Background and Objectives: The number of people with heart failure (HF) is increasing worldwide, and the social burden is increasing as HF has high mortality and morbidity. We aimed to provide updated trends on the epidemiology of HF in Korea to shape future social measures against HF. Methods: We used the National Health Information Database of the National Health Insurance Service to determine the prevalence, incidence, hospitalization rate, mortality rate, comorbidities, in-hospital mortality, and healthcare cost of patients with HF from 2002 to 2020 in Korea. Results: The prevalence of HF in the total Korean population rose from 0.77% in 2002 to 2.58% (1,326,886 people) in 2020. Although the age-standardized incidence of HF decreased over the past 18 years, the age-standardized prevalence increased. In 2020, the hospitalization rate for any cause in patients with HF was 1,166 per 100,000 persons, with a steady increase from 2002. In 2002, the HF mortality was 3.0 per 100,000 persons, which rose to 15.6 per 100,000 persons in 2020. While hospitalization rates and in-hospital mortality for patients with HF increased, the mortality rate for patients with HF did not (5.8% in 2020), and the one-year survival rate from the first diagnosis of HF improved. The total healthcare costs for patients with HF were approximately $2.4 billion in 2020, a 16-fold increase over the $0.15 billion in 2002. Conclusions The study’s results underscore the growing socioeconomic burden of HF in Korea, driven by an aging population and increasing HF prevalence.

Objectives: . The recent expansion of eligibility for cochlear implantation (CI) by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to include infants as young as 9 months has reignited debates concerning the clinically appropriate cut-off age for pediatric CI. Our study compared the early postoperative trajectories of receptive and expressive language development in children who received CI before 9 months of age with those who received it between 9 and 12 months. This study involved a unique pediatric cohort with documented etiology, where the timing of CI was based on objective criteria and efforts were made to minimize the influence of parental socioeconomic status. Methods: . A retrospective review of 98 pediatric implantees recruited at a tertiary referral center was conducted. The timing of CI was based on auditory and language criteria focused on the extent of delay corresponding to the bottom 1st percentile of language development among age-matched controls, with patients categorized into very early (CI at <9 months), early (CI at 9–12 months) and delayed (CI at 12–18 months) CI groups. Postoperative receptive/expressive language development was assessed using the Sequenced Language Scale for Infants receptive and expressive standardized scores and percentiles. Results: . Only the very early CI group showed significant improvements in receptive language starting at 3 months post-CI, aligning with normal-hearing peers by 9 months and maintaining this level until age 2 years. During this period (<2 years), all improvements were more pronounced in receptive language than in expressive language. Conclusion . CI before 9 months of age significantly improved receptive language development compared to later CI, with improvements sustained at least up to the age of 2. This study supports the consideration of earlier CI, beyond pediatric Food and Drug Administration labeling criteria (>9 months), in children with profound deafness who have a clear deafness etiology and language development delays (<1st percentile).

Background: The benefits of transradial access (TRA) over transfemoral access (TFA) for bifurcation percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) are uncertain because of the limited availability of device selection. This study aimed to compare the procedural differences and the in-hospital and long-term outcomes of TRA and TFA for bifurcation PCI using secondgeneration drug-eluting stents (DESs). Methods: Based on data from the Coronary Bifurcation Stenting Registry III, a retrospective registry of 2,648 patients undergoing bifurcation PCI with second-generation DES from 21 centers in South Korea, patients were categorized into the TRA group (n = 1,507) or the TFA group (n = 1,141). After propensity score matching (PSM), procedural differences, in-hospital outcomes, and device-oriented composite outcomes (DOCOs; a composite of cardiac death, target vessel-related myocardial infarction, and target lesion revascularization) were compared between the two groups (772 matched patients each group). Results: Despite well-balanced baseline clinical and lesion characteristics after PSM, the use of the two-stent strategy (14.2% vs. 23.7%, P = 0.001) and the incidence of in-hospital adverse outcomes, primarily driven by access site complications (2.2% vs. 4.4%, P = 0.015), were significantly lower in the TRA group than in the TFA group. At the 5-year follow-up, the incidence of DOCOs was similar between the groups (6.3% vs. 7.1%, P = 0.639). Conclusion The findings suggested that TRA may be safer than TFA for bifurcation PCI using second-generation DESs. Despite differences in treatment strategy, TRA was associated with similar long-term clinical outcomes as those of TFA. Therefore, TRA might be the preferred access for bifurcation PCI using second-generation DES.

Background: Thiazolidinediones (TZDs) have been associated with various safety concerns including weight gain, bladder cancer, and congestive heart failure (CHF). This study evaluated the efficacy and safety of lobeglitazone, a novel TZD in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in real practice. Methods: In this non-interventional, multi-center, retrospective, and observational study conducted at 15 tertiary or secondary referral hospitals in Korea, a total of 2,228 patients with T2DM who received lobeglitazone 0.5 mg for more than 1 year were enrolled. Results: Overall adverse events (AEs) occurred in 381 patients (17.10%) including edema in 1.97% (n=44). Cerebrovascular and cardiovascular diseases were identified in 0.81% (n=18) and 0.81% (n=18), respectively. One case of CHF was reported as an AE. Edema occurred in 1.97% (n=44) of patients. Hypoglycemia occurred in 2.47% (n=55) of patients. Fracture occurred in 1.17% (n=26) of all patients. Lobeglitazone significantly decreased HbA1c level, resulting in a mean treatment difference of -1.05%± 1.35% (P<0.001), and decreased total cholesterol, triglyceride, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol. However, it increased high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, regardless of statin administration. The patients who received lobeglitazone 0.5 mg showed an apparent reduction in glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) from baseline during the first 6 months of treatment. The HbA1c levels remained stable between months 6 and 42. Conclusion Lobeglitazone has long-term safety profile, good glycemic-lowering effect and long-term durability of glycemic control in real-world clinical settings.

Background: The accurate pathologic diagnosis and subtyping of high-grade endometrial carcinoma are often problematic, due to its atypical and overlapping histopathological features. Methods: Three pathologists reviewed 21 surgically resected cases of advancedstage endometrial carcinoma. The primary diagnosis was based only on hematoxylin and eosin stained slides. When a discrepancy arose, a secondary diagnosis was made by additional review of immunohistochemical (IHC) stains. Finally, three pathologists discussed all cases and rendered a consensus diagnosis. Results: The primary diagnoses were identical in 13/21 cases (62%). The secondary diagnosis based on the addition of IHC results was concordant in four of eight discrepant cases. Among four cases with discrepancies occurring in this step, two cases subsequently reached a consensus diagnosis after a thorough discussion between three reviewers. Next-generation sequencing (NGS) study was performed in two cases in which it was difficult to distinguish between serous carcinoma and endometrioid carcinoma. Based on the sequencing results, a final diagnosis of serous carcinoma was rendered. The overall kappa for concordance between the original and consensus diagnosis was 0.566 (moderate agreement). Conclusions We investigated stepwise changes in interobserver diagnostic reproducibility in advanced-stage endometrial carcinoma. We demonstrated the utility of IHC and NGS study results in the histopathological diagnosis of advanced-stage endometrial carcinoma.

Purpose: To evaluate the findings and frequencies of retinal microvascular abnormalities observed in patients with type 1 neurofibromatosis. Methods: Fundus photographs of 61 patients with type 1 neurofibromatosis and 61 controls without systemic disease or ophthalmic abnormalities were retrospectively compared and analyzed. The presence or absence of retinal microvascular abnormalities in the form of simple vascular tortuosity, corkscrew retinal vessels, and moyamoya-like patterns was confirmed, and the diagnostic sensitivity, diagnostic specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and diagnostic accuracy for type 1 neurofibromatosis were analyzed. Results: Retinal microvascular abnormalities were found in 19.7% (12 patients) of the patient group, There was no cases in the control group, thus. The difference between the patient group and the control group was significant (p = 0.0003). Of the 12 patients with abnormalities, 10 exhibited simple vascular tortuosity, one had corkscrew retinal vessels, and one exhibited both findings. The diagnostic sensitivity of retinal microvascular abnormalities for type 1 neurofibromatosis was 23.53%, the diagnostic specificity was 100%, the positive predictive value was 100%, and the negative predictive value was 61%. The diagnostic accuracy was 65.18%, which was slightly lower than the 79.5% diagnostic accuracy for the Lisch nodule, but the diagnostic accuracy was comparable to that of neurofibroma (68.03%). Conclusion Retinal microvascular abnormalities were observed in 19.7% of type 1 neurofibromatosis patients, of which simple vascular tortuosity was the most common. Considering that retinal microvascular abnormalities were not observed at all in the control group, and the diagnostic accuracy was 65.18%, this type of abnormality could be included as a new ophthalmic clinical feature of type 1 neurofibromatosis.

Background: The current Korean Blood Inventory Monitoring System (BMS) has several drawbacks. It does not provide real-time data and only monitors 211 of the more than 2500 institutes that performed blood transfusions.This survey study investigated the status of BMS use and the preparation status of the data input system of medical institutions to help in the revision of BMS in preparation for the full surveillance of BMS. Methods: A survey questionnaire was given to 200 hospitals participating in the current BMS, along with another set of questionnaires to 150 non-participating hospitals. The questionnaire consisted of the method of data registry to BMS, the current status of electronic medical records (EMR) and order communication system (OCS), perception, and readiness of adaptation of an open application programming interface system (API). Results: Two hundred and one BMS participating hospitals responded to the survey. Approximately 75% entered data with a comma-separated value (CSV) or Excel spreadsheet (xls) files, and approximately half had an in-house developed EMR and OCS. The majority showed enthusiasm for the introduction to an open API. Among the non-participating hospitals, 138 responded. Approximately 70% counted the blood inventory daily, but approximately half did not use electronic methods for this process. The response to the introduction to an open API was positive, but the readiness for a prompt introduction was low at 15.9%. Conclusion These results will help revise the current BMS. On the other hand, full surveillance of BMS is anticipated to be hindered by the ready state of each medical institute. Moreover, the encouragement of participation would require supportive government administrative measures.

Background: The current Korean Blood Inventory Monitoring System (BMS) has several drawbacks. It does not provide real-time data and only monitors 211 of the more than 2500 institutes that performed blood transfusions.This survey study investigated the status of BMS use and the preparation status of the data input system of medical institutions to help in the revision of BMS in preparation for the full surveillance of BMS. Methods: A survey questionnaire was given to 200 hospitals participating in the current BMS, along with another set of questionnaires to 150 non-participating hospitals. The questionnaire consisted of the method of data registry to BMS, the current status of electronic medical records (EMR) and order communication system (OCS), perception, and readiness of adaptation of an open application programming interface system (API). Results: Two hundred and one BMS participating hospitals responded to the survey. Approximately 75% entered data with a comma-separated value (CSV) or Excel spreadsheet (xls) files, and approximately half had an in-house developed EMR and OCS. The majority showed enthusiasm for the introduction to an open API. Among the non-participating hospitals, 138 responded. Approximately 70% counted the blood inventory daily, but approximately half did not use electronic methods for this process. The response to the introduction to an open API was positive, but the readiness for a prompt introduction was low at 15.9%. Conclusion These results will help revise the current BMS. On the other hand, full surveillance of BMS is anticipated to be hindered by the ready state of each medical institute. Moreover, the encouragement of participation would require supportive government administrative measures.

Background: Implantable loop recorders (ILRs) can provide an enhanced possibility to detect atrial fibrillation (AF), but the accuracy, especially the positive predictive value (PPV), is controversial. This study aimed to evaluate the accuracy of ILRs for detecting AF through a comparison with Holter. Method and results: Thirteen patients who underwent AF ablation were enrolled. ILRs were implanted in all patients, who were scheduled to have Holter monitorings after the procedure. The incidence of AF was compared between the two modalities and analyzed for any correlations. A total of 51 Holters (67,985.5 min) and concomitant ILRs were available for the comparison. The judgment of the presence of AF did not perfectly correlate between the ILR and Holter (Kappa = 0.866, P < 0.001). In the ILR data, the sensitivity of detecting AF on the Holter was 81.6% (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.812–0.820; P < 0.001). The specificity was 99.9% (95% CI 0.998–0.999; P < 0.001). When the ILR detected AF, the PPV was 99.5% (95% CI 0.994–0.995), but the ILR did not detect AF, and the negative predictive value was 94.2% (95% CI 0.941–0.944). A separate analysis of AF/atrial tachycardia (AT) showed that the AT detection rate of the ILR was 2.3%. Conclusion The ILR had a low false positive value and high PPV for AF events. However, it was limited in identifying AT.