Intermediate-stage (BCLC stage B) infiltrative hepatocellular carcinoma: safety and efficacy of chemoembolization.

Objectives: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of chemoembolization in patients with intermediate-stage infiltrative Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Materials And Methods: This retrospective study evaluated outcomes in treatment-naïve patients who received chemoembolization as first-line treatment for intermediate-stage infiltrative HCC between 2002 and 2022. Of the 2029 treatment-naïve patients who received chemoembolization as first-line treatment for intermediate-stage HCC, 244 (12%) were identified as having the infiltrative type.

Prognostic Implications of Synchronous Subsolid Nodules in Patients with Resected Subsolid Lung Adenocarcinoma.

Background For multiple subsolid nodules (SSNs) observed at lung CT, current management focuses on removal of the dominant (≥6 mm) nodule and monitoring of remaining SSNs. Whether the presence of these synchronous SSNs is related to postoperative patient outcomes has not been well established. Purpose To evaluate the prognostic value of single versus multiple synchronous SSNs at preoperative CT in patients with resected subsolid lung adenocarcinoma nodules.

Comparison of the Analgesic Efficacy between Arthroscopically Placed Continuous Suprascapular Nerve Block and Ultrasound-guided Continuous Superior Trunk Block: A Double-blinded Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: Single-shot suprascapular nerve block and superior trunk block have been reported to provide a noninferior analgesic effect after shoulder surgery with a lesser incidence of hemidiaphragmatic paresis compared with interscalene brachial plexus block. This study hypothesized that continuous suprascapular nerve block provides noninferior analgesia with minimal effects on diaphragmatic movement compared with continuous superior trunk block in patients undergoing arthroscopic shoulder surgery.

Methods: 100 patients were randomized undergoing arthroscopic shoulder surgery between December 2020 and October 2021 into continuous suprascapular nerve block and continuous superior trunk block groups.

An Epidemiologic Study of the Incidence and Mortality of Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms in Koreans Aged ≥50 Years from 2009 to 2018 Based on a National Database.

Large-scale population studies of the incidence of and mortality from abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) are needed to develop healthcare policies and priorities. The aim of this study was to estimate the incidence of AAA and the all-cause mortality from it among Koreans aged ≥50 years from 2009 to 2018 using data from the Korean National Health Insurance System Database. The crude and standardized incidence and all-cause mortality of the disease among patients with unruptured AAA were calculated.

New anti-diabetic agents for the treatment of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: a systematic review and network meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Objectives: This network meta-analysis aims to compare the efficacy and safety of new anti-diabetic medications for the treatment of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).

Materials And Methods: PubMed and Scopus were searched from inception to 27 March 2022 to identify all randomized controlled trials (RCTs) in NAFLD patients. Outcomes included reductions in intrahepatic steatosis (IHS) and liver enzyme levels.

Cost-utility analysis of genomic profiling in early breast cancer in Colombia.

Background: In Colombia, the best strategy to establish indication for adjuvant chemotherapy in early breast cancer (EBC) remains unknown. This study aimed to identify the cost-utility of Oncotype DX™ (ODX) or Mammaprint™ (MMP) tests to establish the necessity of adjuvant chemotherapy.

Methods: This study used an adapted decision-analytic model to compare cost and outcomes of care between ODX or MMP tests and routine care without ODX or MMP tests (adjuvant chemotherapy for all patients) over a 5-year time horizon from the perspective of the Colombian National Health System (NHS; payer).

Validation of the academic research consortium high bleeding risk definition in Thai PCI registry.

Background: Bleeding following percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) has important prognostic implications. The Academic Research Consortium (ARC) have identified a set of clinical criteria to standardize the definition of a high bleeding risk (HBR). Current study sought to externally validate the ARC definition for HBR patients in a contemporary real-world cohort.

Association of changes in body mass index and waist circumference with cardiovascular risk in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: A nationwide study.

Background: We investigated whether changes in body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC) are associated with cardiovascular risk in patients with NAFLD using a nationwide dataset.

Methods: Using the National Health Insurance Service-Health Screening Cohort (NHIS-HEALS) data in Korea, a total of 19,057 subjects who underwent two consecutive medical check-ups (2009-2010 and 2011-2012) and who had a fatty-liver index (FLI) value of ≥ 60 were included in the analysis. Cardiovascular events were defined as the occurrence of stroke or transient ischemic attack, coronary heart disease, and cardiovascular death.

Economic and Clinical Outcomes of Pediatric Patients Under Two With Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infection in Thailand: A Real-world Retrospective Cohort Study.

Background: Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a common cause of acute respiratory tract infection in children, including in Thailand. We conducted this study to evaluate the economic and clinical outcomes of patients <2 years old with RSV infection at a tertiary teaching hospital in Thailand.

Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study during 2014-2021.

Association between Rapid Ventricular Response and Stroke Outcomes in Atrial Fibrillation-Related Cardiac Embolic Stroke.

Introduction: Patients with atrial fibrillation-related stroke (AF-stroke) are prone to developing rapid ventricular response (RVR). We investigated whether RVR is associated with initial stroke severity, early neurological deterioration (END) and poor outcome at 3 months.

Methods: We reviewed patients who had AF-stroke between January 2017 and March 2022.

Adult-onset megacolon with focal hypoganglionosis: A detailed phenotyping and prospective cohort study.

Background: In this prospective cohort study, we evaluated features of "adult-onset megacolon with focal hypoganglionosis."

Methods: We assessed the radiologic, endoscopic, and histopathologic phenotyping and treatment outcomes of 29 patients between 2017 and 2020. Data from community controls, consisting of 19,948 adults undergoing health screenings, were analyzed to identify risk factors.

Treatment of obstructive sleep apnea in high risk pregnancy: a multicenter randomized controlled trial.

Background: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) during pregnancy is a risk factor for preeclampsia possibly through a link to placental physiology. This study evaluates the efficacy of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) on the modulation of blood pressure and the reduction in preeclampsia in women with high-risk pregnancy and OSA.

Methods: A multicenter open-label, randomized controlled trial comparing CPAP treatment versus usual antenatal care was conducted in three academic hospitals in Bangkok, Thailand.

Predicting arrhythmic event score in Brugada syndrome: Worldwide pooled analysis with internal and external validation.

Background: Brugada syndrome is an inherited arrhythmic disease associated with major arrhythmic events (MAE). Risk predictive scores were previously developed with various performances.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to create a novel score-Predicting Arrhythmic evenT (PAT)-with internal and external validation.

Real-time ultrasound guidance versus fluoroscopic guidance in thoracic epidural catheter placement: a single-center, non-inferiority, randomized, active-controlled trial.

Introduction: Fluoroscopy can improve the success rate of thoracic epidural catheter placement (TECP). Real-time ultrasound (US)-guided TECP was recently introduced and showed a high first-pass success rate. We tested whether real-time US-guided TECP results in a non-inferior first-pass success rate compared with that of fluoroscopy-guided TECP.

Trend of asthma prevalence and risk factors in the 20s age band in South Korea.

Background: The prevalence of asthma has increased in many countries. However, whether asthma prevalence may only be true in a specific age band is not well known. Thus, we analyzed the increase in asthma prevalence according to age band and analyzed the related factors.

Race-Specific Impact of Conventional Surgical Risk Score on 1-Year Mortality After Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement.

Background: Interracial differences in the distribution and prognostic value of conventional Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS) score on long-term mortality after transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) are uncertain.

Objectives: This study aims to compare the impact of STS scores on clinical outcomes at 1-year after TAVR between Asian and non-Asian populations.

Methods: We used the Trans-Pacific TAVR (TP-TAVR) registry, a multinational multicenter, observational registry involving patients undergoing TAVR at 2 major centers in the United States and 1 major center in Korea.

Validation of Academic Research Consortium for High Bleeding Risk Definition in East-Asian Patients.

Background: Clinical applicability of the Academic Research Consortium High Bleeding Risk (ARC-HBR) criteria in East-Asian patients receiving potent antiplatelet therapy for acute coronary syndromes (ACS) is still undetermined.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to validate the ARC definition for HBR in East-Asian patients with ACS for invasive management.

Methods: We analyzed data from the TICAKOREA (Ticagrelor Versus Clopidogrel in Asian/Korean Patients With ACS Intended for Invasive Management) trial and randomly assigned 800 Korean ACS subjects to receive, in a 1:1 ratio, ticagrelor or clopidogrel.

Use of real world data to improve drug coverage decisions in China.

discuss the rationale and propose a framework for using real world evidence to support coverage decisions in Chinese setting

Increased Risk of Osteoporotic Fracture in Patients With Autoimmune Hepatitis.

Introduction: Few large-scale studies have been published regarding the association between autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) and risk of osteoporotic fracture. This study aimed to determine the risk of developing an osteoporotic fracture in patients with AIH.

Methods: We used claims data from the Korean National Health Insurance Service between 2007 and 2020.

Diagnostic stewardship to limit repeat plasma cytomegalovirus viral load testing.

Background: Frequent serial monitoring of plasma cytomegalovirus (CMV) viral load caused unnecessary budgets for laboratory testing without changes in treatment. We aimed to implement diagnostic stewardship to limit CMV viral load testing at appropriate intervals.

Methods: A quasi-experimental study was performed.

Patency of arteriovenous fistulas and grafts for dialysis access: An analysis using the Korean National Health Insurance Service database from 2008 to 2019.

Background: Arteriovenous (AV) access practice and its outcomes vary internationally. To provide a better understanding of the patterns and outcomes of AV access creation, we investigated the patency and risk factors of arteriovenous fistulas (AVFs) and grafts (AVGs) as initial AV access in the Korean adult population using data from the last 10 years.

Methods: The National Health Insurance Service database was queried retrospectively to identify patients undergoing hemodialysis with AVFs and AVGs as well as their clinical characteristics and outcomes from 2008 to 2019.

Statin therapy reduces dementia risk in atrial fibrillation patients receiving oral anticoagulants.

Aims: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is linked to an increased risk of dementia, even in stroke-free patients. The impact of statin therapy on dementia risk is unclear in AF patients receiving oral anticoagulant (OAC) (vitamin K antagonist and direct-acting OAC). We sought to investigate the impact of statin therapy on dementia risk in AF patients receiving OAC.