Alternative LDL Cholesterol-Lowering Strategy vs High-Intensity Statins in Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease: A Systematic Review and Individual Patient Data Meta-Analysis.

Importance: In patients with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD), intensive lowering of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels with high-intensity statins is generally recommended. However, alternative approaches considering statin-related adverse effects and intolerance are needed.

Objective: To compare the long-term efficacy and safety of an alternative LDL cholesterol-lowering strategy vs high-intensity statin strategy in patients with ASCVD in randomized clinical trials.

Concordant and discordant breast density patterns by different approaches for assessing breast density and breast cancer risk.

Purpose: To examine the discrepancy in breast density assessments by radiologists, LIBRA software, and AI algorithm and their association with breast cancer risk.

Methods: Among 74,610 Korean women aged ≥ 34 years, who underwent screening mammography, density estimates obtained from both LIBRA and the AI algorithm were compared to radiologists using BI-RADS density categories (A-D, designating C and D as dense breasts). The breast cancer risks were compared according to concordant or discordant dense breasts identified by radiologists, LIBRA, and AI.

Aspirin Monotherapy vs No Antiplatelet Therapy in Stable Patients With Coronary Stents Undergoing Low-to-Intermediate Risk Noncardiac Surgery.

Background: Current guidelines recommend the perioperative continuation of aspirin in patients with coronary drug-eluting stents (DES) undergoing noncardiac surgery. However, supporting evidence is limited.

Objectives: This study aimed to compare continuing aspirin monotherapy vs temporarily holding all antiplatelet therapy before noncardiac surgery in patients with previous DES implantation.

Development of Clinically Validated Artificial Intelligence Model for Detecting ST-segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction.

Study Objective: Although the importance of primary percutaneous coronary intervention has been emphasized for ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), the appropriateness of the cardiac catheterization laboratory activation remains suboptimal. This study aimed to develop a precise artificial intelligence (AI) model for the diagnosis of STEMI and accurate cardiac catheterization laboratory activation.

Methods: We used electrocardiography (ECG) waveform data from a prospective percutaneous coronary intervention registry in Korea in this study.

Intravascular ultrasound-guided drug-coated balloon angioplasty for femoropopliteal artery disease: a clinical trial.

Background And Aims: Drug-coated balloons (DCBs) have demonstrated favourable outcomes following endovascular therapy for femoropopliteal artery (FPA) disease. However, uncertainty remains whether the use of intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) can improve the outcomes of DCBs.

Methods: This prospective, multicentre, randomized trial, conducted at seven centres in South Korea, compared the outcomes of IVUS-guided vs.

Optimal antithrombotic strategy in patients with atrial fibrillation beyond 1 year after drug-eluting stent implantation: Design and rationale of the randomized ADAPT AF-DES trial.

Background: Both anticoagulation and antiplatelet therapies are recommended after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). Although contemporary guidelines recommend discontinuation of antiplatelet therapy 1 year after drug-eluting stent (DES) implantation due to excessive bleeding risk, supporting randomized trials are still lacking.

Methods: The ADAPT AF-DES trial is a multicenter, prospective, open-label, randomized, non-inferiority trial, enrolling 960 patients with AF with a CHADS-VASc score > 1, who underwent PCI with DES implantation at least 12 months before enrollment.

Moderate-intensity statin with ezetimibe combination therapy versus high-intensity statin monotherapy in patients with metabolic syndrome and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease: A post-hoc analysis of the RACING trial.

Aim: This study evaluated the safety and efficacy of a moderate-intensity statin with ezetimibe combination therapy versus high-intensity statin monotherapy in patients with metabolic syndrome (MetS) and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease.

Materials And Methods: In this post-hoc subgroup analysis of the RACING trial, patients were analysed based on the presence of MetS. MetS was defined as meeting at least three of the five following criteria: (a) elevated waist circumference; (b) elevated triglycerides; (c) reduced high-density lipoprotein cholesterol; (d) elevated blood pressure; and (e) elevated fasting glucose.

Distribution of Neurofilament in Peeled Internal Limiting Membrane.

Background And Objective: The aim was to study the distribution of neurofilament in peeled internal limiting membrane (ILM).

Patients And Methods: Prospective case study. Vitrectomy and ILM peeling were performed in patients with epiretinal membrane and macular hole.

Effects of Subcutaneous Methotrexate in Patients with Refractory Uveitis and Chorioretinitis.

Purpose: Methotrexate (MTX) is an immunosuppressive agent used to treat noninfectious inflammatory eye conditions and is generally administered orally for ocular inflammatory diseases. When used in rheumatological diseases, subcutaneous administration has been reported to show higher efficacy than oral administration. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the effect of subcutaneous MTX in patients with refractory uveitis or choroiditis who did not respond to other immunosuppressive agents.

Perioperative Antiplatelet Strategy in Patients Undergoing Noncardiac Surgery Within One Year After Percutaneous Coronary Intervention.

Background: The optimal antiplatelet therapy (APT) for patients undergoing non-cardiac surgery within 1 year after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is not yet established.

Methods: Patients who underwent non-cardiac surgery within 1 year after second-generation drug-eluting stent implantation were included from a multicenter prospective registry in Korea. The primary endpoint was 30-day net adverse clinical event (NACE), including all-cause death, major adverse cardiovascular event (MACE), and major bleeding events.

Combination Moderate-Intensity Statin and Ezetimibe Therapy for Elderly Patients With Atherosclerosis.

Background: The routine use of high-intensity statins should be considered carefully in elderly patients because of their higher risk of intolerance or adverse events.

Objectives: We evaluated the impact of moderate-intensity statin with ezetimibe combination therapy compared with high-intensity statin monotherapy in elderly patients with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD).

Methods: In this post hoc analysis of the RACING (RAndomized Comparison of Efficacy and Safety of Lipid-lowerING With Statin Monotherapy Versus Statin/Ezetimibe Combination for High-risk Cardiovascular Diseases) trial, patients were stratified by age (≥75 years and <75 years).

Adult-onset MELAS syndrome in a 51-year-old woman without typical clinical manifestations: a case report.

Background: Mitochondrial encephalomyopathy with lactic acidosis and stroke-like episodes (MELAS) syndrome is a multi-organ disorder resulting from mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) mutations. We report a case of suspected MELAS syndrome that progressed to left ventricular dysfunction 24 years after an initial diagnosis of atrioventricular block (AVB).

Case Summary: A 51-year-old woman was referred to heart failure clinic because of dyspnoea on exertion and progressive cardiomegaly.

Pharmacopuncture Effects on Insomnia Disorder: Protocol for a Multi-Site, Randomized, Acupuncture-Controlled, Clinical Trial.

Insomnia is a common health problem that can lead to various diseases and negatively impact quality of life. Pharmacopuncture is a new type of acupuncture that involves applying herbal medicine extracts to acupoints. Korean medicine doctors frequently use it to treat insomnia disorder.

Association of Artificial Intelligence-Aided Chest Radiograph Interpretation With Reader Performance and Efficiency.

Importance: The efficient and accurate interpretation of radiologic images is paramount.

Objective: To evaluate whether a deep learning-based artificial intelligence (AI) engine used concurrently can improve reader performance and efficiency in interpreting chest radiograph abnormalities.

Design, Setting, And Participants: This multicenter cohort study was conducted from April to November 2021 and involved radiologists, including attending radiologists, thoracic radiology fellows, and residents, who independently participated in 2 observer performance test sessions.

Clinical evidence of initiating a very low dose of sacubitril/valsartan: a prospective observational analysis.

Sacubitril/valsartan is superior to enalapril in reducing the risks of cardiovascular death and preventing hospitalization in patients with heart failure and reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). However, patients often do not receive sacubitril/valsartan because of concerns about hypotension. We examined the feasibility of initiating sacubitril/valsartan at a very low dose (VLD) in potentially intolerant patients with HFrEF and subsequent dose up-titration, treatment persistence and outcomes.

Contrast-enhanced MRI T1 Mapping for Quantitative Evaluation of Putative Dynamic Glymphatic Activity in the Human Brain in Sleep-Wake States.

Background Evaluation of the glymphatic system with intrathecal contrast material injection has limited clinical use. Purpose To investigate the feasibility of using serial intravenous contrast-enhanced T1 mapping in the quantitative evaluation of putative dynamic glymphatic activity in various brain regions and to demonstrate the effect of sleep on glymphatic activity in humans. Materials and Methods In this prospective study from May 2019 to February 2020, 25 healthy participants (mean age, 25 years ± 2 [standard deviation]; 15 men) underwent two cycles of MRI (day and night cycles).

Effectiveness of radiologist training in improving reader agreement for Lung-RADS 4X categorization.

Objectives: To identify the agreement on Lung CT Screening Reporting and Data System 4X categorization between radiologists and an expert-adjudicated reference standard and to investigate whether training led to improvement of the agreement measures and diagnostic potential for lung cancer.

Methods: Category 4 nodules in the Korean Lung Cancer Screening Project were identified retrospectively, and each 4X nodule was matched with one 4A or 4B nodule. An expert panel re-evaluated the categories and determined the reference standard.

Oxidation of tetracycline and oxytetracycline for the photo-Fenton process: Their transformation products and toxicity assessment.

Advanced oxidation processes have gained significant attention for treating tetracycline (TC) and oxytetracycline (OTC), however, their oxidation using the photo-Fenton process has not been sufficiently studied. Although degradations of TC and OTC were enhanced by increasing HO and Fe within the ranges investigated (HO = 20-50 mg/L and Fe = 1-10 mg/L) under UV irradiation, further experiments for the photo-Fenton process were conducted with 20 mg/L of HO and 5 mg/L of Fe to balance efficiency and cost. The photo-Fenton process (UV/HO/Fe) was shown to be more effective to remove TC and OTC than HO, ultraviolet (UV), and UV/HO at the same doses of oxidants.

Investigating Microcystin-LR adsorption mechanisms on mesoporous carbon, mesoporous silica, and their amino-functionalized form: Surface chemistry, pore structures, and molecular characteristics.

Microcystin-LR (MC-LR) is the most common cyanotoxin released from algal-blooms. The study investigated the MC-LR adsorption mechanisms by comparing adsorption performance of protonated mesoporous carbon/silica (MC-H, MS-H) and their amino-functionalized forms (MC-NH and MS-NH) considering surface chemistry and pore characteristics. The maximum MC-LR adsorption capacity (Langmuir model) of MC-H (37.

Correction: Blue light-dependent human magnetoreception in geomagnetic food orientation.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.

Evaluation of the Impact of Iterative Reconstruction Algorithms on Computed Tomography Texture Features of the Liver Parenchyma Using the Filtration-Histogram Method.

Objective: To evaluate whether computed tomography (CT) reconstruction algorithms affect the CT texture features of the liver parenchyma.

Materials And Methods: This retrospective study comprised 58 patients (normal liver, n = 34; chronic liver disease [CLD], n = 24) who underwent liver CT scans using a single CT scanner. All CT images were reconstructed using filtered back projection (FBP), hybrid iterative reconstruction (IR) (iDOSE⁴), and model-based IR (IMR).