Background: s/Aims: While large-for-size syndrome is uncommon in liver transplantation (LT), it can result in fatal outcome. To prevent such fatality, we manufactured 3D-printed intra-abdominal cavity replicas to provide intuitive understanding of the sizes of the graft and the patient’s abdomen in patients with small body size between July 2020 and February 2022. Methods: Clinical outcomes were compared between patients using our 3D model during LT, and patients who underwent LT without 3D model by using 1 : 5 ratio propensity score-matched analysis. Results: After matching, a total of 20 patients using 3D-printed abdominal cavity model and 100 patients of the control group were included in this study. There were no significant differences in 30-day postoperative complication (50.0% vs. 64.0%, p = 0.356) and the incidence of large-for-size syndrome (0% vs. 7%, p = 0.599). Overall survival of the 3D-printed group was similar to that of the control group (p = 0.665), but graft survival was significantly superior in the 3D-printed group, compared to the control group (p = 0.034). Conclusions Since it showed better graft survival, as well as low cost and short production time, our 3D-printing protocol can be a feasible option for patients with small abdominal cavity to prevent large-for-size syndrome after LT.

Background and Objectives: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) has been associated with an increased risk of cancer in various organs. OSA is also linked to chronic inflammation in the biliary tract and pancreas, a well-established risk factor for carcinogenesis in these organs. However, its relationship with biliary tract and pancreatic cancers remains unclear and has been rarely investigated. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate whether OSA serves as an independent risk factor for these malignancies by analyzing a nationwide healthcare claims database in South Korea. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted using the Korean National Health Insurance Service (KNHIS) database. Adults aged ≥20 years who were newly diagnosed with OSA (ICD-10: G47.30) between 2007 and 2014 were identified and propensity score-matched (1:5) with controls based on age, sex, and comorbidities. Individuals with pre-existing cancer diagnoses were excluded. The primary endpoints were the incidence of overall cancer, biliary tract cancer (C23–C24), and pancreatic cancer (C25). Cox proportional hazards regression models were used to calculate hazard ratios (HRs), adjusting for demographic and clinical factors. Results: A total of 1,191,444 individuals were included, comprising 198,574 patients diagnosed with OSA and 992,870 matched controls. OSA was associated with an increased overall cancer incidence (HR, 1.132; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.097–1.169); however, it was not significantly associated with pancreatic cancer (HR, 0.941; 95% CI, 0.823–1.072) or biliary tract cancer (HR, 0.931; 95% CI, 0.751–1.142). Subgroup analyses stratified by sex and age revealed no statistically significant associations across these groups. Conclusion Our findings do not support OSA as an independent risk factor for biliary tract or pancreatic cancers.

Background: and Purpose The Treat Stroke to Target (TST) was a randomized clinical trial involving French and Korean patients demonstrating that a lower low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C, <70 mg/dL) target group (LT) experienced fewer cerebro-cardiovascular events than a higher target (90–110 mg/dL) group (HT). However, whether these results can be applied to Asian patients with different ischemic stroke subtypes remains unclear. Methods: Patients from 14 South Korean centers were analyzed separately. Patients with ischemic stroke or transient ischemic attack with evidence of atherosclerosis were randomized into LT and HT groups. The primary endpoint was a composite of ischemic stroke, myocardial infarction, coronary or cerebral revascularization, and cardiovascular death. Results: Among 712 enrolled patients, the mean LDL-C level was 71.0 mg/dL in 357 LT patients and 86.1 mg/dL in 355 HT patients. The primary endpoint occurred in 24 (6.7%) of LT and in 31 (8.7%) of HT group patients (adjusted hazard ratio [HR]=0.78; 95% confidence interval [CI]=0.45–1.33, P=0.353). Cardiovascular events alone occurred significantly less frequently in the LT than in the HT group (HR 0.26, 95% CI 0.09–0.80, P=0.019), whereas there were no significant differences in ischemic stroke events (HR 1.12, 95% CI 0.60–2.10, P=0.712). The benefit of LT was less apparent in patients with small vessel disease and intracranial atherosclerosis than in those with extracranial atherosclerosis. Conclusion In contrast to the French TST, the outcomes in Korean patients were neutral. Although LT was more effective in preventing cardiovascular diseases, it was not so in stroke prevention, probably attributed to the differences in stroke subtypes. Further studies are needed to elucidate the efficacy of statins and appropriate LDL-C targets in Asian patients with stroke.

Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is a minimally invasive treatment modality used as an alternative to surgery in patients with benign thyroid nodules, recurrent thyroid cancers (RTCs), and primary thyroid microcarcinomas. The Korean Society of Thyroid Radiology (KSThR) initially developed recommendations for the optimal use of RFA for thyroid tumors in 2009 and revised them in 2012 and 2017. As new meaningful evidence has accumulated since 2017 and in response to a growing global interest in the use of RFA for treating malignant thyroid lesions, the task force committee members of the KSThR decided to update the guidelines on the use of RFA for the management of RTCs based on a comprehensive analysis of current literature and expert consensus.

Background/Aims: Elevated troponin levels predict in-hospital mortality and influence decisions regarding thrombolytic therapy in patients with acute pulmonary embolism (PE). However, the usefulness of high-sensitivity troponin T (hsTnT) regarding PE remains uncertain. We aimed to establish the optimal cut-off level and compare its performance for precise risk stratification. Methods: 374 patients diagnosed with acute PE were reviewed. PE-related adverse outcomes, a composite of PE-related deaths, cardiopulmonary resuscitation incidents, systolic blood pressure < 90 mmHg, and all-cause mortality within 30 days were evaluated. The optimal hsTnT cut-off for all-cause mortality, and the net reclassification index (NRI) was used to assess the incremental value in risk stratification. Results: Among 343 normotensive patients, 17 (5.0%) experienced all-cause mortality, while 40 (10.7%) had PE-related adverse outcomes. An optimal hsTnT cut-off value of 60 ng/L for all-cause mortality (AUC 0.74, 95% CI 0.61–0.85, p < 0.001) was identified, which was significantly associated with PE-related adverse outcomes (OR 4.07, 95% CI 2.06–8.06, p < 0.001). Patients with hsTnT ≥ 60 ng/L were older, hypotensive, had higher creatinine levels, and right ventricular dysfunction signs. Combining hsTnT ≥ 60 ng/L with simplified pulmonary embolism severity index ≥1 provided additional prognostic information. Reclassification analysis showed a significant shift in risk categories, with an NRI of 1.016 ± 0.201 (p < 0.001). Conclusions We refined troponin’s predictive value in patients with acute PE, proposing a new cut-off value of hsTnT ≥ 60 ng/L. Validation through large-scale studies is essential to offer clinically useful guidance for managing patient population.

Background/Aims: Adiponectin, a hormone primarily produced by adipocytes, typically shows an inverse relationship with body mass index (BMI). However, some studies have reported a positive correlation between the two. Thus, this study aimed to examine the relationship between adiponectin level and BMI in diabetic patients, focusing on the impact of past obesity on current adiponectin levels. Methods: We conducted an observational study analyzing data from 323 diabetic patients at Kyungpook National University Hospital. Based on past and current BMIs, participants were categorized into never-obese (nn, n = 106), previously obese (on, n = 43), and persistently obese (oo, n = 73) groups based on a BMI threshold of 25 kg/m2. Adiponectin level and BMI were key variables. Kaplan–Meier analysis assessed their impact on all-cause mortality up to August 2023, with survival differences based on adiponectin quartiles and follow-up starting from patient enrollment (2010–2015). Results: The analysis revealed a significant inverse correlation between adiponectin level and past maximum BMI. The on group exhibited approximately 10% lower adiponectin levels compared to the nn group. This association remained significant after adjusting for current BMI, age, and sex, highlighting the lasting influence of previous obesity on adiponectin levels. Furthermore, survival analysis indicated that patients in the lowest adiponectin quartile had reduced survival, with a statistically significant trend (p = 0.062). Conclusions Findings of this study suggest that lower adiponectin levels, potentially reflecting past obesity, are associated with decreased survival in diabetic patients, underscoring a critical role of adiponectin in long-term health outcomes.

Background: s/Aims: While large-for-size syndrome is uncommon in liver transplantation (LT), it can result in fatal outcome. To prevent such fatality, we manufactured 3D-printed intra-abdominal cavity replicas to provide intuitive understanding of the sizes of the graft and the patient’s abdomen in patients with small body size between July 2020 and February 2022. Methods: Clinical outcomes were compared between patients using our 3D model during LT, and patients who underwent LT without 3D model by using 1 : 5 ratio propensity score-matched analysis. Results: After matching, a total of 20 patients using 3D-printed abdominal cavity model and 100 patients of the control group were included in this study. There were no significant differences in 30-day postoperative complication (50.0% vs. 64.0%, p = 0.356) and the incidence of large-for-size syndrome (0% vs. 7%, p = 0.599). Overall survival of the 3D-printed group was similar to that of the control group (p = 0.665), but graft survival was significantly superior in the 3D-printed group, compared to the control group (p = 0.034). Conclusions Since it showed better graft survival, as well as low cost and short production time, our 3D-printing protocol can be a feasible option for patients with small abdominal cavity to prevent large-for-size syndrome after LT.

Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is a minimally invasive treatment modality used as an alternative to surgery in patients with benign thyroid nodules, recurrent thyroid cancers (RTCs), and primary thyroid microcarcinomas. The Korean Society of Thyroid Radiology (KSThR) initially developed recommendations for the optimal use of RFA for thyroid tumors in 2009 and revised them in 2012 and 2017. As new meaningful evidence has accumulated since 2017 and in response to a growing global interest in the use of RFA for treating malignant thyroid lesions, the task force committee members of the KSThR decided to update the guidelines on the use of RFA for the management of RTCs based on a comprehensive analysis of current literature and expert consensus.