Background/Aims: The Gout Impact Scale (GIS), a part of the Gout Assessment Questionnaire 2.0, is used to measure gout-specific health-related quality of life (HRQOL). Although several studies have been conducted on the factors affecting the HRQOL of patients with gout, few have focused on lifestyle factors. This study aimed to investigate the correlation between lifestyle habits and HRQOL using the GIS in patients with gout. Methods: We used data from the Urate-Lowering TheRApy in Gout (ULTRA) registry, a prospective cohort of Korean patients with gout treated at multiple centers nationwide. The patients were aged ≥18 years and met the 2015 American College of Rheumatology/European League Against Rheumatism gout classification criteria. They were asked to complete a GIS and questions regarding their lifestyle habits at enrollment. Results: The study included 232 patients. ‘Gout concern overall’ scores in the GIS were significantly lower in patients who exercised more frequently and consumed soft drinks and meat less, and ‘well-being during attack’ scores were significantly lower in patients who consumed vegetables and exercised more frequently. The frequency of vegetable consumption had a negative linear relationship with the ‘well-being during attack’ and ‘gout concern during attack’ scores (p = 0.01, p = 0.001, respectively). The frequency of exercise had a negative linear relationship with the ‘gout concern overall’ and ‘gout concern during attack’ scores (p = 0.04 and p = 0.002, respectively). Conclusions Patients with gout who frequently consumed vegetables and exercised regularly experienced less impact of gout, exhibiting a better GIS that represented HRQOL.

Background: An excess of thyroid hormones in Graves’ disease (GD) has profound effects on systemic energy metabolism that are currently partially understood. In this study, we aimed to provide a comprehensive understanding of the metabolite changes that occur when patients with GD transition from hyperthyroidism to euthyroidism with methimazole treatment. Methods: Eighteen patients (mean age, 38.6±14.7 years; 66.7% female) with newly diagnosed or relapsed GD attending the endocrinology outpatient clinics in a single institution were recruited between January 2019 and July 2020. All subjects were treated with methimazole to achieve euthyroidism. We explored metabolomics by performing liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis of plasma samples of these patients and then performed multivariate statistical analysis of the metabolomics data. Results: Two hundred metabolites were measured before and after 12 weeks of methimazole treatment in patients with GD. The levels of 61 metabolites, including palmitic acid (C16:0) and oleic acid (C18:1), were elevated in methimazole-naïve patients with GD, and these levels were decreased by methimazole treatment. The levels of another 15 metabolites, including glycine and creatinine, were increased after recovery of euthyroidism upon methimazole treatment in patients with GD. Pathway analysis of metabolomics data showed that hyperthyroidism was closely related to aminoacyl-transfer ribonucleic acid biosynthesis and branched-chain amino acid biosynthesis pathways. Conclusion In this study, significant variations of plasma metabolomic patterns that occur during the transition from hyperthyroidism to euthyroidism were detected in patients with GD via untargeted metabolomics analysis.

Background: Anterior choroidal artery (AchA) aneurysms are usually small in diameter because of the size of the involved artery and are often wide-necked. Coil embolization of AchA aneurysm is thus challenging because of serious risks, such as thromboembolic occlusion of artery and perforation of aneurysm dome. Therefore, aneurysmal neck clipping remains widely performed despite a recent increase in the use of coil embolization for aneurysm treatment. We report the treatment results of AchA aneurysms mostly (92.3%) treated with coil embolization at our institute. Methods: The database and medical records of patients who underwent coil embolization for AchA aneurysms were retrospectively analyzed. The clinical and imaging results and procedure-related complications were investigated after coil embolization performed between January 2006 and March 2022 at our institute. Results: In total, 96 AchA aneurysms comprising 65 unruptured and 31 ruptured aneurysms, including only 1 ruptured aneurysm (1.0%) re-embolized at postoperative day 192 because of coil compaction, were evaluated. After the initial coil embolization, complete occlusion was attained in 41, residual neck in 45, and residual aneurysm in 10 patients. Follow-up radiological studies after 6–174 months were performed for 80 aneurysms. Complete occlusion was noted in 57 patients, residual neck in 22, and residual aneurysm in 1. The dysarthria experienced by one (1.0%) patient was the only symptomatic procedure-related complication. After coil embolization, neither delayed new rupture nor re-rupture was observed. Conclusions The results of this study demonstrate that coil embolization is a safe and effective treatment option for patients with AchA aneurysms.

Syncope is a common symptom in clinical practice. Rotational vertebral artery occlusion syndrome, also referred to as Bow Hunter’s syndrome (BHS), is a rare condition associated with syncope and is caused by mechanical occlusion or stenosis secondary to mechanical compression of the vertebral artery during head rotation. BHS is associated with a multifactorial etiology; however, in most cases, this condition is attributed to degenerative changes. A 53-year-old man visited our hospital for the evaluation of fainting and dizziness episodes that occurred when he turned his head. Evaluation as an outpatient in the Department of Neurology showed a positive result on the Frenzel goggle test. Transfemoral cerebral angiography performed at the Department of Neurosurgery revealed stenosis of the proximal right vertebral artery. Complete occlusion of the vertebral artery was observed, and the head was turned to the right. Decompression and fusion were performed, and the contributory lesion was completely removed. Postoperative imaging confirmed complete removal of the spur and sufficient vertebral artery decompression; the patient’s symptoms resolved postoperatively.

Radiation-induced cavernous hemangiomas (RICHs) have been increasingly reported as a late complication after conventional radiotherapy. RICH after stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) is extremely rare and the few cases have been reported to demonstrate their properties. A 72-year-old female patient presented with progressive neurologic deficits. She underwent tumor surgery for meningioma 13 years ago and two times of SRS for treating a residual tumor. Newly-developed mass was 4.3 cm-sized heterogeneously enhancing mass with severe cerebral edema. She underwent surgical resection and the histologic examinations revealed organized hematoma. Finally, it was diagnosed as a RICH following SRS based on radiological and histological findings and a history of multiple radiosurgeries. Clinical, radiological, and histological features of a RICH following SRS were discussed in this report.

Symptomatic Rathke’s cleft cysts (RCCs) can be treated by surgical procedures, usually through an endonasal transsphenoidal corridor using either a microscope or an endoscope. We report a large suprasellar extended RCC causing obstructive hydrocephalus, which was efficiently managed by a novel surgical route named “reverse” trans-sellar approach using transventricular neuroendoscopy. A 48-yearold woman complained of persistent headache and a tendency to fall that had begun 6 months previously. The images obtained from MRI scan showed intra- and supra-sellar cystic masses occupying the third ventricle with obstruction of the foramina of Monro and the aqueduct of Sylvius. The cystic wall showed a slight enhancement, and the cystic contents showed iso-signal intensity on T1-and T2-weighted images. Instead of trans-nasal trans-sellar surgery, we decided to operate using a conventional transventricular endoscope. A thin cystic capsule, which blocked the foramina of Monro and the aqueduct of Sylvius, was fenestrated and removed and a third ventriculostomy was performed. The defect in the infundibulum between sellar and suprasellar cysts was widened and used as a corridor to drain cystic contents (reverse trans-sellar route). The final pathological finding revealed an RCC with focal metaplasia. We efficiently managed a large RCC by transventricular neuroendoscopic surgery with cyst fenestration and third ventriculostomy and simultaneously drained the sellar contents using a novel surgical route. Reverse trans-sellar neuroendoscopic surgery is a relevant treatment option for selective patients with large suprasellar extensions of RCCs.

Objective: : Stent-assisted coil embolization (SAC) has been increasingly used to treat various types of intracranial aneurysms. Delayed thromboembolic complications are major concerns regarding this procedure, so dual antiplatelet therapy with aspirin and clopidogrel is needed. However, clinicians vary the duration of dual antiplatelet therapy after SAC, and no randomized study has been performed. This study aims to compare the safety and efficacy of long-term (12 months) dual antiplatelet therapy and shortterm dual antiplatelet therapy (6 months) after SAC for patients with unruptured intracranial aneurysms (UIAs). Methods: : This is a prospective, randomized and multicenter trial to investigate the optimal duration of dual antiplatelet therapy after SAC in patients with UIAs. Subjects will receive dual antiplatelet therapy for 6 months (short-term group) or 12 months (longterm group) after SAC. The primary endpoint is the assessment of thromboembolic complications between 1 and 18 months after SAC. We will enroll 528 subjects (264 subjects in each group) and perform 1 : 1 randomization. This study will involve 14 topperforming, high-volume Korean institutions specializing in coil embolization. Results: : The trial will begin enrollment in 2022, and clinical data will be available after enrollment and follow-up. Conclusion : This article describes that the aim of this prospective randomized multicenter trial is to compare the effect of short-term (6 months) and long-term (12 months) dual antiplatelet therapy on UIAs in patients undergoing SAC, and to find the optimal duration.

Background/Aims: To investigate whether serum Wisteria floribunda agglutinin-positive human Mac-2-binding protein (WFA+-M2BP) can predict the recurrence of hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after curative resection. Methods: Patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) who underwent curative resection for HCC between 2004 and 2015 were eligible for the study. Recurrence was sub-classified as early (<2 years) or late (≥2 years). Results: A total of 170 patients with CHB were selected. During the follow-up period (median, 22.6 months), 64 (37.6%) patients developed recurrence. In multivariate analyses, WFA+-M2BP level was an independent predictor of overall (hazard ratio [HR]=1.490), early (HR=1.667), and late recurrence (HR=1.416), together with male sex, des-gamma carboxyprothrombin level, maximal tumor size, portal vein invasion, and satellite nodules (all P<0.05). However, WFA+- M2BP level was not predictive of grade B-C posthepatectomy liver failure. The cutoff value that maximized the sum of sensitivity (30.2%) and specificity (90.6%) was 2.14 (area under receiver operating characteristic curve=0.632, P=0.010). Patients with a WFA+-M2BP level >2.14 experienced recurrence more frequently than those with a WFA+-M2BP level ≤2.14 (P=0.011 by log-rank test), and had poorer postoperative outcomes than those with a WFA+-M2BP level ≤2.14 in terms of overall recurrence (56.0 vs. 34.5%, P=0.047) and early recurrence (52.0 vs. 20.7%, P=0.001). Conclusions WFA+-M2BP level is an independent predictive factor of HBV-related HCC recurrence after curative resection. Further studies should investigate incorporation of WFA+-M2BP level into tailored postoperative surveillance strategies for patients with CHB.

Objective: As the average life span in modern society continues to increase, much interest is focused on high-risk procedures in elderly patients, including major surgical operations. We investigated the results of endovascular coiling of unruptured intracranial aneurysms (UIA) in patients over 80 years of age. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 39 patients aged over 80 years who underwent coil embolization for UIA between April 2007 and April 2019 at our hospital. Results: Complete occlusion on digital subtraction angiography (DSA) immediately after surgery was performed in 44 (84.6%) of 52 cases of cerebral aneurysms. Four patients (7.7%) had residual aneurysmal necks, and four (7.7%) had contrast flow in the aneurysmal sac. Follow-up magnetic resonance angiography (mean: 8.2 months) was performed in 37 aneurysms in 24 patients. There was evidence of blood flow in the neck in seven cases (18.9%) and aneurysm in two cases (5.4%). Follow-up DSA (mean: 20.5 months) was performed in 14 aneurysms in 11 patients, and 11 aneurysms (78.6%) had complete occlusion, 1 aneurysm (7.1%) had an aneurysmal neck, and 2 aneurysms (14.3%) had contrast filling into the aneurysmal sac. Coil embolization procedure-related complications occurred in 3 patients (7.7%). Cerebral infarction occurred in 1 (2.6%), arterial dissection in 1 (2.6%), and hypoesthesia in 1 (2.6%). Conclusions Active treatment of UIA in elderly patients over 80 years of age through endovascular coil embolization can be considered.

Background and Objectives: The relationship between the hospital percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) volumes and the in-hospital clinical outcomes of patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) remains the subject of debate. This study aimed to determine whether the in-hospital clinical outcomes of patients with AMI in Korea are significantly associated with hospital PCI volumes. Methods: We selected and analyzed 17,121 cases of AMI, that is, 8,839 cases of non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction and 8,282 cases of ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction, enrolled in the 2014 Korean percutaneous coronary intervention (K-PCI) registry. Patients were divided into 2 groups according to hospital annual PCI volume, that is, to a high-volume group (≥400/year) or a low-volume group (<400/year). Major adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events (MACCEs) were defined as composites of death, cardiac death, non-fatal myocardial infarction (MI), stent thrombosis, stroke, and need for urgent PCI during index admission after PCI. Results: Rates of MACCE and non-fatal MI were higher in the low-volume group than in the high-volume group (MACCE: 10.9% vs. 8.6%, p=0.001; non-fatal MI: 4.8% vs. 2.6%, p=0.001, respectively). Multivariate regression analysis showed PCI volume did not independently predict MACCE. Conclusions Hospital PCI volume was not found to be an independent predictor of in-hospital clinical outcomes in patients with AMI included in the 2014 K-PCI registry.