University Hospitals In Korea Research Articles

Post-induction hypotension with remimazolam versus propofol in patients routinely administered angiotensin axis blockades: a randomized control trial

BackgroundCertain routine medication could result in post-induction hypotension (PIH), such as angiotensin axis blockades, which are frequently administered as a first-line therapy against hypertension. Remimazolam is reportedly associated with lesser intraoperative hypotension than propofol. This study compared the overall incidence of PIH following remimazolam or propofol administration in patients managed by angiotensin axis blockades.MethodsThis single-blind, parallel-group, randomized control trial was conducted in a tertiary university hospital in South Korea. Patients undergoing surgery with general anesthesia were considered for enrollment if the inclusion criteria were met: administration of an angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor or angiotensin receptor blocker, 19 to 65 years old, American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status classification ≤ III, and no involvement in other clinical trials.The primary outcome was the overall incidence of PIH, defined as a mean blood pressure (MBP) < 65 mmHg or decrease by ≥ 30% of the baseline MBP. The time points of measurement were baseline, just before the initial intubation attempt, and 1, 5, 10, and 15 min following intubation. The heart rate, systolic and diastolic blood pressures, and bispectral index were also recorded.Groups P and R included patients administered propofol and remimazolam, respectively, as an induction agent.ResultsA total of 81 patients were analyzed, of the 82 randomized patients. PIH was less frequent in group R than group P (62.5% versus 82.9%; t value 4.27, P = 0.04, adjusted odds ratio = 0.32 [95% confidence interval 0.10–0.99]). The decrease in the MBP from baseline was 9.6 mmHg lesser in group R than in group P before the initial intubation attempt (95% confidence interval 3.3–15.9). A similar trend was observed for systolic and diastolic blood pressures. No severe adverse events were observed in either group.ConclusionRemimazolam results in less frequent PIH than propofol in patients undergoing routine administration of angiotensin axis blockades.Trial registrationThis trial was retrospectively registered on Clinical Research Information Service (CRIS), Republic of Korea (KCT0007488). Registration date: 30/06/2022.

Effects of Job Crafting, Burnout, and Job Satisfaction on Nurses' Turnover Intention: A Path Analysis

Purpose: This study investigated the direct and indirect effects of factors related to nurses' turnover intention.Methods: The study included 212 nurses working at three university hospitals in Korea. The collected data were subjected to descriptive statistical analysis, correlation analysis, and path analysis.Results: Promotion-focused job crafting had direct effects on burnout (β=-.32, &lt;i&gt;p&lt;/i&gt;=.001) and job satisfaction (β=.18, &lt;i&gt;p&lt;/i&gt;=.008). Promotion-focused job crafting had an indirect effect on job satisfaction via burnout (β=.13, &lt;i&gt;p&lt;/i&gt;&lt;.001). For turnover intention, promotion-focused job crafting had an indirect effect (β=-.18, &lt;i&gt;p&lt;/i&gt;=.001) mediated by burnout and job satisfaction. Job satisfaction had a direct effect on turnover intention (β=-.26, &lt;i&gt;p&lt;/i&gt;=.001). Additionally, burnout affected turnover intention, both directly (β=.32, &lt;i&gt;p&lt;/i&gt;=.001) and indirectly (β=.10, &lt;i&gt;p&lt;/i&gt;=.001), mediated by job satisfaction. Finally, promotion-focused job crafting had a dual mediation effect on turnover intention through burnout and job satisfaction (effect=-0.02, &lt;i&gt;p&lt;/i&gt;&lt;.001). Including the indirect effect of promotion job crafting, the explanatory power of job satisfaction and burnout on turnover intention was about 25%.Conclusion: Based on the results of this study, the strategy of reducing burnout by strengthening nurses' promotion-focused job crafting and lowering turnover intention by increasing job satisfaction can have a positive effect on organizational performance.

Early clinical outcome prediction based on the initial National Early Warning Score + Lactate (News+L) Score among adult emergency department patients

BackgroundThe National Early Warning Score + Lactate (NEWS+L) Score has been previously shown to outperform NEWS alone in prediction of mortality and need for critical care in a small adult...

The associations of psychological burnout and time factors on medication errors in rotating shift nurses in Korea: A cross sectional descriptive study.

To describe the associations of psychological burnout and time factors on hospital nurses' medication errors. A cross-sectional survey design was used. A structured questionnaire pertaining to psychological burnout, time factors and medication error was administered to 200 bedside nurses working at two tertiary university hospitals in Korea. The associations between the psychological burnout, time factor and medication error were analysed with the zero-inflated negative binomial regression for over-dispersed and over-abundant zeros count data. Higher psychological burnout, shorter meal time during duty and longer weekly overtime were associated with an increased likelihood of medication error of nurses working in tertiary university hospitals. For medication safety, nurse managers should provide appropriate administrative support to nurses to cope with psychological burnout of nurses. Work time management should also be considered as human factors to satisfy the needs of nurses, such as securing meal times and maintaining a low level of weekly overtime.

Ghrelin Modifies the Impact of Life Stress on Suicidality in Patients With Acute Coronary Syndrome.

This study investigated associations of life stressors and serum ghrelin levels with suicidal ideation (SI), and evaluated the potential mediating effect of ghrelin on associations between life stressors and SI in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). In total, 969 ACS patients recruited from a tertiary university hospital in Korea within 2 weeks of disease onset were evaluated in terms of life stressors (using the List of Threatening Events Questionnaire), serum ghrelin levels, and SI (using the "suicidal thoughts" item of the Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale). Covariates included sociodemographics, depression, vascular risk factors, and disease severity. After 1 year, 711 patients were re-evaluated in terms of SI; logistic regression was performed with adjustment for covariates. Life stressors were significantly associated with SI at baseline and follow-up. Serum ghrelin showed no such associations, but high levels thereof mediated associations of life stressors with SI; significant interaction terms were also observed after adjustment for covariates. By evaluating life stressors and serum ghrelin levels, clinical prediction of SI in the acute and chronic phases of ACS could be improved.

MP15-05 THE PREVALENCE AND GENOTYPE DISTRIBUTION OF HUMAN PAPILLOMAVIRUSES AMONG MEN IN KOREA

You have accessJournal of UrologyCME1 Apr 2023MP15-05 THE PREVALENCE AND GENOTYPE DISTRIBUTION OF HUMAN PAPILLOMAVIRUSES AMONG MEN IN KOREA Hyun Soo Lee, Sun Tae Ahn, Wonku Hwang, Seon Beom Jo, Jong Wook Kim, Mi Mi Oh, Hong Seok Park, and Du Geon Moon Hyun Soo LeeHyun Soo Lee More articles by this author , Sun Tae AhnSun Tae Ahn More articles by this author , Wonku HwangWonku Hwang More articles by this author , Seon Beom JoSeon Beom Jo More articles by this author , Jong Wook KimJong Wook Kim More articles by this author , Mi Mi OhMi Mi Oh More articles by this author , Hong Seok ParkHong Seok Park More articles by this author , and Du Geon MoonDu Geon Moon More articles by this author View All Author Informationhttps://doi.org/10.1097/JU.0000000000003235.05AboutPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissionsReprints ShareFacebookLinked InTwitterEmail Abstract INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE: Human papillomavirus (HPV) prevalence and genotype distribution are different between various nations and regions. Additionally, previous studies have mainly focused on HPV infection in women and epidemiological studies of HPV infection in men have been rarely reported. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the HPV infection status in men in Korea to establish vaccine-based HPV prevention strategies. METHODS: Between January 2014 to June 2022, samples of 44,065 men, who were volunteered for testing or recommended to be tested by a clinician, were tested for the HPV detection and genotyping. Samples were collected from the coronal sulcus, glans penis, shaft, and scrotum. HPV detection and typing was conducted using the Anyplex™ II HPV 28 Detection system, which detects 19 high-risk (HR) HPVs and 9 low-risk (LR) HPVs. This study was approved by Ethical Committee of the Korea University Hospital. RESULTS: Overall prevalence was 59.7%, and overall prevalence of HR and LR HPVs were 30.6% and 50.1%, respectively. The most prevalent genotypes of HR were 16 (5.2%), 53 (4.6%), 51 (4.2%), 52 (3.8%), 58 (3.7%), 39(3.6%) and 66(3.4%). Overall HPV prevalence was not associated with age. However, the prevalence of HR HPVs in teens (34.1%) and 20 s (33.8%) were significantly higher than in other age groups. Of the 26,299 men with HPV infection, 9259 (35.2%) had a genotype that could not prevented by the 9-valent vaccine. CONCLUSIONS: A significant number of infections of genotypes that were not prevented by 9-valent vaccine were observed. Based on this, it is considered necessary to evaluate the usefulness of developing HPV vaccination for men. Source of Funding: None © 2023 by American Urological Association Education and Research, Inc.FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Volume 209Issue Supplement 4April 2023Page: e193 Advertisement Copyright & Permissions© 2023 by American Urological Association Education and Research, Inc.MetricsAuthor Information Hyun Soo Lee More articles by this author Sun Tae Ahn More articles by this author Wonku Hwang More articles by this author Seon Beom Jo More articles by this author Jong Wook Kim More articles by this author Mi Mi Oh More articles by this author Hong Seok Park More articles by this author Du Geon Moon More articles by this author Expand All Advertisement PDF downloadLoading ...

Validation of a Machine Learning Expert Supporting System, ImmunoGenius, Using Immunohistochemistry Results of 3000 Patients with Lymphoid Neoplasms.

(1) Background: Differential diagnosis using immunohistochemistry (IHC) panels is a crucial step in the pathological diagnosis of hematolymphoid neoplasms. In this study, we evaluated the prediction accuracy of the ImmunoGenius software using nationwide data to validate its clinical utility. (2) Methods: We collected pathologically confirmed lymphoid neoplasms and their corresponding IHC results from 25 major university hospitals in Korea between 2015 and 2016. We tested ImmunoGenius using these real IHC panel data and compared the precision hit rate with previously reported diagnoses. (3) Results: We enrolled 3052 cases of lymphoid neoplasms with an average of 8.3 IHC results. The precision hit rate was 84.5% for these cases, whereas it was 95.0% for 984 in-house cases. (4) Discussion: ImmunoGenius showed excellent results in most B-cell lymphomas and generally showed equivalent performance in T-cell lymphomas. The primary reasons for inaccurate precision were atypical IHC profiles of certain cases, lack of disease-specific markers, and overlapping IHC profiles of similar diseases. We verified that the machine-learning algorithm could be applied for diagnosis precision with a generally acceptable hit rate in a nationwide dataset. Clinical and histological features should also be taken into account for the proper use of this system in the decision-making process.

Dynamic nature and prognostic value of the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio in critically ill patients with acute kidney injury on continuous renal replacement therapy: A multicenter cohort study.

Patients with acute kidney injury (AKI) receiving renal replacement therapy constitute the subgroup of AKI with the highest risk of mortality. Despite recent promising findings on the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) in AKI, studies have not yet addressed the clinical implication of the NLR in this population. Therefore, we aimed to examine the prognostic value of NLR in critically ill patients requiring continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT), especially focusing on temporal changes in NLR. We enrolled 1,494 patients with AKI who received CRRT in five university hospitals in Korea between 2006 and 2021. NLR fold changes were calculated as the NLR on each day divided by the NLR value on the first day. We performed a multivariable Cox proportional hazard analysis to assess the association between the NLR fold change and 30-day mortality. The NLR on day 1 did not differ between survivors and non-survivors; however, the NLR fold change on day 5 was significantly different. The highest quartile of NLR fold change during the first 5 days after CRRT initiation showed a significantly increased risk of death (hazard ratio [HR], 1.65; 95% confidence intervals (CI), 1.27-2.15) compared to the lowest quartile. NLR fold change as a continuous variable was an independent predictor of 30-day mortality (HR, 1.14; 95% CI, 1.05-1.23). In this study, we demonstrated an independent association between changes in NLR and mortality during the initial phase of CRRT in AKI patients receiving CRRT. Our findings provide evidence for the predictive role of changes in the NLR in this high-risk subgroup of AKI.

Comparison of cardiocerebrovascular disease incidence between angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor and angiotensin receptor blocker users in a real-world cohort.

Both angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs) and angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs) are known to be effective in managing cardiovascular diseases, but more evidence supports the use of an ACEI. This study investigated the difference in cardiovascular disease incidence between relatively low-compliance ACEIs and high-compliance ARBs in the clinical setting. Patients who were first prescribed ACEIs or ARBs at two tertiary university hospitals in Korea were observed in this retrospective cohort study for the incidence of heart failure, angina, acute myocardial infarction, cerebrovascular disease, ischemic heart disease, and major adverse cardiovascular events for 5 years after the first prescription. Additionally, 5-year Kaplan-Meier survival curves were used based on the presence or absence of statins. Overall, 2,945 and 9,189 patients were prescribed ACEIs and ARBs, respectively. When compared to ACEIs, the incidence of heart failure decreased by 52% in those taking ARBs (HR [95% CI] = 0.48 [0.39-0.60], P < 0.001), and the incidence of cerebrovascular disease increased by 62% (HR [95% CI] = 1.62 [1.26-2.07], P < 0.001). The incidence of ischemic heart disease (P = 0.223) and major adverse cardiovascular events (P = 0.374) did not differ significantly between the two groups. ARBs were not inferior to ACEIs in relation to reducing the incidence of cardiocerebrovascular disease in the clinical setting; however, there were slight differences for each disease. The greatest strength of real-world evidence is that it allows the follow-up of specific drug use, including drug compliance. Large-scale studies on the effects of relatively low-compliance ACEIs and high-compliance ARBs on cardiocerebrovascular disease are warranted in the future.

Risk of ventricular tachycardia and its outcomes in patients undergoing continuous renal replacement therapy due to acute kidney injury.

Despite efforts to treat critically ill patients who require continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) due to acute kidney injury (AKI), their mortality risk remains high. This condition may be attributable to complications of CRRT, such as arrhythmias. Here, we addressed the occurrence of ventricular tachycardia (VT) during CRRT and its relationship with patient outcomes. This study retrospectively enrolled 2,397 patients who started CRRT due to AKI from 2010 to 2020 at Seoul National University Hospital in Korea. The occurrence of VT was evaluated from the initiation of CRRT until weaning from CRRT. The odds ratios (ORs) of mortality outcomes were measured using logistic regression models after adjustment for multiple variables. VT occurred in 150 patients (6.3%) after starting CRRT. Among them, 95 cases were defined as sustained VT (i.e., lasting ≥30 seconds), and the other 55 cases were defined as non-sustained VT (i.e., lasting &lt;30 seconds). The occurrence of sustained VT was associated with a higher mortality rate than a nonoccurrence (OR, 2.04 and 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.23-3.39 for the 30- day mortality; OR, 4.06 and 95% CI, 2.04-8.08 for the 90-day mortality). The mortality risk did not differ between patients with non-sustained VT and nonoccurrence. A history of myocardial infarction, vasopressor use, and certain trends of blood laboratory findings (such as acidosis and hyperkalemia) were associated with the subsequent risk of sustained VT. Sustained VT occurrence after starting CRRT is associated with increased patient mortality. The monitoring of electrolytes and acid-base status during CRRT is essential because of its relationship with the risk of VT.

Endogenous Endophthalmitis From a Klebsiella pneumoniae Liver Abscess: The Incidence, Risk Factors, and Utility of Imaging

We investigated the rate of ophthalmologic examinations to detect endogenous endophthalmitis in patients with pyogenic liver abscesses (PLAs) and the incidence and risk factors of endophthalmitis from a PLA caused by Klebsiella pneumoniae (PLA-K). A retrospective case series METHODS: A total of 536 patients admitted to a university hospital in Korea, to treat PLAs during 2012-2022 were primarily included. The proportion of patients who were referred for ophthalmologic examinations was investigated and the incidence of endophthalmitis in 248 patients with PLA-K was calculated. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to define risk factors including demographic characteristics, underlying diseases, radiological findings, and systemic conditions. A comprehensive ophthalmologic examination was performed in 73.7% of all patients with PLAs, and the incidence of endophthalmitis from a PLA-K was 7.3%. A liver abscess larger than 5 cm in size increased the incidence of endogenous endophthalmitis 4-fold compared to smaller abscesses (OR=4.01, 95% CI=1.02 - 15.78, P=.047), and portal or hepatic vein thrombophlebitis increased the incidence approximately 4-fold (OR=4.04, 95% CI=1.10 - 14.83, P=.036). Acute cholangitis was approximately 8-fold (OR=8.33, 95% CI=1.25 - 55.71, P=.029), and disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) was approximately 6-fold (OR=5.76, 95% CI=1.22 - 27.21, P=.027) more related to prevalence of endophthalmitis. Other extrahepatic infections increased the incidence approximately 43-fold (OR=43.06, 95% CI=10.14 - 182.90, P < .001). . Clinicians should consider the risk of endogenous endophthalmitis when PLA-K patients have large liver abscesses (> 5 cm), acute cholangitis, portal or hepatic vein thrombophlebitis, DIC, or other extrahepatic infections.

Risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus in catholic priests compared with general public.

Although Catholic priests have a life of discipline with many responsibilities, there has been little research on the health effects of their lifestyle. Analysis of disease prevalence in priests will help elucidate the influence of religious life and occupational characteristics on the occurrence of diabetes. This retrospective study was performed to examine the differences in the prevalence of diabetes and prediabetes between Catholic priests and the general population. The study population comprised 1845 Catholic priests aged 31-80years who visited the health promotion centers of three university hospitals in Korea between 2010 and 2019. Controls consisted of 1801 adult non-clerics aged 31-80years who underwent health checkups at the screening center during the same period. Logistic regression analysis was performed to compare the differences in the rates of diabetes and prediabetes between the priest and control groups. Priests were younger and had lower rates of smoking, drinking alcohol, and hypertension compared with the control group. However, metabolic markers, such as BMI, waist circumference, body fat mass, insulin, HbA1c, and lipid profiles, were significantly higher in the priest group than the control group (all p < 0.05). After adjusting for covariates, the priest group had a significantly higher likelihood of having diabetes (OR = 1.651, 95% CI 1.146-2.379) or prediabetes (OR = 3.270, 95% CI 2.471-4.327) compared with the controls. This study showed that Catholic priests have higher risks of diabetes and prediabetes compared with the general population, and these risks increase with age. Further large-scale prospective studies are required to confirm these relationships.

Caregiving Strain, family functioning, and effort to change diet for patients with gastrointestinal cancer: A cross-sectional descriptive study.

Among patients with cancer, it has been found that the family system influences health-related behaviors and may promote a healthy diet. This study assessed the associations among cancer patients between family caregiver strain, family functioning, and efforts to change diet. This cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted in gastrointestinal outpatient units at two tertiary university hospitals in South Korea. This study included 401 main family caregivers of patients with gastrointestinal cancer. The caregivers were evaluated using structured, face-to-face questionnaires measuring family strain, family functioning, and effort to change diet. Greater effort to change diet was associated with higher family functioning, having a spouse, and more caregiving time per week. Less effort to change diet was associated with greater levels of caregiving strain and with a son providing caregiving. The efforts of family caregivers to alter diet are influenced by family strain and family functioning, as well as family caregivers' characteristics, such as marital status, health problems due to caregiving, care time and duration, and relationship with the patient. This study suggested that reducing family strain and improving family functioning in clinical settings facilitate the success to change dietary strategies for cancer families.

Comparison between interval and sporadic colon cancer in terms of clinicopathologic and molecular features.

205 Background: Interval colon cancer occurs due to either limitations of colonoscopy or rapidly developing new tumors, possibly reflecting molecular and environmental differences in tumorigenesis. This study aimed to compare the clinicopathologic and molecular features of interval colon cancer with those of sporadic colon cancer in Asia. Methods: This prospective, multicenter, cross‐sectional study was conducted from May 2017 to December 2021 at six university hospitals in South Korea. Interval colon cancer was defined as colon cancer diagnosed within 5 years of complete colonoscopy. We compared the clinicopathologic and molecular biological characteristics, including CpG island methylator phenotype (CIMP), KRAS, BRAF, and microsatellite instability (MSI), between patients with interval and sporadic colon cancers. Results: We compared and analyzed 28 patients with interval colon cancer and 72 patients with sporadic cancer. There was no difference in terms of sex, BMI, underlying disease, and family history in the clinical comparison between the interval and sporadic cancer groups. There was no difference in the location, shape, or stage of cancer including metastasis, between the two groups. In molecular biological analysis, CIMP was 5.1% positive for sporadic cancer and 17.9% positive for interval colon cancer, indicating an approximately 13% greater frequency in interval colon cancer (p = .036). KRAR mutation was observed in 36.7% of patients with sporadic cancers and 17.9% of those with interval colon, which was about 18% higher in sporadic cancer, but there was no statistically significant difference (p = .066). There was no difference between MSI and BRAF genotype between the sporadic and interval cancer groups. Conclusions: Unlike the findings of western studies, there was no clinical difference between sporadic and interval colon cancer. In molecular biological comparison, the CIMP positivity rate was significantly higher in patients with interval colon cancer.

P571 Frequency and risk factors of advanced neoplasia in Korean IBD patients with Low Grade Dysplasia in previous surveillance

Abstract Background There are insufficient studies on clinical outcome after surveillance of low grade dysplasia (LGD) in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). We aimed to evaluate the clinical feature, frequency and risk factors of advanced neoplasia in IBD patients after diagnosis of LGD Methods From 2003 to 2020, medical records of 166 IBD patients from 6 university hospitals in Korea were reviewed retrospectively. All of the patients were diagnosed as LGD in surveillance. Patents’ baseline characteristics, disease status, polyp characteristics and treatment were evaluated. The frequency and risk factors of advanced neoplasia were also analyzed. Results Disease duration was 11.47 years (7.85-14.50), and follow-up duration was 3.74 years (1.95-7.58). Colitis associated LGD was noted in 56 cases (33.7%), Advanced neoplasia developed in 12 cases (6 large LGD, 3 tubulovillous adenoma, 3 high grade dysplasia) and all the cases developed from UC. Patients with advanced neoplasia had significantly higher Mayo score and colitis-related dysplasia were more common than sporadic lesions (83.3% vs. 29.9%; P&amp;lt;0.001). In multivariate analysis, colitis-associated LGD significantly increased the risk of developing advanced neoplasia (Odds ratio [OR], 10.516; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.064-53.577; P=0.005). Among patients with colitis-associated lesions, a significant risk factor for advanced neoplasia was a history of LGD (OR, 9.429; 95% CI, 1.330-66.863; P=0.025). Conclusion Advanced neoplasia developed in 7.2% of IBD patients with LGD. Because most of advanced neoplasia developed from colitis-associated lesions, more careful examination is suggested in patients with colitis -associated LGD, especially with previous history, in surveillance colonoscopy.

Effect of Self-treatment of Recurrent Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo

Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) is the most common cause of vertigo with frequent recurrences. To determine the efficacy of a web-based diagnosis and treatment of BPPV when it recurs in patients with confirmed and treated BPPV. This randomized, controlled, parallel-group, double-blind trial took place in multiple referral-based university hospitals in South Korea between July 2017 and February 2020. Of 728 patients (age ≥20 years) with diagnosed and treated BPPV, 585 were enrolled after excluding 143 who declined participation, could not use the internet, or had spinal problems, multicanal BPPV, or cognitive dysfunction. Patients were followed up for recurrence at least for 2 years until February 2022. Patients were randomly assigned (1:1) to the treatment or control group. The patients in the treatment group completed a questionnaire for diagnosis and received a video clip for self-administration of canalith repositioning maneuver (CRM) according to the type of BPPV diagnosed when they experienced positional vertigo again. Patients in the control group received a video clip for self-administration of CRM according to the type of BPPV that had been diagnosed on enrollment. The primary outcome was self-reported resolution of positional vertigo post-CRM. Secondary outcomes included difficulties and requirement for assistance when using the program and any falls or other adverse events related to CRM. The primary outcome was analyzed using both intention-to-treat and per-protocol methods. Of 585 patients enrolled, 292 were randomized to the treatment group (mean [SD] age, 60.3 [12.8] years, 37 [64%] women) and 293 were randomized to the control group (mean [SD] age, 61.1 [13.2] years; 50 [71%] women). Overall, 128 (21.9%) had recurrence (58 in the treatment group and 70 in the control group), and 109 (85.2%) successfully used the web-based system. In the intention-to-treat analysis, 42 of 58 individuals (72.4%) in the treatment group and 30 of 70 individuals (42.9%) in the control group reported vertigo resolution (χ2 test: 95% CI, 0.13-0.46; P < .001). This trial proved the efficacy of a web-based system for the diagnosis and treatment of recurrent BPPV. Use of this system may play an important role in telemedicine for vestibular disorders. Clinical Research Information Service Identifier: KCT0002364.

Ethical Issues Referred to Clinical Ethics Support at a University Hospital in Korea: Three-Year Experience After Enforcement of Life-Sustaining Treatment Decisions Act.

Clinical ethics support is a form of preventive ethics aimed at mediating ethics-related conflicts and managing ethical issues arising in the healthcare setting. However, limited evidence exists regarding the specific ethical issues in clinical practice. This study aimed to explore the diverse ethical issues of cases referred to clinical ethics support after the new legislation on hospice palliative care and end-of-life decision-making was implemented in Korea in 2018. A retrospective study of cases referred to clinical ethics support at a university hospital in Korea from February 2018 to February 2021 was conducted. The ethical issues at the time of referral were analyzed via qualitative content analysis of the ethics consultation-related documents. A total of 60 cases of 57 patients were included in the study, of whom 52.6% were men and 56.1% were older than 60 years of age. The majority of cases (80%) comprised patients from the intensive care unit. One-third of the patients were judged as being at the end-of-life stage. The most frequent ethical categories were identified as goals of care/treatment (78.3%), decision-making (75%), relationship (41.7%), and end-of-life issues (31.7%). More specifically, best interests (71.7%), benefits and burdens/harms (61.7%), refusal (53.3%), and surrogate decision-making (33.3%), followed by withholding or withdrawal (28.3%) were the most frequent ethical issues reported, which became diversified by year. In addition, the ethical issues appeared to differ by age group and judgment of the end-of-life stage. The findings of this study expand the current understanding of the diverse ethical issues including decision-making and goals of care/treatment that have been referred to clinical ethics support since the enforcement of the new legislation in Korea. This study suggests a need for further research on the longitudinal exploration of ethical issues and implementation of clinical ethics support in multiple healthcare centers.

Increased breast cancer incidence among nurses in a tertiary university hospital in South Korea.

A series of breast cancer cases were recently reported in a tertiary university hospital in South Korea. Nurses are generally exposed to risk factors for breast cancer such as night shift work, antineoplastic agents, and job strain. However, the epidemiological evidence of excess incidence among nurses remains lacking. This study aims to investigate the excess incidence of breast cancer among nurses in a tertiary university hospital and provide epidemiological evidence of occupational risk factors. A retrospective cohort was developed using personnel records of female workers in the nursing department who worked from January 2011 to June 2021 in a tertiary university hospital in South Korea. Sick leave records were used to identify cases of breast cancer. The standardized incidence ratio of breast cancer among nurses was compared to the general population. A total of 5,509 nurses were followed up for 30,404 person-years, and 26 breast cancer cases were identified. This study revealed a significantly increased breast cancer incidence among all included nurses, with a standardized incidence ratio of 1.65 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.08-2.41), compared to the general population. Workers, who handle antineoplastic agents in their representative department and current and/or former department, had significantly elevated breast cancer standardized incidence ratios of 2.73 (95% CI: 1.008-5.94) and 3.39 (95% CI: 1.46-6.68), respectively. This study provides significant evidence of increased breast cancer risk among nursing staff in a hospital setting, particularly those who handle antineoplastic drugs. Measures that reduce exposure to risk factors should be implemented, especially anticancer drugs, to protect healthcare professionals. Further research at a national level that focuses on healthcare workers is necessary to validate breast cancer incidence and its contributing factors.

A retrospective study on the status of sexually transmitted co-infections in university hospitals in Korea from 2017 to 2021.

The prevalence of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) remains high worldwide. Despite the worldwide increase in the incidence of STIs every year, there are few reports on the frequency of STIs with different pathogens according to age and gender. Accordingly, a study was conducted to determine trends in co-infection with STIs by age and gender in Cheonan, South Korea from 2017 to 2021. To identify trends by age or sex in co-infection of STIs in this region. A retrospective study was conducted on clinical samples examined at Dankook University Hospital from January 2017 to November 2021. A total of 3297 specimens were collected from patients visiting Dankook University Hospital (Cheonan, Korea), and statistical analysis was performed on patients ranging in age from 1 day to 93 years. Multiplex polymerase chain reaction, the most efficient method to diagnose a bacterial infection, was performed using an MJ Research PTC-200 Thermal Cycler (Marshall Scientific, Richmond, VA, USA) and a Seeplex STD Detection Kit (Seegene, Seoul, Republic of Korea). The co-infection rate with STI pathogens was analyzed according to age and sex. Of the 3297 clinical samples, 1017 (30.9%) tested positive for sexually transmitted pathogens, ranging from one to six co-infections. Analysis of the co-infection rate by age revealed that the average age gradually decreased as the total number of co-infection pathogens increased. The co-infection percentage and age distribution of STIs differed according to sex. Co-infection was more prevalent in female patients. Furthermore, co-infection in male patients occurred frequently in the 30-39-year-old group, while those in female patients occurred in the 20-29- and 30-39-year-old groups. Our statistical analysis showed that STI co-infections were more common among younger than older people. Therefore, it helps in recognizing STIs at a young age and provides possible indicator data to prevent STIs at a young age. In addition, further research is needed on co-infection in other regions.

Psychological Distress and Perceived Burden in Parents of Korean Children With IgE-Mediated Food Allergy.

Food allergy (FA) can have a profound effect on quality of life (QoL), stress, and anxiety in the family. We aimed to validate the Korean version of the Food Allergy Quality of Life-Parental Burden (FAQL-PB) and identify factors related to the parental psychosocial burden of caring for children with FAs. Parents of children aged between 6 months and 17 years with immunoglobulin E (IgE)-mediated FAs from the Pediatric Allergy Department of five university hospitals in Korea were enrolled in the study. Parents were asked to complete the FAQL-PB, Food Allergy Independent Measure-Parent Form (FAIM-PF), Child Health Questionnaire-Parents Form 28 (CHQ-PF28), Beck's Anxiety Inventory, Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale, and Patient Health Questionnaire-9 for depression. Statistical analyses included internal consistency, test-retest reliability, concurrent validity, discriminative validity, and logistic regression analyses. A total of 190 parents were enrolled. Social activity limitation was the item with the highest FAQL-PB scores. The Cronbach's α for each item was higher than 0.8. The test-retest reliability was good (intra-class correlation coefficient, 0.716; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.100-0.935). An increase in the FAQL-PB was significantly associated with an increase in the FAIM-PF (β = 0.765, P < 0.001) (concurrent validity). There was a positive correlation between parental burden, anxiety, and depression, while resilience was inversely correlated with parental burden (all P < 0.001). The total FAQL-PB score in parents of children who had experienced anaphylaxis was significantly higher than that in parents of children who did not experience it (P = 0.008). When adjusting for age, sex, and underlying diseases, anaphylaxis (β = 9.32; 95% CI, 2.97 to 15.68), cow's milk (CM) allergy (β = 8.24; 95% CI, 2.04 to 14.44), soybean allergy (β = 13.91; 95% CI, 1.62 to 26.20), higher anxiety (β = 1.05; 95% CI, 0.07 to 1.41), higher depression (β = 2.15; 95% CI, 1.61 to 2.69), and lower resilience (β = -0.42; 95% CI, -0.61 to -0.2) were significantly associated with greater parental burden in children with IgE-mediated FAs. FAQL-PB is a reliable and valid tool for use in Korea. Anaphylaxis, CM or soybean allergies, more anxiety and depression symptoms, and lower resilience are associated with poorer QoL in parents of children with FAs.