Comparison between the International Classification of Primary Care and the International Classification of Diseases Classifications in Primary Care in Korea.

Background: The International Classification of Primary Care-2 (ICPC-2) is a classification method designed for primary care. Although previous studies have found that ICPC-2 is a useful tool for demonstrating the relationship between patients' expectations and health providers' diagnoses, its utility of ICPC-2 has yet to be fully studied in Korea. This study aimed to evaluate the practicality of ICPC-2 in Korean primary care.

Pastable, Adhesive, Injectable, Nanofibrous, and Tunable (PAINT) Biphasic Hybrid Matrices as Versatile Therapeutic Carriers.

A critical challenge in many pharmaceutical fields is developing versatile adjuvant devices that can reduce the off-target delivery of therapeutic materials to target lesions. Herein, a biphasic hybrid fibrous system that can manipulate the spatial and temporal delivery of various therapeutic agents to target lesions by integrating multiple distinct systems and technologies such as fluffy coaxial electrospun polycaprolactone (PCL)/polystyrene (PS) fibers, cyclohexane-mediated leaching to remove PS layers selectively, amine display on PCL fibers, conjugation of naturally occurring adhesive gallol molecules onto hyaluronic acid (HA-g), and electrostatically complexing the aminated PCL fibers with the gallol-conjugated HA. In the context of "paintable" systems on target lesions, the resulting system is called a PAINT matrix (abbreviated according to the initial letter of its features: pastable, adhesive, injectable, nanofibrous, and tunable).

AAVR-Displaying Interfaces: Serotype-Independent Adeno-Associated Virus Capture and Local Delivery Systems.

Interfacing gene delivery vehicles with biomaterials has the potential to play a key role in diversifying gene transfer capabilities, including localized, patterned, and controlled delivery. However, strategies for modifying biomaterials to interact with delivery vectors must be redesigned whenever new delivery vehicles and applications are explored. We have developed a vector-independent biomaterial platform capable of interacting with various adeno-associated viral (AAV) serotypes.

Effects of Ionic Strength on Lateral Particle Migration in Shear-Thinning Xanthan Gum Solutions.

Viscoelastic fluids, including particulate systems, are found in various biological and industrial systems including blood flow, food, cosmetics, and electronic materials. Particles suspended in viscoelastic fluids such as polymer solutions migrate laterally, forming spatially segregated streams in pressure-driven flow. Viscoelastic particle migration was recently applied to microfluidic technologies including particle counting and sorting and the micromechanical measurement of living cells.

Targeting protein and peptide therapeutics to the heart via tannic acid modification.

Systemic injection into blood vessels is the most common method of drug administration. However, targeting drugs to the heart is challenging, owing to its dynamic mechanical motions and large cardiac output. Here, we show that the modification of protein and peptide therapeutics with tannic acid-a flavonoid found in plants that adheres to extracellular matrices, elastins and collagens-improves their ability to specifically target heart tissue.

Safety and efficacy evaluations of an adeno-associated virus variant for preparing IL10-secreting human neural stem cell-based therapeutics.

Gene therapy technologies are inevitably required to boost the therapeutic performance of cell therapies; thus, validating the efficacy of gene carriers specifically used for preparing cellular therapeutics is a prerequisite for evaluating the therapeutic capabilities of gene and cell combinatorial therapies. Herein, the efficacy of a recombinant adeno-associated virus derivative (rAAVr3.45) was examined to evaluate its potential as a gene carrier for genetically manipulating interleukin-10 (IL10)-secreting human neural stem cells (hNSCs) that can potentially treat ischemic injuries or neurological disorders.

Relationship Between Handgrip Strength and Pulmonary Function in Apparently Healthy Older Women.

Objectives: To investigate the relationship between handgrip strength and pulmonary function.

Design: Cross-sectional study of a representative sample of older Korean women.

Setting: The Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

Korean Red Ginseng Protects Against Mitochondrial Damage and Intracellular Inflammation in an Animal Model of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus.

Korean red ginseng (KRG), a heat-processed Korean ginseng (Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer), has been used as a traditional medicine for its beneficial effects on hyperglycemia.

BiFACIAL ( Biomimetic Freestanding Anisotropic Catechol- Interfaces with Asymmetrically Layered) Films as Versatile Extracellular Matrix Substitutes.

Biological naïve extracellular matrices (ECMs) exhibit anisotropic functions in their physical, chemical, and morphological properties. Representative examples include anisotropic skin layers or blood vessels simultaneously facing multiphasic environments. Here, anisotropically multifunctional structures called BiFACIAL ( biomimetic freestanding anisotropic catechol- interfaces with asymmetrically layered) films were developed simply by contacting two polysaccharide solutions of heparin-catechol (Hep-C) and chitosan-catechol (Chi-C).

Inverted Quasi-Spherical Droplets on Polydopamine-TiO Substrates for Enhancing Gene Delivery.

Devising efficient gene delivery systems is crucial to enhancing the therapeutic efficacy of gene-cell therapy approaches. Herein, inverted quasi-spherical (iQS) droplet systems, which enhance gene delivery efficiencies by reducing the path lengths of gene vectors, mediating motions of vectors at early stages, and raising the contact frequencies of vectors with cells, are developed by adopting the principle of 3D hanging-drop cell culture. Micrometer-sized polydopamine (pDA) holes are created on superhydrophobic titanium isopropoxide (TiO )-coated substrates by physical scraping; droplets are loaded on the pDA holes, and inversion of the substrate generates iQS droplets with large contact angles.

Serum ferritin level is positively associated with insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome in postmenopausal women: A nationwide population-based study.

Objective: Serum ferritin, a marker of iron metabolism, has recently emerged as a biomarker of chronic low-grade inflammation. After menopause, there is a remarkable increase in insulin resistance (IR) and metabolic syndrome (MetS), which is increasingly being viewed as an inflammatory disease. Thus, we examined the associations of serum ferritin with insulin resistance and MetS in postmenopausal women.

Recombinant Adeno-Associated Virus Expressing Truncated IK Cytokine Diminishes the Symptoms of Inflammatory Arthritis.

IK can downregulate interferon-gamma-induced major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II expression through the MHC class II transactivator, which suggests that IK can inhibit the interactions between immune cells. We delivered adeno-associated virus serotype 2 (AAV2) encoding the genes for truncated IK (tIK) or green fluorescent protein (GFP) to DBA1/J mice via intravenous injection. Seven weeks after injection, collagen-induced arthritis was induced in the AAV2-treated mice.

Factors Positively Influencing Health Are Associated with a Lower Risk of Development of Metabolic Syndrome in Korean Men: The 2007-2009 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

Background: The prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) has risen rapidly worldwide, including in South Korea. Factors related to lifestyle are closely associated with the development of MetS. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between MetS and a number of factors positively influencing health, namely non-smoking, low-risk drinking, sufficient sleep, regular exercise, and the habit of reading food labels, among Korean men.

Salt-Induced Electrospun Patterned Bundled Fibers for Spatially Regulating Cellular Responses.

Implementing patterned fibrous matrices can offer a highly valuable platform for spatially orchestrating hierarchical cellular constructs, specifically for neural engineering approaches, in which striated alignment or directional growth of axons are key elements for the functional recovery of damaged nervous systems. Thus, understanding the structural parameters of patterned fibrous matrices that can effectively promote neural growth can provide crucial clues for designing state-of-the-art tissue engineering scaffolds. To this end, salt-induced electrospun patterned fiber bundles (SiEP bundles) comprising longitudinally stacked multiple fibers were fabricated, and their capabilities of spatially stimulating the responses of neural cells, including PC12 cells, human neural stem cells (hNSCs), and dorsal root ganglia (DRG), were assessed by comparing them to conventional fibrous matrices having either randomly oriented fibers or individually aligned fibers.

Antiplatelet activity of epigallocatechin gallate is mediated by the inhibition of PLCgamma2 phosphorylation, elevation of PGD2 production, and maintaining calcium-ATPase activity.

We have previously reported that green tea catechins displayed a potent antithrombotic effect by inhibition of platelet aggregation. In the present study, the antiplatelet and antithrombotic activities of epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), the major catechin derived from green tea, were extensively investigated. EGCG inhibited arterial thrombus formation and U46619-, collagen-, and arachidonic acid (AA)-induced washed rabbit platelet aggregation in a concentration-dependent manner, with IC50 values of 61 +/- 3, 85 +/- 4, and 99 +/- 4 microM, respectively.

Antiplatelet activity of [5-(2-methoxy-5-chlorophenyl)furan-2-ylcarbonyl]guanidine (KR-32570), a novel sodium/hydrogen exchanger-1 and its mechanism of action.

The antiplatelet effects of a novel guanidine derivative, KR-32570 ([5-(2-methoxy-5-chlorophenyl) furan-2-ylcarbonyl]guanidine), were investigated with an emphasis on the mechanisms underlying its inhibition of collagen-induced platelet aggregation. KR-32570 significantly inhibited the aggregation of washed rabbit platelets induced by collagen (10 microg/mL), thrombin (0.05 U/mL), arachidonic acid (100 microM), a thromboxane (TX) A2 mimetic agent U46619 (9,11-dideoxy-9,11-methanoepoxy-prostaglandin F2, 1 microM) and a Ca2+ ATPase inhibitor thapsigargin (0.

An antithrombotic agent, NQ301, inhibits thromboxane A2 receptor and synthase activity in rabbit platelets.

In previous studies we have reported that NQ301, a synthetic 1,4-naphthoquinone derivative, displays a potent antithrombotic activity, and that this might be due to antiplatelet effect, which was mediated by the inhibition of cytosolic Ca(2+) mobilization in activated platelets. In the present study, the effect of NQ301 on arachidonic acid cascade in activated platelets has been examined. NQ301 concentration-dependently inhibited washed rabbit platelet aggregation induced by collagen (10 microg/ml), arachidonic acid (100 microM) and U46619 (1 microM), a thromboxane A2 receptor agonist, with IC50 values of 0.

Inhibition of PDGF beta-receptor tyrosine phosphorylation and its downstream intracellular signal transduction in rat aortic vascular smooth muscle cells by kaempferol.

Kaempferol, a flavonoid present in human diet and plants, has been known to show cardiovascular protection via its anti-oxidant activity. In this study, we have investigated the effect of kaempferol on the proliferation of primary cultured rat aortic vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). Kaempferol significantly inhibited 50 ng/mL platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)-BB-induced proliferation and [3H]-thymidine incorporation into DNA at concentrations of 5, 20 and 50 microM without any cytotoxicity.

BMS-191095, a cardioselective mitochondrial K(ATP) opener, inhibits human platelet aggregation by opening mitochondrial K(ATP) channels.

We evaluated the antiplatelet effects of two classes of ATP-sensitive potassium channel openers (K(ATP) openers) on washed human platelets, and the study's emphasis was on the role of mitochondrial K(ATP) in platelet aggregation. Collagen-induced platelet aggregation was inhibited in a dose dependent manner by lemakalim and SKP-450, which are potent cardio-nonselective K(ATP) openers, and also by cardioselective BMS-180448 and BMS-191095 (IC50: 1,130, >1,500, 305.3 and 63.

Antiplatelet activity of J78 (2-Chloro-3-[2'-bromo, 4'-fluoro-phenyl]-amino-8-hydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinone), an antithrombotic agent, is mediated by thromboxane (TX) A2 receptor blockade with TXA2 synthase inhibition and suppression of cytosolic Ca2+ mobilization.

We previously reported that J78 (2-chloro-3-[2'-bromo, 4'-fluoro-phenyl]-amino-8-hydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinone), a newly synthesized 1,4-naphthoquinone derivative, exhibited a potent antithrombotic effect, which might be due to antiplatelet rather than anticoagulation activity. In the present study, possible anti-platelet mechanism of J78 was investigated. J78 concentration-dependently inhibited rabbit platelet aggregation induced by collagen (10 microg/ml), thrombin (0.

Antiplatelet effect of green tea catechins: a possible mechanism through arachidonic acid pathway.

We have previously reported that green tea catechins (GTC) showed an antithrombotic activity, which might be due to antiplatelet effect rather than anticoagulation. The present study was performed to investigate the effect of GTC on the arachidonic acid (AA) metabolism in order to elucidate a possible antiplatelet mechanism. GTC inhibited the collagen-, AA- and U46619-induced rabbit platelet aggregation in vitro in a concentration-dependent manner, with IC50 values of 61.

Antiplatelet and antithrombotic activities of CP201, a newly synthesized 1,4-naphthoquinone derivative.

The antiplatelet and antithrombotic activities of a newly synthesized CP201, 2-(3,5-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxyl)-3-chloro-1,4-naphthoquinone on human platelet aggregation in vitro and murine pulmonary thrombosis in vivo were examined. In addition, the antiplatelet activity of CP201 involved in calcium-signaling cascade was also investigated. CP201 showed concentration-dependent inhibitory effects on platelet aggregation induced by collagen and thrombin, with IC50 values of 4.

Inhibitory effects of J78, a newly synthesized 1,4-naphthoquinone derivative, on experimental thrombosis and platelet aggregation.

Several compounds with the backbone of 1,4-naphthoquinone chemical structure have been reported to display antiplatelet and antithrombotic activities, indicating that this congener compound may be a new source in the antithrombotic drug development. In the present study, the possible antiplatelet activity and antithrombotic efficacy of J78 (2-chloro-3-[2'-bromo, 4'-fluoro- phenyl]-amino-8-hydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinone), a newly synthesized 1,4-naphthoquinone derivative, were examined. Orally administered J78 (50, 100 mg/kg) dose dependently protected mice against the collagen + epinephrine-induced thromboembolic death.