Purpose: This longitudinal cohort study aimed to evaluate the relationship between osteonecrosis of the jaw and pulp and periapical disease in patients who were administered bisphosphonates. Methods: Using data from a nationwide cohort, we examined the association among dental caries, pulp and periapical disease, and osteonecrosis of the jaw in women aged >50 years who received bisphosphonates for more than 1 year between 2002 and 2015.Because of ambiguities in the diagnosis of osteonecrosis of the jaw in population-based data, we operationally defined and categorized the condition into established and potential osteonecrosis of the jaw. Results: Pulp and periapical disease significantly increased the development of both established and potential osteonecrosis of the jaw (hazard ratio, 2.21; 95% confidence interval, 1.40–3.48; and hazard ratio, 2.22; 95% confidence interval, 1.65–2.98, respectively). Root canal treatment did not have any influence on the development of osteonecrosis of the jaw. Conclusions Pulp and periapical disease may be a major risk factor for osteonecrosis of the jaw. The study findings suggest that patients should undergo regular dental examinations to detect pulp and periapical disease before or during the administration of bisphosphonates and that root canal treatment should be considered to decrease the risk of osteonecrosis of the jaw.

Background and Objectives: This study aimed to analyze the outcomes of Fontan surgery in the Republic of Korea, as there were only a few studies from Asian countries. Methods: The medical records of 1,732 patients who underwent Fontan surgery in 10 cardiac centers were reviewed. Results: Among them, 1,040 (58.8%) were men. The mean age at Fontan surgery was 4.3±4.2 years, and 395 (22.8%) patients presented with heterotaxy syndrome. According to the types of Fontan surgery, 157 patients underwent atriopulmonary (AP) type; 303, lateral tunnel (LT) type; and 1,266, extracardiac conduit (ECC) type. The overall survival rates were 91.7%, 87.1%, and 74.4% at 10, 20, and 30 years, respectively. The risk factors of early mortality were male, heterotaxy syndrome, AP-type Fontan surgery, high mean pulmonary artery pressure (mPAP) in pre-Fontan cardiac catheterization, and early Fontan surgery year. The risk factors of late mortality were heterotaxy syndrome, genetic disorder, significant atrioventricular valve regurgitation (AVVR) before Fontan surgery, high mPAP in pre-Fontan cardiac catheterization, and no fenestration. Conclusions In Asian population with a high incidence of heterotaxy syndrome, the heterotaxy syndrome was identified as the poor prognostic factors for Fontan surgery. The preoperative low mPAP and less AVVR are associated with better early and long-term outcomes of Fontan surgery.

Background and Objectives: This study aimed to analyze the outcomes of Fontan surgery in the Republic of Korea, as there were only a few studies from Asian countries. Methods: The medical records of 1,732 patients who underwent Fontan surgery in 10 cardiac centers were reviewed. Results: Among them, 1,040 (58.8%) were men. The mean age at Fontan surgery was 4.3±4.2 years, and 395 (22.8%) patients presented with heterotaxy syndrome. According to the types of Fontan surgery, 157 patients underwent atriopulmonary (AP) type; 303, lateral tunnel (LT) type; and 1,266, extracardiac conduit (ECC) type. The overall survival rates were 91.7%, 87.1%, and 74.4% at 10, 20, and 30 years, respectively. The risk factors of early mortality were male, heterotaxy syndrome, AP-type Fontan surgery, high mean pulmonary artery pressure (mPAP) in pre-Fontan cardiac catheterization, and early Fontan surgery year. The risk factors of late mortality were heterotaxy syndrome, genetic disorder, significant atrioventricular valve regurgitation (AVVR) before Fontan surgery, high mPAP in pre-Fontan cardiac catheterization, and no fenestration. Conclusions In Asian population with a high incidence of heterotaxy syndrome, the heterotaxy syndrome was identified as the poor prognostic factors for Fontan surgery. The preoperative low mPAP and less AVVR are associated with better early and long-term outcomes of Fontan surgery.

Purpose: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has led to significant global casualties. This study examines the postoperative impact of COVID-19 on patients who underwent gastrointestinal surgery, considering their heightened vulnerability to infections and increased morbidity and mortality risk. Methods: This retrospective observational study was conducted at a tertiary center and patients who underwent gastrointestinal surgery between January 2022 and February 2023 were included. Postoperative COVID-19 infection was defined as the detection of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 RNA by RT-PCR within 14 days after surgery. Propensity score matching was performed including age, sex, American Society of Anesthesiology physical status classification, and emergency operation between the COVID-19-negative (–) and -positive (+) groups. Results: Following 1:2 propensity score matching, 21 COVID-19(+) and 42 COVID-19(–) patients were included in the study. In the COVID-19(+) group, the postoperative complication rate was significantly higher (52.4% vs. 23.8%, P = 0.023).Mechanical ventilator requirement, intensive care unit (ICU) admission, and readmission rate did not significantly differ between the 2 groups. The median length of ICU (19 days vs. 4 days, P < 0.001) and hospital stay (18 vs. 8 days, P = 0.015) were significantly longer in the COVID-19(+) group. Patients with COVID-19 had a 2.4 times higher relative risk (RR) of major complications than patients without COVID-19 (RR, 2.37; 95% confidence interval, 1.254–4.467; P = 0.015). Conclusion COVID-19 infection during the postoperative period in gastrointestinal surgery may have adverse outcomes which may increase the risk of major complications. Preoperative COVID-19 screening and protocols for COVID-19 prevention in surgical patients should be maintained.

The Korean Society of Infectious Diseases has been regularly developing guidelines for adult immunization since 2007. In 2023, the guidelines for the following seven vaccines were revised: influenza, herpes zoster, pneumococcal, tetanus-diphtheria-pertussis (Tdap), human papillomavirus (HPV), meningococcal, and rabies vaccines. For the influenza vaccine, a recommendation for enhanced vaccines for the elderly was added. For the herpes zoster vaccine, a recommendation for the recombinant zoster vaccine was added. For the pneumococcal vaccine, the current status of the 15-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine and 20-valent PCV was described. For the Tdap vaccine, the possibility of using Tdap instead of tetanus-diphtheria vaccine was described. For the HPV vaccine, the expansion of the eligible age for vaccination was described. For the meningococcal vaccine, a recommendation for the meningococcal B vaccine was added. For the rabies vaccine, the number of pre-exposure prophylaxis doses was changed. This manuscript documents the summary and rationale of the revisions for the seven vaccines. For the vaccines not mentioned in this manuscript, the recommendations in the 3rd edition of the Vaccinations for Adults textbook shall remain in effect.

Purpose: To investigate the 5-year outcome of dental implants placed in a grafted maxillary sinus using recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2 (rhBMP-2). Materials and Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 27 implants after maxillary sinus floor augmentation (MSFA) using rhBMP-2 in 16 patients between January 2016 and March 2017. The study evaluated two outcome variables: (1) 5-year cumulative survival and success rate of the implant after functional loading and (2) marginal bone loss (MBL) for implant failure. Results: The average residual bone height was 4.78±1.53 mm. The healing period before loading was 8.35±2.34 months. The crown-to-implant ratio was 1.31±0.26. The 5-year cumulative survival and success rate after functional loading were 100% and 96.3%, respectively. The 5-year average MLB was 0.89±0.82 mm. Conclusion Placing dental implants with MSFA using rhBMP-2 is a reliable procedure with favorable long-term survival and success rates.