Purpose: In men with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC), new bone lesions are sometimes not properly categorized through a confirmatory bone scan, and clinical significance of the test itself remains unclear. This study aimed to demonstrate the performance rate of confirmatory bone scans in a real-world setting and their prognostic impact in enzalutamide-treated mCRPC. Materials and Methods: Patients who received oral enzalutamide for mCRPC during 2014-2017 at 14 tertiary centers in Korea were included. Patients lacking imaging assessment data or insufficient drug exposure were excluded. The primary outcome was overall survival (OS). Secondary outcomes included performance rate of confirmatory bone scans in a real-world setting. Kaplan-Meier analysis and multivariate Cox regression analysis were performed. Results: Overall, 520 patients with mCRPC were enrolled (240 [26.2%] chemotherapy-naïve and 280 [53.2%] after chemotherapy). Among 352 responders, 92 patients (26.1%) showed new bone lesions in their early bone scan. Confirmatory bone scan was performed in 41 patients (44.6%), and it was associated with prolonged OS in the entire population (median, 30.9 vs. 19.7 months; p < 0.001), as well as in the chemotherapy-naïve (median, 47.2 vs. 20.5 months; p=0.011) and post-chemotherapy sub-groups (median, 25.5 vs. 18.0 months; p=0.006). Multivariate Cox regression showed that confirmatory bone scan performance was an independent prognostic factor for OS (hazard ratio 0.35, 95% confidence interval, 0.18 to 0.69; p=0.002). Conclusion Confirmatory bone scan performance was associated with prolonged OS. Thus, the premature discontinuation of enzalutamide without confirmatory bone scans should be discouraged.

Background: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) induces endothelial dysfunction and inflammation, which are the main factors for atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease. The present study aimed to compare the effects of rosuvastatin monotherapy and rosuvastatin/ezetimibe combination therapy on lipid profile, insulin sensitivity, and vascular inflammatory response in patients with T2DM. Methods: A total of 101 patients with T2DM and dyslipidemia were randomized to either rosuvastatin monotherapy (5 mg/day, n=47) or rosuvastatin/ezetimibe combination therapy (5 mg/10 mg/day, n=45) and treated for 12 weeks. Serum lipids, glucose, insulin, soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1), and peroxiredoxin 4 (PRDX4) levels were determined before and after 12 weeks of treatment. Results: The reduction in low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) by more than 50% from baseline after treatment was more in the combination therapy group. The serum sICAM-1 levels increased significantly in both groups, but there was no difference between the two groups. The significant changes in homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) and PRDX4 were confirmed only in the subgroup in which LDL-C was reduced by 50% or more in the combination therapy group. However, after adjusting for diabetes mellitus duration and hypertension, the changes in HOMA-IR and PRDX4 were not significant between the two groups. Conclusion Although rosuvastatin/ezetimibe combination therapy had a greater LDL-C reduction effect than rosuvastatin monotherapy, it had no additional effects on insulin sensitivity and vascular inflammatory response. Further studies are needed on the effect of long-term treatment with ezetimibe on insulin sensitivity and vascular inflammatory response.

Thyroid cancer is a common endocrine malignancy with increasing incidence globally. Although most cases can be treated effectively, some cases are more aggressive and have a higher risk of mortality. Inhibiting RET and BRAF kinases has emerged as a potential therapeutic strategy for the treatment of thyroid cancer, particularly in cases of advanced or aggressive disease. However, the development of resistance mechanisms may limit the efficacy of these kinase inhibitors. Therefore, developing precise strategies to target thyroid cancer cell metabolism and overcome resistance is a critical area of research for advancing thyroid cancer treatment. In the field of cancer therapeutics, researchers have explored combinatorial strategies involving dual metabolic inhibition and metabolic inhibitors in combination with targeted therapy, chemotherapy, and immunotherapy to overcome the challenge of metabolic plasticity. This review highlights the need for new therapeutic approaches for thyroid cancer and discusses promising metabolic inhibitors targeting thyroid cancer. It also discusses the challenges posed by metabolic plasticity in the development of effective strategies for targeting cancer cell metabolism and explores the potential advantages of combined metabolic targeting.

An 82-year-old man diagnosed with supraglottic cancer sought a consultation for percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) placement. Preoperative chest radiography (posterior-anterior [PA] view) revealed no abnormalities, and PEG tube placement was performed using the “pull” method. Chest radiography (PA view) performed 3 days postoperatively showed free air that was not observed immediately after PEG tube placement; therefore, the patient was diagnosed with pneumoperitoneum. Abdominal computed tomography confirmed that the PEG tube was appropriately positioned within the stomach; however, the colon was observed between the abdominal wall and stomach, which indicated that the PEG tube had passed through the colon. Review of preoperative chest radiographs (PA views) confirmed that the colon was visualized in the area wherein usually stomach gas should have been observed. The patient was diagnosed with a gastro-colo-cutaneous fistula that occurred postoperatively, following a procedure that was performed without confirmation of anatomical variations. The PEG tube was removed surgically, and we performed percutaneous gastrostomy.

Background: Korea recently established 70 emergency medical service areas. However, there are many concerns that medical resources for stroke could not be evenly distributed through the country. We aimed to compare the treatment quality and outcomes of acute stroke among the emergency medical service areas. Methods: This study analyzed the data of 28,800 patients admitted in 248 hospitals which participated in the 8th acute stroke quality assessment by Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service. Individual hospitals were regrouped into emergency service areas according to the address of the location. Assessment indicators and fatality were compared by the service areas. We defined the appropriate hospital by the performance of intravenous thrombolysis. Results: In seven service areas, there were no hospitals which received more than 10 stroke patients for 6 months. In nine service areas, there were no patients who underwent intravenous thrombolysis (IVT). Among 167 designated emergency medical centers, 50 hospitals (29.9%) responded that IVT was impossible 24 hours a day. There are 97 (39.1%) hospitals that meet the definitions of appropriate hospital. In 23 service areas (32.9%) had no appropriate or feasible hospitals. The fatality of service areas with stroke centers were 6.9% within 30 days and 15.6% within 1 year from stroke onset than those without stroke centers (7.7%, 16.9%, respectively). Conclusions There was a wide regional gap in the medical resource and the quality of treatments for acute stroke among emergency medical service areas in Korea. The poststroke fatality rate of the service areas which have stroke centers or appropriate hospitals were significantly low.

Purpose: Advanced chronic kidney disease (CKD), including end-stage renal disease (ESRD) on dialysis, increases thromboembolic risk among patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). This study examined the comparative safety and efficacy of direct-acting oral anticoagulant (DOAC) compared to warfarin or no oral anticoagulant (OAC) in AF patients with advanced CKD or ESRD on dialysis. Materials and Methods: Using data from the COmparison study of Drugs for symptom control and complication prEvention of AF (CODE-AF) registry, 260 non-valvular AF patients with advanced CKD (defined as estimated glomerular filtration rate <30 mL/min per 1.73/m2 ) or ESRD on dialysis were enrolled from June 2016 to July 2020. The study population was categorized into DOAC, warfarin, and no OAC groups; and differences in major or clinically relevant non-major (CRNM) bleeding, stroke/systemic embolism (SE), myocardial infarction/critical limb ischemia (CLI), and death were assessed. Results: During a median 24 months of follow-up, major or CRNM bleeding risk was significantly reduced in the DOAC group compared to the warfarin group [hazard ratio (HR) 0.11, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.01 to 0.93, p=0.043]. In addition, the risk of composite adverse clinical outcomes (major or CRNM bleeding, stroke/SE, myocardial infarction/CLI, and death) was significantly reduced in the DOAC group compared to the no OAC group (HR 0.16, 95% CI 0.03 to 0.91, p=0.039). Conclusion Among AF patients with advanced CKD or ESRD on dialysis, DOAC was associated with a lower risk of major or CRNM bleeding compared to warfarin and a lower risk of composite adverse clinical outcomes compared to no OAC.ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT02786095)

The final analysis of the phase 3 Targeted Investigational Treatment Analysis of Novel Anti-androgen (TITAN) trial showed improvement in overall survival (OS) and other efficacy endpoints with apalutamide plus androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) versus ADT alone in patients with metastatic castration-sensitive prostate cancer (mCSPC). As ethnicity and regional differences may affect treatment outcomes in advanced prostate cancer, a post hoc final analysis was conducted to assess the efficacy and safety of apalutamide in the Asian subpopulation. Event-driven endpoints were OS, and time from randomization to initiation of castration resistance, prostate-specific antigen (PSA) progression, and second progression-free survival (PFS2) on first subsequent therapy or death. Efficacy endpoints were assessed using the Kaplan-Meier method and Cox proportional-hazards models without formal statistical testing and adjustment for multiplicity. Participating Asian patients received once-daily apalutamide 240 mg ( n = 111) or placebo ( n = 110) plus ADT. After a median follow-up of 42.5 months and despite crossover of 47 placebo recipients to open-label apalutamide, apalutamide reduced the risk of death by 32% (hazard ratio [HR]: 0.68; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.42-1.13), risk of castration resistance by 69% (HR: 0.31; 95% CI: 0.21-0.46), PSA progression by 79% (HR: 0.21; 95% CI: 0.13-0.35) and PFS2 by 24% (HR: 0.76; 95% CI: 0.44-1.29) relative to placebo. The outcomes were comparable between subgroups with low- and high-volume disease at baseline. No new safety issues were identified. Apalutamide provides valuable clinical benefits to Asian patients with mCSPC, with an efficacy and safety profile consistent with that in the overall patient population.
Male ; Humans ; Prostatic Neoplasms/pathology* ; Androgen Antagonists/therapeutic use* ; Prostate-Specific Antigen ; Castration ; Prostatic Neoplasms, Castration-Resistant/drug therapy*

Objective: The cutaneous manifestation of decompression sickness (DCS) known as cutis marmorata (CM) is generally mild, but it is often accompanied by severe DCS or may be a prognostic sign. We aimed to analyze the clinical course of patients with CM to improve our understanding of CM. Methods: From January 2016 to December 2020, a retrospective cohort single-center study was conducted on patients with acute DCS who underwent emergency recompression therapy. We analyzed their data and the clinical outcomes after recompression therapy. In addition, we reviewed relevant literature. Results: A total of 341 people were enrolled during the study period. Of them 94 (27.6%) patients presented with CM and the symptoms appeared at an average of about 60.5 minutes after surfacing. Among the CM patients, 76.6% had accompanying DCS type II, and in 23.4%, had accompanying DCS type I (P=0.011). With single recompression therapy, 88.3% of patients with CM immediately recovered. Among these 95.4% of patients with DCS type I and 86.1% with DCS type II recovered immediately. However, there were no statistical differences in the immediate treatment outcomes according to the delay time from the onset of symptoms to recompression therapy, accompanying symptomatic DCS classification, and recompression modalities. Ultimately, all the patients recovered from CM. Conclusion CM by itself can be considered a mild DCS in terms of treatment progress, but prompt treatment is required to prevent complications. In addition, greater focus is needed on other accompanying DCS symptoms in patients with CM, and the treatment method should be determined accordingly.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to understand the employment experiences of female Mongolian migrant workers in Korea and identify their meanings. Methods: Data were collected through individual in-depth interviews with eight such women using the phenomenological Colaizzi qualitative research approach. Results: Six categories were drawn from the research: “Facing a dilemma when hitting the wall,” “Foreigners’ lives disrespected,” “Physically filled with wounds,” “Lonely, laborious, and sad,“ “Growing stronger and knowledgeable,” and “Happiness found in the workplace.” Conclusion The results of this study revealed the substantial meaning of the employment experience of female Mongolian migrant workers in Korea. The results of the study could provide basic data for offering such women various kinds of programs to support them psychologically and in their adjustment to their jobs. These programs would enhance their ability to adapt to both working and in Korea.

Background and Objectives: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is associated with decreased cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) benefits compared to sinus rhythm (SR). Effective biventricular (BiV) pacing is a determinant of CRT success, but AF can interfere with adequate BiV pacing and affect clinical outcomes. We investigated the effect of device-detected AF on clinical outcomes and optimal BiV pacing in patients with heart failure (HF) treated with CRT. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 174 patients who underwent CRT implantation between 2012 and 2019 at a tertiary center. The optimal BiV pacing percentage was defined as ≥98%. Device-detected AF was defined as an atrial high-rate episode ≥180 beats per minute lasting more than 6 minutes during the follow-up period. We stratified the patients without preexisting AF at pre-implantation into device-detected AF and no-AF groups. Results: A total of 120 patients did not show preexisting AF at pre-implantation, and 54 had AF. Among these 120 patients, 19 (15.8%) showed device-detected AF during a median follow-up of 25.1 months. The proportion of optimal BiV pacing was significantly lower in the device-detected AF group than in the no-AF group (42.1% vs. 75.2%, p=0.009). The devicedetected AF group had a higher incidence of HF hospitalization, cardiovascular death, and all-cause death than the no-AF group. The device-detected AF and previous AF groups showed no significant differences regarding the percentage of BiV pacing and clinical outcomes. Conclusions For HF patients implanted with CRT, device-detected AF was associated with lower optimal BiV pacing and worse clinical outcomes than no-AF.