Background: Sunitinib, commonly used for metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC), often induces hypothyroidism, affecting 27 to85% of patients. There are clues suggesting an association between sunitinib-induced hypothyroidism and improved survival outcomes. This study aims to identify the predictive factors of sunitinib-induced hypothyroidism and evaluate whether the occurrence of overt or subclinical hypothyroidism predicts tumor outcome in patients with mRCC. Methods: Patients administered to sunitinib for mRCC was included in this retrospective study. Log-rank test and Cox proportional hazards model were conducted to identify predictive factors of hypothyroidism and prognostic factors of progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS). Results: A total of 156 patients with mRCC treated with sunitinib were included. Predictive factors of sunitinib-induced hypothyroidism werefemale (odds ratio (OR), 2.77), sunitinib-induced hypertension (OR, 2.99) and dose reduction of sunitinib due to intolerance (OR, 3.57). Sunitinib-induced overt hypothyroidism was a significant prognostic factor in predicting PFS and OS (hazard ratio, 0.38 and 0.23, respectively). Thyroid hormone replacement did not have an influence on PFS and OS. Conclusions Female patients, patients who experienced sunitinib-induced hypertension and sunitinib dose reduction are at higher risk of hypothyroidism and need close monitoring. Overt hypothyroidism is a strong prognostic factor of sunitinib treatment outcome in mRCC patients and thyroid hor-mone replacement does not have a negative effect on tumor outcome.

Background: Sunitinib, commonly used for metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC), often induces hypothyroidism, affecting 27 to85% of patients. There are clues suggesting an association between sunitinib-induced hypothyroidism and improved survival outcomes. This study aims to identify the predictive factors of sunitinib-induced hypothyroidism and evaluate whether the occurrence of overt or subclinical hypothyroidism predicts tumor outcome in patients with mRCC. Methods: Patients administered to sunitinib for mRCC was included in this retrospective study. Log-rank test and Cox proportional hazards model were conducted to identify predictive factors of hypothyroidism and prognostic factors of progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS). Results: A total of 156 patients with mRCC treated with sunitinib were included. Predictive factors of sunitinib-induced hypothyroidism werefemale (odds ratio (OR), 2.77), sunitinib-induced hypertension (OR, 2.99) and dose reduction of sunitinib due to intolerance (OR, 3.57). Sunitinib-induced overt hypothyroidism was a significant prognostic factor in predicting PFS and OS (hazard ratio, 0.38 and 0.23, respectively). Thyroid hormone replacement did not have an influence on PFS and OS. Conclusions Female patients, patients who experienced sunitinib-induced hypertension and sunitinib dose reduction are at higher risk of hypothyroidism and need close monitoring. Overt hypothyroidism is a strong prognostic factor of sunitinib treatment outcome in mRCC patients and thyroid hor-mone replacement does not have a negative effect on tumor outcome.

Background: Sunitinib, commonly used for metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC), often induces hypothyroidism, affecting 27 to85% of patients. There are clues suggesting an association between sunitinib-induced hypothyroidism and improved survival outcomes. This study aims to identify the predictive factors of sunitinib-induced hypothyroidism and evaluate whether the occurrence of overt or subclinical hypothyroidism predicts tumor outcome in patients with mRCC. Methods: Patients administered to sunitinib for mRCC was included in this retrospective study. Log-rank test and Cox proportional hazards model were conducted to identify predictive factors of hypothyroidism and prognostic factors of progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS). Results: A total of 156 patients with mRCC treated with sunitinib were included. Predictive factors of sunitinib-induced hypothyroidism werefemale (odds ratio (OR), 2.77), sunitinib-induced hypertension (OR, 2.99) and dose reduction of sunitinib due to intolerance (OR, 3.57). Sunitinib-induced overt hypothyroidism was a significant prognostic factor in predicting PFS and OS (hazard ratio, 0.38 and 0.23, respectively). Thyroid hormone replacement did not have an influence on PFS and OS. Conclusions Female patients, patients who experienced sunitinib-induced hypertension and sunitinib dose reduction are at higher risk of hypothyroidism and need close monitoring. Overt hypothyroidism is a strong prognostic factor of sunitinib treatment outcome in mRCC patients and thyroid hor-mone replacement does not have a negative effect on tumor outcome.

Background: Sunitinib, commonly used for metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC), often induces hypothyroidism, affecting 27 to85% of patients. There are clues suggesting an association between sunitinib-induced hypothyroidism and improved survival outcomes. This study aims to identify the predictive factors of sunitinib-induced hypothyroidism and evaluate whether the occurrence of overt or subclinical hypothyroidism predicts tumor outcome in patients with mRCC. Methods: Patients administered to sunitinib for mRCC was included in this retrospective study. Log-rank test and Cox proportional hazards model were conducted to identify predictive factors of hypothyroidism and prognostic factors of progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS). Results: A total of 156 patients with mRCC treated with sunitinib were included. Predictive factors of sunitinib-induced hypothyroidism werefemale (odds ratio (OR), 2.77), sunitinib-induced hypertension (OR, 2.99) and dose reduction of sunitinib due to intolerance (OR, 3.57). Sunitinib-induced overt hypothyroidism was a significant prognostic factor in predicting PFS and OS (hazard ratio, 0.38 and 0.23, respectively). Thyroid hormone replacement did not have an influence on PFS and OS. Conclusions Female patients, patients who experienced sunitinib-induced hypertension and sunitinib dose reduction are at higher risk of hypothyroidism and need close monitoring. Overt hypothyroidism is a strong prognostic factor of sunitinib treatment outcome in mRCC patients and thyroid hor-mone replacement does not have a negative effect on tumor outcome.

Background: and Purpose We investigated the impact of comorbidity burden on troponin elevation, with separate consideration of neurological conditions, in patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS). Methods: This prospective, observational cohort study consecutively enrolled patients with AIS for 2 years. Serum cardiac troponin I was repeatedly measured, and disease-related biomarkers were collected for diagnosis of preassigned comorbidities, including atrial fibrillation (AF), ischemic heart disease (IHD), myocardial hypertrophy (MH), heart failure (HF), renal insufficiency (RI), and active cancer. The severity of neurological deficits and insular cortical ischemic lesions were assessed as neurological conditions. Adjusted associations between these factors and troponin elevation were determined using a multivariate ordinal logistic regression model and area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC). Cox proportional hazards model was used to determine the prognostic significance of comorbidity beyond neurological conditions. Results: Among 1,092 patients (66.5±12.4 years, 63.3% male), 145 (13.3%) and 335 (30.7%) had elevated (≥0.040 ng/mL) and minimally-elevated (0.040–0.010 ng/mL) troponin, respectively. In the adjusted analysis, AF, MH, HF, RI, active cancer, and neurological deficits were associated with troponin elevation. The multivariate model with six comorbidities and two neurological conditions exhibited an AUC of 0.729 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.698–0.759). In Cox regression, AF, IHD, and HF were associated with adverse cardio-cerebrovascular events, whereas HF and active cancer were associated with mortality. Conclusion Troponin elevation in patients with AIS can be explained by the burden of comorbidities in combination with neurological status, which explains the prognostic significance of troponin assay.

Background: The use of newly developed mixed-dilution hemodiafiltration (HDF) can supplement the weaknesses of pre- and postdilution HDF. However, it is unclear whether mixed-HDF performs well compared to predilution HDF. Methods: We conducted a prospective, open-labeled, randomized controlled trial from two hemodialysis centers in Korea. Between January 2017 and September 2019, 60 patients who underwent chronic hemodialysis were randomly assigned at a 1:1 ratio to receive either predilution HDF (n = 30) or mixed-HDF (n = 30) for 6 months. We compared convection volume, changes in small- and medium-sized molecule clearance, high-sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) level, and dialysis-related parameters between the two dialysis modalities. Results: A mean effective convection volume of 41.0 ± 10.3 L/session in the predilution HDF group and 51.5 ± 9.0 L/session in the mixed-HDF group was obtained by averaging values of three time-points. The difference in effective convection volume between the groups was 10.5 ± 1.3 L/session. This met the preset noninferiority criteria, suggesting that mixed-HDF was noninferior to predilution HDF. Moreover, the β2-microglobulin reduction rate was greater in the mixed-HDF group than in the predilution HDF group, while mixed-HDF provided greater transmembrane pressure. There were no significant between-group differences in Kt/V urea levels, changes in predialysis hs-CRP levels, proportions of overhydration, or blood pressure values. Symptomatic intradialytic hypotension episodes and other adverse events occurred similarly in the two groups. Conclusion Use of mixed-HDF was comparable to predilution HDF in terms of delivered convection volume and clinical parameters. Moreover, mixed-HDF provided better β2-microglobulin clearance than predilution HDF.

Background/Aims: Despite controversy regarding the benefits of immunosuppressive therapy in immunoglobulin A nephropathy (IgAN), clinical outcomes may vary depending on the patient’s responsiveness to this therapy. This study evaluated long-term kidney outcomes according to the extent of proteinuria reduction after immunosuppression in IgAN patients. Methods: Among 927 patients with biopsy-proven IgAN, 127 patients underwent immunosuppression. Time-averaged urine protein-creatinine ratio before and within 1 year after start of immunosuppression were calculated, and responsiveness to immunosuppression was assessed as the reduction of proteinuria between the two periods. Patients were classified into tertiles according to the extent of proteinuria reduction. We compared the slopes of estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) decline using a linear mixed model, and estimated hazard ratios (HRs) for disease progression (defined as development of a ≥ 30% decline in eGFR or end-stage renal disease) using a Cox proportional hazard model. Results: Median extent of proteinuria reduction was –2.1, –0.9, and –0.2 g/gCr in the first, second, and third tertiles, respectively. There were concomitant changes in the slopes of annual eGFR decline: –2.03, –2.44, and –4.62 mL/min/1.73 m2 among the first, second, and third tertiles, respectively. In multivariable Cox analysis, the HRs (95% confidence intervals) for disease progression were 0.30 (0.12 to 0.74) in the first tertile and 0.70 (0.34 to 1.45) in the second tertile compared with the thirdtertile. Conclusions This study showed that greater proteinuria reduction after immunosuppression was associated with a lower risk of disease progression in patients with IgAN, suggesting that responsiveness to immunosuppression may be an important determinant of kidney outcomes.

Since the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine guidelines were developed by the Korean Society of Gynecologic Oncology (KSGO) in 2011, 2016, and 2019, several recent studies on the efficacy and safety of HPV vaccines in middle-aged women and men have been reported. Furthermore, there has been an ongoing debate regarding the efficacy of the HPV vaccine in women with prior HPV infection or who have undergone conization for cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN). We searched and reviewed studies on the efficacy and safety of the HPV vaccine in middle-aged women and men and the efficacy of the HPV vaccine in patients infected with HPV and those who underwent conization for CIN. The KSGO updated their guidelines based on the results of the studies included in this review.

Background/Aims: Despite controversy regarding the benefits of immunosuppressive therapy in immunoglobulin A nephropathy (IgAN), clinical outcomes may vary depending on the patient’s responsiveness to this therapy. This study evaluated long-term kidney outcomes according to the extent of proteinuria reduction after immunosuppression in IgAN patients. Methods: Among 927 patients with biopsy-proven IgAN, 127 patients underwent immunosuppression. Time-averaged urine protein-creatinine ratio before and within 1 year after start of immunosuppression were calculated, and responsiveness to immunosuppression was assessed as the reduction of proteinuria between the two periods. Patients were classified into tertiles according to the extent of proteinuria reduction. We compared the slopes of estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) decline using a linear mixed model, and estimated hazard ratios (HRs) for disease progression (defined as development of a ≥ 30% decline in eGFR or end-stage renal disease) using a Cox proportional hazard model. Results: Median extent of proteinuria reduction was –2.1, –0.9, and –0.2 g/gCr in the first, second, and third tertiles, respectively. There were concomitant changes in the slopes of annual eGFR decline: –2.03, –2.44, and –4.62 mL/min/1.73 m2 among the first, second, and third tertiles, respectively. In multivariable Cox analysis, the HRs (95% confidence intervals) for disease progression were 0.30 (0.12 to 0.74) in the first tertile and 0.70 (0.34 to 1.45) in the second tertile compared with the thirdtertile. Conclusions This study showed that greater proteinuria reduction after immunosuppression was associated with a lower risk of disease progression in patients with IgAN, suggesting that responsiveness to immunosuppression may be an important determinant of kidney outcomes.

The Committee of Clinical Practice Guidelines of the Korean Diabetes Association (KDA) updated the previous clinical practice guidelines for Korean adults with diabetes and prediabetes and published the seventh edition in May 2021. We performed a comprehensive systematic review of recent clinical trials and evidence that could be applicable in real-world practice and suitable for the Korean population. The guideline is provided for all healthcare providers including physicians, diabetes experts, and certified diabetes educators across the country who manage patients with diabetes or the individuals at the risk of developing diabetes mellitus. The recommendations for screening diabetes and glucose-lowering agents have been revised and updated. New sections for continuous glucose monitoring, insulin pump use, and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in patients with diabetes mellitus have been added. The KDA recommends active vaccination for coronavirus disease 2019 in patients with diabetes during the pandemic. An abridgement that contains practical information for patient education and systematic management in the clinic was published separately.