Difference in Stiffness-Related Functional Disability Between Decompression Alone and Decompression with Short Segments Fusion (1 or 2 Levels) in the Lower Lumbar Region: A Propensity Score Matching Study.

Background Context: Stiffness-related functional disability (SRFD) is a well-known complication after long-segment fusion surgery. However, SRFD following decompression with short-segment fusion (1 or 2 levels) compared with decompression alone surgery in the lower lumbar region, which accounts for a significant portion of lumbar range of motion, is poorly documented.

Purpose: This study aimed to compare SRFD after decompression alone (D-A) surgery and decompression with short-segment fusion (D+F) surgery in the lower lumbar region.

Radiation Exposure in Concurrent Abdominoplevic and Chest CT Scans: An Analysis of Overlap and Clinical Impact.

This study investigated the additional radiation exposure, influencing factors, and clinical significance of overlapping Z-axis coverage in abdominopelvic CT scans performed consecutively after same-day chest CT scans. Data from 761 patients were analyzed, with measuring the total and overlapping Z-axis coverage of the portal venous phase in abdominopelvic CT scans. The average overlapping portion was 33.

Renal Outcomes With Renin-Angiotensin System Blockers After Unilateral Nephrectomy.

Introduction: Despite the benefits of renin-angiotensin system (RAS) blockers, their immediate use after nephrectomy has been limited because of concerns about impaired renal adaptation. We aimed to evaluate the effect of RAS blockers immediately after unilateral nephrectomy on renal adaptation.

Methods: This single-center retrospective cohort study included 580 patients who underwent elective unilateral nephrectomy between 2010 and 2020 and had preexisting hypertension with antihypertensive medications.

Upregulation of p52-ZER6 (ZNF398) increases reactive oxygen species by suppressing metallothionein-3 in neuronal cells.

ZNF398/ZER6 belongs to the Krüppel-associated box (KRAB) domain-containing zinc finger proteins (K-ZNFs), the largest family of transcriptional repressors in higher organisms. ZER6 exists in two isoforms, p52 and p71, generated through alternative splicing. Our investigation revealed that p71-ZER6 is abundantly expressed in the stomach, kidney, liver, heart, and brown adipose tissue, while p52-ZER6 is predominantly found in the stomach and brain.

Severity of metabolic derangement predicts survival after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest and the likelihood of benefiting from extracorporeal life support.

Objective: To develop a Metabolic Derangement Score (MDS) based on parameters available after initial testing and assess the score's ability to predict survival after out-of hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) and the likely usefulness of extracorporeal life support (ECLS).

Methods: A total of 5100 cases in the Korean Cardiac Arrest Research Consortium registry were included. Patients' mean age was 67 years, and 69% were men.

ArtiSential versus conventional laparoscopic colorectal cancer surgery: a multicenter retrospective matched cohort study.

Background: This study aims to compare outcomes of colorectal cancer surgeries performed using the newly developed articulating laparoscopic instrument, ArtiSential, with those using conventional non-articulating or rigid laparoscopic instruments.

Methods: This multicenter, retrospective, matched cohort study enrolled patients with colorectal cancer undergoing laparoscopic surgery in seven tertiary referral hospitals from January 2021 to October 2022. A 1:1 propensity score matching was performed between the articulating (Arti-LAP) and conventional (Rigid-LAP) laparoscopic groups.

Is early use of sodium-glucose cotransporter type 2 inhibitor (SGLT2i) necessary even in diabetic patients without cardiovascular disease: a prospective study regarding the effect of SGLT2i on left ventricular diastolic function.

Background: There are insufficient studies to determine whether sodium-glucose cotransporter type 2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) will help reduce early diabetic cardiomyopathy, especially in patients without documented cardiovascular disease.

Methods: We performed a single center, prospective observation study. A total of 90 patients with type 2 diabetes patients without established heart failure or atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease were enrolled.

Clinical spectrum of adult-onset leukoencephalopathy with axonal spheroids and pigmented glia in individuals of Korean ancestry.

Adult-onset leukoencephalopathy with axonal spheroids and pigmented glia (ALSP) is a rare white matter disease characterized by axonal and glial injury. Although its clinical characteristics have been described in case reports, the prevalence of CSF1R mutations in clinically suspected ALSP cases remains unclear. Herein, we analysed the frequency of CSF1R mutations in patients with probable or possible ALSP and describe the genetic, clinical, radiological, and pathological findings of ALSP cases in individuals of Korean ancestry.

Clinical Characteristics and Outcomes of Acute Myocarditis: An Analysis of Korean Multicenter Registry.

Background And Objectives: Data are limited on the clinical manifestations and outcomes of acute myocarditis from a large-scale registry. We investigated acute myocarditis's clinical characteristics and prognosis from a large-scale, multi-center registry in the Republic of Korea.

Methods: We collected data from seven hospitals between 2001 and 2021.

Changes in Physical Activity and Cardiovascular Disease Risk in Cancer Survivors: A Nationwide Cohort Study.

Background: Cancer survivors face an elevated risk of cardiovascular disease, with physical inactivity after cancer treatment potentially worsening this risk.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the association between physical activity before and after a cancer diagnosis and the risk for heart disease.

Methods: A nationwide cohort of 269,943 cancer survivors (mean age 56.

Effect of genetic and vascular risk factors on rates of cognitive decline in early-onset and late-onset Alzheimer's disease.

Background: Although previous studies have shown that cognitive decline in Alzheimer's disease (AD) is associated with various risk factors, they primarily focused on late-onset AD (LOAD).

Objective: We aim to evaluate the differential impact of risk factors on the cognitive decline between early-onset AD (EOAD, onset < 65 years) and LOAD (onset 65 years) and explore the longitudinal effect of Apolipoprotein E allele 4 ( ε4) on cortical atrophy in both cohorts.

Methods: Using data from 212 EOAD and 1101 LOAD participants in the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI), we conducted multivariable mixed-effect models to evaluate the impact of ε4, education, hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia, and body mass index on cognitive performance.

Relationships between Chronic Cough and Asthma Control and Quality-of-Life in Patients with Severe Asthma: A 6-Month Longitudinal Analysis.

Background: The prevalence and clinical implications of chronic cough (CC) in patients with severe asthma receiving asthma treatment remain relatively unknown.

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the relationships between CC and asthma control and quality-of-life (QoL) in patients with severe asthma through longitudinal analysis.

Methods: Baseline and 6-month follow-up data from the Korean Severe Asthma Registry were analyzed.

Network Analysis of Legg-Calve-Perthes Disease and Its Comorbidities.

: Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease (LCPD) is characterized by idiopathic avascular necrosis of the femoral head in children. There are several hypotheses regarding the cause of LCPD; however, the exact cause remains unclear. Studies on comorbidities can provide better insight into the disease.

Maxillectomy Guided by 3D Printing Versus Conventional Surgery for Patients with Head and Neck Cancer.

Background: This study evaluates the impact of three-dimensional (3D) printing-guided maxillectomy compared with conventional maxillectomy on surgical precision and oncological outcomes in patients with head and neck cancer.

Materials And Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 42 patients undergoing maxillectomy (16 in a 3D printing-guided group and 26 in a conventional group). Patient demographics, tumor characteristics, and outcomes were compared.

Genome-Wide Association Study to Identify Genetic Factors Linked to HBV Reactivation Following Liver Transplantation in HBV-Infected Patients.

This study utilized a genome-wide association study (GWAS) to investigate the genetic variations linked to the risk of hepatitis B virus (HBV) reactivation in patients who have undergone liver transplantation (LT), aiming to enhance understanding and improve clinical outcomes. Genotyping performed on a selected patients from the Korean Organ Transplantation Registry (KOTRY) data using high-throughput platforms with the Axiom Korea Biobank array 1.1.

Clinicopathologic and genomic characteristics of biliary tract carcinomas with TERT promoter mutations among East Asian population.

Telomerase reverse transcriptase gene promoter (TERT) mutations are biomarkers that predict survival and responses to immune checkpoint inhibitors in various malignancies. However, their prevalence and clinicopathologic characteristics in biliary tract carcinomas are largely unknown. We performed a comprehensive genomic profiling of formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tumor tissue from 485 carcinomas, including intrahepatic (n = 220), perihilar (n = 54), distal biliary tract (n = 110), and gallbladder (n = 101) cancers, using next-generation sequencing.

Repetitive and extensive focused ultrasound-mediated bilateral frontal blood-brain barrier opening for Alzheimer's disease.

Objective: Focused ultrasound (FUS)-mediated blood-brain barrier (BBB) opening is safe and potentially beneficial in patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) for the removal of amyloid-beta (Aβ) plaques. However, the optimal BBB opening intervals and number of treatment sessions for clinical improvement remain undefined. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the safety and benefits of repeated and more extensive BBB opening alone.

A comprehensive multicenter analysis of clinical, molecular, and imaging characteristics and outcomes of H3 K27-altered diffuse midline glioma in adults.

Objective: The objective was to comprehensively investigate the clinical, molecular, and imaging characteristics and outcomes of H3 K27-altered diffuse midline glioma (DMG) in adults.

Methods: Retrospective chart and imaging reviews were performed in 111 adult patients with H3 K27-altered DMG from two tertiary institutions. Clinical, molecular, imaging, and survival characteristics were analyzed.

Identification and validation of soft tissue sarcoma-specific transcriptomic model for predicting radioresistance.

Purpose: We aimed to identify the transcriptomic signatures of soft tissue sarcoma (STS) related to radioresistance and establish a model to predict radioresistance.

Materials And Methods: Nine STS cell lines were cultured. Adenosine triphosphate-based viability was determined 5 days after irradiation with 8 Gy of X-rays in a single fraction.

Current understanding of the etiology, diagnosis, treatment, and management of peri-implant diseases: a narrative review for the consensus report of the Korean Academy of Periodontology.

Over the past few decades, dental implants have been successfully utilized to replace teeth lost due to periodontal disease and other conditions. However, similar to natural teeth, dental implants are vulnerable to inflammatory peri-implant diseases, which can compromise their long-term viability. This review aims to summarize the current understanding of peri-implant diseases and discuss effective strategies for their diagnosis, treatment, and long-term management.

Induction of SUSD2 by STAT3 Activation Is Associated with Tumor Recurrence in HER2-Positive Breast Cancer.

Sushi domain-containing protein 2 (SUSD2), a transmembrane protein containing a sushi motif, has been reported to have tumor-promoting functions in various types of cancer, including breast cancer. However, the regulatory mechanism of SUSD2 and its function in HER2-positive (HER2+) breast cancer have not been fully identified as yet. In this study, we explored the potential of targeting SUSD2 to overcome trastuzumab (TRZ) resistance in HER2+ breast cancer.

Increased Risk of End-Stage Kidney Disease After Traumatic Amputation: Nationwide Cohort Study.

Background: Amputation confers disabilities upon patients and is associated with substantial cardiovascular and metabolic morbidity and mortality. We aimed to compare the incidence of end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) between individuals with amputation and the general population.

Methods: A population-based retrospective cohort study was performed using the Nationwide Health Insurance Service database for the period between 2010 and 2018.