Background: s/Aims: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the sixth most common cancer and second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in South Korea. This study evaluated the characteristics of Korean patients newly diagnosed with HCC in 2016-2018. Methods: Data from the Korean Primary Liver Cancer Registry (KPLCR), a representative database of patients newly diagnosed with HCC in South Korea, were analyzed. This study investigated 4,462 patients with HCC registered in the KPLCR in 2016-2018. Results: The median patient age was 63 years (interquartile range, 55-72). 79.7% of patients were male. Hepatitis B infection was the most common underlying liver disease (54.5%). The Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) staging system classified patients as follows: stage 0 (14.9%), A (28.8%), B (7.5%), C (39.0%), and D (9.8%). The median overall survival was 3.72 years (95% confidence interval, 3.47-4.14), with 1-, 3-, and 5-year overall survival rates of 71.3%, 54.1%, and 44.3%, respectively. In 2016-2018, there was a significant shift toward BCLC stage 0-A and Child-Turcotte-Pugh liver function class A (P<0.05), although survival rates did not differ by diagnosis year. In the treatment group (n=4,389), the most common initial treatments were transarterial therapy (31.7%), surgical resection (24.9%), best supportive care (18.9%), and local ablation therapy (10.5%). Conclusions Between 2016 and 2018, HCC tended to be diagnosed at earlier stages, with better liver function in later years. However, since approximately half of the patients remained diagnosed at an advanced stage, more rigorous and optimized HCC screening strategies should be implemented.

Purpose: Mirabegron, the first-in-class beta-3 agonist, is the mainstay medication for overactive bladder (OAB). The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy and safety of generic drugs of mirabegron (Mirabek® ) in adults diagnosed with OAB through a multicenter, prospective, non-interventional observational study. Materials and Methods: Adult patients with OAB prescribed Mirabek® SR Tab. 50 mg for the first time were recruited from hospitals between September 2021 and September 2022. Participants underwent baseline registration followed by two follow-ups at 4-and 8-week intervals. Data on demographics, medical history, OAB symptoms, vital signs, medication administration, and adverse events were collected. Results: Among 1,714 patients, Mirabek® SR Tab. 50 mg effectively improved OAB symptoms over an 8-week treatment period, with significant differences in symptom improvement between baseline and both 4- and 8-week time points as well as between 4 weeks and 8 weeks. The incidence rate of adverse events was 0.70%; most cases were mild with no severe reactions. Conclusions This study demonstrated that Mirabek® , a generic drug of betmiga, is an effective and safe treatment option for adults with OAB. Furthermore, the introduction of generic drug reduced the costs of prescription drugs and expanded the opportunity for many patients to access mirabegron.

Background: s/Aims: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the sixth most common cancer and second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in South Korea. This study evaluated the characteristics of Korean patients newly diagnosed with HCC in 2016-2018. Methods: Data from the Korean Primary Liver Cancer Registry (KPLCR), a representative database of patients newly diagnosed with HCC in South Korea, were analyzed. This study investigated 4,462 patients with HCC registered in the KPLCR in 2016-2018. Results: The median patient age was 63 years (interquartile range, 55-72). 79.7% of patients were male. Hepatitis B infection was the most common underlying liver disease (54.5%). The Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) staging system classified patients as follows: stage 0 (14.9%), A (28.8%), B (7.5%), C (39.0%), and D (9.8%). The median overall survival was 3.72 years (95% confidence interval, 3.47-4.14), with 1-, 3-, and 5-year overall survival rates of 71.3%, 54.1%, and 44.3%, respectively. In 2016-2018, there was a significant shift toward BCLC stage 0-A and Child-Turcotte-Pugh liver function class A (P<0.05), although survival rates did not differ by diagnosis year. In the treatment group (n=4,389), the most common initial treatments were transarterial therapy (31.7%), surgical resection (24.9%), best supportive care (18.9%), and local ablation therapy (10.5%). Conclusions Between 2016 and 2018, HCC tended to be diagnosed at earlier stages, with better liver function in later years. However, since approximately half of the patients remained diagnosed at an advanced stage, more rigorous and optimized HCC screening strategies should be implemented.

Background: s/Aims: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the sixth most common cancer and second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in South Korea. This study evaluated the characteristics of Korean patients newly diagnosed with HCC in 2016-2018. Methods: Data from the Korean Primary Liver Cancer Registry (KPLCR), a representative database of patients newly diagnosed with HCC in South Korea, were analyzed. This study investigated 4,462 patients with HCC registered in the KPLCR in 2016-2018. Results: The median patient age was 63 years (interquartile range, 55-72). 79.7% of patients were male. Hepatitis B infection was the most common underlying liver disease (54.5%). The Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) staging system classified patients as follows: stage 0 (14.9%), A (28.8%), B (7.5%), C (39.0%), and D (9.8%). The median overall survival was 3.72 years (95% confidence interval, 3.47-4.14), with 1-, 3-, and 5-year overall survival rates of 71.3%, 54.1%, and 44.3%, respectively. In 2016-2018, there was a significant shift toward BCLC stage 0-A and Child-Turcotte-Pugh liver function class A (P<0.05), although survival rates did not differ by diagnosis year. In the treatment group (n=4,389), the most common initial treatments were transarterial therapy (31.7%), surgical resection (24.9%), best supportive care (18.9%), and local ablation therapy (10.5%). Conclusions Between 2016 and 2018, HCC tended to be diagnosed at earlier stages, with better liver function in later years. However, since approximately half of the patients remained diagnosed at an advanced stage, more rigorous and optimized HCC screening strategies should be implemented.

Purpose: To evaluate the incidence and pattern of recurrence after surgery in patients with organ-confined renal cell carcinoma (RCC) to establish an appropriate follow-up plan. Materials and Methods: In this retrospective study, we evaluated data from 2960 patients who underwent radical or partial nephrectomy for stage 1 or 2 RCC. We investigated the location of first recurrence and recurrence-free survival (RFS) by plotting Kaplan–Meier curves and analyzed the associated variables using Cox regression analysis. Results: During a median follow-up of 59 months, the 10-year RFS rates were 94.5%, 75.0%, and 57.9%, for T1a, T1b, and T2 RCC, respectively. A total of 211 patients experienced recurrence: 67 after 5 years, and 14 after 10 years. The most common sites of the first recurrence were the lungs, bones, and contralateral kidneys. Male sex, older age, higher pathologic T stage, higher nuclear grade, clear-cell RCC, and presence of differentiation were associated with recurrence. Among patients followed up for more than 60 months, higher pathologic T stage and grade, as well as clear cell RCC were predictors of RFS. Conclusion Late recurrence after surgery is common in patients with organ-confined RCC, with recurrence occurring even after 10 years. Consequently, long-term follow-up, of perhaps 10 years or more, including imaging studies of the abdomen, lungs, and bone, should be considered for the early detection of recurrence.

Purpose: To evaluate the incidence and pattern of recurrence after surgery in patients with organ-confined renal cell carcinoma (RCC) to establish an appropriate follow-up plan. Materials and Methods: In this retrospective study, we evaluated data from 2960 patients who underwent radical or partial nephrectomy for stage 1 or 2 RCC. We investigated the location of first recurrence and recurrence-free survival (RFS) by plotting Kaplan–Meier curves and analyzed the associated variables using Cox regression analysis. Results: During a median follow-up of 59 months, the 10-year RFS rates were 94.5%, 75.0%, and 57.9%, for T1a, T1b, and T2 RCC, respectively. A total of 211 patients experienced recurrence: 67 after 5 years, and 14 after 10 years. The most common sites of the first recurrence were the lungs, bones, and contralateral kidneys. Male sex, older age, higher pathologic T stage, higher nuclear grade, clear-cell RCC, and presence of differentiation were associated with recurrence. Among patients followed up for more than 60 months, higher pathologic T stage and grade, as well as clear cell RCC were predictors of RFS. Conclusion Late recurrence after surgery is common in patients with organ-confined RCC, with recurrence occurring even after 10 years. Consequently, long-term follow-up, of perhaps 10 years or more, including imaging studies of the abdomen, lungs, and bone, should be considered for the early detection of recurrence.

Background: Inhibitory effects of denosumab on bone remodeling are reversible and disappear once treatment is discontinued. Herein, we examined whether and to what extent delayed denosumab administration is also associated with fracture risk using nation-wide data. Methods: The study cohort included women aged 45 to 89 years who were started on denosumab for osteoporosis between October 2017 and December 2019 using data from the Korean Health Insurance Review and Assessment service. Participants were stratified according to the time of their subsequent denosumab administration from the last denosumab administration, including those with within 30 days early dosing (ED30), within the planned time of 180–210 days (referent), within 30–90 days of delayed dosing (DD90), within 90–180 days of delayed dosing (DD180), and longer than 181 days of delayed dosing (DD181+). The primary outcome was the incidence of all clinical fractures. Results: A total of 149,199 participants included and 2,323 all clinical fractures (including 1,223 vertebral fractures) occurred. The incidence of all fractures was significantly higher in the DD90 compared to reference group (hazard ratio [HR], 1.2; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.1 to 1.4). The risk of all fracture was even higher in the longer delayed DD180 group (HR, 1.9; 95% CI, 1.6 to 2.3) and DD181+ group (HR, 1.8; 95% CI, 1.5 to 2.2). Increased risks of fractures with delayed dosing were consistently observed for vertebral fractures. Conclusion Delayed denosumab dosing, even by 1 to 3 months, was significantly associated with increased fracture risk. Maintaining the correct dosing schedule should be emphasized when starting denosumab.

OBJECTIVES: Preventing occupational injuries remains a significant challenge in Korea. A positive safety climate can contribute to reducing workplace injuries. However, the impact of safety climate on preventing occupational injuries among the Korean workforce has not been adequately explored. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the relationship between the perceived safety climate and occupational injuries within the Korean working population. METHODS: This study used baseline data from the Korean Work, Sleep, and Health Study (KWSH). The safety climate was measured using the brief version of the Nordic Safety Climate Questionnaire. Occupational injury was determined by whether injuries or accidents had occurred at workplaces in the past year. Logistic regression analysis was performed to examine the association between the safety climate and occupational injury. RESULTS: Participants who reported an unfavorable workplace safety climate were more likely to experience occupational injuries. Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that the adjusted odds ratio (OR) for occupational injuries in an unfavorable safety climate was 2.20 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.38 to 3.51) compared to a favorable safety climate. Specifically, factors such as “not encouraging employees to follow safety rules when on a tight schedule” (OR, 2.02; 95% CI, 1.25 to 3.24) and “not helping each other work safely” (OR, 1.98; 95% CI, 1.17 to 3.25) were significantly associated with occupational injuries. CONCLUSIONS An unfavorable safety climate was associated with increased occupational injuries among Korean workers. Improving the safety climate in the workplace may reduce occupational injuries in Korea.

Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the lungs that results in airway inflammation and narrowing. BS012 is an herbal remedy containing Asarum sieboldii, Platycodon grandiflorum, and Cinnamomum cassia extracts. To elucidate the anti-asthma effect of BS012, this study analyzed the immune response, respiratory protection, and changes in metabolic mechanisms in an ovalbumininduced allergic asthma mouse model. Female BALB/c mice were exposed to ovalbumin to induce allergic asthma. Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and plasma were analyzed for interleukin and immunoglobulin E levels. Histological analyses of the lungs were performed to measure morphological changes. Apoptosis-related mediators were assayed by western blotting. Plasma and lung tissue metabolomic analyses were performed to investigate the metabolic changes. A T-helper-2-like differentiated cell model was used to identify the active components of BS012. BS012 treatment improved inflammatory cell infiltration, mucus production, and goblet cell hyperplasia in lung tissues. BS012 also significantly downregulated ovalbumin-specific immunoglobulin E in plasma and T-helper-2-specific cytokines, interleukin-4 and -5, in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. The lungs of ovalbumin-inhaled mice exhibited nerve growth factor-mediated apoptotic protein expression, which was significantly attenuated by BS012 treatment. Ovalbumin-induced abnormalities in amino acid and lipid metabolism were improved by BS012 in correlation with its anti-inflammatory properties and normalization of energy metabolism. Additionally, the differentiated cell model revealed that N-isobutyl-dodecatetraenamide is an active component that contributes to the anti-allergic properties of BS012. The current findings demonstrate the anti-allergic and respiratory protective functions of BS012 against allergic asthma, which can be considered a therapeutic candidate.

Purpose: To evaluate the incidence and pattern of recurrence after surgery in patients with organ-confined renal cell carcinoma (RCC) to establish an appropriate follow-up plan. Materials and Methods: In this retrospective study, we evaluated data from 2960 patients who underwent radical or partial nephrectomy for stage 1 or 2 RCC. We investigated the location of first recurrence and recurrence-free survival (RFS) by plotting Kaplan–Meier curves and analyzed the associated variables using Cox regression analysis. Results: During a median follow-up of 59 months, the 10-year RFS rates were 94.5%, 75.0%, and 57.9%, for T1a, T1b, and T2 RCC, respectively. A total of 211 patients experienced recurrence: 67 after 5 years, and 14 after 10 years. The most common sites of the first recurrence were the lungs, bones, and contralateral kidneys. Male sex, older age, higher pathologic T stage, higher nuclear grade, clear-cell RCC, and presence of differentiation were associated with recurrence. Among patients followed up for more than 60 months, higher pathologic T stage and grade, as well as clear cell RCC were predictors of RFS. Conclusion Late recurrence after surgery is common in patients with organ-confined RCC, with recurrence occurring even after 10 years. Consequently, long-term follow-up, of perhaps 10 years or more, including imaging studies of the abdomen, lungs, and bone, should be considered for the early detection of recurrence.