Background: The drug addiction crisis in South Korea highlights the need to activate the Korea Association Against Drug Abuse’s (KAADA) rehabilitation centers. This study proposes strategies to activate drug rehabilitation centers by analyzing factors affecting participation intention. Method: We analyzed questionnaire responses from participants (n=540) in Incheon KAADA’s deferred prosecution and probation programs. Descriptive statistics covered treatment-experience, mental health, and social support by drug type. A multivariable logistic analysis was conducted to analyze the association between the characteristics of drug offenders and their intention to use rehabilitation centers. Results: Among the participants, most drug abusers mainly used stimulants (59.8%), followed by cannabis (27.7%), opioids and sedatives (6.8%), and other substances (5.8%). Stimulant users(odds ratio [OR] 2.20, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.26-3.83), treatment-experienced (OR 1.77, 95% CI 1.08-2.92), poor mental health (OR 2.15, 95% CI 1.28-3.60), and poor social support (OR 1.74, 95% CI 1.07-2.83) were significantly associated with the intention to use rehabilitation centers. In drug-specific subgroup analysis, cannabis users showed a lack of clear motivation forutilizing rehabilitation centers. Additionally, in the sex-based subgroup analysis, intent to use rehabilitation centers increased with age among men, whereas women under 30 displayed the highest intent. Conclusion The study suggests enhancing rehabilitation centers by strengthening personalized programs for those with poor social support and creating flexible online programs for can-nabis users. Additionally, incorporating pharmacist interventions during medical shopping or polypharmacy scenarios could bebeneficial.

Background: The drug addiction crisis in South Korea highlights the need to activate the Korea Association Against Drug Abuse’s (KAADA) rehabilitation centers. This study proposes strategies to activate drug rehabilitation centers by analyzing factors affecting participation intention. Method: We analyzed questionnaire responses from participants (n=540) in Incheon KAADA’s deferred prosecution and probation programs. Descriptive statistics covered treatment-experience, mental health, and social support by drug type. A multivariable logistic analysis was conducted to analyze the association between the characteristics of drug offenders and their intention to use rehabilitation centers. Results: Among the participants, most drug abusers mainly used stimulants (59.8%), followed by cannabis (27.7%), opioids and sedatives (6.8%), and other substances (5.8%). Stimulant users(odds ratio [OR] 2.20, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.26-3.83), treatment-experienced (OR 1.77, 95% CI 1.08-2.92), poor mental health (OR 2.15, 95% CI 1.28-3.60), and poor social support (OR 1.74, 95% CI 1.07-2.83) were significantly associated with the intention to use rehabilitation centers. In drug-specific subgroup analysis, cannabis users showed a lack of clear motivation forutilizing rehabilitation centers. Additionally, in the sex-based subgroup analysis, intent to use rehabilitation centers increased with age among men, whereas women under 30 displayed the highest intent. Conclusion The study suggests enhancing rehabilitation centers by strengthening personalized programs for those with poor social support and creating flexible online programs for can-nabis users. Additionally, incorporating pharmacist interventions during medical shopping or polypharmacy scenarios could bebeneficial.

Background: The drug addiction crisis in South Korea highlights the need to activate the Korea Association Against Drug Abuse’s (KAADA) rehabilitation centers. This study proposes strategies to activate drug rehabilitation centers by analyzing factors affecting participation intention. Method: We analyzed questionnaire responses from participants (n=540) in Incheon KAADA’s deferred prosecution and probation programs. Descriptive statistics covered treatment-experience, mental health, and social support by drug type. A multivariable logistic analysis was conducted to analyze the association between the characteristics of drug offenders and their intention to use rehabilitation centers. Results: Among the participants, most drug abusers mainly used stimulants (59.8%), followed by cannabis (27.7%), opioids and sedatives (6.8%), and other substances (5.8%). Stimulant users(odds ratio [OR] 2.20, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.26-3.83), treatment-experienced (OR 1.77, 95% CI 1.08-2.92), poor mental health (OR 2.15, 95% CI 1.28-3.60), and poor social support (OR 1.74, 95% CI 1.07-2.83) were significantly associated with the intention to use rehabilitation centers. In drug-specific subgroup analysis, cannabis users showed a lack of clear motivation forutilizing rehabilitation centers. Additionally, in the sex-based subgroup analysis, intent to use rehabilitation centers increased with age among men, whereas women under 30 displayed the highest intent. Conclusion The study suggests enhancing rehabilitation centers by strengthening personalized programs for those with poor social support and creating flexible online programs for can-nabis users. Additionally, incorporating pharmacist interventions during medical shopping or polypharmacy scenarios could bebeneficial.

Background: The drug addiction crisis in South Korea highlights the need to activate the Korea Association Against Drug Abuse’s (KAADA) rehabilitation centers. This study proposes strategies to activate drug rehabilitation centers by analyzing factors affecting participation intention. Method: We analyzed questionnaire responses from participants (n=540) in Incheon KAADA’s deferred prosecution and probation programs. Descriptive statistics covered treatment-experience, mental health, and social support by drug type. A multivariable logistic analysis was conducted to analyze the association between the characteristics of drug offenders and their intention to use rehabilitation centers. Results: Among the participants, most drug abusers mainly used stimulants (59.8%), followed by cannabis (27.7%), opioids and sedatives (6.8%), and other substances (5.8%). Stimulant users(odds ratio [OR] 2.20, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.26-3.83), treatment-experienced (OR 1.77, 95% CI 1.08-2.92), poor mental health (OR 2.15, 95% CI 1.28-3.60), and poor social support (OR 1.74, 95% CI 1.07-2.83) were significantly associated with the intention to use rehabilitation centers. In drug-specific subgroup analysis, cannabis users showed a lack of clear motivation forutilizing rehabilitation centers. Additionally, in the sex-based subgroup analysis, intent to use rehabilitation centers increased with age among men, whereas women under 30 displayed the highest intent. Conclusion The study suggests enhancing rehabilitation centers by strengthening personalized programs for those with poor social support and creating flexible online programs for can-nabis users. Additionally, incorporating pharmacist interventions during medical shopping or polypharmacy scenarios could bebeneficial.

Background/Aims: The programmed death 1 (PD-1)/programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) pathway has not been fully evaluated in inflammatory bowel disease. We evaluated PD-1/PD-L1 levels in patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) and their significance in tonsil-derived mesenchymal stem cells (TMSCs) treatment. Methods: Using acute and chronic murine colitis model, we measured the PD-1 and PD-L1 levels in inflamed colonic tissues pre- and post-treatment with TMSCs. We also measured PD-1 and PD-L1 levels in colonic tissues from UC patients, compared to normal controls. Results: In the analysis using human colonic tissues, a significant increase in the levels of PD-1 and PD-L1 was observed in the colonic mucosa of patients with UC compared with normal controls (p < 0.001 and p = 0.005, respectively). When comparing the maximal disease extent, PD-L1 levels were highest in patients with proctitis (38.5 ± 46.7), followed by left-side colitis (17.5 ± 23.1) and extensive colitis (5.2 ± 8.2) (p < 0.001). In the chronic colitis model, the level of PD-L1 was decreased (p = 0.040) and the level of PD-1 increased more than in normal controls (p = 0.047). After treatment with TMSC, significant improvements were observed in body weight, disease activity index, and colon length recovery. Additionally, the levels of PD-1 and PD-L1 were recovered; PD-L1 significantly increased (p = 0.031), while the level of PD-1 decreased (p = 0.310). Conclusions The altered expression of PD-1 and PD-L1 in colonic mucosa may be a possible mechanism of UC, and T-MSC-derived PD-L1 could help suppress colitis.

Objectives: ：Cancer diagnosis causes significant distress while it may also bring positive change: post-traumatic growth. This study was conducted to analyze factors that affect post-traumatic growth. Methods: ：Medical records of 52 cancer patients who received psychiatric treatment at a university hospital in Seoul were reviewed and the correlation between post-traumatic growth and following factors were analyzed: Resilience, Anxious thoughts and tendencies, Mindful attention awareness, Acceptance attitude Results: ：Using Multiple Generalized Linear model, a positive correlation was found between post-traumatic growth and resilience (B=1.45, p<0.0001), mindful attention awareness (B=0.58, p=0.0030) and acceptance attitude (B=1.29, p=0.0003), while anxious thoughts and tendencies (B=-0.84, p<0.0001) had negative association. Conclusions ：Factors that have a positive impact on post-traumatic growth were resilience, mindful attention awareness, acceptance attitude and a factor with a negative impact was anxious thoughts and tendencies; Factors that impact post-traumatic growth need to be taken into account, when approaching the treatment of cancer patients.

In May 2023, the Committee of Clinical Practice Guidelines of the Korean Diabetes Association published the revised clinical practice guidelines for Korean adults with diabetes and prediabetes. We incorporated the latest clinical research findings through a comprehensive systematic literature review and applied them in a manner suitable for the Korean population. These guidelines are designed for all healthcare providers nationwide, including physicians, diabetes experts, and certified diabetes educators who manage patients with diabetes or individuals at risk of developing diabetes. Based on recent changes in international guidelines and the results of a Korean epidemiological study, the recommended age for diabetes screening has been lowered. In collaboration with the relevant Korean medical societies, recently revised guidelines for managing hypertension and dyslipidemia in patients with diabetes have been incorporated into this guideline. An abridgment containing practical information on patient education and systematic management in the clinic was published separately.

Gastric wall abscess is a rare condition characterized by a purulent inflammatory process resulting in the formation of a pocket of pus in the stomach. As the mucosa is usually intact, it requires various tools such as endoscopic ultrasonography or computed tomography for the differential diagnosis to rule out more common subepithelial tumors. Even after the diagnosis, the treatment for gastric wall abscess was previously restricted to surgical resection in combination with antibiotics. Currently, in order to avoid unnecessary surgery, the alternative method of initial treatment with an endoscopic approach is recommended. It also helps to choose appropriate antibiotics with confirmation of the pathogen by drainage. There are few reports that describe the detailed processing of the endoscopic drainage, and there is no consensus on the treatment. The pathogens that cause gastric wall abscess are usually Streptococci, Staphylococci, and Escherichia coli. There is only one case reported to be caused by Candida albicans. This is the first report of Elizabethkingia anopheles as the pathogen of the gastric wall abscess. Here, we report a case of gastric wall abscess in a 75-year-old man, safely treated by endoscopic drainage and antibiotics, confirmed by isolating the contents of the abscess.

Objectives: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has been declared a global pandemic owingto the rapid spread of the causative agent, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2.Its Delta and Omicron variants are more transmissible and pathogenic than other variants.Some debates have emerged on the mechanism of variants of concern. In the COVID-19 wave that began in December 2021, the Omicron variant, first reported in South Africa, became identifiable in most cases globally. The aim of this study was to provide data to inform effective responses to the transmission of the Omicron variant. Methods: The Delta variant and the spike protein D614G mutant were compared with the Omicron variant. Viral loads from 5 days after symptom onset were compared usingepidemiological data collected at the time of diagnosis. Results: The Omicron variant exhibited a higher viral load than other variants, resulting in greater transmissibility within 5 days of symptom onset. Conclusion Future research should focus on vaccine efficacy against the Omicron variant and compare trends in disease severity associated with its high viral load.