Effects of Anti-obesity Strategies on Bone Mineral Density: A Comprehensive Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

Background: Although an appropriate weight management strategy is essential for obese individuals, weight loss can have adverse effects on bone mineral density (BMD). We conducted a systematic review of randomized controlled trials to evaluate changes in BMD after the implementation of various weight loss strategies.

Methods: The PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library databases were searched to find articles published from database inception until June 2023.

Cholecystectomy Increases the Risk of Chronic Kidney Disease: A Nationwide Longitudinal Cohort Study.

Growing evidence suggests that cholecystectomy is associated with adverse health outcomes, including the development of metabolic diseases. However, data on the association between cholecystectomy and kidney disease are limited. The present study aimed to investigate the association between cholecystectomy and chronic kidney disease (CKD) using a nationwide longitudinal cohort.

Association of remnant cholesterol with risk of dementia: a nationwide population-based cohort study in South Korea.

Background: The association between remnant cholesterol (remnant-C) and cardiovascular disease risk is well established, but its association with dementia remains unclear. We aimed to examine this association using a large-scale population dataset.

Methods: We did a nationwide, population-based cohort study in which we identified participants aged 40 years and older who underwent the national health examination in 2009 from South Korea's National Health Insurance Service.

Preserved Muscle Strength Despite Muscle Mass Loss After Bariatric Metabolic Surgery: a Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Background: Contrary to the previously known concept of muscle mass decrease following bariatric metabolic surgery, changes in muscle strength have been poorly investigated in systematic reviews. In this meta-analysis, we evaluated changes in handgrip strength (HGS) and lean mass (LM) after undergoing bariatric metabolic surgery.

Methods: A systematic literature review using the PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library databases was conducted in November 2022.

Associations of chronotype and insomnia with menstrual problems in newly employed nurses at university hospitals in the Republic of Korea.

Background: Dysmenorrhea and menstrual cycle changes occur in women working shifts. Circadian rhythm disruption and sleep disturbances associated with shift work leads to health problems. We identified chronotypes and the occurrence of insomnia among newly employed university hospital nurses and investigated the association of these factors with menstrual problems.

Association Between Insulin Resistance and Myosteatosis Measured by Abdominal Computed Tomography.

Context: Ectopic fat deposition in skeletal muscle, termed myosteatosis, is a key factor in developing insulin resistance.

Objective: This work aimed to evaluate the association between insulin resistance and myosteatosis in a large Asian population.

Methods: A total of 18 251 participants who had abdominal computed tomography were included in this cross-sectional study.

Association between Body Mass Index and Mortality in Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: The association between body mass index (BMI) and mortality in patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) has been poorly examined and has never been systematically reviewed. This meta-analysis investigated the all-cause mortality risk for each BMI category among patients with T1DM.

Methods: A systematic literature review of the PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library databases was performed in July 2022.

Association between sarcopenic obesity and poor muscle quality based on muscle quality map and abdominal computed tomography.

Objective: This study evaluated whether sarcopenic obesity is closely associated with muscle quality using abdominal computed tomography.

Methods: This cross-sectional study included 13,612 participants who underwent abdominal computed tomography. The cross-sectional area of the skeletal muscle was measured at the L3 level (total abdominal muscle area [TAMA]) and segmented into normal attenuation muscle area (NAMA, +30 to +150 Hounsfield units), low attenuation muscle area (-29 to +29 Hounsfield units), and intramuscular adipose tissue (-190 to -30 Hounsfield units).

Sarcopenia in youth.

Recent research has revealed causes other than aging that may induce sarcopenia in young people, contrary to the long-studied age-dependent reduction in muscular mass and function. The risk of sarcopenia begins in early adulthood, resulting in exaggerated muscle dysfunction in later life. Despite its clinical significance, research on youth-onset sarcopenia is still in its infancy.

Circulating blood eNAMPT drives the circadian rhythms in locomotor activity and energy expenditure.

Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) is an essential cofactor of critical enzymes including protein deacetylase sirtuins/SIRTs and its levels in mammalian cells rely on the nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase (NAMPT)-mediated salvage pathway. Intracellular NAMPT (iNAMPT) is secreted and found in the blood as extracellular NAMPT (eNAMPT). In the liver, the iNAMPT-NAD axis oscillates in a circadian manner and regulates the cellular clockwork.

Development of Spleen Targeting HS Donor Loaded Liposome for the Effective Systemic Immunomodulation and Treatment of Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

Nanoparticles are primarily taken up by immune cells after systemic administration. Thus, they are considered an ideal drug delivery vehicle for immunomodulation. Because the spleen is the largest lymphatic organ and regulates the systemic immune system, there have been studies to develop spleen targeting nanoparticles for immunomodulation of cancer and immunological disorders.

Association between hypertension and myosteatosis evaluated by abdominal computed tomography.

Few studies have examined the relationship between myosteatosis and hypertension, and no studies have enrolled an Asian population. Existing studies also found discordant results, possibly due to the use of conventional myosteatosis indices that are not sufficiently reliable and representative. Therefore, we investigated the association between myosteatosis and hypertension in Asian individuals using novel, objective computed tomography (CT) markers.

Relationship between chronotype and depressive symptoms among newly hired hospital nurses in the Republic of Korea.

Background: This study was conducted to examine the relationship between chronotype and depressive symptoms to provide grounded knowledge in establishing nurses' health promotion strategies.

Methods: The subjects of this study were 493 newly hired nurses working in 2 general hospitals within the university from September 2018 to September 2020. Sociodemographic and work-related characteristics were collected from a medical examination database and a self-reported questionnaire.

Lipid nanoparticles for delivery of RNA therapeutics: Current status and the role of imaging.

Lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) have been one of the most successful nano-delivery vehicles that enable efficient delivery of cytotoxic chemotherapy agents, antibiotics, and nucleic acid therapeutics. During the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, LNP-based COVID-19 messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccines from Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna have been successfully developed, resulting in global sales of $37 billion and $17.7 billion, respectively, in 2021.

Association of serum gamma-glutamyl transferase with myosteatosis assessed by muscle quality mapping using abdominal computed tomography.

Purpose: Myosteatosis, which is associated with a variety of cardiometabolic illnesses, represents muscle quality, an important aspect of sarcopenia. A new laboratory marker for myosteatosis has been required to more readily identify it. We investigated whether serum gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) levels are associated with myosteatosis measured by computed tomography (CT).

Self-Assembled DNA-Protein Hybrid Nanospheres: Biocompatible Nano-Drug-Carriers for Targeted Cancer Therapy.

We developed hybrid nanospheres comprised of two of the most important biomolecules in nature, DNA and proteins, which have excellent biocompatibility, high drug payload capacity, imaging ability, and / cancer targeting capability. The synthesis can be done in a facile one-pot assembly system that includes three steps: step-growth polymerization of two DNA oligomers, addition of streptavidin to assemble spherical hybrid nanostructures, and functionalization of hybrid nanospheres with biotinylated aptamers. To test the feasibility of cancer targeting and drug-loading capacity of the hybrid nanospheres, MUC1-specific aptamers (MA3) were conjugated to nanosphere surfaces (apt-nanospheres), and doxorubicin (Dox) was loaded into nanospheres by DNA intercalation.

Free Versus Fixed-Ratio Combination of Basal Insulin and GLP-1 Receptor Agonists in Type 2 Diabetes Uncontrolled With GLP-1 Receptor Agonists: A Systematic Review and Indirect Treatment Comparison.

Introduction: This study evaluates the efficacy and safety of the free up-titration of basal insulin and fixed-ratio combination (FRC) of basal insulin and glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients inadequately controlled with GLP-1RA.

Methods: With the use of a systematic literature review of PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library databases through July 2021, randomized controlled trials that compared the free up-titration or FRC with remaining on GLP-1RA in T2DM patients uncontrolled with GLP-1RA were included. A comparison of adding basal insulin to maintaining GLP-1RA and an indirect comparison between the two strategies were conducted on the change in HbA1c, fasting plasma glucose (FPG), target achievement [HbA1c < 7.

M1 Macrophage-Derived Exosome-Mimetic Nanovesicles with an Enhanced Cancer Targeting Ability.

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) have been found to be effective therapeutic drug delivery vehicles in a wide range of human diseases, including cancer and neurodegenerative diseases. Proinflammatory (M1) macrophages can modulate the suppressive immune environment of tumor tissues to be more inflammatory and have been considered as candidates for cancer immunotherapy. Furthermore, macrophage-derived exosome-mimetic nanovesicles (MNVs) could effectively induce antitumor response and enhance the efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors in a recent paper.

Age-Related Associations of Low-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol and Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease: A Nationwide Population-Based Cohort Study.

Background The relationship between low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) according to age remains undetermined. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the age-related association of LDL-C and ASCVD. Methods and Results Data from the Korean NHIS-HEALS (National Health Insurance Service-National Health Screening Cohort) were analyzed.

The Upcoming Weekly Tides (Semaglutide vs. Tirzepatide) against Obesity: STEP or SURPASS?

The rapidly increasing prevalence of obesity and obesity-associated morbidity is causing an ever-increasing global burden. Beyond lifestyle modifications, pharmacological approaches to losing body weight to achieve a decrease in cardiometabolic complications are in the spotlight. Pre-existing anti-obesity medications (AOMs) approved for long-term prescription use showed a weight reduction of around 5% more than placebo.

The Role of Anti-Inflammatory Adipokines in Cardiometabolic Disorders: Moving beyond Adiponectin.

The global burden of obesity has multiplied owing to its rapidly growing prevalence and obesity-related morbidity and mortality. In addition to the classic role of depositing extra energy, adipose tissue actively interferes with the metabolic balance by means of secreting bioactive compounds called adipokines. While most adipokines give rise to inflammatory conditions, the others with anti-inflammatory properties have been the novel focus of attention for the amelioration of cardiometabolic complications.

Development of theranostic dual-layered Au-liposome for effective tumor targeting and photothermal therapy.

Background: Photothermal therapy (PTT) is an emerging anti-cancer therapeutic strategy that generates hyperthermia to ablate cancer cells under laser irradiation. Gold (Au) coated liposome (AL) was reported as an effective PTT agent with good biocompatibility and excretory property. However, exposed Au components on liposomes can cause instability in vivo and difficulty in further functionalization.