Effectiveness of Radiofrequency Ablation of the Genicular Nerves of the Knee for the Management of Intractable Pain from Knee Osteoarthritis.

Background: The knee joint is one of the most common diseases in elderly individuals. This is a progressive and debilitating condition. The purpose of knee osteoarthritis treatment is to manage pain, increase mobility, and improve the quality of life.

Estimation of peak oxygen consumption in individuals with spinal cord injury patients using multiple linear regression analysis: a preliminary study.

Purpose: This study aims to develop a regression model to estimate peak oxygen consumption (VO2peak) in individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI) by employing different variables.

Methods: In this study, 34 participants were divided into two groups: 19 with cervical injury (CI) and 15 with thoracic injury (TI). Key measurements included VO2peak and related factors such as age, height, weight, body mass index (BMI), fat-free mass, body fat percentage, limb and trunk circumferences, spinal cord independence (SCIM III), Korean activities of daily living (K-ADL), and respiratory functions (forced vital capacity (FVC), peak expiratory flow (PEF), and maximum voluntary ventilation (MVV)).

Moderate-intensity statin plus ezetimibe vs high-intensity statin according to baseline LDL-C in the treatment of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease: A post-hoc analysis of the RACING randomized trial.

Background And Aims: Whether the effect of a combination strategy rather than increasing doses of one drug to lower low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels is consistent across baseline LDL-C levels remains uncertain.

Methods: In the RACING trial, which showed a non-inferiority of moderate-intensity statin with ezetimibe (rosuvastatin 10 mg with ezetimibe 10 mg) to high-intensity statin (rosuvastatin 20 mg) for the primary outcome (3-year composite of cardiovascular death, major cardiovascular event, or stroke), the heterogeneity in treatment effect according to baseline LDL-C levels was assessed for the primary and secondary outcomes (clinical efficacy and safety).

Results: Of 3780 participants, 2817 participants (74.

Comparison of Antiplatelet Monotherapies After Percutaneous Coronary Intervention According to Clinical, Ischemic, and Bleeding Risks.

Background: Clopidogrel was superior to aspirin monotherapy in secondary prevention after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the benefits of clopidogrel across high-risk subgroups METHODS: This was a post hoc analysis of the HOST-EXAM (Harmonizing Optimal Strategy for Treatment of coronary artery diseases-EXtended Antiplatelet Monotherapy) trial that randomly assigned patients who were event free for 6 to 18 months post-PCI on dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) to clopidogrel or aspirin monotherapy. Two clinical risk scores were used for risk stratification: the DAPT score and the Thrombolysis In Myocardial Infarction Risk Score for Secondary Prevention (TRS 2°P) (the sum of age ≥75 years, diabetes, hypertension, current smoking, peripheral artery disease, stroke, coronary artery bypass grafting, heart failure, and renal dysfunction).

Clinical safety and effectiveness of the Genoss drug-eluting stent in real-world clinical practice.

Background/aims: The Genoss DES™ is a novel, biodegradable, polymer-coated, sirolimus-eluting stent with a cobalt- chromium stent platform and thin strut. Although the safety and effectiveness of this stent have been previously investigated, real-world clinical outcomes data are lacking. Therefore, the aim of this prospective, multicenter trial was to evaluate the clinical safety and effectiveness of the Genoss DES™ in all-comer patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention.

Combination Moderate-Intensity Statin and Ezetimibe Therapy for Elderly Patients With Atherosclerosis.

Background: The routine use of high-intensity statins should be considered carefully in elderly patients because of their higher risk of intolerance or adverse events.

Objectives: We evaluated the impact of moderate-intensity statin with ezetimibe combination therapy compared with high-intensity statin monotherapy in elderly patients with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD).

Methods: In this post hoc analysis of the RACING (RAndomized Comparison of Efficacy and Safety of Lipid-lowerING With Statin Monotherapy Versus Statin/Ezetimibe Combination for High-risk Cardiovascular Diseases) trial, patients were stratified by age (≥75 years and <75 years).

The Effectiveness of Facet Joint Injection with Steroid and Botulinum Toxin in Severe Lumbar Central Spinal Stenosis: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Lumbar central spinal stenosis (LCSS) is a common disorder that causes disability and pain in the elderly. It causes pain in the radicular leg. Recently, transforaminal epidural steroid injection (TFESI) has been widely used to control radicular leg pain caused by LCSS.

Comparison Between Corticosteroid Injection Into Coracohumeral Ligament and Inferior Glenohumeral Capsule and Corticosteroid Injection Into Posterior Glenohumeral Recess in Adhesive Capsulitis: A Prospective Randomized Trial.

Background: For managing symptoms of adhesive capsulitis (AC), corticosteroid injection is typically conducted under the guidance of ultrasound via posterior glenohumeral recess (PGHR). It has been reported that pathologies such as inflammation and edema are most commonly observed in the coracohumeral ligament (CHL) and anterior and inferior joint capsules. We compared the therapeutic effects of corticosteroid injection into the CHL and inferior glenohumeral capsule (IGHC) with those of corticosteroid injection into PGHR in patients with AC.

Effect of Ultrasound-Guided Partial Release of the Transverse Carpal Ligament with a Needle in Patients with Refractory Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.

Background: Neuropathic pain in the hands due to carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) disturbs sleep and affects the quality of life.

Objectives: We evaluated the effect of ultrasound (US)-guided partial release of the transverse carpal ligament (TCL) using an 18-G needle in patients with refractory CTS.

Study Design: A prospective outcome study.

Comparison between ultrasound-guided monopolar and bipolar pulsed radiofrequency treatment for refractory chronic cervical radicular pain: A randomized trial.

Background: Many patients complain of chronic cervical radicular pain, and pulsed radiofrequency (PRF) is known to have a positive effect for alleviating neuropathic pain.

Objectives: In the present study, we used ultrasound (US) guidance and compared the effects of monopolar PRF with those of bipolar PRF in patients with chronic cervical radicular pain refractory to repeated transforaminal epidural steroid injections.

Methods: Sixty-six patients with chronic cervical radicular pain were included in this study.

The effects of inclusion of minimal-dose corticosteroid in autologous whole blood and dextrose injection for the treatment of lateral epicondylitis.

Backgound: Lateral epicondylitis (LE) is one of the most common musculoskeletal disorders that causes pain.

Objectives: We evaluated the effect of the inclusion of a minimal dose of corticosteroid in a solution comprising autologous whole blood (AWB), 20% dextrose, and 2% lidocaine for treating LE.

Methods: In this randomized prospective trial LE patients were allocated to the CS+ group (n= 70; solution comprising 1 mL AWB, 1 mL 20% dextrose, 0.

Effectiveness of new nerve blocks method on the articular branches of the suprascapular and subscapular nerves to treat shoulder pain.

To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of performing nerve blocks on the articular branches of the suprascapular and subscapular nerves for the treatment of shoulder pain caused by various pathologies.Fifty-two patients with shoulder pain were included in this study. Suprascapular and subscapular nerve blocks were performed with 2.

Prediction of Coronary Artery Calcium Score Using Machine Learning in a Healthy Population.

Background: Coronary artery calcium score (CACS) is a reliable predictor for future cardiovascular disease risk. Although deep learning studies using computed tomography (CT) images to predict CACS have been reported, no study has assessed the feasibility of machine learning (ML) algorithms to predict the CACS using clinical variables in a healthy general population. Therefore, we aimed to assess whether ML algorithms other than binary logistic regression (BLR) could predict high CACS in a healthy population with general health examination data.

Effectiveness of Ultrasound-Guided Pulsed Radiofrequency Treatment in Patients with Refractory Chronic Cervical Radicular Pain.

Background: The effect of pulsed radiofrequency (PRF) stimulation for alleviating cervical radicular pain has been demonstrated in several previous studies.

Objectives: We aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of PRF with ultrasound (US) guidance in patients with chronic cervical radicular pain that was refractory to repeated transforaminal epidural steroid injections (TFESIs).

Study Design: A prospective outcome study.

Randomized Comparison of Everolimus- and Zotarolimus-Eluting Coronary Stents With Biolimus-Eluting Stents in All-Comer Patients.

Background: There is limited data comparing the Xience everolimus-eluting stent (EES) and the Resolute zotarolimus-eluting stent (ZES) with the BioMatrix biolimus-eluting stent (BES).

Methods: This open-label, randomized, noninferiority trial enrolled all-comer patients to be randomly treated with either BES, EES, or ZES in a 1:1:1 ratio in 15 centers across South Korea. The primary end point was a device-oriented composite outcome consisting of cardiac death, target-vessel myocardial infarction, and clinically indicated target lesion revascularization at 24 months.

Effect of inter-arm blood pressure differences on outcomes after percutaneous coronary intervention.

Background: We investigated the effect of inter-arm blood pressure differences (IABPD) on the percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) outcomes of patients with coronary artery diseases.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the data of blood pressures measured simultaneously in the bilateral arms of 855 patients (560 males) who underwent PCI with drug-eluting stents for coronary artery diseases. IABPD was defined as the difference of blood pressure in both arms.

Safety and Efficacy of a New Ultrathin Sirolimus-Eluting Stent with Abluminal Biodegradable Polymer in Real-World Practice.

Background And Objectives: Recently, Genoss drug-eluting stent (DES)™ stent comprising cobalt-chromium platform with an ultrathin strut thickness, sirolimus, and an abluminal biodegradable polymer was developed. Owing to the lack of substantial evidence for the safety and efficacy of this stent, we report 12-month results of the Genoss DES™ stent.

Methods: We analyzed subjects who were eligible for a 12-month follow-up from the ongoing Genoss DES™ registry, which is a prospective, single-arm, observational, multicenter trial to investigate the clinical outcomes after the successful Genoss DES™ stent implantation among all-comers.

The Effect of Botulinum Toxin Injection into the Common Extensor Tendon in Patients with Chronic Lateral Epicondylitis: A Randomized Trial.

Background: Botulinum toxin (BTX) is widely used for pain control in various musculoskeletal disorders.

Objectives: We evaluated the analgesic effect of botulinum toxin type A (BTX-A) in chronic lateral epicondylitis and compared the effect between 10 and 50 IU of BTX-A.

Methods: Sixty subjects with chronic lateral epicondylitis were included and underwent a BTX-A injection in the common extensor tendon.

A MULTICENTRE SURVEY OF LOCAL DIAGNOSTIC REFERENCE LEVELS AND ACHIEVABLE DOSE FOR CORONARY ANGIOGRAPHY AND PERCUTANEOUS TRANSLUMINAL CORONARY INTERVENTION PROCEDURES IN KOREA.

Interventional cardiology procedures can involve relatively high radiation doses compared to general radiography. During coronary angiography (CAG) and percutaneous transluminal coronary intervention (PCI), the same area is exposed to radiation for a long period. In this study, radiation exposure data of 1071 examinations in Korean hospitals were collected, and the achievable dose (AD) and diagnostic reference levels (DRLs) in actual medical practice for two types of interventional cardiology procedures in Korea were established.

PI3K-Akt-Wnt Pathway Is Implicated in Exercise-Induced Improvement of Short-term Memory in Cerebral Palsy Rats.

Purpose: Maternal lipopolysaccharide (LPS) injection induces neurodevelopmental disorders, such as cerebral palsy. Exercise activates phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)-protein kinase B (Akt) signaling pathway that enhances neurogenesis. Wnt ligands are also implicated in the hippocampal neurogenesis and synaptic plasticity.

Relationship between inter-arm blood pressure difference and severity of coronary atherosclerosis.

Background And Aims: A greater inter-arm blood pressure difference (IABPD) is associated with atherosclerosis, but its association with coronary artery disease is unknown. We investigated the relationship between IABPD and coronary atherosclerosis.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed blood pressure (BP) data that was measured simultaneously in both arms of patients who underwent initial coronary angiography.

Advanced Age as a Predictor of Survival and Weaning in Venoarterial Extracorporeal Oxygenation: A Retrospective Observational Study.

. In most reports on ECMO treatment, advanced age is classified as a contraindication to VA ECMO. We attempted to investigate whether advanced age would be a main risk factor deciding VA ECMO application and performing VA ECMO support.

Vitamin D status and its associations with rheumatoid arthritis in Korean women: the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2008-2014.

In the present study, vitamin D status and its associations with rheumatoid arthritis in Korean women were investigated. Total 2,162 women's data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey during 2008-2014 ware analyzed by complex sampling design logistic regression analysis and complex sampling design general linear model. Women who over 19 years old were included, and who has osteoporosis or abnormal parathyroid hormone or renal failure or liver cirrhosis or abnormal creatinine were excluded.

Effects of Combination Treatment of Alpha 1-Adrenergic Receptor Antagonists on Voiding Dysfunction: Study on Target Organs in Overactive Bladder Rats.

Purpose: Overactive bladder (OAB) causes urinary urgency, usually accompanied by frequency and nocturia. Alpha 1-adrenergic receptor (α-AR) antagonists are known to improve lower urinary tract symptoms associated with OAB. The α-AR antagonists constitute a variety of drugs according to the receptor subtype affinity.