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This article discusses a study that explores the potential of combining a CDK7 inhibitor with FLT3 inhibitors for the treatment of FLT3-ITD-mutated acute myeloid leukemia (AML). The researchers found that this combination treatment demonstrated synergistic inhibition of cell proliferation in AML cell lines and induced apoptotic cell death in AML cells. The study suggests that targeting both CDK7 and FLT3 could be a promising therapeutic strategy for patients with FLT3-ITD-mutated AML. The study was supported by grants and the authors have no competing interests. [Extracted from the article]

Background and Objectives: This study aimed to explore biomarker change after NAC (neoadjuvant chemotherapy) and to investigate biomarker expression as a prognostic factor in patients with residual disease (RD) after NAC. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively evaluated 104 patients with invasive breast cancer, who underwent NAC and surgery at Pusan National University Hospital from 2015 to July 2022. The expression of the biomarker was assessed, and the overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) were investigated. Results: After NAC, 24 patients (23.1%) out of 104 total patients had a pathological complete response (pCR). We found that changes in at least one biomarker were observed in 41 patients (51.2%), among 80 patients with RD. In patients with RD after NAC (n = 80), a subtype change was identified in 20 patients (25.0%). Any kind of change in the HER2 status was present 19 (23.7%) patients. The hormone receptor (HR)+/HER2+ subtype was significantly associated with better disease-free survival (DFS) (HR, 0.13; 95% CI, 0.02–0.99; p = 0.049). No change in p53 was associated with better DFS, and negative-to-positive change in p53 expression after NAC was correlated with worse DFS (p < 0.001). Negative-to-positive change in p53 was an independent, worse DFS factor in the multivariate analysis (HR,18.44; 95% CI, 1.86–182.97; p = 0.013). Conclusions: Biomarker change and subtype change after NAC were not infrequent, which can affect the further treatment strategy after surgery. The expression change of p53 might have a prognostic role. Overall, we suggest that the re-evaluation of biomarkers after NAC can provide a prognostic role and is needed for the best decision to be made on further treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The degradation of road pavements due to environmental factors is a pressing issue in infrastructure maintenance, necessitating precise identification of pavement distresses. The pavement condition index (PCI) serves as a critical metric for evaluating pavement conditions, essential for effective budget allocation and performance tracking. Traditional manual PCI assessment methods are limited by labor intensity, subjectivity, and susceptibility to human error. Addressing these challenges, this paper presents a novel, end-to-end automated method for PCI calculation, integrating deep learning and image processing technologies. The first stage employs a deep learning algorithm for accurate detection of pavement cracks, followed by the application of a segmentation-based skeleton algorithm in image processing to estimate crack width precisely. This integrated approach enhances the assessment process, providing a more comprehensive evaluation of pavement integrity. The validation results demonstrate a 95% accuracy in crack detection and 90% accuracy in crack width estimation. Leveraging these results, the automated PCI rating is achieved, aligned with standards, showcasing significant improvements in the efficiency and reliability of PCI evaluations. This method offers advancements in pavement maintenance strategies and potential applications in broader road infrastructure management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The impact of tumor-infiltrating neutrophils (TINs) on clinical outcomes has been reported in various cancer types, but their role in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has not been fully evaluated. The aim of this study was to investigate the prognostic values for TINs in HCC patients undergoing curative resection. Methods: We assessed immune markers (CD3, CD4, CD8, CD66b) using immunohistochemistry in 115 patients who underwent curative resection for HCC. We analyzed the prognostic values for tumor-infiltrating immune cells, including neutrophils, and other clinicopathological factors. Results: In the Multivariate Cox analysis of overall survival (OS), alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) ≥ 100 ng/mL (hazard ratio (HR), 2.74, 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.17–6.44; P = 0.021) and Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) B/C stage (HR, 3.98, 95% CI, 1.68–9.43; P = 0.020) were found to be independent poor prognostic factors in HCC patients undergoing resection. The presence of CD66b+TINs was observed in 66 (57.4%) patients. However, CD66b+TINs were not associated with recurrence-free survival and OS. Conclusions: Our study identified low CD66b+TINs in resectable HCC, and CD66b+ TINs did not have a significant role for the clinical outcomes of patients undergoing curative resection. The results suggest that TINs may play a role in more advanced stages of HCC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The impact of tumor-infiltrating neutrophils (TINs) on clinical outcomes has been reported in various cancer types, but their role in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has not been fully evaluated. The aim of this study was to investigate the prognostic values for TINs in HCC patients undergoing curative resection. Methods: We assessed immune markers (CD3, CD4, CD8, CD66b) using immunohistochemistry in 115 patients who underwent curative resection for HCC. We analyzed the prognostic values for tumor-infiltrating immune cells, including neutrophils, and other clinicopathological factors. Results: In the Multivariate Cox analysis of overall survival (OS), alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) ≥ 100 ng/mL (hazard ratio (HR), 2.74, 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.17–6.44; P = 0.021) and Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) B/C stage (HR, 3.98, 95% CI, 1.68–9.43; P = 0.020) were found to be independent poor prognostic factors in HCC patients undergoing resection. The presence of CD66b+TINs was observed in 66 (57.4%) patients. However, CD66b+TINs were not associated with recurrence-free survival and OS. Conclusions: Our study identified low CD66b+TINs in resectable HCC, and CD66b+ TINs did not have a significant role for the clinical outcomes of patients undergoing curative resection. The results suggest that TINs may play a role in more advanced stages of HCC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The importance of surface finishing processes and accurate surface quality prediction models has increased in response to the growing demand for improved surface finish in ultra-precision applications. To enhance process efficiency and develop accurate predictive models, numerous studies have investigated the monitoring and prediction of surface roughness. However, existing mathematical approaches encounter challenges in establishing the correlation between input and output variables and providing real-time surface status monitoring. Therefore, this study aimed to monitor and predict surface roughness in real-time for the rotational electro-magnetic finishing (REMF) process using acoustic emission (AE) signals. First, a total of 72 fundamental experiments were conducted based on the mixed orthogonal array L18(21 × 34) to determine the optimal configuration for achieving a high-quality surface. The results revealed that the best combination was achieved with an abrasive length of 3.0 mm, an abrasive diameter of 0.7 mm, a total abrasive weight of 2.0 kg, a rotational speed of 1800 rpm, and a working time of 10 min. To analyze signal features and develop an accurate surface prediction model, a convolutional neural network (CNN) was suggested, utilizing scalogram images as time–frequency characteristics of AE signals. The suggested model demonstrated outstanding quantitative results compared to those of the regression model, with training coefficient of determination (R2), mean squared error (MSE), and F-test of 0.986, 0.19 × 10−3, and 99%, and testing R2, MSE, and F-test of 0.951, 2.23 × 10−3, and 99%, respectively. In addition, the suggested model showed good generalization ability with a relatively lower mean MSE of 0.003 through verification experiments. These results demonstrated that the sensory data and image-driven model were effective in real-time monitoring and surface roughness prediction in the REMF process with high accuracy and reliability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A rotational electro-magnetic finishing (REMF) was an effective way to minimize burr and improve edge quality on the surface. This study conducted two stages of explicit dynamic simulations: signle collision analysis and multiple collision analysis to verify the effect of abrasives' behavior on the deburring processes. From observed results, successful deburring depended on the total amount of abrasives and the collision angle. Based on the simulated results and response surface methodology, it was found that the accuracy was reached approximately 95.4 %. Additionally, the maximum deburring area from the predictive model and simulation were similar to 2.27 mm2 and 2.37 mm2, respectively, at rotational speed of 1800 rpm, abrasive diameter of 0.7 mm, and abrasive weight of 2.0 kg. In the experimental verification, the results were in good agreement with the experimental data, although specific values did not correspond exactly. Thus, the suggested approach adopting explicit dynamic simulations could effectively evaluate deburring performance in the REMF process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydrogen has emerged as a promising carbon-neutral fuel source, spurring research and development efforts to facilitate its widespread adoption. However, the safe handling of hydrogen requires precise leak detection sensors due to its low activation energy and explosive potential. Various detection methods exist, with thermal conductivity measurement being a prominent technique for quantifying hydrogen concentrations. However, challenges remain in achieving high measurement sensitivity at low hydrogen concentrations below 1% for thermal-conductivity-based hydrogen sensors. Recent research explores the 3ω method's application for measuring hydrogen concentrations in ambient air, offering high spatial and temporal resolutions. This study aims to enhance hydrogen leak detection sensitivity using the 3ω method by conducting thermal analyses on sensor design variables. Factors including substrate material, type, and sensor geometry significantly impact the measurement sensitivity. Comparative evaluations consider the minimum detectable hydrogen concentration while accounting for the uncertainty of the 3ω signal. The proposed suspended-type 3ω sensor is capable of detecting hydrogen leaks in ambient air and provides real-time measurements that are ideal for monitoring hydrogen diffusion. This research serves to bridge the gap between precision and real-time monitoring of hydrogen leak detection, promising significant advancements in the related safety applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Loss‐of‐function (LoF) alleles of cytochrome P450 2C19 (CYP2C19), which are prevalent in East Asians, are linked to high platelet reactivity (HPR) phenotype and poor prognosis. We aimed to investigate the incremental predictive value of HPR combined with CYP2C19 genotype in predicting outcomes after drug‐eluting stent (DES) implantation. The patients treated with platelet function and genotype‐related long‐term prognosis in drug‐eluting stent (PTRG‐DES) consortium enrolled a total of 13,160 Korean patients treated with DES who had platelet function test (PFT) or CYP2C19 genotype, of which, 6,717 patients with PFT and genotype together were categorized. HPR was defined as VerifyNow ≥ 252 P2Y12 reaction unit. The primary outcome was the incidence of major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular event (MACCE) 5 years after treatment. The patients with both HPR and CYP2C19 LoF/LoF had the highest MACCE rates (6.2%) and increased MACCE risk (adjusted hazard ratio: 1.89, 95% confidence interval: 1.20–2.91, P = 0.006) compared with those without both HPR and CYP2C19 LoF/LoF. There was no effect of interaction between HPR and CYP2C19 genotype on the primary outcome (P = 0.424). Adding combined HPR and CYP2C19 genotype to the conventional model had an incremental influence in predicting MACCE and stent thrombosis. Compared to the model including HPR or CYP2C19 genotype alone, a combination model significantly improved the risk stratification for stent thrombosis but not MACCE. In DES‐treated East Asian patients, the combined evaluation of PFT results and CYP2C19 genotyping might improve risk prediction of ischemic events during clopidogrel treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the impact of angiotensin-converting-enzyme inhibitors (ACEI) and angiotensin II type 1 receptor blockers (ARB) on 3-year clinical outcomes in elderly (≥ 65) acute myocardial infarction (AMI) patients without a history of hypertension who underwent successful percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with drug-eluting stents (DES). Methods: A total of 13,104 AMI patients who were registered in the Korea AMI registry (KAMIR)-National Institutes of Health (NIH) were included in the study. The primary endpoint was 3-year major adverse cardiac events (MACE), which was defined as the composite of all-cause death, recurrent myocardial infarction (MI), and any repeat revascularization. To adjust baseline potential confounders, an inverse probability weighting (IPTW) analysis was performed. Results: The patients were divided into two groups: the ACEI group, n = 872 patients and the ARB group, n = 508 patients. After IPTW matching, baseline characteristics were balanced. During the 3-year clinical follow-up, the incidence of MACE was not different between the two groups. However, incidence of stroke (hazard ratio [HR], 0.375; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.166–0.846; p = 0.018) and re-hospitalization due to heart failure (HF) (HR, 0.528; 95% CI, 0.289–0.965; p = 0.038) in the ACEI group were significantly lower than in the ARB group. Conclusion: In elderly AMI patients who underwent PCI with DES without a history of hypertension, the use of ACEI was significantly associated with reduced incidences of stroke, and re-hospitalization due to HF than those with the use of ARB. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to identify the benefits of autologous-stem cell transplantation (auto-SCT) and allogeneic-SCT (allo-SCT) in patients with aggressive T-cell lymphomas to aid in the selection of transplantation type in clinical practice. This study retrospectively analyzed data from 598 patients who underwent transplantation for T-cell lymphomas from 2010 to 2020. In total, 317 patients underwent up-front SCT as consolidation therapy. The 3-year progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were 68.7% and 76.1%, respectively. Patients who underwent auto-SCT had significantly better OS (p = 0.026) than those who underwent allo-SCT; however, no statistical difference in PFS was found. Transplantation was used as a salvage therapy in 188 patients who had relapsed/refractory disease. Overall, 96 (51.1%) patients underwent auto-SCT and 92 (48.9%) patients underwent allo-SCT. Auto-SCT improved long-term survival in patients with complete remission (CR). Allo-SCT demonstrated better 3-year PFS in patients with partial remission and relapsed/refractory disease status. However, >50% of patients died within 1 year of allo-SCT. As a consolidative therapy, up-front auto-SCT demonstrated a survival benefit. Auto-SCT was also effective in patients who achieved CR after salvage therapy. If the disease persists or cannot be controlled, allo-SCT may be considered with reduced intensity conditioning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we compared the characteristics of normally-on/off AlGaN/GaN MISHEMTs passivated by an in situ/ex situ SiN layer. The devices passivated by the in situ SiN layer revealed enhanced DC characteristics, such as the drain current of 595 mA/mm (normally-on) and 175 mA/mm (normally-off) with the high on/off current ratio of ~107, respectively, compared with those of the devices passivated by the ex situ SiN layer. The MISHEMTs passivated by the in situ SiN layer also exhibited a much lower increase of dynamic on-resistance (RON) of 4.1% for the normally-on device and 12.8% for the normally-off device, respectively. Furthermore, the breakdown characteristics are greatly improved by employing the in situ SiN passivation layer, suggesting that the in situ SiN passivation layer can remarkably not only suppress the surface-trapping effects, but also decrease the off-state leakage current in the GaN-based power devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Clear cell Renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) is an immunogenic tumor. B7 family members, such as CTLA-4, PD-1, and PD-L1, are the main components of immune checkpoints that regulate various immune responses. Specifically, B7-H3 regulates T cell-mediated immune responses against cancer. This study aimed to analyze the association between B7-H3 and CTLA-4 expression and the prognostic factors of ccRCC to provide a basis for their potential use as predictive factors and in immunotherapy. Methods: Formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded specimens were obtained from 244 ccRCC patients, and B7-H3, CTLA-4, and PD-L1 expressions were evaluated using immunohistochemical staining. Results: B7-H3 and CTLA-4 were positive in 73 (29.9%) and 57 (23.4%) of the 244 patients, respectively. B7-H3 expression was significantly associated with PD-L1 expression (P < 0.0001); however, CTLA-4 expression was not (P = 0.842). Kaplan–Meier analysis showed that positive B7-H3 expression was associated with poor progression-free survival (PFS) (P < 0.0001), whereas CTLA-4 expression was not (P = 0.457). Multivariate analysis revealed that B7-H3 was correlated with poor PFS (P = 0.031), whereas CTLA-4 was not (P = 0.173). Conclusions: To the best of our knowledge, this study is the first to investigate B7-H3 and PD-L1 expression and survival in ccRCC. B7-H3 expression is an independent prognostic factor for ccRCC. Furthermore, multiple immune cell inhibitory targets, such as B7-H3 and PD-L1, can be used for therapeutic tumor regression in a clinical setting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Clear cell Renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) is an immunogenic tumor. B7 family members, such as CTLA-4, PD-1, and PD-L1, are the main components of immune checkpoints that regulate various immune responses. Specifically, B7-H3 regulates T cell-mediated immune responses against cancer. This study aimed to analyze the association between B7-H3 and CTLA-4 expression and the prognostic factors of ccRCC to provide a basis for their potential use as predictive factors and in immunotherapy. Methods: Formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded specimens were obtained from 244 ccRCC patients, and B7-H3, CTLA-4, and PD-L1 expressions were evaluated using immunohistochemical staining. Results: B7-H3 and CTLA-4 were positive in 73 (29.9%) and 57 (23.4%) of the 244 patients, respectively. B7-H3 expression was significantly associated with PD-L1 expression (P < 0.0001); however, CTLA-4 expression was not (P = 0.842). Kaplan–Meier analysis showed that positive B7-H3 expression was associated with poor progression-free survival (PFS) (P < 0.0001), whereas CTLA-4 expression was not (P = 0.457). Multivariate analysis revealed that B7-H3 was correlated with poor PFS (P = 0.031), whereas CTLA-4 was not (P = 0.173). Conclusions: To the best of our knowledge, this study is the first to investigate B7-H3 and PD-L1 expression and survival in ccRCC. B7-H3 expression is an independent prognostic factor for ccRCC. Furthermore, multiple immune cell inhibitory targets, such as B7-H3 and PD-L1, can be used for therapeutic tumor regression in a clinical setting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Diffuse coronary artery disease (CAD) is a prognostic factor after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and requires multiple overlapping stent implantations. Hypothesis: We investigated the impact of ultra‐long 48 mm drug‐eluting stent (DES) on procedural and clinical outcomes in real‐world practice. Methods: Patients who underwent DES implantation for a lesion length of >40 mm were selected from a prospective registry between 2019 and 2021. Patients treated with one or more ultra‐long 48 mm DES were in the ultra‐long DES group (n = 221). The others comprised the conventional DES group (n = 428). Procedural and clinical outcomes were compared after propensity score matching (PSM). The primary endpoint was a device‐oriented composite outcome (DOCO) consisting of cardiac death, target vessel‐related myocardial infarction, and target lesion revascularization at 1‐year follow‐up. Results: After PSM, 158 matched pairs of patients showed no differences in the baseline clinical and angiographic characteristics. The stent delivery failure rate, the use of guide‐extension catheter or anchor balloon technique, and the procedural success rate were similar for both groups. Approximately two‐thirds of lesions could be treated with one DES in the ultra‐long DES group. At 1‐year follow‐up, the DOCO was similar for both groups (2.5% vs. 0.6%, p =.168). Conclusions: In daily clinical practice, ultra‐long DES implantation is as safe and effective as multiple overlapping conventional DES implants in treating diffuse long CAD. However, ultra‐long DES can reduce the number of stents. (Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02038127). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Clear cell Renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) is an immunogenic tumor. B7 family members, such as CTLA-4, PD-1, and PD-L1, are the main components of immune checkpoints that regulate various immune responses. Specifically, B7-H3 regulates T cell-mediated immune responses against cancer. This study aimed to analyze the association between B7-H3 and CTLA-4 expression and the prognostic factors of ccRCC to provide a basis for their potential use as predictive factors and in immunotherapy. Methods: Formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded specimens were obtained from 244 ccRCC patients, and B7-H3, CTLA-4, and PD-L1 expressions were evaluated using immunohistochemical staining. Results: B7-H3 and CTLA-4 were positive in 73 (29.9%) and 57 (23.4%) of the 244 patients, respectively. B7-H3 expression was significantly associated with PD-L1 expression (P < 0.0001); however, CTLA-4 expression was not (P = 0.842). Kaplan–Meier analysis showed that positive B7-H3 expression was associated with poor progression-free survival (PFS) (P < 0.0001), whereas CTLA-4 expression was not (P = 0.457). Multivariate analysis revealed that B7-H3 was correlated with poor PFS (P = 0.031), whereas CTLA-4 was not (P = 0.173). Conclusions: To the best of our knowledge, this study is the first to investigate B7-H3 and PD-L1 expression and survival in ccRCC. B7-H3 expression is an independent prognostic factor for ccRCC. Furthermore, multiple immune cell inhibitory targets, such as B7-H3 and PD-L1, can be used for therapeutic tumor regression in a clinical setting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: In Korea, complex treatments such as acupotomy, acupuncture, and physical therapy are performed for lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS). Although there are reports of acupotomy as monotherapy or acupuncture treatment for LSS, pragmatic studies are lacking. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the effectiveness and safety of acupotomy for LSS to provide baseline evidence for a large-scale study. Materials and Methods: This pragmatic randomized controlled pilot study enrolled 34 participants and randomly assigned them to two groups (n=17/group). The intervention was conducted for 8 weeks. Acupotomy plus and usual care groups received acupuncture (17 acupoints) and interferential current therapy (ICT) twice weekly; however, the acupotomy plus group received an additional acupotomy (7 acupoints) for treatment of the usual care group. The primary outcome was measured using visual analog scales (VAS), and secondary outcomes were assessed using the self-rated walking distance, short-form McGill Pain Questionnaire (SF-MPQ), and the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI). Outcome measurements were conducted at baseline and 4, 8, and 12 weeks after the commencement of the intervention. Adverse events were assessed at each visit. Hematological and biochemical examinations were performed at screening and week 8. Results: Overall, 33 of the 34 participants completed the study, and one participant in the usual care group dropped out. In both groups, VAS scores at weeks 4, 8, and 12 significantly improved compared to baseline. Also, self-rated walking distance, SF-MPQ, and ODI scores were significantly improved at weeks 4, 8, and 12 than at baseline. However, there were no significant differences in the time-dependent and group-to-time interactions between the two groups. In addition, no severe adverse reactions were reported, and there were no significant differences in hematological and biochemical results. Conclusion: This study provides baseline data for large-scale studies on the effectiveness and safety of acupotomy in LSS. Clinical Trial Number: KCT0006234. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: In a prospective, explorative study, the donor‐source difference of haploidentical family (HF), matched sibling (MS), and unrelated donors (UD) was evaluated for the outcome of haematopoietic cell transplantations (HCT) in 101 patients with acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) in complete remission (CR). To eliminate compounding effects, a uniform conditioning regimen containing antithymocyte globulin (ATG) was used. After transplantation, there was a significantly higher cumulative incidence of acute graft‐versus‐host disease (GVHD) in HF‐HCT patients (49%, 7%, and 16% for HF‐, MS‐ and UD‐HCT respectively; p < 0.001). A quarter of acute GVHD cases observed in HF‐HCT patients occurred within three days of engraftment and were characterized by diffuse skin rash, fever, weight gain, and hypoalbuminaemia. This peri‐engraftment acute GVHD was not observed in MS‐HCT or UD‐HCT patients. Additionally, a significantly higher proportion of HF‐HCT patients achieved complete donor chimaerism in the peripheral mononuclear cells at one month (88%, 46%, and 69% for HF‐, MS‐ and UD‐HCT respectively; p = 0.001). There was no significant difference in engraftment, chronic GVHD, leukaemia recurrence, non‐relapse mortality, and patient survival. In patients with AML in CR who received HCT using ATG‐containing conditioning, stronger donor–patient alloreactivity was observed in HF‐HCT, in terms of increased acute GVHD and higher likelihood of complete donor chimaerism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Surgeons should select one side for cervical unilateral open door laminoplasty (UODL). However, few reports suggest proper guidelines for deciding which side to open. The aim of this study is to evaluate the impact of opening side in UODL on dominant cord compressive or symptomatic side. 193 degenerative cervical myeloradiculopathy patients with followed-up more than 2 years were enrolled. In all cases, UODL was performed uniformly on the right side. Patients were sub-grouped based on preoperative dominant 3 characteristics: cord compression, myelopathy symptom and radiculopathy symptom (right, symmetric, left). Pre- and postoperative radiographic and clinical parameters and incidence of postoperative C5 palsy were analyzed and compared among the groups. According to dominant compressive side, there were no significant differences in postoperative radiographic and clinical parameters among three groups. According to dominant myelopathy or radiculopathy symptom side, there were no significant differences of all radiographic and clinical parameters postoperatively, except slightly lower neck VAS in groups of preoperative right dominant myelopathy or radiculopathy symptom side at postoperative 1 month. C5 palsies occurred in twelve patients (6.2%), but the incidences were not different among the groups. Therefore, when performing UODL, the choice of lamina opening side can be left to surgeon's preference. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: B7-H4 is expressed in various types of cancers and its expression inversely correlates with the degree of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs). Studies have shown the relationship between B7-H4, cancer stem cell (CSC) properties, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in various cancers. However, very few studies have investigated the relationship between B7-H4, TILs, cancer stemness, and EMT in epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC). The present study aimed to elucidate whether B7-H4 is involved in immune evasion and examine whether B7-H4 is associated with cancer stemness or EMT in ovarian serous carcinoma, the most common type of EOC. The clinical significance of B7-H4 was also investigated to evaluate its potential as a therapeutic target. Methods: A total of 145 patients included in this study. The degree of stromal TILs was evaluated using hematoxylin and eosin (H&E)-stained slides. Immunohistochemical analysis of B7-H4, CSC-related biomarkers (CD24, CD44s, CD133, and ALDH1), and EMT-related biomarkers (E-cadherin, N-cadherin, and vimentin) was performed using tissue microarray. qRT-PCR for VTCN1, CD24, CD44, PROM1, ALDH1, CDH1, CDH2, and VIM genes was performed on 38 frozen tissue samples. The mRNA expression levels were analyzed using Gene Expression Profiling Interactive Analysis (GEPIA) online analysis tool. Results: B7-H4 protein expression positively correlated with the degree of stromal TILs. CD24, CD44s, and CD133 expression showed a positive correlation with B7-H4 expression at both the protein and mRNA levels, but ALDH1 correlated only at the protein level. E-cadherin expression was positively correlated with B7-H4 expression at both the protein and mRNA levels. N-cadherin and vimentin expression was inversely related to B7-H4 expression only at the mRNA level. B7-H4 positive patients were associated with higher tumor grade and lower overall survival rate than B7-H4 negative patients, especially in ovarian serous carcinoma with low stromal TILs. Conclusions: The present study demonstrates that B7-H4 may not be involved in the immune evasion mechanism, but is involved in cancer stemness and mesenchymal-epithelial transition. In addition, B7-H4 may be a therapeutic target for the treatment of ovarian serous carcinoma, especially with low stromal TILs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A critical issue that needs to be addressed for wider utilization of hydrogen as fuel is protection against hydrogen embrittlement during cryogenic storage as it weakens the microstructure bonding force of metals through hydrogen penetration. Austenitic stainless steel, which is usually used in cryogenic vessels and is well known for its high hydrogen resistance at room temperature, has also been reported to be vulnerable to hydrogen embrittlement under cryogenic temperatures. In addition, because large storage vessels are operated over a wide range of temperatures, material behavior at various temperature conditions should also be considered. Therefore, in the present study, hydrogen charging of austenitic stainless steel was performed under various temperature conditions for carrying out prestrain and tensile tests. A decrease in the tensile strength and elongation and an increase in the yield strength were observed in all cases. In particular, the case of 20% prestrain at cryogenic temperature followed by tensile test at room temperature after hydrogen charging showed fracture in the elastic region. The hydrogen index was evaluated from the perspective of elongation and reduction in area, which are factors that indicate the degree of ductility. The aforementioned case showed the most severe results, while non-prestraining followed by tensile tests at room temperature was the least effected by hydrogen. In addition, the effect of strain-induced martensite on hydrogen embrittlement was analyzed using electron backscattered diffraction (EBSD). It was observed that the higher is the prestrain at cryogenic temperatures, the greater is the volume fraction of α' martensite, which leads to hydrogen embrittlement. The edges and center of the fracture surface were analyzed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The hydrogen-charged specimens exhibited brittle fractures at the edges and ductile fractures at the center. The more severe the embrittlement, the more were the number of intergranular fractures and microdimples observed at the edges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to identify the benefits of autologous-stem cell transplantation (auto-SCT) and allogeneic-SCT (allo-SCT) in patients with aggressive T-cell lymphomas to aid in the selection of transplantation type in clinical practice. This study retrospectively analyzed data from 598 patients who underwent transplantation for T-cell lymphomas from 2010 to 2020. In total, 317 patients underwent up-front SCT as consolidation therapy. The 3-year progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were 68.7% and 76.1%, respectively. Patients who underwent auto-SCT had significantly better OS (p = 0.026) than those who underwent allo-SCT; however, no statistical difference in PFS was found. Transplantation was used as a salvage therapy in 188 patients who had relapsed/refractory disease. Overall, 96 (51.1%) patients underwent auto-SCT and 92 (48.9%) patients underwent allo-SCT. Auto-SCT improved long-term survival in patients with complete remission (CR). Allo-SCT demonstrated better 3-year PFS in patients with partial remission and relapsed/refractory disease status. However, >50% of patients died within 1 year of allo-SCT. As a consolidative therapy, up-front auto-SCT demonstrated a survival benefit. Auto-SCT was also effective in patients who achieved CR after salvage therapy. If the disease persists or cannot be controlled, allo-SCT may be considered with reduced intensity conditioning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs) are clonal hematopoietic stem cell disorders characterized by the expansion of myeloid lineage cells. Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) is characterized by a BCR-ABL1 fusion gene that causes constitutive tyrosine kinase activity. Polycythemia vera, essential thrombocythemia, and primary myelofibrosis (PMF) are frequently associated with driver mutations in genes such as JAK2, CALR, and MPL and are mutually exclusive of BCR-ABL1. Herein, we report the first case study of a patient diagnosed with accelerated-phase CML while undergoing treatment for initial JAK2 V617F–positive, BCR-ABL1 -negative PMF. This finding emphasizes the importance of BCR-ABL1 testing in patients with an atypical BCR-ABL1 -negative MPN disease course. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

CtBP-interacting protein (CtIP) plays a critical role in controlling the homologous recombination-mediated DNA double-stranded break (DSB) repair pathway through DNA end resection, and recent studies suggest that it also plays a role in mitosis. However, the mechanism by which CtIP contributes to mitosis regulation remains elusive. Here, we show that depletion of CtIP leads to a delay in anaphase progression resulting in misaligned chromosomes, an aberrant number of centrosomes, and defects in chromosome segregation. Additionally, we demonstrate that CtIP binds and colocalizes with Targeting protein for Xklp2 (TPX2) during mitosis to regulate the recruitment of TPX2 to the spindle poles. Furthermore, depletion of CtIP resulted in both a lower concentration of Aurora A, its downstream target, and very low microtubule intensity at the spindle poles, suggesting an important role for the CtIP-TPX2-Auroa A complex in microtubule dynamics at the centrosomal spindles. Our findings reveal a novel function of CtIP in regulating spindle dynamics through interactions with TPX2 and indicate that CtIP is involved in the proper execution of the mitotic program, where deregulation may lead to chromosomal instability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we report the fabrication and characterization of Lg = 50 nm Gate-All-Around (GAA) In0.53Ga0.47As nanosheet (NS) metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistors (MOSFETs) with sub-20 nm nanosheet thickness that were fabricated through an S/D regrowth process. The fabricated GAA In0.53Ga0.47As NS MOSFETs feature a bi-layer high-k dielectric layer of Al2O3/HfO2, together with an ALD-grown TiN metal-gate in a cross-coupled manner. The device with Lg = 50 nm, WNS = 200 nm and tNS = 10 nm exhibited an excellent combination of subthreshold-swing behavior (S < 80 mV/dec.) and carrier transport properties (gm_max = 1.86 mS/μm and ION = 0.4 mA/μm) at VDS = 0.5 V. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first demonstration of InxGa1-xAs GAA NS MOSFETs that would be directly applicable for their use in future multi-bridged channel (MBC) devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Clonal cytopenia of undetermined significance (CCUS) is characterized by persistent cytopenias with genetic aberrations, which do not meet the diagnostic criteria for myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS). We aimed to compare the clinical and genetic characteristics of CCUS with lower‐risk MDS and identify patients with CCUS with a high risk of progression. We performed targeted sequencing of bone marrow (BM) samples from patients with idiopathic cytopenia of undetermined significance (ICUS) (n = 139) and MDS (n = 226). Overall survival (OS) of patients with CCUS (n = 78) was worse than non‐clonal ICUS (n = 61) and superior to lower‐risk MDS (n = 99). Patients with CCUS showed similar characteristics to those with lower‐risk MDS, except for higher haemoglobin, lower BM cellularity, and less frequent SF3B1 mutations. Lower haemoglobin, DDX41 (biallelic germline and somatic), ETV6, and RUNX1 mutations were independent prognostic factors for worse OS. Lower haemoglobin and DDX41 mutations were also associated with lower progression‐free survival. Patients with CCUS with high‐risk features showed similar or worse OS than patients with lower‐risk MDS. Our findings suggest that patients with CCUS having certain clinical or genetic features should be regarded and treated as lower‐risk MDS despite lacking significant dysplasia or MDS‐associated chromosomal abnormalities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Surface roughness is a crucial factor affecting the surface quality of workpieces in manufacturing industries. Thus, it is important to provide an accurate performance of surface roughness prediction and optimal parameters to reduce the burden of time and costs during the process. In this study, two predict models, namely multiple linear regression and deep belief network (DBN) models, were performed to accurately predict change in surface roughness in the rotational electromagnetic finishing (REMF). Compared to the statistical-based model, the data-driven model based on the DBN architecture was a significantly considerable effect on surface roughness prediction in the REMF process. Among the considered DBN models, DBN5 architecture as [7, 14, 14, 1] showed effective features of the nonlinear relationship between process parameters and response with the highest determination coefficient (R2) of 0.9340 and the lowest mean squared error (MSE) of 1.3037 × 10−3 in the testing datasets. In addition, a genetic algorithm (GA) as a heuristic optimization technique was adopted to optimize the input parameters of the best derived DBN model. It showed that the maximum change in surface roughness was 0.530 at particle length of 3 mm, particle diameter of 0.7 mm, particle weight of 1.3 kg, liquid water quantity of 1.0 l, a rotational speed of 1323 rpm, working time of 35 min, and initial surface roughness of 2.5478 m μ . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Movable object type wave power generators produce energy through the process of primary energy conversion, which converts the potential and kinetic energy of the waves into mechanical energy, secondary energy conversion that converts it into energy for generator operation using a mechanical system or hydraulic system, and final energy conversion, the last step in power generation. The secondary energy conversion system that transmits and amplifies energy according to the primary energy conversion needs to secure durability while power generation performance varies greatly depending on how the secondary energy conversion system is built. As a result, reliability assessment of systems based on system engineering are a very important issue. Therefore, in this study, for the conceptual design based on reliability assessment of the secondary energy conversion system, the system concept was established using the integrated computer-aided manufacturing (ICAM) definition for function modeling (IDEF0), a system analysis method, while necessary equipment and process flow diagrams (PFD) were derived. In addition, the database (DB) and formula of the secondary energy conversion system were constructed, and reliability assessment algorithms and programs were developed. Finally, the PFD and reliability assessment program were verified by applying them to a representative movable object type wave power generator. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To explore the effectiveness and feasibility of injectable Escherichia coli‐derived recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein‐2 (injectable E‐rhBMP‐2, a combination of E. coli‐derived recombinant human bone morphogenic protein‐2 and a hydrogel type beta‐tricalcium phosphate carrier) as a bone substitute for anterior lumbar interbody fusion (ALIF) of the lumbosacral junction in adult spinal deformity (ASD) patients. Methods: A prospective single‐institution therapeutic exploratory trial was conducted. Twenty patients (average age: 69.1 years; 19 female and one male; average fusion level: 7.95) diagnosed with ASD with sagittal imbalance who underwent surgical treatment including ALIF at the lumbosacral junction from December 2017 to January 2019 were evaluated. Injectable E‐rhBMP‐2 was prepared by dissolving 3 mg of E. coli‐derived recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein‐2 in 1.5 ml H2O and mixing in situ with 9 g hydrogel type beta‐tricalcium phosphate. This bone graft substitute was loaded onto a metal ALIF cage and L5–S1 ALIF was performed in routine manner. Then posterior column osteotomy with multilevel oblique lumbar interbody fusion or pedicle subtraction osteotomy with accessory rod technique was performed to restore sagittal balance. Patients were followed up for 12 months. CT‐based fusion rates were examined at 6 and 12 months after surgery. Also, clinical outcomes (Oswestry Disability Index [ODI], Visual Analog Scale [VAS] score of the back and leg) were evaluated at 6 and 12 months after surgery. All postoperative adverse events were evaluated for the association with injectable E.BMP‐2. Results: Of the 20 patients, loss to follow‐up occurred with one patient at 6 months after surgery and one patient at 12 months after surgery, resulting in a total of 18 patients who were available for follow‐up. Six months after surgery, 68.4% patients achieved solid fusion. Twelve months after surgery, 100% fusion rate was achieved. Compared to baseline values, ODI scores improved to 45.8% and 63.7%, VAS (back) improved to 69.2% and 72.8%, and VAS (leg) improved to 49.2% and 64.8%, respectively, at 6 and 12 months after surgery (p < 0.001 for all). Ten cases of adverse events occurred. But no adverse events were associated with injectable E‐rhBMP‐2. Conclusion: Injectable E‐rhBMP‐2 will be an effective bone graft substitute when achieving solid interbody fusion in the lumbosacral junction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Nonsecretory multiple myeloma (NSM) is a rare variant of multiple myeloma, accounting for approximately 1%–5% of all reported cases. We compared the characteristics of NSM and secretory multiple myeloma (SM). Methods: We examined clinical and laboratory characteristics of 17 patients diagnosed with NSM and 40 patients diagnosed with SM. NSM was diagnosed based on findings of bone marrow (BM) examination, serum‐free light chain (sFLC) assay, flow cytometric (FCM) immunophenotyping, chromosomal analysis, and imaging studies. Results: No patient with NSM had hypercalcemia or renal insufficiency at diagnosis. Patients with NSM were less anemic (p <.05) but had higher lactate dehydrogenase levels (p <.05) than patients with SM. In addition, patients with NSM had a lower percentage of plasma cells in the BM, confirmed by manual differential count (p <.05) and FCM immunophenotyping (p <.05). The sFLC ratio in patients with NSM was abnormal (15/17, 88.2%) and was lower than that in patients with SM (p <.05). Risk stratification in Revised International Staging System revealed a low‐risk tendency in patients with NSM (p =.235). Conclusion: NSM patients showed different clinical and laboratory characteristics from SM patients. FCM immunophenotyping and sFLC assay particularly had differences between NSM patients and SM patients. Thus, they are essential for diagnosing NSM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to investigate the changes in gluteal muscle volume and the effects of such changes in spinal alignment as a result of postoperative gluteal muscle strengthening exercise (GMSE) in patients following long-segment fixation for adult spinal deformity (ASD). Eighty-three consecutive patients (average age, 70.1 years) were analyzed. Three-dimensional CT scans were conducted to obtain serial axial gluteus muscle image slices. The size of each muscle area in every image slice was measured by Computer Aided Design and the sum of each muscle area was calculated. At the last follow-up, the sagittal vertical axis was significantly greater in the basic postoperative exercise group (1.49 mm vs. 17.94 mm), and the percentage of optimal sagittal alignment was significantly higher in the GMSE group (97.8% vs. 84.2%). At the last follow-up, the gluteus maximus volume was significantly higher in the GMSE group (900,107.1 cm3 vs. 825,714.2 cm3, p = 0.036). For the increase in muscle volume after 1 year, gluteus maximus and medius volumes showed a significant intergroup difference (+ 6.8% vs. + 2.4% and + 6.9% vs. + 3.6%). The GMSE protocol developed in this study could effectively increase gluteal muscle volume and maintain the optimal sagittal balance in patients with ASD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) are one of the most lethal types of DNA damage due to the fact that unrepaired or mis-repaired DSBs lead to genomic instability or chromosomal aberrations, thereby causing cell death or tumorigenesis. The classical non-homologous end-joining pathway (c-NHEJ) is the major repair mechanism for rejoining DSBs, and the catalytic subunit of DNA-dependent protein kinase (DNA-PKcs) is a critical factor in this pathway; however, regulation of DNA-PKcs expression remains unknown. In this study, we demonstrate that miR-145 directly suppresses DNA-PKcs by binding to the 3′-UTR and inhibiting translation, thereby causing an accumulation of DNA damage, impairing c-NHEJ, and rendering cells hypersensitive to ionizing radiation (IR). Of note, miR-145-mediated suppression of DNA damage repair and enhanced IR sensitivity were both reversed by either inhibiting miR-145 or overexpressing DNA-PKcs. In addition, we show that the levels of Akt1 phosphorylation in cancer cells are correlated with miR-145 suppression and DNA-PKcs upregulation. Furthermore, the overexpression of miR-145 in Akt1-suppressed cells inhibited c-NHEJ by downregulating DNA-PKcs. These results reveal a novel miRNA-mediated regulation of DNA repair and identify miR-145 as an important regulator of c-NHEJ. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although amlodipine is recommended as the first‐line therapy for the treatment of hypertension, its use is limited by its potential side effects. S‐amlodipine is expected to be able to minimize side effects of amlodipine with a similar antihypertensive effect by removing the malicious R‐chiral form. However, sustainable blood pressure control with S‐amlodipine has not been well established yet. The purpose of the current study was to evaluate ambulatory blood pressure (ABP) profiles before and after a 12‐week treatment of S‐amlodipine. Patients received once‐daily S‐amlodipine 2.5 or 5 mg. ABP during 24 hr and office blood pressure were measured at baseline and after the 12‐week treatment. Primary endpoints were changes of systolic and diastolic 24 hr ABP. After 12‐week S‐amlodipine treatment, mean systolic ABP (‐15.1 ± 16.2 mmHg, p <.001) and diastolic ABP (‐8.9 ± 9.8 mmHg, p <.001) were decreased significantly. Both daytime and night‐time mean systolic BP and diastolic BP were also significantly decreased after the 12‐week treatment. Global trough‐to‐peak ratio and smoothness index after 12‐week S‐amlodipine treatment were.75 and.79 for SBP and.65 and.61 for DBP, respectively. Age ≥65 years (hazard ratio [HR]: 3.13; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.67–14.3) and nonalcohol drinking (HR: 3.09; 95% CI: 1.34–7.17) were independent clinical factors for target ABP achievement. Adverse drug reactions (ADR) were developed in 16 (6.4%) patients, including two (.8%) cases of peripheral edema. In conclusion, this study demonstrated the efficacy and safety of S‐amlodipine in patients with uncontrolled essential hypertension. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Pelvic incidence (PI) is used as a key parameter in surgical correction of adult spinal deformity (ASD). However, reflecting the exact center or inclination of the three-dimensional anatomical structures on the two-dimensional (2D) sagittal radiographs is limited, resulting in measurement errors. Therefore, we evaluated whether there is a change in PI measurement according to the actual rotation of the pelvis, and conducted a study on a more accurate method for PI measurement using 2D sagittal radiographs.Methods: From 2014 to 2015, the data of 30 patients who visited our outpatient clinic were analyzed retrospectively. CT scans including those of the lower lumbar spine, pelvis, and both femurs in the DICOM format were imported to Mimics Research 17.0 (Materialise NV, Belgium), SolidWorks (Dassault systems, France), and AutoCAD 2014 (AUTODESK, US). The changes in PI according to vertical and horizontal pelvic rotations were evaluated.Results: The average PIs according to the horizontal pelvic rotations measured on AutoCAD with 0°, 5°, 10°, 15°, 20°, 25°, 30°, 35°, and 40° were 48.8°, 48.7°, 48.3°, 47.8°, 46.9°, 45.6°, 44.0°, 42.2°, and 39.9°, respectively. The PI with an acceptable error of 6° on radiographs was 35° in the horizontal pelvic rotation. The average PIs according to the vertical pelvic rotations measured on AutoCAD with 0°, 5°, 10°, 15°, 20°, 25°, 30°, 35°, and 40° were 48.8°, 49.0°, 49.5°, 50.2°, 51.3°, 52.7°, 54.4°, 56.6°, and 59.4°, respectively. The PI with an acceptable error of 6° on radiographs was 30° in the vertical pelvic rotation.Conclusions: This study revealed that the PI value could differ from the actual anatomical value due to the horizontal and vertical rotation of the pelvis while acquiring the radiograph. Regarding whole-spine lateral radiographs, errors in PI measurement may occur due to pelvic rotation or nonvertical projection of X-rays. In the standing pelvic lateral radiographs, ensuring superposition of the femoral heads at the center and obtaining the straight sacral endplate by referring to CT or magnetic resonance imaging would be a more accurate measurement method to define PI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: We have demonstrated the gallium nitride (GaN)‐based betavoltaic (BV) cells with PN and PIN junction to investigate the relationship between the intrinsic GaN (i‐GaN) layer and power performance of BV cells. A short‐circuit current (ISC) and an open‐circuit voltage (VOC) of the fabricated BV cells were evaluated by using an electron‐beam (e‐beam) irradiation. The cell with PIN junction exhibited an improved ISC and VOC compared to the cell with PN junction. This is because the additional 200 nm‐thick i‐GaN layer extends the depletion region of BV cell, resulting in improved charge collection. When a 17 kV e‐beam irradiated into the fabricated GaN PIN BV cell, the device exhibited an ISC of 1.86 μA, a VOC of 2.23 V, a maximum output power (Pmax.out) of 2.74 μW, and a power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 4.5%, respectively. This PCE is the best value among GaN BV cell researches using 17 keV e‐beam irradiation. To study a role of i‐GaN layer in PIN BV cell, the technology computer‐aided design (TCAD) simulator was implemented. The effect of layer thickness and native defects in GaN material on the power performance of BV cell was evaluated. The power performance of PIN BV cell was degraded by introducing native defects in layers due to an increase of recombination rate. The BV cell with 500 nm‐thick i‐GaN layer exhibited better power performance when the electrons with average energy of Ni‐63 irradiated into device because the maximum absorption rate of electrons was well positioned in the depletion region. The experimental and simulated results showed that the introduction of i‐GaN layer and the optimization of parameters such as thickness and crystalline quality were important to improve the power performance of BV cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A known prevalence of concurrent cervical and lumbar spinal stenosis was shown to be 5–25%, but there is a lack of evidence regarding direct relationships in canal dimension and canal-body ratio between cervical and lumbar spine. Total 247 patients (mean age: 61 years, male: 135) with cervical and lumbar computed tomography scans were retrospectively reviewed. Midsagittal vertebral body and canal diameters in reconstructed images were measured at all cervical and lumbar vertebrae, and canal-body ratios were calculated. The canal diameter and ratio were also compared according to the gender and age, and correlation analysis was performed for each value. There were significant correlations between cervical (C3–C7) and lumbar (L1–L5) canal dimension (p < 0.001). C5 canal diameter was most significantly correlated with L4 canal diameter (r = 0.435, p < 0.001). Cervical canal-body ratios (C3–C7) were also correlated with those of lumbar spine (L1–L5) (p < 0.001). The canal-body ratio of C3 was most highly correlated with L3 (r = 0.477, p < 0.001). Meanwhile, mean canal-body ratios of C3 and L3 were significantly smaller in male patients than female (p = 0.038 and p < 0.001) and patient's age was inversely correlated with C5 canal diameter (r = − 0.223, p < 0.001) and C3 canal-body ratio (r = − 0.224, p < 0.001). Spinal canal dimension and canal-body ratio have moderate degrees of correlations between cervical and lumbar spine and the elderly male patients show the tendency of small canal diameter and canal-body ratio. This relationship of cervical and lumbar spine can be an important evidence to explain to the patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the impact of medication adherence on cardio‐cerebrovascular (CCV) mortality in newly diagnosed hypertensive patients. The authors retrospectively reviewed data from 20,836 patients who newly diagnosed hypertension from January 1, 2003 to December 31, 2005. Medication adherence was calculated from the compliance ratio (CR) during the first year after the diagnosis of hypertension. CCV mortality for 10 years was assessed according to the presence or absence of complications of hypertension. The risk of CCV death was significantly reduced in the CR ≥ 70% group than in the CR < 70% group (hazard ratio, 0.70; p =.004) for 10 years. In the patients without complications, the risk of CCV death was significantly lower in the CR ≥ 70% group than in the CR < 70% group (hazard ratio, 0.56; p =.014). However, in patients with complications, there was no significant difference in risk of CCV death between the CR ≥ 70% group and the CR < 70% group (hazard ratio, 0.79; p =.100). Only the CR ≥ 90% group had a significantly lower risk of CCV death (hazard ratio, 0.56; p <.001) for those with complications. Medication adherence is significantly associated with CCV mortality during 10 years in newly diagnosed hypertensives patients. Patients with complications of hypertension have to continue a high adherence rate (CR ≥ 90) for better long‐term clinical outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and objectives: There are limited data in real clinical practice on the diagnostic value of a bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid galactomannan (GM) assay in patients with suspected invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA) who had negative serum GM results. Thus, we investigated the diagnostic performance of a BAL GM assay in patients with negative serum GM assay results who were suspected to have IPA. Methods: This retrospective study was performed between May 2008 and April 2019 at a tertiary‐care hospital in Seoul, South Korea. All patients with suspected IPA whose serum GM assays revealed negative results who sequentially underwent BAL were enrolled in this study. Results: A total of 341 patients with suspected IPA including four cases of proven IPA, 38 cases of probable IPA, 107 cases of possible IPA and 192 patients without IPA were enrolled. Of these 341 patients, 107 (31%) with possible IPA were excluded from the final analysis. Of 42 patients with proven and probable IPA who had initial negative serum GM results, 24 (57%) had positive BAL GM results (n = 24) or BAL fungal culture results (n = 8). In addition, BAL revealed evidence of other opportunistic infections including Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (14% [26/190]), cytomegalovirus (CMV) pneumonia (5% [9/188]) and respiratory viral pneumonia (6% [12/193]). Conclusion: Sequential BAL in patients with suspected IPA who had initial negative serum GM results provided additional diagnostic yield in approximately half of patients with evidence of another co‐infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]