Publications by authors named "Young-Joon Park"

Various combination therapies have been investigated to overcome the limitations of using immune checkpoint inhibitors. However, determining the optimal combination therapy remains challenging. To overcome the therapeutical limitation, we conducted a translational research to elucidate the mechanisms by which AXL inhibition enhances the anti-tumor effects when combined with anti-PD-1 antibody therapy.

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  • The study aimed to assess the incidence of tuberculosis (TB) among workers at medical institutions using a specific testing method (IGRA) and compare it to educational workers and the general population.
  • Results showed that TB incidence was significantly higher among medical workers, especially nurses, and younger employees, indicating a higher risk for healthcare workers than those in education.
  • The findings suggest a need for better monitoring and management strategies for TB in healthcare settings to address the increased risk among these workers.
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In pixel-based deep reinforcement learning (DRL), learning representations of states that change because of an agent's action or interaction with the environment poses a critical challenge in improving data efficiency. Recent data-efficient DRL studies have integrated DRL with self-supervised learning (SSL) and data augmentation to learn state representations from given interactions. However, some methods have difficulties in explicitly capturing evolving state representations or in selecting data augmentations for appropriate reward signals.

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Background: No study has yet analyzed risk factors to determine whether students with confirmed coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infections may affect students at neighboring schools. Therefore, this study aimed to determine risk factors for COVID-19 transmission among schools within a community in the Republic of Korea.

Methods: An epidemiological investigation was conducted among 696 students and school staff members at 3 schools where COVID-19 clusters began on October 15, 2021.

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This study aims to evaluate and determine the correlation between in vitro release and in vivo pharmacokinetics of two extended-release dosage forms of Cilostazol. In vitro release profiles for two dosage forms, tablet and capsule, were analyzed under physiologically mimicked medium conditions using the paddle and basket USP release apparatus. A single-dose, two-period crossover study design in beagle dogs was applied for the pharmacokinetic study.

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Stem cell homeostasis is pivotal for continuous and programmed formation of organs in plants. The precise control of meristem proliferation is mediated by the evolutionarily conserved signaling that encompasses complex interactions among multiple peptide ligands and their receptor-like kinases. Here, we identified compensation mechanisms involving the CLAVATA1 (CLV1) receptor and its paralogs, BARELY ANY MERISTEMs (BAMs), for stem cell proliferation in two Solanaceae species, tomato and groundcherry.

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Purpose: Early intervention of surgical scars with a pulsed dye laser is known to effectively prevent pathologic scars. Despite multiple reports on the effectiveness of the treatment, very few studies have demonstrated its appropriate initiation timing. In this study, our objective was to determine the optimal timing for initiating laser treatment following thyroidectomy.

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Artificial Oxygen Carriers (AOCs) have emerged as ground-breaking biomedical solutions, showcasing tremendous potential for enhancing human health and saving lives. Perfluorocarbon (PFC)-based AOCs, in particular, have garnered significant interest among researchers, leading to numerous clinical trials since the 1980 s. However, despite decades of exploration, the success rate has remained notably limited.

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Background: We examined factors contributing to the transmission of an acute respiratory virus within multi-use facilities, focusing on an outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in a movie theater in the Republic of Korea.

Methods: This retrospective cohort study involved a descriptive analysis of 48 confirmed cases. Logistic regression was applied to a cohort of 80 theater attendees to identify risk factors for infection.

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Melasma relapse is almost common after discontinuation of conventional treatment. Recent studies suggesting that photoaging dermis is the main pathomechanism of melasma, emphasize the dermal targeting therapy. We investigated maintenance effect of microneedling radiofrequency (RF) for melasma treatment.

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Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) are well known for their capacity to lower triglyceride levels, but the clinical effectiveness is hindered by limited bioavailability and patient adherence. To address this challenge, we introduce a novel liquid crystalline nanoparticle-based formulation, the innovative medicine and drug delivery (IMD)-Omega soft capsule (cap), designed to optimize the pharmacokinetics (PK) and safety of EPA and DHA. This randomized, open-label, crossover study engages a cohort of 24 healthy adult subjects, utilizing key PK parameters like C, AUC, T, t, and Ke to conduct a comprehensive evaluation.

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Coordinated morphogenic adaptation of growing plants is critical for their survival and propagation under fluctuating environments. Plant morphogenic responses to light and warm temperatures, termed photomorphogenesis and thermomorphogenesis, respectively, have been extensively studied in recent decades. During photomorphogenesis, plants actively reshape their growth and developmental patterns to cope with changes in light regimes.

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  • This study analyzed over 2 million people in South Korea to compare the effectiveness of COVID-19 bivalent vaccines versus monovalent vaccines in preventing severe infections and deaths.
  • Bivalent vaccine recipients showed much lower rates of infection, critical illness, and death compared to those who received monovalent vaccines, with effectiveness rates up to 85.3% against death shortly after vaccination.
  • The findings suggest that bivalent vaccines offer significant additional protection during the omicron variant phase of the pandemic, demonstrating sustained effectiveness over time.
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Granulomatous rosacea (GR) is a rare and distinct variant of rosacea. We report three cases of recalcitrant GR successfully treated with pulsed-dye laser (PDL) and provide experimental evidence supporting its potential as a treatment option. PDL treatment demonstrated remarkable efficacy in the three clinical cases, despite their resistance to conventional therapies.

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  • - The study assessed COVID-19 vaccination effectiveness in high-risk facilities in South Korea during the Delta variant surge, comparing medical and non-medical institutions.
  • - Data from 8 outbreak clusters (243 cases and 895 contacts) were analyzed, revealing lower attack rates in medical institutions, but non-medical institutions showed higher vaccine effectiveness for severe disease and death.
  • - Overall, the findings emphasized the need for targeted vaccination strategies and effective management in high-risk settings to improve public health responses.
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Background: The number of confirmed cases of individuals with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection increased rapidly due to the Omicron variant. Correctional facilities are vulnerable to infectious diseases, and they introduced rapid antigen tests (RATs) to allow for early detection and rapid response. We aimed to evaluate the diagnostic performance and usefulness of SARS-CoV-2 RATs in newly incarcerated people.

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Central dogma is the most fundamental hypothesis in the field of molecular biology and explains the genetic information flow from DNA to protein. Beyond residue-by-residue transmission of sequential information, chemical modifications of DNA, RNA, and protein are also relayed in the course of gene expression. Here, this work presents recent evidence supporting bidirectional interplay between chromatin modifications and RNA modifications.

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Background: This study aimed to examine the scale, characteristics, risk factors, and modes of transmission in a coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak at a high school in Seoul, Republic of Korea.

Methods: An epidemiological survey was conducted of 1,118 confirmed cases and close contacts from a COVID-19 outbreak at an educational facility starting on May 31, 2021. In-depth interviews, online questionnaires, flow evaluations, and CCTV analyses were used to devise infection prevention measures.

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  • The study examined deaths from COVID-19 reinfection in South Korea, focusing on risk factors during a period dominated by the omicron BA.1/BA.2 variant.
  • Residents of long-term care facilities were found to have a significantly higher risk of reinfection compared to the general population, especially those unvaccinated.
  • Additionally, the risk of death from reinfection was notably higher in older adults (ages 60-74) and immunocompromised individuals, suggesting the importance of vaccination to reduce reinfection and severe outcomes.*
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  • - This study focused on the spread of infection in three psychiatric hospitals in South Korea, aiming to find causes and strategies to prevent further outbreaks during late 2020 and early 2021.
  • - A total of 358 inpatients were analyzed, revealing infections in 47, 193, and 118 patients across the three hospitals, with a much higher incidence (35.8%) among inpatients compared to employees (2.9%).
  • - Key issues included communication barriers among patients and hospital management problems, which complicated infection control; the study recommends improved preventive measures and screenings in psychiatric settings.
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  • * The study involved skin biopsies to identify treatment targets, leading to a combined therapy using fractional picosecond laser and pulsed dye laser, which targeted both pigmentation and blood vessels.
  • * Results showed the combined therapy significantly improved skin condition better than single laser treatments, with patients reporting high satisfaction and minimal side effects like temporary redness and swelling.
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Senescent melanocytes accumulate in photoaged skin and are closely related to skin aging. A better understanding of the molecular characteristics of senescent melanocytes may be the key to controlling skin aging. We have developed an model of senescence in melanocytes using UV irradiation and investigated the functional characteristics and molecular mechanisms underlying senescence in UV-irradiated melanocytes.

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