This research group (forensic research via omics markers in environmental health vulnerable areas: FROM) aimed to develop biomarkers for exposure to environmental hazards and diseases, assess environmental diseases, and apply and verify these biomarkers in environmentally vulnerable areas. Environmentally vulnerable areas—including refineries, abandoned metal mines, coal-fired power plants, waste incinerators, cement factories, and areas with high exposure to particulate matter—along with control areas, were selected for epidemiological investigations. A total of 1,157 adults, who had resided in these areas for over 10 years, were recruited between June 2021 and September 2023. Personal characteristics of the study participants were gathered through a survey. Biological samples, specifically blood and urine, were collected during the field investigations, separated under refrigerated conditions, and then transported to the laboratory for biomarker analysis. Analyses of heavy metals, environmental hazards, and adducts were conducted on these blood and urine samples. Additionally, omics analyses of epigenomes, proteomes, and metabolomes were performed using the blood samples. The biomarkers identified in this study will be utilized to assess the risk of environmental disease occurrence and to evaluate the impact on the health of residents in environmentally vulnerable areas, following the validation of diagnostic accuracy for these diseases.

This research group (forensic research via omics markers in environmental health vulnerable areas: FROM) aimed to develop biomarkers for exposure to environmental hazards and diseases, assess environmental diseases, and apply and verify these biomarkers in environmentally vulnerable areas. Environmentally vulnerable areas—including refineries, abandoned metal mines, coal-fired power plants, waste incinerators, cement factories, and areas with high exposure to particulate matter—along with control areas, were selected for epidemiological investigations. A total of 1,157 adults, who had resided in these areas for over 10 years, were recruited between June 2021 and September 2023. Personal characteristics of the study participants were gathered through a survey. Biological samples, specifically blood and urine, were collected during the field investigations, separated under refrigerated conditions, and then transported to the laboratory for biomarker analysis. Analyses of heavy metals, environmental hazards, and adducts were conducted on these blood and urine samples. Additionally, omics analyses of epigenomes, proteomes, and metabolomes were performed using the blood samples. The biomarkers identified in this study will be utilized to assess the risk of environmental disease occurrence and to evaluate the impact on the health of residents in environmentally vulnerable areas, following the validation of diagnostic accuracy for these diseases.

This research group (forensic research via omics markers in environmental health vulnerable areas: FROM) aimed to develop biomarkers for exposure to environmental hazards and diseases, assess environmental diseases, and apply and verify these biomarkers in environmentally vulnerable areas. Environmentally vulnerable areas—including refineries, abandoned metal mines, coal-fired power plants, waste incinerators, cement factories, and areas with high exposure to particulate matter—along with control areas, were selected for epidemiological investigations. A total of 1,157 adults, who had resided in these areas for over 10 years, were recruited between June 2021 and September 2023. Personal characteristics of the study participants were gathered through a survey. Biological samples, specifically blood and urine, were collected during the field investigations, separated under refrigerated conditions, and then transported to the laboratory for biomarker analysis. Analyses of heavy metals, environmental hazards, and adducts were conducted on these blood and urine samples. Additionally, omics analyses of epigenomes, proteomes, and metabolomes were performed using the blood samples. The biomarkers identified in this study will be utilized to assess the risk of environmental disease occurrence and to evaluate the impact on the health of residents in environmentally vulnerable areas, following the validation of diagnostic accuracy for these diseases.

This research group (forensic research via omics markers in environmental health vulnerable areas: FROM) aimed to develop biomarkers for exposure to environmental hazards and diseases, assess environmental diseases, and apply and verify these biomarkers in environmentally vulnerable areas. Environmentally vulnerable areas—including refineries, abandoned metal mines, coal-fired power plants, waste incinerators, cement factories, and areas with high exposure to particulate matter—along with control areas, were selected for epidemiological investigations. A total of 1,157 adults, who had resided in these areas for over 10 years, were recruited between June 2021 and September 2023. Personal characteristics of the study participants were gathered through a survey. Biological samples, specifically blood and urine, were collected during the field investigations, separated under refrigerated conditions, and then transported to the laboratory for biomarker analysis. Analyses of heavy metals, environmental hazards, and adducts were conducted on these blood and urine samples. Additionally, omics analyses of epigenomes, proteomes, and metabolomes were performed using the blood samples. The biomarkers identified in this study will be utilized to assess the risk of environmental disease occurrence and to evaluate the impact on the health of residents in environmentally vulnerable areas, following the validation of diagnostic accuracy for these diseases.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the most effective treatment approach by comparing the impacts of various otolith reduction techniques in patients with apogeotropic lateral semicircular canal benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (LC-BPPV). Methods: We performed a multicenter randomized prospective study from January to December 2015, involving 72 consecutive patients with apogeotropic LC-BPPV. The patients were divided into three treatment groups: therapeutic head-shaking (group A), the Gufoni-Appiani maneuver (group B), and the cupulolith repositioning maneuver (CuRM; group C). Each group underwent evaluation and treatment up to the fourth week. Treatment success was defined as the disappearance of positional vertigo and nystagmus. Results: This study included 72 patients (49 male and 23 female), with a mean (±standard deviation) age of 55.4±13.5 years. The mean duration of vertigo experienced prior to treatment was 3.9±4.4 days. The mean latency and duration of nystagmus were 2.7±3.0 seconds and 47.9±15.8 seconds, respectively. The overall treatment frequency was 2.0±0.9. The number of treatments differed significantly among the three groups (P<0.05). After 4 weeks, the success rates for groups A, B, and C were 90.5%, 92.3%, and 100%, respectively. No significant difference was observed in the success rate across treatment methods and periods (P>0.05). However, CuRM was the only method with a 100% treatment success rate. Conclusion While no clear difference was observed among the three treatments for LC-BPPV, CuRM was found to be superior to the other approaches in the long term.

The number of patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) who are dependent on hemodialysis is increasing rapidly. As a result, more patients with ESRD need surgery. These patients have a significantly higher risk of postoperative death than those with normal kidney function. Therefore, this study analyzed the causes of postoperative mortality in ESRD patients undergoing surgery under general anesthesia and the risk factors for postoperative mortality. Methods: This retrospective analysis examined the mortality of ESRD patients, 20 to 80 years old, undergoing surgery under general anesthesia. We excluded patients who underwent cardiac, cancer, or emergency surgery or organ transplantation from the analysis. The primary outcome was the cause of postoperative 30-day mortality in ESRD patients. We also assessed the mortality rate and risk factors. Results: There were 2,459 eligible ESRD patients. When patients underwent multiple surgeries during the study period, only the last surgery was considered. In total, 167 patients died during the study period, including 65 within 30 days postoperatively. The cause of death was sepsis in 22 cases (33.8%) and a major cardiac event in 16 (24.6%). Atrial fibrillation, current angina, previous myocardial infarction, asthma, lower hemoglobin and albumin levels, and a larger intraoperative colloid volume were likely to increase mortality. Conclusions: Our study suggests that immunological issues have a significant role in the death of ESRD patients after general anesthesia.

Background: We compared upper- and lower-body forced-air blankets in terms of their ability to prevent perioperative hypothermia, defined as a reduction in body temperature to < 36.0°C, during the perioperative period in patients undergoing spine surgery in the prone position. Methods: In total, 120 patients scheduled for elective spine surgery under general anesthesia were divided into an upper-warming group (n = 60) and a lower-warming group (n = 60). After inducing anesthesia and preparing the patient for surgery, including prone positioning, the upper and lower bodies of the patients in the upper- and lower-warming groups, respectively, were warmed using a forced-air warmer with specified upper and lower blankets. Body temperature was measured using a tympanic membrane thermometer during the pre- and post-operative periods and using a nasopharyngeal temperature probe during the intraoperative period. Patients were evaluated in terms of shivering, thermal comfort, and satisfaction in the post-anesthesia care unit (PACU). Results: The incidence of intraoperative and postoperative hypothermia was lower in the upper-warming group than in the lower-warming group ([55.2% vs. 75.9%, P = 0.019] and [21.4% vs. 49.1%, P = 0.002]). Perioperative body temperature was higher in the upper-warming group (P < 0.001). However, intraoperative blood loss, postoperative thermal comfort scale and shivering scores, patient satisfaction, and PACU duration were similar in the two groups. Conclusions The upper-body blanket was more effective than the lower-body blanket for preventing perioperative hypothermia in patients who underwent spine surgery in the prone position.

Background and Objectives: The aim of this study was to compare adherence to positive airway pressure (PAP) therapy in patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) of different severity.Subjects and Method We conducted a retrospective study including 270 adult OSA patients who used a PAP device for at least 3 months. We assessed the percentage of days on which the device was used, the percentage of days on which the device was used for ≥4 h, and the average duration of PAP device usage at 12 weeks of PAP therapy. We also evaluated adequate adherence to PAP therapy using a PAP device for ≥4 h/day and during ≥70% of nights. Results: The percentage of days on which a PAP device used did not differ significantly according to OSA severity (median [Q1-Q3]; mild: 91.40% [81.25%-97.65%], moderate: 94.50% [86.90%-100%], severe: 95.90% [88.10%-100%], p=0.268). We also found that the percentage of days on which a PAP device was used during sleep for ≥4 h was not significantly different in patients with different OSA severity (median [Q1-Q3], mild: 76.20% [69.70%-89.90%], moderate: 89.30% [67.65%-95.70%], severe: 85.70% [75.85%-95.45%], p=0.097). The percentage of patients with adequate PAP adherence did not differ significantly according to OSA severity (mild: 74.2%, moderate: 72.1%, severe: 83.0%, p=0.084). Moreover, the mean duration (minutes) of PAP device usage during sleep did not differ significantly according to OSA severity in the mild, moderate, and severe OSA groups (mean±standard deviation, mild: 348.03± 47.78 min, moderate: 358.58±85.22 min, severe: 363.79±57.21 min, p=0.440). Conclusion Adherence to PAP therapy did not differ significantly according to OSA severity. Therefore, it is necessary to continuously expand and maintain the insurance for health promotion in OSA patient in South Korea.

Methods: We retrospectively collected the medical records of 2,134 patients with end-stage renal disease who were dependent on hemodialysis and underwent surgery under general anesthesia between January 2018 and December 2019. Propensity score matching was used. The primary outcome was the 30-day mortality rate, and secondary outcomes were the 1-year mortality rate and causes of death. Results: A total of 2,039 patients were included in the study. Sugammadex was administered as a reversal agent for rocuronium in 806 (39.5%) patients; the remaining 1,233 (60.5%) patients did not receive sugammadex. After matching, 1,594 patients were analyzed; 28 (3.5%) of the 797 patients administered sugammadex, and 28 (3.5%) of the 797 patients without sugammadex, died within 30 days after surgery (P > 0.99); 38 (4.8%) of the 797 patients administered sugammadex, and 45 (5.7%) of the 797 patients without sugammadex, died within 1 year after surgery (P = 0.499). No significant differences in the causes of 30-day mortality were observed between the two groups after matching (P = 0.860). Conclusions In this retrospective study, sugammadex did not increase the 30-day and 1-year mortality rate after surgery in end-stage renal disease patients.

Venous thromboembolism (VTE), which includes pulmonary embolism and deep vein thrombosis, is a condition characterized by abnormal blood clot formation in the pulmonary arteries and the deep venous vasculature. It is often serious and sometimes even fatal if not promptly and appropriately treated. Moreover, the later consequences of VTE may result in reduced quality of life. The treatment of VTE depends on various factors, including the type, cause, and patient comorbidities. Furthermore, bleeding may occur as a side effect of VTE treatment. Thus, it is necessary to carefully weigh the benefits versus the risks of VTE treatment and to actively monitor patients undergoing treatment. Asian populations are known to have lower VTE incidences than Western populations, but recent studies have shown an increase in the incidence of VTE in Asia. A variety of treatment options are currently available owing to the introduction of direct oral anticoagulants.The current VTE treatment recommendation is based on evidence from previous studies, but it should be applied with careful consideration of the racial, genetic, and social characteristics in the Korean population.