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ARS-interacting multifunctional proteins 2 (AIMP2) is known to be a powerful tumour suppressor. However, the target AIMP2-DX2, AIMP2-lacking exon 2, is often detected in many cancer patients and cells. The predominant approach for targeting AIMP-DX2 has been attempted via small molecule mediated inhibition, but due to the lack of satisfactory activity against AIMP2-DX2, new therapeutic strategies are needed to develop a novel drug for AIMP2-DX2. Here, we report the use of the PROTAC strategy that combines small-molecule AIMP2-DX2 inhibitors with selective E3-ligase ligands with optimised linkers. Consequently, candidate compound 45 was found to be a degrader of AIMP2-DX2. Together, these findings demonstrate that our PROTAC technology targeting AIMP2-DX2 would be a potential new strategy for future lung cancer treatment.

Intergenerational volunteerism is a global phenomenon that aids multiple generations. Considering the positive evidence of volunteering among older adults and their desire for engagement with children, it is important to explore older adult volunteers' experiences in intergenerational programs with a specific focus on the cultural and social impacts of volunteering in educational settings. Using a phenomenological qualitative approach, 43 interviews with older adult volunteers (23 in South Korea (Korea) and 20 in the United States (US) in intergenerational programs were conducted. Participants were recruited from the Beautiful Story Grandma (BSG) in Korea and the Foster Grandparent Program (FGP) in the US in 2019. Three major themes emerged from the interviews revolving around the role of culture and other demographics in the experience of volunteering: (1) Benefits from volunteering with children that transcend demographic and geographic differences; (2) distinctive cultural factors lead to different experiences of volunteering in educational settings; and (3) operational and procedural differences of volunteer programs impact older adult volunteers' experiences in educational settings. This comparative research can inform the development of culturally responsive intergenerational volunteering programs for older adults and other generations in their communities.

Purpose: The rapid expansion of robotic surgical equipment necessitates a review of the needs and challenges faced by hospitals introducing robots for the first time to compete with experienced institutions. The aim of this study was to analyze the impact of robotic surgery on our hospital compared to open and laparoscopic surgery, examine internal transformations, and assess regional, domestic, and international implications. Methods: A retrospective review was conducted of electronic medical records (EMRs) from 2019 to 2022 at Inha University Hospital, including patients who underwent common robotic procedures and equivalent open and laparoscopic operations. The study investigated clinical and operational performance changes in the hospital after the introduction of robotic technology. It also evaluated the operational effectiveness of robot implementation in local, national, and international contexts. To facilitate comparison with other hospitals, the data were transmitted to Intuitive Surgical, Inc. for analysis. The study was conducted in compliance with domestic personal information regulations and received approval from our Institutional Review Board. Results: We analyzed EMR data from 3,147 patients who underwent surgical treatment. Over a period of 3.5 years, the adoption of robotic technology in a hospital setting significantly enhanced the technical skills of all professors involved. The introduction of robotic systems led to increased patient utilization of conventional surgical techniques, as well as a rise in the number of patients choosing robotic surgery. This collective trend contributed to an overall increase in patient numbers. This favorable evaluation of the operational effectiveness of our hospital's robot implementation in the context of local, national, and global factors is expected to positively influence policy changes. Conclusions: Stakeholders should embrace data science and evidence-based techniques to generate valuable insights from objective data, assess the health of robot-assisted surgery programs, and identify opportunities for improvement and excellence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Krabbe disease (KD) is an autosomal recessive neurodegenerative disorder caused by deficiency of the galactocerebrosidase (GALC) due to variants in the GALC gene. Here, we provide the first and the largest comprehensive analysis of clinical and genetic characteristics, and genotype–phenotype correlations of KD in Korean in comparison with other ethnic groups. From June 2010 to June 2023, 10 patients were diagnosed with KD through sequencing of GALC. Clinical features, and results of GALC sequencing, biochemical test, neuroimaging, and neurophysiologic test were obtained from medical records. An additional nine previously reported Korean KD patients were included for review. In Korean KD patients, the median age of onset was 2 years (3 months–34 years) and the most common phenotype was adult‐onset (33%, 6/18) KD, followed by infantile KD (28%, 5/18). The most frequent variants were c.683_694delinsCTC (23%) and c.1901T>C (23%), while the 30‐kb deletion was absent. Having two heterozygous pathogenic missense variants was associated with later‐onset phenotype. Clinical features were similar to those of other ethnic groups. In Korean KD patients, the most common phenotype was the adult‐onset type and the GALC variant spectrum was different from that of the Caucasian population. This study would further our understanding of KD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study examines the determinants of marriage decline in South Korea, a representative case of the "demographic crisis" sweeping East Asia. Background: The major theories accounting for marriage and family trends are for the most part based on Western cases. A complementing focus on non‐Western societies is likely to identify a more diverse range of processes governing marriage patterns in advanced capitalist societies. Method: The study draws on the Korean Labor and Income Panel Study (KLIPS) to analyze a sample of 4201 unmarried individuals whose longitudinal data were organized into 55,989 person‐year records. Discrete‐time hazard models incorporating 23 waves of KLIPS data (1998–2020) identify the gendered determinants of marriage. Results: Socioeconomic resources continue to positively impact men's marriage chances although income, relative to employment status and educational attainment, has become paramount for members of the younger 1980s cohort. Parental wealth, an important precondition for home purchases, also positively impacts the likelihood of marriage for men. Income and parental wealth have become important for women as well but unlike the documented "educational crossover" that has occurred elsewhere, high educational attainment remains negatively associated with marriage probability for Korean women. Conclusion: This study clarifies the scope conditions for arguments about the "shifting economic foundations of marriage," while foregrounding the enduring legacy of extended‐family resources in strong familism societies. The results also lend empirical leverage to past studies highlighting the clear disincentives for marriage among highly educated women and provide a more comprehensive picture of why underprivileged men are being left out of Korea's marriage market. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]