Unlocking the Protective Potential of Upper Respiratory Infection Treatment Histories against Alzheimer's Disease: A Korean Adult Population Study.

With increasing interest in the inflammation-pathogen infection hypothesis and its potential links to Alzheimer's disease (AD) development, there is growing consideration of using upper respiratory infection (URI) treatments as interventions for AD. This nested case-control study explored the potential association between prior URI histories and AD development in a Korean adult population using the national health screening cohort data (2002-2019). The study included 26,920 AD patients and 107,680 matched control individuals, focusing on those seeking respiratory treatment.

Gout and Migraines: Exploring the Complex Link in a 16-Year Longitudinal Study of the Korean Population.

Despite the growing prevalence of gout and its associated health concerns as a chronic disorder, population-based studies on its link to migraines are scarce. We conducted a 16-year longitudinal study in a Korean population to investigate the relationship between gout and migraines, including different subtypes. We enrolled 23,137 patients with gout and matched them with 92,548 controls based on age, sex, income, and residence.

Increased Risk of Benign Prostate Hyperplasia (BPH) in Patients with Gout: A Longitudinal Follow-Up Study Using a National Health Screening Cohort.

A previous study reported a high risk of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) in patients with gout. This study intended to evaluate the risk of BPH in gout patients. A total of 514,866 Korean National Health Insurance Service-Health Screening Cohorts were retrieved from 2002 to 2019.

Predictive Role of White Blood Cell Differential Count for the Development of Acute Exacerbation in Korean Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.

Purpose: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a respiratory disease characterized by chronic inflammation. Acute exacerbation of COPD (AECOPD) manifests as acute worsening of respiratory symptoms and is associated with high morbidity and mortality. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the predictive value of white blood count (WBC) and its derived inflammatory biomarkers for AECOPD.

Effect of sugammadex on postoperative complications in patients with severe burn who underwent surgery: a retrospective study.

This retrospective study investigated the association of sugammadex with postoperative pulmonary complication risk between 2013 and 2021 in patients with severe burn of five hospitals. Postoperative pulmonary complications included atelectasis, pulmonary edema, pulmonary effusion, pneumothorax, pneumonia, pulmonary thromboembolism, respiratory failure and acute respiratory distress. To identify whether sugammadex reduced the risk of postoperative pulmonary complication in patients with severe burn who underwent surgery, Kaplan-Meier curve were used to check the difference of incidence according to surgical cases and time-varying Cox hazard regression were used to calculate the hazard ratio.

Real-world outcome of crizotinib for anaplastic lymphoma kinase-positive lung cancer: Multicenter retrospective analysis in South Korea.

Background: About 3%-5% of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) presents positive anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK). Recently, several target agents have been approved as a treatment for ALK-positive NSCLC. This study aimed to analyze the real-world efficacy and outcome when administered crizotinib, the first approved target agent for ALK-positive NSCLC, according to first- or late-line treatment.

Brain Frailty and Outcomes of Acute Minor Ischemic Stroke With Large-Vessel Occlusion.

Background And Purpose: The influence of imaging features of brain frailty on outcomes were investigated in acute ischemic stroke patients with minor symptoms and large-vessel occlusion (LVO).

Methods: This was a retrospective analysis of a prospective, multicenter, nationwide registry of consecutive patients with acute (within 24 h) minor (National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score=0-5) ischemic stroke with anterior circulation LVO (acute minor LVO). Brain frailty was stratified according to the presence of an advanced white-matter hyperintensity (WMH) (Fazekas grade 2 or 3), silent/old brain infarct, or cerebral microbleeds.

Development and Validation of an Online Calculator to Predict Proximal Junctional Kyphosis After Adult Spinal Deformity Surgery Using Machine Learning.

Objective: Although adult spinal deformity (ASD) surgery aims to restore and maintain alignment, proximal junctional kyphosis (PJK) may occur. While existing scoring systems predict PJK, they predominantly offer a generalized 3-tier risk classification, limiting their utility for nuanced treatment decisions. This study seeks to establish a personalized risk calculator for PJK, aiming to enhance treatment planning precision.

Development of the Rapid Cough Questionnaire: Key item identification.

Background: The Leicester Cough Questionnaire (LCQ) is a reliable tool for measuring the multidimensional impact of cough on patients' quality of life; however, its scoring algorithm is lengthy and complex for routine clinical use.

Objective: The study aimed to develop a simplified version of the LCQ, the Rapid Cough Questionnaire (RCQ), as a substitue in clinical practice and validate the RCQ using an independent cohort.

Methods: To select items for the RCQ score, a correlation network was used to determine the items from each domain that were strongly correlated with the total LCQ score.

Functional Aspects of the Obesity Paradox in Patients with Severe Coronavirus Disease-2019: A Retrospective, Multicenter Study.

Background: Results of studies investigating the association between body mass index (BMI) and mortality in patients with coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) have been conflicting.

Methods: This multicenter, retrospective observational study, conducted between January 2020 and August 2021, evaluated the impact of obesity on outcomes in patients with severe COVID-19 in a Korean national cohort. A total of 1,114 patients were enrolled from 22 tertiary referral hospitals or university-affiliated hospitals, of whom 1,099 were included in the analysis, excluding 15 with unavailable height and weight information.

Clinical Characteristics and Management of Peripancreatic Arterial Aneurysms: A 20-year Experience.

Pancreaticoduodenal and gastroduodenal artery aneurysms (PDAAs and GDAAs) are rare visceral aneurysms. Considering the rupture risk regardless of size, treatment should be provided promptly. We reviewed the characteristics and management of peripancreatic aneurysms in a retrospective, single-center review of consecutive patients with PDAAs and GDAAs between 2000 and 2022.

Diffusion-Weighted MR Imaging of the Thymus in Children with Non-Thymic Neoplasms.

To investigate the diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) findings and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) value of the thymus in children under the age of 13 who have non-thymic neoplasms. : From January 2021 to April 2023, a single-center retrospective study analyzed consecutive 191 thoracic MRI scans with DWI from 67 children (<13 years) with non-thymic neoplasms. The scans were categorized based on the presence of restricted diffusion on DWI.

Association between Asthma and Periodontitis.

The current study aimed to investigate the association between asthma and periodontitis in the Korean adult population. Data from the Korean Genome and Epidemiology Study Health Examinees between 2004 and 2016 were considered. Of the 173,209 participants, 2521 asthmatic and 132,806 control participants were selected.

Digital application of three-dimensional diagnosis and treatment with a virtual articulator.

Objective: The purpose of this article was to introduce a method for the digital application of three-dimensional (3D) diagnosis and treatment with a virtual articulator and 3D data.

Clinical Consideration: With the use of cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) and intraoral and facial scans, we can create a virtual articulator and evaluate the mandibular position in maximum intercuspation and centric-related occlusion for the patient with an unstable occlusion and temporomandibular disorders (TMD). Based on this, we treated a case using a digital mandibular position indicator (MPI) and fabricated a stabilization splint using a 3D printer.

Outcomes of Palliative Chemotherapy for Ampulla of Vater Adenocarcinoma: A Multicenter Cohort Study.

Background/aims: : Palliative chemotherapy (PC) is not standardized for patients with advanced ampulla of Vater adenocarcinoma (AA). This multicenter, retrospective study evaluated first-line PC outcomes in patients with AA.

Methods: : Patients diagnosed with AA between January 2010 and December 2020 who underwent PC were enrolled from 10 institutions.

Association between antibiotic use and subsequent risk of prostate cancer: A retrospective cohort study in South Korea.

Objectives: Several studies suggest that antibiotic use may affect overall cancer incidence, but the association between antibiotics and prostate cancer is still unclear. This retrospective cohort study aimed to assess the association between antibiotics and the risk of prostate cancer.

Methods: A population-based retrospective cohort study was conducted using the Korean National Health Insurance Service (NHIS) database.

Efficacy comparison of 7- and 14-day P-CAB based bismuth-containing quadruple regimen with PPI based bismuth-containing quadruple regimen for Helicobacter pylori infection: rationale and design of an open-label, multicenter, randomized controlled trial.

Background: Owing to its strong acid inhibition, potassium-competitive acid blocker (P-CAB) based regimens for Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) eradication are expected to offer clinical advantages over proton pump inhibitor (PPI) based regimens. This study aims to compare the efficacy and adverse effects of a 7-day and a 14-day P-CAB-based bismuth-containing quadruple regimen (PC-BMT) with those of a 14-day PPI-based bismuth-containing quadruple regimen (P-BMT) in patients with high clarithromycin resistance.