The Clinical Impact of Intravascular Imaging-Guided Percutaneous Coronary Intervention in Acute Myocardial Infarction Patients with High Thrombus Burden.

Despite the established clinical efficacy following intravascular imaging (IVI)-guided percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) than angiography-guided PCI, evidence regarding prognostic benefits of IVI-guided PCI in acute myocardial infarction (AMI) patients with high thrombus burden remains limited. Using the nationwide registries of KAMIR-NIH and KAMIR-V, we evaluated the prognostic impact of IVI-guided PCI in AMI patients with high thrombus burden. A total of 4,074 patients with AMI and TIMI thrombus grades 4 or 5 who underwent aspiration thrombectomy were selected, of whom 892 patients (21.

Impact of bronchitis variability on outcomes of COPD.

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the impact of serial bronchitic status over two consecutive years on clinical outcomes, including frequency of exacerbation and lung function decline rate.

Methods: We analysed data from 1265 participants enrolled in the Korea COPD Subgroup Study, a nationwide prospective observational chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) cohort. Bronchitic status was determined using subquestionnaires of the COPD Assessment Test at baseline and after 1 year, classifying patients into three serial bronchitic groups of persistently not bronchitic (NB), intermittently bronchitic (IB) and chronic bronchitis (CB).

Intravascular Imaging-Guided PCI vs Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting for Left Main or 3-Vessel Disease.

Background: Previous trials have shown that coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) has better clinical outcomes compared with percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for patients with left main coronary artery or 3-vessel disease. However, it is unclear whether intravascular imaging (IVI)-guided PCI would reduce the difference in clinical events compared to CABG.

Objectives: The present study sought to compare the clinical outcomes of patients with left main or 3-vessel disease who underwent IVI-guided PCI with those who underwent CABG.

Efficacy and safety of HL-301 compared with erdosteine in acute bronchitis: a randomized, double-blind, non-inferiority trial.

Background/aims: This study evaluated the non-inferiority of HL-301 to erdosteine in terms of symptom relief and the anti- inflammatory effects in acute bronchitis patients not treated with antibiotics.

Methods: In a double-blind, non-inferiority trial, patients were randomized 1:1 to receive either HL-301 (300 mg twice daily) or erdosteine (300 mg three times daily) for seven days. The primary endpoint was change in total Bronchitis Severity Score (BSS) from baseline to day 7.

Nanoporous Cellulose Acetate-Coated Polypropylene Membranes for Microbial Fuel Cells: Enhanced Long-Term Stability, Fouling Resistance, and Reverse Voltage Suppression.

Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) represent a sustainable energy technology but face limitations such as membrane fouling and reverse voltage in series systems. In this study, a nanoporous cellulose acetate (CA) membrane was fabricated on a polypropylene support using gas pressurization, with glycerin as a plasticizer to induce pore formation. This process yielded uniform, interconnected sponge-like pores while preserving mechanical and thermal stability.

Factors Associated with Exertional Desaturation in Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.

The six minute walk test (6MWT) has a prognostic role in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The aim of this study was to determine the factors associated with desaturation during the 6MWT in patients with COPD. This study utilized data from the prospective KOrea COPD Subgroup Study (KOCOSS) cohort.

Handgrip strength, dynapenia, and health-related quality of life in older Korean adults.

Background: Handgrip strength (HGS) is a critical determinant of muscle function and has been strongly associated with various health outcomes, including health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in older adults. Although previous studies have explored the relationship between HGS and HRQoL, there is limited research on multiple muscle strength indicators in older Korean adults. In this study, we aimed to investigate the associations between multiple muscle strength indicators-maximal and relative HGS, dynapenia, and HGS asymmetry-and HRQoL in older Korean adults.

Unsolicited Patient Complaints and Industry Payments for US Physicians.

Importance: Both commitment to patient welfare and conflict of interest management are important components of physician professionalism. However, the interplay between them has not been well explored.

Objective: To examine the association between unsolicited patient complaints, measured by Patient Advocacy Reporting System (PARS) Index, and acceptance of general (nonresearch) payments from industry, including significant payments, defined as exceeding $5000 annually.

Elucidation of the Factors That Determine the Reaction Distribution during Charging in Graphite Electrodes for All-Solid-State Batteries Using Nano X-ray Tomography and Digital Volume Correlation Analysis.

The reaction distribution within composite electrodes of all-solid-state batteries is often nonuniform, causing various problems. In this study, we developed an method at the three-dimensional and nanometer scale of the reaction distribution and the morphological changes during the charging process of a graphite composite electrode. The feature of the method presented is that it clarifies the factors that determine the reaction distribution by quantitatively analyzing the reaction distribution and three-dimensional changes that occur during charging at the same time using nanocomputed tomography (nano-CT) and digital volume correlation (DVC) analysis.

Molecular Epidemiology of Norovirus Outbreaks in Childcare Centers and Schools in South Korea in 2023.

Norovirus is a leading cause of acute gastroenteritis and foodborne illness worldwide. In this study, we investigated the epidemiologic and molecular characteristics of norovirus outbreaks in childcare centers and schools in South Korea throughout 2023. A total of 141 stool samples collected from these outbreaks were confirmed positive for norovirus using real-time and conventional RT-PCR, and subsequently analyzed for genotype.

Development of a Scoring System to Predict Suboptimal Peak Inspiratory Flow in Patients With Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.

Background: Peak inspiratory flow rate (PIFR) is a critical indicator for the successful use of dry powder inhalers (DPIs). However, resource constraints often limit the practicality of measuring PIFR prior to DPI prescription.

Methods: A cross-sectional observational study was conducted across seven hospitals in Korea, including patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

The Optimization of Mealworm () Sacrifice Methods and Examination of Sacrificed Mealworm Post-Cooking Characteristics.

Edible insects are gaining notable attention as an alternative human dietary protein source. However, despite its importance in food preparation, an optimal sacrifice method for insects is under research. Therefore, this study sought a suitable sacrifice method for mealworm (), a representative edible insect.

Decreased frequency and inflammatory change of FoxP3+ regulatory T cells in immunopathogenesis of human acute graft-versus-host disease.

Background/aims: Acute graft-versus-host disease (GvHD) is a severe complication of allogeneic stem cell transplantation, characterized by immune-mediated tissue damage primarily affecting the skin, liver, and gastrointestinal tract. Regulatory T (Treg) cells play a critical role in maintaining immune homeostasis. However, the pathogenic roles of changes in Treg cell number and function on acute GvHD remain poorly understood.

Serial next-generation sequencing for detecting germline predisposition in acute myeloid leukemia.

Not available.

Clinical Practice Guidelines for Diagnosis and Non-Surgical Treatment of Primary Frozen Shoulder.

Objective: Primary frozen shoulder causes significant pain and progressively restricts shoulder movements. Diagnosis is primarily clinically based on patient history and physical examination. Management is mainly non-invasive owing to its self-limiting clinical course.

A Decade of Healthcare Quality Assessment for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease in South Korea: Trends and Implications (2014-2023).

Background: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a progressive respiratory disorder associated with substantial morbidity and healthcare costs. Effective outpatient management can prevent exacerbations and reduce hospitalization rates. Since 2014, the South Korean government has conducted annual COPD quality assessment to improve disease management and ensure high-quality healthcare services.

Boosting Triboelectric Performance with In Situ Prussian Blue-Decorated MXene Nanocomposites in P(VDF-TrFE) and Nylon-11 Nanofibers for Self-Powered Photodetectors.

A surface-engineered poly(vinylidene fluoride-co-trifluoroethylene) [P(VDF-TrFE)] film demonstrates enhanced electron affinity, which increases charge density and boosts electron-accepting capability for efficient triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs). However, its nonconductive nature and low dielectric constant restrict overall performance. To address these limitations, this study introduces HF-etched MXene (MX) nanosheets and in situ synthesized Prussian blue (PB)-decorated MX nanocomposites (PB@MX NCs) as surface additives in electrospun P(VDF-TrFE) nanofibers.

Natural Progression of Rheumatic Aortic Valve Disease Following Mitral Valve Intervention: A 16-Year Single-Center Experience.

Recognizing the natural progression of the remaining valve disease following the intervention of a single valve is crucial in multiple rheumatic valvular diseases as often encountered in clinical practice. We aimed to investigate whether performing mitral valve (MV) intervention alone for multiple rheumatic MV and aortic valve (AV) disease is safe. Rheumatic AV disease progresses slowly and severity does not differ significantly after MV intervention.

Exposome study for allergic diseases in children: Rationale and design of ECHO-COCOA study.

Background: Comprehensive consideration of the totality of environmental exposures and the resulting endogenous responses plays a crucial role in assessing the effect of early-life exposure on child health.

Objectives: The Exposome and Child Health with Omics-COhort for Childhood Origin of Asthma and allergic diseases (ECHO-COCOA) study was conducted based on the COCOA birth cohort, a general population-based cohort study that aimed to evaluate multi-omics signatures of environmental exposures and their effect on childhood allergic diseases, obesity and neurodevelopment in Korea.

Methods: In total, 156 chemical pollutants and multi-omics profiles (methylome, genome, gut microbiome, transcriptome, metabolome, proteome, and multiplex cytokine assay) were investigated in 481 mother-child pairs.

Chronic Eosinophilic Gastritis Presenting as Gastric Outlet Obstruction in a Young Man: A Case Report.

Eosinophilic gastritis, a relatively rare condition characterized by eosinophilic infiltration of the gastrointestinal wall, has a chronic course involving relapses and remissions. Herein, we describe the case of a 25-year-old man with chronic eosinophilic gastritis complicated by gastric outlet obstruction. The patient had a history of persistent gastrointestinal symptoms since adolescence and had developed severe dyspepsia and vomiting two months before presentation.

ATG14 expression and its role in autophagy-mediated response to nervous necrosis virus in sevenband grouper (Hyporthodus septemfasciatus).

Autophagy is a crucial mechanism that regulates cellular homeostasis and eliminates viruses by degrading intracellular substances. However, excessive autophagy can contribute to the development of diseases such as cancer and diabetes. Some viruses exploit the autophagic process to their advantage during replication, thereby harming the host.

A quantitative polymerase chain reaction approach for distinguishing the geographical origin of from Korea and Japan.

Unlabelled: Illegal distribution and mislabeling of imported fishery products pose challenges to country-of-origin labeling regulations in Korea. To address this issue, a quantitative PCR (qPCR)-based method was developed to distinguish from Korea and Japan. Using genotyping-by-sequencing (GBS), two single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers were identified, and allele-specific primers were designed.

Adjunctive Antidepressant Use in Bipolar Disorder and Its Clinical Correlates: An Asian Psychotropic Prescription Patterns Consortium Study.

Introduction: Adjunctive antidepressant (AD) use is prevalent for the treatment of bipolar disorder (BD) in many countries, but there is little information about this practice in Asia. Accordingly, we addressed the prevalence, dosing, and clinical correlates of adjunctive AD use with BD in a large Asian sample.

Methods: Patients with BD were recruited across 13 Asian sites (PR China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, Myanmar, Pakistan, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, and Thailand) for this cross-sectional study.

Localization and Pathological Implications of Lipopolysaccharide in the Brains of 5XFAD Mice.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is an irreversible disease characterized by a complex pathophysiology. Recent evidence consistently identifies inflammation as one of the contributing factors, along with the pathological aggregation and accumulation of amyloid-β (Aβ) peptides and hyperphosphorylated tau protein. Inflammation is suggested to have specific causative agents, of which lipopolysaccharide (LPS) may be important in AD.