Development and Validation of Deep Learning-Based Infectivity Prediction in Pulmonary Tuberculosis Through Chest Radiography: Retrospective Study.

Background: Pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) poses a global health challenge owing to the time-intensive nature of traditional diagnostic tests such as smear and culture tests, which can require hours to weeks to yield results.

Objective: This study aimed to use artificial intelligence (AI)-based chest radiography (CXR) to evaluate the infectivity of patients with PTB more quickly and accurately compared with traditional methods such as smear and culture tests.

Methods: We used DenseNet121 and visualization techniques such as gradient-weighted class activation mapping and local interpretable model-agnostic explanations to demonstrate the decision-making process of the model.

Diagnosis and Treatment of latent tuberculosis infection in adults in South Korea.

Latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) is characterized by immune responses to Mycobacterium tuberculosis antigens without clinical symptoms or evidence of active tuberculosis. Effective LTBI management is crucial for tuberculosis elimination, requiring accurate diagnosis and treatment. In South Korea, LTBI guidelines have been updated periodically, with the latest in 2024.

Effect of comorbidities on mortality in patients with nontuberculous mycobacterial infection in Korea: National Health Insurance Service-National Sample Cohort data.

Patients with nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) infection have multiple comorbidities, but the impact of comorbidities on mortality are not well known. We aimed to compare the mortality between people with and without NTM infection and associated comorbidities and their prognostic value on mortality using National Health Insurance Service-National Sample Cohort data from 2006 to 2019. In this matched cohort study, people with and without NTM infection aged 20-89 years were matched 1:4 by sex, age, region, and income.

Homelessness and mortality: gender, age, and housing status inequity in Korea.

Objectives: We compared mortality rates among various housing statuses within the homeless population and investigated factors contributing to their deaths, including housing status, gender, and age.

Methods: Using a comprehensive multi-year dataset (n=15,445) curated by the National Tuberculosis Screening and Case Management Programs, matched with the 2019-2021 Vital Statistics Death Database and National Health Insurance claims data, we calculated age-standardized mortality rates and conducted survival analysis to estimate differences in mortality rates based on housing status.

Results: The mortality rate among the homeless population was twice as high as that of the general population, at 1,159.

Predicting Successful Weaning through Sonographic Measurement of the Rapid Shallow Breathing Index.

Diaphragmatic dysfunction correlates with weaning failure, highlighting the need to independently assess the diaphragm's effects on weaning. We modified the rapid shallow breathing index (RSBI), a predictor of successful weaning, by incorporating temporal variables into existing ultrasound-derived diaphragm index to create a simpler index closer to tidal volume. We conducted a prospective observational study of patients who underwent a spontaneous breathing trial in the medical intensive care unit (ICU) at Severance Hospital between October 2022 and June 2023.

Medical Costs of Nontuberculous Mycobacterial Pulmonary Disease, South Korea, 2015-2019.

Nontuberculous mycobacterial pulmonary disease (NTM-PD) prevalence is a rising public health concern. We assessed the long-term healthcare systems perspective of costs incurred by 147 NTM-PD patients at a tertiary hospital in South Korea. Median cumulative total medical cost in managing NTM-PD patients was US $5,044 (interquartile range US $3,586-$9,680) over 49.

PARK2 as a susceptibility factor for nontuberculous mycobacterial pulmonary disease.

Background: The genetic signatures associated with the susceptibility to nontuberculous mycobacterial pulmonary disease (NTM-PD) are still unknown. In this study, we performed RNA sequencing to explore gene expression profiles and represent characteristic factor in NTM-PD.

Methods: Peripheral blood samples were collected from patients with NTM-PD and healthy individuals (controls).

Malnutrition is associated with mortality in Sjögren's syndrome-associated interstitial lung disease.

The role of nutritional status as a prognostic factor in patients with Sjögren's syndrome-associated interstitial lung disease (SjS-ILD) is currently unclear. This study aimed to predict the prognosis of patients with SjS-ILD through their nutritional status assessment. In this retrospective observational study, nutritional status was evaluated at the time of diagnosis using body mass index (BMI) and nutritional markers such as controlling nutritional status (CONUT), the Glasgow prognostic score (GPS), and prognostic nutrition index (PNI) for all participants.

A Mysterious Asian Firefly Genus, Jeng, Engel & Yang (Coleoptera, Lampyridae): The First Complete Mitochondrial Genome and Its Phylogenetic Implications.

The firefly genus Jeng, Engel & Yang, 2007 is a rare-species group endemic to Asia. Since its establishment, its position has been controversial but never rigorously tested. To address this perplexing issue, we are the first to present the complete mitochondrial sequence of , using the material of Yiu & Jeng, 2018 determined through a comprehensive morphological identification.

Association of physical inactivity and handgrip strength with non-tuberculous mycobacterial pulmonary disease.

Little is known about the level of physical activity (PA) among patients with non-tuberculous mycobacterial pulmonary disease (NTM-PD), the relationship between PA levels and NTM-PD, and the relationship between handgrip strength and NTM-PD.We conducted a case-control study comparing the PA levels and handgrip strength of patients with NTM-PD and controls. Patients with NTM-PD were prospectively enrolled at Severance Hospital, Seoul, whereas controls were selected at a 1:2 propensity score matching from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey conducted between 2014 and 2019.

Usefulness of the mini nutritional assessment short-form for evaluating nutritional status in patients with nontuberculous mycobacterial pulmonary disease: a prospective cross-sectional study.

Background: Although the Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA) is recognized as a useful tool for evaluating nutritional status in patients with various diseases, its applicability in patients with nontuberculous mycobacterial pulmonary disease (NTM-PD) remains undetermined.

Methods: We designed a prospective cross-sectional study to investigate whether the MNA Short-Form (MNA-SF) score can serve as a screening tool to assess the nutritional status of patients with NTM-PD. The MNA-SF was conducted upon patient enrollment, and correlation analyses were performed to compare MNA-SF scores with other nutritional measurements and disease severity.

The development of an automated microscope image tracking and analysis system.

Microscopy image analysis plays a crucial role in understanding cellular behavior and uncovering important insights in various biological and medical research domains. Tracking cells within the time-lapse microscopy images is a fundamental technique that enables the study of cell dynamics, interactions, and migration. While manual cell tracking is possible, it is time-consuming and prone to subjective biases that impact results.

The development, use, and challenges of electromechanical tissue stimulation systems.

Background: Tissue stimulations greatly affect cell growth, phenotype, and function, and they play an important role in modeling tissue physiology. With the goal of understanding the cellular mechanisms underlying the response of tissues to external stimulations, in vitro models of tissue stimulation have been developed in hopes of recapitulating in vivo tissue function.

Methods: Herein we review the efforts to create and validate tissue stimulators responsive to electrical or mechanical stimulation including tensile, compression, torsion, and shear.

Artificial intelligence-based radiographic extent analysis to predict tuberculosis treatment outcomes: a multicenter cohort study.

Predicting outcomes in pulmonary tuberculosis is challenging despite effective treatments. This study aimed to identify factors influencing treatment success and culture conversion, focusing on artificial intelligence (AI)-based chest X-ray analysis and Xpert MTB/RIF assay cycle threshold (Ct) values. In this retrospective study across six South Korean referral centers (January 1 to December 31, 2019), we included adults with rifampicin-susceptible pulmonary tuberculosis confirmed by Xpert assay from sputum samples.

Beyond reducing direct medical cost: examining health outcomes in tuberculosis through a difference-in-differences analysis of South Korea's out-of-pocket payment exception policy.

Background: Universal health coverage and social protection are major global goals for tuberculosis. This study aimed to investigate the effects of an expanded policy to guarantee out-of-pocket costs on the treatment outcomes of patients with tuberculosis.

Methods: By linking the national tuberculosis report and health insurance data and performing covariate-adjusted propensity-score matching, we constructed data on health insurance beneficiaries (treatment group) who benefited from the out-of-pocket payment exemption policy and medical aid beneficiaries as the control group.

Clinical Characteristics and Treatment Outcomes of Pulmonary Diseases Caused by Coinfections With Multiple Nontuberculous Mycobacterial Species.

Background: Coinfections with multiple nontuberculous mycobacterial (NTM) species have not been widely studied. We aimed to evaluate the clinical characteristics and treatment outcomes in patients with NTM-pulmonary disease (PD) caused by coinfection with multiple NTM species.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed patients with NTM-PD at a tertiary referral hospital in Korea between March 2012 and December 2018.

Predictors of positive tuberculin skin test in neonates exposed to pulmonary tuberculosis.

Background: Neonates are at risk of nosocomial tuberculosis (TB) infection from health care workers (HCWs) in neonatal care facilities, which can progress to severe TB diseases. Tuberculin skin test (TST) is commonly used for TB diagnosis, but its accuracy in neonates is influenced by various factors, including bacilli Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccination. This study aimed to identify predictors of positive TSTs in neonates exposed to HCWs with pulmonary TB.

Epidemiological Characteristics of Nontuberculous Mycobacterial Pulmonary Disease in South Korea: A Meta-analysis of Individual Participant Data.

Background: Despite the global increase in nontuberculous mycobacterial pulmonary disease (NTM-PD), clinical characteristics show geographical variations. We investigated the clinical characteristics of patients with NTM-PD in South Korea.

Methods: We systematically reviewed articles concerning patients with NTM-PD in South Korea until February 2022.

Improvement in Health-Related Quality of Life Following Antibiotic Treatment in Nontuberculous Mycobacterial Pulmonary Disease: Initial Analysis of the NTM-KOREA Cohort.

Background: Improving health-related quality of life (HRQOL) has emerged as a priority in the management of nontuberculous mycobacterial pulmonary disease (NTM-PD). We aimed to evaluate HRQOL and its changes after 6 months' treatment in patients with NTM-PD.

Methods: The NTM-KOREA is a nationwide prospective cohort enrolling patients initiating treatment for NTM-PD in 8 institutions across South Korea.

Combining directed evolution with high cell permeability for high-level cadaverine production in engineered Escherichia coli.

The biosynthesis of cadaverine from lysine is an environmentally promising technology, that could contribute to a more sustainable approach to manufacturing bio-nylon 5X. However, the titer of biosynthesized cadaverine has still not reached a sufficient level for industrial production. A powerful green cell factory was developed to enhance cadaverine production by regulating lipopolysaccharide (LPS) genes and improving membrane permeability.