Background/Aims: Quick sequential organ failure assessment (qSOFA) is believed to identify patients at risk of poor outcomes in those with suspected infection. We aimed to evaluate the ability of modified qSOFA (m-qSOFA) to identify high-risk patients among those with acutely deteriorated chronic liver disease (CLD), especially those with acute-onchronic liver failure (ACLF). Methods: We used data from both the Korean Acute-on-Chronic Liver Failure (KACLiF) and the Asian Pacific Association for the Study of the Liver ACLF Research Consortium (AARC) cohorts. qSOFA was modified by replacing the Glasgow Coma Scale with hepatic encephalopathy, and an m-qSOFA ≥2 was considered high. Results: Patients with high m-qSOFA had a significantly lower 1-month transplant-free survival (TFS) in both cohorts and higher organ failure development in KACLiF than those with low m-qSOFA (Ps<0.05). Subgroup analysis by ACLF showed that patients with high m-qSOFA had lower TFS than those with low m-qSOFA. m-qSOFA was an independent prognostic factor (hazard ratios, HR=2.604, 95% confidence interval, CI 1.353–5.013, P=0.004 in KACLiF and HR=1.904, 95% CI 1.484– 2.442, P<0.001 in AARC). The patients with low m-qSOFA at baseline but high m-qSOFA on day 7 had a significantly lower 1-month TFS than those with high m-qSOFA at baseline but low m-qSOFA on day 7 (52.6% vs. 89.4%, P<0.001 in KACLiF and 26.9% vs. 61.5%, P<0.001 in AARC). Conclusions Baseline and dynamic changes in m-qSOFA may identify patients with a high risk of developing organ failure and short-term mortality among CLD patients with acute deterioration.

Background/Aims: To eliminate hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) according to the World Health Organization (WHO) criteria in 2021, this study investigated the national core indicators representing the current status of viral hepatitis B and C in South Korea. Methods: We analyzed the incidence, linkage-to-care, treatment, and mortality rates of HBV and HCV infection using the integrated nationwide big data of South Korea. Results: According to data from 2018–2020, the incidence of acute HBV infection in South Korea was 0.71 cases per 100,000 population; tthe linkage-to-care rate was only 39.4%. Among those who need hepatitis B treatment, the treatment rate was 67.3%, which was less than 80% reported in the WHO program index. The annual liver-related mortality due to HBV was 18.85 cases per 100,000 population, exceeding the WHO target of four; the most frequent cause of death was liver cancer (54.1%). The annual incidence of newly diagnosed HCV infection was 11.9 cases per 100,000 population, which was higher than the WHO impact target of five. Among HCV-infected patients, the linkage-to-care rate was 65.5% while the treatment rate was 56.8%, which were below the targets of 90% and 80%, respectively. The liver-related annual mortality rate due to HCV infection was 2.02 cases per 100,000 population. Conclusions Many of the current indicators identified in the Korean population did not satisfy the WHO criteria for validation of viral hepatitis elimination. Hence, a comprehensive national strategy should be urgently developed with continuous monitoring of the targets in South Korea.

Background: /Aim: Abdominal ultrasonography (USG) is recommended as a surveillance test for high-risk groups for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). This study aimed to analyze the current status of the national cancer surveillance program for HCC in South Korea and investigate the effects of patient-, physician-, and machine-related factors on HCC detection sensitivity. Methods: This multicenter retrospective cohort study collected surveillance USG data from the high-risk group for HCC (liver cirrhosis or chronic hepatitis B or C >40 years of age) at eight South Korean tertiary hospitals in 2017. Results: In 2017, 45 experienced hepatologists or radiologists performed 8,512 USG examinations. The physicians had a mean 15.0±8.3 years of experience; more hepatologists (61.4%) than radiologists (38.6%) participated. Each USG scan took a mean 12.2±3.4 minutes. The HCC detection rate by surveillance USG was 0.3% (n=23). Over 27 months of follow-up, an additional 135 patients (0.7%) developed new HCC. The patients were classified into three groups based on timing of HCC diagnosis since the 1st surveillance USG, and no significant intergroup difference in HCC characteristics was noted. HCC detection was significantly associated with patient-related factors, such as old age and advanced fibrosis, but not with physician- or machine-related factors. Conclusions This is the first study of the current status of USG as a surveillance method for HCC at tertiary hospitals in South Korea. It is necessary to develop quality indicators and quality assessment procedures for USG to improve the detection rate of HCC.

The messenger RNA-based vaccine for the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) may induce glomerulonephritis, including immunoglobulin A nephropathy (IgAN). New-onset IgAN triggered by vaccination against COVID-19 has been reported rarely, especially in children. Herein, we report a pediatric case of newly diagnosed IgAN after administration of the Pfizer vaccine for COVID-19. A 12-year-old girl was referred to our hospital for evaluation of gross hematuria after inoculation with the second dose of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine; she had no adverse effects after the first dose. At the time of admission, she showed heavy proteinuria and persistent hematuria. Kidney biopsy revealed an IgAN, and she was treated with an oral steroid and an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor. Four months after discharge, the proteinuria and hematuria resolved completely.

Background/Aims: Besifovir dipivoxil maleate (BSV), an acyclic nucleotide phosphonate, shows potent antiviral activity against hepatitis B virus. Our previous 48-week trial revealed that BSV has comparable antiviral efficacy to tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) and better safety profiles in terms of improved renal and bone safety. This extension study evaluated the prolonged efficacy and safety of BSV in treatment-naive chronic hepatitis B patients. Methods: Patients continued to participate in an open-label BSV study after an initial 48-week double-blind comparison of BSV and TDF treatment. The antiviral efficacy and drug safety was evaluated up to 192 weeks in two groups: patients continuing BSV treatment (BSV-BSV) and patients switching from TDF to BSV after 48 weeks (TDF-BSV). Results: Among 197 patients receiving randomized treatments, 170 (86%) entered the open-label phase and 152 (77%) entered the 192-week extension study. Virological response rates over 192 weeks were 92.50% and 93.06% in the BSV-BSV and TDF-BSV groups, respectively (P=0.90). Hepatitis B envelop antigen seroconversion and alanine aminotransferase normalization rates were similar between the groups (P=0.75 and P=0.36, respectively). There were no drug-resistant mutations to BSV. Bone mineral density and renal function were well preserved in the BSV-BSV group, whereas these initially worsened then recovered after switching therapy in the TDF-BSV group. Conclusions BSV maintained potent antiviral efficacy after 192 weeks and showed no evidence of drug resistance. BSV was safe, well tolerated, and effective in patients who switched from TDF to BSV. Trial Registration Number: NCT01937806 (date: 10 Sep 2013).

Background/Aims: Useful biomarkers for metabolic syndrome have been insufficient. We investigated the performance of serum milk fat globule-EGF factor-8 (MFG-E8), the key mediator of inflammatory pathway, in diagnosis of metabolic syndrome. Methods: Subjects aged between 30 and 64 years were prospectively enrolled in the Seoul Metabolic Syndrome cohort. Serum MFG-E8 levels were measured at baseline. Results: A total of 556 subjects were included, comprising 279 women (50.2%) and 277 men (49.8%). Metabolic syndrome was diagnosed in 236 subjects (42.4%), and the mean MFG-E8 level of subjects with metabolic syndrome was significantly higher than that of subjects without metabolic syndrome (P<0.001). MFG-E8 level was significantly correlated with all metabolic syndrome components and pulse wave velocity (all P<0.05). Subjects were categorized into two groups according to the best MFG-E8 cut-off value as follows: group 1, MFG-E8 level <4,745.1 pg/mL (n=401, 72.1%); and group 2, MFG-E8 level ≥4,745.1 (n=155, 27.9%). At baseline, metabolic syndrome in group 2 was significantly more prevalent than in group 1 (63.9% vs. 34.2%, P<0.001). During median follow-up of 17 months, metabolic syndrome developed in 122 (38.1%) subjects among 320 subjects without it at baseline. The incidence of metabolic syndrome in group 2 was significantly higher than that in group 1 (55.4% vs. 34.5%, P=0.003). On multivariate analysis, MFG-E8 level ≥4,745.1 pg/mL was an independent predictor for diagnosis and development of metabolic syndrome after adjusting other factors (all P<0.05). Conclusions Serum MFG-E8 level is a potent biomarker for the screening and prediction of metabolic syndrome.

OBJECTIVES: We aimed to evaluate the association between early-life weight status and urinary tract infection (UTI) risk in children. METHODS: A nationwide study was conducted using Korean National Health Screening (NHS) data and National Health Insurance Service data. A sample cohort was selected using data from the 2014 and 2015 NHS for infants and children (4-71 months) and followed up until the end of 2017. Participants were divided into 4 groups (underweight, normal weight, overweight, and obese) based on the weight-for-age (< 2 years) or body mass index (≥ 2 years). Hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for developing UTIs, cystitis, and acute pyelonephritis (APN) were calculated using a Cox proportional hazard model. RESULTS: Of 1,653,106 enrolled children, 120,142 (7.3%) developed UTIs, cystitis, and APN during follow-up. The underweight, overweight, and obese groups had higher risks of UTIs than the reference group after adjusting for age, sex, birth weight, and preterm birth. Between 2 years and 6 years of age, boys with underweight had a high risk of UTI and APN, while girls with overweight and obesity revealed elevated risks of UTIs, cystitis, and APN. The HRs for APN in boys with underweight and in girls with obesity were 1.46 (95% CI, 1.03 to 2.07) and 1.41 (95% CI, 1.13 to 1.75), respectively, after adjusting for age, sex, birth weight, and preterm birth. The incidence of APN did not decrease with age in underweight and obese children aged 2-6 years. CONCLUSIONS Children with underweight, overweight, and obesity may be at high risk for UTIs.

Background/Aims: We investigated changes in recurrence rates and significant recurrence predictors over time after complete cure of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Methods: A total of 1,491 patients with first-time diagnosis of Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer stage A HCC, completely cured by treatment between 2007 and 2016, were recruited from two Korean tertiary institutes. Results: The mean age of the population (1,144 men and 347 women) was 58.6 years. Of the total population, 914 patients (61.3%) had liver cirrhosis. Nine-hundred and forty-one (63.1%) and 550 (36.9%) patients were treated with surgical resection and radiofrequency ablation (RFA), respectively. One-year cumulative incidences of HCC recurrence were 14.3%, 9.9%, and 5.1% from the time of treatment, 3 years after treatment, and 5 years after treatment, respectively. Upon multivariate analysis, multiple tumors, maximal tumor size ≥3 cm, and high Model for End-Stage Liver Disease scores were independently associated with increased HCC recurrence risk from the time of treatment and 1 and 2 years after curative treatment (all p<0.05, except for maxi-mal tumor size ≥3 cm for recurrence 2 years after treatment). Meanwhile, liver cirrhosis and RFA were independently associated with the increased HCC recurrence risk for almost all time points (liver cirrhosis: all p<0.05; RFA: all p<0.005 except for recurrence from 5 years after treatment). Conclusions The recurrence rate of HCC after curative treatment gradually decreased over time. Two years after treatment, when tumor-related factors lose their prognostic implications, may be used as a cutoff to define the boundary between early and late recurrence of HCC.

Background/Aims: Besifovir dipivoxil maleate (BSV), an acyclic nucleotide phosphonate, shows potent antiviral activity against hepatitis B virus. Our previous 48-week trial revealed that BSV has comparable antiviral efficacy to tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) and better safety profiles in terms of improved renal and bone safety. This extension study evaluated the prolonged efficacy and safety of BSV in treatment-naive chronic hepatitis B patients. Methods: Patients continued to participate in an open-label BSV study after an initial 48-week double-blind comparison of BSV and TDF treatment. The antiviral efficacy and drug safety was evaluated up to 192 weeks in two groups: patients continuing BSV treatment (BSV-BSV) and patients switching from TDF to BSV after 48 weeks (TDF-BSV). Results: Among 197 patients receiving randomized treatments, 170 (86%) entered the open-label phase and 152 (77%) entered the 192-week extension study. Virological response rates over 192 weeks were 92.50% and 93.06% in the BSV-BSV and TDF-BSV groups, respectively (P=0.90). Hepatitis B envelop antigen seroconversion and alanine aminotransferase normalization rates were similar between the groups (P=0.75 and P=0.36, respectively). There were no drug-resistant mutations to BSV. Bone mineral density and renal function were well preserved in the BSV-BSV group, whereas these initially worsened then recovered after switching therapy in the TDF-BSV group. Conclusions BSV maintained potent antiviral efficacy after 192 weeks and showed no evidence of drug resistance. BSV was safe, well tolerated, and effective in patients who switched from TDF to BSV. Trial Registration Number: NCT01937806 (date: 10 Sep 2013).

Background/Aims: Useful biomarkers for metabolic syndrome have been insufficient. We investigated the performance of serum milk fat globule-EGF factor-8 (MFG-E8), the key mediator of inflammatory pathway, in diagnosis of metabolic syndrome. Methods: Subjects aged between 30 and 64 years were prospectively enrolled in the Seoul Metabolic Syndrome cohort. Serum MFG-E8 levels were measured at baseline. Results: A total of 556 subjects were included, comprising 279 women (50.2%) and 277 men (49.8%). Metabolic syndrome was diagnosed in 236 subjects (42.4%), and the mean MFG-E8 level of subjects with metabolic syndrome was significantly higher than that of subjects without metabolic syndrome (P<0.001). MFG-E8 level was significantly correlated with all metabolic syndrome components and pulse wave velocity (all P<0.05). Subjects were categorized into two groups according to the best MFG-E8 cut-off value as follows: group 1, MFG-E8 level <4,745.1 pg/mL (n=401, 72.1%); and group 2, MFG-E8 level ≥4,745.1 (n=155, 27.9%). At baseline, metabolic syndrome in group 2 was significantly more prevalent than in group 1 (63.9% vs. 34.2%, P<0.001). During median follow-up of 17 months, metabolic syndrome developed in 122 (38.1%) subjects among 320 subjects without it at baseline. The incidence of metabolic syndrome in group 2 was significantly higher than that in group 1 (55.4% vs. 34.5%, P=0.003). On multivariate analysis, MFG-E8 level ≥4,745.1 pg/mL was an independent predictor for diagnosis and development of metabolic syndrome after adjusting other factors (all P<0.05). Conclusions Serum MFG-E8 level is a potent biomarker for the screening and prediction of metabolic syndrome.