Mapping analysis to estimate EQ-5D utility values using the COPD assessment test in Korea.

Background: There is no research on mapping algorithms between EQ-5D and COPD assessment test (CAT) in Korea. The purpose of this study was to develop mapping algorithms that predict EQ-5D-3 L utility from the CAT in patients with COPD.

Methods: Survey data of 300 COPD patients were collected from three tertiary teaching hospitals in Korea.

Economic Evaluation of Companion Diagnostic Testing for EGFR Mutations and First-Line Targeted Therapy in Advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Patients in South Korea.

Background: As targeted therapy becomes increasingly important, diagnostic techniques for identifying targeted biomarkers have also become an emerging issue. The study aims to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of treating patients as guided by epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutation status compared with a no-testing strategy that is the current clinical practice in South Korea.

Methods: A cost-utility analysis was conducted to compare an EGFR mutation testing strategy with a no-testing strategy from the Korean healthcare payer's perspective.

Cost-utility of ferric carboxymaltose (Ferinject®) for iron-deficiency anemia patients with chronic heart failure in South Korea.

Background: Iron-deficiency anemia (IDA) is prevalent in patients with advanced chronic heart failure (CHF). It affects the patients' overall physical condition and is suggested as a strong outcome predictor in CHF. Recent clinical trials suggested that intravenous iron supplementation improves CHF functional status and quality of life.

Sustained-release formulation of sarpogrelate hydrochloride.

Sarpogrelate HCl (SGL) has been used clinically as an anti-platelet drug for the prevention of thrombus, proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells and platelet aggregation. This study was to investigate the bioavailability of sustained-release solid dispersion (SR-SD) formulation of SGL to sustain the drug release for up to 24 h. The SR-SD formulations with various drug-to-polymer ratios were prepared by hot-melt coating method.

Formulation optimization of solid dispersion of mosapride hydrochloride.

Mosapride citrate (MSP) is a gastroprokinetic agent that acts as a selective 5-HT(4) agonist and accelerates the gastric emptying, and is used for the treatment of acid reflux, irritable bowel syndrome, and functional dyspepsia. The purpose of this study is to investigate the solid dispersion formulations of MSP with controlled release characteristic using various polymers, elucidate the release mechanism, and characterize the interaction patterns between MSP and polymers. Solid dispersions of MSP with different drug-to-polymer ratios were prepared by a solvent evaporation method and characterized in comparison with the simple physical mixtures.

A phenotypic study of murine oocyte death in vivo.

Most studies of oocyte apoptosis have been performed in vitro and have employed the method of artificial induction of apoptosis by an anti-cancer agent. However, the process of oocyte death in vivo has not been clearly identified. To investigate the death process in unfertilized oocytes in vivo, we examined the cytochemical change of oocytes collected by oviduct flushing at various intervals after hCG injection.