Assessing the impact of air pollution on lung function in South Korea using Bayesian kernel machine regression.

This study investigates the relationship between air pollution and lung function in the South Korean adult population using Bayesian Kernel Machine Regression (BKMR). By integrating 2017 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) data with air pollution data, the study examines the individual and joint effects of key air pollutants-[Formula: see text], [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text], and CO-on lung function indicators, including COPD (binary) and [Formula: see text]FVC (continuous). The findings reveal that [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] have negative effects on lung function, both individually and interactively.

Integrating analytical quality by design into bioanalytical method development: an HPLC-FLD method for quantification of alectinib in biological matrix.

This study presents the development and validation of a fluorescence-based high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method for the quantification of alectinib in rat plasma, with a focus on the application of Analytical Quality by Design (AQbD) to bioanalytical method development. Unlike conventional QbD applications, which primarily address synthetic formulations or instrumental settings, this study systematically applied AQbD principles to the complex environment of biological matrices. Critical method parameters, including the organic phase ratio, buffer concentration, and flow rate, were identified through Failure Mode and Effects Analysis, and optimized using a Box-Behnken design.

Effectiveness and Safety of Omidenepag Isopropyl 0.002% Ophthalmic Solution in Treatment-Naive Patients With Primary Open Angle Glaucoma: A Prospective Multicenter Phase IV Study.

Prcis: Omidenepag isopropyl is a selective E-prostanoid subtype 2 (EP2) receptor agonist that lowers intraocular pressure. Omidenepag isopropyl 0.002% ophthalmic solution is effective and safe to use at the first diagnosis of primary open angle glaucoma.

Lamina Cribrosa Steepness Index to Measure the Morphology of the Lamina Cribrosa in Myopic Eyes With Optic Disc Distortion.

Purpose: To propose a new parameter for evaluating lamina cribrosa (LC) morphology in myopic eyes with optic nerve head (ONH) distortion.

Methods: This study included 169 eyes with normal-tension glaucoma (NTG) and myopic ONH distortion from the Myopic NTG Treatment Study. The LC curvature index (LCCI) and the LC steepness index (LCSI) were assessed in optical coherence tomography B-scan images obtained using an enhanced-depth imaging technique.

Diagnostic performances of diffusion tensor imaging and T2-mapping in diabetic peripheral neuropathy: Age- and diabetes duration-matched study using multi-parametric approach.

Objective: We aim to evaluate the diagnostic performances of diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) and T2-mapping derived parameters for detecting diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN), and whether their combination could further improve the diagnostic performance.

Methods: This prospective study included 17 diabetes patients with DPN, 16 diabetes patients without DPN, and 12 healthy controls, who underwent 3 T knee MRI, including axial T2-weighted Dixon sequence, DTI sequence, and T2-mapping. The mean fractional anisotropy (FA), axial diffusivity (AD), radial diffusivity (RD), mean diffusivity (MD), and tibial nerve T2 relaxation time were calculated.

Longitudinal Tracking of Emphysema Holes at Noncontrast CT: Dynamic Patterns and Clinical Relationships.

Background Emphysema holes change longitudinally in various ways, but current CT measurements lack the ability to fully capture these changes beyond measuring the extent of emphysema. Purpose To track emphysema holes longitudinally, group them according to their dynamics, and investigate their relationship with change in forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV), disease progression, and mortality. Materials and Methods In this secondary analysis, data from participants in the Korean Obstructive Lung Disease cohort study from June 2005 to October 2013 who completed baseline and 6-year follow-up CT with identical protocols were evaluated.

Correction: Effectiveness of digital self-care device for at risk drinking problems: focus on individuals at risk for alcohol-related issues.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2025.

Transperineal US-Guided Biopsy in Metastatic Prostate Cancer with Low Prostate Specific Antigen: A Case Report.

Prostate specific antigen (PSA) is a crucial tool for detecting and monitoring of prostate cancer, and elevated levels of PSA often indicate disease progression. Higher PSA levels are generally associated with more aggressive cancers and an increased risk of cancer-specific mortality. In this report, we present an unusual case of primary aggressive prostate cancer characterized by unexpectedly low PSA levels, despite the presence of multiple lumbar bone metastases at the time of diagnosis.

Effectiveness of digital self-care device for at risk drinking problems: focus on individuals at risk for alcohol-related issues.

Aims: This study was conducted to verify the effectiveness of using digital self-care devices in reducing alcohol-related problems among high-risk alcohol users in community addiction-related institutions.

Methods: Data were collected from 257 adults in Korea aged 18 and over (157 men and 60 women), examining their level of alcohol use disorder and the usage of digital self-care devices (such as the number of days alcohol consumption was logged, continuous days of sobriety, feeling, alcohol cravings, alcohol probability, etc.).

Optimization of Deep Eutectic Solvent-Based Ultrasound-Assisted Extraction of Bioactive Compounds from Maca Leaves Using the Taguchi Method.

This study was conducted to identify the optimal conditions and evaluate the feasibility of deep eutectic solvent (DES)-based ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) for utilizing maca () leaves, an agricultural by-product, as functional materials. The extraction parameters influencing the recovery of saponins and polyphenols, which are major bioactive compounds, were analyzed using the Taguchi method. Results: Signal-to-noise ratios and analysis of variance indicated that the liquid-solid ratio was the most critical factor for optimizing the extraction process.

Predictive modeling of rapid glaucoma progression based on systemic data from electronic medical records.

This study investigated the baseline systemic features that predict rapid thinning of the retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) in patients with primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG). A database drawn from electronic medical records (EMRs) was searched for patients diagnosed with POAG between 2009 and 2016 who had been followed up for > 5 years with the annual evaluation of global RNFL thickness using spectral-domain optical coherence tomography. The rate of change in global RNFL thickness for each eye was determined by linear regression analysis over time.

Integrating bioassay and machine learning data for ecological risk assessments of herbicide use on Ulva australis.

Herbicide contamination of aquatic ecosystems poses a critical risk to biodiversity. Bioassays provide useful ecological insights on responses to herbicides; however, they require a model organism. Ulva australis is an ideal candidate for herbicide toxicity evaluations.

Conformation-sensitive targeting of CD18 depletes M2-like tumor-associated macrophages resulting in inhibition of solid tumor progression.

Background: Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) primarily exist in the M2-like phenotype in the tumor microenvironment (TME). M2-TAMs contribute to tumor progression by establishing an immunosuppressive environment. However, TAM targeting is hindered, mainly owing to a lack of specific biomarkers for M2-TAMs.

Establishment and Its Utility of a Patient-Derived Cell Xenografts (PDCX) Model with Cryopreserved Cancer Cells from Human Tumor.

Patient-derived xenograft (PDX) models are powerful tools in cancer research, offering an accurate platform for evaluating cancer treatment efficacy and predicting responsiveness. However, these models necessitate surgical techniques for tumor tissue transplantation and face challenges with non-uniform tumor growth among animals. To address these issues, we attempted to develop a new PDX modeling method using high-grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSC), a fatal disease with a 5-year survival rate of 29%, which requires personalized research due to its morphological, genetic, and molecular heterogeneities.

Novel non-invasive and quantitative assessment of the renal function of transplanted kidneys using Doppler ultrasonography with the vascular index of superb microvascular imaging.

Purpose: This study assessed the reproducibility and clinical value of the vascular index (VI), derived from superb microvascular imaging (SMI) using Doppler ultrasonography, for evaluating renal function in transplanted kidneys.

Methods: This retrospective study included 63 renal transplant patients who underwent grayscale and Doppler ultrasonography with SMI from January 2022 to February 2023. The VI of the transplanted kidneys was measured using three methods (VIbox, VIF1, VIF2).

A comparison of arteriovenous grafts and fistulas in lower extremity hemodialysis procedures.

Objective: Although upper arm hemodialysis access is preferred due to better patency and lower complication rates, femoral access remains necessary for certain patients. This study evaluates the patency rates of femoral hemodialysis access, specifically comparing femoral vein transposition arteriovenous fistula (AVF) and arteriovenous graft (AVG), and identifying factors affecting patency.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective review of patients who received femoral access at our institution from 2006 to 2022.

Comparison of Structural Changes after Epiretinal Membrane Peeling between Nonglaucomatous Eyes and Eyes with Open-Angle Glaucoma.

Purpose: To compare the structural changes in the peripapillary and macular regions following pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) with epiretinal membrane (ERM) peeling between nonglaucomatous eyes and eyes with primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG).

Design: A retrospective, longitudinal, observational study.

Participants: Sixty-eight eyes (34 POAG and 34 nonglaucomatous eyes) that underwent PPV with ERM peeling surgery.

Comparative Analysis of Lamina Parameters in Nonglaucomatous Eyes With and Without Pseudoexfoliation Syndrome.

Objective: To compare lamina cribrosa (LC) parameters in nonglaucomatous eyes with pseudoexfoliation syndrome (PXFS) and healthy control eyes to assess structural alterations that may contribute to early glaucoma pathophysiology.

Design: Retrospective, cross-sectional study.

Participants: Fifty eyes with non-glaucomatous PXFS and 50 healthy, age-matched control eyes.

Comparative Effects of Probiotics and Paraprobiotics Derived from , , and in a DSS-Induced Ulcerative Colitis Mouse Model.

Live biotherapeutic products, represented by probiotics with disease-mitigating or therapeutic effects, face significant limitations in achieving stable colonization in the gut through oral administration. However, paraprobiotics, which consist of dead or inactivated microbial cells derived from probiotics, can provide comparable health benefits while overcoming the limitations associated with live biotherapeutic products. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to quantitatively compare and analyze the effects of probiotics, which are gaining attention as treatments for inflammatory bowel diseases, and their paraprobiotic counterparts on the alleviation of ulcerative colitis.

Image quality and diagnostic performance of deep learning reconstruction for diffusion- weighted imaging in 3 T breast MRI.

Purpose: This study aimed to assess the image quality and the diagnostic value of deep learning reconstruction (DLR) for diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) compared with conventional single-shot echo-planar imaging (ss-EPI) in 3 T breast MRI.

Methods: Between January and July 2023, this single-center prospective study involved patients who underwent both clinical breast MRI and additional DWIs including accelerated (fast DLR) and high-resolution (HR DLR) for the research purpose. Two radiologists independently evaluated image quality, including fat suppression homogeneity, image blurring, artifacts, and lesion conspicuity.

Imaging Features of the Mesenchymal Tumors of the Breast according to WHO Classification: A Pictorial Essay.

Mesenchymal tumors of the breast, which originate from the mammary stroma, are rare accounting for only approximately 0.5%-1% of all breast tumors. Pathologically, they can exist on a spectrum, ranging from benign to malignant.

Anatomical Variations, Genitourinary Anomalies and Clinical Presentations in Obstructed Hemivagina and Ipsilateral Renal Anomaly Syndrome: Case Series.

Obstructed hemivagina and ipsilateral renal anomaly (OHVIRA) syndrome is a rare Müllerian duct anomaly, commonly characterized by uterus didelphys, obstructed hemivagina, and ipsilateral renal agenesis. While these are the three most common genitourinary anomalies in OHVIRA syndrome, a spectrum of urogenital anomalies can be present. Knowledge of this spectrum is crucial for proper patient management and treatment planning.

Optical Coherence Tomography Image Enhancement and Layer Detection Using Cycle-GAN.

Variations in image clarity across different OCT devices, along with the inconsistent delineation of RNFL boundaries, pose a challenge to achieving consistent diagnoses for glaucoma. Recently, deep learning methods such as GANs for image transformation have been gaining attention. This paper introduces deep learning methods to transform low-clarity images from one OCT device into high-clarity images from another, concurrently estimating the retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) segmentation lines in the enhanced images.