Influenza Vaccination Trends and Associated Factors Among Middle-aged Working Adults With an Elevated Cardiovascular Risk in Korea.

Background And Objectives: The development of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) in middle-aged working groups can be a major contributor to disability-adjusted life years. However, information regarding the current trends in influenza vaccination within this demographic group remains scarce. Thus, we aimed to investigate the recent 11-year trends in influenza vaccination and related factors among these populations in Korea.

Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Its Influence on Intracranial Aneurysm.

Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) is associated with cerebrovascular disease, which can lead to life-threatening outcomes. The purpose of the study was to investigate the relationship between OSAS and comorbid intracranial aneurysms. We retrospectively reviewed 564 patients who underwent a polysomnography and brain magnetic resonance angiography as part of their health checkup.

Influenza vaccination trend and related factors among patients with diabetes in Korea: Analysis using a nationwide database.

Background: Subjects with diabetes are at higher risk of serious influenza-related complications. We aimed to investigate the yearly trend of influenza vaccination and factors associated with being unvaccinated for influenza in subjects with diabetes using a nationwide observational study performed within the recent decade.

Methods: Among 105,732 subjects from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey between 2007 and 2019, 8,632 with diabetes were included.

Secular trends and determinants of influenza vaccination uptake among patients with cardiovascular disease in Korea: Analysis using a nationwide database.

Background: Influenza vaccination reduces cardiovascular events in patients with cardiovascular disease (CVD). Identifying the factors that affect influenza vaccination uptake can help improve the prognosis in patients with CVD. This study aimed to evaluate the secular trends of influenza vaccination uptake and factors associated with lack of vaccination in individuals with CVD.

The impact of low forced vital capacity on behavior restrictions in a population with airflow obstruction.

Background: Recent studies have suggested that low forced vital capacity (FVC) is related to respiratory symptoms with various comorbid conditions that eventually lead to physical inactivity and may be applied to subjects with airflow obstruction (AO). Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the association between low FVC and behavior restrictions in subjects with AO.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed using data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Survey conducted between 2007 and 2015.

Racial differences in comorbidity profile among patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Background: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is often accompanied by multiple comorbidities, which are associated with an increased risk of exacerbation, a poor health-related quality of life, and high mortality. However, differences in comorbidity profile by race and ethnicity in COPD patients have not been fully elucidated.

Methods: Participants aged 40 to 79 years with spirometry-defined COPD from the U.

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease accelerates kidney function decline in patients with chronic kidney disease: a cohort study.

This study aimed to investigate the association of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and its severity with the decline in kidney function in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). We conducted a cohort study of 1,525 CKD patients who underwent repeated health check-up examinations from January 2003 through December 2013. NAFLD was diagnosed by ultrasonography and its severity was assessed by the NAFLD fibrosis score.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and the development of reflux esophagitis: A cohort study.

Background And Aim: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), a hepatic manifestation of the metabolic syndrome, is associated with gastroesophageal reflux disease in cross-sectional studies, but a prospective association has not been evaluated. The current study aimed to determine whether NAFLD increases the risk of incident reflux esophagitis in a large cohort study.

Methods: We conducted a cohort study of 34 063 men and women without reflux esophagitis or other upper gastrointestinal disease at baseline who underwent health checkup examinations between January 2003 and December 2013.

Comparison of 22-gauge standard fine needle versus core biopsy needle for endoscopic ultrasound-guided sampling of suspected pancreatic cancer: a randomized crossover trial.

Background: Endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) is effective for tissue diagnosis of pancreatic mass. To improve diagnostic yield and drawbacks, 22-gauge (G) core biopsy (FNB) needle has been developed. This study aims to compare 22G FNA and FNB needles for EUS-guided sampling of suspected pancreatic cancer.

Development of chronic kidney disease in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: A cohort study.

Background & Aims: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has been associated with chronic kidney disease (CKD), but cohort studies are limited. We investigated the longitudinal association of NAFLD and its severity with the development of CKD.

Methods: We performed a retrospective cohort study of 41,430 adult men and women (average age, 48.

Reducing Artifacts during Arterial Phase of Gadoxetate Disodium-enhanced MR Imaging: Dilution Method versus Reduced Injection Rate.

Purpose To compare two contrast material-administration protocols (dilution vs slow injection) in terms of their effectiveness in arterial phase artifact reduction at gadoxetic acid-enhanced magnetic resonance (MR) imaging. Materials and Methods This HIPAA-compliant retrospective case-controlled cohort study was approved by the institutional review board, with a waiver of informed patient consent. A total of 318 consecutive patients undergoing gadoxetic acid-enhanced MR imaging were placed into one of two subcohorts of 159 consecutive patients each: the dilution subcohort (gadoxetic acid was diluted 1:1 with saline and injected at a rate of 2.

Free flap outcome of salvage surgery compared to primary surgery for head and neck defects: A propensity score analysis.

Objectives: To compare free flap outcomes for head and neck defects between primary surgery and salvage surgery and identify factors affecting the outcomes in the two settings.

Methods: A total of 225 patients (primary group, n=56; salvage group, n=169) were retrospectively identified. The salvage group was previously treated with radiotherapy, chemoradiation, surgery, or any combination of these treatments.

Tumefactive Gallbladder Sludge at US: Prevalence and Clinical Importance.

Purpose To evaluate the prevalence of tumefactive sludge of the gallbladder detected at ultrasonography (US) and to assess whether any clinical and imaging differences exist between benign and malignant tumefactive sludge. Materials and Methods The institutional review board approved this retrospective study. The requirement for informed consent was waived.

Impact of gender and sleep position on relationships between anthropometric parameters and obstructive sleep apnea syndrome.

Objective: Considering the mechanisms by which obesity affects obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) and the differences of fat distribution depending on gender, associations between anthropometric parameters, and OSAS may differ depending on gender or sleep position. We analyzed the impact of gender and sleep position on the relationship between fat distribution and development of OSAS.

Methods: One thousand thirty-two consecutive subjects were analyzed.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and progression of coronary artery calcium score: a retrospective cohort study.

Background And Aim: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), a hepatic manifestation of the metabolic syndrome, was associated with subclinical atherosclerosis in many cross-sectional studies, but the prospective association between NAFLD and the progression of atherosclerosis has not been evaluated. This study was conducted to evaluate the association between NAFLD and the progression of coronary atherosclerosis.

Methods: This retrospective cohort study included 4731 adult men and women with no history of cardiovascular disease (CVD), liver disease or cancer at baseline who participated in a repeated regular health screening examination between 2004 and 2013.

Analysis of factors influencing the degree of detectability on diffusion-weighted MRI and diffusion background signals in patients with invasive breast cancer.

To determine the factors influencing the degree of detectability of lesions and diffusion background signals on magnetic resonance diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) in invasive breast cancer.Institutional review board approval was obtained and patient consent was waived. Patients with newly diagnosed invasive ductal carcinoma, who underwent preoperative breast magnetic resonance imaging with DWI were included in this study (n = 167).

Persistent Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Increases Risk for Carotid Atherosclerosis.

Background & Aims: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has been associated with subclinical atherosclerosis in cross-sectional studies. We investigated the longitudinal association of NAFLD with the development of subclinical carotid atherosclerosis.

Methods: We performed a retrospective cohort study of 8020 adult men (average age, 49.

Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease for Identification of Preclinical Carotid Atherosclerosis.

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is associated with cardiovascular disease, yet whether identification of NAFLD in asymptomatic individuals is helpful over established risk factors remains unknown. A total of 37,799 asymptomatic adults aged 20 years or older who underwent comprehensive health check-up examination, including abdominal and carotid artery duplex ultrasonography (US) were included in the analysis. Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease was diagnosed with US and exclusion of secondary causes of fat accumulation or other causes of chronic liver disease, and graded as mild or moderate to severe fatty liver.