Cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy and the risk of diabetic kidney disease.

Background: Cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy (CAN) is known to affect patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) and cause adverse renal outcomes. We aimed to analyze the association between CAN and diabetic kidney disease (DKD).

Method: We enrolled 254 DM patients (mean age, 56.

Invasive strategies for rhythm control of atrial fibrillation: a narrative review.

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common sustained tachyarrhythmia and its increasing prevalence has resulted in a growing healthcare burden. A recent landmark randomized trial, the EAST-AFNET 4 (Early Treatment of Atrial Fibrillation for Stroke Prevention Trial), highlighted the importance of early rhythm control in AF, which was previously underemphasized. Rhythm control therapy includes antiarrhythmic drugs, direct-current cardioversion, and catheter ablation.

Screening and treatment of endocrine hypertension focusing on adrenal gland disorders: a narrative review.

Most cases of high blood pressure have no identifiable cause, termed essential hypertension; however, in approximately 15% of cases, hypertension occurs due to secondary causes. Primary aldosteronism (PA) and pheochromocytoma and paraganglioma (PPGL) are representative endocrine hypertensive diseases. The differentiation of endocrine hypertension provides an opportunity to cure and prevent target organ damage.

Fibronectin glomerulopathy in an elderly patient with FN1 gene mutation: a case report and literature review.

Background: Fibronectin glomerulopathy (FNG) is a rare autosomal dominant glomerulopathy that can lead to nephrotic syndrome. Here we report the case of an elderly patient diagnosed with FNG, exhibiting nephrotic-range proteinuria, with a 2-year follow-up.

Case Presentation: A 75-year-old Korean female visited the nephrology clinic after experiencing generalized edema for 2 months.

Prediction model for intraoperative implant volume using the 3D surface imaging system (VECTRA XT 3D) in direct-to-implant breast reconstructions.

Background: In direct-to-implant breast reconstruction, accurate preoperative breast volume estimation is crucial for surgeons to select the appropriate implant volume, considering the cosmetic outcomes during surgery. We proposed the prediction model for intraoperative implant volume based on the preoperative estimated volume of the contralateral breast obtained through a three-dimensional surface imaging system (3DSI) as surgeons usually choose the implant volume on the breast which should be reconstructed considering symmetricity with the contralateral breast.

Methods: We enrolled 97 patients from our single institution who underwent unilateral mastectomy with immediate breast reconstruction using smooth silicone implants between October 2021 and January 2023.

Caffeine consumption of medical students in Korea: amount and symptoms based on a 2023 survey.

Purpose: To investigate the form and level of daily caffeine intake recommended above 400 mg in medical students expected to consume caffeinated beverages to enhance their performance.

Methods: From May to June 2023, freshman through senior medical students at a medical school in Korea were administered a seven-item questionnaire designed to measure the amount of caffeine-containing foods consumed, the weekly interval between consumption, the reason for consumption, and the level of caffeine-induced symptoms experienced.

Results: Out of 443 students, 361 responded (81.

Advances, challenges, and prospects of electroencephalography-based biomarkers for psychiatric disorders: a narrative review.

Owing to a lack of appropriate biomarkers for accurate diagnosis and treatment, psychiatric disorders cause significant distress and functional impairment, leading to social and economic losses. Biomarkers are essential for diagnosing, predicting, treating, and monitoring various diseases. However, their absence in psychiatry is linked to the complex structure of the brain and the lack of direct monitoring modalities.

Impact of the life-sustaining treatment decision act on organ donation in out-of-hospital cardiac arrests in South Korea: a multi-centre retrospective study.

Background: The demand for organ transplants, both globally and in South Korea, substantially exceeds the supply, a situation that might have been aggravated by the enactment of the Life-Sustaining Treatment Decision Act (LSTDA) in February 2018. This legislation may influence emergency medical procedures and the availability of organs from brain-dead donors. This study aimed to assess LSTDA's impact, introduced in February 2018, on organ donation status in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) patients in a metropolitan city and identified related factors.

The role of FEV/FVC in the prediction of acute exacerbation of COPD.

Background: Whether the ratio of forced expiratory volume in 1 s to forced vital capacity (FEV/FVC) can be used as a biomarker to predict the risk of acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD) is unclear.

Methods: To investigate the predictive role of FEV/FVC for AECOPD, we analyzed data from an observational and multicenter cohort study of 2043 patients with COPD in KOREA. Exposures were post-bronchodilator FEV/FVC and/or percentage predicted FEV (FEV%pred).

Recent updates on classification and unsolved issues of diverticular disease: a narrative review.

Recently, a paradigm shift has occurred in the classification of diverticular disease and the understanding of its pathogenesis. Diverticular disease is now defined as a variety of clinically significant conditions such as diverticulitis, diverticular bleeding, symptomatic uncomplicated diverticular disease, and segmental colitis associated with diverticulosis. Low-grade inflammation, visceral hypersensitivity, abnormal intestinal motility, and genetic factors have emerged as the key contributors to the pathogenesis of diverticular disease.

Clinical characteristics and long-term disease course in patients with Crohn's disease as diagnosed by video capsule endoscopy: a multicenter retrospective matched case-control study.

Background/aims: Video capsule endoscopy is rarely used to diagnose Crohn's disease in patients with negative ileocolonoscopy or cross-sectional image findings. We evaluated clinical characteristics and long-term outcomes of these rare cases.

Methods: This multicenter study included patients with Crohn's disease from 3 tertiary hospitals from January 2007 to October 2022.

Superficial Anaplastic Lymphoma Kinase-Rearranged Myxoid Spindle Cell Neoplasm in the Buttock: A Case Report.

Anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) is detected in both normal and oncological developmental tissues. Among ALK-related tumors, superficial ALK-rearranged myxoid spindle cell neoplasm (SAMS) is a rare, soft tissue tumor characterized by the immunophenotypical co-expression of CD34 and S100. Here, we describe a patient with this rare tumor and outline its clinical and radiological characteristics.

[Old and New Biologics and Small Molecules in Inflammatory Bowel Disease: Anti Integrins].

Recently, novel biologics or small molecular drugs have been introduced for overcoming the unmet needs associated with anti-tumor necrosis factor α agents for inflammtory bowel disease (IBD) treatment. Among these novel drugs, anti integrin agents block leukocyte trafficking to the intestine by blocking the interaction between integrin and cell adhesion molecules. Vedolizumab (anti-α4β7) is most widely used anti-integrin approved in both ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease .

Topographic analysis of retinal and choroidal vascular displacements after macular hole surgery.

It has been reported that the retinal vessel and macular region of the retina are displaced after macular hole (MH) surgery. However, there is no detailed information for correlations between retinal and choroidal displacements. We obtained optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) and en-face optical coherence tomography (OCT) images from 24 eyes to measure the retinal and choroidal vascular displacement before and after surgery.

Minimal Access vs Conventional Nipple-Sparing Mastectomy.

Importance: While nipple-sparing mastectomy (NSM) for breast cancer was only performed using the open method in the past, its frequency using endoscopic and robotic surgical instruments has been increasing rapidly. However, there are limited studies regarding postoperative complications and the benefits and drawbacks of minimal access NSM (M-NSM) compared with conventional NSM (C-NSM).

Objective: To examine the differences in postoperative complications between C-NSM and M-NSM.