This study reviewed quantitative research on the health of sexual and gender minorities (SGMs) in Korea and aimed to propose a role for healthcare professionals in improving their health and access to medical care. We searched PubMed through February 29, 2024 for articles published since 2000, using terms related to SGMs and the keyword “Korea.” This process yielded 33 quantitative studies on Korean SGMs. Of these, 17 focused on sexual minorities and 16 on gender minorities. The findings indicate that Korean SGMs experience many symptoms of depression and anxiety, as well as high rates of suicidal ideation, planning, and attempts. They also report diminished health-related quality of life.SGM individuals who have faced discrimination or pressure to change their sexual or gender identity face an elevated risk of mental health issues. To improve the health of Korean SGMs and improve their access to healthcare, we recommend several approaches. First, more research on the health of Korean SGMs is necessary. Second, education and training programs for health professionals are essential to promote their understanding of SGM health issues and their advocacy for SGM health. Third, strategies are required to develop and implement program interventions that improve SGM health, such as increasing the availability of gender-affirming care, which is known to benefit the health of transgender and gender-diverse individuals. Finally, healthcare professionals should actively advocate for SGM health and call for shifts in public perception and institutional change, grounded in a broad understanding of SGMs and their health needs.

Vestibular schwannoma is a rare tumor that develops in the nerves responsible for vestibular function and hearing. It usually affects middle-aged people, and is diagnosed by hearing and imaging tests. In the majority of cases, it occurs in the retro-cochlear space and very rarely in the labyrinth. Several vestibular schwannoma localized in the labyrinth have been reported worldwide. Since then 5 cases have been reported. With advances in the imaging study, the diagnosis of intralabyrinthine schwannomas have increased. Our report describes the characteristics and treatments of intralabyrinthine schwannomas reported in Korea, including five previously reported cases and the case experienced by authors.

PURPOSE: Increased bone regeneration has been achieved through the use of stem cells in combination with graft material. However, the survival of transplanted stem cells remains a major concern. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the viability of transplanted mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) at an early time point (24 hours) based on the type and form of the scaffold used, including type I collagen membrane and synthetic bone. METHODS: The stem cells were obtained from the periosteum of the otherwise healthy dental patients. Four symmetrical circular defects measuring 6 mm in diameter were made in New Zealand white rabbits using a trephine drill. The defects were grafted with 1) synthetic bone (β-tricalcium phosphate/hydroxyapatite [β-TCP/HA]) and 1×105 MSCs, 2) collagen membrane and 1×105 MSCs, 3) β-TCP/HA+collagen membrane and 1×105 MSCs, or 4) β-TCP/HA, a chipped collagen membrane and 1×105 MSCs. Cellular viability and the cell migration rate were analyzed. RESULTS: Cells were easily separated from the collagen membrane, but not from synthetic bone. The number of stem cells attached to synthetic bone in groups 1, 3, and 4 seemed to be similar. Cellular viability in group 2 was significantly higher than in the other groups (P<0.05). The cell migration rate was highest in group 2, but this difference was not statistically significant (P>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: This study showed that stem cells can be applied when a membrane is used as a scaffold under no or minimal pressure. When space maintenance is needed, stem cells can be loaded onto synthetic bone with a chipped membrane to enhance the survival rate.
Bone Regeneration ; Bone Transplantation ; Cell Movement ; Cell Survival ; Collagen ; Collagen Type I ; Humans ; Membranes ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells ; Periosteum ; Rabbits ; Space Maintenance, Orthodontic ; Stem Cells ; Survival Rate ; Tissue Scaffolds ; Transplants

OBJECTIVES: To examine the association of subjective depressive symptoms and cognitive dysfunction in patients with mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI). METHODS: 36 patients with mTBI without structural abnormality in the brain imaging study were recruited. Participants were subdivided into two groups by a cutoff score of 70T in the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). Cognitive functions including intelligence, memory, and executive function were significantly lower in the <70T group compared to the > or =70T group. In addition, BDI scores were negatively correlated with performances in most of the neuropsychological tests. RESULTS: Patients group who scored 70T or more in the BDI showed significantly lower scores in most items of the neuropsychological tests. CONCLUSION: High subjective depression is associated with low neuropsychological performance in mTBI.
Brain Injuries ; Depression ; Executive Function ; Humans ; Intelligence ; Memory ; Neuroimaging

Venlafaxine is among the most widely prescribed antidepressants. It is extensively metabolized to O-desmethylvenlafaxine via cytochrome P450 (CYP) 2D6. We report a case of acute toxic hepatitis resulting from venlafaxine in a 54-year-old woman with pain disorder. During venlafaxine treatment, laboratory tests revealed elevated liver enzymes with a maximum of 169 IU/L for aspartate transaminase (AST) and 166 IU/L for alanine transaminase (ALT). AST and ALT levels returned to normal after 6 days of discontinuation of venlafaxine. The patient was finally diagnosed with acute toxic hepatitis through liver biopsy. This case indicates the importance that clinicians should be aware of the hepatotoxicity of venlafaxine in practice.
Alanine Transaminase ; Antidepressive Agents ; Aspartate Aminotransferases ; Biopsy ; Cyclohexanols ; Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System ; Drug Toxicity ; Drug-Induced Liver Injury ; Female ; Humans ; Liver ; Middle Aged ; Somatoform Disorders ; Desvenlafaxine Succinate ; Venlafaxine Hydrochloride

Amanita pantherina and Amanita muscaria have been called hallucinogenic fungi. They contain ibotenic acid and muscimol. Patients may appear to be intoxicated or have apparent 'patherina-muscaria' syndrome, which is atropine-like, but fatality is rare. Confusion, dizziness, tiredness, visual and auditory hypersensitivity, space distortion, unawareness of time, dryness of the mouth, mydriasis and hallucination may occur. Also, in exceptionally rare severe poisoning cases, convulsion, coma and death may occur. A 50-year-old well-nourished and developed man was admitted to this hospital with a 30-minute history of semicoma and involuntary contraction of the extremities which had developed following mushroom ingestion 2 hours earlier. Ingested mushrooms were revealed to be A. pantherina by a mycologist. The patient recovered 7 hours later after only supportive management, but the next day he couldn't recalled any of his hospital duration from admission to 20 hours later. Only a few reports have precise descriptions of the subspecies of the genus and there was no reports on poisoning by A. pantherina in Korea. In addition, there are no reports of amnesia following poisoning by A. pantherina. For these reasons, we report this case, together with a review of the literature.
Agaricales ; Amanita* ; Amnesia* ; Coma ; Dizziness ; Eating ; Extremities ; Fungi ; Hallucinations ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; Ibotenic Acid ; Korea ; Middle Aged ; Mouth ; Muscimol ; Mushroom Poisoning ; Mydriasis ; Poisoning* ; Seizures