Heavy metal deposition and parameter change of soft contact lenses by exposure to particulate matter : Parameter change of SCL due to exposure to PM and heavy metal deposition.

Background: Particulate matter (PM) is known to contain heavy metals and be harmful to the tissues and organs of the human body including the eyes. As such, in this study, the deposition of heavy metals from PM on soft contact lenses was examined, and changes in the lens parameters were further investigated.

Methods: Six types of soft contact lenses were exposed to captured PM for eight hours.

Rapid response nursing triage outcomes for COVID-19: factors associated with patient's participation in triage recommendations.

Background: COVID-19 is an ongoing global health crisis with prevention and treatment recommendations rapidly changing. Rapid response telephone triage and advice services are critical in providing timely care during pandemics. Understanding patient participation with triage recommendations and factors associated with patient participation can assist in developing sensitive and timely interventions for receiving the treatment to prevent adverse health effects of COVID-19.

Correlation between the actual sleep time 24 hours prior to an examination and the time to achieve chloral hydrate sedation in pediatric patients in South Korea: a prospective cohort study.

Purpose: This study investigated correlations between the actual sleep time 24 hours prior to an examination and the time to achieve chloral hydrate sedation in pediatric patients.

Methods: With parental consent, 84 children who were placed under moderate or deep sedation with chloral hydrate for examinations from November 19, 2020 to July 9, 2022 were recruited.

Results: Patients' average age was 19.

Automatic Plaque Removal Using Dual-Energy Computed Tomography Angiography: Diagnostic Accuracy and Utility in Patients with Peripheral Artery Disease.

Background and Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the utility and accuracy of dual-energy automatic plaque removal (DE-APR) in patients with symptomatic peripheral arterial disease (PAD) using digital subtraction angiography (DSA) as the reference standard. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 100 patients with PAD who underwent DE computed tomography angiography (DE-CTA) and DSA of the lower extremities. DE-CTA was used to generate APR subtracted images.

Deep Learning Model for Predicting Rhythm Outcomes after Radiofrequency Catheter Ablation in Patients with Atrial Fibrillation.

Current guidelines on atrial fibrillation (AF) emphasized that radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA) should be decided after fully considering its prognosis. However, a robust prediction model reflecting the complex interactions between the features affecting prognosis remains to be developed. In this paper, we propose a deep learning model for predicting the late recurrence after RFCA in patients with AF.

Centering Culture in Mental Health: Differences in Diagnosis, Treatment, and Access to Care Among Older People of Color.

Mental healthcare disparities are routinely documented, yet they remain wider than in most other areas of healthcare services and common mental disorders (depression and anxiety) continue to be one of the highest health burdens for older people of color. To address disparities in mental health services for older people of color, the narrative must move beyond simply documenting these inequities and attain a better understanding of the internalized, interpersonal, systemic, and medical racism that have harmed these communities and excluded them from its services in the first place. It is imperative that researchers, clinicians, and policymakers acknowledge the realities of racism and discrimination as leading causes of mental healthcare disparities.

Validation of multiple equations for estimating low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels in Korean adults.

Background: Limited data are available for validation of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL) calculation (LDL) in the adult Korean population. The aim of this study was to develop and validate a new equation for LDL and to compare it with previous such equations in a Korean population.

Methods: A new equation for LDL was developed (LDL).

Prevalence of Folate Deficiency in Korean Women of Reproductive Age Using a Serum Folate Assay Traceable to the WHO International Standard.

Background: We aimed to investigate serum folate level in Korean women of reproductive age and to evaluate the prevalence of folate deficiency by age using different cutoffs.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed data obtained with a serum folate assay traceable to World Health Organization international standard reference material 03/178.

Results: Between September 2017 and June 2019, data from a total of 8,380 Korean women aged 15 - 49 years were obtained.

ABCDP: Approximate Bayesian Computation with Differential Privacy.

We developed a novel approximate Bayesian computation (ABC) framework, , which produces differentially private (DP) and approximate posterior samples. Our framework takes advantage of the sparse vector technique (SVT), widely studied in the differential privacy literature. SVT incurs the privacy cost only when a condition (whether a quantity of interest is above/below a threshold) is met.

Association Among Glycemic Biomarkers in Korean Adults: Hemoglobin A1c, Fructosamine, and Glycated Albumin.

Background: We aimed to investigate the associations between glycemic biomarkers (hemoglobin A1c [HbA1c], fructosamine, and glycated albumin [GA]) in Korean adults.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed data for HbA1c, fructosamine, and glycated albumin between August 28, 2017, and June 30, 2020, to investigate the association between HbA1c and fructosamine and between HbA1c and GA.

Results: Overall, 961 fructosamine and 142 GA tests concurrently measured HbA1c.

Diversify Your Emotional Assets: The Association Between the Variety of Sources of Emotional Support and Thoughts of Death or Self-harm Among US Older Adults.

Using data from a nationally representative sample of community-dwelling older adults (age 65) (NHANES: =3,114), we examined the association between the variety in sources of emotional support and thoughts of death or self-harm in the past two weeks among US older adults and if such association is modified by gender and race/ethnicity. Overall, an additional category of source of emotional support was associated with the 0.36-fold lower odds of endorsing thoughts of death or self-harm in the past two weeks (WAOR: 0.

Reference Interval for Korean Serum Folate Assay Traceable to the WHO International Standard.

Background: Little is known about the reference interval of serum folate concentration if using recently re-standardized assays traceable to the World Health Organization (WHO) international standard reference 03/178 in a Korean population. This study aimed to investigate serum folate levels in Korean subjects without macrocytic anemia or increased homocysteine, for the assessment of folate deficiency.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed data from Korean adults whose hemoglobin, mean corpuscular volume, and serum total homocysteine values were within reference limits.

A Brief Review of Mental Health Issues among Asian and Pacific Islander Communities in the U.S.

The purpose of this paper is to provide a brief summary of mental health issues among Asian and Pacific Islander (API) communities in the U.S. APIs include individuals from Far East Asia (e.

Chronic Pain and Mood Disorders in Asian Americans.

Pain and mood disorder frequently coexist. Yet, for Asian Americans (AAs), scant information about pain and mood disorder is available. Our aims were to compare (1) the rates of pain and mood disorders and (2) the magnitude of associations between pain and mood disorders between AAs and European Americans (EAs), and across different Asian subgroups.

Associations between Food Insecurity and Depression among Diverse Asian Americans.

Proper nutrition is an essential component to both physical and emotional health. Food insecurity (FI) is a potentially critical public health problem. The link between FI and elevated risk for depression has been well documented.

Test utilization for the diagnosis of vitamin B12 and folate deficiency in local clinics in Korea.

Background: Current guidelines pertaining to diagnosing macrocytic anemia in association with vitamin B12 and folate deficiency recommend that vitamin B12, folate, homocysteine, and methylmalonic acid assays should be assessed concurrently due to their close relationship in metabolism. We aimed to investigate the completion of these assays in local clinics and hospitals without in-house clinical laboratories in Korea.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed data from the laboratory information system between September 25, 2017, and June 30, 2019, to investigate usage rates of vitamin B12, folate, homocysteine, and methylmalonic acid assays in patients with macrocytic anemia.

Preeclampsia Screening Using the Ratio of Soluble FMS-Like Tyrosine Kinase-1 to Placental Growth Factor During Pregnancy in Pregnant Korean Women.

Background: We retrospectively investigated soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1 (sFlt-1)/placental growth factor (PlGF) ratios and screen-positive rates according to cutoff values for preeclampsia risk assessment based on the number of fetuses.

Methods: sFlt-1/PlGF ratios < 38.0 and < 53.

Comparative efficacy of social media delivered health education on glycemic control: A meta-analysis.

Objective: To compare outcomes associated with patient education about glycemic control via group chat versus patient education as usual among individuals with diabetes in China.

Methods: We searched the following databases both in English and in Chinese languages: PubMed, CNKI, Wanfang database, VIP database, and CBM for articles published up to Jan 1, 2018. The studies were screened by two independent reviewers.

Performance of a novel fluorogenic probe assay for the detection of extended-spectrum-β-lactamase or plasmid AmpC β-lactamase-producing Enterobacterales directly from simulated blood culture bottles.

Resistance to third generation cephalosporins is widely disseminated in Enterobacteriaceae mainly because of extended-spectrum-β-lactamases (ESBL), plasmid AmpC β-lactamases (PABL), and hyper-production of chromosomal AmpC β-lactamases. Here, we evaluated the performance of rapid test using novel fluorogenic probe assay in simulated blood cultures and compared the results with the phenol red assay using a total of 172 characterized isolates (39 ESBL producers, 13 PABL producers, and 120 susceptible isolates). We prepared a pellet by centrifugation and washing, which can also be used for identification with MALDI-TOF directly from positive blood cultures.

Inactivation of Typhimurium and O157:H7 on black pepper powder using UV-C, UV-A and TiO coating.

This study was conducted to measure the inactivation characteristics of UVs and TiO against . Typhimurium and O157:H7 on black pepper powder. The sample was irradiated by UV-A and UV-C combined with TiO coating.

Accelerated wound healing in diabetic mice by miRNA-497 and its anti-inflammatory activity.

Diabetic foot ulcers represent one of the major and rising health issues, as the number of diabetic patients is increasing. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are among various bioactive molecules under investigation for diabetic wound healing. The prolonged pro-inflammatory phase in diabetic wounds partly attributes to its non-healing nature.

Different parental origins of supernumerary X chromosomes in brothers with Klinefelter syndrome: A case report.

Rationale: Recurrence of Klinefelter syndrome (KS) in non-twin brothers is very rare. This study examined the inheritance pattern of supernumerary X chromosomes in non-twin brothers.

Patient Concerns: A 16-year-old man presented with small-sized testicles.

Perspectives on Training Needs for Geriatric Mental Health Providers: Preparing to Serve a Diverse Older Adult Population.

An increasingly diverse population of older adults requires a diverse workforce trained to address the problem of differential healthcare access and quality of care. This article describes specific areas of training focused on addressing health disparities based on ethnic differences. Culturally competent care by mental health providers, innovative models of mental health service delivery such as collaborative care, and expansion of the mental health workforce through integration of lay health workers into professional healthcare teams, offer potential solutions and require training.