The effect of sarpogrelate compared to aspirin in high- or very-high-risk diabetes for primary prevention.

The benefit of aspirin in primary prevention for atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases (ASCVD) is questionable due to bleeding complications. We analyzed the Korean National Health Insurance data to compare the efficacy and overall bleeding of sarpogrelate, an antiplatelet agent with lower bleeding risk, versus aspirin in high-/very-high-risk diabetic populations without prior ASCVD. The primary endpoint was net adverse clinical events (NACE), defined as a composite of efficacy and overall bleeding.

Characteristics of Side Effects in Non-Emergency Indications Using Computer-Controlled Pressurized Monoplace Hyperbaric Chambers: A Retrospective Multicenter Study.

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) involves inhaling nearly 100% oxygen in a pressurized environment and is commonly used to treat various diseases and injuries. Despite its well-known safety, HBOT is associated with side effects, with frequent middle ear barotrauma (MEB) and oxygen toxicity. Understanding the characteristics and risk factors associated with these side effects is critical for improving patient compliance and treatment outcomes.

Impacts of Parental Food Choice Values on Children's Restaurant Eating Behavior Among Regular Restaurant Consumers With Low Income: A Latent Class Analysis.

Objective: To identify subgroups of parents' food choice value systems and evaluate associations with restaurant eating behaviors of children.

Design: Cross-sectional survey.

Participants: Parents with low income and children aged 2-11 years who were frequent restaurant visitors before the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic (n = 1,146).

Hepatitis B surface antigen reverse seroconversion after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation according to the baseline serological marker levels and vaccination status: a single-center database analysis.

Purpose: Hepatitis B is a major prognostic factor after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). Currently, no consensus exists regarding the management of various scenarios that can lead to reverse seroconversion of the hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg-RS). This study focused on HBsAg-RS, which serves as an indicator of active hepatitis, and aimed to obtain exploratory information on the associated patient and treatment factors.

Assessing maternity care access: impacts on cesarean sections and dystocia.

Background: As South Korea grapples with a declining birthrate, maternity care accessibility has become challenging. This study examines the association with labour intervention and pregnancy complication, specifically focusing on C-section and dystocia in maternity disparities.

Methods: Data from the South Korean NHIS-NID was used to analyze 1,437,186 women with childbirths between 2010 and 2015.

Biotechnological valorization of levulinic acid as a non-sugar feedstock: New paradigm in biorefineries.

Due to the severe climate crisis, biorefineries have been highlighted as replacements for fossil fuel-derived refineries. In traditional sugar-based biorefineries, levulinic acid (LA) is a byproduct. Nonetheless, in 2002, the US Department of Energy noted that LA is a significant building block obtained from biomass, and the biorefinery paradigm has shifted from being sugar-based to non-sugar-based.

Development and validation of the Health Literacy Index for the Community for the Korean National Health and Nutrition and Examination Survey.

Objectives: We developed and validated the Health Literacy Index for the Community (HLIC) to assess the health literacy of the Korean population within the framework of the Korean National Health and Nutrition and Examination Survey.

Methods: The HLIC was developed through (1) defining the conceptual framework and generating the item pool and (2) finalizing the items and identifying the cut-off value. Interviews were conducted to examine items' face validity, and a cross-sectional survey was performed to analyze the item-response theory and Rasch models to investigate the instrument's psychometric properties.

Emergency medicine residents' learning curve in diagnosing deep vein thrombosis with 3-point venous point-of-care ultrasound.

Background: Many cases of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) are diagnosed in the emergency department, and abbreviated lower extremity venous point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) has already shown an accuracy comparable to that of specialists. This study aimed to identify the learning curve necessary for emergency medicine (EM) residents to achieve expertise-level accuracy in diagnosing DVT through a 3-point lower extremity venous POCUS.

Methods: This prospective study was conducted at an emergency department between May 2021 and October 2022.

Status and perception of point-of-care ultrasound education in Korean medical schools: A national cross-sectional study.

As point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) is increasingly being used in clinical settings, ultrasound education is expanding into student curricula. We aimed to determine the status and awareness of POCUS education in Korean medical schools using a nationwide cross-sectional survey. In October 2021, a survey questionnaire consisting of 20 questions was distributed via e-mail to professors in the emergency medicine (EM) departments of Korean medical schools.

Regional differences in the effects of healthy aging on depressive symptoms: a Korean longitudinal study of aging (2006-2020).

Background: Depression is a widely prevalent, often recurrent condition. To analyze the regional differences in depressive symptoms over time, we investigated urban-rural differences in change in depression over time in South Korea and the association between healthy aging and depressive symptoms among middle-aged and older adults.

Methods: Data collected in the Korean Longitudinal Study of Aging, from 2006 to 2020, of adult participants aged ≥45 years without depressive symptoms were analyzed.

Real-Time Tracheal Ultrasound vs. Capnography for Intubation Confirmation during CPR Wearing a Powered Air-Purifying Respirator in COVID-19 Era.

This study aimed to compare the accuracy of real-time trans-tracheal ultrasound (TTUS) with capnography to confirm intubation in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) while wearing a powered air-purifying respirator (PAPR). This setting reflects increased caution due to contagious diseases. This single-center, prospective, comparative study enrolled patients requiring CPR while wearing a PAPR who visited the emergency department of a tertiary medical center from December 2020 to August 2022.

Unenhanced Breast MRI With Diffusion-Weighted Imaging for Breast Cancer Detection: Effects of Training on Performance and Agreement of Subspecialty Radiologists.

Objective: To investigate whether reader training improves the performance and agreement of radiologists in interpreting unenhanced breast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans using diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI).

Materials And Methods: A study of 96 breasts (35 cancers, 24 benign, and 37 negative) in 48 asymptomatic women was performed between June 2019 and October 2020. High-resolution DWI with b-values of 0, 800, and 1200 sec/mm² was performed using a 3.

Differential effect of cancer-associated fibroblast-derived extracellular vesicles on cisplatin resistance in oral squamous cell carcinoma miR-876-3p.

Platinum-based chemotherapy is commonly used for treating solid tumors, but drug resistance often limits its effectiveness. Cancer-associated fibroblast (CAF)-derived extracellular vesicle (EV), which carry various miRNAs, have been implicated in chemotherapy resistance. However, the molecular mechanism through which CAFs modulate cisplatin resistance in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is not well understood.

Effect of regional medical disparities on complications in patients with hypertension: Cox's proportional hazard models.

Objective: Complications associated with hypertension can be alleviated by providing necessary medical services. However, there may be disparities in their provision depending on regional differences. Thus, this study aimed to examine the effects of regional healthcare disparities on complications in patients with hypertension in South Korea.

Regional Differences in Medical Costs of Chronic Kidney Disease in the South Korean Population: Marginalized Two-Part Model.

Background: There are regional gaps in the access to medical services for patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), and it is necessary to reduce those gaps, including the gaps involving medical costs.

Objective: This study aimed to analyze regional differences in the medical costs associated with CKD in the South Korean population.

Methods: This longitudinal cohort study included participants randomly sampled from the National Health Insurance Service-National Sample Cohort of South Korea.

Transcriptional responses of human intestinal epithelial HT-29 cells to spore-displayed p40 derived from Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus GG.

Backgrounds: The aims of this study were to construct spore-displayed p40, a Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus GG-derived soluble protein, using spore surface display technology and to evaluate transcriptional responses in human intestinal epithelial cells.

Results: p40 was displayed on the surface of Bacillus subtilis spores using spore coat protein CotG as an anchor protein. Effects of spore-displayed p40 (CotG-p40) on gene expression of intestinal epithelial cell line HT-29 were evaluated by transcriptome analysis using RNA-sequencing.

Combination of chemotherapy and focused ultrasound for the treatment of unresectable pancreatic cancer: a proof-of-concept study.

Objectives: To investigate the safety and preliminary efficacy of the combined treatment of focused ultrasound (FUS) and chemotherapy (nab-paclitaxel plus gemcitabine, nPac/Gem) for patients with unresectable pancreatic cancer.

Methods: Patients pathologically diagnosed with unresectable pancreatic cancer were included. Low (Isppa = 1.

Health literacy and health care experiences of migrant workers during the COVID-19 pandemic: a qualitative study.

Background: Migrant workers are among the most vulnerable populations in society. This study explored the health-literacy experiences of migrant workers in South Korea and how the workers'daily lives have been affected by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

Methods: We conducted a series of semi-structured individual and focus-group interviews with 23 migrant workers (eight Cambodians, six Nepalese, four Sri Lankans, three Bangladeshis, and two Pakistanis) residing in the Daegu and Busan metropolitan areas of South Korea.

Factors associated with self-rated health among immigrant workers in South Korea: Analyzing the results of the 2020 survey on immigrants' living conditions and labor force.

Immigrants' health is an emerging public health issue worldwide. This study aimed to measure immigrant workers' self-rated health and identify the factors affecting it. Data were obtained from the nationwide 2020 Survey on Immigrants' Living Conditions and Labor Force in Korea.

Difference in medical service use among Korean gastric cancer survivors according to regional healthcare vulnerabilities: a cohort study.

Purpose: This study investigated the relationship between medical service use and healthcare vulnerability, pre- and post-gastric cancer diagnosis. Differences between healthcare-vulnerable and healthcare-nonvulnerable regions identified inequities that require intervention.

Methods: This cohort study was done using the National Health Insurance claims data of patients diagnosed with gastric cancer between 2004 and 2013.