Postoperative delirium is a common complication after liver transplantation (LT). A high model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) score is an independent risk factor for postoperative delirium, but it is unclear which of the components of this score are risk indicators. The aim of this study was to analyze the incidence of postoperative delirium according to the preoperative serum bilirubin level, a component of the MELD score, in patients who underwent LT. The medical records of 325 patients who underwent LT from January 2010 to February 2019 at a single university hospital were retrospectively reviewed. The patients were divided into two groups: those who experienced postoperative delirium (Delirium group, n = 69) and those who did not (Control group, n = 256). Data on the patients’ demographic characteristics, perioperative management, and postoperative complications were collected. Mean preoperative bilirubin level was higher in the Delirium group than in the Control group (p < 0.0001). In the Delirium group, 54 (78.26%) patients had preoperative bilirubin levels above 3.5 mg/dL. In the multivariate analysis, preoperative bilirubin above 3.5 mg/dL was associated with postoperative delirium (p = 0.002). Therefore, preoperative hyperbilirubinemia is an independent risk factor for postoperative delirium.

Background and objectives: Herpes zoster (HZ) is caused by the reactivation of a pre-existing latent varicella zoster virus, which is one of the viruses that causes hearing loss, and hearing loss may occur due to a systemic immune response even if it does not invade the auditory nerve. This study aimed to determine the correlation between sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) in older adult patients who received HZ treatment. Materials and Methods: We used the cohort data of patients aged 60 years and above (n = 624,646) between 2002 and 2015 provided by the National Health Insurance Service. The patients were divided into two groups: those who were diagnosed with HZ between 2003 and 2008 (group H, n = 36,121) and those who had not been diagnosed with HZ between 2002 and 2015 (group C, n = 584,329). Results: In the main model (adjusted HR = 0.890, 95% CI = 0.839–0.944, p < 0.001) adjusted for sex, age, and income, and the full model (adjusted HR = 0.894, 95% CI = 0.843–0.949, p < 0.001) adjusted for all comorbidities, group H had a lower risk of SSNHL than group C. Conclusions: This study showed that patients who received HZ treatment had a lower incidence of SSNHL within five years after diagnosis.

Ukjin Jeong, Hotaek Kim, Hyo Jung Son. Med Biol Sci Eng 2025;8:20-4. https://doi.org/10.30579/mbse.2025.8.1.20

Ukjin Jeong, Hotaek Kim, Minsang Lee, Jaeyun Seo, Hyo Jung Son. Med Biol Sci Eng 2026;9:61-6. https://doi.org/10.30579/mbse.2026.9.1.61

Hyo Jung Son, Yoon Ji Choi, Ji Yoon Lee, Young Jin Ro. Med Biol Sci Eng 2020;3:1-6. https://doi.org/10.30579/mbse.2020.3.1.1