Higher serum uric acid as a risk factor for frailty in older adults: A nationwide population-based study.

Background: Uric acid (UA), the terminal breakdown product of purine metabolism, possesses contradictory roles, functioning both as an inflammatory mediator and as an antioxidant. Its clinical relevance, particularly in geriatric populations, remains a topic of ongoing debate. Aiming to elucidate whether circulating UA is detrimental or beneficial to human health, we investigate the association between serum UA concentrations and the frailty index-a comprehensive measure of biological aging in a nationally representative cohort of community-dwelling older adults.

A link between systemic low-grade inflammation and frailty in older adults: clinical evidence from a nationwide population-based study.

Background/aims: Despite the possible role of systemic low-grade inflammation on frailty, the majority of previous studies have focused solely on the phenotypic frailty with limited participant numbers, thereby weakening the evidence supporting the notion that circulating C-reactive protein (CRP) could be a potential frailty biomarker.

Methods: This study is a nationally representative, population-based, cross-sectional analysis from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, involving 5,359 participants aged 65 and older. We generated a deficit accumulation frailty index (FI) based on 38 items, encompassing physical, cognitive, psychological, and social status.

Case report: Pembrolizumab as an alternative to atezolizumab following a severe infusion reaction.

The emergence of immune-checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) has revolutionized the field of oncology, providing promising results in various malignancies. However, ICIs can sometimes lead to severe injection reactions, requiring alternative treatment options. In this case report, we introduce a case of a severe infusion reaction induced by atezolizumab.

Reliability Exercise of Ultrasound Salivary Glands in Sjögren's Disease: An International Web Training Initiative.

Introduction: Major salivary gland ultrasonography (SGUS) demonstrated its good metric properties as an outcome measure for diagnosing primary Sjögren's disease (SD). The objective was to assess SGUS reliability among sonographers with different levels of experience, using web training.

Methods: Sonographers from expert centers participated in the reliability exercise.

Serum KL-6 levels predict the occurrence and severity of treatment-related interstitial lung disease in lung cancer.

In this study, we aimed to investigate the feasibility of serum Krebs von den Lungen-6 (KL-6) as a potential biomarker for treatment-related ILD (TR-ILD) in lung cancer. We recruited patients with lung cancer in whom KL-6 was measured to differentiate between pneumonia and ILD (category 1), diagnose and assess the severity of suspicious ILD (category 2), or evaluate baseline levels before cancer treatment (category 3). Among 1,297 patients who underwent KL-6 testing, 422 had lung cancer, and TR-ILD was detected in 195 patients.

The Clinical Frailty Scale as a Risk Assessment Tool for Dysphagia in Older Inpatients: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Background: Dysphagia is a common problem with potentially serious consequences including malnutrition, dehydration, pneumonia, and death. However, there are challenges in screening for dysphagia in older adults. We assessed the feasibility of using the Clinical Frailty Scale (CFS) as a risk assessment tool for dysphagia.

Under-diagnosis of vector-borne diseases among individuals suspected of having Scrub Typhus in South Korea.

Due to environmental and ecological changes and suitable habitats, the occurrence of vector-borne diseases is increasing. We investigated the seroprevalence of four major vector-borne pathogens in human patients with febrile illness who were clinically suspected of having Scrub Typhus (ST) caused by Orientia tsutsugamushi. A total of 187 samples (182 patient whole blood and sera samples, including 5 follow-up) were collected.

Impact of malnutrition evaluated by the mini nutritional assessment on the prognosis of acute hospitalized older adults.

Background: Malnutrition is prevalent among hospitalized older patients. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the association between nutritional status [assessed using the Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA) and serum albumin levels] and adverse outcomes in hospitalized older patients. We also aimed to compare the predictive utility of our findings.

Arthroscopic partial meniscectomy vs non-surgical or sham treatment in patients with MRI-confirmed degenerative meniscus tears: a systematic review and meta-analysis with individual participant data from 605 randomised patients.

Objective: To identify subgroups of patients with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-confirmed degenerative meniscus tears who may benefit from arthroscopic partial meniscectomy (APM) in comparison with non-surgical or sham treatment.

Methods: Individual participant data (IPD) from four RCTs were pooled (605 patients, mean age: 55 (SD: 7.5), 52.

Association Between Oral Health and Frailty in Older Korean Population: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Purpose: Frailty is closely associated with biological age, concurrent medical conditions, morbidity, and decreased survival. Poor oral health is common in older individuals and is associated with frailty. Considering its potential importance, a study on the association between oral health and frailty is meaningful.

Risk factors for cerebral complications in patients with pulmonary arteriovenous malformations: A multicenter retrospective cohort study.

Objective: Pulmonary arteriovenous malformation (PAVM) is a rare pulmonary disease. Although most patients with PAVMs are asymptomatic, cerebral complications associated with PAVMs are often fatal. This study aimed to evaluate the risk factors for cerebral complications in patients with PAVMs.

Sensory neuronopathy in a patient with neurofibromatosis type 1: A case report.

Rationale: Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF-1) can manifest with various neurological symptoms. However, sensory ataxia has not been reported.

Patient Concerns: A 44-year-old man with NF-1 presented with several weeks of unsteady gait.

COMPrehensive geriatric AsseSSment and multidisciplinary team intervention for hospitalised older adults (COMPASS): a protocol of pragmatic trials within a cohort.

Introduction: There is an increased demand for services for hospitalised older patients with acute medical conditions due to rapidly ageing population. The COMPrehensive geriatric AsseSSment and multidisciplinary team intervention for hospitalised older adults (COMPASS) study will test the effectiveness of comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA) and multidisciplinary intervention by comparing it with conventional care among acute hospitalised older adults in Korea.

Methods And Analysis: A multicentre trial within a cohort comprising three substudies (randomised controlled trials) will be conducted.

Performance of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Serological Diagnostic Tests and Antibody Kinetics in Coronavirus Disease 2019 Patients.

Serological testing is recommended to support the detection of undiagnosed coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases. However, the performance of serological assays has not been sufficiently evaluated. Hence, the performance of six severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) binding antibody assays [three chemiluminescence (CLIAs) and three lateral flow immunoassays (LFIAs)] and a surrogate virus neutralization test (sVNT) was analyzed in a total of 988 serum samples comprising 389 COVID-19-positives and 599 COVID-19-negatives.

Altered distribution, activation and increased IL-17 production of mucosal-associated invariant T cells in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome.

Objective: Mucosal-associated invariant T (MAIT) cells are a subset of innate-like T cells that are engaged in a number of diseases, but their roles in acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) are not fully examined yet. This study aimed to examine levels and functions of MAIT cells in patients with ARDS.

Methods: Peripheral blood samples from patients with ARDS (n=50) and healthy controls (HCs, n=50) were collected.

Comparison of core muscle strengthening exercise and stretching exercise in middle-aged women with fibromyalgia: A randomized, single-blind, controlled study.

Background: Many studies have reported that exercise is effective for fibromyalgia and various types of exercise are recommended. However, most of exercises lack evidence for fibromyalgia symptoms. We aimed to examine the effect of core muscle strengthening exercise compared to general stretching exercise in fibromyalgia patients.

Accuracy and Diversity of Wearable Device-Based Gait Speed Measurement Among Older Men: Observational Study.

Background: Gait speed measurements are widely used in clinical practice, as slow gait is a major predictor of frailty and a diagnostic criterion for sarcopenia. With the development of wearable devices, it is possible to estimate the gait speed in daily life by simply wearing the device.

Objective: This study aims to accurately determine the characteristics of daily life gait speed and analyze their association with sarcopenia.

Clinical characteristics and prognosis of patients with Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia without a compromised illness.

Objective: Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (PCP) is a fatal respiratory infection, mostly associated with immunocompromised conditions. Several reports have described PCP development in patients who were not immunocompromised, but the clinical course and prognosis of PCP are not well understood. We compared the clinical characteristics and prognoses between patients with and without immunocompromised conditions who developed PCP.

Evaluation of a Fully Automated Antinuclear Antibody Indirect Immunofluorescence Assay in Routine Use.

Indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA) using HEp-2 cells as a substrate is the gold standard for detecting antinuclear antibodies (ANA) in patient serum. However, the ANA IFA has labor-intensive nature of the procedure and lacks adequate standardization. To overcome these drawbacks, the automation has been developed and implemented to the clinical laboratory.

Comparison of Long-Term Survival Analysis Between Open-Wedge High Tibial Osteotomy and Unicompartmental Knee Arthroplasty.

Background: To compare unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (UKA) and open-wedge high tibial osteotomy (OWHTO) in a long-term follow-up propensity score matching analysis.

Methods: Patients who underwent UKA or OWHTO for unilateral medial unicompartmental osteoarthritis (OA) between 2004 and 2010 were included. The ROM, HSS score, KS score, WOMAC score, forgotten joint score, OA progression in patellofemoral and lateral compartments, and survivorship were compared within ten years of follow-up between 67 UKA and 67 OWHTO patients after propensity score matching for age, gender, body mass index, range of motion, and osteoarthritis (OA) grade.

Allogeneic umbilical cord blood-derived mesenchymal stem cells combined with high tibial osteotomy: a retrospective study on safety and early results.

Background: Cartilage repair performed as a single-stage procedure is an important advancement in the treatment of full-thickness cartilage injury and has potential for widespread clinical use.

Purpose: To investigate the short-term outcomes and cartilage regeneration after implantation of allogeneic human umbilical cord blood-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hUCB-MSCs) in patients who received high tibial osteotomy (HTO) for symptomatic medial knee osteoarthritis.

Methods: Patients underwent treatment of full-thickness chondral injury in the osteoarthritic knee with HTO and implantation of hUCB-MSCs and were followed prospectively for a minimum of one year.

Viral Load Kinetics of SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Saliva in Korean Patients: a Prospective Multi-center Comparative Study.

Background: This study was performed to compare the viral load and kinetics of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) in saliva with those in standard nasopharyngeal/oropharyngeal (NP/OP) swabs.

Methods: Fifteen patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection from four hospitals were prospectively enrolled and matched samples of nasopharyngeal/oropharyngeal swabs and saliva were collected at Day 1 of admission and every other day till consequently negative for two times. Real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (rRT-PCR) was performed to detect the envelope (E) and RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRP) genes.

A medical care model using comprehensive geriatric assessment for community-dwelling older Korean adults.

Background: The quality of life of older adults deteriorates when they lose their ability to perform activities of daily living. Therefore, the older adults should be assessed to identify risk factors for functional decline and to correct these factors so that they may live as independently as possible in the community. We developed a medical care model using comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA) for community-dwelling older patients.