In recent years, next-generation sequencing (NGS)–based genetic testing has become crucial in cancer care. While its primary objective is to identify actionable genetic alterations to guide treatment decisions, its scope has broadened to encompass aiding in pathological diagnosis and exploring resistance mechanisms. With the ongoing expansion in NGS application and reliance, a compelling necessity arises for expert consensus on its application in solid cancers. To address this demand, the forthcoming recommendations not only provide pragmatic guidance for the clinical use of NGS but also systematically classify actionable genes based on specific cancer types. Additionally, these recommendations will incorporate expert perspectives on crucial biomarkers, ensuring informed decisions regarding circulating tumor DNA panel testing.

In recent years, next-generation sequencing (NGS)–based genetic testing has become crucial in cancer care. While its primary objective is to identify actionable genetic alterations to guide treatment decisions, its scope has broadened to encompass aiding in pathological diagnosis and exploring resistance mechanisms. With the ongoing expansion in NGS application and reliance, a compelling necessity arises for expert consensus on its application in solid cancers. To address this demand, the forthcoming recommendations not only provide pragmatic guidance for the clinical use of NGS but also systematically classify actionable genes based on specific cancer types. Additionally, these recommendations will incorporate expert perspectives on crucial biomarkers, ensuring informed decisions regarding circulating tumor DNA panel testing.

Background: The Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) update 2023 proposed new definitions of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and COPD exacerbation. However, an agreement on the definitions has not been made, either internationally or domestically. This study aimed to reach an agreement between experts on the new definitions of COPD and COPD exacerbation in South Korea. Methods: A modified Delphi method was used to make an agreement on the definitions of COPD and COPD exacerbation proposed by the GOLD update 2023. We performed two rounds of the survey including 15 Korean experts on COPD, asthma, and tuberculosis. Results: More than two-thirds of the experts agreed on 12 of the 13 statements related to the definitions of COPD and COPD exacerbation in the two rounds of the survey. The experts agreed on the definitions of COPD and COPD exacerbation that should be revised in line with the definitions proposed by the GOLD update 2023. However, the experts showed an uncertain opinion on the statement that the definition of COPD includes patients with persistent airflow obstruction due to bronchiectasis. Conclusion Based on this Delphi survey, experts’ agreement was made on the definitions of COPD and COPD exacerbation proposed by the GOLD update 2023.

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.

Background: There is a need to update the cardiovascular (CV) Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score to reflect the current practice in sepsis. We previously proposed the modified CV SOFA score from data on blood pressure, norepinephrine equivalent dose, and lactate as gathered from emergency departments. In this study, we externally validated the modified CV SOFA score in multicenter intensive care unit (ICU) patients. Methods: A multicenter retrospective observational study was conducted on ICU patients at six hospitals in Korea. We included adult patients with sepsis who were admitted to ICUs. We compared the prognostic performance of the modified CV/total SOFA score and the original CV/total SOFA score in predicting 28-day mortality. Discrimination and calibration were evaluated using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC) and the calibration curve, respectively. Results: We analyzed 1,015 ICU patients with sepsis. In overall patients, the 28-day mortality rate was 31.2%. The predictive validity of the modified CV SOFA (AUROC, 0.712; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.677–0.746; P < 0.001) was significantly higher than that of the original CV SOFA (AUROC, 0.644; 95% CI, 0.611–0.677). The predictive validity of modified total SOFA score for 28-day mortality was significantly higher than that of the original total SOFA (AUROC, 0.747 vs. 0.730; 95% CI, 0.715–0.779; P = 0.002). The calibration curve of the original CV SOFA for 28-day mortality showed poor calibration. In contrast, the calibration curve of the modified CV SOFA for 28-day mortality showed good calibration. Conclusion In patients with sepsis in the ICU, the modified SOFA score performed better than the original SOFA score in predicting 28-day mortality.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the clinical practice patterns of Korean obstetricians and gynecologists the diagnosis and management of hypertensive disease in pregnant women. Methods: From April 2015 to October 2015, questionnaire was distributed via email to obstetricians who were members of the Society for Maternal and Fetal Medicine. The survey consisted of 37 questions in 6 categories. Responses to the questions on the management of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, from diagnosis to treatment, were evaluated. Results: A total of 93 obstetricians and gynecologists responded to the survey. High blood pressure was allocated the highest priority as an index mainly used when deciding to hospitalize patients with hypertensive disease during pregnancy, followed by pregnancy symptoms, proteinuria, and blood test results. Calcium channel blocker (CCB) for oral administration and hydralazine for injection were preferred as antihypertensive drugs mainly used to control severe hypertension. Regarding the delivery method for hypertensive disease during pregnancy, in cases of preeclampsia, 63% of the respondents chose the delivery method according to the cervical status, and in cases of hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes and low platelets (HELLP) syndrome and eclampsia, which increased in severity, 52% and 31% responded that the delivery method was determined according to the cervical status, respectively. In cases of mild preeclampsia, the 70% of respondents preferred 37–38 weeks of gestation for the delivery time. Regarding the use of aspirin in patient with hypertension during pregnancy, 52% of the respondents occasionally administered aspirin, and in patients with a history of hypertensive disease during pregnancy, only 43% were administered prophylactic aspirin. Conclusion Domestic obstetricians regarded blood pressure as the most meaningful factor when treating women with hypertension during pregnancy and considered blood pressure control as important. The preferred antihypertensive agents were oral CCB and hydralazine injections, and the choice of delivery method was determined according to the condition of the cervix and severity of the disease. Even in women with high risk factors for preeclampsia, prophylactic aspirin was administered in as low as 50%, of patients, possibly may due to the absence of domestic guidelines for aspirin use during pregnancy. Korean guidelines for prophylactic aspirin administration during pregnancy is needed based on additional research on the efficacy of aspirin for domestic women in the future.

Background: Papillary breast lesions (PBLs) comprise diverse entities from benign and atypical lesions to malignant tumors. Although PBLs are characterized by a papillary growth pattern, it is challenging to achieve high diagnostic accuracy and reproducibility. Thus, we investigated the diagnostic reproducibility of PBLs in core needle biopsy (CNB) specimens with World Health Organization (WHO) classification. Methods: Diagnostic reproducibility was assessed using interobserver variability (kappa value, κ) and agreement rate in the pathologic diagnosis of 60 PBL cases on CNB among 20 breast pathologists affiliated with 20 medical institutions in Korea. This analysis was performed using hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining and immunohistochemical (IHC) staining for cytokeratin 5 (CK5) and p63. The pathologic diagnosis of PBLs was based on WHO classification, which was used to establish simple classifications (4-tier, 3-tier, and 2-tier). Results: On WHO classification, H&E staining exhibited ‘fair agreement’ (κ = 0.21) with a 47.0% agreement rate. Simple classifications presented improvement in interobserver variability and agreement rate. IHC staining increased the kappa value and agreement rate in all the classifications. Despite IHC staining, the encapsulated/solid papillary carcinoma (EPC/SPC) subgroup (κ = 0.16) exhibited lower agreement compared to the non-EPC/SPC subgroup (κ = 0.35) with WHO classification, which was similar to the results of any other classification systems. Conclusions Although the use of IHC staining for CK5 and p63 increased the diagnostic agreement of PBLs in CNB specimens, WHO classification exhibited a higher discordance rate compared to any other classifications. Therefore, this result warrants further intensive consensus studies to improve the diagnostic reproducibility of PBLs with WHO classification.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the clinical practice patterns of Korean obstetricians and gynecologists the diagnosis and management of hypertensive disease in pregnant women. Methods: From April 2015 to October 2015, questionnaire was distributed via email to obstetricians who were members of the Society for Maternal and Fetal Medicine. The survey consisted of 37 questions in 6 categories. Responses to the questions on the management of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, from diagnosis to treatment, were evaluated. Results: A total of 93 obstetricians and gynecologists responded to the survey. High blood pressure was allocated the highest priority as an index mainly used when deciding to hospitalize patients with hypertensive disease during pregnancy, followed by pregnancy symptoms, proteinuria, and blood test results. Calcium channel blocker (CCB) for oral administration and hydralazine for injection were preferred as antihypertensive drugs mainly used to control severe hypertension. Regarding the delivery method for hypertensive disease during pregnancy, in cases of preeclampsia, 63% of the respondents chose the delivery method according to the cervical status, and in cases of hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes and low platelets (HELLP) syndrome and eclampsia, which increased in severity, 52% and 31% responded that the delivery method was determined according to the cervical status, respectively. In cases of mild preeclampsia, the 70% of respondents preferred 37–38 weeks of gestation for the delivery time. Regarding the use of aspirin in patient with hypertension during pregnancy, 52% of the respondents occasionally administered aspirin, and in patients with a history of hypertensive disease during pregnancy, only 43% were administered prophylactic aspirin. Conclusion Domestic obstetricians regarded blood pressure as the most meaningful factor when treating women with hypertension during pregnancy and considered blood pressure control as important. The preferred antihypertensive agents were oral CCB and hydralazine injections, and the choice of delivery method was determined according to the condition of the cervix and severity of the disease. Even in women with high risk factors for preeclampsia, prophylactic aspirin was administered in as low as 50%, of patients, possibly may due to the absence of domestic guidelines for aspirin use during pregnancy. Korean guidelines for prophylactic aspirin administration during pregnancy is needed based on additional research on the efficacy of aspirin for domestic women in the future.

Background: To identify work–family balance and level of happiness among married women dental hygienists in Seoul and Gyeonggi Province. The goal of this study is to use the outcome as basic data to determine the compatibility of dental hygienists with work and family, systems, and improvement of happiness levels. Methods: From July 3 to August 10, 2020, 250 dental hygienists in Seoul and Gyeonggi Province were targeted. The questionnaire comprised 65 questions, including general characteristics (perception of work–family balance, perception of work–family balance system, job satisfaction, parenting type, happiness level) whether or not they were implemented. The results were obtained through a self-control questionnaire. Results: The perception of work–family balance was significantly different in job rank and average income, while that of the work– family balance system had significant differences in workplace type, total work experience, current job work experience, childcare system status, and parental leave period. Happiness level and job satisfaction were significantly different in job rank, average income, and childcare system status. Additionally, the perception of work–family balance and that of the work–family balance system showed a positive correlation with job satisfaction and happiness level. Finally, the perception of married women dental hygienists toward work–family compatibility was determined, where the higher the satisfaction with the job, the higher the level of happiness. Conclusion To improve the work–family balance and job satisfaction of dental hygienists and their levels of happiness, changes in social perception and improvement of the working environment such as proper staffing, flexible work systems, and incentive systems should be considered.