Atopic dermatitis (AD) is the most prevalent inflammatory skin condition, with approximately 80% of cases originating in childhood and some emerging in adulthood. In South Korea, the estimated prevalence of AD ranges between 10% and 20% in children and 1% and 3% in adults. Severe/recalcitrant AD manifests as a chronic, relapsing skin disorder, persisting with uncontrolled symptoms even after topical steroid treatment. Corticosteroids and systemic immunosuppression, conventionally the standard care for difficult-to-treat diseases, cause numerous undesirable side effects. When AD persists despite topical steroid application, systemic therapies like cyclosporine or systemic steroids become the second treatment strategy. The desire for targeted treatments, along with an enhanced understanding of AD’s pathophysiology, has spurred novel therapeutic development. Recent advances introduce novel systemic options, such as biological agents and small-molecule therapy, tailored to treat severe or recalcitrant AD. Notably, dupilumab, a monoclonal antibody inhibiting interleukin 4 and 13, marked a transformative breakthrough upon gaining approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2017, leading to a paradigm shift in the systemic treatment of AD. Furthermore, both dupilumab and Janus kinase inhibitors, including baricitinib, abrocitinib, and tofacitinib, now approved by the Korean FDA, have established their applicability in clinical practice. These innovative therapeutic agents have demonstrated favorable clinical outcomes, effectively addressing moderate to severe AD with fewer side reactions than those associated with previous systemic immunosuppressants. This review summarizes the latest advancements and evidence regarding systemic treatments for AD, including newly approved drugs in Korea.

Purpose: Notable effectiveness of trastuzumab deruxtecan in patients with human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)–low advanced breast cancer (BC) has focused pathologists’ attention. We studied the incidence and clinicopathologic characteristics of HER2-low BC, and the effects of immunohistochemistry (IHC) associated factors on HER2 IHC results. Materials and Methods: The Breast Pathology Study Group of the Korean Society of Pathologists conducted a nationwide study using real-world data on HER2 status generated between January 2022 and December 2022. Information on HER2 IHC protocols at each participating institution was also collected. Results: Total 11,416 patients from 25 institutions included in this study. Of these patients, 40.7% (range, 6.0% to 76.3%) were classified as HER2-zero, 41.7% (range, 10.5% to 69.1%) as HER2-low, and 17.5% (range, 6.7% to 34.0%) as HER2-positive. HER2-low tumors were associated with positive estrogen receptor and progesterone receptor statuses (p < 0.001 and p < 0.001, respectively). Antigen retrieval times (≥ 36 minutes vs. < 36 minutes) and antibody incubation times (≥ 12 minutes vs. < 12 minutes) affected on the frequency of HER2 IHC 1+ BC at institutions using the PATHWAY HER2 (4B5) IHC assay and BenchMark XT or Ultra staining instruments. Furthermore, discordant results between core needle biopsy and subsequent resection specimen HER2 statuses were observed in 24.1% (787/3,259) of the patients. Conclusion The overall incidence of HER2-low BC in South Korea concurs with those reported in previously published studies. Significant inter-institutional differences in HER2 IHC protocols were observed, and it may have impact on HER2-low status. Thus, we recommend standardizing HER2 IHC conditions to ensure precise patient selection for targeted therapy.

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: To date, no study has investigated whether the neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and monocyte-lymphocyte ratio (MLR) have a clinical value in Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC)-pulmonary disease (PD). Methods: We aimed to assess whether the baseline NLR and MLR were different according to the severity of MAC-PD based on the radiologic classification by retrospectively analyzing 549 patients treated in a tertiary referral center in South Korea. Results: Both NLR and MLR were significantly higher as 3.33 and 0.43 respectively in the fibrocavitary type, followed by 2.34 and 0.27 in the cavitary nodular bronchiectatic type and significantly lower as 1.88 and 0.23 in the non-cavitary nodular bronchiectatic type. Conclusion The baseline NLR and MLR showed a distinct difference in accordance with the radiologic severity of MAC-PD.

Pheochromocytoma and paraganglioma (PPGLs) are rare catecholamine-secreting neuroendocrine tumors but can be life-threatening. Although most PPGLs are benign, approximately 10% have metastatic potential. Approximately 40% cases are reported as harboring germline mutations. Therefore, timely and accurate diagnosis of PPGLs is crucial. For more than 130 years, clinical, molecular, biochemical, radiological, and pathological investigations have been rapidly advanced in the field of PPGLs. However, performing diagnostic studies to localize lesions and detect metastatic potential can be still challenging and complicated. Furthermore, great progress on genetics has shifted the paradigm of genetic testing of PPGLs. The Korean PPGL task force team consisting of the Korean Endocrine Society, the Korean Surgical Society, the Korean Society of Nuclear Medicine, the Korean Society of Pathologists, and the Korean Society of Laboratory Medicine has developed this position statement focusing on the comprehensive and updated diagnosis for PPGLs.

Pheochromocytoma and paraganglioma (PPGLs) are rare catecholamine-secreting neuroendocrine tumors but can be life-threatening. Although most PPGLs are benign, approximately 10% have metastatic potential. Approximately 40% cases are reported as harboring germline mutations. Therefore, timely and accurate diagnosis of PPGLs is crucial. For more than 130 years, clinical, molecular, biochemical, radiological, and pathological investigations have been rapidly advanced in the field of PPGLs. However, performing diagnostic studies to localize lesions and detect metastatic potential can be still challenging and complicated. Furthermore, great progress on genetics has shifted the paradigm of genetic testing of PPGLs. The Korean PPGL task force team consisting of the Korean Endocrine Society, the Korean Surgical Society, the Korean Society of Nuclear Medicine, the Korean Society of Pathologists, and the Korean Society of Laboratory Medicine has developed this position statement focusing on the comprehensive and updated diagnosis for PPGLs.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the physiological and behavioral effects of auditory stimulation with their own parent’s voice on heart rate and sleep states of very-low-birth-weight infants (VLBWIs) in neonatal intensive care unit. Methods: The data of 28 VLBWIs at the Ewha Womans University Mokdong Hospital between October 2016 and May 2017 was analyzed. They were exposed to sounds similar to those of mothers’ heartbeat they had heard in the uterus and their own parent’s voice. Heart rate was assessed as the physiological responses and sleep state of infants as behavioral response. The sleep states were categorized into six states. The music intervention program was provided twice a week. Results: Twenty-eight babies with an average gestational age of 28 weeks (average birth weight of 1.09 kg) had undergone the sessions (average of 16 times) average of 16 times. During the initial period, there were no meaningful differences of the heart rates measured by the physiological functions before and after the sessions. However, as we move to the adaptive phase, the average heart rate was 156.96±12.22, and the pre-discharge was 149.11±12.01, which indicates meaningful differences (P<0.05). Infants’ behavioral function was statistically insignificant. Conclusion The music intervention techniques in the neonatal intensive care unit environment in Korea have provided positive influence to VLBWIs' physiological reactions. We were not able to come up with the relevant indicators during this phase of the study but we do plan to announce the future study results after indexing the observation results.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the physiological and behavioral effects of auditory stimulation with their own parent’s voice on heart rate and sleep states of very-low-birth-weight infants (VLBWIs) in neonatal intensive care unit. Methods: The data of 28 VLBWIs at the Ewha Womans University Mokdong Hospital between October 2016 and May 2017 was analyzed. They were exposed to sounds similar to those of mothers’ heartbeat they had heard in the uterus and their own parent’s voice. Heart rate was assessed as the physiological responses and sleep state of infants as behavioral response. The sleep states were categorized into six states. The music intervention program was provided twice a week. Results: Twenty-eight babies with an average gestational age of 28 weeks (average birth weight of 1.09 kg) had undergone the sessions (average of 16 times) average of 16 times. During the initial period, there were no meaningful differences of the heart rates measured by the physiological functions before and after the sessions. However, as we move to the adaptive phase, the average heart rate was 156.96±12.22, and the pre-discharge was 149.11±12.01, which indicates meaningful differences (P<0.05). Infants’ behavioral function was statistically insignificant. Conclusion The music intervention techniques in the neonatal intensive care unit environment in Korea have provided positive influence to VLBWIs' physiological reactions. We were not able to come up with the relevant indicators during this phase of the study but we do plan to announce the future study results after indexing the observation results.

Growth hormone (GH) deficiency is caused by congenital or acquired causes and occurs in childhood or adulthood. GH replacement therapy brings benefits to body composition, exercise capacity, skeletal health, cardiovascular outcomes, and quality of life. Before initiating GH replacement, GH deficiency should be confirmed through proper stimulation tests, and in cases with proven genetic causes or structural lesions, repeated GH stimulation testing is not necessary. The dosing regimen of GH replacement therapy should be individualized, with the goal of minimizing side effects and maximizing clinical improvements. The Korean Endocrine Society and the Korean Society of Pediatric Endocrinology have developed a position statement on the diagnosis and treatment of GH deficiency. This position statement is based on a systematic review of evidence and expert opinions.