Psychiatric adverse events following COVID-19 vaccination: a population-based cohort study in Seoul, South Korea.

Evidence has suggested an increased risk of psychiatric manifestations following viral infections including coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19). However, psychiatric adverse events (AEs) after COVID-19 vaccination, which were documented in case reports and case series, remain unclear. This study is aimed to investigate the psychiatric AEs after COVID-19 vaccination from a large population-based cohort in Seoul, South Korea.

Prognostic Factors for Predicting Post-COVID-19 Condition in Patients With COVID-19 in an Outpatient Setting.

Background: Although data on post-coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) conditions are extensive, the prognostic factors affecting symptom duration in non-hospitalized patients with COVID-19 are currently not well known. We aimed to investigate the various prognostic factors affecting symptom duration among outpatients with COVID-19.

Methods: Data were analyzed from 257 patients who were diagnosed with mild COVID-19 and visited the 'post-COVID-19 outpatient clinic' between April and December 2022 after a mandatory isolation period.

E-cigarette-associated Severe Pneumonia in Korea Using Data Linkage between the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES, 2013-2019) and the National Health Insurance Service (NHIS) Claims Database.

Background: This study aimed to investigate the association between e-cigarette (EC) use and development of acute severe pneumonia in the Korean population using a national database.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis using linkage of data between the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) and the National Health Insurance Service (NHIS) administrative claims database. The primary endpoint of this study was development of severe pneumonia requiring hospital admission according to EC use during the study period.

A pilot investigation of e-cigarette use and smoking behaviour among patients with chronic airway disease or respiratory symptoms.

Background: This pilot study aimed to investigate the current status of e-cigarettes (ECs) use patterns among patients with chronic airway disease or chronic respiratory symptoms and the effects of ECs use on respiratory and mental health.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted at the outpatient clinic of eight teaching hospitals in South Korea between November 2019 and December 2019. All adult ECs users (19 years and above) who visited the outpatient clinic as a patient with chronic airway disease or chronic respiratory symptoms were eligible to participate in this study.

Risk of Neuropsychiatric Diseases According to the Use of a Leukotriene Receptor Antagonist in Middle-Aged and Older Adults with Asthma: A Nationwide Population-Based Study Using Health Claims Data in Korea.

Background: Although a leukotriene receptor antagonist (LTRA) is an effective drug for asthma, there has been increasing concern regarding neuropsychiatric (NP) adverse reactions. However, evidence for this association is not sufficient, especially in adults.

Objective: To investigate the association between the use of an LTRA and the risk of developing NP diseases in adults with asthma.

Nicotine Dependence and Stress Susceptibility in E-Cigarette Smokers: The Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2013-2017.

Background: E-cigarettes are steadily gaining popularity in Korea. However, the characteristics of e-cigarette smokers, especially nicotine dependence and stress susceptibility, have not been evaluated in comparison to those of non-smokers or combustible cigarette smokers in Korea.

Methods: In this study, 28,059 participants from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2013-2017) were classified into the following three groups: non-smokers, smokers (current smokers and ex-smokers of combustible cigarettes only), and e-smokers (current smokers and ex-smokers of e-cigarettes regardless of combustible cigarette use).

Blood lead levels in relation to smoking and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD): a study from Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES).

Background: Lead exposure is a resurgent environmental issue globally. Smoking can be a source of lead exposure, although the majority of lead poisonings originate from workplace exposures. However, no study has been undertaken concerning the blood lead levels based on the chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), smoking status, and other risk factors of COPD.

Erratum: Smoking Cessation Strategies Targeting Specific Populations.

This corrects the article on p. 1 in vol. 82, PMID: 29527846.

Association of Long-term Use of Low-Dose Aspirin as Chemoprevention With Risk of Lung Cancer.

Importance: Low-dose aspirin use for chemoprevention of lung cancer risk remains controversial.

Objectives: To investigate the association between low-dose aspirin use and lung cancer risk, and to identify specific subgroups that may derive the most benefit from low-dose aspirin use.

Design, Setting, And Participants: This nationwide, retrospective, cohort study used data from the Korean National Health Information Database from 2002 to 2015.

Association between secondhand smoke exposure and hypertension in never smokers: a cross-sectional survey using data from Korean National Health and Nutritional Examination Survey V, 2010-2012.

Objectives: Secondhand smoke (SHS) exposure is associated with cardiovascular disease. This study aims to determine the association between SHS exposure estimated by questionnaire and hypertension in Korean never smokers.

Setting: Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) V was conducted from 2010 to 2012.

Association of body mass index with incident tuberculosis in Korea.

Introduction: Overweight or obesity might be protective factors of tuberculosis (TB), but the evidence is inconclusive. The objective of study was to evaluate association between BMI and incident TB.

Methods: The National Health Insurance database was used.

Smoking Cessation Strategies Targeting Specific Populations.

Quitting smoking helps smokers maintain their health and extend their lifespan by 10 or more years. Treatment strategies for smoking cessation should be tailored to individual smokers with special needs based on their specific circumstances. It is recommended that pregnant women adopt smoking cessation through counseling and behavioral interventions because the safety of medications has yet to be established.

Relationship between hormone replacement therapy and spinal osteoarthritis: a nationwide health survey analysis of the elderly Korean population.

Objectives: To identify the effects of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) on spinal osteoarthritis (OA).

Methods And Design: A cross-sectional study of a nationwide survey was performed.

Setting: This study collected data from the fifth Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2010-2012).

Benign superior vena cava syndrome with uncontrolled pleural effusion by calcified mediastinal lymphadenopathy: surgical management.

This report describes a rare case of benign superior vena cava syndrome (SVCS) accompanying recalcitrant pleural effusion developed secondary to extrinsic compression by anthracotic calcified mediastinal lymphadenopathy which was corrected by surgical bypass graft. An 81-year-old female presented with recalcitrant pleural effusion for several months despite of medical treatments. SVCS developed progressively without any other radiological evidence of malignancy or active infection on initial chest computed tomography (CT).

Factors associated with stage of change in smoker in relation to smoking cessation based on the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey II-V.

Despite a decrease in incidence, smoking remains the most serious public health problem worldwide. Identification of the factors contributing to changes in willingness to quit smoking may aid the development of strategies that encourage smoking cessation. Pooled cross-sectional data from 11,924 smokers from the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey II-V were analyzed.

Dietary vitamin C intake protects against COPD: the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey in 2012.

Background: Vitamin C, as an antioxidant, has recently been suggested to provide protection against COPD; however, only few national cohort studies have investigated these effects. We aimed to confirm the protective effects of vitamin C against COPD in Korean patients.

Patients And Methods: We analyzed the data of 3,283 adults aged ≥40 years (representing 23,541,704 subjects) who underwent pulmonary function tests and responded to questionnaires on smoking history and vitamin C intake, with stratification variables and sampling weight designated by the Korea 2012 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

Quality of Life Analysis and Smoking Correlation in Symptomatic Spine Osteoarthritis: A Nationwide Health Survey Analysis of an Elderly Population with EQ-5D.

Objectives: To analyze quality of life in people with symptomatic spine osteoarthritis (OA) using the results of a cross-sectional, nationwide survey.

Materials And Methods: This study used data from the Fifth Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES V-5; 2010-2012). After excluding ineligible subjects, the total number of subjects in the study was 8,963, including 4,091 males and 4,872 females.

Effect of Exposure to Second-Hand Smoke on the Quality of Life: A Nationwide Population-Based Study from South Korea.

Background: Although exposure to second-hand smoke (SHS) has been associated with various medical conditions, only limited data are available on its association with health-related quality of life (HRQOL), particularly data obtained with the EQ-5D or EQ visual analogue scale (VAS).

Methods: This cross-sectional study evaluated 10,532 adult never-smokers who participated in the fifth Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. By using linear regression models to adjust for possible confounders and incorporating survey weights in analyses, the association between exposure to SHS and HRQOL-measured with the EQ-5D index and the EQ-VAS score-was evaluated.

A Pleural Loose Body Mimicking a Pleural Tumor: A Case Report.

We present a rare case of a pleural loose body, thought to be a pedunculated pleural tumor, found incidentally in a 58-year-old female. Computed tomography showed a non-enhancing mass, which migrated along the mediastinum and paravertebral area. Thoracoscopic surgery revealed a 4 cm, soap-like mass that was found to be a fibrin body consisting of hyalinized collagen histopathologically.

Prevalence of colorectal adenomatous polyps in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Background: Colorectal adenomatous polyps are precancerous lesions of colorectal cancer. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of colorectal adenomatous polyps in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients and determine whether COPD is associated with colorectal malignant potential.

Methods: Subjects who had undergone post-bronchodilator spirometry and colonoscopy and were 40 years or older were selected from the hospital database.

Two cases of bronchopulmonary dysplasia of similar appearance in adult monozygotic twin: pathology and computed tomographic findings.

Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) is related to decreased lung function throughout life. However, the pathology and radiology pattern of BPD of adults are not documented well yet. In this case report, we present BPD case of an adult monozygotic twin showing nearly identical lesions on chest computed tomography (CT).

Analysis of diaphragmatic movement before and after pulmonary rehabilitation using fluoroscopy imaging in patients with COPD.

Background: The diaphragm is the principal inspiratory muscle. The purpose of this study was to assess improvements in diaphragmatic movement before and after pulmonary rehabilitation in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), using a fluoroscopy-guided chest X-ray.

Patients And Methods: Among 117 patients with COPD receiving pulmonary rehabilitation who underwent the initial fluoroscopy-guided chest X-ray and pulmonary function test, 37 of those patients who underwent both initial and follow-up fluoroscopy and pulmonary function tests were enrolled in this study.

The correlation between the bronchial hyperresponsiveness to methacholine and asthma like symptoms by GINA questionnaires for the diagnosis of asthma.

Background: In epidemiological studies of asthma, questionnaires to differentiate asthmatics from non-asthmatics have proven to be cost-effective and convenient. The aim of this study was to analyze the association between hyperresponsiveness to methacholine and the validity of five items for the asthma like questionnaire recommended by the Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA).

Methods: A total of 680 subjects who visited the pulmonology department with suspected symptoms of asthma were enrolled.