Impact of in-hospital COVID-19 quarantine policy changes on quality of acute stroke care: a single center experience.

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic is known to impact in-hospital processes for acute stroke patients, potentially resulting in delays due to quarantine and screening measures. The purpose of this study was to determine effects of changes in in-hospital quarantine policies on quality of care for acute stroke patients.

Methods: Hyperacute ischemic stroke patients who were admitted to Korea University Guro Hospital between January 2019 and February 2021 via the emergency department were included in this study.

Limosilactobacillus fermentum KBL674 Alleviates Vaginal Candidiasis.

Candida albicans (C. albicans) is the primary etiologic agent of vaginal candidiasis. Lactobacillus species are predominant in the vaginal microbiome; they inhibit the development of vaginal candidiasis by producing antimicrobial agents, such as lactic acid and hydrogen peroxide.

Fermented Milk Containing SNU50430 Modulates Immune Responses and Gut Microbiota in Antibiotic-Treated Mice.

Antibiotics are used to control infectious diseases. However, adverse effects of antibiotics, such as devastation of the gut microbiota and enhancement of the inflammatory response, have been reported. Health benefits of fermented milk are established and can be enhanced by the addition of probiotic strains.

Lactobacillus acidophilus KBL409 Ameliorates Atopic Dermatitis in a Mouse Model.

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic inflammatory skin disease with repeated exacerbations of eczema and pruritus. Probiotics can prevent or treat AD appropriately via modulation of immune responses and gut microbiota. In this study, we evaluated effects of Lactobacillus acidophilus (L.

Sarcopenia in paraspinal muscle as a risk factor of proximal junctional kyphosis and proximal junctional failure after adult spinal deformity surgery.

Objective: The aim of this study was to identify the risk factors for proximal junctional kyphosis (PJK) and proximal junctional failure (PJF), including paraspinal muscle atrophy.

Methods: Fifty-seven consecutive patients who underwent a long-instrumented fusion for adult spinal deformity (ASD) with a minimum follow-up of 2 years were included in the study. Patient, surgical, and radiological factors were evaluated.

In situ photo-crosslinkable hyaluronic acid-based hydrogel embedded with GHK peptide nanofibers for bioactive wound healing.

A versatile hydrogel was developed for enhancing bioactive wound healing by introducing the amphiphilic GHK peptide (GHK-C16) into a photo-crosslinkable tyramine-modified hyaluronic acid (HA-Ty). GHK-C16 self-assembled into GHK nanofibers (GHK NF) in HA-Ty solution, which underwent in situ gelation after the wound area was filled with precursor solution. Blue light irradiation (460-490 nm), with riboflavin phosphate as a photoinitiator, was used to trigger crosslinking, which enhanced the stability of the highly degradable hyaluronic acid and enabled sustained release of the nanostructured GHK derivatives.

The result of prospective evaluation of 3-dimensional printing-aided extensive thoracoabdominal aorta repair.

Objectives: Paraplegia is a distressing complication after open thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm (TAAA) repair, and revascularization of T8-L2-level segmental arteries is considered pivotal to prevent paraplegia. We employed 3-dimensional (3D) printing to efficiently revascularize segmental/visceral arteries and prospectively evaluated its safety and efficacy.

Methods: From January 1, 2020, to June 30, 2022, we prospectively enrolled patients of extent I, II, or III TAAA repair.

The Clinical Efficacy of Contouring Periarticular Plates on a 3D Printed Bone Model.

We report our experience of preoperative plate contouring for periarticular fractures using three-dimensional printing (3DP) technology and describe its benefits. We enrolled 34 patients, including 11 with humerus midshaft fractures, 12 with tibia plateau fractures, 2 with pilon fractures, and 9 with acetabulum fractures. The entire process of plate contouring over the 3DP model was videotaped and retrospectively analyzed.

Statins suppress cell-to-cell propagation of α-synuclein by lowering cholesterol.

Cell-to-cell propagation of protein aggregates has been implicated in the progression of neurodegenerative diseases. However, the underlying mechanism and modulators of this process are not fully understood. Here, we screened a small-molecule library in a search for agents that suppress the propagation of α-synuclein and mutant huntingtin (mHtt).

Lactobacillus rhamnosus KBL2290 Ameliorates Gut Inflammation in a Mouse Model of Dextran Sulfate Sodium-Induced Colitis.

Ulcerative colitis, a major form of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) associated with chronic colonic inflammation, may be induced via overreactive innate and adaptive immune responses. Restoration of gut microbiota abundance and diversity is important to control the pathogenesis. Lactobacillus spp.

Evaluating Reference Ages for Selecting Prosthesis Types for Heart Valve Replacement in Korea.

Importance: Although a patient's age may be the only objective figure that can be used as a reference indicator in selecting the type of prosthesis in heart valve surgery, different clinical guidelines use different age criteria.

Objective: To explore the age-associated survival-hazard functions associated with prosthesis type in aortic valve replacement (AVR) and mitral valve replacement (MVR).

Design, Setting, And Participants: This cohort study compared the long-term outcomes associated with mechanical and biologic prostheses in AVR and MVR according to recipient's age using a nationwide administrative data from the Korean National Health Insurance Service.

Bovine pericardial versus porcine bioprosthetic mitral valves: results from a Korean Nationwide Cohort Study.

Objectives: Comparisons of long-term clinical outcomes of mitral valve replacement (MVR) between bovine pericardial and porcine bioprostheses are conflicting, with limited research in large-scale real-world clinical settings. This study examined clinical outcomes in MVR according to bioprosthesis type using a national administrative claims database.

Methods: This study included adult patients undergoing bioprosthetic MVR between 2003 and 2018 using administrative health care data from the Korean National Health Insurance Service database.

Inflammation promotes synucleinopathy propagation.

The clinical progression of neurodegenerative diseases correlates with the spread of proteinopathy in the brain. The current understanding of the mechanism of proteinopathy spread is far from complete. Here, we propose that inflammation is fundamental to proteinopathy spread.

Computational Modeling and Imaging of the Intracellular Oxygen Gradient.

Computational modeling can provide a mechanistic and quantitative framework for describing intracellular spatial heterogeneity of solutes such as oxygen partial pressure (pO). This study develops and evaluates a finite-element model of oxygen-consuming mitochondrial bioenergetics using the COMSOL Multiphysics program. The model derives steady-state oxygen (O) distributions from Fickian diffusion and Michaelis-Menten consumption kinetics in the mitochondria and cytoplasm.

Aortic arch isolation to reduce cerebral embolic risk during replacement of the atherosclerotic aortic arch.

Objective: To analyze the efficacy of isolating the upper body circulation from the lower body (isolation technique) in reducing the risk of embolic stroke during cardiopulmonary bypass in patients with severe atherosclerosis undergoing aortic arch surgery.

Methods: Between 2006 and 2019, 156 patients with severe atherosclerosis undergoing total arch replacement were enrolled. Since 2017, the right axillary or innominate artery and ascending aorta were both cannulated before cardiopulmonary bypass in the isolation group (n = 30).

Unsolved issues in acute type A aortic dissection.

Surgery for acute type A aortic dissection remains challenging with considerable mortality and morbidity despite the remarkable advances in this field. Particularly, surgical outcomes of acute type A aortic dissection are known to be associated with the hospital volume. The optimal cerebral protective method and extent of surgery have been long-standing controversies in acute type A aortic dissection surgery.