Objective: To investigate the relationship between oral health, cognitive function, and quality of life (QoL) in elderly patients with schizophrenia. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 92 patients with schizophrenia, aged 60-90 years. Assessments included the Geriatric Oral Health Assessment Index (GOHAI), Consortium to Establish a Registry for Alzheimer’s Disease-Korean version, Schizophrenia Quality of Life Scale (SQLS), and Clinical Global Impression-Severity (CGI-S). Correlation and multiple regression analyses were performed. Results: GOHAI scores were significantly and negatively correlated with SQLS (r=-0.323) and CGI-S (r=-0.230). Multiple regression confirmed GOHAI as an independent predictor of SQLS (β=-0.325, p=0.001) after controlling for demographic and clinical variables. Furthermore, anticholinergic drug use did not significantly moderate the positive impact of oral health on QoL. Conclusion Improving oral health is directly associated with better subjective QoL in elderly patients with schizophrenia, independent of objective cognitive decline or anticholinergic burden. Integrated psychiatric-dental care is crucial for this population.

Sparganosis is a rare parasitic infection caused by Spirometra species. Although it was relatively common in the past, it is now often overlooked. In this study, we review cases diagnosed through histopathological examination at a single institution in recent years to raise awareness of this neglected parasitic disease. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed cases of human sparganosis identified in the pathology archives of a single institution in South Korea between 2004 and 2025. A comprehensive review was conducted, including demographic data, clinical features, lesion locations, imaging findings, exposure history (such as dietary habits), and histopathologic findings. Results: A total of 15 patients were identified, including 10 females and 5 males, with a mean age of 65.1 years. Lesions were most commonly located in the lower extremities and breast. Imaging findings were largely nonspecific, with ultrasonography being the most frequently used modality. In most cases, clinical suspicion of sparganosis was absent, and excision was performed under the impression of a benign or malignant tumor. Histologically, variably degenerated parasitic structures were identified within granulomatous inflammation. However, preserved features such as calcospherules and tegumental structures facilitated definitive diagnosis. Conclusions: This study underscores the importance of recognizing the characteristic histopathological features of sparganosis, which can allow for accurate diagnosis even in the absence of clinical suspicion. Although rare, sparganosis remains a relevant diagnostic consideration in endemic regions, particularly in East Asia.

Acute cellular rejection (ACR) following heart transplantation (TPL) compromises graft function and survival. The programmed cell death-1 (PD-1)/PD-1 ligand-1 (PD-L1) pathway represents an immune checkpoint that maintains peripheral immune tolerance, but its expression and significance in human cardiac allografts with ACR remain unclear. Thus, we investigated PD-1/ PD-L1 expression in endomyocardial biopsies from heart TPL recipients to clarify the role of this pathway in the ACR of human cardiac allografts and explore the potential of therapeutic modulation of PD-1/PD-L1 in this setting. Methods: Endomyocardial biopsies of 78 patients with heart TPL were subjected to immunohistochemistry for PD-L1, PD-1, CD4, and CD8. PD-L1 expression and quantities of PD-1+, CD4+, and CD8+ infiltrating lymphocytes were evaluated according to clinicopathological features, ACR presence, and clinical outcomes. Results: Allografts with high-grade ACR (International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation grades 2R and 3R) demonstrated markedly higher PD-L1 expression than did those without ACR (62.5% vs. 16.1%, p < .001). PD-L1 expression was positively associated with CD4+ lymphocyte infiltration (p = .025), whereas CD8 and PD-1+ lymphocyte counts were higher in PD-L1-positive allografts without reaching statistical significance (p = .059 and p = .390, respectively). Serial biopsies revealed that PD-L1 expression was upregulated in patients with high-grade ACR compared with that in previous non-ACR tissues, and follow-up biopsies were performed after ACR resolution. Conclusions: The PD-1/PD-L1 pathway is involved in ACR regulation in human cardiac allografts. Increased PD-L1 expression during ACR may represent a counteractive mechanism to limit alloimmune-mediated tissue injury, supporting PD-1/PD-L1 as a potential therapeutic target in heart TPL recipients.

The introduction of anti-amyloid therapies for Alzheimer’s disease (AD), such as lecanemab (Lequembi®), which was recently approved in Korea, necessitates careful monitoring for amyloid-related imaging abnormalities (ARIA) using brain MRI. To optimize ARIA monitoring in Korean clinical settings, the Korean Society of Neuroradiology (KSNR) and the Age and Neurodegeneration Imaging (ANDI) Study Group proposed MRI protocol recommendations on essential MR sequences, MRI acquisition parameters, timing and condition of MRI examinations, and essential details to provide a scientific basis for maximizing the safety and efficacy of AD treatment. A customized, standardized MRI protocol focusing on Korea’s healthcare environment can improve ARIA management and ensure patient safety through early detection of potential anti-amyloid therapy side effects, thereby enhancing treatment quality.

The introduction of anti-amyloid therapies for Alzheimer’s disease (AD), such as lecanemab (Lequembi®), which was recently approved in Korea, necessitates careful monitoring for amyloid-related imaging abnormalities (ARIA) using brain MRI. To optimize ARIA monitoring in Korean clinical settings, the Korean Society of Neuroradiology (KSNR) and the Age and Neurodegeneration Imaging (ANDI) Study Group proposed MRI protocol recommendations on essential MR sequences, MRI acquisition parameters, timing and condition of MRI examinations, and essential details to provide a scientific basis for maximizing the safety and efficacy of AD treatment. A customized, standardized MRI protocol focusing on Korea’s healthcare environment can improve ARIA management and ensure patient safety through early detection of potential anti-amyloid therapy side effects, thereby enhancing treatment quality.

The introduction of anti-amyloid therapies for Alzheimer’s disease (AD), such as lecanemab (Lequembi®), which was recently approved in Korea, necessitates careful monitoring for amyloid-related imaging abnormalities (ARIA) using brain MRI. To optimize ARIA monitoring in Korean clinical settings, the Korean Society of Neuroradiology (KSNR) and the Age and Neurodegeneration Imaging (ANDI) Study Group proposed MRI protocol recommendations on essential MR sequences, MRI acquisition parameters, timing and condition of MRI examinations, and essential details to provide a scientific basis for maximizing the safety and efficacy of AD treatment. A customized, standardized MRI protocol focusing on Korea’s healthcare environment can improve ARIA management and ensure patient safety through early detection of potential anti-amyloid therapy side effects, thereby enhancing treatment quality.

Background/Aims: Since the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak, hospitals have implemented infection control measures to minimize the spread of the virus within facilities. This study aimed to investigate the impact of COVID-19 on the incidence of healthcare-associated infections (HCAIs) and common respiratory virus (cRV) infections in hematology units. Methods: This retrospective study included all patients hospitalized in Catholic Hematology Hospital between 2019 and 2020. Patients infected with vancomycin-resistant Enterococci (VRE), carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales (CPE), Clostridium difficile infection (CDI), and cRV were analyzed. The incidence rate ratio (IRR) methods and interrupted time series analyses were performed to compare the incidence rates before and after the pandemic. Results: The incidence rates of CPE and VRE did not differ between the two periods. However, the incidence of CDI increased significantly (IRR: 1.41 [p = 0.002]) after the COVID-19 pandemic. The incidence of cRV infection decreased by 76% after the COVID-19 outbreak (IRR: 0.240 [p < 0.001]). The incidence of adenovirus, parainfluenza virus, and rhinovirus infection significantly decreased in the COVID-19 period (IRRs: 0.087 [p = 0.003], 0.031 [p < 0.001], and 0.149 [p < 0.001], respectively). Conclusions The implementation of COVID-19 infection control measures reduced the incidence of cRV infection. However, CDI increased significantly and incidence rates of CPE and VRE remained unchanged in hematological patients after the pandemic. Infection control measures suitable for each type of HCAI, such as stringent hand washing for CDI and enough isolation capacities, should be implemented and maintained in future pandemics, especially in immunocompromised patients.

In the 2023 series, we summarized the major clinical research advances in gynecologic oncology based on communications at the conference of Asian Society of Gynecologic Oncology Review Course. The review consisted of 1) Endometrial cancer: immune checkpoint inhibitor, antibody drug conjugates (ADCs), selective inhibitor of nuclear export, CDK4/6 inhibitors WEE1 inhibitor, poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitors. 2) Cervical cancer: surgery in low-risk early-stage cervical cancer, therapy for locally advanced stage and advanced, metastatic, or recurrent setting; and 3) Ovarian cancer: immunotherapy, triplet therapies using immune checkpoint inhibitors along with antiangiogenic agents and PARP inhibitors, and ADCs. In 2023, the field of endometrial cancer treatment witnessed a landmark year, marked by several practice-changing outcomes with immune checkpoint inhibitors and the reliable efficacy of PARP inhibitors and ADCs.

In the 2023 series, we summarized the major clinical research advances in gynecologic oncology based on communications at the conference of Asian Society of Gynecologic Oncology Review Course. The review consisted of 1) Endometrial cancer: immune checkpoint inhibitor, antibody drug conjugates (ADCs), selective inhibitor of nuclear export, CDK4/6 inhibitors WEE1 inhibitor, poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitors. 2) Cervical cancer: surgery in low-risk early-stage cervical cancer, therapy for locally advanced stage and advanced, metastatic, or recurrent setting; and 3) Ovarian cancer: immunotherapy, triplet therapies using immune checkpoint inhibitors along with antiangiogenic agents and PARP inhibitors, and ADCs. In 2023, the field of endometrial cancer treatment witnessed a landmark year, marked by several practice-changing outcomes with immune checkpoint inhibitors and the reliable efficacy of PARP inhibitors and ADCs.

Background: Developmental trajectories of clinical skills in training physicians vary among tasks and show interindividual differences. This study examined the predictors of medical internship performance and residency entrance and found subtypes of performance trajectory in training physicians. Methods: This retrospective cohort study involved 888 training physicians who completed a medical internship between 2015 and 2019. After the internship, 627 physicians applied for residency training between 2016 and 2020. Finally, 160 of them completed their first-year residency in internal medicine, surgery, pediatrics, and psychiatry departments between 2016 and 2020. Pearson’s correlation coefficients of internship performance and first year-residency performance (n = 160) were calculated. Latent profile analysis identified performance trajectory subtypes according to medical school grade point average (GPA), internship performance, English proficiency, and residency selection procedures. Multivariate logistic regression models of residency acceptance (n = 627) and performance in the top 30%/lower 10% in the first year of residency were also constructed. Results: Medical internship performance showed a significant positive correlation with the medical school GPA (r = 0.194) and the written score for the medical licensing examination (r = 0.125). Higher scores in the interview (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 2.57) and written examination (aOR, 1.45) of residency selection procedures and higher medical internship performance (aOR, 1.19) were associated with a higher chance of residency acceptance. The latent profile analyses identified three training physician subgroups: average performance, consistently high performance (top 30%), and adaptation to changes (lowest 10%). Higher scores in the interview for residency selection (aOR, 1.35) and lower scores for medical internship performance (aOR, 0.79) were associated with a higher chance of performing in the top 30% or lowest 10% in the first year of residency, respectively. Conclusion Performance in the interview and medical internship predicted being among the top 30% and lowest 10% of performers in the first year of residency training, respectively.Individualized educational programs to enhance the prospect of trainees becoming highfunctioning physicians are needed.