Effectiveness and Safety of Carbon Ion Radiotherapy in Solid Tumors: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Purpose: This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to investigate the effectiveness of carbon ion radiotherapy (CIRT) compared to that of conventional radiotherapy in patients with various types of solid tumors.

Materials And Methods: We systematically searched eight electronic databases from inception until August 2022 in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. The comparative effectiveness of the different treatment options was assessed by a random-effects meta-analysis.

Chronic airway disease as a major risk factor for fractures in osteopenic women: Nationwide cohort study.

Introduction: The study aimed to demonstrate the risk factors for fractures and to develop prediction models for major osteoporotic and hip fractures in osteopenic patients using the nationwide cohort study in South Korea.

Methods: The study was a retrospective nationwide study using the national screening program for transitional ages from the National Health Insurance Services database in Korea from 2008 to 2019. Primary outcomes were incident fracture events of major osteoporotic and hip fractures.

Diagnostic accuracy of prostate-specific antigen below 4 ng/mL as a cutoff for diagnosing prostate cancer in a hospital setting: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Purpose: A prostate-specific antigen (PSA) cutoff of 4 ng/mL has been widely used for prostate cancer screening in population-based settings. However, the accuracy of PSA below 4 ng/mL as a cutoff for diagnosing prostate cancer in a hospital setting is inconclusive. We systematically reviewed the accuracy of PSA below 4 ng/mL cutoff in a hospital setting.

Indole-3-carbinol induces apoptosis-like death in Escherichia coli on different contribution of respective reactive oxygen species.

Aims: Indole-3-carbinol (I3C) is a natural compound derived from brassica vegetables, displaying antibacterial activity. The study aims to elucidate the antibacterial mode of action(s) induced by indole-3-carbionol in Escherichia coli and enhance the understandings on the respective contribution of each reactive oxygen species (ROS), superoxide anion (O), hydrogen peroxide (HO), hydroxyl radical (OH) during the process.

Main Methods: The antibacterial activity of I3C was assessed through kinetic assay.

Attachment and relationship-based interventions for families during neonatal intensive care hospitalization: a study protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Attachment in the parent-infant dyads is fundamental for growth and development of children born prematurely. However, the natural process of attachment is interrupted just after preterm birth, and emotional and physical detachment, limited social interaction, and a traumatic, technologically heavy environment in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) may result in impaired attachment or bonding. To our knowledge, few studies have evaluated the effectiveness of interventions aimed at enhancing attachment, bonding, and relationships between parents and their preterm infants during the infant's hospitalization in the NICU.

Pattern and Impact of Off-label Underdosing of Non-Vitamin K Antagonist Oral Anticoagulants in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation Who are Indicated for Standard Dosing.

With safety concerns about increasing bleeding, off-label underdosing of non-vitamin K antagonist anticoagulants (NOACs) is common in East Asian patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). We tried to investigate the pattern of NOAC underdosing and associated clinical outcomes in patients with AF who are indicated for standard dosing. Using the Korean National Health Insurance Service database, we evaluated 16,568 patients with a new prescription of NOAC who are indicated for standard NOAC dosing and compared 4,536 patients with warfarin with respect to thromboembolic events (ischemic stroke or systemic embolization), all-cause mortality and major bleeding.

Safety and Effectiveness of Contemporary P2Y Inhibitors in an East Asian Population With Acute Coronary Syndrome: A Nationwide Population-Based Cohort Study.

Background Prior reports indicate that the effect of P2Y inhibitors may be different in East Asian patients ("East Asian paradox"); therefore, understanding the outcomes associated with potent P2Y inhibitors in different populations is clinically important. Methods and Results In this observational cohort study using administrative healthcare data sets, we compared safety and effectiveness of contemporary P2Y inhibitors in patients with acute coronary syndrome. The primary safety outcomes were major and any bleeding, and the primary effectiveness outcomes were major cardiovascular events (a composite of cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, or stroke) and all-cause mortality.

Clinical outcomes and costs of robotic surgery in prostate cancer: a multiinstitutional study in Korea.

Background: This study compared the surgical, functional, and oncologic outcomes of robot-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (RALP), laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (LRP), and retropubic radical prostatectomy (RRP) in Korean men.

Methods: The study population included 864 patients who underwent radical prostatectomy for prostate cancer in the departments of urology of five tertiary hospitals between 2010 and 2011. RALP, LRP, and RRP perioperative, oncological, and functional outcomes as well as complications were assessed.

Outcomes After Use of Standard- and Low-Dose Non-Vitamin K Oral Anticoagulants in Asian Patients With Atrial Fibrillation.

Background and Purpose- Limited data are available describing the relative effectiveness, safety, and optimal dosing of non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants (NOACs) for treatment of nonvalvular atrial fibrillation in East Asian patients. We tried to compare effectiveness and safety outcomes of standard- and low-dose NOACs and warfarin in this population. Methods- Using nationwide administrative claims-based datasets from the Korean National Health Insurance Service Database (July 1, 2015, to December 31, 2016), this study comprised 56 504 anticoagulation-naive nonvalvular atrial fibrillation patients with high thromboembolic risk (CHADS-VASc score, ≥2) treated with oral anticoagulants.

Bactericidal action of Tat (47-58) peptide via attenuation of cell defense systems.

Cells contain a variety of proteins, including those forming a cellular defense system against oxidative stress and DNA damage. In this study, we examined the antibacterial effect of Tat (47-58) peptide, a cell-penetrating peptide, derived from human immunodeficiency virus-1 by focusing on the glutathione and SOS response. First, total glutathione levels were measured to reveal the cellular defense capacity against oxidative stress.

Effect of isoquercitrin on membrane dynamics and apoptosis-like death in Escherichia coli.

Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) is defined as the lowest concentration of a compound that completely inhibits microbial growth. Antibacterial mechanisms of compounds have been investigated at their sub-MICs as well as at their MIC. In this study, the effects of sub-MIC and MIC of isoquercitrin on Escherichia coli were investigated.

Comparative Effectiveness of Telemonitoring Versus Usual Care for Heart Failure: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Background: This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of telemonitoring (TM) in the management of patients with heart failure (HF).

Methods And Results: We searched Ovid-Medline, Ovid-Embase, and the Cochrane Library for randomized controlled trials published through May 2016. Outcomes of interest included clinical effectiveness (mortality, hospitalization, and emergency department visits) and patient-reported outcomes.

The antifungal activity of the peptide, periplanetasin-2, derived from American cockroach .

The cockroach, which is a household insect, is an established model organism in research. Periplanetasin-2, derived from the American cockroach , exerted potent antifungal effect against pathogenic fungi without causing hemolysis. Periplanetasin-2 induced oxidative stress by generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and lipid peroxidation.

Role of potassium channels in chlorogenic acid-induced apoptotic volume decrease and cell cycle arrest in Candida albicans.

Background: Chlorogenic acid (CRA) is an abundant phenolic compound in the human diet. CRA has a potent antifungal effect, inducing cell death in Candida albicans. However, there are no further studies to investigate the antifungal mechanism of CRA, associated with ion channels.

A novel fungal killing mechanism of propionic acid.

Propionic acid (PPA) is a weak acid that has been used in food products as a preservative because of its inhibitory effect on microorganisms. In the present study, we investigated the PPA fungal killing mechanism, which showed apoptotic features. First, reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation and metacaspase activation were detected by 2',7'-dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate and CaspACE FITC-VAD-FMK staining, respectively.

Cecropin A-induced apoptosis is regulated by ion balance and glutathione antioxidant system in Candida albicans.

Cecropin A, isolated from the giant silk moth Hyalophora cecropia, is a 37-mer peptide that exerts potent antimicrobial effects. We investigated cecropin A-induced apoptosis associated with ion balance and redox state of Candida albicans. The antifungal effect of cecropin A, associated with ion movement was verified by significant increase of cell viability following pretreatment of ion channel blockers.

Fungicidal effect of isoquercitrin via inducing membrane disturbance.

Isoquercitrin is a flavonoid isolated from Aster yomena, which has been used as a traditional medicinal herb. In the present study, we investigated the antifungal activity and the underlying mechanism of isoquercitrin. Isoquercitrin had a potent effect in the susceptibility test against pathogenic fungi and almost no hemolysis.

Hemoglobin concentration and risk of cardiovascular disease in Korean men and women - the Korean heart study.

This study investigated the relationship between hemoglobin concentration and the incidence of cardiovascular diseases (CVD). A total of 407,858 subjects (256,851 men, aged 30-94 yr), who underwent physical examination at 17 Korean nationwide health examination centers, was included in this study. Data regarding CVD incidence were obtained from the Korean National Health Insurance database.

Thigh circumference and diabetes: obesity as a potential effect modifier.

Background: Thigh circumference is associated with diabetes risk; however, the role of obesity as a potential effect modifier has not been well studied.

Methods: We examined the association between thigh circumference and diabetes in a cross-sectional study of 384 612 Koreans aged 30 to 79 years. The association between diabetes and thigh circumference in relation to body mass index (BMI) was analyzed among 315 628 participants, using multivariate logistic regression.

The association of adolescent fatness and fitness with risk factors for adult metabolic syndrome: a 22-year follow-up study.

Background: Few studies have been conducted to explore the associations of fatness and fitness during adolescence with risk factors of metabolic syndrome (MetS) during adulthood, particularly in Asians.

Methods: Adolescent anthropometric and fitness data were collected during the participants' high school years (N = 15,896) and their corresponding health examination data from adulthood were taken from the National Health Insurance Corporation (NHIC) in Korea. A total of 1,006 participants (6.

Smoking is associated with abdominal obesity, not overall obesity, in men with type 2 diabetes.

Objectives: Abdominal obesity increases mortality and morbidity from cardiovascular disease and there is a possibility that smoking effects obesity. However, previous studies concerning the effects of smoking on obesity are inconsistent. The objective of this study was to examine whether smoking is positively related to abdominal obesity in men with type 2 diabetes.