Comparison of intracranial volume adjustment methods to evaluate brain atrophy severity in AD continuum.

Background: Normative percentile (NP) quantifies brain atrophy by comparing regional brain volumes of a subject against age and sex‐matched cognitively normal populations. Accurate intracranial volume (ICV) adjustment is vital in NP quantification to minimize the effect of an individual’s head size. However, which intracranial volume adjustment method yields reliable normative percentiles remains unclear.

Automated Brain Volumetry Analysis for Differential Diagnosis of Frontotemporal Dementia Subtypes.

Background: Clinical diagnosis of frontotemporal dementia (FTD) can be challenging, requiring an accurate tool dedicated to this diagnostic hurdle. Since FTD exhibits distinct regional atrophy patterns on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), AI‐aided automated brain volume analysis could enhance the clinical diagnostic assessment of FTD, including the detection of the disease and the classification of subtypes, which encompass behavioral variant (BV), semantic variant (SV), and progressive non‐fluent aphasia (PNFA). In this study, we leverage automated brain volumetry software to approach both FTD detection and the differential diagnosis among its subtypes.

Quantitative Analysis of Choroid Plexus Enlargement in Alzheimer's Dementia: A Study of Automated Volumetric Technique.

Background: Choroid plexus enlargement is implicated in the exacerbation of cognitive impairments characteristic of Alzheimer’s dementia (AD). Manual volumetric assessment by radiologists, while accurate, is impractical for large‐scale application due to its resource‐intensive nature. We examine the use of automated brain volumetry software as an efficient and cost‐effective alternative for quantifying choroid plexus volume.

Quantitative Analysis of Choroid Plexus Enlargement in Alzheimer’s Dementia: A Study of Automated Volumetric Technique.

Background: Choroid plexus enlargement is implicated in the exacerbation of cognitive impairments characteristic of Alzheimer’s dementia (AD). Manual volumetric assessment by radiologists, while accurate, is impractical for large‐scale application due to its resource‐intensive nature. We examine the use of automated brain volumetry software as an efficient and cost‐effective alternative for quantifying choroid plexus volume.

Comparison of intracranial volume adjustment methods to evaluate brain atrophy severity in AD continuum.

Background: Normative percentile (NP) quantifies brain atrophy by comparing regional brain volumes of a subject against age and sex‐matched cognitively normal populations. Accurate intracranial volume (ICV) adjustment is vital in NP quantification to minimize the effect of an individual’s head size. However, which intracranial volume adjustment method yields reliable normative percentiles remains unclear.

Automated Brain Volumetry Analysis for Differential Diagnosis of Frontotemporal Dementia Subtypes.

Background: Clinical diagnosis of frontotemporal dementia (FTD) can be challenging, requiring an accurate tool dedicated to this diagnostic hurdle. Since FTD exhibits distinct regional atrophy patterns on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), AI‐aided automated brain volume analysis could enhance the clinical diagnostic assessment of FTD, including the detection of the disease and the classification of subtypes, which encompass behavioral variant (BV), semantic variant (SV), and progressive non‐fluent aphasia (PNFA). In this study, we leverage automated brain volumetry software to approach both FTD detection and the differential diagnosis among its subtypes.

The Classification of Metastatic Spine Cancer and Spinal Compression Fractures by Using CNN and SVM Techniques.

Metastatic spine cancer can cause pain and neurological issues, making it challenging to distinguish from spinal compression fractures using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). To improve diagnostic accuracy, this study developed artificial intelligence (AI) models to differentiate between metastatic spine cancer and spinal compression fractures in MRI images. MRI data from Gyeongsang National University Hospital, collected from January 2019 to April 2022, were processed using Otsu's binarization and Canny edge detection algorithms.

Factors associated with habitual drug use among adolescents: A secondary data analysis.

Purpose: Drug use during adolescence can have lasting health consequences, and understanding the factors that contribute to drug use is essential for effective prevention. This study aimed to identify the factors influencing habitual drug use among South Korean adolescents. It employed Bronfenbrenner's ecological model to examine personal, familial, school-related, and social factors.

Portulaca oleracea Extract Ameliorates Testosterone Propionate-Induced Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia in Male Sprague-Dawley Rats.

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a distressing health problem that can cause serious complications in aging men. Androgens are implicated in the causation of BPH. Portulaca oleracea (PO) is a natural product with diverse pharmacological effects.

Interventions for family involvement enhance end-of-life care for hospitalized patients: an integrative review.

Background: Integrating family members into the care of hospitalized end-of-life patients enhances patient-family-centered care and significantly influences the experiences of patients and their families. This study used the integrative review methodology to assess the scope and effectiveness of interventions designed to facilitate family involvement in end-of-life care. It identified gaps and consolidated existing knowledge to improve nursing practices.

Aspergillus ullungdoensis sp. nov., Penicillium jeongsukae sp. nov., and other fungi from Korea.

Eurotiales fungi are thought to be distributed worldwide but there is a paucity of information about their occurrence on diverse substrates or hosts and at specific localities. Some of the Eurotiales, including Aspergillus and Penicillium species, produce an array of secondary metabolites of use for agricultural, medicinal, and pharmaceutical applications. Here, we carried out a survey of the Eurotiales in South Korea, focusing on soil, freshwater, and plants (dried persimmon fruits and seeds of Perilla frutescens, known commonly as shiso).

A Promising Approach to Ultra-Flexible 1 Ah Lithium-Sulfur Batteries Using Oxygen-Functionalized Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes.

Lithium-sulfur (Li-S) batteries represent a promising solution for achieving high energy densities exceeding 500 Wh kg, leveraging cathode materials with theoretical energy densities up to 2600 Wh kg. These batteries are also cost-effective, abundant, and environment-friendly. In this study, an innovative approach is proposed utilizing highly oxidized single-walled carbon nanotubes (Ox-SWCNTs) as a conductive fibrous scaffold and functional interlayer in sulfur cathodes and separators, respectively, to demonstrate large-area and ultra-flexible Li-S batteries with enhanced energy density.

eHealth Communication Intervention to Promote Human Papillomavirus Vaccination Among Middle-School Girls: Development and Usability Study.

Background: As the age of initiating sexual intercourse has gradually decreased among South Korean adolescents, earlier vaccination of adolescents for human papillomavirus (HPV) is necessary before their exposure to HPV. Health communication includes "cues to action" that lead to preventive health behaviors, and recently, social networking services, which operate with fewer time and space constraints, have been used in various studies as a form of eHealth communication.

Objective: This study aims to investigate the feasibility and usability of an eHealth communication intervention for HPV vaccination in middle-school girls aimed at the girls and their mothers.

Factors associated with generalized anxiety disorder in adolescents with cultural diversity: secondary data analysis.

Background: The number of culturally diverse adolescents in South Korea has reached 290,000 and is increasing every year; however, they still represent only 2.5% of the total adolescent population in middle and high schools, making them a minority. Adolescents experiencing cultural diversity are psychologically vulnerable because they grow up in bicultural environments and experience prejudice.

1-Hour Post-Load Glucose: Early Screening for High Risk of Type 2 Diabetes in Koreans with Normal Fasting Glucose.

Context: With rising the prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and prediabetes, the importance of 1-hour post-load plasma glucose (1-h PG) for early hyperglycemia screening is emphasized.

Objective: This study investigates the utility of 1-h PG in predicting T2DM in adults with normal fasting plasma glucose (FPG) levels.

Methods: 7,504 participants were categorized into three groups: normal glucose tolerance (NGT) with 1-h PG < 155 mg/dL, NGT with 1-h PG ≥ 155 mg/dL, and impaired glucose tolerance (IGT).

Molecular Confirmation of Taenia solium Taeniasis in Child, Timor-Leste.

We report a case of Taenia solium taeniasis in a 10-year-old child in Timor-Leste, confirmed by molecular analysis, suggesting T. solium transmission to humans is occurring in Timor-Leste. Proactive measures are needed to improve public understanding of prevalence, geographic spread, and health implications of human taeniasis and cysticercosis in Timor-Leste.

Healthcare providers' communication experience in the pediatric intensive care unit: a phenomenological study.

Background: Healthcare providers must effectively communicate with other professionals, multidisciplinary teams, and parents of patients in pediatric intensive care units (PICUs) to improve outcomes in children and satisfaction levels of parents. Few studies have focused on healthcare providers' communication experiences, which are crucial for identifying current problems and suggesting future directions. This phenomenological study was conducted to address this gap.

The Survival of Human Intervertebral Disc Nucleus Pulposus Cells under Oxidative Stress Relies on the Autophagy Triggered by Delphinidin.

Delphinidin (Delp), a natural antioxidant, has shown promise in treating age-related ailments such as osteoarthritis (OA). This study investigates the impact of delphinidin on intervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD) using human nucleus pulposus cells (hNPCs) subjected to hydrogen peroxide. Various molecular and cellular assays were employed to assess senescence, extracellular matrix (ECM) degradation markers, and the activation of AMPK and autophagy pathways.