Association Between Organizational Downsizing and Depressive Symptoms Among Korean Workers: A Cross-sectional Analysis.

Background: Organizational downsizing may be significantly linked to depressive symptoms, yet research on this impact in Asian contexts is limited. This study investigates the association between downsizing during the COVID-19 pandemic and depressive symptoms across diverse employment statuses.

Methods: This study used the data from 6th Korean Working Conditions Survey.

Inequality in Mortality and Cardiovascular Risk Among Young, Low-Income, Self-Employed Workers: Nationwide Retrospective Cohort Study.

Background: Self-employment is a significant component of South Korea's labor force; yet, it remains relatively understudied in the context of occupational safety and health. Owing to different guidelines for health checkup participation among economically active individuals, disparities in health maintenance may occur across varying employment statuses.

Objective: This study aims to address such disparities by comparing the risk of all-cause mortality and comorbidities between the self-employed and employee populations in South Korea, using nationwide data.

Family Caregivers' Experiences of People With Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Undergoing Gastrostomy Tube Feeding.

INTRODUCTION: In amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients with impaired swallowing function, gastrostomy tube (G-tube) placement is recommended, but significantly increases the caregiving burden on families. This study aimed to describe the experiences of family caregivers of patients with ALS receiving home enteral nutrition through a G-tube. METHOD: Using purposive sampling, 8 family caregivers participated in the study.

The influence of sex on the dosage of remimazolam co-administered with remifentanil for loss of consciousness in adult patients: an up-and-down sequential allocation trial.

Background: This study aimed to determine the 50% effective dose of remimazolam co-administered with remifentanil for loss of consciousness in men and women as well as to investigate whether there are between-sex differences.

Methods: Using a modified Dixon's up-and-down allocation approach, we sequentially enrolled male and female patients aged 19-60 years with American Society of Anesthesiologists class I or II who were scheduled for robotic surgery. For both sexes, the starting remimazolam dose was 0.

Comparison of the Association Between Presenteeism and Absenteeism among Replacement Workers and Paid Workers: Cross-sectional Studies and Machine Learning Techniques.

Background: Replacement drivers represent a significant portion of platform labor in the Republic of Korea, often facing night shifts and the demands of emotional labor. Research on replacement drivers is limited due to their widespread nature. This study examined the levels of presenteeism and absenteeism among replacement drivers in comparison to those of paid male workers in the Republic of Korea.

Liver Cancer Risk Across Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease and/or Alcohol: A Nationwide Study.

Introduction: New terminologies of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) have been developed. We assessed hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) risk across MASLD and/or alcohol intake.

Methods: We included participants aged 40-79 years receiving a national health checkup from 2009 to 2010 in the Republic of Korea, classified as follows: non-MASLD, MASLD, MASLD with increased alcohol intake (MetALD; weekly alcohol 210-420 g for male and 140-350 g for female individuals), and alcohol-associated liver disease (ALD; excessive alcohol intake with weekly alcohol ≥420 g for male or ≥350 g for female individuals).

Institutionalizing Health Technology Assessment and Priority Setting in South Korea's Universal Health Coverage Journey.

This study charts the chronological developments of the three institutions that were established in South Korea for priority setting in health. In 2007, the Evidence-based Medicine Team and the Center for New Health Technology Assessment (CnHTA) were established and nested in the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service (HIRA). In December 2008, the National Evidence-based Healthcare Collaborating Agency (NECA) was launched, to which the CnHTA was transferred in 2010.

The Effect of Sex on the Remimazolam Dosage Required for Successful i-gel Supraglottic Airway Insertion with Remifentanil in Non-Paralyzed Patients: An Up-and-Down Sequential Allocation Trial.

The physiological and pharmacological variations between men and women are known to influence drug efficacy. The objective of this study was to determine the 50% and 95% effective doses (ED and ED) of remimazolam required for i-gel supraglottic airway (ISA) insertion under remifentanil infusion without neuromuscular blocking agents (NMBAs) in both males and females. Patients aged 19-65 years, scheduled for general anesthesia using ISA, were enrolled in this study.

Psychosocial interventions for people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and motor neuron disease and their caregivers: a scoping review.

Background: As amyotrophic lateral sclerosis/motor neuron disease (ALS/MND) is a fatal progressive neurodegenerative disorder, patients experience severe impairments, with patients and family caregivers facing emotional distress and exhaustion. Several psychosocial interventions are aimed at providing tailored support for ALS/MND patients and caregivers. The aim of this study was to conduct a scoping review and present a comprehensive overview of psychosocial interventions designed for individuals and families affected by ALS/MND, while also pinpointing research gaps.

Effect of Virtual Game-Based Integrated Clinical Practice Simulation Program on Undergraduate Nursing Students' Attitude Toward Learning.

Game-based virtual reality simulation programs can capitalize on the advantages of non-face-to-face education while effectively stimulating the interest of trainees and improving training efficiency. This study aimed to develop a game-based virtual reality simulation program for nervous system assessment and to evaluate the effects of the program on the learning attitudes of nursing students. Using a one-group pretest-posttest design, 41 senior nursing students were enrolled, and their learning attitudes (self-directed learning attitude, academic self-efficacy, flow-learning experience, and learning presence) were evaluated.

Socioeconomic Disparities in the Association Between All-Cause Mortality and Health Check-Up Participation Among Healthy Middle-Aged Workers: A Nationwide Study.

Background: This study assessed the relationship between non-participation in health check-ups and all-cause mortality and morbidity, considering socioeconomic status.

Methods: Healthy, middle-aged (35-54 years) working individuals who maintained either self-employed or employee status from 2006-2010 were recruited in this retrospective cohort study from the National Health Insurance Service in Korea. Health check-up participation was calculated as the sum of the number of health check-ups in 2007-2008 and 2009-2010.

Exploring the relationship between work-family conflict and sleep disturbance: a study on stratification and interaction.

Introduction: Despite several studies on the association between work-family conflict (WFC) and sleep disturbances, a more comprehensive approach considering occupational factors is lacking. We aimed to analyze this association among Korean workers and the combined effects of WFC and job-related factors on sleep disturbance.

Methods: Data on paid workers from the sixth Korean Working Conditions Survey were analyzed.

Association between exposure to violence, job stress and depressive symptoms among gig economy workers in Korea.

Background: Gig workers, also known as platform workers, are independent workers who are not employed by any particular company. The number of gig economy workers has rapidly increased worldwide in the past decade. There is a dearth of occupational health studies among gig economy workers.

Effect of Drinking Pattern on the Quality of Sleep Among Korean Male Adults Below 65 Years.

This study aimed to analyze the differences in sleep quality according to drinking patterns and identify factors associated with poor sleepers among Korean male adults younger than 65 years. Data from 68,711 male participants from the Korean Community Health Survey collected in Korea in 2018 were analyzed. After dividing them into binge drinking and nonbinge drinking groups, each group was further categorized into three subgroups according to the frequency of drinking: less than occasionally, frequent, and very frequent.

Risk of psychological distress by decrease in economic activity, gender, and age due to COVID-19: A multinational study.

Introduction: Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is an infectious disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2-virus. COVID-19 has officially been declared as the latest in the list of pandemics by WHO at the start of 2020. This study investigates the associations among decrease in economic activity, gender, age, and psychological distress during the COVID-19 pandemic considering the economic status and education level of countries using multinational surveys.

Long-term survival benefits of intrathecal autologous bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (Neuronata-R®: lenzumestrocel) treatment in ALS: Propensity-score-matched control, surveillance study.

Objective: Neuronata-R® (lenzumestrocel) is an autologous bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cell (BM-MSC) product, which was conditionally approved by the Korean Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (KMFDS, Republic of Korea) in 2013 for the treatment of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). In the present study, we aimed to investigate the long-term survival benefits of treatment with intrathecal lenzumestrocel.

Methods: A total of 157 participants who received lenzumestrocel and whose symptom duration was less than 2 years were included in the analysis (BM-MSC group).

Effective dose of remimazolam co-administered with remifentanil to facilitate I-gel insertion without neuromuscular blocking agents: an up-and-down sequential allocation trial.

Background: Remimazolam is a new anesthetic drug developed and is an ultra-short-acting agent with rapid onset and offset. The pharmacology of this drug seems to be ideal for short surgeries eligible for I-gel insertion. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the optimal bolus dose of remimazolam for I-gel insertion when co-administered with remifentanil without neuromuscular blocking agents (NMBAs).

The Association between Replacement Drivers and Depressive Symptoms.

A replacement driver is a type of gig worker who provides driving services to the target point with the drunk driver's own car. This study aimed to examine the association of replacement drivers (ref: paid workers) with depressive symptoms. Information on replacement drivers was collected through online/offline surveys.

Statin use is associated with better post-operative prognosis among patients with hepatitis B virus-related hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background: The high postoperative recurrence rate of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a significant challenge. Patient metabolic factors are potential disease modifiers and should be examined as risk factors for postoperative prognosis. Here, we assessed the association between long-term statin use and HCC recurrence after surgical resection of hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related HCC.