Gustatory function and cognitive impairment in the Korean elderly.

A decline in chemosensing is commonly observed in the aging process including neurodegenerative disease, however studies regarding taste sensitivity and cognitive impairment are in lacked. This study examined whether cognitive impairment is associated with gustatory dysfunction in elderly Koreans. A total of 310 Koreans from Korean Genome and Epidemiology Study - Cardiovascular Disease Association Study were analyzed to assess their cognitive function and gustatory function.

Evaluating the impact of the ASAS early axial spondyloarthritis definition on radiographic progression over 12years.

Objective: This study aims to assess the impact of the ASAS early axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) definition on radiographic progression, one important indicator of long-term disease burden, using the Modified Stoke Ankylosing Spondylitis Spinal Score (mSASSS) across a 12-year period, comparing early and established groups.

Methods: Using data from the Korean spondyloarthropathy registry, this observational study retrospectively categorized patients into early or established axSpA groups based on the ASAS definition. Radiographic progression was assessed by analyzing annual changes in mSASSS.

Artificial intelligence-assisted longitudinal assessment of coronary artery calcification in the Korean lung cancer screening CT program.

Purpose: The clinical implications of coronary artery calcification (CAC) growth remain underexplored. This study aims to assess CAC growth and its association with adverse cardiovascular events (ACEs) in individuals undergoing lung cancer screening (LCS) using artificial intelligence (AI)-assisted evaluation.

Methods: We included patients who underwent LCS low-dose chest CT (LDCT) between April 2017 and December 2023 with available follow-up LDCT scans.

Identification of MMP14 and MKLN1 as colorectal cancer susceptibility genes and drug-repositioning candidates from a genome-wide association study.

Background: Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) and subsequent functional interpretation have been used to identify susceptible genes and potential drug-repositioning candidates. This study aimed to identify genes associated with colorectal cancer (CRC) and potential drug-repositioning candidates.

Methods: Patients with CRC at Seoul National University Hospital (SNUH, discovery study) and Chonnam National University Hospital (CNUH, replication study) were included as case groups.

Development of a stable fixed-dose combination of Montelukast Sodium and Levocetirizine Dihydrochloride using multi-layering API coating technology.

Purpose: This study aimed to develop a combination drug containing Montelukast Sodium and Levocetirizine Dihydrochloride using Multi-Layering API Coating Technology (M-LAC Tech) to prevent chemical interactions, enhance stability, and enable sequential drug release.

Methods: A core tablet containing Montelukast Sodium was prepared, followed by a barrier coating layer. Levocetirizine Dihydrochloride was then applied as a drug coating over the barrier layer, ensuring complete separation of the two drugs.

Novel genetic loci and functional properties of immune-related genes for colorectal cancer survival in Korea.

One major topic in colorectal cancer (CRC) research is the role of immune cells against cancer cells. The association of single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and polygenic risk scores (PRS) with CRC was examined and their functional properties were identified using a gene-gene interaction network. 960 CRC patients at Seoul National University Hospital (SNUH, discovery) and 6,627 CRC patients at Chonnam National University Hospital (CNNUH, validation) were enrolled.

Changes in Candidemia during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Species Distribution, Antifungal Susceptibility, Initial Antifungal Usage, and Mortality Trends in Two Korean Tertiary Care Hospitals.

This study aimed to investigate changes in candidemia incidence, species distribution, antifungal susceptibility, initial antifungal use, and mortality trends in Korea before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. A retrospective analysis was conducted on candidemia cases from two tertiary care hospitals in Korea between 2017 and 2022. Data were compared between the pre-pandemic (2017-2019) and pandemic (2020-2022) periods.

Comparison of definitive radiotherapy outcomes between younger and older patients with high- or very-high-risk prostate cancer.

Background And Purpose: This study aimed to compare the oncologic outcomes of definitive intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) between younger and older high- or very-high-risk prostate cancer patients using propensity score matching (PSM) and competing risk analysis (CRA).

Materials And Methods: A total of 569 patients were included in this analysis: 265 younger than 75 years (Group A) and 304 aged 75 years or above (Group B). All patients received IMRT with a daily fraction of 2.

Enhancing Familial Hypercholesterolemia Detection in South Korea: A Targeted Screening Approach Integrating National Program and Genetic Cascade Screening.

Background And Objectives: Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) increases the risk of premature cardiovascular disease through disrupted low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) metabolism. Although FH is a severe condition, it remains widely underdiagnosed, which can be attributed to barriers in genetic testing and a lack of awareness. This study aims to propose and evaluate a targeted screening program for FH in South Korea by integrating the General Health Screening Program (GHSP) with cascade genetic screening.

Comparison of Chemoembolization Outcomes Using 70-150 µm and 100-300 µm Drug-Eluting Beads in Treating Small Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Korean Multicenter Study.

Objective: To evaluate the outcomes of drug-eluting bead transarterial chemoembolization (DEB-TACE) according to the size of the beads for the treatment of small hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Materials And Methods: This retrospective study included 212 patients with a single HCC ≤5 cm from five tertiary institutions. One hundred and nine patients were treated with 70-150-µm doxorubicin DEBs (group A), and 103 patients received 100-300-µm doxorubicin DEBs (group B).

Factors associated with academic performance among medical students at a medical school in South Korea: A retrospective cohort study.

Longitudinal research has provided systematic empirical data on the short- and long-term outcomes of admissions policies, curricular innovations, and complex decisions on students' academic progress. This study aimed to investigate the academic performance of medical students and related factors using cohort database collected from a medical school. The study participants included 134 medical students who graduated from Chonnam National University Medical School in 2022.

Effect Modification of Kidney Function on the Non-linear Association Between Serum Calcium Levels and Cardiovascular Mortality in Korean Adults.

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the potential interaction between kidney function and the non-linear association between serum calcium levels and cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality.

Methods: This study included 8927 participants enrolled in the Dong-gu Study. Albumin-corrected calcium levels were used and categorized into 6 percentile categories: <2.

Association Between Regional Levels of Particulate Matter and Recurrent Falls in Korea.

Background: We investigated the extent of regional disparity of recurrent falls. In addition, we examined the association between particulate matter (PM) and recurrent falls and the association between regional disparity of recurrent falls and regional PM levels.

Method: We used data from Korea Community Health Survey 2019 that included 204,395 participants from 237 municipal districts.

Design and evaluation of additive manufactured highly efficient inclined-wing type continuous mixer.

We develop a novel milli-scale mixer (tilted-wings mixing unit, TWM unit) based on the design for additive manufacturing (DfAM). The proposed tilted-wings mixer has basically designed to have three separate wings that split and combine fluids in order to mix together effectively. Its structure is simple for easy fabrication: two major design parameters of angle among three wings and connecting angle between tilted-unit, which are optimized using the computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analysis.

Body mass index and self-rated oral health in Korean adults in 2017.

Objective: To investigate the association between obesity and self-rated oral health (SROH). This study examined the cross-sectional associations between body mass index (BMI) and SROH in Korean adults.

Materials And Methods: This study used data from 217 304 adults (100 110 men and 117 194 women aged > 19 years) from the 2017 Korean Community Health Survey.

Causal Association Between Alcohol Consumption and Atrial Fibrillation: A Mendelian Randomization Study.

Background And Objectives: Previous observational studies presented a positive association between alcohol and atrial fibrillation (AF). However, previous studies using genetic polymorphisms on the causal relationship between alcohol consumption and AF have reported conflicting results. This study aimed to evaluate the causality between alcohol consumption and AF using the aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 () rs671 polymorphism, which is the genetic variant with the most potent effect on drinking behavior.

Associations of regional-level perceived stress and depression with health-related quality of life in Korean adults: a multilevel analysis of 2017 Korea Community Health Survey data.

Objectives: We examined the associations of individual and regional-level perceived stress and depression with health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in Korean adults.

Methods: We used data from the 2017 Korea Community Health Survey, which included 216,713 adults living within 254 municipal districts. As individual-level independent variables, perceived stress (higher vs.

Novel Method of Classification in Knee Osteoarthritis: Machine Learning Application Versus Logistic Regression Model.

Objective: To present new classification methods of knee osteoarthritis (KOA) using machine learning and compare its performance with conventional statistical methods as classification techniques using machine learning have recently been developed.

Methods: A total of 84 KOA patients and 97 normal participants were recruited. KOA patients were clustered into three groups according to the Kellgren-Lawrence (K-L) grading system.

Extracorporeal shock wave therapy treatment of painful hematoma in the calf: A case report.

Background: Extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) can be applied to various musculoskeletal conditions including calcific tendinitis. Muscle injuries can lead to hematomas, and unabsorbed hematomas sometimes cause pain. We report a case of painful hematoma successfully treated with ESWT.