Buffering brain aging: education moderates language impairment in Parkinson's disease.

Background: Cognitive reserve (CR) refers to the discrepancy between brain pathology and observed cognitive decline. While education is a key indicator of CR, its role as a potential moderator in the relationships between brain morphology and cognitive impairments in Parkinson's disease (PD) remains unclear. This study examined whether education affects the relationship between brain age and cognitive impairments in patients with PD.

Risk of depression in chronic immune-mediated neuropathies: A nationwide cohort study in South Korea.

Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy (CIDP) and multifocal motor neuropathy (MMN) are among the most common immune-mediated neuropathies, characterized by a chronic, disabling disease course. While depression significantly impacts outcomes in various neurological disorders, its risk remains underexplored in patients with CIDP or MMN. This study aimed to investigate the association between CIDP or MMN and new-onset depression using a nationwide cohort in South Korea.

Target volume delineation of the neck for radiotherapy in nasopharyngeal carcinoma: CSTRO, CACA, CSCO, HNCIG, ESTRO, and ASTRO guidelines and contouring atlas.

The Chinese Society for Therapeutic Radiology Oncology, the Chinese Anti-Cancer Association, the Chinese Society of Clinical Oncology, the Head and Neck Cancer International Group, the European Society for Radiotherapy and Oncology, and the American Society for Radiation Oncology collaboratively developed evidence-based guidelines and a comprehensive contouring atlas for neck target volume delineation in nasopharyngeal carcinoma. These guidelines address five key challenges in modern radiotherapy practice: margin design of clinical target volume; nodal target volume delineation after induction chemotherapy; delineation of equivocal nodes evident on imaging; low-risk clinical target volume delineation based on regional stepwise extension patterns; and modifications for anatomical boundaries of lymphatic areas. Developed through a rigorous systematic review and expert appraisal process by a panel of 50 international, multidisciplinary members from 17 countries and regions, these guidelines incorporate the latest advances in nasopharyngeal carcinoma diagnosis and treatment.

Primary target volume delineation for radiotherapy in nasopharyngeal carcinoma: CSTRO, CACA, CSCO, HNCIG, ESTRO, and ASTRO guidelines and contouring atlas.

The Chinese Society for Therapeutic Radiology Oncology, the Chinese Anti-Cancer Association, the Chinese Society of Clinical Oncology, Head and Neck Cancer International Group, the European Society for Radiotherapy and Oncology, and the American Society for Radiation Oncology jointly developed evidence-based guidelines and a contouring atlas for primary target volume delineation for radiotherapy in nasopharyngeal carcinoma. The guidelines systematically address three crucial challenges: margin design of clinical target volumes; target volume delineation after induction chemotherapy; and low-risk clinical target volume delineation based on local stepwise extension patterns. Based on a comprehensive systematic review and critical appraisal by an international multidisciplinary panel of 50 nasopharyngeal carcinoma specialists from 17 countries and regions, these guidelines are in keeping with advances in nasopharyngeal carcinoma diagnosis and treatment, embodying contemporary treatment concepts, and elaborating on the differences in practice.

Identification of early predictors of clinical remission in primary membranous nephropathy: a analysis of the STARMEN trial.

Background: Patients with primary membranous nephropathy may progress to advanced chronic kidney disease despite immunosuppressive therapy (IST). Prediction of treatment response based on early and combined assessment of several standard clinical markers could improve risk stratification for progression, allowing timely individualization of treatment, which can optimize clinical outcomes and safety.

Methods: In this exploratory analysis of the STARMEN trial, we evaluated if combined baseline data, and IST-induced early changes in standard clinical markers predicted clinical remission at 2 years.

Impact of the 2024 medical-policy conflict on hepatocellular carcinoma management in Korea.

In 2024, a nationwide conflict between the South Korean government and the medical community, the medical-policy conflict, profoundly impacted healthcare delivery. This study aimed to evaluate the changes in the management of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) following this crisis. We analyzed retrospective real-world data from university hospitals in the Seoul metropolitan area, supplemented with national healthcare data from the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service.

Vessel segmentation for -separation in quantitative susceptibility mapping.

Purpose: -separation is an advanced quantitative susceptibility mapping (QSM) method that is designed to generate paramagnetic ( ) and diamagnetic ( ) susceptibility maps, reflecting the distribution of iron and myelin in the brain. However, vessels have shown artifacts, interfering with the accurate quantification of iron and myelin in applications. To address this challenge, a new vessel segmentation method for -separation is developed.

International Trends in Opioid Prescribing by Age and Sex from 2001 to 2019: An Observational Study Using Population-Based Databases from 18 Countries and One Special Administrative Region.

Objective: To characterize multinational trends and patterns of opioid analgesic prescribing by sex and age.

Design, Setting, And Participants: We studied opioid analgesic prescribing from 2001 to 2019 with common protocol using population-based databases from eighteen countries and one special administrative region.

Main Outcome Measures: We measured opioid prescribing by geographical region, sex and age, estimating annual prevalent, incident, and nonincident opioid prescribing per 100 population with a 95% confidence interval (CI) and meta-analyzed the multinational and regional opioid prescribing with a random-effects model.

Safety of Factor XI Inhibition With Abelacimab in Atrial Fibrillation by Kidney Function: A Prespecified Analysis of the AZALEA-TIMI 71 Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance: Chronic kidney disease is common in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) and is associated with higher rates of bleeding with anticoagulation. In the AZALEA-TIMI 71 randomized clinical trial, abelacimab, a novel factor XI inhibitor, reduced rates of major or clinically relevant nonmajor (CRNM) bleeding compared with rivaroxaban in patients with AF.

Objective: To examine the safety of abelacimab vs rivaroxaban across a range of kidney function.

Exposure to ambient carbon monoxide and cognitive decrease in a memory clinic.

BackgroundAmbient air pollution is a known global health risk, but its short-term impact on cognitive function, particularly in people with neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's disease (AD) or mild cognitive impairment (MCI), is not well understood.ObjectiveThis study examined the association between short-term carbon monoxide (CO) exposure and cognitive changes in older adults with MCI or AD.MethodsData were obtained from 717 patients diagnosed with MCI or AD at a South Korean medical center.

The Association betweend Rheumatoid Arthritis and Stroke Risk by Serologic Status and Stroke Subtypes.

Background: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) has been associated with an increased stroke risk, but associations by serostatus (seropositive RA (SPRA) vs. seronegative RA (SNRA)) and with subtypes of stroke (ischemic stroke (IS) or hemorrhagic stroke (HS)) are not well established. In addition, it is not well-known whether the use of biologic and targeted synthetic disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (b/tsDMARDs) are associated with altered stroke risk.

Engineered MSC-EVs loaded with BDNF-enhancing neuropeptides via a non-disruptive method enhance post-stroke neuroregeneration via intranasal delivery.

Mesenchymal stem cell-derived extracellular vesicles (MSC-EVs) show potential as neuroregenerative therapies. Incorporating bioactive compounds such as neuropeptides that enhance brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) expression may amplify their therapeutic potential. We developed a clinical-scale method for loading neuropeptides into MSC-EVs, while preserving their structural integrity and therapeutic functionality.

Thyroid Nodule Characterization: Which Thyroid Imaging Reporting and Data System (TIRADS) Is More Accurate? A Comparison Between Radiologists with Different Experiences and Artificial Intelligence Software.

This study aimed to compare: the performance of K-TIRADS, EU-TIRADS and ACR TIRADS when used by observers with different levels of experience compared with the gold standard of cytology, and to evaluate the diagnostic performance of CAD (computer-aided design) compared with TI-RADS systems. In total, 323 thyroid nodules were evaluated in patients who were candidates for needle aspiration. Three observers with different levels of experience evaluated the diagnostic accuracy of three risk stratification systems (ACR TI-RADS, EU-TIRADS and K-TIRADS) and CAD software (S-Detect, made by Samsung) in characterizing the nodules.

Precision Medicine for Cancer and Health Equity in Latin America: Generating Understanding for Policy and Health System Shaping.

This study presents and discusses evidence on the value of biomarker testing and precision medicine in Latin America through a health equity lens. It is essential to explore how to harness the benefits of precision medicine to narrow the health equity gap, ensuring all patients have access to the best cancer treatment. The methodology employed to develop this document consists of a non-systematic literature review, followed by a process of validation and feedback with a group of experts in relevant fields.

Real-World Evidence on Low-Dose Olanzapine (≤1.25 mg) for Personalized Antipsychotic Dosing.

: This cohort study aimed to elucidate the real-world treatment course of patients receiving low-dose olanzapine (<2.5 mg), to assess its efficacy, and to examine its metabolic side effects. This study was a cohort study using a clinical registry.

Endocrine Disorders in Patients With Inborn Errors of Immunity.

Background: Human inborn errors of immunity (IEIs) include disorders characterized by aberrant function or development of the immune system. Recently, interest in the immune and endocrine systems has increased. We aimed to investigate endocrine disorders in patients with IEIs.

Smoking behavior changes and risk of cardiovascular diseases after cancer diagnosis: a nationwide cohort study.

Purpose: D ue to advances in cancer detection and treatment and decreasing cancer-specific mortality rates, cancer survivors are increasing. However, they are at increased risk of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). We investigated the association between changes in smoking behavior and specific CVD outcomes in cancer survivors.

Rheumatoid arthritis and risk of colorectal cancer: a nationwide cohort study.

Objective: Prior research on colorectal cancer (CRC) risk in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) lacked analyses incorporating cardiometabolic or behavioral factors, offered limited subsite-specific data, and did not consider RA serostatus. This study assessed the association between RA and subsite-specific CRC risk by RA serostatus.

Methods: Using the Korean National Health Insurance System database, we identified 40 909 patients with newly diagnosed RA between 2010 and 2017, matched by age and sex at a 1:5 ratio with 204 545 non-RA participants.

Impact of smoking and physical activity on cardiovascular outcomes in type 2 diabetes across steatotic liver disease categories.

This study investigated the effect of smoking and regular physical activity (PA) on the composite risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) across different steatotic liver disease (SLD) categories. We analyzed data for 1,921,310 patients with T2DM aged 20 years and older. The participants were categorized by SLD status, with hepatic steatosis (fatty liver index ≥ 30).

Quantifying the impact of immortal time bias: empirical evidence from meta-analyses.

ObjectivesImmortal time bias (ITB) occurs when a period during which, by design, participants cannot experience the outcome (like death) is incorrectly included in the treatment group's follow-up, artificially making the treatment look better than it truly is. We aimed to identify a systematic sample of cases of ITB in the literature of studies using survival analysis and assess the impact of ITB on the results.DesignMeta-epidemiological study (PROSPERO[CRD42022356073]).

Orally Delivered Tolerogenic Nanotherapeutic for Targeted Colitis Therapy via ROS Scavenging and Treg/Th17 Modulation.

Despite compelling progression of current inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) therapy, restoring immune homeostasis in the gut has been a critically important issue. Here, we report a prebiotic-integrated, reactive oxygen species (ROS)-scavenging nanotherapeutic for the targeted treatment of acute colonic inflammation. Porous polydopamine nanoparticles (PNPs), exhibiting inherent antioxidant properties, were attached with the immunomodulatory drug metformin (Met) and subsequently coated with prebiotic tannic acid (TA), forming TA-Met-PNPs.

Colchicine and the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events in patients with gout and Type 2 diabetes: A nationwide cohort study.

Background: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and gout are associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular events. Despite the approval for the secondary prevention of cardiovascular diseases by the United States Food and Drug Administration in 2023, evidence regarding the effectiveness of colchicine among T2DM population remains limited.

Objectives: We aimed to evaluate the association between the use of colchicine and the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) among patients with gout and T2DM.

Boosting Physical Activity Among Individuals With Low Engagement Through Double-Point Incentives in a Community-Based mHealth Intervention: Retrospective Observational Study.

Background: The administration of incentives to promote physical activity, such as the amount or timing, can vary depending on target health behaviors, research settings, intervention delivery channels, and participants' preferences. Interventions implemented at scale necessitate the consideration of potential fiscal constraints for public health promotion. Since limited funding is a barrier to implementing community-based interventions, examining both immediate and sustained effects of temporary incentive increases on physical activity is important.

Risk of Subsequent Diabetes Mellitus in Stroke Survivors According to Poststroke Disability Status and Stroke Type.

This study used the Korean National Health Insurance System database to examine how poststroke disability and stroke type affect the risk of diabetes mellitus (DM) in stroke survivors. Data for 217 157 stroke survivors and 312 138 matched controls were analyzed. The relative risk of DM was assessed using multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression models.

Exposure to antibiotics during pregnancy or early infancy and the risk of autoimmune disease in children: A nationwide cohort study in Korea.

Background: Emerging evidence suggests that prenatal or early-life exposure to antibiotics may contribute to the development of autoimmune diseases in children. However, previous studies investigating this association have yielded conflicting and inconclusive results, partly due to challenges related to confounding by indication and underlying genetic or familial factors.

Methods And Findings: A nationwide cohort study was conducted using mother-child linked claims database of Korea's National Health Insurance Service between 2008 and 2021.