Background: Procalcitonin (PCT) is a crucial biomarker for diagnosing sepsis and managing antibiotic therapy. This study evaluated the analytical performance and comparability of the Access PCT and Elecsys BRAHMS PCT assays. Methods: The precision, detection capability, linearity, and reference range of both assays were assessed. A comparative analysis included 182 patient samples categorized into four risk groups to compare the results between Access PCT and Elecsys BRAHMS PCT assays. Results: The Access PCT assay demonstrated precision within the manufacturer’s threshold, and its detection capabilities were verified. This assay exhibited excellent linearity and appropriate reference intervals. Comparative analysis indicated that the Access PCT assay reported higher overall PCT levels than the Elecsys BRAHMS assay, with high agreement between the assays (κ=0.941). However, the biases varied across different PCT concentration intervals. Conclusions Both the Access PCT and Elecsys BRAHMS PCT assays performed robustly with notable concordance but varying biases at different concentration intervals. The observed biases require careful consideration in clinical decision-making, especially when adopting novel assay systems. Standardizing the calibration across different platforms is recommended to improve assay comparability.

Background: Stress management is an important component of management of mental health. Stress processing can be understood as the appraisal of and coping with stress. This study aimed to compare positive and negative perceptions of stress according to patterns of coping strategies. Methods: The study recruited 116 college students who completed the Perceived Stress Scale and Coping Inventory for Stressful Situations using a tablet PC or smartphone application. K-means cluster analysis was used to categorize the subjects into three clusters. Results: Positive perceptions were highest in Cluster 2 (i.e., task and avoidance dominant) at 3.18±0.66 followed by 2.30±0.65 in Cluster 1 (passive coping) and lowest in Cluster 3 (emotion dominant) at 1.75±0.63. Negative perceptions were highest in Cluster 3 at 2.45±0.66 followed by Cluster 1 at 1.66±0.65 and Cluster 2 at 1.07±0.68. Conclusion Differences in coping patterns can reduce the negative effects of stress. Thus, assessing the perception and management of stress can be useful and help people change their coping styles to more adaptive ones. Toward this end, a mobile application can be an appropriate tool.

Background: Procalcitonin (PCT) is a crucial biomarker for diagnosing sepsis and managing antibiotic therapy. This study evaluated the analytical performance and comparability of the Access PCT and Elecsys BRAHMS PCT assays. Methods: The precision, detection capability, linearity, and reference range of both assays were assessed. A comparative analysis included 182 patient samples categorized into four risk groups to compare the results between Access PCT and Elecsys BRAHMS PCT assays. Results: The Access PCT assay demonstrated precision within the manufacturer’s threshold, and its detection capabilities were verified. This assay exhibited excellent linearity and appropriate reference intervals. Comparative analysis indicated that the Access PCT assay reported higher overall PCT levels than the Elecsys BRAHMS assay, with high agreement between the assays (κ=0.941). However, the biases varied across different PCT concentration intervals. Conclusions Both the Access PCT and Elecsys BRAHMS PCT assays performed robustly with notable concordance but varying biases at different concentration intervals. The observed biases require careful consideration in clinical decision-making, especially when adopting novel assay systems. Standardizing the calibration across different platforms is recommended to improve assay comparability.

Background: Stress management is an important component of management of mental health. Stress processing can be understood as the appraisal of and coping with stress. This study aimed to compare positive and negative perceptions of stress according to patterns of coping strategies. Methods: The study recruited 116 college students who completed the Perceived Stress Scale and Coping Inventory for Stressful Situations using a tablet PC or smartphone application. K-means cluster analysis was used to categorize the subjects into three clusters. Results: Positive perceptions were highest in Cluster 2 (i.e., task and avoidance dominant) at 3.18±0.66 followed by 2.30±0.65 in Cluster 1 (passive coping) and lowest in Cluster 3 (emotion dominant) at 1.75±0.63. Negative perceptions were highest in Cluster 3 at 2.45±0.66 followed by Cluster 1 at 1.66±0.65 and Cluster 2 at 1.07±0.68. Conclusion Differences in coping patterns can reduce the negative effects of stress. Thus, assessing the perception and management of stress can be useful and help people change their coping styles to more adaptive ones. Toward this end, a mobile application can be an appropriate tool.

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) poses significant health risks to both mothers and newborns, requiring rigorous self-management and frequent medical consultations. Advances in information and communications technology (ICT) have shown promising results in reducing the number of in-person visits for GDM management. ICT enhances patient self-care engagement, with some studies reporting reductions in average blood glucose and HbA1c levels. ICT for GDM management has demonstrated benefits such as fewer in-person visits, improved adherence to self-monitoring of blood glucose, increased global user satisfaction, and maintenance of blood glucose control and perinatal outcomes. Common barriers to ICT for GDM include technological literacy, inadequate education, limited technical support, the additional burden of non-customized applications, and restricted interoperability. Further research is needed on the impact of technology on GDM management to optimize digital health solutions.

In the 2023 series, we summarized the major clinical research advances in gynecologic oncology based on communications at the conference of Asian Society of Gynecologic Oncology Review Course. The review consisted of 1) Endometrial cancer: immune checkpoint inhibitor, antibody drug conjugates (ADCs), selective inhibitor of nuclear export, CDK4/6 inhibitors WEE1 inhibitor, poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitors. 2) Cervical cancer: surgery in low-risk early-stage cervical cancer, therapy for locally advanced stage and advanced, metastatic, or recurrent setting; and 3) Ovarian cancer: immunotherapy, triplet therapies using immune checkpoint inhibitors along with antiangiogenic agents and PARP inhibitors, and ADCs. In 2023, the field of endometrial cancer treatment witnessed a landmark year, marked by several practice-changing outcomes with immune checkpoint inhibitors and the reliable efficacy of PARP inhibitors and ADCs.

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) poses significant health risks to both mothers and newborns, requiring rigorous self-management and frequent medical consultations. Advances in information and communications technology (ICT) have shown promising results in reducing the number of in-person visits for GDM management. ICT enhances patient self-care engagement, with some studies reporting reductions in average blood glucose and HbA1c levels. ICT for GDM management has demonstrated benefits such as fewer in-person visits, improved adherence to self-monitoring of blood glucose, increased global user satisfaction, and maintenance of blood glucose control and perinatal outcomes. Common barriers to ICT for GDM include technological literacy, inadequate education, limited technical support, the additional burden of non-customized applications, and restricted interoperability. Further research is needed on the impact of technology on GDM management to optimize digital health solutions.

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) poses significant health risks to both mothers and newborns, requiring rigorous self-management and frequent medical consultations. Advances in information and communications technology (ICT) have shown promising results in reducing the number of in-person visits for GDM management. ICT enhances patient self-care engagement, with some studies reporting reductions in average blood glucose and HbA1c levels. ICT for GDM management has demonstrated benefits such as fewer in-person visits, improved adherence to self-monitoring of blood glucose, increased global user satisfaction, and maintenance of blood glucose control and perinatal outcomes. Common barriers to ICT for GDM include technological literacy, inadequate education, limited technical support, the additional burden of non-customized applications, and restricted interoperability. Further research is needed on the impact of technology on GDM management to optimize digital health solutions.