Background: This study aims to figure out the gaps in health status by estimating amenable mortality rate by region, reflecting the characteristics of Korea, and estimating the years of life lost (YLL) per capita by disease. Methods: People who died from amenable diseases between 2008 and 2018 were extracted from the cause of death statistics provided by Statistics Korea. The age-standardized amenable mortality rates were estimated to compare the health status of 229 regions. YLL per capita was calculated to compute the burden of diseases caused by treatable deaths by region. The YLL per capita by region was calculated to identify the burden of disease caused by amenable deaths. Results: First, while the annual amenable mortality rate in Korea is on a steady decline, but there is still a considerable gap between urban and rural areas when comparing the mortality rates of 229 areas. Second, YLL per capita due to the amenable deaths is approximately 14 person-years during the analysis period (2008–2018). Conclusion Although the health status of Koreans has continuously improved, there is still a gap in health status region by region in terms of amenable mortality rates. Amenable death accounts for a loss of life equivalent to 14 person-years per year. Since the amenable mortality rate is an indicator that can measure the performance of the health care system, efforts at each local area are required to lower it.

Background: This study aims to figure out the gaps in health status by estimating amenable mortality rate by region, reflecting the characteristics of Korea, and estimating the years of life lost (YLL) per capita by disease. Methods: People who died from amenable diseases between 2008 and 2018 were extracted from the cause of death statistics provided by Statistics Korea. The age-standardized amenable mortality rates were estimated to compare the health status of 229 regions. YLL per capita was calculated to compute the burden of diseases caused by treatable deaths by region. The YLL per capita by region was calculated to identify the burden of disease caused by amenable deaths. Results: First, while the annual amenable mortality rate in Korea is on a steady decline, but there is still a considerable gap between urban and rural areas when comparing the mortality rates of 229 areas. Second, YLL per capita due to the amenable deaths is approximately 14 person-years during the analysis period (2008–2018). Conclusion Although the health status of Koreans has continuously improved, there is still a gap in health status region by region in terms of amenable mortality rates. Amenable death accounts for a loss of life equivalent to 14 person-years per year. Since the amenable mortality rate is an indicator that can measure the performance of the health care system, efforts at each local area are required to lower it.

Acute puerperal uterine inversion is a rare postpartum obstetric complication; however, without rapid diagnosis and appropriate management, it is life-threatening. Substantial bleeding hinders the verification of a partially inverted uterus, possibly delaying the treatment. Herein, we present the report of a 32-year-old female presenting with massive postpartum bleeding managed by uterine artery embolization. The peculiar course of the uterine artery bowing inferiorly along the inverted fundus during embolization could uncover the uterine inversion, which was not diagnosed by physical examination and CT. In conclusion, uterine artery embolization is not only an effective therapeutic strategy for postpartum hemorrhage but also a valuable tool for diagnosing uterine inversion.

OBJECTIVE: To determine which ultrasonographic measurement can be used as an indicator reflecting the severity of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS), by comparing electrodiagnostic results with ultrasonographic measurements in females. Many previous studies have tried to reveal that the ultrasonography (US) can possibility be used for diagnosis and severity of CTS. However, the criteria are different by gender. Thus far, there have been many efforts towards providing patients with a CTS diagnosis and severity prediction using US, but studies' results are still unclear due to lack of data on gender differences. METHODS: We collected data from 54 female patients. We classified the severity of CTS according to electrodiagnostic results. Ultrasonographic measurements included proximal and distal cross-sectional areas of the median nerve and carpal tunnel. RESULTS: The severity by electrodiagnostic results statistically correlated to the proximal cross-sectional area (CSA) of the median nerve and carpal tunnel. However, there was no relationship between the proximal and distal nerve/tunnel indexes and the severity by electrodiagnostic results. CONCLUSION: In female patients with CTS, the proximal CSAs of the median nerve and carpal tunnel increase. They correlate with the severity by electrodiagnostic findings. The CSA of the proximal median nerve could be particularly used as a predictor of the severity of CTS in female patients. However, the nerve/tunnel index is constant, irrespective of the severity of CTS.
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome* ; Diagnosis ; Electrodiagnosis ; Female* ; Humans ; Median Nerve ; Ultrasonography

PURPOSE: Recently, peripheral nerve allograft was considered to be able to provide valuable nerve materials for large nerve defect. However, the rejection response and slow regeneration of graft have continued to be serious deterrent to application of nerve allograft. Although many studies for reducing graft immunogenicity have been reported, the method to promote nerve regeneration has not been reported. The purpose of this study is to investigate the promoting effects of the basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) on the regeneration of allografted nerve. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ninety-five female Wistar white rats and 90 allogenic Brown-Norway black rats were the recipients and the donors of 1.5 cm sciatic nerve grafts mutually. Recipient rats were randomly allocated to cyclosporin A immunosuppressed group or control group. And each group was subdivided into non-bFGF subgroup, 10 pg-bFGF subgroup and 100 pg-bFGF subgroup. Regeneration of grafted nerves graft was assessed by histological and electomicroscopic studies at 4th, 8th and 12th weeks. RESULTS: Basic fibroblast growth factor showed its promoting effect on the regeneration of the allografted sciatic nerve at 4th week in CsA-treated group and 8th week in non-CsA group. CONCLUSION: Basic fibroblast growth factor promotes the regeneration of the allografted nerve in rat.
Allografts* ; Animals ; Cyclosporine ; Female ; Fibroblast Growth Factor 2* ; Humans ; Nerve Regeneration ; Peripheral Nerves ; Rats* ; Regeneration* ; Sciatic Nerve* ; Tissue Donors ; Transplants

Background: It remains unclear whether a combination of glycemic variability and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) status leads to a higher incidence of cardiovascular disease (CVD).Therefore, to investigate CVD risk according to the glucose control status during early diabetes, we examined visit-to-visit HbA1c variability among patients with type 2 diabetes (T2DM). Methods: In this 9-year retrospective study, we measured HbA1c levels at each visit and tracked the change in HbA1c levels for 3 years after the first presentation (observation window) in newly diagnosed T2DM patients. We later assessed the occurrence of CVD in the last 3 years (target outcome window) of the study period after allowing a 3-year buffering window. The HbA1c variability score (HVS; divided into quartiles, HVS_Q1–4) was used to determine visit-to-visit HbA1c variability. Results: Among 4,817 enrolled T2DM patients, the mean HbA1c level was < 7% for the first 3 years. The group with the lowest HVS had the lowest rate of CVD (9.4%; 104/1,109 patients).The highest incidence of CVD of 26.7% (8/30 patients) was found in HVS [≥ 9.0%]_Q3, which was significantly higher than that in HVS [6.0–6.9%]_Q1 (P = 0.006), HVS [6.0–6.9%]_Q2 (P = 0.013), HVS [6.0–6.9%]_Q3 (P = 0.018), and HVS [7.0–7.9%]_Q3 (P = 0.040). Conclusion To our knowledge, this is the first long-term study to analyze the importance of both HbA1c change and visit-to-visit HbA1c variability during outpatient visits within the first 3 years. Lowering glucose levels during early diabetes may be more critical than reducing visit-to-visit HbA1c variability.

Background: We evaluated patients visiting a tertiary university hospital due to a diagnosis of diabetes with a goal of achieving blood glucose control and evaluated blood glucose persistence over 7 years according to the change in blood glucose evident at 3 months after the first visit. Methods: Patients treated from 2009 to 2013 were categorized into four groups according to the change in HbA1c levels during the first 3 months of follow-up (Best_group, ≥ 1.6% decrease; Better_group, 0.5–1.5% decrease; Neutral_group, maintained at −0.4% to +0.4%; Worse_group, ≥ 0.5% increase). Each patient’s blood glucose control status was then monitored for 7 years. The incidence of stroke and acute coronary syndrome during this period was confirmed. Results: Overall, 9,776 patients were included. HbA1c values were lower in the Best_group than in the other groups at all time points (all P < 0.001). The rate of reaching targets of < 6.5% or < 7.0% HbA1c decreased over time; the rate at which the estimated glomerular filtration rate decreased to < 30 or < 60 mL/min/1.73m 2 increased over time (all trends, P < 0.01). Conclusion Blood glucose control status in the first 3 months after initiating hospital care enabled estimation of the patient’s glycemic control status for the next 7 years. In cases with poor initial blood glucose control, a new or more active method of blood glucose control should be sought.

Background: Based on the importance of ceasing smoking programs to control the regional disparity of smoking behavior in Korea, this study aims to reveal the variation of smoke rate and determinants of it for 229 provinces. An evaluation of the relative efficiency of the cease smoking program under the consideration of regional characteristics was followed. Methods: The main sources of data are the Korean Statistical Information Service and a national survey on the expenditure of public health centers. Multivariate regression is performed to figure the determinants of regional variation of smoking rate. Based on the result of the regression model, clustering analysis was conducted to group 229 regions by their characteristics. Three clusters were generated. Using data envelopment analysis (DEA), relative efficiency scores are calculated. Results from the pooled model which put 229 provinces in one model to score relative efficiency were compared with the cluster-separated model of each cluster. Results: First, the maximum variation of the smoking rate was 16.9%p. Second, sex ration, the proportion of the elder, and high risk drinking alcohol behavior have a significant role in the regional variation of smoking. Third, the population and proportion of the elder are the main variables for clustering. Fourth, dissimilarity on the results of relative efficiency was found between the pooled model and cluster-separated model, especially for cluster 2. Conclusion This study figured regional variation of smoking rate and its determinants on the regional level. Unconformity of the DEA results between different models implies the issues on regional features when the regional evaluation performed especially on the programs of public health centers.

Following the implementation of a long-term care insurance system for the elderly in Korea, many nursing homes have been established and many more patients than ever before have been living at nursing homes. Despite the fact that this is a high-risk group vulnerable to hip fractures, no study has yet been conducted in Korea on hip fracture incidence rates and prognoses among patients residing at nursing homes. We recently studied 46 cases of hip fracture in nursing homes; more specifically, we investigated the most common conditions under which fractures occur, and examined the degree of recovery of ambulatory ability and the mortality within 1 yr. Among those who had survived after 1 yr, the number of non-functional ambulators increased from 8 hips before hip fracture to 19 hips at final post-fracture follow-up. These individuals showed poor recovery of ambulatory ability, and the number who died within one year was 11 (23.9%), a rate not significantly different from that among community-dwelling individuals. It was evident that hip-joint-fracture nursing home residents survived for similar periods of time as did those dwelling in the community, though under much more uncomfortable conditions. The main highlight of this report is that it is the first from Korea on nursing home residents' ambulatory recovery and one-year mortality after hip fracture. The authors believe that, beginning with the present study, the government should collect and evaluate the number of hips fractured at nursing facilities in order to formulate criteria that will help to enable all patients to select safer and better-quality nursing facilities for themselves or their family members.
Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Body Mass Index ; Cerebrovascular Disorders/etiology ; Dementia/etiology ; Female ; Hip Fractures/complications/*epidemiology/mortality ; Humans ; Insurance, Long-Term Care ; Kaplan-Meier Estimate ; Male ; Nursing Homes ; Odds Ratio ; Parkinson Disease/etiology ; Republic of Korea/epidemiology ; Risk Factors

Background: Self-leadership, an action strategy that can maximize individual capabilities, can affect the organizational commitment of dental hygienists and ultimately improve the quality of medical services. This study aims to demonstrate the need for self-leadership and organizational commitment for dental hygienists and develop measures to improve the quality of medical services. Methods: An online survey of dental hygienists working at dental hospitals and clinics in Seoul and Gyeonggi province, Republic of Korea was conducted from March 28 to May 1, 2022. A total of 341 questionnaires were returned and analyzed. The measurement tools were modified and supplemented based on the theories and models developed by Manz for self-leadership, Mowday for organizational commitment, and Cronin and Taylor for medical services. Descriptive statistics, independent t-tests, ANOVA, simple regression, and multiple regression analyses were performed using SPSS 25.0. Results: In leadership education, self-leadership is based on participation experience, the number of participants, and when and where it is received. Organizational commitment comes from participation experience, and the quality of medical services has been found to affect participation experience and location. Self-leadership had an effect on the quality of medical services (β=0.497, t=10.551, p＜0.001; β =0.599, t=13.783, p＜0.001; β=0.353, t=7.601, p＜0.001) and organizational commitment was found to have a mediating effect. Conclusion Dental hygienists’ self-leadership has a positive effect on the quality of medical services through the formation of appropriate interrelationships within the organization. Therefore, self-leadership programs should be developed, participated in, and promoted to improve the self-leadership of dental hygienists. Moreover, hospitals should improve their environment to provide and improve self-leadership education.