Purpose: This study explored current pediatric palliative care (PPC) in South Korea and suggests future directions based on the perspectives of full-time PPC workers. Methods: A mixed-methods secondary analysis was conducted using survey data from nurses and social workers involved in a government PPC project. The survey assessed services provided by hospitals, nurses, and social workers, and gathered perceptions of challenging tasks, evidence needs, the significance of PPC, and future expectations through open-ended questions. Data were analyzed using frequency and conventional content analyses. Results: Eighteen full-time workers from nine of the ten project hospitals participated. Eight hospitals provided pain and symptom management and all offered counseling and education for patients and parents. Only one provided respite care and legacy-making services. Bereavement care was offered in all hospitals primarily through individual counseling and there were also three self-help groups. Nurses have diverse roles including in practice, education, leadership, research, and consultation. Social workers address psychosocial and economic challenges, rehabilitation and social reintegration. The workers highlighted the challenges in end-of-life care and communication, stressing the need for protocols and further training.PPC was seen as meaningful by patients and families, as well as staff. Conclusion Despite significant progress in PPC in South Korea, quantitative capacity remains limited. Further qualitative improvements in policies, practices, human resource development, and healthcare training are essential. This study provides insights into current PPC practices and their limitations. The development of practical evidence to enhance employment stability warrants further investigation.

Purpose: Notable effectiveness of trastuzumab deruxtecan in patients with human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)–low advanced breast cancer (BC) has focused pathologists’ attention. We studied the incidence and clinicopathologic characteristics of HER2-low BC, and the effects of immunohistochemistry (IHC) associated factors on HER2 IHC results. Materials and Methods: The Breast Pathology Study Group of the Korean Society of Pathologists conducted a nationwide study using real-world data on HER2 status generated between January 2022 and December 2022. Information on HER2 IHC protocols at each participating institution was also collected. Results: Total 11,416 patients from 25 institutions included in this study. Of these patients, 40.7% (range, 6.0% to 76.3%) were classified as HER2-zero, 41.7% (range, 10.5% to 69.1%) as HER2-low, and 17.5% (range, 6.7% to 34.0%) as HER2-positive. HER2-low tumors were associated with positive estrogen receptor and progesterone receptor statuses (p < 0.001 and p < 0.001, respectively). Antigen retrieval times (≥ 36 minutes vs. < 36 minutes) and antibody incubation times (≥ 12 minutes vs. < 12 minutes) affected on the frequency of HER2 IHC 1+ BC at institutions using the PATHWAY HER2 (4B5) IHC assay and BenchMark XT or Ultra staining instruments. Furthermore, discordant results between core needle biopsy and subsequent resection specimen HER2 statuses were observed in 24.1% (787/3,259) of the patients. Conclusion The overall incidence of HER2-low BC in South Korea concurs with those reported in previously published studies. Significant inter-institutional differences in HER2 IHC protocols were observed, and it may have impact on HER2-low status. Thus, we recommend standardizing HER2 IHC conditions to ensure precise patient selection for targeted therapy.

Background: This study analyzed the causes of death in the Korean population in 2020. Methods: Cause-of-death data for 2020 from Statistics Korea were examined based on the Korean Standard Classification of Diseases and Causes of Death, 7th revision and the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, 10th revision. Results: In total, 304,948 deaths occurred, reflecting an increase of 9,838 (3.3%) from 2019. The crude death rate (the number of deaths per 100,000 people) was 593.9, corresponding to an increase of 19.0 (3.3%) from 2019. The 10 leading causes of death, in descending order, were malignant neoplasms, heart diseases, pneumonia, cerebrovascular diseases, intentional self-harm, diabetes mellitus, Alzheimer disease, liver diseases, hypertensive diseases, and sepsis. Cancer accounted for 27.0% of deaths. Within the category of malignant neoplasms, the top 5 leading organs of involvement were the lung, liver, colon, stomach, and pancreas. Sepsis was included in the 10 leading causes of death for the first time. Mortality due to pneumonia decreased to 43.3 (per 100,000 people) from 45.1 in 2019. The number of deaths due to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) was 950, of which 54.5% were in people aged 80 or older. Conclusion These changes reflect the continuing increase in deaths due to diseases of old age, including sepsis. The decrease in deaths due to pneumonia may have been due to protective measures against SARS-CoV-2. With the concomitant decrease in fertility, 2020 became the first year in which Korea’s natural total population decreased.

Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate the participation and follow-up test compliance rates and key performance indicators of the National Cancer Screening Program (NCSP) for colorectal cancer (CRC) from 2004 to 2017. Materials and Methods: The overall outcomes of the NCSP for CRC were analyzed using the NCSP data collected from 2004 to 2017 and the Korean Central Cancer Registry for CRC from 2005 to 2017. We cross-sectionally analyzed the participation and follow-up test compliance rates and performance indicators for each year. The trend of participation rates as an annual percentage change was assessed, and other statistical analyses were performed. Results: The screening participation rates increased from 7.3% in 2004 to 30.5% in 2017. Additionally, the screening rates were higher among individuals aged 60-69 years and National Health Insurance Service beneficiaries of low-income status. However, the adherence to the follow-up test decreased from 63% in 2004 to 32% in 2017. The follow-up tests using the double-contrast barium enema method decreased from 42.2% in 2004 to 0.3% in 2017. However, follow-up tests by colonoscopy increased from 21.0% in 2004 to 31.8% in 2017. Furthermore, the positivity, false-positive, and interval CRC rates decreased, whereas the specificity increased from 2004 to 2016, indicating improved performance of CRC. Conclusion The participation rates and performance of the NCSP for CRC have steadily improved, whereas adherence to follow-up tests has decreased. Additionally, there is a rapid growth in colonoscopy volume as a follow-up test. Continued efforts are required to improve the follow-up rates.

Purpose: : This study aimed to identify and describe the leadership experience of advanced practice nurses (APN). Methods: : Data were collected through five focus group interviews in 2022 with a total of 24 APNs in groups of 4-6 participants. All interviews were recorded, transcribed, and data were analyzed using qualitative content analysis. Results: : Nine categories emerged from three main themes. First, “Roles of APN leadership” comprised a trusted clinical expert, a moderator for the entire team, a resource person for nurturing the next generation, and a change agent for improving clinical practice. Second, “Facilitators and barriers to APN leadership” included ambiguity of APN role, support system, and institutional backing. Third, “Strategies for strengthening APN leadership competencies” comprised systematic leadership education and speaking up for APNs. Conclusion : APNs are passionate about their expertise and practice, but lack the legal and organizational authority and support to provide successive leadership. Systematic education including leadership and organizational advocacy will enable APN to provide leadership that benefits patients, institutions, and the wider healthcare system.

Background and Objectives: Brain organoids have the potential to improve our understanding of brain development and neurological disease. Despite the importance of brain organoids, the effect of vascularization on brain organoids is largely unknown. The objective of this study is to develop vascularized organoids by assembling vascular spheroids with cerebral organoids. Methods: and Results: In this study, vascularized spheroids were generated from non-adherent microwell culture system of human umbilical vein endothelial cells, human dermal fibroblasts and human umbilical cord blood derived mesenchymal stem cells. These vascular spheroids were used for fusion with iPSCs induced cerebral organoids. Immunostaining studies of vascularized organoids demonstrated well organized vascular structures and reduced apoptosis. We showed that the vascularization in cerebral organoids up-regulated the Wnt/β-catenin signaling. Conclusions We developed vascularized cerebral organoids through assembly of brain organoids with vascular spheroids. This method could not only provide a model to study human cortical development but also represent an opportunity to explore neurological disease.

This study aimed to identify maternal, infant, and perinatal mortality using the nationalpopulation data of South Korea between 2018 and 2020, and to analyze mortality rates according tocharacteristics such as age, date of death, and cause of death in each group. This study updates themost recent study using 2009 to 2017 data.Methods: Analyses of maternal, infant, and perinatal mortality were done with data identifiedthrough the supplementary investigation system for cases of death from the Census of PopulationDynamics data provided by Statistics Korea from 2018 to 2020.Results: Between 2018 and 2020, a total of 99 maternal deaths, 2,427 infant deaths, and 2,408 perinatal deaths were identified from 901,835 live births. The maternal mortality ratio was 11.3 deathsper 100,000 live births in 2018; it decreased to 9.9 in 2019 but increased again to 11.8 in 2020. Thematernal mortality ratio increased steeply in women over the age of 40 years. An increasing trend inthe maternal mortality ratio was found for complications related to the puerperium and hypertensive disorders. Both infant and perinatal mortality continued to decrease, from 2.8 deaths per 1,000live births in 2018 to 2.5 in 2020 and from 2.8 in 2018 to 2.5 in 2020, respectively.Conclusion: Overall, the maternal, infant, and perinatal mortality statistics showed improvements.However, more attention should be paid to women over 40 years of age and specific causes of maternal deaths, which should be taken into account in Korea’s maternal and child health policies.

BACKGROUND: Recently, endovascular aortic repair (EVAR) and thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR), have been used for treatment of thoracic and abdominal aortic aneurysms. The purpose of this study was to analyze the outcome and predictors for 30-day mortality and complications, in patients that underwent EVAR and/or TEVAR under general anesthesia. METHODS: In this study, 151 cases of EVAR and/or TEVAR under general anesthesia in 140 patients during 2009–2017 were studied. The primary outcome was 30-day mortality after surgery. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used, to clarify risk for postoperative 30-day mortality. RESULTS: Postoperative 30-day mortality rate was 9.9% in the study population (10.3% in EVAR, and 9.3% in TEVAR, respectively). Seventy-two cases (47.7%) experienced postoperative complications within 30 days. Elderly older than age 76.5 (odds ratio [ORs] = 48.89, 95% confidential interval [95% CI] 1.40–1,710.25, P = 0.032), technically expertness (OR = 0.01, 95% CI 0.00–0.40, P = 0.013), severity of systemic complications (OR = 23.24, 95% CI, 2.27–238.24, P = 0.008), and severity of local-vascular complications (OR = 31.87, 95% CI, 1.29–784.66, P = 0.034) were significantly associated with 30-day mortality. CONCLUSIONS: This study revealed that elderly, technically expertness, and severity of systemic and local-vascular complications were associated with 30-day mortality of EVAR and TEVAR in aortic aneurysm.
Aged ; Anesthesia, General ; Aortic Aneurysm ; Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal ; Humans ; Length of Stay ; Logistic Models ; Mortality ; Postoperative Complications ; Risk Factors ; Treatment Outcome

No abstract available.
Fragile X Tremor Ataxia Syndrome ; Tremor ; Fragile X Syndrome ; Ataxia