Purpose: We aimed to assess the clinical efficacy and safety of combining silodosin and solifenacin for overactive bladder (OAB) in females. Methods: A retrospective analysis of 586 females with OAB was conducted. Patients received either combination therapy (silodosin 8 mg + solifenacin 5 mg) or monotherapy (solifenacin 5 mg) for 12 weeks. Baseline and follow-up assessments included the overactive bladder symptom score (OABSS), International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), quality of life (QoL), maximum flow rate (Qmax), voided volume (VV), and postvoid residual urine volume (PVR). Results: Overall, 287 and 299 patients received combination therapy and monotherapy respectively. Both groups experienced significant improvements in OABSS and total IPSS after 12 weeks. The combination therapy group demonstrated a greater improvement in QoL compared to the monotherapy group (P=0.031). No significant differences were observed in Qmax or VV between the groups. However, the combination therapy group showed a significant reduction in PVR compared to the monotherapy group (P<0.001). Conclusions Combining silodosin with solifenacin significantly improved OAB symptoms and QoL in females. This combination therapy was particularly effective in reducing postvoid residual volume compared to solifenacin alone. These findings suggest that adding an alpha-blocker to antimuscarinic therapy can enhance OAB management and patient satisfaction.

Purpose: We aimed to assess the clinical efficacy and safety of combining silodosin and solifenacin for overactive bladder (OAB) in females. Methods: A retrospective analysis of 586 females with OAB was conducted. Patients received either combination therapy (silodosin 8 mg + solifenacin 5 mg) or monotherapy (solifenacin 5 mg) for 12 weeks. Baseline and follow-up assessments included the overactive bladder symptom score (OABSS), International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), quality of life (QoL), maximum flow rate (Qmax), voided volume (VV), and postvoid residual urine volume (PVR). Results: Overall, 287 and 299 patients received combination therapy and monotherapy respectively. Both groups experienced significant improvements in OABSS and total IPSS after 12 weeks. The combination therapy group demonstrated a greater improvement in QoL compared to the monotherapy group (P=0.031). No significant differences were observed in Qmax or VV between the groups. However, the combination therapy group showed a significant reduction in PVR compared to the monotherapy group (P<0.001). Conclusions Combining silodosin with solifenacin significantly improved OAB symptoms and QoL in females. This combination therapy was particularly effective in reducing postvoid residual volume compared to solifenacin alone. These findings suggest that adding an alpha-blocker to antimuscarinic therapy can enhance OAB management and patient satisfaction.

Purpose: We aimed to assess the clinical efficacy and safety of combining silodosin and solifenacin for overactive bladder (OAB) in females. Methods: A retrospective analysis of 586 females with OAB was conducted. Patients received either combination therapy (silodosin 8 mg + solifenacin 5 mg) or monotherapy (solifenacin 5 mg) for 12 weeks. Baseline and follow-up assessments included the overactive bladder symptom score (OABSS), International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), quality of life (QoL), maximum flow rate (Qmax), voided volume (VV), and postvoid residual urine volume (PVR). Results: Overall, 287 and 299 patients received combination therapy and monotherapy respectively. Both groups experienced significant improvements in OABSS and total IPSS after 12 weeks. The combination therapy group demonstrated a greater improvement in QoL compared to the monotherapy group (P=0.031). No significant differences were observed in Qmax or VV between the groups. However, the combination therapy group showed a significant reduction in PVR compared to the monotherapy group (P<0.001). Conclusions Combining silodosin with solifenacin significantly improved OAB symptoms and QoL in females. This combination therapy was particularly effective in reducing postvoid residual volume compared to solifenacin alone. These findings suggest that adding an alpha-blocker to antimuscarinic therapy can enhance OAB management and patient satisfaction.

With an aging population, the number of patients with difficulty swallowing due to medical conditions is gradually increasing. In such cases, enteral nutrition is administered through a temporary nasogastric tube. Long-term use of a nasogastric tube leads to various complications and a decreased quality of life. Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) is the percutaneous placement of a tube into the stomach, aided endoscopically, which may be an alternative to a nasogastric tube when enteral nutritional is required for 4 weeks or more. This paper is the first Korean clinical guideline for PEG. It was developed jointly by the Korean College of Helicobacter and Upper Gastrointestinal Research and led by the Korean Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy. These guidelines aimed to provide physicians, including endoscopists, with the indications, use of prophylactic antibiotics, timing of enteric nutrition, tube placement methods, complications, replacement, and tubes removal for PEG based on the currently available clinical evidence.

Background: Antimicrobial prescriptions for serious chronic or acute illness nearing its end stages raise concerns about the potential for futile use, adverse events, increased multidrugresistant organisms, and significant patient and social cost burdens. This study investigated the nationwide situation of how antibiotics are prescribed to patients during the last 14 days of life to guide future actions. Methods: This nationwide multicenter retrospective cohort study was conducted at 13 hospitals in South Korea from November 1 to December 31, 2018. All decedents were included in the study. Antibiotic use during the last two weeks of their lives was investigated. Results: A total of 1,201 (88.9%) patients received a median of two antimicrobial agents during the last two weeks of their lives. Carbapenems were prescribed to approximately half of the patients (44.4%) in the highest amount (301.2 days of therapy per 1,000 patient-days).Among the patients receiving antimicrobial agents, 63.6% were inappropriate and only 327 patients (27.2%) were referred by infectious disease specialists. The use of carbapenem (odds ratio [OR], 1.51; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.13–2.03; P = 0.006), underlying cancer (OR, 1.56; 95% CI, 1.20–2.01, P = 0.047), underlying cerebrovascular disease (OR, 1.88; 95% CI, 1.23–2.89, P = 0.004), and no microbiological testing (OR, 1.79; 95% CI, 1.15–2.73; P = 0.010) were independent predictors for inappropriate antibiotic prescribing. Conclusion A considerable number of antimicrobial agents are administered to patients with chronic or acute illnesses nearing their end-of-life, a high proportion of which are prescribed inappropriately. Consultation with an infectious disease specialist, in addition to an antimicrobial stewardship program, may be necessary to induce the optimal use of antibiotics.

Background: For acute ischemic stroke (AIS) patients with history of prior stroke (PS) and diabetes mellitus (DM), intravenous recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (IV-tPA) therapy in the 3- to 4.5-hour window is off-label in Korea. This study aimed to assess the safety and efficacy of IV-tPA in these patients. Methods: Using data from a prospective multicenter stroke registry between January 2009 and March 2021, we identified AIS patients who received IV-tPA in the 3- to 4.5-hour window, and compared the outcomes of symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (SICH), 3-month mortality, 3-month modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score 0-1 and 3-month mRS distribution between patients with both PS and DM (PS/DM, n=56) versus those with neither PS nor DM, or with only one (non-PS/DM, n=927). Results: The PS/DM group versus the non-PS/DM group was more likely to have a prior disability, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, coronary heart disease and less likely to have atrial fibrillation. The PS/DM and the non-PS/DM groups had comparable rates of SICH (0% vs. 1.7%; p>0.999) and 3-month mortality (10.7% vs. 10.2%; p=0.9112). The rate of 3-month mRS 0-1 was non-significantly lower in the PS/DM group than in the non-PS/DM group (30.4% vs. 40.7%; adjusted odds ratio [95% confidence interval], 0.81 [0.41-1.59]). Conclusions In the 3- to 4.5-hour window, AIS patients with PS/DM, as compared to those with non-PS/DM, might benefit less from IV-tPA. However, given the similar risks of SICH and mortality, IV-tPA in the late time window could be considered in patients with both PS and DM.

With an aging population, the number of patients with difficulty in swallowing due to medical conditions is gradually increasing. In such cases, enteral nutrition is administered through a temporary nasogastric tube. However, the long-term use of a nasogastric tube leads to various complications and a decreased quality of life. Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) is the percutaneous placement of a tube into the stomach that is aided endoscopically and may be an alternative to a nasogastric tube when enteral nutritional is required for four weeks or more. This paper is the first Korean clinical guideline for PEG developed jointly by the Korean College of Helicobacter and Upper Gastrointestinal Research and led by the Korean Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy. These guidelines aimed to provide physicians, including endoscopists, with the indications, use of prophylactic antibiotics, timing of enteric nutrition, tube placement methods, complications, replacement, and tube removal for PEG based on the currently available clinical evidence.

With an aging population, the number of patients with difficulty in swallowing due to medical conditions is gradually increasing. In such cases, enteral nutrition is administered through a temporary nasogastric tube. However, the long-term use of a nasogastric tube leads to various complications and a decreased quality of life. Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) is the percutaneous place­ment of a tube into the stomach that is aided endoscopically and may be an alternative to a nasogastric tube when enteral nutritional is required for four weeks or more. This paper is the first Korean clinical guideline for PEG developed jointly by the Korean College of Helicobacter and Upper Gastrointestinal Research and led by the Korean Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy. These guidelines aimed to provide physicians, including endoscopists, with the indications, use of prophylactic antibiotics, timing of enteric nutrition, tube placement methods, complications, replacement, and tubes removal for PEG based on the currently available clinical evidence.

OBJECTIVES: We estimated the population prevalence of antibodies to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), including unreported infections, through a Korea Seroprevalence Study of Monitoring of SARS-CoV-2 Antibody Retention and Transmission (K-SEROSMART) in 258 communities throughout Korea. METHODS: In August 2022, a survey was conducted among 10,000 household members aged 5 years and older, in households selected through two stage probability random sampling. During face-to-face household interviews, participants self-reported their health status, COVID-19 diagnosis and vaccination history, and general characteristics. Subsequently, participants visited a community health center or medical clinic for blood sampling. Blood samples were analyzed for the presence of antibodies to spike proteins (anti-S) and antibodies to nucleocapsid proteins (anti-N) SARS-CoV-2 proteins using an electrochemiluminescence immunoassay. To estimate the population prevalence, the PROC SURVEYMEANS statistical procedure was employed, with weighting to reflect demographic data from July 2022. RESULTS: In total, 9,945 individuals from 5,041 households were surveyed across 258 communities, representing all basic local governments in Korea. The overall population-adjusted prevalence rates of anti-S and anti-N were 97.6% and 57.1%, respectively. Since the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency has reported a cumulative incidence of confirmed cases of 37.8% through July 31, 2022, the proportion of unreported infections among all COVID-19 infection was suggested to be 33.9%. CONCLUSIONS The K-SEROSMART represents the first nationwide, community-based seroepidemiologic survey of COVID-19, confirming that most individuals possess antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 and that a significant number of unreported cases existed. Furthermore, this study lays the foundation for a surveillance system to continuously monitor transmission at the community level and the response to COVID-19.

The ascomycete fungus Cordyceps militaris infects lepidopteran larvae and pupae and forms characteristic fruiting bodies. Owing to its immune-enhancing effects, the fungus has been used as a medicine. For industrial application, this fungus can be grown on geminated soybeans as an alternative protein source. In our study, we performed a comprehensive transcriptomic analysis to identify core gene sets during C. militaris cultivation on germinated soybeans. RNA-Seq technology was applied to the fungal cultures at seven-time points (2, 4, and 7-day and 2, 3, 5, 7-week old cultures) to investigate the global transcriptomic change. We conducted a time-series analysis using a two-step regression strategy and chose 1460 significant genes and assigned them into five clusters. Characterization of each cluster based on Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes databases revealed that transcription profiles changed after two weeks of incubation. Gene mapping of cordycepin biosynthesis and isoflavone modification pathways also confirmed that gene expression in the early stage of GSC cultivation is important for these metabolic pathways. Our transcriptomic analysis and selected genes provided a comprehensive molecular basis for the cultivation of C. militaris on germinated soybeans.