Background: and Purpose The National Brain Biobank of Korea (NBBK) is a brain bank consortium supported by the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency and the Korea National Institute of Health, and was launched in 2015 to support research into neurodegenerative disease dementia (NDD). This study aimed to introduce the NBBK and describes clinicopathological correlations based on analyses of data collected from the NBBK. Methods: Four hospital-based brain banks have been established in South Korea: Samsung Medical Center Brain Bank (SMCBB), Seoul National University Hospital Brain Bank (SNUHBB), Pusan National University Hospital Brain Bank (PNUHBB), and Myongji Hospital Brain Bank (MJHBB). Clinical and pathological data were collected from these brain banks using standardized protocols. The prevalence rates of clinical and pathological diagnoses were analyzed in order to characterize the clinicopathological correlations. Results: Between August 2016 and December 2023, 185 brain specimens were collected and pathologically evaluated (SNUHBB: 117; PNUHBB: 27; SMCBB: 34; MJHBB: 7). The age at consent was 70.8±12.6 years, and the age at autopsy was 71.7±12.4 years. The four-most-common clinical diagnoses were Alzheimer’s disease (AD) dementia (20.0%), idiopathic Parkinson’s disease (15.1%), unspecified dementia (11.9%), and cognitively unimpaired (CU) (11.4%).Most cases of unspecified dementia had a pathological diagnosis of central nervous system (CNS) vasculopathy (31.8%) or AD (31.8%). Remarkably, only 14.2% of CU cases had normal pathological findings. The three-most-common pathological diagnoses were AD (26.5%), CNS vasculopathy (14.1%), and Lewy body disease (13.5%). Conclusions These clinical and neuropathological findings provide a deeper understanding of the mechanisms underlying NDD in South Korea.

Background: and Purpose The National Brain Biobank of Korea (NBBK) is a brain bank consortium supported by the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency and the Korea National Institute of Health, and was launched in 2015 to support research into neurodegenerative disease dementia (NDD). This study aimed to introduce the NBBK and describes clinicopathological correlations based on analyses of data collected from the NBBK. Methods: Four hospital-based brain banks have been established in South Korea: Samsung Medical Center Brain Bank (SMCBB), Seoul National University Hospital Brain Bank (SNUHBB), Pusan National University Hospital Brain Bank (PNUHBB), and Myongji Hospital Brain Bank (MJHBB). Clinical and pathological data were collected from these brain banks using standardized protocols. The prevalence rates of clinical and pathological diagnoses were analyzed in order to characterize the clinicopathological correlations. Results: Between August 2016 and December 2023, 185 brain specimens were collected and pathologically evaluated (SNUHBB: 117; PNUHBB: 27; SMCBB: 34; MJHBB: 7). The age at consent was 70.8±12.6 years, and the age at autopsy was 71.7±12.4 years. The four-most-common clinical diagnoses were Alzheimer’s disease (AD) dementia (20.0%), idiopathic Parkinson’s disease (15.1%), unspecified dementia (11.9%), and cognitively unimpaired (CU) (11.4%).Most cases of unspecified dementia had a pathological diagnosis of central nervous system (CNS) vasculopathy (31.8%) or AD (31.8%). Remarkably, only 14.2% of CU cases had normal pathological findings. The three-most-common pathological diagnoses were AD (26.5%), CNS vasculopathy (14.1%), and Lewy body disease (13.5%). Conclusions These clinical and neuropathological findings provide a deeper understanding of the mechanisms underlying NDD in South Korea.

Background: and Purpose The National Brain Biobank of Korea (NBBK) is a brain bank consortium supported by the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency and the Korea National Institute of Health, and was launched in 2015 to support research into neurodegenerative disease dementia (NDD). This study aimed to introduce the NBBK and describes clinicopathological correlations based on analyses of data collected from the NBBK. Methods: Four hospital-based brain banks have been established in South Korea: Samsung Medical Center Brain Bank (SMCBB), Seoul National University Hospital Brain Bank (SNUHBB), Pusan National University Hospital Brain Bank (PNUHBB), and Myongji Hospital Brain Bank (MJHBB). Clinical and pathological data were collected from these brain banks using standardized protocols. The prevalence rates of clinical and pathological diagnoses were analyzed in order to characterize the clinicopathological correlations. Results: Between August 2016 and December 2023, 185 brain specimens were collected and pathologically evaluated (SNUHBB: 117; PNUHBB: 27; SMCBB: 34; MJHBB: 7). The age at consent was 70.8±12.6 years, and the age at autopsy was 71.7±12.4 years. The four-most-common clinical diagnoses were Alzheimer’s disease (AD) dementia (20.0%), idiopathic Parkinson’s disease (15.1%), unspecified dementia (11.9%), and cognitively unimpaired (CU) (11.4%).Most cases of unspecified dementia had a pathological diagnosis of central nervous system (CNS) vasculopathy (31.8%) or AD (31.8%). Remarkably, only 14.2% of CU cases had normal pathological findings. The three-most-common pathological diagnoses were AD (26.5%), CNS vasculopathy (14.1%), and Lewy body disease (13.5%). Conclusions These clinical and neuropathological findings provide a deeper understanding of the mechanisms underlying NDD in South Korea.

Purpose: Right-sided tumors have been reported to have a poorer survival rate than left-sided tumors; however, there remains debate regarding whether sidedness is an independent prognostic factor in colorectal cancer liver metastasis (CRLM). This study aimed to assess the impact of sidedness on prognosis in resectable CRLM and to identify prognostic factors. Methods: Patients who underwent liver resection for CRLM at Samsung Medical Center from January 2008 to December 2021 were included in the investigation. Overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) were analyzed, and prognostic factors were identified. Results: A total of 497 patients were included in the study, with 106 on the right side and 391 on the left side. The rightsided group had a higher percentage of synchronous tumors (90.6% vs. 80.3%, P = 0.020). In survival analysis, the right side showed lower 5-year OS (49.7% vs. 54.2, P = 0.305) and 5-year PFS (57.1% vs. 60.2%, P = 0.271), but the differences were not statistically significant. In the analysis of prognostic factors, synchronous tumor (odds ratio [OR], 5.01; P < 0.001), CEA (OR, 1.46; P = 0.016), and maximum tumor size of hepatic metastasis (OR, 1.09; P = 0.026) were associated with OS. Conclusion In resectable CRLM, there was no difference in prognosis based on sidedness. CEA level, synchronous tumor, and maximum tumor size of hepatic metastasis were identified as prognostic factors.

Purpose: Right-sided tumors have been reported to have a poorer survival rate than left-sided tumors; however, there remains debate regarding whether sidedness is an independent prognostic factor in colorectal cancer liver metastasis (CRLM). This study aimed to assess the impact of sidedness on prognosis in resectable CRLM and to identify prognostic factors. Methods: Patients who underwent liver resection for CRLM at Samsung Medical Center from January 2008 to December 2021 were included in the investigation. Overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) were analyzed, and prognostic factors were identified. Results: A total of 497 patients were included in the study, with 106 on the right side and 391 on the left side. The rightsided group had a higher percentage of synchronous tumors (90.6% vs. 80.3%, P = 0.020). In survival analysis, the right side showed lower 5-year OS (49.7% vs. 54.2, P = 0.305) and 5-year PFS (57.1% vs. 60.2%, P = 0.271), but the differences were not statistically significant. In the analysis of prognostic factors, synchronous tumor (odds ratio [OR], 5.01; P < 0.001), CEA (OR, 1.46; P = 0.016), and maximum tumor size of hepatic metastasis (OR, 1.09; P = 0.026) were associated with OS. Conclusion In resectable CRLM, there was no difference in prognosis based on sidedness. CEA level, synchronous tumor, and maximum tumor size of hepatic metastasis were identified as prognostic factors.

Objective: This study evaluated the accuracy of the pre-hospital shock index multiplied by the AVPU scale (PSIAVPU) as a predictor of massive transfusion (MT) and traumatic coagulopathy. Methods: This research was a retrospective single-center study that included patients consecutively presenting to a trauma center between 2017 and 2020. The predictive value of the PSIAVPU for MT, in-hospital mortality, and traumatic coagulopathy was measured using the area under the curve (AUC) of the receiver operating characteristic curve. The AUC of the PSIAVPU was compared with the Reverse Shock Index multiplied by the Glasgow Coma Scale (rSIG) measured at the trauma center presentation. Results: One thousand seven hundred and ninety-two patients were included, of which 163 patients (9.09%) received MT and 195 patients (10.88%) died during their hospital stay. Traumatic coagulopathy was observed in 245 patients. The AUC values for the PSIAVPU in terms of predicting MT, hospital mortality, and traumatic coagulopathy were 0.755, 0.752, and 0.736, respectively. Conclusion In patients with trauma, the predictive power of the PSIAVPU was higher than that of the prehospital shock index and was comparable to that of the rSIG. The PSIAVPU is a useful indicator that can be used easily and quickly for trauma patients at the prehospital stage.

Purpose: Right-sided tumors have been reported to have a poorer survival rate than left-sided tumors; however, there remains debate regarding whether sidedness is an independent prognostic factor in colorectal cancer liver metastasis (CRLM). This study aimed to assess the impact of sidedness on prognosis in resectable CRLM and to identify prognostic factors. Methods: Patients who underwent liver resection for CRLM at Samsung Medical Center from January 2008 to December 2021 were included in the investigation. Overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) were analyzed, and prognostic factors were identified. Results: A total of 497 patients were included in the study, with 106 on the right side and 391 on the left side. The rightsided group had a higher percentage of synchronous tumors (90.6% vs. 80.3%, P = 0.020). In survival analysis, the right side showed lower 5-year OS (49.7% vs. 54.2, P = 0.305) and 5-year PFS (57.1% vs. 60.2%, P = 0.271), but the differences were not statistically significant. In the analysis of prognostic factors, synchronous tumor (odds ratio [OR], 5.01; P < 0.001), CEA (OR, 1.46; P = 0.016), and maximum tumor size of hepatic metastasis (OR, 1.09; P = 0.026) were associated with OS. Conclusion In resectable CRLM, there was no difference in prognosis based on sidedness. CEA level, synchronous tumor, and maximum tumor size of hepatic metastasis were identified as prognostic factors.

Background: Limited data are available on the mortality rates of patients receiving extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) support for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). We aimed to analyze the relationship between COVID-19 and clinical outcomes for patients receiving ECMO. Methods: We retrospectively investigated patients with COVID-19 pneumonia requiring ECMO in 19 hospitals across Korea from January 1, 2020 to August 31, 2021. The primary outcome was the 90-day mortality after ECMO initiation. We performed multivariate analysis using a logistic regression model to estimate the odds ratio (OR) of 90-day mortality. Survival differences were analyzed using the Kaplan–Meier (KM) method. Results: Of 127 patients with COVID-19 pneumonia who received ECMO, 70 patients (55.1%) died within 90 days of ECMO initiation. The median age was 64 years, and 63% of patients were male. The incidence of ECMO was increased with age but was decreased after 70 years of age. However, the survival rate was decreased linearly with age. In multivariate analysis, age (OR, 1.048; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.010–1.089; P = 0.014) and receipt of continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) (OR, 3.069; 95% CI, 1.312–7.180; P = 0.010) were significantly associated with an increased risk of 90-day mortality. KM curves showed significant differences in survival between groups according to age (65 years) (log-rank P = 0.021) and receipt of CRRT (log-rank P = 0.004). Conclusion Older age and receipt of CRRT were associated with higher mortality rates among patients with COVID-19 who received ECMO.

Purpose: We aimed to determine the trends in the use of radiotherapy (RT) and the expenses associated with it in South Korea. Materials and Methods: The statistical data of the claims and reimbursement records provided on the Health and Insurance Review and Assessment Service website were utilized. This included information such as the number of patients, fractions, medical expenses according to treatment codes, in/outpatient, sex, age, and regions of hospitals. We analyzed data from 2016 to 2020. Results: With a growing RT infrastructure and an increase in the number of radiation oncologists, the expenses for RT were 605.5 million USD in 2020, which had increased 1.5 times from 394.7 million USD in 2016. This growth was mainly because of the increased usage of advanced RT techniques. Furthermore, the proportion of intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) expenses in the total expenses increased by 1.6 times from 48.8% in 2016 to 76.9% in 2020. Advanced techniques were used more commonly in older individuals or children. However, the proportion of IMRT expenses increased mostly in young women. Additionally, geographical differences in RT use and expense were observed, although the gap in the IMRT fractions decreased among the regions. Conclusion Recent medical expenses associated with RT in Korea have increased in tandem with technological advances and changes in demographics.

Background: Eosinophilic cellulitis, also known as Wells’ syndrome, is an uncommon skin disease characterized by recurrent pruritic polymorphous plaques or nodules. There is limited knowledge in the Korean literature regarding the clinical characteristics and course of eosinophilic cellulitis. Objective: To investigate the clinical and histological features of eosinophilic cellulitis in Korean patients. Methods: In this case series study, we retrospectively reviewed the electronic medical records of patients diagnosed with eosinophilic cellulitis at our institutions from 2004 to 2022. We also analyzed the literature published in dermatology and internal medicine journals in Korea. Results: A total of 17 patients were included in this study (age, 39.4±21.8 years; 12 male [70.6%]), with an average disease duration of 4.4 months. We identified six clinical variants, with the typical plaque type being the most common (33.3%), followed by the papulonodular type (22.2%). Eosinophilia was observed in 78.6% of patients, and a flame figure, which is a typical histopathological feature of eosinophilic cellulitis, was observed in 52.9% of patients. Systemic and topical steroids and antihistamines were used as first-line treatment with generally favorable results (82.4%), followed by antibiotics (35.3%), cyclosporine (23.5%), and topical calcineurin inhibitors (23.5%).The recurrence rate during the mean follow-up period of 21.8 months was 29.4%. Conclusion Eosinophilic cellulitis can present with various clinical manifestations, and flame figures do not appear in all cases; therefore, clinical and histological correlations are critical for accurate diagnosis of patients with eosinophilic cellulitis.