Background: Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is a progressive complication among patients with diabetes and the most common cause of end-stage kidney disease. Neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) are known to play a role in kidney disease, thus this study aimed to determine their role in the development of diabetic kidney disease using diabetic murine models. Results: Protein and histological analyses revealed that db/db mice and streptozotocin DN models expressed no significant NET-related proteins, myeloperoxidase, citrullinated histone H3 (citH3), neutrophil elastase, and lymphocyte antigen 6 complex locus G6D (Ly6G). However, the inflamed individuals in the DN model showed that citH3 and Ly6G were highly deposited in the renal system based on immunohistochemistry images. In vitro, NET treatment did not induce apoptosis in glomerular endothelial and renal tubular epithelial cells. NET inhibition by DNase administration demonstrated no significant changes in cell apoptosis. Conclusions NET-related proteins were only expressed in the DN model with tubulointerstitial inflammation. Our study revealed that NETs are only induced in mice with hyperglycemia-induced inflammation.

Background: Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is a progressive complication among patients with diabetes and the most common cause of end-stage kidney disease. Neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) are known to play a role in kidney disease, thus this study aimed to determine their role in the development of diabetic kidney disease using diabetic murine models. Results: Protein and histological analyses revealed that db/db mice and streptozotocin DN models expressed no significant NET-related proteins, myeloperoxidase, citrullinated histone H3 (citH3), neutrophil elastase, and lymphocyte antigen 6 complex locus G6D (Ly6G). However, the inflamed individuals in the DN model showed that citH3 and Ly6G were highly deposited in the renal system based on immunohistochemistry images. In vitro, NET treatment did not induce apoptosis in glomerular endothelial and renal tubular epithelial cells. NET inhibition by DNase administration demonstrated no significant changes in cell apoptosis. Conclusions NET-related proteins were only expressed in the DN model with tubulointerstitial inflammation. Our study revealed that NETs are only induced in mice with hyperglycemia-induced inflammation.

Background: Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is a progressive complication among patients with diabetes and the most common cause of end-stage kidney disease. Neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) are known to play a role in kidney disease, thus this study aimed to determine their role in the development of diabetic kidney disease using diabetic murine models. Results: Protein and histological analyses revealed that db/db mice and streptozotocin DN models expressed no significant NET-related proteins, myeloperoxidase, citrullinated histone H3 (citH3), neutrophil elastase, and lymphocyte antigen 6 complex locus G6D (Ly6G). However, the inflamed individuals in the DN model showed that citH3 and Ly6G were highly deposited in the renal system based on immunohistochemistry images. In vitro, NET treatment did not induce apoptosis in glomerular endothelial and renal tubular epithelial cells. NET inhibition by DNase administration demonstrated no significant changes in cell apoptosis. Conclusions NET-related proteins were only expressed in the DN model with tubulointerstitial inflammation. Our study revealed that NETs are only induced in mice with hyperglycemia-induced inflammation.

Background: Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is a progressive complication among patients with diabetes and the most common cause of end-stage kidney disease. Neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) are known to play a role in kidney disease, thus this study aimed to determine their role in the development of diabetic kidney disease using diabetic murine models. Results: Protein and histological analyses revealed that db/db mice and streptozotocin DN models expressed no significant NET-related proteins, myeloperoxidase, citrullinated histone H3 (citH3), neutrophil elastase, and lymphocyte antigen 6 complex locus G6D (Ly6G). However, the inflamed individuals in the DN model showed that citH3 and Ly6G were highly deposited in the renal system based on immunohistochemistry images. In vitro, NET treatment did not induce apoptosis in glomerular endothelial and renal tubular epithelial cells. NET inhibition by DNase administration demonstrated no significant changes in cell apoptosis. Conclusions NET-related proteins were only expressed in the DN model with tubulointerstitial inflammation. Our study revealed that NETs are only induced in mice with hyperglycemia-induced inflammation.

Background: Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is a progressive complication among patients with diabetes and the most common cause of end-stage kidney disease. Neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) are known to play a role in kidney disease, thus this study aimed to determine their role in the development of diabetic kidney disease using diabetic murine models. Results: Protein and histological analyses revealed that db/db mice and streptozotocin DN models expressed no significant NET-related proteins, myeloperoxidase, citrullinated histone H3 (citH3), neutrophil elastase, and lymphocyte antigen 6 complex locus G6D (Ly6G). However, the inflamed individuals in the DN model showed that citH3 and Ly6G were highly deposited in the renal system based on immunohistochemistry images. In vitro, NET treatment did not induce apoptosis in glomerular endothelial and renal tubular epithelial cells. NET inhibition by DNase administration demonstrated no significant changes in cell apoptosis. Conclusions NET-related proteins were only expressed in the DN model with tubulointerstitial inflammation. Our study revealed that NETs are only induced in mice with hyperglycemia-induced inflammation.

Background: Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest is a major public health concern in Korea.Identifying spatiotemporal patterns of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest incidence and survival outcomes is crucial for effective resource allocation and targeted interventions. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the spatiotemporal epidemiology of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest in Korea, with a focus on identifying high-risk areas and populations and examining factors associated with prehospital outcomes. Methods: We conducted this population-based observational study using data from the Korean out-of-hospital cardiac arrest registry from January 2009 to December 2021. Using a Bayesian spatiotemporal model based on the Integrated Nested Laplace Approximation, we calculated the standardized incidence ratio and assessed the relative risk to compare the spatial and temporal distributions over time. The primary outcome was out-ofhospital cardiac arrest incidence, and the secondary outcomes included prehospital return of spontaneous circulation, survival to hospital admission and discharge, and good neurological outcomes. Results: Although the number of cases increased over time, the spatiotemporal analysis exhibited a discernible temporal pattern in the standardized incidence ratio of out-ofhospital cardiac arrest with a gradual decline over time (1.07; 95% credible interval [CrI], 1.04–1.09 in 2009 vs. 1.00; 95% CrI, 0.98–1.03 in 2021). The district-specific risk ratios of survival outcomes were more favorable in the metropolitan and major metropolitan areas.In particular, the neurological outcomes were significantly improved from relative risk 0.35 (0.31–0.39) in 2009 to 1.75 (1.65–1.86) in 2021. Conclusion This study emphasized the significance of small-area analyses in identifying high-risk regions and populations using spatiotemporal analyses. These findings have implications for public health planning efforts to alleviate the burden of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest in Korea.

Background: Primary cicatricial alopecia (PCA) is a rare disease that causes irreversible destruction of hair follicles and affects the quality of life (QOL). Objective: We aimed to investigate the disease awareness, medical use behavior, QOL, and real-world diagnosis and treatment status of patients with PCA. Methods: A self-administered questionnaire was administered to patients with PCA and their dermatologists. Patients aged between 19 and 75 years who visited one of 27 dermatology departments between September 2021 and September 2022 were included. Results: In total, 274 patients were included. The male-to-female ratio was 1:1.47, with a mean age of 45.7 years. Patients with neutrophilic and mixed PCA were predominantly male and younger than those with lymphocytic PCA. Among patients with lymphocytic PCA, lichen planopilaris was the most common type, and among those with neutrophilic PCA, folliculitis decalvans was the most common type. Among the total patients, 28.8% were previously diagnosed with PCA, 47.0% were diagnosed with PCA at least 6 months after their first hospital visit, 20.0% received early treatment within 3 months of disease onset, and 54.4% received steady treatment. More than half of the patients had a moderate to severe impairment in QOL. Topical/intralesional steroid injections were the most common treatment. Systemic immunosuppressants were frequently prescribed to patients with lymphocytic PCA, and antibiotics were mostly prescribed to patients with neutrophilic PCA. Conclusion This study provides information on the disease awareness, medical use behavior, QOL, diagnosis, and treatment status of Korean patients with PCA. This can help dermatologists educate patients with PCA to understand the necessity for early diagnosis and steady treatment.

Purpose: As people living with cancer increase in the aging society, cancer-related emergency department (ED) visits are also increasing. This study aimed to investigate the epidemiologic characteristics of non-emergent cancer-related ED visits using a nationwide ED database. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted using the National Emergency Department Information System (NEDIS) database. All cancer-related ED visits between 2016 and 2020 were included. The study outcome was non-emergent ED visits, defined as patients triaged into non-emergent condition at both the time of arrival at ED and discharge from ED and were discharged without hospitalization. Results: Among 1185871 cancer-related ED visits over 5 years, 19.0% (n=225491) were classified as non-emergent visits. While abdominal pain and fever are the top chief complaints in both emergent and non-emergent visits, non-emergent visits had high proportions of abdomen distension (4.8%), ascite (2.4%), and pain in lower limb (2.0%) compared with emergent visits. The cancer types with a high proportion of non-emergent visits were thyroid (32.4%) and prostate cancer (30.4%). Adults compared with children or older adults, female, medical aid insurance, urban/rural ED, direct-in compared with transfer-in, and weekend visit were associated with high odds for non-emergent visits. Conclusion Approximately 20% of cancer-related ED visits may be potentially non-emergent. A significant number of non-emergent patients visited the ED due to cancer-related symptoms. To improve the quality of care for people living with cancer, the expansion of supportive care resources besides of ED, including active symptom control, is necessary.

Objective: Various out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) prognostication scores have been developed. However, the application of these scores is often limited owing to missing predictor variables. This study aimed to compare and validate various OHCA prognostication scores using simple imputation methods that can easily be applied in clinical situations. Methods: Adult patients presenting with OHCA with a sustained return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) between October 2015 and June 2020 were the subjects for the analysis. We evaluated six OHCA prognostication scores: the ROSC after cardiac arrest (RACA) score, CaRdiac Arrest Survival Score (CRASS), NULL-PLEASE, predictive score (PS), cardiac arrest hospital prognosis (CAHP) score, and the OHCA score. For missing predictors, median imputation for continuous variables and mode imputation for categorical variables were performed before the analysis. We evaluated the discrimination and calibration powers of each prognostic score for good neurological recovery at discharge. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) was used to assess the discrimination power, and a calibration plot and the Hosmer-Lemeshow test were used to assess the calibration power. Results: Of the 12,321 patients, 5,191 were subjected to analysis. Among them, 924 (17.8%) had good neurological recovery. Certain predictors often had missing values-no-flow time 1,107 (21.3%), low-flow time 862 (16.6%), pH 1,104 (21.3%), lactate 1,820 (35.0%), and creatinine 2,257 (43.5%). After imputing the missing variables, the CAHP score showed the highest AUC (0.957; 95% confidence interval, 0.950-0.963), and the CRASS and PS also presented excellent discrimination power (AUC 0.914 and 0.942, respectively). However, the CAHP and NULL-PLEASE scores were well calibrated (Hosmer-Lemeshow test, P>0.05). Conclusion Among the six prognostic scores, the CAHP score showed the highest discrimination and calibration powers.

Purpose: Sleep apnea (SA) is a risk factor for coronary artery disease (CAD), and SA and CAD increase the incidence of sudden cardiac arrest (SCA). This study aimed to investigate the effect of SA on the incidence of SCA and explore the effect of varying degrees of SA with or without CAD on the incidence of SCA. Materials and Methods: This prospective multi-center, case-control study was performed using the phase II Cardiac Arrest Pursuit Trial with Unique Registry and Epidemiologic Surveillance (CAPTURES-II) database for SCA cases and community-based controls in Korea. The matching ratio of cases to controls was 1:1, and they were randomly matched within demographics, including age, sex, and residence. The primary variable was a history of SA, and the second variable was a history of CAD. We conducted a conditional logistic regression analysis to estimate the effect of SA and CAD on the SCA risk, and an interaction analysis between SA and CAD. Results: SA was associated with an increased risk of SCA [adjusted odds ratio (AOR) (95% confidence interval, CI): 1.54 (1.16–2.03)], and CAD was associated with an increased risk of SCA [AOR (95% CI): 3.94 (2.50–6.18)]. SA was a risk factor for SCA in patients without CAD [AOR (95% CI): 1.62 (1.21–2.17)], but not in patients with CAD [AOR (95% CI): 0.56 (0.20–1.53)]. Conclusion In the general population, SA is risk factor for SCA only in patients without CAD. Early medical intervention for SA, especially in populations without pre-existing CAD, may reduce the SCA risk.ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT03700203)