Comparison of clinical characteristics and outcomes in candidaemia patients with and without COVID-19: a multicentre retrospective study.

Background: Invasive fungal infections have been reported as complications with significant mortality and morbidity in patients hospitalized with COVID-19. This study aimed to evaluate the clinical characteristics and outcomes of candidaemia patients with COVID-19 and to investigate the association between COVID-19 and mortality in candidaemia patients.

Methods: This retrospective study included candidaemia patients aged 18 years or older admitted to four university-affiliated tertiary hospitals in South Korea between January 1, 2020, and December 31, 2022.

Enhancing predictive accuracy for antidepressant response in depressive disorders: The additive value of interleukin-1β and interleukin-6 alongside hsCRP.

Background: This study aimed to evaluate the potential additive effects of measuring serum interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) on enhancing the predictive value of baseline serum high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) levels for predicting 12-week antidepressant treatment responses in patients with depressive disorders.

Methods: Serum levels of hsCRP, IL-1β, and IL-6 were measured at baseline in 1086 outpatient participants diagnosed with depressive disorders. Participants initially received monotherapy with antidepressants for the first three weeks, followed by a naturalistic, stepwise pharmacotherapy regimen administered every three weeks up to 12 weeks.

Real-World Effectiveness and Safety of Intravenous Daratumumab in Patients with Multiple Myeloma: A Multicenter, Observational Study from Korea.

Purpose: Daratumumab is a novel, first-in-class monoclonal antibody approved for use as monotherapy and in combination with other treatments for patients with multiple myeloma (MM). The aim of this observational study was to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of daratumumab in real-world clinical practice.

Materials And Methods: This observational multicenter study collected data from patients with MM treated in Korea between June 1, 2018, and February 28, 2022.

A Prospective, Single-Cohort, Open, Multi-Center, Observational Study of Sublingual Fentanyl for Breakthrough Cancer Pain: Effectiveness, Safety, and Tolerability in Korean Cancer Patients.

Purpose: Fentanyl, a highly lipophilic opioid, was developed as a sublingual fentanyl tablet (SFT) for the management of breakthrough cancer pain (BTcP), and its efficacy and safety were confirmed in a randomized, controlled study. We investigated the effectiveness and safety of SFT administered to alleviate BTcP in a real-world setting.

Materials And Methods: In this prospective, open, single-cohort study, conducted in 13 referral hospitals in South Korea, opioid-tolerant cancer patients receiving around-the-clock opioids for persistent cancer pain were enrolled if the individual had BTcP ≥ 1 episode/day during the preceding week.

Immunophenotypic analysis on circulating T cells for early diagnosis of lung cancer.

The immune system continuously interacts with tumors, possibly leading to systemic alterations in circulating immune cells. However, the potential of these cancer-associated changes for diagnostic purposes remains poorly explored. To investigate this, we conducted a comprehensive flow cytometric analysis of 452 peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) samples from 206 non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients, 100 small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) patients, 94 healthy individuals, and 52 benign lung disease (BLD) patients.

Hearing modulation affects Alzheimer's disease progression linked to brain inflammation: a study in mouse models.

Background: Recent studies have identified hearing loss (HL) as a primary risk factor for Alzheimer's disease (AD) onset. However, the mechanisms linking HL to AD are not fully understood. This study explored the effects of drug-induced hearing loss (DIHL) on the expression of proteins associated with AD progression in mouse models.

Development and growth of cavernosal sinusoidal endothelia in the external genitalia of human fetuses.

Background: There is little information about when and how cavernosal sinusoidal endothelia develop in the external genitalia of fetuses.

Methods: We examined histological sections of erectile tissue in 37 human fetuses (25 males and 12 females) whose gestational age (GA) ranged from 8 to 40 weeks.

Results: The sinusoidal lumen was filled with blood in the glans of the penis and clitoris at a GA of 10 to 11 weeks, and in the corpus spongiosum at a GA of 15 to 16 weeks.

Dual-Mechanism mRNA Delivery via Fluorinated-Sorbitol Polyplexes: Enhancing Cellular Uptake and Endosomal Escape for COVID-19 Vaccination.

Advancements in mRNA delivery nanoparticles have significantly improved the potential for treating challenging diseases. Due to the inherent immunogenicity and rapid degradation of mRNA, specialized nanoparticles are required for efficient intracellular uptake, endosomal escape, and protection from lysosomal degradation. Although current methods enable transgene expression but achieving a balance between efficiency and toxicity remains challenging.

Dynamic survival prediction of end-stage kidney disease using random survival forests for competing risk analysis.

Background And Hypothesis: A static predictive model relying solely on baseline clinicopathological data cannot capture the heterogeneity in predictor trajectories observed in the progression of chronic kidney disease (CKD). To address this, we developed and validated a dynamic survival prediction model using longitudinal clinicopathological data to predict end-stage kidney disease (ESKD), with death as a competing risk.

Methods: We trained a sequence of random survival forests using a landmarking approach and optimized the model with a pre-specified prediction horizon of 5 years.

A Three-In-One Heptamethine Cyanine Dye Induces Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress and Apoptosis in Colorectal Cancer.

One of the most significant challenges for image-guided cancer-targeted therapy is to develop multifunctional optical contrast agents enabling simultaneous targeting and therapy. Herein, a feasible strategy is based on the incorporation of therapeutic moieties into the non-delocalized structure of polymethine indocyanines, known as the "structure-inherent targeting" concept. By possessing a rigid chloro-cyclohexenyl ring in the heptamethine cyanine backbone, a new type of multifunctional near-infrared fluorescent dye, Ph790H, that targets tumor without the need for additional targeting ligands is synthesized.

extract attenuates combined allergic rhinitis and asthma syndrome by the modulation of epithelial cell dysfunction and oxidative stress.

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Therapeutic Effects of Human Placental Extracts Eye Drops in Experimental Dry Eye and Alkali Burn.

To evaluate the efficacy of human placental extract (HPE) eye drops compared to that of carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) and human peripheral blood serum (HPBS) eye drops in a mouse model of experimental dry eye (EDE) and corneal alkali burns. EDE and alkali burn models were induced in C57BL/6 mice using desiccating stress and NaOH, respectively. In both the EDE and alkali burn models, treatment groups received CMC, HPBS, or HPE eye drops.

Characteristics of Pediatric Ulcerative Colitis at Diagnosis in Korea: Results From a Multicenter, Registry-Based, Inception Cohort Study.

Background: We aimed to investigate the characteristics of pediatric ulcerative colitis (UC) at diagnosis in Korea.

Methods: This was a multicenter, registry-based, inception cohort study conducted in Korea between 2021 and 2023. Children and adolescents newly diagnosed with UC < 18 years were included.

Influence of prestroke glycemic status on outcomes by age in patients with acute ischemic stroke and diabetes mellitus.

Background: This study aimed to explore the association between admission HbA1c and the risk of 1-year vascular outcomes stratified by age group in patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS) and diabetes mellitus (DM).

Methods: This study analyzed prospective multicenter data from patients with AIS and DM. Admission HbA1C were categorized as:≤6.

Quality of life outcomes in terminal cancer patients attending regional cancer centers in South Korea: protocol for a prospective cohort study.

Introduction: Patients with cancer experience physical, mental, and social pain that affects themselves and their families. The increasing cancer incidence and advances in treatment have increased the number of cancer survivors in Korea, and there is an influx of patients in Seoul and other metropolitan areas, leading to shortages of continuous care and comprehensive life support facilities. Patients must travel long distances for treatment, which poses logistical and quality-of-life challenges.

Reproductive factors and risk of epithelial ovarian cancer: results from the Asia Cohort Consortium.

Background: There are scarce data on risk factors for epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) in Asian populations. Our goal was to advance knowledge on reproductive -related risk factors for EOC in a large population of Asian women.

Methods: This study used pooled individual data from baseline questionnaires in 11 prospective cohorts (baseline years, 1958-2015) in the Asia Cohort Consortium.

Targeted nanoparticle delivery unleashes synergistic photothermal and immunotherapeutic effects against hepatocellular carcinoma.

The substantial mortality and morbidity of hepatocellular carcinoma, representing 90% of liver cancers, poses a significant health burden. The effectiveness of traditional hepatocellular carcinoma treatments such as surgical resection, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy is limited, underscoring the need for innovative therapeutic strategies. To this end, we synthesized phthalyl-pullulan nanoparticles encapsulating IR780 (an NIR-responsive heptamethine cyanine dye) and R848 (resiquimod; a TLR7/8 agonist) (PIR NPs).

Are ultrasound salivary parenchymal lesions more severe in primary Sjögren patients with a longer disease duration? A cross-sectional study.

Objectives: Salivary gland ultrasound (SGUS) has an interest in primary Sjögren's disease (pSD) for diagnosis, but the evolution of parenchymal lesions over time is unknown. The objective of this study was to assess the severity of ultrasound abnormalities in relation to pSD duration from the time of buccal dryness onset.

Methods: In this cross-sectional international multicentre study, patients with pSD according to the 2002 or 2016 ACR/EULAR classification criteria were included.

A Comprehensive Overview of the Current Status and Advancements in Various Treatment Strategies against Epilepsy.

Epilepsy affects more than 70 million individuals of all ages worldwide and remains one of the most severe chronic noncommunicable neurological diseases globally. Several neurotransmitters, membrane protein channels, receptors, enzymes, and, more recently noted, various pathways, such as inflammatory and mTORC complexes, play significant roles in the initiation and propagation of seizures. Over the past two decades, significant developments have been made in the diagnosis and treatment of epilepsy.

National trends in the prevalence and recurrence of anaphylaxis across all ages: The role of neighborhood deprivation and comorbidity (2002-2019).

Background: Understanding the trends of anaphylaxis and risk factors associated with its recurrence is essential for the effective management and prevention of this condition.

Objective: This study aimed to analyze the prevalence trends of anaphylaxis and identify risk factors for recurrence, with a focus on the influence of neighborhood deprivation and comorbidities, across all age groups.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective administrative cohort study on anaphylaxis utilizing the National Health Insurance-National Sample Cohort (NHIS-NSC) database in Korea (2002-2019).

Serotype distribution and clinical characteristics of Group B Streptococcus Bacteremia in nonpregnant adults: a 15-Year Multicenter Study in Korea.

Background: Group B Streptococcus (GBS) bacteremia in nonpregnant adults is of increasing concern, particularly among the elderly in underlying conditions. This study analyzed the serotype distribution, antimicrobial resistance patterns, and clinical characteristics of GBS bacteremia in nonpregnant adults over a 15-year period in two tertiary hospitals in Korea.

Methods: From 2007 to 2021, patients aged ≥ 19 years with GBS bacteremia were identified via retrospective electronic medical record review.

The microbial metabolite imidazole propionate dysregulates bone homeostasis by inhibiting AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) signaling.

Microbial metabolites provide numerous benefits to the human body but can also contribute to diseases such as obesity, diabetes, cancer, and bone disorders. However, the role of imidazole propionate (ImP), a histidine-derived metabolite produced by the intestinal microbiome, in bone metabolism and the development of osteoporosis is still poorly understood. In this study, we investigated the role of ImP and its underlying mechanisms in regulating bone homeostasis.

Usenamine A: a potential therapeutic agent for rheumatoid arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis through its anti-inflammatory activity.

Background: Usenamine A (UA) is a natural compound isolated from the lichen , and its therapeutic effects on rheumatic diseases are not well understood. This study aimed to evaluate the potential anti-inflammatory effects of UA and its therapeutic effects on rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and ankylosing spondylitis (AS).

Materials And Methods: Molecular docking was performed between the 3D structure of UA and the TNF-TNFR2 complex.

Setting "cold" tumors on fire: Cancer therapy with live tumor-targeting bacteria.

Immunotherapy with checkpoint blockade has shown remarkable efficacy in many patients with a variety of different types of cancer. However, the majority of patients with cancer have yet to benefit from this revolutionary therapy. Studies have shown that checkpoint blockade works best against immune-inflamed tumors characterized by the presence of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs).