Background: Hypertrophic scarring represents an aberrant response to wounds in certain individuals, manifesting with symptoms such as itching, tenderness, pain, and pigmentation. This study aimed to investigate the impact of a silicone-based gel on the healing of hypertrophic scars, particularly those originating from deep tissue wounds. Methods: A rat model of wound healing and scarring was established, and 12 rats were randomly assigned to three groups: Dermatix Ultra group, SFG-100 silicone-gel group, and non-treated group. Rats in the treated groups (Dermatix Ultra and SFG-100 silicone-gel) received twice-daily applications for 8 weeks. Histologic analysis, including biopsy, was conducted to evaluate the scar elevation index, epidermis thickness, and the number of granulation veins. Results: Overall, both the Dermatix Ultra and SFG-100 silicone-gel groups exhibited improvements in hypertrophic scar healing, accompanied by a significant reduction in skin pigmentation. Histopathologically, scars in both treated groups displayed a notable decrease in scar elevation index, epithelial thickness, and collagen disorganization compared to the non-treated group. However, no significant difference was observed between the Dermatix Ultra and SFG-100 silicone-gel groups. Conclusion The results suggest that SFG-100 silicone-gel is an effective therapeutic agent for hypertrophic scars. Further research is warranted to elucidate the mechanisms underlying its efficacy and to optimize its application for clinical use.

Background: During the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, patients with myasthenia gravis (MG) were more susceptible to poor outcomes owing to respiratory muscle weakness and immunotherapy. Several studies conducted in the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic reported higher mortality in patients with MG compared to the general population. This study aimed to investigate the clinical course and prognosis of COVID-19 in patients with MG and to compare these parameters between vaccinated and unvaccinated patients in South Korea. Methods: This multicenter, retrospective study, which was conducted at 14 tertiary hospitals in South Korea, reviewed the medical records and identified MG patients who contracted COVID-19 between February 2022 and April 2022. The demographic and clinical characteristics associated with MG and vaccination status were collected. The clinical outcomes of COVID-19 infection and MG were investigated and compared between the vaccinated and unvaccinated patients. Results: Ninety-two patients with MG contracted COVID-19 during the study. Nine (9.8%) patients required hospitalization, 4 (4.3%) of whom were admitted to the intensive care unit. Seventy-five of 92 patients were vaccinated before contracting COVID-19 infection, and 17 were not. During the COVID-19 infection, 6 of 17 (35.3%) unvaccinated patients were hospitalized, whereas 3 of 75 (4.0%) vaccinated patients were hospitalized (P < 0.001). The frequencies of ICU admission and mechanical ventilation were significantly lower in the vaccinated patients than in the unvaccinated patients (P = 0.019 and P = 0.032, respectively). The rate of MG deterioration was significantly lower in the vaccinated patients than in the unvaccinated patients (P = 0.041). Logistic regression after weighting revealed that the risk of hospitalization and MG deterioration after COVID-19 infection was significantly lower in the vaccinated patients than in the unvaccinated patients. Conclusion This study suggests that the clinical course and prognosis of patients with MG who contracted COVID-19 during the dominance of the omicron variant of COVID-19 may be milder than those at the early phase of the COVID-19 pandemic when vaccination was unavailable. Vaccination may reduce the morbidity of COVID-19 in patients with MG and effectively prevent MG deterioration induced by COVID-19 infection.

Objectives: The objective of this study was to develop the Guidelines for Recommendation Reporting (G-RECO) for use in the Public Health Weekly Report (PHWR) in Korea, aiming to improve the standardization, scientific accuracy, and practical applicability of recommendation reports in clinical practice guidelines. Methods: The methodology of this study aligned with the EQUATOR Network standards. A multidisciplinary research committee was formed, comprising experts in various relevant fields. The development process included a comprehensive literature review, analysis of existing guidelines, and formulation of a structured G-RECO framework with 21 key items. This was supplemented with Explanation & Elaboration documents for each item. The draft underwent rigorous revisions and evaluations by both internal and external experts. Results: By November 2023, significant progress had been made in developing a detailed G-RECO checklist and accompanying E&E documents. These tools are designed to guide authors in clear and consistent reporting of recommendation reports. The team is poised to finalize and publish the checklist and E&E documents by December 2024. Conclusion The G-RECO guidelines represent a significant advancement in the formalization and standardization of recommendation reports for the PHWR. They are expected to improve the quality of research and publications in clinical practice guidelines, contributing to the evolution of the field and enriching public health discourse. The guidelines, with their comprehensive nature and user-friendly design, will become an invaluable resource for researchers, editors, and peer reviewers in public health and epidemiology.

Objectives: The objective of this study was to develop a reporting guideline for epidemiological survey reports, referred to as “Guidelines for Survey Reporting (G-SURE).” Methods: To develop G-SURE, we adopted a systematic approach, starting with a detailed review of recent survey reports in Public Health Weekly Report, Eurosurveillance, and Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report and an analysis of current reporting standards. After drafting the guidelines, our team conducted an in-depth internal evaluation to assess their effectiveness and applicability. We then refined the guidelines based on insights from external experts and potential users, particularly those with significant experience in survey reporting. The plan also includes ongoing efforts to widely share the guidelines and update them periodically, incorporating new findings and user feedback. Results: G-SURE will provide a structured framework for reporting outbreak investigations, comprising a detailed checklist and Explanation & Elaboration documents. These will improve the transparency, consistency, and quality of public health documentation. Conclusion In this protocol article, we introduce G-SURE, a guideline developed to improve epidemiological survey research. G-SURE addresses the critical need for uniform reporting standards in epidemiological surveys, aiming to improve the quality and relevance of research outcomes in this area. This guideline is also designed to be a key resource for peer reviewers and editors, aiding them in efficiently assessing the thoroughness and accuracy of survey reports. By providing consistent reporting criteria, G-SURE seeks to minimize confusion and irregularities, which are often encountered in the process of scientific publication.

Objectives: Surveillance reporting, which is integral to public health and safety, involves the systematic collection, analysis, and dissemination of data crucial for various health and security scenarios. Despite its importance, standardized Guidelines for Surveillance Reporting (G-SIRE) are lacking, leading to inconsistencies and affecting data reliability and comparability. To address this gap, this study aimed to develop the G-SIRE, tailored to improve the clarity, transparency, and consistency of surveillance reports, thereby increasing the accuracy and usability of surveillance data for better public health outcomes. Methods: The methodology adhered to the EQUATOR Network standards, employing a multidimensional approach with a diverse expert team. The process included forming a research committee of multidisciplinary experts, conducting a thorough literature review of recent surveillance report publications, reviewing existing reporting guidelines, and developing a new set of guidelines.Continuous updates and revisions are planned to keep the guidelines relevant and effective. Results: Significant progress has been made as of November 2023 in developing comprehensive reporting guidelines for surveillance reports. A detailed checklist and Explanation & Elaboration documents have been formulated, which are anticipated to be finalized and published by December 2023. Conclusion The G-SIRE guidelines signify a major advancement in standardizing surveillance.They provide a structured approach that increases scientific accuracy, transparency, and practical applicability in this domain. The guidelines are expected to improve the quality of surveillance reporting significantly, contributing to the advancement of public health research and discourse.

Objectives: Outbreak reports are essential for documenting the spread of and responses to disease outbreaks. However, there is a lack of standardized reporting guidelines that encompass broader perspectives on outbreaks. We aimed to develop a universal reporting guideline applicable to diverse outbreak reports and community epidemic interventions, the “Guidelines for Community Outbreak Investigation Reporting (G-CORE).” Methods: G-CORE is designed to address the challenges in documenting various outbreak scenarios, including infectious diseases and non-infectious environmental hazards. The development of G-CORE involved a structured process, including a comprehensive literature review of recent outbreak reports from leading journals and an analysis of existing reporting guidelines. The process also involved project registration with the EQUATOR Network and collaboration with experts in various fields. Following the initial drafting, an internal (team) review was conducted to evaluate the guidelines' robustness and relevance. Subsequently, the guidelines underwent revision based on feedback from external experts and potential users, including authors with experience in outbreak reporting. The project also includes plans for widespread dissemination and periodic revisions to adapt to developments and user feedback. Results: G-CORE will provide a structured framework for reporting outbreak investigations, comprising a detailed checklist and Explanation & Elaboration documents. Conclusion G-CORE establishes a new standard in outbreak reporting, facilitating comprehensive, clear, and actionable public health communications. Its development marks a significant advance in the documentation and management of public health outbreaks.

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.

We describe 7 cases of splenic smooth muscle tumors in dogs. Histopathological and immunohistochemical analysis revealed that 6 cases were diagnosed as splenic leiomyosarcoma and 1 case as leiomyoma. All dogs underwent splenectomy without chemotherapy, and one of them was euthanized 2 months after surgery because of hepatic metastasis. Of the remaining 6 dogs, 5 died in the postoperative period and only one dog survived > 4 years. The median survival of the 6 dogs was 16.9 months. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first detailed study on splenic smooth muscle tumors in dogs in Korea.

We describe four cases of feline progressive histiocytosis (FPH) including three females (one intact, two spayed) and one castrated male cat, with a mean age of 5.95 years at diagnosis. Masses were found under the skin of head, lip, neck, and vulva. Histologically, proliferative round cells had ovoid nuclei, foamy eosinophilic cytoplasm, distinct cytoplasmic processes, and mitotic figures. Immunohistochemically, all cases were positive for Iba1 and MHC II (Dako). One case showed cytoplasmic positive staining for E-cadherin. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first documented report of FPH in Korea.

A 13-year-old castrated male Maltese dog was presented to a local animal hospital with an oral hemorrhage. An intraoral examination revealed an irregular proliferated lobular mass at the right side of the maxillary gingiva and hard palate. A surgically excised mass was requested for a histopathology examination. Histopathologically, the neoplastic foci were composed of biphasic morphologic patterns, such as primitive mesenchymal tissue and mature or immature cartilage tissue. Immunohistochemically, most of the neoplastic cells forming cartilaginous islands tested positive for S-100; the surrounding mesenchymal cells tested positive for vimentin. This paper describes a rare case of mesenchymal chondrosarcoma in the maxillary gingiva of a Maltese dog.