BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Particulate matter 2.5 (PM2.5) exposure can promote epithelialmesenchymal transition (EMT) in human retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells. The flowers of Tagetes erecta Linn, commonly known as marigold, are rich in diverse flavonoids and carotenoids and play a significant role in preventing cellular damage induced by oxidative stress, but the role of their extracts in RPE cells has not been reported. This study aimed to evaluate the influence of an ethanol extract of T. erecta Linn flower (TE) on PM2.5-induced EMT processes in RPE ARPE-19 cells.MATERIALS/METHODS: To investigate the protective effect of TE against ARPE-19 cell damage following PM2.5 treatment, cells were exposed to TE for 1 h before exposure to PM2.5 for 24 h. We investigated whether the efficacy of TE on suppressing PM2.5-induced EMT was related to antioxidant activity and the effect on the expression changes of factors involved in EMT regulation. Additionally, we further explored the role of intracellular signaling pathways associated with EMT inhibition. RESULTS: TE significantly blocked PM2.5-induced cytotoxicity while effectively preventing mitochondrial dysfunction, increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, and mitochondrial membrane potential disruption. TE inhibited PM2.5-induced EMT and inflammatory response by suppressing the ROS-mediated transforming growth factor-β/ suppressor of mothers against decapentaplegic/mitogen-activated protein kinases signaling pathway. CONCLUSION Our results suggest that marigold extract is a highly effective in protection against PM2.5-induced eye damage.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Particulate matter 2.5 (PM2.5) exposure can promote epithelialmesenchymal transition (EMT) in human retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells. The flowers of Tagetes erecta Linn, commonly known as marigold, are rich in diverse flavonoids and carotenoids and play a significant role in preventing cellular damage induced by oxidative stress, but the role of their extracts in RPE cells has not been reported. This study aimed to evaluate the influence of an ethanol extract of T. erecta Linn flower (TE) on PM2.5-induced EMT processes in RPE ARPE-19 cells.MATERIALS/METHODS: To investigate the protective effect of TE against ARPE-19 cell damage following PM2.5 treatment, cells were exposed to TE for 1 h before exposure to PM2.5 for 24 h. We investigated whether the efficacy of TE on suppressing PM2.5-induced EMT was related to antioxidant activity and the effect on the expression changes of factors involved in EMT regulation. Additionally, we further explored the role of intracellular signaling pathways associated with EMT inhibition. RESULTS: TE significantly blocked PM2.5-induced cytotoxicity while effectively preventing mitochondrial dysfunction, increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, and mitochondrial membrane potential disruption. TE inhibited PM2.5-induced EMT and inflammatory response by suppressing the ROS-mediated transforming growth factor-β/ suppressor of mothers against decapentaplegic/mitogen-activated protein kinases signaling pathway. CONCLUSION Our results suggest that marigold extract is a highly effective in protection against PM2.5-induced eye damage.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Particulate matter 2.5 (PM2.5) exposure can promote epithelialmesenchymal transition (EMT) in human retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells. The flowers of Tagetes erecta Linn, commonly known as marigold, are rich in diverse flavonoids and carotenoids and play a significant role in preventing cellular damage induced by oxidative stress, but the role of their extracts in RPE cells has not been reported. This study aimed to evaluate the influence of an ethanol extract of T. erecta Linn flower (TE) on PM2.5-induced EMT processes in RPE ARPE-19 cells.MATERIALS/METHODS: To investigate the protective effect of TE against ARPE-19 cell damage following PM2.5 treatment, cells were exposed to TE for 1 h before exposure to PM2.5 for 24 h. We investigated whether the efficacy of TE on suppressing PM2.5-induced EMT was related to antioxidant activity and the effect on the expression changes of factors involved in EMT regulation. Additionally, we further explored the role of intracellular signaling pathways associated with EMT inhibition. RESULTS: TE significantly blocked PM2.5-induced cytotoxicity while effectively preventing mitochondrial dysfunction, increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, and mitochondrial membrane potential disruption. TE inhibited PM2.5-induced EMT and inflammatory response by suppressing the ROS-mediated transforming growth factor-β/ suppressor of mothers against decapentaplegic/mitogen-activated protein kinases signaling pathway. CONCLUSION Our results suggest that marigold extract is a highly effective in protection against PM2.5-induced eye damage.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Particulate matter 2.5 (PM2.5) exposure can promote epithelialmesenchymal transition (EMT) in human retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells. The flowers of Tagetes erecta Linn, commonly known as marigold, are rich in diverse flavonoids and carotenoids and play a significant role in preventing cellular damage induced by oxidative stress, but the role of their extracts in RPE cells has not been reported. This study aimed to evaluate the influence of an ethanol extract of T. erecta Linn flower (TE) on PM2.5-induced EMT processes in RPE ARPE-19 cells.MATERIALS/METHODS: To investigate the protective effect of TE against ARPE-19 cell damage following PM2.5 treatment, cells were exposed to TE for 1 h before exposure to PM2.5 for 24 h. We investigated whether the efficacy of TE on suppressing PM2.5-induced EMT was related to antioxidant activity and the effect on the expression changes of factors involved in EMT regulation. Additionally, we further explored the role of intracellular signaling pathways associated with EMT inhibition. RESULTS: TE significantly blocked PM2.5-induced cytotoxicity while effectively preventing mitochondrial dysfunction, increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, and mitochondrial membrane potential disruption. TE inhibited PM2.5-induced EMT and inflammatory response by suppressing the ROS-mediated transforming growth factor-β/ suppressor of mothers against decapentaplegic/mitogen-activated protein kinases signaling pathway. CONCLUSION Our results suggest that marigold extract is a highly effective in protection against PM2.5-induced eye damage.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Particulate matter 2.5 (PM2.5) exposure can promote epithelialmesenchymal transition (EMT) in human retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells. The flowers of Tagetes erecta Linn, commonly known as marigold, are rich in diverse flavonoids and carotenoids and play a significant role in preventing cellular damage induced by oxidative stress, but the role of their extracts in RPE cells has not been reported. This study aimed to evaluate the influence of an ethanol extract of T. erecta Linn flower (TE) on PM2.5-induced EMT processes in RPE ARPE-19 cells.MATERIALS/METHODS: To investigate the protective effect of TE against ARPE-19 cell damage following PM2.5 treatment, cells were exposed to TE for 1 h before exposure to PM2.5 for 24 h. We investigated whether the efficacy of TE on suppressing PM2.5-induced EMT was related to antioxidant activity and the effect on the expression changes of factors involved in EMT regulation. Additionally, we further explored the role of intracellular signaling pathways associated with EMT inhibition. RESULTS: TE significantly blocked PM2.5-induced cytotoxicity while effectively preventing mitochondrial dysfunction, increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, and mitochondrial membrane potential disruption. TE inhibited PM2.5-induced EMT and inflammatory response by suppressing the ROS-mediated transforming growth factor-β/ suppressor of mothers against decapentaplegic/mitogen-activated protein kinases signaling pathway. CONCLUSION Our results suggest that marigold extract is a highly effective in protection against PM2.5-induced eye damage.

Background: Tacrolimus is a key immunosuppressant after liver transplantation.Although guideline-recommended trough levels are 4–10 ng/mL, concerns about nephrotoxicity, metabolic complications, and malignancies have led to interest in minimizing tacrolimus use. However, the effects of lower tacrolimus levels on graft rejection and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) recurrence remain unclear. Methods: We conducted a single-center, retrospective study of adult patients (≥19 years) who underwent living donor liver transplantation between January 2000 and December 2021. Patients were divided into low tacrolimus (FK) (<6 ng/mL) and high FK (≥6 ng/mL) groups based on tacrolimus levels measured 1–2 years post-transplantation. We analyzed overall survival, biopsy-proven rejection-free survival, and HCC recurrence-free survival in relevant subgroups. Cox proportional hazards regression identified predictors of mortality, rejection, and HCC recurrence. Results: Among 1,117 recipients, 941 were in the low FK group and 176 in the high FK group. Landmark analysis showed significantly better 10-year overall survival in the low FK group (82.8% vs. 68.8%, p=0.016), while rejection-free survival did not differ significantly beyond 2 years (p=0.098), despite early separation favoring the low FK group (p<0.001). Higher tacrolimus levels independently predicted increased mortality (hazard ratio [HR]=1.98, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.35–2.89; p<0.001) and rejection (HR=2.20, 95% CI 1.48–3.27; p<0.001). Among 614 HCC patients, landmark analysis revealed no significant difference in recurrence-free survival (77.7% vs. 81.2%, p=0.288) or overall survival (77.3% vs. 65.8%, p=0.215), and FK levels were not independently associated with either outcome. Conclusion Maintaining tacrolimus levels below 6 ng/mL was associated with better survival and rejection outcomes without increasing HCC recurrence, suggesting dose minimization may be feasible in selected patients.

In liver transplantation, the primary concern is to ensure an adequate future liver remnant (FLR) volume for the donor, while selecting a graft of sufficient size for the recipient. The living donor–resection and partial liver segment 2−3 transplantation with delayed total hepatectomy (LD−RAPID) procedure offers a potential solution to expand the donor pool for living donor liver transplantation (LDLT).We report the first case involving a cirrhotic patient with autoimmune hepatitis and hepatocellular carcinoma, who underwent left lobe LDLT using the LD−RAPID procedure. The living liver donor (LLD) underwent a laparoscopic left hepatectomy, including middle hepatic vein. The resection on the recipient side was an extended left hepatectomy, including the middle hepatic vein orifice and caudate lobe. At postoperative day 7, a computed tomography scan showed hypertrophy of the left graft from 320 g to 465 mL (i.e., a 45.3% increase in graft volume body weight ratio from 0.60% to 0.77%). After a 7-day interval, the diseased right lobe was removed in the second stage surgery. The LD−RAPID procedure using left lobe graft allows for the use of a small liver graft or small FLR volume in LLD in LDLT, which expands the donor pool to minimize the risk to LLD by enabling the donation of a smaller liver portion.

Purpose: Bone age (BA) is needed to assess developmental status and growth disorders. We evaluated the clinical performance of a deep-learning-based BA software to estimate the chronological age (CA) of healthy Korean children. Methods: This retrospective study included 371 healthy children (217 boys, 154 girls), aged between 4 and 17 years, who visited the Department of Pediatrics for health check-ups between January 2017 and December 2018. A total of 553 left-hand radiographs from 371 healthy Korean children were evaluated using a commercial deep-learning-based BA software (BoneAge, Vuno, Seoul, Korea). The clinical performance of the deep learning (DL) software was determined using the concordance rate and Bland-Altman analysis via comparison with the CA. Results: A 2-sample t-test (P<0.001) and Fisher exact test (P=0.011) showed a significant difference between the normal CA and the BA estimated by the DL software. There was good correlation between the 2 variables (r=0.96, P<0.001); however, the root mean square error was 15.4 months. With a 12-month cutoff, the concordance rate was 58.8%. The Bland-Altman plot showed that the DL software tended to underestimate the BA compared with the CA, especially in children under the age of 8.3 years. Conclusion The DL-based BA software showed a low concordance rate and a tendency to underestimate the BA in healthy Korean children.

Background: Osteoporosis is one of the inevitable diseases affecting an aging society, substantially impacting the quality of life of its population. Protein intake has been shown to be beneficial in reducing the incidence of osteoporosis, and the effects of both animal and vegetable proteins have been studied. However, the relationship between processed meat consumption and osteoporosis has not been studied in Korea. Therefore, we aimed to analyze the correlation between processed meat consumption and incident osteoporosis in adults. Methods: Our analysis included 1,260 adults aged 50 years and older from the Korean Genome and Epidemiology Study (KoGES), recruited between 2005 and 2020. Participants were categorized into two groups according to their processed meat intake, assessed using a semi-quantitative 103-food item food frequency questionnaire. Diagnosis of osteoporosis was based on questionnaire answers. Multiple Cox hazard regression analyses were conducted to examine the association between processed meat intake and incident osteoporosis. Results: During an average follow-up period of 8.8 years, 230 participants developed osteoporosis. According to the Cox proportional regression models, the hazard ratio (95% confidence interval) of incident osteoporosis in the high intake group was 0.62 (0.41–0.94), compared to the low intake group after adjusting for confounding variables. Conclusion These findings reveal that processed meat protein intake is inversely related to the incidence of osteoporosis in adults aged 50 years and older. This in turn suggests that processed meat intake can be proposed as an additional strategy to prevent osteoporosis.

Background: Osteoporosis is one of the inevitable diseases affecting an aging society, substantially impacting the quality of life of its population. Protein intake has been shown to be beneficial in reducing the incidence of osteoporosis, and the effects of both animal and vegetable proteins have been studied. However, the relationship between processed meat consumption and osteoporosis has not been studied in Korea. Therefore, we aimed to analyze the correlation between processed meat consumption and incident osteoporosis in adults. Methods: Our analysis included 1,260 adults aged 50 years and older from the Korean Genome and Epidemiology Study (KoGES), recruited between 2005 and 2020. Participants were categorized into two groups according to their processed meat intake, assessed using a semi-quantitative 103-food item food frequency questionnaire. Diagnosis of osteoporosis was based on questionnaire answers. Multiple Cox hazard regression analyses were conducted to examine the association between processed meat intake and incident osteoporosis. Results: During an average follow-up period of 8.8 years, 230 participants developed osteoporosis. According to the Cox proportional regression models, the hazard ratio (95% confidence interval) of incident osteoporosis in the high intake group was 0.62 (0.41–0.94), compared to the low intake group after adjusting for confounding variables. Conclusion These findings reveal that processed meat protein intake is inversely related to the incidence of osteoporosis in adults aged 50 years and older. This in turn suggests that processed meat intake can be proposed as an additional strategy to prevent osteoporosis.