Purpose: Predicting improvements in voiding symptoms following deobstructive surgery for male lower urinary tract symptoms/benign prostatic hyperplasia (LUTS/BPH) is challenging when detrusor contractility is impaired. This study aimed to develop an artificial intelligence model that predicts symptom improvement after holmium laser enucleation of the prostate (HoLEP), focusing on changes in maximum flow rate (MFR) and voiding efficiency (VE) 1-month postsurgery. Methods: We reviewed 1,933 patients who underwent HoLEP at Samsung Medical Center from July 2008 to January 2024. The study employed a deep neural network (DNN) for multiclass classification to predict changes in MFR and VE, each divided into 3 categories. For comparison, additional machine learning (ML) models such as extreme gradient boosting, random forest classification, and support vector machine were utilized. To address class imbalance, we applied the least squares method and multitask learning. Results: A total of 1,142 patients with complete data were included in the study, with 992 allocated for model training and 150 for external validation. In predicting MFR, the DNN achieved a microaverage area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) of 0.884±0.006, sensitivity of 0.783±0.020, and specificity of 0.891±0.010. For VE prediction, the microaverage AUC was 0.817±0.007, with sensitivity and specificity values of 0.660±0.014 and 0.830±0.007, respectively. These results indicate that the DNN's predictive performance was superior to that of other ML models. Conclusions The DNN model provides detailed and accurate predictions for recovery after HoLEP, providing valuable insights for clinicians managing patients with LUTS/BPH.

Purpose: This study aimed to develop and evaluate machine learning models, specifically CatBoost and extreme gradient boosting (XGBoost), for diagnosing lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) in male patients. The objective is to differentiate between bladder outlet obstruction (BOO) and detrusor underactivity (DUA) using a comprehensive dataset that includes patient-reported outcomes, uroflowmetry measurements, and ultrasound-derived features. Methods: The dataset used in this study was collected from male patients aged 40 and older who presented with LUTS and sought treatment at the urology department of Samsung Medical Center. We developed and trained CatBoost and XGBoost models using this dataset. These models incorporated features like prostate size, voiding parameters, and responses from questionnaires. Their performance was assessed using standard metrics such as accuracy, precision, recall, F1-score, and area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC). Results: The results indicated that the CatBoost models displayed greater sensitivity, rendering them effective for initial screenings by accurately identifying true positive cases. Conversely, the XGBoost models showed higher specificity and precision, making them more suitable for confirming diagnoses and reducing false positives. In terms of overall performance for both BOO and DUA, XGBoost surpassed CatBoost, achieving an AUROC of 0.826 and 0.819, respectively. Conclusions Integrating these machine learning models into the diagnostic workflow for LUTS can significantly enhance clinical decision-making by offering noninvasive, cost-effective, and patient-friendly diagnostic alternatives. The combined application of CatBoost and XGBoost models has the potential to improve diagnostic accuracy and provide customized treatment plans for patients, ultimately leading to better clinical outcomes.

Purpose: Predicting improvements in voiding symptoms following deobstructive surgery for male lower urinary tract symptoms/benign prostatic hyperplasia (LUTS/BPH) is challenging when detrusor contractility is impaired. This study aimed to develop an artificial intelligence model that predicts symptom improvement after holmium laser enucleation of the prostate (HoLEP), focusing on changes in maximum flow rate (MFR) and voiding efficiency (VE) 1-month postsurgery. Methods: We reviewed 1,933 patients who underwent HoLEP at Samsung Medical Center from July 2008 to January 2024. The study employed a deep neural network (DNN) for multiclass classification to predict changes in MFR and VE, each divided into 3 categories. For comparison, additional machine learning (ML) models such as extreme gradient boosting, random forest classification, and support vector machine were utilized. To address class imbalance, we applied the least squares method and multitask learning. Results: A total of 1,142 patients with complete data were included in the study, with 992 allocated for model training and 150 for external validation. In predicting MFR, the DNN achieved a microaverage area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) of 0.884±0.006, sensitivity of 0.783±0.020, and specificity of 0.891±0.010. For VE prediction, the microaverage AUC was 0.817±0.007, with sensitivity and specificity values of 0.660±0.014 and 0.830±0.007, respectively. These results indicate that the DNN's predictive performance was superior to that of other ML models. Conclusions The DNN model provides detailed and accurate predictions for recovery after HoLEP, providing valuable insights for clinicians managing patients with LUTS/BPH.

Purpose: This study aimed to develop and evaluate machine learning models, specifically CatBoost and extreme gradient boosting (XGBoost), for diagnosing lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) in male patients. The objective is to differentiate between bladder outlet obstruction (BOO) and detrusor underactivity (DUA) using a comprehensive dataset that includes patient-reported outcomes, uroflowmetry measurements, and ultrasound-derived features. Methods: The dataset used in this study was collected from male patients aged 40 and older who presented with LUTS and sought treatment at the urology department of Samsung Medical Center. We developed and trained CatBoost and XGBoost models using this dataset. These models incorporated features like prostate size, voiding parameters, and responses from questionnaires. Their performance was assessed using standard metrics such as accuracy, precision, recall, F1-score, and area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC). Results: The results indicated that the CatBoost models displayed greater sensitivity, rendering them effective for initial screenings by accurately identifying true positive cases. Conversely, the XGBoost models showed higher specificity and precision, making them more suitable for confirming diagnoses and reducing false positives. In terms of overall performance for both BOO and DUA, XGBoost surpassed CatBoost, achieving an AUROC of 0.826 and 0.819, respectively. Conclusions Integrating these machine learning models into the diagnostic workflow for LUTS can significantly enhance clinical decision-making by offering noninvasive, cost-effective, and patient-friendly diagnostic alternatives. The combined application of CatBoost and XGBoost models has the potential to improve diagnostic accuracy and provide customized treatment plans for patients, ultimately leading to better clinical outcomes.

Purpose: Predicting improvements in voiding symptoms following deobstructive surgery for male lower urinary tract symptoms/benign prostatic hyperplasia (LUTS/BPH) is challenging when detrusor contractility is impaired. This study aimed to develop an artificial intelligence model that predicts symptom improvement after holmium laser enucleation of the prostate (HoLEP), focusing on changes in maximum flow rate (MFR) and voiding efficiency (VE) 1-month postsurgery. Methods: We reviewed 1,933 patients who underwent HoLEP at Samsung Medical Center from July 2008 to January 2024. The study employed a deep neural network (DNN) for multiclass classification to predict changes in MFR and VE, each divided into 3 categories. For comparison, additional machine learning (ML) models such as extreme gradient boosting, random forest classification, and support vector machine were utilized. To address class imbalance, we applied the least squares method and multitask learning. Results: A total of 1,142 patients with complete data were included in the study, with 992 allocated for model training and 150 for external validation. In predicting MFR, the DNN achieved a microaverage area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) of 0.884±0.006, sensitivity of 0.783±0.020, and specificity of 0.891±0.010. For VE prediction, the microaverage AUC was 0.817±0.007, with sensitivity and specificity values of 0.660±0.014 and 0.830±0.007, respectively. These results indicate that the DNN's predictive performance was superior to that of other ML models. Conclusions The DNN model provides detailed and accurate predictions for recovery after HoLEP, providing valuable insights for clinicians managing patients with LUTS/BPH.

Purpose: This study aimed to develop and evaluate machine learning models, specifically CatBoost and extreme gradient boosting (XGBoost), for diagnosing lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) in male patients. The objective is to differentiate between bladder outlet obstruction (BOO) and detrusor underactivity (DUA) using a comprehensive dataset that includes patient-reported outcomes, uroflowmetry measurements, and ultrasound-derived features. Methods: The dataset used in this study was collected from male patients aged 40 and older who presented with LUTS and sought treatment at the urology department of Samsung Medical Center. We developed and trained CatBoost and XGBoost models using this dataset. These models incorporated features like prostate size, voiding parameters, and responses from questionnaires. Their performance was assessed using standard metrics such as accuracy, precision, recall, F1-score, and area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC). Results: The results indicated that the CatBoost models displayed greater sensitivity, rendering them effective for initial screenings by accurately identifying true positive cases. Conversely, the XGBoost models showed higher specificity and precision, making them more suitable for confirming diagnoses and reducing false positives. In terms of overall performance for both BOO and DUA, XGBoost surpassed CatBoost, achieving an AUROC of 0.826 and 0.819, respectively. Conclusions Integrating these machine learning models into the diagnostic workflow for LUTS can significantly enhance clinical decision-making by offering noninvasive, cost-effective, and patient-friendly diagnostic alternatives. The combined application of CatBoost and XGBoost models has the potential to improve diagnostic accuracy and provide customized treatment plans for patients, ultimately leading to better clinical outcomes.

Methods: The symptomatic PSTS group received intravenous (IV) administration of dexamethasone or furosemide. The asymptomatic PSTS group did not receive any medication. Patients were divided into the control (no medication, n=31), Dexa (IV dexamethasone, n=25), and Furo (IV furosemide, n=28) groups. PSTS was checked daily with simple radiographs and medication-induced reductions in PSTS from its peak or after medication. Results: The peak time (postoperative days) of PSTS in the control (2.27±0.47, p<0.05) and Dexa (1.91±0.54, p<0.01) groups were significantly later than that in the Furo group (1.38±0.74). PSTS was significantly lower in the Furo group than in the Dexa group from postoperative days 4 to 7 (p<0.05). PSTS reduction after the peak was significantly greater in the Furo group than in the control (p<0.01) and Dexa (p<0.01) groups. After starting the medication therapy, the Furo group showed a significantly greater reduction in PSTS than the Dexa group (p<0.01). No difference was found in symptom improvement among the three groups. Conclusions If furosemide is used to reduce PSTS after ACF, it can effectively reduce symptoms.

Purpose: To establish a foundation for raising awareness and disseminating accurate information about enuresis—one of the most challenging conditions to discuss openly—this paper examines public perceptions of enuresis. Methods: This paper collected title and text data from posts related to enuresis on the top popular online platforms such Naver Cafe in South Korea and Reddit in the United States (US). The data along with the thematic subcommunities where the posts were uploaded, was analyzed and visualized using word cloud, Latent Dirichlet Allocation (LDA) topic modeling, and pyLDAvis. Results: The findings reveal both similarities and differences in how the patients from the 2 countries addressed enuresis online. In both countries, enuresis symptoms were a daily concern, and individuals used online platforms as a space to talk about their experiences. However, South Koreans were more inclined to describe symptoms within region-based communities or mothers’ forums, where they exchanged information and shared experiences before consulting a doctor. In contrast, US patients with medical experience or knowledge frequently discussed treatment processes, lifestyle adjustments, and medication options. Conclusions South Koreans tend to be cautious when selecting and visiting hospitals, often relying on others for advice and preparation before seeking medical attention. Compared to online communities in the US, Korean users are more likely to seek preliminary diagnoses based on nonprofessional opinions. Consequently, it is important to lower the barriers for patients to access professional medical advice to mitigate the potential harm of relying on nonprofessional opinions. Additionally, there is a need to raise awareness so that adults can recognize and address their symptoms in a timely manner.

Background: The importance of digital technology is increasing among older adults. In this study, the digital health technology utilization status, purpose, and satisfaction of older adults were investigated according to frailty. Methods: A face-to-face survey was conducted among adults aged 65 years or older. Frailty was defined using the Korean version of the fatigue, resistance, ambulation, illnesses, and loss of weight scale. Results: A total of 505 participants completed the survey, with 153 (30.3%) identified as pre-frail or frail and 352 (69.7%) as healthy. All respondents used smartphones; 440 (87.1%) were application users, and 290 (57.4%) were healthcare application users. Wearable devices were used by only 36 patients (7.1%). Pre-frail or frail respondents used social media more frequently than healthy respondents (19.4% vs. 7.4%, P < 0.001). Among the respondents, 319 (63.2%) were not able to install or delete the application themselves, and 277 (54.9%) stated that the application was recommended by their children (or partner). Pre-frail and frail respondents used more healthcare applications to obtain health information (P = 0.002) and were less satisfied with wearable devices (P = 0.02). Conclusion The usage rate of digital devices, including mobile phones among older adults in Korea is high, whereas that of wearable devices is low. There was a notable difference in the services used by pre-frail and frail respondents compared to healthy respondents. Therefore, when developing digital devices for pre-frail and frail older adults, it is crucial to incorporate customized services that meet their unique needs, particularly those services that they frequently use.

This report presents the latest statistics on the stroke population in South Korea, sourced from the Clinical Research Collaborations for Stroke in Korea-National Institute for Health (CRCS-K-NIH), a comprehensive, nationwide, multicenter stroke registry. The Korean cohort, unlike western populations, shows a male-to-female ratio of 1.5, attributed to lower risk factors in Korean women. The average ages for men and women are 67 and 73 years, respectively.Hypertension is the most common risk factor (67%), consistent with global trends, but there is a higher prevalence of diabetes (35%) and smoking (21%). The prevalence of atrial fibrillation (19%) is lower than in western populations, suggesting effective prevention strategies in the general population. A high incidence of large artery atherosclerosis (38%) is observed, likely due to prevalent intracranial arterial disease in East Asians and advanced imaging techniques.There has been a decrease in intravenous thrombolysis rates, from 12% in 2017–2019 to 10% in 2021, with no improvements in door-to-needle and door-to-puncture times, worsened by the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. While the use of aspirin plus clopidogrel for noncardioembolic stroke and direct oral anticoagulants for atrial fibrillation is well-established, the application of direct oral anticoagulants for non-atrial fibrillation cardioembolic strokes in the acute phase requires further research. The incidence of early neurological deterioration (13%) and the cumulative incidence of recurrent stroke at 3 months (3%) align with global figures. Favorable outcomes at 3 months (63%) are comparable internationally, yet the lack of improvement in dependency at 3 months highlights the need for advancements in acute stroke care.