin levels at 2, 4, and 8 weeks, respectively. Our findings suggest that AYC-P-E inhibits excessive melanogenesis by activating MEK/ERK and AKT signaling, potentiating its cosmetic applications in hyperpigmentation treatment.

Classification of Space Objects by Using Deep Learning with Micro-Doppler Signature Images.

Radar target classification is an important task in the missile defense system. State-of-the-art studies using micro-doppler frequency have been conducted to classify the space object targets. However, existing studies rely highly on feature extraction methods. Therefore, the generalization performance of the classifier is limited and there is room for improvement. Recently, to improve the classification performance, the popular approaches are to build a convolutional neural network (CNN) architecture with the help of transfer learning and use the generative adversarial network (GAN) to increase the training datasets. However, these methods still have drawbacks. First, they use only one feature to train the network. Therefore, the existing methods cannot guarantee that the classifier learns more robust target characteristics. Second, it is difficult to obtain large amounts of data that accurately mimic real-world target features by performing data augmentation via GAN instead of simulation. To mitigate the above problem, we propose a transfer learning-based parallel network with the spectrogram and the cadence velocity diagram (CVD) as the inputs. In addition, we obtain an EM simulation-based dataset. The radar-received signal is simulated according to a variety of dynamics using the concept of shooting and bouncing rays with relative aspect angles rather than the scattering center reconstruction method. Our proposed model is evaluated on our generated dataset. The proposed method achieved about 0.01 to 0.39% higher accuracy than the pre-trained networks with a single input feature.

Metabolomic Analysis of Morus Cultivar Root Extracts and Their Ameliorative Effect on Testosterone-Induced Prostate Enlargement in Sprague-Dawley Rats.

We investigated the metabolite changes of Morus roots (MRs) according to different cultivar families (Simheung, Daesim, Cheong-il, Sangchon, Daeseong, Suhong, Suwon, and Igsu) using ultra-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-QTOF-MS) to understand the relationship between different cultivars and metabolite changes. Data were analyzed by partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA), and samples were successfully separated in PLS-DA scores. Eight metabolites in the electrospray ionization (ESI)-positive mode and 16 metabolites in the ESI-negative mode contributed to the separation in PLS-DA. Our data suggest that comparative analysis of MR metabolites according to different cultivars is useful to better understand the relationship between the different cultivars and metabolite changes. Furthermore, we analyzed the MRs for their ability to improve benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). LNCaP cells were used to evaluate the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) inhibitory activity of MRs, and, amongst them, the extract with the highest activity was selected. Igsu demonstrated the highest inhibition effect of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) expression among the MR cultivars. Igsu was also evaluated by administration in a testosterone-induced benign prostatic hyperplasia model in Sprague-Dawley rats. Igsu was shown to ameliorate BPH as evidenced by the prostate index, expression of androgen receptor (AR) signaling-related protein, growth factors, cell proliferation-related proteins, apoptosis-related proteins, mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling proteins, and histological analysis. Hence, this study strongly suggests that Igsu may have a beneficial effect of on BPH.

Effect of digital scans on marginal and internal discrepancies of zirconia crowns.

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM: A few studies have compared the accuracy of newly introduced intraoral scanners (IOSs); however, limited evidence is available concerning which system provides the best marginal and internal adaptation of zirconia crowns. PURPOSE: The purpose of this in vitro study was to compare the marginal and internal discrepancies of zirconia crowns fabricated with 4 digital scanners by a silicone replica technique. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A maxillary central incisor was prepared for a ceramic crown and duplicated to form 10 metal abutments. Four groups of zirconia crowns with different scanning methods were produced for each die: 1 laboratory scanner, L (Ceramill Map 400), and 3 different IOSs, CS (CS3600), TR (TRIOS3), and CE (CEREC Omnicam). The marginal and internal discrepancies were measured by a silicone replica technique under a static load of 50 N. The replica specimens were sectioned buccolingually and mesiodistally and then examined by using a stereomicroscope (JTZ-7XT) at ×200 magnification. Fifteen reference points were measured on each specimen. One-way ANOVAs with the Duncan multiple range tests were used for statistical analysis of the data (α=.05). RESULTS: The mean marginal discrepancies of zirconia crowns were 12.7 µm for group L, 12.6 µm for group CS, 14.8 µm for group TR, and 15.8 µm for group CE. No significant differences were found in marginal and incisal discrepancies among 4 groups. However, groups CS and L showed significantly better cervical and axial discrepancies than groups TR and CE. Group TR showed significantly better axial discrepancy than group CE. CONCLUSIONS: Zirconia crowns made by using the CS3600 and the laboratory scanner with a conventional impression showed significantly better internal discrepancies than those made by using TRIOS3 and CEREC Omnicam.

Genetic Characterization of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus, South Korea, 2018.

We evaluated genetic variation in Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) imported to South Korea in 2018 using specimens from a patient and isolates from infected Caco-2 cells. The MERS-CoV strain in this study was genetically similar to a strain isolated in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in 2017.

Comparison of microinsulated needle radiofrequency and carbon dioxide laser ablation for the treatment of syringoma.

Syringoma is a benign adnexal tumor originating from the intradermal eccrine ducts and predominantly occurs in women at puberty or later in life. We present a case of a 30-year-old woman with a 2-year history of syringoma on her neck and axillar region. She was treated with two devices in a split manner. The right-sided lesions of the neck were treated with one session of 10,600-nm carbon dioxide (CO2 ) laser ablation. The left-sided lesions were treated with microinsulated needle radiofrequency (RF) three times. After treatment, the lesions treated with CO2 showed hypertrophic scar formation, but the other side lesions treated with microinsulated needle RF showed a marked reduction in the size and number of lesions, without any adverse effects such as scarring and hyperpigmentation related to epidermal damage. The treatment of syringoma with microinsulated needle RF, which is insulated at the point of epidermal contact, results in good cosmetic outcomes. Syringoma, microinsulated needle RF, CO2 laser.

An Outbreak of Scombroid Fish Poisoning Associated with Consumption of Yellowtail Fish in Seoul, Korea.

BACKGROUND: In November 2016, an outbreak of scombroid fish poisoning occurred among elementary school students in Seoul, Korea. An epidemiological investigation was conducted to identify the cause and source of the illness. METHODS: A case-control study was conducted among school members who had eaten lunch in the school. The histamine level in the suspect food item (yellowtail steak) was measured. RESULTS: Fifty-five (5.4%) of 1,017 school members who consumed fish for lunch fell ill. The principal symptoms were flushing (100%) and headache (72.7%); the median incubation period was 40 minutes. All had consumed yellowtail steak (odds ratio, 9.24; 95% confidence interval, 1.22-69.91). Leftover steak had an elevated histamine level (293 mg/kg), higher than the allowed 200 mg/kg. CONCLUSION: An outbreak of scombroid fish poisoning was confirmed; this is the first such report in Korea. Detailed food safety guidelines must be established.

The effect of alendronate soaking and ultraviolet treatment on bone-implant interface.

OBJECTIVE: Rapid and stable fixation of dental implants is crucial for successful treatment. Herein, we examined whether the simultaneous treatment of titanium implants with ultraviolet (UV) and alendronate (ALN) synergistically improved the bone-to-implant contact. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We assessed the in vitro effects of UV radiation-treated (UV+/ALN-), ALN-soaked (UV-/ALN+), and UV radiation/ALN-treated (UV+/ALN+) titanium implants on cell proliferation, cytotoxicity, cell adhesion, and osteoblast differentiation using MG-63 osteoblast-like cells by the assays of MTS, live/dead, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, and alizarin red S (AR-S) staining, respectively. Furthermore, in vivo bone formation at the bone-implant interface efficiency determined using a rabbit tibia implantation. Implants were divided into 3 experimental groups (UV+/ALN-, UV-/ALN+, UV+/ALN+) and the non-treated control (UV-/ALN-) group and transplanted into the proximal tibia of rabbits. At 1, 2, 4, and 8 weeks post-operation, bone formation at the bone-implant interface was evaluated by micro-computed tomography and histological analysis. RESULTS: MG-63 cells cultured on UV+/ALN+ implants showed significantly higher cell proliferation, ALP activity, and calcium mineralization than those cultured on other implants (P < 0.05). Furthermore, SEM observation showed the highest increase in cell attachment and growth on the UV+/ALN+ implants. In vivo, experimental groups at all time points showed greater peri-implant bone formation than the control group. At 8 weeks post-implantation, in the UV+/ALN+ group, significantly higher bone formation was observed than the UV+/ALN- or UV-/ALN+ group, respectively (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Treatment of titanium surfaces with UV and ALN may synergistically enhance osteoblastic differentiation and mineralization in vitro and enhance bone formation at the bone-implant interface in vivo. These data suggest that UV and ALN treatment may improve the osseointegration of titanium implants.

Dynamics of Vitamin D Metabolism in Maternal-Fetal Dyads.

OBJECTIVES: Metabolites of vitamin D in maternal-neonatal dyads remain relatively unexplored. The goal of this study was to evaluate concentrations of 25(OH)D3, 24,25(OH)2D3, and 3-epi-25(OH)D3 in maternal-infant pairs at delivery. METHODS: Serum samples of maternal and infant cord blood were collected on 131 mother-infant pairs at delivery. Vitamin D metabolites were analyzed in triplicate using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Statistical analysis was conducted using the Fisher exact test, Wilcoxon rank sum test, and Spearman correlation coefficients. RESULTS: Mean 25(OH)D3 concentrations in maternal and cord blood were 32.9 and 18.5 ng/mL, respectively; mean maternal and cord 24,25(OH)2D3 were 2.0 versus 1.1 ng/mL, respectively. Absolute concentrations of 3-epi-25(OH)D3 were similar in maternal and cord samples (2.4 vs 2.2 ng/mL), whereas the proportion of the total 25(OH)D as the 3-epimer was 6.5% in maternal samples and 10.5% in cord samples. This suggests that the fetus contributes significantly to 3-epi-25(OH)D3 production. In contrast, the ratio of 25(OH)D3:24,25(OH)2D3 was identical in maternal and cord samples (18.5) suggesting equivalent CYP24A1 activity in mother and fetus. Maternal and cord metabolite levels were highly correlated (r = 0.78, 0.90, 0.89 for 25(OH)D3, 24,25(OH)2D3, and 3-epi-25(OH)D3, respectively, P = 0.001 for all). Serum concentrations of all metabolites were lower in nonwhite infants compared with white infants. Maternal and cord concentrations of 25(OH)D3 were positively associated with birth weight (r = 0.21, P = 0.02; r = 0.25, P = 0.003, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: This data suggests that although maternal and cord concentrations of vitamin D metabolites are highly correlated, regulation of specific vitamin D metabolites in the mother and the neonate may be mediated independently.

Effect of implant number and distribution on load transfer in implant-supported partial fixed dental prostheses for the anterior maxilla: A photoelastic stress analysis study.

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM: The 4-, 3- or even 2-implant-supported partial fixed dental prosthesis (PFDP) designs have been used to rehabilitate the anterior edentulous maxilla. PURPOSE: The purpose of this in vitro study was to compare the stress distribution in the supporting tissues surrounding implants placed in the anterior maxilla with 5 PFDP designs. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A photoelastic model of the human maxilla with an anterior edentulous region was made with photoelastic resin (PL-2; Vishay Micro-Measurements), and 6 straight implants (OsseoSpeed; Astra Tech AB) were placed in the 6 anterior tooth positions. The 5 design concepts based on implant location were as follows: model 6I: 6 implants; model 2C2CI: 4 implants (2 canines and 2 central incisors); model 2C2LI: 4 implants (2 canines and 2 lateral incisors); model 2C1CI: 3 implants (2 canines and 1 central incisor); and model 2C: 2 canines. A load of 127.4 N was applied on the cingulum of 3 teeth at a 30-degree angle to the long axis of the implant. Stresses that developed in the supporting structure were recorded photographically. RESULTS: The 6-implant-supported PFDP exhibited the most even and lowest distribution of stresses in all loading conditions. When the canine was loaded, the 2- or 3-implant-supported PFDP showed higher stresses around the implant at the canine position than did the 4- or 6-implant-supported PFDP. When the central incisor or lateral incisor was loaded, the two 4-implant-supported PFDPs exhibited similar levels of stresses around the implants and showed lower stresses than did the 2- or 3-implant-supported PFDP. CONCLUSIONS: Implant number and distribution influenced stress distribution around the implants in the anterior maxilla. With a decrease in implant number, the stresses around the implants increased.

Up-and-Coming Mandibular Reconstruction Technique With Autologous Human Bone Marrow Stem Cells and Iliac Bone Graft in Patients With Large Bony Defect.

Large bony defects followed by resection of the mandible need to be reconstructed by various surgical techniques such as the fibular flap. In this article, we report the case of mandibular reconstruction with autologous human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells and autogenous bone graft, followed by placement of dental implants and prosthodontic treatment in a patient who has been failed to reconstruct mandibular bone defect after resection of mandible.

Compressive Strength and Chloride Ion Penetration Resistance of GGBFS-Based Alkali-Activated Composites Containing Ferronickel Slag Aggregates.

Various studies have reported the use of alkali-activated composites to enable sustainable development in the construction industry as these composites eliminate the need for cement. However, few studies have used ferronickel slag aggregates (FSAs) as an aggregate material for alkali-activated composites. Alkali-activated composites are environmentally friendly and sustainable construction materials that can reduce carbon dioxide emissions from cement production, which accounts for 7% of global carbon emissions. In the construction industry, various research was conducted to improve the performance of alkali-activated composites, such as changing the binder, alkali activator, or aggregate. However, research on the application of ferronickel slag aggregate as an aggregate in alkali-activated composites is still insufficient. In addition, the effect of ferronickel slag aggregate on the performance of alkali-activated composites when using calcium-based or sodium-based alkali activators has not been reported yet. Thus, this study prepared ground granulated blast-furnace slag-based alkali-activated composites with 0, 10, 20, and 30% FSA as natural fine aggregate substitutes. Then, the fluidity, micro-hydration heat, compressive strength properties, and resistance to chloride ion penetration of the alkali-activated composite were evaluated. The test results showed that the maximum temperature of the CF10, CF20, and CF30 samples with FSA was 35.4-36.4 °C, which is 3.8-6.7% higher than that of the CF00 sample. The 7 d compressive strength of the sample prepared with CaO was higher than that of the sample prepared with Na2SiO3. Nevertheless, the 28 d compressive strength of the NF20 sample with Na2SiO3 and 20% FSA was the highest, with a value of approximately 55.0 MPa. After 7 d, the total charge passing through the sample with Na2SiO3 was approximately 1.79-2.24 times higher than that of the sample with CaO. Moreover, the total charge decreased with increasing FSA content.