A Prospective, Single-Cohort, Open, Multi-Center, Observational Study of Sublingual Fentanyl for Breakthrough Cancer Pain: Effectiveness, Safety, and Tolerability in Korean Cancer Patients.

Purpose: Fentanyl, a highly lipophilic opioid, was developed as a sublingual fentanyl tablet (SFT) for the management of breakthrough cancer pain (BTcP), and its efficacy and safety were confirmed in a randomized, controlled study. We investigated the effectiveness and safety of SFT administered to alleviate BTcP in a real-world setting.

Materials And Methods: In this prospective, open, single-cohort study, conducted in 13 referral hospitals in South Korea, opioid-tolerant cancer patients receiving around-the-clock opioids for persistent cancer pain were enrolled if the individual had BTcP ≥ 1 episode/day during the preceding week.

Inpatient Hospice Care in Korea during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Preliminary Study.

Purpose: This study examined the quality of life (QoL) and quality of care (QoC) in inpatient hospice settings in Korea before and during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

Methods: Data were obtained from three institutions that participated in two prospective cohort studies. The primary outcomes measured were the QoL of patients with terminal cancer and their family caregivers (FCs), as well as the QoC as perceived by the FCs.

Attitudes toward Social Issues Related to Opioid Use among Palliative Care Physicians.

Purpose: This study investigated palliative care physicians' attitudes regarding social issues related to opioid use.

Methods: An email survey was sent to 674 physicians who were members of the Korean Society for Hospice and Palliative Care (KSHPC).

Results: Data from 66 physicians were analyzed (response rate, 9.

Association of Body Mass Index and Waist Circumference with Osteoarthritis among Korean Adults: A Nationwide Study.

Background: Evidence on the association between obesity parameters, including body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC), and osteoarthritis is limited. This study aimed to investigate these associations in Korean adults.

Methods: This nationwide cross-sectional study used data from 24,101 adults aged ≥19 years who participated in the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2016-2020.

Public awareness of advance care planning and hospice palliative care: a nationwide cross-sectional study in Korea.

Context: Advance care planning (ACP) and hospice palliative care (HPC) have potential benefits for individuals and health systems. Public awareness of them might increase their acceptance.

Objectives: To examine public awareness of ACP and HPC and related factors including individuals' experience of health care among Korean population.

Association of low muscle strength with metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease: A nationwide study.

Background: There is limited evidence regarding the association between muscle strength and metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD).

Aim: To investigate the association between muscle strength and MAFLD in the general population in Korea.

Methods: This nationwide representative cross-sectional study included 31649 individuals aged ≥ 19 years who participated in the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey between 2015 and 2018.

Association Between Oral Health Status and Survival Time in Terminally Ill Cancer Patients.

Introduction: Patients with terminal cancer often experience various oral problems. Whether oral health status is associated with the survival of terminally ill cancer patients receiving palliative care remains unclear.

Methods: We analyzed the data of 59 Korean patients with terminal cancer receiving palliative care, including their oral health status, using a modified Korean version of the Oral Health Assessment Tool (OHAT).

Association Between Premature Menopause and Cardiovascular Diseases and All-Cause Mortality in Korean Women.

Background: Mortality from cardiovascular diseases in Asian populations is considerable. Menopause is a risk-enhancing factor for cardiovascular disease, but it is unclear whether menopause is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease and mortality in Asian women.

Methods And Results: A total of 1 159 405 postmenopausal women, who had participated in the health examinations of the Korean National Health Insurance Service in 2009, were analyzed, and their reproductive histories were taken.

Low serum creatinine as well as high serum creatinine is associated with prognosis of patients with cancer in end-of-life.

Background: The prognosis of end-of-life patients is challenging, and clinicians have attempted to predict survival more accurately. High serum creatinine (sCr) levels are associated with lower survival rates in patients with various cancers; however, low sCr levels are commonly expected in patients with terminal cancer because of muscle wasting and malnutrition. Therefore, we investigated the prevalence of low and high sCr levels and their association with survival duration in patients with terminal cancer in a palliative care unit.

Association between metabolic syndrome and mortality in patients with COVID-19: A nationwide cohort study.

Objectives: We investigated the association between metabolic syndrome (MetS) and mortality among coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients in Korea.

Methods: We analyzed 3876 individuals aged ≥ 20 years who were confirmed with COVID-19 from January 1 to June 4, 2020 based on the Korea National Health Insurance Service (NHIS)-COVID-19 database and had undergone health examination by NHIS between 2015 and 2017. Multivariable Cox proportional hazard regression analyses were performed.

Age at menopause and risk of heart failure and atrial fibrillation: a nationwide cohort study.

Aims: This study aimed to examine the association of premature menopause and age at menopause with the risk of heart failure (HF) and atrial fibrillation (AF).

Methods And Results: A total of 1 401 175 postmenopausal women, who had undergone health examination provided by the Korean National Health Insurance Service, were included, and their reproductive histories were collected. Multivariable Cox proportional hazard models were performed to determine the hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of incident HF and AF, according to the history of premature menopause and age at menopause.

Clinical Practice Guideline for Care in the Last Days of Life.

A clinical practice guideline for patients in the dying process in general wards and their families, developed through an evidence-based process, is presented herein. The purpose of this guideline is to enable a peaceful death based on an understanding of suitable management of patients' physical and mental symptoms, psychological support, appropriate decision-making, family care, and clearly-defined team roles. Although there are limits to the available evidence regarding medical issues in patients facing death, the final recommendations were determined from expert advice and feedback, considering values and preferences related to medical treatment, benefits and harms, and applicability in the real world.

Body Weight Variability and the Risk of Cardiovascular Outcomes and Mortality in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes: A Nationwide Cohort Study.

Objective: Obesity and type 2 diabetes are risk factors for cardiovascular diseases and mortality, and they commonly result in weight variabilities. We aimed to investigate the association between body weight variability and risk of major cardiovascular outcomes and mortality in individuals with type 2 diabetes using large-scale, nationwide cohort data on the Korean population.

Research Design And Methods: We enrolled 624,237 individuals with type 2 diabetes who underwent health examinations provided by the Korean National Health Insurance System between 2009 and 2010, with three or more body weight measurements within 5 years since enrollment and followed up until the end of 2017.

Analysis of the Time Interval between the Physician Order for Life-Sustaining Treatment Completion and Death.

Background: This study aimed to explore the time interval distribution pattern between the Physicians Order for Life-Sustaining Treatment (POLST) form completion and death at a tertiary hospital in South Korea. It also examined the association between various independent parameters and POLST form completion timing.

Methods: A total of 150 critically ill patients admitted to Korea University Guro Hospital between June 1, 2018 and December 31, 2018 who completed the POLST form were retrospectively analyzed and included in this study.

Development and Evaluation of a Hospice and Palliative Care Music Therapy Education Program.

Purpose: This study was conducted to develop a hospice music therapist training program and to evaluate its effects.

Methods: The educational program consisted of training on the theory of hospice and the theory and practice of hospice music therapy. The course lasted for 4 weeks, with 8 hours of training per week, and 33 music therapists completed the course.

Completion rate of physician orders for life-sustaining treatment for patients with metastatic or recurrent cancer: a preliminary, cross-sectional study.

Background: "End of life" is a difficult topic of conversation in East Asian cultures, even among patients and doctors who share a good rapport. In 2016, the Hospice, Palliative Care, and Life-Sustaining Treatment Decision-Making Act, which took the form of "Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment," was introduced in South Korea. This study was conducted to investigate the completion rate of Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment in patients with advanced cancer on the active recommendation of physicians, as well as patients' general attitudes toward end-of-life care.

Obesity, abdominal obesity and subsequent risk of kidney cancer: a cohort study of 23.3 million East Asians.

Background: Limited evidence exists regarding associations between obesity and kidney cancer among Asians. We examined the associations between obesity measures and risk of kidney cancer.

Methods: We included 23,313,046 adults who underwent health examinations provided by the Korean National Health Insurance Service 2009-2012 and performed multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression analyses.

Yeast (1 → 3)-(1 → 6)-β-d-glucan alleviates immunosuppression in gemcitabine-treated mice.

Gemcitabine (2'-deoxy-2',2'-difluorocytidine, dFdC) is one of the most effective chemotherapy drugs commonly used for treatment of various tumors. Despite its significant anticancer effects, some adverse effects create obstacles to treatment. The main toxicity of gemcitabine is myelosuppression, which not only reduces patient quality of life, but also hinders further anticancer treatment.

Antioxidative and anti-inflammatory effect of on RAW 264.7 macrophage cells.

This study investigated the antioxidative and anti-inflammatory effect of (PI) on RAW264.7 mouse macrophages. Cell viability was determined using the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay.

Correction to: The impact of caregiver's role preference on decisional conflicts and psychiatric distresses in decision making to help caregiver's disclosure of terminal disease status.

In the original publication of the article, the incorrect grant number HC13C1391 was published in the acknowledgement section. The correct grant number is HC15C1391.

Impact of body mass index and body weight variabilities on mortality: a nationwide cohort study.

Background/objectives: There is limited information regarding the impact of body mass index (BMI) and body weight (BWt) variabilities on mortality. This study aimed to investigate the association between BMI, BWt variabilities and subsequent mortality in the Korean population.

Subjects/methods: This study used a representative sample cohort enrolled in the national health examination program conducted by the Korean National Health Insurance Service, and 125,391 individuals were included and followed up until 2013 (mean follow-up period = 84 months).

The impact of caregiver's role preference on decisional conflicts and psychiatric distresses in decision making to help caregiver's disclosure of terminal disease status.

Purpose: The objective of this study was to investigate the impact of caregivers' role preference in decision making on conflicts and psychiatric distresses.

Methods: The responses of 406 caregivers of terminal cancer patients enrolled in a trial determining the efficacy of a decision aid focused on the disclosure of terminal disease status were included in this secondary analysis. The outcomes include the change scores of the Decision Conflict Scale (DCS) and depression and anxiety subscales of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) at the 1 and 3 months from baseline.