Relationship Between Aortic Valve and Mitral Annular Calcification With Coronary Artery Calcification in Asymptomatic Individuals: Cross-Sectional and Longitudinal Analyses.

Background: Aortic valve calcification (AVC), mitral annular calcification (MAC), and coronary artery calcification (CAC) all share common atherosclerotic origins. However, the relationship between these entities is not fully understood.

Methods: A total of 722 asymptomatic individuals who underwent health screening with serial cardiac computed tomography (CT) were retrospectively selected for analysis.

Evaluation of Artificial Intelligence-Assisted Diagnosis of Skin Erythema in a Patch Test.

Background: The patch test evaluates skin erythema, infiltration, papules and vesicles following exposure to various substances, including metals, cosmetics and medicines. Accurate evaluation of these conditions requires consistent skin score assessments, precise visual grading and minimal inter-expert variability.

Objectives: This study aimed to develop a skin irritation artificial intelligence model based on the YOLOv5x object detection framework to automatically detect skin irritation from the patch test images for multiple test substances.

Model-Informed Optimal Dosing of Anti-CD47 Antibody Using Target-Mediated Drug Disposition Model.

IMC-002, an anti-cluster of differentiation 47 (CD47) antibody, was developed as a fully human immunoglobulin (Ig) G4 monoclonal antibody targeting CD47. IMC-002 blocks CD47-signal regulatory protein alpha (SIRPα) interactions, increasing the phagocytosis of cancer cells by macrophages. This study established a target-mediated drug disposition (TMDD) pharmacokinetics (PK) model for IMC-002 to explain the characteristics of the neonatal Fc receptor (FcRn) of IgG based on phase I trial data to perform model-informed optimal dosing for a phase I study.

Amygdalin alleviates atopic dermatitis-like skin inflammation via inhibition of Th2 immune responses.

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic skin disease marked by immune dysregulation such as upregulated T helper (Th) 2 responses. While Th2-targeted therapies for AD are under development, their application is limited by side effects such as hypereosinophilia and arthritis. Amygdalin is a glucoside known for its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects.

Clinical utility of two-dimensional shear wave elastography in two dogs with presumptive toxic hepatopathy.

Importance: Shear wave elastography (SWE) is a non-invasive ultrasound technique for assessing tissue stiffness. This study examined the clinical utility of two-dimensional SWE (2D-SWE) in two dogs diagnosed with presumptive toxic hepatopathy.

Case Presentation: The first case involved a 9-year-old Pompitz that presented with anorexia, vomiting, and diarrhea following garlic and onion ingestion.

Impact of the New Definition on the Prognosis of Patients With Pulmonary Hypertension Compared to the Classic Definition.

Background And Objectives: The 2022 European Society of Cardiology (ESC)/European Respiratory Society (ERS) guidelines updated the definition of pulmonary hypertension (PH). This study aimed to evaluate implications of the new PH definition.

Methods: A retrospective analysis of a single-center right heart catheterization registry (April 2016-July 2023) was conducted.

The evidence for treatments for postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome: a systematic review of randomized trials.

Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) is defined as the presence of chronic symptoms of orthostatic intolerance accompanied by an increase in heart rate greater than 30 beats per minute within 10 min of assuming an upright posture in the absences of orthostatic hypotension. It is a condition which lacks a definitive treatment strategy, with weak evidence and clinical expertise to support the available guidelines from the Heart Rhythm Society in 2015 and the Canadian Cardiovascular Society in 2020. The limited systematic reviews evaluating the treatment for POTS only reported three or fewer trials when many more trials have been published.

Forecasting framework for dominant SARS-CoV-2 strains before clade replacement using phylogeny-informed genetic distances.

Introduction: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is the causative agent of the global coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and continues to drive successive waves of infection through the emergence of novel variants. Consequently, accurately predicting the next clade roots through global surveillance is crucial for effective prevention, control, and timely updates of vaccine antigen updates. This study evaluated the evolutionary dynamics of SARS-CoV-2 using phylogeny-informed genetic distances based on 394 complete genomes and spike (S) gene sequences.

Cauda equina syndrome following vaginal delivery.

This case report describes a woman in her 30s with cauda equina syndrome (CES) following a vaginal delivery. She presented with urinary retention, bowel incontinence, and radiating pain in the lower extremities. Magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated a herniated intervertebral disc at the L5/S1 level, leading to surgical intervention.

Mechanistic - extrapolation (IVIVE) approach using a biomimetic system for the prediction of hepatic clearance.

This study proposes a novel - extrapolation (IVIVE) strategy that integrates a patented biomimetic system with pharmacokinetic modeling to improve the prediction of drug kinetics. The system employed a single-well plate design with various sizes of mesh inserts to simultaneously assess drug diffusion and cellular metabolism. Drug diffusion patterns were quantified and modeled using a Weibull distribution to establish mathematical relationships between pore size and kinetic parameters.

Prefrontal cortex activation during daily movements and its association with clinical symptoms in knee osteoarthritis.

Objective: For people with knee osteoarthritis (OA), step-up is one of the most physically demanding and pain-evoking daily movements. Given the significant role of the prefrontal cortex (PFC) in executive function and pain modulation, our objectives were (1) to assess PFC activation during walking and step-up in people with knee OA and (2) to examine the association of pain and psychological outcomes with changes in PFC activation from walking to step-up.

Design: This cross-sectional study included 44 individuals with symptomatic knee OA.

Limosilactobacillus fermentum 21 N1 Mitigates Candida albicans-Induced Vulvovaginal Candidiasis and Suppresses NLRP3 Inflammasome Activation in a Mouse Model.

Vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC), primarily caused by Candida albicans, is a common fungal infection that typically causes inflammation and discomfort. Current antifungal treatments, such as fluconazole, are associated with adverse effects and drug resistance, highlighting the need for alternative therapies. In this study, we investigated the antifungal efficacy of Limosilactobacillus fermentum 21N1 (LF21) against C.

Exercise Hemodynamics and Sex-Specific Data in Asymptomatic Adults: An Exploratory Pilot Study.

: Understanding normal exercise hemodynamics is essential for assessing individuals with exertional dyspnea. This study utilized exercise echocardiography to gain insights into exercise hemodynamics in asymptomatic middle-aged to older adults without overt cardiovascular disease. : We prospectively enrolled 30 individuals aged 45-75 years without dyspnea, excluding those with left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) < 50% or significant heart/lung diseases.

Long-term pulmonary sequelae and convalescent immune reactions in mild to moderate COVID-19 patients during the active treatment era.

Background: During the COVID-19 endemic phase, pulmonary sequelae substantially contributed to disease burden. Immunologic responses may be critical in both acute COVID-19 and in long-term sequelae. We aimed to evaluate associations between convalescent neutralizing antibodies and long-term pulmonary sequelae in patients hospitalized with mild to moderate COVID-19.

Career paths and career choice factors of medical school graduates working in the Daejeon, Sejong, and Chungcheongnam-do region: a retrospective observational study.

Purpose: This study analyzed the career paths of medical school graduates in the Daejeon, Sejong, and Chungcheongnam-do (DSC) region of South Korea, focusing on career choice factors at each career path. The ultimate goal was to derive practical insights to improve career guidance in the medical field and enhance professionalism.

Methods: Data were collected through in-depth interviews with 10 medical school graduates working in the DSC region.

Saliva-based lacosamide monitoring paves the way toward personalized epilepsy pharmacotherapy.

Saliva, known for better patient compliance and simpler collection, is ideal for monitoring antiseizure medication (ASM) levels. This study aimed to validate saliva for measuring lacosamide, develop a pharmacokinetic (PK) model, and determine the optimal saliva concentration for seizure control in epilepsy patients. In our prospective study at Seoul National University Hospital from August 2021 to November 2022, we enrolled lacosamide-prescribed epilepsy patients, collecting their saliva and blood samples.

Model-Based Evaluation of HangAmDan-B1 and Afatinib Combination Therapy in HCC827 Xenograft Mice with Resistance to Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor.

HangAmDan-B1 (HAD-B1), a blended herbal mixture, has been investigated as an adjuvant therapy with afatinib (AFT) to treat non-small lung cancer (NSCLC). Although preclinical studies demonstrated promising synergistic results, clinical trials have not yet confirmed the expected benefits. This study aims to quantitatively examine the exposure-response relationship and synergistic interactions through pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) modeling.

Dose Optimization of rhIL-7-hyFc for Patients With Lymphopenia Using a Neonatal Fc Receptor-Mediated Recycling-Based and Target-Mediated Drug Disposition Pharmacokinetic Model.

Recombinant human interleukin-7 hybrid Fc (rhIL-7-hyFc) is a homodimer of rhIL-7 fused to a hyFc. Exogenous IL-7 promotes T cell proliferation and increases lymphocyte count, making it a potential treatment option for lymphopenia and cancer. To improve therapeutic efficacy, rhIL-7-hyFc was developed as a long-acting IL-7.

Localization of Network-Level Atrophy in Preclinical Alzheimer's Disease.

Brain atrophy may precede symptoms in Alzheimer's disease (AD), but it remains unclear whether atrophy in this preclinical stage falls within a distinct brain network or is associated with transitional cognitive changes. We investigated cortical thickness in cognitively unimpaired older adults with varying amyloid-β accumulation and estimated the connectivity of each individual's atrophy pattern using a large normative connectome (n = 1000). A distinct network was connected to atrophy patterns in amyloid-β-positive (n = 1242) versus negative (n = 536) participants.

Relationship Between Cerebral Glucose Metabolism and Neurodevelopmental Outcomes in Very-Low-Birth-Weight Infants without Structural Abnormalities.

Purpose: Very-low-birth-weight (VLBW) infants are more likely to have poor neurodevelopmental outcomes, even if structural abnormalities are not observed during brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The purpose of the present study was to determine whether cerebral glucose metabolism is correlated with neurodevelopmental outcomes in VLBW infants without structural abnormalities.

Methods: Twenty-seven VLBW infants (birth weight < 1,500 g) without structural abnormalities were prospectively enrolled.

Differences in risk factors associated with the initiation and progression of mitral annular calcification in asymptomatic individuals.

Mitral annular calcification (MAC) is hypothesized to be a representation of atherosclerosis and is associated with adverse outcomes. However, the pathophysiology and risk factors associated with MAC development are not fully understood. Using the KOrea Initiatives on Coronary Artery (KOICA) registry, 738 asymptomatic individuals who underwent health screening with echocardiography and serial cardiac computed tomography (CT) were included for analysis.

Combining Multiplexed CRISPR/Cas9-Nickase and PARP Inhibitors Efficiently and Precisely Targets Cancer Cells.

Unlabelled: Triggering cancer cell death by inducing DNA damage is the primary aim of radiotherapy; however, normal cells are also damaged. In this study, we showed that delivery of only four synthetic guide RNAs with Cas9 endonuclease efficiently induced simultaneous DNA double-strand breaks, resulting in efficient cell death in a cell type-specific manner. Off-target effects of Cas9 endonuclease were prevented by using Cas9-nickase to induce DNA single-strand breaks and blocking their repair with PARP inhibitors (PARPi).

The Role of Serum Calcium Levels in the Progression of Arterial Stiffness: Cross-Sectional and Longitudinal Analyses in a Multicenter Cohort.

Increased arterial stiffness measured by brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) is a well-known risk factor for hypertension and future cardiovascular events. The relationship between serum calcium levels and increased arterial stiffness is not well understood. Individuals undergoing baPWV measurements as part of a generalized health examination, with normal serum calcium (8.