Background and Objectives: Age-related hearing loss is a modifiable risk factor for mild cognitive impairment (MCI); however, the potential mechanisms linking these conditions remain unclear. Therefore, in this study, we analyzed the cognitive function profiles of elderly patients with hearing loss via functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) to determine the cortical activity differences between patients at risk of MCI and those with normal cognition. Materials and Methods: Sixty-three elderly patients with bilateral, moderate, or severe hearing loss were prospectively recruited for this study. Their demographic information was obtained, and audiological evaluations and cognitive function tests were performed. Various instruments were used to assess the cognitive and depression domains. Additionally, fNIRS was used to image the brains of the normal group and group at risk of MCI. Results: fNIRS analysis of individual cognitive task data revealed that the normal group exhibited significantly higher oxygenated hemoglobin (HbO2) levels in all cognitive function tasks, except the Stroop color and word test, than the group at risk of MCI. Detailed comparisons of the Brodmann areas revealed that, compared to the group at risk of MCI, normal group exhibited significantly higher HbO2 levels in the right and left dorsolateral prefrontal cortices, ventrolateral prefrontal cortex, frontopolar cortex, and orbitofrontal cortex in the J1 task, right ventrolateral prefrontal cortex in the J2 task, and right orbitofrontal cortex in the J6 task. Conclusions Measurement of fNIRS signals in the frontal lobes revealed different HbO2 signals between the normal group and group at risk of MCI during minimal hearing loss. Future studies should explore the causal link between hearing loss and cognitive impairment by analyzing the changes in cognitive function after auditory rehabilitation.

Background and Objectives: Age-related hearing loss is a modifiable risk factor for mild cognitive impairment (MCI); however, the potential mechanisms linking these conditions remain unclear. Therefore, in this study, we analyzed the cognitive function profiles of elderly patients with hearing loss via functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) to determine the cortical activity differences between patients at risk of MCI and those with normal cognition. Materials and Methods: Sixty-three elderly patients with bilateral, moderate, or severe hearing loss were prospectively recruited for this study. Their demographic information was obtained, and audiological evaluations and cognitive function tests were performed. Various instruments were used to assess the cognitive and depression domains. Additionally, fNIRS was used to image the brains of the normal group and group at risk of MCI. Results: fNIRS analysis of individual cognitive task data revealed that the normal group exhibited significantly higher oxygenated hemoglobin (HbO2) levels in all cognitive function tasks, except the Stroop color and word test, than the group at risk of MCI. Detailed comparisons of the Brodmann areas revealed that, compared to the group at risk of MCI, normal group exhibited significantly higher HbO2 levels in the right and left dorsolateral prefrontal cortices, ventrolateral prefrontal cortex, frontopolar cortex, and orbitofrontal cortex in the J1 task, right ventrolateral prefrontal cortex in the J2 task, and right orbitofrontal cortex in the J6 task. Conclusions Measurement of fNIRS signals in the frontal lobes revealed different HbO2 signals between the normal group and group at risk of MCI during minimal hearing loss. Future studies should explore the causal link between hearing loss and cognitive impairment by analyzing the changes in cognitive function after auditory rehabilitation.

Background and Objectives: Age-related hearing loss is a modifiable risk factor for mild cognitive impairment (MCI); however, the potential mechanisms linking these conditions remain unclear. Therefore, in this study, we analyzed the cognitive function profiles of elderly patients with hearing loss via functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) to determine the cortical activity differences between patients at risk of MCI and those with normal cognition. Materials and Methods: Sixty-three elderly patients with bilateral, moderate, or severe hearing loss were prospectively recruited for this study. Their demographic information was obtained, and audiological evaluations and cognitive function tests were performed. Various instruments were used to assess the cognitive and depression domains. Additionally, fNIRS was used to image the brains of the normal group and group at risk of MCI. Results: fNIRS analysis of individual cognitive task data revealed that the normal group exhibited significantly higher oxygenated hemoglobin (HbO2) levels in all cognitive function tasks, except the Stroop color and word test, than the group at risk of MCI. Detailed comparisons of the Brodmann areas revealed that, compared to the group at risk of MCI, normal group exhibited significantly higher HbO2 levels in the right and left dorsolateral prefrontal cortices, ventrolateral prefrontal cortex, frontopolar cortex, and orbitofrontal cortex in the J1 task, right ventrolateral prefrontal cortex in the J2 task, and right orbitofrontal cortex in the J6 task. Conclusions Measurement of fNIRS signals in the frontal lobes revealed different HbO2 signals between the normal group and group at risk of MCI during minimal hearing loss. Future studies should explore the causal link between hearing loss and cognitive impairment by analyzing the changes in cognitive function after auditory rehabilitation.

Background/Aims: This study compared the effectiveness and safety of glecaprevir/pibrentasvir (GLE/PIB) and sofosbuvir/ledipasvir (SOF/LDV) in real-life clinical practice. Methods: The data from genotype 1 or 2 chronic hepatitis C patients treated with GLE/PIB or sofosbuvir + ribavirin or SOF/LDV in South Korea were collected retrospectively. The analysis included the treatment completion rate, sustained virologic response at 12 weeks (SVR12) test rate, treatment effectiveness, and adverse events. Results: Seven hundred and eighty-two patients with genotype 1 or 2 chronic hepatitis C who were treated with GLE/PIB (n=575) or SOF/LDV (n=207) were included in this retrospective study. The baseline demographic and clinical characteristics revealed significant statistical differences in age, genotype, ascites, liver cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma between the GLE/PIB and SOF/LDV groups. Twenty-two patients did not complete the treatment protocol. The treatment completion rate was high for both regimens without statistical significance (97.7% vs. 95.7%, p=0.08). The overall SVR12 of intention-to-treat analysis was 81.2% vs. 80.7% without statistical significance (p=0.87). The overall SVR12 of per protocol analysis was 98.7% vs. 100% without statistical significance (p=0.14). Six patients treated with GLE/PIB experienced treatment failure. They were all male, genotype 2, and showed a negative hepatitis C virus RNA level at the end of treatment. Two patients treated with GLE/PIB stopped medication because of fever and abdominal discomfort. Conclusions Both regimens had similar treatment completion rates, effectiveness, and safety profiles. Therefore, the SOF/LDV regimen can also be considered a viable DAA for the treatment of patients with genotype 1 or 2 chronic hepatitis C.

The cervical spine plays a critical role in supporting the skull, maintaining horizontal gaze, and facilitating walking. Its unique characteristics, including the widest range of motion among spinal segments, have led to extensive research on cervical sagittal alignment. Various parameters have been proposed to evaluate cervical alignment, with studies investigating their clinical significance, correlation with symptoms, and implications for surgical interventions. Recent findings suggest that cervical sagittal alignment not only impacts the cervical spine but also influences global spine-pelvic alignment through compensatory mechanisms. This comprehensive review examines classical and new parameters of cervical sagittal alignment and considers the dynamic and muscular factors associated with it.

This study aimed to present the prognosis after minor acute ischemic stroke (AIS) or transient ischemic attack (TIA), using a definition of subsequent stroke in accordance with recent clinical trials. In total, 9,506 patients with minor AIS (National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale ≤ 5) or high-risk TIA (acute lesions or ≥ 50% cerebral artery steno-occlusion) admitted between November 2010 and October 2013 were included. The primary outcome was the composite of stroke (progression of initial event or a subsequent event) and all-cause mortality. The cumulative incidence of stroke or death was 11.2% at 1 month, 13.3% at 3 months and 16.7% at 1 year. Incidence rate of stroke or death in the first month was 12.5 per 100 person-months: highest in patients with large artery atherosclerosis (17.0). The risk of subsequent events shortly after a minor AIS or high-risk TIA was substantial, particularly in patients with large artery atherosclerosis.

Objective: : The anti-tumor effect of the beta-adrenergic receptor antagonist propranolol in breast cancer is well known; however, its activity in glioblastoma is not well-evaluated. The Notch-Hes pathway is known to regulate cell differentiation, proliferation, and apoptosis. We investigated the effect of propranolol to human glioblastoma cell lines, and the role of Notch and Hes signaling in this process. Methods: : We performed immunohistochemical staining on 31 surgically resected primary human glioblastoma tissues. We also used glioblastoma cell lines of U87-MG, LN229, and neuroblastoma cell line of SH-SY5Y in this study. The effect of propranolol and isoproterenol on cell proliferation was evaluated using the MTT assay (absorbance 570 nm). The impact of propranolol on gene expression (Notch and Hes) was evaluated using real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR, whereas protein levels of Notch1 and Hes1 were measured using Western blotting (WB), simultaneously. Small interfering RNA (siRNA) was used to suppress the Notch gene to investigate its role in the proliferation of glioblastoma. Results: : Propranolol and isoproterenol caused a dose-dependent decrease in cell proliferation (MTT assay). RT-PCR showed an increase in Notch1 and Hes1 expression by propranolol, whereas WB demonstrated increase in Notch1 protein, but a decrease in Hes1 by propranolol. The proliferation of U87-MG and LN229 was not significantly suppressed after transfection with Notch siRNA. Conclusion : These results demonstrated that propranolol suppressed the proliferation of glioblastoma cell lines and neuroblastoma cell line, and Hes1 was more closely involved than Notch1 was in glioblastoma proliferation.

Objective: : Endovascular treatment of intracranial aneurysms is challenging in case of wide-necked aneurysms because coils are prone to herniate into the parent artery, causing thromboembolic events or vessel occlusion. This study aims to compare long-term angiographic results of wide-necked aneurysms treated by stent-assisted, double-microcatheter, or single-microcatheter groups. Methods: : Between January 2003 and October 2016, 108 aneurysms that were treated with endovascular coil embolization with a neck size wider than 4 mm and a follow-up period of more than 3 years were selected. We performed coil embolization with singlemicrocatheter, double-microcatheter, and stent-assisted techniques. Angiographic results were evaluated using the Raymond-Roy occlusion classification (RROC). All medical and angiographic records were reviewed retrospectively. Results: : Clinical and angiographic analyses were conducted in 108 wide-necked aneurysms. The immediate post-procedural results revealed RROC class I (complete occlusion) in 66 cases (61.1%), class II (residual neck) in 36 cases (33.3%), and class III (residual sac) in six cases (5.6%). The final follow-up results revealed class I in 48 cases (44.4%), class II in 49 cases (45.4%), and class III in 11 cases (10.2%). Of a total of 45 (41.6%) radiologic recurrences, there were 21 cases (19.4%) of major recurrence that required additional treatment, and 24 cases (22.2%) of minor recurrence. The final follow-up angiographic results showed statistically significant differences between the stent-assisted group and the others (p<0.01). Conclusion : Long-term follow-up angiography demonstrated that the stent-assisted technique had a better complete occlusion rate than the other two techniques.

Objective: : The anti-tumor effect of the beta-adrenergic receptor antagonist propranolol in breast cancer is well known; however, its activity in glioblastoma is not well-evaluated. The Notch-Hes pathway is known to regulate cell differentiation, proliferation, and apoptosis. We investigated the effect of propranolol to human glioblastoma cell lines, and the role of Notch and Hes signaling in this process. Methods: : We performed immunohistochemical staining on 31 surgically resected primary human glioblastoma tissues. We also used glioblastoma cell lines of U87-MG, LN229, and neuroblastoma cell line of SH-SY5Y in this study. The effect of propranolol and isoproterenol on cell proliferation was evaluated using the MTT assay (absorbance 570 nm). The impact of propranolol on gene expression (Notch and Hes) was evaluated using real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR, whereas protein levels of Notch1 and Hes1 were measured using Western blotting (WB), simultaneously. Small interfering RNA (siRNA) was used to suppress the Notch gene to investigate its role in the proliferation of glioblastoma. Results: : Propranolol and isoproterenol caused a dose-dependent decrease in cell proliferation (MTT assay). RT-PCR showed an increase in Notch1 and Hes1 expression by propranolol, whereas WB demonstrated increase in Notch1 protein, but a decrease in Hes1 by propranolol. The proliferation of U87-MG and LN229 was not significantly suppressed after transfection with Notch siRNA. Conclusion : These results demonstrated that propranolol suppressed the proliferation of glioblastoma cell lines and neuroblastoma cell line, and Hes1 was more closely involved than Notch1 was in glioblastoma proliferation.

Objective: : Endovascular treatment of intracranial aneurysms is challenging in case of wide-necked aneurysms because coils are prone to herniate into the parent artery, causing thromboembolic events or vessel occlusion. This study aims to compare long-term angiographic results of wide-necked aneurysms treated by stent-assisted, double-microcatheter, or single-microcatheter groups. Methods: : Between January 2003 and October 2016, 108 aneurysms that were treated with endovascular coil embolization with a neck size wider than 4 mm and a follow-up period of more than 3 years were selected. We performed coil embolization with singlemicrocatheter, double-microcatheter, and stent-assisted techniques. Angiographic results were evaluated using the Raymond-Roy occlusion classification (RROC). All medical and angiographic records were reviewed retrospectively. Results: : Clinical and angiographic analyses were conducted in 108 wide-necked aneurysms. The immediate post-procedural results revealed RROC class I (complete occlusion) in 66 cases (61.1%), class II (residual neck) in 36 cases (33.3%), and class III (residual sac) in six cases (5.6%). The final follow-up results revealed class I in 48 cases (44.4%), class II in 49 cases (45.4%), and class III in 11 cases (10.2%). Of a total of 45 (41.6%) radiologic recurrences, there were 21 cases (19.4%) of major recurrence that required additional treatment, and 24 cases (22.2%) of minor recurrence. The final follow-up angiographic results showed statistically significant differences between the stent-assisted group and the others (p<0.01). Conclusion : Long-term follow-up angiography demonstrated that the stent-assisted technique had a better complete occlusion rate than the other two techniques.