Bilateral Hemorrhagic Occlusive Retinal Vasculitis Induced by Osimertinib in a Patient with Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer.

PURPOSE: To report a case of bilateral retinal vasculitis in a patient with non-small cell lung cancer undergoing treatment with osimertinib. CASE REPORT: A 58-year-old woman with lung adenocarcinoma (T4N3M1a stage IV) presented with blurry vision in both eyes (OU). Eighteen months before symptom onset, the treatment was changed from afatinib (20 mg/day) to osimertinib (80 mg/day) because of tumor progression. The visual acuity was 20/30 and 20/25 in the right and left eyes, respectively. Clinical examination revealed few anterior chamber cells, 2+ vitreous cells, haze, and multiple retinal hemorrhages in the peripheral retinas (OU). Fluorescein angiography revealed retinal vasculitis with a severely non-perfused area in the periphery. These findings indicated hemorrhagic occlusive retinal vasculitis (HORV). Osimertinib was reduced to 40 mg/day, and oral prednisolone was started at 30 mg/day. This improved retinal vasculitis; however, the ischemic area did not improve. Pan-retinal photocoagulation was performed while tapering the oral prednisolone to 10 mg/day. Although macular edema (ME) occasionally occurred (OU), systemic and local treatment with steroid-stabilized HORV and ME helped increase the dose of osimertinib to 80 mg/day without cancer progression for 18 months. Her visual acuity remained 10/20 (OU). CONCLUSION: Osimertinib, a third-generation tyrosine kinase inhibitor, can be used to treat advanced non-small cell lung cancer with epidermal growth factor receptor mutation-induced bilateral HORV. This adverse effect can be managed with systemic and local steroid treatment and continued osimertinib administration.

Comparative outcomes of the pathogen in cultured Jones tubes used in lacrimal bypass surgery according to follow up periods.

AIM: To evaluate the pathogens in cultured Jones tubes used in lacrimal bypass surgery according to the postoperative periods and to obtain data for the prevention of infection of functional lacrimal stent invention. METHODS: Totally 71 patients (81 eyes) who underwent the removal of Jones tubes were enrolled in study. All the removed Jones tubes were cultured for bacterial and fungal identification and tested for bacterial antibiotic sensitivity. The results were analyzed according to the duration of the inserted Jones tube after lacrimal bypass surgery. RESULTS: Of the 81 eyes, bacteria were isolated from 69 eyes (85.2%) and fungi from 6 eyes (7.4%). Among 69 eyes, 40.6% showed Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus), 11.6% were Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa). Gram-positive bacteria were isolated more than Gram-negative bacteria, but Gram-negative bacteria showed a higher incidence in the Jones tube implanted for over 10y (P=0.035). The antibiotic sensitivity test showed that 46.4% of S. aureus were resistant to oxacillin. In terms of antibiotics commonly used in ocular clinical practice, vancomycin was sensitive to S. aureus and Streptococcus pneumoniae (S. pneumoniae), amikacin responded to P. aeruginosa and Proteus mirabilis (P. mirabilis). Trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (TMP/SMX) was all sensitive to S. aureus, S. pneumoniae and P. mirabilis except P. aeruginosa. CONCLUSION: S. aureus is the most commonly found organism in the Jones tube after lacrimal bypass surgery, and 46.4% of them are methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA), sensitive to vancomycin. Especially, P. mirabilis responded with amikacin is dominantly detected in the Jones tubes implanted for more than 10y.

A Case of Lyme Disease Presenting as Bilateral Panuveitis.

Here, we describe a case of Lyme disease presenting as bilateral panuveitis. A 25-year-old woman presented to our clinic with decreased visual acuity of 20/320 and 20/160 in the right and left eye, respectively. An ophthalmic examination revealed the presence of anterior chamber cells 3+, vitreous cells 1+, vitreous haziness 2+/1+, and retinal infiltration in both eyes. She also had fever, headache, and difficulty in breathing. An initial blood analysis did not detect infection; however, high levels of erythrocyte sedimentation rate and C-reactive protein were noted. Pleural and pericardial effusions, and multiple reactive arthritis lesions were observed on chest computed tomography and bone scans, respectively. Oral steroids (30 mg/day) and steroid eye drops were initiated. Ten days later, she was diagnosed with Lyme disease, based on an indirect immunofluorescence antibody test. Ceftriaxone (2 g) was intravenously administered for 2 weeks followed by administration of oral trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (400 mg/80 mg/day) for 1 week. Thereafter, she received a 4-week course of doxycycline (100 mg) twice daily. Her symptoms and ocular findings improved; however, a gradually increasing dose of oral steroid was needed to control retinal lesions for some time, since multiple retinitis lesions developed in the peripheral retina after tapering the oral steroid dose to 5 mg/day. In conclusion, panuveitis can occur in patients with Lyme disease and can be treated with systemic antibiotics and steroids.

Construction and Evaluation of Recombinant Chimeric Fibrillin and Elastin Fragment in Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells.

BACKGROUND: Diverse extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins physically interact with stem cells and regulate stem cell function. However, the large molecular weight of the natural ECM renders large-scale fabrication of a similar functional structure challenging. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to construct a low molecular weight and multifunctional chimeric form of recombinant ECM to stimulate mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) for tissue repair. We engineered Fibrillin-1PF14 fused to an elastin-like polypeptide to develop a new biomimetic ECM for stem cell differentiation and investigated whether this recombinant chimeric Fibrillin-Elastin fragment (rcFE) was effective on human nasal inferior turbinate-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hTMSCs). METHODS: hTMSCs were grown in the medium supplemented with rcFE, then the effect of the protein was confirmed through cell adhesion assay, proliferation assay, and real-time PCR. RESULTS: rcFE enhanced the adhesion activity of hTMSCs by 2.7-fold at the optimal concentration, and the proliferation activity was 2.6-fold higher than that of the control group (non-treatment rcFE). In addition, when smooth muscle cell differentiation markers were identified by real-time PCR, Calponin increased about 6-fold, α-actin about 9-fold, and MYH11 about 10-fold compared to the control group. CONCLUSION: Chimeric rcFE enhanced cellular functions such as cell adhesion, proliferation, and smooth muscle differentiation of hTMSCs, suggesting that the rcFE can facilitate the induction of tissue regeneration.

Bio-functionalization and in-vitro evaluation of titanium surface with recombinant fibronectin and elastin fragment in human mesenchymal stem cell.

Titanium is a biomaterial that meets a number of important requirements, including excellent mechanical and chemical properties, but has low bioactivity. To improve cellular response onto titanium surfaces and hence its osseointegration, the titanium surface was bio-functionalized to mimic an extracellular matrix (ECM)-like microenvironment that positively influences the behavior of stem cells. In this respect, fibronectin and elastin are important components of the ECM that regulate stem cell differentiation by supporting the biological microenvironment. However, each native ECM is unsuitable due to its high production cost and immunogenicity. To overcome these problems, a recombinant chimeric fibronectin type III9-10 and elastin-like peptide fragments (FN9-10ELP) was developed herein and applied to the bio-functionalized of the titanium surface. An evaluation of the biological activity and cellular responses with respect to bone regeneration indicated a 4-week sustainability on the FN9-10ELP functionalized titanium surface without an initial burst effect. In particular, the adhesion and proliferation of human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) was significantly increased on the FN9-10ELP coated titanium compared to that observed on the non-coated titanium. The FN9-10ELP coated titanium induced osteogenic differentiation such as the alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity and mineralization activity. In addition, expressions of osteogenesis-related genes such as a collagen type I (Col I), Runt-related transcription factor 2 (RUNX2), osteopontin (OPN), osteocalcin (OCN), bone sialo protein (BSP), and PDZ-binding motif (TAZ) were further increased. Thus, in vitro the FN9-10ELP functionalization titanium not only sustained bioactivity but also induced osteogenic differentiation of hMSCs to improve bone regeneration.

Long-term effects of the SLC2A9 G844A and SLC22A12 C246T variants on serum uric acid concentrations in children.

BACKGROUND: We evaluated the effects of two single-nucleotide polymorphisms on UA concentrations in the first decade of life using repeated-measures data. METHODS: We included all subjects who were followed-up at least once and for whom we had both UA and genotypic data (i.e., 375, 204, 307, and 363 patients aged 3, 5, 7, and 9 years, respectively). All participated in the Ewha Birth and Growth Cohort study. We used a mixed model analysis to estimate the longitudinal association of serum UA concentration due to the rs3825017 (SLC22A12 c. 246C > T) and rs16890979 (SLC2A9 c. 844G > A) genotypes. RESULTS: Overall, the tracking coefficient of UA concentrations in children 3 to 9 years of age was 0.31, and was higher in boys than in girls (0.34 vs. 0.29, respectively). Regarding individual variance, serum UA concentrations decreased as age increased (ß = - 0.07, p < 0.05), but there were no significant differences by sex. The effects of rs3825017 on UA concentration were significant in boys, but not in girls. Boys with the T allele of rs3825017 had higher concentrations than their counterparts regardless of the time of follow-up. The rs16890979 genotypes were not significantly associated with serum UA concentration in either sex. CONCLUSION: This study showed that rs3825017 in the SLC22A12 gene was associated with UA concentration in childhood.

The effect of contextual factors on unintentional injury hospitalization: from the Korea National Hospital Discharge Survey.

BACKGROUND: It has been suggested that health risks are affected by geographical area, but there are few studies on contextual effects using multilevel analysis, especially regarding unintentional injury. This study investigated trends in unintentional injury hospitalization rates over the past decade in Korea, and also examined community-level risk factors while controlling for individual-level factors. METHODS: Using data from the 2004 to 2013 Korea National Hospital Discharge Survey (KNHDS), trends in age-adjusted injury hospitalization rate were conducted using the Joinpoint Regression Program. Based on the 2013 KNHDS, we collected community-level factors by linking various data sources and selected dominant factors related to injury hospitalization through a stepwise method. Multilevel analysis was performed to assess the community-level factors while controlling for individual-level factors. RESULTS: In 2004, the age-adjusted unintentional injury hospitalization rate was 1570.1 per 100,000 population and increased to 1887.1 per 100,000 population in 2013. The average annual percent change in rate of hospitalizations due to unintentional injury was 2.31% (95% confidence interval: 1.8-2.9). It was somewhat higher for females than for males (3.25% vs. 1.64%, respectively). Both community- and individual-level factors were found to significantly influence unintentional injury hospitalization risk. As community-level risk factors, finance utilization capacity of the local government and neighborhood socioeconomic status, were independently associated with unintentional injury hospitalization after controlling for individual-level factors, and accounted for 19.9% of community-level variation in unintentional injury hospitalization. CONCLUSION: Regional differences must be considered when creating policies and interventions. Further studies are required to evaluate specific factors related to injury mechanism.

A prospective cohort study of the association between bisphenol A exposure and the serum levels of liver enzymes in children.

BACKGROUND: Bisphenol A (BPA) is an endocrine disrupter that acts in an estrogen-like manner. Few studies have investigated the association between urinary BPA concentrations and adverse liver function. Additionally, most studies were cross-sectional in nature and included only adults. OBJECTIVES: We evaluated BPA exposure levels and prospectively explored the association between BPA exposure and liver function in children. METHODS: Data were retrieved from the ongoing prospective Ewha Birth and Growth Cohort Study. Urinary BPA concentrations were measured in 164 children at 3-5 and 7-9 years of age. At each visit, fasting blood and urine samples were collected, and questionnaires were completed. The associations between the BPA concentrations at these ages and the serum levels of liver enzymes measured at 10-13 years of age were analyzed (n = 113). Multiple regression analysis was performed with adjustment for covariates. We also explored whether the BPA level exhibited dose-response relationships with liver enzyme levels. RESULTS: The median urinary BPA concentrations were 0.76µg/g creatinine at 3-5 years and 0.61µg/g creatinine at 7-9 years of age. The urinary BPA concentrations at the two ages were correlated significantly (r = 0.23, p < 0.01). The urinary BPA concentrations at 7-9 years, but not that at 3-5 years, was associated significantly with the serum levels of liver enzymes at 10-13 years of age (p < 0.05). Those in the top tertile of urinary BPA concentration had higher levels of liver enzymes than did others. After adjustment for covariates, dose-response relationships of the BPA level with liver enzyme levels were evident at 7-9 years, but not at 3-5 years. Notably, the effect size was larger and the dose-response relationships were more evident in boys than in girls. CONCLUSIONS: Exposure of children to even low doses of BPA may adversely affect later liver function.

Hospital preferences of nursing students in Korea: a discrete choice experiment approach.

BACKGROUND: DCE was applied to investigate nursing students' preferred hospital choice criteria and to investigate the trends in the trade-offs by calculating the marginal rate of substitution between these criteria. This study identified the properties of the hospitals primarily selected by nursing students, and aims to estimate the monetary value of each attribute. METHODS: Based on discussions and in-depth interviews with nursing students' focus groups and a literature review, we created a discrete choice experiment (DCE) that assessed how students' stated preference for a certain hospital choice was influenced by various job attributes: higher salary, location, hospital type, salary per year, provision of a dormitory, etc. We applied this DCE to nursing students in South Korea using a brief structured questionnaire, and we used conditional logit models to estimate the utility of each job's attributes. Willingness to pay (WTP) was estimated as the ratio of the value of the coefficient of interest to the negative of the cost attribute. RESULTS: Complete data for the DCE analysis were available for 702 nursing students. In the main effect mixed logit model, the welfare system and organizational culture were most strongly associated with job preference. Location, hospital type, and opportunity to upgrade qualifications had a negative influence on hospital choice. The WTP threshold was 7,043,000 KRW for the welfare system and 9,928,000 KRW for the organizational culture (relation-oriented). CONCLUSIONS: Better nursing working conditions, such as a positive organizational culture and the provision of a welfare system, can improve the motivation and applications for hospitals in rural areas.

Combined effect of folate and adiposity on homocysteine in children at three years of age.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Cardiovascular diseases is a major cause of death and is responsible for 23.8% of deaths in Korea. Clinical symptoms manifest in adulthood, but susceptibility begins in utero. Elevated homocysteine levels and adiposity might be linked to a greater risk in children as well as adults. We hypothesized that those who have simultaneous risk for folate and adiposity would be affected with elevated homocysteine levels at 3 years of age. SUBJECTS/METHODS: From the ongoing birth cohort at Ewha Womans University Mok-Dong Hospital, we compared adiposity parameters, serum homocysteine, and folate levels in 238 children (118 boys and 120 girls) at three years of age. The relationship between birth outcome, current weight and body mass index (BMI), postnatal growth, and homocysteine level were assessed using correlation and general linear model. Additionally, we assessed the combined effect between blood folate status and adiposity on current homocysteine levels. RESULTS: Birth characteristics were not correlated with homocysteine. Current weight, BMI, upper-arm circumference, skinfold thickness, waist circumference, and hip circumference were positively correlated with homocysteine at three years of age (P < 0.05). Folate level was negatively correlated with homocysteine at three years of age (P < 0.0001). A relative high anthropometric measure which is compatible with adiposity and low folate level was associated with high homocysteine levels. CONCLUSION: We found a combined effect of adiposity and folate levels with homocysteine levels at three years of age. This implicates the beneficial role of folate supplementation in the high-risk population at an early age.

The association of thyroid hormones and blood pressure in euthyroid preadolescents.

BACKGROUND: Hypertension is the leading cause of cardiovascular disease worldwide, and both high and low blood pressures are associated with various chronic diseases. Thyroid hormones have profound effects on cardiovascular function, including on blood pressure. Recent studies have shown that childhood hypertension can lead to adult hypertension. Therefore, adequate blood pressure control is important from early life. Employing a life-course approach, we aimed to investigate the association between thyroid hormones and blood pressure in children. METHODS: A total of 290 children from the Ewha Woman's University Hospital birth cohort participated in a preadolescent check-up program. We assessed the levels of serum thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) and free thyroxine (FT4) and the blood pressure status in these children. Thyroid hormone concentrations were measured using an electro-chemiluminescence immunoassay (ECLIA), and hypertension was defined according to the guideline of the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. RESULTS: The sex-, age-, and height-adjusted prevalence of hypertension was 27.0% in the present study. On regression analysis, serum FT4 showed significantly negative association with diastolic blood pressure (DBP; ß=-8.24, 95% CI: -14.19-2.28, p=0.007). However, these relationships were not significant after adjustment for sex, age, and current body mass index. The levels of serum TSH showed no relationship with mean systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) after adjustment. No significant differences in serum TSH and FT4 levels according to hypertension status were found. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that thyroid hormone is not independently associated with increased blood pressure in euthyroid preadolescents.

Hepatocellular carcinoma: diagnostic performance of multidetector CT and MR imaging-a systematic review and meta-analysis.

PURPOSE: To perform a systematic review and meta-analysis of the diagnostic performance of computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance (MR) imaging as noninvasive modalities for evaluating hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in patients with chronic liver disease. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A search of the MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library databases was performed to identify studies providing per-patient or per-lesion diagnostic accuracies of multidetector CT and MR imaging for HCCs in patients with chronic liver disease. Studies published from January 2000 to December 2012 that used a reference standard based on histopathologic findings and/or findings at follow-up were included. Summary estimates of diagnostic accuracy were obtained by using a random-effects model with further exploration with meta-regression and subgroup analyses. RESULTS: Forty studies (six on multidetector CT, 22 on MR imaging, and 12 on both CT and MR imaging) were included. The studies evaluated a total of 1135 patients with multidetector CT and 2489 patients with MR imaging. The overall per-patient sensitivity of MR imaging was 88% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 83%, 92%), with a specificity of 94% (95% CI: 85%, 98%). The overall per-lesion sensitivity of MR imaging was higher than that of multidetector CT when the paired data of the 11 available studies were pooled (80% vs 68%, P = .0023). Gadoxetic acid-enhanced MR imaging showed significantly higher per-lesion sensitivity than MR imaging performed with other contrast agents (87% vs 74%, P = .03). Per-lesion sensitivity was significantly lower for HCCs smaller than 1 cm than that for HCCs 1 cm or larger (P < .001 for CT, P = .02 for MR imaging) and for those in explanted livers (P = .04 for CT, P < .001 for MR imaging). CONCLUSION: MR imaging showed higher per-lesion sensitivity than multidetector CT and should be the preferred imaging modality for the diagnosis of HCCs in patients with chronic liver disease.

Association of mid-pregnancy antioxidative vitamin and oxidative stress levels with infant growth during the first 3 years of life.

OBJECTIVE: Numerous studies have revealed the impacts of maternal nutritional status on subsequent birth outcome, but much less is known about the long-term impacts on infant growth after birth. We investigated the association between maternal micronutrient levels/oxidative stress status in pregnancy and infant growth during the first 3 years of life. DESIGN: Prospective cohort study. SETTING: The Ewha Birth & Growth Cohort study was constructed for women who had been recruited between 24 and 28 weeks' gestation and their offspring at Ewha Womans University Hospital. SUBJECTS: Maternal serum vitamin and urinary oxidative stress levels were measured, and infant weight, height, and head circumference were measured repeatedly at birth and at 6, 12, 18, 24, and 36 months of age. RESULTS: Maternal vitamins A and C were positively associated with infant head circumference and infant weight, respectively, during the first 3 years of life, even after controlling for potential confounding factors. But, maternal oxidative stress was not related to infant growth. CONCLUSIONS: The effects of maternal vitamin levels on subsequent infant growth during the first 3 years of life necessitate interventions to supplement antioxidative vitamins during pregnancy.

Cost-of-illness and quality of life in patients with ankylosing spondylitis at a tertiary hospital in Korea.

The objectives of this study were to estimate the cost-of-illness (COI) and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) in Korea and to evaluate the effects of socio-demographic and clinical factors on the COI and the HRQOL. Face-to-face interview surveys were taken from patients with AS at the Rheumatology Clinic of Seoul National University Hospital. Direct medical and non-medical costs, indirect costs (productivity loss due to job loss and sick leave), and deterioration of HRQOL in patients with AS were measured. Factors associated with COI and HRQOL were analyzed with multiple regression and multivariate logistic regression. A total of 191 patients with AS was enrolled in the study. The COI in patients with AS amounted to 11,646,180 Korean Won (KRW) per patient, and their HRQOL was 0.62. As functional severity worsened, the total costs increased (class I, KRW 7.7 million; class II, KRW 12.9 million; classes III & IV, KRW 25.2 million) and the HRQOL scores decreased (class I, 0.72; class II, 0.61; classes III & IV, 0.24). Functional severity is the major determinant of the COI and HRQOL in patients with AS.

Treatment errors resulting from use of lasers and IPL by medical laypersons: results of a nationwide survey.

BACKGROUND: The demand for hair and tattoo removal with laser and IPL technology (intense pulsed light technology) is continually increasing. Nowadays these treatments are often carried out by medical laypersons without medical supervision in franchise companies, wellness facilities, cosmetic institutes and hair or tattoo studios. This is the first survey is to document and discuss this issue and its effects on public health. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Fifty patients affected by treatment errors caused by medical laypersons with laser and IPL applications were evaluated in this retrospective study. We used a standardized questionnaire with accompanying photographic documentation. Among the reports there were some missing or no longer traceable parameters, which is why 7 cases could not be evaluated. RESULTS: The following complications occurred, with possible multiple answers: 81.4% pigmentation changes, 25.6% scars, 14% textural changes and 4.6% incorrect information. The sources of error (multiple answers possible) were the following: 62.8% excessively high energy, 39.5% wrong device for the indication, 20.9% treatment of patients with darker skin or marked tanning, 7% no cooling, and 4.6% incorrect information. CONCLUSIONS: The causes of malpractice suggest insufficient training, inadequate diagnostic abilities, and promising unrealistic results. Direct supervision by a medical specialist, comprehensive experience in laser therapy, and compliance with quality guidelines are prerequisites for safe laser and IPL treatments. Legal measures to make such changes mandatory are urgently needed.

Application of revised nursing work index to hospital nurses of South Korea.

PURPOSE: Based on the Revised Nursing Work Index (NWI-R), this research aimed to develop a Korean Hospital General Inpatient Unit-Nursing Work Index (KGU-NWI). This study also aimed to compare the common points and differences between the subfactors of the KGU-NWI and the subfactors from previous studies. METHODS: Based on opinions from 3,151 nurses in Korean hospital general inpatient unit, this research used 57 items of NWI-R and the principal axis factor analysis for deriving subfactors. We evaluated the convergent validity through factor analysis and the content validity of KGU-NWI in terms of the association between nurses' job outcome and the subfactors derived. RESULTS: Six subfactors and 26 items for KGU-NWI were derived from NWI-R. Among them, 'physician-nurse relationship', 'adequate nurse staffing' and 'organizational support and management of hospital' were the same with results from previous studies. In addition, two subfactors, 'participation of decision-making processes' and 'education for improving quality of care', which were similar with results from previous Korean studies, were newly added by using Korean hospital cases. In contrast to previous Korean studies, a unique subfactor this study found was 'nursing processes'. This research confirmed that the six subfactors were highly correlated with job satisfaction, intention to leave, and quality of health care, which represented a nurse's job outcome. CONCLUSION: KGU-NWI including six subfactors and 26 items is an applicable instrument to investigate nurse work environment in Korean hospital general inpatient unit.

Seroprevalence of Helicobacter pylori in female Vietnamese immigrants to Korea.

AIM: To investigate the seroprevalence of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) and its relationship to nutritional factors in female Vietnamese immigrants to Korea. METHODS: A total of 390 female immigrants from Vietnam and 206 Korean male spouses participated in the study. Blood samples from 321 female immigrants and 201 Korean male spouses were analyzed for H. pylori antibodies. Data on age, sex, alcohol consumption, smoking status, dietary nutritional factors and gastrointestinal symptoms were collected using questionnaires. The daily intakes of the following nutrients were estimated: energy, protein, niacin, lipid, fiber, calcium, iron, sodium, potassium, zinc, folate, cholesterol, and vitamins A, B1, B2, B6, C and E. RESULTS: The prevalence of H. pylori positivity was lower in the immigrants than in age-matched Korean females (55.7% vs 71.4%, respectively; P < 0.0001) and the domestic population of Vietnam. The prevalence of H. pylori positivity among married couples was 31.7% for both spouses. There were no statistically significant differences in the incidence of smoking, amount of alcohol consumed, or nutritional factors between the H. pylori-positive and negative groups. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of H. pylori positivity was lower among female Vietnamese immigrants than among Korean females. Nutritional factors did not differ between the H. pylori-positive and negative groups.

Cost of illness and quality of life of patients with rheumatoid arthritis in South Korea.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the cost of illness (COI) and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) according to four different levels of functional severity. METHODS: A face-to-face interview survey was administered to patients with RA recruited at the Rheumatology Clinic of Seoul National University Hospital. Direct costs (medical costs [treatment, drug, private physiotherapy, traditional Chinese medicine, other alternative medicine], nonmedical costs [travel, dietary supplements, auxiliary device, home assistance]), indirect costs (productivity loss due to job loss and sick leave), and deterioration in the HRQOL of patients with RA were measured. Factors associated with the COI and the HRQOL were analyzed by using multiple regression and multivariate logistic regression. RESULTS: A total of 196 patients were enrolled for this study. As RA functional severity worsened, the total costs increased accordingly (class I: 4,230,204 Korean won, class II: 7,250,674 Korean won, class III: 8,046,434 Korean won, class IV: 8,206,215 Korean won). Direct costs also increased with the severity of the functional status, with a sharp decrease in class IV. The average HRQOL score was 0.49, showing an evident impact of RA severity (class I: 0.67, class II: 0.50, class III: 0.29, class IV: 0.23). Functional class and comorbidity were significant determinants of the COI and the HRQOL. CONCLUSION: Functional severity was a major factor associated with higher COI and lower HRQOL scores. Therefore, preventing the aggravation of functional severity is crucial for decreasing the COI and improving the HRQOL of patients with RA.

Cost-Effectiveness of Sertindole among Atypical Antipsychotics in the Treatment of Schizophrenia in South Korea.

OBJECTIVES: This study assessed the cost-effectiveness of sertindole compared with existing atypical antipsychotics in the treatment of patients with schizophrenia in the South Korean setting. METHODS: A Markov model was developed to estimate the cost-effectiveness of sertindole compared with risperidone, olanzapine, and quetiapine with a cycle of 6 months on a 5-year time horizon. Effectiveness was defined as the length of time without relapse and quality-adjusted life-years. Parameter estimates including drug-induced adverse events, compliance rate, and relapse rate were based on published literature and clinical trial data. Resource utilization data were obtained from the 2010 National Health Insurance reimbursement data, and costs were estimated from the health care system's perspective. A discount rate of 5% was applied to both cost and effectiveness. One-way sensitivity analyses and probabilistic sensitivity analysis were carried out to check the robustness of the base-case analysis. RESULTS: The length of time without relapse was 1.90 years for all study drugs. The estimated quality-adjusted life-years were 1.27 for sertindole, followed by quetiapine, risperidone, and olanzapine. Total costs were 10.51 million Korean won (KRW) for sertindole, 12.86 million KRW for olanzapine, 8.38 million KRW for risperidone, and 8.91 million KRW for quetiapine. The incremental cost-effectiveness ratios showed that sertindole was dominant only over olanzapine and was not cost-effective compared with risperidone and quetiapine. Various sensitivity analyses confirmed the results from the base-case analysis. CONCLUSIONS: Sertindole may be considered a valuable treatment option for South Korean patients who have failed the therapy with other atypical antipsychotic agents.