Background: and Purpose: The Cognitive Impairment Screening Test in Korea (CIST-K) was designed to detect cognitive decline. Developed independently and widely used in Korea, it is yet to be validated with other screening tests. This study aimed to introduce normative data to the CIST-K and assess its clinical usefulness through correlation analysis with the Korean version of the Mini-Mental State Examination, 2nd edition (K-MMSE-2). Methods: We enrolled 85 participants from a tertiary university hospital in Korea, including patients diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer’s disease by experienced neurologists. Both the CIST-K and K-MMSE-2 were administered to assess the cognitive function of the participants, with scores from each subtest of the neuropsychological tests compared. Results: Multivariate correlation analysis, which was adjusted for age, sex, and education level, revealed a significant correlation between the two tests in orientation, memory, and attention. However, no significant correlation was found between the two tests in visuospatial and language functions. Conclusions In conclusion, this study demonstrates that some subtests in the CIST-K align with corresponding scores on the K-MMSE-2. However, caution is advised when interpreting visuospatial and language test scores from the CIST-K. Further validity studies are necessary to enhance the sensitivity of each subtest.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to summarize the clinical characteristics and outcomes of patients with ocular chemical injury by analyzing their medical records from January 2018 to December 2023. Methods: This study involved a retrospective review of patient data, including age, sex, season, location of ocular chemical injury, causative agents (properties, pH values), initial and final ocular findings including visual acuity and intraocular pressure, distribution and severity of chemical injury, management methods, and complications. Results: A total of 218 patients were included in this study. Most patients were aged between 27 and 56 years. The most common ocular injury setting, season, severity classifications, causative chemical agent, management method, and complications were domestic households, summer and winter, grade I, acidic substance, medical treatment, and no complications, respectively. Conclusions We evaluated the clinical characteristics and outcomes of patients with ocular chemical injuries in Incheon, South Korea. Despite societal changes and widespread safety education, ocular chemical injuries still occur owing to various substances and situations. Therefore, self-protection and comprehensive educational programs should be encouraged to prevent ocular chemical damage.

Background: and Purpose: The Cognitive Impairment Screening Test in Korea (CIST-K) was designed to detect cognitive decline. Developed independently and widely used in Korea, it is yet to be validated with other screening tests. This study aimed to introduce normative data to the CIST-K and assess its clinical usefulness through correlation analysis with the Korean version of the Mini-Mental State Examination, 2nd edition (K-MMSE-2). Methods: We enrolled 85 participants from a tertiary university hospital in Korea, including patients diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer’s disease by experienced neurologists. Both the CIST-K and K-MMSE-2 were administered to assess the cognitive function of the participants, with scores from each subtest of the neuropsychological tests compared. Results: Multivariate correlation analysis, which was adjusted for age, sex, and education level, revealed a significant correlation between the two tests in orientation, memory, and attention. However, no significant correlation was found between the two tests in visuospatial and language functions. Conclusions In conclusion, this study demonstrates that some subtests in the CIST-K align with corresponding scores on the K-MMSE-2. However, caution is advised when interpreting visuospatial and language test scores from the CIST-K. Further validity studies are necessary to enhance the sensitivity of each subtest.

Background: and Purpose: The Cognitive Impairment Screening Test in Korea (CIST-K) was designed to detect cognitive decline. Developed independently and widely used in Korea, it is yet to be validated with other screening tests. This study aimed to introduce normative data to the CIST-K and assess its clinical usefulness through correlation analysis with the Korean version of the Mini-Mental State Examination, 2nd edition (K-MMSE-2). Methods: We enrolled 85 participants from a tertiary university hospital in Korea, including patients diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer’s disease by experienced neurologists. Both the CIST-K and K-MMSE-2 were administered to assess the cognitive function of the participants, with scores from each subtest of the neuropsychological tests compared. Results: Multivariate correlation analysis, which was adjusted for age, sex, and education level, revealed a significant correlation between the two tests in orientation, memory, and attention. However, no significant correlation was found between the two tests in visuospatial and language functions. Conclusions In conclusion, this study demonstrates that some subtests in the CIST-K align with corresponding scores on the K-MMSE-2. However, caution is advised when interpreting visuospatial and language test scores from the CIST-K. Further validity studies are necessary to enhance the sensitivity of each subtest.

Background: and Purpose: The Cognitive Impairment Screening Test in Korea (CIST-K) was designed to detect cognitive decline. Developed independently and widely used in Korea, it is yet to be validated with other screening tests. This study aimed to introduce normative data to the CIST-K and assess its clinical usefulness through correlation analysis with the Korean version of the Mini-Mental State Examination, 2nd edition (K-MMSE-2). Methods: We enrolled 85 participants from a tertiary university hospital in Korea, including patients diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer’s disease by experienced neurologists. Both the CIST-K and K-MMSE-2 were administered to assess the cognitive function of the participants, with scores from each subtest of the neuropsychological tests compared. Results: Multivariate correlation analysis, which was adjusted for age, sex, and education level, revealed a significant correlation between the two tests in orientation, memory, and attention. However, no significant correlation was found between the two tests in visuospatial and language functions. Conclusions In conclusion, this study demonstrates that some subtests in the CIST-K align with corresponding scores on the K-MMSE-2. However, caution is advised when interpreting visuospatial and language test scores from the CIST-K. Further validity studies are necessary to enhance the sensitivity of each subtest.

Background: The lumbosacral (LS) junction has a higher nonunion rate than other lumbar segments, especially in long-level fusion. Nonunion at L5–S1 would result in low back pain, spinal imbalance, and poor surgical outcomes. Although anterior column support at L5–S1 has been recommended to prevent nonunion in long-level LS fusion, fusion length requiring additional spinopelvic fixation (SPF) in LS fusion with anterior column support at L5–S1 has not been evaluated thoroughly. This study aimed to determine the number of fused levels requiring SPF in LS fusion with anterior column support at L5–S1 by assessing the interbody fusion status using computed tomography (CT) depending on the fusion length. Methods: Patients who underwent instrumented LS fusion with L5–S1 interbody fusion without additional augmentation and CT > 1 year postoperatively were included. The fusion rates were assessed based on the number of fused segments. Patients were divided into two groups depending on the L5–S1 interbody fusion status: those with union vs. those with nonunion. Binary logistic regression analyses were performed to identify risk factors for LS junctional nonunion. Results: Fusion rates of L5–S1 interbody fusion were 94.9%, 90.3%, 80.0%, 50.0%, 52.6%, and 43.5% for fusion of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and ≥ 6 levels, respectively. The number of spinal levels fused ≥ 4 (p < 0.001), low preoperative bone mineral density (BMD; adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 0.667; p = 0.035), and postoperative pelvic incidence (PI) – lumbar lordosis (LL) mismatch (aOR, 1.034; p = 0.040) were identified as significant risk factors for nonunion of L5–S1 interbody fusion according to the multivariate logistic regression analysis. Conclusions Exhibiting ≥ 4 fused spinal levels, low preoperative BMD, and large postoperative PI–LL mismatch were identified as independent risk factors for nonunion of anterior column support at L5–S1 in LS fusion without additional fixation. Therefore, SPF should be considered in LS fusion extending to or above L2 to prevent LS junctional nonunion.

Objectives: Electrocardiography (ECG)-based diagnosis by experts cannot maintain uniform quality because individual differences may occur. Previous public databases can be used for clinical studies, but there is no common standard that would allow databases to be combined. For this reason, it is difficult to conduct research that derives results by combining databases. Recent commercial ECG machines offer diagnoses similar to those of a physician. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to construct a standardized ECG database using computerized diagnoses. Methods: The constructed database was standardized using Systematized Nomenclature of Medicine Clinical Terms (SNOMED CT) and Observational Medical Outcomes Partnership–common data model (OMOP-CDM), and data were then categorized into 10 groups based on the Minnesota classification. In addition, to extract high-quality waveforms, poor-quality ECGs were removed, and database bias was minimized by extracting at least 2,000 cases for each group. To check database quality, the difference in baseline displacement according to whether poor ECGs were removed was analyzed, and the usefulness of the database was verified with seven classification models using waveforms. Results: The standardized KURIAS-ECG database consists of high-quality ECGs from 13,862 patients, with about 20,000 data points, making it possible to obtain more than 2,000 for each Minnesota classification. An artificial intelligence classification model using the data extracted through SNOMED-CT showed an average accuracy of 88.03%. Conclusions The KURIAS-ECG database contains standardized ECG data extracted from various machines. The proposed protocol should promote cardiovascular disease research using big data and artificial intelligence.

Purpose: To investigate the effects of humidity and temperature on dry eye disease (DED) Methods: A retrospective, clinic-based study was conducted on DED patients undergoing dry eye treatment. Patients were followed up at least twice, and symptoms and signs were evaluated using the Symptoms Assessment Questionnaire in Dry Eye (SANDE) score, tear secretion, tear film breakup time (TBUT), ocular staining score, and tear osmolarity. Mean humidity and temperature values for 1 week before ocular examinations were used as the environmental exposure level. The relationship between humidity and temperature, with DED clinical parameters was analyzed in single- and multi-environmental factor models. Results: The study included 33 patients with a mean age of 53.9 ± 12.2 years. The low humidity group showed significantly higher SANDE scores (p = 0.023) and tear osmolarity (p = 0.008), and the low temperature group had higher SANDE scores (p = 0.004), ocular staining scores (p = 0.036), and tear osmolarity (p < 0.001). In the linear mixed model, single factor analysis showed that an increase in humidity resulted in decreased SANDE scores (p = 0.043), and an increase in temperature led to a decrease in SANDE score (p = 0.007), ocular staining score (p = 0.007), and tear osmolarity (p = 0.012). In the multifactor analysis, changes in humidity had no significant effect on dry eye parameters, but an increase in temperature was significantly correlated with decreased SANDE score (p = 0.026), ocular staining score (p = 0.024), and tear osmolarity (p = 0.002). Conclusions Lower temperature led to aggravated symptoms and signs of DED and the effect of temperature on DED was more pronounced than humidity. Tear osmolarity was the most sensitive clinical parameter to be affected by climate factors in DED patients.

Acute liver failure due to malignant melanoma is uncommon. We presents a case of acute liver failure secondary to hepatic infiltration of a malignant melanoma. An 86-year-old man was admitted with elevated liver enzymes and an increased lactate dehydrogenase level. His condition progressed to acute liver failure, but the etiology of liver failure was unclear. Esophagogastroduodenoscopy was performed to evaluate dyspepsia, which showed signs indicative of malignant melanoma. Based on the endoscopy findings and elevated liver enzyme levels, liver biopsy was performed to confirm the presence of malignant melanoma. Hepatic infiltration of malignant melanoma was observed histologically. However, massive and diffuse liver metastasis is very rare and difficult to identify on imaging studies. If the etiology of liver failure is unclear, diffuse metastatic melanoma infiltration should be considered as differential diagnosis. Early liver biopsy can help to clarify the diagnosis.

Purpose: To describe the clinical characteristics and treatment outcomes of uveitis in patients with psoriasis in Korea. Methods: The medical records of 20 patients (27 eyes) with psoriatic uveitis in two tertiary hospitals were retrospectively reviewed. We analyzed data about patient demographics, uveitis types, laterality, onset of disease, human leukocyte antigen (HLA) types, intraocular pressure, visual acuity, comorbidities, and medical treatments and outcomes for uveitis and psoriasis. Results: The cohort comprised 11 males and nine females (age of onset, 50.1 ± 13.2 years) and the mean follow-up period was 3.9 ± 4.0 years. Types of uveitis included anterior (85%), intermediate (10%), and panuveitis (5%). A total of 13 (65%) cases presented with unilateral involvement and 12 out of 18 patients (66.7%) were positive for HLA-B27. The average intraocular pressure of affected eyes was 11.6 ± 3.6 at the first visit and 13.8 ± 3.6 mmHg at the final visit. The average logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution visual acuity of affected eyes at the initial examination was 0.16 ± 0.52 and 0.27 ± 0.71 at the last examination. Most common comorbidity (13 patients, 65%) was psoriatic arthritis (PsA). All cases underwent topical corticosteroid treatment; however, 11 (55%) required systemic corticosteroid and immunosuppressants for the treatment of uveitis. Notable deterioration in visual outcome was found in two cases (10%) due to severe intraocular inflammation and its complications (uveitic glaucoma and bullous keratopathy). Recurrent uveitis was observed in 57.9% of patients. Patients with PsA tended to have higher positive rate of HLA-B27 (83.3%). However, there was no significant correlation between visual prognosis and location of psoriatic uveitis, presence of PsA, and HLA-B27 positivity. Conclusions Psoriatic uveitis in Koreans usually presents with anterior uveitis with unilateral involvement. PsA was the most common comorbidity. In majority of patients, visual outcomes are satisfactory with appropriate topical or systemic immunosuppressive treatment.