Objectives Compliance with positive airway pressure (PAP) in patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) directly affects its treatment efficacy. Since July 2018, polysomnography and PAP therapy have been covered by the national health insurance (NHI), which has reduced the price barrier and promoted PAP therapy in Korea. This study aimed to compare changes in PAP compliance before and after NHI implementation.MethodsThis study is a retrospective analysis in a tertiary hospital setting in Korea. From 2011 to 2019, patients with OSA (apnea-hypopnea index

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Cryopreservation, the most common method of preserving stem cells, requires post-processing because it produces trauma to the cells. Post-thawing trauma typically induces cell death, elevates reactive oxygen species (ROS) concentration, and lowers mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP). Although this trauma has been solved using antioxidants, we attempted to use photobiomodulation (PBM) instead of chemical treatment. We used a 950-nm near-infrared LED to create a PBM device and chose a pulsed-wave mode of 30 Hz and a 30% duty cycle. Near-infrared radiation (NIR) at 950 nm was effective in reducing cell death caused by hydrogen peroxide induced-oxidative stress. Cryodamage also leads to apoptosis of cells, which can be avoided by irradiation at 950 nm NIR. Irradiation as post-processing for cryopreservation had an antioxidant effect that reduced both cellular and mitochondrial ROS. It also increased mitochondrial mass and activated mitochondrial activity, resulting in increased MMP, ATP generation, and increased cytochrome c oxidase activity. In addition, NIR increased alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, a biomarker of differentiation. As a result, we identified that 950 nm NIR PBM solves cryodamage in human stem cells from the apical papilla, indicating its potential as an alternative to antioxidants for treatment of post-thawing trauma, and further estimated its mechanism.

Aim Although the comprehensive assessment of at‐risk mental states (CAARMS) is one of the most widely used instruments for identifying individuals meeting the criteria for ultra‐high risk (UHR) of developing psychosis, the psychometric properties of the Korean version of the CAARMS (CAARMS‐K) have not been studied to date. Thus, we tested the reliability, validity, and factor structure of the CAARMS‐K in a Korean population. Methods The CAARMS‐K was administered to 96 UHR individuals. The inter‐rater reliability and internal consistency of the CAARMS‐K were evaluated. In addition, its factor structure was investigated using principal‐axis factor analysis. Concurrent validity was examined by comparing the extracted CAARMS‐K factors with the five factors of the positive and negative syndrome scale (PANSS) using Spearman's correlation tests. The percentage of transition to psychosis was examined at 1‐ and 2‐year. Results The inter‐rater reliability was good (intraclass correlation = .89), and the internal consistency was acceptable (Cronbach's alpha = .812). A five‐factor solution demonstrated the best simple structure and accounted for 43.1% of all‐item variance. The five factors extracted from the factor analysis were similar to the PANSS five factors and significantly correlated with the factors of the PANSS. Among the 96 UHR individuals, 11 (11.5%) and 17 (17.7%) developed psychotic disorders during the 1‐ and 2‐year follow‐up, respectively. Conclusions The CAARMS‐K is a reliable and valid instrument for the assessment of UHR individuals in Korea.