Background: The increasing rate of excess body weight (EBW) in the global population has led to growing health concerns, including cancer-related EBW. We aimed to estimate the population attributable fraction (PAF) of cancer incidence and deaths linked to EBW in Korean individuals from 2015 to 2030 and to compare its value with various body mass index cutoffs. Methods: Levin’s formula was used to calculate the PAF; the prevalence rates were computed using the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data, while the relative risks of specific cancers related to EBW were estimated based on the results of Korean cohort studies. To account for the 15-year latency period when estimating the PAF in 2020, the prevalence rates from 2015 and attributable cases or deaths from 2020 were used. Results: The PAF attributed to EBW was similar for both cancer incidence and deaths using either the World Health Organization (WHO) Asian-Pacific region standard or a modified Asian standard, with the WHO standard yielding the lowest values. In the Korean population, the PAFs of EBW for cancer incidence were 2.96% in men and 3.61% in women, while those for cancer deaths were 0.67% in men and 3.06% in women in 2020. Additionally, PAFs showed a gradual increase in both sexes until 2030. Conclusion The EBW continues to have a significant impact on cancer incidence and deaths in Korea. Effective prevention strategies targeting the reduction of this modifiable risk factor can substantially decrease the cancer burden.

Background: The increasing rate of excess body weight (EBW) in the global population has led to growing health concerns, including cancer-related EBW. We aimed to estimate the population attributable fraction (PAF) of cancer incidence and deaths linked to EBW in Korean individuals from 2015 to 2030 and to compare its value with various body mass index cutoffs. Methods: Levin’s formula was used to calculate the PAF; the prevalence rates were computed using the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data, while the relative risks of specific cancers related to EBW were estimated based on the results of Korean cohort studies. To account for the 15-year latency period when estimating the PAF in 2020, the prevalence rates from 2015 and attributable cases or deaths from 2020 were used. Results: The PAF attributed to EBW was similar for both cancer incidence and deaths using either the World Health Organization (WHO) Asian-Pacific region standard or a modified Asian standard, with the WHO standard yielding the lowest values. In the Korean population, the PAFs of EBW for cancer incidence were 2.96% in men and 3.61% in women, while those for cancer deaths were 0.67% in men and 3.06% in women in 2020. Additionally, PAFs showed a gradual increase in both sexes until 2030. Conclusion The EBW continues to have a significant impact on cancer incidence and deaths in Korea. Effective prevention strategies targeting the reduction of this modifiable risk factor can substantially decrease the cancer burden.

Background: The increasing rate of excess body weight (EBW) in the global population has led to growing health concerns, including cancer-related EBW. We aimed to estimate the population attributable fraction (PAF) of cancer incidence and deaths linked to EBW in Korean individuals from 2015 to 2030 and to compare its value with various body mass index cutoffs. Methods: Levin’s formula was used to calculate the PAF; the prevalence rates were computed using the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data, while the relative risks of specific cancers related to EBW were estimated based on the results of Korean cohort studies. To account for the 15-year latency period when estimating the PAF in 2020, the prevalence rates from 2015 and attributable cases or deaths from 2020 were used. Results: The PAF attributed to EBW was similar for both cancer incidence and deaths using either the World Health Organization (WHO) Asian-Pacific region standard or a modified Asian standard, with the WHO standard yielding the lowest values. In the Korean population, the PAFs of EBW for cancer incidence were 2.96% in men and 3.61% in women, while those for cancer deaths were 0.67% in men and 3.06% in women in 2020. Additionally, PAFs showed a gradual increase in both sexes until 2030. Conclusion The EBW continues to have a significant impact on cancer incidence and deaths in Korea. Effective prevention strategies targeting the reduction of this modifiable risk factor can substantially decrease the cancer burden.

Background: The increasing rate of excess body weight (EBW) in the global population has led to growing health concerns, including cancer-related EBW. We aimed to estimate the population attributable fraction (PAF) of cancer incidence and deaths linked to EBW in Korean individuals from 2015 to 2030 and to compare its value with various body mass index cutoffs. Methods: Levin’s formula was used to calculate the PAF; the prevalence rates were computed using the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data, while the relative risks of specific cancers related to EBW were estimated based on the results of Korean cohort studies. To account for the 15-year latency period when estimating the PAF in 2020, the prevalence rates from 2015 and attributable cases or deaths from 2020 were used. Results: The PAF attributed to EBW was similar for both cancer incidence and deaths using either the World Health Organization (WHO) Asian-Pacific region standard or a modified Asian standard, with the WHO standard yielding the lowest values. In the Korean population, the PAFs of EBW for cancer incidence were 2.96% in men and 3.61% in women, while those for cancer deaths were 0.67% in men and 3.06% in women in 2020. Additionally, PAFs showed a gradual increase in both sexes until 2030. Conclusion The EBW continues to have a significant impact on cancer incidence and deaths in Korea. Effective prevention strategies targeting the reduction of this modifiable risk factor can substantially decrease the cancer burden.

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.

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/Aims: High-sensitivity cardiac troponin (hs-TnT) assays detect very low levels of cardiac troponin. This study examined the interval change between initial and subsequent hs-TnT levels and evaluated its ability to predict significant coronary stenosis. Methods: The study analyzed 163 patients who presented with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and underwent coronary angiography (CAG) between April 2014 and May 2018. The 0 and 3-hour hs-TnT were checked. The patients were subdivided into positive (n = 32) and negative (n = 131) interval change groups. The presence of significant coronary artery stenosis on CAG in the two groups was compared. Results: The positive interval change group was older and had higher 0 and 3-hour hs-TnT and blood glucose levels than the negative interval change group. Significant coronary stenosis was more common in the positive interval change group than in the negative interval change group (68.8% vs. 23.7%, p = 0.001). However, vasospasm was more common in the negative interval change group (6.3% vs. 31.3%, p = 0.003). The positive interval change group had higher rates of bifurcation lesions and received more percutaneous coronary intervention. In multivariate analysis, age, interval change of serial hs-TnT and diabetes mellitus were independent predictors of significant coronary artery stenosis. Conclusions This study identified a relationship between the serial change in cardiac biomarkers and the presence of significant coronary stenosis in patients with ACS. Serial hs-TnT change was associated with real angiographic stenosis in patients with ACS.

Background/Aims: High-sensitivity cardiac troponin (hs-TnT) assays detect very low levels of cardiac troponin. This study examined the interval change between initial and subsequent hs-TnT levels and evaluated its ability to predict significant coronary stenosis. Methods: The study analyzed 163 patients who presented with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and underwent coronary angiography (CAG) between April 2014 and May 2018. The 0 and 3-hour hs-TnT were checked. The patients were subdivided into positive (n = 32) and negative (n = 131) interval change groups. The presence of significant coronary artery stenosis on CAG in the two groups was compared. Results: The positive interval change group was older and had higher 0 and 3-hour hs-TnT and blood glucose levels than the negative interval change group. Significant coronary stenosis was more common in the positive interval change group than in the negative interval change group (68.8% vs. 23.7%, p = 0.001). However, vasospasm was more common in the negative interval change group (6.3% vs. 31.3%, p = 0.003). The positive interval change group had higher rates of bifurcation lesions and received more percutaneous coronary intervention. In multivariate analysis, age, interval change of serial hs-TnT and diabetes mellitus were independent predictors of significant coronary artery stenosis. Conclusions This study identified a relationship between the serial change in cardiac biomarkers and the presence of significant coronary stenosis in patients with ACS. Serial hs-TnT change was associated with real angiographic stenosis in patients with ACS.

We report a patient with severe neurological deterioration due to leptomeningeal metastases involving brain and spinal cord from anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK)-positive lung adenocarcinoma, managed rapidly and successfully with lorlatinib therapy. A 48-year-old male patient presented with acute mental deterioration, severe headache, and weakness of both legs. The patient’s previous medical history included cerebral metastases from ALK-positive lung adenocarcinoma, which had been successfully managed via whole brain radiation therapy and gamma knife radiosurgery one year and three months before, respectively. Physical examination revealed neck stiffness and paraparesis with motor grade I.Gadolinium-enhanced brain MRI showed newly developed leptomeningeal enhancement along cerebellar folia, and whole spine MRI revealed similar leptomeningeal metastasis along the whole spinal axis. Lorlatinib was started orally with a dose of 100 mg/day. The patient showed rapid clinical improvement after one week. The patient was alert and the headache disappeared, while the paraparesis improved to normal ambulatory status. Two months of lorlatinib treatment resulted in almost complete disappearance of previous leptomeningeal enhancement of brain and spinal cord, and absence of newly developed metastatic lesions in the central nervous system, based on MRI results. The patient had been regularly followed with ongoing lorlatinib therapy for 5 months without any systemic complications or neurological abnormality. Conclusively, lorlatinib could be a rapid and effective treatment for patients with central nervous system leptomeningeal metastases arising from ALK-positive lung cancer.