Prevalence and trends of cigarette smoking among adults with HIV infection compared with the general population in Korea.

Objectives: This study compared the current smoking prevalence among adults with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection to that of the general Korean population and analyzed changes in smoking prevalence and cessation rates from 2009 to 2020.

Methods: The study included a total of 10,980 adults with HIV infection who underwent a health screening examination (NHIS-NHID), 1,230 individuals with HIV infection who participated in the Korea HIV/AIDS Cohort (KoCosHIV), and 76,783 participants from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES). We estimated the current smoking prevalence and the quit ratio, defined as the ratio of former smokers to ever-smokers.

Efficacy and safety of herbal medicine Gongjin-Dan and Ssanghwa-Tang in patients with chronic fatigue: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, clinical trial.

Background: Gongjin-dan (GJD, also known as Gongchen-dan) and Ssanghwa-tang (SHT, also known as Shuanghe-tang or Souwa-to) are herbal medicines that are widely used in Korea for treating fatigue. However, few studies have evaluated the efficacy and safety of GJD and SHT in the treatment of chronic fatigue.

Methods: In this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial, 90 individuals with persistent (≥6 months) chronic fatigue of unknown cause and a Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS) score of ≥4 were randomly assigned to GJD group, SHT group, and control group in a 1:1:1 ratio.

Association between weight changes and infective endocarditis in patients with diabetes: A nationwide population-based cohort study.

Backgrounds: The association between weight change in patients with diabetes, and the development of infective endocarditis (IE) has never been studied. Therefore, we evaluated the associations of weight changes in patients with diabetes with the development of IE.

Methods: In this Korean population-based cohort study, we included patients with diabetes aged ≥20 years who underwent health screenings twice in a 2-year interval between 2009 and 2012.

Global trends in CD4 count measurement and distribution at first antiretroviral treatment initiation.

Background: While people with HIV (PWH) start antiretroviral treatment (ART) regardless of CD4 count, CD4 measurement remains crucial for detecting advanced HIV disease and evaluating ART programmes. We explored CD4 measurement (proportion of PWH with a CD4 result available) and prevalence of CD4 <200 cells/µL at ART initiation within the International epidemiology Databases to Evaluate AIDS (IeDEA) global collaboration.

Methods: We included PWH at participating ART programmes who first initiated ART at age 15-80 years during 2005-2019.

Effect of physical activity on risk reduction of infective endocarditis among patients with diabetes: a nationwide cohort study.

Patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) are at a higher risk of infectious diseases, and exercise is an important treatment modality for DM. Despite their susceptibility to infection in diabetic patients, the association between the amount of physical activity and the incidence of infective endocarditis (IE) is unclear. We attempted to demonstrate risk reduction by physical activity in diabetic patients with IE.

Development of a malaria model for evaluating the effects of control strategies on the malaria burden in Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

Background: malaria has been one of the most troublesome diseases in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK). Given that a majority of malaria cases are concentrated near the demilitarized zone, concerted elimination efforts from both the Republic of Korea (ROK) and DPRK are essential for a malaria-free Korean Peninsula. This study assessed the impact of rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) and tafenoquine on malaria incidence in DPRK.

Guidelines for Antibacterial Treatment of Carbapenem-Resistant Enterobacterales Infections.

This guideline aims to promote the prudent use of antibacterial agents for managing carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales (CRE) infections in clinical practice in Korea. The general section encompasses recommendations for the management of common CRE infections and diagnostics, whereas each specific section is structured with key questions that are focused on antibacterial agents and disease-specific approaches. This guideline covers both currently available and upcoming antibacterial agents in Korea.

Antiretroviral Therapy during Long-term Surgical Care: 'Exploring Difficult Cases in HIV Clinics' of the Korean Society for AIDS Conference in 2023.

With advancements in antiretroviral therapy (ART), the average lifespan of people with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is increasing, as is the number of older adults with HIV. Accordingly, the number of patients with HIV who undergo surgery or require critical care for various reasons is increasing. Since the prognosis of people with HIV depends on the continuous and effective maintenance of ART, there is a need to consider effectively maintaining ART in people with HIV in these conditions.

HIV treatment outcomes after 10 years on ART in the TREAT Asia Observational Database (TAHOD) and Australian HIV Observational Database (AHOD).

Background: Increasing numbers of people with HIV have received prolonged antiretroviral therapy (ART). We assessed long-term immunological and survival outcomes among people with HIV from Asia (TAHOD) and Australia (AHOD).

Methods: People with HIV receiving ART for ≥10 years were included.

Post-Diagnosis HCV RNA Testing Rates Prior to HCV Treatment Among People Living With HIV With HCV Antibody Positivity in the Asia-Pacific Region.

HCV RNA test determines current active infection and is a requirement prior to initiating HCV treatment. We investigated trends and factors associated with post-diagnosis HCV RNA testing rates prior to HCV treatment, and risk factors for first positive HCV RNA among people living with HIV (PLHIV) with HCV in the Asia-Pacific region. PLHIV with positive HCV antibody and in follow-up after 2010 were included.

A Randomized, Multi-Center, Open Label Study to Compare the Safety and Efficacy between Afatinib Monotherapy and Combination Therapy with HAD-B1 for the Locally Advanced or Metastatic NSCLC Patients with EGFR Mutations.

Background: Lung cancer, especially non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), poses a significant health challenge globally due to its high mortality. Afatinib, a second-generation epidermal growth factor receptor-tyrosine kinase inhibitor (EGFR-TKI), has shown superior efficacy over traditional chemotherapy in NSCLC treatment. However, issues like secondary resistance and adverse effects call for alternative therapies.

Overcoming the age-dependent SARS-CoV-2 vaccine response through hybrid immunity: analysis of humoral and cellular immunity with mass cytometry profiling.

Background: Age-dependent immune responses to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccinations and breakthrough infections (BIs) in young and middle-aged individuals are unclear.

Methods: This nationwide multicenter prospective cohort study analyzed immune responses in participants of the ChAdOx1 (ChAd)-ChAd-mRNA vaccine group using cytometry by time-of-flight, anti-spike protein antibody (Sab) and anti-nucleocapsid antibody (Nab) titers, plaque reduction neutralization tests (PRNTs), and interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) release assays at various time points.

Results: We evaluated 347 participants with an average age of 38.

Twelve-month effectiveness and safety of bictegravir/emtricitabine/tenofovir alafenamide in treatment-naïve and treatment-experienced people with HIV: Findings from the Asia cohort of the BICSTaR study.

Background: The ongoing, observational BICSTaR (BICtegravir Single Tablet Regimen) cohort study is evaluating real-world effectiveness and safety of bictegravir/emtricitabine/tenofovir alafenamide (B/F/TAF) in people with HIV across 14 countries over 24 months. We present 12-month data from the BICSTaR Asia cohort.

Methods: Data were pooled from retrospective and prospective cohorts of antiretroviral therapy (ART)-naïve (hereafter, TN) and ART-experienced (hereafter, TE) people with HIV (aged ≥21 years) receiving B/F/TAF in routine clinical care in the Republic of Korea, Singapore, and Taiwan.

Difference in Baseline Antimicrobial Prescription Patterns of Hospitals According to Participation in the National Antimicrobial Monitoring and Feedback System in Korea.

This study aimed to evaluate the differences in the baseline characteristics and patterns of antibiotic usage among hospitals based on their participation in the Korea National Antimicrobial Use Analysis System (KONAS). We obtained claims data from the National Health Insurance for inpatients admitted to all secondary- and tertiary-care hospitals between January 2020 and December 2021 in Korea. 15.