Background: Phentermine-topiramate (PT) and naltrexone-bupropion (NB) are widely used combination treatments for obesity and overweight. However, no study has yet compared the efficacy and safety of the two drugs in patients with comorbid psychiatric disorders. Methods: A retrospective chart review of patients who were prescribed with the PT and NB combination treatments was conducted from January 1, 2017, to August 31, 2023. To compare the treatment efficacy, the mean body mass index change rates of both drugs before and after drug use were calculated. The safety of the drug was compared by identifying whether the drug was discontinued early and any side effects that occurred. Results A total of 55 patients were enrolled, most of whom were women (89.1%), and the most commonly diagnosed psychiatric disorder was depressive disorder (37.5% for NB and 40.0% for PT). No demographic differences were observed between the patients using the two drugs. The two drugs showed no statistically significant difference in the treatment efficacy. However, in terms of safety, PT had a lower incidence of adverse effects than NB (6.7% vs.40.0%, p=0.022) Conclusion: No significant difference in the treatment efficacy between PT and NB was observed, but PT showed a more favorable safety profile in psychiatric patients. Further large-scale multicenter studies are needed to confirm these findings.

Background: Phentermine-topiramate (PT) and naltrexone-bupropion (NB) are widely used combination treatments for obesity and overweight. However, no study has yet compared the efficacy and safety of the two drugs in patients with comorbid psychiatric disorders. Methods: A retrospective chart review of patients who were prescribed with the PT and NB combination treatments was conducted from January 1, 2017, to August 31, 2023. To compare the treatment efficacy, the mean body mass index change rates of both drugs before and after drug use were calculated. The safety of the drug was compared by identifying whether the drug was discontinued early and any side effects that occurred. Results A total of 55 patients were enrolled, most of whom were women (89.1%), and the most commonly diagnosed psychiatric disorder was depressive disorder (37.5% for NB and 40.0% for PT). No demographic differences were observed between the patients using the two drugs. The two drugs showed no statistically significant difference in the treatment efficacy. However, in terms of safety, PT had a lower incidence of adverse effects than NB (6.7% vs.40.0%, p=0.022) Conclusion: No significant difference in the treatment efficacy between PT and NB was observed, but PT showed a more favorable safety profile in psychiatric patients. Further large-scale multicenter studies are needed to confirm these findings.

Background: Phentermine-topiramate (PT) and naltrexone-bupropion (NB) are widely used combination treatments for obesity and overweight. However, no study has yet compared the efficacy and safety of the two drugs in patients with comorbid psychiatric disorders. Methods: A retrospective chart review of patients who were prescribed with the PT and NB combination treatments was conducted from January 1, 2017, to August 31, 2023. To compare the treatment efficacy, the mean body mass index change rates of both drugs before and after drug use were calculated. The safety of the drug was compared by identifying whether the drug was discontinued early and any side effects that occurred. Results A total of 55 patients were enrolled, most of whom were women (89.1%), and the most commonly diagnosed psychiatric disorder was depressive disorder (37.5% for NB and 40.0% for PT). No demographic differences were observed between the patients using the two drugs. The two drugs showed no statistically significant difference in the treatment efficacy. However, in terms of safety, PT had a lower incidence of adverse effects than NB (6.7% vs.40.0%, p=0.022) Conclusion: No significant difference in the treatment efficacy between PT and NB was observed, but PT showed a more favorable safety profile in psychiatric patients. Further large-scale multicenter studies are needed to confirm these findings.

Background: Phentermine-topiramate (PT) and naltrexone-bupropion (NB) are widely used combination treatments for obesity and overweight. However, no study has yet compared the efficacy and safety of the two drugs in patients with comorbid psychiatric disorders. Methods: A retrospective chart review of patients who were prescribed with the PT and NB combination treatments was conducted from January 1, 2017, to August 31, 2023. To compare the treatment efficacy, the mean body mass index change rates of both drugs before and after drug use were calculated. The safety of the drug was compared by identifying whether the drug was discontinued early and any side effects that occurred. Results A total of 55 patients were enrolled, most of whom were women (89.1%), and the most commonly diagnosed psychiatric disorder was depressive disorder (37.5% for NB and 40.0% for PT). No demographic differences were observed between the patients using the two drugs. The two drugs showed no statistically significant difference in the treatment efficacy. However, in terms of safety, PT had a lower incidence of adverse effects than NB (6.7% vs.40.0%, p=0.022) Conclusion: No significant difference in the treatment efficacy between PT and NB was observed, but PT showed a more favorable safety profile in psychiatric patients. Further large-scale multicenter studies are needed to confirm these findings.

Background: Phentermine-topiramate (PT) and naltrexone-bupropion (NB) are widely used combination treatments for obesity and overweight. However, no study has yet compared the efficacy and safety of the two drugs in patients with comorbid psychiatric disorders. Methods: A retrospective chart review of patients who were prescribed with the PT and NB combination treatments was conducted from January 1, 2017, to August 31, 2023. To compare the treatment efficacy, the mean body mass index change rates of both drugs before and after drug use were calculated. The safety of the drug was compared by identifying whether the drug was discontinued early and any side effects that occurred. Results A total of 55 patients were enrolled, most of whom were women (89.1%), and the most commonly diagnosed psychiatric disorder was depressive disorder (37.5% for NB and 40.0% for PT). No demographic differences were observed between the patients using the two drugs. The two drugs showed no statistically significant difference in the treatment efficacy. However, in terms of safety, PT had a lower incidence of adverse effects than NB (6.7% vs.40.0%, p=0.022) Conclusion: No significant difference in the treatment efficacy between PT and NB was observed, but PT showed a more favorable safety profile in psychiatric patients. Further large-scale multicenter studies are needed to confirm these findings.

Gastric cancer is one of the most common cancers in Korea and the world. Since 2004, this is the 4th gastric cancer guideline published in Korea which is the revised version of previous evidence-based approach in 2018. Current guideline is a collaborative work of the interdisciplinary working group including experts in the field of gastric surgery, gastroenterology, endoscopy, medical oncology, abdominal radiology, pathology, nuclear medicine, radiation oncology and guideline development methodology. Total of 33 key questions were updated or proposed after a collaborative review by the working group and 40 statements were developed according to the systematic review using the MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane Library and KoreaMed database. The level of evidence and the grading of recommendations were categorized according to the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation proposition. Evidence level, benefit, harm, and clinical applicability was considered as the significant factors for recommendation. The working group reviewed recommendations and discussed for consensus. In the earlier part, general consideration discusses screening, diagnosis and staging of endoscopy, pathology, radiology, and nuclear medicine. Flowchart is depicted with statements which is supported by meta-analysis and references. Since clinical trial and systematic review was not suitable for postoperative oncologic and nutritional follow-up, working group agreed to conduct a nationwide survey investigating the clinical practice of all tertiary or general hospitals in Korea. The purpose of this survey was to provide baseline information on follow up. Herein we present a multidisciplinary-evidence based gastric cancer guideline.

Background/Aims: The eradication success rate of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection with a first-line standard triple therapy (STT) has been decreasing in Korea. However, treatment outcomes of H. pylori infection in Yeongdong, Gangwon Province have been scarcely reported. This study aimed to investigate the treatment outcomes of H. pylori infection in a single tertiary care hospital with regional characteristics. Materials and Methods: From July 2018 to June 2019, a total of 592 patients who underwent STT consisting of a proton pump inhibitor, amoxicillin, and clarithromycin for 7 to 14 days as a first-line H. pylori eradication therapy were included. Demographic data and treatment outcomes were retrospectively reviewed using medical records. Results: The median age of 592 patients was 58 years (range 23 to 86) and 329 patients (55.6%) were men. The indication for eradication therapy included chronic atrophic gastritis (57.9%), peptic ulcer disease (19.6%), and gastric neoplasm after endoscopic resection (5.9%). Most patients (92.2%) received a 7-day course of STT. Eradication rate of STT was 64.0% (379/592). Rescue therapy was performed in 146 patients, and the final eradication rate reached 85.6% (507/592). Conclusions Eradication rate of STT in Yeongdong area of Gangwon Province was unsatisfactory, warranting the consideration of a first-line eradication regimen other than STT.

This study aimed to characterize the seasonal abundance of hard ticks that transmit severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus from April to November 2019 and 2020 on Ganghwa-do, Incheon Metropolitan City, Korea. The ticks were collected at grassland, grave site, copse and mountain road using a collection trap method. The ixodid hard ticks comprising three species (Haemaphysalis longicornis, H. flava, and Ixodes nipponensis) collected were 6,622 in 2019 and 3,811 in 2020. H. longicornis was the most frequent (97.9% in 2019 and 96.0% in 2020), followed by H. flava (2.0% and 3.0% in 2019 and 2020, respectively) and I. nipponensis (less than 0.1%). Our study demonstrated that seasonal patterns of the tick populations examined for two years were totally unsimilar. The hard ticks tested using RT-qPCR were all negative for severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus.

This study aimed to characterize the seasonal abundance of hard ticks that transmit severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus from April to November 2019 and 2020 on Ganghwa-do, Incheon Metropolitan City, Korea. The ticks were collected at grassland, grave site, copse and mountain road using a collection trap method. The ixodid hard ticks comprising three species (Haemaphysalis longicornis, H. flava, and Ixodes nipponensis) collected were 6,622 in 2019 and 3,811 in 2020. H. longicornis was the most frequent (97.9% in 2019 and 96.0% in 2020), followed by H. flava (2.0% and 3.0% in 2019 and 2020, respectively) and I. nipponensis (less than 0.1%). Our study demonstrated that seasonal patterns of the tick populations examined for two years were totally unsimilar. The hard ticks tested using RT-qPCR were all negative for severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus.