Impedance for Assistance: Upper-Limb Assistive Soft Robotic Suit Using Linked-Layer Jamming Mechanisms.

Wearable robots, especially those composed of soft materials, are increasingly attracting interest due to their comfort, ease of donning and doffing, and their ability to provide assistance across various applications. In wearable robotics, striking a balance between ensuring low impedance for wearer comfort and providing sufficient assistive force is a notable design challenge. In this study, we propose exploiting impedance variation in accordance with the types of muscle contraction in the human body.

A Real-World, Prospective, Observational Study of Rivaroxaban on Prevention of Stroke and Non-Central Nervous Systemic Embolism in Renally Impaired Korean Patients With Non-Valvular Atrial Fibrillation: XARENAL.

Background And Objectives: Several real-world studies have been done in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF); however, information on its safety profile in patients with renal impairment is limited. XARENAL, a real-world study, aimed to prospectively investigate the safety profile of rivaroxaban in patients with NVAF with renal impairment (creatinine clearance [CrCl], 15-49 mL/min).

Methods: XARENAL is an observational single-arm cohort study in renal impairment NVAF patients.

Daphnetin alleviates allergic airway inflammation by inhibiting T-cell activation and subsequent JAK/STAT6 signaling.

Allergic asthma is a major health burden on society as a chronic respiratory disease characterized by inflammation and muscle tightening around the airways in response to inhaled allergens. Daphne kiusiana Miquel is a medicinal plant that can suppress allergic airway inflammation; however, its specific molecular mechanisms of action are unclear. In this study, we aimed to elucidate the mechanisms by which D.

Clinical characteristics of apixaban prescription in AF patients with single dose-reduction criterion: the ASPIRE (efficAcy and safety of aPixaban in rEal-world practice in Korean frail patients with atrial fibrillation) study.

Background: Data on off-label reduced dose risk among patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) who qualify for a single-dose reduction of apixaban is scarce.

Objectives: We prospectively assessed apixaban dosing and clinical characteristics in AF patients meeting a dose reduction criterion.

Methods: The multicentre, prospective cohort study, the efficAcy and Safety of aPixaban In REal-world practice in Korean frail patients with AF (ASPIRE), encompasses patients with AF who met the criteria for a single-dose reduction of apixaban and were given varying doses of apixaban, either the on-label standard dose or the off-label reduced dose.

The effect of dialysis modality on annual mortality: A prospective cohort study.

Despite numerous studies on the effect of each dialysis modality on mortality, the issue remains controversial. We investigated the hazard rate of mortality in patients with incident end-stage renal disease (ESRD) concerning initial dialysis modality (hemodialysis vs. peritoneal dialysis).

Rotundifuran Induces Ferroptotic Cell Death and Mitochondria Permeability Transition in Lung Cancer Cells.

Rotundifuran (RF), a potent anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer compound, is a natural compound predominantly present in . Herein, we investigated the effects of RF on the growth of lung cancer cells. Our findings suggested that RF inhibits cell growth, highlighting its potential as a therapeutic agent for cancer treatment.

Metabolically Abnormal Non-Obese Phenotype Is Significantly Associated with All-Cause Mortality in Hemodialysis Patients.

The association between obesity and all-cause mortality in patients undergoing kidney failure with replacement therapy (KFRT) has shown conflicting results. This study aimed to evaluate whether metabolic abnormalities (MA) increase the risk of all-cause mortality in these patients. Between 2009 and 2015, 1141 patients undergoing KFRT were recruited from the Clinical Research Center for End-Stage Renal Disease dataset.

Infrastructure in the Age of Pandemics: Utilizing Polypropylene-Based Mask Waste for Durable and Sustainable Road Pavements.

When navigating the environmental exigencies precipitated by global pandemics, the escalation of mask waste presents a multifaceted dilemma. In this avant-garde research, we unveil a novel approach: harnessing the sterilized shredded mask residues (SMRs), predominantly composed of 100 wt. % polypropylene, as pioneering modifiers for asphalt.

Rex1BD and the 14-3-3 protein control heterochromatin organization at tandem repeats by linking RNAi and HDAC.

Tandem DNA repeats are often organized into heterochromatin that is crucial for genome organization and stability. Recent studies revealed that individual repeats within tandem DNA repeats can behave very differently. How DNA repeats are assembled into distinct heterochromatin structures remains poorly understood.

From Hive to Highway: Waste Honeycombs as a Sustainable Modifier for Asphalt Binder Formulations in South Korea.

Navigating the crossroads of sustainable infrastructure and innovative waste management, this research unveils the potential of waste honeycombs (WHCs)-an overlooked byproduct of apiculture-as a potent modifier for asphalt binder formulations. This endeavor addresses the dual challenge of enhancing road pavement sustainability and mitigating environmental degradation. A meticulous methodology evaluated the impact of varying WHC concentrations (5, 10, and 15 wt.

Identification of concealed cardiomyopathy using next-generation sequencing-based genetic testing in Korean patients initially diagnosed with idiopathic ventricular fibrillation.

Aims: Idiopathic ventricular fibrillation (IVF) is a disease in which the cause of ventricular fibrillation cannot be identified despite comprehensive clinical evaluation. This study aimed to investigate the clinical yield and implications of genetic testing for IVF.

Methods And Results: This study was based on the multi-centre inherited arrhythmia syndrome registry in South Korea from 2014 to 2017.

Clinical and Genetic Features of Korean Inherited Arrhythmia Probands.

Background And Objectives: Inherited arrhythmia (IA) is a more common cause of sudden cardiac death in Asian population, but little is known about the genetic background of Asian IA probands. We aimed to investigate the clinical characteristics and analyze the genetic underpinnings of IA in a Korean cohort.

Methods: This study was conducted in a multicenter cohort of the Korean IA Registry from 2014 to 2017.

The impact of severe depression on the survival of older patients with end-stage kidney disease.

Background: Incidence of depression increases in patients with end-stage kidney disease (ESKD). We evaluated the association between depression and mortality among older patients with ESKD, which has not been studied previously.

Methods: This nationwide prospective cohort study included 487 patients with ESKD aged >65 years, who were categorized into minimal, mild-to-moderate, and severe depression groups based on their Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II) scores.

Clinical and Lifestyle Determinants of Continuous Glucose Monitoring Metrics in Insulin-Treated Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus.

Backgruound: There was limited evidence to evaluate the association between lifestyle habits and continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) metrics. Thus, we aimed to depict the behavioral and metabolic determinants of CGM metrics in insulin-treated patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

Methods: This is a prospective observational study.

Molecular Dynamics Simulation Study of the Protonation State Dependence of Glutamic Acid Transport through a Cyclic Peptide Nanotube.

The effect of the protonation state of glutamic acid on its translocation through cyclic peptide nanotubes (CPNs) was assessed by using molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. Anionic (GLU-), neutral zwitterionic (GLU0), and cationic (GLU+) forms of glutamic acid were selected as three different protonation states for an analysis of energetics and diffusivity for acid transport across a cyclic decapeptide nanotube. Based on the solubility-diffusion model, permeability coefficients for the three protonation states of the acid were calculated and compared with experimental results for CPN-mediated glutamate transport through CPNs.

The benefit of planned dialysis to early survival on hemodialysis versus peritoneal dialysis: a nationwide prospective multicenter study in Korea.

Optimal preparation is recommended for patients with advanced chronic kidney disease to minimize complications during dialysis initiation. This study evaluated the effects of planned dialysis initiation on survival in patients undergoing incident hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis. Patients newly diagnosed with end-stage kidney disease who started dialysis were enrolled in a multicenter prospective cohort study in Korea.

Influence of Mix Design on Physical, Mechanical and Durability Properties of Multi-Recycled Aggregate Concrete.

The decrease in the quality of recycled aggregate due to an increase in the number of recycling is a primary factor that limits the multi-recycling of concrete. This degradation adversely affects concrete performance; thus, the characteristics of recycled aggregate should be considered during the mix design stage, but little research has taken that into account. This study investigates the effect of the equivalent mortar volume (EMV) mix design on some physical, mechanical and durability properties of concrete made of multiple recycled coarse aggregates at 50% and 100% replacement ratios compared to concrete made by the conventional mix design (CMD).

WavelNet: A novel convolutional neural network architecture for arrhythmia classification from electrocardiograms.

Background And Objective: Automated detection of arrhythmias from electrocardiograms (ECGs) can be of considerable assistance to medical professionals in providing efficient treatment for patients with cardiovascular diseases. In recent times, convolutional neural network (CNN)-based arrhythmia classification models have been introduced, but their decision-making processes remain unclear and their performances are not reproducible. This paper proposes an accurate, interpretable, and reproducible end-to-end arrhythmia classification model based on a novel CNN architecture named WavelNet, which is interpretable and optimal for dealing with ECGs.

Sex disparities in mortality among patients with kidney failure receiving dialysis.

Females are known to have a better survival rate than males in the general population, but previous studies have shown that this superior survival is diminished in patients on dialysis. This study aimed to investigate the risk of mortality in relation to sex among Korean patients undergoing hemodialysis (HD) or peritoneal dialysis (PD). A total of 4994 patients with kidney failure who were receiving dialysis were included for a prospective nationwide cohort study.

Factors Affecting Selection of a Dialysis Modality in Elderly Patients With Chronic Kidney Disease: A Prospective Cohort Study in Korea.

Background: We investigated factors associated with the selection of a dialysis modality for elderly patients compared to younger patients.

Methods: This study included 2,514 incident dialysis patients from a Korean multicenter prospective cohort. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed with demographic, socioeconomic, and clinical data to analyze factors associated with the chosen dialysis modality.