Intensive blood pressure lowering in acute stroke with intracranial stenosis post-thrombectomy: A secondary analysis of the OPTIMAL-BP trial.

Background: Intensive blood pressure (BP) management within 24 h after successful reperfusion following endovascular thrombectomy (EVT) is associated with worse functional outcomes than conventional BP management in Asian randomized controlled trials. Given the high prevalence of intracranial atherosclerotic stenosis (ICAS) in Asia, ICAS may influence these outcomes.

Aims: We aimed to assess whether ICAS affects the outcomes of intensive BP management after successful EVT.

Impact of intensive blood pressure lowering after multiple-attempt endovascular thrombectomy: A secondary analysis of the OPTIMAL-BP trial.

Background: Multiple attempts of thrombectomy have been linked to a higher risk of intracerebral hemorrhage and worsened functional outcomes, potentially influenced by blood pressure (BP) management strategies. Nonetheless, the impact of intensive BP management following successful recanalization through multiple attempts remains uncertain.

Aims: This study aimed to investigate whether conventional and intensive BP managements differentially affect outcomes according to multiple-attempt recanalization (MAR) and first-attempt recanalization (FAR) groups.

Various retraction techniques for laparoscopic pancreaticoduodenectomy.

The laparoscopic pancreaticoduodenectomy (LPD), introduced by Gagner and Pomp in 1994, is typically done in high-volume centers due to its technical demands. Our methods aim to provide effective traction, enabling efficient surgery despite limited staffing. A retrospective analysis of 29 patients undergoing LPD by a single surgeon between September 2021 and December 2022 showed promising outcomes: median intraoperative bleeding of 425 mL, operation time of 505 minutes, and postoperative hospital stay of 10 days.

Early vascular aging determined by brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity and its impact on ischemic stroke outcome: a retrospective observational study.

Vascular aging phenotype may be useful in predicting stroke prognosis. In the present study, the relationship between vascular aging phenotypes and outcomes after acute ischemic stroke was investigated. The study included consecutive patients with acute ischemic stroke who had brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) measured to assess vascular aging phenotype.

Cancer-Associated Stroke: Thrombosis Mechanism, Diagnosis, Outcome, and Therapeutic Strategies.

Cancer can induce hypercoagulability, which may lead to stroke. This occurs when tumor cells activate platelets as part of their growth and metastasis. Tumor cells activate platelets by generating thrombin and expressing tissue factor, resulting in tumor cell-induced platelet aggregation.

Functional Outcomes Associated With Blood Pressure Decrease After Endovascular Thrombectomy.

Importance: The associations between blood pressure (BP) decreases induced by medication and functional outcomes in patients with successful endovascular thrombectomy remain uncertain.

Objective: To evaluate whether BP reductions induced by intravenous BP medications are associated with poor functional outcomes at 3 months.

Design, Setting, And Participants: This cohort study was a post hoc analysis of the Outcome in Patients Treated With Intra-Arterial Thrombectomy-Optimal Blood Pressure Control trial, a comparison of intensive and conventional BP management during the 24 hours after successful recanalization from June 18, 2020, to November 28, 2022.

Effectiveness of endovascular treatment for in-hospital stroke vs. community-onset stroke: a propensity score-matched analysis.

Background: The effectiveness of endovascular treatment for in-hospital stroke remains debatable. We aimed to compare the outcomes between patients with in-hospital stroke and community-onset stroke who received endovascular treatment.

Methods: This prospective registry-based cohort study included consecutive patients who underwent endovascular treatment from January 2013 to December 2022 and were registered in the Selection Criteria in Endovascular Thrombectomy and Thrombolytic Therapy study and Yonsei Stroke Cohort.

Controlling the Phase Transformation of Alumina for Enhanced Stability and Catalytic Properties.

Current transition alumina catalysts require the presence of significant amounts of toxic, environmentally deleterious dopants for their stabilization. Herein, we report a simple and novel strategy to engineer transition aluminas to withstand aging temperatures up to 1200 °C without inducing the transformation to low-surface-area α-AlO and without requiring dopants. By judiciously optimizing the abundance of dominant facets and the interparticle distance, we can control the temperature of the phase transformation from θ-AlO to α-AlO and the specific surface sites on the latter.

Cancer signature ensemble integrating cfDNA methylation, copy number, and fragmentation facilitates multi-cancer early detection.

Cell-free DNA (cfDNA) sequencing has demonstrated great potential for early cancer detection. However, most large-scale studies have focused only on either targeted methylation sites or whole-genome sequencing, limiting comprehensive analysis that integrates both epigenetic and genetic signatures. In this study, we present a platform that enables simultaneous analysis of whole-genome methylation, copy number, and fragmentomic patterns of cfDNA in a single assay.

Accurate Detection of Urothelial Bladder Cancer Using Targeted Deep Sequencing of Urine DNA.

Patients with hematuria are commonly given an invasive cystoscopy test to detect bladder cancer (BC). To avoid the risks associated with cystoscopy, several urine-based methods for BC detection have been developed, the most prominent of which is the deep sequencing of urine DNA. However, the current methods for urine-based BC detection have significant levels of false-positive signals.

The technique of laparoscopic and robotic extended cholecystectomy for gallbladder cancer.

The application of minimally invasive surgery for gallbladder cancer (GBC) is yet controversial. This article discusses the techniques of laparoscopic and robotic extended cholecystectomy. A 69-year-old male diagnosed with cT1-2N0 GBC underwent laparoscopic surgery, and a 55-year-old male with cT2N1 GBC underwent robotic surgery after preoperative chemotherapy.

The Impact of Social Supports on the Excessive Alcohol Use of the Middle-Aged Adults in South Korea: Do All Types of Social Supports Have Positive Effects on Excessive Alcohol Users?

The purpose of the study is to discuss the necessity of interventions on excessive alcohol use among middle-aged adult Koreans and attempt to investigate the effect of social supports including family support and friend support on excessive alcohol use. To achieve these goals, a self-administered online survey was conducted on middle-aged adult Koreans from 40 to 59 years old sampled through the convenience allocation extraction method, with responses of a total of 767 samples analyzed. The results from the analysis was that the support of the family reduced excessive alcohol use, whereas the support of friends provoked excessive alcohol use.

Urinary microbiome profile in men with genitourinary malignancies.

Purpose: Recent advances in molecular biology technology have allowed identification of microbial communities in the urinary tract, and urinary microbiome is associated with various urological diseases. In this study, we aimed to characterize the urinary microbiome of genitourinary malignancies.

Materials And Methods: Metagenomic analysis of urinary DNA was performed in 85 patients including 30 with bladder cancer (BC), 27 with prostate cancer (PC), 12 with renal cancer (RC), and 16 with non-cancer (NC).

Technique and perioperative outcomes of single-port robotic surgery using the da Vinci SP platform in urology.

Objective: To describe surgical technique for single port robotic surgery using the da Vinci SP system and report the perioperative outcomes.

Patients And Methods: Between Jan 2019 and Jan 2021, single-port robotic urologic surgeries were performed in 120 patients by a single surgeon. Clinicopathologic data and perioperative outcomes were collected.

Germline pathogenic variants in unselected Korean men with prostate cancer.

Purpose: Prostate cancer is one of the most heritable cancers and prostate cancer with germline mutations is associated with aggressive features and a poor prognosis. We investigated germline variants in unselected Korean men with prostate cancer.

Materials And Methods: In this study, we prospectively collected buccal swab DNA from 120 unselected Korean men with prostate cancer, and performed massively parallel sequencing.

Plasma osteoprotegerin levels are associated with the presence and burden of cerebral small vessel disease in patients with acute ischemic stroke.

Background And Purpose: Osteoprotegerin (OPG) is a component of the tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily. Several studies have shown a relationship between OPG and cardiovascular diseases. We hypothesized that there is a relationship between plasma OPG levels and cerebral small vessel disease (SVD).

Voltage-Tunable Ultra-Steep Slope Atomic Switch with Selectivity over 10.

Atomic switch-based selectors, which utilize the formation of conductive filaments by the migration of ions, are researched for cross-point array architecture due to their simple structure and high selectivity. However, the difficulty in controlling the formation of filaments causes uniformity and reliability issues. Here, a multilayer selector with Pt/Ag-doped ZnO/ZnO/Ag-doped ZnO/Pt structure by the sputtering process is presented.

Pilot and Feasibility Studies in Rehabilitation Research: A Review and Educational Primer for the Physiatrist Researcher.

Pilot and feasibility studies are conducted early in the clinical research pathway to evaluate whether a future, definitive study can or should be done and, if so, how. Poor planning and reporting of pilot and feasibility studies can compromise subsequent research efforts. Inappropriate labeling of studies as pilots also compromises education.

Tracheostomy During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Comparison of International Perioperative Care Protocols and Practices in 26 Countries.

Objective: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has led to a global surge in critically ill patients requiring invasive mechanical ventilation, some of whom may benefit from tracheostomy. Decisions on if, when, and how to perform tracheostomy in patients with COVID-19 have major implications for patients, clinicians, and hospitals. We investigated the tracheostomy protocols and practices that institutions around the world have put into place in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Exploring pharmacogenetic difference using adverse event database: an example of clopidogrel and cardiovascular events.

Poor clopidogrel metabolizers, carrying a loss-of-function allele, are more frequent among East Asians than Caucasians/White. The Korea adverse event reporting system database and a case/noncase study design were used to examine the disproportionality of cardiovascular events following clopidogrel use. The US FDA's adverse event reporting system database was also analyzed for comparison.

Ambulatory second look percutaneous nephrolithotripsy with maturated nephros-tomy tract.

Introduction And Objectives: Percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) is the standard technique for managing large renal calculi. Second-look PCNL is typically performed under intravenous (IV) sedation or spinal / general anesthesia when removing remnant stones. This requires additional pre-anesthesia assessment and close monitoring.

Comparison of Four Commercial Kits for Isolation of Urinary Cell-Free DNA and Sample Storage Conditions.

Urinary cell-free DNA (cfDNA) is an attractive body fluid for liquid biopsy. In this study, we compared the efficiencies of four commercial kits for urinary cell-free DNA (cfDNA) isolation and of various sample storage conditions. Urinary cfDNA was isolated from 10 healthy individuals using four commercial kits: QIAamp Circulating Nucleic Acid Kit (QC; Qiagen), MagMAX™ Cell-Free DNA Isolation Kit (MM; Applied Biosystems), Urine Cell-Free Circulating DNA Purification Midi Kit (NU; Norgen Biotek), and Quick-DNA™ Urine Kit (ZQ; Zymo Research).

Single-port robot-assisted radical prostatectomy with the da Vinci SP system: A single surgeon's experience.

Purpose: To report an initial single-surgeon experience with single-port robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (SP-RARP) using the da Vinci SP surgical system (Intuitive Surgical, USA).

Materials And Methods: Between December 2018 and October 2019, a single surgeon performed SP-RARP in 20 patients with prostate cancer. SP-RARP was performed using the conventional approach through an umbilical port with a GelPOINT access system (Applied Medical, USA) and an additional assist port.