Evidence-Based Guideline for the Treatment of Smoking Cessation Provided by the National Health Insurance Service in Korea.

Although major countries, such as South Korea, have developed and disseminated national smoking cessation guidelines, these efforts have been limited to developing individual societies or specialized institution-based recommendations. Therefore, evidence-based clinical guidelines are essential for developing smoking cessation interventions and promoting effective smoking cessation treatments. This guideline targets frontline clinical practitioners involved in a smoking cessation treatment support program implemented in 2015 with the support of the National Health Insurance Service.

Validation of Modified Models of Objective Prognostic Score in Patients With Advanced Cancer.

The objective prognostic score (OPS) needs to be modified to reflect practical palliative care circumstances. We aimed to validate modified models of OPS with few or no laboratory tests for patients with advanced cancer. An observational study was performed.

Reasons for Initiation and Regular Use of Heated Tobacco Products among Current and Former Smokers in South Korea: Findings from the 2020 ITC Korea Survey.

South Korea is the world's second-largest heated tobacco product (HTP) market after Japan. HTP sales in South Korea have increased rapidly since May 2017, accounting for 10.6% of the total tobacco market in 2020.

Clinicians' Prediction of Survival and Prognostic Confidence in Patients with Advanced Cancer in Three East Asian Countries.

Little is known about accuracy and confidence of clinicians' prediction of survival (CPS) in East-Asian countries. We aimed to examine accuracy of CPS for 7-, 21-, and 42-day survival in palliative inpatients and its association with prognostic confidence. An international prospective cohort study in Japan (JP), Korea (KR), and Taiwan (TW).

Effect of MED-02 Containing Two Probiotic Strains, MG4231 and MG4244, on Body Fat Reduction in Overweight or Obese Subjects: A Randomized, Multicenter, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study.

MED-02 is a complex supplement containing two probiotic strains, MG4231 and MG4244, isolated from humans. The anti-obesity effects and safety profile of MED-02 were assessed in overweight and obese subjects. In this randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled, multicenter study, 100 healthy obese and overweight subjects aged 19-65 years with a body mass index (BMI) between 25 and 31.

Assessment of Changes in Symptoms Is Feasible and Prognostic in the Last Weeks of Life: An International Multicenter Cohort Study.

Symptoms are not typically part of established various prognostic factors and scoring systems but are among the most frequently assessed issues in patient care. To evaluate that, changes in symptoms can provide additional useful prognostic information. A secondary analysis of an international cohort study in Japan, Korea, and Taiwan.

Behavioral therapy and pharmacotherapy for relapse prevention in abstinent smokers: a rapid review and meta-analysis for the Korea Preventive Service Task Force.

Objective: This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of relapse prevention interventions involving behavioral and pharmacological treatment among abstinent smokers.

Methods: This rapid review was conducted using MEDLINE, Cochrane CENTRAL, CINAHL, Embase, KMbase, and KoreaMed to identify studies published until June 20, 2020. The participants were abstinent smokers who quit smoking on their own, due to pregnancy, hospitalization, or by participating in a smoking cessation program.

Factors related to spiritual well-being in the last days of life in three East Asian countries: An international multicenter prospective cohort study.

Background: Some factors associated with spiritual well-being in dying patients have previously been reported. However, there has been no cross-cultural study comparing factors related to spiritual well-being. The current investigation may shed light on this under-investigated area through a comparison of diverse factors.

Behavioral interventions for smoking cessation among adolescents: a rapid review and meta-analysis for the Korea Preventive Services Task Force.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of behavioral smoking cessation interventions among adolescents.

Methods: MEDLINE, CENTRAL, Embase, CINAHL, KoreaMed, and KMbase were searched from inception to June 2020. Systematic reviews (SRs) or meta-analyses of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were initially searched to perform a rapid SR.

Korean Physicians' Perspectives on Prognostication in Palliative Care: A Qualitative Study.

Background: Prognostication is an essential component of palliative care for patients with advanced cancer but also poses challenges. Little is known about physicians' perspectives on prognostication and prognostic tools used in palliative care practice in Eastern countries.

Objectives: To explore Korean physicians' perspectives and experiences with prognostication in their palliative care practices.

Effect of high-dose ginsenoside complex (UG0712) supplementation on physical performance of healthy adults during a 12-week supervised exercise program: A randomized placebo-controlled clinical trial.

Background: Ginseng has been used as an ergogenic agent, although evidence for its effectiveness is weak. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial was conducted to evaluate the effect of a ginsenoside complex (UG0712) on changes in exercise performance.

Methods: Sedentary individuals (  117) were randomly assigned into one of three groups: low-dose ginsenoside supplementation (100 mg/d,   39), high-dose ginsenoside supplementation (500 mg/d,   39), or a placebo group (500 mg/d,   39).

Development of the Perceived Stress Inventory: A New Questionnaire for Korean Population Surveys.

Background: Given emerging evidence of the association between stress and disease, practitioners need a tool for measuring stress. Several instruments exist to measure perceived stress; however, none of them are applicable for population surveys because stress conceptualization can differ by population. The aim of this study was to develop and validate the Perceived Stress Inventory (PSI) and its short version for use in population surveys and clinical practice in Korea.

Current use of drugs affecting the central nervous system for chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy in cancer patients: a systematic review.

Purpose: Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) is common among cancer patients who undergo chemotherapy with platinum analogues, taxanes, vinca alkaloids, epothilone, bortezomib, and thalidomide. The purpose of this study was to investigate the evidence of using drugs affecting the central nervous system (CNS) to alleviate CIPN in cancer patients.

Methods: A systematic literature search was conducted using the CINAHL, EMBASE, and Medline databases to identify randomized controlled clinical trials (RCTs) reported in English up to 2013.

Plasma clusterin (ApoJ) levels are associated with adiposity and systemic inflammation.

Obesity and insulin resistance are hallmarks of the metabolic syndrome, which is associated with low-grade chronic inflammation. Clusterin/apolipoprotein J is an abundant plasma chaperone protein that has recently been suggested as a potential biomarker that reflects the inflammatory process in Alzheimer's disease. In the present study, we investigated anthropometric and clinical factors affecting the plasma levels of clusterin in healthy Korean subjects.

Association between adiponectin levels and coronary heart disease and mortality: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Our aim was to systematically review prospective studies of the association of plasma adiponectin levels with the risk of coronary heart disease (CHD) events, cardiovascular mortality and all-cause mortality.

Methods: We searched Medline, EMBASE, the Cochrane Library and CINAHL for reports published through October 2011. Search terms included 'adiponectin' AND 'cardiovascular disease' OR 'mortality'.

Intensive exercise reduces the fear of additional falls in elderly people: findings from the Korea falls prevention study.

Background/aims: Falls among older people are a major public health problem and may result in fracture, medical complications that require hospitalization, and fear of additional falls. Given the prevalence and impact of the fear of falling again, reducing the incidence of falls is important to prevent additional falls. This study analyzed whether exercise programs decrease the fear of future falls in elderly patients who have fallen previously.

Adipokines, insulin resistance, metabolic syndrome, and breast cancer recurrence: a cohort study.

Introduction: Several in vitro studies have suggested the effects of adipokines and insulin resistance on breast cancer cell proliferation and survival. However, little is known about the clinical significance of these findings.

Methods: We examined associations between breast cancer recurrence and adiponectin, leptin, insulin resistance, and metabolic syndrome (MetS) in a cohort of 747 patients from 2001 to 2004.

Eradication of Helicobacter pylori increases ghrelin mRNA expression in the gastric mucosa.

It has been suggested that Helicobacter pylori eradication may influence production of some peptides in the stomach, which can affect appetite. This hypothesis is controversial. To verify the hypothesis, we conducted this randomized controlled trial using H.

Association of plasma levels of resistin with subcutaneous fat mass and markers of inflammation but not with metabolic determinants or insulin resistance.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the relationship of plasma resistin levels with determinants of the metabolic syndrome (MetS) and anthropometric parameters in healthy Korean subjects. Plasma resistin levels were determined in 276 subjects. In subjects with MetS, the plasma resistin levels were not significantly increased compared to those without MetS (8.

The influence of the eradication of Helicobacter pylori on gastric ghrelin, appetite, and body mass index in patients with peptic ulcer disease.

Background And Aim: Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection has been known to influence the gastric leptin and ghrelin secretion, for which the exact pathogenic role has not been documented yet. This study was designed to investigate the influence of H.

Time since falling and fear of falling among community-dwelling elderly.

Background: A fall experienced by an elderly person is of special note because it appears to hold a reciprocal causal association with the fear of falling. This study attempts to determine the temporal relationship between the fear of falling and falling among community-dwelling elderly.

Methods: Data on falls experienced during the previous three years were obtained from 732 community-dwelling elderly people.