Development of a Prediction Model for Acute Exacerbation in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis: A Study of the Korea IPF Cohort Registry.

Background: Acute exacerbation (AE) of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) has the most disastrous impact on prognosis as a major cause of morbidity and mortality. However, there is no proven treatment, and the occurrence of AE is unpredictable. This study aimed to develop a prediction model for AE in patients with IPF using the nationwide Korea IPF Cohort (KICO) registry.

Spatial host-microbiome profiling demonstrates bacterial-associated host transcriptional alterations in pediatric ileal Crohn's disease.

Background: Crohn's disease (CD) is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease involving complex relationships between the gut microbiome and host immune system. However, the spatial relationships between tissue-resident bacteria and host cells in CD pathogenesis remain poorly understood. We developed a spatial host-microbiome profiling approach to simultaneously detect host transcriptomics and bacterial species at high taxonomic resolution in pediatric ileal CD tissues.

Discovery and development of a safe and efficient COVID-19 mRNA vaccine, STP2104, using a novel capping library screening method.

Messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccines represent a critical avenue for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) prevention. We developed a COVID-19 mRNA vaccine encoding a codon-optimized full-length ancestral spike (S) protein with a signal peptide, which employs our novel patented co-transcriptional 5'-capping reagent, SmartCap. From the screening capping library of SmartCap, an SC101 cap was selected to derive a novel mRNA vaccine, STP2104.

Concurrent pancreatic exocrine hyperplasia and adenomas in a Eurasian otter with pleuropneumonia and urolithiasis.

The Eurasian otter () is a semi-aquatic mammal classified as near-threatened by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. There have been few reports on their diseases, especially neoplasms. Here we describe exocrine nodular hyperplasia and adenomas in the pancreas, along with suppurative pleuropneumonia and urolithiasis, in an aged captive Eurasian otter.

Sirt2 deficiency aggravates intramuscular adipose tissue infiltration and impairs myogenesis with aging in male mice.

Sarcopenia, closely associated with other diseases such as diabetes, metabolic syndrome, and osteoporosis, significantly impacts aging populations. It is characterized by muscle atrophy, increased intramuscular adipose tissue, impaired myogenesis, chronic low-grade inflammation, and reduced muscle function. The mechanisms behind aging muscle remain incompletely understood.

The self-renewal function of Oct-4 can be replaced by the EWS-Oct-4 fusion protein in embryonic stem cells.

Octamer-binding transcription factor 4 (Oct-4) is essential for maintenance and pluripotency of embryonic stem (ES) cells. Despite the structural similarities between Oct-4 and its homologs (Oct-1, Oct-2, and Oct-6), these homologs cannot serve as substitutes for Oct-4 when generating stem cell colonies. While nuclear receptor subfamily 5, group A, member 2 (Nr5a2) can temporarily serve as a substitute for Oct-4 during cellular reprogramming, it is insufficient to maintain these functions in ES cells.

Korean Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Management of Interstitial Lung Diseases: Sarcoidosis.

Sarcoidosis is a granulomatous inflammatory disease of unknown etiology that can affect the entire body, but its respiratory tract involvement is most common. In radiological findings, bilateral hilar and mediastinal lymph node enlargement is the most common finding, and when lung parenchyma is involved, findings such as micronodules, ground-glass shadows, reticular shadows, and fibrosis are seen. Biopsies for histological diagnosis are mainly performed on lymph nodes or lungs, and mediastinal lymph node biopsies are done via endobronchochial ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration.

COVID-19 infection and pulmonary sarcoidosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis of morbidity, severity and mortality.

Background: The pandemic coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) influenced millions of lives, not only healthy subjects but also patients with various comorbidities. Of those, interstitial lung disease (ILD) is known to be specifically vulnerable to SARS-CoV-2, sometimes leading to a lethal outcome. Sarcoidosis, one of the ILDs, has been suggested to be more susceptible to COVID-19, but the results of previous studies are in disagreement.

Impact of pediatric COVID-19 isolation on children's well-being and caregiver mental health.

Background: The Korean government implemented mandatory hospital isolation in the early phase of the COVID-19 pandemic. This study investigated the mental health of children and caregivers who underwent mandatory hospital isolation due to COVID-19.

Methods: This prospective study examined the physical condition and mental health of children under 7 years of age with COVID-19 and the mental health of their caregivers who underwent isolation in negative pressure rooms at two hospitals in Korea from April to September 2021.

External Validation of Two 10-Year Stroke Risk Prediction Models Using Korean Genome and Epidemiology Study Data.

This study aimed to externally validate two 10-year stroke risk prediction models: one developed in Korea (Model 1) and the other in China (Model 2), using community-based cohort data. Data from 8432 participants in Model 1 and 8915 participants in Model 2 were analyzed. Stroke risk was calculated based on each model's equations, and model performance was assessed using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC).

Root Extract for Men with Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms: A Multicenter, Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial.

The prevalence of urological diseases increases with age, and lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTSs) are the most common problem. Natural compounds with minimal side effects for the improvement in LUTSs are of ongoing interest. extract (SAGX) has shown potential in preclinical studies for its effects on LUTSs.