Clinical Predictors of Dysphagia in Acute and Subacute Traumatic Cervical Spinal Cord Injury: A Retrospective Observational Study.

Using the first videofluoroscopic swallowing study (VFSS), we aimed to identify clinical predictors of dysphagia in patients with acute and subacute traumatic cervical spinal cord injury (TCSCI). This retrospective chart review included 143 adults, who were diagnosed with TCSCI and underwent their first VFSS between 2018 and 2021. Patients with alert mental status and no history of traumatic brain injury or preexisting conditions causing dysphagia were included.

Exposure to Fine Particulate Matter (PM2.5) and Heavy Metals During the Second Trimester of Pregnancy Increases the Risk of Preeclampsia and Eclampsia: An Analysis of National Health Insurance Claims Data from South Korea.

: Air pollutants have been shown to affect hypertensive disorders and placental hypoxia due to vasoconstriction, inflammation, and oxidative stress. The objective of this study was to evaluate whether high levels of maternal exposure to heavy metals during the second trimester of pregnancy are associated with an increased risk of preeclampsia and eclampsia, using national health insurance claim data from South Korea. Data on mothers and their newborns from 2016 to 2020, provided by the National Health Insurance Service, were used ( = 1,274,671).

Comparative evaluation of point-of-care blood gas analysis in rabbit disease models.

Objective: This study aims to evaluate the blood gas results in various rabbit disease models and to establish the reference interval of venous and arterial blood gas parameters for clinically healthy and diseased rabbits. The primary purpose of this study is to evaluate various disease effects on acid-base and electrolyte disturbance and to examine the clinical value of blood gas analysis in rabbits.

Methods: Two hundred rabbits with various breeds were included in the study.

Synthetic crassulacean acid metabolism (SynCAM) for improving water-use efficiency in plants.

The global climate crisis will continue to increase the frequency and duration of drought episodes in agricultural production areas worldwide. Hot and dry conditions create greater water-deficit stresses on crops, lowering their productivity. While multiple engineering strategies have been developed to improve the efficiency of photosynthesis, greater efforts are needed to improve the drought attenuation and water-use efficiency of crops.

Use of Pulmonary Rehabilitation for Lung Cancer Patients in Korea: Analysis of the National Health Insurance Service Database.

This study aimed to assess the utilization trends of pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) among lung cancer patients in Korea using the National Health Insurance Service (NHIS) database (2017 to 2021). PR was introduced and covered under the NHIS in 2016, primarily for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, but recent evidence suggests its benefits for lung cancer patients. Data extraction was based on Korea Informative Classification of Diseases 8th revision codes C33 and C34, with PR prescriptions identified by codes MM440 and MM290.

EFFECT OF CHEST COMPRESSION RELEASE VELOCITY ON CEREBRAL PERFUSION PRESSURE IN PORCINE CARDIAC ARREST MODEL.

Objective: High-quality cardiopulmonary resuscitation is crucial for the survival of patients experiencing cardiac arrest, but the effect of the chest compression release velocity (CCRV) has not been well studied. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of the CCRV on cerebral perfusion pressure (CePP) in an experimental study of porcine cardiac arrest. Methods: A ventricular fibrillation (VF)-induced experimental model of cardiac arrest was established in 16 pigs.

Effect of Remimazolam and Propofol on Blood Glucose and Serum Inflammatory Markers in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes: A Clinical Trial with Prospective Randomized Control.

Patients with type 2 diabetes are at a higher risk of postoperative complications, such as infections, delayed wound healing, and increased mortality compared to non-diabetic patients. This prospective randomized study aims to compare the effects of two anesthetics, remimazolam and propofol, on blood glucose levels and immune function in diabetic patients undergoing surgery. Seventy-four diabetic patients undergoing general anesthesia were randomly assigned to receive either remimazolam or propofol.

Assessing the Impact of IMU Sensor Location on Spatio-Temporal Gait Parameter Estimation.

Gait analysis is essential for understanding human locomotion patterns and diagnosing gait disorders. While traditional methods typically rely on complex equipment and laboratory settings, recent advances in technology have enabled gait analysis outside of controlled laboratory settings. This study explores the impact of sensor placement on the accuracy of gait parameter estimation using inertial measurement units (IMUs).

The Chemopreventive Effect of Ginsenoside Compound K Is Regulated by PARP-1 Hyperactivation, Which Is Promoted by p62-Dependent SIRT6 Degradation.

Background And Aims: Ginsenoside compound K (CK), a saponin metabolite of ginseng, exerts anticancer effects; however, its molecular mechanisms of action in lung cancer remain unclear. We investigated the involvement of silent information regulator 6 (SIRT6) and poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase 1 (PARP-1) in the anticancer effects of CK in lung cancer.

Methods And Results: CK induced PARP-1 activation-mediated parthanatos via sequestosome-1/p62-mediated SIRT6 degradation and inhibited the proliferation of H460 cells.

Evaluating Respiratory Muscle Strength in Sarcopenia Screening among Older Men in South Korea: A Retrospective Analysis.

Purpose: To evaluate the potential of incorporating respiratory muscle strength, specifically maximal inspiratory pressure (MIP), and maximal expiratory pressure (MEP), along with traditional sarcopenia screening measures such as hand grip strength (HGS) and skeletal muscle mass index (SMI), to identify sarcopenia in older men.

Materials And Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted involving male patients aged 65 years and older who underwent measurements of respiratory muscle strength, HGS, and muscle mass at a general hospital in Korea from July 2016 to May 2022. Statistical analysis utilized independent t-tests and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves to assess the sensitivity and specificity of MIP, MEP, HGS, and SMI in sarcopenia screening.

Renal abscess in a Lionhead rabbit due to and : A case report.

Background: In rabbits, renal abscesses (pus-filled sores) are rare and diagnosis remains challenging. Therefore, in this study, we aimed to determine the clinical manifestation and diagnostic tests associated with renal abscess identification in rabbits.

Case Description: A four-and-a-half-year-old castrated male Lionhead rabbit with a history of poor appetite and abdominal distension was admitted to the animal hospital.

Microbial chaperonin 60 inhibits osteoclast differentiation by interfering with RANK/RANKL binding and overexpression of lipocalin2.

Osteoclasts play a crucial role in bone destruction in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). This study aimed to investigate the inhibitory effects of chaperonin 60 (CPN60), identified in the surface proteins of Propionibacterium freudenreichii MJ2, on receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa-B ligand (RANKL)-induced osteoclast differentiation, and elucidate the underlying mechanisms. Treatment with CPN60 inhibited RANKL-induced osteoclast differentiation by decreasing the expression of osteoclast differentiation-related genes and proteins.

Effect of umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cell-derived mitochondrial transplantation on ischemia-reperfusion injury in a rat model.

Background: Despite advancements in reconstructive procedures, ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury remains a significant challenge in reconstructive surgery, with mitochondrial dysfunction playing a pivotal role. Mitochondrial transplantation has emerged as a promising therapeutic strategy to address this issue. This study aims to evaluate the impact of umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cell-derived mitochondrial transplantation on skin flap I/R models in rats.

Exploring a Novel Role of Glycerol Kinase 1 in Prostate Cancer PC-3 Cells.

Clinically, prostate cancer is infamous for its histological and molecular heterogeneity, which causes great challenges to pinpoint therapy and pharmaceutical development. To overcome these difficulties, researchers are focusing on modulating tumor microenvironment and immune responses in addition to genetic alteration and epigenetic regulation. Here, we aimed to identify potential biomarkers or modulators of prostate cancer by investigating genes specifically altered in prostate cancer cells treated with established anti-cancer agents.

Cumulative Effects of Concurrent Inspiratory Muscle Training and Postural Correction Bands on Older Individuals Community Dwellers: A Randomized Study.

Purpose: Posture correction bands (PCBs) have been proposed as aids to help chest expansion and to enhance respiratory function. However, the impact of PCBs on community-based older individuals engaged in inspiratory muscle training (IMT) at home remains unclear.

Materials And Methods: Community-based individuals aged 65 years and older were divided into the PCB group, wearing PCBs, and the NPCB group, not wearing PCBs.

Inhibition of Biofilm Formation in , , and by the Phytopigment Shikonin.

Skin microbiota, such as acne-related , , and fungal , can form polymicrobial biofilms with greater antimicrobial tolerance to traditional antimicrobial agents and host immune systems. In this study, the phytopigment shikonin was investigated against single-species and multispecies biofilms under aerobic and anaerobic conditions. Minimum inhibitory concentrations of shikonin were 10 µg/mL against , , and , and at 1-5 µg/mL, shikonin efficiently inhibited single biofilm formation and multispecies biofilm development by these three microbes.

Stem cell migration drives lung repair in living mice.

Tissue repair requires a highly coordinated cellular response to injury. In the lung, alveolar type 2 cells (AT2s) act as stem cells to replenish both themselves and alveolar type 1 cells (AT1s); however, the complex orchestration of stem cell activity after injury is poorly understood. Here, we establish longitudinal imaging of AT2s in murine intact tissues ex vivo and in vivo in order to track their dynamic behavior over time.

Erratum: Correction of Tables in the Article "Reference Respiratory Muscle Strength Values and a Prediction Equation Using Physical Functions for Pulmonary Rehabilitation in Korea".

This corrects the article on p. e325 in vol. 38, PMID: 37846788.

Synergistic Integration of Machine Learning with Microstructure/Composition-Designed SnO and WO Breath Sensors.

A high-performance semiconductor metal oxide gas sensing strategy is proposed for efficient sensor-based disease prediction by integrating a machine learning methodology with complementary sensor arrays composed of SnO- and WO-based sensors. The six sensors, including SnO- and WO-based sensors and neural network algorithms, were used to measure gas mixtures. The six constituent sensors were subjected to acetone and hydrogen environments to monitor the effect of diet and/or irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) under the interference of ethanol.

Safety and efficacy of remimazolam for general anesthesia in elderly patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy: a randomized controlled trial.

Introduction: There is insufficient evidence regarding the efficacy and safety of remimazolam in elderly patients. Therefore, this study evaluated the differences in the anesthesia characteristics and perioperative hemodynamic profiles of elderly patients receiving total intravenous anesthesia with remimazolam or propofol.

Methods: Eighty-four patients aged >65 years with an American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status of I-III were randomly assigned to Group R (receiving remimazolam,  = 42) or Group P (receiving propofol,  = 42).

Investigating rutin as a potential transforming growth factor-β type I receptor antagonist for the inhibition of bleomycin-induced lung fibrosis.

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a chronic lung condition characterized by the abnormal regulation of extracellular matrix (ECM) and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). In this study, we investigated the potential of rutin, a natural flavonoid, in attenuating transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β)-induced ECM regulation and EMT through the inhibition of the TGF-β type I receptor (TβRI)-mediated suppressor of mothers against decapentaplegic (SMAD) signaling pathway. We found that non-toxic concentrations of rutin attenuated TGF-β-induced ECM-related genes, including fibronectin, elastin, collagen 1 type 1, and TGF-β, as well as myoblast differentiation from MRC-5 lung fibroblast cells accompanied by the downregulation of α-smooth muscle actin.

Development of Machine Learning Model for VO Estimation Using a Patch-Type Single-Lead ECG Monitoring Device in Lung Resection Candidates.

A cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET) is essential for lung resection. However, performing a CPET can be challenging. This study aimed to develop a machine learning model to estimate maximal oxygen consumption (VO) using data collected through a patch-type single-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) monitoring device in candidates for lung resection.

Epidemiology and Assessment of Traumatic Spinal Cord Injury With Concomitant Brain Injury: An Observational Study in a Regional Trauma Center.

Objective: : To analyze the epidemiological information of patients with traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI) and concomitant traumatic brain injury (TBI) and to suggest points to be aware of during the initial physical examination of patients with SCI.

Methods: : This study was a retrospective, observational study conducted in a regional trauma center. All the records of patients diagnosed with traumatic SCI between 2016 and 2020 were reviewed.