Primary tumor resection self-expandable metallic stent in unresectable obstructive stage IV colorectal cancer: a comparative outcome study.

Purpose: The selection of primary tumor resection (PTR) self-expanding metallic stents (SEMS) in obstructive unresectable stage IV colorectal cancer (CRC) is critical, profoundly impacting patient outcome. This study evaluates the influence of PTR and SEMS on overall survival (OS) in conjunction with chemotherapy.

Methods: The analysis included 137 patients with obstructive, unresectable stage IV CRC who underwent PTR or attempted SEMS placement.

The Impact of Sigmoid Notch Involvement on the Outcomes of Distal Radius Fractures: Radiological and Clinical Assessments after a Minimum of 5 Years of Follow-up.

Background: Posttraumatic osteoarthritis (OA) is one of the complications of distal radius fractures (DRFs). Involvement of the sigmoid notch (SN) is a risk factor, but there are few studies that support this. In this study, we hypothesized that SN involvement can affect the radiological and clinical outcomes of surgically treated DRFs and that there would be differences based on the degree of SN involvement.

Arrhythmic Risk and Clinical Features in Catecholaminergic Polymorphic Ventricular Tachycardia: Results From a Multicenter Study in Korea.

Catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia (CPVT) is a rare but life-threatening inherited arrhythmia in children, often associated with sudden cardiac death (SCD). Risk stratification remains challenging. This study aimed to assess clinical characteristics, genetic profiles, and risk factors for adverse outcomes in Korean pediatric CPVT patients.

Adagrasib versus docetaxel in KRAS-mutated non-small-cell lung cancer (KRYSTAL-12): a randomised, open-label, phase 3 trial.

Background: Adagrasib is a KRAS inhibitor that demonstrated promising activity against KRAS-mutated advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in a phase 2 trial. Here we aimed to compare the efficacy and safety of adagrasib versus docetaxel in patients with KRAS-mutated advanced NSCLC previously treated with chemotherapy and immunotherapy.

Methods: KRYSTAL-12 is a randomised, multicentre, open-label, phase 3 trial conducted at 230 centres in 22 countries.

Thrombophilia in Liver Donors: Prevalence of Protein C or S Deficiency in Korean Candidates and Decision Considerations.

Background: Donor thrombophilia poses risks to both donors and recipients. To address donor safety without unnecessarily decreasing the donor pool, we aimed to determine the incidence of protein C (PC) or protein S (PS) deficiency among living liver donor candidates and propose a decision-making algorithm for donation.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 1421 living donor candidates who underwent primary donor evaluation at a single center between January 2017 and February 2022.

Dietary β-Carotene, Vitamin A, and Retinol Intake and Prevalence of Colorectal Adenoma: A Cross-Sectional Study and Meta-Analysis.

Background/aims: Antioxidants may offer protection against colorectal cancer, but their association with colorectal adenomas remains unclear due to variations in study design, population, and dietary factors. We investigated the relationship between dietary intake of β-carotene, vitamin A, and retinol and the prevalence of colorectal adenoma using food frequency questionnaires (FFQs) and colonoscopy data.

Methods: We recruited participants undergoing elective colonoscopy across eight medical institutions.

Lateral wall collapse from sleep endoscopy and airflow shape predicts hypoglossal nerve stimulation efficacy in obstructive sleep apnea.

Rationale: Patient selection for hypoglossal nerve stimulation (HGNS) for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) requires assessment of pharyngeal site of collapse using drug-induced sleep endoscopy (DISE).

Objectives: The current study aims to address two key knowledge gaps: First, we prospectively confirm that, among HGNS candidates, reduced HGNS efficacy is associated with oropharyngeal lateral wall (OLW) collapse (Aim 1). Second, given DISE is resource-intensive procedure and delays treatment, we evaluate whether a recently-developed non-invasive method for identifying OLW collapse using airflow shapes is associated with reduced HGNS efficacy (Aim 2).

Hepatic epithelioid hemangioendothelioma managed with minimally invasive surgery: A case report.

Background: Hepatic epithelioid hemangioendothelioma (HEHE) is a rare malignant vascular liver tumor diagnosed by histopathological evaluation. Standardized treatment is challenging because of its rarity; hepatectomy is preferred for solitary lesions and multiple transplantations. There is no consensus on the optimal treatment for HEHE; however, surgical excision is often considered effective.

Long-term trend of cumulative incidence of venous thromboembolism in Korean pediatric inflammatory bowel disease.

Background: Research on venous thromboembolism (VTE) in pediatric inflammatory bowel disease (PIBD) is rare in Asia. This study aimed to investigate the epidemiological characteristics of VTE within the Korean PIBD population.

Methods: A cohort study was conducted on pediatric patients (<17 years) using South Korea's health claims data from 2005 to 2015.

Potential utility of plasma pTau217 for assessing amyloid and tau biomarker profiles.

Purpose: Plasma phosphorylated tau 217 (pTau217) is a promising biomarker for Alzheimer's disease, reflecting both amyloid β (Aβ) and tau positron emission tomography (PET) results. While its diagnostic role is actively being investigated, this study aims to expand its application to staging disease progression and predicting cognitive decline.

Methods: A total of 2,919 participants, primarily diagnosed as Alzheimer's clinical syndrome, were recruited.

Establishing a National Quality of Care Framework for Heart Failure in Korea: Keep Standards for Heart Failure (KSHF) Initiative.

Heart failure (HF) continues to pose a significant public health burden in Korea, marked by increasing prevalence, hospitalizations, and healthcare costs. Although advances in guideline-directed medical therapy (GDMT) have improved patient prognosis, a persistent gap between evidence-based guidelines and real-world practice hinders optimal patient outcomes. To address this challenge, the Korean Society of Heart Failure launched the Keep Standards for Heart Failure (KSHF) initiative to enhance the quality of care (QoC) for individuals with HF.

Endogenous Fluorescence Labeling of Extracellular Vesicles with a Hydrophilic Cyanine Dye via Caveolin-1 Dependent Endocytosis.

Fluorescent labeling of extracellular vesicles (EVs) can provide an understanding of their biological properties from biogenesis to uptake and function. Since EVs have been found to play a crucial role in diseases, including cancers, the fluorescent EVs can be used in diagnostic or therapeutic applications. Previously, several methods using fluorescent imaging agents are reported to label and characterize the spatiotemporal properties of EVs.

Beyond blood-brain barrier disruption and molecular weight: compartmental kinetics of S100B and NSE for neurological prognostication after cardiac arrest.

Background: The prognostic value of serum biomarkers after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) depends on timing, but the physiological basis remains unclear. We investigated whether blood-brain barrier (BBB) integrity and biomarker-specific properties explain the time-dependent differences in prognostic performance.

Methods: This retrospective study included comatose adult OHCA survivors who underwent paired serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) measurements of neuron-specific enolase (NSE; 47 kDa) and S100 calcium-binding protein B (S100B; 21 kDa) at 0 (H0), 24 (H24), 48 (H48), and 72 (H72) h after return of spontaneous circulation.

A Pilot Study on the Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Tacrolimus in Ankylosing Spondylitis: Evidence from Human Samples and a Murine Model.

Background/Aims: This study aimed to evaluate the potential anti-inflammatory and therapeutic effects of tacrolimus in ankylosing spondylitis (AS). Materials and Methods: Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and synovial fluid mononuclear cells (SFMCs) from AS patients were treated with tacrolimus and analyzed via flow cytometry to measure inflammatory cytokine-producing cells (IFN-γ, IL-17A, and GM-CSF). Additionally, cytokine levels (IFN-γ, IL-17A, TNF-α, and GM-CSF) in ex vivo cultured PBMC supernatants were quantified using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

Effects of withdrawal of life-sustaining therapy on long-term neurological outcome after cardiac arrest - A multicentre matched cohort study.

Purpose: To assess the risk of self-fulfilling prophecy from withdrawal of life-sustaining therapy (WLST) in comatose cardiac arrest patients undergoing neuroprognostication.

Methods: Post-hoc multicentre study matching adults resuscitated from out-of-hospital cardiac arrests, in WLST-permitting cohorts (TTM and TTM2), and non-WLST-permitting cohorts (KORHN and ProNeCA). We matched patients in a 1:1 ratio based on a propensity score, assessing the risk of WLST due to a presumed poor neurological prognosis and criteria predictive of poor neurological outcome, as outlined in the 2021 European Resuscitation Council/European Society of Intensive Care Medicine (ERC/ESICM) guidelines.

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.

Standardized Procedures for Blood and Cerebrospinal Fluid Collection and Storage in Neurodegenerative Biomarker Research: A Comprehensive Review.

Blood and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarkers are essential tools for the rapid diagnosis and monitoring of neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, even minor variations in sample collection and storage procedures can significantly impact biomarker measurements, emphasizing the importance of standardized operating procedures. This review discusses the main pre-analytical factors that influence biomarker stability, outlines the best practices for blood and CSF collection and storage, and extensively analyzes recent research findings to ensure optimal reproducibility in biomarker studies.

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.

Treatment Outcomes of Sinonasal Seromucinous Hamartoma: A Single-Center Experience.

Background And Objectives: Seromucinous hamartoma is a rare, benign epithelial tumor of the sinonasal tract, most commonly originating from the posterior nasal septum. Accurate diagnosis is essential due to its histopathological resemblance to low-grade sinonasal adenocarcinoma. This study aimed to evaluate the clinical characteristics, diagnostic considerations, and treatment outcomes of patients with seromucinous hamartoma treated at a single tertiary referral center.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus modifies the relationship between coronary artery calcification and adverse kidney outcome in patients with chronic kidney disease: the findings from KNOW-CKD.

Background: Kidney function declines faster in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) than in those without, and coronary artery calcification is a risk factor for adverse kidney outcomes. Thus, we examined whether T2DM modified the relationship between coronary artery calcification and chronic kidney disease (CKD) progression.

Methods: Among 2067 participants from the KoreaN Cohort Study for Outcome in Patients With CKD, the main exposures analyzed were T2DM and coronary artery calcification.

Prevalence and Comorbidities of Atopic Dermatitis in Korean Children and Adolescents From 1995 to 2022: A Population-Based Study.

Purpose: We aimed to investigate the prevalence of atopic dermatitis (AD) and its associated risk factors in Korean children in 2022, and to compare to our findings with previous results to identify changes or trends over time.

Methods: A nationwide, cross-sectional study of randomly selected schoolchildren aged 6-7, 9-10, and 12-13 years, respectively, was completed. Information was obtained through the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood questionnaire, and comparisons between the current and prior surveys performed in 1995, 2000, and 2010 were conducted using a trend test.

Clinical Significance of Rhinoviruses and Progress Toward Vaccination.

Rhinoviruses (RVs) are the most frequent viral causes of respiratory infections worldwide and contribute substantially to a spectrum of respiratory diseases, including wheezing, asthma, and lower respiratory tract illnesses throughout the lifespan. Despite their substantial disease burden, vaccine development for RVs has been hindered for decades due to extensive serotypic diversity and limited cross-reactive immune responses. However, recent progress in structural virology, immune profiling, and antigen discovery─particularly through peptide array mapping and the identification of conserved neutralizing epitopes─has revived interest in the design of RV vaccines.

ATG7 in innate immune cells is required for host defense against nontuberculous mycobacterial pulmonary infections.

Infections caused by nontuberculous mycobacteria, such as Mycobacterium avium and Mycobacteroides abscessus, are becoming increasingly prevalent, and rising antibiotic resistance poses a significant clinical challenge. However, the mechanisms by which the host defense system controls these infections remain poorly understood. Here we show that the autophagy-related protein ATG7 in innate immune cells plays an essential role in controlling nontuberculous mycobacterial infection and protecting lung tissue from pathological inflammation.

Elevated Serum Gamma-Glutamyl Transferase as a Risk Factor for Frailty in Older Men: A Nationwide Population-Based Study.

Background: Oxidative stress is a key driver of accelerated ageing, and gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT), an essential enzyme involved in the metabolism of glutathione, a major antioxidant, plays a pivotal role in the generation of free radical species. This study aimed to explore the potential utility of circulating GGT as a biomarker of frailty, which reflects biological ageing and overall health status.

Methods: This cross-sectional, population-based study included 2526 community-dwelling adults aged 65 years and older, using data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

Interaction of Hypertension and Diabetes Mellitus on Post-Cardiac Arrest Treatments and Outcomes in Cancer Patients Following Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest.

: Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) is associated with high mortality, and outcomes may be influenced by underlying conditions such as cancer, hypertension (HTN), and diabetes mellitus (DM). This study aimed to evaluate whether HTN and DM modify the effects of post-resuscitation treatments-specifically targeted temperature management (TTM) and percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI)-on survival and neurological recovery in OHCA patients with a history of cancer. : This retrospective cohort study analyzed data from the Korean national OHCA registry between January 2018 and December 2021.