Background: and Purpose The National Brain Biobank of Korea (NBBK) is a brain bank consortium supported by the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency and the Korea National Institute of Health, and was launched in 2015 to support research into neurodegenerative disease dementia (NDD). This study aimed to introduce the NBBK and describes clinicopathological correlations based on analyses of data collected from the NBBK. Methods: Four hospital-based brain banks have been established in South Korea: Samsung Medical Center Brain Bank (SMCBB), Seoul National University Hospital Brain Bank (SNUHBB), Pusan National University Hospital Brain Bank (PNUHBB), and Myongji Hospital Brain Bank (MJHBB). Clinical and pathological data were collected from these brain banks using standardized protocols. The prevalence rates of clinical and pathological diagnoses were analyzed in order to characterize the clinicopathological correlations. Results: Between August 2016 and December 2023, 185 brain specimens were collected and pathologically evaluated (SNUHBB: 117; PNUHBB: 27; SMCBB: 34; MJHBB: 7). The age at consent was 70.8±12.6 years, and the age at autopsy was 71.7±12.4 years. The four-most-common clinical diagnoses were Alzheimer’s disease (AD) dementia (20.0%), idiopathic Parkinson’s disease (15.1%), unspecified dementia (11.9%), and cognitively unimpaired (CU) (11.4%).Most cases of unspecified dementia had a pathological diagnosis of central nervous system (CNS) vasculopathy (31.8%) or AD (31.8%). Remarkably, only 14.2% of CU cases had normal pathological findings. The three-most-common pathological diagnoses were AD (26.5%), CNS vasculopathy (14.1%), and Lewy body disease (13.5%). Conclusions These clinical and neuropathological findings provide a deeper understanding of the mechanisms underlying NDD in South Korea.

Background: and Purpose The National Brain Biobank of Korea (NBBK) is a brain bank consortium supported by the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency and the Korea National Institute of Health, and was launched in 2015 to support research into neurodegenerative disease dementia (NDD). This study aimed to introduce the NBBK and describes clinicopathological correlations based on analyses of data collected from the NBBK. Methods: Four hospital-based brain banks have been established in South Korea: Samsung Medical Center Brain Bank (SMCBB), Seoul National University Hospital Brain Bank (SNUHBB), Pusan National University Hospital Brain Bank (PNUHBB), and Myongji Hospital Brain Bank (MJHBB). Clinical and pathological data were collected from these brain banks using standardized protocols. The prevalence rates of clinical and pathological diagnoses were analyzed in order to characterize the clinicopathological correlations. Results: Between August 2016 and December 2023, 185 brain specimens were collected and pathologically evaluated (SNUHBB: 117; PNUHBB: 27; SMCBB: 34; MJHBB: 7). The age at consent was 70.8±12.6 years, and the age at autopsy was 71.7±12.4 years. The four-most-common clinical diagnoses were Alzheimer’s disease (AD) dementia (20.0%), idiopathic Parkinson’s disease (15.1%), unspecified dementia (11.9%), and cognitively unimpaired (CU) (11.4%).Most cases of unspecified dementia had a pathological diagnosis of central nervous system (CNS) vasculopathy (31.8%) or AD (31.8%). Remarkably, only 14.2% of CU cases had normal pathological findings. The three-most-common pathological diagnoses were AD (26.5%), CNS vasculopathy (14.1%), and Lewy body disease (13.5%). Conclusions These clinical and neuropathological findings provide a deeper understanding of the mechanisms underlying NDD in South Korea.

Background: and Purpose The National Brain Biobank of Korea (NBBK) is a brain bank consortium supported by the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency and the Korea National Institute of Health, and was launched in 2015 to support research into neurodegenerative disease dementia (NDD). This study aimed to introduce the NBBK and describes clinicopathological correlations based on analyses of data collected from the NBBK. Methods: Four hospital-based brain banks have been established in South Korea: Samsung Medical Center Brain Bank (SMCBB), Seoul National University Hospital Brain Bank (SNUHBB), Pusan National University Hospital Brain Bank (PNUHBB), and Myongji Hospital Brain Bank (MJHBB). Clinical and pathological data were collected from these brain banks using standardized protocols. The prevalence rates of clinical and pathological diagnoses were analyzed in order to characterize the clinicopathological correlations. Results: Between August 2016 and December 2023, 185 brain specimens were collected and pathologically evaluated (SNUHBB: 117; PNUHBB: 27; SMCBB: 34; MJHBB: 7). The age at consent was 70.8±12.6 years, and the age at autopsy was 71.7±12.4 years. The four-most-common clinical diagnoses were Alzheimer’s disease (AD) dementia (20.0%), idiopathic Parkinson’s disease (15.1%), unspecified dementia (11.9%), and cognitively unimpaired (CU) (11.4%).Most cases of unspecified dementia had a pathological diagnosis of central nervous system (CNS) vasculopathy (31.8%) or AD (31.8%). Remarkably, only 14.2% of CU cases had normal pathological findings. The three-most-common pathological diagnoses were AD (26.5%), CNS vasculopathy (14.1%), and Lewy body disease (13.5%). Conclusions These clinical and neuropathological findings provide a deeper understanding of the mechanisms underlying NDD in South Korea.

Objectives: . This study investigated age-related differences in nasal morphometry and the degree of changes within an individual over at least a 10-year period by pairing previous and recent three-dimensional reconstructed computed tomography (CT) images. Methods: . Forty-eight adult Korean patients who underwent at least two CT scans of the nasal region with an interval of at least 10 years were selected. Patients were categorized into six subgroups according to sex and age (20–39 years, 40–49 years, and ≥50 years) at the time of initial imaging. Eight nasal parameters were measured on the initial and recent images, and paired comparisons between the two images were performed based on the data. The differences in the degree of change by age were also analyzed. Results: . Over an average image interval of 12 years, men exhibited an increase in the nasofrontal angle (3.2°±5.4°, P=0.041), profile nasal length (1.7±1.7 mm, P=0.002), and nasal bridge height (1.2±1.6 mm, P=0.002). Conversely, they showed a decrease in the nasofacial angle (–2.3°±2.9°, P=0.010). Women also demonstrated an increase in the nasofrontal angle (2.5°±5.2°, P=0.010), profile nasal length (1.4±1.9 mm, P<0.001), and nasal bridge height (1.3±1.6 mm, P<0.001). However, they exhibited a decrease in the nasofacial angle (–2.0°±2.1°, P<0.001), glabella angle (–9.1°±9.8°, P<0.001), and pyriform angle (–8.5°±10.1°, P<0.001). With the exception of the nasal bridge height (P=0.036) and pyriform angle (P=0.022), the degree of changes in most parameters did not show significant differences across age groups. Conclusion . Our findings indicate that the aging nose exhibits a greater nasal length with inferior angulation of the nasal tip, with an increase in the nasofrontal angle, profile nasal length, and nasal bridge height, along with a decrease in the nasofacial angle. The degree of most nasal morphologic changes demonstrated no significant differences by specific age group.

Background: Catamenial pneumothorax (CP) is a rare form of spontaneous pneumothorax that is linked to endometriosis; thus, it predominantly manifests in women of reproductive age. Considerable research has explored the potential benefits of postoperative hormone therapy following various surgical interventions. This study was performed to examine the clinical implications of postoperative hormone treatment in patients with CP. Methods: The study included patients who underwent surgical intervention for CP between November 2009 and February 2023. These procedures included wedge resection, diaphragm resection, and total pleural coverage. Recurrence-free survival was analyzed using the Kaplan-Meier log-rank test to assess the impact of hormone therapy. Additionally, Cox proportional hazards analysis was employed to identify risk factors associated with postoperative CP recurrence. Results: The study included 41 patients, with a median age of 38.4 years. Among them, 27 individuals received hormone therapy, 8 of whom experienced recurrence during a median follow-up period of 1 year. Patients who received hormone therapy exhibited a lower rate of recurrence than those who did not; however, the difference was not statistically significant, likely due to the small sample size. Side effects of hormone therapy included depression (6.8%), excessive sweating (3.4%), and headache (3.4%). In the analysis of risk factors for postoperative recurrence, diaphragm resection emerged as a protective factor (hazard ratio, 0.16; 95% confidence interval, 0.03–0.77; p=0.022). Conclusion Hormone treatment combined with surgery did not significantly impact recurrence in patients with CP. The application of diaphragm resection was the sole factor that displayed significance in preventing CP recurrence.

Objectives: . A crooked nose is frequently caused by nasal bony vault deviation, and proper management of the bony vault is an integral part of rhinoplasty. Conventional osteotomy to correct a deviated nose favors simultaneous medial and lateral osteotomies, which allows the free independent movement of each nasal bone. However, patient satisfaction with deviated nose surgery is sometimes low. In the present study, we introduce a one-unit osteotomy procedure that combines bilateral and root osteotomies with unilateral triangular bony wedge resection to allow symmetry of both nasal bones. Methods: . Twenty consecutive patients who presented with bony vault deviation and underwent one-unit osteotomy were enrolled in this retrospective single-center study. The Nasal Obstruction Symptom Evaluation (NOSE) questionnaire was used to evaluate each patient’s functional outcome. The angle of bony vault deviation before and after one-unit osteotomy was measured using a protractor and compared with the results of 14 patients who had undergone conventional osteotomy. The improvement in dorsal deviation was evaluated using facial photography preoperatively and 3 months postoperatively. Results: . NOSE values improved from 8.4±6.4 to 4.1±4.2 (P =0.021). The angle of bony vault deviation improved from 6.9°±2.2° to 2.1°±1.2° (P <0.001) in one-unit osteotomy and from 7.3°±4.0° to 2.7°±1.2° (P =0.001) in conventional osteotomy. The preoperative deviation angle improved by 70.3% in one-unit osteotomy compared with 56.6% in conventional osteotomy, which was a significant difference (P =0.033). The mean grade of the postoperative esthetic outcomes for the remaining deviation was 1.6±0.5, which was similar to that in the conventional osteotomy group. Conclusion . One-unit osteotomy is a relatively simple procedure that balances the width of both lateral walls by removing excessive bony fragments from the wider bony wall and providing better structural integrity. This technique improves functional outcomes and has equivalent esthetic results to those of the traditional procedure.

Background: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is closely related to maternal obesity in pregnant women, and the association increases with later pregnancy. Obesity and OSA are risk factors of pregnancy-related complications, including gestational hypertension, gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), and fetal morbidities. We aimed to determine the prevalence of OSA and to assess the impact of OSA on pregnancy-related disorders in overweight pregnant women. Methods: Eligible participants who were overweight [body mass index (BMI) ≥ 23 kg/m 2 ] in gestational age 30 weeks or more, assessed OSA using a portable polysomnography at home.Clinical data were collected from pregnant women and their babies. Results: The average age of 51 participants was 34.5 years (27–44 years). The number of primipara was 25 (49%) and that of multipara was 26 (51%). Eight cases of GDM (15.7%) and five cases of preeclampsia (9.8%) were reported, and six patients (11.8%) experienced preterm delivery. In results of polysomnography, 14 patients (27.5%) were diagnosed as OSA. Apnea-hypopnea index moderately correlated with BMI (r = 0.515, P < 0.001). The BMI (P < 0.005) and preeclampsia rate (P < 0.017) were higher in the OSA group compared to the control group. Odds ratios (ORs) adjusting age, BMI, parity, and abortion history were calculated. The presence of OSA increased OR of preeclampsia (OR, 13.1; 95% confidence interval, 1.1–171.3). The majority of preeclampsia patients (4/5, 80%) underwent preterm delivery. Conclusion OSA is an important risk factor for preeclampsia, resulting in preterm delivery.For overweight pregnant women, an OSA evaluation should be mandatory.

Various invasive fungal infections can occur in immunocompromised hosts, and an acute invasive fungal infection (AIFI) can be fatal. Because of its high mortality rate, AIFI must be quickly diagnosed and treated, such as anti-fungal agents or surgical debridement. In an immunocompromised host, nasal herpes simplex infection, usually caused by herpes simplex virus (HSV) type-1, can have various clinical manifestations, some of which can mimic AIFI. However, the management of acute viral infection differs significantly from invasive fungal infections of the nose. A fast and accurate differential diagnosis is mandatory because a delay in the disease-specific treatment of acute invasive infections can lead to mortality. This report describes two immunocompromised patients with mucosal and skin lesions around the nose. We provide clinical clues when mucosal lesions of the nasal cavity and skin lesions around the nose develop in immunocompromised hosts.

Objectives: . Post-radiation nasopharyngeal necrosis (PRNN) is a serious complication that severely impacts the quality of life and survival of nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients. Endoscopic debridement is considered the first-line treatment for PRNN. This study aimed to analyze clinical outcomes, focusing on the mucosal resurfacing status and the effectiveness of salvage operations. Methods: . Twenty-seven patients who underwent endoscopic debridement were retrospectively analyzed. The patients were divided into two groups according to the initial surgical modality: debridement with a nasoseptal flap (NSF; n=21) and debridement only (no NSF; n=6). Clinical features, postoperative mucosal status, internal carotid artery (ICA) rupture, survival, and final mucosal status were evaluated. The NSF group was categorized according to flap viability to analyze risk factors for flap failure. Results: . Regardless of the initial modality, most patients experienced symptom improvement (96.0% for headache and 100% for foul odor); however, complete cranial nerve palsy did not improve in any patients. In the NSF group, complete healing was observed in 66.7%, while all patients in the no-NSF group underwent salvage surgery because none maintained complete healing. In the NSF group, 19.0% of patients required salvage surgery. After the last operation, favorable symptom improvement was noted (100% for headache and 90.0% for foul odor), and 77.8% had completely healed mucosa, whereas only 14.8% and 7.4% had partial healing and persistent necrotic mucosal status. The necrotic or uncovered NSF subgroup showed statistically non-significant tendencies for old age, advanced necrosis stage, advanced T stage, ICA involvement, high frequency and dose of radiation therapy, diabetes mellitus, and underlying comorbidities. Two ICA ruptures and three deaths occurred. Conclusion . Resurfacing the nasopharynx with NSF after endoscopic debridement showed better outcomes than debridement only for PRNN treatment. Despite initial NSF failure, additional resurfacing reconstructive surgery offers advantages in symptom mitigation, quality of life, and survival.

Objectives: . Our previous study found that multilevel obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) surgery mitigated laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR) symptoms in terms of the reflux symptom index (RSI), but no studies have investigated the impact of OSA surgery on laryngoscopic parameters. The aim of this study was to examine the clinical outcome of LPR improvement following OSA surgery, with a focus on both the RSI and the reflux finding score (RFS). Methods: . Prospectively collected data from 28 patients who underwent multilevel OSA surgery from 2017 to 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. Patients were asked to complete the RSI questionnaire and underwent a laryngoscopic examination to evaluate the RFS before and after surgery. Age, height, weight, body mass index (BMI), and polysomnography data before and after surgery were also reviewed. Results: . After surgery, the total RSI and RFS decreased significantly from 11.96±8.40 to 7.68±6.82 (P=0.003) and from 6.57±3.49 to 3.21±1.87 (P<0.001). The positive rates of RSI and RFS decreased from 28.6% to 17.9% and 32.1% to 0%, respectively. Significant improvements were found in the RSI subdomains of throat clearing, throat mucus, breathing difficulty, troublesome cough, and heartburn sensation, while all RFS subdomains except granuloma improved significantly. In subgroup analyses, no significant differences were found between subgroups based on age, OSA severity, or BMI. Conclusion . OSA surgery has the potential to alleviate both LPR symptoms and laryngoscopic results. Additional research integrating more objective techniques and novel treatment strategies is required to better comprehend the clinical impact of OSA surgery on LPR.