Long-Term Anticoagulation Discontinuation After Catheter Ablation for Atrial Fibrillation: The ALONE-AF Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance: Data from randomized clinical trials on a long-term anticoagulation strategy for patients after catheter-based ablation for atrial fibrillation (AF) are lacking.

Objective: To evaluate whether discontinuing oral anticoagulant therapy provides superior clinical outcomes compared with continuing oral anticoagulant therapy in patients without documented atrial arrhythmia recurrence after catheter ablation for AF.

Design, Setting, And Participants: A randomized clinical trial including 840 adult patients (aged 19-80 years) who were enrolled and randomized from July 28, 2020, to March 9, 2023, at 18 hospitals in South Korea.

The optimal lookback period for estimating incidence and temporal trends in atrial fibrillation.

Background: Accurate measurement of atrial fibrillation (AF) incidence using secondary data is challenging due to variation in lookback period definitions used to distinguish incident from prevalent cases. As the choice of lookback period critically influences incidence estimates, establishing an appropriate duration is essential for sustained surveillance of AF trends.

Objectives: This study aimed to identify a reproducible definition of the lookback period and analyze trends in the incidence rate and prevalence of AF in Korea.

Leveraging data analytics to revolutionize cybersecurity with machine learning and deep learning.

The exponential growth of digital technologies has brought about a surge in the complexity and frequency of cyber-attacks, necessitating robust cyber security measures. This study introduces an innovative approach to cyber security data analysis by leveraging Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) technology. The primary objective is to explore the potential of CNNs in accurately and efficiently detecting and classifying cyber security threats.

Transcriptional intermediary factor 1 gamma prevents lung inflammation and fibrosis via alveolar type 2 cells, fibroblasts, and macrophages.

Transcriptional intermediary factor 1 gamma (TIF1γ) inhibits transforming growth factor-beta (TGFβ) signaling, the main pathway involved in fibrosis. We previously showed that TIF1γ regulated anti fibrotic processes in the liver. Herein, we aimed to evaluate the therapeutic potential of TIF1γ in pulmonary fibrosis (PF).

Racial differences in bleeding risks among patients with atrial fibrillation: An ecological epidemiological study comparing Korea and UK population.

Background: Racial differences in the propensity to bleeding may be evident, with a higher risk of bleeding in Asian populations. This study aimed to assess racial differences in bleeding risk among patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) using an ecological epidemiological approach.

Methods: We included patients with AF from the Korean National Health Insurance Service-Health Screening and UK Biobank who underwent health check-ups between 2006 and 2010.

Bifacially Engineered Perovskite-Based Synaptic Memristors Achieve High Linearity and Symmetricity for Accurate and Robust Neuromorphic Computing.

Achieving both high linearity and symmetricity in metal halide perovskite (MHP)-based memristors remains challenging, primarily due to their abrupt switching behaviors and irregular conductive filament (CF) pathways. Here, bifacially engineered MHP memristors exhibiting simultaneous high linearity, symmetricity, and reliability are reported. Top-surface passivation using phenylethylammonium iodide (PEAI) facilitates the formation of an ultrathin 2D perovskite layer (PEAPbI), promoting gradual switching and effectively suppressing ion migration during CF formation, thereby significantly enhancing the linearity of long-term potentiation.

Improving CNN predictive accuracy in COVID-19 health analytics.

The COVID-19 pandemic has underscored the critical necessity for robust and accurate predictive frameworks to bolster global healthcare infrastructures. This study presents a comprehensive examination of convolutional neural networks (CNNs) applied to the prediction of COVID-19-related health outcomes, with an emphasis on core challenges, methodological constraints, and potential remediation strategies. Our investigation targets two principal aims: the identification of COVID-19 infections through chest radiographic imaging, specifically X-rays, and the prognostication of disease severity by integrating clinical parameters and electronic health records.

Enhanced ethylene/ethane selectivity of PI membrane with functionalized zeolite addition.

Mixed-matrix membranes (MMMs), consisting of fillers dispersed in a polymer matrix, have been extensively studied for gas separation. However, their application in ethylene/ethane (C₂H₄/C₂H₆) separation remains limited. This study examines the impact of incorporating highly selective zeolite fillers into a 6FDA-DAM-type polyimide on C₂H₄/C₂H₆ separation performance.

Twenty-Four-Month Outcomes of Intravascular Ultrasound-Guided Drug-Coated Balloon Angioplasty for Femoropopliteal Artery Disease.

Background: The IVUS-DCB (Intravascular Ultrasound-Guided Drug-Coated Balloon Angioplasty for Femoropopliteal Artery Disease) trial found that intravascular ultrasound (IVUS)-guided drug-coated balloon (DCB) angioplasty was associated with superior 12-month outcomes, compared with conventional angiography-guided DCB angioplasty. However, the durability of these benefits remains uncertain. The aim of this study was to compare the 24-month outcomes of IVUS-guided versus angiography-guided DCB angioplasty for femoropopliteal artery disease.

Surgical treatment for complex adult lumbosacral lipomas excluding retethered cases: what are the benefits?

Objective: Although spinal dysraphism is a congenital anomaly, it is also diagnosed and treated in adults. The aim of this study was to analyze the clinical outcomes of adult patients with complex lumbosacral lipomatous malformations (LLMs).

Methods: Patients aged 19 years and older who were diagnosed with LLMs from January 2000 to December 2023 at a single institution were retrospectively reviewed.

Passivation of Indium Selenide: Suppressing Polymer-Induced Doping through Redox Activation.

Polymers have played a critical role as passivation and dielectric layers in two-dimensional semiconductor device applications. However, the impact of functional groups in polymers, which can significantly affect channel materials and induce undesirable doping effects, remains largely unexplored. Here, we focused on the influence of functional groups on the channel material and investigated methods to mitigate the abnormal doping effects, thereby enhancing polymer stability.

Predictive AI Model for Endotracheal Intubation Timing in Critically Ill Patients.

Endotracheal intubation is used in critically ill patients to provide oxygen and apply mechanical ventilation, and identifying the exact timing of intubation plays a crucial role in the patient's prognosis. We developed an artificial intelligence-based model to predict the timing of intubation. We found that the predictive performance of our developed GRU-D++ model was the best among various models.

Hybridization-Driven Introduction of Anion Vacancies to Boost the Photocatalytic Nitrogen Fixation Functionality of Low-Lattice-Energy Nanosheets.

Defect engineering has attracted considerable research interest owing to its effectiveness in optimizing the catalytic performance of inorganic solids. Herein, we develop a hybridization-assisted defect control approach to fabricate efficient visible-light-active photocatalysts comprising low-lattice-energy nanosheets via a synergetic combination of hybridization and defect engineering. The hybridization between Cu-Cr-layered double hydroxide (Cu-Cr-LDH) and g-CN nanosheets having relatively low lattice energies effectively increases the defect concentration and improves photocatalyst performance for the visible-light-driven N reduction reaction (NRR).

Improved Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) Double Casting via Silicone Oil Treatment for Densely Packed Microstructure Replication.

Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) double casting is widely used for replicating microscale structures, including microfluidic channels and biomedical microdevices such as Bio-MEMS. Despite its versatility, strong interfacial adhesion between PDMS layers often results in incomplete replication or structural damage, particularly in densely packed microfeatures. Conventional approaches to reduce adhesion, such as plasma or chemical surface modification, require specialized equipment and can be time-consuming and costly.

Correcting errors in PCR-derived libraries for rare allele detection by reconstructing parental and daughter strand information.

Molecular barcoding methods enable high-sensitivity detection of circulating tumor DNA that is rarely present in liquid biopsy samples. Many methods involve ligation of molecular barcodes to DNA prior to hybridization capture, enabling recovery of starting molecules. Development of polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based methods could facilitate more cost- and labor- effective detection; however, tracking molecular identity can be difficult, as new barcodes overwrite old barcodes in each cycle.

Artificial intelligence-estimated electrocardiographic sex as a recurrence predictor after atrial fibrillation catheter ablation.

Aims: We explored whether artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled electrocardiographic (ECG) sex discrepancy would predict atrial fibrillation (AF) recurrence after catheter ablation for paroxysmal AF.

Methods And Results: The AI-ECG sex prediction model was developed from the MIMIC-IV and externally validated on CODE-15% (AUC 0.89) and UK Biobank (AUC 0.

Temporal trends in ischemic stroke and female sex as a risk modifier in atrial fibrillation: insights from non-anticoagulated Asian patients in a nationwide cohort study.

Background: Previous studies from Western populations have reported changing temporal trends in ischemic stroke (IS) incidence in females with atrial fibrillation (AF) when compared with males. Nationwide data on such temporal trends in AF-related IS incidence by sex are limited in Asian populations.

Methods: This population-based retrospective cohort study included patients with incident AF diagnosed between 2005 and 2016 from the Korean National Health Insurance Service.

Teen dating violence victimization and mental health in adulthood: The mediating roles of violence experiences and lifestyle factors.

Adolescent dating violence victimization is a prevalent but often underexamined form of early relational trauma, with potential long-term consequences for mental health. This study investigates the longitudinal association between adolescent dating violence victimization and depressive symptoms in adulthood and explores the mediating roles of subsequent violence-related experiences and lifestyle factors. Using data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health, we analyzed a sibling subsample (N = 1,474) followed through Waves I to V.

Nanoporous Capillary Gripper for Ultragentle Micro-Object Manipulation.

Surfaces become "sticky" at the micro/nano length scale as the gravitational force is no longer effective. Ultragentle, high-contrast switching of interfacial adhesion is the key to reliable small-scale object manipulation. Here, a novel approach is presented for surface adhesion control utilizing a liquid-permeable nanoporous surface, which can switch from off-state adhesion (< 0.

Real-World Effectiveness of Adaptive Left Ventricular-Only Pacing for Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy in Asian Population: Insights From the K-Adaptive CRT Study.

Background And Objectives: Conflicting results have been reported regarding the efficacy of left ventricular-only pacing (LVP) synchronized with intrinsic right ventricular conduction (adaptive LVP) for cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) in Western heart failure (HF) populations. We compared adaptive LVP with conventional biventricular pacing (BVP) in Asian HF patients.

Methods: The K-adaptive CRT study, the largest adaptive CRT study to date in Asian HF patients, evaluated 368 HF patients who received CRT devices with an adaptive pacing algorithm between September 2013 and March 2020 from 25 tertiary hospitals in Korea.

Continuing evaluation of atrial fibrillation detection after cryptogenic stroke: 2-year findings from a multicentre study with Confirm Rx ICM.

Background: The detection of atrial fibrillation (AF) after a cryptogenic stroke (CS) carries important therapeutic implications. In this study, we aimed to accurately assess the incidence of AF among CS subjects by using an insertable cardiac monitor (ICM).

Methods: A prospective, single-arm, multicentre registry was conducted to identify AF in 155 CS subjects using the Confirm Rx ICM (Abbott, California, USA) across 20 global sites.

Metabolic Status and Atrioventricular Block Risk: The Role of Physical Activity.

Background: The relationship between metabolic status as a possible risk factor and predictor of response to moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) in atrioventricular block (AVB) remains unclear.

Methods: A total of 82,365 UK Biobank participants without a history of AVB or pacemaker implantation, and who were involved in accelerometer work-up, were chosen for the study population. Metabolic status was classified into two categories, healthy and unhealthy, using modified criteria for metabolic syndrome from the International Diabetes Federation.

Dual effects of estuarine dams on summertime phytoplankton productivity in temperate river-estuary transition zones.

The river transports dissolved and particulate matter to the estuary, where physical and biogeochemical transitions occur. In the river-estuary transition zone (RETZ), phytoplankton response is an effective indicator of environmental variability with their immediate responses. Here, we examine summer-monsoonal variability in productivity and nitrogen uptake of phytoplankton in three major Korean rivers and their estuaries: the Han, Geum, and Yeongsan.

MAGNET-seq: A tandem PCR and hybrid capture method for enhanced target enrichment.

Hybrid-capture based target enrichment and multiplex PCR methods enhance sequencing efficiency by focusing on specific genomic regions, while struggling to enrich tens of regions spanning hundreds to thousands of base pairs. We developed MAGNET-seq (Multiplex Amplification and tarGeted eNrichment of sElecTed sequences), a streamlined method that integrates targeted multiplex PCR with hybrid capture. We evaluated its performance using two primer sets: a Drug Resistance Targeting Primers with 43 targets and a Reference Primers set with 7 targets, including clinically relevant mutations such as EGFR c.

Evaluation of Risk Factors for Fall Incidence Based on Statistical Analysis.

Background: Falls are common among hospitalized patients, particularly affecting older adults. This study analyzed patients who experienced falls at Kangwon National University Hospital (KNUH) and classified them based on department and nursing shift hours.

Methods: Data from adult patients admitted to KNUH between 2018 and 2023 who experienced falls were analyzed, focusing on demographics, medications, comorbidities, alcohol and smoking histories, and the Morse Fall Scale.