Heart failure (HF) is a major cause of mortality and morbidity in South Korea, imposing substantial physical, emotional, and financial burdens on patients and society. Despite the high burden of symptom and complex care needs of HF patients, palliative care and hospice services remain underutilized in South Korea due to cultural, institutional, and knowledge-related barriers. This position statement from the Korean Society of Heart Failure emphasizes the need for integrating palliative and hospice care into HF management to improve quality of life and support holistic care for patients and their families. By clarifying the role of palliative care in HF and proposing practical referral criteria, this position statement aims to bridge the gap between HF and palliative care services in South Korea, ultimately improving patient-centered outcomes and aligning treatment with the goals and values of HF patients.

Purpose: For orthodontic bracket bonding, light curing resin cement is widely used because the process is convenient, and it can be polymerized at the desired time. This study compared the difference of bonding strength of orthodontic resin cement according to storage condition. Materials and Methods: After acid etching the bovine enamel surface with 37% phosphoric acid, 15 orthodontic brackets for mandible incisors were bonded with Ortho Connect and Orthomite LC according to following three conditions; 1) Immediate after 4°C refrigeration for 3 months (IR), 2) One day room temperature after 4°C refrigeration for 3 months (OR), 3) Room temperature for 3 months (RT). The shear bond strength was measured with a universal material tester and failure pattern of the specimen was observed. Two-way ANOVA and One-way ANOVA were used at the 95% significance level. Results: Ortho Connect that was applied immediately after refrigeration showed the maximum shear bond strength. Orthomite that was applied immediately after refrigeration showed the lowest shear bond strength, and the group stored at room temperature for three months showed the highest shear bond strength, and the difference between the two groups was significant. Conclusion Ortho Connect can be used without worrying about bond strength even if it is used immediately after refrigeration, but Orthomite should be kept at room temperature sufficiently after refrigeration.

Background: Data illustrating the impact of atopic dermatitis (AD) on lives of adults with AD in South Korea are limited. Objective: To assess the AD disease severity and its impact on quality of life (QoL) in patients with AD from South Korea. Methods: Patients with AD utilizing the specialist dermatology services of major hospitals in South Korea were assessed for disease severity using Eczema Area and Severity Index (EASI) score, for QoL using Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) (for QoL), and for comorbidities and treatment experience via retrospective review of 12-month medical records. Clinical and sociodemographic characteristics were also measured. Results: Of the 1,163 patients, 695 (59.8%) were men (mean age [years]±standard deviation: 31.6±12.1). Overall, 52.9% (n=615) patients had moderate-to-severe disease (EASI>7).The QoL of 72.3% (n=840) patients was affected moderately-to-severely (DLQI score: 6~30).Systemic immunosuppressants were used ≥1 over past 12 months in 51.9% (n=603) patients, and the most commonly used were cyclosporines (45.7%, n=531) and systemic corticosteroids (40.5%, n=471). Approximately, 10.8% (n=126) patients consulted or received treatment for AD-related eye problem. Of these, 40% (n=50) patients reported poor, very poor, or completely blind status; approximately, 16.7% patients (n=192) reported having depression or anxiety; and 35.5% (n=410) reported suicidal ideation or suicidal attempt. Conclusion A large proportion of patients had moderate-to-severe AD, a compromised QoL, and ocular or mental health comorbidities, indicating a high disease burden despite systemic treatment. These findings highlight the importance of a holistic approach for the evaluation and treatment of patients with AD.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the porosity of resin modified glass ionomer (RMGI) by different mixing methods. Materials and Methods: Five specimens were prepared for each groups according to capsules and mixing methods. Two RMGI capsule and two mixing machines were used for this study. One resin-modified glass ionomer cement is Fuji II LC (F2LC) and the other is Photac Fil Quick Aplicap (PFQ). For Mixing of RMGI capsule, Rotomix using rotating motion and CM-II using shaking motion were used. After measuring height, radius and mass of specimens, Density was calculated. And porosity was measured using micro-computed tomography (micro-CT). All data were statistically analyzed using T-test, two-way ANOVA to compare between groups at 95% significance level to evaluate the affect of capsule and mixing method on the porosity. Results The porosity was observed in all specimens generally. And there is significant differece between porosities according to RMGI capsule and Mixing method. The porosity of PFQ was lower than that of F2LC and the porosity of Rotomix was lower than that of CM-II. Conclusion: There was a difference of porosity according to kind of capsules and mixing methods. When using same capsule, less porosity was observed on PFQ than F2LC. When using same mixing mehod, less porosity was observed on Rotomix than CM-II. Using mixing machine of same coporation as that of RMGI capsule did not lead to lower porosity. Therefore, Selecting optimal mixing machine is important.

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to compare the shear bond strength of resin cement for orthodontic brackets without applying an adhesive primer, to the case of applying an adhesive primer. Materials and Methods: The specimens were divided into three experimental groups, Transbond XT, GC Ortho Connect and Orthomite LC, and the enamel surface was divided into two sections, one with 37% phosphoric acid and the other with 37% phosphoric acid and an adhesive primer or universal adhesive. Each of three types of cement was applied to orthodontic bracket, and after bonding, the shear bond strength was measured. Results: Transbond XT and Orthomite LC significantly increased shear bond strength when orthodontic brackets were bonded after applying an adhesive primer and universal adhesive, respectively. Conclusion It is expected that application of an adhesive primer or universal adhesive after acid etching will improve shear bond strength of orthodontic brackets in Transbond XT and Orthomite LC.

Despite the great socioeconomic burden of stroke, there have been few reports of stroke statistics in Korea. In this scenario, the Epidemiologic Research Council of the Korean Stroke Society launched the “Stroke Statistics in Korea” project, aimed at writing a contemporary, comprehensive, and representative report on stroke epidemiology in Korea. This report contains general statistics of stroke, prevalence of behavioral and vascular risk factors, stroke characteristics, pre-hospital system of care, hospital management, quality of stroke care, and outcomes. In this report, we analyzed the most up-to-date and nationally representative databases, rather than performing a systematic review of existing evidence. In summary, one in 40 adults are patients with stroke and 232 subjects per 100,000 experience a stroke event every year. Among the 100 patients with stroke in 2014, 76 had ischemic stroke, 15 had intracerebral hemorrhage, and nine had subarachnoid hemorrhage. Stroke mortality is gradually declining, but it remains as high as 30 deaths per 100,000 individuals, with regional disparities. As for stroke risk factors, the prevalence of smoking is decreasing in men but not in women, and the prevalence of alcohol drinking is increasing in women but not in men. Population-attributable risk factors vary with age. Smoking plays a role in young-aged individuals, hypertension and diabetes in middle-aged individuals, and atrial fibrillation in the elderly. About four out of 10 hospitalized patients with stroke are visiting an emergency room within 3 hours of symptom onset, and only half use an ambulance. Regarding acute management, the proportion of patients with ischemic stroke receiving intravenous thrombolysis and endovascular treatment was 10.7% and 3.6%, respectively. Decompressive surgery was performed in 1.4% of patients with ischemic stroke and in 28.1% of those with intracerebral hemorrhage. The cumulative incidence of bleeding and fracture at 1 year after stroke was 8.9% and 4.7%, respectively. The direct costs of stroke were about ₩1.68 trillion (KRW), of which ₩1.11 trillion were for ischemic stroke and ₩540 billion for hemorrhagic stroke. The great burden of stroke in Korea can be reduced through more concentrated efforts to control major attributable risk factors for age and sex, reorganize emergency medical service systems to give patients with stroke more opportunities for reperfusion therapy, disseminate stroke unit care, and reduce regional disparities. We hope that this report can contribute to achieving these tasks.
Adult ; Aged ; Alcohol Drinking ; Ambulances ; Atrial Fibrillation ; Cerebral Hemorrhage ; Emergency Medical Services ; Emergency Service, Hospital ; Epidemiology ; Female ; Hemorrhage ; Hope ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Incidence ; Korea ; Male ; Mortality ; Prevalence ; Reperfusion ; Risk Factors ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Stroke ; Subarachnoid Hemorrhage ; Writing

BACKGROUND: Pathologic diagnosis of central nervous system (CNS) neoplasms is made by comparing light microscopic, immunohistochemical, and molecular cytogenetic findings with clinicoradiologic observations. Intraoperative frozen cytology smears can improve the diagnostic accuracy for CNS neoplasms. Here, we evaluate the diagnostic value of cytology in frozen diagnoses of CNS neoplasms. METHODS: Cases were selected from patients undergoing both frozen cytology and frozen sections. Diagnostic accuracy was evaluated. RESULTS: Four hundred and fifty-four cases were included in this retrospective single-center review study covering a span of 10 years. Five discrepant cases (1.1%) were found after excluding 53 deferred cases (31 cases of tentative diagnosis, 22 cases of inadequate frozen sampling). A total of 346 cases of complete concordance and 50 cases of partial concordance were classified as not discordant cases in the present study. Diagnostic accuracy of intraoperative frozen diagnosis was 87.2%, and the accuracy was 98.8% after excluding deferred cases. Discrepancies between frozen and permanent diagnoses (n = 5, 1.1%) were found in cases of nonrepresentative sampling (n = 2) and misinterpretation (n = 3). High concordance was observed more frequently in meningeal tumors (97/98, 99%), metastatic brain tumors (51/52, 98.1%), pituitary adenomas (86/89, 96.6%), schwannomas (45/47, 95.8%), high-grade astrocytic tumors (47/58, 81%), low grade astrocytic tumors (10/13, 76.9%), non-neoplastic lesions (23/36, 63.9%), in decreasing frequency. CONCLUSIONS: Using intraoperative cytology and frozen sections of CNS tumors is a highly accurate diagnostic ancillary method, providing subtyping of CNS neoplasms, especially in frequently encountered entities.
Brain Neoplasms ; Central Nervous System Neoplasms ; Central Nervous System ; Cytogenetics ; Diagnosis ; Frozen Sections ; Humans ; Meningeal Neoplasms ; Methods ; Neurilemmoma ; Pituitary Neoplasms ; Retrospective Studies

The prevalence of heart failure (HF) is skyrocketing worldwide, and is closely associated with serious morbidity and mortality. In particular, HF is one of the main causes for the hospitalization and mortality in elderly individuals. Korea also has these epidemiological problems, and HF is responsible for huge socioeconomic burden. However, there has been no clinical guideline for HF management in Korea. 
The present guideline provides the first set of practical guidelines for the management of HF in Korea and was developed using the guideline adaptation process while including as many data from Korean studies as possible. The scope of the present guideline includes the definition, diagnosis, and treatment of chronic HF with reduced/preserved ejection fraction of various etiologies.
Aged ; Diagnosis* ; Heart Failure* ; Heart* ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Korea ; Mortality ; Prevalence