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The classical neuronal-gene corepressor RCOR1/CoREST is paradoxically enriched in transcriptionally active chromatin. Here the authors show RCOR1 is recruited during promoter-proximal pausing and negatively regulates the nascent-transcript synthesis. They also show that an RCOR1-LSD1- HDAC1 complex removes lysine acetylation from RNA polymerase II to repress transcription.

We investigated the bioavailability and stability of a C-Clear artificial cornea in a rabbit chemical burn model. Thirty-six rabbits were divided into a control group (n = 16) and a chemical burn group that used NaOH solution (n = 20). After lamellar dissection, the central posterior lamella was excised using a 3 mm diameter trephine, and an artificial cornea was transplanted into the lamellar pocket. After 2 weeks, the central anterior lamella was excised using a 3 mm diameter trephine to secure a clean visual axis. We examined the anterior segment of the eyes weekly for 12 weeks after transplantation. Successful subjects whose artificial corneas were maintained stably for 12 weeks were euthanized and underwent histologic examinations. Artificial corneas remained stable for up to 12 weeks in 62.5 and 50% of rabbits in the control and chemical burn groups, respectively. Two rabbits in the chemical burn group showed the formation of a retroprosthetic membrane, and one rabbit with visual axis blockage underwent membrane removal using a Nd:YAG laser. In histologic examinations, adhesion between artificial cornea and peripheral corneal stoma was observed. In conclusion, we confirmed structural stability and biocompatibility of the C-Clear artificial cornea for up to 12 weeks after implantation in control and chemical burn groups.

As electric vehicle (EV) sales grew approximately 50% year-over-year, surpassing 3.2 million units in 2020, the “roaring era” of EV is around the corner. To meet the increasing demand for low cost and high energy density batteries, anode-free configuration, with no heavy and voluminous host material on the current collector, has been proposed and further investigated. Nevertheless, it always suffers from several nonnegligible “bottlenecks”, such as fragile solid electrolyte interface, deteriorated cycling reversibility, and uncontrolled dendrite formation. Inspired by the “compensatory effect” of some disabled people with other specific functions strengthened to make up for their inconvenience, corresponding quasi-compensatory measures after anode removal, involving dimensional compensation, SEI robustness compensation, lithiophilicity compensation, and lithium source compensation, have been carried out and achieved significant battery performance enhancement. In this review, the chemistry, challenges, and rationally designed “quasi-compensatory effect” associated with anode-free lithium-ion battery are systematically discussed with several possible R&D directions that may aid, direct, or facilitate future research on lithium storage in anode-free configuration essentially emphasized.

Shot peening is a surface treatment process that improves the fatigue life of a material and suppresses cracks by generating residual stress on the surface. The injected small shots create a compressive residual stress layer on the material’s surface. Maximum compressive residual stress occurs at a certain depth, and tensile residual stress gradually occurs as the depth increases. This process is primarily used for nickel-based superalloy steel materials in certain environments, such as the aerospace industry and nuclear power fields. To prevent such a severe accident due to the high-temperature and high-pressure environment, evaluating the residual stress of shot-peened materials is essential in evaluating the soundness of the material. Representative methods for evaluating residual stress include perforation strain gauge analysis, X-ray diffraction (XRD), and ultrasonic testing. Among them, ultrasonic testing is a representative, non-destructive evaluation method, and residual stress can be estimated using a Rayleigh wave. Therefore, in this study, the maximum compressive residual stress value of the peened Inconel 718 specimen was predicted using a prediction convolutional neural network (CNN) based on the relationship between Rayleigh wave dispersion and stress distribution on the specimen. By analyzing the residual stress distribution in the depth direction generated in the model from various studies in the literature, 173 residual stress distributions were generated using the Gaussian function and factorial design approach. The distribution generated using the relationship was converted into 173 Rayleigh wave dispersion data to be used as a database for the CNN model. The CNN model was learned through this database, and performance was verified using validation data. The adopted Rayleigh wave dispersion and convolutional neural network procedures demonstrate the ability to predict the maximum compressive residual stress in the peened specimen.

In osteoarthritis (OA), the articular cartilage covering the articular surface of the bone wears out, exposing the subchondral bone, and the synovial membrane surrounding the joint becomes inflamed, causing pain and deformity. OA causes pain, stiffness, and swelling, and discomfort in the knee when climbing stairs is a typical symptom. Although drug development studies are conducted to treat these inflammatory joint diseases, it is difficult to find conclusive research results which could reduce inflammation and slow cartilage tear. The development of drugs to relieve inflammatory pain often utilizes inflammatory triggers. Interleukins, one of the proteins in the limelight as pro-inflammatory factors, are immune-system-stimulating factors that promote the body’s fight against harmful factors such as bacteria. In this study, inflammation was induced in Chondrocytes cells (Chon-001 cells) with IL-1β and then treated with integrin αvβ3 to show anti-inflammatory and chondrogenesis effects. Integrin αvβ3 was not toxic to Chon-001 cells in any concentration groups treated with or without IL-1β. COX-2 and iNOS, which are major markers of inflammation, were significantly reduced by integrin αvβ3 treatment. Expressions of p-ERK, p-JNK, and p-p38 corresponding to the MAPKs signaling pathway and p-IκBα and p-p65 corresponding to the NF-κB signaling pathway were also decreased in a dose-dependent manner upon integrin αvβ3 treatment, indicating that inflammation was inhibited, whereas treatment with integrin αvβ3 significantly increased the expression of ALP, RUNX2, BMP2, BMP4, Aggrecan, SOX9, and COL2A1, suggesting that osteogenesis and chondrogenesis were induced. These results suggest that integrin αvβ3 in-duces an anti-inflammatory effect, osteogenesis, and chondrogenesis on IL-1β-induced Chon-001 cells.

With the emergence of coronavirus disease 2019, individuals have been participating in online exercises to maintain their health while avoiding infection. Among these online exercises, Pilates intervention is a popular modality. This study aimed to examine the differences between online and face-to-face Pilates interventions in terms of various physiological parameters and included 30 middle-aged individuals (age 43.3 ± 5.5 years) with obesity. These individuals were randomly divided into a face-to-face Pilates group (FPG), an online Pilates group (OPG), and a control group (CG). The FPG and OPG performed a 60-min mat Pilates program with a Borg scale of 11–17, three times a week for 12 weeks. The participants in the CG maintained their daily routines. Body composition, mechanical muscle properties, cardiometabolic parameters, mental health, and physical fitness were assessed before and after 12 weeks of intervention. No significant differences in body composition or cardiometabolic parameters were observed between groups. However, the FPG and OPG showed greater improvements than the CG in terms of muscle mechanical properties, cardiometabolic parameters, mental health, and physical fitness. In addition, the FPG showed greater improvement than the OPG. In conclusion, face-to-face Pilates is a more effective modality than online Pilates, although both modalities improve health-related parameters.

Issues of fairness and consistency in Taekwondo poomsae evaluation have often occurred due to the lack of an objective evaluation method. This study proposes a three-dimensional (3D) convolutional neural network–based action recognition model for an objective evaluation of Taekwondo poomsae. The model exhibits robust recognition performance regardless of variations in the viewpoints by reducing the discrepancy between the training and test images. It uses 3D skeletons of poomsae unit actions collected using a full-body motion-capture suit to generate synthesized two-dimensional (2D) skeletons from desired viewpoints. The 2D skeletons obtained from diverse viewpoints form the training dataset, on which the model is trained to ensure consistent recognition performance regardless of the viewpoint. The performance of the model was evaluated against various test datasets, including projected 2D skeletons and RGB images captured from diverse viewpoints. Comparison of the performance of the proposed model with those of previously reported action recognition models demonstrated the superiority of the proposed model, underscoring its effectiveness in recognizing and classifying Taekwondo poomsae actions.

Osteomyelitis caused by staphylococcal infection is a serious complication of orthopedic surgery. Staphylococcus pseudintermedius is the main causative agent of osteomyelitis in veterinary medicine. Methicillin-resistant S. pseudintermedius (MRSP) has been reported in companion animals, especially dogs. Multidrug-resistant S. pseudintermedius is an emerging pathogen and has acquired antibiotic resistance against various commercial antimicrobial agents. New antimicrobial compounds are urgently needed to address antibiotic resistance, and the development of novel agents has become an international research hotspot in recent decades. Antimicrobial compounds derived from probiotics, such as bacteriocins, are promising alternatives to classical antibiotics. In this study, the antibacterial activities of Ligilactobacillus animalis SWLA-1 and its concentrated cell-free supernatant (CCFS) were evaluated in vitro and in vivo. The CCFS of this bacterium showed no toxicity against osteoblast and myoblast cells in vitro, while significantly inhibiting the multidrug-resistant S. pseudintermedius KUVM1701GC strain in a newly established rat model. The CCFS significantly inhibited multidrug-resistant staphylococci both in vitro and in vivo. This suggests that CCFS derived from L. animalis SWLA-1 has potential as an alternative to classic antibiotics for staphylococcal infections in dogs.

In April 2011, the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced the results of an epidemiological investigation that an unknown cause of lung disease that occurred throughout Korea was caused by humidifier disinfectants. The unprecedented social catastrophe caused by humidifier disinfectants, a household chemical, has so far reported 1,784 deaths and 5,984 survivors in South Korea. This study was designed to investigate the multi-layer relationships between psychological symptoms and adaptive functioning in survivors of the Humidifier disinfectants in South Korea caused by chemical toxic substances. Specifically, this study aimed to explore how psychological symptoms affect actual interpersonal relationships and job adjustment with two variable sets, six internalizing and externalizing subscales, and three adaptation subscales. A total of 224 survivors recruited from a program to support humidifier disinfectant survivors by the government participated in this study. This research was approved by the Institutional Review Board of one of the Universities in South Korea. The age range of the participants was 18–73 years (M = 42.23, SD = 10.90), 37.1% (n = 83) were male, and 62.9% (n = 141) were female. The participants responded to the Adult Self-Report (ASR) of the Achenbach System of Empirically Based Assessment (ASEBA). A Canonical Correlation Analysis (CCA) generated three unique patterns in the relationships between psychological symptoms and adaptive functions. Humidifier disinfectant survivors in the first pattern were more vulnerable to psychological symptoms and showed maladaptive functioning in life. Survivors in the second pattern showed intrusive behaviors and appeared to be adaptive in relationships with friends. Finally, survivors in the third pattern showed aggressive behaviors and reported poor partner relationships while showing good relationships with friends. The practical implications of the interventions are also discussed.

Abstract Retinal organoids derived from human-induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSC) are powerful tools for studying retinal development as they model spatial and temporal differentiation of retinal cell types. Vertebrate retinal development involves a delicate and coordinated process of retinal progenitor cell (RPC) differentiation, and the mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) has been reported to play a significant role in this complex process. Herein, using hiPSC-derived retinal organoids, we identify the time-dependent role of mTORC1 in retinal development, specifically in retinal ganglion cell (RGC) differentiation and the retinal lamination process, during the early stages of retinal organoid (RO) development. mTORC1 activity in ROs was the highest at 40 days of differentiation. MHY1485-induced hyperactivation of mTORC1 during this period resulted in a significant increase in the overall size of ROs compared to the untreated controls and rapamycin-treated Ros; there was also a marked increase in proliferative activity within the inner and outer layers of ROs. Moreover, the MHY1485-treated ROs showed a significant increase in the number of ectopic RGCs in the outer layers (indicating disruption of retinal laminar structure), with robust expression of HuC/D-binding proteins in the inner layers. These results demonstrate that mTORC1 plays a critical role in the development of hiPSC-derived ROs, especially during the early stages of differentiation.

Abstract Background Asthma exacerbation threatens patient's life. Several genetic studies have been conducted to determine the risk factors for asthma exacerbation, but this information is still lacking. We aimed to determine whether genetic variants of Oxidative Stress Responsive Kinase 1 (OXSR1), a gene with functions of salt transport, immune response, and oxidative stress, are associated with exacerbation of asthma. Methods Clinical data were obtained from 1454 asthmatics and single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of OXSR1 were genotyped. Genetic associations with annual exacerbation rate were analyzed depending on smoking status. Results Eleven SNPs were selected using Asian data in the International HapMap database. The common allele of rs1384006 C > T of OXSR1 showed a significantly higher annual exacerbation rate than the rare allele in non-smoking asthmatics (CC vs. CT vs. TT: 0.43 ± 0.04 vs. 0.28 ± 0.03 vs. 0.31 ± 0.09, P = 0.004, Pcorr = 0.039). The frequent exacerbators had a significantly higher frequency of the common allele of rs1384006 C > T than did the infrequent exacerbators (74.4% vs. 55.2%, P = 0.004, Pcorr = 0.038). Conclusion The common allele of rs1384006 C > T of OXSR1 was associated with the asthma exacerbation rate and a higher risk of being a frequent exacerbator, indicating that non-smoking asthmatics who carry common alleles may be vulnerable to asthma exacerbations.

Abstract Vaccination with typhoid conjugate vaccines (TCV) is a major part of typhoid prevention. However, little is known about long-term immune persistence following vaccination with TCVs. In this phase-2, randomized double-blind trial (NCT03527355), 285 children aged 6–23 months were randomized to one of three groups: (1) the group that received a first dose of Vi polysaccharide conjugated to diphtheria-toxoid (Vi-DT) vaccine followed by an “early booster” at 24 weeks, (2) the group that which received a first dose of Vi-DT followed by a “late booster” at 96 or 110 weeks, and (3) comparator group. Safety and immunogenicity of anti-Vi IgG GMTs were assessed at weeks 0, 4, 24, 28, 60, 96, 110, and 114 since the first dose. Here, we describe persistence of immune responses at weeks 60, 96, 110, and 114 post first dose. The anti-Vi IgG seroconversion rate after 27.5 months of follow-up was 88.16% (95% CI: 79.00, 93.64) in late-booster and 94.76% (95% CI: 86.91, 97.88) in early booster Vi-DT groups (p = 0.081). Whereas anti-Vi IgG GMTs were significantly higher in the early booster group (11.95 [95% CI: 9.65, 14.81]) than prebooster GMTs in the late booster group (5.50 [95% CI: 4.44, 6.80], p

This study developed a suitable analytical method for kasugamycin residues in Achyranthes japonica using LC/MS/MS equipped with an amide column for polar substances. Extraction and cleanup processes were done at pH 4.5–5. Purification efficiency was assessed and confirmed step by step by selecting silica, hydrophilic-lipophilic balance (HLB), strong cation exchange (SCX), and double (HLB and SCX) cleanup SPE cartridges. The results indicated that silica SPE cartridge exhibited overloading tendency, while HLB SPE cartridge had low cleaning efficiency. Among SPE cartridges used, double cleanup and SCX were found sufficient with respective matrix effects of –15% and +14%, respectively. The LOD and LOQ were 0.008 ng and 0.04 mg/kg, respectively. The correlation coefficient (R2) was higher than 0.99, recovery rate ranges were 86.3–97.2%, and the RSD was below 8.8%. All methods are consistent with the Codex guidelines criteria. This study developed an appropriate LC/MS/MS analytical method for kasugamycin residue analysis in A. japonica with optimized, efficient extraction and purification conditions using a single SCX SPE cartridge, which is simple and time-efficient. In addition, the HLB and SCX SPE cartridges of the double cleanup methods were identified as primary methods that can be applied for the cleanup of other medicinal herbs.

Objectives: Laboratory-acquired infection (LAI) of SARS-CoV is well known, but MERS-CoV or SARS-CoV-2 LAI has not yet been reported. Beginning last November, COVID-19 cases increased among laboratory staff at our 2,700-bed tertiary-care hospital. A 7-day home-quarantine policy for healthcare workers when household members were confirmed with SARS-COV-2 was lifted February 28. We investigated LAI and its risk factors. Methods: From March 21 to 25, all confirmed cases of COVID-19 among 176 laboratory staff were surveyed with questionnaire to collect the following data: symptom onset and period, SARS-CoV-2 PCR–positive sample date, age, sex, infection in household members, close contact with COVID-19 confirmed staff, work type, work unit, possibility of LAI and LAI risk factors. Results: In total, 54 laboratory staff (30.1%) were confirmed with SARS-CoV-2 infection; first 1 person on November 28 and 1 person on November 30, 2021, then 13 in February 2022 and 39 later in 2022. Overall, 22 cases had previously infected household members, and 9 cases suspected that they had had hospital contact with an infected patients through phlebotomy or bedside tests. In total, 25 cases of possible LAI mainly occurred in clusters of 3, 6, or 7 people through person-to-person transmission of a coworker who had an infected family member. The remaining 9 cases, including 1 sample receptionist, 2 urine analysis technicians, and 6 SARS-CoV-2 PCR test staff, may have been infected through an infected sample. However, person-to-person transmission was still possible because most shared a changing room and lounge in the same work unit. Conclusions: The most important cause of LAI is person-to-person transmission between coworkers; therefore, home quarantine is an effective measure to prevent LAI when a household member is infected wish SARS-CoV-2. Handling of infected specimens may be the second most common cause of LAI.

This study investigated the relationship between moderate-to-late preterm (MLPT) birth and the risk of neurodevelopmental impairments (NIs) in young children compared with the risks associated with very preterm (VPT) and full-term (FT) birth based on nationally representative large-scale population data. Retrospective follow-up was conducted over 71 months for 738,733 children who were born and participated in the Korean National Health Screening Program for Infants and Children (NHSPIC) between 2011 and 2013. Using a data linkage between the NHSPIC and Korean healthcare claim information, data on birth year, sex, delivery type, birth weight, growth abnormality, gestational age, breastfeeding history, maternal age, NIs, multiple gestation, preterm labor, premature rupture of membranes (PROM), gestational diabetes, gestational hypertension, smoking during pregnancy, and socioeconomic status were collected and included in the final analysis. Cox proportional hazards models were applied to identify the impact of gestational age on NI risk, with all variables adjusted as appropriate. Overall, 0.9% and 3.8% rates of VPT and MLPT births were identified, respectively. NI incidence was highest among VPT children (34.7%), followed by MLPT (23.9%) and FT (18.2%) children. Both VPT (hazard ratio [HR], 1.45; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.03 to 2.05) and MLPT (HR, 1.21; 95% CI, 1.04 to 1.41) births were associated with increased NI risk. Low birth weight, PROM, and smoking during pregnancy were also associated with increased NI risk, while longer breastfeeding and higher socioeconomic status were associated with decreased risk. Special attention must be given to NIs for both VPT and MLPT children.

An 11-year-old intact female mixed breed dog was presented with abdominal distention and elevated hepatic enzyme levels. Computed tomography revealed a multicystic hepatic mass at the left medial lobe adjacent to the diaphragm and caudal vena cava. The mass was surgically removed with partial hepatectomy, but it could not be removed completely because of adhesion to the diaphragm. The tissue was submitted for histopathologic evaluation, and the patient was diagnosed with stage IIIA combined hepatocellular-cholangiocarcinoma (cHCC-CC). Considering the residual tumor tissue from incomplete surgical excision, adjuvant chemotherapy was recommended. Tumor tissue obtained from the patient was assessed using an anticancer drug response prediction test, and the results showed that toceranib phosphate was the most effective chemotherapeutic agent for this patient. Toceranib was initiated (3.1 mg/kg, PO, q48 h), and routine adverse effect assessment, including systemic blood pressure measurement, complete blood count, serum biochemical evaluations, and urinalysis were performed at two-week intervals for the first 2 months and every 2 months thereafter. Radiography and ultrasonography were conducted at one-month intervals for the first two months and then every 2 months subsequently. Concurrent hyperadrenocorticism was managed with trilostane (1 to 5 mg/kg, PO, q12h). The patient showed no critical adverse effects of chemotherapy, obvious recurrence, or metastasis. The response to toceranib was assessed as a partial response, and the patient is still alive over 23 months after tumor excision. This is the first case report describing chemotherapy for a dog with cHCC-CC.

AIM: To characterize the anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic effects of N-acetylcysteine (NAC) in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rat corneal epithelium and human corneal epithelial cells (HCECs) exposed to a high-glucose environment. METHODS: HCECs were incubated in 0, 5, 50 mmol/L glucose medium, or 50 mmol/L glucose medium with NAC for 24h. Diabetes was induced in rats by intraperitoneal injection of 65 mg/kg STZ and some of these rats were topically administered NAC to corneas with 3 mice per group. We characterized receptor for advanced glycation end-products (RAGE) expression using immunofluorescence, and interleukin (IL)-1β and cleaved caspase-3 (CCAP-3) expression using immunohistochemistry. Circulating tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α concentration was measured by ELISA and cleaved poly-ADP ribose polymerase (PARP) concentration was quantified by Western blotting. Apoptotic cells were detected using TUNEL assay and annexin V and propidium iodide staining. RESULTS: Diabetic rats had higher expression of RAGE (2.46±0.13 fold), IL-1β, and CCAP-3 in apoptotic cells of their corneas than control rats. The expression of RAGE (1.83±0.11 fold), IL-1β, and CCAP-3, and the number of apoptotic cells, were reduced by topical NAC treatment. HCECs incubated in 50 mmol/L glucose medium showed high concentrations of TNF-α (310±2.00 pg/mL) and cleaved PARP (7.43±0.56 fold), and more extensive apoptosis than cells in 50 mmol/L glucose medium. However, the addition of NAC reduced the concentrations of TNF-α (153.67±2.31 pg/mL) and cleaved PARP (5.55±0.31 fold) and the number of apoptotic cells. CONCLUSION: NAC inhibits inflammation and apoptosis in the corneas of diabetic rats and HCECs maintained in a high-glucose environment.

Abstract Bacterial keratitis (BK), a painful and fulminant bacterial infection of the cornea, is the most common type of vision-threatening infectious keratitis (IK). A rapid clinical diagnosis by an ophthalmologist may often help prevent BK patients from progression to corneal melting or even perforation, but many rural areas cannot afford an ophthalmologist. Thanks to the rapid development of deep learning (DL) algorithms, artificial intelligence via image could provide an immediate screening and recommendation for patients with red and painful eyes. Therefore, this study aims to elucidate the potentials of different DL algorithms for diagnosing BK via external eye photos. External eye photos of clinically suspected IK were consecutively collected from five referral centers. The candidate DL frameworks, including ResNet50, ResNeXt50, DenseNet121, SE-ResNet50, EfficientNets B0, B1, B2, and B3, were trained to recognize BK from the photo toward the target with the greatest area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC). Via five-cross validation, EfficientNet B3 showed the most excellent average AUROC, in which the average percentage of sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value was 74, 64, 77, and 61. There was no statistical difference in diagnostic accuracy and AUROC between any two of these DL frameworks. The diagnostic accuracy of these models (ranged from 69 to 72%) is comparable to that of the ophthalmologist (66% to 74%). Therefore, all these models are promising tools for diagnosing BK in first-line medical care units without ophthalmologists.

Background We analyzed hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) levels and various lung function test results in healthy individuals after a 6-year follow-up period to explore the influence of lung function changes on glycemic control. Methods Subjects whose HbA1c levels did not qualify as diabetes mellitus (DM) and who had at least two consecutive lung function tests were selected among the people who visited a health promotion center. Lung function parameters, including forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1), forced vital capacity (FVC), FEV/FVC ratio, and forced expiratory flow 25% to 75% (FEF25%−75%), were divided into four groups based on their baseline quantiles. To evaluate future DM onset risk in relation to lung function changes, the correlation between baseline HbA1c levels and changes in lung function parameters after a 6-year follow-up period was analyzed. Results Overall, 17,568 individuals were included; 0.9% of the subjects were diagnosed with DM. The individuals included in the quartile with FEV1/FVC ratio values of 78% to 82% had lower risk of DM than those in the quartile with FEV1/FVC ratio values of ≥86% after adjusting for age, sex, and body mass index (P=0.04). Baseline percent predicted FEV1, FVC, FEV1/FVC ratio, and FEF25%−75%, and differences in the FEV1/FVC ratio or FEF25%−75%, showed negative linear correlations with baseline HbA1c levels. Conclusion Healthy subjects with FEV1/FVC ratio values between 78% and 82% had 40% lower risk for future DM. Smaller differences and lower baseline FEV1/FVC ratio or FEF25%−75% values were associated with higher baseline HbA1c levels. These findings suggest that airflow limitation affects systemic glucose control and that the FEV1/FVC ratio could be one of the factors predicting future DM risk in healthy individuals.

Abstract We aimed to compare refractive outcomes between total keratometry using a swept-source optical biometer and conventional keratometry in cataract surgery with refractive multifocal intraocular lens (IOL) implantation. We included patients who underwent cataract surgery with refractive multifocal IOL implantation. The IOL power was calculated using conventional formulas (Haigis, SRK/T, Holladay 2, and Barrett Universal II) as well as a new formula (Barrett TK Universal II). The refractive mean error, mean absolute error, and median absolute error were compared, as were the proportions of eyes within ± 0.25 diopters (D), ± 0.50 D, and ± 1.00 D of prediction error. In total 543 eyes of 543 patients, the absolute prediction error of total keratometry was significantly higher than that of conventional keratometry using the SRK/T (P = 0.034) and Barrett Universal II (P = 0.003). The proportion of eyes within ± 0.50 D of the prediction error using the SRK/T and Barrett Universal II was also significantly higher when using conventional keratometry than total keratometry (P = 0.010 for SRK/T and P = 0.005 for Barrett Universal II). Prediction accuracy of conventional keratometry was higher than that of total keratometry in cataract surgery with refractive multifocal IOL implantation.

IMO stability regulations include various stability parameters such as GM values. To assess the stability of the ships, we should check all stability parameters of the IMO requirements. However, since this process is complex, a more convenient way to evaluate stability performance is required. In this research, the index for marine ship intact stability assessment (IMSISA) model was developed to solve these problems. The IMSISA model consists of a stability index calculation module and a stability assessment module. In the stability index calculation module, ten stability parameters, including GM, were used to develop the stability index, which has the advantage of being able to quantify the ship stability. The stability assessment module uses the stability index value to determine the stability status of the ship and provides the captain with stability management guidelines. To verify the proposed model, the basic stability calculations were performed for two model ships in 32 loading situations. The proposed model was found to provide better performance in the stability assessment than the previous study. By applying the IMSISA model to the ships, the captain can assess the ship stability more quantitatively and efficiently.

Background: Ginsenosides have beneficial effects on several airway inflammatory disorders primarily through glucocorticosteroid-like anti-inflammatory activity. Among inflammatory cells, eosinophils play a major pathogenic role in conferring a risk of severe refractory diseases including chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS). However, the role of ginsenosides in reducing eosinophilic inflammation and CRS pathogenesis is unexplored. Methods: We investigated the therapeutic efficacy and underlying mechanism of ginsenoside F1 (G-F1) in comparison with those of dexamethasone, a representative glucocorticosteroid, in a murine model of CRS. The effects of G-F1 or dexamethasone on sinonasal abnormalities and infiltration of eosinophils and mast cells were evaluated by histological analyses. The changes in inflammatory cytokine levels in sinonasal tissues, macrophages, and NK cells were assessed by qPCR, ELISA, and immunohistochemistry. Results: We found that G-F1 significantly attenuated eosinophilic inflammation, mast cell infiltration, epithelial hyperplasia, and mucosal thickening in the sinonasal mucosa of CRS mice. Moreover, G-F1 reduced the expression of IL-4 and IL-13, as well as hematopoietic prostaglandin D synthase required for prostaglandin D2 production. This therapeutic efficacy was associated with increased NK cell function, without suppression of macrophage inflammatory responses. In comparison, dexamethasone potently suppressed macrophage activation. NK cell depletion nullified the therapeutic effects of G-F1, but not dexamethasone, in CRS mice, supporting a causal link between G-F1 and NK cell activity. Conclusion: Our results suggest that potentiating NK cell activity, for example with G-F1, is a promising strategy for resolving eosinophilic inflammation in CRS.

Abstract Fibroblast growth factor receptors (FGFRs) generate various transduction signals by interaction with fibroblast growth factors (FGFs) and are involved in various biological functions such as cell proliferation, migration, and differentiation. Malfunction of these proteins may lead to the development of various diseases, including cancer. Accordingly, FGFRs are considered an alternative therapeutic target for protein and/or gene therapy. However, the screening of antagonists or agonists of FGFRs is challenging due to their complex structural features associated with protein expression. Herein, we conducted the development of a protease-free cleavable tag (PFCT) for enhancing the solubility of difficult-to express protein by combining maltose-binding protein (MBP) and the C-terminal region of Npu intein. To validate the availability of the resulting tag for the functional production of extracellular domains of FGFRs (Ec_FGFRs), we performed fusion of PFCT with the N-terminus of Ec_FGFRs and analyzed the expression patterns. Almost all PFCT-Ec_FGFR fusion proteins were mainly detected in the soluble fraction except for Ec_FGFR4. Upon addition of the N-terminal region of Npu intein, approximately 85% of the PFCT-Ec_FGFRs was separated into PFCT and Ec_FGFR via intein-mediated cleavage. Additionally, the structural integrity of Ec_FGFR was confirmed by affinity purification using heparin column. Taken together, our study demonstrated that the PFCT could be used for soluble expression and selective separation of Ec_FGFRs.

Abstract We explicitly compute the component action of certain recently discovered new N $$ \mathcal{N} $$ = 1 supergravity actions which enlarge the space of scalar potentials allowed by supersymmetry and also contain fermionic interaction terms that become singular when supersymmetry is unbroken. They are the “Liberated Supergravity” introduced by Farakos, Kehagias and Riotto, and supergravities with a new Kähler-invariant Fayet-Iliopoulos term proposed by Antoniadis, Chatrabhuti, Isono, and Knoops. This paper is complementary to our previous papers [Phys. Rev. D 103 (2021) 025008 and 105006], in which new constraints on the coupling constants of those new theories were found. In this paper we spell out many details that were left out of our previous papers.

Objectives Fibro-osseous lesions of the paranasal sinuses can present various clinical manifestations. This study aimed to report the long-term clinical course of benign fibro-osseous lesions (BFOLs) in the paranasal sinuses, including clinical and radiologic features. Methods Radiologically confirmed BFOLs between 1994 and 2016, with the exclusion of osteoma cases, were retrospectively reviewed. We compared demographic characteristics between the surgery and observation groups. The reasons for the imaging study, radiographic features, histopathology, and clinical course based on serial image scans were analyzed. Results In total, 183 subjects were selected from a thorough review of head and neck radiologic tests (n=606,068) at a tertiary referral hospital over 22 years. Patients’ mean age was 28.6±18.1 years, and 56.3% were males. A diagnostic imaging workup was performed in 55.7% of patients due to facial asymmetry, headache, skull mass, or other symptoms related to BFOLs. In other patients (37.7%), BFOLs were found incidentally on computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging. The most common diagnosis was fibrous dysplasia, followed by ossifying fibroma, based on both radiologic exams and histopathologic results. In total, 42.6% of the patients underwent surgery because of subjective symptoms or esthetic concerns. The patients who underwent surgery were younger (P

Abstract Direct energy deposition (DED) is a newly developed 3D metal printing technique that can be utilized on a porous surface coating of joint implants, however there is still a lack of studies on what advantages DED has over conventional techniques. We conducted a systematic mechanical and biological comparative study of porous coatings prepared using the DED method and other commercially available technologies including titanium plasma spray (TPS), and powder bed fusion (PBF). DED showed higher porosity surface (48.54%) than TPS (21.4%) and PBF (35.91%) with comparable fatigue cycle. At initial cell adhesion, cells on DED and PBF surface appeared to spread well with distinct actin stress fibers through immunofluorescence study. It means that the osteoblasts bind more strongly to the DED and PBF surface. Also, DED surface showed higher cell proliferation (1.27 times higher than TPS and PBF) and osteoblast cell activity (1.28 times higher than PBF) for 2 weeks culture in vitro test. In addition, DED surface showed better bone to implant contact and new bone formation than TPS in in vivo study. DED surface also showed consistently good osseointegration performance throughout the early and late period of osseointegration. Collectively, these results show that the DED coating method is an innovative technology that can be utilized to make cementless joint implants.

Objectives Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is an increasingly prevalent metabolic disease. Muscle is known to influence NAFLD development. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the relationships among low muscle mass, NAFLD, and hepatic fibrosis using various definitions of low muscle mass and NAFLD diagnostic methods, including magnetic resonance imaging-based proton density fat fraction (MRI-PDFF). Methods This cross-sectional study included 320 participants (107 males, 213 females) from the Korean Genome and Epidemiology Study on Atherosclerosis Risk of Rural Areas in the Korean General Population cohort. Muscle mass was assessed using whole-body dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry and adjusted for the height squared, body weight, and body mass index (BMI). NAFLD was diagnosed using ultrasonography (US), MRI-PDFF, and the comprehensive NAFLD score (CNS). Hepatic fibrosis was assessed using magnetic resonance elastography. Multivariable logistic and linear regression analyses were performed to determine the aforementioned associations. Results According to US, 183 participants (57.2%) had NAFLD. Muscle mass adjusted for body weight was associated with NAFLD diagnosed using US (odds ratio [OR], 3.00; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.70 to 5.31), MRI-PDFF (OR, 2.00; 95% CI, 1.13 to 3.53), and CNS (OR, 3.39; 95% CI, 1.73 to 6.65) and hepatic fibrosis (males: β=-0.070, p

Background Chromogranin A (CgA) levels have been reported to predict mortality in patients with heart failure. However, information on the prognostic value and clinical availability of CgA is limited. We compared the prognostic value of CgA to that of previously proven natriuretic peptide biomarkers in patients with acute heart failure. Methods We retrospectively evaluated 272 patients (mean age, 68.5±15.6 years; 62.9% male) who underwent CgA test in the acute stage of heart failure hospitalization between June 2017 and June 2018. The median follow-up period was 348 days. Prognosis was assessed using the composite events of 1-year death and heart failure hospitalization. Results In-hospital mortality rate during index admission was 7.0% (n=19). During the 1-year follow-up, a composite event rate was observed in 12.1% (n=33) of the patients. The areas under the receiver-operating characteristic curves for predicting 1-year adverse events were 0.737 and 0.697 for N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) and CgA, respectively. During follow-up, patients with high CgA levels (>158 pmol/L) had worse outcomes than those with low CgA levels (≤158 pmol/L) (85.2% vs. 58.6%, p

Abstract Aims/Introduction Increased blood glucose or increased weight is often observed in patients who are prescribed sodium–glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2i). The aim of this study was to determine in advance which patients, among those prescribed a SGLT2i, would be likely to have improved or worsened blood glucose levels and gain or loss of weight through the use of real‐world data‐based prescriptions. Materials and Methods After 3 months of dapagliflozin prescription, patients were divided into four groups: H(+)W(+) for improved glucose and weight loss; H(+)W(−) for improved blood glucose and weight gain; H(−)W(+) for worsened glucose and weight loss; and H(−)W(−) for worsened glucose and weight gain. Results The proportion of patients in the H(+)W(+) group was 53.5% (325/608 patients), H(+)W(−) was 19.7% (120/608), H(−)W(+) was 26.8% (114/608) and H(−)W(−) was 8.1% (49/608). The odds of proceeding to H(+)W(−) compared with H(+)W(+), which served as the reference, were 144% in baseline hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) 7.0–8.0%, 233% in baseline HbA1c 8.0–9.0% and 359% in baseline HbA1c ≥ 9.0% (odds ratio 3.59, P

In this study, the wet method was used to manufacture the short-carbon fibers (CFs) and polyethylene-based non-woven fabric for joule heating applications. The heating performance of the fabric was investigated according to the combination ratio of short CFs and polyethylene fibers (PFs). The effect of operating conditions such as the periodic switch-on and switch-off of the applied voltage, the voltage applied continuously for a long-time, and multiple mechanical bending-release cycles applied to the sample were studied. The non-woven fabric with an equal amount (in weight) of CFs and PFs was found to have the best performance. The non-woven fabric provided fast heating and fast cooling with an average temperature of about 55 °C which was attained in just 9 s for the applied voltage of 3 V. This indicated that lower power was required to achieve good temperature for heating applications with the developed non-woven fabric.

Combining laser technology with robotic precision and accuracy promises to introduce significant advances in minimally invasive surgical interventions. Lasers have already become a widespread tool in numerous surgical applications. They are proposed as a replacement for traditional tools (i.e., scalpels and electrocautery devices) to minimize surgical trauma, decrease healing times, and reduce the risk of postoperative complications. Compared to other energy sources, laser energy is wavelength‐dependent, allowing for preferential energy absorption in specific tissue types. This potentially leads to minimizing damage to healthy tissue and increasing surgical outcomes control and quality. Merging robotic control with laser techniques can help physicians achieve more accurate laser aiming and pave the way to automatic control of laser–tissue interactions in closed loop. Herein, a review of the state‐of‐the‐art robotic systems for laser surgery is presented. The goals of this paper are to present recent contributions in advanced intelligent systems for robot‐assisted laser surgery, provide readers with a better understanding of laser optics and the physics of laser–tissue interactions, discuss clinical applications of lasers in surgery, and provide guidance for future systems design.

OBJECTIVES After the third wave of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), by mid-February 2021, approximately 0.16% of the Korean population was confirmed positive, which appeared to be among the lowest rates worldwide at that time. However, asymptomatic transmission is challenging for COVID-19 surveillance. Therefore, a community-based serosurvey of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection was conducted to understand the effectiveness of Korea’s strong containment strategy. METHODS We collected 5,002 residual sera samples from January 30 to March 3, 2021, from 265 medical facilities in Seoul, 346 in Gyeonggi Province, and 57 in Incheon. Sixty samples from tertiary institutions were excluded. We defined the sub-regions according to the addresses of the medical facilities where the specimens were collected. Elecsys Anti-SARS-CoV-2 was used for screening, and positivity was confirmed using the SARS-CoV-2 sVNT Kit. Prevalence was estimated using sampling weights and the Wilson score interval for a binomial proportion with a 95% confidence interval. RESULTS Among the 4,942 specimens, 32 and 25 tested positive for COVID-19 in the screening and confirmatory tests, respectively. The overall crude prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies was 0.51%. The population-adjusted overall prevalence was 0.55% in women and 0.38% in men. The region-specific estimation was 0.67% and 0.30% in Gyeonggi Province and Seoul, respectively. No positive cases were detected in Incheon. CONCLUSIONS The proportion of undetected cases in Korea remained low as of early 2021. Therefore, an infection control strategy with exhaustive tracing and widespread pre-emptive testing appears to be effective in containing community spread of COVID-19.

Summary: Background: Vaccination has helped to mitigate the COVID-19 pandemic. Ten traditional and novel vaccines have been listed by the World Health Organization for emergency use. Additional alternative approaches may better address ongoing vaccination globally, where there remains an inequity in vaccine distribution. GBP510 is a recombinant protein vaccine, which consists of self-assembling, two-component nanoparticles, displaying the receptor-binding domain (RBD) in a highly immunogenic array. Methods: This randomised, placebo-controlled, observer-blinded phase 1/2 study was conducted to evaluate the safety and immunogenicity of GBP510 (2-doses at a 28-day interval) adjuvanted with or without AS03 in adults aged 19–85 years at 14 hospital sites in Korea. This study was consisted of two stages (stage I, healthy adults aged 19–55 years; stage II, 240 healthy adults aged 19–85 years). Healthy participants who did not previously receive any vaccine within 4 weeks (2 weeks for flu vaccine) prior to the study, no history of COVID-19 vaccination/medication, and were naïve to SARS-CoV-2 infection at screening were eligible for the study enrollment. Participants were block-randomized in a 2:2:1 ratio to receive 2 doses of 10 µg GBP510 adjuvanted with AS03 (group 1), 10 µg unadjuvanted GBP510 (group 2) or placebo intramuscularly in stage I, while they were block-randomized in a 2:2:1:1 ratio to receive 10 µg GBP510 adjuvanted with AS03 (group 1), 25 µg GBP510 adjuvanted with AS03 (group 3), 25 µg unadjuvanted GBP510 (group 4) or placebo in stage II. The primary safety outcomes were solicited and unsolicited adverse events, while primary immunogenicity outcomes included anti-SARS-CoV-2 RBD IgG antibodies; neutralizing antibody responses; and T-cell immune responses. Safety assessment included all participants who received at least 1 dose of study intervention (safety set). Immunogenicity assessment included all participants who completed the vaccination schedule and had valid immunogenicity assessment results without any major protocol deviations (per-protocol set). This study was registered with ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT04750343). Findings: Of 328 participants who were enrolled between February 1 and May 28, 2021, 327 participants received at least 1 dose of vaccine. Each received either 10 µg GBP510 adjuvanted with AS03 (Group 1, n = 101), 10 µg unadjuvanted GBP510 (Group 2, n = 10), 25 µg GBP510 adjuvanted with AS03 (Group 3, n = 104), 25 µg unadjuvanted GBP510 (Group 4, n = 51), or placebo (n = 61). Higher reactogenicity was observed in the GBP510 adjuvanted with AS03 groups compared to the non-adjuvanted and placebo groups. The most frequently reported solicited local adverse event (AE) was injection site pain after any vaccination: (88·1% in group 1; 50·0% in group 2; 92·3% in group 3; 66·7% in group 4). Fatigue and myalgia were two most frequently reported systemic AEs and more frequently reported in GBP510 adjuvanted with AS03 recipients (79·2% and 78·2% in group 1; 75·0% and 79·8% in group 3, respectively) than in the unadjuvanted vaccine recipients (40·0% and of 40·0% in group 2; 60·8% and 47·1% in group 4) after any vaccination. Reactogenicity was higher post-dose 2 compared to post-dose 1, particularly for systemic AEs. The geometric mean concentrations of anti-SARS-CoV-2-RBD IgG antibody reached 2163·6/2599·2 BAU/mL in GBP510 adjuvanted with AS03 recipients (10 µg/25 µg) by 14 days after the second dose. Two-dose vaccination of 10 µg or 25 µg GBP510 adjuvanted with AS03 induced high titres of neutralizing antibody via pseudovirus (1369·0/1431·5 IU/mL) and wild-type virus (949·8/861·0 IU/mL) assay. Interpretation: GBP510 adjuvanted with AS03 was well tolerated and highly immunogenic. These results support further development of the vaccine candidate, which is currently being evaluated in Phase 3. Funding: This work was supported, in whole or in part, by funding from CEPI and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Investment ID OPP1148601. The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation supported this project for the generation of IND-enabling data and CEPI supported this clinical study.

Social anxiety disorder (SAD) is a mental disorder characterized by excessive anxiety in social situations. This study aimed to examine the alteration of resting-state functional connectivity in SAD patients related to the virtual reality-based self-training (VRS) which enables exposure to social situations in a controlled environment. Fifty-two SAD patients were randomly assigned to the experimental group who received the VRS, or the control group who did not. Self-report questionnaires and resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) were performed to assess clinical symptoms and analyze the resting-state network properties, respectively. Significant decrease in social anxiety and an increase in self-esteem was found in the experimental group. From the resting-state fMRI analysis, alteration of local network properties in the left dorsolateral prefrontal gyrus (-10.0%, p = 0.025), left inferior frontal gyrus (-32.3%, p = 0.044), left insula (-17.2%, p = 0.046), left Heschl's gyrus (-21.2%, p = 0.011), bilateral inferior temporal gyrus (right: +122.6%, p = 0.045; left:−46.7%, p = 0.015), and right calcarine sulcus (+17.0%, p = 0.010) were found in the experimental group. Average shortest path length (+8.3%, p = 0.008) and network efficiency (-7.6%, p = 0.011) are found to be altered from the global network property analysis. In addition, the experimental group displayed more positive and more negative changes in the correlation trend of average shortest path length (p = 0.004) and global network efficiency (p = 0.014) with the severity of social anxiety, respectively. These results suggest potential effectiveness of the VRS, which is possibly related to the change of aberrant processing and control of visual and auditory linguistic stimuli and the adaptive change in rumination pattern.

Background Natural polymer scaffolds used to promote rotator cuff healing have limitations in terms of their mechanical and biochemical properties. This animal study aimed to investigate the effects of combined graphene oxide (GO) and alginate scaffold and the toxicity of GO on rotator cuff healing in a rat model. Methods First, the mechanical properties of a GO/alginate scaffold and a pure alginate scaffold were compared. The in vitro cytotoxicity of and proliferation of human tenocytes with the GO/alginate scaffold were evaluated by CCK-8 assay. For the in vivo experiment, 20 male rats were randomly divided into two groups ( n = 10 each), and supraspinatus repair was performed: group 1 underwent supraspinatus repair alone, and group 2 underwent supraspinatus repair with the GO/alginate scaffold. Biomechanical and histological analyses were performed to evaluate the quality of tendon-to-bone healing 8 weeks after rotator cuff repair. Results The GO/alginate scaffold exhibited an increased maximum load ( p = .001 ) and tensile strength ( p = .001 ). In the cytotoxicity test, the cell survival rate with the GO/alginate scaffold was 102.08%. The proliferation rate of human tenocytes was no significant difference between the GO/alginate and alginate groups for 1, 3, 5, and 7 days. Biomechanically, group 2 exhibited a significantly greater ultimate failure load ( p < .001 ), ultimate stress ( p < .001 ), and stiffness ( p < .001 ) than group 1. The histological analysis revealed that the tendon-to-bone interface in group 2 showed more collagen fibers bridging, tendon-to-bone integration, longitudinally oriented collagen fibers, and fibrocartilage formation than in group 1. Conclusion A small amount of GO added to alginate improved the mechanical properties of the scaffold without evidence of cytotoxicity. At 8 weeks after rotator cuff repair, the GO/alginate scaffold improved tendon-to-bone healing without causing any signs of toxicity in a rat model.

BackgroundDelirium is characterized by acute brain dysfunction. Although delirium significantly affects the quality of life of patients with brain metastases, little is known about delirium in patients who undergo craniotomy for brain metastases. This study aimed to identify the factors influencing the occurrence of delirium following craniotomy for brain metastases and determine its impact on patient prognosis.MethodA total of 153 patients who underwent craniotomy for brain metastases between March 2013 and December 2020 were evaluated for clinical and radiological factors related to the occurrence of delirium. Statistical analysis was conducted by dividing the patients into two groups based on the presence of delirium, and statistical significance was confirmed by adjusting the clinical characteristics of the patients with brain metastases using propensity score matching (PSM). The effect of delirium on patient survival was subsequently evaluated using Kaplan–Meier analysis.ResultsOf 153 patients, 14 (9.2%) had delirium. Age (P = 0.002), sex (P = 0.007), and presence of postoperative hematoma (P = 0.001) were significantly different between the delirium and non-delirium groups. When the matched patients (14 patients in each group) were compared using PSM, postoperative hematoma showed a statistically significant difference (P = 0.036) between the delirium and non-delirium groups. Kaplan–Meier survival analysis revealed that the delirium group had poorer prognosis (log-rank score of 0.0032) than the non-delirium group.ConclusionIn addition to the previously identified factors, postoperative hematoma was identified as a strong predictor of postoperative delirium. Also, the negative impact of delirium on patient prognosis including low survival rate was confirmed.

BackgroundSimple and effective risk models incorporating biomarkers associated with left main coronary artery (LMCA) stenosis are limited. This study aimed to validate the novel Bio-Clinical SYNTAX score (Bio-CSS) incorporating N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) in patients with LMCA stenosis.MethodsPatients who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for LMCA stenosis using a drug-eluting stent (n = 275) were included in the study. We developed the Bio-CSS incorporating NT-proBNP and validated the ability of the Bio-CSS to predict major adverse cardiac events (MACEs) and compared its performance to that of the SYNTAX score (SS) and SS II. The MACEs were defined as death, non-fatal myocardial infarction (MI), and repeat revascularizations.ResultsThe Bio-CSS (34.7 ± 18.3 vs. 51.9 ± 28.4, p < 0.001), as well as SS (23.6 ± 7.3 vs. 26.7 ± 8.1, p = 0.003) and SS II (29.4 ± 9.9 vs. 36.1 ± 12.8, p < 0.001), was significantly higher in patients with MACEs. In the Cox proportional hazards model, the log Bio-CSS (hazard ratio 8.31, 95% CI 1.84–37.55) was an independent prognostic factor for MACEs after adjusting for confounding variables. In the receiver operating characteristic curves, the area under the curve of the Bio-CSS was significantly higher compared to those of SS (0.608 vs. 0.706, p = 0.001) and SS II (0.655 vs. 0.706, p = 0.026). Patients were categorized into the three groups based on the tertiles of the Bio-CSS. Patients in the highest tertile of the Bio-CSS had significantly higher MACEs compared to those in the lower two tertiles (log-rank p < 0.001).ConclusionIn patients who underwent PCI for LMCA stenosis, the novel Bio-CSS improved the discrimination accuracy of established combined scores, such as SS and SS II. The addition of NT-proBNP to the clinical and angiographic findings in the Bio-CSS could potentially provide useful long-term prognostic information in these patients.