Background/Aims: The recent coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has been associated with changes in the epidemiology of not only infectious diseases but also several non-infectious conditions. This study investigated changes in the recorded incidence of various rheumatic diseases during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: The number of patients for each disease from January 2016 to December 2020 was obtained from the Korean Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service database. We compared the incidence of nine rheumatic diseases (seropositive rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus [SLE], idiopathic inflammatory myositis [IIM], ankylosing spondylitis [AS], systemic sclerosis, Sjögren’s syndrome, Behçet’s disease [BD], polymyalgia rheumatica, and gout) and hypertensive diseases to control for changes in healthcare utilisation before and after the COVID-19 outbreak. The disease incidence before and after the COVID-19 outbreak was compared using the autoregressive integrated moving average (ARIMA) and quasi- Poisson analyses. Results: Compared with the predicted incidence in 2020 using the ARIMA model, the monthly incidence of SLE, BD, AS, and gout temporarily significantly decreased, whereas other rheumatic diseases and hypertensive diseases were within the 95% confidence interval (CI) of the predicted values in the first half of 2020. In age- and sex-adjusted quasi-Poisson regression analysis, the annual incidences of IIM (rate ratio [RR], 0.473; 95% CI, 0.307 to 0.697), SLE (RR, 0.845; 95% CI, 0.798 to 0.895), and BD (RR, 0.850; 95% CI, 0.796 to 0.906) were significantly decreased compared with those in the previous 4 years. Conclusions The recorded annual incidence of some rheumatic diseases, including IIM, SLE, and BD, decreased during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Rope entanglement injury is a rare entity. Previous reported studies mainly consisted of finger-related injuries. We describe three cases of rope entanglement injury of the lower leg. In the first patient, a belowthe- knee amputation was performed as the primary treatment for unilateral amputated lower limb. In the second patient, a below-the-knee amputation and perineal wound management were simultaneously performed. The third patient had vascular injury combined with internal soft tissue injury without related bone fracture. He suffered serious sequelae from a delay in transfer from a local hospital. Rope entanglement injuries of the lower leg do not present in a consistent manner, and the treatment of accompanying injuries should be considered from an early stage. Care should be taken to ensure that there are no internal injuries missed because the exterior appears to be stable.

Objectives: : The purpose of this study is to investigate depression and suicide ideation according to socioeconomic changes after COVID-19 among Korean adolescent. Methods: : Data on the study population were obtained from the 16th Korea Youth Risk Behavior Web-based Survey (KYRBS). The KYRBS is a nationally representative sample of Korean adolescents (aged 12-18 years) that originally included over 103 questions in 15 domains of health-risk behaviors. In the 16th KYRBS, a total 54,948 students from 793 schools responded to the survey. Chi-square test and logistic regression analysis were conducted regarding depression and suicide ideation. Results: : This study suggests that changes in the family household before and after COVID-19 pandemic are also affecting the mental health of the adolescents. The study shows that worse change of family household is significant associations with suicidal ideation and depression. Adolescents reporting worse (AOR 1.38; 95% CI 1.38-1.57) and much worse (AOR 2.07; 95% CI 1.87-2.29) were significantly more likely to report depression. Adolescents reporting worse (AOR 1.34; 95% CI 1.34-1.60) and much worse (AOR 2.01; 95% CI 1.76-2.29) were significantly more likely to report suicide ideation. Conclusions : In this study, it was confirmed that young people from socially disadvantaged backgrounds are at high risk of suicide ideation and more depression. The results of this study suggest that we should consider improving the screening and prevention of mental health problems for adolescents with poor socioeconomic changes of COVID-19.

Background: and Purpose Long-term changes in post-stroke depression (PSD), post-stroke emotional incontinence (PSEI), and post-stroke anger (PSA) have rarely been studied. Methods: This is a sub-study of EMOTION, a randomized, placebo-controlled trial, that examined the efficacy of escitalopram on PSD, PSEI, and PSA in patients with stroke. We interviewed patients at the long-term period (LTP) using predefined questionnaires: Montgomery-Åsberg depression rating scale (MADRS) for PSD, modified Kim’s criteria for PSEI, and Spielberger trait anger scale for PSA. Additionally, the ENRICHD Social Support Instrument (ESSI) for the social support state and the modified Rankin Scale (mRS) were measured. We investigated the changes in and factors behind PSD, PSEI, and PSA at LTP. Results: A total of 222 patients were included, and the median follow-up duration was 59.5 months (interquartile range, 50 to 70). Compared to the data at 6 months post-stroke, the prevalence of PSEI (11.7% at 6 months, 6.3% at LTP; P=0.05) and mean anger score (21.62, 16.24; P<0.01) decreased, while the prevalence of PSD (35.6%, 44.6%; P=0.03) and mean MADRS (6.16, 8.67; P<0.01) increased at LTP. ESSI was associated with PSD and PSA, but not with PSEI. The effect of the baseline National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score on PSD decreased over time. The effect of low social support on PSD was greater than that of mRS at LTP. Conclusions The prevalence and degree of PSD significantly increased, while those of PSEI and PSA decreased at LTP. PSD in this stage appeared to be more closely associated with a lack of social support than patients' physical disabilities.

Objectives: ：The purpose of this study is to identify differences between suicide attempters who used zolpidem and others who used different methods in emergency department. Methods: ：This study classified 2,734 suicide attempters, who went to emergency department from 2009 to 2018, into zolpidem user group, another drug user group and non-drug user group. For these three groups, chisquare test and logistic regression analysis were conducted regarding sociodemographic feature and clinical feature related with suicide. Results: ：In the result of logistic regression analysis of a variable, which showed meaningful difference between suicide attempter group who used zolpidem and the other group who did not use the drug, the occurrence of zolpidem-using suicide attempers was related with the case where anxiolytics/hypnotics was used or the case where lethality and intention was low. In the drug intoxication group which showed similar feature, there was also a relevance between anxiolytics/hypnotics and the occurrence of zolpidem-using suicide attempts. Conclusions ：This study identified significant difference of sociodemographic and clinical feature in suicide attempter group who used zolpidem and the other group. This result can contribute to plan further medicinal treatment in using zolpidem

Background: and Purpose Long-term changes in post-stroke depression (PSD), post-stroke emotional incontinence (PSEI), and post-stroke anger (PSA) have rarely been studied. Methods: This is a sub-study of EMOTION, a randomized, placebo-controlled trial, that examined the efficacy of escitalopram on PSD, PSEI, and PSA in patients with stroke. We interviewed patients at the long-term period (LTP) using predefined questionnaires: Montgomery-Åsberg depression rating scale (MADRS) for PSD, modified Kim’s criteria for PSEI, and Spielberger trait anger scale for PSA. Additionally, the ENRICHD Social Support Instrument (ESSI) for the social support state and the modified Rankin Scale (mRS) were measured. We investigated the changes in and factors behind PSD, PSEI, and PSA at LTP. Results: A total of 222 patients were included, and the median follow-up duration was 59.5 months (interquartile range, 50 to 70). Compared to the data at 6 months post-stroke, the prevalence of PSEI (11.7% at 6 months, 6.3% at LTP; P=0.05) and mean anger score (21.62, 16.24; P<0.01) decreased, while the prevalence of PSD (35.6%, 44.6%; P=0.03) and mean MADRS (6.16, 8.67; P<0.01) increased at LTP. ESSI was associated with PSD and PSA, but not with PSEI. The effect of the baseline National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score on PSD decreased over time. The effect of low social support on PSD was greater than that of mRS at LTP. Conclusions The prevalence and degree of PSD significantly increased, while those of PSEI and PSA decreased at LTP. PSD in this stage appeared to be more closely associated with a lack of social support than patients' physical disabilities.

Purpose: Single-photon emission computed tomography/computed tomography (SPECT/CT) is an advanced hybrid nuclear medicine technology that generates both functional and anatomical images in a single study. As utilization of SPECT/CT in Korea has been increasing, the purpose of this study was to survey its application of cardiac and skeletal SPECT/CT imaging for protocol optimization. Methods: We surveyed CT protocols established for cardiac and skeletal SPECT/CT. We searched the guidelines for the CT protocols for SPECT/CT and reviewed the literature recently published. Results: Among 36 hybrid SPECT scanners equipped with four or more multi-channel detector CTs (MDCTs), 18 scanners were used to perform cardiac studies at both very low current CT (30–80 mA; 11.1%) and ultra-low current CT (13–30 mA; 88.9%). Among the 33 canners, very low current (≤ 80 mA) CT or low current CT (80–130 mA) was used in 23.5%, and 41.8% for spine disorders, and in 36.4% or 30.3% for foot/ankle disorders, respectively. In the CT reconstructions, slice thickness of 5 mm for cardiac studies was most commonly used (94.4%); thinner slices (0.6–1.0 mm) for spine and foot/ankle studies were used in 24.2% and 45.5%, respectively. We also reviewed the international guidelines. Conclusions The results and current recommendations will be helpful for optimizing CT protocols for SPECT/CT. Optimization of SPECT/CT protocols will be required for generating the proper strategy for the specific lesions and clinical purpose.

Objectives: ：This study looked at the effects of chronic IPV on suicide ideation among married women in the country. Methods: ：This study used data from the five-year-old Korea Welfare Panel and analyzed using questions about verbal and physical violence, depression and suicide ideation that were investigated every year. Age, education, and economic levels, drinking, religion, chronic disease, satisfaction with family relationship, satisfaction with social relationship, were included as variables. Results: ：The five-year cumulative score of verbal violence had a statistically significant effect on the depres-sive symptom, and the relative risk was 1.180. The relative risk of five-year-old cumulative score of verbal violence in suicidal ideation was 1.276, and it was also significant even if they exclude the effects of depressive symptom.On the other hand, the five-year cumulative score of physical violence was found to have no significant impact on suicide ideation if they excluded the effects of depressive symptom. Conclusions ：Unlike previous studies, this study found that chronic verbal IPVs increase suicide ideation,even though they do not contain effects of depression. Such findings suggest that intervention in IPV in married women may help reduce the nation's suicide rate.

Objectives: ：This study looked at the effects of chronic IPV on suicide ideation among married women in the country. Methods: ：This study used data from the five-year-old Korea Welfare Panel and analyzed using questions about verbal and physical violence, depression and suicide ideation that were investigated every year. Age, education, and economic levels, drinking, religion, chronic disease, satisfaction with family relationship, satisfaction with social relationship, were included as variables. Results: ：The five-year cumulative score of verbal violence had a statistically significant effect on the depres-sive symptom, and the relative risk was 1.180. The relative risk of five-year-old cumulative score of verbal violence in suicidal ideation was 1.276, and it was also significant even if they exclude the effects of depressive symptom.On the other hand, the five-year cumulative score of physical violence was found to have no significant impact on suicide ideation if they excluded the effects of depressive symptom. Conclusions ：Unlike previous studies, this study found that chronic verbal IPVs increase suicide ideation,even though they do not contain effects of depression. Such findings suggest that intervention in IPV in married women may help reduce the nation's suicide rate.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to clarify the role of acute alcohol use and alcohol use disorder in individuals exhibiting suicidal behaviors, including repetition of suicide attempt. METHODS: Data pertaining to 691 suicide attempters who had visited an emergency center and had been followed-up from 2010 to 2015 were gathered. Participants were categorized into following three groups according to alcohol use pattern at the time of the suicide attempt: 1) suicide attempters with neither alcohol use disorder nor acute alcohol consumption (NAU), 2) suicide attempters who had used alcohol during the suicide attempt but did not have alcohol use disorder (AAU), and 3) suicide attempters with alcohol use disorder (AUD). Group comparisons and multivariate Cox proportional models for suicidal behavior were used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: AUD have been shown to have lower lethality of suicide attempt but higher risk of suicide reattempts in the future. Furthermore, positive relationships between suicide reattempts and AUD persisted throughout the longer period than other groups. CONCLUSION Suicide attempters with AUD should be considered a high-risk group for suicide reattempts in future, and this group should be followed-up for a longer period with specialized care program.