Development and Psychometric Test of the Inpatients Experiences Measurement Scale (IEMS).

Purpose: In South Korea, hospitalized patients' experiences significantly impact satisfaction and treatment outcomes. This study developed and evaluated the Inpatients Experience Measurement Scale (IEMS) for its psychometric properties. Patients and Methods: Participants from three hospitals were recruited using convenience sampling. Scale item generation involved patient interviews and a Delphi survey with experts. Psychometric testing used Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) with 150 participants and Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) with 151 participants. Results: A total of 301 patients participated, resulting in a 20-item scale across four factors: "Care Quality and Information Provision", "Patient Safety and Dietary Services", "Facility and Comfort Infrastructure", and "Comprehensive Patient Support Services". Rated on a 5-point Likert scale, the scale showed a high Content Validity Index (CVI) over 0.80. EFA explained 61.43% of the variance. The four-factor model was validated using CFA with favorable fit indices. The IEMS demonstrated strong convergent validity, supported by high composite reliability (CR) and average variance extracted (AVE) values. Significant correlations with the Patient Satisfaction Scale reinforced its convergent validity. Discriminant validity was confirmed, and all reliability measures exceeded the minimum threshold of 0.80. Conclusion: The IEMS effectively captures inpatients' experiences, demonstrating robust reliability and validity. This scale is a valuable tool for assessing patient experiences, facilitating enhancements in patient care and satisfaction within hospital settings.

Association Between Sleep Quality and Deep Learning-Based Sleep Onset Latency Distribution Using an Electroencephalogram.

To evaluate sleep quality, it is necessary to monitor overnight sleep duration. However, sleep monitoring typically requires more than 7 hours, which can be inefficient in termxs of data size and analysis. Therefore, we proposed to develop a deep learning-based model using a 30 sec sleep electroencephalogram (EEG) early in the sleep cycle to predict sleep onset latency (SOL) distribution and explore associations with sleep quality (SQ). We propose a deep learning model composed of a structure that decomposes and restores the signal in epoch units and a structure that predicts the SOL distribution. We used the Sleep Heart Health Study public dataset, which includes a large number of study subjects, to estimate and evaluate the proposed model. The proposed model estimated the SOL distribution and divided it into four clusters. The advantage of the proposed model is that it shows the process of falling asleep for individual participants as a probability graph over time. Furthermore, we compared the baseline of good SQ and SOL and showed that less than 10 minutes SOL correlated better with good SQ. Moreover, it was the most suitable sleep feature that could be predicted using early EEG, compared with the total sleep time, sleep efficiency, and actual sleep time. Our study showed the feasibility of estimating SOL distribution using deep learning with an early EEG and showed that SOL distribution within 10 minutes was associated with good SQ.

MEDi-SOL: Multi Ensemble Distribution Model for Estimating Sleep Onset Latency.

Sleep onset latency (SOL) is an important factor relating to the sleep quality of a subject. Therefore, accurate prediction of SOL is useful to identify individuals at risk of sleep disorders and to improve sleep quality. In this study, we estimate SOL distribution and falling asleep function using an electroencephalogram (EEG), which can measure the electric field of brain activity. We proposed a Multi Ensemble Distribution model for estimating Sleep Onset Latency (MEDi-SOL), consisting of a temporal encoder and a time distribution decoder. We evaluated the performance of the proposed model using a public dataset from the Sleep Heart Health Study. We considered four distributions, Normal, log-Normal, Weibull, and log-Logistic, and compared them with a survival model and a regression model. The temporal encoder with the ensemble log-Logistic and log-Normal distribution showed the best and second-best scores in the concordance index (C-index) and mean absolute error (MAE). Our MEDi-SOL, multi ensemble distribution with combining log-Logistic and log-Normal distribution, shows the best score in C-index and MAE, with a fast training time. Furthermore, our model can visualize the process of falling asleep for individual subjects. As a result, a distribution-based ensemble approach with appropriate distribution is more useful than point estimation.

Exploring nurses' experiences in pressure sore care in long-term care facilities.

BACKGROUND: This study uses an interpretive description approach to explore nurses' experiences with pressure sore care in long-term care facilities, highlighting the complexity of their encounters. METHODS: 10 experienced nurses from South Korean small to medium-sized hospitals were chosen via purposive sampling for interviews. Data analysis utilized Braun and Clarke's reflexive thematic analysis. RESULTS: The study's findings collectively reflect the intricate journey of nurses in Long-term care facilities as they grapple with the challenges of pressure sore care. These nurses transform their perception of pressure sores, encountering a dynamic shift in their understanding. They face multifaceted challenges in providing optimal care, marked by resource constraints and the absence of standardized guidelines. Emotionally, they navigate a complex terrain of sentiments, oscillating between feelings of accomplishment and helplessness. Despite these hurdles, they persistently strive for excellence in pressure sore nursing, driven by an unwavering commitment to delivering the best possible care within the confines of their healthcare environment. CONCLUSION: The study enhances understanding of pressure sore care in long-term facilities and suggests avenues for improving nursing practices and care quality through targeted interventions.

Comparative associations of MASLD and MAFLD with the presence and severity of coronary artery calcification.

We aimed to compare the associations of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) and metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) with coronary artery calcification (CAC). Patients who simultaneously underwent ultrasonography to diagnose hepatic steatosis and cardiac computed tomography to detect CAC were included. The presence and severity of CAC were defined with CAC-score thresholds of >0 and > 300, respectively, and patients were divided into the following groups: no MASLD or MAFLD (reference), MASLD-only, MAFLD-only, and overlapping groups. Overall, 1,060/2,773 (38.2%) patients had CAC, of which 196 (18.5%) had severe CAC. The MASLD and MAFLD prevalence rates were 32.6% and 45.2%, respectively, with an overlap of 30.7%. In an ASCVD risk score-adjusted model, both MASLD (adjusted odd ratios [aOR], 1.21; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.02-1.44; p = 0.033) and MAFLD (aOR, 1.20; 95% CI, 1.01-1.42, p = 0.034) were associated with CAC, whereas only MASLD (aOR, 1.38; 95% CI, 1.01-1.89, p = 0.041) was associated with severe CAC. Compared to the reference group, the overlapping group showed an association with CAC (aOR, 1.22; 95% CI, 1.01-1.47; p = 0.038); however, the MASLD and MAFLD subgroups did not differ in their association with CAC. MASLD may predict a higher risk of ASCVD more effectively than MAFLD.

Identification of an effective and safe bolus dose and lockout time for patient-controlled sedation (PCS) using dexmedetomidine in dental treatments: a randomized clinical trial.

Background: This study investigated a safe and effective bolus dose and lockout time for patient-controlled sedation (PCS) with dexmedetomidine for dental treatments. The depth of sedation, vital signs, and patient satisfaction were investigated to demonstrate safety. Methods: Thirty patients requiring dental scaling were enrolled and randomly divided into three groups based on bolus doses and lockout times: group 1 (low dose group, bolus dose 0.05 µg/kg, 1-minute lockout time), group 2 (middle dose group, 0.1 µg/kg, 1-minute), and group 3 (high dose group, 0.2 µg/kg, 3-minute) (n = 10 each). ECG, pulse, oxygen saturation, blood pressure, end-tidal CO2, respiratory rate, and bispectral index scores (BIS) were measured and recorded. The study was conducted in two stages: the first involved sedation without dental treatment and the second included sedation with dental scaling. Patients were instructed to press the drug demand button every 10 s, and the process of falling asleep and waking up was repeated 1-5 times. In the second stage, during dental scaling, patients were instructed to press the drug demand button. Loss of responsiveness (LOR) was defined as failure to respond to auditory stimuli six times, determining sleep onset. Patient and dentist satisfaction were assessed before and after experimentation. Results: Thirty patients (22 males) participated in the study. Scaling was performed in 29 patients after excluding one who experienced dizziness during the first stage. The average number of drug administrations until first LOR was significantly lower in group 3 (2.8 times) than groups 1 and 2 (8.0 and 6.5 times, respectively). The time taken to reach the LOR showed no difference between groups. During the second stage, the average time required to reach the LOR during scaling was 583.4 seconds. The effect site concentrations (Ce) was significantly lower in group 1 than groups 2 and 3. In the participant survey on PCS, 8/10 in group 3 reported partial memory loss, whereas 17/20 in groups 1 and 2 recalled the procedure fully or partially. Conclusion: PCS with dexmedetomidine can provide a rapid onset of sedation, safe vital sign management, and minimal side effects, thus facilitating smooth dental sedation.

The Clinical Significance of Myosteatosis in Survival Outcomes in Patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma Treated with Sorafenib.

The role of body composition parameters in sorafenib-treated hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients is still not fully elucidated. Here, we aimed to evaluate the impact of computed tomography (CT)-based body composition parameters on the survival of such patients. In this multicenter study, we analyzed the data of 245 sorafenib-treated HCC patients from January 2008 to December 2019. Sarcopenia, visceral obesity, and myosteatosis were defined by using cross-sectional CT images at the third lumbar vertebra level. The effects of these parameters on overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) were evaluated. The median age was 67.0 years (interquartile range: 61.0-78.0 year), and 211 patients (86.1%) were male. The median OS and PFS were 7.9 months and 4.8 months, respectively. Vascular invasion (hazard ratio (HR), 1.727; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.258-2.371; p = 0.001), extrahepatic metastasis (HR, 1.401; 95% CI, 1.028-1.908; p = 0.033), alpha-fetoprotein level > 200 ng/mL (HR, 1.559; 95% CI, 1.105-2.201; p = 0.012), and myosteatosis (HR, 1.814; 95% CI, 1.112-2.960; p = 0.017) were associated with OS. Patient mortality was significantly higher in the group with two or more risk factors than in the group with fewer risk factors. In conclusion, myosteatosis may be a novel prognostic CT-based radiological biomarker in sorafenib-treated HCC patients.

The Poetry of Recovery in Peer Support Workers with Mental Illness: An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis.

This study was conducted to investigate and understand various aspects related to participants' experiences in peer support activities, with a particular focus on their personal growth and the influence of these activities on their lives. In this qualitative study, peer support workers with mental illness were the main subjects, and they were recruited from G Metropolitan City, South Korea. The study used purposive sampling, guided by recommendations from peer support worker support organizations. A total of five participants were selected using purposive sampling to ensure maximum variability in the sample. Data collection involved semi-structured individual interviews, and data analysis was conducted using the interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) method. Following the IPA procedure for data analysis, the study revealed six themes that encapsulated the recovery experiences of peer support workers with mental illness: (1) Facing confusion and challenges, (2) Rising and refining myself, (3) Navigating the paths of relationships, (4) Gazing at the desired horizons, (5) Awakening the inner hero, and (6) Standing as a person who cherishes life. This research underscores the positive impact of peer support activities on individuals who have faced mental health challenges. It emphasizes the significance of self-discovery, the development of supportive relationships, and the aspiration for a brighter future. These findings contribute to the expanding body of knowledge regarding the benefits of peer support in the context of mental health recovery.

Neurophysiological Response Based on Auditory Sense for Brain Modulation Using Monaural Beat.

Brain modulation is a modification process of brain activity through external stimulations. However, which condition can induce the activation is still unclear. Therefore, we aimed to identify brain activation conditions using 40 Hz monaural beat (MB). Under this stimulation, auditory sense status which is determined by frequency and power range is the condition to consider. Hence, we designed five sessions to compare; no stimulation, audible (AB), inaudible in frequency, inaudible in power, and inaudible in frequency and power. Ten healthy participants underwent each stimulation session for ten minutes with electroencephalogram (EEG) recording. For analysis, we calculated the power spectral density (PSD) of EEG for each session and compared them in frequency, time, and five brain regions. As a result, we observed the prominent power peak at 40 Hz in only AB. The induced EEG amplitude increase started at one minute and increased until the end of the session. These results of AB had significant differences in frontal, central, temporal, parietal, and occipital regions compared to other stimulations. From the statistical analysis, the PSD of the right temporal region was significantly higher than the left. We figure out the role that the auditory sense is important to lead brain activation. These findings help to understand the neurophysiological principle and effects of auditory stimulation.

Tissue Circular RNA_0004018 and 0003570 as Novel Prognostic Biomarkers for Hepatitis B-Related Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

The clinical significance of hsa_circ_0004018 and hsa_circ_0003570 in patients with hepatitis B virus-related hepatocellular carcinoma (HBV-HCC) is unclear. We aimed to explore the clinical significance and prognostic utility of these two circular RNAs (circRNAs) in patients with HBV-HCC. Based on 86 paired tissue samples of HCC and adjacent non-HCC, the relative expression profiles of hsa_circ_0004018 and hsa_circ_0003570 were determined using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reactions. The cut-off values were the median expression of each of the two circRNAs in 86 patients with HBV-HCC. The combination group comprised patients with high levels of the two circRNAs. Clinicopathological features, body composition profiles at the L3 level, and survival rates were investigated. The expression of hsa_circ_0004018 and hsa_circ_0003570 was downregulated in HCC tissues compared with non-HCC tissues. High expression levels of hsa_circ_0003570 (hazard ratio (HR), 0.437; p = 0.009) and hsa_circ_0004018 (HR, 0.435; p = 0.005) were inversely independent risk factors for overall and progression-free survival in patients with HBV-HCC, whereas the combination group was also an inversely independent risk factor for overall (HR, 0.399; p = 0.005) and progression-free survival (HR, 0.422; p = 0.003) in patients with HBV-HCC. The combination of hsa_circ_0003570 and hsa_circ_0004018 may be a potential prognostic biomarker for HBV-HCC.

Using the design-thinking method to develop and validate a peer evaluation scale for team-based learning (PES-TBL) for nursing students.

BACKGROUND: Peer evaluation in team-based learning provides meaningful information about the learning process and dynamics. Despite the importance of peer evaluation in learner-centred learning, there is a lack of valid and reliable scales that reflect students' experiences in the classroom. OBJECTIVES: To develop and validate a peer evaluation scale for team-based learning. DESIGN: A cross-sectional methodological study. SETTING: Four universities located in Gwangju, Republic of Korea. PARTICIPANTS: Eight nursing students exposed to team-based learning voluntarily participated in a design-thinking project, and eight nursing professors were selected for content validity. For the validation of the Scale, 722 nursing students were randomly selected. METHODS: The design-thinking method was implemented to develop the Scale, and a questionnaire was used to assess the Scale's construct validity and reliability. The construct validity was examined in a split-half analysis with exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses. Cronbach's alpha, McDonald's omega, and composite reliability were investigated for the peer evaluation scale for team-based learning. RESULTS: A 12-item tool, with each item using a 5-point scale for peer evaluation, was developed through the empathise, define, ideate, prototype, and test stages of the design-thinking method. Exploratory factor analysis identified three factors from the 12 items: responsibility, initiative, and collaboration. Confirmatory factor analysis demonstrated that the tool had acceptable convergent and discriminant validity, thus confirming good construct validity. All values for reliability were >0.70. CONCLUSIONS: This study was noteworthy in that it employed the design-thinking method to reflect learners' opinions in developing a peer evaluation instrument. Moreover, the study demonstrated adequate evidence of reliability and validity. Consequently, the developed Scale can be effectively applied to team-based learning assessments for nursing students.

Drug Attitude and Medication Adherence of Patients with Early Psychosis in South Korea: Mediating Effect of Medication Adherence Self-Efficacy.

Purpose: This study examined the mediating effect of medication adherence self-efficacy (MASE) on the relationship between drug attitude (DA) and medication adherence (MA) in patients with early psychosis. Patients and Methods: A total of 166 patients, aged 20 years or older, and who had received treatment within 5 years of their initial psychotic episode at a University Hospital outpatient center, participated in the study. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, t-tests, one-way analysis of variance, Pearson's correlation coefficients, and multiple linear regression. Additionally, a bootstrapping test was conducted to determine the statistical significance of the mediating effect. All study procedures adhered to Strengthening the reporting of observational studies in epidemiology (STROBE) guidelines. Results: This study found a significant correlation between MA and DA (r=0.393, p<0.001), and between MA and MASE (r=0.697, p<0.001). MASE had a partial mediating effect on the association between DA and MA. The model that integrated both DA and MASE accounted for 53.4% of the variation in MA. Bootstrapping analysis indicated that MASE was a significant partial parameter (lower limit confidence interval [CI] 0.114; upper limit CI 0.356). Further, 64.5% of the study participants were either currently enrolled in college or had higher levels of education. Conclusion: These findings could potentially lead to a more personalized approach to medication education and adherence, considering the unique DA and MASE of each patient. By identifying the mediating effect of MASE on the relationship between DA and MA, healthcare providers could tailor interventions to enhance the ability of patients with early psychosis to adhere to prescribed medication regimens.

Impact of metabolic factors on risk of cardiovascular disease in nondiabetic metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Changing terminology of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) to metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) is recently proposed by expert panels based on metabolic dysregulations. However, clinical evidences for the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in MAFLD are limited. The aim of this study is evaluating the association of cardiovascular risk in these two terminology and subgroups of MAFLD. METHODS: A total of 2133 individuals who underwent ultrasound and cardiac computed tomography contemporaneously were included at a single medical checkup center. Ultrasound was used to define fatty liver, and coronary artery calcification (CAC) defined a coronary artery calcium score above 0 was used to estimate the cardiovascular risk. RESULTS: Overall, 911 participants were diagnosed with fatty liver. In the unadjusted analysis, NAFLD (OR = 1.4, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.05-1.85, p = 0.019) and MAFLD (OR = 1.55, 95% CI = 1.29-1.86, p = 0.046) were significantly associated with CAC. However, in sex and age-adjusted analyses, only MAFLD was associated with CAC (adjusted OR [aOR] = 1.38, 95% CI = 1.14-1.69, p = 0.001). Of the three subgroups of MAFLD (diabetic, nondiabetic overweight/obese, and nondiabetic normal weight/lean with at least two metabolic abnormalities), only diabetic MAFLD was associated with CAC (aOR = 2.65, 95% CI = 1.98-3.55, p < 0.001). When the minimal number of metabolic risk abnormalities increased to three, nondiabetic normal-weight/lean MAFLD was associated with CAC (aOR = 1.35, 95% CI = 1.02-1.77, p = 0.034). CONCLUSION: Diabetic MAFLD predicted high-risk CVD phenotypes the best. Metabolic risk abnormalities in nondiabetic MAFLD patients were independently associated with the risk of CVD. The proposed diagnostic criteria for nondiabetic MAFLD need further investigation in terms of CVD risk.

Effects of Dietary Habits on General and Abdominal Obesity in Community-dwelling Patients with Schizophrenia.

Objective: To investigate the effects of dietary habits on general and abdominal obesity in community-dwelling patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorder according to sex. Methods: A total of 270 patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorder registered at mental health welfare centers and rehabilitation facilities were recruited. General obesity was defined as a body mass index ≥ 30 kg/m2, and abdominal obesity was defined as a waist circumstance ≥ 90 cm in men and ≥ 85 cm in women. Dietary habits were evaluated using dietary guidelines published by the Korean Ministry of Health and Welfare. Demographic and clinical characteristics along with dietary habits and information related to obesity were collected. Factors related to obesity were evaluated separately by sex. Results: Dietary habits differed according to sex, in that scores for healthy eating habits were lower in men than in women. In men, the prevalences of general and abdominal obesity were 17.0% and 37.3%, respectively. In women, the prevalences of general and abdominal obesity were 23.1% and 38.5%, respectively. Regression analysis showed that the scores of regular eating habits were negatively associated with general and abdominal obesity in men, and the scores of healthy eating habits were negatively associated with general and abdominal obesity in women. Conclusion: Among patients with schizophrenia, regular eating habits might reduce the risk of obesity in men, and healthy eating habits might reduce the risk of obesity in women. Nutrition education should be provided to community- dwelling patients with schizophrenia to prevent obesity in this population.

A phase I/II study of ARO-HSD, an RNA interference therapeutic, for the treatment of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Loss-of-function HSD17ß13 mutations protect against the development of chronic liver disease. HSD17ß13 inhibition represents a potential approach to treat liver diseases, such as non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). ARO-HSD is an RNA interference (RNAi) therapeutic designed to selectively reduce expression of HSD17ß13 mRNA in hepatocytes. In this study, we evaluated the effects of ARO-HSD in normal healthy volunteers (NHVs) and patients with confirmed or clinically suspected NASH. METHODS: The safety, tolerability, and pharmacodynamics of ARO-HSD were evaluated in 32 NHVs and 18 patients with confirmed/clinically suspected NASH. Double-blind NHV cohorts received single escalating doses of ARO-HSD (25, 50, 100, or 200 mg) or placebo subcutaneously on Day 1. Open-label patient cohorts received ARO-HSD (25, 100, or 200 mg) subcutaneously on Days 1 and 29. Liver biopsy was performed pre-dose and on Day 71 to evaluate expression levels of HSD17ß13 mRNA and protein. RESULTS: ARO-HSD treatment was well tolerated with no treatment-related serious adverse events or drug discontinuations. The most frequently reported treatment-emergent adverse events were mild injection site reactions, which were short in duration. Mean changes in hepatic HSD17ß13 mRNA from baseline to Day 71 were: -56.9% (25 mg), -85.5% (100 mg), and -93.4% (200 mg). The mean HSD17ß13 mRNA reduction was 78.6% (p <0.0001) across pooled cohorts. Hepatic HSD17ß13 protein levels were similarly reduced across doses. In patients, mean changes in alanine aminotransferase from baseline to Day 71 were -7.7% (25 mg), -39.3% (100 mg), and -42.3% (200 mg) (p <0.001 for pooled cohorts). CONCLUSIONS: ARO-HSD was well tolerated at doses ≤200 mg. This proof-of-concept study demonstrated that short-term treatment with ARO-HSD reduces hepatic HSD17ß13 mRNA and protein expression, which is accompanied by reductions in alanine aminotransferase. GOV NUMBER: NCT04202354. IMPACTS AND IMPLICATIONS: There is an unmet medical need for new therapies to treat alcohol-related and non-alcoholic liver disease. ARO-HSD is a small-interfering RNA designed to silence HSD17ß13 expression and hence to phenocopy the protective effect seen in individuals with HSD17ß13 loss-of-function. The reductions in HSD17ß13 expression and in transaminases seen with ARO-HSD administration represent an initial step towards clinical validation of HSD17ß13, a drug target with substantial genetic validation, as an important modulator of human liver disease.

ALT Is Not Associated With Achieving Subcirrhotic Liver Stiffness and HCC During Entecavir Therapy in HBV-Related Cirrhosis.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: We investigated whether baseline and on-treatment alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels during entecavir (ETV) therapy are associated with achieving subcirrhotic liver stiffness (LS) and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) development in patients with hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related cirrhosis. METHODS: We analyzed data from 347 treatment-naïve patients with HBV-related cirrhosis, who started ETV between 2006 and 2011 and were followed up for >5 years without developing HCC. The study outcomes were achieving subcirrhotic LS at 5 years of ETV, and risk of HCC development beyond 5 years of ETV. Subcirrhotic LS was defined as <12 kPa by transient elastography. RESULTS: After 5 years of ETV, 227 (65.4%) patients achieved subcirrhotic LS. During a median follow-up of 9.2 years, 49 (14.1%) patients developed HCC beyond 5 years of ETV. ALT levels at baseline, at 1 year of ETV therapy, and 5 years of ETV therapy were not associated with the probability of achieving subcirrhotic LS at 5 years of ETV therapy or risk of HCC development beyond 5 years of ETV therapy (all P > .05). Patients achieving subcirrhotic LS at 5 years of ETV therapy had significantly lower risk of HCC development than those who did not (adjusted hazard ratio, 0.33; 95% confidence interval, 0.17-0.64; P = .001). CONCLUSIONS: Baseline and on-treatment ALT levels were not associated with achieving subcirrhotic LS at 5 years of ETV therapy or with risk of HCC development beyond 5 years of ETV therapy in patients with HBV-related cirrhosis. Achieving subcirrhotic LS at 5 years of ETV therapy was independently associated with lower risk of HCC development beyond 5 years of ETV therapy.

Non-Inferior Efficacy of Tenofovir Disoproxil to Tenofovir Disoproxil Fumarate in Virologically Suppressed Chronic Hepatitis B Patients.

Purpose: Tenofovir disoproxil (TD), modified from tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF), was developed as a salt-free formulation, removing fumarate to improve the ease of oral intake by reducing the tablet's size. We evaluated the maintenance of antiviral effects and overall safety profile of TD 245 mg after switching from TDF 300 mg in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB). Patients and Methods: CHB patients with HBV-DNA <69 IU/mL after ≥24 weeks of TDF therapy were enrolled. The primary efficacy endpoint was the HBV-DNA suppression rate (HBV-DNA <69 IU/mL) at week 48; We evaluated the non-inferiority (10% margin) of TD to TDF in terms of efficacy. Safety was assessed based on adverse events (AEs), laboratory tests, bone mineral density, and renal function abnormalities. Results: Overall, 189 subjects were randomized in a 2:1 ratio, and 117 and 66 subjects in the TD and TDF groups, respectively, completed the study. In the per-protocol set, the HBV-DNA suppression rate at week 48 was 99.1% and 100% in the TD and TDF groups, respectively. The lower limit of the 97.5% one-sided confidence interval for the intergroup difference in HBV-DNA suppression rate was -2.8%, which was greater than the prespecified margin of non-inferiority. The changes in creatinine clearance from baseline to week 48 was significantly less in the TD group and in the TDF group; -0.8 ± 9.8 versus -2.4 ± 12.8 mL/min, respectively (P=0.017). Conclusion: TD was non-inferior to TDF for maintaining viral suppression in CHB patients, showing the less decline of renal function.

Prognostic Impact of Myosteatosis on Mortality in Hospitalized Patients with COVID-19.

Body composition, including sarcopenia, adipose tissue, and myosteatosis, is associated with unfavorable clinical outcomes in patients with coronavirus disease (COVID-19). However, few studies have identified the impact of body composition, including pre-existing risk factors, on COVID-19 mortality. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the effect of body composition, including pre-existing risk factors, on mortality in hospitalized patients with COVID-19. This two-center retrospective study included 127 hospitalized patients with COVID-19 who underwent unenhanced chest computed tomography (CT) between February and April 2020. Using the cross-sectional CT images at the L2 vertebra level, we analyzed the body composition, including skeletal muscle mass, visceral to subcutaneous adipose tissue ratio (VSR), and muscle density using the Hounsfield unit (HU). Of 127 patients with COVID-19, 16 (12.6%) died. Compared with survivors, non-survivors had low muscle density (41.9 vs. 32.2 HU, p < 0.001) and high proportion of myosteatosis (4.5 vs. 62.5%, p < 0.001). Cox regression analyses revealed diabetes (hazard ratio [HR], 3.587), myosteatosis (HR, 3.667), and a high fibrosis-4 index (HR, 1.213) as significant risk factors for mortality in patients with COVID-19. Myosteatosis was associated with mortality in hospitalized patients with COVID-19, independent of pre-existing prognostic factors.

2020 International brain-computer interface competition: A review.

The brain-computer interface (BCI) has been investigated as a form of communication tool between the brain and external devices. BCIs have been extended beyond communication and control over the years. The 2020 international BCI competition aimed to provide high-quality neuroscientific data for open access that could be used to evaluate the current degree of technical advances in BCI. Although there are a variety of remaining challenges for future BCI advances, we discuss some of more recent application directions: (i) few-shot EEG learning, (ii) micro-sleep detection (iii) imagined speech decoding, (iv) cross-session classification, and (v) EEG(+ear-EEG) detection in an ambulatory environment. Not only did scientists from the BCI field compete, but scholars with a broad variety of backgrounds and nationalities participated in the competition to address these challenges. Each dataset was prepared and separated into three data that were released to the competitors in the form of training and validation sets followed by a test set. Remarkable BCI advances were identified through the 2020 competition and indicated some trends of interest to BCI researchers.

Circular Noncoding RNA hsa_circ_0003570 as a Prognostic Biomarker for Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are potential biomarkers owing to their stability, tissue specificity, and abundance. This study aimed to evaluate the clinical significance of hsa_circ_0003570 expression and to investigate its potential as a biomarker in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We evaluated hsa_circ_0003570 expression in 121 HCC tissue samples, its association with clinicopathological characteristics, and overall and progression-free survival. Hsa_circ_0003570 expression was downregulated in HCC tissues. Low hsa_circ_0003570 expression was more common in tumors larger than 5 cm (odds ratio (OR), 6.369; 95% confidence interval (CI), 2.725−14.706; p < 0.001), vessel invasion (OR, 5.128; 95% CI, 2.288−11.494; p < 0.001); advanced tumor-node metastasis stage (III/IV; OR, 4.082; 95% CI, 1.866−8.929; p < 0.001); higher Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer stage (B/C; OR, 3.215; 95% CI, 1.475−6.993; p = 0.003); and higher AFP (>200 ng/mL; OR, 2.475; 95% CI, 1.159−5.291; p = 0.018). High hsa_circ_0003570 expression was an independent prognostic factor for overall survival (hazard ratio (HR), 0.541; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.327−0.894; p = 0.017) and progression-free survival (HR, 0.633; 95% CI, 0.402−0.997; p = 0.048). Hsa_circ_0003570 is a potential prognostic biomarker in patients with HCC, and further validation of hsa_circ_0003570 is needed.