Hepatitis C Virus Seroprevalence in Persons Who Inject Drugs in Korea, 2012-2022: A Multicenter, Retrospective Study.

Background: Limited data are available on hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in persons who inject drugs (PWID) in South Korea. The present study aimed to investigate the seroprevalence of HCV antibodies, risk factors for HCV seropositivity, and HCV treatment status in PWID between January 2012 and May 2022.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 418 drug users who underwent HCV antibody testing in three hospitals caring for 90% of known PWID in South Korea, of whom 373 were PWID.

Relationship between Arachidonate 5-Lipoxygenase-Activating Protein Gene and Peripheral Arterial Disease in Elderly Patients Undergoing General Surgery: A Retrospective Observational Study.

Patients with peripheral arterial disease (PAD) are at a higher risk of developing postoperative complications. Arachidonate 5-lipoxygenase-activating protein (ALOX5AP) plays an important role in atherosclerosis pathogenesis. In this study, the relationship between PAD and several single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of ALOX5AP (rs17216473, rs10507391, rs4769874, rs9551963, rs17222814, and rs7222842) was investigated in elderly patients undergoing general surgery.

Expanded Efficacy of Venovenous Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation Support for Deceased Donor Liver Transplantation.

Background: Perioperative respiratory failure occurs frequently in liver transplantation (LT) recipients. Venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VV-ECMO) has been applied in patients with acute and potentially reversible life-threatening respiratory failure that is unresponsive to conventional therapies. VV-ECMO is used as a bridging device for lung transplantation.

The effect of alpha-2A adrenergic receptor (ADRA2A) genetic polymorphisms on the depth of sedation of dexmedetomidine: a genetic observational pilot study.

Background: The genetic polymorphisms of the alpha-2A adrenergic receptor (ADRA2A), which plays a significant role in sedation, anxiety relief, and antinociception, particularly in dexmedetomidine, may differ in the degree of sedation. This study aimed to investigate the effect of the genetic polymorphisms of ADRA2A (rs11195418, rs1800544, rs2484516, rs1800545, rs553668, rs3750625) on the sedative effects of dexmedetomidine.

Methods: A total of 131 patients aged 50 years or more from May 2018 to August 2019 were included in this study.

Changes in renal function and predictors affecting renal outcome of living kidney donors: a nationwide prospective cohort study.

Aim: The safety of donors is an important issue in living donor kidney transplantation. We investigated serial changes in renal function and predictors affecting the renal outcome of living kidney donors.

Methods: We obtained the data of 456 kidney donors registered to the Korean Organ Transplantation Registry from 2014 to 2016.

Impact of age on the incidence of complications after liver transplantation: A single-center retrospective study.

Background And Objective: Advances in surgical technique, postoperative management, and immunosuppressive therapy have led to a steady increase in the number of patients undergoing organ transplantation. This study aimed to compare the incidence of postoperative complications between young and elderly patients undergoing liver transplantation (LT) at a single university hospital.

Method: The medical records of 253 patients who underwent LT between January 2010 and July 2017 were retrospectively reviewed.

Index of Cardiac Age Index and Cardiometabolic Biomarkers in Adults with Metabolic Syndrome.

The presence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) seems to alter or accelerate the aging process of tissues or organs including the heart. We aim to investigate whether MetS are associated with an index of cardiac age calculated by parameters derived from 128-slice cardiac multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) and cardiometabolic biomarkers in adults. In this cross-sectional study, the data were collected from 135 subjects who underwent a comprehensive health checkup, including cardiac MDCT in adults (age ≥18 years).

Advantages of New Endoscopic Unilateral Laminectomy for Bilateral Decompression (ULBD) over Conventional Microscopic ULBD.

Backgroud: Biportal endoscopic unilateral laminectomy for bilateral decompression (ULBD) is an emerging minimally invasive procedure for spinal stenosis. However, reports of the results associated with this surgical method are still lacking.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective study of 60 patients who underwent bilateral decompression for lumbar central canal stenosis.

Liver Transplant Patients with High Levels of Preoperative Serum Ammonia Are at Increased Risk for Postoperative Acute Kidney Injury: A Retrospective Study.

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is one of the most frequent postoperative complications after liver transplantation (LT). Increased serum ammonia levels due to the liver disease itself may affect postoperative renal function. This study aimed to compare the incidence of postoperative AKI according to preoperative serum ammonia levels in patients after LT.

Liver Transplant Patients with High Preoperative Serum Bilirubin Levels Are at Increased Risk of Postoperative Delirium: A Retrospective Study.

Postoperative delirium is a common complication after liver transplantation (LT). A high model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) score is an independent risk factor for postoperative delirium, but it is unclear which of the components of this score are risk indicators. The aim of this study was to analyze the incidence of postoperative delirium according to the preoperative serum bilirubin level, a component of the MELD score, in patients who underwent LT.

A novel method to determine hepatic segments using Sonazoid, an ultrasound contrast agent.

The conventional radiologic method for liver segmentation is based on the position of the hepatic and portal veins. However, during surgery, liver segments are resected based on the distribution of hepatic portal blood flow. This discrepancy can lead to a number of problems, such as miscommunication among clinicians, missing the location of the segment with the hepatic mass, and the risk of extended hepatic resection.

Efficacy and Safety of Pioglitazone versus Glimepiride after Metformin and Alogliptin Combination Therapy: A Randomized, Open-Label, Multicenter, Parallel-Controlled Study.

Background: There is limited information regarding the optimal third-line therapy for managing type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) that is inadequately controlled using dual combination therapy. This study assessed the efficacy and safety of pioglitazone or glimepiride when added to metformin plus alogliptin treatment for T2DM.

Methods: This multicenter, randomized, active-controlled trial (ClinicalTrials.

Effects of Electrical Muscle Stimulation on Waist Circumstance in Adults with Adbominal Obesity: A Randomized, Double-blind, Sham-Controlled Trial.

Introduction: We investigated the effects of electrical muscle stimulationon waist circumference as compared with an identical device providing transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation as control in adults with abdominal obesity.

Methods: This was a randomized, double-blind, sham-controlled trial. Sixty patients with abdominal obesity received electrical muscle stimulation or transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation randomly five times a week for 12 weeks.

Effectiveness of C2 Incidence Angle for Evaluating Global Spinopelvic Alignment in Patients with Mild Degenerative Spondylosis.

Objective: To analyze the correlation between C2 incidence (C2I) and cervical and thoracolumbar sagittal parameters and determine the effectiveness of C2I for evaluating global spinopelvic sagittal alignment.

Methods: Whole spine standing lateral radiographs of 226 patients (mean age, 47.8 ± 11.

Unusual Presentation of Multiple Myeloma.

Malignancy is an independent risk factor of venous thromboembolism, although it is difficult to determine whether occult cancer is the cause of unprovoked VTE. About 25% of patients with VTE remain idiopathic. Here, the authors report the case of a 63-year-old woman with a history of unprovoked VTE some 10 months previously who presented with recurrent cough and dyspnea of 6 months duration and was finally diagnosed to have multiple myeloma.

The impact of a dose of the angiotensin receptor blocker valsartan on post-myocardial infarction ventricular remodelling.

Aims: Although clinical guidelines advocate the use of the highest tolerated dose of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors or angiotensin receptor blockers after acute myocardial infarction (MI), the optimal dosing or the risk-benefit profile of different doses have not been fully identified.

Methods And Results: In this multicentre trial, 495 Korean patients with acute ST segment elevation MI and subnormal left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction (<50%) were randomly allocated (2:1) to receive maximal tolerated dose of valsartan (titrated up to 320 mg/day, n = 333) or low-dose valsartan (80 mg/day, n = 162) treatment. The primary objective was to assess the changes in echocardiographic parameters of LV remodelling from baseline to 12 months after discharge.

A Patient With Submerged Sinonasal Angiosarcoma After Resection of Underlying Organizing Hematoma.

A 30-year-old female patient with facial pain diagnosed as organizing hematoma of maxillary sinus by biopsy and imaging studies, and subsequently tumor was resected via an endoscope-assisted midfacial degloving approach. The tumor was histopathologically confirmed as organizing hematoma. In 3-week follow-up, asymptomatic emerging mass was observed at the same site, and needed a revision endoscopic resection.

Efficacy and Tolerability of Telmisartan/Amlodipine + Hydrochlorothiazide Versus Telmisartan/Amlodipine Combination Therapy for Essential Hypertension Uncontrolled With Telmisartan/Amlodipine: The Phase III, Multicenter, Randomized, Double-blind TAHYTI Study.

Purpose: This 8-week study in Korea aimed to evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of a telmisartan/amlodipine + hydrochlorothiazide (TAH) combination versus telmisartan/amlodipine (TA) combination in patients with essential hypertension that did not respond appropriately to 4-week treatment with TA.

Methods: All patients who met the inclusion criteria received TA (40/5 mg) during a 4-week run-in period (period 1). Patients who met the criteria for essential hypertension (mean sitting systolic blood pressure [MSSBP], ≥140 and <200 mm Hg, or ≥130 and<200 mm Hg in those with diabetes mellitus or chronic kidney disease) after period 1 were randomly assigned to receive TA 40/5 mg + hydrochlorothiazide 12.

Efficacy and Safety of Adding Omega-3 Fatty Acids in Statin-treated Patients with Residual Hypertriglyceridemia: ROMANTIC (Rosuvastatin-OMAcor iN residual hyperTrIglyCeridemia), a Randomized, Double-blind, and Placebo-controlled Trial.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the efficacy and safety of adding ω-3 fatty acids to rosuvastatin in patients with residual hypertriglyceridemia despite statin treatment.

Methods: This study was a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. After a 4-week run-in period of rosuvastatin treatment, the patients who had residual hypertriglyceridemia were randomized to receive rosuvastatin 20 mg/d plus ω-3 fatty acids 4 g/d (ROSUMEGA group) or rosuvastatin 20 mg/d (rosuvastatin group) with a 1:1 ratio and were prescribed each medication for 8 weeks.

Arterial Stiffness Is More Associated with Albuminuria than Decreased Glomerular Filtration Rate in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: The REBOUND Study.

Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between arterial stiffness and albuminuria and glomerular filtration rate (GFR) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Methods: This multicenter cohort study analyzed 2613 patients with type 2 diabetes. Brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) was used as a noninvasive marker of arterial stiffness.

Relationships among Obesity, Sarcopenia, and Osteoarthritis in the Elderly.

Background: The present study examined the correlations between obesity, sarcopenia, and osteoarthritis in Korea's elderly population.

Methods: A cross-sectional analysis of 1,865 and 1,769 respondents with knee osteoarthritis and lumbar spondylosis, respectively, was performed by using data from the 2010 and 2011 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Obesity was defined as a body mass index of ≥25 kg/m; osteoarthritis, as a Kellgren/Lawrence grade of ≥2; and sarcopenia, as an appendicular skeletal muscle mass (ASM; ASM/weight ×100) on dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry of two standard deviations below the mean reference value.

Vitamin D status and its associations with rheumatoid arthritis in Korean women: the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2008-2014.

In the present study, vitamin D status and its associations with rheumatoid arthritis in Korean women were investigated. Total 2,162 women's data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey during 2008-2014 ware analyzed by complex sampling design logistic regression analysis and complex sampling design general linear model. Women who over 19 years old were included, and who has osteoporosis or abnormal parathyroid hormone or renal failure or liver cirrhosis or abnormal creatinine were excluded.

Incidence and risk factors of recurrence of overactive bladder symptoms after discontinuation of successful medical treatment.

Purpose: To identify incidence and risk factors of recurrence after discontinuation of successful antimuscarinic therapy in patients with overactive bladder (OAB).

Materials And Methods: This was a prospective, multicenter trial. Patients who had antimuscarinic agents for more than 12 weeks and showed successful response were enrolled.