Striatal stimulation enhances cognitive control and evidence processing in rodents and humans.

Brain disorders, in particular mental disorders, might be effectively treated by direct electrical brain stimulation, but clinical progress requires understanding of therapeutic mechanisms. Animal models have not helped, because there are no direct animal models of mental illness. Here, we propose a potential path past this roadblock, by leveraging a common ingredient of most mental disorders: impaired cognitive control.

The Korean Organ Transplant Registry (KOTRY): Third Official Adult Heart Transplant Report.

Background And Objectives: The Korean Organ Transplant Registry (KOTRY) provided data for this third official report on adult heart transplantation (HT), including information from 709 recipients.

Methods: Data from HTs performed at seven major centers in Korea between March 2014 and December 2020 were analyzed, focusing on immunosuppression, acute rejection, cardiac allograft vasculopathy (CAV), post-transplant survival, and mechanical circulatory support (MCS) usage.

Results: The median ages of the recipients and donors were 56.

The human hypothalamus coordinates switching between different survival actions.

Comparative research suggests that the hypothalamus is critical in switching between survival behaviors, yet it is unclear if this is the case in humans. Here, we investigate the role of the human hypothalamus in survival switching by introducing a paradigm where volunteers switch between hunting and escape in response to encounters with a virtual predator or prey. Given the small size and low tissue contrast of the hypothalamus, we used deep learning-based segmentation to identify the individual-specific hypothalamus and its subnuclei as well as an imaging sequence optimized for hypothalamic signal acquisition.

Impacts of Pre-transplant Panel-Reactive Antibody on Post-transplantation Outcomes: A Study of Nationwide Heart Transplant Registry Data.

Background And Objectives: The number of sensitized heart failure patients on waiting lists for heart transplantation (HTx) is increasing. Using the Korean Organ Transplantation Registry (KOTRY), a nationwide multicenter database, we investigated the prevalence and clinical impact of calculated panel-reactive antibody (cPRA) in patients undergoing HTx.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 813 patients who underwent HTx between 2014 and 2021.

Management of potential cardiac donors.

Heart transplantation (HTx) outcomes have improved with careful donor selection and management; nonetheless, donor shortages remain a major challenge. Optimizing donor management is crucial for improving donor utility rates and post-HTx outcomes. Brain death leads to various pathophysiological changes that can affect multiple organs, including the heart.

The Third Nationwide Korean Heart Failure III Registry (KorHF III): The Study Design Paper.

Unlabelled: With advancements in both pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic treatments, significant changes have occurred in heart failure (HF) management. The previous Korean HF registries, namely the Korea Heart Failure Registry (KorHF-registry) and Korean Acute Heart Failure Registry (KorAHF-registry), no longer accurately reflect contemporary acute heart failure (AHF) patients. Our objective is to assess contemporary AHF patients through a nationwide registry encompassing various aspects, such as clinical characteristics, management approaches, hospital course, and long-term outcomes of individuals hospitalized for AHF in Korea.

Impact of Everolimus Initiation and Corticosteroid Weaning During Acute Phase After Heart Transplantation on Clinical Outcome: Data from the Korean Organ Transplant Registry (KOTRY).

The effect of changes in immunosuppressive therapy during the acute phase post-heart transplantation (HTx) on clinical outcomes remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the effects of changes in immunosuppressive therapy by corticosteroid (CS) weaning and everolimus (EVR) initiation during the first year post-HTx on clinical outcomes. We analyzed 622 recipients registered in the Korean Organ Transplant Registry (KOTRY) between January 2014 and December 2021.

Metformin treatment is associated with improved survival in diabetic patients hospitalized with acute heart failure: A prospective observational study using the Korean acute heart failure registry data.

Aims: Although the hypothesis that metformin is beneficial for patients with diabetes and heart failure (HF) has been steadily raised, there is limited data on metformin use in patients with acute HF. We analyzed the association of metformin on all-cause mortality in hospitalized patients with type 2 diabetes and acute HF.

Methods: The Korean Acute Heart Failure registry prospectively enrolled patients hospitalized for acute HF from 2011 to 2014.

ConGPS: A Smart Container Positioning System Using Inertial Sensor and Electronic Map with Infrequent GPS.

Real-time global positioning is important for container-based logistics. However, a challenge in real-time global positioning arises from the frequency of both global positioning system (GPS) calls and GPS-denied environments during transportation. This paper proposes a novel system named ConGPS that integrates both inertial sensor and electronic map data.

Functional improvement of unicompartmental knee arthroplasty compared with total knee arthroplasty for subchondral insufficiency fracture of the knee.

Subchondral insufficiency fracture of the knee (SIFK) causes acute knee pain in adults and often requires surgical management. Unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (UKA) and total knee arthroplasty (TKA) are the two most common surgical treatments for SIFK. While both UKA and TKA have their advantages, there is no consensus for SIFK localized on the medial compartment.

CT Coronary Angiography and Dynamic CT Myocardial Perfusion for Detection of Cardiac Allograft Vasculopathy.

Background: Cardiac allograft vasculopathy (CAV) is a major obstacle limiting long-term graft survival. Effective noninvasive surveillance modalities reflecting both coronary artery and microvascular components of CAV are needed.

Objectives: The authors evaluated the diagnostic performance of dynamic computed tomography-myocardial perfusion imaging (CT-MPI) and coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) for CAV.

Myocardial Scar and Revascularization on Mortality in Ischemic Cardiomyopathy (from the Late Gadolinium Enhancement Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Study).

Myocardial viability test to guide revascularization remains uncertain in patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy. We evaluated the different impacts of revascularization on cardiac mortality according to the extent of myocardial scar assessed by cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) with late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) in patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy. A total of 404 consecutive patients with significant coronary artery disease and an ejection fraction ≤35% were assessed by LGE-CMR before revascularization.

C-reactive protein and statins in heart failure with reduced and preserved ejection fraction.

Background: High C-reactive protein (CRP) levels are associated with poor outcomes of heart failure (HF), and statins are known to reduce CRP levels. We investigated the prognostic value of CRP and statin in patients with HF with reduced and preserved ejection fraction (EF).

Methods: Altogether, 3,831 patients from the Korean Acute Heart Failure registry were included and stratified according to the tertiles of CRP levels (T1: CRP < 0.

In-hospital glycemic variability and all-cause mortality among patients hospitalized for acute heart failure.

Background: High glycemic variability (GV) is a poor prognostic marker in cardiovascular diseases. We aimed to investigate the association of GV with all-cause mortality in patients with acute heart failure (HF).

Methods: The Korean Acute Heart Failure registry enrolled patients hospitalized for acute HF from 2011 to 2014.

Impact of predicted heart mass-based size matching on survival after heart transplantation in Korea: Analysis of the Korean Organ Transplant Registry.

Background: Previous studies regarding donor-recipient size and sex matching in heart transplantation (HTx) mainly included Caucasians with only a small portion of Asians. Even predicted heart mass (PHM) has not yet been elucidated in Asians. We evaluated the association between donor-recipient sex and size matching, including mismatching by PHM, and post-heart transplant survival in Korea.

Comparison of mid-term clinical outcome in heart transplantation patients using mycophenolate mofetil vs. enteric-coated mycophenolate sodium.

Background: Mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) is a prodrug of mycophenolic acid (MPA) and a key immunosuppressant for improving graft survival in patients with heart transplantation (HTx). However, dose reduction or interruption is occasionally needed due to gastrointestinal (GI) side effects. Enteric-coated mycophenolate sodium (EC-MPS) is an alternative form of MPA delivery to improve GI tolerability.

Long-term efficacy of everolimus as de novo immunosuppressant on the cardiac allograft vasculopathy in heart transplant recipients.

Background And Aims: Data on the long-term effects of everolimus (EVL) on the de novo immunosuppression of heart transplant (HT) recipients with progressive cardiac allograft vasculopathy (CAV) and vascular remodeling are lacking. Hence, in this study, we aimed to determine the long-term safety and efficacy of EVL as a de novo immunosuppressant therapy for CAV progression and the clinical outcomes after HT.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 144 HT recipients who survived for at least one year after HT.

Modified reverse shock index predicts early outcomes of heart failure with reduced ejection fraction.

Aims: Increased blood pressure (BP) and decreased heart rate (HR) are signs of stabilization in patients admitted for acute HF. Changes in BP and HR during admission and their correlation with outcomes were assessed in hospitalized patients with heart failure (HF) with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF).

Methods: A novel modified reverse shock index (mRSI), defined as the ratio between changes in systolic BP and HR during admission, was devised, and its prognostic value in the early outcomes of acute HF was assessed using the Korean Acute HF registry.