Purpose: This study evaluates the Korean Cancer Study Group Geriatric Score-7 (KG-7) frailty screening tool’s effectiveness in elderly multiple myeloma (MM) patients to prevent under and overtreatment. Materials and Methods: This prospective pilot cohort study included 100 elderly patients aged 70 and older with newly diagnosed MM who had not undergone transplantation from August 2020 to January 2022. Results: The median age was 77 years, and 73.0% of patients were classified at International Staging System stages 2 or 3. Using a 5-point cutoff on the KG-7 index (non-frail, score ≥ 5; frail, score < 5), 31% were categorized as frail. After a median follow-up of 26.8 months, the 3-year overall survival rate was 73.0%. There was no statistically significant association between any frailty index and the risk of death. However, frail patients defined by the simplified frailty index (hazard ratio [HR], 2.49; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.09 to 5.95; p=0.030) and by KG-7 (HR, 2.43; 95% CI, 1.03 to 5.86; p=0.043) had a significantly higher risk of grade 3-4 non-hematologic toxicity, whereas the International Myeloma Working Group definition did not. Over a 24-month tracking period, vulnerability as measured by KG-7 either improved or deteriorated. Conclusion The pilot study, which had a limited number of participants, did not demonstrate KG-7’s effectiveness in predicting survival; however, it successfully predicted severe non-hematologic toxicities. We plan to conduct larger studies in elderly MM patients to determine whether KG-7 can help tailor their treatment regimens.

Multiple myeloma (MM), a hematological malignancy, is characterized by malignant plasma cell proliferation in the bone marrow. Recent treatment advances have significantly improved patient outcomes associated with MM.In this study, we aimed to develop comprehensive, evidence-based guidelines for the diagnosis, prognosis, and treat‑ ment of MM. We identified 12 key clinical questions essential for MM management, guiding the extensive literature review and meta-analysis of the study. Our guidelines provide evidence-based recommendations by integrating patient preferences with survey data. These recommendations include current and emerging diagnostic tools, thera‑ peutic agents, and treatment strategies. By prioritizing a patient-centered approach and rigorous data analysis, these guidelines were developed to enhance MM management, both in Korea and globally.

OBJECTIVES: Dietary soy, known for its high phytoestrogen content, has been suggested to exhibit a sex-specific association with type 2 diabetes. However, evidence regarding the sex-specific associations of different legume subtypes with type 2 diabetes remains scarce. We aimed to evaluate whether habitual consumption of soy and non-soy legumes (beans and peanuts) was prospectively and sex-specifically associated with the risk of type 2 diabetes incidence, taking into considering significant sex-specific genetic factors beyond legume consumption. METHODS: A total of 16,666 participants (96,945 person-years) were followed and 945 incident cases were observed. Cumulative intake of legume subtypes was calculated using a food frequency questionnaire administered at baseline and during the revisit surveys. RESULTS: Non-soy legumes are inversely associated with type 2 diabetes in both men and women. Dietary soy intake, however, demonstrated a unilaterally interacting sex-specific association with type 2 diabetes risk (pinteraction for sex=0.017). Specifically, there was a significant inverse association with type 2 diabetes risk in women (incidence rate ratio, 0.66; 95% confidence interval, 0.48 to 0.80; ptrend=0.007), but no such association was observed in men. This sex-specific association persisted and even appeared antagonistic in minor allele carriers of 2 novel single nucleotide polymorphisms, rs10196939 (LRRTM4) and rs11750158 (near GFPT2) (pinteraction for sex=0.001 and 0.011, respectively). CONCLUSIONS Habitual consumption of legumes shows protective impacts against type 2 diabetes, although these benefits vary by sex. Non-soy legumes provide health advantages for both men and women, whereas soy consumption seems to be beneficial exclusively for women.

OBJECTIVES: Dietary soy, known for its high phytoestrogen content, has been suggested to exhibit a sex-specific association with type 2 diabetes. However, evidence regarding the sex-specific associations of different legume subtypes with type 2 diabetes remains scarce. We aimed to evaluate whether habitual consumption of soy and non-soy legumes (beans and peanuts) was prospectively and sex-specifically associated with the risk of type 2 diabetes incidence, taking into considering significant sex-specific genetic factors beyond legume consumption. METHODS: A total of 16,666 participants (96,945 person-years) were followed and 945 incident cases were observed. Cumulative intake of legume subtypes was calculated using a food frequency questionnaire administered at baseline and during the revisit surveys. RESULTS: Non-soy legumes are inversely associated with type 2 diabetes in both men and women. Dietary soy intake, however, demonstrated a unilaterally interacting sex-specific association with type 2 diabetes risk (pinteraction for sex=0.017). Specifically, there was a significant inverse association with type 2 diabetes risk in women (incidence rate ratio, 0.66; 95% confidence interval, 0.48 to 0.80; ptrend=0.007), but no such association was observed in men. This sex-specific association persisted and even appeared antagonistic in minor allele carriers of 2 novel single nucleotide polymorphisms, rs10196939 (LRRTM4) and rs11750158 (near GFPT2) (pinteraction for sex=0.001 and 0.011, respectively). CONCLUSIONS Habitual consumption of legumes shows protective impacts against type 2 diabetes, although these benefits vary by sex. Non-soy legumes provide health advantages for both men and women, whereas soy consumption seems to be beneficial exclusively for women.

OBJECTIVES: Dietary soy, known for its high phytoestrogen content, has been suggested to exhibit a sex-specific association with type 2 diabetes. However, evidence regarding the sex-specific associations of different legume subtypes with type 2 diabetes remains scarce. We aimed to evaluate whether habitual consumption of soy and non-soy legumes (beans and peanuts) was prospectively and sex-specifically associated with the risk of type 2 diabetes incidence, taking into considering significant sex-specific genetic factors beyond legume consumption. METHODS: A total of 16,666 participants (96,945 person-years) were followed and 945 incident cases were observed. Cumulative intake of legume subtypes was calculated using a food frequency questionnaire administered at baseline and during the revisit surveys. RESULTS: Non-soy legumes are inversely associated with type 2 diabetes in both men and women. Dietary soy intake, however, demonstrated a unilaterally interacting sex-specific association with type 2 diabetes risk (pinteraction for sex=0.017). Specifically, there was a significant inverse association with type 2 diabetes risk in women (incidence rate ratio, 0.66; 95% confidence interval, 0.48 to 0.80; ptrend=0.007), but no such association was observed in men. This sex-specific association persisted and even appeared antagonistic in minor allele carriers of 2 novel single nucleotide polymorphisms, rs10196939 (LRRTM4) and rs11750158 (near GFPT2) (pinteraction for sex=0.001 and 0.011, respectively). CONCLUSIONS Habitual consumption of legumes shows protective impacts against type 2 diabetes, although these benefits vary by sex. Non-soy legumes provide health advantages for both men and women, whereas soy consumption seems to be beneficial exclusively for women.

Background: Adrenocortical carcinomas (ACCs) are rare tumors with aggressive but varied prognosis. Stage, Grade, Resection status, Age, Symptoms (S-GRAS) score, based on clinical and pathological factors, was found to best stratify the prognosis of European ACC patients. This study assessed the prognostic performance of modified S-GRAS (mS-GRAS) scores including modified grade (mG) by integrating mitotic counts into the Ki67 index (original grade), in Korean ACC patients. Methods: Patients who underwent surgery for ACC between January 1996 and December 2022 at three medical centers in Korea were retrospectively analyzed. mS-GRAS scores were calculated based on tumor stage, mG (Ki67 index or mitotic counts), resection status, age, and symptoms. Patients were divided into four groups (0–1, 2–3, 4–5, and 6–9 points) based on total mS-GRAS score. The associations of each variable and mS-GRAS score with recurrence and survival were evaluated using Cox regression analysis, Harrell’s concordance index (C-index), and the Kaplan–Meier method. Results: Data on mS-GRAS components were available for 114 of the 153 patients who underwent surgery for ACC. These 114 patients had recurrence and death rates of 61.4% and 48.2%, respectively. mS-GRAS score was a significantly better predictor of recurrence (C-index=0.829) and death (C-index=0.747) than each component (P<0.05), except for resection status. mS-GRAS scores correlated with shorter progression-free survival (P=8.34E-24) and overall survival (P=2.72E-13). Conclusion mS-GRAS scores showed better prognostic performance than tumor stage and grade in Asian patients who underwent surgery for ACC.

Background: Atherogenic dyslipidemia, which is frequently associated with type 2 diabetes (T2D) and insulin resistance, contributes to the development of vascular complications. Statin therapy is the primary approach to dyslipidemia management in T2D, however, the role of non-statin therapy remains unclear. Ezetimibe reduces cholesterol burden by inhibiting intestinal cholesterol absorption. Fibrates lower triglyceride levels and increase high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels via peroxisome proliferator- activated receptor alpha agonism. Therefore, when combined, these drugs effectively lower non-HDL-C levels. Despite this, few clinical trials have specifically targeted non-HDL-C, and the efficacy of triple combination therapies, including statins, ezetimibe, and fibrates, has yet to be determined. Methods: This is a multicenter, prospective, randomized, open-label, active-comparator controlled trial involving 3,958 eligible participants with T2D, cardiovascular risk factors, and elevated non-HDL-C (≥100 mg/dL). Participants, already on moderate-intensity statins, will be randomly assigned to either Ezefeno (ezetimibe/fenofibrate) addition or statin dose-escalation. The primary end point is the development of a composite of major adverse cardiovascular and diabetic microvascular events over 48 months. Conclusion This trial aims to assess whether combining statins, ezetimibe, and fenofibrate is as effective as, or possibly superior to, statin monotherapy intensification in lowering cardiovascular and microvascular disease risk for patients with T2D. This could propose a novel therapeutic approach for managing dyslipidemia in T2D.

OBJECTIVES: Mushrooms, known for their nutritious and functional components, are considered healthy and medicinal. This study investigated the prospective association between dietary mushroom consumption and the incidence of type 2 diabetes among Korean adults aged ≥40 years. METHODS: In total, 16,666 participants who were not taking anti-diabetic medication or insulin and had normal fasting blood glucose (FBG; <126 mg/dL) were included. We used the cumulative average dietary consumption of mushrooms as an exposure metric, calculated from food frequency questionnaires at every follow-up, along with covariates collected during a baseline survey. To estimate incidence rate ratios (IRRs) for type 2 diabetes, a modified Poisson regression model with a robust error estimator was applied. RESULTS: In multivariable models, dietary mushroom consumption was inversely associated with type 2 diabetes incidence in both genders (men: IRR, 0.65; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.47 to 0.90; plinearity=0.043 in the highest quartile (Q4) vs. the lowest quartile (Q1); women: IRR, 0.70; 95% CI, 0.54 to 0.93; plinearity=0.114 in Q4 vs. Q1). The inverse association remained after adjustment for dietary factors instead of dietary quality index, the baseline FBG, and the exclusion of incidence within the first year. Additionally, no significant interaction was found regarding the risk of type 2 diabetes between dietary mushroom consumption and participants’ gender or other factors. CONCLUSIONS Dietary mushroom consumption was inversely linked with the risk of type 2 diabetes incidence in both genders, indicating the beneficial role of mushrooms in preventing the disease.

Objective: This is the first prospective cohort study of Huntington’s disease (HD) in Korea. This study aimed to investigate the caregiver burden in relation to the characteristics of patients and caregivers. Methods: From August 2020 to February 2022, we enrolled patients with HD from 13 university hospitals in Korea. We used the 12-item Zarit Burden Interview (ZBI-12) to evaluate the caregiver burden. We evaluated the clinical associations of the ZBI-12 scores by linear regression analysis and investigated the differences between the low- and high-burden groups. Results: Sixty-five patients with HD and 45 caregivers were enrolled in this cohort study. The average age at onset of motor symptoms was 49.3 ± 12.3 years, with an average cytosine-adenine-guanine (CAG)n of 42.9 ± 4.0 (38–65). The median ZBI-12 score among our caregivers was 17.6 ± 14.2. A higher caregiver burden was associated with a more severe Shoulson–Fahn stage (p = 0.038) of the patients. A higher ZBI-12 score was also associated with lower independence scale (B = -0.154, p = 0.006) and functional capacity (B = -1.082, p = 0.002) scores of patients. The caregiving duration was longer in the high- than in the low-burden group. Caregivers’ demographics, blood relation, and marital and social status did not affect the burden significantly. Conclusion HD patients’ neurological status exerts an enormous impact on the caregiver burden regardless of the demographic or social status of the caregiver. This study emphasizes the need to establish an optimal support system for families dealing with HD in Korea. A future longitudinal analysis could help us understand how disease progression aggravates the caregiver burden throughout the entire disease course.

Purpose: Liposarcoma is a mesenchymal neoplasm and comprise 20%–30% of all soft tissue sarcomas, accounting for 1% of all malignancies. This study documented the clinical manifestation and oncological outcomes of dedifferentiated liposarcoma (DDLPS). Materials and Methods: Eleven patients were diagnosed and treated for DDLPS between January 2013 and December 2020. The age, gender, symptom onset, tumor location, magnetic resonance images, surgical margin, and pathologic diagnosis of the identified cohort were reviewed. The time to local recurrence or metastasis, follow-up duration, and the patients’ final status were analyzed. Results: The patients comprised seven male and four female patients with a mean age of 59 years (43–73 years). The tumor location was in the thigh in five, inguinal in two, upper arm in two, forearm in one, and popliteal in one. The average tumor diameter was 12 cm (3.5–27.0 cm). At the time of diagnosis, one patient was American Joint Committee on Cancer stage IB, two were II, four were IIIA, and four were IIIB. Local recurrence occurred in four, and distant metastasis occurred in five. The five-year overall survival of patients with DDLPS was 54.5±17.6%, and four died due to disease progression. Conclusion Primary DDLPS in the extremities is a subtype of liposarcoma with a poorer prognosis than well-differentiated liposarcoma and myxoid liposarcoma.