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.

Treatable traits in chronic cough: a prospective evaluation for predicting cough persistence.

Background: The concept of treatable traits has been proposed for managing chronic cough; however, evidence supporting its clinical utility remains limited. This study investigated the relationship between baseline traits and cough persistence in a prospective registry of patients with chronic cough.

Methods: We analysed data from 426 patients with chronic cough enrolled in the Korean Chronic Cough Registry.

Association of throat sensation severity with quality of life in patients with chronic cough.

Background: Patients with chronic cough frequently present with abnormal throat sensations, but the clinical significance of such sensations remains unknown. This study examined the severity of throat sensations and their relationships with quality of life (QoL) in patients with chronic cough.

Methods: The analysis used baseline cross-sectional data from the Korean Chronic Cough Registry.

Prevalence and Clinical Characteristics of Severe Asthma With Fungal Sensitization in Korea.

Purpose: Severe asthma with fungal sensitization (SAFS) is associated with life-threatening exacerbation and severe airflow limitation. We aimed to investigate the prevalence of fungal sensitization in asthma and clinical characteristics of SAFS.

Methods: This study analyzed data from the Cohort for Reality and Evolution of Adult Asthma in Korea and the Korean Severe Asthma Registry cohorts.

Clinical impacts of COVID-19 on severe exacerbation and mortality in interstitial lung disease: prognosis 30 days after infection.

Background/aims: The impact of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) on severe exacerbation and mortality in interstitial lung disease (ILD) is unclear. In this study, we evaluate the risk of severe exacerbation and mortality in individuals with ILD following COVID-19.

Methods: Using the Korean National Health Insurance claim-based database, we compared the incidence and risk of severe exacerbation and mortality in individuals with ILD who survived at least one month after COVID-19 (COVID-19 cohort, n = 359) and 1:3 age, sex, and body mass index-matched individuals with ILD who did not have COVID-19 (controls, n = 1,077) between October 8, 2020, and August 30, 2021.

Efficacy and safety of Lactobacillus plantarum GCWB1001 for respiratory health in a double blind randomized placebo controlled trial.

Respiratory symptoms like prolonged cough and breathlessness have increased post-COVID-19, even in those with normal chest X-rays and FEV1/FVC ratios. This study assessed the benefits of Lactobacillus plantarum GCWB1001 on such symptoms in individuals without asthma or COPD. In a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial, 126 participants aged 19-70 were included.

Real-World Effectiveness and Safety of Mepolizumab in Severe Eosinophilic Asthma: Insights From the Korean Severe Asthma Registry (KoSAR).

Mepolizumab, an interleukin-5 antagonist, is globally recognized for its efficacy in randomized controlled trials for the treatment of severe eosinophilic asthma. The present study explored its real-world effectiveness and safety in a Korean cohort, filling a critical gap in current research. This multi-center retrospective study used data from the Korean Severe Asthma Registry, involving 67 patients treated with mepolizumab for uncontrolled severe asthma between September 2017 and July 2022.

Air Pollution Increases Healthcare Utilization Below Safe Thresholds in Individuals With Asthma.

Purpose: Safety thresholds for air quality levels have been proposed to protect people from the harmful effects of air pollutants. However, the impacts of air pollutants on asthma, particularly at levels below these safe thresholds, remain unclear.

Methods: We analyzed the associations between air pollutants (particulate matter of 10 μm or less in diameter [PM₁₀], particulate matter of 2.

Micro-fragmented collagen hydrogel wound dressing: Enhanced porosity facilitates elevated stem cell survival and paracrine effects for accelerated wound maturation.

Human Adipose-derived stem cells (hADSCs), known for their mesenchymal stem cell properties, including multilineage differentiation and self-renewal, hold significant promise for chronic wound regeneration. Typically, hADSCs are utilized in cellular aggregates or hydrogels to enhance therapeutic efficacy. However, limitations such as reduced cell viability, inadequate mass transfer rates, and diminished paracrine effects hinder their clinical applications.

Comprehensive risk assessment for pulmonary manifestations in systemic lupus erythematosus: a large-scale Korean population-based longitudinal study.

Objectives: Pulmonary involvement is common in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), but the relative risk of pulmonary manifestations in SLE versus non-SLE subjects remains unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the risk of pulmonary manifestations in SLE subjects compared with matched controls.

Methods: Using data from the Korean National Health Insurance Service (2009-2017), we identified 6074 individuals aged ≥20 years with newly diagnosed SLE and 60 740 matched controls by age and sex (1:10 ratio) who did not have prior pulmonary manifestations.

COVID-19 and Long-term Risk of Ischemic Heart Disease in Asthma.

Despite the importance of comorbid ischemic heart disease (IHD) in the prognosis of asthma, the long-term impact of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) on IHD in adults with asthma remains unclear. This study investigated the long-term effects of COVID-19 on the risk of IHD in individuals with asthma, particularly regarding COVID-19 severity. Using the Korean National Health Insurance Service claims database, we identified individuals with asthma who had recovered from COVID-19 between October 8, 2020, and December 31, 2021 (n = 8,011) and 1:1 propensity score-matched controls (n = 8,011).

Relationships Between Chronic Cough and Asthma Control and Quality of Life in Patients With Severe Asthma: A 6-Month Longitudinal Analysis.

Background: The prevalence and clinical implications of chronic cough (CC) in patients with severe asthma receiving asthma treatment remain relatively unknown.

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the relationships between CC and asthma control and quality of life (QoL) in patients with severe asthma through longitudinal analysis.

Methods: Baseline and 6-month follow-up data from the Korean Severe Asthma Registry were analyzed.

Exploring Traits Associated With Central Sensitization Features in Patients With Chronic Cough.

The concept of cough hypersensitivity suggests that central sensitization plays a role in the pathophysiology of chronic cough. However, it remains unclear which traits are associated with central sensitization features in patients with chronic cough. A cohort of 317 Korean patients with newly referred chronic cough underwent clinical evaluations.

Could cough hypersensitivity symptom profile differentiate phenotypes of chronic cough?

Background: Recently, cough reflex hypersensitivity has been proposed as a common underlying feature of chronic cough in adults. However, symptoms and clinical characteristics of cough hypersensitivity have not been studied amongst phenotypes of chronic cough. This study aimed to compare symptom features, such as cough triggers and associated throat sensations, of cough hypersensitivity in patients with asthmatic chronic cough and those with refractory chronic cough (RCC).

Exploring the concept of disease control in chronic cough.

Background: Disease control in chronic diseases is an overarching concept that reflects the degree to which the goals of therapy are met. However, to date, there is no consensus on the definition of disease control in chronic cough. This study aimed to provide a conceptual exploration of patient-reported cough control in chronic cough.

M1 macrophage-derived exosomal microRNA-29c-3p suppresses aggressiveness of melanoma cells via ENPP2.

In the tumor microenvironment, macrophages play crucial roles resulting in tumor suppression and progression, depending on M1 and M2 macrophages, respectively. In particular, macrophage-derived exosomes modulate the gene expression of cancer cells by delivering miRNAs which downregulate specific genes. The communication between macrophages and cancer cells is especially important in immunogenic tumors such as melanoma, where the cancer pogression is significantly influenced by the surrounding immune cells.

The impact of pulmonary tuberculosis on SARS-CoV-2 infection: a nationwide cohort study.

Background: The interaction between COVID-19 and tuberculosis (TB) is not yet fully understood, and large-scale research on the mortality outcome of such dual infection has been limited. This study aimed to investigate the impact of PTB on mortality among patients with COVID-19 within a Korean population by conducting an extensive analysis of a nationwide large dataset.

Method: We investigated the mortality and disease severity among COVID-19 patients who had PTB in South Korea.

Risk of incident chronic obstructive pulmonary disease during longitudinal follow-up in patients with nontuberculous mycobacterial pulmonary disease.

Background: The Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease 2023 revision proposed that chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) has various etiologies including infections (COPD-I), such as tuberculosis and human immunodeficiency virus. While nontuberculous mycobacterial pulmonary disease (NTM-PD) and pulmonary tuberculosis share similar clinical manifestations, research on COPD development during longitudinal follow-up in patients with NTM-PD is limited. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the incidence and risk of COPD development in patients with NTM-PD.

Effects of indoor environments and outdoor air pollutants in residential areas on acute exacerbation in patients with severe asthma.

This study aimed to determine the effects of indoor environment (IE) and outdoor air pollutants (OAPs) in residential areas on acute exacerbation (AE) in patients with severe asthma. A total of 115 participants were recruited. To characterize IE, we used structured questionnaires and estimated OAP concentrations using a land-use regression model.