Surgical outcomes of minimally invasive microscopic debridement in thoracolumbar pyogenic spondylodiscitis.

Thoracolumbar infectious spondylodiscitis is a serious condition that often requires surgical intervention if conservative treatment fails. Debridement and drainage are crucial in removing infected tissues and achieving adequate control of the source of infection. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the surgical outcomes of microscopic debridement in patients with thoracolumbar spondylodiscitis.

WIKIM51 (Wilac D001) improves constipation and gut health in a loperamide-induced mouse model.

WIKIM51 (Wilac D001) has been reported to reduce body fat, but its potential effects on constipation remain unclear. This study is the first to demonstrate that Wilac D001 alleviates loperamide-induced constipation by enhancing gut barrier function, and modulating gut microbiota. Mice were orally administered vehicle, bisacodyl, low-dose (1 × 10 CFU g), or high-dose (1 × 10 CFU g) Wilac D001 for 4 weeks, and constipation was induced with loperamide (10 mg kg) during the final 11 days.

Augmented reality-guided pedicle screw fixation: an experimental study.

Study Design: Cadaveric experimental study.

Purpose: To evaluate the feasibility and accuracy of pedicle screw placement using a custom-developed augmented reality-assisted pedicle screw fixation (ARPSF) system in a porcine spine model.

Overview Of Literature: Conventional pedicle screw placement techniques face limitations including potential inaccuracy, radiation exposure, and workflow disruption.

The Accuracy and Safety of Free-Hand C7 Laminar Screw Fixation: A Clinical Study of 43 Consecutive Patients.

Study Design: Retrospective case series.

Background: C7 laminar screw is a feasible substitute for C7 pedicle screw with the potential to decrease neurovascular complications and minimize the requirement for intraoperative fluoroscopic guidance. Nevertheless, the clinical evidence regarding their accuracy and safety is still limited.

Changes in physical activity before and after the diagnosis of dyslipidemia and the risk of atrial fibrillation: a population-based study in South Korea.

Objective: While physical activity is known to influence atrial fibrillation risk in the general population, evidence is limited among patients newly diagnosed with dyslipidemia. This study aimed to evaluate the association between changes in physical activity before and after dyslipidemia diagnosis and atrial fibrillation risk.

Methods: Using the Korean National Health Insurance Service database, we identified 441,509 Korean adults newly diagnosed with dyslipidemia between 2011 and 2015, free of atrial fibrillation at baseline and with complete data.

Learning curve for biportal endoscopic transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion and 90-day postoperative complications during the learning phase: a multicenter retrospective cohort study.

Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate the learning curve for biportal endoscopic transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (BE-TLIF) and assess 90-day postoperative complications during the learning phase.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 188 consecutive patients who underwent single-level BE-TLIF performed by three surgeons at three institutions. Learning curve-cumulative summation (LC-CUSUM) analysis was used to determine the number of cases required to achieve proficiency, defined as an operative time of less than 160 min.

The Impact of the Thoracolumbar Junction Distraction Technique on Reducing Proximal Junctional Kyphosis: A Comparative Pre- and Post-Implementation Study in Adult Spinal Deformity Surgery.

: Proximal junctional kyphosis (PJK) remains a significant complication in adult spinal deformity (ASD) surgery, often resulting in severe clinical consequences. This study evaluates the effectiveness of the thoracolumbar junction (TLJ) distraction technique in reducing PJK incidence, with a focus on its potential to preserve sagittal alignment and mitigate mechanical stress at the proximal junction. : This retrospective cohort study included 122 patients who underwent ASD surgery between February 2018 and June 2022.

Integration of Transcriptomic Analysis, Network Pharmacology, and Experimental Validation Demonstrates Enhanced Muscle-Protective Effects of Ethanol Extract of Jakyak-Gamcho-Tang.

Muscle atrophy, characterized by progressive loss of skeletal muscle mass and strength, remains a significant therapeutic challenge. Jakyak-gamcho-tang (JGT) is a traditional herbal formulation that has demonstrated promising muscle-protective effects; however, the key bioactive constituents and the influence of different extraction methods have not yet been fully elucidated. This study compared the muscle-protective effects of the ethanol and water extracts of JGT (JGT-E and JGT-W, respectively), while also identifying the principal bioactive compounds that contribute to the enhanced efficacy of JGT-E.

Advancing muscle aging and sarcopenia research through spatial transcriptomics.

Sarcopenia, defined as a decline of muscle mass and function with aging, poses significant health challenges. This decline is driven by multiple factors including cellular dysfunction, mitochondrial impairments, oxidative stress, and chronic inflammation, all of which collectively disrupt muscle homeostasis and regeneration. Despite the lack of approved treatments for sarcopenia, the search for effective therapies continues as various pharmacological interventions are currently in the early stage of development.

Biportal Endoscopic Decompression for Degenerative Lumbar Spondylolisthesis With Stenosis.

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the clinical and radiological outcomes of unilateral laminotomy for bilateral decompression (ULBD) using biportal endoscopic spinal surgery (BESS) in patients with central canal stenosis, with and without low-grade degenerative lumbar spondylolisthesis (DLS).

Methods: A retrospective observational study was conducted on 170 patients who underwent BESS-ULBD between 2015 and 2018, with at least 2 years of follow-up. Patients were categorized into 2 groups: group A (68 patients) with central stenosis and low-grade DLS and group B (102 patients) with central stenosis alone.

High spectral energy density all-fiber nanosecond pulsed 1.7 μm light source for photoacoustic microscopy.

We present a high spectral energy density all-fiber nanosecond pulsed 1.7 μm light source specifically designed for photoacoustic microscopy (PAM). The system targets the 1st overtone absorption of C-H bonds near 1720 nm within the near-infrared-III (NIR-III) window, where lipids exhibit strong optical absorption, and tissues benefit from reduced scattering and high permissible fluence.

Outcomes of Treat-and-Extend using Aflibercept in Type 3 Macular Neovascularization: A Prospective Clinical Trial.

Purpose: To evaluate the clinical outcomes of a treat-and-extend(TAE) regimen using aflibercept for type 3 macular neovascularization(MNV).

Methods: In this prospective phase 4 clinical trial, 25 patients with type 3 MNV underwent TAE with aflibercept for over 76 weeks. Following an initial three loading injections, the interval between injections was extended by 2 weeks, up to a maximum of 16 weeks, provided there was no recurrence.

Increasing incidence of ADHD among children, adolescents and young adults: COVID-19 pandemic-driven trend in Korea (2012-2023).

Background: The association between the incidence of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and the factors induced by the COVID-19 pandemic has not been fully investigated. Environmental stressors during or after the pandemic, including online classes and lifestyle disruptions, and postinfection neuroimmune changes likely contributed to the increase of ADHD.

Methods: The onset of ADHD was operationally defined as the diagnosis accompanied by a prescription history for ADHD medication.

Effects of a Balanced Diet and Probiotics on Blood Biomarkers and Gut Microbiota in the Elderly: A Community-Based Intervention Study.

Background/objectives: Aging is characterized by dysregulation of the immune system. A balanced diet and probiotic intake can play significant roles in preventing aging-related chronic degenerative diseases and promoting immune function in the elderly. This community-based intervention study investigated the effects of an eight-week intervention involving a balanced diet with or without probiotics on nutritional parameters and gut microbiota composition in Korean elderly individuals.

Association between green space and hepatocellular carcinoma risk: a retrospective cohort study of seven South Korean metropolitan areas.

This longitudinal study evaluated the association between urban green space density and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in seven metropolitan cities of South Korea. Information on study participants was extracted from the Korea National Health Insurance Service database. The study population comprised 104,527 participants aged ≥ 40 years who underwent biennial health screening examinations between 2009 and 2010.

Immune-Enhancing Effects of Two Potential Probiotic Strains Latilactobacillus curvatus WiKim0169 and Pediococcus acidilactici WiKim0170 in a Cyclophosphamide-Induced Immunosuppression Rat Model.

Emerging evidence suggests that probiotics are beneficial for immunity and play a crucial role in regulating gut microbiota. However, the immune-enhancing effects of specific bacterial species remain uncertain. This study investigated the effects of two potential probiotic strains, Latilactobacillus curvatus WiKim0169 (Wilac L004, W4) and Pediococcus acidilactici WiKim0170 (Wilac L002, W2) isolated from fermented cabbage, on immune enhancement and gut microbiota changes in a cyclophosphamide-induced immunosuppression rat model.

Deciphering the immunomodulatory mechanisms of Bojungikki-tang via systematic transcriptomic and immune cell interaction network analysis.

Bojungikki-tang (BJIKT), a traditional herbal formula with immunomodulatory properties, has synergistic effects with immune checkpoint inhibitors. However, the detailed molecular mechanisms underlying its effects on various immune cell types remain largely unexplored. Therefore, in this study, we aimed to propose a framework for understanding how herbal medicine modulates immunity through a systematic analysis of the drug-induced transcriptome and immune cell interaction networks.

Vitamin D supplementation ameliorates ductular reaction, liver inflammation and fibrosis in mice by upregulating TXNIP in ductular cells.

Ductular reaction is associated with liver disease progression, but there are no drugs targeting ductular reaction. Vitamin D deficiency is common in chronic liver diseases and related to disease progression, but the underlying mechanisms by which vitamin D regulates liver diseases progression remain unclear. Here, we show that vitamin D plasma levels are negatively correlated with the degree of ductular reaction in patients with chronic liver diseases.

Combined Effects of Statin Medication Adherence and Fine Particulate Air Pollution on Cardiovascular Disease Among Older Adults.

Background: Emerging research suggests the potential combined effects of statin medication and fine particulate matter exposure on cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk among older adults. These findings underscore the need for further detailed investigations. This cohort study aims to examine the combined effects of adherence to statins and particulate matter with aerodynamic diameter ≤2.

Association between cholecystectomy and chronic kidney disease risk: a nationally retrospective cohort study.

Background: Cholecystectomy, a common surgery, has been associated to various health issues. Some evidence suggests associations between gallbladder removal and elevated risks of metabolic and cardiovascular diseases. However, the potential association between cholecystectomy and chronic kidney disease (CKD) remains understudied.

Comparing the efficacy and safety of biportal endoscopic discectomy with microscopic discectomy for lumbar herniated intervertebral disc: a multicentre, prospective, assessor-blinded, randomized controlled trial.

Aims: The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy and safety of biportal endoscopic discectomy (BED) with microdiscectomy (MD) in patients with a single-level lumbar disc herniation, and to determine whether BED gives similar clinical outcomes to MD but with potential additional benefits.

Methods: Included in this multicentre, prospective, assessor-blind, randomized controlled trial were patients with a single-level lumbar disc herniation requiring surgical intervention. These were recruited from six hospitals between 13 July 2021 and 16 September 2022, and followed up for 12 months.

In vitro comparison of endplate preparation in biportal endoscopic and microscopic tubular transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion procedures.

Background: Successful spinal fusion heavily depends on the condition of endplate preparation in transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF). The microscopic tubular (MT) approach offers a fixed surgical field outside the body and primarily relies on tactile feedback for endplate preparation. In contrast, the biportal endoscopic (BE) approach offers a flexible surgical field of view inside the body, allowing for direct visualization of the entire process of endplate preparation.

One-year mortality disparities between infants of unmarried and married families in South Korea: a large scale retrospective cohort study.

Background: This study examined disparities in 1-year mortality rates between infants born to married and unmarried single-parent families, emphasizing the need for targeted health policies.

Methods: Data from 3,298,263 cases, obtained from the South Korea National Statistical Office (2010-2017), were analyzed. T-tests and chi-square tests were used to assess the demographic characteristics of the study group.