Risk for Flexor Pollicis Longus Rupture after Volar Lock Plating for Distal Radius Fracture Lasts Over a Decade.

Objectives: Volar locking plate (VLP) fixation is a very common procedure due to the high incidence of distal radius fractures (DRFs). Attritional flexor tendon rupture is a rare, but recognized complication after VLP fixation. There is no current consensus to prevent the condition.

Characteristics of Pediatric Ulcerative Colitis at Diagnosis in Korea: Results From a Multicenter, Registry-Based, Inception Cohort Study.

Background: We aimed to investigate the characteristics of pediatric ulcerative colitis (UC) at diagnosis in Korea.

Methods: This was a multicenter, registry-based, inception cohort study conducted in Korea between 2021 and 2023. Children and adolescents newly diagnosed with UC < 18 years were included.

Ecosystem transplant from a healthy reef boosts coral health at a degraded reef.

Organismal communities associated with coral reefs, particularly invertebrates and microbes, play crucial roles in ecosystem maintenance and coral health. Here, we characterized the organismal composition of a healthy, non-urbanized reef (Site A) and a degraded, urbanized reef (Site B) in the Gulf of Eilat/Aqaba, Red Sea to assess its impact on coral health and physiology. Biomimetically designed terracotta tiles were conditioned for 6 months at both sites, then reciprocally transplanted, and scleractinian coral species, Acropora eurystoma and Stylophora pistillata, were attached for an additional 6 months.

Triphasic Bone Scintigraphy Is Not Useful in Diagnosis and May Delay Surgical Treatment of CRPS of the Hand.

Triphasic bone scintigraphy (TPBS) is often used to diagnose complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS). The primary aim of this study is to determine if the diagnosis of CRPS in patients with a positive TPBS (TPBS +ve) is accurate. A secondary aim is to determine if there was delay in treatment of patients who underwent TPBS compared to those who did not have a TPBS.

Assessment of Progressive Hand and Wrist Deformities in the Rheumatoid Patient.

This article focuses on hand and wrist deformities arising from rheumatoid arthritis. The pathogenesis is synovitis and pannus formation, leading to direct tissue invasion and mass effect resulting in stretching and attenuation of ligaments. The typical deformity of a rheumatoid wrist is a dorsal subluxation of the ulna head (or more aptly, volar translation of the radius given that the ulna is fixed in position), with volar subluxation, ulnar translocation and supination of the carpus, eventually leading to carpal collapse.

Associations of 2 Established Methods of Measuring Gait Speed and Sit-To-Stand Performance with Frailty and Life-Space Mobility in Community-Dwelling Older Adults.

Objectives: The 4-m gait speed (4mGS) and 10-m gait speed (10mGS) tests and the 30-second sit-to-stand (30sSTS) and 5-times sit-to-stand (5xSTS) tests are commonly used and advocated in consensus recommendations. We compared these tests on their predictive and clinical value concerning the risk of prefrailty/frailty and restricted life-space mobility (RLSM).

Design: Cross-sectional study.

The early life microbiome of giant grouper (Epinephelus lanceolatus) larvae in a commercial hatchery is influenced by microorganisms in feed.

Fish health, growth and disease is intricately linked to its associated microbiome. Understanding the influence, source and ultimately managing the microbiome, particularly for vulnerable early life-stages, has been identified as one of the key requirements to improving farmed fish production. One tropical fish species of aquaculture importance farmed throughout the Asia-Pacific region is the giant grouper (Epinephelus lanceolatus).

Analysis of dimer and trimer complexes of the non-amyloidogenic rat islet amyloid polypeptide 21-37 by electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry.

The dimer and trimer structures of the non-amyloidogenic rat islet amyloid polypeptide 21-37 peptide, formed in an HO/CHOH (1% CHCOOH) solution were investigated using electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry (ESI-MS/MS). The dissociation of monomers, dimers, and trimers was investigated by MS/MS using collision-induced dissociation. The peptide bond dissociation between L and P was mainly observed in the tandem mass spectra of the monomers and oligomers, regardless of the parent ion charge state.

Pharmacological inhibition of USP14 delays proteostasis-associated aging in a proteasome-dependent but foxo-independent manner.

Aging is often accompanied by a decline in proteostasis, manifested as an increased propensity for misfolded protein aggregates, which are prevented by protein quality control systems, such as the ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS) and macroautophagy/autophagy. Although the role of the UPS and autophagy in slowing age-induced proteostasis decline has been elucidated, limited information is available on how these pathways can be activated in a collaborative manner to delay proteostasis-associated aging. Here, we show that activation of the UPS via the pharmacological inhibition of USP14 (ubiquitin specific peptidase 14) using IU1 improves proteostasis and autophagy decline caused by aging or proteostatic stress in and human cells.

Postoperative distress and influencing factors in patients with pancreatobiliary cancer.

This study aimed to investigate distress levels, using the distress thermometer (DT), and the factors associated with distress in postoperative patients with pancreatobiliary cancer. This study retrospectively investigated 155 patients who underwent surgery for pancreatobiliary cancer between December 1, 2019 and September 30, 2021. The DT and problem list were used to measure distress.

Reliability and Validity of a Tablet-Based Neuropsychological Test (the Hellocog) for Screening Dementia.

Objective: To address the gap in timely diagnosis of dementia due to limited screening tools, we investigated the validity and reliability of the Hellocog, computerized neuropsychological test based on tablets for screening dementia. The higher the probability score on the Hellocog, the higher the likelihood of dementia.

Methods: This study included 100 patients with dementia and 100 individuals with normal cognition who were aged 60 years or older and free of other major psychiatric, neurological, or medical conditions.

Characteristics of chronic enteropathy associated with SLCO2A1 gene (CEAS) in children, a unique type of monogenic very early-onset inflammatory bowel disease.

Background:  Chronic enteropathy associated with SLCO2A1 gene (CEAS) is a unique type of inflammatory bowel disease. CEAS is monogenic disease and is thought to develop from childhood, but studies on pediatric CEAS are scarce. We analyzed characteristics of pediatric CEAS.

Fabrication of porous poly(L-lactide-co-ε-caprolactone) micropowder for microbubble effect and ultrasound-mediated drug delivery.

Biodegradable elastic poly(L-lactide-co-ε-caprolactone) (PLCL) copolymer (50:50, lactide:caprolactone molar ratio) was synthesized and porous PLCL micropowders was fabricated by a simple method involving rapid cooling of 0.1, 0.5, and 1% (wt/vol) PLCL/dioxane spray into liquid nitrogen.

Development and Validation of a Low-Cost Drilling Model.

Simulation models enable learners to have repeated practise at their own time, to master the psycho-motor and sensory acuity aspects of surgery and build their confidence in the procedure. The study aims to develop and evaluate the feasibility of a low-cost drilling model to train surgeons in the drilling task. The model targets three aspects of drilling - (1) Reduce plunge depth, (2) Ability to differentiate between bone and medullary canal and (3) Increase accuracy drilling in various angles.

Salvage of failed proximal interphalangeal arthroplasty with vascularised toe joint transfer: Report of two cases.

Failed implants of the proximal interphalangeal joint may result in bone and soft tissue deficits and joint instability with limited reliable options for reconstruction besides an arthrodesis procedure. The purpose of this report is to illustrate the use of vascularized second toe joint for salvage of failed, multi-operated proximal interphalangeal joint in two active patients. Pre-existing scars are used to define the approach and choice of donor site.

Comparative Antioxidant Potentials and Quantitative Phenolic Compounds Profiles among the Flowers and Leaves from Various Cultivars.

is a valuable plant that contains a wide range of phytochemical compounds and exhibits various biological activities. Ethanol extracts from both the leaves and flowers of 17 different cultivars of were tested for antioxidant activities using the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl and 2,2'-azinobis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) assays and were quantitatively analyzed for 12 phenolic compounds using high-performance liquid chromatography with diode-array detection. We found that the 'Ford' and 'Raina' cultivars demonstrated strong antioxidant abilities and high phenolic compound contents compared to other cultivars, while the flowers of 'Cielo' and the leaves of 'White Cap' exhibited low antioxidant capacity in both assays.

Pro-inflammatory enzyme inhibition of lipoxygenases by flavonoid rich extract from Artemisia vulgaris.

The peroxyl radicals generated by the activity of lipoxygenases (LOX) are mediators to trigger inflammatory diseases. Therefore, it is important to investigate potent LOX inhibitor for modulating the occurrence and resolving inflammatory processes. Artemisa vulgaris, is a herbal plant that is known for flavonoids, potentially inhibiting lipid peroxidation and scavenging radicals.

PARVB and HSD17B13 variants are associated with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in children.

Background And Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate the comprehensive genetic effects of exploratory variants of LYPLAL1, GCKR, HSD17B13, TRIB1, APOC3, MBOAT7, and PARVB on pediatric nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in addition to the previously reported variants of TM6SF2, PNPLA3, and SAMM50 in Korean children.

Methods: A prospective case-control study was conducted involving 309 patients diagnosed using ultrasound and 339 controls. Anthropometric measurements, liver function tests, and metabolic marker analysis were conducted, and fibrosis scores were calculated.

Clinical outcomes of preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidy in high-risk patients: a retrospective cohort study.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidy (PGT-A) on clinical outcomes among high-risk patients.

Methods: This retrospective study involved 1,368 patients and the same number of cycles, including 520 cycles with PGT-A and 848 cycles without PGT-A. The study participants comprised women of advanced maternal age (AMA) and those affected by recurrent implantation failure (RIF), recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL), or severe male factor infertility (SMF).

Early experiences in robotic single-site plus one port platform for complex hepatobiliary and pancreatic surgery.

Background: Minimal invasive surgery in hepatobiliary and pancreatic (HBP) surgery has been accepted worldwide in recent years. However, applications of single-site laparoscopic surgery in complex HBP surgery have been limited due to difficulty in manoeuvring instruments and the limited range of motion resulting from clashing instruments.

Methods: To overcome the limitations, we have used the Da Vinci single-site surgical platform with one additional port in a Da Vinci Xi system to perform donor right hepatectomy, pancreaticoduodenectomy, and combined resection of the common bile duct and spleen vessels preserving distal pancreatectomy.

A Report on a Nationwide Surveillance System for Pediatric Acute Hepatitis of Unknown Etiology in Korea.

Background: Several cases of pediatric acute hepatitis of unknown etiology related to adenoviral infections have been reported in Europe since January 2022. The aim of this study was to compare the incidence, severity, possible etiology, and prognosis of the disease with those in the past in Korea.

Methods: The surveillance group collected data between May and November 2022 using a surveillance system.

Bio-Physical Properties of Acetylated Chitosan/Poly(ɛ-Caprolactone) Composites for Three-Dimensional Printing Material Applications.

For three-dimensional (3D) printing material applications in tissue engineering, acetylated chitosan (AC)/poly(ɛ-caprolactone) (PCL) composites were prepared by the melt mixing method using the acetylation of chitosan with PCL. The physiochemical properties of the AC/PCL composites were examined by measuring the water contact angles, dispersity of AC on the cross-section using scanning electron microscopy, and temperature stability. In addition, mechanical properties such as tensile strength and bending stress recovery were measured to determine the elasticity of the composite films.