Frequency Switching Neuristor for Realizing Intrinsic Plasticity and Enabling Robust Neuromorphic Computing.

The human brain's efficiency and adaptability in processing information is largely attributed to spatiotemporal spiking activities and intrinsic plasticity-the ability of neurons to autonomously modulate their excitability. Mott memristors, with their threshold switching characteristics, have been effectively utilized as artificial neurons, or neuristors, to generate spiking activities. However, the implementation of intrinsic plasticity and its significance in neuromorphic computing has yet to be systematically explored.

4D flow MRI of aortic blood flow parameters in healthy volunteers: Sex- and age-specific analysis.

Purpose: Four-dimensional (4D) flow MRI enables comprehensive assessment of aortic hemodynamics, but normative values remain limited, especially for Asian populations. This study aimed to establish age- and sex-specific normative values for flow-related parameters in healthy Korean adults.

Methods: Seventy-seven healthy volunteers (aged 20-79 years) underwent 4D flow MRI.

Update on left ventricular outflow tract obstruction.

The diagnosis and management of left ventricular outflow tract obstruction have evolved substantially since its initial characterization by invasive cardiac catheterization nearly 70 years ago. This review traces the historical progression of our understanding of left ventricular outflow tract obstruction, with a particular focus on the pivotal role of echocardiography in redefining its detection, hemodynamic assessment, and clinical relevance, especially as its prevalence is expected to increase along with the growing aging population.

Management of Benign Symptomatic Thyroid Nodules in Rhode Island Using Radiofrequency Ablation.

The management of benign symptomatic thyroid nodules can pose a challenge when weighing treatment options. While surgical resection has been the gold standard, the risks and consequences of partial or total thyroidectomy may outweigh the benefits of the procedure. Additionally, a significant number of patients are not surgical candidates due to comorbidities, potential risks, or personal preference.

Initial surgery versus conservative management of chronic severe aortic regurgitation in mild symptomatic older patients.

Background: Aortic valve replacement (AVR) for severe aortic regurgitation (AR) should be weighed against its operative risk. Mortality is lower in patients with mild symptoms than in those with severe symptoms, while the surgical risk remains high in older patients. This study aimed to evaluate the survival benefit of AVR in mildly symptomatic older patients with severe AR.

Spironolactone vs Amiloride for Resistant Hypertension: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance: Amiloride has been proposed as an alternative to spironolactone for treating resistant hypertension. However, no randomized clinical trials have compared the efficacy of spironolactone and amiloride in patients with resistant hypertension.

Objective: To determine whether amiloride is noninferior to spironolactone in reducing home-measured systolic blood pressure (SBP) in patients with resistant hypertension.

Importance of Enteral Feeding: Enhancing Patient Care through Interventional Radiology.

Enteral feeding plays a vital role for patients who are unable to meet their nutritional needs through oral intake, providing benefit to those with conditions such as inflammatory bowel disease, postsurgical recovery, chronic dysphagia, dysfunctional gastrointestinal tract, and critical illness. The role of interventional radiologists in enteral access is expanding, reflecting our pivotal role in nutritional support in clinical practice. This review explores the development, comparative benefits, and clinical outcomes associated with enteral nutrition (EN), highlighting its strengths and weaknesses as compared to parenteral nutrition (PN).

Versatile Decal-Transfer Method for Fabricating and Analyzing Microporous Layers in Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Water Electrolysis.

Polymer electrolyte membrane water electrolysis (PEMWE) is hindered by the reliance on expensive iridium-based catalysts. To address this economic challenge, minimizing iridium usage while maintaining performance and durability is imperative. Achieving this goal requires enhanced catalyst utilization through improved electron, ion, and mass transport within the anode.

Assessment of Heat Stroke-Induced Brain Injury: A Preclinical Study with a Rat Model Using F-FDG Brain PET.

Purpose: Heat stroke is the most serious heat-related illness and is recognized as a worldwide public concern as global temperatures continue to rise. Although the clinical neurological complications of heat stroke are relatively well described, a limited number of studies exist that document imaging findings. Therefore, in this preclinical study, we aimed to identify the imaging findings of F-FDG brain PET following heat stroke and elucidate the utility of FDG PET in the evaluation of heat stroke-induced brain injury.

Sex-Specific Association of Left Ventricular Function With Mortality in Severe Mitral Regurgitation.

Importance: The association between left ventricular (LV) systolic dysfunction and adverse outcomes in patients with severe degenerative mitral regurgitation (MR) may vary by sex.

Objective: To investigate the sex-specific association of LV systolic function with mortality in patients with severe degenerative MR.

Design, Setting, And Participants: This retrospective cohort study included consecutive patients who underwent surgery for severe degenerative MR at 2 tertiary hospitals in South Korea from 2006 to 2020.

Spermidine Enhances Mitochondrial Function and Mitigates Aortic Valve Calcification: Implications for DNA Methyltransferase-1 Activity.

Aortic stenosis (AS) is a severe heart valve disease marked by calcification, leading to heart failure. This study examined mitochondrial function in human aortic valve interstitial cells isolated from patients with AS and tested spermidine, an autophagy inducer as AS treatment. Spermidine treatment reduced fibrosis and calcification in human aortic valve interstitial cells and improved these features in spermidine-treated mice.

Calculation of Regurgitant Volume Using Echocardiographic Volumetric Method for Accurate Diagnosis of Severe Mitral Regurgitation.

Background: Recent studies have shown suboptimal results of the proximal isovelocity surface area (PISA) method and the American Society of Echocardiography (ASE) algorithm for diagnosing severe primary mitral regurgitation (MR). The aim of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of regurgitant volume (RegVol) calculated using volumetric transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) for diagnosing severe primary MR.

Methods: A total of 74 patients with primary MR due to prolapse or flail leaflet were prospectively recruited for both TTE and cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging.

Mavacamten for Left Ventricular Outflow Tract Obstruction After Successful Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation.

Hemodynamically significant left ventricular outflow tract obstruction is a rare complication of transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI). This study presents an unusual case of a patient who, after a successful TAVI, developed and experienced progressive worsening of severe left ventricular outflow tract obstruction after uneventful TAVI that was effectively relieved using mavacamten.

An automated software algorithm for optimizing microwave ablation parameters for treatment of liver tumors.

Purpose: To evaluate the performance of a software algorithm developed to streamline microwave liver ablation parameter selection and to compare performance of this algorithm to that of experienced interventional radiologists.

Methods: Patients who underwent microwave ablation for treatment of liver tumors were retrospectively identified. An automated software platform was developed to select the top three 'best fit' combinations of microwave ablation power, time, and vendor for a given tumor to achieve a 5 mm minimal ablative margin (MAM).

2514 Cases of Thoracoabdominal and Descending Thoracic Aorta Surgery: Strategies Associated With Improved Survival, Stroke, and Paraplegia.

Background: Despite the remarkable outcome of open thoracoabdominal aortic repairs of high-volume aortic centers, generalized results that span diverse clinical settings are needed in the era of thoracic endovascular aortic repair. This study explored national real-world data focusing on the impact of cumulative surgical volume on the operative outcomes.

Methods: Data from the Korean National Health Insurance Service claims database were used to create a cohort that included adult patients who underwent open thoracoabdominal or descending thoracic aortic aneurysm repairs from 2008 to 2020.

Safety and Efficacy of Pivot-Balloon for Severe Tricuspid Regurgitation: The First-in-Man Experiences.

Background And Objectives: Among various emerging catheter-based treatments for severe tricuspid regurgitation (TR), the spacer device can reduce the regurgitation orifice without manipulating the valve leaflet. However, its clinical application has been hampered by traumatic anchoring to the myocardium and the coaxial alignment of the balloon resulting in insufficient TR reduction. This study aimed to evaluate the early-stage safety, technical feasibility, and preliminary efficacy of the novel atraumatic vertical spacer in patients with isolated severe TR.

Impact of preoperative clinical and imaging factors on post-pericardiectomy outcomes in chronic constrictive pericarditis patients.

The present study was designed to identify the preoperative clinical and imaging findings influencing adverse clinical outcomes in patients with chronic constrictive pericarditis after pericardiectomy. Patients with constrictive pericarditis who underwent pericardiectomy between January 2009 and September 2023 were retrospectively analyzed. Preoperative evaluations included assessments of clinical symptoms, comorbidities, laboratory tests, cardiac computed tomography (CT), and transthoracic echocardiography.

Discrepancies between home blood pressure and ambulatory blood pressure monitoring in apparent treatment-resistant hypertension: analysis from the Korean resistant hypertension cohort.

This study aimed to investigate the characteristics of out-of-office blood pressure (BP) measurements in patients with apparent treatment-resistant hypertension (aRH) enrolled from 15 tertiary care centers in South Korea. aRH was defined as having uncontrolled office BP ≥ 130/80 mmHg despite receiving three classes of antihypertensive medication or any level of BP despite receiving ≥4 classes of antihypertensive medication. Patients with complete data for office BP, 24-h ambulatory BP monitoring (ABPM), and home BP measurements at baseline were included.