Comparative Effectiveness of Direct Oral Anticoagulants and Warfarin on Venous Thromboembolism in Cancer Patients.

Introduction: Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a leading cause of mortality in cancer patients, and a substantial number of patients are being treated with oral anticoagulants. We aim to assess the comparative effectiveness of direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) compared to warfarin for VTE treatment in cancer patients.

Methods: In this retrospective cohort study, we included 2,367 cancer patients who are new users of oral anticoagulants (OACs) for VTE treatment from 2009 to 2021 in NHS Scotland.

Ultra-low attachment surface enabling 3D co-culture of human B cells with CD40L-expressing stromal cells for mimicry of secondary lymphoid organs.

B cells are critical components of the adaptive immune system that proliferate and differentiate within the secondary lymphoid organs upon recognition of antigens and engagement of T cells. Traditional two-dimensional (2D) cell cultures fall short of replicating the intricate structures and dynamic evolution of three-dimensional (3D) environments found in lymphoid organs, prompting the development of more physiologically pertinent models. Our approach employs -hexanoyl glycol chitosan (HGC) coated ultra-low attachment (ULA) lattice plates to cultivate a 3D co-culture of CD40L-expressing MS5 stromal cells and naïve B cells derived from the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of healthy human donors.

Phase II Dose-Randomized Study of Sunvozertinib in Platinum-Pretreated Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer With Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Exon 20 Insertion Mutations (WU-KONG1B).

Purpose: WU-KONG1B (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT03974022) is a multinational phase II, dose-randomized study to assess the antitumor efficacy of sunvozertinib in pretreated patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with epidermal growth factor receptor () exon 20 insertion mutations (exon20ins).

Methods: Eligible patients with advanced-stage exon20ins NSCLC were randomly assigned by 1:1 ratio to receive sunvozertinib 200 mg or 300 mg once daily (200 and 300 mg-rand cohorts).

Comparative study of proficiency improvement in ArtiSential according to conventional laparoscopic surgery experiences.

Background: This pilot study investigates the adaptability of the articulating instrument (ArtiSential) among surgeons with different levels of experience in conventional laparoscopic surgery.

Methods: From June to November 2023, 18 laparoscopic surgeons participated in peg transfer and suture training using ArtiSential instruments. Participants were categorized into novice, intermediate, and expert groups.

Green tea extract complex as a phytogenic supplement to reduce bile salt hydrolase activity and enhance growth performance in weaning pigs.

The post-weaning period is stressful for pigs due to changes in their environment and diet. The occurrence of diarrhea at this stage is high. Growth promoters such as antibiotics and zinc oxide (ZnO) have been used to not only reduce post-weaning diarrhea but also improve growth performance of weaning pigs.

Shift Work and Dietary Behaviors Among Korean Workers.

Background: Shift work is associated with irregular dietary habits and poor nutritional intake, increasing the risk of chronic diseases. This study aimed to assess dietary quality and nutritional intake according to shift work status among Korean adult workers.

Methods: Data from 15,121 adult workers aged ≥20 years from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) conducted between 2013 and 2021 were analyzed.

Sevoflurane or remimazolam anaesthesia and emergence agitation after nasal surgery in adults: A randomised clinical trial.

Background: Emergence agitation is common after nasal surgery under general anaesthesia. Remimazolam, a novel ultra-short-acting benzodiazepine, allows haemodynamic stability and prompt postoperative recovery, but the specific impact of remimazolam on emergence agitation is not well understood.

Objectives: The primary aim of this study was to compare the effects of remimazolam-based total intravenous anaesthesia (TIVA) and sevoflurane-based volatile induction and maintenance of anaesthesia (VIMA) on the occurrence of emergence agitation.

Immediate complications and risk factors following radial arterial catheterisation in paediatric patients at a tertiary centre.

Background: Arterial catheterisation is a critical procedure in paediatric patients undergoing surgery; however, it poses certain risks. Complications such as thrombus formation, arterial stenosis and haematoma may occur, yet their true incidence and contributing factors remain incompletely understood.

Objective: To assess the incidence of complications and identify associated risk factors following radial arterial catheterisation in paediatric patients.

All-3D-Printed Multi-Environment Modular Microrobots Powered by Large-Displacement Dielectric Elastomer Microactuators.

Microrobots are expected to push the boundaries of robotics by enabling navigation in confined and cluttered environments due to their sub-centimeter scale. However, most microrobots perform best only in the specific conditions for which they are designed and require complete redesign and fabrication to adapt to new tasks and environments. Here, fully 3D-printed modular microrobots capable of performing a broad range of tasks across diverse environments are introduced.

Bioprosthetic valve replacement for concomitant aortic and mitral positions.

Objective: To compare the clinical outcomes of double-valve replacement (DVR) using bovine pericardial and porcine bioprostheses, using a nationwide administrative claims database.

Methods: Adult patients (age ≥40 years) who underwent bioprosthetic DVR between 2003 and 2018 were identified from the Korean National Health Insurance Service database. The outcomes of interest were all-cause mortality, cardiac mortality, and valve-related events, including the incidences of reoperation, endocarditis, systemic thromboembolism, and major bleeding.

Comparing Youth With Bipolar Disorder to Non-Bipolar Youth Referred for Bipolar Disorder.

Objective: Bipolar disorder (BD) diagnoses require episodes of hypomania and mania as well as depressive episodes. Given the overlap of BD symptoms with symptoms of other psychiatric conditions among youth, misdiagnosis is common. This topic was examined in a large sample of youth clinically referred for BD.

Quantitative assessment of fixation strength in combined thread lifting: Comparative analysis of bidirectional-multidirectional versus double bidirectional thread combinations.

Background: The efficacy of thread lifting procedures for facial rejuvenation is significantly influenced by thread fixation strength and tissue stabilization capabilities. This study presents a quantitative biomechanical comparison between bidirectional threads (epiticon® BI, JETEMA Co., Ltd.

Cell Toxicity and Autophagy in A549 Cells Treated With Surface-Functionalized Graphene Derivatives.

Graphene oxide and its derivatives have unique physical and chemical properties with applications in many different fields. However, their biological effects and mechanisms of intracellular toxicity have not been completely clarified. In this study, we investigated the cytotoxic and autophagic activities of graphene oxide and its derivatives in A549 human lung carcinoma cells.

Real-Time Visualisation of Reaction Kinetics and Dynamics: Single-Molecule Insights into the Iminium-Catalysed Diels-Alder Reaction.

Investigation of the fundamental microscopic processes occurring in organic reactions is essential for optimising both organocatalysts and synthetic strategies. In this study, single-molecule fluorescence microscopy was employed to study the Diels-Alder reaction catalysed by a first-generation MacMillan catalyst, providing direct insights into its kinetic dynamics. This reaction proceeds via a series of reversible processes under equilibrium conditions (S ⇄ IM ⇄ IM → P, IM and IM: N,O-acetal and iminium ion intermediates, respectively).

Concentration-Dependent Nanosheet and Nanotube Networks: Ice-Water Interface Control for Antifreeze Application.

Cyclic peptides (CPs) are versatile building blocks whose conformational constraints foster ordered supramolecular architectures with potential in biomedicine, nanoelectronics, and catalysis. Herein, we report the development of biomimetic antifreeze materials by conjugating CPs bearing ice-binding residues to 4-arm polyethylene glycol (PEG) via click chemistry. The concentration-dependent self-assembly of these CP-PEG conjugates induces programmable morphological transitions, forming nanotube networks above the critical aggregation concentration (CAC) and two-dimensional nanosheet networks near the CAC.

Multimodal and Multidimensional Artificial Intelligence Technology in Obesity.

Although the prevalence of obesity is increasing worldwide, related treatment remains a complex challenge that requires multidimensional approaches. Recent advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) have led to the development of multimodal methods capable of integrating diverse types of data. These AI approaches utilize both multimodal data integration and multidimensional feature representations, enabling personalized, data-driven strategies for obesity management.

A Water-Efficient Artificial Phytoextraction Technology for the Remediation of Cesium-Contaminated Soil Inspired by Plant Transpiration and the Hydrologic Cycle.

Cesium ions (Cs) are notable radioactive contaminants hazardous to humans and the environment. Among various remediation methods, adsorption is a practical way to remove Cs from water, and Prussian blue (PB) is well-known as an efficient Cs adsorbent. Although various PB derivatives have been proposed to treat Cs-contaminated water, soil remediation is still challenging due to the limited mobility of pollutants in soil.

Sacrificial Biofabrication for Vascularization: Concept, Materials, Technologies, and Applications.

Vasculature plays a crucial role in tissue engineering since it is essential for maintaining tissue viability by efficient nutrient and oxygen exchange as well as waste removal. The creation of biomimetic vascular networks is therefore critical for the development of functional tissue constructs. Sacrificial biofabrication has emerged as an effective method for engineering vascular structures by creating temporary templates that are subsequently removed to form well-defined vascular channels.

Music therapy for patients with depression: systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials.

Background: Depression is one of the most common mental diseases, leading to a decline in both psychiatric and physical functions. One non-pharmacological therapeutic strategy for the management of psychiatric disorders is music therapy.

Aims: To assess the clinical effectiveness of music therapy and its various subscales for managing depressive symptoms (primary outcome) and related problems (secondary outcome) in comparison with other conventional treatments.

Liver Stiffness Measurements After Oral Antivirals Effectively Predict the Risk of HCC in Patients With Chronic Hepatitis C.

Objective: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) can still occur in patients with chronic hepatitis C after achieving a sustained virologic response (SVR) with direct-acting antiviral (DAA) therapy. Therefore, we aimed to identify and validate predictors and HCC risk models using longitudinal data.

Method: This retrospective cohort study included patients who achieved SVR after DAA therapy.

The role of targeted temperature management before organ transplantation.

This study aimed to investigate the clinical course of brain death donors and admitted through the emergency department before organ procurement and early outcomes of kidney transplantation. We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of patients who visited a single tertiary emergency department with the final diagnosis of brain death and donor procurement between January 2013 and January 2022. Donors were categorized into 3 groups: brain hemorrhage, hanging, and other medical causes.

Evaluating stress experienced by caregivers of children with special health care needs via biomarkers: A systematic review.

Background: The body of literature on physiological measures of stress in caregivers of children with special health care needs (CSHCN) is emerging; however, a nondisease-based review of this literature has not yet been conducted. This study aimed to synthesize and analyze scientific evidence available in the literature on biomarkers associated with stress in caregivers of CSHCN.

Methods: We conducted a systematic review of studies published in 7 electronic bibliographic databases: Embase, MEDLINE/PubMed, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, CINAHL, Scopus, and PsycINFO, with no publication data restrictions.

Case report of extranodal NK/T-cell lymphoma mimicking Behcet syndrome.

Rationale: Extranodal natural killer (NK)/T-cell lymphoma is an uncommon non-Hodgkin lymphoma, prevalent in Asia. It often involves the nasal and upper airway regions but can disseminate to other sites like skin, soft tissue, testis, and gastrointestinal tract, characterized by Epstein-Barr virus association.

Patient Concerns: This report discusses a 48-year-old male initially diagnosed with Behcet syndrome with dry mouth, uveitis, pruritic macules, and human leukocyte antigen-B51 positivity.

The efficacy of 5.5-mm diameter rods combined with cervical pedicle screws for the treatment of challenging spinal disease in cervicothoracic junction: Is it a game-changer?

The cervicothoracic junction (CTJ) presents a surgical challenge due to its transitional nature from mobile to rigid segments. Therefore, the biomechanical characteristics of this transitional zone must be taken into consideration during instrumentation. This study aimed to determine the efficacy of the cervical pedicle screw placement (CPS) combined with 5.

Salmonella enterica in thinly sliced carrots and zucchini survives better at higher temperatures and higher relative humidity conditions.

The global increase in demand for ready-to-eat foods has been accompanied by a concerning rise in salmonellosis outbreaks linked to minimally processed vegetables (MPV). This study evaluated S. enterica survival in minimally processed carrot and zucchini under different combined conditions of temperature (6, 9 and 12 °C) and relative humidity (RH; 75, 85 and 95 %) over 168 h.