In the figure 3, designation of severity of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) was misprinted. Open bars (white) represent severe BPD, not mild BPD. Closed bars (Black) represent mild BPD, not severe BPD. Gray bars in the middle represent moderate BPD without change.

Background: Identifying factors associated with early post-discharge outpatient care is crucial to prevent relapse and suicide in patients with schizophrenia. This study aimed to investigate factors associated with receiving follow-up care within seven days after hospital discharge among patients with schizophrenia. Methods: This nationwide population-based study was conducted using data from the National Health Insurance Claim Database of South Korea. All patients aged ≥ 18 years, newly admitted to the hospital with schizophrenia between January 1, 2017, and December 31, 2018, were included. The outcome of interest was the receipt of outpatient follow-up care within seven days of hospital discharge. Patients’ general characteristics and healthcare services were included as independent variables. A generalized estimating equation model was used to examine factors associated with the outcome. Results: Of 17,565 patients with schizophrenia, 37.6% received outpatient follow-up care within seven days after hospital discharge. Patients who were older and male were less likely to receive follow-up care seven days after discharge. Patients with prior psychiatric outpatient care to their index admission were more likely to receive follow-up care than those without prior outpatient care. A longer hospital stay significantly decreased the likelihood of receiving outpatient follow-up. However, comorbid alcohol use disorder was not associated with receiving follow-up care within seven days of discharge. Conclusion This study highlights the need to ensure continuity of care for patients with schizophrenia during discharge planning, with particular attention to vulnerable patients.

Background: Identifying factors associated with early post-discharge outpatient care is crucial to prevent relapse and suicide in patients with schizophrenia. This study aimed to investigate factors associated with receiving follow-up care within seven days after hospital discharge among patients with schizophrenia. Methods: This nationwide population-based study was conducted using data from the National Health Insurance Claim Database of South Korea. All patients aged ≥ 18 years, newly admitted to the hospital with schizophrenia between January 1, 2017, and December 31, 2018, were included. The outcome of interest was the receipt of outpatient follow-up care within seven days of hospital discharge. Patients’ general characteristics and healthcare services were included as independent variables. A generalized estimating equation model was used to examine factors associated with the outcome. Results: Of 17,565 patients with schizophrenia, 37.6% received outpatient follow-up care within seven days after hospital discharge. Patients who were older and male were less likely to receive follow-up care seven days after discharge. Patients with prior psychiatric outpatient care to their index admission were more likely to receive follow-up care than those without prior outpatient care. A longer hospital stay significantly decreased the likelihood of receiving outpatient follow-up. However, comorbid alcohol use disorder was not associated with receiving follow-up care within seven days of discharge. Conclusion This study highlights the need to ensure continuity of care for patients with schizophrenia during discharge planning, with particular attention to vulnerable patients.

Background: Identifying factors associated with early post-discharge outpatient care is crucial to prevent relapse and suicide in patients with schizophrenia. This study aimed to investigate factors associated with receiving follow-up care within seven days after hospital discharge among patients with schizophrenia. Methods: This nationwide population-based study was conducted using data from the National Health Insurance Claim Database of South Korea. All patients aged ≥ 18 years, newly admitted to the hospital with schizophrenia between January 1, 2017, and December 31, 2018, were included. The outcome of interest was the receipt of outpatient follow-up care within seven days of hospital discharge. Patients’ general characteristics and healthcare services were included as independent variables. A generalized estimating equation model was used to examine factors associated with the outcome. Results: Of 17,565 patients with schizophrenia, 37.6% received outpatient follow-up care within seven days after hospital discharge. Patients who were older and male were less likely to receive follow-up care seven days after discharge. Patients with prior psychiatric outpatient care to their index admission were more likely to receive follow-up care than those without prior outpatient care. A longer hospital stay significantly decreased the likelihood of receiving outpatient follow-up. However, comorbid alcohol use disorder was not associated with receiving follow-up care within seven days of discharge. Conclusion This study highlights the need to ensure continuity of care for patients with schizophrenia during discharge planning, with particular attention to vulnerable patients.

Background: Identifying factors associated with early post-discharge outpatient care is crucial to prevent relapse and suicide in patients with schizophrenia. This study aimed to investigate factors associated with receiving follow-up care within seven days after hospital discharge among patients with schizophrenia. Methods: This nationwide population-based study was conducted using data from the National Health Insurance Claim Database of South Korea. All patients aged ≥ 18 years, newly admitted to the hospital with schizophrenia between January 1, 2017, and December 31, 2018, were included. The outcome of interest was the receipt of outpatient follow-up care within seven days of hospital discharge. Patients’ general characteristics and healthcare services were included as independent variables. A generalized estimating equation model was used to examine factors associated with the outcome. Results: Of 17,565 patients with schizophrenia, 37.6% received outpatient follow-up care within seven days after hospital discharge. Patients who were older and male were less likely to receive follow-up care seven days after discharge. Patients with prior psychiatric outpatient care to their index admission were more likely to receive follow-up care than those without prior outpatient care. A longer hospital stay significantly decreased the likelihood of receiving outpatient follow-up. However, comorbid alcohol use disorder was not associated with receiving follow-up care within seven days of discharge. Conclusion This study highlights the need to ensure continuity of care for patients with schizophrenia during discharge planning, with particular attention to vulnerable patients.

Background: Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin disease. Despite the current focus on T cells in the pathogenesis of psoriasis, keratinocytes within the psoriatic epidermis are also abnormal in many respects including excessive production of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs). Recently, several studies have used imiquimod (IMQ)- and interleukin (IL)-23-induced mouse models to explore the immunological significance of psoriasis. However, the expression of AMPs in these models remains unclear. Objective: In this study, we evaluated the protein and mRNA expression of AMPs, including cathelicidin-related antimicrobial peptides (CRAMP), mouse β-defensin 3 (mBD3), and psoriasin (S100 calcium-binding protein A7, S100A7) in IMQ- and IL-23-induced psoriasiform mouse models. In addition, we investigated whether ustekinumab, an inhibitor of IL-12 and IL-23, reduces the expression levels of AMPs in these mouse models. Methods: We used IMQ- and IL-23-induced psoriasiform mouse models. Gene and protein expression levels of AMPs were evaluated using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and immunofluorescence staining, respectively. Results: We found that the protein and mRNA expression levels of CRAMP, mBD3, and S100A7 were increased in both mouse models. Ustekinumab decreased AMP expression levels in the two mouse models. Conclusion These data showed that the elevated expression of AMPs in the epidermis decreased following ustekinumab treatment in both psoriasiform mouse models. Therefore, AMP expression levels may be used as an indicator of treatment efficacy.

A nationwide survey was conducted to determine the incidence of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) in Korea and the intercenter differences in survival and BPD rates among preterm infants. Questionnaires were sent to all registered neonatal intensive care units (NICUs). The questionnaires inquired about the survival and BPD rates of very low birth weight (VLBW, < 1,500 g) infants who had been admitted to each NICU from 2007 to 2008. BPD was defined as requiring oxygen at 36 weeks' postmenstrual age. Almost all level III NICUs replied. During the study period, 3,841 VLBW infants were born in the NICUs that responded to the survey. The survival rate was 81% and the BPD rate was 18%. Combined outcome of BPD or death rate was 37%. The BPD rate and combined outcome of BPD or death rate varied considerably from 5% to 50% and 11% to 73%, respectively across the centers. There was no significant correlation between the survival rate and the BPD rate across the centers. In conclusion, the incidence of BPD among VLBW infants in Korea during the study period was 18%, and a considerable intercenter difference in BPD rates was noted.
Anti-Inflammatory Agents/therapeutic use ; Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia/drug therapy/*epidemiology/mortality ; Demography ; Dexamethasone/therapeutic use ; Gestational Age ; Humans ; Incidence ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Premature ; Infant, Very Low Birth Weight ; Intensive Care Units, Neonatal ; Questionnaires ; Republic of Korea/epidemiology ; Survival Rate

BACKGROUND: Bullous pemphigoid (BP) is an autoimmune subepidermal bullous disease associated with autoantibodies against BP180 and BP230. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) is a sensitive tool for the detection of immunoglobulin G (IgG) anti-BP180 and anti-BP230 autoantibodies. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of ELISA for diagnosing and monitoring the disease activity of BP. METHODS: We evaluated serum IgG levels of anti-BP180 and anti-BP230 autoantibodies in 47 BP patients, 16 epidermolysis bullosa aquisita patients, and 15 healthy volunteers using ELISA. Through retrospective review of the medical records, the clinical characteristics of BP including disease activity, duration, pruritus severity and peripheral blood eosinophil counts were assessed. RESULTS: The sensitivity of BP180 ELISA was 97.9%, BP230 ELISA 72.3%, and a combination of the two was 100%. The specificity of BP180 ELISA was 90.3%, BP230 ELISA 100%, and a combination of the two was 90.3%. BP180 ELISA scores showed strong associations with disease activity, pruritus severity, peripheral blood eosinophil counts, and disease duration, whereas BP230 ELISA scores did not. CONCLUSION: BP180 and BP230 ELISAs are highly sensitive methods for the diagnosis of BP, and BP180 ELISA, in particular, is a sensitive tool for monitoring the disease activity of BP.
Autoantibodies ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Eosinophils ; Epidermolysis Bullosa ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin G ; Medical Records ; Pemphigoid, Bullous ; Pruritus ; Retrospective Studies ; Serologic Tests

In the present study, the effects of different photoperiods on stress, immunity, and hematological parameters in ICR mice were evaluated. Fifty male ICR mice 7 weeks old (body weight, 27.3 +/- 2.5 g) were divided into five groups: DP-0 (0/24-h light/dark cycle), DP-6 (6/18-h light/dark cycle), DP-12 (12/12-h light/dark cycle), DP-18 (18/ 6-h light/dark cycle), and DP-24 (24/0-h light/dark cycle). During the experimental period, no significant differences in body weight or feed intake were observed between the groups. Hematological analysis revealed that white blood cell, red blood cell, and hemoglobin values for the DP-0 group were significantly different compared to those of the other groups. After 28 days, no significant difference in serum cortisol concentration was observed among the groups, but serum cortisol levels increased in a light exposure-dependent manner. Total serum immunoglobulin G (IgG) concentrations of the DP-0 and PD-6 groups were significantly increased compared to those of the other groups (P < 0.05), and serum total IgG levels decreased in a light exposure-dependent manner. Results of the present study indicated that various photoperiods affect hematological parameters and total serum IgG levels in ICR mice while having no significant effects on body weight, feed intake, or cortisol levels.
Animals ; Body Weight ; Erythrocytes ; Humans ; Hydrocortisone ; Immunoglobulin G ; Leukocytes ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred ICR* ; Photoperiod*

PURPOSE: Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans (DFSP) carries a translocation resulting in the collagen type I alpha 1 (COL1A1)-platelet-derived growth factor beta (PDGFB) fusion gene, which is responsible for PDGFB activation. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the clinicopathological, genetic, and therapeutic features of DFSP in Korean patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Clinicopathological features of 37 patients with DFSP were reviewed. Multiplex reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was carried out in 16 patients using formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissues and specific primers for COL1A1 and PDGFB. RESULTS: The mean age of 37 patients was 37.4 years old. The most common tumor location was the trunk. All patients were treated primarily with surgery: 34 (91.7%) cases with Mohs micrographic surgery (MMS) and 3 (8.3%) cases with wide local excision. The median follow-up time was 33.7 months. Two patients, one in each treatment group, demonstrated local recurrence during the follow-up period. The COL1A1-PDGFB fusion gene was expressed in 14 (87.5%) cases, demonstrated by reverse transcriptase PCR analysis. No association was found among the different COL1A1-PDGFB fusion transcripts, the various histological subtypes and clinical features. CONCLUSION: Our results support the effectiveness of MMS in treating DFSP. The COL1A1-PDGFB fusion transcript was observed in 87.5% of patients. Therefore, COL1A1-PDGFB is a useful and accurate tool in diagnosing DFSP in Koreans.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group/*genetics ; Collagen Type I/*genetics ; DNA Primers ; Dermatofibrosarcoma/ethnology/*genetics/*pathology/surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mohs Surgery ; Multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; Oncogene Proteins, Fusion/*genetics ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-sis/*genetics ; Republic of Korea ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Skin Neoplasms/ethnology/*genetics/*pathology/surgery ; Treatment Outcome