A review of the influence mechanisms of climate-induced events on groundwater microplastic contamination: A focus on aquifer vulnerabilities and mitigation strategies.

Climate change and plastic pollution are two main issues that our world is currently facing, and they are mainly linked through various processes, mechanisms, and chemical blueprint. Emerging issues related to microplastic (MP) contamination in freshwater are expanding and diverse research is being carried out globally. Factors causing climate change are increasing the frequency of extreme weather phenomena such as floods, drought, sea level rise, and heat waves, which can directly or indirectly influence the plastic/MP contamination in various ecosystems including groundwater environments.

Review on the relationship between microplastics and heavy metals in freshwater near mining areas.

Microplastics (MPs), degraded from plastic wastes, have drawn significant attention worldwide due to its prevalence and rapid transition. Contamination of freshwater with MPs has become an emerging global issue. Heavy metals (HMs), a prominent global pollutant, also garnered much attention due to their potential interaction with MPs, presenting a multifaceted environmental threat.

The risk of infective endocarditis according to blood pressure in patients with diabetes: a nationwide population-based study.

Background: We aimed to assess the incidence of infective endocarditis (IE) and evaluate the impact of hypertension (HTN) with underweight on the risk of IE among patients with diabetic mellitus (DM) using a nationwide population-based cohort in Korea.

Methods: We identified 2,603,012 participants (57.4 ± 12.

Association between weight changes and infective endocarditis in patients with diabetes: A nationwide population-based cohort study.

Backgrounds: The association between weight change in patients with diabetes, and the development of infective endocarditis (IE) has never been studied. Therefore, we evaluated the associations of weight changes in patients with diabetes with the development of IE.

Methods: In this Korean population-based cohort study, we included patients with diabetes aged ≥20 years who underwent health screenings twice in a 2-year interval between 2009 and 2012.

The long-term influence of lesion set in the surgical ablation of atrial fibrillation during mitral valve surgery: Multicenter propensity-score weighted study.

Objective: This study aimed to assess the effect of the lesion sets for surgical ablation of atrial fibrillation on long-term outcomes and identify the optimal lesion set.

Methods: Between 2005 and 2017, 1825 patients underwent surgical ablation concomitant to mitral valve surgery in the participating institutions. Of these, 529 underwent left atrial ablation, whereas the remainder had biatrial ablation.

Thoron, radon and microbial community as supportive indicators of seismic activity in groundwater.

Earthquakes have a significant impact on groundwater environments as well as human life. However, identifying active and affected zones from seismic events using isotopic and microbial diversity indicators remains a challenging frontier. To validate the applicability of this coupled method for real-time analysis, we analyzed thoron (Rn), radon (Rn), microbial community compositions, and hydrochemistry in groundwater samples during the 2017 Pohang earthquake for the first time.

Progression trajectories from prodromal to overt synucleinopathies: a longitudinal, multicentric brain [F]FDG-PET study.

The phenoconversion trajectory from idiopathic/isolated Rapid eye movement (REM) sleep behavior disorder (iRBD) towards either Parkinson's Disease (PD) or Dementia with Lewy Bodies (DLB) is currently uncertain. We investigated the capability of baseline brain [F]FDG-PET in differentiating between iRBD patients eventually phenoconverting to PD or DLB, by deriving the denovoPDRBD-related pattern (denovoPDRBD-RP) from 32 de novo PD patients; and the denovoDLBRBD-RP from 30 de novo DLB patients, both with evidence of RBD at diagnosis. To explore [F]FDG-PET phenoconversion trajectories prediction power, we applied these two patterns on a group of 115 iRBD patients followed longitudinally.

Effect of physical activity on risk reduction of infective endocarditis among patients with diabetes: a nationwide cohort study.

Patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) are at a higher risk of infectious diseases, and exercise is an important treatment modality for DM. Despite their susceptibility to infection in diabetic patients, the association between the amount of physical activity and the incidence of infective endocarditis (IE) is unclear. We attempted to demonstrate risk reduction by physical activity in diabetic patients with IE.

Comparative study on structural and functional brain differences in mild cognitive impairment patients with tinnitus.

Objective: Tinnitus may be associated with various brain changes. However, the degenerative changes in patients with tinnitus have not been extensively investigated. We aimed to evaluate degenerative, structural, and functional brain changes in patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) who also suffer from tinnitus.

Decision Regret and Decision-Making Process among Caregivers of Older Adults Receiving Home Care: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Objectives: Family caregivers of older adults receiving home care often find themselves in situations in which they must make important and difficult decisions, which can cause conflict and regret. To tailor shared decision making in this context, we aimed to identify the most difficult decisions they faced, assess their levels of decision regret, and explore the associated factors.

Design: This study used a cross-sectional design.

Association between Systolic Blood Pressure Variability and Incident Aortic Stenosis.

: This study investigated the potential link between blood pressure variability (BPV) and the incidence of aortic stenosis (AS) using Korean National Health Insurance Service data from 2002 to 2019. : We collected annual systolic blood pressure variability (SBPV) measurements consisting of three consecutive blood pressure readings each year over three years. The obtained SBPV data was divided into five quantiles, with the highest quintile representing a high fluctuation of blood pressure.

Comparative evaluation of the STANDARD M10 and Xpert . assays for detection of toxigenic in stool specimens.

This study compared the performance of two commercial molecular assays, the STANDARD M10 assay (M10) and the Xpert assay (Xpert), for detecting toxigenic in stool specimens. A total of 487 consecutive stool specimens submitted for routine testing between June and November 2023 were included. Following routine testing using C.

Identifying Contact Time Required for Secondary Transmission of Clostridioides difficile Infections by Using Real-Time Locating System.

Considering patient room shortages and prevalence of other communicable diseases, reassessing the isolation of patients with Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) is imperative. We conducted a retrospective study to investigate the secondary CDI transmission rate in a hospital in South Korea, where patients with CDI were not isolated. Using data from a real-time locating system and electronic medical records, we investigated patients who had both direct and indirect contact with CDI index patients.

Relationships Between Socio-behavioral Factors and the Symptoms Among Asian American Breast Cancer Survivors: A Structural Equation Modeling.

Background: Despite increased research on breast cancer survivors, little is known about how socio-behavioral factors influence the symptoms among racial/ethnic minority breast cancer survivors, particularly Asian American breast cancer survivors (AABCS).

Objective: This study examined the relationship between multiple socio-behavioral factors in AABCS, including attitudes, perceived barriers, and social influences, and their symptom experiences, with an emphasis on the mediating effect of self-efficacy.

Methods: This secondary analysis used data collected from 195 AABCS women recruited through online and offline communities from January 2017 to June 2020.

How are new nurses satisfied with their jobs? From the work value perspective of Generations Y and Z nurses.

Background: Job satisfaction has garnered significant interest across multiple disciplines as it plays a vital role in shaping human resource strategies. In the field of nursing, enhancing job satisfaction can help prevent workforce shortages. Work values and job-related characteristics are significant predictors of job satisfaction.

Impaired cognitive flexibility and disrupted cognitive cerebellum in degenerative cerebellar ataxias.

There is a clinically unmet need for a neuropsychological tool that reflects the pathophysiology of cognitive dysfunction in cerebellar degeneration. We investigated cognitive flexibility in degenerative cerebellar ataxia patients and aim to identify the pathophysiological correlates of cognitive dysfunction in relation to cerebellar cognitive circuits. We prospectively enrolled degenerative cerebellar ataxia patients with age-matched healthy controls who underwent 3 T 3D and resting-state functional MRI.

The role of emotional similarity and emotional accuracy in belonging and stress among first-generation and continuing-generation students.

Extensive research has documented the psychological, social, and academic predicament of first-generation college students. However, basic psychological mechanisms underlying the challenges experienced by these students have been understudied. Taking a cultural psychology perspective, the present research considers the role of emotional (mis)match as a key mechanism for explaining first-generation students' lowered well-being.

Risk factors and management of iatrogenic colorectal perforation in diagnostic colonoscopy: a single-center cohort study.

Background And Aims: Diagnostic colonoscopy plays a central role in colorectal cancer screening programs. We analyzed the risk factors for perforation during diagnostic colonoscopy and discussed the treatment outcomes.

Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of risk factors and treatment outcomes of perforation during 74,426 diagnostic colonoscopies between 2013 and 2018 in a tertiary hospital.

Stakeholder analysis for effective implementation of water management system: Case of groundwater charge in South Korea.

Groundwater Charge was introduced in 2005 as one of the sustainable resource management measures in South Korea. The implementation rate, however, stagnated around 37 %, indicating that most local governments chose not to adopt this 'optional' regulation. While previous Stakeholder Analysis studies mainly blamed exclusion - or limited involvement - of stakeholders in the designing and structuring stage of policy-making process for policy failures, this study focused on the interest conflicts and dynamics hindered implementation process.