The Advantages and Disadvantages of Prokinetics

Prokinetics are medications that enhance gastrointestinal contractility; they improve the symptoms of patients with delayed gastrointestinal motility. Prokinetics have conventionally been used to stimulate gastrointestinal propulsion and to treat symptoms correlated with motility problems, including gastroparesis and constipation. 5-Hydroxytryptamine receptor 4 (5-HT4) agonists, such as cisapride, very effectively increased human gastrointestinal tract motility. However, cisapride sometimes induced serious tachyarrhythmia; the drug was thus withdrawn from the market. Thereafter, many prokinetics have been developed to treat delayed gastrointestinal motility. However, some exhibit serious side-effects. Recently, a new, highly selective serotonin receptor agonist, prucalopride, has been introduced; there is as yet no evidence of serious cardiac side- effects. The drug has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration to treat chronic constipation. Thus, recently introduced, highly selective agents appear to show promise as treatments for gastrointestinal dysmotility; there seem to be no serious side-effects.

Heterologous Vaccination for Preparing COVID-19 Pandemic

Infectious disease pandemics are characterized by extreme uncertainty. From the more predictable response to seasonal influenza, which occurs each year, we have learned the importance of effective universal vaccines and therapeutic agents to protect high-risk groups. Heterologous vaccination with different types of vaccines to prevent COVID-19 is already recommended for various reasons: shortages of mass vaccine supply; critical adverse events, and potential superior efficacy as a booster dose. However, very few studies have examined the efficacy and safety of heterologous vaccination with mixed types. This review discusses the efficacy of vaccines currently approved in the Republic of Korea, including heterologous vaccination options.

Real-world Experience of Improvement in the Survival of Lymphoma and Myeloma Patients with Autologous Stem Cell Transplantation over a 25-year Period

Background/Aims: The first autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (ASCT) in Korea was performed for a small-cell lung cancer patient at Asan Medical Center (AMC) in 1993. Recently, lymphoma and myeloma have been the main indications; there has been progress in the treatments for these lymphoid malignancies. We explored the real-world experience of ASCT for lymphoma and myeloma at AMC over a 25-year period.Methods: We used the AMC ASCT registry, which has collected ASCT data prospectively since January 1993. Data for Hodgkin lymphoma, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, and multiple myeloma patients were analyzed. Patients transplanted up to December 2018 were included to assess adequate survival data. The ASCT time period was divided arbitrarily into 1994-1999, 2000-2009, and 2010-2018. In cases of multiple myeloma, we analyzed the 1st ASCT data only.Results: Survival of these lymphoid malignancy patients after ASCT has progressively improved. The increase in survival may be related to advances in various medical skills supporting ASCT. However, overall survival has improved much more than progression-free survival. This suggests that better salvage therapies after ASCT failure have mainly affected the improvement in overall survival. The hematopoietic cell transplantation-specific comorbidity index could not be used as a survival indicator in this analysis.Conclusions: This real-world experience study showed that the survival of lymphoid malignancy patients treated with ASCT has improved over the past 25 years.

Differential Diagnosis of Hypoglycemia

Hypoglycemia is common but can lead to life-threatening consequences. Accurate diagnosis is important to establish the appropriate treatment strategy. Most cases of hypoglycemia are caused by hypoglycemic agents, although it can occur in individuals without diabetes. A systemic and comprehensive diagnostic approach is required to diagnose hypoglycemia in patients without diabetes. It is important to perform appropriate blood testing during an episode of hypoglycemia. This review will focus on the definition, differential diagnosis, causes, and treatment of hypoglycemia, particularly in people without diabetes.

SGLT2 Inhibition for Diabetic and Non-diabetic Kidney Disease

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) can be progressive, and its prognosis is worse because of increased mortality when it is associated with diabetes and cardiac disease. The outcomes of diabetic kidney disease (DKD) need to be improved, despite multifactorial interventions including glucose and blood pressure (BP) control, and the use of renin-angiotensin system (RAS) inhibitors, statins, and aspirin. Recent clinical trials suggest that sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitors offer additional cardiorenal protection in DKD and non-diabetic CKD on top of RAS inhibition. The action of SGLT2 inhibitors is derived from the proximal tubule of the kidney, but their systemic effects beyond glucose-lowering involve hemodynamic and non-hemodynamic mechanisms. First, SGLT2 inhibitors restore tubuloglomerular feedback and relieve glomerular hypertension and albuminuria. Second, natriuresis and renal glycosuria lead to fluid and weight loss, resulting in BP lowering and prevention of heart failure. Third, SGLT2 inhibitors have anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative actions that can reduce renal and cardiac inflammation and fibrosis, probably via adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase and sirtuin-1 activation. Finally, the proximal tubular workload is relieved, accompanied by increased erythropoiesis. Hypoxia-inducible factor 1 may be stimulated by renal outer medullary hypoxia when tubular sodium transport shifts from the proximal convoluted tubule to the proximal straight tubule and thick ascending limb, due to SGLT2 inhibition. These effects may also be beneficial in non-diabetic CKD, and we anticipate that SGLT2 inhibitors will prove effective for albuminuria reduction and preservation of kidney function in primary kidney diseases, including glomerulonephritis.

Appropriate Use of Glycopeptide Antibiotics and Therapeutic Drug Monitoring for Invasive Infections

Vancomycin and teicoplanin are representative glycopeptide antibiotics with activities against gram-positive cocci. The area under the drug concentration–time curve (AUC)/minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) has been extensively used as an indicator of the bacteriological response to glycopeptide antibiotics, and the trough concentration has been used as a surrogate marker for the AUC/MIC. However, the guidelines for therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) are being revised in accordance with increasing pharmacokinetic understanding of glycopeptide antibiotics. This review describes the pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic characteristics of glycopeptide antibiotics and discusses their optimal use with appropriate TDM.

Molecular Risk Stratification using Next-generation Sequencing in Acute Myeloid Leukemia

Chromosomal abnormalities are an important prognostic factor in cases of acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Molecular mutations have been reported to contribute to the pathogenesis and prognosis of AML. Next-generation sequencing (NGS) has revolutionized the speed and cost of genomic sequencing and enables the parallel analysis of many genes for molecular risk stratification. The molecular mutations currently included in risk stratification at AML diagnosis are c-kit, FLT3-ITD, NPM1, CEBPA (biallelic), RUNX1, ASLX1, and TP53. The importance of screening for mutations has been further emphasized by introducing novel therapeutic targets for molecular mutations, such as FLT3-TKD, IDH1, and IDH2. Molecular mutations are also used to evaluate measurable residual disease during treatment and to select the intensity of the treatment during consolidation and follow-up. Pretreatment leukemic marrow and blood should be stored at a biobank to perform NGS analysis in cases of AML at diagnosis. Samples from various time points during and after treatment should be obtained and stored under appropriate conditions.

Rapid Tests for the Diagnosis of Viral Infections

Rapid and accurate diagnostic tests for viral infections are essential for diagnosis, treatment, and patient isolation. Various rapid nucleic acid tests, rapid antigen tests, and rapid antibody tests have been developed and used to diagnose viral infections. In this paper, the types and characteristics of various rapid viral tests currently used in Korea, test items, and considerations when interpreting rapid test results are described.