Hidden loss to follow-up among tuberculosis patients managed by public-private mix institutions in South Korea.

In South Korea, public-private mix (PPM) was launched in 2011. This retrospective cohort study sought to determine the rate of loss to follow-up (LTFU) among drug-susceptible tuberculosis (DS-TB) patients in all nationwide PPM institutions, and the risk factors for LTFU. National notification data for DS-TB patients diagnosed between August 2011 and July 2014 in PPM institutions were analysed.

Natural History of Contralateral Bullae/Blebs After Ipsilateral Video-Assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery for Primary Spontaneous Pneumothorax: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Background: Contralateral bullae/blebs are frequently found in patients who are scheduled to undergo ipsilateral video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) for primary spontaneous pneumothorax (PSP).

Research Question: Should visible contralateral bullae/blebs be simultaneously resected when ipsilateral VATS bullectomy is performed?

Study Design And Methods: In this single-center, retrospective cohort study, we included patients aged ≤ 30 years who underwent ipsilateral VATS for PSP from April 2009 to December 2019. Electronic medical records, radiograph images, and preoperative high-resolution CT images were reviewed.

Investigating the appropriate adenosine deaminase cutoff value for the diagnosis of tuberculous pleural effusion in a country with decreasing TB burden.

As the burden of tuberculosis (TB) in South Korea decreases while that of malignancy increases with an aging society, the composition of etiology for pleural effusion is changing. The aim of this study was to investigate the diagnostic value of adenosine deaminase (ADA) for diagnosis of tuberculous pleural effusion (TPE) in this circumstance. Medical records of patients who underwent medical thoracoscopy from May 2015 to September 2020 in Incheon St.

Combining baloxavir marboxil with standard-of-care neuraminidase inhibitor in patients hospitalised with severe influenza (FLAGSTONE): a randomised, parallel-group, double-blind, placebo-controlled, superiority trial.

Background: Neuraminidase inhibitors (NAIs) are considered the standard of care for hospitalised patients with influenza. We aimed to test whether combining the cap-dependent endonuclease inhibitor baloxavir marboxil (hereafter baloxavir) with standard-of-care NAIs would result in improved clinical outcomes compared with NAI monotherapy in hospitalised patients with severe influenza.

Methods: We did a randomised, parallel-group, double-blind, placebo-controlled, superiority trial.

Cross-sectional survey on home mechanical ventilator use: major deficiencies in a home care system in South Korea.

Background: Despite the increased use of home mechanical ventilation (HMV), data on home care services for HMV users in Asian countries are scarce. This study investigated the current status of HMV use in the Seoul metropolitan area.

Methods: This cross-sectional study involved three university-affiliated hospitals.

Effect of serum isoniazid level on treatment outcomes among tuberculosis patients with slow response - A retrospective cohort study.

Background: In this study, we investigate the effects of low serum TB drug level on treatment outcome among TB patients with slow response in South Korea, where the prevalence of rapid acetylator is relatively high.

Methods: Among the pulmonary TB patients whose treatment outcomes were reported between 2014 and 2018 at Incheon St. Mary hospital, those who underwent TDM because of delayed culture conversion or reversion were included.

Factors associated with discrepancy between fresh frozen and permanent biopsy from medical thoracoscopy: single center analysis of 172 medical flexible thoracoscopy cases.

Background: Frozen sections prepared during medical thoracoscopy (MT) have precise diagnostic ability in pleural pathology and may assist in decision-making before pleurodesis. The present study evaluated the diagnostic sensitivity of frozen sections from flex-rigid MT, and further evaluated clinical parameters for their association with a discrepancy between frozen sections and permanent paraffin sections.

Methods: This retrospective study evaluated 172 patients who underwent flex-rigid MT between February 2017 and November 2019 at Incheon Saint Mary's Hospital.

Non-invasive ventilation for acute respiratory failure: pressure support ventilation pressure-controlled ventilation.

Background: The best ventilator mode for patients receiving non-invasive ventilation (NIV) has not been clarified. This study compared the effectiveness of two pressure-targeted modes, i.e.

Effects of long term normobaric hyperoxia exposure on lipopolysaccharide-induced lung injury.

Prolonged exposure to hyperoxia can cause injury to normal lung tissue. However, patients with acute hypoxic respiratory failure are frequently exposed to very high oxygen levels. This study investigated the effects of long term normobaric hyperoxia exposure in a mouse model of acute severe lung injury (SLI).

Diagnosis and Prognosis of Sepsis Based on Use of Cytokines, Chemokines, and Growth Factors.

The focus of sepsis has shifted from inflammation to organ dysfunction on the basis of a recent definition based on the sequential organ failure score (SOFA). A diagnostic and prognostic marker is necessary under this definition but is currently unknown. We enrolled 80 sepsis patients consecutively admitted to an intensive care unit through the emergency department and 80 healthy control patients who received routine health check-ups from August 2018 to January 2019.

Correction to: Are there differences among operators in false-negative rates of endosonography with needle aspiration for mediastinal nodal staging of non-small cell lung cancer?

Following publication of the original.

Are there differences among operators in false-negative rates of endosonography with needle aspiration for mediastinal nodal staging of non-small cell lung cancer?

Background: Endosonography with needle aspiration (EBUS/EUS-NA) is recommended as the first choice for mediastinal nodal assessment in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). It is important to maintain adequate negative predictive value of the procedure to avoid unnecessary additional surgical staging, but there are few studies on the influence of operator-related factors including competency on false negative results. This study aims to compare the false negative rate of individual operators and whether it changes according to accumulation of experience.

Normobaric hyperoxia inhibits the progression of lung cancer by inducing apoptosis.

Hypoxia is a critical characteristic of solid tumors with respect to cancer cell survival, angiogenesis, and metastasis. Hyperoxic treatment has been attempted to reverse hypoxia by enhancing the amount of dissolved oxygen in the plasma. In this study, we evaluated the effects of normobaric hyperoxia on the progression of lung cancer to determine whether oxygen toxicity can be used in cancer therapy.

Clinical significance of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Background/aims: Several studies have identified a role for nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) in the development of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). However, the relationship between the plasma Nrf2 level and the extent of systemic inflammation associated with COPD status remains unclear.

Methods: Patients diagnosed with COPD were recruited from St.

Factors Related to the Diagnostic Yield of Flexible Bronchoscopy without Guidance in Bronchoscopically Invisible Peripheral Lung Lesions.

Background: We aimed to analyze the factors predicting the diagnostic performance of flexible bronchoscopy without guidance in peripheral lung lesions that are endoscopically invisible.

Methods: This was a retrospective study conducted in St. Paul's Hospital, The Catholic University of Korea, between January 2007 and March 2013.

Demographic Changes in Intensive Care Units in Korea over the Last Decade and Outcomes of Elderly Patients: A Single-Center Retrospective Study.

Background: Aging is a significant issue worldwide, and Korea is one of the most rapidly aging countries. Along with the demographic transition, the age structure of intensive care unit (ICU) patients changes as well.

Methods: The aim of this study was to analyze the change in age distribution of the ICU patients over the last 10 years and its effect on clinical outcomes.

Dyspnea as a Prognostic Factor in Patients with Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer.

Purpose: To investigate associations between dyspnea and clinical outcomes in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Materials And Methods: From 2001 to 2014, we retrospectively reviewed the prospective lung cancer database of St. Paul's Hospital at the Catholic University of Korea.

Risk Factor and Clinical Outcome of Bronchiolitis Obliterans Syndrome after Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation.

Purpose: The development of bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome (BOS) after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) deteriorates patients' quality of life. This study aimed to analyze the prevalence, clinical features, risk factors and prognostic factors of BOS.

Materials And Methods: This retrospective study included patients who underwent allogeneic HSCT from January 2002 to December 2008 and survived for ≥100 days after transplantation.

Association between vitamin D receptor polymorphisms and osteoporosis in patients with COPD.

Background: Patients with COPD are at an increased risk of osteoporosis. Although many studies have addressed the relationship between the vitamin D receptor (VDR) polymorphisms and bone health, this relationship has not been fully investigated in patients with COPD. In this study, we investigated the association of VDR polymorphisms with bone mineral density (BMD) and other clinical parameters in patients with COPD.

Curcumin sensitizes human lung cancer cells to apoptosis and metastasis synergistically combined with carboplatin.

Although carboplatin is one of the standard chemotherapeutic agents for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), it has limited therapeutic efficacy due to activation of a survival signaling pathway and the induction of multidrug resistance. Curcumin, a natural compound isolated from the plant Curcuma longa, is known to sensitize tumors to different chemotherapeutic agents. The aim of this study is to evaluate whether curcumin can chemosensitize lung cancer cells to carboplatin and to analyze the signaling pathway underlying this synergism.

Clinical significance of nontuberculous mycobacteria from respiratory specimens in stem cell transplantation recipients.

The clinical importance of the isolation of nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) from respiratory specimens of stem cell transplant (SCT) recipients is not clear. We investigated the characteristics and clinical impact of NTM isolation in this population. Medical records of adult patients who underwent SCT at the blood and marrow transplantation center at a University Hospital in South Korea between January 2004 and December 2013 were retrospectively reviewed.

Efficacy of team-based financial incentives for smoking cessation in the workplace.

Worksite smoking cessation programs offer accessibility of the target population, availability of occupational health support, and the potential for peer pressure and peer support. The purpose of this study was to identify the efficacy of the financial incentives given to various teams in the workplace. St.