Hanyang University Guri Hospital

Evogliptin, a dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitor with a glucose-dependent mechanism of action, is widely used as a monotherapy or in combination with other agents. However, observational studies in routine clinical settings remain limited. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of evogliptin in combination with other antidiabetic agents frequently used in clinical practice. This study was conducted in 51 hospitals in South Korea. We evaluated evogliptin in three groups: the evogliptin add-on, evogliptin-switching, and initial combination groups. The primary endpoint was the change in haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) levels (%) from baseline to 12 weeks. The change in HbA1c (%) levels from baseline to 24 weeks was a secondary endpoint in the extended study. Proportions of patients achieving the HbA1c target, changes in fasting and postprandial glucose levels, and safety endpoints were also evaluated. Between-group comparisons were performed between the add-on and initial combination groups. In the 1596 patients of the effectiveness set, the mean changes in HbA1c levels at 12 weeks were -0.8% ± 1.2%, -0.3% ± 0.8% and -1.9% ± 1.4% for the evogliptin add-on, evogliptin-switching and initial combination groups, respectively. Among the 1920 patients in the safety set, 23 experienced adverse drug reactions, and there was no significant difference among the three groups. Evogliptin reduces blood glucose levels and is well-tolerated when used as an add-on, as a switch from other dipeptidyl peptidase 4 inhibitors, or as part of an initial combination therapy in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Previous studies of antidepressant prescribing patterns largely were limited to a single location or time, and very few involved Asia. This Asian Psychotropic Prescription Patterns Consortium study investigated pharmacoepidemiologic trends and factors associated with use and dosing of newer antidepressants across 12 Asian sites in 2003, 2013, and 2023. Data from each site included demographic, treatment setting, clinical features, and type and dosage of antidepressants prescribed. Sociodemographic and clinical variables were examined using univariate methods, followed by multivariable logistic and linear modeling. Of 8357 adult participants (59.8% female), 82.8% received at least one modern antidepressant. Use of these drugs was strongly associated with more recent year, younger age, inpatient status, and affective or anxiety-related disorders. Higher daily antidepressant doses were associated with inpatient status, male gender, more recent year, and younger age. This large, multisite study provides a two-decade overview of evolving antidepressant-prescribing patterns in 12 Asian sites and highlights patient characteristics associated with prescription of newer antidepressants and their dosage. Needed are further studies of psychotropic prescribing practices related to specific illness subtypes and their impact on psychosocial functioning over time among Asian patients.

To assess the long-term effectiveness, safety, and economic viability of recently approved Alzheimer's disease (AD) therapies, as well as to evaluate the real-world application of novel diagnostics among AD patients with diverse comorbidities, comprehensive real-world data (RWD) analysis is essential. The Korean JOint RegistrY for ALZheimer's Treatment and Diagnostics (JOY-ALZ) endeavors to create a registry of RWD derived from clinical practice on new diagnostic methods and therapeutic agents for AD introduced in Korea since 2021. Participants must fulfill all the following: 1) be at least 19 years old; 2) be actively receiving, scheduled to initiate, or undergoing evaluation for any AD disease-modifying treatment; 3) have completed amyloid positron emission tomography or cerebrospinal fluid AD immunoassay (a positive result is not essential for participation); 4) have a clinical classification of cognitively unimpaired, mild cognitive impairment, or probable AD dementia. Data generated during routine care is segmented into a minimum dataset, extended dataset, and research-only dataset requiring extra consent. Assessments encompass clinical, cognitive, functional, neurobehavioral, neuroimaging, and biomarker evaluations, in addition to systematic monitoring of new AD treatments and their safety. Data are collected and monitored at baseline, at semiannual intervals during the initial 2 years, and then annually up to 2034. To date, 46 medical centers will participate in JOY-ALZ. JOY-ALZ is expected to promote understanding of the long-term clinical outcomes, safety, and cost-effectiveness of recently introduced diagnostics and treatments for AD, thereby supporting the progress of precision medicine in AD care and diagnosis. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT06889818.

Checkpoint kinase 2 (CHEK2) encodes a serine/threonine kinase involved in the DNA damage response through ATM-Chk2-p53 signaling. Its function in maintaining genomic stability classifies it as a tumor suppressor. Heterozygous germline pathogenic variants in CHEK2 are associated with a moderate increase in lifetime risk of breast and prostate cancer. This study assessed the prevalence of CHEK2 variants globally, with a focus on East Asian and Korean populations, for which data have remained limited. We analyzed 125,748 exomes from the Genome Aggregation Database (gnomAD), including 9,197 East Asians, along with additional data from 5,305 individuals in the Korean Variant Archive, 3,617 in Korea4K, and 1,722 in the Korean Reference Genome Database. All CHEK2 variants were classified according to guidelines established by the American College of Medical Genetics, Genomics, and Clinical Genome Resources. The global prevalence of CHEK2 variants was 0.76%, with the highest observed in the Finnish population (2.04%) and the lowest in East Asians (0.11%). By integrating data from Korean genomic databases and gnomAD, representing a total of 12,553 Korean individuals, the overall prevalence in the Korean population was estimated at 0.13%. These findings represent the first integrated estimate of CHEK2 variant frequency in Koreans using multiple population-specific genomic datasets. The results provide a useful reference for future studies and highlight the need for region-specific genetic research to inform counseling and hereditary cancer risk management.

Mi-Ae Jang, M.D., Jong Eun Park, M.D., Ye-Ryeong Jung, RN, Namhee Kim, M.D., Dongju Won, M.D., Boyoung Park, M.D., Sun-Young Kong, M.D.. Lab Med Online 2026;16:65-72. https://doi.org/10.47429/lmo.2026.16.1.65

Background/Objectives: Vaginitis is a prevalent inflammatory disorder of the vaginal mucosa, frequently arising from its anatomical proximity to the anorectal region and a microenvironment conducive to pathogen colonization and dysbiosis. This prospective, multicenter, randomized, third-party-blinded study assessed the efficacy and safety of a plasma vaginal cleanser (WOMEN CARE®) employing plasma-activated water (PAW) as a non-pharmacological alternative to conventional antimicrobials for restoring vaginal homeostasis. Methods: Women aged ≥19 years with clinically suspected vaginitis were assigned to either the experimental group (WOMEN CARE®) or the control group (standard pharmacotherapy). The primary endpoint was the proportion of participants exhibiting decreased Nugent scores between baseline and Visit 4. Results: Of 144 participants in the experimental group, 125 completed the study. The experimental group showed comparable outcomes to standard pharmacotherapy group across Nugent scores, vaginal pH, and symptoms severity, with pathogen suppression confirmed as non-inferior. Additionally, PAW exerted anti-HPV activity through a potential effect against new genotypic HPV infection. While the control group experienced antibiotic-associated adverse effects (e.g., headache, abdominal discomfort, nausea), no treatment-related adverse events occurred in the WOMEN CARE® group. Conclusions: These results indicate that PAW vaginal cleansing provides an effective, safe, non-antibiotic approach for managing vaginitis and maintaining vaginal ecological balance.

BackgroundCognitive intervention therapy has been proven to be a safe and effective technique for improving cognitive function in patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Given the variety of intervention strategies within cognitive intervention therapy programs, the effectiveness and standardization of each program must be validated. The current computerized cognitive rehabilitation programs used in clinical practice are often foreign‐developed products that are difficult to apply directly to Korean elderly due to linguistic and cultural differences. Existing products developed in Korea tend to focus on gamified tasks that generate interest but have been reported to be weak in enhancing memory. Therefore, 'SuperBrain DEX'(developed by Rowan Co., Ltd.), a digital therapeutic device providing evidence‐based therapeutic intervention, has been developed to improve cognitive function in MCI patients. This clinical trial aims to assess the superiority of the cognitive function improvement effect of 'SuperBrain DEX' in patients with MCI compared to control groups and evaluate its safety for use.MethodThe study targets MCI patients aged 50‐85 who meet the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Through 'SuperBrain DEX', cognitive training will be conducted for a total of 16 weeks, 7 times a week (each session lasting 15‐30 minutes). The program will assess the patient's cognitive training performance in real‐time and provide personalized training by applying individual cognitive function levels and basic information (gender, age, education, Z‐Score of cognitive tests) to artificial intelligence (AI). The control group will receive an educational booklet on lifestyle rules for dementia prevention. Cognitive function improvement will be confirmed through primary (K‐RBANS) and secondary (CDR, K‐MMSE‐2, K‐IADL, PRMQ, GDS‐15, QOL‐AD, ADAS‐Cog 14 tests) efficacy evaluations before and after the program.ResultThe study is designed for 140 participants across 12 research institutions in Korea, with the first participant registered in January 2024. Currently, 140 participants (100%) are enrolled in the study.ConclusionIt is expected that the results will be reported at the time of the conference presentation.