Ligand Inter-Relation Analysis Via Graph Theory Predicts Macrophage Response.

Graph theory has been widely used to quantitatively analyze complex networks of molecules, materials, and cells. Analyzing the dynamic complex structure of extracellular matrix can predict cell-material interactions but has not yet been demonstrated. In this study, graph theory-based mathematical modeling of RGD ligand graph inter-relation is demonstrated by differentially cutting off RGD-to-RGD interlinkages with flexibly conjugated magnetic nanobars (MNBs) with tunable aspect ratio.

Discontinuation of β-blocker therapy in stabilised patients after acute myocardial infarction (SMART-DECISION): rationale and design of the randomised controlled trial.

Introduction: There is a lack of evidence to support the effectiveness of prolonged β-blocker therapy after stabilisation of patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) without heart failure (HF) or left ventricular systolic dysfunction.

Methods And Analysis: The SMart Angioplasty Research Team: DEcision on Medical Therapy in Patients with Coronary Artery DIsease or Structural Heart Disease Undergoing InterventiON (SMART-DECISION) trial is a multicentre, prospective, open-label, randomised, non-inferiority trial designed to determine whether discontinuing β-blocker therapy after ≥1 year of maintenance in stabilised patients after AMI is non-inferior to continuing it. Patients eligible for participation are those without HF or left ventricular systolic dysfunction (ejection fraction >40%) who have been continuing β-blocker therapy for ≥1 year after AMI.

Bioresorption and Biomineralization of S53P4 Bioactive Glass in Neutral Tris Buffer and Citric Acid Solution.

In this study, S53P4 (53SiO-23NaO-20CaO-4PO) bioactive glass (BG) were prepared through a melt-milling process, and their bioresorption and biomineralization behavior was evaluated by in vitro dissolution under different solution conditions (neutral and acidic). The particle size of S53P4 BG was controlled by milling, and the in vitro dissolution evaluation was performed in tris buffer and citric acid solution for 21 days at 37 °C according to ISO 10993-14 (biological evaluation of medical devices). During dissolution, the ion release rate of S53P4 BG was confirmed to be three times faster in citric acid solution than that in tris buffer.

Microbial production of an aromatic homopolyester.

We report the development of a metabolically engineered bacterium for the fermentative production of polyesters containing aromatic side chains, serving as sustainable alternatives to petroleum-based plastics. A metabolic pathway was constructed in an Escherichia coli strain to produce poly[d-phenyllactate(PhLA)], followed by three strategies to enhance polymer production. First, polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) granule-associated proteins (phasins) were introduced to increase the polymer accumulation.

Modulating the Thermoresponsive Characteristics of PLGA-PEG-PLGA Hydrogels via Manipulation of PLGA Monomer Sequences.

Hydrogels are promising materials for biomedical applications, particularly in drug delivery and tissue engineering. This study highlights thermoresponsive hydrogels, specifically poly(lactic--glycolic acid) (PLGA)-poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG)-PLGA triblock copolymers, and introduces a feed rate-controlled polymerization (FRCP) method. By utilizing an organic catalyst and regulating the monomer feed rate, the sequence distribution of PLGA within the triblock copolymer is controlled.

Outcomes of maze procedure and mitral valve surgery in atrial functional mitral regurgitation: a retrospective study.

Background: Atrial functional mitral regurgitation (AFMR) is a newly discovered condition associated with longstanding atrial fibrillation. This retrospective study aimed to analyze the outcomes of the maze procedure and mitral regurgitation (MR) surgery in AFMR and atrial fibrillation in comparison with those in degenerative MR (DMR).

Methods: Patients who underwent mitral valve repair/replacement with a maze procedure at a hospital (July 2012-August 2021) were included.

NUAK2 Inhibitors, KHKI-01128 and KHKI-01215, Exhibit Potent Anticancer Activity Against SW480 Colorectal Cancer Cells.

Background/aim: NUAK family kinase 2 (NUAK2) is a promising target for cancer therapeutics due to its reported role in protein phosphorylation, a critical process in cancer cell survival, proliferation, invasion, and senescence. This study aimed to identify novel inhibitors that disrupt NUAK2 activity. We have already identified two KRICT Hippo kinase inhibitor (KHKI) compounds, such as KHKI-01128 and KHKI-01215.

Intravascular Imaging and Angiography Guidance in Complex Percutaneous Coronary Intervention Among Patients With Diabetes: A Secondary Analysis of a Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance: Data are limited regarding the effects of intravascular imaging guidance during complex percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in patients with diabetes.

Objective: To compare the clinical outcomes of intravascular imaging-guided vs angiography-guided complex PCI in patients with or without diabetes.

Design, Setting, And Participants: This prespecified secondary analysis of a subgroup of patients in RENOVATE-COMPLEX-PCI (Randomized Controlled Trial of Intravascular Imaging Guidance Versus Angiography-Guidance on Clinical Outcomes After Complex Percutaneous Coronary Intervention), an investigator-initiated, open-label multicenter trial, analyzed enrolled patients who underwent complex PCI at 20 sites in Korea from May 2018 through May 2021.

Surgical outcome of mitral valve surgery in atrial functional mitral regurgitation compared with degenerative etiology.

Objective: To analyze and compare the outcomes of mitral valve surgery for atrial functional mitral regurgitation (AFMR) and for degenerative mitral regurgitation (DMR).

Methods: Patients with AFMR or DMR who underwent mitral valve repair/replacement at 2 institutions between January 2012 and December 2022 were included. Patients <18 years of age and patients undergoing concomitant cardiac surgery (except for the maze procedure or tricuspid annuloplasty) were excluded.

Impact of Intravascular Imaging-Guided Stent Optimization According to Clinical Presentation in Patients Undergoing Complex PCI.

Background: It is unclear whether the beneficial effects of intravascular imaging-guided stent optimization vary by clinical presentation during complex percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

Objectives: In this prespecified, stratified subgroup analysis from RENOVATE-COMPLEX-PCI (Randomized Controlled Trial of Intravascular Imaging Guidance versus Angiography-Guidance on Clinical Outcomes After Complex PCI), we sought to compare the outcomes between intravascular imaging vs angiography guidance according to clinical presentation.

Methods: Patients with complex coronary artery lesions were randomly assigned to undergo either intravascular imaging-guided PCI or angiography-guided PCI in a 2:1 ratio.

AnoChem: Prediction of chemical structural abnormalities based on machine learning models.

drug design aims to rationally discover novel and potent compounds while reducing experimental costs during the drug development stage. Despite the numerous generative models that have been developed, few successful cases of drug design utilizing generative models have been reported. One of the most common challenges is designing compounds that are not synthesizable or realistic.

Localization of solar panel cleaning robot combining vision processing and extended Kalman filter.

In this study, we introduce a method for estimating the position of a self-driving solar panel-cleaning mobile robot. This estimation relies on line counts, typically 16 cm in panel width, obtained through image processing on the panel floor, along with wheel encoder information and inertial sensor data. To achieve accurate line counts, we introduce two adjusted threshold values and allow offsets in these values based on the robot's speed.

Seasonal variation and prognosis in patients with acute myocardial infarction complicated by cardiogenic shock.

Background: Little is known about the association between seasonal variation and prognosis in patients with CS caused by AMI.

Objectives: We investigated the 12-month clinical outcomes in patients treated with percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for acute myocardial infarction (AMI) complicated by cardiogenic shock (CS) according to season.

Methods: A total of 695 patients undergoing PCI for AMI complicated by CS was enrolled from 12 centers in South Korea.

Clinical significance of residual ischaemia in acute myocardial infarction complicated by cardiogenic shock undergoing venoarterial-extracorporeal membrane oxygenation.

Aims: Although culprit-only revascularization during the index procedure has been recommended in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) complicated by cardiogenic shock (CS), the reduction in residual ischaemia is also emphasized to improve clinical outcomes. However, few data are available about the significance of residual ischaemia in patients undergoing mechanical circulatory supports. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of residual ischaemia on clinical outcomes in patients with AMI undergoing venoarterial-extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO).

Postoperative Long-Term Monitoring of Mechanical Characteristics in Reconstructed Soft Tissues Using Biocompatible, Immune-Tolerant, and Wireless Electronic Sutures.

Accurate postoperative assessment of varying mechanical properties is crucial for customizing patient-specific treatments and optimizing rehabilitation strategies following Achilles tendon (AT) rupture and reconstruction surgery. This study introduces a wireless, chip-less, and immune-tolerant in vivo strain-sensing suture designed to continuously monitor mechanical stiffness variations in the reconstructed AT throughout the healing process. This innovative sensing suture integrates a standard medical suturing thread with a wireless fiber strain-sensing system, which incorporates a fiber strain sensor and a double-layered inductive coil for wireless readout.

Comparison of Conventional Methods with Pump-Controlled Retrograde Trial off for Weaning Adults with Cardiogenic Shock from Veno-Arterial Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation.

Background: Pump-controlled retrograde trial off (PCRTO) is a safe, simple, and reversible method for weaning patients from veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO). However, few studies have compared PCRTO to conventional weaning methods. This retrospective study aimed to compare PCRTO to non-PCRTO methods.

Intravascular Imaging-Guided Optimization of Complex Percutaneous Coronary Intervention by Sex: A Subgroup Analysis of the RENOVATE-COMPLEX-PCI Trial.

Importance: There have been heterogeneous results related to sex differences in prognosis after percutaneous coronary artery intervention (PCI) for complex coronary artery lesions.

Objective: To evaluate potential differences in outcomes with intravascular imaging-guided PCI of complex coronary artery lesions between women and men.

Design, Setting, And Participants: This prespecified substudy evaluates the interaction of sex in the investigator-initiated, open-label, multicenter RENOVATE-COMPLEX-PCI randomized clinical trial, which demonstrated the superiority of intravascular imaging-guided PCI compared with angiography-guided PCI in patients with complex coronary artery lesions.

Efficacy and safety of durable versus biodegradable polymer drug-eluting stents in patients with acute myocardial infarction complicated by cardiogenic shock.

The clinical impact of different polymer technologies in newer-generation drug-eluting stents (DESs) for patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) complicated by cardiogenic shock (CS) remains poorly understood. We investigated the efficacy and safety of durable polymer DESs (DP-DESs) compared with biodegradable polymer DESs (BP-DESs). A total of 620 patients who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention with newer-generation DESs for AMI complicated by CS was divided into two groups based on polymer technology: the DP-DES group (n = 374) and the BP-DES group (n = 246).

Muscle strength and foot pressure vary depending on the type of foot pain.

This study compared muscle strength and foot pressure among patients with metatarsalgia, patients with plantar fasciitis, and healthy controls. A total of 31 patients with foot pain (14 metatarsalgia and 17 plantar fasciitis) and 29 healthy controls participated in the study. The strengths of the plantar flexor and hip muscles were measured using isokinetic and handheld dynamometers, respectively.

Explainable Model Using Shapley Additive Explanations Approach on Wound Infection after Wide Soft Tissue Sarcoma Resection: "Big Data" Analysis Based on Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service Hub.

: Soft tissue sarcomas represent a heterogeneous group of malignant mesenchymal tissues. Despite their low prevalence, soft tissue sarcomas present clinical challenges for orthopedic surgeons owing to their aggressive nature, and perioperative wound infections. However, the low prevalence of soft tissue sarcomas has hindered the availability of large-scale studies.