Epigenetic modulation of social cognition: exploring the impact of methylation in brain-derived neurotrophic factor and oxytocin receptor genes across sex.

Social cognition, which ranges from recognizing social cues to intricate inferential reasoning, is influenced by environmental factors and epigenetic mechanisms. Notably, methylation variations in stress-related genes like brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and the oxytocin receptor (OXTR) are linked to distinct social cognitive functions and exhibit sex-specific differences. This study investigates how these methylation differences affect social cognition across sexes, focusing on both perceptual and inferential cognitive levels.

Co-infections with Bordetella bronchiseptica in canine: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Bordetella bronchiseptica is a primary pathogen in canine infectious respiratory disease (CIRD), or kennel cough, capable of independently causing respiratory illness and contributing significantly to co-infections with other viral and bacterial agents. Despite its critical role in disease transmission and persistence, the epidemiology of B. bronchiseptica in CIRD remains poorly understood.

Class-Wise Combination of Mixture-Based Data Augmentation for Class Imbalance Learning of Focal Liver Lesions in Abdominal CT Images.

In this paper, we propose a method to address the class imbalance learning in the classification of focal liver lesions (FLLs) from abdominal CT images. Class imbalance is a significant challenge in medical image analysis, making it difficult for machine learning models to learn to classify them accurately. To overcome this, we propose a class-wise combination of mixture-based data augmentation (CCDA) method that uses two mixture-based data augmentation techniques, MixUp and AugMix.

Risk of Cancers According to the Use of Biological Agents in Patients With Radiographic Axial Spondyloarthritis: A Nationwide Population-Based Cohort Study.

Objective: As the duration of use of biological disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (bDMARDs) in patients with radiographic axial spondyloarthritis (r-axSpA) accumulates over time, long-term real-world safety data on cancer risk are needed. This study assessed the association between tumor necrosis factor inhibitors (TNFis) and interleukin 17 inhibitors (IL-17is) exposures and cancer risk in patients with r-axSpA.

Methods: From the Korean nationwide database, we assembled 41,889 patients without prior history of cancer who were diagnosed with r-axSpA from 2010 onwards.

Artificial Intelligence in Predicting Ocular Hypertension After Descemet Membrane Endothelial Keratoplasty.

Purpose: Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty (DMEK) has emerged as a novel approach in corneal transplantation over the past two decades. This study aims to identify predisposing risk factors for post-DMEK ocular hypertension (OHT) and develop a preoperative predictive model for post-DMEK OHT.

Methods: Patients who underwent DMEK at Gangnam Severance Hospital between 2017 and 2024 were included in the study.

Harnessing machine learning to predict prostate cancer survival: a review.

The prediction of survival outcomes is a key factor in making decisions for prostate cancer (PCa) treatment. Advances in computer-based technologies have increased the role of machine learning (ML) methods in predicting cancer prognosis. Due to the various effective treatments available for each non-linear landscape of PCa, the integration of ML can help offer tailored treatment strategies and precision medicine approaches, thus improving survival in patients with PCa.

Lower incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma with tenofovir alafenamide in chronic hepatitis B: Evidence from a large-scale cohort.

Background & Aims: Tenofovir alafenamide (TAF) lacks extensive research regarding its impact on hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). This study evaluated and compared the effects of TAF, tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF), and entecavir (ETV) on HCC incidence using nationwide claim data.

Methods: In total, 75,816 patients with treatment-naïve HBV were included in the study and divided into TAF (n = 25,680), TDF (n = 26,954), and ETV (n = 23,182) groups after exclusions.

Novel approach for noninvasive pelvic floor muscle strength measurement using extracorporeal surface perineal pressure measurement and machine learning modeling.

Objective: Accurate measurement of pelvic floor muscle (PFM) strength is crucial for the management of pelvic floor disorders. However, the current methods are invasive, uncomfortable, and lack standardization. This study aimed to introduce a novel noninvasive approach for precise PFM strength quantification by leveraging extracorporeal surface perineal pressure (ESPP) measurements and machine learning algorithms.

Association between the triglyceride/high-density lipoprotein (TG/HDL) ratio and incidence of gout: A nationwide cohort study.

Introduction: The global burden of gout, a severe and painful arthralgia, is of note and is expected to increase in the future. We aimed to investigate the association between the triglyceride/high-density lipoprotein (TG/HDL) ratio, a simple and validated biomarker for insulin resistance, and the incidence of gout in a longitudinal setting in the general population.

Methods: Our study was conducted using the National Health Insurance Service-Health Screening Cohort database of Republic of Korea (2002-2019).

Association Between Diabetes Mellitus Education and Self-Management Pre- and Post-COVID-19.

Purpose: This study explored the association between diabetes education and self-management during different COVID-19 periods.

Design: Cross-sectional study.

Setting: Korea Community Health Survey (2019, 2021, and 2022) and the data from Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Agency.

Pro-inflammatory dietary pattern and the risk of female gout: sex-specific findings from three prospective cohort studies.

Objective: We aimed to determine whether a pro-inflammatory dietary pattern (mechanism-based diet) is associated with incident female gout among two large cohorts of US women.

Methods: We prospectively followed 79,104 women from Nurses' Health Study (NHS; 1984-2016) and 93,454 women from NHSII (1991-2017); 45,445 men from Health Professionals Follow-up Study (1986-2016) served as a comparison cohort. Validated food frequency questionnaires were used to calculate Empirical Dietary Inflammatory Pattern (EDIP; food-based index predictive of circulating inflammatory biomarkers) scores every 4-years.

Metabarcoding for the Monitoring of the Microbiome and Parasitome of Medically Important Mosquito Species in Two Urban and Semi-urban Areas of South Korea.

Interactions between microbial communities and the host can modulate mosquito biology, including vector competence. Therefore, future vector biocontrol measures will utilize these interactions and require extensive monitoring of the mosquito microbiome. Metabarcoding strategies will be useful for conducting vector monitoring on a large scale.

Prognostic performance of the two-step clinical care pathway in metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease.

Background & Aims: Current guidelines recommend a 2-step approach for risk stratification in patients with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) with Fibrosis-4 index (FIB-4) followed by liver stiffness measurement (LSM) by vibration-controlled transient elastography (VCTE) or similar second-line tests. This study aimed to examine to prognostic performance of this approach.

Methods: The VCTE-Prognosis Study was a longitudinal study of patients with MASLD who had undergone VCTE examinations at 16 centres from the US, Europe and Asia with subsequent follow-up for clinical events.

A Joint three-plane Physics-constrained Deep learning based Polynomial Fitting Approach for MR Electrical Properties Tomography.

Magnetic resonance electrical properties tomography can extract the electrical properties of in-vivo tissue. To estimate tissue electrical properties, various reconstruction algorithms have been proposed. However, physics-based reconstructions are prone to various artifacts such as noise amplification and boundary artifact.

Development of a Sustainable Flexible Humidity Sensor Based on Larvae Biomass-Derived Chitosan.

This study presents the fabrication of a sustainable flexible humidity sensor utilizing chitosan derived from mealworm biomass as the primary sensing material. The chitosan-based humidity sensor was fabricated by casting chitosan and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) films with interdigitated copper electrodes, forming a laminate composite suitable for real-time, resistive-type humidity detection. Comprehensive characterization of the chitosan film was performed using Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, contact angle measurements, and tensile testing, which confirmed its chemical structure, wettability, and mechanical stability.

Evaluation of a Novel Method for Temporary Eyebrow Lifting Using Polydioxanone Threads: Preliminary Findings.

Aging affects the face and eyebrow areas, with various resultant procedures for lifting the eyebrows. Recently, thread lifting using absorbable threads has become increasingly popular, with the advantages of a faster recovery and no visible scars, when compared with conventional facial rhytidectomy. Furthermore, polydioxanone (PDO) thread lifting is a favorable surgical method that has been used for eyebrow lifting.

Enhancing Surgical Efficiency and Radiological Outcomes Through Advances in Patient-Specific Instrument Design.

: Patient-specific instrumentation (PSI) in total knee arthroplasty (TKA) uses preoperative three-dimensional imaging to create cutting blocks tailored to patient anatomy. However, there is debate regarding the additional benefits of PSI in terms of improved alignment or functional outcomes compared to using conventional instruments. Although PSI design has undergone continuous development, the improvements have not been incorporated.

A Multi-Center, Prospective, Observational Study to Evaluate the Therapeutic Effectiveness and Safety of an Olmesartan/Amlodipine Plus Rosuvastatin Combination Treatment in Patients with Concomitant Hypertension and Dyslipidemia.

This study assessed the therapeutic effectiveness of a single-pill combination (SPC) of olmesartan/amlodipine plus rosuvastatin for blood pressure (BP) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) in patients with hypertension and dyslipidemia. Adult patients with hypertension and dyslipidemia who were decided to be treated with the study drug were eligible. The primary endpoint was the proportion of patients who achieved BP, LDL-C and both BP and LDL-C treatment goals at weeks 24-48.

Comparison of Robot-Assisted, Laparoscopic, and Open Radical Prostatectomy Outcomes: A Systematic Review and Network Meta-Analysis from KSER Update Series.

: We conducted a systematic review and network meta-analysis to evaluate and compare the perioperative, functional, and oncological outcomes of robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP) and laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (LRP) with open radical prostatectomy (ORP) in patients with prostate cancer. A comprehensive literature search was performed in Pubmed, EMBASE, and the Cochrane library for papers published before May 2021. Only studies of patients with prostate cancer that assessed perioperative, functional, and oncological outcomes and reported outcome values were included.

Compound Heterozygous p.(R124C) (Classic Lattice Corneal Dystrophy) and p.(R124H) (Granular Corneal Dystrophy Type 2) in : Phenotype, Genotype, and Treatment.

(1) Background: The phenotypes of classic lattice corneal dystrophy (LCD) and granular corneal dystrophy type 2 (GCD2) that result from abnormalities in gene () have previously been described. The phenotype of compound heterozygous classic LCD and GCD2, however, has not yet been reported. (2) Case report: A 39-year-old male (proband) presented to our clinic complaining of decreased vision bilaterally.

Determining ED90 of Flumazenil for Selective Respiratory Distress Improvement Using Remimazolam During Endoscopic Submucosal Dissection of Gastric Neoplasms: A Prospective Study.

Background: Patients undergoing endoscopic submucosal dissection under monitored anesthesia care (MAC) with remimazolam may develop respiratory distress during the procedure. In these cases, low doses of flumazenil improved respiratory distress without completely reversing sedation, which is a novel phenomenon. This study aimed to explore the ED90 of flumazenil to selectively improve respiratory distress in patients with MAC treated with remimazolam.

SORL1-Mediated EGFR and FGFR4 Regulation Enhances Chemoresistance in Ovarian Cancer.

Recurrent tumors that are resistant to conventional chemotherapy are a major challenge of ovarian cancer treatment. A better understanding of the underlying molecular mechanisms of chemoresistance is critical for developing more effective targeted therapies for ovarian cancer. In this study, we analyzed the transcriptomic profiles of thirteen pairs of matching primary and recurrent ovarian cancers to identify genes that were upregulated in the recurrent tumors.