Exposure to Phthalates and Alternative Plasticizers in Patients with Impaired Kidney Function in Korea: Temporal Trend during 2011-2020 and Its Association with Chronic Kidney Disease.

Phthalates are chemical risk factors of chronic kidney disease (CKD); however, little is known about temporal trends of phthalate exposure and associated health risks among CKD patients. Such information is even scarce for alternative plasticizers. CKD patients were recruited from 2011 to 2020 in Korea ( = 200) and assessed for the temporal changes of both traditional and alternative plasticizer exposure.

Treatment extent of femoropopliteal disease and clinical outcomes following endovascular therapy.

Background: Endovascular therapy (EVT) has become the preferred treatment modality for femoropopliteal disease. However, there is limited evidence regarding its procedural and clinical outcomes according to the affected area.

Aims: The aim of this study is to investigate clinical outcomes and device effectiveness according to treatment extent in the superficial femoral artery (SFA), popliteal artery (PA), or both.

Visible light-induced photocatalytic degradation of tetrabromobisphenol A on platinized tungsten oxide.

In this study, we investigated the degradation of the flame retardant tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA) using platinized tungsten oxide (Pt/WO), synthesized via a simple photodeposition method, under visible light. The results of degradation experiments show a significant enhancement in TBBPA degradation upon surface platinization of WO, with the degradation rate increasing by 13.4 times compared to bare WO.

Delay in the diagnosis of Brucella abortus bacteremia in a nonendemic country: a case report.

Background: It is challenging to diagnose brucellosis in nonendemic regions because it is a nonspecific febrile disease. The accurate identification of Brucella spp. in clinical microbiology laboratories (CMLs) continues to pose difficulties.

Ion-imprinted membranes for lithium recovery: A review.

This review critically examines the effectiveness of ion-imprinted membranes (IIMs) in selectively recovering lithium (Li) from challenging sources such as seawater and brine. These membranes feature customized binding sites that specifically target Li ions, enabling selective separation from other ions, thanks to cavities shaped with crown ether or calixarene for improved selectivity. The review thoroughly investigates the application of IIMs in Li extraction, covering extensive sections on 12-crown-4 ether (a fundamental crown ether for Li), its modifications, calixarenes, and other materials for creating imprinting sites.

Prosthetic valve endocarditis caused by : a case report and literature review.

is a Gram-negative bacillus typically associated with bacteremia in immunocompromised patients. Prosthetic valve endocarditis (PVE) is a serious complication of prosthetic valve surgery, with a high mortality rate if not treated promptly. We present a rare case of PVE caused by .

Association of Intima-Media Thickness Measured at the Common Carotid Artery With Incident Carotid Plaque: Individual Participant Data Meta-Analysis of 20 Prospective Studies.

Background The association between common carotid artery intima-media thickness (CCA-IMT) and incident carotid plaque has not been characterized fully. We therefore aimed to precisely quantify the relationship between CCA-IMT and carotid plaque development. Methods and Results We undertook an individual participant data meta-analysis of 20 prospective studies from the Proof-ATHERO (Prospective Studies of Atherosclerosis) consortium that recorded baseline CCA-IMT and incident carotid plaque involving 21 494 individuals without a history of cardiovascular disease and without preexisting carotid plaque at baseline.

The novel HLA-B allele, HLA-B*15:656, first identified in a Korean individual by next-generation sequencing.

HLA-B*15:656 differs from B*15:27:01:01 by two nucleotide substitutions in codon 163 (CTG > GAG).

Novel LiAlO Material for Scalable and Facile Lithium Recovery Using Electrochemical Ion Pumping.

In this study, α-LiAlO was investigated for the first time as a Li-capturing positive electrode material to recover Li from aqueous Li resources. The material was synthesized using hydrothermal synthesis and air annealing, which is a low-cost and low-energy fabrication process. The physical characterization showed that the material formed an α-LiAlO phase, and electrochemical activation revealed the presence of AlO* as a Li deficient form that can intercalate Li.

Degradation of Organic Methyl Orange (MO) Dye Using a Photocatalyzed Non-Ferrous Fenton Reaction.

Removal of recalcitrant organic pollutants by degradation or mineralization from industrial waste streams is continuously being explored to find viable options to apply on the commercial scale. Herein, we propose a titanium nanotube array (based on a non-ferrous Fenton system) for the successful degradation of a model contaminant azo dye, methyl orange, under simulated solar illumination. Titanium nanotube arrays were synthesized by anodizing a titanium film in an electrolyte medium containing water and ethylene glycol.

Evaluation of Five User-Friendly Whole Genome Sequencing Software for in Clinical Application.

Background: Whole genome sequencing (WGS) is an increasingly useful tool for tuberculosis (TB) diagnosis and disease management. In this study, we evaluated the utility of user-friendly WGS tools in reporting resistance profiles and identifying lineages of clinical TB isolates from South Korea.

Methods: Forty clinical samples from TB patients showing discrepancies between their rapid molecular and conventional drug susceptibility tests were used in this study.

Reactive Halogen Species-Mediated Electrocatalytic Oxidation of Arsenite(III).

Electrocatalytic advanced oxidation processes have long been considered among of the most viable ways to remediate aquatic contaminants, including As(III). Although direct electrochemical oxidation of As(III) is thermochemically facile, a high reaction rate is not easily achieved because of the competitive oxygen evolution reaction (OER), particularly at high potentials. This study examines the effect of three halides (Cl, Br, and I) on the electrochemical oxidation of As(III) with nanoparticulate TiO electrodes in an aqueous bicarbonate solution at pH 8.

Longitudinal behavioral changes and factors related to reinforced risk aversion behavior among patients with chronic kidney disease during the COVID-19 pandemic.

In patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has a higher mortality rate than the general population; therefore, prevention is vital. To prevent COVID-19 infection, it is important to study individuals' risk aversion behavior. The objective of this study was to understand how the behavioral characteristics of physical distancing, hygiene practice, and exercise changed in patients with CKD during the COVID-19 pandemic and to identify the characteristics of patients who showed weakened or strengthened behavioral changes.

Characteristics of Korean BCR-ABL1-Negative Myeloproliferative Neoplasms Related to the 2016 WHO Criteria Revision.

Background: We aimed to identify changes in the diagnosis and subtype classification of Korean patients with BCR-ABL1-negative MPN related to the revision of the WHO classification in 2016.

Methods: We evaluated 76 Korean patients with BCR-ABL1-negative MPN who underwent diagnostic work-ups, including bone marrow (BM) examinations and JAK2 V617F mutation analysis, from January 2013 to June 2018. Additionally, we reclassified the subtype of 43 patients who were diagnosed based on the WHO 2008 classification.

Dynamic and Static Switching in ITO/SnOx/ITO and Its Synaptic Application.

The attempts to devise networks that resemble human minds are steadily progressing through the development and diversification of neural networks (NN), such as artificial NN (ANN), convolution NN (CNN), and recurrent NN (RNN). Meanwhile, memory devices applied on the networks are also being studied together, and RRAM is the one of the most promising candidates. The fabricated ITO/SnOX/TaN device showed two forms of current-voltage (I-V) curves, classified as dynamic and static.

Exposure to several polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) is associated with chronic kidney disease among general adults: Korean National Environmental Health Survey (KoNEHS) 2015-2017.

We investigated the association between major persistent organic pollutants (POPs) exposure and chronic kidney disease (CKD) among general adult population of Korea. For this purpose, a subset of the adult population (n = 1276) participated in Korean National Environmental Health Survey (KoNEHS) Cycle 3 (2015-2017) were analyzed for twenty-four POPs in serum, including organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), and were derived for estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio (uACR). Multivariable linear regression was conducted to assess the association between POPs exposure and CKD-related parameters including eGFR and uACR.

Strong SARS-CoV-2 Antibody Response After Booster Dose of BNT162b2 mRNA Vaccines in Uninfected Healthcare Workers.

Despite strict guidelines for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), South Korea is facing its fourth pandemic wave. In this study, by using an automated electrochemiluminescence immunoassay assay, we tracked anti-spike protein receptor-binding domain (anti-S-RBD) antibody titer from the second dose to 2 weeks after the booster dose vaccination. After the second dose, 234 participants had their anti-S-RBD antibody titers decrease over time.

Clinically refined epidemiology of nontuberculous mycobacterial pulmonary disease in South Korea: overestimation when relying only on diagnostic codes.

Background: There have been reports of increases in the incidence and prevalence of nontuberculous mycobacterial pulmonary disease (NTM-PD) in several countries, but no studies have analyzed claims data using laboratory tests. This study aimed to estimate the nationwide epidemiology and medical treatments of NTM-PD according to laboratory tests run in Korea.

Methods: Using claims data from the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service, we analyzed patients with nontuberculous mycobacterium (ICD-10: A31) who were diagnosed from Jan 2007 to Jun 2019.

Comparisons of Prehospital Delay and Related Factors Between Acute Ischemic Stroke and Acute Myocardial Infarction.

Background Prehospital delay is an important contributor to poor outcomes in both acute ischemic stroke (AIS) and acute myocardial infarction (AMI). We aimed to compare the prehospital delay and related factors between AIS and AMI. Methods and Results We identified patients with AIS and AMI who were admitted to the 11 Korean Regional Cardiocerebrovascular Centers via the emergency room between July 2016 and December 2018.

Differences in the diagnosis and treatment of hematologic malignancies attributable to health insurance coverage.

Medical care should be equally provided to the public regardless of their financial capability. In the real world, expenditures directly out from the patient sector decide the medical journey, even in a country with national health insurance. The aim of this study was to investigate whether there are differences in the diagnostic and treatment processes in hematologic malignancies based on patient characteristics, such as health insurance status.