Purpose: To evaluate the differences in the level of concerns regarding exotropia surgery according to the perspectives regarding surgery and basic characteristics of parents of pediatric patients with intermittent exotropia in South Korea. Methods: This study included the parents of pediatric patients with intermittent exotropia who underwent surgery at five hospitals, between June 2022 and February 2023. Parental perspectives, basic characteristics, and levels of concern regarding surgery were assessed using a questionnaire. We investigated the differences in concern levels according to perspectives regarding surgery and basic characteristics among parents, such as sex, age, residential area, and the most influential factors in the decision-making for surgery. Results: A total of 266 parents were included (228 mothers; age, 40.0±4.7 years). Parents who chose surgery for subjective symptoms had higher levels of concern about hemorrhage, conjunctival redness, and persistent overcorrection than did those who chose surgery for cosmetic reasons (all p < 0.05). Fathers were more concerned about postoperative pain, compared to mothers (p = 0.039). Parents in their 40s and 50s had higher levels of concern about the hospital environment compared with those in their 20s and 30s (p = 0.003). Concern did not significantly differ by residential area. Conclusions The level of concern regarding surgery differed according to the perspectives and characteristics of the parents of pediatric patients with intermittent exotropia. Parents who chose surgery for subjective symptoms of exotropia had a higher level of concern than did those who chose surgery for cosmetic reasons. The concern level differed according to the parents’ sex and age but not their residential area.

Purpose: To evaluate the differences in the level of concerns regarding exotropia surgery according to the perspectives regarding surgery and basic characteristics of parents of pediatric patients with intermittent exotropia in South Korea. Methods: This study included the parents of pediatric patients with intermittent exotropia who underwent surgery at five hospitals, between June 2022 and February 2023. Parental perspectives, basic characteristics, and levels of concern regarding surgery were assessed using a questionnaire. We investigated the differences in concern levels according to perspectives regarding surgery and basic characteristics among parents, such as sex, age, residential area, and the most influential factors in the decision-making for surgery. Results: A total of 266 parents were included (228 mothers; age, 40.0±4.7 years). Parents who chose surgery for subjective symptoms had higher levels of concern about hemorrhage, conjunctival redness, and persistent overcorrection than did those who chose surgery for cosmetic reasons (all p < 0.05). Fathers were more concerned about postoperative pain, compared to mothers (p = 0.039). Parents in their 40s and 50s had higher levels of concern about the hospital environment compared with those in their 20s and 30s (p = 0.003). Concern did not significantly differ by residential area. Conclusions The level of concern regarding surgery differed according to the perspectives and characteristics of the parents of pediatric patients with intermittent exotropia. Parents who chose surgery for subjective symptoms of exotropia had a higher level of concern than did those who chose surgery for cosmetic reasons. The concern level differed according to the parents’ sex and age but not their residential area.

Background and Objectives: Cigarette smoking is a major risk factor for atherosclerosis.Nicotine, a crucial constituent of tobacco, contributes to atherosclerosis development and progression. However, evidence of the association between nicotine and neointima formation is limited. We aimed to evaluate whether nicotine enhances neointimal hyperplasia in the native epicardial coronary arteries of pigs after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with drug-eluting stents (DES). Methods: After coronary angiography (CAG) and quantitative coronary angiography (QCA), we implanted 20 DES into 20 pigs allocated to 2 groups: no-nicotine (n=10) and nicotine (n=10) groups. Post-PCI CAG and QCA were performed immediately. Follow-up CAG, QCA, optical coherence tomography (OCT), and histopathological analyses were performed 2 months post-PCI. Results: Despite intergroup similarities in the baseline QCA findings, OCT analysis showed that the nicotine group had a smaller mean stent and lumen areas, a larger mean neointimal area, greater percent area stenosis, and higher peri-strut fibrin and inflammation scores than the no-nicotine group. In immunofluorescence analysis, the nicotine group displayed higher expression of CD68 and α-smooth muscle actin but lower CD31 expression than the no-nicotine group. Conclusions Nicotine inhibited re-endothelialization and promoted inflammation and NIH after PCI with DES in a porcine model.

The need to implement vegetarian meal plans in school meals to promote sustainable eating among adolescents is increasing. This study examined students’ perceptions of a vegetarian day, and its association with dietary quality. This study surveyed 372 adolescents (230 males, 142 females) in Daejeon, Korea, assessing their perceptions of a vegetarian day and their nutrition quotient for adolescents (NQ-A). The perception of a vegetarian day was 3.21 out of 5, showing no significant gender difference. Among all participants, the item “I think a vegetarian day will help students’ health” received the highest score (3.67). The item “I think a vegetarian day is about respecting the diversity of students” scored significantly higher among females than males, whereas the item “It is better to include meat substitutes as well as mixed grains, beans, vegetables and fruits on a vegetarian day” scored lower among females than males. Correlation analysis showed that the perceptions of a vegetarian day were significantly positively associated with the total NQ-A score and the moderation domain score in all participants. Based on these findings, efforts should be made to enhance the positive perceptions of a vegetarian day among adolescents while exploring various approaches to its effective implementation.

Purpose: To evaluate the characteristics, anatomical success rate, and factors that may affect the anatomical success of rhegmatogenous retinal detachment in patients in their 20s. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the medical records of patients aged 20-29 years who underwent surgery for rhegmatogenous retinal detachment from January 2018 to December 2022. We examined factors such as sex, age, duration of illness, preoperative best corrected visual acuity, presence of underlying diseases, proliferative vitreoretinopathy, lattice degeneration, macular involvement, extent of retinal detachment at diagnosis, axial length, and myopia level to explore their impact on surgical outcomes. Results: The study included 122 eyes. The mean age was 23.81 ± 2.82 years, and the average sphere power was -5.80 ± 3.71 diopters (D). The percentage of eyes with a refraction of ≤ -6.0 D came to 44.3% (54/122), and with ≤ -4.0 D it amounted to 72.1% (88/122). The average logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution (logMAR) best corrected visual acuity improved significantly from 0.52 ± 0.68 before surgery to 0.28 ± 0.45 after surgery. The primary surgical success rates were 92.0% for scleral buckling, 88.9% for vitrectomy, and 92.3% for combined scleral buckling and vitrectomy, with no significant factors related to anatomical success identified. Conclusions There was a high prevalence of moderate to severe myopia among patients in their 20s with rhegmatogenous retinal detachment. However, no statistically significant correlation was found between the degree of myopia and anatomical success. Both functional and anatomical outcomes were generally favorable in these patients.

Purpose: Since 1995, the Korean Gastric Cancer Association (KGCA) has been periodically conducting nationwide surveys on patients with surgically treated gastric cancer. This study details the results of the survey conducted in 2023. Materials and Methods: The survey was conducted from March to December 2024 using a standardized case report form. Data were collected on 86 items, including patient demographics, tumor characteristics, surgical procedures, and surgical outcomes. The results of the 2023 survey were compared with those of previous surveys. Results: Data from 12,751 cases were collected from 66 institutions. The mean patient age was 64.6 years, and the proportion of patients aged ≥71 years increased from 9.1% in 1995 to 31.7% in 2023. The proportion of upper-third tumors slightly decreased to 16.8% compared to 20.9% in 2019. Early gastric cancer accounted for 63.1% of cases in 2023.Regarding operative procedures, a totally laparoscopic approach was most frequently applied (63.2%) in 2023, while robotic gastrectomy steadily increased to 9.5% from 2.1% in 2014.The most common anastomotic method was the Billroth II procedure (48.8%) after distal gastrectomy and double-tract reconstruction (51.9%) after proximal gastrectomy in 2023.However, the proportion of esophago-gastrostomy with anti-reflux procedures increased to 30.9%. The rates of post-operative mortality and overall complications were 1.0% and 15.3%, respectively. Conclusions The results of the 2023 nationwide survey demonstrate the current status of gastric cancer treatment in Korea. This information will provide a basis for future gastric cancer research.

The need to implement vegetarian meal plans in school meals to promote sustainable eating among adolescents is increasing. This study examined students’ perceptions of a vegetarian day, and its association with dietary quality. This study surveyed 372 adolescents (230 males, 142 females) in Daejeon, Korea, assessing their perceptions of a vegetarian day and their nutrition quotient for adolescents (NQ-A). The perception of a vegetarian day was 3.21 out of 5, showing no significant gender difference. Among all participants, the item “I think a vegetarian day will help students’ health” received the highest score (3.67). The item “I think a vegetarian day is about respecting the diversity of students” scored significantly higher among females than males, whereas the item “It is better to include meat substitutes as well as mixed grains, beans, vegetables and fruits on a vegetarian day” scored lower among females than males. Correlation analysis showed that the perceptions of a vegetarian day were significantly positively associated with the total NQ-A score and the moderation domain score in all participants. Based on these findings, efforts should be made to enhance the positive perceptions of a vegetarian day among adolescents while exploring various approaches to its effective implementation.

Purpose: To evaluate the characteristics, anatomical success rate, and factors that may affect the anatomical success of rhegmatogenous retinal detachment in patients in their 20s. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the medical records of patients aged 20-29 years who underwent surgery for rhegmatogenous retinal detachment from January 2018 to December 2022. We examined factors such as sex, age, duration of illness, preoperative best corrected visual acuity, presence of underlying diseases, proliferative vitreoretinopathy, lattice degeneration, macular involvement, extent of retinal detachment at diagnosis, axial length, and myopia level to explore their impact on surgical outcomes. Results: The study included 122 eyes. The mean age was 23.81 ± 2.82 years, and the average sphere power was -5.80 ± 3.71 diopters (D). The percentage of eyes with a refraction of ≤ -6.0 D came to 44.3% (54/122), and with ≤ -4.0 D it amounted to 72.1% (88/122). The average logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution (logMAR) best corrected visual acuity improved significantly from 0.52 ± 0.68 before surgery to 0.28 ± 0.45 after surgery. The primary surgical success rates were 92.0% for scleral buckling, 88.9% for vitrectomy, and 92.3% for combined scleral buckling and vitrectomy, with no significant factors related to anatomical success identified. Conclusions There was a high prevalence of moderate to severe myopia among patients in their 20s with rhegmatogenous retinal detachment. However, no statistically significant correlation was found between the degree of myopia and anatomical success. Both functional and anatomical outcomes were generally favorable in these patients.

Background and Objectives: Cigarette smoking is a major risk factor for atherosclerosis.Nicotine, a crucial constituent of tobacco, contributes to atherosclerosis development and progression. However, evidence of the association between nicotine and neointima formation is limited. We aimed to evaluate whether nicotine enhances neointimal hyperplasia in the native epicardial coronary arteries of pigs after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with drug-eluting stents (DES). Methods: After coronary angiography (CAG) and quantitative coronary angiography (QCA), we implanted 20 DES into 20 pigs allocated to 2 groups: no-nicotine (n=10) and nicotine (n=10) groups. Post-PCI CAG and QCA were performed immediately. Follow-up CAG, QCA, optical coherence tomography (OCT), and histopathological analyses were performed 2 months post-PCI. Results: Despite intergroup similarities in the baseline QCA findings, OCT analysis showed that the nicotine group had a smaller mean stent and lumen areas, a larger mean neointimal area, greater percent area stenosis, and higher peri-strut fibrin and inflammation scores than the no-nicotine group. In immunofluorescence analysis, the nicotine group displayed higher expression of CD68 and α-smooth muscle actin but lower CD31 expression than the no-nicotine group. Conclusions Nicotine inhibited re-endothelialization and promoted inflammation and NIH after PCI with DES in a porcine model.