Long-Term Neurodevelopmental Outcomes After Antenatal Corticosteroid Therapy in Late Preterm Twins: A Nationwide Retrospective Cohort Study.

Background: In women with singleton pregnancy who are at risk of late preterm delivery, administration of antenatal corticosteroids is recommended to reduce neonatal respiratory complications. However, the adoption of this practice is not widely accepted in twin pregnancies because of a lack of evidence regarding both the effectiveness and long-term safety of corticosteroids. This study was conducted to evaluate the long-term neurodevelopmental outcomes of twins according to the administration of antenatal corticosteroid in late preterm.

Correction: Mitigating substrate effects of van der Waals semiconductors using perfluoropolyether self-assembled monolayers.

Correction for 'Mitigating substrate effects of van der Waals semiconductors using perfluoropolyether self-assembled monolayers' by Dae Young Park , , 2024, , 10779-10788, https://doi.org/10.1039/D4NR00061G.

Genome-wide DNA methylome profiling to differentiate monozygotic twins.

In the current forensic environment, short tandem repeat (STR) profiling originating from genomic differences is highly accurate and widely used to identify individuals. However, if the person of interest is a monozygotic (MZ) twin, his or her DNA profile is identical to that of his or her twin; thus, STR profiling cannot discriminate between them. Therefore, DNA methylation, which is known to have different patterns even in MZ twins, has attracted attention as a promising marker to differentiate MZ twins.

The Impact of Obesity on Readmission and Healthcare Costs in Patients with Skin and Subcutaneous Tissue Infections.

Purpose: Obesity is a global public health issue linked to worsened skin and subcutaneous tissue infections (SSTIs), complicating clinical management and increasing healthcare costs. This study aimed to evaluate obesity's influence on hospitalization duration, readmission rates, and healthcare costs among patients with SSTIs, with an emphasis on sex-specific patterns.

Patients And Methods: This retrospective cohort study analyzed data from South Korea's national healthcare database.

Development and external validation of a machine learning model to predict bronchopulmonary dysplasia using dynamic factors.

We hypothesized that incorporating postnatal dynamic factors would enhance the prediction accuracy of bronchopulmonary dysplasia in preterm infants. This retrospective cohort study included neonates born before 32 weeks of gestation at Seoul National University Hospital between 2013 and 2022. The primary outcome was moderate or severe bronchopulmonary dysplasia.

Anomalous Phonon Softening with Inherent Strain in Wrinkled Monolayer WSe.

Local deformation is a control knob to dynamically tune the electronic band structure of 2D semiconductors. This study demonstrates the local strain-dependent phonon properties of monolayer tungsten diselenide, which are investigated by using the scanning tunneling microscopy-based tip-enhanced Raman spectroscopy. The anomalous appearance and softening of the Raman-inactive out-of-plane mode are first revealed, which exhibits equivalent behavior to other principal phonons of tungsten diselenide.

Metabolomic profiling reveals early biomarkers of gestational diabetes mellitus and associated hepatic steatosis.

Background: This study aims to identify early metabolomic biomarkers of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and evaluate their association with hepatic steatosis.

Methods: We compared maternal serum metabolomic profiles between women who developed GDM (n = 118) and matched controls (n = 118) during the first (10-14 gestational weeks) and second (24-28 gestational weeks) trimesters using ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry. Mediation analysis was performed to evaluate the mediating role of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) in the relationship between metabolites and subsequent development of GDM.

Machine Learning-Based Explainable Automated Nonlinear Computation Scoring System for Health Score and an Application for Prediction of Perioperative Stroke: Retrospective Study.

Background: Machine learning (ML) has the potential to enhance performance by capturing nonlinear interactions. However, ML-based models have some limitations in terms of interpretability.

Objective: This study aimed to develop and validate a more comprehensible and efficient ML-based scoring system using SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP) values.

Healthy lifestyle reduces cardiovascular risk in women with genetic predisposition to hypertensive disorders of pregnancy.

The genetic risk for hypertensive disorders of pregnancy is linked with the development of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. However, the effects of lifestyle and metabolic syndrome on atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease have not been evaluated. Here, we assess the long-term association between these factors and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease in women with genetic risk for hypertensive disorders of pregnancy.

Electronic cigarette use and heavy metal exposure: Evidence from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

Purpose: This study investigated the association between electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) use and serum concentrations of heavy metals (lead, mercury, and cadmium) in the Korean population, utilizing data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES), a nationally representative cross-sectional survey.

Methods: Data from KNHANES 2013, 2016, and 2017 were analyzed. Participants were classified as e-cigarette users (individuals who had ever used e-cigarettes, including dual users who had also used conventional cigarettes), conventional smokers (individuals who had smoked at least 100 conventional cigarettes [5 packs], but not e-cigarettes, in their lifetime), and non-smokers (individuals who had never used e-cigarettes and either never smoked conventional cigarettes or smoked fewer than 100 cigarettes).

The Impact of Health Literacy on Consumer Knowledge of Mask and Hand Sanitizer Use in Post-Pandemic Korea.

Background/objectives: The COVID-19 pandemic increased people's reliance on masks and hand sanitizers, highlighting the critical role of health literacy (HL) in effectively using these preventive measures. This study aimed to assess how HL influences consumers' comprehension of product labels for masks and hand sanitizers in post-pandemic Korea.

Methods: A cross-sectional online survey was conducted in September 2023 among 500 Korean adults aged 20-69.

Health Literacy, Label Comprehension, and Consumer Perceptions of Quasi-Drug Information Among Korean Adults: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Purpose: Health literacy (HL) is crucial in understanding labels of healthcare products. This study aimed to evaluate HL and its impact on comprehending quasi-drug labels, assess consumer perceptions of key label elements and their perceived importance, and provide actionable recommendations for improving label design and health communication.

Methods: An online cross-sectional survey of 500 Korean adults (aged 20-69) was conducted in September 2023 using proportionate stratified sampling based on the 2020 Korean Census.

Maternal and Neonatal Outcomes Based on Changes in Glycosylated Hemoglobin Levels During First and Second Trimesters of Pregnancy in Women with Pregestational Diabetes: Multicenter, Retrospective Cohort Study in South Korea.

This study compared glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels in the first and second trimesters of pregnancy and assessed maternal and neonatal outcomes according to HbA1c variations among women with pregestational diabetes. This retrospective, multicenter Korean study involved mothers with diabetes who had given birth in 17 hospitals. A total of 292 women were divided into three groups based on HbA1c levels during the first and second trimesters: women with HbA1c levels maintained at <6.

Clinical characteristics of toxoplasmosis patients in Korea: A retrospective study using health insurance review and assessment service data and electronic medical records.

This study aimed to elucidate the clinical characteristics of patients diagnosed with toxoplasmosis in Korea. We collected and analyzed the specific research data of 5,917 patients from the Health Insurance Review and Assessment (HIRA; 2007-2020) and 533 electronic medical records (EMRs; 2003-2021) of Korean patients. The HIRA data showed that toxoplasmosis is an endemic disease that occurs constantly in Korea, with a large proportion of patients complaining of ocular symptoms.

Cost-effectiveness of prophylactic ramosetron in the prevention of postoperative nausea and vomiting.

Objectives: This study was conducted to assess the cost-effectiveness of prophylactic use of ramosetron compared to no antiemetic medications for the prevention of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) from the healthcare payer and societal perspectives in South Korea.

Method: A decision analytic model was constructed to assess the cost-effectiveness of prophylactic ramosetron use versus no antiemetic therapy at 24-hour and 48-hour periods post-surgery over a 5-day duration. The model was populated using costs and utility parameters from published studies as well as from surveys of an expert panel of physicians using structured questionnaires.

Factors Associated with Treatment Satisfaction in Korean Patients with Psoriasis.

Purpose: Treatment satisfaction among patients with psoriasis can vary significantly based on available treatment options and individual patient characteristics.

Patients And Methods: This cross-sectional study utilized psoriasis-specific questionnaires to assess treatment satisfaction and identify the factors associated with treatment satisfaction in Korean patients. The study included 350 eligible patients aged 19 or older from a nationwide psoriasis group.

Role of Chalcogenides in Sensitive Therapeutic Drug Monitoring Using Laser Desorption and Ionization.

This study investigates the applicability of six transition metal dichalcogenides to efficient therapeutic drug monitoring of ten antiepileptic drugs using laser desorption/ionization-mass spectrometry. We found that molybdenum ditelluride and tungsten ditelluride are suitable for the sensitive quantification of therapeutic drugs. The contribution of tellurium to the enhanced efficiency of laser desorption ionization was validated through theoretical calculations utilizing an integrated model that incorporates transition-metal dichalcogenides and antiepileptic drugs.

Non-invasive prediction of massive transfusion during surgery using intraoperative hemodynamic monitoring data.

Objective: Failure to receive prompt blood transfusion leads to severe complications if massive bleeding occurs during surgery. For the timely preparation of blood products, predicting the possibility of massive transfusion (MT) is essential to decrease morbidity and mortality. This study aimed to develop a model for predicting MT 10 min in advance using non-invasive bio-signal waveforms that change in real-time.