Comparison of Extended Cryoballoon, Standard Cryoballoon, and Radiofrequency Catheter Ablation in Patients With Persistent AF.

Background: The performance of cryoballoon (CB) ablation compared with radiofrequency (RF) ablation has been demonstrated in patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (AF). However, the role of CB ablation in patients with persistent AF has not been well established. Furthermore, the efficacy of additional posterior wall isolation following CB pulmonary vein (PV) isolation remains controversial.

Atrial fibrillation burden and symptom, quality of life, and healthcare resource utilization after cryoballoon ablation in persistent atrial fibrillation.

Aims: To investigate the relationship between continuously monitored atrial fibrillation (AF) burden after cryoballoon ablation (CBA) and improvements in AF-related symptoms, quality of life (QoL), and AF-related healthcare resource utilization (HCRU) in early persistent AF.

Methods And Results: This secondary analysis of the multicentre COOL-PER trial included patients with early persistent AF who underwent CBA and continuous monitoring via an implantable loop recorder. Post-CBA AF burden was defined as the percentage of time in AF between 9- and 12-month after CBA, categorized as <0.

APOBEC3A drives deaminase mutagenesis in human gastric epithelium.

Cancer genomes frequently carry APOBEC (apolipoprotein B mRNA editing catalytic polypeptide-like)-associated DNA mutations, suggesting APOBEC enzymes as innate mutagens during cancer initiation and evolution. However, the pure mutagenic impacts of the specific enzymes among this family remain unclear in human normal cell lineages. Here, we investigated the comparative mutagenic activities of and , through whole-genome sequencing of human normal gastric organoid lines carrying doxycycline-inducible APOBEC expression cassettes.

The relationship between racial discrimination and white matter among Black older adults.

Black older adults experience worse brain and cognitive aging than White older adults, on average. Racially patterned psychosocial stressors may contribute to these disparities. Maintaining white matter health is important for cognitive aging, particularly among Black older adults, and it is uniquely vulnerable to stress.

Using capnography in children to prevent oxygen desaturation during procedural sedation: A randomised trial.

Background: Capnography is essential for ventilatory monitoring.

Objective: We evaluated the effects of capnography on the occurrence of oxygen desaturation in paediatric patients undergoing sedation outside the operating room.

Design: Age-stratified randomised controlled trial without blinding.

A comprehensive analysis of the role of stem cell transplantation in mantle cell lymphoma: real-world data from the Korean Society of Blood and Marrow Transplantation registry: Stem cell transplantation outcomes in mantle cell lymphoma.

Purpose: Stem cell transplantation (SCT) has historically played a major role in the long-term remission of mantle cell lymphoma (MCL), an incurable hematological malignancy. Using data from the Korean Society of Bone and Marrow Transplantation registry, we retrospectively analyzed the role of autologous (auto) and allogeneic (allo) SCT in long-term MCL survival.

Methods: This study analyzed data from 188 patients (age ≥ 19 years at the time of transplantation) who underwent a transplant for MCL from 2011 to 2020.

Single-cell transcriptomic and pharmacological studies of onvansertib for small cell lung cancer treatment.

Polo-like kinase 1 (PLK1), a serine/threonine protein kinase, plays a crucial role in essential biological processes such as cell division, DNA damage response, and cell death. Since its dysregulation is highly associated with tumor development and progression, PLK1 inhibitors, including onvansertib, have been developed as promising anti-cancer therapeutics. Onvansertib is currently under Phase II investigation to evaluate its safety and efficacy in patients with relapsed small cell lung cancer (SCLC).

Annual distribution and deposition of atmospheric Pb in Busan, the largest port city in Korea.

This study examined the annual and seasonal variations of Pb in aerosols collected in Busan, a major port city in South Korea. Aerosol samples were obtained during two sampling campaigns: (i) total suspended particles (TSP) from April 2019 to February 2020, and (ii) particulate matter with diameters ≤10 μm (PM) and ≤2.5 μm (PM) from March 2020 to February 2021.

Cannabidiol as a therapeutic agent for rosacea through simultaneous inhibition of multiple inflammatory pathways.

Rosacea is a chronic inflammatory skin disorder characterized by facial erythema, papules, pustules, and telangiectasia, affecting approximately 5.5% of the global population. Current treatments, primarily topical and oral antibiotics and anti-inflammatories, often show limited efficacy and may cause undesirable side effects, prompting the need for alternative therapies.

Real-World Efficacy and Safety of Teclistamab for Patients with Relapsed or Refractory Multiple Myeloma: Nationwide Retrospective Analysis of the Named Patient Program in Korea.

Purpose: The prognosis for heavily pretreated patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM) remains poor. Teclistamab, a bispecific antibody targeting B-cell maturation antigen (BCMA) and CD3, has demonstrated deep and durable responses in triple-class exposed RRMM patients in the MajesTEC-1 trial. To further evaluate the efficacy and safety of teclistamab in Korean patients, we conducted a nationwide retrospective analysis.

Consensus-Based Guidelines for the Treatment of Atopic Dermatitis in Korea (Part II): Biologics and JAK inhibitors.

Background: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a common skin disease with a wide range of symptoms. Due to the rapidly changing treatment landscape, regular updates to clinical guidelines are needed.

Objective: This study aimed to update the guidelines for the treatment of AD to reflect recent therapeutic advances and evidence-based recommendations.

Consensus-Based Guidelines for the Treatment of Atopic Dermatitis in Korea (Part I): Basic Therapy, Topical Therapy, and Conventional Systemic Therapy.

Background: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a common skin disease with a wide range of symptoms. Due to the rapidly changing treatment landscape, regular updates to clinical guidelines are needed.

Objective: This study aimed to update the guidelines for the treatment of AD to reflect recent therapeutic advances and evidence-based practices.

Influence of Rhythm Control on Functional Mitral and Tricuspid Regurgitation Severity and Clinical Outcome in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation: A Propensity-Matched Cohort Study.

Background And Objectives: This study evaluated the efficacy of atrial fibrillation (AF) rhythm control therapy in improving functional mitral regurgitation (MR) and tricuspid regurgitation (TR) and its association with clinical outcomes.

Methods: Among 2,574 patients with AF screened from 2003 to 2023, 817 pairs of patients were selected through propensity matching to compare rhythm control therapy (antiarrhythmic drugs, catheter ablation, or electrical cardioversion) with no rhythm control. MR and TR severity were assessed at baseline and follow-up echocardiography conducted at least 3-month intervals.

Targeting Vascular and Inflammatory Crosstalk: Cannabigerol as a Dual-Pathway Modulator in Rosacea.

Rosacea is a chronic inflammatory skin condition characterized by persistent erythema and abnormal vascular response. Although current treatments focus on symptomatic relief, they often provide only temporary improvement and may be associated with side effects or recurrence. Cannabigerol (CBG), a non-psychoactive cannabinoid, has recently garnered attention for its pharmacological activities, including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, neuroprotective, and skin barrier-supportive effects.

Correcting errors in PCR-derived libraries for rare allele detection by reconstructing parental and daughter strand information.

Molecular barcoding methods enable high-sensitivity detection of circulating tumor DNA that is rarely present in liquid biopsy samples. Many methods involve ligation of molecular barcodes to DNA prior to hybridization capture, enabling recovery of starting molecules. Development of polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based methods could facilitate more cost- and labor- effective detection; however, tracking molecular identity can be difficult, as new barcodes overwrite old barcodes in each cycle.

A Patch-Type Electrocardiography Is Superior to Holter Monitoring for Detecting Paroxysmal Cardiac Arrhythmias.

Background: Patch-electrocardiography (ECG) enables prolonged ECG monitoring beyond 24 hours. However, diagnostic yield between patch-ECG and Holter monitoring needs further validation. We aimed to compare diagnostic capabilities of 14-day patch-ECG and one day Holter monitoring to detect cardiac arrhythmias.

Dynamics of Oxygen Reserve Index and Arterial Oxygen Partial Pressure in Children: A Prospective Observational Study.

Aims: The Oxygen Reserve Index (ORI) is a novel, noninvasive parameter that reflects moderate hyperoxic states. However, its relationship with PaO in the pediatric population remains poorly understood. We investigated the ORI-PaO relationship during pediatric cardiac surgery and identified its influencing factors.

Sensitization of tumours to immunotherapy by boosting early type-I interferon responses enables epitope spreading.

The success of cancer immunotherapies is predicated on the targeting of highly expressed neoepitopes, which preferentially favours malignancies with high mutational burden. Here we show that early responses by type-I interferons mediate the success of immune checkpoint inhibitors as well as epitope spreading in poorly immunogenic tumours and that these interferon responses can be enhanced via systemic administration of lipid particles loaded with RNA coding for tumour-unspecific antigens. In mice, the immune responses of tumours sensitive to checkpoint inhibitors were transferable to resistant tumours and resulted in heightened immunity with antigenic spreading that protected the animals from tumour rechallenge.

A Web-Based Training Intervention for Primary Care Providers on Preparing Patients for Cancer Treatment Decisions and Conversations About Clinical Trials: Evaluation of a Pilot Study Using Mixed Methods and Follow-Up.

Background: Recruitment to cancer clinical trials (CCTs) is low, particularly for underrepresented groups such as uninsured patients, those with low-income status, and racial and ethnic minoritized individuals. A significant barrier is that treating oncologists often fail to inform patients about the possibility of CCT participation as an option for quality cancer care. Therefore, patient inquiries about trials before starting treatment should be normalized and encouraged, particularly for underrepresented groups.

Changes of proximal caries during orthodontic treatment using intraoral scans with near-infrared imaging.

Background: Intraoral scanning using near-infrared imaging (NIRI) is a noninvasive method used to detect early caries. The authors quantified the prevalence and incidence of new proximal caries among orthodontic patients and evaluated the clinical factors associated with the severity of the caries.

Methods: Serial full-mouth intraoral scans using NIRI were analyzed among 188 active orthodontic patients aged 10 through 73 years at their initial visit (T0) and after follow-up at least 6 months from initial visit (T1).

Ultrasonographic assessment of sugammadex-enhanced early recovery of diaphragmatic function in children: A randomised double-blind controlled trial.

Background: In adults, sugammadex promotes faster neuromuscular recovery compared with neostigmine; however, its impact on diaphragmatic recovery and atelectasis in children remains unelucidated.

Objectives: We compared the effects of sugammadex and neostigmine on restoration of diaphragmatic function and postoperative atelectasis in paediatric patients.

Design: A prospective randomised controlled study.

Real-World Comparison of Carfilzomib, Lenalidomide, and Dexamethasone Versus Ixazomib, Lenalidomide, and Dexamethasone in Patients With Relapsed/Refractory Multiple Myeloma: KMM2004 Study.

Background: Lenalidomide-based triplet regimens, specifically carfilzomib, lenalidomide, and dexamethasone (KRd) and ixazomib, lenalidomide, and dexamethasone (IRd), are recognized as effective treatments for relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM). Since 2020, South Korea's National Health Insurance Service has covered these combinations, prompting a need for real-world comparisons of their efficacy and safety.

Methods: A retrospective analysis of 182 RRMM patients treated with KRd (112) or IRd (70) at 17 South Korean centers from May 2020 to April 2021 was conducted.

A novel isoquinoline mitophagy inducer ameliorates paclitaxel-induced peripheral neuropathy in Drosophila and mouse models.

Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) resulting from neurodegeneration due to chemotherapy is a challenging complication of widely administered anticancer drugs including paclitaxel. Although CIPN is common and limits the use of chemotherapies, no curative treatment for CIPN has been developed. Recently, stimulation of mitophagy has emerged as a promising strategy for treating neurodegenerative diseases, but studies on its therapeutic effects on CIPN are limited.