Endometriosis, a prevalent but debilitating condition affecting women, poses significant challenges in diagnosis and management. The current 2024 guideline, developed by the Korean Society of Endometriosis (KSE), builds upon the 2018 KSE guideline. This guideline aims to provide customized recommendations tailored to Korea’s unique clinical aspects and medical environment, and addresses key areas such as diagnosis, medical and surgical management, considerations for special populations, and its complex relationship with cancer.

Purpose: This study aimed to present a novel method for estimating the effective atomic number(Zeff ) using dual-energy computed tomography (DECT) designed to improve accuracy andstreamline clinical workflows by reducing computational complexity. Methods: The proposed model leverages the DECT-derived mass attenuation coefficients without detailed compositional analysis. By incorporating additional parameters into the conventional Rutherford model, such as exponential and trigonometric functions, the model effectively capturescomplex variations in attenuation, enabling precise Zeff estimation. Model fitting was performedusing dual-energy data and evaluated using the percentage difference in error rates. Results: Compared with the Rutherford model, which recorded a maximum error rate of 0.55%, the proposed model demonstrated a significantly lower maximum error rate of 0.15%, highlightingits precision. Zeff estimates for various materials closely matched the reference values, confirmingthe improved accuracy of the model. Conclusions The proposed DECT-based model provides a practical and efficient approach to Zeff estimation, with potential applications in radiation oncology, particularly for accurate stopping power ratio calculations in proton and heavy ion therapies.

Endometriosis, a prevalent but debilitating condition affecting women, poses significant challenges in diagnosis and management. The current 2024 guideline, developed by the Korean Society of Endometriosis (KSE), builds upon the 2018 KSE guideline. This guideline aims to provide customized recommendations tailored to Korea’s unique clinical aspects and medical environment, and addresses key areas such as diagnosis, medical and surgical management, considerations for special populations, and its complex relationship with cancer.

Purpose: This study aimed to present a novel method for estimating the effective atomic number(Zeff ) using dual-energy computed tomography (DECT) designed to improve accuracy andstreamline clinical workflows by reducing computational complexity. Methods: The proposed model leverages the DECT-derived mass attenuation coefficients without detailed compositional analysis. By incorporating additional parameters into the conventional Rutherford model, such as exponential and trigonometric functions, the model effectively capturescomplex variations in attenuation, enabling precise Zeff estimation. Model fitting was performedusing dual-energy data and evaluated using the percentage difference in error rates. Results: Compared with the Rutherford model, which recorded a maximum error rate of 0.55%, the proposed model demonstrated a significantly lower maximum error rate of 0.15%, highlightingits precision. Zeff estimates for various materials closely matched the reference values, confirmingthe improved accuracy of the model. Conclusions The proposed DECT-based model provides a practical and efficient approach to Zeff estimation, with potential applications in radiation oncology, particularly for accurate stopping power ratio calculations in proton and heavy ion therapies.

South Korea’s current vaccination policies leave a surveillance gap for non-National Immunization Program (NIP) vaccines. In this study, we proposed a sentinel surveillance approach for monitoring the safety of non-NIP vaccines. Vaccination data were collected retrospectively among patients hospitalized with pre-defined adverse events of special interest (AESI) by reviewing electronic medical records in five university hospitals. This approach incorporates expert assessment to determine the causal relationship. We confirmed that 16 patients had received non-NIP vaccines among 860 patients diagnosed with AESI.We concluded one case of preeclampsia was possibly related to tetanus-diphtheria-pertussis vaccination. We propose a multi-hospital-based, retrospective assessment system for predefined AESIs as an alternative to active vaccine safety monitoring method. These efforts are expected to enhance both the accuracy and timeliness of safety monitoring in South Korea.

Background: Factors influencing the decline in forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1 )/forced vital capacity (FVC) for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) progression remain uncertain. We aimed to identify risk factors associated with rapid FEV1 / FVC decline in patients with COPD. Methods: This multi-center observational study was conducted from January 2012 to December 2022. Eligible patients were monitored with symptoms, spirometric tests, and treatment patterns over 3 years. Rapid FEV1 /FVC decliners were defined as the quartile of patients exhibiting the highest annualized percentage decline in FEV1 /FVC. Results: Among 1,725 patients, 435 exhibited rapid FEV1 /FVC decline, with an annual change of −2.5%p (interquartile range, −3.5 to −2.0). Rapid FEV1 /FVC decliners exhibited lower body mass index (BMI), higher smoking rates, elevated post-bronchodilator (BD) FEV1 , higher post-BD FEV1 / FVC, and a lower prevalence of Staging of Airflow Obstruction by Ratio (STAR) stage IV. Rapid FEV1 /FVC decline was not linked to the annual exacerbation rate, but there was an association with symptom deterioration and FEV1 decline. In multivariable analyses, low BMI, current smoking, increased modified Medical Research Council dyspnoea score, low post-BD FEV1 , low STAR stage, high forced mid-expiratory flow (FEF 25-75% ), accelerated FEV1 decline, and not initiating dual BD therapy were identified as independent risk factors for rapid FEV1 /FVC decline. Conclusion We identified the risk factors for rapid FEV1 /FVC decline, including BMI, smoking, symptoms deterioration, FEV1 decline, and adherence to standard inhaler treatment. Our findings underscore the potential benefits of maintaining consistent use of long-acting beta-agonist/long-acting muscarinic antagonist even in the presence of worsening symptoms, in attenuating FEV1 /FVC decline.

It is difficult to determine a cause of bile duct stricture and dilatation. Eosinophilic cholangitis, a rare benign condition, may be one cause of bile duct stricture and dilatation. It can be evaluated using various methods of histopathology, radiographs, endoscopy, and hematologic findings. Treatment generally involves steroid therapy which can lead to improvement. This case report will discuss eosinophilic cholangitis, emphasizing that while it can easily be overlooked but should be considered in differential diagnoses.