Neck posture-dependent variations in cervical central canal stenosis among ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament patients: Follow-up neutral position magnetic resonance study.

In patients with cervical ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL), posture differences in neutral Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) can affect central canal stenosis evaluation, but their impact on sagittal alignment parameters and central canal stenosis measurements remains unclear. This retrospective cohort study sought to evaluate neck posture-dependent variations in central canal stenosis in patients with OPLL and assess the influence of sagittal alignment parameters. Fifty-seven patients underwent two neutral-position MRI scans within six months.

Less Is More: Going Green in Urological Procedures.

Introduction: Operating rooms produce significant waste that is disproportionate compared with other departments within health care systems. In this pilot study, we aim to quantify the recyclable and nonrecyclable waste generated by urologic procedures at our institution, as well as survey other urologists' recycling practices.

Methods: Data were collected from January 2022 to October 2024 for 5 urologic procedures: ureteral stent exchange, ureteroscopy and laser lithotripsy for stone removal, percutaneous nephrolithotomy, robotic-assisted radical prostatectomy, and radical cystectomy.

Impact of diabetes mellitus on spinal injection two-week outcomes in patients with predominant lower extremity pain.

Objective: To evaluate the effect of diabetes mellitus (DM) on the effectiveness of spinal injections in patients with predominant lower extremity pain.

Materials And Methods: This retrospective study included 218 patients (109 with DM and 109 without DM, matched by propensity scores; mean age 68.4 ± 9.

Higher resilience in radical cystectomy patients is associated with improved health related quality of life post-operatively.

Background: Radical cystectomy (RC) with urinary diversion (UD) is associated with substantial morbidity. Enhanced recovery after surgery protocols, increased robotic usage, and improvements in urinary diversion have been evaluated for their effects on health-related Quality of Life (HRQoL), however, results are mixed. How psychosocial traits inherent to the patient influence HRQoL outcomes is unknown in this population.

Optogenetic induction of TDP-43 aggregation impairs neuronal integrity and behavior in Caenorhabditis elegans.

Background: Cytoplasmic aggregation of TAR DNA binding protein 43 (TDP-43) in neurons is one of the hallmarks of TDP-43 proteinopathy. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD) are closely associated with TDP-43 proteinopathy; however, it remains uncertain whether TDP-43 aggregation initiates the pathology or is a consequence of it.

Methods: To demonstrate the pathology of TDP-43 aggregation, we applied the optoDroplet technique in Caenorhabditis elegans (C.

Genome Sequencing of Rare Disease Patients Through the Korean Regional Rare Disease Diagnostic Support Program.

Affecting fewer than 20,000 people as defined in South Korea, rare diseases pose significant diagnostic challenges due to their diverse manifestations and genetic heterogeneity. Genome sequencing (GS) offers a promising solution by enabling simultaneous screening for thousands of rare genetic disorders. This study explores the diagnostic utility and necessity of GS within the government-funded Korean Regional Rare Disease Diagnostic Support Program (KR-RDSP), a collaborative initiative involving 11 regional rare disease centers across Korea.

Long-term gait improvement following a CSF tap test in idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus patients: an analysis of clinical outcomes.

Objectives: To evaluate the sustained effects of the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) tap test (TT) on gait parameters over one month in patients with idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus (iNPH).

Methods: A retrospective study was conducted on 150 patients with iNPH from two university hospitals who underwent CSF TT and quantitative gait analysis. Gait parameters, including walking speed (WS) and stride length (SL), were measured before, within 24 h after, and one month after the CSF TT.

Opportunistic screening of osteoporosis using CT urography: comparison of diagnostic performance between contrast phases.

BackgroundOpportunistic screening of osteoporosis using computed tomography (CT) should be optimized according to CT protocols. However, to date, no study has evaluated the different contrast phases of CT urography in osteoporosis screening.PurposeTo compare the diagnostic performance of different contrast phases of CT urography in opportunistic screening of osteoporosis.

Development of invasive non-typhoidal Salmonella conjugate vaccines and their evaluation in a trivalent formulation with typhoid conjugate vaccine.

Invasive nontyphoidal Salmonella (iNTS) infections, primarily caused by Salmonella enterica serovars Typhimurium (S. Typhimurium) and Enteritidis (S. Enteritidis), represent a significant public health concern, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa, where multidrug-resistant (MDR) strains are increasingly prevalent.

Hand hygiene opportunities in neonatal intensive care: a multicenter observational study to calibrate group electronic monitoring systems.

Observers were randomized to time and location across two different Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICUs) to count hand hygiene opportunities (HHOs). Mean hourly HHO was lower at night and during use of precautions, and higher in shared rooms. HHO benchmarks can support implementation of group electronic monitoring systems in NICUs.

The role of melatonin and circadian rhythms in the pathogenesis of diabetic retinopathy: A systematic review.

Aims: This review investigates literature on systemic melatonin levels and circadian timing in diabetic retinopathy (DR), examining their associations with DR.

Methods: Our search was conducted in March 14, 2024, and included the databases Medline, Web of Science, Scopus, ProQuest Health, Latin American and Caribbean Health Sciences Literature (LILACS), Cochrane, International Standard Randomised Controlled Trial Number (ISRCTN) registry, and International Clinical Trials Registry Platform (ICTRP).

Results: Our review analysed twelve articles measuring melatonin concentration in saliva, blood serum, urine, or aqueous humour.

Attributable Costs of Infections in Korea.

Background: infection (CDI) is one of the most common hospital-acquired infections, with its incidence and disease burden increasing markedly worldwide over the past decade.

Methods: To assess the attributable costs of CDI in Korea, the expenses related to hospital management of CDI cases were computed. This analysis used data from the National Health Insurance Service-National Sample Cohort spanning a decade (2010-2019).

Exome sequencing of 18,994 ethnically diverse patients with suspected rare Mendelian disorders.

We investigated the effectiveness of exome sequencing (ES) in diagnosing ethnically diverse patients with rare genetic disorders. A total of 18,994 patients referred to a single reference laboratory for ES between 2020 and 2022 were studied for the diagnostic rate and factors influencing the diagnostic rate. The overall diagnostic rate was 31.

PRMT1-mediated methylation regulates MLL2 stability and gene expression.

The interplay between multiple transcription factors precisely regulates eukaryotic transcription. Here, we report that the protein methyltransferases, MLL2/KMT2B and PRMT1, interact directly and act collectively to regulate gene expression. PRMT1 binds to the N-terminal region of MLL2, considered an intrinsically disordered region, and methylates multiple arginine residues within its RGG/RG motifs.

Redefining copy number variation and single-nucleotide polymorphism counting via novel concepts based on recent PCR enhancements.

Human genes have numerous copy number variations (CNVs) and single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) that control most of the body's core functions. On average, 12-16 % of human genes have CNVs, and a single gene can have a few hundred to several thousand SNPs. Numerous genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have shown that CNVs and SNPs can coexist in certain genomic regions, amplifying their effects on gene expression and regulation and disease susceptibility.

Regions of interest in opportunistic computed tomography-based screening for osteoporosis: impact on short-term in vivo precision.

Objective: To determine an optimal region of interest (ROI) for opportunistic screening of osteoporosis in terms of short-term in vivo diagnostic precision.

Materials And Methods: We included patients who underwent two CT scans and one dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry scan within a month in 2022. Deep-learning software automatically measured the attenuation in L1 using 54 ROIs (three slice thicknesses × six shapes × three intravertebral levels).

The Impact of Violent Media Content and Knowledge of Viable Responses to Cyberviolence on Good Citizenship Behavior Among South Korean Adolescents.

Exposure to cyberviolence among adolescents has become a societal issue in the media-saturated world. In this study, we examine whether or not exposure to violent media content, victimization or perpetration experiences, parental and teacher intervention, susceptibility, knowledge of viable responses when exposed to cyberviolence, and awareness of legal consequences influence the witnessing of cyberviolence among adolescents. Additionally, we investigate the characteristics that lead to good citizenship behavior when adolescents witness cyberviolence.

Nrf2-Dependent Adaptation to Oxidative Stress Protects Against Progression of Diabetic Nephropathy.

Adaptation to oxidative stress is essential for maintaining protein and redox homeostasis in mammalian cells. Palmitic acid (PA) plays a central role in oxidative stress and immunoproteasome regulation in podocytes and diabetes, and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) have beneficial impact on diabetes. The role of Nrf2 in adaptation to oxidative stress and regulation of immunoproteasome by PA and EPA/DHA in podocytes and diabetic kidneys is not well defined.

The BAF complex enhances transcription through interaction with H3K56ac in the histone globular domain.

Histone post-translational modifications play pivotal roles in eukaryotic gene expression. To date, most studies have focused on modifications in unstructured histone N-terminal tail domains and their binding proteins. However, transcriptional regulation by chromatin-effector proteins that directly recognize modifications in histone globular domains has yet to be clearly demonstrated, despite the richness of their multiple modifications.

Monitoring in Water through Real-Time Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification on Biochips.

Access to clean water is fundamental to public health and safety, serving as the cornerstone of well-being in communities. Despite the significant investments of millions of dollars in water testing and treatment processes, the United States continues to grapple with over 7 million waterborne-related cases annually. This persistent challenge underscores the pressing need for the development of a new, efficient, rapid, low-cost, and reliable method for ensuring water quality.

Feasibility of deep learning algorithm in diagnosing lumbar central canal stenosis using abdominal CT.

Objective: To develop a deep learning algorithm for diagnosing lumbar central canal stenosis (LCCS) using abdominal CT (ACT) and lumbar spine CT (LCT).

Materials And Methods: This retrospective study involved 109 patients undergoing LCTs and ACTs between January 2014 and July 2021. The dural sac on CT images was manually segmented and classified as normal or stenosed (dural sac cross-sectional area ≥ 100 mm or < 100 mm, respectively).

Clinical outcome of ampicillin or ampicillin/sulbactam versus glycopeptides in ampicillin-susceptible Enterococcus faecalis/faecium bacteremia: a 10-year retrospective cohort study.

Background: Glycopeptides for ampicillin-susceptible Enterococcus faecalis/faecium bacteremia are readily prescribed depending on the severity of the condition. However, there is limited data on the outcomes of glycopeptide use compared to ampicillin-containing regimens for ampicillin-susceptible E. faecalis/faecium bacteremia.

Clinical and MR Predictors of Retro-Odontoid Pseudotumor Regression Following Posterior Fixation in Patients with Atlantoaxial Instability.

Purpose: To identify clinical and MR predictors of retro-odontoid pseudotumor (ROP) regression after posterior fixation in patients with atlantoaxial instability.

Materials And Methods: We included patients who had undergone posterior fixation for atlantoaxial instability and preoperative and postoperative MR imaging. Patients were classified into two groups according to the degree of ROP regression after posterior fixation: regression (≥ 10% reduction) and no regression (< 10% reduction).

Exploring Industry Payments to Urology Residents: A Longitudinal Analysis Under the Sunshine Act.

Objective: To explore the financial interactions between urology residents and the healthcare industry over a 5-year training period, assessing the implications of these interactions on medical education and practice considering the Physician Payments Sunshine Act.

Design: Longitudinal analysis of Open Payments data for a single class of urology residents from 2018 to 2023.

Setting: Data were extracted from the CMS Open Payments Database and cross-referenced with residency program information from the American Urological Association (AUA) and the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME).