20(S)-ginsenoside Rg3 alleviates DSS-induced colitis by promoting ERK-dependent maturation of MDSCs into M2 macrophages.

Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) are immature myeloid cells with immunosuppressive functions that play various roles in tumors and inflammatory diseases. In colitis, MDSCs accumulate in the inflamed colon, where they mature into M2-polarized macrophages and modulate inflammatory responses. Ginsenosides, active components of ginseng, have been shown to display colitis-alleviating effects in mouse models.

Predictive Role of White Blood Cell Differential Count for the Development of Acute Exacerbation in Korean Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.

Purpose: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a respiratory disease characterized by chronic inflammation. Acute exacerbation of COPD (AECOPD) manifests as acute worsening of respiratory symptoms and is associated with high morbidity and mortality. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the predictive value of white blood count (WBC) and its derived inflammatory biomarkers for AECOPD.

Pulmonary Rehabilitation Is Associated With Decreased Exacerbation and Mortality in Patients With COPD: A Nationwide Korean Study.

Background: Poor uptake to pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) is still challenging around the world. There have been few nationwide studies investigating whether PR impacts patient outcomes in COPD. We investigated the change of annual PR implementation rate, medical costs, and COPD outcomes including exacerbation rates and mortality between 2015 and 2019.

Clinical outcomes of transbronchial cryobiopsy using a 1.1-mm diameter cryoprobe for peripheral lung lesions - A prospective pilot study.

Objectives: Transbronchial cryobiopsy (TBCB) is a novel technique for the diagnosis of peripheral lung lesions (PLLs). We aim to evaluate the clinical outcomes of TBCB using a new 1.1-mm diameter cryoprobe for the diagnosis of PLLs.

The Protective Role of Exosome-Derived MicroRNAs and Proteins from Human Breast Milk against Infectious Agents.

Human breast milk (HBM)-derived exosomes contain various biological and immunological components. However, comprehensive immune-related and antimicrobial factor analysis requires transcriptomic, proteomic, and multiple databases for functional analyses, and has yet to be conducted. Therefore, we isolated and confirmed HBM-derived exosomes by detecting specific markers and examining their morphology using western blot and transmission electron microscopy.

Changes in microRNAs during Storage and Processing of Breast Milk.

Human breast milk (HBM) is the ideal source of nutrients for infants and is rich in microRNA (miRNA). In recent years, expressed breast milk feeding rather than direct breastfeeding has become increasingly prevalent for various reasons. Expressed HBM requires storage and processing, which can cause various changes in the ingredients.

Real-world evaluation of atezolizumab and etoposide-carboplatin as a first-line treatment for extensive-stage small cell lung cancer.

Background/aims: Despite the obvious benefits of adding immune checkpoint inhibitors to platinum-etoposide chemotherapy in patients with extensive-stage small-cell lung cancer (ES-SCLC), real-world data remain scarce.

Methods: This retrospective study included 89 patients with ES-SCLC treated with platinum-etoposide chemotherapy alone (chemo-only group; n = 48) or in combination with atezolizumab (atezolizumab group; n = 41) and compared the survival outcomes between these two groups.

Results: Overall survival (OS) was significantly longer in the atezolizumab group than in the chemo-only group (15.

Emphysema Quantification Using Ultra-Low-Dose Chest CT: Efficacy of Deep Learning-Based Image Reconstruction.

Background and Objectives: Although reducing the radiation dose level is important during diagnostic computed tomography (CT) applications, effective image quality enhancement strategies are crucial to compensate for the degradation that is caused by a dose reduction. We performed this prospective study to quantify emphysema on ultra-low-dose CT images that were reconstructed using deep learning-based image reconstruction (DLIR) algorithms, and compared and evaluated the accuracies of DLIR algorithms versus standard-dose CT. Materials and Methods: A total of 32 patients were prospectively enrolled, and all underwent standard-dose and ultra-low-dose (120 kVp; CTDIvol < 0.

Risk Factors for Postoperative Pneumonia in the Elderly Following Hip Fracture Surgery: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Pneumonia is a serious complication following hip fracture surgery in older people. However, the prevalence and risk factors of postoperative pneumonia (POP) are not well-established. This study identified pre- and peri-operative factors associated with the development of POP following hip fracture surgery.

The Korean-Lung Information Needs Questionnaire: Translation, validation and clinical implications in comprehensive pulmonary rehabilitation.

Purpose: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is characterized by airflow limitation and persistent respiratory symptoms. Several symptom-related questionnaires have been validated to improve understanding for patient with COPD. We aimed to systematically translate the English version of the Lung Information Needs Questionnaire (LINQ) into Korean and to verify the reliability, validity and clinical implications in comprehensive pulmonary rehabilitation (PR).

Safety and Diagnostic Yield of Radial Probe Endobronchial Ultrasound-Guided Biopsy for Peripheral Lung Lesions in Patients with Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis: A Multicenter Cross-Sectional Study.

Background: Radial probe endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial lung biopsy (RP-EBUS-TBLB) is widely used for diagnosis of peripheral lung lesions (PLLs). To date, there have been no reports regarding the clinical outcomes of RP-EBUS-TBLB for PLLs in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF).

Objectives: This study was performed between October 2017 and December 2019 to identify the safety and diagnostic performance of RP-EBUS-TBLB in IPF patients.

Cancer Testis Antigen, NOL4, Is an Immunogenic Antigen Specifically Expressed in Small-Cell Lung Cancer.

To identify cancer/testis (CT) antigens and immunogenic proteins, immunoscreening of testicular and small-cell lung cancer cell line NCI-H889 cDNA libraries was performed using serum obtained from a small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) patient. We obtained 113 positive cDNA clones comprised of 74 different genes, designated KP-SCLC-1 through KP-SCLC-74. Of these genes, 59 genes were found to be related to cancers by EMBASE analysis.

Treatments of inflammatory bowel disease toward personalized medicine.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), including ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn's disease (CD), is a chronic inflammatory disease characterized by intestinal inflammation and epithelial injury. For the treatment of IBD, 5-aminosalicylic acids, corticosteroids, immunomodulators, and biologic agents targeting tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, α4β7-integrin, and interleukin (IL)-12/23 have been widely used. Especially, anti-TNF-α antibodies are the first biologic agents that presently remain at the forefront.

Treatment Outcomes of Patients with Multidrug-Resistant Tuberculosis: Comparison of Pre- and Post-Public-Private Mix Periods.

Background: This study compared the treatment outcomes of patients with multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) before and after the implementation of public-private mix (PPM). Factors affecting treatment success were also investigated.

Methods: Data from culture-confirmed pulmonary MDR-TB patients who commenced MDR-TB treatment at Pusan National University Hospital between January 2003 and December 2017 were retrospectively reviewed.

More than Nutrition: Therapeutic Potential of Breast Milk-Derived Exosomes in Cancer.

Human breast milk (HBM) is an irreplaceable source of nutrition for early infant growth and development. Breast-fed children are known to have a low prevalence and reduced risk of various diseases, such as necrotizing enterocolitis, gastroenteritis, acute lymphocytic leukemia, and acute myeloid leukemia. In recent years, HBM has been found to contain a microbiome, extracellular vesicles or exosomes, and microRNAs, as well as nutritional components and non-nutritional proteins, including immunoregulatory proteins, hormones, and growth factors.

Factors associated with sleep disturbance in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Introduction: Poor sleep quality in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) has been associated with poor health outcomes. However, there is a lack of research on factors associated with sleep disturbance in patients with COPD.

Objectives: We investigated patterns of sleep disturbance and factors associated with sleep impairment in patients with COPD.

Predictors of Low-Level Disease-Specific Knowledge in Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.

Background: Disease-specific knowledge is associated with outcomes of patients, but the knowledge level of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients is known to be low.

Objective: We measured the level of disease-specific knowledge and defined factors associated with poor disease knowledge in COPD patients.

Materials And Methods: A cross-sectional survey was performed in five hospitals in South Korea.

Decline in Carbon Monoxide Transfer Coefficient in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.

Background: Although a reduced carbon monoxide transfer coefficient (Kco) is an important feature in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), how it changes over time and its relationship with other clinical outcomes remain unclear. This study evaluated longitudinal changes in Kco and their relationship with other clinical outcomes.

Methods: We evaluated patients with COPD from the Korean Obstructive Lung Disease cohort, followed up for up to ten years.

Validation of Previous Spirometric Reference Equations and New Equations.

Background: Pulmonary functions are interpreted using predicted values from reference equations that vary with ethnicity, gender, age, height, and weight. The universally used Choi's reference equations are not validated for Korean populations, and the purpose of this study was to validate them and develop new reference equations.

Methods: Subjects with normal spirometry and chest radiographs, no co-morbidities, and non-smokers, from the Korean National Health and National Examination Survey (KNHANES)-VI were enrolled (n = 117).