Purpose: Stem cell transplantation (SCT) has historically played a major role in the long-term remission of mantle cell lymphoma (MCL), an incurable hematological malignancy. Using data from the Korean Society of Bone and Marrow Transplantation registry, we retrospectively analyzed the role of autologous (auto) and allogeneic (allo) SCT in longterm MCL survival. Methods: This study analyzed data from 188 patients (age ≥ 19 years at the time of transplantation) who underwent a transplant for MCL from 2011 to 2020. Progression-free survival (PFS) was defined as the time from transplantation to disease progression, relapse, or death from any cause. Overall survival (OS) was defined as the time from transplan‑ tation to death from any cause or the last follow-up. Results: In total, 109 patients underwent consolidative SCT after first-line chemotherapy. The 3-year PFS and OS rates were 65.4% and 78.5%, respectively, in the auto-SCT group, and 66.7% and 71.4%, respectively, in the allo-SCT group. The PFS and OS did not differ significantly between the auto- and allo-SCT groups. As part of salvage treatment, 52 patients with relapsed or refractory disease underwent auto- or allo-SCT. Patients who underwent auto-SCT with complete remis‑ sion/partial remission status reported better outcomes. In patients with refractory status, allogeneic transplantation using human leukocyte antigen (HLA) fully matched donors was a significantly favorable factor for PFS and OS. Conclusion The long-term survival of patients who underwent consolidative transplantation was similar to that reported in previous studies. Auto-SCT may be beneficial in patients who respond to salvage therapy, whereas allo-SCT with HLA-matched donors may be an alternative for patients with refractory disease. 

Multiple myeloma (MM), a hematological malignancy, is characterized by malignant plasma cell proliferation in the bone marrow. Recent treatment advances have significantly improved patient outcomes associated with MM.In this study, we aimed to develop comprehensive, evidence-based guidelines for the diagnosis, prognosis, and treat‑ ment of MM. We identified 12 key clinical questions essential for MM management, guiding the extensive literature review and meta-analysis of the study. Our guidelines provide evidence-based recommendations by integrating patient preferences with survey data. These recommendations include current and emerging diagnostic tools, thera‑ peutic agents, and treatment strategies. By prioritizing a patient-centered approach and rigorous data analysis, these guidelines were developed to enhance MM management, both in Korea and globally.

Objectives: . Due to the rarity of olfactory neuroblastoma (ONB), there is ongoing debate about optimal treatment strategies, especially for early-stage or locally advanced cases. Therefore, our study aimed to explore experiences from multiple centers to identify factors that influence the oncological outcomes of ONB. Methods: . We retrospectively analyzed 195 ONB patients treated at nine tertiary hospitals in South Korea between December 1992 and December 2019. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis was used to evaluate oncological outcomes, and a Cox proportional hazards regression model was employed to analyze prognostic factors for survival outcomes. Furthermore, we conducted 1:1 nearest-neighbor matching to investigate differences in clinical outcomes according to the use of neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Results: . In our cohort, the 5-year overall survival (OS) rate was 78.6%, and the 5-year disease-free survival (DFS) rate was 62.4%. The Cox proportional hazards model revealed that the modified Kadish (mKadish) stage and Dulguerov T status were significantly associated with DFS, while the mKadish stage and Hyams grade were identified as prognostic factors for OS. The subgroup analyses indicated a trend toward improved 5-year DFS with dural resection in mKadish A and B cases, even though the result was statistically insignificant. Induction chemotherapy did not provide a survival benefit in this study after matching for the mKadish stage and nodal status. Conclusion . Clinical staging and pathologic grading are important prognostic factors in ONB. Dural resection in mKadish A and B did not show a significant survival benefit. Similarly, induction chemotherapy also did not show a survival benefit, even after stage matching.

Background: Glomus tumors are benign vascular tumors derived from the glomus body, a neuromuscular vascular tissue responsible for regulating the temperature and blood flow of the skin. Ultrasonography (USG) is a useful tool for diagnosing glomus tumors; nevertheless, data on Korean patients with glomus tumors are limited. Objective: This study aimed to describe USG findings of subungual glomus tumors in Korean patients. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records and USG readings of 20 cases of glomus tumors in the nail apparatus diagnosed from January 2015 to December 2021. Results: Twenty patients were included in this study. Four patients (20.0%) were male and 16 (80.0%) were female. The age of onset ranged from 18∼86 years, with a mean of 45.2 years. USG findings showed hypoechoic echogenicity in all cases. Tumor size ranged from 2.3∼10 mm (mean±standard deviation, 5.5±1.9 mm). The tumor shape observed on USG was oval in 16 cases (80.0%), lobulated in three cases (15.0%), and round in one case (5.0%). Tumor boundaries were well-defined in 18 cases (90.0%) and ill-defined in two cases. Posterior acoustic enhancement and cortical erosion were observed in 19 (95.0%) and 17 cases (85.0%), respectively. Increased vascularity was observed in 19 cases (95.0%). Conclusion This study revealed characteristic USG features of glomus tumors. USG is a helpful tool for the diagnosis and management of glomus tumors.

Background: Eosinophilic cellulitis, also known as Wells’ syndrome, is an uncommon skin disease characterized by recurrent pruritic polymorphous plaques or nodules. There is limited knowledge in the Korean literature regarding the clinical characteristics and course of eosinophilic cellulitis. Objective: To investigate the clinical and histological features of eosinophilic cellulitis in Korean patients. Methods: In this case series study, we retrospectively reviewed the electronic medical records of patients diagnosed with eosinophilic cellulitis at our institutions from 2004 to 2022. We also analyzed the literature published in dermatology and internal medicine journals in Korea. Results: A total of 17 patients were included in this study (age, 39.4±21.8 years; 12 male [70.6%]), with an average disease duration of 4.4 months. We identified six clinical variants, with the typical plaque type being the most common (33.3%), followed by the papulonodular type (22.2%). Eosinophilia was observed in 78.6% of patients, and a flame figure, which is a typical histopathological feature of eosinophilic cellulitis, was observed in 52.9% of patients. Systemic and topical steroids and antihistamines were used as first-line treatment with generally favorable results (82.4%), followed by antibiotics (35.3%), cyclosporine (23.5%), and topical calcineurin inhibitors (23.5%).The recurrence rate during the mean follow-up period of 21.8 months was 29.4%. Conclusion Eosinophilic cellulitis can present with various clinical manifestations, and flame figures do not appear in all cases; therefore, clinical and histological correlations are critical for accurate diagnosis of patients with eosinophilic cellulitis.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the most effective treatment approach by comparing the impacts of various otolith reduction techniques in patients with apogeotropic lateral semicircular canal benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (LC-BPPV). Methods: We performed a multicenter randomized prospective study from January to December 2015, involving 72 consecutive patients with apogeotropic LC-BPPV. The patients were divided into three treatment groups: therapeutic head-shaking (group A), the Gufoni-Appiani maneuver (group B), and the cupulolith repositioning maneuver (CuRM; group C). Each group underwent evaluation and treatment up to the fourth week. Treatment success was defined as the disappearance of positional vertigo and nystagmus. Results: This study included 72 patients (49 male and 23 female), with a mean (±standard deviation) age of 55.4±13.5 years. The mean duration of vertigo experienced prior to treatment was 3.9±4.4 days. The mean latency and duration of nystagmus were 2.7±3.0 seconds and 47.9±15.8 seconds, respectively. The overall treatment frequency was 2.0±0.9. The number of treatments differed significantly among the three groups (P<0.05). After 4 weeks, the success rates for groups A, B, and C were 90.5%, 92.3%, and 100%, respectively. No significant difference was observed in the success rate across treatment methods and periods (P>0.05). However, CuRM was the only method with a 100% treatment success rate. Conclusion While no clear difference was observed among the three treatments for LC-BPPV, CuRM was found to be superior to the other approaches in the long term.

OBJECTIVES: As few mpox cases have been reported in Korea, we aimed to identify the characteristics of mpox infection by describing our epidemiologic investigation of a woman patient (index patient, the third case in Korea) and a physician who was infected by a needlestick injury (the fourth case). METHODS: We conducted contact tracing and exposure risk evaluation through interviews with these 2 patients and their physicians and contacts, as well as field investigations at each facility visited by the patients during their symptomatic periods. We then classified contacts into 3 levels according to their exposure risk and managed them to minimize further transmission by recommending quarantine and vaccination for post-exposure prophylaxis and monitoring their symptoms. RESULTS: The index patient had sexual contact with a man foreigner during a trip to Dubai, which was considered the probable route of transmission. In total, 27 healthcare-associated contacts across 7 healthcare facilities and 9 community contacts were identified. These contacts were classified into high (7 contacts), medium (9 contacts), and low (20 contacts) exposure risk groups. One high-risk contact was identified as a secondary patient: a physician who was injured while collecting specimens from the index patient. CONCLUSIONS The index patient visited several medical facilities due to progressive symptoms prior to isolation. Although the 2022 mpox epidemic mainly affected young men, especially men who have sex with men, physicians should also consider mpox transmission in the general population for the timely detection of mpox-infected patients.

Background: We compared upper- and lower-body forced-air blankets in terms of their ability to prevent perioperative hypothermia, defined as a reduction in body temperature to < 36.0°C, during the perioperative period in patients undergoing spine surgery in the prone position. Methods: In total, 120 patients scheduled for elective spine surgery under general anesthesia were divided into an upper-warming group (n = 60) and a lower-warming group (n = 60). After inducing anesthesia and preparing the patient for surgery, including prone positioning, the upper and lower bodies of the patients in the upper- and lower-warming groups, respectively, were warmed using a forced-air warmer with specified upper and lower blankets. Body temperature was measured using a tympanic membrane thermometer during the pre- and post-operative periods and using a nasopharyngeal temperature probe during the intraoperative period. Patients were evaluated in terms of shivering, thermal comfort, and satisfaction in the post-anesthesia care unit (PACU). Results: The incidence of intraoperative and postoperative hypothermia was lower in the upper-warming group than in the lower-warming group ([55.2% vs. 75.9%, P = 0.019] and [21.4% vs. 49.1%, P = 0.002]). Perioperative body temperature was higher in the upper-warming group (P < 0.001). However, intraoperative blood loss, postoperative thermal comfort scale and shivering scores, patient satisfaction, and PACU duration were similar in the two groups. Conclusions The upper-body blanket was more effective than the lower-body blanket for preventing perioperative hypothermia in patients who underwent spine surgery in the prone position.

Background: Disseminating public knowledge on malignant melanoma through YouTube is an important way to bridge the gap between physicians and patients. However, videos recorded on this topic in Korea are yet to be evaluated. Objective: We aimed to evaluate the quality of YouTube videos on malignant melanoma recorded in Korea. We also investigated whether there was a difference in the quality of videos made by medical professionals (subdivided into dermatologists and non-dermatologists) and non-medical personnel. Methods: We included all videos recorded in Korean by searching YouTube using the keywords “melanoma” or “malignant melanoma”. The search was performed on March 22, 2021. The inclusion criterion was videos in Korean language that contained medical information about malignant melanoma. The characteristics and content information were collected for each video. Video quality (DISCERN, Global Quality Scale [GQS], Journal of the American Medical Association [JAMA] benchmark criteria) was analyzed. Results: Eighty-five videos met the inclusion criterion for the analysis. Fifty-six (66%) and 29 videos (34%) were made by medical and non-medical personnel, respectively. The videos made by medical professionals significantly contained more of the following information than those made by non-medical personnel: clinical information (p＜ 0.001), symptoms and signs (p=0.001), risk factors (p＜0.05), diagnosis (p＜0.001). Videos made by medical professionals, videos with a length of more than 5 minutes, or videos with more than 10,000 views had significantly higher quality scores (DISCERN, GQS, JAMA). Conclusion Considering that YouTube is being used as a portal for medical information, the participation of medical professionals is essential for providing more accurate information.

The number of patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) who are dependent on hemodialysis is increasing rapidly. As a result, more patients with ESRD need surgery. These patients have a significantly higher risk of postoperative death than those with normal kidney function. Therefore, this study analyzed the causes of postoperative mortality in ESRD patients undergoing surgery under general anesthesia and the risk factors for postoperative mortality. Methods: This retrospective analysis examined the mortality of ESRD patients, 20 to 80 years old, undergoing surgery under general anesthesia. We excluded patients who underwent cardiac, cancer, or emergency surgery or organ transplantation from the analysis. The primary outcome was the cause of postoperative 30-day mortality in ESRD patients. We also assessed the mortality rate and risk factors. Results: There were 2,459 eligible ESRD patients. When patients underwent multiple surgeries during the study period, only the last surgery was considered. In total, 167 patients died during the study period, including 65 within 30 days postoperatively. The cause of death was sepsis in 22 cases (33.8%) and a major cardiac event in 16 (24.6%). Atrial fibrillation, current angina, previous myocardial infarction, asthma, lower hemoglobin and albumin levels, and a larger intraoperative colloid volume were likely to increase mortality. Conclusions: Our study suggests that immunological issues have a significant role in the death of ESRD patients after general anesthesia.