Nationwide survey of internal medicine hospitalists in Korea: motivation and sustainability of a hospitalist career.

Background/aims: Although a management fee for hospitalist service was established in Korea, the number of hospitalists required for the system to run remains outmatched.

Methods: In January 2020 and February 2022, before and after the establishment of the hospitalist fee system respectively, cross-sectional online surveys were conducted among internal medicine board-certified hospitalists.

Results: There were 59 and 64 respondents in the 2020 and 2022 surveys, respectively.

A focus group interview with health professionals: establishing efficient transition care plan for older adult patients in Korea.

Background: Although transition care planning can affect the functional status and quality of life after acute hospitalization in older adults, little is known on problems associated with discharge planning in acute care hospitals in Korea. We aimed to investigate barriers and possible solutions on transfer planning of complex older patients in this study.

Methods: We used focus group interviews with the application of framework analysis.

A Descriptive Study of Emergency Department Visits Within 30 Days of Discharge.

Background: Unnecessary emergency department (ED) visits are a crucial consideration in discharge planning for acutely admitted patients. This study aimed to identify the reasons for unnecessary visits to the ED within 30 days of discharge from a medical hospitalist unit.

Methods: We performed a retrospective review of patients discharged in 2018 from a medical unit of tertiary teaching hospital in Korea.

Validity of the Clinical Frailty Scale in Korean older patients at a geriatric clinic.

Background/aims: We aimed to assess the validity of the Korean translated version of the Clinical Frailty Scale (CFS) in determining the frailty status in geriatric outpatients.

Methods: The records of 123 ambulatory outpatients who had undergone CFS and comprehensive geriatric assessments (CGAs) including measurements for the Cardiovascular Health Study (CHS) frailty scale and the frailty index (CGA-FI) were analyzed. Correlations between CFS, CHS frailty scale, and CGA-FI were assessed.

Clinical Frailty Scale, K-FRAIL questionnaire, and clinical outcomes in an acute hospitalist unit in Korea.

Background/aims: Frailty increases the risks of in-hospital adverse events such as delirium, falls, and functional decline in older adults. We assessed the feasibility and clinical relevance of frailty status in Korean older inpatients using the Clinical Frailty Scale (CFS) and Korean version of the Fatigue, Resistance, Ambulation, Illnesses, & Loss of Weight scale (K-FRAIL) questionnaires.

Methods: Frailty status was measured using the Korean-translated version of the CFS and K-FRAIL questionnaire within 3 days from admission in 144 consecutive patients aged 60 years or older.

Clinical outcomes associated with anticholinergic burden in older hospitalized patients with advanced cancer: a single-center database study.

Purpose: Although anticholinergic burden has been known to be associated with adverse outcomes in older adults, its clinical importance has been less studied in patients with advanced cancer. We aimed to assess clinical impacts of using anticholinergic medications in older patients with cancer.

Methods: This is a single-center retrospective database study.

Anticholinergic Cognitive Burden as a Predictive Factor for In-hospital Mortality in Older Patients in Korea.

Background: With the increasing prevalence of chronic disease due to aging, many older adults experience multimorbidity and polypharmacy. Medications with anticholinergic properties are particularly associated with adverse cognitive outcomes, including functional decline and mortality. We assessed the clinical impact of anticholinergic cognitive burden (ACB) on clinical outcomes of older patients acutely admitted to a single, hospitalist-operated medical unit of a tertiary hospital in Korea.

Comparisons of Clinical Outcomes between Weekday-Only and Full-Time, 24-Hour/7-Day Coverage Hospitalist Systems.

Background: Since the launch of pilot programs in 2016, varying ranges of hospitalist coverage exist in Korea. We evaluated the effects of differing depths of hospitalist coverage on clinical outcomes.

Methods: This study retrospectively reviewed the records of 513 patients admitted to a medical hospitalist unit through emergency department at Seoul National University Hospital.

Effect of dexamethasone injection into Zusanli (ST 36) acupoint on ovalbumin-induced allergic rhinitis.

Objective: To investigate the effects of acupuncture with dexamethasone (A. Dex) on allergic rhinitis (AR) by injecting dexamethasone into the Zusanli (ST 36) acupoint.

Methods: Thirty 6-week-old female BALB/c mice were sensitized on days 1, 5, and 14 by intraperitoneal injection of 100 µg of ovalbumin (OVA).

Clinical features and outcomes in spontaneous intramural small bowel hematoma: Cohort study and literature review.

Background/aims: Spontaneous intramural small bowel hematoma (SISBH) is an extremely rare complication of anticoagulant or antiplatelet therapy. We assessed the clinical characteristics and outcomes of patients with SISBH according to the anatomical location of the hematoma.

Methods: From January 2003 to February 2016, medical records for all patients hospitalized for SISBH at 2 tertiary referral hospitals were retrospectively reviewed.

Clinical efficacy of endoscopic ultrasonography for decision of treatment strategy of gastric cancer.

Background: Accurate preoperative tumor staging of gastric cancer is indispensable with expansion of indications for laparoscopic surgery and endoscopic resection. It is important to distinguish mucosal cancer (T1a) in smaller lesion and differentiate early gastric cancer (EGC) in larger lesion considering endoscopic resection indication and laparoscopic surgery indication. We evaluated the clinical outcomes of endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) for the decision of treatment strategy of gastric cancer compared with pathological staging.

Continuous Use of Thienopyridine May Be as Safe as Low-Dose Aspirin in Endoscopic Resection of Gastric Tumors.

Background/aims: Current guidelines recommend withholding antiplatelets for 5-7 days before high-risk endoscopic procedures. We investigated whether this reduces post-endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) bleeding.

Methods: Gastric ESD cases with antiplatelets were retorospectively reviewed.

Long-Term Effects of Eradication on Metachronous Gastric Cancer Development.

Background/aims: Gastric mucosal atrophy and intestinal metaplasia due to infection are the main precursor lesions of gastric cancer. The aim of this study was to evaluate the long-term effects of eradication on the progression of precancerous lesions to metachronous cancer after endoscopic resection of early gastric cancer (EGC).

Methods: Patients who underwent endoscopic resection of EGC were retrospectively reviewed.

Risk factors for early metachronous tumor development after endoscopic resection for early gastric cancer.

Background: Metachronous gastric tumor (MGT) is one of major concerns after endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) for early gastric cancer (EGC). Optimal follow-up strategy has not been yet well-established. The aim of this study was to identify the different clinical features of the patients according to the time interval to development of MGT.

Surveillance strategy according to age after endoscopic resection of early gastric cancer.

Background: Whether surveillance strategy after curative endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) for early gastric cancer (EGC) differs in young patients is unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the risk of metachronous and extragastric recurrence in young patients with EGC after curative ESD.

Methods: We retrospectively enrolled 1237 consecutive patients who underwent curative ESD for EGC from 2005 to 2014 at a single tertiary hospital.

Novel risk stratification for metachronous recurrence after curative endoscopic submucosal dissection for early gastric cancer.

Background And Aims: This study stratified the risk of developing metachronous gastric cancer (MGC) after curative endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) of early gastric cancer (EGC) to enable customization of endoscopic surveillance for MGC.

Methods: A total of 1115 patients who underwent curative ESD based on the expanded criteria for differentiated EGC from 2005 to 2014 at a single tertiary hospital were enrolled in this retrospective cohort study. They were followed up with annual endoscopy for a median of 50.

Clinical implications of pre-existing adenoma in endoscopically resected early gastric cancers.

Background: Although gastric adenoma is widely accepted as a precursor of gastric cancer, pre-existing adenoma is not always detected in gastric cancer patients.

Objective: To investigate the clinical characteristics of early gastric cancer (EGC) arising from adenoma, compared with those of EGC without pre-existing adenoma.

Methods: Patients who underwent endoscopic resection for EGC at a single tertiary hospital were divided into two groups based on the presence (ex-adenoma group) or absence (de novo group) of pre-existing adenoma on pathologic specimens.

Development of Portable Digital Radiography System with a Device for Monitoring X-ray Source-Detector Angle and Its Application in Chest Imaging.

This study developed a device measuring the X-ray source-detector angle (SDA) and evaluated the imaging performance for diagnosing chest images. The SDA device consisted of Arduino, an accelerometer and gyro sensor, and a Bluetooth module. The SDA values were compared with the values of a digital angle meter.

Characterization of acute-on-chronic liver failure and prediction of mortality in Asian patients with active alcoholism.

Background And Aims: Alcoholic liver diseases often evolve to acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF), which increases the risk of (multi-)organ failure and death. We investigated the development and characteristics of alcohol-related ACLF and evaluated prognostic scores for prediction of mortality in Asian patients with active alcoholism.

Methods: A total of 205 patients who were hospitalized with severe alcoholic liver disease were included in this retrospective cohort study, after excluding those with serious cardiovascular diseases, malignancy, or co-existing viral hepatitis.

Inhibitory effects of BiRyuChe-bang on mast cell-mediated allergic reactions and inflammatory cytokines production.

BiRyuChe-bang (BRC) is a Korean prescription medicine, which has been used to treat allergic rhinitis at Kyung Hee Medical Center. In this work, we investigated the effects of BRC on mast cell-mediated allergic reactions and inflammatory cytokines production, and identified the active component of BRC. Histamine release was measured from rat peritoneal mast cells (RPMCs).

In situ magnetic field-assisted low temperature atmospheric growth of GaN nanowires via the vapor-liquid-solid mechanism.

We report the growth of GaN nanowires at a low temperature of 750 °C and at atmospheric pressure in a conventional chemical vapor deposition (CVD) setup via the vapor-liquid-solid mechanism with remarkable control of directionality and growth behavior by using an in situ magnetic field. Under typical growth conditions, without any magnetic field, the nanowires are severely twisted and kinked, and exhibit a high density of planar stacking defects. With increasing in situ magnetic field strength, the microstructural defects are found to decrease progressively, and quasi-aligned nanowires are produced.