Methodology for Assessing Patient Centricity and Data Integrity in Clinical Trials With Decentralized Elements: A Pilot Trial on Mastic Gum.

Decentralized elements enhanced patient centricity by shifting trial-related activities outside traditional trial sites. On the other hand, remote data collection poses potential risks to data integrity. Although these two are critical aspects of decentralized elements, methodologies for assessing them remain limited.

Nanosphere loaded with curcumin attenuates adipogenesis and lipid metabolism by modulating AKT/mTORC1/PPARγ phosphorylation.

Curcumin, a hydrophobic polyphenol derived from turmeric, exhibits diverse biological activities as a natural supplement. However, its low gastrointestinal absorption significantly limits its oral bioavailability. In this study, we investigated the effects of curcumin-loaded nanospheres (CN) on adipocyte differentiation in 3T3-L1 cells and obesity development in high-fat diet-induced obese mice.

Radiation-induced acute lung pneumonitis after PBS proton treatment for breast cancer: Correlation with dose-volume parameters and optimization objectives to reduce lung toxicities.

Proton treatment using pencil-beam scanning (PBS) for patients with breast cancer offers advantages in achieving a conformal dose distribution while also reducing the cardiac dose. However, when employing two anterior fields to mitigate the effects of respiratory motion on dose delivery, managing the ipsilateral lung doses becomes critical due to the high linear-energy transfer (LET) at the distal end of the beams. Although the incidence of radiation pneumonitis (RP) following breast radiation therapy is relatively low, it is essential to address the cases that develop RP following proton treatment to minimize lung toxicity.

Effect of Deep Learning-Based Artificial Intelligence on Radiologists' Performance in Identifying Nigrosome 1 Abnormalities on Susceptibility Map-Weighted Imaging.

Objective: To evaluate the effect of deep learning (DL)-based artificial intelligence (AI) software on the diagnostic performance of radiologists with different experience levels in detecting nigrosome 1 (N1) abnormalities on susceptibility map-weighted imaging (SMwI).

Materials And Methods: This retrospective diagnostic case-control study analyzed 139 SMwI scans of 59 patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) and 80 healthy participants. Participants were imaged using 3T MRI, and AI-generated assessments for N1 abnormalities were obtained using an AI model (version 1.

Set1 is a critical transcriptional regulator in response to external signals in Candida albicans.

Precise gene regulation is vital for maintaining cellular homeostasis and enabling environmental adaptation in living organisms. Eukaryotic organisms display intricate transcriptional regulation influenced by chromatin structures and histone modifications. Set1-mediated methylation of histone H3 at lysine 4 (H3K4) is a well-established marker of active transcription in eukaryotes.

Estimation of events in cohort studies based on probability of cognitive impairment.

BackgroundDementia and Alzheimer's disease-causing pathologies progress slowly over decades, and participants are recruited cognitively intact, so designing studies to observe enough cases within a feasible timeframe is important.ObjectiveIn this study, we used readily available basic predictors, age, family history, sex, and apolipoprotein E () 4 allele carriership, to generate cumulative incidence functions for serious cognitive impairments over years of follow-up.MethodsThe data were taken from the University of Kentucky Alzheimer's Disease Research Center longitudinal cohort established in 1989.

High-resolution detection of RPS24 microexon variations reveals novel splicing patterns in response to KRAS-targeted therapy in lung adenocarcinoma.

Alternative splicing (AS) dysregulation is increasingly recognized as a critical factor in cancer progression and drug response. However, precisely detecting and characterizing complex splicing events, particularly those involving microexons, remains technically challenging. Ribosomal Protein 24 (RPS24), which contains three microexons (3, 18, and 22 bp), serves as an ideal model for studying complex AS regulation in cancer.

Sequence analysis and decoding with extra low-quality reads for DNA data storage.

Motivation: Error detection/correction codes play an important role to reduce writing and/or reading costs in DNA data storage. Sequence analysis algorithms also make a crucial effect on error correction but have been executed independently from the decoding of error correction codes. In conventional sequence analysis, low-quality reads are usually discarded.

Complete genome sequence of strain BS22LVI isolated from the intestine of whiteleg shrimp, .

We report the complete genome sequence of strain BS22LVI, isolated from the mid-hindgut of whiteleg shrimp () in Korea. The 3,824,412 bp circular genome has a G + C content of 41.65% and encodes 3,828 predicted coding sequences, including genes associated with antimicrobial activity and quorum quenching.

Relative biological effectiveness-weighted dose sparing utilizing a linear energy transfer optimization function for organs-at-risk in left breast proton treatment plans.

Current proton treatment plans employ a constant relative biological effectiveness (RBE) of 1.1, which may underestimate organs-at-risk (OAR) doses due to high linear energy transfer (LET) at the distal end of the proton beam. When 2 anterior fields are used for left breast treatment using pencil beam scanning (PBS), the ipsilateral lung and heart are susceptible to high LET.

Association between blood cadmium levels and the risk of chronic kidney disease in Korea, based on the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2016-2017.

Background: Exposure to environmental cadmium can have harmful effects on the human kidneys. The relationship between the degree of exposure to cadmium and the risk of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in the general population is unclear.

Objectives: To investigate the association between blood cadmium levels and CKD risk using samples from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) VII data, which included heavy metal and serum creatinine levels.

Revision Rates for Rechargeable Versus Non-Rechargeable Sacral Neuromodulation Devices in the Management of Overactive Bladder.

Purpose: Overactive bladder (OAB) is a prevalent condition that can have a significant impact on quality of life. Sacral neuromodulation (SNM) is proven as an effective treatment option for OAB patients. Rechargeable devices have gained popularity in recent years.

Operational Improvement of a Proton Therapy System From Reduced Energy Layer Switching Time.

Purpose: This study reports the potential operational improvement provided by reduced energy layer switching time and total beam delivery time of a 3-room IBA ProteusPLUS system.

Materials And Methods: Eight treatment fields, including various disease sites and a reference cube, were analyzed for energy layer switching time and total delivery time before and after an energy layer switching time upgrade. The upgraded beam delivery time estimated the total treatment capacity for a 12-h treatment day using a 3-room system with a single common cyclotron.

Nurses' perspectives on the adoption of new smart technologies for patient care: focus group interviews.

Background: The adoption of smart technologies for patient care is greatly increasing. IoT-based smart mattresses offer features such as automatic body repositioning for pressure ulcer prevention, weight measurement, vital sign tracking, and rapid response to emergencies. This study explores nurses' perspectives on the adoption of smart technologies, with a particular focus on smart mattresses in hospitals.

Workplace-based continuous glucose monitoring with structured education for pre-diabetes and type 2 diabetes: A prospective community cohort study.

Aims: We investigated the effect of continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) with personalised structured education on patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) and pre-diabetes in a workplace setting.

Materials And Methods: This 8-week prospective study enrolled adults with T2D or pre-diabetes at Samsung Electronics Device Solutions between March and September 2023. Participants underwent CGM (Freestyle Libre) for 2 weeks and received personalized structured education on diet and physical activity.

Exploration of Using an Open-Source Large Language Model for Analyzing Trial Information: A Case Study of Clinical Trials With Decentralized Elements.

Despite interest in clinical trials with decentralized elements (DCTs), analysis of their trends in trial registries is lacking due to heterogeneous designs and unstandardized terms. We explored Llama 3, an open-source large language model, to efficiently evaluate these trends. Trial data were sourced from Aggregate Analysis of ClinicalTrials.

Overfeeding in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss): Metabolic disruptions, impaired immunity, and increased infection risk.

Excess adiposity impairs immune function and host defense in obese individuals, but studies on this concept in fish remain limited. In aquaculture, rapid growth is often encouraged through intensive farming practices, leading to overfeeding and negatively impacting production. This study aimed to induce obesity in rainbow trout through overfeeding, exploring metabolic abnormalities, immune response alterations, and infection susceptibility via transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses.

Spatiotemporal distribution of marine aerosols and gaseous species over the North Pacific Ocean.

Observational studies of marine aerosols are essential for understanding the global aerosol budget and its environmental impacts. This study presents simultaneous in-situ measurements of major ionic components (Cl, NO, SO, NH, K, Ca, Na, and Mg) in aerosols and gaseous species (HCl, HNO, HONO, SO, and NH) over the North Pacific Ocean from July 4 to 15 and September 19 to October 3, 2022. Using high temporal resolution instruments aboard the Republic of Korea's icebreaker research vessel Araon, this study aimed to (1) report the spatial and temporal distributions of aerosols and gaseous species, (2) estimate the source contributions of continental anthropogenic pollutants, and (3) assess the influence of aerosol chemical composition and gaseous species on aerosol acidity and water content.

Impact of Spatial Presence on Charitable Behavior in the Metaverse: A Moderated Mediation Model of Norm Message and Involvement with Charity.

With the rapid development of virtual technology, the metaverse has become an influential communication tool driving engagement in prosocial behavior. This study examined whether spatial presence in a metaverse affects charitable involvement and prosocial behavior. Additionally, it explored the impact of descriptive norms in the metaverse, validated as effective in the physical world.

Muscle-guided mapping of post-traumatic heterotopic ossification of the elbow: a novel computed tomography-based study.

Background: Heterotopic ossification (HO) involves abnormal bone formation in soft tissues near joints, commonly occurring after elbow trauma or surgery, leading to pain and functional limitations. Previous studies have primarily characterized HO distribution based on bony landmarks, lacking a detailed investigation into the characteristics of its distribution in periarticular soft tissue in post-traumatic elbows. This study aimed to (1) develop a muscle-guided classification system using computed tomography (CT) to map HO relative to elbow muscle-tendon units and (2) investigate correlations between HO location and severity.

Effectiveness of oral vancomycin as prophylaxis against infection in hematopoietic stem cell transplant patients.

Objective: Patients receiving hematopoietic stem cell transplants (HSCT) are at increased risk for infection (CDI). The purpose of this study was to assess the effectiveness of oral vancomycin prophylaxis (OVP) for CDI in HSCT patients.

Design: Single-center, retrospective cohort.

Arthroscopic-Assisted Lateral Ulnar Collateral Ligament Reconstruction for Posterolateral Rotatory Instability of the Elbow: A Technical Note.

The lateral collateral ligament complex of the elbow is pivotal for maintaining the stability of the elbow joint. The open technique for reconstructing the lateral ulnar collateral ligament (LUCL) is a standard procedure to treat elbow instability caused by LUCL deficiency. Nevertheless, as arthroscopy procedures in the elbow have advanced, we describe an arthroscopic technique to reconstruct the LUCL with suture anchors and bone tunnel techniques.

The inflammatory bowel disease and gut microbiome are restored by employing metformin-loaded alginate-shelled microcapsules.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic or recurrent inflammatory disorder affecting various parts of the gastrointestinal tract. Metformin, a widely prescribed hypoglycemic drug for type 2 diabetes, has shown potential in reducing IBD risk. However, its oral administration faces significant challenges due to the harsh gastrointestinal environment, requiring higher or more frequent doses to achieve therapeutic effects, which increases the risk of side effects.

Short-term dynamics of fecal microbiome and antibiotic resistance in juvenile rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) following antibiotic treatment and withdrawal.

Background: In aquaculture, the secretions of cultured organisms contribute to the development of aquatic antibiotic resistance. However, the antibiotic-induced changes in fish feces remain poorly understood. This study aimed to assess the short-term dynamics of fecal microbiome and antibiotic resistance in juvenile rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) upon antibiotic treatment and withdrawal period.