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.

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.

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.

The Korean Dementia Association (KDA) has been organizing biennial international academic conferences since 2019, with the International Conference of the KDA (IC-KDA) 2023 held in Busan under the theme ‘Beyond Boundaries: Advancing Global Dementia Solutions.’ The conference comprised 6 scientific sessions, 3 plenary lectures, and 4luncheon symposiums, drawing 804 participants from 35 countries. Notably, a Korea– Taiwan Joint Symposium addressed insights into Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Plenary lectures by renowned scholars explored topics such as microbiome-related AD pathogenesis, social cognition in neurodegenerative diseases, and genetic frontotemporal dementia (FTD). On the first day, specific presentations covered subjects like the gut–brain axis and neuroinflammation in dementia, blood-based biomarkers in AD, and updates in AD therapeutics. The second day’s presentations addressed recent issues in clinical neuropsychology, FTD cohort studies, and the pathogenesis of non-AD dementia. The Academic Committee of the KDA compiles lecture summaries to provide comprehensive understanding of the advanced dementia knowledge presented at IC-KDA 2023.

Objectives: Education in biomedical and health informatics is essential for managing complex healthcare systems, bridging the gap between healthcare and information technology, and adapting to the digital requirements of the healthcare industry. This review presents the current status of biomedical and health informatics education domestically and internationally and proposes recommendations for future development. Methods: We analyzed evidence from reports and papers to explore global trends and international and domestic examples of education. The challenges and future strategies in Korea were also discussed based on the experts’ opinions. Results: This review presents international recommendations for establishing education in biomedical and health informatics, as well as global examples at the undergraduate and graduate levels in medical and nursing education. It provides a thorough examination of the best practices, strategies, and competencies in informatics education. The review also assesses the current state of medical informatics and nursing informatics education in Korea. We highlight the challenges faced by academic institutions and conclude with a call to action for educators to enhance the preparation of professionals to effectively utilize technology in any healthcare setting. Conclusions To adapt to the digitalization of healthcare, systematic and continuous workforce development is essential. Future education should prioritize curriculum innovations and the establishment of integrated education programs, focusing not only on students but also on educators and all healthcare personnel in the field. Addressing these challenges requires collaboration among educational institutions, academic societies, government agencies, and international bodies dedicated to systematic and continuous workforce development.

Previous studies have shown that tricuspid regurgitation (TR) can be developed in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) due to annular dilatation. This study aimed to investigate the incidence and predictors of the progression of TR in patients with persistent AF. A total of 397 patients (66.9±11.4 years, 247 men; 62.2%) with persistent AF were enrolled between 2006 and 2016 in a tertiary hospital, and 287 eligible patients with follow-up echocardiography were analyzed. They were divided into two groups according to TR progression (progression group [n=68, 70.1±10.7 years, 48.5% men] vs. non-progression group [n=219, 66.0±11.3 years, 64.8% men]). Among 287 patients in the analysis, 68 had worsening TR severity (23.7%). Patients in the TR progression group were older and more likely to be female. Patients with left ventricular ejection fraction ＜50% were less frequent in the progression group than those in the non-progression group (7.4% vs. 19.6%, p=0.018). Patients with mitral valve disease were more frequent in the progression group. Multivariate analysis with COX regression demonstrated independent predictors of TR progression, including left atrial (LA) diameter ＞54 mm (HR 4.85, 95%CI 2.23-10.57, p＜0.001), E/e’ (HR 1.05, 95%CI 1.01-1.10, p=0.027), and no use of antiarrhythmic agents (HR 2.20, 95%CI 1.03-4.72, p=0.041). In patients with persistent AF, worsening TR was not uncommon. The independent predictors of TR progression turned out to be greater LA diameter, higher E/e’, and no use of antiarrhythmic agents.

Background: This study investigates the long-term efficacy and safety of evogliptin add-on therapy in patients with inadequately controlled type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) previously received dapagliflozin and metformin (DAPA/MET) combination. Methods: In this multicenter randomized placebo-controlled phase 3 trial, patients with glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels 7.0% to 10.5% (n=283) previously used DAPA 10 mg plus MET (≥1,000 mg) were randomly assigned to the evogliptin 5 mg once daily or placebo group (1:1). The primary endpoint was the difference in the HbA1c level from baseline at week 24, and exploratory endpoints included the efficacy and safety of evogliptin over 52 weeks (trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04170998). Results: Evogliptin add-on to DAPA/MET therapy was superior in HbA1c reduction compared to placebo at weeks 24 and 52 (least square [LS] mean difference, –0.65% and –0.55%; 95% confidence interval [CI], –0.79 to –0.51 and –0.71 to –0.39; P<0.0001). The proportion of patients achieving HbA1c <7% was higher in the triple combination group at week 52 (32.14% vs. 8.51% in placebo; odds ratio, 5.62; P<0.0001). Evogliptin significantly reduced the fasting glucose levels and mean daily glucose levels with improvement in homeostatic model assessment of β-cell function (LS mean difference, 9.04; 95% CI, 1.86 to 16.21; P=0.0138). Adverse events were similar between the groups, and no serious adverse drug reactions were reported in the evogliptin group. Conclusion Long-term triple combination with evogliptin added to DAPA/MET showed superior HbA1c reduction and glycemic control compared to placebo at 52 weeks and was well tolerated.

Background: Melatonin receptors are present in the human skin and retina. These receptors can be stimulated by light emitting diodes (LEDs) at specific wavelengths, thereby inducing cutaneous photorejuvenation. However, the underlying mechanism remains unclear. Objective: To evaluate the influence of LEDs at specific wavelengths on melatonin membrane receptor (MT1) and cutaneous photorejuvenation via the MT1 pathway in vitro. Methods: Normal human dermal fibroblasts (HDFs) were irradiated using LEDs at different wavelengths (410~940 nm) at a dose of 1 J/cm 2 . MT1 activity was evaluated after melatonin stimulation and LED irradiation. Thereafter, the expressions of collagen (COL) and matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), with and without luzindole (MT1/2 receptor antagonist), were investigated via semi-quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (PCR), real-time PCR, western blotting, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results: In HDFs, the MT1 mRNA and protein levels increased significantly in response to melatonin (dose, 50 nM) (p<0.01) and LED irradiation at 595, 630, 850, and 940 nm (p<0.01). LED irradiation up-regulated COL type I and down-regulated MMP-1. Compared to LED irradiation without luzindole, LED irradiation with luzindole produced no significant increase in COL type I mRNA and protein levels (p<0.01). Conclusion We found that LED irradiation induces collagen synthesis and MMP-1 inhibition in HDFs via MT1 activation. Additionally, multiple LED wavelengths (595, 630, 850, and 940 nm) stimulated MT1 in HDFs, unlike in the eyes, where only blue light induced plasma melatonin suppression. This suggests the possibility of the melatoninergic pathway in photorejuvenation.

Background: Chronic right-ventricular (RV) pacing can exacerbate heart failure in patients with a low ejection fraction (EF). There is little information on the effects of diastolic dysfunction (DD) in patients with preserved EF undergoing permanent pacemaker (PPM) placement. We aimed to investigate the clinical outcomes in these patients. Methods: This multicenter, retrospective analysis of PPM use in Chonnam, South Korea, included all patients with preserved EF undergoing transvenous PPM implantation for atrioventricular blockage from 2017 to 2019. Patients were divided into two groups according to DD, which were assessed by including mitral flow velocities (E′ velocity, E/E′ ratio), peak velocity of the tricuspid regurgitant, and left atrial maximum volume index. Composite outcomes were defined as (1) cardiovascular death, and (2) hospitalization by heart failure during the follow-up period. Results: One hundred sixty-seven patients (66 men; overall mean age, 75.3 ± 11.9 years) were divided into two groups: 125 normal versus 42 DD. Compared with normal subjects, the DD group included older patients (mean age, 79.1 ± 9.9 vs. 74.0 ± 12.3; p = 0.016), and had longer paced QTc interval (pQTc, 168.5 ± 20.1 vs. 159.1 ± 16.3  ms; p < 0.001). Fifteen patients were hospitalized and two died. In a Cox proportional regression analysis, DD (hazard ratio [HR], 7.343; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.035–26.494; p = 0.002) and pQRSd (HR, 1.046; 95% CI, 1.004–1.091; p = 0.033) were independent predictors of composite outcomes. Conclusion In patients with DD, RV pacing raised the risk of pacing-induced heart failure despite preserved leftventricular function. Thus, patients with DD should be monitored intensively.