Purpose: Smoking is causally related to alcohol use disorder. Although polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are major neurotoxic pollutants in tobacco smoke, evidence is lacking on the role of PAHs in the relationship between smoking and alcohol use disorder. This study investigated the types of PAHs associated with smoking and whether exposure to those PAHs mediated the effect of smoking on alcohol use disorder. Materials and Methods: A total of 968 male firefighters were analyzed. Smoking history and cumulative pack-years were obtained using self-reported questionnaires. Alcohol use disorder was defined using the Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test.PAH exposure was assessed by urinary metabolites. Regression analyses were performed between exposure (smoking), outcome (alcohol use disorder), and mediator (PAH metabolites) variables. A mediation analysis was performed to test the indirect effect of PAH metabolites on the association between smoking and alcohol use disorder. All analyses were repeated for 770 participants who were followed up after 2 years, while alcohol use disorder was redefined from follow-up data ensuring the temporal sequence of the variables. Results: Both 2-naphthol [β=0.78, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.59–0.98] and 2-hydroxyfluorene (β=0.69, 95% CI: 0.56–0.82) were associated with smoking history. Furthermore, 2-naphthol and 2-hydroxyfluorene mediated the associations of smoking history (proportion mediated: 14.2%, 23.6% respectively) or cumulative pack-years (proportion mediated: 14.4%, 25.4% respectively) with alcohol use disorder. The results were consistent in longitudinal settings. Conclusion Exposure to PAHs mediated the association between tobacco smoking and alcohol use disorder. PAH exposure from tobacco may increase the risk of addictive disorders.

Purpose: Smoking is causally related to alcohol use disorder. Although polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are major neurotoxic pollutants in tobacco smoke, evidence is lacking on the role of PAHs in the relationship between smoking and alcohol use disorder. This study investigated the types of PAHs associated with smoking and whether exposure to those PAHs mediated the effect of smoking on alcohol use disorder. Materials and Methods: A total of 968 male firefighters were analyzed. Smoking history and cumulative pack-years were obtained using self-reported questionnaires. Alcohol use disorder was defined using the Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test.PAH exposure was assessed by urinary metabolites. Regression analyses were performed between exposure (smoking), outcome (alcohol use disorder), and mediator (PAH metabolites) variables. A mediation analysis was performed to test the indirect effect of PAH metabolites on the association between smoking and alcohol use disorder. All analyses were repeated for 770 participants who were followed up after 2 years, while alcohol use disorder was redefined from follow-up data ensuring the temporal sequence of the variables. Results: Both 2-naphthol [β=0.78, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.59–0.98] and 2-hydroxyfluorene (β=0.69, 95% CI: 0.56–0.82) were associated with smoking history. Furthermore, 2-naphthol and 2-hydroxyfluorene mediated the associations of smoking history (proportion mediated: 14.2%, 23.6% respectively) or cumulative pack-years (proportion mediated: 14.4%, 25.4% respectively) with alcohol use disorder. The results were consistent in longitudinal settings. Conclusion Exposure to PAHs mediated the association between tobacco smoking and alcohol use disorder. PAH exposure from tobacco may increase the risk of addictive disorders.

Purpose: Smoking is causally related to alcohol use disorder. Although polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are major neurotoxic pollutants in tobacco smoke, evidence is lacking on the role of PAHs in the relationship between smoking and alcohol use disorder. This study investigated the types of PAHs associated with smoking and whether exposure to those PAHs mediated the effect of smoking on alcohol use disorder. Materials and Methods: A total of 968 male firefighters were analyzed. Smoking history and cumulative pack-years were obtained using self-reported questionnaires. Alcohol use disorder was defined using the Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test.PAH exposure was assessed by urinary metabolites. Regression analyses were performed between exposure (smoking), outcome (alcohol use disorder), and mediator (PAH metabolites) variables. A mediation analysis was performed to test the indirect effect of PAH metabolites on the association between smoking and alcohol use disorder. All analyses were repeated for 770 participants who were followed up after 2 years, while alcohol use disorder was redefined from follow-up data ensuring the temporal sequence of the variables. Results: Both 2-naphthol [β=0.78, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.59–0.98] and 2-hydroxyfluorene (β=0.69, 95% CI: 0.56–0.82) were associated with smoking history. Furthermore, 2-naphthol and 2-hydroxyfluorene mediated the associations of smoking history (proportion mediated: 14.2%, 23.6% respectively) or cumulative pack-years (proportion mediated: 14.4%, 25.4% respectively) with alcohol use disorder. The results were consistent in longitudinal settings. Conclusion Exposure to PAHs mediated the association between tobacco smoking and alcohol use disorder. PAH exposure from tobacco may increase the risk of addictive disorders.

Purpose: Smoking is causally related to alcohol use disorder. Although polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are major neurotoxic pollutants in tobacco smoke, evidence is lacking on the role of PAHs in the relationship between smoking and alcohol use disorder. This study investigated the types of PAHs associated with smoking and whether exposure to those PAHs mediated the effect of smoking on alcohol use disorder. Materials and Methods: A total of 968 male firefighters were analyzed. Smoking history and cumulative pack-years were obtained using self-reported questionnaires. Alcohol use disorder was defined using the Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test.PAH exposure was assessed by urinary metabolites. Regression analyses were performed between exposure (smoking), outcome (alcohol use disorder), and mediator (PAH metabolites) variables. A mediation analysis was performed to test the indirect effect of PAH metabolites on the association between smoking and alcohol use disorder. All analyses were repeated for 770 participants who were followed up after 2 years, while alcohol use disorder was redefined from follow-up data ensuring the temporal sequence of the variables. Results: Both 2-naphthol [β=0.78, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.59–0.98] and 2-hydroxyfluorene (β=0.69, 95% CI: 0.56–0.82) were associated with smoking history. Furthermore, 2-naphthol and 2-hydroxyfluorene mediated the associations of smoking history (proportion mediated: 14.2%, 23.6% respectively) or cumulative pack-years (proportion mediated: 14.4%, 25.4% respectively) with alcohol use disorder. The results were consistent in longitudinal settings. Conclusion Exposure to PAHs mediated the association between tobacco smoking and alcohol use disorder. PAH exposure from tobacco may increase the risk of addictive disorders.

Purpose: Smoking is causally related to alcohol use disorder. Although polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are major neurotoxic pollutants in tobacco smoke, evidence is lacking on the role of PAHs in the relationship between smoking and alcohol use disorder. This study investigated the types of PAHs associated with smoking and whether exposure to those PAHs mediated the effect of smoking on alcohol use disorder. Materials and Methods: A total of 968 male firefighters were analyzed. Smoking history and cumulative pack-years were obtained using self-reported questionnaires. Alcohol use disorder was defined using the Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test.PAH exposure was assessed by urinary metabolites. Regression analyses were performed between exposure (smoking), outcome (alcohol use disorder), and mediator (PAH metabolites) variables. A mediation analysis was performed to test the indirect effect of PAH metabolites on the association between smoking and alcohol use disorder. All analyses were repeated for 770 participants who were followed up after 2 years, while alcohol use disorder was redefined from follow-up data ensuring the temporal sequence of the variables. Results: Both 2-naphthol [β=0.78, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.59–0.98] and 2-hydroxyfluorene (β=0.69, 95% CI: 0.56–0.82) were associated with smoking history. Furthermore, 2-naphthol and 2-hydroxyfluorene mediated the associations of smoking history (proportion mediated: 14.2%, 23.6% respectively) or cumulative pack-years (proportion mediated: 14.4%, 25.4% respectively) with alcohol use disorder. The results were consistent in longitudinal settings. Conclusion Exposure to PAHs mediated the association between tobacco smoking and alcohol use disorder. PAH exposure from tobacco may increase the risk of addictive disorders.

Background: The Arbeitsgemeinschaft für Osteosynthesefragen (AO) and the Orthopaedic Trauma Association (OTA) classification system for diaphyseal fracture has been recently revised to refine and enhance the accuracy of fracture categorization. This study aimed to investigate the interobserver reliability of the new AO/OTA classification and to compare it with the older version in femoral shaft fractures. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 139 patients (mean age, 43.8 ± 19.5 years; 92 men and 47 women) with femoral shaft fractures who were treated from 2003 to 2017. Four well-trained observers independently classified each fracture following the previous and revised AO/OTA classification system. We calculated the Fleiss kappa for the interobserver reliability. Results: The previous classification showed the kappa value of 0.580 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.547–0.613), and the revised version showed 0.528 (95% CI, 0.504–0.552). Both the old and the revised versions showed moderate reliability. Conclusions Our study highlights the moderate interobserver reliability of both the previous and new AO/OTA classification systems for diaphyseal femur fractures. These findings emphasize the importance of standardized systems in clinical decision-making and underscore the need for ongoing education and collaboration to enhance fracture classification.

We report a case of endoscopic and open surgical treatment for iatrogenic perforation in the hypopharynx, a rare but potentially fatal complication of esophagogastroduodenoscopy. The patient was a 55-year-old female who exhibited strong resistance during passing through hypopharynx, leading to the suspicion of perforation, which was confirmed by CT scan and esophagography. Conservative management was attempted with antibiotics and prohibition of oral intake for 2 months, but she experienced worsening discomfort in the neck and was eventually readmitted for surgical treatment. The patient was treated with endoscopic mucosal repair and open surgery with regional flap. With the hypopharynx perforation healed, the patient was able to resume regular diet after a week and was discharged. Hypopharyngeal perforation that did not improve with long-term conservative treatment can be successfully treated through open surgery using a flap.

OBJECTIVES: This study was to examine the changes in dietary habits and food and nutrient intakes between before (2019) and during (2020) the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES). METHODS: A total of 54,995 participants aged ≥19 years who participated in the 2011-2020 KNHANES were included. The 10-year trend (2011-2020) and differences between 2019 and 2020 for dietary habits and food and nutrient intakes were estimated using SAS. RESULTS: In the past 10 years (2011-2020), the dietary habits (increase in skipping meals and eating out), food intake (increase in meats and decrease in fruits and vegetables), and nutrient intake (increase in fat and decrease in sodium) in adults have changed. When comparing between 2019 and 2020, there were 4.6%p decrease in the eating out more than once a day. On the other hand, there were no significant differences in the intakes of food, energy and most of nutrients between 2019 and 2020, except for the proportion of energy intake from fat (1.0%p increase) and carbohydrate (1.0%p decrease). CONCLUSIONS Although a change in dietary habits from before to during the COVID-19 pandemic was observed, food and nutrient intakes have not deteriorated markedly and appear similar to the trends in the past 10 years. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, it is necessary to monitor the effects of changes in dietary habits on health as well as food and nutrient intakes.

Purpose: This study sought to compare the characteristics of patients with pathogen-positive and negative cultures, and to investigate factors predicting pathogen-positive culture results in patients of acute poisoning with suspected aspiration. Methods: Consecutive patients with acute poisoning admitted to an intensive care unit between January 2016 and December 2018 were retrospectively studied. Respiratory specimens were collected from the enrolled patients at the time of the suspected aspiration. We compared the characteristics of patients with pathogen-positive and negative culture results and analyzed the causative pathogens. Results: Among the 526 patients, 325 showed no clinical features that could be attributed to aspiration, and 201 patients had clinical features suggestive of aspiration. Of these, 113 patients had pathogen-positive culture, 61 were negative, and the specimens of 27 patients contained poor-quality sputum. In univariate analysis, patients with a positive culture showed a longer time to culture from ingestion (p=0.01), faster heart rate (p=0.01), and higher partial pressure of arterial oxygen to the fraction of inspired oxygen (PaO2/FiO2) (p=0.02) than patients with negative culture. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that PaO2/FiO2 (adjusted odd ratio, 1.005; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.002-1.008; p=0.005) was a significant risk factor for pathogen-positive culture. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of PaO2/FiO2 was 0.591 (95% CI, 0.510-0.669, p=0.05). Gram-negative pathogens (GNPs) were predominant and at least one GNP was observed in 84 (73.3%) patients among those with pathogen positive culture. Conclusion We failed to find any clinical factors associated with positive culture results. Antibiotics that cover GNPs could be considered when deciding the initial antibiotic regimen at the time of suspected aspiration.

Background and Objectives: Some individuals exhibit discrepancies between risk classifications assessed using clinical factors and those obtained by vascular imaging. We aimed to evaluate whether statins provide clinical outcome benefits in patients classified as having low to moderate cardiovascular risk but with carotid plaque. Methods: This was a retrospective propensity score matching study. A total of 12,158 consecutive patients undergoing carotid ultrasound between January 2012 to February 2020 were screened. Individuals with low to moderate cardiovascular risk who were not currently recommended for statin therapy but had carotid plaques were included. Among 1,611 enrolled individuals, 806 (statin group: 403, control group: 403) were analyzed. The primary outcomes were major adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events (MACCEs: cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, coronary revascularization, and ischemic stroke or transient ischemic attack) and all-cause mortality. Results: During the median follow-up of 6.0 years, the incidence of MACCEs did not differ between the groups (6.1 and 5.7/1,000 person-years in the control and statin groups, respectively; adjusted hazard ratio [HR], 0.95; p=0.90). The incidence of all-cause mortality did not differ (3.9 and 3.9/1,000 person-years, respectively; adjusted HR, 1.02; p=0.97). Kaplan-Meier curves revealed similar rates of MACCEs (log-rank p=0.72) and all-cause mortality (log-rank p=0.99) in the 2 groups. Age and smoking were independent predictors of MACCEs. Subgroups exhibited no differences in clinical outcomes with statin use. Conclusions Benefit of statin therapy was likely to be limited in low to moderate risk patients with carotid plaques. These results could guide physicians in clinical decision-making regarding cardiovascular prevention.