Cancer therapy-related cardiac dysfunction and the role of cardiovascular imaging: systemic review and opinion paper from the Working Group on Cardio-Oncology of the Korean Society of Cardiology.

Cardio-oncology is a critical field due to the escalating significance of cardiovascular toxicity as a side effect of anticancer treatments. Cancer therapy-related cardiac dysfunction (CTRCD) is a prevalent condition associated with cardiovascular toxicity, necessitating effective strategies for prediction, monitoring, management, and tracking. This comprehensive review examines the definition and risk stratification of CTRCD, explores monitoring approaches during anticancer therapy, and highlights specific cardiovascular toxicities linked to various cancer treatments.

Nurses' engagement in advance care planning practices: A descriptive cross-sectional study.

Aims: To describe and compare nurses' awareness of, attitudes toward, and participation in advance care planning, as well as related facilitators and challenges, in four types of healthcare settings.

Design: A cross-sectional descriptive study.

Methods: Four hundred and ninety-eight registered nurses from tertiary, secondary and primary healthcare institutions, along with long-term care centres in South Korea, participated in an investigator-developed online survey.

Difference between subjective and objective cognitive decline confirmed by power spectral density.

Introduction: The study aims to use power spectrum changes in subjective cognitive decline (SCD) and amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI), preclinical stages of Alzheimer's disease (AD), for future biomarker studies in early AD diagnosis.

Methods: We recruited 23 SCD and 32 aMCI subjects and conducted comparative analysis using relative power spectral density (PSD). Automated preprocessing and statistical analysis were performed using iSync Brain® (iMediSync Inc.

Mortality in patients receiving renal replacement therapy in South Korea.

Background: This study analyzed data from the end-stage renal disease patient registry collected by the Korean Society of Nephrology to explore trends in mortality among dialysis patients from 2001 to 2022.

Methods: Mortality was analyzed in two ways: firstly, using the annual mortality rate; and secondly, by assessing survivability after a certain period of time since the initiation of dialysis. Additionally, we categorized the causes of death by disease group annually to observe how the proportions changed.

Reclassification of Myelodysplastic Neoplasms According to the 2022 World Health Organization Classification and the 2022 International Consensus Classification Using Open-Source Data: Focus on and -mutated Myelodysplastic Neoplasms.

Background: In 2022, the WHO and International Consensus Classification (ICC) published diagnostic criteria for myelodysplastic neoplasms (MDSs). We examined the influence of the revised diagnostic criteria on classifying MDSs in a large population.

Methods: We retrieved an open-source pre-existing dataset from cBioPortal and included 2,454 patients with MDS in this study.

Radiofrequency Ablation for the Treatment of Benign Thyroid Nodules: 10-Year Experience.

Longer follow-up after radiofrequency ablation (RFA) of benign thyroid nodules is needed to understand regrowth and other causes of delayed surgery and long-term complications. This retrospective study included consecutive patients treated with RFA for symptomatic benign nonfunctioning thyroid nodules between March 2007 and December 2010. RFA was performed according to the standard protocol.

Cardio-cerebrovascular adverse outcomes in patients with influenza with and without preexisting cardiovascular disease: Oral antiviral agents impact.

This study aimed to compare the 2-year cardio-cerebrovascular adverse outcomes of patients with influenza with and without preexisting cardiovascular disease (preCVD) treated with oral antiviral agents in the outpatient clinic. Oral antiviral agents are routinely prescribed to treat influenza infection with a positive rapid-antigen test in the outpatient clinic; however, influenza-associated cardio-cerebrovascular outcomes have not yet been characterized in patients with preCVD treated with oral antiviral agents. Data between 2006 and 2016 were extracted from the National Health Database of South Korea.

Efficacy of transdermal buprenorphine patch for managing withdrawal symptoms in patients with cancer physically dependent on prescription opioids.

Background: The physical dependence on prescription opioids among cancer survivors remains an under-investigated area, with a scarcity of well-designed prospective studies.

Methods: This single-arm, phase-2 clinical trial in Korea assessed the efficacy and safety of a transdermal buprenorphine patch (TBP) in managing physical dependence on prescription opioids in cancer survivors, as confirmed through the DSM-5 criteria or psychiatric consultation for opioid withdrawal. This study involved a 4-phase treatment protocol of screening, induction/stabilization, discontinuation, and monitoring.

Tumor necrosis factor-α-treated human adipose-derived stem cells enhance inherent radiation tolerance and alleviate in vivo radiation-induced capsular contracture.

Introduction: Post-mastectomy radiotherapy plays a crucial role in breast cancer treatment but can lead to an inflammatory response causing soft tissue damage, particularly radiation-induced capsular contracture (RICC), impacting breast reconstruction outcomes. Adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs), known for their regenerative potential via paracrine capacity, exhibit inherent radiotolerance. The influence of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) on ADSCs has been reported to enhance the paracrine effect of ADSCs, promoting wound healing by modulating inflammatory responses.

Vitis Vinifera Seed Extract Versus Micronized Purified Flavonoid Fraction for Patients with Chronic Venous Disease: A Randomized Noninferiority Trial.

Background: Venoactive drugs (VADs) based on Vitis vinifera extract are widely used in Korea. However, studies on the clinical effects and head-to-head comparisons with other groups of VADs are limited. This trial aimed to evaluate whether Vitis vinifera seed extract was noninferior to the micronized purified flavonoid fraction (MPFF) in relieving venous symptoms and improving quality of life in patients with chronic venous disease.

Home-based up-dosing of wheat oral immunotherapy: Real-world effectiveness and predictive factor analysis.

Background: Wheat allergy is one of the most prevalent allergens in Korea, decreasing quality of life and causing nutritional repercussions.

Objective: We aimed to investigate the efficacy and safety of the home-based wheat oral immunotherapy (OIT) using wheat noodles in children with a wheat allergy.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective study involving 72 children aged 3 to 17 years diagnosed with a wheat allergy.

Comparison of allergy prevalence using brinzolamide 1.0% / brimonidine 0.2% fixed combination with and without β-blocker in glaucoma patients: a retrospective cohort study.

Background: Glaucoma treatment often involves multi-drug regimens, which can lead to poor adherence and side effects. Fixed-dose combinations aim to improve adherence and reduce side effects compared to traditional therapies. This study aimed to compare the prevalence and clinical characteristics of ocular allergy in glaucoma patients using brinzolamide 1.

Trends in alcohol use and alcoholic liver disease in South Korea: a nationwide cohort study.

Background: There is a lack of national-level research on alcohol consumption and the epidemiology of alcoholic liver disease (ALD) in South Korea. This study aims to address the critical public health issue of ALD by focusing on its trends, incidence, and outcomes, using nationwide claims data.

Methods: Utilizing National Health Insurance Service data from 2011 to 2017, we calculated the population's overall drinking amount and the incidence of ALD based on ICD-10 diagnosis codes.

Automated eyeball volume measurement based on CT images using neural network-based segmentation and simple estimation.

With the increase in the dependency on digital devices, the incidence of myopia, a precursor of various ocular diseases, has risen significantly. Because myopia and eyeball volume are related, myopia progression can be monitored through eyeball volume estimation. However, existing methods are limited because the eyeball shape is disregarded during estimation.

Prevalence and risk factors for in-hospital mortality of adult patients on veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation for cardiogenic shock and cardiac arrest: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objectives: To synthesize quantitative research findings on the prevalence and risk factors for in-hospital mortality of patients on veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO).

Methods: A comprehensive search was conducted for the period from May 2008 to December 2023 by searching the five electronic databases of PubMed, CINAHL, Web of Science, EMBASE, and Cochrane library. The quality of included studies was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa scale.

Graves' orbitopathy development in thyroid cancer patients: a 16-year nationwide cohort study in South Korea.

Background/objectives: We aimed to investigate the prevalence, risk factors, and prognosis of Graves' orbitopathy (GO) in patients with thyroid cancer without a history of hyperthyroidism.

Subjects/methods: This retrospective cohort study analysed a sample from the Korean National Health Insurance Service database, which included 1,137,861 subjects from 2002 through 2019. Patients diagnosed with thyroid cancer, without a history of hyperthyroidism, were identified according to the Korean Standard Classification of Disease codes.

ECMO is associated with decreased hospital mortality in COVID-19 ARDS.

This study determined whether compared to conventional mechanical ventilation (MV), extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is associated with decreased hospital mortality or fibrotic changes in patients with COVID-19 acute respiratory distress syndrome. A cohort of 72 patients treated with ECMO and 390 with conventional MV were analyzed (February 2020-December 2021). A target trial was emulated comparing the treatment strategies of initiating ECMO vs no ECMO within 7 days of MV in patients with a PaO/FiO < 80 or a PaCO ≥ 60 mmHg.

Anatomical Reference of the Femur after Distal Resection Is Reliable for Rotational Alignment in Total Knee Arthroplasty.

The rotational alignment of the femoral component in total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is considered an important factor, but it is still difficult to assess intraoperatively. This study was conducted to identify anatomical parameters for femoral rotational alignment. A total of 204 patients who underwent primary TKA between 2015 and 2019 were enrolled.

Effect of intravenous palonosetron on hypotension induced by spinal anesthesia for cesarean section: A randomized controlled trial.

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of intravenous palonosetron compared to ondansetron on hypotension induced by spinal anesthesia in women undergoing cesarean section.

Methods: Fifty-four women scheduled for elective cesarean section were, randomly allocated to ondansetron group (n = 27) or palonosetron group (n = 27). Ten minutes prior to the administration of spinal anesthesia, participants received an intravenous injection of either ondansetron or palonosetron.