Background: With growing elderly populations, management of patients with acute stroke is increasingly important. In South Korea, the Acute Stroke Quality Assessment Program (ASQAP) has contributed to improving the quality of stroke care and practice behavior in healthcare institutions. While the mortality of hemorrhagic stroke remains high, there are only a few assessment indices associated with hemorrhagic stroke. Considering the need to develop assessment indices to improve the actual quality of care in the field of acute stroke treatment, this study aims to investigate the current status of human resources and practices related to the treatment of patients with acute stroke through a nationwide survey. Methods: For the healthcare institutions included in the Ninth ASQAP of the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service (HIRA), data from January 2022 to December 2022 were collected through a survey on the current status and practice of healthcare providers related to the treatment of patients with acute stroke. The questionnaire consisted of 19 items, including six items on healthcare providers involved in stroke care and 10 items on the care of patients with acute stroke. Results: In the treatment of patients with hemorrhagic stroke among patients with acute stroke, neurosurgeons were the most common providers. The contribution of neurosurgeons in the treatment of ischemic stroke has also been found to be equivalent to that of neurologists. However, a number of institutions were found to be devoid of healthcare providers who perform definitive treatments, such as intra-arterial thrombectomy for patients with ischemic stroke or cerebral aneurysm clipping for subarachnoid hemorrhage. The intensity of the workload of healthcare providers involved in the care of patients with acute stroke, especially those involved in definitive treatment, was also found to be quite high. Conclusion Currently, there are almost no assessment indices specific to hemorrhagic stroke in the ASQAP for acute stroke. Furthermore, it does not reflect the reality of the healthcare providers and practices that provide definitive treatment for acute stroke. The findings of this study suggest the need for the development of appropriate assessment indices that reflect the realities of acute stroke care.

Background: With growing elderly populations, management of patients with acute stroke is increasingly important. In South Korea, the Acute Stroke Quality Assessment Program (ASQAP) has contributed to improving the quality of stroke care and practice behavior in healthcare institutions. While the mortality of hemorrhagic stroke remains high, there are only a few assessment indices associated with hemorrhagic stroke. Considering the need to develop assessment indices to improve the actual quality of care in the field of acute stroke treatment, this study aims to investigate the current status of human resources and practices related to the treatment of patients with acute stroke through a nationwide survey. Methods: For the healthcare institutions included in the Ninth ASQAP of the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service (HIRA), data from January 2022 to December 2022 were collected through a survey on the current status and practice of healthcare providers related to the treatment of patients with acute stroke. The questionnaire consisted of 19 items, including six items on healthcare providers involved in stroke care and 10 items on the care of patients with acute stroke. Results: In the treatment of patients with hemorrhagic stroke among patients with acute stroke, neurosurgeons were the most common providers. The contribution of neurosurgeons in the treatment of ischemic stroke has also been found to be equivalent to that of neurologists. However, a number of institutions were found to be devoid of healthcare providers who perform definitive treatments, such as intra-arterial thrombectomy for patients with ischemic stroke or cerebral aneurysm clipping for subarachnoid hemorrhage. The intensity of the workload of healthcare providers involved in the care of patients with acute stroke, especially those involved in definitive treatment, was also found to be quite high. Conclusion Currently, there are almost no assessment indices specific to hemorrhagic stroke in the ASQAP for acute stroke. Furthermore, it does not reflect the reality of the healthcare providers and practices that provide definitive treatment for acute stroke. The findings of this study suggest the need for the development of appropriate assessment indices that reflect the realities of acute stroke care.

Background: With growing elderly populations, management of patients with acute stroke is increasingly important. In South Korea, the Acute Stroke Quality Assessment Program (ASQAP) has contributed to improving the quality of stroke care and practice behavior in healthcare institutions. While the mortality of hemorrhagic stroke remains high, there are only a few assessment indices associated with hemorrhagic stroke. Considering the need to develop assessment indices to improve the actual quality of care in the field of acute stroke treatment, this study aims to investigate the current status of human resources and practices related to the treatment of patients with acute stroke through a nationwide survey. Methods: For the healthcare institutions included in the Ninth ASQAP of the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service (HIRA), data from January 2022 to December 2022 were collected through a survey on the current status and practice of healthcare providers related to the treatment of patients with acute stroke. The questionnaire consisted of 19 items, including six items on healthcare providers involved in stroke care and 10 items on the care of patients with acute stroke. Results: In the treatment of patients with hemorrhagic stroke among patients with acute stroke, neurosurgeons were the most common providers. The contribution of neurosurgeons in the treatment of ischemic stroke has also been found to be equivalent to that of neurologists. However, a number of institutions were found to be devoid of healthcare providers who perform definitive treatments, such as intra-arterial thrombectomy for patients with ischemic stroke or cerebral aneurysm clipping for subarachnoid hemorrhage. The intensity of the workload of healthcare providers involved in the care of patients with acute stroke, especially those involved in definitive treatment, was also found to be quite high. Conclusion Currently, there are almost no assessment indices specific to hemorrhagic stroke in the ASQAP for acute stroke. Furthermore, it does not reflect the reality of the healthcare providers and practices that provide definitive treatment for acute stroke. The findings of this study suggest the need for the development of appropriate assessment indices that reflect the realities of acute stroke care.

Background: With growing elderly populations, management of patients with acute stroke is increasingly important. In South Korea, the Acute Stroke Quality Assessment Program (ASQAP) has contributed to improving the quality of stroke care and practice behavior in healthcare institutions. While the mortality of hemorrhagic stroke remains high, there are only a few assessment indices associated with hemorrhagic stroke. Considering the need to develop assessment indices to improve the actual quality of care in the field of acute stroke treatment, this study aims to investigate the current status of human resources and practices related to the treatment of patients with acute stroke through a nationwide survey. Methods: For the healthcare institutions included in the Ninth ASQAP of the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service (HIRA), data from January 2022 to December 2022 were collected through a survey on the current status and practice of healthcare providers related to the treatment of patients with acute stroke. The questionnaire consisted of 19 items, including six items on healthcare providers involved in stroke care and 10 items on the care of patients with acute stroke. Results: In the treatment of patients with hemorrhagic stroke among patients with acute stroke, neurosurgeons were the most common providers. The contribution of neurosurgeons in the treatment of ischemic stroke has also been found to be equivalent to that of neurologists. However, a number of institutions were found to be devoid of healthcare providers who perform definitive treatments, such as intra-arterial thrombectomy for patients with ischemic stroke or cerebral aneurysm clipping for subarachnoid hemorrhage. The intensity of the workload of healthcare providers involved in the care of patients with acute stroke, especially those involved in definitive treatment, was also found to be quite high. Conclusion Currently, there are almost no assessment indices specific to hemorrhagic stroke in the ASQAP for acute stroke. Furthermore, it does not reflect the reality of the healthcare providers and practices that provide definitive treatment for acute stroke. The findings of this study suggest the need for the development of appropriate assessment indices that reflect the realities of acute stroke care.

Background: Aging leads to sarcopenia, which is characterized by reduced muscle mass and strength. Many factors, including altered muscle protein turnover, diminished neuromuscular function, hormonal changes, systemic inflammation, and the structure and composition of muscle fibers, play a crucial role in age-related muscle decline. This study explored differences in muscle fiber types contributing to overall muscle function decline in aging, focusing on individuals with hip fractures from falls. Methods: A pilot study at Chungnam National University Hospital collected muscle biopsies from hip fracture patients aged 20 to 80 undergoing surgical treatment. Muscle biopsies from the vastus lateralis and gluteus maximus were obtained during hip arthroplasty or internal fixation. Handgrip strength, calf and thigh circumference, and bone mineral density were evaluated in individuals with hip fractures from falls. We analyzed the relationships between each clinical characteristic and muscle fiber type. Results: In total, 26 participants (mean age 67.9 years, 69.2% male) were included in this study. The prevalence of sarcopenia was 53.8%, and that of femoral and lumbar osteoporosis was 19.2% and 11.5%, respectively. Vastus lateralis analysis revealed an age-related decrease in type IIx fibers, a higher proportion of type IIa fibers in women, and an association between handgrip strength and type IIx fibers in men. The gluteus maximus showed no significant correlations with clinical parameters. Conclusion This study identified complex associations between age, sex, handgrip strength, and muscle fiber composition in hip fracture patients, offering insights crucial for targeted interventions combating age-related muscle decline and improving musculoskeletal health.

Purpose: To analyze the difference in bony pelvimetry using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in women who delivered vaginally and those who underwent cesarean section (CS) due to cephalopelvic disproportion (CPD). Methods: This retrospective case-control study enrolled Korean women who gave birth to their first child between 37 and 42 weeks of pregnancy and underwent pelvic MRI between January 2014 and June 2020. These women were classified into 3 groups: vaginal delivery (VD), CS due to CPD (CPD-CS), and CS due to reasons other than CPD (Other-CS). In MRI images, true conjugate (TC), obstetric conjugate (OC), mid anterior-posterior (AP) distance (MAD), outlet AP distance (OAD), ischial spine distance (ISD), ischial tuberosity distance (ITD), and pubic angle (PA) were measured. Results: In total, 392 women were enrolled. There were no significant differences in maternal height and body mass index at birth among the 3 groups. The ISD was statistically different between the VD group (106.2±6.4 mm) and the Other-CS group (110.4±8.8 mm) (p=0.014). After multiple regression analysis, short ISD (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 0.92; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.87-0.97; p=0.002), short MAD (aOR, 0.95; 95% CI, 0.89-0.99; p=0.047), and short ITD (aOR, 0.95; 95% CI, 0.91-0.99; p=0.019) were significantly associated with CS due to CPD. Conclusion Short ISD, MAD, and ITD, measured using MRI, are important parameters that can predict CS due to CPD. The accumulation of related research could promote the development of an excellent imaging method in terms of cost-effectiveness. Thus, it may be possible to establish a method to reduce obstetric and perinatal complications due to dystonia.

PURPOSE: This study evaluated the psychometric properties of the Korean version of Yale Food Addiction Scale for Children (YFAS-C). METHODS: Participants were 419 young adolescent students (11~15 years old). The content validity of the expert group was calculated as the content validity index (CVI) after the translation and reverse translation process of the 25 items of the YFAS-C. The multitrait-multimethod matrix (MTMM) method was used to verify the construct validity; the generalized linear model (GLM) was used to evaluate the concurrent and incremental validity. Reliability was calculated as Kuder-Richardson-20 (KR-20) and Spearman-Brown coefficients. RESULTS: The CVI of the 25 items was greater than the item-level CVI .80 and the scale-level CVI .90. The Korean version of YFAS-C had verified convergent validity in emotional eating and external eating and discriminant validity in restrained eating. In addition, it had verified concurrent validity in emotional eating and external eating. Finally the incremental validity of the Korean version of YFAS-C was statistically significant on BMI. Reliability was KR-20 α=.69 and the Spearman-Brown coefficient was .64. CONCLUSION: The Korean version of YFAS-C is a valid and reliable scale for measuring the severity of food addiction; it can be a useful scale for preventing obesity by predicting food addiction early.
Adolescent ; Child ; Eating ; Humans ; Linear Models ; Methods ; Obesity ; Psychometrics ; Reproducibility of Results

PURPOSE: This study evaluated the psychometric properties of the Korean version of Yale Food Addiction Scale for Children (YFAS-C). METHODS: Participants were 419 young adolescent students (11~15 years old). The content validity of the expert group was calculated as the content validity index (CVI) after the translation and reverse translation process of the 25 items of the YFAS-C. The multitrait-multimethod matrix (MTMM) method was used to verify the construct validity; the generalized linear model (GLM) was used to evaluate the concurrent and incremental validity. Reliability was calculated as Kuder-Richardson-20 (KR-20) and Spearman-Brown coefficients. RESULTS: TheCVI of the 25 items was greater than the item-level CVI .80 and the scale-level CVI .90. The Korean version of YFAS-C had verified convergent validity in emotional eating and external eating and discriminant validity in restrained eating. In addition, it had verified concurrent validity in emotional eating and external eating. Finally the incremental validity of the Korean version of YFAS-C was statistically significant on BMI. Reliability was KR-20 α=.69 and the Spearman-Brown coefficient was .64. CONCLUSION The Korean version of YFAS-C is a valid and reliable scale for measuring the severity of food addiction; it can be a useful scale for preventing obesity by predicting food addiction early.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to compare clinical and surgical outcomes of robotic single-site hysterectomy (RSSH) and robot-assisted multiport hysterectomy (RH) in benign disease. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 38 women who underwent RSSH (N=12) or RH (N=26) for the treatment of benign uterine disease between June 2015 and November 2017. RESULTS: There were no intergroup differences in parity, comorbidities, and number of previous abdominal surgery. Mean age was older (49.5±5.05 years vs. 44.4±3.54 years, P=0.001) and mean body mass index was higher (27.4±2.47 kg/m2 vs. 25.3±3.12 kg/m2, P=0.045) in RSSH group than RH group. Surgical outcomes, including operative time (165.0 minutes vs. 159.2 minutes, P=0.727), estimated blood loss (115.8±33.15 mL vs. 108.1±56.42 mL, P=0.662), uterus weight (445.9±157.21 g vs. 374.5±197.91 g, P=0.291), postoperative hospital stay (5.4±0.51 days vs. 5.8±1.20 days, P=0.289), postoperative hemoglobin change in day 1 (1.8±0.89 g/dL vs. 1.4±1.53 g/dL, P=0.431) and day 3 (2.1±1.32 g/dL vs. 1.7±1.83 g/dL, P=0.601), and perioperative complications did not significantly differ between two groups. The use of additional analgesics after 6 hours, 24 hours, and 48 hours, and mean NRS score after 6 hours, 24 hours, and 48 hours were not significantly different between two groups. CONCLUSION: RSSH might be an effective and safe alternative to RH, even if in older and/or obese women with large uteri.
Analgesics ; Body Mass Index ; Comorbidity ; Female ; Genital Diseases, Female* ; Humans ; Hysterectomy* ; Length of Stay ; Medical Records ; Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures ; Operative Time ; Parity ; Retrospective Studies* ; Robotic Surgical Procedures ; Uterine Diseases ; Uterus

The eye irritation potential of drug candidates or pharmaceutical ingredients should be evaluated if there is a possibility of ocular exposure. Traditionally, the ocular irritation has been evaluated by the rabbit Draize test. However, rabbit eyes are more sensitive to irritants than human eyes, therefore substantial level of false positives are unavoidable. To resolve this species difference, several three-dimensional human corneal epithelial (HCE) models have been developed as alternative eye irritation test methods. Recently, we introduced a new HCE model, MCTT HCETM which is reconstructed with non-transformed human corneal cells from limbal tissues. Here, we examined if MCTT HCETM can be employed to evaluate eye irritation potential of solid substances. Through optimization of washing method and exposure time, treatment time was established as 10 min and washing procedure was set up as 4 times of washing with 10 mL of PBS and shaking in 30 mL of PBS in a beaker. With the established eye irritation test protocol, 11 solid substances (5 non-irritants, 6 irritants) were evaluated which demonstrated an excellent predictive capacity (100% accuracy, 100% specificity and 100% sensitivity). We also compared the performance of our test method with rabbit Draize test results and in vitro cytotoxicity test with 2D human corneal epithelial cell lines.
Cornea* ; Epithelial Cells ; Humans ; Irritants ; Sensitivity and Specificity