Purpose: This study aimed to determine the impact of an intervention using voice recording of family members on pain, anxiety, and agitation in patients undergoing weaning from mechanical ventilation. Methods: A randomized control pre-post experimental design was implemented to 53 participants, with 27 and 26 participants in the experimental and control groups, respectively. A 70-second voice recording of a family member, repeated three times at 10-minute intervals was used as an intervention for the experimental group. Meanwhile, participants in the control group used headset for 30 minutes. Structured instruments were utilized to measure pain, anxiety, agitation, and the weaning process. Wilcoxon Signed Ranks test and the Mann-Whitney U test, or χ2 test, were used for data analysis. Results: The experimental group exhibited significant decrease in pain (Z = - 3.53, p < .001), anxiety (t = 5.45, p < .001), and agitation (Z = - 2.99, p = .003) scores compared with those of the control group. However, there was no significant difference between groups in the weaning process’ simplification (χ2 = 0.63, p = .727). Conclusion Intervention using family members’ voice recording effectively reduces pain, anxiety, and agitation in patients undergoing weaning from mechanical ventilation. This can be actively utilized to provide a more comfortable process for patients.

Anatomy is a foundational subject in medicine and serves as its language. Hippocrates highlighted its importance, while Herophilus pioneered human dissection, earning him the title of the founder of anatomy. Vesalius later established modern anatomy, which has since evolved historically. In Korea, formal anatomy education for medical training began with the introduction of Western medicine during the late Joseon Dynasty. Before and after the Japanese occupation, anatomy education was conducted in the German style, and after liberation, it was maintained and developed by a small number of domestic anatomists. Medicine in Korea has grown alongside the country’s rapid economic and social development. Today, 40 medical colleges produce world-class doctors to provide the best medical care service in the country. However, the societal demand for more doctors is growing in order to proactively address to challenges such as public healthcare issues, essential healthcare provision, regional medical service disparities, and an aging population.This study examines the history, current state, and challenges of anatomy education in Korea, emphasizing the availability of medical educators, support staff, and cadavers for gross anatomy instruction. While variations exist between Seoul and provincial medical colleges, each manages to deliver adequate education under challenging conditions. However, the rapid increase in medical student enrollment threatens to strain existing anatomy education resources, potentially compromising educational quality. To address these concerns, we propose strategies for training qualified gross anatomy educators, ensuring a sustainable cadaver supply, and enhancing infrastructure.

Objective: The economic hardship brought by the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-2019) pandemic has caused mental health problems among people of different socioeconomic status (SES). As social support helps to buffer these problems, we investigated the association between job loss related to COVID-19 and depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts; the differences in the effects according to SES; and the mediating effects of social support. Methods: The effects of COVID-19-related job loss on depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts among 1,364 people were investigated through semi-structured and self-administered questionnaires: Patient Health Questionnaire–9, General Anxiety Disorder–7, and the Functional Social Support Questionnaire. Logistic regression and subgroup analyses were performed to assess the association between job loss and mental health status, and the moderating effects of income and educational levels. Moreover, the mediating effects of perceived social support on the association between job loss and depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts were analyzed. Results: COVID-19-related job loss increased the risk of depression and suicidal thoughts. Adults with lower income and education level were at higher risk of depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts; perceived social support level had significant mediating effects on the association between job loss and depression/anxiety; and income level had significant moderating effects on this mediating pathway. Conclusion COVID-19-related job loss were likely to be significantly associated with negative mental health outcomes, especially among individuals with low income and education levels. As social support had buffering effects on such outcomes, related government policies in cooperation with the governance of communities and stakeholders must be prepared.

Purpose: To assess the symmetry of microvascular parameters measured via optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) between the dominant and non-dominant eyes of normal Korean subjects. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed data on 120 eyes of 60 healthy Koreans. The ‘hole-in-the-card’ technique was used to determine ocular dominance. Central macular, peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer thickness, and macular ganglion cell-inner plexiform layer thickness, were measured via spectral domain OCT. Vessel and perfusion density and the area of the foveal avascular zone (FAZ) were measured via OCTA. We used the paired t-test to compare all between-eye parameters. We calculated areas under receiver operating characteristic curves to determine diagnostic utility. Results: The average participant age was 27.4 ± 2.01 years. Forty-one subjects (68.3%) were right eye-dominant and 19 (31.7%) left eye-dominant. None of the central macular, macular GC-IPL, or peripapillary RNFL thickness differed between the eyes; neither did any OCTA-assessed microvascular parameter (vessel or perfusion density or the FAZ area). Conclusions No OCT or OCTA parameter differed between dominant and non-dominant eyes. No parameter identified ocular dominance.

Background: Multiple system atrophy (MSA) is a sporadic neurodegenerative disease characterized by various combinations of parkinsonism, cerebellar ataxia, autonomic dysfunction and pyramidal signs. Two clinical subtypes are recognized: MSA with predominant cerebellar ataxia (MSA-C) and MSA with predominant parkinsonism (MSA-P). The aim of this study was to compare pathological features between MSA-C and MSA-P. Methods: Two autopsy confirmed cases with MSA were included from the Pusan National University Hospital Brain Bank. Case 1 had been clinically diagnosed as MSA-C and case 2 as MSA-P. The severity of neuronal loss and gliosis as well as the glial and neuronal cytoplasmic inclusions were semiquantitatively assessed in both striatonigral and olivopontocerebellar regions. Based on the grading system, pathological phenotypes of MSA were classified as striatonigral degeneration (SND) predominant (SND type), olivopontocerebellar degeneration (OPC) predominant (OPC type), or equivalent SND and OPC pathology (SND=OPC type). Results: Both cases showed widespread and abundant α-synuclein positive glial cytoplasmic inclusions in association with neurodegenerative changes in striatonigral or olivopontocerebellar structures, leading to the primary pathological diagnosis of MSA. Primary age-related tauopathy was incidentally found but Lewy bodies were not in both cases. The pathological phenotypes of MSA were MSA-OPC type in case 1 and MSA-SND=OPC type in case 2. Conclusions Our data suggest that clinical phenotypes of MSA reflect the pathological characteristics.

Choledochal cyst has only rarely been encountered in association with pregnancy. The clinical manifestations are nonspecific and variable that makes it difficult to differentiate from physiologic changes in pregnancy. Consequently, diagnosis is often delayed until patients present with life-threatening complications. During pregnancy, symptoms of choledochal cyst may be developed by hormonal changes and the enlarged uterus. Because of the risk of fetal mortality and maternal morbidity, definitive surgical treatment should be delayed and step-by-step management should be carefully implemented to avoid complication until delivery. Herein, we report a case of enlarged, symptomatic choledochal cyst that developed in a 26-year-old pregnant woman. The temporal relationship between pregnancy and symptom development, as well as the biliary sludge formation in the enlarged cyst, suggest that the choledochal cyst was influenced by pregnancy. In order to buy time for fetal maturation, endoscopic ultrasonography-guided choledochoduodenostomy was performed for biliary decompression as a bridge to surgical excision.
Adult ; Bile ; Choledochal Cyst* ; Choledochostomy* ; Decompression ; Diagnosis ; Endosonography ; Female ; Fetal Mortality ; Humans ; Pregnancy* ; Pregnant Women ; Uterus

Among complications of choledochal cysts, malignant transformation is most concerning and management of choledochal cyst now includes complete cyst excision, whenever possible. In cases of choledochal cyst associated with pancreaticobiliary maljunction like our case, cholecystectomy along with the resection of dilatated bile duct and the biliary diversion are generally performed. However, incomplete cyst excision can result in malignant transformation within the remnant cyst. We present the case of cholangiocarcinoma arising from remnant intrapancreatic cyst 15 years after choledochal cyst excision in a patient with Todani type 1 choledochal cyst associated with pancreaticobiliary maljunction. We learn from the case that a careful long-term follow-up is needed in patients with choledochal cysts if residual cyst is remained after excision.
Bile Ducts ; Cholangiocarcinoma* ; Cholecystectomy ; Choledochal Cyst* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Pancreatic Cyst

The National Health Information Standards Committee was established in 2004 in Korea. The practical subcommittee for laboratory test terminology was placed in charge of standardizing laboratory medicine terminology in Korean. We aimed to establish a standardized Korean laboratory terminology database, Korea-Logical Observation Identifier Names and Codes (K-LOINC) based on former products sponsored by this committee. The primary product was revised based on the opinions of specialists. Next, we mapped the electronic data interchange (EDI) codes that were revised in 2014, to the corresponding K-LOINC. We established a database of synonyms, including the laboratory codes of three reference laboratories and four tertiary hospitals in Korea. Furthermore, we supplemented the clinical microbiology section of K-LOINC using an alternative mapping strategy. We investigated other systems that utilize laboratory codes in order to investigate the compatibility of K-LOINC with statistical standards for a number of tests. A total of 48,990 laboratory codes were adopted (21,539 new and 16,330 revised). All of the LOINC synonyms were translated into Korean, and 39,347 Korean synonyms were added. Moreover, 21,773 synonyms were added from reference laboratories and tertiary hospitals. Alternative strategies were established for mapping within the microbiology domain. When we applied these to a smaller hospital, the mapping rate was successfully increased. Finally, we confirmed K-LOINC compatibility with other statistical standards, including a newly proposed EDI code system. This project successfully established an up-to-date standardized Korean laboratory terminology database, as well as an updated EDI mapping to facilitate the introduction of standard terminology into institutions.

A 45-year-old woman with a prior history of hysterectomy due to adenomyosis and leiomyomas was presented at our outpatient gynecology clinic 13 months later with sudden lower pelvic discomfort and vaginal bleeding symptoms. The patient underwent vaginal vault biopsy however diagnosis was still uncertain. Additional evaluation was required due to massive rebleeding incidents. After an emergent explorative laparoscopic operation with total excision of the vault, a diagnosis of vaginal vault endometriosis was made. Our theory is that a possible transplantation of endometrial cells during morcellation of the adenomyotic uterus which then may have progressed to iatrogenic endometriosis of the vaginal vault. Therefore, vault endometriosis must be considered in incidences of delayed massive bleeding occurring in post-hysterectomy patients when other diagnoses have been excluded.
Adenomyosis ; Biopsy ; Diagnosis ; Endometriosis* ; Female ; Gynecology ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Hysterectomy ; Incidence ; Leiomyoma ; Middle Aged ; Outpatients ; Uterine Hemorrhage ; Uterus

OBJECTIVE: Capsaicin, a noxious stimulant and main component of the hot flavor of red peppers, has an analgesic effect when administered to humans. We investigated the expression of proopioimelanocortin (POMC) mRNA in the arcuate nucleus of Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats after administering capsaicin, hypothesizing that administering capsaicin activates the central opioid system. METHODS: SD rats were divided randomly into two groups; one group received a saline injection and the other received a capsaicin injection. The POMC mRNA level in the arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus was measured by the reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction at 0, 20, 40, 60, and 120 minutes after capsaicin administration. RESULTS: Capsaicin administration resulted in a significantly increased POMC mRNA level, compared to that in saline-treated rats at the 20-minute time point (t=-4.445, p=0.001). However, no significant group differences were observed at other times (t=-1.886, p=0.089; t= -0.973, p=0.353; t=-2.193, p=0.053 for 40, 60, and 120 minutes, respectively). CONCLUSION: The analgesic effect of capsaicin might be associated with increased activity of the cerebral opioid system. This finding suggests that capsaicin acted for nociception and analgesia and could affect alcohol-intake behavior, which might further imply that a food culture could affect drinking behavior.
Analgesia ; Animals ; Arcuate Nucleus ; beta-Endorphin ; Capsaicin ; Capsicum ; Drinking Behavior ; Humans ; Hypothalamus ; Nociception ; Pro-Opiomelanocortin ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; RNA, Messenger