Hyo-Jung Kwon

Background: Bladder dysfunction is a complicated condition that substantially impairs quality of life for both men and women. Due to the adverse effects and limited efficacy of current therapies, new strategies must be rapidly developed. Female bladder dysfunction arises from multifaceted etiologies distinct from the predominantly male benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) that is the focus of existing drug development. In this study, we investigated the therapeutic potential of Quisqualis indica extract (QIE), a traditional medicinal herb that attenuates BPH-induced lower urinary symptoms (LUTS), to elucidate its underlying mechanisms in a female bladder dysfunction model. Methods and Results: A bladder dysfunction model was established by inducing partial bladder outlet obstruction (pBOO) in female Sprague Dawley rats, followed by the oral administration of QIE for 7 weeks. Voiding pattern analysis and cystometry were conducted to evaluate indicators such as voiding frequency, voiding volume, and intravesical pressure. Histological analysis of excised bladder tissue quantified smooth muscle hypertrophy and collagen deposition. Gene expression profiling of inflammatory cytokines and fibrosis-related markers within the bladder tissue was performed to assess tissue remodeling. Furthermore, pharmacological contraction studies examined the direct effects of QIE on detrusor muscle responsiveness to muscarinic and purinergic agonists. QIE administration significantly improved the elevated voiding pressure and abnormal inter-contraction intervals observed in the pBOO rats, restoring normal voiding patterns. Histological examination revealed a marked decrease in muscle hypertrophy and collagen deposition. Expression levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNFα, IL-1β) and fibrosis-associated genes (TGF-β, α-SMA) were downregulated. Pharmacological contraction assays demonstrated that QIE attenuated the hypercontractile response of bladder smooth muscle to a muscarinic agonist, with concurrent reduced expression of muscarinic receptors (M₂, M₃) at the mRNA level. Conclusions:QIE ameliorates key aspects of bladder dysfunction, voiding abnormalities, inflammation, fibrosis, and hypercontractility by modulating muscarinic receptor signaling and fibrotic pathways. This study suggests that QIE warrants further investigation as a natural product-based therapeutic candidate for female bladder dysfunction.

To advance wearable medical technology beyond its current limits, stretchable organic light‐emitting diode (SOLED) displays must become practical. Achieving this requires both mechanical softness and durable environmental protection, yet conventional SOLED platforms are limited by a resolution–stretchability trade‐off and the fracture‐prone nature of inorganic encapsulation layers. Here we report a multilayer SOLED architecture that separates light emission and mechanical deformation into vertically stacked planes. By decoupling emissive pixel islands from deformable interconnects, the design enables high‐fill‐factor pixel patterning while improving mechanical compliance and structural reliability. Finite‐element analysis and experimental measurements show that the multilayer stack redistributes tensile strain into compliant elastomeric layers, delivering approximately 54% system‐level stretchability. Stable electroluminescence is maintained under repeated loading and 50% uniaxial tensile strain. For outdoor and long‐term operation, we further develop a hybrid encapsulation combining atomic‐layer‐deposited nanolaminate distributed Bragg reflector layers with parylene‐C. The resulting barrier exhibits a barrier performance of 1.26 × 10 ^{− 6} g m ^{− 2} day ^{− 1} , achieves 99.87% ultraviolet blocking, and preserves device operation under cyclic deformation and hygrothermal stress. In a murine wound‐healing model, the SOLED patch conformally covered skin and accelerated healing by over 50% compared with controls, demonstrating its strong potential for wearable therapeutic applications.

Background: Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is an age-associated urological condition defined by abnormal multiplication of both stromal and epithelial components within the prostate. Calamagrostis arundinacea (CA), a species of perennial grass native to East Asia, has been recognized for its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant biological activities. The present study examined whether CA extract could attenuate prostatic enlargement induced by testosterone propionate (TP) in rats. Methodology: To establish the experimental model, rats received subcutaneous TP injections (3 mg/kg/day) for four consecutive weeks. During the same period, an extract of CA (150 mg/kg/day) was orally administered. Results: TP-treated animals developed significant prostatic enlargement, whereas CA supplementation markedly reduced prostate weight and significantly decreased circulating dihydrotestosterone (DHT) and testosterone levels. Microscopic analysis demonstrated that CA mitigated glandular epithelial thickening and suppressed hyperplastic alterations. In addition, CA reduced proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) expression and increased apoptotic cell numbers, as evidenced by TUNEL staining. Gene expression analysis further revealed significant downregulation of insulin-like growth factor-2 (Igf-2), transforming growth factor-β (Tgf-β), and vascular endothelial growth factor (Vegf), in CA-treated prostates. Moreover, CA inhibited activation of the PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling cascades by reducing phosphorylation of Akt and mTOR. Conclusions: Overall, these results indicate that CA extract alleviates testosterone-induced BPH through suppression of growth-related signaling cascades and induction of apoptosis, suggesting its potent value as a phytotherapeutic strategy for BPH management.

Pulmonary vascular proliferative lesions are rarely reported and poorly characterized in animals. In this study, we describe 13 cases identified in wild Korean raccoon dogs (Nyctereutes procyonoides), suggesting a higher-than-expected incidence in this species. Gross examination revealed villous projections within the lumina of pulmonary vessels, sometimes accompanied by pneumonia, hemorrhage, or Dirofilaria immitis (heartworm) infection. Most affected animals also presented with thick, dark gray cutaneous crusts associated with scabies infestation. Histopathologically, the lesions consisted of papillary proliferations within thickened vascular lumens. Special stains (Masson’s trichrome and Elastic Verhoeff–Van Gieson) demonstrated a single layer of endothelial cells lining fibromuscular and collagenous thick cores. Immunohistochemistry confirmed endothelial origin and benign proliferative nature, with positive expression of CD31, collagen types I, III, and IV, and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA). To date, pulmonary vascular proliferative lesions have not been well documented in N. procyonoides, and baseline pathological data, including findings from special stains, are lacking. These findings indicate that pulmonary vascular proliferative lesions may be underrecognized in raccoon dogs and suggest a likely association with chronic vascular injury related to parasitic infections. Further studies are warranted to elucidate the underlying mechanisms and contributing factors.

Ductular reaction is associated with liver disease progression, but there are no drugs targeting ductular reaction. Vitamin D deficiency is common in chronic liver diseases and related to disease progression, but the underlying mechanisms by which vitamin D regulates liver diseases progression remain unclear. Here, we show that vitamin D plasma levels are negatively correlated with the degree of ductular reaction in patients with chronic liver diseases. 1,25(OH)₂D_3, the active form of vitamin D, reduces 3,5-diethoxycarbonyl-1,4-dihydrocollidin (DDC)-induced ductular reaction, liver inflammation, and fibrosis in female mice and upregulates the vitamin D target gene, TXNIP (encoding thioredoxin-interacting protein), in ductular cells. Cholangiocyte-specific Txnip-knockout female mice are more susceptible to DDC-induced ductular reaction, inflammation, and fibrosis. Deletion of Txnip in cholangiocytes promotes proliferation and suppressed death. Furthermore, Txnip deficiency increases TNF-α and TGF-β secretion by cholangiocytes to stimulate Kupffer cells and hepatic stellate cells, consequently leading to inflammation and collagen deposition. Biliary Txnip deficiency abolishes the protective effects of vitamin D, and TXNIP overexpression attenuates DDC-induced ductular reaction and inflammation and fibrosis. Collectively, our findings identify new mechanism how vitamin D ameliorates liver diseases and suggest that the vitamin D/TXNIP axis is a therapeutic target for addressing ductular reaction and liver diseases.

Background: Lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) due to prostate hyperplasia are the most frequent urological symptoms in elderly men. Current pharmacological treatments for LUTS and benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) are widely used in clinical practice; however, adverse effects associated with these drugs have been reported for sexual dysfunction and orthostatic hypotension. Prunella vulgaris (PV) is a medicinal herb that has a long history of use. This study aimed to address this gap by investigating the relaxant activity of PV extract (PVE) on rat prostate smooth muscle ex vivo and evaluating intravesical cystometry for its potential. Methods and Results: Ten male Sprague Dawley (SD) rats were used to study the relaxant efficacy of PVE and its constituents in isometric contraction ex vivo. Thirty-six SD rats were randomly assigned to six groups of six animals (n = 6) and administered testosterone propionate (TP; 3 mg/kg) daily for 4 weeks to induce BPH. Groups of BPH rats were treated with or without PVE (30, 60, or 90 mg/kg) via oral gavage. At the end of the experiments, the animals were subjected to intravesical pressure under urethane anesthesia. After successful cystometric recording, rats were euthanized with carbon dioxide. Prostate and bladder tissues were harvested and processed for histological and biochemical analysis. The results demonstrated that PVE exerted relaxant effects on prostatic smooth muscle in a concentration-dependent manner, mediated by nitric oxide and potassium channels, without antagonizing adrenergic receptors. Additionally, intravesical cystometry in SD rats treated with oral gavage of PVE for 4 weeks showed a significant improvement in voiding abnormalities. Conclusions: These findings suggest the potential of PV and its compounds as a therapeutic strategy to improve LUTS associated with BPH.

A seven-year-old spayed female dog presented with multiple, small oval-shaped masses on the abdominal skin. The excised tissue was submitted for histopathological evaluation. Routine histology revealed basaloid nodules with stippled chromatin and pleomorphic nuclei. Morphologically, the tumor resembled a solid papillary carcinoma of the breast or an endocrine mucin-producing sweat gland carcinoma (EMPSGC). EMPSGC is a rare neuroendocrine-differentiated neoplasm. This study aimed to compare different immunohistochemical markers for distinguishing between canine sweat gland carcinoma (SGC) and mammary gland carcinoma (MGC). CK19 and Sox9 were useful in identifying SGC. Additionally, the tumor was positive for CK5, AE1/AE3+CK8/18, p63, vimentin, E-cadherin, and synaptophysin, while estrogen receptor staining was negative. The final diagnosis of canine EMPSGC was based on the tumor’s morphological and neuroendocrine immunohistopathological features. Our report provides the first detailed description of a canine EMPSGC, an exceedingly rare tumor in dogs.

This study aimed to compare the correlation between muscle-to-fat volume ratios in specific pork cuts (Boston butt and pork belly) and the half-carcass using computed tomography (CT). CT scans of 21 crossbred gilt carcasses were performed to measure the muscle and fat volumes in the Boston butt and pork belly. The results indicated a muscle-to-fat volume ratio of 1 : 0.58 for the half-carcass, 1 : 0.37 for the Boston butt, and 1 : 0.79 for the pork belly. Pearson's correlation coefficient served as the method to evaluate the relationship between the regions. The correlation coefficients for the half-carcass and pork cuts are-0.9608 and 0.7423, respectively, in the order of Boston butt and pork belly. The results of this study confirmed that there is a high negative correlation between the muscle-to-fat volume ratio of the carcass and the Boston butt, but additional research is needed to verify these results.

Background/Objectives: Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a prevalent urological condition affecting elderly men. Prunella vulgaris L. (PV), a perennial herbaceous plant native to Europe and Asia, has anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antimicrobial effects. In this study, we determined the effect of PV extract on the development of BPH. Methods: Rats were treated via a daily hypodermic injection of testosterone propionate (TP; 3 mg/kg) for 4 weeks. Groups of BPH rats were treated with or without PV (60 or 80 mg/kg) by oral gavage. Results: In BPH model rats, PV considerably reduced their relative prostate weight and serum concentrations of dihydrotestosterone (DHT) and testosterone. The TP-induced increases in epithelial thickness in the prostate, proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) expression, and cyclin D1 expression were remarkably reduced, whereas terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL)-positive cells and cleaved caspase-3 levels were increased, in PV-treated rats compared to BPH rats. The mRNA expression levels of growth factors, such as transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β), fibroblast growth factor (FGF), and insulin-like growth factor (IGF-2), were significantly reduced in PV-treated rats. Mechanistically, the TP-induced activation of c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) was reduced by PV administration. Conclusions: These results designate that PV effectively ameliorates the development of testosterone-induced BPH through anti-androgenic, anti-proliferative, and pro-apoptotic activities, suggesting that it could be a potential therapeutic substance for BPH.

A seven-year-old spayed female dog presented with multiple, small spindle-shaped masses on the abdominal skin. The excised tissue was submitted for histopathological evaluation. Routine his-tology revealed basaloid nodules with stippled chromatin and pleomorphic nuclei. Mor-pho-logically, the tumor resembled a solid papillary carcinoma of the breast or an endocrine mucin-producing sweat gland carcinoma (EMPSGC). EMPSGC is a rare neuroendo-crine-differentiated neoplasm. This study aimed to compare different immunohistochemical markers for distinguishing between canine sweat gland carcinoma (SGC) and mammary gland carcinoma (MGC). CK19 and Sox9 were useful in identifying SGC. Additionally, the tumor was positive for CK5, AE1/AE3+CK8/18, p63, vimentin, E-cadherin, and synaptophysin, while estrogen receptor staining was negative. The final diagnosis of canine EMPSGC was based on the tumor’s morphological and neuroendocrine immunohistopathological features. Our report provides the first detailed description of a canine EMPSGC, an exceedingly rare tumor in dogs.