Novel electroretinography devices to detect hydroxychloroquine retinopathy: study protocol for a diagnostic accuracy and feasibility study.

Introduction: Annual screening for hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) retinopathy is recommended, and electroretinography (ERG) is considered a gold-standard test, but there are screening shortfalls and standard ERG is burdensome and has limited availability. Newer, portable ERG devices using skin-based electrodes may increase screening capacity but need validation. This study aims to determine initial device accuracies and feasibility of further research.

Machine Learning Strategy for Optimizing Multiple Electrical Characteristics in Dual-Layer Oxide Thin Film Transistors.

A machine learning (ML) strategy is suggested to optimize dual-layer oxide thin film transistor (TFTs) performance. In this study, Bayesian optimization (BO), an algorithm recognized for its efficiency in optimizing material design, is applied to guide the design of a channel layer composed of IZO and IGZO. The sputtering fabrication process, which has attracted attention as an oxide semiconductor channel layer deposition method, is fine-tuned using ML to enhance multiple electrical characteristics of transistors: field-effect mobility, threshold voltage, and subthreshold swing.

Relationships between the Surface Hydrophilicity of a Bismuth Electrode and the Product Selectivity of Electrocatalytic CO Reduction.

Two types of bismuth films (micro-Bi and nano-Bi) were prepared, and their electrocatalytic behavior was studied in terms of reduction current and product selectivity in a potential range of -0.776 to -1.376 V vs RHE.

Ferrocene-Functionalized Atomically Precise Metal Clusters Exhibit Synergistically Enhanced Performance for CO Electroreduction.

The integration of organometallic compounds with metal nanoparticles can, in principle, generate hybrid nanocatalysts endowed with augmented functionality, presenting substantial promise for catalytic applications. Herein, we synthesize an atomically precise metal cluster (AgCu) catalyst integrated with alkynylferrocene molecules (AgCu-Fc). This hybrid catalyst design facilitates a continuous electron transfer channel via an ethynyl bridge and establishes a distinctive local chemical environment, resulting in remarkably enhanced catalytic activity in CO electroreduction.

Surgical outcomes of simultaneous subtotal petrosectomy and cochlear implantation: a single institutional study.

Objectives: To report our institution's experience with patients who underwent subtotal petrosectomy (STP) for refractory ear disease who are candidates for cochlear implant (CI) and to highlight simultaneous STP with CI its advantages, surgical outcomes, post-operative complications management, and considerations for staging a procedure.

Methods: A retrospective study was performed in a single tertiary referral university hospital. The medical records of seventy patients (70 ears) who underwent STP for refractory ear disease who were candidates for CI were retrospectively evaluated.

Sites of Metastasis and Survival in Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma: Results From the Korean Renal Cancer Study Group Database.

Background: In patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC), sites of metastatic involvement have been reported to be associated with a difference in survival. However, the frequency and survival according to different sites of metastases in Korean patients with mRCC remain unclear. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the frequency of metastatic site involvement and the association between sites of metastatic involvement and survival in Korean patients with mRCC.

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 hours 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.

Discrepancies between home blood pressure and ambulatory blood pressure monitoring in apparent treatment-resistant hypertension: analysis from the Korean resistant hypertension cohort.

This study aimed to investigate the characteristics of out-of-office blood pressure (BP) measurements in patients with apparent treatment-resistant hypertension (aRH) enrolled from 15 tertiary care centers in South Korea. aRH was defined as having uncontrolled office BP ≥ 130/80 mmHg despite receiving three classes of antihypertensive medication or any level of BP despite receiving ≥4 classes of antihypertensive medication. Patients with complete data for office BP, 24-h ambulatory BP monitoring (ABPM), and home BP measurements at baseline were included.

Transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation mitigates gouty inflammation by reducing neutrophil infiltration in BALB/c mice.

Gouty inflammation, caused by uric acid crystal deposition, primarily affects tissues around the toe joints and triggers potent inflammatory responses. Current treatments focus on alleviating inflammation and pain using pharmaceutical agents, which can lead to side effects and complications. This has generated interest in non-pharmacological interventions, such as non-invasive vagus nerve stimulation (VNS).

Impact of diabetes mellitus and hypertension on renal function during first-line targeted therapy for metastatic renal cell carcinoma: a retrospective multicenter study.

Background: Renal function deterioration during systemic therapy in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) is a long-term concern in treatment planning. Although hypertension (HTN) and diabetes mellitus (DM) are the most common factors that affect chronic kidney disease (CKD) development and progression, their impact on renal function during targeted therapy is unclear. This study investigated whether DM and HTN were associated with a decline in renal function during first-line targeted therapy for mRCC.

Angiotensin receptor-neprilysin inhibitor adherence and outcomes in heart failure with reduced ejection fraction.

Aims: Whether medication adherence to angiotensin receptor-neprilysin inhibitor (ARNI) in real-world practice is associated with the reduced risk of all-cause mortality or hospitalization relative to that with traditional renin-angiotensin system (RAS) blockade remains unclear. This study investigated the influence of medication adherence of ARNI and traditional RAS blockade in heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF).

Method: We conducted a nationwide longitudinal cohort study with patients with HFrEF using data from the Korean National Health Insurance Service data (2017-2021) covering the entire population.

Principles of paralog-specific targeted protein degradation engaging the C-degron E3 KLHDC2.

PROTAC® (proteolysis-targeting chimera) molecules induce proximity between an E3 ligase and protein-of-interest (POI) to target the POI for ubiquitin-mediated degradation. Cooperative E3-PROTAC-POI complexes have potential to achieve neo-substrate selectivity beyond that established by POI binding to the ligand alone. Here, we extend the collection of ubiquitin ligases employable for cooperative ternary complex formation to include the C-degron E3 KLHDC2.

Interleukin-2 improves insulin sensitivity through hypothalamic sympathetic activation in obese mice.

Background: IL-2 regulates T cell differentiation: low-dose IL-2 induces immunoregulatory Treg differentiation, while high-dose IL-2 acts as a potent activator of cytotoxic T cells and NK cells. Therefore, high-dose IL-2 has been studied for use in cancer immunotherapy. We aimed to utilize low-dose IL-2 to treat inflammatory diseases such as obesity and insulin resistance, which involve low-grade chronic inflammation.

Impact of variant histology in the prognosis of non‑muscle invasive bladder cancer with low‑tumor burden: A propensity score‑matched analysis with conventional urothelial carcinoma.

Bladder cancer (BCa) with variant histology (VH) is associated with an increased risk of recurrence and progression, as well as worse survival. However, the available literature does not provide the prognostic value of VH based on its tumor burden in non-muscle invasive BCa (NMIBC). The purpose of the present study was to investigate the prognosis of VH in NMIBC with low-tumor volume compared with conventional urothelial carcinoma (UC) with a similar tumor burden.

Extracellular Cleavage of Microglia-Derived Progranulin Promotes Diet-Induced Obesity.

Hypothalamic innate immune responses to dietary fats underpin the pathogenesis of obesity, in which microglia play a critical role. Progranulin (PGRN) is an evolutionarily conserved secretory protein containing seven and a half granulin (GRN) motifs. It is cleaved into GRNs by multiple proteases.

Comparison of clinical characteristics and outcomes in hospitalized adult patients infected with respiratory syncytial virus and influenza virus.

Background: Because patients infected with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) have been reported to be older than patients infected with influenza virus, the more frequent incidence of complications in RSV-infected patients may be age-related. This study compared clinical characteristics and outcomes in hospitalized adults infected with RSV with findings in age- and sex-matched adults infected with influenza virus.

Methods: The medical records of hospitalized adult patients infected with RSV or influenza virus at two university hospitals from 2013 to 2022 were retrospectively analyzed.

Characterization and Making Techniques of Calcareous Construction Materials for Phaya Thon Zu Temple in Bagan Historical Area, Myanmar.

The calcareous materials used in constructing the Phaya Thon Zu temple at the Bagan historical sites in Myanmar are mortars, plasters, and stuccos. Among them, the mortars and plasters are a mixture of original and new materials used for recent conservation treatments. In this study, the making techniques were examined through analysis of calcareous materials by production period.