Pseudomonas aeruginosa senses exopolysaccharide trails using type IV pili and adhesins during biofilm formation.

During early stages of biofilm formation, Pseudomonas aeruginosa (Pa) PAO1 can sense exopolysaccharide (EPS) trails of Psl deposited on a surface by previous Pa cells to detect trajectories of other cells and to orchestrate motility. This sensory signal is transduced into cyclic diGMP second messengers, but no known Psl receptors and adhesins participate in signal transduction. Here, using bacteria-secreted Psl trails, glycopolymer-patterned surfaces, longitudinal cell tracking, second messenger dual reporters and genetic mutations targeting EPS binding and surface twitching, we find that Pa is capable of sensing EPS directly through mutually constitutive interactions between type IV pili (T4P)-powered twitching and specific adhesin-EPS bonds.

Deep-Learning-Based Automated REM Sleep Detection in Patients With REM Sleep Behavior Disorder: Is It Reliable?

Background And Purpose: Rapid eye movement (REM) sleep without atonia makes it difficult to detect REM sleep stages using electromyography in patients with REM sleep behavior disorder (RBD). The objectives of this study were to propose an automated REM sleep detector that requires only electroencephalography (EEG) and electrooculography (EOG) data, and to evaluate its performance using real-world polysomnography (PSG) data in RBD patients.

Methods: This multicenter study used 310 PSG datasets obtained from 5 tertiary hospitals.

Therapeutic Potential of Stem Cell-Derived Exosomes in Skin Wound Healing.

Chronic skin wounds are difficult to heal or nonhealing. These wounds may become infected and progress to tissue necrosis, potentially leading to limb amputation, sepsis, reduced quality of life, depression, economic burden on the healthcare system, and social isolation. Several clinical strategies, including negative pressure wound therapy, antibiotic-based infection control, and wound debridement, have been developed to treat skin wounds.

Epidemiological Analysis of Tuberculosis Transmission, Risk Factors, and Subclinical Tuberculosis Management in a High School Outbreak, South Korea.

Background: Tuberculosis (TB) remains a significant public health concern, particularly in congregate settings such as schools, where adolescents are at increased risk transmission. This study aimed to investigate the epidemiological characteristics, transmission dynamics, and control strategies during a TB outbreak in a South Korean high school.

Methods: A retrospective epidemiological investigation was conducted using data from the Korea Tuberculosis Network and official outbreak reports.

Control of Overly Secreted Tryptophanyl tRNA Synthetase Attenuates Sepsis Severity in a Porcine Model.

Sepsis is a leading cause of mortality in hospitals with a lack of reliable biomarkers and specialized therapeutics. Recently, highly secreted tryptophanyl-tRNA synthetase 1 (WARS1), an endogenous ligand for Toll-like receptor (TLR) 2 and TLR4, was found to be a potential theranostic target for hypercytokinemic severe sepsis. In this study, using the minipig sepsis model inoculated with cecum slurry, we demonstrated that increases in WARS1 levels were associated with severity of sepsis and showed strong correlations with RBC count and the levels of HGB, HCT, EPO, lactate, and PLT count in the acute phase of sepsis.

Burden of Revision Total Knee Arthroplasty Following Periprosthetic Joint Infection Based on the Korean National Registry between 2011 and 2019.

Background: This study aimed to document the epidemiology of revision total knee arthroplasty following periprosthetic joint infection (RTKA-f-PJI) in Korea between 2011 and 2019 and analyze the economic burden of RTKA-f-PJI.

Methods: Epidemiological data on RTKA-f-PJI in Korea between 2011 and 2019 were obtained from the Korean Health Insurance Review and Assessment database. The annual numbers and growth rates of entire RTKAs and RTKA-f-PJIs and the RTKA-f-PJI rate (RTKA-f-PJI / entire RTKAs) were determined.

Thermally treated lanthanum oxide nanoparticles-embedded polyamide composite nanofiber membrane for enhanced mechanical properties and phosphorus adsorption kinetics.

Lanthanum oxide (LaO) nanoparticles-embedded polyamide 6 nanofiber membranes were electrospun using hexafluoroisopropanol (HFIP) as the solvent. Unlike other solvents such as formic acid and an acetone: trifluoroacetic acid (ace: TFA) mixture, HFIP allowed LaO nanoparticles to remain well-suspended without altering their composition. Various material characterizations confirmed LaO nanoparticles are well embedded in polyamide nanofibers.

Balanced flexion gap is more strongly associated with postoperative outcomes than femoral component rotation in total knee arthroplasty.

Introduction: This study evaluated (1) the degree of femoral component rotation required to achieve a balanced flexion gap in total knee arthroplasty (TKA) using the extension-first technique, (2) the proportion of patients who achieved balanced flexion and extension gaps, and (3) whether femoral component rotation or gap balance was more closely associated with postoperative outcomes.

Materials And Methods: A total of 169 patients who underwent total knee arthroplasty using the extension-first technique were retrospectively reviewed. Femoral component rotation was determined based on the posterior condylar line and adjusted to the angle required to attain a balanced flexion gap at 90°.

A Patch-Type Electrocardiography Is Superior to Holter Monitoring for Detecting Paroxysmal Cardiac Arrhythmias.

Background: Patch-electrocardiography (ECG) enables prolonged ECG monitoring beyond 24 hours. However, diagnostic yield between patch-ECG and Holter monitoring needs further validation. We aimed to compare diagnostic capabilities of 14-day patch-ECG and one day Holter monitoring to detect cardiac arrhythmias.

The association between multi-inflammatory index and long-term mortality in post-myocardial infarction patients treated with percutaneous coronary intervention.

Background: Inflammation plays a crucial role in the pathophysiology of acute myocardial infarction (AMI), and various inflammatory markers have been associated with patient outcomes. The multi-inflammatory index (MII) has emerged as a potential prognostic indicator, but its relationship with AMI mortality remains unclear.

Methods: We analyzed 8,414 patients with successfully revascularized AMI.

PEG-Coated Ceria-Zirconia Nanoparticle Prevent Weight Gain and Obesity-Related Organ Damage Through Autophagy Flux Activation and ROS Scavenging.

Purpose: Obesity is becoming a global health problem that leads to serious complications. Despite numerous efforts to lose weight, achieving this goal is very difficult. Polyethylene glycol-coated ceria-zirconia nanoparticles (PEG-CZNPs) have attracted significant attention for their antioxidant properties, but they also have another valuable ability: restoring autophagy flux.

Impact of Medical Residency Programs on Emergency Department Efficiency.

: Medical residency programs play a crucial role in emergency departments (EDs). However, clinical processes may differ between EDs staffed with medical residents and those staffed only by attending physicians. This study aims to compare clinical process times and clinical outcomes between these two types of EDs.

Impact of Age at Narcolepsy Onset on Sleep-Onset REM Periods in the Multiple Sleep Latency Test.

This study aimed to investigate the effect of age at symptom onset on rapid eye movement (REM) sleep latency and sleep-onset REM period (SOREMP) distribution in multiple sleep latency tests (MSLTs) in patients with narcolepsy. : This was a retrospective multicenter chart review of 135 newly diagnosed drug-naïve patients with narcolepsy who underwent MSLT and fulfilled the diagnostic criteria for narcolepsy. The age at onset was defined as the first occurrence of excessive daytime sleepiness or cataplexy.

Factors associated with diagnostic delay in narcolepsy: Real-world data from a Korean multicenter study.

Background And Objective: Narcolepsy is a rare chronic neurological disorder characterized by a pentad of symptoms: excessive daytime sleepiness, cataplexy, hypnagogic hallucination, sleep paralysis, and disturbed nighttime sleep. Narcolepsy begins in children and adolescents, yet most patients experience a diagnostic delay. We investigated this diagnostic delay and the factors contributing to it in Korean narcolepsy patients.

Deescalation From Ticagrelor to Clopidogrel for Myocardial Infarction With Chronic Kidney Disease: A Secondary Analysis of a Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a significant risk factor for both ischemic and bleeding complications following percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Optimizing dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) is essential for improving clinical outcomes.

Objective: To evaluate whether an 11-month, unguided deescalation strategy from ticagrelor to clopidogrel was associated with reduced bleeding without an increase in ischemic events in stabilized patients with CKD after AMI.

The effect of nurse-led enhanced supportive care as an early primary palliative care approach for patients with advanced cancer: A randomized controlled trial.

Background: Nurses play an important role in providing palliative care. However, few studies have evaluated the effectiveness of nurse-led primary palliative care.

Objective: To evaluate the effect of nurse-led enhanced supportive care as an early primary palliative care approach for advanced cancer patients.

The Korean Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (KSMBS) Position Statement on Female Candidates of Reproductive Age for Metabolic Bariatric Surgery.

Obesity has emerged as a major global health issue. The ratio of male to female patients undergoing metabolic bariatric surgery (MBS) is 1:3.5.

Hematology-oncology provider perspectives regarding lymphoma treatment and cardioprotective strategies in patients with lymphoma at high risk for heart failure.

The optimal treatment of patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) or Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) with preexisting cardiomyopathy is uncertain. An anonymous, electronic survey was distributed by e-mail to three US lymphoma cooperative groups, two community hospitals, and twelve academic medical systems, and distributed at one international lymphoma meeting. Fifty hematology-oncology providers caring for patients with lymphoma were included.

Exploring patterns of multimorbidity in South Korea using exploratory factor analysis and non negative matrix factorization.

The increasing prevalence of multimorbidity and the co-occurrence of multiple chronic diseases presents a measurable challenge to public health, impacting healthcare strategies and planning. This study aimed to explore disease patterns and temporal clustering using data from South Korea's National Health Insurance Service, spanning 2002-2019. The dataset included approximately 1 million individuals, focusing on those with at least two chronic diseases while excluding individuals who died within five years of follow-up.

Difference in Postoperative Outcomes and Satisfaction Between Men and Women After Total Knee Arthroplasty.

Background: This study was conducted to determine the difference in clinical outcomes and satisfaction between men and women after total knee arthroplasty (TKA) and whether the relationship between postoperative outcomes and satisfaction differs between the 2 groups after TKA.

Materials And Methods: This retrospective study included 324 patients who underwent TKA. The participants were divided by sex as follows: male (n=130) and female (n=194).

Proteinuria Is Associated With an Increased Risk of Sudden Cardiac Arrest in the Young Population.

Background: Proteinuria is a risk factor for cardiovascular events, but its prognostic value for sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) in young individuals remains unproven. We aimed to evaluate whether proteinuria in young people is associated with an increased risk of SCA.

Methods And Results: Individuals aged between 20 and 39 years who underwent health screening between 2009 and 2012 in South Korea were included (n=6 891 400).

The Profile of Gut Microbiota in Carcinogenesis Driven by Mutant EGFR in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer.

Purpose: Accumulating evidence has clarified that gut dysbiosis is involved in lung cancer development and progression. Although the relationship between tumors and gut microbiota has been extensively studied using clinical samples, no studies have examined the association between mutant EGFR-induced lung carcinogenesis and dysbiosis in gut microbiota. Therefore, we investigated the gut microbiota profiles in stool samples from human lung-specific conditional EGFR-mutant transgenic mice during lung tumor carcinogenesis.

Comprehensive genomic and functional analysis of Leuconostoc lactic acid bacteria in alcohol and acetaldehyde metabolism.

Alcohol consumption can lead to the accumulation of harmful metabolites, such as acetaldehyde, contributing to various adverse health effects, including hangovers and liver damage. This study presents a comprehensive genomic and functional analysis of Leuconostoc suionicum VITA-PB2, a lactic acid bacterial strain isolated from kimchi, to elucidate its role in enhancing alcohol and acetaldehyde metabolism. Genomic characterization revealed key genes encoding alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) and aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH), providing insights into the metabolic capabilities of strain VITA-PB2.