How Many High Risk Korean Patients with Osteopenia Could Overlook Treatment Eligibility?

Study DesignRetrospective study.PurposeTo determine the prevalence of high risk patient with osteopenia requiring pharmacologic treatment and investigate the difference of 10-year fracture probability whether bone mineral density (BMD) include or not in Korean FRAX model.Overview of LiteratureMany people with the fracture have osteopenia rather than osteoporosis, and BMD alone could be considered as a chance to prevent fracture.MethodsThree hundred sixty-nine patients who was diagnosed as osteopenia were divided into two groups according to age (group 1, under 65 years; group 2, over 65 years), and 10-year fracture probabilities were calculated by FRAX algorithm with and without femur neck T-score.ResultsThe high risk patients of the fracture who had above 3% of 10-year hip fracture probability were 15 cases in group 1 and 121 cases in group 2. In 193 patients of group 1, the mean 10-year fracture probability with BMD was significantly higher than the results without BMD (hip fracture: p=0.04, major osteoporotic fracture: p=0.01). Unlike the results of the group 1, the mean 10-year fracture probability without BMD was significantly higher than the results with BMD in 176 patients of group 2 (hip fracture: p=0.01, major osteoporotic fracture: p=0.01).ConclusionsTotal of 136 cases (36.8%) as a high risk of the fracture with osteopenia could be overlooked treatment eligibility in Korean. The Korean FRAX model without BMD could be effective in predicting fracture risk especially in the individuals who were over 65 years

Cloning of Metalloproteinase 17 Genes from Oriental Giant Jellyfish Nemopilema nomurai (Scyphozoa: Rhizostomeae)

We previously demonstrated that Nemopilema nomurai jellyfish venom metalloproteinases (JVMPs) play a key role in the toxicities induced by N. nomurai venom (NnV), including dermotoxicity, cytotoxicity, and lethality. In this study, we identified two full-length JVMP cDNA and genomic DNA sequences: JVMP17-1 and JVMP17-2. The full-length cDNA of JVMP17-1 and 17-2 contains 1614 and 1578 nucleotides (nt) that encode 536 and 525 amino acids, respectively. Putative peptidoglycan (PG) binding, zinc-dependent metalloproteinase, and hemopexin domains were identified. BLAST analysis of JVMP17-1 showed 42, 41, 37, and 37% identity with Hydra vulgaris, Acropora digitifera, Megachile rotundata, and Apis mellifera venom metalloproteinases, respectively. JVMP17-2 shared 38 and 36% identity with H. vulgaris and A. digitifera, respectively. Alignment results of JVMP17-1 and 17-2 with other metalloproteinases suggest that the PG domain, the tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase (TIMP)-binding surfaces, active sites, and metal (ion)-binding sites are highly conserved. The present study reports the gene cloning of metalloproteinase enzymes from jellyfish species for the first time. We hope these results can expand our knowledge of metalloproteinase components and their roles in the pathogenesis of jellyfish envenomation

Depletion of Mitochondrial Components from Extracellular Vesicles Secreted from Astrocytes in a Mouse Model of Fragile X Syndrome

Mitochondrial dysfunction contributes to neurodegenerative diseases and developmental disorders such as Fragile X syndrome (FXS). The cross-talk between mitochondria and extracellular vesicles (EVs) suggests that EVs may transfer mitochondrial components as intermediators for intracellular communication under physiological and pathological conditions. In the present study, the ability of EVs to transfer mitochondrial components and their role in mitochondrial dysfunction in astrocytes were examined in the brains of Fmr1 knockout (KO) mice, a model of FXS. The amounts of mitochondrial transcription factor NRF-1, ATP synthases ATP5A and ATPB, and the mitochondrial membrane protein VDAC1 in EVs were reduced in cerebral cortex samples and astrocytes from Fmr1 KO mice. These reductions correspond to decreased mitochondrial biogenesis and transcriptional activities in Fmr1 KO brain, along with decreased mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) with abnormal localization of vimentin intermediate filament (VIF) in Fmr1 KO astrocytes. Our results suggest that mitochondrial dysfunction in astrocytes is associated with the pathogenesis of FXS and can be monitored by depletion of components in EVs. These findings may improve the ability to diagnose developmental diseases associated with mitochondrial dysfunction, such as FXS and autism spectrum disorders (ASD). © 2021 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.1

The presence of high level soluble herpes virus entry mediator in sera of gastric cancer patients

The development of gastric cancer (GC) is closely related to chronic inflammation caused by Helicobacter pylori infection, and herpes virus entry mediator (HVEM) is a receptor expressed on the surface of leukocytes that mediates potent inflammatory responses in animal models. However, the role of HVEM in human GC has not been studied. Previously, we showed that the interaction of HVEM on human leukocytes with its ligand LIGHT induces intracellular calcium mobilization, which results in inflammatory responses including induction of proinflammatory cytokine production and anti-bacterial activities. In this study, we report that leukocytes from GC patients express lower levels of membrane HVEM (mHVEM) and have lower LIGHT-induced bactericidal activities than those from healthy controls (HC). In contrast, levels of soluble HVEM (sHVEM) in the sera of GC patients were significantly higher than in those of HC. We found that monocyte membrane-bound HVEM is released into the medium when cells are activated by proinflammatory cytokines such as TNF-α and IL-8, which are elevated in the sera of GC patients. mHVEM level dropped in parallel with the release of sHVEM, and release was completely blocked by the metalloprotease inhibitor, GM6001. We also found that the low level of mHVEM on GC patient leukocytes was correlated with low LIGHT-induced bactericidal activities against H. pylori and S. aureus and production of reactive oxygen species. Our results indicate that mHVEM on leukocytes and sHVEM in sera may contribute to the development and/or progression of GC

Humanized Anti-hepatocyte Growth Factor Monoclonal Antibody (YYB-101) Inhibits Ovarian Cancer Progression

Current chemotherapy regimens have certain limitations in improving the survival rates of patients with advanced ovarian cancer. Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) is important in ovarian cancer cell migration and invasion. This study assessed the effects of YYB-101, a humanized monoclonal anti-HGF antibody, on the growth and metastasis of ovarian cancer cells. YYB-101 suppressed the phosphorylation of the HGF receptor c-MET and inhibited the migration and invasion of SKOV3 and A2780 ovarian cancer cells. Moreover, the combination of YYB-101 and paclitaxel synergistically inhibited tumor growth in an in vivo ovarian cancer mouse xenograft model and significantly increased the overall survival (OS) rate compared with either paclitaxel or YYB-101 alone. Taken together, these findings suggest that YYB-101 has therapeutic potential in ovarian cancer when combined with conventional chemotherapy agents.1

Changes in the Characteristics and Long-term Mortality Rates of Intensive Care Unit Patients from 2003 to 2010: A Nationwide Population-Based Cohort Study Performed in the Republic of Korea

Background There are few studies on intensive care unit (ICU) patients in the Republic of Korea. We analyzed the characteristics and mortality changes of all ICU patients over the last 8 years. Methods This study used the cohort of the National Health Insurance Corporation, which provides medical care to all residents of the Republic of Korea. The cohort consists of patients aged 20 years or older between 2003 and 2010 with a history of ICU admission. We analyzed changes in sex, age, household income, number of hospital beds, emergency admissions, and reasons for admission using the Cochran–Armitage trend test. The adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) of mortality according to these variables and year of admission were calculated by Cox proportional hazards regression. Results The proportion of patients aged ≥70 years increased over that period, as did their average age (by 3.6 years). During the 8-year study period, the 3-year mortality rate was 32.91%–35.83%. The overall mortality was higher in males and older patients, in those with a lower household income and higher Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) score, those admitted to a hospital with a smaller number of beds, and those admitted via the emergency room. There was no significant change in crude mortality rate over the 8-year study period; however, the adjusted HR showed a decreasing trend. Conclusions Patients admitted to the ICU were older and had higher CCI score. Nevertheless, there was a temporal trend toward a decrease in the HR of long-term mortality

No association between the IL28B SNP and response to peginterferon plus ribavirin combination treatment in Korean chronic hepatitis C patients

Background/AimsThere are few available data regarding the association between the single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the gene encoding interleukin 28B (IL28B) and a sustained virologic response (SVR) to peginterferon (PEG-IFN) plus ribavirin (RBV) therapy in Korean chronic hepatitis C patients.MethodsThis was a retrospective cohort study of 156 patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection who received combination treatment of PEG-IFN plus RBV. Blood samples from these patients were analyzed to identify the IL28B SNPs at rs12979860, rs12980275, rs8099917, and rs8103142. Association analyses were performed to evaluate the relationships between each IL28B SNP and SVRs.ResultsSeventy six patients with HCV genotype 1 and 80 with genotype non-1 were enrolled. The frequencies of rs12979860 CC and CT genotypes were 90.4% and 9.6%, respectively; those of rs12980275 AA and AG genotypes were 87.2% and 12.8%, respectively; those of rs8099917 TT and TG genotypes were 92.3% and 7.7%, respectively; and those of rs8103142 TT and CT genotypes were 90.4% and 9.6%, respectively. Among the patients with HCV genotype 1, the SVR rates were 69.7% and 80.0% for rs12979860 CC and CT, respectively (P=0.71). Among the HCV genotype non-1 patients, SVR rates were 88.0% and 100% for rs12979860 CC and CT (P=1.00), respectively.ConclusionsGenotypes of the IL28B SNP that are known to be favorable were present in most of the Korean patients with chronic hepatitis C in this study. Moreover, the IL28B SNP did not influence the SVR rate in either the HCV genotype 1 or non-1 patients. Therefore, IL28B SNP analysis might be not useful for the initial assessment, prediction of treatment outcomes, or treatment decision-making of Korean chronic hepatitis C patients

Vision Improvement with Refractive Correction Does Not Completely Exclude Major Eye Diseases: Analyses of Visually Impaired South Korean Population in the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2009–2011

Purpose. To investigate the association between vision improvement with refractive correction in the visually impaired eyes and the prevalence of ocular comorbidities in the South Korean population. Materials and Methods. The data of 24,620 individuals in the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES 2009–2011) were reviewed. Visual impairment was defined as a presenting visual acuity < 20/60. The participants with visual impairment in at least one eye were divided into 3 groups according to the best-corrected visual acuity (group 1: <20/30, group 2: ≥20/30 but <20/25, and group 3: ≥20/25). The prevalence of ocular comorbidities was estimated and compared between the three groups. Results. Visual impairment in at least one eye was found in 3031 individuals. Groups 1, 2, and 3 comprised 23.5%, 22.2%, and 54.3% of these visually impaired eyes, respectively. The prevalence of cataract, diabetic retinopathy, age-related macular degeneration, corneal opacity, blepharoptosis, and pterygium was similar to or even higher in group 2 compared to group 1. The prevalence of glaucoma and age-related macular degeneration was 5.40% and 11.39%, respectively, in group 2 and 3.31% and 3.76%, respectively, in group 3. Conclusions. Appropriate ophthalmologic examination is necessary even if people exhibit vision improvement after optical correction