Background: Chronic diseases increase the risk of depression. We selected the most frequent chronic eye diseases and their combinations. We compared the risk of diagnosis and the current prevalence of depression based on eye diseases and their combinations. Methods: Data from the 8th Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2019–2021), which included responses from 10,910 adults aged 18 years or older who answered a questionnaire on eye diseases and diagnosis of depression, were analyzed. The study group and control group consists of 3,007 and 7,903 individuals. In the study group, individuals with a single eye disease were categorized as having cataracts, dry eye, glaucoma, macular degeneration, or other eye diseases. Patients with two eye diseases were categorized as having glaucoma with cataracts, cataracts with dry eye, cataracts with macular degeneration, or two other eye diseases. The remaining patients were classified as having three or more eye diseases. Chi-square tests and multiple logistic regression analysis using correction variables were used for statistical analysis. Results: The high-risk factors for depression in the past were cataracts with macular degeneration, cataracts with dry eyes, glaucoma, cataracts, and dry eye. The risk of current depression was statistically significant only for cataracts with macular degeneration, cataracts with dry eye, cataracts, and dry eye. Conclusion Patients with eye diseases that are highly associated with depression require active screening and treatment.

Background: Chronic diseases increase the risk of depression. We selected the most frequent chronic eye diseases and their combinations. We compared the risk of diagnosis and the current prevalence of depression based on eye diseases and their combinations. Methods: Data from the 8th Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2019–2021), which included responses from 10,910 adults aged 18 years or older who answered a questionnaire on eye diseases and diagnosis of depression, were analyzed. The study group and control group consists of 3,007 and 7,903 individuals. In the study group, individuals with a single eye disease were categorized as having cataracts, dry eye, glaucoma, macular degeneration, or other eye diseases. Patients with two eye diseases were categorized as having glaucoma with cataracts, cataracts with dry eye, cataracts with macular degeneration, or two other eye diseases. The remaining patients were classified as having three or more eye diseases. Chi-square tests and multiple logistic regression analysis using correction variables were used for statistical analysis. Results: The high-risk factors for depression in the past were cataracts with macular degeneration, cataracts with dry eyes, glaucoma, cataracts, and dry eye. The risk of current depression was statistically significant only for cataracts with macular degeneration, cataracts with dry eye, cataracts, and dry eye. Conclusion Patients with eye diseases that are highly associated with depression require active screening and treatment.

Background: Chronic diseases increase the risk of depression. We selected the most frequent chronic eye diseases and their combinations. We compared the risk of diagnosis and the current prevalence of depression based on eye diseases and their combinations. Methods: Data from the 8th Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2019–2021), which included responses from 10,910 adults aged 18 years or older who answered a questionnaire on eye diseases and diagnosis of depression, were analyzed. The study group and control group consists of 3,007 and 7,903 individuals. In the study group, individuals with a single eye disease were categorized as having cataracts, dry eye, glaucoma, macular degeneration, or other eye diseases. Patients with two eye diseases were categorized as having glaucoma with cataracts, cataracts with dry eye, cataracts with macular degeneration, or two other eye diseases. The remaining patients were classified as having three or more eye diseases. Chi-square tests and multiple logistic regression analysis using correction variables were used for statistical analysis. Results: The high-risk factors for depression in the past were cataracts with macular degeneration, cataracts with dry eyes, glaucoma, cataracts, and dry eye. The risk of current depression was statistically significant only for cataracts with macular degeneration, cataracts with dry eye, cataracts, and dry eye. Conclusion Patients with eye diseases that are highly associated with depression require active screening and treatment.

Background: Chronic diseases increase the risk of depression. We selected the most frequent chronic eye diseases and their combinations. We compared the risk of diagnosis and the current prevalence of depression based on eye diseases and their combinations. Methods: Data from the 8th Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2019–2021), which included responses from 10,910 adults aged 18 years or older who answered a questionnaire on eye diseases and diagnosis of depression, were analyzed. The study group and control group consists of 3,007 and 7,903 individuals. In the study group, individuals with a single eye disease were categorized as having cataracts, dry eye, glaucoma, macular degeneration, or other eye diseases. Patients with two eye diseases were categorized as having glaucoma with cataracts, cataracts with dry eye, cataracts with macular degeneration, or two other eye diseases. The remaining patients were classified as having three or more eye diseases. Chi-square tests and multiple logistic regression analysis using correction variables were used for statistical analysis. Results: The high-risk factors for depression in the past were cataracts with macular degeneration, cataracts with dry eyes, glaucoma, cataracts, and dry eye. The risk of current depression was statistically significant only for cataracts with macular degeneration, cataracts with dry eye, cataracts, and dry eye. Conclusion Patients with eye diseases that are highly associated with depression require active screening and treatment.

Purpose: Despite the recent success of Bruton’s tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibitors for the treatment of Waldenstrom macroglobulinemia (WM), their indefinite treatment duration ultimately tantamount to substantial financial and emotional burden. On the other hand, fixed duration of proteasome inhibitors (PI) have shown rapid and reasonable response in WM treatment. Despite the well-known synergism between PI and immunomodulatory drugs (IMiD), there is no trials evaluating such combination in WM. Materials and Methods: Based on above, we designed this phase II study to investigate the efficacy and safety of 6 cycles of 28-day bortezomib-thalidomide-dexamethasone (VTD) regimen for treatment-naïve WM. Results: A total of 15 patients were enrolled: major response rate was 64.3%, and overall response rate was 78.6%. During the median follow-up of 41 months, median progression-free survival (PFS) was 13 months and overall survival 40 months. For responders, median duration of response was 13 months and median PFS 19 months. The most common adverse event (AE) of any grade was constipation (57.1%). The most common grade ≥ 3 AE was anemia (21.4%). Conclusion All in all, we hereby provide proof-of-concept that PI + IMiD may be an attractive backbone for fixed duration treatment. It should be noted that granting the same level of access to newer drugs globally is virtually impossible. Thus efforts to develop regimens using readily available drugs to yield similar or adequate treatment outcomes should not be disregarded. In this sense, we believe our study holds its place for its novelty and eloquently addresses achieving the daunting societal quest of health equity.

Purpose: Optimal treatment for stage IIIA/N2 non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is controversial. We aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of adjuvant pembrolizumab for stage IIIA/N2 NSCLC completely resected after neoadjuvant concurrent chemoradiation therapy (CCRT). Materials and Methods: In this open-label, single-center, single-arm phase 2 trial, patients with stage IIIA/N2 NSCLC received adjuvant pembrolizumab for up to 2 years after complete resection following neoadjuvant CCRT. The primary endpoint was disease-free survival (DFS). Secondary endpoints included overall survival (OS) and safety. As an exploratory biomarker analysis, we evaluated the proliferative response of blood CD39+PD-1+CD8+ T cells using fold changes in the percentage of proliferating Ki-67+ cells from days 1 to 7 of cycle 1 (Ki-67D7/D1). Results: Between October 2017 and October 2018, 37 patients were enrolled. Twelve (32%) and three (8%) patients harbored EGFR and ALK alterations, respectively. Of 34 patients with programmed cell death ligand 1 assessment, 21 (62%), nine (26%), and four (12%) had a tumor proportion score of < 1%, 1%-50%, and ≥ 50%, respectively. The median follow-up was 71 months. The median DFS was 22.4 months in the overall population, with a 5-year DFS rate of 29%. The OS rate was 86% at 2 years and 76% at 5 years. Patients with tumor recurrence within 6 months had a significantly lower Ki-67D7/D1 among CD39+PD-1+CD8+ T cells than those without (p=0.036). No new safety signals were identified. Conclusion Adjuvant pembrolizumab may offer durable disease control in a subset of stage IIIA/N2 NSCLC patients after neoadjuvant CCRT and surgery.

Objective: To evaluate the clinical characteristics of a nosocomial FCV-VSD outbreak involving 18 cats in Korea. Methods: Medical records of cats diagnosed with FCV-VSD from March to September 2018 at a referral veterinary hospital were reviewed. The patient’s signalment, history, clinical features, diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis were evaluated. Results: Two outbreaks involving 18 cats diagnosed with FCV-VSD occurred over a 6-month period at a referral hospital in Korea. Anorexia, lethargy, fever, and limb edema were the most commonly observed clinical symptoms. Lymphopenia and macrothrombocytopenia were the most common hematological findings, and hyperbilirubinemia and increased levels of aspartate aminotransferase, creatine kinase, and serum amyloid A were the most frequent results of serum biochemistry. FCV was detected by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction in 11 patients and the remaining 7 were suspected with FCV-VSD. The overall mortality rate was 72.2%. The hospital was closed and disinfected twice, and no additional outbreaks have occurred since the last patient. Conclusions and Relevance: The clinical and diagnostic characteristics and outcomes of FCV-VSD described in this study can be used to recognize and contain infectious diseases through quick action. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first report of a nosocomial outbreak of FCV-VSD in Asia.

We aimed to determine whether combination of LIM-kinase 2 inhibitor (LIMK2i) and phosphodiesterase type-5 inhibitor (PDE5i) could restore erectile function through suppressing cavernous fibrosis and improving cavernous apoptosis in a rat model of cavernous nerve crush injury (CNCI). Seventy 12-week-old Sprague-Dawley rats were equally distributed into five groups as follows: (1) sham surgery (Group S), (2) CNCI (Group I), (3) CNCI treated with daily intraperitoneal administration of 10.0 mg kg^-1 LIMK2i (Group I + L), (4) daily oral administration of 20.0 mg kg^-1 udenafil, PDE5i (Group I + U), and (5) combined administration of 10.0 mg kg^-1 LIMK2i and 20.0 mg kg^-1 udenafil (Group I + L + U). Rats in Groups I + L, I + U, and I + L + U were treated with respective regimens for 2 weeks after CNCI. At 2 weeks after surgery, erectile response was assessed using electrostimulation. Penile tissues were processed for histological studies and western blot. Group I showed lower intracavernous pressure (ICP)/mean arterial pressure (MAP), lower area under the curve (AUC)/MAP, decreased immunohistochemical staining for alpha-smooth muscle (SM) actin, higher apoptotic index, lower SM/collagen ratio, increased phospho-LIMK2-positive fibroblasts, decreased protein kinase B/endothelial nitric oxide synthase (Akt/eNOS) phosphorylation, increased LIMK2/cofilin phosphorylation, and increased protein expression of fibronectin, compared to Group S. In all three treatment groups, erectile responses, protein expression of fibronectin, and SM/collagen ratio were improved. Group I + L + U showed greater improvement in erectile response than Group I + L. SM content and apoptotic index in Groups I + U and I + L + U were improved compared to those in Group I. However, Group I + L did not show a significant improvement in SM content or apoptotic index. The number of phospho-LIMK2-positive fibroblasts was normalized in Groups I + L and I + L + U, but not in Group I + U. Akt/eNOS phosphorylation was improved in Groups I + U and I + L + U, but not in Group I + L. LIMK2/cofilin phosphorylation was improved in Groups I + L and I + L + U, but not in Group I + U. Our data indicate that combined treatment of LIMK2i and PDE5i immediate after CN injury could improve erectile function by improving cavernous apoptosis or eNOS phosphorylation and suppressing cavernous fibrosis. Rectification of Akt/eNOS and LIMK2/cofilin pathways appears to be involved in their improvement.
Animals ; Apoptosis/drug effects* ; Arterial Pressure ; Electric Stimulation ; Erectile Dysfunction/pathology* ; Lim Kinases/antagonists & inhibitors* ; Male ; Nerve Crush ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III/metabolism* ; Penis/pathology* ; Peripheral Nerve Injuries/pathology* ; Phosphodiesterase 5 Inhibitors/therapeutic use* ; Phosphorylation ; Pyrimidines/therapeutic use* ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Sulfonamides/therapeutic use*

OBJECTIVES: This research was conducted to identify the consumers' food choice factors that affect the consumers' replacement of soft drinks with carbonated water. METHODS: The present study used secondary data from a consumer panel survey conducted by the Rural Development Administration of Korea, and the data included the panel members' purchase records based on their monthly spending receipts. The survey asked the participants about their food choice factors and their personal responsibility for their health. This survey included independent variables for the consumers' food purchase factors. As a dependent variable, two types of groups were defined. The replacement group included those people who increased their purchase of carbonated water and decreased their purchase of soft drinks. The non-replacement group included those people who did not change their purchase patterns or they increased their purchase of soft drinks and they decreased their purchase of carbonated water. Logistic regression analysis was conducted to determine the consumers' food choice factors that were associated with replacing soft drinks with carbonated water. RESULTS: The replacement group was significantly associated with (1) a younger age (OR=0.953), (2) being a housewife (OR=2.03), (3) higher income (OR=1.001) and (4) less concern about price (OR=0.819) when purchasing food. This group also showed (5) higher enjoyment (OR=1.328) when choosing food and (6) they took greater responsibly for their personal health (OR=1.233). CONCLUSIONS: This research is the first study to mainly focus on soft drinks and carbonated water. The result of this research showed that young, health-conscious consumers with a higher income and who are more interested in food have more possibilities to replace soft drinks with carbonated water. These research findings may be applied to consumers who have characteristics that are similar to the young health-conscious consumers and the results can help to suggest ways to reduce sugar intake and improve public health. However, this research has a limitation due to the application of secondary data. Therefore, a future study is needed to develop detailed survey questions about food choice factors and to extend these factors to all beverages, including soft drinks made with sugar substitutes, so as to reflect the growth of alternative industries that use artificial sweeteners or different types of sugar to make commercially available drinks.
Beverages ; Carbon ; Carbonated Beverages ; Carbonated Water ; Consumer Behavior ; Humans ; Korea ; Logistic Models ; Public Health ; Social Planning ; Sweetening Agents

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness of intensive rehabilitation to support recovery of neurological function after brain tumor surgery and assess long-term satisfaction. METHODS: This retrospective study included patients with neurological impairment after brain tumor surgery who underwent intensive rehabilitation therapy between December 2013 and May 2017. To assess effectiveness of rehabilitation, functional outcomes (motor, cognition, and activities of daily living [ADL]) were compared between brain tumor group and a control group enrolling stroke patients who received equivalent rehabilitation during the study period. Long-term satisfaction with rehabilitation was evaluated by surveying family caregivers. RESULTS: This study included 21 patients with benign brain tumor, 14 with malignant brain tumor, and 108 with stroke. Significant and similar improvement in motor, cognition, and ADL function were noted in both the brain tumor group and the stroke group. Malignancy status did not influence the extent of functional improvement. According to medical records and surveys, 9 (69.2%) patients with malignant tumor and 2 (11.8%) with benign tumor had expired by the time of the survey. Most family caregivers confirmed that rehabilitation was effective for functional improvement (>60%), expressing overall satisfaction and stating they would recommend such therapy to patients with similar conditions (approximately 70%). CONCLUSION: Intensive rehabilitation may help promote functional improvement following brain tumor surgery regardless of malignancy compared with stroke patients. Family caregivers expressed overall satisfaction with rehabilitation at long-term follow-up. These findings support the provision of intensive rehabilitation therapy for neurologic function recovery following brain tumor surgery.
Activities of Daily Living ; Brain Neoplasms ; Brain ; Caregivers ; Cognition ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Medical Records ; Neurological Rehabilitation ; Pilot Projects ; Recovery of Function ; Rehabilitation ; Retrospective Studies ; Stroke ; Treatment Outcome