Background: and Purpose: This clinical practice guideline provides evidence-based recommendations for treatment of dementia, focusing on cholinesterase inhibitors and N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonists for Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and other types of dementia. Methods: Using the Population, Intervention, Comparison, Outcomes (PICO) framework, we developed key clinical questions and conducted systematic literature reviews. A multidisciplinary panel of experts, organized by the Korean Dementia Association, evaluated randomized controlled trials and observational studies. Recommendations were graded for evidence quality and strength using Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) methodology. Results: Three main recommendations are presented: (1) For AD, cholinesterase inhibitors (donepezil, rivastigmine, galantamine) are strongly recommended for improving cognition and daily function based on moderate evidence; (2) Cholinesterase inhibitors are conditionally recommended for vascular dementia and Parkinson’s disease dementia, with a strong recommendation for Lewy body dementia; (3) For moderate to severe AD, NMDA receptor antagonist (memantine) is strongly recommended, demonstrating significant cognitive and functional improvements. Both drug classes showed favorable safety profiles with manageable side effects. Conclusions This guideline offers standardized, evidence-based pharmacologic recommendations for dementia management, with specific guidance on cholinesterase inhibitors and NMDA receptor antagonists. It aims to support clinical decision-making and improve patient outcomes in dementia care. Further updates will address emerging treatments, including amyloid-targeting therapies, to reflect advances in dementia management.

Background: and Purpose: This clinical practice guideline provides evidence-based recommendations for treatment of dementia, focusing on cholinesterase inhibitors and N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonists for Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and other types of dementia. Methods: Using the Population, Intervention, Comparison, Outcomes (PICO) framework, we developed key clinical questions and conducted systematic literature reviews. A multidisciplinary panel of experts, organized by the Korean Dementia Association, evaluated randomized controlled trials and observational studies. Recommendations were graded for evidence quality and strength using Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) methodology. Results: Three main recommendations are presented: (1) For AD, cholinesterase inhibitors (donepezil, rivastigmine, galantamine) are strongly recommended for improving cognition and daily function based on moderate evidence; (2) Cholinesterase inhibitors are conditionally recommended for vascular dementia and Parkinson’s disease dementia, with a strong recommendation for Lewy body dementia; (3) For moderate to severe AD, NMDA receptor antagonist (memantine) is strongly recommended, demonstrating significant cognitive and functional improvements. Both drug classes showed favorable safety profiles with manageable side effects. Conclusions This guideline offers standardized, evidence-based pharmacologic recommendations for dementia management, with specific guidance on cholinesterase inhibitors and NMDA receptor antagonists. It aims to support clinical decision-making and improve patient outcomes in dementia care. Further updates will address emerging treatments, including amyloid-targeting therapies, to reflect advances in dementia management.

Background: and Purpose: This clinical practice guideline provides evidence-based recommendations for treatment of dementia, focusing on cholinesterase inhibitors and N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonists for Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and other types of dementia. Methods: Using the Population, Intervention, Comparison, Outcomes (PICO) framework, we developed key clinical questions and conducted systematic literature reviews. A multidisciplinary panel of experts, organized by the Korean Dementia Association, evaluated randomized controlled trials and observational studies. Recommendations were graded for evidence quality and strength using Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) methodology. Results: Three main recommendations are presented: (1) For AD, cholinesterase inhibitors (donepezil, rivastigmine, galantamine) are strongly recommended for improving cognition and daily function based on moderate evidence; (2) Cholinesterase inhibitors are conditionally recommended for vascular dementia and Parkinson’s disease dementia, with a strong recommendation for Lewy body dementia; (3) For moderate to severe AD, NMDA receptor antagonist (memantine) is strongly recommended, demonstrating significant cognitive and functional improvements. Both drug classes showed favorable safety profiles with manageable side effects. Conclusions This guideline offers standardized, evidence-based pharmacologic recommendations for dementia management, with specific guidance on cholinesterase inhibitors and NMDA receptor antagonists. It aims to support clinical decision-making and improve patient outcomes in dementia care. Further updates will address emerging treatments, including amyloid-targeting therapies, to reflect advances in dementia management.

Background: and Purpose: This clinical practice guideline provides evidence-based recommendations for treatment of dementia, focusing on cholinesterase inhibitors and N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonists for Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and other types of dementia. Methods: Using the Population, Intervention, Comparison, Outcomes (PICO) framework, we developed key clinical questions and conducted systematic literature reviews. A multidisciplinary panel of experts, organized by the Korean Dementia Association, evaluated randomized controlled trials and observational studies. Recommendations were graded for evidence quality and strength using Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) methodology. Results: Three main recommendations are presented: (1) For AD, cholinesterase inhibitors (donepezil, rivastigmine, galantamine) are strongly recommended for improving cognition and daily function based on moderate evidence; (2) Cholinesterase inhibitors are conditionally recommended for vascular dementia and Parkinson’s disease dementia, with a strong recommendation for Lewy body dementia; (3) For moderate to severe AD, NMDA receptor antagonist (memantine) is strongly recommended, demonstrating significant cognitive and functional improvements. Both drug classes showed favorable safety profiles with manageable side effects. Conclusions This guideline offers standardized, evidence-based pharmacologic recommendations for dementia management, with specific guidance on cholinesterase inhibitors and NMDA receptor antagonists. It aims to support clinical decision-making and improve patient outcomes in dementia care. Further updates will address emerging treatments, including amyloid-targeting therapies, to reflect advances in dementia management.

Background: Transfusion reactions are major considerations in transfusions. Appropriate transfusion practices are essential to minimize the risk of transfusion reactions, such as using irradiated and leukoreduced blood components for indicated patients. This study examined the effectiveness of an electronic prescription system modification in promoting the appropriate use of these blood components. Methods: The blood component prescription data from seven years (Jan 2016∼Dec 2022) were analyzed retrospectively. The proportion of irradiated units was calculated for each half-year. Each transfusion was categorized by cancer diagnosis, blood component type, and visit type. Statistical comparisons were performed to assess the changes in the use of irradiated blood units and leukoreduced red cell components before and after the system modification. Results: This study analyzed 33,701 blood component prescriptions. The average number of irradiated units per prescription increased significantly from 0.21 to 0.77 after system modification. All patient groups, excluding transfusion in the operating room, showed a significant increase in irradiated unit use (P≤0.001). In addition, the percentage of leukoreduced red cell components increased significantly after the intervention (P<0.001). Conclusion Modification of the electronic prescription system was effective in promoting the appropriate use of irradiated blood components among clinicians. This intervention can reduce transfusion reactions and improve patient outcomes by ensuring the correct selection of blood components for the indicated patients.

Objective: Bariatric surgery effectively treats non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). The glutamate-serine-glycine (GSG) index has emerged as a non-invasive diagnostic marker for NAFLD, but its ability to monitor treatment response remains unclear. This study investigates the GSG index's ability to monitor NAFLD's response to bariatric surgery. Methodology: Ten NAFLD participants were studied at baseline and 6 months post-bariatric surgery. Blood samples were collected for serum biomarkers and metabolomic profiling. Hepatic steatosis [proton density fat fraction (PDFF)] and fibroinflammation (cT1) were quantified with multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (mpMRI), and hepatic stiffness with magnetic resonance elastography (MRE). Amino acids and acylcarnitines were measured with mass spectrometry. Statistical analyses included paired Student’s t-test, Wilcoxon-signed rank test, and Pearson’s correlation. Results: Eight participants provided complete data. At baseline, all had hepatic steatosis (BMI 39.3 ± 5.6 kg/m2, PDFF ≥ 5%). Post-surgery reductions in PDFF (from 12.4 ± 6.7% to 6.2 ± 2.8%, p = 0.013) and cT1 (from 823.3 ± 85.4ms to 757.5 ± 41.6ms, p = 0.039) were significant, along with the GSG index (from 0.272 ± 0.03 to 0.157 ± 0.05, p = 0.001). Conclusion The GSG index can potentially be developed as a marker for monitoring the response of patients with NAFLD to bariatric surgery.
Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease ; Amino Acids ; Metabolomics

Background: Transfusion reactions are major considerations in transfusions. Appropriate transfusion practices are essential to minimize the risk of transfusion reactions, such as using irradiated and leukoreduced blood components for indicated patients. This study examined the effectiveness of an electronic prescription system modification in promoting the appropriate use of these blood components. Methods: The blood component prescription data from seven years (Jan 2016∼Dec 2022) were analyzed retrospectively. The proportion of irradiated units was calculated for each half-year. Each transfusion was categorized by cancer diagnosis, blood component type, and visit type. Statistical comparisons were performed to assess the changes in the use of irradiated blood units and leukoreduced red cell components before and after the system modification. Results: This study analyzed 33,701 blood component prescriptions. The average number of irradiated units per prescription increased significantly from 0.21 to 0.77 after system modification. All patient groups, excluding transfusion in the operating room, showed a significant increase in irradiated unit use (P≤0.001). In addition, the percentage of leukoreduced red cell components increased significantly after the intervention (P<0.001). Conclusion Modification of the electronic prescription system was effective in promoting the appropriate use of irradiated blood components among clinicians. This intervention can reduce transfusion reactions and improve patient outcomes by ensuring the correct selection of blood components for the indicated patients.

Background: Transfusion reactions are major considerations in transfusions. Appropriate transfusion practices are essential to minimize the risk of transfusion reactions, such as using irradiated and leukoreduced blood components for indicated patients. This study examined the effectiveness of an electronic prescription system modification in promoting the appropriate use of these blood components. Methods: The blood component prescription data from seven years (Jan 2016∼Dec 2022) were analyzed retrospectively. The proportion of irradiated units was calculated for each half-year. Each transfusion was categorized by cancer diagnosis, blood component type, and visit type. Statistical comparisons were performed to assess the changes in the use of irradiated blood units and leukoreduced red cell components before and after the system modification. Results: This study analyzed 33,701 blood component prescriptions. The average number of irradiated units per prescription increased significantly from 0.21 to 0.77 after system modification. All patient groups, excluding transfusion in the operating room, showed a significant increase in irradiated unit use (P≤0.001). In addition, the percentage of leukoreduced red cell components increased significantly after the intervention (P<0.001). Conclusion Modification of the electronic prescription system was effective in promoting the appropriate use of irradiated blood components among clinicians. This intervention can reduce transfusion reactions and improve patient outcomes by ensuring the correct selection of blood components for the indicated patients.

Chronic respiratory diseases such as idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and respiratory infections injure the alveoli; the damage evoked is mostly irreversible and occasionally leads to death. Achieving a detailed understanding of the pathogenesis of these fatal respiratory diseases has been hampered by limited access to human alveolar tissue and the differences between mice and humans. Thus, the development of human alveolar organoid (AO) models that mimic in vivo physiology and pathophysiology has gained tremendous attention over the last decade. In recent years, human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) have been successfully employed to generate several types of organoids representing different respiratory compartments, including alveolar regions. However, despite continued advances in three-dimensional culture techniques and single-cell genomics, there is still a profound need to improve the cellular heterogeneity and maturity of AOs to recapitulate the key histological and functional features of in vivo alveolar tissue. In particular, the incorporation of immune cells such as macrophages into hPSC-AO systems is crucial for disease modeling and subsequent drug screening. In this review, we summarize current methods for differentiating alveolar epithelial cells from hPSCs followed by AO generation and their applications in disease modeling, drug testing, and toxicity evaluation. In addition, we review how current hPSC-AOs closely resemble in vivo alveoli in terms of phenotype, cellular heterogeneity, and maturity.

Background: Transfusion reactions are major considerations in transfusions. Appropriate transfusion practices are essential to minimize the risk of transfusion reactions, such as using irradiated and leukoreduced blood components for indicated patients. This study examined the effectiveness of an electronic prescription system modification in promoting the appropriate use of these blood components. Methods: The blood component prescription data from seven years (Jan 2016∼Dec 2022) were analyzed retrospectively. The proportion of irradiated units was calculated for each half-year. Each transfusion was categorized by cancer diagnosis, blood component type, and visit type. Statistical comparisons were performed to assess the changes in the use of irradiated blood units and leukoreduced red cell components before and after the system modification. Results: This study analyzed 33,701 blood component prescriptions. The average number of irradiated units per prescription increased significantly from 0.21 to 0.77 after system modification. All patient groups, excluding transfusion in the operating room, showed a significant increase in irradiated unit use (P≤0.001). In addition, the percentage of leukoreduced red cell components increased significantly after the intervention (P<0.001). Conclusion Modification of the electronic prescription system was effective in promoting the appropriate use of irradiated blood components among clinicians. This intervention can reduce transfusion reactions and improve patient outcomes by ensuring the correct selection of blood components for the indicated patients.