Modified Saengmaeksan, an herbal formula containing six herbs, improves hypertension through RhoA/Rho kinase-mediated vasorelaxation.

Background: Saengmaeksan is a traditional herbal formula used in Korean medicine. We composed a modified formula based on Saengmaeksan (mSMS) with Puerariae Radix, Platycodonis Radix, Liriopis seu Ophiopogonis Tuber, Schisandrae Fructus, Coicis Semen, and Dioscoreae Rhizoma to investigate its in vivo and ex vivo antihypertensive effects and underlying mechanisms.

Methods: The antihypertensive efficacy of mSMS was assessed using l-NAME-induced hypertensive mice and spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR).

Inducible skeletal muscle-specific p53 deletion alleviates high-fat diet-induced insulin resistance by modulating mitochondria-associated membrane in obese mice.

p53 has been implicated in metabolic regulation, but its role in obesity-induced skeletal muscle insulin resistance remains incompletely understood. This study aimed to determine the functional contribution of skeletal muscle p53 to insulin resistance and mitochondrial dysfunction, particularly in the context of obesity. We demonstrate that inducible, skeletal muscle-specific deletion of p53 (iMp53 KO) significantly improves insulin sensitivity in high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obese mice, with no effect in chow-fed controls.

Cholesterol-modulating effects of Korean red ginseng (KRG) targeting PCSK9 in hyperlipidemia.

Hyperlipidemia represents a major global health concern, closely linked to cardiovascular disease (CVD) and metabolic syndrome. Effective regulation of blood lipid and cholesterol (CHO) is essential for preventing and managing this condition. Korean red ginseng (KRG), a traditional medicinal plant, exhibits diverse pharmacological properties, including antihyperlipidemic, immune-enhancing, anti-fatigue, and antistress effects.

Differentiating oncocytic carcinoma from oncocytic adenoma: a comprehensive evaluation of preoperative characteristics and diagnostic approaches in a retrospective cohort study.

Purpose: Oncocytic carcinoma (OCA) has been reclassified from follicular thyroid carcinoma due to its unique features. Its rarity has resulted in limited studies on differentiating OCA from oncocytic adenoma (OA). This study aimed to compare the clinicopathologic and preoperative features of OCA and OA and evaluate the effectiveness of ultrasonography and cytology.

Impact of rheumatoid arthritis, seropositivity and disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs on mortality risk in bronchiectasis.

Background: Comorbid rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is known to be associated with excess mortality in patients with bronchiectasis. However, whether excess mortality is affected by RA seropositivity and is altered by using disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) remains unknown.

Objectives: To assess the association between comorbid RA and mortality in participants with bronchiectasis, plus the impacts of seropositivity and DMARDs on this association.

Association of Game Use With Loneliness and Social Isolation: A Nationwide Korean Study.

Objective: The aim of this article is to examine the correlation between social isolation, loneliness, and the use of online games. Conflicting conclusions have been drawn in previous studies on this topic due to small sample sizes and the confounding effects of psychiatric disorders. To address these limitations, the authors conducted a nationwide study that gives consideration to sociodemographic variables and psychiatric disorders.

Korean Cardiovascular Health Status Assessed by Life's Essential 8 in Korean Adult Population: Based on Data From the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2014-2021.

Background And Objectives: Cardiovascular disease is a leading cause of mortality globally and in South Korea. The American Heart Association (AHA) developed Life's Essential 8 (LE8) to evaluate cardiovascular health (CVH) through 8 metrics. However, LE8 has not been studied in the Korean population.

Loneliness, social isolation and psychiatric disorders: insights from the National Mental Health Survey in Korea.

Background: Loneliness and social isolation pose significant public health concerns globally, with adverse effects on mental health and well-being. Although the terms are often used interchangeably, loneliness refers to the subjective feeling of lacking social connections, whereas social isolation is the objective absence of social support or networks.

Aims: To investigate the prevalence of loneliness and social isolation and their associations with psychiatric disorders.

Acromial and scapular spine fractures following reverse total shoulder arthroplasty: treatment dilemma and radiographic prognosticators for enhanced clinical outcomes: a multicenter study.

Background: The management of acromial and scapular spine fractures (ASFs) after reverse total shoulder arthroplasty (rTSA) remains challenging, often prompting surgeons to opt nonoperative treatment. The reported outcomes vary due to multiple influencing factors. This study aimed to analyze prognostic factors affecting outcomes of nonoperatively treated ASFs following rTSA.

Antimelanogenic effect of fermented licorice water extract on murine melanoma B16F10 cells.

Unlabelled: This study investigated the skin-whitening effect of fermented licorice water extract (FLWE) on B16F10 melanocytes. Bioconversion mediated by MFST-based fermentation altered licorice's bioactive components. FLWE significantly increased polyphenol and flavonoid content compared with non-fermented licorice water extract (LWE).

The Role of EMP2 in Triple-negative Breast Cancer.

Background/aim: The poor prognosis of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is largely due to the lack of targeted therapies, as a result of the absence of estrogen, progesterone, and HER2 receptors. Our previous studies highlighted Del-1 as a potential therapeutic target and biomarker for TNBC. This study further explores molecules regulated by Del-1 through transcriptomic analysis.

Phase 2 study design and analysis approach for BBT-877: an autotaxin inhibitor targeting idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

Introduction: Proof-of-concept (POC) studies are vital in determining the feasibility of further drug development, primarily by assessing preliminary efficacy signals with credible endpoints. However, traditional POC studies in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) can suffer from low credibility due to small sample sizes and short durations, leading to non-replicable results in larger phase III trials. To address this, we are conducting a 24-week POC study with 120 patients with IPF, using a statistically supported sample size and incorporating exploratory CT-based imaging biomarkers, to support decision-making in the case of non-significant primary endpoint results.

Predictive Factors for Surgical Margins in Dermatofibrosarcoma Protuberans: Insights from a Retrospective Mohs Micrographic Surgery Analysis.

The optimal surgical margin for wide local excision (WLE) of dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans (DFSP) remains controversial. This study aimed to determine appropriate WLE margins through the analysis of Mohs micrographic surgery (MMS) outcomes. We retrospectively analysed 177 DFSP patients treated with MMS from 2003 to 2023.

Clinical Outcomes of Transradial Versus Transfemoral Approach in Rotational Atherectomy: Results from the Rotational Atherectomy in Calcified Lesions in Korea (ROCK) Registry.

Rotational atherectomy (RA) is a crucial method for percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) of heavily calcified coronary lesions. The aim of this study was to compare the clinical outcomes in patients undergoing RA via the radial versus femoral approach. The Rotational Atherectomy in Calcified Lesions in Korea (ROCK) registry included consecutive patients with severely calcified coronary artery disease who received RA during PCI at nine tertiary centers in Korea.

Relationship Between Problematic Alcohol Use and Various Psychiatric Disorders: A Genetically Informed Study.

Objective: Problematic alcohol use (PAU) adversely affects the clinical course of psychiatric disorders. Genetic studies have suggested that genetic factors underlie the co-occurrence of PAU with psychiatric disorders. This study aimed to elucidate shared genetic architectures, prioritizing genes that disorders may have in common.

Risk of Autoimmune Rheumatic Diseases in Multiple Sclerosis and Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorder: A Nationwide Cohort Study in South Korea.

Objective: To investigate the risk of autoimmune rheumatic diseases (ARDs) in multiple sclerosis (MS) and neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) compared with a control population using the Korean National Health Insurance Service database.

Patients And Methods: The MS/NMOSD cohorts were collected from patients registered in the Korean National Health Insurance Service database between January 1, 2010, and December 31, 2017, using the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision diagnosis codes and information in the Rare Intractable Disease management program. The incidence rate and risk of ARDs that occurred after a 1-year lag period was calculated and compared with that of control cohorts matched for age, sex, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and dyslipidemia in a 1:10 ratio.

Enhanced alcohol metabolism and sleep quality with continuous positive airway pressure following alcohol consumption.

We aimed to examine the effect of continuous positive airway pressure on sleep quality and alcohol metabolism after alcohol consumption. Men (n = 53) aged ≥ 19 years with sleep disorders who regularly consumed an average of ≥ 1.0 g of alcohol/kg of bodyweight, were free of serious diseases (including liver disorders), and underwent polysomnography and continuous positive airway pressure titration between January 2016 and July 2021 were included.

Nicotinic acetylcholine receptor imaging with [F]ASEM for skeletal muscle denervation: A novel assessment for peripheral neuromuscular disorders.

Purpose: Despite its invasive and subjective nature, needle electromyography (nEMG) remains a standard method for evaluating peripheral nerve injuries. Increased alpha-7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (alpha7-nAChR) expression has been observed in an animal nerve injury model of muscle denervation. Hence, we used [F]ASEM positron emission tomography (PET) to investigate the temporal characteristics of alpha7-nAChR expression following skeletal muscle denervation, and tested the correlation between nerve injury severity and [F]ASEM PET uptake intensity.

Impact of Diabetes Duration on Major Adverse Cardiac Events in Patients with Non-Obstructive Coronary Artery Disease.

Diabetes mellitus is a substantial risk factor for coronary artery disease (CAD). Diabetes duration is linked to clinical outcomes in CAD patients. This study aimed to investigate the impact of diabetes duration on major adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular outcomes, as well as all-cause mortality, in Korean patients diagnosed with non-obstructive CAD.

SMOTE-Enhanced Explainable Artificial Intelligence Model for Predicting Visual Field Progression in Myopic Normal Tension Glaucoma.

Prcis: The AI model, enhanced by SMOTE to balance data classes, accurately predicted visual field deterioration in patients with myopic normal tension glaucoma. Using SHAP analysis, the key variables driving disease progression were identified.

Purpose: To develop and validate a Synthetic Minority Over-sampling Technique (SMOTE)-enhanced artificial intelligence (AI) model for predicting visual field progression in myopic normal tension glaucoma (NTG) patients.

Polygenic overlap between subjective well-being and psychiatric disorders and cross-ancestry validation.

Subjective well-being (SWB) is important for understanding human behaviour and health. Although the connection between SWB and psychiatric disorders has been studied, common genetic mechanisms remain unclear. This study aimed to explore the genetic relationship between SWB and psychiatric disorders.

Telomere Length and Genetic Variations in Acquired Pediatric Aplastic Anemia: A Flow-FISH Study in Korean Patients.

: Aplastic anemia (AA) is a rare bone marrow failure syndrome characterized by notably short telomere length, which is associated with treatment responses. In this study, we measured telomere lengths in Korean pediatric AA patients using flow-fluorescence in situ hybridization (Flow-FISH) and explored their shortening in relation to disease characteristics, genetic conditions and patient outcomes. : We analyzed peripheral blood samples from 75 AA patients and 101 healthy controls.