Introduction of a Program to Improve the Information Sharing System of Food Allergy Patients.

Although the symptoms of food allergy are diverse and sometimes dangerous to life, we have not been able to effectively share information on patients' food allergies. In this study, we developed a program to prescribe the allergic formula for each patient and to establish a series of processes for safe allergenic meal delivery based on the standards and guidelines of food allergy management. We then assessed the utility of the "introduction of food allergy program" by comparing the number of allergic prescriptions before and after the program application for inpatients.

Gemcitabine and Docetaxel Combination for Advanced Soft Tissue Sarcoma: A Nationwide Retrospective Study.

Purpose: This nationwide retrospective study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy and safety of combined gemcitabine and docetaxel (GD) as an off-label therapy for advanced soft tissue sarcoma, which has limited treatment options owing to its rare occurrence.

Materials And Methods: A total of 228 patients received GD therapy for advanced soft tissue sarcoma from 2009 to 2014 in Korea. We retrospectively reviewed the clinical medical records and claims data of these patients.

Preclinical efficacy and mechanisms of mesenchymal stem cells in animal models of autoimmune diseases.

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are present in diverse tissues and organs, including bone marrow, umbilical cord, adipose tissue, and placenta. MSCs can expand easily in vitro and have regenerative stem cell properties and potent immunoregulatory activity. They inhibit the functions of dendritic cells, B cells, and T cells, but enhance those of regulatory T cells by producing immunoregulatory molecules such as transforming growth factor-β, hepatic growth factors, prostaglandin E2, interleukin-10, indolamine 2,3-dioxygenase, nitric oxide, heme oxygenase-1, and human leukocyte antigen-G.

Preclinical and clinical studies on cytokine-induced killer cells for the treatment of renal cell carcinoma.

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is the most common malignancy of adult human kidney, which accounts for more than 2 % of all cancers. RCC generally does not respond well to conventional chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Cytokine-induced killer (CIK) cells are ex vivo activated lymphocytes with potent activity against various tumors and minimal side effects.

Sourcing quality-of-life weights obtained from previous studies: theory and reality in Korea.

Background: The quality-of-life weights obtained in previous studies are frequently used in cost-utility analyses. The purpose of this study is to describe how the values obtained in previous studies are incorporated into the industry submissions requesting listing at the Korean National Health Insurance (NHI), focusing on the issues discussed in theoretical studies and national guidelines.

Methods: The industry submissions requesting listing at the Korean NHI from January 2007 until December 2009 were evaluated by two independent researchers at the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service (HIRA).

ID3 contributes to cerebrospinal fluid seeding and poor prognosis in medulloblastoma.

Background: The inhibitor of differentiation (ID) genes have been implicated as promoters of tumor progression and metastasis in many human cancers. The current study investigated the expression and functional roles of ID genes in seeding and prognosis of medulloblastoma.

Methods: ID gene expression was screened in human medulloblastoma tissues.

Assessment of pharmacoeconomic evaluations submitted for reimbursement in Korea.

Objective: To assess the quality of pharmacoeconomic evaluations (PEs) submitted with new drug applications for reimbursement and to investigate the role of PEs for coverage decisions in Korea.

Methods: Forty-seven PEs that were submitted by pharmaceutical companies for coverage decisions between June 2005 and December 2009 were included in this study. To assess their appropriateness with regard to the PE guidelines, we used the Health Insurance Review and Assessment services (HIRA) checklist consisting of 20 items based on the PE guidelines.

Evaluation on the first 2 years of the positive list system in South Korea.

Objective: The South Korean positive list system in pharmaceutical reimbursement was introduced by the Health Care System Reform Act implemented in December 2006. This study introduces this positive list system (PLS), and reports on an evaluation of two years of operation. In addition, decision-making factors are evaluated and current issues and solutions discussed.

Low-dose Ultraviolet A1 Phototherapy for Treating Pityriasis Rosea.

Background: UVA1 phototherapy has recently demonstrated high levels of efficacy and tolerability for treating a variety of inflammatory and neoplastic skin diseases.

Objective: The purpose of the present study was to assess the clinical efficacy of UVA1 (340~400 nm) phototherapy for treating pityriasis rosea and to assess the course of the disease after treatment.

Methods: Fifteen patients with extensive pityriasis rosea were treated with low-dose UVA1 phototherapy (starting at 10~20 J/cm(2) and then it was increased to 30 J/cm(2)).

Isolation of 19 strains of Malassezia dermatis from healthy human skin in Korea.

This research was conducted on the cultured samples of 160 healthy men and women aged 0-80 years without any skin disease. Nineteen clinical isolates of Malassezia dermatis showed positive in a catalase test and all grew in 0.5% Tween-60 and 0.

The Investigation on the Distribution of Malassezia Yeasts on the Normal Korean Skin by 26S rDNA PCR-RFLP.

Background: Malassezia yeasts are normal flora of the skin that are discovered in 75~98% of health subjects, but since its association with various skin disorders have been known, many studies have been conducted in the distribution of the yeasts.

Objective: To isolate, identify, and classify Malassezia yeasts from the normal human skin of Koreans by using the rapid and accurate molecular biology method (26S rDNA PCR-RFLP) which overcome the limits of morphological and biochemical methods, and to gather a basic database that will show its relation to various skin diseases.

Methods: Malassezia yeasts were cultured from clinically healthy human skin using scrub-wash technique at five sites (forehead, cheek, chest, upper arm, and thigh) and swabbing technique at scalp in 160 participants comprised of 80 males and 80 females aged from 0 to 80.