Purpose: Postoperative adhesions following thyroid surgery can lead to multiple complications that significantly impact quality of life. The use of an acellular dermal matrix (ADM) adhesion barrier device has been proposed as a potential solution to reduce the risk of such adhesions. This study aimed to evaluate the safety and anti-adhesive effect of an ADM in patients undergoing thyroid surgery. Methods: In this multicenter randomized controlled trial, patients undergoing thyroid surgery were randomly assigned to receive either ADM (n = 42) or no ADM (n = 39) during surgery. The primary outcome was the Swallowing Impairment Score (SIS-6), measured 6 weeks after surgery and compared between groups. Secondary outcomes included intergroup comparisons of the SIS-6, the Voice Handicap Index (VHI)-10, and the Glasgow-Edinburgh Throat Scale (GETS) at baseline, and 2, 6, and 18 weeks after surgery. Results: At week 6, the mean SIS-6 scores were 4.0 ± 4.1 and 3.3 ± 4.2 in the ADM and control groups, respectively, which was not significantly different. Both groups showed similar postoperative improvements in SIS-6, VHI-10, and GETS scores over time, without significant differences between groups at any time point, indicating that the ADM did not reduce the incidence of postoperative adhesions or alter the course of recovery compared to the control group. Conclusion Although application of the ADM is safe for use in patients undergoing thyroid surgery, it did not produce a clinically significant advantage in preventing postoperative adhesions. Future research should focus on identifying specific patient populations or surgical scenarios where the use of the ADM may be beneficial.

Purpose: Postoperative adhesions following thyroid surgery can lead to multiple complications that significantly impact quality of life. The use of an acellular dermal matrix (ADM) adhesion barrier device has been proposed as a potential solution to reduce the risk of such adhesions. This study aimed to evaluate the safety and anti-adhesive effect of an ADM in patients undergoing thyroid surgery. Methods: In this multicenter randomized controlled trial, patients undergoing thyroid surgery were randomly assigned to receive either ADM (n = 42) or no ADM (n = 39) during surgery. The primary outcome was the Swallowing Impairment Score (SIS-6), measured 6 weeks after surgery and compared between groups. Secondary outcomes included intergroup comparisons of the SIS-6, the Voice Handicap Index (VHI)-10, and the Glasgow-Edinburgh Throat Scale (GETS) at baseline, and 2, 6, and 18 weeks after surgery. Results: At week 6, the mean SIS-6 scores were 4.0 ± 4.1 and 3.3 ± 4.2 in the ADM and control groups, respectively, which was not significantly different. Both groups showed similar postoperative improvements in SIS-6, VHI-10, and GETS scores over time, without significant differences between groups at any time point, indicating that the ADM did not reduce the incidence of postoperative adhesions or alter the course of recovery compared to the control group. Conclusion Although application of the ADM is safe for use in patients undergoing thyroid surgery, it did not produce a clinically significant advantage in preventing postoperative adhesions. Future research should focus on identifying specific patient populations or surgical scenarios where the use of the ADM may be beneficial.

Purpose: Postoperative adhesions following thyroid surgery can lead to multiple complications that significantly impact quality of life. The use of an acellular dermal matrix (ADM) adhesion barrier device has been proposed as a potential solution to reduce the risk of such adhesions. This study aimed to evaluate the safety and anti-adhesive effect of an ADM in patients undergoing thyroid surgery. Methods: In this multicenter randomized controlled trial, patients undergoing thyroid surgery were randomly assigned to receive either ADM (n = 42) or no ADM (n = 39) during surgery. The primary outcome was the Swallowing Impairment Score (SIS-6), measured 6 weeks after surgery and compared between groups. Secondary outcomes included intergroup comparisons of the SIS-6, the Voice Handicap Index (VHI)-10, and the Glasgow-Edinburgh Throat Scale (GETS) at baseline, and 2, 6, and 18 weeks after surgery. Results: At week 6, the mean SIS-6 scores were 4.0 ± 4.1 and 3.3 ± 4.2 in the ADM and control groups, respectively, which was not significantly different. Both groups showed similar postoperative improvements in SIS-6, VHI-10, and GETS scores over time, without significant differences between groups at any time point, indicating that the ADM did not reduce the incidence of postoperative adhesions or alter the course of recovery compared to the control group. Conclusion Although application of the ADM is safe for use in patients undergoing thyroid surgery, it did not produce a clinically significant advantage in preventing postoperative adhesions. Future research should focus on identifying specific patient populations or surgical scenarios where the use of the ADM may be beneficial.

Background: While Korea maintains a low prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), the number of newly diagnosed cases has been steadily rising, reaching approximately 1,000 annually in recent years. The 2022 annual report from the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency revealed that women living with HIV (WLWH) constitute 6.4% of the total confirmed people living with the HIV population, totaling 1,219 individuals. Despite this, only a few studies have focused on WLWH in Korea. This study aims to analyze the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of WLWH in Korea. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively collected data by reviewing the medical records of all WLWH who visited 10 urban referral hospitals across Korea between January 2005 and May 2023. Results: A total of 443 WLWH were enrolled in this study. The predominant risk exposure was heterosexual contact, with 235 (53%) participants either married or cohabiting with a male partner at their initial clinic visit. Among the participants, 334 (77.7%) were Korean, 27 (6.1%) were Southeast Asian, and 19 (4.3%) were African. Antiretroviral therapy was initiated by 404 WLWH (91.2%). We observed 118 pregnancies in WLWH following their HIV diagnosis, resulting in 78 live births (66.1%), 18 induced abortions (15.2%), 10 pre-viable fetal losses (8.5%), and four stillbirths (3.4%). Over a cumulative follow-up duration of 3,202.1 years, the incidence rates of breast and cervical cancers were both 2.18 per 1,000 person-years. Additionally, the incidence rates of pelvic inflammatory disease, cervical intraepithelial neoplasm (above grade II), and osteoporosis were 4.67, 11.21, and 13.39 per 1,000 patient-years, respectively. Conclusion This is the first multicenter study to investigate the clinical and epidemiological characteristics of WLWH in Korea. The incidence and prevalence of diseases in women, including breast cancer, cervical cancer, and chronic comorbidities, are high in WLWH in Korea; therefore, further research and efforts are needed to manage these diseases.

OBJECTIVES: This study investigated the relationship between night work, supervisor support, and depressive symptoms among full-time wage workers, with a focus on gender differences. METHODS: A nationwide sample of 22,422 full-time wage workers from the Sixth Korean Working Conditions Survey (2020-2021) was analyzed. Experiences of night work were categorized into 5 groups based on the number of night work days per month: 0, 1-5, 6-10, 11-15, and 16-31. Depressive symptoms were evaluated using the 5-item World Health Organization Well-Being Index. Supervisor support was assessed with 5 items. RESULTS: Workers who engaged in 1-5 days (prevalence ratio [PR], 1.23; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.12 to 1.36) and 6-10 days (PR, 1.17; 95% CI, 1.06 to 1.30) of night work per month exhibited a higher prevalence of depressive symptoms than those without night work. After stratifying by supervisor support levels, workers with 1-5 days, 6-10 days, and 11-15 days of night work per month were more likely to experience depressive symptoms compared to those without night work in the low supervisor support group. In contrast, no association was found between night work (≥6 days) and depressive symptoms in the high supervisor support group. Furthermore, gender differences were notable: female workers with 6-10 days (PR, 1.45; 95% CI, 1.23 to 1.70), and 11-15 days (PR, 1.43; 95% CI, 1.08 to 1.90) of night work per month exhibited a higher prevalence of depressive symptoms, whereas their male counterparts did not. This pattern of gender difference was also found among those with low supervisor support. CONCLUSIONS Supervisor support may mitigate the adverse effects of night work on depressive symptoms among full-time wage workers, with differences manifested across genders.

OBJECTIVES: This study investigated the relationship between night work, supervisor support, and depressive symptoms among full-time wage workers, with a focus on gender differences. METHODS: A nationwide sample of 22,422 full-time wage workers from the Sixth Korean Working Conditions Survey (2020-2021) was analyzed. Experiences of night work were categorized into 5 groups based on the number of night work days per month: 0, 1-5, 6-10, 11-15, and 16-31. Depressive symptoms were evaluated using the 5-item World Health Organization Well-Being Index. Supervisor support was assessed with 5 items. RESULTS: Workers who engaged in 1-5 days (prevalence ratio [PR], 1.23; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.12 to 1.36) and 6-10 days (PR, 1.17; 95% CI, 1.06 to 1.30) of night work per month exhibited a higher prevalence of depressive symptoms than those without night work. After stratifying by supervisor support levels, workers with 1-5 days, 6-10 days, and 11-15 days of night work per month were more likely to experience depressive symptoms compared to those without night work in the low supervisor support group. In contrast, no association was found between night work (≥6 days) and depressive symptoms in the high supervisor support group. Furthermore, gender differences were notable: female workers with 6-10 days (PR, 1.45; 95% CI, 1.23 to 1.70), and 11-15 days (PR, 1.43; 95% CI, 1.08 to 1.90) of night work per month exhibited a higher prevalence of depressive symptoms, whereas their male counterparts did not. This pattern of gender difference was also found among those with low supervisor support. CONCLUSIONS Supervisor support may mitigate the adverse effects of night work on depressive symptoms among full-time wage workers, with differences manifested across genders.