Purpose: This study aimed to characterize the clinical patterns and severity of brain injury in neonates who survived extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) therapy for acute respiratory failure during the neonatal period, to evaluate their short-term neurodevelopmental outcomes, and to identify the factors associated with these outcomes. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of neonates who survived ECMO between 2018 and 2024. Based on brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings, the patients were classified into two groups: no/mild and moderate/severe brain injury. Neurodevelopmental outcomes were assessed at 12–40 months of age using the Bayley Scale of Infant Development II/III and/or the Korean Developmental Screening Test. Results: Among the 19 neonates included in the study, 18 (94.7%) showed varying degrees of brain injury on MRI (mild: 12, moderate: 1, severe: 5). Neonates with moderate/severe brain injury had significantly longer durations of ECMO support and extended durations of mechanical ventilation and were more likely to receive continuous renal replacement therapy than those with no or mild injury. Developmental delay was identified in 36.8% of survivors and was significantly associated with prolonged mechanical ventilation, longer neonatal intensive care unit stays, and a higher incidence of seizures. Conclusion Brain injury is frequently observed on MRI in neonates treated with ECMO. However, its direct association with adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes is not definitive. Since MRI findings alone cannot predict developmental outcomes, clinical and environmental factors should be integrated into prognostic assessments.

Purpose: This study aimed to characterize the clinical patterns and severity of brain injury in neonates who survived extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) therapy for acute respiratory failure during the neonatal period, to evaluate their short-term neurodevelopmental outcomes, and to identify the factors associated with these outcomes. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of neonates who survived ECMO between 2018 and 2024. Based on brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings, the patients were classified into two groups: no/mild and moderate/severe brain injury. Neurodevelopmental outcomes were assessed at 12–40 months of age using the Bayley Scale of Infant Development II/III and/or the Korean Developmental Screening Test. Results: Among the 19 neonates included in the study, 18 (94.7%) showed varying degrees of brain injury on MRI (mild: 12, moderate: 1, severe: 5). Neonates with moderate/severe brain injury had significantly longer durations of ECMO support and extended durations of mechanical ventilation and were more likely to receive continuous renal replacement therapy than those with no or mild injury. Developmental delay was identified in 36.8% of survivors and was significantly associated with prolonged mechanical ventilation, longer neonatal intensive care unit stays, and a higher incidence of seizures. Conclusion Brain injury is frequently observed on MRI in neonates treated with ECMO. However, its direct association with adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes is not definitive. Since MRI findings alone cannot predict developmental outcomes, clinical and environmental factors should be integrated into prognostic assessments.

Purpose: This study aimed to characterize the clinical patterns and severity of brain injury in neonates who survived extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) therapy for acute respiratory failure during the neonatal period, to evaluate their short-term neurodevelopmental outcomes, and to identify the factors associated with these outcomes. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of neonates who survived ECMO between 2018 and 2024. Based on brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings, the patients were classified into two groups: no/mild and moderate/severe brain injury. Neurodevelopmental outcomes were assessed at 12–40 months of age using the Bayley Scale of Infant Development II/III and/or the Korean Developmental Screening Test. Results: Among the 19 neonates included in the study, 18 (94.7%) showed varying degrees of brain injury on MRI (mild: 12, moderate: 1, severe: 5). Neonates with moderate/severe brain injury had significantly longer durations of ECMO support and extended durations of mechanical ventilation and were more likely to receive continuous renal replacement therapy than those with no or mild injury. Developmental delay was identified in 36.8% of survivors and was significantly associated with prolonged mechanical ventilation, longer neonatal intensive care unit stays, and a higher incidence of seizures. Conclusion Brain injury is frequently observed on MRI in neonates treated with ECMO. However, its direct association with adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes is not definitive. Since MRI findings alone cannot predict developmental outcomes, clinical and environmental factors should be integrated into prognostic assessments.

Purpose: This study aimed to characterize the clinical patterns and severity of brain injury in neonates who survived extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) therapy for acute respiratory failure during the neonatal period, to evaluate their short-term neurodevelopmental outcomes, and to identify the factors associated with these outcomes. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of neonates who survived ECMO between 2018 and 2024. Based on brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings, the patients were classified into two groups: no/mild and moderate/severe brain injury. Neurodevelopmental outcomes were assessed at 12–40 months of age using the Bayley Scale of Infant Development II/III and/or the Korean Developmental Screening Test. Results: Among the 19 neonates included in the study, 18 (94.7%) showed varying degrees of brain injury on MRI (mild: 12, moderate: 1, severe: 5). Neonates with moderate/severe brain injury had significantly longer durations of ECMO support and extended durations of mechanical ventilation and were more likely to receive continuous renal replacement therapy than those with no or mild injury. Developmental delay was identified in 36.8% of survivors and was significantly associated with prolonged mechanical ventilation, longer neonatal intensive care unit stays, and a higher incidence of seizures. Conclusion Brain injury is frequently observed on MRI in neonates treated with ECMO. However, its direct association with adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes is not definitive. Since MRI findings alone cannot predict developmental outcomes, clinical and environmental factors should be integrated into prognostic assessments.

Purpose: This study aimed to characterize the clinical patterns and severity of brain injury in neonates who survived extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) therapy for acute respiratory failure during the neonatal period, to evaluate their short-term neurodevelopmental outcomes, and to identify the factors associated with these outcomes. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of neonates who survived ECMO between 2018 and 2024. Based on brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings, the patients were classified into two groups: no/mild and moderate/severe brain injury. Neurodevelopmental outcomes were assessed at 12–40 months of age using the Bayley Scale of Infant Development II/III and/or the Korean Developmental Screening Test. Results: Among the 19 neonates included in the study, 18 (94.7%) showed varying degrees of brain injury on MRI (mild: 12, moderate: 1, severe: 5). Neonates with moderate/severe brain injury had significantly longer durations of ECMO support and extended durations of mechanical ventilation and were more likely to receive continuous renal replacement therapy than those with no or mild injury. Developmental delay was identified in 36.8% of survivors and was significantly associated with prolonged mechanical ventilation, longer neonatal intensive care unit stays, and a higher incidence of seizures. Conclusion Brain injury is frequently observed on MRI in neonates treated with ECMO. However, its direct association with adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes is not definitive. Since MRI findings alone cannot predict developmental outcomes, clinical and environmental factors should be integrated into prognostic assessments.

Background/Aims: Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is characterized by fat accumulation in the liver. MASLD encompasses both steatosis and MASH. Since MASH can lead to cirrhosis and liver cancer, steatosis and MASH must be distinguished during patient treatment. Here, we investigate the genomes, epigenomes, and transcriptomes of MASLD patients to identify signature gene set for more accurate tracking of MASLD progression. Methods: Biopsy-tissue and blood samples from patients with 134 MASLD, comprising 60 steatosis and 74 MASH patients were performed omics analysis. SVM learning algorithm were used to calculate most predictive features. Linear regression was applied to find signature gene set that distinguish the stage of MASLD and to validate their application into independent cohort of MASLD. Results: After performing WGS, WES, WGBS, and total RNA-seq on 134 biopsy samples from confirmed MASLD patients, we provided 1,955 MASLD-associated features, out of 3,176 somatic variant callings, 58 DMRs, and 1,393 DEGs that track MASLD progression. Then, we used a SVM learning algorithm to analyze the data and select the most predictive features. Using linear regression, we identified a signature gene set capable of differentiating the various stages of MASLD and verified it in different independent cohorts of MASLD and a liver cancer cohort. Conclusions We identified a signature gene set (i.e., CAPG, HYAL3, WIPI1, TREM2, SPP1, and RNASE6) with strong potential as a panel of diagnostic genes of MASLD-associated disease.

Objective: : Collateral circulation is associated with the differential treatment effect of endovascular thrombectomy (EVT) in acute ischemic stroke. We aimed to verify the ability of the collateral map to predict futile EVT in patients with acute anterior circulation ischemic stroke. Methods: : This secondary analysis of a prospective observational study included data from participants underwent EVT for acute ischemic stroke due to occlusion of the internal carotid artery and/or the middle cerebral artery within 8 hours of symptom onset. Multiple logistic regression analyses were conducted to identify independent predictors of futile recanalization (modified Rankin scale score at 90 days of 4–6 despite of successful reperfusion). Results: : In a total of 214 participants, older age (odds ratio [OR], 2.40; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.56 to 3.67; p<0.001), higher baseline National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) scores (OR, 1.12; 95% CI, 1.04 to 1.21; p=0.004), very poor collateral perfusion grade (OR, 35.09; 95% CI, 3.50 to 351.33; p=0.002), longer door-to-puncture time (OR, 1.08; 95% CI, 1.02 to 1.14; p=0.009), and failed reperfusion (OR, 3.73; 95% CI, 1.30 to 10.76; p=0.015) were associated with unfavorable functional outcomes. In 184 participants who achieved successful reperfusion, older age (OR, 2.30; 95% CI, 1.44 to 3.67; p<0.001), higher baseline NIHSS scores (OR, 1.12; 95% CI, 1.03 to 1.22; p=0.006), very poor collateral perfusion grade (OR, 4.96; 95% CI, 1.42 to 17.37; p=0.012), and longer door-to-reperfusion time (OR, 1.09; 95% CI, 1.03 to 1.15; p=0.003) were associated with unfavorable functional outcomes. Conclusion : The assessment of collateral perfusion status using the collateral map can predict futile EVT, which may help select ineligible patients for EVT, thereby potentially reducing the rate of futile EVT.

Increasing importance of vaccination during coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, several vaccines were developed. Messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccines including BNT162b2 (Pfizer, New York, NY, USA; BioNTech, Mainz, Germany), mRNA-1273 (Moderna, Cambridge, MA, USA) have been disclosed side effects such as thrombocytopenia, myocarditis and headache in general. In addition, adverse effects due to autoimmune responses induced by spike glycoproteins of mRNA vaccines are rarely reported such as the Guillain-Barre syndrome, autoimmune encephalitis and so on. Herein, we report a rare case of encephalitis with new-onset refractory status epilepticus after BNT162b2 mRNA COVID-19 vaccination improved with immune therapy.

Purpose: The mean platelet volume (MPV) is regarded as a marker for thrombosis, atherosclerosis, and inflammation in various vascular diseases. However, it still remains unclear whether plasma MPV is associated with cerebral white matter hyperintensities (WMH) and cerebral microvascular pathology in the elderly population. Materials and Methods: We examined whether MPV level is associated with the presence of cerebral WMH on brain magnetic resonance imaging from 870 non-stroke outpatient subjects. The subjects were divided into three groups according to the consecutive level of MPV (low T1, middle T2, and high T3 MPV tertile groups). To determine the association of MPV levels with the WMH, logistic regression and receiver operating characteristic curve analyses were conducted. Results: Subjects with higher MPV level were older and more likely to have hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and low renal function. Cerebral WMH were more prevalent in subjects with higher MPV level. After adjusting for confounding factors, moderate to severe cerebral WMH were significantly associated with high MPV tertile level. This association remained significant after adjusting for other cerebral vascular pathologies. T2 [odds ratio (OR): 1.49, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.03–2.15] and T3 MPV tertile groups (OR: 1.51, 95%CI: 1.04–2.20) had more cerebral WMH lesions compared to T1 MPV tertile group. In addition, the subjects with higher Fazekas scores showed higher MPV level (p=0.020). Conclusion We found that high MPV level is independently associated with cerebral WMH. This result suggests that platelet activation plays a role in the development of cerebral WMH.