Background/Aims: The kidneys and retina are highly vascularized organs that frequently exhibit shared pathologies, with nephropathy often associated with retinopathy. Previous studies have successfully predicted estimated glomerular filtration rates (eGFRs) using fundus photographs. We evaluated the performance of the Modification of Diet in Renal Disease (MDRD) and Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration (CKD-EPI) formulas in eGFR prediction. Methods: We enrolled patients with fundus photographs and corresponding creatinine measurements taken on the same date. One photograph per eye was randomly selected, resulting in a final dataset of 45,108 patients (88,260 photographs). Data including sex, age, and blood creatinine levels were collected for eGFR calculation using the MDRD and CKD-EPI formulas. EfficientNet B3 models were used to predict each parameter. Results: Deep neural network models accurately predicted age and sex using fundus photographs. Sex was identified as a confounding variable in creatinine prediction. The MDRD formula was more susceptible to this confounding effect than the CKD-EPI formula. Notably, the CKD-EPI formula demonstrated superior performance compared to the MDRD formula (area under the curve 0.864 vs. 0.802). Conclusions Fundus photographs are a valuable tool for screening renal function using deep neural network models, demonstrating the role of noninvasive imaging in medical diagnostics. However, these models are susceptible to the influence of sex, a potential confounding factor. The CKD-EPI formula, less susceptible to sex bias, is recommended to obtain more reliable results.

Background: Histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibition offers potential anticancer effects across diverse cancers due to HDAC's significant role in cancer development and progression. Consequently, we demonstrated the therapeutic efficacy of the novel HDAC inhibitor, CG-745, in comparison with existing inhibitors such as suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid (SAHA) in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells. Methods: CG-745's effect on apoptosis and reactive oxygen species (ROS)-dependent mitochondrial dysfunction was investigated using annexin V assay, MitoSoX, and Western blot in human A549 and H460 cells. Additionally, HDAC expression was analyzed through real-time polymerase chain reaction. We also evaluated the inhibitory effect of CG-745 on epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) induced by transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1) via Western blot, scratch analysis, and matrigel invasion analysis. Results: Compared to SAHA, CG-745 inhibited cell viability and mRNA expression of HDACs such as HDAC1, HDAC2, HDAC3, and HDAC8. It also induced apoptosis, ROS, and mitochondrial dysfunction in a concentration-dependent manner. CG-745 reversed EMT triggered by TGF-β1 in A549 and H460 cells, and curtailed the migration and invasion enhanced by TGF-β1. CG-745 has demonstrably inhibited EMT and induced apoptosis in NSCLC cells. Conclusion CG-745 may represent a novel therapeutic strategy for NSCLC treatment.

Objective: As the demand for community mental health services continues to grow, the need for well-equipped and organized services has become apparent. This study aimed to optimize the roles and infrastructure of mental health services, by establishing, among other initiatives, standardized operating models. Methods: The study was conducted in multiple phases from May 12, 2021, to December 29, 2021. Stakeholders within South Korea and metropolitan mental health welfare centers were targeted, but addiction management support centers, including officials, patients, and their families, were integrated as well. A literature review and survey, focus group interviews, a Delphi survey, and expert consultation contributed to comprehensive revisions and improvements of the mental health service model. Results: The proposed model for community mental health welfare centers emphasizes the expansion of personnel and infrastructure, with a focus on severe mental illnesses and suicide prevention. The model for metropolitan mental health welfare centers delineates essential tasks in areas such as project planning and establishment, community research, and education about severe mental illnesses. The establishment of a 24-hour emergency intervention center was a crucial feature. In the integrated addiction support center model, the need to promote addiction management is defined as an essential task and the establishment of national governance for addiction policies is recommended. Conclusion This study proposed standard operating models for three types of mental health service centers. To meet the increasing need for community care, robust mental health service delivery systems are of primary importance.

Background/Aims: The kidneys and retina are highly vascularized organs that frequently exhibit shared pathologies, with nephropathy often associated with retinopathy. Previous studies have successfully predicted estimated glomerular filtration rates (eGFRs) using fundus photographs. We evaluated the performance of the Modification of Diet in Renal Disease (MDRD) and Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration (CKD-EPI) formulas in eGFR prediction. Methods: We enrolled patients with fundus photographs and corresponding creatinine measurements taken on the same date. One photograph per eye was randomly selected, resulting in a final dataset of 45,108 patients (88,260 photographs). Data including sex, age, and blood creatinine levels were collected for eGFR calculation using the MDRD and CKD-EPI formulas. EfficientNet B3 models were used to predict each parameter. Results: Deep neural network models accurately predicted age and sex using fundus photographs. Sex was identified as a confounding variable in creatinine prediction. The MDRD formula was more susceptible to this confounding effect than the CKD-EPI formula. Notably, the CKD-EPI formula demonstrated superior performance compared to the MDRD formula (area under the curve 0.864 vs. 0.802). Conclusions Fundus photographs are a valuable tool for screening renal function using deep neural network models, demonstrating the role of noninvasive imaging in medical diagnostics. However, these models are susceptible to the influence of sex, a potential confounding factor. The CKD-EPI formula, less susceptible to sex bias, is recommended to obtain more reliable results.

Background: Histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibition offers potential anticancer effects across diverse cancers due to HDAC's significant role in cancer development and progression. Consequently, we demonstrated the therapeutic efficacy of the novel HDAC inhibitor, CG-745, in comparison with existing inhibitors such as suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid (SAHA) in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells. Methods: CG-745's effect on apoptosis and reactive oxygen species (ROS)-dependent mitochondrial dysfunction was investigated using annexin V assay, MitoSoX, and Western blot in human A549 and H460 cells. Additionally, HDAC expression was analyzed through real-time polymerase chain reaction. We also evaluated the inhibitory effect of CG-745 on epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) induced by transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1) via Western blot, scratch analysis, and matrigel invasion analysis. Results: Compared to SAHA, CG-745 inhibited cell viability and mRNA expression of HDACs such as HDAC1, HDAC2, HDAC3, and HDAC8. It also induced apoptosis, ROS, and mitochondrial dysfunction in a concentration-dependent manner. CG-745 reversed EMT triggered by TGF-β1 in A549 and H460 cells, and curtailed the migration and invasion enhanced by TGF-β1. CG-745 has demonstrably inhibited EMT and induced apoptosis in NSCLC cells. Conclusion CG-745 may represent a novel therapeutic strategy for NSCLC treatment.

Objective: This study aims to objectively evaluate turning gait parameters in Parkinson’s disease (PD) patients using 2D-RGB video-based analysis and explore their relationships with imbalance. Methods: We prospectively enrolled PD patients for clinical assessment, balance analysis and gait with 180º turning. Spatiotemporal gait parameters during turning were derived using video-based analysis and correlated with modified Hoehn and Yahr (mHY) stages and center of pressure (COP) oscillations. Results: A total of 64 PD patients were enrolled. The PD patients with higher mHY stages (≥2.5) had significantly longer turning times, greater numbers of steps, wider step bases and less variability in step length during turns. COP oscillations were positively correlated with the mean turning time on both the anterior-posterior and right-left axes. Conclusion Spatiotemporal gait parameter during turning, derived from video-based gait analysis, may represent apromising biomarker for monitoring postural instability in PD patients.

Sarcoidosis is an inflammatory condition affecting multiple systems in the body, distinguished by the presence of noncaseating granulomas. It is believed that specific exposures to external antigens in individuals with genetic predisposition lead to the development of these granulomas. When diagnosing sarcoidosis, tuberculosis (TB) is a potential alternative explanation for the symptoms. Our case describes a rare coexistence of cutaneous sarcoidosis and TB pleurisy in a 75-year-old male. He was diagnosed with cutaneous sarcoidosis on his face. During the investigation for possible involvement of other organs, pleural effusion was discovered, and it was determined to be caused by mycobacterial infection. The patient received a 6-month course of anti-TB drugs to treat the TB pleurisy, while a topical calcineurin inhibitor was applied to the cutaneous sarcoidosis. This case serves as a reminder to dermatologists that the coexistence of TB with sarcoidosis is possible, not just as a differential diagnosis.

Background: Middle-aged cancer survivors lack specific health guidelines compared to young and old cancer survivors. Their increased prevalence necessitates the establishment of tailored health guidelines. This study aimed to investigate the health-related behaviors of middle-aged cancer survivors compared to those of the general population. Methods: This cross-sectional study analyzed 17,332 adults aged 40–65 years who participated in the sixth and seventh Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2013–2018). Data on cancer screening, alcohol consumption, smoking, physical activity, sedentary time, and dietary management were collected via self-reported questionnaires. Propensity score matching (1:5) revealed 591 middle-aged cancer survivors and 2,955 non-cancer controls. Descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, and logistic regression analyses were conducted to compare the demographic characteristics and health-related behaviors of both groups. Results: Multivariate analysis revealed that middle-aged cancer survivors were significantly less likely to consume alcohol (odds ratio [OR]: 0.64; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.51–0.81) and smoke (OR: 0.65; 95% CI: 0.43–0.99) and more likely to engage in aerobic physical activity (OR: 1.33; 95% CI: 1.08–1.64) and practice dietary management (OR: 1.47; 95% CI: 1.17–1.84) than the non-cancer controls. However, no significant differences in cancer screening adherence and sedentary time were observed between both groups. Conclusions Overall, this study provides fundamental data for the development of tailored health guidelines and patient education programs for cancer survivors.

Objective: Recently, various mental health promotion programs using virtual reality (VR) technology have been tried in the psychiatric field. Considering the importance of mental health in pregnant women, VR-assisted mental health promotion programs for pregnant women are needed to be developed. This study aimed to prospectively investigate the efficacy of a VR-assisted mental health promotion program for pregnant women. Methods: Fifty-five pregnant women were participated in this study. Mental health states such as depression, anxiety, perceived stress, and quality of life were assessed by Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7), Perceived Stress Scale, and World Health Organization Quality of Life Scale Abbreviated Version (WHOQOL-BREF) before and after using VR program treatment. Based on the mental health types of pregnant women classified by cluster analysis, the effects of the VR program were analyzed by paired t test and Wilcoxon signed rank test. Results: The VR program significantly reduced PHQ-9 (p = 0.033) and GAD-7 (p = 0.046) scores, and significantly increased WHOQOL-BREF (p = 0.026) score of the participants. Additionally, when classifying the mental health types of pregnant women, the VR program was significantly effective to improve depression, anxiety, and quality of life in the most severe group based on the cluster analysis. Conclusion The results of this study suggest that VR program may be effective to improve the mental health of pregnant women. Particularly, VR programs for the high-risk group of depression might be the most effective. Therefore, VR-assisted mental health promotion programs could be useful for managing the mental health in pregnant women.

Background: Bone substitutes such as hydroxyapatite (HA) ceramic and recombinant bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2) are essential in treating bone defects. However, the challenges of controlled and localized BMP-2 delivery necessitate the development of advanced bone graft substitutes. This study introduces and evaluates an innovative, ready-to-use bone substitute employing 3-dimensional-printed poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA) scaffolds combined with BMP-2 to enhance bone regeneration efficiency. Methods: We conducted a comparative study using C57BL/6 mice to evaluate the efficacy of rhBMP-2-coated PLLA scaffolds against traditional HA-based bone graft materials. The PLLA scaffolds were coated with varying concentrations of BMP-2 using an alginate-catechol method. Bone regeneration was assessed through micro-computed tomography (CT) imaging and histological analysis 4 weeks after implantation. The statistical significance of bone mass and formation differences across groups was determined using Student t-test and analysis of variance. Results: Micro-CT analysis revealed substantial bone formation in the group with PLLA scaffolds containing 0.1% BMP-2, exhibiting a bone volume ratio of 11.1% ± 2.8%, significantly higher than all other groups (p = 0.008). Histological analysis corroborated these findings, showing dense collagen deposition and active osteoblast presence in this group, indicating enhanced bone regeneration. Conclusions The novel PLLA scaffold with alginate-catechol-coated BMP-2 significantly enhances bone regeneration compared to traditional bone graft materials. This innovative approach holds promising potential for clinical applications in orthopedics, particularly for treating bone defects.