It was in December 2018 that Tagrisso (osimertinib), an EGFR-mutated anticancer drug targeting non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), won approval for the first-line treatment of stage-4 patients in Korea.AstraZeneca, which developed Tagrisso, has provided drug cost support to patients receiving first-
While speaking on the importance of lifelong learning at the Seoul Future Learning Forum on July 12, I was asked a question that everyone in our society should ponder. The gist of the question was, how do you advise teenagers to accept the need for lifelong learning in a country where it is common t
Recently, a district court acquitted a hairdresser in her 40s accused of performing eyebrow tattooing procedures, including semi-permanent eyebrow makeup, in violation of the Medical Service Act, contradicting the existing legal theory.The legal basis for “tattooing is medical practice” can be found
The world has been buzzing about aspartame, a synthetic sweetener, since June 29 when Reuters broke the news that the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), part of the World Health Organization (WHO), decided to add aspartame to its carcinogen classification. Aspartame joined the exist
In the ever-competitive world of pharmaceuticals, it seems that every few years, a new company emerges touting its latest "miracle cure."This time, it's GemVax & KAEL, a Korean pharmaceutical company, that seems to have discovered the holy grail of medicine with their so-called wonder drug, GV-1001.
Opening the door and stepping into his room, all sorts of nasty smells hit me. The stench of a widower who hasn't showered for a long time, the odor from the rotten food on the floor, and the toilet stink were all mixed. I could hide my face with a mask, but I couldn't help but frown.His birth year
Korea is pretty late with the establishment of its first full-scale biobank but this also places them in the unique position to build their biobanks based on the experience of other fully established biobanks.The Human Genome Project launched in October 1990 was completed in April 2003, revealing th
It can be challenging to recall the details of what you've witnessed and the specific locations where you encountered them. This difficulty arises due to the limited capacity of human source memory. While our brains excel at retaining visual and auditory information, they struggle when it comes to p
A woman in her late 70s visited my office after traveling a long distance by bus from a small town. She complained of dizziness showing me a handful of prescriptions. She had seen at least 10 doctors over the past year, not only in her town but also at hospitals in Seoul. After reviewing her recent
On Thursday last week, news headlines claiming that one in 10 Korean teenagers have tried fentanyl patches flooded media portals. I couldn't help but be astonished by these articles. However, upon closer examination, it became clear that these headlines were misleading because the survey questions w
Drinking water after consuming alcohol serves no purpose in terms of expediting the sobering process. Regardless of the volume of water consumed, it does not facilitate a faster sobering process. It may offer some relief from hangover symptoms. Alcohol acts as a diuretic, which means it increases ur
When the term "orthopedic surgeons" comes to mind, we often associate it with trauma, fractures, spine, and prosthetic joints. These areas attract a significant number of patients and present a wide range of cases. However, my specialization lies in musculoskeletal oncology, a field that prompts man
There are two different smells that humans perceive -- the smell of inhalation and the smell of exhalation. The scent experienced when you inhale, with food in front of you, is referred to as orthonasal olfaction. It occurs when you sniff through your nose. Conversely, when you take a bite of food a
When we talk about aging in our society, we often focus on statistics that show the number of people aged 65 and older is growing. However, the group of individuals aged 65 and older is a very large category, and it can look very different depending on demographic factors such as age, as well as med
Newborn screening began in other countries in the early 1960s. It started with detecting inherited metabolic diseases such as phenylketonuria. In 1961, Dr. Robert Guthrie, a pediatrician and a microbiologist, developed a special strain of bacteria that thrives in the presence of certain amino acids.
Minari, also known as water celery, has a fragrant aroma reminiscent of spring. When you blanch its hollow stalks, much like morning glory, they become crispy and fresh when chewed. According to food scientist Choi Nak-eon, the clean and refreshing scent of minari resembles the phytoncides found in
Amid the global population aging, defining the period of elderhood has been sparking debates everywhere. One of the most significant controversies regarding this matter is taking place in France, where massive protests have erupted surrounding a bill proposing to raise the retirement age from 62 to
On a sunny spring day, enjoying the scenery is a great idea, but it's important to be mindful of the medication you're taking. Some medications can increase your sensitivity to the sun, causing photosensitivity reactions. Whether you're taking oral or topical medication, it can be absorbed into your
It's been 18 years since the tech-heavy Kosdaq stock market introduced the so-called “special listing system,” which helps unprofitable companies to be listed on the Kosdaq market under special circumstances.Biotech firms debuting on Kosdaq under this system usually present a rosy future during thei
It's springtime and people say they are feeling quite tired and sleepy. In the past, we believed that this was due to a lack of proper nutrition. However, this doesn't seem to be the case anymore as we have access to fresh fruits and vegetables year-round. Even those who take nutritional supplements