Background: and Purpose Previous research on patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS) has shown a 0.5% incidence of major gastrointestinal bleeding (GIB) requiring blood transfusion during hospitalization. The existing literature has insufficiently explored the long-term incidence in this population despite the decremental impact of GIB on stroke outcomes. Methods: We analyzed the data from a cohort of patients with AIS admitted to 14 hospitals as part of a nationwide multicenter prospective stroke registry between 2011 and 2013. These patients were followed up for up to 6 years. The occurrence of major GIB events, defined as GIB necessitating at least two units of blood transfusion, was tracked using the National Health Insurance Service claims data. Results: Among 10,818 patients with AIS (male, 59%; mean age, 68±13 years), 947 (8.8%) experienced 1,224 episodes of major GIB over a median follow-up duration of 3.1 years. Remarkably, 20% of 947 patients experienced multiple episodes of major GIB. The incidence peaked in the first month after AIS, reaching 19.2 per 100 person-years, and gradually decreased to approximately one-sixth of this rate by the 2nd year with subsequent stabilization. Multivariable analysis identified the following predictors of major GIB: anemia, estimated glomerular filtration rate <60 mL/min/1.73 m2 , and a 3-month modified Rankin Scale score of ≥4. Conclusion Patients with AIS are susceptible to major GIB, particularly in the first month after the onset of AIS, with the risk decreasing thereafter. Implementing preventive strategies may be important, especially for patients with anemia and impaired renal function at stroke onset and those with a disabling stroke.

Background/Aims: We investigated the clinical practice patterns of Korean endoscopists for the endoscopic resection of colorectal polyps. Methods: From September to November 2021, an online survey was conducted regarding the preferred resection methods for colorectal polyps, and responses were compared with the international guidelines. Results: Among 246 respondents, those with <4 years, 4–9 years, and ≥10 years of experiencein colonoscopy practices accounted for 25.6%, 34.1%, and 40.2% of endoscopists, respectively. The most preferred resection methods for non-pedunculated lesions were cold forceps polypectomy for ≤3 mm lesions (81.7%), cold snare polypectomy for 4–5 mm (61.0%) and 6–9 mm (43.5%) lesions, hot endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) for 10–19 mm lesions (72.0%), precut EMR for 20–25 mm lesions (22.0%), and endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) for ≥26 mm lesions (29.3%). Hot EMR was favored for pedunculated lesions with a head size <20 mm and stalk size <10 mm (75.6%) and for those with a head size ≥20 mm or stalk size ≥10 mm (58.5%). For suspected superficial and deep submucosal lesions measuring 10–19 mm and ≥20 mm, ESD (26.0% and 38.6%) and surgery (36.6% and 46.3%) were preferred, respectively. The adherence rate to the guidelines ranged from 11.2% to 96.9%, depending on the size, shape, and histology of the lesions. Conclusions Adherence to the guidelines for endoscopic resection techniques varied depend-ing on the characteristics of colorectal polyps. Thus, an individualized approach is required to increase adherence to the guidelines.

Background/Aims: Infliximab treatment failure in patients with inflammatory bowel disease may result from sub-optimal infliximab trough level. An understanding of pharmacokinetics (PKs) is important to maintain an optimal trough level. PK studies of the switch to subcutaneous (SC) infliximab from intravenous (IV) infliximab using real-world data are lacking. We aimed to develop a population PK model of IV and SC infliximab to predict individual infliximab exposure during maintenance therapy. Methods: We used data from prospectively collected data on IV and SC infliximab concentrations in patients with inflammatory bowel disease receiving maintenance treatment from February 2020 to December 2022 at Samsung Medical Center. Population PK analysis was conducted by using a two-compartment model with first-order absorption and first-order elimination. Goodness-of-fit plots and visual predictive check were used to evaluate the PK model. Results: A total of 2,132 samples from 181 patients (149 Crohn’s disease and 32 ulcerative colitis) were analyzed. We developed an infliximab population PK model using body mass index, albumin, C-reactive protein level, and the anti-drug antibody level and validated its predictive performance. Conclusions It may be possible to predict the infliximab trough level of both IV and SC infliximab in patients with inflammatory bowel disease during maintenance treatment by using our model in real-world practice.

Purpose: Inotuzumab ozogamicin (INO) has demonstrated a safe bridging role to allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) in patients with relapsed or refractory B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (R/R B-ALL). How‑ ever, hepatic veno-occlusive disease/sinusoidal obstruction syndrome (VOD/SOS) is frequently observed. This study aimed to identify significant features of INO-associated VOD/SOS. Methods: We reviewed seven cases of hepatic VOD/SOS that developed either during INO salvage or after alloge‑ neic HSCT following INO-induced complete remission (CR). Diagnosis and severity grading of VOD/SOS were based on the revised criteria from the European Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation. Defibrotide was used to treat severe to very severe cases. Results: Four patients developed VOD/SOS during INO salvage therapy (at 21 and 36 days post-INO1, 77 days postINO3, and 21 days post-INO5), while three were diagnosed at 2, 5, and 10 days post-HSCT following INO-induced CR.Doppler ultrasonography revealed preserved portal vein flow (range 10.2–26.0 cm/sec) and normal hepatic artery resistive index (RI, range 0.56–0.74) in all but one patient (RI 0.83). Despite this, all patients presented with massive ascites and progressively elevated total bilirubin levels. All cases were classified as severe to very severe; six were treated with defibrotide and one underwent liver transplantation. Most patients ultimately died owing to VOD/SOS progression. Conclusion Post-INO VOD/SOS manifested as two different clinical settings and was characterized by preserved portal vein flow, which complicated diagnosis. Despite timely defibrotide administration, clinical outcomes were poor.These findings emphasize the need for vigilance and potential consideration of prophylactic strategies for prevention of INO-associated VOD/SOS.

Purpose: This multicenter, open-label, phase II trial evaluated the efficacy and safety of bortezomib combined with dexamethasone for the treatment of relapsed/refractory cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL) in previously treated patients across 14 institutions in South Korea. Materials and Methods: Between September 2017 and July 2020, 29 patients with histologically confirmed CTCL received treatment, consisting of eight 4-week cycles of induction therapy followed by maintenance therapy, contingent upon response, for up to one year. The primary endpoint was the proportion of patients achieving an objective global response. Results: Thirteen of the 29 patients (44.8%) achieved an objective global response, including two complete responses. The median progression-free survival (PFS) was 5.8 months, with responders showing a median PFS of 14.0 months. Treatment-emergent adverse events were generally mild, with a low incidence of peripheral neuropathy and hematologic toxicities. Despite the trend toward shorter PFS in patients with higher mutation burdens, genomic profiling before and after treatment showed no significant emergence of new mutations indicative of disease progression. Conclusion This study supports the use of bortezomib and dexamethasone as a viable and safe treatment option for previously treated CTCL, demonstrating substantial efficacy and manageability in adverse effects. Further research with a larger cohort is suggested to validate these findings and explore the prognostic value of mutation profiles.

Purpose: This study aimed to identify predictive factors affecting adolescents’ subjective happiness using data from the 2023 Korea Youth Risk Behavior Survey. A random forest model was applied to determine the strongest predictive factors, and its predictive performance was compared with traditional regression models. Methods: Responses from a total of 44,320 students from grades 7 to 12 were analyzed. Data pre-processing involved handling missing values and selecting variables to construct an optimal dataset. The random forest model was employed for prediction, and SHAP (Shapley Additive Explanations) analysis was used to assess variable importance. Results: The random forest model demonstrated a stable predictive performance, with an R2 of .37. Mental and physical health factors were found to significantly affect subjective happiness. Adolescents’ subjective happiness was most strongly influenced by perceived stress, perceived health, experiences of loneliness, generalized anxiety disorder, suicidal ideation, economic status, fatigue recovery from sleep, and academic performance. Conclusion This study highlights the utility of machine learning in identifying factors influencing adolescents’ subjective happiness, addressing limitations of traditional regression approaches. These findings underscore the need for multidimensional interventions to improve mental and physical health, reduce stress and loneliness, and provide integrated support from schools and communities to enhance adolescents’ subjective happiness.

This study aimed to investigate changes in candidemia incidence, species distribution, antifungal susceptibility, initial antifungal use, and mortality trends in Korea before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. A retrospective analysis was conducted on candidemia cases from two tertiary care hospitals in Korea between 2017 and 2022. Data were compared between the pre-pandemic (2017-2019) and pandemic (2020-2022) periods. Statistical methods included incidence rate ratios (IRRs) and multivariate Cox regression to assess 30-day mortality risk factors. A total of 470 candidemia cases were identified, with 48.7% occurring pre-pandemic and 51.3% during the pandemic. While the overall incidence of candidemia remained similar across the two periods (IRR 1.15;p=0.13), the incidence in intensive care units (ICUs) significantly increased during the pandemic (IRR 1.50; p<0.01). The distribution of Candida species did not differ significantly between the two periods. Fluconazole non-susceptibility in C. albicans markedly decreased (10.0% vs. 0.9%, p<0.01), whereas C. glabrata exhibited a significant rise in caspofungin non-susceptibility during the pandemic (0% vs. 22.4%, p<0.01).Echinocandin use increased (21.8% vs. 34.4%; p<0.01), while fluconazole use declined (48.0% vs. 32.8%; p<0.01). Although the 30-day mortality rate was higher during the pandemic (60.2% vs. 57.2%), the difference was not statistically significant (p=0.57).The findings highlight the need for region-specific surveillance and tailored management strategies to improve candidemia outcomes, especially during healthcare disruptions like the COVID-19 pandemic.

Background: and Purpose Previous research on patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS) has shown a 0.5% incidence of major gastrointestinal bleeding (GIB) requiring blood transfusion during hospitalization. The existing literature has insufficiently explored the long-term incidence in this population despite the decremental impact of GIB on stroke outcomes. Methods: We analyzed the data from a cohort of patients with AIS admitted to 14 hospitals as part of a nationwide multicenter prospective stroke registry between 2011 and 2013. These patients were followed up for up to 6 years. The occurrence of major GIB events, defined as GIB necessitating at least two units of blood transfusion, was tracked using the National Health Insurance Service claims data. Results: Among 10,818 patients with AIS (male, 59%; mean age, 68±13 years), 947 (8.8%) experienced 1,224 episodes of major GIB over a median follow-up duration of 3.1 years. Remarkably, 20% of 947 patients experienced multiple episodes of major GIB. The incidence peaked in the first month after AIS, reaching 19.2 per 100 person-years, and gradually decreased to approximately one-sixth of this rate by the 2nd year with subsequent stabilization. Multivariable analysis identified the following predictors of major GIB: anemia, estimated glomerular filtration rate <60 mL/min/1.73 m2 , and a 3-month modified Rankin Scale score of ≥4. Conclusion Patients with AIS are susceptible to major GIB, particularly in the first month after the onset of AIS, with the risk decreasing thereafter. Implementing preventive strategies may be important, especially for patients with anemia and impaired renal function at stroke onset and those with a disabling stroke.

The anticancer drugs have evolved significantly, spanning molecular targeted therapeutics (MTTs), immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR-T) therapy, and antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs). Complications associated with these drugs vary widely based on their mechanisms of action. MTTs that target angiogenesis can often lead to complications related to ischemia or endothelial damage across various organs, whereas non-anti-angiogenic MTTs present unique complications derived from their specific pharmacological actions. ICIs are predominantly associated with immunerelated adverse events, such as pneumonitis, colitis, hepatitis, thyroid disorders, hypophysitis, and sarcoid-like reactions. CAR-T therapy causes unique and severe complications including cytokine release syndrome and immune effector cell-associated neurotoxicity syndrome. ADCs tend to cause complications associated with cytotoxic payloads. A comprehensive understanding of these drug-specific toxicities, particularly using medical imaging, is essential for providing optimal patient care. Based on this knowledge, radiologists can play a pivotal role in multidisciplinary teams. Therefore, radiologists must stay up-to-date on the imaging characteristics of these complications and the mechanisms underlying novel anticancer drugs.

Pemphigus is autoimmune blistering disease associated with autoantibodies (such as desmoglein 3 antibody) directed against the cell surface of keratinocytes, thereby loss of cell-cell adhesion of keratinocytes.The pathogenesis of pemphigus is currently thought to be mediated by direct inhibition via autoantibodies and subsequent signal transduction involving p38 mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway. Several studies have reported both mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase 3 (MKK3) and MKK6 are required for full activation of p38, and we recently reported the activation of MKK3 in pemphigus skin tissue, but not MKK6, suggesting that MKK3 could be a potential therapeutic target for pemphigus vulgaris. Here, we found that AK23 IgG (desmoglein 3 antibody) induced the phosphorylation of MKK3 in human keratinocyte HaCaT cells, and treatment of MKK3-inhibiting Lycopi Herba extract (ELH) with MKK3 kinase IC50 , 12.25 μg/mL significantly inhibited AK23-induced fragmentation of HaCaT cell sheets in a dose-dependent manner without any cytotoxicity. Additionally, ELH exhibited anti-atopic activity. In conclusion, MKK3 could play an important role in blister formation in pemphigus, and the MKK3 inhibition by herbal extracts such as ELH could be a possible therapeutic strategy for treating patients with pemphigus as well as atopic dermatitis.