Background: The Korean healthcare system has made continuous efforts to reduce spatial disparities in medical accessibilityacross regions. However, healthcare professionals remain concentrated in Seoul, and for medical fields requiring ongoing care such as dentistry, these disparities in accessibility can influence the overall quality of life. This study examined how spatial inequality in the distribution of dental clinics evolved in response to changing economic conditions from 1995 to 2022. Methods: To quantitatively compare these disparities, this study employed the Gini coefficient and percentile ratio measures toassess age group-specific disparities. Results: The Gini coefficient showed a declining trend over time, indicating a gradual reduction in spatial inequality among dentalclinics. However, disparities in treatment accessibility remain pronounced among the elderly population. Analysis of the mean center and central features at five-year intervals revealed no dramatic shifts, but a gradual southward movement was observed.In regions located in the southern part of the country, the mean center and central features remained largely consistent, suggesting that the shift in the national mean center and central features reflected the rapid growth of the southern part of Gyeonggi-do and the Gangnam area of Seoul. Conclusion The spatial distribution of dental healthcare institutions in Korea has exhibited a gradual trend toward greaterequilibrium over time. Nevertheless, disparities in accessibility across age cohorts—most notably, the persistent imbalance affecting the elderly population—remain critical issues that require resolution. Relocation of spatial centers reflects patterns of regional economic growth and demographic concentration, thereby underscoring the need for targeted policy interventions in the future.

Leg amputation causes serious complications in walking and ultimately leads to functional impairment. Usually, the non-amputated side is considered as the dominant leg during prosthetic gait training. However, if the non-amputated side is affected by pathological conditions and has associated pain, it is necessary to determine whether it can be considered as the dominant leg. This case series presents four individuals who underwent leg amputations who also had pathologic conditions and pain in the non-amputated legs. A functional goal was established for each patient and individualized step-by step prosthetic gait training strategies were applied. Consequently, we found out that functional outcomes could be achieved even in cases with accompanying complications, such as fractures, nerve injuries, or pain, in the non-amputated leg.

Since its introduction, laparoscopic surgery has been often preferred over open surgery in obstetrics and gynecology due to its advantages, such as less bleeding, lower incidence of adhesions, reduced postoperative pain, short hospital stay, and quick return to daily life. However, in the case of complex surgeries, laparoscopy presented some limitations. Nonetheless, since the 1980s, medical robots have been introduced to overcome the technical limitations of laparoscopy and start a new age for minimally invasive surgery. In this review, we explore the indications and advantages and disadvantages of robotic surgery in the field of gynecology, and try to assess the recent trend of robotic surgery.

The purpose of this study was to investigate pediatric emergency department visits patterns and characteristics of children and adolescents under the age of 20 in South Korea from 2002 to 2015 due to dental conditions. This study used a stratified sample of approximately 1 million people from the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service Database. The age, region, household income, and treatment cost were included for the patient characteristic analysis. Pediatric patients were compared to the adult group (over 20 years old).In children and adolescents, the rate of emergency department visits due to dental conditions was higher for traumatic conditions than for non-traumatic conditions. Children and adolescents with higher household income visited the emergency department more often than those with lower household income. The region with the highest number of children and adolescents visiting the emergency department for dental conditions was Busan (per 100,000 population).Although this study could not confirm the annual trend of children and adolescents’ dental emergency visits due to the sample size limitation, the characteristics of children and adolescents’ dental emergency visits were compared with those of adults using a stratified sample.

Objectives: The clinical trajectories of adolescent-onset psychosis and bipolar disorder are worse than that of adult-onset cases. Although psychosis and bipolar disorder are more prevalent among those with neurodevelopmental disorders such as ADHD and autism spectrum disorder compared with the general population, the incidence during adolescence has not yet been explored. Methods: Out of 3,730 patients who visited the Department of Pediatric Psychiatry at Pusan National University Yangsan Hospital between November 2008 and May 2021, patients with neurodevelopmental disorders who did not meet the criteria for psychosis or bipolar disorder and had at least one year of the follow-up period were selected. A Kaplan-Meier analysis was performed to examine the cumulative incidence of psychosis and bipolar disorder in patients with neurodevelopmental disorders. Results: The sample included 591 patients with neurodevelopmental disorders (mean age 12.6 years, range 10-18 years). The 9-years cumulative incidences of psychosis and bipolar disorder are 1.3% (95% CI=0.2%-2.4%), 11.6% (95% CI=7.4%-15.6%), respectively. Conclusion Patients with neurodevelopmental disorders showed a high incidence of psychosis and bipolar disorder during adolescence. This suggests that patients diagnosed with neurodevelopmental disorders should be continuously evaluated and monitored of the occurrence of comorbidities during adolescence.

PURPOSE: The transversely oriented fracture lines are very difficult to reduce during operations, even after clear exposure of the fracture site, in acetabular fractures. The purpose of this study is to verify the quality of reduction between the different subtypes (transtectal, juxtatectal, and infratectal) of transverse fractures. This study also determined the proper type of clamps to use and the proper zone for achieving accurate reductions in Sawbones models. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Six fractures in 3 different subtypes of transverse fractures were artificially created. Ten different reduction clamps were applied for reduction of the fractures. Twelve holes around the fracture were drilled for the maintenance of the clamps. The fracture displacements were measured at the extra-articular area and the intra-articular joint portion. The pictures of the intra-articular fracture displacements were taken by a camera and these were uploaded and analyzed by the TraumaCad® computer program (Brainlab). RESULTS: The reduction quality was poor in order of transtectal, juxtatectal and infratectal. The intraarticular opening was more prominent in the transtectal subtype. The safe zone, when giving consideration of the neurovascular bundles, was a quadrilateral surface of the ilium. Drill holes are useful for maintenance of the reduction clamps. Reduction clamps with points (Weber clamp) were the best for maintenance and accurate reduction. Regarding the concerns of placement of clamps, the middle to posterior combination was the best. The upper hole among the posterior holes in the ilium was the most likely to well reduce the intra-articular opening. CONCLUSION: Transtectal was the more complicated subtype in the aspect of reduction quality. The Weber type reduction clamp was the best for reduction by centrally located holes in the quadrilateral surface and posteriorly located iliac holes in transverse acetabular fractures. The upper hole, among the posterior holes in the ilium, was the best for reduction of the fracture displacements in the intraarticular portion of acetabulum.
Acetabulum ; Ilium ; Intra-Articular Fractures ; Joints

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The exercise ECG test (XECG) and computed tomography coronary angiography (CTCA) have been used widely in initial evaluations of coronary artery disease (CAD) in real-world practice. In this study, we compared the diagnostic power of CTCA and XECG, based on conventional coronary angiography (CCA). METHODS: We enrolled 589 consecutive patients retrospectively who had been examined with both XECG and CTCA for the evaluation of CAD in outpatient clinics. Significant stenosis was defined as more than 50% diameter stenosis. Triage to CCA and/or revascularization treatment (RT) by the results of XECG and CTCA and the diagnostic accuracy of both exams, based on CCA, were investigated. RESULTS: In the 589 patients, 107 (19%) were triaged to CCA for further evaluation; in 77 (12.8%) significant stenosis was detected on CCA. Also, 65 (11%) patients underwent RT. In the CTCA results, 120 patients had significant stenosis. Of them, 58 (48%) and 75 (62%) patients were triaged to RT and CCA, respectively. Based on the XECG, 115 positive patients were triaged to RT and CCA (23 [20%]/41 [35%]). Among 107 patients with CCA, the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value for significant stenosis on CCA of CTCA were 89.9%, 74.0%, 90.6%, and 71.4%, respectively, and those of XECG were 50.0, 67.9, 78.0, and 37.3, respectively. The kappa value of CCA and CTCA was 0.62 (p < 0.001) and that of CCA and XECG was 0.145 (p = 0.113). CONCLUSIONS: In real-world practice, CCA was decided on more frequently, based on CTCA. CTCA showed better diagnostic accuracy than XECG.
Ambulatory Care Facilities ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Coronary Angiography* ; Coronary Artery Disease ; Electrocardiography* ; Humans ; Retrospective Studies ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Triage

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The vascular calcification (VC) score on a plain X-ray is associated with cardiovascular disease and mortality in hemodialysis (HD) patients. This study examined the correlations among the VC scores for the hands and pelvis X-rays, arterial stiffness, inflammation, and nutrition in HD patients. METHODS: VC was evaluated using plain x-rays of the hands and pelvis. Patients were categorized into the VC (+) (VC score > or = 3) or VC (-) (VC score < 3) groups. We measured the pulse wave velocity (PWV), ankle brachial index (ABI), and augmentation index (AI). RESULTS: The mean age of the patients was 55.6 +/- 13.2 years. The prevalence of diabetes mellitus (DM) was significantly higher in the VC (+) group than in the VC (-) group (87.5 vs. 34.2%, p < 0.05). The serum PTH (98.4 +/- 141.9 vs. 183.6 +/- 231.3 pg/mL, p < 0.05) and albumin (3.7 +/- 0.5 vs. 3.9 +/- 0.3 g/dL, p < 0.05) levels were significantly lower and PWV was significantly (p < 0.05) higher in the VC (+) group. In multiple linear regression analysis, only the presence of diabetes mellitus was significantly related to the VC score. CONCLUSIONS: The VC score was associated with the serum PTH and albumin, as well as with vascular stiffness. C-reactive protein did not show any significant association with the VC score.
Ankle Brachial Index ; C-Reactive Protein ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Hand ; Humans ; Inflammation* ; Linear Models ; Mortality ; Pelvis ; Prevalence ; Pulse Wave Analysis ; Renal Dialysis* ; Vascular Calcification* ; Vascular Stiffness*