Real-World Utilization Patterns of Oral Corticosteroids During Pregnancy: A Nationwide Population-Based Study in Korea.

Oral corticosteroids (OCS) are frequently used during pregnancy, but patterns of their usage and indications are understudied. We described OCS utilization among pregnant women in South Korea using the Health Insurance Review and Assessment database, 2010-2021. Among 4,574,294 pregnancies, 6.

Induced Neural Stem Cell Transplantation in Spinal Cord Injury: Present Status and Next Steps.

Spinal cord injury (SCI) remains a significant clinical challenge, with no fully effective treatment available despite advancements in various therapeutic approaches. This review examines the emerging role of induced neural stem cells (iNSCs) as promising candidates for SCI treatment, highlighting their potential for direct neural regeneration and integration with host tissue. We explore the biology of iNSCs, their mechanisms of action, and their interactions with host tissue, including modulating inflammatory responses, promoting axonal growth, and reconstructing neural circuits.

Surgical and Neurointensive Management for Acute Spinal Cord Injury: A Narrative Review.

Spinal cord injury (SCI) following high-energy trauma often leads to lasting neurologic deficits and severe socioeconomic impact. Effective neurointensive care, particularly in the early stages post-injury, is essential for optimizing outcomes. This review discusses the role of neurointensive care in managing SCI, emphasizing early assessment, stabilization, and intervention strategies based on recent evidence-based practices.

Using Artificial Intelligence in the Comprehensive Management of Spinal Cord Injury.

Spinal cord injury (SCI) frequently results in persistent motor, sensory, or autonomic dysfunction, and the outcomes are largely determined by the location and severity of the injury. Despite significant technological progress, the intricate nature of the spinal cord anatomy and the difficulties associated with neuroregeneration make full recovery from SCI uncommon. This review explores the potential of artificial intelligence (AI), with a particular focus on machine learning, to enhance patient outcomes in SCI management.

Spinal Cord Injury From Tuberculous Spondylitis Misdiagnosed as Metastatic Spinal Tumor and Bacterial Spondylitis: A Case Report & Literature Review.

Tuberculous (TB) spondylitis, also known as Pott's disease, was first described by Percivall Pott in 1779. The diagnosis of TB spondylitis is often delayed because of the non-specific nature of the infection, which can lead to severe consequences. Differential diagnosis is especially critical in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy who present with lymph node or bone metastasis.

Genotoxicity evaluation of fucoidan-rich sporophyll.

Unlabelled: The aim of this study was to investigate genotoxicity of fucoidan-rich sporophyll (FUPS) using a three-component test battery. Our sulfate analysis method showed that FUPS extract contained 14% fucoidan sulfate. The reverse mutation assay showed that the FUPS extract did not increase the number of revertant colonies in any of the five bacterial strains tested, regardless of metabolic activation by S9 mix.

Liver function and Alzheimer's brain pathologies: A longitudinal study: Liver and Alzheimer's pathologies.

Importance: The neuropathological links underlying the association between changes in liver function and AD have not yet been clearly elucidated.

Objective: We aimed to examine the relationship between liver function markers and longitudinal changes in Alzheimer's disease (AD) core pathologies.

Design: Data from the Korean Brain Aging Study for the Early Diagnosis and Prediction of Alzheimer's Disease, a longitudinal cohort study initiated in 2014, were utilized.

Protection induced by recombinant vaccinia virus targeting the ROP4 of Toxoplasma gondii in mice.

Toxoplasmosis is a parasitic disease affecting a significant portion of the global population, whose etiology can be attributed to the protozoan organism Toxoplasma gondii. Despite its public health importance, an efficacious vaccine to prevent human toxoplasmosis remains unavailable. To this end, we designed an experimental toxoplasmosis vaccine using recombinant vaccinia virus vectors (rVacv) expressing the T.

Korean Guidelines for Diagnosis and Management of Interstitial Lung Diseases: Connective Tissue Disease Associated Interstitial Lung Disease.

Connective tissue disease (CTD) comprising a various range of autoimmune disorders is often accompanied by lung involvement, which can lead to life-threatening complications. The main types of CTDs that can present as interstitial lung disease (ILD) include rheumatoid arthritis, systemic sclerosis, Sjögren's syndrome, mixed connective tissue disease, idiopathic inflammatory myopathies, and systemic lupus erythematosus. CTD-ILD poses a significant challenge in clinical diagnosis and management due to its heterogeneous nature and variable prognosis.

High air pollution exposure, vitamin D deficiency and ever smokers were associated with higher prevalence of hypercholesterolemia: A cross-sectional study from the 2008-2014 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

Air pollutants directly and indirectly cause vitamin D deficiency (VDD). In addition, smoking increases oxidative stress and accelerates skin aging, thereby reducing the body's vitamin D concentration. Previous study reported that VDD increases total cholesterol concentration by reducing vitamin D receptor activity.

Incidence and Risk Factors for Amiodarone-Induced Thyroid Dysfunction: A Nationwide Retrospective Cohort Study.

Background: Amiodarone is an effective anti-arrhythmic drug; however, it is frequently associated with thyroid dysfunction. The aim of this study was to investigate the incidence and risk factor of amiodarone-induced dysfunction in an iodine-sufficient area.

Methods: This retrospective cohort study included 27,023 consecutive patients treated with amiodarone for arrhythmia, using the Korean National Health Insurance database.

Examining the Relationship Between Sarcopenia and Rotator Cuff Tears: A Retrospective Comparative Study.

: With the rapid increase in the aging population, the number of patients complaining of shoulder pain is also increasing. Among shoulder ailments, rotator cuff tears (RCTs) are most frequently observed in middle-aged and elderly individuals. Sarcopenia refers to the decline in muscle mass (lean body mass) and the subsequent decrease in muscle function that is linked to the natural aging process.

Maxillectomy Guided by 3D Printing Versus Conventional Surgery for Patients with Head and Neck Cancer.

Background: This study evaluates the impact of three-dimensional (3D) printing-guided maxillectomy compared with conventional maxillectomy on surgical precision and oncological outcomes in patients with head and neck cancer.

Materials And Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 42 patients undergoing maxillectomy (16 in a 3D printing-guided group and 26 in a conventional group). Patient demographics, tumor characteristics, and outcomes were compared.

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.

Efficacy and safety of nasal high-frequency oscillation in preventing intubation in very-low-birth-weight infants with respiratory distress syndrome.

Background: Invasive mechanical ventilation in very-low-birth-weight infants (VLBWI) was associated with immediate and long-term complications. Nasal high-frequency oscillation (nHFO) has recently become a new non-invasive ventilation (NIV) mode for treating respiratory failure in VLBWI. This study aimed to investigate the safety and efficacy of nHFO as an alternative respiratory support to prevent intubation in VLBWI.

Brain MRI Detection of an Abnormal Peak Width of Skeletonized Mean Diffusivity in REM Sleep Behavior Disorder.

Background And Purpose: Peak width of skeletonized mean diffusivity (PSMD) is a novel marker of white matter damage, which may be related to small vessel disease. This study aimed to investigate the presence of white matter damage in patients with isolated rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder (RBD) using PSMD.

Methods: We enrolled patients with newly diagnosed isolated RBD confirmed by polysomnography and age- and sex-matched healthy controls.

Effects of foam roller-based combined exercise on functional fitness, balance, and gait in older women.

This study aimed to investigate the effects of a foam roller-based combined exercise program on functional fitness, balance ability, and gait in women aged 65 years and older. Using a 2×2 mixed design, the study compared variables measured before and after a 6-week foam roller-based combined exercise program. A total of 32 old women were randomly assigned to either the foam roller-based exercise group or the control group.

Conservative management of emphysematous esophagitis-a case report.

Background: Emphysematous esophagitis is a very rare disease and there are only a few previous reports in the literature. Previously reported cases have resulted in emphysematous esophagitis following anterior cervical procedures or ingestion of hydrogen peroxide (HP). In this report, we describe a case in which a patient with emphysematous esophagitis accompanied by gastritis without the above predisposing factors was treated with conservative treatment.

Resection of shrinking secondary thymic cyst during follow-up-a case report.

Background: Thymic cysts can be classified as congenital or acquired. Most thymic cysts do not change in size over a short period of time. Although very rare, thymic cyst rupture is associated with serious complications, such as mediastinal hemorrhage and hemothorax.

Cohort profile: Multicenter Networks for Ideal Outcomes of Rare Pediatric Endocrine and Metabolic Diseases in Korea (OUTSPREAD study).

Rare endocrine diseases are complex conditions that require lifelong specialized care due to their chronic nature and associated long-term complications. In Korea, a lack of nationwide data on clinical practice and outcomes has limited progress in patient care. Therefore, the Multicenter Networks for Ideal Outcomes of Pediatric Rare Endocrine and Metabolic Disease (OUTSPREAD) study was initiated.

Thoracic vertebral body erosion due to a perianeurysmal outpouching lesion after thoracic endovascular aortic repair: a case report and literature review.

Background: The safety of endovascular treatment, such as thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR), for a descending thoracic aortic aneurysm has been well-established, with a reported low postoperative mortality rate but higher incidences of long-term complications such as endo-leakage, device failure, and aneurysm-related death. Based on this, we report the first case of massive thoracic vertebral body erosion due to a perianeurysmal outpouching lesion after TEVAR.

Case Presentation: A 77-year-old female with a history of TEVAR due to descending thoracic aortic arch aneurysm 4 years ago was referred from the cardiovascular clinic to the spine center.

Pain-Related Responses in Preterm Babies Using Automated and Laser Heel-Lancing Devices.

This study aimed to compare the pain-related behavioral and physiological responses and puncture-related characteristics between automated and laser lancets and examine the correlation between infants' pain-related responses and facial expressions during heel lancing in a neonatal intensive care unit. Pain-related responses were assessed using the Neonatal Infant Pain Scale, heart rate, and oxygen saturation through pulse oximetry. Facial expressions were also analyzed using a facial recognition application.

Analysis of Changes in Viral Load and Inflammatory Cytokines, as Well as the Occurrence of Secondary Infections, in SFTS Patients Treated with Specific Treatments: A Prospective Multicenter Cohort Study.

Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) is an acute febrile illness caused by the SFTS virus (SFTSV). We conducted this study to propose a scientific evidence-based treatment that can improve prognosis through changes in viral load and inflammatory cytokines according to the specific treatment of SFTS patients. This prospective and observational study was conducted at 14 tertiary referral hospitals, which are located in SFTS endemic areas in Korea, from 1 May 2018 to 31 October 2020.

Combinatorial Treatment with Praziquantel and Curcumin Reduces Parasite Burden and Clonorchiasis-Associated Pathologies in Rats.

: Clonorchiasis is a foodborne parasitic disease that can lead to severe biliary fibrosis and cholangiocarcinoma. While praziquantel (PZQ) is available for clonorchiasis treatment, it cannot revert the histopathological damage incurred through parasite-induced fibrosis. Curcumin (CUR) is an emerging experimental drug possessing anti-inflammatory and fibrosis-alleviating effects, thus signifying its potential as an anthelmintic drug.