Purpose: This developmental study explored the conceptual feasibility and applicability of a metaverse-based clinical assessment platform as a complementary tool to conventional objective structured clinical examinations in undergraduate medical education. Methods: A targeted literature review and expert consensus process were conducted to identify domains of clinical competence in which metaverse technologies could provide added value. Based on these findings, prototype virtual patient simulations were developed within a metaverse environment. Large language models (LLMs) were integrated to support dynamic, interactive history-taking simulations, and pilot modules for physical examination were also created. Results: Integration of LLMs into virtual patient scenarios enabled realistic, context-sensitive medical interviews, facilitating interactive dialogue between examinees and simulated patients. In contrast, physical examination modules faced technical limitations, particularly in replicating procedures requiring tactile or haptic feedback, such as palpation and percussion. Nevertheless, the metaverse environment enabled delivery of consistent and reproducible scenarios, supporting objective assessment of communication and diagnostic reasoning skills. Conclusion Metaverse-based simulations augmented by LLMs offer a promising approach to scalable and standardized clinical assessment, particularly within cognitive and interpersonal competency domains. Although current technological constraints limit the fidelity of physical examination simulations, rapid advancements in immersive and haptic technologies may help overcome these barriers in the near future. Further research is needed to evaluate the educational efficacy, validity, and feasibility of deploying such platforms in summative, high-stakes assessment contexts.

Background: The aim of this study is to evaluate the prevalence and associated psychosocial factors of behavioral addictions among school adolescents living in the Gwangju and Jeonnam regions in Korea. Methods: A self-reported survey was conducted from December 4, 2023, to January 31, 2024, including 855 middle and high school students residing in the Gwangju-Jeonnam regions. Aside from the information on demographic characteristics, data on depression, anxiety, Internet gaming addiction, gambling problems, and resilience was obtained. Results: The prevalence of Internet gaming addiction among adolescents was 5.4%, while the prevalence of gambling problems was 3.3%. The male adolescents had a significantly higher risk of behavioral addiction compared with the female adolescents. The logistic regression analysis revealed that male and depression were significant risk factors for Internet gaming addiction. For gambling problems, male was identified as a significant risk factor. Conclusion The findings of this study suggested that the prevalence of behavioral addiction among school adolescents has been relatively higher than that of previous studies, emphasizing the need for community-based prevention and intervention strategies tailored to the sex difference and psychological factors associated with adolescent behavioral addictions.

Background: The aim of this study is to evaluate the prevalence and associated psychosocial factors of behavioral addictions among school adolescents living in the Gwangju and Jeonnam regions in Korea. Methods: A self-reported survey was conducted from December 4, 2023, to January 31, 2024, including 855 middle and high school students residing in the Gwangju-Jeonnam regions. Aside from the information on demographic characteristics, data on depression, anxiety, Internet gaming addiction, gambling problems, and resilience was obtained. Results: The prevalence of Internet gaming addiction among adolescents was 5.4%, while the prevalence of gambling problems was 3.3%. The male adolescents had a significantly higher risk of behavioral addiction compared with the female adolescents. The logistic regression analysis revealed that male and depression were significant risk factors for Internet gaming addiction. For gambling problems, male was identified as a significant risk factor. Conclusion The findings of this study suggested that the prevalence of behavioral addiction among school adolescents has been relatively higher than that of previous studies, emphasizing the need for community-based prevention and intervention strategies tailored to the sex difference and psychological factors associated with adolescent behavioral addictions.

Background: The aim of this study is to evaluate the prevalence and associated psychosocial factors of behavioral addictions among school adolescents living in the Gwangju and Jeonnam regions in Korea. Methods: A self-reported survey was conducted from December 4, 2023, to January 31, 2024, including 855 middle and high school students residing in the Gwangju-Jeonnam regions. Aside from the information on demographic characteristics, data on depression, anxiety, Internet gaming addiction, gambling problems, and resilience was obtained. Results: The prevalence of Internet gaming addiction among adolescents was 5.4%, while the prevalence of gambling problems was 3.3%. The male adolescents had a significantly higher risk of behavioral addiction compared with the female adolescents. The logistic regression analysis revealed that male and depression were significant risk factors for Internet gaming addiction. For gambling problems, male was identified as a significant risk factor. Conclusion The findings of this study suggested that the prevalence of behavioral addiction among school adolescents has been relatively higher than that of previous studies, emphasizing the need for community-based prevention and intervention strategies tailored to the sex difference and psychological factors associated with adolescent behavioral addictions.

Background: The aim of this study is to evaluate the prevalence and associated psychosocial factors of behavioral addictions among school adolescents living in the Gwangju and Jeonnam regions in Korea. Methods: A self-reported survey was conducted from December 4, 2023, to January 31, 2024, including 855 middle and high school students residing in the Gwangju-Jeonnam regions. Aside from the information on demographic characteristics, data on depression, anxiety, Internet gaming addiction, gambling problems, and resilience was obtained. Results: The prevalence of Internet gaming addiction among adolescents was 5.4%, while the prevalence of gambling problems was 3.3%. The male adolescents had a significantly higher risk of behavioral addiction compared with the female adolescents. The logistic regression analysis revealed that male and depression were significant risk factors for Internet gaming addiction. For gambling problems, male was identified as a significant risk factor. Conclusion The findings of this study suggested that the prevalence of behavioral addiction among school adolescents has been relatively higher than that of previous studies, emphasizing the need for community-based prevention and intervention strategies tailored to the sex difference and psychological factors associated with adolescent behavioral addictions.

Background: The aim of this study is to evaluate the prevalence and associated psychosocial factors of behavioral addictions among school adolescents living in the Gwangju and Jeonnam regions in Korea. Methods: A self-reported survey was conducted from December 4, 2023, to January 31, 2024, including 855 middle and high school students residing in the Gwangju-Jeonnam regions. Aside from the information on demographic characteristics, data on depression, anxiety, Internet gaming addiction, gambling problems, and resilience was obtained. Results: The prevalence of Internet gaming addiction among adolescents was 5.4%, while the prevalence of gambling problems was 3.3%. The male adolescents had a significantly higher risk of behavioral addiction compared with the female adolescents. The logistic regression analysis revealed that male and depression were significant risk factors for Internet gaming addiction. For gambling problems, male was identified as a significant risk factor. Conclusion The findings of this study suggested that the prevalence of behavioral addiction among school adolescents has been relatively higher than that of previous studies, emphasizing the need for community-based prevention and intervention strategies tailored to the sex difference and psychological factors associated with adolescent behavioral addictions.

Purpose: Over the past 3 years, approximately 23,000 emergency surgeries were performed annually in South Korea, accounting for >1% of all surgeries nationwide. With the growing necessity for treating these emergency cases with dedication and proficiency, acute care surgery (ACS) teams were appointed at various hospitals. Regarding the implications of the ACS team, many studies showed promising results with a shorter time from the emergency department (ED) to the operating room (OR), shorter length of stay, and fewer complications. This study aimed to demonstrate the overall effect of ACS implementation at a single institution in South Korea. Methods: This was a single-center, retrospective observational study. Patients aged >18 years who visited the emergency room and received emergency surgery between July 2014 and December 2016 (pre-ACS) and between July 2017 and December 2019 (post-ACS) were included. Results: Among 958 patients, 497 were in the pre-ACS group and 461 in the post-ACS group. After propensity score matching by age, sex, underlying disease, and Emergency Surgery Acuity Score, 405 patients remained in each group. Our analysis showed a reduction in time from ED presentation to operation (547.8 ± 401.0 minutes vs. 476.6 ± 313.2 minutes, P = 0.005) and complication rates (24.7% vs. 16.8%, P < 0.001) in the post-ACS group. There were no significant differences in total operation duration, length of hospital stay, and mortality between the groups. Conclusion As expected, time from ED to OR and complication rates were significantly reduced in the post-ACS group.Implementing an ACS team dedicated to emergency surgery provides better clinical outcomes.

Purpose: Over the past 3 years, approximately 23,000 emergency surgeries were performed annually in South Korea, accounting for >1% of all surgeries nationwide. With the growing necessity for treating these emergency cases with dedication and proficiency, acute care surgery (ACS) teams were appointed at various hospitals. Regarding the implications of the ACS team, many studies showed promising results with a shorter time from the emergency department (ED) to the operating room (OR), shorter length of stay, and fewer complications. This study aimed to demonstrate the overall effect of ACS implementation at a single institution in South Korea. Methods: This was a single-center, retrospective observational study. Patients aged >18 years who visited the emergency room and received emergency surgery between July 2014 and December 2016 (pre-ACS) and between July 2017 and December 2019 (post-ACS) were included. Results: Among 958 patients, 497 were in the pre-ACS group and 461 in the post-ACS group. After propensity score matching by age, sex, underlying disease, and Emergency Surgery Acuity Score, 405 patients remained in each group. Our analysis showed a reduction in time from ED presentation to operation (547.8 ± 401.0 minutes vs. 476.6 ± 313.2 minutes, P = 0.005) and complication rates (24.7% vs. 16.8%, P < 0.001) in the post-ACS group. There were no significant differences in total operation duration, length of hospital stay, and mortality between the groups. Conclusion As expected, time from ED to OR and complication rates were significantly reduced in the post-ACS group.Implementing an ACS team dedicated to emergency surgery provides better clinical outcomes.

Purpose: Over the past 3 years, approximately 23,000 emergency surgeries were performed annually in South Korea, accounting for >1% of all surgeries nationwide. With the growing necessity for treating these emergency cases with dedication and proficiency, acute care surgery (ACS) teams were appointed at various hospitals. Regarding the implications of the ACS team, many studies showed promising results with a shorter time from the emergency department (ED) to the operating room (OR), shorter length of stay, and fewer complications. This study aimed to demonstrate the overall effect of ACS implementation at a single institution in South Korea. Methods: This was a single-center, retrospective observational study. Patients aged >18 years who visited the emergency room and received emergency surgery between July 2014 and December 2016 (pre-ACS) and between July 2017 and December 2019 (post-ACS) were included. Results: Among 958 patients, 497 were in the pre-ACS group and 461 in the post-ACS group. After propensity score matching by age, sex, underlying disease, and Emergency Surgery Acuity Score, 405 patients remained in each group. Our analysis showed a reduction in time from ED presentation to operation (547.8 ± 401.0 minutes vs. 476.6 ± 313.2 minutes, P = 0.005) and complication rates (24.7% vs. 16.8%, P < 0.001) in the post-ACS group. There were no significant differences in total operation duration, length of hospital stay, and mortality between the groups. Conclusion As expected, time from ED to OR and complication rates were significantly reduced in the post-ACS group.Implementing an ACS team dedicated to emergency surgery provides better clinical outcomes.

BACKGROUND: In guided bone regeneration (GBR), there are various problems that occur in the bone defect after the wound healing period. This study aimed to investigate the enhancement of the osteogenic ability of the dual scaffold complex and identify the appropriate concentration of growth factors (GF) for new bone formation based on the novel GBR concept that is applying rapid bone forming GFs to the membrane outside of the bone defect. METHODS: Four bone defects with a diameter of 8 mm were formed in the calvaria of New Zealand white rabbits each to perform GBR. Collagen membrane and biphasic calcium phosphate (BCP) were applied to the bone defects with the four different concetration of BMP-2 or FGF-2. After 2, 4, and 8 weeks of healing, histological, histomorphometric, and immunohistochemical analyses were conducted. RESULTS: In the histological analysis, continuous forms of new bones were observed in the upper part of bone defect in the experimental groups, whereas no continuous forms were observed in the control group. In the histomorphometry, The group to which BMP-2 0.5 mg/ml and FGF-2 1.0 mg/ml was applied showed statistically significantly higher new bone formation. Also, the new bone formation according to the healing period was statistically significantly higher at 8 weeks than at 2, 4 weeks. CONCLUSION The novel GBR method in which BMP-2, newly proposed in this study, is applied to the membrane is effective for bone regeneration. In addition, the dual scaffold complex is quantitatively and qualitatively advantageous for bone regeneration and bone maintenance over time.