Epidemiology of pediatric inflammatory bowel disease categorized by age subgroups in Korea.

BACKGROUND: Pediatric inflammatory bowel disease (PIBD) affects different age groups and its incidence is increasing worldwide. However, there is a lack of research focusing on age subgroups in Asian countries. In this nationwide population-based study, we investigated the epidemiology of PIBD among different age subgroups in Korea. METHODS: We analyzed Korean health administration data from 2005 to 2016. Data were divided by age at diagnosis as follows: group 1, 0-1 years; group 2, 2-5 years; group 3, 6-9 years; group 4, 10-16 years. We analyzed the overall incidence, temporal changes, and regional differences by age subgroups, using Poisson regression analysis. RESULTS: From 2005 to 2016, 2734 inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) cases were diagnosed among patients under 17 years of age. In the overall population, the incidence rate of PIBD over the entire study period was 2.248/105 person-years (PY), significantly increasing from 1.173/105 PY in 2005-2007 to 3.267/105 PY in 2014-2016. The incidence rates in groups 1 and 2 remained unchanged, whereas those of groups 3 and 4 increased significantly. The same trend was observed when analyzed separately for Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC). The incidence rates of CD in groups 3 and 4 showed differences between metropolitan and non-metropolitan areas, whereas those in groups 1 and 2, and UC of all age subgroups showed no difference. CONCLUSIONS: The temporal trend and regional differences of PIBD differed among age subgroups, suggesting that genetic and environmental factors have varying impacts on IBD development across different subgroups.

Identification of Predictors for Clinical Deterioration in Patients With COVID-19 via Electronic Nursing Records: Retrospective Observational Study.

BACKGROUND: Few studies have used standardized nursing records with Systematized Nomenclature of Medicine-Clinical Terms (SNOMED CT) to identify predictors of clinical deterioration. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to standardize the nursing documentation records of patients with COVID-19 using SNOMED CT and identify predictive factors of clinical deterioration in patients with COVID-19 via standardized nursing records. METHODS: In this study, 57,558 nursing statements from 226 patients with COVID-19 were analyzed. Among these, 45,852 statements were from 207 patients in the stable (control) group and 11,706 from 19 patients in the exacerbated (case) group who were transferred to the intensive care unit within 7 days. The data were collected between December 2019 and June 2022. These nursing statements were standardized using the SNOMED CT International Edition released on November 30, 2022. The 260 unique nursing statements that accounted for the top 90% of 57,558 statements were selected as the mapping source and mapped into SNOMED CT concepts based on their meaning by 2 experts with more than 5 years of SNOMED CT mapping experience. To identify the main features of nursing statements associated with the exacerbation of patient condition, random forest algorithms were used, and optimal hyperparameters were selected for nursing problems or outcomes and nursing procedure-related statements. Additionally, logistic regression analysis was conducted to identify features that determine clinical deterioration in patients with COVID-19. RESULTS: All nursing statements were semantically mapped to SNOMED CT concepts for "clinical finding," "situation with explicit context," and "procedure" hierarchies. The interrater reliability of the mapping results was 87.7%. The most important features calculated by random forest were "oxygen saturation below reference range," "dyspnea," "tachypnea," and "cough" in "clinical finding," and "oxygen therapy," "pulse oximetry monitoring," "temperature taking," "notification of physician," and "education about isolation for infection control" in "procedure." Among these, "dyspnea" and "inadequate food diet" in "clinical finding" increased clinical deterioration risk (dyspnea: odds ratio [OR] 5.99, 95% CI 2.25-20.29; inadequate food diet: OR 10.0, 95% CI 2.71-40.84), and "oxygen therapy" and "notification of physician" in "procedure" also increased the risk of clinical deterioration in patients with COVID-19 (oxygen therapy: OR 1.89, 95% CI 1.25-3.05; notification of physician: OR 1.72, 95% CI 1.02-2.97). CONCLUSIONS: The study used SNOMED CT to express and standardize nursing statements. Further, it revealed the importance of standardized nursing records as predictive variables for clinical deterioration in patients.

Air quality and kidney health: Assessing the effects of PM10, PM2.5, CO, and NO2 on renal function in primary glomerulonephritis.

BACKGROUND: While extensive studies have elucidated the relationships between exposure to air pollution and chronic diseases, such as cardiovascular disorders and diabetes, the intricate effects on specific kidney diseases, notably primary glomerulonephritis (GN)-an immune-mediated kidney ailment-are less well understood. Considering the escalating incidence of GN and conspicuous lack of investigative focus on its association with air quality, investigation is dedicated to examining the long-term effects of air pollutants on renal function in individuals diagnosed with primary GN. METHODS: This retrospective cohort analysis was conducted on 1394 primary GN patients who were diagnosed at Seoul National University Bundang Hospital and Seoul National University Hospital. Utilizing time-varying Cox regression and linear mixed models (LMM), we examined the effect of yearly average air pollution levels on renal function deterioration (RFD) and change in estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). In this context, RFD is defined as sustained eGFR of less than 60 mL/min per 1.73 m2. RESULTS: During a mean observation period of 5.1 years, 350 participants developed RFD. Significantly, elevated interquartile range (IQR) levels of air pollutants-including PM10 (particles ≤10 micrometers, HR 1.389, 95 % CI 1.2-1.606), PM2.5 (particles ≤2.5 micrometers, HR 1.353, 95 % CI 1.162-1.575), CO (carbon monoxide, HR 1.264, 95 % CI 1.102-1.451), and NO2 (nitrogen dioxide, HR 1.179, 95 % CI 1.021-1.361)-were significantly associated with an increased risk of RFD, after factoring in demographic and health variables. Moreover, exposure to PM10 and PM2.5 was associated with decreased eGFR. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates a substantial link between air pollution exposure and renal function impairment in primary GN, accentuating the significance of environmental determinants in the pathology of immune-mediated kidney diseases.

Evolution of neutralizing antibodies through vaccination and breakthrough infections in the era of COVID-19 endemicity.

Despite a high vaccination rate, the COVID-19 pandemic continues with immune-evading Omicron variants. The success of additional antigenic stimulation through breakthrough infection (BI) and updated vaccination in overcoming antigenic imprinting needs to be determined. Participants in a long-term follow-up cohort of healthcare worker (HCW) vaccinee were categorized according to their infection/vaccination status. Anti-SARS-CoV-2 spike/nucleocapsid protein antibodies were measured, and plaque reduction neutralization tests (PRNTs) against wild-type (WT), BA.5, BN.1, and XBB.1.5 were conducted. The neutralization activity of intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) products was evaluated to assess the immune status of the general population. Ninety-five HCWs were evaluated and categorized into seven groups. The WT PRNT ND50 value was highest regardless of infection/vaccination status, and groups with recent antigenic stimulation showed high PRNT titers overall. Groups with double Omicron stimulation, either by BI plus BA.4/5 bivalent vaccination or repeated BI, exhibited significantly higher BA.5 and BN.1 PRNT to WT PRNT ratios than those with single Omicron stimulation. Overall group immunity was estimated to be boosted in January 2023, reflecting the effect of the BA.4/5 bivalent booster and additional BIs, but slightly declined in June 2023. A substantial increase in the antibody concentrations of IVIG products was noticed in 2022, and recently produced IVIG products exhibited a substantial level of cross-reactive neutralizing activity against emerging variants. Neutralizing activity against emerging variants could be enhanced by repeated antigenic stimulation via BI and/or updated vaccination. Overall group immunity was elevated accordingly, and IVIG products showed substantial activity against circulating strains.

Association between Sight-Threatening Eye Diseases and Death by Suicide in South Korea: A Nationwide Population-based Cohort Study.

PURPOSE: Although associations between visual impairment (VI) and suicide are posited, specific risks across the sight-threatening eye disease (STED) spectrum remain to be assessed. We determined whether individuals with STED die more often by suicide than do other people and assessed the temporal associations. DESIGN: A nationwide, population-based cohort study. PARTICIPANTS: All persons aged 40 years or older in South Korea from 2010 to 2020. METHODS: Persons diagnosed with STEDs (i.e., glaucoma, exudative age-related macular degeneration [AMD], or diabetic retinopathy [DR]) were identified in the Korean National Health Insurance (NHI) service database. Both NHI health checkup records and the National Disability Registration were used for coexisting severe VI. Death by suicide was defined as diagnostic codes as recorded in the Korea National Statistical Office. Incidence rate ratios (IRRs) were estimated by quasi-Poisson regressions and adjusted for sociodemographics, comorbidity, psychiatric diagnoses, and VI. The temporal relationship between time since first STED diagnosis and suicide risk was determined by identifying patients with STED newly diagnosed during the period from 2010 to 2011. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The IRR of death by suicide in people with STED relative to those without. RESULTS: Of the 2.8 million people (45% male) observed for 24 300 969 person-years, 13 205 died by suicide. Among them, 34% (n = 4514) had a STED diagnosis, for a suicide rate of 69 per 100 000 person-years (95% confidence interval [CI], 67-72), relative to 51 per 100 000 person-years (95% CI, 50-52) for non-STED individuals. People with STED had an adjusted IRR of 1.33 (95% CI, 1.26-1.41) relative to those without. The largest excess adjusted IRR of suicide mortality was that for DR (1.40, 95% CI, 1.29-1.52). For exudative AMD, the adjusted IRR was 1.20 (95% CI, 1.04-1.39), whereas for glaucoma, the corresponding value was 1.09 (95% CI, 1.02-1.17). With coexisting severe VI, the IRR for any STED was 1.49 (95% CI, 1.29-1.73). The highest suicide hazard ratio was between 3 and 6 months postdiagnosis (5.33; 95% CI, 4.59-6.20). CONCLUSIONS: In South Korea between 2010 and 2020, a higher suicide rate was evident among those with diagnosed STED than for persons not so diagnosed. FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE(S): The author(s) have no proprietary or commercial interest in any materials discussed in this article.

Penoscrotal defect reconstruction using loco-regional flaps in treatment of extramammary Paget's disease: Experience and suggestion of a simplified algorithm.

BACKGROUND: Reconstruction of penoscrotal defects resulted from margin-controlled excision of extramammary Paget's disease (EMPD) remains challenging, due to its unpredictably varying extents. The present study aimed to investigate outcomes of reconstruction of penoscrotal defects following radical excision of EMPD and to introduce a simplified algorithm for selecting reconstruction strategies. METHODS: Patients with penoscrotal EMPD who were treated with wide excision and subsequent reconstruction from 2009 to 2020 were reviewed. Their demographics, operation-related characteristics, and postoperative outcomes were evaluated. RESULTS: In total, 46 patients with a mean age of 64.9 years (range, 44-85 years) were analyzed. An average size of defects was 129.6 cm2 (range, 8-900 cm2 ). The most frequently involving anatomical subunit was scrotum, followed by suprapubic area and penile shaft. Twenty-six patients had defects spanning multiple subunits. The most commonly used reconstruction methods for each anatomical subunit were internal pudendal artery perforator (IPAP) flaps and/or scrotal flaps for scrotal defects, superficial external pudendal artery perforator (SEPAP) flaps for suprapubic defects, and skin grafts for penile defects. In all but four cases, successful reconstruction was achieved with combination of those reconstruction options. No major complications developed except for one case of marginal flap necrosis. All patients were satisfied with their aesthetic and functional results. CONCLUSIONS: Diverse penoscrotal defects following excision of EMPD could be solidly reconstructed with combination of several loco-regional options. A simplified algorithm using in combination of IPAP flap, SEPAP flap, scrotal flap, and skin graft may enable efficient and reliable reconstruction of penoscrotal EMPD defects.

Separation and Identification of an Antimicrobial Substance from Schisandra chinensis Extract against Streptococcus mutans KCCM 40105 Strain.

This study aimed to isolate and identify antibacterial compounds from Schisandra chinensis (S. chinensis) that are effective against the Streptococcus mutans KCCM 40105 strain. First, S. chinensis was extracted using varying concentrations of ethanol, and the resulting antibacterial activity was evaluated. The 30% ethanol extract of S. chinensis showed high activity. The fractionation and antibacterial activity of a 30% ethanol extract from S. chinensis were examined using five different solvents. Upon investigation of the antibacterial activity of the solvent fraction, the water and butanol fractions showed high activity, and no significant difference was found. Therefore, the butanol fraction was chosen for material exploration using silica gel column chromatography. A total of 24 fractions were obtained from the butanol portion using silica gel chromatography. The fraction with the highest antibacterial activity was Fr 7. From Fr 7, thirty-three sub-fractions were isolated, and sub-fraction 17 showed the highest level of antibacterial activity. A total of five peaks were obtained through the pure separation of sub-fraction 17 using HPLC. Peak 2 was identified as a substance exhibiting a high level of antibacterial activity. Based on the results of UV spectrometry, 13C-NMR, 1H-NMR, LC-MS, and HPLC analyses, the compound corresponding to peak number 2 was identified as tartaric acid.

Comparison of the Prevalence of Antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 in 9954 Recruits in the Korean Army Training Center with the General Korean Population of Equivalent Age Between September and November, 2020.

BACKGROUND Understanding the seroprevalence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) can be a useful tool when studying spread of the disease. This study aimed to compare the prevalence of antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 in 9954 recruits in the Korean Army Training Center with the general Korean population age <30 years between September and November, 2020. MATERIAL AND METHODS At the Korean Army Training Center, samples were taken from 9954 men from September to November, 2020. Participants were randomly enlisted healthy adult men. The data were compared with 4,205,265 samples from the Korean general population. Men age <30 years were used, as this is similar to the age range of the military recruits. RESULTS Among military recruits, 31 subjects (0.31%) were positive for the antibody, while the Korean male population had 3757 (0.09%) positive individuals. Among these 31 men, 13 were previously diagnosed by PCR, while 18 (58.06%) had no history related to the disease. Positive military recruits were mostly from 2 regional clusters. The first cluster was Daegu and Gyeongbuk areas (1.97% and 0.80%, respectively), which had an outbreak in March, 2020. The second cluster was Gyeonggi and Seoul, or capital areas (0.23% and 0.20%, respectively), which currently has high PCR positivity. Overall, seroprevalence was 3.49 times higher in study subjects. CONCLUSIONS The high seroprevalence of antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 between September and November 2020 in a densely populated military academy in Korea may have been an indicator for the resulting outbreak of COVID-19 in winter 2020-21, which highlights the importance of asymptomatic spread from the young and healthy to the general population.

Association between higher variability in kidney function and long-term mortality.

AIM: We evaluated whether estimated glomerular filtration rate variability in the general population could be associated with all-cause mortality. METHODS: Health examination data from 7842 individuals aged >20 years who visited for health check-ups at least thrice at ≥6-month intervals between May 1, 1995 and November 30, 2010 were collected. Estimated glomerular filtration rate variability was defined as the coefficient of variation of the estimated glomerular filtration rate, that is, standard deviation/mean value multiplied by 100. The study population was divided into three groups based on the coefficient of variation tertiles, and the mortality risks were compared across groups. RESULTS: The mean duration from the final visit to the outcome was 10.3 ± 2.9 years. The mean coefficient of variations of estimated glomerular filtration rate variability from the lowest to the highest variability group were 5.1 ± 1.8%, 9.0 ± 1.0%, and 14.4 ± 3.9%, respectively. There was a 1.3 times higher risk of mortality in the group with the highest variability (hazard ratio: 1.300, 95% confidence interval: 1.013-1.669) after adjustment. The findings were similar in patients with diabetes and those >60 years old (hazard ratio: 1.635, 95% confidence interval: 1.076-2.483; hazard ratio: 1.585, 95% confidence interval: 1.107-2.269). CONCLUSION: Higher estimated glomerular filtration rate variability was associated with increased 10-year mortality in the general population. This variability was very small, but considering the patients' long-term prognoses, it was significant.

Isolation and Identification of Fisetin: An Antioxidative Compound Obtained from Rhus verniciflua Seeds.

The goal of this study was to provide basic data for the development of functional food and health materials for Rhus verniciflua (R. verniciflua) seeds. We investigated an antioxidative compound obtained from these seeds. Solvent fractionation was carried out on a 50%-ethanol extract of the seeds. The DPPH and ABTS radical-scavenging activity and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity were measured, and high antioxidant activity was seen in the ethyl acetate fraction. The antioxidant compounds in the ethyl acetate fraction were isolated using silica-gel column chromatography by adjusting the solvent between chloroform and methanol. Fraction numbers 2-7 showed activity of more than 50%. Next, primary column chromatography was used to mix and concentrate the fractions that demonstrated antioxidant activity. The fractions were then subjected to secondary column chromatography to obtain subfraction 4, which showed high antioxidant activity. The separation of subfraction 4 was then performed using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Three peaks were identified and peak number 2 was judged to be the primary antioxidative compound, which was then isolated by pure separation. Finally, the purified subfraction peak number 2 was identified as a fisetin compound by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), and HPLC.

Cost-effectiveness of contrast-enhanced ultrasound for the detection of endovascular aneurysm repair-related endoleaks requiring treatment.

OBJECTIVE: Follow-up after endovascular aneurysm repair is necessary to detect potentially life-threatening complications such as endoleaks. Computed tomography angiography (CTA) or magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) is often used as standard of care for follow-up. Contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) has been shown to be a viable and fast real-time nonionizing imaging modality with equivalent diagnostic accuracy while also being superior to color Doppler ultrasound. The aim of this cost-utility analysis was to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of this imaging method in comparison to others for the evaluation of endoleaks requiring treatment. METHODS: A decision model based on Markov simulations estimated lifetime costs and quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) associated with CTA, MRA, CEUS, and color Doppler ultrasound. Model input parameters were obtained from recent literature. The applied sensitivity and specificity values amounted to 90.5% and 100.0% for CTA, 96.0% and 100.0% for MRA, 94.0% and 95.0% for CEUS, and 82.0% and 93.0% for color Doppler ultrasound. Probabilistic and deterministic sensitivity analysis was performed to estimate uncertainty of model results. To evaluate cost-effectiveness, incremental cost-effectiveness ratios were reported as a measure representing the economic value of a strategy compared with an alternative. The willingness to pay was set to $100,000/QALY. RESULTS: In the base-case scenario for a willingness to pay of $100,000 per QALY, CEUS was the most cost-effective of the four diagnostic strategies with estimated costs of $17,383 and effectiveness of 9.770 QALYs. CTA was estimated to result in lifetime costs of $17,679 with an expected effectiveness of 9.768 QALYs, whereas color Doppler ultrasound showed expected costs of $17,287 with 9.763 QALYs. Expected costs and effectiveness of MRA amounted to $17,945 and 9.771 QALYs each. Base-case estimates of the incremental cost-effectiveness ratios for CEUS vs color Doppler ultrasound equaled $14,173.52/QALY. CONCLUSIONS: CEUS is a cost-effective imaging method for the evaluation of therapy-requiring endoleaks in endovascular aneurysm repair surveillance.

Investigation of droplets released during digestive endoscopy using a high-speed camera (with video): a pilot study.

BACKGROUND: A large release of droplets is often expected around the periphery of the digestive endoscope insertion site. Therefore, a sense of alarm over infection because of droplets that may be released during digestive endoscopy examination is increasing. This study aimed to investigate the droplets released during digestive endoscopy using a high-speed camera. METHODS: We utilized a high-speed camera (FASTCAM SA-3, Photron Limited) capable of recording small, transparent droplets with a black background and high-brightness lighting. The obtained video files were analyzed using post-processing software. We divided the 20 models into the control (a spray bottle model and a cough model) and experimental groups (digestive endoscopy models). The sedative, proficiency of digestive endoscopy and the amount of gas injected were modulated to change the level of released droplets. RESULTS: For the control groups, droplets were clearly observed using a high-speed camera. However, no droplet larger than 10 µm in size was observed in the experimental groups. Furthermore, the changes in the sedative, proficiency of digestive endoscopy, and amount of gas injected did not affect droplet formation. CONCLUSIONS: Based on high-speed camera photography, the risk of droplet generation during digestive endoscopy was not higher than that during violent expiratory events, such as coughing and sneezing.

Role of CD40 and ADAMTS13 in von Willebrand factor-mediated endothelial cell-platelet-monocyte interaction.

Monocyte extravasation into the vessel wall is a key step in atherogenesis. It is still elusive how monocytes transmigrate through the endothelial cell (EC) monolayer at atherosclerosis predilection sites. Platelets tethered to ultra-large von Willebrand factor (ULVWF) multimers deposited on the luminal EC surface following CD40 ligand (CD154) stimulation may facilitate monocyte diapedesis. Human ECs grown in a parallel plate flow chamber for live-cell imaging or Transwell permeable supports for transmigration assay were exposed to fluid or orbital shear stress and CD154. Human isolated platelets and/or monocytes were superfused over or added on top of the EC monolayer. Plasma levels and activity of the ULVWF multimer-cleaving protease ADAMTS13 were compared between coronary artery disease (CAD) patients and controls and were verified by the bioassay. Two-photon intravital microscopy was performed to monitor CD154-dependent leukocyte recruitment in the cremaster microcirculation of ADAMTS13-deficient versus wild-type mice. CD154-induced ULVWF multimer-platelet string formation on the EC surface trapped monocytes and facilitated transmigration through the EC monolayer despite high shear stress. Two-photon intravital microscopy revealed CD154-induced ULVWF multimer-platelet string formation preferentially in venules, due to strong EC expression of CD40, causing prominent downstream leukocyte extravasation. Plasma ADAMTS13 abundance and activity were significantly reduced in CAD patients and strongly facilitated both ULVWF multimer-platelet string formation and monocyte trapping in vitro. Moderate ADAMTS13 deficiency in CAD patients augments CD154-mediated deposition of platelet-decorated ULVWF multimers on the luminal EC surface, reinforcing the trapping of circulating monocytes at atherosclerosis predilection sites and promoting their diapedesis.

Validation of Olfactory Questionnaire in Koreans: an Alternative for Conventional Psychophysical Olfactory Tests.

BACKGROUND: The patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), a worldwide pandemic infection, frequently complain of olfactory disorders. However, psychophysical olfactory tests performed by an examiner are very difficult in these highly infectious patients. This study aimed to develop and validate a questionnaire for olfactory function that can be readily used to evaluate olfactory loss. METHODS: Fourteen smell-related questions were created based on smells familiar to Koreans. Among them, questions with a κ value of 0.6 or higher were finally selected through a test-retest reliability analysis. The correlations between the scores of the olfactory questionnaire and those of olfactory function tests (Butanol Threshold Test [BTT] and Cross Cultural Smell Identification Test [CCSIT]) were analyzed. To evaluate the predictive ability of the questionnaire and elicit cutoff values, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were generated. RESULTS: Out of the 14 questions in the questionnaire, 11 (κ > 0.6) were selected for the olfactory questionnaire. We analyzed 2,273 subjects, and there was a significant correlation between the total score of the olfactory questionnaire and the BTT (r = 0.643, P < 0.001) or CCSIT (r = 0.615, P < 0.001) scores. ROC curves for the olfactory questionnaire, BTT, and CCSIT all demonstrated high predictive power to discriminate anosmia and severe hyposmia from normosmia. Regarding mild to moderate hyposmia, however, ROC curve for the olfactory questionnaire alone showed high predictive power of discrimination from normosmia. Based on the results of ROC curves among the subclasses, we suggest the classification of the total score of the questionnaire as 0-4, 5-17, 18-27, 28-41, and 42-44, for anosmia, severe hyposmia, moderate hyposmia, mild hyposmia, and normosmia, respectively. CONCLUSION: The total scores of the questionnaires correlated with the BTT and CCSIT scores. The symptom questionnaire for olfactory dysfunction may be useful as an alternative tool for olfactory function testing, when unavailable.

Comparison of Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound as Diagnostic Options for Unclear Cystic Renal Lesions: A Cost-Effectiveness Analysis.

PURPOSE: Correct differentiation between malignant and benign incidentally found cystic renal lesions has critical implications for patient management. In several studies contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) showed higher sensitivity with respect to the accurate characterization of these lesions compared to MRI, but the cost-effectiveness of CEUS has yet to be investigated. The aim of this study was to analyze the cost-effectiveness of CEUS as an alternative imaging method to MRI for the characterization of incidentally found cystic renal lesions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A decision model including the diagnostic modalities MRI and CEUS was created based on Markov simulations estimating lifetime costs and quality-adjusted life years (QALYs). The recent literature was reviewed to obtain model input parameters. The deterministic sensitivity of diagnostic parameters and costs was determined and probabilistic sensitivity analysis using Monte-Carlo Modelling was applied. Willingness-to-pay (WTP) was assumed to be $ 100 000/QALY. RESULTS: In the base-case scenario, the total costs for CEUS were $9654.43, whereas the total costs for MRI were $9675.03. CEUS resulted in an expected effectiveness of 8.06 QALYs versus 8.06 QALYs for MRI. Therefore, from an economic point of view, CEUS was identified as an adequate diagnostic alternative to MRI. Sensitivity analysis showed that results may vary if CEUS costs increase or those of MRI decrease. CONCLUSION: Based on the results of the analysis, the use of CEUS was identified as a cost-effective diagnostic strategy for the characterization of incidentally found cystic renal lesions.

[Integration of structured reporting into the routine radiological workflow]. / Integration der strukturierten Befundung in den radiologischen Routine-Workflow.

CLINICAL ISSUE: Structured reporting has been one of the most discussed topics in radiology for years. Currently, there is a lack of user-friendly software solutions that are integrated into the IT infrastructure of hospitals and practices to allow efficient data entry. STANDARD RADIOLOGICAL METHODS: Radiological reports are mostly generated as free text documents, either dictated via speech recognition systems or typed. In addition, text components are used to create reports of normal findings that can be further edited and complemented by free text. METHODOLOGICAL INNOVATIONS: Software-based reporting systems can combine speech recognition systems with radiological reporting templates in the form of interactive decision trees. A technical integration into RIS ("radiological information system"), PACS ("picture archiving and communication system"), and AV ("advanced visualization") systems via application programming interfaces and interoperability standards can enable efficient processes and the generation of machine-readable report data. PERFORMANCE: Structured and semantically annotated clinical data collected via the reporting system are immediately available for epidemiological data analysis and continuous AI training. EVALUATION: The use of structured reporting in routine radiological diagnostics involves an initial transition phase. A successful implementation further requires close integration of the technical infrastructure of several systems. PRACTICAL RECOMMENDATIONS: By using a hybrid reporting solution, radiological reports with different levels of structure can be generated. Clinical questions or procedural information can be semi-automatically transferred, thereby eliminating avoidable errors and increasing productivity.

Technical feasibility of a newly designed bendable forceps for difficult endoscopic tissue samplings (with video).

BACKGROUND: Biopsies with conventional forceps beyond the operating range are difficult and cumbersome. Thus, we developed a new bendable forceps for improved access to gastrointestinal lesions and evaluated its technical feasibility. METHODS: A bendable forceps was constructed with two channels and a two-stage knob. The bending motion-related structures were designed to improve the range of motion. For the evaluation of the forceps, we used 2 gastrointestinal simulators: an ex vivo porcine model, and an in vivo porcine model with some difficult endoscopic biopsy cases. All evaluations were performed by 5 expert endoscopists and an expert pathologist. RESULTS: Compared with the conventional forceps, the bendable forceps had greater efficacy in the simulator (6.2 ± 0.4 vs. 1.96 ± 0.2, p < 0.001), ex vivo porcine model (6.33 ± 0.52 vs. 4.25 ± 0.89, p < 0.001), and in vivo porcine model (6.33 ± 0.52 vs. 4.25 ± 0.89, p < 0.001); greater safety in the simulator (1.92 ± 0.13 s vs. 4.88 ± 0.50 s, p < 0.001), ex vivo porcine model (2.02 ± 0.15 s vs 4.66 ± 0.27 s, p < 0.001), and in vivo porcine model (2.02 ± 0.15 s vs. 4.08 ± 0.70 s, p = 0.002); and larger specimens in the ex vivo porcine model (3.92 ± 0.03 mm vs. 3.85 ± 0.07 mm, p = 0.020). CONCLUSIONS: This study showed that compared with the conventional forceps, the bendable forceps was effective and safe to use for accessing difficult lesions in the three models. We believe that the bendable forceps serves as a useful supplementary diagnostic tool for accessing difficult lesions. However, further validation of its usefulness in the human body is needed.

Structured reporting has the potential to reduce reporting times of dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry exams.

BACKGROUND: In recent years, structured reporting has been shown to be beneficial with regard to report completeness and clinical decision-making as compared to free-text reports (FTR). However, the impact of structured reporting on reporting efficiency has not been thoroughly evaluted yet. The aim of this study was to compare reporting times and report quality of structured reports (SR) to conventional free-text reports of dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry exams (DXA). METHODS: FTRs and SRs of DXA were retrospectively generated by 2 radiology residents and 2 final-year medical students. Time was measured from the first view of the exam until the report was saved. A random sample of DXA reports was selected and sent to 2 referring physicians for further evaluation of report quality. RESULTS: A total of 104 DXA reports (both FTRs and SRs) were generated and 48 randomly selected reports were evaluated by referring physicians. Reporting times were shorter for SRs in both radiology residents and medical students with median reporting times of 2.7 min (residents: 2.7, medical students: 2.7) for SRs and 6.1 min (residents: 5.0, medical students: 7.5) for FTRs. Information extraction was perceived to be significantly easier from SRs vs FTRs (P <  0.001). SRs were rated to answer the clinical question significantly better than FTRs (P <  0.007). Overall report quality was rated significantly higher for SRs compared to FTRs (P <  0.001) with 96% of SRs vs 79% of FTRs receiving high or very high-quality ratings. All readers except for one resident preferred structured reporting over free-text reporting and both referring clinicians preferred SRs over FTRs for DXA. CONCLUSIONS: Template-based structured reporting of DXA might lead to shorter reporting times and increased report quality.

Operation and Management of Seoul Metropolitan City Community Treatment Center for Mild Condition COVID-19 Patients.

BACKGROUND: In response to the disaster of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, Seoul Metropolitan Government (SMG) established a patient facility for mild condition patients other than hospital. This study was conducted to investigate the operation and necessary resources of a community treatment center (CTC) operated in Seoul, a metropolitan city with a population of 10 million. METHODS: To respond COVID-19 epidemic, the SMG designated 5 municipal hospitals as dedicated COVID-19 hospitals and implemented one CTC cooperated with the Boramae Municipal Hospital for COVID-19 patients in Seoul. As a retrospective cross-sectional observational study, retrospective medical records review was conducted for patients admitted to the Seoul CTC. The admission and discharge route of CTC patients were investigated. The patient characteristics were compared according to route of discharge whether the patient was discharged to home or transferred to hospital. To report the operation of CTC, the daily mean number of tests (reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and chest X-ray) and consultations by medical staffs were calculated per week. The list of frequent used medications and who used medication most frequently were investigated. RESULTS: Until May 27 when the Seoul CTC was closed, 26.5% (n = 213) of total 803 COVID-19 patients in Seoul were admitted to the CTC. It was 35.7% (n = 213) of 597 newly diagnosed patients in Seoul during the 11 weeks of operation. The median length of stay was 21 days (interquartile range, 12-29 days). A total of 191 patients (89.7%) were discharged to home after virologic remission and 22 (10.3%) were transferred to hospital for further treatment. Fifty percent of transferred patients were within a week since CTC admission. Daily 2.5-3.6 consultations by doctors or nurses and 0.4-0.9 tests were provided to one patient. The most frequently prescribed medication was symptomatic medication for COVID-19 (cough/sputum and rhinorrhea). The next ranking was psychiatric medication for sleep problem and depression/anxiety, which was prescribed more than digestive drug. CONCLUSION: In the time of an infectious disease disaster, a metropolitan city can operate a temporary patient facility such as CTC to make a surge capacity and appropriately allocate scarce medical resource.

Should We Use Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound (CEUS) for the Characterization of Nonpalpable Testicular Lesions? An Analysis from a Cost-Effectiveness Perspective.

PURPOSE: Accurate characterization of testicular lesions is crucial to allow for correct treatment of malignant tumors and to avoid unnecessary procedures in benign ones. In recent years, contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) proved to be superior in specifying the dignity of small, nonpalpable testicular lesions (< 1.5 cm) compared to native B-mode and color Doppler ultrasound which were previously regarded as the primary imaging method. However, the cost-effectiveness of CEUS has not been evaluated yet. The aim of this study was to analyze the cost-effectiveness of CEUS as compared to unenhanced ultrasound for the characterization of nonpalpable testicular lesions. METHODS: A decision model based on Markov simulations estimated lifetime costs and quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) associated with unenhanced ultrasound and CEUS. Model input parameters were obtained from recent literature. Deterministic sensitivity analysis of diagnostic parameters and costs was performed. Also, probabilistic sensitivity analysis using Monte-Carlo Modelling was applied. The willingness-to-pay (WTP) was set to $100 000/QALY. RESULTS: In the base-case scenario, unenhanced ultrasound resulted in total costs of $5113.14 and an expected effectiveness of 8.29 QALYs, whereas CEUS resulted in total costs of $4397.77 with 8.35 QALYs. Therefore, the unenhanced ultrasound strategy was dominated by CEUS in the base-case scenario. Sensitivity analysis showed CEUS to be the cost-effective alternative along a broad range of costs. CONCLUSION: Contrast-enhanced ultrasound is a cost-effective imaging method for the characterization of nonpalpable testicular lesions.