Background: While Korea maintains a low prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), the number of newly diagnosed cases has been steadily rising, reaching approximately 1,000 annually in recent years. The 2022 annual report from the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency revealed that women living with HIV (WLWH) constitute 6.4% of the total confirmed people living with the HIV population, totaling 1,219 individuals. Despite this, only a few studies have focused on WLWH in Korea. This study aims to analyze the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of WLWH in Korea. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively collected data by reviewing the medical records of all WLWH who visited 10 urban referral hospitals across Korea between January 2005 and May 2023. Results: A total of 443 WLWH were enrolled in this study. The predominant risk exposure was heterosexual contact, with 235 (53%) participants either married or cohabiting with a male partner at their initial clinic visit. Among the participants, 334 (77.7%) were Korean, 27 (6.1%) were Southeast Asian, and 19 (4.3%) were African. Antiretroviral therapy was initiated by 404 WLWH (91.2%). We observed 118 pregnancies in WLWH following their HIV diagnosis, resulting in 78 live births (66.1%), 18 induced abortions (15.2%), 10 pre-viable fetal losses (8.5%), and four stillbirths (3.4%). Over a cumulative follow-up duration of 3,202.1 years, the incidence rates of breast and cervical cancers were both 2.18 per 1,000 person-years. Additionally, the incidence rates of pelvic inflammatory disease, cervical intraepithelial neoplasm (above grade II), and osteoporosis were 4.67, 11.21, and 13.39 per 1,000 patient-years, respectively. Conclusion This is the first multicenter study to investigate the clinical and epidemiological characteristics of WLWH in Korea. The incidence and prevalence of diseases in women, including breast cancer, cervical cancer, and chronic comorbidities, are high in WLWH in Korea; therefore, further research and efforts are needed to manage these diseases.

Purpose: Although the prevalence of a discoid lateral meniscus is relatively rare, estimated at approximately 0.4% to 5.0% in the Western world, studies have shown that the incidence is significantly higher in Asia, particularly in South Korea and Japan, ranging from 10.5% to 16.6%. On the other hand, previous studies that reported the incidence of discoid lateral meniscus mainly relied on patients who underwent arthroscopic or open surgery. This study examined the incidence of discoid lateral meniscus using a magnetic resonance imaging-based diagnostic approach. Materials and Methods: This study conducted a retrospective review of the prevalence of discoid lateral meniscus in 10,810 male patients with knee pain who underwent magnetic resonance imaging at the author’s single institution between January 2013 and January 2023. The mean age of the patients was 42.55±15.93 years old (range: 12 to 82). The patient demographics, including age, were analyzed.The characteristics of the discoid lateral meniscus were also analyzed, including the subtype and presence of a combined lateral meniscus tear. Results: This study identified 1,025 patients (9.5%) with a discoid lateral meniscus, including 129 with the complete subtype, 893 with the incomplete subtype, and 3 with the Wrisberg-type subtype. Although there was no significant difference in prevalence between sexes, the highest diagnosis rate of discoid lateral meniscus was observed in the 41–60-year-old (10.1%) age group, which was statistically significant (p=0.025). Among the 164 patients with a concurrent lateral meniscus tear, the horizontal type (80 patients, 48.8%) was the most frequently observed. Conclusion While the incidence in the present study was slightly lower than that reported in previous arthroscopic-based studies, the findings still suggest a relatively high prevalence of discoid lateral meniscus in Korea compared to other countries. In contrast to earlier research that suggested a decline in incidence with age, this study found that the incidence of discoid lateral meniscus was highest among individuals aged 41–60 years.

Background: While Korea maintains a low prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), the number of newly diagnosed cases has been steadily rising, reaching approximately 1,000 annually in recent years. The 2022 annual report from the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency revealed that women living with HIV (WLWH) constitute 6.4% of the total confirmed people living with the HIV population, totaling 1,219 individuals. Despite this, only a few studies have focused on WLWH in Korea. This study aims to analyze the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of WLWH in Korea. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively collected data by reviewing the medical records of all WLWH who visited 10 urban referral hospitals across Korea between January 2005 and May 2023. Results: A total of 443 WLWH were enrolled in this study. The predominant risk exposure was heterosexual contact, with 235 (53%) participants either married or cohabiting with a male partner at their initial clinic visit. Among the participants, 334 (77.7%) were Korean, 27 (6.1%) were Southeast Asian, and 19 (4.3%) were African. Antiretroviral therapy was initiated by 404 WLWH (91.2%). We observed 118 pregnancies in WLWH following their HIV diagnosis, resulting in 78 live births (66.1%), 18 induced abortions (15.2%), 10 pre-viable fetal losses (8.5%), and four stillbirths (3.4%). Over a cumulative follow-up duration of 3,202.1 years, the incidence rates of breast and cervical cancers were both 2.18 per 1,000 person-years. Additionally, the incidence rates of pelvic inflammatory disease, cervical intraepithelial neoplasm (above grade II), and osteoporosis were 4.67, 11.21, and 13.39 per 1,000 patient-years, respectively. Conclusion This is the first multicenter study to investigate the clinical and epidemiological characteristics of WLWH in Korea. The incidence and prevalence of diseases in women, including breast cancer, cervical cancer, and chronic comorbidities, are high in WLWH in Korea; therefore, further research and efforts are needed to manage these diseases.

Purpose: Although the prevalence of a discoid lateral meniscus is relatively rare, estimated at approximately 0.4% to 5.0% in the Western world, studies have shown that the incidence is significantly higher in Asia, particularly in South Korea and Japan, ranging from 10.5% to 16.6%. On the other hand, previous studies that reported the incidence of discoid lateral meniscus mainly relied on patients who underwent arthroscopic or open surgery. This study examined the incidence of discoid lateral meniscus using a magnetic resonance imaging-based diagnostic approach. Materials and Methods: This study conducted a retrospective review of the prevalence of discoid lateral meniscus in 10,810 male patients with knee pain who underwent magnetic resonance imaging at the author’s single institution between January 2013 and January 2023. The mean age of the patients was 42.55±15.93 years old (range: 12 to 82). The patient demographics, including age, were analyzed.The characteristics of the discoid lateral meniscus were also analyzed, including the subtype and presence of a combined lateral meniscus tear. Results: This study identified 1,025 patients (9.5%) with a discoid lateral meniscus, including 129 with the complete subtype, 893 with the incomplete subtype, and 3 with the Wrisberg-type subtype. Although there was no significant difference in prevalence between sexes, the highest diagnosis rate of discoid lateral meniscus was observed in the 41–60-year-old (10.1%) age group, which was statistically significant (p=0.025). Among the 164 patients with a concurrent lateral meniscus tear, the horizontal type (80 patients, 48.8%) was the most frequently observed. Conclusion While the incidence in the present study was slightly lower than that reported in previous arthroscopic-based studies, the findings still suggest a relatively high prevalence of discoid lateral meniscus in Korea compared to other countries. In contrast to earlier research that suggested a decline in incidence with age, this study found that the incidence of discoid lateral meniscus was highest among individuals aged 41–60 years.

Background: While Korea maintains a low prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), the number of newly diagnosed cases has been steadily rising, reaching approximately 1,000 annually in recent years. The 2022 annual report from the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency revealed that women living with HIV (WLWH) constitute 6.4% of the total confirmed people living with the HIV population, totaling 1,219 individuals. Despite this, only a few studies have focused on WLWH in Korea. This study aims to analyze the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of WLWH in Korea. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively collected data by reviewing the medical records of all WLWH who visited 10 urban referral hospitals across Korea between January 2005 and May 2023. Results: A total of 443 WLWH were enrolled in this study. The predominant risk exposure was heterosexual contact, with 235 (53%) participants either married or cohabiting with a male partner at their initial clinic visit. Among the participants, 334 (77.7%) were Korean, 27 (6.1%) were Southeast Asian, and 19 (4.3%) were African. Antiretroviral therapy was initiated by 404 WLWH (91.2%). We observed 118 pregnancies in WLWH following their HIV diagnosis, resulting in 78 live births (66.1%), 18 induced abortions (15.2%), 10 pre-viable fetal losses (8.5%), and four stillbirths (3.4%). Over a cumulative follow-up duration of 3,202.1 years, the incidence rates of breast and cervical cancers were both 2.18 per 1,000 person-years. Additionally, the incidence rates of pelvic inflammatory disease, cervical intraepithelial neoplasm (above grade II), and osteoporosis were 4.67, 11.21, and 13.39 per 1,000 patient-years, respectively. Conclusion This is the first multicenter study to investigate the clinical and epidemiological characteristics of WLWH in Korea. The incidence and prevalence of diseases in women, including breast cancer, cervical cancer, and chronic comorbidities, are high in WLWH in Korea; therefore, further research and efforts are needed to manage these diseases.

Purpose: Although the prevalence of a discoid lateral meniscus is relatively rare, estimated at approximately 0.4% to 5.0% in the Western world, studies have shown that the incidence is significantly higher in Asia, particularly in South Korea and Japan, ranging from 10.5% to 16.6%. On the other hand, previous studies that reported the incidence of discoid lateral meniscus mainly relied on patients who underwent arthroscopic or open surgery. This study examined the incidence of discoid lateral meniscus using a magnetic resonance imaging-based diagnostic approach. Materials and Methods: This study conducted a retrospective review of the prevalence of discoid lateral meniscus in 10,810 male patients with knee pain who underwent magnetic resonance imaging at the author’s single institution between January 2013 and January 2023. The mean age of the patients was 42.55±15.93 years old (range: 12 to 82). The patient demographics, including age, were analyzed.The characteristics of the discoid lateral meniscus were also analyzed, including the subtype and presence of a combined lateral meniscus tear. Results: This study identified 1,025 patients (9.5%) with a discoid lateral meniscus, including 129 with the complete subtype, 893 with the incomplete subtype, and 3 with the Wrisberg-type subtype. Although there was no significant difference in prevalence between sexes, the highest diagnosis rate of discoid lateral meniscus was observed in the 41–60-year-old (10.1%) age group, which was statistically significant (p=0.025). Among the 164 patients with a concurrent lateral meniscus tear, the horizontal type (80 patients, 48.8%) was the most frequently observed. Conclusion While the incidence in the present study was slightly lower than that reported in previous arthroscopic-based studies, the findings still suggest a relatively high prevalence of discoid lateral meniscus in Korea compared to other countries. In contrast to earlier research that suggested a decline in incidence with age, this study found that the incidence of discoid lateral meniscus was highest among individuals aged 41–60 years.

Background: Recent diabetes management guidelines recommend that sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2is) or glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) with proven cardiovascular benefits should be prioritized for combination therapy in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and established cardiovascular disease (CVD). This study was aimed at evaluating SGLT2i or GLP-1RA usage rates and various related factors in patients with T2DM and established CVD. Methods: We enrolled adults with T2DM aged ≥30 years who were hospitalized due to established CVD from January 2019 to May 2020 at 13 secondary and tertiary hospitals in Korea in this retrospective observational study. Results: Overall, 2,050 patients were eligible for analysis among 2,107 enrolled patients. The mean patient age, diabetes duration, and glycosylated hemoglobin level were 70.0 years, 12.0 years, and 7.5%, respectively. During the mean follow-up duration of 9.7 months, 25.7% of the patients were prescribed SGLT2is after CVD events. However, only 1.8% were prescribed GLP-1RAs. Compared with SGLT2i non-users, SGLT2i users were more frequently male and obese. Furthermore, they had a shorter diabetes duration but showed worse glycemic control and better renal function at the time of the event. GLP-1RA users had a longer duration of diabetes and worse glycemic control at the time of the event than GLP-1RA non-users. Conclusion The SGLT2i or GLP-1RA prescription rates were suboptimal in patients with T2DM and established CVD. Sex, body mass index, diabetes duration, glycemic control, and renal function were associated with the use of these agents.

Background: and Purpose Unlike other immune-mediated neuropathies, anti-myelin-associated glycoprotein (MAG) neuropathy is often refractory to immunotherapy. It is necessary to compare the relative efficacies of various immunotherapies and develop objective biomarkers in order to optimize its clinical management. Methods: This study recruited 91 patients with high anti-MAG antibody titers from 7 tertiary hospitals in South Korea. We analyzed the baseline characteristics, therapeutic outcomes, and nerve conduction study (NCS) findings of 68 patients and excluded 23 false positive cases. Results: The rate of positive responses to treatment was highest using zanubrutinib (50%) and rituximab (36.4%), followed by corticosteroids (16.7%), immunosuppressants (9.5%), intravenous immunoglobulin (5%), and plasma exchange (0%). Disability and weakness were significantly associated with multiple NCS parameters at the time of diagnosis, especially distal compound muscle action potential (CMAP) amplitudes. Moreover, the longitudinal trajectory of the average CMAP amplitudes paralleled the clinical courses, with a 16.2 percentile decrease as an optimal cutoff for predicting a clinical exacerbation (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve=0.792). Conclusions Our study supports the use of NCS as an objective marker for estimating disease burden and tracking clinical changes in patients with anti-MAG neuropathy. We have described the beneficial effects of rituximab and a new drug, zanubrutinib, compared with conventional immunotherapies.

Purpose: This study assessed the clinical outcomes of a modified Broström operation using all-suture anchors for patients with chronic lateral ankle instability. Methods: A comprehensive analysis was conducted on 22 cases with a minimum follow-up of 1 year. Clinical outcomes were assessed using the Karlsson scores and Sefton’s grading system. Results: Significant improvement was observed in patients’ symptoms postoperatively. Karlsson scores increased markedly from preoperative levels, indicating substantial clinical improvement. Most patients (20 of 22, 90.9%) were categorized as ‘excellent’ or ‘good’ according to Sefton’s grading. There was no anchor related complication. Conclusion The modified Broström operation employing all-suture anchors demonstrated favorable clinical outcomes for patients with chronic lateral ankle instability. This technique can be promising alternative for traditional modified Broström operation, offering improved stability and symptom relief.

OBJECTIVES: We estimated the population prevalence of antibodies to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), including unreported infections, through a Korea Seroprevalence Study of Monitoring of SARS-CoV-2 Antibody Retention and Transmission (K-SEROSMART) in 258 communities throughout Korea. METHODS: In August 2022, a survey was conducted among 10,000 household members aged 5 years and older, in households selected through two stage probability random sampling. During face-to-face household interviews, participants self-reported their health status, COVID-19 diagnosis and vaccination history, and general characteristics. Subsequently, participants visited a community health center or medical clinic for blood sampling. Blood samples were analyzed for the presence of antibodies to spike proteins (anti-S) and antibodies to nucleocapsid proteins (anti-N) SARS-CoV-2 proteins using an electrochemiluminescence immunoassay. To estimate the population prevalence, the PROC SURVEYMEANS statistical procedure was employed, with weighting to reflect demographic data from July 2022. RESULTS: In total, 9,945 individuals from 5,041 households were surveyed across 258 communities, representing all basic local governments in Korea. The overall population-adjusted prevalence rates of anti-S and anti-N were 97.6% and 57.1%, respectively. Since the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency has reported a cumulative incidence of confirmed cases of 37.8% through July 31, 2022, the proportion of unreported infections among all COVID-19 infection was suggested to be 33.9%. CONCLUSIONS The K-SEROSMART represents the first nationwide, community-based seroepidemiologic survey of COVID-19, confirming that most individuals possess antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 and that a significant number of unreported cases existed. Furthermore, this study lays the foundation for a surveillance system to continuously monitor transmission at the community level and the response to COVID-19.