The National Evidence-based Healthcare Collaborating Agency (NECA), an institution for health technology assessment in Korea, has used public solicitation of research topics since its establishment in 2009. This creates a necessity for examining whether a given research topic was selected to be considered when prioritizing healthcare technology assessment and distributing healthcare resources. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between the research topics suggested to NECA and the disease burden in Korea. To find the correlation between disease burden and 1,112 suggested topics and 91 performed topics that were classified by Human Research Classification System a linear auxiliary trend line and scatter plot were constructed using disability-adjusted life years (DALYs), and Pearson's correlation coefficients were calculated. The results suggested that cancer was most common, followed by cardiovascular diseases, among suggested research topics and research topics performed by NECA, as well as in terms of the ratio of performed to suggested topics. The correlation between research topic and disease burden index indicated a strong correlation with DALYs and years of life lost (YLLs). However, years lived with disability and research topic had no relationship. Suggested topics showed a greater correlation with YLLs than DALYs, whereas performed topics showed a greater correlation with DALYs than YLLs, showing that despite the fact that the diseases with a high burden from morbidity were appropriately considered with respect to selecting research topics, a statistically significant difference was not found. As the first Korean study to assess the correlation between research topics and disease burden, our results will be used as base data for prioritizing the allocation of healthcare resources in the future.
Adenosine-5'-(N-ethylcarboxamide) ; Biomedical Technology* ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Classification ; Cost of Illness ; Delivery of Health Care ; Evidence-Based Practice ; Humans ; Korea ; Technology Assessment, Biomedical*

BACKGROUND: Among Gram-negative pathogens in Korea, the incidence of resistance to thirdgeneration cephalosporins is becoming an ever-increasing problem. This study was designed to determine the prevalence of third-generation cephalosporins-resistant Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates from patients in a tertiary care hospital in Busan, Korea, and to characterize the mechanism of resistance. METHODS: A total of 710 E. coli and 237 K. pneumoniae non-duplicate isolates were collected from patients in Kosin Medical Center in 1999. Antimicrobial susceptibilities were tested by the disk diffusion method. Extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) production was determined by the double disk synergy test. MICs were determined by the agar dilution method. Searches for blaTEM, blaSHV, and blaCMY genes in cefotaxime-resistant or intermediate isolates were performed by PCR amplification. PCR products were used to determine the sequence of resistance genes by the dideoxy-chain termination method. RESULTS: Seven percent of E. coli and 25% of K. pneumoniae isolates were resistant to cefotaxime. Among the isolates with decreased susceptibility to cefotaxime, 69% (18/26) of E. coli and 80% (20/25) of K. pneumoniae isolates showed positive results in double disk synergy test. Banding patterns of PCR amplification showed that the blaTEM, blaSHV, and blaCMY genes were harboured by 71% (20/28), 86% (24/28) and 14% (4/28) of isolates with decreased susceptibility to cefotaxime,respectively. Seventy-one percent (20/28) of the isolates contained more than two types of beta- lactamase genes. Nucleotide sequence analysis of PCR products revealed that blaSHV-12 and blaTEM-1b were the dominant types of beta-lactamase gene. In addition, we also identified blaTEM-52, blaSHV-5, and a new ESBL gene named blaTEM-17b. CONCLUSIONS: Third-generation cephalosporins-resistant E. coli and K. pneumoniae are wide spread in Kosin Medical Center, Busan, Korea. Most of the isolates with decreased susceptibility to cefotaxime had blaTEM and/or blaSHV, and some isolates harboured blaCMY genes that may confer resistance against cephamycins. The spread of these beta-lactamase genes could compromise the future usefulness of third-generation cephalosporins for the treatment of infections caused by E. coli and K. pneumoniae.
Agar ; Base Sequence ; beta-Lactamases ; Busan ; Cefotaxime ; Cephalosporins ; Cephamycins ; Diffusion ; Escherichia coli* ; Escherichia* ; Humans ; Incidence ; Klebsiella pneumoniae* ; Klebsiella* ; Korea ; Pneumonia ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Prevalence* ; Tertiary Healthcare

BACKGROUND: Among Enterobacter spp. isolates from clinical specimens in Korea, the incidence of resistance to expanded-spectrum cephalosporins is becoming an ever-increasing problem. This study was designed to determine the prevalence of expanded-spectrum cephalosporins-resistant Enterobacter spp. isolates from patients in a tertiary care hospital in Busan, Korea, and to characterize the mechanism of resistance. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Nonduplicated clinical isolates of Enterobacter spp. were collected during the period of 1999-2000 in Kosin Medical Center, Busan, Korea. Antimicrobial susceptibilities were tested by disk diffusion method. Cefotaxime-resistant or intermediate isolates were examined for extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-production by double disk synergy (DDS) test. Minimal inhibitory concentrations were determined by agar dilution method. For detection of blaTEM and blaSHV genes, polymerase chain reactions (PCRs) were performed, and the DNA sequences of blaTEM and blaSHV genes were determined by using dideoxy-chain termination method. RESULTS: From 1999 to 2000, a total of 306 Enterobacter spp. strains were isolated from patients in Kosin Medical Center. Forty one percents of Enterobacter spp. isolates were susceptible to cefotaxime. Among 90 isolates resistant or intermediate to cefotaxime, 26 isolates (29%) showed positive results in double disk synergy test. Among DDS-positive- isolates, 22 isolates contained both of blaTEM and blaSHV genes, while one isolate only contained blaTEM gene and two isolates only contained blaSHV gene. Among 64 DDS-negative isolates, 47 isolates contained blaTEM genes, and 12 isolates also contained blaSHV genes. Nucleotide sequence analysis of PCR products from 10 DDS-positive and 6 DDS-negative isolates, which contained both of blaTEM and blaSHV genes, revealed that blaTEM-1b and blaSHV-12 genes were the dominant types of beta-lactamase gene. CONCLUSION: Expanded-spectrum cephalosporins-resistant Enterobacter spp. were wide spread in Kosin Medical Center, Busan, Korea. Some of the resistant isolates acquired resistance by production of ESBLs, and blaSHV-12 gene was the most frequent ESBL gene in cefotaxime-resistant Enterobacter spp.
Agar ; Base Sequence ; beta-Lactamases ; Busan ; Cefotaxime ; Cephalosporins ; Diffusion ; Enterobacter* ; Genes, rev ; Humans ; Incidence ; Korea ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Prevalence ; Tertiary Healthcare

OBJECTIVE: Peripheral neuropathy is characterized by hyperalgesia, spontaneous burning pain, and allodynia. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of rolipram, a phosphodiesterase-4-specific inhibitor, in a segmental spinal nerve ligation model in rats. METHODS: Both the L5 and L6 spinal nerves of the left side of the rats were ligated. Phosphodiesterase-4 inhibitor (rolipram) and saline (vehicle) were administered intraperitoneally. We measured mechanical allodynia using von Frey filaments and a nerve conduction study. RESULTS: The mechanical allodynia, which began to manifest on the first day, peaked within 2 days. Multiple intraperitoneal injections of rolipram ameliorated the mechanical allodynia. Furthermore, an intraperitoneal administration of rolipram improved the development of pain behavior and nerve conduction velocity. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that the phosphodiesterase-4 inhibitor, rolipram, alleviates mechanical allodynia induced by segmental spinal nerve ligation in rats. This finding may have clinical implications.
Animals ; Burns ; Cyclic Nucleotide Phosphodiesterases, Type 4 ; Hyperalgesia ; Injections, Intraperitoneal ; Ligation ; Neural Conduction ; Peripheral Nerve Injuries ; Peripheral Nervous System Diseases ; Rats ; Rolipram ; Spinal Nerves

We aimed to review the current data composition of the Korean Tuberculosis and Post-Tuberculosis Cohort, which was constructed by linking the Korean Tuberculosis Surveillance System (KNTSS; established and operated by the Korean Disease Control and Prevention Agency since 2000) and the National Health Information Database (NHID; established by the National Health Insurance Service in 2012). The following data were linked: KNTSS data pertaining to patients diagnosed with tuberculosis between 2011 and 2018, NHID data of patients with a history of tuberculosis and related diseases between 2006 and 2018, and data (obtained from the Statistics Korea database) on causes of death. Data from 300 117 tuberculosis patients (177 206 men and 122 911 women) were linked. The rate of treatment success for new cases was highest in 2015 (86.7%), with a gradual decrease thereafter. The treatment success rate for previously treated cases showed an increasing trend until 2014 (79.0%) and decreased thereafter. In total, 53 906 deaths were confirmed among tuberculosis patients included in the cohort. The Korean Tuberculosis and Post-Tuberculosis Cohort can be used to analyze different measurement variables in an integrated manner depending on the data source. Therefore, these cohort data can be used in future epidemiological studies and research on policy-effect analysis, treatment outcome analysis, and health-related behaviors such as treatment discontinuation.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between social exclusion and paranoid ideation, and to explore moderating and mediating effects of depression and self-esteem in that relationship. METHODS: Ninety seven neurosis patients receiving treatment in a psychiatric outpatient setting were selected. Social Exclusion Scale, Beck Depression Inventory, paranoia scale of Symptom Checklist-90-Revised, and Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale were used for evaluation. RESULTS: Social exclusion showed highly positive correlation with paranoid ideation, and had significant influence. Among three types of social exclusion, contempt, bullying, and isolation, only isolation showed significant influence on paranoid ideation. Depression showed a partial mediating effect on that relationship indicating that social exclusion affects paranoid ideation not only directly, but also indirectly. On the other hand, self-esteem showed no moderating or mediating effects on that relationship. CONCLUSION: Depression mediates the influence of social exclusion on paranoid ideation. This finding provides an opportunity to decrease paranoid ideation of neurosis patients by not only prescription of antipsychotic agents but also therapeutic approach to social exclusion and depression. An experimental study to verify these findings seems to be needed.
Antipsychotic Agents ; Bullying ; Depression* ; Hand ; Humans ; Negotiating* ; Outpatients ; Paranoid Disorders ; Prescriptions ; Social Isolation

PURPOSE: The objective of this study is to evaluate the effects of heat and massage application on autonomic nervous system. MATERIALS AND METHODS: One hundred thirty-nine subjects volunteered and completed this study. Heat and massage was daily applied for 40 minutes, 5 days a week for 2 weeks. Primary-dependent measures included heart rate variability, sympathetic skin response, and serum cortisol and norepinephrine levels. RESULTS: Serum cortisol levels were significantly decreased at 2 weeks compared to baseline (p=0.003). Plasma norepinephrine levels at 4 weeks were significantly decreased compared to baseline (p=0.010). Heart rate, using the power spectra, increased significantly after 2 weeks compared to baseline. Of autonomic nerve conduction measures, latency was significantly increased at 2 and 4 weeks compared to baseline (p=0.023, 0.012), and amplitude was significantly decreased at 4 weeks compared to baseline (p=0.008). There were no serious adverse events such as burns or other major complications. CONCLUSION: The results of this study suggest that heat and massage applications provide relaxation to the autonomic nervous system without serious adverse events.
Autonomic Nervous System/*physiopathology ; Female ; Heart Rate/*physiology ; Hot Temperature/adverse effects/*therapeutic use ; Humans ; Hydrocortisone/blood ; Male ; Massage/adverse effects/*methods ; Norepinephrine/blood

A hypoxic microenvironment leads to cancer progression and increases the metastatic potential of cancer cells within tumors via epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and cancer stemness acquisition. The hypoxic response pathway can occur under oxygen tensions of < 40 mmHg through hypoxia-inducible factors (HIFs), which are considered key mediators in the adaptation to hypoxia. Previous studies have shown that cellular responses to hypoxia are required for EMT and cancer stemness maintenance through HIF-1α and HIF-2α. The principal transcription factors of EMT include Twist, Snail, Slug, Sip1 (Smad interacting protein 1), and ZEB1 (zinc finger E-box-binding homeobox 1). HIFs bind to hypoxia response elements within the promoter region of these genes and also target cancer stem cell-associated genes and mediate transcriptional responses to hypoxia during stem cell differentiation. Acquisition of stemness characteristics in epithelial cells can be induced by activation of the EMT process. The mechanism of these phenotypic changes includes epigenetic alterations, such as DNA methylation, histone modification, chromatin remodeling, and microRNAs. Increased expression of EMT and pluripotent genes also play a role through demethylation of their promoters. In this review, we summarize the role of hypoxia on the acquisition of EMT and cancer stemness and the possible association with epigenetic regulation, as well as their therapeutic applications.
Anoxia* ; Chromatin Assembly and Disassembly ; DNA Methylation ; Epigenomics* ; Epithelial Cells ; Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition* ; Fingers ; Gastropoda ; Genes, Homeobox ; Histones ; MicroRNAs ; Oxygen ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; Response Elements ; Snails ; Stem Cells ; Transcription Factors

OBJECTIVE: The object of this study was to evaluate the indications, effectiveness and complications associated with arterial embolization as a safe and effective alternative treatment of obstetrical hemorrhage. METHODS: From September 1998 to October 2005, 42 patients who had a pregnancy related hemorrhage which did not respond to treatment using obstetric maneuvers and uterotonic drugs were included in our study. The patients underwent angiographic embolization for the management of intractable obstetrical hemorrhage at Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Yonsei University Medical Center. All available medical records and telephone interviews were reviewed and detailed to collect adequate clinical data such as clinical status, underlying conditions, amount of transfusion, embolization sites, materials of embolization, hospital stay, the success rate and the complications. RESULTS: We have experienced clinically successful embolization in 40 (95.2%) of 42 patients of obstetrical hemorrhage resulting from various causes. After embolization, the patient's vital sign was stabilized. The causes of hemorrhage were atony of uterus (n=17), cervical pregnancy (n=5), abnormal placentation (n=5), laceration of uterine cervix and vagina (n=6). The average amount of blood transfusion was 10.3 unit (range; 0-63 unit). The average duration of hospitalization was 7.4 days (range; 4-18 days). We were able to follow up on 32 patients. The main complications after embolization were hypomenorrhea (n=6), numbness of lower extremities (n=3). In all cases menses resumed spontaneously after procedures. CONCLUSION: The arterial embolization is one of the safe and the effective procedures and offers patients a fertility-preserving alternative to hysterectomy for treatment of intractable postpartum hemorrhage.
Academic Medical Centers ; Blood Transfusion ; Cervix Uteri ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Gynecology ; Hemorrhage* ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Hypesthesia ; Hysterectomy ; Interviews as Topic ; Lacerations ; Length of Stay ; Lower Extremity ; Medical Records ; Menstruation Disturbances ; Obstetrics ; Placentation ; Postpartum Hemorrhage ; Pregnancy ; Uterus ; Vagina ; Vital Signs

BACKGROUND: Carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter spp. are being isolated with increasing frequency from clinical sources. This study was designed to determine the resistance mechanism to carbapenems of Acinetobacter spp. isolates from patients of a tertiary care hospital in Busan, Korea. METHODS: Nonduplicated clinical isolates of Acinetobacter spp. resistant to carbapenems were collected during the period of 2000-2001 in Kosin Medical Center, Busan, Korea. Antimicrobial susceptibilities were tested by disk diffusion method. Carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter spp. isolates were examined for metallo-beta-lactamase-production by modified Hodge and EDTA-disk synergy tests. For the detection of blaIMP-1 and blaVIM-2 genes, polymerase chain reactions (PCR) were performed, and the DNA sequences of amplified products were determined by using dideoxy- chain termination method. RESULTS: Among 21 clinical isolates of Acinetobacter spp. intermediate or resistant to carbapenems, 17 isolates showed positive reactions in modified Hodge and EDTA-disk synergy tests. Nine isolates showed positive reaction in PCR for the detection of blaIMP-1 genes, and 8 isolates showed positive reaction in PCR for the detection of blaVIM-2 genes. Sequencing of amplified products showed that they were blaIMP-1 or blaVIM-2 genes. CONCLUSION: Acinetobacter spp. isolates with carbapenem-resistance are not uncommon in Kosin Medical Center, and most of the carbapenem-resistant isolates acquired resistance by production of IMP-1 or VIM-2 metallo-beta-lactamases. The spread of metallo-beta-lactamase genes could compromise the future usefulness of carbapenem for the treatment of gram-negative bacilli infections.
Acinetobacter* ; Base Sequence ; Busan ; Carbapenems ; Diffusion ; Genotype* ; Humans ; Korea ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Tertiary Healthcare