Publications by authors named "Jun-Yong Park"
Background/objectives: Cytokine-induced killer (CIK) cell immunotherapy has shown promise in reducing recurrence and improving survival outcomes in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We evaluated the efficacy and safety of CIK cell therapy in a real-world clinical setting.
Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 49 patients who received CIK cell therapy after curative resection or radiofrequency ablation, compared with 49 matched control patients via 1:1 propensity score matching.
Background: Serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine [5-HT]) is a monoamine neurotransmitter that has various functions in central and peripheral tissues. While 5-HT is known to regulate various biological processes in liver, direct role of 5-HT and its receptors, especially 5-HT receptor 2A (HTR2A) and HTR2B, in development and progression of alcoholic liver disease (ALD) in vivo is not well understood.
Methods: Blood 5-HT level was measured from both human ALD patients and ethanol (EtOH) diet-fed mouse models.
Background & Aims: This study aimed to compare ultrasonography (US) and noncontrast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the surveillance of hepatic malignancy.
Methods: We conducted a randomized, nonblinded, single-center trial at a single center in South Korea. Eligible individuals were aged 20 to 70 years with liver cirrhosis, Child-Pugh class A, and no history of liver cancer or other recent malignancy.
Atezolizumab and bevacizumab show promise for treating hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), but identifying responsive patients remains challenging, due to tumor heterogeneity. This study explores immune dynamics following this combination therapy. Between 2020 and 2023, 29 patients with advanced HCC who received atezolizumab plus bevacizumab at Severance Hospital, Seoul, were enrolled in this study.
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- The study aimed to validate the SALT-M score in predicting 1-year post-liver transplantation mortality for patients with acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) in an Asian cohort.
- The results showed that SALT-M provided better predictability for post-transplant survival compared to traditional MELD scoring systems, with higher AUROC and c-index values.
- The findings suggest that using the SALT-M score can effectively stratify the risk of mortality in ACLF patients, potentially guiding decisions on liver transplantation eligibility.
Article Synopsis
- A study aimed to investigate the incidence of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) and its progression to advanced fibrosis in individuals aged 60 and older, revealing a growing concern as this population expands.* -
- Researchers analyzed data from 329,388 seniors, finding an overall MASLD incidence rate of 1.94 per 100 person-years, which increased significantly in people who were overweight or obese.* -
- The results highlight that overweight/obesity is a strong predictor for both MASLD and advanced fibrosis in older adults, emphasizing the need to identify age-specific risk factors for better health outcomes in this demographic.*
Article Synopsis
- * Researchers analyzed data from nearly 4,800 patients and found that their model, named PLAN-B-CURE, outperformed existing prediction models significantly in various metrics.
- * The results indicate that the PLAN-B-CURE model can be utilized for personalized monitoring of patients post-HBsAg seroclearance, improving long-term health management.
Article Synopsis
- - A new mouse model (STZ + HFD) mimicking the progression of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) has been developed, showcasing stages from fatty liver to liver cancer.
- - This model reflects hepatic transcriptomic features similar to those found in obese type 2 diabetes patients, allowing for better study of the disease's mechanisms and effects.
- - Interventions such as dietary changes and tirzepatide treatment effectively reduce liver issues in this model, presenting potential avenues for treating MASLD in humans.
Article Synopsis
- Nivolumab and regorafenib are second-line treatments for patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after failing sorafenib.
- A study compared the effectiveness of these two treatments by analyzing progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) in 189 patients, finding that initial results suggested regorafenib had better OS.
- However, after controlling for selection bias using advanced statistical methods, the outcomes for both treatments were similar, indicating no significant differences in survival between nivolumab and regorafenib.
Background & Aims: Chronic HCV infection results in abnormal immunological alterations, which are not fully normalized after viral elimination by direct-acting antiviral (DAA) treatment. Herein, we longitudinally examined phenotypic, transcriptomic, and epigenetic alterations in peripheral blood regulatory T (Treg) cells from patients with chronic HCV infection before, during, and after DAA treatment.
Methods: Patients with chronic genotype 1b HCV infection who achieved sustained virologic response by DAA treatment and age-matched healthy donors were recruited.
Double entrapment neuropathy of the ulnar nerve at the elbow and the wrist : double crush syndrome?
BMC Musculoskelet Disord
June 2024
Article Synopsis
- Double crush syndrome occurs when a nerve is compressed in two locations, commonly affecting the ulnar nerve, and can be difficult to diagnose without specialized testing.
- In a study of eight patients with suspected ulnar nerve compression, most had a history of trauma, and while some underwent surgery, others received conservative treatment, with varying levels of improvement in hand function.
- The findings suggest that standard exams and EMG tests may not be sufficient for diagnosis, highlighting the importance of suspecting double crush syndrome when symptoms persist despite treatment.
Article Synopsis
- The study investigates the prevalence of sarcopenia in older male outpatients with stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and its clinical features, highlighting the lack of similar research in Korea.
- In a sample of 63 participants aged 65 and older, 22% were diagnosed with possible sarcopenia and approximately 12.6% with sarcopenia using specific diagnostic criteria and tests.
- After 6 months of follow-up, while there was an increase in patients with reduced lung function, the prevalence of sarcopenia remained stable, indicating the need for attention to this condition in COPD management.
Article Synopsis
- Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a significant health issue in South Korea, with over 10,500 new cases reported annually, making cancer registries essential for tracking incidence and outcomes.
- The Korea Central Cancer Registry (KCCR), established in 1999, collects comprehensive cancer data but previously lacked detailed staging and treatment information for HCC.
- Since 2010, the KCCR, partnered with the Korean Liver Cancer Association (KLCA), has adopted a detailed data collection approach involving random sampling of cases to improve data accuracy and support cancer control efforts.
Article Synopsis
- - The study investigates the outcomes of second-line systemic treatments (sorafenib and lenvatinib) for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after patients experience disease progression on the recommended first-line therapy, atezolizumab plus bevacizumab (ATE+BEV).
- - Out of 126 patients analyzed, results showed that although the objective response rate was similar for both treatment groups, lenvatinib significantly outperformed sorafenib in disease control rates and progression-free survival (PFS).
- - Overall survival (OS) was similar between the two treatments, indicating that while lenvatinib may improve disease management post-ATE+BEV, further research is needed for better treatment strategies.
Article Synopsis
- - The study examined the impact of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) on clinical outcomes in patients with intestinal Behçet's disease (BD), focusing on hospitalizations and medication use from 2005 to 2022.
- - Of the 780 patients analyzed, 72.3% had hepatic steatosis and 8.8% had significant liver fibrosis, but these liver conditions did not show a significant association with clinical relapse or worsening of intestinal BD.
- - Key risk factors for clinical relapse included younger age, previous smoking, skin lesions, higher white blood cell count, and lower serum albumin levels, but liver health did not correlate with these outcomes.
Liver transplantation is a highly complex and challenging field of clinical practice. Although it was originally developed in western countries, it has been further advanced in Asian countries through the use of living donor liver transplantation. This method of transplantation is the only available option in many countries in the Asia-Pacific region due to the lack of deceased organ donation.
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- * In a study from 2019 to 2021 involving nearly 97,000 surgical patients, a significant portion tested positive for HCV antibodies, with comorbid conditions like diabetes and hypertension being prevalent among those infected.
- * Despite high positivity rates for HCV RNA, only a small percentage received the necessary antiviral treatment, indicating a need for better education and screening protocols among surgical teams.
Background: Sorafenib improves the overall survival in patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Dickkopf-1 (DKK1) is commonly overexpressed in HCC. In this study, we investigated whether the inhibition of DKK1 enhances the anti-tumor efficacy of sorafenib in HCC.
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- * Experiments using different analysis techniques indicated that L. plantarum treatment decreases inflammation-related pathways and increases microbial genes associated with L-arginine biosynthesis.
- * Elevated levels of L-arginine in the serum were linked to reduced liver inflammation, suggesting that this amino acid plays a key role in the therapeutic effects of L. plantarum.
Article Synopsis
- Patients who stop nucleos(t)ide analogue therapy for chronic hepatitis B risk viral rebound and severe liver flare-ups, requiring close monitoring.
- A study of 475 HBeAg-negative patients found that higher levels of both hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA 24 weeks after stopping treatment are linked to a greater risk of clinical relapse and lower chances of HBsAg loss.
- The study suggests that low levels of HBsAg and HBV DNA at follow-up can predict better outcomes, indicating potential criteria for determining the suitability of patients for finite therapy in hepatitis B treatment.
Article Synopsis
- The study investigates how pretreatment HBV DNA levels affect outcomes after stopping nucleotide analogue (NUC) therapy for chronic hepatitis B.
- Data were collected from 757 HBeAg-negative patients predominantly from Asia, analyzing their relapse rates and chances of HBsAg loss based on their HBV DNA levels before treatment.
- Results show that lower pretreatment HBV DNA (<20,000 IU/ml) significantly decreases the risk of clinical relapse and increases the likelihood of HBsAg loss, indicating that some patients may not need retreatment after NUC cessation.
Article Synopsis
- Machine learning (ML) algorithms have been developed to enhance the predictive accuracy for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) risk among patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) receiving antiviral therapy (AVT).
- A study used a training cohort of 960 patients to create an ML model predicting HCC development within 5 years, which was subsequently validated with a separate group of 1937 patients.
- The new ML model outperformed existing risk prediction models, achieving a higher area under the receiver-operating characteristic curve (AUC) and demonstrating significant differences in HCC development among identified risk groups.
Article Synopsis
- The study examined the characteristics and prognosis of Korean patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) based on the disease's etiology, focusing on data from 2010-2014.
- Out of 1,595 patients analyzed, those with hepatitis B had the best survival rates, followed by hepatitis C, while non-B non-C patients faced significantly poorer outcomes.
- The research highlighted that the presence of diabetes mellitus negatively impacted survival rates, particularly in patients with early-stage HCC.