Effect of Antimicrobial Wipes on Hospital-Associated Bacterial and Fungal Strains.

Background: Healthcare-associated infections (HAI) caused by multidrug-resistant organisms have emerged as a significant global issue, posing substantial challenges to healthcare systems. Low- and intermediate-level disinfectants are extensively utilized for cleaning and disinfecting surfaces in hospitals to mitigate environmental transmission of HAI. Therefore, the need for more effective and environmentally safe disinfectants is increasing.

Epidemiological Characteristics of HIV-Infected Individuals by the Registration for Special Exempted Calculation: A Nationwide Cohort Study.

Background: The Korean government is implementing policy to reduce medical costs and improve treatment related for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) patients. The level of cost reduction and the benefits provided vary depending on how individuals with HIV utilize the system. This study aims to determine exact HIV prevalence by analyzing healthcare utilization patterns and examining differences in healthcare usage based on how individuals pay for their medical expenses.

Changes in the number and characteristics of tertiary hospital psychiatric admissions in south Croatia before and during the COVID-19 pandemic: a retrospective study.

Background: There is mixed evidence on the impact of the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic on psychiatric hospital care for people with severe mental diseases, possibly due to regional differences. There is a significant gap in knowledge regarding the specific impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health in Croatia, a country in South-Eastern Europe. Our study aimed to evaluate the number and characteristics of psychiatric hospitalizations in the year before and during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic in a tertiary hospital in south Croatia.

Weight change and cardiovascular disease incidence in breast cancer survivors: a nationwide cohort study.

Background: Breast cancer survivors (BCS) face a higher risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) due to treatment-related cardiotoxicity and pre-existing conditions. We investigated how post-diagnosis weight changes and obesity impact CVD risk in this population.

Method: Using the Korean National Health Insurance Service database (2010-2019), BCS without previous history of CVD were enrolled.

Two FAM134B isoforms differentially regulate ER dynamics during myogenesis.

Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) plasticity and ER-phagy are intertwined processes essential for maintaining ER dynamics. We investigated the interplay between two isoforms of the ER-phagy receptor FAM134B in regulating ER remodeling in differentiating myoblasts. During myogenesis, the canonical FAM134B1 is degraded, while its isoform FAM134B2 is transcriptionally upregulated.

Deep Learning Analysis of White Matter Hyperintensity and its Association with Comprehensive Vascular Factors in Two Large General Populations.

Although the relationships between basic clinical parameters and white matter hyperintensity (WMH) have been studied, the associations between vascular factors and WMH volume in general populations remain unclear. We investigated the associations between clinical parameters including comprehensive vascular factors and WMH in two large general populations. This retrospective, cross-sectional study involved two populations: individuals who underwent general health examinations at the Asan Medical Center (AMC) and participants from a regional cohort, the Korean Genome and Epidemiology Study (KoGES).

Role of P × receptor during focused ultrasound induced blood brain barrier modulation.

Although low-intensity focused ultrasound (LiFUS) with microbubbles is used to temporally open the blood-brain barrier (BBB), the underlying mechanism is not fully understood. This study aimed to analyze BBB-related alterations in the brain microenvironment after LiFUS, with a focus on the involvement of the purinergic P ×  receptor. Sprague-Dawley rats were sonicated with LiFUS at 0.

Co-administration of polyethylene glycol with binge ethanol reduces markers of intestinal and hepatic inflammation in C57BL/6J mice by diminishing ethanol absorption through the intestinal wall.

Background: Therapeutic options for managing intestinal and hepatic inflammation associated with alcohol consumption, a prevalent health problem worldwide, remain unavailable. This study examines the potential efficacy of polyethylene glycol (PEG) in mitigating the intestinal and hepatic damage, employing a mouse model for assessment.

Methods: First, the mixture of ethanol (4 g/kg body weight) and PEG (2 g/kg body weight) or an equivalent volume of vehicle was administered orally alcohol consumption.

Unraveling the role of muscle mass and strength in predicting type 2 diabetes risk: a systematic review.

Introduction: Skeletal muscle is the largest insulin-sensitive tissue in the human body, alteration in muscle mass and strength substantially impact glucose metabolism. This systematic review aims to investigate further the relationship between muscle mass and strength towards type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) incidence.

Methods: This systematic review included cohort studies that examinedthe relationship between muscle mass and/or muscle strength on T2DM incidence.

Investigating the Role of TNF-Alpha through Blood-Brain Barrier Integrity in Stress-Induced Depression.

Background: Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a complex psychiatric condition significantly impacted by environmental stress and inflammation. Previous research suggests that stress-induced alterations in the blood-brain barrier (BBB) may allow pro-inflammatory cytokines like interleukin-6 (IL-6) to enter the brain, contributing to depression. Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) is another prominent cytokine implicated in depression, but its role in the context of BBB integrity and stress-mediated depression remains unclear.

Association between body mass index and all-cause mortality in older people: A prospective analysis of the Chilean National Health Survey 2009-2010.

Unlabelled: There is a divergence in the results of studies that have explored the association between body mass index (BMI) and health outcomes in different contexts.

Aim: This study investigated the association between BMI and all-cause mortality in older Chilean people.

Methods: 1.

Graduate nurses caring for people living with dementia: A scoping review.

Background: Adequate dementia care knowledge of graduate nurses is essential for the wellbeing of both people living with dementia as well as the graduate nurses caring for them. Little is known about the dementia care knowledge, experience or confidence of graduate nurses caring for people living with dementia. This paper aims to review the available literature on graduate nurses caring for people living with dementia.

The structure, role, and procedures of Korean expert committee on immunization practices.

Vaccination is a cornerstone of public health, preventing infectious diseases with significant contribution to human health. In South Korea, the Korea Expert Committee on Immunization Practices (KECIP) plays a pivotal role in guiding national vaccination policies. In this comprehensive review, we investigated the history, legal basis, operation, and achievements of the KECIP, highlighting its critical role in shaping the country's successful vaccination program.

Small Heart Size and Premature Death in 366,484 Individuals With Normal Ejection Fraction.

Background: In patients with preserved left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), small ventricular size has been associated with reduced functional capacity, but its impact on clinical outcomes is unclear.

Objectives: The goal of this study was to determine the relationship between small heart size and premature mortality within a large multicenter adult patient cohort with transthoracic echocardiographic examinations.

Methods: We divided 366,484 individuals with LVEF ≥50% (including a subset of 279,442 individuals with high-normal LVEF ≥60%) by sex and increasing quartiles for LV end-diastolic volume (LVEDV), LVEDV indexed to body surface area (LVEDVi), and LV end-diastolic diameter to assess associations with 5-year mortality through linkage with the National Death Index.

Predictive modeling and interpretative analysis of risks of instability in patients with Myasthenia Gravis requiring intensive care unit admission.

Objective: Myasthenia gravis (MG), a low-prevalence autoimmune disorder characterized by clinical heterogeneity and unpredictable disease fluctuations, presents significant risks of acute exacerbations requiring intensive care. These crises contribute substantially to patient morbidity and mortality. This study aimed to develop and validate machine-learning models for predicting intensive care unit (ICU) admission risk among patients with MG-related disease instability.

Time to change implementation units for mass drug administration against schistosomiasis in Uganda: Evidence from Communities levels data validation and its implication in planning.

Uganda started implementing mass drug administration against schistosomiasis in 2003, with district used as an implementation unit. This resulted into misclassification of communities into wrong risk levels, under-or-over treatment and over request of praziquantel (PZQ) drugs. The objective of the current study was to reviewing the community data available at World Health Organization/ESPEN database to understand the status of schistosomiasis and identify pockets with infection.

Risk of depression in glaucoma patients with vision impairment: A nationwide cohort study.

Purpose: We aimed to investigate the risk of developing depression in individuals with primary open-angle glaucoma with associated vision impairment.

Methods: We conducted a nationwide, population-based cohort study using data from the Korean National Health Information Database and National Disability Registry. We assessed baseline characteristics such as age, sex, income level, lifestyle factors, anthropometric data, lab results, and Charlson Comorbidity Index scores through diagnostic codes and health screening data.

Abdominal Obesity Increases the Risk for Depression by Sex: A Nationwide Cohort Study in South Korea.

Objective: Previous studies have investigated obesity and appetite changes in patients with depression, which consisted of a small age range of adults and used body mass index rather than abdominal obesity. The objective of this study is to examine the relationship between abdominal obesity and the risk of depression by sex and age groups.

Methods: This study utilized the National Health Insurance Sharing Service (NHISS) database of South Korea, which includes those over 20 years old and who had undergone a health examination in 2009 and their claims data between 2009 and 2018.

Exploring Paramedicine Models of Care: A Novel Macro Analysis Using the RESPIGHT Framework.

Objective: To evaluate the alignment of undergraduate paramedicine curricula in Australia with the RESPIGHT model, focusing on diverse aspects such as emergency response, community engagement and governance.

Design: Deductive thematic analysis was conducted to assess the alignment of curricula from 16 Australian universities with the RESPIGHT framework.

Setting: The study reviewed undergraduate pre-registration paramedicine programmes across Australian universities.

Clinical predictors for surfactant retreatment in preterm infants with respiratory distress syndrome: the results of a pooled analysis.

Background: The issue of retreatment with surfactant of infants with respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) has been poorly investigated. Our aim was to identify possible clinical predictors of the need for multiple doses of surfactant in a large cohort of very preterm infants.

Methods: Data were analyzed from three previous studies on infants born between 25 and 31 weeks of gestation with RDS who were treated with surfactant.

The GLOB-cAGE Consortium: A Global Cardiovascular Collaborative Network of Older Adults with Cardiovascular Disease.

Background: GLOB-cAGE is a newly established unprecedented consortium that brings together cohorts of older persons with cardiovascular disease worldwide. GLOB-cAGE aims to harmonize non-identifiable data from longitudinal cohorts examining cardiovascular health and cardiovascular disease diagnosis and management in older individuals to perform meta-regression analyses using combined repositories of standardized subject-level data points.

Methods And Design: Studies registered into GLOB-cAGE are population-based longitudinal cohort studies or clinical trials, either ongoing or completed, that involve assessing cardiovascular health as a central objective.

Risk Factors for Anastomotic Leakage: A Comprehensive Single-Center Analysis of Colorectal Anastomoses for Ovarian and Gastrointestinal Cancers.

Background: Anastomotic leakage (AL) is a major complication in colorectal surgery, particularly following rectal cancer surgery, necessitating effective prevention strategies. The increasing frequency of colorectal resections and anastomoses during cytoreductive surgery (CRS) for peritoneal carcinomatosis further complicates this issue owing to the diverse patient populations with varied tumor distributions and surgical complexities. This study aims to assess and compare AL incidence and associated risk factors across conventional colorectal cancer surgery (CRC), gastrointestinal CRS (GI-CRS), and ovarian CRS (OC-CRS), with a secondary focus on evaluating the role of protective ostomies.

Machine learning to predict the decision to perform surgery in hepatic echinococcosis.

Background: Cystic echinococcosis (CE) is a significant public health issue, primarily affecting the liver. While several management strategies exist, there is a lack of predictive tools to guide surgical decisions for hepatic CE. This study aimed to develop predictive models to support surgical decision-making in hepatic CE, enhancing the precision of patient allocation to surgical or non-surgical management pathways.