High-throughput microfluidic spheroid technology for early detection of colistin-induced nephrotoxicity with gradient-based analysis.

Colistin is essential for treating multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacterial infections but has significant nephrotoxic side effects. Traditional approaches for studying colistin's nephrotoxicity are challenged by the rapid metabolism of its prodrug, colistin methanesulfonate and the difficulty of obtaining adequate plasma from critically ill patients. To address these challenges, we developed the Spheroid Nephrotoxicity Assessing Platform (SNAP), a microfluidic device that efficiently detects colistin-induced toxicity in renal proximal tubular epithelial cell (RPTEC) spheroids within 48 hours using just 200 μL of patient plasma.

Surgical Construction of Wide-Neck Bifurcation Experimental Aneurysm in an In Vivo Canine Model to Test Neurovascular Device.

Stents are increasingly used for coiling difficult aneurysms, to reduce the risk of recurrences, or to modify blood flow. Currently, available bifurcation aneurysm models are ill-suited to assess stent performance before clinical use. We designed a new animal model of wide-neck canine Y-type bifurcation aneurysm (such as middle cerebral artery (MCA) bifurcation) and previously reported one of T-type (such as basilar bifurcation).

The Microbiological Characteristics of Associated With Early Mortality in Patients With Bloodstream Infection.

Background: Despite rapid deaths resulting from bacteremia, the clinical impact of the microbiological characteristics of strains on early mortality (EM) is unclear. We aimed to identify the microbiological characteristics of strains associated with EM.

Methods: Clinical information and isolates from patients with bacteremia from January 2015 to December 2021 were collected.

Trends of antibiotic use at the end-of-life of cancer and non-cancer decedents: a nationwide population-based longitudinal study (2006-2018).

Objective: This study aimed to assess the actual burden of antibiotic use among end-of-life (EOL) patients in South Korea and to compare trends between cancer and non-cancer decedents.

Design: Population-based mortality follow-back study.

Setting: Data from the Korean National Health Insurance Database, covering the period from January1, 2006, to December 31, 2018, provided for research by the National Health Insurance Service (NHIS), were used.

Immune Cells Are Differentially Affected by SARS-CoV-2 Viral Loads in K18-hACE2 Mice.

Viral load and the duration of viral shedding of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) are important determinants of the transmission of coronavirus disease 2019. In this study, we examined the effects of viral doses on the lung and spleen of K18-hACE2 transgenic mice by temporal histological and transcriptional analyses. Approximately, 1×10 plaque-forming units (PFU) of SARS-CoV-2 induced strong host responses in the lungs from 2 days post inoculation (dpi) which did not recover until the mice died, whereas responses to the virus were obvious at 5 days, recovering to the basal state by 14 dpi at 1×10 PFU.

Quantitative and qualitative evaluation of antimicrobial usage: the first step for antimicrobial stewardship.

The identification of antimicrobial use patterns is essential for determining key targets for antimicrobial stewardship interventions and evaluating the effectiveness thereof. Accurately identifying antimicrobial use patterns requires quantitative evaluation, which focuses on measuring the quantity and frequency of antimicrobial use, and qualitative evaluation, which assesses the appropriateness, effectiveness, and potential side effects of antimicrobial prescriptions. This paper summarizes the quantitative and qualitative methods used to evaluate antimicrobials, drawing insights from overseas and domestic cases.

Biphasic Regulation of Apoptosis Following Gastric Irreversible Electroporation Using Tissue Immunohistochemistry of Activated Caspase-3 with TUNEL Method.

The regulation of apoptosis is the primary goal of ablation therapy. Irreversible electroporation (IRE) is a promising non-thermal tissue ablation-based therapy that induces apoptosis by manipulating electrical conditions. This study aimed to investigate IRE-induced gastric tissue apoptosis in response to changes in the electric field intensity, followed by the repair process.

The efficacy of surgical site suction drain insertion in pterional craniotomy for intracranial cerebral aneurysm.

Objective: We evaluated the role of subgaleal closed suction drains in postoperative epidural hematoma (EDH) and wound complications following pterional craniotomy for cerebral aneurysm.

Methods: We reviewed 5,280 pterional craniotomies performed on 5,139 patients between January 2006 and December 2020. A drain was placed subgalealy and tip of drain was positioned between the bone flap and the deep temporalis.

False-positive results of galactomannan assays in patients administered glucose-containing solutions.

Galactomannan (GM) is a polysaccharide cell wall component released by Aspergillus spp., and an immunoenzymatic GM assay is used for the diagnosis of invasive pulmonary aspergillosis. We evaluated the cause of strong positivity for GM in patients with no typical signs of aspergillosis.

bacteremia in the Republic of Korea.

In 2015, and were proposed as new species, distinct from and collectively referred to as the complex. However, no clinical reports of these new species exist in Korea. Upon the application of matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) for all bloodstream isolates since September 2022, was identified in one patient.

A longitudinal molecular and cellular lung atlas of lethal SARS-CoV-2 infection in K18-hACE2 transgenic mice.

Background: The global pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has led to approximately 500 million cases and 6 million deaths worldwide. Previous investigations into the pathophysiology of SARS-CoV-2 primarily focused on peripheral blood mononuclear cells from patients, lacking detailed mechanistic insights into the virus's impact on inflamed tissue. Existing animal models, such as hamster and ferret, do not faithfully replicate the severe SARS-CoV-2 infection seen in patients, underscoring the need for more relevant animal system-based research.

Developing a framework for regular and sustainable qualitative assessment of antibiotic use in Korean medical institutions: a Delphi study.

Background: We aimed to develop a roadmap for conducting regular, sustainable, and strategic qualitative assessments of antibiotic use in medical institutions within the Republic of Korea.

Methods: A literature review on the current state of qualitative antibiotic assessments was conducted, followed by one open round to collect ideas, two scoring rounds to establish consensus, and one panel meeting between them. The expert panel comprised 20 experts in infectious disease or antibiotic stewardship.

Surgical considerations and techniques using intraoperative indocyanine green angiography for ethmoidal dural arteriovenous fistula.

Objective: This study aims to investigate the efficacy of microsurgery with intraoperative indocyanine green (ICG) angiography as a treatment approach for ethmoidal dural arteriovenous fistula (DAVF).

Methods: Between January 2010 and July 2021, our institution encountered a total of eight cases of ethmoidal DAVF. In each of these cases, microsurgical treatment was undertaken utilizing a bilateral sub-frontal interhemispheric approach, with the aid of intraoperative ICG angiography.

Possibility of Decreasing Incidence of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection in Korea.

Background: The number of newly diagnosed cases of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection in Korea, which had increased until 2019, has markedly decreased since the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic started. This study evaluated whether the decrease is due to a reduction in the incidence of HIV infection and/or delayed diagnosis during the pandemic.

Materials And Methods: We reviewed the medical records of 587 newly diagnosed patients with HIV infection between February 2018 and January 2022 from four general hospitals, and their characteristics were compared between the pre-pandemic and pandemic periods.

Antibiotic prescribing behavior among physicians in Asia: a multinational survey.

Objective: To evaluate antibiotic prescribing behavior (APB) among physicians with various specialties in five Asian countries.

Design: Survey of antibiotics prescribing behavior in three stages (initial, on-treatment, and de-escalation stages).

Methods: Participants included internists, infectious diseases (ID) specialists, hematologists, intensivists, and surgeons.

Integration of blue light with near-infrared irradiation accelerates the osteogenic differentiation of human dental pulp stem cells.

Blue light is used less in photobiomodulation than red or near-infrared light because of concerns about its high energy. However, some reports have suggested that blue light releases NO from nitrosated proteins, affects cell signal regulation, and promotes stem cell differentiation. Because blue and red lights could have different mechanisms of action, their combination is expected to have new consequences.

Antibiotic Prescription in Patients With Coronavirus Disease 2019: Analysis of National Health Insurance System Data in the Republic of Korea.

Background: Although coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a viral infection, antibiotics are often prescribed due to concerns about accompanying bacterial infection. Therefore, we aimed to analyze the number of patients with COVID-19 who received antibiotic prescriptions, as well as factors that influenced antibiotics prescription, using the National Health Insurance System database.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed claims data for adults aged ≥ 19 years hospitalized for COVID-19 from December 1, 2019 to December 31, 2020.

Assessment of efficacy and safety of advanced endoscopic irreversible electroporation catheter in the esophagus.

Nonthermal irreversible electroporation (NTIRE) is emerging as a promising tissue ablation technique. However, maintaining irreversible electroporation (IRE) electrodes against displacement during strong esophageal spasms remains an obstacle. The present study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of newly designed balloon-type endoscopic IRE catheters.

Histological Response to 5 kHz Irreversible Electroporation in a Porcine Liver Model.

Unlike necrosis by thermal ablation, irreversible electroporation (IRE) is known to induce apoptosis by disrupting plasma membrane integrity with electric pulses while preserving the structure of blood vessels and bile ducts in liver tissue without a heat sink effect. This study aimed to investigate thermal damage and histopathological effects in the porcine liver by high-frequency electric pulses (5 kHz) which is much higher than the widely used 1 Hz. The electric field and thermal distributions of 5 kHz electric pulses were compared with those of 1 Hz in numerical simulations.

Anti-Alpha-Toxin Antibody Responses and Clinical Outcomes of Bacteremia.

Background: Alpha-toxin (AT), a major virulence factor of , is an important immunotherapeutic target to prevent or treat invasive infections. Previous studies have suggested that anti-AT antibodies (Abs) may have a protective role against bacteremia (SAB), but their function remains unclear. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the association between serum anti-AT Ab levels and clinical outcomes of SAB.

Evaluation of Vancomycin TDM Strategies: Prediction and Prevention of Kidney Injuries Based on Vancomycin TDM Results.

The current guidelines for therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) of vancomycin suggest a target 24-hour area under the curve (AUC) of 400 to 600 mg*h/L for serious methicillin-resistant infections. In this study, the predictabilities of acute kidney injury (AKI) of various TDM target parameters, target levels, and sampling methods were evaluated in patients who underwent TDM from January 2020 to December 2020. The AUC and trough values were calculated by both one- and two-point sampling methods, and were evaluated for the predictability of AKI.