The effectiveness and safety of lenalidomide and dexamethasone in patients with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma in real-world clinical practice: a study of the Korean Multiple Myeloma Working Party (KMMWP-151 study).

Although lenalidomide plus dexamethasone (RD) is a therapeutic option for relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM), limited real-world clinical data exist. The purpose of this study was to estimate efficacy and safety of RD in RRMM patients of the clinical practice. Data from patients at 25 university hospitals in South Korea between October 2009 and December 2016 were collected retrospectively.

Analysis of the Efficacy of Thalidomide Plus Dexamethasone-Based Regimens in Patients With Relapsed/Refractory Multiple Myeloma Who Received Prior Chemotherapy, Including Bortezomib and Lenalidomide: KMM-166 Study.

Background: For patients with multiple myeloma (MM) that relapsed after treatment with bortezomib- and lenalidomide-based regimens, there were no other treatment options in Korea until 2016. We aimed to determine the efficacy of thalidomide plus dexamethasone-based regimens in patients with relapsed/refractory MM (RRMM).

Patients And Methods: We conducted a multicenter retrospective analysis in Korea for patients with RRMM treated with thalidomide-based regimens who previously received bortezomib and immunomodulatory agents (IMiDs), including thalidomide and lenalidomide.

Balance and Mobility Performance Along the Alzheimer's Disease Spectrum.

Background: Balance impairments are common in patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) dementia.

Objective: We sought to determine the stage along the AD spectrum during which balance impairments appear and identify factors associated with a decline in balance function.

Methods: Our cross-sectional study included 295 participants; 71 were cognitively normal (CN), 96 reported subjective cognitive decline (SCD), 72 had amnestic mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and 56 had AD dementia.

Effect of Decreased Skeletal Muscle Index and Hand Grip Strength on Functional Recovery in Subacute Ambulatory Stroke Patients.

Objective: To investigate the effect of decreased Skeletal Muscle Index (SMI) and hand grip strength on functional recovery in subacute ambulatory stroke patients.

Methods: Subacute stroke patients who were referred to the rehabilitation center were recruited. Decreased SMI and hand grip strength were diagnosed according to the Asian Working Group on Sarcopenia.

Clinical Practice Guideline for Cardiac Rehabilitation in Korea: Recommendations for Cardiac Rehabilitation and Secondary Prevention after Acute Coronary Syndrome.

Though clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) for cardiac rehabilitation (CR) are an effective and widely used treatment method worldwide, they are as yet not widely accepted in Korea. Given that cardiovascular (CV) disease is the second leading cause of death in Korea, it is urgent that CR programs be developed. In 2008, the Government of Korea implemented CR programs at 11 university hospitals as part of its Regional Cardio-Cerebrovascular Center Project, and 3 additional medical facilities will be added in 2019.

Synergistic combination of chemo‑phototherapy based on temozolomide/ICG‑loaded iron oxide nanoparticles for brain cancer treatment.

Chemo‑photothermal therapy for cancer treatment has received increasing attention due to its selective therapeutic effects. In the present study, the anticancer effects of drug‑loaded Fe3O4 magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) by chemo‑photothermal therapy on U‑87 MG human glioblastoma cells was investigated. Anticancer drug‑loaded Fe3O4 MNPs were prepared by loading temozolomide (TMZ) and indocyanine green (ICG), and were characterized by X‑ray diffraction, UV‑vis spectroscopy, thermal gravimetric analysis, transmission electron microscope, as well as drug‑loading capacity.

Benefits of additional cycles of bortezomib/thalidomide/dexamethasone (VTD) induction therapy compared to four cycles of VTD for newly diagnosed multiple myeloma.

Bortezomib/thalidomide/dexamethasone (VTD) induction therapy followed by autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) is one of the standard therapies for newly diagnosed multiple myeloma (NDMM). However, the appropriate depth of response to induction therapy and timing of upfront ASCT are still debated. We investigated if two additional cycles of VTD (VTD6) improved the responses and progression-free survival (PFS) compared with four cycles of VTD (VTD4).

Efficacy and Safety of Pioglitazone versus Glimepiride after Metformin and Alogliptin Combination Therapy: A Randomized, Open-Label, Multicenter, Parallel-Controlled Study.

Background: There is limited information regarding the optimal third-line therapy for managing type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) that is inadequately controlled using dual combination therapy. This study assessed the efficacy and safety of pioglitazone or glimepiride when added to metformin plus alogliptin treatment for T2DM.

Methods: This multicenter, randomized, active-controlled trial (ClinicalTrials.

Clinical Practice Guideline for Cardiac Rehabilitation in Korea.

Objective: Though clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) for cardiac rehabilitation (CR) are an effective and widely used treatment method worldwide, they are as yet not widely accepted in Korea. Given that cardiovascular disease is the second leading cause of death in Korea, it is urgent that CR programs be developed. In 2008, the Government of Korea implemented CR programs at 11 university hospitals as part of its Regional Cardio-Cerebrovascular Center Project, and three additional medical facilities will be added in 2019.

Association of Nutritional Status with Cognitive Stage in the Elderly Korean Population: The Korean Brain Aging Study for the Early Diagnosis and Prediction of Alzheimer's Disease.

Background And Purpose: Epidemiological studies have suggested the presence of strong correlations among diet, lifestyle, and dementia onset. However, these studies have unfortunately had major limitations due to their inability to fully control the various potential confounders affecting the nutritional status. The purpose of the current study was to determine the nutritional status of participants in the Korean Brain Aging Study for the Early Diagnosis and Prediction of Alzheimer's Disease (KBASE) and to identify clinical risk factors for being at risk of malnutrition or being malnourished.

Long-Term Comparison of Platinum Chromium Everolimus-Eluting Stent vs. Cobalt Chromium Zotarolimus-Eluting Stent - 3-Year Outcomes From the HOST-ASSURE Randomized Clinical Trial.

Background: There are limited data on the long-term outcome of platinum chromium-based everolimus-eluting stents (PtCr-EES) vs. cobalt chromium-based zotarolimus-eluting stents (CoCr-ZES).

Methods and results: A total of 3,755 patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) were randomized 2:1 to PtCr-EES or CoCr-ZES, and 96.

Clinical and Biomarker Characteristics According to Clinical Spectrum of Alzheimer's Disease (AD) in the Validation Cohort of Korean Brain Aging Study for the Early Diagnosis and Prediction of AD.

We aimed to present the study design of an independent validation cohort from the Korean Brain Aging Study for the Early Diagnosis and Prediction of Alzheimer's disease (AD) (KBASE-V) and to investigate the baseline characteristics of the participants according to the AD clinical spectrum. We recruited 71 cognitively normal (CN) participants, 96 with subjective cognitive decline (SCD), 72 with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and 56 with AD dementia (ADD). The participants are followed for three years.

Effects of Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation for Masseter Muscle on Oral Dysfunction After Stroke.

Objective: To determine positive effect of neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) in conventional dysphagia therapy on masseter muscle oral dysfunction of patients after subacute stroke.

Methods: Among subacute stroke patients who were diagnosed as oropharyngeal dysphagia by videofluoroscopy swallowing study (VFSS), those with oral dysfunction were enrolled. They were randomly assigned to a study group or a control group.

Effect of Physical Activity on the Progression of Alzheimer's Disease: The Clinical Research Center for Dementia of South Korea Study.

Background: There is a lack of research on the effects of physical activity (PA) on the progression of Alzheimer's disease (AD).

Objectives: We investigated whether PA is associated with progression of dementia and mortality in AD.

Methods: In the present study, 934 patients with mild-to-moderate AD were included.

Efficacy and safety of blinatumomab treatment in adult Korean patients with relapsed/refractory acute lymphoblastic leukemia on behalf of the Korean Society of Hematology ALL Working Party.

Blinatumomab, a bispecific T cell-engaging antibody, has demonstrated efficacy for relapsed or refractory acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). In this study, we evaluated the efficacy and toxicity of blinatumomab in adult Korean patients with relapsed or refractory Philadelphia-negative B cell precursor ALL. A total of 50 patients received blinatumomab treatment between June 2016 and August 2017 in Korea.

The Derived Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio Is an Independent Prognostic Factor in Transplantation Ineligible Patients with Multiple Myeloma.

Background: The neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) is an independent prognostic marker in solid and hematological cancers. While the derived NLR (dNLR) was shown to be non-inferior to the NLR in large cohorts of patients with different cancer types, it has not been validated as a prognostic marker for multiple myeloma (MM) to date.

Methods: Between May 22, 2011 and May 29, 2014, 176 patients with MM from 38 centers who were ineligible for autologous stem cell transplantation were analyzed.

Analysis of frontotemporal dementia, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and other dementia-related genes in 107 Korean patients with frontotemporal dementia.

To identify pathogenic variants in 107 Korean patients with sporadic frontotemporal dementia (FTD), 46 genes related to FTD, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and other dementias were screened by next-generation sequencing. Hexanucleotide repeats in C9orf72 gene were also tested by repeat-primed polymerase chain reaction. Next-generation sequencing revealed one known pathogenic variant (c.

Treatment of giant cervico-mediastinal lymphatic malformations: a case series.

Background: Lymphatic malformations are histologically benign vascular structures that vary in anatomic lesion and size. Extensive head and neck lymphatic malformations may be life-threatening. In the present study, we described three difficult-to-treat infants with giant cervico-mediastinal lymphatic malformations accompanied by severe respiratory distress.

Phase 2 Study of an Intravenous Busulfan and Melphalan Conditioning Regimen for Autologous Stem Cell Transplantation in Patients with Multiple Myeloma (KMM150).

This prospective study evaluated the efficacy and toxicity of intravenous busulfan and melphalan as a conditioning regimen for autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) in patients with multiple myeloma (MM). A total of 99 patients with MM, enrolled between January 2013 and March 2016, received intravenous busulfan (9.6 mg/kg) and melphalan (140 mg/m) before ASCT.

Erratum to: Prognosis of Patients with Behavioral Variant Frontotemporal Dementia Who have Focal Versus Diffuse Frontal Atrophy.

This corrects the article on p. 234 in vol. 13, PMID: 28748674.

Prognosis of Patients with Behavioral Variant Frontotemporal Dementia Who have Focal Versus Diffuse Frontal Atrophy.

Background And Purpose: Only a few studies have investigated the relationship between different subtypes and disease progression or prognosis in patients with behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia (bvFTD). Since a localized injury often produces more focal signs than a diffuse injury, we hypothesized that the clinical characteristics differ between patients with bvFTD who show diffuse frontal lobe atrophy (D-type) on axial magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans versus those with focal or circumscribed frontal lobe atrophy (F-type).

Methods: In total, 94 MRI scans (74 scans from bvFTD and 20 scans from age-matched normal controls) were classified into 35 D- and 39 F-type bvFTD cases based on an axial MRI visual rating scale.

A prospective, open-label, multicenter, observational study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of bortezomib-melphalan-prednisone as initial treatment for autologous stem cell transplantation-ineligible patients with multiple myeloma.

Bortezomib-melphalan-prednisone (VMP) showed superior efficacy versus MP as first-line treatment for transplantation-ineligible multiple myeloma (MM). This study investigated the efficacy of VMP for Korean patients with MM.Overall, 177 MM patients received 9 cycles of VMP in this prospective, multicenter, observational study.

Fractional Flow Reserve and Cardiac Events in Coronary Artery Disease: Data From a Prospective IRIS-FFR Registry (Interventional Cardiology Research Incooperation Society Fractional Flow Reserve).

Background: We evaluated the prognosis of deferred and revascularized coronary stenoses after fractional flow reserve (FFR) measurement to assess its revascularization threshold in clinical practice.

Methods: The IRIS-FFR registry (Interventional Cardiology Research In-cooperation Society Fractional Flow Reserve) prospectively enrolled 5846 patients with ≥1coronary lesion with FFR measurement. Revascularization was deferred in 6468 lesions and performed in 2165 lesions after FFR assessment.

Behavioural and neuropsychiatric disturbance in three clinical subtypes of frontotemporal dementia: A Clinical Research Center for Dementia of South Korea-FTD Study.

Objectives: To characterise the behavioural and neuropsychiatric disturbances of patients with three clinical subtypes of frontotemporal dementia (FTD): behavioural variant FTD (bvFTD), semantic dementia (SD) and progressive non-fluent aphasia (PNFA).

Methods: Consecutive series of 66 patients with bvFTD, 58 patients with SD and 21 patients with PNFA were compared using the Frontal Behavioural Inventory (FBI) and the Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI).

Results: Patients with bvFTD had more behavioural and neuropsychiatric disturbances than patients with PNFA based on the total scores of FBI and NPI.