Konkuk University Research Articles

Clinical Characteristics in Panic Disorder Patients in Emergency Department

IntroductionPanic disorder is a widespread mental illness associated with the use of high levels of emergency care. However, the clinical characteristics of patients with panic disorder in the emergency department are not known.ObjectivesThis study was designed to investigate datas related to panic attack and treatment in emergency room of panic disorder patients who visited emergency room for panic attack.MethodsA retrospective analysis of medical records was conducted on 92 patients with panic disorder who visited Chungju Konkuk university hospital emergency department due to panic attack and had bodily symptoms from 1st January 2010 to 31th December 2019. In addition to demographic characteristics and comorbid disorders, triggering stressors and alcohol consumption were corrected as pre-panic attack datas, bodily symptoms at the time of panic attack were corrected as datas during attack, electrocardiogram trial, consultation with psychiatrist, admission and information of used psychotropic drugs were corrected as post-attack data. Depending on size of data, Chi-square test or Fisher’s exact test was used. Collected data was analyzed using R 4.03.ResultsCardiovascular disease was accompanied by 5.4% and depressive disorder was the most common coexisting mental disorder. Among triggering stressors, economic problem/work-related stress was significantly higher in men than women (x2=4.322, p<0.005). The most common physical symptom during attack was circulatory (65.2%), followed by respiratory (57.6%), numbness-paralysis (33.7%), dizziness (19.6%), gastro-intestinal (14.1%) and autonomic symptom (12.0%). Electrocardiogram was taken at higher rate when patients complained circulatory symptom (x2=8.46, p<0.005). The psychotropic drug most commonly used in emergency room was lorazepam, used in 92.1%.ConclusionsThe most common bodily symptom during panic attack was circulatory symptom and the most common triggering stressor in men was economic problem/work-related stress. The most commonly used psychotropic for panic attack was lorazepam.Disclosure of InterestNone Declared

Long-term evaluation of the effects of vitreous degeneration on cataracts and retinal detachment in dogs.

We aimed to track and evaluate the association between vitreous degeneration and the development of cataracts or retinal detachments in dogs over a long period. Data on vitreous degeneration, cataracts, and retinal detachment in 102 eyes were collected from 68 dogs who underwent ocular ultrasonography at least twice between March 2017 and November 2021 at the Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital, Konkuk University. The mean follow-up time was 515 ± 256 (mean ± standard deviation; range: 81-1196) days. Development of cataracts and retinal detachment, according to the severity of vitreous degeneration grade (VDG), was evaluated during long-term follow-up. In the cataract study (87 eyes, 61 dogs), the number of cataracts developed according to VDG (grade: 0-3) were as follows: VDG 0: 1 in 10 (10%) eyes, VDG 1: 15 in 35 (43%) eyes, VDG 2: 15 in 30 (50%) eyes, and VDG 3: 10 in 12 (83%) eyes. It was significantly different among grades (p=.026). In the retinal detachment study (95 eyes, 64 dogs), the number of retinal detachments developed according to each VDG were as follows: VDG 0: 0 in 11 (0%) eyes, VDG 1: 1 in 36 (3%) eyes, VDG 2: 5 in 35 (14%) eyes, and VDG 3: 4 in 13 (30%) eyes. It was also significantly different among grades (p=.019). During long-term follow-up, dogs with severe vitreous degeneration had an increased risk of cataract and retinal detachment development than those without or with mild vitreous degeneration.

Effect of age on the prognosis of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma.

Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (iCCA) is a subgroup of cholangiocarcinoma and is the second- most-common primary hepatic tumor. Several predictive and prognostic factors have been analyzed; however, in this study we focused on the influence of age. Our aim was to use real-world results to determine the influence of age in iCCA patients. A retrospective analysis of patients treated between 2005 and 2016 at Konkuk University Medical Center. In total, 133 patients with iCCA were identified. The mass-forming, periductal-infiltrating, and intraductal-growth types were included; patients with extrahepatic or hilar-type cholangiocarcinoma were excluded. We defined two groups: a younger group, age < 65 years, and an older group, age ≥ 65 years. Statistical analyses using univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses, including the Kaplan-Meier method, were conducted. In total, 114 patients were enrolled. The two groups differed with regard to treatment options such as surgery with adjuvant chemotherapy or palliative chemotherapy (p = 0.012, p < 0.001). The younger group had significantly longer survival than the older group (p = 0.017). In the younger group, patients who received therapy had longer survival than those who did not (hazard ratio, 3.942; 95% confidence interval, 2.053 to 7.569; p < 0.001). Multivariate analysis indicated that younger age, lower bilirubin, low CA 19-9, and no lymph-node involvement were independent factors for improved survival. Younger patients and those who underwent surgery with adjuvant chemotherapy had longer survival. The younger the patient, the more treatments received, including palliative chemotherapy.

Association between Heart Rate Variability Indices and Depressed Mood in Patients with Panic Disorder.

Heart rate variability (HRV) reflects the regulation of the autonomic nervous system. Panic disorder is highly associated with autonomic dysfunction, and is often accompanied by depression. The aim of this study is to determine the association between depression and HRV indices in patients with panic disorder. A total of 110 outpatients diagnosed with panic disorder participated in this study. The medical records of patients with panic disorder who visited the outpatient clinic of Konkuk University Hospital between December 2018 and March 2020 were retrospectively reviewed. Measurements used in this study include the Panic Disorder Severity Scale-Self Report, Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II), Insomnia Severity Index, and HRV. Patients were divided into depressive and non-depressive groups based on their BDI-II scores. The association between HRV indices and depressive symptoms was statistically analyzed. The low frequency/high frequency (LF/HF) ratio was reduced in patients with depression (mean = -0.095, p = 0.004 in the above moderate depressive group, mean = -0.120, p = 0.020 in the severe depressive group). Significant correlations were found between depressive symptoms and standard deviation of NN interval (SDNN) (ms) (-0.19, p = 0.044), very low frequency (VLF) (ms2/Hz) (-0.22, p = 0.021), LF (-0.25, p = 0.008), HF (-0.19, p = 0.043), and LF/HF (-0.25, p = 0.009). Multiple linear regression analysis showed that BDI predicted SDNN (ms), VLF (ms2/Hz), LF, HF, and LF/HF. We confirmed that the LF/HF ratio decreases when depression is accompanied by panic disorder. HRV indices may be useful markers for detecting depressive symptoms in patients with panic disorder.

지하철역사 에너지성능 평가를 위한 클러스터링 분석기법을 활용한 지하철역사 대표모델 선정에 관한 연구

In order to realize the government’s plan to increase zero energy early and play a leading role in the low carbonization of railway facilities, Since 2025, the National Railroad Corporation has established a Zero Energy Roadmap for railway stations to promote zero energy building certification. However, currently, standards and tools for evaluating various railway history, including subways, are insufficient in Korea. In particular, railway history has characteristics that are distinct from general buildings, such as the presence of peak loads, continuous erosion, and the possession of safety and functional elements that must be equipped Accordingly, an alternative is needed to overcome the limitations of existing domestic energy performance evaluation tools developed for general building evaluation. Therefore, this paper uses the clustering technique as the first step to develop a decision-making tool that presents the energy performance evaluation and improvement direction of railway history It can represent the characteristics of subway history. In order to select a representative model, data collection and clustering analysis of all 291 subway stations in the Seoul area were performed using Open Data provided by the public data portal. K-means and GMM algorithms were used as clustering analysis methods. As a result of clustering analysis, the K-means algorithm was difficult to use as a result of classification because the data columns were diverse and were not in the form of circular distribution by cluster. Compared to K-means, GMM algorithms can significantly distinguish characteristics such as area, completion year, and platform type the results were shown.BRThe representative standard stations selected based on the results of GMM clustering were Konkuk University Station (Line 2), Suraksan Station, and Hongdae Station. After that, through simulation of representative models and multiple regression analysis using results, the standard model is developed and used as a tool for initial decision-making such as zero energy construction plan and remodeling plan for subway stations.

상권 방문특징과 상권 포지셔닝 맵에 대한 탐색적 연구: 대응일치분석과 다차원척도법의 절차적 적용

The process of identifying the characteristics of the trading area to be analyzed and analyzing the difference from the competitive trading area is an essential prior task in establishing marketing strategies to revitalize a trading area. However, most trading area studies, so far, have relied heavily on quantitative descriptive statistics of a trading area itself or the empirical insight of researchers. As a result, objective and valid research methodologies for analyzing the characteristics of trading area were very deficient and there were few research attempts to analyze differences from competing trading areas based on the perception differences of visitors. To achieve the objectives of this study, the following procedures were carried out. First, a questionnaire survey was conducted for consumers who frequently or accustomed to visiting the trading areas of Konkuk University Station (K TA), Hongik University Station (H TA), and Gangnam Station (G TA), which were selected as the target trading areas. Next, through using the chi-square test, it was verified whether there were significant differences between the three trading areas and the eight categories, such as the origin of the visit and the type of visiting companion. The differences in the association of visitors between trading areas and categories were plotted in diagrams. And by using the Multiple Correspondence Analysis (MCA), which is an extension of CA, the perception differences of visitors were visualized on the positioning map with respect to the relationship between the three trading areas and gender/type of visit companion, and gender/age group. In addition, by using the Multidimensional Preference Analysis (MDPREF), one of the types of Multidimensional Scale Methods (MDS), the difference in perception of visitors is analyzed through a positioning map on the relationship between three trading areas, the purpose of the visit, major use business types, and information sources. A procedural methodology for the creation of a trading area positioning map was presented. The results are as follows. First, there were significant differences in the categories of the origin of visit, type of visiting companion, average spending amount, visiting transportation, and return transportation in the three trading areas. Second, the MCA results verified that the K TA is is favored by the female and the 20s, the H TA by the male and the 30s, and the G TA by the 40s. Finally, the results of the MDPREF analysis are as follows. First, in terms of the perception of visitors, the H TA was recognized as a mixed trading area with multi-dimensional purposes, not specific factors, unlike the other two trading areas. Second, in the relationship between the three trading areas and the major business type used, the three trading areas were not differentiated and were found to be in fierce competition. Third, in terms of information sources, there was no difference in the information sources used by visitors to the three trading areas, and it was found that visitors preferred to obtain informations through Internet search, neighborhood recommendation, and SNS. The results provide trading area marketers with a theoretical methodology to build effective trading area marketing strategies including market segmentation and customer targeting through the objective identification of visit characteristics and analysis of perceptual differences of trading area visitors. In addition, the results suggest a theoretical and procedural methodology for arranging the trading area positioning map that is differentiated as a competitive strategy and repositioning the specific trading area by improving the visitor

Sole vein offenders confirmed by disappearance of the lateral spread response during microvascular decompression for hemifacial spasm

Sole vein offenders are rare and can be difficult to identify on preoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and intraoperative microscopy. The objective of this case review was to investigate factors resulting in successful decompression in venous offender cases. Among 234 cases of microvascular decompression surgery performed for hemifacial spasm from September 2020 to April 2022 at Konkuk University Medical Center, only two cases were identified as having a definite venous offender. We reviewed preoperative MRI and intraoperative microscopic findings and studied the correlation between decompression and lateral spread response (LSR) changes. Our two patients had possibility of a small venous offender on preoperative MRI, but it was ambiguous. A definite venous offender was identified on the operative microscopic findings and decompressed successfully, referring to the disappearance of the LSR waveform. Postoperatively, spasm disappeared or significantly improved. A venous offender is difficult to identify on preoperative MRI findings or even on intraoperative microscopic findings. In such cases, changes in the LSR waveform in response to decompressing the suspected vein can be a valuable reference for successful facial outcomes.

Effect of systemic administration of recombinant growth hormone on rotator cuff repair a rat model study

Shoulder rotator cuff injuries are prevalent among the elderly. Rotator cuff tears, like osteoarthritis, are an inevitable aspect of aging. The only difference is that soft tissue rather than cartilage is involved in the degenerative process.We hypothesized that exogenous systemic administration of recombinant growth hormone would increase the concentration of various growth factors involved in rotator cuff healing,Forty-eight Sprague-Dawley rats (Charles River, male, 400-450 g) were subjected to unilateral detachment repair of the supraspinatus and infraspinatus tendons at Konkuk University per Institutional Animal Care Committee recommendations.The rats were divided in two groups one were injected with recombinant GH and controls. Initially an artificial rotator cuff tear was created and later repaired with vicryl 4-0. The animals were sacrificed at 1, 3, 6, and 12 weeks. The rotator cuff was removed enmasse. Both groups were compared histologically and immunologically for collagen 1 and 3. Statistical analysis between both the groups was done using SPSS software.The recombinant GH helped in early healing of rotator cuff tears if injected systemically. More clinical trials need to be done before the exact dose can be determined for humans.

Ultrasonographic diagnosis and surgical outcomes of adnexal masses in children and adolescents

This study aimed to evaluate the incidence, clinical diagnosis, surgical treatment, and histopathological findings of adnexal masses in children and adolescents. This retrospective study included patients aged < 20 years who were diagnosed with adnexal masses between January 2005 and December 2018 at the Konkuk University Medical Center. Adnexal masses were diagnosed in 406 patients. The mean age of patients was 17.3 years at the time of diagnosis. The primary presenting symptoms and signs were abdominal pain (81.4%), mass per abdomen (13.7%), dysmenorrhea (3.4%), incidental finding (2%), and abdominal distention (0.5%). In total, 204 patients underwent surgery for adnexal masses, and 202 patients were observed without surgery. Histopathological examination revealed 110 benign neoplasms, 72 non-neoplastic lesions, 3 ectopic pregnancies, 3 tubo-ovarian abscesses, 7 borderline malignant tumors, and 9 non-epithelial ovarian malignant tumors. Abdominal pain was the most common reason for hospital visits and surgery in adolescents and young women with adnexal masses. The ultrasonographic diagnosis was consistent with the histopathological diagnosis. In recent years, the use of minimally invasive surgery such as laparoscopy and robotic, has increased in young patients with adnexal masses.

Case Report: Giant Multiloculated Pseudocystic Jejunal Leiomyosarcoma in a Dog: Atypical Morphologic Features of Canine Intestinal Leiomyosarcoma

A 10-year-old intact female Rottweiler dog weighing 29 kg presented with 2 days history of vomiting, anorexia, and lethargy to KonKuk University Teaching Hospital, Seoul, South Korea. Ultrasonography and computed tomography (CT) scannings revealed a well-demarcated, large mass (29 × 19 × 11 cm) with numerous fluid-filled cavities. Metastases to adjacent lymph nodes were also identified on CT. This large mass and the affected intestinal segments were excised for palliative purposes. Postoperatively, the dog recovered uneventfully without any complications. The cut surface of the mass showed an exophytic growth pattern of multiloculated cystic lesions filled with serosanguineous fluid, large cavities filled with necrotic exudate, and fistulous connections between the intestinal lumen and the necrotic cavity in the mass. On histopathology, the mass was a spindle cell neoplasm expanding from the jejunal muscular layer and with pseudocystic changes. Additional immunohistochemical analysis using antibodies against smooth muscle actin, desmin, and CD-117 demonstrated that the mass was consistent with a leiomyosarcoma. Six months post-operatively, plain radiography revealed an abdominal mass, suspected to be recurrence from jejunal leiomyosarcoma. The owner decided to euthanize the dog due to financial constraints. This case report describes the atypical morphology and clinical progression of a large canine jejunal leiomyosarcoma, which had similar clinical features as those of human leiomyoma and leiomyosarcoma.

Mother-Adolescent Discrepancies in Reporting Sleep Disturbances: Effects of Diagnosis and Mother's Occupation.

BackgroundSleep disturbances are common in children and adolescents. However, they are rarely diagnosed and treated because parents, who often report the symptoms, may fail to notice the problems. Factors that can affect parent-child discrepancy include child’s diagnosis, parent’s occupation, and child’s sex. The current study retrospectively analyzed the effect of these factors on parent-child discrepancies of sleep disturbance scores.MethodsData for sleep-related items in Youth Self-Report (YSR) and Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) from 2014 to 2020 August in South Korea were collected from psychiatric outpatient clinics at Konkuk University Medical Center and Soonchunhyang University Hospital.ResultsA three-way analysis of variance revealed main effect of diagnosis type and interaction between diagnosis type and mother’s occupation. Discrepancies were greater for mood and anxiety disorders compared to conduct-related disorder. Interaction effect revealed greater discrepancies in mood disorders for reports completed by working mothers compared to homemaker mothers.ConclusionThe results of this study emphasize the need to explore with caution the self-reported sleep disturbances in adolescents, especially in those with mood disorders. The results also suggest that mother’s occupation should be taken into account when evaluating sleep reports of parents and adolescents.

Sarcopenia in patients with dementia: correlation of temporalis muscle thickness with appendicular muscle mass.

Cognitive decline is one of the most relevant signs of sarcopenia; however, it is challenging to perform tests for sarcopenia in patients with dementia. In a recent study, temporalis muscle thickness (TMT), an alternative to appendicular muscle mass (ASM), was found to be a valid index for screening sarcopenia. This study aimed to determine whether TMT correlates with ASM and evaluate the relationship between TMT and cognitive function in dementia patients. We recruited patients with a complaint of memory loss who visited the Memory Clinic of Konkuk University Medical Center between November 2014 and December 2020. Patients with probable Alzheimer's disease (AD) without weakness were included. TMT was measured on axial T1-weighted magnetic resonance (MR) images, perpendicular to the long axis of the temporal muscle, at the orbital roof level. ASM was measured using body dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). It was calculated as the sum of lean soft tissue mass in the arms and legs, and the value by ASM divided by height squared was used. Inter-rater reliability and intra-rater reliability were good and excellent, respectively. We found a correlation between TMT and skeletal ASM, which was obtained from cranial MR images and DXA, respectively (r = 0.379, p = 0.001). TMT was negatively correlated with age (r = - 0.296, p = 0.014) and positively correlated with body mass index (BMI) (r = 0.303, p = 0.012). Additionally, TMT was correlated with MMSE (r = 0.350, p = 0.003). After adjusting for educational years, there was still a correlation between TMT and MMSE (r = 0.256, p = 0.038). This study demonstrated that TMT correlates with ASM and cognitive function in patients with dementia. Measuring TMT using cranial MR images could help diagnose sarcopenia accessibly and assess cognitive function in patients with dementia.

Bassanianabirudis sp. nov., a new crab spider (Araneae, Thomisidae) from South Korea.

BackgroundThe crab spider genus Bassaniana Strand, 1928 consists of six species mainly distributed in North America and Far East Asia. Two species of them, Bassanianadecorata (Karsch, 1879) and Bassanianaora Seo, 1992, are known in Korea so far.New informationA new crab spider, Bassanianabirudis sp. nov. is described, based on a male collected from Gumi-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do, South Korea. Distribution records are provided, as well as photos of habitus and illustrations of the male copulatory organ. The type specimens of this study are deposited in the collection of the Nakdonggang National Institute of Biological Resources (NNIBR) and Konkuk University (KKU), South Korea.

Study on the use of standard 12-lead ECG data for rhythm-type ECG classification problems

Background and objectives: Most deep-learning-related methodologies for electrocardiogram (ECG) classification are focused on finding an optimal deep-learning architecture to improve classification performance. However, in this study, we proposed a methodology for fusion of various single-lead ECG data as training data in the single-lead ECG classification problem.Methods: We used a squeeze-and-excitation residual network (SE-ResNet) with 152 layers as the baseline model. We compared the performance of a 152-layer SE-ResNet trained on ECG signals from various leads of a standard 12-lead ECG system to that of a 152-layer SE-ResNet trained on only single-lead ECG data with the same lead information as the test set. The experiments were performed using five different types of rhythm-type single-lead ECG data obtained from Konkuk University Hospital in South Korea.Results: Experiment results based on the combination from the relationship experiments of the leads showed that lead –aVR or II revealed the best classification performance. In case of -aVR, this model achieved a high F1 score for normal (98.7%), AF (98.2%), APC (95.1%), and VPC (97.4%), indicating its potential for practical use in the medical field.Conclusion: We concluded that the 152-layer SE-ResNet trained by fusion of single-lead ECGs had better classification performance than the 152-layer SE-ResNet trained on only single-lead ECG data, regardless of the single-lead ECG signal type. We also found that the best performance directions for single-lead ECG classification are Lead -aVR and II.

Does the Summer Season Affect the Amniotic Fluid Volume during Pregnancy?

Amniotic fluid is crucial for the well-being of the fetus. Recent studies suggest that dehydration in a pregnant woman leads to oligohydramnios. We assessed the variation in the amniotic fluid index (AFI) during the summer and non-summer seasons and evaluated neonatal outcomes. We retrospectively reviewed electrical medical records of pregnant women who visited the Konkuk University Medical Center for antenatal care, between July 2005 and July 2019. A total of 19,724 cases from 6438 singleton pregnant women were included after excluding unsuitable cases. All AFI values were classified as 2nd and 3rd trimester values. Additionally, borderline oligohydramnios (AFI, 5–8) and normal AFI (AFI, 8–24) were assessed according to the seasons. The average AFI between the summer and non-summer season was statistically different only in the 3rd trimester; but the results were not clinically significant. In the 3rd trimester, the summer season influenced the increased incidence of borderline oligohydramnios. The borderline oligohydramnios group showed an increased small-for-gestational-age (SGA) rate and NICU admission rate. In the summer season, the incidence of borderline oligohydramnios was seen to increase. This result would be significant for both physicians and pregnant women.

Correlation between antibiotic consumption and the incidence of healthcare facility-onset Clostridioides difficile infection: a retrospective chart review and analysis

BackgroundHealthcare facility-onset Clostridioides difficile infection is the leading cause of antibiotic-associated diarrhea, and is associated with morbidity and mortality. The use of antibiotics is an important risk factor for healthcare facility-onset C. difficile infection. We evaluated the correlation between the incidence of healthcare facility-onset C. difficile infection and antibiotic consumption, according to antibiotic class.MethodsPatients with healthcare facility-onset C. difficile infection from January 2017 to December 2018 at Konkuk University Medical Center (a tertiary medical center) were included. We evaluated changes in the incidence of healthcare facility-onset C. difficile infection and antibiotic consumption. The correlation between the incidence of healthcare facility-onset C. difficile infection and antibiotic consumption was evaluated two ways: without a time interval and with 1-month interval matching.ResultsA total of 446 episodes of healthcare facility-onset C. difficile infection occurred during the study period. The incidence of healthcare facility-onset C. difficile infection was 9.3 episodes per 10,000 patient-days, and increased significantly. We observed an increase in the consumption of β-lactam/β-lactamase inhibitors, and a decrease in the consumption of other classes of antibiotics, with a significant decrease in the consumption of fluoroquinolones, glycopeptides, and clindamycin (P = 0.01, P < 0.001, and P = 0.001, respectively). The consumption of β-lactam/β-lactamase inhibitors was independently correlated with the incidence of healthcare facility-onset C. difficile infection in the analysis without a time interval. When the analysis was conducted with 1-month interval matching, glycopeptide consumption was independently associated with the incidence of healthcare facility-onset C. difficile infection.ConclusionsDespite the reduction in fluoroquinolone and clindamycin consumption, the incidence of healthcare facility-onset C. difficile infection increased during the study period, and was correlated with increased consumption of β-lactam/β-lactamase inhibitors. Reduced consumption of specific antibiotics may be insufficient to reduce the incidence of healthcare facility-onset C. difficile infection.

Efficacy of Tigecycline and Linezolid Against Pan-Drug-Resistant Bacteria Isolated From Companion Dogs in South Korea.

The emergence of multidrug-resistant bacteria in companion animals is an increasing concern in view of the concept of One Health. The antimicrobials linezolid (LZD) and tigecycline (TGC) are effective against multidrug-resistant bacteria isolated from humans; however, thus far, no previous study has evaluated the efficacy of these drugs against bacteria isolated from companion animals. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of LZD and TGC against bacteria that were isolated from companion dogs and showed resistance to all classes of antimicrobial agents. Clinical samples (auditory channel, eye, skin, and urine) were collected from dogs that visited the Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital of Konkuk University (Seoul, South Korea) from October 2017 to September 2020. In total, 392 bacterial isolates were obtained, of which 85 were resistant to all classes of antimicrobial agents tested and were, therefore, considered potentially pan-drug resistant (PDR). The susceptibility of isolates to LZD and TGC was determined by the disk diffusion method and interpreted using the Clinical Laboratory Standards Institute guidelines. In total, 95.6% (43/45) and 97.8% (44/45) of gram-positive isolates were susceptible to LZD and TGC, respectively, whereas 82.5% (33/40) of gram-negative isolates were sensitive to TGC. In conclusion, both agents showed favorable efficacy, with the susceptibility rates for all potential PDR bacteria, except Pseudomonas spp., ranging from 72.7 to 100%. Thus, these drugs may serve as excellent antimicrobial options for veterinary medicine in the future.

The potential impact of systemic anti-inflammatory therapies in psoriasis on major adverse cardiovascular events: a Korean nationwide cohort study

This nationwide population-based cohort study aimed to investigate the impact of systemic anti-inflammatory treatment on the major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) risk in patients with psoriasis from January 2006 to December 2018, using a database provided by the Korean National Health Insurance Service. Patients were grouped based on the following treatment modalities: biologics, phototherapy, methotrexate, cyclosporine, and mixed conventional systemic agents. Patients who had not received any systemic treatment were assigned to the control cohort. The incidence of MACE per 1000 person-year was 3.5, 9.3, 12.1, 28.4, 39.5, and 14.5 in the biologic, phototherapy, methotrexate, cyclosporine, mixed conventional systemic agents, and control cohorts, respectively. During the 36-month follow-up, the cumulative incidence of MACE in the phototherapy and biologic cohorts remained lower than that of other treatment modalities. Cyclosporine (hazard ratio (HR) = 2.11, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.64–2.71) and mixed conventional systemic agents (HR = 2.57, 95% CI = 2.05–3.22) treatments were associated with increased MACE risk. Methotrexate treatment was not associated with MACE. Our finding demonstrates that treatment modalities may affect cardiovascular comorbidities in patients with psoriasis. Thus, an appropriate combination of anti-psoriatic therapies should be considered to manage patients with high cardiovascular risk.IRB approval status: Waiver decision was obtained by the institutional review board, Konkuk University Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea (KUH1120107).

Considerations for the Direction of Mobility Humanities Education: Focused on Study Cases of the Mobility Humanities Education Center of Konkuk University

This paper attempts to find ways to utilize the new mobilities paradigm in the field of education in Korea by presenting the case of the Mobility Humanities Education Center established by the Academy of Mobility Humanities of Konkuk University. Education of mobility humanities enables people to realize how mobility shapes and changes culture and the promotion of humanistic knowledge. This kind of education based on the mobility humanities can be valuable in convergence-based Liberal Arts education and life-long learning in this era when the Fourth Industrial Revolution has given rise to many conflicting ideas and considerations in the field of education.

Comparing Concentration Levels and Emotional States of Children Using Electroencephalography during Horticultural and Nonhorticultural Activities

This study aimed to compare the brain activity and emotional states of elementary school students during horticultural and nonhorticultural activities. A total of 30 participants with a mean age of 11.4 ± 1.3 years were included. This experiment was conducted at Konkuk University campus in Korea. Participants performed horticultural activities such as harvesting, planting, sowing seeds, and mixing soil. Nonhorticultural activities included playing with a ball, solving math problems, watching animation videos, folding paper, and reading a book. The study had a crossover experimental design. Brain activity of the prefrontal lobes was measured by electroencephalography during each activity for 3 minutes. On completion of each activity, participants answered a subjective emotion questionnaire using the semantic differential method (SDM). Results showed that relative theta (RT) power spectrum was significantly lower in both prefrontal lobes of participants when engaged in harvesting and reading a book. The relative mid beta (RMB) power spectrum was significantly higher in both prefrontal lobes when participants engaged in harvesting and playing with a ball. The ratio of the RMB power spectrum to the RT power spectrum reflects concentration. This ratio increased during harvesting activity, indicating that children’s concentration also increased. The sensorimotor rhythm (SMR) from mid beta to theta (RSMT), another indicator of concentration, was significantly higher in the right prefrontal lobe during harvesting than during other activities. Furthermore, SDM results showed that the participants felt more natural and relaxed when performing horticultural activities than nonhorticultural activities. Horticultural activities may improve brain activity and psychological relaxation in children. Harvesting activity was most effective for improving children’s concentration compared with nonhorticultural activities.