Disease burden of benign prostatic hyperplasia in China, Japan and South Korea from 1990 to 2019: a comparative study / 现代泌尿外科杂志

【Objective】 To analyze the disease burden of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) in China, Japan and South Korea from 1990 to 2019, so as to provide scientific basis for rational allocation of health resources. 【Methods】 Data were obtained from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019. The incidence, prevalence and years lived with disability(YLD)were used to analyze the burden, and the average annual percent change and annual percent change were calculated. 【Results】 The incidence, prevalence and YLD rate in China were much higher than those in Japan and South Korea. The crude incidence in China, Japan and South Korea increased by 2.56%, 1.49% and 3.59% per year from 1990 to 2019, the crude prevalence rate increased by 2.70%, 2.34% and 4.03%, and the crude YLD rate increased by 2.68%, 2.33% and 4.04%. After age standardization, the disease burden in China decreased with time, but the trend was not significant, and the standardized rate in Japan and Korea increased significantly with time. The disease burden of BPH increased with age, and those aged 60 to 84 years had the highest burden. In addition, the disease burden increased with the increase of socio-demographic index (SDI) in all three countries. 【Conclusion】 The disease burden of BPH was very heavy in China, Japan and South Korea, especially in China. Males aged 60 to 84 years were the high-risk group. Targeted intervention should be adopted for these population.

Research on the supply guarantee system of orphan drugs in South Korea from the perspective of accessibility and its enlightenment / 中国药房

OBJECTIVE To systematically introduce the supply guarantee system of orphan drugs in South Korea， and to provide reference for improving the accessibility of orphan drugs in China. METHODS The basic characteristics and practical experience of supply guarantee system of orphan drugs in South Korea were summarized by studying the marketing incentive mechanism， reserve supply mechanism and emergency use mechanism. Then， based on the research on the current situation and existing problems of orphan drug supply in China， specific suggestions were put forward to improve the accessibility of orphan drugs in China. RESULTS & CONCLUSIONS South Korea has effectively improved the accessibility of orphan drugs through orphan drug identification channels and supporting incentive policies， relying on the reserve supply mechanism and the import route for emergency use. Therefore， it is suggested that China should guarantee the normal supply of orphan drugs from three aspects： improving the recognition and incentive policy of orphan drugs， building a full-time management department of orphan drugs， and optimizing the temporary import path.

Report on the Republic of Korea-Japan Symposium on Frailty and Sarcopenia / 全日本鍼灸学会雑誌

The 2022 International Conference for Global Cooperation in Traditional Medicine was held in a hybrid meeting at the Novotel Ambassador Seoul Dongdaemun Hotel in Seoul on the 1st and 2nd of November 2022. This international conference was hosted by the Ministry of Health and Welfare of South Korea, organized by the National Institute for Korean Medicine Development, and supported by The Society of Korean Medicine. At this conference, a bilateral exchange of acupuncture and moxibustion therapies between Japan and Korea was held at the Republic of Korea-Japan Symposium I. The aims of the symposium were to combine conventional and traditional medical knowledge of frailty and sarcopenia and to share possible ideas to develop proper treatment for frailty and sarcopenia.

Herbal medicine use in Republic of Korea to alleviate side effects of COVID-19 vaccines: A cross-sectional study / 中西医结合学报

OBJECTIVE@#Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has spread worldwide, and several virus variants have emerged. Vaccines are administered to help prevent the infection. In Republic of Korea, most people take herbal medicine. This study investigated the use of herbal medicine to counter the side effects of COVID-19 vaccines.@*METHODS@#This cross-sectional study was conducted using an online survey. Chi-square tests were used to determine differences in the use of herbal medication according to sociodemographic characteristics. Independent two-sample and paired t-tests were performed to examine the effect and satisfaction of herbal medicine use for countering the side effects of COVID-19 vaccines. One-way analysis of variance was used to determine vaccine-related differences.@*RESULTS@#A total of 233 and 181 participants received the first and second doses of COVID-19 vaccines, respectively. The majority of herbal medicine users were in their thirties, had a bachelor's degree, suffered from side effects of vaccination, and received Vaxzevria for their first COVID-19 vaccine dose and Comirnaty for their second dose. The herbal medicine group had a higher satisfaction level of post-vaccination side effects than the non-herbal medicine group (P < 0.0001). The numeric rating scale scores for vaccination side effects were lower among participants who took herbal medication to alleviate those symptoms (P < 0.0001). The most commonly used herbal formula was Shuanghetang.@*CONCLUSION@#A third of participants receiving COVID-19 vaccines used herbal medication to counter the side effects of vaccination. The use of herbal medicine was associated with age, education level, vaccine brand, and whether side effects of vaccination occurred. Herbal medication use was associated with greater satisfaction compared to vaccine recipients not using herbal medication. Please cite this article as: Yoon HC. Herbal medicine use in Republic of Korea to alleviate side effects of COVID-19 vaccines: A cross-sectional study. J Integr Med. 2023; 21(4):361-368.

Japanese imperial psychiatry in Tokyo: two Korean immigrants in a psychiatric hospital, 1920-1945 / Psiquiatria imperial japonesa em Tóquio: dois imigrantes coreanos em um hospital psiquiátrico, 1920-1945

Abstract During the first half of the twentieth century, Western psychiatry was quickly absorbed in Japan, particularly the versions from Germany and Austria. By 1940, over 130 psychiatric hospitals were caring for approximately thirty thousand patients in cities, while in rural areas about sixty thousand people still depended on family members for care. Japan's empire expanded during this same period, and many immigrants came to the country. Growth in immigration from Korea was particularly important. Korean immigrants encountered Japanese psychiatric hospitals during the second quarter of the twentieth century, and this paper examines the complex nature of their hospital stays.

Resumo Ao longo da primeira metade do século XX, a psiquiatria ocidental foi rapidamente absorvida no Japão, particularmente as versões advindas da Alemanha e da Áustria. Em 1940, mais de 130 hospitais psiquiátricos cuidavam de cerca de trinta mil pacientes nas cidades, enquanto nas áreas rurais cerca de sessenta mil pessoas ainda dependiam dos cuidados de familiares. No mesmo período, o império japonês expandiu-se, e muitos imigrantes vieram para o país. Particularmente importante foi o crescimento da imigração coreana. Hospitais psiquiátricos japoneses e imigrantes coreanos se encontraram no segundo quartel do século XX. O artigo examina a complexidade dessas estadas hospitalares.

Differences of neuroanatomy education for large and small numbers of students in China and Korea / Diferencias de educación en neuroanatomía de cantidades mayores y menores de estudiantes en China y Corea

In Southern Medical University, China, 1,200 medical students study neuroanatomy every year, whereas in Ajou University, Korea, only 45 medical students study neuroanatomy. The considerable difference of student numbers results in differences in educational situations. The purpose of this study was to investigate desirable neuroanatomy education methods for large and small numbers of students. The situations of neuroanatomy education in China and Korea were compared systematically. With a questionnaire survey, positive comments and recommendations for their counterparts were collected from the medical students (168 Chinese and 41 Koreans) and anatomists (6 Chinese and 3 Koreans). By reviewing the opinions, the Chinese and Korean anatomists could learn from each other to improve their strong points and make up for the weak points. The results also disclosed the common problems of neuroanatomy education, which could be relieved by developing the fitting book and the self-learning tools, such as lecture videos and stereoscopic computer models.

En la Universidad de Medicina del Sur, China, 1.200 estudiantes de medicina estudian la neuroanatomía cada año, mientras que en la Universidad de Ajou, Corea, solo 45 estudiantes de medicina estudian neuroanatomía. Esta considerable variable del número de estudiantes resulta en diferencias en las situaciones educativas. El propósito de este estudio fue investigar métodos de educación en neuroanatomía deseables para cantidades mayores y menores de estudiantes. Se compararon sistemáticamente las situaciones de educación en neuroanatomía en China y Corea. Por medio de una encuesta por cuestionario, se obtuvieron comentarios positivos y recomendaciones para sus contrapartes de los estudiantes de medicina (168 chinos y 41 coreanos) y anatomistas (6 chinos y 3 coreanos). Al revisar las opiniones, los anatomistas chinos y coreanos podrían aprender unos de otros para mejorar sus puntos de fortaleza y compensar los aspectos débiles. Los resultados también revelaron los problemas comunes de la educación en neuroanatomía, que podrían aliviarse desarrollando el libro de adaptación y las herramientas de autoaprendizaje, como videos de conferencias y modelos de computadora estereoscópica.

Leisure Time Physical Activity to Reduce Metabolic Syndrome Risk: A 10-Year Community-Based Prospective Study in Korea

PURPOSE: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a major public health problem related to increased risks of cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes. We investigated whether recommended levels of leisure time physical activity (LTPA) decrease the risk of MetS in a community-based prospective cohort study (Ansung and Ansan cohort).MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 3910 adults (1890 men, 2020 women) without MetS examined in 2001–2002 (baseline) were included in this study and followed up from 2013 to 2014. We measured LTPA energy expenditure using the standard metabolic equivalent value [metabolic equivalent of task (MET)-h/wk]. Individuals were categorized into five groups (physically inactive, 0.1 to <7.5, 7.5 to <15.0, 15.0 to <22.5, 22.5 to <40.0, and ≥40.0 MET-h/wk).RESULTS: The mean follow-up period was 11.8 years. Among the cohort, 482 men (25.5%) and 541 women (26.8%) were diagnosed with newly developed MetS. Multivariate logistic analysis revealed a 4.4% lower MetS risk among those performing two to three times the recommended minimum of 7.5 MET-h/wk [multivariate relative risk (RR), 0.956; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.654–1.398] and a 21.9% lower risk among those performing three to four times the physical activity minimum (multivariate RR, 0.781; 95% CI, 0.574–1.063). This association was only significant in females performing three to four times the minimum (crude RR, 0.655; 95% CI, 0.432–0.994).CONCLUSION: We noted that physical activity at more than 2 times the recommended minimum prevents MetS. Healthcare professionals should encourage inactive adults to be physically active during their leisure time to take advantage of its health benefits.

Comparisons of food security, dietary behaviors and nutrient intakes between adult North Korean Refugees in South Korea and South Koreans

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: North Korean refugees (NKRs) in South Korea are a unique population as they must adapt in a new country with similar cultural traits but different social, political, and economic systems, but little research has been conducted on diet and nutrition in this population. This study examined food security, dietary behaviors, and nutrient intakes among adult NKRs living in South Korea and compared them to those of South Koreans.SUBJECTS/METHODS: The subjects were 139 adult NKRs (25 men, 114 women) living in the Seoul metropolitan area, and 417 age- and sex-matched South Korean controls (SKCs; 75 men, 342 women) selected from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES). Food security and dietary behaviors (meal skipping, eating-out, meals with family, nutrition education and counseling, and nutrition label knowledge and utilization) were obtained using self-administered questionnaires. Nutrient intakes were assessed by 24-hr recall. The statistical analysis was performed using IBM SPSS ver. 23.0.RESULTS: In South Korea, food security had improved over the previous 12 months, but remained significantly poorer for NKR women than SKC women. Meal skipping was three times more frequent than for SKCs and eating-out was rare. Average energy intake was 1,509 kcal for NKR men and 1,344 kcal for NKR women, which was lower than those of SKCs (2,412 kcal and 1,789 kcal, respectively). Significantly more NKRs (men 24.0%, women 21.9%) showed simultaneously deficient intake in energy, calcium, iron, vitamin A, and riboflavin than SKCs (men 2.7% (P = 0.003), women 7.0% (P < 0.001)). NKR women had a significantly higher index of nutrient quality (INQ) for some nutrients than SK women.CONCLUSIONS: This study reports significant differences in food security, dietary behaviors, and nutrient intakes between NKRs and SKCs. Generally, NKRs reported lower intakes despite improved food security, but relatively good INQs across nutrients. Further research is needed to understand processes of food choice and consumption among NKRs to provide appropriate support aimed at improving diets.

Prescription of antibiotics after tooth extraction in adults: a nationwide study in Korea

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to understand the nationwide patterns of antibiotic prescription after tooth extraction in adult patients.MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study analyzed dental records from the National Health Insurance Service–National Sample Cohort (NHIS–NSC) database on 503,725 tooth extractions performed in adults (≥19 years) during 2011–2015. Patient sex, age, household income, systemic disease (diabetes mellitus and hypertension), type of dental institution, region of dental institution, year of prescription, and type of tooth extraction procedure were considered. The antibiotic prescription rate and broad-spectrum antibiotic prescription frequency were analyzed using chi-squared tests. Factors affecting the prescription of broad-spectrum antibiotics were evaluated using multivariate logistic regression analysis.RESULTS: The rate of antibiotic prescription after tooth extraction was 81.85%. Penicillin was most commonly prescribed (45.25%), followed by penicillin with beta-lactamase inhibitors (18.76%), metronidazole (12.29%), and second- to fourth-generation cephalosporins (11.52%). The proportion of broad-spectrum antibiotics used among all prescribed antibiotics was 45.88%.CONCLUSION: The findings of this study demonstrate that the rate of antibiotic prescription after tooth extraction is higher in Korea than in other countries. Furthermore, broad-spectrum antibiotics are used more frequently, which may indicate unnecessary drug prescription, an important contributor to antibiotic resistance.

Disease-Specific Mortality and Prevalence Trends in Korea, 2002–2015

Hermeneutic Phenomenological Study on the Experiences of Employment of Married North Korean Women Defectors Rearing Children / 간호학회지

PURPOSE: This study aimed to understand the experiences of married North Korean women's child-rearing, working lives, and their home and work environment in depth.METHODS: This study adopted van Manen's hermeneutic phenomenological method to qualitatively analyze data. The participants were 8 married North Korean women defectors. Data were collected through in-depth interviews and observations from July 4 to August 20, 2018.RESULTS: Nine essential themes emerged: more personal challenges after overcoming a life-threatening crisis; hopes of firmly settling in this land; the wound from the north, which chased them here; a body that becomes stronger through hardship; being stuck in a past full of anxiety and pain; the present is full of hope; hope for the future; sense of alienation from coworkers that cannot be overcome; and sense of power to endure an exhausting work life.CONCLUSION: This study provided a broader understanding of the life and experiences of married women from North Korea. It highlights the need for nurses to recognize their importance in nursing care. The study also suggests that academic and practical approaches for nursing, and basic data for a nursing intervention for married women from North Korea be provided. The study findings can be used as a basis for preparing a national policy that will help North Korean defectors to find employment and gain stability.

Association of Soybean Food Intake and Cardiometabolic Syndrome in Korean Women: Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2007 to 2011)

BACKGROUND: Soybean food consumption has been considered as a possible way to lower incidence of cardiometabolic syndrome (CMS) among Asians. However, results from studies investigating its efficacy on CMS in Asians have been inconsistent.METHODS: We analyzed the association between soybean intake frequency and prevalence of CMS based on data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2007 to 2011. Data of 9,287 women aged 20 to 64 years were analyzed. Food frequency questionnaire was used to assess soybean food consumption frequency. General linear model and multivariable logistic regression model were used to examine the association of soybean intake quintile with CMS and its risk factors. Least square means of metabolic factors mostly showed no significant relevance except liver indexes.RESULTS: Compared to participants in the 1st quintile (<2 times/week of soybean food), odds ratios (OR) for CMS and abdominal obesity (AO) in the 4th quintile (8.5 times/week<soybean food≤17 times/week) were 0.73 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.57 to 0.95) and 0.72 (95% CI, 0.58 to 0.90), respectively. After excluding Tofu products, ORs of CMS, AO, high blood pressure, and hypertriglyceridemia were lower than those without excluding Tofu products. However, results still did not show significant inverse linear trend across frequency quintiles.CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that soybean intake of 8.5 to 17 times/week was inversely associated with CMS in Korean women. The relation between soybean intake >17 times/week and CMS varied depending on soybean food items.

Carrier Frequency of Spinal Muscular Atrophy in a Large-scale Korean Population

Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is an autosomal recessive disease characterized by progressive proximal muscle weakness and atrophy. Given the recent introduction of gene therapies, knowledge of the SMA carrier frequency in various populations has become important for developing screening programs for this disease. In total, 1,581 anonymous DNA samples from an umbilical cord blood bank were tested for SMN1 and SMN2 gene copies using a multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification assay. Twenty-nine of the 1,581 newborns [1.83%; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.25–2.66%] were SMA carriers with one copy of SMN1, and no homozygous SMN1 deletion was detected. The carrier frequency in this population was estimated to be 1,834 per 100,000 (95% CI, 1,254–2,659) or 1 in 55 (95% CI, 1/79–1/38). Our data indicate that SMA carriers are not uncommon in the Korean population and may serve as a reference for designing a population screening program in Korea.

Virus Isolation from the First Patient with SARS-CoV-2 in Korea

Novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) is found to cause a large outbreak started from Wuhan since December 2019 in China and SARS-CoV-2 infections have been reported with epidemiological linkage to China in 25 countries until now. We isolated SARS-CoV-2 from the oropharyngeal sample obtained from the patient with the first laboratory-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection in Korea. Cytopathic effects of SARS-CoV-2 in the Vero cell cultures were confluent 3 days after the first blind passage of the sample. Coronavirus was confirmed with spherical particle having a fringe reminiscent of crown on transmission electron microscopy. Phylogenetic analyses of whole genome sequences showed that it clustered with other SARS-CoV-2 reported from Wuhan.

Pediatric Injuries in Kids Cafés and Risk Factors for Significant Injuries: a 6-Year Cross-Sectional Study Using a Multicenter Injury Registry in Korea

BACKGROUND: A kids café is a popular indoor playground in Korea that combines a playground for young children and a café for their caregivers. There have been no national reports about kids café-related injuries in Korea. This study investigated kids café-related injuries in Korea registered in a multicenter injury surveillance database and analyzed the risk factors for significant kids café-related injuries.METHODS: A multicenter cross-sectional study was performed using the Emergency Department-based Injury In-depth Surveillance registry in Korea between 2011 and 2016. Significant injury was defined as an injury requiring hospitalization or surgery. A multivariable logistic regression model was used to obtain the adjusted odds ratios (aORs) for factors associated with significant kids café-related injuries.RESULTS: Among 1,537,617 injured patients, we extracted 891 patients who were injured in kids cafés. Of these, 46 (5.2%) were admitted, and 39 (4.4%) underwent surgery. The most common injured anatomical site, injury type, and mechanism were lower extremity (28.2%), superficial injury (27.2%), and slip (27.1%), respectively. Among injury-inducing factors, significant injuries were most commonly caused by a trampoline (28.1%), and rock climbing equipment was the only risk factor in a kids café that led to significant injury after adjusting for age, sex, injury mechanism, and injured anatomical sites (aOR, 14.94; 95% confidence interval, 1.51–147.72).CONCLUSION: The rock climbing equipment in a kids café can cause serious injury to children. Establishing safety regulations for rock climbing equipment in kids cafés may have the greatest impact in reducing significant injuries requiring hospitalization or surgery.

Report on the Epidemiological Features of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Outbreak in the Republic of Korea from January 19 to March 2, 2020

Since the first case of coronavirus disease19 (COVID-19) was reported in Wuhan, China, as of March 2, 2020, the total number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 was 89,069 cases in 67 countries and regions. As of 0 am, March 2, 2020, the Republic of Korea had the second-largest number of confirmed cases (n = 4,212) after China (n = 80,026). This report summarizes the epidemiologic features and the snapshots of the outbreak in the Republic of Korea from January 19 and March 2, 2020.

An exploratory study on development policy and the status of oral health care in the North Korea during the Kim Jong-Un era / 대한구강보건학회지

OBJECTIVES: Studies on oral health care in North Korea are being pursued in South Korea. However, the covertness of North Korea offers substantial resistance to the access of information from the country, including in the field of oral health care. In this study, we explored North Korea's oral health care policy and its status in the Kim Jong-Un Era.METHODS: We used existing information from Internet searches and also interviewed three health care professionals who had recently contact with North Korea.RESULTS: At present, there are four development policies of oral health care in North Korea: expansion of dental institutions and resource support, strengthening the prevention and treatment of dental diseases, improvement of dental prosthetics, and increasing the responsibility and role of the dental workforce. In addition, there has been an increasing interest in children's oral health with the development of a few programs.CONCLUSIONS: In order to improve overall oral health care, cooperation is required from North Korea in accessing relevant information in the field of children's oral health, dental prosthetics, and dental materials. For this to occur, there should be a preliminary trust building process between North Korea and South Korea as well as access to information from reliable sources.

Report on the 5th Japan-Korea Primary Care Exchange Programme / 日本プライマリ・ケア連合学会誌

The Japan-Korea Primary Care Exchange Programme, which is an international project held by the Japan Primary Care Association and Korean Academy of Family Medicine, provides young family physicians opportunities to visit annual conferences and training programs each year. This article reports the history and several topics that Japanese delegates in 2018 learned about in Korea regarding family medicine: "Outpatient Department" "Health Information Systems" "Healthcare System for the Rapidly Aging Population," and "The Current Situation and Issues in Long-term Care Insurance."

Update on Thyroid Hormone Levels and Thyroid Dysfunction in the Korean Population Based on Data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey VI (2013 to 2015)

In 2017, the first Korean nationwide data on serum thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) levels, serum free thyroxine (fT4) levels, and urinary iodine concentration (UIC) were published based on a population of 7,061 Koreans who participated in the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey VI. The mean TSH level was 2.16 mIU/L, with a reference interval of 0.59 to 7.03 mIU/L (men 2.09 mIU/L, women 2.24 mIU/L, P<0.001). A U-shaped association was found between serum TSH levels and age. The mean fT4 level was 1.25 ng/dL, and its reference interval was 0.92 to 1.60 ng/dL (men 1.29 ng/dL, women 1.20 ng/dL, P<0.0001). Serum fT4 levels decreased with age (P for trend <0.0001). Serum thyroid peroxidase antibody (TPOAb) was detected in 7.30% of participants (men 4.33%, women 10.62%). TPOAb titers tended to increase with age, and were higher in women than in men. The median UIC was 294 µg/L, and UIC showed a U-shaped relationship with age. According to the World Health Organization recommendations, only 23% of participants were in the adequate range of iodine intake, while 65% were in the above requirements or excessive, and 12% in insufficient. The prevalence of overt hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism in Koreans was 0.34% to 0.54% and 0.73% to 1.43%, respectively.

Epidemiology of Antiphospholipid Syndrome in Korea: a Nationwide Population-based Study