Objective: Deficits in social cognition (mentalization) and other cognitive deficits have been reported in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) and may influence treatment response. This study examined the impact of cognitive function on treatment response of patients with MDD after 8 weeks of medication and whether the impact was mediated by mentalization. Methods: Cognitive function (memory, attention, executive function, processing speed) and mentalization were measured in 28 patients with MDD at baseline using neuropsychological tests and self-report scales. The treatment response was defined as the rate of improvement in symptom severity and global function. Results: Multiple regression analyses, controlling for mentalization and cognitive function, separately revealed that delayed recall was a negative predictor of functional improvement after 8 weeks of treatment, while mentalization was a positive predictor. A single mediation model using PROCESS macro showed that delayed recall and Digit Span backward indirectly affected functional improvement, mediated by mentalization. When age at onset was controlled for as a covariate, the mediating effect lost significance, and the direct effect of delayed recall on functional improvement was still significant. Conclusion Despite the small sample size, our results provide evidence that patients with MDD and low memory (delayed recall) at baseline may benefit more from short-term pharmacological treatments.

Background/Aims: Although gastrointestinal endoscopy (GIE) is a major contributor to the carbon footprint of national healthcare, the amount of medical waste generated by GIE procedures is not reported in South Korea. This study aimed to measure the amount of medical waste generated from GIE procedures in South Korea. Methods: We conducted a 5-day audit of medical waste generated during GIEs at seven hospitals. During the study period, medical waste in the endoscopy examination rooms was measured twice daily and documented as mass (kg). To calculate the mean mass of disposable waste generated during one esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) and one colonoscopy, the mean mass of medical waste generated from seven examinations was calculated. The mean mass of medical waste generated during GIEs was calculated by dividing the total mass of medical waste generated by the number of GIE procedures. Results: Overall, 3,922 endoscopies were performed and 4,558 kg of waste was generated. The mean weight of medical waste generated per endoscopy was 1.34 kg. Each EGD and colonoscopy generated a mean of 0.24 kg and 0.43 kg of disposable waste, respectively. Applying the mean waste estimates from this study to annual GIE procedures performed in South Korea in 2022 showed that the total medical waste produced from GIE was 13,704,453 kg. In addition, the total masses of medical waste produced during EGD and colonoscopy procedures were 819,766 kg and 2,889,478 kg, respectively. Conclusions Our quantitative measurement showed that a large amount of medical waste is generated from GIE procedures. However, further research is warranted to reduce medical waste generated during GIE, which is an urgent unmet need.

Background/Aims: The Korean guidelines for Helicobacter pylori treatment were revised in 2020, however, the extent of adherence to these guidelines in clinical practice remains unclear. Herein, we initiated a prospective, nationwide, multicenter registry study in 2021 to evaluate the current management of H.pylori infection in Korea. Methods: This interim report describes the adherence to the revised guidelines and their impact on firstline eradication rates. Data on patient demographics, diagnoses, treatments, and eradication outcomes were collected using a web-based electronic case report form. Results: A total of 7,261 patients from 66 hospitals who received first-line treatment were analyzed.The modified intention-to-treat eradication rate for first-line treatment was 81.0%, with 80.4% of the prescriptions adhering to the revised guidelines. The most commonly prescribed regimen was the 14-day clarithromycin-based triple therapy (CTT; 42.0%), followed by tailored therapy (TT; 21.2%), 7-day CTT (14.1%), and 10-day concomitant therapy (CT; 10.1%). Time-trend analysis demonstrated significant increases in guideline adherence and the use of 10-day CT and TT, along with a decrease in the use of 7-day CTT (all p<0.001). Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that guideline adherence was significantly associated with first-line eradication success (odds ratio, 2.03; 95% confidence interval, 1.61 to 2.56; p<0.001). Conclusions The revised guidelines for the treatment of H. pylori infection have been increasingly adopted in routine clinical practice in Korea, which may have contributed to improved first-line eradication rates. Notably, the 14-day CTT, 10-day CT, and TT regimens are emerging as the preferred first-line treatment options among Korean physicians.

Objective: Deficits in social cognition (mentalization) and other cognitive deficits have been reported in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) and may influence treatment response. This study examined the impact of cognitive function on treatment response of patients with MDD after 8 weeks of medication and whether the impact was mediated by mentalization. Methods: Cognitive function (memory, attention, executive function, processing speed) and mentalization were measured in 28 patients with MDD at baseline using neuropsychological tests and self-report scales. The treatment response was defined as the rate of improvement in symptom severity and global function. Results: Multiple regression analyses, controlling for mentalization and cognitive function, separately revealed that delayed recall was a negative predictor of functional improvement after 8 weeks of treatment, while mentalization was a positive predictor. A single mediation model using PROCESS macro showed that delayed recall and Digit Span backward indirectly affected functional improvement, mediated by mentalization. When age at onset was controlled for as a covariate, the mediating effect lost significance, and the direct effect of delayed recall on functional improvement was still significant. Conclusion Despite the small sample size, our results provide evidence that patients with MDD and low memory (delayed recall) at baseline may benefit more from short-term pharmacological treatments.

Objective: Deficits in social cognition (mentalization) and other cognitive deficits have been reported in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) and may influence treatment response. This study examined the impact of cognitive function on treatment response of patients with MDD after 8 weeks of medication and whether the impact was mediated by mentalization. Methods: Cognitive function (memory, attention, executive function, processing speed) and mentalization were measured in 28 patients with MDD at baseline using neuropsychological tests and self-report scales. The treatment response was defined as the rate of improvement in symptom severity and global function. Results: Multiple regression analyses, controlling for mentalization and cognitive function, separately revealed that delayed recall was a negative predictor of functional improvement after 8 weeks of treatment, while mentalization was a positive predictor. A single mediation model using PROCESS macro showed that delayed recall and Digit Span backward indirectly affected functional improvement, mediated by mentalization. When age at onset was controlled for as a covariate, the mediating effect lost significance, and the direct effect of delayed recall on functional improvement was still significant. Conclusion Despite the small sample size, our results provide evidence that patients with MDD and low memory (delayed recall) at baseline may benefit more from short-term pharmacological treatments.

Background/Aims: Although gastrointestinal endoscopy (GIE) is a major contributor to the carbon footprint of national healthcare, the amount of medical waste generated by GIE procedures is not reported in South Korea. This study aimed to measure the amount of medical waste generated from GIE procedures in South Korea. Methods: We conducted a 5-day audit of medical waste generated during GIEs at seven hospitals. During the study period, medical waste in the endoscopy examination rooms was measured twice daily and documented as mass (kg). To calculate the mean mass of disposable waste generated during one esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) and one colonoscopy, the mean mass of medical waste generated from seven examinations was calculated. The mean mass of medical waste generated during GIEs was calculated by dividing the total mass of medical waste generated by the number of GIE procedures. Results: Overall, 3,922 endoscopies were performed and 4,558 kg of waste was generated. The mean weight of medical waste generated per endoscopy was 1.34 kg. Each EGD and colonoscopy generated a mean of 0.24 kg and 0.43 kg of disposable waste, respectively. Applying the mean waste estimates from this study to annual GIE procedures performed in South Korea in 2022 showed that the total medical waste produced from GIE was 13,704,453 kg. In addition, the total masses of medical waste produced during EGD and colonoscopy procedures were 819,766 kg and 2,889,478 kg, respectively. Conclusions Our quantitative measurement showed that a large amount of medical waste is generated from GIE procedures. However, further research is warranted to reduce medical waste generated during GIE, which is an urgent unmet need.

Background/Aims: The Korean guidelines for Helicobacter pylori treatment were revised in 2020, however, the extent of adherence to these guidelines in clinical practice remains unclear. Herein, we initiated a prospective, nationwide, multicenter registry study in 2021 to evaluate the current management of H.pylori infection in Korea. Methods: This interim report describes the adherence to the revised guidelines and their impact on firstline eradication rates. Data on patient demographics, diagnoses, treatments, and eradication outcomes were collected using a web-based electronic case report form. Results: A total of 7,261 patients from 66 hospitals who received first-line treatment were analyzed.The modified intention-to-treat eradication rate for first-line treatment was 81.0%, with 80.4% of the prescriptions adhering to the revised guidelines. The most commonly prescribed regimen was the 14-day clarithromycin-based triple therapy (CTT; 42.0%), followed by tailored therapy (TT; 21.2%), 7-day CTT (14.1%), and 10-day concomitant therapy (CT; 10.1%). Time-trend analysis demonstrated significant increases in guideline adherence and the use of 10-day CT and TT, along with a decrease in the use of 7-day CTT (all p<0.001). Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that guideline adherence was significantly associated with first-line eradication success (odds ratio, 2.03; 95% confidence interval, 1.61 to 2.56; p<0.001). Conclusions The revised guidelines for the treatment of H. pylori infection have been increasingly adopted in routine clinical practice in Korea, which may have contributed to improved first-line eradication rates. Notably, the 14-day CTT, 10-day CT, and TT regimens are emerging as the preferred first-line treatment options among Korean physicians.

Background/Aims: Although gastrointestinal endoscopy (GIE) is a major contributor to the carbon footprint of national healthcare, the amount of medical waste generated by GIE procedures is not reported in South Korea. This study aimed to measure the amount of medical waste generated from GIE procedures in South Korea. Methods: We conducted a 5-day audit of medical waste generated during GIEs at seven hospitals. During the study period, medical waste in the endoscopy examination rooms was measured twice daily and documented as mass (kg). To calculate the mean mass of disposable waste generated during one esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) and one colonoscopy, the mean mass of medical waste generated from seven examinations was calculated. The mean mass of medical waste generated during GIEs was calculated by dividing the total mass of medical waste generated by the number of GIE procedures. Results: Overall, 3,922 endoscopies were performed and 4,558 kg of waste was generated. The mean weight of medical waste generated per endoscopy was 1.34 kg. Each EGD and colonoscopy generated a mean of 0.24 kg and 0.43 kg of disposable waste, respectively. Applying the mean waste estimates from this study to annual GIE procedures performed in South Korea in 2022 showed that the total medical waste produced from GIE was 13,704,453 kg. In addition, the total masses of medical waste produced during EGD and colonoscopy procedures were 819,766 kg and 2,889,478 kg, respectively. Conclusions Our quantitative measurement showed that a large amount of medical waste is generated from GIE procedures. However, further research is warranted to reduce medical waste generated during GIE, which is an urgent unmet need.

Background/Aims: The Korean guidelines for Helicobacter pylori treatment were revised in 2020, however, the extent of adherence to these guidelines in clinical practice remains unclear. Herein, we initiated a prospective, nationwide, multicenter registry study in 2021 to evaluate the current management of H.pylori infection in Korea. Methods: This interim report describes the adherence to the revised guidelines and their impact on firstline eradication rates. Data on patient demographics, diagnoses, treatments, and eradication outcomes were collected using a web-based electronic case report form. Results: A total of 7,261 patients from 66 hospitals who received first-line treatment were analyzed.The modified intention-to-treat eradication rate for first-line treatment was 81.0%, with 80.4% of the prescriptions adhering to the revised guidelines. The most commonly prescribed regimen was the 14-day clarithromycin-based triple therapy (CTT; 42.0%), followed by tailored therapy (TT; 21.2%), 7-day CTT (14.1%), and 10-day concomitant therapy (CT; 10.1%). Time-trend analysis demonstrated significant increases in guideline adherence and the use of 10-day CT and TT, along with a decrease in the use of 7-day CTT (all p<0.001). Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that guideline adherence was significantly associated with first-line eradication success (odds ratio, 2.03; 95% confidence interval, 1.61 to 2.56; p<0.001). Conclusions The revised guidelines for the treatment of H. pylori infection have been increasingly adopted in routine clinical practice in Korea, which may have contributed to improved first-line eradication rates. Notably, the 14-day CTT, 10-day CT, and TT regimens are emerging as the preferred first-line treatment options among Korean physicians.

Objective: Deficits in social cognition (mentalization) and other cognitive deficits have been reported in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) and may influence treatment response. This study examined the impact of cognitive function on treatment response of patients with MDD after 8 weeks of medication and whether the impact was mediated by mentalization. Methods: Cognitive function (memory, attention, executive function, processing speed) and mentalization were measured in 28 patients with MDD at baseline using neuropsychological tests and self-report scales. The treatment response was defined as the rate of improvement in symptom severity and global function. Results: Multiple regression analyses, controlling for mentalization and cognitive function, separately revealed that delayed recall was a negative predictor of functional improvement after 8 weeks of treatment, while mentalization was a positive predictor. A single mediation model using PROCESS macro showed that delayed recall and Digit Span backward indirectly affected functional improvement, mediated by mentalization. When age at onset was controlled for as a covariate, the mediating effect lost significance, and the direct effect of delayed recall on functional improvement was still significant. Conclusion Despite the small sample size, our results provide evidence that patients with MDD and low memory (delayed recall) at baseline may benefit more from short-term pharmacological treatments.