Person-to-Person Transmission During a Norovirus Outbreak in a Korean Kindergarten: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Norovirus outbreaks occur in densely populated environments, such as long-term care facilities, hospitals, and schools. On 22 October 2022, an outbreak of acute gastroenteritis was reported at a kindergarten in Korea. An epidemiologic investigation was conducted to identify the source of the infection and prevent further spread.

Development and pilot testing of a personalised decision aid for decision-making regarding fertility preservation in young female patients with cancer: a study protocol.

Introduction: Infertility resulting from cancer treatment is known to be a major factor that reduces the quality of life of young cancer survivors. However, discussions and decision-making about fertility preservation before cancer treatment have been insufficient owing to barriers in the clinical field. In addition, selecting a fertility preservation option requires a complex decision-making process that considers not only medical information but also the patient's values and preferences.

Epidemiologic Investigation of a Varicella Outbreak in an Elementary School in Gyeonggi Province, Republic of Korea.

: On 6 June 2023, two varicella cases were reported at a highly vaccinated elementary school in Gyeonggi Province, Republic of Korea. We investigated the outbreak to describe its transmission dynamics; quantify attack rates in school, household, and private-academy settings; and assess the impact of coordinated control measures. : A case-series study included 89 teachers and students who had contact with suspected patients.

Preventable Cancers Caused by Infection in Korea From 2015 to 2030.

Background: To contribute to evidence-based cancer prevention policies, we conducted a systematic assessment to estimate the burden of infection-related cancers in South Korea. We estimated the population-attributable fraction (PAF) of each cancer attributable to the causally related infectious agents between 2015 and 2030.

Methods: The relative risks of cancer due to infectious agents were calculated using a meta-analysis of results from large-scale Korean cohort studies combined with results from a systematic review of South Korean studies.

Elucidating Ligand Exchange Dynamics of Hexacyanochromate-Based Redox Mediators in Aqueous Iron-Chromium Redox Flow Batteries.

Aqueous redox flow batteries (AQRFBs) are revolutionizing energy storage by integrating sustainability with cutting-edge innovation. Among them, Iron-Chromium RFBs (Fe-Cr RFBs), which utilize aqueous-based electrolytes, effectively address critical challenges in renewable energy integration while offering unparalleled safety, low-cost scalability and environmental compatibility. Potassium hexacyanochromate (K[Cr(CN)]) has emerged as a promising negolyte material in Fe-Cr RFBs due to its favorable electrochemical properties.

Willingness to Use and Pay for Telemedicine and Teleconsultation Across Five Clinical Domains in South Korea: Cross-Sectional Survey.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated global telehealth adoption, prompting the South Korean government to temporarily legalize telemedicine in 2020 and subsequently launch a pilot program in 2023. As South Korea transitions to a postpandemic digital health environment, understanding the factors associated with willingness to use (WTU) and willingness to pay (WTP) for telemedicine and teleconsultation is essential for informing effective policy and service design. However, few studies have explored how preferences vary across clinical domains or user groups.

Frailty, Latent Health Profiles, and Antiretroviral Therapy: Predicting Success of Skilled Nursing Facility Care in an HIV Population.

Objectives: People with HIV (PWH) likely need short-term skilled nursing facility (SNF) care more than people with greater financial and social support to remain home. Therefore, we sought to understand how frailty among health profiles with distinct driving conditions, antiretroviral therapy (ART), and sociodemographic factors relate to success of short-term SNF for PWH.

Design: Retrospective cohort study.

Tailoring Mesopores on Ultrathin Hollow Carbon Nanoarchitecture with NO Coordinated Ni Single-Atom Catalysts for Hydrogen Evolution.

Single-atom catalysts (SACs) offer exceptional atomic utilization and catalytic efficiency, particularly in the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), where effective mass transport and electronic structure control are critical. However, many SACs suffer from suboptimal hydrogen adsorption energies and limited synergy with the support matrix, which restrict their intrinsic activity and durability. Overcoming these limitations requires an integrated strategy that simultaneously optimizes both the atomic coordination environment and the support architecture.

Sex Differences in the Effect of Changes in Body Mass Index on the Risk of Developing Gastric Cancer: Findings from a Nationwide Retrospective Cohort Study.

Background/aims: This study examined sex differences in the effect of changes in body mass index (BMI) on the development of gastric cancer (GC) in South Korea.

Methods: Using data from the National Health Insurance Service-Health Screening Cohort, a retrospective cohort study involving 333,169 Koreans with a median follow-up of 12 years was conducted. BMI was categorized into five groups (<18.

Differences in the Effect of Physical Activity on the Prevention of Gastric Cancer According to Sex.

Purpose: Physical activity (PA) is considered a potentially effective factor in the primary prevention of gastric cancer (GC). As body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC) differ by sex, particularly with age, this study aimed to investigate the impact of PA on GC development, considering BMI and WC variations by sex.

Materials And Methods: We analyzed the impact of PA on GC development using Cox proportional hazard regression in a cohort of 314,525 Korean individuals from the National Health Insurance Service-Health Screening database, using data from 2009-2019.

The Effect of Alcohol Consumption Behavior Changes on Gastric Cancer Risks Stratified by Sex in South Korea.

Purpose: The effect of behavior changes in alcohol drinking on gastric cancer (GC) development, and the sex differences in those effects have not yet been fully elucidated. This study investigated the effect of behavior changes in alcohol drinking on the GC risk by sex.

Materials And Methods: The cohort was consisted of 310,192 Koreans (≥ 40 years) from the National Health Insurance Service-Health Screening Cohort with a median follow-up period of 12 years.

Study on the importance of uniformity and nanoparticle size in ZIF-8 carbon nanoarchitecture for enhancing electrochemical properties.

Metal-organic framework (MOF)-derived carbons, known for their highly tunable structures, have attracted considerable attention for electrochemical applications. Efficient ion and electron transport, along with low electrode resistance, is critical for enhancing performance in these areas. To optimize MOF-derived carbons, we synthesize Zn-based zeolitic imidazolate framework (ZIF-8) nanocrystals with controlled sizes and a narrow size distribution, resulting in nanoporous polyhedral carbon structures.

Which factors predict the effectiveness of adjuvant treatment in patients with non-high-risk early-stage cervical cancer? Ancillary analysis of KGOG-1028.

Objective: To identify predictive factors for the effectiveness of adjuvant therapy (AT) in patients with non-high-risk early-stage cervical cancer.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted using data from the Korean Gynecologic Oncology Group-1028, which included 1109 low-risk and 360 intermediate-risk patients diagnosed with 2018 FIGO stage IB1-IIA cervical cancer from 2000 to 2008. Disease-free survival (DFS) according to AT was evaluated in restricted patients with certain prognostic factors, such as lymphovascular space invasion (LVSI), depth of invasion (DI) of 1/3, tumor size >4 cm, or nonsquamous cell carcinoma (non-SCC).

An Epidemiologic Investigation for an Outbreak of Norovirus Infection in a Daycare Center in Gyeonggi-Do, Republic of Korea, 2023.

: Norovirus is one of the primary causes of foodborne illness in South Korea. This study aimed to identify the cause of a norovirus outbreak in a daycare center in a city in February 2023 and to prevent further spread through an epidemiologic investigation. : A total of 93 individuals, including daycare staff, children, and kitchen staff, were included.

Association of Frailty Index at 66 Years of Age with Health Care Costs and Utilization Over 10 Years in Korea: Retrospective Cohort Study.

Background: The long-term economic impact of frailty measured at the beginning of elderhood is unknown.

Objective: The objective of our study was to examine the association between an individual's frailty index at 66 years of age and their health care costs and utilization over 10 years.

Methods: This retrospective cohort study included 215,887 Koreans who participated in the National Screening Program for Transitional Ages at 66 years of age between 2007-2009.

Design and optimization of hybrid seawater reverse osmosis-solar-driven desalination-pressure retarded osmosis system for energy efficient desalination maximizing economic potential.

Seawater reverse osmosis (SWRO)-pressure retarded osmosis (PRO) hybrid desalination system is being actively researched to reduce energy consumption by generating energy in the PRO. However, the SWRO-PRO hybrid system still faces the following challenges: low freshwater recovery and low energy generation. To resolve these challenges, this study first proposes a novel SWRO-Solar-driven desalination (SD)-PRO hybrid system for energy-efficient desalination.

Despite the pandemic: upward trajectories of medication adherence and persistence in patients with dyslipidemia.

Background: Dyslipidemia, a major cardiovascular risk factor, requires consistent medication adherence, but new patients often struggle due to its asymptomatic nature. The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted global healthcare. This study examined its impact on medication adherence and persistence among Korean patients with dyslipidemia (PWD), comparing the effects on new versus existing PWD.

Relative importance of "why" and "how" messages on medication behavior: Insights from construal level theory.

Objective: This study assesses the impact of initial messaging strategies on medication behavior in newly diagnosed hypertension patients in a hypothetical context. Applying Construal Level Theory, this study evaluated which message type-low construal (focused on how, feasibility, and concrete) or high construal (focused on why, desirability, and abstract)-is more effective.

Methods: An online quasi-experiment was performed with 1200 participants without hypertension aged 30-60.

Strategically Designed Uniform MOF-Derived Nanoporous Carbon Aerogel for Efficient Solar-Driven Desalination by Control of Hydrophilicity and Thermal Conductivity.

Desalination techniques using the photothermal effect hold significant potential for producing fresh water from saline or polluted sources due to their low energy consumption. In the case of commercialized carbon materials are related to heat loss resulting from high thermal conductivity, and metal particles still have trouble in commercialization or cost-effectiveness. This is because a photothermal desalination evaporator must simultaneously exhibit high water evaporation performance, excellent energy conversion efficiency, sufficient hydrophilicity, and low heat loss.

Increased Susceptibility to Mechanical Stretch Drives the Persistence of Keloid Fibroblasts: An Investigation Using a Stretchable PDMS Platform.

Background: Keloids are a common fibrotic disease of the skin, with the pathological hallmark of excessive extracellular matrix synthesis due to abnormal fibroblast activity. Since keloids clinically arise in areas of high mechanical tension, the mechanotransductory pathway may be attributed to its pathogenesis. We aimed to establish a preclinical platform to elucidate the underlying mechanism of keloid development and its clinical persistence.

Association of the COVID-19 Pandemic with HbA1c Testing and Complication Screening in Patients with Diabetes Mellitus.

Purpose: This study aimed to identify the association between coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) transmission levels and undergoing glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) test and complication screenings among patients with diabetes mellitus.

Materials And Methods: We included a total of 3601 diabetes patients' data from the 2020 Korean Community Health Survey to analyze the extent of the HbA1c testing and fundus examination, and 3592 diabetes patients' data to analyze kidney disease screening. COVID-19 transmission levels were classified into low transmission (Busan, Gwangju, Daejeon, Ulsan, and Sejong) and high transmission (Daegu, where the first large outbreak of COVID-19 occurred in Korea).

Facile fabrication of shape-controllable and reusable nanoporous catalytic aerogels based on Co-MOF and agarose for efficient decomposition of organic pollutants in water.

Sulfate radical (SO)-based advanced oxidation processes (SR-AOPs) have been studied to date by utilizing metal-organic frameworks as efficient catalysts to generate sulfate radicals by peroxymonosulfate (PMS) activation in water purification. It is important to select high-performance and reliable catalysts for efficient water remediation, and separation and recovery of catalysts are essential in the practical application of MOFs. Herein, we adapted thermally curable, shape-controllable, and cost-effective agarose (AG) as a smart matrix and ZIF-67, as a powerful catalyst to prepare nanoarchitectured aerogel (Z67@AG).

Validation of Claims-Based Frailty Index for Identifying Moderate-to-Severe Dementia in Medicare Beneficiaries.

Objective: Previous research using the National Health and Aging Trends Study showed that a claims-based frailty index (CFI) could be useful for identifying moderate-to-severe dementia in Medicare claims data. This study aims to validate the findings in an independent cohort.

Design: Retrospective cohort study.

Machine learning powered detection of biological toxins in association with confined lateral flow immunoassay (c-LFA).

Biological weapons, primarily dispersed as aerosols, can spread not only to the targeted area but also to adjacent regions following the movement of air driven by wind. Thus, there is a growing demand for toxin analysis because biological weapons are among the most influential and destructive. Specifically, such a technique should be hand-held, rapid, and easy to use because current methods require more time and well-trained personnel.