Purpose: Overactive bladder (OAB) symptoms may improve following surgical correction of cystocele. This study aimed to evaluate changes in urgency, the primary symptom of OAB, and identify factors associated with improvement in urgency after surgical treatment for cystocele. Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of medical records for patients who underwent surgical treatment for cystocele and had preoperative urgency measuring ≥3 on a 5-point urinary sensation scale. Patients were categorized into 2 groups based on their urgency status 3 months postsurgery: those with improved urgency and those without improvement. Improvement was defined as a reduction of 2 or more points on the scale following surgery. We compared preoperative clinical and urodynamic factors between the 2 groups. Results: A total of 137 patients were included in the study, with 98 (71.5%) showing improvement in urgency symptoms after surgery. The improved group had a significantly higher prevalence of preoperative urgency urinary incontinence (UUI) (62.2% vs. 30.8%, P=0.001) and bladder outlet obstruction (43.9% vs. 20.5%, P=0.011) compared to the nonimproved group. Urodynamic evaluations indicated that the detrusor pressure at maximum flow rate (PdetQmax) was significantly higher in the improved group than in the nonimproved group (P=0.004). Multivariate logistic regression analysis identified preoperative UUI, higher PdetQmax, and lower vaginal parity as independent predictors of improvement in urgency postoperatively. Conclusions Preoperative UUI, higher PdetQmax, and lower vaginal parity were significant predictors of postoperative improvement in urgency. Both clinical and urodynamic factors may help identify patients with cystocele and preoperative urgency who are most likely to benefit from anatomical correction.

Background: The management of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) at the national level is necessary for the health and well-being of individuals in society. The purpose of this study was to propose a redesign of the STI surveillance system by collecting opinions from experts. Methods: After the major STIs were reviewed, 1) gonorrhea, 2) chancroid, 3) Mycoplasma genitalium infection, and 4) trichomoniasis were selected as diseases requiring a redesign of the surveillance system through the Delphi method, a technique for solving problems by collecting opinions from experts. The expert panel was selected from experts on STIs (n = 17) and included members of the Korean Association of Urogenital Tract Infection and Inflammation, the Korean Society of Infectious Diseases, and the 3rd advisory committee on STIs. Results: The experts agreed upon the exclusion of surveillance for chancroid on the basis of the low incidence, with an agreement rate of 83%. The experts agreed upon the inclusion of M. genitalium in the surveillance system, with a high agreement rate of 88%. However, there was disagreement among the experts on whether to include trichomoniasis in the surveillance system and whether to switch to a mandatory surveillance system for gonorrhea. Conclusion Although a consensus was not reached in some of the surveys in this study, it involved the collection of various expert opinions. Therefore, policies should be promoted with a prioritized focus on items with high agreement, but items for which no consensus was reached need to be reviewed in greater depth through additional research and investigation.

Objectives: . Balloon dilation of the Eustachian tube (BDET) is widely recognized as a minimally invasive treatment for obstructive Eustachian tube dysfunction (ETD). We employed a Delphi consensus methodology to develop recommendations for the clinical management of BDET in cases of obstructive ETD. Methods: . A Delphi panel consisting of 26 expert physicians specializing in otology participated in two rounds of anonymous, iterative questionnaires. Consensus was defined as agreement from ≥70% of the panelists on a recommendation, while disagreement was defined as <70% agreement. The responses from the Delphi study were analyzed using both the content validity ratio and Kendall’s coefficient of concordance. Results: . The panel finally evaluated 26 topics, reaching agreement on 9 and failing to reach consensus on 17 after two rounds. While consensus was not achieved regarding the postoperative follow-up period, a duration of 12 months was most commonly adopted. The Valsalva maneuver and questionnaire responses were identified as the most agreed-upon postoperative assessment tools following BDET. Conclusion . Consensus was reached on several recommendations for managing BEDT in obstructive ETD. This agreement will guide future research aimed at defining standard postoperative management for BEDT.

Objective: This study compared the status of chronic diseases among immigrants and the Korean population. Methods: This study was conducted on 153 immigrants living in Gwangju Metropolitan City in 2022.For comparison, 459 Koreans were selected using the 2021 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES). A survey was conducted on the management status of hypertension, diabetes, and hyperlipidemia using a questionnaire. Results: Immigrants were significantly more likely to have hypertension (50.3% vs. 24.2%, p<0.001) and diabetes (19.0% vs. 11.5%, p=0.002) than Koreans. In awareness, immigrants had significantly lower rates of hypertension (57.1% vs. 73.0%, p=0.031) and hyperlipidemia (immigrants 25.4% vs. 44.5%, p=0.006). In treatment rates, immigrants had significantly lower rates of hypertension (40.3% vs. 69.4%, <0.001) and hyperlipidemia (17.9% vs. 39.6%, p=0.003). In control rates, immigrants had significantly lower rates of hypertension (18.2% vs. 62.2%, <0.001) than Koreans. Conclusions Chronic diseases are common among immigrants, but awareness, treatment, and control rates are low, so education and prevention policies are critical to improving immigrants’ access to medical care and raising awareness.

Objective: Spinal stenosis is a prevalent condition; however, the optimal surgical treatment for central lumbar stenosis remains controversial. This study compared the clinical outcomes and radiological parameters of 3 surgical methods: unilateral laminectomy bilateral decompression with unilateral biportal endoscopy (ULBD-UBE), conventional subtotal laminectomy (STL), and minimally invasive transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (MIS-TLIF). Methods: This retrospective study included 86 patients, divided into ULBD-UBE (n=34), STL (n=24), and MIS-TLIF (n=28) groups. We evaluated demographics and perioperative factors and assessed clinical outcomes using the visual analogue scale (VAS), Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), and neurogenic intermittent claudication (NIC). Radiological parameters assessed included lumbar lordosis, L4S1 Cobb angle (L4S1), T12S1 Cobb angle (T12S1), increased cross-sectional dural area (CSA), dynamic angulation (DA), dynamic slip (DS), and development of postoperative instability. Results: The ULBD-UBE group showed a significantly shorter hospital stay duration and operation time and reduced blood loss than the other groups (p<0.001). ULBD-UBE group showed a trend towards greater VAS and ODI improvement at 1 month and postoperative NIC symptom relief. Radiologically, MIS-TLIF group exhibited lower postoperative DA and DS (p<0.001), indicating higher postoperative stability. Postoperative instability was lower in the ULBD-UBE group (2.9%) than in the STL group (16.7%) and similar to the MIS-TLIF group (0.0%) (p=0.028). The CSA was highest in the MIS-TLIF group (295.5%) compared to that in the other groups (ULBD-UBE, 216.3%; STL, 245.2%) (p<0.001). Conclusion Compared to other procedures, ULBD-UBE is a safe, effective, and viable surgical procedure for treating lumbar central stenosis.

Objective: We aimed to investigate the incidence of delayed-onset neurological deficits (DONDs), DOND-related reoperation rates following adult spinal deformity (ASD) surgery, and efficacy of transverse process hooks (TPHs) at the uppermost instrumented vertebra (UIV) compared to pedicle screws (PSs). Methods: We included 90 consecutive patients who underwent instrumented fusion from the sacrum to the distal thoracic spine for ASD, with a minimum follow-up of 24 months. Clinical and radiological outcomes were compared between 33 patients in the TPH group and 57 patients in the PS group, using the Scoliosis Research Society-22 Outcomes questionnaire (SRS-22), Medical Outcomes Study Questionnaire Short-Form 36 (SF-36), and various spinal sagittal parameters. Results: While absent in the TPH group, myelopathy occurred in 15.8% of the PS group, wherein 15 patients underwent reoperation. The change in the proximal junctional angle, from the pre- to postoperative assessment, was lower in the TPH group than in the PS group (0.2 vs. 6.6, p=0.002). Postoperative facet degeneration in the PS group progressed more significantly than in the TPH group (0.5 vs. 0.1, p=0.002). Surgical outcomes were comparable for both groups, except for the back visual analogue scale (3.5 vs. 4.1, p=0.010) and SRS-22 domains, including pain and satisfaction (3.3 vs. 2.9, p=0.033; 3.7 vs. 3.3, p=0.041). No intergroup difference was observed in SF-36. Conclusion Using TPHs at the UIV level can prevent DOND, and thereby prevent postoperative myelopathy that necessitates reoperation; thus, TPHs is preferable over PSs in ASD surgery.

Purpose: Bilateral axillo-breast approach robotic parathyroidectomy (BABA-RP) aims to remove overactive or enlarged parathyroid glands with no visible neck collar incision. In this study, we compared the safety and surgical outcomes of BABA-RP vs. those of an open surgery group to ascertain whether BABA-RP is a safe and feasible surgical approach for patients with primary hyperparathyroidism (pHPT). Methods: This single-institution retrospective cohort study included 74 patients with primary HPT who underwent open parathyroidectomy (n = 37) or BABA-RP (n = 37) at our institution between November 2014 and March 2023. Patient demographics, biochemical cure rates, operative time, blood loss rates, and complication rates were examined and compared. Results: The patients in the BABA-RP group were younger and had a longer mean operative time. Regarding complication events, 2 patients in the open surgery group and 1 patient in the BABA-RP group had transient hypoparathyroidism. All 74 patients achieved biochemical cure at <6 months, regardless of the approach used. Two patients in the BABA-RP group and 1 patient in the open surgery group had carcinoma on surgical pathology. All 3 patients with parathyroid carcinoma remained recurrence-free at 1-year follow-up. Conclusion Compared with the open procedure, BABA-RP is a safe and feasible procedure that provides an excellent biochemical cure rate for patients with pHPT and has superior cosmetic benefits with equivalent surgical outcomes.

Purpose: We investigated the current practices and perceptions of colorectal surgeons in South Korea regarding intracorporeal ileocolic anastomosis (IIA) in minimally invasive right hemicolectomy (RHC). Methods: Members of the Korean Society of Coloproctology (KSCP) participated in an online survey encompassing demographic information, surgical experiences, methods for IIA, and advantages, barriers, and perceptions of IIA. We performed a statistical analysis of survey results. Results: Among the 1,074 KSCP members contacted, 178 responded to the survey. Most respondents were males aged 40–49 years with >10 years of experience who were affiliated with a tertiary healthcare facility. One hundred fifty-six respondents had performed <100 colorectal cancer surgeries annually. Fifty-nine respondents reported experiences of the IIA technique in minimally invasive RHC. Most respondents favored the isoperistaltic side-to-side (S-S) anastomosis and stapled S-S anastomosis, hand-sewn closure for the common channel, and the periumbilical area for primary specimen extraction. Respondents with IIA experience emphasized the reduction in postoperative complications as the primary reason for performing IIA, whereas respondents without IIA experience cited the lack of benefits as the main deterrent. Respondents commonly cited concerns regarding anastomotic leakage and intraabdominal contamination as the primary reasons for not performing IIA. Respondents with IIA experience demonstrated a more positive response towards attempting or transitioning to IIA than those without. Respondents with IIA experience prioritized self-sufficiency, whereas respondents without IIA experience prioritized proctorship and discussions of the initial cases. Conclusion Measures to standardize the IIA technique and appropriate training programs must be implemented to enhance its use in minimally invasive RHC.

Background: Atherogenic dyslipidemia, which is frequently associated with type 2 diabetes (T2D) and insulin resistance, contributes to the development of vascular complications. Statin therapy is the primary approach to dyslipidemia management in T2D, however, the role of non-statin therapy remains unclear. Ezetimibe reduces cholesterol burden by inhibiting intestinal cholesterol absorption. Fibrates lower triglyceride levels and increase high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels via peroxisome proliferator- activated receptor alpha agonism. Therefore, when combined, these drugs effectively lower non-HDL-C levels. Despite this, few clinical trials have specifically targeted non-HDL-C, and the efficacy of triple combination therapies, including statins, ezetimibe, and fibrates, has yet to be determined. Methods: This is a multicenter, prospective, randomized, open-label, active-comparator controlled trial involving 3,958 eligible participants with T2D, cardiovascular risk factors, and elevated non-HDL-C (≥100 mg/dL). Participants, already on moderate-intensity statins, will be randomly assigned to either Ezefeno (ezetimibe/fenofibrate) addition or statin dose-escalation. The primary end point is the development of a composite of major adverse cardiovascular and diabetic microvascular events over 48 months. Conclusion This trial aims to assess whether combining statins, ezetimibe, and fenofibrate is as effective as, or possibly superior to, statin monotherapy intensification in lowering cardiovascular and microvascular disease risk for patients with T2D. This could propose a novel therapeutic approach for managing dyslipidemia in T2D.