[Guideline for Minimizing Radiation Exposure of Interventionalists during Fluoroscopy-guided Interventional Procedures].

As fluoroscopy-guided interventional procedures gain popularity, the associated health threats from radiation exposure to interventionalists during these procedures are increasing. Therefore, an understanding of the potential risks of radiation and careful consideration on minimizing exposure to radiation during the procedures are of paramount importance. The Korean Pancreatobiliary Association has developed a clinical practice guideline to minimize radiation exposure during fluoroscopy-guided interventional procedures.

Influence of prestroke glycemic status on outcomes by age in patients with acute ischemic stroke and diabetes mellitus.

Background: This study aimed to explore the association between admission HbA1c and the risk of 1-year vascular outcomes stratified by age group in patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS) and diabetes mellitus (DM).

Methods: This study analyzed prospective multicenter data from patients with AIS and DM. Admission HbA1C were categorized as:≤6.

The Perioperative NonaGEnaRIan And cenTenarian suRgICal (GERIATRIC) Risk Stratification Tool.

Objective: To develop age-appropriate nonaGEnaRIan And cenTenarian suRgICal (GERIATRIC) risk tool for classifying patients who may or may not develop postoperative complications or die within their index hospital admission.

Background: There are no validated perioperative risk stratification tools for use in nonagenarian and centenarian patients-people aged 90 to 99 years and >100 years.

Methods: In this retrospective observational study, nonagenarians and centenarians undergoing any surgical procedure were profiled.

Clinical updates in mesenchymal stromal cell therapy for osteoarthritis treatment.

Introduction: Osteoarthritis (OA) is a common chronic musculoskeletal disease with heterogeneous clinical manifestations and variable responses to different treatments. Unfortunately, there is no effective disease modifying therapy at present that can alter the natural course of the disease. Cell therapy based on mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) may offer an attractive therapeutic option for OA with their multiple modes of action, particularly immune-regulatory and regenerative capacities.

Management strategies for radio-recurrent prostate cancer: a comprehensive review.

Radiation- (radio-)recurrent prostate cancer poses a significant challenge in clinical management due to its complexity and varied treatment responses. The recurrence of prostate cancer following radiotherapy necessitates a nuanced management strategy that considers disease stage and aggressiveness, patient health status, and prior treatment modalities. Androgen deprivation therapy (ADT), a cornerstone in the management of regional or distant relapse, often initiates the therapeutic cascade, effectively suppressing tumor growth by targeting androgen signaling.

Advance Care Planning in Palliative Care in Asia: Barriers and Implications.

Advance care planning (ACP) in palliative care is essential for patient autonomy and quality of dying. This review explores ACP practices in South Korea, Japan, and Taiwan, highlighting how legislation and cultural values shape those practices. In these three sectors, which are influenced by Confucian values, family involvement plays a significant role in decision-making.

Optimizing epidermal growth factor receptor-tyrosine kinase inhibitor treatment in lung cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis of the influence of gastric acid suppressants.

Background: The introduction of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) has revolutionized advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) treatment. However, their efficacy can be compromised by concurrent use of gastric acid suppressants (GASs), such as proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) and histamine 2 receptor antagonists (H2RAs). This study aimed to update the evidence on the impact of GASs on the overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) in patients on EGFR-TKI treatment.

Impact of the ASTRO 2024 Guideline on Partial Breast Irradiation Eligibility in Breast Cancer Patients (KROG 24-01).

Purpose: The American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) has recently published new guidelines for the eligibility for partial breast irradiation (PBI). This study aims to evaluate the eligibility rates of PBI according to the ASTRO 2017 and 2024 guidelines.

Methods And Materials: Patients diagnosed with pTis-T2N0 breast cancer in 2019 from 3 tertiary medical centers were accrued.

The Effect of Terpinen-4-ol on Human Corneal Epithelium.

Purpose: To investigate the toxicity of terpinen-4-ol (T4O) on primary cultured human corneal epithelial cells (HCECs).

Methods: HCECs were exposed to various concentrations (0%-0.1%) of T4O for 15 minutes to 72 hours.

Sex-Specific Obesity Paradox in Critically Ill Patients With Severe Acute Kidney Injury: A Retrospective Analysis.

Objectives: Although obesity is typically correlated with adverse outcomes in various diseases, certain acute critical illnesses exhibit a phenomenon known as the obesity paradox. This study evaluated sex-specific differences in the prognostic implications of the body mass index (BMI) of patients with severe acute kidney injury (AKI) requiring continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT).

Design: A multicenter retrospective cohort study.

Bloodletting at the ear apex for acute stroke: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Background: Stroke is a major cause of death and disability worldwide. Despite innovative developments in acute stroke treatment techniques in modern society, many stroke survivors still experience complications, leading to a demand for complementary and alternative medicines, including traditional medicine. Bloodletting at the ear apex (BLEA) is a nonpharmacological intervention used for various diseases, including acute stroke, in traditional medicine in East Asian countries, including China and Korea.

Assessment of Treatment Modalities in Patients With Keloids: A Vancouver Scale Comparison.

Background: Various treatment modalities are used to treat keloids. However, a comprehensive assessment comparing the effectiveness of these modalities in terms of patient-reported outcomes is warranted.

Objective: To assess and compare the effectiveness of various treatment modalities for keloids.

Long-Term Aspirin vs Clopidogrel After Coronary Stenting by Bleeding Risk and Procedural Complexity.

Importance: Antiplatelet monotherapy in the chronic maintenance period for patients with high bleeding risk (HBR) and those who have undergone complex percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) has not yet been explored.

Objective: To compare clopidogrel vs aspirin monotherapy in patients with HBR and/or PCI complexity.

Design, Setting, And Participants: This post hoc analysis of the multicenter HOST-EXAM Extended study, an open-label trial conducted across 37 sites in South Korea, enrolled patients from 2014 to 2018 with up to 5.

Comparison between spectral-domain optical coherence tomography-based and partial coherence interferometry-based biometry.

We compared axial length (AL) measurements using spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT)-based and partial coherence interferometry (PCI)-based biometry in eyes with various chorioretinal diseases. Medical records were retrospectively analyzed in 123 eyes from 73 patients who underwent AL measurements using SD-OCT and PCI. AL values were highly consistent by both measurements (ICC = 0.

Machine learning-based prediction of contralateral knee osteoarthritis development using the Osteoarthritis Initiative and the Multicenter Osteoarthritis Study dataset.

Having osteoarthritis in one knee is reported as an independent risk factor for developing contralateral knee osteoarthritis (KOA). However, no study has been designed to predict the development of contralateral KOA (cKOA). The authors hypothesized that specific risk factors for cKOA development exist and that it could be accurately predicted with the assistance of machine learning.

Navigating shared decision-making after the Life-Sustaining Treatment Decision Act: a qualitative study of in-depth interviews with terminal cancer patients, families, and healthcare professionals.

Purpose: End-of-life decision-making, particularly relating to withholding life-sustaining treatment (LST), is a complex and emotionally charged process involving healthcare professionals, patients, and caregivers.

Methods: This qualitative study explored the decision-making process in South Korea, where cultural norms and ethical considerations influence the dynamics of shared decision-making (SDM). In-depth interviews were conducted with healthcare professionals, patients, and caregivers using a grounded theory approach to elucidate the themes and processes underlying SDM for LST.

The application study of harmonization code in medical device adverse event reporting.

Background: The reporting of adverse events in medical devices (MD) is a starting point of post-market surveillance and the most common source of initial safety signals. Because MD adverse events (AE) occur globally and involve high-profile international public health crises, international regulators implanted standard codes for MDAE reporting. This study aimed to assess the application of MDAE terminology and codes by providing examples of virtual events.

Discrepancies between home blood pressure and ambulatory blood pressure monitoring in apparent treatment-resistant hypertension: analysis from the Korean resistant hypertension cohort.

This study aimed to investigate the characteristics of out-of-office blood pressure (BP) measurements in patients with apparent treatment-resistant hypertension (aRH) enrolled from 15 tertiary care centers in South Korea. aRH was defined as having uncontrolled office BP ≥ 130/80 mmHg despite receiving three classes of antihypertensive medication or any level of BP despite receiving ≥4 classes of antihypertensive medication. Patients with complete data for office BP, 24-h ambulatory BP monitoring (ABPM), and home BP measurements at baseline were included.

Overview of hepatocarcinogenesis focusing on cellular origins of liver cancer stem cells: a narrative review.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) accounts for 85% to 90% of primary liver cancers and generally has a poor prognosis. The hierarchical model, which posits that HCC originates from liver cancer stem cells (CSCs), is now widely accepted, as it is for other cancer types. As CSCs typically reside in the G0 phase of the cell cycle, they are resistant to conventional chemotherapy.

Overall and linked blood pressure variabilities in the first 24 hours and mortality after spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage: a retrospective study of 1,036 patients.

Background: This study aims to establish the individual contributions of blood pressure variability (BPV) indexes, categorized into overall and linked variability, to mortality following intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) by examining the risk factors.

Methods: Patients with spontaneous ICH (n = 1,036) were identified with valid blood pressures (BP) from the first 24-h systolic BP records in the Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care IV version 2.2 database (MIMIC IV).

Predictors for thyroid dysfunction after discontinuation of levothyroxine in children and adolescents with Hashimoto thyroiditis.

Purpose: Few data on the clinical course after levothyroxine (L-T4) discontinuation in pediatric patients with Hashimoto thyroiditis (HT) are available. We investigated outcomes and predictors for successful withdrawal from L-T4 among children with HT.

Methods: Among 168 patients diagnosed with HT between January 2000 and March 2021 at Seoul National University Children's Hospital and in whom L-T4 therapy was initiated during childhood, we attempted to discontinue this therapy in 47, 3 boys and 44 girls.