Human rhinovirus (HRV) causes the common cold and exacerbates chronic respiratory diseases, such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Despite its significant impact on public health, there are currently no approved vaccines or antiviral treatments for HRV infection. Apoptosis is the process through which cells eliminate themselves through the systematic activation of intrinsic death pathways in response to various stimuli. It plays an important role in viral infections and serves as a key immune defense mechanism in the interactions between viruses and the host. In the present study, we investigated the antiviral effects of quercetin-3-methyl ether, a flavonoid isolated from Serratula coronata, on human rhinovirus 1B (HRV1B). Quercetin-3-methyl ether significantly inhibited HRV1B replication in HeLa cells in a concentration-dependent manner, thereby reducing cytopathic effects and viral RNA levels. Time-course and time-of-addition analyses confirmed that quercetin-3-methyl ether exhibited antiviral activity during the early stages of viral infection, potentially targeting the replication and translation phases. Gene expression analysis using microarrays revealed that pro-apoptotic genes were upregulated in quercetin-3-methyl ether-treated cells, suggesting that quercetin-3-methyl ether enhances early apoptosis to counteract HRV1B-induced immune evasion. In vivo administration of quercetin-3-methyl ether to HRV1B-infected mice significantly reduced viral RNA levels and inflammatory cytokine production in the lung tissues. Our findings demonstrated the potential of quercetin-3-methyl ether as a novel antiviral agent against HRV1B, thereby providing a promising therapeutic strategy for the management of HRV1B infections and related complications.

Human rhinovirus (HRV) causes the common cold and exacerbates chronic respiratory diseases, such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Despite its significant impact on public health, there are currently no approved vaccines or antiviral treatments for HRV infection. Apoptosis is the process through which cells eliminate themselves through the systematic activation of intrinsic death pathways in response to various stimuli. It plays an important role in viral infections and serves as a key immune defense mechanism in the interactions between viruses and the host. In the present study, we investigated the antiviral effects of quercetin-3-methyl ether, a flavonoid isolated from Serratula coronata, on human rhinovirus 1B (HRV1B). Quercetin-3-methyl ether significantly inhibited HRV1B replication in HeLa cells in a concentration-dependent manner, thereby reducing cytopathic effects and viral RNA levels. Time-course and time-of-addition analyses confirmed that quercetin-3-methyl ether exhibited antiviral activity during the early stages of viral infection, potentially targeting the replication and translation phases. Gene expression analysis using microarrays revealed that pro-apoptotic genes were upregulated in quercetin-3-methyl ether-treated cells, suggesting that quercetin-3-methyl ether enhances early apoptosis to counteract HRV1B-induced immune evasion. In vivo administration of quercetin-3-methyl ether to HRV1B-infected mice significantly reduced viral RNA levels and inflammatory cytokine production in the lung tissues. Our findings demonstrated the potential of quercetin-3-methyl ether as a novel antiviral agent against HRV1B, thereby providing a promising therapeutic strategy for the management of HRV1B infections and related complications.

Human rhinovirus (HRV) causes the common cold and exacerbates chronic respiratory diseases, such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Despite its significant impact on public health, there are currently no approved vaccines or antiviral treatments for HRV infection. Apoptosis is the process through which cells eliminate themselves through the systematic activation of intrinsic death pathways in response to various stimuli. It plays an important role in viral infections and serves as a key immune defense mechanism in the interactions between viruses and the host. In the present study, we investigated the antiviral effects of quercetin-3-methyl ether, a flavonoid isolated from Serratula coronata, on human rhinovirus 1B (HRV1B). Quercetin-3-methyl ether significantly inhibited HRV1B replication in HeLa cells in a concentration-dependent manner, thereby reducing cytopathic effects and viral RNA levels. Time-course and time-of-addition analyses confirmed that quercetin-3-methyl ether exhibited antiviral activity during the early stages of viral infection, potentially targeting the replication and translation phases. Gene expression analysis using microarrays revealed that pro-apoptotic genes were upregulated in quercetin-3-methyl ether-treated cells, suggesting that quercetin-3-methyl ether enhances early apoptosis to counteract HRV1B-induced immune evasion. In vivo administration of quercetin-3-methyl ether to HRV1B-infected mice significantly reduced viral RNA levels and inflammatory cytokine production in the lung tissues. Our findings demonstrated the potential of quercetin-3-methyl ether as a novel antiviral agent against HRV1B, thereby providing a promising therapeutic strategy for the management of HRV1B infections and related complications.

Myositis ossificans (MO) is defined as a lesion where abnormal ossification forms in soft tissues, such as muscle, fascia, and ligament, usually as a result of trauma. It commonly appears in areas such as the thigh, hip, and elbow, though it can affect any part of the body. In the forensic field, MO resulting from trauma is reported to be valuable evidence of repeated physical abuse. This case report describes a deceased adult male with an intellectual disability, whose cause of death was multiple injuries from assault. Postmortem computed tomography (PMCT) and autopsy findings revealed MO of both thighs associated with repeated physical abuse. This case also showed typical findings of MO on PMCT imaging, characterized by well-defined, high-density lesions within the quadriceps. Adults with intellectual disabilities are at high risk of abuse and assault. Therefore, autopsy findings of MO can serve as important evidence in forensic practice, considering the possibility of repeated abuse.

The cause and manner of death in the Busan and Gyeongnam regions were analyzed using autopsy data performed by the National Forensic Service Busan Institute (NFS BI) for 10 years—from 2014 to 2023. In addition, changes in the number of autopsy cases of elderly individuals aged 65 and older, were analyzed in the Busan and Gyeongnam regions. A total of 6,374 cases were classified, excluding autopsies from the Ulsan area and the Coast Guard, from the NFS BI data. Analysis of the manner of death revealed that 3,203 cases (50.3%) were unnatural deaths; 2,031 cases (31.9%) were natural deaths; and 1,140 cases (17.9%) were deaths of unknown cause. Among the unnatural deaths, accidents were the most common at 1,149 cases (18.0%), followed by suicide at 979 cases (15.4%); and homicide at 583 cases (9.1%). Among natural deaths, heart disease was the most common with 764 cases (37.6%), followed by vascular disease with 351 cases (17.3%). The proportion of the population aged 65 or older in Busan and Gyeongnam has been steadily increasing from 13.7% in 2014 to 21.6% in 2023. Accordingly, the number of autopsies on people aged 65 or older has increased from 72 in 2014 to 174 in 2023, and the number of autopsies on people aged 65 or older accounted for one-quarter of the total number of forensic autopsies commissioned by Busan/Gyeongnam, and performed by NFS BI in 2023. Therefore, we plan to introduce emerging issues relating to population aging and geriatric forensic medicine.

Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) grafts are artificial vascular grafts commonly utilized for reconstructing the middle hepatic vein during living donor liver transplantation. In this report, we present three cases of expanded PTFE (ePTFE) graft migration into the gastrointestinal tract. These migrations were incidentally discovered and later migrated grafts were successfully removed endoscopically. The first case involved a patient presenting with epigastric discomfort, with a migrated ePTFE graft observed in the duodenal lumen during esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD). In the second case, a patient who visited the emergency room with hematochezia was found to have a migrated ePTFE graft in the colonic lumen on colonoscopy. The third case involved a patient undergoing regular EGD after endoscopic submucosal dissection for early gastric cancer; graft migration into the duodenal lumen was documented over time through sequential surveillance EGDs. The graft was endoscopically removed after complete migration. Contrary to previous reports, the three cases presented here did not exhibit serious clinical symptoms, and they were successfully treated through endoscopic foreign body removal without complications. We believe these occasions were possible due to the slow migration of the graft and the concurrent spontaneous closure of the fistula tract.

Myositis ossificans (MO) is defined as a lesion where abnormal ossification forms in soft tissues, such as muscle, fascia, and ligament, usually as a result of trauma. It commonly appears in areas such as the thigh, hip, and elbow, though it can affect any part of the body. In the forensic field, MO resulting from trauma is reported to be valuable evidence of repeated physical abuse. This case report describes a deceased adult male with an intellectual disability, whose cause of death was multiple injuries from assault. Postmortem computed tomography (PMCT) and autopsy findings revealed MO of both thighs associated with repeated physical abuse. This case also showed typical findings of MO on PMCT imaging, characterized by well-defined, high-density lesions within the quadriceps. Adults with intellectual disabilities are at high risk of abuse and assault. Therefore, autopsy findings of MO can serve as important evidence in forensic practice, considering the possibility of repeated abuse.

The cause and manner of death in the Busan and Gyeongnam regions were analyzed using autopsy data performed by the National Forensic Service Busan Institute (NFS BI) for 10 years—from 2014 to 2023. In addition, changes in the number of autopsy cases of elderly individuals aged 65 and older, were analyzed in the Busan and Gyeongnam regions. A total of 6,374 cases were classified, excluding autopsies from the Ulsan area and the Coast Guard, from the NFS BI data. Analysis of the manner of death revealed that 3,203 cases (50.3%) were unnatural deaths; 2,031 cases (31.9%) were natural deaths; and 1,140 cases (17.9%) were deaths of unknown cause. Among the unnatural deaths, accidents were the most common at 1,149 cases (18.0%), followed by suicide at 979 cases (15.4%); and homicide at 583 cases (9.1%). Among natural deaths, heart disease was the most common with 764 cases (37.6%), followed by vascular disease with 351 cases (17.3%). The proportion of the population aged 65 or older in Busan and Gyeongnam has been steadily increasing from 13.7% in 2014 to 21.6% in 2023. Accordingly, the number of autopsies on people aged 65 or older has increased from 72 in 2014 to 174 in 2023, and the number of autopsies on people aged 65 or older accounted for one-quarter of the total number of forensic autopsies commissioned by Busan/Gyeongnam, and performed by NFS BI in 2023. Therefore, we plan to introduce emerging issues relating to population aging and geriatric forensic medicine.

Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) grafts are artificial vascular grafts commonly utilized for reconstructing the middle hepatic vein during living donor liver transplantation. In this report, we present three cases of expanded PTFE (ePTFE) graft migration into the gastrointestinal tract. These migrations were incidentally discovered and later migrated grafts were successfully removed endoscopically. The first case involved a patient presenting with epigastric discomfort, with a migrated ePTFE graft observed in the duodenal lumen during esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD). In the second case, a patient who visited the emergency room with hematochezia was found to have a migrated ePTFE graft in the colonic lumen on colonoscopy. The third case involved a patient undergoing regular EGD after endoscopic submucosal dissection for early gastric cancer; graft migration into the duodenal lumen was documented over time through sequential surveillance EGDs. The graft was endoscopically removed after complete migration. Contrary to previous reports, the three cases presented here did not exhibit serious clinical symptoms, and they were successfully treated through endoscopic foreign body removal without complications. We believe these occasions were possible due to the slow migration of the graft and the concurrent spontaneous closure of the fistula tract.

Myositis ossificans (MO) is defined as a lesion where abnormal ossification forms in soft tissues, such as muscle, fascia, and ligament, usually as a result of trauma. It commonly appears in areas such as the thigh, hip, and elbow, though it can affect any part of the body. In the forensic field, MO resulting from trauma is reported to be valuable evidence of repeated physical abuse. This case report describes a deceased adult male with an intellectual disability, whose cause of death was multiple injuries from assault. Postmortem computed tomography (PMCT) and autopsy findings revealed MO of both thighs associated with repeated physical abuse. This case also showed typical findings of MO on PMCT imaging, characterized by well-defined, high-density lesions within the quadriceps. Adults with intellectual disabilities are at high risk of abuse and assault. Therefore, autopsy findings of MO can serve as important evidence in forensic practice, considering the possibility of repeated abuse.