Background/Aims: The achievement of endoscopic remission is an important therapeutic goal in the treatment of inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD). We aimed to evaluate the role of fecal calprotectin (FCP) and ischemia-modified albumin (IMA) as biomarkers for evaluating IBD disease activity. Methods: A total of 48 patients with IBD (20 with ulcerative colitis and 28 with Crohn’s disease) were included in this study. FCP and serum C-reactive protein levels, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, and IMA were measured in patients with IBD and compared with endoscopic findings. Results: Elevated FCP and serum IMA levels were significantly associated with endoscopic non-mucosal healing. The correlation between FCP and IMA was not significant. Analysis of the receiver operating characteristic curve showed that both FCP and IMA had diagnostic value in predicting non-mucosal healing. When the Ln(FCP)+IMA/10 value was calculated using both factors, the predictive value for non-mucosal healing increased; however, no significant difference was observed. Conclusions IMA could be a candidate serum biomarker for predicting endoscopic mucosal healing in IBD.

Background: Postpartum depression (PPD) can negatively affect infant well-being and child development. Although the frequency and risk factors of PPD symptoms might vary depending on the country and culture, there is limited research on these risk factors among Korean women. This study aimed to elucidate the potential risk factors of PPD throughout pregnancy to help improve PPD screening and prevention in Korean women. Methods: The pregnant women at 12 gestational weeks (GW) were enrolled from two obstetric specialized hospitals from March 2013 to November 2017. A questionnaire survey was administered at 12 GW, 24 GW, 36 GW, and 4 weeks postpartum. Depressive symptoms were assessed using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, and PPD was defined as a score of ≥ 10. Results: PPD was prevalent in 16.3% (410/2,512) of the participants. Depressive feeling at 12 GW and postpartum factors of stress, relationship with children, depressive feeling, fear, sadness, and neonatal intensive care unit admission of baby were significantly associated with a higher risk of PPD. Meanwhile, high postpartum quality of life and marital satisfaction at postpartum period were significantly associated with a lower risk of PPD. We developed a model for predicting PPD using factors as mentioned above and it had an area under the curve of 0.871. Conclusion Depressive feeling at 12 GW and postpartum stress, fear, sadness, relationship with children, low quality of life, and low marital satisfaction increased the risk of PPD. A risk model that comprises significant factors can effectively predict PPD and can be helpful for its prevention and appropriate treatment.

Objective: To quantify the effects of midline-related landmark identification on midline deviation measurements in posteroanterior (PA) cephalograms using a cascaded convolutional neural network (CNN). Methods: A total of 2,903 PA cephalogram images obtained from 9 university hospitals were divided into training, internal validation, and test sets (n = 2,150, 376, and 377). As the gold standard, 2 orthodontic professors marked the bilateral landmarks, including the frontozygomatic suture point and latero-orbitale (LO), and the midline landmarks, including the crista galli, anterior nasal spine (ANS), upper dental midpoint (UDM), lower dental midpoint (LDM), and menton (Me). For the test, Examiner-1 and Examiner-2 (3-year and 1-year orthodontic residents) and the Cascaded-CNN models marked the landmarks. After point-to-point errors of landmark identification, the successful detection rate (SDR) and distance and direction of the midline landmark deviation from the midsagittal line (ANS-mid, UDM-mid, LDM-mid, and Me-mid) were measured, and statistical analysis was performed. Results: The cascaded-CNN algorithm showed a clinically acceptable level of point-to-point error (1.26 mm vs.1.57 mm in Examiner-1 and 1.75 mm in Examiner-2). The average SDR within the 2 mm range was 83.2%, with high accuracy at the LO (right, 96.9%; left, 97.1%), and UDM (96.9%). The absolute measurement errors were less than 1 mm for ANSmid, UDM-mid, and LDM-mid compared with the gold standard. Conclusions The cascaded-CNN model may be considered an effective tool for the auto-identification of midline landmarks and quantification of midline deviation in PA cephalograms of adult patients, regardless of variations in the image acquisition method.

Asthma is a chronic inflammatory airway disease that is characterized by variable airflow obstruction. The Korean Asthma Study Group of the Korean Academy of Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases has recently updated the Korean Asthma Guideline. This review summarizes the updated Korean Asthma Guideline. Asthma prevalence is increasing worldwide, and in Korea. Variable airflow obstruction can be confirmed by bronchodilator response or other tests, and should be established prior to the controller medication. A low-dose inhaled corticosteroid-formoterol is used to alleviate symptoms in all treatment step, and it can be used as a controller as well as reliever in steps 3–5. This approach is preferred, because it reduces the risk of severe exacerbations, compared to the use of short-acting β2-agonist as reliever. In severe asthma, phenotype/endotype based on the underlying inflammation should be evaluated. For type 2 severe asthma, the biologics should be considered.

Purpose: Renal tumors account for approximately 7% of all childhood cancers. These include Wilms tumor (WT), clear cell sarcoma of the kidney (CCSK), malignant rhabdoid tumor of the kidney (MRTK), renal cell carcinoma (RCC), congenital mesoblastic nephroma (CMN) and other rare tumors. We investigated the epidemiology of pediatric renal tumors in Korea. Materials and Methods: From January 2001 to December 2015, data of pediatric patients (0–18 years) newly-diagnosed with renal tumors at 26 hospitals were retrospectively analyzed. Results: Among 439 patients (male, 240), the most common tumor was WT (n=342, 77.9%), followed by RCC (n=36, 8.2%), CCSK (n=24, 5.5%), MRTK (n=16, 3.6%), CMN (n=12, 2.7%), and others (n=9, 2.1%). Median age at diagnosis was 27.1 months (range 0-225.5) and median follow-up duration was 88.5 months (range 0-211.6). Overall, 32 patients died, of whom 17, 11, 1, and 3 died of relapse, progressive disease, second malignant neoplasm, and treatment-related mortality. Five-year overall survival and event free survival were 97.2% and 84.8% in WT, 90.6% and 82.1% in RCC, 81.1% and 63.6% in CCSK, 60.3% and 56.2% in MRTK, and 100% and 91.7% in CMN, respectively (p < 0.001). Conclusion The pediatric renal tumor types in Korea are similar to those previously reported in other countries. WT accounted for a large proportion and survival was excellent. Non-Wilms renal tumors included a variety of tumors and showed inferior outcome, especially MRTK. Further efforts are necessary to optimize the treatment and analyze the genetic characteristics of pediatric renal tumors in Korea.

Background: The value of tiotropium bromide (TIO) in neutrophilic asthma was meaningful in previous study. We hypothesized that TIO’s mechanism of action is associated with histone deacetylase 2 (HDAC2) activity, which is key for controlling the transcription of inflammatory cytokines and usually downregulated in neutrophilic asthma. Methods: The effects of TIO and dexamethasone (DEX) on HDAC2 activity, nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB), and C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 1 (CXCL1) were evaluated in neutrophilic asthma mouse model (C57BL, 6-week-old). An in-vitro study was conducted using primary human bronchial/tracheal epithelial (HBE) cells from asthma patients.Western blot analyses were performed for phospho-phospholipase Cγ-1 (PLCγ-1) and inositol trisphosphate (IP3 ) receptors (IP3 R) with treating lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and TIO. Results: Ovalbumin was used to induce eosinophilic inflammation in this study. After neutrophilic asthma was induced by LPS (O+L group), HDAC2 activity was diminished with increased NF-κB activity and CXCL1 compared to the control group. TIO significantly improved NF-κB activity, CXCL1, and HDAC2 activity compared with the O+L group in in-vivo study (P < 0.05, each). Western blot analyses showed that LPS treated HBE cells from asthma patients increased PLCγ-1 and diminished IP3 receptor levels. After TIO treatment, recovery of IP3 R and improved PLCγ-1 levels were observed. Conclusion These results support the hypothesis that TIO modulates inflammation by recovering HDAC2 activity from the acetylcholine-stimulated inflammation cascade in neutrophilic asthma. The detailed inflammation cascade of recovering HDAC2 activity by TIO might be associated with PLCγ-1-IP3-IP3R mediated intracellular calcium ion pathway.

Background: The prevalence of young-onset diabetes (YOD) has been increasing worldwide. As the incidence of YOD increases, it is necessary to determine the characteristics of YOD and the factors that influence its development and associated complications. Methods: In this retrospective study, we recruited patients who were diagnosed with type 2 diabetes mellitus between June 2001 and December 2021 at a tertiary hospital. The study population was categorized according to age: YOD (age <40 years), middle-age-onset diabetes (MOD, 40≤ age <65 years), and late-onset diabetes (LOD, age ≥65 years). We examined trends in glycemic control by analyzing fasting glucose levels during the first year in each age group. A Cox proportional-hazards model was used to determine the relative risk of developing complications according to glycemic control trends. Results: The fasting glucose level at the time of diagnosis was highest in the YOD group (YOD 149±65 mg/dL; MOD 143±54 mg/dL; and LOD 140±55 mg/dL; p=0.009). In the YOD group, glucose levels decreased at 3 months, but increased by 12 months. YOD patients and those with poor glycemic control in the first year were at a higher risk of developing complications, whereas the risk in patients with LOD was not statistically significant. Conclusion YOD patients had higher glucose levels at diagnosis, and their glycemic control was poorly maintained. As poor glycemic control can influence the development of complications, especially in young patients, intensive treatment is necessary for patients with YOD.

Objective: To investigate demographic and skeletodental characteristics of one-jaw (1J-OGS) and two-jaw orthognathic surgery (2J-OGS) in patients with skeletal Class III malocclusion. Methods: 750 skeletal Class III patients who underwent OGS at 10 university hospitals in Korea between 2015 and 2019 were investigated; after dividing them into the 1J-OGS (n = 186) and 2J-OGS groups (n = 564), demographic and skeletodental characteristics were statistically analyzed. Results: 2J-OGS was more frequently performed than 1J-OGS (75.2 vs. 24.8%), despite regional differences (capital area vs. provinces, 86.6 vs. 30.7%, p < 0.001). Males outnumbered females, and their mean operation age was older in both groups. Regarding dental patterns, the most frequent maxillary arch length discrepancy (ALD) was crowding in the 1J-OGS group (52.7%, p < 0.001) and spacing in the 2J-OGS group (40.4%, p < 0.001). However, the distribution of skeletal pattern was not significantly different between the two groups (all p > 0.05). The most prevalent skeletal patterns in both groups were hyper-divergent pattern (50.0 and 54.4%, respectively) and left-side chin point deviation (both 49.5%).Maxillary spacing (odds ratio [OR], 3.645; p < 0.001) increased the probability of 2J-OGS, while maxillary crowding (OR, 0.672; p < 0.05) and normo-divergent pattern (OR, 0.615; p < 0.05) decreased the probability of 2J-OGS. Conclusions In both groups, males outnumbered females, and their mean operation age was older. The most frequent ALD was crowding in the 1J-OGS group, and spacing in the 2J-OGS group, while skeletal characteristics were not significantly different between the two groups.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the accuracy of one-step automated orthodontic diagnosis of skeletodental discrepancies using a convolutional neural network (CNN) and lateral cephalogram images with different qualities from nationwide multi-hospitals. Methods: Among 2,174 lateral cephalograms, 1,993 cephalograms from two hospitals were used for training and internal test sets and 181 cephalograms from eight other hospitals were used for an external test set. They were divided into three classification groups according to anteroposterior skeletal discrepancies (Class I, II, and III), vertical skeletal discrepancies (normodivergent, hypodivergent, and hyperdivergent patterns), and vertical dental discrepancies (normal overbite, deep bite, and open bite) as a gold standard. Pre-trained DenseNet-169 was used as a CNN classifier model. Diagnostic performance was evaluated by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis, t-stochastic neighbor embedding (t-SNE), and gradientweighted class activation mapping (Grad-CAM). Results: In the ROC analysis, the mean area under the curve and the mean accuracy of all classifications were high with both internal and external test sets (all, > 0.89 and > 0.80). In the t-SNE analysis, our model succeeded in creating good separation between three classification groups. Grad-CAM figures showed differences in the location and size of the focus areas between three classification groups in each diagnosis. Conclusions Since the accuracy of our model was validated with both internal and external test sets, it shows the possible usefulness of a one-step automated orthodontic diagnosis tool using a CNN model. However, it still needs technical improvement in terms of classifying vertical dental discrepancies.

Objective: To investigate the pattern of accuracy change in artificial intelligence-assisted landmark identification (LI) using a convolutional neural network (CNN) algorithm in serial lateral cephalograms (Lat-cephs) of Class III (C-III) patients who underwent twojaw orthognathic surgery. Methods: A total of 3,188 Lat-cephs of C-III patients were allocated into the training and validation sets (3,004 Lat-cephs of 751 patients) and test set (184 Lat-cephs of 46 patients; subdivided into the genioplasty and non-genioplasty groups, n = 23 per group) for LI. Each C-III patient in the test set had four Lat-cephs: initial (T0), pre-surgery (T1, presence of orthodontic brackets [OBs]), post-surgery (T2, presence of OBs and surgical plates and screws [S-PS]), and debonding (T3, presence of S-PS and fixed retainers [FR]). After mean errors of 20 landmarks between human gold standard and the CNN model were calculated, statistical analysis was performed. Results: The total mean error was 1.17 mm without significant difference among the four timepoints (T0, 1.20 mm; T1, 1.14 mm; T2, 1.18 mm; T3, 1.15 mm). In comparison of two time-points ([T0, T1] vs. [T2, T3]), ANS, A point, and B point showed an increase in error (p < 0.01, 0.05, 0.01, respectively), while Mx6D and Md6D showeda decrease in error (all p < 0.01). No difference in errors existed at B point, Pogonion, Menton, Md1C, and Md1R between the genioplasty and non-genioplasty groups. Conclusions The CNN model can be used for LI in serial Lat-cephs despite the presence of OB, S-PS, FR, genioplasty, and bone remodeling.