Journal of Korean medical science
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J. Korean Med. Sci. · May 2022
Randomized Controlled TrialEffects of Local Anesthetics With or Without Steroids in High-Volume Transforaminal Epidural Blocks for Lumbar Disc Herniation: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Controlled Trial.
Lumbar transforaminal epidural block (TFEB) is an effective treatment modality for radicular pain due to lumbar disc herniation (LDH). The addition of steroids is more effective than local anesthetic alone in TFEBs for patients with LDH. Moreover, the efficacy of TFEBs has been reported to be positively correlated with the volume of injectate. We hypothesized that high-volume TFEBs without steroids effectively alleviate axial back and radicular pain associated with LDH. This study compared the efficacy of high-volume TFEBs with vs. without steroids for the management of the axial and radicular pain caused by LDH. ⋯ High-volume TFEBs with and without steroid administration yielded similar significant pain reductions and functional improvements among LDH patients 4 weeks after the procedure.
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J. Korean Med. Sci. · May 2022
Validity of OSCE Evaluation Using the FLEX Model of Blended Learning.
For OSCE (Objective Structured Clinical Examination) scoring, medical schools must bring together many clinical experts at the same place, which is very risky in the context of the coronavirus pandemic. However, if the FLEX model with the properties of self-directed learning and offline feedback is applied to OSCE, it is possible to provide a safe and effective evaluation environment for both universities and students through experts' evaluation of self-video clips of medical students. The present study investigated validity of the FLEX model to evaluate OSCE in a small group of medical students. ⋯ The FLEX model can be effectively applied to medical education, especially for evaluation of OSCE.
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J. Korean Med. Sci. · May 2022
Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Patient Delay and Clinical Outcomes for Patients With Acute Myocardial Infarction.
It has been known that the fear of contagion during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) creates time delays with subsequent impact on mortality in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). However, difference of time delay and clinical outcome in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) or non-STEMI between the COVID-19 pandemic and pre-pandemic era has not been fully investigated yet in Korea. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on time delays and clinical outcome in patients with STEMI or non-STEMI compared to the same period years prior. ⋯ During the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been a considerable reduction in hospital admissions for AMI, time delay, and underuse of ACE-I/ARBs for the management of AMI, and this might be closely associated with the excess death in Korea.
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J. Korean Med. Sci. · May 2022
Multicenter StudyRisk Factors for Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)-Associated Pulmonary Aspergillosis in Critically Ill Patients: A Nationwide, Multicenter, Retrospective Cohort Study.
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is often accompanied by secondary infections, such as invasive aspergillosis. In this study, risk factors for developing COVID-19-associated pulmonary aspergillosis (CAPA) and their clinical outcomes were evaluated. ⋯ Our study showed that the dose of corticosteroid use might be a risk factor for CAPA development and the possibility of CAPA contributing to adverse outcomes in critically ill COVID-19 patients.
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J. Korean Med. Sci. · May 2022
Short Term Impact of Coronavirus Disease 2019 Vaccination in Children in Korea.
The epidemiology of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has changed continuously throughout the pandemic. ⋯ Therefore, policies for clinical support for an increase in COVID-19 cases among young children and age-specific preventive measures are needed.