Purpose: To report a case of recurrent hypotony and exudative choroidal detachment in a patient with pseudoexfoliation glaucoma following the use of a topical preservative-free prostaglandin–timolol fixed combination eye drop.Case summary: A 74-year-old diabetic patient with a history of trabeculectomy for pseudoexfoliation glaucoma presented with conjunctival hyperemia, ocular pain, and blurred vision 3 months after using a preservative free prostaglandin-timolol fixed combination. Intraocular pressure (IOP) was markedly reduced to 6 mmHg and fundus examination revealed severe exudative choroidal detachment involving three quadrants. Treatment with oral and topical corticosteroids, cycloplegics, and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs normalized his IOP to 15 mmHg and resolved the detachment within 3 weeks. Two weeks later, the patient inadvertently reused the same medication mistaking it for artificial tears. Symptoms recurred the following day with his IOP dropping to 2 mmHg and choroidal detachment affecting all four quadrants. Re-treatment led to full recovery within 3 weeks. Conclusions Choroidal detachment following use of combination therapy with a prostaglandin analog and an aqueous suppressant is a rare complication. Patients with pseudoexfoliation syndrome and diabetes may be particularly susceptible. Vigilant monitoring of IOP and fundus status is recommended when prescribing these agents to individuals with multiple risk factors.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Dietary supplement use is common among breast cancer survivors, but studies on Asian populations remain limited. This study investigated dietary supplement use among Korean breast cancer survivors, distinguishing between vitamin/ mineral (VM) and non-vitaminon-mineral (NVNM) supplements. SUBJECTS/METHODS: This cross-sectional study included 1,136 stage I–III breast cancer survivors from 12 Korean hospitals, who survived more than 6 mon post-surgery. The participants completed a questionnaire on post-diagnostic dietary supplement use. Stepwise logistic regression was applied, calculating odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) to identify the demographic and clinical factors associated with VM and NVNM use. RESULTS: Seventy percent of survivors reported supplement use, with 25% using a single product. The most common VM supplements were multivitamins/minerals, vitamin D, and vitamin C, while the most common NVNM supplements included omega-3 fatty acids, probiotics, and ginseng. Survivors with higher education and greater physical activity were more likely to use VM supplements (ORs [95% CIs], 2.74 [1.76–4.25] for college graduates or above vs. middle school or below; 1.38 [1.02–1.88] for the most active group vs. the least active group). NVNM use was associated with higher education, greater physical activity levels, and a history of smoking (ORs [95% CIs], 2.29 [1.46–3.58] for college graduates or above vs. middle school or below; 1.52 [1.13–2.06] for the most active group vs. the least active group; 2.00 [1.23–3.25] for ever smokers vs. never smokers). Survivors who had undergone chemotherapy were also more likely to use NVNM supplements than those who had not (OR [95% CI], 1.37 [1.02–1.84]). CONCLUSION Seventy percent of Korean breast cancer survivors used dietary supplements in this study. VM use was associated with higher education and physical activity, while higher NVNM use was associated with higher education, greater physical activity, a history of smoking, and chemotherapy.

Purpose: This pilot study aimed to develop and conduct an initial evaluation of a self-care improvement program for older school-aged children with atopic dermatitis (AD). Methods: A quasi-experimental, non-equivalent control group pretest-posttest design was used with 20 children in grades 4–6 diagnosed with AD. The experimental group (n=12) received a 5-week Information-Motivation-Behavioral Skills (IMB)-based program, which included five 40-minute sessions for children and one 50-minute session for mothers. The control group (n=8) received usual care. Data was collected at baseline, immediately after the intervention, and 4 weeks post-intervention. Outcome variables included AD knowledge, motivation for AD self-care, self-efficacy for managing AD, self-care behaviors, and AD severity. Generalized estimating equations were used for analysis. Results: Time-by-group interaction effects were observed for AD knowledge (p<.001), personal motivation (p=.011), self-efficacy (p=.034), self-care behaviors (p=.027), and AD severity (p=.039). Improvements in knowledge, motivation, and self-efficacy persisted through follow-up, while changes in self-care behaviors and AD severity were significant only at posttest. Conclusion This study provides preliminary evidence that an IMB-based self-care program can improve knowledge, motivation, and self-efficacy in children with AD, leading to better self-care behaviors and reduced symptom severity. These findings support the feasibility and potential usefulness of a structured, theory-based intervention. Further fully powered trials are needed to confirm effectiveness and identify strategies for maintaining long-term outcomes.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Isoflavones are estrogen-like compounds found in plants and their health effects remain equivocal. We investigated dietary isoflavone intake and its associated factors in Korean breast cancer survivors, with a comparison to cancer-free women. SUBJECTS/METHODS: The usual dietary intake of breast cancer survivors (n = 981, mean age 52 yrs) in 9 hospitals between 2012 and 2019 was assessed using 3-day food records or food frequency questionnaires (FFQs). They were age-matched to 2,943 cancer-free women who completed FFQs as part of a nationwide study conducted between 2012 and 2016. We used the flavonoid database of common Korean foods and the Phenol-Explorer database to estimate isoflavone intake. The contribution of each food or food group to the total isoflavone intake was calculated. The adjusted least-squares means of dietary isoflavone intake according to lifestyle and clinical factors were calculated using generalized linear models. RESULTS: Breast cancer survivors had a higher mean dietary isoflavone intake (23.59 mg/day) than cancer-free women (17.81 mg/day). Major food sources, including tofu, soybeans, and doenjang, contributed to over 70% of the isoflavone intake in both groups. When we estimated dietary isoflavone intake according to lifestyle characteristics, isoflavone intake increased with higher scores of adherence to the American Cancer Society dietary guidelines but decreased with increasing body mass index in both groups. Among cancer-free women, dietary isoflavone intake was higher among those who had never smoked and among dietary supplement users. Among breast cancer survivors, dietary isoflavone intakes did not vary with clinical characteristics, including time since surgery and estrogen receptor status. CONCLUSION Breast cancer survivors were more likely to consume isoflavones than agematched cancer-free women. Dietary isoflavone intake was associated with healthy lifestyle characteristics in women both with and without breast cancer. Further research is needed to understand the role of the higher isoflavone intake among breast cancer survivors compared to cancer-free women on their prognosis.

Purpose: The associated factors for hypertensive retinopathy (HTR) are rarely investigated. This study aimed to identify the associated factors for HTR using a systematic review. Methods: The review included cross-sectional, case-controlled, and cohort studies on HTR risk factors published in Korean and English with full texts available from PubMed, Embase, CINAHL, Web of Science, and Korean databases. Methodological quality was assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) checklist. Results: Eleven studies were finally selected, and three studies including patients with hypertension without diabetes mellitus, older age, male sex, alcohol consumption, the duration of hypertension, hyperglycemia, dyslipidemia, microalbuminuria, high creatinine levels, chronic kidney disease, and cardiovascular changes were identified as factors associated with HTR. Conversely, in the remaining eight studies, younger age, non-smoking status, and renal function indicators (albuminuria, high creatinine levels, chronic kidney disease, and uric acid) were identified as associated factors. Conclusions Regardless of the inclusion of patients with diabetes mellitus, impaired kidney functions were determined as significant factors associated with retinopathy in patients with HTR. However, considering a limited number of evidence and lack of evidence to confirm causality, we recommend further research on renal function and HTR.

This study aimed to investigate changes in candidemia incidence, species distribution, antifungal susceptibility, initial antifungal use, and mortality trends in Korea before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. A retrospective analysis was conducted on candidemia cases from two tertiary care hospitals in Korea between 2017 and 2022. Data were compared between the pre-pandemic (2017-2019) and pandemic (2020-2022) periods. Statistical methods included incidence rate ratios (IRRs) and multivariate Cox regression to assess 30-day mortality risk factors. A total of 470 candidemia cases were identified, with 48.7% occurring pre-pandemic and 51.3% during the pandemic. While the overall incidence of candidemia remained similar across the two periods (IRR 1.15;p=0.13), the incidence in intensive care units (ICUs) significantly increased during the pandemic (IRR 1.50; p<0.01). The distribution of Candida species did not differ significantly between the two periods. Fluconazole non-susceptibility in C. albicans markedly decreased (10.0% vs. 0.9%, p<0.01), whereas C. glabrata exhibited a significant rise in caspofungin non-susceptibility during the pandemic (0% vs. 22.4%, p<0.01).Echinocandin use increased (21.8% vs. 34.4%; p<0.01), while fluconazole use declined (48.0% vs. 32.8%; p<0.01). Although the 30-day mortality rate was higher during the pandemic (60.2% vs. 57.2%), the difference was not statistically significant (p=0.57).The findings highlight the need for region-specific surveillance and tailored management strategies to improve candidemia outcomes, especially during healthcare disruptions like the COVID-19 pandemic.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Isoflavones are estrogen-like compounds found in plants and their health effects remain equivocal. We investigated dietary isoflavone intake and its associated factors in Korean breast cancer survivors, with a comparison to cancer-free women. SUBJECTS/METHODS: The usual dietary intake of breast cancer survivors (n = 981, mean age 52 yrs) in 9 hospitals between 2012 and 2019 was assessed using 3-day food records or food frequency questionnaires (FFQs). They were age-matched to 2,943 cancer-free women who completed FFQs as part of a nationwide study conducted between 2012 and 2016. We used the flavonoid database of common Korean foods and the Phenol-Explorer database to estimate isoflavone intake. The contribution of each food or food group to the total isoflavone intake was calculated. The adjusted least-squares means of dietary isoflavone intake according to lifestyle and clinical factors were calculated using generalized linear models. RESULTS: Breast cancer survivors had a higher mean dietary isoflavone intake (23.59 mg/day) than cancer-free women (17.81 mg/day). Major food sources, including tofu, soybeans, and doenjang, contributed to over 70% of the isoflavone intake in both groups. When we estimated dietary isoflavone intake according to lifestyle characteristics, isoflavone intake increased with higher scores of adherence to the American Cancer Society dietary guidelines but decreased with increasing body mass index in both groups. Among cancer-free women, dietary isoflavone intake was higher among those who had never smoked and among dietary supplement users. Among breast cancer survivors, dietary isoflavone intakes did not vary with clinical characteristics, including time since surgery and estrogen receptor status. CONCLUSION Breast cancer survivors were more likely to consume isoflavones than agematched cancer-free women. Dietary isoflavone intake was associated with healthy lifestyle characteristics in women both with and without breast cancer. Further research is needed to understand the role of the higher isoflavone intake among breast cancer survivors compared to cancer-free women on their prognosis.

Purpose: The associated factors for hypertensive retinopathy (HTR) are rarely investigated. This study aimed to identify the associated factors for HTR using a systematic review. Methods: The review included cross-sectional, case-controlled, and cohort studies on HTR risk factors published in Korean and English with full texts available from PubMed, Embase, CINAHL, Web of Science, and Korean databases. Methodological quality was assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) checklist. Results: Eleven studies were finally selected, and three studies including patients with hypertension without diabetes mellitus, older age, male sex, alcohol consumption, the duration of hypertension, hyperglycemia, dyslipidemia, microalbuminuria, high creatinine levels, chronic kidney disease, and cardiovascular changes were identified as factors associated with HTR. Conversely, in the remaining eight studies, younger age, non-smoking status, and renal function indicators (albuminuria, high creatinine levels, chronic kidney disease, and uric acid) were identified as associated factors. Conclusions Regardless of the inclusion of patients with diabetes mellitus, impaired kidney functions were determined as significant factors associated with retinopathy in patients with HTR. However, considering a limited number of evidence and lack of evidence to confirm causality, we recommend further research on renal function and HTR.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Isoflavones are estrogen-like compounds found in plants and their health effects remain equivocal. We investigated dietary isoflavone intake and its associated factors in Korean breast cancer survivors, with a comparison to cancer-free women. SUBJECTS/METHODS: The usual dietary intake of breast cancer survivors (n = 981, mean age 52 yrs) in 9 hospitals between 2012 and 2019 was assessed using 3-day food records or food frequency questionnaires (FFQs). They were age-matched to 2,943 cancer-free women who completed FFQs as part of a nationwide study conducted between 2012 and 2016. We used the flavonoid database of common Korean foods and the Phenol-Explorer database to estimate isoflavone intake. The contribution of each food or food group to the total isoflavone intake was calculated. The adjusted least-squares means of dietary isoflavone intake according to lifestyle and clinical factors were calculated using generalized linear models. RESULTS: Breast cancer survivors had a higher mean dietary isoflavone intake (23.59 mg/day) than cancer-free women (17.81 mg/day). Major food sources, including tofu, soybeans, and doenjang, contributed to over 70% of the isoflavone intake in both groups. When we estimated dietary isoflavone intake according to lifestyle characteristics, isoflavone intake increased with higher scores of adherence to the American Cancer Society dietary guidelines but decreased with increasing body mass index in both groups. Among cancer-free women, dietary isoflavone intake was higher among those who had never smoked and among dietary supplement users. Among breast cancer survivors, dietary isoflavone intakes did not vary with clinical characteristics, including time since surgery and estrogen receptor status. CONCLUSION Breast cancer survivors were more likely to consume isoflavones than agematched cancer-free women. Dietary isoflavone intake was associated with healthy lifestyle characteristics in women both with and without breast cancer. Further research is needed to understand the role of the higher isoflavone intake among breast cancer survivors compared to cancer-free women on their prognosis.

Purpose: The associated factors for hypertensive retinopathy (HTR) are rarely investigated. This study aimed to identify the associated factors for HTR using a systematic review. Methods: The review included cross-sectional, case-controlled, and cohort studies on HTR risk factors published in Korean and English with full texts available from PubMed, Embase, CINAHL, Web of Science, and Korean databases. Methodological quality was assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) checklist. Results: Eleven studies were finally selected, and three studies including patients with hypertension without diabetes mellitus, older age, male sex, alcohol consumption, the duration of hypertension, hyperglycemia, dyslipidemia, microalbuminuria, high creatinine levels, chronic kidney disease, and cardiovascular changes were identified as factors associated with HTR. Conversely, in the remaining eight studies, younger age, non-smoking status, and renal function indicators (albuminuria, high creatinine levels, chronic kidney disease, and uric acid) were identified as associated factors. Conclusions Regardless of the inclusion of patients with diabetes mellitus, impaired kidney functions were determined as significant factors associated with retinopathy in patients with HTR. However, considering a limited number of evidence and lack of evidence to confirm causality, we recommend further research on renal function and HTR.