Relationship between Cancer Incidence and Health Behaviors from Ecological Study in Korea.

The aim of this ecological study was to examine the correlation between cancer incidence and health behaviors such as smoking, alcohol consumption, and obesity, and investigated whether there were differences in this correlation between metropolitan areas and other regions. Data on health behaviors exposure/prevalence and cancer incidence rates for 227 administrative districts (cities and counties) were obtained. The average exposure proportion measured annually from 2008 to 2011 in the Korea Community Health Survey data and the age-standardized cancer incidence data from 2014 to 2018, obtained through the cancer registry data, were downloaded from the Statistics Korea website.

Voxel-Based Morphometry and Subfield Volumetry Analysis Reveal Limbic System Involvement in Tinnitus.

Background And Purpose: Tinnitus is a condition in which individuals perceive sounds, such as ringing or buzzing, without any external source. Although the exact cause is not fully understood, recent studies have indicated the involvement of nonauditory brain structures, including the limbic system. We aimed to compare the volumes of specific brain structures between patients with tinnitus and controls.

Antipsychotic continuation during pregnancy and risk of postpartum relapse in women with schizophrenia: nationwide register-based study.

Background: Women with schizophrenia frequently discontinue antipsychotic medications during pregnancy. However, evidence on the risk of postpartum relapse associated with antipsychotic use during pregnancy is lacking.

Aims: To investigate the within-individual association between antipsychotic continuation during pregnancy and postpartum relapse in women with schizophrenia.

Secreted LGALS3BP facilitates distant metastasis of breast cancer.

Background: Patients with estrogen receptor (ER)-positive breast cancer (BC) can be treated with endocrine therapy targeting ER, however, metastatic recurrence occurs in 25% of the patients who have initially been treated. Secreted proteins from tumors play important roles in cancer metastasis but previous methods for isolating secretory proteins had limitations in identifying novel targets.

Methods: We applied an in situ secretory protein labeling technique using TurboID to analyze secretome from tamoxifen-resistant (TAMR) BC.

A robust multimodal brain MRI-based diagnostic model for migraine: validation across different migraine phases and longitudinal follow-up data.

Inter-individual variability in symptoms and the dynamic nature of brain pathophysiology present significant challenges in constructing a robust diagnostic model for migraine. In this study, we aimed to integrate different types of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), providing structural and functional information, and develop a robust machine learning model that classifies migraine patients from healthy controls by testing multiple combinations of hyperparameters to ensure stability across different migraine phases and longitudinally repeated data. Specifically, we constructed a diagnostic model to classify patients with episodic migraine from healthy controls, and validated its performance across ictal and interictal phases, as well as in a longitudinal setting.

Continued Treatment with Nintedanib in Patients with Progressive Pulmonary Fibrosis: Data from INBUILD-ON.

Purpose: In the INBUILD trial in patients with progressive pulmonary fibrosis (PPF), nintedanib slowed the decline in forced vital capacity (FVC) versus placebo, with a safety profile characterised mainly by gastrointestinal events. INBUILD-ON, the open-label extension of INBUILD, assessed the safety of nintedanib during longer-term treatment. Data on FVC were collected.

Standardized patient profile review using large language models for case adjudication in observational research.

Using administrative claims and electronic health records for observational studies is common but challenging due to data limitations. Researchers rely on phenotype algorithms, requiring labor-intensive chart reviews for validation. This study investigates whether case adjudication using the previously introduced Knowledge-Enhanced Electronic Profile Review (KEEPER) system with large language models (LLMs) is feasible and could serve as a viable alternative to manual chart review.

Feasibility study of patient-specific four-dimensional in vivo tracking system for high-dose-rate brachytherapy: Experimental evaluation.

Background: High-dose-rate (HDR) brachytherapy using Iridium-192 as a radiation source is widely employed in cancer treatment to deliver concentrated radiation doses while minimizing normal tissue exposure. In this treatment, the precision with which the sealed radioisotope source is delivered significantly impacts clinical outcomes.

Purpose: This study aims to evaluate the feasibility of a new four-dimensional (4D) in vivo source tracking and treatment verification system for HDR brachytherapy using a patient-specific approach.

Utilization of Acid Suppressants After Withdrawal of Ranitidine in Korea: An Interrupted Time Series Analysis.

Objectives: This study was performed to evaluate the utilization patterns of acid suppressants following the withdrawal of ranitidine in Korea.

Methods: Health Insurance Review & Assessment Service (HIRA) data from January 2016 to May 2023 were utilized to assess the usage of histamine H2 receptor antagonists (H2RAs) and proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) for acid-related diseases. Drug utilization was calculated for each agent based on the defined daily dose (DDD).

The Synergistic Effect of PARP Inhibitors and Irinotecan in Small Cell Lung Cancer Cells.

Purpose: This study focused on combining irinotecan with Poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitors to explore the potential for novel combination therapeutics in small cell lung cancer (SCLC).

Materials And Methods: We selected 10 different SCLC cell lines with diverse mutational backgrounds in DNA damage response (DDR) pathway genes to evaluate the efficacy of the combination of three PARP inhibitors and irinotecan. After the cells were exposed to the drugs for seven days, cell viability was measured, and a combination index was calculated.

Association of Post-procedure Ankle-Brachial Index with Outcomes Following Drug-Coated Balloon Angioplasty in Femoropopliteal Artery Disease.

Endovascular treatment of femoropopliteal artery (FPA) disease with Drug-coated balloons (DCBs) may face complications such as arterial recoil, dissection, and residual stenosis. Angiography has limited accuracy for evaluating blood flow through revascularized target lesions. Thus, there is a need for post-procedure hemodynamic assessment in treated limbs.

Environmental noise exposure and autoimmune diseases: Evidence from a national cohort study.

Exposure to environmental noise is an inevitable factor and may pose a risk to health conditions, even potentially affecting the immune system. However, the relationship between noise exposure and autoimmune diseases has not been well explored. This study aimed to investigate whether noise exposure is associated with an increased risk of autoimmune diseases in South Korea.

Analysis of initial seizure characteristics in patients with infantile onset genetic epilepsy.

Objective: The present study aimed to investigate the initial clinical features of infantile-onset genetic epilepsy and compare initial seizure variables and responses to sodium channel blockers between SCN1A and non-SCN1A group.

Methods: We selected 122 patients, comprising 58 patients with SCN1A mutations and 64 patients with mutations in other than SCN1A, from our institutional database.

Results: Patients identified in the SCN1A group tended to present with fever, prolonged seizure duration, and hemiclonic seizure semiology.

A common data model for oral anticoagulants-related risk of spontaneous intracranial hemorrhage.

Spontaneous intracranial hemorrhage (sICH) is a major complication associated with oral anticoagulation which results in a high mortality rate, and the incidence of anticoagulant-induced sICH has increased markedly, so it is necessary to investigate the risk of anticoagulation-related sICH in a real-world setting. We aimed to investigate the incidence and risk factors of oral anticoagulant-related sICH using a common data model (CDM), and to determine whether a clinical study using the CDM would be comparable to conventional studies. After converting the various clinical codes of 12,821 patients taking oral anticoagulants, such as warfarin and non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants (NOACs), into the Observational Medical Outcomes Partnership (OMOP) CDM format, we analyzed the incidence and risk factors of sICH.

Consolidation of the Anteromedial Aspect of the Tibia is Inferior to The Other Areas in the Reconstruction of Critical-Sized Bone Defect of the Tibial Shaft using the Induced Membrane Technique: An Analysis of 111 Serial Computed Tomography of 37 patients.

Objectives: To compare the consolidation quality between the anteromedial aspect of regenerated bone (AMRB) and other areas of regenerated bone (TORB) following the induced membrane technique (IMT) for managing critical-sized tibial shaft bone defects, and determine the factors affecting consolidation quality in the AMRB.

Methods: Design: Retrospective comparative study.

Setting: Academic Level I trauma center.

Cardiovascular Risk from Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease, Cardiometabolic Risk Factor Count, and Their Longitudinal Changes: A Nationwide Cohort Study.

Introduction: Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is associated with incident cardiovascular disease (CVD). However, CVD risk could vary across and within individuals with MASLD. We investigated the cardiovascular implications of MASLD, cardiometabolic risk factor count, and their longitudinal changes.

Superstable lipid vacuoles endow cartilage with its shape and biomechanics.

Conventionally, the size, shape, and biomechanics of cartilages are determined by their voluminous extracellular matrix. By contrast, we found that multiple murine cartilages consist of lipid-filled cells called lipochondrocytes. Despite resembling adipocytes, lipochondrocytes were molecularly distinct and produced lipids exclusively through de novo lipogenesis.

Effect of Glomerular Hyperfiltration on Incident Cardiovascular Disease in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus.

Background: The effects of glomerular hyperfiltration (GHF) on cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) were explored.

Methods: This retrospective cohort study enrolled 1,952,053 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus from the Korean National Health Insurance Service database between 2015 and 2016. Based on age- and sex-specific estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) percentiles, patients were classified into five groups: <5 (low filtration), 5-40, 40-60, 60-95, and >95 (GHF).

Mild behavioral impairment in idiopathic REM sleep behavior disorder and Lewy body disease continuum.

To investigate the clinical impact of mild behavioral impairment (MBI) in a predefined cohort with Lewy body disease (LBD) continuum. Eighty-four patients in the LBD continuum participated in this study, including 35 patients with video-polysomnography-confirmed idiopathic REM sleep behavior disorder (iRBD) and 49 clinically established LBD. Evaluations included the Movement Disorder Society-Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (MDS-UPDRS), neuropsychological tests, and MBI Checklist (MBI-C).

Intra-individual comparison of long-term outcomes between combined and indirect bypass surgery in adult moyamoya disease.

Purpose: Bypass surgery is regarded as the standard treatment option for symptomatic and hemodynamically unstable moyamoya disease (MMD). However, there is ongoing debate about the most effective type of bypass surgery. We aimed to analyze the long-term outcomes of combined and indirect bypasses for MMD patients through intra-individual comparisons.

The effect of treadmill exercise on memory function and gut microbiota composition in old rats.

Aging is associated with declines in memory function and significant change in gut microbiota. In this study, we investigated how exercise affects age-related memory decline and inflammation, and gut microbiota diversity. Bl6 mice were divided into control, control and exercise, old, and old and exercise groups.

Speech-mediated manipulation of da Vinci surgical system for continuous surgical flow.

Unlabelled: With the advent of robot-assisted surgery, user-friendly technologies have been applied to the da Vinci surgical system (dVSS), and their efficacy has been validated in worldwide surgical fields. However, further improvements are required to the traditional manipulation methods, which cannot control an endoscope and surgical instruments simultaneously. This study proposes a speech recognition control interface (SRCI) for controlling the endoscope via speech commands while manipulating surgical instruments to replace the traditional method.

Enhanced diagnosis of pes planus and pes cavus using deep learning-based segmentation of weight-bearing lateral foot radiographs: a comparative observer study.

Unlabelled: A weight-bearing lateral radiograph (WBLR) of the foot is a gold standard for diagnosing adult-acquired flatfoot deformity. However, it is difficult to measure the major axis of bones in WBLR without using auxiliary lines. Herein, we develop semantic segmentation with a deep learning model (DLm) on the WBLR of the foot for enhanced diagnosis of pes planus and pes cavus.

A New Era in Diabetic Kidney Disease Treatment: The Four Pillars and Strategies to Build Beyond.

Diabetic kidney disease (DKD) is a prevalent and complex disease among patients with diabetes in Korea, requiring comprehensive treatment strategies. Traditional management strategies targeting blood pressure, blood sugar, lipid, and lifestyles are foundational approaches of DKD treatment, each of them still holding importance in current paradigms. The four pillars, renin-angiotensin system(RAS) inhibitors, sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitors, glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists, and non-steroidal mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists (nsMRA) can enhance DKD treatment.