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: According to the National Statistical Office's 2019 Population and Housing Survey in August 2020, the number of apartments, including apartments, was about 14 million last year, accounting for 77.2% of all houses, of which 11.287 million were 80.6% of apartments. Based on this change in housing trends, researchers have developed and studied cellular light-weight concrete (CLC) that can be cured at room temperature and normal pressure with advantages such as light weight, insulation, and construction. There have been several studies in Korea, including state-run projects, but they have not been commercialized, but the biggest reason is that stability has not been secured. Therefore, to improve the reliability of CLC that can be cured at normal temperature and pressure, this study attempts to analyze the properties of CLC by incorporating CaO-CSA expansive additive. Based on the drying density of 0.55-0.65 kg/m3, cement, blast furnace slag, animal foaming additive and fiber are utilized to analyze the properties of CLC with CaO-CSA expansive and the results are as follows. By using the CaO-CSA expansive additive, it is determined that the formation of calcium hydroxide and ettringite fills the CLC between the tobermorite layers and the internal structure becomes dense. Currently, based on KS F 2701, the compression strength based on 0.6 items is more than 4.9 MPa, and the strength is about twice as strong as that of the existing CLC, and durability of the CLC are improved by incorporating CaO-CSA expansive additive. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, passive and zero-energy construction has increased in Korea due to the government`s continuous application of budget-conscious policies for establishments. Accordingly, construction materials are being advanced, and the required performance standards for insulation materials are increasing. However, problems such as fire vulnerability and degradation of physical properties for organic and inorganic insulation materials are shown, so it is necessary to solve this problem. The objective of this research is to examine the properties of the composites by analyzing the flexural breaking load, impact resistance, density, VOCs concentration reduction rate, and fine dust concentration reduction rate of the composites manufactured based on the perlite substitution rate of the magnesia composites. The flexural breaking load test of the composites was assessed according to ‘KS F 3504’, a gypsum board standard and the impact resistance was assessed according to ‘KS F 4715’. The performance evaluation of adsorption performance of air pollutants of the VOCs and fine dust in the context of the small chamber technique suggested by Hanbat University. The results of this study are as follows: The flexural breaking load according to the perlite replacement rate tended to decrease as the perlite replacement rate increased. It is determined that the flexural breaking load is reduced by generating a large amount of pores inside due to the perlite porous structure characteristics. In the case of impact resistance, the impact resistance tended to increase as the perlite displacement rate increased. It is determined that the volume of the binder in the board is reduced, and pores inside the board are generated due to perlite, which is a porous material, thereby reducing the overall bonding force of the board. In the case of VOCs and fine dust concentrations, the VOCs and fine dust concentration reduction rates tended to increase as the perlite replacement rate increased. In the case of the perlite displace rate of 30%, the VOCs concentration decreased by 82.6%, and the fine dust concentration decreased by 87.9%. It has been established that the porous properties of perlite used to create a huge number of pores in the hardened body cause the concentration to be lowered physically through adsorption. This study's findings are thought to be fundamental information for securing the engineering properties and air pollution absorption of magnesia composites blended with perlite. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Aims: Type 2 autoimmune pancreatitis (AIP) has been considered extremely rare in East Asia. This study aimed to clarify the prevalence, clinical characteristics and radiological findings of type 2 AIP highlighting patients presenting as acute pancreatitis in a single center. Methods: Type 2 AIP patients were classified according to International Consensus Diagnostic Criteria. Radiological findings were compared between type 2 AIP presenting as acute pancreatitis and gallstone pancreatitis. Results: Among 244 patients with AIP, 27 (11.1%) had type 2 AIP (definite, 15 [55.5%] and probable 12 [44.5%]). The median age of patients with type 2 AIP was 29 years (interquartile range, 20 to 39 years). Acute pancreatitis was the most common initial presentation (n=17, 63%) while obstructive jaundice was present in only one patient. Ulcerative colitis (UC) was associated with type 2 AIP in 44.4% (12/27) of patients. Radiological pancreatic imaging such as delayed enhancement of diffusely enlarged pancreas, homogeneous enhancement of focal enlargement/ mass, absent/minimal peripancreatic fat infiltration or fluid collection, and multifocal main pancreatic duct narrowings were helpful for differentiating type 2 AIP from gallstone pancreatitis. During follow-up (median, 32.3 months), two patients (2/25, 8%) experienced relapse. Conclusions: In South Korea, type 2 AIP is not as rare as previously thought. Overall, the clinical profile of type 2 AIP was similar to that of Western countries. Type 2 AIP should be considered in young UC patients with acute pancreatitis of uncertain etiology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Healthcare systems around the world share the common goals of improving clinical outcomes, optimizing cost reductions and efficiencies, and expanding access to care in a patient-centric manner, yet they are stymied by 2 critical challenges: wide variations in patients' clinical outcomes and soaring costs. In response to these challenges, many healthcare systems throughout the world are pivoting towards value-based healthcare (VBHC), to ultimately 1) move from volume-based to value-based care, 2) promote patient-centric care, and 3) reverse rising costs. While the United States and European nations are piloting alternative payment models, South Korea has a similar set of objectives to adopt value or performance-based payment systems. Two exemplary programs helping to move Korea towards a VBHC model are currently under way: the Support Fund Program for Care Quality Assessment and the Healthcare Benefit Appropriateness Assessment Program. However, in order to permanently establish a full-fledged VBHC system in Korea, the following prerequisites must be met: 1) normalization of provider payment rates, 2) development and dissemination of critical pathways, 3) implementation of pilot projects in the medical device sector that contain risk-share payment schemes, 4) implementation of registries to aid data-driven coverage decisions, and 5) implementation of bundled payment pilot programs for the medical conditions for which proven critical pathways already exist. Ultimately, the medical device industry is in a unique position to enhance ongoing endeavors by Korean health authorities and providers to achieve quality patient care and cost savings, all in the service of the transition to VBHC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Study Aim: Fully covered, self-expandable metal stents (FCSEMSs) are acceptable tools for treating benign biliary stricture (BBS). However, little is known about the long-term outcomes of this technique. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the procedural and long-term outcomes of FCSEMSs for treating BBSs.Patients and Methods: A total of 134 consecutive patients (median age 56 years; range 21 - 83) with BBS were retrospectively reviewed. The main outcomes were technical and clinical success, stricture resolution, recurrence, and adverse events. Outcomes were analyzed by reviewing patient medical records.Results: The success rates of FCSEMS placement and removal were 99.3 % and 98.2 %, respectively. Stricture resolution occurred in 103/132 (78.0 %) of the patients (median stent duration, 93 days; range 1 - 489). The associated factors for stricture resolution were longer stent indwelling period (≥ 120 days) and absence of stent migration. Stricture recurrence was seen in 26/103 patients (25.2 %; 95 % confidence interval [CI] 0.17 - 0.34) within a median of 390 days (range 4 - 903 days). Chronic pancreatitis was associated with stricture recurrence (hazard ratio [HR] 2.59, 95 %CI 1.20 - 5.61; P = 0.02). Stent migration occurred in 41/132 patients (31.1 %; 95 %CI 0.23 - 0.39). The FCSEMS with anchoring flaps appeared to protect against stent migration (HR 0.22, 95 %CI 0.08 - 0.63; P < 0.01).Conclusion: FCSEMSs had a high success rate for BBS resolution. Longer indwelling periods and the absence of stent migration might be important factors for stricture resolution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The risk of anti-tuberculosis (TB) drug-induced liver injury (DILI) in patients with chronic viral hepatitis (CVH) is not clear. The aim of this study was to investigate incidence and risk factors associated with TB DILI in CVH and non-CVH patients.Methods: Retrospectively, a total of 128 CVH patients who received anti-TB medication from January 2005 to February 2014 were reviewed. Among these, 83 patients had hepatitis B virus (HBV), 41 patients had hepatitis C virus (HCV) and 4 patients were dual hepatitis B and hepatitis C virus co-infected (HBV + HCV) with 251 non-CVH patients who received anti-TB medication selected as the controls. There were no human immunodeficiency virus co-infected patients. Risk factors for DILI were analyzed using cox regression analysis.Results: The incidence of DILI was significantly higher in the HCV group (13/41 [31.7%], p < 0.001) and HBV + HCV groups (3/4 [75.0%], p = 0.002) compared to the control group (25/251 [10.0%]). The incidence of transient liver function impairment in the hepatitis B virus group was higher than in the control group (18/83 [21.7%] vs. 27/251 [10.8%] p = 0.010), but not in DILI (11/83 [13.3%] vs. 25/251 [10.0%], p = 0.400). In total patients, HCV, HBV + HCV co-infection, older age, and baseline liver function abnormality were independent factors of DILI.Conclusions: It is recommended to carefully monitor for DILI in patients with HCV or HBV/HCV co-infection, older age, and baseline liver function abnormality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lee S-S, Han H-H, Kim H. A 5-yr follow-up nerve conduction study for the detection of subclinical diabetic neuropathy in children with newly diagnosed insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. Pediatric Diabetes 20XX: 00: 000-000 Objective: To investigate the changes of peripheral nerve conduction in children with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) prospectively from diagnosis and to know how those results were related to clinical risk factors. Methods: A total of 37 patients (14 males and 23 females) aged 3-19 yr (mean 12.0 ± 3.7) with newly diagnosed IDDM underwent bilateral nerve conduction studies (NCS) of median, ulnar, posterior tibial, peroneal, and sural nerves annually for 5 yr. Results: In all, 12 patients (32.4%) showed electrophysiological evidence of polyneuropathy in at least two different nerves including the sural nerve at the diagnosis of IDDM; 20 patients (54%) had multiple (≥2) abnormalities in parameters of NCS. The most common abnormal parameters at the diagnosis were conduction velocities of peroneal motor and sural nerves. In sequential NCS over 5 yr, the percentage of abnormal nerve conduction velocities rose except within the sural nerve. Poor metabolic control, height, duration of diabetes, and older age of onset were related to the changes of parameters of NCS over 5 yr. Among those risk factors, the duration of diabetes and sustained hyperglycemia affected the parameters of NCS more frequently than others. Conclusions: Children with IDDM frequently have nerve conduction abnormalities without clinical neuropathy at initial diagnosis. The frequency of abnormalities of any attribute of nerve conduction increased over the 5 yr follow-up. The duration of diabetes and poor glycemic control proved to be more important risk factors over 5 yr as related to the development of subclinical neuropathy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Aims Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a common complication in cirrhotic patients, but little is known of the impact of AKI in patients with variceal bleeding. This study evaluated the incidence of AKI using the International Club of Ascites-AKI criteria and their association with the prognosis of patients with variceal bleeding. Methods We performed a retrospective cohort study using the data of cirrhotic patients with acute variceal bleeding evaluated at Gyeongsang National University Changwon Hospital in Korea between January 2015 and June 2019. The association between AKI and mortality was examined via univariate and multivariate analyses using the Cox proportional hazard model Results A total of 134 episodes of acute variceal bleeding in 103 patients were enrolled. The sources of variceal bleeding were esophageal varices in 111 (82.8%) and gastric varices in 23 (17.2%). The mean age was 56.0 years. Over a mean follow-up period of 253.3 days, 57 patients (42.5%) of all the episodes developed AKI. At the diagnosis of AKI, 23 patients had stage 1a (40.4%), nine (15.8%) had stage 1b, 17 (29.8%) had stage 2, and eight (14.0%) had stage 3. In multivariate analysis, the independent factors for AKI were age per year (hazard ratio [HR], 1.03; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.03 to 1.06) and Model For End-Stage Liver Diseases score (HR, 1.08; 95% CI, 1.03 to 1.14). The 42-day mortality rate was significantly higher in patients (n=20, 35.1%) with AKI than in patients without AKI (n=2, 2.6%, p<0.001). In addition, the presence of AKI was independent factor for 42-days mortality (HR, 5.58; 95% CI, 1.15 to 27.11). Conclusions AKI occurred frequently in patients with acute variceal bleeding. Our study proposes that AKI predicts mortality in patients with variceal bleeding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Aims Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a common complication in cirrhotic patients, but little is known of the impact of AKI in patients with variceal bleeding. This study evaluated the incidence of AKI using the International Club of Ascites-AKI criteria and their association with the prognosis of patients with variceal bleeding. Methods We performed a retrospective cohort study using the data of cirrhotic patients with acute variceal bleeding evaluated at Gyeongsang National University Changwon Hospital in Korea between January 2015 and June 2019. The association between AKI and mortality was examined via univariate and multivariate analyses using the cox proportional hazard model. Results A total of 134 episodes of acute variceal bleeding in 103 patients were enrolled. The sources of variceal bleeding were esophageal varices in 111 (82.8%) and gastric varices in 23 (17.2%). The mean age was 56.0 years. Over a mean follow-up period of 253.3 days, 57 patients (42.5%) of all the episodes developed AKI. At the diagnosis of AKI, 23 patients had stage 1a (40.4%), nine (15.8%) had stage 1b, 17 (29.8%) had stage 2, and eight (14.0%) had stage 3. In multivariate analysis, the independent factors for AKI were age per year (hazard ratio [HR], 1.03; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.03 to 1.06) and Model For End-Stage Liver Diseases score (HR, 1.08; 95% CI, 1.03 to 1.14). The 42-day mortality rate was significantly higher in patients (n=20, 35.1%) with AKI than in patients without AKI (n=2, 2.6%, p<0.001). In addition, the presence of AKI was independent factor for 42-day mortality (HR, 5.58; 95% CI, 1.15 to 27.11). Conclusions AKI occurred frequently in patients with acute variceal bleeding. Our study proposes that AKI predicts mortality in patients with variceal bleeding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]