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.

Background: Korea recently established 70 emergency medical service areas. However, there are many concerns that medical resources for stroke could not be evenly distributed through the country. We aimed to compare the treatment quality and outcomes of acute stroke among the emergency medical service areas. Methods: This study analyzed the data of 28,800 patients admitted in 248 hospitals which participated in the 8th acute stroke quality assessment by Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service. Individual hospitals were regrouped into emergency service areas according to the address of the location. Assessment indicators and fatality were compared by the service areas. We defined the appropriate hospital by the performance of intravenous thrombolysis. Results: In seven service areas, there were no hospitals which received more than 10 stroke patients for 6 months. In nine service areas, there were no patients who underwent intravenous thrombolysis (IVT). Among 167 designated emergency medical centers, 50 hospitals (29.9%) responded that IVT was impossible 24 hours a day. There are 97 (39.1%) hospitals that meet the definitions of appropriate hospital. In 23 service areas (32.9%) had no appropriate or feasible hospitals. The fatality of service areas with stroke centers were 6.9% within 30 days and 15.6% within 1 year from stroke onset than those without stroke centers (7.7%, 16.9%, respectively). Conclusions There was a wide regional gap in the medical resource and the quality of treatments for acute stroke among emergency medical service areas in Korea. The poststroke fatality rate of the service areas which have stroke centers or appropriate hospitals were significantly low.

Background: Since the onset of the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, virtual simulation has emerged as an alternative to traditional teaching methods as it can be employed within the recently established contact-minimizing guidelines. This prospective education study aimed to develop a virtual reality simulator for a lumbar transforaminal epidural block (LTFEB) and demonstrate its efficacy. Methods: We developed a virtual reality simulator using patient image data processing, virtual X-ray generation, spatial registration, and virtual reality technology. For a realistic virtual environment, a procedure room, surgical table, C-arm, and monitor were created. Using the virtual C-arm, the X-ray images of the patient’s anatomy, the needle, and indicator were obtained in real-time. After the simulation, the trainees could receive feedback by adjusting the visibility of structures such as skin and bones. The training of LTFEB using the simulator was evaluated using 20 inexperienced trainees. The trainees’ procedural time, rating score, number of C-arm taken, and overall satisfaction were recorded as primary outcomes. Results: The group using the simulator showed a higher global rating score (P = 0.014), reduced procedural time (P = 0.025), reduced number of C-arm uses (P = 0.001), and higher overall satisfaction score (P = 0.007). Conclusions We created an accessible and effective virtual reality simulator that can be used to teach inexperienced trainees LTFEB without radiation exposure. The results of this study indicate that the proposed simulator will prove to be a useful aid for teaching LTFEB.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: This study investigated whether patients with acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) truly fulfill the diagnostic criteria of overt disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC), as proposed by the International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis (ISTH) and the Korean Society on Thrombosis and Hemostasis (KSTH), and analyzed which component of the criteria most contributes to bleeding diathesis. METHODS: A single-center retrospective analysis was conducted on newly diagnosed APL patients between January 1995 and May 2012. RESULTS: A total of 46 newly diagnosed APL patients were analyzed. Of these, 27 patients (58.7%) showed initial bleeding. The median number of points per patient fulfilling the diagnostic criteria of overt DIC by the ISTH and the KSTH was 5 (range, 1 to 7) and 3 (range, 1 to 4), respectively. At diagnosis of APL, 22 patients (47.8%) fulfilled the overt DIC diagnostic criteria by either the ISTH or KSTH. In multivariate analysis of the ISTH or KSTH diagnostic criteria for overt DIC, the initial fibrinogen level was the only statistically significant factor associated with initial bleeding (p = 0.035), but it was not associated with overall survival (OS). CONCLUSIONS: Initial fibrinogen level is associated with initial presentation of bleeding of APL patients, but does not affect OS.
Adult ; Aged ; Biomarkers/blood ; Chi-Square Distribution ; Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation/blood/diagnosis/*etiology/mortality ; Female ; Fibrinogen/analysis ; Hemorrhagic Disorders/blood/diagnosis/*etiology/mortality ; Humans ; Kaplan-Meier Estimate ; Leukemia, Promyelocytic, Acute/blood/*complications/diagnosis/mortality ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Multivariate Analysis ; Proportional Hazards Models ; Republic of Korea ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Young Adult

There are numerous studies about the transformation of renal pathology during lupus nephritis progression. A number of researchers suggest that patients with previous proliferative glomerulonephritis may not need to repeat renal biopsy in relation to treatment strategies. However, the pathology of renal biopsy could offer important information to clinicians about the progression of disease. Here, we report a rare case of the convertion of ISN/RPS classification from a proliferative lesion to a wholly non-proliferative lesion. A 40-year-old female was admitted complaining of generalized edema for 1 month. At the age of 33 she had been diagnosed as SLE with proliferative lupus nephritis. The renal remission was induced with corticosteroid pulse therapy and 12 cycles of intravenous cyclophosphamide treatment. The repeated renal biopsy revealed class V lupus nephritis compared with referential biopsy of class IV-G. A better prognosis is expected with lower activity and a lower chronicity index. Repeat renal biopsy may give useful information relating to the prognosis of nephritis.
Adult ; Biopsy ; Cyclophosphamide ; Edema ; Female ; Glomerulonephritis ; Humans ; Lupus Nephritis ; Nephritis ; Prognosis

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease with various manifestations, while its autoantibodies and immune reactions involve multiple organs. Neuropsychiatric involvement in SLE is known to be common, however, peripheral neuropathy is relatively rare. Guillain-Barre syndrome is clinically defined as an acute demyelinating peripheral neuropathy causing weakness and numbness in the legs and arms. We describe a case of Guillain-Barre syndrome with antiphospholipid syndrome and lupus nephritis. The patient was admitted with fever and diarrhea. He developed progressive weakness of the upper and lower extremities and dysarthria with characteristic nerve conduction patterns compatible with Guillain-Barre syndrome. He also had proteinuria and gangrene of the hand and toe with antiphospholipid antibody. He received intravenous immunoglobulin and plasmapheresis for progressive neuropathy, intravenous high dose steroid to control activity of SLE, and anticoagulation for antiphospholipid syndrome. Neuropsychiatric manifestation of SLE is related to lupus activity closely, so it is important to control lupus activity.
Antibodies, Antiphospholipid ; Antiphospholipid Syndrome ; Arm ; Autoantibodies ; Autoimmune Diseases ; Diarrhea ; Dysarthria ; Fever ; Gangrene ; Guillain-Barre Syndrome ; Hand ; Humans ; Hypesthesia ; Immunoglobulins ; Leg ; Lower Extremity ; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic ; Lupus Nephritis ; Neural Conduction ; Peripheral Nervous System Diseases ; Plasmapheresis ; Proteinuria ; Toes

As the patients with chronic renal failure (CRF) are usually diagnosed by clinical data, the exact etiology of renal disease is obscure in most renal allograft recipients. Recognition of original disease is important to manage the recipients after renal transplantation, because many renal diseases leading to CRF, such as glomerulonephritis (GN), diabetes, and hypertension, are known to recur and affect the prognosis of the renal recipients. PURPOSE: We investigated the excised native kidney to know the pathologic etiology of CRF in allograft recipients. We classified the pathologic entities and compared them with the clinical data. METHODS: Total 30 recipients without pathologic diagnosis for CRF were included in this study from June, 2000 to July, 2001. We performed pathologic and immunologic examination of native kidney obtained by unilateral nephrectomy of the recipients at the time of renal transplantation. We analyzed the preoperative clinical data to compare with the pathologic findings. RESULTS: The mean age of the recipients was 41 (23~59) years, and male to female ratio was 3 : 2 (male : female =18 : 12). All recipients except two were primary renal transplants. The mean duration of pre-transplant dialysis was 400 (5~2970) days. The presumptive clinical diagnosis for CRF was made in 22 out of 30 cases (73%), and unknown in remaining 8 cases (27%). The pathologic diagnosis was made in 27 cases (90%), and it couldn't be made in the remaining three (10%) due to presence of severe chronic pathologic changes. Twenty cases (67%) were GN, including 8 chronic sclerosing GN, 7 IgA nephropathy, 2 membranoproliferative GN, 2 focal segmental GN, 1 mesangial proliferative GN. Four cases (13%) were tubulointerstitial disease (2 reflux nephropathy, 1 chronic pyelonephritis, 1 chronic tubulointerstitial nephritis). Three cases (10%) were systemic disease (2 diabetic nephropathy, 1 Wegener's granulomatosis). The preoperative diagnosis was different with the pathologic diagnosis in four (18%) out of 22 cases having presumptive clinical diagnosis. We could make a pathologic diagnosis in six out of seven clinically unknown cases. CONCLUSION: The pathologic diagnosis was made in 90 percent of renal recipients with CRF at the time of renal transplantation. The accurate diagnosis in the renal recipients is necessary and very important to manage the recipients and predict the prognosis after renal transplantation.
Allografts* ; Diabetic Nephropathies ; Diagnosis ; Dialysis ; Female ; Glomerulonephritis ; Glomerulonephritis, IGA ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Kidney ; Kidney Failure, Chronic* ; Kidney Transplantation ; Male ; Nephrectomy ; Prognosis ; Pyelonephritis

No abstract available.