OBJECTIVES: We estimated the population prevalence of antibodies to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), including unreported infections, through a Korea Seroprevalence Study of Monitoring of SARS-CoV-2 Antibody Retention and Transmission (K-SEROSMART) in 258 communities throughout Korea. METHODS: In August 2022, a survey was conducted among 10,000 household members aged 5 years and older, in households selected through two stage probability random sampling. During face-to-face household interviews, participants self-reported their health status, COVID-19 diagnosis and vaccination history, and general characteristics. Subsequently, participants visited a community health center or medical clinic for blood sampling. Blood samples were analyzed for the presence of antibodies to spike proteins (anti-S) and antibodies to nucleocapsid proteins (anti-N) SARS-CoV-2 proteins using an electrochemiluminescence immunoassay. To estimate the population prevalence, the PROC SURVEYMEANS statistical procedure was employed, with weighting to reflect demographic data from July 2022. RESULTS: In total, 9,945 individuals from 5,041 households were surveyed across 258 communities, representing all basic local governments in Korea. The overall population-adjusted prevalence rates of anti-S and anti-N were 97.6% and 57.1%, respectively. Since the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency has reported a cumulative incidence of confirmed cases of 37.8% through July 31, 2022, the proportion of unreported infections among all COVID-19 infection was suggested to be 33.9%. CONCLUSIONS The K-SEROSMART represents the first nationwide, community-based seroepidemiologic survey of COVID-19, confirming that most individuals possess antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 and that a significant number of unreported cases existed. Furthermore, this study lays the foundation for a surveillance system to continuously monitor transmission at the community level and the response to COVID-19.

The consensus guideline development committee of Korean Society of Gynecologic Oncology was reconvened in March 2012. The committee consisted of 36 experts representing 12 university hospitals and professional organizations. The objective of this committee was to develop standardized guidelines for cervical cancer screening tests for Korean women and to distribute these guidelines to every clinician, eventually improving the quality of medical care. Since the establishment of the consensus guideline development committee, evidence-based guidelines have either been developed de novo considering specific Korean situations or by adaptation of preexisting consensus guidelines from other countries. Recommendations for cervical cancer screening tests, management of atypical squamous and glandular cells, and management of low-grade and high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions were developed. Additionally, recommendations for human papillomavirus DNA testing and recommendations for adolescent and pregnant women with abnormal cervical screening test results were also included.
Adolescent ; Consensus ; DNA ; Female ; Hospitals, University ; Humans ; Mass Screening ; Pregnant Women ; Societies ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms

PURPOSE: To evaluate the clinical effects of excimer laser refractive surgery on eyes with residual refractive error after implantation of ReSTOR(R) multifocal intraocular lenses. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 10 eyes of 6 patients who had undergone cataract surgery with implantation of multifocal intraocular lenses. Photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) (5 eyes) and laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) (5 eyes) was performed on 10 eyes with residual refractive error. RESULTS: After cataract surgery and before laser surgery, the mean spherical equivalent (SE) was -0.34 +/- 0.89 D and the mean astigmatism was 2.08 +/- 0.55 D. Six months after laser surgery, the mean SE was -0.33 +/- 0.30 D (p = 0.354) and the mean astigmatism was 0.23 +/- 0.28 D. The changes in astigmatism between paired preoperative and postoperative values were statistically significant (p < 0.0001). At 6 months after surgery, uncorrected distance visual acuity significantly improved to 0.11 +/- 0.10 (log MAR) (p < 0.0001) There were no significant changes in the best corrected distance visual acuity and uncorrected near visual acuity (p = 0.073, p = 0.100). CONCLUSIONS: On the basis of predictability and stability, excimer laser surgery appears to be a clinically useful procedure to correct residual refractive error after implantation of ReSTOR(R) multifocal intraocular lenses.
Astigmatism ; Cataract ; Eye ; Humans ; Keratomileusis, Laser In Situ ; Laser Therapy ; Lasers, Excimer ; Lenses, Intraocular ; Medical Records ; Photorefractive Keratectomy ; Refractive Errors ; Refractive Surgical Procedures ; Retrospective Studies ; Visual Acuity

Ursolic acid is a triterpenoid compound present in many plants. This study examined the antimicrobial activity of ursolic acid against mutans streptococci (MS) isolated from the Korean population. The antimicrobial activity was evaluated by the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and time kill curves of MS. The cytotoxicity of ursolic acid against KB cells was tested using an MTT assay. The MIC90 values of ursolic acid for Streptococcus mutans and Streptococcus sobrinus isolated from the Korean population were 2 microg/ml and 4 microg/ml, respectively. Ursolic acid had a bactericidal effect on S. mutans ATCC 25175T and S. sobrinus ATCC 33478T at > 2 x MIC (4 microg/ml) and 4 x MIC (8 microg/ml), respectively. Ursolic acid had no cytotoxic effect on KB cells at concentrations at which it exerted antimicrobial effects. The results suggest that ursolic acid can be used in the development of oral hygiene products for the prevention of dental caries.
Dental Caries ; Humans ; KB Cells ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests ; Oral Hygiene ; Streptococcus mutans ; Streptococcus sobrinus ; Triterpenes

Primary adrenal lymphoma is a very rare extranodal lymphoma; its clinical features consist of a high incidence of bilateral adrenal involvement and diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. We report a patient with primary bilateral adrenal diffuse large B-cell lyphoma who achieved complete remission with R-CHOP (rituximab-cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone) chemotherapy. A 52-yr-old man presented with fever and progressive fatigue for 3 months. Computed tomography (CT) scans of the abdomen and pelvis demonstrated large bilateral adrenal masses, and a needle biopsy of the left adrenal mass revealed diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. After 6 cycles of R-CHOP chemotherapy, CT scans showed no residual disease. To our knowledge, this is the second report to date of a patient with primary bilateral adrenal diffuse large B-cell lymphoma who achieved complete remission using R-CHOP chemotherapy.
Adrenal Gland Neoplasms/*drug therapy/pathology/radiography ; Antibodies, Monoclonal/*therapeutic use ; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols/*therapeutic use ; Cyclophosphamide/therapeutic use ; Doxorubicin/therapeutic use ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Humans ; Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse/*drug therapy/pathology/radiography ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Positron-Emission Tomography ; Prednisone/therapeutic use ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Vincristine/therapeutic use

This paper provides an overview of the Korean Burden of Disease (KBoD) study, which was the first such study to assess the national burden of disease using disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) in an advanced Asian country. The KBoD study generally followed the approach utilized in the original Global Burden of Disease study (GBD), with the exception of the disease classification and epidemiological data estimation methods used, and the relative weightings of disabilities. The results of the present study reveal that the burden of disease per 100,000 of the Korean population originates primarily from; cancer (1,525 Person Years, PYs), cardiovascular disease (1,492 PYs), digestive disease (1,140 PYs), diabetes mellitus (990 PYs), and certain neuro-psychiatric conditions (883 PYs). These results are largely consistent with those of developed countries, but also represent uniquely Korean characteristics.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Data Collection ; *Disease ; *Epidemiology ; Female ; *Health Status ; *Health Surveys ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Korea ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Research Design

Pyoderma gangrenosum(PG) is an uncommon cutaneous vascular disease that typically presents as a painful and destructive ulceration on the anterior surface of the legs. The etiology of PG is currently unknown. But, the association with many immunologic disorders and its clinical response to immunomodulating agents suggest an immune etiology. A common feature of patients with PG is the presence of pathergy(the induction of lesion following injury of the skin). The trauma of surgery can be sufficient to induce pathergy, thus paradoxically limiting the usefulness of surgical treatment of PG. For that reason, medical treatments have been commonly used, while surgical treatments have been regarded not suitable. However, the use of the classic systemic agents is limited by their side effects and contraindications. Moreover, the large, problematic ulcers take too long to heal with medical management only. We present our experience in closing large wounds with the goal of decreasing morbidity, drug side effects and hospital stay by combination of medical and surgical therapy(split thickness skin graft). And authors advocate that surgical management is not a contraindication and may be considered as a selective modality in treatment of PG.
Humans ; Leg ; Length of Stay ; Pyoderma Gangrenosum* ; Pyoderma* ; Skin ; Ulcer ; Vascular Diseases ; Wounds and Injuries

Estlander's method was popular for lower lip reconstruction after wide excision of malignant tumor of lower lip. This operative method is safe, easy and has good result, but it is necessary to perform a secondary commissuroplasty because of round and small commissure. Several methods have been suggested for secondary commissuroplasty. We have performed commissuroplasty with three triangular flaps according to Ichiro's report.5 This method uses two opposing triangular mucosal flaps in the vermilion area and one small triangular skin flap on the commissure. We can obtain satisfactory results in terms of aesthetic and functional consideration. Thus, we report the usefulness of three triangular flaps as a secondary commissuroplasty after reconstruction of the lip by Estlander's method.
Lip* ; Skin ; Surgical Procedures, Operative*

Tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) serves as an extracellular signal triggering apoptosis in tumor cells. To characterize the molecular events involved in TRAIL-induced apoptotic signaling, we investigated the role of extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2(ERK1/2) in the apoptosis using HeLa cells. Here we show that TRAIL pronounced ERK1/2 activation through a tyrosine kinase-dependent mechanism, subsequently elevated anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 protein levels. Pretreatment with Genistein, an inhibitor of tyrosine kinase, significantly attenuated ERK1/2 activation and enhanced cell death. Moreover, inhibition of ERK1/2 with PD98059 promoted apoptotic cell death through the down-regulation of ERK1/2 activity and Bcl-2 protein levels. Taken together, our results suggest that the activation of ERK1/2 via tyrosine kinase pathway plays a protective role as the mechanism of cellular defense through the up-regulation of Bcl-2 protein levels in TRAIL-induced apoptosis.
Apoptosis* ; Cell Death ; Down-Regulation ; Genistein ; HeLa Cells* ; Humans ; Necrosis ; Phosphotransferases ; Protein-Tyrosine Kinases* ; Tyrosine* ; Up-Regulation

Angiosarcoma is a rare and highly malignant tumor of vascular origin which may occur in any region of the body. About one third of them are cutaneous angiosarcoma distinguished from others. The tumor primarily affects the elderly individuals, usually located on the head and neck, especially scalp and frequently metastasizes to lung. This paper reports a 58-year-old man with localized angiosarcoma of the scalp, which was dark-purple, soft, fixed and a hairless mass. The mass was confirmed as angiosarcoma without metastasis at the time of initial diagnosis and was completely removed followed by radiotherapy. 3 months after operation, the patient died from pulmonary complications which were associated with metastatic tumors to the lung. This case illustrates the need of awareness for the aggressive nature of this tumor and to suspect metastasis when pulmonary complications occur.
Aged ; Diagnosis ; Head ; Hemangiosarcoma* ; Humans ; Lung ; Middle Aged ; Neck ; Neoplasm Metastasis* ; Radiotherapy ; Scalp*