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This study synthesized the effect of performance-based funding (hereafter, PBF) through multi-stages of a systematic literature review based on 36 articles. In addition, this study analyzes how policy design relates to the effectiveness of PBF in individual states. Similar to other meta-analyses, this study found that PBF policy is not effective in improving completion and equity of higher education institutions in the US. Further, this study assumed that there might be some positive effects of PBF on institutional performance in the states that maintained it for more than seven consecutive years. Specifically, this study assumed that some policy details such as institutional types, funding method (baseline or bonus), share of funding linked to institutional performance, and funding metrics were related to policy effects. However, this systematic review found that a majority of evaluative studies arrived at inconclusive results across different types of policy designs. One notable finding is that 2-year institutions show more positive results than 4-year institutions. In addition, this study found that statistically significant effects are both positive and negative. Based on the findings of the selected evaluative studies, this review concluded that PBF policy is not very successful in improving institutional performance across different types of policy designs in each state.

Hematuria is the presence of blood in the urine and is classified as either gross hematuria or microscopic hematuria. There are many causes of hematuria, and the differential diagnosis depends on the presence or absence of comorbidities and whether it is glomerular or non-glomerular. When hematuria in children is symptomatic or persistent, an evaluation of the cause is essential. The causes of hematuria and basic approaches to its diagnosis are discussed in this review.

Objective: Serological tests are widely used for scrub typhus diagnosis; however, their limitations are evident. This study aims to assess their practical value in clinical settings. Methods: We analyzed the data of adult patients with suspected scrub typhus who visited a tertiary care hospital in the Republic of Korea from September to December from 2019 to 2021. The included patients had an acute fever and at least one of the following ten secondary findings: myalgia, skin rash, eschar, headache, thrombocytopenia, increased liver enzyme levels, lymphadenopathy, hepatomegaly, splenomegaly, and pleural effusion. The diagnoses were grouped as scrub typhus or other diseases by two infectious disease physicians. Results: Among 136 patients who met the eligibility criteria, 109 had scrub typhus and 27 had different diseases. Single and paired total antibodies using immunofluorescence assay (IFA), and total antibodies using immunochromatography-based rapid diagnostic testing (ICT) were measured in 98%, 22%, and 75% of all patients, respectively. Confirmation using paired samples for scrub typhus was established at a median of 11 [interquartile range (IQR) 10-16] days following the first visit. Among the 82 admitted patients, the median admission time was 9 (IQR 7-13) days. According to IFA, 58 (55%) patients with scrub typhus had total immunoglobulin titers ≥1:320, while 23 (85%) patients with other disease had titers < 1:320. Positive ICT results were observed in 64 (74%) patients with scrub typhus and 10 (67%) patients with other diseases showed negative ICT results. Conclusions: Serological testing for scrub typhus is currently insufficient for decision-making in clinical practice.

Generally, when fabricating porous filters using metal powder, about 1 to 2 wt% of a binder is added to increase the formability of the metal powder. If the binder is not completely removed through a debinding and sintering process, however it can cause defects such as discoloration and the generation of fine particles. In this study, a study was conducted to fabricate a plate-type porous stainless steel powder filter with a different pore structure without the use of a biner. First, the metal powder is charged into a ceramic mold to form a plate-shaped powder filter, and then covered with a ceramic top plate. In order to observe the pore properties according to the pressure, the unpressurized specimen and the specimen pressurized with a pressure of 30 MPa were then sintered at 1050℃ for one hour in a high vacuum atmosphere furnace. The microstructure of the sintered plate-shaped powder filter was observed through an optical microscope and in order to analyze its pore properties as a filter, gas permeability and porosity were measured using a capillary flow porometer and Archimedes’ law.

Purpose Patients with juvenile-onset systemic lupus erythematosus (JSLE) are at a high risk of entering adulthood with disease-related morbidities like reduced bone mass and osteoporosis. This study aimed to evaluate the clinical characteristics of JSLE and to analyze the factors associated with low bone mineral density (BMD) in these patients. Methods Children and adolescents diagnosed with JSLE at a single institution in Korea were included. Demographic, clinical, and laboratory data as well as details about the use of glucocorticoids (GCs) and disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs were collected. The lumbar spine (LS) BMD z-score was measured using dual energy x-ray absorptiometry, and lateral thoracolumbar spine radiographs were collected. Results A total of 29 patients with JSLE were included in this study. Of these patients, 7 had a BMD z-score of -2.0 or lower and were designated as the low BMD group. The differences in the clinical parameters and treatment variables between the low BMD and non-low BMD groups were compared. Higher cumulative GC dose, longer GC exposure, and higher cumulative hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) dose were all associated with low BMD; among them, the main factor was the duration of GC exposure. There was no significant correlation between BMD and clinical profile, disease activity, or bone-metabolism markers. Conclusions The duration of GC exposure, cumulative GC dose, and cumulative HCQ dose were risk factors for low BMD in patients with JSLE, with the main factor being the duration of GC exposure. Thus, patients with JSLE should be routinely monitored for low BMD and potential fracture risks, and GC-sparing treatment regimens should be considered.

An acidic environment, gastric emptying, and abundant blood supply inhibit bacterial infection of the stomach. Helicobacter pylori can evade these defense mechanisms and is a well-known etiological contributor to chronic gastritis. Non-H. pylori bacterial infections such as acute phlegmonous gastritis, gastric syphilis, gastric tuberculosis, and gastric actinomycosis are uncommon and owing to their nonspecific findings, are diagnostically challenging in patients without a high index of clinical suspicion. Predisposition to bacterial infection is attributable to an increase in the prevalence of medical conditions and factors that precipitate immunosuppression, in addition to high rates of gastric mucosal injury associated with endoscopic procedures. Gastric bacterial infection negatively affects patients’ quality of life, increases the socioeconomic burden, and may occasionally be fatal. Therefore, physicians should be familiar with the endoscopic features and clinical manifestations of non-H. pylori bacterial infections of the stomach.

Abstract Background Hyperuricemia could be a risk for various chronic diseases, and it could be largely corrected by diet control. This study was a nationwide cross-sectional study to investigate the association between serum uric acid level and dietary fiber intake. Methods This study analyzed data based on the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey conducted from 2016 to 2018. Adults over 20 years of age with normal renal function, defined as an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) over 30mL/min/1.73m2, were included. The criteria for hyperuricemia were ≥ 7 mg/dL in men and ≥ 6 mg/dL in women. Data regarding dietary intake were obtained using the 24-hour recall method. Results A total of 15,278 subjects (6,455 males/8,823 females) were analyzed. The prevalence of hyperuricemia was 19.3% in men and 6.8% in women. There were significant, negative associations between serum uric acid and total fiber intake in both men and women. Consuming more than 27.9 g of dietary fiber in men and 20.7 g in women reduced the risk of hyperuricemia by approximately 30% with odds ratios of 0.72 (0.62–0.83) and 0.71 (0.56–0.88) in men and women, respectively. With regard to the risk reduction by the type of dietary fiber, cereal fiber was significantly identified in both men and women, while fruit fiber was only significant in men. In the subgroup analysis, this association remained significantly in young and metabolically healthy populations with normal weight. Conclusions Dietary fiber intake was inversely associated with serum uric acid levels. This relationship was particularly significant in metabolically healthy young adults.

Abstract Background Choosing a suitable job and leading a fulfilling professional life is vital for individuals, regardless of disability. Governments provide rehabilitation services to promote employment for individuals with disabilities, but research on their effects is limited. This study aimed to examine the impact of rehabilitation services on employment among people with physical disabilities in South Korea using propensity score matching. Methods This study utilized an observational research design. Data were obtained from the 2020 National Survey of Disabled Persons, including 1,757 individuals aged 20 or older with physical disabilities. Descriptive statistics, chi-square and independent t-tests, logistic regression, and propensity score matching were employed. Results The results for employment of individuals with physical disabilities showed no difference between the with rehabilitation services and the without rehabilitation services group. Based on subgroup analysis, when individuals with physical disabilities who rated their subjective health status low received rehabilitation services, it had a positive effect on employment. Conclusions The results of this study could serve as foundational data for future policies and educational directions concerning rehabilitation services for persons with disabilities.

Abstract Background Human fishing activities have significantly affect environmental concern for marine ecosystems, conservation of marine mammals, and human health. Coastal cetaceans are highly vulnerable to ingestion of fishing gear, bycatching, or entanglement, all of which can be fatal for these animals. In particular, certain coastal dolphins and porpoises are heavily impacted by fishing gear such as angling gear or stownet, as their food often overlap with the target fish species of human fisheries. Case presentation This study presents a case of an Indo-Pacific finless porpoise (Neophocaena phocaenoides) beached on the coast of Jeju Island, Republic of Korea, with ingestion of fishing gear and severe Anisakis infection. Although this species inhabits waters ranging from the Persian Gulf to Taiwan, several stranded carcasses have been reported on Jeju Island in recent years. Post-mortem computed tomography revealed a bundle of four fishing hooks in the forestomach, along with nylon lines and steel lines with connectors, which were assumed to be angling gear for Jeju hairtail (Trichiurus lepturus). Further necroscopic investigation revealed that the forestomach contained a large number of Anisakis spp. (Nematoda: Anisakidae). Histological examination revealed a thickened forestomach wall with pinpoint and volcanic ulcerations, a thickened layer of stratified squamous epithelium, and infiltrated stroma in the squamous epithelium. conclusions This study emphasizes the urgent need to address the impact of fishing activities on marine mammals, marine litter pollution, and the bycatch problem in Korean seawater. In addition, the occurrence of N. phocaenoides in seawater around Jeju Island should be raised in future geographical ecology or veterinary pathology studies and when its distribution is updated.

Abstract The study investigated the feasibility of robotic bilateral axillo-breast approach (BABA) thyroidectomy for patients with thyroid tumors larger than 4 cm. BABA thyroidectomy has previously shown safety and effectiveness for thyroid surgeries but lacked extensive data on its application to larger tumors. Between October 2008 and August 2022, there were 74 patients underwent robotic BABA thyroidectomy due to thyroid nodules exceeding 4 cm in size. The mean patient age was 40.3 years. Fine needle aspiration results classified the tumors as benign (50.0%), atypia of undetermined significance (27.0%), follicular neoplasm (16.2%), suspicious for malignancy/malignancy (5.4%), or lymphoma (1.4%). The average tumor size was 4.9 cm, with the majority (85.1%) undergoing thyroid lobectomy, and the rest (14.9%) receiving total thyroidectomy. The mean total operation time was 178.4 min for lobectomy and 207.3 min for total thyroidectomy. Transient vocal cord palsy (VCP) was found in 3 patients (4.1%), and there was no permanent VCP. Among patients who underwent total thyroidectomy, transient hypoparathyroidism was observed in three (27.2%), and permanent hypoparathyroidism was observed in one (9.1%). There were no cases of open conversion, tumor spillage, bleeding, flap injury, or tumor recurrence. In conclusion, robotic BABA thyroidectomy may be a safe treatment option for large-sized thyroid tumors that carries no significant increase in complication rates.

Abstract Platinum-based chemotherapy is the cornerstone treatment for female high-grade serous ovarian carcinoma (HGSOC), but choosing an appropriate treatment for patients hinges on their responsiveness to it. Currently, no available biomarkers can promptly predict responses to platinum-based treatment. Therefore, we developed the Pathologic Risk Classifier for HGSOC (PathoRiCH), a histopathologic image–based classifier. PathoRiCH was trained on an in-house cohort (n = 394) and validated on two independent external cohorts (n = 284 and n = 136). The PathoRiCH-predicted favorable and poor response groups show significantly different platinum-free intervals in all three cohorts. Combining PathoRiCH with molecular biomarkers provides an even more powerful tool for the risk stratification of patients. The decisions of PathoRiCH are explained through visualization and a transcriptomic analysis, which bolster the reliability of our model’s decisions. PathoRiCH exhibits better predictive performance than current molecular biomarkers. PathoRiCH will provide a solid foundation for developing an innovative tool to transform the current diagnostic pipeline for HGSOC.

Abstract Right-sided infective endocarditis (RSIE) is less common than left-sided infective endocarditis (LSIE) and exhibits distinct epidemiological, clinical, and microbiological characteristics. Previous studies have focused primarily on RSIE in patients with intravenous drug use. We investigated the characteristics and risk factors for RSIE in an area where intravenous drug use is uncommon. A retrospective cohort study was conducted at a tertiary hospital in South Korea. Patients diagnosed with infective endocarditis between November 2005 and August 2017 were categorized into LSIE and RSIE groups. Of the 406 patients, 365 (89.9%) had LSIE and 41 (10.1%) had RSIE. The mortality rates were 31.7% in the RSIE group and 31.5% in the LSIE group (P = 0.860). Patients with RSIE had a higher prevalence of infection with Staphylococcus aureus (29.3% vs. 13.7%, P = 0.016), coagulase-negative staphylococci (17.1% vs. 6.0%, P = 0.022), and gram-negative bacilli other than HACEK (12.2% vs. 2.2%, P = 0.003). Younger age (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 0.97, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.95–0.99, P = 0.006), implanted cardiac devices (aOR 37.75, 95% CI 11.63–141.64, P ≤ 0.001), and central venous catheterization (aOR 4.25, 95% CI 1.14–15.55, P = 0.029) were independent risk factors for RSIE. Treatment strategies that consider the epidemiologic and microbiologic characteristics of RSIE are warranted.

Abstract There is a growing demand for adsorption technologies for recovering and recycling precious metals (PMs) in various industries. Unfortunately, amine-functionalized polymers widely used as metal adsorbents are ineffective at recovering PMs owing to their unsatisfactory PM adsorption performance. Herein, a star-shaped, hydrazide-functionalized polymer (S-PAcH) is proposed as a readily recoverable standalone adsorbent with high PM adsorption performance. The compact chain structure of S-PAcH containing numerous hydrazide groups with strong reducibility promotes PM adsorption by enhancing PM reduction while forming large, collectable precipitates. Compared with previously reported PM adsorbents, commercial amine polymers, and reducing agents, S-PAcH exhibited significantly higher adsorption capacity, selectivity, and kinetics toward three PMs (gold, palladium, and platinum) with model, simulated, and real-world feed solutions. The superior PM recovery performance of S-PAcH was attributed to its strong reduction capability combined with its chemisorption mechanism. Moreover, PM-adsorbed S-PAcH could be refined into high-purity PMs via calcination, directly utilized (upcycled) as catalysts for dye reduction, or regenerated for reuse, demonstrating its high practical feasibility. Our proposed PM adsorbents would have a tremendous impact on various industrial sectors from the perspectives of environmental protection and sustainable development.

Abstract Thin-film optical diodes are important elements for miniaturizing photonic systems. However, the design of optical diodes relies on empirical and heuristic approaches. This poses a significant challenge for identifying optimal structural models of optical diodes at given wavelengths. Here, we leverage a quantum annealing-enhanced active learning scheme to automatically identify optimal designs of 130 nm-thick optical diodes. An optical diode is a stratified volume diffractive film discretized into rectangular pixels, where each pixel is assigned to either a metal or dielectric. The proposed scheme identifies the optimal material states of each pixel, maximizing the quality of optical isolation at given wavelengths. Consequently, we successfully identify optimal structures at three specific wavelengths (600, 800, and 1000 nm). In the best-case scenario, when the forward transmissivity is 85%, the backward transmissivity is 0.1%. Electromagnetic field profiles reveal that the designed diode strongly supports surface plasmons coupled across counterintuitive metal–dielectric pixel arrays. Thereby, it yields the transmission of first-order diffracted light with a high amplitude. In contrast, backward transmission has decoupled surface plasmons that redirect Poynting vectors back to the incident medium, resulting in near attenuation of its transmission. In addition, we experimentally verify the optical isolation function of the optical diode.

The purpose of this study was to develop an invention instruction program based on the Theory of Inventive Problem Solving (TRIZ) for preservice invention teachers and test the effects of the program on teachers' creativity beliefs, creativity, and invention teaching self-efficacy. The subjects of this study were preservice teachers who were enrolled in a four-week (eight sessions) TRIZ invention course at a university in South Korea. A quasi-experimental method was used to incorporate TRIZ instructional strategies into an invention course that taught invention principles and hands-on activities. Results showed that the TRIZ instructional method significantly increased creativity beliefs, creativity, and invention teaching self-efficacy in preservice teachers. Interestingly, the TRIZ program had different effects on subdimensions of creativity. Results of the study suggest that TRIZ is an effective instructional method that can be used to increase teachers' creativity, change their beliefs about creativity, and boost confidence in their invention teaching ability. Limitations and suggestions for future study are also discussed.

Pseudoprogression of malignancy in patients treated with systemic immunotherapy is a well- recognised phenomenon and has also been seen in patients treated with combined chemoimmunotherapy. Neoadjuvant chemoimmunotherapy prior to surgery is a relatively new treatment strategy for the management of many malignancies. We report the case of a patient who was suspected to have primary lung squamous cell carcinoma progression following neoadjuvant chemoimmunotherapy. Tissue histopathology from biopsies demonstrated granulomatous sarcoid-like inflammation rather than progression or metastatic disease. The patient proceeded to have successful surgical clearance of residual tumour. Significantly, failure to suspect granulomatous reactions and pseudoprogression has profound influence on the trajectory of patient care, such as, the potential for patients to miss out on curative surgery. In this case report and review of the literature, we evaluate the role of pseudoprogression and the need for radiologists to be aware of this phenomenon so that they do not mistakenly report new metastases and derail the treatment paradigm for patients with curable malignant conditions.

Background With the gradual deepening of the comprehensive reform of community health services, the prevention and control of single diseases for the entire population in the community is also constantly being optimized, However, there is still a lack of appropriate evaluation methods in the community to reflect its prevention and control effectiveness evaluation. Objective By analyzing and exploring the cost effect of the existing whole-population prevention and control measures of osteoporosis in Fenglin community, from 2016 to 2022, this paper answers the initial results and possible problems of the whole-population prevention and control of single disease in the community. Methods This study conducted a cost-effectiveness analysis on 4 293 community residents who received osteoporosis prevention and treatment in Fenglin community from 2016 to 2022. Divide the research object into three states based on bone density values: healthy, low bone mass, and osteoporosis, and construct a Markov model to analyze the influencing factors of different state transitions. And based on the predicted values of the Markov model combined with quality adjusted life years (QALY) , the increment of quality adjusted life years (QALY) is calculated. All costs invested in prevention and control work from 2016 to 2022 are counted, and the effectiveness of prevention and control is evaluated by the cost/quality adjusted life year increment ratio. Quality adjusted life years (QALY) are obtained by calculating the health utility value and expected life determined through literature search. Results The total cost of osteoporosis prevention and treatment in Fenglin community was 33 814 102.15 yuan. The total quality-adjusted life years of 4 293 community osteoporosis prevention and treatment population were 77 098.288 9 at the first diagnosis, the average per capita was 17.959, and the standard deviation was 9.34. At the second diagnosis, the total quality-adjusted life years were 79 616.936 1, the mean per capita was 18.546, the standard deviation was 9.342, and the difference between the two diagnoses was 2 518.647 2. The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) is 2 132.907 0 yuan /QALY, and the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) is less than 1 times (66 965.10 yuan) per capita GDP, indicating that the intervention scheme is fully cost-effective. Conclusion This study combined Markov model and quality-adjusted life years (QALY) to make a preliminary evaluation of the prevention and treatment effect of osteoporosis in Fenglin community. The results showed that the intervention program of osteoporosis prevention and treatment in Fenglin community was worth investing, and provided a certain basis for the accurate prevention and treatment decision of osteoporosis in the future.

(1) Background: Patients who experience acute traumatic injury requiring hospitalisation represent a vulnerable population. The trauma patient often experiences multi-system injuries and complex physiology. Additionally, there are complex socio-ecological issues that impact the care and outcomes of trauma patients. Of interest, culturally and linguistically diverse populations with language barriers experience worse outcomes in trauma settings. This scoping review evaluates the current evidence on language barriers in this population and the influences on outcomes for trauma patients. (2) Methods: A scoping review was performed following a computer-assisted search of the Medline, Embase and Cochrane Central databases. Papers that evaluated the impact of the language barrier in culturally and linguistically diverse populations and outcomes in acute trauma settings were included. (3) Results: A literature search identified eight articles that were eligible for inclusion. Overall, there was no robust evidence to suggest that such populations were disadvantaged in terms of length of hospital stay and overall mortality. However, studies did identify that these populations were at higher risk of disability and poor mental health outcomes, experienced communication barriers more often and had lower social functioning. (4) Conclusions: This scoping review demonstrates that individuals admitted due to trauma who are from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds experience more significant disadvantages concerning psychological and functional outcomes. It is posited this is due to their inability to communicate their complex needs in trauma, however more robust and rigorous research is required to better characterise this effect.

Abstract Mass spectrometry (MS)-based intact mass analysis and structural characterization of biotherapeutic proteins such as monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) are a crucial characterization approach from upstream drug development to downstream product analysis. Due to various endogenous modifications leading to the structural heterogeneity and several N-linked glycan species resulting in macro-heterogeneity, it is challenging to characterize the mAbs. Hence, it is essential to understand the micro-heterogeneity of such proteins with high level of complexity which may vary in charge, size, or hydrophobicity. The development of high-throughput native separation techniques hyphenated with MS with high sensitivity and excellent mass accuracy has improved the top/middle down analysis, intact mass detection, subunit analysis, enhanced sequence coverage, and accurate localization of site-specific modifications. In this review, we have focused on the critical inroads taken for the improvement in MS-based techniques to resolve the challenges related to analysis of mAbs. Various MS-based techniques and their role in high-order structural analysis and the progress in software development have been explained, and further, the challenges remaining have been discussed. Graphical Abstract

Abstract Background Radiolucencies found at the root apex in patients with cemento-osseous dysplasia (COD) may be mistaken for periapical cysts (PC) of endodontic origin. The purpose of this study was to examine the utility of quantitative texture analysis using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) to differentiate between COD and PC. Methods Patients who underwent CBCT at Wonkwang University Daejeon Dental Hospital between January 2019 and December 2022 and were diagnosed with COD and PC by clinical, radiologic, and, if necessary, histopathologic examination were included. Twenty-five patients each were retrospectively enrolled in the COD and PC group. All lesions observed on axial CBCT images were manually segmented using the open-access software MaZda version 4.6 to establish the regions of interest, which were then subjected to texture analysis. Among the 279 texture features obtained, 10 texture features with the highest Fisher coefficients were selected. Statistical analysis was performed using the Mann-Whitney U-test, Welch’s t-test, or Student’s t-test. Texture features that showed significant differences were subjected to receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curve analysis to evaluate the differential diagnostic ability of COD and PC. Results The COD group consisted of 22 men and 3 women, while the PC group consisted of 14 men and 11 women, showing a significant difference between the two groups in terms of sex (p=0.003). The 10 selected texture features belonged to the gray level co-occurrence matrix and included the sum of average, sum of entropy, entropy, and difference of entropy. All 10 selected texture features showed statistically significant differences (p

Abstract Background The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic resulted in significant disruptions to critical care systems globally. However, research on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on intensive care unit (ICU) admissions via the emergency department (ED) is limited. Therefore, this study evaluated the changes in the number of ED-to-ICU admissions and clinical outcomes in the periods before and during the pandemic. Methods We identified all adult patients admitted to the ICU through level 1 or 2 EDs in Korea between February 2018 and January 2021. February 2020 was considered the onset point of the COVID-19 pandemic. The monthly changes in the number of ED-to-ICU admissions and the in-hospital mortality rates before and during the COVID-19 pandemic were evaluated using interrupted time-series analysis. Results Among the 555,793 adult ED-to-ICU admissions, the number of ED-to-ICU admissions during the pandemic decreased compared to that before the pandemic (step change, 0.916; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.869–0.966], although the trend did not attain statistical significance (slope change, 0.997; 95% CI 0.991–1.003). The proportion of patients who arrived by emergency medical services, those transferred from other hospitals, and those with injuries declined significantly among the number of ED-to-ICU admissions during the pandemic. The proportion of in-hospital deaths significantly increased during the pandemic (step change, 1.054; 95% CI 1.003–1.108); however, the trend did not attain statistical significance (slope change, 1.001; 95% CI 0.996–1.007). Mortality rates in patients with an ED length of stay of ≥ 6 h until admission to the ICU rose abruptly following the onset of the pandemic (step change, 1.169; 95% CI 1.021–1.339). Conclusions The COVID-19 pandemic significantly affected ED-to-ICU admission and in-hospital mortality rates in Korea. This study’s findings have important implications for healthcare providers and policymakers planning the management of future outbreaks of infectious diseases. Strategies are needed to address the challenges posed by pandemics and improve the outcomes in critically ill patients.

ObjectiveTo investigate the noise level and influencing factors in metro platforms and station halls， thereby providing the scientific basis for the establishment of hygienic standards.MethodsDuring the morning peak（7：00‒9：30）and off-peak （9：30‒17：00） on weekdays， the noise levels were measured with noise meters at 39 monitoring points of 13 station platforms and 31 monitoring points of 6 station halls. The monitoring points arrangement and detection methods referred to the Examination methods for public places—Part 1： physical parameters（GB/T 18204.1‒2013）.ResultsThe measured noise level in the station ranged from 69.25 to 86.17 dB（A）， accounting for 44.74% below 75 dB（A）， 89.47% below 80 dB（A） and 97.37% below 85 dB（A）.The noise level of the platform ［（76.38±4.19） dB（A）］ was higher than that of the station hall ［（74.24±4.50） dB（A）］（P0.05）.ConclusionThe noise level in metro stations in the city does not fully meet the requirements of current relevant standards. It is suggested to take noise reduction measures to reduce the noise of metro stations.