Analysis of olfactory function in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis and Staphylococcus aureus enterotoxin positivity.

To investigate disparities in sensitisation to Staphylococcus aureus enterotoxin A/B (SEA/SEB) and olfactory function in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) with nasal polyps (CRSwNP), those with CRS without nasal polyps (CRSsNP), and healthy controls who underwent septoplasty only. We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 388 subjects aged ≥ 8 years, collected between January 2021 and June 2023. We analysed patient demographics, medical history, serum IgE levels against staphylococcal enterotoxins (SEs), and serum total IgE levels against inhalant allergens.

Calprotectin in chronic rhinosinusitis eosinophil extracellular traps.

Background: Calprotectin is an antimicrobial peptide primarily secreted by neutrophils. Furthermore, calprotectin secretion increases in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) with polyps (CRSwNP) and positively correlates with neutrophil markers. However, CRSwNP is known to be associated with type 2 inflammation related to tissue eosinophilia.

Associations between Heart Rate Variability and Brain Activity during a Working Memory Task: A Preliminary Electroencephalogram Study on Depression and Anxiety Disorder.

Heart rate variability (HRV) has been suggested to reflect executive function and related neural activity. Executive dysfunction has been suggested to play an important role in the pathophysiology of emotional disorders. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether HRV showed a significant correlation with electroencephalogram (EEG) during a working memory performance in patients with depressive or anxiety disorder.

Pilot study of a mobile application-based intervention to induce changes in neural activity in the frontal region and behaviors in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and/or intellectual disability.

Children with neurodevelopmental disorders, such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and intellectual disability (ID), need early intervention and continuous treatment. We aimed to investigate the feasibility and acceptability of mobile application-based interventions in children with ADHD and ID in supporting attention and cognitive function. Twenty-six children with ADHD and/or ID with attention and cognition difficulties were recruited.

Association between Early Menopause, Gynecological Cancer, and Tobacco Smoking: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Background: The rates of smoking among women are rising. Previous studies have shown that smoking is associated with early menopause. However, the association of gynecological cancer, including breast and cervical cancer, with early menopause and smoking, remains unclear.

Differential Correlations among Allergy Tests According to Indoor Allergens in Allergic Rhinitis.

Objectives: Several allergy tests are used for the diagnosis of allergic rhinitis; however, few studies have reported a direct comparison of the skin prick test (SPT), multiple allergen simultaneous test (MAST), and ImmunoCAP according to specific allergens. This study aimed to evaluate the correlations between each test and allergic rhinitis symptoms and to evaluate the correlations of the MAST and ImmunoCAP with the SPT for representative indoor allergens in Korea.

Methods: Electronic medical charts were retrospectively reviewed, and 698 patients with allergic rhinitis who had performed SPT, MAST, and ImmunoCAP were enrolled.

Environmental Enrichment Enhances Ca 2.1 Channel-Mediated Presynaptic Plasticity in Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy.

Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) is a devastating neonatal brain condition caused by lack of oxygen and limited blood flow. Environmental enrichment (EE) is a classic paradigm with a complex stimulation of physical, cognitive, and social components. EE can exert neuroplasticity and neuroprotective effects in immature brains.

Outcomes of multilevel upper airway surgery, including tongue base resection, in patients with torus mandibularis.

By affecting the tongue position and oropharyngeal airway volume, torus mandibularis is an anatomical factor associated with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). This study aimed to investigate the influence of torus mandibularis on the surgical outcomes of multilevel upper airway surgery with tongue base resection (TBR) in patients with OSA. Patients with OSA who underwent palatal surgery and TBR were retrospectively analyzed.

Effect of Smartphone-Based Lifestyle Coaching App on Community-Dwelling Population With Moderate Metabolic Abnormalities: Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: Metabolic disorders are established precursors to cardiovascular diseases, yet they can be readily prevented with sustained lifestyle modifications.

Objective: We assessed the effectiveness of a smartphone-based weight management app on metabolic parameters in adults at high-risk, yet without physician diagnosis nor pharmacological treatment for metabolic syndrome, in a community setting.

Methods: In this 3-arm parallel-group, single-blind, randomized controlled trial, we recruited participants aged 30 to 59 years with at least 2 conditions defined by the Third Report of the National Cholesterol Education Program expert panel (abdominal obesity, high blood pressure, high triglycerides, low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and high fasting glucose level).

Neurobehavioral recovery in patients who emerged from prolonged disorder of consciousness: a retrospective study.

Background: We investigated the clinical course of patients with prolonged disorders of consciousness (PDoC), predictors of emergence from PDoC (EDoC), and the temporal dynamics of six neurobehavior domains based on the JFK Coma Recovery Scale-Revised (CRS-R) during the recovery.

Methods: A total of 50 traumatic and non-traumatic patients with PDoC were enrolled between October 2014 and February 2017. A retrospective analysis of the clinical findings and neurobehavioral signs was conducted using standardized methodology such as CRS-R.

Hyperandrogenic Milieu Dysregulates the Expression of Insulin Signaling Factors and Glucose Transporters in the Endometrium of Patients With Polycystic Ovary Syndrome.

Purpose: Subfertility associated with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) mainly originates from oligoovulation/anovulation. Although insulin resistance and androgen excess are known to cause PCOS-associated implantation failure, the consequences of PCOS on endometrial homeostasis and pathophysiology have not been comprehensively understood. In this study, we examined whether the pathophysiologic milieu of PCOS intrinsically affects expression profiles of genes related to insulin signaling and facilitative glucose transporters (GLUTs) in the human endometrium and/or during in vitro decidualization.

Comparison of olfactory and taste functions between eosinophilic and non-eosinophilic chronic rhinosinusitis.

Objective: Most patients with chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) complain of olfactory and/or taste dysfunctions. However, olfactory and taste dysfunctions depending on the subtype of CRS, classified as eosinophilic CRS (ECRS) and non-eosinophilic CRS (NCRS), have not been clearly reported. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the clinical features in olfactory and taste functions according to the subtype classified as ECRS and NCRS.

Differential contributions of sarcomere and mitochondria-related multigene variants to the endophenotype of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

Background: Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a multigenic disease that occurs due to various genetic modifiers. We investigated phenotype-based clinical and genetic characteristics of HCM patients using comprehensive genetic tests and rare variant association analysis.

Methods: A comprehensive HCM-specific panel, consisting of 82 nuclear DNAs (nDNAs: 33 sarcomere-associated genes, 5 phenocopy genes, and 44 nuclear genes linked to mitochondrial cardiomyopathy) and 37 mitochondrial DNAs (mtDNAs), was analyzed.

Baicalin attenuates fibrogenic process in human renal proximal tubular cells (HK-2) exposed to diabetic milieu.

Aims: Baicalin, a flavonoid glycoside substance extracted from Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi, has been shown to exhibit multiple therapeutic properties owing to its anti-inflammatory effect. Diabetes is characterized by chronic hyperglycemia, inflammation and oxidative stress, which promote renal fibrosis and kidney failure. Although anti-fibrogenic effects of baicalin in lung and liver have been reported previously, no study has investigated its roles in renal fibrosis.

Blood pressure and the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events among firefighters.

Objective: No long-term follow-up study has investigated the effect of blood pressure (BP) on cardiovascular disease mortality and morbidity in firefighters. To investigate the effects of BP on the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs) using a national representative population-matched cohort.

Methods: We enrolled all firefighters (N = 8242) and 28 678 referent controls aged more than 40 years who underwent baseline health examinations in 2002 and 2003.

The effect of severity of white matter hyperintensities on loss of functional independency in patients with mild cognitive impairment: A CREDOS-LTCI (clinical research center for dementia of South Korea-long term card insurance) study.

Objective: By combining data from the Clinical Research Center for Dementia of South Korea(CREDOS) study and long-term care insurance(LTCI), we aimed to assess whether the severity of white matter hyperintensity(WMH) predicted functional decline in cases of amnestic mild cognitive impairment(MCI).

Methods: WMH was evaluated in 3,569 patients with amnestic MCI using the visual rating scale developed for the CREDOS study. The participants were classified as having amnestic MCI with minimal WMH change(aMCI), with moderate WMH change(maMCI) and with severe WMH change(saMCI) according to the severity of the WMH measurements.

Comparison of the clinical characteristics of bilateral and unilateral fungal balls in Korea.

Objective: Fungal rhinosinusitis occurs in different forms depending on race and region. While allergic fungal rhinosinusitis is common in Caucasians, fungal ball (FB) is more common in Asians. However, most cases are reported as unilateral, and clinical data on bilateral FB (BFB) are rare.

Hyperandrogenic Milieu Dysregulates the Expression of Insulin Signaling Factors and Glucose Transporters in the Endometrium of Patients With Polycystic Ovary Syndrome.

Purpose:: Subfertility associated with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) mainly originates from oligoovulation/anovulation. Although insulin resistance and androgen excess are known to cause PCOS-associated implantation failure, the consequences of PCOS on endometrial homeostasis and pathophysiology have not been comprehensively understood. In this study, we examined whether the pathophysiologic milieu of PCOS intrinsically affects expression profiles of genes related to insulin signaling and facilitative glucose transporters (GLUTs) in the human endometrium and/or during in vitro decidualization.

Fibroblast growth factor receptor 3-mediated reactivation of ERK signaling promotes head and neck squamous cancer cell insensitivity to MEK inhibition.

Recurrent or metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) has been a longstanding challenge for head and neck oncologists, and current treatments still have limited efficacy. ERK is aberrantly overexpressed and activated in HNSCC. Herein, we aimed to investigate the cause of the limited therapeutic effect of selumetinib, a selective inhibitor of MEK in HNSCC, as MEK/ERK reactivation inevitably occurs.

Effect of Polydeoxyribonucleotide on Angiogenesis and Wound Healing in an Model of Osteoarthritis.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is degenerative disease, leading to pain and functional disability. It is reported that polydeoxyribonucleotide (PDRN) is a suitable therapy for OA. However, the therapeutic mechanisms of PDRN in OA are not fully understood.

Comparison of Efficacy between Ramipril and Carvedilol on Limiting the Expansion of Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm in Mouse Model.

Objective: Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a common condition that may be life-threatening when it is unrecognized. The aim of this study is to evaluate and compare the efficacy of ramipril and carvedilol on limiting AAA expansion in mouse model.

Methods And Results: A total of 36 experimental AAA mouse model was induced with the continuous infusion of angiotensin II (Ang II) in 20-week-old male apolipoprotein E-deficient mice.

Association between the symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia and social disparities: Does social capital promote prostate health?

This cross-sectional study investigated the relationships between socioeconomic factors and social capital and benign prostatic hyperplasia symptoms. The participants were 100,000 adult men who participated in the Korea Community Health Survey. The surveyors used the International Prostate Symptom Score.

The Effect of Environmental Enrichment on Glutathione-Mediated Xenobiotic Metabolism and Antioxidation in Normal Adult Mice.

Olfactory bulb (OB) plays an important role in protecting against harmful substances via the secretion of antioxidant and detoxifying enzymes. Environmental enrichment (EE) is a common rehabilitation method and known to have beneficial effects in the central nervous system. However, the effects of EE in the OB still remain unclear.

Herbal Medicines for Cold Hypersensitivity in the Hands and Feet: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Cold hypersensitivity in the hands and feet (CHHF) and Raynaud's phenomenon (RP) are prevalent among Asian populations, especially among women, who exhibit a higher rate of cold hypersensitivity that may be associated with gynecological problems. In several countries, herbal medicine has effectively treated cold hypersensitivity symptoms. This systematic review and meta-analysis of the literature was undertaken to evaluate the efficacy of herbal medicine for the treatment of CHHF in adults.