Clinical outcomes of and risk factors for normoalbuminuric diabetic kidney disease.

Background: Albuminuria is a key prognostic marker of diabetic kidney disease (DKD), but some patients experience disease progression without developing albuminuria, a condition referred to as normoalbuminuric DKD. This study aimed to evaluate the prognosis of normoalbuminuric DKD and identify factors associated with progression.

Methods: A total of 24,558 patients with type 2 diabetes and no baseline albuminuria were enrolled.

Complement Proteins Identify Rapidly Progressive Diabetic Kidney Disease.

Introduction: Mechanisms underlying diabetic kidney disease (DKD) progression remain incompletely understood. This study used untargeted and targeted mass spectrometry-based proteomics in 2 independent cohorts to capture rapidly progressive DKD.

Methods: We conducted untargeted and targeted mass spectrometry on urine samples from Korean patients with type 2 diabetes and biopsy-confirmed diabetic nephropathy (SNUH-DN cohort; = 64) and a DKD subgroup of the Chronic Renal Insufficiency Cohort (CRIC-T2D; = 282), respectively.

Renal Safety of Telminuvo, a Single Pill Combination of Telmisartan and S-amlodipine, in Korean Hypertensive Patients: A Multicenter, Retrospective Cohort Study.

Background: Effective blood pressure (BP) control is vital for preventing target organ damage, and combination therapy offers added benefits when single-agent treatment is insufficient. This cohort study examined whether Telminuvo, a single-pill combination of telmisartan and S-amlodipine, effectively maintains kidney function as a target organ in a large cohort of Korean patients.

Methods: A total of 4,934 patients from 30 hospitals were treated with Telminuvo for over six months, with BP, estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), electrolyte levels, and adverse events monitored throughout the study period.

Profiling short-term longitudinal severity progression and associated genes in COVID-19 patients using EHR and single-cell analysis.

Here we propose CovSF, a deep learning model designed to track and forecast short-term severity progression of COVID-19 patients using longitudinal clinical records. The motivation stems from the need for timely medical resource allocation, improved treatment decisions during pandemics, and the understanding of severity progression related immunology. The COVID-19 Severity Forecasting model, CovSF, utilizes 15 clinical features to profile the severity levels of hospital admitted patients and also forecast their severity levels of up to three days ahead.

Integrated genomics and metabolomics to identify cause-specific biomarkers for chronic kidney disease in a Korean population.

Background: The heterogeneity of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and fragmented analysis methods hinder the precise identification of novel biomarkers. We addressed this challenge using two independent cohorts to integrate genomics and metabolomics, aiming to identify cause-specific biomarkers for CKD in the Korean population.

Methods: A longitudinal genome-wide association study using the Cox proportional hazards model was conducted using the Ansan and Ansung cohort.

Referral to nephrologists is associated with the slow progression of kidney dysfunction in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Background: Although treatment guidelines exist, referrals and discussions among clinicians about the disease can lead to more appropriate treatment for the patient. This study evaluated the effects of referrals from diabetes clinics to nephrologists on kidney function in type 2 diabetic patients through causal inference analysis.

Methods: This study included patients with type 2 diabetes who initially visited the diabetes clinic between 2004 and 2023.

Poor Prognosis of Pneumococcal Co-Infection in Hospitalized Patients with COVID-19: A Propensity Score-Matched Analysis.

The impact of coinfection on coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) prognosis remains uncertain. We conducted a retrospective analysis of patients hospitalized with COVID-19 who underwent a pneumococcal urinary antigen (PUA) test to assess its clinical utility. Results showed that PUA-positive patients required more oxygen support, high-flow nasal cannula, and dexamethasone compared to PUA-negative patients.

Inflammatory Milieu by Crosstalk between Glomerulus and Proximal Tubular Cells in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Kidney Disease.

Background: Due to the limited availability of therapeutic agents for type 2 diabetic kidney disease (T2DKD), there is a need for further knowledge derived from experimental models and innovative techniques. In addressing this issue, single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) has been exclusively applied to a genetically modified diabetic kidney disease model, but not to an induced model representing T2DKD. Herein, we analyzed scRNA-seq and other experiments from an induced T2DKD model and validated the results in human-derived biospecimens.

Dynamic biomarkers and Cox regression with time-dependent covariate for mortality prediction in severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome.

Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) is a fatal tick-borne infectious disease that lacks effective treatments. Dynamic analysis that reflects changes in the SFTS patient's condition is needed. This study aimed to evaluate the time-dependent predictive performance of key biomarkers using a time-dependent Cox regression model.

Prognostic nutritional index as an early predictor of mortality in patients with severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome: multicenter retrospective study in South Korea.

Background And Aim: Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) is a fatal tick-borne infectious disease lacking effective treatments or vaccines. Early identification of prognostic factors is essential for optimizing clinical management. This study investigated the predictors for mortality in SFTS patients.

Real-World Status in the Treatment of Latent Tuberculosis Infection in People Living with HIV in Korea.

This retrospective study analyzed medical records of 1,392 people living with HIV (PLWH) diagnosed with latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) at two provincial central hospitals from 2011 to 2022. LTBI was diagnosed in 152 patients (10.9%) patients aged ≥18 years.

Comparison of clinical characteristics and outcomes in candidaemia patients with and without COVID-19: a multicentre retrospective study.

Background: Invasive fungal infections have been reported as complications with significant mortality and morbidity in patients hospitalized with COVID-19. This study aimed to evaluate the clinical characteristics and outcomes of candidaemia patients with COVID-19 and to investigate the association between COVID-19 and mortality in candidaemia patients.

Methods: This retrospective study included candidaemia patients aged 18 years or older admitted to four university-affiliated tertiary hospitals in South Korea between January 1, 2020, and December 31, 2022.

Transcriptomic analysis of cellular senescence induced by ectopic expression of ATF6α in human breast cancer cells.

Background: The transcriptomic profile of cellular senescence is strongly associated with distinct cell types, the specific stressors triggering senescence, and temporal progression through senescence stages. This implies the potential necessity of conducting separate investigations for each cell type and a stressor inducing senescence. To elucidate the molecular mechanism that drives endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress-induced cellular senescence in MCF-7 breast cancer cells, with a particular emphasis on the ATF6α branch of the unfolded protein response.

Clinical Outcomes of Solid Organ Transplant Recipients Hospitalized with COVID-19: A Propensity Score-Matched Cohort Study.

Background: Solid-organ transplant recipients (SOTRs) receiving immunosuppressive therapy are expected to have worse clinical outcomes from coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). However, published studies have shown mixed results, depending on adjustment for important confounders such as age, variants, and vaccination status.

Materials And Methods: We retrospectively collected the data on 7,327 patients hospitalized with COVID-19 from two tertiary hospitals with government-designated COVID-19 regional centers.

Effectiveness and Tolerability of Dual Therapy with Dolutegravir Plus Darunavir/cobicistat in Treatment-Experienced Patients with HIV: A 144-Week Follow-Up.

Background: A dual regimen with dolutegravir plus cobicistat-boosted darunavir (DTG+DRV/c) is a promising alternative for patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) with resistance or intolerance to nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors, especially those with a history of treatment failure.

Materials And Methods: We included all treatment-experienced patients with HIV who switched to the DTG+DRV/c regimen at a tertiary university hospital. We assessed the regimen's effectiveness, safety, and tolerability through serial laboratory data and clinical findings.

Glomerular crescents are associated with the risk of type 2 diabetic kidney disease progression: a retrospective cohort study.

Background: Diabetic kidney disease (DKD) stands as the predominant cause of chronic kidney disease and end-stage kidney disease. Its diverse range of manifestations complicates the treatment approach for patients. Although kidney biopsy is considered the gold standard for diagnosis, it lacks precision in predicting the progression of kidney dysfunction.

Antimicrobial Use and Carbapenem-Resistant Enterobacterales in Korea: A Nationwide Case-Control Study With Propensity Score Matching.

Background: Nationwide research on the association between carbapenem-resistant (CREs) and antibiotic use is limited.

Methods: This nested case-control study analyzed Korean National Health Insurance claims data from April 2017 to April 2019. Based on the occurrence of CRE, hospitalized patients aged ≥ 18 years were classified into CRE (cases) and control groups.

Effect of Regdanvimab on Mortality in Patients Infected with SARS-CoV-2 Delta Variants: A Propensity Score-Matched Cohort Study.

Introduction: Regdanvimab, a monoclonal antibody pharmaceutical, is the first Korean drug approved for treating coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). We analyzed the therapeutic efficacy of regdanvimab in patients with the COVID-19 delta variant infection.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the electronic medical records of patients hospitalized at two Korean tertiary COVID-19 hospitals with COVID-19 delta variant infection between May 26, 2021, and January 30, 2022.

Characteristics of long COVID and the impact of COVID-19 vaccination on long COVID 2 years following COVID-19 infection: prospective cohort study.

This prospective cohort study aimed to identify characteristics of long COVID and any potential mitigating effects of COVID-19 vaccinations in patients 24 months following COVID-19 infection. Adult patients diagnosed with COVID-19 between February 17, 2020, and March 24, 2020, were scheduled to visit the study hospital four times (6, 12, 18, and 24 months after infection) to assess their symptoms, quality of life, and mental health. Among the 235 patients, 121 (51.

Unraveling the hypoxia modulating potential of VEGF family genes in pan-cancer.

Tumor hypoxia, oxygen deprivation state, occurs in most cancers and promotes angiogenesis, enhancing the potential for metastasis. The vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) family genes play crucial roles in tumorigenesis by promoting angiogenesis. To investigate the malignant processes triggered by hypoxia-induced angiogenesis across pan-cancers, we comprehensively analyzed the relationships between the expression of VEGF family genes and hypoxic microenvironment based on integrated bioinformatics methods.

Analysis of microbiological tests in patients withholding or withdrawing life-sustaining treatment at the end stage of life in 2 Korean hospitals.

Objective: We evaluated the adequacy of microbiological tests in patients withholding or withdrawing life-sustaining treatment (WLST) at the end stage of life.

Setting: The study was conducted at 2 tertiary-care referral hospitals in Daegu, Republic of Korea.

Design: Retrospective cross-sectional study.

Long COVID prevalence and impact on quality of life 2 years after acute COVID-19.

There has been an increasing interest in the long-term impact of long COVID. However, only a few studies have investigated the clinical manifestations of long COVID after 24 months of acute infection. In this study, prospective online surveys were conducted in adults previously diagnosed with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in South Korea between February 13 and March 13, 2020, at 6, 12, and 24 months after COVID-19.