Risk factors for refractory respiratory distress syndrome among very-low-birth-weight infants.

Background: The objective was to evaluate refractory respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) risk factors among very-low-birth-weight infants (VLBWIs).

Method: The data of VLBWIs born between January 2013 and December 2020 registered in the Korean Neonatal Network (KNN) were analyzed. Infants who died within 5 postnatal days or who were not given surfactant were excluded.

Validation of neuron-specific enolase in cardiac arrest patients with limited withdrawal of life-sustaining therapy.

Aim: We validated the prognostic performance of neuron-specific enolase (NSE) according to the recommended values in cardiac arrest (CA) survivors.

Methods: We analyzed the data of adult CA survivors who underwent targeted temperature management between January 2014 and December 2020. We measured the NSE level 48 h and 72 h after CA.

The Association between Troponin-I Clearance after the Return of Spontaneous Circulation and Outcomes in Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest Patients.

Background: Elevated levels of troponin-I (TnI) are common in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) patients. However, studies evaluating the prognostic value of TnI clearance in OHCA patients are lacking. We aimed to examine how TnI clearance (TnI-C) differed according to the neurological outcome group and mortality group at 6 months.

The Relationship between the Ratio of Urine Osmolality to Serum Osmolality and Neurological Outcomes in Out-of-hospital Cardiac Arrest Patients.

Background: Progressive ischemic brain injury after cardiac arrest can cause damage to the hypothalamic-pituitary axis, particularly the pituitary gland. This may impact serum osmolality (SOsm) and urine osmolality (UOsm) in patients who have experienced out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA). We assumed that a low ratio of UOsm to SOsm (USR) is related to poor outcomes among OHCA patients.

Grey-to-White Matter Ratio Values in Early Head Computed Tomography (CT) as a Predictor of Neurologic Outcomes in Survivors of Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest Based on Severity of Hypoxic-Ischemic Brain Injury.

Background: Hypoxic-ischemic brain injury (HIBI) is a common complication of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA).

Objectives: We investigated whether grey-to-white matter ratio (GWR) values, measured using early head computed tomography (HCT), were associated with neurologic outcomes based on the severity of HIBI in survivors of OHCA.

Methods: This retrospective multicenter study included adult comatose OHCA survivors who underwent an HCT scan within 2 h after the return of spontaneous circulation.

Tailoring the Structure-Property Relationship of Ring-Opened Metathesis Copolymers for CO-Selective Membranes.

In this work, we explore the use of ring-opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP) facilitated by a second-generation Grubbs catalyst (G2) for the development of advanced polymer membranes aimed at CO separation. By employing a novel copolymer blend incorporating 4,4'-oxidianiline (ODA), 1,6-hexanediamine (HDA), 1-adamantylamine (AA), and 3,6,9-trioxaundecylamine (TA), along with a CO-selective poly(ethylene glycol)/poly(propylene glycol) copolymer (Jeffamine2003) and polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) units, we have synthesized membranes under ambient conditions with exceptional CO separation capabilities. The strategic inclusion of PDMS, up to a 20% composition within the PEG/PPG matrix, has resulted in copolymer membranes that not only surpass the 2008 upper limit for CO/N separation but also meet the commercial targets for CO/H separation.

Quantitative analysis of apparent diffusion coefficients to predict neurological prognosis in cardiac arrest survivors: an observational derivation and internal-external validation study.

Background: This study aimed to validate apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values and thresholds to predict poor neurological outcomes in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) survivors by quantitatively analysing the ADC values via brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Methods: This observational study used prospectively collected data from two tertiary academic hospitals. The derivation cohort comprised 70% of the patients randomly selected from one hospital, whereas the internal validation cohort comprised the remaining 30%.

Good outcome prediction after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest: A prospective multicenter observational study in Korea (the KORHN-PRO registry).

Aim: To assess the ability of clinical examination, biomarkers, electrophysiology and brain imaging, individually or in combination to predict good neurological outcomes at 6 months after CA.

Methods: This was a retrospective analysis of the Korean Hypothermia Network Prospective Registry 1.0, which included adult out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) patients (≥18 years).

Role of the National Early Warning score and Modified Early Warning score for predicting mortality in geriatric patients with non-traumatic coma.

Geriatric patients arriving in a non-traumatic coma (NTC) at the emergency department (ED) present substantial risks and necessitate prompt and appropriate care. The National Early Warning Score (NEWS) is a promising tool that can efficiently evaluate this vulnerable population. Current study was designed to assess the effectiveness of the NEWS for predicting the severity of illness in geriatric patients with NTC and identifying those at highest risk.

Association between quantitative analysis of cerebral edema using CT imaging and neurological outcomes in cardiac arrest survivors.

Background: To determine if the density distribution proportion of Hounsfield unit (HUdp) in head computed tomography (HCT) images can be used to quantitatively measure cerebral edema in survivors of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA).

Methods: This retrospective observational study included adult comatose OHCA survivors who underwent HCT within 6 h (first) and 72-96 h (second), all performed using the same CT scanner. Semi-automated quantitative analysis was used to identify differences in HUdp at specific HU ranges across the intracranial component based on neurological outcome.

High incidence of acute kidney injury in extracorporeal resuscitation, Leading to poor prognosis.

Background: Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) patients have a high incidence of acute kidney injury (AKI). Extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation (ECPR) patients are more likely to develop AKI than ECMO patients because of serious injury during cardiac arrest (CA).

Objectives: This study aims to assess the occurrence and outcomes of AKI in ECPR and ECMO, and to identify specific risk factors and clinical implications of AKI in ECPR.

PolyMOF nanoparticles constructed from intrinsically microporous polymer ligand towards scalable composite membranes for CO separation.

Integrating different modification strategies into a single step to achieve the desired properties of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) has been very synthetically challenging, especially in developing advanced MOF/polymer mixed matrix membranes (MMMs). Herein, we report a polymer-MOF (polyMOF) system constructed from a carboxylated polymer with intrinsic microporosity (cPIM-1) ligand. This intrinsically microporous ligand could coordinate with metals, leading to ~100 nm-sized polyMOF nanoparticles.

Transdermal Properties of Cell-Penetrating Peptides: Applications and Skin Penetration Mechanisms.

Cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs) consist of 5-30 amino acids with intracellular transduction abilities and diverse physicochemical properties, origins, and sequences. Although recent developments in bioinformatics have facilitated the prediction of CPP candidates with the potential for transduction into cells, the mechanisms by which CPPs penetrate cells and various tissues have not yet been elucidated at the molecular interaction level. Recently, the skin-penetrating ability of CPPs has gained wide attention and emerged as a simple and effective strategy for the delivery of macromolecules into the skin.

Assessment of the Effects of Sodium Nitroprusside Administered Via Intracranial Subdural Catheters on the Cerebral Blood Flow and Lactate Using Dynamic Susceptibility Contrast Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Proton Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy in a Pig Cardiac Arrest Model.

Background Cerebral blood flow (CBF) is impaired in the early phase after return of spontaneous circulation. Sodium nitroprusside (SNP) administration via intracranial subdural catheters improves cerebral cortical microcirculation. We determined whether the SNP treatment improves CBF in the subcortical tissue and evaluated the effects of this treatment on cerebral lactate.

Expert opinion on evidence after the 2020 Korean Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Guidelines: a secondary publication.

Considerable evidence has been published since the 2020 Korean Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Guidelines were reported. The International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation (ILCOR) also publishes the Consensus on CPR and Emergency Cardiovascular Care Science with Treatment Recommendations (CoSTR) summary annually. This review provides expert opinions by reviewing the recent evidence on CPR and ILCOR treatment recommendations.

Different neuroprognostication thresholds of neuron-specific enolase in shockable and non-shockable out-of-hospital cardiac arrest: a prospective multicenter observational study in Korea (the KORHN-PRO registry).

Background: Serum neuron-specific enolase (NSE) is the only recommended biomarker for multimodal prognostication in postcardiac arrest patients, but low sensitivity of absolute NSE threshold limits its utility. This study aimed to evaluate the prognostic performance of serum NSE for poor neurologic outcome in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) survivors based on their initial rhythm and to determine the NSE cutoff values with false positive rate (FPR) < 1% for each group.

Methods: This study included OHCA survivors who received targeted temperature management (TTM) and had serum NSE levels measured at 48 h after return of spontaneous circulation in the Korean Hypothermia Network, a prospective multicenter registry from 22 university-affiliated teaching hospitals in South Korea between October 2015 and December 2018.