Combined impact of prediabetes and hepatic steatosis on cardiometabolic outcomes in young adults.

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the impact of hepatic steatosis on cardiometabolic outcomes in young adults with prediabetes.

Methods: A nationwide cohort study was conducted with 896,585 young adults under 40 years old without diabetes or previous history of cardiovascular disease. Hepatic steatosis was identified using a fatty liver index of ≥ 60.

Impact of shortening time on diagnosis of F-florbetaben PET.

Background: F-Florbetaben amyloid positron emission tomography (PET) scan is crucial for diagnosing Alzheimer's disease, typically involving a 20 min acquisition. However, maintaining such prolonged scans can be challenging in some cases. This study explores the diagnostic impact and feasibility of reducing scan durations by comparing quantitative measures between shortened and standard scans.

Enhancing Gout Diagnosis with Deep Learning in Dual-energy Computed Tomography: A Retrospective Analysis of Crystal and Artifact Differentiation.

Objectives: To evaluate whether the application of deep learning (DL) could achieve high diagnostic accuracy in differentiating between green colour coding, indicative of tophi, and clumpy artifacts observed in dual-energy computed tomography (DECT) scans.

Methods: A comprehensive analysis of 18 704 regions of interest (ROIs) extracted from green foci in DECT scans obtained from 47 patients with gout and 27 gout-free controls was performed. The ROIs were categorized into three size groups: small, medium, and large.

Differential statin intensity and outcomes in patients following myocardial infarction with very low low-density lipoprotein cholesterol.

Background: Despite increasing evidence on the benefits of statin therapy for acute myocardial infarction (AMI), differential outcomes in accordance with statin intensity have not been evaluated in patients with AMI and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels < 55 mg/dL. Therefore, this study aimed to compare the clinical outcomes of high- and moderate-intensity statin therapy in this population.

Methods: A total of 752 participants with AMI and LDL-C levels < 55 mg/dL from a Korean nationwide multicenter observational cohort (2016-2020) were included and categorized into two groups: high-intensity statin group (n = 384) and moderate-intensity statin group (n = 368).

Is a Training Program in Pediatric Abdominal Ultrasonography Necessary for Pediatricians?

Despite being an essential specialty, pediatrics in South Korea faces the threat of collapse. While the declining birth rate is an important contributor to the decrease in the pediatric population, a more critical issue lies in the dysfunctional healthcare system. Primary care pediatricians are troubled by the lack of patients, whereas tertiary care specialists are concerned about the shortage of doctors.

Estimation of Population Attributable Fraction by Hormone and Reproductive Factors on Female Cancer in the Republic of Korea, 2015 to 2030.

Purpose: Population attributable fractions (PAFs) for hormone and reproductive factors have been estimated in several countries. IARC designated as Group 1 and Group 2A carcinogen for hormone factors in breast, ovarian, endometrial and uterine cervix cancer. This study aimed to estimate the PAFs of hormone/reproductive factor attributed to cancer incidence and deaths in Korean women and projected trends from 2015 to 2030.

Effectiveness of Posterior Long-Segment Fixation for Thoracolumbar Osteoporotic Compression Fractures: A Retrospective Study.

Objective: This retrospective cohort study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of posterior long-segment fixation for thoracolumbar osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures (TLOVCFs) and identify prognosis-predicting factors.

Methods: Twenty-two patients with TLOVCFs who underwent posterior long-segment fixation between January 2013 and June 2022 were included. Preoperative, postoperative, and final follow-up data were collected, including demographics, bone mineral density, Cobb angle (CA) measurements, and neurological outcomes based on the Frankel classification.

Assessing the state of infection prevention and control in cameroon: a cross-sectional workshop evaluation using socioecological models.

Objectives: Infection prevention and control (IPC) contributes to the reduction of healthcare associated infections. Notwithstanding the global attention with available guidelines and tools, low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) still struggle to put into place effective IPC programmes. Here, we use a socioecological approach to summarize the findings of a recent workshop on the implementation of IPC activities in Cameroon.

Circulating osteoprotegerin and progression of coronary artery calcification in patients with chronic kidney disease: the KoreaN Cohort Study for Outcome in Patients With Chronic Kidney Disease (KNOW-CKD).

Background: Coronary artery calcification (CAC) is a surrogate of cardiovascular events in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). To establish the role of circulating osteoprotegerin (OPG) as a cardiovascular biomarker in patients with CKD, we investigated whether an increase in serum OPG levels is associated with the risk of CAC progression.

Methods: A total of 1,130 patients with CKD stage 1 to predialysis 5 were divided into quartiles according to serum OPG levels (Q1 to Q4).

Identification of risk factors associated with post-ERCP pancreatitis in patients with easy cannulation: A prospective multicenter observational study.

Background And Aims: Difficult biliary cannulation is an independent risk factor for post-endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) pancreatitis (PEP); however, there is a noticeable lack of studies focusing on the incidence and risk factors of PEP among patients undergoing easy cannulation. Therefore, we aimed to systematically investigate the risk factors for PEP in patients who underwent easy cannulation.

Methods: We prospectively enrolled patients with naïve major papillae who underwent diagnostic or therapeutic ERCP between June 2018 and June 2023.

Factors affecting the occurrence of maxillary sinus fungus ball.

Objective: We identified patients who initially did not have a maxillary sinus fungus ball on computed tomography (CT) but developed it on a subsequent CT scan. We assessed potential risk factors for developing a maxillary sinus fungus ball between the two scans.

Patients And Methods: This study included 35 patients with 38 lesions who initially had no maxillary sinus fungus balls on CT but were later diagnosed with the condition and underwent surgery.

Immunoglobulin G4-related spinal pachymeningitis: A case report.

Background: Immunoglobulin G4-related disease (IgG4-RD) is a complex immune-mediated condition that causes fibrotic inflammation in several organs. A significant clinical feature of IgG4-RD is hypertrophic pachymeningitis, which manifests as inflammation of the dura mater in intracranial or spinal regions. Although IgG4-RD can affect multiple areas, the spine is a relatively rare site compared to the more frequent involvement of intracranial structures.

Fractional Flow Reserve and Fractional Flow Reserve Gradient From CCTA for Predicting Future Coronary Events.

Background: Coronary computed tomography angiography-derived fractional flow reserve (FFR) is a per-vessel index reflecting cumulative hemodynamic burden while coronary events occur in focal lesions.

Objectives: The authors sought to evaluate the additive prognostic value of the local gradient of FFR (FFR gradient) in addition to FFR to predict future coronary events.

Methods: The current study included 245 patients (634 vessels) who underwent coronary computed tomography angiography within 6 to 36 months before the index angiography, of which 209 vessels had future coronary events and 425 vessels did not.

Developmental trajectories of atopic dermatitis with multiomics approaches in the infant gut: COCOA birth cohort.

Background: An understanding of the phenotypes and endotypes of atopic dermatitis (AD) is essential for developing precision therapies. Recent studies have demonstrated evidence for the gut-skin axis in AD.

Objective: We sought to determine the natural course and clinical characteristics of AD phenotypes and investigate their mechanisms on the basis of multiomics analyses.

Body mass index and breast cancer risk in premenopausal and postmenopausal East Asian women: a pooled analysis of 13 cohort studies.

Background: It has been suggested that the association between body mass index and breast cancer risk differs between Asian women and Western women. We aimed to assess the associations between body mass index and breast cancer incidence in East Asian women.

Methods: Pooled analyses were performed using individual participant data of 319,189 women from 13 cohort studies in Japan, Korea, and China.

Safety and efficacy of antiplatelet therapy in patients with intermediate coronary artery stenosis and deferred revascularization.

Introduction And Objectives: This study investigated the safety and efficacy of antiplatelet therapy in patients with intermediate coronary artery stenosis who underwent deferred revascularization due to their fractional flow reserve (FFR).

Methods: A nationwide cohort study was conducted using the Korean National Health Insurance Service database. A total of 4657 patients with intermediate coronary artery stenosis who underwent deferred revascularization due to their FFR were identified from 2013 to 2020.