Estimating Visual Acuity Without a Visual Acuity Chart.

Purpose: This study explored whether visual acuity (VA) can be inferred from self-reported ability to recognize everyday objects using a set of yes/no questions.

Methods: Participants answered 100 yes/no questions designed to assess their ability to recognize familiar objects at typical viewing distances, such as distinguishing between a full moon and a half moon on a clear night. The questions demanded VA ranging from normal to severe vision impairment.

The Comparative Metabolism of a Novel Hepatocellular Carcinoma Therapeutic Agent, 2,3-Diamino--(4-(benzo[d]thiazol-2-yl)phenyl)propanamide, in Human and Animal Hepatocytes.

[2,3-diamino--(4-(benzo[d]thiazol-2-yl)phenyl)propanamide], named as ETN101, is a novel therapeutic agent for hepatocellular carcinoma. In vitro studies examined ETN101 metabolites in human, mouse, rat, dog, and monkey hepatocytes and identified the drug-metabolizing enzymes involved using cDNA-expressed human recombinant cytochrome P450s (CYPs), carboxylesterases (CESs), -acetyltransferase (NAT) 1, and human liver cytosol. ETN101 showed similar metabolic stability across hepatocytes from five species, with particularly comparable stability in humans, rats, and monkeys.

Automated Comprehensive CT Assessment of the Risk of Diabetes and Associated Cardiometabolic Conditions.

Background CT performed for various clinical indications has the potential to predict cardiometabolic diseases. However, the predictive ability of individual CT parameters remains underexplored. Purpose To evaluate the ability of automated CT-derived markers to predict diabetes and associated cardiometabolic comorbidities.

Adequacy of Dialysis and Incidence of Atrial Fibrillation in Patients Undergoing Hemodialysis.

Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) can lead to stroke, heart failure, and mortality and has a greater prevalence in dialysis patients than in the general population. Several studies have suggested that uremic toxins may contribute to the development of AF. However, the association between dialysis adequacy and incident AF has not been well established.

Clinical Value of Single-Projection Angiography-Derived FFR in Noninfarct-Related Artery.

Background: The Murray law-based quantitative flow ratio (μFR) is an emerging technique that requires only 1 projection of coronary angiography with similar accuracy to quantitative flow ratio (QFR). However, it has not been validated for the evaluation of noninfarct-related artery (non-IRA) in acute myocardial infarction (AMI) settings. Therefore, our study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of μFR and the safety of deferring non-IRA lesions with μFR >0.

Enteropathy and intestinal malabsorption in patients treated with antihypertensive drugs. .

Objectives: To investigate differences in the incidence of enteropathy or intestinal malabsorption in patients taking angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs), angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEI), calcium channel blocker (CCB), and beta blockers (BBs) at a single center in Korea.

Methods: In this retrospective study, we utilized data from the Yangsan electronic medical records to identify 129,169 patients. These individuals were prescribed olmesartan, other ARBs, ACEI, CCB, and BBs between November 2008 and February 2021.

Effect of Corneal and Lens Eccentricity Difference on Rigid Corneal Lens Treatment in Patients With Keratoconus.

Objective: To evaluate the effects of rigid corneal lenses (RCL) in patients with keratoconus, based on eccentricity.

Methods: Eighty-four eyes from 84 patients were included in this retrospective comparative study. Based on the median value of eccentricity difference between the cornea and back surface of the RCL, the patients were divided into groups 1 (<0.

Clinical Benefit of Intravascular Imaging Compared With Conventional Angiography in Left Main Coronary Artery Intervention.

Background: The RENOVATE-COMPLEX-PCI (Randomized Controlled Trial of Intravascular Imaging Guidance Versus Angiography-Guidance on Clinical Outcomes After Complex Percutaneous Coronary Intervention) demonstrated that intravascular imaging-guided percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) improved clinical outcome compared with angiography-guided PCI for patients with complex coronary artery lesions. This study aims to assess whether the prognostic benefit of intravascular imaging-guided procedural optimization persists in patients undergoing PCI for left main coronary artery disease.

Methods: Of 1639 patients enrolled in the RENOVATE-COMPLEX-PCI, 192 patients with left main coronary artery disease were selected for the current prespecified substudy.

Cross-Activation of Regulatory T Cells by Self Antigens Limits Self-Reactive and Activated CD8 T Cell Responses.

The interaction between regulatory T (Treg) cells and self-reactive T cells is a crucial mechanism for maintaining immune tolerance. In this study, we investigated the cross-activation of Treg cells by self-antigens and its impact on self-reactive CD8 T cell responses, with a focus on the P53 signaling pathway. We discovered that major histocompatibility complex (MHC) I-restricted self-peptides not only activated CD8 T cells but also induced the delayed proliferation of Treg cells.

Anti-Cancer Roles of Probiotic-Derived P8 Protein in Colorectal Cancer Cell Line DLD-1.

A novel probiotics-derived protein, P8, suppresses the growth of colorectal cancer (CRC). P8 can penetrate the cell membrane via endocytosis and cause cell cycle arrest in DLD-1 cells through down-regulation of CDK1/Cyclin B1. However, neither the protein involved in the endocytosis of P8 nor the cell cycle arrest targets of P8 are known.

Increased cardiovascular events in young patients with mental disorders: a nationwide cohort study.

Aims: It remains unclear whether young patients with mental disorders have a higher risk of cardiovascular diseases than does the general population. Using a nationwide database, we investigated the prognostic association between the risks of myocardial infarction (MI), ischaemic stroke (IS), and mental disorders in young patients.

Methods And Results: Young patients aged between 20 and 39 years old who underwent nationwide health examinations between 2009 and 2012 were screened.

Impact of mental disorders on the risk of atrial fibrillation in patients with diabetes mellitus: a nationwide population-based study.

Background: It is unclear whether mental disorders are an independent risk factor for atrial fibrillation (AF) in patients with diabetes. We aimed to investigate whether patients with diabetes who have mental disorders have an increased risk for AF.

Methods: Using the Korea National Health Insurance Service database, we enrolled 2,512,690 patients diagnosed with diabetes without AF between 2009 and 2012.

Cumulative Alcohol Consumption Burden and the Risk of Stroke in Young Adults: A Nationwide Population-Based Study.

Background And Objective: Alcohol consumption is one of the important modifiable risk factors for stroke in young adults. The association between the cumulative burden of alcohol consumption and its impact on incident stroke in young adults is unknown. We aimed to investigate the association between cumulative alcohol burden and the risk for stroke among young adults.

Mulberry Component Kuwanon C Exerts Potent Therapeutic Efficacy In Vitro against COVID-19 by Blocking the SARS-CoV-2 Spike S1 RBD:ACE2 Receptor Interaction.

There has been an immense effort by global pharmaceutical companies to develop anti-COVID-19 drugs, including small molecule-based RNA replication inhibitors via drug repositioning and antibody-based spike protein blockers related to cell entry by SARS-CoV-2. However, several limitations to their clinical use have emerged in addition to a lack of progress in the development of small molecule-based cell entry inhibitors from natural products. In this study, we tested the effectiveness of kuwanon C (KC), which has mainly been researched using in silico docking simulation and can serve as an effective building block for developing anti-COVID-19 drugs, in blocking the spike S1 RBD:ACE2 receptor interaction.

Nelonemdaz for Patients With Acute Ischemic Stroke Undergoing Endovascular Reperfusion Therapy: A Randomized Phase II Trial.

Background: Nelonemdaz is a multitarget neuroprotectant that selectively blocks N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors and scavenges free radicals, as proven in preclinical ischemia-reperfusion studies. We aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of nelonemdaz in patients with acute ischemic stroke receiving endovascular reperfusion therapy.

Methods: This phase II randomized trial involved participants with large-artery occlusion in the anterior circulation at baseline who received endovascular reperfusion therapy <8 hours from symptom onset at 7 referral stroke centers in South Korea between October 29, 2016, and June 1, 2020.

An automated 13.5 hour system for scalable diagnosis and acute management guidance for genetic diseases.

While many genetic diseases have effective treatments, they frequently progress rapidly to severe morbidity or mortality if those treatments are not implemented immediately. Since front-line physicians frequently lack familiarity with these diseases, timely molecular diagnosis may not improve outcomes. Herein we describe Genome-to-Treatment, an automated, virtual system for genetic disease diagnosis and acute management guidance.

Carotid Plaque Composition Assessed by CT Predicts Subsequent Cardiovascular Events among Subjects with Carotid Stenosis.

Background And Purpose: Currently, the characteristics of carotid plaques are considered important factors for identifying subjects at high risk of stroke. This study aimed to test the hypothesis that carotid plaque composition assessed by CTA is associated with an increased risk of future major adverse cardiovascular events among asymptomatic subjects with moderate-to-severe carotid artery stenosis.

Materials And Methods: This single-center, retrospective cohort study included 194 carotid plaques from 176 asymptomatic subjects with moderate-to-severe carotid artery stenosis.

IL7-Fc Enhances the Efficacy of Adoptive T Cell Therapy under Lymphopenic Conditions in a Murine Melanoma Model.

Adoptive cell therapy (ACT) using tumor-reactive T cells is a promising form of immunotherapy to specifically target cancer. However, the survival and functional maintenance of adoptively transferred T cells remains a challenge, ultimately limiting their efficacy. Here, we evaluated the use of recombinant IL7-Fc in ACT.

Association Between Change in Metabolic Syndrome Status and Risk of Incident Atrial Fibrillation: A Nationwide Population-Based Study.

Backgroud There is a paucity of information on whether changes in metabolic syndrome (MetS) status affect the risk of new-onset atrial fibrillation (AF). We aimed to evaluate whether changes in MetS status and components of MetS affect AF risk using data from a nationwide observational cohort. Methods and Results A total of 7 565 531 adults without prevalent AF (mean age, 47±14 years) who underwent 2 serial health examinations by the Korean National Health Insurance Cooperation were identified.

Clinical Characteristics and Predictors of In-Hospital Mortality in Patients With Cardiogenic Shock: Results From the RESCUE Registry.

Background: In the current era of mechanical circulatory support, limited data are available on prognosis of cardiogenic shock (CS) caused by various diseases. We investigated the characteristics and predictors of in-hospital mortality in Korean patients with CS.

Methods: The RESCUE study (Retrospective and Prospective Observational Study to Investigate Clinical Outcomes and Efficacy of Left Ventricular Assist Device for Korean Patients With CS) is a multicenter, retrospective, and prospective registry of patients that presented with CS.

Longitudinal Patterns in Antithrombotic Therapy in Patients with Atrial Fibrillation after Percutaneous Coronary Intervention in the Non-Vitamin K Oral Anticoagulant Era: A Nationwide Population-Based Study.

We investigated whether longitudinal patterns in antithrombotic therapy have changed after the introduction of non-vitamin K oral anticoagulants (NOACs) in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Using a claims database of the Korean AF population who underwent PCI between 2012 and 2016 ( = 18,691), we analyzed prescription records of oral anticoagulants (OACs) and antiplatelets at 3-month intervals over 2 years after PCI. The study population was stratified (pre-NOAC, transition, and NOAC era) using time-periods of NOAC introduction in Korea and an expansion of reimbursement for NOAC in AF as indicators.

Non-Vitamin K Antagonist Oral Anticoagulants in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation and Prior Gastrointestinal Bleeding.

Background And Purpose: Limited data support the benefits of non-vitamin K oral anticoagulants (NOACs) among atrial fibrillation patients with prior gastrointestinal bleeding (GIB). We aimed to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of NOACs compared with those of warfarin among atrial fibrillation patients with prior GIB.

Methods: Oral anticoagulant-naive individuals with atrial fibrillation and prior GIB between January 2010 and April 2018 were identified from the Korean claims database.