, Jae-Young Lim , Jung-Ha Kim 
, Jihyun Ahn , Hyun Kang Citations
Shoulder pain is a common complaint in primary care settings. The prevalence of shoulder pain is on the rise, especially in societies with aging populations. Like other joint-related conditions, shoulder pain is predominantly caused by degenerative diseases. These degenerative changes typically affect bones, tendons, and cartilage, with common conditions including degenerative rotator cuff tears, impingement syndrome, and osteoarthritis. Diagnosing these degenerative diseases in older adults requires a thorough understanding of basic anatomy, general physical examination techniques, and specific diagnostic tests. This review aims to outline the fundamental physical examination methods for diagnosing shoulder pain in older adult patients in primary care. The shoulder's complex anatomy and its broad range of motion underscore the need for a systematic approach to evaluation. Routine inspection and palpation can identify signs such as muscle atrophy, bony protrusions, or indications of degenerative changes. Assessing range of motion, and distinguishing between active and passive deficits, is crucial for differentiating conditions like frozen shoulder from rotator cuff tears. Targeted strength tests, such as the empty can, external rotation lag, liftoff, and belly press tests, are instrumental in isolating specific rotator cuff muscles. Additionally, impingement tests, including Neer’s and Hawkins’ signs, are useful for detecting subacromial impingement. A comprehensive understanding of shoulder anatomy and a systematic physical examination are vital for accurately diagnosing shoulder pain in older adults. When properly executed and interpreted in the clinical context, these maneuvers help differentiate between various conditions, ranging from degenerative changes to rotator cuff pathology.
Health and safety issues in micro and small enterprises (MSEs) are recognized as a global challenge. This study aimed to examine Workers' Health Centers (WHCs) as a representative public organization providing occupational health services to MSEs in Korea. WHCs were established in 2011 after a trial period aimed at addressing occupational diseases in MSEs with limited resources. As of 2024, there are 24 WHCs, 22 branch offices, and 23 trauma counseling centers for workers. These health centers are managed by the Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency, with their actual operation delegated to private organizations. Each WHC employs an average of 13 staff members and is organized into four specialized teams: cardiovascular disease prevention, workplace environment improvement, musculoskeletal disease prevention, and occupational stress management. These centers also offer common basic programs along with region-specific specialized initiatives. In 2023, the total cumulative number of users reached 203,877, with employees from MSEs comprising approximately 88.5% of the total. WHCs can thus be seen as playing a pivotal role as case managers of health requirements in the workplace by fostering strong relationships with MSEs and linking them to other relevant programs through a problem-solving-oriented approach. Given the limited resources of these enterprises, proactive policies and the equitable application of safety and health regulations are essential. A balanced strategy that combines regulatory enforcement with practical assistance is critical to ensure the success of WHCs in improving health and safety conditions in MSEs.
Shoulder diseases pose a significant health challenge for older adults, often causing pain, functional decline, and decreased independence. This narrative review explores how deep learning (DL) can address diagnostic challenges by automating tasks such as image segmentation, disease detection, and motion analysis. Recent research highlights the effectiveness of DL-based convolutional neural networks and machine learning frameworks in diagnosing various shoulder pathologies. Automated image analysis facilitates the accurate assessment of rotator cuff tear size, muscle degeneration, and fatty infiltration in MRI or CT scans, frequently matching or surpassing the accuracy of human experts. Convolutional neural network-based systems are also adept at classifying fractures and joint conditions, enabling the rapid identification of common causes of shoulder pain from plain radiographs. Furthermore, advanced techniques like pose estimation provide precise measurements of the shoulder joint's range of motion and support personalized rehabilitation plans. These automated approaches have also been successful in quantifying local osteoporosis, utilizing machine learning-derived indices to classify bone density status. DL has demonstrated significant potential to improve diagnostic accuracy, efficiency, and consistency in the management of shoulder diseases in older patients. Machine learning-based assessments of imaging data and motion parameters can help clinicians optimize treatment plans and improve patient outcomes. However, to ensure their generalizability, reproducibility, and effective integration into routine clinical workflows, large-scale, prospective validation studies are necessary. As data availability and computational resources increase, the ongoing development of DL-driven applications is expected to further advance and personalize musculoskeletal care, benefiting both healthcare providers and the aging population.
The purpose of this review is to provide a comprehensive guide for managing older adult patients with shoulder diseases, specifically rotator cuff tears and osteoarthritis, and to explore effective nonsurgical treatment options. Chronic rotator cuff tears are typically degenerative, whereas acute tears result from trauma. A key feature of these tears is tendon degeneration accompanied by type III collagen predominance, predisposing tears to progression. Osteoarthritis in the glenohumeral joint arises from wear-and-tear changes that compromise cartilage integrity, leading to pain and restricted motion. Accurate clinical assessment and imaging, including plain radiographs, ultrasonography, and MRI, facilitate diagnosis and guide treatment. The physic-al examination emphasizes range of motion, rotator cuff strength, and scapular stability. Management strategies prioritize pain relief, function preservation, and improving mobility. Nonsurgical modalities, including exercise, manual therapy, and activity modification, constitute first-line treatments, especially for older adults. Pharmacological approaches involve NSAIDs, corticosteroid injections, and neuropathic pain medications. Steroid injections have short-term benefits, but repeated treatments may compromise tissue integrity. Platelet-rich plasma is a regenerative option that may improve tendon healing, but mixed findings highlight the need for further investigation. A structured physical therapy program focusing on range of motion and strengthening is essential, with alternative interventions used judiciously. Patients should be counseled regarding the potential progression of tears and the possible need for future surgical intervention if nonsurgical methods are unsuccessful. Multimodal approaches, including joint mobilization and personalized exercise regimens, hold potential for optimizing functional outcomes and supporting independence in older adults.
, Hee-June Kim, Sung Hun Kim, Suk-Joong Lee Citations
Influenza presents a considerable disease burden, particularly among adults over 65 years old. In this population, the disease is associated with high rates of infection, hospitalization, and mortality. The objective of this study was to assess the impact of influenza on older adults and to evaluate the effectiveness of influenza vaccines within this demographic. A literature search was conducted using PubMed to identify relevant English-language studies published from January 2000 to January 2024. The analysis indicated that influenza-related hospitalization rates (ranging from 10.1 to 308.3 per 100,000 persons) and all-cause excess mortality rates (1.1 to 228.2 per 100,000 persons) were notably high in older adults, although these rates varied over time and by location. Hospitalization rates due to influenza increased considerably after the age of 50 years, with the highest rates observed in individuals aged 85 years and older. Excess mortality attributable to influenza also rose with age, with rates between 17.9 and 223.5 per 100,000 persons in those over 75 years old. The effectiveness of influenza vaccines in preventing severe infections requiring hospitalization was found to be only 37% in individuals aged 65 years and older. The unadjuvanted, standard-dose influenza vaccine had an estimated effectiveness of just 25% against laboratory-confirmed influenza and between 37% and 43.7% in preventing hospitalizations. Therefore, considering the substantial burden of influenza and the limited efficacy of standard vaccines, the use of highly immunogenic influenza vaccines should be prioritized for older adults.
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, Yoon Jin Choi, Ji Yeon Byun, You Won Choi, Joo Young Roh, Hae Young Choi Nontuberculous mycobacterial infections, which are often acquired from environmental sources such as water and soil, exhibit a variety of cutaneous manifestations that frequently lead to misdiagnoses and delays in treatment. A 77-year-old woman presented with multiple skin lesions in a sporotricoid distribution on her right leg, which persisted despite standard antibiotic treatments. Based on the skin biopsy, revealing granulomatous inflammation with acid-fast bacilli, and PCR testing, a nontuberculous mycobacterial infection was diagnosed. Antimycobacterial drug combinations, including clarithromycin, isoniazid, and rifampicin for 4 months, complete the skin lesion's clearance. This case underscores the need for heightened suspicion and the use of appropriate diagnostic techniques, including tissue biopsies and molecular methods such as PCR.
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, So Hyun Ahn, Rena Lee This study aimed to develop an accurate pediatric bone age prediction model by utilizing deep learning models and contrast conversion techniques, in order to improve growth assessment and clinical decision-making in clinical practice.
The study employed a variety of deep learning models and contrast conversion techniques to predict bone age. The training dataset consisted of pediatric left-hand X-ray images, each annotated with bone age and sex information. Deep learning models, including a convolutional neural network , Residual Network 50 , Visual Geometry Group 19, Inception V3, and Xception were trained and assessed using the mean absolute error (MAE). For the test data, contrast conversion techniques including fuzzy contrast enhancement, contrast limited adaptive histogram equalization (HE) , and HE were implemented. The quality of the images was evaluated using peak signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), mean squared error, SNR, coefficient of variation, and contrast-to-noise ratio metrics. The bone age prediction results using the test data were evaluated based on the MAE and root mean square error, and the t-test was performed.
The Xception model showed the best performance (MAE=41.12). HE exhibited superior image quality, with higher SNR and coefficient of variation values than other methods. Additionally, HE demonstrated the highest contrast among the techniques assessed, with a contrast-to-noise ratio value of 1.29. Improvements in bone age prediction resulted in a decline in MAE from 2.11 to 0.24, along with a decrease in root mean square error from 0.21 to 0.02.
This study demonstrates that preprocessing the data before model training does not significantly affect the performance of bone age prediction when comparing contrast-converted images with original images.
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, Gwang Ha Kim, Bong Eun Lee, Moon Won Lee, Cheolung Kim Subepithelial tumors in the upper gastrointestinal (GI) tract are often detected during nationwide endoscopic gastric cancer screening in Korea. Most GI lipomas are asymptomatic and do not necessitate further treatment. However, large tumors may lead to complications such as bowel obstruction, intussusception, and bleeding. These GI lipomas require endoscopic or surgical resection. On radiological examination, GI lipomas typically manifest as hypodense lesions with similar density to that of fat tissue. White-light endoscopy generally reveals a yellowish subepithelial tumor exhibiting a positive cushion sign, while endoscopic ultrasonography shows a homogeneous hypoechoic mass within the third layer of the GI tract. We present the case of an 81-year-old woman with symptomatic duodenal lipoma following endoscopic resection.
, Yaiza Del Pozo Martín, Joan Marsh 성별(sex)과 젠더(gender)의 차이를 이해하는 것은 질병 관련 병태생리학 연구, 사회인구학적 건강결정요인, 의학적 또는 사회적 중재의
긍정적 영향 및 위해성 등을 막론하고 엄밀하고 포용적연구에 있어 필수적이다. 다양한 젠더를 포함한 연구가 활발해졌지만 성별과 젠더를 변수로
명시하는 연구는 여전히 부족하다. 2016년에 발표된 성별과 젠더 형평성(Sex and Gender Equity in Research,
SAGER) 지침은 널리 지지되고 있지만, 소수의 과학 학술지와 기관들에서만 이를 공식적인 편집 및 출판 정책에 반영하고 있다.
, Paola De Castro, Sera Tort, Mirjam Curno Citations
Anastomotic leakage (AL) after colorectal surgery is a significant concern, as it can lead to adverse functional and oncologic outcomes. Numerous studies have been conducted with the aim of identifying risk factors for AL and developing strategies to prevent its occurrence, thereby reducing the severe morbidity associated with AL. The intraoperative method for reducing AL includes a mechanical assessment of AL, an assessment of bowel perfusion, drain placement, and the creation of diverting stomas. The anastomosis technique is also associated with AL, and the appropriate selection and accurate application of anastomotic methods are crucial for preventing AL. Indocyanine green fluorescence imaging has recently gained popularity as a method for assessing bowel perfusion. While it is useful for detecting bowel perfusion, standardized protocols and measurement methods need to be established to ensure its reliability and effectiveness in clinical practice. The use of intraoperative drains to reduce AL has produced inconsistent results, and the routine adoption of this practice is not currently recommended. Diverting stomas can be used to help reduce the morbidity associated with AL. However, it is important to carefully consider the complications that can arise directly from the stoma itself. It should be noted that while a stoma can reduce AL, it cannot completely prevent it. This descriptive review examines various intraoperative methods aimed at reducing AL, discussing their effectiveness in reducing AL.
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Over the past 3 years, the COVID-19 pandemic has posed significant challenges to the healthcare system, leading to delays in the diagnosis and treatment of various diseases due to the need for social distancing measures. Colorectal cancer has not been immune to these disruptions, and research in various countries has explored the impact of COVID-19 on the diagnosis and treatment of colorectal cancer. One notable consequence has been the postponement of colorectal cancer screenings, potentially resulting in disease progression, which can adversely affect surgical and oncological outcomes. Furthermore, the treatment approach for colorectal cancer may vary depending on the extent of disease progression and the healthcare policies implemented in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. In this systematic review, we examine treatment strategies, surgical outcomes, and oncological variables across multiple studies focusing on colorectal cancer treatment during the COVID-19 pandemic. The purpose of this analysis was to assess how medical policies enacted in response to the COVID-19 pandemic have influenced the outcomes of colorectal cancer treatment. We hope that this review will provide valuable insights and serve as a foundational resource for developing guidelines to address potential medical crises in the future.
, Sang Yoon Kim, Heejin Bang, Kyoung Eun Lee Extramammary Paget’s Disease (EMPD) is a rare intraepithelial malignancy of apocrine bearing glands, which occur usually in the perianal region, vulva, scrotum, penis and ax-illa. Most of the disease are treated by surgical resection and the prognosis is generally good. Even though recurrent disease, it is usually slowly progressed with good prognosis. Here we describe the case of a 70-year-old male who has presented with initially just as an EMPD component of squamous cell carcinoma in inguinal skin, but he showed recur-rence of EMPD. The disease has progressed rapidly, finally he died of that EMPD in 2 months of recurrence. The purpose of this study is to report the rare case of fulminant disease course of EMPD after recurrence.
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, Yongil Kim A bezoar, a mixture of various undigested foreign substances in the gastrointestinal tract, causes intestinal obstruction at times. We report a case of non-surgical treatment in old age patient. An 89-year-old female presented with epigastric pain, general weakness, and intermittent melena for 1 month. There were episodic attacks of vomiting. An abdominal computed tomography scan showed a 5×4 cm, firm, atypically shaped mass at the stomach body and duodenal bulb with interspersed gas. Endoscopy showed a mass of fiber impacting the antrum pylorus, and the endoscopist failed to remove the bezoar at the first attempt. We subscribed olive oil for few days to make the bezoar small, and eventually, it was fragmented and removed without surgery. A phytobezoar is not uncommon disease required surgical removal if obstructive system developed. Ingestion of olive oil would be a helpful substitute for immediate operation in case of phytobezoar.
, Wookeun Lee, Tae-Dong Jeong, Hae-Sun Chung, Ki-Sook Hong Six sigma is a quality management system for the assessment of precision and accuracy. We aim to apply the six sigma rule to quality control (QC) of point-of-care (POC) glucose meters in a tertiary hospital.
Thirty POC glucose meters installed at Ewha Womans University Mokdong Hospital were monitored between January 2013 and March 2014. The QC data from the POC glucose meters at low and high levels were collected. The monthly mean, standard deviation, bias, coefficient of variation, and mean sigma metrics were calculated. The correlation between accuracy and precision was assessed based on the percentage bias and coefficient of variation. Comprehensive instructions on the QC and maintenance of the devices were provided in the departments with poor sigma scores. A follow-up assessment was performed after the intervention.
The mean sigma values for the low and high controls were 3.29 and 3.71, respectively. At the low and high controls, 36.6% and 10% of the glucose meters showed a sigma value <3. The causes of low sigma values included the use of expired control materials, prolonged air exposure of the sample strip, lack of user training, and errors in device maintenance. On follow-up monitoring for 3 months following QC intervention, 23.3% (low control) and 6.6% (high control) of the glucose meters scored a sigma value <3, indicating improved QC.
Sigma metrics-based QC can successfully improve accuracy and precision of POC glucose meters in an objective and quantitative manner and can be used for follow up after QC intervention.
Citations
, Tae-Jin Song, Young-Jae Kim, Ji Hoe Heo, Kyung-Yul Lee, Young Eun Kim, Min Uk Jang, Soo-Jin Cho, Suk Yun Kang Although there have been several reports that described characteristics for young age stroke, information regarding very young age (18–30 years old) has been limited. We aimed to analyze demographic factors, stroke subtype, and 3-month outcome in acute ischemic stroke patient who have relatively very young age in multicenter stroke registry.
We evaluated all 122 (7.1%) consecutive acute ischemic stroke (within 7 days after symptom onset) patients aged 18 to 30 from 17,144 patients who registered in multicenter prospective stroke registry, 1997 to 2012. Etiology was classified by Trial of Org 10172 in Acute Stroke Treatment criteria. Stroke severity was defined as National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) and stroke outcome was defined by modified Rankin scale (mRS) at 3 months after index stroke.
The mean age of all included patients was 25.1±3.7 years and 76 patients (62.2%) were male. The median NIHSS at admission was 4. Considering stroke subtype, 37 patients (30.3%) had stroke of other determined etiology (SOD), 37 (30.3%) had undetermined negative evaluation (UN) and 31 (25.4%) had cardioembolism (CE) were frequently noted. After adjusting age, sex and variables which had P<0.1 in univariable analysis (NIHSS and stroke subtype), CE stroke subtype (odds ratio, 4.68; 95% confidence interval, 1.42–15.48; P=0.011) were significantly associated with poor functional outcome (mRS≥3).
In very young age ischemic stroke patients, SOD and UN stroke subtype were most common and CE stroke subtype was independently associated with poor discharge outcome.
Antimicrobials were one of the great invention of modern era. However, the abuse of antimicrobial both in human and animals has led to a high rate of occurrence of antimicrobial resistant microbes. Disease treatment caused by antimicrobial resistant microbes including superbacteria has emerged as critical issue worldwide. Communication and cooperation among researchers in diverse fields are needed to solve the resistance to antimicrobials. Culture Collection of Antimicrobial Resistant Microbes (CCARM) has taken a leadership role an intermediary among various research fields by providing certified antimicrobial resistant microbes with their information since 1999. CCARM collects antimicrobial resistant microbes from clinical, agricultural animals and products, and environmental fields, and classifies and stores them according to their origins, species and antimicrobial resistance mechanisms. CCARM is performing the roles (collection, deposit, preservation, distribution, service, and consulting) of Biological Resource Center designated by Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
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, Youn Jin Kim, Jong Hak Kim, Ji Sun Jeong We analyzed retrospectively incidence, management, and predictors of difficult intubation, which have been known through practical cases.
A total of 217 cases of difficult intubation (DI) between 2010 and 2014 were investigated. Risk factors such as age, body mass index, Mallampati score, thyromental distance, degree of mouth opening and range of neck motion, Cormack-Lehane grade, intubation and airway management techniques were investigated. The cases of each department were analyzed and the airway management techniques according to simplified risk scores (SRS) were also investigated.
The average incidence of DI was 0.49%. Patients undergoing surgery in the departments of oro-maxillo-facial surgery (1.35%), ophthalmologic surgery (0.96%), urologic surgery (0.80%), and head and neck surgery of ear-nose-throat (0.62%) showed the higher incidence of DI. Difficult mask ventilation (10 of 217, 4.6%) was occurred with DI. Higher SRS were related to high rates of video laryngoscope use and fiberoptic guided intubation. There was a decrease in the use of McCoy blades after 2013, an increase in the use of video laryngoscope, and a consistent rate of fiberoptic intubation.
It is not easy to check all the predictors of DI in a preanesthetic evaluation and the predictors are not accurate. The role of clinical preparation and practical management is important, and the most important thing is to establish a planned induction strategy. Multiple factors system, such as simplified risk factors should be used to evaluate patients to prepare for appropriate airway management techniques in case of DI.
Citations
, Joo Kyoung Cha, Hyun Jung Lee, Seok Lae Chae, Hee Jin Huh, Jae-Woo Chung, Do Yeun Kim To assess the current state of anemia evaluation in the elderly over 80 years of age.
Patients who were more than 80 years old and visited Dongguk University Ilsan Hospital from April 2005 to February 2014 were included. Statistical analysis were assessed using the logistic regression model.
Total 548 patients, who had anemia according to WHO criteria, were identified. The median age was 85 years old (range, 82 to 99 years) and median hemoglobin level was 11.0 g/dL (range, 2.7 to 12.9 g/dL). Twenty-eight, 468, and 52 patients were classified as microcytic anemia, normocytic anemia, and macrocytic anemia, respectively. Among them, 397 patients (72.4%) did not undergo proper evaluation for the cause anemia i.e., 8 cases (28.5%) of microcytic anemia, 361 cases (77.1%) of normocytic anemia, and the 28 cases (53.84%) of 52 macrocytic anemia patients. The remaining 151 patients (27.6%) had completed the evaluation, and 24 patients (15.9%) were diagnosed as solid malignancies. In the assessment of iron deficiency anemia, hemoglobin levels, and age had no effect on whether or not to perform esophagogastroduodenoscopy.
This finding showed that physicians often neglected anemia in individuals over 80 years of age. Though these patients have limited life expectancy, physicians should carefully discriminate the sub-population who will be benefit from adequate evaluation and treatment.
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It is well known that changes in end-tidal carbon dioxide partial pressure (PETCO2) can reflect changes in cardiac output during cardiopulmonary resuscitation. The present study was performed to evaluate quantitative relationship between the changes in PETCO2 and cardiac output in the acute hemorrahagic dogs.
Six anesthetized(isoflurane 1.0%), paralyzed, and mechanically constant ventilated dogs submitted to hemorrhage were studied. The dogs were hemorrhaged by progressive withdrawal of 50% of blood volume. After withdrawal of each 10% of blood volume, PETCO2, arterial carbon dioxide partial pressure(PaCO2), mean arterial pressure and cardiac output were measured.
After 40% blood loss, the percent decrease in PETCO2 decreased significantly. The percent decrease in PETCO2 correlated with the percent decrease in cardiac output(slope=0.33, r=0.7, P<0.001). The percent decrease in PETCO2 correlated with the percent decrease in cardiac output(slope=0.35, r=0.55, P<0.05).
There is a linear correlation between the percent decrease in PETCO2 and cardiac outpit with the ratio approximately 1:3 during acute hemorrhage in the constant tidal volume ventilation. The cause of PETCO2 change induced by cardiac output might be change in PaCO2. This finding suggests that PETCO2 monitoring can easily detect a critical reduction in cardiac output when ventilationis constant.
The multifactorial character of cervical spondylotic myelopathy indicates a probable onset and progression of this disease as well as a diversity of clinical manifestations.
Patients admitted with the clinical symptomatology of a progressive myelopathy associated with radiologic findings compatible with spondylotic degeneration of the cervical spine and who manifest appropriate neurophysiological abnormalities should be considered as candidates for surgical treatment. For several decades, both anterior and posterior spinal decompressive procedures have been performed who are generally being informed before the operation that the aim of surgery is to stabilize their neurologic condition and that actual improvement often cannot be expected.
A retrospective analysis of 42 patients admitted to the Dongdaemoon hospital utilizing MRI, CT in small amount to make diagnosis and surgical indication of degenerative cervical spine lesions was undertaken. Almost all patents were taken T1 Weighted Image(T1W1),T2 Weighted Image(T2W1) and gradient echo image on 1.5 Tesla unit. All patients could be evaluated the extent and degrees of disc hemiation, osteophytes and cord compression.
A focal area of High-Signal-Intensity(HSI) was observed on T2W1 in 15 patients with myelopathy predominantly. HSI was diminished postoperatively in the patients who improved clinically , remained and unchanged who didn't improve.
In this study, MRI with high resolution images I the initial procedure of choice of degenerative cervical spine lesion was important on the decision making of the patients, Furthermore hight signal of the spinal cord by the compressive lesions appear to be an important indicator for predicting prognosis of patients with myelopathy.
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