South Korea's Medical Tourism Competitiveness and Future Strategy: Focused on Cancer Treatment: A Review.

Background: Medical tourism is a leading industry of South Korea. Since the transition from the latest health pandemic to endemic, foreign patients have been on a rapid increase. The Korean government regards medical tourism as a major national industry and pursues medical, legal, and policy strategies with the goal of attracting 700,000 foreign patients by 2027.

Association of blood viscosity and device-free days among hospitalized patients with COVID-19.

Background: Increased estimated whole blood viscosity (eWBV) predicts higher mortality in patients hospitalized for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). This study assesses whether eWBV is an early predictor of non-fatal outcomes among patients hospitalized for acute COVID-19 infection.

Methods: This retrospective cohort study included 9278 hospitalized COVID-19 patients diagnosed within 48 h of admission between February 27, 2020 to November 20, 2021 within the Mount Sinai Health System in New York City.

Lipoprotein-X and Lipoprotein-Z Induced Hyperviscosity Syndrome in the Setting of Cholestatic Liver Failure.

We describe a case referred for worsening hypercholesterolemia in the setting of atorvastatin and fenofibrate-induced liver injury. The patient reported neurological complaints attributed to hyperviscosity syndrome (induced by lipoprotein-X and lipoprotein-Z). Hepatic recovery was associated with reduction of whole blood viscosity and amelioration of neurological symptoms.

Association of Blood Viscosity With Mortality Among Patients Hospitalized With COVID-19.

Background: Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) is characterized by a dysfunctional immune response and abnormal blood rheology that contribute to endothelial dysfunction and thrombotic complications. Whole blood viscosity (WBV) is a clinically validated measure of blood rheology and an established predictor of cardiovascular risk. We hypothesize that increased WBV is associated with mortality among patients hospitalized with COVID-19.

Blood hyperviscosity in acute and recent COVID-19 infection.

Background: Elevated estimated blood viscosity (EBV), derived from hematocrit and globulins, is associated with thrombotic complications, organ failure, and higher mortality in COVID-19 patients. Although informative, EBV does not account for cellular interactions or fibrinogen.

Objective: Investigate whether patients with acute and recent COVID-19 have altered whole blood viscosity (WBV) when measured at both high and low shear rates using in vitro blood samples from patients.

The Turning Point of China's Rural Public Health during the Cultural Revolution Period: Barefoot Doctors: A Narrative.

Background: According to Mao Zedong's orders, the Communist Party of China made efforts to perform the system of 'barefoot doctors' even during the political mayhem of the Cultural Revolution. This pioneering medical system made a great contribution to medical services for rural communities and the public health system from 1960s to 1970s. Attracting new attention in the beginning of the 21st century, the barefoot doctor system influenced the formation of the Chinese medical system of unique structure.

Application of pulsed spark discharge for calcium carbonate precipitation in hard water.

The effect of underwater pulsed spark discharge on the precipitation of dissolved calcium ions was investigated in the present study. Water samples with different calcium hardness were prepared by continuous evaporation of tap water using a laboratory cooling tower. It was shown that the concentration of calcium ions dropped by 20-26% after 10-min plasma treatment, comparing with no drop for untreated cases.