Purpose: Early differentiation between transient congenital hypothyroidism (TCH) and permanent congenital hypothyroidism (PCH) is crucial for optimizing the duration of treatment. This retrospective cohort study aimed to evaluate whether levothyroxine (LT4) dose requirements over time can predict TCH and guide earlier discontinuation of treatment. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 105 infants with congenital hypothyroidism and normal thyroid glands confirmed by imaging at a single tertiary care center (Inha University Hospital) between January 2013 and December 2022. Patients were classified into TCH (n=70) or PCH (n=35) based on thyroid function after LT4 withdrawal at 3 years of age. LT4 dose/kg at 6, 12, and 24 months, along with clinical and biochemical parameters, were compared between the 2 groups. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was used to assess the predictive performance of LT4 dose thresholds. Results: The LT4 dose was significantly lower in the TCH group at 6 (3.16±0.83 μg/kg vs. 3.75±0.99 μg/kg, P=0.005), 12 (2.51±0.82 μg/kg vs. 3.37±1.17 μg/kg, P<0.001), and 24 months (2.02±0.61 μg/kg vs. 3.09±1.19 μg/kg, P<0.001). ROC curve analysis showed an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.649, 0.746, and 0.794 at 6, 12, and 24 months, respectively. A logistic regression model incorporating LT4 dose, birth weight, and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels improved prediction accuracy (AUC: 0.740, 0.782, 0.833 at 6, 12, and 24 months, respectively). Conclusion LT4 dose requirements at 6, 12, and 24 months serve as useful indicators for differentiating TCH from PCH. A combined predictive model incorporating LT4 dose, birth weight, and TSH levels may improve diagnostic accuracy, supporting earlier discontinuation of treatment.

Purpose: This study examined the levels of end-of-life care preparedness, importance, performance, and educational needs among community-based home care workers and identified factors influencing end-of-life care performance to inform hospice/end-of-life care education programs. Methods: This study used a descriptive, correlational design. The participants were 152 community-based home care workers with at least 6 months of work experience. Data were collected using structured questionnaires that assessed end-of-life care preparedness, importance, performance, and educational needs. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, correlation analysis, importance-performance analysis (IPA), and hierarchical multiple regression analysis using SPSS version 29.0. Results: Overall, end-oflife care performance was significantly lower than its perceived importance (t=14.41, P＜ 0.001), with the largest gaps observed in the caregiving support and emotional support domains. In the IPA, multiple items related to death preparation for patients/families, spiritual/ emotional support, and care around the time of death fell into the low-importance/lowperformance quadrant. Educational needs positively correlated with importance, intention,confidence, preparedness, and performance. In hierarchical regression, preparedness (β =0.21, P=0.03) and importance (β=0.26, P＜0.001) significantly predicted performance, explaining 15% of variance. Conclusion End-of-life care performance among home care workers was influenced by psychological factors, including preparedness, importance, and confidence in end-of-life care, as well as institutional and environmental factors. Standardized educational programs and organizational support are required to improve the quality of community-based end-of-life care.

Purpose: This study aimed to identify the factors influencing end-of-life care performance among community-based care workers prior to the implementation of the Integrated Care Support Act in South Korea. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 153 community care workers who provided home-based services. Data were collected using structured questionnaires that assessed perceptions of a good death, attitudes toward end-of-life care, end-of-life care stress, and end-of-life care performance. Data analysis included descriptive statistics, independent t tests, Pearson correlation coefficients, and hierarchical multiple regression using SPSS version 29.0. Results: End-of-life care performance demonstrated a significant positive correlation with end-of-life care stress (r=0.43,P＜0.001). Hierarchical regression analysis identified end-of-life care stress (β=0.32, P＜ 0.001), gender (female; β=–0.20, P=0.01), and intention to participate in end-of-life care education (β=–0.20, P=0.01) as significant predictors. The final model explained 25%of the variance in end-of-life care performance. Conclusion End-of-life care stress was the strongest predictor of performance among community-based care workers, along with gender and intention to participate in end-of-life care education. These findings suggest that, when appropriately managed and supported, end-of-life care stress may function as a motivating factor rather than solely a burden. Therefore, structured education and emotional support interventions—such as debriefing and peer-based supervision—are recommended. Additionally, the implementation of the Integrated Care Support Act should be accompanied by institutional systems that facilitate effective end-of-life care practices.

Purpose: This study aimed to address the shift toward competency-based education and the planned 2028 “Integrated Nursing” National Licensing Examination (NLE), this study aimed to establish structural alignment among NLE domains, the seven integrated nursing competencies (INCs), and curriculum goals, with a particular focus on implementing symptom-based clinical reasoning (SBCR). Methods: This Delphi-based methodological study included seven content experts for content validity index (CVI) assessment and 24 nursing education experts who participated in a consensus workshop. The item-level CVI and the scale-level CVI/average were calculated to confirm the linkage between INCs and NLE domains. In addition, qualitative analysis of workshop materials and meeting records was conducted to derive 10 integrated learning topics and to develop an SBCR educational model for the key symptom of headache, grounded in Miller’s Clinical Competence Pyramid (levels 2–4). Results: The analysis confirmed the validity of integrating the INCs within the overall curriculum structure. The resulting framework delineates staged learning objectives and core clinical questions designed to systematically enhance clinical reasoning, promote safe nursing practice, and support professional reflection within a unified curriculum. Conclusion This study provides a practical foundation for nursing curriculum redesign by facilitating a transition from fragmented, subject-based instruction to a holistic, patient-centered SBCR model. This approach aligns with the requirements of the integrated NLE and is expected to contribute to meaningful improvements in actual clinical competency.

Background/Aims: Endoscopic anti-reflux therapy is a therapeutic option for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), providing durable effects. However, clinical data from Korea remain limited. This study evaluates the clinical outcomes of endoscopic radiofrequency Stretta therapy in Korean patients. Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 71 patients with GERD who underwent Stretta therapy at 2 tertiary hospitals in Korea between November 2015 and July 2021. Clinical outcomes, including patient satisfaction, medication cessation or reduction, and complications, were evaluated. Pre- and post-procedural esophageal manometry and 24-hour pH monitoring test results were also analyzed. Results: Patient satisfaction rates at 1, 6, and 12 months post-procedure were 54.7% (35/64), 70.0% (28/40), and 75.0% (21/28), respectively. Medication cessation or reduction was achieved in 31.2% (20/64) at 1 month, 70.0% (28/40) at 6 months, and 67.9% (19/28) at 12 months. Esophageal manometry (n = 21) showed no significant changes in mean lower esophageal sphincter pressure (18.7 mmHg [2.5-52.9] vs 17.4 mmHg [0.0-43.0], P = 0.702) or mean integrated relaxation pressure (8.2 mmHg [0.0-28.0] vs 10.1 mmHg [0.0-31.0], P = 0.840). The 24-hour pH monitoring (n = 18) demonstrated a nonsignificant decrease in acid exposure time (pH < 4) from 2.3% (0.0-8.4) to 1.6% (0.0-7.3) (P = 0.182). Similarly, the DeMeester score decreased non-significantly from 8.4 (0.8-27.7) to 6.6 (0.8-21.8) (P = 0.352). No procedure-related complications occurred. Conclusion Endoscopic radiofrequency Stretta therapy appears to be a safe treatment option for GERD and may provide favorable patient satisfaction and medication reduction.

South Korea’s current healthcare system stands at a critical crossroads that will determine whether it can progress in a better direction over the next decade. Behind the relatively stable level of population health that has been maintained until now, it has become clear that the deterioration of patient experiences, the risk of collapse in critical emergency medical services, the burnout of healthcare providers, and the crisis in the sustainability of healthcare finances have all accumulated simultaneously. This crisis can no longer be overcome by partial fixes or short-term measures alone. The answer to what needs to change first must begin with a reaffirmation of what the healthcare system should aim for. Ultimately, what needs to be changed now is not an individual policy, but the criteria and priorities through which we view healthcare. The focus must shift from what to provide more of, to questioning what holds greater social value. If such a shift does not begin now, in ten years we won’t face a better healthcare system, but care enmeshed in a deeper crisis. Now is precisely the time to fundamentally define the direction of the healthcare system.

Background: A systematic evaluation of potential living liver donors is essential to ensure donor safety and optimize recipient outcomes in living donor liver transplantation (LDLT). This study aimed to assess donor acceptance rates and reasons for disqualification among individuals evaluated for LDLT at a high-volume transplant center over a one-year period. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 1,087 potential living liver donors who presented for LDLT evaluation in 2023. Of these, 991 candidates advanced beyond the initial screening (Stage 1) and underwent comprehensive clinical, imaging, and pathological assessments (Stages 2 and 3). Candidates who discontinued after Stage 1 were excluded due to the absence of documented reasons for non-progression. Results: Among the 991 candidates who proceeded beyond initial screening, 473 (47.7%) completed the full donor evaluation, of whom 466 were judged to be suitable donors. Among suitable donors, 384 (82.4%) proceeded to donor hepatectomy, whereas 82 did not, primarily due to recipient-related factors such as clinical deterioration or withdrawal of consent. Donor ineligibility was determined in 422 candidates (42.6%), most commonly due to inadequate remnant liver volume (52.8%), hepatic steatosis (20.6%), and insufficient graft size (10.2%). Among candidates undergoing Stage 2 evaluation, 162 (16.3%) failed to meet steatosis criteria; 126 were excluded solely for steatosis and advised weight reduction, and 39 subsequently became eligible and successfully donated. Conclusion In this high-volume LDLT center, donor disqualification was primarily driven by remnant liver volume and hepatic steatosis. Targeted interventions such as weight reduction enabled successful donation in a subset of initially ineligible candidates, underscoring the importance of individualized donor evaluation and pre-donation optimization.

Purpose: The current study provides national cancer statistics and their secular trends in Korea, including incidence, mortality, survival, and prevalence in 2023, with international comparisons. Materials and Methods: Cancer incidence, survival, and prevalence rates were calculated using the Korea National Cancer Incidence Database (1999-2023), with survival follow-up until December 31, 2024. Mortality data were obtained from the Ministry of Data and Statistics, while international comparisons were based on GLOBOCAN data. Results: In 2023, 288,613 newly diagnosed cancer cases (age-standardized rate [ASR], 288.6 per 100,000) and 85,271 deaths from cancer (ASR, 64.3 per 100,000) were reported. Among the incident cases, 145,452 (50.4%) were aged 65 years or older. Prostate cancer became the most common cancer among men for the first time. The proportion of localized-stage cancers increased from 45.6% in 2005 to 51.8% in 2023. Korea had the lowest cancer mortality among countries with similar incidence rates and the lowest mortality-to-incidence ratios for stomach, colorectal, and breast cancer. The 5-year relative survival rate (2019-2023) was 73.7% overall and 92.7% for localized-stage cancers. Over 2.73 million prevalent cases were identified in 2023, representing 5.3% of the Korean population. Conclusion These findings indicate that Korea’s cancer control efforts have contributed to early detection and improved survival outcomes. As Korea enters a super-aged society in 2025, cancer burden will continue to increase, requiring sustained and adaptive cancer control strategies.

Background/Aims: Cardiovascular disease remains a major cause of mortality in patients with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD). This study evaluated the association between subclinical carotid atherosclerosis (SCA) and MASLD or MASLD and increased alcohol intake (MetALD) in asymptomatic individuals. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 56,889 adults undergoing health check-ups in South Korea. Hepatic steatosis was diagnosed by ultrasound, and SCA was defined by carotid plaques or increased intima-media thickness. Liver fibrosis was evaluated using the fibrosis-4 index and elastography. Results: SCA was identified in 13.5%. MASLD and MetALD were significantly associated with SCA in models adjusted for demographic and lifestyle factors (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 1.26;95% confidence interval [CI], 1.19 to 1.33; aOR, 1.43; 95% CI, 1.30 to 1.58; respectively, p<0.001for both). However, these associations attenuated and lost statistical significance when metabolic risk factors were further adjusted. The risk of SCA increased with greater hepatic steatosis and liver fibrosis severity. In patients with MASLD, aORs were 1.70 (hepatic steatosis index >36),1.23 (fibrosis-4 index ≥1.3), and 1.78 (liver stiffness measurement ≥5.6 kPa), compared to indi-viduals without MASLD. Similar trends were observed in the MetALD group. Additionally, hyper-tension and clustering of ≥3 cardiometabolic risk factors were significantly associated with SCA inthe MASLD group, supporting the role of metabolic burden in SCA development. Conclusions MASLD and MetALD were associated with increased SCA risk, particularly in individuals with hepatic steatosis and fibrosis. These findings suggest that metabolic burden and liver disease severity jointly contribute to subclinical atherosclerosis risk.

Background: and Purpose To compare the epidemiological and clinical features of the rare patients with cerebral autosomal dominant arteriopathy with subcortical infarcts and leukoencephalopathy (CADASIL) with age- and sex-matched controls in a nationwide cohort from South Korea. Methods: This observational cohort study analyzed newly diagnosed CADASIL patients aged at least 20 years and matched controls using data from the National Health Information Database for 2004–2022. The cumulative incidence of CADASIL was assessed by age and sex, and compared between regions. Neurologic and systemic diseases were compared between the CADASIL and control groups. Results: The study analyzed 816 CADASIL patients and 816 age- and sex-matched controls aged 56.8±15.2 years (mean±standard deviation), among whom 48.3% were male. The cumulative incidence of CADASIL was 1.86 per 100,000 people (95% confidence interval [CI]=1.85– 1.87 per 100,000), and peaked at 60–69 years of age. In terms of regional distribution, the incidence was highest for Jeju, at 39.67 per 100,000 (95% CI 37.84–41.49 per 100,000). Neurologic diseases were more frequent in CADASIL patients, including Alzheimer’s disease (33.1% vs.20.0%), vascular dementia (84.9% vs. 5.0%), epilepsy (34.6% vs. 15.9%), stroke (70.7% vs. 27.6%), parkinsonism (18.9% vs. 11.0%), and depression (60.8% vs. 44.9%). Systemic diseases such as diabetes mellitus (78.9% vs. 68.9%) were also more common in CADASIL patients, while cancer (27.9% vs. 38.7%) and myocardial infarction (10.0% vs. 13.6%) were less common than in controls. The onset ages of all diseases were lower in CADASIL patients. Conclusions This study has provided a precise nationwide estimate of the CADASIL incidence and its regional distribution in South Korea. CADASIL patients showed higher incidence rates and earlier onsets of diverse clinical manifestations.