Biomechanical evaluation of a newly designed locking plate for opening wedge high tibial osteotomy: stress distribution and stability in the presence of lateral hinge fracture.

Background: The study aimed to evaluate whether a new OhtoFix plate reduced stress around the D-hole compared with an old OhtoFix and TomoFix plate. The study also assessed whether the new OhtoFix plate had biomechanical stability in a lateral hinge fracture (LHF).

Methods: A finite element model of the proximal tibia was developed using cross-sectional images from a 62-year-old Asian woman.

Anesthetic technique and incidence of delirium after total knee or hip arthroplasty: a nationwide cohort study.

Background: The optimal type of anesthesia for reducing postoperative delirium remains undetermined. This study aimed to assess the relationship between type of anesthesia and postoperative delirium.

Methods: This retrospective national cohort study used data collected between 2016 and 2021 from the National Health Insurance Service of South Korea.

Association of Relative Brain Hyperperfusion Independent of Dopamine Depletion With Motor Dysfunction in Patients With Parkinson Disease.

Background And Objectives: Parkinson disease (PD) exhibits a characteristic pattern of brain perfusion or metabolism, thereby being considered network disorder. Using dual-phase -(3-fluoropropyl)-2β-carbomethoxy-3β-(4-iodophenyl) nortropane (F-FP-CIT) PET, we investigated the role of brain perfusion in motor symptoms and disease progression, independent of striatal dopamine depletion.

Methods: We recruited patients with de novo PD and healthy controls (HCs) who underwent dual-phase F-FP-CIT PET and brain MRI.

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.

Sex Differences in Procedural Characteristics and Clinical Outcomes Among Patients Undergoing Bifurcation PCI.

Background And Objectives: The risk profiles, procedural characteristics, and clinical outcomes for women undergoing bifurcation percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) are not well defined compared to those in men.

Methods: COronary BIfurcation Stenting III (COBIS III) is a multicenter, real-world registry of 2,648 patients with bifurcation lesions treated with second-generation drug-eluting stents. We compared the angiographic and procedural characteristics and clinical outcomes based on sex.

Cost-effectiveness of Fractional Flow Reserve Versus Intravascular Ultrasound to Guide Percutaneous Coronary Intervention: Results From the FLAVOUR Study.

Background And Objectives: The Fractional Flow Reserve and Intravascular Ultrasound-Guided Intervention Strategy for Clinical Outcomes in Patients with Intermediate Stenosis (FLAVOUR) trial demonstrated non-inferiority of fractional flow reserve (FFR)-guided percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) compared with intravascular ultrasound (IVUS)-guided PCI. We sought to investigate the cost-effectiveness of FFR-guided PCI compared to IVUS-guided PCI in Korea.

Methods: A 2-part cost-effectiveness model, composed of a short-term decision tree model and a long-term Markov model, was developed for patients who underwent PCI to treat intermediate stenosis (40% to 70% stenosis by visual estimation on coronary angiography).

Supersaturated Liquid Formulation of Pazopanib Hydrochloride Loaded with Synergistic Precipitation Inhibitors.

This study aimed to develop a supersaturated liquid formulation (SSLF) to enhance the solubility and dissolution of pazopanib hydrochloride (PZH). SSLFs were prepared by a simple stirring method in a heated silicon oil bath (70 °C). PZH showed highly pH-dependent solubility (pH 1.

Long-Lasting Exendin-4-Coated Gold Nanoparticles: Synthesis and In Vivo Evaluation of Hypoglycemic Activity.

Background: Gold nanoparticles (NPs) have drawn great attention in the area of biomedical research with their relatively safe and versatile properties. This study aimed to synthesize long-lasting exendin-4-coated gold NPs (EX-ABD-AFF-GoldNPs) and evaluate their anti-diabetic effects in vivo.

Methods: In the present study, EX-ABD-AFF-GoldNPs were synthesized using a simple one-step aqueous reduction method.

Relationship of the Degree of Sarcopenia with the Severity of Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease and Cardiometabolic Risk in Adolescents.

The association between nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and sarcopenia has been suggested. We investigated sarcopenia's impact on NAFLD severity and its relationship with cardiometabolic risk in adolescents. We conducted a retrospective study on 122 patients aged 13-18 years and diagnosed with both NAFLD and sarcopenia by laboratory tests, abdominal ultrasound (US), and multifrequency bioelectrical impedance analysis.

The Usefulness of Carotid Artery Doppler Measurement as a Predictor of Early Death in Sepsis Patients Admitted to the Emergency Department.

This study aims to verify whether the blood flow velocity and the diameter size, measured through intra-carotid artery Doppler measurements performed on sepsis patients visiting the emergency department, are useful as tools for predicting the risk of early death. As a prospective study, this research was performed on sepsis patients who visited a local emergency medical center from August 2021 to February 2023. The sepsis patients' carotid artery was measured using Doppler imaging, and they were divided into patients measured for the size of systolic and diastolic mean blood flow velocity and diameter size: those measured for their qSOFA (quick sequential organ failure assessment) score and those measured using the SIRS (systemic inflammatory response syndrome) criteria.

Association Between Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease and Periodontitis: A Longitudinal Follow-Up Study from the Korean National Health Screening Cohort.

Background: Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and periodontitis are common conditions in older adults that can lead to serious complications, gaining public health attention. Although GERD and periodontitis share common risk factors, such as age, lifestyle habits, and socioeconomic status, large-scale studies examining their specific relationship are limited.

Methods: This study aimed to assess the association between GERD and the likelihood of developing periodontitis using a national validated cohort data from Korea.

The Utility of Pre-Procedural Blood Tests in Neuraxial Blocks: A Retrospective Study in High-Risk Patients.

: The necessity and clinical utility of routine pre-procedural blood tests (PBTs) before neuraxial blockade remain controversial. This study evaluates the effectiveness of PBTs in identifying clinically significant conditions in an outpatient setting. : This single-center retrospective study involved patients who received neuraxial blockades from January 2020 to August 2023.

Age and Clinically Actionable Events in Patients With Implantable Loop Recorders: Analysis of Multicenter Loop Recorder Registry.

Introduction: Little is known about age and clinical intervention after implantable loop recorder (ILR) insertion. This study investigated the association between age and clinical intervention after ILR implantation.

Methods And Results: Data were obtained from a multicenter registry of ILR in Korea (2017-2020, n = 795).

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.

Spousal sleep behaviors and obstructive sleep apnea risk: effects on couples' self-rated health.

Purpose: This study aims to examine the relationship between obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) risk, as assessed by the STOP-Bang questionnaire, and couples' self-rated health. It also investigates how sleep behaviors (snoring, daytime tiredness, and observed apnea) reported in the STOP-Bang items affect couples' self-rated health.

Methods: Data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2019-2021) were analyzed, including 2,498 couples with complete STOP-Bang and self-rated health data.

Anhedonia in Major Depressive Disorder: Prevalence and Treatment Expectations and Satisfaction with Treatment Goals Among Patients and Physicians in Asia-Pacific.

Purpose: To explore the prevalence of anhedonia (ANH) in major depressive disorder (MDD) and treatment expectation and satisfaction among patients with MDD and physicians in the Asia-Pacific region.

Methods: This cross-sectional web-based survey was conducted in April-May 2023 among physicians and individuals aged ≥18 years with self-reported physician diagnosis of MDD (9-item Patient Health Questionnaire [PHQ-9] score ≥ 10) further stratified by anhedonia as measured by the Snaith-Hamilton Pleasure Scale (SHAPS): MDD-ANH (SHAPS score > 2) and MDD non-ANH (SHAPS score ≤ 2). The study assessed the prevalence of anhedonia in MDD as well as the perspectives on the treatment of anhedonia in MDD in terms of expectations and satisfaction among patients and physicians.

Culture-negative sepsis may be a different entity from culture-positive sepsis: a prospective nationwide multicenter cohort study.

Background: The distinction between culture-positive sepsis and culture-negative sepsis regarding clinical characteristics and outcomes remains contentious. We aimed to elucidate these differences using large-scale nationwide data.

Methods: This prospective cohort study analyzed data from the Korean Sepsis Alliance registry, comprising 21 intensive care units (ICUs) across 20 hospitals from September 2019 to December 2021.

Diagnostic performance of procalcitonin for bacterial infection in severe alcoholic hepatitis compared with C-reactive protein.

Background: Severe alcoholic hepatitis is a catastrophic disease with a mortality rate of up to 35-50% at 30 days. Bacterial infection is an important prognostic factor in patients with severe alcoholic hepatitis, but it is difficult to detect the presence of infection immediately. Procalcitonin (PCT) is a well-known inflammatory marker that can detect bacterial infections in various diseases early.

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.

Glymphatic system function in diverse glucose metabolism states.

The rising prevalence of diabetes and prediabetes globally necessitates a deeper understanding of associated complications, including glymphatic system dysfunction. The glymphatic system, crucial for brain waste clearance, is implicated in cognitive decline and neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's disease. This letter explores recent research on glymphatic function across different glucose metabolism states.

Intensive blood pressure lowering in acute stroke with intracranial stenosis post-thrombectomy: A secondary analysis of the OPTIMAL-BP trial.

Background: Intensive blood pressure (BP) management within 24 h after successful reperfusion following endovascular thrombectomy (EVT) is associated with worse functional outcomes than conventional BP management in Asian randomized controlled trials. Given the high prevalence of intracranial atherosclerotic stenosis (ICAS) in Asia, ICAS may influence these outcomes.

Aims: We aimed to assess whether ICAS affects the outcomes of intensive BP management after successful EVT.