Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women worldwide, and its early detection is critical for improving survival outcomes. As a diagnostic and screening tool, mammography can be less effective owing to the masking effect of fibroglandular tissue, but breast US has good sensitivity even in dense breasts. However, breast US is highly operator dependent, highlighting the need for artificial intelligence (AI)-driven solutions. Unlike other modalities, US is performed using a handheld device that produces a continuous real-time video stream, yielding 12000–48000 frames per examination. This can be significantly challenging for AI development and requires real-time AI inference capabilities. In this review, we classified AI solutions as computer-aided diagnosis and computer-aided detection to facilitate a functional understanding and review commercial software supported by clinical evidence.In addition, to bridge healthcare gaps and enhance patient outcomes in geographically under resourced areas, we propose a novel framework by reviewing the existing AI-based triage workflows including mobile ultrasound.

Ketone bodies produced by sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors can be advantageous, providing an efficient and stable energy source for the brain and muscles. However, in patients with diabetes, ketogenesis induced by SGLT2 inhibitors may be harmful, potentially resulting in severe diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA). During fasting, ketone body production serves as an alternative and efficient energy source for the brain by utilizing stored fat, promoting mental clarity, and reducing dependence on glucose. The concurrent use of SGLT2 inhibitors during perioperative fasting may further elevate the risk of euglycemic DKA. We describe a case of DKA that occurred during perioperative fasting in a patient receiving empagliflozin, an SGLT2 inhibitor. This case underscores the importance of recognizing the potential risk of DKA in patients with diabetes using SGLT2 inhibitors during perioperative fasting.

In forensic science, age estimation is essential for identifying both living and deceased individuals. Teeth and jawbones serve as reliable indicators due to their gradual age-related changes and resistance to environmental factors. Among the various methods, attrition and pulp cavity size are commonly used to estimate adult age. This study aimed to enhance the accuracy of age estimation in Korean adults by combining measurements of tooth attrition and pulp cavity size obtained from panoramic radiographs of mandibular first molars. We evaluated 118 patients (62 male, 56 female) who visited Pusan National University Dental Hospital between 2010 and 2024. Radiographs and clinical photographs were analyzed for grade C teeth with exposed dentin using Takei’s method, and the pulp chamber height ratio (PCHR) and width ratio (PCWR) were measured using Jeon’s method. Intraobserver reliability was high (intraclass correlation coefficient>0.6), with no significant sex-based differences in PCHR and PCWR. Both ratios negatively correlated with age, with PCWR showing a stronger correlation, particularly in females (r=–0.606). This study derived an improved age estimation formula with R² values ranging from 0.540 to 0.546 when both PCHR and PCWR were combined. Despite the limitations of this study, such as its small sample size and reliance on panoramic radiographs, the findings suggest that combining tooth wear and pulp cavity size offers a more robust tool for age estimation in clinical and forensic settings.

Purpose: This study aims to confirm the degree of stress perceived by medical students in Korea and to study the difference between the methods used to relieve stress. In addition, this study evaluates the stress relief methods medical students believe are effective. Methods: The subjects of the study were 147 students of a medical school in Korea who voluntarily participated in an online survey. The degree of stress perceived by medical students in Korea was confirmed, and the differences between the methods used to relieve stress were analyzed, along with the effective stress relief methods considered by the students themselves. Results: There was no difference found in the degree of stress experienced by medical students based on their year in school and gender. The most commonly reported method to relieve stress was sleep, and it was found that this method provided the highest degree of stress relief. Conclusion As stress has been consistently reported as an issue among medical students, tackling stress among medical students should not be handled solely at the individual level.

Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is a minimally invasive treatment modality used as an alternative to surgery in patients with benign thyroid nodules, recurrent thyroid cancers (RTCs), and primary thyroid microcarcinomas. The Korean Society of Thyroid Radiology (KSThR) initially developed recommendations for the optimal use of RFA for thyroid tumors in 2009 and revised them in 2012 and 2017. As new meaningful evidence has accumulated since 2017 and in response to a growing global interest in the use of RFA for treating malignant thyroid lesions, the task force committee members of the KSThR decided to update the guidelines on the use of RFA for the management of RTCs based on a comprehensive analysis of current literature and expert consensus.

Ketone bodies produced by sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors can be advantageous, providing an efficient and stable energy source for the brain and muscles. However, in patients with diabetes, ketogenesis induced by SGLT2 inhibitors may be harmful, potentially resulting in severe diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA). During fasting, ketone body production serves as an alternative and efficient energy source for the brain by utilizing stored fat, promoting mental clarity, and reducing dependence on glucose. The concurrent use of SGLT2 inhibitors during perioperative fasting may further elevate the risk of euglycemic DKA. We describe a case of DKA that occurred during perioperative fasting in a patient receiving empagliflozin, an SGLT2 inhibitor. This case underscores the importance of recognizing the potential risk of DKA in patients with diabetes using SGLT2 inhibitors during perioperative fasting.

In forensic science, age estimation is essential for identifying both living and deceased individuals. Teeth and jawbones serve as reliable indicators due to their gradual age-related changes and resistance to environmental factors. Among the various methods, attrition and pulp cavity size are commonly used to estimate adult age. This study aimed to enhance the accuracy of age estimation in Korean adults by combining measurements of tooth attrition and pulp cavity size obtained from panoramic radiographs of mandibular first molars. We evaluated 118 patients (62 male, 56 female) who visited Pusan National University Dental Hospital between 2010 and 2024. Radiographs and clinical photographs were analyzed for grade C teeth with exposed dentin using Takei’s method, and the pulp chamber height ratio (PCHR) and width ratio (PCWR) were measured using Jeon’s method. Intraobserver reliability was high (intraclass correlation coefficient>0.6), with no significant sex-based differences in PCHR and PCWR. Both ratios negatively correlated with age, with PCWR showing a stronger correlation, particularly in females (r=–0.606). This study derived an improved age estimation formula with R² values ranging from 0.540 to 0.546 when both PCHR and PCWR were combined. Despite the limitations of this study, such as its small sample size and reliance on panoramic radiographs, the findings suggest that combining tooth wear and pulp cavity size offers a more robust tool for age estimation in clinical and forensic settings.

Purpose: This study aims to confirm the degree of stress perceived by medical students in Korea and to study the difference between the methods used to relieve stress. In addition, this study evaluates the stress relief methods medical students believe are effective. Methods: The subjects of the study were 147 students of a medical school in Korea who voluntarily participated in an online survey. The degree of stress perceived by medical students in Korea was confirmed, and the differences between the methods used to relieve stress were analyzed, along with the effective stress relief methods considered by the students themselves. Results: There was no difference found in the degree of stress experienced by medical students based on their year in school and gender. The most commonly reported method to relieve stress was sleep, and it was found that this method provided the highest degree of stress relief. Conclusion As stress has been consistently reported as an issue among medical students, tackling stress among medical students should not be handled solely at the individual level.

Background: The World Health Organization has declared the end of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) public health emergency. However, this did not indicate the end of COVID-19. Several months after the infection, numerous patients complain of respiratory or nonspecific symptoms; this condition is called long COVID. Even patients with mild COVID-19 can experience long COVID, thus the burden of long COVID remains considerable. Therefore, we conducted this study to comprehensively analyze the effects of long COVID using multi-faceted assessments. Materials and Methods: We conducted a prospective cohort study involving patients diagnosed with COVID-19 between February 2020 and September 2021 in six tertiary hospitals in Korea. Patients were followed up at 1, 3, 6, 12, 18, and 24 months after discharge. Long COVID was defined as the persistence of three or more COVID-19-related symptoms. The primary outcome of this study was the prevalence of long COVID after the period of COVID-19. Results: During the study period, 290 patients were enrolled. Among them, 54.5 and 34.6% experienced long COVID within 6 months and after more than 18 months, respectively. Several patients showed abnormal results when tested for post-traumatic stress disorder (17.4%) and anxiety (31.9%) after 18 months. In patients who underwent follow-up chest computed tomography 18 months after COVID-19, abnormal findings remained at 51.9%. Males (odds ratio [OR], 0.17; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.05–0.53; P=0.004) and elderly (OR, 1.04; 95% CI, 1.00–1.09; P=0.04) showed a significant association with long COVID after 12–18 months in a multivariable logistic regression analysis. Conclusion Many patients still showed long COVID after 18 months post SARS-CoV-2 infection. When managing these patients, the assessment of multiple aspects is necessary.

Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women worldwide, and its early detection is critical for improving survival outcomes. As a diagnostic and screening tool, mammography can be less effective owing to the masking effect of fibroglandular tissue, but breast US has good sensitivity even in dense breasts. However, breast US is highly operator dependent, highlighting the need for artificial intelligence (AI)-driven solutions. Unlike other modalities, US is performed using a handheld device that produces a continuous real-time video stream, yielding 12000–48000 frames per examination. This can be significantly challenging for AI development and requires real-time AI inference capabilities. In this review, we classified AI solutions as computer-aided diagnosis and computer-aided detection to facilitate a functional understanding and review commercial software supported by clinical evidence.In addition, to bridge healthcare gaps and enhance patient outcomes in geographically under resourced areas, we propose a novel framework by reviewing the existing AI-based triage workflows including mobile ultrasound.