This study aimed to evaluate the differences in the baseline characteristics and patterns of antibiotic usage among hospitals based on their participation in the Korea National Antimicrobial Use Analysis System (KONAS). We obtained claims data from the National Health Insurance for inpatients admitted to all secondary- and tertiary-care hospitals between January 2020 and December 2021 in Korea. 15.9% (58/395) of hospitals were KONAS participants, among which the proportion of hospitals with > 900 beds (31.0% vs.2.6%, P < 0.001) and tertiary care (50.0% vs. 5.2%, P < 0.001) was higher than that among non-participants. The consumption of antibiotics targeting antimicrobial-resistant gram positive bacteria (33.7 vs. 27.1 days of therapy [DOT]/1,000 patient-days, P = 0.019) and antibiotics predominantly used for resistant gram-negative bacteria (4.8 vs. 3.7 DOT/1,000 patient-days, P = 0.034) was higher in KONAS-participating versus -non-participating hospitals. The current KONAS data do not fully represent all secondary- and tertiary-care hospitals in Korea; thus, the KONAS results should be interpreted with caution.

Ultraviolet (UV) irradiation is a relevant environment factor to induce cellular senescence and photoaging. Both autophagy- and silent information regulator T1 (SIRT1)-dependent pathways are critical cellular processes of not only maintaining normal cellular functions, but also protecting cellular senescence in skin exposed to UV irradiation. In the present studies, we investigated whether modulation of autophagy induction using a novel synthetic SIRT1 activator, heptasodium hexacarboxymethyl dipeptide-12 (named as Aquatide), suppresses the UVB irradiation-induced skin aging. Treatment with Aquatide directly activates SIRT1 and stimulates autophagy induction in cultured human dermal fibroblasts. Next, we found that Aquatide-mediated activation of SIRT1 increases autophagy induction via deacetylation of forkhead box class O (FOXO) 1. Finally, UVB irradiation-induced cellular senescence measured by SA-β-gal staining was significantly decreased in cells treated with Aquatide in parallel to occurring SIRT1 activation-dependent autophagy. Together, Aquatide modulates autophagy through SIRT1 activation, contributing to suppression of skin aging caused by UV irradiation.
Autophagy ; Cell Aging* ; Fibroblasts ; Humans ; Skin ; Skin Aging

Vertebral artery hypoplasia (VAH) can be easily overlooked if the contralateral side vertebral artery is intact, because of compensation by the contralateral artery or cerebral collateral network. The clinical relevance and hemodynamic impact of VAH is still controversial. However, VAH has recently been considered a risk factor for posterior circulation ischemia. Ischemic stroke is seldom caused by free floating thrombi (FFT) in the artery. Pathophysiology of FFT has not yet been clarified. The state of reduced blood flow such as a vertebral artery origin stenosis may cause FFT. Their instability may make them sources of recurrent artery to artery embolism. Patients with FFT will require appropriate medical and endovascular treatment. The current case illustrates a short-term angiographic change of spontaneous thrombolysis of VAH and multiple thrombi at the distal region of the stenosed lesion after stent-assisted angioplasty for a vertebral artery origin stenosis.
Angioplasty* ; Arteries ; Compensation and Redress ; Constriction, Pathologic* ; Embolism ; Follow-Up Studies* ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Ischemia ; Risk Factors ; Stroke ; Vertebral Artery*

BACKGROUND: In many countries, nephrologists follow clinical practice guidelines for mineral bone disorders to control secondary hyperparathyroidism (SHPT) associated with abnormal serum calcium (Ca) and phosphorus (P) levels in patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis (MHD). The Kidney Disease Outcomes Quality Initiative (KDOQI) Guidelines have long been used in Korea, and this study was undertaken to investigate the current status of serum Ca and P control in MHD patients. METHODS: Data were collected from a total of 1,018 patients undergoing MHD without intercurrent illness, in 17 hemodialysis centers throughout the country. Serum levels of Ca, P, and intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH) were measured over 1 year, and the average values were retrospectively analyzed. RESULTS: Serum levels of Ca, P, and the CaxP product were 9.1+/-0.7mg/dL, 5.3+/-1.4mg/dL, and 48.0+/-13.6mg2/dL2, respectively. However, the percentages of patients with Ca, P, and Ca x P product levels within the KDOQI guideline ranges were 58.7%, 51.0%, and 70.7%, respectively. Of the 1,018 patients, 270 (26.5%) had iPTH >300pg/mL (uncontrolled SHPT), whereas 435 patients (42.7%) showed iPTH <150pg/mL. Patients with uncontrolled SHPT had significantly higher values of serum Ca, P, and CaxP product than those with iPTH < or =300pg/mL. CONCLUSION: Despite the current clinical practice guidelines, SHPT seems to be inadequately controlled in many MHD patients. Uncontrolled SHPT was associated with higher levels of serum Ca, P, and Ca x P product, suggestive of the importance of SHPT management.
Calcium* ; Humans ; Hyperparathyroidism, Secondary ; Kidney Diseases ; Korea ; Parathyroid Hormone ; Phosphorus* ; Renal Dialysis* ; Retrospective Studies

Laryngopharyngeal reflux disease (LPRD) refers to the retrograde flow of gastric content to the laryngopharynx, where it comes in contact with tissues of the upper aerodigestive tract. In Korea, up to 1 out of every 5 patients who visit otorhinolaryngology clinic is supposed to have LPRD with symptoms and physical findings. In the absence of definite diagnostic criteria, LPRD is suspected when the history and laryngoscopy findings are suggestive of the diagnosis. A diagnosis of LPRD is usually based on response of symptoms to empirical treatment. Most patients with LPRD are treated with proton pump inhibitor with education of life style modification, but there is still little or no solid evidence on the treatment as well as the diagnosis. Failure to respond to a usual treatment suggests the need for confirmatory studies and consideration of alternative diagnoses. LPRD appears to be a common but controversial disorder, with conflicting data on pathophysiology, diagnosis, and treatment. Whereas trends are observed and many clinical practices are accepted widely on the basis of experience, we need definitive, prospective, evidence-based studies. In this article, we will review current concept of diagnosis and treatment of LPRD.
Gastroesophageal Reflux ; Humans ; Hypopharynx ; Korea ; Laryngopharyngeal Reflux ; Laryngoscopy ; Life Style ; Otolaryngology ; Proton Pump Inhibitors ; Proton Pumps

Acute retropharyngeal calcific tendinitis or calcific tendinitis of the longus is an under-recognized clinical syndrome first described by Hartley in 1964. This syndrome is caused by calcium hydroxylapatate deposition in the longus colli muscle and tendon. Patients typically present with acute neck pain, neck spasm, a restrained range of motion, odynophagia, dysphagia and sore throat. Clinically, it can be misconceived as acute retropharyngeal abscess because of its rather non-specific presentation and rare occurrence. Diagnosis of retropharyngeal calcific tendinitis can be made radiographically with plain radiograph and CT by detecting calcifications anterior to C1-C3 and swelling prevertebral soft tissue. Recognizing this radiologic imaging findings and features can prevent unnecessary treatment and test. We report three patients with acute prevertebral calcific tendinitis, which was misdiagnosed as acute retropharyngeal abscess.
Calcium ; Deglutition Disorders ; Humans ; Muscles ; Neck ; Neck Pain ; Pharyngitis ; Range of Motion, Articular ; Retropharyngeal Abscess ; Spasm ; Tendinopathy ; Tendons

Recently, endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS) has been acknowledged as a standard surgical procedure for the treatment of chronic rhinosinusitis. Orbital complications of varying degrees that may occur during ESS have been widely reported. Blindness, one of the major complications that can occur during or immediately after ESS, is mainly attributed to orbital hematoma or direct injury to the optic nerve. In contrast to such direct mechanical trauma caused during ESS, we report a case of acute loss of vision that followed ESS without a definite cause. A postulated mechanism for idiopathic optic neuropathy is that it is ischema resulted from vasospasm in the branches of ophthalmic artery due to topical use of vasoconstrictive agents. Otorhinolaryngologists should be aware that this condition may occur following an uncomplicated ESS procedure. When loss of sight is diagnosed postoperatively, patients should be given prompt ophthalmological consultation and possible causes should be considered.
Blindness ; Hematoma ; Humans ; Ophthalmic Artery ; Optic Nerve ; Optic Nerve Diseases ; Optic Neuropathy, Ischemic ; Orbit ; Vision, Ocular

PURPOSE: To evaluate the incidence and clinical features of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in Korea. METHODS: Web-based (www.armd-nova.or.kr) registration was conducted for AMD patients aged 50 or more who were newly diagnosed by retinal specialists in Korea from August 20, 2005 to August 20, 2006. Patient data including ophthalmologic examination, fundus photography, fluorescein angiogram and/or indocyanin green angiogram (ICG), past medical history, behavioral habit, combined systemic diseases were up-loaded. RESULTS: Among finally enrolled 1,141 newly diagnosed AMD patients, 690 patients (60.5%) were male and 451 patients (39.5%) were female. The average age of AMD patients was 69.7+/-8.0. Early AMD was observed in 190 patients and 951 patients had late AMD. Classic choroidal neovascular membrane (CNVM) was observed in 18.6% of exudative AMD patients and 63.4 % had occult CNVM. Subfoveal CNVM was observed in 80.4% of the patients with CNVM. Among the 580 exudative AMD eyes that performed indocyanin green angiography (ICG), 184 eyes (31.7%) had polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV) and 36 eyes (6.2%) showed retinal angiomatous proliferation (RAP). Age, male gender, smoking, diabetes and hypertension significantly increased the risk of the AMD among Koreans. CONCLUSIONS: Because of the low rate of participation by retinal specialists, definite incidence of AMD was not obtainable. However, the estimated 1-year AMD incidence in the Pusan area of Korea is at least 0.4%. In contrast to Western people, 31.7% of exudative AMD cases were revealed to be PCV and 6.2% were revealed to be RAP. This discrepancy between ethnic groups should be considered in the diagnosis and treatment modality selection of Korean AMD patients.
Aged ; Angiography ; Choroid ; Ethnic Groups ; Eye ; Female ; Fluorescein ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Incidence ; Korea ; Macular Degeneration ; Male ; Membranes ; Photography ; Retinaldehyde ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Specialization

Rhabdomyosarcoma is an aggressive malignant tumor rarely developing in the head and neck in adults. In the sinonasal region, rhabdomyosarcoma constitutes a clinically important group because of the difficulty of surgical resection and its generally poor prognosis. Inverted papilloma is a relative rare and benign sinonasal lesionconstituting 0.5% to 4% of all nasal tumors that has a known propensity for recurrence, local aggressiveness, and association with transformation to malignancy. Squamous cell carcinoma is the major malignancy that is associated with inverted papilloma. To our knowledge, this is the first case report of pleomorphic rhabdomyosarcoma accompanied with inverted papilloma, and we represent the case with a review of the related literatures.
Adult ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Head ; Humans ; Maxillary Sinus ; Maxillary Sinus Neoplasms ; Neck ; Papilloma, Inverted ; Prognosis ; Recurrence ; Rhabdomyosarcoma

PURPOSE: To investigate the effects of repeated photodynamic therapy (PDT) for subfoveal choroidal neovascularization secondary to age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in Korean patients. METHODS: Clinical data of patients who were treated with repeated (3 times or more) PDT for subfoveal choroidal neovascularization secondary to AMD and followed up for more than 6 months were collected from 17 hospitals around the country. Visual outcomes at 12 and 24 months, follow-up were compared between subtypes of choroidal neovascularization. The factors related to final visual prognosis and PDT-related adverse effects were evaluated. RESULTS: 244 patients (244 eyes) were recruited (male: 60%, age: 67.7+/-9.1 years). The portion of patients with predominantly classic, minimally classic, and occult without classic choroidal neovascularization was 57%, 13%, and 24%, respectively and that of patients with visual improvements or less than moderate visual loss at 24 months follow-up were 28%, 38%, 30% and 47%, 56%, and 65%, respectively. Baseline visual acuity and age were significantly related to the final visual prognosis (p<0.05). PDT-related adverse events developed in 15 (6.1%) patients, but most were mild and transient. CONCLUSIONS: Repeated PDT for subfoveal choroidal neovascularization secondary to AMD has effects comparable to those of previous prospective, controlled trials without any significant safety concerns in Korea.
Choroid* ; Choroidal Neovascularization* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Korea ; Macular Degeneration* ; Photochemotherapy* ; Prognosis ; Visual Acuity