Identification of Adipsin as a Biomarker of Beta Cell Function in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes.

: Adipsin, an adipokine, is known to play an important role in maintaining the function of pancreatic beta cells in mice. This study aimed to investigate whether adipsin could be a circulating biomarker for evaluating the function of beta cells in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D). : Plasma adipsin concentrations were measured using immunoassay in three distinct subject groups: normoglycemia, T2D without insulin treatment (T2D-w/o-insulin), and T2D treated with insulin (T2D-with-insulin).

Fulvic acid inhibits the differentiation of 3T3-L1 adipocytes by activating the Ca/CaMKⅡ/AMPK pathway.

Type 2 diabetes increases the risk of developing obesity. Although fulvic acid alleviates back fat thickness in pigs, the mechanism underlying its anti-obesity effect remains unclear. Therefore, we investigated the anti-obesity mechanism of fulvic acid using 3T3-L1 adipocytes.

Concurrent Versus Sequential Adjuvant Capecitabine-Based Chemoradiation in Residual Triple-Negative Breast Cancer After Neoadjuvant-Chemotherapy: A Multicenter Comparative Study.

Purpose: Given the aggressive nature and poor prognosis of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), adjuvant capecitabine has been the standard therapy for residual disease after preoperative systemic therapy (PST). However, the optimal sequence of postoperative radiation therapy (RT) and capecitabine remains unclear. This study evaluated the efficacy and safety of concurrent RT and capecitabine (RT+CAP) versus sequential RT followed by capecitabine (RT→CAP) in patients with residual TNBC after PST.

Novel Risk Scoring Model to Predict the Implementation of Veno-Arterial Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation in Patients With Acute Myocarditis.

Background: This study aimed to identify risk factors associated with the implementation of veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO) in patients with acute myocarditis and to develop a predictive model.

Methods And Results: This retrospective study included 841 patients from 7 hospitals in Korea with biopsy-proven or clinically suspected acute myocarditis. Logistic regression analysis was used to identify the clinical characteristics of patients who required VA-ECMO and to construct a scoring system to predict the implementation of VA-ECMO.

Effectiveness and safety of denosumab on osteoporosis treatment in kidney transplant recipients.

Background: Denosumab has been reported to improve bone mineral density (BMD), but the clinical impact of denosumab on osteoporosis in kidney transplant recipients (KTRs) remains controversial.

Methods: We analyzed 98 KTRs who used denosumab from 2018 to 2023. We investigated the change in BMD, laboratory findings, complications of denosumab, fracture risk assessment tool (FRAX) score, acute rejection within 1 year, and graft failure.

Short-Term Risk of Type 2 Diabetes in Patients Using Various Antidepressants Compared with Patients Using Fluoxetine.

Background: The objective is to compare the risk of developing type 2 diabetes (T2D) within a year in patients prescribed various antidepressants (ADs) and those prescribed fluoxetine as a control group.

Methods: This study used standardized data from the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service claims database (n=1,456,489). Patients aged ≥10 years with no previous use of ADs and no history of diabetes mellitus, regardless of whether they were diagnosed with any depressive disorder, were eligible for this study.

MRI-guided brachytherapy for cervical cancer treatment: The significance of bladder morphology in dose distribution planning.

Purpose: This retrospective study aimed to investigate the influence of bladder filling type (BFT) on the relationship between bladder volume (BV) and maximum absorbed dose (D) in intra-cavitary brachytherapy (ICBT) for cervical cancer.

Material And Methods: The study enrolled 269 patients who underwent 3D-optimized ICBT guided by MRI scans between 2016 and 2022. Bladder shape (categorized as tilted, curved, or E) was determined based on specific applicators used.

Successful Delayed Interval Delivery in Twin Pregnancy After Early Premature Rupture of Membranes of a Leading Fetus: A Case Report.

A 36-year-old primigravida conceived dichorionic diamniotic twins via in vitro fertilization. The first twin experienced premature rupture of membranes at 18 weeks and 5 days of gestation. Despite antibiotic treatment, the first fetus suffered intrauterine fetal death and was delivered three days later at 19 weeks and 1 day.

Supernumerary Head of the Biceps Brachii Muscle Influences the Topography of the Coracobrachialis and Biceps Brachii Muscles.

: Anatomical variations in the biceps brachii muscle (BBM) are extremely frequent, leading to developmental and clinical implications. We studied the topography of the BBM and analyzed its correlations with other structures in the brachial region. A total of 103 cadaveric upper extremities were dissected.

Risk of dementia in patients with age-related medical conditions: a retrospective cohort study.

Objective: This retrospective cohort study aimed to investigate the impact of age-related medical conditions on the incidence of dementia, considering factors such as hypertension, diabetes mellitus, cerebrovascular disease, cardiovascular disease, chronic kidney disease, osteoarthritis, osteoporosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and hearing difficulties.

Methods: Data from 513 640 patients at Keimyung University Dongsan Hospital were analyzed using the Observational Medical Outcomes Partnership Common Data Model. Patients with and without age-related medical conditions were assigned to experimental and control groups, respectively, with propensity score matching.

The intricate interactions between inflammasomes and bacterial pathogens: Roles, mechanisms, and therapeutic potentials.

Inflammasomes are intracellular multiprotein complexes that consist of a sensor, an adaptor, and a caspase enzyme to cleave interleukin (IL)-1β and IL-18 into their mature forms. In addition, caspase-1 and -11 activation results in the cleavage of gasdermin D to form pores, thereby inducing pyroptosis. Activation of the inflammasome and pyroptosis promotes host defense against pathogens, whereas dysregulation of the inflammasome can result in various pathologies.

Long-Term Outcome of Rescue Stenting for Acute Intracranial Atherosclerotic Stenosis Related Large Vessel Occlusion in Anterior Circulation.

Background And Purpose: Rescue stent (RS) is an accepted rescue option after failed mechanical thrombectomy (MT) for acute ischemic stroke due to intracranial atherosclerotic stenosis (ICAS)-related large vessel occlusion (LVO). However, the long-term outcomes (≥ 12 months) of RS have not yet been elucidated.

Materials And Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the data of 154 patients with RS for ICAS-related LVO, which were identified from prospectively maintained multicenter database of RS after MT failure, to assess good outcome (mRS 0-2), mortality, stroke recurrence, symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (SICH) and stent patency.

Pharmacokinetics, toxicities, and tissue concentrations of belotecan sprayed by rotational intraperitoneal pressurized aerosol chemotherapy in a pig model.

Objective: We evaluated the pharmacokinetics, tissue concentrations, and toxicities of belotecan during rotational intraperitoneal pressurized aerosol chemotherapy (RIPAC) in pigs.

Methods: We sprayed belotecan in 10% and 30% of doses for intravenous chemotherapy in six pigs (cohort 1, n=3, 0.50 mg/m²; cohort 2, n=3, 1.

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.

Effects of dietary fatty acid on all-cause mortality according to the kidney function based on the nationwide population study.

Background: Although the relationship between fatty acids (FAs) and the risk of all-cause mortality has been long discussed, there is little evidence about the impact of each FA component on all-cause mortality by kidney function status.

Methods: We used data from the U.S.

Inhibiting lipid droplet biogenesis enhances host protection against hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae infections.

Hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae (hvKp), an emerging Kp subtype, has become a serious global pathogen. However, the information regarding host interactions and innate immune responses during hvKp infection is limited. Here, we found that hvKp clinical strains increased triacylglycerol synthesis, resulting in lipid droplets (LDs) formation via the mammalian target of rapamycin signaling pathway in RAW264.

Comprehensive comparative evaluation of the eight pediatric estimated glomerular filtration rate equations in a large Korean pediatric patient cohort.

Introduction: Although estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) are continuously developed for pediatric population, impact of height measurement is often neglected due to variable dynamic growth changes in children. This study aimed to compare differential impacts of eGFR values calculated by six equations that do not use height information.

Materials And Methods: 3503 Korean pediatric patients with creatinine/cystatin C assay-based laboratory results from 2008 to 2021 were analyzed for clinical course using a total of 8113 laboratory test results.

Challenges and outcomes of cataract surgery after vitrectomy.

Purpose Of Review: This review examines the challenges and outcomes of cataract surgery after pars plana vitrectomy (PPV), focusing on surgical techniques, timing, and complication management.

Recent Findings: Cataract formation remains the primary complication post-PPV, affecting approximately 80-100% of patients within two years. Nuclear sclerotic cataracts are most common, occurring in 60-100% of patients over 50, followed by posterior subcapsular cataracts (4-34%), which primarily affect younger and diabetic patients.