Background: and Purpose This study evaluated the diagnostic utility of an anti-signal-recognition particle 54 (anti-SRP54) antibody-based enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) as well as the clinical, serological, and pathological characteristics of patients with SRP immune-mediated necrotizing myopathy (IMNM). Methods: We evaluated 87 patients with idiopathic inflammatory myopathy and 107 healthy participants between January 2002 and December 2023. The sensitivity and specificity of the ELISA for anti-SRP54 antibodies were assessed, and the clinical profiles of patients with antiSRP54 antibodies were determined. Results: The ELISA for anti-SRP54 antibodies had a sensitivity and specificity of 88% and 99%, respectively, along with a test–retest reliability of 0.92 (p<0.001). The 32 patients diagnosed with anti-SRP IMNM using a line-blot immunoassay included 28 (88%) who tested positive for anti-SRP54 antibodies using the ELISA, comprising 12 (43%) males and 16 (57%) females whose median ages at symptom onset and diagnosis were 43.0 years and 43.5 years, respectively. Symptoms included proximal muscle weakness in all 28 (100%) patients, neck weakness in 9 (32%), myalgia in 15 (54%), dysphagia in 5 (18%), dyspnea in 4 (14%), dysarthria in 2 (7%), interstitial lung disease in 2 (7%), and myocarditis in 2 (7%). The median serum creatine kinase (CK) level was 7,261 U/L (interquartile range: 5,086–10,007 U/L), and the median anti-SRP54 antibody level was 2.0 U/mL (interquartile range: 1.0–5.6 U/mL). The serum CK level was significantly higher in patients with coexisting anti-Ro-52 antibodies. Conclusions This study has confirmed the reliability of the ELISA for anti-SRP54 antibodies and provided insights into the clinical, serological, and pathological characteristics of South Korean patients with anti-SRP IMNM.

Background: and Purpose This study evaluated the diagnostic utility of an anti-signal-recognition particle 54 (anti-SRP54) antibody-based enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) as well as the clinical, serological, and pathological characteristics of patients with SRP immune-mediated necrotizing myopathy (IMNM). Methods: We evaluated 87 patients with idiopathic inflammatory myopathy and 107 healthy participants between January 2002 and December 2023. The sensitivity and specificity of the ELISA for anti-SRP54 antibodies were assessed, and the clinical profiles of patients with antiSRP54 antibodies were determined. Results: The ELISA for anti-SRP54 antibodies had a sensitivity and specificity of 88% and 99%, respectively, along with a test–retest reliability of 0.92 (p<0.001). The 32 patients diagnosed with anti-SRP IMNM using a line-blot immunoassay included 28 (88%) who tested positive for anti-SRP54 antibodies using the ELISA, comprising 12 (43%) males and 16 (57%) females whose median ages at symptom onset and diagnosis were 43.0 years and 43.5 years, respectively. Symptoms included proximal muscle weakness in all 28 (100%) patients, neck weakness in 9 (32%), myalgia in 15 (54%), dysphagia in 5 (18%), dyspnea in 4 (14%), dysarthria in 2 (7%), interstitial lung disease in 2 (7%), and myocarditis in 2 (7%). The median serum creatine kinase (CK) level was 7,261 U/L (interquartile range: 5,086–10,007 U/L), and the median anti-SRP54 antibody level was 2.0 U/mL (interquartile range: 1.0–5.6 U/mL). The serum CK level was significantly higher in patients with coexisting anti-Ro-52 antibodies. Conclusions This study has confirmed the reliability of the ELISA for anti-SRP54 antibodies and provided insights into the clinical, serological, and pathological characteristics of South Korean patients with anti-SRP IMNM.

Background: and Purpose This study evaluated the diagnostic utility of an anti-signal-recognition particle 54 (anti-SRP54) antibody-based enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) as well as the clinical, serological, and pathological characteristics of patients with SRP immune-mediated necrotizing myopathy (IMNM). Methods: We evaluated 87 patients with idiopathic inflammatory myopathy and 107 healthy participants between January 2002 and December 2023. The sensitivity and specificity of the ELISA for anti-SRP54 antibodies were assessed, and the clinical profiles of patients with antiSRP54 antibodies were determined. Results: The ELISA for anti-SRP54 antibodies had a sensitivity and specificity of 88% and 99%, respectively, along with a test–retest reliability of 0.92 (p<0.001). The 32 patients diagnosed with anti-SRP IMNM using a line-blot immunoassay included 28 (88%) who tested positive for anti-SRP54 antibodies using the ELISA, comprising 12 (43%) males and 16 (57%) females whose median ages at symptom onset and diagnosis were 43.0 years and 43.5 years, respectively. Symptoms included proximal muscle weakness in all 28 (100%) patients, neck weakness in 9 (32%), myalgia in 15 (54%), dysphagia in 5 (18%), dyspnea in 4 (14%), dysarthria in 2 (7%), interstitial lung disease in 2 (7%), and myocarditis in 2 (7%). The median serum creatine kinase (CK) level was 7,261 U/L (interquartile range: 5,086–10,007 U/L), and the median anti-SRP54 antibody level was 2.0 U/mL (interquartile range: 1.0–5.6 U/mL). The serum CK level was significantly higher in patients with coexisting anti-Ro-52 antibodies. Conclusions This study has confirmed the reliability of the ELISA for anti-SRP54 antibodies and provided insights into the clinical, serological, and pathological characteristics of South Korean patients with anti-SRP IMNM.

Background: : This study aims to report the development process of a communication training program targeting residents and nurses in a university hospital and discuss the results of the analysis of questionnaire responses received from the participants. Methods : A training program comprising a lecture on prescription principles, team communication, role-playing using cases based on medical errors related to prescriptions was developed. This two-hour program was conducted four times from September to December in 2022, with 31 residents and 37 nurses. After the program, the participants completed a questionnaire about program satisfaction. Results : An analysis of the questionnaire responses received from 28 residents and 37 nurses revealed that participants had an average satisfaction score ranging from 4.18 to 4.44 for each item. No difference was found between the residents’ and nurses’ responses. The participants shared positive opinions regarding the efficiency of the role-playing experience. The areas highlighted as those requiring improvement were the inclusion of various cases, improvement of teamwork, and a reduction in lecture volume. Conclusion : The participants reported being satisfied with the two-hour program to improve prescribing-related communication for residents and nurses. Future research should improve the program contents by reflecting on the opinions of the participants, and grasp the efficacy of the program by using a tool to measure communication skills or attitudes toward interprofessional collaboration before and after the program.

Background and Objectives: Burning mouth syndrome (BMS) is a chronic pain disorder involving a burning sensation of the oral cavity without any identifiable oral lesion. According to the recent studies, the pathogenesis of BMS is presumed to be caused by a neuropathic condition. Gabapentin and pregabalin have been used for various neuropathic pains, but pregabalin has several pharmacokinetic advantages over gabapentin. To our best knowledge, there are no recent studies reported on the administration of pregabalin in treating BMS in Korea. Therefore, in this study, we investigated the therapeutic effect of pregabalin in treating BMS.Subjects and Method We chose as candidates 33 patients diagnosed as BMS and took pregabalin for more than four weeks. Pregabalin was administered at 75 mg once a day for 2 to 4 weeks at first, and then the dose was modified depending on whether or not symptoms improved. Effectiveness of treatment was evaluated in the way that the patients subjectively answered whether or not symptoms were improved. Results: A total of 21 (63.6%) out of 33 patients were responsive to the treatment. Among those, at the last follow-up, 8 patients (38.1%) showed slight improvement, and 13 patients (61.9%) showed mostly improvement or disappearance of symptoms. The average time interval from starting pregabalin to the first symptom improvement was 50.1 days, and most patients showed symptom improvement within 8 weeks. Conclusion This study concludes that pregabalin can be added as a meaningful option in the treatment of BMS. The additional double-blind clinical study should be followed to further prove the effectiveness of pregabalin.

Background and Objectives: We evaluated the symptom improvement, surgical outcomes and post-operative complications of the figure of 8 anchoring suture technique using polycaprolactone (PCL) nasal mesh for the treatment of caudal septal subluxation.Subjects and Method We conducted a retrospective study of patients who underwent between March 2020 and March 2021 endonasal septoplasty using the figure of 8 anchoring suture technique and a PCL nasal mesh as a protective supporting graft. Fourteen patients were divided into two groups, the allergic and non-allergic rhinitis group. Symptom improvements were assessed using the Nasal Obstruction Symptoms Evaluation (NOSE) scores and visual analog scale (VAS) scores for epistaxis and headache. Post-operative patient-reported subjective changes in nasal obstruction were also recorded. All evaluations were conducted one to four months post-operatively. Results: Post-operative endoscopic examination revealed that all patients had their septum straightened. The mean post-operative NOSE scores in overall and each item were significantly lower than the mean NOSE scores in the pre-operative period (p<0.05). The mean post-operative NOSE scores for patients both with and without allergic rhinitis were also significantly decreased compared to those in the pre-operative period (p<0.05). A decrease in VAS scores was significant (p=0.008) for headache but not for epistaxis (p=0.141). All patients reported improvement of subjective nasal obstruction post-operatively. Conclusion The use of figure of 8 anchoring suture technique with a PCL nasal mesh as a protective and supportive graft was proven to be a successful method for correcting caudal septal subluxation.

The Committee of Clinical Practice Guidelines of the Korean Diabetes Association (KDA) updated the previous clinical practice guidelines for Korean adults with diabetes and prediabetes and published the seventh edition in May 2021. We performed a comprehensive systematic review of recent clinical trials and evidence that could be applicable in real-world practice and suitable for the Korean population. The guideline is provided for all healthcare providers including physicians, diabetes experts, and certified diabetes educators across the country who manage patients with diabetes or the individuals at the risk of developing diabetes mellitus. The recommendations for screening diabetes and glucose-lowering agents have been revised and updated. New sections for continuous glucose monitoring, insulin pump use, and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in patients with diabetes mellitus have been added. The KDA recommends active vaccination for coronavirus disease 2019 in patients with diabetes during the pandemic. An abridgement that contains practical information for patient education and systematic management in the clinic was published separately.

The Committee of Clinical Practice Guidelines of the Korean Diabetes Association (KDA) updated the previous clinical practice guidelines for Korean adults with diabetes and prediabetes and published the seventh edition in May 2021. We performed a comprehensive systematic review of recent clinical trials and evidence that could be applicable in real-world practice and suitable for the Korean population. The guideline is provided for all healthcare providers including physicians, diabetes experts, and certified diabetes educators across the country who manage patients with diabetes or the individuals at the risk of developing diabetes mellitus. The recommendations for screening diabetes and glucose-lowering agents have been revised and updated. New sections for continuous glucose monitoring, insulin pump use, and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in patients with diabetes mellitus have been added. The KDA recommends active vaccination for coronavirus disease 2019 in patients with diabetes during the pandemic. An abridgement that contains practical information for patient education and systematic management in the clinic was published separately.

Background and Objectives: Self-reported hearing levels determined by self-report questionnaires are not always correlated with the audiometric hearing level. It is necessary to ascertain the subjectively perceived normal hearing threshold to determine the need for hearing aids at the appropriate time. The objective is to identify the level of correlation between the self-reported hearing level and the audiometric hearing level and ascertain the subjectively perceived normal hearing threshold for each age group.Subjects and Method This cross-sectional study, using the data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey V, looked at participants with hearing loss who were aged ≥40 years. Pure tone audiometry was conducted bilaterally. Self-reported hearing level was ascertained via survey enquiring about hearing loss. The level of correlation between self-reported hearing level and audiometric hearing level, age-specific patterns of hear-ing self-evaluation and subjectively perceived normal hearing values at which participants complained of hearing loss were main outcomes. Results: Mean audiometric thresholds (MATs) increased with the age and degree of self-reported hearing level. The accuracy of self-reported hearing level compared to the audiometric threshold decreased with age both in the better-ear and worse-ear groups. Younger participants tended to overestimate their hearing impairment, while older participants tended to underestimate it. Subjectively perceived normal hearing thresholds increased with age and they were very close to the MATs for each age group. Conclusion Results can be useful for devising different age-group specific pure tone audi-ometry-based diagnostic criteria for self-reported hearing loss, which can be used to determine the need for hearing aid in a timely manner.

Background and Objectives: One of the most common complaint of tinnitus patients has been sleep disorder. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between sleep disorder and tinnitus.Subjects and Method Patients with tinnitus from July 2018 till August 2019 were enrolled. Subjects who had any acute/chronic disease in the inner and middle ear or external auditory canal, sleep apnea and had more than 3 caffeinated beverages a day was excluded. Study participants completed Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), the tinnitus symptom questionnaire, tinnitus handicap inventory (THI), Pittsburg Sleep Quality Inventory (PSQI), pure tone audiometry, a full otologic examination and an interview on past medical history. Results: THI was correlated with PSQI global score and BDI. The PSQI subscale most relevant to THI was PSQI 1 (subjective sleep quality). Hearing impairment was correlated with the THI functional subscale. BDI was individually related to PSQI. Conclusion Tinnitus is found to be highly related to sleep disorder, suggesting a common pathway of aggravation and treatment target. Tinnitus is also more affected by sleep disorder than by depression. A further examination and treatment of comorbid sleep disorder in tinnitus patients is recommended.