Journal of Korean medical science
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J. Korean Med. Sci. · Jun 2023
Effect of Wearing Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for COVID-19 Treatment on Blood Culture Contamination: Implication for Optimal PPE Strategies.
The personal protective equipment (PPE) used to minimize exposure to hazards can hinder healthcare workers from performing sophisticated procedures. We retrospectively reviewed 77,535 blood cultures (202,012 pairs) performed in 28,502 patients from January 2020 to April 2022. ⋯ This finding implies that wearing PPE might interfere with adherence to the aseptic technique. Therefore, a new PPE policy is needed that considers the balance between protecting healthcare workers and medical practices.
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J. Korean Med. Sci. · Jun 2023
Multicenter StudyIron Deficiency in Korean Patients With Heart Failure.
Although iron deficiency (ID) is an important and treatable risk factor for heart failure (HF), data on ID are scarce in Asian patients with HF. Therefore, we sought to determine the prevalence and clinical characteristics of ID in hospitalized Korean patients with HF. ⋯ The prevalence of ID is high in hospitalized Korean patients with HF. Because ID cannot be diagnosed by clinical parameters, routine laboratory examinations are necessary to identify patients with ID.
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J. Korean Med. Sci. · Jun 2023
Korean vs. Western Exercise Capacity Nomograms for Korean Patients With Cardiovascular Disease.
Exercise capacity is known to be an independent predictor of cardiovascular events and mortality. However, most previous studies were based on Western populations. Further study is warranted for Asian patients according to ethnic or national standards. We aimed to compare prognostic values of Korean and Western nomograms for exercise capacity in Korean patients with cardiovascular disease (CVD). ⋯ Korean patients with CVD with lower exercise capacity have higher risk of MACE. Considering inter-ethnic differences in cardiorespiratory fitness, the Korean nomogram provides more suitable reference values than the Western nomogram to determine lower exercise capacity and predict cardiovascular events in Korean patients with CVD.
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J. Korean Med. Sci. · Jun 2023
Incidence and Mortality Trends in Critically Ill Children: A Korean Population-Based Study.
Monitoring mortality trends can help design ways to improve survival, but observation of national mortality trends in critically ill children is lacking for the Korean population. ⋯ Mortality among critically ill children improved during the study period, and the improving trend was prominent in children with high treatment requirements. Varying mortality trends, according to ICU organizations, highlight that advances in medical knowledge should be supported structurally.
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J. Korean Med. Sci. · Jun 2023
Pregnancy Outcomes Associated With Biologic Agent Exposure in Patients With Several Rheumatic Diseases and Inflammatory Bowel Diseases.
This study aimed to analyze pregnancy outcomes based on biologic agents use in women using the nationwide population-based database. ⋯ Although there was no difference in live birth rate between the biologics group and biologics naïve group, biologics use seems to be associated with several adverse pregnancy outcomes, especially in patients with biologics during pregnancy. Therefore, patients with biologics during pregnancy need to be carefully observed for adverse pregnancy outcomes.