Background: There are limited long-term clinical outcome data comparing first-generation (1G) versus second-generation (2G) drug-eluting stents (DES) in patients with single-vessel disease (SVD). We sought to compare the efficacy and safety of 1G- and 2G-DES in SVD patients who underwent successful percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) over 10 years of clinical follow-up. Methods: A total of 2,312 consecutive patients with SVD who underwent PCI with 1G-DES (paclitaxel- or sirolimus-eluting stents, n = 811) or 2G-DES (zotarolimus [Endeavor, Endeavor Resolute]- or everolimus-eluting stents [Promus Element, Xience], n = 1,082) were enrolled.After propensity score matching, 2 matched groups (538 pairs) were generated. Study endpoints included individual and composite clinical outcomes through 10 years. Results: During the 10-year follow-up, the 2G-DES group had lower incidences of myocardial infarction (MI; hazard ratio [HR], 0.44; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.22–0.92; P = 0.028) and target lesion revascularization (TLR; HR, 0.54; 95% CI, 0.32–0.91; P = 0.021) than the 1G-DES group. Rates of total death, cardiac death, non-target vessel revascularization, stroke, major adverse cardiac events, and major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events were similar between groups. Conclusions In our single-center, all-comer registry, 2G-DES were associated with lower incidence rates of MI and TLR compared to 1G-DES in SVD patients over 10 years of followup, indicating a safer and more durable effect than 1G-DES.

Background: Primary cutaneous CD30+ lymphoproliferative disorders (pcCD30-LPDs) are a diseases with various clinical and prognostic characteristics. Objective: Increasing our knowledge of the clinical characteristics of pcCD30-LPDs and identifying potential prognostic variables in an Asian population. Methods: Clinicopathological features and survival data of pcCD30-LPD cases obtained from 22 hospitals in South Korea were examined. Results: A total of 413 cases of pcCD30-LPDs (lymphomatoid papulosis [LYP], n=237; primary cutaneous anaplastic large cell lymphoma [C-ALCL], n=176) were included. Ninety percent of LYP patients and roughly 50% of C-ALCL patients presented with multiple skin lesions. Both LYP and C-ALCL affected the lower limbs most frequently. Multiplicity and advanced T stage of LYP lesions were associated with a chronic course longer than 6 months. Clinical morphology with patch lesions and elevated serum lactate dehydrogenase were significantly associated with LPDs during follow-up in LYP patients. Extracutaneous involvement of C-ALCL occurred in 13.2% of patients. Lesions larger than 5 cm and increased serum lactate dehydrogenase were associated with a poor prognosis in C-ALCL. The survival of patients with C-ALCL was unaffected by the anatomical locations of skin lesions or other pathological factors. Conclusion The multiplicity or size of skin lesions was associated with a chronic course of LYP and survival among patients with C-ALCL.

Background: Bullous pemphigoid (BP) is an autoimmune blistering disease driven by autoantibodies against BP180 and BP230. While type 2 inflammation plays a key role, the precise immune cell alterations and transcriptomic changes remain unclear. Objective: To characterize immune cell composition and transcriptomic changes in BP patients using fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS)-based immunophenotyping and RNA sequencing. Methods: A case-control study was conducted on 10 newly diagnosed, treatment-naive BP patients and six healthy controls. Disease activity was assessed using the Bullous Pemphigoid Disease Area Index (BPDAI). Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were isolated for FACS analysis to determine immune cell subsets. RNA sequencing was performed to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and enriched pathways. Statistical analyses included t-tests, Mann-Whitney U tests, and correlation analysis. Results: FACS analysis revealed a reduction in CD4 + T cells, T helper 2 (Th2), and B cells in BP patients (p<0.05), alongside an increase in M2a-like monocytes (p<0.001). RNA sequencing identified 262 DEGs, with secretory leukocyte peptidase inhibitor (SLPI) and transmembrane protein 237 being the most significantly upregulated. Proline-serine-threonine phosphatase interacting protein 2 (PSTPIP2) and SAM domain, SH3 domain, and nuclear localization signals 1 (SAMSN1) positively correlated with BPDAI (p<0.001). Gene ontology analysis highlighted enrichment in inflammatory responses and neutrophil degranulation pathways. Conclusion BP patients show distinct immune dysregulation, including decreased CD4 + T cells, Th2, and B cells, increased M2a-like monocytes, altered gene expression profiles, and correlations between PSTPIP2, SAMSN1 and disease activity. These findings provide insights into pathogenesis and potential therapeutic targets of BP.

Background: Oxidative stress causes fatal damage to follicular keratinocytes (FKCs) and is a common pathophysiology of many hair disorders. Objective: This study investigated the protective effects of Red ginseng extract (RGE) and its main ginsenosides against oxidative hair damage using an in vitro organ model of human hair follicles. Methods: We examined whether RGE and its constituent ginsenosides could prevent oxidative damage induced by H 2 O 2 in FKCs by suppressing apoptosis and promoting hair growth. Results: RGE and its main ginsenoside, G-Rb1, significantly inhibited reactive oxygen species production and apoptosis in FKCs. Furthermore, they effectively alleviated the inhibition of hair growth induced by oxidative damage and inhibited the transition of hair from the anagen to the telogen stage. The hair cycle and apoptosis were associated with the modulation of p53 and Bax/Bcl2 signaling. Conclusion RGE and G-Rb1 can effectively mitigate the oxidative damage caused by FKCs, thereby affecting hair growth and hair cycles.

Background: Sapovirus is an increasingly recognized cause of acute gastroenteritis (AGE).Despite its significance, data on sapovirus epidemiology and genetic diversity in Korea are limited. Therefore, we examined sapovirus positivity rates over a 6.5-yr period and analyzed the genetic diversity of strains detected in 2022 in Korea. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 204,563 sapovirus multiplex PCR test results from suspected AGE cases collected between 2017 and 2023 at two institutions. Monthly and age-specific positive rates were evaluated. Forty sapovirus-positive samples from 2022 were genotyped using reverse transcription PCR and sequencing. The sequences were compared with those in the National Center for Biotechnology Information Virus database, and a phylogenetic tree was constructed to assess genetic relationships among sapovirus strains. Results: The overall sapovirus positivity rate from 2017 to 2023 was 2.2%, with an increasing trend in summer and autumn, except during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic in 2020 and 2021, when sapovirus was rarely detected. Positivity markedly increased in the summer and autumn of 2022 and 2023 following the COVID-19 pandemic. The predominant genotypes in 2022 were GI.1 and GII.3. Phylogenetic analysis revealed genetic diversity among circulating strains. Conclusions This study highlights the rising incidence of sapovirus in Korea, particularly after the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite focusing on genotyping data from a single year, these findings emphasize the need for ongoing surveillance to monitor sapovirus evolution and its public health impact. Additionally, our findings provide essential baseline data for future research into the epidemiology and genetics of sapovirus.

Objective: To establish local diagnostic reference levels (DRLs) for pediatric neck CT based on age, weight, and water-equivalent diameter (WED) across multiple university hospitals in South Korea. Materials and Methods: This retrospective study analyzed pediatric neck CT examinations from nine university hospitals, involving patients aged 0–18 years. Data were categorized by age, weight, and WED, and radiation dose metrics, including volume CT dose index (CTDIvol) and dose length product, were recorded. Data retrieval and analysis were conducted using a commercially available dose-management system (Radimetrics, Bayer Healthcare). Local DRLs were established following the International Commission on Radiological Protection guidelines, using the 75th percentile as the reference value. Results: A total of 1159 CT examinations were analyzed, including 169 scans from Institution 1, 132 from Institution 2, 126 from Institution 3, 129 from Institution 4, 128 from Institution 5, 105 from Institution 6, 162 from Institution 7, 127 from Institution 8, and 81 from Institution 9. Radiation dose metrics increased with age, weight, and WED, showing significant variability both within and across institutions. For patients weighing less than 10 kg, the DRL for CTDIvol was 5.2 mGy. In the 10–19 kg group, the DRL was 5.8 mGy; in the 20–39 kg group, 7.6 mGy; in the 40–59 kg group, 11.0 mGy; and for patients weighing 60 kg or more, 16.2 mGy. DRLs for CTDIvol by age groups were as follows: 5.3 mGy for infants under 1 year, 5.7 mGy for children aged 1–4 years, 7.6 mGy for ages 5–9 years, 11.2 mGy for ages 10–14 years, and 15.6 mGy for patients 15 years or older. Conclusion Local DRLs for pediatric neck CT were established based on age, weight, and WED across nine university hospitals in South Korea.

Background/Aims: Cholecystectomy for gallbladder (GB) polyps is performed primarily based on preoperative images. This study examined the accuracy of surgical indications commonly used in clinical practice for detecting neoplastic polyps and investigated further clues for predicting neoplastic polyps. Methods: This retrospective study included 385 patients who underwent a cholecystectomy for GB polyps. The predictive performances of seven surgical indications were compared by fitting the receiver operating characteristic curves. Logistic regression analysis was used to identify the candidate variables associated with predicting neoplastic polyps. Results: Neoplastic polyps were identified in 18.9% (n=62) of the 385 patients assessed. The neoplastic group contained more females than males, larger polyps, more frequent solitary lesions, and lower platelet counts than the non-neoplastic group. Current surgical indications revealed an unsatisfactory prediction for neoplastic polyps. The optimal cutoff polyp size for neoplastic polyps by ultrasound (US) was larger than by computed tomography (CT) (12 mm vs. 10 mm). The proportion of pathologic neoplastic polyps was higher when both US and CT images were used than that predicted using a single test. Logistic regression analysis revealed larger polyps, increasing age, female sex, and lower platelet count to be associated with neoplastic polyps. Conclusions The current indications for cholecystectomy in GB polyps have a low predictive value for neoplastic lesions that can lead to overtreatment. Combining the polyp size from US and CT images may reduce unnecessary surgery. In addition, knowledge of the patient's age, sex, and platelet count could help make more selective surgical decisions for neoplastic polyps.