Efficacy and Safety of Needle-Free Microjet Injection Versus Needle Injection of Botulinum Toxin for the Treatment of Crow's Feet: A Randomized Split-Face Pilot Study.

Background: Botulinum toxin is commonly used for cosmetic enhancements in various applications. However, the pain experienced during the injection process remains a significant concern.

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of a needle-free microjet drug injector, powered by an Er:YAG laser, for the injection of botulinum toxin to treat crow's feet wrinkles.

Exploring Traits Associated With Central Sensitization Features in Patients With Chronic Cough.

The concept of cough hypersensitivity suggests that central sensitization plays a role in the pathophysiology of chronic cough. However, it remains unclear which traits are associated with central sensitization features in patients with chronic cough. A cohort of 317 Korean patients with newly referred chronic cough underwent clinical evaluations.

Clinical Characteristics of T2-Low and T2-High Asthma-Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Overlap: Findings From COREA Cohort.

Purpose: Despite the emerging biologics, biomarkers and treatment options for asthma-chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) overlap (ACO) are still limited, requiring further research.

Methods: We enrolled 378 ACO patients from a multicenter real-world asthma cohort in Korea and compared the clinical characteristics, lung function, and exacerbation between type 2 (T2)-high and T2-low groups. We used the following comparisons: 1) low vs.

Early management of adult sepsis and septic shock: Korean clinical practice guidelines.

Background: Despite recent advances and global improvements in sepsis recognition and supportive care, mortality rates remain high, and adherence to sepsis bundle components in Korea is low. To address this, the Korean Sepsis Alliance, affiliated with the Korean Society of Critical Care Medicine, developed the first sepsis treatment guidelines for Korea based on a comprehensive systematic review and meta-analysis.

Methods: A de novo method was used to develop the guidelines.

Oval Tunnel Shows Better Rotational Stability Than Round Tunnel in Anatomical Single-Bundle Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction: Biomechanical Study in a Porcine Model.

Background: To compare knee laxity between the conventional round tunnel and oval tunnel techniques in primary anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction in a porcine knee model.

Methods: Twenty porcine knees were used for evaluating laxity in terms of anterior translation and anterolateral rotation. The study determined porcine knee kinematics on the Instron instruments under simulated Lachman (89 N anterior tibial load) at 15°, 30°, and 60° of flexion and a simulated pivot shift test (89 N anterior tibial load, 10 Nm valgus, and 4 Nm internal tibial torque) at 30° of flexion.

The association between locomotive function and incidence of proximal junctional kyphosis following adult spine deformity surgery.

Background And Objectives: This retrospective review study aimed to determine whether functional mobility test (FMT) results are related to the incidence of proximal junctional kyphosis (PJK) after surgical correction of adult spinal deformity (ASD).

Methods: A total of 157 patients who underwent reconstructive spinal surgery for ASD between July 2019 and December 2021 were included in this study. Three types of FMTs were performed preoperatively: timed-up-and-go (TUG) test, five times sit-to-stand (STS) test, and alternate step (AS) test.

Use of antipsychotic drugs during radiotherapy in adult cancer patients in Korea: a nationwide retrospective cohort study based on the national health insurance service database.

Background: Antipsychotic drugs (APDs) are used for treating mental illnesses and are also used by cancer patients. This study aimed to evaluate APD use in adult cancer patients who received radiotherapy (RT) in South Korea and assess the effects of APD use during RT on survival.

Methods: This retrospective cohort study utilized the National Health Insurance Service database database of Korea.

Dosimetric advantages of dual arc increments for head and neck volumetric-modulated arc therapy in the Monaco treatment planning system.

Purpose: This study aimed to assess the dosimetric advantages of dual arc increments in head and neck volumetric-modulated arc therapy (VMAT) in the Monaco treatment planning system (TPS).

Methods: Three VMAT plans were created for each of the 10 patients by prescribing 70 Gy in 35 fractions with arc increment combinations of 30°/30°, 15°/15°, and 30°/15° in the Monaco TPS. The dose to 0.

Efficacy and safety of LB-P9 on hair health: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial.

Introduction: Numerous factors influence hair health, including genetic predisposition, hormonal changes, stress, nutritional deficiencies, medical conditions, or medications. With the rising interest in maintaining hair health, alternative approaches such as functional cosmetics and food products are gaining attention. Probiotics, health-beneficial live microorganisms, are emerging as potential candidates for improving hair health.

Nonlesional ileal transcriptome in Crohn's disease reveals alterations in immune response and metabolic pathway.

Background And Aim: We aimed to assess the gene expression profiles of nonlesional small bowels in patients with Crohn's disease (CD) to identify its accompanying molecular alterations.

Methods: We performed RNA sequencing of the uninflamed small bowel tissues obtained from 70 patients with ileal CD and 9 patients with colon cancer (non-CD controls) during bowel resection. Differentially expressed gene (DEG) analyses were performed using DESeq2.

Combined Effects of Air Pollution and Changes in Physical Activity With Cardiovascular Disease in Patients With Dyslipidemia.

Background: Sedentary behavior elevates cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk in patients with dyslipidemia. Increasing physical activity (PA) is recommended alongside pharmacological therapy to prevent CVD, though benefits across environmental conditions are unclear.

Methods And Results: We analyzed data from 113 918 newly diagnosed patients with dyslipidemia (2009-2012) without prior CVD, sourced from the Korea National Health Insurance Service.

Automatic Virtual Contrast-Enhanced CT Synthesis Using Dual-Energy CT and Residual U-Net with Attention Module for Detecting Pulmonary Hilar Lymphadenopathy.

Rationale And Objectives: To propose an automatic virtual contrast-enhanced chest computed tomography (CT) synthesis using dual-energy CT and a Residual U-Net with an attention module to detect clinically significant hilar lymphadenopathy.

Materials And Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of 2082 patients who underwent dual-energy chest CT scans. Our approach utilized a Residual U-Net combined with a Convolutional Block Attention Module (CBAM) to transform non-contrast CT images into virtual contrast-enhanced CT images.

International Consensus Statement on Platelet Function and Genetic Testing in Percutaneous Coronary Intervention: 2024 Update.

Current evidence indicates that dual antiplatelet therapy with aspirin plus a P2Y inhibitor is essential for the prevention of thrombotic events after percutaneous coronary interventions. However, dual antiplatelet therapy is associated with increased bleeding which may outweigh the benefits. This has set the foundations for customizing antiplatelet treatments to the individual patient.

Roles of Cancer Histology Type and HPV Genotype in HPV ctDNA Detection at Baseline in Cervical Cancer: Implications for Tumor Burden Assessment.

Introduction: Human papillomavirus circulating tumor DNA (HPV ctDNA) is a promising biomarker for monitoring cervical cancer. HPV ctDNA level at baseline (before treatment) reflects tumor burden. However, reported HPV ctDNA detection rates at baseline have shown variations across studies, suggesting the existence of other potential contributing factors.

Sites of Metastasis and Survival in Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma: Results From the Korean Renal Cancer Study Group Database.

Background: In patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC), sites of metastatic involvement have been reported to be associated with a difference in survival. However, the frequency and survival according to different sites of metastases in Korean patients with mRCC remain unclear. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the frequency of metastatic site involvement and the association between sites of metastatic involvement and survival in Korean patients with mRCC.

Altererythrobacter arenosus sp. nov., Isolated from Marine Sediment.

Strain CAU 1644 was isolated from sea sand at Ganghwa Island, Republic of Korea. The bacterium is aerobic, Gram-staining negative, yellow-colored, non-motile, catalase-positive, and rod-shaped. Cells of strain CAU 1644 grew at 20-40 °C and pH 6.

Clinical Outcome of Cryoballoon Ablation for Long-Standing Persistent Atrial Fibrillation: From the Korean Cryballoon Ablation Registry.

Introduction: Pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) by cryoballoon ablation (CBA) is considered an effective primary strategy for early persistent atrial fibrillation (AF). However, data regarding CBA for long-standing persistent AF (PeAF) are limited. We evaluated the efficacy and safety of CBA for long-standing PeAF compared to PeAF.

The Incidence of Popeye Deformity After Soft-Tissue Biceps Tenodesis Is Comparable to Biceps Anchor Tenodesis and Lower Than Biceps Tenotomy During Arthroscopic Rotator Cuff Repair.

Purpose: To compare clinical and radiologic outcomes between biceps anchor tenodesis (AT), biceps soft-tissue tenodesis (ST), and biceps tenotomy (TT) for patients with concomitant rotator cuff repair (RCR).

Methods: This retrospective study reviewed patients who underwent arthroscopic RCR for full-thickness rotator cuff tears with AT, ST, or TT with minimum 2-year follow-up. All biceps procedures were performed arthroscopically, and ST consisted of fixation to the transverse humeral ligament.

Evolution of characteristics of MASLD with and without diabetes: a meta-analysis of placebo arms.

Background: We explored the changes in metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) severity over time by analyzing data from the placebo arms of randomized controlled trials (RCTs), focusing on the presence of diabetes.

Methods: RCTs on MASLD that included a placebo arm were identified using a systematic search of the literature. Primary outcomes were changes in hepatic steatosis and fibrosis.

Longitudinal assessment of serum albumin levels with the risk of coronary artery calcification progression in an asymptomatic population of Korean adults: an observational cohort study.

Objectives: This study evaluated the association between serum albumin levels and coronary artery calcification (CAC) progression in asymptomatic adults without hypoalbuminaemia at baseline.

Design: Observational cohort study.

Setting: Data from the Korea Initiatives on Coronary Artery Calcification (KOICA) which is a retrospective, single ethnicity, multicentre and observational registry were analysed.

Sex difference in the risk of coronary artery calcification progression related to hyperuricemia among asymptomatic 12,316 Korean adults.

Data on hyperuricemia-related changes in coronary atherosclerosis are limited, especially in sex difference. This study evaluated the association between hyperuricemia and coronary artery calcification (CAC) progression in asymptomatic Korean men and women. We analysed the data of 12,316 asymptomatic adults (51.

Different associations of atherogenic index of plasma, triglyceride glucose index, and hemoglobin A1C levels with the risk of coronary artery calcification progression according to established diabetes.

Background: Both insulin resistance and hyperglycemia are important risk factors for atherosclerosis. While the characteristics of atherosclerosis are obviously different according to established diabetes, little has been known regarding the risk of coronary artery calcification (CAC) progression related to the biomarkers of atherogenic index of plasma (AIP), triglyceride glucose (TyG) index, and hemoglobin A1C (HbA1C) in conditions with and without diabetes.

Methods: We analyzed 12,326 asymptomatic Korean adults (mean age 51.