Dermoscopic and Histopathologic Analysis of the Correlation between the Pigmentation of Basal Cell Carcinoma and Tumor Aggressiveness.

Background: Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is the most common type of skin cancer. In patients with darker skin, most BCCs are pigmented. Studies suggest that increased pigmentation in BCC may be inversely associated with tumor aggressiveness.

Periorbital Skin Rejuvenation of Asian Skin Using Microneedle Fractional Radiofrequency.

Background: The periorbital area plays an important role cosmetically. Periorbital wrinkles are attributed to long-term, repeated use of orbicularis oris muscles and UV-induced dermal collagen degeneration. Fractional microneedle radiofrequency (RF) treats scars and laxity by creating vertical channels of injury in the dermis, triggering a scarless healing cascade and neocollagenesis.

Can we predict postinflammatory hyperpigmentation after laser treatment based on dermoscopic findings of solar lentigo?

Solar lentigo (SL) commonly occurs as hyperpigmented macules in areas exposed to ultraviolet radiation. It typically shows an increased number of melanocytes in the basal cell layer of the skin, with or without elongated rete ridges. This retrospective study aimed to evaluate the characteristic dermoscopic patterns, reflecting different histopathological features, which might be valuable in predicting the possibility of postinflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH) occurring after laser treatment.

Disparities in the Diagnosis and Treatment of Bile Duct Cancer in People with Disabilities: A National Cohort Study in South Korea.

We aimed to evaluate the impacts of disability on the diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of bile duct cancer (BDC) according to the severity and type of disability. Patients diagnosed with BDC were selected from an age- and sex-matched population (1:3 ratio) with or without disabilities from the National Disability Database, the Korean Central Cancer Registry, and the Korean National Health Insurance claims database. The cohort included 15,065 patients with BDC, with a significantly lower rate in those with severe disabilities than in people without or with mild disabilities (110.

The impact of COVID-19 on screening for colorectal, gastric, breast, and cervical cancer in Korea.

Objectives: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has affected the utilization of healthcare services, including participation in cancer screening programs. We compared cancer screening participation rates for colorectal, gastric, breast, and cervical cancers among participants in the National Cancer Screening Program (NCSP) in 2019 and 2020 to address the potential distraction effect of COVID-19 on cancer screening.

Methods: Data from the NCSP for 4 cancer types (stomach, colorectal, breast, and cervical) in 2019 and 2020 were used to calculate cancer screening participation rates by calendar month, gender, age group, and geographical region.

Disparities in the Diagnosis, Treatment, and Survival Rate of Cervical Cancer among Women with and without Disabilities.

Introduction: Not much is known regarding the disparities in cancer care between women with and without disabilities.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the potential disparities in the diagnosis, treatment, and survival of women with cervical cancer with and without disabilities.

Methods: We performed a retrospective cohort study and linked the National Disability Database, Korean Central Cancer Registry, and Korean National Health Insurance claims database.

Income-Related Mortality Inequalities and Its Social Factors among Middle-Aged and Older Adults at the District Level in Aging Seoul: An Ecological Study Using Administrative Big Data.

This study investigated income-related health inequality at sub-national level, focusing on mortality inequality among middle-aged and older adults (MOAs). Specifically, we examined income-related mortality inequality and its social factors among MOAs across 25 districts in Seoul using administrative big data from the National Health Insurance Service (NHIS). We obtained access to the NHIS's full-population micro-data on both incomes and demographic variables for the entire residents of Seoul.

Incidence and Risk Factors for Progression to Diabetes Mellitus: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

(1) Objective: This study examined the incidence and risk factors contributing to the progression to diabetes mellitus (DM) in a seven-year follow-up study of non-diabetic National Health Examinees. (2) Methods: For this retrospective observational cohort study, we used two national representative databases: the National Health Screening (HEALS) database 2009 and the National Health Insurance Service (NHIS) database 2009-2015. The eligible subjects without DM with blood sugar levels of <126 mg/dL were selected using the HEALS database.

Effect of the Recombinant Human Epidermal Growth Factor Ointment on Cutaneous Surgical Wounds Compared to Antibiotic Ointment.

Background: Applying antibiotic ointment after skin surgery can decrease infection and improve scar. Epidermal growth factor (EGF) is known to be able to promote the growth and movement of epidermal cells to stimulate wound healing. Recombinant human EGF (rhEGF) ointment can be used in wet closed dressing to promotes wound healing and prevent complications by maintaining a wet environment.

Disparities in prostate cancer diagnosis, treatment, and survival among men with disabilities: Retrospective cohort study in South Korea.

Background: Disparities in cancer care have not been well documented for individuals with disability.

Objective: To investigate potential disparities in the diagnosis, treatment, and survival of prostate cancer (PC) patients according to disability status.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study using disability registration data linked to Korean National Health Insurance and national cancer registry data.

Different therapeutic associations of renin-angiotensin system inhibitors with coronavirus disease 2019 compared with usual pneumonia.

Background/aims: Although it is near concluded that renin-angiotensin system inhibitors do not have a harmful effect on coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), there is no report about whether angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs) offer any protective role. This study aimed to compare the association of ARBs and ACEIs with COVID-19-related mortality.

Methods: All patients with COVID-19 in Korea between January 19 and April 16, 2020 were enrolled.

Incidence Hypertension and Fasting Blood Glucose from Real-World Data: Retrospective Cohort for 7-Years Follow-Up.

This retrospective cohort study was done to investigate the incidence of hypertension and its relation to the fasting blood glucose level in Korea. The eligible non-hypertensive subjects ( = 3,396,187) among the National Health Insurance Service-National Health Screening (NHIS-HEALS) examinees ( = 10,644,911) in 2009 were followed up until 2015. A Cox proportional hazards regression was used to estimate the risk of the high blood glucose level for the incident hypertension while controlling for covariates' confounding effect.

Photothermal therapy using gold nanoparticles for acne in Asian patients: A preliminary study.

Acne is a common skin disease that occurs in pilosebaceous units and is often prevalent in adolescence. There are many acne treatments, but they are associated with side effects, such as antibiotic resistance, teratogenicity, and irritation. Therefore, it is necessary to develop a more effective and safe alternative treatment for managing acne in patients of all ages.

Which Approach Is Most Optimal for Needle Electromyographic Examination of the Biceps Femoris Short Head: Medial or Lateral?

Objective: To investigate the anatomical characteristics of the biceps femoris short head (BS) and determine the optimal needle placement for BS examination.

Methods: Twenty-one lower limbs were dissected. The distances from the medial and lateral margins of the biceps femoris long head (BL) tendon to the common fibular nerve (CFN) (M_CFN_VD and L_CFN_VD, respectively) and the distance from the lateral margin of the BL tendon to the lateral margin of the BS (L_BS_HD) were measured 5 cm proximal to the tip of the fibular head (P1), four fingerbreadths proximal to the tip of the fibular head (P2), and at the upper apex of the popliteal fossa (P3).

Beneficial Effect of Statins in COVID-19-Related Outcomes-Brief Report: A National Population-Based Cohort Study.

Objective: Although statins are widely prescribed lipid-lowering drugs, there are concerns about the safety of their use in the context of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), since statins increase the expression of ACE2 (angiotensin-converting enzyme 2). This study aimed to disclose the association between statins and 60-day COVID-19 mortality. Approach and Results: All patients hospitalized with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 were enrolled in this study from January 19 to April 16, 2020, in Korea.

Data resource profile: the allergic disease database of the Korean National Health Insurance Service.

Researchers have been interested in probing how the environmental factors associated with allergic diseases affect the use of medical services. Considering this demand, we have constructed a database, named the Allergic Disease Database, based on the National Health Insurance Database (NHID). The NHID contains information on demographic and medical service utilization for approximately 99% of the Korean population.

Disparities in the Diagnosis and Treatment of Gastric Cancer in Relation to Disabilities.

Introduction: We investigated potential disparities in the diagnosis, treatment, and survival of gastric cancer (GC) patients with and without disabilities.

Methods: We linked Korean National Disability Registry data with the Korean National Health Insurance database and Korean Central Cancer Registry data. This study included a total of 16,849 people with disabilities and 58,872 age- and sex-matched control subjects in whom GC had been diagnosed.

A Nationwide Cohort Study Shows a Sex-Dependent Change in the Trend of Peptic Ulcer Bleeding Incidence in Korea between 2006 and 2015.

Background/aims: The incidence of peptic ulcer disease has decreased in past decades; however, the trends in peptic ulcer bleeding (PUB) are inconsistent among regions. This study aimed to investigate the trends in PUB incidence and the effect of risk factors on PUB in Korea.

Methods: The records of patients hospitalized with PUB from 2006 to 2015 were retrieved from the Korean National Health Insurance Service Database.

Disparities in Liver Cancer Surveillance Among People With Disabilities: A National Database Study in Korea.

Goal: The goal of this study was to determine disparities in liver cancer surveillance among people with disabilities is the goal of this study.

Background: Using the linked administrative database in Korea, we sought to investigate (1) whether there are disparities in liver cancer surveillance according to degree and type of disability and (2) temporal trends in liver cancer surveillance among people with disabilities.

Materials And Methods: We linked national disability registration data with national cancer surveillance data.