Purpose: This study evaluated the difference in the recurrence of inguinal hernia in young adult patients who underwent either high ligation alone or high ligation with posterior wall repair using nationwide data. Methods: This retrospective study included young adult patients (aged 16–30 years) who underwent surgery for inguinal hernia between June 1, 2013 and December 31, 2020. Data from the National Health Information Database from the Korea Health Insurance Service were used for this study. Patients were divided into 2 groups (high ligation alone and posterior wall repair). The primary outcome was the difference in recurrent inguinal hernia surgeries between the 2 groups. Results: Among the 10,803 patients included in the study, 947 underwent high ligation alone, and 9,856 underwent high ligation with posterior wall repair. Recurrence was observed in 18 patients (1.9%) in the high ligation only group and 84 (0.85%) in the high ligation with posterior wall repair group. Log-rank test findings revealed that recurrence was less frequent in the high ligation with posterior wall repair group than in the high ligation only group (P = 0.003). In the multivariate analysis of factors influencing recurrence, posterior wall repair (hazard ratio, 0.241; P = 0.001) was shown to significantly lower the recurrence. Conclusion Posterior wall repair might be necessary for inguinal hernia repair in young adults.

BACKGROUND: Alternative medicines may be defined as forms of therapy or examination that have no scientific basis and where no effect or diagnostic reliability have been demonstrated by scientific methods. Many patients with atopic dermatitis try various forms of alternative medicine, and several studies about the use of alternative medicine in the patients of atopic dermatitis were performed in western countries but not in Korea. OBJECT: This study was performed to evaluate the use of alternative medicine in atopic dermatitis patients. METHODS: 188 patients of atopic dermatitis attending our outpatient clinic responded to questionnaires on the use of alternative medicine and the past history of atopic dermatitis. RESULTS: 136 of 188 patients(72%) reported previous or current use of one or more forms of alternative medicine. Herbal remedies(32.4%) were used most frequently, and health food preparations, spa therapy, and diet changes were also commonly used. The most common motif of using alternative medicine was "just want to try every possible treatment"(48.6%) and main information sources were people without same skin disease(relatives and friends)(50.0%). The majority(75.2%) reported they do not use the alternative medicine now because of the poor result. The use of the alternative medicine was related to the disease duration, and the cost of the atopic dermatitis treatment. CONCLUSIONS: The use of alternative medicine in atopic dermatitis is commonplace and should be of concern to dermatologists.
Ambulatory Care Facilities ; Complementary Therapies ; Dermatitis, Atopic* ; Diet ; Food, Organic ; Humans ; Korea ; Skin ; Surveys and Questionnaires

No abstract available.
Coronary Vessels* ; Endocarditis* ; Fistula*

BACKGROUND/AIMS: BK virus-associated nephropathy (BKVAN) is an important cause of allograft dysfunction in kidney transplant recipients. It has an unfavorable clinical course, and no definite treatment guidelines have yet been established. Here, we report our center's experience with biopsy-proven BKVAN and investigate factors associated with its progression. METHODS: From January 2004 to April 2013, 25 patients with BKVAN were diagnosed by biopsy at Seoul St. Mary's Hospital. Of the 25 patients, 10 were deceaseddonor transplant recipients and 15 were living-donor transplant recipients. Three of the patients underwent retransplantation. The primary immunosuppressant used was tacrolimus in 17 patients and cyclosporine in eight patients. RESULTS: BKVAN was observed at a mean duration of 22.8 ± 29.1 months after transplantation. The mean serum creatinine level at biopsy was 2.2 ± 0.7 mg/dL. BKVAN occurred with acute rejection in eight patients (28%). Immunosuppression modification was performed in 21 patients (84%). Additionally, leflunomide and intravenous immunoglobulin were administered to 13 patients (52%) and two (8%), respectively. Allograft loss occurred in five patients (27.8%) during the follow- up period at 0.7, 17.1, 21.8, 39.8, and 41.5 months after the BKVAN diagnosis. Advanced stages of BKVAN, increased creatinine levels, and accompanying acute rejection at the time of BKVAN diagnosis increased the risk of allograft failure. CONCLUSIONS: The clinical outcomes in patients with biopsy-proven BKVAN were unfavorable in the present study, especially in patients with advanced-stage BKVAN, poor renal function, and acute allograft rejection.
Adult ; Allografts ; Antiviral Agents/therapeutic use ; BK Virus/*pathogenicity ; Biomarkers/blood ; Biopsy ; Creatinine/blood ; Disease Progression ; Female ; Graft Rejection/diagnosis/drug therapy/immunology/*virology ; Graft Survival ; Humans ; Immunocompromised Host ; Immunosuppressive Agents/adverse effects ; Kaplan-Meier Estimate ; Kidney Transplantation/*adverse effects ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Opportunistic Infections/diagnosis/drug therapy/immunology/*virology ; Polyomavirus Infections/diagnosis/drug therapy/immunology/*virology ; Republic of Korea ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Time Factors ; Treatment Outcome ; Tumor Virus Infections/diagnosis/drug therapy/immunology/*virology

Toxoplasma gondii seroprevalence have been rapidly increasing in some parts of Korea. We analyzed prevalence of anti-Toxoplasma gondii antibodies, using a rapid diagnostic test (RDT), in the sera of 552 residents in Ganghwa-gun, 661 ones in Cheorwon-gun, and 305 ones in Goseong-gun, Korea in 2019. IgG/IgM RDT mounted with recombinant fragment of major surface antigen (SAG1), glutathione-S-transferase-linker-SAG1A, were applied to the sera. IgG seroprevalence was 28.1% in Ganghwa-gun, 19.5% in Cheorwon-gun and 35.7% in Goseong-gun. Odds ratios comparing Cheorwon vs Ganghwa was 0.63 (P=0.001) and Goesong versus Ganghwa was 1.47 (P=0.01) adjusting age and sex. Goseong had highest seroprevalence among the 3 counties both in crude rates and logistic regression. Although Cheorwon and Goseong are adjacent to the demilitarized zone (DMZ) in Korea, seroprevalence rate was much higher in Goseong. Further investigation on other DMZ-closed areas is necessary whether they have high prevalence rates compared to the other areas. T. gondii prevalence in Korea is still persists; proper health policy should be established.