Screening-Detected versus Interval Lung Cancer in the Biennial Korean National Lung Cancer Screening Program: Proportion, Characteristics, and Mortality.

Introduction: Interval lung cancers (ILCs) are key indicators of lung cancer screening (LCS) performance. However, data on the proportion, characteristics, and mortality of ILCs under biennial screening in Asian populations remain limited.

Methods: We analyzed participants from the baseline biennial Korean national LCS program between 2019 and 2020.

Comparative Analysis of Vehicles for the Regeneration of Mouse Endometrial Damage Model.

Background: Endometrial damage is a critical factor contributing to infertility, particularly in women with refractory thin endometrium or intrauterine adhesions. Therefore, developing innovative therapeutic strategies for endometrial regeneration is essential. This study evaluates the regenerative potential of endometrial stromal cell (EMSC) injection and EMSC-loaded patch application in a mouse model with ethanol-induced endometrial damage.

Improving HER2 Diagnostics with Digital Real-Time PCR for Ultrafast, Precise Prediction of Anti-HER2 Therapy Response in Patients with Breast Cancer.

While human epidermal growth factor receptor (HER2) has emerged as a tumor-agnostic biomarker, standard HER2 testing for anti-HER2 therapies using immunohistochemistry (IHC) and in situ hybridization (ISH) assays remains subjective, time-consuming, and often inaccurate. To address these limitations, an ultrafast and precise HER2 testing method is developed using Lab-On-An-Array (LOAA) digital real-time PCR (drPCR), a fully automated digital PCR enabling real-time absolute quantification. A multicenter study involving four independent breast cancer cohorts cross-validates the high diagnostic accuracy of drPCR-based HER2 assessment.

Syllable-based speech characteristics as potential biomarker for differential diagnosis of Parkinson's disease, multiple system atrophy, and cerebellar ataxia.

Speech disorders differ between Parkinson's disease (PD) and multiple system atrophy (MSA), but studies focusing on group differences based on syllables or including cerebellar ataxia (CA) are lacking until now. This cross-sectional study aimed to analyze syllable-based speech characteristics in patients with PD, MSA, and CA, as well as healthy controls, to determine their diagnostic utility. Speech samples were collected from 68 PD, 52 MSA, 23 CA, and 70 healthy controls.

Gut microbial production of imidazole propionate drives Parkinson's pathologies.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is characterized by the selective degeneration of midbrain dopaminergic neurons and aggregation of α-synuclein. Emerging evidence implicates the gut microbiome in PD, with microbial metabolites proposed as potential pathological mediators. However, the specific microbes and metabolites involved, and whether gut-derived metabolites can reach the brain to directly induce neurodegeneration, remain unclear.

Prognostic Value of A/T/N Biomarkers: Comparing Plasma and Imaging Modalities in Alzheimer Disease.

Background: Alzheimer disease (AD) is characterized by amyloid-β plaques (A), tau tangles (T), and neurodegeneration (N), collectively defining the ATN framework. While imaging biomarkers are well-established, the prognostic value of plasma biomarkers in predicting cognitive decline remains underexplored. This study compares plasma and imaging A/T/N biomarkers in predicting cognitive decline and evaluate the impact of combining biomarkers across modalities.

Clinical Utility of Salivary Steroid Profiling for the Differential Diagnosis of Adrenal Diseases.

Context: Although salivary steroid sampling offers several advantages, the diagnostic potential of salivary steroid metabolites remains largely unexplored.Objective To evaluate the diagnostic utility of salivary steroid profiling in patients with adrenal diseases.

Design: Prospective multicenter study.

Alternative Surveillance Improves Outcomes by Detecting Early-Stage Hepatocellular Carcinoma in Chronic Hepatitis B Patients.

Background/aims: Current guidelines recommend biannual ultrasound for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) surveillance in chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients. However, computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) may be used when ultrasound is inadequate. The clinical impact of these alternative modalities remains unclear.

The Clinical Impact of Intravascular Imaging-Guided Percutaneous Coronary Intervention in Acute Myocardial Infarction Patients with High Thrombus Burden.

Despite the established clinical efficacy following intravascular imaging (IVI)-guided percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) than angiography-guided PCI, evidence regarding prognostic benefits of IVI-guided PCI in acute myocardial infarction (AMI) patients with high thrombus burden remains limited. Using the nationwide registries of KAMIR-NIH and KAMIR-V, we evaluated the prognostic impact of IVI-guided PCI in AMI patients with high thrombus burden. A total of 4,074 patients with AMI and TIMI thrombus grades 4 or 5 who underwent aspiration thrombectomy were selected, of whom 892 patients (21.

Quality Matters: Effect of High-Quality Early Palliative Care in Advanced Cancer.

Context: Early palliative care (EPC) is an integral treatment for advanced cancer patients, improving quality of life and symptom management, but the impact of its quality on outcomes is less understood.

Objectives: This study aimed to quantify the quality of EPC and analyze its longitudinal association with depression levels, quality of life (QoL), patient survival, and self-management strategies in patients with advanced cancer.

Methods: This secondary analysis included 144 advanced cancer patients from a randomized controlled trial in South Korea.

Long-Term Prognostic Value and Analytical Parameters of the Next-Generation Sequencing-Based Multigene Assay in Hormone Receptor-Positive, HER2-Negative Breast Cancer.

Purpose: In hormone receptor (HR)-positive, HER2-negative early breast cancer, gene expression testing facilitates treatment decisions. A next-generation sequencing (NGS)-based assay was developed to address test decentralization and underrepresentation of younger/premenopausal patients. We aimed to validate the long-term prognostic value of the NGS-based assay and analyze its quality control (QC) parameters.

Deep learning-based detection of ascending aortic dilatation on chest radiographs: A diagnostic study.

Objectives: This study externally tests the performance of an artificial intelligence algorithm (AI) for diagnosing ascending aortic dilatation (AAD) using PA view chest radiography (PA CXR).

Materials And Methods: Two retrospectively collected cohorts with paired CXR/CT within 30 days (Group 1) and 90 days (Group 2) were gathered as external test sets. The performance of AI (DeepCatch X Aorta v1.

Changing landscape of steatotic liver diseases and liver fibrosis in the United States during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Background: Steatotic liver diseases (SLDs) and their subcategories-metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), metabolic dysfunction and alcohol-associated liver disease (MetALD), and alcohol-associated liver disease (ALD)-significantly contribute to liver-related and extrahepatic morbidity and mortality. This project aimed to assess the landscape of SLDs and clinically significant fibrosis (CSF) before (2017-2020) and during (2021-2023) the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods: Using National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) data, we analyzed 8965 prepandemic and 6337 pandemic participants aged ≥18 years.

Genome-wide polygenic risk score for estimated glomerular filtration slope predicts chronic kidney disease in a Taiwanese population.

Background: Kidney function decline is associated with cardiovascular disease and various other morbidities. Previous studies regarding polygenic risk scores of estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) change were generally based on individuals of European ancestry and not validated on populations of East Asian ancestry.

Methods: We conducted a genome-wide association study for eGFR slope among 26,755 non-diabetic individuals from the Taiwan Biobank.

Risk of Parkinson's Disease Among Breast Cancer Survivors: A Nationwide Cohort Study in South Korea.

Background: Parkinson's disease (PD) and breast cancer are both significant public health concerns, but limited studies have explored a potential link between. This study aims to investigate the risk of PD among breast cancer survivors in South Korea.

Methods: Data from Korean National Health Insurance Service (2010-2016) were used to identify 71,924 breast cancer survivors, matched 1:3 to 122,331 women without cancer.

Left ventricular geometry and the risk of heavy coronary artery calcification in patients with pre-dialysis chronic kidney disease: the KoreaN Cohort Study for Outcome in Patients With Chronic Kidney Disease (KNOW-CKD).

Background: The association between abnormal left ventricular geometry (LVG) patterns and the presence of coronary artery calcification is unclear in patients with CKD.

Methods: A total of 2,038 patients with pre-dialysis CKD at stages 1 to 5 were categorized by LVG patterns, which were echocardiographically determined by the presence or absence of left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) and relative wall thickness (RWT): normal, concentric remodeling, eccentric LVH, and concentric LVH. The study outcome was the presence of heavy coronary artery calcification, which is defined as coronary artery calcium score >1,000 Agatston units.

Prognostic value of signet-ring cell carcinoma proportion in undifferentiated gastric cancer: Implications for endoscopic treatment decisions.

Background: Poorly cohesive gastric carcinomas are classified based on the proportion of signet-ring cell carcinoma (SRCC) components. In surgically resected gastric cancer, SRCC is diagnosed when the signet-ring cell (SRC) component constitutes ≥ 50% of the entire tumor, whereas poorly cohesive carcinoma (PCC) not otherwise specified is diagnosed when the proportion of the SRC component is < 50% of the entire tumor. The SRCC proportion in PCC varies along the spectrum, and its prognostic significance in gastric cancer remains unclear.

The effects of restricted visitation on delirium incidence in the intensive care units of a tertiary hospital in South Korea.

Background: Delirium is a common but serious complication in critically ill patients. Family visitation has been shown to reduce delirium; however, during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, intensive care units (ICUs) restricted regular visitation to prevent the spread of infection. This study aimed to evaluate the association between visitation policies and incidence of delirium in the ICUs.

Initial arterial pH predicts survival of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest in South Korea.

Background: Arterial pH reflects both metabolic and respiratory distress in cardiac arrest and has prognostic implications. However, it was excluded from the 2024 update of the Utstein out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) registry template. We investigated the rationale for including arterial pH into models predicting clinical outcomes.

Characteristics and management of mechanically ventilated patients in South Korea compared with other high-income Asian countries and regions.

Background: This study investigated the characteristics of mechanically ventilated patients in South Korean intensive care units (ICUs).

Methods: We conducted a subgroup analysis of a multinational observational study. Data from 271 mechanically ventilated patients in South Korean ICUs were analyzed for demographics, ventilation practices, and mortality, and were compared with those of 327 patients from other high-income Asian countries.

Impact of medical crisis on the critical care system in South Korea.

Background: The ongoing medical crisis in Korea has severely impacted the operational environment of intensive care units (ICU), posing significant challenges to quality care for critically ill patients. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of the ongoing crisis on ICUs.

Methods: A survey was conducted in July 2024 among intensivists in charge of ICUs at institutions accredited by the Korean Society of Critical Care Medicine for critical care.

Role of the Right Ventricle Overhaul Procedure in Comprehensive Management for Pulmonary Atresia With Intact Ventricular Septum - A Magnetic Resonance Imaging-Based Study.

Background: We evaluated the surgical outcomes of modified right ventricle (RV) overhaul (mRVOh), implemented as part of comprehensive management for pulmonary atresia with intact ventricular septum (PA-IVS).

Methods And Results: Twenty-five mRVOh procedures were performed in 23 patients with PA-IVS without RV-dependent coronary circulation. The procedure involved RV sinus myectomy, infundibular muscle resection, and tricuspid valve (TV) and pulmonary valve (PV) repair.

Clopidogrel versus aspirin for secondary prevention of coronary artery disease: a systematic review and individual patient data meta-analysis.

Background: Aspirin monotherapy is recommended indefinitely for patients with established coronary artery disease (CAD). The aim of this individual patient level meta-analysis was to provide a comprehensive evaluation of the comparative efficacy and safety of clopidogrel versus aspirin monotherapy in patients with established CAD, most of whom had undergone percutaneous coronary intervention or had acute coronary syndrome.

Methods: We conducted a systematic search in PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Embase to identify randomised trials published from database inception to April 12, 2025, comparing clopidogrel monotherapy with aspirin monotherapy in patients with established CAD who had discontinued or never started dual antiplatelet therapy.

Meat intake and breast cancer risk from the Health Examinees study.

Background & Aims: The association between meat intake and breast cancer risk remains unclear. This study examined the relationship between specific types of meat intake and breast cancer risk in a prospective cohort study.

Methods: This study included 71,264 women aged 40-69 years from the Health Examinees-Gem (HEXA-G) study (2004-2013).

High carbohydrate antigen 19-9 levels indicate poor prognosis in patients with bladder cancer following radical cystectomy.

Introduction: Our team previously reported that elevated carbohydrate antigen (CA) 19-9 levels are associated with a worse prognosis in upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC). Several studies have reported a correlation between high tumor burden and elevated CA19-9 levels in urothelial carcinomas. However, no studies have specifically examined the association between CA19-9 levels and outcomes of patients with bladder cancer who underwent radical cystectomy.