1.Rethinking the time-to-laparotomy indicator of regional trauma center quality metrics in South Korea:a multicenter retrospective study with propensity score matching
Youngmin KIM ; Junsik KWON ; Hang Joo CHO ; Gil Jae LEE
Annals of Surgical Treatment and Research 2026;110(6):382-390
Purpose:
Timely surgical intervention is crucial in trauma care, particularly in patients with hypotensive abdominal injuries.In South Korea, the regional trauma center system has adopted a quality metric mandating initiation of emergency surgery within 1 hour of emergency department (ED) arrival for such patients. We evaluated the impact of ED-to-surgery time on clinical outcomes in hypotensive abdominal trauma and assessed the appropriateness of the 1-hour threshold.
Methods:
This multicenter retrospective study included 425 trauma patients who underwent emergency abdominal surgery at 2 regional trauma centers between 2019 and 2022. Patients with an initial or lowest recorded systolic blood pressure (SBP) <90 mmHg were included. The primary outcome was in-hospital mortality; secondary outcomes included complications, intensive care unit stay, and total hospital stay. Patients were categorized into early (≤1 hour) and delayed (>1 hour) surgery groups. Statistical analyses included logistic regression, propensity score matching (PSM), receiver operating characteristic curve, and complication analysis by 30-minute intervals.
Results:
We found that 243 patients (57.2%) underwent surgery within 1 hour. In-hospital mortality did not differ significantly between early and delayed groups. Age, Glasgow Coma Scale, lowest SBP, 4-hour RBC transfusion volume, and abdominal Abbreviated Injury Scale were independent mortality predictors. PSM confirmed no mortality difference by surgical timing. However, complication rates increased with surgical delays.
Conclusion
While surgical delay was not associated with mortality, it was linked to increased complications. Future trauma quality metrics should incorporate refined patient stratification and evaluate the entire process aimed at restoring physiological instability, rather than relying on a strict 1-hour threshold.
2.Efficacy of Chemotherapy Following Prior PARP-Inhibitor Treatment in Patients with Ovarian Cancer
Jung Chul KIM ; Junsik PARK ; Yong Jae LEE ; Eun Ji NAM ; Sang Wun KIM ; Sung-Hoon KIM ; Young Tae KIM ; Se Ik KIM ; Jae-Weon KIM ; Byoung-Gie KIM ; Jung-Yun LEE
Cancer Research and Treatment 2026;58(1):292-299
Purpose:
Considering the current lack of consensus on post–poly(adenosine diphosphate-ribose) polymerase inhibitor (PARPi) treatment strategies, this study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of subsequent therapy and compare the outcomes of regimes in patients with recurrent ovarian cancer after PARPi treatment.
Materials and Methods:
This multi-center retrospective cohort study analyzed data on patients diagnosed with ovarian cancer between January 2012 and June 2023 who had previously used PARPi after first- to fourth-line platinum-based chemotherapy. The primary endpoint was progression-free survival (PFS), which was the interval between recurrence after using PARPi and subsequent recurrence in the case of recurrence.
Results:
Of 318 patients, 147/318 (46.2%) recurred after the PARPi maintenance. Patients were categorized into groups based on subsequent therapy except non-treated (11/147, 7.5%): platinum-based chemotherapy (89/147, 60.5%), non-platinum-based chemotherapy (21/147, 14.3%), other treatments (26/147, 17.7%), and the median PFS (mPFS) for each group were 7.3, 4.8, and 11.4 months, respectively. Among the platinum-based chemotherapy group, the gemcitabine+carboplatin regimen demonstrated a longer mPFS (10.1 months) than the other regimens (6.6 months, p=0.019). In non-platinum-based chemotherapy, no statistically significant differences were observed among the regimens. And, in the other therapy group, where the proportion of patients with oligometastasis was as high as 88.5%, no significant differences were observed among the therapies, including other modalities.
Conclusion
In the subsequent chemotherapy of recurrent ovarian cancer after platinum-based chemotherapy and PARPi, the gemcitabine+carboplatin regimen demonstrated a potential to delay recurrence more effectively compared to other therapies.
3.Conventional versus Instillation Negative-Pressure Wound Therapy for Severe Soft Tissue Injury in Open Pelvic Fractures: A Retrospective Review
Donghwan CHOI ; Won Tae CHO ; Hyung Keun SONG ; Junsik KWON ; Byung Hee KANG ; Hohyung JUNG ; Min Ji KIM ; Kyoungwon JUNG
Yonsei Medical Journal 2025;66(2):94-102
Purpose:
We investigated the clinical features, current negative-pressure wound therapy (NPWT) management strategies, and outcomes of pelvic-perineal soft tissue infection after open pelvic fractures.
Materials and Methods:
We analyzed the data of patients admitted to our trauma center with pelvic-perineal soft tissue after open pelvic fractures over a 7-year period. We investigated the injury severity score (ISS), medical costs, number of NPWTs, time required to reach definite wound coverage, complications, fracture classifications, transfusion requirements, interventions, length of stay (LOS) in hospital and intensive care unit (ICU), and prognosis.
Results:
Twenty patients with open pelvic fractures were treated with NPWT, and one patient who underwent NPWT died of pelvic sepsis during ICU treatment. The median LOS in hospital and medical costs were 98 [56–164] days and 106400 [65600–171100] USD, respectively. Patients treated with instillation NPWT (iNPWT, n=10) had a shorter NPWT duration (24 [13–39] vs. 46 [42–91] days, p=0.023), time to definite wound coverage (30 [21–43] vs. 49 [42–93] days, p=0.026), and hospital LOS (56 [43–72] vs. 158 [101–192] days, p=0.001), as well as lower medical costs (67800 [42500–102500] vs. 144200 [110400–236000] USD, p=0.009) compared to those treated with conventional NPWT.
Conclusion
NPWT is a feasible method for treating pelvic soft tissue infections in patients with open pelvic fractures. iNPWT can reduce the duration of NPWT, hospital LOS, and medical costs.
4.Conventional versus Instillation Negative-Pressure Wound Therapy for Severe Soft Tissue Injury in Open Pelvic Fractures: A Retrospective Review
Donghwan CHOI ; Won Tae CHO ; Hyung Keun SONG ; Junsik KWON ; Byung Hee KANG ; Hohyung JUNG ; Min Ji KIM ; Kyoungwon JUNG
Yonsei Medical Journal 2025;66(2):94-102
Purpose:
We investigated the clinical features, current negative-pressure wound therapy (NPWT) management strategies, and outcomes of pelvic-perineal soft tissue infection after open pelvic fractures.
Materials and Methods:
We analyzed the data of patients admitted to our trauma center with pelvic-perineal soft tissue after open pelvic fractures over a 7-year period. We investigated the injury severity score (ISS), medical costs, number of NPWTs, time required to reach definite wound coverage, complications, fracture classifications, transfusion requirements, interventions, length of stay (LOS) in hospital and intensive care unit (ICU), and prognosis.
Results:
Twenty patients with open pelvic fractures were treated with NPWT, and one patient who underwent NPWT died of pelvic sepsis during ICU treatment. The median LOS in hospital and medical costs were 98 [56–164] days and 106400 [65600–171100] USD, respectively. Patients treated with instillation NPWT (iNPWT, n=10) had a shorter NPWT duration (24 [13–39] vs. 46 [42–91] days, p=0.023), time to definite wound coverage (30 [21–43] vs. 49 [42–93] days, p=0.026), and hospital LOS (56 [43–72] vs. 158 [101–192] days, p=0.001), as well as lower medical costs (67800 [42500–102500] vs. 144200 [110400–236000] USD, p=0.009) compared to those treated with conventional NPWT.
Conclusion
NPWT is a feasible method for treating pelvic soft tissue infections in patients with open pelvic fractures. iNPWT can reduce the duration of NPWT, hospital LOS, and medical costs.
5.Conventional versus Instillation Negative-Pressure Wound Therapy for Severe Soft Tissue Injury in Open Pelvic Fractures: A Retrospective Review
Donghwan CHOI ; Won Tae CHO ; Hyung Keun SONG ; Junsik KWON ; Byung Hee KANG ; Hohyung JUNG ; Min Ji KIM ; Kyoungwon JUNG
Yonsei Medical Journal 2025;66(2):94-102
Purpose:
We investigated the clinical features, current negative-pressure wound therapy (NPWT) management strategies, and outcomes of pelvic-perineal soft tissue infection after open pelvic fractures.
Materials and Methods:
We analyzed the data of patients admitted to our trauma center with pelvic-perineal soft tissue after open pelvic fractures over a 7-year period. We investigated the injury severity score (ISS), medical costs, number of NPWTs, time required to reach definite wound coverage, complications, fracture classifications, transfusion requirements, interventions, length of stay (LOS) in hospital and intensive care unit (ICU), and prognosis.
Results:
Twenty patients with open pelvic fractures were treated with NPWT, and one patient who underwent NPWT died of pelvic sepsis during ICU treatment. The median LOS in hospital and medical costs were 98 [56–164] days and 106400 [65600–171100] USD, respectively. Patients treated with instillation NPWT (iNPWT, n=10) had a shorter NPWT duration (24 [13–39] vs. 46 [42–91] days, p=0.023), time to definite wound coverage (30 [21–43] vs. 49 [42–93] days, p=0.026), and hospital LOS (56 [43–72] vs. 158 [101–192] days, p=0.001), as well as lower medical costs (67800 [42500–102500] vs. 144200 [110400–236000] USD, p=0.009) compared to those treated with conventional NPWT.
Conclusion
NPWT is a feasible method for treating pelvic soft tissue infections in patients with open pelvic fractures. iNPWT can reduce the duration of NPWT, hospital LOS, and medical costs.
6.Conventional versus Instillation Negative-Pressure Wound Therapy for Severe Soft Tissue Injury in Open Pelvic Fractures: A Retrospective Review
Donghwan CHOI ; Won Tae CHO ; Hyung Keun SONG ; Junsik KWON ; Byung Hee KANG ; Hohyung JUNG ; Min Ji KIM ; Kyoungwon JUNG
Yonsei Medical Journal 2025;66(2):94-102
Purpose:
We investigated the clinical features, current negative-pressure wound therapy (NPWT) management strategies, and outcomes of pelvic-perineal soft tissue infection after open pelvic fractures.
Materials and Methods:
We analyzed the data of patients admitted to our trauma center with pelvic-perineal soft tissue after open pelvic fractures over a 7-year period. We investigated the injury severity score (ISS), medical costs, number of NPWTs, time required to reach definite wound coverage, complications, fracture classifications, transfusion requirements, interventions, length of stay (LOS) in hospital and intensive care unit (ICU), and prognosis.
Results:
Twenty patients with open pelvic fractures were treated with NPWT, and one patient who underwent NPWT died of pelvic sepsis during ICU treatment. The median LOS in hospital and medical costs were 98 [56–164] days and 106400 [65600–171100] USD, respectively. Patients treated with instillation NPWT (iNPWT, n=10) had a shorter NPWT duration (24 [13–39] vs. 46 [42–91] days, p=0.023), time to definite wound coverage (30 [21–43] vs. 49 [42–93] days, p=0.026), and hospital LOS (56 [43–72] vs. 158 [101–192] days, p=0.001), as well as lower medical costs (67800 [42500–102500] vs. 144200 [110400–236000] USD, p=0.009) compared to those treated with conventional NPWT.
Conclusion
NPWT is a feasible method for treating pelvic soft tissue infections in patients with open pelvic fractures. iNPWT can reduce the duration of NPWT, hospital LOS, and medical costs.
7.Conventional versus Instillation Negative-Pressure Wound Therapy for Severe Soft Tissue Injury in Open Pelvic Fractures: A Retrospective Review
Donghwan CHOI ; Won Tae CHO ; Hyung Keun SONG ; Junsik KWON ; Byung Hee KANG ; Hohyung JUNG ; Min Ji KIM ; Kyoungwon JUNG
Yonsei Medical Journal 2025;66(2):94-102
Purpose:
We investigated the clinical features, current negative-pressure wound therapy (NPWT) management strategies, and outcomes of pelvic-perineal soft tissue infection after open pelvic fractures.
Materials and Methods:
We analyzed the data of patients admitted to our trauma center with pelvic-perineal soft tissue after open pelvic fractures over a 7-year period. We investigated the injury severity score (ISS), medical costs, number of NPWTs, time required to reach definite wound coverage, complications, fracture classifications, transfusion requirements, interventions, length of stay (LOS) in hospital and intensive care unit (ICU), and prognosis.
Results:
Twenty patients with open pelvic fractures were treated with NPWT, and one patient who underwent NPWT died of pelvic sepsis during ICU treatment. The median LOS in hospital and medical costs were 98 [56–164] days and 106400 [65600–171100] USD, respectively. Patients treated with instillation NPWT (iNPWT, n=10) had a shorter NPWT duration (24 [13–39] vs. 46 [42–91] days, p=0.023), time to definite wound coverage (30 [21–43] vs. 49 [42–93] days, p=0.026), and hospital LOS (56 [43–72] vs. 158 [101–192] days, p=0.001), as well as lower medical costs (67800 [42500–102500] vs. 144200 [110400–236000] USD, p=0.009) compared to those treated with conventional NPWT.
Conclusion
NPWT is a feasible method for treating pelvic soft tissue infections in patients with open pelvic fractures. iNPWT can reduce the duration of NPWT, hospital LOS, and medical costs.
8.Extracellular Vesicles Derived from Adipose Stem Cells Alleviate Systemic Sclerosis by Inhibiting TGF-β Pathway
Eunae KIM ; Hark Kyun KIM ; Jae Hoon SUL ; Jeongmi LEE ; Seung Hyun BAEK ; Yoonsuk CHO ; Jihoon HAN ; Junsik KIM ; Sunyoung PARK ; Jae Hyung PARK ; Yong Woo CHO ; Dong-Gyu JO
Biomolecules & Therapeutics 2024;32(4):432-441
Systemic sclerosis is an autoimmune disease characterized by inflammatory reactions and fibrosis. Myofibroblasts are considered therapeutic targets for preventing and reversing the pathogenesis of fibrosis in systemic sclerosis. Although the mechanisms that differentiate into myofibroblasts are diverse, transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) is known to be a key mediator of fibrosis in systemic sclerosis. This study investigated the effects of extracellular vesicles derived from human adipose stem cells (ASC-EVs) in an in vivo systemic sclerosis model and in vitro TGF-β1-induced dermal fibroblasts. The therapeutic effects of ASC-EVs on the in vivo systemic sclerosis model were evaluated based on dermal thickness and the number of α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA)-expressing cells using hematoxylin and eosin staining and immunohistochemistry. Administration of ASC-EVs decreased both the dermal thickness and α-SMA expressing cell number as well as the mRNA levels of fibrotic genes, such as Acta2, Ccn2, Col1a1 and Comp. Additionally, we discovered that ASC-EVs can decrease the expression of α-SMA and CTGF and suppress the TGF-β pathway by inhibiting the activation of SMAD2 in dermal fibroblasts induced by TGF-β1. Finally, TGF-β1-induced dermal fibroblasts underwent selective death through ASC-EVs treatment. These results indicate that ASC-EVs could provide a therapeutic approach for preventing and reversing systemic sclerosis.
9.Clinicopathologic significance of the delta-like ligand 4, vascular endothelial growth factor, and hypoxia-inducible factor-2α in gallbladder cancer
Sujin PARK ; Junsik KIM ; Woncheol JANG ; Kyoung-Mee KIM ; Kee-Taek JANG
Journal of Pathology and Translational Medicine 2023;57(2):113-122
Background:
Gallbladder cancer (GBC) is usually detected in advanced stages with a low 5-year survival rate. Delta-like ligand 4 (DLL4), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and hypoxia-inducible factor-2alpha (HIF2α) have been studied for their role in tumorigenesis and potential for therapeutic target, and multiple clinical trials of the agents targeting them are ongoing. We investigated the expression of these markers in surgically resected GBC and tried to reveal their association with the clinicopathologic features, mutual correlation of their expression, and prognosis of the GBC patients by their expression.
Methods:
We constructed the tissue microarray blocks of 99 surgically resected GBC specimens and performed immunohistochemistry of DLL4, VEGF, and HIF2α. We used the quantitative digital image analysis to evaluate DLL4 and VEGF expression, while the expression of HIF2α was scored manually.
Results:
The expression of VEGF and HIF2α showed a significant trend with tumor differentiation (p= .028 and p= .006, respectively). We found that the high DLL4 and VEGF expression were significantly correlated with lymph node metastasis (p= .047, both). The expression of VEGF and HIF2α were significantly correlated (p < .001). The GBC patients with low HIF2α expression showed shorter recurrence-free survival than those with high HIF2α expression.
Conclusions
This study suggested the possibility of the usage of DLL4 and VEGF to predict the lymph node metastasis and the possibility of VEGF and HIF2α to predict the expression level mutually. Further studies may be needed to validate our study results and eventually accelerate the introduction of the targeted therapy in GBC.
10.The comparison of the accuracy of temporary crowns fabricated with several 3D printers and a milling machine
Junsik LEE ; Sungwon JU ; Jihyung KIM ; Sion HWANG ; Jinsoo AHN
The Journal of Advanced Prosthodontics 2023;15(2):72-79
PURPOSE:
. The purpose of this in vitro study was to compare the accuracy of various 3D printers and a milling machine.
MATERIALS AND METHODS:
. The die model was designed using CAD (Autodesk Inventor 2018 sp3). The 30 µm cement space was given to the die and the ideal crown of the mandibular left first molar was designed using CAD (ExoCAD). The crowns were produced using the milling machine (Imes-icore 250i) and the 3D printers (Zenith U, Zenith D, W11) and they were divided into four groups. In all groups, the interior of each crown was scanned (Identica blue) and superimposed (Geomagic Control X) with the previously designed die. The difference between the die and the actual crown was measured at specific points. The Kruskal-Wallis test, the Mann-Whitney test, and Bonferroni’s method were performed with a statistical analysis software (P < .008 in inter-group comparison P < .001 in intra-group comparison).
RESULTS:
. In all groups, the center of the occlusal area and the anti-rotational dimple area showed significantly greater difference and the marginal area showed the smallest difference comparatively. The mean value of the difference in each area and the sum of the differences were higher in order of W11, Imes-icore 250i, Zenith D, and Zenith U.
CONCLUSION
. The digital light processing (DLP) method shows higher accuracy compared to the sereolithography (SLA) method using the same resin material. [J Adv Prosthodont 2023;15:72-9]

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