Kim HS, et al.

Honestly, this review article is quite hard to understand and the subject is quite unfamiliar, so the editor is a little worried that it might be frustrating for readers in the medical field. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and real-world evidence (RWE) are essential for clinical insight. RCTs validate drug/device effects in controlled settings, while RWE considers external factors in real-world scenarios. This study explores extrinsic factors' impact on RWE, focusing on dark data – unused or excluded data, offering untapped insights. Extrinsic factors lead to diverse RWE outcomes beyond statistical correction’s scope. Two dark data types, “known-unknown” and “unknown-unknown,” highlight RWE complexity. Transforming unknowns into knowns depends on data literacy, that is crucial for medical interpretation. Recognizing dark data's significance is vital in understanding clinical complexity, requiring medical data literacy in the artificial intelligence era.

As expected, artificial intelligence-related topics are very difficult. I am reflecting on myself that I need to study harder.

Lee SM, et al.

Extended hospitalization before sepsis onset significantly raises the risk of in-hospital mortality, as demonstrated in a nationwide retrospective cohort study spanning 19 hospitals from September 2019 to December 2020. Propensity score-matched analysis revealed a threefold increased risk of in-hospital mortality in the late-onset group. Mortality risk rose with prolonged hospitalization, emphasizing the importance of meticulous management for sepsis occurring after ≥ 5 days of hospital stay.

Song IA, et al.

This population-based retrospective cohort study aimed to assess the link between opioid use duration and long-term mortality. Analyzing data from 4,556,606 adults, including 2,070,039 prescribed opioids, participants were categorized into non-users, short-term (1–89 days), and long-term (≥ 90 days) groups. This study underscores the association between opioid prescriptions, regardless of duration, and increased long-term mortality in the Korean adult population.

Kim JH, et al.

This two-decade study on croup trends in Korean children (2002-2019) reveals a rising incidence. Across age, sex, region and economic status, the increase is consistent with those without comorbidities showing a significant rise. Treatment patterns witnessed a decline in antibiotics and oxygen use, while nebulized epinephrine and multiple drug prescriptions increased. Notably, primary care centers demonstrated a greater rise in prescription usage and hospitalization duration than tertiary healthcare institutions. These findings clearly reveal evolving croup patterns and emphasize the need for tailored strategies in healthcare facilities, given the changing landscape of childhood health.

Lee S, et al.

This study explored the prevalence of unruptured intracranial aneurysms (UIAs) in liver transplantation patients, along with perioperative subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) occurrence. A scoring system predicting the risk of hemorrhagic stroke included poor admission mental status, UIA diagnosis, serum ammonia levels, and MELD scores. Despite low UIA and SAH incidences, this scoring system effectively identified hemorrhagic stroke risk factors in liver transplantation patients.

Yoon IY, et al.

This study aimed to assess the effectiveness and safety of a neurofeedback wearable device in reducing stress. In a randomized, double-blind, controlled trial, participants with stress, depression, or sleep issues practiced neurofeedback-assisted meditation or non-assisted meditation for two weeks. State anxiety improvement was notable in the experimental group. Subjective satisfaction was higher in the experimental group, supporting neurofeedback-assisted meditation for stress relief.

Hwang SS, et al.

This study investigated the spatiotemporal epidemiology of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) in Korea from 2009 to 2021. Using Bayesian spatiotemporal models, researchers observed a gradual decline in OHCA incidence over time. Survival outcomes were more favorable in metropolitan areas, showing substantial improvements in neurological outcomes from 2009 to 2021. These findings provide crucial insights for public health planning to alleviate the burden of OHCA in Korea and to improve prehospital outcomes.