Korean National Burden of Disease: The Importance of Diabetes Management.

Diagnosing the current health status and disease burden in a population is crucial for public health interventions. The ability to compare the burden of different diseases through a single measure, such as disability-adjusted life years has become feasible and continues to be produced and updated through the Global Burden of Diseases (GBD) study. However, the disease burden values of the GBD study do not accurately reflect the unique situation in a specific country with various circumstances. In response, the Korean National Burden of Disease (KNBD) study was conducted to estimate the disease burden in Koreans by considering Korea's cultural context and utilizing the available data sources at the national level. Both studies identified non-communicable diseases, such as diabetes mellitus (DM), as the primary cause of disease burden among Koreans. However, the extent of public health interventions currently being conducted by the central and local governments does not align with the severity of the disease burden. This review suggests that despite the high burden of DM in South Korea, the current policies may not fully address its impact, underscoring the need for expanded chronic disease management programs and a shift towards prevention-focused healthcare paradigms.

Clinical Utility of Impact of Event Scale-Revised for Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-Fifth Edition Posttraumatic Stress Disorder.

OBJECTIVE: The Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R) is a widely used self-report for assessing posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), originally aligned with Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM)-IV diagnostic criteria. This study aimed to evaluate the applicability of the IES-R under the DSM-5 guidelines and establish a cutoff point for DSM-5 PTSD diagnosis. METHODS: A total of 238 participants recruited from multiple psychiatric centers, including 67 patients with PTSD, 72 patients with psychiatric controls, and 99 healthy controls, were included in the study. All participants completed the Korean version of the Structured Clinical Interview for the DSM-5 research version to confirm the presence of PTSD, the Korean version of PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5), the Beck Depression Inventory-II, the Beck Anxiety Inventory, and the Spielberger State Trait Anxiety Inventory. RESULTS: The IES-R demonstrated good internal consistency and a high correlation with the PCL-5. Through factor analysis, 5 distinct dimensions emerged within the IES-R: sleep disturbance, intrusion, hyperarousal, avoidance, and numbness-dissociation. A proposed cutoff score of 25 on the IES-R was suggested for identifying patients with PTSD. CONCLUSION: These findings underscore the scale's concurrent validity with the DSM-5 PTSD criteria and its effectiveness as a screening tool. Implementing a cutoff score of 25 on the IES-R can enhance its utility in identifying DSM-5 PTSD cases.

Oxygen reserve index versus conventional peripheral oxygen saturation for prevention of hypoxaemia: A randomised controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Hypoxaemia occurs frequently during paediatric laryngeal microsurgery. OBJECTIVE: The oxygen reserve index is a noninvasive and continuous parameter to assess PaO2 levels in the range of 100 to 200 mmHg. It ranges from 0 to 1.0. We investigated whether monitoring the oxygen reserve index can reduce the incidence of SpO2 90% or less. DESIGN: Randomised controlled trial. SETTING: A tertiary care paediatric hospital. PARTICIPANTS: Paediatric patients aged 18 years or less scheduled to undergo laryngeal microsurgery. INTERVENTION: The patients were randomly allocated to the oxygen reserve index or control groups, and stratified based on the presence of a tracheostomy tube. Rescue intervention was performed when the oxygen reserve index was 0.2 or less and the SpO2 was 94% or less in the oxygen reserve index and control groups, respectively. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: The primary outcome was the incidence of SpO2 90% or less during the surgery. RESULTS: Data from 88 patients were analysed. The incidence of SpO2 ≤ 90% did not differ between the oxygen reserve index and control groups [P = 0.114; 11/44, 25% vs. 18/44, 40.9%; relative risk: 1.27; and 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.94 to 1.72]. Among the 128 rescue interventions, SpO2 ≤ 90% event developed in 18 out of 75 events (24%) and 42 out of 53 events (79.2%) in the oxygen reserve index and control groups, respectively (P < 0.001; difference: 55.2%; and 95% CI 38.5 to 67.2%). The number of SpO2 ≤ 90% events per patient in the oxygen reserve index group (median 0, maximum 3) was less than that in the control group (median 0, maximum 8, P = 0.031). CONCLUSION: Additional monitoring of the oxygen reserve index, with a target value of greater than 0.2 during paediatric airway surgery, alongside peripheral oxygen saturation, did not reduce the incidence of SpO2 ≤ 90%.

Zinc Action in Vascular Calcification.

Although zinc's involvement in bone calcification is well-established, its role in vascular calcification, characterized by abnormal calcium and phosphorus deposition in soft tissues and a key aspect of various vascular diseases, including atherosclerosis, remains unclear. This review focuses on zinc's action in vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) calcification, including the vascular calcification mechanism. Accumulated research has indicated that zinc deficiency induces calcification in VSMCs and the aorta, primarily through apoptosis accompanied by a downregulation of smooth muscle cell markers. Moreover, zinc deficiency-induced vascular calcification operates independently of the action of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, typically associated with osteogenic processes, but is partly regulated via inorganic phosphate transporter-1 (Pit-1). To date, research has shown that zinc regulates vascular calcification through a mechanism distinct from that of osteogenic calcification, providing insight into its dual effects on physiological and pathological calcification and thereby explaining the "zinc paradox," wherein zinc simultaneously increases osteoblastic calcification and decreases VSMC calcification.

Synergistic Enhancement of Antitumor Effects by Combining Abemaciclib with Desipramine.

Cyclin-dependent kinase 4 and 6 (CDK4/6) inhibitors, including abemaciclib, have been approved for the treatment of hormone receptor-positive, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-negative advanced, and metastatic breast cancer. Despite the high therapeutic efficacy of CDK4/6 inhibitors, they are associated with various adverse effects, including potentially fatal interstitial lung disease. Therefore, a combination of CDK4/6 inhibitors with letrozole or fulvestrant has been attempted but has demonstrated limitations in reducing adverse effects, highlighting the need to develop new combination therapies. This study proposes a combination strategy using CDK4/6 inhibitors and tricyclic antidepressants to enhance the therapeutic outcomes of these inhibitors while reducing their side effects. The therapeutic efficacies of abemaciclib and desipramine were tested in different cancer cell lines (H460, MCF7, and HCT-116). The antitumor effects of the combined abemaciclib and desipramine treatment were evaluated in a xenograft colon tumor model. In vitro cell studies have shown the synergistic anticancer effects of combination therapy in the HCT-116 cell line. The combination treatment significantly reduced tumor size compared with control or single treatment without causing apparent toxicity to normal tissues. Although additional in vivo studies are necessary, this study suggests that the combination therapy of abemaciclib and desipramine may represent a novel therapeutic approach for treating solid tumors.

The Outcomes of Colorectal Endoscopic Submucosal Dissection in Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease: A Honam Association for the Study of Intestinal Disease (HASID) Multicenter Study.

Colorectal neoplasms are prevalent in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD); however, the safety and efficacy of colorectal endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) are not well understood. This retrospective analysis included ESD procedures performed in 1266 patients with CKD across five tertiary medical institutions from January 2015 to December 2020. Patients were categorized based on their estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), which ranged from CKD1 to CKD5 (including those on dialysis). We found that en bloc resection rates remained high across all CKD stages, affirming the procedural efficacy of ESD. Notably, the prevalence of cardiovascular comorbidities, such as ischemic heart disease and diabetes mellitus, significantly increased with an advancing CKD stage, with a corresponding increase in the Charlson Comorbidity Index, highlighting the complexity of managing these patients. Despite these challenges, the complete resection rate was lower in the CKD5 group (50%) than in the CKD1 group (83.4%); however, procedural complications, such as perforation and bleeding, did not significantly differ among the groups. The predictive models for complete resection and major complications showed no significant changes with a decreasing eGFR. These findings underscore that ESD is a feasible and safe treatment for colorectal neoplasms in patients with CKD, successfully balancing the inherent procedural risks with clinical benefits.

Risk Factors for Post-Endoscopic Submucosal Dissection Electrocoagulation Syndrome in Patients with Colorectal Neoplasms: A Multicenter, Large-Scale, Retrospective Cohort Study by the Honam Association for the Study of Intestinal Disease (HASID).

Background and Objectives: Colorectal endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) is an effective technique for removing colorectal neoplasms with large or cancerous lesions. However, there are few studies on post-ESD electrocoagulation syndrome (PECS), a complication of colorectal ESD. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the various risk factors for PECS after colorectal ESD. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the medical records of 1413 lesions from 1408 patients who underwent colorectal ESD at five tertiary hospitals between January 2015 and December 2020. We investigated the incidence and risk factors associated with PECS. Based on the data, we developed a risk-scoring model to predict the risk of PECS after colorectal ESD. Results: The incidence rate of PECS was 2.6% (37 patients). In multivariate analysis, the use of anti-platelet agents (odds ratio (OR), 2.474; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.088-5.626; p < 0.031), a lesion larger than 6 cm (OR 3.755; 95% CI, 1.237-11.395; p = 0.028), a deep submucosal invasion (OR 2.579; 95% CI, 1.022-6.507; p = 0.045), and an ESD procedure time ≥ 60 min (OR 2.691; 95% CI, 1.302-5.560; p = 0.008) were independent risk factors of PECS after colorectal ESD. We developed a scoring model for predicting PECS using these four factors. As the score increased, the incidence of PECS also increased, from 1.3% to 16.6%. PECS occurred more frequently in the high-risk group (≥2) (1.8% vs. 12.4%, p < 0.001). Conclusions: In this study, the risk factors for PECS after colorectal ESD were the use of anti-platelet agents, a lesion larger than 6 cm, a deep submucosal invasion, and an ESD procedure time ≥ 60 min. The risk-scoring model developed in this study using these factors could be effective in predicting and preventing PECS.

Diffusion indices alteration in major white matter tracts of children with tic disorder using TRACULA.

BACKGROUND: Tic disorder is a neuropsychiatric disorder characterized by involuntary movements or vocalizations. Previous studies utilizing diffusion-weighted imaging to explore white-matter alterations in tic disorders have reported inconsistent results regarding the affected tracts. We aimed to address this gap by employing a novel tractography technique for more detailed analysis. METHODS: We analyzed MRI data from 23 children with tic disorders and 23 healthy controls using TRActs Constrained by UnderLying Anatomy (TRACULA), an advanced automated probabilistic tractography method. We examined fractional anisotropy (FA), radial diffusivity (RD), axial diffusivity, and mean diffusivity in 42 specific significant white matter tracts. RESULTS: Our findings revealed notable differences in the children with tic disorders compared to the control group. Specifically, there was a significant reduction in FA in the parietal part and splenium of the corpus callosum and the left corticospinal tract. Increased RD was observed in the temporal and splenium areas of the corpus callosum, the left corticospinal tract, and the left acoustic radiation. A higher mean diffusivity was also noted in the left middle longitudinal fasciculus. A significant correlation emerged between the severity of motor symptoms, measured by the Yale Global Tic Severity Scale, and FA in the parietal part of the corpus callosum, as well as RD in the left acoustic radiation. CONCLUSION: These results indicate a pattern of reduced interhemispheric connectivity in the corpus callosum, aligning with previous studies and novel findings in the diffusion indices changes in the left corticospinal tract, left acoustic radiation, and left middle longitudinal fasciculus. Tic disorders might involve structural abnormalities in key white matter tracts, offering new insights into their pathogenesis.

Incidence of Panic Disorder Diagnoses After Celebrity Disclosures of Panic Disorder in South Korea.

Importance: The persistent stigma associated with mental health conditions is a major challenge worldwide. Celebrities may improve this by openly discussing their own mental health issues, potentially influencing public attitudes and encouraging individuals to seek treatment for these conditions. Objective: To evaluate the impact of celebrity mental health disclosures on the incidence and prevalence of panic disorder diagnosis in South Korea. Design, Setting, and Participants: This cohort study included the entire South Korean population from January 2004 to December 2021, as reflected in the National Health Insurance Service data. Analysis was conducted from May 2022 through January 2024. Exposure: Time periods analyzed included the timeframe before (from January 2004 to December 2010) and after the public disclosures of panic disorder by 3 high-profile Korean celebrities between December 2010 and January 2012 (from January 2011 to December 2021). Main Outcomes and Measures: Monthly incidence and prevalence of panic disorder, defined by the presence of a clinical diagnosis of the condition. Trends were assessed using interrupted time series analysis with autoregressive integrated moving average models. To assess public interest in panic disorder, trends in search data were analyzed, examining the association between the timing of increased searches and changes in the incidence and prevalence of panic disorder. Data on obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) were included as a control. Results: The study covered the entire population of South Korea, including 48 559 946 individuals in January 2004 and 52 593 886 individuals in December 2021. Before 2011, the mean (SD) annual prevalence of panic disorder was stable at 560 (140) persons per 100 000 persons per year. The celebrity disclosure in December 2010 was associated with higher monthly incidence rates of panic disorder, as measured by insurance claims data, changes that were observed in both the level (5.8 persons; 95% CI, 2.2-9.5 persons) and slope (0.78 persons per month; 95% CI, 0.19-1.40 persons per month) per 100 000 persons. By 2021, the observed annual prevalence per 100 000 persons reached 7530 persons, an increase of 775.6% compared with the 860 persons (95% CI, 330-1400 persons) estimated if the disclosures had not occurred. Internet searches anticipated changes in monthly prevalence with a lag of 2 or 3 months (F = 4.26, P = .02 and F = 3.11, P = .03, respectively). The celebrity disclosures had no significant association with the incidence or prevalence of OCD. Conclusions and Relevance: In this observational cohort study, celebrity disclosure of mental health conditions was associated with a sustained reduction in stigma, as reflected in increased help-seeking behavior for the condition over more than a decade. This underscores the influential role celebrities can play in shaping public health perceptions and behaviors, offering valuable insights for the development of future mental health policies and public awareness campaigns.

Kidney, ureter, and urinary bladder segmentation based on non-contrast enhanced computed tomography images using modified U-Net.

This study was performed to segment the urinary system as the basis for diagnosing urinary system diseases on non-contrast computed tomography (CT). This study was conducted with images obtained between January 2016 and December 2020. During the study period, non-contrast abdominopelvic CT scans of patients and diagnosed and treated with urinary stones at the emergency departments of two institutions were collected. Region of interest extraction was first performed, and urinary system segmentation was performed using a modified U-Net. Thereafter, fivefold cross-validation was performed to evaluate the robustness of the model performance. In fivefold cross-validation results of the segmentation of the urinary system, the average dice coefficient was 0.8673, and the dice coefficients for each class (kidney, ureter, and urinary bladder) were 0.9651, 0.7172, and 0.9196, respectively. In the test dataset, the average dice coefficient of best performing model in fivefold cross validation for whole urinary system was 0.8623, and the dice coefficients for each class (kidney, ureter, and urinary bladder) were 0.9613, 0.7225, and 0.9032, respectively. The segmentation of the urinary system using the modified U-Net proposed in this study could be the basis for the detection of kidney, ureter, and urinary bladder lesions, such as stones and tumours, through machine learning.

Germanium and Tin Precursors for Chalcogenide Materials Containing N-Alkoxy Thioamide Ligands.

This study describes the synthesis of germanium and tin complexes Ge(mdpaS)2 (1), Ge(edpaS)2 (2), Ge(bdpaS)2 (3), Ge(empaS)2 (4), Sn(mdpaS)2 (5), Sn(edpaS)2 (6), Sn(bdpaS)2 (7), and Sn(empaS)2 (8) (mdpaSH = (Z)-N-methoxy-2,2-dimethylpropanimidothioic acid; edpaSH = (Z)-N-ethoxy-2,2-dimethylpropanimidothioic acid; bdpaSH = (Z)-N-(tert-butoxy)-2,2-dimethylpropanimidothioic acid; empaSH = (Z)-N-ethoxy-2-methylpropanimidothioic acid), using newly designed N-alkoxy thioamide ligands as precursors for metal chalcogenide materials. All complexes were characterized using various analytical techniques, and the single-crystal structures of complexes 5 and 7 revealed a distorted seesaw geometry in the monomeric SnL2 form. Thermogravimetric (TG) curves showed differences between Ge compounds, which exhibited single-step weight losses, and Sn compounds, which exhibited multistep weight losses. As a result, we suggest that the synthesized complexes 1-8 are potential precursors for group IV metal chalcogenide materials.

Extracellular Vesicle MicroRNAs as Predictive Biomarkers in Postoperative Delirium after Spine Surgery; Preliminary Study.

Postoperative Delirium (POD) can cause poor patient outcomes in older adults who undergo surgery. In this study, we tested plasma extracellular vesicle (EV) miRNAs obtained before the delirium event to find predictive POD biomarkers after spine surgery. We recruited patients who are over 70 years old and have undergone spine surgery. Finally, POD patients (n=31) were included, with no-POD patients matched in age, sex, medical history, and type of surgery (n=31). Peripheral blood was collected from patients in the operating room after the operation was completed. EVs were isolated from plasma, and the 798 miRNA expression level from EVs was measured using a NanoString platform. Sixty-two patients were included in the study; all were Korean, 67.7% were females, and the median age was 75 years. Preoperative medical history was not statistically different between no-POD and POD patients except for hypertension and the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) physical status. From the miRNA profiling, we identified 142 significantly differentially expressed miRNAs in POD patients compared to no-POD patients, which are associated with psychological/neurological disorders. The top 10 differentially expressed miRNAs including miR-548ar-5p and miR-627-5p were all upregulated in POD patients and the results were validated using qRT-PCR from the independent sets of samples (n=96). We demonstrated the potential of plasma EV-miRNAs as predictive biomarkers to identify the risk group of POD after spine surgery. It also provides opportunities for future studies investigating the role of EV-miRNAs in delirium pathology.

Effect of positive end expiratory pressure on non-hypoxic apnea time and atelectasis during induction of anesthesia in infant: A randomized controlled trial.

INTRODUCTION: This study aimed to assess the impact of positive-end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) on the non-hypoxic apnea time in infants during anesthesia induction with an inspired oxygen fraction of 0.8. METHODS: This age stratified randomized controlled trial included patients under 1 year of age. Preoxygenation was performed using an inspired oxygen fraction of 0.8 for 2 min. Inspired oxygen fraction of 0.8 was administered via a face mask with volume-controlled ventilation at a tidal volume of 6 mL.kg-1, with or without 7 cmH2O of PEEP. Tracheal intubation was performed after 3 min of ventilation; however, it was disconnected from the breathing circuit. Ventilation was resumed once the pulse oximetry readings reached 95%. The primary outcome was the non-hypoxic apnea time, defined as the time from the cessation of ventilation to achieving a pulse oximeter reading of 95%. The secondary outcome measures included the degree of atelectasis assessed by ultrasonography and the presence of gastric air insufflation. RESULTS: Eighty-four patients were included in the final analysis. In the positive end-expiratory pressure group, the atelectasis score decreased (17.0 vs. 31.5, p < .001; mean difference and 95% CI of 11.6, 7.5-15.6), while the non-hypoxic apnea time increased (80.1 s vs. 70.6 s, p = .005; mean difference and 95% CI of -9.4, -16.0 to -2.9), compared to the zero end-expiratory pressure group, among infants who are 6 months old or younger, not in those aged older than 6 months. DISCUSSION: The application of positive end-expiratory pressure reduced the incidence of atelectasis and extended the non-hypoxic apnea time in infants who are 6 months old or younger. However, it did not affect the incidence of atelectasis nor the non-hypoxic apnea time in patients aged older than 6 months.

A Pilot Study for Effectiveness and Safety of Adjunctive Pharmacopuncture to Acupuncture Treatment for Rotator Cuff Diseases: A Pragmatic Randomized Controlled Trial.

Purpose: Pharmacopuncture therapy has been used in the conservative treatment of rotator cuff disease adjuvant to acupuncture treatment. Despite the increasing utilization of pharmacopuncture therapy, there is still a lack of high-quality research to support its effectiveness. This pilot study aimed to assess the feasibility of pharmacopuncture therapy adjuvant to acupuncture treatment for rotator cuff disease. Patients and Methods: This was a parallel-grouped, pragmatic randomized controlled, pilot study. Forty patients were randomly allocated to either the experimental or the control group. All patients received acupuncture treatment for four weeks, and pharmacopuncture was additionally administered to the experimental group. After eight treatments were delivered over four weeks, follow-up assessments were performed. The primary outcome was the mean change in the visual analog scale (VAS) score for shoulder pain from baseline to visit 8. Secondary outcomes included shoulder pain and disability index (SPADI) at visits 4, 8, and 9, shoulder range of motion (ROM) at visits 4, 8, and 9, EuroQol 5-Dimension 5-Level questionnaire (EQ-5D-5L) at visits 8 and 9, patient global impression of change (PGIC) at visits 8 and 9, and mean rescue medication consumption at visits 8 and 9. Results: Both groups showed that each treatment effectively improved rotator cuff disease in most assessments. Particularly, the group that received acupuncture plus pharmacopuncture required fewer rescue medications than the group that received acupuncture alone. However, there was little statistically significant difference between the two groups. There were no serious adverse events experienced by patients in this study. Conclusion: Although there was little statistical difference between the two groups, the combination of acupuncture and pharmacopuncture for rotator cuff disease was associated with a reduction in the rescue medicine dosage compared with acupuncture alone. Also, it confirmed the safety of pharmacopuncture therapy. This pilot study would help design future research on the effectiveness of pharmacopuncture in rotator cuff disease.

Effect of epidural anesthesia on the optic nerve sheath diameter in patients with pre-eclampsia: a prospective observational study.

INTRODUCTION: Optic nerve sheath diameter (ONSD) reflects intracranial pressure and is increased in pre-eclampsia. Administrating a significant volume of epidural solution into the epidural space can potentially increase ONSD. We investigated the impact of epidural local anesthetic injection on ONSD in patients with pre-eclampsia. METHODS: Patients with pre-eclampsia (n=11) and normotensive pregnant women (n=11) received de novo epidural anesthesia for cesarean delivery. We administered 21 mL of an epidural solution containing 2% lidocaine and 50 µg fentanyl into the lumbar epidural space in incremental doses. ONSD was measured at baseline, 3, 10, and 20 min after completing the epidural injection, after delivery, and at the end of surgery. Primary outcome was the change in ONSD from baseline to 3 min after epidural injection in patients with pre-eclampsia and normotensive pregnant women. Serial changes in the ONSD were analyzed using a linear mixed model. RESULTS: At baseline and 3 min after epidural drug injection, ONSD was significantly larger in patients with pre-eclampsia than in normotensive mothers (5.7 vs 4.1 mm, p=0.001 and 5.4 vs 4.1 mm, p<0.001, respectively). However, there were no significant changes in ONSD at 3 min after injection from baseline in either group (p>0.999). Linear mixed model demonstrated that ONSD did not change after epidural anesthesia in either group (p=0.279 and p=0.347, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Despite a higher baseline ONSD in pre-eclampsia, epidural anesthesia did not further increase ONSD. Our findings indicate that epidural anesthesia can be safely administered in patients with pre-eclampsia at risk of increased intracranial pressure, without other intracranial pathology. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT04095832.

Risk factors for chloral hydrate sedation failure in pediatric patients: a retrospective analysis.

Background: This study aimed to investigate the risk factors for chloral hydrate sedation failure and complications in a tertiary children's hospital in South Korea. Methods: A retrospective analysis of pediatric procedural sedation with chloral hydrate between January 1, 2021, and March 30, 2022, was performed. The collected data included patient characteristics, sedation history, and procedure. Multivariable regression analysis was performed to identify the risk factors for procedural sedation failure and complications. Results: A total of 6691 procedural sedation were included in the analysis; sedation failure following chloral hydrate (50 mg/kg) occurred in 1457 patients (21.8%) and was associated with a higher rate of overall complications compared to those with successful sedation (17.5% [225 / 1457] vs. 6.2% [322 / 5234]; P < 0.001; odds ratio, 3.236). In the multivariable regression analysis, the following factors were associated with increased risk of sedation failure: general ward or intensive care unit inpatient (compared with outpatient); congenital syndrome; oxygen dependency; history of sedation failure or complications with chloral hydrate; procedure more than 60 min; and magnetic resonance imaging, radiotherapy, or procedures with painful or intense stimuli (all P values < 0.05). Factors contributing to the complications included general ward inpatient, congenital syndromes, congenital heart disease, preterm birth, oxygen dependency, history of complications with chloral hydrate, and current sedation failure with chloral hydrate (all P values < 0.05). Conclusions: To achieve successful sedation with chloral hydrate, the patient's sedation history, risk factors, and the type and duration of the procedure should be considered.

IRE1 is implicated in protein synthesis regulation under ER stress conditions in plants.

The unfolded protein response (UPR) is a crucial cellular mechanism for maintaining protein folding homeostasis during endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress. In this study, the role of IRE1, a key component of the UPR, was investigated in protein translation regulation under ER stress conditions in Arabidopsis. We discovered that the loss of IRE1A and IRE1B leads to diminished protein translation, indicating a significant role for IRE1 in this process. However, this regulation was not solely dependent on the interaction with bZIP60, a key transcription factor in the UPR. Interestingly, while chemical chaperones TUDCA and PBA effectively alleviated the translation inhibition observed in ire1a ire1b mutants, this effect was more pronounced than the mitigation observed from suppressing GCN2 expression or introducing a non-phosphorylatable eIF2α variant. Additionally, the kinase and ribonuclease activities of IRE1B were demonstrated to be crucial for plant adaptation and protein synthesis regulation under ER stress conditions. Overall, this study not only highlights the complex regulatory mechanisms of IRE1 in plant ER stress responses but also provides insights into its multifaceted roles in protein translation regulation.

Risk Assessment of Hepatitis B virus-related Hepatocellular Carcinoma Development Using Transient Elastography: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Background and Aims: Liver stiffness measurement (LSM) using transient elastography (TE) can assess fibrotic burden in chronic liver diseases. The systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted to determine whether LSM using TE can predict the risk of development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients. Methods: A systematic literature search of the Ovid-Medline, EMBASE, Cochrane, and KoreaMed databases (from January 2010 to June 2023) was conducted. Of the 1,345 individual studies identified, 10 studies that used TE were finally registered. Hazard ratios (HRs) and the 95% confidence interval (CIs) were considered summary estimates of treatment effect sizes of ≥ 11 kilopascal (kPa) standard for HCC development. Meta-analysis was performed using the restricted Maximum Likelihood random effects model. Results: Among the ten studies, data for risk ratios for HCC development could be obtained from nine studies. When analyzed for the nine studies, the HR for HCC development was high at 3.33 (95% CI, 2.45-4.54) in CHB patients with a baseline LSM of ≥ 11 kPa compared to patients who did not. In ten studies included, LSM of ≥ 11 kPa showed the sensitivity and specificity for predicting HCC development were 61% (95% CI, 50-71%) and 78% (95% CI, 66-86%), respectively, and the diagnostic accuracy was 0.74 (95% CI, 0.70-0.77). Conclusions: The risk of HCC development was elevated in CHB patients with TE-determined LSM of ≥11 kPa. This finding suggests that TE-determined LSM values may aid the risk prediction of HCC development in CHB patients.

Transient elastography for significant fibrosis in treatment-naïve CHB patients: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background and Aims: Accurate diagnosis of significant liver fibrosis in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) is crucial when determining whether to initiate antiviral treatment (AVT). We conduct a meta-analysis to assess the diagnostic performance of transient elastography (TE) for significant liver fibrosis in AVT-naïve CHB patients with serum alanine transaminase (ALT) levels within 5-fold the upper limit of normal (ULN). Methods: The Ovid-Medline, EMBASE, Cochrane, and KoreaMed databases were searched to identify studies that compared the performance of TE and liver biopsy (reference standard) when diagnosing significant liver fibrosis (≥ F2) in AVT-naïve CHB patients with ALT within 5-fold the ULN. A hierarchical summary receiver operating characteristic curve (HSROC) and bivariate model were performed to evaluate the diagnostic performance of TE in the meta-analysis. Results: Eight studies (2,003 patients) were included. The summary sensitivity and specificity for diagnosis of significant liver fibrosis were 0.78 [95% confidence interval (CI), 0.66-0.86] and 0.72 (95% CI, 0.60-0.82), respectively. The HSROC for the diagnosis of significant liver fibrosis was 0.81 (95% CI, 0.72-0.86). The optimal cut-off value of TE for diagnosis of significant liver fibrosis was 7.7 kPa with a sensitivity of 0.64 (95% CI, 0.50-0.76) and specificity of 0.83 (95% CI, 0.72-0.90). Conclusions: Our study demonstrated that TE has an acceptable diagnostic performance for significant liver fibrosis in AVT-naïve CHB patients with ALT within 5-fold the ULN.

Effective and safe pediatric sedation.

Pediatric sedation is a crucial tool for minimizing pain and anxiety during procedures and examinations in children. However, it is not without risks. This review provides a comprehensive review of pediatric sedation, including both established practices and recent advancements. A thorough pre-procedural evaluation is crucial to mitigate these risks. Skilled healthcare professionals trained in pediatric sedation are paramount to ensure a safe and effective procedure. The choice of sedative medication depends on various factors, such as the type of procedure and the patient's medical condition. Medications, used alone or in combination, offer sedation with varying onset times and durations. Non-pharmacological approaches can complement pharmacological sedation and further reduce potential complications. Preventing sedation-related complications requires a multidisciplinary approach. This includes collaborative decision-making, vigilant monitoring throughout the procedure, and a focus on patient safety. Recovery involves ensuring the child returns to their baseline status before discharge, following established criteria. In conclusion, successful pediatric sedation hinges on a comprehensive strategy. This strategy encompasses a thorough evaluation, skilled personnel, appropriate medication selection, vigilant monitoring, and a focus on patient safety throughout the process. By following these steps, we can minimize risks and achieve successful outcomes.