Purpose: This study investigated the risk of radiation-associated heart disease (RAHD) in Korean women treated with radiotherapy (RT) for breast cancer (BC) using data from the National Health Insurance Service database. Materials and Methods: A retrospective cohort analysis was conducted on 65,188 patients with BC treated with RT between 2009 and 2014 and 325,940 controls without BC or prior coronary artery disease (CAD), with 1:5 exact matching by age, type 2 diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and dyslipidemia status. CAD encompassed both incident events and fatal events. Competing risk analysis was conducted to estimate subdistribution hazard ratio (HR) with 95% confidence interval (CI) for CAD, setting mortality from non-CAD causes as a competing risk. Results: During the mean 9.9 years of follow-up period, 3,852 (1.0%) CAD and 20,999 (5.4%) death from non-CAD causes were reported. Compared to controls, participants with BC who received RT had a significantly lower risk of CAD incidence. HR (95% CI) for CAD in the BC with RT group was 0.66 (0.60-0.73, p < 0.001). On the other hand, HR (95% CI) for mortality from non-CAD causes was 3.57 (3.48-3.67, p < 0.001). Conclusion In this large population-based cohort study, breast cancer patients who received RT did not show an increased incidence of CAD compared with the general population without breast cancer. Individual-level dosimetric data and longer follow-up are needed to clarify the independent risk.

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 and Objectives: A comprehensive survey of congenital heart disease (CHD) prevalence has not yet been conducted in South Korea. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of CHDs in Korean children and lay the foundation for national CHD epidemiology. Methods: Target patients were infantile crucial CHDs, which include critical CHDs (requiring urgent procedures after birth with common hypoxemic defects) and diverse categorical defects excluding simple shunt defects. Data were obtained from the National Health Insurance Service over a 5-year period (2014–2018). Birth prevalence (new cases per 1,000 live births) of CHDs in Korea was analyzed and compared with that of other countries. Results: The birth prevalences of right heart obstructive defects (pulmonary valve stenosis and pulmonary atresia), conus anomalies (tetralogy of Fallot and double outlet right ventricle), and total anomalous pulmonary venous return showed significant increases in the East Asian group (P<0.001), whereas those of left heart obstructive defects (coarctation of aorta, aortic stenosis, and hypoplastic left heart syndrome), truncus anomalies (D-transposition of great artery and persistent truncus arteriosus), atrioventricular septal defect, and hypoplastic right heart syndrome were significantly decreased in the East Asian group (P<0.001). Conclusions The overall birth prevalence of crucial CHDs in Korea was similar to that of critical CHDs in previous studies from other countries. Some subtypes of right heart obstructive defects, left heart obstructive defects, and conotruncal anomalies showed significant differences between East Asian and Western populations. This study contributes to a foundation for national CHD epidemiology in Korean children.

Background: Although silicone-based products are widely used for hypertrophic scar (HS) treatment, limited research exists on the correlation between patient compliance of silicone products and scar outcomes. This study aims to investigate whether continuous and consistent use of topical silicone gel (TSG) and silicone gel sheet (SGS) improves scar characteristics and whether patient compliance influences scar outcomes. Methods: A total of 79 patients with HS were randomized into either TSG (n=38) or SGS group (n=41) by an independent physician who had not seen the patients. Patient compliance was assessed based on application frequency and duration. Patients were divided into three subgroups according to compliance. Scar characteristics were evaluated using the Vancouver Scar Scale (VSS) and patient self-assessment via a visual analogue scale (VAS) for 6 months. Results: VSS pigmentation and scar height worsened in patients who applied silicone products for less than 3 days per week, especially in the TSG group. Patients who applied silicone products for more than 4 days per week showed significant improvements in all factors. Patients reported improvements in VAS scar height, pigmentation, and hardness as application time increased. Pain and itching improved regardless of application time. Conclusion Continuous and consistent use of TSG and SGS improved HS outcomes. Applying silicone products more than 4 days in a week correlated with better scar characteristics, except pain and itching. Applying silicone products less than 3 days in a week is not recommended, as this may worsen scar height and pigmentation.

The orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) plays a crucial role in mood disorders; however, its specific role in the emotional behaviors of mice remains unclear.This study investigates the bidirectional control of emotional behaviors using population calcium dynamics and optogenetic manipulation of OFC neurons. Fiber photometry of OFC neurons revealed that OFC excitatory neurons consistently responded to the onset and offset of aversive conditions, showing decreased activation in response to anxiogenic and stressful stimuli, including tail suspension, restraint stress, and exposure to the center of the open field. The selective activation of excitatory neurons in the OFC reduced the time spent in the center of the open field, whereas optogenetic activation of inhibitory neurons in the OFC induced the opposite behavioral changes. We also provided a brain-wide activation map for OFC excitatory and inhibitory neuron activation. Our findings demonstrate that excitatory and inhibitory neurons in the OFC play opposing roles in the regulation of emotional behaviors. These results provide new insights into the neural mechanisms underlying emotional control and suggest that targeting these specific neuronal populations may offer novel therapeutic strategies for emotional disorders.

The orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) plays a crucial role in mood disorders; however, its specific role in the emotional behaviors of mice remains unclear.This study investigates the bidirectional control of emotional behaviors using population calcium dynamics and optogenetic manipulation of OFC neurons. Fiber photometry of OFC neurons revealed that OFC excitatory neurons consistently responded to the onset and offset of aversive conditions, showing decreased activation in response to anxiogenic and stressful stimuli, including tail suspension, restraint stress, and exposure to the center of the open field. The selective activation of excitatory neurons in the OFC reduced the time spent in the center of the open field, whereas optogenetic activation of inhibitory neurons in the OFC induced the opposite behavioral changes. We also provided a brain-wide activation map for OFC excitatory and inhibitory neuron activation. Our findings demonstrate that excitatory and inhibitory neurons in the OFC play opposing roles in the regulation of emotional behaviors. These results provide new insights into the neural mechanisms underlying emotional control and suggest that targeting these specific neuronal populations may offer novel therapeutic strategies for emotional disorders.

Background and Objectives: A comprehensive survey of congenital heart disease (CHD) prevalence has not yet been conducted in South Korea. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of CHDs in Korean children and lay the foundation for national CHD epidemiology. Methods: Target patients were infantile crucial CHDs, which include critical CHDs (requiring urgent procedures after birth with common hypoxemic defects) and diverse categorical defects excluding simple shunt defects. Data were obtained from the National Health Insurance Service over a 5-year period (2014–2018). Birth prevalence (new cases per 1,000 live births) of CHDs in Korea was analyzed and compared with that of other countries. Results: The birth prevalences of right heart obstructive defects (pulmonary valve stenosis and pulmonary atresia), conus anomalies (tetralogy of Fallot and double outlet right ventricle), and total anomalous pulmonary venous return showed significant increases in the East Asian group (P<0.001), whereas those of left heart obstructive defects (coarctation of aorta, aortic stenosis, and hypoplastic left heart syndrome), truncus anomalies (D-transposition of great artery and persistent truncus arteriosus), atrioventricular septal defect, and hypoplastic right heart syndrome were significantly decreased in the East Asian group (P<0.001). Conclusions The overall birth prevalence of crucial CHDs in Korea was similar to that of critical CHDs in previous studies from other countries. Some subtypes of right heart obstructive defects, left heart obstructive defects, and conotruncal anomalies showed significant differences between East Asian and Western populations. This study contributes to a foundation for national CHD epidemiology in Korean children.

The orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) plays a crucial role in mood disorders; however, its specific role in the emotional behaviors of mice remains unclear.This study investigates the bidirectional control of emotional behaviors using population calcium dynamics and optogenetic manipulation of OFC neurons. Fiber photometry of OFC neurons revealed that OFC excitatory neurons consistently responded to the onset and offset of aversive conditions, showing decreased activation in response to anxiogenic and stressful stimuli, including tail suspension, restraint stress, and exposure to the center of the open field. The selective activation of excitatory neurons in the OFC reduced the time spent in the center of the open field, whereas optogenetic activation of inhibitory neurons in the OFC induced the opposite behavioral changes. We also provided a brain-wide activation map for OFC excitatory and inhibitory neuron activation. Our findings demonstrate that excitatory and inhibitory neurons in the OFC play opposing roles in the regulation of emotional behaviors. These results provide new insights into the neural mechanisms underlying emotional control and suggest that targeting these specific neuronal populations may offer novel therapeutic strategies for emotional disorders.