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Background: The escalating conflict between the government and medical community, particularly the increase in medical school admissions by 2,000, has plunged Korea into a pressing healthcare crisis. This study delves into the heart of this dispute and proposes solutions to tackle critical issues in essential and regional healthcare. Current Concepts: Despite government assertions, the number of active physicians in Korea is increasing rapidly. With a similar physician-to-population ratio (2.65 per 1,000 inhabitants by 2022), Japan is reducing its number of medical school admissions. Korea is facing a severe shortage of essential medical fields crucial for public health, and significant regional healthcare disparities. These issues stem not from a lack of physicians, but from poor working conditions and inadequate payment systems of the National Health Insurance Services of Korea, leading to an inequitable medical ecosystem. It is crucial that policies affecting public health, such as increasing medical school admissions, are meticulously evaluated. This evaluation should consider future population projections, healthcare supply and demand systems, and financial aspects. Furthermore, any changes in medical policy should be grounded in scientific evidence and implemented in close collaboration with medical experts. Discussion and Conclusion: To effectively address imbalances in essential and regional healthcare, it is imperative to normalize the healthcare delivery system and foster an environment that motivates physicians to work voluntarily in these sectors. This change necessitates the implementation of supportive measures and financial strategies developed through extensive consultations with the medical community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Complications that occur after maxillary sinus floor augmentation (MSA) can be divided into early and late complications. Early complication is a side effect that occurs during the MSA procedure or during the initial healing period. Usually, late complication refers to a side effect that occurs after 3 weeks of MSA. However, in the longer term, there are cases that occur during the follow-up period after the prosthesis is delivered, and most of them present with peri-implantitis. In the present two cases, sinus graft complications occurred 1–2 years after prosthesis delivery but were independent of peri-implantitis and had atypical features showing asymptomatic results. Although the route of the infection source is unclear, the lesions were presumed to be caused by slow and delayed inflammation of oral bacteria infiltrating the bone graft area of the maxillary sinus. Within the limitations of present case reports, bone defects were successfully managed with a guided bone regeneration (GBR) procedure that included thorough defect degranulation, surface decontamination of exposed implant, and regrafting. Periodic monitoring of radiographic images is required for the detection of unusual sinus graft complications in sinus-augmented sites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accurate quantification of amyloid positron emission tomography (PET) is essential for early detection of and intervention in Alzheimer's disease (AD) but there is still a lack of studies comparing the performance of various automated methods. This study compared the PET-only method and PET-and-MRI-based method with a pre-trained deep learning segmentation model. A large sample of 1180 participants in the Catholic Aging Brain Imaging (CABI) database was analyzed to calculate the regional standardized uptake value ratio (SUVR) using both methods. The logistic regression models were employed to assess the discriminability of amyloid-positive and negative groups through 10-fold cross-validation and area under the receiver operating characteristics (AUROC) metrics. The two methods showed a high correlation in calculating SUVRs but the PET-MRI method, incorporating MRI data for anatomical accuracy, demonstrated superior performance in predicting amyloid-positivity. The parietal, frontal, and cingulate importantly contributed to the prediction. The PET-MRI method with a pre-trained deep learning model approach provides an efficient and precise method for earlier diagnosis and intervention in the AD continuum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To determine the effects of implant timing and type of soft‐tissue grafting on histological and histomorphometric outcomes in a preclinical model. Materials and Methods: Four implant placement protocols were randomly applied at the mesial root sites of the third and fourth mandibular premolars in 10 mongrel dogs: immediate placement (group IP), early placement (group EP), delayed placement with/without alveolar ridge preservation (groups ARP and DP, respectively). A connective‐tissue graft (CTG) or porcine‐derived volume‐stable collagen matrix (VCMX) was applied to enhance the ridge profile (simultaneously with implant placement in group IP and staged for others), resulting in five sites for each combination. All dogs were sacrificed 3 months after soft‐tissue grafting. Histological and histomorphometric analyses were performed, and the data were analysed descriptively. Results: CTG and VCMX were difficult to differentiate from the augmented area. The median total tissue thickness on the buccal aspect of the implant was largest in group IP/CTG (between 2.78 and 3.87 mm). The soft‐tissue thickness was generally favourable with CTG at all implant placement timings. Within the DP groups, CTG yielded statistically significantly larger total and soft‐tissue thickness than VCMX (p <.05). Among the groups with VCMX, group EP/VCMX showed the largest soft‐tissue thickness at apical levels to the implant shoulder. Conclusions: CTG generally led to greater tissue thickness than VCMX. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

INTRODUCTION: Despite prior research on the association between sarcopenia and cognitive impairment in the elderly, a comprehensive model that integrates various brain pathologies is still lacking. METHODS: We used data from 528 non‐demented older adults with or without sarcopenia in the Catholic Aging Brain Imaging (CABI) database, containing magnetic resonance imaging scans, positron emission tomography scans, and clinical data. We also measured three key components of sarcopenia: skeletal muscle index (SMI), hand grip strength (HGS), and the five times sit‐to‐stand test (5STS). RESULTS: All components of sarcopenia were significantly correlated with global cognitive function, but cortical thickness and amyloid‐beta (Aβ) retention had distinctive relationships with each measure. In the path model, brain atrophy resulting in cognitive impairment was mediated by Aβ retention for SMI and periventricular white matter hyperintensity for HGS, but directly affected by the 5STS. DISCUSSION: Treatments targeting each sub‐domain of sarcopenia should be considered to prevent cognitive decline. Highlights: We identified distinct impacts of three sarcopenia measures on brain structure and Aβ.Muscle mass is mainly associated with Aβ and has an influence on the brain atrophy.Muscle strength linked with periventricular WMH and brain atrophy.Muscle function associated with cortical thinning in specific brain regions.Interventions on sarcopenia may be important to ease cognitive decline in the elderly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Acute increased intracranial pressure (IICP) is a life-threatening condition that requires urgent treatment. Rapid IICP with hydrocephalus may be complicated by ischemic stroke, convulsions, loss of consciousness, brain herniation, and death. Extremely rare complications include intracranial vessel entrapment and ischemic stroke due to sudden IICP in cases with benign tumors. Case Report We report a case of bilateral posterior cerebral artery region infarction and complicated hydrocephalus with subependymal giant cell astrocytoma in a patient with tuberous sclerosis. Conclusion We postulate that the temporary IICP induced by seizure led to transient bilateral posterior cerebral artery entrapment, causing ischemic stroke without vascular occlusion.