Real-World Effectiveness and Safety of Mepolizumab in Severe Eosinophilic Asthma: Insights From the Korean Severe Asthma Registry (KoSAR).

Mepolizumab, an interleukin-5 antagonist, is globally recognized for its efficacy in randomized controlled trials for the treatment of severe eosinophilic asthma. The present study explored its real-world effectiveness and safety in a Korean cohort, filling a critical gap in current research. This multi-center retrospective study used data from the Korean Severe Asthma Registry, involving 67 patients treated with mepolizumab for uncontrolled severe asthma between September 2017 and July 2022.

The Clinical Implications of Serum Carbohydrate Antigen 19-9 Levels in Patients with Nontuberculous Mycobacteria Pulmonary Disease.

Serum carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA19-9) levels can increase in nontuberculous mycobacteria pulmonary disease (NTM-PD), and the levels correlate with disease activity. We compared the clinical characteristics of NTM-PD patients with and without elevated CA19-9 levels and evaluated its association with antibiotic response in a retrospective study of NTM-PD patients diagnosed between January 1994 and December 2020. We analyzed 1112 patients who had serum CA19-9 measured: 322 with elevated CA19-9 and 790 with normal CA19-9.

Safety and outcomes of "at-home self-provocation tests" in patients with mild nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug-induced urticaria/angioedema.

Background: Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) hypersensitivity is common; however, many patients do not receive an accurate diagnosis and are using unnecessary alternative drugs or have medication restrictions.

Objective: To establish a protocol for provocation tests that can be performed safely and effectively at home to give patients an accurate diagnosis, whereas also delabeling NSAID hypersensitivity.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the medical records of 147 patients with NSAID hypersensitivity.

Clinical Characteristics of Post-COVID-19 Persistent Cough in the Omicron Era.

Cough is one of the most common symptoms of acute coronavirus disease 2019, but cough may persist for weeks or months. This study aimed to examine the clinical characteristics of patients with post-coronavirus disease (COVID) persistent cough in the Omicron era. We conducted a pooled analysis comparing 3 different groups: 1) a prospective cohort of post-COVID cough (> 3 weeks; n = 55), 2) a retrospective cohort of post-COVID cough (> 3 weeks; n = 66), and 3) a prospective cohort of non-COVID chronic cough (CC) (> 8 weeks; n = 100).

Prognostic Factors for Tracheal Restenosis after Stent Removal in Patients with Post-Intubation and Post-Tracheostomy Tracheal Stenosis.

Purpose: Long-term tracheal stent placement can increase the risk of stent-related complications; hence, removal of the stent after stabilization is attempted. However, little evidence has been established regarding the risk factors for tracheal restenosis. We aimed to identify the risk factors for tracheal restenosis in patients with post-intubation tracheal stenosis (PITS) and post-tracheostomy tracheal stenosis (PTTS).

Spatio-temporal patterns of the minimum rest time for outdoor workers exposed to summer heat stress in South Korea.

In this study, the spatio-temporal characteristics of the minimum rest time for the safety of South Korean outdoor workers during hot summer months (June to August) are examined based on the hourly wet-bulb globe temperature (WBGT) across 27 weather stations in South Korea. The WBGT thresholds in the work-rest recommendation of the Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency (KOSHA 2017) for the quantification of the minimum rest time are evaluated through a comparison of the given thresholds with the occurrences of occupational heat-related illness patients due to outdoor work during hot summer months in South Korea. The long-term (2009-2018) average of the hourly WBGT values during summer months shows that outdoor workers with a moderate workload are exposed to heat stress during approximately 30% of the entire daytime working hours (06:00-18:00).

Lung cancer with superior vena cava syndrome diagnosed by intravascular biopsy using EBUS-TBNA.

Since superior vena cava syndrome (SVCS) is a critical condition, immediate diagnostic approach and therapy are imperative to avoid potentially life-threatening complications. Here, we report a case of lung cancer with SVCS, which was diagnosed through intravascular tumor biopsy using endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA). EBUS-TBNA enabled us to obtain tissue sufficient for diagnosis, without significant complications.

Multidrug-Resistant Tuberculous Mediastinal Lymphadenitis, with an Esophagomediastinal Fistula, Mimicking an Esophageal Submucosal Tumor.

Mediastinal tuberculous lymphadenitis rarely mimics esophageal submucosal tumor, particularly in the case of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB). Herein, we report the case of a 61-year-old woman who visited a local hospital complaining of odynophagia. An initial esophagogastroduodenoscopy revealed an esophageal submucosal tumor, and subsequent chest computed tomography showed subcarinal lymphadenopathy with an esophagomediastinal fistula.

The application of the European heat wave of 2003 to Korean cities to analyze impacts on heat-related mortality.

The goal of this research is to transpose the unprecedented 2003 European excessive heat event to six Korean cities and to develop meteorological analogs for each. Since this heat episode is not a model but an actual event, we can use a plausible analog to assess the risk of increasing heat on these cities instead of an analog that is dependent on general circulation (GCM) modeling or the development of arbitrary scenarios. Initially, the 2003 summer meteorological conditions from Paris are characterized statistically and these characteristics are transferred to the Korean cites.

A pilot study of the impacts of menopause on the anogenital distance.

Objectives: It has been known that there is a difference in anogenital distance (AGD) in the animals and newborn depending on the exposure of androgenic hormones. The anatomical changes occur in the female genitalia in women after menopause. This was pilot study to find out whether the menopause affects AGD.

Gynecologic complication of chronic graft-versus-host disease: Vaginal obstruction.

Allogenic peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (Allo-PBSCT) is being used to treat hematological malignancies with increasing frequency. Graft-versus-host disease (GvHD) is a complex complication of PBSCT. A 43-year-old woman came to the gynecology clinic for amenorrhea.

Behavioral risk factors and use of preventive screening services among spousal caregivers of cancer patients.

Purpose: Caregiving of cancer patients is burdensome and is likely to affect health behavior and outcome of caregivers. However, there are only a small number of studies on lifestyle behavior and use of preventive services by caregivers of cancer patients, especially in Asian populations. The aim of this study was to compare the status of lifestyle behavior and use of preventive services in spousal caregivers of cancer patients and controls.