Effectiveness of written exposure therapy for Korean patients with post-traumatic stress disorder: non-randomized treatment-as-usual waitlist-controlled study.

Written exposure therapy (WET) is a five-session exposure-based protocol for treating post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The brevity and tolerability of WET present the potential to overcome barriers in implementing evidence-based therapy for PTSD within the Korean mental healthcare system. This study investigated the effectiveness of WET in Korean patients with PTSD through a waitlist-controlled trial (KCT0008112).

Effect of low muscle mass on total mortality related to metabolic disease in chronic kidney disease patients.

Low muscle mass is a risk factor for mortality in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). However, it is not clear to what extent low muscle mass contributes to this risk, either independently or in combination with metabolic abnormalities and frailty. This study used data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 1999-2006 and 2011-2018.

Association between Relative Thrombocytosis and Microalbuminuria in Adults with Mild Fasting Hyperglycemia.

An elevated platelet count may contribute to significant thrombotic events and pose a risk for diabetic microvascular complications. Albuminuria, one of the hallmarks of diabetes, is thought to be a risk factor for endothelial dysfunction. In this study, we investigated the association between relative thrombocytosis and an increased urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio in healthy adult participants.

Evaluating the Safety and effectivenesS in adult KorEaN patients treated with Tolvaptan for management of autosomal domInAnt poLycystic kidney disease (ESSENTIAL): short-term outcomes during the titration period.

Background: Tolvaptan reduces height-adjusted total kidney volume (htTKV) and renal function decline in autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD). This study was aimed at investigating the efficacy and safety of tolvaptan in Korean patients with ADPKD during the titration period.

Methods: This study is a multicenter, single-arm, open-label phase 4 study.

A phase II, multicenter, open-label trial to evaluate the safety and efficacy of ISU303 (Agalsidase beta) in patients with Fabry disease.

Background: Fabry disease (FD) is caused by a deficiency in the activity of the lysosomal enzyme, α-galactosidase A (α-Gal A), which leads to globotriaosylceramide (Gb3) deposition in multiple tissues. The current management of FD is enzyme replacement therapy (ERT). We report on the efficacy and safety of a new agalsidase beta, ISU303, in FD.

The association between dietary sodium intake and osteoporosis.

The association of inadequate dietary sodium intake with bone mineral density (BMD) and the risk of osteoporosis is controversial. To find the association between low sodium diet and the risk of incipient osteoporosis, we performed a population-based cross-sectional analysis using Tanaka method for estimation 24-h urinary sodium excretion (e24hUNaE) as a candidate indicator of sodium intake. We identified 3869 participants without osteoporosis and classified them into quartiles according to their value of e24hUNaE.

Immunogenicity of COVID-19 Vaccination in Patients With End-Stage Renal Disease Undergoing Maintenance Hemodialysis: The Efficacy of a Mix-and-Match Strategy.

Background: The objective of this study was to evaluate the immunogenicity of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) on hemodialysis.

Methods: ESRD patients at the hemodialysis center of a tertiary-care university-affiliated hospital and healthy employees at the clinical laboratory center were prospectively recruited between March and June 2021. For severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) antibody analysis, blood samples were collected serially on days 0, 14, 28, and 56 after the first vaccine dose, and on days 7 and 50 after the second dose.

The roles of sodium and volume overload on hypertension in chronic kidney disease.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is associated with increased risk of cardiovascular (CV) events, and the disease burden is rising rapidly. An important contributor to CV events and CKD progression is high blood pressure (BP). The main mechanisms of hypertension in early and advanced CKD are renin-angiotensin system activation and volume overload, respectively.

Genetically determined hypoalbuminemia as a risk factor for hypertension: instrumental variable analysis.

Hypoalbuminemia is associated with vascular endothelial dysfunction and the development of chronic cardiovascular diseases. However, the relationship between serum albumin concentration and blood pressure changes remains controversial. Community-based longitudinal cohort data collected from Korean Genome and Epidemiology Study were used in this study.

Characteristics of Different Size Phytoplankton for Primary Production and Biochemical Compositions in the Western East/Japan Sea.

The current phytoplankton community structure is expected to change, with small phytoplankton becoming dominant under ongoing warming conditions. To understand and evaluate the ecological roles of small phytoplankton in terms of food quantity and quality, the carbon uptake rates and intracellular biochemical compositions (i.e.

Urinary Concentration Defect and Renal Glycosuria in Cyclosporine-treated Rats.

Background: Urinary concentration impairment is a major feature of cyclosporine nephrotoxicity.

Methods: We explored two possible mechanisms that may underlie cyclosporine-induced polyuria; water, and/or osmotic diuresis. Cyclosporine was subcutaneously injected to normal salt-fed Sprague-Dawley rats at a daily dose of 25mg/kg for 2 weeks (Experiment I) and 7.

Interactive effect of high sodium intake with increased serum triglycerides on hypertension.

Background: A high salt diet is associated with the development of hypertension, one of the most important cardiovascular risk factors. A reduction in sodium intake seems to have an effect on increasing serum triglycerides (TGs). Elevated TGs are independently linked to cardiovascular risk.

Surgical Outcomes of Subtotal Parathyroidectomy for Renal Hyperparathyroidism.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of subtotal parathyroidectomy for patients with renal hyperparathyroidism.

Methods: We studied 25 patients with renal hyperparathyroidism who underwent subtotal parathyroidectomy from October 2002 to October 2017. We analyzed serum intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH), calcium, and inorganic phosphorus levels before and at multiple time points following surgery, and evaluated the surgical outcomes and complications.

Variability of trophic magnification factors as an effect of estimated trophic position: Application of compound-specific nitrogen isotope analysis of amino acids.

The trophic magnification of persistent organic pollutants (POPs), which is the relationship between POP concentration and the trophic position (TPs) of an organism, is considered an important factor for prioritizing chemicals of concern in the environment. Organismal TPs are typically based on nitrogen isotope ratios of bulk tissue (δN). In this study, nitrogen isotope ratios of amino acids (δN), a more precise approach for TP estimation (TP), was applied and compared with estimations of TP based on δN (TP) in marine organisms living in Masan Bay, South Korea.

Comparison of laboratory indices of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease for the detection of incipient kidney dysfunction.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is closely linked to insulin resistance and related adverse health outcomes. We investigated the non-invasive index of NAFLD that has the best performance in estimating the renal manifestations of metabolic disturbances. This nation-wide, cross-sectional study included 11,836 subjects, using various non-invasive assessments comprising routinely measured clinical and laboratory variables.

Patient-specific Guides Using 3-dimensional Reconstruction Provide Accuracy and Reproducibility in Reverse Total Shoulder Arthroplasty.

Background: We aimed to evaluate whether the use of our novel patient-specific guide (PSG) with 3-dimensional reconstruction in reverse total shoulder arthroplasty (RTSA) would allow accurate and reliable implantation of the glenoid and humeral components.

Methods: 20 fresh-frozen cadaveric shoulders were used. The PSG group (n=10) and conventional group (n=10) was evaluated the accuracy and reproducibility of implant positioning between before and after surgery on the computed tomography image.

Sustained Delivery of Transforming Growth Factor β1 by Use of Absorbable Alginate Scaffold Enhances Rotator Cuff Healing in a Rabbit Model.

Background: The failure rate for healing after rotator cuff repair is relatively high.

Purpose: To establish a system for sustained release of transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1) using an alginate scaffold and evaluate the effects of the sustained release of TGF-β1 on rotator cuff healing in a rabbit model.

Study Design: Controlled laboratory study.

Fatty Degeneration of the Rotator Cuff Reflects Shoulder Strength Deficits in Patients With Rotator Cuff Tears.

Fatty degeneration is an important clinical factor in patients with rotator cuff tears. Goutallier grade, occupation ratio, and tangent sign help identify fatty degeneration; however, little is known about how closely these measurement techniques correlate with actual muscle strength deficits. The authors evaluated each method's ability to determine the correlation between fatty degeneration and muscle strength deficits.

Is there a J-shaped relationship between the fatty liver index and risk of microalbuminuria in the general population?

Background: We investigated whether the fatty liver index (FLI), as a clinical indicator of hepatic fat accumulation based on body mass index, gamma-glutamyl-transferase, triglycerides, and waist circumference, has an association with microalbuminuria.

Methods: We analyzed anthropometric and biochemical data from a nation-wide, population-based, cross-sectional study. A total of 1605 participants included were healthy native Korean 40years or older and divided into quintiles according to their log-FLI and sex.

Features of Golf-Related Shoulder Pain in Korean Amateur Golfers.

Objective: To investigate the causes and characteristics of golf-related shoulder injuries in Korean amateur golfers.

Methods: Golf-related surveys were administered to, and ultrasonography were conducted on, 77 Korean amateur golfers with golf-related shoulder pain. The correlation between the golf-related surveys and ultrasonographic findings were investigated.

Effect of synergistic interaction between abnormal adiposity-related metabolism and prediabetes on microalbuminuria in the general population.

Central obesity and related metabolic components are important risks for microalbuminuria. To describe the effects of interactions between central obesity and related metabolic components on microalbuminuria, we conducted a nation-wide, population-based interaction analysis using cardio-metabolic index (CMI) as a candidate indicator of central obesity and related abnormal lipid metabolism. We recruited native Koreans aged 20 years or older with no medical illness.

Occipitocervical inclination: new radiographic parameter of neutral occipitocervical position.

Purpose: To describe occipitocervical inclination (OCI), a new parameter that could compensate for defects in existing radiographic parameters, and to define occipitocervical neutral position.

Methods: Neutral, flexion, and extension lateral cervical spine radiographs of 200 patients (100 male and 100 female patients) judged to be normal were analyzed. The mean age was 45.

Deltoid muscle volume affects clinical outcome of reverse total shoulder arthroplasty in patients with cuff tear arthropathy or irreparable cuff tears.

We aimed to estimate the interrelation between preoperative deltoid muscle status by measuring the 3-dimensional deltoid muscle volume and postoperative functional outcomes after reverse total shoulder arthroplasty(RTSA). Thirty-five patients who underwent RTSA participated in this study. All patients underwent preoperative magnetic resonance imaging(MRI) as well as pre- and postoperative radiography and various functional outcome evaluations at least 1 year.