Triglyceride-glucose index is an independent predictor of coronary artery calcification progression in patients with chronic kidney disease.

Background: Coronary artery calcification (CAC) is highly prevalent in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and is associated with major adverse cardiovascular events and metabolic disturbances. The triglyceride-glucose index (TyGI), a novel surrogate marker of metabolic syndrome and insulin resistance, is associated with CAC in the general population and in patients with diabetes. This study investigated the association between the TyGI and CAC progression in patients with CKD, which is unknown.

Risk perceptions of a population living near a municipal waste incinerator and associated factors with the prevalence of environmental disease.

Background: This study investigated the risk perceptions, prevalence of environmental diseases (EDs) and associated factors with the prevalence of environmental disease among the population living near an incinerator.

Methods: Study area were divided into 3 local areas near the incinerator by distance (A, B, C) and control area (D) by distance and geographic isolation. A Questionnaire was conducted with 1,380 in local residents (A, B, C) and 390 in control area (D), gathered information of demographic characteristics, lifestyle, perception of damage by incinerators, experience of EDs (atopic dermatitis, allergic rhinitis, asthma) diagnosed by physician.

Title: efficacy of intravitreal dexamethasone implant on hard exudate in diabetic macular edema.

Background: To investigate the effect of intravitreal dexamethasone implant (DEX implant) on hard exudate (HE) accompanying diabetic macular edema (DME).

Methods: This study was a non-comparative non-randomized 1-year prospective interventional study. Patients with DME and HE were treated using DEX implant two or three times.

Celecoxib upregulates ULBP-1 expression in lung cancer cells via the JNK/PI3K signaling pathway and increases susceptibility to natural killer cell cytotoxicity.

Lung cancer has the highest cancer mortality rate in the world, and effective therapies are still required. Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) is highly expressed in numerous types of cancer, and is therefore considered a possible target of cancer treatment. Celecoxib, a selective COX-2 inhibitor, has binding pockets that interact with COX-2 and disrupt its enzymatic activities.

Validation of the Work Engagement Scale-3, used in the 5th Korean Working Conditions Survey.

Background: The purpose of this study was to assess the reliability and validity of the 3-item version of the Work Engagement Scale (WES-3), which is based on the Job Demands-Resources (JD-R) model and was used in the 5 Korean Working Conditions Survey (KWCS).

Methods: This study used data from the 5th KWCS (n = 50,205), which was conducted in 2017 with a sample of the Korean working population. The survey gathered comprehensive information on working conditions to define workforce changes and the quality of work and life.

APX-115A, a pan-NADPH Oxidase Inhibitor, Induces Caspase-dependent Cell Death by Suppressing NOX4-ROS Signaling in EBV-infected Retinal Epithelial Cells.

Purpose: Epstein-Barr virus is a γ-herpes virus that infects primary B cells and can transform infected cells into immortalized lymphoblastoid cell lines (LCL). The role of EBV in malignancies such as Burkitt's lymphoma and nasopharyngeal carcinoma is well understood, however, its role in EBV-infected retinal cells remains poorly understood. Therefore, we investigated the effect of EBV on the growth of retinal cells.

Anxiety, Depression and Sleep Disturbance among Customer-Facing Workers.

Background: Mental health problems are a growing issue among customer-facing workers. This study aimed to investigate the workers' symptoms of anxiety, depression, and sleep disturbance caused by customer complaints and the suppression of one's emotions at work.

Methods: This study used the data from the fifth Korean Working Conditions Survey 2017 database.

Clinical features and prognosis of patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) share common risk factors. They could therefore be expressed in a single patient. However, the prevalence, clinical characteristics and prognosis of individuals with comorbid IPF and COPD are not known.

Feasibility of a 20-gauge ProCore needle in EUS-guided subepithelial tumor sampling: a prospective multicenter study.

Background: Endoscopic ultrasonography-guided fine-needle biopsy (EUS-FNB) may facilitate tissue acquisition for a definitive diagnosis of gastrointestinal subepithelial tumors (SETs). This study aimed to determine the diagnostic yield of EUS-FNB using a novel 20-gauge ProCore needle with a coiled sheath in tissue sampling of gastrointestinal SETs.

Methods: Between July 2016 and February 2017, 39 patients with gastrointestinal SETs were prospectively recruited from six university hospitals in Korea.

Comparison of CPI and GAP models in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis: a nationwide cohort study.

The clinical course of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is difficult to predict, partly owing to its heterogeneity. Composite physiologic index (CPI) and gender-age-physiology (GAP) models are easy-to-use predictors of IPF progression. This study aimed to compare the predictive values of these two models.

Design and Rationale of the Intima-Medial Thickness Sub-Study of the PreventIon of CArdiovascular Events in iSchemic Stroke Patients with High Risk of Cerebral hemOrrhage (PICASSO-IMT) Study.

Background: Atherosclerosis is one of the main mechanisms of stroke and cardiovascular diseases and is associated with increased risk of recurrent stroke and cardiovascular events. Intima-medial thickness (IMT) is a well-known surrogate marker of atherosclerosis and has been used to predict stroke and cardiovascular events. However, the clinical significance of IMT and IMT change in stroke has not been investigated in well-designed studies.

Combination treatment with erlotinib and ampelopsin overcomes erlotinib resistance in NSCLC cells via the Nox2-ROS-Bim pathway.

Objectives: Erlotinib, a tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), has been shown to have a dramatic effect in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients with EGFR mutation. However, the presence of primary resistance or acquired resistance to EGFR-TKI is the most common reason for switching to other anti-cancer agents. Even though there are newer agents that have activity in the presence of the T790M mutation, identification of potential agents that could overcome resistance to EGFR-TKI is still needed for the treatment of NSCLC patients.

Relationship between survival and age in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

Background: There is a debate that older patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) have a worse prognosis. We evaluated whether age affects the survival of patients with IPF.

Methods: The Korean Interstitial Lung Disease (ILD) Research Group conducted a national survey to evaluate the clinical, physiological, radiological, and survival characteristics of patients with IPF.

Nutritional Status in Adults with Predialysis Chronic Kidney Disease: KNOW-CKD Study.

Adverse changes in nutrition are prevalent and are strong indicators of adverse outcomes in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). The International Society of Renal Nutrition and Metabolism (ISRNM) proposed a common nomenclature and diagnostic criteria to identify protein-energy wasting (PEW) in CKD patients. We examined the nutritional status in 1,834 adults with predialysis CKD enrolled in the KoreaN cohort study for Outcome in patients With Chronic Kidney Disease (KNOW-CKD) study.

Predicting survival of patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis using GAP score: a nationwide cohort study.

Background: The clinical course of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) varies widely. Although the GAP model is useful for predicting mortality, survivals have not yet been validated for each GAP score. We aimed to elucidate how prognosis is related to GAP score and GAP stage in IPF patients.

A Randomized, Double-blind, Candesartan-controlled, Parallel Group Comparison Clinical Trial to Evaluate the Antihypertensive Efficacy and Safety of Fimasartan in Patients with Mild to Moderate Essential Hypertension.

Purpose: A new antihypertensive drug that selectively blocks angiotensin II receptor type 1, fimasartan, has a potent and rapidly acting antihypertensive effect. We investigated the antihypertensive effects of fimasartan 60 and 120 mg and its safety in comparison to 8 mg of candesartan.

Methods: This clinical trial is a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, active comparator, and parallel group study.

Tannic Acid as a Degradable Mucoadhesive Compound.

To achieve site-specific delivery of pharmaceuticals, the development of effective mucoadhesive polymers is essential. Thus far, only a few polymers, such as thiolated ones and related variants, have been studied. However, their mucoadhesiveness varies depending on the type of polymer and the degree of chemical functionalization.

Safety of the Up-titration of Nifedipine GITS and Valsartan or Low-dose Combination in Uncontrolled Hypertension: the FOCUS Study.

Purpose: Doubling the dose of antihypertensive drugs is necessary to manage hypertension in patients whose disease is uncontrolled. However, this strategy can result in safety issues. This study compared the safety and efficacy of up-titration of the nifedipine gastrointestinal therapeutic system (GITS) with up-titration of valsartan monotherapy; these were also compared with low-dose combinations of the two therapies.

Comparisons of Prognosis between Surgically and Clinically Diagnosed Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis Using Gap Model: A Korean National Cohort Study.

Although a multidisciplinary approach has become an important criterion for an idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) diagnosis, lung biopsies remain crucial. However, the prognosis of patients with surgically diagnosed IPF (sIPF) is uncertain. We aimed to investigate the prognosis of patients with clinically diagnosed IPF (cIPF) and sIPF.

Safety and efficacy of lobeglitazone monotherapy in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus over 52 weeks: An open-label extension study.

We aimed to assess the safety and efficacy of lobeglitazone in patients with type 2 diabetes over 52 weeks through 28-week extension study. Clinical benefits in terms of glycemic and lipid control were maintained for 52 weeks. Lobeglitazone showed a favorable balance of efficacy and safety during the extension study.

Validation of the Korean version of the European Community Respiratory Health Survey screening questionnaire for use in epidemiologic studies for adult asthma.

Background: Standardized questionnaire is one of key instruments for general population surveys.

Objective: The present study aimed to develop and validate the Korean version of the European Community Respiratory Health Survey (ECRHS) screening questionnaire for adult asthma surveys.

Methods: The ECRHS screening questionnaire was translated into Korean language according to the international criteria.

Comparison of biolimus A9-eluting (Nobori) and everolimus-eluting (Promus Element) stents in patients with de novo native long coronary artery lesions: a randomized Long Drug-Eluting Stent V trial.

Background: Procedural and clinical outcomes still remain unfavorable for patients with long coronary lesions who undergo percutaneous coronary intervention. The current study, therefore, evaluated 2 innovative drug-eluting stents for the management of long-lesion coronary artery disease.

Methods And Results: This randomized, multicenter, prospective trial, called the Long Drug-Eluting Stent (LONG-DES) V trial, compared the biodegradable polymer-based biolimus A9-eluting stent (BES) and the durable polymer-based platinum chromium everolimus-eluting stent (PtCr-EES) in 500 patients with long (≥ 25 mm) coronary lesions.