Background: Rapid antigen tests (RATs) are widely used in clinical settings, aiding in the prevention of infectious diseases. However, there is a lack of research on the performance of RATs that can simultaneously diagnose severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and Influenza A/B viruses. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the performance of a newly developed RAT that can detect all three pathogens at once, to assess its potential for clinical application. Methods: Clinical performance testing was conducted using 436 nasopharyngeal swab samples collected from patients with suspected respiratory infections. The newly developed RAT was compared with realtime reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (rRT-PCR) results to evaluate clinical sensitivity and specificity. Additionally, concordance with two previously approved products was assessed. Results: For patients who tested positive with rRT-PCR, the detection sensitivity of the newly developed INCLIX TRF COVID-19 & Flu A/B Ag test was 90.91% for SARS-CoV-2, 97.75% for Influenza A, and 93.00% for Influenza B, with a specificity of 100% for all three pathogens. In the concordance assessment with the existing RATs, the agreement was 99.76% (κ=0.9922) for SARS-CoV-2, 99.76% (κ=0.9927) for Influenza A, and 99.76% (κ=0.9930) for Influenza B. Compared to the existing RATs, all showed a concordance with κ >0.8. Conclusions The INCLIX TRF COVID-19 & Flu A/B Ag test efficiently detected antigens of SARS-CoV-2 and Influenza A/B viruses simultaneously within a short testing time of 15 minutes. Therefore, this test method, with its high sensitivity and specificity, will be highly useful for diagnosing viral infections in clinical settings.

Background: Rapid antigen tests (RATs) are widely used in clinical settings, aiding in the prevention of infectious diseases. However, there is a lack of research on the performance of RATs that can simultaneously diagnose severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and Influenza A/B viruses. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the performance of a newly developed RAT that can detect all three pathogens at once, to assess its potential for clinical application. Methods: Clinical performance testing was conducted using 436 nasopharyngeal swab samples collected from patients with suspected respiratory infections. The newly developed RAT was compared with realtime reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (rRT-PCR) results to evaluate clinical sensitivity and specificity. Additionally, concordance with two previously approved products was assessed. Results: For patients who tested positive with rRT-PCR, the detection sensitivity of the newly developed INCLIX TRF COVID-19 & Flu A/B Ag test was 90.91% for SARS-CoV-2, 97.75% for Influenza A, and 93.00% for Influenza B, with a specificity of 100% for all three pathogens. In the concordance assessment with the existing RATs, the agreement was 99.76% (κ=0.9922) for SARS-CoV-2, 99.76% (κ=0.9927) for Influenza A, and 99.76% (κ=0.9930) for Influenza B. Compared to the existing RATs, all showed a concordance with κ >0.8. Conclusions The INCLIX TRF COVID-19 & Flu A/B Ag test efficiently detected antigens of SARS-CoV-2 and Influenza A/B viruses simultaneously within a short testing time of 15 minutes. Therefore, this test method, with its high sensitivity and specificity, will be highly useful for diagnosing viral infections in clinical settings.

Background: Rapid antigen tests (RATs) are widely used in clinical settings, aiding in the prevention of infectious diseases. However, there is a lack of research on the performance of RATs that can simultaneously diagnose severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and Influenza A/B viruses. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the performance of a newly developed RAT that can detect all three pathogens at once, to assess its potential for clinical application. Methods: Clinical performance testing was conducted using 436 nasopharyngeal swab samples collected from patients with suspected respiratory infections. The newly developed RAT was compared with realtime reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (rRT-PCR) results to evaluate clinical sensitivity and specificity. Additionally, concordance with two previously approved products was assessed. Results: For patients who tested positive with rRT-PCR, the detection sensitivity of the newly developed INCLIX TRF COVID-19 & Flu A/B Ag test was 90.91% for SARS-CoV-2, 97.75% for Influenza A, and 93.00% for Influenza B, with a specificity of 100% for all three pathogens. In the concordance assessment with the existing RATs, the agreement was 99.76% (κ=0.9922) for SARS-CoV-2, 99.76% (κ=0.9927) for Influenza A, and 99.76% (κ=0.9930) for Influenza B. Compared to the existing RATs, all showed a concordance with κ >0.8. Conclusions The INCLIX TRF COVID-19 & Flu A/B Ag test efficiently detected antigens of SARS-CoV-2 and Influenza A/B viruses simultaneously within a short testing time of 15 minutes. Therefore, this test method, with its high sensitivity and specificity, will be highly useful for diagnosing viral infections in clinical settings.

Background: Rapid antigen tests (RATs) are widely used in clinical settings, aiding in the prevention of infectious diseases. However, there is a lack of research on the performance of RATs that can simultaneously diagnose severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and Influenza A/B viruses. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the performance of a newly developed RAT that can detect all three pathogens at once, to assess its potential for clinical application. Methods: Clinical performance testing was conducted using 436 nasopharyngeal swab samples collected from patients with suspected respiratory infections. The newly developed RAT was compared with realtime reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (rRT-PCR) results to evaluate clinical sensitivity and specificity. Additionally, concordance with two previously approved products was assessed. Results: For patients who tested positive with rRT-PCR, the detection sensitivity of the newly developed INCLIX TRF COVID-19 & Flu A/B Ag test was 90.91% for SARS-CoV-2, 97.75% for Influenza A, and 93.00% for Influenza B, with a specificity of 100% for all three pathogens. In the concordance assessment with the existing RATs, the agreement was 99.76% (κ=0.9922) for SARS-CoV-2, 99.76% (κ=0.9927) for Influenza A, and 99.76% (κ=0.9930) for Influenza B. Compared to the existing RATs, all showed a concordance with κ >0.8. Conclusions The INCLIX TRF COVID-19 & Flu A/B Ag test efficiently detected antigens of SARS-CoV-2 and Influenza A/B viruses simultaneously within a short testing time of 15 minutes. Therefore, this test method, with its high sensitivity and specificity, will be highly useful for diagnosing viral infections in clinical settings.

Background: Rapid antigen tests (RATs) are widely used in clinical settings, aiding in the prevention of infectious diseases. However, there is a lack of research on the performance of RATs that can simultaneously diagnose severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and Influenza A/B viruses. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the performance of a newly developed RAT that can detect all three pathogens at once, to assess its potential for clinical application. Methods: Clinical performance testing was conducted using 436 nasopharyngeal swab samples collected from patients with suspected respiratory infections. The newly developed RAT was compared with realtime reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (rRT-PCR) results to evaluate clinical sensitivity and specificity. Additionally, concordance with two previously approved products was assessed. Results: For patients who tested positive with rRT-PCR, the detection sensitivity of the newly developed INCLIX TRF COVID-19 & Flu A/B Ag test was 90.91% for SARS-CoV-2, 97.75% for Influenza A, and 93.00% for Influenza B, with a specificity of 100% for all three pathogens. In the concordance assessment with the existing RATs, the agreement was 99.76% (κ=0.9922) for SARS-CoV-2, 99.76% (κ=0.9927) for Influenza A, and 99.76% (κ=0.9930) for Influenza B. Compared to the existing RATs, all showed a concordance with κ >0.8. Conclusions The INCLIX TRF COVID-19 & Flu A/B Ag test efficiently detected antigens of SARS-CoV-2 and Influenza A/B viruses simultaneously within a short testing time of 15 minutes. Therefore, this test method, with its high sensitivity and specificity, will be highly useful for diagnosing viral infections in clinical settings.

A 64-year-old male patient presented with hand numbness and gait disturbance. He had undergone cervical artificial disc replacement (C-ADR) at another hospital nine years earlier. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed a protruded disc at the surgical level compressing the spinal cord. The implant and protruded disc were removed. Fusion was then performed. This case report highlights the importance of long-term follow-up of patients who have undergone C-ADR, and the need to be aware of the potential for late complications.In addition, it is important to ensure as complete a disk removal as possible during C-ADR.

Objective: This study assessed the characteristics of medical utilization by analyzing the pathway of severe emergency patients visiting emergency departments in the three regions. Methods: The study was conducted based on the National Emergency Department Information System, which collected information from 43 local governments from 2017 to 2019. Severe emergency patients were classified according to the Korean Triage and Acuity Scale level. A map was produced based on the results of connectivity centrality analysis, and groupings were performed using the R program. The relevance index was calculated to confirm medical utilization within and among regions. Results: Medical utilization within the region for severe emergency patients was concentrated in major cities. With the opening of local emergency medical agencies in underserved areas of emergency medical services, medical utilization within the region has increased compared to three years ago. Severe emergency patients in the western region of Gyeongsangnam-do mainly visit the emergency department in Jinju city. In contrast, in western county areas, they mainly visit the emergency department in Busan city. In Ulsan city, which belongs to Ulju county and Jung-gu, many patients frequently visit the emergency department in Yangsan city. Patients from Geochang, Changnyeong, Hamyang, and Hapcheon counties in Gyeongnam Province frequently visit the emergency department in Daegu city. Conclusion The intersection and cooperation of health resources within and between regions of the emergency medical system are no longer a task that can be postponed, and regionalization has been proposed as an alternative concept.

Background: Nilotinib is a tyrosine kinase inhibitor approved by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety for frontline and 2nd line treatment of Philadelphia chromosome-positive chronic myeloid leukemia (Ph+ CML). This study aimed to confirm the safety and efficacy of nilotinib in routine clinical practice within South Korea. Methods: An open-label, multicenter, single-arm, 12-week observational post-marketing surveillance (PMS) study was conducted on 669 Korean adult patients with Ph + CML from December 24, 2010, to December 23, 2016. The patients received nilotinib treatment in routine clinical practice settings. Safety was evaluated by all types of adverse events (AEs) during the study period, and efficacy was evaluated by the complete hematological response (CHR) and cytogenetic response. Results: During the study period, AEs occurred in 61.3% (410 patients, 973 events), adverse drug reactions (ADRs) in 40.5% (271/669 patients, 559 events), serious AEs in 4.5% (30 patients, 37 events), and serious ADRs in 0.7% (5 patients, 8 events). Furthermore, unexpected AEs occurred at a rate of 6.9% (46 patients, 55 events) and unexpected ADRs at 1.2% (8 patients, 8 events). As for the efficacy results, CHR was achieved in 89.5% (442/494 patients), and minor cytogenetic response or major cytogenetic response was achieved in 85.8% (139/162 patients). Conclusion This PMS study shows consistent results in terms of safety and efficacy compared with previous studies. Nilotinib was well tolerated and efficacious in adult Korean patients with Ph + CML in routine clinical practice settings.

Background: Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) has been used frequently, and its use continues to increase in lung cancer patients, despite insufficient scientific of its efficacy. To investigate this situation, we analyzed the current awareness and use of CAM in Korean lung-cancer patients. Methods: This prospective survey–based study was performed at seven medical centers in South Korea between August and October 2019. The survey assessed general patient characteristics and the awareness and use of CAM. We analyzed differences in the clinical parameters of patients aware and not aware of CAM and of CAM non-users and users. Results: Of the 434 patients included in this study, 68.8% responded that they were aware of CAM and 30.9% said they had experienced it. In univariate analysis, the patients aware of CAM were younger with poor performance status, had advanced-stage lung cancer, received more systemic therapy, and received concurrent chemoradiation therapy (CCRT). By multiple logistic regression, younger age, poor performance status, advanced stage, and prior CCRT were identified as independent risk factors for CAM awareness. There were no significant differences in the general characteristics and cancer-associated clinical parameters of CAM non-users and users. Conclusion Specific clinical parameters were associated with patients’ awareness of CAM, although there were no significantly different characteristics between CAM users and non-users.