Purpose: This study analyzed the career paths of medical school graduates in the Daejeon, Sejong, and Chungcheongnam-do (DSC) region of South Korea, focusing on career choice factors at each career path. The ultimate goal was to derive practical insights to improve career guidance in the medical field and enhance professionalism. Methods: Data were collected through in-depth interviews with 10 medical school graduates working in the DSC region. A semi-structured questionnaire was used to explore their career paths, and factors influencing their career decisions. The collected qualitative data were analyzed using the constant comparative method to identify themes and categories. Results: The study results categorized career stages into three phases: “entering medical school,” “choosing a specialty after graduation,” and “choosing a workplace after training.” Career choice factors were classified into “personal factors,” “social factors,” and “job and work environment factors.” The factors influencing career choices differed across each career path. Conclusion This study holds significance in its in-depth analysis of career choice factors across different career paths from a long-term perspective. The findings suggest that effective support for career decision-making in the medical field requires a tailored approach that considers the distinct needs and influencing factors at each career path.

Purpose: This study analyzed the career paths of medical school graduates in the Daejeon, Sejong, and Chungcheongnam-do (DSC) region of South Korea, focusing on career choice factors at each career path. The ultimate goal was to derive practical insights to improve career guidance in the medical field and enhance professionalism. Methods: Data were collected through in-depth interviews with 10 medical school graduates working in the DSC region. A semi-structured questionnaire was used to explore their career paths, and factors influencing their career decisions. The collected qualitative data were analyzed using the constant comparative method to identify themes and categories. Results: The study results categorized career stages into three phases: “entering medical school,” “choosing a specialty after graduation,” and “choosing a workplace after training.” Career choice factors were classified into “personal factors,” “social factors,” and “job and work environment factors.” The factors influencing career choices differed across each career path. Conclusion This study holds significance in its in-depth analysis of career choice factors across different career paths from a long-term perspective. The findings suggest that effective support for career decision-making in the medical field requires a tailored approach that considers the distinct needs and influencing factors at each career path.

Purpose: This study analyzed the career paths of medical school graduates in the Daejeon, Sejong, and Chungcheongnam-do (DSC) region of South Korea, focusing on career choice factors at each career path. The ultimate goal was to derive practical insights to improve career guidance in the medical field and enhance professionalism. Methods: Data were collected through in-depth interviews with 10 medical school graduates working in the DSC region. A semi-structured questionnaire was used to explore their career paths, and factors influencing their career decisions. The collected qualitative data were analyzed using the constant comparative method to identify themes and categories. Results: The study results categorized career stages into three phases: “entering medical school,” “choosing a specialty after graduation,” and “choosing a workplace after training.” Career choice factors were classified into “personal factors,” “social factors,” and “job and work environment factors.” The factors influencing career choices differed across each career path. Conclusion This study holds significance in its in-depth analysis of career choice factors across different career paths from a long-term perspective. The findings suggest that effective support for career decision-making in the medical field requires a tailored approach that considers the distinct needs and influencing factors at each career path.

INTRODUCTION: The primary objective of this guideline is to establish evidence-based recommendations for the clinical use of parenteral nutrition (PN) in adult patients within the acute hospital setting in Singapore. METHOD: An expert workgroup, consisting of healthcare practitioners actively involved in clinical nutrition support across all public health institutions, systematically evaluated existing evidence and addressed clinical questions relating to PN therapy. RESULTS: This clinical practice guideline developed 30 recommendations for PN therapy, which cover these key aspects related to PN use: indications, patient assess-ment, titration and formulation of PN bags, access routes and devices, and monitoring and management of PN-related complications. CONCLUSION This guideline provides recommendations to ensure appropriate and safe clinical practice of PN therapy in adult patients within the acute hospital setting.
Humans ; Singapore ; Parenteral Nutrition/adverse effects* ; Adult

Purpose: This study analyzed the career paths of medical school graduates in the Daejeon, Sejong, and Chungcheongnam-do (DSC) region of South Korea, focusing on career choice factors at each career path. The ultimate goal was to derive practical insights to improve career guidance in the medical field and enhance professionalism. Methods: Data were collected through in-depth interviews with 10 medical school graduates working in the DSC region. A semi-structured questionnaire was used to explore their career paths, and factors influencing their career decisions. The collected qualitative data were analyzed using the constant comparative method to identify themes and categories. Results: The study results categorized career stages into three phases: “entering medical school,” “choosing a specialty after graduation,” and “choosing a workplace after training.” Career choice factors were classified into “personal factors,” “social factors,” and “job and work environment factors.” The factors influencing career choices differed across each career path. Conclusion This study holds significance in its in-depth analysis of career choice factors across different career paths from a long-term perspective. The findings suggest that effective support for career decision-making in the medical field requires a tailored approach that considers the distinct needs and influencing factors at each career path.

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is a promising biomaterial rich in bioactive growth factors, offering potential as a therapeutic agent for various diseases. However, its effectiveness in central nervous system disorders like vascular dementia (VaD) remains underexplored. This study investigated the potential of PRP to mitigate VaD progression in vivo. A rat model of VaD was established via bilateral common carotid artery occlusion and hypovolemia operation. Rats were randomly assigned to receive either PRP or platelet-poor plasma (PPP)—the latter being a byproduct of PRP preparation and used as a reference standard—resulting in the groups designated as ‘operated group (OP)+PRP’ and ‘OP+PPP’, respectively. PRP or PPP (500 μl) was administered intraperitoneally on the day of the operation and postoperative days 2, 4, 6, and 8. Cognitive function was assessed using the Y-maze, Barnes maze, and passive avoidance tests. On postoperative day 8, hippocampal samples were subjected to histological and semi-quantitative analyses. OP exhibited significant memory decline compared to controls, while the ‘OP+PRP’ group showed notable improvement. Histological analysis revealed increased neuronal loss and neuroinflammation in OP hippocampi, mitigated in ‘OP+PRP’. Semi-quantitative analysis showed decreased expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and its receptor tropomyosin receptor kinase B (TrkB) in OP, restored in ‘OP+PPP’ and further in ‘OP+PRP’. These results highlight PRP’s protective effects against VaD-induced hippocampal damage and cognitive impairment, partially attributed to BDNF/TrkB pathway upregulation.

Myxoinflammatory fibroblastic sarcoma (MIFS) is a rare, low-grade soft tissue neoplasm that typically arises in the extremities. A 72-yearold woman presented with recurrent masses on her left forearm. Four years prior, she underwent an excisional biopsy, diagnosed as MIFS, followed by wide excision and split-thickness skin graft coverage. Preoperative magnetic resonance imaging was conducted for the recurrent mass, revealing multiple tumors invading the flexor digitorum profundus (FDP) muscle and fascia. The tumors including most of the FDP muscle were therefore excised. The third flexor digitorum superficialis (FDS) tendon was harvested, divided in half, and connected to the second and fifth FDP tendons. The same procedure was performed for the third and fourth FDP tendons with fourth FDS tendon. An anterolateral thigh free flap was used to reconstruct the skin and soft tissue defect of the left forearm. Adjuvant radiation therapy was performed. At 12 weeks postoperatively, the patient exhibited no wound complications and achieved spontaneous partial flexion of the metacarpophalangeal and proximal interphalangeal joints.

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is a promising biomaterial rich in bioactive growth factors, offering potential as a therapeutic agent for various diseases. However, its effectiveness in central nervous system disorders like vascular dementia (VaD) remains underexplored. This study investigated the potential of PRP to mitigate VaD progression in vivo. A rat model of VaD was established via bilateral common carotid artery occlusion and hypovolemia operation. Rats were randomly assigned to receive either PRP or platelet-poor plasma (PPP)—the latter being a byproduct of PRP preparation and used as a reference standard—resulting in the groups designated as ‘operated group (OP)+PRP’ and ‘OP+PPP’, respectively. PRP or PPP (500 μl) was administered intraperitoneally on the day of the operation and postoperative days 2, 4, 6, and 8. Cognitive function was assessed using the Y-maze, Barnes maze, and passive avoidance tests. On postoperative day 8, hippocampal samples were subjected to histological and semi-quantitative analyses. OP exhibited significant memory decline compared to controls, while the ‘OP+PRP’ group showed notable improvement. Histological analysis revealed increased neuronal loss and neuroinflammation in OP hippocampi, mitigated in ‘OP+PRP’. Semi-quantitative analysis showed decreased expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and its receptor tropomyosin receptor kinase B (TrkB) in OP, restored in ‘OP+PPP’ and further in ‘OP+PRP’. These results highlight PRP’s protective effects against VaD-induced hippocampal damage and cognitive impairment, partially attributed to BDNF/TrkB pathway upregulation.

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is a promising biomaterial rich in bioactive growth factors, offering potential as a therapeutic agent for various diseases. However, its effectiveness in central nervous system disorders like vascular dementia (VaD) remains underexplored. This study investigated the potential of PRP to mitigate VaD progression in vivo. A rat model of VaD was established via bilateral common carotid artery occlusion and hypovolemia operation. Rats were randomly assigned to receive either PRP or platelet-poor plasma (PPP)—the latter being a byproduct of PRP preparation and used as a reference standard—resulting in the groups designated as ‘operated group (OP)+PRP’ and ‘OP+PPP’, respectively. PRP or PPP (500 μl) was administered intraperitoneally on the day of the operation and postoperative days 2, 4, 6, and 8. Cognitive function was assessed using the Y-maze, Barnes maze, and passive avoidance tests. On postoperative day 8, hippocampal samples were subjected to histological and semi-quantitative analyses. OP exhibited significant memory decline compared to controls, while the ‘OP+PRP’ group showed notable improvement. Histological analysis revealed increased neuronal loss and neuroinflammation in OP hippocampi, mitigated in ‘OP+PRP’. Semi-quantitative analysis showed decreased expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and its receptor tropomyosin receptor kinase B (TrkB) in OP, restored in ‘OP+PPP’ and further in ‘OP+PRP’. These results highlight PRP’s protective effects against VaD-induced hippocampal damage and cognitive impairment, partially attributed to BDNF/TrkB pathway upregulation.

Background: A decline in masticatory function may indicate brain dysfunction related to dementia, but the relationship between masticatory function and dementia risk remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate whether masticatory function is associated with the risk of cognitive decline and dementia. Methods: Data were obtained from the nationwide prospective cohort study of randomly sampled community-dwelling Koreans aged ≥ 60 years. The 5,064 non-demented participants, whose number of chewing cycles per bite was assessed by clinical interview, were followed for 8 years with biennial assessments of cognitive performance and clinical diagnoses of all-cause dementia and Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Structural brain magnetic resonance imaging was collected from a subset of cohort participants and their spouses for imaging analyses. Results: Males who chewed ≥ 30 cycles/bite had faster decline in global cognition and memory function and were at higher risk for incident all-cause dementia (hazard ratio [HR], 2.91; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.18–7.18) and AD (HR, 3.22; 95% CI, 1.14–9.11) compared to males with less than 10 cycles/bite. Additionally, increased chewing cycles in males were associated with reduced brain volume, particularly in regions involved in compensatory cognitive control of mastication. There was no significant association between chewing cycles and the risk of dementia or brain volume in females. Conclusion Older men who frequently chew their meals could be considered a notable population at risk for dementia who should be carefully assessed for their cognitive trajectories.