Background: and Purpose We aimed to determine the proportion of Korean patients with early Alzheimer’s disease (AD) who are eligible to receive lecanemab based on the United States Appropriate Use Recommendations (US AUR), and also identify the barriers to this treatment. Methods: We retrospectively enrolled 6,132 patients with amnestic mild cognitive impairment or mild amnestic dementia at 13 hospitals from June 2023 to May 2024. Among them, 2,058 patients underwent amyloid positron emission tomography (PET) and 1,199 (58.3%) of these patients were amyloid-positive on PET. We excluded 732 patients who did not undergo brain magnetic resonance imaging between June 2023 and May 2024. Finally, 467 patients were included in the present study. Results: When applying the criteria of the US AUR, approximately 50% of patients with early AD were eligible to receive lecanemab treatment. Among the 467 included patients, 36.8% did not meet the inclusion criterion of a Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) score of ≥22. Conclusions Eligibility for lecanemab treatment was not restricted to Korean patients with early AD except for those with an MMSE score of ≥22. The MMSE criteria should therefore be reconsidered in areas with a higher proportion of older people, who tend to have lower levels of education.

Background: and Purpose We aimed to determine the proportion of Korean patients with early Alzheimer’s disease (AD) who are eligible to receive lecanemab based on the United States Appropriate Use Recommendations (US AUR), and also identify the barriers to this treatment. Methods: We retrospectively enrolled 6,132 patients with amnestic mild cognitive impairment or mild amnestic dementia at 13 hospitals from June 2023 to May 2024. Among them, 2,058 patients underwent amyloid positron emission tomography (PET) and 1,199 (58.3%) of these patients were amyloid-positive on PET. We excluded 732 patients who did not undergo brain magnetic resonance imaging between June 2023 and May 2024. Finally, 467 patients were included in the present study. Results: When applying the criteria of the US AUR, approximately 50% of patients with early AD were eligible to receive lecanemab treatment. Among the 467 included patients, 36.8% did not meet the inclusion criterion of a Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) score of ≥22. Conclusions Eligibility for lecanemab treatment was not restricted to Korean patients with early AD except for those with an MMSE score of ≥22. The MMSE criteria should therefore be reconsidered in areas with a higher proportion of older people, who tend to have lower levels of education.

Background: and Purpose We aimed to determine the proportion of Korean patients with early Alzheimer’s disease (AD) who are eligible to receive lecanemab based on the United States Appropriate Use Recommendations (US AUR), and also identify the barriers to this treatment. Methods: We retrospectively enrolled 6,132 patients with amnestic mild cognitive impairment or mild amnestic dementia at 13 hospitals from June 2023 to May 2024. Among them, 2,058 patients underwent amyloid positron emission tomography (PET) and 1,199 (58.3%) of these patients were amyloid-positive on PET. We excluded 732 patients who did not undergo brain magnetic resonance imaging between June 2023 and May 2024. Finally, 467 patients were included in the present study. Results: When applying the criteria of the US AUR, approximately 50% of patients with early AD were eligible to receive lecanemab treatment. Among the 467 included patients, 36.8% did not meet the inclusion criterion of a Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) score of ≥22. Conclusions Eligibility for lecanemab treatment was not restricted to Korean patients with early AD except for those with an MMSE score of ≥22. The MMSE criteria should therefore be reconsidered in areas with a higher proportion of older people, who tend to have lower levels of education.

Studies on the association between pleural effusion (PE) and left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) are limited. This study aimed to examine the characteristics and the clinical impact of PE following LVAD implantation. Methods: This study is a prospective analysis of patients who underwent LVAD implantation from June 2015 to December 2022. We investigated the prognostic impact of therapeutic drainage (TD) on clinical outcomes. We also compared the characteristics and clinical outcomes between early and late PE and examined the factors related to the development of late PE. Results: A total of 71 patients was analyzed. The TD group (n=45) had a longer ward stay (days; median [interquartile range]: 31.0 [23.0–46.0] vs. 21.0 [16.0–34.0], P=0.006) and total hospital stay (47.0 [36.0–82.0] vs. 31.0 [22.0–48.0], P=0.002) compared to the no TD group (n=26). Early PE was mostly exudate, left-sided, and neutrophil-dominant even though predominance of lymphocytes was the most common finding in late PE. Patients with late PE had a higher rate of reintubation within 14 days (31.8% vs. 4.1%, P=0.004) and longer hospital stays than those without late PE (67.0 [43.0–104.0] vs. 36.0 [28.0–48.0], P<0.001). Subgroup analysis indicated that female sex, low body mass index, cardiac resynchronization therapy, and hypoalbuminemia were associated with late PE. Conclusions: Compared to patients not undergoing TD, those undergoing TD had a longer hospital stay but not a higher 90-day mortality. Patients with late PE had poor clinical outcomes. Therefore, the correction of risk factors, like hypoalbuminemia, may be required.

Studies on the association between pleural effusion (PE) and left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) are limited. This study aimed to examine the characteristics and the clinical impact of PE following LVAD implantation. Methods: This study is a prospective analysis of patients who underwent LVAD implantation from June 2015 to December 2022. We investigated the prognostic impact of therapeutic drainage (TD) on clinical outcomes. We also compared the characteristics and clinical outcomes between early and late PE and examined the factors related to the development of late PE. Results: A total of 71 patients was analyzed. The TD group (n=45) had a longer ward stay (days; median [interquartile range]: 31.0 [23.0–46.0] vs. 21.0 [16.0–34.0], P=0.006) and total hospital stay (47.0 [36.0–82.0] vs. 31.0 [22.0–48.0], P=0.002) compared to the no TD group (n=26). Early PE was mostly exudate, left-sided, and neutrophil-dominant even though predominance of lymphocytes was the most common finding in late PE. Patients with late PE had a higher rate of reintubation within 14 days (31.8% vs. 4.1%, P=0.004) and longer hospital stays than those without late PE (67.0 [43.0–104.0] vs. 36.0 [28.0–48.0], P<0.001). Subgroup analysis indicated that female sex, low body mass index, cardiac resynchronization therapy, and hypoalbuminemia were associated with late PE. Conclusions: Compared to patients not undergoing TD, those undergoing TD had a longer hospital stay but not a higher 90-day mortality. Patients with late PE had poor clinical outcomes. Therefore, the correction of risk factors, like hypoalbuminemia, may be required.

Studies on the association between pleural effusion (PE) and left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) are limited. This study aimed to examine the characteristics and the clinical impact of PE following LVAD implantation. Methods: This study is a prospective analysis of patients who underwent LVAD implantation from June 2015 to December 2022. We investigated the prognostic impact of therapeutic drainage (TD) on clinical outcomes. We also compared the characteristics and clinical outcomes between early and late PE and examined the factors related to the development of late PE. Results: A total of 71 patients was analyzed. The TD group (n=45) had a longer ward stay (days; median [interquartile range]: 31.0 [23.0–46.0] vs. 21.0 [16.0–34.0], P=0.006) and total hospital stay (47.0 [36.0–82.0] vs. 31.0 [22.0–48.0], P=0.002) compared to the no TD group (n=26). Early PE was mostly exudate, left-sided, and neutrophil-dominant even though predominance of lymphocytes was the most common finding in late PE. Patients with late PE had a higher rate of reintubation within 14 days (31.8% vs. 4.1%, P=0.004) and longer hospital stays than those without late PE (67.0 [43.0–104.0] vs. 36.0 [28.0–48.0], P<0.001). Subgroup analysis indicated that female sex, low body mass index, cardiac resynchronization therapy, and hypoalbuminemia were associated with late PE. Conclusions: Compared to patients not undergoing TD, those undergoing TD had a longer hospital stay but not a higher 90-day mortality. Patients with late PE had poor clinical outcomes. Therefore, the correction of risk factors, like hypoalbuminemia, may be required.

Studies on the association between pleural effusion (PE) and left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) are limited. This study aimed to examine the characteristics and the clinical impact of PE following LVAD implantation. Methods: This study is a prospective analysis of patients who underwent LVAD implantation from June 2015 to December 2022. We investigated the prognostic impact of therapeutic drainage (TD) on clinical outcomes. We also compared the characteristics and clinical outcomes between early and late PE and examined the factors related to the development of late PE. Results: A total of 71 patients was analyzed. The TD group (n=45) had a longer ward stay (days; median [interquartile range]: 31.0 [23.0–46.0] vs. 21.0 [16.0–34.0], P=0.006) and total hospital stay (47.0 [36.0–82.0] vs. 31.0 [22.0–48.0], P=0.002) compared to the no TD group (n=26). Early PE was mostly exudate, left-sided, and neutrophil-dominant even though predominance of lymphocytes was the most common finding in late PE. Patients with late PE had a higher rate of reintubation within 14 days (31.8% vs. 4.1%, P=0.004) and longer hospital stays than those without late PE (67.0 [43.0–104.0] vs. 36.0 [28.0–48.0], P<0.001). Subgroup analysis indicated that female sex, low body mass index, cardiac resynchronization therapy, and hypoalbuminemia were associated with late PE. Conclusions: Compared to patients not undergoing TD, those undergoing TD had a longer hospital stay but not a higher 90-day mortality. Patients with late PE had poor clinical outcomes. Therefore, the correction of risk factors, like hypoalbuminemia, may be required.

Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer in Korea and the third leading cause of death from cancer. Treatment outcomes for colon cancer are steadily improving due to national health screening programs with advances in diagnostic methods, surgical techniques, and therapeutic agents.. The Korea Colon Cancer Multidisciplinary (KCCM) Committee intends to provide professionals who treat colon cancer with the most up-to-date, evidence-based practice guidelines to improve outcomes and help them make decisions that reflect their patients’ values and preferences. These guidelines have been established by consensus reached by the KCCM Guideline Committee based on a systematic literature review and evidence synthesis and by considering the national health insurance system in real clinical practice settings. Each recommendation is presented with a recommendation strength and level of evidence based on the consensus of the committee.

Viral load and the duration of viral shedding of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) are important determinants of the transmission of coronavirus disease 2019.In this study, we examined the effects of viral doses on the lung and spleen of K18-hACE2 transgenic mice by temporal histological and transcriptional analyses. Approximately, 1×105 plaque-forming units (PFU) of SARS-CoV-2 induced strong host responses in the lungs from 2 days post inoculation (dpi) which did not recover until the mice died, whereas responses to the virus were obvious at 5 days, recovering to the basal state by 14 dpi at 1×102 PFU. Further, flow cytometry showed that number of CD8+ T cells continuously increased in 1×102 PFU-virusinfected lungs from 2 dpi, but not in 1×105 PFU-virus-infected lungs. In spleens, responses to the virus were prominent from 2 dpi, and number of B cells was significantly decreased at 1×105PFU; however, 1×102 PFU of virus induced very weak responses from 2 dpi which recovered by 10 dpi. Although the defense responses returned to normal and the mice survived, lung histology showed evidence of fibrosis, suggesting sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Our findings indicate that specific effectors of the immune response in the lung and spleen were either increased or depleted in response to doses of SARS-CoV-2. This study demonstrated that the response of local and systemic immune effectors to a viral infection varies with viral dose, which either exacerbates the severity of the infection or accelerates its elimination.

The American Joint Committee on Cancer/Union for International Cancer Control (AJCC/UICC) staging classification of thyroid cancer can predict death but cannot determine the type and frequency of follow-up testing. Risk stratification is a concept proposed by the American Thyroid Association that uses additional prognostic factors that are not included in the AJCC/UICC classification, such as number or size of metastatic lymph nodes, genetic mutations, and vascular invasion in follicular cancer, to further refine the prognosis of thyroid cancer. The risk of recurrence was categorized as low, intermediate, and high risk, and the need for total thyroidectomy, radioiodine therapy, or thyroid-stimulating hormone suppression was determined depending on each risk level. This approach has been accepted worldwide, and the previous recommendations of the Korean Thyroid Association followed a similar line of thinking but these have been modified in the revised 2024 guidelines.For the revised initial risk stratification, after careful review of the results of the recent meta-analyses and large observational studies and after a multidisciplinary meeting, four major changes were made: 1) thyroid cancer was reclassified according to the World Health Organization (WHO) 2022 tumor classification system; 2) recurrence risk was stratified by combining encapsulated follicular variant papillary thyroid cancer, follicular thyroid cancer, and oncocytic thyroid cancer, which have similar recurrence risk and associated factors, into follicular-patterned tumor; 3) low-risk groups were defined as those with a known recurrence rate of ≤5%, high-risk groups were upgraded to those with a known recurrence rate of ≥30%, and intermediate-risk groups were those with a recurrence risk of 5–30%; and 4) the intermediate risk group had the recurrence rate presented according to various clinicopathological factors, mainly based on reports from Korea. Thus, it is recommended to evaluate the initial risk group by predicting the recurrence rate by combining each clinical factor in individual patients, rather than applying the recurrence rate caused by single risk factor.