Upstream targeting for the prevention of atrial fibrillation: Targeting Risk Interventions and Metformin for Atrial Fibrillation (TRIM-AF)-rationale and study design.

Background: Despite advances in ablation and other therapies for AF, progression of atrial fibrillation (AF) remains a significant clinical problem, associated with worse prognosis and worse treatment outcomes. Upstream therapies targeting inflammatory or antifibrotic mechanisms have been disappointing in preventing AF progression, but more recently genetic and genomic studies in AF suggest novel cellular and metabolic stress targets, supporting prior studies of lifestyle and risk factor modification (LRFM) for AF. However, while obesity is a significant risk factor, weight loss and risk factor modification have not been successfully applied in a US population with AF.

Clinical and radiologic features of soft tissue sarcoma in trunk and extremities that underwent unplanned excision.

Background: To identify the clinical and imaging characteristics of soft tissue sarcomas (STS) of the trunk and extremities that undergo unplanned excision.

Methods: This retrospective study evaluated the data of patients with STS in the trunk or extremities between January 2008 and December 2021. Patients were divided into unplanned and planned excision groups based on their initial treatment.

Efficient data labeling strategies for automated muscle segmentation in lower leg MRIs of Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease patients.

We aimed to develop efficient data labeling strategies for ground truth segmentation in lower-leg magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of patients with Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (CMT) and to develop an automated muscle segmentation model using different labeling approaches. The impact of using unlabeled data on model performance was further examined. Using axial T1-weighted MRIs of 120 patients with CMT (60 each with mild and severe intramuscular fat infiltration), we compared the performance of segmentation models obtained using several different labeling strategies.

Compound Heterozygous Mutations of in a Korean Cohort Study of Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disease Concurrent Cerebellar Ataxia and Spasticity.

Mutations in the gene are associated with autosomal recessive spastic ataxia of Charlevoix-Saguenay disease (ARSACS) or complex clinical phenotypes of Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (CMT). This study aimed to identify mutations in a Korean CMT cohort with cerebellar ataxia and spasticity by whole exome sequencing (WES). As a result, eight pathogenic mutations in four families were identified as the underlying causes of these complex phenotypes.

Ultrasound and CT findings of subcutaneous metastases in trunk and pelvis: a comprehensive analysis.

Objective: This study aimed to describe the ultrasound, CT findings, and clinical manifestations of pathologically confirmed metastases involving the subcutaneous fat layer of the trunk and pelvis.

Materials And Methods: We included 30 patients with subcutaneous metastases in the trunk and pelvis, verified by ultrasound-guided biopsy. We comprehensively reviewed ultrasound findings of all 30 patients and contrast-enhanced CT findings of 25 patients obtained before biopsy.

Design, synthesis, and evaluation of N,N-dialkyldioxonaphthoimidazoliums as antibacterial agents against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.

Increasing antibiotic resistance of bacterial pathogens poses a serious threat to human health worldwide. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is among the most deleterious bacterial pathogens owing to its multidrug resistance, necessitating the development of new antibacterial agents against it. We previously identified a novel dioxonaphthoimidazolium agent, c5, with moderate antibacterial activity against MRSA from an anticancer clinical candidate, YM155.

Hemodialysis Efficiency Predictor in End-Stage Kidney Disease Using Real-Time Heart Rate Variability.

Background: Autonomic dysfunction as a long-term complication may occur in end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) patients and can be diagnosed using heart rate variability (HRV) analyzed from electrocardiogram (ECG) recordings. There is limited data about HRV using real-time ECG to predict hemodialysis (HD) efficiency in patients with ESKD who are routinely doing HD in the real world.

Methods: A total of 50 patients (62.

Correlation of body composition metrics with bone mineral density and computed tomography-based trabecular attenuation.

Purpose: To investigate the relationship of body composition metrics with bone mineral density (BMD) and trabecular attenuation in a cohort of healthy individuals.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed data of consecutively evaluated individuals who underwent dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) and abdominopelvic computed tomography (CT) on the same day during routine medical check-ups between January 2021 and December 2021. Trabecular attenuation was measured at L1 level, while body composition metrics, including skeletal muscle index (SMI), skeletal muscle attenuation (SMA), visceral fat index (VFI), and subcutaneous fat index (SFI), were measured at L3 level.

Identification of novel Nrf2-activating neuroprotective agents: Elucidation of structural congeners of (-)-galiellalactone and congener-based novel Nrf2 activators.

Herein, (-)-galiellalactone 1 congeners responsible for the nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2)-activating neuroprotective effects were elucidated. Additionally, novel congener-based Nrf2 activators were identified using a drug repositioning strategy. (-)-Galiellalactone, which comprises a tricyclic lactone skeleton, significantly activates antioxidant response element (ARE)-mediated transcription in neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells.

Recovery of spatial frequencies in coherent diffraction imaging in the presence of a central obscuration.

Coherent diffraction imaging (CDI) and its scanning version, ptychography, are lensless imaging approaches used to iteratively retrieve a sample's complex scattering amplitude from its measured diffraction patterns. These imaging methods are most useful in extreme ultraviolet (EUV) and X-ray regions of the electromagnetic spectrum, where efficient imaging optics are difficult to manufacture. CDI relies on high signal-to-noise ratio diffraction data to recover the phase, but increasing the flux can cause saturation effects on the detector.

Development of a novel prediction model for differential diagnosis between spinal myxopapillary ependymoma and schwannoma.

Spinal myxopapillary ependymoma (MPE) and schwannoma represent clinically distinct intradural extramedullary tumors, albeit with shared and overlapping magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) characteristics. We aimed to identify significant MRI features that can differentiate between MPE and schwannoma and develop a novel prediction model using these features. In this study, 77 patients with MPE (n = 24) or schwannoma (n = 53) who underwent preoperative MRI and surgical removal between January 2012 and December 2022 were included.

Factors Used by Mobile Applications to Predict Female Fertility Status and Their Reported Effectiveness: A Scoping Review.

Family planning, whether for pregnancy prevention or conception, is of pivotal importance to women of reproductive age. As hormonally driven methods, such as oral contraceptive pills, are widely used but have numerous side effects, women often seek alternative non-hormonal, non-invasive options, including fertility-tracking mobile applications (apps). However, the effectiveness of these apps as a method of contraception and conception planning has not been extensively vetted.

Effects of the beta-blocker carvedilol on arrhythmia and long-term clinical outcomes in benign prostate hypertrophy patients.

Benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH) is associated with autonomic dysfunction and sympathetic nervous system mediated by the alpha receptor. However, limited data exist regarding the effects of the beta-blocker (BB) carvedilol on arrhythmia and urologic outcomes in BPH patients. Our database of patients diagnosed with BPH from 2015 to 2020 was used to obtain echocardiography and electrocardiogram data.

Temporal synchronization between two Q switched pulses in a 1 × 2 array distribution inside a single YAG/Yb:YAG/Cr:YAG laser resonator.

We propose for the first time, to the best of our knowledge, a coupling method of modes guided by gain waveguides to synchronize two Q switched pulses oscillating in a 1 × 2 array distribution inside a single YAG/Yb:YAG/Cr:YAG resonator. To analyze the temporal synchronization of spatially separated Q switched pulses, the buildup time interval, spatial distribution, and longitudinal modes distribution of the two pulse beams are investigated.

Lactic Acid Bacteria Isolated from Human Breast Milk Improve Colitis Induced by 2,4,6-Trinitrobenzene Sulfonic Acid by Inhibiting NF-κB Signaling in Mice.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), a chronic inflammatory disease, results from dysregulation of the immune responses. Some lactic acid bacteria (LAB), including , alleviate IBD through immunomodulation. In this study, the anti-colitis effect of LAB isolated from human breast milk was investigated in a mouse model induced acute colitis with 2,4,6-trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS).

Structural Congeners of Izenamides Responsible for Cathepsin D Inhibition: Insights from Synthesis-Derived Elucidation.

This study aimed to elucidate the structural congeners of natural izenamides A, B, and C (-) responsible for cathepsin D (CTSD) inhibition. Structurally modified izenamides were synthesized and biologically evaluated, and their biologically important core structures were identified. We confirmed that the natural statine (Sta) unit (3,4)-γ-amino-β-hydroxy acid is a requisite core structure of izenamides for inhibition of CTSD, which is closely related to the pathophysiological roles in numerous human diseases.

Chemical Glycosylation with -Methoxyphenyl (PMP) Glycosides via Oxidative Activation.

A novel persulfate-mediated oxidative glycosylation system using -methoxyphenyl (PMP) glycosides as bench-stable glycosyl donors is developed. This study shows that both KSO as an oxidant and Hf(OTf) as a Lewis acid catalyst play important roles in the oxidative activation of the PMP group into a potential leaving group. This convenient glycosylation protocol proceeds under mild conditions and delivers a wide range of biologically and synthetically valuable glycoconjugates, including glycosyl fluorides.

Association Between Pelvic Bone Computed Tomography-Derived Body Composition and Patient Outcomes in Older Adults With Proximal Femur Fracture.

Objective: To investigate the association between pelvic bone computed tomography (CT)-derived body composition and patient outcomes in older adult patients who underwent surgery for proximal femur fractures.

Materials And Methods: We retrospectively identified consecutive patients aged ≥ 65 years who underwent pelvic bone CT and subsequent surgery for proximal femur fractures between July 2018 and September 2021. Eight CT metrics were calculated from the cross-sectional area and attenuation of the subcutaneous fat and muscle, including the thigh subcutaneous fat (TSF) index, TSF attenuation, thigh muscle (TM) index, TM attenuation, gluteus maximus (GM) index, GM attenuation, gluteus medius and minimus (Gmm) index, and Gmm attenuation.

Facile Gram-Scale Synthesis of CoO Nanocrystal from Spent Lithium Ion Batteries and Its Electrocatalytic Application toward Oxygen Evolution Reaction.

In this study, we demonstrate a new approach to easily prepare spinel CoO nanoparticles (-CoO NPs) in the gram-scale from the cathode of spent lithium ion batteries (SLIBs) by the alkali leaching of hexaamminecobalt(III) complex ions. As-obtained intermediate and final products were characterized with powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), Ultraviolet-Visible (UV-Vis), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), and Transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Additionally, the synthesized -CoO NPs showed better electrocatalytic properties toward the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) in comparison to previously reported CoO NPs and nanowires, which could be due to the more exposed electrocatalytic active sites on the -CoO NPs.

Xanthohumol Interferes with the Activation of TGF-β Signaling in the Process Leading to Intestinal Fibrosis.

Fibrosis has various biological processes and affects almost every organ, especially in patients with inflammatory bowel disease, including Crohn's disease, who experience discomfort caused by intestinal fibrosis, which is a problem that needs to be resolved. TGF-β signaling is known to act as a key regulator of intestinal fibrosis, and its modulation could be an excellent candidate for fibrosis therapy. Xanthohumol (XN) has various effects, including anti-inflammation and anti-cancer; however, the detailed mechanism of TGF-β signaling has not yet been studied.

Effects of Empagliflozin on Diuretics Reduction in Outpatient Heart Failure Patients.

Background And Objectives: Inhibitors of sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2i) reduce the risk of hospitalization for heart failure (HF). We aimed to examine the effect of empagliflozin on change of diuretics dose in outpatient HF patients.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 612 patients who were treated using both empagliflozin and diuretics.