Journal of Korean medical science
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J. Korean Med. Sci. · Nov 2023
Increased Screening Rates for Thyroid Cancer Among Residents Living Near Nuclear Power Plants.
Frequent screening for thyroid cancer has been suggested as a probable explanation for the observed high risk of thyroid cancer in nuclear power plant (NPP) areas. We aimed to compare thyroid cancer screening rates of residents living near NPPs to those of the general population. ⋯ We observed an increase in screening rates in residents near NPPs, which may lead to a higher possibility of thyroid cancer detection. Therefore, further epidemiological studies investigating radiation-induced thyroid cancer risk among residents near NPPs should be carefully designed and interpreted considering possible detection bias.
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J. Korean Med. Sci. · Nov 2023
Regional Disparities in the Infant Mortality Rate in Korea Between 2001 and 2021.
The infant mortality rate (IMR) has been considered an important indicator of the overall public health level. Despite improvements in recent decades, regional inequalities in the IMR have been reported worldwide. However, there are no Korean epidemiological studies on regional disparities in the IMR. ⋯ Infant death is associated with place of residence and regional gaps have recently widened again in Korea. An in-depth investigation of the causes of regional disparities in infant mortality is required for effective governmental policies to achieve equality in infant health.
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The goal of the methylation classifier in brain tumor classification is to accurately classify tumors based on their methylation profiles. Accurate brain tumor diagnosis is the first step for healthcare professionals to predict tumor prognosis and establish personalized treatment plans for patients. The methylation classifier can be used to perform classification on tumor samples with diagnostic difficulties due to ambiguous histology or mismatch between histopathology and molecular signatures, i.e., not otherwise specified (NOS) cases or not elsewhere classified (NEC) cases, aiding in pathological decision-making. ⋯ This challenge is further amplified when dealing with recently identified novel types or subtypes of brain tumors, as such data are not readily accessible through open databases or authors of publications. An additional obstacle arises from the fact that methylation classifiers are primarily research-based, leading to the unavailability of charging patients. It is important to note that the application of methylation classifiers may require specialized laboratory techniques and expertise in DNA methylation analysis.
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J. Korean Med. Sci. · Nov 2023
Adherence to Physical Distancing and Health Beliefs About COVID-19 Among Patients With Cancer.
This study aimed to validate questionnaires on adherence to physical distancing and health beliefs about coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) among patients with cancer and explore their interaction with depression or viral anxiety among them. ⋯ The questionnaires are reliable and valid. Patients with cancer may be able to adhere to physical distancing by addressing perceived severity, viral anxiety, perceived benefits, self-efficacy, perceived barriers, as well as personal injunctive norms.