Clinical Efficacy and Safety of the Intra-articular Injection of Autologous Adipose-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells for Knee Osteoarthritis: A Phase III, Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial.

Background: Intra-articular injection of autologous culture-expanded adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ADMSCs) has introduced a promising treatment option for knee osteoarthritis. Although the clinical efficacy and safety of ADMSCs have been reported, the treatment remains controversial owing to the small sample sizes and heterogeneous osteoarthritis grades in previous studies.

Purpose: To assess the efficacy and safety of intra-articular injection of ADMSCs as compared with placebo in alleviating pain and improving functional capacity in a large sample of patients with knee osteoarthritis of Kellgren-Lawrence (K-L) grade 3.

Endoscopic Treatment of Chronic Subdural Hematoma Combined with Inner Subdural Hygroma.

Objective: A chronic subdural hematoma (CSDH) is a collection of bloody fluid located in the subdural space and encapsulated by neo-membranes. An inner subdural hygroma (ISH) is observed between the inner membrane of a CSDH and the brain surface. We present six cases of CSDH combined with ISH treated via endoscopy.

Myocardial Flow Assessment After Heart Transplantation Using Dynamic Cadmium-Zinc-Telluride Single-Photon Emission Computed Tomography With Tl and Tc Tracers and Validated by N-NH Positron Emission Tomography.

Background: Cardiac allograft vasculopathy (CAV) is an obliterative and diffuse form of vasculopathy and is the most common cause of long-term cardiovascular mortality in heart transplant patients. This study aimed to investigate the diagnostic performance of Tc and Tl tracers in the assessment of CAV using cadmium-zinc-telluride (CZT) single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) for myocardial blood flow (MBF) and myocardial flow reserve (MFR) quantification, which was further validated using N-NH positron emission tomography (PET).

Methods: Thirty-eight patients with prior heart transplantation who underwent CZT SPECT and N-NH PET dynamic scans were included in this study.

Clinical outcomes of a new four-haptic hydrophobic presbyopia-correcting intraocular lens.

A new presbyopia-correcting intraocular lens (IOL) combining bifocal and extended-depth-of-focus profiles (Symbiose: Artis Symbiose Plus; Cristalens Industrie, Lannion, France) was introduced. We compared the output with that of a standard monofocal IOL (PL E: Artis PL E). The two four-haptic hydrophobic IOLs were made of the same material from the same company.

Impact of metabolic risk factors on hepatic and cardiac outcomes in patients with alcohol- and non-alcohol-related fatty liver disease.

Background & Aims: Metabolic risk factors (MetRs) are associated with hepatic and cardiac outcomes in patients with fatty liver disease (FLD). We evaluated whether MetRs have different effects on alcoholic FLD (AFLD) and non-alcoholic FLD (NAFLD).

Methods: We used a standardised common data model to analyse data from seven university hospital databases between 2006 and 2015.

Intense pulsed-light treatment improves objective optical quality in patients with meibomian gland dysfunction.

Background: To evaluate changes in objective optical quality following intense pulsed light (IPL) treatment combined with meibomian gland (MG) expression (MGX) in patients with MG dysfunction (MGD).

Methods: This retrospective cross-sectional study included MGD-related dry eye disease (DED) patients who received IPL treatment between March and December 2021 at Kim's Eye Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea. Each patient underwent four sessions of IPL treatment using Lumenis M22 (Lumenis Ltd.

Proteomic analysis of tears in dry eye disease: A prospective, double-blind multicenter study.

Purpose: To identify specific dry eye disease (DED) tear biomarker(s) using tear proteomic analysis, clinical parameters, and their correlations before and after DED treatment.

Methods: A prospective, double-blinded, national multicenter clinical study was performed using data from 80 DED patients. The patients were treated with 0.

Histamine-2 Receptor Antagonists and Proton Pump Inhibitors Are Associated With Reduced Risk of SARS-CoV-2 Infection Without Comorbidities Including Diabetes, Hypertension, and Dyslipidemia: A Propensity Score-Matched Nationwide Cohort Study.

Background: This study aimed to identify the effect of histamine-2 receptor antagonist (H2RA) and proton pump inhibitor (PPI) use on the positivity rate and clinical outcomes of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

Methods: We performed a nationwide cohort study with propensity score matching using medical claims data and general health examination results from the Korean National Health Insurance Service. Individuals aged ≥ 20 years who were tested for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) between 1 January and 4 June 2020 were included.

Long-term durability of sustained virologic response for hepatitis C virus infection in solid organ transplant recipients receiving direct-acting antivirals.

Data are limited regarding the long-term durability of sustained virologic response (SVR) in solid organ transplant recipients who achieve SVR with direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) for hepatitis C virus (HCV). We reported the virologic outcomes in 42 recipients who received DAAs for acute or chronic HCV infection after heart, liver, and kidney transplantation. After achieving SVR, all recipients received HCV RNA surveys at SVR, and biannually until the last visit.

Hormone Replacement Therapy and the Incidence of Nonarteritic Anterior Ischemic Optic Neuropathy: a Nationwide Population-Based Study (2009-2018).

Purpose: This study aimed to assess the association between hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and the prevalence of nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION) in menopausal women using national data from the entire Korean population.

Methods: The health screening data of 1,381,605 women between 40 and 90 years of age collected by the National Health Insurance Service (NHIS) of Korea between January 1, 2009, and December 31, 2018, were retrospectively reviewed. Before data analysis, the potential cofounders were adjusted for among all participants.

Effect of Self-treatment of Recurrent Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance: Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) is the most common cause of vertigo with frequent recurrences.

Objective: To determine the efficacy of a web-based diagnosis and treatment of BPPV when it recurs in patients with confirmed and treated BPPV.

Design, Setting, And Participants: This randomized, controlled, parallel-group, double-blind trial took place in multiple referral-based university hospitals in South Korea between July 2017 and February 2020.

Associations between Body Mass Index, Waist Circumference, and Myocardial Infarction in Older Adults Aged over 75 Years: A Population-Based Cohort Study.

: Body mass index (BMI) is widely used as a standard screening method for obesity and an indicator of related diseases. However, its inability to distinguish between lean body mass and body fat limits its utility. This limitation may be more prominent in older populations, wherein age-related sarcopenia and increased visceral fat due to the redistribution of adipose tissue may preclude a precise estimation of obesity.

Long-term cardiovascular outcomes of gestational diabetes mellitus: a prospective UK Biobank study.

Background: Previous studies showed that gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) can be a risk factor for subsequent atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. However, there is a paucity of information regarding diverse cardiovascular outcomes in elderly women after GDM. In the current study, we examined whether women with a history of GDM have an increased risk for long-term overall cardiovascular outcomes.

PRE-OPerative ECHOcardiograhy for prevention of cardiovascular events after non-cardiac surgery in intermediate- and high-risk patients: protocol for a low-interventional, mixed-cohort prospective study design (PREOP-ECHO).

Background: Cardiac evaluation using transthoracic echocardiography before noncardiac surgery is common in real-world practice. However, evidence supporting preoperative echocardiography is lacking. This study aims to evaluate the additional benefit of preoperative echocardiography in predicting postoperative cardiovascular events (CVE) in noncardiac surgery.

Prognostic value of chronicity grading on renal outcomes in patients with IgA nephropathy.

Many studies have shown that chronic changes are strong predictors of renal outcomes in various kidney diseases, including IgA nephropathy. The Mayo Clinic/Renal Pathology Society suggested a glomerulonephritis reporting system with a proposal for standardized grading of chronic changes. The purpose of this study was to predict renal outcomes in patients with IgA nephropathy using chronicity grading in comparison to the Oxford classification which did not include global sclerosis.

Survey of Korean pediatrician's perceptions of barriers to and improvements in breastfeeding.

Background: Although the benefits of breastfeeding are broadly acknowledged with the efforts of the government and several medical societies, the rate of exclusive breastfeeding through 6 months is lower in Korea than in developed countries.

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate pediatricians' perceptions of breastfeeding barriers and the current breastfeeding counseling environment and propose government policies to encourage breastfeeding in Korea.

Methods: Fourteen survey questions were developed during meetings of Korean Society of Breastfeeding Medicine experts.

Histological changes and neural elements in the subacromial bursa on patients with rotator cuff tear: Pilot study.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the neural elements of the subacromial bursa (SAB) in rotator cuff tears.

Materials And Methods: Twenty patients with rotator cuff tears were recruited, and their visual analog scale (VAS) score, duration of symptoms, and range of motion (ROM), including flexion, external rotation, and internal rotation were evaluated. Tear size was measured using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Aortic remodeling after endovascular aortic repair and tailored distal entry tears exclusion in Crawford type III or IV dissection aneurysm.

Background: Thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) can only promote 55-80% false lumen (FL) thrombosis when only the proximal primary tear is covered during the repair of type B aortic dissection (TBAD). This study evaluated the effectiveness and clinical outcome of tailored exclusion of the primary entry tear with TEVAR and distal fenestrations with ancillary devices in patients with subacute or chronic Crawford type III and IV aortic dissection aneurysm.

Methods: All patients underwent either TEVAR for primary entry tear; subsequently, various ancillary devices were applied on each distal fenestration.

A Longitudinal Retrospective Observational Study on Obesity Indicators and the Risk of Impaired Fasting Glucose in Pre- and Postmenopausal Women.

The impact of obesity could differ according to menopausal status since women undergo significant physiologic and metabolic changes due to menopause. We investigated the association between various major obesity indicators and the risk of impaired fasting glucose (IFG) according to menopausal status using nationally representative data. A total of 571,286 premenopausal and 519,561 postmenopausal women who underwent both Korean National Health Insurance Service (NHIS) cancer screening in 2009 and health check-ups in 2017 were analyzed.

Leukotriene receptor antagonists and risk of neuropsychiatric events in children, adolescents and young adults: a self-controlled case series.

Background: Leukotriene receptor antagonists (LTRAs) are widely used for asthma and allergic rhinitis (AR), but concerns about the risk of neuropsychiatric events (NPEs) have been raised since the first Drug Safety Communication by the US Food and Drug Administration in 2008. This study evaluates the association between LTRA use and NPEs in children, adolescents and young adults with asthma or AR.

Methods: A self-controlled case series study was conducted using the Korean National Health Insurance Service claims database from two 3-year observation periods (observation period 1 (Obs1): 2005-2007; observation period 2 (Obs2): 2016-2018).