3D engineering of diseased blood vessels for integrative-in silico mechanobiology study.

Vascular diseases are complex conditions orchestrated by multiple factors, including cellular components, biochemical stimuli, and mechanical forces. Despite the advancement of numerous therapeutic approaches, the global mortality associated with the diseases continues to escalate owing to a lack of understanding of the underlying pathologies. Tissue engineering and computational strategies have been recently developed to investigate diseased blood vessels from multifactorial perspective, enabling more accurate prediction of disease progression and opening new avenues for preclinical advances.

Clinicopathological analysis of nasopharyngeal tuberculosis.

Background: The aim of this study is to examine the clinical and pathological attributes of nasopharyngeal tuberculosis.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of the clinicopathologic characteristics of nasopharyngeal tuberculosis in 14 patients. The medical records and imaging data obtained between March 2004 and February 2023 were scrutinized.

Comparison of the refractive prediction errors of artificial intelligence formula with 3 conventional formulas and 11 combination methods in cataract surgery on eyes with short axial length.

Purpose: To compare the refractive prediction error of Hill-radial basis function 3.0 with those of 3 conventional formulas and 11 combination methods in eyes with short axial lengths.

Methods: The refractive prediction error was calculated using 4 formulas (Hoffer Q, SRK-T, Haigis, and Hill-RBF) and 11 combination methods (average of two or more methods).

Diagnostic Utility of Whole Genome Sequencing After Negative Karyotyping/Chromosomal Microarray in Infants Born With Multiple Congenital Anomalies.

Background: Achieving a definitive genetic diagnosis of unexplained multiple congenital anomalies (MCAs) in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) infants is challenging because of the limited diagnostic capabilities of conventional genetic tests. Although the implementation of whole genome sequencing (WGS) has commenced for diagnosing MCAs, due to constraints in resources and faculty, many NICUs continue to utilize chromosomal microarray (CMA) and/or karyotyping as the initial diagnostic approach. We aimed to evaluate the diagnostic efficacy of WGS in infants with MCAs who have received negative results from karyotyping and/or CMA.

Masticatory Function, Sex, and Risk of Dementia Among Older Adults: A Population-Based Cohort Study.

Background: A decline in masticatory function may indicate brain dysfunction related to dementia, but the relationship between masticatory function and dementia risk remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate whether masticatory function is associated with the risk of cognitive decline and dementia.

Methods: Data were obtained from the nationwide prospective cohort study of randomly sampled community-dwelling Koreans aged ≥ 60 years.

Diagnostic performance of radiologists in distinguishing post-COVID-19 residual abnormalities from interstitial lung abnormalities.

Objective: Distinguishing post-COVID-19 residual abnormalities from interstitial lung abnormalities (ILA) on CT can be challenging if clinical information is limited. This study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic performance of radiologists in distinguishing post-COVID-19 residual abnormalities from ILA.

Methods: This multi-reader, multi-case study included 60 age- and sex-matched subjects with chest CT scans.

Analysis of exacerbating factors of pediatric asthma before and after the COVID-19 pandemic.

Purpose: The incidence of the existing respiratory virus and air pollutants had disappeared or decreased due to social distancing during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Therefore, there was no increase in asthma exacerbations in 2020. This study aimed to analyze the emergency department (ED) visits of children and adolescent patients with asthma before and after the COVID-19 outbreak and examine the effects of respiratory virus infection and air pollutants.

Effect of Severe Fever With Thrombocytopenia Syndrome Virus Genotype on Disease Severity, Viral Load, and Cytokines in South Korea.

Background: Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) is an emerging tick-borne disease caused by (SFTS virus [SFTSV]). Recently, at least 6 different genotypes of SFTSV have been identified, with genotypes A, D, and F dominant in China and B dominant in Japan and Korea. This study investigated the effect of SFTSV genotypes circulating in South Korea on disease severity, viral load, and cytokine profile.

METTL18 functions as a Phenotypic Regulator in Src-Dependent Oncogenic Responses of HER2-Negative Breast Cancer.

Methyltransferase-like (METTL)18 has histidine methyltransferase activity on the RPL3 protein and is involved in ribosome biosynthesis and translation elongations. Several studies have reported that actin polymerization serves as a Src regulator, and HSP90 is involved in forming polymerized actin bundles. To understand the role of METTL18 in breast cancer and to demonstrate the importance of METTL18 in HER-2 negative breast cancer metastasis, we used biochemical, molecular biological, and immunological approaches (breast tumor cell lines), (tumor xenograft model), and in samples of human breast tumors.

Neuropsychiatric Events Related to Montelukast and Pranlukast in Adults With Asthma and Rhinitis: A 10-Year Nationwide Population-Based Study.

Background: Epidemiological studies of neuropsychiatric events (NPEs) associated with leukotriene receptor antagonists (LTRAs) have yielded inconsistent results. Recent studies have demonstrated strong temporal relationships between LTRA prescription and NPE occurrence, indicating a need for further investigation.

Objective: To investigate potential LTRA-related NPEs and associated risk factors.

Genotype Analysis of the JR Blood Group in an East Asian Population Using Tetra-Primer ARMS-PCR.

Objective: The JR blood group system, officially designated ISBT JR 032, consists of a single antigen called Jr. This is a high frequency antigen in most populations. The Jr(a-) phenotype is more prevalent in Japanese and Asian populations.

Three-year outcomes following non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction and new-generation drug-eluting stent implantation, stratified by patient age (under and over 75 years) and left ventricular ejection fraction: A prospective cohort study.

Due to limited published data, we investigated 3-year outcomes according to left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) in patients older and younger than 75 years with non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) who underwent successful newer-generation drug-eluting stent (DES) implantation. This research analyzed the data of 4558 patients (1032 older adults [≥75 years] and 3526 younger adults [<75 years]) from the Korea Acute MI Registry-NIH. We further divided the older group based on LVEF: heart failure (HF) with reduced EF (HFrEF, ≤40%, n = 196; group A), HF with mildly reduced EF (HFmrEF, 41-49%, n = 228; group B), and HF with preserved EF (HFpEF, ≥50%, n = 608; group C).

RCC-Supporter: supporting renal cell carcinoma treatment decision-making using machine learning.

Background: The population diagnosed with renal cell carcinoma, especially in Asia, represents 36.6% of global cases, with the incidence rate of renal cell carcinoma in Korea steadily increasing annually. However, treatment options for renal cell carcinoma are diverse, depending on clinical stage and histologic characteristics.

Treatment extent of femoropopliteal disease and clinical outcomes following endovascular therapy.

Background: Endovascular therapy (EVT) has become the preferred treatment modality for femoropopliteal disease. However, there is limited evidence regarding its procedural and clinical outcomes according to the affected area.

Aims: The aim of this study is to investigate clinical outcomes and device effectiveness according to treatment extent in the superficial femoral artery (SFA), popliteal artery (PA), or both.