Mathematical and statistical approaches in epidemiological investigation of hospital infection: A case study of the 2015 Middle East Respiratory Syndrome outbreak in Korea.

Mathematical and statistical methods are invaluable in epidemiological investigations, enhancing our understanding of disease transmission dynamics and informing effective control measures. In this study, we presented a method to estimate transmissibility using patient-level data, with application to the 2015 MERS outbreak at Pyeongtaek St. Mary's Hospital, the Republic of Korea.

The relationship between vitamin A and myopia: A population-based study.

Purpose: We sought to evaluate the relationship between blood vitamin A levels and myopia in adults aged ≥20 years in Korea.

Methods: We collected data of 15,899 participants aged ≥20 years from the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Participants underwent refraction tests to identify myopia and high myopia, and their blood pressure and obesity levels were measured.

Enhanced Detection of Residual Breast Cancer Post-Excisional Biopsy: Comparative Analysis of Contrast-Enhanced MRI with and Without Diffusion-Weighted Imaging.

Objectives: To evaluate the effectiveness of breast MRI, including diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI), in detecting residual lesions in patients with malignancy after excisional biopsy.

Methods: From January 2018 to December 2023, 3T breast MRI was performed to assess lesion morphology, residual size, and enhancement kinetics. The apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values were measured, and the diagnostic outcomes of CE-MRI, CE-MRI with DWI, mammography (MG), and ultrasound (US) were compared with clinical and histopathological data.

Effects of epidural dexmedetomidine on patient-controlled epidural analgesia after total knee arthroplasty: a single-center, prospective, double-blind, randomized controlled study.

Objective: To evaluate the impact of adding epidural dexmedetomidine to low-concentration patient-controlled epidural analgesia (PCEA) on pain control and side effects in total knee arthroplasty (TKA).

Methods: In this double-blind study, American Society of Anesthesiologists I to II patients undergoing TKA were assigned to receive 0.125% bupivacaine + fentanyl 4 µg/mL (group R) or 0.

Immune Gene Expression Profiling in Individuals with Turner Syndrome, Graves' Disease, and a Healthy Female by Single-Cell RNA Sequencing: A Comparative Study.

Turner syndrome (TS) can be determined by karyotype analysis, marked by the loss of one X chromosome in females. However, the genes involved in autoimmunity in TS patients remain unclear. In this study, we aimed to analyze differences in immune gene expression between a patient with TS, a healthy female, and a female patient with Graves' disease using single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) analysis of antigen-specific CD4(+) T cells.

Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Cannabigerol In Vitro and In Vivo Are Mediated Through the JAK/STAT/NFκB Signaling Pathway.

Cannabinoid compounds have potential as treatments for a variety of conditions, with cannabigerol (CBG) being known for its anti-inflammatory properties. In this study, we investigated the effects of CBG in a cellular model of 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene (DNCB)-induced atopic dermatitis (AD). In the cellular model, we confirmed the cytotoxicity of CBG and downregulated the expression of inflammatory markers , , , and ( < 0.

Emergency department visits for patients with end-stage kidney disease in Korea: registry data from the National Emergency Department Information System 2019-2021.

Background: Patients with end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) frequently visit the emergency department (ED) due to complications from comorbidities and dialysis. This study aimed to investigate the clinical outcomes and patterns of ED visits, hospitalizations, and in-hospital mortality among ED visits by ESKD patients in South Korea.

Methods: This study utilized data from the National Emergency Department Information System from 2019 to 2021.

[How to Achieve Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in The Korean Society of Gastroenterology?].

With the increasing emphasis on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in organizations and institutions, academic societies in gastroenterology and hepatology are beginning to take actionable steps toward achieving DEI. The successful implementation of DEI initiatives leads to excellence in the field, improved patient outcomes, particularly in areas where health disparities are prevalent, and advances in the gastrointestinal discipline. Such implementation also results in a workforce that better reflects the growing diversity of the population.

Comparison of Two Paclitaxel-Coated Balloons with Different Excipients for the Treatment of Femoropopliteal Artery Disease.

Purpose: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of a novel drug-coated balloon (DCB), Genoss DCB (Genoss) using shellac plus vitamin E as an excipient, compared to a reference DCB using urea.

Materials And Methods: Patients with femoropopliteal arterial disease under Rutherford classes 2-5 were enrolled in this prospective, multicenter, non-inferiority clinical trial, and randomly assigned 1:1 to Genoss DCB and IN.PACT Admiral (Medtronic).

Structural and functional alterations in hypothalamic subregions in male patients with alcohol use disorder.

Background: The hypothalamus is involved in stress regulation and reward processing, with its various nuclei exhibiting unique functions and connections. However, human neuroimaging studies on the hypothalamic subregions are limited in drug addiction. This study examined the volumes and functional connectivity of hypothalamic subregions in individuals with alcohol use disorder (AUD).

Who is a candidate at the initial presentation? Prediction of positive lateral lymph node and survival after dissection.

Metastatic lateral pelvic lymph node (LPN) in rectal cancer has a significant clinical impact on the prognosis and treatment strategies. But there are still debates regarding prediction of lateral pelvic lymph node metastasis and its oncological impact. This review explores the evidence for predicting lateral pelvic lymph node metastasis and survival in locally advanced rectal cancer.

Clinicians knowledge of cancer: A study in Ghana's Bono region.

Background: Cancer is a growing public health concern in Ghana, with rising prevalence, incidence, and mortality rates. Clinicians play a crucial role in cancer prevention and control by providing accurate information and early detection services. This study assessed the level of cancer knowledge among a cross-section of clinicians in the Bono region of Ghana, focusing on their knowledge of cancer, signs, symptoms, and risk factors.

Clinical efficacy of 0.1% cyclosporine A in dry eye patients with inadequate responses to 0.05% cyclosporine A: a switching, prospective, open-label, multicenter study.

Purpose: To assess the clinical efficacy of 0.1% cyclosporine A (CsA) in dry eye patients who have shown inadequate responses to previous treatment with 0.05% CsA.

Factors influencing therapeutic efficacy of denosumab against osteoporosis in systemic lupus erythematosus.

Objective: Osteoporosis is a common comorbidity in patients with SLE, and bone loss in patients with SLE has a multifactorial aetiology. This study aimed to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of denosumab in patients with SLE with osteoporosis and to analyse the factors influencing therapeutic efficacy.

Methods: A total of 166 patients with SLE with osteoporosis who initiated denosumab between January 2016 and December 2023 were included.

Association of workplace toilet access with urinary tract symptoms and productivity loss among female workers.

This study investigated workplace toilet access related to lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) among women in the Korean workforce. A cross-sectional survey was conducted to determine demographic characteristics, occupational risk factors, and urinary tract symptoms among employed Korean women. Occupational risk factors included two survey questions about access to toilets at work.

South Korean study to prevent cognitive impairment and protect brain health through multidomain interventions via face-to-face and video communication platforms in mild cognitive impairment (SUPERBRAIN-MEET): A randomized controlled trial.

Introduction: We investigated the efficacy of a multidomain intervention (MI) via face-to-face and video communication platforms using a tablet personal computer application in patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI).

Methods: Three hundred participants with MCI and ≥ 1 modifiable dementia risk factor, aged 60-85 years, were randomly assigned to either the MI group, who underwent a 24-week intervention, or the control group, who received usual care.

Results: The overall adherence rate to MI was 84.

Incidence of HTLV-1-associated myelopathy in the UK from 1991 to 2024: a longitudinal observational cohort study.

Introduction: Human T-cell lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1) may cause spinal cord inflammation, leading to HTLV-1-associated myelopathy (HAM). HAM is a chronic and progressive neurological disorder that is associated with increased mortality and impaired quality of life. There are limited data on the incidence of HAM, with higher rates seen in Latin America and the Caribbean compared to Japan.

Effect of nationwide postoperative rehabilitation at home program after lower extremity surgeries in older and younger people.

Background: A nationwide Rehabilitation at Home Care Pilot Program for patients undergoing lower extremity orthopedic surgeries has been ongoing since 2020. The program was designed to improve clinical outcomes through early mobilization and rehabilitation after discharge. This study aimed to analyze the interim data to assess its effectiveness and suggest improvements, particularly for older patients who are more vulnerable compared to younger patients.

Emergence of SARS-CoV-2 subgenomic RNAs that enhance viral fitness and immune evasion.

Coronaviruses express their structural and accessory genes via a set of subgenomic RNAs, whose synthesis is directed by transcription regulatory sequences (TRSs) in the 5' genomic leader and upstream of each body open reading frame. In SARS-CoV-2, the TRS has the consensus AAACGAAC; upon searching for emergence of this motif in the global SARS-CoV-2 sequences, we find that it evolves frequently, especially in the 3' end of the genome. We show well-supported examples upstream of the Spike gene-within the nsp16 coding region of ORF1b-which is expressed during human infection, and upstream of the canonical Envelope gene TRS, both of which have evolved convergently in multiple lineages.

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.

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.

Prognostic Value of Ambulatory Status at Transplant in Older Heart Transplant Recipients: Implications for Organ Allocation Policy.

Background: Shortage of organ donors in the Republic of Korea has become a major problem. To address this, it has been questioned whether heart transplant (HTx) allocation should be modified to reduce priority of older patients. We aimed to evaluate post-HTx outcomes according to recipient age and specific pre-HTx conditions using a nationwide prospective cohort.

Reactive EEG Biomarkers for Diagnosis and Prognosis of Alzheimer's Disease and Mild Cognitive Impairment.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a devastating neurodegenerative condition characterized by progressive cognitive decline with currently no effective treatment available. One of the most critical areas in AD research is the identification of reliable biomarkers, which are essential for accurate diagnosis, prognostic assessment, and the development of targeted therapies. In this study, we introduce two novel reactive EEG (rEEG) biomarkers aimed at enhancing the diagnosis of AD and mild cognitive impairment (MCI).