Although WHO declared the end of the public health emergency for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARSCoV-2), XBB lineages continue to evolve and emerge globally. In particular, XBB.1.5 and XBB.1.16 are raising concerns because of their high immune evasion, leading to apprehensions regarding vaccine efficacy reduction and potential reinfection. We aimed to investigate the COVID-19 outbreak in Korea and predict the likelihood of reinfection by testing neutralizing activity against live viruses from the S clade and 19 Omicron sublineages.We found a significant risk of infection with the currently prevalent XBB lineage for individuals who were either vaccinated early or infected during the initial Omicron outbreak. Vaccinated individuals were better equipped than unvaccinated individuals to produce neutralizing antibodies for other SARS-CoV-2 variants upon infection. Therefore, unvaccinated individuals do not easily develop neutralizing activity against other variants and face the highest risk of reinfection by the XBB lineage. Our study provides important information to facilitate the development of strategies for monitoring populations that would be the most susceptible to new COVID-19 outbreaks.

Background: Flow cytometric immunophenotyping of hematolymphoid neoplasms (FCIHLN) is essential for diagnosis, classification, and minimal residual disease (MRD) monitoring. FCI-HLN is typically performed using in-house protocols, raising the need for standardization. Therefore, we surveyed the current status of FCI-HLN in Korea to obtain fundamental data for quality improvement and standardization. Methods: Eight university hospitals actively conducting FCI-HLN participated in our survey.We analyzed responses to a questionnaire that included inquiries regarding test items, reagent antibodies (RAs), fluorophores, sample amounts (SAs), reagent antibody amounts (RAAs), acquisition cell number (ACN), isotype control (IC) usage, positiveegative criteria, and reporting. Results: Most hospitals used acute HLN, chronic HLN, plasma cell neoplasm (PCN), and MRD panels. The numbers of RAs were heterogeneous, with a maximum of 32, 26, 12, 14, and 10 antibodies used for acute HLN, chronic HLN, PCN, ALL-MRD, and multiple myeloma-MRD, respectively. The number of fluorophores ranged from 4 to 10. RAs, SAs, RAAs, and ACN were diverse. Most hospitals used a positive criterion of 20%, whereas one used 10% for acute and chronic HLN panels. Five hospitals used ICs for the negative criterion. Positiveegative assignments, percentages, and general opinions were commonly reported. In MRD reporting, the limit of detection and lower limit of quantification were included. Conclusions This is the first comprehensive study on the current status of FCI-HLN in Korea, confirming the high heterogeneity and complexity of FCI-HLN practices. Standardization of FCI-HLN is urgently needed. The findings provide a reference for establishing standard FCI-HLN guidelines.

Purpose: To evaluate the repeatability of corneal epithelial thickness (CET) measurements in normal eyes and eyes diagnosed with corneal disease using the epithelial thickness map (ETM) of anterior-segment optical coherence tomography (OCT). Methods: In this retrospective study, patients with three OCT scans using the ETM mode of Cirrus OCT between October 2021 and January 2024 were reviewed. Two groups of subjects were included: (1) normal subjects with no history of ophthalmic surgery, corneal diseases, and topical antiglaucoma medication uses; and (2) subjects with corneal diseases including dry eye syndrome, recurrent corneal erosion, pterygium, and others. A total of 57 eyes of 57 normal subjects and 106 eyes of 76 patients with corneal disease were included. ETM was analyzed in 25 zones (one zone within 0–2 mm diameter, eight zones within 2–5 mm diameter, eight zones within 5–7 mm diameter, and eight zones within 7–9 mm diameter). Repeatability was evaluated by calculating intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), coefficient of variation (CoV), within-subject standard deviation (Sw), and Bland-Altman plot. Results: Among a total of 25 sectors, the normal eyes showed high repeatability (ICC, >0.75; CoV, 2.160%–5.292%; Sw, 0.760– 1.653 μm) in 23 sectors, and corneal diseases patients also showed high repeatability (ICC, >0.75; CoV, 4.167%–9.606%; Sw, 1.298–3.340 μm) in 22 sectors. However, the wide range of 95% limit of agreement width of Bland-Altman plot presented in corneal disease group and some peripheral zones in normal eyes indicates some variability of CET measurements. Conclusions Except for a few peripheral sectors, ETM of Cirrus OCT provides repeatable CET measurements in normal eyes; however in corneal disease group, repeatability was not consistently high. To measure CET accurately, performing multiple measurements is advised especially in patients with corneal disease and patients in whom peripheral CET values.

Purpose: To evaluate the repeatability of corneal epithelial thickness (CET) measurements in normal eyes and eyes diagnosed with corneal disease using the epithelial thickness map (ETM) of anterior-segment optical coherence tomography (OCT). Methods: In this retrospective study, patients with three OCT scans using the ETM mode of Cirrus OCT between October 2021 and January 2024 were reviewed. Two groups of subjects were included: (1) normal subjects with no history of ophthalmic surgery, corneal diseases, and topical antiglaucoma medication uses; and (2) subjects with corneal diseases including dry eye syndrome, recurrent corneal erosion, pterygium, and others. A total of 57 eyes of 57 normal subjects and 106 eyes of 76 patients with corneal disease were included. ETM was analyzed in 25 zones (one zone within 0–2 mm diameter, eight zones within 2–5 mm diameter, eight zones within 5–7 mm diameter, and eight zones within 7–9 mm diameter). Repeatability was evaluated by calculating intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), coefficient of variation (CoV), within-subject standard deviation (Sw), and Bland-Altman plot. Results: Among a total of 25 sectors, the normal eyes showed high repeatability (ICC, >0.75; CoV, 2.160%–5.292%; Sw, 0.760– 1.653 μm) in 23 sectors, and corneal diseases patients also showed high repeatability (ICC, >0.75; CoV, 4.167%–9.606%; Sw, 1.298–3.340 μm) in 22 sectors. However, the wide range of 95% limit of agreement width of Bland-Altman plot presented in corneal disease group and some peripheral zones in normal eyes indicates some variability of CET measurements. Conclusions Except for a few peripheral sectors, ETM of Cirrus OCT provides repeatable CET measurements in normal eyes; however in corneal disease group, repeatability was not consistently high. To measure CET accurately, performing multiple measurements is advised especially in patients with corneal disease and patients in whom peripheral CET values.

Purpose: To evaluate the repeatability of corneal epithelial thickness (CET) measurements in normal eyes and eyes diagnosed with corneal disease using the epithelial thickness map (ETM) of anterior-segment optical coherence tomography (OCT). Methods: In this retrospective study, patients with three OCT scans using the ETM mode of Cirrus OCT between October 2021 and January 2024 were reviewed. Two groups of subjects were included: (1) normal subjects with no history of ophthalmic surgery, corneal diseases, and topical antiglaucoma medication uses; and (2) subjects with corneal diseases including dry eye syndrome, recurrent corneal erosion, pterygium, and others. A total of 57 eyes of 57 normal subjects and 106 eyes of 76 patients with corneal disease were included. ETM was analyzed in 25 zones (one zone within 0–2 mm diameter, eight zones within 2–5 mm diameter, eight zones within 5–7 mm diameter, and eight zones within 7–9 mm diameter). Repeatability was evaluated by calculating intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), coefficient of variation (CoV), within-subject standard deviation (Sw), and Bland-Altman plot. Results: Among a total of 25 sectors, the normal eyes showed high repeatability (ICC, >0.75; CoV, 2.160%–5.292%; Sw, 0.760– 1.653 μm) in 23 sectors, and corneal diseases patients also showed high repeatability (ICC, >0.75; CoV, 4.167%–9.606%; Sw, 1.298–3.340 μm) in 22 sectors. However, the wide range of 95% limit of agreement width of Bland-Altman plot presented in corneal disease group and some peripheral zones in normal eyes indicates some variability of CET measurements. Conclusions Except for a few peripheral sectors, ETM of Cirrus OCT provides repeatable CET measurements in normal eyes; however in corneal disease group, repeatability was not consistently high. To measure CET accurately, performing multiple measurements is advised especially in patients with corneal disease and patients in whom peripheral CET values.

Purpose: To evaluate the repeatability of corneal epithelial thickness (CET) measurements in normal eyes and eyes diagnosed with corneal disease using the epithelial thickness map (ETM) of anterior-segment optical coherence tomography (OCT). Methods: In this retrospective study, patients with three OCT scans using the ETM mode of Cirrus OCT between October 2021 and January 2024 were reviewed. Two groups of subjects were included: (1) normal subjects with no history of ophthalmic surgery, corneal diseases, and topical antiglaucoma medication uses; and (2) subjects with corneal diseases including dry eye syndrome, recurrent corneal erosion, pterygium, and others. A total of 57 eyes of 57 normal subjects and 106 eyes of 76 patients with corneal disease were included. ETM was analyzed in 25 zones (one zone within 0–2 mm diameter, eight zones within 2–5 mm diameter, eight zones within 5–7 mm diameter, and eight zones within 7–9 mm diameter). Repeatability was evaluated by calculating intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), coefficient of variation (CoV), within-subject standard deviation (Sw), and Bland-Altman plot. Results: Among a total of 25 sectors, the normal eyes showed high repeatability (ICC, >0.75; CoV, 2.160%–5.292%; Sw, 0.760– 1.653 μm) in 23 sectors, and corneal diseases patients also showed high repeatability (ICC, >0.75; CoV, 4.167%–9.606%; Sw, 1.298–3.340 μm) in 22 sectors. However, the wide range of 95% limit of agreement width of Bland-Altman plot presented in corneal disease group and some peripheral zones in normal eyes indicates some variability of CET measurements. Conclusions Except for a few peripheral sectors, ETM of Cirrus OCT provides repeatable CET measurements in normal eyes; however in corneal disease group, repeatability was not consistently high. To measure CET accurately, performing multiple measurements is advised especially in patients with corneal disease and patients in whom peripheral CET values.

Purpose: To evaluate the repeatability of corneal epithelial thickness (CET) measurements in normal eyes and eyes diagnosed with corneal disease using the epithelial thickness map (ETM) of anterior-segment optical coherence tomography (OCT). Methods: In this retrospective study, patients with three OCT scans using the ETM mode of Cirrus OCT between October 2021 and January 2024 were reviewed. Two groups of subjects were included: (1) normal subjects with no history of ophthalmic surgery, corneal diseases, and topical antiglaucoma medication uses; and (2) subjects with corneal diseases including dry eye syndrome, recurrent corneal erosion, pterygium, and others. A total of 57 eyes of 57 normal subjects and 106 eyes of 76 patients with corneal disease were included. ETM was analyzed in 25 zones (one zone within 0–2 mm diameter, eight zones within 2–5 mm diameter, eight zones within 5–7 mm diameter, and eight zones within 7–9 mm diameter). Repeatability was evaluated by calculating intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), coefficient of variation (CoV), within-subject standard deviation (Sw), and Bland-Altman plot. Results: Among a total of 25 sectors, the normal eyes showed high repeatability (ICC, >0.75; CoV, 2.160%–5.292%; Sw, 0.760– 1.653 μm) in 23 sectors, and corneal diseases patients also showed high repeatability (ICC, >0.75; CoV, 4.167%–9.606%; Sw, 1.298–3.340 μm) in 22 sectors. However, the wide range of 95% limit of agreement width of Bland-Altman plot presented in corneal disease group and some peripheral zones in normal eyes indicates some variability of CET measurements. Conclusions Except for a few peripheral sectors, ETM of Cirrus OCT provides repeatable CET measurements in normal eyes; however in corneal disease group, repeatability was not consistently high. To measure CET accurately, performing multiple measurements is advised especially in patients with corneal disease and patients in whom peripheral CET values.

Allergen immunotherapy (AIT) has been used for over a century and has been demonstrated to be effective in treating patients with various allergic diseases. AIT allergens can be administered through various routes, including subcutaneous, sublingual, intralymphatic, oral, or epicutaneous routes. Sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) has recently gained clinical interest, and it is considered an alternative treatment for allergic rhinitis (AR) and asthma. This review provides an overview of the current evidence-based studies that address the use of SLIT for treating AR, including (1) mechanisms of action, (2) appropriate patient selection for SLIT, (3) the current available SLIT products in Korea, and (4) updated information on its efficacy and safety. Finally, this guideline aims to provide the clinician with practical considerations for SLIT.

Allergen immunotherapy (AIT) is a causative treatment of allergic diseases in which allergen extracts are regularly administered in a gradually escalated doses, leading to immune tolerance and consequent alleviation of allergic diseases. The need for uniform practice guidelines in AIT is continuously growing as the number of potential candidates for AIT increases and new therapeutic approaches are tried. This updated version of the Korean Academy of Asthma Allergy and Clinical Immunology recommendations for AIT, published in 2010, proposes an expert opinion by specialists in allergy, pediatrics, and otorhinolaryngology. This guideline deals with the basic knowledge of AIT, including mechanisms, clinical efficacy, allergen standardization, important allergens in Korea, and special consideration in pediatrics. The article also covers the methodological aspects of AIT, including patient selection, allergen selection, schedule and doses, follow-up care, efficacy measurements, and management of adverse reactions. Although this guideline suggests the optimal dosing schedule, an individualized approach and modifications are recommended considering the situation for each patient and clinic.

Purpose: Bilateral axillo-breast approach robotic parathyroidectomy (BABA-RP) aims to remove overactive or enlarged parathyroid glands with no visible neck collar incision. In this study, we compared the safety and surgical outcomes of BABA-RP vs. those of an open surgery group to ascertain whether BABA-RP is a safe and feasible surgical approach for patients with primary hyperparathyroidism (pHPT). Methods: This single-institution retrospective cohort study included 74 patients with primary HPT who underwent open parathyroidectomy (n = 37) or BABA-RP (n = 37) at our institution between November 2014 and March 2023. Patient demographics, biochemical cure rates, operative time, blood loss rates, and complication rates were examined and compared. Results: The patients in the BABA-RP group were younger and had a longer mean operative time. Regarding complication events, 2 patients in the open surgery group and 1 patient in the BABA-RP group had transient hypoparathyroidism. All 74 patients achieved biochemical cure at <6 months, regardless of the approach used. Two patients in the BABA-RP group and 1 patient in the open surgery group had carcinoma on surgical pathology. All 3 patients with parathyroid carcinoma remained recurrence-free at 1-year follow-up. Conclusion Compared with the open procedure, BABA-RP is a safe and feasible procedure that provides an excellent biochemical cure rate for patients with pHPT and has superior cosmetic benefits with equivalent surgical outcomes.