Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is a minimally invasive treatment modality used as an alternative to surgery in patients with benign thyroid nodules, recurrent thyroid cancers (RTCs), and primary thyroid microcarcinomas. The Korean Society of Thyroid Radiology (KSThR) initially developed recommendations for the optimal use of RFA for thyroid tumors in 2009 and revised them in 2012 and 2017. As new meaningful evidence has accumulated since 2017 and in response to a growing global interest in the use of RFA for treating malignant thyroid lesions, the task force committee members of the KSThR decided to update the guidelines on the use of RFA for the management of RTCs based on a comprehensive analysis of current literature and expert consensus.

Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is a minimally invasive treatment modality used as an alternative to surgery in patients with benign thyroid nodules, recurrent thyroid cancers (RTCs), and primary thyroid microcarcinomas. The Korean Society of Thyroid Radiology (KSThR) initially developed recommendations for the optimal use of RFA for thyroid tumors in 2009 and revised them in 2012 and 2017. As new meaningful evidence has accumulated since 2017 and in response to a growing global interest in the use of RFA for treating malignant thyroid lesions, the task force committee members of the KSThR decided to update the guidelines on the use of RFA for the management of RTCs based on a comprehensive analysis of current literature and expert consensus.

Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is a minimally invasive treatment modality used as an alternative to surgery in patients with benign thyroid nodules, recurrent thyroid cancers (RTCs), and primary thyroid microcarcinomas. The Korean Society of Thyroid Radiology (KSThR) initially developed recommendations for the optimal use of RFA for thyroid tumors in 2009 and revised them in 2012 and 2017. As new meaningful evidence has accumulated since 2017 and in response to a growing global interest in the use of RFA for treating malignant thyroid lesions, the task force committee members of the KSThR decided to update the guidelines on the use of RFA for the management of RTCs based on a comprehensive analysis of current literature and expert consensus.

Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is a minimally invasive treatment modality used as an alternative to surgery in patients with benign thyroid nodules, recurrent thyroid cancers (RTCs), and primary thyroid microcarcinomas. The Korean Society of Thyroid Radiology (KSThR) initially developed recommendations for the optimal use of RFA for thyroid tumors in 2009 and revised them in 2012 and 2017. As new meaningful evidence has accumulated since 2017 and in response to a growing global interest in the use of RFA for treating malignant thyroid lesions, the task force committee members of the KSThR decided to update the guidelines on the use of RFA for the management of RTCs based on a comprehensive analysis of current literature and expert consensus.

Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is a minimally invasive treatment modality used as an alternative to surgery in patients with benign thyroid nodules, recurrent thyroid cancers (RTCs), and primary thyroid microcarcinomas. The Korean Society of Thyroid Radiology (KSThR) initially developed recommendations for the optimal use of RFA for thyroid tumors in 2009 and revised them in 2012 and 2017. As new meaningful evidence has accumulated since 2017 and in response to a growing global interest in the use of RFA for treating malignant thyroid lesions, the task force committee members of the KSThR decided to update the guidelines on the use of RFA for the management of RTCs based on a comprehensive analysis of current literature and expert consensus.

The Korean Academy of Asthma, Allergy, and Clinical Immunology task force report aims to provide new protocols for methacholine challenge test (MCT). Although new devices have different delivery system compared to old ones, previous protocols are still used, which cannot guarantee adequate diagnoses of asthma. Another important issue is the recent recommendation in European Respiratory Society (ERS) technical standard guideline to use a delivered methacholine dose that causes a 20% decrease in forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) (PD 20). Although the previous protocol based on the methacholine concentration causing a 20% decrease in FEV1 (PC 20) has been used globally, several studies have reported that PD 20 is more reliable and applicable for new protocols of MCT. Indeed, a tidal breathing inhalation protocol using a breath-actuated or continuous nebulizer is recommended. Herein, we recommend 3 protocols for the MCT using new devices and provide a brief summary of the change in strategy based on the updated ERS guideline.

Hereditary angioedema (HAE) is a rare disease, but it severely interrupts daily life activities and can sometimes be life-threatening. Therefore, early diagnosis and prompt treatment of HAE attacks are critical. Physicians should be aware of how to diagnose and manage HAE to prepare not to miss a diagnosis when treating HAE patients. Physicians must also carry out tests to confirm the diagnosis of HAEs caused by C1 inhibitor deficiency (type 1) or C1 inhibitor dysfunction (type 2) in patients with recurrent angioedema. In addition, recent studies revealed another type of HAE which is not related to C1 inhibitor (normal C1 inhibitor HAE). Once HAE is confirmed, patients and their caregivers should be given with short-term and long-term treatment plans to relieve or prevent HAE attacks. HAE requires life-long measures, including psychological support for patients and self-management education.

Background/Aims: This study was performed to undertake cross-cultural adaptation and validation of the Educational Needs Assessment Tool (ENAT) in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) for use in Korea. Methods: The study involved two main phases: cross-cultural adaptation of the ENAT from English into Korean, and validation of the Korean ENAT. The first phase followed the established process of cross-cultural adaptation of self-report measures, and in the second phase, the Korean ENAT data were analyzed using the Rasch measurement model. Fit to the model was determined using the observed data infit and outfit statistics. Additional tests of validity included unidimensionality and internal consistency. Results: Adequate conceptual equivalence was achieved following the adaptation process. A total of 123 patients completed the Korean ENAT. The mean age was 46.7 ± 12.3 years and the majority of patients (81.3%) were female. Thirty-five of the 39 items gave good fit to the model. The four items deviating from the model had infit and outfit > 1.50. The item separation index (5.26) and item reliability index (0.97) provided evidence for good reliability of items. All seven domains of the Korean ENAT fit the Rasch model. The internal consistency of the Korean ENAT was high, and unidimensionality was confirmed (person separation index, 3.41; reliability index, 0.92; item separation index, 16.82; reliability index, 1.00). Conclusions Using the standard procedure for cross-cultural adaptation, the ENAT has been adapted into Korean, and Rasch analysis has confirmed the construct validity, reliability, and unidimensionality of the Korean ENAT.

Background/Aims: This study was performed to undertake cross-cultural adaptation and validation of the Educational Needs Assessment Tool (ENAT) in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) for use in Korea. Methods: The study involved two main phases: cross-cultural adaptation of the ENAT from English into Korean, and validation of the Korean ENAT. The first phase followed the established process of cross-cultural adaptation of self-report measures, and in the second phase, the Korean ENAT data were analyzed using the Rasch measurement model. Fit to the model was determined using the observed data infit and outfit statistics. Additional tests of validity included unidimensionality and internal consistency. Results: Adequate conceptual equivalence was achieved following the adaptation process. A total of 123 patients completed the Korean ENAT. The mean age was 46.7 ± 12.3 years and the majority of patients (81.3%) were female. Thirty-five of the 39 items gave good fit to the model. The four items deviating from the model had infit and outfit > 1.50. The item separation index (5.26) and item reliability index (0.97) provided evidence for good reliability of items. All seven domains of the Korean ENAT fit the Rasch model. The internal consistency of the Korean ENAT was high, and unidimensionality was confirmed (person separation index, 3.41; reliability index, 0.92; item separation index, 16.82; reliability index, 1.00). Conclusions Using the standard procedure for cross-cultural adaptation, the ENAT has been adapted into Korean, and Rasch analysis has confirmed the construct validity, reliability, and unidimensionality of the Korean ENAT.

BACKGROUND: Several factors contribute to differences in Streptococcus pneumoniae serotype distribution. We investigated the serotype distribution and antimicrobial resistance of S. pneumoniae isolated between 2014 and 2016 in Korea. METHODS: We collected a total of 1,855 S. pneumoniae isolates from 44 hospitals between May 2014 and May 2016, and analyzed the serotypes by sequential multiplex PCR. We investigated the distribution of each serotype by patient age, source of the clinical specimen, and antimicrobial resistance pattern. RESULTS: The most common serotypes were 11A (10.1%), followed by 19A (8.8%), 3 (8.5%), 34 (8.1%), 23A (7.3%), and 35B (6.2%). The major invasive serotypes were 3 (12.6%), 19A (7.8%), 34 (7.8%), 10A (6.8%), and 11A (6.8%). Serotypes 10A, 15B, 19A, and 12F were more common in patients ≤5 years old, while serotype 3 was more common in patients ≥65 years old compared with the other age groups. The coverage rates of pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV)7, PCV10, PCV13, and pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine 23 were 11.8%, 12.12%, 33.3%, and 53.6%, respectively. Of the 1,855 isolates, 857 (46.2%) were multi-drug resistant (MDR), with serotypes 11A and 19A predominant among the MDR strains. The resistance rates against penicillin, cefotaxime, and levofloxacin were 22.8%, 12.5%, and 9.4%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: There were significant changes in the major S. pneumoniae serotypes in the community. Non-PCV13 serotypes increased in patients ≤5 years old following the introduction of national immunization programs with the 10- and 13-polyvalent vaccines.
Cefotaxime ; Humans ; Immunization Programs ; Korea ; Levofloxacin ; Multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Penicillins ; Pneumococcal Vaccines ; Pneumonia ; Serogroup ; Streptococcus pneumoniae ; Streptococcus ; Vaccines