Expression of G2019S LRRK2 in Rat Primary Astrocytes Mediates Neurotoxicity and Alters the Dopamine Synthesis Pathway in N27 Cells via Astrocytic Proinflammatory Cytokines and Neurotrophic Factors.

Astrocytes in the brain contribute to various essential functions, including maintenance of the neuronal framework, survival, communication, metabolic processes, and neurotransmitter levels. Leucine-rich repeat kinase 2 (LRRK2) is associated with the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease (PD). LRRK2 is expressed in neurons, microglia, and astrocytes and plays diverse roles in these cell types.

Nuclear α-Synuclein-Derived Cytotoxic Effect via Altered Ribosomal RNA Processing in Primary Mouse Embryonic Fibroblasts.

α-Synuclein (αSyn) is an important player in Parkinson's disease (PD) pathogenesis. The aggregation of αSyn is mainly formed in the cytoplasm, whereas some αSyn accumulation has also been found in the nuclei of neurons. To assess the effect of nuclear αSyn, we generated αSyn conjugated with a nuclear export signal (NES) or a nuclear localization signal (NLS), and compared them with wild-type αSyn in primary mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEF) using DNA transfection.

COVID-19 and related social distancing measures induce significant metabolic complications without prominent weight gain in Korean adults.

Background: This study using multi-center health examination data from Korean adults was conducted to confirm changes in weight, and their related cardiometabolic parameters, before and after strengthening of social distancing regulations.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted using health check-up data from 13 university hospitals. The study period was from January 2018 to July 2020.

Height outcomes in Korean children with idiopathic short stature receiving growth hormone treatment.

Objectives: Growth hormone (GH) therapy's capacity to increase height velocity and height at the end of the study in children with idiopathic short stature (ISS) is controversial. We aimed to investigate the height standard deviation score (SDS) and height velocity of patients with ISS in Korea who received GH treatment.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed and performed linear mixed model and survival analyses on data from 12 tertiary hospitals in Korea, including subjects diagnosed with ISS from January 2009 to September 2019, treated with GH therapy for more than 6 months, and who were at a pre-pubertal state at the time of diagnosis.

Fatty Liver Change in Korean Adults in a Systematic Social Distancing System Amid the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Multicenter Analysis.

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Korean government implemented policies including the systematic social distancing (SSD) system which started on 28 June 2020. The present study investigated the development and aggravation of fatty liver measured using ultrasonography during the transition period (from pre-SSD to SSD) compared to the fatty liver changes during the pre-SSD period. Changes in fatty liver and liver enzymes were assessed in different groups stratified by alcohol consumption.

LRRK2 Inhibition Mitigates the Neuroinflammation Caused by TLR2-Specific α-Synuclein and Alleviates Neuroinflammation-Derived Dopaminergic Neuronal Loss.

Evidence suggests that crosstalk occurs between microglial leucine-rich repeat kinase 2 (LRRK2)-a regulator of neuroinflammation-and neuron-released α-synuclein (αSyn)-a promoter of microglial activation and neuroinflammatory responses-in neuroinflammation-mediated Parkinson's disease (PD) progression. Therefore, we examined whether LRRK2 inhibition reduces the responses of microglia to neuroinflammation caused by neuron-released αSyn. We examined the neuroinflammatory responses provoked by Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2)-positive αSyn of neuronal cells using an LRRK2 inhibitor in the mouse glioma cells, rat primary microglia, and human microglia cell line; and the effects of LRRK2 inhibitor in the co-culture of ectopic αSyn-expressing human neuroblastoma cells and human microglia cells and in mouse models by injecting αSyn.

LRRK2 Kinase Inhibitor Rejuvenates Oxidative Stress-Induced Cellular Senescence in Neuronal Cells.

Background: Leucine-rich repeat kinase 2 (LRRK2) plays a critical role in the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease (PD). Aging is the most critical risk factor for the progression of PD. The correlation between aging and cellular senescence has been established.

Ciliogenesis is Not Directly Regulated by LRRK2 Kinase Activity in Neurons.

Mutations in the Leucine-rich repeat kinase 2 () gene are the most prevalent cause of familial Parkinson's disease (PD). The increase in LRRK2 kinase activity observed in the pathogenic G2019S mutation is important for PD development. Several studies have reported that increased LRRK2 kinase activity and treatment with LRRK2 kinase inhibitors decreased and increased ciliogenesis, respectively, in mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) and retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells.

Expression of transduced nucleolin promotes the clearance of accumulated α-synuclein in rodent cells and animal model.

Alpha-synuclein (αSyn) is a major component of Lewy bodies, which are a known pathogenic marker of Parkinson's disease (PD). The dysfunction of protein degradation machinery causes αSyn accumulation. The reinforcement of αSyn degradation is a potential therapeutic target for PD because accumulated αSyn is responsible for the pathogenesis of PD.

Roles of Sex Hormones and Gender in the Gut Microbiota.

The distribution of gut microbiota varies according to age (childhood, puberty, pregnancy, menopause, and old age) and sex. Gut microbiota are known to contribute to gastrointestinal (GI) diseases such as irritable bowel syndrome, inflammatory bowel disease, and colon cancer; however, the exact etiology remains elusive. Recently, sex and gender differences in GI diseases and their relation to gut microbiota has been suggested.

Analysis of α-synuclein levels related to LRRK2 kinase activity: from substantia nigra to urine of patients with Parkinson's disease.

Research on Parkinson's disease (PD) has been focused on the development of PD diagnostic tools as much as the development of PD therapeutics. Several genetic culprits of PD, including DJ-1, Leucine-rich repeat kinase 2 (LRRK2), and α-synuclein (α-syn), have been investigated as markers of PD in human biofluids. Unfortunately, the approaches to develop PD diagnostic tools are impractical, and there is a considerable demand for an appropriate marker of PD.

2017 Clinical practice guidelines for dyslipidemia of Korean children and adolescents.

The Committee on Dyslipidemia of Korean Pediatric and Adolescents of the Korean Society of Pediatric Endocrinology has newly developed evidence-based clinical practice guidelines for dyslipidemia in Korean children and adolescents. These guidelines were formulated with the Grading of Recommendations, which include both the strength of recommendations and the quality of evidence. In the absence of sufficient evidence, conclusions were based on expert opinion.

Changes in Cecal Microbiota and Short-chain Fatty Acid During Lifespan of the Rat.

Background/aims: The gut microbiota regulates intestinal immune homeostasis through host-microbiota interactions. Multiple factors affect the gut microbiota, including age, sex, diet, and use of drugs. In addition, information on gut microbiota differs depending on the samples.

2017 Clinical practice guidelines for dyslipidemia of Korean children and adolescents.

The Committee on Dyslipidemia of Korean Pediatric and Adolescents of the Korean Society of Pediatric Endocrinology has newly developed evidence-based clinical practice guidelines for dyslipidemia in Korean children and adolescents. These guidelines were formulated with the Grading of Recommendations, which include both the strength of recommendations and the quality of evidence. In the absence of sufficient evidence, conclusions were based on expert opinion.

Urinary Biomarkers for Neurodegenerative Diseases.

Global incidence of neurodegenerative diseases (NDDs) such as Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Parkinson's disease (PD) is rapidly increasing, but the diagnosis of these diseases at their early stage is challenging. Therefore, the availability of reproducible and reliable biomarkers to diagnose such diseases is more critical than ever. In addition, biomarkers could be used not only to diagnose diseases but also to monitor the development of disease therapeutics.

The Usefulness of the Measurement of Esophagogastric Junction Distensibility by EndoFLIP in the Diagnosis of Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease.

Background/aims: Increased esophagogastric junction (EGJ) relaxation is the most important mechanism involved in gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). An endoscopic functional luminal imaging probe (EndoFLIP) is a device used to quantify EGJ distensibility in routine endoscopy. The aim of the current study was to assess the usefulness of EndoFLIP for the diagnosis of GERD compared to normal controls.

Detection and Assessment of α-Synuclein Oligomers in the Urine of Parkinson's Disease Patients.

Background: α-Synuclein (α-syn) is a major component of Lewy bodies, a pathologic marker of Parkinson's disease (PD) in post-mortem studies. The use of α-syn as a practical PD biomarker has been investigated by numerous researchers. However, reports of differences in α-syn levels in biofluids, such as cerebrospinal fluid, plasma, and saliva, between PD patients and controls are inconsistent.

Korean Traditional Medicine in Treating Patients with Mild Cognitive Impairment: A Multicenter Prospective Observational Case Series.

In Korea, patients with mild cognitive impairment can choose to receive treatment of Korean medicine, and Korean medicine hospitals provide specialized medical care for the prevention and management of cognitive disorders. The aim of the study is to explore the role of Korean medicine therapy for patients with mild cognitive impairment in a real clinical setting. Fifteen patients with amnestic mild cognitive impairment were enrolled in this prospective observational study in three Korean medicine hospitals.

Ease of Use, Preference, and Safety of the Recombinant Human Growth Hormone Disposable Pen Compared with the Reusable Device: A Multicenter, Single-Arm, Open-Label, Switch-Over, Prospective, Phase IV Trial.

Purpose: To assess the usability and safety of the disposable pen compared to those of reusable devices in patients receiving recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) treatment.

Patients And Methods: This study was a multicenter, single-arm, open-label, switch-over, prospective, Phase IV trial. After screening, eligible patients who were previously treated with rhGH using a reusable device were enrolled to receive treatment with the disposable pen for 8 weeks.

Dipeptidyl-peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitor ameliorates 5-flurouracil induced intestinal mucositis.

Background: Chemotherapy-induced alimentary mucositis (AM) is difficult to prevent and treatment is rarely effective. Recent study have been showed that glucagon-like peptide (GLP)-1 and GLP-2 has protective in chemotherapy-induced AM. While the DPP-4 enzyme degrades this GLP-1, the DPP-4 inhibitor blocks the degradation process and raises the concentration of GLP-1.

Body Fat Mass and Risk of Cerebrovascular Lesions: The PRESENT (Prevention of Stroke and Dementia) Project.

Obesity is known to increase the risk of stroke. It is unclear whether high absolute fat mass (FM) increases the risk of stroke independently. We studied the correlation between FM and silent brain infarction/white matter change (SI/WMC) using brain computed tomography.