Korea National University of Transportation

Skin rehabilitation in clinics is seriously threatened by chronic wounds developed from drug-resistant bacteria, such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), which frequently exhibit delayed healing owing to the hyperactive pro-inflammatory response, oxidative stress amplification, and fibrosis induction. Inspired by the skin epidermis, herein, we developed a deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA)/gelatin methacrylate (GelMA)-based soft cryogel platform that incorporates metal-organic framework (MOF) decorated plasmonic Ti₃C₂T_x (MXene) as a photosensitizer to prevent MRSA infection and promote scarless wound healing. By leveraging the bioactive and near-infrared (NIR) responsive property of the cryogel, mild phototherapy resulted in robust bactericidal performance and functional tissue regeneration while attenuating oxidative stress and maintaining hydrophilicity. Additionally, the transcriptome study verified that photobiomodulation by cryogel increased signature biomarkers that activate cytokeratin and zinc finger proteins owing to the Zn²⁺ ion adsorption to keratinocytes, highlighting its significant role in wound remodeling. Consequently, in vivo studies further disclose that cryogel-induced photobiomodulation promotes angiogenesis, thick epidermis generation, superior granulation, hair follicle growth, and anti-inflammatory activation without scarring, comparable to native skin. These findings underscore the remarkable potential of the fabricated cryogel as an innovative wound dressing material, providing an irresistible solution for managing infected skin wounds.

Centella asiatica (L.) Urb. (CA), a member of the Apiaceae family encompassing around 50 species, has been traditionally used in Ayurvedic and other folk medicine systems to manage inflammatory disorders.

This study explored the protective role of CA-Juice in a dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced ulcerative colitis (UC) mouse model. In addition, a validated method for its quality evaluation was established.

BALB/c mice were administered CA-Juice orally for two weeks prior to DSS induction of UC. An HPLC-UVD method was applied to quantify a marker compound for quality evaluation.

CA-Juice was well tolerated and significantly improved clinical symptoms of UC. It modulated inflammatory mediators and enhanced intestinal immunoglobulin A levels, while improving epithelial integrity. Histological analysis confirmed that CA-Juice reduced colonic tissue damage and improved mucin production, as demonstrated through the modulation of ERK/p38 MAPK and NF-κB signaling pathways. CA-Juice also elevated cecal concentrations of short-chain fatty acids, contributing to intestinal homeostasis. For standardization, an HPLC-UVD method was developed, showing high linearity, sensitivity, and specificity, and was applied to quantify miquelianin as a key marker compound in CA-Juice.

These findings support the potential of CA-Juice as a functional dietary component for preventing intestinal inflammation and provide foundational data for its standardization and future applications.

Previous studies have reported associations between alcohol consumption patterns and diet quality. However, this study expanded previous knowledge by investigating the relationship between alcohol consumption patterns—categorized by frequency and amount of alcohol consumption—and diet quality, assessed by using the Korean Healthy Eating Index (KHEI), among Korean adults aged 30–64 years. A total of 7885 adults (3469 men and 4416 women) from the 2019–2021 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey were included. Drinking patterns were classified based on frequency and quantity, and their association with diet quality was compared to that of abstainers. In both men and women, infrequent heavy drinkers, more frequent moderate/light drinkers, and more frequent heavy drinkers had significantly lower scores for total and fresh fruit intake, and higher scores for calories from sweets and beverages than abstainers. Among women, the odds of being in the lowest KHEI quartile (Q1) compared to the highest (Q4) were significantly higher for infrequent heavy drinkers (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 1.61; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.08–2.39), more frequent moderate/light drinkers (AOR = 1.65; 95% CI: 1.05–2.58), and more frequent heavy drinkers (AOR = 2.54; 95% CI: 1.44–4.49). These findings suggest that frequent drinking and higher intake per occasion are associated with lower consumption of fresh fruit and poorer overall diet quality. In women, both frequent drinking and high consumption during infrequent drinking occasions were more strongly associated with poor diet quality, highlighting the need for stricter dietary guidance related to alcohol consumption.