Background and Objectives: Graves’ ophthalmopathy (GO) is an autoimmune inflammatory disorder that can adversely affect quality of life in patients with Graves’ disease (GD). The objective of this study was to characterize the clinical features of patients with GO and to identify risk factors associated with its development and the need for anti-inflammatory treatment. Materials and Methods: In this multicenter, retrospective observational study, 818 patients with GD were identified via electronic medical record review. Clinical characteristics were assessed, and logistic regression analyses were performed to identify risk factors for GO development and the need for anti-inflammatory treatment. Results: Among the 818 patients with GD, 135 (16.5%) developed GO, and 60 (7.3%) of these patients received anti-inflammatory treatment. GO was diagnosed at the time of GD diagnosis in 54.8% of cases, and proptosis and eyelid/orbital swelling were the common presenting features. In multivariable analysis, female sex (odds ratio [OR]: 1.75, confidence interval [CI]: 1.02-3.03), goiter (OR: 1.71, CI: 1.08-2.71), and smoking (ex-smokers: OR, 2.18; 95% CI: 1.02-4.65; current smokers: OR, 3.11; CI, 1.78-5.44) were independently associated with GO development, whereas diabetes (OR: 0.35, CI: 0.14-0.89) was inversely associated. Higher total cholesterol (OR: 1.31, CI: 1.01-1.04) and elevated thyrotropin-binding inhibitory immunoglobulin levels (OR: 1.07, CI: 1.02-1.11) were also significantly associated with the need for anti-inflammatory treatment. Conclusion This study delineated the clinical features of GO and identified risk factors for its development and the need for anti-inflammatory treatment in patients with GD, providing valuable information for the management of GO in Korean patients.

Objective: This study examined the association between resistance exercise frequency and possible sarcopenia in middleaged and older adults, evaluating the mediating role of depressive symptoms. Methods: This cross-sectional study used data from the 2022 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. A to-tal of 2,183 adults aged ≥50 years with complete data were included. Resistance exercise frequency (days/week) and depressive symptoms assessed by the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) were treated as continuous variables. Multivariable logisticregression and mediation analysis were conducted, adjusting for demographic, lifestyle, and clinical covariates. Results: Possible sarcopenia was identified in 165 participants (7.6%). Higher resistance exercise frequency was significantly associated with a reduced likelihood of possible sarcopenia (β=-0.135, p=0.017) and lower PHQ-9 scores (β=-0.106, p=0.008).Higher PHQ-9 scores were positively associated with possible sarcopenia (β=0.085, p<0.001). Depressive symptoms partially mediated the association between resistance exercise frequency and possible sarcopenia (indirect effect β=-0.009, 95% confidence interval: -0.018 to -0.003). Conclusion Depressive symptoms were associated with possible sarcopenia and partially mediated the relationship between resistance exercise frequency and possible sarcopenia. These findings highlight the importance of integrating mental health con-siderations into strategies aimed at preventing early declines in muscle function among middle-aged and older adults.

Purpose: The novel curability criteria for elderly (EL) patients have been proposed to stratify their risk of lymph node metastasis (LNM), following non-curative endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) for early gastric cancer (EGC). Hence, this study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of the EL criteria and compare them with those of the well-known eCura system. Materials and Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed on 143 patients who did not meet the curative ESD criteria at a tertiary hospital in Korea between 2011 and 2022. Of these, 102 underwent additional surgery, while 41 were followed up without further treatment. The LNM rates based on the EL and eCura systems were stratified and compared. Results: In the surgery group, 29.4% (30/102) patients were classified as EL-low (EL-L) and 70.2% (72/102) as EL-high (EL-H). The LNM rates (95% confidence interval) were 0.0% (0.0–11.6) and 9.7% (4.0–19.0) for EL-L and EL-H, respectively (P=0.102). EL-L was closely aligned with the eCura low-risk category, with a similar patient proportion (32.4%) and an LNM rate of 0.0% (0.0–10.6). The eCura system classified 94.1% (48/51) of the EL-L patients as lowrisk, with an 86% concordance rate (123/143). Discordant cases included patients with positive vertical margins, but without other risk factors, who were classified as EL-H without LNM. Conclusions Patients with EL-L showed no LNM, and the EL criteria demonstrated high concordance with the eCura system. The EL criteria may be as effective as the eCura system in identifying low-risk patients after non-curative ESD for EGC.

Purpose: The novel curability criteria for elderly (EL) patients have been proposed to stratify their risk of lymph node metastasis (LNM), following non-curative endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) for early gastric cancer (EGC). Hence, this study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of the EL criteria and compare them with those of the well-known eCura system. Materials and Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed on 143 patients who did not meet the curative ESD criteria at a tertiary hospital in Korea between 2011 and 2022. Of these, 102 underwent additional surgery, while 41 were followed up without further treatment. The LNM rates based on the EL and eCura systems were stratified and compared. Results: In the surgery group, 29.4% (30/102) patients were classified as EL-low (EL-L) and 70.2% (72/102) as EL-high (EL-H). The LNM rates (95% confidence interval) were 0.0% (0.0–11.6) and 9.7% (4.0–19.0) for EL-L and EL-H, respectively (P=0.102). EL-L was closely aligned with the eCura low-risk category, with a similar patient proportion (32.4%) and an LNM rate of 0.0% (0.0–10.6). The eCura system classified 94.1% (48/51) of the EL-L patients as lowrisk, with an 86% concordance rate (123/143). Discordant cases included patients with positive vertical margins, but without other risk factors, who were classified as EL-H without LNM. Conclusions Patients with EL-L showed no LNM, and the EL criteria demonstrated high concordance with the eCura system. The EL criteria may be as effective as the eCura system in identifying low-risk patients after non-curative ESD for EGC.

Purpose: The novel curability criteria for elderly (EL) patients have been proposed to stratify their risk of lymph node metastasis (LNM), following non-curative endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) for early gastric cancer (EGC). Hence, this study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of the EL criteria and compare them with those of the well-known eCura system. Materials and Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed on 143 patients who did not meet the curative ESD criteria at a tertiary hospital in Korea between 2011 and 2022. Of these, 102 underwent additional surgery, while 41 were followed up without further treatment. The LNM rates based on the EL and eCura systems were stratified and compared. Results: In the surgery group, 29.4% (30/102) patients were classified as EL-low (EL-L) and 70.2% (72/102) as EL-high (EL-H). The LNM rates (95% confidence interval) were 0.0% (0.0–11.6) and 9.7% (4.0–19.0) for EL-L and EL-H, respectively (P=0.102). EL-L was closely aligned with the eCura low-risk category, with a similar patient proportion (32.4%) and an LNM rate of 0.0% (0.0–10.6). The eCura system classified 94.1% (48/51) of the EL-L patients as lowrisk, with an 86% concordance rate (123/143). Discordant cases included patients with positive vertical margins, but without other risk factors, who were classified as EL-H without LNM. Conclusions Patients with EL-L showed no LNM, and the EL criteria demonstrated high concordance with the eCura system. The EL criteria may be as effective as the eCura system in identifying low-risk patients after non-curative ESD for EGC.

The administration of high-dose vitamins has been focused on in critically ill patients as adjunctive therapy for life-threatening conditions. We evaluated the association between serum vitamin C concentrations and patient prognosis. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed and collected clinical and biochemical data, including thiamine and vitamin C levels, of patients admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU). Results: In total, 177 patients were admitted to the PICU during the study period, and 63 children were enrolled in this study. The most common reason for PICU admission was sepsis (33.3%). The median thiamine and vitamin C levels were 3.6 µg/dl (interquartile range [IQR], 2.9–4.5 µg/dl) and 2.84 µg/ml (IQR, 1.61–4.55 µg/ml), respectively. Thiamine deficiency was observed in 10 patients (15.9%), and 17 (27.0%) had vitamin C deficiency. There were no differences in the vitamin levels according to the reason for PICU admission. Vitamin C levels were affected by nutritional status. The length of stay in the PICU and duration of mechanical ventilation were longer in patients with vitamin C deficiency than in those without (P=0.035 and P=0.010, respectively). The serum delta neutrophil index and C-reactive protein and lactate levels increased in the vitamin C-deficient group (P=0.028 and P=0.039, respectively). There was a significant difference in Pediatric Index of Mortality 3 scores according to vitamin C levels but not in mortality directly. Conclusions: Vitamin C deficiency was associated with elevated inflammatory marker levels, increased mechanical ventilation durations, and PICU admission. Our results support the potential benefits of vitamin C administration in critically ill children.

Background: Body weight can fluctuate during critical illness due to factors such as fluid shifts, nutritional status, the type of acute illness, and underlying comorbidities. We investigated the association between acute body weight variability (WV) and clinical outcomes in critically ill pediatric patients. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed data from patients aged 1 month to 18 years who were admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) of a university-affiliated tertiary hospital between August 2017 and July 2021. WV was defined as the percentage difference between the measured body weight at PICU admission and the usual body weight, obtained either from recent hospital records or caregiver reports. Associations between WV and clinical outcomes, including PICU mortality and ventilator-free days (VFDs), were assessed. Results: Of the 926 patients, 74 (8.0%) died. Median WV was significantly higher in non-survivors than in survivors (8.7% vs. 0.0%; P<0.001). Increased WV was independently associated with higher mortality (hazard ratio [HR], 1.102; 95% CI, 1.073–1.131) and fewer VFDs (odds ratio [OR], 0.599; 95% CI, 0.524–0.684). Combining WV with Pediatric Index of Mortality 3 score significantly improved mortality prediction over either parameter alone (area under the curve, 0.888; P=0.047). Conclusions Higher WV at PICU admission is independently associated with adverse clinical outcomes, including increased mortality and fewer VFDs. WV could complement existing mortality prediction models in pediatric critical care.

This report presents the latest statistics on the stroke population in South Korea, sourced from the Clinical Research Collaborations for Stroke in Korea-National Institute for Health (CRCS-K-NIH), a comprehensive, nationwide, multicenter stroke registry. The Korean cohort, unlike western populations, shows a male-to-female ratio of 1.5, attributed to lower risk factors in Korean women. The average ages for men and women are 67 and 73 years, respectively.Hypertension is the most common risk factor (67%), consistent with global trends, but there is a higher prevalence of diabetes (35%) and smoking (21%). The prevalence of atrial fibrillation (19%) is lower than in western populations, suggesting effective prevention strategies in the general population. A high incidence of large artery atherosclerosis (38%) is observed, likely due to prevalent intracranial arterial disease in East Asians and advanced imaging techniques.There has been a decrease in intravenous thrombolysis rates, from 12% in 2017–2019 to 10% in 2021, with no improvements in door-to-needle and door-to-puncture times, worsened by the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. While the use of aspirin plus clopidogrel for noncardioembolic stroke and direct oral anticoagulants for atrial fibrillation is well-established, the application of direct oral anticoagulants for non-atrial fibrillation cardioembolic strokes in the acute phase requires further research. The incidence of early neurological deterioration (13%) and the cumulative incidence of recurrent stroke at 3 months (3%) align with global figures. Favorable outcomes at 3 months (63%) are comparable internationally, yet the lack of improvement in dependency at 3 months highlights the need for advancements in acute stroke care.

Background: Antimicrobial prescriptions for serious chronic or acute illness nearing its end stages raise concerns about the potential for futile use, adverse events, increased multidrugresistant organisms, and significant patient and social cost burdens. This study investigated the nationwide situation of how antibiotics are prescribed to patients during the last 14 days of life to guide future actions. Methods: This nationwide multicenter retrospective cohort study was conducted at 13 hospitals in South Korea from November 1 to December 31, 2018. All decedents were included in the study. Antibiotic use during the last two weeks of their lives was investigated. Results: A total of 1,201 (88.9%) patients received a median of two antimicrobial agents during the last two weeks of their lives. Carbapenems were prescribed to approximately half of the patients (44.4%) in the highest amount (301.2 days of therapy per 1,000 patient-days).Among the patients receiving antimicrobial agents, 63.6% were inappropriate and only 327 patients (27.2%) were referred by infectious disease specialists. The use of carbapenem (odds ratio [OR], 1.51; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.13–2.03; P = 0.006), underlying cancer (OR, 1.56; 95% CI, 1.20–2.01, P = 0.047), underlying cerebrovascular disease (OR, 1.88; 95% CI, 1.23–2.89, P = 0.004), and no microbiological testing (OR, 1.79; 95% CI, 1.15–2.73; P = 0.010) were independent predictors for inappropriate antibiotic prescribing. Conclusion A considerable number of antimicrobial agents are administered to patients with chronic or acute illnesses nearing their end-of-life, a high proportion of which are prescribed inappropriately. Consultation with an infectious disease specialist, in addition to an antimicrobial stewardship program, may be necessary to induce the optimal use of antibiotics.

Background: Routine practice of antibiotic skin test (AST) before administering antibiotics is with little scientific basis. However, AST is frequently performed in real-world practice. We aimed to explore the current practice status of AST. Methods: All admission cases in Severance Hospital between January 2019 and December 2020 of patients at less than 19 years of age were collected retrospectively. AST results for 4 penicillins (ampicillin, ampicillin-sulbactam, amoxicillin-clavulanate, and piperacillin-tazobactam) and 6 cephalosporins (cefazolin, cefotaxime, cefotiam, cefpiramide, ceftriaxone, and flomoxef) as well as adverse drug reaction (ADR) reports were collected. Results: Among 36,381 hospitalization cases, 7,589 and 16,468 were administered penicillins and cephalosporins, respectively. Penicillins were administered without AST in 2,622 cases (35%), 2 (0.08%) of which showed ADR. Of the remaining 4,967 cases who received AST, 57 (1.1%) showed a positive reaction. For cephalosporins, 15,473 cases (94%) received antibiotics without AST. Among them, 17 cases (0.1%) showed ADRs. For 995 cases that rceived AST, 22 (2.2%) revealed a positive reaction. Among 79 cases who were AST positive, 10 took the original medication. Conclusion The current practice of AST reveals heterogeneous and inconsistent patterns. This brings the need for a standardized guideline for the safe and effective use of antibiotics.