Explore the vast range of titles available.

Due to the development of sensing technology people can easily track their health in various ways, and the interest in personal healthcare data is increasing. Individuals are interested in controlling their wellness, which requires self-awareness and an understanding of various health conditions. Self-generated health data are easily accessed through mobile devices, and data visualization is commonly used in applications. A systematic literature review was conducted to better understand the role of visualizations and learn how to develop effective ones. Thirteen papers were analyzed for types of data, characteristics of visualizations, and effectiveness for healthcare management. The papers were selected because they represented research on personal health data and visualization in a non-clinical setting, and included health data tracked in everyday life. This paper suggests six levels for categorizing the efficacy of visualizations that take into account cognitive and physical changes in users. Recommendations for future work on conducting evaluations are also identified. This work provides a foundation for personal healthcare data as more applications are developed for mobile and wearable devices.

ObjectiveGastric cancer (GC) is a leading cause of cancer-related mortality. Although microbes besides Helicobacter pylori may also contribute to gastric carcinogenesis, wild-type germ-free (GF) mouse models investigating the role of human gastric microbiota in the process are not yet available. We aimed to evaluate the histopathological features of GF mouse stomachs transplanted with gastric microbiota from patients with different gastric disease states and their relationships with the microbiota.DesignMicrobiota profiles in corpus and antrum tissues and gastric fluid from 12 patients with gastric dysplasia or GC were analysed. Thereafter, biopsied corpus and antrum tissues and gastric fluid from patients (n=15 and n=12, respectively) with chronic superficial gastritis, intestinal metaplasia or GC were inoculated into 42 GF C57BL/6 mice. The gastric microbiota was analysed by amplicon sequencing. Histopathological features of mouse stomachs were analysed immunohistochemically at 1 month after inoculation. An independent set of an additional 15 GF mice was also analysed at 1 year.ResultsThe microbial community structures of patients with dysplasia or GC in the corpus and antrum were similar. The gastric microbiota from patients with intestinal metaplasia or GC selectively colonised the mouse stomachs and induced premalignant lesions: loss of parietal cells and increases in inflammation foci, in F4/80 and Ki-67 expression, and in CD44v9/GSII lectin expression. Marked dysplastic changes were noted at 1 year post inoculation.ConclusionMajor histopathological features of premalignant changes are reproducible in GF mice transplanted with gastric microbiota from patients with intestinal metaplasia or GC. Our results suggest that GF mice are useful for analysing the causality of associations reported in human gastric microbiome studies.

Early-life malnutrition adversely affects nearly all organ systems, resulting in multiple physiological adaptations, including growth restriction and muscle and bone loss. Although there is growing evidence that probiotics effectively improve systemic growth under malnourished conditions in different animal models, our knowledge of the beneficial effects of probiotics on various organs is limited. Here, we show that Lactobacillus plantarum strain WJL (Lp WJL ) can mitigate skeletal muscle and bone loss in protein-malnourished juvenile mice. Mice on prenatal day 21 were fed a protein-malnourished (P-MAL) diet with or without Lp WJL supplementation for six weeks. Compared to mice on the P-MAL diet alone, Lp WJL supplementation significantly increased muscle mass and size, resulting in enhanced muscle strength and endurance capacity. Furthermore, Lp WJL supplementation induced the expression of the key growth factor IGF-1 while decreasing muscle atrophy markers such as Atrogin-1 and MuRF-1, indicating potential mechanisms by which protein malnutrition-induced muscle wasting is counteracted. Additionally, Lp WJL supplementation alleviated the reduction in cortical bone thickness and the deterioration of trabecular bone microstructure in the femur. Taken together, these results indicate that Lp WJL can protect against skeletal muscle atrophy and compromised bone microarchitecture caused by protein malnutrition, providing novel insights into the potential therapeutic applications of probiotics for treating malnutrition-related disorders.

Chamaecyparis obtusa (Siebold & Zucc.) Endl. (C. obtusa) belongs to the Cupressaceae family and is native to East Asian regions. Essential oils extracted from the leaves, bark, branches, and roots of C. obtusa have both aesthetic and medicinal properties and are thus widely used. However, detailed analyses of the active ingredients of C. obtusa extract are lacking. In this study, the sabinene content in the hydro-distillation of C. obtusa leaf essential oil (COD) was analyzed using GC-MS, and the anti-inflammatory effect of COD was compared with that of pure sabinene. Cell viability was evaluated by MTT assay, and nitric oxide (NO) production was measured using Griess reagent. Relative mRNA and protein levels were analyzed using RT-qPCR and western blot, and secreted cytokines were analyzed using a cytokine array kit. The results showed that both COD and sabinene inhibited the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and the phosphorylation of c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) and p38 in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced RAW 264.7 cells. COD and sabinene also reduced the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, IL-27, IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1ra), and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF). The anti-inflammatory mechanisms of COD and sabinene partially overlap, as COD was shown to inhibit MAPKs and the JAK/STAT axis, and sabinene inhibited MAPKs, thereby preventing LPS-induced macrophage activation.

Background While hypertension is the most common comorbid condition in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Korea, there is a lack of studies investigating risk factors in COVID-19 patients with hypertension in Korea. In this study, we aimed to examine the effects risk factors in hypertensive Korean COVID-19 patients. Methods We selected patients from the database of the project #OpenData4Covid19. This information was linked to their 3-year historical healthcare data. The severity of the disease was classified into five levels. We also clustered the levels into two grades. Results The risk factors associated with COVID-19 severity were old age, diabetes mellitus, cerebrovascular disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), malignancy, and renal replacement therapy. The use of angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs) or angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) both before and after a diagnosis of COVID-19 were not associated with COVID-19 severity. A multivariate analysis revealed that old age, male sex, diabetes mellitus, and renal replacement therapy were risk factors for severe COVID-19. Conclusion The results suggest that in hypertensive patients with COVID-19, older age, male sex, a diagnosis of diabetes mellitus, and renal replacement therapy were risk factors for a severe clinical course. In addition, the use of ARBs and ACEIs before or after COVID-19 infection did not affect a patient’s risk of contracting COVID-19 nor did it contribute to a worse prognosis for the disease. These results highlighted that precautions should be considered for hypertensive patients with those risk factors and do not support discontinuation of ARBs and ACEIs during COVID-19 pandemic.

The gut microbiota plays a central role in shaping systemic immunity and modulating the gut-lung axis, which is crucial during respiratory infections such as COVID-19. SARS-CoV-2 infection is known to disrupt the gut microbiome, but the downstream functional impacts on microbial metabolism and host immune responses remain insufficiently understood. Using K18-hACE2 transgenic mice, researchers investigated the effects of SARS-CoV-2 variants (WA and Omicron) on the gut microbiome and host immunity. Microbial composition and functional profiles were assessed post-infection. To test the therapeutic potential of ( ), live bacteria were administered prophylactically, and various outcomes were evaluated, including weight loss, lung pathology, immune cell phenotypes, and cytokine production. In K18-hACE2 transgenic mice infected with SARS-CoV-2, there was a marked reduction in gut microbial diversity, accompanied by a consistent enrichment of . This microbial shift was associated with functional disruptions in key metabolic pathways, particularly those involved in glycosaminoglycan degradation and lipid metabolism, suggesting a broader impact of infection on microbial functionality. Remarkably, prophylactic administration of live prior to infection led to significant protective effects. Treated mice exhibited reduced weight loss and improved lung histopathology compared to untreated controls. Local antiviral immune responses in the lung were notably enhanced without triggering excessive systemic inflammation. Mice receiving also demonstrated elevated production of Th2 and Th17 cytokines, robust expansion of tissue-resident memory T cells, and the formation of inducible bronchus-associated lymphoid tissue (iBALT)-all indicative of potentiated mucosal immunity. These findings highlight a functional role for not only as a microbial signature of COVID-19-associated dysbiosis but also as an active modulator of host immune responses during respiratory viral infections. These findings position as both a biomarker of COVID-19-related gut dysbiosis and a potent live biotherapeutic candidate for respiratory infections. Its ability to enhance mucosal immune responses through gut-lung axis modulation highlights its promise in prophylactic strategies against viral respiratory diseases, including SARS-CoV-2.

The desire to directly touch and experience virtual objects led to the development of a tactile feedback device. In this paper, a novel soft pneumatic actuator for providing tactile feedback is proposed and demonstrated. The suggested pneumatic actuator does not use an external air compressor but it is operated by internal air pressure generated by an electrostatic force. By using the actuator, we designed a glove to interact with virtual reality. The finger motions are detected by attached flexible piezoelectric sensors and transmitted to a virtual space through Bluetooth for interconnecting with a virtual hand. When the virtual finger touches the virtual object, the actuators are activated and give the tactile feedback to the real fingertip. The glove is made of silicone rubber material and integrated with the sensors and actuators such that users can wear them conveniently with light weight. This device was tested in a virtual chess board program, wherein the user picked up virtual chess pieces successfully.

Age-related differences in motor skills have been extensively studied, with growing interest in using behavioral data for cognitive assessment. Compared to traditional tools like the Mini-Mental State Examination or Cognitive Impairment Screening Test, behavior-based methods offer the advantage of shorter testing durations, less learning effects, and continuous data tracking. Hand movements, in particular, provide a practical way to gather motor performance data with fewer spatial constraints. This study aims to explore whether hand rotation movement can effectively distinguish age-related motor skill differences, with future applications potentially extending to cognitive assessments, including early detection of mild cognitive impairment. This study investigates whether hand rotation movements can be used to distinguish 2 age groups, young adults (aged 20-29 years) and older adults (aged 65-80 years). We hypothesize that differences in hand motion control ability will exist between the 2 groups. In total, 7 hand motion measurement indicators related to single hand test indicators, time comparison indicators between rotations, and angle comparison indicators between rotations were defined to test this hypothesis, aiming to identify meaningful indicators for older adults experiencing normal aging before conducting experiments on patients with mild cognitive impairment or dementia. A total of 68 participants, 39 older adults (aged 65-80 years) and 29 young adults (aged 20-29 years), all capable of normal arm, hand, and finger movements, participated in the experiment. Participants sat facing a webcam and were asked to perform hand rotation movements as quickly and accurately as possible with both hands for 10 seconds. They performed 3 trials with a 30-second break in between. For statistical verification, we set the significance level at .05 and analyzed the data using the generalized estimation equations model to assess the effects of the between-subject factor (age group: younger vs older) and the within-subject factors (hand: left vs right, and trials 1, 2, and 3). Among the 7 measured indicators, 3 (total rotation count, angle, and time) showed statistically significant differences between age groups. Younger participants performed more rotations (B=5.29, P=.002), demonstrated a greater range of motion (B=1334.37, P=.007), and completed the task in less time (B=0.99, P=.003), indicating age-related differences in upper limb motor function. Trial order also had a significant main effect on rotation count and angle. Trial 1 differed significantly from trials 2 and 3, while no difference was observed between trials 2 and 3, suggesting that trial 1 may reflect a practice effect. The findings revealed that the older adult group demonstrated statistically significant differences compared to the young adult group in their ability to control hand rotation movements. A learning effect was observed across the 3 trials, suggesting that the first trial should be discarded for use as a stable measurement.

VR shopping combines the advantages of both online and offline shopping, demonstrating significant potential. In online settings, where consumers cannot directly experience products, providing detailed product information is essential. However, research on the impact of product information provision methods in VR shopping on perceived product emotion and ease of product recognition is limited. Therefore, we compare the effects of the existing e-commerce product information provision method and the VR shopping method on perceived product emotion and product information recognition. We focus on shoes as a product where emotion and detailed information heavily influence the final purchase decision. The results showed that the VR shopping method delivered product emotions more consistently and demonstrated higher product information recognition ease. This study is significant as it provides practical verification of the effectiveness of product information provision methods in VR shopping and suggests directions for future research in this field.

Background: Gastric cancer is one of the most prevalent malignancies worldwide and the fourth leading cause of cancer-related mortality. Protein ubiquitination and deubiquitination regulate protein stability as post-translational modifications, playing essential roles in tumorigenesis. Although UCHL1, a deubiquitinating enzyme (DUB), is implicated in the progression of several cancer types, its role in gastric cancer remains unclear. Methods: Kaplan–Meier analysis and gastric cancer patient tissues were used to assess UCHL1 expression. Cell viability assay, colony-forming assay, and transwell migration and invasion assay were performed to evaluate cell growth. Immunoprecipitation and Western blotting analyzed protein expression and interactions. Results: This study demonstrates that UCHL1 expression is markedly upregulated in gastric cancer tissues compared to normal tissues. Elevated UCHL1 expression is associated with poor patient prognosis, supporting its potential role as an oncogenic factor. Reduced UCHL1 expression suppressed cell proliferation, migration, and invasion in gastric cancer cell lines. As the underlying mechanism, we identified CIP2A, a known oncogenic regulator of c-Myc, as a downstream effector of UCHL1. UCHL1 knockdown reduced CIP2A protein levels via deubiquitination, attenuated c-Myc signaling, and decreased expression of key cell cycle regulators. Furthermore, UCHL1 knockdown significantly downregulated cyclin D1 expression, arresting the cell cycle in the G1 phase and inhibiting cell proliferation. Conclusions: Collectively, our findings reveal that UCHL1 promotes gastric cancer progression, highlighting it as a potential therapeutic target.