Occipital hypoperfusion and motor reserve in Parkinson's disease: an early-phase F-FP-CIT PET study.

Individual variability exists in parkinsonian motor symptoms despite a similar degree of nigrostriatal dopamine depletion in Parkinson's disease (PD), called motor reserve. We enrolled 397 patients newly diagnosed with PD who underwent dual-phase F-FP-CIT PET upon initial assessment. Individual motor reserve was estimated based on initial parkinsonian motor symptoms and striatal dopamine transporter availability using a residual model.

Application of ultrasonographic human estimated foetal weight formulas to cynomolgus monkeys (Macaca fascicularis) at 129-132 days of gestation: A comparative study of estimated and actual birthweight.

Background: Cynomolgus monkeys (Macaca fascicularis) are essential in biomedical research, including reproductive studies. However, the application of human estimated foetal weight (EFW) formulas using ultrasonography (USG) in these non-human primates is not well established.

Objectives: This study aims to evaluate the applicability of human EFW formulas for estimating foetal weight in cynomolgus monkeys at approximately 130 days of gestation.

Long-term cardiovascular outcome in women with preeclampsia in Korea: a large population-based cohort study and meta-analysis.

Recent studies reported the long-term cardiovascular risk of preeclampsia. However, only a few studies have investigated the association between preeclampsia and long-term cardiovascular disease in Asian populations, although there could be racial/ethnic differences in the risk of cardiovascular diseases. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate the long-term effects of preeclampsia on cardiovascular disease in an Asian population.

Patterns of regional cerebral hypoperfusion in early Parkinson's disease: Clinical implications.

Introduction: This study aimed to investigate whether regional cerebral perfusion patterns on early-phase F-FP-CIT PET scans, which is typically coupled to cerebral metabolism, predict the long-term prognosis of Parkinson's disease (PD).

Methods: We enrolled 397 drug-naïve patients with early-stage PD who underwent dual-phase F-FP-CIT PET scans. After quantifying the early-phase F-FP-CIT PET images, cluster analysis was performed to delineate the PD subtypes according to the patterns of regional cerebral perfusion.

Placental expression quantitative trait loci in an East Asian population.

Expression quantitative trait loci (eQTL) analysis measures the contribution of genetic variation in gene expression on complex traits. Although this methodology has been used to examine gene regulation in numerous human tissues, eQTL research in solid tissues is relatively lacking. We conducted eQTL analysis on placentas collected from an East Asian population in an effort to identify gene regulatory mechanisms in this tissue.

Preclinical and dose-ranging assessment of hESC-derived dopaminergic progenitors for a clinical trial on Parkinson's disease.

Human embryonic stem cell (hESC)-derived midbrain dopaminergic (mDA) cell transplantation is a promising therapeutic strategy for Parkinson's disease (PD). Here, we present the derivation of high-purity mDA progenitors from clinical-grade hESCs on a large scale under rigorous good manufacturing practice (GMP) conditions. We also assessed the toxicity, biodistribution, and tumorigenicity of these cells in immunodeficient rats in good laboratory practice (GLP)-compliant facilities.

Future risk of metabolic syndrome after recurrent pregnancy loss: a cohort study using UK Biobank.

Objective: To evaluate the risk of metabolic syndrome (MS) after recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL) using UK Biobank data. A history of pregnancy loss is associated with the development of cardiovascular diseases in the future. However, the association between RPL and subsequent MS is poorly understood.

Hippocampal Perfusion Affects Motor and Cognitive Functions in Parkinson Disease: An Early Phase F-FP-CIT Positron Emission Tomography Study.

Objective: We investigated whether hippocampal perfusion changes are associated with cognitive decline, motor deficits, and the risk of dementia conversion in patients with Parkinson disease (PD).

Methods: We recruited patients with newly diagnosed and nonmedicated PD and healthy participants who underwent dual phase F-N-(3-fluoropropyl)-2β-carboxymethoxy-3β-(4-iodophenyl) nortropane positron emission tomography scans. Patients were classified into 3 groups according to hippocampal perfusion measured by standard uptake value ratios (SUVRs): (1) PD hippocampal hypoperfusion group (1 standard deviation [SD] below the mean hippocampal SUVR of healthy controls; PD-hippo-hypo), (2) PD hippocampal hyperperfusion group (1 SD above the mean; PD-hippo-hyper), and (3) the remaining patients (PD-hippo-normal).

Electrocardiogram-based deep learning model to screen peripartum cardiomyopathy.

Background: Peripartum cardiomyopathy, one of the most fatal conditions during delivery, results in heart failure secondary to left ventricular systolic dysfunction. Left ventricular dysfunction can result in abnormalities in electrocardiography. However, the usefulness of electrocardiography in the identification of peripartum cardiomyopathy in pregnant women remains unclear.

Is the cingulate island sign a marker for early dementia conversion in Parkinson's disease?

Background: To investigate whether the cingulate island sign (CIS) ratio (i.e., the ratio of regional uptake in the posterior cingulate cortex relative to the precuneus and cuneus on cerebral perfusion scans) is associated with early dementia conversion in Parkinson's disease (PD).

Differential Implications of Cerebral Hypoperfusion and Hyperperfusion in Parkinson's Disease.

Background: Patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) exhibit widespread brain perfusion changes.

Objective: This study investigated whether cerebral regions with hypoperfusion and hyperperfusion have differential effects on motor and cognitive symptoms in PD using early-phase F-N-(3-fluoropropyl)-2β-carboxymethoxy-3β-(4-iodophenyl) nortropane ( F-FP-CIT) positron emission tomography (PET) scans.

Methods: We enrolled 394 patients with newly diagnosed PD who underwent dual-phase F-FP-CIT PET scans.

Ultrasonographic monitoring of fetal eye growth parameters throughout gestation in the common marmoset (Callithrix jacchus).

The common marmoset (Callithrix jacchus) is considered an ideal species for developing genetically modified nonhuman primates (NHP) models of human disease, particularly eye disease. They have been proposed as a suitable bridge between rodents and other NHP models due to their similar ophthalmological features to humans. Prenatal ultrasonography is an accurate and reliable diagnostic tool for monitoring fetal development and congenital malformation.

Increased risk of congenital malformations in offspring born to women with systemic lupus erythematosus in South Korea: a nationwide population-based study.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the risk of congenital malformations in offspring born to women with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).

Methods: This nationwide population-based study included Korean women who had a singleton pregnancy. The risk of congenital malformations in women with SLE was compared with those without SLE.

Management of the smaller twin with impending compromise in twin pregnancies complicated by selective fetal growth restriction: a questionnaire-based study of clinical practice patterns.

Background: In twin pregnancies complicated by selective fetal growth restriction (sFGR), if the smaller twin is in the state of impending intra-uterine death (IUD), immediate delivery will reduce the risk of IUD of the smaller twin while exposing the larger twin to iatrogenic preterm birth (PTB). Therefore, the management options would either be to maintain pregnancy for the maturation of the larger twin despite the risk of IUD of the smaller twin or immediate delivery to prevent IUD of the smaller twin. However, the optimal gestational age of management transition from maintaining pregnancy to immediate delivery has not been established.

Long-term adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes of discordant twins delivered at term: A nationwide population-based study.

Objective: To evaluate long-term adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes of discordant twins delivered at term.

Design: Retrospective cohort study.

Setting: Nationwide (Republic of Korea).

Long term renal outcome after hypertensive disease during pregnancy: a nationwide population-based study.

Objective: Hypertensive disease during pregnancy increases the risk of maternal morbidity and mortality and leads to the development of multi-organ dysfunction, including kidney dysfunction. Complicated pregnancies require careful postpartum management to prevent sequelae. It is believed that kidney injury can consistently occur even after delivery; therefore, defining the chronicity and endpoint is essential for establishing diagnostic criteria.

Metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease as a risk factor for adverse outcomes in subsequent pregnancy: a nationwide cohort study.

Background And Purpose: A recent international expert consensus opinion suggested that metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) replaces nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), since MAFLD is a better predictor of cardiovascular disease. We estimated the prevalence of FLD in fertile females and evaluated the clinical impact of either NAFLD or MAFLD on maternal and fetal outcomes during subsequent pregnancy.

Methods: The study population included fertile females who underwent health examinations and became pregnant within 1 year of health examination.

Development and Validation of a Prediction Model for Need for Massive Transfusion During Surgery Using Intraoperative Hemodynamic Monitoring Data.

Importance: Massive transfusion is essential to prevent complications during uncontrolled intraoperative hemorrhage. As massive transfusion requires time for blood product preparation and additional medical personnel for a team-based approach, early prediction of massive transfusion is crucial for appropriate management.

Objective: To evaluate a real-time prediction model for massive transfusion during surgery based on the incorporation of preoperative data and intraoperative hemodynamic monitoring data.

Patterns of striatal dopamine depletion and motor deficits in de novo Parkinson's disease.

The background of this study is to investigate whether striatal dopamine depletion patterns (selective involvement in the sensorimotor striatum or asymmetry) are associated with motor deficits in Parkinson's disease (PD). We enrolled 404 drug-naïve patients with early stage PD who underwent dopamine transporter (DAT) imaging. After quantifying DAT availability in each striatal sub-region, principal component (PC) analysis was conducted to yield PCs representing the spatial patterns of striatal dopamine depletion.

Preterm Labor and Preterm-PROM at a Lower Gestational Age Are Associated with a Longer Latency-to-Delivery Even in Patients with the Same Intensity of Intra-Amniotic Inflammation: "Carroll-Model" Revisited.

A previous study by Carroll et al. demonstrated that the time from preterm-PROM to delivery was longer at a lower gestational age (GA) when the membranes rupture, although the presence or absence of intra-amniotic inflammation (IAI) was not examined in that study. However, patients with either preterm labor (PTL) or preterm-PROM at a lower GA had more frequent IAI, which was associated with a shorter amniocentesis-to-delivery (ATD) interval as compared with inflammation-free amniotic fluid (AF).