Purpose: Breast cancer gene (BRCA) mutation is a well-known risk factor for breast cancer, and clinical interest in prophylactic mastectomy has increased in recent years.We investigated patients who were BRCA mutation carriers and underwent contralateral risk-reducing mastectomy (RRM), focusing on the incidence of occult malignancy after contralateral RRM. Methods: Prospectively collected data of patients with breast cancer treated at a single institution were retrospectively reviewed. Patients who underwent RRM with BRCA mutation who underwent RRM between January 2010 and November 2023 were included in this study.Among patients who underwent contralateral RRM, those with a primary cancer diagnosis were included, and those with occult malignancy on the contralateral RRM side were reviewed additionally. The demographics and pathologies of both primary breast cancer and occult malignancies were evaluated. Results: In our institution, 925 patients were identified as BRCA mutation carriers, and 320 patients underwent contralateral RRM along with primary breast cancer surgery. BRCA2 mutation occurred more frequently (54.8%) in the overall BRCA mutation cohort. Furthermore, we reviewed 320 patients diagnosed with breast cancer and detected as BRCA mutation carriers who underwent contralateral RRM; high proportion of them were BRCA1 mutation carriers.Interestingly, we found a low incidence of only seven patients (2.2%) with occult malignancy on contralateral RRM side, which is different from that reported in other nations. Conclusion The incidence of occult malignancy in the contralateral breast of breast cancer patients with breast cancer with BRCA mutation is significantly low, and may be influenced by several factors. Increased utilization of screening and advancements in diagnostic technologies in South Korea have reduced the chance of occult malignancy in RRM, and a variety of pathologic examination methods may affect the rate of incidence.

Purpose: Breast cancer gene (BRCA) mutation is a well-known risk factor for breast cancer, and clinical interest in prophylactic mastectomy has increased in recent years.We investigated patients who were BRCA mutation carriers and underwent contralateral risk-reducing mastectomy (RRM), focusing on the incidence of occult malignancy after contralateral RRM. Methods: Prospectively collected data of patients with breast cancer treated at a single institution were retrospectively reviewed. Patients who underwent RRM with BRCA mutation who underwent RRM between January 2010 and November 2023 were included in this study.Among patients who underwent contralateral RRM, those with a primary cancer diagnosis were included, and those with occult malignancy on the contralateral RRM side were reviewed additionally. The demographics and pathologies of both primary breast cancer and occult malignancies were evaluated. Results: In our institution, 925 patients were identified as BRCA mutation carriers, and 320 patients underwent contralateral RRM along with primary breast cancer surgery. BRCA2 mutation occurred more frequently (54.8%) in the overall BRCA mutation cohort. Furthermore, we reviewed 320 patients diagnosed with breast cancer and detected as BRCA mutation carriers who underwent contralateral RRM; high proportion of them were BRCA1 mutation carriers.Interestingly, we found a low incidence of only seven patients (2.2%) with occult malignancy on contralateral RRM side, which is different from that reported in other nations. Conclusion The incidence of occult malignancy in the contralateral breast of breast cancer patients with breast cancer with BRCA mutation is significantly low, and may be influenced by several factors. Increased utilization of screening and advancements in diagnostic technologies in South Korea have reduced the chance of occult malignancy in RRM, and a variety of pathologic examination methods may affect the rate of incidence.

Purpose: Breast cancer gene (BRCA) mutation is a well-known risk factor for breast cancer, and clinical interest in prophylactic mastectomy has increased in recent years.We investigated patients who were BRCA mutation carriers and underwent contralateral risk-reducing mastectomy (RRM), focusing on the incidence of occult malignancy after contralateral RRM. Methods: Prospectively collected data of patients with breast cancer treated at a single institution were retrospectively reviewed. Patients who underwent RRM with BRCA mutation who underwent RRM between January 2010 and November 2023 were included in this study.Among patients who underwent contralateral RRM, those with a primary cancer diagnosis were included, and those with occult malignancy on the contralateral RRM side were reviewed additionally. The demographics and pathologies of both primary breast cancer and occult malignancies were evaluated. Results: In our institution, 925 patients were identified as BRCA mutation carriers, and 320 patients underwent contralateral RRM along with primary breast cancer surgery. BRCA2 mutation occurred more frequently (54.8%) in the overall BRCA mutation cohort. Furthermore, we reviewed 320 patients diagnosed with breast cancer and detected as BRCA mutation carriers who underwent contralateral RRM; high proportion of them were BRCA1 mutation carriers.Interestingly, we found a low incidence of only seven patients (2.2%) with occult malignancy on contralateral RRM side, which is different from that reported in other nations. Conclusion The incidence of occult malignancy in the contralateral breast of breast cancer patients with breast cancer with BRCA mutation is significantly low, and may be influenced by several factors. Increased utilization of screening and advancements in diagnostic technologies in South Korea have reduced the chance of occult malignancy in RRM, and a variety of pathologic examination methods may affect the rate of incidence.

Cardiac organoids have emerged as invaluable tools for assessing the impact of diverse substances on heart function.This report introduces guidelines for general requirements for manufacturing cardiac organoids and conducting cardiac organoid-based assays, encompassing protocols, analytical methodologies, and ethical considerations. In the quest to employ recently developed three-dimensional cardiac organoid models as substitutes for animal testing, it becomes imperative to establish robust criteria for evaluating organoid quality and conducting toxicity assessments. This guideline addresses this need, catering to regulatory requirements, and describes common standards for organoid quality and toxicity assessment methodologies, commensurate with current technological capabilities. While acknowledging the dynamic nature of technological progress and the potential for future comparative studies, this guideline serves as a foundational framework. It offers a comprehensive approach to standardized cardiac organoid testing, ensuring scientific rigor, reproducibility, and ethical integrity in investigations of cardiotoxicity, particularly through the utilization of human pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiac organoids.

During the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, conclusively evaluating possible associations between COVID-19 vaccines and potential adverse events was of critical importance. The National Academy of Medicine of Korea established the COVID-19 Vaccine Safety Research Center (CoVaSC) with support from the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency to investigate the scientific relationship between COVID-19 vaccines and suspected adverse events. Although determining whether the COVID-19 vaccine was responsible for any suspected adverse event necessitated a systematic approach, traditional causal inference theories, such as Hill's criteria, encountered certain limitations and criticisms. To facilitate a systematic and evidence-based evaluation, the United States Institute of Medicine, at the request of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, offered a detailed causality assessment framework in 2012, which was updated in the recent report by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) in 2024.This framework, based on a weight-of-evidence approach, allows the independent evaluation of both epidemiological and mechanistic evidence, culminating in a comprehensive conclusion about causality. Epidemiological evidence derived from population studies is categorized into four levels—high, moderate, limited, or insufficient—while mechanistic evidence, primarily from biological and clinical studies in animals and individuals, is classified as strong, intermediate, weak, or lacking. The committee then synthesizes these two types of evidence to draw a conclusion about the causal relationship, which can be described as “convincingly supports” (“evidence established” in the 2024 NASEM report), “favors acceptance,” “favors rejection,” or “inadequate to accept or reject.” The CoVaSC has established an independent committee to conduct causality assessments using the weightof-evidence framework, specifically for evaluating the causality of adverse events associated with COVID-19 vaccines. The aim of this study is to provide an overview of the weight-ofevidence framework and to detail the considerations involved in its practical application in the CoVaSC.

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to analyze the clinical results of patients with basicervical fractureundergoing cephalomedullary nailing (CMN) with an additional cannulated screw fixation compared to only performing CMN. We hypothesized that a difference may exist in the clinical outcomes if an ad-ditional screw is fixed with CMN compared to only performing CMN in basicervical fracture. Materials and Methods: A total of 28 consecutive patients who underwent CMN for basicervical fracture were included. In 9 cases, only CMN was conducted, and in 19 cases, an additional cannulated screw fixation was performed with CMN. Bone union, sliding distance, reduction status, and fixation failure were evaluated by postoperative radiography, and ambulatory ability was evaluated by functional results. These findings were compared between a group of CMN and a group of CMN with an additional cannulated screw. Results: There were 4 males and 24 females with a mean age of 84 years (range, 69–100 years). No significant difference was found in postoperative reduction, tip-apex distance, bone union, and walking function recovery after surgery between the two groups, but in the sliding distance of the lag screw, the CMN group demonstrated more sliding (6.2 mm [range, 2.5–13.4 mm] vs 3.5 mm [range, 0.1– 9.2 mm]; p=0.045). Among the two groups, only one case of fixation failure at the postoperative four months was observed in the CMN group (p=0.321), and hemiarthroplasty with nail construct removal was performed. Conclusion CMN with additional cannulated screw fixation is a safe and reliable surgical option in basicervical fracture. It provided favorable clinical outcomes and may be a good alternative for treating basicervical fracture.

Purpose: To evaluate the effect of lacrimal endoscopy on operation time in silicone tube intubation for patients with nasolacrimal duct obstruction. Methods: We conducted retrograde chart review of 168 eyes of 107 patients who were diagnosed with acquired nasolacrimal duct obstruction and underwent silicone tube intubation from January 2019 to February 2023. We analyzed relationship between use of lacrimal endoscopy and operation time, and effect of operation time on success rate of surgery according to use of lacrimal endoscopy. Results: Of 168 eyes, 58 eyes underwent silicone tube intubation with lacrimal endoscopy, and 110 eyes underwent silicone tube intubation without lacrimal endoscopy. Average operation time was 10.98 ± 2.24 minutes in the group with lacrimal endoscopy, and 12.44 ± 4.08 minutes in the group without lacrimal endoscopy. Operation time in the group with lacrimal endoscopy was relatively shorter and statistically significant (p = 0.003). When analyzing correlation between operation time and success rate, success rate decreased by 0.877 times when operation time increased by 1 minute in the entire group, and there was statistical significance (p = 0.022). There was no statistical significance in the correlation between operation time and success rate in the group with lacrimal endoscopy. And in the group without lacrimal endoscopy, success rate decreased by 0.865 times when operation time increased by 1 minute, and there was statistical significance (p = 0.019). Conclusions In silicone tube intubation for nasolacrimal duct obstruction, Lacrimal endoscopy is considered an effective treatment that can shorten operation time and prevent complications while accurately diagnosing cause and extent of obstruction by investigating the inside of the nasolacrimal duct.

The COVID-19 Vaccine Safety Research Committee (CoVaSC) was established in November 2021 to address the growing need for independent, in-depth scientific evidence on adverse events (AEs) following coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination. This initiative was requested by the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency and led by the National Academy of Medicine of Korea. In September 2022, the COVID-19 Vaccine Safety Research Center was established, strengthening CoVaSC’s initiatives. The center has conducted various studies on the safety of COVID-19 vaccines. During CoVaSC’s second research year, from September 29, 2022 to July 19, 2023, the center was restructured into 4 departments: Epidemiological Research, Clinical Research, Communication & Education, and International Cooperation & Policy Research. Its main activities include (1) managing CoVaSC and the COVID-19 Vaccine Safety Research Center, (2) surveying domestic and international trends in AE causality investigation, (3) assessing AEs following COVID-19 vaccination, (4) fostering international collaboration and policy research, and (5) organizing regular fora and training sessions for the public and clinicians. Causality assessments have been conducted for 27 diseases, and independent research has been conducted after organizing ad hoc committees comprising both epidemiologists and clinical experts on each AE of interest. The research process included protocol development, data analysis, interpretation of results, and causality assessment. These research outcomes have been shared transparently with the public and healthcare experts through various fora. The COVID-19 Vaccine Safety Research Center plans to continue strengthening and expanding its research activities to provide reliable, high-quality safety information to the public.

Purpose: This study investigated the factors associated with transient urinary incontinence (TUI) after holmium laser enucleation of the prostate (HoLEP) as a palliative treatment in patients with severe bladder outlet obstruction (BOO) and advanced prostate cancer (PCA). Materials and Methods: Data of 28 patients with advanced PCA (≥cT3) who underwent palliative HoLEP between October 2018 and March 2021 were included in this retrospective study. After collection of the pre-, intra-, and postoperative (1, 3, and 12 months) data of patients from their medical records, variables of patients with and without TUI at 1 and 3–12 months postoperatively were statistically compared. Multivariate analysis was performed to investigate the factors associated with postoperative TUI. Results: Compared to baseline, the mean total international prostate symptom score, quality of life score, maximum flow rate (Qmax), and postvoid residual (PVR) were significantly improved 1 month postoperatively, and this was maintained until 12 months postoperatively (p<0.001). Of the 28 patients, 14 (50.00%) and 6 (21.43%) presented with TUI at 1 and 3–12 months postoperatively, respectively. Patients with TUI at 1 month follow-up showed a significantly lower preoperative Qmax (p=0.027), larger preoperative PVR (p=0.004), and higher likelihood of bladder neck tumor invasion (p=0.046). Conversely, patients with TUI at 3–12 months postoperatively were significantly older (p=0.033) and had a longer enucleation time (p=0.033). Multivariate analysis demonstrated that the factors affecting TUI were preoperative Qmax (odds ratio [OR]=0.61; 95% confidence interval [CI]=0.39–0.93; p=0.016) and bladder invasion of the tumor (OR=26.72; 95% CI=1.83–390.42; p=0.022) after 1 month; however, none of the variables correlated significantly with TUI at 3–12 months. Conclusions Palliative HoLEP is an effective management option in patients with advanced PCA-related BOO. Lower preoperative Qmax and bladder neck tumor invasion are the factors affecting TUI at 1 month postoperatively.

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the therapeutic role of lymphadenectomy in patients surgically treated for clinically early-stage epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC). Methods: This retrospective, multicenter study included patients with clinically earlystage EOC based on preoperative abdominal-pelvic computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging findings between 2007 and 2021. Oncologic outcomes and perioperative complications were compared between the lymphadenectomy and non-lymphadenectomy groups. Independent prognostic factors were determined using Cox regression analysis.Disease-free survival (DFS) was the primary outcome. Overall survival (OS) and perioperative outcomes were the secondary outcomes. Results: In total, 586 patients (lymphadenectomy group, n=453 [77.3%]; nonlymphadenectomy groups, n=133 [22.7%]) were eligible. After surgical staging, upstaging was identified based on the presence of lymph node metastasis in 14 (3.1%) of 453 patients.No significant difference was found in the 5-year DFS (88.9% vs. 83.4%, p=0.203) and 5-year OS (97.2% vs. 97.7%, p=0.895) between the two groups. Using multivariable analysis, lymphadenectomy was not significantly associated with DFS or OS. However, using subgroup analysis, the lymphadenectomy group with serous histology had higher 5-year DFS rates than did the non-lymphadenectomy group (86.5% vs. 74.4%, p=0.048; adjusted hazard ratio=0.281; 95% confidence interval=0.107–0.735; p=0.010). The lymphadenectomy group had longer operating time (p<0.001), higher estimated blood loss (p<0.001), and higher perioperative complication rate (p=0.004) than did the non-lymphadenectomy group. Conclusion In patients with clinically early-stage EOC with serous histology, lymphadenectomy was associated with survival benefits. Considering its potential harm,