Purpose: Laparoscopic appendectomy, a routine surgical procedure for acute appendicitis, is commonly performed in general hospitals. However, postoperative outcomes based on surgical subspecialty have not been well established. This study aimed to compare surgical outcomes of laparoscopic appendectomy across different surgical subspecialties using risk-adjusted cumulative summation (RA-CUSUM) analysis. Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 631 patients undergoing laparoscopic appendectomy between July 2020 and December 2022. Surgeons were categorized into gastrointestinal (GI) or non-GI groups and senior or young groups. Surgical failure was defined as operation time exceeding the mean plus 2 standard deviations, presence of postoperative complications, or readmission within 30 days after surgery. RA-CUSUM analysis was employed to evaluate surgical failure within each group. Results: The GI group performed more partial cecectomies (P = 0.017) and had longer operation times (P = 0.019) than the non-GI group. The senior group exhibited shorter operation time (P < 0.001), reduced length of stay (P = 0.011), and a higher complication rate (P < 0.001) than the young group. RA-CUSUM analysis indicated a decrease in surgical failure as accumulation progressed in both senior and young groups, as well as in the GI and non-GI groups. Conclusion Outcomes of laparoscopic appendectomy varied by subspecialty and length of experience. However, each surgeon showed trends of decreasing surgical failure over time. These results suggest that the surgeon’s subspecialty minimally affects the outcomes of laparoscopic appendectomy, reflecting its fundamental nature within general surgery.

Fabry disease (FD) is an X-linked lysosomal disorder caused by α-galactosidase A enzyme activity deficiency. Although glycosphingolipid analogs have been identified in the plasma or urine of patients with FD, there is a limited understanding of altered metabolomics profiles beyond the globotriaosylceramide accumulation in FD. Methods: Metabolomics study was performed for monitoring of biomarker and altered metabolism related with disease progression in serum and urine from male α-galactosidase A knockout mice and age-matched wild-type mice at 20 and 40 weeks. Profiling analysis for metabolites, including organic acids, amino acids, fatty acids, kynurenine pathway metabolites, and nucleosides in the serum and urine was performed using gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry combined with star symbol patterns and partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA). Results: A total of 27 and 23 metabolites from the serum and urine of FD mice were distinguished from those of wild-type mice, respectively, based on p-value (<0.05) and variable importance in projection scores (>1.0) of PLS-DA. In the serum, metabolites of the glutathione, glutathione disulfide, citrulline, and kynurenine pathways that are related to oxidative stress, nitric oxide biosynthesis, and inflammation were increased, whereas those involved in pyruvate and tyrosine metabolism and the tricarboxylic acid cycle were altered in the 20- and 40-week-old urine of FD model mice. Conclusion: Altered metabolic signatures associated with disease progression by oxidative stress, inflammation, nitric oxide biosynthesis, and immune regulation in the early and late stages of FD.

Objective: The Scales for Outcomes in Parkinson’s Disease–Cognition (SCOPA-Cog) was developed to assess cognition in patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD). In this study, we aimed to evaluate the validity and reliability of the Korean version of the SCOPACog (K-SCOPA-Cog). Methods: We enrolled 129 PD patients with movement disorders from 31 clinics in South Korea. The original version of the SCOPA-Cog was translated into Korean using the translation-retranslation method. The test–retest method with an intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and Cronbach’s alpha coefficient were used to assess reliability. Spearman’s rank correlation analysis with the Montreal Cognitive Assessment-Korean version (MOCA-K) and the Korean Mini-Mental State Examination (K-MMSE) were used to assess concurrent validity. Results: The Cronbach’s alpha coefficient was 0.797, and the ICC was 0.887. Spearman’s rank correlation analysis revealed a significant correlation with the K-MMSE and MOCA-K scores (r = 0.546 and r = 0.683, respectively). Conclusion Our results demonstrate that the K-SCOPA-Cog has good reliability and validity.

Background: As the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic continues, wearing masks has become a daily routine. As the mask-wearing time increased, the mask-covered skin was more likely to be influenced. Objective: This study aimed to identify face mask-wearing behaviors and their effects on patients with facial skin diseases. Methods: Patients with facial skin disease were surveyed at two institutions. The patterns of mask use, mask-associated skin problems, and the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) were investigated. Results: A total of 174 participants were enrolled and the mean age was 42.2 years. Rosacea (35.6%) was the most common condition, followed by acne (25.3%) and contact dermatitis (17.2%). Ninety-four subjects (54.0%) reported that they wore masks for less than 6 hours a day, and 96 subjects (55.2%) wore masks to fit tightly against the face. Regarding the mask type, KF-99, 94, and 80 (62.6%) were the most common. Nearly three-quarters (n=128, 73.6%) of patients complained of mask-associated skin problems. Pimples were the most common symptom (59.4%), and the cheek was the most commonly affected area (67.2%). The mean DLQI score was 9.90. Conclusion We investigated the current patterns of mask use in patients with facial skin diseases. Moreover, it is necessary to recognize newly encountered relationships and seek strategies for relevant patients.

Objective: The increasing concern over adolescent suicide necessitates suicide prevention training for school teachers, as students spend a significant portion of their time at school. This study’s objective is to develop a suicide prevention program tailored for teachers. Methods: The program was developed by a multidisciplinary research team, drawing on a review of both domestic and international suicide prevention programs, related scholarly articles, and Korean psychological autopsy interviews of adolescents. This was complemented by a survey of teachers to assess the program’s practicality and usability. Results: The developed program comprises three parts, consistent with other versions: Careful Observation, Active Listening, and Risk Evaluation and Expert Referral. Careful Observation focuses on training teachers to recognize verbal, behavioral, and situational warning signs of suicidal ideation in students; Active Listening involves strategies for encouraging students to express their suicidal thoughts and techniques for being an empathetic and attentive listener; Risk Evaluation and Expert Referral provides instruction on how to assess suicide risk and assist students safely. Conclusion It is anticipated that this program will equip teachers with valuable knowledge and skills, contributing to a reduction in adolescents suicide rates.