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Abstract Extracellular vesicle‐derived microRNAs (EV‐miRNAs) are promising biomarkers for early cancer diagnosis. However, existing EV‐miRNA extraction technologies have a complex two‐step process that results in low extraction efficiency and inconsistent results. This study aimed to develop and evaluate a new single‐step extraction method, called miRQuick, for efficient and high‐recovery extraction of EV‐miRNAs from samples. The miRQuick method involves adding positively charged substances to the sample, causing negatively charged EVs to quickly aggregate and precipitate. A membrane lysate is then added to extract only miRNA. The entire process can be completed within an hour using standard laboratory equipment. We validated the miRQuick method using various analytical techniques and compared its performance to other methods for plasma, urine and saliva samples. The miRQuick method demonstrated significantly higher performance than other methods, not only for blood plasma but also for urine and saliva samples. Furthermore, we successfully extracted and detected nine biomarker candidate miRNAs in the plasma of breast cancer patients using miRQuick. Our results demonstrate that miRQuick is a rapid and efficient method for EV‐miRNA extraction with excellent repeatability, making it suitable for various applications including cancer diagnosis.

IntroductionThe study aims to test whether an increase in memory load could improve the efficacy in detection of Alzheimer’s disease and prediction of the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) score.MethodsSpeech from 45 mild-to-moderate Alzheimer’s disease patients and 44 healthy older adults were collected using three speech tasks with varying memory loads. We investigated and compared speech characteristics of Alzheimer’s disease across speech tasks to examine the effect of memory load on speech characteristics. Finally, we built Alzheimer’s disease classification models and MMSE prediction models to assess the diagnostic value of speech tasks.ResultsThe speech characteristics of Alzheimer’s disease in pitch, loudness, and speech rate were observed and the high-memory-load task intensified such characteristics. The high-memory-load task outperformed in AD classification with an accuracy of 81.4% and MMSE prediction with a mean absolute error of 4.62.DiscussionThe high-memory-load recall task is an effective method for speech-based Alzheimer’s disease detection.

Facial expressions play a crucial role in the diagnosis of mental illnesses characterized by mood changes. The Facial Action Coding System (FACS) is a comprehensive framework that systematically categorizes and captures even subtle changes in facial appearance, enabling the examination of emotional expressions. In this study, we investigated the association between facial expressions and depressive symptoms in a sample of 59 older adults without cognitive impairment. Utilizing the FACS and the Korean version of the Beck Depression Inventory-II, we analyzed both “posed” and “spontaneous” facial expressions across six basic emotions: happiness, sadness, fear, anger, surprise, and disgust. Through principal component analysis, we summarized 17 action units across these emotion conditions. Subsequently, multiple regression analyses were performed to identify specific facial expression features that explain depressive symptoms. Our findings revealed several distinct features of posed and spontaneous facial expressions. Specifically, among older adults with higher depressive symptoms, a posed face exhibited a downward and inward pull at the corner of the mouth, indicative of sadness. In contrast, a spontaneous face displayed raised and narrowed inner brows, which was associated with more severe depressive symptoms in older adults. These findings suggest that facial expressions can provide valuable insights into assessing depressive symptoms in older adults.

The complex and lengthy protocol of current viral nucleic acid extraction processes limits their use outside laboratory settings. Here, we describe a rapid and reliable method for extracting nucleic acids from viral samples using a rotating blade and magnetic beads. The viral membrane can be instantly lysed using a high-speed rotating blade, and nucleic acids can be immediately isolated using a silica magnetic surface. The process was completed within 60 s by this method. Routine washing and eluting processes were subsequently conducted within 5 min. The results achieved by this method were comparable to those of a commercially available method. When the blade-based lysis and magnetic bead adsorption processes were performed separately, the RNA recovery rate was very low, and the Ct value was delayed compared to simultaneous lysis and RNA adsorption. Overall, this method not only dramatically shortens the conventional extraction time but also allows for its convenient use outside the laboratory, such as at remote field sites and for point-of-care testing.

Since its discovery in circulating blood seven decades ago, cell-free DNA (cfDNA) has become a highly focused subject in cancer management using liquid biopsy. Despite its clinical utility, the extraction of cfDNA from blood has many technical difficulties, including a low efficiency of recovery and long processing times. We introduced a magnetic bead-based cfDNA extraction method using homobifunctional crosslinkers, including dimethyl suberimidate dihydrochloride (DMS). Owing to its bifunctional nature, DMS can bind to DNA through either covalent or electrostatic bonding. By adopting amine-conjugated magnetic beads, DMS–DNA complexes can be rapidly isolated from blood plasma. Using standard washing and eluting processes, we successfully extracted cfDNA from plasma within 10 min. This method yielded a 56% higher extraction efficiency than that of a commercial product (QIAamp kit). Furthermore, the instant binding mechanism of amine coupling between the microbeads and DMS–DNA complexes significantly reduced the processing time. These results highlight the potential of this magnetic bead-based homobifunctional crosslinker platform for extraction of cfDNA from blood plasma.

Facial expressions are well known to change with age, but the quantitative properties of facial aging remain unclear. In the present study, we investigated the differences in the intensity of facial expressions between older (n = 56) and younger adults (n = 113). In laboratory experiments, the posed facial expressions of the participants were obtained based on six basic emotions and neutral facial expression stimuli, and the intensities of their faces were analyzed using a computer vision tool, OpenFace software. Our results showed that the older adults expressed strong expressions for some negative emotions and neutral faces. Furthermore, when making facial expressions, older adults used more face muscles than younger adults across the emotions. These results may help to understand the characteristics of facial expressions in aging and can provide empirical evidence for other fields regarding facial recognition.

Abstract Background Angiotensin‐converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEi) have the potential to cause worsening renal function (WRF). Therefore, reevaluation of renal function is recommended 1‐2 weeks after starting ACEi therapy. Objectives To identify risk factors for WRF in dogs receiving ACEi for cardiac diseases, proteinuria, or systemic hypertension. Animals A total of 156 client‐owned dogs that received ACEi were included. Methods Serum creatinine concentration was determined at the initial presentation and first reevaluation to detect and grade WRF (increase in sCr ≥ 0.3 mg/dL). Grade 1 (nonazotemic), 2 (mild), and 3 (moderate to severe) WRF were characterized by sCr remaining ≤1.6 mg/dL, 1.7‐2.5 mg/dL increase, and 2.6‐5.0 mg/dL increase, respectively. Demographic and serum chemistry data, such as total protein, albumin, blood urea nitrogen, creatinine, symmetric dimethylarginine, glucose, triglyceride, total cholesterol concentrations, and serum electrolyte concentrations at first presentation, were evaluated. Multivariable modeling was performed to identify risk factors for WRF after treatment with ACEi. Results Worsening renal function was identified in 27/156 (17%, 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.11‐0.23) dogs after ACEi treatment. It was classified as Grades 1, 2, and 3 in 17, 2, and 8 dogs, respectively. The only significant factors associated with WRF in dogs receiving ACEi were concurrent administration of furosemide (odds ratio, 5.05; 95% CI, 2.05‐12.4; P

In the past, rice bakanae was considered an endemic disease that did not cause significant losses in Korea; however, the disease has recently become a serious threat due to climate change, changes in farming practices, and the emergence of fungicide-resistant strains. Since the bakanae outbreak in 2006, its incidence has gradually decreased due to the application of effective control measures such as hot water immersion methods and seed disinfectants. However, in 2013, a marked increase in bakanae incidence was observed, causing problems for rice farmers. Therefore, in this review, we present the potential risks from climate change based on an epidemiological understanding of the pathogen, host plant, and environment, which are the key elements influencing the incidence of bakanae. In addition, disease management options to reduce the disease pressure of bakanae below the economic threshold level are investigated, with a specific focus on resistant varieties, as well as chemical, biological, cultural, and physical control methods. Lastly, as more effective countermeasures to bakanae, we propose an integrated disease management option that combines different control methods, including advanced imaging technologies such as remote sensing. In this review, we revisit and examine bakanae, a traditional seed-borne fungal disease that has not gained considerable attention in the agricultural history of Korea. Based on the understanding of the present significance and anticipated risks of the disease, the findings of this study are expected to provide useful information for the establishment of an effective response strategy to bakanae in the era of climate change.

Fusarium head blight (FHB) of wheat, mainly caused by Fusarium graminearum Schwabe, is an emerging threat to wheat production in Korea under a changing climate. The disease occurrence and accumulation of associated trichothecene mycotoxins in wheat kernels strongly coincide with warm and wet environments during flowering. Recently, the International Panel for Climate Change released the 6th Coupled Model Intercomparison Project (CMIP6) climate change scenarios with shared socioeconomic pathways (SSPs). In this study, we adopted GIBSIM, an existing mechanistic model developed in Brazil to estimate the risk infection index of wheat FHB, to simulate the potential FHB epidemics in Korea using the SSP245 and SSP585 scenarios of CMIP6. The GIBSIM model simulates FHB infection risk from airborne inoculum density and infection frequency using temperature, precipitation, and relative humidity during the flowering period. First, wheat heading dates, during which GIBSIM runs, were predicted over suitable areas of winter wheat cultivation using a crop development rate model for wheat phenology and downscaled SSP scenarios. Second, an integrated model combining all results of wheat suitability, heading dates, and FHB infection risks from the SSP scenarios showed a gradual increase in FHB epidemics towards 2100, with different temporal and spatial patterns of varying magnitudes depending on the scenarios. These results indicate that proactive management strategies need to be seriously considered in the near future to minimize the potential impacts of the FHB epidemic under climate change in Korea. Therefore, available wheat cultivars with early or late heading dates were used in the model simulations as a realistic adaptation measure. As a result, wheat cultivars with early heading dates showed significant decreases in FHB epidemics in future periods, emphasizing the importance of effective adaptation measures against the projected increase in FHB epidemics in Korea under climate change.

The article reviews the U.S. Civil War exhibition titled "Broken Bodies, Suffering Spirits: Injury, Death, and Healing in Civil War Philadelphia" at the Mütter Museum of the College of Physicians of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania from the Fall 2013 through 2018.