Recently, the Korean Medical Association (KMA) launched the KMA Policy system based upon the American Medical Association (AMA) Policy system. The KMA's official positions on health issues and medical ethics, as well as its constitution, bylaws, and directives, will be included in the KMA Policy system. The AMA's organizational structure and decision making process provided essential information for developing the KMA Policy system. Through the KMA Policy system, hereafter, the KMA should introduce a procedure not only to decide upon positions on various health issues but also a means to open them to the public. In addition, the KMA can expect the continuity and transparency of work, enhanced benefits to members, public credibility, and growth of its social reputation by means of KMA Policy. Furthermore, the system would be beneficial for both KMA members and the public, as they can easily access KMA Policy, and, in turn, access the healthcare systems of Korea and its medical knowledge. To achieve a successful KMA Policy system, the definite authority and responsibility should be granted to the organizational bodies of the KMA, for example, the House of Delegates and Board of Trustees, and the regional societies and other sections. These various groups must then efficiently divide up their work and cooperate systematically. Moreover, it is crucial that each individual member of the KMA pay much more attention to health issues and participate in the decision making process on KMA Policy.
American Medical Association ; Constitution and Bylaws ; Decision Making ; Delivery of Health Care ; Ethics, Medical ; Financing, Organized ; Humans ; Korea ; Power (Psychology)* ; Trustees

PURPOSE: Type II endoleaks (T2ELs) are the most common type of endoleaks observed after endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR). However, whether T2ELs should be treated remains debatable. In the present study, we aimed to describe the natural course of T2ELs and suggest the direction of their management. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We reviewed the data of 383 patients who underwent EVAR between 2007 and 2016. Data, including demographic and anatomical details, were collected, and patients with T2ELs were compared to those without them. Patients with T2ELs were categorized into subgroups according to changes in sac size and treatment requirement. RESULTS: We found patent lumbar artery count and lesser thickness of mural thrombi to be significant risk factors for T2ELs. Among the 383 patients, 85 (22.2%) patients were diagnosed with pure T2ELs. Among these 85 patients, the sac size increased in 29 (34.1%) patients, showed no significant change in 39 (45.9%) patients, and decreased in 17 (20.0%) patients. Fifteen (17.6%) patients, among 85 with initial pure T2ELs, showed spontaneous resolution. Five (5.9%) patients among 29, in whom the sac size increased, developed combined-type endoleaks. No sac ruptures were noted among the patients with T2ELs. CONCLUSION: T2ELs with sac expansion potentially contribute to other types of endoleaks. Therefore, periodic screening is important for these patients, particularly for those showing an increasing sac size. In addition, intervention should be considered when other types of endoleaks occur.
Aneurysm ; Aortic Aneurysm ; Arteries ; Endoleak ; Endovascular Procedures ; Humans ; Mass Screening ; Mesenteric Artery, Inferior ; Risk Factors ; Rupture

Purpose: To investigate the effect of regular monitoring of pulmonary function and ventilatory status on the initiation of non-invasive ventilation (NIV) between patients who were routinely monitored before receiving NIV and those who were not. Materials and Methods: This retrospective cohort study included subjects with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) who first received NIV between 2010 and 2019. The subjects were assigned to either the regular-follow-up (REG) group or the non-REG group, according to their follow-up status, before initiating NIV. We compared the number of emergent cases, the results of nocturnal ventilatory monitoring, and the pulmonary function of each group at initial ventilatory support. Results: In total, 73 subjects were enrolled in the REG group and 47 subjects in the non-REG group. There were significantly more emergency cases due to respiratory insufficiency in the non-REG group (12/47, 25.5%) than in the REG group (3/73, 4.1%). At the time of initial ventilatory support, hypoventilatory symptoms were more common and relatively severe in the non-REG group (37/47, 78.7%) than in the REG group (18/73, 24.7%). The average age at initial ventilatory support of the non-REG group was 2.15 years older than that of the subjects in the REG group. Moreover, subjects who were not regularly monitored exhibited greater deterioration in pulmonary function compared to those who were regularly followed up. Conclusion Regular evaluation of pulmonary function and ventilatory status before the onset of ventilatory insufficiency is crucial to reduce the risk of patients with DMD requiring emergency care due to ventilatory insufficiency.

Since 2001, financial support has been provided for all patients with neuromuscular disease (NMD) who require ventilatory support due to the paralysis of respiratory muscles in Korea. The purpose of this study was to identify ventilator usage status and appropriateness in these patients. We included 992 subjects with rare and incurable NMD registered for ventilator rental fee support. From 21 February 2011 to 17 January 2013, ventilator usage information, regular follow-up observation, and symptoms of chronic hypoventilation were surveyed by phone. Home visits were conducted for patients judged by an expert medical team to require medical examination. Abnormal ventilatory status was assessed by respiratory evaluation. Chronic respiratory insufficiency symptoms were reported by 169 of 992 subjects (17%), while 565 subjects (57%) did not receive regular respiratory evaluation. Ventilatory status was abnormal in 102 of 343 home-visit subjects (29.7%). Although 556 subjects (56%) reported 24-hour ventilator use, only 458 (46%) had an oxygen saturation monitoring device, and 305 (31%) performed an airstacking exercise. A management system that integrates ventilator usage monitoring, counselling and advice, and home visits for patients who receive ventilator support could improve the efficiency of the ventilator support project.
Adult ; Aged ; Disease Management ; Female ; Home Care Services ; Humans ; Interviews as Topic ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neuromuscular Diseases/complications/economics/*psychology ; Republic of Korea ; Respiratory Insufficiency/complications/*prevention & control ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Ventilators, Mechanical

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate pulmonary functions of patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), and myotonic muscular dystrophy (MMD) at the onset of ventilatory insufficiency. METHODS: This retrospective study included ALS, DMD, and MMD patients with regular outpatient clinic follow-up in the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine at Gangnam Severance Hospital before the application of non-invasive positive pressure ventilation (NIPPV). The patients were enrolled from August 2001 to March 2014. If patients experienced ventilatory insufficiency, they were treated with NIPPV, and their pulmonary functions were subsequently measured. RESULTS: Ninety-four DMD patients, 41 ALS patients, and 21 MMD patients were included in the study. The mean SpO2 was lower in the MMD group than in the other two groups. The mean forced vital capacity (FVC) in the supine position was approximately low to mid 20% on average in DMD and ALS patients, whereas it was 10% higher in MMD patients. ALS patients showed a significantly lower FVC in the supine position than in the sitting position. Maximal insufflation capacity, unassisted peak cough flow, maximum inspiratory pressure (MIP), and maximum expiratory pressure (MEP) were significantly higher in MMD group than in the other groups. MEP was significantly the lowest in DMD patients, followed by in ALS, and MMD patients, in order. CONCLUSION: Disease-specific values of pulmonary function, including FVC, MEP, and MIP, can be accurately used to assess the onset of ventilatory insufficiency in patients with ALS, DMD, and MMD.
Ambulatory Care Facilities ; Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis* ; Cough ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Insufflation ; Muscular Dystrophies* ; Muscular Dystrophy, Duchenne* ; Myotonic Dystrophy ; Neuromuscular Diseases ; Positive-Pressure Respiration ; Rehabilitation ; Respiratory Insufficiency ; Retrospective Studies ; Supine Position ; Vital Capacity

Freeman-Sheldon syndrome (FSS) is a rare distal arthrogryposis syndrome. There are few reports on the respiratory insufficiency of FSS. Additionally, there is no detailed information on pulmonary functional evaluation. A 17-year-old male patient with FSS developed respiratory failure, leading him to be admitted to hospital several times for evaluation and treatment. Of those times he was admitted, two were due to pneumonia. His pulmonary functions were indicative of a restrictive lung disease potentially caused by severe scoliosis. After a non-invasive ventilatorwas applied correctly to the patient, pulmonary hypertension was normalized. His pulmonary function has been maintained for 13 years. Since receiving proper respiratory care, which includes assisted coughing methods, the patient has not developed pneumonia. It is important to properly evaluate the pulmonary function of patients who have FSS and scoliosis to eliminate the risk of long-term respiratory complications.

Pulse-induced permeabilization of cellular membranes, generally referred to as electroporation (EP), has been used for years as a tool to increase macromolecule uptake in tissues, including nucleic acids, for gene therapeutic applications, and this technique has been shown to result in improved immunogenicity. In this study, we assessed the utility of EP as a tool to improve the efficacy of HB-110, a novel therapeutic DNA vaccine against chronic hepatitis B, now in phase 1 of clinical study in South Korea. The potency of HB-110 in mice was shown to be improved by EP. The rapid onset of antigen expression and higher magnitude of humoral and cellular responses in electric pulse-treated mice revealed that EP may enable a substantial reduction in the dosage of DNA vaccine required to elicit a response similar in magnitude to that achievable via conventional administration. This study also showed that EP-based vaccination at 4-week-intervals elicited a cellular immune response which was about two-fold higher than the response elicited by conventional vaccination at 2-week intervals. These results may provide a rationale to reduce the clinical dose and increase the interval between the doses in the multidose vaccination schedule. Electric pulsing also elicited a more balanced immune response against four antigens expressed by HB-110: S, preS, Core, and Pol.
Animals ; Electroporation ; Hepatitis B Antigens/biosynthesis ; Hepatitis B Vaccines/administration & dosage/*immunology ; Hepatitis B, Chronic/*immunology/prevention & control ; Immunity, Cellular ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Vaccines, DNA/administration & dosage/*immunology