Adult-Onset Still’s Disease after COVID-19 Vaccination: A Case Report and Review

To overcome the global pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), COVID-19 vaccination has been developed and distributed. Many people have received the vaccination worldwide. However, there are some vaccinated individuals who complain of side effects due to COVID-19 vaccination. We report the case of a patient who developed adult-onset Still’s disease (AOSD) after receiving the messenger RNA COVID-19 vaccine. A 21-year-old male patient without a previous medical history developed a fever on the day of the first dose of the vaccine. He had persistent fever, arthralgia of the knee and wrist, hyperferritinemia, transient skin rash, and negative test results for rheumatoid factor or antinuclear antibody. Positron emission tomography-computed tomography scan showed lymphadenopathies with reactive patterns and no malignancy. His symptoms and laboratory abnormalities gradually improved with glucocorticoid, cyclosporine, methotrexate, and tocilizumab treatment. Although its causality is still not confirmed, AOSD should be considered in a case that meets the diagnostic criteria after COVID-19 vaccination.

Standardized Database of 12-Lead Electrocardiograms with a Common Standard for the Promotion of Cardiovascular Research: KURIAS-ECG / 대한의료정보학회지

Objectives@#Electrocardiography (ECG)-based diagnosis by experts cannot maintain uniform quality because individual differences may occur. Previous public databases can be used for clinical studies, but there is no common standard that would allow databases to be combined. For this reason, it is difficult to conduct research that derives results by combining databases. Recent commercial ECG machines offer diagnoses similar to those of a physician. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to construct a standardized ECG database using computerized diagnoses. @*Methods@#The constructed database was standardized using Systematized Nomenclature of Medicine Clinical Terms (SNOMED CT) and Observational Medical Outcomes Partnership–common data model (OMOP-CDM), and data were then categorized into 10 groups based on the Minnesota classification. In addition, to extract high-quality waveforms, poor-quality ECGs were removed, and database bias was minimized by extracting at least 2,000 cases for each group. To check database quality, the difference in baseline displacement according to whether poor ECGs were removed was analyzed, and the usefulness of the database was verified with seven classification models using waveforms. @*Results@#The standardized KURIAS-ECG database consists of high-quality ECGs from 13,862 patients, with about 20,000 data points, making it possible to obtain more than 2,000 for each Minnesota classification. An artificial intelligence classification model using the data extracted through SNOMED-CT showed an average accuracy of 88.03%. @*Conclusions@#The KURIAS-ECG database contains standardized ECG data extracted from various machines. The proposed protocol should promote cardiovascular disease research using big data and artificial intelligence.

A case of methamphetamine intoxication in an adolescent

With the age of exposure to illegal substances decreasing and abuse of drugs such as methamphetamine increasing, substance abuse is no longer limited to adults. We report a Korean case of a 17-year-old girl with acute methamphetamine poisoning. The girl visited the emergency department for vomiting and loss of consciousness, with needle marks found on both arms. QT prolongation was confirmed on the initial electrocardiogram, so that we suspected drug addiction and proceeded with toxicologic tests. A lethal dose of methamphetamine was confirmed. We discontinued QT prolonging drugs, and closely monitored the girl in the pediatric emergency intensive care unit until the QT prolongation was resolved. This case highlights the recognition of pediatric methamphetamine poisoning in emergency departments.

Factors Associated with the Underuse of Sedatives and Neuromuscular Blocking Agents for Pediatric Emergency Endotracheal Intubation in Korea

Purpose@#Rapid sequence intubation (RSI) using sedatives and neuromuscular blocking agents (NMBAs) is recommended for pediatric emergency endotracheal intubation (ETI), but is not frequently performed in Korea. This study aimed to verify factors associated with the underuse of RSI medications. @*Materials and Methods@#This multicenter retrospective study reviewed patients aged under 18 years who underwent an ETI within 24 hours of arrival at the emergency department between 2016 and 2019. Any cases of ETI during cardiopulmonary resuscitation were excluded. We investigated the characteristics of the patients, intubators, RSI medications, and outcomes. The study cases were classified into no-medication, sedative-only, and sedative-with-NMBA groups. Multivariable logistic regression analysis of RSI medication use was conducted. @*Results@#A total of 334 cases with a median age of 3.4 years were included in this study. Sedatives and NMBAs were used in 63.8% and 32.9%, respectively. In comparing the no-medication (n=121), sedative-only (n=103), and sedative-with-NMBA (n=110) groups, patient age (median; 1.0 year vs. 2.8 years vs. 11.3 years; p<0.001), underlying medical conditions (77.7% vs. 56.3% vs. 36.4%; p<0.001), and pediatricians as intubators (76.9% vs. 54.4% vs. 17.3%; p<0.001) were different. The factors that influenced sedatives with NMBA use were patient age [for a year increment; adjusted odds ratio (aOR), 1.182; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.120– 1.249], no underlying medical conditions (aOR, 2.109; 95% CI, 1.093–4.070), and intubators other than pediatricians (aOR, 5.123; 95% CI, 2.257–11.626). @*Conclusion@#RSI accounted for 32.9% of pediatric emergency ETI in Korea. The underuse of RSI medications is associated with younger patient age, underlying medical conditions, and pediatricians as intubators.

Utilization of Ultrasonography in Dermatology: Two Case Reports of Calcinosis Cutis

Development of newer generation of cost-effective ultrasonic devices in recent years has increased the use of ultrasonography in dermatology. Several lesions can be diagnosed and managed using ultrasonography. Calcinosis cutis involves the deposition of insoluble calcium salts in the cutaneous and subcutaneous tissues. On ultrasonography, it specifically presents as hyperechoic deposits with a posterior acoustic shadowing artifact due to the acoustic properties of calcium. A 62-year-old female patient presented with a solitary, skincolored, palpable nodule on the inner side of the right lower leg. The lesion was beneath the intact skin and detectable only on palpation. However, ultrasonography demonstrated a clear delineation of the lesion, showing hyperechoic deposits with a posterior acoustic shadow (15 MHz, linear probe). Skin biopsy and curettage were performed, revealing histological features consistent with calcinosis cutis. Four weeks after the procedure, ultrasonography performed to evaluate the outcome of treatment, showed recurrence. Another 18-year-old female patient presented with a skin-colored deep-seated nodule on the left temple. On ultrasonography, linear hyperechoic deposits with a posterior acoustic shadow were visible. Skin biopsy was performed, and histopathologic features showed calcified material in the subcutaneous tissue. These two cases of calcinosis cutis highlight the diagnostic value of ultrasonography in dermatology.

Clinical and Virologic Effectiveness of Remdesivir Treatment for Severe Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Korea: a Nationwide Multicenter Retrospective Cohort Study

Background@#Remdesivir is widely used for the treatment of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), but controversies regarding its efficacy still remain. @*Methods@#A retrospective cohort study was conducted to evaluate the effect of remdesivir on clinical and virologic outcomes of severe COVID-19 patients from June to July 2020. Primary clinical endpoints included clinical recovery, additional mechanical ventilator (MV) support, and duration of oxygen or MV support. Viral load reduction by hospital day (HD) 15 was evaluated by calculating changes in cycle threshold (Ct) values. @*Results@#A total of 86 severe COVID-19 patients were evaluated including 48 remdesivirtreated patients. Baseline characteristics were not significantly different between the two groups. Remdesivir was administered an average of 7.42 days from symptom onset. The proportions of clinical recovery of the remdesivir and supportive care group at HD 14 (56.3% and 39.5%) and HD 28 (87.5% and 78.9%) were not statistically different. The proportion of patients requiring MV support by HD 28 was significantly lower in the remdesivir group than in the supportive care group (22.9% vs. 44.7%, P = 0.032), and MV duration was significantly shorter in the remdesivir group (average, 1.97 vs. 5.37 days; P = 0.017). Analysis of upper respiratory tract specimens demonstrated that increases of Ct value from HD 1–5 to 11–15 were significantly greater in the remdesivir group than the supportive care group (average, 10.19 vs. 5.36; P = 0.007), and the slope of the Ct value increase was also significantly steeper in the remdesivir group (average, 5.10 vs. 2.68; P = 0.007). @*Conclusion@#The remdesivir group showed clinical and virologic benefit in terms of MV requirement and viral load reduction, supporting remdesivir treatment for severe COVID-19.

Epidemiologic features of pediatric genital injury in emergency departments in Korea

Purpose@#Genital injury is a common pediatric injury. Given the lack of nationwide data, the authors aimed to show age group-related epidemiologic features of genital injury in Korea. @*Methods@#We reviewed the data from 2011-2016 Emergency Department-based Injury In-depth Surveillance registry, which involves 23 emergency departments in Korea. From the dataset, we included children (< 18 years) with the International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision codes related to genital injury as the final diagnosis with excluding those with other codes or combined injuries. Age groups were defined as follows; infants (< 1 year), toddlers (1-3), preschoolers (4-6), schoolers (7-12), and adolescents (13-17). The clinical features and outcomes were analyzed. @*Results@#A total of 3,030 children were included with the median age of 6 years (interquartile range, 4-10) and the proportion of girls of 53.0%. Only 144 children (4.8%) were transported by the emergency medical service providers. The most common mechanism and place were blunt injury (1,826 [60.3%]) and home (1,535 [50.7%]), respectively. Of the codes, “Contusion of external genital organs (S30.2)” was most common (1,574 [51.9%]). As for outcomes, 2,770 children (91.4%) were discharged, 252 (8.3%) were hospitalized (intensive care units, 1 child [0.03%]), and 108 (3.6%) underwent surgery. Severe injury occurred in 111 children (3.7%) without a mortality. With increasing age in the age groups, non-accidental injury, school and sports-related injuries, hospitalization, and surgery (All Ps < 0.001). @*Conclusion@#Genital injury may occur at evening, in spring and summer, at home, and in the form of accidental or blunt injury. Most children are discharged. Contrary to these general features, older children tend to undergo more frequently non-accidental injury, school and sports-related injuries, hospitalization, and surgery. Thus, we need age-specific strategies for injury prevention.

Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in an Adult after COVID-19 Vaccination: a Case Report and Literature Review

As the number of people vaccinated increases, people who complain of adverse reactions continue to occur. We experienced a case characterized by low blood pressure, persistent fever, edema due to increased systemic vascular permeability, and systemic inflammation confirmed by image and laboratory examinations after ChAdOx1 coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination. The diagnostic criteria for multisystem inflammatory syndrome (MIS) in adults are known as fever of 3 days or more in adults, 2 or more mucocutaneous/ gastrointestinaleurologic symptoms, elevation of inflammatory markers, and clinical/ imaging diagnosis of heart failure. A 67-year-old man who was medicated for hypertension and diabetes was admitted complaining of fever, maculopapular rash, diarrhea, headache, chills, and dizziness 6 days after the first vaccination of ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 in Korea.The COVID-19 test was negative but with low blood pressure, leukocytosis, skin rash, pulmonary edema, and increased inflammation markers. His lab findings and clinical course were consistent with those of MIS after COVID-19 vaccination. He was medicated with methylprednisolone 1 mg/kg and diuretics and recovered rapidly. He was discharged after 2 weeks and confirmed cure at outpatient clinic. We report an MIS case after COVID-19 vaccination in Korea.

Cutis Verticis Gyrata and Acanthosis Nigricans: Just a Coincidence? – A Case Report / 대한피부과학회지

Cutis verticis gyrata (CVG) is a rare scalp condition that presents as convoluted folds and furrows, which resemble the cerebral cortex. Although the pathogenesis is not fully elucidated, recent investigations suggest the possible role of fibroblast growth factor receptor 2 (FGFR2) which may contribute to dermal hypertrophy in CVG pathogenesis.On the other hand, acanthosis nigricans (AN) is a dermatosis that is commonly associated with benign endocrine disorders, and increasing evidence suggest that AN is a convergent phenotype resulting from the activation of tyrosine kinase growth factor receptors (TKR), with mitogenic and antiapoptotic effects on keratinocytes. CVG presenting with AN has only been reported once in the previous literature and no association regarding their pathogeneses has been drawn yet. We report a rare case of a patient presenting CVG with concurrent AN, and suggest a shared underlying pathogenesis in these two disease entities which may be related to FGFR2 signaling pathway.

A study of comparing the first-attempt success of endotracheal intubation and complication rates between glidescope video laryngoscopy and direct laryngoscopy in the emergency department

Objective@#The study compared the first-attempt success and complication rates of endotracheal intubation (ETI) using video laryngoscopy (VL; GlideScope) with those of direct laryngoscopy (DL) in the emergency department (ED). @*Methods@#This was a retrospectively clinical study of adult patients who underwent intubation using from 2010 to 2014 in the ED. All data were collected from the electronic medical records. The primary outcome was the first-attempt intubation success of ETI. The secondary outcomes were occurrences of desaturation, hypotension, oesophageal intubation, dental injuries, and cardiac arrest. The between-device differences in outcome risks were examined. @*Results@#A total of 431 emergency ETIs were included. The first-attempt intubation success rate was higher in the VL than DL (93.8% vs. 74.8%, P<0.001). The non-expert emergency physicians (first and second-year residents) showed a higher first-attempt intubation success rate in VL than DL, but there was no difference in the first-attempt intubation success rate between the two devices between experts (third and fourth-year residents). The use of VL was associated with a lower rate of desaturation (0.0% vs. 5.0%) and tooth injuries (0.0% vs. 2.7%) compared to the DL. @*Conclusion@#The use of VL was associated with a higher first-attempt success rate compared to DL, particularly in inexperienced intubators. For complications related to ETI, VL showed a lower rate of desaturation and dental injuries in the ED than the DL.

Clinical and Virologic Effectiveness of Remdesivir Treatment for Severe Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Korea: a Nationwide Multicenter Retrospective Cohort Study

Background@#Remdesivir is widely used for the treatment of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), but controversies regarding its efficacy still remain. @*Methods@#A retrospective cohort study was conducted to evaluate the effect of remdesivir on clinical and virologic outcomes of severe COVID-19 patients from June to July 2020. Primary clinical endpoints included clinical recovery, additional mechanical ventilator (MV) support, and duration of oxygen or MV support. Viral load reduction by hospital day (HD) 15 was evaluated by calculating changes in cycle threshold (Ct) values. @*Results@#A total of 86 severe COVID-19 patients were evaluated including 48 remdesivirtreated patients. Baseline characteristics were not significantly different between the two groups. Remdesivir was administered an average of 7.42 days from symptom onset. The proportions of clinical recovery of the remdesivir and supportive care group at HD 14 (56.3% and 39.5%) and HD 28 (87.5% and 78.9%) were not statistically different. The proportion of patients requiring MV support by HD 28 was significantly lower in the remdesivir group than in the supportive care group (22.9% vs. 44.7%, P = 0.032), and MV duration was significantly shorter in the remdesivir group (average, 1.97 vs. 5.37 days; P = 0.017). Analysis of upper respiratory tract specimens demonstrated that increases of Ct value from HD 1–5 to 11–15 were significantly greater in the remdesivir group than the supportive care group (average, 10.19 vs. 5.36; P = 0.007), and the slope of the Ct value increase was also significantly steeper in the remdesivir group (average, 5.10 vs. 2.68; P = 0.007). @*Conclusion@#The remdesivir group showed clinical and virologic benefit in terms of MV requirement and viral load reduction, supporting remdesivir treatment for severe COVID-19.

The Role of Plant Extracts in Alleviating Particulate Matter-induced Inflammation in Barrier-interrupted Skin / 대한피부과학회지

Background@#The adverse effects of particulate matter (PM) on the skin have been concerning recently. @*Objective@#We investigated PM induced inflammation on barrier-interrupted skin and relieving effects of plant extracts on PM-induced skin irritation. @*Methods@#A total of 20 participants were enrolled for the induction of skin irritation. Sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) patch was affixed to the forearm for 24 hours. After patch removal, total suspended particulates (TSPs) were applied. After inducing skin irritation using SLS and TSP, cream containing 0.1% mixture of plant extracts (Citrus sunki, Sceptridium ternatum (Botrychium ternatum), and Korthalsella japonica) was applied. The a* value, erythema index (EI), and transepidermal water loss (TEWL) were measured. @*Results@#The a* value was significantly higher at the site where TSPs were applied than that at the site where TSPs were not applied at 1 and 2 days after SLS patch removal. The a* value, EI, and TEWL were significantly low in the cream-applied area 7 days after the introduction of the SLS patch and TSPs. @*Conclusion@#PM induced skin irritation in a previously disrupted skin barrier. Topical application of plant extracts alleviated skin irritation symptoms caused by dust exposure.

The Role of Plant Extracts in Alleviating Particulate Matter-induced Inflammation in Barrier-interrupted Skin / 대한피부과학회지

Background@#The adverse effects of particulate matter (PM) on the skin have been concerning recently. @*Objective@#We investigated PM induced inflammation on barrier-interrupted skin and relieving effects of plant extracts on PM-induced skin irritation. @*Methods@#A total of 20 participants were enrolled for the induction of skin irritation. Sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) patch was affixed to the forearm for 24 hours. After patch removal, total suspended particulates (TSPs) were applied. After inducing skin irritation using SLS and TSP, cream containing 0.1% mixture of plant extracts (Citrus sunki, Sceptridium ternatum (Botrychium ternatum), and Korthalsella japonica) was applied. The a* value, erythema index (EI), and transepidermal water loss (TEWL) were measured. @*Results@#The a* value was significantly higher at the site where TSPs were applied than that at the site where TSPs were not applied at 1 and 2 days after SLS patch removal. The a* value, EI, and TEWL were significantly low in the cream-applied area 7 days after the introduction of the SLS patch and TSPs. @*Conclusion@#PM induced skin irritation in a previously disrupted skin barrier. Topical application of plant extracts alleviated skin irritation symptoms caused by dust exposure.

The Rate of Acquisition of Carbapenemase-Producing Enterobacteriaceae among Close Contact Patients Depending on Carbapenemase Enzymes / 감염과화학요법

Background@#Carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae (CPE) are highly drug-resistant pathogens. Screening the contacts of newly-identified CPE patients is crucial for nosocomial transmission control. We evaluated the acquisition rate of CPE in close contacts as a function of CPE genotype. @*Materials and Methods@#This study was conducted in Asan Medical Center, a 2,700-bed, tertiary teaching hospital in Seoul, Korea, between November 2010 and October 2017. Index cases were defined as patients with positive tests for CPE from any infected or colonized site during hospitalization who had no direct epidemiologic linkage with existing CPE patients; close contact patients were defined as those whose hospital stay overlapped with the stay of an index case for at least one day and who occupied the same room or intensive care unit (ICU). Secondary patients were defined as those who produced positive CPE culture isolates from surveillance cultures that had the same CPE enzyme as that of the index case patients. @*Results@#A total of 211 index case patients and 2,689 corresponding contact patients were identified. Of the contact patients, 1,369 (50.9%) including 649 New-Delhi metallo-betalactamase-1 (NDM-1) and 448 Klebsiella pneumoniae carbaepenamse (KPC)-producing CPE exposures were screened, and 44 secondary patients (3.2%; 95% confidence interval 2.3 -4.3%) were positive for NDM-1-producing CPE (16 patients) and KPC-producing (24 patients) CPE. The CPE acquisition rate (5.4%) for KPC-producing CPE exposures was significantly higher than that for NDM-1 exposures (2.7%) (P = 0.01). @*Conclusion@#The CPE acquisition rate was 3.2% among close contacts sharing a multi-patient room, with about a two-fold higher risk of KPC-producing CPE than NDM-1-producing CPE.

A Case of Myopericytoma and Review of Korean Literature / 대한피부과학회지

Myopericytoma, previously called as hemangiopericytoma, is a rare, soft tissue neoplasm. It usually presents as an asymptomatic solitary lesion, and it most commonly affects the lower extremities. It is characterized by the distinctive perivascular organization of oval-to-spindle-shaped cells in a concentric pattern. Here we report a case of myopericytoma, which was diagnosed in a 60-year-old woman who presented with a one-year history of a deep-seated nodule and reviewed previous cases in the Korean literature and found a predominance of female cases of myopericytoma, contrary to known predilections. Hence, we have reported a typical case and summarized clinical findings in the Korean population.

Trampoline-related injuries in children: a nationwide cross-sectional study in South Korea

Objective@#Trampoline-related injuries have increased in South Korea. However, little research has been conducted on this topic. This study aimed to show the characteristics of pediatric trampoline-related injuries in South Korea and to investigate the factors associated with admission. @*Methods@#A retrospective, cross-sectional study was conducted using data from South Korea’s Emergency Department-based Injury In-depth Surveillance registry for dates between January 2011 and December 2016. All patients under 18 years of age with trampoline-related injuries were included. We divided the patients into two groups based on whether they were admitted or discharged. Odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals were calculated to evaluate the factors associated with hospital admission for pediatric trampoline-related injuries. @*Results@#A total of 2,745 patients were enrolled and the incidence increased over time (P for trend<0.01). The most common injury site was the lower extremity (45%). Fracture was the most frequent diagnosis (34.3%). Compared to the discharge group, the adjusted odds ratios (95% confidence intervals) for hospital admission were 3.53 (1.73–7.17) for the teenage group, 2.62 (1.82–3.77) for upper extremity injuries, 18.48 (7.95–42.95) for fractures, 2.28 (1.35–3.86) for falls, and 2.04 (1.15–3.60) for collisions. @*Conclusion@#Trampoline-related injuries in children have increased over time in South Korea. Most occur in children under the age of 12 years, but children between the ages of 13 and 18 years are at a higher risk for hospitalization. Also, injuries of the upper extremity, fracture, falling, and collision are risk factors for admission. Preventive strategies are needed to reduce trampoline-related injuries in children.

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.

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.

Infectious Diseases Physician Workforce in Korea

This study aimed to evaluate the infectious disease (ID) physician workforce in Korea. We investigated the acquisition of ID physicians from 1992 to 2019 with their current working place in the Health Care System. We defined ID physicians working at general or tertiarycare hospitals as active ID physicians. A total 275 physicians acquired ID as a sub-specialty.Among the 275, 242 were active ID physicians. The density of active ID physicians was 0.47 per 100,000 population. Of all the 17 administrative districts, 11 (64.7%) fell short of 0.47, and 131 medical institutions employed the service of ID physicians. The median number of beds per adult ID physician was 372 (interquartile range, 280–507). It is essential to secure human resources to respond to emerging infectious diseases and perform the inherent work of ID physicians.

Analysis of Risk Factors for Myringosclerosis Formation after Ventilation Tube Insertion

Background@#This study examined possible risk factors for myringosclerosis formation after ventilation tube insertion (VTI). @*Methods@#A retrospective study was performed in a single tertiary referral center. A total of 582 patients who underwent VTI were enrolled in this study. Patients were divided into two groups based on the presence or absence of myringosclerosis: MS+ and MS−. Characteristics of patients were collected through medical chart review; these included age, gender, nature and duration of effusion, type of ventilation tube (VT), duration and frequency of VTI, incidence of post-VTI infection, incidence of intraoperative bleeding, and presence of postoperative perforation. Incidences of risk factors for myringosclerosis and the severity of myringosclerosis in association with possible risk factors were analyzed. @*Results@#Myringosclerosis developed in 168 of 582 patients (28.9%) after VTI. Patients in the MS+ group had an older mean age than those in the MS− group. The rates of myringosclerosis were higher in patients with older age, serous otitis media, type 2 VT, post-VTI perforation, and frequent VTI. However, there were no differences in occurrence of myringosclerosis based on gender, duration of effusion, duration of VT placement, incidence of post-VTI infection, or incidence of intraoperative bleeding. The severity of myringosclerosis was associated with the duration of effusion and frequency of VTI. @*Conclusion@#Older age, serous effusion, type 2 VT, presence of post-VTI perforation, and frequent VTI may be risk factors for myringosclerosis after VTI; the severity of myringosclerosis may vary based on the duration of effusion and frequency of VTI.