Quantifying Tinnitus Perception Improvement: Deriving the Minimal Clinically Important Difference of the Minimum Masking Level.

Purpose: Tools that can reliably measure changes in the perception of tinnitus following interventions are lacking. The minimum masking level, defined as the lowest level at which tinnitus is completely masked, is a candidate for quantifying changes in tinnitus perception. In this study, we aimed to determine minimal clinically important differences for minimum masking level.

Age at Menopause and Development of Type 2 Diabetes in Korea.

Importance: There is limited evidence regarding the association between age at menopause and incident type 2 diabetes (T2D).

Objective: To investigate whether age at menopause and premature menopause are associated with T2D incidence in postmenopausal Korean women.

Design, Setting, And Participants: This population-based cohort study was conducted among a nationally representative sample from the Korean National Health Insurance Service database of 1 125 378 postmenopausal women without T2D who enrolled in 2009.

Probing Surface Reactions on Multicomponent Glass Using Reflection-Absorption Infrared Spectroscopy.

The chemical reactivity of glass surfaces is often studied with elemental analysis techniques, and although such characterization methods provide insights on compositional changes from exposure to specific chemical conditions, molecule-specific chemical reactions are not determined unambiguously. This study demonstrates the use of reflection-absorption infrared spectroscopy (RAIRS) to detect molecular species on alkali-free boroaluminosilicate and alkali aluminosilicate glasses, using acetic acid vapor as a model reactant to probe reaction sites at the surface with or without pretreatment by aqueous solutions of varied pH. With the assistance of the theoretical calculation of spectral changes based on refractive indices of bulk materials, it was possible to identify the molecular species being removed and produced at the glass surface.

Cellulose Elementary Fibrils as Deagglomerated Binder for High-Mass-Loading Lithium Battery Electrodes.

Amidst the ever-growing interest in high-mass-loading Li battery electrodes, a persistent challenge has been the insufficient continuity of their ion/electron conduction pathways. Here, we propose cellulose elementary fibrils (CEFs) as a class of deagglomerated binder for high-mass-loading electrodes. Derived from natural wood, CEF represents the most fundamental unit of cellulose with nanoscale diameter.

Role of radiofrequency ablation in the treatment of symptomatic distant metastasis of thyroid cancer.

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of radiofrequency ablation (RFA) for the treatment of symptomatic distant metastasis of differentiated thyroid carcinoma.

Materials And Methods: The medical records of 12 patients who underwent RFA for the palliative treatment of 18 symptomatic distant metastases from thyroid cancer between January 2008 and December 2020 were analyzed. All patients were assessed for their degree of discomfort and underwent periodical evaluations as outpatients, including clinical examination, imaging, and serologic markers.

Incorporating Lymph Node Size at CT as an N1 Descriptor in Clinical N Staging for Lung Cancer.

Background The ninth edition of the TNM classification for lung cancer revised the N2 categorization, improving patient stratification, but prognostic heterogeneity remains for the N1 category. Purpose To define the optimal size cutoff for a bulky lymph node (LN) on CT scans and to evaluate the prognostic value of bulky LN in the clinical N staging of lung cancer. Materials and Methods This retrospective study analyzed patients who underwent lobectomy or pneumonectomy for lung cancer between January 2013 and December 2021, divided into development (2016-2021) and validation (2013-2015) cohorts.

Development of a novel fluorescence light-up Pb sensor using a G-quadruplex complex with modified thioflavin T.

Here, we developed a novel, cost-effective fluorescence light-up biosensor for Pb detection based on a label-free G-quadruplex combined with modified thioflavin T (ThT) derivatives. Among the various G-quadruplex sequences tested, only T2 exhibited fluorescence light-up properties upon interacting with the modified ThT derivatives in the presence of Pb. To enhance the Pb sensing system, we also compared modified ThT derivatives, including the newly synthesized propyl-substituted ThT (ThT-P) and butyl-substituted ThT (ThT-B).

Synthesis of IrCu/CoO hybrid nanostructures and their enhanced catalytic properties toward oxygen evolution reaction under both acidic and alkaline conditions.

Oxygen evolution reaction (OER) is a half-reaction that occurs at the anode during water electrolysis, and owing to its slow kinetics, it is the rate-limiting step in the process. Alloying with transition metal and combining with transition metal oxide supports are effective methods for modifying the electronic structure of noble metal catalysts and improving their catalytic properties. In this study, we synthesized IrCu/CoO hybrid nanostructures by attaching IrCu alloy nanoparticles onto CoO nanosheets.

Neural estimation of mutual information in speech signals processed by an auditory model.

The amount of information contained in speech signals is a fundamental concern of speech-based technologies and is particularly relevant in speech perception. Measuring the mutual information of actual speech signals is non-trivial, and quantitative measurements have not been extensively conducted to date. Recent advancements in machine learning have made it possible to directly measure mutual information using data.

A Korean Patient With Leber Congenital Amaurosis and a Homozygous RPE65 Variant Originating From a Paternal Uniparental Isodisomy.

Background: Leber congenital amaurosis (LCA), the most severe form of inherited retinal dystrophy, is a rare, heterogeneous, genetic eye disease associated with severe congenital visual impairment. RPE65, one of the causative genes for LCA, encodes retinoid isomerohydrolase, an enzyme that plays a critical role in regenerating visual pigment in photoreceptor cells.

Methods: Exome sequencing (ES) was performed on a patient with suspected LCA.

Spontaneous Formation of Single-Crystalline Spherulites in a Chiral 2D Hybrid Perovskite.

In two-dimensional (2D) chiral metal-halide perovskites (MHPs), chiral organic spacers induce structural chirality and chiroptical properties in the metal-halide sublattice. This structural chirality enables reversible crystalline-glass phase transitions in (-NEA)PbBr, a prototypical chiral 2D MHP where NEA represents 1-(1-naphthyl)ethylammonium. Here, we investigate two distinct spherulite states of (-NEA)PbBr, exhibiting either radial-like or stripe-like banded patterns depending on the annealing conditions of the amorphous film.

Danshensu sodium salt alleviates muscle atrophy via CaMKII-PGC1α-FoxO3a signaling pathway in D-galactose-induced models.

Sarcopenia is an age-related muscle atrophy syndrome characterized by the loss of muscle strength and mass. Although many agents have been used to treat sarcopenia, there are no successful treatments to date. In this study, we identified Danshensu sodium salt (DSS) as a substantial suppressive agent of muscle atrophy.

χ-sepnet: Deep Neural Network for Magnetic Susceptibility Source Separation.

Magnetic susceptibility source separation (χ-separation), an advanced quantitative susceptibility mapping (QSM) method, enables the separate estimation of paramagnetic and diamagnetic susceptibility source distributions in the brain. Similar to QSM, it requires solving the ill-conditioned problem of dipole inversion, suffering from so-called streaking artifacts. Additionally, the method utilizes reversible transverse relaxation ( ) to complement frequency shift information for estimating susceptibility source concentrations, requiring time-consuming data acquisition for (e.

Timing for a surgically safe and oncologically prompt pancreatoduodenectomy after preoperative biliary drainage in patients with bile duct cancer.

Background: Preoperative biliary drainage (PBD) is commonly performed in patients with bile duct cancer (BDC). However, data regarding the timing of pancreatoduodenectomy (PD) after PBD are insufficient. This study aimed to investigate the optimal timing for surgically and oncologically safe PD after PBD.

Evaluation of the Therapeutic Potential of the Methanolic Extract and Fractions of Datura stramonium in Paracetamol-intoxicated Rabbits.

Introduction: Datura stramonium (DS) possesses strong medicinal and therapeutic potential but has been rarely evaluated in this context.

Methods: The present study was intended to evaluate the antioxidant, hepatoprotective, and nephroprotective potential of the crude methanolic leaf extract and ethyl acetate, chloroform, n-hexane, and aqueous fractions of DS in paracetamol-intoxicated rabbits. Paracetamol (2 g/Kg BW) was applied to induce liver and kidney injury in rabbits while the methanolic extract and fractions of DS were applied in the dose range of 150 mg/Kg to 300 mg/Kg body weight for 21 days.

Mechanistic Insights into the Eco-Friendly Conifer Cone Extract's Corrosion Inhibition on Steel Rebar and Cement Mortar: An Experimental and Simulation Approach.

This study investigates the corrosion inhibition effects of eco-friendly conifer cone extract (CCE) on steel rebars embedded in cement mortar exposed to 3.5% NaCl under alternate wet/dry cycles. CCE concentrations of 0, 0.

Perforator-Based Propeller Flap Application in Pressure Ulcer Reconstruction: A Comparative Analysis With Advancement Flaps.

Background: Pressure ulcers are a prevalent and debilitating condition, often necessitating surgical reconstruction. Various flap techniques, such as Advancement Flaps (AF) and Perforator-based Propeller Flaps (PBPF), are commonly used for pressure sore reconstruction. While both techniques have proven effective, there is limited research comparing their outcomes in different clinical scenarios.

Ganglioside-incorporating lipid nanoparticles as a polyethylene glycol-free mRNA delivery platform.

Incorporation of polyethylene glycol (PEG) is widely used in lipid nanoparticle (LNP) formulation in order to achieve adequate stability due to its stealth properties. However, studies have detected the presence of anti-PEG neutralizing antibodies after PEGylated LNP treatment, which are associated with anaphylaxis, accelerated LNP clearance and premature release of cargo. Here, we report the development of LNPs incorporating ganglioside, a naturally occurring stealth lipid, as a PEG-free alternative.

Topographic Analysis of the Periorbital Region Including Orbicularis Oculi Muscle Based on Ultrasonography Interpretation.

Objective: Ultrasonographic examination is easy, fast, safe, and used in various fields; however, its application to the facial area has been limited. Complex anatomical structures are mixed within thin, soft tissues in the facial region; therefore, understanding their structural characteristics is crucial. This study aimed to use ultrasonography to obtain information on the layered structure and soft tissue thickness of the eye area around the orbicularis oculi muscle and provide guidance for clinical practice.

Thermoelectrochemical formation of a solid electrolyte interphase on a silicon negative electrode to enhance the durability of silicon-enriched lithium-ion batteries by compositional modification.

The SiO electrode interface is passivated with a SiO layer, which hinders the deposition of an inorganic solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) due to its high surface work function and low exchange current density of electrolyte decomposition. Consequently, a thermally vulnerable, organic-based SEI formed on the SiO electrode, leading to poor cycling performance at elevated temperatures. To address this issue, the SEI formation process is thermoelectrochemically activated.

Pharmacokinetic characterization and exposure-response relationship of crovalimab in the COMMODORE 1, 2 and 3 and COMPOSER trials of patients with paroxysmal nocturnal haemoglobinuria.

Aims: Crovalimab is a novel C5 inhibitor administered first intravenously and then subcutaneously in patients with paroxysmal nocturnal haemoglobinuria (PNH) naive to complement inhibition or switching from eculizumab or ravulizumab. Crovalimab showed efficacy and safety comparable to eculizumab in the pivotal COMMODORE 2 and supporting studies.

Methods: We characterized crovalimab pharmacokinetics and the relationship between exposure pharmacokinetic parameters and pharmacodynamic biomarkers, efficacy and safety endpoints using pooled data (healthy volunteers [n = 9], naive [n = 210] and switched [n = 211] patients).

Risk Factors for Progressive Disease After Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor Therapy in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

Background: This study analyzed the clinical features of patients with recurrent or metastatic (R/M) head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), who developed progressive disease (PD) after immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) therapy.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 256 patients with R/M HNSCC treated with ICIs at 11 medical centers. Associations between the treatment outcomes-best response, overall survival, and progression-free survival-and various clinical factors were analyzed.

The Cooperativity of Atomic Fluctuations in Highly Supercooled Glass-Forming Metallic Melts.

The behavior of supercooled glass-forming metals depends on the cooperative atomic fluctuations caused by dynamic heterogeneities in the melt. These spatial and temporal heterogeneities form dynamic clusters, which are regions of cooperative rearrangement (CRR). In this study, the macroscopic kinetics and the correlation length , of the CRR, are derived for PtCuNiP and PdCuNiP metallic glass-formers by fast differential scanning calorimetry near the glass transition.