This retrospective study compared cement penetration, the radiolucent line (RLL) incidence, and clinical outcomes in total knee arthroplasty (TKA) using high-viscosity cement (HVC) versus low-viscosity cement (LVC) with a minimum follow-up of two years. We hypothesized that LVC would result in superior cement penetration and a reduced RLL incidence compared with HVC without differences in clinical outcomes.A total of 100 patients (50 HVC, 50 LVC) who underwent TKA with the same implant design were included. Cement penetration was assessed in four tibial and two femoral zones. Clinical outcomes including the VAS, WOMAC, KSS, KOOS and FJS were evaluated preoperatively and at the final follow-up visit. Postoperative complications were recorded. LVC demonstrated significantly greater cement penetration in the posterior tibial zone (3.03 mm vs. vs 2.82 mm; p=0.005) and posterior femoral zone (1.76 mm vs.1.39 mm; p<0.000) than HVC, and no differences were observed in other zones. The RLL incidence and rates of complications including aseptic loosening and prosthetic joint infection were comparable between groups. Both groups showed significant postoperative improvements in the WOMAC, KSS, and KOOS, with no intergroup differences preoperatively and postoperatively. LVC demonstrated superior cement penetration in select zones, which may enhance implant fixation. However, there were no differences in the RLL incidence or clinical outcomes between the HVC and LVC groups.Both cements provided satisfactory fixation and clinical results, suggesting that either may be appropriate based on surgical preferences and fixation goals.

This retrospective study compared cement penetration, the radiolucent line (RLL) incidence, and clinical outcomes in total knee arthroplasty (TKA) using high-viscosity cement (HVC) versus low-viscosity cement (LVC) with a minimum follow-up of two years. We hypothesized that LVC would result in superior cement penetration and a reduced RLL incidence compared with HVC without differences in clinical outcomes.A total of 100 patients (50 HVC, 50 LVC) who underwent TKA with the same implant design were included. Cement penetration was assessed in four tibial and two femoral zones. Clinical outcomes including the VAS, WOMAC, KSS, KOOS and FJS were evaluated preoperatively and at the final follow-up visit. Postoperative complications were recorded. LVC demonstrated significantly greater cement penetration in the posterior tibial zone (3.03 mm vs. vs 2.82 mm; p=0.005) and posterior femoral zone (1.76 mm vs.1.39 mm; p<0.000) than HVC, and no differences were observed in other zones. The RLL incidence and rates of complications including aseptic loosening and prosthetic joint infection were comparable between groups. Both groups showed significant postoperative improvements in the WOMAC, KSS, and KOOS, with no intergroup differences preoperatively and postoperatively. LVC demonstrated superior cement penetration in select zones, which may enhance implant fixation. However, there were no differences in the RLL incidence or clinical outcomes between the HVC and LVC groups.Both cements provided satisfactory fixation and clinical results, suggesting that either may be appropriate based on surgical preferences and fixation goals.

This retrospective study compared cement penetration, the radiolucent line (RLL) incidence, and clinical outcomes in total knee arthroplasty (TKA) using high-viscosity cement (HVC) versus low-viscosity cement (LVC) with a minimum follow-up of two years. We hypothesized that LVC would result in superior cement penetration and a reduced RLL incidence compared with HVC without differences in clinical outcomes.A total of 100 patients (50 HVC, 50 LVC) who underwent TKA with the same implant design were included. Cement penetration was assessed in four tibial and two femoral zones. Clinical outcomes including the VAS, WOMAC, KSS, KOOS and FJS were evaluated preoperatively and at the final follow-up visit. Postoperative complications were recorded. LVC demonstrated significantly greater cement penetration in the posterior tibial zone (3.03 mm vs. vs 2.82 mm; p=0.005) and posterior femoral zone (1.76 mm vs.1.39 mm; p<0.000) than HVC, and no differences were observed in other zones. The RLL incidence and rates of complications including aseptic loosening and prosthetic joint infection were comparable between groups. Both groups showed significant postoperative improvements in the WOMAC, KSS, and KOOS, with no intergroup differences preoperatively and postoperatively. LVC demonstrated superior cement penetration in select zones, which may enhance implant fixation. However, there were no differences in the RLL incidence or clinical outcomes between the HVC and LVC groups.Both cements provided satisfactory fixation and clinical results, suggesting that either may be appropriate based on surgical preferences and fixation goals.

In recent years, next-generation sequencing (NGS)–based genetic testing has become crucial in cancer care. While its primary objective is to identify actionable genetic alterations to guide treatment decisions, its scope has broadened to encompass aiding in pathological diagnosis and exploring resistance mechanisms. With the ongoing expansion in NGS application and reliance, a compelling necessity arises for expert consensus on its application in solid cancers. To address this demand, the forthcoming recommendations not only provide pragmatic guidance for the clinical use of NGS but also systematically classify actionable genes based on specific cancer types. Additionally, these recommendations will incorporate expert perspectives on crucial biomarkers, ensuring informed decisions regarding circulating tumor DNA panel testing.

Background/Aims: H2 receptor antagonists (H2RA) have been used to treat gastritis by inhibiting gastric acid. Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are more potent acid suppressants than H2RA.However, the efficacy and safety of low-dose PPI for treating gastritis remain unclear. The aim was to investigate the efficacy and safety of low-dose PPI for treating gastritis. Methods: A double-blind, noninferiority, multicenter, phase 3 clinical trial randomly assigned 476 patients with endoscopic erosive gastritis to a group using esomeprazole 10 mg (DW1903) daily and a group using famotidine 20 mg (DW1903R1) daily for 2 weeks. The full-analysis set included 319 patients (DW1903, n=159; DW1903R1, n=160) and the per-protocol set included 298 patients (DW1903, n=147; DW1903R1, n=151). The primary endpoint (erosion improvement rate) and secondary endpoint (erosion and edema cure rates, improvement rates of hemorrhage, erythema, and symptoms) were assessed after the treatment. Adverse events were compared. Results: According to the full-analysis set, the erosion improvement rates in the DW1903 and DW1903R1 groups were 59.8% and 58.8%, respectively. According to the per-protocol analysis, the erosion improvement rates in the DW1903 and DW1903R1 groups were 61.9% and 59.6%, respectively. Secondary endpoints were not significantly different between two groups except that the hemorrhagic improvement rate was higher in DW1903 with statistical tendency. The number of adverse events were not statistically different. Conclusions DW1903 of a low-dose PPI was not inferior to DW1903R1 of H2RA. Thus, lowdose PPI can be a novel option for treating gastritis (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT05163756).

Objective: The Scales for Outcomes in Parkinson’s Disease–Cognition (SCOPA-Cog) was developed to assess cognition in patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD). In this study, we aimed to evaluate the validity and reliability of the Korean version of the SCOPACog (K-SCOPA-Cog). Methods: We enrolled 129 PD patients with movement disorders from 31 clinics in South Korea. The original version of the SCOPA-Cog was translated into Korean using the translation-retranslation method. The test–retest method with an intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and Cronbach’s alpha coefficient were used to assess reliability. Spearman’s rank correlation analysis with the Montreal Cognitive Assessment-Korean version (MOCA-K) and the Korean Mini-Mental State Examination (K-MMSE) were used to assess concurrent validity. Results: The Cronbach’s alpha coefficient was 0.797, and the ICC was 0.887. Spearman’s rank correlation analysis revealed a significant correlation with the K-MMSE and MOCA-K scores (r = 0.546 and r = 0.683, respectively). Conclusion Our results demonstrate that the K-SCOPA-Cog has good reliability and validity.

In recent years, next-generation sequencing (NGS)–based genetic testing has become crucial in cancer care. While its primary objective is to identify actionable genetic alterations to guide treatment decisions, its scope has broadened to encompass aiding in pathological diagnosis and exploring resistance mechanisms. With the ongoing expansion in NGS application and reliance, a compelling necessity arises for expert consensus on its application in solid cancers. To address this demand, the forthcoming recommendations not only provide pragmatic guidance for the clinical use of NGS but also systematically classify actionable genes based on specific cancer types. Additionally, these recommendations will incorporate expert perspectives on crucial biomarkers, ensuring informed decisions regarding circulating tumor DNA panel testing.

Background/Aims: To compare the effects of abatacept and conventional synthetic disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (csDMARDs) on the progression and development of rheumatoid arthritis-associated interstitial lung disease (RA-ILD). Methods: This multi-center retrospective study included RA patients receiving abatacept or csDMARDs who underwent at least two pulmonary function tests and/or chest high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT). We compared the following outcomes between the groups: progression of RA-ILD, development of new ILD in RA patients without ILD at baseline, 28-joint Disease Activity Score with the erythrocyte sedimentation rate (DAS28-ESR), and safety. Longitudinal changes were compared between the groups by using a generalized estimating equation. Results: The study included 123 patients who were treated with abatacept (n = 59) or csDMARDs (n = 64). Nineteen (32.2%) and 38 (59.4%) patients treated with abatacept and csDMARDs, respectively, presented with RA-ILD at baseline. Newly developed ILD occurred in one patient receiving triple csDMARDs for 32 months. Among patients with RA-ILD at baseline, ILD progressed in 21.1% of cases treated with abatacept and 34.2% of cases treated with csDMARDs during a median 21-month follow-up. Longitudinal changes in forced vital capacity and diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide were comparable between the two groups. However, the abatacept group showed a more significant decrease in DAS28-ESR and glucocorticoid doses than csDMARDs group during the follow-up. The safety of both regimens was comparable. Conclusions Abatacept and csDMARDs showed comparable effects on the development and stabilization of RA-ILD. Nevertheless, compared to csDMARDs, abatacept demonstrated a significant improvement in disease activity and led to reduced glucocorticoid use.

Objectives: . Using tissue-engineered materials for esophageal reconstruction is a technically challenging task in animals that requires bioreactor training to enhance cellular reactivity. There have been many attempts at esophageal tissue engineering, but the success rate has been limited due to difficulty in initial epithelialization in the special environment of peristalsis. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the potential of an artificial esophagus that can enhance the regeneration of esophageal mucosa and muscle through the optimal combination of a double-layered polymeric scaffold and a custom-designed mesenchymal stem cell-based bioreactor system in a canine model. Methods: . We fabricated a novel double-layered scaffold as a tissue-engineered esophagus using an electrospinning technique. Prior to transplantation, human-derived mesenchymal stem cells were seeded into the lumen of the scaffold, and bioreactor cultivation was performed to enhance cellular reactivity. After 3 days of cultivation using the bioreactor system, tissue-engineered artificial esophagus was transplanted into a partial esophageal defect (5×3 cm-long resection) in a canine model. Results: . Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) showed that the electrospun fibers in a tubular scaffold were randomly and circumferentially located toward the inner and outer surfaces. Complete recovery of the esophageal mucosa was confirmed by endoscopic analysis and SEM. Esophagogastroduodenoscopy and computed tomography also showed that there were no signs of leakage or stricture and that there was a normal lumen with complete epithelialization. Significant regeneration of the mucosal layer was observed by keratin-5 immunostaining. Alpha-smooth muscle actin immunostaining showed significantly greater esophageal muscle regeneration at 12 months than at 6 months. Conclusion . Custom-designed bioreactor cultured electrospun polyurethane scaffolds can be a promising approach for esophageal tissue engineering.