Associated factors and costs of avoidable visits to the emergency department among cancer patients: 1-year experience in a tertiary care hospital in South Korea.

Purpose: Patients receiving palliative care make avoidable emergency department visits (AvED), which may increase economic and social costs. However, the proportion of AvED among all patients, including cancer patients after curation, and the resulting costs are unknown in Asia. This study aimed to investigate the proportion, characteristics, and costs regarding factors associated with AvED among cancer patients.

Early Clinical Outcomes of Tricuspid Valve Repair with a Tri-Ad Annuloplasty Ring in Comparison with the Outcomes Using an MC Ring.

Background: We evaluated the early clinical outcomes of tricuspid valve annuloplasty (TAP) with the Tri-Ad annuloplasty ring for functional tricuspid regurgitation (TR).

Methods: From January 2015 to March 2017, 36 patients underwent TAP with a Tri-Ad ring for functional TR. To evaluate the early clinical outcomes of TAP with the Tri-Ad ring, we conducted a propensity score-matched analysis comparing the Tri-Ad and MC tricuspid annuloplasty rings (n=34 in each group).

Deep learning improves prediction of CRISPR-Cpf1 guide RNA activity.

We present two algorithms to predict the activity of AsCpf1 guide RNAs. Indel frequencies for 15,000 target sequences were used in a deep-learning framework based on a convolutional neural network to train Seq-deepCpf1. We then incorporated chromatin accessibility information to create the better-performing DeepCpf1 algorithm for cell lines for which such information is available and show that both algorithms outperform previous machine learning algorithms on our own and published data sets.

Targeting mutant with CRISPR-Cas9 controls tumor growth.

is the most frequently mutated oncogene in human tumors, and its activating mutations represent important therapeutic targets. The combination of Cas9 and guide RNA from the CRISPR-Cas system recognizes a specific DNA sequence and makes a double-strand break, which enables editing of the relevant genes. Here, we harnessed CRISPR to specifically target mutant alleles in cancer cells.

Repair versus replacement for the surgical correction of tricuspid regurgitation: a meta-analysis.

Objectives: Tricuspid valve repair (TVr) has both a theoretical advantage in preserving right ventricular function and disadvantages such as a higher risk of repair failure in the long-term compared with tricuspid valve replacement (TVR). This study was conducted to compare the results of TVr with those of TVR to find an optimal treatment option.

Methods: A literature search of 5 databases was performed.

Development of a high-copy-number plasmid via adaptive laboratory evolution of Corynebacterium glutamicum.

Beyond its traditional role as an L-amino acid producer, Corynebacterium glutamicum has recently received significant attention regarding its use in the production of various biochemicals and recombinant proteins. However, despite these attributes, limitations in genetic tools are still hampering the engineering of C. glutamicum for use in more potential hosts.

Long-term results of annuloplasty in trivial-to-mild functional tricuspid regurgitation during mitral valve replacement: should we perform annuloplasty on the tricuspid valve or leave it alone?

Objectives: The benefits of concomitant tricuspid annuloplasty (TAP) for non-significant functional tricuspid regurgitation (TR) during mitral valve replacement (MVR) are controversial. We evaluated the long-term outcomes-particularly the long-term tricuspid valve (TV) functional outcomes-of MVR with or without tricuspid ring annuloplasty.

Methods: From 2004 to 2014, 256 patients (56.

Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Predictor of Ventricular Function after Surgical Coronary Revascularization.

We evaluated echocardiographic changes of left ventricular (LV) function in coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) patients with LV dysfunction, and examined cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) parameters associated with improved LV function. Seventy-seven CABG patients presenting with decreased LV ejection fraction (LVEF, ≤ 35%) and who underwent preoperative gadolinium-enhanced CMR were enrolled. A 16-segment model was used to analyze CMR imaging.

Development of a Potential Protein Display Platform in Corynebacterium glutamicum Using Mycolic Acid Layer Protein, NCgl1337, as an Anchoring Motif.

In the cell surface display, the choice of host cell and anchoring motif are the most crucial for the efficient display of passenger proteins. Corynebacterium glutamicum has mycolic acid layer in outer membrane and the use of protein in the mycolic acid layer as an anchoring motif can provide a potential platform for surface display in C. glutamicum.

Intradialytic exercise improves physical function and reduces intradialytic hypotension and depression in hemodialysis patients.

Background/aims: As numbers of maintenance hemodialysis patients are growing, debilitating conditions of muscle wasting and atrophy are becoming some of the greatest concerns in end-stage renal disease patients. Exercise training has various potential benefits in terms of prevention of a sustained decline in functional status. This study aimed to evaluate the physical, psychological, laboratory, and dialysis-related effects of intradialytic exercise.

Engineering of Corynebacterium glutamicum for Consolidated Conversion of Hemicellulosic Biomass into Xylonic Acid.

Xylonic acid is a promising platform chemical with various applications in the fields of food, pharmaceuticals, and agriculture. However, in the current process, xylonic acid is mainly produced by the conversion of xylose, whose preparation requires substantial cost and time. Here, Corynebacterium glutamicum is engineered for the consolidated bioconversion of hemicellulosic biomass (xylan) into xylonic acid in a single cultivation.

The Ability of the Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) IV Score to Predict Mortality in a Single Tertiary Hospital.

Background: The Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) II model has been widely used in Korea. However, there have been few studies on the APACHE IV model in Korean intensive care units (ICUs). The aim of this study was to compare the ability of APACHE IV and APACHE II in predicting hospital mortality, and to investigate the ability of APACHE IV as a critical care triage criterion.

Impact of family characteristics by marital status of cohabitating adult children on depression among Korean older adults.

Aim: To identify the association between different living arrangements of intergenerational household composition and depression in older adults.

Methods: Data from the Korea Longitudinal Study of Aging, the first to fourth waves, were used. Using the first wave as baseline, our analysis included 5046 participants aged ≥60 years with at least one living child.

Recurrent mitral paravalvular leak: benefits of leak site repair compared to re-replacement.

Background: Mitral paravalvular leak (PVL) recurrence after surgical correction has not been well demonstrated. The aims of this study were to evaluate the long-term results of surgical mitral PVL correction, including recurrent PVL, and to elucidate the factors - including surgical technique - that affect the risk of recurrent PVL.

Methods: Eighty-six patients who underwent surgical treatment for mitral PVL were enrolled in this study.

Delayed Left Atrial Perforation Associated with Erosion After Device Closure of an Atrial Septal Defect.

A 43-year-old man who had had a history of atrial septal defect (ASD) device closure 31 months previously presented with abrupt chest and back pain along with progressive cardiogenic shock and cardiac arrest. After resuscitation, he was diagnosed with cardiac tamponade. Diagnostic and therapeutic surgical exploration revealed left atrium (LA) perforation due to LA roof erosion from a deficient aortic rim.

Preliminary Study on Quantitative Sleep EEG Characteristics in Patients with Schizophrenia.

We used quantitative electroencephalography (EEG) spectral analysis to compare activity in the bilateral frontal, central, and occipital areas in nine patients with schizophrenia and ten healthy control subjects during standard nocturnal polysomnography. Patients with schizophrenia had longer sleep latency than controls. In N2 sleep, the patients had significantly lower 0.

C-terminal dimerization of apo-cyclic AMP receptor protein validated in solution.

Although cyclic AMP receptor protein (CRP) has long served as a typical example of effector-mediated protein allostery, mechanistic details into its regulation have been controversial due to discrepancy between the known crystal structure and NMR structure of apo-CRP. Here, we report that the recombinant protein corresponding to its C-terminal DNA-binding domain (CDD) forms a dimer. This result, together with structural information obtained in the present NMR study, is consistent with the previous crystal structure and validates its relevance also in solution.

A follow-up study of the association between mobile phone use and symptoms of ill health.

The duration and frequency of mobile phone calls, and their relationship with various health effects, have been investigated in our previous cross-sectional study. This 2-year period follow-up study aimed to assess the changes in these variables of same subjects. The study population comprised 532 non-patient adult subjects sampled from the Korean Genome Epidemiology Study.

In vivo high-throughput profiling of CRISPR-Cpf1 activity.

CRISPR from Prevotella and Francisella 1 (Cpf1) is an effector endonuclease of the class 2 CRISPR-Cas (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats-CRISPR-associated proteins) gene editing system. We developed a method for evaluating Cpf1 activity, based on target sequence composition in mammalian cells, in a high-throughput manner. A library of >11,000 target sequence and guide RNA pairs was delivered into human cells using lentiviral vectors.

No-Touch Saphenous Vein Harvesting May Improve Further the Patency of Saphenous Vein Composite Grafts: Early Outcomes and 1-Year Angiographic Results.

Background: Harvesting technique and surgical strategy may affect patency rates of saphenous vein (SV) grafts in coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG). We evaluated early clinical outcomes and 1-year graft patency rates of SV grafts that were harvested with a no-touch technique and used as composite grafts.

Methods: Three hundred sixty-eight patients who underwent off-pump CABG using SV composite grafts based on the left internal thoracic artery were studied.

The effect of job loss on depressive symptoms: The results from the Korean Welfare Panel Study (2007-2013).

Background: Unemployment is closely associated with depressive symptoms. We conducted analysis to find whether the job loss increased the risk of depressive symptoms according to job status, occupation and tenure.

Methods: Data were collected from Korean Welfare Panel Study (KOWEPS) from 2007 to 2013.

The impact of shift and night work on health related quality of life of working women: findings from the Korea Health Panel.

Background: Night and shift work status has been associated with health related quality of life (HRQoL) in economically active women. This study aimed to investigate the association between night or shift work status and HRQoL of economically active women and to further analyze how marital status interplays in the objected relationship.

Methods: Data were from the Korea Health Panel, 2011 to 2013.

Effects of diagnosis-related group payment system on appendectomy outcomes.

Background: The voluntary diagnosis-related group (DRG) payment system was introduced in 2002. Since July 2013, the Korean government has mandated DRG participation for all hospitals. The main purpose of this study was to examine the effects of mandatory DRG participation on various outcome metrics for appendectomy patients.