1Department of Dermatology, Ewha Womans University Mokdong Hospital, Seoul, Korea
*Corresponding author: Ji Yeon Byun,
Department of Dermatology, Ewha Womans University Mokdong Hospital, 1071
Anyangcheon-ro, Yangcheon-gu, Seoul 07985, Korea, E-mail:
jybyun@ewha.ac.kr
• Received: January 23, 2025 • Accepted: January 23, 2025
This is an Open-Access article distributed under the terms of the
Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0) which permits
unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any
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After the resignation of medical residents from their training hospitals in February 2024
[1], the number of submissions to medical
journals reportedly decreased. For the Journal of Korean Medical
Science, domestic submissions in 2024 began higher than the 15-year average
in January (92 vs. 68). However, they gradually declined throughout the year, hitting a
low of 56 in September before rebounding to 92 in October [2]. This decrease in manuscript submissions stemmed from the
increased workload on clinical faculty members after the residents’ resignations.
Although submission levels in 2024 remained sustainable, the situation in 2025 may
worsen due to reduced research activities by clinical faculty members in 2024.
Fortunately, the Ewha Medical Journal published 74 articles in 2024,
more than double the 34 publications in 2023. This remarkable achievement was made
possible by the commitment of clinical faculty members in Korea to the journal. However,
we remain concerned about the number of submissions in 2025, because the environment for
patient care in university hospitals continues to deteriorate. Unfortunately, the
current conflict between the Korean government and the medical association remains
unresolved following a Korean presidential emergency briefing announcing martial law,
which threatened punishment under martial law if medical residents did not
“return to work” within 48 hours [3]. We have no choice but to wait for an evidence-based resolution by the Korean
government. This situation can be described as a freezing era of article production. How
can the Ewha Medical Journal survive in this challenging environment?
The editors and editorial office plan to review manuscripts as quickly as possible and
publish them with the highest editorial quality. We will also seek out helpful topics
for clinicians and medical educators. Maintaining the highest editorial quality may help
sustain researchers’ commitment.
In this January issue, we are pleased to publish two editorials, two special topics,
composed of nine narrative reviews, five reviews, three original articles, one case
report, and one correspondence. The special topics focus on recent clinical
approaches to shoulder diseases in older adults and the role of
institutes and enterprises in addressing occupational and environmental diseases in
Korea.
Special topics on clinical approaches to shoulder diseases in older
adults
Five narrative review articles comprehensively address various topics related to
shoulder diseases in older adults. Kang and Kang [4] present fundamental physical examination procedures for diagnosing
shoulder pain. They also provide video files demonstrating physical examinations,
including range-of-motion assessment, the full can and empty can tests for
supraspinatus, the external lag sign, the Hornblower sign for infraspinatus, the
lift-off and internal lag sign for subscapularis, the belly-press test for
subscapularis, and impingement tests. These video files will be beneficial for any
physician conducting shoulder joint examinations. Lee and Kim [5] review the classification, epidemiology, pathophysiology,
clinical presentation, and management strategies of shoulder diseases in older
adults. They categorize four major conditions—rotator cuff disease, frozen
shoulder (adhesive capsulitis), osteoarthritis, and shoulder instability—in a
table that outlines their pathophysiology, risk factors, clinical presentation,
diagnostic approaches, and treatment strategies at a glance. Kim and Jung [6] discuss the radiological characteristics of
shoulder diseases in older adults, including adhesive capsulitis, rotator cuff
tears, and osteoarthritis of the glenohumeral joint. They also provide various
clinical images illustrating these conditions. Furthermore, Kim and Jeong [7] present a detailed guide for managing
shoulder diseases in older adults. They recommend nonsurgical
interventions—such as exercise, manual therapy, and modifications to daily
activities—as the primary treatment approach. Pharmacological strategies
include nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, corticosteroid injections, and
medications targeting neuropathic pain. Although steroid injections can offer
short-term relief, repeated administration may compromise the integrity of
surrounding tissues.
Another notable review explores the application of cutting-edge deep learning
technology for diagnosing shoulder diseases [8]. This narrative review describes how deep learning addresses diagnostic
challenges in shoulder care by automating image analysis, disease detection, and
motion assessment. Convolutional neural networks match or surpass human accuracy in
identifying rotator cuff tears, fractures, and joint conditions, while pose
estimation refines range-of-motion evaluations. Deep learning also classifies local
osteoporosis and enables personalized treatments. Such technologies are already
being integrated into patient care for shoulder diseases. The aforementioned five
reviews offer a comprehensive framework for understanding and addressing the unique
challenges associated with shoulder diseases in older adults.
Special topic on the role of institutes related to occupational and environmental
diseases in Korea
These papers discuss the role of institutes that deal with occupational and
environmental diseases in Korea. First, the Korea Occupational Disease Surveillance
Center [9] is not a single institution, but
rather a comprehensive nationwide system designed to gather, analyze, and interpret
data on occupational diseases through a network of regional centers. Established in
2022, it had 10 operational regional centers by 2024 in line with regional Ministry
of Employment and Labor offices. Despite its recent inception, the Korea
Occupational Disease Surveillance Center has already uncovered unrecognized
occupational diseases, including acute poisoning cases requiring urgent workplace
intervention, thus informing national prevention policies. Generating relevant data
supports the development and execution of targeted interventions, enhancing
occupational health services, and facilitating national interventions for workers
across the country.
Second, regional Environmental Health Centers in Korea [10] have undergone continuous transformation since their
inception in May 2007, when 10 regional centers were established. During the initial
phase (May 2007–February 2009), these centers focused on research-driven
activities. In the second phase (March 2009–2015), six additional centers
were established, broadening their scope to address national environmental health
issues. The third phase (2015–2019) introduced Ko-CHENS, a 20-year national
cohort project aimed at informing environmental health policy through the
integration of research findings into policy frameworks. The fourth phase
(2020–present) has been characterized by a decentralization of authority,
empowering local governments and redefining the centers’ roles to address
regional environmental health challenges. The text precisely describes these
evolving roles.
Third, Workers' Health Centers, established in 2011 [11], serve as a representative public organization providing
occupational health services to micro and small enterprises in Korea. As of 2024,
there are 24 WHCs, 22 branch offices, and 23 trauma counseling centers for workers.
Managed by the Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency but operated by private
entities, each Workers' Health Center employs around 13 staff members across
four teams: cardiovascular disease prevention, environmental improvement,
musculoskeletal disease prevention, and stress management. Serving 203,877 users in
2023—88.5% of whom were from micro and small
enterprises—Workers' Health Centers offer both basic and specialized
programs, acting as crucial case managers that connect micro and small enterprises
to necessary resources through flexible, problem-solving approaches.
Fourth, as of 2024, 23 Occupational Trauma Centers were operating within
Workers' Health Centers across Korea [12]. Each trauma center is staffed by two counseling psychologists and
equipped with private consultation rooms to foster psychological safety. These
Centers aim to address psychological distress following workplace injuries. Despite
a decreasing trend in fatal injuries, Korea continues to report elevated rates
compared to other industrialized nations, underscoring the need for effective mental
health interventions. The Occupational Trauma Management Program focuses on early
crisis intervention, multi-phased counseling, and ongoing monitoring to stabilize
affected workers and support their return to work.
These four reviews collectively highlight the significant progress made by institutes
that address occupational and environmental health challenges in Korea.
Ju et al. investigated the health rights of inmates in correctional facilities and
highlighted their conditions [13]. Although
conducted in 2016, this is a unique survey because no other similar study exists.
The authors propose strategies to improve inmates’ health rights, including
establishing a primary healthcare system, enhancing governance, alleviating
overcrowding, and introducing mental health programs. If any follow-up studies are
conducted, they may confirm an improved environment for inmates.
We welcome high-quality articles covering a wide range of topics in medicine and
healthcare. While the journal primarily focuses on Korea, we also encourage
submissions from researchers worldwide.
Authors' contributions
All work was done by Ji Yeon Byun.
Conflict of interest
Ji Yeon Byun has been the associate editor of the Ewha Medical
Journal since 2018. However, she was not involved in the peer
review process or decision-making. Otherwise, no potential conflict of interest
relevant to this article was reported.
Funding
Not applicable.
Data availability
Not applicable.
Acknowledgments
Not applicable.
Supplementary materials
Not applicable.
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