Purpose: Improvements in surgical quality and patient safety are critical components of the healthcare system. Despite excellent cancer survival rates in Korea, there is a lack of standardized postoperative complication management systems.To address this gap, the Korean Surgical Society initiated the development of the Korean Quality Improvement Platform in Surgery (K-QIPS) program. Methods: K-QIPS was successfully launched in 87 general hospitals. This nationwide surgical quality improvement program covers 5 major surgical fields: gastric surgery, colorectal surgery, hepatectomy and liver transplantation, pancreatectomy, and kidney transplantation. Results: Common and surgery-specific complication platforms will be developed, and the program will work toward the implementation of an artificial intelligence-based complication prediction system and the provision of evidence-based feedback to participating institutions. K-QIPS represents a significant step toward improving surgical quality and patient safety in Korea. Conclusion This program aims to reduce postoperative complications, mortality, and medical costs by providing a standardized platform for complication management and prediction. The successful implementation of this nationwide project may provide a good model for other countries that are required to improve surgical outcomes and patient care.

Purpose: Improvements in surgical quality and patient safety are critical components of the healthcare system. Despite excellent cancer survival rates in Korea, there is a lack of standardized postoperative complication management systems.To address this gap, the Korean Surgical Society initiated the development of the Korean Quality Improvement Platform in Surgery (K-QIPS) program. Methods: K-QIPS was successfully launched in 87 general hospitals. This nationwide surgical quality improvement program covers 5 major surgical fields: gastric surgery, colorectal surgery, hepatectomy and liver transplantation, pancreatectomy, and kidney transplantation. Results: Common and surgery-specific complication platforms will be developed, and the program will work toward the implementation of an artificial intelligence-based complication prediction system and the provision of evidence-based feedback to participating institutions. K-QIPS represents a significant step toward improving surgical quality and patient safety in Korea. Conclusion This program aims to reduce postoperative complications, mortality, and medical costs by providing a standardized platform for complication management and prediction. The successful implementation of this nationwide project may provide a good model for other countries that are required to improve surgical outcomes and patient care.

Purpose: Improvements in surgical quality and patient safety are critical components of the healthcare system. Despite excellent cancer survival rates in Korea, there is a lack of standardized postoperative complication management systems.To address this gap, the Korean Surgical Society initiated the development of the Korean Quality Improvement Platform in Surgery (K-QIPS) program. Methods: K-QIPS was successfully launched in 87 general hospitals. This nationwide surgical quality improvement program covers 5 major surgical fields: gastric surgery, colorectal surgery, hepatectomy and liver transplantation, pancreatectomy, and kidney transplantation. Results: Common and surgery-specific complication platforms will be developed, and the program will work toward the implementation of an artificial intelligence-based complication prediction system and the provision of evidence-based feedback to participating institutions. K-QIPS represents a significant step toward improving surgical quality and patient safety in Korea. Conclusion This program aims to reduce postoperative complications, mortality, and medical costs by providing a standardized platform for complication management and prediction. The successful implementation of this nationwide project may provide a good model for other countries that are required to improve surgical outcomes and patient care.

Background: General anesthesia is inevitable for pediatric patients undergoing surgery, though volatile anesthetic agents may cause neuroinflammation and neurodevelopmental impairment; however, the underlying pathophysiology remains unclear. We aimed to investigate the neuroinflammation mechanism in developing rat brains associated with sevoflurane exposure time, by identifying the specific damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) pathway and evaluating the effects of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) in alleviating neuroinflammation. Methods: A three-step experiment was conducted to investigate neuroinflammation induced by sevoflurane. First, the exposure time required for sevoflurane to cause neuroinflammation was determined. Next, the specific pathways of DAMPs involved in neuroinflammation by sevoflurane were identified. Finally, the effects of NSAIDs on sevoflurane-induced neuroinflammation were investigated. The expression of various molecules in the rat brain were assessed using immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction, western blot analysis, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results: In total, 112 rats (aged 7 days) were used, of which six rats expired during the experiment (mortality rate, 5.3%). Expression of CD68, HMGB-1, galectin-3, TLR4, TLR9, and phosphorylated NF-κB was significantly increased upon 6 h of sevoflurane exposure. Conversely, transcriptional levels of TNF-α and IL-6 significantly increased and IFN-γ significantly decreased after 6 h of sevoflurane exposure. Co-administration of NSAIDs with sevoflurane anesthesia significantly attenuated TNF-α and IL-6 levels and restored IFN-γ levels. Conclusions In conclusion, 6 h of sevoflurane exposure induces neuroinflammation through the DAMPs pathway, HMGB-1, and galectin-3. Co-administration of ibuprofen reduced sevoflurane-induced neuroinflammation.

Background: Hand hygiene is considered the simplest and most cost-effective method of infection prevention. Regular observation and feedback on hand hygiene compliance are key strategies for its enhancement. This study evaluated the effectiveness of hand hygiene surveillance, including direct observation and feedback, by comprehensively analyzing the reported hand hygiene compliance within the Korean National Healthcare-Associated Infections Surveillance System from 2019 to 2022. Methods: Participating medical institutions included general hospitals and hospitals with infection control departments that consented to participate. Hand hygiene surveillance was conducted using direct observation. Collected data, including healthcare workers, clinical areas, hand hygiene moments, and hand hygiene compliance, were recorded to calculate hand hygiene compliance rates. Additionally, the volume of alcohol-based hand sanitizers used per patient per day was investigated as an indirect indicator of hand hygiene compliance. The study was conducted from July 2019 to December 2022. Results: Hand hygiene compliance increased from 87.2% in Q3 2019 to 89.9% in 2022. Nurses and medical technologists showed the highest compliance rates, whereas doctors showed the lowest compliance rates. Intensive care units excelled in compliance, whereas emergency de partments lagged. Compliance was highest after patient contact and lowest when the patient’s surroundings were touched. Larger hospitals consumed more alcohol-based hand sanitizers than smaller hospitals did. Conclusion This study confirmed an improvement in hand hygiene compliance through sustained surveillance, indicating its contribution not only to preventing infection transfer within healthcare facilities but also to fostering a culture of hand hygiene in the country.

Purpose: Although, the rate of skipping breakfast among adolescents has increased in recent years, there has been an increase in the consumption of home meal replacement (HMR). This study examines the recognition and preference of rice-based Korean style HMR for breakfast among adolescents in located at Jeollabuk-do. Methods: Total of 550 middle- and high-school students of Jeollabuk-do enrolled in this study signing a consent of participation. After conducting a preliminary survey, the questionnaire employed was modified according to the purpose of this study, and the self-recording method was appliedto fill out the questionnaire. Data were analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics 25. The χ2 -test was performed for categorical variables, whereas continuous variables were analyzed by the independent t-test. Results: Results of this study determined that 272 students (54.6%) belonged tobreakfasteating group and 226 (45.4%) were in the breakfast-skipping group. The reasons specified by both groups for eating HMR were ‘convenient to cook’, ‘delicious’, and ‘time-saving’. The a result of analyzing perception of the importance of HMR by classifying as whether to eat or not to eat breakfast, revealed that compared to the breakfast-skipping group, the breakfast-eating group considered ‘hygiene and cleanliness’ as important factors (p < 0.001).Considering the gender, school, and breakfast consumption, the most preferred Korean HMR were ‘triangular gimbap’, ‘gimbap’, and ‘rice balls’. Conclusion Results of this study indicate, when considering adolescents, there is a necessary for continuous researches to develop convenient breakfast substitutes that are easily consumed. Moreover, we believe that it is essential to impart proper cooking education and recipe distribution of the menu.

Purpose: Although, the rate of skipping breakfast among adolescents has increased in recent years, there has been an increase in the consumption of home meal replacement (HMR). This study examines the recognition and preference of rice-based Korean style HMR for breakfast among adolescents in located at Jeollabuk-do. Methods: Total of 550 middle- and high-school students of Jeollabuk-do enrolled in this study signing a consent of participation. After conducting a preliminary survey, the questionnaire employed was modified according to the purpose of this study, and the self-recording method was appliedto fill out the questionnaire. Data were analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics 25. The χ2 -test was performed for categorical variables, whereas continuous variables were analyzed by the independent t-test. Results: Results of this study determined that 272 students (54.6%) belonged tobreakfasteating group and 226 (45.4%) were in the breakfast-skipping group. The reasons specified by both groups for eating HMR were ‘convenient to cook’, ‘delicious’, and ‘time-saving’. The a result of analyzing perception of the importance of HMR by classifying as whether to eat or not to eat breakfast, revealed that compared to the breakfast-skipping group, the breakfast-eating group considered ‘hygiene and cleanliness’ as important factors (p < 0.001).Considering the gender, school, and breakfast consumption, the most preferred Korean HMR were ‘triangular gimbap’, ‘gimbap’, and ‘rice balls’. Conclusion Results of this study indicate, when considering adolescents, there is a necessary for continuous researches to develop convenient breakfast substitutes that are easily consumed. Moreover, we believe that it is essential to impart proper cooking education and recipe distribution of the menu.

Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is a common entrapment neuropathy caused by compression of the median nerve at the wrist. Although symptoms and signs of CTS are widely known, it is often difficult to make a correct diagnosis. A clinical examination, electrophysiological studies, and ultrasonographic evaluation have similar sensitivities and specificities, and combining them improves diagnostic yield. However, evidence about the optimal treatment has not been well established. We review the clinical manifestations, diagnostic methods, and treatment options for CTS.
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome* ; Diagnosis ; Median Nerve ; Neural Conduction ; Ultrasonography ; Wrist

Many studies have investigated relationships between APOE genotype and bone mineral density (BMD). However, the results of these studies have been inconsistent. Few studies have been carried out in Asian populations. We studied the relationship of the APOE gene polymorphism and BMD in two large population-based studies. The datasets included the Dong-gu Study (3575 men and 5335 women) and the Namwon Study (2310 men, 3512 women). Lumbar spine and femoral neck BMD were measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. APOE genotypes were analyzed by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism. The APOE genotypes were classified into APOE E2 (E2/E2 and E2/E3), APOE E3 (E3/E3), and APOE E4 (E3/E4 and E4/E4). The genotype distribution of the study population was in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. There were no significant differences among APOE genotype groups in lumbar and femoral neck BMD in either cohort. Our data do not support the hypothesis that the APOE genotype is associated with BMD.
Absorptiometry, Photon ; Apolipoproteins E ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Bone Density ; Cohort Studies ; Dataset ; Female ; Femur Neck ; Genotype ; Humans ; Jeollabuk-do ; Male ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Spine