We analyzed the publication and submission statuses of Korean medical journals from 2010 to 2024, amidst challenges impacting researchers. Data from 58 domestic journals identified through the 2023 JCR database were used to assess publication status, while data from the Journal of Korean Medical Science (JKMS) were utilized to examine submission status.The proportion of published original articles by domestic authors decreased by 3% in 2024 compared to 2023. Submissions to JKMS also decreased overall, except for slight increases in May and October 2024. In contrast, international submissions to JKMS showed consistent growth, surpassing the 15-year average, reflecting growing global interest. Addressing issues, including medical school admission policies and the lingering effects of coronavirus disease 2019, is vital to ensure a sustainable and thriving medical research environment in Korea.

We analyzed the publication and submission statuses of Korean medical journals from 2010 to 2024, amidst challenges impacting researchers. Data from 58 domestic journals identified through the 2023 JCR database were used to assess publication status, while data from the Journal of Korean Medical Science (JKMS) were utilized to examine submission status.The proportion of published original articles by domestic authors decreased by 3% in 2024 compared to 2023. Submissions to JKMS also decreased overall, except for slight increases in May and October 2024. In contrast, international submissions to JKMS showed consistent growth, surpassing the 15-year average, reflecting growing global interest. Addressing issues, including medical school admission policies and the lingering effects of coronavirus disease 2019, is vital to ensure a sustainable and thriving medical research environment in Korea.

We analyzed the publication and submission statuses of Korean medical journals from 2010 to 2024, amidst challenges impacting researchers. Data from 58 domestic journals identified through the 2023 JCR database were used to assess publication status, while data from the Journal of Korean Medical Science (JKMS) were utilized to examine submission status.The proportion of published original articles by domestic authors decreased by 3% in 2024 compared to 2023. Submissions to JKMS also decreased overall, except for slight increases in May and October 2024. In contrast, international submissions to JKMS showed consistent growth, surpassing the 15-year average, reflecting growing global interest. Addressing issues, including medical school admission policies and the lingering effects of coronavirus disease 2019, is vital to ensure a sustainable and thriving medical research environment in Korea.

We analyzed the publication and submission statuses of Korean medical journals from 2010 to 2024, amidst challenges impacting researchers. Data from 58 domestic journals identified through the 2023 JCR database were used to assess publication status, while data from the Journal of Korean Medical Science (JKMS) were utilized to examine submission status.The proportion of published original articles by domestic authors decreased by 3% in 2024 compared to 2023. Submissions to JKMS also decreased overall, except for slight increases in May and October 2024. In contrast, international submissions to JKMS showed consistent growth, surpassing the 15-year average, reflecting growing global interest. Addressing issues, including medical school admission policies and the lingering effects of coronavirus disease 2019, is vital to ensure a sustainable and thriving medical research environment in Korea.

Purpose: Latissimus dorsi mini-flap (LDMF) reconstruction after breast-conserving surgery (BCS) is a useful volume replacement technique when a large tumor is located in the upper or outer portion of the breast. However, few studies have reported the impact of LDMF on patients’ quality of life (QoL) and cosmesis compared with conventional BCS. Methods: We identified patients who underwent BCS with or without LDMF between 2010 and 2020 at a single center. At least 1 year after surgery, we prospectively administered the BREAST-Q to assess QoL and obtained the patients’ breast photographs. The cosmetic outcome was assessed using four panels composed of physicians and the BCCT.core software. Results: A total of 120 patients were enrolled, of whom 62 and 58 underwent LDMF or BCS only, respectively. The LDMF group had significantly larger tumors, shorter nipple-to-tumor distances in preoperative examinations, and larger resected breast volumes than did the BCSonly group (p < 0.001). The questionnaires revealed that QoL was poorer in the LDMF group, particularly in terms of the physical well-being score (40.9 vs. 20.1, p < 0.001). Notably, the level of patients’ cosmetic satisfaction with their breasts was comparable, and the cosmetic evaluation was assessed by panels and the BCCT.core software showed no differences between the groups. Conclusion Our results showed that cosmetic outcomes of performing LDMF are comparable to those of BCS alone while having the advantage of resecting larger volumes of breast tissue. Therefore, for those who strongly wish to preserve the cosmesis of their breasts, LDMF can be considered a favorable surgical option after the patient is oriented toward the potential for physical dysfunction after surgery.

Objective: To evaluate treatment patterns and healthcare resource utilization (HCRU) after initiating biologic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (bDMARDs) in Korean patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Methods: Patients newly diagnosed with RA in 2014 were identified and followed up on using the Korean National Health Insurance Database until 2018. The initial line of therapy (LOT) or LOT1 included patients treated with conventional DMARDs (cDMARD). Patients who started a bDMARD were assigned to LOT2 bDMARD. Those who moved from a bDMARD to a Janus kinase inhibitor were assigned to LOT3. Analyzed outcomes were treatment patterns and HCRU in LOT2 bDMARD. Results: The most prescribed initial bDMARD was a tumor necrosis factor inhibitor. Seventy-five percent of patients had changes in treatment after starting a bDMARD, such as addition/removal or switch of a DMARD, and transition to LOT3. For the first and second changes in LOT2 bDMARD, adding a cDMARD to a bDMARD was more common than switching to another bDMARD (7.98% vs. 2.93% for the first change, and 17.10% vs. 6.51% for the second change). Tocilizumab was the most common bDMARD that was switched to. Forty-eight percent of patients had at least one hospitalization after initiating bDMARDs. Of these patients, 64.3% were admitted due to RA-related reasons. Conclusion This real-world study provides information on treatment characteristics of RA patients in Korea after starting a bDMARD. In contrary to guidelines, cDMARD addition was more often than bDMARD switches in daily clinical practice.

Although renal angiomyolipoma (AML) is a benign tumor, treatment may be necessary occasionally because it can cause potentially life-threatening retroperitoneal hemorrhage. Transarterial embolization (TAE) is a safe and effective treatment option to prevent the hemorrhagic rupture of AMLs and relieve the symptoms caused by enlarged lesions or active bleeding. However, there is no clear consensus regarding the indications for prophylactic TAE in patients with sporadic renal AMLs. In urgent TAE for bleeding AMLs, there is a likelihood of incomplete embolization when the focus is on stabilizing the clinical symptoms. This pictorial essay discusses the patient selection and technical considerations to achieve optimal therapeutic effects as well as the follow-up findings after TAE.

Objective: To investigate the health-related quality of life (HRQOL) related to hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) following primary or interval cytoreductive surgery for primary ovarian cancer. Methods: Between 2010 and 2016, a total of 184 patients were randomly assigned to receive cytoreductive surgery with HIPEC (n=92) or without HIPEC (n=92). Quality of life (QOL) assessment was evaluated at baseline (before surgery); on postoperative day 7; after the 3rd and 6th cycle of adjuvant chemotherapy; and at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months after randomization. Patient-reported QOL was assessed using the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) core questionnaire (EORTC-QLQ-C30), ovarian cancer questionnaire modules (QLQ-OV28), and the MD Anderson Symptoms Inventory (MDASI). Results: Of the 184 patients enrolled, 165 (83/92 in the HIPEC group and 82/92 in the control group) participated in the baseline QOL assessment. There were no statistically significant differences in functional scales and symptom scales in QLQ-C30; symptom scales, including gastrointestinal symptoms QLQ-OV28; and severity and impact score in MDASI between the 2 treatment groups until 12 months after randomization. Conclusion HIPEC with cytoreductive surgery showed no statistically significant difference in HRQOL outcomes. Thus, implementation of HIPEC during either primary or interval cytoreductive surgery does not impair HRQOL.