Background: This study aimed to develop standard job categories for constructing a job-exposure matrix (JEM) for police officers in South Korea and to evaluate their applicability. Methods: We examined standard job codes related to police personnel management and compared them with job classifications from police publications. Using R Shiny, we developed a web-based search tool for standard codes. A pilot survey of 130 police officers assessed the codes' applicability and relevance to health-related hazardous factors. Results: Eighty-seven standard functional codes used in the police personnel management system POOL were organized into minor categories as the basic units of standard jobs. These were grouped into 20 sub-major categories and further consolidated into 10 major categories to develop the standard job codes. The responses to the standard job codes in the pilot survey were 75% accurate compared with the final expert evaluation results and 99.2% accurate compared with the algorithm-based automatic allocation results. The results of the job-hazardous factor network analysis revealed that the most frequently reported hazardous factor was emotional labor, followed by night shifts and electromagnetic waves. Emotional labor was identified as the top hazardous factor in six out of the nine standard job categories. Conclusions The standard job codes developed in this study were designed in connection with the personnel management system for police officers, making them well-suited for constructing a comprehensive JEM for the entire police force.

Objectives: This paper provides evidence for the improvement of the local and national longterm psychiatric emergency response system by analyzing emergency response cases for psychiatric crisis intervention conducted over three years at the Jeonbuk State Mental Health Welfare Center. Methods: From August 1, 2020, to December 31, 2023, 314 cases of emergency response for psychiatric crisis intervention were analyzed. The analysis included factors such as gender, age, marital status, location, classification of psychiatric crises, referral pathways, intervention response time, counseling history, location of intervention, types of mental health issues, types of suicidal issues, psychiatric treatment history, suicide plans and attempts, outcomes of major interventions, levels of depression, alcohol consumption, and suicidal behavior. Results: The emergency response for psychiatric crisis intervention had a higher proportion of suicide counseling compared to general mental health emergencies, and most cases were referred through administrative agencies such as the police and fire department. The majority of intervention targets were first-time counselees, classified as high-risk individuals because of depression, alcohol consumption, and suicidal behavior, and either discontinued or were maintaining medication treatment. Conclusion This study illustrated the major role of emergency response in psychiatric crisis intervention and the need for strengthening networks with police, fire departments, and relevant agencies, and improving the treatment of care staff and public awareness. In addition, this study provides evidence for predicting risk factors and offering preventive and preemptive measures.

Objectives: This paper provides evidence for the improvement of the local and national longterm psychiatric emergency response system by analyzing emergency response cases for psychiatric crisis intervention conducted over three years at the Jeonbuk State Mental Health Welfare Center. Methods: From August 1, 2020, to December 31, 2023, 314 cases of emergency response for psychiatric crisis intervention were analyzed. The analysis included factors such as gender, age, marital status, location, classification of psychiatric crises, referral pathways, intervention response time, counseling history, location of intervention, types of mental health issues, types of suicidal issues, psychiatric treatment history, suicide plans and attempts, outcomes of major interventions, levels of depression, alcohol consumption, and suicidal behavior. Results: The emergency response for psychiatric crisis intervention had a higher proportion of suicide counseling compared to general mental health emergencies, and most cases were referred through administrative agencies such as the police and fire department. The majority of intervention targets were first-time counselees, classified as high-risk individuals because of depression, alcohol consumption, and suicidal behavior, and either discontinued or were maintaining medication treatment. Conclusion This study illustrated the major role of emergency response in psychiatric crisis intervention and the need for strengthening networks with police, fire departments, and relevant agencies, and improving the treatment of care staff and public awareness. In addition, this study provides evidence for predicting risk factors and offering preventive and preemptive measures.

Objectives: This paper provides evidence for the improvement of the local and national longterm psychiatric emergency response system by analyzing emergency response cases for psychiatric crisis intervention conducted over three years at the Jeonbuk State Mental Health Welfare Center. Methods: From August 1, 2020, to December 31, 2023, 314 cases of emergency response for psychiatric crisis intervention were analyzed. The analysis included factors such as gender, age, marital status, location, classification of psychiatric crises, referral pathways, intervention response time, counseling history, location of intervention, types of mental health issues, types of suicidal issues, psychiatric treatment history, suicide plans and attempts, outcomes of major interventions, levels of depression, alcohol consumption, and suicidal behavior. Results: The emergency response for psychiatric crisis intervention had a higher proportion of suicide counseling compared to general mental health emergencies, and most cases were referred through administrative agencies such as the police and fire department. The majority of intervention targets were first-time counselees, classified as high-risk individuals because of depression, alcohol consumption, and suicidal behavior, and either discontinued or were maintaining medication treatment. Conclusion This study illustrated the major role of emergency response in psychiatric crisis intervention and the need for strengthening networks with police, fire departments, and relevant agencies, and improving the treatment of care staff and public awareness. In addition, this study provides evidence for predicting risk factors and offering preventive and preemptive measures.

Objectives: This paper provides evidence for the improvement of the local and national longterm psychiatric emergency response system by analyzing emergency response cases for psychiatric crisis intervention conducted over three years at the Jeonbuk State Mental Health Welfare Center. Methods: From August 1, 2020, to December 31, 2023, 314 cases of emergency response for psychiatric crisis intervention were analyzed. The analysis included factors such as gender, age, marital status, location, classification of psychiatric crises, referral pathways, intervention response time, counseling history, location of intervention, types of mental health issues, types of suicidal issues, psychiatric treatment history, suicide plans and attempts, outcomes of major interventions, levels of depression, alcohol consumption, and suicidal behavior. Results: The emergency response for psychiatric crisis intervention had a higher proportion of suicide counseling compared to general mental health emergencies, and most cases were referred through administrative agencies such as the police and fire department. The majority of intervention targets were first-time counselees, classified as high-risk individuals because of depression, alcohol consumption, and suicidal behavior, and either discontinued or were maintaining medication treatment. Conclusion This study illustrated the major role of emergency response in psychiatric crisis intervention and the need for strengthening networks with police, fire departments, and relevant agencies, and improving the treatment of care staff and public awareness. In addition, this study provides evidence for predicting risk factors and offering preventive and preemptive measures.

Background: and Purpose Patients with cluster headache (CH) exhibit impaired health-related quality of life (HRQoL). However, there have been few studies related to the HRQoL of patients with CH from Asian backgrounds. This study aimed to determine the impact of CH on HRQoL and to identify the factors affecting HRQoL in patients with CH during cluster periods. Methods: This prospective study enrolled patients with CH from 17 headache clinics in South Korea between September 2016 and February 2021. The study aimed to determine HRQoL in patients with CH using the EuroQol 5 Dimensions (EQ-5D) index and the time trade-off (TTO) method. Age- and sex-matched headache-free participants were recruited as a control group. Results: The study included 423 patients with CH who experienced a cluster period at the time. EQ-5D scores were lower in patients with CH (0.88±0.43, mean±standard deviation) than in the controls (0.99±0.33, p<0.001). The TTO method indicated that 58 (13.6%) patients with CH exhibited moderate-to-severe HRQoL deterioration. The HRQoL states in patients with CH were associated with current smoking patterns, headache severity, frequency, and duration, and scores on the Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item scale (GAD-7), Patient Health Questionnaire 9-item scale (PHQ-9), 6-item Headache Impact Test, and 12-item Allodynia Symptom Checklist. Multivariable logistic regression analyses demonstrated that the HRQoL states in patients with CH were negatively correlated with the daily frequency of headaches, cluster period duration, and GAD-7 and PHQ-9 scores. Conclusions Patients with CH experienced a worse quality of life during cluster periods compared with the headache-free controls, but the degree of HRQoL deterioration varied among them. The daily frequency of headaches, cluster period duration, anxiety, and depression were factors associated with HRQoL deterioration severity in patients with CH.

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a common disorder characterized by upper airway obstruction during sleep. To reduce the morbidity of OSA, sleep specialists have explored various methods of managing the condition, including manifold positive airway pressure (PAP) techniques and surgical procedures. Nasal obstruction can cause significant discomfort during sleep, and it is likely that improving nasal obstruction would enhance the quality of life and PAP compliance of OSA patients. Many reliable studies have offered evidence to support this assumption. However, few comprehensive guidelines for managing OSA through nasal surgery encompass all this evidence. In order to address this gap, the Korean Society of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery (KORL-HNS) and the Korean Society of Sleep and Breathing designated a guideline development group (GDG) to develop recommendations for nasal surgery in OSA patients. Several databases, including OVID Medline, Embase, the Cochrane Library, and KoreaMed, were searched to identify all relevant papers using a predefined search strategy. The types of nasal surgery included septoplasty, turbinate surgery, nasal valve surgery, septorhinoplasty, and endoscopic sinus surgery. When insufficient evidence was found, the GDG sought expert opinions and attempted to fill the evidence gap. Evidence-based recommendations for practice were ranked according to the American College of Physicians’ grading system. The GDG developed 10 key action statements with supporting text to support them. Three statements are ranked as strong recommendations, three are only recommendations, and four can be considered options. The GDG hopes that this clinical practice guideline will help physicians make optimal decisions when caring for OSA patients. Conversely, the statements in this guideline are not intended to limit or restrict physicians’ care based on their experience and assessment of individual patients.

Background: New genome sequencing technologies with enhanced diagnostic efficiency have emerged. Rapid and timely diagnosis of treatable rare genetic diseases can alter their medical management and clinical course. However, multiple factors, including ethical issues, must be considered. We designed a targeted sequencing platform to avoid ethical issues and reduce the turnaround time. Methods: We designed an automated sequencing platform using dried blood spot samples and a NEOseq_ACTION panel comprising 254 genes associated with Mendelian diseases having curable or manageable treatment options. Retrospective validation was performed using data from 24 genetically and biochemically confirmed patients. Prospective validation was performed using data from 111 patients with suspected actionable genetic diseases. Results: In prospective clinical validation, 13.5% patients presented with medically actionable diseases, including short- or medium-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiencies (N=6), hyperphenylalaninemia (N=2), mucopolysaccharidosis type IVA (N=1), alpha thalassemia (N=1), 3-methylcrotonyl-CoA carboxylase 2 deficiency (N=1), propionic acidemia (N=1), glycogen storage disease, type IX(a) (N=1), congenital myasthenic syndrome (N=1), and citrullinemia, type II (N=1). Using the automated analytic pipeline, the turnaround time from blood collection to result reporting was <4 days. Conclusions This pilot study evaluated the possibility of rapid and timely diagnosis of treatable rare genetic diseases using a panel designed by a multidisciplinary team. The automated analytic pipeline maximized the clinical utility of rapid targeted sequencing for medically actionable genes, providing a strategy for appropriate and timely treatment of rare genetic diseases.

Water beads are dangerous foreign bodies causing intestinal obstruction in young children because the beads absorb water and are radiolucent. Although the features lead to progressive intestinal obstruction, it is difficult to diagnose ingestion of the beads by imaging studies. For the diagnosis, ultrasonography is safe, fast, and accurate. The imaging modality can show intestinal water beads as spherical, anechoic, smoothly demarcated cysts. This characteristic finding may be more useful in rapid and accurate diagnosis than computed tomography scan. We report a case of an 8-month-old boy who obtained a timely sonographic diagnosis of water bead-induced small bowel obstruction in the emergency department.

Background: Sentinel lymph node (SLN) mapping has been suggested as an alternative surgical technique to full lymphadenectomy for early-stage endometrial cancer. However, the survival outcomes of SLN mapping compared with lymphadenectomy have not been established via a prospective study. Methods A multi-center, single-blind, randomized controlled trial has been designed to determine the prognostic value of SLN mapping alone compared with conventional lymphadenectomy for patients with clinical stage I-II endometrial cancer. Eligible participants will be randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio between the group to undergo SLN mapping using indocyanine green and the conventional lymph node dissection group. A high-risk group will undergo a 2-step SLN mapping procedure. The primary endpoint is the 3-year disease-free survival (DFS). The secondary endpoints are 3-year overall survival (OS), 5-year DFS, 5-year OS after surgery, pattern of recurrence, immediate surgical outcomes, success rate of SLN mapping, postoperative lymph-related complications, postoperative quality of life, and postoperative cost effectiveness. The role of pathologic ultrastaging of SLNs will also be assessed.