Maximal Inspiratory Pressure and Maximal Expiratory Pressure in Healthy Korean Children.

Objective: To evaluate respiratory muscle strength in healthy Korean children in order to establish the criteria for normal reference values for future applications. In contrast with the other parameters for testing pulmonary function, normal values for respiratory muscle strength in healthy Korean children have not been assessed to date.

Methods: We conducted a complete survey of 263 students at Sinmyung Elementary School in Yangsan, Gyeongsangnam-do, and measured their height and body weight, performed pulmonary function tests, and evaluated maximal inspiratory pressure (MIP) and maximal expiratory pressure (MEP) as measures of respiratory muscle strength.

Correction: Physiological Responses During the Lower Body Positive Pressure Supported Treadmill Test.

[This corrects the article on p. 851 in vol. 40, PMID: 27847715.

Analysis of Pulmonary Function Test in Korean Patients With Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy: Comparison of Foreign and Korean Reference Data.

Objective: To determine the abnormal pulmonary function value in Korean Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) patients, we performed a comparative analysis of the patients' pulmonary function value expressed as % of the overseas reference data and Korean healthy children and adolescent reference data.

Methods: We performed pulmonary function test (PFT) in a total of 27 DMD patients. We compared the patients' FVC% and FEV1% of the overseas reference data with those of the Korean children and adolescent reference data.

Association analysis of PDE4B polymorphisms with schizophrenia and smooth pursuit eye movement abnormality in a Korean population.

Schizophrenia is a debilitating mental disorder with a high heritability rate. Located on chromosome 1p31.3, the human cAMP-specific 3',5'-cyclic phosphodiesterase 4B (PDE4B) gene has been considered as an important candidate gene for the risk of schizophrenia.

Investigating the potential genetic association between RANBP9 polymorphisms and the risk of schizophrenia.

Schizophrenia is a serious mental disorder that is affected by genetic and environmental factors. As the disease has a high heritability rate, genetic studies identifying candidate genes for schizophrenia have been conducted in various populations. The gene for human Ran‑binding protein 9 (RANBP9) is a newly discovered candidate gene for schizophrenia.

Genetic association analysis of CNR1 and CNR2 polymorphisms with schizophrenia in a Korean population.

Located on 6q15 and 1p36.11, cannabinoid receptor 1 (CNR1) and cannabinoid receptor 2 (CNR2) genes are considered to be a positional and functional candidate gene for the development of mental disorders such as schizophrenia because CNR1 is known as a regulator of dopamine signaling in the hippocampus and the cerebral cortex. However, few genetic studies have been carried out to investigate an association of CNR1 and CNR2 polymorphisms and the risk of schizophrenia.

Use of pupil size to determine the effect of electromagnetic acupuncture on activation level of the autonomic nervous system.

Magnetic fields are widely considered as a method of treatment to increase the therapeutic effect when applied to acupoints. Hence, this study proposes a new method which creates significant stimulation of acupoints by using weak magnetic fields. We conducted this experiment in order to confirm the effect on the activation level of the autonomic nervous system by measuring pupil sizes in cases of stimulation by using manual acupuncture and electromagnetic acupuncture (EMA) at BL15.

Lack of association between DISC1 polymorphisms and risk of schizophrenia in a Korean population.

The DISC1 gene is considered to be a strong candidate gene for the development of schizophrenia. This study examines the association of DISC1 polymorphisms with schizophrenia in a Korean population. Although we fail to discover convincing evidence that DISC1 affects schizophrenia development, our findings may be useful for further genetic studies.

Genetic association analysis of ERBB4 polymorphisms with the risk of schizophrenia and SPEM abnormality in a Korean population.

The human receptor tyrosine-protein kinase erbB-4 (ERBB4) gene mediates neuregulin 1 (NRG1) signaling, and is involved in neuronal migration and differentiation. Despite the potential significance of ERBB4 in the development of schizophrenia, relatively few genetic studies for the association of ERBB4 with schizophrenia were performed in the populations including Ashkenazi Jews, Americans including Caucasians and African Americans, and Han Chinese. In this study, differences in ERBB4 variations were investigated to determine association with schizophrenia and smooth pursuit eye movement (SPEM) abnormality in a Korean population.

Lack of associations of neuregulin 1 variations with schizophrenia and smooth pursuit eye movement abnormality in a Korean population.

Schizophrenia is a serious and disabling mental disorder with a high heritability rate. The human neuregulin 1 (NRG1) on 8p12 has been implicated as a candidate gene for schizophrenia. However, controversial results of the associations of NRG1 polymorphisms with schizophrenia and related phenotypes have been reported.

Lack of association of the RTN4R genetic variations with risk of schizophrenia and SPEM abnormality in a Korean population.

This study examined the association of the reticulon 4 receptor (RTN4R) gene with schizophrenia and smooth pursuit eye movement (SPEM) abnormality in a Korean population. Although we failed to provide convincing evidence that RTN4R is associated with schizophrenia development and SPEM impairment, our findings may be useful for further genetic studies.

[The clinical usefulness of focally enhanced gastritis in Korean patients with Crohn's disease].

Background/aims: Focally enhanced gastritis (FEG) has been suggested as a specific diagnostic marker for patients with Crohn's disease (CD). However, the usefulness of FEG for distinguishing CD from ulcerative colitis (UC) is uncertain and the incidence or prevalence of FEG for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients in Korea has not been defined yet. In this study, we investigated the frequency of FEG and other gastric histological abnormalities in Korean patients with CD and UC.

Model for end-stage liver disease, model for end-stage liver disease-sodium and Child-Turcotte-Pugh scores over time for the prediction of complications of liver cirrhosis.

Background/aims: There has been no report concerning the predictive capability of each scoring system in determining the development of complications of liver cirrhosis such as variceal bleeding and/or hepatic encephalopathy.

Methods: We retrospectively studied 128 patients with liver cirrhosis [92 males; mean (standard deviation) 54.2 (11.

[Effectiveness of 10 day-sequential therapy for Helicobacter pylori eradication in Korea].

Background/aims: Antibiotic resistance and poor compliance are the main causes of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) eradication failure. Proton pump inhibitor (PPI)-based triple therapy is the most preferred regimen in clinical practice.