BACKGROUND: The elderly ex-smokers are not free from the effect of previously exposed smoking, and have a tendency to participate in health promoting behavior eagerly. This study was designed to evaluate factors that affect pulmonary function in the elderly ex-smokers. METHODS: The ex-smokers with normal chest radiological findings who visited Seoul National University Hospital Health Promotion Center were analyzed. The effect of various factors including age, height, smoking amount, and duration of smoking cessation on pulmonary function indices were analyzed with bivariate correlation analysis. Multiple regression analysis was performed using factors indentified significant in bivariate correlation tests. RESULTS: Multiple regression analyses were done for the all age group and the elderly group. Factors significantly affecting Forced vital capacity(FVC) were height,age and duration of smoking cessation for both grroups. Smoking amount was not significant. Forced expiratory volume in 1 second(FEV1) was significantly influenced by height, age, duration of smoking cessation, and smoking amount for both group. In the all age group, peak expiratory flow(PEF) was siginificantly influenced by age, regular exercise, and duration of smoking cessation. In the elderly group, PEF was significantly affected by height, age, regular exercise, and duration of smoking cessation. The factors significantly affectiong FEV1/FVC were age, smoking amount in the all age group, and regular exercise, smoking amount in the elderly group. CONCLUSION: Smoking amount was a significant factor decreasing FEV1 in the elderly ex-smoker. Duration of smoking cessation was significant in normalization of pulmonary function indices in both the all age group and the elderly group. It is inferred that smoking cessation is beneficial in reversing the adver sely affected pulmonary function indices even in the elderly.
Aged* ; Forced Expiratory Volume ; Health Promotion ; Humans ; Seoul ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Smoking Cessation ; Thorax

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to estimate the medical surge capacity required for mass prophylaxis based on a hypothetical outbreak of smallpox.METHODS: We performed a simulation using the Bioterrorism and Epidemic Outbreak Response Model and varied some important parameters, such as the number of core medical personnel and the number of dispensing clinics.RESULTS: Gaps were identified in the medical surge capacity of the Korean government, especially in the number of medical personnel who could respond to the need for mass prophylaxis against smallpox.CONCLUSIONS: The Korean government will need to train 1,000 or more medical personnel for such an event, and will need to prepare many more dispensing centers than are currently available.
Bioterrorism ; Korea ; Smallpox ; Surge Capacity ; Vaccination ; Variola virus

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to estimate the medical surge capacity required for mass prophylaxis based on a hypothetical outbreak of smallpox. METHODS: We performed a simulation using the Bioterrorism and Epidemic Outbreak Response Model and varied some important parameters, such as the number of core medical personnel and the number of dispensing clinics. RESULTS: Gaps were identified in the medical surge capacity of the Korean government, especially in the number of medical personnel who could respond to the need for mass prophylaxis against smallpox. CONCLUSIONS The Korean government will need to train 1,000 or more medical personnel for such an event, and will need to prepare many more dispensing centers than are currently available.

Background: The purpose of this study was to investigate the femoral, acetabular, and combined anteversion of the hip joint in South Koreans using computed tomography (CT). Methods: We measured anteversion using CT venograms taken from 2016 to 2020. Of the total 1,073 patients, 952 patients were included in the study except for those with pelvic fractures, previous femoral fractures, childhood hip joint disease, osteoarthritis, or hip dysplasia (lateral center-edge angle, < 20), foreigners, and hip and knee replacement patients. Measurements were taken twice by two orthopedic surgeons. Results: The femoral anteversion in women was 10.64° ± 10.26° (≤ 49 years), 15.75° ± 9.40° (50–59 years), 10.81° ± 9.14° (60–69 years), 12.38° ± 8.55° (70–79 years), and 11.23° ± 8.44° (≥ 80 years). The femoral anteversion in men was 12.02° ± 11.38° (≤ 49 years), 10.62° ± 9.11° (50–59 years), 6.09° ± 9.95° (60–69 years), 6.57° ± 9.51° (70–79 years), and 5.53° ± 9.29° (≥ 80 years). The acetabular anteversion in women was 17.65° ± 6.58° (≤ 49 years), 19.24° ± 6.42° (50–59 years), 20.30° ± 6.25° (60–69 years), 22.38° ± 7.36° (70–79 years), and 23.34° ± 6.98° (≥ 80 years). The acetabular anteversion in men was 15.21° ± 8.14° (≤ 49 years), 17.68° ± 6.00° (50–59 years), 17.54° ± 5.93° (60–69 years), 18.68° ± 6.62° (70–79 years), and 18.19° ± 6.94° (≥ 80 years). The combined anteversion in women was 28.29° ± 14.30° (≤ 49 years), 34.99° ± 10.62° (50–59 years), 31.11° ± 11.52° (60–69 years), 34.76° ± 10.86° (70–79 years), and 34.57° ± 11.45° (≥ 80 years). The combined anteversion in men was 27.23° ± 15.11° (≤ 49 years), 28.30° ± 11.23° (50–59 years), 23.63° ± 11.77° (60–69 years), 25.25° ± 12.02° (70–79 years), and 23.72° ± 11.88° (≥ 80 years). Conclusions Femoral anteversion tended to decrease with age in men and acetabular anteversion tended to increase in both men and women. Combined anteversion showed a tendency to increase slightly in women.

Purpose: This study examined the difference in bone union time according to the fracture gap after minimally invasive plate osteosynthesis (MIPO) for simple distal femoral fractures in elderly patients. Materials and Methods: From January 2010 to December 2019, patients aged 60 years or older who underwent surgical treatment for distal femoral fractures due to a low-energy injury were investigated retrospectively. Forty patients were enrolled in the study. The patients were divided into two groups according to the fracture gap after reduction: no more than 2 mm (Group A) and more than 2 mm (Group B) in the anteroposterior and lateral plane. The demographic, operation time, presence or absence of cerclage wiring, plate screw density, plate span ratio, plate length, bone union period, non-union, and complications were evaluated. Results: No statistical differences in operation time, cerclage wiring, plate screw density, plate span ratio, and plate length were observed between the two groups, and the bone union was achieved in all patients without complication. The bone union period was 17.24±1.48 weeks in Group A and 24.53± 5.20 weeks in Group B, which was statistically significant (p<0.001). Conclusion The bone union time in treating geriatric simple distal femur fractures using the MIPO tech-nique was significantly shorter in the 2 mm or less fracture gap than in the greater than 2 mm group.

Behçet's disease is an inflammatory disorder involving multiple organs. Its cause is still unknown, but vasculitis is the major pathologic characteristic. The common vascular lesions associated with Behçet's disease are aneurysm formation, arterial or venous occlusive diseases, and varices. Arterial aneurysms mostly occur in large arteries. Intracranial aneurysms hardly occur with Behçet's disease. We would like to present a 41-year-old female patient with Behçet's disease who showed symptoms of severe headache due to subarachnoid hemorrhage. Brain computed tomography revealed multiple aneurysms. We also present a literature review of intracranial arterial aneurysms associated with Behçet's disease.
Adult ; Aneurysm ; Arteries ; Brain ; Female ; Headache ; Humans ; Intracranial Aneurysm* ; Subarachnoid Hemorrhage ; Varicose Veins ; Vasculitis

RNA is a polymeric molecule implicated in various biological processes, such as the coding, decoding, regulation, and expression of genes. Numerous studies have examined RNA features using whole transcriptome sequencing (RNA-seq) approaches. RNA-seq is a powerful technique for characterizing and quantifying the transcriptome and accelerates the development of bioinformatics software. In this review, we introduce routine RNA-seq workflow together with related software, focusing particularly on transcriptome reconstruction and expression quantification.
Biological Processes ; Clinical Coding ; Computational Biology ; Gene Expression ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing ; Polymers ; RNA ; Transcriptome*

Future major disasters require the development of socially transparent and rational-decision-making procedures. Recent reports indicate that the frequency of human disasters are decreasing while natural disasters and social disasters are becoming more frequent. The creation of a disaster communication network, which is essential in protecting the life and property as well as providing a sense of societal security. Standards for a modern disaster communication network must be developed at the national level, with national state support for a 3rd generation partnership project such as a Public Safety-LTE that allows the construction of an effective national disaster network plan. Compliance and certification standards to ensure interoperability of communications and other equipment are necessary for the creation of a modern national disaster network that allows more efficient management of disaster situations. It can be expected that our efforts and example can help other countries to build a standard protocol for managing the national disasters.
Certification ; Compliance ; Disaster Planning ; Disasters* ; Humans ; Medical Assistance* ; Telecommunications ; Telemedicine

Background: Various methods have been implemented for pediatric gastrostomy tube placement. We aimed to investigate the performance status of pediatric gastrostomy in South Korea and to present indications and appropriate methods for domestic situations. Methods: A survey was conducted among pediatric endoscopists who performed upper gastrointestinal endoscopy in Korea. The questionnaire consisted of 16 questions on gastrostomy performance status. Results: Among the 48 institutions where the survey was applied, 36 (75%) responded.Of the 36 institutions, gastrostomy was performed in 31 (86.1%). The departments in which gastrostomy was performed were pediatrics at 26 institutions (81.3%), surgery at 24 institutions (75.0%), internal medicine at 9 institutions (28.1%), and radiology at 7 institutions (21.9%). There were 18 institutions (66.7%) using the pull method for percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) and nine institutions (33.3%) using the push method. When performing gastrostomies, fundoplication procedures were performed in 19 institutions (61.3%), if deemed necessary. However, 12 institutions (38.7%) answered that gastrostomy was always implemented alone. Complications after gastrostomy included buried bumper syndrome, wound infection, leakage, tube migration, and incorrect opening site in the stomach, but the number of cases with complications was very small. Conclusion In Korea, a pediatric gastrostomy is implemented in various ways depending on the institution. Clinicians are concerned about choosing the most effective methods with fewer complications after the procedure. In our study, we reported only a few complications.Korea has good accessibility for pediatric gastrointestinal endoscopy, and this survey showed that it is a safe procedure that can be considered initially in pediatric gastrostomy. This study is expected to help to create optimal pediatric PEG guidelines in Korea.

A 33-year-old woman visited the emergency department presenting with fever and dyspnea. She was pregnant with gestational age of 31 weeks and 6 days. She had dysuria for 7 days, and fever and dyspnea for 1 day. The vital signs were as follows: blood pressure 110/70 mmHg, heart rate 118 beats/minute, respiratory rate 28/minute, body temperature 38.7℃, and oxygen saturation by pulse oximetry 84% during inhalation of 5 liters of oxygen by nasal prongs. Crackles were heard over both lung fields. There were no signs of uterine contractions. Chest X-ray and chest computed tomography scan showed multiple consolidations and air bronchograms in both lungs. According to urinalysis, there was pyuria and microscopic hematuria. She was diagnosed with community-acquired pneumonia and urinary tract infection (UTI) that progressed to severe sepsis and acute respiratory failure. We found extended-spectrum beta-lactamase producing Escherichia coli in the blood culture and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in the sputum culture. The patient was transferred to the intensive care unit with administration of antibiotics and supplementation of high-flow oxygen. On hospital day 2, hypoxemia was aggravated. She underwent endotracheal intubation and mechanical ventilation. After 3 hours, fetal distress was suspected. Under 100% fraction of inspired oxygen, her oxygen partial pressure was 87 mmHg in the arterial blood. She developed acute kidney injury and thrombocytopenia. We diagnosed her with multi-organ failure due to severe sepsis. After an emergent cesarean section, pneumonia, UTI, and other organ failures gradually recovered. The patient and baby were discharged soon thereafter.
Acute Kidney Injury ; Adult ; Anoxia ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; beta-Lactamases ; Blood Pressure ; Body Temperature ; Cesarean Section ; Dyspnea ; Dysuria ; Emergency Service, Hospital ; Escherichia coli ; Female ; Fetal Distress ; Fever ; Gestational Age ; Heart Rate ; Hematuria ; Humans ; Inhalation ; Intensive Care Units ; Intubation, Intratracheal ; Lung ; Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus ; Oximetry ; Oxygen ; Partial Pressure ; Pneumonia ; Pregnancy Complications, Infectious ; Pregnancy ; Pyuria ; Respiration, Artificial ; Respiratory Insufficiency ; Respiratory Rate ; Respiratory Sounds ; Sepsis ; Sputum ; Thorax ; Thrombocytopenia ; Urinalysis ; Urinary Tract Infections ; Uterine Contraction ; Vital Signs