Abstract Aim Red blood cell (RBC) deformability, the ability of RBCs to change shape under stress, is known to be decreased in type 2 diabetes (T2D). However, as yet little is known of the ...association between RBC deformability and diabetic complications in T2D. For this reason, this study has investigated the association between RBC deformability and diabetic complications. Methods In this cross-sectional study, 452 T2D patients were initially enrolled. RBC deformability was measured using a microfluidic ektacytometer and expressed as an elongation index at 3 Pa (EI@3Pa, %). Results A final total of 373 patients (mean age: 60.04 ± 11.93 years; males: 201) were included in the study. When categorized into quartiles of RBC deformability, the lower EI@3Pa groups had higher glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c ), triglycerides and prevalence of diabetic retinopathy compared with the higher quartiles ( P < 0.05 for trend). In particular, the EI@3Pa was significantly lower in patients with retinopathy than in those without retinopathy (30.53 ± 1.95 vs 31.20 ± 1.53, P = 0.001). Between the lowest EI@3Pa quartile (Q1) to the highest (Q4, reference), the odds ratio (OR) for Q1 was 2.81 (95% CI: 1.21–6.49, P = 0.004 for trend), after adjusting for age, gender, presence of hypertension and smoking, duration of diabetes, HbA1c , glomerular filtration rate and triglycerides. Conclusion In terms of diabetic complications, the lowest EI@3Pa group was closely associated with only the risk of diabetic retinopathy in our study. These results suggest that RBC deformability might be contributory to the development of the microvascular complication.
Spherical, micrometer-sized, and polycrystalline Y
3Al
5O
12:Ce
+3 (YAG:Ce) powders having good luminescence properties were synthesized via a solid-state processing route from the corresponding ...submicrometer-sized oxides and 5
wt% BaF
2 flux. It was shown that the nucleation of the spherical YAG particles occurs via the dissolution–precipitation mechanism, whereas the grain growth process is controlled via the liquid-phase diffusion route.
Display omitted
▶ Solid-state technique was adopted to produce spherical shape YAG:Ce phosphor particles at 1300–1500
°C in CO reducing atmosphere. ▶ The mechanism of nucleation and grain growth of YAG:Ce particles were offered based on XRD, SEM and TEM-EDS analysis data. It was shown that spherical shape particles were formed by high-temperature dissolution–precipitation process. ▶ The YAG:Ce phosphor particles prepared using the proposed technique exhibit a high crystallinity, and PL emission intensity 10–15% higher than that of commercial phosphor powder.
The formation of Y
3Al
5O
12:Ce
3+ (YAG:Ce) powders from the corresponding submicrometer-sized oxides and 5
wt% BaF
2 flux is studied at different heating temperatures. The reaction powders are characterized using XRD, SEM, and TEM-EDS. X-ray analysis reveals the sequential formation of the Y
4Al
2O
9 (YAM), YAlO
3 (YAP), and Y
3Al
5O
12 (YAG) phases in the temperature range of 1000–1300
°C. It is shown that the nucleation process occurs via the dissolution–precipitation mechanism, whereas the grain growth process is controlled via the liquid-phase diffusion route. YAG:Ce phosphor particles prepared using a proposed technique exhibit a spherical shape, high crystallinity, and an emission intensity that is approximately 10–15% greater than that of commercial phosphor powder.
We report an investigation of poly(styrene-maleic anhydride) (SMA) films as liquid crystal (LC) alignment layers fabricated by ion-beam (IB) irradiation. We confirmed that SMA-deposited LC cells have ...superior optical properties by measuring the transmittance and phase differences. Using an IB-irradiated SMA film for the alignment layer, we could confirm that uniform and homogeneous LC alignment was achieved, yielding extremely high-performance nematic liquid crystal (NLC) systems. The LC alignment mechanism was determined by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. IB irradiation caused chemical modifications that led to strong van der Waals forces between LCs and the modified SMA surface, thereby inducing uniform LC alignment. Moreover, the IB-irradiated SMA films exhibited good electro-optical characteristics. Therefore, these IB-irradiated SMA films are suitable as alternative alignment layers for LC display applications.
We report an investigation of poly(styrene-maleic anhydride) (SMA) films as liquid crystal (LC) alignment layers fabricated by ion-beam (IB) irradiation.
•The OR of moderate hearing loss for social frailty were statistically significant.•Neighbor meeting and someone love and affection were associated with hearing loss.•More depression and lower ...cognitive function in the social frailty group.•After adjusting physical activity, OR of hearing loss for social frailty remained.
To determine whether hearing loss is associated with social frailty in older adults.
Cross-sectional analysis of cohort study data. Hearing was measured using of Pure-tone audiometry. Hearing loss was determined based on the average of hearing thresholds at 0.5, 1, and 2 kHz in the ear that had better hearing. Social frailty was defined based on the summation of the following 5 social components (1. Neighborhood meeting attendance 2. Talking to friend(s) sometimes 3.Someone gives you love and affection 4. Living alone 5. Meeting someone every day). Participants who had no correspondence to the components were considered non-social frailty; those with 1–2 components were considered social prefrailty; and those having 3 or more components were considered social frailty.
The prevalence of non-social frailty, social prefrailty, social frailty was 27.6%, 60.7% and 11.7% respectively. Of the five questions, two components (Neighborhood meeting attendance and Presence of someone who shows love and affection to the participants) were associated with hearing loss (p < 0.001). Compared to non-social frailty, the odds ratio of social frailty for hearing loss was 2.24 (95% CI 1.48–3.38) after adjusting for age, residential area, economic status, smoking, depressive disorder and MMSE, and 2.17 (95% CI 1.43–3.30) after further adjustments with physical frailty.
Hearing loss was associated with social frailty even after controlling confounding factors even including physical frailty.
Long working hour is a known risk factor for metabolic diseases. We explored the association between working hours and metabolic dysfunction–associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD).
Data on ...working hours among 22,818 workers (11,999 females) from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2013–2021) were used for this study.
MASLD was defined as a combination of hepatic steatosis combined with one or more of cardiometabolic risk factors (overweight/obesity, prediabetes/diabetes, raised blood pressure, hypertriglyceridemia, low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol). Hepatic steatosis was assessed using the hepatic steatosis index. Logistic regression was used to estimate the odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs).
The overall prevalence of MASLD was 30.4% in men and 18.1% in women. Among male workers, 20.2% worked ≥55 h/week, whereas among female workers, 10.1% worked ≥55 h/week. Compared with working 35–40 h/week, working ≥55 h/week was positively associated with overweight/obesity (OR: 1.21; 95% CI: 1.05–1.40), pre–diabetes mellitus (pre-DM)/DM (OR: 1.20; 95% CI: 1.04–1.38), raised blood pressure (OR: 1.17; 95% CI: 1.02–1.35), and presence of any cardiometabolic risk factors (OR: 1.56; 95% CI: 1.21–2.02). The adjusted OR (95% CI) of the association between working hours and MASLD was 1.27 (1.09–1.47) for ≥55 h/week compared with working 35–40 h/week in male workers. In female workers, long working hours were not clearly associated with cardiometabolic risk factors and MASLD.
Long working hours are positively associated with MASLD among Korean male workers. Policy interventions are needed to mitigate the adverse metabolic effects of prolonged working hours.
Summary Background The safety and short-term efficacy of laparoscopic surgery for rectal cancer after preoperative chemoradiotherapy has not been demonstrated. The aim of the randomised Comparison of ...Open versus laparoscopic surgery for mid and low REctal cancer After Neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (COREAN) trial was to compare open surgery with laparoscopic surgery for mid or low rectal cancer after neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy. Methods Between April 4, 2006, and Aug 26, 2009, patients with cT3N0–2 mid or low rectal cancer without distant metastasis after preoperative chemoradiotherapy were enrolled at three tertiary-referral hospitals. Patients were randomised 1:1 to receive either open surgery (n=170) or laparoscopic surgery (n=170), stratified according to sex and preoperative chemotherapy regimen. Short-term outcomes assessed were involvement of the circumferential resection margin, macroscopic quality of the total mesorectal excision specimen, number of harvested lymph nodes, recovery of bowel function, perioperative morbidity, postoperative pain, and quality of life. Analyses were based on the intention-to-treat population. Patients continue to be followed up for the primary outcome (3-year disease-free survival). This study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov , number NCT00470951. Findings Two patients (1·2%) in the laparoscopic group were converted to open surgery, but were included in the laparoscopic group for analyses. Estimated blood loss was less in the laparoscopic group than in the open group (median 217·5 mL 150·0–400·0 in the open group vs 200·0 mL 100·0–300·0 in the laparoscopic group, p=0·006), although surgery time was longer in the laparoscopic group (mean 244·9 min SD 75·4 vs 197·0 min 62·9, p<0·0001). Involvement of the circumferential resection margin, macroscopic quality of the total mesorectal excision specimen, number of harvested lymph nodes, and perioperative morbidity did not differ between the two groups. The laparoscopic surgery group showed earlier recovery of bowel function than the open surgery group (time to pass first flatus, median 38·5 h 23·0–53·0 vs 60·0 h 43·0–73·0, p<0·0001; time to resume a normal diet, 85·0 h 66·0–95·0 vs 93·0 h 86·0–121·0, p<0·0001; time to first defecation, 96·5 h 70·0–125·0 vs 123 h 94·0–156·0, p<0·0001). The total amount of morphine used was less in the laparoscopic group than in the open group (median 107·2 mg 80·0–150·0 vs 156·9 mg 117·0–185·2, p<0·0001). 3 months after proctectomy or ileostomy takedown, the laparoscopic group showed better physical functioning score than the open group (0·501 n=122 vs −4·970 n=128, p=0·0073), less fatigue (−5·659 n=122 vs 0·098 n=129, p=0·0206), and fewer micturition (−2·583 n=122 vs 4·725 n=129, p=0·0002), gastrointestinal (−0·400 n=122 vs 4·331 n=129, p=0·0102), and defecation problems (0·535 n=103 vs 5·327 n=99, p=0·0184) in repeated measures analysis of covariance, adjusted for baseline values. Interpretation Laparoscopic surgery after preoperative chemoradiotherapy for mid or low rectal cancer is safe and has short-term benefits compared with open surgery; the quality of oncological resection was equivalent. Funding The National Cancer Center, South Korea.
Here, we compared 3D-printed polycaprolactone/poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid)/β-tricalcium phosphate (PCL/PLGA/β-TCP) membranes with the widely used collagen membranes for guided bone regeneration ...(GBR) in beagle implant models. For mechanical property comparison in dry and wet conditions and cytocompatibility determination, we analyzed the rate and pattern of cell proliferation of seeded fibroblasts and preosteoblasts using the cell counting kit-8 assay and scanning electron microscopy. Osteogenic differentiation was verified using alizarin red S staining. At 8 weeks following implantation in vivo using beagle dogs, computed tomography and histological analyses were performed after sacrifice. Cell proliferation rates in vitro indicated that early cell attachment was higher in collagen than in PCL/PLGA/β-TCP membranes; however, the difference subsided by day 7. Similar outcomes were found for osteogenic differentiation, with approximately 2.5 times greater staining in collagen than PCL/PLGA/β-TCP, but without significant difference by day 14. In vivo, bone regeneration in the defect area, represented by new bone formation and bone-to-implant contact, paralleled those associated with collagen membranes. However, tensile testing revealed that whereas the PCL/PLGA/β-TCP membrane mechanical properties were conserved in both wet and dry states, the tensile property of collagen was reduced by 99% under wet conditions. Our results demonstrate in vitro and in vivo that PCL/PLGA/β-TCP membranes have similar levels of biocompatibility and bone regeneration as collagen membranes. In particular, considering that GBR is always applied to a wet environment (e.g. blood, saliva), we demonstrated that PCL/PLGA/β-TCP membranes maintained their form more reliably than collagen membranes in a wet setting, confirming their appropriateness as a GBR membrane.
Objective
The objective of this paper is to identify the prevalence, risk factors, and impact on mortality of neuropsychiatric systemic lupus erythematosus (NPSLE).
Methods
Patients from the Hanyang ...BAE lupus cohort were registered and followed from 1998 to 2015. NPSLE was defined using American College of Rheumatology (ACR) case definitions and Ainiala criteria. Demographics, autoantibodies, Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI), and Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinic (SLICC)/ACR Damage Index were collected at baseline and then annually. Mortality data were derived by linking data from the Korean National Statistics Office. Multivariable logistic regression and Cox regression analysis were conducted in the inception cohort to assess the risk factors and mortality impact of NPSLE.
Results
Of 1121 registered patients, 429 (38.3%) had NPSLE manifestations according to ACR criteria and 216 (19.3%) by Ainiala criteria. In multivariable logistic regression analysis, higher SLEDAI (OR 1.08, CI 1.01–1.16, p = 0.02) and antiphospholipid antibody positivity (OR 1.72, CI 1.03–2.87, p = 0.04) at SLE diagnosis increased NPSLE risk, while elevated anti-dsDNA antibodies (OR 0.43, CI 0.24–0.78, p < 0.01) and greater education duration (OR 0.92, CI 0.85–1.00, p = 0.04) showed reduced risk of NPSLE. Cox proportional hazard models demonstrated that presence of NPSLE had a three-fold increased risk of mortality (HR 3.09, CI 1.03–9.21, p = 0.04), especially in patients with focal CNS NPSLE (HR = 7.83, CI 2.12–28.96, p < 0.01).
Conclusion
Higher SLEDAI, antiphospholipid antibody positivity, absence of anti-dsDNA antibody at SLE diagnosis, and fewer years of education are risk factors for development of NPSLE. Presence of NPSLE, especially focal CNS NPSLE, increased the risk of mortality in SLE patients.
Celotno besedilo
Dostopno za:
DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, OILJ, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
No report has been published on the use of DSC MR imaging, DCE MR imaging, and DWI parameters in combination to create a prognostic prediction model in glioblastoma patients. The aim of this study ...was to develop a machine learning-based model to find preoperative multiparametric MR imaging parameters associated with prognosis in patients with glioblastoma. Normalized CBV, volume transfer constant, and ADC of the nonenhancing T2 high-signal-intensity lesions were evaluated using K-means clustering.
A total of 142 patients with glioblastoma who underwent preoperative MR imaging and total resection were included in this retrospective study. From the normalized CBV, volume transfer constant, and ADC maps, the parametric data were sorted using the K-means clustering method. Patients were divided into training and test sets (ratio, 1:1), and the optimal number of clusters was determined using receiver operating characteristic analysis. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis and log-rank tests were performed to identify potential parametric predictors. A multivariate Cox proportional hazard model was conducted to adjust for clinical predictors.
The nonenhancing T2 high-signal-intensity lesions were divided into 6 clusters. The cluster (class 4) with the relatively low normalized CBV and volume transfer constant value and the lowest ADC values was most associated with predicting glioblastoma prognosis. The optimal cutoff of the class 4 volume fraction of nonenhancing T2 high-signal-intensity lesions predicting 1-year progression-free survival was 9.70%, below which the cutoff was associated with longer progression-free survival. Two Kaplan-Meier curves based on the cutoff value showed a statistically significant difference (
= .037). When we adjusted for all clinical predictors, the cluster with the relatively low normalized CBV and volume transfer constant values and the lowest ADC value was an independent prognostic marker (hazard ratio, 3.04;
= .048). The multivariate Cox proportional hazard model showed a concordance index of 0.699 for progression-free survival.
Our model showed that nonenhancing T2 high-signal-intensity lesions with the relatively low normalized CBV, low volume transfer constant values, and the lowest ADC values could serve as useful prognostic imaging markers for predicting survival outcomes in patients with glioblastoma.
Objectives
This study was conducted to determine the cutoff value and efficacy of the EuroQol Visual Analogue Scale (EQ-VAS) for predicting frailty.
Design
The EQ-VAS medians (Interquartile Range) ...were compared and analyzed against the FFI.
Participants
The subjects were 1471 older adults aged 70 to 84 years who had completed both EQ-VAS and Fried Frailty index (FFI) in the first baseline year (2016) of the Korean Frailty and Aging Cohort Study.
Results
Of the 1471 subjects,600 were classified as robust, 716 as pre-frail, and 155 as frail. The median EQ-VAS scores were 80.00 (20.00) for robust, 75.00 (25.00) for pre-frail, and 60.00 (25.00) for frail subjects.The medians of all five components of the FFI, weight loss (70.00 vs. 80.00), grip strength (70.00 vs. 80.00), exhaustion (70.00 vs. 80.00), walking velocity (70.00 vs. 80.00), and physical activity (70.00 vs. 80.00), were lower in the abnormal groups. We tested the efficacy of EQ-VAS as a diagnostic tool to predict frailty, and the area under the curve of EQ-VAS was 0.71 withthe optimal cut-off value of 72.
Conclusion
EQ-VAS presented negative correlation with FFI, and the optimal cut off value for frailty was 72. These results suggest that EQ-VAS is a valuable tool for assessing frailty andmay be a good predictor of frailty in Korean elderly population.
PDF
