Cuscutae Semen has a long-standing history as a traditional herbal medicine widely utilized in East Asian countries, including Korea, China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan. The Korean Herbal Pharmacopoeia (KHP) exclusively recognizes Cuscuta chinensis Lam. as the authentic source of Cuscutae Semen, whereas other countries also accept Cuscuta australis R.Br. This discrepancy has resulted in imports containing both species, which contravenes local regulations. Furthermore, a significant portion of domestically produced Cuscutae Semen is actually Cuscuta japonica Chois., regarded as an adulterant, which further complicates the market. This situation underscores the urgent need for clear differentiation of the botanical origins of Cuscutae Semen. In this study, a high-performance thin-layer chromatography (HPTLC) method was developed to simultaneously differentiate the three origins of Cuscutae Semen: C. chinensis, C. australis, and C. japonica. By utilizing a TLC scanner and TLC-MS interface, the chemical fingerprints of the samples were analyzed in detail. The results revealed that while C. chinensis and C. australis share similar profiles, they can be distinguished by the presence or absence of astragalin and kaempferol. In contrast, C. japonica showed distinct differences, characterized by the presence of chlorogenic acid derivatives. This method demonstrated the ability to rapidly and accurately differentiate between Cuscutae Semen origins, making it a cost-effective and reliable tool for ensuring quality control. It is expected to contribute to improving the standardization and reliability of herbal medicine quality management in the domestic market.

Incidence of depression increases in patients with end-stage kidney disease (ESKD). We evaluated the association between depression and mortality among older patients with ESKD, which has not been studied previously. Methods: This nationwide prospective cohort study included 487 patients with ESKD aged >65 years, who were categorized into minimal, mild-to-moderate, and severe depression groups based on their Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II) scores. Predisposing factors for high BDI-II scores and the association between the scores and survival were analyzed. Results: The severe depression group showed a higher modified Charlson comorbidity index value and lower serum albumin, phosphate, and uric acid levels than the other depression groups. The Kaplan-Meier curve revealed a significantly lower survival in the severe depression group than in the minimal and mild-to-moderate depression groups (p = 0.011). Multivariate Cox regression analysis confirmed that severe depression was an independent risk factor for mortality in the study cohort (hazard ratio, 1.39; 95% confidence interval, 1.01–1.91; p = 0.041). Additionally, BDI-II scores were associated with modified Charlson comorbidity index (p = 0.009) and serum albumin level (p = 0.004) in multivariate linear regression. Among the three depressive symptoms, higher somatic symptom scores were associated with increased mortality. Conclusion: Severe depression among older patients with ESKD increases mortality compared with minimal or mild-to-moderate depression, and patients with concomitant somatic symptoms require careful management of their comorbidities and nutritional status.

Few comparative studies on the effects of immunosuppressants in patients with idiopathic membranous nephropathy have been conducted. Methods: Data from 489 patients who received conservative treatment or immunosuppressants were retrospectively analyzed by propensity score matching. Primary outcomes were complete or partial remission (CR or PR) of proteinuria, and secondary outcomes were renal survival and infection. Results: Of the 489 patients, 357 (73.0%) received immunosuppressants. Propensity score matching identified 82 patients from the conservative group and 82 patients in the immunosuppressant group. CR or PR at 12 months was significantly higher in the immunosuppressant group compared with the conservative group for the total population (p = 0.002) and the propensity score-matched population (p = 0.02). The use of immunosuppressants was significantly more effective with respect to achieving a CR or PR at 12 months in patients who were aged <65 years or female, or who had a proteinuria level of ≥4.0 g/g or an estimated glomerular filtration rate of ≥60 mL/min/1.73 m2 (p < 0.05). Renal survival was similar between patients receiving immunosuppressants and conservative treatment in both the total and matched populations. The immunosuppressant group (21.8%) had a significantly higher incidence of infections compared with the conservative group (13.6%) for the total population (p = 0.03), but statistical significance disappeared in the matched population (p > 0.99). Conclusion: The remission rate was significantly higher in the immunosuppressant group than in the conservative group, particularly in the subgroup of patients who were young or female, or those with heavy proteinuria loads or good renal function.

Cuscutae Semen has a long-standing history as a traditional herbal medicine widely utilized in East Asian countries, including Korea, China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan. The Korean Herbal Pharmacopoeia (KHP) exclusively recognizes Cuscuta chinensis Lam. as the authentic source of Cuscutae Semen, whereas other countries also accept Cuscuta australis R.Br. This discrepancy has resulted in imports containing both species, which contravenes local regulations. Furthermore, a significant portion of domestically produced Cuscutae Semen is actually Cuscuta japonica Chois., regarded as an adulterant, which further complicates the market. This situation underscores the urgent need for clear differentiation of the botanical origins of Cuscutae Semen. In this study, a high-performance thin-layer chromatography (HPTLC) method was developed to simultaneously differentiate the three origins of Cuscutae Semen: C. chinensis, C. australis, and C. japonica. By utilizing a TLC scanner and TLC-MS interface, the chemical fingerprints of the samples were analyzed in detail. The results revealed that while C. chinensis and C. australis share similar profiles, they can be distinguished by the presence or absence of astragalin and kaempferol. In contrast, C. japonica showed distinct differences, characterized by the presence of chlorogenic acid derivatives. This method demonstrated the ability to rapidly and accurately differentiate between Cuscutae Semen origins, making it a cost-effective and reliable tool for ensuring quality control. It is expected to contribute to improving the standardization and reliability of herbal medicine quality management in the domestic market.

Cuscutae Semen has a long-standing history as a traditional herbal medicine widely utilized in East Asian countries, including Korea, China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan. The Korean Herbal Pharmacopoeia (KHP) exclusively recognizes Cuscuta chinensis Lam. as the authentic source of Cuscutae Semen, whereas other countries also accept Cuscuta australis R.Br. This discrepancy has resulted in imports containing both species, which contravenes local regulations. Furthermore, a significant portion of domestically produced Cuscutae Semen is actually Cuscuta japonica Chois., regarded as an adulterant, which further complicates the market. This situation underscores the urgent need for clear differentiation of the botanical origins of Cuscutae Semen. In this study, a high-performance thin-layer chromatography (HPTLC) method was developed to simultaneously differentiate the three origins of Cuscutae Semen: C. chinensis, C. australis, and C. japonica. By utilizing a TLC scanner and TLC-MS interface, the chemical fingerprints of the samples were analyzed in detail. The results revealed that while C. chinensis and C. australis share similar profiles, they can be distinguished by the presence or absence of astragalin and kaempferol. In contrast, C. japonica showed distinct differences, characterized by the presence of chlorogenic acid derivatives. This method demonstrated the ability to rapidly and accurately differentiate between Cuscutae Semen origins, making it a cost-effective and reliable tool for ensuring quality control. It is expected to contribute to improving the standardization and reliability of herbal medicine quality management in the domestic market.

Incidence of depression increases in patients with end-stage kidney disease (ESKD). We evaluated the association between depression and mortality among older patients with ESKD, which has not been studied previously. Methods: This nationwide prospective cohort study included 487 patients with ESKD aged >65 years, who were categorized into minimal, mild-to-moderate, and severe depression groups based on their Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II) scores. Predisposing factors for high BDI-II scores and the association between the scores and survival were analyzed. Results: The severe depression group showed a higher modified Charlson comorbidity index value and lower serum albumin, phosphate, and uric acid levels than the other depression groups. The Kaplan-Meier curve revealed a significantly lower survival in the severe depression group than in the minimal and mild-to-moderate depression groups (p = 0.011). Multivariate Cox regression analysis confirmed that severe depression was an independent risk factor for mortality in the study cohort (hazard ratio, 1.39; 95% confidence interval, 1.01–1.91; p = 0.041). Additionally, BDI-II scores were associated with modified Charlson comorbidity index (p = 0.009) and serum albumin level (p = 0.004) in multivariate linear regression. Among the three depressive symptoms, higher somatic symptom scores were associated with increased mortality. Conclusion: Severe depression among older patients with ESKD increases mortality compared with minimal or mild-to-moderate depression, and patients with concomitant somatic symptoms require careful management of their comorbidities and nutritional status.

Few comparative studies on the effects of immunosuppressants in patients with idiopathic membranous nephropathy have been conducted. Methods: Data from 489 patients who received conservative treatment or immunosuppressants were retrospectively analyzed by propensity score matching. Primary outcomes were complete or partial remission (CR or PR) of proteinuria, and secondary outcomes were renal survival and infection. Results: Of the 489 patients, 357 (73.0%) received immunosuppressants. Propensity score matching identified 82 patients from the conservative group and 82 patients in the immunosuppressant group. CR or PR at 12 months was significantly higher in the immunosuppressant group compared with the conservative group for the total population (p = 0.002) and the propensity score-matched population (p = 0.02). The use of immunosuppressants was significantly more effective with respect to achieving a CR or PR at 12 months in patients who were aged <65 years or female, or who had a proteinuria level of ≥4.0 g/g or an estimated glomerular filtration rate of ≥60 mL/min/1.73 m2 (p < 0.05). Renal survival was similar between patients receiving immunosuppressants and conservative treatment in both the total and matched populations. The immunosuppressant group (21.8%) had a significantly higher incidence of infections compared with the conservative group (13.6%) for the total population (p = 0.03), but statistical significance disappeared in the matched population (p > 0.99). Conclusion: The remission rate was significantly higher in the immunosuppressant group than in the conservative group, particularly in the subgroup of patients who were young or female, or those with heavy proteinuria loads or good renal function.

Incidence of depression increases in patients with end-stage kidney disease (ESKD). We evaluated the association between depression and mortality among older patients with ESKD, which has not been studied previously. Methods: This nationwide prospective cohort study included 487 patients with ESKD aged >65 years, who were categorized into minimal, mild-to-moderate, and severe depression groups based on their Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II) scores. Predisposing factors for high BDI-II scores and the association between the scores and survival were analyzed. Results: The severe depression group showed a higher modified Charlson comorbidity index value and lower serum albumin, phosphate, and uric acid levels than the other depression groups. The Kaplan-Meier curve revealed a significantly lower survival in the severe depression group than in the minimal and mild-to-moderate depression groups (p = 0.011). Multivariate Cox regression analysis confirmed that severe depression was an independent risk factor for mortality in the study cohort (hazard ratio, 1.39; 95% confidence interval, 1.01–1.91; p = 0.041). Additionally, BDI-II scores were associated with modified Charlson comorbidity index (p = 0.009) and serum albumin level (p = 0.004) in multivariate linear regression. Among the three depressive symptoms, higher somatic symptom scores were associated with increased mortality. Conclusion: Severe depression among older patients with ESKD increases mortality compared with minimal or mild-to-moderate depression, and patients with concomitant somatic symptoms require careful management of their comorbidities and nutritional status.

Few comparative studies on the effects of immunosuppressants in patients with idiopathic membranous nephropathy have been conducted. Methods: Data from 489 patients who received conservative treatment or immunosuppressants were retrospectively analyzed by propensity score matching. Primary outcomes were complete or partial remission (CR or PR) of proteinuria, and secondary outcomes were renal survival and infection. Results: Of the 489 patients, 357 (73.0%) received immunosuppressants. Propensity score matching identified 82 patients from the conservative group and 82 patients in the immunosuppressant group. CR or PR at 12 months was significantly higher in the immunosuppressant group compared with the conservative group for the total population (p = 0.002) and the propensity score-matched population (p = 0.02). The use of immunosuppressants was significantly more effective with respect to achieving a CR or PR at 12 months in patients who were aged <65 years or female, or who had a proteinuria level of ≥4.0 g/g or an estimated glomerular filtration rate of ≥60 mL/min/1.73 m2 (p < 0.05). Renal survival was similar between patients receiving immunosuppressants and conservative treatment in both the total and matched populations. The immunosuppressant group (21.8%) had a significantly higher incidence of infections compared with the conservative group (13.6%) for the total population (p = 0.03), but statistical significance disappeared in the matched population (p > 0.99). Conclusion: The remission rate was significantly higher in the immunosuppressant group than in the conservative group, particularly in the subgroup of patients who were young or female, or those with heavy proteinuria loads or good renal function.

Cuscutae Semen has a long-standing history as a traditional herbal medicine widely utilized in East Asian countries, including Korea, China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan. The Korean Herbal Pharmacopoeia (KHP) exclusively recognizes Cuscuta chinensis Lam. as the authentic source of Cuscutae Semen, whereas other countries also accept Cuscuta australis R.Br. This discrepancy has resulted in imports containing both species, which contravenes local regulations. Furthermore, a significant portion of domestically produced Cuscutae Semen is actually Cuscuta japonica Chois., regarded as an adulterant, which further complicates the market. This situation underscores the urgent need for clear differentiation of the botanical origins of Cuscutae Semen. In this study, a high-performance thin-layer chromatography (HPTLC) method was developed to simultaneously differentiate the three origins of Cuscutae Semen: C. chinensis, C. australis, and C. japonica. By utilizing a TLC scanner and TLC-MS interface, the chemical fingerprints of the samples were analyzed in detail. The results revealed that while C. chinensis and C. australis share similar profiles, they can be distinguished by the presence or absence of astragalin and kaempferol. In contrast, C. japonica showed distinct differences, characterized by the presence of chlorogenic acid derivatives. This method demonstrated the ability to rapidly and accurately differentiate between Cuscutae Semen origins, making it a cost-effective and reliable tool for ensuring quality control. It is expected to contribute to improving the standardization and reliability of herbal medicine quality management in the domestic market.