Heukharang (Lactuca sativa L.) extracts enhanced the sleep behavior of mice: potential involvement of adenosine A1 and A2A receptors.

A significant proportion of the world's population suffers from insomnia, a disorder characterized by complications in initiating and maintaining sleep. Many medications used to treat insomnia target the γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) neurotransmitter system. However, these substances, such as benzodiazepines, induce significant adverse consequences, including dependence and memory impairment, after prolonged use. Thus, current studies are aimed at developing therapeutic hypnotics derived from natural sources that may cause less severe side effects. Heukharang is a variety of lettuce from Korea that was discovered to contain sleep-promoting compounds. Therefore, we investigated the potential effects of sub-chronic administration of Heukharang extract (FSD-LS) on sleep behavior (pentobarbital-induced sleeping test), brain wave activity and sleep architecture (electroencephalography), and physiological behavior (open-field test and rota-rod) in mice, along with radioligand binding assays (GABAA, adenosine A1 and A2A receptors). We found that FSD-LS prolonged the total sleep duration and reduced the onset time of sleep, and enhanced delta wave power and non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep duration, all indicating persistent sleep-enhancing effects. FSD-LS lacked adverse effects on the spontaneous locomotor activity and motor coordination of mice, unlike diazepam. Pharmacological blocking using caffeine and bicuculline supported the possible involvement of adenosine receptors in the sleep-promoting effects of FSD-LS, with partial contribution from GABA receptor activity. Overall, our study recommends FSD-LS as a potential source for the development of sleep-aiding therapeutics.

Long-term survival analysis of robotic esophagectomy for esophageal cancer.

Robotic esophagectomy has improved early outcomes and enhanced the quality of lymphadenectomy for esophageal cancer surgery. This study aimed to determine risk factors for long-term survival following robotic esophagectomy and the causes of long-term mortality. We included patients who underwent robotic esophagectomy at our institute between 2010 and 2022. Robotic esophagectomy was defined as a surgical procedure performed robotically in both the abdomen and thorax. Robotic esophagectomy was performed in patients at all stages, including advanced stages, even in patients with stage IV and supraclavicular lymph node metastasis. A total of 340 patients underwent robotic esophagectomy during the study period. Ivor-Lewis operation and McKeown operation were performed on 153 (45.0%) and 187 (55.0%) patients, respectively. The five-year survival rates based on clinical stages were as follows: 85.2% in stage I, 62.0% in stage II, 54.5% in stage III, and 40.3% in stage IV. Risk factors for long-term survival included body mass index, Charlson comorbidity index, clinical stages, and postoperative complications of grade 4 or higher. Among the cases of long-term mortality, recurrence accounted for 42 patients (61.7%), while non-cancer-related death occurred in 26 patients (38.2%). The most common cause of non-cancer-related death was malnutrition and poor general condition, observed in 11 patients (16.2%). Robotic esophagectomy has demonstrated the ability to achieve acceptable long-term survival rates, even in patients with cervical lymph node metastasis. However, addressing high-grade postoperative complications and long-term malnutrition remains crucial for further improving the long-term survival outcomes of patients with esophageal cancer.

An improved bacterial mRNA enrichment strategy in dual RNA sequencing to unveil the dynamics of plant-bacterial interactions.

BACKGROUND: Dual RNA sequencing is a powerful tool that enables a comprehensive understanding of the molecular dynamics underlying plant-microbe interactions. RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) poses technical hurdles in the transcriptional analysis of plant-bacterial interactions, especially in bacterial transcriptomics, owing to the presence of abundant ribosomal RNA (rRNA), which potentially limits the coverage of essential transcripts. Therefore, to achieve cost-effective and comprehensive sequencing of the bacterial transcriptome, it is imperative to devise efficient methods for eliminating rRNA and enhancing the proportion of bacterial mRNA. In this study, we modified a strand-specific dual RNA-seq method with the goal of enriching the proportion of bacterial mRNA in the bacteria-infected plant samples. The enriched method involved the sequential separation of plant mRNA by poly A selection and rRNA removal for bacterial mRNA enrichment followed by strand specific RNA-seq library preparation steps. We assessed the efficiency of the enriched method in comparison to the conventional method by employing various plant-bacterial interactions, including both host and non-host resistance interactions with pathogenic bacteria, as well as an interaction with a beneficial rhizosphere associated bacteria using pepper and tomato plants respectively. RESULTS: In all cases of plant-bacterial interactions examined, an increase in mapping efficiency was observed with the enriched method although it produced a lower read count. Especially in the compatible interaction with Xanthmonas campestris pv. Vesicatoria race 3 (Xcv3), the enriched method enhanced the mapping ratio of Xcv3-infected pepper samples to its own genome (15.09%; 1.45-fold increase) and the CDS (8.92%; 1.49-fold increase). The enriched method consistently displayed a greater number of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) than the conventional RNA-seq method at all fold change threshold levels investigated, notably during the early stages of Xcv3 infection in peppers. The Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment analysis revealed that the DEGs were predominantly enriched in proteolysis, kinase, serine type endopeptidase and heme binding activities. CONCLUSION: The enriched method demonstrated in this study will serve as a suitable alternative to the existing RNA-seq method to enrich bacterial mRNA and provide novel insights into the intricate transcriptomic alterations within the plant-bacterial interplay.

2023 Korean Society of Echocardiography position paper for the diagnosis and management of valvular heart disease, part II: mitral and tricuspid valve disease.

This manuscript represents the official position of the Korean Society of Echocardiography on valvular heart diseases. This position paper focuses on the diagnosis and management of valvular heart diseases with referring to the guidelines recently published by the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association and the European Society of Cardiology. The committee sought to reflect national data on the topic of valvular heart diseases published to date through a systematic literature search based on validity and relevance. In the part II of this article, we intend to present recommendations for diagnosis and treatment of mitral valve disease and tricuspid valve disease.

Does COVID-19 vaccination increase the risk of interstitial lung disease at a population level?

This study showed a significantly lower incidence of ILD among COVID-19 vaccinated individuals compared to unvaccinated, suggesting that the risk of COVID-19 vaccine-related ILD is not as high as previously reported https://bit.ly/3TWzzxP.

Impact of multidrug resistance on outcomes in hematologic cancer patients with bacterial bloodstream infections.

Despite the improved outcomes in patients with hematological malignancies, infections caused by multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs) pose a new threat to these patients. We retrospectively reviewed the patients with hematological cancer and bacterial bloodstream infections (BSIs) at a tertiary hospital between 2003 and 2022 to assess the impact of MDROs on outcomes. Among 328 BSIs, 81 (24.7%) were caused by MDROs. MDRO rates increased from 10.3% (2003-2007) to 39.7% (2018-2022) (P < 0.001). The 30-day mortality rate was 25.0%, which was significantly higher in MDRO-infected patients than in non-MDRO-infected patients (48.1 vs. 17.4%; P < 0.001). The observed trend was more pronounced in patients with newly diagnosed diseases and relapsed/refractory disease but less prominent in patients in complete remission. Among MDROs, carbapenem-resistant Gram-negative bacteria exhibited the highest mortality, followed by vancomycin-resistant enterococci, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, and extended-spectrum ß-lactamase-producing Enterobacteriaceae. Multivariate analysis identified independent risk factors for 30-day mortality as age ≥ 65 years, newly diagnosed disease, relapsed/refractory disease, MDROs, polymicrobial infection, CRP ≥ 20 mg/L, and inappropriate initial antibiotic therapy. In conclusion, MDROs contribute to adverse outcomes in patients with hematological cancer and bacterial BSIs, with effects varying based on the underlying disease status and causative pathogens. Appropriate initial antibiotic therapy may improve patient outcomes.

Staphylococcal exoribonuclease YhaM destabilizes ribosomes by targeting the mRNA of a hibernation factor.

The hibernation-promoting factor (Hpf) in Staphylococcus aureus binds to 70S ribosomes and induces the formation of the 100S complex (70S dimer), leading to translational avoidance and occlusion of ribosomes from RNase R-mediated degradation. Here, we show that the 3'-5' exoribonuclease YhaM plays a previously unrecognized role in modulating ribosome stability. Unlike RNase R, which directly degrades the 16S rRNA of ribosomes in S. aureus cells lacking Hpf, YhaM destabilizes ribosomes by indirectly degrading the 3'-hpf mRNA that carries an intrinsic terminator. YhaM adopts an active hexameric assembly and robustly cleaves ssRNA in a manganese-dependent manner. In vivo, YhaM appears to be a low-processive enzyme, trimming the hpf mRNA by only 1 nucleotide. Deletion of yhaM delays cell growth. These findings substantiate the physiological significance of this cryptic enzyme and the protective role of Hpf in ribosome integrity, providing a mechanistic understanding of bacterial ribosome turnover.

Ultrasensitive detection of 5-hydroxymethylcytosine in genomic DNA using a graphene-based sensor modified with biotin and gold nanoparticles.

Ten-eleven translocation (TET) proteins orchestrate deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) methylation-demethylation dynamics by oxidizing 5-methylcytosine to 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5hmC) and are frequently inactivated in various cancers. Due to the significance of 5hmC as an epigenetic biomarker for cancer diagnosis, pathogenesis, and treatment, its rapid and precise quantification is essential. Here, we report a highly sensitive electrochemical method for quantifying genomic 5hmC using graphene sheets that were electrochemically exfoliated and functionalized with biotin and gold nanoparticles (Bt-AuNPs) through a single-step electrical method. The attachment of Bt-AuNPs to graphene enhances the specificity of 5hmC-containing DNA and augments the oxidation of 5hmC to 5-formylcytosine in DNA. When coupled to a gold electrode, the Bt-AuNP-graphene-based sensor exhibits exceptional sensitivity and specificity for detecting 5hmC, with a detection limit of 63.2 fM. Furthermore, our sensor exhibits a remarkable capacity to measure 5hmC levels across a range of biological samples, including preclinical mouse tissues with varying 5hmC levels due to either TET gene disruption or oncogenic transformation, as well as human prostate cancer cell lines. Therefore, our sensing strategy has substantial potential for cancer diagnostics and prognosis.

A Power-Efficient Envelope-Detector-Less Amplitude-Shift-Keying Forward Telemetry for Wirelessly Powered Biomedical Devices.

This paper proposes an envelope-detector-less (EDL) amplitude-shift-keying (ASK) forward telemetry (FT) demodulator for wireless power/data transfer (WPDT) systems. The EDL ASK FT demodulator can substitute bulky and power-hungry components, which are an envelope detector and an analog comparator in the conventional ASK FT demodulator, with a digital controller, reducing both power dissipation and chip area. The proposed demodulator shares the gate control signals of pass transistors, which are used in an ac-dc regulator for wireless power reception, to maintain a constant load voltage while efficiently demodulating the forward telemetry data. Also, a proposed digital cleaner in the EDL demodulator refines this control signal into a wide pulse without suffering from resonant frequency noise, while a synchronizer can align its frequency with the data rate and resonant frequency. The 0.25-µm CMOS prototype chip of the proposed power-path-less EDL ASK FT demodulator, equipped with the ac-dc regulator, demonstrates a significant 38.2% reduction in power dissipation compared to the conventional ASK FT demodulator. Moreover, the EDL ASK FT demodulator occupies only 0.023-mm2 silicon area and achieves a low bit error rate (BER) less than 10-4 while maintaining a regulated voltage of 4.5 V on the load.

Poly(l-threonine-co-l-threonine Succinate) Thermogels for Sustained Release of Lixisenatide.

Negatively charged poly(l-Thr-co-l-Thr succinate) (PTTs) was developed as a new thermogel. Aqueous PTT solutions underwent thermogelation over a concentration range of 6.0-8.3 wt %. Dynamic light scattering, FTIR, 1H NMR, and COSY spectra revealed the partial strengthening of the ß-sheet conformation and the dehydration of PTTs during the transition. Extendin-4 was released from the PTTs thermogel with a large initial burst release, whereas positively charged lixisenatide significantly reduced its initial burst release to 25%, and up to 77% of the dose was released from the gel over 14 days. In vivo study revealed a high plasma concentration of lixisenatide over 5 days and hypoglycemic efficacy was observed for type II diabetic rats over 7-10 days. The biocompatible PTTs were degraded by subcutaneous enzymes. This study thus demonstrates an effective strategy for reducing the initial burst release of protein drugs from thermogels with the introduction of electrostatic interactions between the drug and the thermogel.

Dyakonov-Perel-like Orbital and Spin Relaxations in Centrosymmetric Systems.

The Dyakonov-Perel (DP) mechanism of spin relaxation has long been considered irrelevant in centrosymmetric systems since it was developed originally for noncentrosymmetric ones. We investigate whether this conventional understanding extends to the realm of orbital relaxation, which has recently attracted significant attention. Surprisingly, we find that orbital relaxation in centrosymmetric systems exhibits the DP-like behavior in the weak scattering regime. Moreover, the DP-like orbital relaxation can make the spin relaxation in centrosymmetric systems DP-like through the spin-orbit coupling. We also find that the DP-like orbital and spin relaxations are anisotropic even in materials with high crystal symmetry (such as face-centered cubic structure) and may depend on the orbital and spin nature of electron wave functions.

Comparative clinical outcomes of irrigation techniques in burr-hole craniostomy for chronic subdural hemorrhage: a multicenter cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Chronic Subdural Hemorrhage(cSDH) is often treated with surgical blood drainage, but concerns about recurrence and outcomes persist. Surgical techniques, including irrigation, vary. This study compares the outcomes of irrigation in cSDH surgery. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From September 2020 to September 2022, 92 cSDH patients underwent surgery. Two different irrigation methods were used: extensive irrigation (IG) and non-irrigation (NIG). Method of irrigation was selected by each surgeon's preference. Parameters measured included volume of hematoma changes, midline shifting, complications, and basic demographics. Recurrence was defined as symptomatic or hematoma expansion more than double the volume before surgery. Factors predicting recurrence and irrigation method impact were analyzed. RESULTS: Eleven patients were excluded because of bilateral or related to other disease. We analyzed 81 patients (44 NIG, 37 IG). Recurrence occurred in 6 IG cases (16.2%) and 1 NIG case (2.3%). Irrigation method significantly affected recurrence (P = 0.043). Age, gender, medication, medical history, and preoperative measurements had no major impact on recurrence. NIG had unexpected cases of intracerebral hemorrhage. CONCLUSION: Extensive irrigation may increase recurrence in cSDH drainage. Non-irrigation drainage had fewer recurrences, but unexpected complications arose. Careful drainage in non-irrigated cases is crucial.

Exploring effects of organic selenium supplementation on pork loin: Se content, meat quality, antioxidant capacity, and metabolomic profiling during storage.

This research was conducted to study the effects of organic selenium (Se) supplements at different levels on pork loin quality during storage. Fifteen pork loins were procured randomly from three groups, Con (fed basal diet), Se15 (fed 0.15 ppm organic Se along with 0.10 ppm inorganic Se), and Se45 (fed 0.45 ppm organic Se along with 0.10 ppm inorganic Se). Each sample was analyzed for Se contents, antioxidant properties (glutathione peroxidase [GPx] activity, 2,2'-azinobis-[3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid] [ABTS] and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl [DPPH] radical scavenging activities, 2-thiobarbituric acid reactive substances), physicochemical properties (water holding capacity, pH, color), and metabolomic analysis during 14-day storage period. Se45-supplemented group showed significantly higher Se contents and GPx activity than the other groups throughout the storage period. However, other antioxidant properties were not significantly affected by Se supplementation. Selenium supplementation did not have an adverse impact on physicochemical properties. Nuclear Magnetic Resonance-based metabolomic analysis indicated that the selenium supply conditions were insufficient to induce metabolic change. These results suggest that organic Se (0.15 and 0.45 ppm) can accumulate high Se content in pork loins without compromising quality.

Effects of Immersive Technology-based Education for Undergraduate Nursing Students: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis using the GRADE approach.

BACKGROUND: The adoption of immersive technology in simulation-based nursing education has grown significantly, offering a solution to resource limitations and enabling safe access to clinical environments. Despite its advantages, there are still diverse reports regarding the effectiveness of immersive technology. It is crucial to verify the effectiveness of immersive technology in nursing education to inform future educational programs. OBJECTIVE: This systematic review aimed to identify the contents of immersive technology-based education for undergraduate nursing students and evaluate the effectiveness of immersive technology compared to traditional teaching methods. METHODS: A literature search was performed using four databases: PubMed, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), Embase, and Web of Science, with the latest search completed on January 19, 2023. The inclusion criteria were as follows: participants were undergraduate nursing students; studies were published in Korean or English; designs included randomized controlled trials (RCTs) or non-randomized studies; and interventions involved virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), mixed reality (MR), or extended reality (XR). Quality assessment was conducted using Version 2 of the Cochrane risk of bias tool (RoB 2) for RCTs and the Risk of Bias Assessment Tool for Non-Randomized Studies (RoBANS). The main outcomes of the included studies were classified according to the New World Kirkpatrick Model (NWKM), ranging from Level 1 (Reaction) to Level 4 (Results). Meta-analysis was conducted using RevMan 5.4 software, and subgroup analysis was conducted due to heterogeneity of the results of meta-analysis. The Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) approach was adopted for assessing certainty and synthesizing results of the relevant literature. RESULTS: A total of 23 studies were included, with participants numbers ranging from 33 to 289. Nineteen studies adopted VR to simulate various nursing scenarios, including disaster training, resuscitation, health assessments, and home healthcare. Four studies utilized AR technologies. Fifteen studies involved virtual patients in their scenarios. Based on NWKM, the main outcome variables were classified as Level 1 (usability and satisfaction), Level 2 (knowledge, motivation, confidence, performance, attitude, and self-efficacy), and Level 3 (clinical reasoning). Level 4 outcomes were not found in selected studies. Results of the subgroup analysis of meta-analysis showed that immersive technology-based nursing education was more effective than traditional education on knowledge attainment (standard mean difference (SMD)=0.59, 95% confidence interval (CI)=0.28-0.90, P<.001, I2=49%). Additionally, there were significant difference differences between the experimental groups and the control groups in confidence (SMD=0.70, 95% CI= 0.05-1.35, P=.03, I2=82%), and self-efficacy (SMD=0.86, 95% CI= 0.42-1.30; P<.001, I2=63%). CONCLUSIONS: These findings support the effectiveness of immersive technology-based education for undergraduate nursing students, despite heterogeneity in methods and interventions. We suggest that long-term cohort studies should be conducted to evaluate the effects of immersive technology-based nursing education on the NWKM Level 4.

Subconjunctival aflibercept inhibits corneal angiogenesis and VEGFR-3+CD11b+ cells.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to investigate the effects of subconjunctival injection of aflibercept, a soluble protein decoy for VEGFR-1 and VEGFR-2, on corneal angiogenesis and VEGFR-expressing CD11b+ cells in a mouse model of suture-induced corneal neovascularization. METHODS: Corneal neovascularization was induced in BALB/c mice by placing three sutures on the cornea. Immediately after surgery, either 200 µg aflibercept (5 µL) or an equal volume of phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) was administered into the subconjunctival space. Seven days after later, corneal new vessels were quantified through clinical examination and measurement of the CD31-stained area in corneal flat mounts. The levels of pro-angiogenic and inflammatory markers in the cornea were evaluated using RT-qPCR. The percentages of VEGFR-2+CD11b+ cells and VEGFR-3+CD11b+ cells were analyzed in the cornea, blood, and draining cervical lymph nodes (DLNs) using flow cytometry. RESULTS: Subconjunctival injection of aflibercept significantly reduced the growth of corneal new vessels compared to subconjunctival PBS injection. The mRNA levels of Cd31, vascular growth factors (Vegfc and Angpt1), and pro-angiogenic/inflammatory markers (Tek/Tie2, Mrc1, Mrc2, and Il6) in the cornea were downregulated by subconjunctival aflibercept. Also, the percentage of VEGFR-3+CD11b+ cells in the cornea, blood, and DLNs was decreased by aflibercept, whereas that of VEGFR-2+CD11b+ cells was unaffected. CONCLUSION: Subconjunctival aflibercept administration inhibits inflammatory angiogenesis in the cornea and reduces the numbers of cornea-infiltrating and circulating VEGFR-3+CD11b+ cells.

Comparison of Clinical Outcomes and Postoperative Nutritional Status Between Early and Late Oral Feeding After Esophagectomy: An Open Labeled Randomized Controlled Trial.

OBJECTIVE: To compare nutritional and postoperative outcomes between early oral feeding and late oral feeding with jejunostomy feeding support after esophagectomy. SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA: Esophagectomy is associated with substantial body weight loss and malnutrition, impacting the prognosis of esophageal cancer patients. Despite many studies on post-esophagectomy nutritional support, optimal strategies remain elusive. This study investigates the impact of jejunostomy feeding with late oral feeding compared to conventional oral feeding on nutritional and postoperative outcomes. METHODS: We performed a single-center prospective open-labelled randomized controlled trial between 2020 and 2022. Patients aged 18 to 75 years with resectable esophageal cancer were randomly assigned to undergo either early oral feeding (early group) or late oral feeding with jejunostomy feeding support (late group) after esophagectomy. The primary endpoint was body weight loss from preoperative body weight at postoperative 4-5 weeks and 4 months. Other perioperative and nutritional outcomes were also evaluated. RESULTS: We randomly assigned 29 patients to the early group and 29 patients to the late group. The late group exhibited significantly less body weight loss at both postoperative 4-5 weeks (8.3% vs. 5.6%; P =0.002) and 4 months (15.0% vs. 10.5%; P =0.003). The total calorie intake and protein intake were higher in the late group for both postoperative 4-5 weeks (1800 kcal/day vs. 1100 kcal/day; P <0.001) and 4 months (1565 kcal/day vs. 1200 kcal/day; P =0.010). Sixty percentage of early group changed to malnutrition state, while 40% of the late group changed to malnutrition. The complication rate and length of hospital stays were similar. CONCLUSIONS: The late group demonstrated prevention of significant body weight loss, enhanced nutritional intake, and reduces malnutrition without compromising short-term surgical outcomes.

Impact and Interrelationships of Striatal Proteins, EPHB2, OPRM1, and PER2 on Mild Cognitive Impairment.

With the global increase in life expectancy, there has been a rise in the incidence of cognitive impairments attributed to diverse etiologies. Notably, approximately 50% of individuals diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) progress to dementia within 3 years. However, the precise mechanisms underlying MCI remain elusive. Therefore, this study aimed to elucidate potential mechanisms implicated in MCI utilizing Per2 knockout (KO) mice, which have previously been shown to have cognitive deficits. Behavioral (Y-maze, Barnes maze) and molecular (electrophysiology, RNA sequencing, western blot, and immunofluorescence) experiments were conducted in Per2 KO and wild-type (WT) mice. Per2 KO mice exhibited impaired spatial working memory in the Y-maze and Barnes maze. However, there were no significant group differences in hippocampal long-term potentiation (LTP) between Per2 KO and WT mice, whereas striatal LTP in Per2 KO mice was lower compared to WT mice. In RNA sequencing analysis, 58 genes were downregulated and 64 genes were upregulated in the striatum of Per2 KO mice compared to WT mice. Among the differentially expressed genes, four genes (Chrm2, EphB2, Htr1b, Oprm1) were identified. Optimal expression levels of EPHB2 and OPRM1 were found to significantly enhance cognitive performance in mice. Additionally, Per2 KO mice exhibited reduced EPHB2-NMDAR-LTP and OPRM-mTOR signaling, along with elevated amyloid beta (Aß) levels, when compared to WT mice. However, these alterations were reversed upon administration of morphine treatment. Striatal OPRM1-mTOR signaling, EPHB2-NMDAR-LTP signaling, and Aß expression levels may exert a combined effect on MCI under the control of Per2 expression.

Optimized Epigallocatechin Gallate Delivery and Adipogenesis Inhibition through Fluorescent Mesoporous Nanocarriers.

Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), a naturally occurring compound known for its multiple health benefits including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, cancer preventive, and weight management effects, faces challenges due to its inherent instability and limited bioavailability. To address these limitations, our study pioneers an investigation into the unique behavior of EGCG, revealing its degradation into epicatechin (EGC) and gallic acid (GA) during the drug delivery process. In this research, we use fluorescent mesoporous silica nanoparticles (FMSNs) as a sophisticated delivery system for EGCG. This innovative approach aims to not only enhance the stability of EGCG but also regulate its sustained release dynamics to enable prolonged cellular activity. To comprehensively evaluate our novel delivery strategy, we performed assays to assess both the antioxidant potential and its impact on lipid inhibition using Oil Red O. The results not only underscore the potential of FMSN-based nanocarriers for efficient EGCG delivery but also reveal groundbreaking insights into its enzymatic degradation, a previously unexplored facet. This research substantially advances our understanding of EGCG's behavior during delivery and offers a promising avenue for improving its therapeutic efficacy and expanding its applications in health management.

Chronic periodontitis and risk of lung cancer: a nationwide cohort study.

Background: The impact of long-term chronic periodontal conditions on the risk of lung cancer could not be accurately evaluated. Our aim was to provide more evidence on the connection between chronic periodontitis (CP) and lung cancer using a nationwide dataset. Methods: This study used data from the Korean National Health Insurance Service National Sample Cohort. We enrolled 72,658 individuals with CP (CP cohort) between 2005 and 2019 and 1:1 age- and sex-matched controls without CP (non-CP cohort). Results: During the median follow-up period of 5.1 (interquartile range, 2.8-8.0) years, 0.56% (n = 405/72,658) of the CP cohort and 0.29% (n = 212/72,658) of the matched non-CP cohort developed lung cancer, with incidence rates of 8.3 and 4.5 per 10,000 person-years. The risk of incident lung cancer was significantly higher in the CP cohort than in the matched non-CP cohort (adjusted hazard ratio = 2.27, 95% confidence interval = 1.94-2.65). The risk of incident lung cancer was 2.45-fold and 2.10-fold higher in mild and moderate-to-severe CP cohorts than in the matched non-CP control. The risk of incident lung cancer was especially higher in the 40-59 age group, females, and never-smokers than their counterparts. Conclusion: We demonstrate that the risk of incident lung cancer is higher in individuals with CP than in those without. The risk of lung cancer was especially high in individuals with more severe CP, females, never-smokers, and obese populations.