Purpose: The aim of this study was to examine whether a combined exercise (EX), including aerobic, resistance, and inspiratory muscle training, reduces fatigue and dyspnea, improves physical fitness, and if increased physical fitness after exercise is associated with attenuating symptoms in young adults with mild long coronavirus disease (COVID) symptoms. Methods: Twenty-eight young adults (aged 23±4 years) with long COVID were randomly assigned to either the EX group (n=14), which underwent aerobic, resistance, and inspiratory muscle training three times per week for 8 weeks, or the control (CON) group (n=14). Symptoms of dyspnea and fatigue were assessed using self-report questionnaires.Cardiorespiratory fitness was directly measured during cardiopulmonary exercise testing, while muscle strength was measured by isokinetic muscle testing. These variables were measured before and after the exercise intervention. Results: Compared to the CON group, the EX group showed improvements in symptoms of fatigue and dyspnea, maximal oxygen consumption (VO2peak ), and peak torque, with significant interaction effects observed (p＜ 0.05). The EX group exhibited a mean difference of 2.9 mL/kg/min in VO2peak (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.8−4.0) and 13.0 Nm (95% CI, 6.1−19.8) in peak torque compared to the CON group (p＜0.05). Improvements in VO2peak were negatively associated with attenuations in both fatigue and dyspnea after the exercise intervention (p＜0.05). Conclusion These findings indicate that EX training can effectively alleviate symptoms and improve physical fitness in young adults with mild long COVID. Structured exercise training may serve as an effective intervention to improve the health of those with long COVID.

Background: and Purpose The Treat Stroke to Target (TST) was a randomized clinical trial involving French and Korean patients demonstrating that a lower low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C, <70 mg/dL) target group (LT) experienced fewer cerebro-cardiovascular events than a higher target (90–110 mg/dL) group (HT). However, whether these results can be applied to Asian patients with different ischemic stroke subtypes remains unclear. Methods: Patients from 14 South Korean centers were analyzed separately. Patients with ischemic stroke or transient ischemic attack with evidence of atherosclerosis were randomized into LT and HT groups. The primary endpoint was a composite of ischemic stroke, myocardial infarction, coronary or cerebral revascularization, and cardiovascular death. Results: Among 712 enrolled patients, the mean LDL-C level was 71.0 mg/dL in 357 LT patients and 86.1 mg/dL in 355 HT patients. The primary endpoint occurred in 24 (6.7%) of LT and in 31 (8.7%) of HT group patients (adjusted hazard ratio [HR]=0.78; 95% confidence interval [CI]=0.45–1.33, P=0.353). Cardiovascular events alone occurred significantly less frequently in the LT than in the HT group (HR 0.26, 95% CI 0.09–0.80, P=0.019), whereas there were no significant differences in ischemic stroke events (HR 1.12, 95% CI 0.60–2.10, P=0.712). The benefit of LT was less apparent in patients with small vessel disease and intracranial atherosclerosis than in those with extracranial atherosclerosis. Conclusion In contrast to the French TST, the outcomes in Korean patients were neutral. Although LT was more effective in preventing cardiovascular diseases, it was not so in stroke prevention, probably attributed to the differences in stroke subtypes. Further studies are needed to elucidate the efficacy of statins and appropriate LDL-C targets in Asian patients with stroke.

Methods: Twelve consecutive patients underwent single-level BELIF for lumbar degenerative disease. The technique involves two small portals, one each for endoscopy and instruments. A large PEEK cage was inserted through a posterolateral approach. Clinical outcomes, including a Visual Analog Scale for back and leg pain, the Oswestry Disability Index, and the European Quality of Life-5 Dimensions, were assessed preoperatively and at 3, 6, and 12 months postoperatively. Fusion status was evaluated using computed tomography (CT) at 12 months. Results: The mean patient age was 69.1±7.2 years, with operations predominantly at the L4–5 level (83%). The mean operation time was 149.7±37.4 minutes, and the average surgical drainage was 201.4±59.7 mL. All clinical outcome measures showed significant improvement at 12 months (p<0.05). Fusion was achieved in 83.3% of patients. Cage subsidence (>1 mm) occurred in one patient (8.3%). Complications included one case each of incidental durotomy, wrong-site surgery, and wound dehiscence and three cases of asymptomatic hematoma. Conclusions BELIF using a large PEEK cage demonstrated promising clinical outcomes and fusion rates. The technique offers enhanced visualization and enables direct neural decompression while minimizing tissue trauma. The use of a large PEEK cage may contribute to improved stability and reduced subsidence risk.

Methods: Twelve consecutive patients underwent single-level BELIF for lumbar degenerative disease. The technique involves two small portals, one each for endoscopy and instruments. A large PEEK cage was inserted through a posterolateral approach. Clinical outcomes, including a Visual Analog Scale for back and leg pain, the Oswestry Disability Index, and the European Quality of Life-5 Dimensions, were assessed preoperatively and at 3, 6, and 12 months postoperatively. Fusion status was evaluated using computed tomography (CT) at 12 months. Results: The mean patient age was 69.1±7.2 years, with operations predominantly at the L4–5 level (83%). The mean operation time was 149.7±37.4 minutes, and the average surgical drainage was 201.4±59.7 mL. All clinical outcome measures showed significant improvement at 12 months (p<0.05). Fusion was achieved in 83.3% of patients. Cage subsidence (>1 mm) occurred in one patient (8.3%). Complications included one case each of incidental durotomy, wrong-site surgery, and wound dehiscence and three cases of asymptomatic hematoma. Conclusions BELIF using a large PEEK cage demonstrated promising clinical outcomes and fusion rates. The technique offers enhanced visualization and enables direct neural decompression while minimizing tissue trauma. The use of a large PEEK cage may contribute to improved stability and reduced subsidence risk.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to examine whether a combined exercise (EX), including aerobic, resistance, and inspiratory muscle training, reduces fatigue and dyspnea, improves physical fitness, and if increased physical fitness after exercise is associated with attenuating symptoms in young adults with mild long coronavirus disease (COVID) symptoms. Methods: Twenty-eight young adults (aged 23±4 years) with long COVID were randomly assigned to either the EX group (n=14), which underwent aerobic, resistance, and inspiratory muscle training three times per week for 8 weeks, or the control (CON) group (n=14). Symptoms of dyspnea and fatigue were assessed using self-report questionnaires.Cardiorespiratory fitness was directly measured during cardiopulmonary exercise testing, while muscle strength was measured by isokinetic muscle testing. These variables were measured before and after the exercise intervention. Results: Compared to the CON group, the EX group showed improvements in symptoms of fatigue and dyspnea, maximal oxygen consumption (VO2peak ), and peak torque, with significant interaction effects observed (p＜ 0.05). The EX group exhibited a mean difference of 2.9 mL/kg/min in VO2peak (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.8−4.0) and 13.0 Nm (95% CI, 6.1−19.8) in peak torque compared to the CON group (p＜0.05). Improvements in VO2peak were negatively associated with attenuations in both fatigue and dyspnea after the exercise intervention (p＜0.05). Conclusion These findings indicate that EX training can effectively alleviate symptoms and improve physical fitness in young adults with mild long COVID. Structured exercise training may serve as an effective intervention to improve the health of those with long COVID.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to examine whether a combined exercise (EX), including aerobic, resistance, and inspiratory muscle training, reduces fatigue and dyspnea, improves physical fitness, and if increased physical fitness after exercise is associated with attenuating symptoms in young adults with mild long coronavirus disease (COVID) symptoms. Methods: Twenty-eight young adults (aged 23±4 years) with long COVID were randomly assigned to either the EX group (n=14), which underwent aerobic, resistance, and inspiratory muscle training three times per week for 8 weeks, or the control (CON) group (n=14). Symptoms of dyspnea and fatigue were assessed using self-report questionnaires.Cardiorespiratory fitness was directly measured during cardiopulmonary exercise testing, while muscle strength was measured by isokinetic muscle testing. These variables were measured before and after the exercise intervention. Results: Compared to the CON group, the EX group showed improvements in symptoms of fatigue and dyspnea, maximal oxygen consumption (VO2peak ), and peak torque, with significant interaction effects observed (p＜ 0.05). The EX group exhibited a mean difference of 2.9 mL/kg/min in VO2peak (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.8−4.0) and 13.0 Nm (95% CI, 6.1−19.8) in peak torque compared to the CON group (p＜0.05). Improvements in VO2peak were negatively associated with attenuations in both fatigue and dyspnea after the exercise intervention (p＜0.05). Conclusion These findings indicate that EX training can effectively alleviate symptoms and improve physical fitness in young adults with mild long COVID. Structured exercise training may serve as an effective intervention to improve the health of those with long COVID.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to examine whether a combined exercise (EX), including aerobic, resistance, and inspiratory muscle training, reduces fatigue and dyspnea, improves physical fitness, and if increased physical fitness after exercise is associated with attenuating symptoms in young adults with mild long coronavirus disease (COVID) symptoms. Methods: Twenty-eight young adults (aged 23±4 years) with long COVID were randomly assigned to either the EX group (n=14), which underwent aerobic, resistance, and inspiratory muscle training three times per week for 8 weeks, or the control (CON) group (n=14). Symptoms of dyspnea and fatigue were assessed using self-report questionnaires.Cardiorespiratory fitness was directly measured during cardiopulmonary exercise testing, while muscle strength was measured by isokinetic muscle testing. These variables were measured before and after the exercise intervention. Results: Compared to the CON group, the EX group showed improvements in symptoms of fatigue and dyspnea, maximal oxygen consumption (VO2peak ), and peak torque, with significant interaction effects observed (p＜ 0.05). The EX group exhibited a mean difference of 2.9 mL/kg/min in VO2peak (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.8−4.0) and 13.0 Nm (95% CI, 6.1−19.8) in peak torque compared to the CON group (p＜0.05). Improvements in VO2peak were negatively associated with attenuations in both fatigue and dyspnea after the exercise intervention (p＜0.05). Conclusion These findings indicate that EX training can effectively alleviate symptoms and improve physical fitness in young adults with mild long COVID. Structured exercise training may serve as an effective intervention to improve the health of those with long COVID.

Background: and Purpose The Treat Stroke to Target (TST) was a randomized clinical trial involving French and Korean patients demonstrating that a lower low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C, <70 mg/dL) target group (LT) experienced fewer cerebro-cardiovascular events than a higher target (90–110 mg/dL) group (HT). However, whether these results can be applied to Asian patients with different ischemic stroke subtypes remains unclear. Methods: Patients from 14 South Korean centers were analyzed separately. Patients with ischemic stroke or transient ischemic attack with evidence of atherosclerosis were randomized into LT and HT groups. The primary endpoint was a composite of ischemic stroke, myocardial infarction, coronary or cerebral revascularization, and cardiovascular death. Results: Among 712 enrolled patients, the mean LDL-C level was 71.0 mg/dL in 357 LT patients and 86.1 mg/dL in 355 HT patients. The primary endpoint occurred in 24 (6.7%) of LT and in 31 (8.7%) of HT group patients (adjusted hazard ratio [HR]=0.78; 95% confidence interval [CI]=0.45–1.33, P=0.353). Cardiovascular events alone occurred significantly less frequently in the LT than in the HT group (HR 0.26, 95% CI 0.09–0.80, P=0.019), whereas there were no significant differences in ischemic stroke events (HR 1.12, 95% CI 0.60–2.10, P=0.712). The benefit of LT was less apparent in patients with small vessel disease and intracranial atherosclerosis than in those with extracranial atherosclerosis. Conclusion In contrast to the French TST, the outcomes in Korean patients were neutral. Although LT was more effective in preventing cardiovascular diseases, it was not so in stroke prevention, probably attributed to the differences in stroke subtypes. Further studies are needed to elucidate the efficacy of statins and appropriate LDL-C targets in Asian patients with stroke.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to examine whether a combined exercise (EX), including aerobic, resistance, and inspiratory muscle training, reduces fatigue and dyspnea, improves physical fitness, and if increased physical fitness after exercise is associated with attenuating symptoms in young adults with mild long coronavirus disease (COVID) symptoms. Methods: Twenty-eight young adults (aged 23±4 years) with long COVID were randomly assigned to either the EX group (n=14), which underwent aerobic, resistance, and inspiratory muscle training three times per week for 8 weeks, or the control (CON) group (n=14). Symptoms of dyspnea and fatigue were assessed using self-report questionnaires.Cardiorespiratory fitness was directly measured during cardiopulmonary exercise testing, while muscle strength was measured by isokinetic muscle testing. These variables were measured before and after the exercise intervention. Results: Compared to the CON group, the EX group showed improvements in symptoms of fatigue and dyspnea, maximal oxygen consumption (VO2peak ), and peak torque, with significant interaction effects observed (p＜ 0.05). The EX group exhibited a mean difference of 2.9 mL/kg/min in VO2peak (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.8−4.0) and 13.0 Nm (95% CI, 6.1−19.8) in peak torque compared to the CON group (p＜0.05). Improvements in VO2peak were negatively associated with attenuations in both fatigue and dyspnea after the exercise intervention (p＜0.05). Conclusion These findings indicate that EX training can effectively alleviate symptoms and improve physical fitness in young adults with mild long COVID. Structured exercise training may serve as an effective intervention to improve the health of those with long COVID.

Methods: Twelve consecutive patients underwent single-level BELIF for lumbar degenerative disease. The technique involves two small portals, one each for endoscopy and instruments. A large PEEK cage was inserted through a posterolateral approach. Clinical outcomes, including a Visual Analog Scale for back and leg pain, the Oswestry Disability Index, and the European Quality of Life-5 Dimensions, were assessed preoperatively and at 3, 6, and 12 months postoperatively. Fusion status was evaluated using computed tomography (CT) at 12 months. Results: The mean patient age was 69.1±7.2 years, with operations predominantly at the L4–5 level (83%). The mean operation time was 149.7±37.4 minutes, and the average surgical drainage was 201.4±59.7 mL. All clinical outcome measures showed significant improvement at 12 months (p<0.05). Fusion was achieved in 83.3% of patients. Cage subsidence (>1 mm) occurred in one patient (8.3%). Complications included one case each of incidental durotomy, wrong-site surgery, and wound dehiscence and three cases of asymptomatic hematoma. Conclusions BELIF using a large PEEK cage demonstrated promising clinical outcomes and fusion rates. The technique offers enhanced visualization and enables direct neural decompression while minimizing tissue trauma. The use of a large PEEK cage may contribute to improved stability and reduced subsidence risk.