Background/Aims: Post-infectious irritable bowel syndrome (PI-IBS) is characterized by chronic gastrointestinal symptoms that arise following an episode of infectious enteritis. The incidence rates vary, ranging from 5% to 32% and the risk factors are not well known. We aim to investigate the incidence and risk factors of PI-IBS in enteritis patients admitted to university hospitals in Korea. Methods: This multi-center prospective study was conducted in patients hospitalized for infectious enteritis. Each patient underwent 1 outpatient visit and 3 telephone surveys during the first year after discharge to determine if PI-IBS occurred within the follow-up period. Results: In the 3-month survey, 7 out of 354 patients (2%) were diagnosed with PI-IBS, and after 1 year, only 1 patient met the criteria for IBS.No statistically significant difference was found between the PI-IBS group and the non-PI-IBS group in terms of age, sex, underlying diseases, medication history, gastrointestinal symptoms, enteritis location, causative strain, hospitalization and treatment periods, and laboratory findings. Female sex (P = 0.003), enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC) infection (P = 0.044), and a longer total treatment period (P = 0.018) were independent risk factors for diarrhea lasting ≥ 3 months after enteritis. Conclusions The incidence of PI-IBS in Korea was relatively low, and most cases improved over time. No risk factors associated with the development of PI-IBS were found. However, persistent diarrhea after enteritis was associated with female sex, EPEC infection, and severe or long-lasting enteritis. IBS symptoms may persist after severe enteritis but usually improve with time.

Purpose: This study compared the differences in health and dietary characteristics according to the subjective health perception among postmenopausal middle-aged women. Methods: Data from the 8 th Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2019–2021) were utilized. The participants were naturally postmenopausal women aged 45–59 years, categorized into three groups (good, moderate, and bad) based on their subjective health perception. The general and biochemical characteristics, prevalence of diseases, mental health indicators, dietary behavior factors, food groups, and nutrient intake were compared according to subjective health perception. Results: Bad subjective health perception was associated with lower education levels, not engaging in economic activity, and higher rates of alcohol drinking and smoking. Women with bad subjective health perception had higher fasting blood glucose levels, hemoglobin A1c levels, blood insulin concentrations, and triglyceride concentrations, as well as lower total cholesterol and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol concentrations. In addition, the prevalence of hyperlipidemia and anemia was higher in this group. Women with bad subjective health perceptions were more likely to perceive themselves as fat or thin, experience activity restrictions, perceive stress, have suicidal ideation, and have sought medical assistance for mental issues. They also had higher rates of skipping lunch, lower frequency of fruit consumption, engaging in dietary therapy, feeling chewing discomfort, and higher total daily energy intake. Conclusion These findings suggest that bad subjective health perception in postmenopausal middle-aged women is associated with a higher prevalence of diseases, worse mental health status, and less healthy dietary behaviors. These results can serve as foundational data for future guidelines on desirable health and dietary behaviors aimed at improving the subjective health perceptions of middle-aged women after menopause.

Objective: Pain is a significant and debilitating symptom of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) that significantly affects the quality of life and functional ability of patients. In the present study, we examined the association between pain variables and disease activity markers in patients with RA. Methods: We enrolled 133 patients with RA and assessed their clinical characteristics, socioeconomic and psychological factors, and pain measures. The psychological factors assessed included depressive symptoms and pain catastrophizing. Results: The study cohort comprised predominantly female patients with RA with an average age of 55.5±10.1 years. Depressive symptoms had a mean score of 5.83±4.71, while pain catastrophizing had an average score of 14.36±10.70. The mean scores for pain intensity, and pain interference, were 2.98±1.75 and 19.54±16.17, respectively, with significant positive correlations observed with depressive symptoms. Hemoglobin and hematocrit levels were negatively correlated with pain intensity. Multivariable linear regression analysis revealed significant associations between depressive symptoms and pain intensity, catastrophizing, and interference. Other factors associated with pain intensity included tender joint count. Pain catastrophizing was associated with education and economic status. Pain interference was associated with sex and economic status. Conclusion This study shows the influence of disease-related indicators and psychological factors on pain in patients with RA, with depressive symptoms playing a crucial role in predicting pain experience. Effective pain management strategies for RA should include the management of depressive symptoms, in addition to addressing disease-related indicators.

This review examines the therapeutic potential of neuromodulation methods, including neurofeedback, transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), and transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), as non-pharmacological interventions for children with attentiondeficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). A comprehensive review of current studies was conducted, focusing on each technique’s mechanism, application, and efficacy in managing ADHD symptoms and cognitive deficits. Studies included human participants with ADHD, evaluating changes in symptom severity and cognitive outcomes. Neurofeedback demonstrated efficacy in symptom reduction, particularly when combined with pharmacotherapy, yielding sustained improvements. tDCS showed moderate efficacy, especially in attention and impulsivity control; however, variability in protocols and pediatric response highlights the need for standardization. TMS exhibited mixed outcomes, with high-frequency TMS targeting the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex indicating potential cognitive benefits, though results were inconsistent across studies. Neuromodulation presents a promising complementary approach for ADHD treatment in children, potentially addressing limitations of pharmacotherapy. Future research should focus on optimizing stimulation parameters, increasing sample sizes, and refining methodologies to establish neuromodulation as part of standard ADHD treatment protocols.

This study aimed to investigate the dental utilization status, satisfaction with dental treatment, and the need for improvement among pediatric patients with rare diseases in Korea. A survey was conducted from June 2023 to May 2024 among caregivers of patients with rare diseases who visited the pediatric dentistry departments of eight dental institutions. The questionnaire for this study was divided into two sections: 126 caregivers participated in the dental utilization survey, while 91 caregivers completed the survey on satisfaction with dental treatment. Many caregivers believed that the patient’s poor oral health could impact overall health and reported positive functional and psychological changes following dental treatment. However, dental care for these patients presents challenges due to insufficient oral care information, specialized dentists, specialized dental facilities, and insurance coverage. Caregivers identified the need for an increase in specialized dental facilities as the highest priority (42.9%), with many emphasizing the necessity for expanded insurance coverage (38.9%). Notably, caregivers of patients who had undergone dental caries treatment advocated for broader insurance coverage (p = 0.0141), particularly for prosthetic (p = 0.0330) and restorative treatments (p = 0.0129). Furthermore, caregivers of patients with congenital disorders reported a significant economic burden associated with orthodontic treatment (p = 0.0405). Additionally, caregivers emphasized the need for an increase in specialized dentists (33.3%) and improved collaboration with pediatricians (25.4%). This study underscores the critical necessity for tailored policies and comprehensive support systems that reflect the current needs of the dental care system for pediatric patients with rare diseases.

In this paper, we systematically review the literature on papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) metastasis to the mandible. This is a rare oc-currence, especially in young, asymptomatic patients. We propose appropriate surgical and adjuvant therapy guidelines based on our findings. A systematic PubMed search (up to July 2023) identified 10 eligible cases of papillary or follicular thyroid carcinoma with metastasis to the mandible. Studies of patients with different histologic types or without confirmed distant metastasis were excluded. A rare case of PTC metastasizing to the mandible in a young male highlights an unusual presentation. Surgical treatment of both primary and metastatic sites, along with aggressive adjuvant therapy after surgery, had a positive impact on survival.

Objectives: To investigate the causal factors of proximal contact loss (PCL) between an implant prosthesis and the adjacent natural teeth using cast model analysis. Materials and Methods: Patients who underwent restoration using dental implants in the posterior region were analyzed. To identify factors associated with PCL incidence, cast model analyses were conducted based on sex, implant site, jaw position, Angle’s classification, anterior overbite, preexisting interproximal gap between consecutive (mesial side) natural teeth adjacent to the implant, generalized gap of the full arch, and mandibular anterior crowding. Chi-square, multivariate logistic regression, and multivariate generalized estimating equation (GEE) analyses were used to evaluate the impact of each factor. The incidence of PCL over time was analyzed using Kaplan–Meier analysis. Results: Of 653 implants, 293 implants were selected from 240 patients. Ninety implant sites (30.7%) showed PCL between the implant prostheses and the adjacent teeth. The analysis of PCL incidence revealed a gradual increase over time, with half of PCL cases occurring by 19.2 months. The chisquare test revealed significant associations between a pre-existing interproximal gap between adjacent natural teeth and a generalized overall gap in the corresponding arch and PCL (P=0.002 and P=0.027). The logistic regression (P=0.007, odds ratio [OR]: 2.684) and GEE (P=0.003, OR: 3.255) showed significant correlations between PCL and a pre-existing interproximal gap between adjacent natural teeth. Conclusion The occurrence of PCL between implant prostheses and adjacent teeth is influenced by the pre-existing interproximal gap between consecutive natural teeth adjacent to the implant. This factor should be carefully monitored.

Objectives: To evaluate the factors that influence the survival of dental implants and marginal bone loss (MBL) in patients taking osteoporosis or osteopenia medication. Materials and Methods: This study included patients who underwent dental implant treatment after taking medication for osteoporosis or osteopenia. Electronic medical records were used to collect data of patient age, sex, age at osteoporosis or osteopenia diagnosis, types of medications, age at medication initiation, duration of medication before implant surgery, whether the medication was paused before surgery, paused duration of medication, implant survival status, and MBL before and after prosthetic treatment. Firth’s logistic regression was used to analyze the relationships between each variable and implant survival as well as between MBL before and after prosthetic treatment. Results: Of the 267 patients, 111 with 209 implants were included in the study. The mean observation period was 57.9 months. The survival rate was 92.8% at the patient level and 96.2% at the implant level. No significant associations were found between implant survival and any of the variablesexamined. MBL before prosthetic treatment was significantly associated with use of receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB ligand (RANKL) inhibitors(P=0.032) and bone formation stimulators (P=0.022). Comparing the concurrent and single use of bisphosphonates and RANKL inhibitors, only the use of RANKL inhibitors alone was significantly associated with MBL before prosthetic treatment (P=0.039). MBL after prosthetic treatment was significantly associated with injection method among the routes of drug administration (P=0.011). Conclusion The implant survival rate in patients undergoing medical treatment for osteoporosis or osteopenia was comparable to the general implant survival rate. MBL before prosthetic treatment was associated with type of anti-osteoporotic medication, whereas MBL after prosthetic treatment was correlated with drug administration route. Further studies with larger sample sizes are required.