https://scholarworks.korea.ac.kr/kumedicine/handle/2020.sw.kumedicine/703 Sat, 04 Apr 2026 11:52:31 GMT 2026-04-04T11:52:31Z https://scholarworks.korea.ac.kr/kumedicine/handle/2021.sw.kumedicine/79559 Title: Identifying sorafenib benefit among patients with hepatocellular carcinoma: A transcriptomic and genomic approach Authors: Yim, Sun Young; Kim, Ha yeon; Kim, Tae Hyung; Kang, Sang hee; Lee, Youngwoo; Choi, Eunho; Yoo, Yang Jae; Kang, Seong Hee; Lee, Young Sun; Jung, Young Kul; Seo, Yeon Seok; Yim, Hyung Joon; Yeon, Jong Eun; Yang, Kyung Sook; Tang, Yitao; Sohn, Bowha; Jeong, Seong; Park, Hyewon; Liang, Han; Lee, Ju-Seog; Kim, Ji Hoon Abstract: Background & Aims: Sorafenib has been a cornerstone of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) therapy; however, its efficacy is limited, and identifying patients who will benefit from sorafenib is challenging. We aimed to identify predictive biomarkers of sorafenib benefit in patients with HCC. Methods: Gene expression data from 33 HCC tumors treated with sorafenib were analyzed to construct a prediction model aimed at identifying patients with greater benefit from sorafenib treatment. The robustness of the predictor was validated using gene expression data from two phase III clinical trials, IMbrave150 and STORM. Results: The analysis of transcriptome data revealed a 50-gene signature, the KUSS50 (Korea University Sorafenib Signature with 50 genes), that exhibited high predictive power in identifying patients who benefited from sorafenib treatment in a training cohort. Validation in two independent cohorts-IMbrave150 (n = 48) and BIOSTORM (n = 67)-demonstrated high specificity for predicting sorafenib benefit (AUC: 87.1%, p = 1.8 & times; 10-4 and 90.8%, p = 1.0 & times; 10-7 , respectively). Genomic analyses identified distinct molecular characteristics associated with the KUSS50-defined benefit subtype, including an increased mutation rate and activation of ferroptosis, suggesting increased baseline ferroptotic activity in these HCCs, which may sensitize them to sorafenib. The benefit subtype also overlapped with previously defined HCC subtypes associated with stemness and aggressiveness. Conversely, the non-benefit subtype correlated with beta-catenin mutations and increased tumor purity, underscoring its biological significance. Conclusions: The KUSS50 is a clinically actionable biomarker that may optimize patient selection for sorafenib treatment in HCC, potentially improving outcomes. Further exploration of the underlying biology of KUSS50-defined subtypes-particularly the role of ferroptosis in sorafenib sensitivity-may yield additional therapeutic insights. (c) 2026 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. on behalf of European Association for the Study of the Liver (EASL). This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Wed, 01 Apr 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://scholarworks.korea.ac.kr/kumedicine/handle/2021.sw.kumedicine/79559 2026-04-01T00:00:00Z https://scholarworks.korea.ac.kr/kumedicine/handle/2021.sw.kumedicine/79420 Title: Effects of an Internet of Things-Based Medication Assistance System on Real-World ART Adherence and Treatment Response in People Living with HIV Authors: Suh, Jin Woong; Yang, Kyung Sook; Kim, Jeong Yeon; Yoon, Young Kyung; Sohn, Jang Wook Abstract: Background/Objectives: The study primarily examined whether an IoT-based medication assistance system enhances ART adherence relative to standard care, and secondarily evaluated device feasibility and error patterns over time. Methods: This prospective study was conducted between June 2022 and October 2023 at a tertiary hospital in South Korea. Adults (>= 19 years) living with HIV and prescribed ART were included; those with comorbid hepatitis B or C were excluded. People living with HIV who agreed to use the IoT-based InPHRPILL system (Sofnet Inc., Seoul, Republic of Korea) were assigned to the intervention group, whereas those who declined were assigned to the control group. Viral suppression, CD4(+) cell counts, and adherence rates were measured. Additional analyses evaluated 12-month longitudinal adherence using pill-count data in both groups, and device-measured adherence and device-associated error rates in the intervention group. Results: Thirty-five participants (12 in the intervention group and 23 in the control group) were included. The intervention group demonstrated marginally shorter durations since HIV diagnosis and ART initiation at study enrollment, as well as slightly higher baseline HIV-RNA levels; however, these differences did not reach statistical significance. The median pill-counting and IoT device adherence rates were 100% and 87.4%, respectively (median deviation error rate = 4.4%). Poisson regression revealed significantly reduced error rates over time (beta = -0.06493, p < 0.01), suggesting improved device use proficiency. Conclusions: IoT-based medication assistance systems may provide objective, real-time monitoring of ART adherence and facilitate identification of discrepancies between clinical evaluations and actual adherence patterns. Larger studies targeting individuals with suboptimal adherence are warranted to determine whether such systems can enhance adherence outcomes. Sun, 01 Feb 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://scholarworks.korea.ac.kr/kumedicine/handle/2021.sw.kumedicine/79420 2026-02-01T00:00:00Z https://scholarworks.korea.ac.kr/kumedicine/handle/2021.sw.kumedicine/79472 Title: The weight-adjusted waist index predicts sarcopenia in community-dwelling older adults in a nationwide multicenter prospective study Authors: Lee, Kyu-Ho; Hwang, Soon Young; Heo, Ji Hye; Kang, Jun Goo; Kim, Miji; Won, Chang Won; Choi, Kyung Mook; Roh, Eun Abstract: The weight-adjusted waist index (WWI) is recognized as an indicator of age-related changes in body composition. This study aimed to investigate the impact of WWI on the development of sarcopenia in community-dwelling older adults. A total of 1,724 individuals aged 70-84 years without sarcopenia at baseline (defined by AWGS 2019 criteria) from the Korean Frailty and Aging Cohort Study were followed for two years. WWI was calculated as waist circumference (cm) divided by the square root of body weight (kg). Muscle mass was assessed using appendicular skeletal muscle mass adjusted for body mass index (ASM/BMI), and muscle strength was measured by handgrip strength (HGS). WWI was negatively associated with ASM/BMI (r = -0.354, P < 0.001) and HGS (r = -0.075, P = 0.002), as determined by Spearman partial correlation analysis adjusted for age and sex. During the two-year follow-up, 167 participants (9.7%) developed sarcopenia. Participants in the highest quartile of baseline WWI had a significantly higher risk of developing sarcopenia compared to those in the lowest quartile (OR 2.03, 95% CI [1.24, 3.32]), after adjusting for age, sex, current smoking, regular drinking, low physical activity, low income, hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia, and chronic kidney disease, HOMA-IR, hs-CRP, and 25(OH)-vitamin D. A higher baseline WWI was found to be an independent risk factor for the development of sarcopenia in older adults. WWI may serve as a simple and clinically useful tool for early identification of older adults at risk for sarcopenia. Sun, 01 Feb 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://scholarworks.korea.ac.kr/kumedicine/handle/2021.sw.kumedicine/79472 2026-02-01T00:00:00Z https://scholarworks.korea.ac.kr/kumedicine/handle/2021.sw.kumedicine/78491 Title: Long-term treatment with lithium, valproate, and atypical antipsychotics on suicide risk in patients with bipolar disorder: A nationwide retrospective cohort study Authors: Park, Sol A.; Son, Serhim; Tae, Bum Sik; Choi, Hangseok; Jeong, Jong-Hyun; Yoon, Ho-Kyoung; Shin, Cheolmin; Kwon, Do-Young; Ko, Young-Hoon Abstract: Background: Patients with bipolar disorder exhibit higher suicide and mortality rates than the general population, owing to suicidal behaviors. This study examined the long-term effects of lithium, valproate, and atypical antipsychotics on suicide attempts and suicides among Korean patients with bipolar disorder. Methods: This retrospective study used Korean healthcare claims data of 44,694 individuals (mean age 31.09 +/- 9.81 years; 58.07 % female) with at least two principal diagnoses of bipolar disorder and at least two prescriptions for lithium, valproate, carbamazepine, or atypical antipsychotics (risperidone, quetiapine, olanzapine, aripiprazole, and ziprasidone) between 2002 and 2020. We examined the risk of suicide attempts and suicide during the period with each drug using Cox proportional regression. Results: The risk of suicide incidents decreased by 39.2 % and 26.0 % during treatment with lithium alone (hazard ratio [HR] 0.608, 95 % confidence interval [CI] 0.434-0.852) and valproate alone (HR 0.740, 95 % CI 0.577-0.949), respectively, compared to that without lithium, valproate, or atypical antipsychotics. In the within-individual analysis, the HR for suicide incidents was 0.154 during treatment with lithium and atypical antipsychotics (95 % CI 0.055-0.428). When lithium, valproate, and atypical antipsychotics were combined, the HR was 0.235 (95 % CI 0.056-0.980). The HRs were 0.251 (95 % CI 0.090-0.698) for valproate alone and 0.302 (95 % CI 0.152-0.599) for valproate in combination with atypical antipsychotics. Conclusions: Suicide risk decreased during treatment with lithium or valproate alone. In patients with bipolar disorder who are at a high risk of suicide, atypical antipsychotics were associated with a reduced risk of suicide when combined with lithium or valproate. Thu, 01 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://scholarworks.korea.ac.kr/kumedicine/handle/2021.sw.kumedicine/78491 2026-01-01T00:00:00Z