Impact of obesity on palpation-guided distal radial access for coronary procedures: subgroup analysis of the multicenter, prospective KODRA registry.

Background: There is limited data on the impact of body mass index (BMI) on distal radial access (DRA). Using a large-scale prospective registry, the influence of obesity on DRA outcomes was evaluated, including cannulation and complications.

Methods: Using data from the prospective, multicenter KODRA (Korean Prospective Registry for Evaluation the Safety and Efficacy of Distal Radial Approach) registry data, 4,638 patients who planned palpation-guided distal radial artery puncture were enrolled into two groups, both with body mass index (BMI) information available: obese (n = 2,205; BMI ≥ 25 kg/m²) and non-obese (n = 2,433).

Optimizing Vancomycin Area under the Concentration-Time Curve Targets in Enterococcal Bacteremia: Balancing Efficacy and Nephrotoxicity.

Purpose: Vancomycin is critical in treating enterococcal bacteremia; however, its optimal pharmacokinetic (PK)/pharmacodynamics (PD) targets remain unclear. This study evaluates the association between vancomycin PK/PD parameters and clinical outcomes in patients with enterococcal bacteremia.

Materials And Methods: This retrospective cohort study included 70 patients with enterococcal bacteremia treated with vancomycin at a university-affiliated teaching hospital.

Cumulative abdominal obesity exposure and progressive risk of endometrial cancer in young women: a nationwide cohort study.

Background: The incidence of endometrial cancer has been rising sharply among younger generations, paralleling the growing obesity epidemic in this age group. Abdominal obesity is currently being investigated as an indicator of adiposity and cancer risk, and its prevalence is increasing in young women. This study aimed to examine whether cumulative abdominal obesity exposure in young women was associated with the development of endometrial cancer.

Anatomical Snuffbox Versus Dorsum of the Hand for Optimal Access Site in Distal Radial Access: Insight From the KODRA Registry.

Background And Objectives: Distal radial access (DRA) has been recognized as an alternative to conventional radial access, with potential puncture sites at the anatomical snuffbox and on the dorsum of the hand. However, the optimal puncture site remains unknown. This study aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of DRA at these two sites.

Impact of Changes in Obesity and Abdominal Obesity on Endometrial Cancer Risk in Young Korean Women: A Nationwide Cohort Study.

Background: The rising incidence of endometrial cancer in young women parallels the increasing prevalence of obesity, a well-established risk factor. However, the impact of longitudinal changes in obesity and abdominal obesity on early-onset endometrial cancer remains insufficiently understood.

Methods: This nationwide cohort study utilized data from the Korean National Health Insurance Service.

Distal radial access in elderly patients aged 70 years and older for coronary procedures: Lessons from the KODRA registry.

Background: While distal radial access (DRA) is increasingly adopted for coronary procedures, evidence supporting its use in elderly patients remains limited. This study evaluated the feasibility and safety of DRA in elderly patients using data from the KODRA registry.

Methods: A total of 4941 patients were divided into elderly (≥70 years; n = 2091) and non-elderly (<70 years; n = 2850) groups.

Efficacy and matrix value of xylanase in broiler fed an energy-deficient corn-wheat-soybean diet.

The experiment was conducted to estimate the matrix value of xylanase and the effect of dietary xylanase supplementation on growth performance, viscosity, digestibility, and carcass traits in broiler chickens. A total of 588 one-day-old Ross 308 broiler chicks were raised with a commercial diet until day 7 and seven-day-old chicks were randomly allotted to one of seven dietary treatments with twelve replicates. Diets were corn-soybean meat based with wheat added.

Recommendations for Influenza Vaccination in Immunocompromised Patients.

Annual influenza vaccination is strongly recommended for immunocompromised individuals, who are at a higher risk of severe infection. The Korean Society of Infectious Diseases has revised its influenza vaccination recommendations for solid organ transplant recipients, advocating for the use of highly immunogenic vaccines, such as high-dose inactivated influenza vaccines or MF59-adjuvanted inactivated influenza vaccines, to enhance vaccine efficacy. While further research is needed to extend these recommendations to other immunocompromised populations, these vaccines have demonstrated improved immunogenicity without compromising safety.

Metformin-Enhanced Secretome from Periodontal Ligament Stem Cells Promotes Functional Recovery in an Inflamed Periodontal Model: In Vitro Study.

Objective: Secretory factors, termed the secretome, in the conditioned medium (CM) from dental mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have shown anti-inflammatory, anti-apoptotic, and tissue regenerative potential. This cell-free product could be further developed by preconditioning cells with various biochemical agents, which lead to a change in secretome and CM profiles. Among the favorable candidates for CM production, metformin as an anti-diabetic medication is currently considered a potential agent for dental hard tissue and periodontal regeneration.

Assessment of endogenous calcium loss from different sources in 45-week-old Hy-Line Brown laying hens.

Objective: The study assessed the calcium (Ca) endogenous losses and digestibility in 45-week-old Hy-Line Brown laying hens fed diets incorporating different Ca-sourcing ingredients.

Methods: A total of 168 hens were randomly assigned to dietary treatments, with six replicates, and four hens were housed per cage. The seven diets included different Ca sources such as monocalcium phosphate (MCP), dicalcium phosphate (DCP), limestone, corn, soybean, wheat bran, and a Ca-free diet.

Metabolizable energy and amino acid-deficient diets supplemented with β-mannanase in response to growth performance, intestinal health, and immune response in broilers.

The objective of this study is to investigate the effect of β-mannanase in energy and amino acid-deficient broiler diets on the growth performance, carcass yields, ileal nutrient digestibility, viscosity, intestinal morphology, and blood metabolites of broilers from hatch to day 35. A total of 168 one-day-old Ross 308 broiler chicks were randomly assigned to one of three dietary treatments in a completely randomized design, with each treatment having eight replicates and seven birds per cage. The treatments were as follows: i) positive control diet (PC) containing standard energy and amino acids; ii) negative control (NC) with 150 kcal/kg metabolizable energy (ME) and 4.

Sentinel Safety Monitoring System for Adverse Events of Special Interest Associated With Non-NIP Vaccines in Korea.

South Korea's current vaccination policies leave a surveillance gap for non-National Immunization Program (NIP) vaccines. In this study, we proposed a sentinel surveillance approach for monitoring the safety of non-NIP vaccines. Vaccination data were collected retrospectively among patients hospitalized with pre-defined adverse events of special interest (AESI) by reviewing electronic medical records in five university hospitals.

Standardized ileal digestible lysine requirements based on growth performance of White Pekin ducks for 21 days after hatch.

The purpose of this study was to assess the optimal standardized ileal digestible (SID) lysine (Lys) requirement for male White Pekin ducklings with a specific focus on growth performance for the 3 weeks following hatching. A total of 384 one-day-old male White Pekin ducklings were allocated to six different dietary treatments, each containing varying levels of digestible Lys content ranging from 0.72% to 1.

Distal Radial Access and Women: Implications for Access Site Outcomes in Coronary Procedures.

Background: We investigated the sex-specific variations in distal radial access (DRA)-associated outcomes, as well as the factors influencing these outcomes, by utilizing a comprehensive real-world registry.

Methods: In this post-hoc analysis of the KODRA (Korean Prospective Registry for Evaluating the Safety and Efficacy of Distal Radial Approach) trial, we selected 4608 patients who underwent successful coronary procedures, including percutaneous coronary intervention or coronary angiography, via DRA. Primary end points were overall DRA site outcomes including bleeding, radial artery occlusion, tenderness, hand edema, numbness, perforation, and dissection.

Optimal Timing of Vaccination: A Narrative Review of Integrating Strategies for COVID-19, Influenza, and Respiratory Syncytial Virus.

Lower respiratory tract infections caused by SARS-CoV-2, influenza, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) cause a significant disease burden globally, despite the availability of effective vaccines. Certain populations, such as older adults (≥ 60 years) and individuals of all ages with particular comorbidities, are at increased risk for severe outcomes, including hospitalization and death. National administration schedules for available vaccines against respiratory viruses are not unified, and not all current guidelines are clear and directive, concerning the optimal timing of vaccination.

Apixaban outcomes in atrial fibrillation patients with a single-dose reduction criterion: ASPIRE 1-year results.

Aims: This study, using a prospective cohort, evaluated the effectiveness and safety of off-label reduced-dose apixaban vs. the on-label dose in atrial fibrillation (AF) patients meeting a single-dose reduction criterion.

Methods And Results: The efficAcy and Safety of aPixaban In REal-world practice in Korean frail patients with AF (ASPIRE) study is a multicentre, prospective observational cohort involving AF patients who met a single-dose reduction criterion of apixaban.

Comparison of Thick Biolimus A9-Eluting Stent and Thin Zotarolimus-Eluting Stent in Multi-Vessel Percutaneous Coronary Intervention.

Background And Objectives: There are limited randomized studies on patients undergoing multi-vessel percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) comparing the outcomes between stent thickness and polymer types. To compare the clinical outcomes of thick biodegradable polymer-based biolimus A9-eluting stents (BESs) and thin durable polymer-based zotarolimus-eluting stents (ZESs) in patients undergoing multi-vessel PCI.

Methods: A total of 936 patients who underwent multi-vessel coronary artery stenting were randomly assigned to the BES (n=472) or ZES (n=464) groups.

Multiprotease supplementation in laying hen diets: Impact on performance, egg quality, digestibility, gut histomorphology, and sustainability.

Laying hen responses to supplemental multiprotease on performance, egg quality, digestibility, gut histomorphology, nitrogen excretion, and economic performance of laying hens until 37 weeks of age were investigated. A total of 189 25-week-old Hy-Line Brown hens were housed in enriched cages (7 birds/cage) and randomly allocated to 1 of 3 diets with 9 replicates per treatment. Dietary treatments included: an adequate positive control- PC [met the breed and age standards for crude protein (CP) and amino acids (AA)]; negative control- NC (90 % CP and AA requirement); and NC supplemented with multiprotease - NCMP.

Impact of cumulative exposure to a high TG to HDL-C ratio on type 2 diabetes risk in young adults.

Background: Increases in the prevalence of type 2 diabetes (T2D) pose significant challenges to its prediction and prevention.

Objective: We aimed to evaluate whether cumulative exposure to a high triglyceride to high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (TG/HDL-C) ratio is associated with increased T2D risk in young adults.

Methods: We collected South Korean National Health Insurance Service data between 2009 and 2012 from 1,840,251 young adults without T2D aged 20 to 39 years who underwent 4 consecutive annual health checkups.

Ultrafast and Universal Synthetic Route for Nanostructured Transition Metal Oxides Directly Grown on Substrates.

Nanostructured transition metal oxides (NTMOs) have consistently piqued scientific interest for several decades due to their remarkable versatility across various fields. More recently, they have gained significant attention as materials employed for energy storage/harvesting devices as well as electronic devices. However, mass production of high-quality NTMOs in a well-controlled manner still remains challenging.

Analysis of Changes in Viral Load and Inflammatory Cytokines, as Well as the Occurrence of Secondary Infections, in SFTS Patients Treated with Specific Treatments: A Prospective Multicenter Cohort Study.

Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) is an acute febrile illness caused by the SFTS virus (SFTSV). We conducted this study to propose a scientific evidence-based treatment that can improve prognosis through changes in viral load and inflammatory cytokines according to the specific treatment of SFTS patients. This prospective and observational study was conducted at 14 tertiary referral hospitals, which are located in SFTS endemic areas in Korea, from 1 May 2018 to 31 October 2020.

COVID-19 Vaccination Recommendations for 2024-2025 in Korea.

The Korean Society of Infectious Diseases has been regularly publishing guidelines for adult immunization since 2007. Following the release of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination recommendations in 2023, significant changes have occurred due to the emergence of new variant strains and the waning immunity from previous vaccinations. This article provides a comprehensive update as of November 2024, incorporating the latest evidence and guidelines.

Feasibility of Distal Radial Access in High Bleeding Risk Patients Who Underwent Percutaneous Coronary Intervention.

Backgrounds And Objectives: The distal radial access (DRA), a potential alternative to the trans-radial approach (TRA), may offer advantages in terms of access site complications due to its smaller vessel diameter, especially for high bleeding risk (HBR) patients. This study aims to investigate the feasibility of DRA in HBR patients.

Methods: Based on data from the KODRA registry, a prospective, multicenter cohort, this study analyzed 1,586 patients who underwent successful percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) via DRA.

Effect of different crate material types for transit on production, physiological characteristics, and welfare of broilers during the summer season.

The current study investigated the impact of using iron and plastic crates during summer transportation on production, physiological characteristics, and welfare of broiler chickens. A total of 160 Ross 308 male broilers were randomly selected from a battery-caged house at 35 days of age. Their average body weight was 1,866.

Effect of crating density and weather conditions during transit on preslaughter losses, physiological characteristics, and meat quality in broilers.

The impact of crating density and prevailing weather conditions during transit on preslaughter losses, physiological characteristics, and meat quality in broilers was investigated. A total of 900 35-day-old Ross 308 male broilers with an average body weight of 1,860 ± 17.458 g (mean ± SEM) in summer and 1,864 ± 17.