Association between physical activity changes and risk of incident ischemic stroke following cancer diagnosis: A nationwide retrospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Physical inactivity is prevalent after cancer treatment, which could increase ischemic stroke risk in cancer survivors. This study investigated the association between physical activity change from pre- to post-diagnosis and ischemic stroke risk among cancer survivors. METHODS: Using data from the Korean National Health Insurance Service database, 269,943 cancer survivors (mean [SD] age, 56.3 [12.1] years; 45.7% male) with no history of cardiovascular disease were evaluated based on changes in physical activity from pre- to post-diagnosis. Using the Fine-Gray model, subdistribution hazard ratios (sHRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for ischemic stroke risk were calculated, considering death as a competing risk. RESULTS: After cancer diagnosis, 62.0% remained inactive, 10.1% remained active, 16.6% became active, and 11.4% became inactive. During a mean (SD) follow-up of 4.1 (2.0) years, being active both pre- and post-diagnosis was associated with a 15% decreased risk of ischemic stroke (sHR, 0.85; 95% CI, 0.75-0.96), compared with those who remained inactive. Cancer survivors who became active and inactive post-diagnosis showed a 16% and 11% lower ischemic stroke risk (sHR, 0.84; 95% CI, 0.75-0.93; sHR, 0.89; 95% CI, 0.79-0.99), respectively, than those who remained inactive. Analysis by the primary cancer site did not substantially differ from the main findings. CONCLUSIONS: Physical activity is associated with reduced ischemic stroke risk among cancer survivors. The potential benefits of physical activity are not limited to individuals who were physically active before cancer diagnosis, thus preventive strategies against ischemic stroke should emphasize physical activity throughout the cancer journey.

Floating body effect in indium-gallium-zinc-oxide (IGZO) thin-film transistor (TFT).

In this paper, the floating body effect (FBE) in indium-gallium-zinc-oxide (IGZO) thin-film transistor (TFT) and the mechanism of device failure caused by that are reported for the first time. If the toggle AC pulses are applied to the gate and drain simultaneously for the switching operation, the drain current of IGZO TFT increases dramatically and cannot show the on/off switching characteristics. This phenomenon was not reported before, and our study reveals that the main cause is the formation of a conductive path between the source and drain: short failure. It is attributed in part to the donor creation at the drain region during the high voltage (Vhigh) condition and in part to the donor creation at the source region during the falling edge and low voltage (Vlow) conditions. Donor creation is attributed to the peroxide formation in the IGZO layer induced by the electrons under the high lateral field. Because the donor creation features positive charges, it lowers the threshold voltage of IGZO TFT. In detail, during the Vhigh condition, the donor creation is generated by accumulated electrons with a high lateral field at the drain region. On the other hand, the floating electrons remaining at the short falling edge (i.e., FBE of the IGZO TFT) are affected by the high lateral field at the source region during the Vlow condition. As a result, the donor creation is generated at the source region. Therefore, the short failure occurs because the donor creations are generated and expanded to channel from the drain and source region as the AC stress accumulates. In summary, the FBE in IGZO TFT is reported, and its effect on the electrical characteristics of IGZO TFT (i.e., the short failure) is rigorously analyzed for the first time.

Assessment of polychlorinated naphthalenes in Korean foods: Levels, profiles, and dietary intake.

Concerns about dioxin-like compounds have increased; however, the monitoring of polychlorinated naphthalenes (PCNs) in food and the assessment of dietary intake remain limited. In this study, various foods were collected from Korean markets and analyzed for PCNs. Fishery products exhibited the highest mean concentration (48.0 pg/g ww) and toxic equivalent (TEQ) (0.0185 pg-TEQ/g ww). Agricultural products were the largest contributors (35.7%) to the total dietary intake of PCNTEQ, followed by livestock products (33.6%), fishery products (20.2%), and processed foods (10.5%). The mean intake of PCNTEQ for the Korean population was 0.901 pg-TEQ/day for males and 0.601 pg-TEQ/day for females. Generally, males and younger groups had higher daily intakes of PCNTEQ, but they did not exceed the tolerable weekly intakes. Nonetheless, it is important to manage potential health risks associated with PCNs and other dioxin-like compounds by identifying major food items contributing to PCN exposure and considering age and gender differences.

Rapid Surface Reconstruction of In2S3 Photoanode via Flame Treatment for Enhanced Photoelectrochemical Performance.

Surface reconstruction, re-organizing the surface atoms or structure, is a promising strategy to manipulate materials' electrical, electrochemical, and surface catalytic properties. Herein, we demonstrate a rapid surface reconstruction of indium sulfide (In2S3) via a high-temperature flame treatment to improve its charge collection properties. The flame process selectively transforms the In2S3 surface into a diffusionless In2O3 layer with high crystallinity. Additionally, it controllably generates bulk sulfur (S) vacancies within a few seconds, leading to surface-reconstructed In2S3 (sr-In2S3). When using those sr-In2S3 as photoanode for photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting devices, these dual functions of surface In2O3/bulk In2S3 reduce the charge recombination in the surface and bulk region, thus improving photocurrent density and stability. With optimized surface reconstruction, the sr-In2S3 photoanode demonstrates a significant photocurrent density of 8.5 mA/cm2 at 1.23 V versus a reversible hydrogen electrode (RHE), marking a 2.5-fold increase compared to pristine In2S3 (3.5 mA/cm2). More importantly, the sr-In2S3 photoanode exhibited an impressive photocurrent density of 7.3 mA/cm2 at 0.6 V versus RHE for iodide oxidation reaction (IOR). We also showcase a practical and scalable surface reconstruction via flame treatment. Our work provides new insights for surface reconstruction engineering in sulfide-based semiconductors, making a breakthrough in developing efficient solar-fuel energy devices. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Silent gallbladder stone in kidney transplantation recipients: should it be treated? a retrospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Treatment and follow-up strategies for silent gallbladder stones in patients before kidney transplantation (KT) remain unknown. Therefore, we aimed to elucidate the role of pre-KT cholecystectomy in preventing biliary and surgical complications. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study retrospectively analyzed 2,295 KT recipients and 3,443 patients waiting for KT at a single tertiary center from January 2005 to July 2022. The primary outcomes were the incidences of biliary and post-cholecystectomy complications in KT recipients. Firth's logistic regression model was used to assess the risk factors for biliary complications. RESULTS: Overall, 543 patients awaiting KT and 230 KT recipients were found to have biliary stones. Among the KT recipients, 16 (7%) underwent cholecystectomy before KT, while others chose to observe their biliary stones. Pre-KT cholecystectomy patients did not experience any biliary complications, and 20 (9.3%) patients who chose to observe their stones experienced complications. Those who underwent cholecystectomy before KT developed fewer post-cholecystectomy complications (6.3%) compared with those who underwent cholecystectomy after KT (38.8%, P=0.042), including reduced occurrences of fatal postoperative complications based on the Clavien-Dindo classification. Multiple stones (odds ratio [OR], 3.09; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.07-8.90; P=0.036), thickening of the gallbladder wall (OR, 5.39; 95% CI, 1.65-17.63; P=0.005), and gallstones>1 cm in size (OR 5.12, 95% CI: 1.92-13.69, P=0.001) were independent risk factors for biliary complications. Among patients awaiting KT, 23 (4.2%) underwent cholecystectomy during the follow-up, resulting in one post-cholecystectomy complication. CONCLUSION: Gallstone-related biliary complications following KT and subsequent cholecystectomy was associated with more serious complications and worse treatment outcomes. Therefore, when KT candidates had risk factor for biliary complications, preemptive cholecystectomy for asymptomatic cholecystolithiasis could be considered to reduce further surgical risk.

Risk of fracture among patients with spinal cord injury: A nationwide cohort study in South Korea.

BACKGROUND: Clinical concerns about preventing and managing fractures after spinal cord injury (SCI) have been growing. OBJECTIVE: This study investigates the risk of fractures among SCI patients according to the presence of disability, disease severity, and level of injury. METHODS: We performed a retrospective cohort study using the Korean National Health Insurance Service (KNHIS 2010-2018) database. We included 5190 SCI patients and 1:3 age- and sex-matched control participants. The primary outcome was fracture, and the cohort was followed until December 31, 2019. RESULTS: SCI patients had a higher fracture risk than the matched controls (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] 1.33, 95 % CI 1.16-1.54). The risk of fracture was higher in the presence of disability (aHR 1.57, 95 % CI 1.19-2.07), especially among patients with severe disability (aHR 1.65, 95 % CI 1.05-2.60). Higher fracture risks were observed among SCI patients regardless of injury level, but statistical significance was found only with cervical-level injury. When we considered site-specific fractures, vertebral (aHR 1.31, 95 % CI 1.04-1.64) and hip fracture risks (aHR 2.04, 95 % CI 1.39-2.98) were both higher among SCI patients than the controls. SCI patients with disability and cervical-level injury showed the highest hip fracture risk (aHR 3.67, 95 % CI 1.90-7.07). CONCLUSIONS: Compared with the controls, SCI patients were at higher risk of any fracture, particularly hip fracture, especially those with disability and cervical-level injury. Clinicians should be aware of the fracture risk among SCI patients to provide proper management.

Viral Metatranscriptomic Analysis to Reveal the Diversity of Viruses Infecting Satsuma Mandarin (Citrus unshiu) in Korea.

Citrus cultivation plays a pivotal role, making a significant contribution to global fruit production and dietary consumption. Accurate identification of viral pathogens is imperative for the effective management of plant viral disease in citrus crops. High-throughput sequencing serves as an alternative approach, enabling comprehensive pathogen identification on a large scale without requiring pre-existing information. In this study, we employed HTS to investigate viral pathogens infecting citrus in three different regions of South Korea: Jejudo (Jeju), Wando-gun (Wando), and Dangjin-si (Dangjin). The results unveiled diverse viruses and viroids that exhibited regional variations. Notably, alongside the identification of well-known citrus viruses such as satsuma dwarf virus, citrus tatter leaf virus, and citrus leaf blotch virus (CLBV), this study also uncovered several viruses and viroids previously unreported in Korean citrus. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that majority of identified viruses exhibited the closest affilations with isolates from China or Japan. However, CLBV and citrus viroid-I-LSS displayed diverse phylogenetic positions, reflecting their regional origins. This study advances our understanding of citrus virome diversity and regional dynamics through HTS, emphasizing its potential in unraveling intricate viral pathogens in agriculture. Consequently, it significantly contributes to disease management strategies, ensuring the resilience of the citrus industry.

Changes in physical activity and diabetes risk after cancer diagnosis: a nationwide cohort study.

PURPOSE: Physical activity has the potential to reduce the risk of diabetes after cancer diagnosis. However, current evidence supporting its effects is limited. This study aims to examine the associations between changes in physical activity and subsequent risk of diabetes among cancer survivors. METHODS: A total of 264,250 cancer survivors (mean age 56.7 (12.5) years, 44.2% males) without a prior history of diabetes were assessed for adherence to physical activity both before and after their diagnosis. The primary outcome was incident diabetes. The Fine-Gray proportional sub-distribution hazards model was used to calculate sub-distribution hazard ratios (sHRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for diabetes risk, considering death as a competing risk. RESULTS: Over a follow-up of 1,065,802 person-years, maintaining regular physical activity from pre-diagnosis was associated with a 10% reduced risk of diabetes after cancer diagnosis (sHR 0.90, 95% CI 0.85-0.96), considering traditional diabetes risk factors, sociodemographics, and primary cancer sites. Cancer survivors who became active and inactive after their cancer diagnosis exhibited a marginally decreased risk of diabetes (sHR 0.98, 95% CI 0.93-1.03; sHR 0.97, 95% CI 0.92-1.03). The strength and direction of the association varied depending on the primary site of cancer. CONCLUSIONS: Regular physical activity starting before a cancer diagnosis is associated with a lower risk of diabetes following the diagnosis, independent of established diabetes risk factors. IMPLICATIONS FOR CANCER SURVIVORS: The study underscores the importance of engaging in sufficient physical activity to mitigate the risk of diabetes in cancer survivors.

Administration of chromium picolinate and meloxicam alleviates regrouping stress in dairy heifers.

Objective: This research was performed to investigate effect of administering chromium (Cr) and meloxicam (MEL) on growth performance, cortisol and blood metabolite, and behaviors in young regrouped heifers. Methods: Fifty Holstein dairy heifers (body weight (BW) 198 ± 32.7 kg and 6.5 ± 0.82 months of age) were randomly assigned to non-regrouped group or four regrouped groups. Non-regrouped animals were held in the same pen throughout entire experimental period (NL: non-regrouping and administration of lactose monohydrate (LM; placebo). For regrouping groups, two or three heifers maintained in four different pens for 2 weeks were regrouped into a new pen and assigned to one of four groups: regrouping and LM administration (RL); regrouping and Cr administration (RC); regrouping and MEL administration (RM), and regrouping and Cr and MEL administration (RCM). LM (1 mg/kg BW), Cr (0.5 mg Cr picolinate/kg dry matter intake), and MEL (1 mg/kg BW) were orally administered immediately before regrouping. Blood was collected before regrouping (0 h) and at 3, 9, and 24 h and 7 and 14 d thereafter. Behaviors were recorded for 7 consecutive days after regrouping. Results: Average daily gain was lower (P < 0.05) in RL than NL heifers, but was higher (P < 0.05) in RM, RC, and RCM than RL heifers. RL heifers had higher (P < 0.05) cortisol than NL heifers on d 1 after regrouping. The cortisol concentrations in RC, RM, and RCM groups were lower (P < 0.05) than in RL treatment 1 d after regrouping. Displacement behavior was greater (P < 0.05) in RL group than all other groups at 2, 3, and 6 d after regrouping. Conclusion: Regrouping caused temporal stress, reduced growth performance, and increased displacement behavior in heifers. Administering Cr and MEL recovered the retarded growth rate and reduced displacement behavior, thereby alleviating regrouping stress.

Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease and risk of esophageal cancer in patients with diabetes mellitus: a nationwide cohort study.

Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is closely associated with type 2 diabetes and a developing several cancers including esophageal cancer (EC). However, the association between MASLD and EC in diabetic patients has not been investigated. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the relation between MASLD and developing EC in diabetic patients. This was a population-based retrospective cohort study of data from the Korean National Health Insurance Service (NHIS). A total of 1,904,468 subjects diagnosed with diabetes who underwent NHIS-provided health checkups from 2009 to 2012 were included. We constructed a Cox proportional hazard model for the association of fatty liver index (FLI) and the risk of EC stratified by potential confounders. Over a mean follow-up duration of 6.9 years, the incidence of EC was higher in the high (≥60) FLI group compared to the low (<30) FLI group (14.4 vs. 13.7 event per 100,000 person-years). The risk of EC correlated with the degree of FLI, particularly in older (P = 0.002), female (P = 0.033), non-smoking (P = 0.002), and non-drinking patients (P = 0.025). Among obese patients, the risk of EC was not associated with FLI; however, the risk of EC was higher in the high FLI group in non-obese patients. Lean MASLD patients had the highest risk of EC (adjusted hazard ratio 1.78; 95% confidence interval, 1.5-2.13). MASLD was associated with an increased risk of EC in diabetic patients, and lean MASLD has the highest risk. Further studies are required to determine the causal relationship between MASLD and EC.

The predictive value of PD-L1 expression in response to anti-PD-1/PD-L1 therapy for biliary tract cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Recently, anti-programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1)/programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) immunotherapy offers promising results for advanced biliary tract cancer (BTC). However, patients show highly heterogeneous responses to treatment, and predictive biomarkers are lacking. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to assess the potential of PD-L1 expression as a biomarker for treatment response and survival in patients with BTC undergoing anti-PD-1/PD-L1 therapy. Methods: We conducted a comprehensive systematic literature search through June 2023, utilizing the PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library databases. The outcomes of interest included objective response rate (ORR), disease control rate (DCR), progression-free survival (PFS), and overall survival (OS) according to PD-L1 expression. Subgroup analyses and meta-regression were performed to identify possible sources of heterogeneity. Results: A total of 30 studies was included in the final analysis. Pooled analysis showed no significant differences in ORR (odds ratio [OR], 1.56; 95% confidence intervals [CIs], 0.94-2.56) and DCR (OR, 1.84; 95% CIs, 0.88-3.82) between PD-L1 (+) and PD-L1 (-) patients. In contrast, survival analysis showed improved PFS (hazard ratio [HR], 0.54, 95% CIs, 0.41-0.71) and OS (HR, 0.58; 95% CI, 0.47-0.72) among PD-L1 (+) patients compared to PD-L1 (-) patients. Sensitivity analysis excluding retrospective studies showed no significant differences with the primary results. Furthermore, meta-regression demonstrated that drug target (PD-1 vs. PD-L1), presence of additional intervention (monotherapy vs. combination therapy), and PD-L1 cut-off level (1% vs. ≥5%) significantly affected the predictive value of PD-L1 expression. Conclusion: PD-L1 expression might be a helpful biomarker for predicting PFS and OS in patients with BTC undergoing anti-PD-1/PD-L1 therapy. The predictive value of PD-L1 expression can be significantly influenced by diagnostic or treatment variables. Systematic review registration: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO, identifier CRD42023434114.

Good outcome prediction after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest: A prospective multicenter observational study in Korea (the KORHN-PRO registry).

AIM: To assess the ability of clinical examination, biomarkers, electrophysiology and brain imaging, individually or in combination to predict good neurological outcomes at 6 months after CA. METHODS: This was a retrospective analysis of the Korean Hypothermia Network Prospective Registry 1.0, which included adult out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) patients (≥18 years). Good outcome predictors were defined as both pupillary light reflex (PLR) and corneal reflex (CR) at admission, Glasgow Coma Scale Motor score (GCS-M) >3 at admission, neuron-specific enolase (NSE) <17 µg/L at 24-72 h, a median nerve somatosensory evoked potential (SSEP) N20/P25 amplitude >4 µV, continuous background without discharges on electroencephalogram (EEG), and absence of anoxic injury on brain CT and diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI). RESULTS: A total of 1327 subjects were included in the final analysis, and their median age was 59 years; among them, 412 subjects had a good neurological outcome at 6 months. GCS-M >3 at admission had the highest specificity of 96.7% (95% CI 95.3-97.8), and normal brain DWI had the highest sensitivity of 96.3% (95% CI 92.9-98.4). When the two predictors were combined, the sensitivities tended to decrease (ranging from 2.7-81.1%), and the specificities tended to increase, ranging from81.3-100%. Through the explorative variation of the 2021 European Resuscitation Council (ERC) and the European Society of Intensive Care Medicine (ESICM) prognostication strategy algorithms, good outcomes were predicted, with a specificity of 83.2% and a sensitivity of 83.5% in patients by the algorithm. CONCLUSIONS: Clinical examination, biomarker, electrophysiology, and brain imaging predicted good outcomes at 6 months after CA. When the two predictors were combined, the specificity further improved. With the 2021 ERC/ESICM guidelines, the number of indeterminate patients and the uncertainty of prognostication can be reduced by using a good outcome prediction algorithm.

Habitat use of loggerhead (Caretta caretta) and green (Chelonia mydas) turtles at the northern limit of their distribution range of the Northwest Pacific Ocean.

Verifying habitats, including the foraging and nesting areas for sea turtles, enables an understanding of their spatial ecology and successful planning of their conservation and management strategies. Recently, the observation frequency and bycatch of loggerhead (Caretta caretta) and green (Chelonia mydas) turtles have increased in the northern limit of their distribution range, in the northern part of the East China Sea and East (Japan) Sea. We conducted satellite tracking to investigate the habitat use of seven loggerhead and eight green turtles from June 2016 to August 2022 in this area, where little is known about their spatial ecology. We applied a 50 percent volume contour method to determine their main foraging areas and analyzed 6 environmental variables to characterize their habitats. Loggerhead turtles mainly stayed in and used the East China Sea as a foraging area during the tracking period, while two individuals among them also used the East Sea as a seasonal foraging area. Most green turtles also used the East China Sea as a foraging area, near South Korea and Japan, with one individual among them using the lower area of the East Sea as a seasonal foraging area. Notably, one green turtle traveled to Hainan Island in the South China Sea, a historical nesting area. Our results showed that the two sea turtle species included the East Sea as a seasonal foraging area, possibly owing to the abundance of food sources available, despite its relatively lower sea temperature. Considering that loggerhead and green sea turtles were observed using the northern part of the East China Sea and East Sea more frequently than previously known and that the sea temperature gradually increases due to climate change, conservation and management activities are required for sea turtles in these areas.

Fracture Risk Among Stroke Survivors According to Poststroke Disability Status and Stroke Type.

BACKGROUND: Stroke survivors face physical and cognitive challenges, leading to an increased dependency and a higher fall risk. We aimed to investigate the impact of poststroke disability and stroke type on fracture risk at various sites compared with matched controls. METHODS: This retrospective cohort study used data from the Korean National Health Insurance System database (2010-2018), including patients with stroke and 1:1 matched controls. Stroke survivors were grouped based on the presence and severity of their poststroke disability and stroke type. The primary outcome was a newly diagnosed fracture, analyzed by Cox proportional hazard regression analyses adjusting for potential confounders. RESULTS: Among 223 358 stroke survivors (mean age, 64.8±10.9 years; 61.2% men), 16 344 fractures occurred during a mean follow-up of 3.7±2.5 years. In matched controls (n=322 161; mean age, 65.4±11.2 years; 61.3% men), 20 398 fractures were identified. Stroke survivors had increased overall fracture risk compared with matched controls (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR], 1.40 [95% CI, 1.37-1.43]). Specifically, hip fracture risk was even greater in stroke survivors (incidence rate per 1000 person-years, 4.7 [95% CI, 4.5-4.8]; aHR, 2.42 [95% CI, 2.30-2.55]) than controls (incidence rate, 2.2 [95% CI, 2.1-2.3]). The risk of vertebral fractures (aHR, 1.29 [95% CI, 1.25-1.34]) and other fractures (aHR, 1.19 [95% CI, 1.15-1.23]) was also higher than that of the control group. Hip fracture risk was the highest among stroke survivors with severe poststroke disability (aHR, 4.82 [95% CI, 4.28-5.42]), although vertebral or other fracture risk was the highest among those with mild poststroke disability. No significant difference in fracture risk was found between hemorrhagic and ischemic stroke survivors when stratified by disability status. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings showed increased subsequent fracture risk among stroke survivors, particularly those with poststroke disability and for hip fracture. Bone health assessment and treatment should be emphasized as an essential part of stroke management.

Analytical Investigation of Replica-Molding-Enabled Nanopatterned Tribocharging Process on Soft-Material Surfaces.

Nanopatterned tribocharge can be generated on the surface of elastomers through their replica molding with nanotextured molds. Despite its vast application potential, the physical conditions enabling the phenomenon have not been clarified in the framework of analytical mechanics. Here, we explain the final tribocharge pattern by separately applying two models, namely cohesive zone failure and cumulative fracture energy, as a function of the mold nanotexture's aspect ratio. These models deepen our understanding of the triboelectrification phenomenon.

Comparative Evaluation of Visual Outcomes in Combined Cataract and Vitrectomy for Idiopathic Epiretinal Membrane with an Advanced or Conventional Intraocular Lens.

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy of new monofocal intraocular lens (IOL) in comparison with conventional monofocal IOL in patients undergoing combined cataract and vitrectomy surgery for epiretinal membrane (ERM). METHODS: This prospective non-randomized comparative study included 65 eyes of 65 patients who underwent combined cataract and vitrectomy for ERM with implantation of advanced monofocal IOL (Eyhance ICB00, 33 patients) and standard monofocal IOL (Tecnis ZCB00, 32 patients). Monocular visual acuities were measured 6 months post-operatively, including corrected and uncorrected distance visual acuity (CDVA, UCDVA), uncorrected intermediate visual acuity (UCIVA), and uncorrected near visual acuity (UCNVA). Furthermore, contrast sensitivity and metamorphopsia were measured. RESULTS: There was no significant difference between two groups regarding operation time, post-operative CDVA, UCDVA, UCNVA, and spherical equivalent (p > 0.05). Monocular UCIVA was significantly higher in the Eyhance IOL group than in the Tecnis IOL group (p = 0.005). The photopic and mesopic contrast sensitivities were comparable between each group for any spatial frequency (p > 0.05). The correlation coefficients from correlations between retinal wrinkling ratio and M score did not differ significantly between groups (p = 0.877), and the degree of metamorphopsia was not significantly related to the type of IOL (p = 0.969). CONCLUSIONS: In combined cataract and vitrectomy for ERM, Eyhance IOL provided significant better visual performance at intermediate distance than standard monofocal IOL without compromising operation time, distance vision, contrast sensitivity, and evaluating metamorphopsia. Eyhance IOL can be a useful option for both surgeons and patients.

Comparisons of an automated oscillometric device with a hybrid manual auscultatory device for the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

This study evaluated an oscillometric device (OD), Microlife WatchBP Office AFIB, and a hybrid manual auscultatory device (AD), Greenlight 300TM, to determine a suitable blood pressure (BP) measurement device for the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey in a mercury-free context. Adhering to the 2018 Universal Standard's suggested consensus, the study involved 800 subjects (mean age 51.2 ± 17.5 years; 44.3% male), who underwent triplicate BP measurements following 5 min of rest in a randomized order (OD-first: 398 participants; AD-first: 402 participants). BP difference was calculated as OD value minus AD value, with results stratified by measurement sequence. The overall BP difference and tolerable error probability were -1.1 ± 6.5/-2.6 ± 4.9 mmHg and 89.2%/92.5% for systolic/diastolic BP (SBP/DBP), respectively. Lin's concordance correlation coefficient was 0.907/0.844 for SBP/DBP (OD-first/AD-first: 0.925/0.892 for SBP, 0.842/0.845 for DBP). The overall agreement for hypertension (BP ≥ 140 and/or 90 mmHg) was 0.71 (p < 0.0001), and the OD underestimated the overall hypertension prevalence by 5.1%. Analysis of the AD-first data revealed a lower level of agreement compared to the OD-first data; however, the observed blood pressure difference adhered to Criterion 1 of the 2018 Universal Standard. Microlife met the Criterion 1 of 2018 Universal Standard but underestimated the prevalence of hypertension. The BP discrepancy increased with higher BP levels, male sex, and smaller AC. With increasing age, the discrepancy decreased for SBP and increased for DBP.

2023 Obesity Fact Sheet: Prevalence of Obesity and Abdominal Obesity in Adults, Adolescents, and Children in Korea from 2012 to 2021.

Background: The 2023 Obesity Fact Sheet aims to present an updated overview of obesity prevalence across all age groups, including children and adolescents. Methods: This study included individuals aged ≥20 years (n=16,941,423 in 2021) who underwent health checkups provided by the Korean National Health Insurance Service between 2012 and 2021. The prevalence of obesity and abdominal obesity was standardized by age and sex using data from the 2010 population and housing census. For children and adolescents (6 to 18 years) (n=884 in 2021), we used the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2012 to 2021), and obesity was defined by the corresponding sex- and age-specific body mass index percentile of 95th or greater based on the 2017 Korean National Growth Chart for Children and Adolescents. Results: The overall prevalence of obesity in 2021 is 38.4% (49.2% in men and 27.8% in women), which is a 1.27-fold increase from 30.2% in 2012. The prevalence of obesity has increased across all age groups, particularly among those aged 20, 30, and 80 years. The prevalence of class III obesity substantially increased from 0.35% (men) and 0.42% (women) in 2012 to 1.21% and 0.97% in 2021, with 3.46- and 2.31-fold increases, respectively. This increase was particularly pronounced in young adults. The prevalence of obesity in children and adolescents has surged from 9.7% in 2012 to 19.3% in 2021, with a greater increase among boys. Conclusion: Our study provides information on the current status of obesity prevalence based on the 2023 Obesity Fact Sheet, emphasizing the urgency of implementing timely strategies to reverse this increasing trend.

Diagnostic Performance of Endoscopic Ultrasound Elastography for Differential Diagnosis of Gallbladder Polyp.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: It is difficult to differentiate between neoplastic and non-neoplastic gallbladder (GB) polyps before surgery. Endoscopic ultrasound-elastography (EUS-EG) is a non-invasive complementary diagnostic method. The utility of EUS-EG in the differential diagnosis of GB polyps has not been investigated. We aimed to investigate the diagnostic performance of EUS-EG for the differential diagnosis of GB polyps. METHODS: Patients with GB polyps were prospectively enrolled from June 2020 until November 2022. EUS-EG and semi-quantitative evaluation of the strain ratio (SR) were performed for differential diagnosis of GB polyps. Fifty-three eligible patients were divided into two groups based on the final diagnosis after surgery. Patient demographics, EUS characteristics, and SR values were compared. Receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was performed to determine the optimal cutoff SR value that discriminates between neoplastic and non-neoplastic GB polyps. RESULTS: The median SR value for neoplastic polyps (32.93 [interquartile range: 22.37-69.02]) was significantly higher than for non-neoplastic polyps (5.40 [2.36-14.44]; p<0.001). There were significant differences in SR values between non-neoplastic, benign neoplastic (23.38 [13.62-39.04]), and malignant polyps (49.25 [27.90-82.00]). The optimal cut-off SR value to differentiate between neoplastic and non-neoplastic polyps was 18.4. In multivariable logistic regression, SR value >18.4 (odds ratio 33.604, 95% confidence interval 2.588-436.292) was an independent predictor of neoplastic polyps. CONCLUSIONS: EUS-EG and SR values can be used as a supplementary method for evaluating GB polyps.