The coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has significantly impacted adolescent health, highlighting the need for effective health promotion strategies. This qualitative study analyzed adolescent health concerns during the pandemic and explored management strategies through focus group interviews (FGIs).FGIs were conducted on November 23 and 25, 2023, with six secondary school nutrition teachers, six educational supervisors, and six adolescent students. Semi-structured questions were used to explore five key domains: health behaviors, factors contributing to health problems, social support, perceived health beliefs, and health education. The FGI recordings were transcribed, and Braun and Clarke’s (2006) thematic analysis method was applied to classify and categorize the data. To ensure the reliability and validity of the study, all processes were meticulously documented, and member checking and triangulation were conducted. The analysis revealed that adolescents faced reduced physical activity, irregular eating habits, school lunch disruptions, social isolation, worsening obesity, mental health challenges, and decreased engagement in health-promoting behaviors. Nutrition teachers and educational supervisors emphasized the importance of the food environment in schools and policy support, whereas adolescent students. highlighted motivation and accessibility as the key factors for adopting healthy behaviors. Based on these findings, strengthening social support, expanding health education, and establishing a national support system are essential for improving adolescent health. This study has implications for policy and education to address adolescent health challenges during a pandemic and serves as a foundation for future health promotion strategies.

The coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has significantly impacted adolescent health, highlighting the need for effective health promotion strategies. This qualitative study analyzed adolescent health concerns during the pandemic and explored management strategies through focus group interviews (FGIs).FGIs were conducted on November 23 and 25, 2023, with six secondary school nutrition teachers, six educational supervisors, and six adolescent students. Semi-structured questions were used to explore five key domains: health behaviors, factors contributing to health problems, social support, perceived health beliefs, and health education. The FGI recordings were transcribed, and Braun and Clarke’s (2006) thematic analysis method was applied to classify and categorize the data. To ensure the reliability and validity of the study, all processes were meticulously documented, and member checking and triangulation were conducted. The analysis revealed that adolescents faced reduced physical activity, irregular eating habits, school lunch disruptions, social isolation, worsening obesity, mental health challenges, and decreased engagement in health-promoting behaviors. Nutrition teachers and educational supervisors emphasized the importance of the food environment in schools and policy support, whereas adolescent students. highlighted motivation and accessibility as the key factors for adopting healthy behaviors. Based on these findings, strengthening social support, expanding health education, and establishing a national support system are essential for improving adolescent health. This study has implications for policy and education to address adolescent health challenges during a pandemic and serves as a foundation for future health promotion strategies.

The coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has significantly impacted adolescent health, highlighting the need for effective health promotion strategies. This qualitative study analyzed adolescent health concerns during the pandemic and explored management strategies through focus group interviews (FGIs).FGIs were conducted on November 23 and 25, 2023, with six secondary school nutrition teachers, six educational supervisors, and six adolescent students. Semi-structured questions were used to explore five key domains: health behaviors, factors contributing to health problems, social support, perceived health beliefs, and health education. The FGI recordings were transcribed, and Braun and Clarke’s (2006) thematic analysis method was applied to classify and categorize the data. To ensure the reliability and validity of the study, all processes were meticulously documented, and member checking and triangulation were conducted. The analysis revealed that adolescents faced reduced physical activity, irregular eating habits, school lunch disruptions, social isolation, worsening obesity, mental health challenges, and decreased engagement in health-promoting behaviors. Nutrition teachers and educational supervisors emphasized the importance of the food environment in schools and policy support, whereas adolescent students. highlighted motivation and accessibility as the key factors for adopting healthy behaviors. Based on these findings, strengthening social support, expanding health education, and establishing a national support system are essential for improving adolescent health. This study has implications for policy and education to address adolescent health challenges during a pandemic and serves as a foundation for future health promotion strategies.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The relationship between Runt-related transcription factor 3 (RUNX3) gene inactivation and various solid tumors has been reported; however, little information is available about RUNX3 in thyroid cancers. METHODS: We evaluated the DNA methylation of RUNX3 in 13 papillary thyroid cancer tissues and four thyroid cancer cell lines. Additionally, using reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction, we analyzed RUNX3 gene expression in several thyroid cancer cell lines after treating with the demethylating agent 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine (DAC). RESULTS: RUNX3 was hypermethylated in many thyroid cancer cell lines and in 10 of the 12 papillary thyroid cancer tissues. Treatment with DAC increased the expression of RUNX3 in some thyroid cancer cell lines. CONCLUSIONS: We suggest that RUNX3 is associated with thyroid carcinogenesis, and RUNX3 methylation is a potentially useful diagnostic marker for papillary thyroid cancer.
Azacitidine/analogs & derivatives/pharmacology ; Carcinoma/*genetics ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Core Binding Factor Alpha 3 Subunit/*genetics ; DNA Methylation/drug effects ; Gene Expression/drug effects ; Humans ; Thyroid Neoplasms/*genetics ; Tumor Markers, Biological/genetics

BACKGROUND: Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) is a common genital tract infection in reproductive women. This study aimed to determine the frequency of Neisseria gonorrheae, Chlamydia trachomatis, Ureaplasma urealyticum, and Mycoplasma hominis in Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), and to further sub-analyze the clinical characteristics in patients diagnosed with Fitz-Hugh-Curtis syndrome (FHCS). MATERIAL AND METHODS: Sixty-six patients diagnosed clinically as PID were recruited from April, 2007 to February, 2011. Retrospective chart review was performed for investigating the characteristics of the clinical manifestation, laboratory findings, and image findings. And then all subjects were classified into two groups, the PID-only group and the FHCS group, depending on whether or not computed tomography showed increased perihepatic enhancement. Samples obtained in endocervical swabs were tested using Roche COBAS Amplicor Polymerase-chain reaction (PCR) for N. gonorrheae, C. trachomatis, U. urealyticum, and M. hominis. RESULTS: The 66 PID patients ranged in age from 19 to 49 years. Thirty nine patients were diagnosed as having an inflammation localized only in the lower abdomen (PID only), and 27 patients were diagnosed as FHCS. According to results of PCR, U. urealyticum was found most commonly in both the PID-only group and the FHCS group (66.7% and 59.3%, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Organisms other than C. trachomatis and N. gonorrheae, particularly U. urealyticum, may be detected more frequently in PID patients in Korea. In addition, identification of M. hominis may be of importance in female health problems such as FHCS.
Abdomen ; Chlamydia Infections ; Chlamydia trachomatis ; Female ; Gonorrhea ; Hepatitis ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Korea ; Mycoplasma hominis ; Neisseria ; Pelvic Inflammatory Disease ; Peritonitis ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Reproductive Tract Infections ; Retrospective Studies ; Ureaplasma urealyticum

BACKGROUNDS/AIMS: Intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm (IPMN) of the pancreas has malignant potential. Predicting invasive IPMN has proven difficult and controversial. We tried to identify predictive factors for invasive IPMN. METHODS: Thirty six patients underwent resection for IPMN from February 2001 to July 2011. Clinicopathological features including demographic, imaging, microscopic, and serological findings were retrospectively reviewed. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was used to analyze sensitivity and specificity of all possible cut-off values for the diameter of the main pancreatic duct and mass size predicting invasive IPMN. Student t-test, chi-square test, and logistic regression were used for univariate and multivariate analysis. RESULTS: The mean age was 63.5+/-8.4 years. Males were more commonly affected (58.3% vs 41.7%). Pancreaticoduodenectomy was performed in 55.6% of patients, distal pancreatectomy in 36.1%, and central pancreatic resection in 8.3%. Non-invasive IPMNs were present in 80.6% (n=29), whereas invasive IPMNs were present in 19.4% (n=7). In univariate analysis, tumor location (p=0.036), Kuroda classification (p=0.048), mural nodule (p=0.016), and main duct dilatation (> or =8 mm) (p=0.006) were statistically significant variables. ROC curve analysis showed that a value of 8 mm for the main duct dilatation and a value of 35 mm for the size of the mass lesion have 80% sensitivity and 75% specificity and 100% sensitivity and 82.6% specificity, respectively. However, in multivariate analysis, main ductal dilatation (> or =8 mm) was identified to be the only independent factor for invasive IPMN (p=0.049). CONCLUSIONS: Main duct dilatation appears to be a useful indicator for predicting invasive IPMN.
Dilatation ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Mucins ; Multivariate Analysis ; Pancreas ; Pancreatectomy ; Pancreatic Ducts ; Pancreaticoduodenectomy ; Retrospective Studies ; ROC Curve ; Sensitivity and Specificity

OBJECTIVES: Adoption of hospital information systems offers distinctive advantages in healthcare delivery. First, implementation of consolidated hospital information system in Seoul National University Hospital led to significant improvements in quality of healthcare and efficiency of hospital management. METHODS: The hospital information system in Seoul National University Hospital consists of component applications: clinical information systems, clinical research support systems, administrative information systems, management information systems, education support systems, and referral systems that operate to generate utmost performance when delivering healthcare services. RESULTS: Clinical information systems, which consist of such applications as electronic medical records, picture archiving and communication systems, primarily support clinical activities. Clinical research support system provides valuable resources supporting various aspects of clinical activities, ranging from management of clinical laboratory tests to establishing care-giving procedures. CONCLUSIONS: Seoul National University Hospital strives to move its hospital information system to a whole new level, which enables customized healthcare service and fulfills individual requirements. The current information strategy is being formulated as an initial step of development, promoting the establishment of next-generation hospital information system.
Adoption ; Confidentiality ; Delivery of Health Care ; Electronic Health Records ; Hospital Information Systems ; Information Systems ; Management Information Systems ; Quality of Health Care ; Radiology Information Systems ; Referral and Consultation

Despite epidemiological studies reporting no negative effects of mild to moderate alcohol drinking on cognitive functioning, a recent well-controlled study showed that chronic mild drinking diminished the volume of the brain and was associated with cognitive decline that worsened as a function of the amount of alcohol consumed. Animal studies have demonstrated that neural cell damage follows chronic alcohol intake and withdrawal. In addition, acute excessive alcohol intake has been shown to result in temporary impairment of memory, and chronic alcohol drinking is often related to neuronal damage and cognitive disorders. Even though a diverse spectrum of cognitive disorders can develop after sustained alcohol drinking, no definite diagnostic criteria existed before those proposed by Oslin; the availability of these criteria will provide more structured clinical and academic approaches to alcohol-related cognitive decline, including dementia. In general, diminished cognitive functioning has been related to excessive alcohol consumption, with cognitive functioning gradually recovering over time. With the exception of the administration of thiamine in Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome, only supportive pharmacotherapies have been provided for patients with alcohol-related cognitive disorders. However, experimental trials with rivastigmine or donepezil have been conducted for special populations with persistent cognitive impairments, and these studies reported favorable outcomes. We administered memantine for alcohol-related dementia and observed improvements in verbal memory and scores on the mini-mental status exam. We anticipate that novel and appropriate therapeutic agents for various conditions in this domain will be developed based on systematic diagnostic criteria and the accumulation of neurobiological evidence about alcohol-related cognitive decline.
Alcohol Drinking ; Alcoholism ; Animals ; Brain ; Dementia ; Drinking ; Humans ; Indans ; Korsakoff Syndrome ; Memantine ; Memory ; Neurons ; Phenylcarbamates ; Piperidines ; Thiamine ; Rivastigmine

OBJECTIVE: This prospective study evaluated the ability of indirect 16-row multidetector CT venography, in comparison with Doppler sonography, to detect deep vein thrombosis after total hip or knee replacement. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixty-two patients had undergone orthopedic replacement surgery on a total of 30 hip joints and 54 knee joints. The CT venography (scan delay time: 180 seconds; slice thickness/increment: 2/1.5 mm) and Doppler sonography were performed 8 to 40 days after surgery. We measured the z-axis length of the beam hardening artifact that degraded the image quality so that the presence of deep vein thrombosis couldn't be evaluated on the axial CT images. The incidence and location of deep vein thrombosis was analyzed. The diagnostic performance of the CT venograms was evaluated and compared with that of Doppler sonography as a standard of reference. RESULTS: The z-axis length (mean +/- standard deviation) of the beam hardening artifact was 4.5 +/- 0.8 cm in the arthroplastic knees and 3.9 +/- 2.9 cm in the arthroplastic hips. Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) was found in the popliteal or calf veins on Doppler sonography in 30 (48%) of the 62 patients. The CT venography has a sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value and accuracy of 90%, 97%, 96%, 91% and 94%, respectively. CONCLUSION: The ability of CT venography to detect DVT was comparable to that of Doppler sonography despite of beam hardening artifact. Therefore, CT venography is feasible to use as an alternative modality for evaluating post-arthroplasty patients.
Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; *Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip ; *Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee ; Artifacts ; Female ; Humans ; Leg/*blood supply ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Predictive Value of Tests ; Prospective Studies ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed/*methods ; Venous Thrombosis/etiology/*radiography/*ultrasonography