Background: Mycoplasma pneumoniae is a major cause of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) in children, with a rising incidence of macrolide resistance. Early diagnosis is crucial for reducing the disease burden; however, current diagnostic tools have limitations.We evaluated the diagnostic accuracy of serological assays and their performance based on symptom onset in children with CAP. Methods: From September 2023 to September 2024, we prospectively enrolled children with CAP, classified as M. pneumoniae pneumonia (MPP) or non-MPP, from 16 hospitals in Korea. Serological testing included chemiluminescence immunoassay (CLIA) and ELISA for detecting IgM and IgG, along with particle agglutination (PA) for total antibody measurements. Serological responses were analyzed at different times after symptom onset (0–4, 5–9, and 10–21 days). Results: Among 472 children with CAP (362 MPP, 110 non-MPP), 138 (29.2%) underwent PA testing, and 334 (70.8%) underwent IgM testing. PA at a 1:640 cutoff showed 48.0% sensitivity and 100% specificity. CLIA and ELISA showed comparable sensitivities (69.1% vs. 69.2%) and specificities (76.9% vs. 66.7%) for IgM testing. Seropositivity increased significantly with time since symptom onset (P for trend < 0.001), reaching 97.9% for IgM, 62.5% for IgG, and 94.7% for PA at 10–21 days. Conclusions The time post-symptom onset significantly influenced the diagnostic utility of serological tests for pediatric MPP, which showed limited value during the early stage of illness. These findings emphasize the importance of symptom onset-based interpretation of serological test results and their utility in complementing PCR when optimizing MPP diagnosis in children.

Objective: The frequency of penetrating neck injuries has gradually increased with the development of industry and the rising crime rates. There have been few studies with penetrating neck injuries reported in Korea. Thus, we analyzed clinical factors that could differentiate between superficial and deep injuries in patients with penetrating neck injuries. Methods: We investigated the medical records of 90 patients with penetrating neck injuries who visited the emergency department between January 2010 and March 2020. To identify the degree of injuries, we compared age, sex, onset and arrival time, onset-to-arrival time, initial vital signs, Glasgow Coma Scale, Revised Trauma Score, cause, mechanism, location and number of injuries, anatomical zone, alcohol intake and psychiatric history were classified as early clinical factors. Results: Among 90 patients, 51 had superficial injuries, and 39 had deep injuries. The early clinical factors showing statistically significant differences were the Glasgow Coma Scale, Revised Trauma Score, cause of injury and anatomical zones. As the Glasgow Coma Scale increased by 1 point, deep injuries decreased by 0.807 times compared to superficial injuries. Homicidal injuries were 3.233 times deeper than suicidal injuries. Conclusion If the Glasgow Coma Scale is low or the cause of injury is homicide, the possibility of a deep penetrating injury is high. Therefore, it is important to treat the patient carefully, considering these factors.

OBJECTIVES: This study investigates the effects of using customized walking aids individualized for stroke patients by measuring the effects of different cane lengths to determine the ideal length of walking aids for stroke patients. METHODS: Cane lengths were determined from the greater trochanter with walking aids measured 5cm below, at the greater trochanter and 5cm above. All patients walked for ten meters with each cane length to measure speed. Then, we measured the opto gait, timed up go test, and electromyography three times each. Statistical analysis was performed using a linear mixed model, and in the case of significance, the p-value was corrected using the Bonferroni method. RESULTS: There was a statistically significant differences in time up and go test(TUGT), 10m walking, stride and speed between the groups. CONCLUSIONS: Long cane length increases body symmetry, stride, increasing muscle activity, and short cane length increases balance and walking.
Canes* ; Cerebrovascular Disorders ; Electromyography ; Femur ; Gait ; Humans ; Methods ; Stroke* ; Walking*

OBJECTIVES: The purposes of this study were to examine the status of children and adolescents with regard to enrollment in private medical insurance (PMI) and to investigate its influence on their utilization of medical services. METHODS: The present study assessed 2973 subjects younger than 19 years of age who participated in five consecutive Korea Health Panel surveys from 2009 to 2012. RESULTS: At the initial assessment, less than 20% of the study population had not enrolled in any PMI program, but this proportion decreased over time. Additionally, the number of subjects with more than two policies increased, the proportions of holders of indemnity-type only ('I'-only) and of fixed amount+indemnity-type ('F+I') increased, whereas the proportion of holders with fixed amount-type only ('F'-only) decreased. Compared with subjects without private insurance, PMI policyholders were more likely to use outpatient and emergency services, and the number of policies was proportionately related to inpatient service utilization. Regarding out-patient care, subjects with 'F'-only PMI used these services more often than did uninsured subjects (odds ratio [OR], 1.69), whereas subjects with 'I'-only PMI or 'F+I' PMI utilized a broad range of inpatient, outpatient, and emergency services relative to uninsured subjects (ORs for 'I'-only: 1.39, 1.63, and 1.38, respectively; ORs for 'F+I': 1.67, 2.09, and 1.37, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: The findings suggest public policy approaches to standardizing PMI contracts, reform in calculation of premiums in PMI, re-examination regarding indemnity insurance products, and mutual control mechanisms to mediate between national health insurance services and private insurers are required.
Adolescent ; Ambulatory Care/*utilization ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Health Surveys ; Humans ; Income ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Insurance, Health/economics/*statistics & numerical data ; Male ; Medically Uninsured ; Odds Ratio ; Republic of Korea

OBJECTIVES: This study was performed to examine the sugars intake through processed foods and its related factors in college students. METHODS: The findings of this study was based on the data obtained from the self-administered questionnaire survey of the sugars intake through processed foods. The self-administered questionnaire survey was conducted among 245 college students between March and April, 2015. RESULTS: The amount of sugars intake through processed foods was 45.9g in male collegians and 47.1g in female collegians. In the bivariate analysis, the amount of sugars intake was significantly different by department of major, current smoking status, subjective health status in female collegians (p<0.05). In the multivariate analysis, the amount of sugars intake was related significantly with current drinking status, sleeping time, degree of depression in male students and student's department of major, current smoking status, whether or not of snack intake in female (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The program for college students to decrease the sugars intake through processed foods would be necessary, especially in student of non-health department.
Carbohydrates* ; Depression ; Diagnostic Self Evaluation ; Drinking ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Multivariate Analysis ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Snacks

Duodenal diverticulitis is a rare cause of upper abdominal pain and is usually not considered when evaluating patients with acute upper abdominal pain. Furthermore, the duodenum is located near the pancreas and bile duct, and duodenal diverticulitis can be misdiagnosed as acute pancreatitis, cholangitis, cholecystitis, or other pancreatobiliary disorders such as pancreatic cystic neoplasms. Recently, we experienced a rare case of duodenal diverticulitis in the 3rd portion of the duodenum. The patient presented with deep seated upper abdominal pain aggravated by supine posture and relieved by sitting up. The patient was initially diagnosed with acute pancreatitis. However, serum levels of pancreatic enzymes were normal and abdominal CT scan revealed diverticulitis in the 3rd portion of the duodenum. The patient was successfully managed conservatively. Delayed diagnosis of duodenal diverticulitis can result in substantial morbidity and mortality if duodenal perforation occurs and should be considered as a possible cause of upper abdominal pain.
Abdominal Pain* ; Bile Ducts ; Cholangitis ; Cholecystitis ; Delayed Diagnosis ; Diverticulitis* ; Duodenum* ; Humans ; Mortality ; Pancreas ; Pancreatic Cyst ; Pancreatitis ; Posture ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

PURPOSE: To evaluate the treatment outcomes of local excision following preoperative chemoradiotherapy in patients with locally advanced rectal cancer who have not undergone radical surgery for any reason. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The data of 27 patients with locally advanced rectal cancer who underwent preoperative chemoradiotherapy followed by local excision were analyzed retrospectively. The primary endpoint was the 5-year relapse-free survival rate, and the secondary endpoint was the pattern of recurrence. RESULTS: The median follow-up time was 81.8 months (range, 28.6 to 138.5 months). The 5-year local relapse-free survival (LRFS), distant metastasis-free survival (DMFS), relapse-free survival (RFS), and overall survival (OS) were 88.9%, 81.1%, 77.8%, and 85.0%, respectively. Six (22%) patients developed treatment failure; one (4%) patient had local recurrence only, three (11%) patients had distant recurrence only, and two (7%) patients had both. The 5-year LRFS, DMFS, RFS, and OS for patients with ypT0-1 compared with ypT2-3 were 94.1% vs. 77.8% (p=0.244), 94.1% vs. 55.6% (p=0.016), 88.2% vs. 55.6% (p=0.051), and 94.1% vs. 66.7% (p=0.073), respectively. CONCLUSION: Local excision following preoperative chemoradiotherapy may be an alternative treatment for highly selected patients with locally advanced rectal cancer who have achieved ypT0-1 after preoperative chemoradiotherapy.
Chemoradiotherapy* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Rectal Neoplasms* ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies ; Survival Rate ; Treatment Failure

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The benefit of early statin treatment following acute myocardial infarction (MI) complicated with cardiogenic shock (CS) has not been well studied. We sought to assess the effect of early statin therapy in patients with CS complicating acute MI. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: We studied 553 statin-naive patients with acute MI and CS (Killip class IV) who underwent revascularization therapy between November 2005 and January 2008 at 51 hospitals in the Korea Acute Myocardial Infarction Registry. Patients were divided into 2 groups: those who received statins during hospitalization (n=280) and those who did not (n=273). The influence of statin treatment on a 12-month clinical outcome was examined using a matched-pairs analysis (n=200 in each group) based on the propensity for receiving statin therapy during hospitalization. RESULTS: Before adjustment, patients receiving statin, compared to those not receiving statin, had a more favorable clinical profile, were less likely to suffer procedural complications, and more likely to receive adequate medical therapy. Patients receiving statin had lower unadjusted in-hospital mortality and composite rate of mortality, MI, and repeat revascularization at 12 months, which remained significantly lower after adjustment for patient risk, procedural characteristics, and treatment propensity. CONCLUSION: In CS patients with acute MI undergoing revascularization therapy, early statin treatment initiated during hospitalization was associated with lower rates of in-hospital death and 12-month adverse cardiac events.
Angioplasty ; Hospital Mortality ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors ; Korea ; Myocardial Infarction ; Secondary Prevention ; Shock ; Shock, Cardiogenic

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The benefit of early statin treatment following acute myocardial infarction (MI) complicated with cardiogenic shock (CS) has not been well studied. We sought to assess the effect of early statin therapy in patients with CS complicating acute MI. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: We studied 553 statin-naive patients with acute MI and CS (Killip class IV) who underwent revascularization therapy between November 2005 and January 2008 at 51 hospitals in the Korea Acute Myocardial Infarction Registry. Patients were divided into 2 groups: those who received statins during hospitalization (n=280) and those who did not (n=273). The influence of statin treatment on a 12-month clinical outcome was examined using a matched-pairs analysis (n=200 in each group) based on the propensity for receiving statin therapy during hospitalization. RESULTS: Before adjustment, patients receiving statin, compared to those not receiving statin, had a more favorable clinical profile, were less likely to suffer procedural complications, and more likely to receive adequate medical therapy. Patients receiving statin had lower unadjusted in-hospital mortality and composite rate of mortality, MI, and repeat revascularization at 12 months, which remained significantly lower after adjustment for patient risk, procedural characteristics, and treatment propensity. CONCLUSION: In CS patients with acute MI undergoing revascularization therapy, early statin treatment initiated during hospitalization was associated with lower rates of in-hospital death and 12-month adverse cardiac events.
Angioplasty ; Hospital Mortality ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors ; Korea ; Myocardial Infarction ; Secondary Prevention ; Shock ; Shock, Cardiogenic

BACKGROUND/AIMS: To determine which drug-eluting stents are more effective in acute myocardial infarction (MI) patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). METHODS: This study included a total of 3,566 acute MI survivors with CKD from the Korea Acute Myocardial Infarction Registry who were treated with stenting and followed up for 12 months: 1,845 patients who received sirolimus-eluting stents (SES), 1,356 who received paclitaxel-eluting stents (PES), and 365 who received zotarolimus-eluting stents (ZES). CKD was defined as an estimated glomerular filtration rate < 60 mL/min/1.73 m2 calculated by the modification of diet in renal disease method. RESULTS: At the 12-month follow-up, patients receiving ZES demonstrated a higher incidence (14.8%) of major adverse cardiac events (MACEs) compared to those receiving SES (10.1%) and PES (12%, p = 0.019). The ZES patients also had a higher incidence (3.9%) of target lesion revascularization (TLR) compared to those receiving SES (1.5%) and PES (2.4%, p = 0.011). After adjusting for confounding factors, ZES was associated with a higher incidence of MACE and TLR than SES (adjusted hazard ratio [HR], 0.623; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.442 to 0.879; p = 0.007; adjusted HR, 0.350; 95% CI, 0.165 to 0.743; p = 0.006, respectively), and with a higher rate of TLR than PES (adjusted HR, 0.471; 95% CI, 0.223 to 0.997; p = 0.049). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that ZES is less effective than SES and PES in terms of 12-month TLR, and has a higher incidence of MACE due to a higher TLR rate compared with SES, in acute MI patients with CKD.
Aged ; *Drug-Eluting Stents/adverse effects ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Myocardial Infarction/*etiology/mortality/*therapy ; Paclitaxel/administration & dosage ; Prospective Studies ; Registries ; Renal Insufficiency, Chronic/*complications ; Republic of Korea/epidemiology ; Sirolimus/administration & dosage/analogs & derivatives