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Recent studies elucidate that coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) patients may face a higher risk of cardiovascular complications. This study aimed to evaluate association of COVID‐19 with the risk of pulmonary embolism (PE) or deep vein thrombosis (DVT). This nationwide population‐based retrospective cohort study included Korean adult citizens between January 2021 and March 2022 from the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency COVID‐19 National Health Insurance Service cohort. The Fine and Gray's regression with all‐cause death as a competing event was adopted to evaluate PE and DVT risks after COVID‐19. This study included a total of 1,601,835 COVID‐19 patients and 14,011,285 matched individuals without COVID‐19. The risk of PE (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR], 6.25; 95% confidence interval [CI], 3.67–10.66; p < 0.001) and DVT (aHR, 3.05; 95% CI, 1.75–5.29; p < 0.001) was higher in COVID‐19 group in individuals without complete COVID‐19 vaccination. In addition, individuals with complete COVID‐19 vaccination still had a higher risk of COVID‐19‐related PE (aHR, 1.48; 95% CI, 1.15–1.88; p < 0.001). However, COVID‐19 was not a significant risk factor for DVT among those with complete COVID‐19 vaccination. COVID‐19 was identified as an independent factor that elevated PE and DVT risks, especially for individuals without complete COVID‐19 vaccination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Accumulating evidence suggests that hearing impairment is associated with the onset of depression. However, large‐scale epidemiological studies are required to define this association more clearly. We aimed to investigate the risk of new‐onset depression in Korean older adults with and without hearing impairment. Methods: From the National Health Insurance Service‐Senior Cohort, which is a retrospective‐prospective hybrid database, we analyzed data for 254,466 older adults enrolled in the Korea National Health Insurance Service‐Senior Cohort who underwent at least one health screening between 2003 and 2019. A Cox proportional hazards regression model was used to evaluate the association between hearing impairment and the risk of incident depression, which was presented as adjusted hazard ratios (aHR) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). All participants were followed up until the date of incident depression, death, or December 31, 2019. Results: During 3,417,682 person‐years of follow‐up investigation, hearing impairment was associated with a higher risk of incident depression (vs. no hearing impairment) in the final adjusted model (aHR, 1.11; 95% CI, 1.01–1.21; p = 0.033). Stratified analyses revealed a significant interaction among age, hearing impairment, and the risk of depression. Participants aged <65 years had a higher risk of depression (aHR, 1.29; 95% CI, 1.12–1.50; p < 0.001) than those aged 65 or above (aHR, 1.15; 95% CI, 1.01–1.30; p = 0.032). Conclusions: Hearing impairment is independently associated with a higher risk of depression among older adults. The prevention and treatment of hearing impairment may aid in mitigating the risk of incident depression. Level of Evidence: Level 3 Laryngoscope, 133:3144–3151, 2023 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, analysis of sensing signal profiles was conducted focusing on the close relationship between electrical conductivity and signal intensity in surface treated poly(dimethylsiloxane)/carbon nanotube (PDMS/CNT) composite patches for the purpose of their practical application as flexible chemical sensors. The flexible PDMS/CNT composite patches were prepared from a PDMS/CNT mixture with a two-roll apparatus. It was found that the PDMS/CNT pads showed a high electrical conductivity (10−1 S/m) even at low CNT loading (0.6 wt %) and a contact angle range of 105–118°. The surface of the obtained PDMS/CNT composite patches was treated using a simple bio-conjugation method to incorporate beta-cyclodextrin (beta-CD) molecules onto the surface as a sensing medium, in order to detect a model compound (Methyl Paraben, MePRB). FT-IR spectra indicated that beta-cyclodextrin molecules were effectively introduced on the surface of the PDMS/CNT patches. It was shown that the sensor signal intensity was substantially dependent on the base current value, which increased with increasing CNT loading. Accordingly, the base current value was intimately associated with the electrical conductivity of the composite patches. On the other hand, the increase in current over the base current (ΔI/I0) obtained after the addition of the model compound was inversely proportional to the CNT content. In this way, analysis on the sensing signal profiles of the flexible chemical sensor system was conducted to determine a process window. This study is a very useful springboard for future research activities, as more profound studies are necessary to fully understand sensing signal profiles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To investigate the effect of methylsulfonylmethane (MSM), recently reported to have anti-cancer effects, in liver cancer cells and transgenic mice., Methods: Three liver cancer cell lines, HepG2, Huh7-Mock and Huh7-H-ras (G12V), were used. Cell growth was measured by Cell Counting Kit-8 and soft agar assay. Western blot analysis was used to detect caspases, poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP), and B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2) expressions. For in vivo study, we administered MSM to H-ras (12V) transgenic mice for 3 mo., Results: MSM decreased the growth of HepG2, Huh7-Mock and Huh7-H-ras (G12V) cells in a dose-dependent manner. That was correlated with significantly increased apoptosis and reduced cell numbers in MSM treated cells. Cleaved caspase-8, cleaved caspase-3 and cleaved PARP were remarkably increased in the liver cancer cells treated with 500 mmol/L of MSM; however, Bcl-2 was slightly decreased in 500 mmol/L. Liver tumor development was greatly inhibited in the H-ras (12V) transgenic mice treated with MSM, compared to control, by showing reduced tumor size and number. Cleaved PARP was significantly increased in non-tumor treated with MSM compared to control., Conclusion: Liver injury was also significantly attenuated in the mice treated with MSM. Taken together, all the results suggest that MSM has anti-cancer effects through inducing apoptosis in liver cancer.