Background: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a common skin disease with a wide range of symptoms. Due to the rapidly changing treatment landscape, regular updates to clinical guidelines are needed. Objective: This study aimed to update the guidelines for the treatment of AD to reflect recent therapeutic advances and evidence-based recommendations. Methods: The Patient characteristics, type of Intervention, Control, and Outcome framework was used to determine 48 questions related to AD management. Evidence was graded, recommendations were determined, and, after 2 voting rounds among the Korean Atopic Dermatitis Association (KADA) council members, consensus was achieved. Results: This guideline provides treatment guidance on advanced systemic treatment modalities for AD. In particular, the guideline offers up-to-date treatment recommendations for biologics and Janus-kinase inhibitors used in the treatment of patients with moderate to severe AD.It also provides guidance on other therapies for AD, along with tailored recommendations for children, adolescents, the elderly, and pregnant or breastfeeding women. Conclusion KADA’s updated AD treatment guidelines incorporate the latest evidence and expert opinion to provide a comprehensive approach to AD treatment. The guidelines will help clinicians optimize patient-specific therapies.

Background: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a common skin disease with a wide range of symptoms. Due to the rapidly changing treatment landscape, regular updates to clinical guidelines are needed. Objective: This study aimed to update the guidelines for the treatment of AD to reflect recent therapeutic advances and evidence-based practices. Methods: The Patient characteristics, type of Intervention, Control, and Outcome framework was used to determine 48 questions related to AD management. Evidence was graded, recommendations were determined, and, after 2 voting rounds among the Korean Atopic Dermatitis Association (KADA) council members, consensus was achieved. Results: The guidelines provide detailed recommendations on foundational therapies, including the use of moisturizers, cleansing and bathing practices, allergen avoidance, and patient education. Guidance on topical therapies, such as topical corticosteroids and calcineurin inhibitors, is also provided to help manage inflammation and maintain skin barrier function in patients with AD. Additionally, recommendations on conventional systemic therapies, including corticosteroids, cyclosporine, and methotrexate, are provided for managing moderate to severe AD. Conclusion KADA’s updated AD guidelines offer clinicians evidence-based strategies focused on basic therapies, topical therapies, and conventional systemic therapies, equipping them to enhance quality of care and improve patient outcomes in AD management.

Background: In 2006, the Korean Atopic Dermatitis Association (KADA) working group released the diagnostic criteria for Korean atopic dermatitis (AD). Recently, more simplified, and practical AD diagnostic criteria have been proposed. Objective: Based on updated criteria and experience, we studied to develop and share a consensus on diagnostic criteria for AD in Koreans. Materials and Methods: For the diagnostic criteria, a questionnaire was constructed by searching the English-language literature in MEDLINE and the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. A modified Delphi method composed of 3 rounds of email questionnaires was adopted for the consensus process. Fifty-four KADA council members participated in the 3 rounds of votes and expert consensus recommendations were established. Results: Diagnostic criteria for AD include pruritus, eczema with age-specific pattern, and chronic or relapsing history. Diagnostic aids for AD encompass xerosis, immunoglobulin E reactivity, hand–foot eczema, periorbital changes, periauricular changes, perioral changes, nipple eczema, perifollicular accentuation, and personal or family history of atopy. Conclusion This study streamlined and updated the diagnostic criteria for AD in Korea, making them more practicable for use in real-world clinical field.

Background: This study aimed to investigate the obstetric and perinatal outcomes of singleton deliveries following frozen embryo transfer (FET) cycles using different endometrial preparation methods. Methods: We analyzed data on 44,118 singleton pregnant women who underwent in vitro fertilization (IVF)/intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), resulting in delivery or abortion, from the South Korean National Health Insurance Service database. Stratification was based on the type of embryo transfer, viz. fresh embryo transfer and FET cycles, using International Classification of Diseases (Tenth Revision) diagnostic codes, national procedural codes, and prescription medication data within the IVF/ICSI pregnancy cohort. FET was subcategorized into artificial cycle-FET (AC-FET), natural cycle-FET (NC-FET), and stimulated cycle-FET (SC-FET) for comparative analyses of the pregnancy, obstetric, and perinatal outcomes. Results: AC-FET was associated with higher risks of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, preeclampsia, placenta accreta, and postpartum hemorrhage compared with NC-FET; the risk of macrosomia showed no significant differences. SC-FET was associated with a lower risk of miscarriage and higher rate of term birth beyond 37 weeks compared with NCFET. However, SC-FET was associated with elevated risks of gestational hypertension and postpartum hemorrhage when compared to NC-FET. Conclusion The rate of adverse obstetric and perinatal outcomes was higher in AC-FET compared to NC-FET, highlighting NC-FET as a valuable option owing to better maternal and fetal safety. In cases where NC-FET is not feasible, SC-FET presented as a favorable alternative, exhibiting lower miscarriage rates than NC-FET and better obstetric outcomes than AC-FET.

Background: This study aimed to investigate the obstetric and perinatal outcomes of singleton deliveries following frozen embryo transfer (FET) cycles using different endometrial preparation methods. Methods: We analyzed data on 44,118 singleton pregnant women who underwent in vitro fertilization (IVF)/intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), resulting in delivery or abortion, from the South Korean National Health Insurance Service database. Stratification was based on the type of embryo transfer, viz. fresh embryo transfer and FET cycles, using International Classification of Diseases (Tenth Revision) diagnostic codes, national procedural codes, and prescription medication data within the IVF/ICSI pregnancy cohort. FET was subcategorized into artificial cycle-FET (AC-FET), natural cycle-FET (NC-FET), and stimulated cycle-FET (SC-FET) for comparative analyses of the pregnancy, obstetric, and perinatal outcomes. Results: AC-FET was associated with higher risks of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, preeclampsia, placenta accreta, and postpartum hemorrhage compared with NC-FET; the risk of macrosomia showed no significant differences. SC-FET was associated with a lower risk of miscarriage and higher rate of term birth beyond 37 weeks compared with NCFET. However, SC-FET was associated with elevated risks of gestational hypertension and postpartum hemorrhage when compared to NC-FET. Conclusion The rate of adverse obstetric and perinatal outcomes was higher in AC-FET compared to NC-FET, highlighting NC-FET as a valuable option owing to better maternal and fetal safety. In cases where NC-FET is not feasible, SC-FET presented as a favorable alternative, exhibiting lower miscarriage rates than NC-FET and better obstetric outcomes than AC-FET.

Background: This study aimed to investigate the obstetric and perinatal outcomes of singleton deliveries following frozen embryo transfer (FET) cycles using different endometrial preparation methods. Methods: We analyzed data on 44,118 singleton pregnant women who underwent in vitro fertilization (IVF)/intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), resulting in delivery or abortion, from the South Korean National Health Insurance Service database. Stratification was based on the type of embryo transfer, viz. fresh embryo transfer and FET cycles, using International Classification of Diseases (Tenth Revision) diagnostic codes, national procedural codes, and prescription medication data within the IVF/ICSI pregnancy cohort. FET was subcategorized into artificial cycle-FET (AC-FET), natural cycle-FET (NC-FET), and stimulated cycle-FET (SC-FET) for comparative analyses of the pregnancy, obstetric, and perinatal outcomes. Results: AC-FET was associated with higher risks of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, preeclampsia, placenta accreta, and postpartum hemorrhage compared with NC-FET; the risk of macrosomia showed no significant differences. SC-FET was associated with a lower risk of miscarriage and higher rate of term birth beyond 37 weeks compared with NCFET. However, SC-FET was associated with elevated risks of gestational hypertension and postpartum hemorrhage when compared to NC-FET. Conclusion The rate of adverse obstetric and perinatal outcomes was higher in AC-FET compared to NC-FET, highlighting NC-FET as a valuable option owing to better maternal and fetal safety. In cases where NC-FET is not feasible, SC-FET presented as a favorable alternative, exhibiting lower miscarriage rates than NC-FET and better obstetric outcomes than AC-FET.

Background: This study aimed to investigate the obstetric and perinatal outcomes of singleton deliveries following frozen embryo transfer (FET) cycles using different endometrial preparation methods. Methods: We analyzed data on 44,118 singleton pregnant women who underwent in vitro fertilization (IVF)/intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), resulting in delivery or abortion, from the South Korean National Health Insurance Service database. Stratification was based on the type of embryo transfer, viz. fresh embryo transfer and FET cycles, using International Classification of Diseases (Tenth Revision) diagnostic codes, national procedural codes, and prescription medication data within the IVF/ICSI pregnancy cohort. FET was subcategorized into artificial cycle-FET (AC-FET), natural cycle-FET (NC-FET), and stimulated cycle-FET (SC-FET) for comparative analyses of the pregnancy, obstetric, and perinatal outcomes. Results: AC-FET was associated with higher risks of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, preeclampsia, placenta accreta, and postpartum hemorrhage compared with NC-FET; the risk of macrosomia showed no significant differences. SC-FET was associated with a lower risk of miscarriage and higher rate of term birth beyond 37 weeks compared with NCFET. However, SC-FET was associated with elevated risks of gestational hypertension and postpartum hemorrhage when compared to NC-FET. Conclusion The rate of adverse obstetric and perinatal outcomes was higher in AC-FET compared to NC-FET, highlighting NC-FET as a valuable option owing to better maternal and fetal safety. In cases where NC-FET is not feasible, SC-FET presented as a favorable alternative, exhibiting lower miscarriage rates than NC-FET and better obstetric outcomes than AC-FET.

Background: Recently, microbiome research has been actively conducted for various skin areas. However, no study has yet compared the microbiome of bacteria and fungi in the ear canal of healthy individuals and patients with chronic otitis externa in Korea. Objective: This study aimed to investigate the difference in the distribution of fungal and bacterial microbial communities in ear canal samples of healthy individuals and patients with chronic otitis externa. Methods: In 24 patients with bilateral chronic otitis externa and 24 healthy controls, cotton swabs were used to obtain samples from the bilateral ear canal. To characterize the fungal and bacterial communities, we sequenced and analyzed the 16S rRNA V4–V5 and ITS1 regions using Quantitative Insights into Microbial Ecology 2, respectively. Results: The alpha diversity analysis for bacteria and fungi confirmed that both richness and evenness decreased in the patient group. The beta diversity analysis for bacteria confirmed that these parameters differed between the control and patient groups. The beta diversity analysis for fungi showed no difference between the groups. Conclusion We observed different skin microbiomes in the patients with chronic otitis externa compared with those in the healthy individuals.

PURPOSE: Nutritional therapy (NT), such as enteral nutrition (EN) or parenteral nutrition (PN), is essential for the malnourished patients. Although the complications related to NT has been well described, multicenter data on symptoms in the patients with receiving NT during hospitalization are still lacking. METHODS: Nutrition support team (NST) consultations, on which NT-related complications were described, were collected retrospectively for one year. The inclusion criteria were patients who were (1) older than 18 years, (2) hospitalized, and (3) receiving EN or PN at the time of NST consultation. The patients' demographics (age, sex, body mass index [BMI]), type of NT and type of complication were collected. To compare the severity of each complication, the intensive care unit (ICU) admission, hospital stay, and type of discharge were also collected. RESULTS: A total of 14,600 NT-related complications were collected from 13,418 cases from 27 hospitals in Korea. The mean age and BMI were 65.4 years and 21.8 kg/m2. The complications according to the type of NT, calorie deficiency (32.4%, n=1,229) and diarrhea (21.6%, n=820) were most common in EN. Similarly, calorie deficiency (56.8%, n=4,030) and GI problem except for diarrhea (8.6%, n=611) were most common in PN. Regarding the clinical outcomes, 18.7% (n=2,158) finally expired, 58.1% (n=7,027) were admitted to ICU, and the mean hospital days after NT-related complication were 31.3 days. Volume overload (odds ratio [OR]=3.48) and renal abnormality (OR=2.50) were closely associated with hospital death; hyperammonemia (OR=3.09) and renal abnormality (OR=2.77) were associated with ICU admission; “micronutrient and vitamin deficiency” (geometric mean [GM]=2.23) and volume overload (GM=1.61) were associated with a longer hospital stay. CONCLUSION: NT may induce or be associated with several complications, and some of them may seriously affect the patient's outcome. NST personnel in each hospital should be aware of each problem during nutritional support.
Adult ; Body Mass Index ; Demography ; Diarrhea ; Enteral Nutrition ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Hyperammonemia ; Intensive Care Units ; Korea ; Length of Stay ; Multicenter Studies as Topic ; Nutrition Therapy ; Nutritional Support ; Parenteral Nutrition ; Referral and Consultation ; Retrospective Studies ; Vitamins

Several epidemiological studies have reported an association between environmental pollution and various health conditions in individuals residing in industrial complexes. To evaluate the effects of pollution from industrial complex on human health, we performed a pooled analysis of environmental epidemiologic monitoring data for residents living near national industrial complexes in Korea. The respiratory and allergic symptoms and the prevalence of acute and chronic diseases, including cancer, were used as the outcome variables for health effects. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to analyze the relationship between exposure to pollution from industrial complexes and health conditions. After adjusting for age, sex, smoking status, occupational exposure, level of education, and body mass index, the residents near the industrial complexes were found to have more respiratory symptoms, such as cough (odds ratio [OR], 1.18; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.06 to 1.31) and sputum production (OR, 1.13; 95% CI, 1.03 to 1.24), and symptoms of atopic dermatitis (OR, 1.10; 95% CI, 1.01 to 1.20). Among residents of the industrial complexes, the prevalence of acute eye disorders was approximately 40% higher (OR, 1.39; 95% CI, 1.04 to 1.84) and the prevalence of lung and uterine cancer was 3.45 times and 1.88 times higher, respectively, than those among residents of the control area. This study showed that residents living in the vicinity of industrial complexes have a high risk of acute and chronic diseases including respiratory and allergic conditions. These results can be used as basic objective data for developing health management measures for individuals residing near industrial complexes.
Body Mass Index ; Chronic Disease ; Cough ; Dermatitis, Atopic ; Education ; Employment ; Environmental Pollution ; Epidemiologic Studies ; Epidemiological Monitoring ; Humans ; Korea ; Logistic Models ; Lung ; Prevalence ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Sputum ; Uterine Neoplasms