Background: Residential smoking cessation therapy programs offer intensive treatment for heavy smokers who struggle to quit independently, particularly those with high nicotine dependence and health conditions that necessitate urgent cessation. While previous studies have established the effectiveness of such programs and identified various factors influencing smoking cessation success, it remains unclear how changes in smokers’ thoughts and attitudes following residential therapy correlate with their ability to quit smoking. We investigated the relationship between smoking cessation-related characteristics, smoking-related psychological status, and participants’ smoking cessation success after a residential smoking cessation therapy program. Methods: From January 2017 to December 2018, 291 participants completed the program. All participants completed questionnaires on smoking cessation-related characteristics and smoking-related psychological status before the program and on the 5th day. Six months later, smoking cessation success was assessed using a urine cotinine test. Results: After 6 months, 222 participants successfully quit smoking, while 69 failed. The success and failure groups exhibited statistically significant differences in age, marital status, total smoking duration, stress, and emotion regulation strategies. Participants who used ineffective emotion regulation strategies more frequently had a lower rate of smoking cessation success (odds ratio [OR], 0.969; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.948–0.991). Moreover, an increase in the perception of the negative effects of smoking cessation (OR, 0.982; 95% CI, 0.967–0.997) and smoking temptation (OR, 0.960; 95% CI, 0.929–0.993) was associated with higher cessation success. Conclusion Emotion regulation strategies, perceptions of the effects of smoking cessation, and smoking temptation were associated with successful smoking cessation.

Background: Skipping breakfast is associated with an increased risk of chronic inflammatory diseases. This study aimed to examine the association between breakfast-eating habits and inflammation, using high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) as a marker. Methods: A total of 4,000 Korean adult males with no history of myocardial infarction, angina, stroke, diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, cancer, or current smoking were included. Data from the 2016–2018 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey were used for analysis. The frequency of breakfast consumption was assessed through a questionnaire item in the dietary survey section asking participants about their weekly breakfast consumption routines over the past year. Participants were categorized into two groups, namely “0–2 breakfasts per week” and “3–7 breakfasts per week”; hs-CRP concentrations were measured through blood tests. Results: Comparing between the “infrequent breakfast consumption (0–2 breakfasts per week)” and “frequent breakfast consumption (3–7 breakfasts per week)” groups, the mean hs-CRP was found to be significantly higher in the “infrequent breakfast consumption” group, even after adjusting for age, body mass index, physical activity, alcohol consumption, systolic blood pressure, blood pressure medication, fasting blood glucose, and triglycerides (mean hs-CRP: frequent breakfast consumption, 1.36±0.09 mg/L; infrequent breakfast consumption, 1.17±0.05 mg/L; P-value=0.036). Conclusion Less frequent breakfast consumption was associated with elevated hs-CRP levels. Further large-scale studies incorporating adjusted measures of daily eating patterns as well as food quality and quantity are required for a deeper understanding of the role of breakfast in the primary prevention of chronic inflammatory diseases.

Long coronavirus disease (COVID) is a condition in which coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) symptoms persist for over 3 months, and currently poses a global public health challenge. Due to varying manifestations and lack of standardized definitions, diagnostic methods, and treatments, comprehensive clinical guidelines are required. This review article, summarizing research and expert consensus up to June 2023, provides recommendations for diagnosis and long-term management of long COVID symptoms. It emphasizes thorough patient evaluation, including medical history, physical examinations, and tests, and advocates vaccination and antiviral treatments to reduce risk. Guidelines for long COVID will be updated as new knowledge emerges.

Background: Residential smoking cessation therapy programs offer intensive treatment for heavy smokers who struggle to quit independently, particularly those with high nicotine dependence and health conditions that necessitate urgent cessation. While previous studies have established the effectiveness of such programs and identified various factors influencing smoking cessation success, it remains unclear how changes in smokers’ thoughts and attitudes following residential therapy correlate with their ability to quit smoking. We investigated the relationship between smoking cessation-related characteristics, smoking-related psychological status, and participants’ smoking cessation success after a residential smoking cessation therapy program. Methods: From January 2017 to December 2018, 291 participants completed the program. All participants completed questionnaires on smoking cessation-related characteristics and smoking-related psychological status before the program and on the 5th day. Six months later, smoking cessation success was assessed using a urine cotinine test. Results: After 6 months, 222 participants successfully quit smoking, while 69 failed. The success and failure groups exhibited statistically significant differences in age, marital status, total smoking duration, stress, and emotion regulation strategies. Participants who used ineffective emotion regulation strategies more frequently had a lower rate of smoking cessation success (odds ratio [OR], 0.969; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.948–0.991). Moreover, an increase in the perception of the negative effects of smoking cessation (OR, 0.982; 95% CI, 0.967–0.997) and smoking temptation (OR, 0.960; 95% CI, 0.929–0.993) was associated with higher cessation success. Conclusion Emotion regulation strategies, perceptions of the effects of smoking cessation, and smoking temptation were associated with successful smoking cessation.

Background: Skipping breakfast is associated with an increased risk of chronic inflammatory diseases. This study aimed to examine the association between breakfast-eating habits and inflammation, using high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) as a marker. Methods: A total of 4,000 Korean adult males with no history of myocardial infarction, angina, stroke, diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, cancer, or current smoking were included. Data from the 2016–2018 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey were used for analysis. The frequency of breakfast consumption was assessed through a questionnaire item in the dietary survey section asking participants about their weekly breakfast consumption routines over the past year. Participants were categorized into two groups, namely “0–2 breakfasts per week” and “3–7 breakfasts per week”; hs-CRP concentrations were measured through blood tests. Results: Comparing between the “infrequent breakfast consumption (0–2 breakfasts per week)” and “frequent breakfast consumption (3–7 breakfasts per week)” groups, the mean hs-CRP was found to be significantly higher in the “infrequent breakfast consumption” group, even after adjusting for age, body mass index, physical activity, alcohol consumption, systolic blood pressure, blood pressure medication, fasting blood glucose, and triglycerides (mean hs-CRP: frequent breakfast consumption, 1.36±0.09 mg/L; infrequent breakfast consumption, 1.17±0.05 mg/L; P-value=0.036). Conclusion Less frequent breakfast consumption was associated with elevated hs-CRP levels. Further large-scale studies incorporating adjusted measures of daily eating patterns as well as food quality and quantity are required for a deeper understanding of the role of breakfast in the primary prevention of chronic inflammatory diseases.

Long coronavirus disease (COVID) is a condition in which coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) symptoms persist for over 3 months, and currently poses a global public health challenge. Due to varying manifestations and lack of standardized definitions, diagnostic methods, and treatments, comprehensive clinical guidelines are required. This review article, summarizing research and expert consensus up to June 2023, provides recommendations for diagnosis and long-term management of long COVID symptoms. It emphasizes thorough patient evaluation, including medical history, physical examinations, and tests, and advocates vaccination and antiviral treatments to reduce risk. Guidelines for long COVID will be updated as new knowledge emerges.

Background/Aims: Portal vein thrombosis (PVT) frequently occurs in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), particularly when influenced by factors such as abdominal infections, IBD flare-ups, or surgical procedures. The implications of PVT range from immediate issues such as intestinal ischemia to long-term concerns including portal hypertension and its complications. However, there is a notable gap in comprehensive studies on PVT in IBD, especially with the increasing incidence of IBD in Asia. This research aimed to evaluate the clinical features and outcomes of PVT in patients with IBD at a leading hospital in South Korea. Methods: This retrospective analysis reviewed adult patients diagnosed with both IBD and PVT from 1989 to 2021 at a renowned South Korean medical center. The study focused on patient characteristics, specifics of PVT, administered treatments, and outcomes, all confirmed through enhanced CT scans. Results: A total of 78 patients met the study’s criteria. Notably, only 20.5% (16/78) were treated with oral anticoagulants; however, a vast majority (96.2%; 75/78) achieved complete radiographic resolution (CRR). When comparing patients receiving anticoagulants to those who did not, a significant preference for anticoagulant use was observed in cases where the main portal vein was affected, as opposed to just the left or right veins (p = 0.006). However, multivariable analysis indicated that neither anticoagulant use nor previous surgeries significantly impacted CRR. Conclusions Patients with IBD and PVT generally had favorable outcomes, regardless of anticoagulant use.

Objective: To assess the success rate and proximity of miniscrews to the root using surgical guides produced by integrating data obtained from conebeam computed tomography and intraoral scanned models. Methods: This retrospective study involved 113 patients (224 miniscrews) who underwent miniscrew placement as part of their orthodontic treatment. Two operators placed miniscrews between the buccal alveolar bone of each patient and assessed initial stability by measuring the Periotest value (PTV) and insertion torque (IT). Patients were divided into two groups based on the miniscrew insertion method: manual group (MG) and surgical guide group (SG). Root proximity was assessed using periapical radiography, and miniscrews that remained in place for over 6 months were considered successful. Results: There was a statistically significant difference in the Kaplan–Meier survival curves between the groups (P < 0.05). The success rates of the miniscrews were 79.1% and 90.5% for the MG and SG, respectively (P < 0.05). The root contact rate also differed significantly between the groups (MG, 17.5%; SG, 0.1%; P < 0.001). However, the PTV and IT did not show significant differences between the groups. Conclusions Proximity to the root and utilization of surgical guides have the most direct impact on the success rate of miniscrews. Root proximity can be effectively reduced using surgical guides. Therefore, the use of a miniscrew surgical guide is recommended to increase the success rate of miniscrews as stable anchorage devices, particularly in cases with narrow interradicular space.

Purpose: Pediatric papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) is recommended to perform aggressive surgery to reduce the risk of recurrence.This study was designed to evaluate the concurrent association between multifocality, bilaterality, and the risk of recurrence in pediatric PTC. Materials and Methods: This retrospective cohort study included pediatric patients (age <19 years) who underwent total thyroidectomy for PTC between 1996 and 2014 in a single tertiary center. Clinicopathological parameters were analyzed to evaluate the prevalence of multifocality, bilaterality, recurrence, and their association. Results: We analyzed 58 pediatric patients with PTC. There was no factor related to the presence of multifocality or bilaterality in multivariate analysis. Also, in univariate analysis, multifocality and bilaterality were not independent risk factors of each other’s presentation (p=0.061 and p=0.061, respectively). Recurrence was observed in 19 (32.8%) patients. In multivariate analysis of recurrence, clear cell subtype, multifocality, and gross extrathyroidal extension (ETE) were independent risk factors (p=0.027, p=0.035, and p=0.038, respectively). Most recurrences (68.4%) happened during the first 4 years of follow-up after the initial thyroidectomy. Conclusion Multifocality and bilaterality were not independent risk factors of each other’s presentation; however, multifocality was the risk factor for recurrence in pediatric PTC. For pediatric PTC, close monitoring for recurrence within the initial 4 years is recommended, particularly in patients with clear cell subtype, multifocality, and gross ETE.

Background: Active surveillance (AS) has emerged as a viable management strategy for low-risk papillary thyroid microcarcinoma (PTMC), following pioneering trials at Kuma Hospital and the Cancer Institute Hospital in Japan. Numerous prospective cohort studies have since validated AS as a management option for low-risk PTMC, leading to its inclusion in thyroid cancer guidelines across various countries. From 2016 to 2020, the Multicenter Prospective Cohort Study of Active Surveillance on Papillary Thyroid Microcarcinoma (MAeSTro) enrolled 1,177 patients, providing comprehensive data on PTMC progression, sonographic predictors of progression, quality of life, surgical outcomes, and cost-effectiveness when comparing AS to immediate surgery. The second phase of MAeSTro (MAeSTro-EXP) expands AS to low-risk papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) tumors larger than 1 cm, driven by the hypothesis that overall risk assessment outweighs absolute tumor size in surgical decision-making. Methods: This protocol aims to address whether limiting AS to tumors smaller than 1 cm may result in unnecessary surgeries for low-risk PTCs detected during their rapid initial growth phase. By expanding the AS criteria to include tumors up to 1.5 cm, while simultaneously refining and standardizing the criteria for risk assessment and disease progression, we aim to minimize overtreatment and maintain rigorous monitoring to improve patient outcomes. Conclusion This study will contribute to optimizing AS guidelines and enhance our understanding of the natural course and appropriate management of low-risk PTCs. Additionally, MAeSTro-EXP involves a multinational collaboration between South Korea and Australia. This cross-country study aims to identify cultural and racial differences in the management of low-risk PTC, thereby enriching the global understanding of AS practices and their applicability across diverse populations.