Glycemic status, insulin resistance, and mortality from lung cancer among individuals with and without diabetes.

Background: The effects of glycemic status and insulin resistance on lung cancer remain unclear. We investigated the associations between both glycemic status and insulin resistance, and lung cancer mortality, in a young and middle-aged population with and without diabetes.

Methods: This cohort study involved individuals who participated in routine health examinations.

Glycocalyx-Mimicking Nanoparticles with Differential Organ Selectivity for Drug Delivery and Therapy.

Organ-selective drug delivery is expected to maximize the efficacy of various therapeutic modalities while minimizing their systemic toxicity. Lipid nanoparticles and polymersomes can direct the organ-selective delivery of mRNAs or gene editing machineries, but their delivery is limited to mostly liver, spleen, and lung. A platform that enables delivery to these and other target organs is urgently needed.

Association between body fat and bone mineral density in Korean adults: a cohort study.

Although obesity was once considered protective against osteoporosis, various factors influence the relationship between fat and bone mineral density (BMD). To establish the importance of healthy body composition in decelerating declines in BMD, we conducted a study to compare the association between body fat composition and BMD in Korean adults. Using data collected from the Kangbuk Samsung Health Study from 2012 to 2019, this cohort study compared the incidence of decreased BMD among the following four groups: normal BMI and normal adiposity (NBMI-NA), normal BMI and high adiposity (NBMI-HA), overweight, and obesity.

The Adverse Effects and Nonmedical Use of Methylphenidate Before and After the Outbreak of COVID-19: Machine Learning Analysis.

Background: Methylphenidate is an effective first-line treatment for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). However, many adverse effects of methylphenidate have been recorded from randomized clinical trials and patient-reported outcomes, but it is difficult to determine abuse from them. In the context of COVID-19, it is important to determine how drug use evaluation, as well as misuse of drugs, have been affected by the pandemic.

Nanovaccine Displaying Immunodominant T Cell Epitopes of Fibroblast Activation Protein Is Effective Against Desmoplastic Tumors.

Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), which are dominant cell types in the tumor microenvironment (TME), support tumor growth by secreting cytokines and forming an extracellular matrix (ECM) that hampers the penetration of chemical and biological therapeutics within the tumor and thereby limits their therapeutic efficacy. Here, we report a cancer nanovaccine targeting fibroblast activation protein α (FAP)-expressing CAFs as a potential pan-tumor vaccine. We predicted immunodominant FAP-specific epitope peptides and selected two candidate peptides after and screening for immunogenicity and antitumor efficacy.

Efficacy, Immunogenicity, and Safety of COVID-19 Vaccines in Randomized Control Trials in the Pre-Delta Era: A Systematic Review and Network Meta-Analysis.

The most effective method of limiting the coronavirus disease pandemic of 2019 (COVID-19) is vaccination. For the determination of the comparative efficacy and safety of COVID-19 vaccines and their platforms during the pre-Delta era, a systematic review and network meta-analysis was conducted. The MEDLINE, Embase, and MedRxiv databases were searched, and the gray literature was manually searched up to 8 July 2021.

The association between cotinine-measured smoking intensity and sleep quality.

Introduction: Cigarette smoking is suggested to be associated with sleep problems. This study evaluated the quantitative association between urinary cotinine-verified smoking intensity and sleep quality assessed by the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI).

Methods: This was a cross-sectional study of 189970 participants from the Kangbuk Samsung Health Study recruited between 2016 and 2018.

Coronary artery calcium and risk of chronic kidney disease in young and middle-aged adults.

Background: The role of the coronary artery calcium score (CACS) in incident chronic kidney disease (CKD) in asymptomatic young populations remains unclear. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between CACSs and CKD development in adults.

Methods: A cohort study of 113 171 Korean adults (mean age 40.

Hypoglycemic agents and glycemic variability in individuals with type 2 diabetes: A systematic review and network meta-analysis.

While hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) is commonly used to monitor therapy response in type 2 diabetes (T2D), GV is emerging as an essential additional metric for optimizing glycemic control. Our goal was to learn more about the impact of hypoglycemic agents on HbA1c levels and GV in patients with T2D. A systematic review and network meta-analysis (NMA) of randomized controlled trials were performed to assess the effects of glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs), sodium-glucose cotransporter (SGLT)-2 inhibitors, dipeptidyl peptidase (DPP)-4 inhibitors, sulfonylurea and thiazolidinediones on Mean Amplitude of Glycemic Excursions (MAGE) and HbA1c.

Systematic Screening and Therapeutic Evaluation of Glyconanoparticles with Differential Cancer Affinities for Targeted Cancer Therapy.

Cancer-targeting ligands used for nanomedicines have been limited mostly to antibodies, peptides, aptamers, and small molecules thus far. Here, a library of glycocalyx-mimicking nanoparticles as a platform to enable screening and identification of cancer-targeting nanomedicines is reported. Specifically, a library of 31 artificial glycopolymers composed of either homogeneous or heterogeneous display of five different sugar moieties (β-glucose, β-galactose, α-mannose, β-N-acetyl glucosamine, and β-N-acetyl galactosamine) is converted to a library of glyconanoparticles (GlyNPs).

Skeletal muscle mass to visceral fat area ratio as a predictor of NAFLD in lean and overweight men and women with effect modification by sex.

The effect of sarcopenic visceral obesity on the risk of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is uncertain. We investigated (a) whether the skeletal muscle mass to visceral fat area ratio (SV ratio), as a measure of sarcopenic visceral obesity, is a risk factor for NAFLD; and (b) whether the SV ratio adds to conventional adiposity measures to improve prediction of incident NAFLD. Adults without NAFLD (n = 151,017) were followed up for a median of 3.

Oral administration of Euglena gracilis paramylon ameliorates chemotherapy-induced leukocytopenia and gut dysbiosis in mice.

Euglena gracilis (EUG) is a food supplement rich in beta-glucans, which are stored in the form of granules called paramylon. We determined whether EUG improved chemotherapy-induced leukocytopenia and dysbiosis. Mice were orally administered EUG prior to gemcitabine treatment.

Fasting ketonuria is inversely associated with coronary artery calcification in non-diabetic individuals.

Background And Aims: Increased levels of ketone bodies, an alternative fuel when glucose availability is low, may exert beneficial effects on cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors. Whether increased ketone bodies are associated with coronary artery calcium (CAC), a recognized and strong cardiovascular risk factor, remains unknown. We investigated the association of fasting ketonuria with CAC and its progression.

Ten-Second Heart Rate Variability, Its Changes Over Time, and the Development of Hypertension.

Background: The role of ultrashort-term heart rate variability (HRV) and its temporal changes in incident hypertension are unknown. We aimed to investigate the association between 10-second HRV, its changes, and incident hypertension in adults aged <40 years and older.

Methods: This cohort study included 232 587 Koreans (mean age 37.

Long or Irregular Menstrual Cycles and Risk of Prevalent and Incident Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease.

Context: The association of menstrual cycle length and irregularity with the risk of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is unknown.

Objective: We examined this association in large cross-sectional and cohort studies.

Methods: The cross-sectional study included 72 092 women younger than 40 years who underwent routine health examinations; the longitudinal analysis included the subset of 51 118 women without NAFLD at baseline.

Analysis of GMP for marketing authorization of ATMPs: comparison in the US, the EU, Japan and South Korea.

This study compared regulatory systems of competent authorities related to GMP for marketing authorization of advanced therapy medicinal products (ATMPs). Dossiers for GMP and regulations and guidelines for facilities and equipment were analyzed using gap analysis. The risk-based approach (RBA) and GMP inspection were evaluated with regulations and guidelines.

Low heart rate variability from 10-s electrocardiograms is associated with development of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

Reduced heart rate variability (HRV) is reflective of autonomic imbalance. However, its impact on non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is unknown. We investigated the association between 10-s HRV and incident NAFLD.

Decrease in Sleep Duration and Poor Sleep Quality over Time Is Associated with an Increased Risk of Incident Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease.

The impact of changes in sleep duration and sleep quality over time on the risk of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is not known. We investigated whether changes in sleep duration and in sleep quality between baseline and follow-up are associated with the risk of developing incident NAFLD. The cohort study included 86,530 Korean adults without NAFLD and with a low fibrosis score at baseline.

Risk factors for hemorrhoidal disease among healthy young and middle-aged Korean adults.

Hemorrhoidal disease is a highly prevalent anorectal condition causing substantial discomfort, disability, and decreased quality of life. Evidence on preventable risk factors for hemorrhoidal disease is limited. We conducted a cross-sectional study of 194,620 healthy men and women who completed a health screening exam including colonoscopy in 2011-2017.

Sleep Duration, Sleep Quality, and the Development of Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: A Cohort Study.

Introduction: The longitudinal relationship between sleep duration, sleep quality, and the risk of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is unknown. We aimed to examine the association between sleep duration, sleep quality, and NAFLD development.

Methods: Using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, sleep duration and quality were evaluated for 143,306 NAFLD-free Korean adults with a mean age of 36.

Liver fibrosis scores and risk of liver-related mortality in young adults with chronic hepatitis B: A cohort study.

The predictive role of noninvasive liver fibrosis scores on liver-related mortality in patients with chronic hepatitis B below 40 years of age remains unclarified. We examined the association of liver fibrosis scores with liver-related mortality in young (<40 years) and older adults with hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. A cohort study was performed in 21,360 HBsAg-positive Korean adults without liver cirrhosis or liver cancer at baseline who were followed up for up to 18 years.

Fatty liver disease and changes in dense breasts in pre- and postmenopausal women: the Kangbuk Samsung Health Study.

Purpose: While increased breast density is a risk factor for breast cancer, the effect of fatty liver disease on breast density is unknown. We investigated whether fatty liver is a risk factor for changes in breast density over ~ 4 years of follow-up in pre- and postmenopausal women.

Methods: This study included 74,781 middle-aged Korean women with mammographically determined dense breasts at baseline.

Absolute oral and subcutaneous bioavailability of ortho-topolin riboside in mice.

Among essential phytohormones playing a pivotal role in regulating growth and development, ortho-topolin riboside (oTR) exerts the most substantial anti-tumor potency in various cancer cell lines. This study was designed to establish a quantitative determination method for oTR in mouse plasma using high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS), to validate the analytical method including stability, and to characterise its pharmacokinetic behaviour in mice. After simple protein precipitation with acetonitrile including kinetin riboside (internal standard), oTR was eluted on a reversed-phase column using a mobile phase of water and acetonitrile (3:7 v/v, including 0.