Hepatitis B virus reactivation in patients with hematologic malignancies treated with Bruton tyrosine kinase inhibitors.

Purpose: Bruton tyrosine kinase inhibitors (BTKis) are effective and well-tolerated treatments for chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and mantle cell lymphoma (MCL). Here, we describe the clinical characteristics of hepatitis B virus (HBV) reactivation in patients with hematological malignancies treated with BTKis.

Methods: Patients were required to have a pathologically confirmed diagnosis of CLL or MCL, receive at least one cycle of ibrutinib or zanubrutinib, and have either positive hepatitis B surface antigen or hepatitis B core antibody at diagnosis.

Effectiveness of prophylactic intrathecal chemotherapy and risk factors of central nervous system relapse after allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation in acute myeloid leukemia.

Central nervous system (CNS) relapse in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is uncommon but associated with poor outcomes. This retrospective study analyzed 960 AML patients who underwent hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) at Asan Medical Center between 2000 and 2020 to assess the efficacy of prophylactic intrathecal chemotherapy. Per protocol, patients received up to four intrathecal methotrexate (MTX).

Gene expression analysis of patients with chronic myeloid leukemia who discontinued tyrosine kinase inhibitor.

The immunological mechanism of treatment-free remission is not clearly understood. We aimed to identify immune-related genetic differences that predict molecular relapse after tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) discontinuation in patients with chronic phase chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). In this prospective multicenter study, patients who were treated with TKI for at least 3 years discontinued TKI and were monitored for loss of major molecular response.

Autonomous screening of infants at high risk for neurodevelopmental impairments using a radar sensor and machine learning.

Neurodevelopmental impairments (NDIs) are significant long-term complications in preterm infants. While early recognition of infants at high risk for NDIs is essential for enabling timely intervention, it remains a challenging endeavor. Autonomous screening methods utilizing sensors represent a promising avenue for addressing this challenge, yet they remain an open area of research.

Cardiovascular disease in adolescent and young adult survivors of non-Hodgkin lymphoma in Korea.

Purpose: Long-term cardiovascular risk in adolescent and young adult (AYA) survivors of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) remains insufficiently characterized. This retrospective cohort study investigated the incidence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) among AYA survivors of NHL.

Methods: We identified 4553 individuals aged 15-39 years diagnosed with NHL between 2006 and 2019 using the Korean National Health Insurance System database.

Machine learning assisted noncontact neonatal anthropometry using FMCW radar.

This study proposes a method for measuring the height and weight of a neonate conveniently, safely, and accurately by applying a convolutional neural network to frequency-modulated continuous-wave (FMCW) radar sensor data. Fifteen neonates, with parental consent, were enrolled in the study. The neonates were divided into two groups for analysis.

Impact of Cytomegalovirus Reactivation Following Allogeneic Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation on the Relapse of Acute Leukemia.

Background: Cytomegalovirus (CMV) reactivation following allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) is a significant complication; however, its impact on relapse remains controversial.

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the clinical impact of CMV reactivation on relapse and survival after HCT in patients with acute leukemia.

Study Design: We conducted a retrospective analysis of 1258 patients diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) who underwent their first HCT between 2000 and 2020.

Altered heme metabolism and hemoglobin concentration due to empirical antibiotics-induced gut dysbiosis in preterm infants.

Background: High-risk infants are usually treated with empirical antibiotics after birth, regardless of the evidence of infection; however, their gut microbiome and metabolome have seldom been studied. This study investigated the influence of antibiotic exposure on the gut microbiome and associated metabolic pathways in term and preterm infants.

Methods: Thirty-six infants within 10 days of birth who were admitted to a neonatal intensive care unit/newborn nursery unit were divided into four groups based on maturity (gestational age) and use of empirical antibiotics.

Validating the Korean Geriatric Assessment Tool in Elderly Multiple Myeloma Patients: A Multicenter Study.

Purpose: This study evaluates the Korean Cancer Study Group Geriatric Score-7 (KG-7) frailty screening tool's effectiveness in elderly multiple myeloma (MM) patients to prevent under and over-treatment.

Materials And Methods: This prospective pilot cohort study included 100 elderly patients aged 70 and older with newly diagnosed MM who had not undergone transplantation from August 2020 to January 2022.

Results: The median age was 77 years, and 73% of patients were classified at International Staging System (ISS) stages 2 or 3.

Evaluating waist-to-hip ratio in youth using frequency-modulated continuous wave radar and machine learning.

Waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) is an essential predictor of cardiometabolic diseases, but traditional tape-based WHR measurements in children and adolescents can cause discomfort due to direct contact and are prone to measurer variation. This study aimed to develop a non-invasive, precise, and convenient alternative for WHR measurement and central obesity assessment using frequency modulated continuous wave (FMCW) radar, and to evaluate its accuracy by comparing it with traditional measurement methods. We included 100 participants aged 7-18 and radar data were analyzed using point cloud generation processed through convolutional neural networks for estimating WHR.

Association Between Home-Base Primary Care and Postdischarge Outcomes Among Older Adults in Korea.

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the association between home-based primary care (HBPC) and postdischarge outcomes in Korean older adults.

Design: HBPC was a service that provided medical care by visiting the homes of older adults with limited mobility. In this study, data from the National Health Insurance Service (NHIS) were used, and groups with and without HBPC services were matched 1:1 through propensity score matching.

Cardiac remodeling in elite young Asian female soccer players.

Introduction: An athlete's heart (AH) varies depending on race, sex, age, and the type and intensity of training. Given that soccer is a common sport, evaluation of cardiac function in soccer players is important; however, few studies have analyzed adolescent soccer players. Therefore, this study, aimed to identify early changes in AH in soccer players by evaluating the echocardiographic findings of adolescent Asian female soccer players for whom existing data are scarce.

Provider Perspectives, Barriers, and Improvement Strategies for Hospital Discharge Support Programs: A Focus Group Interview Study in Korea.

Objectives: Transitional periods, such as patient discharge, are notably challenging. This study aimed to explore the perceptions of providers involved in hospital discharge support programs, identify the primary obstacles, and propose strategies for improvement.

Methods: In this qualitative cross-sectional study, we interviewed 49 healthcare professionals, comprising doctors, nurses, and social workers, who participated in two pilot programs.

Association Between Risk Perceptions of COVID-19, Political Ideology, and Mask-Wearing Behavior After the Outbreak: A Cross-Sectional Survey in South Korea.

Purpose: After the declaration by the World Health Organization signaling the conclusion of the COVID-19 pandemic, most countries lifted mandatory mask-wearing regulations. This study aimed to investigate factors such as risk perception and political ideology associated with continued adherence to mask-wearing among specific populations, particularly when it is no longer deemed necessary.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study including a sample of 1001 respondents stratified by sex, age (≥ 18 years), and region from January 31 to February 2, 2023, after the mandatory mask regulation was lifted in South Korea.

Comparative analysis of salivary cortisol measurements using different assay methods in relation to serum-free cortisol measurement.

Objectives: Salivary cortisol reflects the biologically active form of serum cortisol, offering a noninvasive evaluation method for the diurnal rhythm of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. While liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) is known for its specificity, immunoassays (IA) are commonly used because of their simplicity. This study aimed to assess the performance of salivary cortisol measurement using both IA and LC-MS/MS in comparison to serum-free cortisol measurement.

Microalgal and activated sludge processing for biodegradation of textile dyes.

The textile industry contributes substantially to water pollution. To investigate bioremediation of dye-containing wastewater, the decolorization and biotransformation of three textile azo dyes, Red HE8B, Reactive Green 27, and Acid Blue 29, were considered using an integrated remediation approach involving the microalga Chlamydomonas mexicana and activated sludge (ACS). At a 5 mg L dye concentration, using C.

Machine learning-based analysis for prediction of surgical necrotizing enterocolitis in very low birth weight infants using perinatal factors: a nationwide cohort study.

Early prediction of surgical necrotizing enterocolitis (sNEC) in preterm infants is important. However, owing to the complexity of the disease, identifying infants with NEC at a high risk for surgical intervention is difficult. We developed a machine learning (ML) algorithm to predict sNEC using perinatal factors obtained from the national cohort registry of very low birth weight (VLBW) infants.

Treatment outcomes and prognostic factors of patients with lymphoblastic lymphoma in East Asia.

Lymphoblastic lymphoma (LBL) is a rare, aggressive non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) that has no established therapeutic approaches. The aim of this study was to investigate optimal treatments and prognostic risk models for patients with LBL in East Asia. We retrospectively examined the clinical data and treatment courses of adult patients diagnosed as LBL by WHO 2017 classification system.