Publications by authors named "Kyuhong Lee"

The effect of atmospheric ultrafine particulate matter (UPM) on respiratory allergic diseases has been investigated for decades; however, the precise molecular mechanisms underlying these effects remain poorly understood. In this study, we used a simulated UPM (sUPM) generated via the spark discharge method to refine black carbon, a core particle that closely mimics real-world UPM, including the size (i.e.

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Exposure to fine particulate matter (PM) and heavy metals (HMs) in the air is closely associated with the incidence and exacerbation of pulmonary fibrosis. Although the specific responses of alveolar epithelial cells (AECs) and lung fibroblasts to PM or HM exposure have been well defined, the cellular responses of lung fibroblasts to PM or HM exposure and the subsequent interactions with AECs remain poorly investigated. In this study, we demonstrated that human lung fibroblasts exposed to PM or lead (Pb) induced fibrotic changes and apoptosis in AECs.

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Knee osteoarthritis (OA) is a prevalent degenerative joint disease significantly impacting global health. Early and accurate diagnosis is crucial for effective management, but traditional methods often rely on subjective assessments. This study evaluates the efficacy of a deep learning model implemented through a no-code AI platform for diagnosing and grading knee OA from plain radiographs.

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  • Cigarette smoke (CS) during pregnancy can worsen liver injury in offspring exposed to acetaminophen (APAP), leading to increased liver damage and inflammation.
  • Maternal exposure to mainstream cigarette smoke (MSCS) also reduces the expression of microRNA (miR)-34a-5p in the offspring's liver, which plays a role in protecting against liver toxicity.
  • Overexpressing miR-34a-5p can counteract the harmful effects of prenatal CS exposure, highlighting its potential as a therapeutic target for liver injury caused by substances like APAP.
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  • Alveolar macrophages (AMs) play a crucial role in the pulmonary clearance of carbon black nanoparticles (CBNPs), with their involvement affecting how these particles are eliminated from the lungs over time.
  • * The study found that CBNPs exhibit a unique clearance pattern: they clear slowly until day 28, then rapidly between days 28 and 60, and slowly again from days 60 to 90.
  • * Results indicate that the presence and activity of AMs are essential for the initial slow clearance, while their turnover and new generations influence the subsequent fast and slow phases, suggesting further research is necessary to fully understand these mechanisms.
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  • Polypropylene (PP), polystyrene (PS), and polyethylene (PE) are common plastics found in everyday products, raising concerns about inhalable microplastics in indoor air, especially after increased indoor time during the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • A study was conducted on C57BL/6 mice to assess the toxicity of these microplastics; it found that PS led to significantly higher inflammation in the lungs compared to controls, while PP and PE did not show notable effects.
  • The study highlighted that PS exposure activated certain inflammatory pathways and proteins in the lungs, indicating that inhaling PS microplastic particles may contribute to respiratory inflammation.
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Smoking is a well-established risk factor for various pathologies, including pulmonary diseases, cardiovascular disorders, and cancers. The toxic effects of cigarette smoke (CS) are mediated through multiple pathways and diverse mechanisms. A key pathogenic factor is oxidative stress, primarily induced by excessive formation of reactive oxygen species.

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This study aimed to investigate the dimensions and types of the os trigonum and evaluate their relationship with various pathologic conditions on the posterior ankle using ankle MRI images. A total of 124 non-contrast-enhanced ankle and foot MR images of 123 consecutive patients were included in this retrospective study. The images were presented randomly, and they contained no patient information.

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Inhalation of polyhexamethylene guanidine phosphate (PHMG) can cause pulmonary fibrosis. Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidases (Nox) are enzymes that produce reactive oxygen species, which may be involved in tissue damage in various lung diseases. To investigate whether the Nox2 isoform of Nox is involved in the progression of PHMG-induced lung damage, we studied the contribution of Nox2 in PHMG-induced lung injury in Nox2-deficient mice.

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  • The study assessed the accuracy of ChatGPT in answering MRI-related questions through a two-step evaluation process involving simple questions and multiple-choice formats.
  • ChatGPT performed well with straightforward questions, achieving over 85% accuracy, but struggled with more complex multiple-choice questions, showing accuracy rates between 40% and 66.7%.
  • The findings highlight both the strengths and limitations of using ChatGPT in medical contexts, underscoring the need for cautious application in healthcare and education, especially regarding intricate topics like MRI.
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  • Sacroiliitis is an inflammatory condition affecting the sacroiliac joints, often leading to lower back pain and can be difficult to diagnose due to subtle radiographic signs.
  • A study involving 492 patients aimed to develop an AI diagnostic tool using a convolutional neural network (DenseNet121) to improve the detection of sacroiliitis in radiological images.
  • The AI model demonstrated high accuracy across various grades of sacroiliitis and showed potential for enhancing diagnostic precision, which could ultimately lead to better treatment plans and improved patient outcomes.
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Exposure to ambient ultrafine particulate matter (UPM) causes respiratory disorders; however, the underlying molecular mechanisms remain unclear. In this study, we synthesized simulated UPM (sUPM) with controlled physicochemical properties using the spark-discharge method. Subsequently, we investigated the biological effects of sUPM using BEAS-2B human bronchial epithelial cells (HBECs) and a mouse intratracheal instillation model.

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Expanded polystyrene (EPS), also known as Styrofoam, is a widespread global pollutant, and its lightweight floating property increases its chances of weathering by abrasion and ultraviolet (UV) irradiation, resulting in microplastics. Herein, we investigated the effects of particle size ((1 µm versus 10 µm), UV irradiation (pristine versus UV oxidation), and origin (secondary versus primary) on the toxicity of Styrofoam microplastics. The target cells used in this study were selected based on human exposure-relevant cell lines: differentiated THP-1 cells for macrophages, Caco-2 for enterocytes, HepG2 for hepatocytes, and A549 for alveolar epithelial cells.

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Despite a humidifier disinfectant (HD) product containing chloromethylisothiazolinone (CMIT) and methylisothiazolinone (MIT) with approximately 22% magnesium nitrate as a stabilizer, no report on the effects of magnesium nitrate on the respiratory toxicity of CMIT/MIT is available. In this study, Kathon CG and Proclin 200, containing approximately 1.5% CMIT/MIT with different magnesium nitrate concentrations (22.

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No comparative study has yet been performed on the respiratory effects of individual E-cigarette ingredients. Here, lung toxicity of individual ingredients of E-cigarette products containing nicotine or tetrahydrocannabinol was investigated. Mice were intratracheally administered propylene glycol (PG), vegetable glycerin (VG), vitamin E acetate (VEA), or nicotine individually for two weeks.

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Particulate matter (PM), an environmental risk factor, is linked with health risks such as respiratory diseases. This study aimed to establish an animal model of PM-induced lung injury with artificial PM (APM) and identify the potential of APM for toxicological research. APM was generated from graphite at 600 °C and combined with ethylene.

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Unlabelled: Cigarette smoke (CS) is a dominant carcinogenic agent in a variety of human cancers. CS exposure during pregnancy can adversely affect the fetus. Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is considered as a hepatic manifestation of a metabolic disorder, and ranges from simple steatosis to cirrhosis leading to hepatocellular carcinoma.

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Background: Polypropylene (PP) is used in various products such as disposable containers, spoons, and automobile parts. The disposable masks used for COVID-19 prevention mainly comprise PP, and the disposal of such masks is concerning because of the potential environmental pollution. Recent reports have suggested that weathered PP microparticles can be inhaled, however, the inhalation toxicology of PP microparticles is poorly understood.

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Globally, plastics are used in various products. Concerns regarding the human body's exposure to plastics and environmental pollution have increased with increased plastic use. Microplastics can be detected in the atmosphere, leading to potential human health risks through inhalation; however, the toxic effects of microplastic inhalation are poorly understood.

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  • A study was conducted to investigate whether isothiazolinone biocides (CMIT and MIT) could cause lung injuries when introduced into the body via intratracheal and intranasal methods.
  • The researchers found that CMIT/MIT rapidly distributed throughout the respiratory tract, and significant amounts of the substances reached the lungs, causing detectable damage and inflammation.
  • The results indicated that intratracheal instillation led to greater lung injuries compared to intranasal exposure, suggesting varying levels of toxicity based on administration route.*
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Humidifier disinfectant (HD) is a causative agent of atypical lung injury reported in 2011 in South Korea, and various diseases caused by HD after exposure cessation have been reported to date. However, there is limited research on most of the reported diseases in terms of their association with HD exposure, and information on the progression of diseases caused by HD exposure is also limited. Therefore, we investigated the effects of HD inhalation on the body in rats.

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A public health crisis in the form of a significant incidence of fatal pulmonary disease caused by repeated use of humidifier disinfectants containing polyhexamethylene guanidine phosphate (PHMG) recently arose in Korea. Although the mechanisms of pulmonary fibrosis following respiratory exposure to PHMG are well described, distant-organ effect has not been reported. In this study, we investigated whether intratracheal administration of PHMG affects liver pathophysiology and metabolism.

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Exposure to particulate matter (PM) is related to various respiratory diseases, and this affects the respiratory immune system. Alveolar macrophages (AMs), which are defenders against pathogens, play a key role in respiratory inflammation through cytokine production and cellular interactions. Coconut oil demonstrates antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, and it is consumed worldwide for improved health.

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