Gallstone Dissolution Effects of Combination Therapy with n-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids and Ursodeoxycholic Acid: A Randomized, Prospective, Preliminary Clinical Trial.

Background/Aims: : Ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) is the only well-established and widely used agent for dissolving gallstones. Epidemiological and animal studies have suggested potential therapeutic benefits of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) for dissolving cholesterol gallstones. We evaluated whether adding PUFA to UDCA improves gallstone dissolution in patients with cholesterol gallstones. Methods: : This randomized, prospective, preliminary clinical trial compared the efficacy and safety of UDCA plus PUFA combination therapy (combination group) with those of UDCA monotherapy (monotherapy group). The inclusion criteria were a gallstone diameter ≤15 mm on ultrasonography, radiolucent stones on plain X-ray, and no to mild symptoms. Gallstone dissolution rates, response rates, and adverse events were evaluated. Results: : Of the 59 screened patients, 45 patients completed treatment (24 and 21 in the monotherapy and combination groups, respectively). The gallstone dissolution rate tended to be higher in the combination group than in the monotherapy group (45.7% vs 9.9%, p=0.070). The radiological response rate was also significantly higher in the combination group (90.5% vs 41.7%, p=0.007). In both groups, dissolution and response rates were higher in patients with gallbladder sludge than in those with distinct stones. Four adverse events (two in each group) were observed, none of which were study drug-related or led to drug discontinuation. The incidence of these adverse events was similar in both groups (combination vs monotherapy: 9.5% vs 8.3%, p=0.890). Conclusions: : UDCA plus PUFA therapy dissolves cholesterol gallstones more effectively than UDCA monotherapy, without significant complications. Further prospective, large-scale studies of this combination therapy are warranted.

No Change in Complications Following Thyroidectomy Despite Increase in Thyroid Cancer Surgeries: A Meta-Regression Analysis.

PURPOSE: The increase in thyroid cancer incidence has inevitably led to an increase in thyroid cancer surgeries. This meta-regression analysis aimed to determine if the rate of post-thyroidectomy complications changes by year. MATERIALS AND METHODS: PubMed and Embase databases were used to perform a systematic literature search of studies published from January 1, 2005, using the keywords "thyroidectomy" and "complication." A meta-regression was performed for post-thyroidectomy hypocalcemia and bleeding. RESULTS: This meta-analysis included 25 studies involving 927751 individuals. Through the years of publications in this study, there was no significant difference in the proportion of post-thyroidectomy hypocalcemia and bleeding (p=0.9978, 0.6393). CONCLUSION: Although the number of thyroid surgeries has recently increased, the incidence of post-thyroidectomy hypocalcemia and bleeding did not significantly increase.

Metabolic Obesity Phenotypes and Incident Cardiovascular Outcomes in Middle-Aged and Older Korean Adults: A Longitudinal 10-Year Analysis of the Korean Genome and Epidemiology Study.

Background: This study investigated the association of four metabolic obesity phenotypes with incident coronary artery disease and stroke in a large-scale, community population-based, prospective Korean cohort observed for over 10 years. Methods: The study participants included 7374 adults aged 40-69 years, drawn from the Korean Genome and Epidemiology Study. Participants with different metabolic obesity phenotypes were categorized according to body weight and metabolic health status into four groups: metabolically healthy nonobese (MHNO), metabolically healthy obese (MHO), metabolically unhealthy nonobese (MUHNO), and metabolically unhealthy obese (MUHO). Combined cardiovascular events were defined as coronary artery disease and stroke. We used multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression models to prospectively assess hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for incident coronary artery disease or stroke over 10 years after the baseline survey. Results: During the follow-up period, newly developed coronary artery disease, stroke, and combined cardiovascular events were diagnosed in 151 (2.0%), 137 (1.9%), and 283 (3.8%) participants, respectively. After adjusting for confounding variables, the HRs (95% CIs) for incident combined cardiovascular events were 1.81 (1.34-2.46) in the MUHO group, 1.29 (0.92-1.81) in the MUHNO group, and 1.21 (0.81-1.79) in the MHO group compared with those in the MHNO group. Conclusions: This study revealed distinct risks associated with four metabolic obesity phenotypes concerning incident coronary artery disease and stroke. After adjusting for potential confounding variables, the results indicated that MUHO, but not MUHNO or MHO, showed a higher risk of developing coronary artery disease and stroke than MHNO.

Comparative Analysis of Clinical Outcomes Using Propensity Score Matching: Coronavirus Disease 2019 vs. Seasonal Influenza in Korea.

BACKGROUND: The advent of the omicron variant and the formulation of diverse therapeutic strategies marked a new epoch in the realm of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Studies have compared the clinical outcomes between COVID-19 and seasonal influenza, but such studies were conducted during the early stages of the pandemic when effective treatment strategies had not yet been developed, which limits the generalizability of the findings. Therefore, an updated evaluation of the comparative analysis of clinical outcomes between COVID-19 and seasonal influenza is requisite. METHODS: This study used data from the severe acute respiratory infection surveillance system of South Korea. We extracted data for influenza patients who were infected between 2018 and 2019 and COVID-19 patients who were infected in 2021 (pre-omicron period) and 2022 (omicron period). Comparisons of outcomes were conducted among the pre-omicron, omicron, and influenza cohorts utilizing propensity score matching. The adjusted covariates in the propensity score matching included age, sex, smoking, and comorbidities. RESULTS: The study incorporated 1,227 patients in the pre-omicron cohort, 1,948 patients in the omicron cohort, and 920 patients in the influenza cohort. Following propensity score matching, 491 patients were included in each respective group. Clinical presentations exhibited similarities between the pre-omicron and omicron cohorts; however, COVID-19 patients demonstrated a higher prevalence of dyspnea and pulmonary infiltrates compared to their influenza counterparts. Both COVID-19 groups exhibited higher in-hospital mortality and longer hospital length of stay than the influenza group. The omicron group showed no significant improvement in clinical outcomes compared to the pre-omicron group. CONCLUSION: The omicron group did not demonstrate better clinical outcomes than the pre-omicron group, and exhibited significant disease severity compared to the influenza group. Considering the likely persistence of COVID-19 infections, it is imperative to sustain comprehensive studies and ongoing policy support for the virus to enhance the prognosis for individuals affected by COVID-19.

Difference in association of carbohydrate intake with all-cause mortality between middle-aged and older Korean adults with and without diabetes mellitus: A prospective study.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: The relationship between diet and health, particularly the role of carbohydrates, has been extensively studied. However, carbohydrate intake based on individual health conditions remains unclear. Here, we aimed to investigate whether the association between carbohydrate intake and all-cause mortality varied between individuals with and without diabetes mellitus (DM). METHODS: This prospective cohort study used data from the Korean Genome and Epidemiology Study (KoGES). Overall, 143,050 participants were included, with 10.1% having DM. Dietary intake was assessed using a semiquantitative food frequency questionnaire. Cox proportional hazards regression models were used to assess the association between carbohydrate intake and mortality after adjusting for confounders. RESULTS: The study showed that 5436 deaths occurred during the median follow-up period of 10.1 years. A significant interaction between carbohydrate intake and DM was observed in the study population (interaction p = 0.061). Higher carbohydrate intake proportion was associated with an increased risk of all-cause mortality among individuals with DM (adjusted hazard ratio [HR], p-value = 1.10 [1.01-1.20], p = 0.032). Conversely, no association was observed between the proportion of carbohydrate intake and all-cause mortality in participants without DM. Additionally, both total sugar and added sugar intakes were associated with an increased risk of all-cause mortality in participants with DM (adjusted HR, p-value = 1.02 [1.01-1.04], p < 0.001 and 1.18 [1.13-1.24], p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: High carbohydrate (%) and added sugar intake were associated with an increased mortality risk in individuals with DM. Reducing carbohydrate intake and opting for healthy carbohydrates to mitigate mortality risk may be beneficial for individuals with DM, particularly when compared with the general population.

A Short Fully Covered Self-Expandable Metal Stent for Management of Benign Biliary Stricture Not Caused by Living-Donor Liver Transplantation.

Background: This study evaluated the effectiveness of short fully covered self-expanding metal stents (FCSEMS) with an anti-migration design in treating benign biliary strictures (BBS) not related to living donor liver transplantation (LDLT). Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 75 patients who underwent FCSEMS insertion for BBS management. Stents were initially kept for 3 months and exchanged every 3 months until stricture resolution. Adverse events and stricture recurrence after FCSEMS removal were assessed during follow-up. Results: The study outcomes were technical success, stenosis resolution, and treatment failure. Technical success was 100%, with stricture resolution in 99% of patients. The mean onset time of BBS post-surgery was 4.4 years, with an average stent indwelling period of 5.5 months. Stricture recurrence occurred in 20% of patients, mostly approximately 18.8 months after stent removal. Early cholangitis and stent migration were noted in 3% and 4% of patients, respectively. Conclusions: This study concludes that short FCSEMS demonstrate high efficacy in the treatment of non-LDLT-related BBS, with a low incidence of interventions and complications. Although this is a single-center, retrospective study with a limited sample size, the findings provide preliminary evidence supporting the use of short FCSEMS as a primary treatment modality for BBS. To substantiate these findings, further research involving multicenter studies is recommended to provide additional validation and a broader perspective.

AI analytics can be used as imaging biomarkers for predicting invasive upgrade of ductal carcinoma in situ.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate whether the quantitative abnormality scores provided by artificial intelligence (AI)-based computer-aided detection/diagnosis (CAD) for mammography interpretation can be used to predict invasive upgrade in ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) diagnosed on percutaneous biopsy. METHODS: Four hundred forty DCIS in 420 women (mean age, 52.8 years) diagnosed via percutaneous biopsy from January 2015 to December 2019 were included. Mammographic characteristics were assessed based on imaging features (mammographically occult, mass/asymmetry/distortion, calcifications only, and combined mass/asymmetry/distortion with calcifications) and BI-RADS assessments. Routine pre-biopsy 4-view digital mammograms were analyzed using AI-CAD to obtain abnormality scores (AI-CAD score, ranging 0-100%). Multivariable logistic regression was performed to identify independent predictive mammographic variables after adjusting for clinicopathological variables. A subgroup analysis was performed with mammographically detected DCIS. RESULTS: Of the 440 DCIS, 117 (26.6%) were upgraded to invasive cancer. Three hundred forty-one (77.5%) DCIS were detected on mammography. The multivariable analysis showed that combined features (odds ratio (OR): 2.225, p = 0.033), BI-RADS 4c or 5 assessments (OR: 2.473, p = 0.023 and OR: 5.190, p < 0.001, respectively), higher AI-CAD score (OR: 1.009, p = 0.007), AI-CAD score ≥ 50% (OR: 1.960, p = 0.017), and AI-CAD score ≥ 75% (OR: 2.306, p = 0.009) were independent predictors of invasive upgrade. In mammographically detected DCIS, combined features (OR: 2.194, p = 0.035), and higher AI-CAD score (OR: 1.008, p = 0.047) were significant predictors of invasive upgrade. CONCLUSION: The AI-CAD score was an independent predictor of invasive upgrade for DCIS. Higher AI-CAD scores, especially in the highest quartile of ≥ 75%, can be used as an objective imaging biomarker to predict invasive upgrade in DCIS diagnosed with percutaneous biopsy. CRITICAL RELEVANCE STATEMENT: Noninvasive imaging features including the quantitative results of AI-CAD for mammography interpretation were independent predictors of invasive upgrade in lesions initially diagnosed as ductal carcinoma in situ via percutaneous biopsy and therefore may help decide the direction of surgery before treatment. KEY POINTS: • Predicting ductal carcinoma in situ upgrade is important, yet there is a lack of conclusive non-invasive biomarkers. • AI-CAD scores-raw numbers, ≥ 50%, and ≥ 75%-predicted ductal carcinoma in situ upgrade independently. • Quantitative AI-CAD results may help predict ductal carcinoma in situ upgrade and guide patient management.

Non-Insulin-Based Indices of Insulin Resistance for Predicting Incident Albuminuria: A Nationwide Population-Based Study.

Background: Studies have shown that incident albuminuria is associated with insulin resistance (IR); however, an IR marker that best predicts the prevalence of albuminuria has not yet been established. This study explored the association between IR and incident albuminuria using various IR indices, including the homeostasis model assessment of IR (HOMA-IR), metabolic score for IR (METS-IR), and triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index, and compared their predictive abilities for the prevalence of albuminuria. Methods: A total of 4,982 Korean adults from the 2019 Korea National Health and Nutritional Examination Survey were analyzed. The odds of albuminuria were determined using the quartiles of the IR indices. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were used to calculate the area under the ROC curve and predictability. The cutoff values for albuminuria detection were also computed. Results: An increase in the quartiles of all three IR indices was associated with incident albuminuria, even after full adjustment for covariates (HOMA-IR: odds ratio [OR], 1.906; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.311-2.772; P=0.006; METS-IR: OR, 2.236; 95% CI, 1.353-3.694; P=0.002; TyG index: OR, 1.757; 95% CI, 1.213-2.544; P=0.003). The area under the ROC curve for incident albuminuria based on the HOMA-IR, METS-IR, and TyG indices was 0.594 (95% CI, 0.568-0.619), 0.633 (95% CI, 0.607-0.659), and 0.631 (95% CI, 0.606-0.656), respectively. The optimal cutoff values for predicting albuminuria were 2.38, 35.38, and 8.72 for the HOMA-IR, METS-IR, and TyG indices, respectively. Conclusion: The METS-IR and TyG indices outperformed HOMA-IR in predicting incident albuminuria.

Timely accessibility to healthcare resources and heatwave-related mortality in 7 major cities of South Korea: a two-stage approach with principal component analysis.

Background: Due to the ongoing effects of climate change, the incidence of heatwave-related mortality is rising globally. Improved allocation and utilization of healthcare resources could help alleviate this issue. This study aimed to identify healthcare resource factors associated with heatwave-related mortality in seven major cities of South Korea. Methods: We analyzed daily time-series data on mean temperature and all-cause mortality from 2011 to 2019. Using principal component analysis (PCA), we clustered district-level healthcare resource indicators into three principal components (PCs). To estimate district-specific heatwave-mortality risk, we used a distributed lag model with a quasi-Poisson distribution. Furthermore, a meta-regression was performed to examine the association between healthcare resources and heatwave-mortality risk. Findings: A total of 310,363 deaths were analyzed in 74 districts. The lag-cumulative heatwave-related mortality (RRs) ranged from 1.12 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.07, 1.17) to 1.21 (95% CI 1.05, 1.38), depending on the definitions used for heatwaves. Of the three PCs for healthcare resources (PC1: pre-hospital emergency medical service, PC2: hospital resources, PC3: timely access), timely access was associated with reduced risk of heatwave-related mortality, particularly among the elderly. Specifically, timely access to any emergency room (ER) exhibited the strongest association with lower heatwave-related mortality. Interpretation: Our findings suggest that timely access to any ER is more effective in reducing heatwave-related mortality risk than access to higher-level healthcare facilities, especially among the elderly. Therefore, healthcare resource factors and ER accessibility should be prioritized when identifying vulnerable populations for heatwaves, along with known individual and socio-demographic factors. Funding: This work was supported by the Research Program funded by the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (2022-12-303), the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) grant funded by the Korean government (MSIT) (No. 2022R1A2C2092353) and the MD-PhD/Medical Scientist Training Program through the Korea Health Industry Development Institute (KHIDI), funded by the Ministry of Health & Welfare, Republic of Korea.

Comparative risk of incident and recurrent acute anterior uveitis across different biological agents in patients with ankylosing spondylitis.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the comparative risk of incident and recurrent acute anterior uveitis (AAU) across different biological disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (bDMARDs) in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS). METHODS: A retrospective nationwide cohort study was conducted on 34 621 patients with AS without a previous history of AAU using a national claims database. Patients were followed-up from 2010 to 2021. The comparative risk of incident and recurrent AAU across different bDMARDs was examined using multivariable time-dependent Cox models and counting process (AG) models, respectively. RESULTS: The adjusted hazard ratios (aHRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for incident AAU (bDMARDs non-exposure as reference) were: adalimumab 0.674 (0.581-0.891), etanercept 1.760 (1.540-2.012), golimumab 0.771 (0.620-0.959), infliximab 0.891 (0.741-1.071), and secukinumab 1.324 (0.794-2.209). Compared with adalimumab exposure, etanercept (aHR = 2.553 [2.114-3.083]), infliximab (aHR = 1.303 [1.039-1.634]), and secukinumab exposures (aHR = 2.173 [1.273-3.710]) showed a higher risk of incident AAU. The aHRs and 95% CIs for recurrent AAU (bDMARDs non-exposure as reference) were: adalimumab 0.798 (0.659-0.968), etanercept 1.416 (1.185-1.693), golimumab 0.874 (0.645-1.185), infliximab 0.926 (0.729-1.177), and secukinumab 1.257 (0.670-2.359). Compared with adalimumab exposure, etanercept exposure (aHR = 1.793 [1.403-2.292]) was associated with a higher risk of recurrent AAU. CONCLUSION: Our data suggest preference for bDMARDs in the following order: adalimumab/golimumab > infliximab > secukinumab > etanercept (for incident AAU prevention) and adalimumab > golimumab/infliximab/secukinumab > etanercept (for recurrent AAU prevention).

Comparison of Remimazolam versus Sevoflurane on the Postoperative Quality of Recovery in Cervical Spine Surgery: A Prospective Randomized Controlled Double-Blind Trial.

Purpose: Remimazolam is a newly developed ultra-short-acting benzodiazepine. We compared overall functional recovery, including the postoperative Quality of Recovery-15 (QoR-15) questionnaire scores, between balanced inhalational anesthesia using sevoflurane and total intravenous anesthesia (TIVA) with remimazolam in patients undergoing anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF). Patients and Methods: Seventy-two patients were randomized to the remimazolam (group R) or sevoflurane (group S) group. The primary outcome was the total QoR-15 score on postoperative day (POD) 1. We also assessed the total QoR-15 score on POD2, sub-scores of the QoR-15, perioperative parameters, and postoperative recovery profiles. Group-time interaction effects on the QoR-15 and its sub-scores were analyzed using a linear mixed model. Results: The total QoR-15 score on POD1 (120.2 in group R vs 114.3 in group S, P=0.189) was not statistically different between the groups. There were no significant group-time interaction effects on total QoR-15 scores. Instead, patients in group R showed significantly better sub-scores in psychological and postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) items on POD1, as well as a lower degree of PONV, than those in group S. Among the five dimensions of the QoR-15, a significant group-time interaction effect was observed for psychological support. Group R showed significantly less changeability in blood pressure and heart rate with a lower dose of intraoperatively administered vasopressor than group S. Conclusion: Considering QoR-15, including PONV reduction, and intraoperative hemodynamic stability, remimazolam can be used as the novel and safe anesthetic agent for maintaining general anesthesia instead of sevoflurane in patients undergoing ACDF.

Fluctuating risk of acute kidney injury-related mortality for four weeks after exposure to air pollution: A multi-country time-series study in 6 countries.

BACKGROUND: Recent studies have reported that air pollution is related to kidney diseases. However, the global evidence on the risk of death from acute kidney injury (AKI) owing to air pollution is limited. Therefore, we investigated the association between short-term exposure to air pollution-particulate matter ≤ 2.5 µm (PM2.5), ozone (O3), and nitrogen dioxide (NO2)-and AKI-related mortality using a multi-country dataset. METHODS: This study included 41,379 AKI-related deaths in 136 locations in six countries during 1987-2018. A novel case time-series design was applied to each air pollutant during 0-28 lag days to estimate the association between air pollution and AKI-related deaths. Moreover, we calculated AKI deaths attributable to non-compliance with the World Health Organization (WHO) air quality guidelines. RESULTS: The relative risks (95% confidence interval) of AKI-related deaths are 1.052 (1.003, 1.103), 1.022 (0.994, 1.050), and 1.022 (0.982, 1.063) for 5, 10, and 10 µg/m3 increase in lag 0-28 days of PM2.5, warm-season O3, and NO2, respectively. The lag-distributed association showed that the risk appeared immediately on the day of exposure to air pollution, gradually decreased, and then increased again reaching the peak approximately 20 days after exposure to PM2.5 and O3. We also found that 1.9%, 6.3%, and 5.2% of AKI deaths were attributed to PM2.5, warm-season O3, and NO2 concentrations above the WHO guidelines. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides evidence that public health policies to reduce air pollution may alleviate the burden of death from AKI and suggests the need to investigate the several pathways between air pollution and AKI death.

Association Between Decreased Renal Function and Pulmonary Function Decline in Community-dwelling Adults.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Emerging evidence suggests that there is a close relationship between the human lung and kidney. This study evaluated whether decreased renal function was associated with accelerated pulmonary function decline in a large-scale community-based cohort. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 10,028 subjects of the prospective Ansung-Ansan cohort were eligible for the longitudinal analysis of changes in pulmonary function associated with decreased renal function (glomerular filtration rate <60 ml/min/1.73 m2). Logistic regression analysis was performed to evaluate factors associated with decreased baseline renal function, and a linear mixed model compared changes in pulmonary function in participants with and without decreased renal function after propensity score matching (PSM). RESULTS: At baseline, subjects with and without decreased renal function showed distinct characteristics, and the factors associated with decreased renal function were age, baseline forced vital capacity, hypertension, and white blood cell (WBC) count. A 1:4 PSM of age, sex, body mass index, and smoking status showed that the proportion of those with hypertension and the WBC count differed between the patients with decreased and normal renal function. In the PSM population, those with decreased renal function had a greater decline in forced expiratory volume in the first second (FEV1) than those without (p=0.0402); however, these differences were not found to be evident when hypertension and WBC count were further matched (p=0.0807). CONCLUSION: The results of our study demonstrated that decreased renal function was not directly associated with the rapid decline in pulmonary function in a community-based general population setting.

A prospective, randomized, open-label, parallel trial comparing the efficacy of α-blocker or 5α-reductase inhibitor withdrawal to continued combination therapy on the maintenance of lower urinary tract symptoms in men with benign prostatic hyperplasia.

BACKGROUND: It is uncertain how long combination therapy should be continued in patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS). We investigated the withdrawal effects of α1-adrenergic receptor blocker (AB) or 5α-reductase inhibitor (5ARI) following successful combination therapy. METHODS: This prospective, randomized, open-label, parallel trial enrolled 222 patients with BPH/LUTS who showed at least a seven-point improvement in International Prostate Symptom Score-total (IPSS-T) and a ≥ 20% reduction in prostate volume (PV) following the initiation of combination therapy. Patients were randomized in a 1:1:1 ratio into continued-combination, AB-withdrawal, and 5ARI-withdrawal groups. IPSS, overactive bladder symptom score, EuroQol-five-dimensional questionnaire (EQ-5D-5L), EuroQol-visual analog scale (EQ-VAS), prostate volume (PV), maximal flow rate, postvoid residual urine (PVR), and prostate-specific antigen level were assessed every 6 months for 24 months. The predictors of IPSS-T deterioration were evaluated. RESULTS: At Month 24, IPSS-T deterioration (≥2 point) was observed in 20/72 (27.8%) and 19/72 (26.4%) patients in the AB- and 5ARI-withdrawal groups, respectively. Among them, 4/72 (5.6%) and 4/70 (5.7%) patients required readdition of the withdrawn drug (p = 0.868). In the continued combination group, EQ-VAS improved at Month 24 compared to baseline (p = 0.028). At Month 24, the AB-withdrawal group showed improvements in EQ-5D-5L, EQ-VAS, and PVR (all p < 0.005), while the 5ARI-withdrawal group showed improvement in IPSS-S (p = 0.011). Diabetes mellitus was associated with IPSS-T deterioration at Month 24 (p = 0.020). CONCLUSIONS: In patients with BPH/LUTS who are reluctant to continue combination therapy, AB or 5ARI withdrawal may be offered in men with improvement in IPSS-T by at least seven points and reduction in PV by at least 20%.

Feasibility and limitations of deep learning-based coronary calcium scoring in PET-CT: a comparison with coronary calcium score CT.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to determine the feasibility and limitations of deep learning-based coronary calcium scoring using positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET-CT) in comparison with coronary calcium scoring using ECG-gated non-contrast-enhanced cardiac computed tomography (CaCT). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 215 individuals who underwent both CaCT and PET-CT were enrolled in this retrospective study. The Agatston method was used to calculate the coronary artery calcium scores (CACS) from CaCT, PET-CT(reader), and PET-CT(AI) to analyse the effect of using different modalities and AI-based software on CACS measurement. The total CACS and CACS classified according to the CAC-DRS guidelines were compared between the three sets of CACS. The differences, correlation coefficients, intraclass coefficients (ICC), and concordance rates were analysed. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05. RESULTS: The correlation coefficient of the total CACS from CaCT and PET-CT(reader) was 0.837, PET-CT(reader) and PET-CT(AI) was 0.894, and CaCT and PET-CT(AI) was 0.768. The ICC of CACS from CaCT and PET-CT(reader) was 0.911, PET-CT(reader) and PET-CT(AI) was 0.958, and CaCT and PET-CT(AI) was 0.842. The concordance rate between CaCT and PET-CT(AI) was 73.8%, with a false-negative rate of 37.3% and a false-positive rate of 4.4%. Age and male sex were associated with an increased misclassification rate. CONCLUSIONS: Artificial intelligence-assisted CACS measurements in PET-CT showed comparable results to CACS in coronary calcium CT. However, the relatively high false-negative results and tendency to underestimate should be of concern. CLINICAL RELEVANCE STATEMENT: Application of automated calcium scoring to PET-CT studies could potentially select patients at high risk of coronary artery disease from among cancer patients known to be susceptible to coronary artery disease and undergoing routine PET-CT scans. KEY POINTS: • Cancer patients are susceptible to coronary disease, and PET-CT could be potentially used to calculate coronary artery calcium score (CACS). • Calcium scoring using artificial intelligence in PET-CT automatically provides CACS with high ICC to CACS in coronary calcium CT. • However, underestimation and false negatives of CACS calculation in PET-CT should be considered.

Parental metabolic syndrome and elevated liver transaminases are risk factors for offspring, even in children and adolescents with a normal body mass index.

Introduction: The parent-child correlation in metabolic syndrome (MetS) and elevated transaminases is sparsely researched. We assessed the correlation of parental MetS and elevated transaminase status with these conditions in their children. Methods: Data of 4,167 youths aged 10-18 years were analyzed in a population-based survey, and the parental characteristics were stratified by the presence or absence of MetS or alanine aminotransferase (ALT) elevation in their children. The prevalence of these conditions in children was analyzed according to their parents' status. Logistic regression analyses were performed with MetS and ALT elevation in youth as the dependent variables. Results: The proportions of MetS and ALT elevation were higher in parents of children with MetS and ALT elevation than in those without, even among youths without obesity. In logistic regression analyses, age, body mass index-standard deviation score (BMI-SDS), and ALT elevation were positively associated with MetS, whereas age, male sex, BMI-SDS, protein intake, and MetS were positively associated with ALT elevation. Higher protein intake was related to ALT elevation, whereas metabolic components and nutritional factors were closely related in parents and their children. Odds ratios (OR) of ALT elevation for MetS was 8.96 even after adjusting nutritional factors in the children. The OR was higher for ALT elevation in the children of parents with MetS and ALT elevation compared to those without. ORs for MetS and ALT elevation in the children of parents with MetS were higher than those of children of parents without MetS, even after adjusting for nutritional intake. ORs for ALT elevation were higher in the children of parents with ALT elevation than those without, even after adjusting for nutritional intake and BMI of parents as well as the nutritional intake, age, sex, and BMI-SDS of the children. Conclusion: MetS and elevated liver transaminase statuses in children were associated with those of their parents even after adjusting for nutritional factors, and the relationships were more prominent in the youth without obesity.

Prediction of Prognosis in Pancreatic Cancer According to Methionyl-tRNA Synthetase 1 Expression as Determined by Immunohistochemical Staining.

The serum level of CA 19-9 is a prognostic marker for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). We evaluated the ability of the expression level of methionyl-tRNA synthetase 1 (MARS1)-which facilitates cancer growth by modulating protein synthesis and the cell cycle-to predict the prognosis of PDAC. Immunohistochemical (IHC) staining was performed on pancreatic specimens obtained from patients with PDAC who were undergoing surgery. High MARS1 expression was defined as equal to, or greater than, that in normal acinar cells. Low MARS1 expression was defined as weaker than in normal acinar cells, and stronger than in the pancreatic duct epithelium. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed on other factors related to prognosis. Among 137 PDAC patients, no significant differences in baseline characteristics were found between those with high (n = 82) and low (n = 55) MARS1 expression. The median overall survival time of patients with high MARS1 expression was shorter than that of those with low expression (15.2 versus 17.2 months, log-rank test p = 0.044). The median disease-free survival (DFS) was not significantly different between the two groups. However, the DFS was shorter in patients with high than in those with low MARS1 expression (8.9 versus 11.2 months, log-rank test p = 0.067). In a multivariate analysis, lymph node metastasis and high MARS1 expression were associated with a poor prognosis of PDAC. Elevated MARS1 expression detected by IHC staining is associated with a poor prognosis of PDAC, suggesting that MARS1 has potential as a prognostic marker.

Impact of Nonpharmacological Interventions on Severe Acute Respiratory Infections in Children: From the National Surveillance Database.

BACKGROUND: Nonpharmacological interventions (NPIs) reduce the incidence of respiratory infections. After NPIs imposed during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic ceased, respiratory infections gradually increased worldwide. However, few studies have been conducted on severe respiratory infections requiring hospitalization in pediatric patients. This study compares epidemiological changes in severe respiratory infections during pre-NPI, NPI, and post-NPI periods in order to evaluate the effect of that NPI on severe respiratory infections in children. METHODS: We retrospectively studied data collected at 13 Korean sentinel sites from January 2018 to October 2022 that were lodged in the national Severe Acute Respiratory Infections (SARIs) surveillance database. RESULTS: A total of 9,631 pediatric patients were admitted with SARIs during the pre-NPI period, 579 during the NPI period, and 1,580 during the post-NPI period. During the NPI period, the number of pediatric patients hospitalized with severe respiratory infections decreased dramatically, thus from 72.1 per 1,000 to 6.6 per 1,000. However, after NPIs ceased, the number increased to 22.8 per 1,000. During the post-NPI period, the positive test rate increased to the level noted before the pandemic. CONCLUSION: Strict NPIs including school and daycare center closures effectively reduced severe respiratory infections requiring hospitalization of children. However, childcare was severely compromised. To prepare for future respiratory infections, there is a need to develop a social consensus on NPIs that are appropriate for children.

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Statistical analysis is an essential component of the medical writing process for research-related articles. Although the importance of statistical testing is emphasized, statistical mistakes continue to appear in journal articles. Major statistical mistakes can occur in any of the three different stages of medical writing, including in the design stage, analysis stage, and interpretation stage. In the design stage, mistakes occur if there is a lack of specificity regarding the research hypothesis or data collection and analysis plans. Discrepancies in the analysis stage occur if the purpose of the study and characteristics of the data are not sufficiently considered, or when an inappropriate analytic procedure is followed. After performing the analysis, the results are interpreted, and an article is written. Statistical analysis mistakes can occur if the underlying methods are incorrectly written or if the results are misinterpreted. In this paper, we describe the statistical mistakes that commonly occur in medical research-related articles and provide advice with the aim to help readers reduce, resolve, and avoid these mistakes in the future.

Characteristics of Teenagers Presenting with Chest Pain after COVID-19 mRNA Vaccination.

In this study, we evaluated the clinical and radiological manifestations of teenagers presenting with chest pain after coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccination. We retrospectively enrolled 61 teenage patients, aged 13 to 19 years, who underwent echocardiography and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) for chest pain after COVID-19 mRNA vaccination, from November 2021 to April 2022. Medical records, laboratory results, echocardiographic, and CMR findings were analyzed. The mean age of the participants was 14.4 ± 1.9 years, with a male:female ratio of 28:33. Among the sixty-one patients with chest pain after COVID-19 vaccination, only two (3.3%) were diagnosed as confirmed myocarditis, and almost all of them recovered with conservative treatments. However, on CMR, 24 (39.3%) presented with mild myocardial abnormalities; 22 (36.1%) showed myocardial edema, and 19 (31.1%) were found to have a myocardial injury. Multivariate logistic analyses revealed that older age and female sex were significantly associated with myocardial abnormalities. In teenagers who present with chest pain after COVID-19 mRNA vaccination, confirmed myocarditis is uncommon. However, myocardial abnormalities on CMR might occur frequently, and females in their late teens might be more vulnerable to myocardial abnormalities.