Journal of Korean medical science
-
J. Korean Med. Sci. · Aug 2020
Association of Self-Reported and Cotinine-Verified Smoking Status with Atrial Arrhythmia.
The relationship between self-reported and urinary cotinine-verified smoking status and atrial arrhythmia (AA) is unclear. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association of self-reported and urine cotinine-verified smoking status with AA. ⋯ Self-reported current smoking was associated with AA and AF, while self-reported former smoking and cotinine-verified current smoking showed no significant association with AA and AF.
-
J. Korean Med. Sci. · Aug 2020
The Importance of Mandatory COVID-19 Diagnostic Testing Prior to Release from Quarantine.
A 14-day quarantine is implemented in many countries in response to the coronavirus disease pandemic. Korea implemented a mandatory quarantine for those who had close contact with infected patients and those returning from abroad. The present study explored the implications of mandatory coronavirus disease 2019 testing before releasing individuals from the 14-day quarantine in Incheon, Korea. ⋯ Twenty (35.7%) were identified through the reporting of symptoms during quarantine, and 32 (57.1%) were identified using mandatory pre-release RT-PCR tests. Among the 32, 14 (25%) individuals reported mild symptoms and 18 (32.1%) were asymptomatic. It is suggested that mandatory diagnostic testing prior to release and the symptom-based surveillance after the 14-day quarantine may help control delayed or asymptomatic COVID-19 cases.
-
J. Korean Med. Sci. · Aug 2020
A Validation Study of the Inbrain CST: a Tablet Computer-based Cognitive Screening Test for Elderly People with Cognitive Impairment.
Computerized versions of cognitive screening test could have advantages over pencil-and-paper versions by eliminating rater-dependent factors and saving the time required to score the tests and report the results. We developed a computerized cognitive screening test (Inbrain Cognitive Screening Test [Inbrain CST]) that takes about 30 minutes to administer on a touchscreen computer and is composed of neuropsychological tests already shown to be sensitive in detecting early cognitive decline in Alzheimer's disease (AD). The aims of this study were to 1) introduce normative data for Inbrain CST, 2) verify its reliability and validity, 3) assess clinical usefulness, and 4) identify neuroanatomical correlates of Inbrain CST. ⋯ Inbrain CST had good validity, reliability, and clinical usefulness in detecting cognitive impairment in the elderly. Furthermore, it showed neuroanatomical validity through MRI cortical thinning patterns. These results suggest that Inbrain CST is a useful cognitive screening tool with efficiency and validity to detect mild impairments in cognition in clinical settings.
-
J. Korean Med. Sci. · Aug 2020
Adverse Initial CT Findings Associated with Poor Prognosis of Coronavirus Disease.
The predictors of poor prognosis in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) using computed tomography (CT) have not been investigated in a large cohort. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the adverse initial CT features to predict poor prognosis in COVID-19. ⋯ Pleural effusion and the extent of pneumonia on initial CT scans are associated with poor prognosis in patients with COVID-19.