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As global temperatures have steadily increased over past decades, studying of the impacts of heat stress on morpho-physiological traits and economic yields of horticultural crops have been increasingly gained attentions by many scientists and farmers. Hot pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) is an important vegetable crop mostly grown in open-fields in South Korea. In this study, the impacts of prolonged heat stress on three hot pepper genotypes differing by levels of stress susceptibility were evaluated. The study was conducted in two different temperature-controlled greenhouses for 75 days. 48 days old plants were grown in control and heat-treated greenhouses where the temperatures had been set at 30 °C and 35 °C during the day for 75 days, respectively. Morphological, physiological, and nutrient characteristics of three accessions were measured. All hot pepper accessions were enabled to recover from prolonged heat stress exposures within approximately a month. The phenomenon of recovery was observed in some significant morphological and physiological characteristics. For example, the plant growth rate and photosynthesis rate significantly increased after 40th days of heat treatment. The heat stress sensitivity varied between genotypes. The plants that produced more fruits over biomass at early stage of heat treatment had relatively slow recovery, resulting in the largest yield loss. This key morphological characteristic can be used for future breeding program to adapt the prolonged heat stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Several guidelines classify autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) as a low to intermediate risk group for infection. In a nationwide population-based study, using the Korean Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service database, patients with lymphoma and multiple myeloma (MM) who underwent ASCT from 2002 to 2016 were retrospectively analyzed. Cumulative incidence rates (CIRs) and risk factors of opportunistic infections were investigated. CIRs of fungal, Varicella zoster virus (VZV), cytomegalovirus (CMV), and Pneumocystis jirovecii infections in lymphoma were 7.9%, 16.0%, 7.4%, and 5.1%, respectively, and CIRs in MM were 6.3%, 19.1%, 4.2%, and 5.6%, respectively. Fungal infection was significantly higher in patients with previous infection (Hazard ratio (HR) 2.003, p = 0.005) in lymphoma. Incidence of CMV infection was significantly higher in patients with prior CMV infection: HR 4.920, p < 0.001 (lymphoma); HR 3.022, p = 0.030 (MM). VZV infection was significantly lower in patients receiving prophylaxis: HR 0.082, p < 0.001 (lymphoma); HR 0.096, p < 0.001 (MM). For P. jirovecii infection, busulfex and melphalan conditioning (HR 1.875, p = 0.032) and previous P. jirovecii infection (HR 4.810, p < 0.001) had a higher incidence in MM. Patients who underwent ASCT should receive VZV prophylaxis and prophylaxis for fungal and P. jirovecii may be considered in patients with previous same infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The International Myeloma Working Group has recently revised the diagnostic criteria for primary plasma cell leukemia (PCL) to circulating plasma cells (CPCs) ≥ 5% in a peripheral blood smear. The present study validated new criteria in patients with multiple myeloma or PCL diagnosed using the previous diagnostic criteria, who were administered immunomodulatory drugs or proteasome inhibitors as induction therapy. We analyzed the medical records of 1357 patients from eight hospitals in South Korea. The median age of the all patients was 64 years, and 187 (13.8%) had CPCs at diagnosis. Only 79 (5.8%) of the patients had ≥ 5% CPCs. The median overall survival (OS) of patients with CPCs ≥ 5% and ≥ 20% was similar, but had significantly inferior median progression-free survival (PFS) and median OS than those with CPCs < 5% (13.1 vs. 21.5 months, P < 0.001, and 21.5 vs. 60.9 months, P < 0.001, respectively). Primary PCL diagnosed using the revised criteria presented with higher total calcium levels and serum creatinine levels, lower platelet counts and frequent organomegaly and plasmacytoma at diagnosis. Univariate and multivariate analyses demonstrated that the presence of plasmacytoma and elevated serum β2-microglobulin were significantly associated with OS in primary PCL. In conclusion, the revised criterion of CPCs ≥ 5% in a peripheral blood smear is appropriate for PCL diagnosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Worldwide, children are increasingly being diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The case of South Korea is not exceptional. One of the core symptoms of children with ASD is sensory reactivity issues, such as an unusual interest in the sensory aspects of the environment. One promising development in sensory enrichment for individuals with ASD is a multisensory environment (MSE). Objectives: This study investigated the influence of MSE on the target behaviors of children with ASD with different sensory characteristics in the case of South Korea. Methods: A multiple treatment design {A-B-C-D (B + C) phases} was implemented to observe the six target behaviors of three children with ASD. The sensory environmental intervention focusing on visual and auditory stimuli was manipulated as a stimulating MSE or a relaxing MSE depending on the sensory profile of each participant. The analysis was undertaken using visual inspection with data patterns and graph slopes, which is a customary method of analyzing the single-subject design data. In addition, the means and standard deviations of the two target behaviors of each participant were analyzed together. Results: The findings reveal that MSE interventions positively affected the target behaviors of children with ASD with diverse sensory characteristics. The stimulating MSE created by the integration of visual and auditory stimuli was the most effective intervention for the participants with hypo-visual and hypo-auditory sensitivities in this study. Conclusions: The MSE could be meaningful as a nonpharmaceutical therapy that could influence the daily behaviors of children with ASD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Long‐acting injectable antipsychotic agents (LAIs) including paliperidone palmitate (PP) have shown promising results in preventing relapse and rehospitalization in schizophrenia. This study aimed to ascertain the comparative real‐world effectiveness between the early and late administration of PP and oral formulations of risperidone and paliperidone (ORPs) in patients experiencing a first episode or relapse of schizophrenia. Methods: We identified patients with schizophrenia admitted to a psychiatric ward at least once and treated with ORPs or PP using the Korea National Insurance Claims Database. Patients were divided into three groups based on the clinical data: (1) patients treated with PP within 30 days of the initiation of treatment (early‐PP), (2) patients treated with PP after 30 days of the initiation of therapy (late‐PP) and (3) patients treated with only ORPs and not received PP (only‐ORP). The primary outcomes were determined as psychiatric rehospitalization during the entire duration of treatment after the first discharge. Results: A total of 3790 patients (1096 early‐PP, 799 late‐PP and 1895 only‐ORP) were finally included in the analysis. The mean of number and total length of rehospitalization stays during the entire duration in early‐PP group were significantly lower than those of late‐PP group and only‐ORP group (number: 2.32 stays/year, 3.24 stays/year and 4.23 stays/year, p <.001; total length: 50.34 days/year, 72.26 days/year and 105.14 days/year, p <.001). Conclusions: Early treatment with PP was associated with a greater reduction in psychiatric rehospitalization during the treatment period than late treatment with PP and ORP in schizophrenia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This observational study aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of pegteograstim prophylaxis in patients with lymphoma and solid malignancies. Methods: This study was conducted at 18 sites in Korea between November 2015 and August 2018. Results: In total, 611 patients (female, 61.2%) with a median age of 58 (range, 18–88) years were included. Most patients had lymphomas (n = 371, 60.7%) and breast cancer (n = 230, 37.6%) and were administered R-CHOP21 (rituximab, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisolone per 21 days) (n = 284, 46.5%) and AC (doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide) (n = 177, 29.0%). The total pegteograstim dose in the 611 patients was 14,970 mg (2495 doses), with each patient receiving an average daily dose of 6.0 mg. Neutropenia grade 4 occurred in 97 patients (15.9%), and febrile neutropenia (FN) occurred in 31 patients (5.1%). Among the 611 patients, 267 patients (43.7%) developed 882 adverse events (AEs), and 11 patients (1.8%) experienced 18 adverse drug reactions (ADRs). There were 62 patients (10.2%) who experienced 81 cases of serious adverse events (SAEs), with FN and pneumonia being the most frequent at 14 and 13 episodes, respectively, in 13 patients (2.1%). Meanwhile, 1 patient (0.2%) developed 2 episodes of serious ADRs (grade 1 and grade 2 hypotension). No safety concerns in the elderly and patients with liver and/or renal disease were identified. Conclusion: The prophylactic use of pegteograstim might have good overall safety and efficacy in patients with lymphomas and solid malignancies in routine clinical practice, even in those who are elderly and have liver and renal diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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. We report the effectiveness and safety of RD in 546 RRMM patients in routine clinical practice in South Korea. Patients (median age, 65 years) typically received median 7 cycles of RD, and 184 (33.7%) patients were treated with 10 or more cycles of RD. Patients with renal impairment (CLCr < 40 mL/min; 10.4%), comorbid conditions (≥ 2; 12.0%), and poor performance status (≥ 2; 25.1%) were included. The overall response rate was 64.2%: complete response (13.1%), very good partial response (VGPR 19.9%). With median follow-up duration of 18.6 months, median PFS and OS were 11.2 months and 25.2 months, respectively. In multivariate analysis, less than 2 comorbid conditions, normal LDH, failed one chemotherapy prior to RD, and ≥ 10 cycles of RD therapy had significantly prolonged PFS (P = 0.007, P = 0.011, P = 0.007, and P < 0.001, respectively). Adverse events were acceptable. RD is effective and safe in real-life clinical practice, including patients with comorbidities. RD is an effective and safe treatment in a real clinical setting which includes patients with comorbidities. Early and continual use of RD treatment may improve RRMM survival outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Low socioeconomic status can increase the risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes, but it remains unclear whether this negative association is attributed to inadequate prenatal care. Korea has been adopting a universal healthcare system. All Korean citizens must be enrolled National Health Insurance (NHI) or be recipient of Medical Aid (MA). In addition, Korean government launched a financial support system for antenatal care for all pregnant women in 2008. Therefore, in theory, there is no financial barrier to receive prenatal cares regardless of someone's social class. However, it is still unclear whether adverse pregnancy outcomes observed in low-income women are attributable to low SES or to economic barriers specific to the utilization of medical services. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether socioeconomic status affects pregnancy outcomes after the introduction of this support system, which allows all pregnant women to receive adequate prenatal care regardless of socioeconomic status. Methods: Using the National Health Insurance database in Korea, we selected women who gave birth between January 1, 2010 and December 31, 2010. As a proxy indicator reflecting socioeconomic status, we classified subjects as MA recipient ("low" SES) or a NHI beneficiary ("middle/high" SES). Results: In the MA group, 29.4% women received inadequate prenatal care, compared to 11.4% in the NHI group. Mothers in the MA group were more likely to have an abortion (30.1%), rather than deliver a baby, than those in the NHI group (20.7%, P < 0.001). Mothers in the MA group were also more likely to undergo a Caesarean delivery (45.8%; NHI group: 39.6%, P < 0.001), and have preeclampsia (1.5%; NHI group: 0.6%, P < 0.001), obstetric hemorrhage (4.7%; NHI group: 3.9%, P = 0.017), and a preterm delivery (2.1%; NHI group: 1.4%, P < 0.001) than those in the NHI group. Conclusions: Women in the MA group tended to show higher rates of abortion, Caesarean delivery, preeclampsia, preterm delivery, and obstetrical hemorrhage than those in the NHI group Therefore, health authorities should consider investigating what kind of barriers exist or what factors may affect these inequitable outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Korean National Residue Programme comprises three different approaches for evaluating domestic and imported foods of animal origin: monitoring, surveillance/enforcement and an exploratory test programme. Monitoring and surveillance/enforcement testing programmes are routinely implemented by 17 Provincial Veterinary Services for domestic products and regional offices of the Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency (QIA) for imported products. The exploratory project conducted at QIA headquarters is designed to test substances that are not included in monitoring and enforcement testing programmes. Here, we carried out exploratory testing for determining the presence of 42 veterinary drugs that have no established Korean maximum residue limits and analysed their levels simultaneously, in a total of 3108 samples of domestic and imported animal-origin foods. Of the tested drugs, acetylsalicylic, paracetamol, clopidol, diclazuril, amprolium, toltrazuril and its metabolites (toltrazuril sulphone and toltrazuril sulphoxide) and phenylbutazone and its metabolites (oxyphenylbutazone) were detected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study investigated an interpersonal model of development of depressive symptoms in employees, where occupational stress affects burnout, which in turn affects risk for depression, and whether this mediation is moderated by grit. A total of 11,421 participants, aged 19 to 65 years, who were employees of 18 private companies and local government organizations in Korea were included. They completed questionnaires, including the Korean version of occupational stress scale, Oldenburg Burnout Inventory, Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression scale and Grit scale. Mediation and moderation analyses were carried out in the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences PROCESS macro. The association between occupational stress and depressive symptoms was mediated by exhaustion (b = −0.256, 95 % CI [0.244, 0.268]) and disengagement (b = −0.052, 95 % CI [0.039, 0.065]). Moreover, the effect of exhaustion on depressive symptoms was moderated by each grit, with the effect being stronger for employees with low grit (b = 0.939, p < 0.001 for passion and b = 0.629, p < 0.001 for perseverance) than for those with high grit (b = 0.944, p < 0.001 for passion and b = 0.686, p < 0.001 for perseverance). The cross-sectional design of the study does not allow causal inferences. These findings contribute to the understanding of how occupational stress predicts depressive symptoms in the workplace and provide practical implications for preventing burnout and nurturing grit to protect employees' mental health in the workplace. • The association between occupational stress and depression was mediated by burnout. • High level of grit can alleviate the detrimental effect of exhaustion on depression. • The effect of disengagement on depression was not significantly moderated by grit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]