Purpose: We compared short-term clinical outcomes after cataract surgery with implantation of a novel refractive extended depth-of-focus TECNIS PureSee intraocular lens (IOL) between patients with stage 1 epiretinal membrane (ERM)—characterized by a thin membrane over the macula with preserved foveal depression―and those with a normal retina. Methods: This retrospective study included 60 eyes of 60 patients who underwent cataract surgery with implantation of the TECNIS PureSee IOL between January 2024 and January 2025: 30 eyes with stage 1 ERM and 30 eyes with a normal retina. Preoperative characteristics, including age, sex distribution, cataract severity, corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA), and higher-order aberrations, were compared between groups, as were IOL power and target refraction. Postoperative outcomes at 1 month―including CDVA, uncorrected distance, intermediate, and near visual acuity, ocular aberrations, and contrast sensitivity―were evaluated. Results: There were no significant differences in preoperative characteristics, such as age, sex distribution, cataract grade, CDVA, higher-order aberrations, IOL power, or target refraction between the two groups. At 1 month postoperatively, CDVA, uncorrected distance, intermediate, and near visual acuity, higher-order aberrations, and contrast sensitivity exhibited no significant differences between groups. Conclusions In this short-term analysis, the PureSee IOL demonstrated comparable efficacy and safety in cataract patients with stage 1 ERM to those with a normal retina.

Purpose: Drainage fluid may serve as a biologically informative indicator of immune and infectious status during postsurgical recovery after trauma. However, microbiome shifts in drainage fluid associated with clinical resilience have not yet been characterized. This study aimed to investigate microbial dynamics in drainage fluid across the intensive care unit (ICU) and ward recovery phases in Korean trauma patients. Methods: A total of 25 drainage and 10 stool samples were collected from 10 trauma patients who underwent abdominal surgery at a regional trauma center. Microbial composition was analyzed using 16S ribosomal RNA amplicon sequencing.Alpha and beta diversity were compared between sample types and recovery stages. Linear mixed-effects models were used to identify recovery-associated taxa while adjusting for clinical variables, and predicted metabolic pathways were assessed using PICRUSt2. Results: Drainage fluid harbored distinct microbial communities independent of the intestinal microbiota. Shared taxa between drainage and stool increased significantly in patients with bowel injury, suggesting microbial translocation.Seven genera and 5 species showed significantly decreased abundance during the ward stage, with Modestobacter and Blastococcus tunisiensis demonstrating the highest discriminative ability between recovery stages (area under the curve = 0.721). Predicted metabolic pathways related to fatty acid degradation, amino acid degradation, and pro-inflammatory processes were more active during the ICU stage. Conclusion These findings provide preliminary evidence that drainage fluid microbiome profiles may reflect recovery dynamics following trauma, supporting its potential utility for microbiome-based monitoring and biomarker discovery in trauma surgery.

Objectives: The main Brucella species causing human infections in the Republic of Korea is Brucella abortus, which uses cattle as its host. However, since 2014, Brucella melitensis, whichuses sheep and goats as hosts, has also been identified. This study investigated whether a shifthas occurred in the predominant species of Brucella pathogens. Methods: Brucellosis is a class 3 infectious disease requiring mandatory reporting and registration in the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency’s infectious disease surveillance system (http://is.kdca.go.kr). Cases from 2014 to 2023 were studied, and whole-genome sequencing analysis was conducted using BruMLSA21. Results: Out of 51 patients, males (45 patients, 88.2%) were predominantly affected. Twentyfive patients (49%) came from the livestock industry, and within the livestock sector group, the route of infection occurred exclusively through contact (25/25, 100%), whereas in other occupations, it was split between contact (9/26 patients, 34.6%) and ingestion (8/26 patients, 30.8%). Among the 31 patients who underwent Brucella culture tests, B. melitensis was found to be more prevalent than B. abortus (14 patients, 45.2% vs. 11 patients, 35.5%). In all cases where B. melitensis was isolated, the infections were of foreign origin, consistent with the results ofBruMLSA21. Conclusion Regular monitoring of the causative agent of brucellosis is necessary due to its varying host preferences and antibiotic resistance. Furthermore, given the increasing prevalence of B. melitensis worldwide, changes in dietary habits (e.g., increased lamb consumption), and the increase in foreign workers and Chinese immigrants, a multi-ministerial One Health response will be required.

Hepatic dysregulation of lipid metabolism exacerbates inflammation and enhances the progression of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD). STAT3 has been linked to lipid metabolism and inflammation. Jolkinolide B (JB), derived from Euphorbia fischeriana, is known for its pharmacological anti-inflammatory and anti-tumor properties. Therefore, this study investigated whether JB affects MASLD prevention by regulating STAT3 signaling. JB attenuated steatosis and inflammatory responses in palmitic acid (PA)-treated hepatocytes. Additionally, JB treatment reduced the mRNA expression of de-novo lipogenic genes, such as acetyl-CoA carboxylase and stearoyl-CoA desaturase 1. Interestingly, JB-mediated reduction in inflammation and lipogenesis was dependent on STAT3 signaling. JB consistently modulated mitochondrial dysfunction and the mRNA expression of inflammatory cytokines by inhibiting PA-induced JAK/STAT3 activation. This study suggests that JB is a potential therapeutic agent to prevent major stages of MASLD through inhibition of JAK/STAT3 signaling in hepatocytes.

In the rapidly evolving healthcare environment, radiologists strive to establish their rightful place.Thus, there is a need for enhanced outpatient and clinical education within the Department of Radiology and exploration of its methodologies. Accordingly, the Korean Society of Radiology established a task force to investigate the clinical and outpatient practice status of radiologists overseas, current state of related education, involvement of other specialties in radiologic practices and education in Korea, and clinical and outpatient practice status among Korean radiologists. Furthermore, a survey on clinical competency enhancement was conducted among the members of the Korean Society of Radiology. These findings suggest the need for visibility and clinical competency enhancement in radiologists and methodologies for strengthening clinical competencies.

Objectives: The main Brucella species causing human infections in the Republic of Korea is Brucella abortus, which uses cattle as its host. However, since 2014, Brucella melitensis, whichuses sheep and goats as hosts, has also been identified. This study investigated whether a shifthas occurred in the predominant species of Brucella pathogens. Methods: Brucellosis is a class 3 infectious disease requiring mandatory reporting and registration in the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency’s infectious disease surveillance system (http://is.kdca.go.kr). Cases from 2014 to 2023 were studied, and whole-genome sequencing analysis was conducted using BruMLSA21. Results: Out of 51 patients, males (45 patients, 88.2%) were predominantly affected. Twentyfive patients (49%) came from the livestock industry, and within the livestock sector group, the route of infection occurred exclusively through contact (25/25, 100%), whereas in other occupations, it was split between contact (9/26 patients, 34.6%) and ingestion (8/26 patients, 30.8%). Among the 31 patients who underwent Brucella culture tests, B. melitensis was found to be more prevalent than B. abortus (14 patients, 45.2% vs. 11 patients, 35.5%). In all cases where B. melitensis was isolated, the infections were of foreign origin, consistent with the results ofBruMLSA21. Conclusion Regular monitoring of the causative agent of brucellosis is necessary due to its varying host preferences and antibiotic resistance. Furthermore, given the increasing prevalence of B. melitensis worldwide, changes in dietary habits (e.g., increased lamb consumption), and the increase in foreign workers and Chinese immigrants, a multi-ministerial One Health response will be required.

Objectives: The main Brucella species causing human infections in the Republic of Korea is Brucella abortus, which uses cattle as its host. However, since 2014, Brucella melitensis, whichuses sheep and goats as hosts, has also been identified. This study investigated whether a shifthas occurred in the predominant species of Brucella pathogens. Methods: Brucellosis is a class 3 infectious disease requiring mandatory reporting and registration in the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency’s infectious disease surveillance system (http://is.kdca.go.kr). Cases from 2014 to 2023 were studied, and whole-genome sequencing analysis was conducted using BruMLSA21. Results: Out of 51 patients, males (45 patients, 88.2%) were predominantly affected. Twentyfive patients (49%) came from the livestock industry, and within the livestock sector group, the route of infection occurred exclusively through contact (25/25, 100%), whereas in other occupations, it was split between contact (9/26 patients, 34.6%) and ingestion (8/26 patients, 30.8%). Among the 31 patients who underwent Brucella culture tests, B. melitensis was found to be more prevalent than B. abortus (14 patients, 45.2% vs. 11 patients, 35.5%). In all cases where B. melitensis was isolated, the infections were of foreign origin, consistent with the results ofBruMLSA21. Conclusion Regular monitoring of the causative agent of brucellosis is necessary due to its varying host preferences and antibiotic resistance. Furthermore, given the increasing prevalence of B. melitensis worldwide, changes in dietary habits (e.g., increased lamb consumption), and the increase in foreign workers and Chinese immigrants, a multi-ministerial One Health response will be required.