Smartphone App for Improving Self-Awareness of Adherence to Edoxaban Treatment in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation (ADHERE-App Trial): Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: Adherence to oral anticoagulant therapy is essential to prevent ischemic stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF).

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate whether smartphone app-based interventions improve medication adherence in patients with AF.

Methods: This open-label, multicenter randomized controlled trial (ADHERE-App [Self-Awareness of Drug Adherence to Edoxaban Using an Automatic App Feedback System] study) enrolled patients with AF treated with edoxaban for stroke prevention.

The Inflammatory Characteristics of Symptomatic Glioma Associated With Poor Prognosis and Chemoresistance via Tumor Necrosis Factor Signaling Pathway.

Background: Among gliomas, the most common primary malignant brain tumor, incidental gliomas account for 2.5%-5% of cases. The controversy over whether to pursue immediate treatment or adopt a wait-and-see approach remains, and more molecular and immunological evidence is needed for definitive treatment decisions.

Diverse weaning foods and diet patterns at multiple time points during infancy period and their association with neurodevelopmental outcomes in 6-year-old children.

Background/objectives: Understanding the impact of early-life nutritional choices on neurodevelopment in children is a growing area of research. To investigate the association between dietary patterns at multiple timelines and neurodevelopmental outcomes in 6-year-old children.

Subjects/methods: This administrative observational study utilized a merged data from the national health insurance database and the health screening program for children.

Isolation, genomic analysis and functional characterization of CMTB-CA6, a putative probiotic strain isolated from a medicinal plant .

Probiotics and their derivatives offer significant health benefits by supporting digestive health, boosting the immune system, and regulating the microbiomes not only of the internal gastrointestinal track but also of the skin. To be effective, probiotics and their derivatives must exhibit robust antimicrobial activity, resilience to adverse conditions, and colonization capabilities in host tissues. As an alternative to animal-derived probiotics, plant-derived lactic acid bacteria (LAB) present promising advantages, including enhanced diversity and tolerance to challenging environments.

Promoter mutation-independent TERT expression is related to the immune-enriched milieu in papillary thyroid cancer.

Telomerase reverse transcriptase promoter mutation (pTERT MT) promotes human carcinogenesis via aberrant expression of telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT). However, the tumorigenic impact of TERT expression independent of pTERT MT remains unclear despite numerous mechanisms of TERT being suggested. To tackle this issue, we employed comprehensive bioinformatics to assess biological variations noticed among different TERT expression mechanisms.

Hospital nurse managers' perspectives of the Magnet Recognition Program using an importance-performance analysis: A quantitative cross-sectional study.

Aim: To explore the perspectives of nursing managers in Korean hospitals on the Magnet Recognition Program using importance-performance analysis.

Design: A descriptive quantitative cross-sectional design with a survey methodology was used to evaluate nursing managers' perceptions of the Magnet Recognition Program criteria.

Methods: After the Magnet Recognition Program's content validity was confirmed, an online survey was administered to 150 nursing managers from 10 hospitals.

Unraveling the Clinical Features and Outcomes of IgG4-Related Ophthalmic Disease.

: IgG4-related ophthalmic disease (IgG4-ROD), characterized by lymphoplasmacytic infiltration, fibrosis, and elevated IgG4 levels, presents diagnostic challenges while offering insights into immune-mediated inflammatory disorders. The aim of this study was to comprehensively examine the clinical features and outcomes of IgG4-ROD. A retrospective study was conducted on 33 patients diagnosed with IgG4-ROD, fulfilling the American College of Rheumatology/European League Against Rheumatism (ACR/EULAR) criteria.

Clinical implications of genetic polymorphisms in blepharospasm.

The possible genetic variants associated with blepharospasm (BSP) and facial dystonia have been investigated. Although genetic variants associated with BSP have been extensively studied, the contribution of single-nucleotide polymorphisms towards this condition remains poorly understood. In addition, the etiology of BSP remains to be fully elucidated.

Correlation of LLT-1 and NLRC4 inflammasome and its effect on glioblastoma prognosis.

Purpose: LLT-1 is a well-known ligand for the natural killer (NK) cell inhibitory receptor NKRP1A. Here, we examined NLRC4 inflammasome components and LLT-1 expression in glioblastoma (GBM) tissues to elucidate potential associations and interactions between these factors.

Methods: GBM tissues were collected for RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) and Immunofluorescent experiments.

Synergistic Therapy for Graves' Ophthalmopathy-Associated Eyelid Retraction: Steroid, 5-FU, and Botulinum Neurotoxin a Combination.

Graves' ophthalmopathy (GO) is characterized by upper eyelid retraction (UER), the most prevalent clinical sign. We aimed to assess the clinical efficacy of a multimodal combination of steroids, 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), and botulinum neurotoxin A (BoNT-A) injections in managing UER with GO and analyze the clinical factors in relation to the injection response. A total of 37 eyes from 23 patients were enrolled for UER with GO.

Producing highly effective extracellular vesicles using IBAR and talin F3 domain fusion.

Extracellular vesicles (EVs), transporting diverse cellular components, play a crucial role in intercellular communication in numerous physiological and pathological processes. EVs have also been recognized as a drug delivery platform for therapeutic purposes and cell-free regenerative medicine. While various approaches have focused on increasing EV production for efficient use therapeutic use of EVs, enhancing the quality of EVs, such as ensuring efficient uptake by their target cells, has not been widely explored.

Age-related effects of Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection and subsequent asthma exacerbation in children.

Background: Mycoplasma pneumoniae causes community-acquired pneumonia in children and increases asthma risk, but large studies are lacking.

Objective: To assess the link between M. pneumoniae infection and to asthma exacerbation, in children with allergies, and age of infection impact.

Understanding the Korean Dialysis Cohort for Mineral, Vascular Calcification, and Fracture (ORCHESTRA) Study: Design, Method, and Baseline Characteristics.

Introduction: End-stage renal disease (ESRD) is a growing disease worldwide, including Korea. This is an important condition that affects patient outcome. To provide optimal management for mineral disturbance, vascular calcification, and bone disease in ESRD patients, the Korean dialysis cohort for mineral, vascular calcification, and fracture (ORCHESTRA) study was conducted by enrolling Korean dialysis patients.

Optimizing Recurrent Glioblastoma Salvage Treatment: A Multicenter Study Integrating Genetic Biomarkers From the Korean Radiation Oncology Group (21-02).

Background And Objectives: Few studies have used real-world patient data to compare overall treatment patterns and survival outcomes for recurrent glioblastoma (rGBM). This study aimed to evaluate postprogression survival (PPS) according to the treatment strategy for rGBM by incorporating biomarker analysis.

Methods: We assessed 468 adult patients with rGBM who underwent standard temozolomide-based chemoradiation.

Familial male-limited precocious puberty due to an activating mutation of the LHCGR: a case report and literature review.

Familial male-limited precocious puberty (FMPP) is a rare form of gonadotropin-independent precocious puberty that is caused by an activating mutation of the LHCGR gene. Herein, we report a case of FMPP with a mutation of the LHCGR gene in a Korean boy with familial history of precocious puberty through 3 generations. A 16-month-old boy presented with signs of precocious puberty, including pubic hair, acne, and increased growth velocity.

Associations of personal urinary volatile organic compounds and lung function in children.

Background: We investigated the correlation between urine VOC metabolites and airway function in children exposed to anthropogenic volatile organic compounds (VOCs), notable pollutants impacting respiratory health.

Methods: Out of 157 respondents, 141 completed skin prick tests, spirometry, IOS, and provided urine samples following the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC)-related questions. Allergic sensitization was assessed through skin prick tests, and airway functions were evaluated using spirometry and impulse oscillometry (IOS).

Pathological phenotypes of astrocytes in Alzheimer's disease.

Astrocytes are involved in various processes in the central nervous system (CNS). As the most abundant cell type in the CNS, astrocytes play an essential role in neuronal maintenance and support, synaptic activity, neuronal metabolism, and amyloid-beta (Aβ) clearance. Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder associated with cognitive and behavioral impairment.

Mesenchymal Stem Cells Combined With Electroacupuncture Treatment Regulate the Subpopulation of Macrophages and Astrocytes to Facilitate Axonal Regeneration in Transected Spinal Cord.

Objective: Herein, we investigated whether mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) transplantation combined with electroacupuncture (EA) treatment could decrease the proportion of proinflammatory microglia/macrophages and neurotoxic A1 reactive astrocytes and inhibit glial scar formation to enhance axonal regeneration after spinal cord injury (SCI).

Methods: Adult rats were divided into 5 groups after complete transection of the spinal cord at the T10 level: a control group, a nonacupoint EA (NA-EA) group, an EA group, an MSC group, and an MSCs+EA group. Immunofluorescence labeling, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and Western blots were performed.

The Potential of Callus Extract to Enhance Skin Barrier Function.

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a prevalent inflammatory skin disease characterized by epidermal barrier dysfunction and Th2-skewed inflammation. (), a Korean endemic plant grown on Ulleng Island, has long been associated with a traditional alternative medicine for asthma, tonsillitis, and sore throat. In this study, we reported the effect of callus extract on upregulating epidermal barrier-related proteins dysregulated by Th2 cytokines.