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.

Factors associated with the detection of atrial fibrillation in patients with embolic stroke of undetermined source.

Background: Detection of atrial fibrillation (AF) in patients with embolic stroke of undetermined source (ESUS) is important for the secondary prevention of stroke. We investigated the factors associated with the detection of newly diagnosed AF in ESUS patients during follow-up.

Methods: Patients with acute ischemic stroke classified as ESUS were included.

Cemiplimab in recurrent cervical cancer: Final analysis of overall survival in the phase III EMPOWER-Cervical 1/GOG-3016/ENGOT-cx9 trial.

Aim: Cemiplimab has demonstrated significantly longer survival than physician's choice of chemotherapy in patients with recurrent cervical cancer after first-line platinum-containing chemotherapy. We report the final survival analysis from the phase III randomized study (EMPOWER-Cervical 1/GOG-3016/ENGOT-cx9).

Methods: Cemiplimab (n = 304) or chemotherapy (n = 304) were administered every 3 weeks.

Mechanical analysis of cerclage as a treatment for cervical insufficiency.

Background: The primary treatment for cervical insufficiency is cervical cerclage (mechanical support) with vaginal progesterone (biochemical support). Cerclage is a surgical procedure that mechanically increases the tensile capacity of the cervix. Therefore, it is necessary to analyse the effects of cerclage from a mechanical point of view.

A Comparative Study of Intense Pulsed Light with Two Different Filters in Meibomian Gland Dysfunction: A Prospective Randomized Study.

To compare the long-term efficacy and safety of intense pulsed light (IPL) treatments using a 590-nm and an acne filter. In this prospective, randomized, paired-eye trial study, 30 patients with moderate and severe meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD) were followed up for at least one month after their last treatment. Group A received IPL treatment with an acne filter, a type of notch filter that blocks wavelengths between 600 and 800 nm, allowing IPL to emit wavelengths between 400-600 nm and 800-1200 nm.

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.

Characteristics of successful expansion of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes from colorectal cancer liver metastasis.

Adoptive cell therapy (ACT) utilizing tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) has emerged as a successful treatment modality for various malignancies. However, TILs cultured from colorectal cancer (CRC) liver metastasis remain underexplored. Fifteen CRC liver metastasis tissues underwent initial expansion (IE) of TILs and rapid expansion (REP).

Patient satisfaction and feasibility with a novel drug-injectable urethral catheter set for hyaluronic acid administration: a multicenter randomized trial.

Reducing the risk of urethral strictures after transurethral surgery for patients with bladder cancer requires effective strategies. We compared the clinical outcomes of a novel drug-injectable urethral catheter set (NIUS) with hyaluronic acid (HA) with those of the conventional intraurethral HA injection method. This six-center, prospective, randomized, single-blind trial included 192 male patients aged ≥ 20 years scheduled to undergo transurethral surgery.

The real-world efficacy and toxicity of first-line paclitaxel and cisplatin with bevacizumab in platinum-naïve primary stage IVB cervical cancer.

Objective: To investigate the real-world efficacy and toxicity of paclitaxel-cisplatin-bevacizumab and identify prognostic factors for paclitaxel-cisplatin-bevacizumab in platinum-naïve primary stage IVB cervical cancer.

Materials And Methods: We retrospectively reviewed patients with stage IVB cervical cancer who received paclitaxel-cisplatin-bevacizumab as first-line treatment between July 2015 and December 2021 at Asan Medical Center, Korea. Patient data including clinicopathologic characteristics, imaging, paclitaxel-cisplatin-bevacizumab administration, recurrence, and survival were collected.

DRG2 levels in prostate cancer cell lines predict response to PARP inhibitor during docetaxel treatment.

Purpose: Developmentally regulated GTP-binding protein 2 (DRG2) regulates microtubule dynamics and G2/M arrest during docetaxel treatment. Poly ADP-ribose polymerase (PARP) acts as an important repair system for DNA damage caused by docetaxel treatment. This study investigated whether DRG2 expression affects response to PARP inhibitors (olaparib) using prostate cancer cell lines PC3, DU145, LNCaP-FGC, and LNCaP-LN3.

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.

Inhibition of AXL ameliorates pulmonary fibrosis attenuation of M2 macrophage polarization.

Rationale: Although a relationship between the Gas6/AXL pathway and pulmonary fibrosis (PF) has been suggested, the precise mechanisms and clinical implications of the AXL pathway in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) are still unclear.

Methods: Constitutive and conditional AXL-knockout mice were generated and injected with bleomycin (BLM) to induce pulmonary fibrosis. The expression of AXL and macrophage subtypes in BLM-injected mice and patients with IPF was analysed using flow cytometry.

Association of Postprocedure 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 postprocedure hemodynamic assessment in treated limbs.

New users of sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors are at low risk of incident pancreatic cancer: A nationwide population-based cohort study.

Aim: We aimed to investigate whether sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT2is) are associated with a decreased risk of gastrointestinal (GI) cancers in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) compared to other glucose lowering medications (oGLMs).

Methods: This active-comparator, new-user cohort study used the nationwide National Health Insurance Service database of the Republic of Korea from September 2014 to June 2020. From 79,423 new users of SGLT2is and 294,707 new users of oGLMs, we used a propensity score to match 59,954 from each of these two treatment groups.

Circulating apelin levels fail to link sarcopenia-related muscle parameters in older adults.

Background: Based on the compelling experimental evidence supporting apelin's beneficial effects on muscle metabolism, our study aimed to evaluate the role of circulating apelin levels as a biomarker for muscle health in humans.

Methods: This investigation employed a cross-sectional design, encompassing 237 community-dwelling older adults aged ≥65 years who underwent comprehensive geriatric evaluations in South Korea. Sarcopenia diagnosis was based on Asian-specific criteria, and serum apelin concentrations were determined using enzyme immunoassay techniques.

Surgical outcomes of radial polydactyly according to a modified Wassel-Flatt classification: A retrospective study of 211 patients with 223 thumbs.

We previously introduced the modified Wassel-Flatt classification to overcome the limitation of the traditional classification for radial polydactyly. This study aimed to evaluate this modified classification in terms of surgical planning and clinical outcomes using the Japanese Society for Surgery of the Hand scoring system. A retrospective review of 211 patients with 223 thumbs treated for radial polydactyly between October 2017 and November 2022 was conducted.

Orthopedic surgeon level joint angle assessment with artificial intelligence based on photography: a pilot study.

Unlabelled: Accurate assessment of shoulder range of motion (ROM) is crucial for evaluating patient progress. Traditional manual goniometry often lacks precision and is subject to inter-observer variability, especially in measuring shoulder internal rotation (IR). This study introduces an artificial intelligence (AI)-based approach that uses clinical photography to improve the accuracy of ROM quantification.

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.

Surgical Outcomes of Lateral Ulnar Collateral Ligament Reconstruction Versus Repair for Posterolateral Rotatory Instability of the Elbow: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Background: The aim of surgical treatment for posterolateral rotatory instability (PLRI) of the elbow is to restore the integrity of the lateral ulnar collateral ligament (LUCL), with ligamentous reconstruction being the preferred option for recurrent symptomatic PLRI. However, there is no clinical evidence demonstrating the superiority of reconstruction versus repair. Treatment options currently depend on the cause of the LUCL injury and surgeon preference.

Establishment of Local Diagnostic Reference Levels for Pediatric Neck CT at Nine University Hospitals in South Korea.

Objective: To establish local diagnostic reference levels (DRLs) for pediatric neck CT based on age, weight, and water-equivalent diameter (WED) across multiple university hospitals in South Korea.

Materials And Methods: This retrospective study analyzed pediatric neck CT examinations from nine university hospitals, involving patients aged 0-18 years. Data were categorized by age, weight, and WED, and radiation dose metrics, including volume CT dose index (CTDI) and dose length product, were recorded.

Radiofrequency Ablation for Recurrent Thyroid Cancers: 2025 Korean Society of Thyroid Radiology Guideline.

Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is a minimally invasive treatment modality used as an alternative to surgery in patients with benign thyroid nodules, recurrent thyroid cancers (RTCs), and primary thyroid microcarcinomas. The Korean Society of Thyroid Radiology (KSThR) initially developed recommendations for the optimal use of RFA for thyroid tumors in 2009 and revised them in 2012 and 2017. As new meaningful evidence has accumulated since 2017 and in response to a growing global interest in the use of RFA for treating malignant thyroid lesions, the task force committee members of the KSThR decided to update the guidelines on the use of RFA for the management of RTCs based on a comprehensive analysis of current literature and expert consensus.

Unveiling the Competition among Surface Damping Pathways in Single Gold Nanorods Immobilized on Graphene Using Amine Derivatives as Adsorbates.

Understanding plasmon damping in gold nanorods (AuNRs) is crucial for optimizing their use in photochemical processes and biosensing. This study used dark-field microscopy and spectroscopy to explore plasmon damping in single AuNRs on graphene monolayers (AuNR@GL) with pyridine derivatives as adsorbates. The Au-graphene heterostructure caused a Fermi-level downshift, making graphene a dominant electron acceptor.

A single-centre randomised controlled trial comparing the standard method and target-controlled infusion as a method of administering cefoxitin, which is used to prevent surgical site infections in colorectal surgical patients: study protocol.

Background: Prophylactic parenteral administration of antibiotics is strongly recommended to prevent surgical site infection (SSI). Cefoxitin is mainly administered intravenously in colorectal surgery. The current standard method for administering prophylactic antibiotics in adults is to administer a fixed dose quickly before skin incision.

Airway management and functional outcomes in intubated patients with ischemic stroke.

We investigated the functional outcomes in ischemic stroke patients who underwent endotracheal intubation according to airway management (i.e., extubation success, extubation failure, primary tracheostomy) at multiple time points.