BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Isoflavones are estrogen-like compounds found in plants and their health effects remain equivocal. We investigated dietary isoflavone intake and its associated factors in Korean breast cancer survivors, with a comparison to cancer-free women. SUBJECTS/METHODS: The usual dietary intake of breast cancer survivors (n = 981, mean age 52 yrs) in 9 hospitals between 2012 and 2019 was assessed using 3-day food records or food frequency questionnaires (FFQs). They were age-matched to 2,943 cancer-free women who completed FFQs as part of a nationwide study conducted between 2012 and 2016. We used the flavonoid database of common Korean foods and the Phenol-Explorer database to estimate isoflavone intake. The contribution of each food or food group to the total isoflavone intake was calculated. The adjusted least-squares means of dietary isoflavone intake according to lifestyle and clinical factors were calculated using generalized linear models. RESULTS: Breast cancer survivors had a higher mean dietary isoflavone intake (23.59 mg/day) than cancer-free women (17.81 mg/day). Major food sources, including tofu, soybeans, and doenjang, contributed to over 70% of the isoflavone intake in both groups. When we estimated dietary isoflavone intake according to lifestyle characteristics, isoflavone intake increased with higher scores of adherence to the American Cancer Society dietary guidelines but decreased with increasing body mass index in both groups. Among cancer-free women, dietary isoflavone intake was higher among those who had never smoked and among dietary supplement users. Among breast cancer survivors, dietary isoflavone intakes did not vary with clinical characteristics, including time since surgery and estrogen receptor status. CONCLUSION Breast cancer survivors were more likely to consume isoflavones than agematched cancer-free women. Dietary isoflavone intake was associated with healthy lifestyle characteristics in women both with and without breast cancer. Further research is needed to understand the role of the higher isoflavone intake among breast cancer survivors compared to cancer-free women on their prognosis.

High-flow nasal cannula (HFNC) is a noninvasive respiratory support system that delivers air that is heated at 31°C−38°C, humidified 100%, and oxygen-enriched at a constant high flow rate of 15−60 L/min. Because of its numerous physiological benefits, convenience, and minimal side effects, HFNC has been increasingly used over the past decade in patients with acute hypoxemic respiratory failure, yet the clinical benefits of long-term HFNC remain uncertain. Several studies have suggested its potential use as an alternative home oxygen therapy for patients with chronic stable lung diseases, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), interstitial lung disease, and bronchiectasis. The use of long-term home HFNC in patients with chronic respiratory failure is an emerging area with promising potential. Despite limited clinical research, this review aims to describe the physiology of HFNC use and summarize the current evidence on its long-term application, to provide healthcare providers with insights and perspectives on the potential role of long-term home HFNC.

High-flow nasal cannula (HFNC) is a noninvasive respiratory support system that delivers air that is heated at 31°C−38°C, humidified 100%, and oxygen-enriched at a constant high flow rate of 15−60 L/min. Because of its numerous physiological benefits, convenience, and minimal side effects, HFNC has been increasingly used over the past decade in patients with acute hypoxemic respiratory failure, yet the clinical benefits of long-term HFNC remain uncertain. Several studies have suggested its potential use as an alternative home oxygen therapy for patients with chronic stable lung diseases, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), interstitial lung disease, and bronchiectasis. The use of long-term home HFNC in patients with chronic respiratory failure is an emerging area with promising potential. Despite limited clinical research, this review aims to describe the physiology of HFNC use and summarize the current evidence on its long-term application, to provide healthcare providers with insights and perspectives on the potential role of long-term home HFNC.

Background/Aims: The incidence of steatotic liver disease (SLD) is increasing across all age groups as the incidence of obesity increases worldwide. The existing noninvasive prediction models for SLD require laboratory tests or imaging and perform poorly in the early diagnosis of infrequently screened populations such as young adults and individuals with healthcare disparities. We developed a machine learning-based point-of-care prediction model for SLD that is readily available to the broader population with the aim of facilitating early detection and timely intervention and ultimately reducing the burden of SLD. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 28,506 adults who had routine health check-ups in South Korea from January to December 2022. A total of 229,162 individuals were included in the external validation study. Data were analyzed and predictions were made using a logistic regression model with machine learning algorithms. Results: A total of 20,094 individuals were categorized into SLD and non-SLD groups on the basis of the presence of fatty liver disease. We developed three prediction models: SLD model 1, which included age and body mass index (BMI); SLD model 2, which included BMI and body fat per muscle mass; and SLD model 3, which included BMI and visceral fat per muscle mass. In the derivation cohort, the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC) was 0.817 for model 1, 0.821 for model 2, and 0.820 for model 3. In the internal validation cohort, 86.9% of individuals were correctly classified by the SLD models. The external validation study revealed an AUROC above 0.84 for all the models. Conclusions As our three novel SLD prediction models are cost-effective, noninvasive, and accessible, they could serve as validated clinical tools for mass screening of SLD.

Purpose: Considering the high disease burden and unique features of Asian patients with breast cancer (BC), it is essential to have a comprehensive view of genetic characteristics in this population. An institutional targeted sequencing platform was developed through the Korea Research-Driven Hospitals project and was incorporated into clinical practice. This study explores the use of targeted next-generation sequencing (NGS) and its outcomes in patients with advanced/metastatic BC in the real world. Materials and Methods: We reviewed the results of NGS tests administered to BC patients using a customized sequencing platform—FiRST Cancer Panel (FCP)—over 7 years. We systematically described clinical translation of FCP for precise diagnostics, personalized therapeutic strategies, and unraveling disease pathogenesis. Results: NGS tests were conducted on 548 samples from 522 patients with BC. Ninety-seven point six percentage of tested samples harbored at least one pathogenic alteration. The common alterations included mutations in TP53 (56.2%), PIK3CA (31.2%), GATA3 (13.8%), BRCA2 (10.2%), and amplifications of CCND1 (10.8%), FGF19 (10.0%), and ERBB2 (9.5%). NGS analysis of ERBB2 amplification correlated well with human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization. RNA panel analyses found potentially actionable and prognostic fusion genes. FCP effectively screened for potentially germline pathogenic/likely pathogenic mutation. Ten point three percent of BC patients received matched therapy guided by NGS, resulting in a significant overall survival advantage (p=0.022), especially for metastatic BCs. Conclusion Clinical NGS provided multifaceted benefits, deepening our understanding of the disease, improving diagnostic precision, and paving the way for targeted therapies. The concrete advantages of FCP highlight the importance of multi-gene testing for BC, especially for metastatic conditions.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Isoflavones are estrogen-like compounds found in plants and their health effects remain equivocal. We investigated dietary isoflavone intake and its associated factors in Korean breast cancer survivors, with a comparison to cancer-free women. SUBJECTS/METHODS: The usual dietary intake of breast cancer survivors (n = 981, mean age 52 yrs) in 9 hospitals between 2012 and 2019 was assessed using 3-day food records or food frequency questionnaires (FFQs). They were age-matched to 2,943 cancer-free women who completed FFQs as part of a nationwide study conducted between 2012 and 2016. We used the flavonoid database of common Korean foods and the Phenol-Explorer database to estimate isoflavone intake. The contribution of each food or food group to the total isoflavone intake was calculated. The adjusted least-squares means of dietary isoflavone intake according to lifestyle and clinical factors were calculated using generalized linear models. RESULTS: Breast cancer survivors had a higher mean dietary isoflavone intake (23.59 mg/day) than cancer-free women (17.81 mg/day). Major food sources, including tofu, soybeans, and doenjang, contributed to over 70% of the isoflavone intake in both groups. When we estimated dietary isoflavone intake according to lifestyle characteristics, isoflavone intake increased with higher scores of adherence to the American Cancer Society dietary guidelines but decreased with increasing body mass index in both groups. Among cancer-free women, dietary isoflavone intake was higher among those who had never smoked and among dietary supplement users. Among breast cancer survivors, dietary isoflavone intakes did not vary with clinical characteristics, including time since surgery and estrogen receptor status. CONCLUSION Breast cancer survivors were more likely to consume isoflavones than agematched cancer-free women. Dietary isoflavone intake was associated with healthy lifestyle characteristics in women both with and without breast cancer. Further research is needed to understand the role of the higher isoflavone intake among breast cancer survivors compared to cancer-free women on their prognosis.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Isoflavones are estrogen-like compounds found in plants and their health effects remain equivocal. We investigated dietary isoflavone intake and its associated factors in Korean breast cancer survivors, with a comparison to cancer-free women. SUBJECTS/METHODS: The usual dietary intake of breast cancer survivors (n = 981, mean age 52 yrs) in 9 hospitals between 2012 and 2019 was assessed using 3-day food records or food frequency questionnaires (FFQs). They were age-matched to 2,943 cancer-free women who completed FFQs as part of a nationwide study conducted between 2012 and 2016. We used the flavonoid database of common Korean foods and the Phenol-Explorer database to estimate isoflavone intake. The contribution of each food or food group to the total isoflavone intake was calculated. The adjusted least-squares means of dietary isoflavone intake according to lifestyle and clinical factors were calculated using generalized linear models. RESULTS: Breast cancer survivors had a higher mean dietary isoflavone intake (23.59 mg/day) than cancer-free women (17.81 mg/day). Major food sources, including tofu, soybeans, and doenjang, contributed to over 70% of the isoflavone intake in both groups. When we estimated dietary isoflavone intake according to lifestyle characteristics, isoflavone intake increased with higher scores of adherence to the American Cancer Society dietary guidelines but decreased with increasing body mass index in both groups. Among cancer-free women, dietary isoflavone intake was higher among those who had never smoked and among dietary supplement users. Among breast cancer survivors, dietary isoflavone intakes did not vary with clinical characteristics, including time since surgery and estrogen receptor status. CONCLUSION Breast cancer survivors were more likely to consume isoflavones than agematched cancer-free women. Dietary isoflavone intake was associated with healthy lifestyle characteristics in women both with and without breast cancer. Further research is needed to understand the role of the higher isoflavone intake among breast cancer survivors compared to cancer-free women on their prognosis.

High-flow nasal cannula (HFNC) is a noninvasive respiratory support system that delivers air that is heated at 31°C−38°C, humidified 100%, and oxygen-enriched at a constant high flow rate of 15−60 L/min. Because of its numerous physiological benefits, convenience, and minimal side effects, HFNC has been increasingly used over the past decade in patients with acute hypoxemic respiratory failure, yet the clinical benefits of long-term HFNC remain uncertain. Several studies have suggested its potential use as an alternative home oxygen therapy for patients with chronic stable lung diseases, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), interstitial lung disease, and bronchiectasis. The use of long-term home HFNC in patients with chronic respiratory failure is an emerging area with promising potential. Despite limited clinical research, this review aims to describe the physiology of HFNC use and summarize the current evidence on its long-term application, to provide healthcare providers with insights and perspectives on the potential role of long-term home HFNC.

Background: and Purpose We aimed to determine the proportion of Korean patients with early Alzheimer’s disease (AD) who are eligible to receive lecanemab based on the United States Appropriate Use Recommendations (US AUR), and also identify the barriers to this treatment. Methods: We retrospectively enrolled 6,132 patients with amnestic mild cognitive impairment or mild amnestic dementia at 13 hospitals from June 2023 to May 2024. Among them, 2,058 patients underwent amyloid positron emission tomography (PET) and 1,199 (58.3%) of these patients were amyloid-positive on PET. We excluded 732 patients who did not undergo brain magnetic resonance imaging between June 2023 and May 2024. Finally, 467 patients were included in the present study. Results: When applying the criteria of the US AUR, approximately 50% of patients with early AD were eligible to receive lecanemab treatment. Among the 467 included patients, 36.8% did not meet the inclusion criterion of a Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) score of ≥22. Conclusions Eligibility for lecanemab treatment was not restricted to Korean patients with early AD except for those with an MMSE score of ≥22. The MMSE criteria should therefore be reconsidered in areas with a higher proportion of older people, who tend to have lower levels of education.

Background/Aims: The incidence of steatotic liver disease (SLD) is increasing across all age groups as the incidence of obesity increases worldwide. The existing noninvasive prediction models for SLD require laboratory tests or imaging and perform poorly in the early diagnosis of infrequently screened populations such as young adults and individuals with healthcare disparities. We developed a machine learning-based point-of-care prediction model for SLD that is readily available to the broader population with the aim of facilitating early detection and timely intervention and ultimately reducing the burden of SLD. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 28,506 adults who had routine health check-ups in South Korea from January to December 2022. A total of 229,162 individuals were included in the external validation study. Data were analyzed and predictions were made using a logistic regression model with machine learning algorithms. Results: A total of 20,094 individuals were categorized into SLD and non-SLD groups on the basis of the presence of fatty liver disease. We developed three prediction models: SLD model 1, which included age and body mass index (BMI); SLD model 2, which included BMI and body fat per muscle mass; and SLD model 3, which included BMI and visceral fat per muscle mass. In the derivation cohort, the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC) was 0.817 for model 1, 0.821 for model 2, and 0.820 for model 3. In the internal validation cohort, 86.9% of individuals were correctly classified by the SLD models. The external validation study revealed an AUROC above 0.84 for all the models. Conclusions As our three novel SLD prediction models are cost-effective, noninvasive, and accessible, they could serve as validated clinical tools for mass screening of SLD.