Background This study evaluated the feasibility and construct validity of the Korean electronic version of the Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status (K-eRBANS), a tablet-based neuropsychological test designed for remote cognitive screening for the prevention and early detection of dementia.
Methods The K-eRBANS was administered remotely using paired examiner–participant tablets with automated scoring and secure data transmission. The system was interoperable with the Clinical Data Interchange Standards Consortium (CDISC)-compliant Korean dementia standard database. Concurrent validity was examined against the Korean Mini-Mental State Examination-2 (K-MMSE-2) and Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR). Construct validity was tested using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) of the theoretical five-factor model.
Results A total of 150 participants (mean age, 55.0±6.5 years; 24.7% male) completed testing. Cognitive performance was generally preserved with slightly lower visuospatial/constructional abilities (mean, 83.66; standard deviation, 21.95). K-eRBANS scores were positively correlated with K-MMSE-2 (r=0.223–0.577, p<0.01) and negatively with CDR (r=−0.118 to −0.414, p<0.01). CFA results supported the hypothesized five-factor model (χ2=104.44; chi-square to degrees of freedom ratio, 2.13; root mean square error of approximation, 0.089; comparative fit index, 0.910; Tucker-Lewis index, 0.879), indicating acceptable model fit.
Conclusion The findings demonstrate that K-eRBANS is a feasible, reliable, and psychometrically valid digital neuropsychological tool that preserves the structural integrity of the original, nonelectronic version of the tool. Its integration with the CDISC-aligned databases enables scalable remote cognitive assessment and supports data-driven dementia prevention within Korea’s national dementia care framework.
Pediatric obesity has rapidly increased globally over the past few decades, including in Korea. We aimed to discuss trends in the prevalence of pediatric obesity and effective prevention strategies. Its prevalence has markedly increased in most high-income nations. According to recent reports, this increase has slowed in developed countries, but the levels remain alarmingly high. In Korea, the rate of pediatric obesity has surged notably since the 1990s; however, since the 2000s, this increase has become more gradual. According to recently published 2017 growth charts, the prevalence of pediatric obesity in Korea varies slightly depending on the data source. The National School Health Examination data showed that pediatric obesity gradually increase from 11.5% in 2014 to 15.1% in 2019, and after the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, it sharply increased to 19% in 2021. Based on data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, the prevalence of pediatric obesity gradually increased from 10.8% in 2017 to 13.6% in 2019. This trend, which accelerated sharply to 15.9% in 2020 and 19.3% in 2021, was especially severe in boys and older children. Pediatric obesity not only affects health during childhood but also increases the risk of developing obesity and associated health conditions in adulthood. Despite ongoing research on treatment options, obesity prevention and control remain challenging. Hence, prioritizing early intervention and prevention of pediatric obesity through healthy eating habits and lifestyles is crucial. This requires intervention at the individual, family, school, and community levels.
Citations
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Current Practices and Challenges in Pediatric Obesity Management (POM): A Nationwide Survey of Physicians in Korea Yoon Lee, Minsoo Shin, Sochung Chung, Jahye Jung, Ah-Ram Sul, Yong Hee Hong Journal of Korean Medical Science.2026;[Epub] CrossRef
Obesity in children and adolescents in different racial and ethnic groups: a review of current studies E. D. Stepanova Transbaikalian Medical Bulletin.2025; (2): 211. CrossRef
Examining Pediatric Emergency Utilization Trends Before and After the COVID-19 Pandemic: An Eight-Year Cohort Study from a South Korean Tertiary Center Hae Jeong Lee, Yechan Kyung, Dong Wan Kang, Mi Hyeon Jin, Seoheui Choi, Jun Hwa Lee Children.2025; 12(9): 1232. CrossRef
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Background The first large coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak outside China occurred in Daegu. In response, we developed infection prevention measures for surgical patients during the outbreak at our hospital and retrospectively reviewed the outcomes of COVID-19–related surgical patients.
Methods We reviewed the medical records of 118 COVID-19–related surgical patients and monitored their clinical outcomes until March 31, 2021. We also interviewed healthcare workers who participated in their perioperative care at Kyungpook National University Chilgok Hospital. The perioperative management guidelines for COVID-19–related patients were prepared through multidisciplinary discussions, including the infection control department, surgical departments, and anesthesiology department before and during the COVID-19 outbreak.
Results One standard operating room was temporarily converted to a negative-pressure room by increasing the exhaust air volume, creating a relative pressure of −11.3 Pa. The healthcare workers were equipped with personal protective equipment according to the patient's classification of the risk of COVID-19 transmission. The 118 COVID-19–related patients underwent emergent surgery in the negative-pressure room, including three COVID-19–confirmed patients and five COVID-19–exposed patients.
Conclusion All surgeries of the COVID-19–related patients were performed without specific adverse events or perioperative COVID-19 transmission. Our experience setting up a negative-pressure operating room and conservative perioperative protocol to prevent COVID-19 transmission will help plan and execute infection control measures in the future.
Although Lamivudine and adefovir dipivoxil are efficacious drugs for preventing hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in chronic hepatitis B patients, their efficacy is far from completely satisfactory. The risk of liver cirrhosis and HCC begins to increase at an HBV DNA level of 10(4) copies/ml. Even with latent or past HBV infection, episomal covalently closed circular DNA(cccDNA) plays a key rolein the persistence, relapse and resistance of HBV in its natural course or during therapy. The annual incidence of HCC in YUMC is 1.8% and 4.7% patients/year in the antiviral treatment and control groups, respectively. The ability to achieve a high rate of sustained HBV suppression with low risk of drug resistance is the ultimate goal in the treatment of chronic HBV infection. The efficacy of universal immunization with striking reductions in the prevalence of HBV in localized countries needs to be spread worldwide. With hepatitis B immunization and effective antiviral therapy, global control of HBV infection and HBV-related complications, including HCC, are possible by the end of the first half of the 21st century.