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Objective Previous studies have indicated that Behçet's disease (BD) has a genetic component, however population-level familial risk estimates are unavailable. We quantified the familial incidence and risk of BD in first-degree relatives (FDR) according to age, sex and type of family relationship. Methods Using the Korean National Health Insurance database, which has full population coverage and confirmed FDR information, we constructed a cohort of 21 940 795 individuals comprising 12 million families, which were followed for a familial occurrence of BD from 2002 to 2017. Age- and sex-adjusted incidence risk ratios for BD were calculated in individuals with affected FDR compared with those without affected FDR. Results Among the total study population, 53 687 individuals had affected FDR, of whom 284 familial cases developed BD with an incidence of 3.57/104 person-years. The familial risk (incidence) for BD was increased to 13.1-fold (2.71/104 person-years) in individuals with an affected father, 13.9-fold (3.11/104 person-years) with affected mother, 15.2-fold (4.9/104 person-years) with an affected sibling and the highest risk was 165-fold (46/104 person-years) with an affected twin. Familial risks showed age dependence, being higher in younger age groups. The sex-specific familial risk was similar in males and females. Conclusion This study provides quantified estimates of familial incidence and risk in FDR of BD patients in an entire population. Familial risks were higher within generation (sibling–sibling) vs between generations (parent–offspring). This implicates complex interactions between genetic factors and shared childhood environmental exposures in the pathogenesis of BD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractThis study aimed to investigate the relationship between suicidality and various mental health problems using longitudinal follow-up data in bereaved families after the Sewol ferry disaster. Data from 226 participants gathered over 7 years (2015–2021) were used. Suicidal risk was measured and mental health variables including depression, insomnia, post-traumatic embitterment disorders(PTED), complicated grief were gathered. A series of Generalized Estimating Equation models were developed to identify the factors associated with potential suicide risk among the bereaved family members of the Sewol ferry disaster. Participants with depression, clinically significant PTED, and complicated grief were associated with suicidal ideation, suicide plan, and having suicide preventive factors. Participants with prolonged PTED were also associated with suicide plan and having suicide preventive factors. The probability of having suicide ideation (from the fourth to the seventh year) and suicide preventive factors (in the fifth year) was significantly decreased compared to the first year since the disaster occurred. This study provided evidence by illuminating the long-term prognosis of suicide risk in disaster-affected families and its correlation with mental health factors. It offered a valuable insight that interventions addressing depression, PTED, and complicated grief are necessary in the long term to reduce their suicide risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study aimed to elicit expert consensus on the necessary components of a seclusion room module required to accommodate and manage psychiatric emergency patients requiring both medical and surgical interventions in infectious disease situations., Methods: A two-round Delphi survey was conducted among 38 medical professionals, architects, and spatial design experts. The survey assessed the effectiveness, feasibility, and urgency of spatial scales, spatial organization, and movement system domains related to the necessary elements of a seclusion room., Results: In the spatial scale domain, items such as "sufficient width to comply with disability standards (wheelchair accessible)" and "larger space should be provided for patients with a large range of motion or requiring special medical procedures" emerged as priorities. In the movement system domain, priorities included "anticipating situations where stable patients need to be pushed on a stretcher cart from both sides, necessitating a wider passage." In the spatial organization domain, priorities included "installing interior elements (wall images, media panels, etc.) that aid patient stability, although a separate area for patients' activities reflecting psychiatric characteristics is not necessary.", Conclusion: Expert consensus was achieved regarding the spatial scales, spatial organization, and movement system domains related to the necessary elements of a seclusion room for psychiatric emergency patients.

Objective: Disaster survivors often experience negative impacts on their mental health, but some may also exhibit posttraumatic growth, overcoming adversity, and finding positive outcomes. This study aimed to identify psychological factors influencing posttraumatic growth (PTG) among students who survived the Sewol ferry disaster., Methods: The study used a longitudinal design. Data were collected at 6-month intervals between high school graduation and 6 years after the ferry disaster. Data were obtained from 48 adolescents who completed self-report measures of rumination, meaning in life, coping, PTG, family adaptability and cohesion. Generalized estimating equation models were fitted to 11 waves of follow-up data., Results: Intrusive rumination (coefficient [coef]=0.165; p<0.001; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.081-0.250) and deliberate rumination (coef=0.554; p<0.001; 95% CI 0.376-0.732) were significantly associated with PTG. Concerning meaning in life, the presence of meaning (coef=0.312; p<0.001; 95% CI 0.189-0.435) and the search for meaning (coef=0.216; p=0.001; 95% CI 0.093-0.340) were also significantly associated with PTG. Finally, the problem-focused (coef=0.682; p=0.011; 95% CI 0.153-1.210) and emotion-focused (coef=0.736; p=0.009; 95% CI 0.186-1.285) coping strategies both showed significant associations with PTG., Conclusion: The results of this study indicate that rumination, meaning in life, and adaptive coping (including cognitive and emotional coping) were protective factors for mental health problems among adolescents who survived the Sewol ferry disaster. These psychological factors may promote PTG over time.

Background: In Korea, the national cancer database was constructed after the initiation of the national cancer registration project in 1980, and the annual national cancer registration report has been published every year since 2005. Consequently, data management must begin even at the stage of data collection in order to ensure quality. Objectives: To determine the suitability of cancer registries’ inquiry tools through the inquiry analysis of the Korea Central Cancer Registry (KCCR), and identify the needs to improve the quality of cancer registration. Methods: Results of 721 inquiries to the KCCR from 2000 to 2014 were analyzed by inquiry year, question type, and medical institution characteristics. Using Stata version 14.1, descriptive analysis was performed to identify general participant characteristics, and chi-square analysis was applied to investigate significant differences in distribution characteristics by factors affecting the quality of cancer registration data. Results: The number of inquiries increased in 2005–2009. During this period, there were various changes, including the addition of cancer registration items such as brain tumors and guideline updates. Of the inquirers, 65.3% worked at hospitals in metropolitan cities and 60.89% of hospitals had 601–1000 beds. Tertiary hospitals had the highest number of inquiries (64.91%), and the highest number of questions by type were 353 (48.96%) for histological codes, 92 (12.76%) for primary sites, and 76 (10.54%) for reportable. Conclusions: A cancer registration inquiry system is an effective method when not confident about codes during cancer registration, or when confronting cancer cases in which previous clinical knowledge or information on the cancer registration guidelines are insufficient., (Creative Commons Attribution License)