Purpose: This study analyzed the changes in the number of surgeries and surgical patterns due to the adoption and diffusion of new medical technology while focusing on radical prostatectomy. Materials and Methods: Medical equipment status report data and the National Health Insurance claims data from 2007 to 2019 were used. A total of 62798 radical prostatectomies from 135 medical facilities were analyzed. Radical prostatectomy was classified into open radical prostatectomy (ORP), laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (LRP), and robot-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (RARP) using the fee schedule codes. A linear mixed model was used to determine whether the adoption of a robotic surgical system had an effect on the number of surgeries and surgical patterns after adjusting for medical characteristics. Results: The number of radical prostatectomies performed in Korea increased from 1756 in 2007 to 8475 in 2019. During this period, the proportion of RARP in total surgery increased from 17.5% to 74.3%. The mean number of surgeries at medical facilities adopting the robotic surgical system was 128.3, which was higher compared to 18.5 cases in medical facilities that did not adopt it. The adoption of a robotic surgical system increased the number of radical prostatectomy surgeries by 12.1 cases and the RARP share by 47.2% in a linear mixed model.  Conclusion The adoption and diffusion of robotic surgical systems in Korea increased the number of surgeries as well as the share of robotic surgery. It is necessary to manage a technology that is widely used in a state where its clinical effectiveness is uncertain.

Purpose: This study aimed to review recent findings from birth cohort studies on maternal and child environmental health. Methods: Birth cohort studies regarding environmental health outcomes for mothers and their children were investigated through a systematic review. A literature search was conducted in PubMed, CINAHL, the Cochrane Library, Embase, and RISS to identify published studies using the keywords “((“Maternal Exposure”[Mesh] OR (“C”[TW] OR “Maternal Exposures” OR “Prenatal Exposures”[TW])) AND “Environmental Exposure”[Mesh] AND “Health”[Mesh] AND (“Cohort Studies”[Mesh] OR “Cohort”[TW] OR “Birth Cohort”[TW]).” Articles were searched and a quality appraisal using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale for cohort studies was done. Results: A review of the 14 selected studies revealed that prenatal and early life exposure to environmental pollutants had negative impacts on physical, cognitive, and behavioral development among mothers and children up to 12 years later. Environmental pollutants included endocrine disruptors, air pollution (e.g., particulate matter), and heavy metals. Conclusion This systematic review demonstrated that exposure to environmental pollutants negatively influences maternal and children’s environmental health outcomes from pregnancy to the early years of life. Therefore, maternal health care professionals should take steps to reduce mothers’ and children’s exposure to environmental pollutants.

Purpose: This study aimed to review recent findings from birth cohort studies on maternal and child environmental health. Methods: Birth cohort studies regarding environmental health outcomes for mothers and their children were investigated through a systematic review. A literature search was conducted in PubMed, CINAHL, the Cochrane Library, Embase, and RISS to identify published studies using the keywords “((“Maternal Exposure”[Mesh] OR (“C”[TW] OR “Maternal Exposures” OR “Prenatal Exposures”[TW])) AND “Environmental Exposure”[Mesh] AND “Health”[Mesh] AND (“Cohort Studies”[Mesh] OR “Cohort”[TW] OR “Birth Cohort”[TW]).” Articles were searched and a quality appraisal using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale for cohort studies was done. Results: A review of the 14 selected studies revealed that prenatal and early life exposure to environmental pollutants had negative impacts on physical, cognitive, and behavioral development among mothers and children up to 12 years later. Environmental pollutants included endocrine disruptors, air pollution (e.g., particulate matter), and heavy metals. Conclusion This systematic review demonstrated that exposure to environmental pollutants negatively influences maternal and children’s environmental health outcomes from pregnancy to the early years of life. Therefore, maternal health care professionals should take steps to reduce mothers’ and children’s exposure to environmental pollutants.

Background: Many pregnant women receive antibiotic treatment for infections. We investigated the association between quinolone use in the first trimester of pregnancy and the risk of adverse health outcomes for the child in Korea. Materials and Methods: This nationwide, population-based cohort study used data on mother-child pairs from the National Health Insurance claims database. This study cohort included 2,177,765 pregnancies from January 1, 2011, to December 31, 2020, and 87,456 women were prescribed quinolones during pregnancy. After propensity score matching, the final number of study subjects was 84,365 for both quinolone and non-antibiotic users. We examined the subjects’ exposure to quinolone antibiotics. The main outcome measures were absolute and relative risks of atopic dermatitis, asthma, and allergies. We adjusted for potential confounders. Results: Quinolones were prescribed at least once during the first trimester in 4.01% of pregnancies. Quinolone users had significantly higher absolute risks than non-antibiotic users for atopic dermatitis, asthma, and allergies, with significantly elevated risk ratios (RRs) for these conditions (atopic dermatitis: RR, 1.09; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.08–1.11, asthma: RR, 1.04; 95% CI, 1.03–1.05, and allergies: RR, 1.10; 95% CI, 1.08–1.13). Conclusion We found that quinolone exposure during the first trimester of pregnancy increased the risk of atopic dermatitis, asthma, and allergies. This study could provide physicians with useful information when selecting antibiotics for pregnant women.

Background: Many pregnant women receive antibiotic treatment for infections. We investigated the association between quinolone use in the first trimester of pregnancy and the risk of adverse health outcomes for the child in Korea. Materials and Methods: This nationwide, population-based cohort study used data on mother-child pairs from the National Health Insurance claims database. This study cohort included 2,177,765 pregnancies from January 1, 2011, to December 31, 2020, and 87,456 women were prescribed quinolones during pregnancy. After propensity score matching, the final number of study subjects was 84,365 for both quinolone and non-antibiotic users. We examined the subjects’ exposure to quinolone antibiotics. The main outcome measures were absolute and relative risks of atopic dermatitis, asthma, and allergies. We adjusted for potential confounders. Results: Quinolones were prescribed at least once during the first trimester in 4.01% of pregnancies. Quinolone users had significantly higher absolute risks than non-antibiotic users for atopic dermatitis, asthma, and allergies, with significantly elevated risk ratios (RRs) for these conditions (atopic dermatitis: RR, 1.09; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.08–1.11, asthma: RR, 1.04; 95% CI, 1.03–1.05, and allergies: RR, 1.10; 95% CI, 1.08–1.13). Conclusion We found that quinolone exposure during the first trimester of pregnancy increased the risk of atopic dermatitis, asthma, and allergies. This study could provide physicians with useful information when selecting antibiotics for pregnant women.

Background: Many pregnant women receive antibiotic treatment for infections. We investigated the association between quinolone use in the first trimester of pregnancy and the risk of adverse health outcomes for the child in Korea. Materials and Methods: This nationwide, population-based cohort study used data on mother-child pairs from the National Health Insurance claims database. This study cohort included 2,177,765 pregnancies from January 1, 2011, to December 31, 2020, and 87,456 women were prescribed quinolones during pregnancy. After propensity score matching, the final number of study subjects was 84,365 for both quinolone and non-antibiotic users. We examined the subjects’ exposure to quinolone antibiotics. The main outcome measures were absolute and relative risks of atopic dermatitis, asthma, and allergies. We adjusted for potential confounders. Results: Quinolones were prescribed at least once during the first trimester in 4.01% of pregnancies. Quinolone users had significantly higher absolute risks than non-antibiotic users for atopic dermatitis, asthma, and allergies, with significantly elevated risk ratios (RRs) for these conditions (atopic dermatitis: RR, 1.09; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.08–1.11, asthma: RR, 1.04; 95% CI, 1.03–1.05, and allergies: RR, 1.10; 95% CI, 1.08–1.13). Conclusion We found that quinolone exposure during the first trimester of pregnancy increased the risk of atopic dermatitis, asthma, and allergies. This study could provide physicians with useful information when selecting antibiotics for pregnant women.

This study aims to compare the experience of selected countries in operating separate payment system for new healthcare technology and to find implications for price setting in Korea. We analyzed the related reports, papers, laws, regulations, and related agencies’ online materials from five selected countries including the United States, Japan, Taiwan, Germany, and France. Each country has its own additional payment system for new technologies: transitional pass-through payment and new technology ambulatory payment classification for outpatient care and new technology add-on payment for inpatient care (USA), an extra payment for materials with new functions or new treatment (C1, C2; Japan), an additional payment system for new special treatment materials (Taiwan), a short-term extra funding for new diagnosis and treatment (NUB; Germany), and list of additional payments for new medical devices (France). The technology should be proven safe and effective in order to get approval for an additional payment. The price is determined by considering the actual cost of providing the technology and the cost of existing similar technologies listed in the benefits package. The revision cycle of the additional payment is 1 to 4 years. The cost or usage is monitored during that period and then integrated into the existing fee schedule or removed from the list. We conclude that it is important to set the explicit criteria to select services eligible for additional payment, to collect and analyze data to assess eligibility and to set the payment, to monitor the usage or cost, and to make follow-up measures in price setting for new health technologies in Korea.