Objective: Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) is a significant respiratory disorder in premature infants, and its prevalence remains high at 35% to 40% of very low gestational age (<28 weeks gestation). The aim of this study is to analyze the respiratory outcomes of BPD in neonatal intensive care unit as well as respiratory outcomes over a corrected age of 18 to 24 months using 3 different definitions of BPD (National Institutes of Health [NIH] 2001, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development [NICHD] 2018 and Jensen 2019). Methods: We conducted a study on infants under 32 weeks of gestation between 2012 and 2021 at Ajou university hospital. First, we compared the incidence of BPD, mortality, and length of hospital stays. To evaluate long-term respiratory outcomes, the number of re-admissions and prescriptions due to respiratory problems were analyzed. Results: NIH 2001 showed an incidence of 281 (40.0%), NICHD 2018 showed 139 (19.7%), and Jensen 2019 showed 137 (19.5%). In grade III of Jensen 2019, it demonstrated the highest severity with mortality rate of 29.4% and an average length of hospital stay of 42.5 weeks. Also, it was confirmed that the period of use of invasive ventilator was the longest at 87.8±60.3 days. In the analysis of readmission and prescription counts, grade III showed statistically significant higher occurrences in both NICHD 2018 and Jensen 2019 than NIH 2001. Conclusion The latest definitions of BPD have demonstrated to better represent both short-term and long-term respiratory severity in premature infants less than 32 weeks.

Objective: Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) is a significant respiratory disorder in premature infants, and its prevalence remains high at 35% to 40% of very low gestational age (<28 weeks gestation). The aim of this study is to analyze the respiratory outcomes of BPD in neonatal intensive care unit as well as respiratory outcomes over a corrected age of 18 to 24 months using 3 different definitions of BPD (National Institutes of Health [NIH] 2001, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development [NICHD] 2018 and Jensen 2019). Methods: We conducted a study on infants under 32 weeks of gestation between 2012 and 2021 at Ajou university hospital. First, we compared the incidence of BPD, mortality, and length of hospital stays. To evaluate long-term respiratory outcomes, the number of re-admissions and prescriptions due to respiratory problems were analyzed. Results: NIH 2001 showed an incidence of 281 (40.0%), NICHD 2018 showed 139 (19.7%), and Jensen 2019 showed 137 (19.5%). In grade III of Jensen 2019, it demonstrated the highest severity with mortality rate of 29.4% and an average length of hospital stay of 42.5 weeks. Also, it was confirmed that the period of use of invasive ventilator was the longest at 87.8±60.3 days. In the analysis of readmission and prescription counts, grade III showed statistically significant higher occurrences in both NICHD 2018 and Jensen 2019 than NIH 2001. Conclusion The latest definitions of BPD have demonstrated to better represent both short-term and long-term respiratory severity in premature infants less than 32 weeks.

Purpose: The primary goal of this study is to evaluate the effect of the non-invasive radiofrequency hyperthermia (RFHT) device on chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS) rat model and investigate the underlying mechanism. Materials and Methods: In this study, Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly distributed into three groups: (1) normal control group, (2) CP/CPPS group, and (3) RFHT group. CP/CPPS rat models were induced by 17β-estradiol and dihydrotestosterone for 4 weeks and RFHT was administered for 5 weeks after model establishment. During RFHT administration, core body temperatures were continuously monitored with a rectal probe. After administering RFHT, we assessed pain index for all groups and collected prostate tissues for Western blot analysis, immunofluorescence, and immunohistochemistry. We also collected adjacent organs to the prostate including urinary bladder, testes, and rectum for safety assessment via H&E staining along with a terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated deoxyuridine triphosphate nick end labeling assay. Results: After administering RFHT, pain in rats was significantly alleviated compared to the CP/CPPS group. RFHT reduced high-mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) expression and improved inflammation by downregulating subsequent proinflammatory cytokines through inhibition of the toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4)-nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) pathway. In prostate-adjacent organs, no significant histological alteration or inflammatory infiltration was detected. The area of cell death also did not increase significantly after RFHT. Conclusions In conclusion, RFHT demonstrated anti-inflammatory effects by inhibiting the HMGB1-TLR4-NF-κB pathway in CP/CPPS rat models. This suggests that RFHT could serve as a safe and promising therapeutic strategy for CP/CPPS.

In Harrison’s Principles of Internal Medicine, human understanding is emphasized as one of three necessary characteristics that a physician must have. Inflammation, which is caused by inflammatory inducers (inf-ids), is a fundamental feature of disease at the cellular and molecular levels. Inflammation protects the body, but excessive or prolonged inflammation can be damaging and can cause disease. Humans are repeatedly exposed to external and internal environmental factors that generate inf-ids throughout their lives. External environmental factors include microbial and non-microbial inf-ids, as well as stressors that inevitably arise during social interactions. Internal environmental factors include the adaptive physiological response that is present from birth. Inf-ids may also be produced by the four-step habit loop, which consists of a cue (e.g., stressor), emotions, routine act (adaptive response), and a reward. Immune cells in the circulatory system and in tissues may have positive and negative effects in inflammatory responses. However, low-grade inflammation may be difficult to detect. We propose a model of disease development that integrates external and internal environmental factors from the perspective of human understanding.

Lecanemab (product name Leqembi ® ) is an anti-amyloid monoclonal antibody treatment approved for use in Korea for patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or mild dementia due to Alzheimer's disease. The Korean Dementia Association has created recommendations for the appropriate use of lecanemab to assist clinicians. These recommendations include selecting patients for administration, necessary pre-administration tests and preparations,administration methods, monitoring for amyloid related imaging abnormalities (ARIA), and communication with patients and caregivers. Lecanemab is recommended for patients with MCI or mild dementia who confirmed positive amyloid biomarkers, and should not be administered to patients with severe hypersensitivity to lecanemab or those unable to undergo magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) evaluation. To predict the risk of ARIA before administration, apolipoprotein E genotyping is conducted, and regular brain MRI evaluations are recommended to monitor for ARIA during treatment. The most common adverse reactions are infusion-related reactions, which require appropriate management upon occurrence. Additional caution is needed when co-administering with anticoagulants or tissue plasminogen activator due to the risk of macrohemorrhage. Clinicians should consider the efficacy and necessary conditions for administration, as well as the safety of lecanemab, to make a comprehensive decision regarding its use.

Rare endocrine diseases are complex conditions that require lifelong specialized care due to their chronic nature and associated long-term complications. In Korea, a lack of nationwide data on clinical practice and outcomes has limited progress in patient care. Therefore, the Multicenter Networks for Ideal Outcomes of Pediatric Rare Endocrine and Metabolic Disease (OUTSPREAD) study was initiated. This study involves 30 centers across Korea. The study aims to improve the long-term prognosis of Korean patients with rare endocrine diseases by collecting comprehensive clinical data, biospecimens, and patient-reported outcomes to identify complications and unmet needs in patient care. Patients with childhood-onset pituitary, adrenal, or gonadal disorders, such as craniopharyngioma, congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH), and Turner syndrome were prioritized. The planned enrollment is 1,300 patients during the first study phase (2022–2024). Clinical, biochemical, and imaging data from diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up during 1980–2023 were retrospectively reviewed. For patients who agreed to participate in the prospective cohort, clinical data and biospecimens will be prospectively collected to discover ideal biomarkers that predict the effectiveness of disease control measures and prognosis. Patient-reported outcomes, including quality of life and depression scales, will be evaluated to assess psychosocial outcomes. Additionally, a substudy on CAH patients will develop a steroid hormone profiling method using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry to improve diagnosis and monitoring of treatment outcomes. This study will address unmet clinical needs by discovering ideal biomarkers, introducing evidence-based treatment guidelines, and ultimately improving long-term outcomes in the areas of rare endocrine and metabolic diseases.