Objectives: This study aimed 1) to investigate high school students’ reliability on COVID-19 responses in schools and private academies and 2) to identify the differences in COVID-19 prevention practice. Methods: This cross-sectional survey collected data from 200 high school respondents, using an anonymous online questionnaire designed by the Yonsei Global Health Center, from July 2 to 17, 2020 in this study. Chi-square tests were conducted to analyze the differences in preventative practices and practice rates between schools and private academies. Binary logistics regression analysis was conducted to identify the factor affecting the reliability of COVID-19 response. Results: These high school students reliabilityed the schools’ COVID-19 response more than the private academy. In addition, students who studied only at school did more COVID-19 prevention practices than students who studied both at school and academy. There was a significant difference in avoiding public transportation (p=.028), sitting in one row while having a meal (p=.011) in the practice rates depending on the schools’ COVID-19 response. A significant difference in Covering the mouth when coughing and sneezing (p-.041) was also found in the practice rates depending on the private academies’ COVID-19 response. Conclusion The reason why schools were more reliable than private academies was that there are health teachers. Because schools are supervised by the ministry of education, the Ministry of education and local government need to work together to manage and monitor the COVID-19 response in the academies through cooperation between two organizations. In addition, it is necessary to arrange a temporary circulation health teacher who will provide the COVID-19 prevention education at the academies.

Background: A study on coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) phobia among students revealed that fear of contracting COVID-19 was associated with commuting to school and spending time with others at school. Therefore, it is the need-of-the-hour for the Korean government to identify factors affecting COVID-19 phobia among university students and to consider these factors while framing the policy direction for the process of returning to normalcy in university education. Consequently, we aimed to identify the current state of COVID-19 phobia among Korean undergraduate and graduate students and the factors affecting COVID-19 phobia. Methods: This cross-sectional survey was conducted to identify the factors affecting COVID-19 phobia among Korean undergraduate and graduate students. The survey collected 460 responses from April 5 to April 16, 2022. The questionnaire was developed based on the COVID-19 Phobia Scale (C19P-S). Multiple linear regression was performed on the C19P-S scores using five models with the following dependent variables: Model 1, total C19P-S score; Model 2, psychological subscale score; Model 3, psychosomatic subscale score; Model 4, social subscale score; and Model 5, economic subscale score. The fit of these five models was established, and a P-value of less than 0.05 (F test) was considered statistically significant. Results: An analysis of the factors affecting the total C19P-S score led to the following findings: women significantly outscored men (difference: 4.826 points, P = 0.003); the group that favored the government’s COVID-19 mitigation policy scored significantly lower than those who did not favor it (difference: 3.161 points, P = 0.037); the group that avoided crowded places scored significantly higher than the group that did not avoid crowded places (difference: 7.200 points, P < 0.001); and those living with family/friends scored significantly higher than those in other living situations (difference: 4.606 points, P = 0.021). Those in favor of the COVID-19 mitigation policy had significantly lower psychological fear than those who were against it (difference: -1.686 points, P = 0.004). Psychological fear was also significantly higher for those who avoided crowded places compared to those who did not difference: 2.641 points, P < 0.001). Fear was significantly higher in people cohabitating than those living alone (difference: 1.543 points, P= 0.043). Conclusion The Korean government, in their pursuit of a policy that eases COVID-19-related restrictions, will also have to spare no efforts in providing correct information to prevent the escalation of COVID-19 phobia among people with a high fear of contracting the disease. This should be done through trustworthy information sources, such as the media, public agencies, and COVID-19 professionals.

BACKGROUND: It has been suggested that bilirubin has an inverse association with cardiovascular disease (CVD) due to its antioxidant properties. However, there are few data regarding the relationship between serum total bilirubin (sTB) and risk factors for CVD in Koreans. This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between sTB and high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), which is an independent risk factor for CVD. METHODS: We performed a cross sectional study in 6,800 men who were examined at a health promotion center at a university hospital in Korea between May 2005 and June 2006. We grouped the subjects according to values of serum hsCRP (above or below 1.0 mg/L) and compared the characteristics of the two groups. To evaluate the relationship between sTB and hsCRP, we classified the subjects according to quartile values of sTB. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to analyze the relationship of levels of sTB and hsCRP after adjusting for known risk factors for CVD. RESULTS: Serum hsCRP was significantly associated with body mass index (BMI), smoking, diabetes, hypertension, fasting plasma glucose, systolic blood pressure, alanine aminotransferase, and total cholesterol/high density lipoprotein (TC/HDL-C) ratio, but not with age or alcohol use. As levels of sTB increased, there was a decrease in age, numbers of smokers, BMI, and TC/HDL ratio. Compared to the lowest quartile of sTB, levels of hsCRP decreased with odds ratios of 0.82 (95% CI, 0.71 to 0.96), 0.75 (95% CI, 0.65 to 0.88), and 0.63 (95% CI, 0.54 to 0.74) in the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th quartiles of bilirubin, respectively. CONCLUSION: Bilirubin may be inversely associated with hsCRP
Alanine Transaminase ; Bilirubin ; Blood Pressure ; Body Mass Index ; C-Reactive Protein ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Fasting ; Glucose ; Health Promotion ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Korea ; Lipoproteins ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Odds Ratio ; Plasma ; Risk Factors ; Smoke ; Smoking

Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi is the most widely used medicinal plant in traditional Eastern medicine, especially in Chinese medicine. The major phytochemicals isolated from S. baicalensis are flavonoids, glycosides and their glucoronides such as baicalin, baicalein, wogonin etc. More than 30 different kinds of flavonoids are isolated from this plant. S. baicalensis and its flavonoids are reported to have several pharmacological activities, which includes anti-allergic, antioxidant, anti apoptic, anti-inflammatory effects and many more. Recently, S. baicalensis and its isolated flavonoids have been studied for their neuroprotective effects, through a variety of in vitro and in vivo models of neurodegenerative diseases, plausibly suggesting that S. baicalensis has salutary effect as a nature's blessing for neuroprotection. In this review, we are focousing on the neuroprotective effects of S. baicalensis and its flavonoids in ischemia or stroke-induced neuronal cell death. We aimed at compiling all the information regarding the neuroprotective effect of S. baicalensis in various experimental models of cerebral ischemia or stroke.
Humans ; Plant Extracts ; therapeutic use ; Scutellaria ; chemistry ; Stroke ; drug therapy

The differentiation of mass-forming autoimmune pancreatitis (AIP) from pancreatic cancer is critical because AIP can be successfully treated with steroid therapy and unnecessary surgery avoided. We herein report a case of 69-year-old male with a prior history of recurrent AIP who developed a pancreatic body mass with upstream duct dilatation. Laboratory findings were nonspecific for AIP or pancreatic cancer, although an endoscopic ultrasonography-guided biopsy revealed chronic inflammation. To differentiate mass-forming AIP from pancreatic cancer, we administered oral steroids for 2 weeks. After steroid therapy, a computed tomography scan revealed a decrease in the pancreatic mass size and improvement in dilatation of the upstream duct. So we could differentiate mass-forming AIP from pancreatic cancer; thereafter resolution of pancreatic lesion could be achieved with further steroid therapy. In conclusion, a 2-week steroid trial followed by radiologic imaging was helpful to differentiate mass-forming AIP from pancreatic cancer.
Aged ; Biopsy ; Dilatation ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Male ; Pancreatic Neoplasms* ; Pancreatitis* ; Steroids ; Unnecessary Procedures

We report here on 2 cases of idiopathic left atrial appendage ostial stenosis (LAA), and this rare finding was detected on transesophageal echocardiography. Its clinical implication is still unknown, given the small number of reported cases. Incompletely ligated LAA has characteristics similar to those observed in idiopathic LAA ostial stenosis, including the narrowed orifice, the small LAA cavity and the accelerated blood flow across the stenotic area. Since the incompletely ligated LAA has been reported to be complicated with thromboembolic events, we can assumed that the patients with idiopathic LAA ostial stenosis have a higher risk of thromboembolism than those with a normal LAA structure.
Atrial Appendage ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Echocardiography, Transesophageal ; Humans ; Thromboembolism

Extranodal natural killer/T-cell lymphoma (ENKL) is an uncommon neoplasm, and it is a subtype of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. It most commonly presents in the nasal cavity and nasopharynx. But only 10% of ENKL may present on the skin or the gastrointestinal tract and this has a poor prognosis. We report here on a case of CD56+ NK/T-cell lymphoma that limited to the esophagus. A 55-year-old male patient presented with epigastric soreness. Esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) showed well demarcated, longitudinal ulcerative lesions with an irregular base and a discrete margin on the lower esophagus. We performed EGDs and endoscopic biopsies 2 times, but these were insufficient to make a diagnosis. The 3rd time, we finally took a big piece of tissue using endoscopic mucosal resection with a cap-fitted panendoscope (EMR-C). The biopsies showed surface ulceration and a heavy lymphoid infiltration and a positive pattern for CD3, CD56 and granzyme B. The pathologic diagnosis was NK/T-cell lymphoma. The patient was treated with concurrent chemoradiation followed by additional chemotherapy and he achieved a complete response.
Biopsy ; Endoscopy, Digestive System ; Esophagus ; Gastrointestinal Tract ; Granzymes ; Humans ; Lymphoma ; Lymphoma, Extranodal NK-T-Cell ; Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nasal Cavity ; Nasopharynx ; Prognosis ; Skin ; Ulcer

Background: The need for regulatory science development to evaluate advanced regulatory products is gradually increasing without hindering the technological development. Creating a research environment and fostering experts through the establishment of regulatory agency-led policies are essential for the development of regulatory science. Method: This is a comparative study of the United States, Japan, Singapore, and Korea. The literature and websites of each regulatory agency were reviewed, and the focus was on advantages and comparing advantages based on definition, development trends, and expert training projects. Results: The United States is striving to develop regulatory science in response to changes in the new pharmaceutical industry through the regulatory science report, and to foster expert both inside and outside the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Japan is promoting regulatory science centered on regulatory science centers, and is focusing on researching work-related regulatory science within the Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Agency (PMDA) and improving employees’ ability to make regulatory decisions. Singapore was aiming to improve Southeast Asia’s regulatory capabilities under the leadership of Centre of Regulatory Excellence (CoRE) within Duke-NUS University. In 2021, Korea is in its early stages, starting to run a university's degree program related to regulatory science this year. Conclusion Regulatory science should be developed with the aim of improving the regulatory ability of the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety with Korea’s independent concept of regulatory science.

Secondary hyperparathyroidism is a common complication of chronic kidney disease and known to be associated with soft tissue calcification affecting patients' morbidity and mortality. However few cases of intestinal calcification related to secondary hyperparathyroidism have been reported. Herein we report a case of peritonitis complicating small intestinal perforation in a patient who had undergone peritoneal dialysis and had sustained hyperparathyroidism. Diffuse calcifications and perforations in small intestine were identified in abdomino-pelvic CT scan as well as in resected small intestine. Because of relapsing microperforation and resultant intra-abdominal abscess, the patient has been in fasting status depending on total parenteral nutrition for over 8 months after surgery.
Abdominal Abscess ; Fasting ; Humans ; Hyperparathyroidism ; Hyperparathyroidism, Secondary ; Intestinal Perforation ; Intestine, Small ; Parenteral Nutrition, Total ; Peritoneal Dialysis ; Peritonitis ; Renal Insufficiency, Chronic

Human gut microbial community is playing a critical role in human health and associated with different human disease. In parallel, probiotics, antibiotics, and antipyretic analgesics (AAs) were developed to improve human health or cure human diseases. We therefore examined how probiotics, antibiotics, and AAs influence to the gut microbiota. Three independent case/control studies were designed from the cross-sectional cohort data of 1,463 healthy Koreans. The composition of the gut microbiota in each case and control group was determined via 16S ribosomal RNA Illumina next-generation sequencing. The correlation between microbial taxa and the consumption of each drug was tested using zero-inflated Gaussian mixture models, with covariate adjustment of age, sex, and body mass index (BMI). Probiotics, antibiotics, and AAs consumption yielded the significant differences in the gut microbiota, represented the lower abundance of Megasphaera in probiotics, the higher abundance of Fusobacteria in antibiotics, and the higher abundance of Butyrivibrio and Verrucomicrobia in AAs, compared to each control group. The reduction of Erysipelotrichaceae family was common in three drugs consumption.
Analgesics* ; Anti-Bacterial Agents* ; Body Mass Index ; Butyrivibrio ; Cohort Studies ; Fusobacteria ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome* ; Humans ; Megasphaera ; Probiotics* ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S ; Verrucomicrobia