Korea’s quarantine response to the novel coronavirus (coronavirus disease 2019 [COVID-19]) pandemic is based on the sacrifice of health professionals, especially public health doctors (PHDs) who were called out first and put in the first place in the country. PHDs performed major quarantine tasks, such as collecting samples from screening clinics and epidemiological investigations, in various parts of the country, including the Daegu area, where the first large-scale COVID-19 confirmed cases in Korea and explosively increased. Because of their position as fixed-term civil servants, however, PHDs’ professionalism as doctors was ignored, and they were not properly compensated for their work. They were also exposed to problems such as a high risk of infection, mental suffering, and various human rights violations. We must prepare concrete measures to improve the fundamental treatment of PHDs and protect their human rights in order to prepare for a possible infectious disease pandemic in the future.

Refugees who are persecuted can apply for refugee recognition in the Republic of Korea in accordance with the Refugee Convention and the Refugee Act. They can do so either at the port of entry or during their stay in Korea. After undergoing screening, individuals may be recognized and protected under different categories, such as recognized refugees, humanitarian status holders, refugee applicants, and refugees seeking resettlement. Recognized refugees are entitled to the same social benefits and basic livelihood guarantees as Korean nationals. Humanitarian status holders and refugee applicants may receive support such as minimum living expenses, housing facilities, medical care, and education. In the medical field, refugees and their unmarried minor children are eligible for medical support through the “Medical Service Support Project for Marginalized Populations, Including Foreign Workers.” This support is in addition to the national healthcare coverage and medical benefits provided by the government. However, there are pressing concerns regarding the inadequate budget allocated to this project and the excessive cost burden placed on participating medical institutions. It is crucial to secure additional funding and implement administrative improvements. Furthermore, it is essential to develop medical support measures that ensure the minimum right to health for individuals who choose not to undergo the refugee recognition process at the port of entry.

The responsibility to ensure the health rights of detainees, particularly their medical rights, fundamentally lies with the state in all nations. However, in the correctional facilities of the Republic of Korea, these rights are currently not adequately safeguarded.Numerous detainees express dissatisfaction with the medical services provided and show a preference for voluntary external treatment. However, barriers such as prolonged application processes for external treatment and the requirement for detainees to cover their medical expenses present significant challenges. Therefore, the National Human Rights Commission of Korea has advocated for an increased medical budget in correctional facilities and a bolstered professional medical workforce to improve the medical care of detainees. Recommendations for improvements include: (1) establishing dedicated correctional hospitals for detainees, (2) setting up specialized correctional wards, (3) collaborating with military hospitals, (4) launching mobile medical buses for diverse specialties, (5) enhancing collaboration with public and private medical institutions, (6) increasing compensation for partnering external medical institutions, (7) improving the working conditions of medical officers, (8) safeguarding the defense rights of medical staff, (9) improving the working conditions of public health doctors from the Ministry of Justice in correctional facilities, and (10) pre-assigning public health specialists and military doctors to correctional facilities. By implementing these measures, it is anticipated that the quality of medical services in the Republic of Korea’s correctional facilities will improve, reducing the demand for external treatments among detainees and ensuring their health and medical rights are realistically upheld.

No abstract available.
Blotting, Western ; Cells, Cultured ; Connective Tissue Cells/drug effects/metabolism ; Endothelin-1/*biosynthesis ; Fibroblasts/*drug effects/metabolism ; Humans ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1/*pharmacology

Purpose: To identify the clinical characteristics and predictors of visual outcomes in acute anterior optic neuritis patients treated with high-dose steroid pulse therapy using spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT). Methods: In this study, the medical records of 34 acute anterior optic neuritis patients treated with intravenous high-dose steroid pulse therapy and followed-up for at least 3 months were retrospectively reviewed. The patients were divided into two groups based on the final best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA); group 1 (n = 23) had a final BCVA ≥20/32, while group 2 (n = 11) had a final BCVA <20/32. Clinical characteristics and optical parameters obtained using SD-OCT were evaluated to identify factors influencing the final visual outcome. Results: There were no statistically significant differences in clinical or demographic data between the two groups. Peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (pRNFL) swelling at initial presentation was less common (p = 0.015), and the time to pRNFL thickness stabilization was longer (p = 0.016), in group 1. Multivariate logistic regression demonstrated better final visual acuity for patients in whom pRNFL thickness stabilization took longer, as well as in those with a smaller reduction in macular ganglion cell-inner plexiform layer (mGCIPL) thickness, and those without recurrence (p = 0.002, 0.016, and 0.035, respectively). Conclusions Intravenous high-dose steroid pulse therapy much improved long-term visual outcomes in acute anterior optic neuritis patients with delayed pRNFL thickness stabilization, a smaller mGCIPL thickness reduction, and no recurrence. This suggests that inner retinal layer thickness and recurrence after stabilization may serve as biomarkers for final visual acuity after intravenous steroid treatment in acute anterior optic neuritis.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the natural clinical course of sporadic congenital oculomotor apraxia associated with ataxia. METHODS: In a retrospective study from June 1994 to March 2004, 3 patients with sporadic congenital oculomotor apraxia associated with ataxia were evaluated. Oculomotor apraxia and ataxia were checked. RESULTS: The three patients with sporadic congenital oculomotor apraxia associated with ataxia showed a decrease in head thrust which can be found specifically in oculomotor apraxia, and an improvement of oculomotor apraxia and ataxia over the 10-year observation period. CONCLUSIONS: A favorable natural clinical course can be expected in a case of sporadic congenital oculomotor apraxia associated with ataxia in the absence of any clinical evidence of inheritance or genetic abnormality.
Apraxias* ; Ataxia* ; Head ; Humans ; Retrospective Studies ; Wills

PURPOSE: To investigate the change in intraocular pressure (IOP) of normal healthy eyes at different positions while performing sit-ups. METHODS: Twenty normal healthy eyes of 20 subjects were studied. IOP was measured while in the 'sitting upright', 'supine', and 'head-down' position to determine postural effect on IOP when executing a sit-up. Measurements were taken after the performance of a sit-up and during the performance of a sit-up, in both the head up and head down positions to test the effect of the exercise on the IOP. In addition, the IOP after an 'isometric exercise with Valsalva's maneuver in the supine or head-down position' was measured to determine the actual IOP during a sit-up. RESULTS: The postural change from sitting upright to tilting the head in a downward position caused the IOP to increase. After the performance of a sit-up, the IOP decreased in both the upright and supine positions, though IOP increased in the head-down position. After the isometric exercise with Valsalva's maneuver, IOP increased significantly regardless of position. CONCLUSIONS: IOP increased significantly during sit-ups, but decreased afterward. Future studies should be performed to evaluate the long-term effects of IOP change during and after sit-ups with respect to the prognosis of glaucoma.
Exercise ; Eye ; Glaucoma ; Head ; Intraocular Pressure ; Posture ; Prognosis ; Supine Position ; Valsalva Maneuver

PURPOSE: To assess the relationship between the retinal thickness analyzer (RTA) parameters, and those of the GDx VCC scanning laser polarimeter (GDx VCC), Stratus OCT optical coherence tomography (Stratus OCT), and Heidelberg retinal tomograph II confocal scanning laser ophthalmoscopy (HRT II). METHODS: Twenty-nine primary open-angle glaucoma patients were retrospectively included in this study. Measurements were obtained using the RTA, GDx VCC, Stratus OCT, and HRT II. We calculated the correlation coefficients between the parameters of RTA and those of the other studies. RESULTS: Among the optic disc parameters of RTA, the cup volume was best correlated with Stratus OCT (R=0.780, p<0.001) and HRT II (R=0.896, p<0.001). Among the posterior pole retinal thickness parameters, the posterior pole abnormally thin area (PPAT) of the RTA and the inferior average of the GDx VCC were best correlated (R=-0.596, p=0.001). The PPAT of the RTA and the inferior maximum of the Stratus OCT were best correlated (R=-0.489, p=0.006). The perifoveal minimum thickness (PFMT) of the RTA and the cup shape measurement of the HRT II were best correlated (R=-0.565, p=0.004). CONCLUSIONS: Many RTA optic disc parameters were significantly correlated with those of the Stratus OCT and HRT II. The RTA posterior pole retinal thickness parameters were significantly correlated with those of the GDx VCC, Stratus OCT and HRT II. The RTA optic disc and posterior pole retinal thickness parameters may be valuable in the diagnosis of glaucoma.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; *Diagnostic Techniques, Ophthalmological ; Female ; Glaucoma, Open-Angle/*diagnosis ; Humans ; Lasers/diagnostic use ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Ophthalmoscopy ; Optic Disk/*pathology ; Optic Nerve Diseases/*diagnosis ; Retina/*pathology ; Retrospective Studies ; Tomography, Optical Coherence

We report the effects of unilateral recession-resection surgery of the horizontal recti muscles with inferior displacement and augmented anterior transposition of the inferior oblique muscle with a posterior intermuscular suture in a patient with large exotropia and considerable hypertropia.
Exotropia/*complications/*surgery ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Oculomotor Muscles/*surgery ; Strabismus/*complications/*surgery ; Treatment Outcome

Surgical outcomes of phacoemulsification only and phacoemulsification combined with trabeculectomy were compared in patients with primary angle-closure glaucoma (PACG). Clinical records of 41 consecutive patients were retrospectively reviewed, and there was no difference in best-corrected visual acuity and intraocular pressure preoperatively and at the final follow-up in both study groups. Regarding the number of anti-glaucoma medications, it was higher in the phacoemulsification combined with trabeculectomy group preoperatively than the phacoemulsification only group (p = 0.045), but both groups were taking similar quantities of medication at the final follow-up (p = 0.6). In addition, postoperative hypotony (two cases) occurred only after phacoemulsification combined with trabeculectomy, but not after phacoemulsification only. In one case after phacoemulsification only, a second operation was needed. There were no additional postoperative complications. In conclusion, both phacoemulsification only and phacoemulsification combined with trabeculectomy showed good surgical outcomes in PACG patients. Both procedures might be equally effective in treating patients with PACG.
Aged ; Female ; Glaucoma, Angle-Closure/*surgery ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Phacoemulsification/*methods ; Retrospective Studies ; Trabeculectomy/*methods ; Treatment Outcome