Serum 25-Hydroxyvitamin D Levels and Survival Outcomes in Advanced Biliary Tract Cancer: Results From the NIFTY Trial.

Background: Numerous studies have explored the role of vitamin D in various cancers; however, its impact on advanced biliary tract cancers (BTC) within a prospective cohort remains to be investigated. This preplanned subgroup analysis of the NIFTY trial evaluated the prognostic implications of serum vitamin D levels in patients with advanced BTC undergoing second-line chemotherapy.

Methods: From the 174 patients in the NIFTY trial, a total of 173 patients (99.

Inhibition of nitric oxide synthase transforms carotid occlusion-mediated benign oligemia into large cerebral infarction.

It remains unclear why unilateral proximal carotid artery occlusion (UCAO) causes benign oligemia in mice, yet leads to various outcomes (asymptomatic-to-death) in humans. We hypothesized that inhibition of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) both transforms UCAO-mediated oligemia into full infarction and expands pre-existing infarction. Using 900 mice, we i) investigated stroke-related effects of UCAO with/without intraperitoneal administration of the NOS inhibitor (NOSi) N-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME, 400 mg/kg); ii) examined the rescue effect of the NO-donor, molsidomine (200 mg/kg at 30 minutes); and iii) tested the impact of antiplatelet medications.

Influence of prestroke glycemic status on outcomes by age in patients with acute ischemic stroke and diabetes mellitus.

Background: This study aimed to explore the association between admission HbA1c and the risk of 1-year vascular outcomes stratified by age group in patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS) and diabetes mellitus (DM).

Methods: This study analyzed prospective multicenter data from patients with AIS and DM. Admission HbA1C were categorized as:≤6.

Risk of long-term post-stroke dementia using a linked dataset of patients with ischemic stroke without a history of dementia.

Background: Post-stroke dementia (PSD) is a common and disabling sequela of stroke. However, the long-term incidence of PSD after an ischemic stroke and factors which predict its occurrence are incompletely understood. Linkage of large health datasets is being increasing used to study long-term outcomes after disease.

The CT collateral map: collateral perfusion estimation and baseline lesion assessment after acute anterior circulation ischemic stroke.

Purpose: To investigate the clinical feasibility of a CT collateral map compared with an MRA collateral map, focusing on collateral perfusion (CP) estimation and baseline lesion assessment in acute ischemic stroke (AIS).

Materials And Methods: This retrospective analysis used selected data from a prospectively collected database. We generated CT collateral maps derived from CT perfusion, encompassing images of arterial, capillary, early venous (CMEV), late venous, and delay phases.

Post-hoc analysis of the CARES trial suggests delayed progression of chronic kidney disease in patients with gout during urate-lowering therapy.

Based on the hypothesis that hyperuricemia is a modifiable risk factor for chronic kidney disease (CKD) progression, there is an expectation that urate-lowering therapy (ULT) could delay the progression of CKD. Here, we investigated changes in kidney function and the association of the serum uric acid (sUA) level and kidney function during ULT in patients with gout. To do this we conducted post-hoc analysis on patients who received ULT with either febuxostat or allopurinol for more than six months in the CARES trial.

Circulating tumor DNA status and dynamics predict recurrence in patients with resected extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma.

Background & Aims: Surgery is the only curative therapeutic option for resectable extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma, but recurrence is common, and prognosis is poor. There is an unmet clinical need for improved decision-making regarding adjuvant chemotherapy (ACT). Herein, we evaluated the usefulness of monitoring longitudinal circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) for molecular residual disease (MRD) in patients from the STAMP trial, which compares the efficacy of adjuvant capecitabine (CAP) vs.

Predicting outcomes of unruptured intracranial artery dissection with clear symptoms onset using clinical and radiological features.

We investigated the clinical and radiologic predictors of unruptured symptomatic intracranial artery dissection (IAD) outcomes. Unruptured symptomatic IAD patients who underwent vessel wall magnetic resonance imaging (VW-MRI) and time-of-flight magnetic resonance angiography (TOF-MRA) within 1 month after symptom onset, followed for over 12 months were included. Baseline features predicting the clinical outcome of recurrent symptoms and radiologic outcomes of aneurysmal dilatation and occlusion were analyzed using logistic regression analysis.

Impact of Health Informatics Analyst Education on Job Role, Career Transition, and Skill Development: Survey Study.

Background: Professionals with expertise in health informatics play a crucial role in the digital health sector. Despite efforts to train experts in this field, the specific impact of such training, especially for individuals from diverse academic backgrounds, remains undetermined.

Objective: This study therefore aims to evaluate the effectiveness of an intensive health informatics training program on graduates with respect to their job roles, transitions, and competencies and to provide insights for curriculum design and future research.

Nursing care services to address unmet supportive care needs among cancer survivors: a systematic review.

Background: The increasing population of cancer survivors poses a significant challenge for healthcare systems globally, necessitating comprehensive post-treatment care to address diverse physical, psychological, and social needs.

Objective: This systematic review aims to synthesize and critically evaluate the current evidence concerning the unmet needs for nursing services among cancer survivors, spanning various dimensions of survivorship care.

Methods: A systematic search was conducted across major databases, including PubMed, CINAHL, and PsycINFO, to identify relevant studies investigating the unmet needs and health-related quality-of-life (HRQOL) of nursing services led by nurses among cancer survivors.

Polypharmacy and Elevated Risk of Severe Adverse Events in Older Adults Based on the Korea Institute of Drug Safety and Risk Management-Korea Adverse Event Reporting System Database.

Background: Older adults are at a higher risk of severe adverse drug events (ADEs) because of multimorbidity, polypharmacy, and lower physiological function. This study aimed to determine whether polypharmacy, defined as the use of ≥ 5 active drug ingredients, was associated with severe ADEs in this population.

Methods: We used ADE reports from the Korea Institute of Drug Safety and Risk Management-Korea Adverse Event Reporting System Database, a national spontaneous ADE report system, from 2012 to 2021 to examine and compare the strength of association between polypharmacy and severe ADEs in older adults (≥ 65 years) and younger adults (20-64 years) using disproportionality analysis.

Temporal trends of sex differences in acute reperfusion therapy and early outcomes of acute ischemic stroke in South Korea: 10-year analysis of the nationwide stroke registry.

Background: Sex differences in stroke outcomes are notable, with women experiencing higher incidence rates, greater disability-adjusted life years, and poorer recovery compared to men, even after adjusting for age and comorbidities. Despite the disproportionate burden in women, studies have reported that women are less likely to receive appropriate stroke treatment than men.

Aim: This study investigated temporal trends of sex differences in acute reperfusion therapy and early outcomes in patients with acute ischemic stroke over 10 years in South Korea.

Regional disparities in prehospital delay of acute ischemic stroke: The Korean Stroke Registry.

Background: Late hospital arrival keeps patients with stroke from receiving recanalization therapy and is associated with poor outcomes. This study used a nationwide acute stroke registry to investigate the trends and regional disparities in prehospital delay and analyze the significant factors associated with late arrivals.

Methods: Patients with acute ischemic stroke or transient ischemic attack between January 2012 and December 2021 were included.

Selective Enhancement of Viewing Angle Characteristics and Light Extraction Efficiency of Blue Thermally Activated Delayed Fluorescence Organic Light-Emitting Diodes through an Easily Tailorable SiN Nanofiber Structure.

We selectively improved the viewing angle characteristics and light extraction efficiency of blue thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF) organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) by tailoring a nanofiber-shaped SiN layer, which was used as an internal scattering layer. The diameter of the polymer nanofibers changed according to the mass ratio of polyacrylonitrile (PAN) and poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) in the polymer solution for electrospinning. The SiN nanofiber (SNF) structure was fabricated by etching an SiN film using the PAN/PMMA nanofiber as a mask, making it easier to adjust parameters, such as the diameter, open ratio, and height, even though the SNF structure was randomly shaped.

Influence of additional prophylactic oral antibiotics during mechanical bowel preparation on surgical site infection in patients receiving colorectal surgery.

Background: Prophylactic antibiotics (PAs) are standard for preventing surgical site infections (SSIs) post-colorectal surgery. This study aims to compare the effect of additional empiric oral antibiotics (OAs) alongside routine PAs to identify SSI risk factors.

Methods: A retrospective observatory analysis was conducted from January 2019 to December 2022 at Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Korea.

Network analysis of stroke systems of care in Korea.

Background: The landscape of stroke care has shifted from stand-alone hospitals to cooperative networks among hospitals. Despite the importance of these networks, limited information exists on their characteristics and functional attributes.

Methods: We extracted patient-level data on acute stroke care and hospital connectivity by integrating national stroke audit data with reimbursement claims data.