Background: This study aimed to determine the effectiveness of hospital-based case management for patients with severe mental illness. Methods: A total of 106 patients were included. To evaluate the effectiveness of hospital-based case management, the number of hospitalizations, cumulative length of hospitalization, and hospital days/year as well as functioning were compared before and after the hospital-based case management intervention. Cox regression was performed to identify variables that may influence readmission rates other than patients’ hospital-based case management interventions. Results: The number of hospitalizations decreased from 1.4±0.9 to 0.5±1.0 (p<0.001), cumulative length of hospitalization from 73.0±62.3 to 28.1±57.2 days (p<0.001), and hospital days/year from 20.0±17.1 to 7.7±15.7 days (p<0.001). The changes in Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF) Scale were 35.3±15.7 points at case management intervention, 43.7±13.9 points after 1 month of case management (p<0.001), 51.2±14.1 points after 3 months (p<0.001), and 53.1±17.6 points after 6 months (p<0.001). Demographic and clinical characteristics that influenced readmissions were GAF at admission (p=0.017), duration (p=0.042), diagnosis (p=0.019), and type of admission (p=0.001). Conclusion Hospital-based case management significantly improved readmission rates and functioning in patients with severe mental illness, supporting its continued implementation and expansion.

Background: This study aimed to determine the effectiveness of hospital-based case management for patients with severe mental illness. Methods: A total of 106 patients were included. To evaluate the effectiveness of hospital-based case management, the number of hospitalizations, cumulative length of hospitalization, and hospital days/year as well as functioning were compared before and after the hospital-based case management intervention. Cox regression was performed to identify variables that may influence readmission rates other than patients’ hospital-based case management interventions. Results: The number of hospitalizations decreased from 1.4±0.9 to 0.5±1.0 (p<0.001), cumulative length of hospitalization from 73.0±62.3 to 28.1±57.2 days (p<0.001), and hospital days/year from 20.0±17.1 to 7.7±15.7 days (p<0.001). The changes in Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF) Scale were 35.3±15.7 points at case management intervention, 43.7±13.9 points after 1 month of case management (p<0.001), 51.2±14.1 points after 3 months (p<0.001), and 53.1±17.6 points after 6 months (p<0.001). Demographic and clinical characteristics that influenced readmissions were GAF at admission (p=0.017), duration (p=0.042), diagnosis (p=0.019), and type of admission (p=0.001). Conclusion Hospital-based case management significantly improved readmission rates and functioning in patients with severe mental illness, supporting its continued implementation and expansion.

Background: This study aimed to determine the effectiveness of hospital-based case management for patients with severe mental illness. Methods: A total of 106 patients were included. To evaluate the effectiveness of hospital-based case management, the number of hospitalizations, cumulative length of hospitalization, and hospital days/year as well as functioning were compared before and after the hospital-based case management intervention. Cox regression was performed to identify variables that may influence readmission rates other than patients’ hospital-based case management interventions. Results: The number of hospitalizations decreased from 1.4±0.9 to 0.5±1.0 (p<0.001), cumulative length of hospitalization from 73.0±62.3 to 28.1±57.2 days (p<0.001), and hospital days/year from 20.0±17.1 to 7.7±15.7 days (p<0.001). The changes in Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF) Scale were 35.3±15.7 points at case management intervention, 43.7±13.9 points after 1 month of case management (p<0.001), 51.2±14.1 points after 3 months (p<0.001), and 53.1±17.6 points after 6 months (p<0.001). Demographic and clinical characteristics that influenced readmissions were GAF at admission (p=0.017), duration (p=0.042), diagnosis (p=0.019), and type of admission (p=0.001). Conclusion Hospital-based case management significantly improved readmission rates and functioning in patients with severe mental illness, supporting its continued implementation and expansion.

Background: This study aimed to determine the effectiveness of hospital-based case management for patients with severe mental illness. Methods: A total of 106 patients were included. To evaluate the effectiveness of hospital-based case management, the number of hospitalizations, cumulative length of hospitalization, and hospital days/year as well as functioning were compared before and after the hospital-based case management intervention. Cox regression was performed to identify variables that may influence readmission rates other than patients’ hospital-based case management interventions. Results: The number of hospitalizations decreased from 1.4±0.9 to 0.5±1.0 (p<0.001), cumulative length of hospitalization from 73.0±62.3 to 28.1±57.2 days (p<0.001), and hospital days/year from 20.0±17.1 to 7.7±15.7 days (p<0.001). The changes in Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF) Scale were 35.3±15.7 points at case management intervention, 43.7±13.9 points after 1 month of case management (p<0.001), 51.2±14.1 points after 3 months (p<0.001), and 53.1±17.6 points after 6 months (p<0.001). Demographic and clinical characteristics that influenced readmissions were GAF at admission (p=0.017), duration (p=0.042), diagnosis (p=0.019), and type of admission (p=0.001). Conclusion Hospital-based case management significantly improved readmission rates and functioning in patients with severe mental illness, supporting its continued implementation and expansion.

Background: This study aimed to determine the effectiveness of hospital-based case management for patients with severe mental illness. Methods: A total of 106 patients were included. To evaluate the effectiveness of hospital-based case management, the number of hospitalizations, cumulative length of hospitalization, and hospital days/year as well as functioning were compared before and after the hospital-based case management intervention. Cox regression was performed to identify variables that may influence readmission rates other than patients’ hospital-based case management interventions. Results: The number of hospitalizations decreased from 1.4±0.9 to 0.5±1.0 (p<0.001), cumulative length of hospitalization from 73.0±62.3 to 28.1±57.2 days (p<0.001), and hospital days/year from 20.0±17.1 to 7.7±15.7 days (p<0.001). The changes in Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF) Scale were 35.3±15.7 points at case management intervention, 43.7±13.9 points after 1 month of case management (p<0.001), 51.2±14.1 points after 3 months (p<0.001), and 53.1±17.6 points after 6 months (p<0.001). Demographic and clinical characteristics that influenced readmissions were GAF at admission (p=0.017), duration (p=0.042), diagnosis (p=0.019), and type of admission (p=0.001). Conclusion Hospital-based case management significantly improved readmission rates and functioning in patients with severe mental illness, supporting its continued implementation and expansion.

Differentiated thyroid cancer demonstrates a wide range of clinical presentations, from very indolent cases to those with an aggressive prognosis. Therefore, diagnosing and treating each cancer appropriately based on its risk status is important. The Korean Thyroid Association (KTA) has provided and amended the clinical guidelines for thyroid cancer management since 2007. The main changes in this revised 2024 guideline include 1) individualization of surgical extent according to pathological tests and clinical findings, 2) application of active surveillance in low-risk papillary thyroid microcarcinoma, 3) indications for minimally invasive surgery, 4) adoption of World Health Organization pathological diagnostic criteria and definition of terminology in Korean, 5) update on literature evidence of recurrence risk for initial risk stratification, 6) addition of the role of molecular testing, 7) addition of definition of initial risk stratification and targeting thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) concentrations according to ongoing risk stratification (ORS), 8) addition of treatment of perioperative hypoparathyroidism, 9) update on systemic chemotherapy, and 10) addition of treatment for pediatric patients with thyroid cancer.

BACKGROUND: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is characterized by chronic inflammation and joint damage. Methotrexate (MTX), a commonly used disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drug (DMARD) used in RA treatment. However, the continued use of DMARDs can cause adverse effects and result in limited therapeutic efficacy. Cartilage extracellular matrix (CECM) has anti-inflammatory and anti-vascular effects and promotes stem cell migration, adhesion, and differentiation into cartilage cells. METHODS: CECM was assessed the dsDNA, glycosaminoglycan, collagen contents and FT-IR spectrum of CECM.Furthermore, we determined the effects of CECM and MTX on cytocompatibility in the SW 982 cells and RAW 264.7 cells. The anti-inflammatory effects of CECM and MTX were assessed using macrophage cells. Finally, we examined the in vivo effects of CECM in combination with MTX on anti-inflammation control and cartilage degradation in collageninduced arthritis model. Anti-inflammation control and cartilage degradation were assessed by measuring the serum levels of RA-related cytokines and histology. RESULTS: CECM in combination with MTX had no effect on SW 982, effectively suppressing only RAW 264.7 activity.Moreover, anti-inflammatory effects were enhanced when low-dose MTX was combined with CECM. In a collageninduced arthritis model, low-dose MTX combined with CECM remarkably reduced RA-related and pro-inflammatory cytokine levels in the blood. Additionally, low-dose MTX combined with CECM exerted the best cartilage-preservation effects compared to those observed in the other therapy groups. CONCLUSION Using CECM as an adjuvant in RA treatment can augment the therapeutic effects of MTX, reduce existing drug adverse effects, and promote joint tissue regeneration.

Background: The coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has contributed to the change in the epidemiology of many infectious diseases. This study aimed to establish the pre-pandemic epidemiology of pediatric invasive bacterial infection (IBI). Methods: A retrospective multicenter-based surveillance for pediatric IBIs has been maintained from 1996 to 2020 in Korea. IBIs caused by eight bacteria (Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, Neisseria meningitidis, Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus agalactiae, Streptococcus pyogenes, Listeria monocytogenes, and Salmonella species) in immunocompetent children > 3 months of age were collected at 29 centers. The annual trend in the proportion of IBIs by each pathogen was analyzed. Results: A total of 2,195 episodes were identified during the 25-year period between 1996 and 2020. S. pneumoniae (42.4%), S. aureus (22.1%), and Salmonella species (21.0%) were common in children 3 to 59 months of age. In children ≥ 5 years of age, S. aureus (58.1%), followed by Salmonella species (14.8%) and S. pneumoniae (12.2%) were common. Excluding the year 2020, there was a trend toward a decrease in the relative proportions of S. pneumoniae (rs = −0.430, P = 0.036), H. influenzae (rs = −0.922, P < 0.001), while trend toward an increase in the relative proportion of S. aureus (rs = 0.850, P < 0.001), S. agalactiae (rs = 0.615, P = 0.001), and S. pyogenes (rs = 0.554, P = 0.005). Conclusion In the proportion of IBIs over a 24-year period between 1996 and 2019, we observed a decreasing trend for S. pneumoniae and H. influenzae and an increasing trend for S. aureus, S. agalactiae, and S. pyogenes in children > 3 months of age. These findings can be used as the baseline data to navigate the trend in the epidemiology of pediatric IBI in the post COVID-19 era.

Background/Aims: Daratumumab has shown an encouraging antitumor effect in patients with multiple myeloma (MM), and was known to alter the immune properties by off-targeting immunosuppressive cells. Here, we aimed to evaluate the change in absolute lymphocyte count (ALC) as a surrogate marker for predicting survival outcomes of patients treated with daratumumab. Methods: Between 2018 and 2021, the medical records of patients with relapsed/refractory MM (RRMM) treated with daratumumab monotherapy at 10 centers in South Korea were reviewed. We collected the ALC data at pre-infusion (D0), day 2 after the first infusion (D2), and prior to the third cycle of daratumumab therapy (D56). Results: Fifty patients who were administered at least two cycles of daratumumab were included. Overall response rate was 54.0% after two cycles of daratumumab treatment. On D2, almost all patients experienced a marked reduction in ALC. However, an increase in ALC on D56 (ALCD56) was observed in patients with non-progressive disease, whereas failure of ALC recovery was noted in those with progressive disease. Patients with ALCD56 > 700/μL (n = 39, 78.0%) had prolonged progression- free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) than those with ALCD56 ≤ 700/μL (median PFS: 5.8 months vs. 2.6 months, p = 0.025; median OS: 24.1 months vs. 6.1 months, p = 0.004). In addition, ALCD56 >700/μL was a significant favorable prognostic factor for PFS (hazard ratio [HR], 0.22; p = 0.003) and OS (HR, 0.23; p = 0.012). Conclusions Increase in ALC during daratumumab treatment was significantly associated with prolonged survival outcomes in patients with RRMM. The ALC value can predict clinical outcomes in patients treated with daratumumab.

BACKGROUND: The extracellular matrix (ECM) has many functions, such as segregating tissues, providing support, and regulating intercellular communication. Cartilage-derived ECM (CECM) can be prepared via consecutive processes of chemical decellularization and enzyme treatment. The purpose of this study was to improve and treat osteoarthritis (OA) using porcine knee articular CECM. METHODS: We assessed the rheological characteristics and pH of CECM solutions. Furthermore, we determined the effects of CECM on cell proliferation and cytotoxicity in the chondrocytes of New Zealand rabbits. The inhibitory effect of CECM on tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-a-induced cellular apoptosis was assessed using New Zealand rabbit chondrocytes and human synoviocytes. Finally, we examined the in vivo effects of CECM on inflammation control and cartilage degradation in an experimental OA-induced rat model. The rat model of OA was established by injecting monosodium iodoacetate into the intra-articular knee joint. The rats were then injected with CECM solution. Inflammation control and cartilage degradation were assessed by measuring the serum levels of proinflammatory cytokines and C-telopeptide of type II collagen and performing a histomorphological analysis. RESULTS: CECM was found to be biocompatible and non-immunogenic, and could improve cell proliferation without inducing a toxic reaction. CECM significantly reduced cellular apoptosis due to TNF-a, significantly improved the survival of cells in inflammatory environments, and exerted anti-inflammatory effects. CONCLUSION Our findings suggest that CECM is an appropriate injectable material that mediates OA-induced inflammation.