Survey on Alopecia Areata Patients' Reported Factors that Determine Severity of Alopecia Areata: A Nationwide Multicenter Study.

Background: Alopecia areata (AA) is characterized by hair loss on the scalp and body, significantly impacting patients' quality of life based on its severity.

Objective: This study aims to identify crucial factors influencing the perception of severe AA from the patients' viewpoint.

Methods: A web-based survey was conducted among AA patients attending dermatology departments at 21 university hospitals in Korea.

Clinical Manifestation of Alopecia Areata After COVID-19 Infection or Vaccination.

Background: Alopecia areata (AA) is characterized by an autoimmune inflammatory response to hair follicles. Several studies have suggested that infection and vaccination can trigger an autoimmune process around hair follicles. Moreover, reports of AA and various other autoimmune diseases have increased since the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic became established.

Clinical Characteristics of T2-Low and T2-High Asthma-Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Overlap: Findings From COREA Cohort.

Purpose: Despite the emerging biologics, biomarkers and treatment options for asthma-chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) overlap (ACO) are still limited, requiring further research.

Methods: We enrolled 378 ACO patients from a multicenter real-world asthma cohort in Korea and compared the clinical characteristics, lung function, and exacerbation between type 2 (T2)-high and T2-low groups. We used the following comparisons: 1) low vs.

A Case Series of Distal Radius and Ulna Nonunion Treated with Minimal Surgical Intervention.

 We hypothesized a treatment guideline for ulna/radius nonunion after failed surgical treatment and propose to verify it in a prospective study. Herein, we report our preliminary findings and review the current trend.  Six patients who met the criteria were retrospectively investigated, and we further categorized "nonunion of both the radius/ulna" into four subcategories.

Adjuvant Trastuzumab Plus Pertuzumab Versus Trastuzumab Alone in Patients Achieving Pathologic Complete Response After Chemotherapy With Trastuzumab and Pertuzumab: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Background: For patients who achieve pathologic complete response (pCR) after neoadjuvant chemotherapy with trastuzumab (T) and pertuzumab (P), the benefit of adding P to T remains uncertain. We compared survival outcomes according to the type of adjuvant anti-HER2 therapy in patients with pCR after chemotherapy with TP.

Method: Patients who achieved pCR in both the breast and axilla after neoadjuvant chemotherapy with TP were included.

Clinical feasibility of a deep learning approach for conventional and synthetic diffusion-weighted imaging in breast cancer: Qualitative and quantitative analyses.

Purpose: In this study, we aimed to investigate the clinical feasibility of deep learning (DL)-based reconstruction applied to conventional diffusion-weighted imaging (cDWI) and synthetic diffusion-weighted imaging (sDWI) by comparing the DL reconstructions to cDWIs and sDWIs in patients with various breast malignancies.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 115 patients with biopsy-proven breast malignancies who underwent breast magnetic resonance imaging from July 2022 to June 2023, including cDWI with b-value of 800 s/mm (cDWI) sDWI with b-value of 1500 s/mm (sDWI), DWI using DL-based reconstruction (DL-DWI) with b-value of 800 s/mm, and synthetic DL-DWI with b-value of 1500 s/mm (DL-DWI and sDL-DWI). Two radiologists independently performed the qualitative analyses using a 5-point Likert scale for all DWI sets.

Association between severity of pancreatic exocrine insufficiency and computed tomography-based morphological severity in patients with chronic pancreatitis.

The association between pancreatic exocrine insufficiency (PEI) and morphologic findings in chronic pancreatitis has not yet been fully studied. Thus, the aim of this study was to investigate the correlation between PEI severity and computed tomography (CT)-based morphological severity in patients with chronic pancreatitis. This nationwide survey included 180 Korean participants with chronic pancreatitis aged 18 years or older between January 2018 and December 2021.

Efficacy of Bone Regeneration Cell Therapy Using Mesenchymal Stem Cells Originating from Embryonic Stem Cells in Animal Models; Bone Defects and Osteomyelitis.

Background: Bone defects are commonly encountered due to accidents, diseases, or aging, and the demand for effective bone regeneration, particularly for dental implants, is increasing in our aging society. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are promising candidates for regenerative therapies; however, obtaining sufficient quantities of these cells for clinical applications remains challenging. DW-MSCs, derived from embryonic stem cells and developed by Daewoong Pharmaceutical, exhibit a robust proliferative capacity even after extensive culture.

Case report: Squamous cell carcinoma of the cornea without involvement of the limbus and conjunctiva.

Isolated corneal squamous cell carcinoma without conjunctiva and limbus involvement is rare. We report a case of isolated squamous cell carcinoma of the cornea. A 67-year-old male presented with visual disturbance in the left eye (visual acuity, 0.

Comparison of fully versus partially covered metal stents in endoscopic ultrasound-guided hepaticogastrostomy for malignant biliary obstruction (with video).

Background: Endoscopic ultrasound-guided hepaticogastrostomy (EUS-HGS) using a fully covered metal stent (FCMS) or partially covered metal stent (PCMS) is performed to manage unresectable malignant biliary obstruction (MBO) following unsuccessful endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography. This study aimed to compare FCMS and PCMS for EUS-HGS in patients with MBO.

Methods: We reviewed the EUS database to analyze consecutive patients with MBO who underwent EUS-HGS between November 2017 and March 2023.

Risk of Contrast-Induced Acute Kidney Injury in Computed Tomography: A 16 Institutional Retrospective Cohort Study.

Objectives: Concern about contrast-induced acute kidney injury (CI-AKI) may delay the timely administration of contrast media for computed tomography (CT). The precise causative effect of iodinated contrast media on CI-AKI and its relevant risk factors remains an area of ongoing investigation. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the risk of CI-AKI following contrast-enhanced CT and its predisposing risk factors.

A Pilot Study of a Modified Swallowing Screening Tool for Critically Ill Patients in the Intensive Care Unit.

The lack of early assessment tools for swallowing function in patients in the intensive care unit (ICU) may lead to delays in oral intake. This study assessed the effectiveness of a new bedside swallowing screening tool in detecting dysphagia in patients in the ICU or isolation settings, where isolation settings refer to conditions such as COVID-19, where patient mobility is limited. We assessed swallowing function in 13 patients with severe acute respiratory distress syndrome.

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.

Supernumerary Head of the Biceps Brachii Muscle Influences the Topography of the Coracobrachialis and Biceps Brachii Muscles.

: Anatomical variations in the biceps brachii muscle (BBM) are extremely frequent, leading to developmental and clinical implications. We studied the topography of the BBM and analyzed its correlations with other structures in the brachial region. A total of 103 cadaveric upper extremities were dissected.