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Fungal sinusitis is a sinus infection caused by fungal species, most of which are aspergillus species. They can be classified mainly into two groups, invasive fungal sinusitis and non-invasive fungal sinusitis. Invasive fungal sinusitis is characterized by fungi not confined to the paranasal sinuses or the nasal cavity but invading the adjacent tissue and bone. Chronic invasive fungal sinusitis is one type of invasive fungal sinusitis and is a relatively rare disease. It can invade the adjacent sinus bone and tissue for months to years, resulting in bony sclerotic change, formation of mass and bony destruction, which can be mistaken for pseudotumor or malignant tumor. In this report, we report a case of a patient with chronic invasive fungal sinusitis, which was mimicking sino-nasal malignancy.
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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. This study targeted 3 major allergic diseases, including allergic rhinitis, atopic dermatitis, and asthma. For the target diseases, our database provides daily medical service information, including the number of daily visits from 2013 and 2017, categorized by patients’ characteristics such as address, sex, age, and duration of residence. We provide additional information, including yearly population, a number of patients, and averaged geocoding coordinates by eup, myeon, and dong district code (the smallest-scale administrative units in Korea). This information enables researchers to analyze how daily changes in the environmental factors of allergic diseases (e.g., particulate matter, sulfur dioxide, and ozone) in certain regions would influence patients’ behavioral patterns of medical service utilization. Moreover, researchers can analyze long-term trends in allergic diseases and the health effects caused by environmental factors such as daily climate and pollution data. The advantages of this database are easy access to data, additional levels of geographic detail, time-efficient data-refining and processing, and a de-identification process that minimizes the exposure of identifiable personal information. All datasets included in the Allergic Disease Database can be downloaded by accessing the National Health Insurance Service data sharing webpage (https:/hiss.nhis.or.kr).
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Purpose@#When splitting a liver for adult and pediatric graft recipients, the retained left medial section (S4) will undergo ischemic necrosis and the right trisection graft becomes an extended right liver (ERL) graft. We investigated the fates of the retained S4 and its prognostic impact in adult split liver transplantation (SLT) using an ERL graft. @*Methods@#This was a retrospective analysis of 25 adult SLT recipients who received split ERL grafts. @*Results@#The mean model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) score was 27.3 ± 10.9 and graft-recipient weight ratio (GRWR) was 1.98 ± 0.44. The mean donor age was 26.5 ± 7.7 years. The split ERL graft weight was 1,181.5 ± 252.8 g, which resulted in a mean GRWR of 1.98 ± 0.44. Computed tomography of the retained S4 parenchyma revealed small ischemic necrosis in 16 patients (64.0%) and large ischemic necrosis in the remaining 9 patients (36.0%). No S4-associated biliary complications were developed. The mean GRWR was 1.87 ± 0.43 in the 9 patients with large ischemic necrosis and 2.10 ± 0.44 in the 15 cases with small ischemic necrosis (P = 0.283). The retained S4 parenchyma showed gradual atrophy on follow-up imaging studies. The amount of S4 ischemic necrosis was not associated with graft (P = 0.592) or patient (P = 0.243) survival. A MELD score of >30 and pretransplant ventilator support were associated with inferior outcomes. @*Conclusion@#The amount of S4 ischemic necrosis is not a prognostic factor in adult SLT recipients, probably due to a sufficiently large GRWR.
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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. This study targeted 3 major allergic diseases, including allergic rhinitis, atopic dermatitis, and asthma. For the target diseases, our database provides daily medical service information, including the number of daily visits from 2013 and 2017, categorized by patients’ characteristics such as address, sex, age, and duration of residence. We provide additional information, including yearly population, a number of patients, and averaged geocoding coordinates by eup, myeon, and dong district code (the smallest-scale administrative units in Korea). This information enables researchers to analyze how daily changes in the environmental factors of allergic diseases (e.g., particulate matter, sulfur dioxide, and ozone) in certain regions would influence patients’ behavioral patterns of medical service utilization. Moreover, researchers can analyze long-term trends in allergic diseases and the health effects caused by environmental factors such as daily climate and pollution data. The advantages of this database are easy access to data, additional levels of geographic detail, time-efficient data-refining and processing, and a de-identification process that minimizes the exposure of identifiable personal information. All datasets included in the Allergic Disease Database can be downloaded by accessing the National Health Insurance Service data sharing webpage (https:/hiss.nhis.or.kr).
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Purpose@#When splitting a liver for adult and pediatric graft recipients, the retained left medial section (S4) will undergo ischemic necrosis and the right trisection graft becomes an extended right liver (ERL) graft. We investigated the fates of the retained S4 and its prognostic impact in adult split liver transplantation (SLT) using an ERL graft. @*Methods@#This was a retrospective analysis of 25 adult SLT recipients who received split ERL grafts. @*Results@#The mean model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) score was 27.3 ± 10.9 and graft-recipient weight ratio (GRWR) was 1.98 ± 0.44. The mean donor age was 26.5 ± 7.7 years. The split ERL graft weight was 1,181.5 ± 252.8 g, which resulted in a mean GRWR of 1.98 ± 0.44. Computed tomography of the retained S4 parenchyma revealed small ischemic necrosis in 16 patients (64.0%) and large ischemic necrosis in the remaining 9 patients (36.0%). No S4-associated biliary complications were developed. The mean GRWR was 1.87 ± 0.43 in the 9 patients with large ischemic necrosis and 2.10 ± 0.44 in the 15 cases with small ischemic necrosis (P = 0.283). The retained S4 parenchyma showed gradual atrophy on follow-up imaging studies. The amount of S4 ischemic necrosis was not associated with graft (P = 0.592) or patient (P = 0.243) survival. A MELD score of >30 and pretransplant ventilator support were associated with inferior outcomes. @*Conclusion@#The amount of S4 ischemic necrosis is not a prognostic factor in adult SLT recipients, probably due to a sufficiently large GRWR.
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Sphenoethmoidal (Onodi) cells originate from the ethmoid sinus and are located at the posterior and lateral direction. The obstruction of the sinus ostium leads to the accumulation of mucous fluid and eventually leads to the formation of a mucocele. Onodi cell mucoceles can cause visual loss or disturbance due to the adjacency to the orbital apex. Here we report a case of Onodi cell mucocele with a visual field disturbance, where the patient underwent an endoscopic sinus surgery 12 days after the initial symptom. After 21 days of onset, the subjective symptom started to subside. For Onodi cell mucocele patients with visual disturbance, we recommend rapid diagnosis with computed tomography and early marsupialization of the mucocele.
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BACKGROUND@#Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) recurrence and development of de novo malignancy (DNM) after liver transplantation (LT) are the major causes of late recipient death.@*METHODS@#We analyzed the incidence of extrahepatic DNM following living donor LT according to the status of pretransplant hepatic malignancy. We selected 2,076 adult patients who underwent primary LDLT during 7 years from January 2010 to December 2016.@*RESULTS@#The pretransplant hepatic malignancy group (n = 1,012) showed 45 cases (4.4%) of the following extrahepatic DNMs: posttransplant lymphoproliferative disease (PTLD) in 10; lung cancer in 10; stomach cancer in 6; colorectal cancer in 5; urinary bladder cancer in 3; and other cancers in 11. The pretransplant no hepatic malignancy group (n = 1,064) showed 25 cases (2.3%) of the following extrahepatic DNMs: colorectal cancer in 3; stomach cancer in 3; leukemia in 3; lung cancer in 3; PTLD in 2; prostate cancer in 2; and other cancers in 9. Incidences of extrahepatic DNM in the pretransplant hepatic malignancy and no hepatic malignancy groups were as follows: 1.1% and 0.5% at 1 year, 3.2% and 2.0% at 3 years, 4.6% and 2.5% at 5 years, and 5.4% and 2.8% at 8 years, respectively (P = 0.006). Their overall patient survival rates were as follows: 97.3% and 97.2% at 1 year, 91.6% and 95.9% at 3 years, 89.8% and 95.4% at 5 years, and 89.2% and 95.4% at 8 years, respectively (P < 0.001). Pretransplant hepatic malignancy was the only significant risk factor for posttransplant extrahepatic DNM.@*CONCLUSION@#Our results suggest that patients who had pretransplant hepatic malignancy be followed up more strictly because they have a potential risk of primary hepatic malignancy recurrence as well as a higher risk of extrahepatic DNM than patients without pretransplant hepatic malignancy.
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Objective@#The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the efficacy of omega-3 and Korean red ginseng on improving attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms and cognitive function in children with ADHD. @*Methods@#A total of 40 children aged 6 to 12 years diagnosed with ADHD participated in this open-label trial. Participants received daily supplements containing 500 mg of omega-3 (eicosapentaenoic acid, 294 mg; docosahexaenoic acid, 206 mg) and 3 mg of Korean red ginseng extract (combination of ginsenoside Rg1, Rb1, and Rg3) for 12 weeks. No psychotropic drug was allowed during the study period. ADHD symptoms were assessed using the ADHD Rating Scale (ADHD-RS) and Clinical Global Impression-Severity (CGI-S) scale. Neuropsychological tests on sustained attention, short-term memory, and executive function were also assessed. @*Results@#After 12 weeks, participants showed significant improvements on ADHD-RS (31.12 ± 8.82 at baseline, 24.15 ± 11.45 at endpoint; p ＜ 0.001) and CGI-S (3.38 ± 1.18 at baseline, 2.94 ± 1.00 at endpoint; p ＜ 0.001). On the Continuous Performance Test, commission errors significantly decreased, while reaction time significantly increased. Immediate recall and delayed recall on both Auditory Verbal Learning Test and Complex Figure Test showed significant improvements. Scores of Color−Word Task from Stroop Color−Word Test also showed significant improvements after the treatment. The supplement was well tolerated. @*Conclusion@#The results of this pilot study suggest that the combination of omega-3 and Korean red ginseng may improve ADHD symptoms and cognitive function including attention, memory, and executive function in children with ADHD. Future randomized placebo-controlled trials with a larger sample is warranted.
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Background@#Split liver transplantation (SLT) has been occasionally performed in Korea. This study compared the incidence and prognosis of SLT with whole liver transplantation (WLT) in adult patients. @*Methods@#Between June 2016 and November 2019, 242 adult patients underwent a total of 256 deceased donor liver transplantation operations. SLT was performed in 7 patients (2.9%). @*Results@#The mean age of SLT donors was 29.7 ± 7.4 years, and the mean age of recipients was 55.7 ± 10.6 years, with the latter having a mean model for end-stage liver disease score of 34.6 ± 3.1. Mean split right liver graft weight was 1,228.6 ± 149.7 g and mean graft-recipient weight ratio was 1.97 ± 0.39. Of the seven SLT recipients, Korean Network for Organ Sharing (KONOS) status was one in status 1, one in status 2 and five in status 3. The graft (p = 0.72) and patient (p = 0.84) survival rates were comparable in the SLT and WLT groups. Following propensity score matching, graft (p = 0.61) and patient (p = 0.91) survival rates remained comparable in the two groups. Univariate analysis showed that pretransplant ventilator support and renal replacement therapy were significantly associated with patient survival, whereas KONOS status category and primary liver diseases were not. Multivariate analysis showed that pretransplant ventilator support was an independent risk factor for patient survival. @*Conclusion@#Survival outcomes were similar in adult SLT and WLT recipients, probably due to selection of high-quality grafts and low-risk recipients. Prudent selection of donors and adult recipients for SLT may expand the liver graft pool for pediatric patients without affecting outcomes in adults undergoing SLT.
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Background@#Mortality of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a major concern for quarantine departments in all countries. This is because the mortality of infectious diseases determines the basic policy stance of measures to prevent infectious diseases. Early screening of high-risk groups and taking action are the basics of disease management. This study examined the correlation of comorbidities on the mortality of patients with COVID-19. @*Methods@#We constructed epidemiologic characteristics and medical history database based on the Korean National Health Insurance Service Big Data and linked COVID-19 registry data of Korea Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (KCDC) for this emergent observational cohort study. A total of 9,148 patients with confirmed COVID-19 were included. Mortalities by sex, age, district, income level and all range of comorbidities classified by International Classification of Diseases-10 based 298 categories were estimated. @*Results@#There were 3,556 male confirmed cases, 67 deaths, and crude death rate (CDR) of 1.88%. There were 5,592 females, 63 deaths, and CDR of 1.13%. The most confirmed cases were 1,352 patients between the ages of 20 to 24, followed by 25 to 29. As a result of multivariate logistic regression analysis that adjusted epidemiologic factors to view the risk of death, the odds ratio of death would be hemorrhagic conditions and other diseases of blood and blood-forming organs 3.88-fold (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.52–9.88), heart failure 3.17-fold (95% CI, 1.88–5.34), renal failure 3.07-fold (95% CI, 1.43–6.61), prostate malignant neoplasm 2.88-fold (95% CI, 1.01–8.22), acute myocardial infarction 2.38-fold (95% CI, 1.03–5.49), diabetes was 1.82-fold (95% CI, 1.25–2.67), and other ischemic heart disease 1.71-fold (95% CI, 1.09–2.66). @*Conclusion@#We hope that this study could provide information on high risk groups for preemptive interventions. In the future, if a vaccine for COVID-19 is developed, it is expected that this study will be the basic data for recommending immunization by selecting those with chronic disease that had high risk of death, as recommended target diseases for vaccination.
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Purpose@#A cryopreserved iliac artery homograft (IAH) has not been considered suitable for middle hepatic vein (MHV) reconstruction during living donor liver transplantation (LDLT), primarily due to the low patency from its small diameter. We revised our surgical techniques for MHV reconstruction using an IAH to improve its patency. @*Methods@#This study analyzed the causes of early conduit occlusion and developed revised techniques to address this that had clinical application. @*Results@#The potential risk factors for early conduit occlusion were the small IAH size, small graft in the segment V vein (V5) and segment VIII vein (V8) opening, and small recipient MHV-left hepatic vein stump. These factors were reflected to our revised surgical methods which included endarterectomy of the atherosclerotic plaque, unification of the internal and external iliac artery branches for large V5, and branch-patch arterioplasty for large V8. IAH endarterectomy, branch unification technique, and branch-patch arterioplasty were applied to 8, 5, and 5 patients, respectively and resulted in 1-month occlusion rates of 37.5%, 20.0%, and 40.0%, respectively. The overall patency rates of the IAH-MHV conduits in our 18 patients were 66.7% at 1 month, 38.9% at 3 months, and 33.3% at 1 year. @*Conclusion@#Our refined MHV reconstruction using an IAH improved short-term MHV conduit patency, but did not effectively prevent early conduit occlusion, particularly with a small- or medium-sized IAH. Individualized reconstruction designs during LDLT operation are needed when an IAH is used for a modified right liver graft.
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BACKGROUND: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) recurrence and development of de novo malignancy (DNM) after liver transplantation (LT) are the major causes of late recipient death.METHODS: We analyzed the incidence of extrahepatic DNM following living donor LT according to the status of pretransplant hepatic malignancy. We selected 2,076 adult patients who underwent primary LDLT during 7 years from January 2010 to December 2016.RESULTS: The pretransplant hepatic malignancy group (n = 1,012) showed 45 cases (4.4%) of the following extrahepatic DNMs: posttransplant lymphoproliferative disease (PTLD) in 10; lung cancer in 10; stomach cancer in 6; colorectal cancer in 5; urinary bladder cancer in 3; and other cancers in 11. The pretransplant no hepatic malignancy group (n = 1,064) showed 25 cases (2.3%) of the following extrahepatic DNMs: colorectal cancer in 3; stomach cancer in 3; leukemia in 3; lung cancer in 3; PTLD in 2; prostate cancer in 2; and other cancers in 9. Incidences of extrahepatic DNM in the pretransplant hepatic malignancy and no hepatic malignancy groups were as follows: 1.1% and 0.5% at 1 year, 3.2% and 2.0% at 3 years, 4.6% and 2.5% at 5 years, and 5.4% and 2.8% at 8 years, respectively (P = 0.006). Their overall patient survival rates were as follows: 97.3% and 97.2% at 1 year, 91.6% and 95.9% at 3 years, 89.8% and 95.4% at 5 years, and 89.2% and 95.4% at 8 years, respectively (P < 0.001). Pretransplant hepatic malignancy was the only significant risk factor for posttransplant extrahepatic DNM.CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that patients who had pretransplant hepatic malignancy be followed up more strictly because they have a potential risk of primary hepatic malignancy recurrence as well as a higher risk of extrahepatic DNM than patients without pretransplant hepatic malignancy.
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PURPOSE: Hepatorenal syndrome (HRS) is a fatal complication in patients with end-stage liver disease awaiting liver transplantation (LT). HRS often develops in patients with high model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) score. This study investigated the outcomes of peritransplant management of HRS in a high-volume LT center in Korea for 2 years.METHODS: A total of 157 recipients that deceased donor liver transplantation (DDLT) from January 2017 to December 2018 were included. In-hospital mortality (IHM) was analyzed in relation to pre- and posttransplant application of renal replacement therapy (RRT).RESULTS: Primary diagnoses for DDLT were alcoholic liver disease (n = 61), HBV-associated liver cirrhosis (n = 48), retransplantation for chronic graft failure (n = 24), and others (n = 24). Mean MELD score was 34.6 ± 6.2 with 72 patients at Korean Network for Organ Sharing MELD status 2 (45.9%), 43 at status 3 (27.4%), 36 at status 4 (22.9%), and 6 at status 5 (3.8%). Pretransplant RRT was performed in 16 patients (10.2%) that did not show IHM. Posttransplant RRT was performed in 69 patients (44.0%), for whom IHM incidence was 15.9%. In 53 patients that had undergone de novo posttransplant RRT, IHM incidence increased to 20.8%. IHM in the 88 patients not requiring RRT was 2.3%.CONCLUSION: The majority of adult DDLT recipients in Korean MELD score-based allocation system have very high MELD scores, which is often associated with HRS. Pretransplant RRT appears to improve posttransplant survival outcomes. We thereby recommend that, if indicated, pretransplant RRT be performed while awaiting DDLT.
Subject(s)
Adult , Humans , Diagnosis , Hepatorenal Syndrome , Hospital Mortality , Incidence , Korea , Liver Cirrhosis , Liver Diseases , Liver Diseases, Alcoholic , Liver Transplantation , Liver , Renal Dialysis , Renal Replacement Therapy , Tissue Donors , TransplantsABSTRACT
BACKGROUND@#Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) recurrence and development of de novo malignancy (DNM) after liver transplantation (LT) are the major causes of late recipient death.@*METHODS@#We analyzed the incidence of extrahepatic DNM following living donor LT according to the status of pretransplant hepatic malignancy. We selected 2,076 adult patients who underwent primary LDLT during 7 years from January 2010 to December 2016.@*RESULTS@#The pretransplant hepatic malignancy group (n = 1,012) showed 45 cases (4.4%) of the following extrahepatic DNMs: posttransplant lymphoproliferative disease (PTLD) in 10; lung cancer in 10; stomach cancer in 6; colorectal cancer in 5; urinary bladder cancer in 3; and other cancers in 11. The pretransplant no hepatic malignancy group (n = 1,064) showed 25 cases (2.3%) of the following extrahepatic DNMs: colorectal cancer in 3; stomach cancer in 3; leukemia in 3; lung cancer in 3; PTLD in 2; prostate cancer in 2; and other cancers in 9. Incidences of extrahepatic DNM in the pretransplant hepatic malignancy and no hepatic malignancy groups were as follows: 1.1% and 0.5% at 1 year, 3.2% and 2.0% at 3 years, 4.6% and 2.5% at 5 years, and 5.4% and 2.8% at 8 years, respectively (P = 0.006). Their overall patient survival rates were as follows: 97.3% and 97.2% at 1 year, 91.6% and 95.9% at 3 years, 89.8% and 95.4% at 5 years, and 89.2% and 95.4% at 8 years, respectively (P < 0.001). Pretransplant hepatic malignancy was the only significant risk factor for posttransplant extrahepatic DNM.@*CONCLUSION@#Our results suggest that patients who had pretransplant hepatic malignancy be followed up more strictly because they have a potential risk of primary hepatic malignancy recurrence as well as a higher risk of extrahepatic DNM than patients without pretransplant hepatic malignancy.
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We constructed the family tree database (DB) by using a new family code system that can logically express interpersonal family relationships and by comparing and complementing health insurance eligibility data and resident register data of the National Health Information Database (NHID). In the family tree DB, Parents and grandparents are matched for more than 95% of those who were born between 2010 and 2017. Codes for inverse relationships and extended relationships are generated using sequences of the three-digit basic family codes. The family tree DB contains variables such as sex, birth year, family relations, and degree of kinship (maximum of 4) between subjects and family members. Using the family tree DB, we find that prevalence rates of hypertension, diabetes, ischemic heart disease, cerebrovascular disease, and cancer are higher for those with family history. The family tree DB may omit some relationships due to incomplete past data, and some family relations cannot be uniquely determined because the source data only contain relationships between head and members of the household. The family tree DB is a part of the NHID, and researchers can submit requests for data on the website at http:/hiss.nhis.or.kr. Requested data will be provided after approval from the data service review board. However, the family tree DB can be limitedly provided for studies with high public value in order to maximize personal information protection.
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BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES@#The clinical significance and need for the treatment of primary snoring and mild obstructive sleep apnea have been recently questioned. In this study, we analyzed therapeutic outcome and the methods of treatment of such diseases.SUBJECTS AND METHOD: A retrospective review was conducted using the medical records of patients diagnosed with primary snoring or mild obstructive sleep apnea at a single institution from 2013 to 2015 through polysomnography or WATCHPAT.@*RESULTS@#Of the 18 patients (37%) with primary snoring, 13 patients (72.2%) underwent surgery, four patients (22.2%) were treated with surgery and mandibular advancement device, and one patient (5.6%) underwent automatic positive airway pressure therapy. Of the 78 patients (61%) with mild obstructive sleep apnea, 35 patients (44.8%) had surgery, 24 patients (30.8%) were treated with mandibular advancement device, 13 patients (16.7%) were treated with surgery and mandibular advancement device and 6 patients (7.7%) received automatic positive airway pressure therapy. For primary snoring, while Epworth Sleepiness Scale and Pittsburg Sleep Quality Index did not improve, the snoring visual analog scale decreased significantly. In patients with mild obstructive sleep apnea, Apnea-Hypopnea Index, snoring decibel, Epworth Sleepiness Scale, and Pittsburg Sleep Quality Index were significantly decreased after treatment and the lowest oxygen saturation was significantly increased after treatment.@*CONCLUSION@#For primary snoring, the direction of treatment should be determined in accordance with the presence of associated diseases related to sleep disturbance breathing. For mild obstructive sleep apnea, active treatment may be helpful.
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We constructed the family tree database (DB) by using a new family code system that can logically express interpersonal family relationships and by comparing and complementing health insurance eligibility data and resident register data of the National Health Information Database (NHID). In the family tree DB, Parents and grandparents are matched for more than 95% of those who were born between 2010 and 2017. Codes for inverse relationships and extended relationships are generated using sequences of the three-digit basic family codes. The family tree DB contains variables such as sex, birth year, family relations, and degree of kinship (maximum of 4) between subjects and family members. Using the family tree DB, we find that prevalence rates of hypertension, diabetes, ischemic heart disease, cerebrovascular disease, and cancer are higher for those with family history. The family tree DB may omit some relationships due to incomplete past data, and some family relations cannot be uniquely determined because the source data only contain relationships between head and members of the household. The family tree DB is a part of the NHID, and researchers can submit requests for data on the website at http://nhiss.nhis.or.kr. Requested data will be provided after approval from the data service review board. However, the family tree DB can be limitedly provided for studies with high public value in order to maximize personal information protection.
Subject(s)
Humans , Cerebrovascular Disorders , Complement System Proteins , Computer Security , Family Characteristics , Family Relations , Grandparents , Head , Hypertension , Insurance, Health , Interpersonal Relations , Korea , Logic , Myocardial Ischemia , Parents , Parturition , Pedigree , PrevalenceABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Prophylaxis for hepatitis B virus (HBV) recurrence is essential after liver transplantation (LT) in HBV-associated recipients. This study established an individualized HBV prophylaxis protocol, through optimization of hepatitis B immunoglobulin (HBIG) administration, with application of simulative half-life (SHL). METHODS: This study involved five parts: Part 1 developed the SHL estimation method with 20 patients; Parts 2 and 3 assessed the SHL variability and developed a simulation model to apply SHL in 100 patients; Part 4 validated the simulation model in 114 patients, and Part 5 was a cross-sectional study on the current status of HBIG infusion intervals in 660 patients. RESULTS: In Part 1, infusion of 10,000 IU HBIG induced add-on rise hepatitis B surface antibody (anti-HBs) titer of 5,252.5 ± 873.7 IU/L, which was 4.4% lower than actual measurement. Mean SHL of 20.0 ± 3.7 days was 2.2% longer than actual measurement. In Part 2, the medians of the intra- and inter-individual coefficient of variation in SHL were 13.5% and 18.5%, respectively. Pretransplant HBV DNA load and posttransplant antiviral therapy did not affect SHL. In Part 3, a simulation model was developed to determine the interval of HBIG infusion, by using SHL. In Part 4, all 114 patients were successfully managed with regular HBIG infusion intervals of ≥ 8 weeks, and the interval was prolonged to ≥ 12 weeks in 89.4%, with a target trough anti-HBs titer ≥ 200 IU/L. In Part 5, 47.4% of our patients received HBIG excessively, at a target trough titer of 500 IU/L. CONCLUSION: SHL estimation using only clinically available parameters seems to be reliably accurate when compared with actual measurements. We believe that SHL estimation is helpful to establish a personalized HBV prophylaxis protocol for optimizing HBIG administration.
Subject(s)
Humans , Cross-Sectional Studies , DNA , Half-Life , Hepatitis B virus , Hepatitis B , Hepatitis , Immunoglobulins , Liver Transplantation , Methods , RecurrenceABSTRACT
Equine influenza (EI) is the main cause of respiratory illness in equines across the globe and is caused by equine influenza A virus (EIV-A), which has impacted the equine industry internationally because of the marginal mortality and high morbidity. In the present study, the immune responses after equine influenza vaccination were evaluated in 4,144 horses in Korea using the hemagglutination inhibition (HI) assay. The equine influenza virus (EIV), A/equine/South Africa/4/03 (H3N8), was used as the antigen in the HI assay. The mean seropositive rates were 89.2% (97.4% in 2016, 77.6% in 2017, and 92.4% in 2018). This paper highlights the advances in understanding the effects of vaccines and control strategies for mitigating the emerging menace by EIV.
Subject(s)
Antibody Formation , Hemagglutination , Horses , Influenza A virus , Influenza, Human , Korea , Mortality , Orthomyxoviridae , Vaccination , VaccinesABSTRACT
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The clinical significance and need for the treatment of primary snoring and mild obstructive sleep apnea have been recently questioned. In this study, we analyzed therapeutic outcome and the methods of treatment of such diseases. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: A retrospective review was conducted using the medical records of patients diagnosed with primary snoring or mild obstructive sleep apnea at a single institution from 2013 to 2015 through polysomnography or WATCHPAT. RESULTS: Of the 18 patients (37%) with primary snoring, 13 patients (72.2%) underwent surgery, four patients (22.2%) were treated with surgery and mandibular advancement device, and one patient (5.6%) underwent automatic positive airway pressure therapy. Of the 78 patients (61%) with mild obstructive sleep apnea, 35 patients (44.8%) had surgery, 24 patients (30.8%) were treated with mandibular advancement device, 13 patients (16.7%) were treated with surgery and mandibular advancement device and 6 patients (7.7%) received automatic positive airway pressure therapy. For primary snoring, while Epworth Sleepiness Scale and Pittsburg Sleep Quality Index did not improve, the snoring visual analog scale decreased significantly. In patients with mild obstructive sleep apnea, Apnea-Hypopnea Index, snoring decibel, Epworth Sleepiness Scale, and Pittsburg Sleep Quality Index were significantly decreased after treatment and the lowest oxygen saturation was significantly increased after treatment. CONCLUSION: For primary snoring, the direction of treatment should be determined in accordance with the presence of associated diseases related to sleep disturbance breathing. For mild obstructive sleep apnea, active treatment may be helpful.