1.Predictors and patterns of early liver regeneration after major hepatectomy
Seoyeong KU ; Garam LEE ; Hyung Hwan MOON ; Hyungjune KU ; Won Jong YANG ; Junho SONG ; Suyeon KIM ; Chol Min KANG ; Amy CHOI ; Dong Hyeon GIM ; Young Il CHOI ; Dong Hoon SHIN ; Namkee OH ; Jinsoo RHU
Kosin Medical Journal 2026;41(1):58-66
Background:
Postoperative liver regeneration is essential for maintaining hepatic function. This study evaluated the rate, determinants, and volumetric patterns of early liver regeneration after hemihepatectomy.
Methods:
A retrospective review was conducted of 50 patients who underwent right or left hemihepatectomy between April 2019 and March 2025. Liver and spleen volumes (SV) were assessed preoperatively, at postoperative day (POD) 1 week, and at POD 3 months. Early liver regeneration rate (LRR) was defined as the percentage increase in remnant liver volume at POD 1 week relative to the preoperative future liver remnant (FLR), and patients were categorized into low (<50%) and high (≥50%) LRR groups. Clinical, biochemical, and volumetric variables were compared, and predictors of regeneration were identified using multivariable analyses. Regeneration patterns were also examined according to whether the FLR/standard liver volume (SLV) ratio was <50% or ≥50%.
Results:
FLR/SLV was the strongest independent predictor of rapid early liver regeneration (p<0.001). Remnants with FLR/SLV <50% exhibited rapid and sustained regeneration, whereas those with FLR/SLV ≥50% showed slower regrowth that plateaued after reaching approximately 90% of SLV. SV increased at POD 1 week in all patients; however, only the FLR/SLV ≥50% group showed a reduction by POD 3 months, whereas the <50% group maintained elevated volumes.
Conclusions
FLR/SLV reliably predicts early postoperative liver regeneration. Smaller remnants regenerate more rapidly, whereas persistent splenic enlargement suggests a sustained portal hemodynamic burden. Combined evaluation of FLR/SLV and SV may enhance perioperative risk assessment and surgical planning.
2.Response to the letter to the editor: Interpreting meta-analyses of biportal endoscopic decompression for lumbar spinal stenosis
Alexander YU ; Mark KURAPATTI ; Ryan HOANG ; James HONG ; Nancy SHRESTHA ; Ryan STADLER ; Peter CAMPBELL ; Junho SONG ; Joshua LEE ; Samuel K. CHO
Asian Spine Journal 2026;20(2):409-410
3.Impact of cage type on subsidence following anterior cervical discectomy and fusion: a retrospective study
Pierce J. FERRITER JR ; Suhas K. ETIGUNTA ; Akiro H. DUEY ; Christopher GONZALEZ ; Katrina NIETSCH ; Ashley M. ROSENBERG ; Bashar ZAIDAT ; Avanish YENDLURI ; Daniel BERMAN ; Junho SONG ; Jun S. KIM ; Samuel K. CHO
Asian Spine Journal 2026;20(1):87-96
Methods:
Retrospective study of 120 patients (223 fusion levels) who underwent ACDF between 2016 and 2021. Spacer types included structural allografts, PEEK, titanium, and ceramic cages. Radiographic measurements of subsidence were obtained from immediate (≤8 weeks) and long-term (≥6 months) postoperative lateral cervical radiographs. Multivariable linear regression was used to assess the association between spacer type and subsidence, adjusting for patient demographics, surgical levels, smoking history, and osteopenia.
Results:
The mean age of patients was 53.6±10.9 years and 41.7% were male; 47.5% had a smoking history and 20.8% had osteopenia. There were 38 one-level (31.7%), 61 two-level (50.8%), and 21 three-level fusions (17.5%). Spacer distribution included 62 structural allografts (51.7%), 27 PEEK (22.5%), 20 titanium (16.7%), and 11 ceramic (9.2%) cages. On multivariable analysis, PEEK cages were associated with significantly less anterior subsidence (β=−0.972, p <0.001) and posterior subsidence (β=−0.666, p=0.001) compared to allografts, and greater preservation of segmental lordosis (β=1.393, p=0.024). No significant differences in subsidence were found between titanium, ceramic, and allograft spacers.
Conclusions
PEEK cages showed reduced subsidence and better preservation of cervical lordosis compared to structural allografts, while titanium and ceramic cages did not differ significantly from structural allografts. These results suggest that PEEK cages may help minimize subsidence-related complications and improve outcomes.
4.Response to the letter to the editor: Clarification regarding effect size reporting in “biportal endoscopic versus conventional open spine surgery: a systematic review and meta-analysis”
Alexander YU ; Mark KURAPATTI ; Ryan HOANG ; Charu JAIN ; Gray William RICCA ; Junho SONG ; Joshua LEE ; Danielv BERMAN ; Samuel Kang-Wook CHO
Asian Spine Journal 2025;19(6):1103-1104
5.Adjuvant Chemotherapy for Upper Tract Urothelial Carcinoma: A Real-World, Retrospective Study
Junho LEE ; Sung Hee LIM ; Jae Hoon CHUNG ; Wan SONG ; Hyun Hwan SUNG ; Byong Chang JEONG ; Se Hoon PARK
Cancer Research and Treatment 2024;56(3):871-876
Purpose:
The aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate the efficacy of adjuvant cisplatin-based chemotherapy in patients with locally advanced upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC), administered following radical nephroureterectomy.
Materials and Methods:
Patients with UTUC, arising from renal pelvis or ureter, staged pT3/T4 or N+ were treated with adjuvant chemotherapy following surgery. The chemotherapy consisted of gemcitabine 1,000 mg/m2 on days 1 and 8, cisplatin 70 mg/m2 on day 1. Treatment was repeated every 3 weeks for up to 4 cycles. Endpoints included disease-free survival (DFS), metastasis-free survival (MFS), and safety.
Results:
Among 89 eligible patients, 85 (95.5%) completed at least 3 cycles of adjuvant chemotherapy. Chemotherapy was well tolerated, the main toxicities being mild-to-moderate gastrointestinal toxic effects and pruritus. With a median follow-up of 37 months, median DFS was 30 months (95% confidence interval, 22 to 39), and the median MFS was not reached. The 3-year DFS and MFS were 44% and 56%, respectively. Multivariate analyses revealed that the main factor associated with DFS and MFS was the lymph node involvement, whereas age, T category, grade, or the primary site of UTUC were not significantly associated with DFS or MFS.
Conclusion
Adjuvant cisplatin-based chemotherapy after radical surgery of pT3/T4 or N+ UTUC was feasible and may demonstrate benefits in DFS and MFS. Whether novel agents added to the chemotherapy regimen, as a concurrent combination or maintenance, impacts on survival or reduces the development of metastases remains to be studied.
6.Surgical Management of Traumatic Reticuloperitonitis in a Mongolian Cow
Junho YANG ; Donghyuk YANG ; Jongtae CHEONG ; Youngmin YUN ; Woo-Jin SONG ; Byambatsogt SENGE ; Bilguunchinzorig GANBOLD ; Gereltuya JAGJ ; Junho LEE ; Hyohoon JEONG
Journal of Veterinary Clinics 2024;41(5):317-322
Traumatic reticuloperitonitis (TRP) often referred to as hardware disease is a common disease of cattle, which is considered the most frequent cause of anterior abdominal pain in cattle. The incidence of TRP has decreased significantly, but the diagnosis and treatment of TRP are still clinically significant because of its economic impact. An eight-year-old female Mongolian cow weighing 400 kg, was presented to the Korean (College of Veterinary Medicine, Jeju National University)–Mongolian (School of Veterinary Medicine, Mongolian University of Life Science) volunteer team (KMVT) with the primary complaints of depression and anorexia during their outreach activity for veterinary volunteer service in the field of the suburban farm of Mongolia. TRP was diagnosed based on the clinical symptoms, auscultation, and back grip test results. An emergency rumenotomy was performed with the consent of the owner. The patient was anesthetized using distal paravertebral anesthesia and the inverted L block method while a makeshift restraint frame was constructed on-site. The rumenotomy was performed to explore the rumen and reticulum. Foreign bodies were identified and removed. The surgery was performed successfully. The patient’s recovery after the surgery was normal, and the appetite was restored. This paper describes a case of TRP in a Mongolian cow, including the diagnosis, surgical preparation, and surgery successfully performed in the field of suburban farm of Mongolia in detail.
8.Comparison of Value per Operative Time between Primary and Revision Surgery for Adult Spinal Deformity: A Propensity Score-Matched Analysis
Junho SONG ; Austen David KATZ ; Jeff SILBER ; David ESSIG ; Sheeraz Ahmed QURESHI ; Sohrab VIRK
Asian Spine Journal 2023;17(3):485-491
Methods:
Data were obtained from the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database. Patients aged ≥18 years who underwent surgery for spinal deformity between 2011 and 2019 were identified and included. To ensure a homogenous patient cohort, those who underwent anterior-only and concurrent anterior-posterior fusions were excluded. Propensity score matching analysis was performed, and Mann-Whitney U test, Pearson chi-square test, or Fisher’s exact test were used to compare matched cohorts as appropriate.
Results:
A total of 326 patients who underwent revision surgery were matched with 206 primary surgery patients via propensity score matching. Demographic characteristics, comorbidities, preoperative laboratory values, and readmission and reoperation rates were not significantly different between groups. The revision surgery group had significantly higher mean RVUs per minute than that of the primary surgery group (0.331 vs. 0.249, p <0.001), as well as rates of morbidity and blood transfusion.
Conclusions
Compared to primary surgery, revision surgery for ASD is associated with significantly higher RVUs per minute and total RVUs and higher rates of 30-day morbidity and blood transfusions. Readmission and reoperation rates are similar between surgeries.
9.Comparative Analysis of 30-Day Readmission, Reoperation, and Morbidity between Posterior Cervical Decompression and Fusion Performed in Inpatient and Outpatient Settings
Junho SONG ; Austen David KATZ ; Dean PERFETTI ; Alan JOB ; Matthew MORRIS ; Sohrab VIRK ; Jeff SILBER ; David ESSIG
Asian Spine Journal 2023;17(1):75-85
Methods:
Patients who underwent PCDF from 2005 to 2018 were identified using the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database. Regression analysis was utilized to compare primary outcomes between surgical settings and evaluate for predictors thereof.
Results:
We identified 8,912 patients. Unadjusted analysis revealed that outpatients had lower readmission (4.7% vs. 8.8%, p =0.020), reoperation (1.7% vs. 3.8%, p =0.038), and morbidity (4.5% vs. 11.2%, p <0.001) rates. After adjusting for baseline differences, readmission, reoperation, and morbidity no longer statistically differed between surgical settings. Outpatients had lower operative time (126 minutes vs. 179 minutes) and levels fused (1.8 vs. 2.2) (p <0.001). Multivariate analysis revealed that age (p =0.008; odds ratio [OR], 1.012), weight loss (p =0.045; OR, 2.444), and increased creatinine (p <0.001; OR, 2.233) independently predicted readmission. The American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) classification of ≥3 predicted reoperation (p =0.028; OR, 1.406). Rehabilitation discharge (p <0.001; OR, 1.412), ASA-class of ≥3 (p =0.008; OR, 1.296), decreased hematocrit (p <0.001; OR, 1.700), and operative time (p <0.001; OR, 1.005) predicted morbidity.
Conclusions
The 30-day outcomes were statistically similar between surgical settings, indicating that PCDF can be safely performed as an outpatient procedure. Surrogates for poor health predicted negative outcomes. These results are particularly important as we continue to shift spinal surgery to outpatient centers. This importance has been highlighted by the need to unburden inpatient sites, particularly during public health emergencies, such as the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic.
10.The Usefulness of Non-face-to-face Communication Device for Medical Consents in the Emergency Department During COVID-19 Pandemic
MinHyeok SONG ; Ara CHO ; Gina YU ; Junho CHO
Health Communication 2022;17(2):59-71
Purpose:
: Since the era of COVID-19, face-to-face contact has been reduced to prevent the spread of infectious diseases around the world, and hospitals are applying various methods to prevent the spread of infection. However, when writing a consent form essential during the treatment process, it had to be done face-to-face. We developed a non-face-to-face communication device to enable real-time consent writing. This study aims to evaluate the usefulness of the non-face-to-face communication device when writing a consent form.
Methods:
: From December 28, 2021 to February 2, 2022, electronic medical records of patients visited the severance hospital emergency center and had a central venous catheter inserted were collected retrospectively. There were 56 consent forms included in the study, 43 face-to-face and 13 non-face-to-face. We checked the difference between the details explained in the non-face-to-face consent form and the face-to-face by the average score and the explanation of each item. The score was measured from a minimum of 0 points to a maximum of 13 points, with 1 point for explained items and 0 points for unexplained.
Results:
: The average score for the face-to-face consent form was 4.3, and for the non-face-to-face was 3.0 (p=0.148). There was no significant difference in the explanation of each item.
Conclusion
: It was confirmed writing a consent form through the non-face-to-face communication device can perform a similar role compared to the face-to-face. It is expected unnecessary contact can be reduced by applying the device to hospital rooms, and enabling a non-face-to-face rounds system for new infectious diseases.

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