Association between long-term PM exposure and risk of Kawasaki disease in children: A nationwide longitudinal cohort study.

Background: Based on previous studies suggesting air pollution as a potential risk factor for Kawasaki Disease (KD), we examined the association of long-term exposure to childhood fine particulate matter (PM) with the risk of KD.

Methods: We used National Health Insurance Service-National Sample Cohort data from 2002 to 2019, which included beneficiaries aged 0 years at enrollment and followed-up until the onset of KD or age 5 years. The onset of KD was defined as the first hospital visit record with a primary diagnostic code of M30.

The introduction to air pollution on pregnancy outcome (APPO) study: a multicenter cohort study.

Objective: The air pollution on pregnancy outcome (APPO) study is a prospective hospital-based cohort study designed to investigate the maternal and fetal effects of a particulate matter with an aerodynamic below 10 μm (PM10) and PM2.5 (below 2.5 μm) exposure.

Effect of PM concentration on anemia blood indicators reduced by air purifiers.

Housewives perform daily household chores, which directly expose them to indoor particulate matter (PM). Indoor PM exposure is a potential factor that increases systemic inflammation and affects hematopoietic action. This study investigated the decrease in indoor PM concentration by air purifiers on indicators of anemia, such as hemoglobin, mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH), and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC).

BMI trajectory and inflammatory effects on metabolic syndrome in adolescents.

Background: Various life course factors can affect susceptibility to diseases during adolescence and adulthood, and those relationships are complex. However, few studies have assessed the potential mediating factors. Therefore, we assessed the mediating effects of factors related to growth and inflammation between perinatal factors and metabolic syndrome risk during adolescence.

Prospective association between phthalate exposure in childhood and liver function in adolescence: the Ewha Birth and Growth Cohort Study.

Background: Phthalate exposure is ubiquitous due to the widespread use of plastic products in daily life, and affects several health outcomes, including metabolic diseases. In this study, we evaluated the effects of phthalate exposure in childhood on liver function in adolescence.  METHODS: Among 164 Ewha Birth and Growth Cohort Study participants followed up during two exposure periods (when the children were aged 3-5 and 7-9 years), 126 were followed up at age 10-15 years.

Association of paternal cadmium and other heavy metal exposure to birth outcomes using propensity score matching.

Background: Human exposure to cadmium has various effects on health, especially on male reproductive organs. Although it is widely known that prenatal maternal cadmium exposure can affect birth outcomes, the effect of paternal exposure to cadmium remains unclear.

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the effect of paternal cadmium exposure on fetal growth by considering maternal cadmium exposure and exposure to other heavy metals, namely mercury and lead.

A COVID-19 mortality prediction model for Korean patients using nationwide Korean disease control and prevention agency database.

The experience of the early nationwide COVID-19 pandemic in South Korea led to an early shortage of medical resources. For efficient resource allocation, accurate prediction of the prognosis or mortality of confirmed patients is essential. Therefore, the aim of this study was to develop an accurate model for predicting COVID-19 mortality using epidemiolocal and clinical variables and for identifying a high-risk group of confirmed patients.

Mortality Risk within 14 Days after Coronavirus Disease 2019 Diagnosis in Dementia Patients: A Nationwide Analysis.

Introduction: The study evaluated the increased mortality risk within 14 days of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) diagnosis in dementia patients.

Methods: This retrospective study was conducted from February to April 2020 using the COVID-19 patients' database from the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency. The risk factors for early death within 14 days were determined using generalized logistic regression performed in a stepwise manner.

Dietary factors associated with inflammatory laryngeal disease in South Korea.

Laryngeal inflammation causes not only benign diseases of the larynx, such as laryngitis and granuloma, but also malignancy. Dietary factors are known to control or modulate the inflammatory reaction in the body. To date, the association between laryngeal inflammation and dietary factors has not been reported using nationwide population-based data.

Effect of heat waves and fine particulate matter on preterm births in Korea from 2010 to 2016.

Background: Previous studies have reported that fine particulate matter (PM) affects the incidence of premature births. In addition, recent studies have suggested that heat waves have a negative impact on birth outcomes. However, the combined effect of PM and heat waves on the incidence of premature birth is controversial.

Adverse effects of prenatal mercury exposure on neurodevelopment during the first 3 years of life modified by early growth velocity and prenatal maternal folate level.

Background And Aims: Previous studies have suggested that mercury exposure and folate levels during pregnancy may influence early childhood neurodevelopment. Rapid catch-up growth in children is associated with an increased risk of pathological nervous system development. We evaluated whether the association between prenatal folate and mercury-related neuropsychological dysfunction was modified by growth velocity during childhood.

Association between prenatal exposure to PM and the increased risk of specified infant mortality in South Korea.

Background: Findings from previous studies on the association between exposure to fine particulate matter (PM) and the risk of infant mortality were inconsistent. Thus, two main objectives of our study were to examine the association between exposure to PM and specified infant mortality and to identify critical trimesters.

Methods: We retrospectively created a birth cohort of singleton full-term infants born in South Korea between 2010 and 2015 using national birth and infant mortality data.

Longitudinal association between environmental tobacco smoke exposure and behavioral problems in children from ages 5 to 9.

Few studies have assessed the cumulative effects of exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) in relation to children's neurobehavioral problems over time. We assessed the longitudinal associations between ETS exposure at age 5 and behavioral problems at ages 5, 7, and 9 using the Ewha Birth and Growth Cohort, in Seoul, Korea. Children with available urinary cotinine levels at age 5 and one or more behavioral problem scores measured with the Korean Version of Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) at age 5, 7, and 9 were included in the study.

Prenatal exposure to mixtures of heavy metals and neurodevelopment in infants at 6 months.

Background: Exposure to mixture of neurotoxic metals such as lead, mercury and cadmium occurs at a specific point of time. When exposed to metal mixtures, one metal may act as an agonist or antagonist to another metal. Thus, it is important to study the effects of exposure to a combination of metals on children's development using advance statistical methods.

Association between pre-and postnatal growth and longitudinal trends in serum uric acid levels and blood pressure in children aged 3 to 7 years.

Background: Uric acid has been identified as an important factor in the development of hypertension. If low birth weight (LBW) combined with catch-up growth (CUG) is associated with continuously elevated serum uric acid levels (SUA) level trajectories, LBW children who experience CUG may have an increased risk of hypertension later in life. Therefore, this cohort study analyzed longitudinal trends in SUA levels and changes in blood pressure in relation to pre- and postnatal growth over an extended follow-up period.

Development of novel NLRP3-XOD dual inhibitors for the treatment of gout.

Gout is a crystalline-related arthropathy caused by the deposition of monosodium urate (MSU). Acute gouty arthritis is the most common first symptom of gout. Studies have shown that NOD-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome as pattern recognition receptors can be activated by uric acid crystallization, triggering immune inflammation and causing acute gouty arthritis symptoms.

Macrophage-derived progranulin promotes allergen-induced airway inflammation.

Background: Progranulin (PGRN), mainly produced by immune and epithelial cells, has been known to be involved in the development of various inflammatory diseases. However, the function of PGRN in allergic airway inflammation has not been clearly elucidated, and we investigated the role of PGRN in allergic airway inflammation.

Methods: Production of PGRN and various type 2 cytokines was evaluated in mouse airways exposed to house dust mite allergen, and main cellular sources of these molecules were investigated using macrophage, airway epithelial cell, and NKT cell lines.

MC4R and HNF4α promoter methylation at birth contribute to triglyceride levels in childhood: A prospective cohort study.

Although the changes in DNA methylation are assumed to be due to the association between adverse intrauterine conditions and adult metabolic health, evidence from human studies is rare. Little is known about the changes in DNA methylation present at birth that affect metabolic profiles in childhood. Previous studies have shown that the melanocortin 4 receptor (MC4R) and hepatocyte nuclear factor 4 alpha (HNF4α) genes are associated with obesity and metabolic disorders.

The Association Between Mercury Exposure and Atopic Dermatitis in Early Childhood: A Mothers and Children's Environmental Health Study.

Background: Atopic dermatitis is a chronic and relapsing inflammatory skin disease. Although mercury has been suggested as a risk factor, the underlying mechanism and the relationship between mercury and atopic dermatitis remains unclear. The objective of the present study was to investigate the relationship between mercury exposure and the presence of atopic dermatitis in early childhood.

Association between Exposure to Ambient Air Pollution and Rheumatoid Arthritis in Adults.

Environmental factors may play roles in the development of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and some studies have shown that air pollution was associated with the development of autoimmune disease. This study was designed to investigate the effect of air pollutants on the development of adult RA. A nested case-control cohort study was performed using the National Health Insurance Service-National Sample Cohort during 2002⁻2014 in Korea.

Endothelial Sox17 promotes allergic airway inflammation.

Background: IL-33, levels of which are known to be increased in patients with eosinophilic asthma and which is suggested as a therapeutic target for it, activates endothelial cells in which Sry-related high-mobility-group box (Sox) 17, an endothelium-specific transcription factor, was upregulated.

Objective: We investigated the relationship between Sox17 and IL-33 and the possible role of Sox17 in the pathogenesis of asthma using a mouse model of airway inflammation.

Methods: We used ovalbumin (OVA) to induce airway inflammation in endothelium-specific Sox17 null mutant mice and used IL-33 neutralizing antibody to evaluate the interplay between IL-33 and Sox17.

Association of Long-term Use of Low-Dose Aspirin as Chemoprevention With Risk of Lung Cancer.

Importance: Low-dose aspirin use for chemoprevention of lung cancer risk remains controversial.

Objectives: To investigate the association between low-dose aspirin use and lung cancer risk, and to identify specific subgroups that may derive the most benefit from low-dose aspirin use.

Design, Setting, And Participants: This nationwide, retrospective, cohort study used data from the Korean National Health Information Database from 2002 to 2015.