2-hydroxyglutarate mediates whitening of brown adipocytes coupled to nuclear softening upon mitochondrial dysfunction.

Mitochondria have a crucial role in regulating cellular homeostasis in response to intrinsic and extrinsic cues by changing cellular metabolism to meet these challenges. However, the molecular underpinnings of this regulation and the complete spectrum of these physiological outcomes remain largely unexplored. In this study, we elucidate the mechanisms driving the whitening phenotype in brown adipose tissue (BAT) deficient in the mitochondrial matrix protease CLPP.

Fracture risk in Korean postmenopausal women: The influence of BMI, age, and bone density.

Objectives: Fracture risk in postmenopausal women is influenced by bone mineral density (BMD), age, and body mass index (BMI). However, fracture prevention strategies primarily focus on low BMD, often overlooking other key factors.

Methods: This retrospective cohort study analyzed 18,151 Korean postmenopausal women aged 50 or older who underwent dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) at Ajou University Hospital from years of 2006-2014.

Prediabetes Remission and the Subsequent Risk of Pancreatic Cancer: A Nationwide Cohort Study.

Introduction: Prediabetes is associated with an increased risk of pancreatic cancer; however, whether prediabetes remission is associated with a reduced risk of pancreatic cancer remains unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the association between prediabetes remission or persistence and the subsequent risk of pancreatic cancer.

Methods: This nationwide cohort study included 6,058,662 adults without diabetes or cancer who underwent two consecutive national health screenings in 2009 (S1) and 2011 (S2).

Sex-Specific Associations of Glycemic Status and Smoking with Bladder Cancer Risk: A Nationwide Cohort Study.

: Sex differences in the effects of hyperglycemia and smoking on bladder cancer risk remain poorly understood, despite their known roles as modifiable risk factors. We investigated the sex-specific associations of prediabetes, diabetes, and smoking with bladder cancer risk. : We analyzed data from 9,492,331 cancer-free adults (54.

Clinical Characteristics of Dizzy Patients Showing Discordant Results Between Bithermal Caloric Test and Video Head Impulse Test.

To evaluate the clinical characteristics and diagnostic significance of dissociation between bithermal caloric test and video head impulse test (vHIT) in patients presenting with dizziness. : We retrospectively reviewed 644 patients who underwent bithermal caloric testing and vHIT at a university-affiliated general hospital. Patients were classified into concordant and discordant groups based on test results.

Neurocognitive assessment in relation to hearing impairment and retinal neurodegeneration.

Purpose: Sensory impairments are significant contributors to cognitive dysfunction, but the relationship between cognitive decline and various forms of neurosensory degeneration remains poorly understood. This study aimed to evaluate retinal layer neurodegeneration and hearing impairment in the general Korean population using cognitive assessments.

Methods: This cross-sectional, retrospective study included participants who underwent Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT), Pure Tone Audiometry (PTA), and the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE).

Engineering Yarrowia lipolytica for enhanced lipid productivity in nutrient-rich conditions: A scalable approach to microbial lipid production.

Climate change is reducing crop yields and increasing price volatility for commodities like cocoa and palm oil, thereby driving the need for sustainable alternatives such as microbial lipid production. The oleaginous yeast Yarrowia lipolytica is a promising platform for lipid synthesis. However, its lipid accumulation has traditionally relied on nitrogen limitation, posing challenges for achieving high yields under nutrient-rich conditions.

Increased Risk of Early-Onset Endometrial Cancer in Women Aged 20-39 Years with Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: A Nationwide Cohort Study.

: Given the rising incidence of early-onset endometrial cancer diagnosed before the age of 50 years, this study examined whether non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) served as an independent risk factor for early-onset endometrial cancer, irrespective of obesity status. : This nationwide cohort study included 2,311,949 Korean women aged 20-39 years who underwent health screenings from 2009 to 2012. NAFLD severity was classified based on the fatty liver index: none (<30), moderate (30-59), and severe (≥60).

Increased risk of young-onset ovarian cancer in women with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: A nationwide cohort study of 2.3 million women aged 20-39 years.

Little is known about modifiable risk factors for young-onset ovarian cancer, except for obesity and nulliparity. We investigated the association between non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and the risk of young-onset ovarian cancer. A total of 2,376,482 women aged 20-39 years who underwent national health screening under the Korean National Health Insurance Service between 2009 and 2012 were included in this nationwide cohort study and followed-up until December 2022.

Nasal Nitric Oxide as an Objective Evaluation Tool for Treatment Response in Chronic Rhinitis.

Background And Objectives: Inconsistencies in nasal nitric oxide (nNO) values, due to anatomical variations and comorbidities, challenge the accurate assessment of upper airway inflammation severity. We hypothesized that changes in nNO levels following treatment for chronic rhinitis would be consistent and provide relative value. This study aimed to evaluate the correlation between changes in nNO levels and symptomatic improvements following treatment for chronic rhinitis.

Association between premature menopause and the risk of biliary tract cancer: A nationwide cohort study.

Introduction: Recent studies indicate a potential link between female reproductive factors and the risk of biliary tract cancer (BTC). However, this association remains controversial due to conflicting results, highlighting the need for further investigation into hormonal influences on BTC development.

Methods: We conducted a nationwide cohort study using data from the Korean National Health Insurance System, following 1059,533 menopausal women aged 40-69 years (median follow-up: 9.

Dose-response Association Between Alcohol Consumption and Kidney Cancer Risk Differs According to Glycemic Status: A Nationwide Cohort Study of 9.4 Million Individuals.

Purpose: Previous studies suggested an association between alcohol consumption and reduced kidney cancer risk. Given a potential interaction between alcohol's insulin-sensitizing effect and hyperglycemia-related insulin resistance, we aimed to assess whether the dose-response association between alcohol intake and kidney cancer risk varies based on glycemic status.

Materials And Methods: This nationwide cohort study analyzed data from 9,492,331 adults who underwent a national health screening program in 2009 and were followed until 2018.

Investigation of potential toxic effects of nano- and microplastics on human endometrial stromal cells.

Nanoplastics (NPs) and microplastics (MPs) have become a global concern in recent years. Most current research on the impact of plastics on obstetrics has focused on their accumulation in specific tissues in animal models and the disease-causing potential of MPs. However, there is a relative lack of research on the cellular changes caused by the accumulation of MPs.

Early management of adult sepsis and septic shock: Korean clinical practice guidelines.

Background: Despite recent advances and global improvements in sepsis recognition and supportive care, mortality rates remain high, and adherence to sepsis bundle components in Korea is low. To address this, the Korean Sepsis Alliance, affiliated with the Korean Society of Critical Care Medicine, developed the first sepsis treatment guidelines for Korea based on a comprehensive systematic review and meta-analysis.

Methods: A de novo method was used to develop the guidelines.

Risk Factors for Emergency Room Visits Among Patients With Head and Neck Cancer: A Longitudinal Cohort Study Within the Korean Healthcare System.

Objectives: A substantial proportion of patients with head and neck cancer (HNC) require emergency room (ER) visits or unplanned hospitalizations during or after treatment with various modalities. We investigated HNC cases that necessitated ER visitation after cancer treatment, aiming to identify potential risk factors in the context of the Korean healthcare system.

Methods: This single-center cohort study examined patients with HNC who received cancer treatments at Samsung Medical Center in 2019 (n=566).

Prediabetes persistence or remission and subsequent risk of gallbladder cancer: A nationwide cohort study.

Background & Aims: Hyperglycemia is associated with an increased risk of gallbladder cancer (GBC), potentially by inhibiting gallbladder motility and inducing prolonged cholestasis. Although intermediate hyperglycemia (or prediabetes) is highly reversible, evidence is lacking about whether prediabetes persistence or remission is associated with an altered GBC risk.

Methods: This nationwide cohort study included 6058,662 adults without diabetes or cancer who underwent national health examinations twice in 2-year intervals between 2009 (S1) and 2011 (S2) and were followed-up until 2018.

Association between Liver Function Markers and Menstrual Cycle Irregularity in Korean Female Population.

Background: The liver plays an important role in gonadal steroid hormone metabolism, which can affect reproductive health, including the menstrual cycle. However, evidence from large population-based studies is limited. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the association between liver function markers and menstrual cycle irregularities in premenopausal Korean women using nationwide data.

Clinical characteristics of persistent postural-perceptual dizziness and its visual subtype in Korean patients: A multicenter cross-sectional study.

Objectives: Persistent postural-perceptual dizziness (PPPD) is a chronic functional vestibular disorder for which the Bárány Society has established diagnostic criteria. This nationwide multicenter study aims to investigate the clinical features of individuals with definite PPPD and clinical variant PPPD who do not fully meet the diagnostic criteria, with a particular focus on visual exaggeration.

Methods: Between September 2020 and September 2021, a total of 76 individuals with definite PPPD and 109 individuals with clinical variant PPPD who did not meet all three exacerbating factors outlined in Criterion B were recruited from 18 medical centers in South Korea.