Development of a deep learning-based fully automated segmentation of rotator cuff muscles from clinical MR scans.

Background: The fatty infiltration and atrophy in the muscle after a rotator cuff (RC) tear are important in surgical decision-making and are linked to poor clinical outcomes after rotator cuff repair. An accurate and reliable quantitative method should be developed to assess the entire RC muscles.

Purpose: To develop a fully automated approach based on a deep neural network to segment RC muscles from clinical magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans.

Relapse in patients with antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis undergoing dialysis: a single-centre retrospective study in South Korea.

Objectives: The disease activity of antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis (AAV) can decrease after dialysis, and relapse after dialysis is not well-studied. We investigated the clinical manifestations and factors associated with relapse in patients with AAV undergoing dialysis.

Methods: This retrospective study included data of patients with AAV undergoing dialysis due to renal involvement from July 2005 to March 2021 in a single tertiary centre in Seoul, Korea.

Effect of belimumab in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus treated with low dose or no corticosteroids.

Background/aims: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) responder index (SRI)-4 response has been achieved with belimumab treatment in patients with moderate disease activity in cornerstone clinical trials and following studies. However, most studies involved patients treated with a mean prednisolone-equivalent dose of approximately 10 mg/d and focused on the steroid-sparing effect of belimumab. We aimed to identify the effect of belimumab in patients with mild-to-moderate SLE who were treated with low-dose or no corticosteroids.

Cerebrospinal fluid flow artifact reduction with deep learning to optimize the evaluation of spinal canal stenosis on spine MRI.

Purpose: The aim of study was to employ the Cycle Generative Adversarial Network (CycleGAN) deep learning model to diminish the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) flow artifacts in cervical spine MRI. We also evaluate the agreement in quantifying spinal canal stenosis.

Methods: For training model, we collected 9633 axial MR image pairs from 399 subjects.

Recovery and long-term renal outcome of patients with anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis who are on dialysis at presentation.

Objective: Renal involvement in anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis (AAV) can lead to severe renal dysfunction requiring dialysis at diagnosis. We aimed to study the clinical and pathologic characteristics of patients with AAV dependent on dialysis at presentation and the long-term renal outcomes of patients who recovered from dialysis.

Methods: This retrospective study analyzed data of patients diagnosed with AAV who were on dialysis from July 2005 to May 2021 at a single tertiary center in Korea.

When MRI would be useful in patients without evidence of sacroiliitis on radiographs?

We aimed to identify when magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) would be useful to diagnose patients with suspected axial spondyloarthropathy (AxSpA) without evidence of sacroiliitis on radiographs. We retrospectively reviewed electronic medical records of patients who underwent pelvis MRI after radiographs at the rheumatology clinic in a single tertiary center in Korea. Patients underwent imaging from January 2020 to July 2022.

Fat quantification of the rotator cuff muscles using CT histogram analysis in comparison with Dixon MRI sequence.

Objectives: To quantify the proportion of fat within the rotator cuff muscles using CT histogram analysis (HA) and to compare fat fraction (FF) values obtained from CT and T2*-corrected 6-echo three-dimensional gradient-echo Dixon sequences.

Methods: Twenty-six patients who underwent both shoulder CT and MRI were enrolled. The FF of rotator cuff muscles was measured on FF maps of the Dixon technique.

Feasibility and clinical usefulness of deep learning-accelerated MRI for acute painful fracture patients wearing a splint: A prospective comparative study.

Objective: To evaluate the feasibility and clinical usefulness of deep learning (DL)-accelerated turbo spin echo (TSEDL) sequences relative to standard TSE sequences (TSES) for acute radius fracture patients wearing a splint.

Methods: This prospective consecutive study investigated 50 patients' preoperative wrist MRI scans acquired between July 2021 and January 2022. Examinations were performed at 3 Tesla MRI with body array coils due to the wrist splint.

Prognostic value of proteinuria monitoring in anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis.

Objective: To determine the prognostic significance of proteinuria monitoring in patients with anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis (AAV).

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the data of kidney biopsy-confirmed patients with AAV. Proteinuria was evaluated by a urine dipstick test.

Past and Future Epidemiological Perspectives and Integrated Management of Rice Bakanae in Korea.

In the past, rice bakanae was considered an endemic disease that did not cause significant losses in Korea; however, the disease has recently become a serious threat due to climate change, changes in farming practices, and the emergence of fungicide-resistant strains. Since the bakanae outbreak in 2006, its incidence has gradually decreased due to the application of effective control measures such as hot water immersion methods and seed disinfectants. However, in 2013, a marked increase in bakanae incidence was observed, causing problems for rice farmers.

Risk of New-Onset Diabetes Mellitus Associated with Antirheumatic Drugs in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Nationwide Population Study.

Background: This study aimed to investigate the effect of disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) on diabetes mellitus (DM) development in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Methods: This nested case−control study with a cohort of 69,779 DM-naïve adult patients with RA was conducted from 2011 to 2019 in South Korea. Cases with incident DM were identified and individually matched to randomly selected controls (1:4).

Identification of a new strain of ligustrum virus A causing leaf necrosis and chlorosis symptoms in Syringa oblata var. dilatata (Nakai) Rehder.

In 2020, lilac trees showing virus-like symptoms such as leaf necrosis and chlorosis were observed in Korea. After RT-PCR detection with specific primer sets designed based on previously reported nucleotide sequences of viruses in lilac, the agent was identified as ligustrum virus A (LVA). The complete genome of the virus was sequenced and used for phylogenetic analysis.

Effectiveness of radiologist training in improving reader agreement for Lung-RADS 4X categorization.

Objectives: To identify the agreement on Lung CT Screening Reporting and Data System 4X categorization between radiologists and an expert-adjudicated reference standard and to investigate whether training led to improvement of the agreement measures and diagnostic potential for lung cancer.

Methods: Category 4 nodules in the Korean Lung Cancer Screening Project were identified retrospectively, and each 4X nodule was matched with one 4A or 4B nodule. An expert panel re-evaluated the categories and determined the reference standard.

Deep learning reconstruction for contrast-enhanced CT of the upper abdomen: similar image quality with lower radiation dose in direct comparison with iterative reconstruction.

Objective: To evaluate the effect of a commercial deep learning algorithm on the image quality of chest CT, focusing on the upper abdomen.

Methods: One hundred consecutive patients who simultaneously underwent contrast-enhanced chest and abdominal CT were collected. The radiation dose was optimized for each scan (mean CTDI: chest CT, 3.

Cochlear duct length and cochlear distance on preoperative CT: imaging markers for estimating insertion depth angle of cochlear implant electrode.

Objectives: Preoperative estimation of the insertion depth angle of cochlear implant (CI) electrodes is essential for surgical planning. The purpose of this study was to determine the cochlear size using preoperative CT and to investigate the correlation between cochlear size and insertion depth angle in morphologically normal cochlea.

Methods: Thirty-five children who underwent CI were included in this study.

Autoantibodies against Protein Phosphatase Magnesium-Dependent 1A as a Biomarker for Predicting Radiographic Progression in Ankylosing Spondylitis Treated with Anti-Tumor Necrosis Factor Agents.

Background: Patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) have increased levels of protein phosphatase magnesium-dependent 1A (PPM1A) and autoantibodies. We evaluated the usefulness of serum anti-PPM1A antibodies as a biomarker for AS.

Methods: Serum samples from 58 AS patients were obtained from a multicenter registry prior to the initiation of anti-TNF agents.

Association between Use of Hydrochlorothiazide and Nonmelanoma Skin Cancer: Common Data Model Cohort Study in Asian Population.

Unlabelled: Although hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) has been suggested to increase skin cancer risk in white Westerners, there is scant evidence for the same in Asians. We analyzed the association between the use of hydrochlorothiazide and non-melanoma in the Asian population using the common data model.

Methods: A retrospective multicenter observational study was conducted using a distributed research network to analyze the effect of HCTZ on skin cancer from 2004 to 2018.

Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Texture Analysis of Preoperative Computed Tomography Images Can Provide Markers of Tumor Grade and Disease-Free Survival.

Objective: To investigate the usefulness of computed tomography (CT) texture analysis (CTTA) in estimating histologic tumor grade and in predicting disease-free survival (DFS) after surgical resection in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Materials And Methods: Eighty-one patients with a single HCC who had undergone quadriphasic liver CT followed by surgical resection were enrolled. Texture analysis of tumors on preoperative CT images was performed using commercially available software.

Infected cyst in patients with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease: Analysis of computed tomographic and ultrasonographic imaging features.

Purpose: To investigate the imaging features of cyst infection in autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) patients using computed tomography (CT) and ultrasonography (US).

Materials & Methods: The institutional review board approved this retrospective study. Fifty-one episodes with proven cyst infection in forty-three ADPKD patients were included.

Enhanced cellular transfection by ternary non-viral gene vectors coupled with adeno-associated virus-derived peptides.

The establishment of efficient and safe gene delivery systems is crucial for biomedical applications. To address this objective, novel, ternary hybrid gene vectors are designed with viral capsid peptides in non-viral gene carriers. The viral peptide, TQVGQKT, is coupled with a membrane active peptide, LK15.

Integration of adeno-associated virus-derived peptides into nonviral vectors to synergistically enhance cellular transfection.

This study describes a simple, versatile approach for developing a nonviral gene carrier by adopting the highly efficient gene delivery properties of the adeno-associated virus (AAV). Specific viral peptides (r3.45_hepBD) extracted from AAV r3.

Magnetically enhanced adeno-associated viral vector delivery for human neural stem cell infection.

Gene therapy technology is a powerful tool to elucidate the molecular cues that precisely regulate stem cell fates, but developing safe vehicles or mechanisms that are capable of delivering genes to stem cells with high efficiency remains a challenge. In this study, we developed a magnetically guided adeno-associated virus (AAV) delivery system for gene delivery to human neural stem cells (hNSCs). Magnetically guided AAV delivery resulted in rapid accumulation of vectors on target cells followed by forced penetration of the vectors across the plasma membrane, ultimately leading to fast and efficient cellular transduction.