Background: Malaria elimination strategies in the Republic of Korea (ROK) have decreased malaria incidence but face challenges due to delayed case detection and response. To improve this, machine learning models for predicting malaria, focusing on high-risk areas, have been developed. Methods: The study targeted the northern region of ROK, near the demilitarized zone, using a 1-km grid to identify areas for prediction. Grid cells without residential buildings were excluded, leaving 8,425 cells. The prediction was based on whether at least one malaria case was reported in each grid cell per month, using spatial data of patient locations. Four algorithms were used: gradient boosted (GBM), generalized linear (GLM), extreme gradient boosted (XGB), and ensemble models, incorporating environmental, sociodemographic, and meteorological data as predictors. The models were trained with data from May to October (2019–2021) and tested with data from May to October 2022. Model performance was evaluated using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC). Results: The AUROC of the prediction models performed excellently (GBM = 0.9243, GLM = 0.9060, XGB = 0.9180, and ensemble model = 0.9301). Previous malaria risk, population size, and meteorological factors influenced the model most in GBM and XGB. Conclusion Machine-learning models with properly preprocessed malaria case data can provide reliable predictions. Additional predictors, such as mosquito density, should be included in future studies to improve the performance of models.

Background: Dermatophyte infection is one of the most common skin diseases affecting the skin, hair, and nails. Despite widespread recognition of the disease, missing details and misperceptions are commonplace in the general population. Objective: This study aimed to investigate the public perception and behavior regarding dermatophytosis of the hands and feet. Methods: This results from an online survey conducted between July 2022 and August 2022. The survey included 1,000 Korean participants aged 20 to 69 years, of whom 60% experienced symptoms of tinea pedis or onychomycosis. The questionnaire focused on the awareness and personal experience of tinea pedis and perception of the treatment of dermatophytosis. Results: Of the 1,000 participants, nearly 80% regarded tinea pedis as a common skin condition by which anyone can be affected. Furthermore, 88.4% had heard that the treatment of tinea pedis could be harmful, causing skin rash (60.4%) and worsening liver function (48.5%). Among 896 participants who noticed suspicious symptoms, 81.2% did not visit the clinic because it was not severe (50.1%) and seemed easily manageable (25.7%). Of the respondents, 84.4% preferred to meet dermatologists rather than non-dermatologist doctors regarding skin diseases, mainly because of trust in experts and belief in a faster cure. Conclusion Providing accurate and detailed information via online media, educational campaigns, and medical papers can rectify misconceptions and improve patient appliance, contributing to public skin health.

Objectives: Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) has no vaccine or treatment and an extremely high fatality rate. We aimed to analyze and evaluate the risk factors for death associated with SFTS. Methods: Among reports from 2018 to 2022, we compared and analyzed 1,034 inpatients aged 18 years or older with laboratory-confirmed SFTS who underwent complete epidemiological investigations. Results: Most of the inpatients with SFTS were aged 50 years or older (average age, 67.6 years). The median time from symptom onset to death was 9 days, and the average case fatality rate was 18.5%. Risk factors for death included age of 70 years or older (odds ratio [OR], 4.82); agriculture-related occupation (OR, 2.01); underlying disease (OR, 7.20); delayed diagnosis (OR, 1.28 per day); decreased level of consciousness (OR, 5.53); fever/chills (OR, 20.52); prolonged activated partial thromboplastin time (OR, 4.19); and elevated levels of aspartate aminotransferase (OR, 2.91), blood urea nitrogen (OR, 2.62), and creatine (OR, 3.21). Conclusion The risk factors for death in patients with SFTS were old age; agriculture-related occupation; underlying disease; delayed clinical suspicion; fever/chills; decreased level of consciousness; and elevated activated partial thromboplastin time, aspartate aminotransferase, blood urea nitrogen, and creatine levels.

The phosphorylated 43-kDa transactive response DNA-binding protein (TDP-43) was identified as a major disease protein in sporadic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal lobar degeneration. We present a case with progressive muscle weakness who was diagnosed with sporadic ALS. On postmortem examination, TDP-43 immunoreactive neuronal cytoplasmic inclusions were noted in motor cortex, hippocampus and anterior horns of spinal cord, which was compatible with ALS-TDP, stage 4. This is the first documented autopsy-confirmed ALS case with ALS-TDP pathology in Korea.

Meckel diverticulum is a common congenital malformation of the gastrointestinal tract and can cause complications such as ulceration, hemorrhage, intussusception, and perforation. This report describes a very rare complication of an enterovesical fistula associated with chronic Meckel diverticulum. A 51-year-old male presented with over 10 years of persistent pyuria. Tests were performed to rule out malignancy, including serum prostate-specific antigen level, urine cytology, bacterial culture, cystoscopy, and bladder computed tomography. An enterovesical fistula was identified, and laparoscopic exploration was performed. The findings suggested enterovesical fistula formation caused by chronic inflammation at the tip of a Meckel diverticulum. Segmental resection of the small bowel including the diverticulum and primary repair of the urinary bladder along with partial cystectomy were performed. The postoperative clinical course was uneventful. An enterovesical fistula is a very rare complication resulting from chronic inflammation of a Meckel diverticulum.

Background: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) has a negative impact on growth and development in children and is a risk factor for neurocognitive impairment; however, there is limited research on the cognitive function of children and adolescents with CKD. This study therefore aimed to investigate the mean intelligence and risk factors for low intelligence in children and adolescents with CKD. Methods: Eighty-one patients with CKD under 18 years old were included in the KoreaN cohort study for Outcomes in patients With Pediatric Chronic Kidney Disease (KNOW-Ped CKD). Participants completed either the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (6–16 years), or Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (> 16 years). Results: The mean full-scale intelligence quotient (IQ) was 91 ± 19; 24.7% of participants scored a full-scale IQ below 80. Participants with a short stature (height Z scores < −1.88), failure to thrive (weight Z scores < −1.65), more severe CKD stage (≥ IIIb), longer duration of CKD (≥ 5 years), and those who were Medicare or Medicaid beneficiaries, had significantly lower mean full-scale IQs. Conclusion On linear regression analysis, the association between the full-scale IQ, and longer duration of CKD and growth failure, remained significant after controlling for demographic and clinical variables. It is therefore necessary to investigate cognitive impairment in pediatric patients with CKD who exhibit growth failure or for a longer postmorbid period. It is believed that early interventions, such as kidney transplantation, will have a positive effect on IQ in children with CKD, as the disease negatively affects IQ due to poor glomerular filtration rate over time.

Background: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) has a negative impact on growth and development in children and is a risk factor for neurocognitive impairment; however, there is limited research on the cognitive function of children and adolescents with CKD. This study therefore aimed to investigate the mean intelligence and risk factors for low intelligence in children and adolescents with CKD. Methods: Eighty-one patients with CKD under 18 years old were included in the KoreaN cohort study for Outcomes in patients With Pediatric Chronic Kidney Disease (KNOW-Ped CKD). Participants completed either the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (6–16 years), or Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (> 16 years). Results: The mean full-scale intelligence quotient (IQ) was 91 ± 19; 24.7% of participants scored a full-scale IQ below 80. Participants with a short stature (height Z scores < −1.88), failure to thrive (weight Z scores < −1.65), more severe CKD stage (≥ IIIb), longer duration of CKD (≥ 5 years), and those who were Medicare or Medicaid beneficiaries, had significantly lower mean full-scale IQs. Conclusion On linear regression analysis, the association between the full-scale IQ, and longer duration of CKD and growth failure, remained significant after controlling for demographic and clinical variables. It is therefore necessary to investigate cognitive impairment in pediatric patients with CKD who exhibit growth failure or for a longer postmorbid period. It is believed that early interventions, such as kidney transplantation, will have a positive effect on IQ in children with CKD, as the disease negatively affects IQ due to poor glomerular filtration rate over time.

Meckel diverticulum is a common congenital malformation of the gastrointestinal tract and can cause complications such as ulceration, hemorrhage, intussusception, and perforation. This report describes a very rare complication of an enterovesical fistula associated with chronic Meckel diverticulum. A 51-year-old male presented with over 10 years of persistent pyuria. Tests were performed to rule out malignancy, including serum prostate-specific antigen level, urine cytology, bacterial culture, cystoscopy, and bladder computed tomography. An enterovesical fistula was identified, and laparoscopic exploration was performed. The findings suggested enterovesical fistula formation caused by chronic inflammation at the tip of a Meckel diverticulum. Segmental resection of the small bowel including the diverticulum and primary repair of the urinary bladder along with partial cystectomy were performed. The postoperative clinical course was uneventful. An enterovesical fistula is a very rare complication resulting from chronic inflammation of a Meckel diverticulum.

OBJECTIVES: This study examined the trend of press reports on mental illness in Korea to help set a desirable direction for future press reports on the subject. METHODS: This study adopted the method of semantic network analysis to analyze the trend of press reporting on mental illness in Korea. The study analyzed 1253 newspaper articles from 2016 to 2018 published by the five major Korean press: The Kyunghyang Shinmun, The Dong-A Ilbo, The Chosun Ilbo, The JoongAng Ilbo, and The Hankyoreh. RESULTS: The number of articles on mental illness is on the decline year by year, with 465 articles in 2016, 406 in 2017, and 382 in 2018. According to keyword analysis, the order of the words of the highest frequency is as follows: treatment (659), patients (486), mental health (466), incidents (436), and children and adolescents (413). In terms of the Degree Centrality, Closeness Centrality, and Betweenness Centrality, the following words are commonly ranked within the top 10 on the lists: treatment, children and adolescents, patient, mental health, depressive disorder, family, suicide, and counselling. CONCLUSION The press should pay more attention to mental illness, and its reporting should guarantee accuracy, objectivity, fairness, diversity, and social responsibility. In addition, reports on mental illness need to provide balanced health information, considering the readers, from basic information on mental illness to detailed treatment methods. Establishing reporting guidelines for mental illness would help reduce harm and prejudice related to mental illness and increase access to treatment.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study is to analyze inguinal hernia in Korea based on the nationwide data. METHODS: Retrospective analysis of nationwide data obtained from the Health Insurance Review & Assessment Service database for surgical repair of inguinal hernia from January, 2007 to December, 2015 was performed. RESULTS: A total of 314,238 cases of inguinal hernia surgery were performed during 9 years. The mean number of inguinal hernia surgery per year was 34,604 (range, 30,065–36,928). The proportion of male patient was 87%. Patients between the age of 1 to 5 years (17.3%) and of 60 to 69 years (17.4%) constituted the 2 dominant groups for inguinal hernia repair. A slight increase in repair for recurrent inguinal hernia, 1.9% to 3.2%, was observed from 2007 to 2015. The rate of concurrent bowel resection decreased from 1.9% to 0.6%. The total cost of inguinal hernia surgery was increased up to 1.68 times from 2007 to 2015 ($856 to $1,439), although the number of hospital days was decreased from 4.7 to 3.7 days. The rate of laparoscopic surgery was increased to 29.5% in 2015. CONCLUSION: A mean number of 34,604 cases of inguinal hernia surgery have been carried out annually in Korea. The age distribution for inguinal hernia repair demonstrates bimodal peak at early childhood and old age. The proportion of laparoscopic surgery of inguinal hernia has been increasing for the past 9 years. The length of hospital stay and the rate of combined bowel resection have decreased.
Age Distribution ; Diagnosis-Related Groups ; Hernia, Inguinal ; Humans ; Insurance, Health ; Korea ; Laparoscopy ; Length of Stay ; Male ; Retrospective Studies