Predictors and Long-Term Clinical Impact of Heart Failure With Improved Ejection Fraction After Acute Myocardial Infarction.

Background: Little is known about the characteristics and long-term clinical outcomes of patients with heart failure with improved ejection fraction (HFimpEF) after acute myocardial infarction.

Methods And Results: From a multicenter, consecutive cohort of patients with acute myocardial infarction undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention, patients with an initial echocardiogram with left ventricular ejection fraction ≤40% and at least 1 follow-up echocardiogram after 14 days and within 2 years of the initial event were considered for analyses. HFimpEF was defined as an initial left ventricular ejection fraction ≤40% and serial left ventricular ejection fraction >40% with an increase of ≥10% from baseline at follow-up.

Sacroiliitis in inflammatory bowel disease on abdominal computed tomography: prevalence, misses, and associated factors.

Objective: To evaluate the prevalence and rate of a missed diagnosis of sacroiliitis on abdominal computed tomography (CT) in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Factors associated with sacroiliitis were also assessed.

Method: This retrospective study included 210 patients with IBD (mean age 31.

Clinical Impact of Dyspnea after Ticagrelor Treatment and the Effect of Switching to Clopidogrel in Patients with Myocardial Infarction.

Background:  Dyspnea is frequent during ticagrelor-based dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) for acute myocardial infarction (AMI). However, its clinical characteristics or management strategy remains uncertain.

Methods:  The study assessed 2,617 AMI patients from the Ticagrelor versus Clopidogrel in Stabilized Patients with AMI (TALOS-AMI) trial.

Detection Rate of Small Pancreas Cysts and Intrareader Reliability of the Cysts Size Measurements on Transabdominal Ultrasonography.

This study aimed to assess the detection rate of small (<10 mm) pancreas cyst and intrareader reliability for cyst size measurements on transabdominal ultrasonography (US). From 2020 to 2022, 194 pancreas cysts in 173 patients, incidentally detected on computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging, were evaluated on US by 1 of 2 radiologists (readers 1 and 2). Intrareader agreements of cyst size measurements on US were assessed by intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC).

Improvement of Valgus Deviation of the Lesser Toes of Moderate to Severe Hallux Valgus After Proximal Chevron Metatarsal Osteotomy and Akin Osteotomy.

Background: This study examines the correction of lesser toe valgus deviation following proximal chevron metatarsal osteotomy (PCMO) and Akin osteotomy in moderate to severe hallux valgus patients, while identifying influencing factors.

Method: Among 89 patients (116 feet), those with moderate to severe hallux valgus underwent PCMO and Akin osteotomy. Radiologic assessments included preoperative metatarsus adductus angle (MAA), hallux valgus angle (HVA), intermetatarsal angle (IMA), valgus angles of the second to fourth metatarsophalangeal joints, and hallux valgus recurrence.

Medial Patellar Plica Thickness as a Morphologic Predictor of the Medial Patellar Plica Syndrome.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between medial patellar plica (MPP) syndrome and the morphological features of the MPP, including length, width, and thickness, on knee magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Materials And Methods: From 2018 to 2022, 167 patients diagnosed with isolated MPP syndrome based on both MRI and arthroscopic findings were included in the "study group" and 226 patients without knee pathology on both MRI and physical examination were included in the "control group." Finally, 393 patients (mean age, 38.

Factors Affecting Cage Obliquity and the Relationship between Cage Obliquity and Radiological Outcomes in Oblique Lateral Interbody Fusion at the L4-L5 Level.

Objective: This retrospective study investigated the factors that affect cage obliquity angle despite orthogonal maneuvers performed during oblique lateral interbody fusion (OLIF) and assessed the relationship between cage obliquity angle and radiological outcomes post-surgery.

Methods: Twenty-nine males who underwent L4-L5 OLIF for lumbar degenerative disease between 2019 and 2021 with a followup duration greater than 12 months were analyzed. Radiological parameters were measured including psoas muscle volume, total psoas area index (total psoas muscle area [cm2]/height squared [m2]), distance from the iliac artery to the origin of the psoas muscle (DIAPM), angle between the origin of the psoas muscle and the center of the vertebral disc (APCVD), iliac crest height, disc height, lumbar flexibility (lumbar flexion angle minus extension angle), cage location ratio, cage-induced segmental lumbar lordosis (LL) (postoperative index level segmental LL minus used cage angle), foraminal height changes, fusion grade.

Assessment of Imaging Factors Associated with Baker's Cyst Rupture on Knee MRI.

Objectives: To identify the factors associated with Baker's cyst rupture on MRI.

Material And Methods: From January 2021 to December 2022, a total of 441 knee MRI examinations in 441 patients (mean age: 47.7 ± 13.

Thrombus volume and Hounsfield unit density as a predictor of pulmonary embolism in patients with deep vein thrombosis.

Background: There is a lack of studies evaluating the association between thrombus volume and density of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE).

Purpose: To assess the clinical value of thrombus volume and density for prediction of PE in patients with DVT.

Material And Methods: Among the patients with DVT, those without PE were classified as the "DVT-only group" and those with PE were classified as the "DVT-PE group.

Clinical value of deep vein thrombosis density on lower-extremity CT venography: prediction of pulmonary thromboembolism.

Aim: Diagnosis of pulmonary thromboembolism (PTE) can be delayed if the signs and symptoms of patients are nonspecific.

Introduction: To assess the clinical value of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) density on computed tomography (CT) venography for predicting PTE.

Method: From 2016 to 2021, patients with DVT diagnosed on lower-extremity CT venography were included.

Comparison of humoral and cellular immune responses between ChAd-BNT heterologous vaccination and BNT-BNT homologous vaccination following the third BNT dose: A prospective cohort study.

Introduction: The differential immune responses after two additional BNT162b2 (BNT) booster doses between ChAdOx1 nCoV-10 (ChAd)-primed and BNT-primed groups have not been elucidated. The aim of this study was to compare vaccine-induced humoral and cellular immune responses and evaluate breakthrough infection between the two vaccination strategies.

Methods: In 221 healthy subjects (111 in the ChAd group), longitudinal immune responses were monitored at 3, 4, and 6 months after the 2nd dose and 1, 3, and 6 months after the 3rd dose.

Feasibility and reliability of various morphologic features on magnetic resonance imaging for iliotibial band friction syndrome.

Background: To evaluate the feasibility, inter-reader reliability, and intra-reader reliability for various morphological features reported to be related to iliotibial band friction syndrome (ITBFS) on knee magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Methods: A total of 145 patients with a clinical diagnosis and knee MRI findings consistent with ITBFS were included in the "study group" and 232 patients without knee pathology on both physical examination and MRI were included in the "control group". Various morphologic features on knee MRI were assessed including the patella shape, patella height, lateral epicondyle anterior-posterior (AP) width, lateral epicondyle height, ITB diameter (ITB-d), and ITB area (ITB-a).

Progression of Ossification of Posterior Longitudinal Ligament After Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion in Military Patients Exposed to Minor Trauma.

Objective: Ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL) can progress even after cervical spine surgery and may cause neurological injury as a result of minor trauma. The purpose of this study was to investigate the preventive factors associated with OPLL progression after anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF), a procedure commonly performed in clinical practice.

Methods: We retrospectively investigated 295 male soldiers who underwent ACDF surgery between 2012 and 2017.

Newly Appearing Hepatic Lesion After Curative Surgery For Colorectal Cancer: Single-phase CT Findings Implying Metastasis.

Background: In patients treated with curative surgery for colorectal cancer, the single-phase (portal phase) abdomen-pelvic computed tomography (CT) follow-up is routinely performed to detect any recurrent lesions.

Objective: The objective of this study is to evaluate CT features implying metastasis in newly appearing hepatic lesions on single-phase CT after colorectal cancer surgery.

Methods: Of 1,227 patients who underwent curative colorectal surgery between 2011 and 2014, 267 patients with new hepatic lesions on follow-up single-phase CT (metastasis, n=192; benign, n=75) were included.

Value of Additional Instrumented Fusion in the Treatment of Thoracic Ossification of the Ligamentum Flavum.

Objective: The ossification of the ligamentum flavum (OLF) is one of the major causes of thoracic myelopathy. Surgical decompression with or without instrumented fusion is the mainstay of treatment. However, few studies have reported on the added effect of instrumented fusion.

Leptomeningeal Spread at the Diagnosis of Glioblastoma Multiforme: A Case Report and Literature Review.

Approximately two-thirds of glioblastoma (GBM) patients progress to leptomeningeal spread (LMS) within two years. While 90% of LMS cases are diagnosed during the progression and/or recurrence of GBM (defined as secondary LMS), LMS presentation at the time of GBM diagnosis (defined as primary LMS) is very rare. F-fluorodeoxy glucose positron emission tomography computed tomography (F-FDG PET/CT) study helps to diagnose the multifocal spread of the malignant primary brain tumor.

Patella-patellar tendon angle in relation to the medial patellar plica syndrome, chondromalacia patella, and infrapatellar fat pad syndrome.

The patella-patellar tendon angle (PPTA) assessing the sagittal patellar tilt was reported to be related with anterior knee pain. Herein, clinical effect of PPTA in patients with medial patellar plica (MPP) syndrome, chondromalacia patella, and infrapatellar fat pad (IPFP) syndrome, the most common causes of anterior knee pain, was evaluated. In this retrospective study, 156 patients with anterior knee pain who underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and arthroscopic surgery that confirmed isolated MPP syndrome, chondromalacia patella, or IPFP syndrome from June 2011 to January 2021 were included in the study group and 118 patients without knee pathology on MRI during the same period were included in the control group.

Long-term exposure to air pollution and the blood lipid levels of healthy young men.

Background: There is insufficient evidence of an association between long-term exposure to air pollution and changes in blood lipid levels, and assessments may be influenced by residual confounding factors, such as socioeconomic status.

Objectives: To investigate the associations between long-term exposure to air pollution and blood lipid profiles while controlling for the risk of residual confounding factors.

Methods: We conducted a study involving conscripted Korean soldiers to assess the associations between air pollution and blood lipid levels.

Recurrent Cervical Spontaneous Spinal Epidural Hematoma with Conservative Management: A Case Report.

Cervical spontaneous spinal epidural hematoma (CSSEH) is a rare condition that can be potentially fatal if not properly diagnosed and managed. While prompt surgical decompression and evacuation of the hematoma are generally considered as the first line of treatment, mild cases that were managed through observation and conservative treatment have been reported. Our patient was a 24-year-old man who experienced two CSSEH events 8 months apart, both of which were managed conservatively.

Effect of different driver power amplitudes on liver stiffness measurement in pediatric liver MR elastography.

Purpose: To assess how different driver power amplitudes affect the measurement of liver stiffness in pediatric liver magnetic resonance elastography (MRE).

Methods: From January 2018 to May 2018, pediatric patients (≤ 18 years) who underwent liver MRE with 20% and 56% driver power amplitudes were included in this retrospective study. Region-of-interests (ROIs) were drawn on four stiffness maps to include the largest area of the liver parenchyma.

Femoral Neck Stress Fractures in South Korean Male Military Recruits.

Backgroud: Femoral neck stress fractures (FNSFs) are rare but potentially disabling injuries if the diagnosis is missed or delayed and proper treatment is not provided. The aim of this study was to investigate and describe the characteristics and clinical course of FNSFs in South Korean male military recruits.

Methods: Between May 2015 and October 2019, 16 fractures in 12 young male military recruits were reviewed.