Cardiovascular Risk from Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease, Cardiometabolic Risk Factor Count, and Their Longitudinal Changes: A Nationwide Cohort Study.

Introduction: Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is associated with incident cardiovascular disease (CVD). However, CVD risk could vary across and within individuals with MASLD. We investigated the cardiovascular implications of MASLD, cardiometabolic risk factor count, and their longitudinal changes.

Efficacy of Neoadjuvant Hypofractionated Chemoradiotherapy in Elderly Patients with Locally Advanced Rectal Cancer: A Single-Center Retrospective Analysis.

: The application of long-course chemoradiotherapy (LCRT) in elderly patients with locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC) can be challenging due to increased risks of complications associated with comorbidities and reduced functional status. This study aimed to assess the efficacy of neoadjuvant hypofractionated chemoradiotherapy (HCRT) in elderly patients with mid-to-low LARC. : We performed a retrospective review of patients diagnosed with LARC from January 2013 to December 2020 and included those aged 70 years or older.

Exploring diabetes through the lens of AI and computer vision: Methods and future prospects.

Early diagnosis and timely initiation of treatment plans for diabetes are crucial for ensuring individuals' well-being. Emerging technologies like artificial intelligence (AI) and computer vision are highly regarded for their ability to enhance the accessibility of large datasets for dynamic training and deliver efficient real-time intelligent technologies and predictable models. The application of AI and computer vision techniques to enhance the analysis of clinical data is referred to as eHealth solutions that employ advanced approaches to aid medical applications.

Predictive Value of Serum Hepcidin Levels for the Risk of Incident End-Stage Kidney Disease in Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease: The KNOW-CKD.

Introduction: Despite the pivotal role of hepcidin in the development of anemia among the patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), the association between serum hepcidin levels and CKD progression has been never investigated. We here hypothesized that elevation in serum hepcidin levels might be associated with the risk of incident end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) among the patients with pre-dialysis CKD.

Methods: A total of 2,109 patients with pre-dialysis CKD at stages 1 to pre-dialysis 5 were categorized into the quartiles by serum hepcidin levels.

Rifaximin treatment in patients with severe alcoholic hepatitis: A multicenter, randomized controlled, open-label, pilot trial.

Introduction And Objectives: The short-term mortality of severe alcoholic hepatitis (SAH) is high, but there are no effective treatments to improve short-term mortality other than corticosteroids. This study investigated the effects of adding rifaximin to standard treatment in patients with SAH.

Material And Methods: In this randomized controlled open-label trial, patients with SAH (Maddrey's discriminant function≥32) were randomized to the rifaximin or control group.

Bioinspired synthesis of virus-like particle-templated thin silica-layered nanocages with enhanced biocompatibility and cellular uptake as drug delivery carriers.

The bioinspired synthesis of virus-like silica nanoparticles in biomedical applications makes it possible to utilize the cellular delivery capabilities of viruses while minimizing the cytotoxicity of inorganic silica. In this study, we developed a diatom-inspired method for synthesizing silica-layered nanocages utilizing R5 peptide-functionalized virus-like particles (VLPs). R5 peptides were genetically inserted into the F-G loop of human papillomavirus 16 L1 proteins (HPV16 L1-R5).

Enterotype-Specific Effects of Red Beetroot ( L.) Powder and Betanin on Human Gut Microbiota: A Preliminary Study Based on In Vitro Fecal Fermentation Model.

Red beetroots, rich in betanin, may act as prebiotics and impact gut microbiota. Because the human gut microbiota is unique to each person, the effectiveness of prebiotics varies with the enterotype. In this study, we hypothesized that the effects of red beetroot powder (RP) and betanin pigment (BP) would differ depending on the enterotype.

Bayesian Mechanics of Synaptic Learning Under the Free-Energy Principle.

The brain is a biological system comprising nerve cells and orchestrates its embodied agent's perception, behavior, and learning in dynamic environments. The free-energy principle (FEP) advocated by Karl Friston explicates the local, recurrent, and self-supervised cognitive dynamics of the brain's higher-order functions. In this study, we continue to refine the FEP through a physics-guided formulation; specifically, we apply our theory to synaptic learning by considering it an inference problem under the FEP and derive the governing equations, called Bayesian mechanics.

Assessment of the neurotoxicity of monosodium glutamate on neural stem cells and hippocampal neurogenesis in a rodent model.

Monosodium glutamate (MSG) is a widely used flavor enhancer in processed foods and valued for its ability to enhance the savory taste known as umami. MSG is classified as non-toxic and recognized as a safe food additive with no specific usage restrictions in many countries. However, neurotoxic studies on MSG have primarily focused on neurons, and the effects of MSG on neural stem cells (NSCs) have not been reported.

Physiological change of striatum and ventral midbrain's glia cell in response to different exercise modalities.

Exercise not only regulates neurotransmitters and synapse formation but also enhances the function of multiple brain regions, beyond cortical activation. Prolonged aerobic or resistance exercise modality has been widely applied to reveal the beneficial effects on the brain, but few studies have investigated the direct effects of different exercise modalities and variations in exercise intensity on the neuroinflammatory response in the brain and overall health. Therefore, in this study, we investigated changes in brain cells and the immune environment of the brain according to exercise modalities.

An organotypic atlas of human vascular cells.

The human vascular system, comprising endothelial cells (ECs) and mural cells, covers a vast surface area in the body, providing a critical interface between blood and tissue environments. Functional differences exist across specific vascular beds, but their molecular determinants across tissues remain largely unknown. In this study, we integrated single-cell transcriptomics data from 19 human organs and tissues and defined 42 vascular cell states from approximately 67,000 cells (62 donors), including angiotypic transitional signatures along the arterial endothelial axis from large to small caliber vessels.

Circulating osteoprotegerin and progression of coronary artery calcification in patients with chronic kidney disease: the KoreaN Cohort Study for Outcome in Patients With Chronic Kidney Disease (KNOW-CKD).

Background: Coronary artery calcification (CAC) is a surrogate of cardiovascular events in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). To establish the role of circulating osteoprotegerin (OPG) as a cardiovascular biomarker in patients with CKD, we investigated whether an increase in serum OPG levels is associated with the risk of CAC progression.

Methods: A total of 1,130 patients with CKD stage 1 to predialysis 5 were divided into quartiles according to serum OPG levels (Q1 to Q4).

Intravenous versus oral iron supplementation for iron deficiency anemia in patients with rectal cancer undergoing neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy: a study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

Background: Numerous studies have been conducted to manage anemia in surgical patients through iron supplementation as an alternative to blood transfusion. However, patients with locally advanced rectal cancer have often been excluded from these studies, due to their standard treatment involving neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy. This study aims to evaluate the impact of intravenous versus oral iron supplementation on iron deficiency anemia in patients with rectal cancer receiving preoperative chemoradiotherapy.

Neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by definitive local treatment in locally advanced sinonasal squamous cell carcinoma.

Background: Sinonasal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is a rare disease entity, comprising less than 5% of malignancies of the head and neck. While surgery is the primary treatment approach, neoadjuvant and adjuvant therapies play crucial roles in enhancing the prognosis of patients undergoing treatment with the goal of cure. In this study, we aimed to explore the treatment outcomes of neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) in patients with locally advanced sinonasal SCC.

Alterations in the global brain network in older adults with poor sleep quality: A resting-state fMRI study.

Objectives: Older adults often experience more fragmented and less restful sleep than younger individuals. However, the mechanisms in the brain that underlie these phenomena have been rarely studied. The aim of this study was to identify the differences in global brain network properties between older adults with good and poor sleep quality and to explore the relationship between these network properties and symptoms of insomnia.

The effectiveness of a transitional care program for frail older adults between hospital and home: A randomized controlled trial.

This study evaluated the effectiveness of a transitional care program developed for frail older adults. A single-blinded randomized controlled trial was conducted. Thirty-two frail older adults were enrolled in the study.

The phosphodiester dissociative hydrolysis of a DNA model promoted by metal dications.

Context: Phosphodiester bonds, which form the backbone of DNA, are highly stable in the absence of catalysts. This stability is crucial for maintaining the integrity of genetic information. However, when exposed to catalytic agents, these bonds become susceptible to cleavage.

Impact of physical activity levels on the association between air pollution exposures and glycemic indicators in older individuals.

Background: Air pollution may exacerbate diabetes-related indicators; however, the longitudinal associations between air pollutant concentrations and glycemic markers remain unclear. In this prospective cohort study, we examined the longitudinal associations between air pollution and glycemic indicators among older individuals with normoglycemia at baseline and determined whether these associations differed according to changes in physical activity levels.

Methods: Overall, 1,856 participants (mean age, 70.