The effectiveness of competency-based global health education programs for medical students.

Purpose: This study aimed to develop a competency-based global health education (GHE) program for medical students and analyze its effectiveness.

Methods: The study had a pretest-posttest control group design. The program was developed based on the eight global health competency domains for medical students and implemented for 18 hours over 6 weeks beginning in September 2023.

Effect of complicated, untreated and uncontrolled diabetes and pre-diabetes on treatment outcome among patients with pulmonary tuberculosis.

Background And Objective: Patients with tuberculosis and diabetes have a higher risk of unfavourable anti-tuberculosis treatment outcomes. In the present study, we aimed to evaluate the effects of various diabetes statuses on the outcomes of patients with pulmonary tuberculosis.

Methods: Among the patients with pulmonary tuberculosis enrolled in the Korea Tuberculosis Cohort (KTBC) registry and the multicentre prospective cohort study of pulmonary tuberculosis (COSMOTB), those with diabetes and complicated diabetes were identified.

Analysis of the perceptions, competencies, and educational needs for global health among Korean medical students.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine perceptions of global health education (GHE) among medical students and their involvement in global health activities and identify priorities of educational needs for developing GHE programs.

Methods: This study was cross-sectional and conducted through an online survey for medical students. The participants were students attending medical schools nationwide, and the final analysis target was 678.

Consensus on global health competencies for Korean medical students using a modified Delphi method.

Purpose: This study aimed to reach a consensus among experts on the global health competencies for medical students in Korea.

Methods: A global health competency model was developed to identify domains and competencies for medical education, and a three-round modified Delphi method was used to reach consensus among 21 experts on the essential global health competencies. The degree of convergence, degree of consensus, and content validity ratio of the model were used to reach a consensus.

Validation of the Korean version of the Reflective Practice Questionnaire in clinical clerkship of Korean medical students.

Purpose: This study aims to verify whether the Reflective Practice Questionnaire (RPQ) developed by Priddis and Rogers is valid in the Korean context to identify the level of reflection of medical students in clinical practice.

Methods: A total of 202 third- and fourth-year medical students from seven universities participated in the study. After receiving approval for use from the authors, a survey was conducted on the students through an adaptation process.

Latent profile analysis of adaptation types and stress among medical students during the COVID-19 pandemic in South Korea.

Objective: This study aimed to identify profile groups based on personality traits and coping strategies exhibited by medical students in the context of COVID-19.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional survey and latent profile analysis to investigate differences in stressors, psychological distress, and stress levels with academic variables. We collected data online (Google survey form) in November and December 2021.

Adverse Effects of Air Pollution on Pulmonary Diseases.

Environmental exposure to air pollution is known to have adverse effects on various organs. Air pollution has greater effects on the pulmonary system as the lungs are directly exposed to contaminants in the air. Here, we review the associations of air pollution with the development, morbidity, and mortality of pulmonary diseases.

Histone deacetylase 3 promotes alveolar epithelial-mesenchymal transition and fibroblast migration under hypoxic conditions.

Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), a process by which epithelial cells undergo a phenotypic conversion that leads to myofibroblast formation, plays a crucial role in the progression of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). Recently, it was revealed that hypoxia promotes alveolar EMT and that histone deacetylases (HDACs) are abnormally overexpressed in the lung tissues of IPF patients. In this study, we showed that HDAC3 regulated alveolar EMT markers via the AKT pathway during hypoxia and that inhibition of HDAC3 expression by small interfering RNA (siRNA) decreased the migration ability and invasiveness of diseased human lung fibroblasts.

miRNA-6515-5p regulates particulate matter-induced inflammatory responses by targeting CSF3 in human bronchial epithelial cells.

Particulate matter (PM) is associated with the incidence, exacerbation, and mortality of variable respiratory diseases. However, the molecular mechanisms of PM-mediated inflammation are unclear. We identified microRNAs (miRNAs) and messenger RNAs (mRNAs) related to the inflammatory response in PM-exposed bronchial epithelial cells using next-generation sequencing.

Effects of antioxidants on oxidative stress and inflammatory responses of human bronchial epithelial cells exposed to particulate matter and cigarette smoke extract.

Particulate matter (PM) is a type of air pollutant that induces adverse health effects, including acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). However, the effects of co-exposure to PM and cigarette smoke extract (CSE) on bronchial epithelial cells remain unknown. This study investigated the cytotoxic and pro-inflammatory effects of combined exposure to PM and CSE on bronchial epithelial cells, and assessed the potential of antioxidants to inhibit CSE/PM-induced oxidative stress and inflammation.

Particulate-Matter Related Respiratory Diseases.

Particulate matter (PM) is suspended dust that has a diameter of <10 μm and can be inhaled by humans and deposited in the lungs, particularly the alveoli. Recent studies have shown that PM has an adverse effect on respiratory diseases. The aim of this article is to review respiratory diseases associated with PM.

Risks of N95 Face Mask Use in Subjects With COPD.

Background: The N95 filtering facepiece respirator (FFR) is the most popular individual protective device to reduce exposure to particulate matter. However, concerns have been raised with regard to its use because it can increase respiratory resistance and dead space. Therefore, this study assessed the safety of N95 use in patients with COPD and air-flow limitation.

Coix lacryma-jobi var. ma-yuen Stapf sprout extract induces cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in human cervical carcinoma cells.

Background: Cervical cancer is the second-leading cause of cancer-related mortality in females. Coix lacryma-jobi L. var.

Exacerbations of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Tool to assess the efficacy of acute treatment.

Background And Objective: The Exacerbations of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Tool-Patient-Reported Outcomes (EXACT-PRO) has been suggested as a reliable and valid measure for early assessment of COPD exacerbations and perceived recovery. However, there has been no evidence for EXACT-PRO efficacy in assessing recovery from treatment in a randomized controlled trial. The study evaluated the reliability, validity, and responsiveness of EXACT-PRO for the evaluation of the efficacy of acute treatment in patients with COPD exacerbation.

Sulforaphane attenuates pulmonary fibrosis by inhibiting the epithelial-mesenchymal transition.

Background: Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a progressive and fatal disease with no effective treatment. The epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a critical stage during the development of fibrosis. To assess the effect of sulforaphane (SFN) on the EMT and fibrosis using an in vitro transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1-induced model and an in vivo bleomycin (BLM)-induced model.

The Phosphodiesterase 4 Inhibitor Roflumilast Protects against Cigarette Smoke Extract-Induced Mitophagy-Dependent Cell Death in Epithelial Cells.

Background: Recent studies show that mitophagy, the autophagy-dependent turnover of mitochondria, mediates pulmonary epithelial cell death in response to cigarette smoke extract (CSE) exposure and contributes to the development of emphysema in vivo during chronic cigarette smoke (CS) exposure, although the underlying mechanisms remain unclear.

Methods: In this study, we investigated the role of mitophagy in the regulation of CSE-exposed lung bronchial epithelial cell (Beas-2B) death. We also investigated the role of a phosphodiesterase 4 inhibitor, roflumilast, in CSE-induced mitophagy-dependent cell death.

Quercetogetin protects against cigarette smoke extract-induced apoptosis in epithelial cells by inhibiting mitophagy.

Recent studies demonstrate that the autophagy-dependent turnover of mitochondria (mitophagy) mediates pulmonary epithelial cell death in response to cigarette smoke extract (CSE) exposure, and contributes to emphysema development in vivo during chronic cigarette smoke (CS)-exposure, although the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Here, we investigated the role of mitophagy in regulating apoptosis in CSE-exposed human lung bronchial epithelial cells. Furthermore, we investigated the potential of the polymethoxylated flavone antioxidant quercetogetin (QUE) to inhibit CSE-induced mitophagy-dependent apoptosis.

Dust particles-induced intracellular Ca signaling and reactive oxygen species in lung fibroblast cell line MRC5.

Epidemiologic interest in particulate matter (PM) is growing particularly because of its impact of respiratory health. It has been elucidated that PM evoked inflammatory signal in pulmonary epithelia. However, it has not been established Ca signaling mechanisms involved in acute PM-derived signaling in pulmonary fibroblasts.

A Retrospective Study Investigating Risks of Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome and Mortality Following Human Metapneumovirus Infection in Hospitalized Adults.

Background: Human metapneumovirus (hMPV) is a relatively recently identified respiratory virus that induces respiratory symptoms similar to those of respiratory syncytial virus infection in children. The characteristics of hMPV-infected adults are unclear because few cases have been reported.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective review of hospitalized adult patients with a positive multiplex real-time polymerase chain reaction assay result from 2012 to 2016 at a single tertiary referral hospital in South Korea.

A Pilot Study of Intralymphatic Immunotherapy for House Dust Mite, Cat, and Dog Allergies.

Several recent clinical trials reported that intralymphatic immunotherapy (ILIT) for some allergens, such as cat dander and pollen, induce tolerance more rapidly than conventional subcutaneous or sublingual immunotherapy, have a comparable duration of effect after only 3 injections, and do not provoke serious local or systemic reactions. However, the efficacy and safety of ILIT are using Dermatophagoides farinae (Df), Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (Dp), and dog, which are indoor allergens that are commonly found globally, need to be evaluated. Furthermore, use of multiple allergens in ILIT should be investigated.

Comorbidity and Inflammatory Markers May Contribute to Predict Mortality of High-Risk Patients With Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Exacerbation.

Background: Acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) causes not only an accelerated disease progression, but also an increased mortality rate. The purpose of this study was to analyze the factors associated with clinical features, comorbidities and mortality in patients at high risk for acute COPD exacerbation who had been hospitalized at least once in a year.

Methods: The study enrolled 606 patients who had been diagnosed with and were being treated for COPD at university affiliated hospital.

Overlap syndrome with Sjögren's syndrome and systemic sclerosis in a steel rolling mill worker: a case report.

Background: There are few reports about work-related factors associated with Sjögren's syndrome. We report a case of overlap syndrome with Sjögren's syndrome and systemic sclerosis.

Case Presentation: A 54-year-old man was admitted due to dyspnea on exertion.

Perceived Social Support as a Determinant of Quality of Life Among Medical Students: 6-Month Follow-up Study.

Objective: This longitudinal study aimed to identify the relevant factors related to quality of life (QoL) changes in medical students.

Methods: For this 6-month follow-up study, we enrolled 109 students from a Korean medical school. To assess students' QoL, we used the World Health Organization QoL scale.

Zabofloxacin versus moxifloxacin in patients with COPD exacerbation: a multicenter, double-blind, double-dummy, randomized, controlled, Phase III, non-inferiority trial.

A new quinolone, zabofloxacin, has now been developed; hence, a non-inferiority trial is needed to compare this new compound with another widely used quinolone to examine its efficacy and safety for the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) exacerbations. This was a prospective, multicenter, double-blind, double-dummy, randomized, controlled, parallel-group, Phase III, non-inferiority clinical trial designed to compare oral zabofloxacin (367 mg once daily for 5 days) with moxifloxacin (400 mg once daily for 7 days) for the treatment of patients with COPD exacerbation. In all, 345 COPD patients with a moderate COPD exacerbation were enrolled in the study via the outpatient clinics at 31 university hospitals.