OBJECTIVES: We estimated the population prevalence of antibodies to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), including unreported infections, through a Korea Seroprevalence Study of Monitoring of SARS-CoV-2 Antibody Retention and Transmission (K-SEROSMART) in 258 communities throughout Korea. METHODS: In August 2022, a survey was conducted among 10,000 household members aged 5 years and older, in households selected through two stage probability random sampling. During face-to-face household interviews, participants self-reported their health status, COVID-19 diagnosis and vaccination history, and general characteristics. Subsequently, participants visited a community health center or medical clinic for blood sampling. Blood samples were analyzed for the presence of antibodies to spike proteins (anti-S) and antibodies to nucleocapsid proteins (anti-N) SARS-CoV-2 proteins using an electrochemiluminescence immunoassay. To estimate the population prevalence, the PROC SURVEYMEANS statistical procedure was employed, with weighting to reflect demographic data from July 2022. RESULTS: In total, 9,945 individuals from 5,041 households were surveyed across 258 communities, representing all basic local governments in Korea. The overall population-adjusted prevalence rates of anti-S and anti-N were 97.6% and 57.1%, respectively. Since the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency has reported a cumulative incidence of confirmed cases of 37.8% through July 31, 2022, the proportion of unreported infections among all COVID-19 infection was suggested to be 33.9%. CONCLUSIONS The K-SEROSMART represents the first nationwide, community-based seroepidemiologic survey of COVID-19, confirming that most individuals possess antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 and that a significant number of unreported cases existed. Furthermore, this study lays the foundation for a surveillance system to continuously monitor transmission at the community level and the response to COVID-19.

Purpose: This study aimed to update the previously published nursing practice guideline for oral care. Methods: The guideline were updated according to the manuals developed by National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) and Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN), and a Handbook for Clinical Practice Guideline Developer Version 1.0. Results: Updated nursing practice guideline for oral care was consisted of 10 domains and 79 recommendations. The number of recommendations in each domain were: 5 general issues, 2 oral care indications, 9 oral assessment, 16 general oral care, 12 oral care for critically ill patients, 16 oral care for cancer patients, 12 oral care for cancer patients with oral complications, 5 oral care education, 1 oral care referral, and 1 documentation and report. In terms of grades for recommendations, 11.4% was grade A, 17.0% was grade B, and 68.2% was grade C. Twelve new recommendations were developed and 7 previous recommendations were deleted. Conclusion Updated nursing practice guideline for oral care is expected to serve as an evidence-based practice guideline for oral care in South Korea. It is recommended that this guideline be spread to clinical nursing settings nationwide to improve the effectiveness of oral care practice.

The Asian Society of Gynecologic Oncology International Workshop 2018 on gynecologic oncology was held in the Ajou University Hospital, Suwon, Korea on the 24th to 25th August 2018. The workshop was an opportunity for Asian doctors to discuss the latest findings of gynecologic cancer, including cervical, ovarian, and endometrial cancers, as well as the future of fertility-sparing treatments, minimally invasive/radical/debulking surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy. Clinical guidelines and position statement of Asian countries were presented by experts. Asian clinical trials for gynecologic cancers were reviewed and experts emphasized the point that original Asian study is beneficial for Asian patients. In Junior session, young gynecologic oncologists presented their latest research on gynecologic cancers.
Antineoplastic Agents ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Drug Therapy ; Education ; Endometrial Neoplasms ; Female ; Gyeonggi-do ; Humans ; Immunotherapy ; Korea ; Ovarian Neoplasms ; Radiotherapy ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to analyze the clinical features of clear cell carcinoma in relation to endometriosis and to determine an appropriate surveillance strategy for the early detection of malignant transformation of endometrioma in asymptomatic patients. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the clinicopathologic data of 50 patients with ovarian clear cell carcinoma. Clinicopathologic characteristics, treatment outcomes, and the association between endometriosis and the risk of malignant transformation were analyzed. RESULTS: Ten (20%) patients had been diagnosed with endometrioma before the diagnosis of clear cell carcinoma. The median period from the diagnosis of endometrioma to clear cell carcinoma diagnosis was 50 months (range, 12–213 months). After complete staging surgery, histological confirmation of endometriosis was possible in 35 (70%) patients. Of the 50 patients, 39 (78%) had not undergone any gynecologic surveillance until the onset of symptoms, at which time many of them presented with a rapidly growing pelvic mass (median 10 cm, range 4.6–25 cm). With the exception of 2 patients, all cancer diagnoses were made when the patients were in their late thirties, and median tumor size was found to increase along with age. Asymptomatic patients (n=11) who had regular gynecologic examinations were found to have a relatively smaller tumor size, lesser extent of tumor spread, and lower recurrence rate (P=0.011, 0.283, and 0.064, respectively). The presence of endometriosis was not related to the prognosis. CONCLUSION: Considering the duration of malignant transformation and the timing of cancer diagnosis, active surveillance might be considered from the age of the mid-thirties, with at least a 1-year interval, in patients with asymptomatic endometrioma.
Cell Transformation, Neoplastic ; Diagnosis ; Endometriosis* ; Female ; Humans ; Prognosis ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies

BACKGROUND: The objective of this study was to compare the impact of citrate dialysate (CD) and standard acetate dialysate (AD) in hemodialysis by central delivery system (CDS) on heparin demand, and clinical parameters. METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated 75 patients on maintenance hemodialysis with CDS. Patients underwent hemodialysis with AD over a six-month period (AD period), followed by another six-month period using CD (CD period). Various parameters including mean heparin dosage, high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), calcium-phosphate product (CaxP), intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH), and urea reduction ratio (URR) were collated at the end of each period. RESULTS: Patients were 60.5 ± 14.7 years old, of whom 62.7% were male. Patients required less heparin when receiving CD (AD period: 1,129 ± 1,033 IU/session vs. CD period: 787 ± 755 IU/session, P < 0.001). After the CD period (Δ(CD)), pre-dialysis total CO₂ increased to 1.21 ± 2.80 mmol/L, compared to −2.44 ± 2.96 mmol/L (P < 0.001) after the AD period (Δ(AD)). After the CD period, concentrations of iPTH (Δ(AD): 73.04 ± 216.34 pg/mL vs. Δ(CD): −106.66 ± 251.79 pg/mL, P < 0.001) and CaxP (Δ(AD): 4.32 ± 16.63 mg²/dL² vs. Δ(CD): −4.67 ± 15.27 mg²/dL², P = 0.015) decreased. While hsCRP levels decreased after the CD period (Δ(AD): 0.07 ± 4.09 mg/L vs. Δ(CD): −0.75 ± 4.56 mg/L, P = 0.705), the change was statistically insignificant. URR remained above clinical guideline of 65% after both periods (Δ(AD): 72.33 ± 6.92% vs. Δ(CD) period: 69.20 ± 4.49%, P = 0.046). CONCLUSION: Our study confirmed that the use of CD in CDS required lower heparin doses compared to the use of AD. The use of CD also provided a more stable acid-base status.
Acetates ; C-Reactive Protein ; Citric Acid ; Heparin ; Humans ; Male ; Parathyroid Hormone ; Renal Dialysis ; Retrospective Studies ; Urea

BACKGROUND: All nasal bone fractures have the potential for worsening of olfactory function. However, few studies have studied the olfactory outcomes following reduction of nasal bone fractures. This study evaluates posttraumatic olfactory dysfunction in patients with nasal bone fracture before and after closed reduction. METHODS: A prospective study was conducted for all patients presenting with nasal bone fracture (n=97). Each patient consenting to the study underwent the Korean version of Sniffin' Sticks test (KVSS II) before operation and at 6 month after closed reduction. The nasal fractures were divided according to the nasal bone fracture classification by Haug and Prather (Types I–IV). The olfactory scores were compared across fracture types and between preoperative and postoperative settings. RESULTS: Olfactory dysfunction was frequent after nasal fracture (45/97, 46.4%). Our olfactory assessment using the KVSS II test revealed that fracture reduction was not associated with improvements in the mean test score in Type I or Type II fractures. More specifically, the mean posttraumatic Threshold, discrimination and identification score decreased from 28.8 points prior to operation to 23.1 point at 6 months for Type II fracture with septal fracture. CONCLUSION: Our study has revealed two alarming trends regarding post-nasal fracture olfactory dysfunction. First, our study demonstrated that almost half (46.4%) of nasal fracture patients experience posttraumatic olfactory dysfunction. Second, closed reduction of these fractures does not lead to improvements olfaction at 6 months, which suggest that olfactory dysfunction is probably due to factors other than the fracture itself. The association should be further explored between injuries that lead to nasal fracture and the mechanism behind posttraumatic olfactory dysfunction.
Classification ; Discrimination (Psychology) ; Humans ; Nasal Bone* ; Olfactory Nerve ; Prospective Studies ; Skull Fractures ; Smell

The syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion (SIADH) is a potential cause of hyponatremia of the central nervous system (CNS). Although SIADH has been reported to be associated with many other central nervous disorders, its association with neuromyelitis optica (NMO) or NMO spectrum disorders are rare. NMO is a demyelinating disorder characterized by optic neuritis and transverse myelitis. Aquaporin-4 (AQP4), which is the target antigen for a NMO autoantibody, is the predominant CNS water channel. However, some NMO patients show seronegative AQP4 antibody results. The spectrum of NMO has been changed, and new findings about the disease have been reported. Here, we report a case of seronegative NMO spectrum disorder associated with SIADH.
Central Nervous System ; Demyelinating Diseases ; Humans ; Hyponatremia ; Inappropriate ADH Syndrome ; Myelitis, Transverse ; Neuromyelitis Optica* ; Optic Neuritis ; Water

With the increasing use of the internet and the spread of smartphones, health information seekers obtain considerable information through the internet. As the amount of online health information increases, the need for quality management of health information has been emphasized. The purpose of this study was to investigate the factors affecting the intention of using accredited online health information by applying the extended technology acceptance model (Extended-TAM). An online survey was conducted from September 15, 2016 to October 3, 2016, on 500 men and women aged 19–69 years. The results showed that the greatest factor influencing the acceptance of the accredited health information was perceived usefulness, and the expectation for the quality of the accreditation system was the most important mediator variable. In order to establish the health information accreditation system as a means to provide easy and useful information to the consumers, it is necessary to carry out quality management and promote the system through the continuous monitoring of the accreditation system.
Accreditation ; Female ; Humans ; Intention ; Internet ; Male ; Smartphone

Primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS) is characterized by lymphocytic infiltration of the exocrine glands resulting in decreased saliva and tear production. It uncommonly involves the kidneys in various forms, including tubulointerstitial nephritis, renal tubular acidosis, Fanconi syndrome, and rarely glomerulonephritis. Its clinical symptoms include muscle weakness, periodic paralysis, and bone pain due to metabolic acidosis and electrolyte imbalance. Herein, we describe the cases of two women with pSS whose presenting symptoms involve the kidneys. They had hypokalemia and normal anion gap metabolic acidosis due to distal renal tubular acidosis and positive anti-SS-A and anti-SS-B autoantibodies. Since one of them experienced femoral fracture due to osteomalacia secondary to renal tubular acidosis, an earlier diagnosis of pSS is important in preventing serious complications.
Acid-Base Equilibrium ; Acidosis ; Acidosis, Renal Tubular* ; Autoantibodies ; Diagnosis ; Exocrine Glands ; Fanconi Syndrome ; Female ; Femoral Fractures ; Glomerulonephritis ; Humans ; Hypokalemia ; Kidney ; Muscle Weakness ; Nephritis, Interstitial ; Osteomalacia ; Paralysis ; Saliva ; Tears

One of the major pathophysiological features of primary hypertension is an inappropriate activation of the sympathetic nervous system, which is mediated by excessive synthesis and secretion of catecholamine into the blood. Tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), a rate-limiting enzyme in the synthesis of catecholamine, has been highlighted because genetic variations of TH could alter the activity of the sympathetic nervous system activity and subsequently contribute to the pathogenesis of hypertension. Here, we discuss the role of TH as a regulator of sympathetic activity and review several studies that investigated the relationship between genetic variations of TH and hypertension.
Genetic Variation* ; Hypertension* ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Sympathetic Nervous System ; Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase* ; Tyrosine*