Incidence and risk of infections in patients with ankylosing spondylitis receiving biologic therapies: A prospective observational study using the KOBIO registry.

Objective: This study aimed to assess infection occurrence of infection and risk factors among ankylosing spondylitis (AS) patients treated with biologics in a real-world setting.

Methods: This prospective observational cohort study included AS patients from the Korean College of Rheumatology BIOlogics (KOBIO) registry who initiated or switched to biologic agent between December 2012 and July 2023. The primary outcome was the first occurrence of any infection, ranging from mild to severe, classified by organ system.

Long-Term Efficacy and Safety of Denosumab: Insights beyond 10 Years of Use.

Osteoporosis management in post-menopausal women focuses on fracture prevention, with denosumab as a key therapeutic option. Despite its proven efficacy in reducing fracture risk and increasing bone mineral density (BMD) over 10 years, its long-term impact remains uncertain. We evaluated the literature on its efficacy and safety beyond the initial decade.

Cumulative Burden of Fatty Liver and Kidney Cancer in Young Men: A National Population-Based Study.

This national population-based study aimed to assess the cumulative burden of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) measured via the fatty liver index (FLI) and its association with kidney cancer risk in young men aged 20-39. : Using the Korean National Health Insurance Service database, we examined a cohort of 1,007,906 men (age 20-39) who underwent four consecutive annual check-ups from 2009 to 2012. The FLI, calculated from body mass index values, waist circumference, triglyceride levels, and gamma-glutamyl transferase levels, was used to quantify the cumulative burden of NAFLD (FLI ≥ 60).

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.

Risk of depression in glaucoma patients with vision impairment: A nationwide cohort study.

Purpose: We aimed to investigate the risk of developing depression in individuals with primary open-angle glaucoma with associated vision impairment.

Methods: We conducted a nationwide, population-based cohort study using data from the Korean National Health Information Database and National Disability Registry. We assessed baseline characteristics such as age, sex, income level, lifestyle factors, anthropometric data, lab results, and Charlson Comorbidity Index scores through diagnostic codes and health screening data.

Diagnostic Performance and Safety of Ultrasound-Guided Core Needle Biopsy for Diagnosing Lymphoma: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: Lymphoma arises from transformed lymphoid cells. Although surgical excision biopsy is the standard diagnostic tool for patients with lymphoma, image-guided fine-needle aspiration (FNA) or core needle biopsy (CNB) is considered an alternative diagnostic option.

Objective: To assess the diagnostic accuracy and safety of ultrasound (US)-guided core needle biopsy (CNB) in patients with lymphoma.

Study Protocol of the Korean EGFR Registry: A Multicenter Prospective and Retrospective Cohort Study in Nonsmall Cell Lung Cancer Patients With EGFR Mutation.

Introduction: The provision of treatment for epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-mutated nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients has increased in Korea. However, multicenter studies on the clinicopathologic dataset and treatment outcomes, using a large-scale dataset, have not been conducted. The current study is a prospective and retrospective multicenter observational cohort study that registers all stages of EGFR-mutated NSCLC patients.

Poststroke Ipsilesional Motor Performance: Microstructural Biomarkers and Their Associations With Executive Function.

Background: Unilateral hemispheric stroke can impair the ipsilesional motor performance, which is crucial for attaining optimal functional outcomes poststroke. However, the specific brain structures contributing to ipsilesional motor performance impairment remain unclear.

Objective: To explore the link between ipsilesional motor performance and the microstructural integrity of relevant neural pathways.

Influence of Organ-Specific Extranodal Involvement on Survival Outcomes in Stage IV Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma.

Background: The prognostic significance of extranodal sites in stage IV diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) remains uncertain, making it challenging to select appropriate treatment strategies for individual patients. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the influence of different extranodal sites on prognosis in young patients with stage IV DLBCL who achieved complete remission (CR) following initial chemo-immunotherapy and to explore the potential of autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (ASCT) as a consolidation treatment for specific patient subgroups.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed data from 119 patients with DLBCL aged < 60 years who achieved CR after chemo-immunotherapy between 2008 and 2020.

Differential Efficacy of Advanced Therapies in Inducing Remission in Ulcerative Colitis Based on Prior Exposure to TNF Antagonists.

Background And Aims: We sought to ascertain how prior exposure to TNF antagonists impacts treatment response with various classes of advanced therapies in patients with ulcerative colitis (UC), through a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Methods: Through a systematic review of multiple databases through June 30, 2024, we identified 17 RCTs in 8871 adults with moderate-severe UC who were treated with different advanced therapies vs. placebo, and reported efficacy in induction of clinical remission, stratified by prior exposure to TNF antagonists.

Therapeutic Efficacy and Safety of Memantine for Children and Adults With ADHD With a Focus on Glutamate-Dopamine Regulation: A Systematic Review.

Pharmacotherapy plays a crucial role in treating attention-deficit/ hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). However, current medications for ADHD have limitations and potential adverse effects. Glutamate, a neurotransmitter that directly and indirectly modulates dopamine neurotransmission, is considered a new therapeutic target for ADHD.

DL-ICE as a bridge to allogeneic transplantation in relapsed/refractory PTCL: survival outcomes and prognostic factors.

Introduction: Peripheral T-cell lymphomas (PTCLs) have poor outcomes in the relapsed/refractory (R/R) setting. In this study, we evaluated the efficacy of dexamethasone, L-asparaginase, ifosfamide, carboplatin, and etoposide (DL-ICE) chemotherapy followed by allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) in patients with R/R PTCLs.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 80 adult patients with R/R PTCLs treated with DL-ICE chemotherapy between September 2009 and March 2023.

Epidemiological Characteristics and Outcome of Myocarditis and Pericarditis Temporally Associated With BNT162b2 COVID-19 Vaccine in Adolescents: Korean National Surveillance.

Background: This study aimed to investigate the epidemiological characteristics and outcomes of myocarditis/pericarditis after BNT162b2 vaccination in Korean adolescents.

Methods: This was a retrospective cohort analysis of adolescents aged 12-19 years old diagnosed with myocarditis/pericarditis within 42 days of BNT162b2 mRNA vaccination. All reported cases were investigated by city or government epidemiologists and the diagnostic certainty and causality was determined by the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency's Adverse Event Following Immunization Expert Advisory Committee according to the modified version of Brighton Collaboration Myocarditis/Pericarditis Working group's case definitions.

Injection of an allodermal matrix and leukocyte-rich platelet-rich plasma mixture improved the tendon integrity in cases of full-thickness common extensor tendon tears of the elbow: Two case reports.

Rationale: Lateral epicondylitis, commonly known as tennis elbow, is a chronic condition characterized by tendinosis at the insertion site of the lateral epicondyle. Various treatment methods are available, ranging from conservative to surgical options for refractory lateral epicondylitis. Recently, platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections have shown effectiveness for treating this condition.

Linsitinib inhibits IGF-1-induced cell proliferation and hyaluronic acid secretion by suppressing PI3K/Akt and ERK pathway in orbital fibroblasts from patients with thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy.

Thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy (TAO), an autoimmune disorder of the retrobulbar tissue, is present in up to 50 percent of Graves's hyperthyroidism patients. Insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor (IGF-1R) has received attention as a target for the development of therapeutic agent for TAO. IGF-1R and TSHR (thyroid stimulating hormone receptor) interact with each other to form a physical or functional complex, further promoting the development of TAO.

Comparison of Risk-Scoring Models to Predict Gastrointestinal Bleeding in Patients With Direct Oral Anticoagulants.

Background And Aim: The risk of gastrointestinal bleeding (GIB) remains a concern with the use of direct oral anticoagulants (DOAC). We evaluated the efficacy of four risk-scoring models (HAS-BLED, ATRIA, VTE-BLEED, and ORBIT) in predicting GIB according to the concomitant use of antiplatelet therapy in DOAC users.

Methods: Patients prescribed DOAC between December 2014 and October 2020 were enrolled in two university-affiliated hospitals.

Association Between Higher Body Mass Index and the Risk of Lumbar Spinal Stenosis in Korean Populations: A Nationwide Cohort Study.

Despite the increasing prevalence of both spinal stenosis and obesity, their association remains controversial. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between body mass index (BMI) and the risk of lumbar spinal stenosis in the Korean population using nationwide data. We analyzed data from 2,161,684 adults aged ≥40 years who underwent health examinations in 2009 using the Korean National Health Insurance System database.

Segmentation-Based Measurement of Orbital Structures: Achievements in Eyeball Volume Estimation and Barriers in Optic Nerve Analysis.

Background/objective: Orbital diseases often require precise measurements of eyeball volume, optic nerve sheath diameter (ONSD), and apex-to-eyeball distance (AED) for accurate diagnosis and treatment planning. This study aims to automate and optimize these measurements using advanced deep learning segmentation techniques on orbital Computed Tomography (CT) scans.

Methods: Orbital CT datasets from individuals of various age groups and genders were used, with annotated masks for the eyeball and optic nerve.

Classification and Prognostic Stratification Based on Genomic Features in Myelodysplastic and Myeloproliferative Neoplasm- and Their Overlapping Conditions.

: Myeloid neoplasms encompass a diverse group of disorders. In this study, we aimed to analyze the clinical and genomic data of patients with myeloproliferative neoplasm (MPN), myelodysplastic neoplasm (MDS), and their overlapping conditions, such as MDS/MPN and aplastic anemia (AA), to help redefine the disease classification. : Clinico-genomic data of 1585 patients diagnosed with MPN ( = 715), MDS ( = 698), MDS/MPN ( = 78), and AA ( = 94) were collected.

SB16 versus reference denosumab in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis: 18-month outcomes of a phase III randomized clinical trial.

Purpose: This study evaluated the efficacy, safety, pharmacodynamics (PD), pharmacokinetics (PK), and immunogenicity of SB16 versus reference denosumab (DEN) up to 18 months in postmenopausal osteoporosis (PMO) patients, and assessed outcomes after switching from DEN to SB16 compared to those who continued with DEN or SB16.

Methods: 457 PMO patients were initially randomized, with 407 re-randomized at Month 12 to either continue DEN (DEN+DEN), switch to SB16 (DEN+SB16), or continue SB16 (SB16 + SB16) through Month 18. Efficacy was assessed by the percent change from baseline in bone mineral density (BMD) at the lumbar spine, total hip, and femoral neck.

Long-Term Outcomes of an Infliximab-First Versus Vedolizumab-First Treatment Strategy in Biologic-Naïve Patients With Ulcerative Colitis.

Background: Although studies have compared on-treatment effectiveness of infliximab and vedolizumab in patients with ulcerative colitis (UC), there has been limited comparison of treatment sequencing and long-term patient-centred outcomes.

Aim: To compare infliximab-first and vedolizumab-first strategy in biologic-naïve patients with UC.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study in biologic-naïve patients with UC who were treated first with either infliximab or vedolizumab between 2015 and 2021 and followed over 30 months following initiation.