Background/Aims: The absence of standardized clinical minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) breakpoints for Helicobacter pylori infection has resulted in inconsistent resistance definitions, even within the same research group in Korea. Therefore, establishing epidemiological cutoff values (ECOFFs) is essential for standardization. Methods: The MIC distributions for antibiotics commonly used against H. pylori infection in South Korea were analyzed from 2015 to 2023. A total of 5,925 primary H. pylori isolates were collected from five data sources, and MIC values were determined using the serial 2-fold agar dilution method. The ECOFFinder program was used to establish ECOFFs for six antibiotics. Results: The tentative ECOFFs for amoxicillin and clarithromycin were 0.125 μg/mL. The ECOFFs for levofloxacin, metronidazole, and tetracycline were 0.5, 8.0, and 0.25 μg/mL, respec-tively. The ECOFF for rifabutin could not be determined due to insufficient data. On the basis of these ECOFFs, the resistance rate was 17.9% for amoxicillin, 31.9% for clarithromycin, 40.9% for levofloxacin, 24.7% for metronidazole, and 11.5% for tetracycline. Conclusions This comprehensive analysis defined regional antibiotic resistance patterns and established Korea-specific ECOFFs, providing a foundation for determining clinical breakpoints and optimizing H. pylori eradication strategies.

Background: and Purpose To compare the epidemiological and clinical features of the rare patients with cerebral autosomal dominant arteriopathy with subcortical infarcts and leukoencephalopathy (CADASIL) with age- and sex-matched controls in a nationwide cohort from South Korea. Methods: This observational cohort study analyzed newly diagnosed CADASIL patients aged at least 20 years and matched controls using data from the National Health Information Database for 2004–2022. The cumulative incidence of CADASIL was assessed by age and sex, and compared between regions. Neurologic and systemic diseases were compared between the CADASIL and control groups. Results: The study analyzed 816 CADASIL patients and 816 age- and sex-matched controls aged 56.8±15.2 years (mean±standard deviation), among whom 48.3% were male. The cumulative incidence of CADASIL was 1.86 per 100,000 people (95% confidence interval [CI]=1.85– 1.87 per 100,000), and peaked at 60–69 years of age. In terms of regional distribution, the incidence was highest for Jeju, at 39.67 per 100,000 (95% CI 37.84–41.49 per 100,000). Neurologic diseases were more frequent in CADASIL patients, including Alzheimer’s disease (33.1% vs.20.0%), vascular dementia (84.9% vs. 5.0%), epilepsy (34.6% vs. 15.9%), stroke (70.7% vs. 27.6%), parkinsonism (18.9% vs. 11.0%), and depression (60.8% vs. 44.9%). Systemic diseases such as diabetes mellitus (78.9% vs. 68.9%) were also more common in CADASIL patients, while cancer (27.9% vs. 38.7%) and myocardial infarction (10.0% vs. 13.6%) were less common than in controls. The onset ages of all diseases were lower in CADASIL patients. Conclusions This study has provided a precise nationwide estimate of the CADASIL incidence and its regional distribution in South Korea. CADASIL patients showed higher incidence rates and earlier onsets of diverse clinical manifestations.

Objective: This study investigated the associations of changes in metabolic syndrome status and the number of metabolic syndrome risk factors after cancer diagnosis with the incidence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) events among cancer survivors. Methods: Using nationwide health screening data, we identified 344,681 individuals diagnosed with cancer at age ≥19 years from 2012 to 2017, who survived for at least 3 years without CVD events. Participants were classified according to their metabolic syndrome status and risk factor count both before and after cancer diagnosis. A CVD event was defined as a composite of myocardial infarction, stroke, or cardiovascular death. Results: During a median follow-up period of 5.0 years after surviving cancer for 3 years, 7,529 CVD events occurred. The cumulative incidence of CVD was highest among participants with persistent metabolic syndrome. Compared to participants consistently free of metabolic syndrome, the multivariable-adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) for CVD were 1.21 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.13–1.30) for newly developed metabolic syndrome, 1.19 (95% CI, 1.10–1.27) for recovered metabolic syndrome, and 1.37 (95% CI, 1.30–1.45) for persistent metabolic syndrome. Participants who recovered from metabolic syndrome exhibited a lower risk compared to those with persistent metabolic syndrome (HR, 0.86; 95% CI, 0.80–0.93).Each +1 increase in risk factor count after cancer diagnosis was associated with increased CVD risk (HR, 1.09; 95% CI, 1.07–1.11). Conclusion Changes in metabolic syndrome status and metabolic syndrome risk factor count after cancer diagnosis were significantly associated with CVD risk among cancer survivors.

Purpose: This study evaluated the clinical outcomes and prognostic factors in patients with borderline resectable pancreatic cancer (BRPC) and locally advanced pancreatic cancer (LAPC) treated with upfront FOLFIRINOX followed by local-regional therapy (LRT), surgical resection (SR), and radiotherapy (RT). We aimed to identify specific patient subgroups for which RT may serve as a reasonable alternative to SR for local tumor control. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 116 patients (SR group, n= 70; RT group, n= 46) at a single center between 2015 and 2020. Survival outcomes were compared based on LRT modalities, focusing on identifying subgroups in which RT provided an efficacy comparable to that of SR. Results: Among 116 patients, the SR group achieved a significantly higher 5-year overall survival (OS) than the RT group (27.1% vs. 8.7%, P< 0.0001), despite similar progression-free survival (P= 0.23). Significant prognostic factors for OS included carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA19-9) response in BRPC (P= 0.02) and radiologic partial response in LAPC (P= 0.05). Subgroup analysis revealed that, while SR provided a survival advantage in CA19-9 responders, no significant difference in OS was observed between SR and RT in CA19-9 non-responders (P= 0.37). Conclusion Although surgery remains the gold standard, RT may be considered a justifiable local alternative for CA19-9 non-responders and surgically ineligible patients with LAPC, yielding comparable outcomes in these specific, biologically unfavorable subgroups.

Purpose: This study aimed to address the shift toward competency-based education and the planned 2028 “Integrated Nursing” National Licensing Examination (NLE), this study aimed to establish structural alignment among NLE domains, the seven integrated nursing competencies (INCs), and curriculum goals, with a particular focus on implementing symptom-based clinical reasoning (SBCR). Methods: This Delphi-based methodological study included seven content experts for content validity index (CVI) assessment and 24 nursing education experts who participated in a consensus workshop. The item-level CVI and the scale-level CVI/average were calculated to confirm the linkage between INCs and NLE domains. In addition, qualitative analysis of workshop materials and meeting records was conducted to derive 10 integrated learning topics and to develop an SBCR educational model for the key symptom of headache, grounded in Miller’s Clinical Competence Pyramid (levels 2–4). Results: The analysis confirmed the validity of integrating the INCs within the overall curriculum structure. The resulting framework delineates staged learning objectives and core clinical questions designed to systematically enhance clinical reasoning, promote safe nursing practice, and support professional reflection within a unified curriculum. Conclusion This study provides a practical foundation for nursing curriculum redesign by facilitating a transition from fragmented, subject-based instruction to a holistic, patient-centered SBCR model. This approach aligns with the requirements of the integrated NLE and is expected to contribute to meaningful improvements in actual clinical competency.

Menopause is a normative midlife transition characterized by profound endocrine remodeling and a high burden of symptoms and functional change. Accumulating epidemiologic and translational evidence links menopausal transition with shifts in cardiometabolic risk, musculoskeletal health, sleep, mood, and perceived cognitive function. However, most data support association rather than definitive causal acceleration of aging independent of chronological time. This narrative review proposes a menopause-centered healthspan framework that integrates biological, neurocognitive, and psychosocial domains and translates evidence into pragmatic clinical pathway tools. To inform topic selection and prioritize higher-level evidence, including guidelines, randomized trials, meta-analyses, and large cohort studies, a structured evidence scan utilizing PubMed and targeted citation tracking was performed. The evidence scan identified 256 citations. After duplicate removal, titles/abstracts of 162 unique records were reviewed, of which 102 citations informed the final narrative synthesis. The results emphasize that menopausal hormone therapy remains the most effective treatment for vasomotor symptoms and an evidence-based option for reducing fracture risk in appropriate candidates. However, it is not indicated for the primary prevention of cardiovascular disease or dementia. Absolute risks and benefits vary by age, time since menopause, and formulation/route. The neurocognitive section distinguishes common, often transient midlife cognitive complaints from long-term neurodegenerative outcomes, highlighting that menopause is not established as an independent dementia risk factor in the general population. Overall, the framework aims to support individualized, equity-informed care during menopausal transition.

Background/Aims: Endoscopic anti-reflux therapy is a therapeutic option for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), providing durable effects. However, clinical data from Korea remain limited. This study evaluates the clinical outcomes of endoscopic radiofrequency Stretta therapy in Korean patients. Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 71 patients with GERD who underwent Stretta therapy at 2 tertiary hospitals in Korea between November 2015 and July 2021. Clinical outcomes, including patient satisfaction, medication cessation or reduction, and complications, were evaluated. Pre- and post-procedural esophageal manometry and 24-hour pH monitoring test results were also analyzed. Results: Patient satisfaction rates at 1, 6, and 12 months post-procedure were 54.7% (35/64), 70.0% (28/40), and 75.0% (21/28), respectively. Medication cessation or reduction was achieved in 31.2% (20/64) at 1 month, 70.0% (28/40) at 6 months, and 67.9% (19/28) at 12 months. Esophageal manometry (n = 21) showed no significant changes in mean lower esophageal sphincter pressure (18.7 mmHg [2.5-52.9] vs 17.4 mmHg [0.0-43.0], P = 0.702) or mean integrated relaxation pressure (8.2 mmHg [0.0-28.0] vs 10.1 mmHg [0.0-31.0], P = 0.840). The 24-hour pH monitoring (n = 18) demonstrated a nonsignificant decrease in acid exposure time (pH < 4) from 2.3% (0.0-8.4) to 1.6% (0.0-7.3) (P = 0.182). Similarly, the DeMeester score decreased non-significantly from 8.4 (0.8-27.7) to 6.6 (0.8-21.8) (P = 0.352). No procedure-related complications occurred. Conclusion Endoscopic radiofrequency Stretta therapy appears to be a safe treatment option for GERD and may provide favorable patient satisfaction and medication reduction.

Background/Aims: Spinal cord injury (SCI) frequently impairs defecation, severely affecting the quality of life. This study examines compensatory neural remodeling after SCI, focusing on basal colonic contractility, neural responses to electrical field stimulation, and alterations in excitatory cholinergic and inhibitory nitrergic pathways. Methods: Female Sprague–Dawley rats underwent either sham surgery or T10 spinal cord transection and were categorized into 3 groups: sham, 1-week post-SCI (acute), and 4-week post-SCI (chronic). Colonic contractility was assessed in an organ bath using electrical field stimulation in the presence of a nitric oxide synthase inhibitor. Neural protein expression was analyzed by immunofluorescence and Western blotting. Results: SCI produced region- and time-dependent impairments in colonic contractility, with distinct alterations in the proximal circular and longitudinal muscles across acute and chronic phases. Neural excitability shifted dynamically, showing enhanced excitatory activity in the proximal longitudinal muscle at 1-week and the distal circular muscle at 4-week post-SCI. Protein analysis revealed increased neuronal nitric oxide synthase in the proximal colon, decreasedsoluble guanylyl cyclase in the distal colon, upregulated muscarinic M3 receptor in the proximal colon, and reduced vaso-active intestinal peptide receptor 1 in both proximal and distal regions. Conclusion SCI induces spatiotemporal remodeling of excitatory and inhibitory neural pathways, contributing to colonic dysmotility and revealing potential targets for therapeutic intervention.

This study aimed to determine the prevalence of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)–ultralow breast cancer among cases initially classified as HER2 immunohistochemistry (IHC) 0 and assess interobserver variability in interpreting low-level HER2 expression. Methods: In this multicenter retrospective study, all invasive breast cancer cases diagnosed between January and December 2022 across 10 Korean institutions were retrieved. Institutional pathologists reexamined HER2 IHC slides originally reported as IHC 0 according to the 2018 American Society of Clinical Oncology/College of American Pathologists guidelines and reclassified them as HER2-null (0), HER2-ultralow (0+), or HER2-low (1+). Slides from 10% of HER2-null and HER2-ultralow cases were digitized for central review and independently assessed by two pathologists, with discrepancies resolved by consensus. Results: Among 8,026 cases, 2,836 cases (35.5%) were initially reported as IHC 0. Upon re-review, 1,673 (59.0%), 1,139 (40.2%), and 24 (0.8%) cases were reclassified as HER2-null, HER2-ultralow, and HER2-low, respectively. The prevalence of HER2-ultralow breast cancer varied considerably across institutions (23.7%–78.1%). Central review of 268 digitized cases showed concordance in 193 cases (72.0%). Among the 75 discordant cases, 54 tumors (72.0%) were upgraded from HER2-null to HER2-ultralow, and 18 (24.0%) tumors were upgraded from HER2-ultralow to HER2-low. Furthermore, two tumors (2.7%) were downgraded from HER2-ultralow to HER2-null. Conclusions: Approximately 40% of cases initially categorized as IHC 0 were reclassified as HER2-ultralow. The substantial inter-institutional variability observed in interpreting low-level HER2 expression highlights the need for standardized training and quality assurance to ensure accurate identification of patients eligible for HER2-targeted antibody–drug conjugates.

Objectives: Assessing healthcare quality at the national level is essential for evaluating health system performance and identifying areas requiring improvement. This study examined long-term trends in healthcare quality in Korea from 2008 to 2023 using internationally comparable indicators. Methods: We conducted a trend analysis of healthcare quality in Korea using the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) Health Care Quality and Outcomes framework and quality indicators. Indicators across multiple domains, including acute care, primary care, prescribing in primary care, mental healthcare, and patient experiences, were analyzed and compared with OECD averages. Results: Healthcare quality in Korea improved across several domains. Thirty-day mortality for acute myocardial infarction decreased from 14.2% in 2008 to 10.2% in 2023, while mortality for ischemic stroke declined from 8.7% to 5.5%. Avoidable hospitalizations decreased substantially, with hospitalizations for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease declining by 59.7%. The proportion of patients with diabetes receiving cholesterol-lowering treatment increased from 44.1% to 82.5%. However, the proportion of broad-spectrum antibiotic prescriptions remained substantially higher than the OECD average (40.3 vs. 15.5%). In mental healthcare, excess mortality ratios increased from 4.3 in 2010 to 4.9 in 2023 for schizophrenia and from 3.5 to 4.3 for bipolar disorder, while post-discharge suicide rates showed little improvement. Patient experience indicators related to patient-physician communication improved and approached OECD averages. Conclusions Healthcare quality in Korea improved substantially between 2008 and 2023, particularly in acute care outcomes and chronic disease management. However, persistent challenges remain in areas such as antibiotic use, polypharmacy, and mental healthcare. These findings provide internationally comparable evidence to inform future health policy and healthcare quality improvement efforts.