Differential inducibility of transmembrane peptidoglycan recognition proteins (PGRPs) by bacterial challenges in the earthworm, Eisenia andrei.

Peptidoglycan recognition proteins (PGRPs) and Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are highly conserved pattern recognition receptors (PRRs). Earthworms possess genes encoding TLRs that specifically respond to Gram-positive bacteria. In addition, several PGRPs have been recently identified, which are predicted to exhibit amidase activity but lack receptor function. In lophotrochozoans, a membrane-bound PRR responsible for detecting Gram-negative bacteria remains unidentified. This study reveals several novel transmembrane peptidoglycan recognition proteins (Ean-PGRPLs) in earthworms, whose mRNA expression increases in response to Gram-negative but not Gram-positive bacteria. This indicates that Ean-PGRPLs may serve as a PRR associated with intracellular signaling for Gram-negative bacteria.

Bidirectional electrostatic MEMS-tunable VCSELs.

Microelectromechanical system (MEMS) vertical cavity surface-emitting lasers (VCSELs) are the fastest coherently tunable lasers (nm/ns) due to their unique Doppler-assisted tuning mechanism. However, in standard electrostatic actuation, the response is highly nonlinear and large (>100 V) dynamic voltages are needed for MHz sweep rates. We present a bidirectional MEMS VCSEL as a solution to these challenges where static voltages can be used to enable substantially linear and amplified wavelength tuning with respect to the fast tuning (MEMS) voltage. Using an InP/SOI MEMS bonded structure, we show a tuning range of 54.5 nm (gain limited) centered around 1586 nm at an actuation frequency of 2.73 MHz.

Fusion Length Requiring Spinopelvic Fixation in Lumbosacral Fusion with Anterior Column Support at L5–S1: Assessment of Fusion Status Using Computed Tomography

Background@#The lumbosacral (LS) junction has a higher nonunion rate than other lumbar segments, especially in long-level fusion. Nonunion at L5–S1 would result in low back pain, spinal imbalance, and poor surgical outcomes. Although anterior column support at L5–S1 has been recommended to prevent nonunion in long-level LS fusion, fusion length requiring additional spinopelvic fixation (SPF) in LS fusion with anterior column support at L5–S1 has not been evaluated thoroughly. This study aimed to determine the number of fused levels requiring SPF in LS fusion with anterior column support at L5–S1 by assessing the interbody fusion status using computed tomography (CT) depending on the fusion length. @*Methods@#Patients who underwent instrumented LS fusion with L5–S1 interbody fusion without additional augmentation and CT > 1 year postoperatively were included. The fusion rates were assessed based on the number of fused segments. Patients were divided into two groups depending on the L5–S1 interbody fusion status: those with union vs. those with nonunion. Binary logistic regression analyses were performed to identify risk factors for LS junctional nonunion. @*Results@#Fusion rates of L5–S1 interbody fusion were 94.9%, 90.3%, 80.0%, 50.0%, 52.6%, and 43.5% for fusion of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and ≥ 6 levels, respectively. The number of spinal levels fused ≥ 4 (p < 0.001), low preoperative bone mineral density (BMD; adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 0.667; p = 0.035), and postoperative pelvic incidence (PI) – lumbar lordosis (LL) mismatch (aOR, 1.034; p = 0.040) were identified as significant risk factors for nonunion of L5–S1 interbody fusion according to the multivariate logistic regression analysis. @*Conclusions@#Exhibiting ≥ 4 fused spinal levels, low preoperative BMD, and large postoperative PI–LL mismatch were identified as independent risk factors for nonunion of anterior column support at L5–S1 in LS fusion without additional fixation. Therefore, SPF should be considered in LS fusion extending to or above L2 to prevent LS junctional nonunion.

Risk of Pancreatic Cancer After Acute Pancreatitis: A Retrospective Analysis of the Korean National Sample Cohort

Background@#Acute pancreatitis may increase the risk of pancreatic cancer, although this association remains unclear. Therefore, we aimed to investigate this association. @*Methods@#We retrospectively analyzed the 2002–2019 Korean National Health Insurance ServiceNational Sample Cohort using 1:3 propensity score matching for sex and age (acute pancreatitis, n = 4,494; matched controls, n = 13,482). We calculated the hazard ratio (HR) for pancreatic cancer risk in patients with acute pancreatitis using Cox proportional hazards regression. @*Results@#Acute pancreatitis was significantly associated with an increased risk of pancreatic cancer throughout the study period (adjusted HR, 7.56 [95% confidence interval, 5.00– 11.41]), which persisted for 2, 2–5, and > 5 years post-diagnosis (19.11 [9.60–38.05], 3.46 [1.35–8.33], and 2.73 [1.21–6.15], respectively). This pancreatitis-related pancreatic cancer risk became insignificant beyond 10 years of follow-up (1.24 [0.24–6.49]). Furthermore, this risk notably increased as the number of recurrent acute pancreatitis episodes increased (1 episode: 5.25 [3.31–8.33], 2 episodes: 11.35 [6.38–20.19], ≥ 3 episodes: 24.58 [13.66–44.26]). @*Conclusion@#Following an acute pancreatitis diagnosis, the risk of pancreatic cancer increases significantly in the initial years, with a rapid increase further accentuated with recurrent acute pancreatitis episodes. Additional study is needed to evaluate whether this increased risk of carcinogenesis is attributed to accumulated inflammation.

Association Between Economic Activity and Depressive Symptoms Among Women With Parenting Children

Background@#Balancing parenting and work life poses challenges for women with children, potentially making them vulnerable to depression owing to their dual responsibilities.Investigating working mothers’ mental health status is important on both the individual and societal levels. This study aimed to explore the relationship between economic activity participation and depressive symptoms among working mothers. @*Methods@#This study was a cross-sectional study and used data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey collected in 2014, 2016, 2018, and 2020. The participants in the study were women aged 19 to 50 who were residing with their children.In the total, 3,151 participants were used in the analysis. The independent variable was economic activity, categorized into two groups: 1) economically active and 2) economically inactive. The dependent variable was the depressive symptoms, categorized as present for a Patient Health Questionnaire-9 score of ≥ 10 and absent for a score < 10. Multiple logistic regression analysis was performed to assess the association between economic activity and depressive symptoms, and sensitivity analyses were performed based on the severity of depressive symptoms. @*Results@#Among women with children, economically active women had reduced odds ratio of depressive symptoms compared with economically inactive women (odds ratio [OR], 0.54;95% confidence interval [CI], 0.36–0.80). In additional analysis, women working as wage earners had the lowest odds of depressive symptoms (OR, 0.43; 95% CI, 0.28–0.66). Women working an average of 40 hours or less per week were least likely to have depressive symptoms (OR, 0.42; 95% CI, 0.25–0.69). @*Conclusion@#Economic activity is significantly associated with depressive symptoms among women with children. Environmental support and policy approaches are needed to ensure that women remain economically active after childbirth.

Risk of Cerebral Aneurysm Rupture After Liver Transplantation:Development and Validation of a Hemorrhagic Stroke Scoring Model

Background@#Liver transplantation (LT) patients appear to be more prone to neurological events compared to individuals undergoing other types of solid-organ transplantation.The aims of the present study were to analyze the prevalence of unruptured intracranial aneurysms (UIAs) in patients undergoing liver transplantation (LT) and to examine the perioperative occurrence of subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). Also, it intended to systematically identify the risk factors of SAH and hemorrhagic stroke (HS) within a year after LT and to develop a scoring system which involves distinct clinical features of LT patients. @*Methods@#Patients who underwent LT from January 2012 to March 2022 were analyzed.All included patients underwent neurovascular imaging within 6 months before LT. We conducted an analysis of prevalence and radiological features of UIA and SAH. The clinical factors that may have an impact on HS within one year of LT were also reviewed. @*Results@#Total of 3,487 patients were enrolled in our study after applying inclusion and exclusion criteria. The prevalence of UIA was 5.4%. The incidence of SAH and HS within one year following LT was 0.5% and 1.6%, respectively. We developed a scoring system based on multivariable analysis to predict the HS within 1-year after LT. The variables were a poor admission mental status, the diagnosis of UIA, serum ammonia levels, and Model for End-stage Liver Disease (MELD) scores. Our model showed good discrimination among the development (C index, 0.727; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.635–0.820) and validation (C index, 0.719; 95% CI, 0.598–0.801) cohorts. @*Conclusion@#The incidence of UIA and SAH was very low in LT patients. A poor admission mental status, diagnosis of UIA, serum ammonia levels, and MELD scores were significantly associated with the risk of HS within one year after LT. Our scoring system showed a good discrimination to predict the HS in LT patients.

Psychopathological consideration of the diagnostic criteria for schizophrenia

Considering the conterarguement of the optimistic attitude of psychoanalysis and environmental change, the current diagnostic criteria for schizophrenia (i.e., Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th edition-text revised [DSM-5-TR], International Classification of Diseases, 11th revision [ICD-11]) are defined under the substantial influences of symptom-based operationalism. The current diagnostic criteria for schizophrenia are occasionally considered as the incorporated characteristic mixtures of the chronicity, positive symptoms, and negative symptoms of Emil Kraepelin, Kurt Schneider, and Eugen Bleuler, respectively.Current Concepts: Concerning the diagnostic criteria for schizophrenia, the two remarkable changes from DSM-IV or DSM-IV-TR to DSM-5 or DSM-5-TR are as follows. First, related to diagnosing schizophrenia, the weighting of Kurt Schneider’s first-rank symptoms has been omitted. Second, the defining subtypes (i.e., paranoid, disorganized, undifferentiated, catatonic, and residual) have also been omitted. In addition, catatonia has been newly considered a semi-independent diagnostic entity in DSM-5 or DSM-5-TR. Therefore, from a psychopathological aspect, the operationally defined diagnostic criteria for schizophrenia display several limitations: First, the oblivion of the concept of formal thought disorder, considered as the fundamental symptom of schizophrenia by the greatest psychopathologists, has been deepened. Second, the current diagnostic criteria for schizophrenia have been partly inconsistent with the disease essentialism model.Discussion and Conclusion: Schizophrenia cases are interconnected with ‘family resemblance’ but not shared by common underlying neurobiological correlates. Herein, in clinical psychiatric practice, with an emphatic approach, phenomenological psychopathology would still be required to evaluate the subjective experiences of an individual with schizophrenia.

Single System Cutaneous Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis Mimicking Prurigo Nodularis / 대한피부과학회지

Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) is a rare inflammatory neoplasia of the dendritic cells that can affect the whole body and commonly affect the pediatric age. Adult onset LCH is relatively rare, and the cutaneous form without any other organ involvement is much more uncommon. A 62-year-old woman visited the clinic presenting pruritic erythematous papule and nodules on the whole body, from which she suffered for several years. Skin biopsy showed hyperkeratosis, mild acanthosis, intra-epidermal tumor cell infiltration, and band-like tumor cell infiltration. Cells infiltrating the epidermis and dermis showed characteristics consistent with Langerhans cells. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed tumor cells highlighted with CD1a and S-100, but not with CD68, and therefore, diagnosed as LCH. The patient showed no evidence of any other organ manifestation, which led the final diagnosis of single-system LCH. This case highlights a rare adult-onset cutaneous form of single-system LCH with skin manifestations very similar to prurigo nodularis.

Cutaneous Adverse Reactions after COVID-19 Vaccination / 대한피부과학회지

Background@#In the current situation, where severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is rapidly spreading, vaccines for coronavirus are thought to be the most effective approach to containing the situation.However, limited comparative data are available on cutaneous adverse reactions to coronavirus vaccination in Korea. @*Objective@#We retrospectively reviewed the clinical and histopathological characteristics of adverse cutaneous reactions following coronavirus vaccination. @*Methods@#We retrospectively reviewed the clinical and histopathological characteristics of 95 patients who were vaccinated with Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca, and Janssen vaccines and visited the Dermatology Departments of Dankook University Hospital and Chungnam National University Hospital. @*Results@#The mean age was 49.3±17.5 years. Patients who received the AstraZeneca vaccine had an average age of 61.7±10.8 years, significantly higher than those in the Pfizer (44.1±18.7 years) and Moderna (42.5±15.0 years) groups (p＜0.001). Of the 95 patients, 36 (37.9%) were diagnosed with urticaria, 24 (25.3%) with morbilliform eruption, 18 (18.9%) with petechiae and purpura, and eight (8.4%) with erythema multiforme. Additionally, there were diagnoses of erythema nodosum, alopecia areata, eczema, generalized pustular psoriasis, acute generalized exanthematous pustulosis, pityriasis rosea, and bullous pemphigoid. In the AstraZeneca-vaccinated group, the proportion of morbilliform eruptions was significantly higher than that in the Pfizer- and Moderna-vaccinated groups (p=0.008). The Pfizer- and Moderna-vaccinated groups had higher rates of urticaria than did the AstraZeneca-vaccinated group. However, this difference was not statistically significant (p=0.083). @*Conclusion@#This study described the clinical characteristics of cutaneous adverse reactions after coronavirus vaccination.

Disease Awareness, Medical Use Behavior, Diagnosis and Treatment Status, Quality of Life and Comorbidities in Primary Cicatricial Alopecia Patients: A Multicenter Survey / 대한피부과학회지

Background@#Primary cicatricial alopecia (PCA) is a rare disease that causes irreversible destruction of hair follicles and affects the quality of life (QOL). @*Objective@#We aimed to investigate the disease awareness, medical use behavior, QOL, and real-world diagnosis and treatment status of patients with PCA. @*Methods@#A self-administered questionnaire was administered to patients with PCA and their dermatologists. Patients aged between 19 and 75 years who visited one of 27 dermatology departments between September 2021 and September 2022 were included. @*Results@#In total, 274 patients were included. The male-to-female ratio was 1:1.47, with a mean age of 45.7 years. Patients with neutrophilic and mixed PCA were predominantly male and younger than those with lymphocytic PCA. Among patients with lymphocytic PCA, lichen planopilaris was the most common type, and among those with neutrophilic PCA, folliculitis decalvans was the most common type. Among the total patients, 28.8% were previously diagnosed with PCA, 47.0% were diagnosed with PCA at least 6 months after their first hospital visit, 20.0% received early treatment within 3 months of disease onset, and 54.4% received steady treatment. More than half of the patients had a moderate to severe impairment in QOL. Topical/intralesional steroid injections were the most common treatment. Systemic immunosuppressants were frequently prescribed to patients with lymphocytic PCA, and antibiotics were mostly prescribed to patients with neutrophilic PCA. @*Conclusion@#This study provides information on the disease awareness, medical use behavior, QOL, diagnosis, and treatment status of Korean patients with PCA. This can help dermatologists educate patients with PCA to understand the necessity for early diagnosis and steady treatment.

Validity of the Korean Version of the Brief Irritability Test in Psychiatric Patients

Objective@#This study aimed to investigate the validity and reliability of the Korean version of the Brief Irritability Test (BITe) and adapt it for Korean patients with psychiatric disorders. @*Methods@#A total of 296 patients at the Department of Psychiatry of Hanyang University Guri Hospital completed the BITe, Korean Beck Depression Inventory-II, Korean Beck Anxiety Inventory, the Korean version of the State-Trait Anger Expression Inventory, and Barratt Impulsiveness Scale-11. Construct validity was confirmed through exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). Reliability testing included assessments of internal consistency (Cronbach’s α) and item-total correlations. Convergent validity was examined through correlational analyses with variables such as anxiety, depression, anger, and impulsivity. @*Results@#First, the scale had good internal consistency with a Cronbach’s α of 0.88. Second, EFA indicated a single dimensionality of the BITe, and CFA demonstrated a reasonable fit for the single-factor model (comparative fit index=0.97, Tucker-Lewis Index=0.95, normed fit index=0.97, goodness-of-fit index=0.96, root mean square error of approximation=0.12, standardized root mean residual=0.03). Finally, the convergent validity analysis revealed a significant positive correlation with depression, anxiety, and anger, except for anger control, which is a sub-variable of anger. @*Conclusion@#The results showed that the Korean version of the BITe had good psychometric properties, and might serve as a valuable tool for assessing irritability in Korean patients with psychiatric disorders.

Efficacy of intraoperative neuromonitoring (IONM) and intraoperative indocyanine green videoangiography (ICG-VA) during unruptured anterior choroidal artery aneurysm clipping surgery

Objective@#The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy of intraoperative indocyanine green videoangiography (ICG-VA) and intraoperative neuromonitoring (IONM) to prevent postoperative ischemic complications during microsurgical clipping of unruptured anterior choroidal artery (AChA) aneurysms. @*Methods@#We retrospectively reviewed the clinical and radiological records of all patients who had undergone microsurgical clipping for unruptured AChA aneurysms at our institution between April 2001 and December 2019. We compared the postoperative complication rate of the group for which intraoperative ICG-VA and IONM were utilized (group B; n=324) with that of the group for which intraoperative ICG-VA and IONM were not utilized (group A; n=72). @*Results@#There were no statistically significant differences in demographic data between the two groups. Statistically significant differences were observed in the rate of overall complications (p=0.014) and postoperative ischemic complications related to AChA territory (p=0.039). All the cases (n=4) in group B who had postoperative infarctions related to AChA territory showed false-negative results of intraoperative ICG-VA and IONM. @*Conclusions@#Preserving the patency of the AChA is essential to minimize postoperative complications. Intraoperative monitoring tools including ICG-VA and IONM can greatly contribute to lowering complication rates. However, their pitfalls and false-negative results should always be considered.

Impact of Coinsurance Reduction Policy on Healthcare Utilization Among Children Under 15

Background@#On October 1, 2017, a new coinsurance reduction policy for children under 15 was introduced to minimize the lack of inpatient medical services for economic reasons and secure children’s access to medical care. @*Methods@#This study analyzes the effect of this coinsurance reduction policy on healthcare utilization using data from the National Health Insurance Service-National Sample Cohort between 2015 and 2019. Groups were classified by 3 case groups and a control group according to age. The dependent variables were inpatient cost, admission, length of hospitalization, outpatient cost and visit, and total cost. The difference-in-differences method was used to examine changes in healthcare utilization among the case and control groups after policy implementation. @*Results@#Children of the age group 1–5 exhibited an increase in inpatient services and a decrease in outpatient services. There was a 16.17% increase in inpatient cost, 8.55% increase in inpatient admission, 10.67% increase in inpatient length of hospitalization, −9.14% decline in outpatient cost, and −6.79% decline in outpatient visits. Regarding children in the age groups of 6–10 and 11–15, the effect of the policy was inconclusive. @*Conclusion@#The reduction in coinsurance rate policy in hospitalization among children has increased inpatient services and reduced outpatient services for 1–5-year-olds—a substitute effect was observed in this group. There is need for further research to examine the longterm effects of the coinsurance reduction policy.

A Validation of the Korean Version of Ultra-Short Suicidal Ideation Scale / 신경정신의학

Objectives@#An accurate and easy-to-identify form is needed for the early evaluation of suicidal ideation in high-risk patients. Therefore, this study examined the validity and reliability of a Korean version of the Ultra-Short Suicidal Ideation Scale (K-USSIS). @*Methods@#A total of 161 psychiatric university-affiliated general hospital patients completed the K-USSIS. The data were analyzed using correlation, internal consistency, and confirmatory factor analyses. @*Results@#First, the scale had good internal consistency with a Cronbach’s α of 0.94. Second, the confirmatory factor analysis demonstrated that the single-factor model had a reasonable fit (comparative fit index=0.99, Tucker–Lewis index=0.98, standardized root mean squared residual=0.01, and root mean square error of approximation=0.10). Finally, the convergent validity analysis revealed a significant positive correlation with depression, anxiety, and hopelessness. @*Conclusion@#The findings suggest that the K-USSIS has good psychometric properties and can serve as a valuable tool for screening for suicidal ideation to ensure early intervention in Korean psychiatric patients.

The First Case of Cutaneous Acanthamoebiasis Caused by Acanthamoeba triangularis in Korea

A 62-year-old man with multiple myeloma visited our clinic with multiple painful erythematous to purpuric nodules on his whole body. He received a skin biopsy which showed septal and lobular inflammation with vasculitis, and multiple amoebic organisms were found.Polymerase chain reaction and culture were performed and an Acanthamoeba triangularis infection was diagnosed. This is the first report on cutaneous acanthamoebiasis caused by A. triangularis, suggesting that A. triangularis should be regarded as a clinical pathogen that can cause ocular as well as disseminated infection.

Appropriate Adjustment according to the Supply and Demand Status and Trend of Doctors / 보건행정학회지

Background@#This study aims to contribute to the adjustment of the appropriate doctor manpower by analyzing the distribution, supply and demand, and estimation of the doctor manpower. @*Methods@#This study utilized the medical personnel data of the Ministry of Health and Welfare, population trend data of the National Statistical Office, and health insurance benefit performance data of the National Health Insurance Service. Based on 2021, we compared the number of doctors in actual supply and the number of doctors in demand according to the amount of medical use by gender and age for 250 regions. Logistic regression analysis and scenario analysis were performed to estimate the future medical workforce by considering the demand for doctors according to the future demographic structure, the size of the quota in medical schools, and the retirement rate. @*Results@#There were 186 regions in which the supply of doctors was below average, and the average ratio of the number of doctors in supply to demand in the region was 62.1%. @*Conclusion@#In order to increase the number of active doctors nationwide to at least 80%, 7,756 people must be allocated. The number of doctors in demand is estimated to decrease after increasing to 1.492 times in 2059. The future projected number of doctors is expected to increase to 1.349 times in 2050 and then decrease taking into account the doctor quota and the retirement rate.

Position Value for Relative Comparison of Healthcare Status of Korea in 2020 / 보건행정학회지

This study examined the trend of healthcare status and compared the status of South Korea and other member of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) using the OECD health statistics 2022. We used the OECD health statistics from 2022 and a position value for relative comparison (PARC) index to compare the five elements of the healthcare system. The study also used a Mann-Kendall test to analyze the trend of the PARC values from 2000 to the present year. The findings of the study indicate that many South Korea’s PARC values were higher than the OECD median. But practicing physician in supply part and medical cost were lower than OECD median but the trend significantly increased. Medical accessibility part and quality of care part except primary care, and mental health had a high relative position but the trend did not increased significantly. After outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019, there were changes in medical accessibility. Health screening and vaccinations showed an overall decline in 2020 compared to 2019. These results suggest that policymakers need to take necessary steps for a sustainable healthcare system in the country.

Improvement for the Catastrophic Health Expenditure Support Program / 보건행정학회지

Background@#To improve the support low-income individuals’ medical expenses, it is necessary to think about ways to enhance the Catastrophic Health Expenditure Support Program. This study proposes expanding support criteria and changing the income standard. @*Methods@#This study conducted simulations using national data from the National Health Insurance Service. Simulations performed for people who have used health services (n=172,764) in 2022 to confirm the Catastrophic Health Expenditure Support Program’s size based on changes to the subject selection criteria. @*Results@#As a result of the simulation with expanded criteria, the expected budget was estimated to increase between Korean won (KRW) 13.2 (11.5%) and 138.6 billion (37.4%), and the number of recipients increased between 41,979 (48.9%) and 150,317 (76.1%).The results of the simulation for the change in income criteria (applied to health insurance levels below the 50th percentile) estimated the expected budget to increase between KRW -8.9 (-7.8%) and 55.6 billion (15.0%) and the number of recipients to increase between -8,704 (-10.1%) and 41,693 (21.1%) compared to the current standard. @*Conclusion@#The 2023 Catastrophic Health Expenditure Support Program’s criteria were expanded as per the 20th Presidential Office’s national agenda to alleviate the burden of medical expenses on the low-income class. In addition, The Catastrophic Health Expenditure Support Program needs to be integrated with other medical expense support policies in the mid- to long-term, and a foundation must be prepared to ensure the consistency of each system.

Comparison of Position and Trend of Disease Burden in Korea and Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development Countries / 보건행정학회지

Background@#This study aims to compare the burden of disease in Korea with other Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) countries using the OECD health statistics from 1985 to 2020. @*Methods@#We analyzed potential years of life lost (YLL) per 100,000 population using the Positive value for relative comparison (PARC) index, trend test, and average annual percentage change (AAPC) with logistic regression analysis. @*Results@#The relative disease burden was good for many diseases, but the disease burden was severe for a few diseases in Korea. Diseases with a high relative burden of disease in Korea are as follows; intentional self-harm (YLL2020 575.6, AAPCYLL 2.6%; PARC2020 -1.000, AAPCPARC -15.8%), malignant neoplasms of the liver (YLL2020 136.6, AAPCYLL -3.9%; PARC2020 -1.000, AAPCPARC 0.0%), malignant neoplasms of the stomach (YLL2020 9.0, AAPCYLL 3.2%; PARC2020 -0.556, AAPCPARC -22.9%), Parkinson's disease (YLL2020 575.6, AAPCYLL 2.6%; PARC2020 -1.000, AAPCPARC -15.8%). @*Conclusion@#Diseases with a high burden of disease are needed to be prioritized in the planning and execution of healthcare policies that can contribute to the efficient use of healthcare resources.

Suicide Related Indicators and Trends in Korea in 2021 / 보건행정학회지

Background@#This study aimed to update suicide-related indicators, including the number of suicidal deaths, suicide rate, and the prevalence of suicidal ideation and suicide attempts. We observed trends in suicide-related indicators based on up-to-date information. @*Methods@#This study used five data sources to evaluate the trends of suicide-related indicators: Statistics Korea (1983–2021), Korean Wealth Panel Study (KOWEPS, 2012–2021), and Korea Health Panel Survey (KHP, 2010–2013, 2016–2019), Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination (KNHANES, 2007–2013, 2015–2021), Korean Community Health Survey (KCHS, 2008–2009, 2013, 2017, 2021). @*Results@#The suicide rate per 100,000 population increased from 25.7 in 2020 to 26.0 in 2021. The rates of suicidal ideation from recently available data were 4.28% (KNHANES, 2021), 6.52% (KCHS, 2021), 1.61% (KOWEPS) and 7.10% (KHP, 2019). The suicidal attempts rates were 0.46% (KNHANES, 2021) and 0.34% (KCHS, 2021). The annual percentage change (APC) of suicide rate showed that suicide rates increased in the younger population (APC=9.02% in 80 years). @*Conclusion@#The suicide rate and related indicators increased in 2021 compared to 2020. Thus, continuous observation and appropriate suicide prevention policies as well as studies about the factors that affected the increase in 2021 are needed.