Microplastic particles in human blood and their association with coagulation markers.

Recent studies have indicated potential health risks associated with microplastics (MPs) exposure, including alterations in blood coagulation homeostasis. This cross-sectional study aimed to quantitatively examine MPs in human blood and assess their association with coagulation markers. We recruited 36 healthy adults, collected whole blood samples, and analyzed MPs using Fourier-transform infrared (µ-FTIR) spectroscopy.

Changes in Healthcare Utilization After the 2022 Seoul Metropolitan Flood: Applying a Generalized Synthetic Control Approach.

Floods can have adverse health effects and impose a burden on healthcare systems. However, the potential consequences of floods on specific medical causes in densely populated metropolitan cities has not been characterized yet. Therefore, we evaluate the changes in healthcare utilization patterns after the 2022 Seoul flood using nationwide health insurance data.

Efficacy and safety of choline alphoscerate for amnestic mild cognitive impairment: a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial.

Background: Effective interventions for overall healthy subjects with mild cognitive impairment are currently limited. Choline alphoscerate (alpha glyceryl phosphorylcholine, αGPC) is a choline-containing phospholipid used to treat cognitive function impairments in specific neurological conditions. This study aimed to investigate the efficacy and safety of αGPC in individuals diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment.

Impact of the Early COVID-19 Pandemic on Emergency Department Visits of Adult Cancer Patients With Fever or Respiratory Symptoms: A Korean Nationwide Population-Based Study, 2016-2020.

Background: We performed a nationwide analysis to evaluate the impact of the early coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on emergency department (ED) visits by adult cancer patients having COVID-like symptoms.

Methods: We analyzed the National Emergency Department Information System (NEDIS) data on ED visits by adult cancer patients who presented with chief complaints of fever or respiratory symptoms (FRS) indicative of COVID-19, from 2016 to 2020. An interrupted time series analysis with a quasi-Poisson regression model was performed, adjusting for seasonality and time, to evaluate whether underlying trends for monthly ED visits and the in-hospital mortality rate (%) per month changed with the pandemic among these patients.

Mortality Burden Due to Short-term Exposure to Fine Particulate Matter in Korea.

Objectives: Excess mortality associated with long-term exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) has been documented. However, research on the disease burden following short-term exposure is scarce.

Impact of the early phase of the COVID-19 pandemic on emergency department-to-intensive care unit admissions in Korea: an interrupted time-series analysis.

Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic resulted in significant disruptions to critical care systems globally. However, research on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on intensive care unit (ICU) admissions via the emergency department (ED) is limited. Therefore, this study evaluated the changes in the number of ED-to-ICU admissions and clinical outcomes in the periods before and during the pandemic.

Exposure to earthquakes and development of ischemic heart disease.

Background: The evidence regarding the effect of earthquake exposure on the development of cardiovascular diseases is limited. This study evaluated the association between the 2016 Gyeongju earthquake, which had a magnitude of 5.8, and over 600 subsequent aftershocks occurring within a year in Korea, with the development of ischemic heart disease (IHD) among residents of Gyeongju.

Patient's Perspective on Psychiatric Drugs: A Multicenter Survey-Based Study.

Objective: We aimed to identify the expectations and preferences for medication and medical decision-making in patients with major psychiatric disorders.

Methods: A survey was conducted among patients with major psychiatric disorders who visited psychiatric outpatient clinics at 15 hospitals between 2016 and 2018 in Korea. The survey consisted of 12 questions about demographic variables and opinions on their expectations for medication, important medical decision-makers, and preferred drug type.

Excess mortality during the Coronavirus disease pandemic in Korea.

Background: Although the ongoing epidemics of Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) may have affected the mortality trend of the nation, the national level assessment of excess mortality (changes in overall mortality in the entire population) is still scarce in Korea. Therefore, this study evaluated the excess mortality during the COVID-19 pandemic in Korea using the certified mortality data.

Methods: Monthly mortality and population data from January 2013 to June 2022 was obtained from the National Health Insurance Service database and Statistics Korea.

Effects of municipal smoke-free ordinances on secondhand smoke exposure in the Republic of Korea.

Objective: To reduce premature deaths due to secondhand smoke (SHS) exposure among non-smokers, the Republic of Korea (ROK) adopted changes to the National Health Promotion Act, which allowed local governments to enact municipal ordinances to strengthen their authority to designate smoke-free areas and levy penalty fines. In this study, we examined national trends in SHS exposure after the introduction of these municipal ordinances at the city level in 2010.

Methods: We used interrupted time series analysis to assess whether the trends of SHS exposure in the workplace and at home, and the primary cigarette smoking rate changed following the policy adjustment in the national legislation in ROK.

Experimental study of endurance characteristics of Al-doped HfOferroelectric capacitor.

In this work, the endurance characteristics of Al-doped HfO(HAO)-based metal-ferroelectric-metal (MFM) capacitors (which were annealed at 1000 °C) with various doping concentrations were investigated. The doping concentration was optimized for the high annealing temperature (1000 °C) process. To investigate the impact of cycling pulses on the endurance characteristics of HAO-based MFM capacitor, the rise/fall time () and hold time () for the cycling pulses were varied.

Seismic activity and development of mood disorders: Findings from the 2016 Kyungju earthquake.

Background: An earthquake with a moment magnitude of 5.8 occurred in Kyungju on 12 September 2016. Although the earthquake was the largest seismic activity in Korean history, there were no direct casualties from the event.

The Ratio of Second and Fourth Digit Length: A Biomarker for Methamphetamine Dependence?

Objective: The ratio of 2nd and 4th digit length (2D:4D) is considered to be a sexually dimorphic trait. Low 2D:4D is implicated in alcohol dependence and heroin dependence and correlated with psychological traits such as aggression, physical aggression, and sensation. The purpose of this study is to compare the 2D:4D between methamphetamine (METH) dependence and controls and the 2D:4D ratio that is a potential biomarker for METH dependence.

Association of long-term exposure to PM and survival following ischemic heart disease.

Background: Numerous studies have suggested that long-term exposure to particulate matter ≤2.5 μm (PM) may cause cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. However, susceptibility among those with a history of ischemic heart disease is less clearly understood.

Improved remnant polarization of Zr-doped HfO ferroelectric film by CF/O plasma passivation.

In this work, the impact of fluorine (CF) and oxygen (O) plasma passivation on HfZrO (HZO) based ferroelectric capacitor was investigated. By the fluorine passivation, the surface trap density and oxygen vacancies in the HZO-based Metal-ferroelectric-insulator-semiconductor (MFIS) capacitors were suppressed, resulting in the increased pristine remnant polarization (2P). The pristine value (2P) of baseline samples annealed at 500 °C and 600 °C were 11.

Vertical Gate-All-Around Device Architecture to Improve the Device Performance for Sub-5-nm Technology.

In this work, we propose a vertical gate-all-around device architecture (GAA-FinFET) with the aim of simultaneously improving device performance as well as addressing the short channel effect (SCE). The GAA-FinFET was built using the technology computer-aided design (TCAD) simulation tool, and then, its electrical characteristics were quantitatively evaluated. The electrical characteristics of the GAA-FinFET were compared to those of conventional FinFET and nano-sheet FET (NSFET) at 7 nm or 5 nm nodes.

Urinary phthalate metabolites and anemia: Findings from the Korean National Environmental Health Survey (2015-2017).

Background: Several animal studies have suggested an association between phthalate exposure and decreased hemoglobin levels. To address the lack of epidemiological evidence, we evaluated the association between urinary phthalate metabolite concentrations and hematologic indices by using nationally representative data from Korea.

Methods: Data from 3722 adults included in the third stage (2015-2017) of the Korean National Environmental Health Survey (KONEHS) were used.

Impact of Chamber/Annealing Temperature on the Endurance Characteristic of Zr:HfO Ferroelectric Capacitor.

The endurance characteristic of Zr-doped HfO (HZO)-based metal-ferroelectric-metal (MFM) capacitors fabricated under various deposition/annealing temperatures in the atomic layer deposition (ALD) process was investigated. The chamber temperature in the ALD process was set to 120 °C, 200 °C, or 250 °C, and the annealing temperature was set to 400 °C, 500 °C, 600 °C, or 700 °C. For the given annealing temperature of 700 °C, the remnant polarization (2P) was 17.

Changes in mortality rate of the general population during the COVID-19 pandemic: an interrupted time series study in Korea.

Background: Unlike other countries, South Korea did not implement a large-scale lockdown or closure of businesses to manage the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, but relied on changes in population behaviours and early isolation and treatment of patients. It is important to evaluate the effectiveness of such alternative strategies on the mortality of the general population.

Methods: Mortality and monthly population data from 2013 to 2020 were obtained.

Particulate respirator use and blood pressure: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

People use a particulate respirator in order to reduce exposure to ambient fine particulate matter (PM). Acute exposure to PM is known to increase blood pressure. However, systematic reviews or meta-analyses on blood pressure-related benefits of using a particulate respirator is lacking.

Short-term exposure to air pollution and hospital admission for heart failure among older adults in metropolitan cities: a time-series study.

Purpose: We aimed to investigate the association between air pollution concentration levels and hospital admissions for heart failure (HF) among older adults in metropolitan cities in South Korea.

Methods: We used hospital admission data of 1.8 million older adults in seven metropolitan cities from 2008 to 2016, derived from the National Health Insurance Service of South Korea.