Korea and the Netherlands historically developed highly fertilized cropping systems, resulting in the highest nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) surpluses among Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) countries. However, their nutrient balances changed differently over the past three decades. The Netherlands reduced its N and P balances dramatically, from 328 to 166 kg ha and 35 to 4 kg ha, respectively, while Korea's balances remained unchanged with the highest levels in 2019 (230 kg N ha and 46 kg P ha).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: The relationship between pre-treatment levels of blood eosinophil count (BEC), fractional exhaled nitric oxide ( ) and sputum eosinophils (Sp-EOS) and treatment response to monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) in severe eosinophilic asthma (SEA) remains unclear. We evaluated pre-treatment levels of BEC, , Sp-EOS and their combinations as predictors of treatment responses in patients with SEA undergoing anti-interleukin (IL)-5/IL-5Rα or anti-IL-4Rα antibody therapies.
Methods: The study included 153 adult patients with SEA (59 anti-IL-5/IL-5Rα and 94 anti-IL-4Rα users).
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.
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.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF(commonly known as Cheon-nyun-cho) has traditionally been used for its antioxidant, laxative, and immune-boosting properties, but its potential prebiotic activity remains largely unexplored. In this study, we evaluated the prebiotic potential of leaf and fruit extracts by assessing their effects on the growth of four spp. strains.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJ Photochem Photobiol B
July 2025
Two-photon microscopy (TPM) frequently employs dual-staining techniques for simultaneous visualization of cellular structure and viability. Despite widespread use, the safety of combining Rhodamine B (RB) and SYTO 9 dyes under 920 nm excitation has not been thoroughly assessed. This study systematically evaluated cytotoxicity, sensitization, and dermal irritation of RB (20 μg/mL) and SYTO 9 (2.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCarcinogenesis
April 2025
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second leading cause of cancer deaths worldwide, with roughly 41% of CRC cases harboring a KRAS mutation. Acquired resistance to KRAS-targeted treatments has occurred with mechanisms including increased HER family expression among other receptor tyrosine kinases. HER3, a member of the HER family that is kinase impaired, has been shown to be a resistance mechanism upon inhibition of the HER family and downstream targets, including RAS/MEK/ERK and PI3K/AKT.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAllergy Asthma Immunol Res
July 2025
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.
The prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in Korea has risen in recent years, yet many cases remain undiagnosed. Advanced artificial intelligence models using multi-modal data have shown promise in disease prediction, but two major challenges persist: the scarcity of samples containing all desired data modalities and class imbalance in T2DM datasets. We propose a novel transfer learning framework to predict T2DM onset within five years, using two Korean cohorts (KoGES and SNUH).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjectives: Investigating the efficacy and safety of intratympanic Botulinum toxin (IT-BTX) injection as a novel treatment for middle ear myoclonic tinnitus (MEMT).
Methods: Medical records and tinnitus questionnaires of the patients with MEMT who underwent IT-BTX were retrospectively reviewed. The efficacy of IT-BTX on MEMT as well as its safety were evaluated by audiology tests and tinnitus questionnaires.
Introduction: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) is a known risk factor for sarcopenia. Apolipoprotein J (ApoJ) and myostatin (MSTN) have been implicated in muscle glucose metabolism. We aimed to examine the association between serum ApoJ and MSTN levels and sarcopenia in older adults, with and without DM.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF(Zaitzev, 1953), a rare great diving beetle species, is found in the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) of South Korea. We present the first complete mitogenome of , which is 18,385 bp in length and comprises 37 genes: 13 protein-coding genes, two rRNA genes, and 22 tRNA genes. The overall base composition is A (42.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFExcessive cell proliferation and migration of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) exacerbate atherosclerotic plaque formation. Peroxisome proliferation-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) has an atheroprotective effect by inhibiting foam cell formation in macrophages. However, the anti-proliferative mechanism of PPARγ has not been fully explained in VSMCs.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPrior research on angiogenesis and osteogenesis during bone fracture healing has primarily focused on stabilized models, often within controlled environments. However, the dynamic interplay of these processes in the context of long bone fractures without scaffolds or external factors remains poorly understood. This study investigated the temporal dynamics of angiogenesis and osteogenesis in a non-stabilized incomplete transverse tibia bone fracture model.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, a progressive condition caused by the accumulation of fat in the liver, begins with simple steatosis and can potentially progress to metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) in the presence of inflammation and fibrosis, ultimately leading to cirrhosis or hepatocellular carcinoma. Increasing evidence indicates that sodiumglucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors effectively alleviate MASH in mouse models. However, there is a lack of research on the effects of enavogliflozin on liver disease.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObesity-induced insulin resistance is a major cause of metabolic disorders, including type 2 diabetes mellitus. Although peripheral serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) has been implicated in energy balance and metabolism, its effect on skeletal muscle insulin sensitivity remains unclear. Here we identified the 5-HT receptor 2b (Htr2b) as a critical regulator of insulin sensitivity and energy metabolism in the skeletal muscle.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMepolizumab, 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.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: There are few studies investigating the relationship between phosphate level variability and clinical prognosis in hemodialysis (HD) patients. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of phosphate variability on clinical outcomes in maintenance HD patients using a population-based cohort.
Methods: We analyzed data from 55,225 patients who underwent periodic HD quality assessments and claims review.
Background: Despite the necessity of long-term management for fracture risk reduction, adherence to osteoporosis pharmacotherapy remains poor. We investigated the factors influencing adherence to pharmacotherapy among Korean patients with osteoporosis, with a particular focus on treatment with bisphosphonates (BPs).
Methods: Data from 725,313 osteoporosis patients newly prescribed BPs or selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs) between 2012 and 2014, obtained from the Korean National Health Insurance Service, were analyzed.
Cellular senescence, a state of irreversible cell cycle arrest, contributes to aging and age-related diseases. Senolytics targeting cellular senescence could be applied to the prevention and treatment of age-related diseases. In this study, we identified lanatoside C (Lana C) as a senolytic compound.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: The effectiveness of intravenous tissue plasminogen activator (IV tPA) in patients with large-vessel occlusion (LVO) receiving endovascular treatment (EVT) for acute ischemic stroke (AIS) has been questioned. We investigated IV tPA effectiveness in real-world AIS patients, including those with intracranial LVO receiving EVT.
Methods: We identified patients with AIS who presented to hospital with National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale ≥4 within 8 hours of symptom onset from the institutional stroke registry.
Although erythropoiesis-stimulating agent (ESA) therapy is fundamental for correcting anemia, excessive ESA administration is associated with increased risks. This study aimed to investigate the impact of the erythropoietin resistance index (ERI) on clinical outcomes in a population-based cohort of hemodialysis (HD) patients. This retrospective study analyzed datasets from patients who underwent periodic HD quality assessments and their claims data.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAbnormal lipid metabolism is an independent risk factor for kidney injury, significantly altering the associated gene expression, particularly in single kidney models. This study investigates the impact of high-fat diet-induced lipid metabolism on podocyte injury in uninephrectomized mice. Using targeted lipidomics analysis and podocyte-specific assays, the modification of lipid profiles attributed to a high-fat diet and the development of podocyte injury caused by lipid metabolism in mice that underwent unilateral nephrectomy were examined.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAllergy Asthma Immunol Res
March 2025
This study aimed to identify recent changes of AIT treatment behaviors in real-world clinical practice using a questionnaire survey in Korea. The questionnaire on AIT prescriptions and practical experiences was distributed to all members of the Korean Academy of Asthma Allergy and Clinical Immunology in June 2022. The responses were analyzed and compared with the results from 2009 and 2017.
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