Background: Accurate core temperature measurement in children is crucial; however, measuring esophageal temperature (TE) using a supraglottic airway device (SAD) can be challenging. Second-generation SADs, which have a gastric channel, can measure TE, and reduce gastric air volume. This study aimed to compare TE, measured using a probe inserted through the SAD gastric channel, with tympanic membrane (TTM) and forehead (TZHF) temperatures, measured using a zero-heat-flux cutaneous thermometer, with rectal temperature (TR). Methods: Temperature was recorded at 10-min intervals from 10 min after probe insertion until completion of surgery. We performed an equivalence test to evaluate whether the TE, TTM, and TZHF were equivalent to TR, with a margin of 0.3°C. Additionally, intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) were calculated to assess the reliability of TE and TR at each time point. Results: We included 41 patients in the final analysis. In all patients, the esophageal probe was successfully inserted through the gastric channel of the SAD. When assessing agreement with TR as a reference, TE demonstrated equivalent results at all time points (P < 0.001 at 0, 10, 20, 30, and 40-min intervals and P = 0.018 at the 50-min interval), except at the completion of surgery (P = 0.697). TE also demonstrated good reliability with TR as a reference throughout the surgery (ICC > 0.75). Conclusions In children with SAD insertion, TE can be accurately and feasibly measured through the SAD’s gastric channel, making it suitable for routine application.

Background: Accurate core temperature measurement in children is crucial; however, measuring esophageal temperature (TE) using a supraglottic airway device (SAD) can be challenging. Second-generation SADs, which have a gastric channel, can measure TE, and reduce gastric air volume. This study aimed to compare TE, measured using a probe inserted through the SAD gastric channel, with tympanic membrane (TTM) and forehead (TZHF) temperatures, measured using a zero-heat-flux cutaneous thermometer, with rectal temperature (TR). Methods: Temperature was recorded at 10-min intervals from 10 min after probe insertion until completion of surgery. We performed an equivalence test to evaluate whether the TE, TTM, and TZHF were equivalent to TR, with a margin of 0.3°C. Additionally, intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) were calculated to assess the reliability of TE and TR at each time point. Results: We included 41 patients in the final analysis. In all patients, the esophageal probe was successfully inserted through the gastric channel of the SAD. When assessing agreement with TR as a reference, TE demonstrated equivalent results at all time points (P < 0.001 at 0, 10, 20, 30, and 40-min intervals and P = 0.018 at the 50-min interval), except at the completion of surgery (P = 0.697). TE also demonstrated good reliability with TR as a reference throughout the surgery (ICC > 0.75). Conclusions In children with SAD insertion, TE can be accurately and feasibly measured through the SAD’s gastric channel, making it suitable for routine application.

Background: Accurate core temperature measurement in children is crucial; however, measuring esophageal temperature (TE) using a supraglottic airway device (SAD) can be challenging. Second-generation SADs, which have a gastric channel, can measure TE, and reduce gastric air volume. This study aimed to compare TE, measured using a probe inserted through the SAD gastric channel, with tympanic membrane (TTM) and forehead (TZHF) temperatures, measured using a zero-heat-flux cutaneous thermometer, with rectal temperature (TR). Methods: Temperature was recorded at 10-min intervals from 10 min after probe insertion until completion of surgery. We performed an equivalence test to evaluate whether the TE, TTM, and TZHF were equivalent to TR, with a margin of 0.3°C. Additionally, intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) were calculated to assess the reliability of TE and TR at each time point. Results: We included 41 patients in the final analysis. In all patients, the esophageal probe was successfully inserted through the gastric channel of the SAD. When assessing agreement with TR as a reference, TE demonstrated equivalent results at all time points (P < 0.001 at 0, 10, 20, 30, and 40-min intervals and P = 0.018 at the 50-min interval), except at the completion of surgery (P = 0.697). TE also demonstrated good reliability with TR as a reference throughout the surgery (ICC > 0.75). Conclusions In children with SAD insertion, TE can be accurately and feasibly measured through the SAD’s gastric channel, making it suitable for routine application.

Background: Accurate core temperature measurement in children is crucial; however, measuring esophageal temperature (TE) using a supraglottic airway device (SAD) can be challenging. Second-generation SADs, which have a gastric channel, can measure TE, and reduce gastric air volume. This study aimed to compare TE, measured using a probe inserted through the SAD gastric channel, with tympanic membrane (TTM) and forehead (TZHF) temperatures, measured using a zero-heat-flux cutaneous thermometer, with rectal temperature (TR). Methods: Temperature was recorded at 10-min intervals from 10 min after probe insertion until completion of surgery. We performed an equivalence test to evaluate whether the TE, TTM, and TZHF were equivalent to TR, with a margin of 0.3°C. Additionally, intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) were calculated to assess the reliability of TE and TR at each time point. Results: We included 41 patients in the final analysis. In all patients, the esophageal probe was successfully inserted through the gastric channel of the SAD. When assessing agreement with TR as a reference, TE demonstrated equivalent results at all time points (P < 0.001 at 0, 10, 20, 30, and 40-min intervals and P = 0.018 at the 50-min interval), except at the completion of surgery (P = 0.697). TE also demonstrated good reliability with TR as a reference throughout the surgery (ICC > 0.75). Conclusions In children with SAD insertion, TE can be accurately and feasibly measured through the SAD’s gastric channel, making it suitable for routine application.

Background: Accurate core temperature measurement in children is crucial; however, measuring esophageal temperature (TE) using a supraglottic airway device (SAD) can be challenging. Second-generation SADs, which have a gastric channel, can measure TE, and reduce gastric air volume. This study aimed to compare TE, measured using a probe inserted through the SAD gastric channel, with tympanic membrane (TTM) and forehead (TZHF) temperatures, measured using a zero-heat-flux cutaneous thermometer, with rectal temperature (TR). Methods: Temperature was recorded at 10-min intervals from 10 min after probe insertion until completion of surgery. We performed an equivalence test to evaluate whether the TE, TTM, and TZHF were equivalent to TR, with a margin of 0.3°C. Additionally, intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) were calculated to assess the reliability of TE and TR at each time point. Results: We included 41 patients in the final analysis. In all patients, the esophageal probe was successfully inserted through the gastric channel of the SAD. When assessing agreement with TR as a reference, TE demonstrated equivalent results at all time points (P < 0.001 at 0, 10, 20, 30, and 40-min intervals and P = 0.018 at the 50-min interval), except at the completion of surgery (P = 0.697). TE also demonstrated good reliability with TR as a reference throughout the surgery (ICC > 0.75). Conclusions In children with SAD insertion, TE can be accurately and feasibly measured through the SAD’s gastric channel, making it suitable for routine application.

Objective: The Scales for Outcomes in Parkinson’s Disease–Cognition (SCOPA-Cog) was developed to assess cognition in patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD). In this study, we aimed to evaluate the validity and reliability of the Korean version of the SCOPACog (K-SCOPA-Cog). Methods: We enrolled 129 PD patients with movement disorders from 31 clinics in South Korea. The original version of the SCOPA-Cog was translated into Korean using the translation-retranslation method. The test–retest method with an intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and Cronbach’s alpha coefficient were used to assess reliability. Spearman’s rank correlation analysis with the Montreal Cognitive Assessment-Korean version (MOCA-K) and the Korean Mini-Mental State Examination (K-MMSE) were used to assess concurrent validity. Results: The Cronbach’s alpha coefficient was 0.797, and the ICC was 0.887. Spearman’s rank correlation analysis revealed a significant correlation with the K-MMSE and MOCA-K scores (r = 0.546 and r = 0.683, respectively). Conclusion Our results demonstrate that the K-SCOPA-Cog has good reliability and validity.

Background: Posterior spinal fusion (PSF), commonly used for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS), causes severe postoperative pain. Intravenous (IV) administration of acetaminophen has shown promise for opioid-sparing analgesia; however, its analgesic effect and optimal timing for its standard use remain unclear. Our study aimed to evaluate the analgesic effect and optimal timing of IV acetaminophen administration in pediatric and adolescent patients undergoing PSF and requiring adequate pain control. Methods: This prospective, randomized, triple-blind trial was conducted in patients aged 11–20 undergoing PSF. Participants were randomized into three groups: the preemptive group (received IV acetaminophen 15 mg/kg after anesthetic induction/before surgical incision), the preventive group (received IV acetaminophen 15 mg/kg at the end of surgery/before skin closure), and the placebo group. The primary outcome was cumulative opioid consumption during the first 24 h postoperatively. Results: Among the 99 enrolled patients, the mean ± standard deviation (SD) amount of opioid consumption during the postoperative 24 h was 60.66 ± 23.84, 52.23 ± 22.43, and 66.70 ± 23.01 mg in the preemptive, preventive, and placebo groups, respectively (overall P = 0.043). A post hoc analysis revealed that the preventive group had significantly lower opioid consumption than the placebo group (P = 0.013). However, no significant differences between the groups were observed for the secondary outcomes. Conclusions The preventive administration of scheduled IV acetaminophen reduces cumulative opioid consumption without increasing the incidence of drug-induced adverse events in pediatric and adolescent patients undergoing PSF.

Background: Lead, which is widely used in various industrial settings, is a major health hazard for manufacturing workers. Therefore, control of lead exposure has been implemented in an effort to prevent lead-related health problems. In this study, our aim was to evaluate temporal trends in occupational lead exposure in Korean lead workers using data from monitoring of workplace exposure. Methods: A nationwide work environment monitoring database, data from a work environment monitoring institution, and data extracted from a review paper were utilized. Different versions of standard industrial classification codes were aligned with the 10th Korean Standard Industrial Classification, which is generally consistent with the 4th revision of the International Standard Industrial Classification. The multiple data sources were combined and temporal trends over the period from 1994–2021 were estimated. In addition, separate estimation of temporal trends in the storage battery manufacturing industry over the period from 1987–2021 was also performed. Results: A total of 444,296 personal airborne lead measurements were used for the estimation process. The temporal trends in occupational exposure to lead declined by −6% annually over the study period. In particular, levels of lead exposure in the storage battery manufacturing industry showed a steeper decline of −12% annually. Conclusions Findings of our study showed that occupational exposure to lead declined over the period from 1994 to 2021 in Korea. However, adverse effects of exposure to lead on health should be regarded with caution. The results will be useful in conduct of epidemiological studies examining lead-related effects on health.

Objective: With many chronic inflammatory diseases, outcomes are determined by assessing both disease activity at presentation and cumulative activity over time. Here, we investigated whether cumulative activity better reflects the radiographic progression (RP) of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) than measurement of activity at a single time point. Methods: From a prospective cohort of RA patients, most of whom were treated with anti-rheumatic drugs, we selected 117 subjects for whom laboratory, clinical, and radiographic parameters potentially influencing RP were monitored serially for more than 1 year. X-ray images of both hands and both feet were scored using the van der Heijde modified total Sharp score (mTSS). In addition to cross-sectional values at baseline, longitudinal and cumulative values for each parameter were calculated in a timeintegrated and averaged manner. Results: Among the values measured at baseline, mTSS, but not the baseline erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) or C-reactive protein level, was associated with RP. By contrast, multivariate analyses identified cumulative values such as the cumulative ESR, cumulative tender joint count, cumulative swollen joint count (SJC), and cumulative Disease Activity Score 28-ESR as major determinants of RP. In particular, the cumulative SJC showed the best predictive performance for RP. Conclusion This study highlights the importance of cumulative indices for predicting progression of RA. Specifically, dynamic and cumulative values of RA activity-related factors, particularly the cumulative SJC, may be the major determinants of RP in the current practice.