Conductive single enzyme nanocomposites prepared by in-situ growth of nanoscale polyaniline for high performance enzymatic bioelectrode.

Enzyme-based electrochemical biosensors hold great promise for applications in health/disease monitoring, drug discovery, and environmental monitoring. However, inherently non-conductive nature of proteinaceous enzymes often hampers effective electron transfer at enzyme-electrode interface, limiting biosensor performance of enzyme bioelectrodes. To address this problem, we present an approach to synthesize polyaniline (PAN)-based conductive single enzyme nanocomposites of glucose oxidase (GOx) (denoted as PAN-GOx).

Magnetic hollow fibers of covalent organic frameworks (COF) for pollutant degradation and adsorptive removal.

The shaping of covalent organic frameworks (COFs) from non-processible powder forms into applicable architectures with additional functionality remains a challenge. Using pre-electrospun polymer fibers as a sacrificial template, herein, we report a green synthesis of an architecture in the form of COF hollow fibers with an inner layer of peroxidase-like iron oxide nanoparticles as a catalytic material. When compared to peroxidase-like pristine iron oxide nanoparticles, these COF hollow fibers demonstrate higher catalytic breakdown of crystal violet due to their peroxidase-like activity via advanced oxidation process.

Development and linguistic validation of the Korean version of the Severe Asthma Questionnaire.

Background: Severe asthma, compared with mild to moderate asthma, has a larger impact on the quality of life (QOL) of the affected patients and their families. These findings underscore the need for patient-reported outcomes that are specific to severe asthma. The Severe Asthma Questionnaire (SAQ) is a validated disease-specific questionnaire that addresses the impact of severe asthma on patients.

Risk factors of anaphylaxis in Korea: Identifying drug-induced anaphylaxis culprits using big data.

Drug-induced anaphylaxis is a fatal medical condition whose incidence has been increasing continuously. Due to differences between genetic backgrounds and health care systems, different populations may be prone to various causative drugs. Using the Health Insurance Service and Assessment Service database, we investigated culprit drugs for drug-induced anaphylaxis and common medication risk factors in the Korean general population.

Controlled growth of redox polymer network on single enzyme molecule for stable and sensitive enzyme electrode.

The electrochemical applications of enzymes are often hampered by poor enzyme stability and low electron conductivity. In this work, a novel enzyme nanogel based on atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) has been developed for highly sensitive detection of glucose based on ferrocene (Fc) embedded in crosslinked polymer network nanogel. Enzyme surfaces are successively modified with Br initiator, and then in situ atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) was performed to build up crosslinked polyacrylamide network.

Validation of Practical Pathway in Patients With Anaphylaxis to Low Osmolar Contrast Media: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Background: An optimal strategy for choosing safe alternative low osmolar contrast media (LOCM) has not yet been established in patients with a history of LOCM-induced anaphylaxis.

Objectives: To validate the practical pathway in patients with anaphylaxis to LOCMs and to compare 2 different doses of challenge testing with skin test-negative LOCM.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study was performed in patients with LOCM-induced anaphylaxis.

Lung function decline is associated with serum uric acid in Korean health screening individuals.

We performed a retrospective cohort study of 19,237 individuals who underwent at least three health screenings with follow-up periods of over 5 years to find a routinely checked serum marker that predicts lung function decline. Using linear regression models to analyze associations between the rate of decline in the forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) and the level of 10 serum markers (calcium, phosphorus, uric acid, total cholesterol, total protein, total bilirubin, alkaline phosphatase, aspartate aminotransferase, creatinine, and C-reactive protein) measured at two different times (at the first and third health screenings), we found that an increased uric acid level was significantly associated with an accelerated FEV1 decline (P = 0.0014 and P = 0.

Mapping the molecular and structural specialization of the skin basement membrane for inter-tissue interactions.

Inter-tissue interaction is fundamental to multicellularity. Although the basement membrane (BM) is located at tissue interfaces, its mode of action in inter-tissue interactions remains poorly understood, mainly because the molecular and structural details of the BM at distinct inter-tissue interfaces remain unclear. By combining quantitative transcriptomics and immunohistochemistry, we systematically identify the cellular origin, molecular identity and tissue distribution of extracellular matrix molecules in mouse hair follicles, and reveal that BM composition and architecture are exquisitely specialized for distinct inter-tissue interactions, including epithelial-fibroblast, epithelial-muscle and epithelial-nerve interactions.

Vitamin D deficiency and lung function decline in healthy individuals: A large longitudinal observation study.

Aim: A reliable evidence from a comprehensive large-scale study supporting associations between serum vitamin D (25-hydroxyvitamin D) level (SVDL) and lung function decline (LFD) in healthy individuals has been unavailable. Using a well-established health screening database, we assessed the associations between SVDL and LFDs, measured as the forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) and FEV1/FVC ratio.

Methods: Serial SVDL and lung function data were analyzed using linear mixed models, which were performed in smokers and non-smokers, separately.

Incidence rates of severe cutaneous adverse reactions due to antiseizure medication: A nationwide study using health claims data in Korea.

Objective: Antiseizure medications (ASMs) can rarely result in severe, sometimes fatal, cutaneous adverse reactions. To date, few studies have reported on the incidence rates (IRs) of severe cutaneous adverse reactions (SCARs) due to ASM use. This study aimed to determine the IRs of SCAR resulting from the use of seven commonly prescribed ASMs, carbamazepine (CBZ), phenytoin (PHT), oxcarbazepine (OXC), lamotrigine (LMT), zonisamide (ZNS), levetiracetam (LVT), and topiramate (TPM), and to compare the associated risks among the drugs.

Usefulness of routine blood test-driven clusters for predicting acute exacerbation in patients with asthma.

Aim: Acute exacerbation (AE) is a significant burden in the management of asthma. In this study we aimed to investigate whether routine blood test results predicted AE in asthmatics.

Methods: We applied k-means cluster to routine blood test results which included eosinophil counts, total calcium, phosphorus, uric acid (UA), total cholesterol, total protein, albumin, total bilirubin, alkaline phosphatase, aspartate transaminase (AST), alanine transferase (ALT), gamma-glutamyltransferase, blood urea nitrogen, creatinine, and high-sensitive C-reactive protein (hsCRP) obtained from 590 asthmatics.

Blood Eosinophil Count as a Predictor of Lung Function Decline in Healthy Individuals.

Background: Little is known about the effect of blood eosinophil count (BEC) on a decline in lung function in healthy individuals.

Objective: Using a well-established health screening database, we assessed the associations between BEC and a decline in lung function, measured as the forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV).

Methods: Serial BEC and FEV data were analyzed using linear mixed models adjusted for gender, height, and smoking status.

Past, present, and future of pharmacovigilance in Korea.

As an essential part of patient safety, pharmacovigilance is of worldwide interest and should expand its scope and focus on new emerging issues. South Korea has been making continuous efforts in the field of pharmacovigilance for the last 3 decades since voluntary adverse drug reaction (ADR) reporting system was first launched in 1988. Korea joined the World Health Organization Program for International Drug Monitoring in 1992, and the activities of Pharmacovigilance Research Network, Korean Society for Pharmacoepidemiology and Risk Management, and Regional Pharmacovigilance Center (RPVC) have contributed to the remarkable progress in the pharmacovigilance area and global status.