Cumulative sum analysis of the learning curve for retrograde intrarenal stone surgery in newbie surgeons.

Introduction: This study investigated the learning curve of retrograde intrarenal surgery (RIRS) in patients with medium-sized stones using cumulative sum analysis (CUSUM) to evaluate the competence and proficiency of three new surgeons during their first RIRS procedures.

Materials And Methods: We conducted a retrospective review of 227 patients from 2019 to 2022 at a single institution. The patients were divided into four groups based on the operating surgeon: tutor surgeon (85 patients), newbie surgeon A (21 patients), newbie surgeon B (85 patients), and newbie surgeon C (36 patients).

Prominent transcriptomic changes in Mycobacterium intracellulare under acidic and oxidative stress.

Background: Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC), including Mycobacterium intracellulare is a member of slow-growing mycobacteria and contributes to a substantial proportion of nontuberculous mycobacterial lung disease in humans affecting immunocompromised and elderly populations. Adaptation of pathogens in hostile environments is crucial in establishing infection and persistence within the host. However, the sophisticated cellular and molecular mechanisms of stress response in M.

Bigger problems from smaller colonies: emergence of antibiotic-tolerant small colony variants of Mycobacterium avium complex in MAC-pulmonary disease patients.

Background: Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) is a group of slow-growing mycobacteria that includes Mycobacterium avium and Mycobacterium intracellulare. MAC pulmonary disease (MAC-PD) poses a threat to immunocompromised individuals and those with structural pulmonary diseases worldwide. The standard treatment regimen for MAC-PD includes a macrolide in combination with rifampicin and ethambutol.

Lack of Association between Inhaled Corticosteroid Use Based on the Exhaled Nitric Oxide and Acute Exacerbation of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.

Background: Fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) is known to useful biomarker for detecting eosinophilic airway inflammation. However, there is a lack of evidence regarding the role of FeNO in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). We aimed to assess whether elevated FeNO and its impact on treatment change into an inhaled corticosteroid (ICS)-containing regimen and association with acute exacerbation (AE) in patients with COPD.

Risk Factors for the Mortality of Patients With Coronavirus Disease 2019 Requiring Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation in a Non-Centralized Setting: A Nationwide Study.

Background: Limited data are available on the mortality rates of patients receiving extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) support for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). We aimed to analyze the relationship between COVID-19 and clinical outcomes for patients receiving ECMO.

Methods: We retrospectively investigated patients with COVID-19 pneumonia requiring ECMO in 19 hospitals across Korea from January 1, 2020 to August 31, 2021.

A novel repeat sequence-based PCR (rep-PCR) using specific repeat sequences of as a DNA fingerprinting.

Repetitive sequence-based PCR (rep-PCR) is a potential epidemiological technique that can provide high-throughput genotype fingerprints of heterogeneous strains rapidly. Previously published rep-PCR primers, which are based on nucleotide sequences of Gram-negative bacteria may have low specificity for mycobacteria. Moreover, it was difficult to ensure the continuity of the study after the commercial rep-PCR kit was discontinued.

Impact of Alcohol Consumption on Quality of Life, Depressive Mood and Metabolic Syndrome in Obstructive Lung Disease Patients: Analysis of Data from Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from 2014 and 2016.

Background: The objective of this study was to investigate whether alcohol consumption might affect the quality of life (QOL), depressive mood, and metabolic syndrome in patients with obstructive lung disease (OLD).

Methods: Data were obtained from the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from 2014 and 2016. OLD was defined as spirometry of forced expiratory volume in 1 second/forced vital capacity <0.

Lipocalin-2 promotes acute lung inflammation and oxidative stress by enhancing macrophage iron accumulation.

Lipocalin-2 (LCN2) is an acute-phase protein that regulates inflammatory responses to bacteria or lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Although the bacteriostatic role of LCN2 is well studied, the function of LCN2 in acute lung damage remains unclear. Here, LCN2 knockout (KO) mice were used to investigate the role of LCN2 in LPS-treated mice with or without recombinant LCN2 (rLCN2).

Serum Fibrinogen as a Biomarker for Disease Severity and Exacerbation in Patients with Non-Cystic Fibrosis Bronchiectasis.

: Serum biomarkers associated with severe non-cystic fibrosis (CF) bronchiectasis are currently lacking. We assessed the association of serum fibrinogen, adiponectin, and angiopoietin-2 levels with the severity and exacerbation of bronchiectasis. : Serum levels of fibrinogen, adiponectin, and angiopoietin-2 were measured and compared in patients with stable non-CF bronchiectasis ( = 61) and healthy controls ( = 16).

Impact of the revised definition on incidence and outcomes of acute exacerbation of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

The revised definition of acute exacerbation (AE) in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) was proposed in 2016, but changes in the incidence and impact on prognosis of the re-defined AE compared to those of the previous definition remain unclear. Clinical data of 445 patients with IPF (biopsy proven cases: 165) were retrospectively reviewed. The median follow-up period was 36.

Serum hepatocyte growth factor as a predictor of disease severity and future exacerbations in patients with non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis.

Background: Serum biomarkers associated with the severity of non-cystic fibrosis (CF) bronchiectasis are insufficient. This study determined the association of serum hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), osteopontin, and pentraxin-3 levels with disease severity and exacerbation in patients with non-CF bronchiectasis.

Methods: Serum levels of HGF, osteopontin, and pentraxin-3 were measured in patients with clinically stable non-CF bronchiectasis (n = 61).

Serum albumin is a predictor of respiratory hospitalization in patients with bronchiectasis.

We evaluated serum albumin as an index for predicting respiratory hospitalization in patients with bronchiectasis. We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 177 patients with bronchiectasis, categorized them into low and normal albumin groups, and compared their clinical characteristics. The prediction of respiratory hospitalization by factors such as serum albumin level, bronchiectasis severity index (BSI), and FACED score (an acronym derived from five variables of forced expiratory volume in 1 s; FEV, age, chronic colonization of , extent of bronchiectasis, and dyspnea) was assessed.

Identification of Nontuberculous Mycobacteria in Patients with Pulmonary Diseases in Gyeongnam, Korea, Using Multiplex PCR and Multigene Sequence-Based Analysis.

Background: Nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) are widely present in environments, such as soil and water, and have recently been recognized as important pathogenic bacteria. The incidence of NTM-related infections is steadily increasing. As the diagnosis and treatment of NTM infection should be distinguished from tuberculosis, and the treatment should be specific to the species of NTM acquired, accurate species identification is required.