Scientific medical research has progressed tremendously during the last 50 years, but concerns about research integrity, publishing ethics, and retraction trends have grown. Retractions are essential for revising the scientific record and maintaining credibility, yet an extensive long-term assessment of retracted medical publications is limited.

The aim of this study is to review data on infants who received hearing aid support through the Infantile Hearing Aid Support Program after the settlement of universal newborn hearing screening (NHS) in the country over the past five years in Korea. This study seeks to identify the characteristics of infants with bilateral moderate hearing loss and to explore effective strategies for auditory rehabilitation by analyzing the timing of hearing aid interventions and regional disparities.

Pre-pregnancy blood pressure (BP) has gained attention as a potential predictor of adverse pregnancy outcomes. However, data on the impact of mildly elevated BP, particularly in women without overt hypertension, remain limited. In this study, we aimed to examine the association between pre-pregnancy BP and adverse pregnancy outcomes in women without a history of hypertension.

Body composition disorders such as sarcopenia, obesity, and osteoporosis are common; however, the body composition of patients with dizziness and vestibular dysfunction (VD) has not been thoroughly assessed.

Hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) activation is the principal event in the development of liver fibrosis in which succinate-G-protein coupled receptor 91 signaling has recently been shown to be a contributor. Moreover, endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress has been reported to involve in HSC activation, but its association with succinate in pathogenesis of liver fibrosis remains scarce. In this study, we investigated the role of gemigliptin, an antidiabetic dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitor, in the succinate-induced ER stress and activation of HSCs.

We aimed to explore whether the dysfunctional pandemic grief of nursing professionals who experienced a patient's death may be related with their suicidal ideation and examine whether their interpersonal problems and dysfunctional self-focus mediate this association.

Fibrosis, caused by hepatic stellate cell (HSC) activation and resulting in extracellular matrix accumulation, cirrhosis, and ultimately liver failure, remains a critical challenge. Recent advances in exosome-based drug delivery systems offer an innovative approach by specifically targeting activated HSCs to combat fibrotic diseases. This study evaluated the anti-fibrotic potential of miR-150-loaded exosomes engineered with platelet-derived growth factor receptor (PDGFR)-targeting peptides for precise delivery to activated HSCs.

The value remains one of the most frequently reported statistical measures in biomedical literature, yet it is also one of the most widely misunderstood statistics. Introduced by Fisher as a measure of evidence against the null hypothesis, it was subsequently incorporated into the Neyman-Pearson decision framework, which emphasized long-run error rates and decision thresholds. Over the past decades, reliance on the conventional cut-off of = 0.05 has fostered misconceptions, including the belief that the value represents the probability that the null hypothesis is true or that statistical significance implies clinical importance. In this review, I examine the historical evolution of the value, clarify the conceptual distinctions between evidential and decision-theoretic perspectives, and illustrate their implications through a case study. Common misinterpretations and the limitations of threshold-based inference are discussed, together with the consequences for reproducibility, statistical power, and interpretation of results. Recent recommendations from statistical associations and methodologists to move beyond dichotomous significance testing are highlighted. Complementary approaches, such as estimation of effect sizes with confidence intervals (CIs), likelihood ratios, and Bayesian inference, are briefly considered. I conclude that although the value may provide useful information when properly interpreted, it should not be used as a sole criterion for inference. Transparent reporting of effect sizes, CIs, and contextual information offers a more reliable foundation for scientific interpretation and decision making.

Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is associated with a high mortality rate if left untreated, and medically vulnerable populations experience significant disparities in treatment and outcomes. We investigated the characteristics and treatment outcomes of AAA according to the insurance type (i.e., National Health Insurance [NHI] and Medical Aid) in South Korea using the nationwide health insurance database.

is a sexually transmitted pathogen for which azithromycin is recommended as the first-line therapy. However, the prevalence of macrolide resistance has increased globally, reaching peak levels in Asia-Pacific countries. Macrolide resistance-guided therapy (MRT) is cost-effective, with minimal collateral damage and a high cure rate. We aimed to validate the performance of the Allplex™ MG & AziR Assay (AziR), which was designed to detect genetic variations in MRT.

Besifovir dipivoxil maleate (BSV) is a novel antiviral agent approved in Korea for chronic hepatitis B (CHB) treatment. While previous comparative studies between BSV and tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) have suggested lower renal toxicity in BSV, these findings were limited by small sample sizes. This study aimed to comprehensively assess the incidence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in CHB patients treated with BSV versus TDF using a nationwide cohort.

As the most rapidly aging nation, Korea offers a unique lens into the future of dementia, one of the most pressing global health challenges of the 21st century. The Korean Longitudinal Study on Cognitive Aging and Dementia (KLOSCAD), launched amid the country's rapid demographic transition, exemplifies how population-specific research can guide national policy and challenge universal assumptions in dementia science. More than a cohort study, KLOSCAD provides a methodological blueprint for identifying culturally relevant risk factors, testing the applicability of Western models, and shaping prevention strategies for local contexts. Its evolution from a national study to a globally recognized platform reflects the value of sustained governmental support, strategic design, and international collaboration. As the dementia epidemic's center shifts to Asia, the KLOSCAD experience underscores that diversity is not a confounder but a scientific opportunity, critical for building both universal and context-sensitive approaches to understanding and preventing dementia worldwide.

This corrects the article on p. e317 in vol. 40, PMID: 41218593.

Whole blood viscosity (WBV) determines wall shear stress, representing dynamic force and contributing to aneurysmal remodeling. We hypothesized that administering balanced crystalloid (Group-C) or hydroxyethyl starch (HES) 130/0.4 (Group-HES) for IV fluid management would have a different impact on high-shear WBV during the endovascular detachable coiling (EDC).

This study provides a comprehensive review of studies comparing the effectiveness of varicella vaccinations and the duration of their protection.

Universal postnatal nurse home visitation services were introduced in Seoul, Korea in 2013 and are now being expanded nationally with government funding. This study examined maternal satisfaction with these services and identified factors associated with satisfaction among mothers of young children.

Artificial intelligence (AI) has promoted progress across various fields. The number of papers regarding AI has risen in recent years. This study examines retracted publications regarding AI by analyzing trends, journals, and reasons.

Cervical cancer, one of the most prevalent cancers among women worldwidely, has seen improved survival rates due to advancements in pelvic radiation therapy (RT). Several risk factors for pelvic insufficiency fracture (PIF) have been reported in patients with cervical cancer. This study aimed to estimate the incidence of PIFs in patients with cervical cancer and assess the potential risk factors for PIF using a national claim database.

Hearing loss (HL) is a prevalent public health issue that affects communication and quality of life. Hearing aids (HAs) are an effective rehabilitation tool, yet adoption rates remain low. To improve accessibility, South Korea revised its HA financial support policy in 2015. This study evaluates changes in HA adoption rates over the past decade and examines the impact of these policy modifications.