IAEA's guidance levels have been provided for western people to the end. Guidance levels lower than the IAEA'S will be necessary in view of Korean people's proportions. Therefore, we need to develope the standard doses for Korean people. And we conducted a nationwide survey of patient dose from x-ray examinations in Korea. In this study, the 278 institutions were selected from Members Book of Korean Hospital Association. The valid response rate was approximately 57.9%. Doses were calculated from the questionnaires by NDD method. We obtained the results were as follows; 1) General radiographic equipments were distributed for 42.0%, fluoroscopic equipments 29.4%, dental equipments 13.2%, CT units 8.1% and mamographic units 7.2%. 2) According to classification by rectification, three-phase equipments were 29.9%, inverter-type generators 29.5%, single-phase equipments 25.5%, constant voltage units 9.0% and unknown units 6.0%. 3) According to classification by receptor system, film-screen types were 46.8%, CR types 26.8%, DR types 17.7% and unknown types 8.9%. 4) The number of examinations were chest 49.2%, spine 16.8% and abdomen 12.7%. 5) Patient doses were head AP 3.44 mGy, abdomen AP 4.25 mGy and chest PA 0.39 mGy.
Abdomen ; Classification ; Dental Equipment ; Diagnostic Equipment* ; Head ; Humans ; Korea* ; Radiography ; Spine ; Thorax ; Surveys and Questionnaires

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) is increasing, and obesity, insulin resistance, and inflammation are the known risk factors. However, results of previous studies regarding the relationship between MetS and inflammation have not been consistent. This study aimed to identify the associations between C-reactive protein (CRP) and MetS and its components in obese and non-obese men and women. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study based on the 6th Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2015), and a nationally representative sample of 3,013 Korean adults aged 40–78 years were included. Those with cardiovascular disease, cancer, CRP level >10 mg/L, white blood cell count >10,000/mm3, chronic kidney disease, and lung/liver disease were excluded. RESULTS: Approximately 11.0%, 50.0%, 8.4%, and 48.8% of non-obese men, obese men, non-obese women, and obese women presented with MetS (P<0.001), respectively. In all four groups, those who presented with MetS or its components showed a higher high-sensitivity (hs-CRP) average than those without. Multivariate regression analysis showed the increased risk of developing MetS with higher quartiles of hs-CRP level in obese (3rd and 4th quartiles: odds ratios [ORs], 3.87 and 2.57, respectively) and non-obese women (4th quartile: OR, 2.63). The different components also showed increased ORs in the four groups. However, no statistically significant trend in the relationship was found in men. CONCLUSION: Low-grade inflammation may increase the risk of MetS in Korean women independent of adiposity. However, due to the cross-sectional design of the present study, further studies must be conducted to identify the causal relationship between inflammation and metabolic disorders.
Adiposity ; Adult ; C-Reactive Protein ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Insulin Resistance ; Korea ; Leukocyte Count ; Male ; Nutrition Surveys ; Obesity ; Odds Ratio ; Prevalence ; Renal Insufficiency, Chronic ; Risk Factors

Background: This study aims to create a comprehensive list of essential topics and procedural skills for family medicine residency training in Korea. Methods: Three e-mailed surveys were conducted. The first and second surveys were sent to all board-certified family physicians in the Korean Academy of Family Medicine (KAFM) database via e-mail. Participants were asked to rate each of the topics (117 in survey 1, 36 in survey 2) and procedures (65 in survey 1, 19 in survey 2) based on how necessary it was to teach it and personal experience of utilizing it in clinical practice. Agreement rates of the responses were calculated and then sent to the 32 KAFM board members in survey 3. Opinions on potential cut-off points to divide the items into three categories and the minimum achievement requirements needed to graduate for each category were solicited. Results: Of 6,588 physicians, 256 responded to the first survey (3.89% response rate), 209 out of 6,669 to the second survey (3.13%), and 100% responded to the third survey. The final list included 153 topics and 81 procedures, which were organized into three categories: mandatory, recommended, and optional (112/38/3, 27/33/21). For each category of topics and procedures, the minimum requirement for 3-year residency training was set at 90%/60%/30% and 80%/60%/30%, respectively. Conclusion This national survey was the first investigation to define essential topics and procedures for residency training in Korean family medicine. The lists obtained represent the opinions of Korean family physicians and are expected to aid in the improvement of family medicine training programs in the new competency-based curriculum.

Purpose: The study aimed to identify which digital biomarkers are collected and which specific devices are used according to vulnerable and susceptible individual characteristics in a living-lab setting. Materials and Methods: A literature search, screening, and appraisal process was implemented using the Web of Science, Pubmed, and Embase databases. The search query included a combination of terms related to “digital biomarkers,” “devices that collect digital biomarkers,” and “vulnerable and susceptible groups.” After the screening and appraisal process, a total of 37 relevant articles were obtained. Results: In elderly people, the main digital biomarkers measured were values related to physical activity. Most of the studies used sensors. The articles targeting children aimed to predict diseases, and most of them used devices that are simple and can induce some interest, such as wearable device-based smart toys. In those who were disabled, digital biomarkers that measured location-based movement for the purpose of diagnosing disabilities were widely used, and most were measured by easy-to-use devices that did not require detailed explanations. In the disadvantaged, digital biomarkers related to health promotion were measured, and various wearable devices, such as smart bands and headbands were used depending on the purpose and target. Conclusion As the digital biomarkers and devices that collect them vary depending on the characteristics of study subjects, researchers should pay attention not only to the purpose of the study but also the characteristics of study subjects when collecting and analyzing digital biomarkers from living labs.

OBJECTIVES: This study was conducted to elucidate the effects of an air quality warning system (AQWS) implemented in January 2015 in Korea by analyzing changes in the incidence and exacerbation rates of environmental diseases. METHODS: Data from patients with environmental diseases were extracted from the National Health Insurance Service-National Sample Cohort database from 2010 to 2019, and data on environmental risk factors were acquired from the AirKorea database. Patient and meteorological data were linked based on residential area. An interrupted time series analysis with Poisson segmented regression was used to compare the rates before and after AQWS introduction. Adjustment variables included seasonality, air pollutants (carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide, particulate matter less than 10 μm in diameter, and ozone), temperature, and humidity. RESULTS: After AQWS implementation, the incidence of asthma gradually decreased by 20.5%. Cardiovascular disease and stroke incidence also significantly decreased (by 34.3 and 43.0%, respectively). However, no immediate or gradual decrease was identified in the exacerbation rate of any environmental disease after AQWS implementation. Sensitivity analyses were performed according to age, disability, and health insurance coverage type. Overall, the AQWS effectively mitigated the occurrence of most environmental diseases in Korea. However, the relationships between alarm system implementation and reduced incidence differed among diseases based on the characteristics of vulnerable and sensitive individuals. CONCLUSIONS Our results suggest that by tailoring the AQWS to demographic and sociological characteristics and providing enhanced education about the warning system, interventions can become an efficient policy tool to decrease air pollution-related health risks.

Background: Physical activity (PA) is associated with a favorable metabolic risk profile in adults. However, its role in adolescents remains unclear. In this study, using data (2019–2021) from the 8th Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, we investigated the optimal exercise type for preventing metabolic complications in adolescents. Methods: A total of 1,222 eligible adolescent participants (12–18-year-old) were divided into four groups as follows: aerobic exercise (AE), resistance exercise (RE), combined aerobic and resistance exercise (CE), and no exercise (NE). Daily PA was assessed using the international PA questionnaire. Blood samples were collected to measure lipid, glucose, and insulin levels. Additionally, the homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) and triglyceride-glucose (TyG) indices were measured. Multivariate regression analysis was used to compare the metabolic risk factors across the PA groups before and after propensity score matching (PSM) adjustment for confounding variables. Results: The CE group exhibited improved fasting glucose levels, lower TyG index, reduced white blood cell count, and higher high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol levels than the NE group. The RE group exhibited lower mean blood pressure, triglyceride, fasting insulin, HOMA-IR, TyG index and a reduced risk of metabolic syndrome than the NE group. The AE group had higher total and HDL cholesterol levels. In detailed comparison of the AE and RE groups, the RE group consistently exhibited favorable metabolic parameters, including lower blood pressure and total and low-density cholesterol levels, which persisted after PSM. Conclusion These findings highlight the positive effects of PA on cardiovascular risk factors in adolescents. Thus, RE may have a more favorable metabolic effect than AE. Further studies are needed to validate the benefits of exercise according to the exercise type.

A clinical practice guideline for patients in the dying process in general wards and their families, developed through an evidence-based process, is presented herein. The purpose of this guideline is to enable a peaceful death based on an understanding of suitable management of patients’ physical and mental symptoms, psychological support, appropriate deci-sion-making, family care, and clearly-defined team roles. Although there are limits to the available evidence regarding medical issues in patients facing death, the final recommendations were determined from expert advice and feedback, considering values and preferences related to medical treatment, benefits and harms, and applicability in the real world. This guideline should be applied in a way that takes into account specific health care environments, including the resources of medical staff and differences in the available resources of each institution. This guideline can be used by all medical institutions in South Korea.