Additional Dose of Intravenous Dexamethasone Can Replace Patient-Controlled Analgesia in Pain Control after Total Knee Arthroplasty while Reducing Opioid Complications.

Purpose The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether IV dexamethasone, within the current multimodal pain management protocol, (1) could maintain postoperative pain at a comparable level without IV PCA, (2) could reduce opioids-related side effects, and (3) whether an additional dose of dexamethasone on POD 2 would offer further pain-relieving effect without increasing the risk of complications. Methods A total of 178 patients (182 knees) who underwent total knee arthroplasty (TKA) for osteoarthritis were included in the study. The patients were divided into Dexa 2 & PCA and Dexa 3 & NoPCA group.

Erratum: Development and Validation of the Korean Version of the Edinburgh Cognitive and Behavioral Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Screen (ECAS-K).

This corrects the article on p. 454 in vol. 19, PMID: 37488957.

Efficacy of ursodeoxycholic acid for bile reflux after distal gastrectomy in patients with gastric cancer: a secondary analysis of the PEGASUS-D randomized clinical trial.

Background: Few studies have been conducted on the prevention of bile reflux in gastric cancer patients who have undergone gastrectomy. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) in preventing bile reflux after gastrectomy in patients with gastric cancer.

Methods: This study was a secondary analysis of the PEGASUS-D trial, a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial.

Exposure to Phthalates and Alternative Plasticizers in Patients with Impaired Kidney Function in Korea: Temporal Trend during 2011-2020 and Its Association with Chronic Kidney Disease.

Phthalates are chemical risk factors of chronic kidney disease (CKD); however, little is known about temporal trends of phthalate exposure and associated health risks among CKD patients. Such information is even scarce for alternative plasticizers. CKD patients were recruited from 2011 to 2020 in Korea ( = 200) and assessed for the temporal changes of both traditional and alternative plasticizer exposure.

Timing of intravenous immunoglobulin treatment and outcome in Guillain-Barré syndrome: Is time nerve?

Introduction/aims: Despite treatment, a considerable proportion of patients with Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) experience poor recovery, highlighting a therapeutic need. There is a lack of evidence that treatment timing affects recovery. This study aims to investigate the effects of intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) timing on disability and speed of recovery in GBS.

A study on the development of a fitness age prediction model: the national fitness award cohort study 2017-2021.

Background: Physical fitness is considered an important indicator of the health of the general public. In particular, the physical fitness of the older adults is an important requirement for determining the possibility of independent living. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to examine the association between chronological age and physical fitness variables in the National Fitness Award Cohort study data and to develop multiple linear regression analyses to predict fitness age using dependent variables.

Diagnostic performance of radiologists in distinguishing post-COVID-19 residual abnormalities from interstitial lung abnormalities.

Objective: Distinguishing post-COVID-19 residual abnormalities from interstitial lung abnormalities (ILA) on CT can be challenging if clinical information is limited. This study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic performance of radiologists in distinguishing post-COVID-19 residual abnormalities from ILA.

Methods: This multi-reader, multi-case study included 60 age- and sex-matched subjects with chest CT scans.

Health-Related Quality of Life and Associated Comorbidities in Community-Dwelling Women with Breast Cancer.

: With advancements in treatment, the increasing number of women with breast cancer has led to a growing focus on enhancing their well-being by understanding health-related quality of life (HRQoL). This study aimed to investigate the association between comorbidities and HRQoL in middle-aged and older community-dwelling Korean women with breast cancer. : Data from the Sixth, Seventh, and Eighth Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys between 2014 and 2020 were used to analyze 12,218 women aged ≥50 years (244 women with breast cancer vs.

DNA methylome analysis reveals epigenetic alteration of complement genes in advanced metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease.

Background/aims: Blocking the complement system is a promising strategy to impede the progression of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD). However, the interplay between complement and MASLD remains to be elucidated. This comprehensive approach aimed to investigate the potential association between complement dysregulation and the histological severity of MASLD.

Risk factors of acute exacerbation and disease progression in young patients with COPD.

Objective: We aimed to elucidate the clinical factors associated with acute exacerbation and disease progression in young patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Methods: This retrospective longitudinal observational study included patients with COPD aged between 20 and 50 years with post-bronchodilator forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV)/forced vital capacity (FVC)<0.7.

Efficacy and safety of mixture of ivy leaf extract and coptidis rhizome in the treatment of acute bronchitis: multicenter, randomized, double-blinded, active-controlled, parallel, therapeutic confirmatory clinical trial.

Background: Acute bronchitis is the most common respiratory disease. Mixture of Ivy Leaf Extract and Coptidis rhizome syrup has shown good treatment efficacy against chronic bronchitis and acute respiratory infections. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of Mixture of Ivy Leaf Extract and Coptidis rhizome compared with those of extract, for the treatment of acute bronchitis.

Epigenetic scars in regulatory T cells are retained after successful treatment of chronic hepatitis C with direct-acting antivirals.

Background & Aims: Chronic HCV infection results in abnormal immunological alterations, which are not fully normalized after viral elimination by direct-acting antiviral (DAA) treatment. Herein, we longitudinally examined phenotypic, transcriptomic, and epigenetic alterations in peripheral blood regulatory T (Treg) cells from patients with chronic HCV infection before, during, and after DAA treatment.

Methods: Patients with chronic genotype 1b HCV infection who achieved sustained virologic response by DAA treatment and age-matched healthy donors were recruited.

AI in evaluating ambulation of stroke patients: severity classification with video and functional ambulation category scale.

Background: The evaluation of gait function and severity classification of stroke patients are important to determine the rehabilitation goal and the level of exercise. Physicians often qualitatively evaluate patients' walking ability through visual gait analysis using naked eye, video images, or standardized assessment tools. Gait evaluation through observation relies on the doctor's empirical judgment, potentially introducing subjective opinions.

Comparative Effectiveness and Safety of Ticagrelor and Clopidogrel in Patients With or Without Chronic Liver Disease: A Nationwide Cohort Study.

Background: Although the effectiveness and safety of ticagrelor versus clopidogrel may differ in patients with chronic liver disease, there is a scarcity of evidence comparing ticagrelor and clopidogrel in patients with chronic liver disease. We aimed to evaluate the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) and major bleeding associated with ticagrelor versus clopidogrel in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) due to acute coronary syndrome by chronic liver disease status.

Methods: Using the Korean healthcare claim database, we included adult patients who underwent PCI and initiated ticagrelor or clopidogrel treatment within 7 days of an acute coronary syndrome diagnosis.

Diagnostic accuracy of non-invasive tests to screen for at-risk MASH-An individual participant data meta-analysis.

Background & Aims: There is a need to reduce the screen failure rate (SFR) in metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) clinical trials (MASH+F2-3; MASH+F4) and identify people with high-risk MASH (MASH+F2-4) in clinical practice. We aimed to evaluate non-invasive tests (NITs) screening approaches for these target conditions.

Methods: This was an individual participant data meta-analysis for the performance of NITs against liver biopsy for MASH+F2-4, MASH+F2-3 and MASH+F4.