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Summary: Background: Due to the ongoing effects of climate change, the incidence of heatwave-related mortality is rising globally. Improved allocation and utilization of healthcare resources could help alleviate this issue. This study aimed to identify healthcare resource factors associated with heatwave-related mortality in seven major cities of South Korea. Methods: We analyzed daily time-series data on mean temperature and all-cause mortality from 2011 to 2019. Using principal component analysis (PCA), we clustered district-level healthcare resource indicators into three principal components (PCs). To estimate district-specific heatwave-mortality risk, we used a distributed lag model with a quasi-Poisson distribution. Furthermore, a meta-regression was performed to examine the association between healthcare resources and heatwave-mortality risk. Findings: A total of 310,363 deaths were analyzed in 74 districts. The lag-cumulative heatwave-related mortality (RRs) ranged from 1.12 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.07, 1.17) to 1.21 (95% CI 1.05, 1.38), depending on the definitions used for heatwaves. Of the three PCs for healthcare resources (PC1: pre-hospital emergency medical service, PC2: hospital resources, PC3: timely access), timely access was associated with reduced risk of heatwave-related mortality, particularly among the elderly. Specifically, timely access to any emergency room (ER) exhibited the strongest association with lower heatwave-related mortality. Interpretation: Our findings suggest that timely access to any ER is more effective in reducing heatwave-related mortality risk than access to higher-level healthcare facilities, especially among the elderly. Therefore, healthcare resource factors and ER accessibility should be prioritized when identifying vulnerable populations for heatwaves, along with known individual and socio-demographic factors. Funding: This work was supported by the Research Program funded by the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (2022-12-303), the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) grant funded by the Korean government (MSIT) (No. 2022R1A2C2092353) and the MD-PhD/Medical Scientist Training Program through the Korea Health Industry Development Institute (KHIDI), funded by the Ministry of Health & Welfare, Republic of Korea.

BackgroundDuring the COVID-19 pandemic, urban inhabitants faced significant challenges in maintaining connections with nature, adhering to nutritional guidelines, and managing mental well-being. ObjectiveRecognizing the urgent need for innovative approaches, this study was designed to explore the potential benefits of a specific digital intervention, the rice-farming simulation game Sakuna: Of Rice and Ruin, for nature relatedness, nutritional behaviors, and psychological well-being. MethodsA total of 66 adults without any prior major psychiatric disorders residing in an urban area were recruited for the study. They were randomly assigned to 2 groups through block randomization: the immediate intervention group (IIG; 34/66, 52%) and the waitlist group (32/66, 48%). Participants in the IIG were instructed to play the game for at least 4 days per week for 3 weeks, with each session lasting from 30 minutes to 3 hours. Assessments were performed at baseline, week 1, and week 3. The Nature Relatedness Scale (NR) and Nutrition Quotient Scale were used to evaluate nature relatedness and nutritional state, respectively. Furthermore, psychological state was assessed using the World Health Organization Quality of Life–Brief Version (WHOQOL-BREF), Brief Fear of Negative Evaluation Scale, Social Avoidance and Distress Scale, Toronto Alexithymia Scale, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale Revised, and Korean Resilience Quotient. ResultsThis study’s results revealed significant time interactions between the IIG and waitlist group for both the total NR score (P=.001) and the score of the self subdomain of NR (P.05). ConclusionsOur findings suggest that the rice-farming game intervention might have positive effects on nature relatedness, nature-friendly dietary behaviors, quality of life, anxiety, depression, interpersonal relationships, and resilience among urban adults during the COVID-19 pandemic. The impact of pronature games in confined urban environments provides valuable evidence of how digital technologies can be used to enhance urban residents’ affinity for nature and psychological well-being. This understanding can be extended in the future to other digital platforms, such as metaverses. Trial RegistrationClinical Research Information Service (CRIS) KCT0007657; http://tinyurl.com/yck7zxp7

Abstract Background Countries with high TB burden have expanded access to molecular diagnostic tests. However, their impact on reducing delays in TB diagnosis and treatment has not been assessed. Our primary aim was to summarize the quantitative evidence on the impact of nucleic acid amplification tests (NAAT) on diagnostic and treatment delays compared to that of the standard of care for drug-sensitive and drug-resistant tuberculosis (DS-TB and DR-TB). Methods We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, Web of Science, and the Global Health databases (from their inception to October 12, 2020) and extracted time delay data for each test. We then analysed the diagnostic and treatment initiation delay separately for DS-TB and DR-TB by comparing smear vs Xpert for DS-TB and culture drug sensitivity testing (DST) vs line probe assay (LPA) for DR-TB. We conducted random effects meta-analyses of differences of the medians to quantify the difference in diagnostic and treatment initiation delay, and we investigated heterogeneity in effect estimates based on the period the test was used in, empiric treatment rate, HIV prevalence, healthcare level, and study design. We also evaluated methodological differences in assessing time delays. Results A total of 45 studies were included in this review (DS = 26; DR = 20). We found considerable heterogeneity in the definition and reporting of time delays across the studies. For DS-TB, the use of Xpert reduced diagnostic delay by 1.79 days (95% CI − 0.27 to 3.85) and treatment initiation delay by 2.55 days (95% CI 0.54–4.56) in comparison to sputum microscopy. For DR-TB, use of LPAs reduced diagnostic delay by 40.09 days (95% CI 26.82–53.37) and treatment initiation delay by 45.32 days (95% CI 30.27–60.37) in comparison to any culture DST methods. Conclusions Our findings indicate that the use of World Health Organization recommended diagnostics for TB reduced delays in diagnosing and initiating TB treatment. Future studies evaluating performance and impact of diagnostics should consider reporting time delay estimates based on the standardized reporting framework.

Acute exacerbation(s) of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD) tend to be critical and debilitating events leading to poorer outcomes in relation to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) treatment modalities, and contribute to a higher and earlier mortality rate in COPD patients. Besides pro-active preventative measures intended to obviate acquisition of AECOPD, early recovery from severe AECOPD is an important issue in determining the long-term prognosis of patients diagnosed with COPD. Updated GOLD guidelines and recently published American Thoracic Society/European Respiratory Society clinical recommendations emphasize the importance of use of pharmacologic treatment including bronchodilators, systemic steroids and/or antibiotics. As a non-pharmacologic strategy to combat the effects of AECOPD, noninvasive ventilation (NIV) is recommended as the treatment of choice as this therapy is thought to be most effective in reducing intubation risk in patients diagnosed with AECOPD with acute respiratory failure. Recently, a few adjunctive modalities, including NIV with helmet and helium-oxygen mixture, have been tried in cases of AECOPD with respiratory failure. As yet, insufficient documentation exists to permit recommendation of this therapy without qualification. Although there are too few findings, as yet, to allow for regular andr routine application of those modalities in AECOPD, there is anecdotal evidence to indicate both mechanical and physiological benefits connected with this therapy. High-flow nasal cannula oxygen therapy is another supportive strategy which serves to improve the symptoms of hypoxic respiratory failure. The therapy also produced improvement in ventilatory variables, and it may be successfully applied in cases of hypercapnic respiratory failure. Extracorporeal carbon dioxide removal has been successfully attempted in cases of adult respiratory distress syndrome, with protective hypercapnic ventilatory strategy. Nowadays, it is reported that it was also effective in reducing intubation in AECOPD with hypercapnic respiratory failure. Despite the apparent need for more supporting evidence, efforts to improve efficacy of NIV have continued unabated. It is anticipated that these efforts will, over time, serve toprogressively decrease the risk of intubation and invasive mechanical ventilation in cases of AECOPD with acute respiratory failure.

Rationale: Current guidelines recommend that all patients undergoing treatment with a tumor necrosis factor-α antagonist should receive screening for latent tuberculosis and appropriate treatment before initiating the inhibitor. However, no well-designed study has shown the efficacy of treating these patients for latent tuberculosis.Objectives: To compare the risk of active tuberculosis between tumor necrosis factor antagonist users who have received treatment for latent tuberculosis with those who have not.Methods: We performed a national-level retrospective cohort study in South Korea, a country with an intermediate tuberculosis burden, by analyzing claims recorded between January 1, 2011, and December 31, 2013, in an obligatory national health insurance claims database. The primary outcome, the incidence of active tuberculosis, was measured as the occurrence of an International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, 10th edition, diagnosis of tuberculosis and prescription of at least two antituberculosis drugs at least twice within 90 days.Results: Among 10,863 eligible new tumor necrosis factor antagonist users, 2,461 (22.7%) received treatment for latent tuberculosis. The incidence rate of tuberculosis per 1,000 person-years was lower for the treated group (4.07; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.55-6.60) than for the untreated group (12.34; 95% CI, 9.96-14.72). The risk for tuberculosis was significantly reduced by preventive chemotherapy (incidence rate ratio, 0.33; 95% CI, 0.17-0.63).Conclusions: Treatment for latent tuberculosis was highly effective in preventing the development of tuberculosis among tumor necrosis factor antagonist users. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Conventional spirometric parameters have shown poor correlation with symptoms and health status of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). While it is well-known that the pattern of the expiratory flow-volume curve (EFVC) represents ventilatory dysfunction, little attempts have been made to derive quantitative parameters by analyzing the curve. In this study, we aimed to derive useful parameters from EFVC via graphic analysis and tried to validate them in patients with COPD.Methods: Using Graphical Analysis 3.4 Vernier Software, we derived from the EFVC such parameters as area of obstruction (Ao), area of triangle (AT), area of rectangle (AR) and ratio of volume at 75 and 25% peak expiratory flow (PEF) (0.25/0.75 V). For validation, we reviewed clinical and spirometric data of 61 COPD patients from Seoul National University Airway Registry (SNUAR) and Korean obstructive Lung Disease (KOLD) cohorts.Results: Of all parameters, only RV/TLC significantly correlated with scores from St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ) (r = 0.447, p = 0.037). Six-minute walking distance (6MWD) highly correlated with Ao/AR (r = -0.618, p = 0.005) and Ao/PEF (r = -0.581, p = 0.009) whereas neither FEV1 nor FEV1/FVC had significant correlation with 6MWD.Conclusions: Ao/AR and Ao/PEF are promising parameters which correlate well with the exercising capacity of COPD patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Semi-invasive or invasive aspergillosis occurring following chemotherapy with sunitinib is a rare condition with unknown incidence and prognosis. Here, we report a case involving a 59-year-old male who had a history of underlying stable aspergilloma and was newly diagnosed with metastatic renal cell carcinoma. Following surgical resection for renal cell carcinoma and adjuvant chemotherapy with sunitinib for 8 months, the patient presented with hemoptysis. Chest computed tomography revealed an increased soft tissue mass and air crescent sign of the underlying aspergilloma, combined with consolidation and bronchial artery hypertrophy around the lesion. The patient underwent bronchoscopy with a biopsy of the lesion and was eventually diagnosed with chronic necrotizing pulmonary aspergillosis, which had progressed from the underlying stable aspergilloma. This case highlights the fact that clinicians should be aware of the risk of opportunistic conversion from stable aspergilloma to invasive fungal infections in patients undergoing sunitinib treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metastatic pancreatic adenocarcinoma involving the testis is a rare condition with a poor prognosis. The current study describes the case of a 69-year-old male who presented with a painful swelling of the left scrotum. Scrotal ultrasonography revealed hydroceles in the scrotal sacs, with the left one being larger in size. The patient underwent left hydrocelectomy and was eventually diagnosed with metastatic adenocarcinoma. Abdominal computed tomography, which was performed to detect the primary cancer, showed a pancreatic tail carcinoma with liver and multiple lymph node metastases, and peritoneal carcinomatosis. The patient received gemcitabine-based chemotherapy but resulted in progressive disease. This case shows that in a patient in whom a primary testicular tumor is unusual due to their age, a testicular mass or hydrocele should be a suspect for possible metastatic disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]