Different clinical characteristics and impact of carbapenem-resistance on outcomes between Acinetobacter baumannii and Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteraemia: a prospective observational study.

This study aimed to evaluate the differences in clinical characteristics and impact of carbapenem resistance (CR) on outcomes between Acinetobacter baumannii (Ab) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (Pa) bacteraemia. We prospectively identified all patients with Ab and Pa bacteraemia in 10 hospitals over 1 year. Treatment failure was defined as all-cause 30-day mortality, persistent bacteraemia, or recurrent bacteraemia within 30 days.

Efficacy and Safety of SID142 in Patients With Peripheral Arterial Disease: A Multicenter, Randomized, Double-Blind, Active-Controlled, Parallel-Group, Phase III Clinical Trial.

Purpose: Renexin® is a combination pill of cilostazol and Ginkgo biloba leaf extract that is used for the improvement of ischemic symptoms associated with peripheral arterial disease (PAD). SID142 is a controlled-release tablet of cilostazol (200 mg) and G biloba leaf extract (160 mg) that was developed to address the limitation of BID administration with Renexin. This study aimed to verify that SID142 was not inferior to Renexin in the treatment of patients with PAD.

CFD study on vesicoureteral reflux in the urinary tract with double J stent.

Objective: This study investigates the effects of vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) in the upper and lower urinary tracts with and without ureteral stenosis and with a double J stent (DJS).

Methods: The entire length of the urinary tract with an implanted DJS was modeled. To assess the possibility of VUR, the measured values were used as boundary conditions for the baseline, the maximum cystometric bladder capacity (MCBC) during the filling phase, and maximum vesical pressure during the voiding phase were computed.

Change of peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer and choroidal thickness during 4-year myopic progress: Boramae Myopia Cohort Study Report 4.

Aims: To investigate the longitudinal changes of peripapillary retinal nerve fibre layer (RNFL) and choroidal thickness during myopic axial elongation.

Methods: Peripapillary RNFL and choroidal thickness were prospectively evaluated by spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) in 46 eyes of 23 myopic children over the course of 4 years. Using serial OCT images acquired based on a fixed scan circle in the glaucoma progression analysis mode, general and sectoral RNFL thicknesses were acquired at the same position and the angular location of the peak was measured.

Mechanical Failure After Total En Bloc Spondylectomy and Salvage Surgery.

Objective: Total en bloc spondylectomy (TES) is a curative surgical method for spinal tumors. After resecting the 3 spinal columns, reconstruction is of paramount importance. We present cases of mechanical failure and suggest strategies for salvage surgery.

Prasugrel Dose De-escalation Therapy After Complex Percutaneous Coronary Intervention in Patients With Acute Coronary Syndrome: A Post Hoc Analysis From the HOST-REDUCE-POLYTECH-ACS Trial.

Importance: De-escalation of dual-antiplatelet therapy through dose reduction of prasugrel improved net adverse clinical events after acute coronary syndrome (ACS), mainly through the reduction of bleeding without an increase in ischemic outcomes. However, whether such benefits are similarly observed in those receiving complex procedures is unknown.

Objective: To investigate whether the benefits of prasugrel dose de-escalation therapy are maintained in the complex percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) subgroup.

Selenophosphate synthetase 1 deficiency exacerbates osteoarthritis by dysregulating redox homeostasis.

Aging and mechanical overload are prominent risk factors for osteoarthritis (OA), which lead to an imbalance in redox homeostasis. The resulting state of oxidative stress drives the pathological transition of chondrocytes during OA development. However, the specific molecular pathways involved in disrupting chondrocyte redox homeostasis remain unclear.

Clinico-radiological characteristics of anti-myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody-associated autoimmune encephalitis in children.

Aim: To investigate the clinical characteristics and prevalence of paediatric anti-myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG) antibody-associated autoimmune encephalitis.

Method: A total of 94 paediatric patients (46 males, 48 females, median age 9 years 5 months, range: 8 months-17 years 8 months) with autoimmune encephalitis were recruited at Seoul National University Children's Hospital. We evaluated autoantibody status and identified patients with anti-MOG antibody-associated autoimmune encephalitis.

The Role of Focal Epilepsy Features in Defining Mutation-positive Dravet Syndrome as Generalized and Focal Epilepsy.

Background And Purpose: This study was aimed to describe focal epilepsy features of mutation-positive Dravet syndrome patients.

Methods: A total of 82 mutation-positive patients were reviewed retrospectively (39 boys and 43 girls). Seizure type and electroencephalography (EEG) findings were investigated according to the stage, disease onset, and steady state (after age 2 years).

Biomechanical comparison between double-plate fixation and posterior plate fixation for comminuted olecranon fracture using two triceps screws in synthetic bone model.

Background: Although preventing triceps fragment displacement is essential for treating an olecranon fracture, we frequently encounter situations in which only a few screws can be fixed to the triceps fragment. The aim of this study was to compare the stability of double-plate fixation and posterior plate fixation for olecranon fractures when the triceps fragment was small and only 2 screws could be inserted.

Methods: A composite ulna model was used to simulate olecranon fracture.

Combinatory statuses of tumor stromal percentage and tumor infiltrating lymphocytes as prognostic factors in stage III colorectal cancers.

Background And Aim: Tumor stroma and tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) are major constituents of the tumor microenvironment, although they have different effects on the prognosis of patients with colorectal cancer (CRC). Combinatory statuses of tumor-stromal percentage (TSP) and TILs are expected to provide more powerful prognostic information but have never been studied in CRCs.

Methods: Stage III CRCs from patients (n = 487) treated with adjuvant chemotherapy were assessed for their TSP and CD3-TIL or CD8-TIL densities using computer-aided methodology.

Free combination of dutasteride plus tamsulosin for the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia in South Korea: analysis of drug utilization and adverse events using the National Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service database.

Objective: To assess the use and safety of free combination therapy (dutasteride and tamsulosin), dutasteride monotherapy, or tamsulosin monotherapy in patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).

Methods: This non-interventional retrospective cohort study used claims data from the Korea Health Insurance Review and Assessment-National Patient Sample database. Patients with BPH ≥ 40 years of age receiving combination therapy (dutasteride 0.

Direct medical costs after surgical or nonsurgical treatment for degenerative lumbar spinal disease: A nationwide matched cohort study with a 10-year follow-up.

Objective: The demand for treating degenerative lumbar spinal disease has been increasing, leading to increased utilization of medical resources. Thus, we need to understand how the budget of insurance is currently used. The objective of the present study is to overview the utilization of the National Health Insurance Service (NHIS) by providing the direct insured cost between patients receiving surgery and patients receiving nonsurgical treatment for degenerative lumbar disease.

Disease-modifying therapeutic strategies in osteoarthritis: current status and future directions.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common form of arthritis. It is characterized by progressive destruction of articular cartilage and the development of chronic pain and constitutes a considerable socioeconomic burden. Currently, pharmacological treatments mostly aim to relieve the OA symptoms associated with inflammation and pain.

Proteomic identification of novel plasma biomarkers associated with spontaneous preterm birth in women with preterm labor without infection/inflammation.

Objective: We sought to identify plasma biomarkers associated with spontaneous preterm birth (SPTB, delivery within 21 days of sampling) in women with preterm labor (PTL) without intra-amniotic infection/inflammation (IAI) using label-free quantitative proteomic analysis, as well as to elucidate specific protein pathways involved in these cases.

Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study comprising 104 singleton pregnant women with PTL (24-32 weeks) who underwent amniocentesis and demonstrated no evidence of IAI. Analysis of pooled plasma samples collected from SPTB cases and term birth (TB) controls (n = 10 for each group) was performed using label-free quantitative mass spectrometry for proteome profiling in a nested case-control study design.

Conservative Treatment Without Any Intervention Compared With Other Therapeutic Strategies for Symptomatic Patent Ductus Arteriosus in Extremely Preterm Infants: A Nationwide Cohort Study in Korea.

Although symptomatic treatment is the most preferred treatment strategy for proven symptomatic patent ductus arteriosus (PDA), a considerable number of infants only received conservative treatment without any pharmacological or surgical interventions in the lower gestational age and lower birth weight group in Korea. We compared in-hospital outcomes of infants treated conservatively without any intervention and those of infants managed by other therapeutic strategies in extremely preterm infants with symptomatic PDA. A prospectively collected cohort study for 2,303 infants with gestational ages <28 weeks from the Korean Neonatal Network database.

Epstein-Barr Virus miR-BART1-3p Regulates the miR-17-92 Cluster by Targeting E2F3.

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is associated with several tumors and generates BamHI A rightward transcript (BART) microRNAs (miRNAs) from BART transcript introns. These BART miRNAs are expressed at higher levels in EBV-associated epithelial malignancies than in EBV-infected B lymphomas. To test the effects of EBV miRNA on the cell cycle and cell growth, we transfected miR-BART1-3p, a highly expressed EBV-associated miRNA, into gastric carcinoma cells.

Prediction of recurrence after surgery based on preoperative MRI features in patients with pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors.

Objectives: To investigate useful MRI features in pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor (PNET) patients for predicting recurrence and its timing after surgery.

Methods: A total of 99 patients with PNET who underwent MRI and surgery from 2000 to 2018 were enrolled. Two radiologists independently assessed MRI findings, including size, location, margin, T1 and T2 signal intensity, enhancement patterns, common bile duct (CBD) or main pancreatic duct (MPD) dilatation, vascular invasion, lymph node enlargement, DWI, and ADC value.

The collagen structure of C1q induces wound healing by engaging discoidin domain receptor 2.

Background: C1q has been reported to reveal complement-independent roles in immune and non-immune cells. C1q binds to its specific receptors to regulate distinct functions that rely on the environment and cell types. Discoidin domain receptor 2 (DDR2) is activated by collagen and functions in wound healing by controlling matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) expression.

Evaluation of copper alloys for reducing infection by methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus and vancomycin resistant Enterococcus faecium in intensive care unit and in vitro.

Background/aims: Multi-drug resistant pathogens are increasing among healthcare-associated infections. It is well known that copper and copper alloys have antimicrobial activity. We evaluated the activity of copper against bacteria in a hospital setting in Korea.

Moderate-Vigorous Physical Activity and Clinical Outcomes in Adults with Nondialysis Chronic Kidney Disease.

The health benefits of physical activity (PA) are well known. However, the association between an adequate amount of moderate-vigorous PA (MVPA) and clinical outcomes has limited evidence in chronic kidney disease (CKD). We assessed PA using a self-administered questionnaire.

Tumor microenvironment-adjusted prognostic implications of the KRAS mutation subtype in patients with stage III colorectal cancer treated with adjuvant FOLFOX.

Several studies have reported that the prognostic effect of KRAS mutations on colorectal cancers (CRCs) varies depending on the type of mutation. Considering the effect of KRAS mutations on tumor microenvironment, we analyzed the prognostic significance of KRAS mutation types after adjusting for the tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL) and tumor-stromal percentage (TSP) statuses. In two independent cohorts, KRAS mutations were analyzed by Sanger sequencing and/or next-generation sequencing.