Ganglion cysts originating from the volar wrist joint are usually found on the volar side. A case report has described a patient with a dorsal wrist ganglion originating from the scapholunate ligament and appearing at a volar location. However, no cases of volar wrist ganglia appearing on the dorsal wrist have been reported. Herein, we present a rare case of a large dorsal ganglion cyst originating from the volar scaphotrapeziotrapezoidal (STT) joint that pierced the first dorsal interosseous muscle, leading to dorsal bulging. A 40-year-old woman presented with a progressively growing mass over the dorsal aspect of her left wrist and mild pain. Preoperative imaging showed a ganglion cyst originating from the volar side of the STT joint. The ganglion was successfully removed through open surgery. In conclusion, since ganglion cysts occurring in the dorsal wrist, especially if there is deviation to the radial side, may originate from the volar midcarpal joint, magnetic resonance imaging is necessary to reduce the risk of recurrence and minimize the likelihood of postoperative complications.

Ganglion cysts originating from the volar wrist joint are usually found on the volar side. A case report has described a patient with a dorsal wrist ganglion originating from the scapholunate ligament and appearing at a volar location. However, no cases of volar wrist ganglia appearing on the dorsal wrist have been reported. Herein, we present a rare case of a large dorsal ganglion cyst originating from the volar scaphotrapeziotrapezoidal (STT) joint that pierced the first dorsal interosseous muscle, leading to dorsal bulging. A 40-year-old woman presented with a progressively growing mass over the dorsal aspect of her left wrist and mild pain. Preoperative imaging showed a ganglion cyst originating from the volar side of the STT joint. The ganglion was successfully removed through open surgery. In conclusion, since ganglion cysts occurring in the dorsal wrist, especially if there is deviation to the radial side, may originate from the volar midcarpal joint, magnetic resonance imaging is necessary to reduce the risk of recurrence and minimize the likelihood of postoperative complications.

Ganglion cysts originating from the volar wrist joint are usually found on the volar side. A case report has described a patient with a dorsal wrist ganglion originating from the scapholunate ligament and appearing at a volar location. However, no cases of volar wrist ganglia appearing on the dorsal wrist have been reported. Herein, we present a rare case of a large dorsal ganglion cyst originating from the volar scaphotrapeziotrapezoidal (STT) joint that pierced the first dorsal interosseous muscle, leading to dorsal bulging. A 40-year-old woman presented with a progressively growing mass over the dorsal aspect of her left wrist and mild pain. Preoperative imaging showed a ganglion cyst originating from the volar side of the STT joint. The ganglion was successfully removed through open surgery. In conclusion, since ganglion cysts occurring in the dorsal wrist, especially if there is deviation to the radial side, may originate from the volar midcarpal joint, magnetic resonance imaging is necessary to reduce the risk of recurrence and minimize the likelihood of postoperative complications.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has been a major public health emergency worldwide. Vaccines were rapidly developed and approved to prevent the spread of viral infection. However, various side effects of the COVID-19 messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccines have been reported after their commercialization. A 24-year-old man visited our emergency department with polyuria and polydipsia that occurred after he received a COVID-19 mRNA vaccine 10 days beforehand. The initial laboratory findings showed very low urine osmolality with hyperosmolar hypernatremia. Based on these findings, diabetes insipidus was suspected, and sella magnetic resonance imaging showed an enlarged pituitary gland and the absence of posterior pituitary higher intensity. After 12 hours of using oral desmopressin acetate, urine volume decreased, and after 5 days of administration, serum electrolyte and serum osmolality improved. This case report of diabetes insipidus occurring after vaccination with the BNT162b2 mRNA COVID-19 vaccine is presented as a reminder that close monitoring is necessary for patients with polyuria and polydipsia after vaccination.

Purpose: Awareness of environmental control is considered a major influence on the performance of asthma self-management behaviors that are involved in maintaining effective control of asthma. The aim of this study was to investigate whether immersive virtual reality (VR) education is effective in environmental control education for asthmatic children. Methods: Thirty asthmatic children aged 9 to 13 years with aeroallergen sensitization were enrolled. Environmental control education for asthmatic subjects were performed using either immersive VR (VR group) or conventional leaflets provided by asthma specialists (control group). Five questionnaires, such as awareness of environmental control, memory, assessment of intent to act, satisfaction test, and asthma control test (ACT) questionnaires were used for estimating the effects of education. Results: Awareness of environmental control, memory, and intent to act scores were significantly increased after education in both groups and the scores were maintained high until 4 weeks after education. In both group, ACT scores were maintained high scores before and 4 weeks after education. Satisfaction scores were very high in the VR group. Conclusion The increased scores in awareness of environmental control and intent to act indicate that the environmental control education using VR is worthy of attention as an effective educational tool for asthma management. Application of further developed techniques, including active environmental intervention by participants in VR, could be applied to effective asthma management.

Objective: Lactate clearance is reportedly associated with the outcomes of various critical illnesses. However, few studies have examined the association between lactate clearance and outcomes in patients with gastrointestinal bleeding (GIB). Methods: A single-center retrospective observational study between 2016 and 2020 was conducted. Consecutive adult patients with GIB symptoms (melena, hematemesis, and hematochezia) presenting to the emergency department were included. Lactate clearance was calculated as ([initial lactate-subsequent lactate]/initial lactate)×100. The association between lactate clearance and outcomes was examined by multivariable logistic regression analysis. The primary outcome was the in-hospital mortality. The area under the curve (AUC) of lactate clearance for in-hospital mortality was calculated. The sensitivity and specificity with optimal cutoff values were computed. The AUC of lactate clearance was compared with the Glasgow-Blatchford score and AIMS65 for predicting in-hospital mortality. Results: Three hundred and fifty-one patients were included in the final analysis, and the in-hospital mortality rate was 12%. Lactate clearance was significantly associated with lower in-hospital mortality (odds ratio, 0.991; P=0.016). The AUC of lactate clearance for in-hospital mortality was 0.64. The AUC of Glasgow-Blatchford score and AIMS65 for inhospital mortality was not significantly different from lactate clearance (P=0.759 and P=0.442, respectively). A cutoff lactate clearance of less than 10% had 45.2% sensitivity, 30.7% specificity, 8.2% positive predictive value, and 80.5% negative predictive value for predicting in-hospital mortality. Conclusion Lactate clearance was independently associated with in-hospital mortality in GIB patients. Further prospective studies will be needed to address the prognostic value of lactate clearance in GIB.

Purpose: This study investigates the characteristics and prognosis of acute poisoning patients visiting nationwide emergency departments before and after the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Data were obtained from the National Emergency Department Information System (NEDIS). Methods: This nationwide retrospective observational study included acute poisoning patients who visited the emergency departments between February 1 to December 31, 2020, which has been determined as the pandemic period. The same periods in 2018 and 2019 were designated as the control periods. The primary outcome assessed was the length of stay in emergency departments (EDLOS). The secondary outcomes examined were intensive care unit admission rate and in-hospital mortality rate before and after the pandemic. A subgroup analysis was performed for inpatients and intentional poisoning patients. Results: A total of 163,560 patients were included in the study. During the pandemic, the proportion of women increased from 50.0% in 2018 and 50.3% in 2019 to 52.5% in 2020. Patients aged 20-29 years increased from 13.4% in 2018 and 13.9% in 2019 to 16.6% in 2020. A rise in cases of intentional poisoning was also noted - from 33.9% in 2018 and 34.0% in 2019 to 38.4% in 2020. Evaluating the hospitalized poisoned patients revealed that the EDLOS increased from 3.8 hours in 2018 and 3.7 hours in 2019 to 4.2 hours in 2020. ICU admissions were also markedly increased (2018, 48.2%; 2019, 51.8%; 2020, 53.2%) among hospitalized patients. Conclusion The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the epidemiology, clinical characteristics, and prognosis of acute poisoning patients visiting nationwide emergency departments in Korea. The proportion of young adults, women, and intentional poisoning patients has increased after the COVID-19 pandemic. Prolonged length of stay at the emergency department and an increased rate of intensive care unit admissions were determined in hospitalized acute poisoning patients.

Objective: To examine the association of inferior vena cava (IVC) diameter ratio measured using computed tomography with outcomes in patients with gastrointestinal bleeding (GIB). Methods: A single-center retrospective observational study was conducted on consecutive patients with GIB who presented to the emergency department. The IVC diameter ratio was calculated by dividing the maximum transverse and anteroposterior diameters perpendicular to it. The association of the IVC diameter ratio with outcomes was examined using multivariable logistic regression analysis. The primary outcome was in-hospital mortality. The area under the receiver operator characteristic curve (AUC) of the IVC diameter ratio was calculated, and the sensitivity and specificity, including the cutoff values, were computed. Results: In total, 585 patients were included in the final analysis. The in-hospital mortality rate was 4.6% (n=27). The IVC diameter ratio was significantly associated with higher in-hospital mortality in multivariable logistic regression analysis (odds ratio, 1.793; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.239–2.597; P=0.002). The AUC of the IVC diameter ratio for in-hospital mortality was 0.616 (95% CI, 0.498–0.735). With a cutoff of the IVC diameter ratio (≥2.1), the sensitivity and specificity for predicting in-hospital mortality were 44% (95% CI, 26%–65%) and 71% (95% CI, 67%–75%), respectively. Conclusion The IVC diameter ratio was independently associated with in-hospital mortality in patients with GIB. However, the AUC of the IVC diameter ratio for in-hospital mortality was low.

Background/Aims: Long-term benefit of vasodilating β-blockers is unknown. This study aimed to investigate the long-term benefit of vasodilating β-blockers over conventional β-blockers in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Methods: Using nationwide prospective multicenter Korean Acute Myocardial Infarction Registry data, we analyzed 3-year clinical outcomes of 7,269 patients with AMI who received percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and β-blocker therapy. Patients were classified according to treatment strategy (vasodilating β-blockers vs. conventional β-blockers). The primary endpoint was a composite of cardiac death, myocardial infarction (MI), and hospitalization for heart failure (HF) at 3 years. Secondary outcomes were each component of the primary outcome. Propensity score matching was performed to adjust for differences of baseline characteristics. Results: In 3,079 pairs (6,158 patients) of propensity score-matched patients, the primary outcome occurred significantly less in the vasodilating β-blockers group compared with the conventional β-blockers group (7.6% vs. 9.8%, p = 0.003). Among the secondary outcomes, cardiac death occurred significantly less in the vasodilating β-blockers group than in the conventional group (3.5% vs. 4.8%, p = 0.015). The incidence rates of MI (2.4% vs. 3.0%, p = 0.160) or hospitalization for HF (2.6% vs. 3.2%, p = 0.192) were not significantly different between the two groups. Conclusions Vasodilating β-blocker therapy was associated with better clinical outcomes compared with conventional β-blocker therapy in AMI patients undergoing PCI during 3 years follow-up. Vasodilating β-blockers could be recommended preferentially for these patients.

Purpose: It is known that the most common cause of gas poisoning in Korea is suicide attempts by burning ignition coals. Ignition coals are made from waste wood, and studies have been reported that heavy metals are emitted when this coal is burned. However, there was no study on how much heavy metal poisoning occurs in the human body through this, so this study was planned to find out whether the concentration of heavy metals in the blood increased in patients exposed to ignition coal combustion. Methods: From April 2020 to April 2021, blood lead, mercury, and cadmium concentrations were investigated in carbon monoxide poisoning patients who visited one regional emergency medical center in Seoul, and their association with exposure time, source of poisoning, and rhabdomyolysis were investigated. Results: During the study period, a total of 136 carbon monoxide poisoning patients were tested for heavy metals, and 81 cases of poisoning by ignition coal were reported. When comparing poisoning caused by combustion of ignition coal and other substances, there was no difference in the concentrations of lead, mercury, and cadmium in the blood, and there was no difference in the number of patients above the reference range. However, the patients exposed to more than 5 hours of ignition coal gas exposure are more frequent than those in the group less than 5 hours in lead (51.4% vs. 23.9%, p=0.012). Conclusion Compared to poisoning with other combustible substances, the blood concentration of lead, mercury, and cadmium does not increase further in patients with gas poisoning by ignition coal. However, prolonged exposure may result in elevated levels of lead.