With the increasing emphasis on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in organizations and institutions, academic societies in gastroenterology and hepatology are beginning to take actionable steps toward achieving DEI. The successful implementation of DEI initiatives leads to excellence in the field, improved patient outcomes, particularly in areas where health disparities are prevalent, and advances in the gastrointestinal discipline. Such implementation also results in a workforce that better reflects the growing diversity of the population. This review defines DEI and introduces the DEI policies and strategies adopted by the academic societies of gastroenterology in other countries. This paper proposes strategies to integrate DEI better into the Korean Society of Gastroenterology, emphasizing the importance of embedding DEI into the culture and strategic framework. The key strategies include establishing a DEI committee, setting clear targets, and conducting formal assessments to measure DEI progress. This study focused on enhancing workforce diversity, particularly among women and young doctors, and advocates for the need to support their academic development through male allyship and the promotion of equitable and inclusive academic cultures.

With the increasing emphasis on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in organizations and institutions, academic societies in gastroenterology and hepatology are beginning to take actionable steps toward achieving DEI. The successful implementation of DEI initiatives leads to excellence in the field, improved patient outcomes, particularly in areas where health disparities are prevalent, and advances in the gastrointestinal discipline. Such implementation also results in a workforce that better reflects the growing diversity of the population. This review defines DEI and introduces the DEI policies and strategies adopted by the academic societies of gastroenterology in other countries. This paper proposes strategies to integrate DEI better into the Korean Society of Gastroenterology, emphasizing the importance of embedding DEI into the culture and strategic framework. The key strategies include establishing a DEI committee, setting clear targets, and conducting formal assessments to measure DEI progress. This study focused on enhancing workforce diversity, particularly among women and young doctors, and advocates for the need to support their academic development through male allyship and the promotion of equitable and inclusive academic cultures.

With the increasing emphasis on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in organizations and institutions, academic societies in gastroenterology and hepatology are beginning to take actionable steps toward achieving DEI. The successful implementation of DEI initiatives leads to excellence in the field, improved patient outcomes, particularly in areas where health disparities are prevalent, and advances in the gastrointestinal discipline. Such implementation also results in a workforce that better reflects the growing diversity of the population. This review defines DEI and introduces the DEI policies and strategies adopted by the academic societies of gastroenterology in other countries. This paper proposes strategies to integrate DEI better into the Korean Society of Gastroenterology, emphasizing the importance of embedding DEI into the culture and strategic framework. The key strategies include establishing a DEI committee, setting clear targets, and conducting formal assessments to measure DEI progress. This study focused on enhancing workforce diversity, particularly among women and young doctors, and advocates for the need to support their academic development through male allyship and the promotion of equitable and inclusive academic cultures.

Heart failure (HF) is a major cause of mortality and morbidity in South Korea, imposing substantial physical, emotional, and financial burdens on patients and society. Despite the high burden of symptom and complex care needs of HF patients, palliative care and hospice services remain underutilized in South Korea due to cultural, institutional, and knowledge-related barriers. This position statement from the Korean Society of Heart Failure emphasizes the need for integrating palliative and hospice care into HF management to improve quality of life and support holistic care for patients and their families. By clarifying the role of palliative care in HF and proposing practical referral criteria, this position statement aims to bridge the gap between HF and palliative care services in South Korea, ultimately improving patient-centered outcomes and aligning treatment with the goals and values of HF patients.

With the increasing emphasis on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in organizations and institutions, academic societies in gastroenterology and hepatology are beginning to take actionable steps toward achieving DEI. The successful implementation of DEI initiatives leads to excellence in the field, improved patient outcomes, particularly in areas where health disparities are prevalent, and advances in the gastrointestinal discipline. Such implementation also results in a workforce that better reflects the growing diversity of the population. This review defines DEI and introduces the DEI policies and strategies adopted by the academic societies of gastroenterology in other countries. This paper proposes strategies to integrate DEI better into the Korean Society of Gastroenterology, emphasizing the importance of embedding DEI into the culture and strategic framework. The key strategies include establishing a DEI committee, setting clear targets, and conducting formal assessments to measure DEI progress. This study focused on enhancing workforce diversity, particularly among women and young doctors, and advocates for the need to support their academic development through male allyship and the promotion of equitable and inclusive academic cultures.

With the increasing emphasis on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in organizations and institutions, academic societies in gastroenterology and hepatology are beginning to take actionable steps toward achieving DEI. The successful implementation of DEI initiatives leads to excellence in the field, improved patient outcomes, particularly in areas where health disparities are prevalent, and advances in the gastrointestinal discipline. Such implementation also results in a workforce that better reflects the growing diversity of the population. This review defines DEI and introduces the DEI policies and strategies adopted by the academic societies of gastroenterology in other countries. This paper proposes strategies to integrate DEI better into the Korean Society of Gastroenterology, emphasizing the importance of embedding DEI into the culture and strategic framework. The key strategies include establishing a DEI committee, setting clear targets, and conducting formal assessments to measure DEI progress. This study focused on enhancing workforce diversity, particularly among women and young doctors, and advocates for the need to support their academic development through male allyship and the promotion of equitable and inclusive academic cultures.

Background and Objectives: Lipid lowering therapy is essential to reduce the risk of major cardiovascular events; however, limited evidence exists regarding the use of statin with ezetimibe as primary prevention strategy for middle-aged adults. We aimed to investigate the impact of single pill combination therapy on clinical outcomes in relatively healthy middleaged patients when compared with statin monotherapy. Methods: Using the Korean National Health Insurance Service database, a propensity score match analysis was performed for baseline characteristics of 92,156 patients categorized into combination therapy (n=46,078) and statin monotherapy (n=46,078) groups. Primary outcome was composite outcomes, including death, coronary artery disease, and ischemic stroke. And secondary outcome was all-cause death. The mean follow-up duration was 2.9±0.3 years. Results: The 3-year composite outcomes of all-cause death, coronary artery disease, and ischemic stroke demonstrated no significant difference between the 2 groups (10.3% vs.10.1%; hazard ratio [HR], 1.022; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.980–1.064; p=0.309).Meanwhile, the 3-year all-cause death rate was lower in the combination therapy group than in the statin monotherapy group (0.2% vs. 0.4%; p<0.001), with a significant HR of 0.595 (95% CI, 0.460–0.769; p<0.001). Single pill combination therapy exhibited consistently lower mortality rates across various subgroups. Conclusions Compared to the statin monotherapy, the combination therapy for primary prevention showed no difference in composite outcomes but may reduce mortality risk in relatively healthy middle-aged patients. However, since the study was observational, further randomized clinical trials are needed to confirm these findings.

Lupus is characterized by the autoantibodies against nuclear Ags, underscoring the importance of identifying the B cell subsets driving autoimmunity. Our research focused on the mitochondrial activity and CXCR4 expression in CD11c + B cells from lupus patients after ex vivo stimulation with a TLR9 agonist, CpG-oligodeoxyribonucleotide (ODN). We also evaluated the response of CD11c + B cells in ODN-injected mice. Post-ex vivo ODN stimulation, we observed an increase in the proportion of CD11chi cells, with elevated mitochondrial activity and CXCR4 expression in CD11c + B cells from lupus patients. In vivo experiments showed similar patterns, with TLR9 stimulation enhancing mitochondrial and CXCR4 activities in CD11chi B cells, leading to the generation of anti-dsDNA plasmablasts. The CXCR4 inhibitor AMD3100 and the mitochondrial complex I inhibitor IM156 significantly reduced the proportion of CD11c + B cells and autoreactive plasmablasts. These results underscore the pivotal roles of mitochondria and CXCR4 in the production of autoreactive plasmablasts.

Background and Objectives: Lipid lowering therapy is essential to reduce the risk of major cardiovascular events; however, limited evidence exists regarding the use of statin with ezetimibe as primary prevention strategy for middle-aged adults. We aimed to investigate the impact of single pill combination therapy on clinical outcomes in relatively healthy middleaged patients when compared with statin monotherapy. Methods: Using the Korean National Health Insurance Service database, a propensity score match analysis was performed for baseline characteristics of 92,156 patients categorized into combination therapy (n=46,078) and statin monotherapy (n=46,078) groups. Primary outcome was composite outcomes, including death, coronary artery disease, and ischemic stroke. And secondary outcome was all-cause death. The mean follow-up duration was 2.9±0.3 years. Results: The 3-year composite outcomes of all-cause death, coronary artery disease, and ischemic stroke demonstrated no significant difference between the 2 groups (10.3% vs.10.1%; hazard ratio [HR], 1.022; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.980–1.064; p=0.309).Meanwhile, the 3-year all-cause death rate was lower in the combination therapy group than in the statin monotherapy group (0.2% vs. 0.4%; p<0.001), with a significant HR of 0.595 (95% CI, 0.460–0.769; p<0.001). Single pill combination therapy exhibited consistently lower mortality rates across various subgroups. Conclusions Compared to the statin monotherapy, the combination therapy for primary prevention showed no difference in composite outcomes but may reduce mortality risk in relatively healthy middle-aged patients. However, since the study was observational, further randomized clinical trials are needed to confirm these findings.

Lupus is characterized by the autoantibodies against nuclear Ags, underscoring the importance of identifying the B cell subsets driving autoimmunity. Our research focused on the mitochondrial activity and CXCR4 expression in CD11c + B cells from lupus patients after ex vivo stimulation with a TLR9 agonist, CpG-oligodeoxyribonucleotide (ODN). We also evaluated the response of CD11c + B cells in ODN-injected mice. Post-ex vivo ODN stimulation, we observed an increase in the proportion of CD11chi cells, with elevated mitochondrial activity and CXCR4 expression in CD11c + B cells from lupus patients. In vivo experiments showed similar patterns, with TLR9 stimulation enhancing mitochondrial and CXCR4 activities in CD11chi B cells, leading to the generation of anti-dsDNA plasmablasts. The CXCR4 inhibitor AMD3100 and the mitochondrial complex I inhibitor IM156 significantly reduced the proportion of CD11c + B cells and autoreactive plasmablasts. These results underscore the pivotal roles of mitochondria and CXCR4 in the production of autoreactive plasmablasts.