From Kidney Protection to Stroke Prevention: The Potential Role of Sodium Glucose Cotransporter-2 Inhibitors.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is an independent risk factor for stroke and covert cerebrovascular disease, and up to 40% of stroke patients have concomitant CKD. However, the so-called "cerebrorenal interaction" attracted less attention compared to its cardiorenal counterpart. Diabetes is the leading cause of CKD.

A comparison of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on urological surgeries in Japan and Taiwan.

Objective: We report the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on urological surgeries and hospital policies at two hospitals in Japan and Taiwan.

Methods: We retrospectively surveyed the number of surgeries every 3 months in the Urology Department of Kobe University Hospital (KUH), Kobe, Japan before (January 2019-March 2020) and after (April 2020-September 2021) the COVID-19 outbreak, and in the Urology Department of Shuang Ho Hospital, Taipei Medical University (SHH-TMU), Taiwan before (January 2021-March 2021) and after (April 2021-September 2021) the outbreak, and compared the averages and types of surgery.

Results: In Kobe, COVID-19 patients were stratified such that other regional hospitals gave priority to treating COVID-19 while KUH gave priority to treating non-COVID-19 patients.

Left Ventricular Apical Aneurysm in Fabry Disease: Implications for Clinical Significance and Risk Stratification.

Background A previously underrecognized phenotype of left ventricular apical aneurysm (LVAA) has been increasingly identified in Fabry disease. This study explored LVAA's clinical prevalence and its prognostic implications over a long-term follow-up. Methods and Results We retrospectively analyzed 268 consecutive patients with Fabry disease at a tertiary medical center.

Cathepsin protease expression in infiltrative soft tissue sarcomas: cathepsin-K correlates with infiltrative tumor growth and clinical outcomes.

Cathepsin proteases, activated in the lysosomes, are upregulated in many cancers. Intraoperative detection systems of microscopic residual tumor using cathepsin-mediated release of fluorescent nanoparticles may guide surgical excisions to improve local control. We sought to define the genetic and proteomic expression of cathepsins and their clinicopathological correlates in myxofibrosarcoma and undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma (UPS)-soft tissue sarcomas with high rates of positive resection margins and local recurrence-and to establish a cellular justification for cathepsin-dependent systems to identify residual cancer in the resection bed.

Neonatal Intensive Care Quality Level-Dependent Variations in the Survival Rate of Infants with a Birth Weight of 500 g or Less in Korea: A Nationwide Cohort Study.

Objective: Recent evidence suggests that the survival of peri-viable infants with birth weight (BW) ≤500 g could be improved with better care practices in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). This study aimed to investigate the care quality level of NICU-dependent variations in the survival rate of infants with BW ≤500 g.

Methods: To determine the quality of NICU care-dependent variations in the survival rate, 226 eligible infants of BW ≤500 g and ≥22 weeks gestation registered in the Korean Neonatal Network between 2013 and 2017 were grouped according to the survival rates of infants at 23-24 weeks gestation, reflecting the care quality level of each NICU as group I (≥50%, n = 107) and group II (<50%, n = 119).

Accelerated tibia fracture healing in traumatic brain injury in accordance with increased hematoma formation.

Background: Traumatic brain injury (TBI) has been known to accelerate bone healing. Many cells and molecules have been investigated but the exact mechanism is still unknown. The neuroinflammatory state of TBI has been reported recently.

Torsional periodic lattice distortions and diffraction of twisted 2D materials.

Twisted 2D materials form complex moiré structures that spontaneously reduce symmetry through picoscale deformation within a mesoscale lattice. We show twisted 2D materials contain a torsional displacement field comprised of three transverse periodic lattice distortions (PLD). The torsional PLD amplitude provides a single order parameter that concisely describes the structural complexity of twisted bilayer moirés.

Development research on an AI English learning support system to facilitate learner-generated-context-based learning.

For decades, AI applications in education (AIEd) have shown how AI can contribute to education. However, a challenge remains: how AIEd, guided by educational knowledge, can be made to meet specific needs in education, specifically in supporting learners' autonomous learning. To address this challenge, we demonstrate the process of developing an AI-applied system that can assist learners in studying autonomously.

Utilization of screening and treatment for osteoporosis among stroke survivors.

Background: Stroke survivors are prone to osteoporosis and fractures. However, bone mineral density (BMD) testing and osteoporosis treatment were underutilized in patients with recent stroke. We aimed to examine whether stroke has an impact on the utilization of BMD testing and osteoporosis treatment as well as the determinants of their utilization in stroke patients using nationwide population-based data in Taiwan.

Protocol for a multi-site randomized controlled trial of a stepped-care intervention for emergency department patients with panic-related anxiety.

Background: Approximately 40% of Emergency Department (ED) patients with chest pain meet diagnostic criteria for panic-related anxiety, but only 1-2% are correctly diagnosed and appropriately managed in the ED. A stepped-care model, which focuses on providing evidence-based interventions in a resource-efficient manner, is the state-of-the art for treating panic disorder patients in medical settings such as primary care. Stepped-care has yet to be tested in the ED setting, which is the first point of contact with the healthcare system for most patients with panic symptoms.

Dead layer estimation of an HPGe detector using MCNP6 and Geant4.

In this study, Monte Carlo simulations were used to calculate the full-energy peak efficiency of a p-type coaxial high-purity germanium (HPGe) detector. The HPGe detector was modeled using MCNP6 and Geant4, and the thickness of the dead layer of germanium crystals was estimated for an accurate simulation. The dead layer was divided into front and side components, where a point source and a Marinelli beaker source were used to estimate each dead layer thickness.

Surgical outcome of minimal invasive oblique lateral interbody fusion with percutaneous pedicle screw fixation in the treatment of adult degenerative scoliosis.

Oblique lateral interbody fusion is performed for lumbar spinal restoration and stabilization, without extensive paraspinal muscle damage or massive bleeding. This study aimed to confirm the radiological and clinical outcomes of minimally invasive oblique lateral interbody fusion (OLIF) with percutaneous pedicle screw fixation (PPSF) as treatment for adult degenerative lumbar scoliosis. Medical records of 40 patients with degenerative lumbar spinal deformities who underwent selective OLIF and PPSF at our hospital between April 2018 and February 2021 were retrospectively reviewed.

The anticoagulation length of therapy and risk of new adverse events in venous thromboembolism (ALTERNATIVE) study: Design and survey results.

The Anticoagulation Length of Therapy and Risk of New Adverse Events In Venous Thromboembolism (ALTERNATIVE) study was designed to compare the benefits and harms of different treatment options for extended treatment of venous thromboembolism (VTE). In this paper, we describe the study cohort, survey data collection, and preliminary results. We identified 39,605 adult patients (age ≥ 18 years) from two large integrated health care delivery systems who were diagnosed with incident VTE and received initial anticoagulation therapy of 3 months or longer.

Projection of Cancer Incidence and Mortality From 2020 to 2035 in the Korean Population Aged 20 Years and Older.

Objectives: This study aimed to identify the current patterns of cancer incidence and estimate the projected cancer incidence and mortality between 2020 and 2035 in Korea.

Methods: Data on cancer incidence cases were extracted from the Korean Statistical Information Service from 2000 to 2017, and data on cancer-related deaths were extracted from the National Cancer Center from 2000 to 2018. Cancer cases and deaths were classified according to the International Classification of Diseases, 10th edition.

Quality Assessment and Trend for Breast Cancer Treatment Practice across South Korea Based on Nationwide Analysis of Korean Health Insurance Data during 2013-2017.

Purpose: Quality assessment of breast cancer treatment in South Korea showed the upward standardization of the grade since 2013, but treatment disparities still have existed. This study analyzed the five year trend between 2013 and 2017 in the assessment of breast cancer treatment practice using the Korean health insurance data.

Materials And Methods: All the medical records including surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy for 7,354 patients a year on average were evaluated.

Fully automated condyle segmentation using 3D convolutional neural networks.

The aim of this study was to develop an auto-segmentation algorithm for mandibular condyle using the 3D U-Net and perform a stress test to determine the optimal dataset size for achieving clinically acceptable accuracy. 234 cone-beam computed tomography images of mandibular condyles were acquired from 117 subjects from two institutions, which were manually segmented to generate the ground truth. Semantic segmentation was performed using basic 3D U-Net and a cascaded 3D U-Net.

Magnetic anisotropy reversal driven by structural symmetry-breaking in monolayer α-RuCl.

Layered α-RuCl is a promising material to potentially realize the long-sought Kitaev quantum spin liquid with fractionalized excitations. While evidence of this state has been reported under a modest in-plane magnetic field, such behaviour is largely inconsistent with theoretical expectations of spin liquid phases emerging only in out-of-plane fields. These predicted field-induced states have been largely out of reach due to the strong easy-plane anisotropy of bulk crystals, however.

Does the COVID-19 Screening Test Affect the Postoperative Prognosis of Patients Who Undergo Emergency Surgery for Cerebral Hemorrhage?

Objective: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has affected all medical fields, including neurosurgery. Particularly, performing preoperative screening tests has become mandatory, potentially extending the time from admission to the emergency room and operating room, thus possibly affecting patients' prognosis. This study aimed to determine the influence of COVID-19 screening time on patients' postoperative prognosis.

Predicting short-term outcomes after transcatheter aortic valve replacement for aortic stenosis.

Background: The approved use of transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) for aortic stenosis has expanded substantially over time. However, gaps remain with respect to accurately delineating risk for poor clinical and patient-centered outcomes. Our objective was to develop prediction models for 30-day clinical and patient-centered outcomes after TAVR within a large, diverse community-based population.

Comparing carotid endarterectomy and carotid artery stenting: retrospective single-center analysis.

Background: Extracranial cerebrovascular diseases represent approximately 20% of ischemic stroke cases. Carotid endarterectomy (CEA) was the gold standard procedure for carotid artery stenosis treatment until the introduction of carotid artery stenting (CAS) in the 1980s. While there have been several multicenter randomized trials comparing CEA and CAS, a more efficacious procedure has not been conclusively distinguished.

Non-High-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol and Progression of Chronic Kidney Disease: Results from the KNOW-CKD Study.

As the relation between serum non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (nHDL) level and renal outcomes has never been investigated in patients with non-dialysis chronic kidney disease (CKD) yet, we here aimed to unveil the association of nHDL with CKD progression. A total of 2152 patients with non-dialysis CKD at stages 1 to 5 from the KNOW-CKD study were categorized into the tertile (i.e.