South Korea’s current vaccination policies leave a surveillance gap for non-National Immunization Program (NIP) vaccines. In this study, we proposed a sentinel surveillance approach for monitoring the safety of non-NIP vaccines. Vaccination data were collected retrospectively among patients hospitalized with pre-defined adverse events of special interest (AESI) by reviewing electronic medical records in five university hospitals. This approach incorporates expert assessment to determine the causal relationship. We confirmed that 16 patients had received non-NIP vaccines among 860 patients diagnosed with AESI.We concluded one case of preeclampsia was possibly related to tetanus-diphtheria-pertussis vaccination. We propose a multi-hospital-based, retrospective assessment system for predefined AESIs as an alternative to active vaccine safety monitoring method. These efforts are expected to enhance both the accuracy and timeliness of safety monitoring in South Korea.

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a subtype of breast cancer that lacks hormone receptor and Her2 (ERBB2) expression, leaving chemotherapy as the only treatment option. The urgent need for targeted therapy for TNBC patients has led to the investigation of small interfering RNAs (siRNAs), which can target genes in a sequence-specific manner, unlike other drugs. However, the clinical translation of siRNAs has been hindered by the lack of an effective delivery system, except in the case of liver diseases. The MYC oncogene is commonly overexpressed in TNBC compared to other breast cancer subtypes. In this study, we used siRNA to target MYC in MDA-MB-231, MDA-MB-157, MDA-MB-436 and Hs-578T cells. We designed various symmetric and asymmetric (asiRNAs), screened them for in vitro efficacy, modified them for enhanced nuclease resistance and reduced off-target effects, and conjugated them with cholesterol (ChoL) and docosanoic acid (DCA) as a delivery system. DCA was conjugated to the 3’ end of asiRNA by a cleavable phosphodiester linker for in vivo delivery. Our findings demonstrated that asiRNA-VP and Mod_asiRNA10-6 efficiently downregulated MYC and its downstream targets, including RRM2, RAD51 and PARP1. Moreover, in a tumor xenograft model, asiRNA-VP-DCA effectively knocked down MYC mRNA and protein expression. Remarkably, durable knockdown persisted for at least 46 days postdosing in mouse tumor xenografts, with no visible signs of toxicity, underscoring the safety of DCA-conjugated asiRNAs. In conclusion, this study developed novel asiRNAs, design platforms, validated modification patterns, and in vivo, delivery systems specifically targeting MYC in TNBC.

South Korea’s current vaccination policies leave a surveillance gap for non-National Immunization Program (NIP) vaccines. In this study, we proposed a sentinel surveillance approach for monitoring the safety of non-NIP vaccines. Vaccination data were collected retrospectively among patients hospitalized with pre-defined adverse events of special interest (AESI) by reviewing electronic medical records in five university hospitals. This approach incorporates expert assessment to determine the causal relationship. We confirmed that 16 patients had received non-NIP vaccines among 860 patients diagnosed with AESI.We concluded one case of preeclampsia was possibly related to tetanus-diphtheria-pertussis vaccination. We propose a multi-hospital-based, retrospective assessment system for predefined AESIs as an alternative to active vaccine safety monitoring method. These efforts are expected to enhance both the accuracy and timeliness of safety monitoring in South Korea.

Background and Objectives: Hearing loss significantly affects communication, psychosocial well-being, and quality of life. This study analyzes the National Health Insurance Service database to assess the trends and characteristics of hearing loss in South Korea from 2010 to 2020.Subjects and Method The database encompasses 97% of the Korean population, providing comprehensive data on medical history, prescriptions, and health examinations. The analysis used the World Health Organization’s ICD-10 definitions to categorize hearing loss types and examine their prevalence and incidence across various demographics over 11 years. Results: There was an overall annual increase of 4.62% in diagnosed cases of hearing loss, with the most significant rise among the elderly. The rate of increase accelerated from 3.32% between 2010 and 2014 to 6.49% between 2014 and 2020, corresponding with the improved hearing aid access facilitated by policy changes. Women showed a slightly higher increase than men. The data also indicated a consistent rise in abnormal hearing test results during health examinations, especially in older adults. Conclusion The study highlights an increasing trend in hearing loss diagnoses, driven by an aging population and enhanced detection facilitated by policy changes. These findings emphasize the need for continuous monitoring and targeted health policies to manage hearing loss effectively, offering valuable insights for global health management and policy development.

Background and Objectives: This study aims to analyze trends in hearing disability and the use of hearing rehabilitation devices (hearing aids and cochlear implants) in South Korea over the past 11 years (2010-2020) using data from the National Health Insurance Service (NHIS).Subjects and Method Data were extracted from the NHIS database, covering approximately 97% of the South Korean population. Patients diagnosed with hearing loss were classified using ICD-10 codes. The data were analyzed to determine trends in hearing disability, hearing aid prescriptions, and cochlear implant usage by age, gender, and types and causes of hearing loss. Results: The number of hearing disability patients increased from 170900 in 2010 to 362738 in 2020, with an annual growth rate of 7.95%. The highest increase was observed in the ≥60 age group, with an annual growth rate of 11.04%. Hearing aid prescriptions rose from 4966 in 2010 to 11974 in 2020, showing a 10.45% annual increase. Females showed a higher growth rate in both hearing disability and hearing aid prescriptions compared to males. Cochlear implant prescriptions also increased, particularly among older adults. Conclusion The study highlights a significant rise in hearing disability and the use of hearing aids and cochlear implants in South Korea, especially among the elderly. The findings underscore the importance of early diagnosis and intervention for hearing loss and the need for policy improvements to enhance accessibility and affordability of hearing rehabilitation services. Additional strategies are needed to ensure appropriate hearing rehabilitation for those not yet receiving adequate care.