• Journal of mucopolysaccharidosis and rare diseases
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 2021

Gaucher disease (GD, OMIM #230800 OMIM#230800) is a rare, autosomal recessive inherited metabolic disorder caused by mutation in GBA1 encoding the lysosomal enzyme, glucocerebrosidase. The deficiency of glucocerebrosidase leads to an accumulation of its substrate, glucosylceramide in macrophages of various tissues. Common clinical manifestations include cytopenia, splenomegaly, hepatomegaly, and bone lesions. The phenotype of GD is classified into three clinical categories: Type 1 (non-neuronopathic) is characterized by involvements on the viscera, whereas types 2 and 3 (neuronopathic) are associated with not only visceral symptoms but also neurological impairment, either severe in type 2 or variable in type 3. A diagnosis of GD can be confirmed by demonstrating the deficiency of acid glucocerebrosidase activity in leukocytes. Mutations in the GBA1 should be identified as they may be of prognostic value in some cases. Biomarkers including Chitotriosidase, CCL18, and glucosylsphingosine (lyso-GL1) are useful in diagnosis and treatment monitoring. Currently available disease-specific treatment in Korea consists of intravenous enzyme replacement therapy and substrate reduction therapy. For enhancing long-term prognosis, the onset of Parkinson's disease and Lewy body dementia, or the occurrence of a blood disease or cancer (hepatocellular carcinoma) should be monitored in older patients. The development of new strategies that can modify the neurological phenotype are expected, especially in Asia including Korea, where the prevalence of neuronopathic GD is relatively higher than that in western countries.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.55 no.1
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• pp.81-84
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• 2022

Esophagectomy and esophageal reconstruction are commonly chosen as surgical options for esophageal cancer. However, prolonged untreated chyle leakage is associated with a poor prognosis. We report the case of a patient with refractory chylous ascites. To limit the ongoing fluid loss, we utilized the chylous ascites as an additional fluid source in a renal replacement therapy system. A continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) drainage system was modified to drain both the chylous ascites and venous blood. The ascites drainage rate was determined empirically and regulated by a dial-flow extension set. The CRRT mode was set to continuous venovenous hemodiafiltration and maintained for 7 days. After the patient was weaned from CRRT, ascites did not reaccumulate, and the patient's general condition improved dramatically. No infections related to the system occurred. This procedure temporarily alleviates symptoms and provides more time for alternative treatment strategies.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.47 no.2
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• pp.283-290
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• 2023

Hypercoagulability is frequently observed in patients with severe coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19). Platelets are a favorable target for effectively treating hypercoagulability in COVID-19 patients as platelet hyperactivity has also been observed. It is difficult to develop a treatment for COVID-19 that will be effective against all variants and the use of antivirals may not be fully effective against COVID-19 as activated platelets have been detected in patients with COVID-19. Therefore, patients with less severe side effects often turn toward natural remedies. Numerous phytochemicals are being investigated for their potential to treat a variety of illnesses, including cancer and bacterial and viral infections. Natural products have been used to alleviate COVID-19 symptoms. Panax ginseng has potential for managing cardiovascular diseases and could be a treatment for COVID-19 by targeting the coagulation cascade and platelet activation. Using molecular docking, we analyzed the interactions of bioactive chemicals in P. ginseng with important proteins and receptors involved in platelet activation. Furthermore, the SwissADME online tool was used to calculate the pharmacokinetics and drug-likeness properties of the lead compounds of P. ginseng. Dianthramine, deoxyharrtingtonine, and suchilactone were determined to have favorable pharmacokinetic profiles.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.183-191
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• 2023

Objective : UVB damages skin health by causing skin redness and intense inflammation, sunburn, and skin cancer. Paeoniae Radix Alba has been used to relieve gynecological symptoms, muscle spasms, and skin ailments. This study was conducted to confirm whether it has a protective effect against UVB photodamage. Methods : Ethanol extract of Paeoniae Radix Alba (PRA) was prepared by extracting 100 g Paeoniae Radix Alba in 1 L of ethanol for 48 h. Apoptosis was monitored by the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) assay and expression levels of apoptosis indicator proteins, and tyrosinase activity was measured with a colorimetric commercial kit. Results : In human keratinocyte HaCaT cells, PRA reduced UVB-induced cell death through apoptosis by inhibiting PARP cleavage and caspase-3 and -9. UVB-induced increase in cellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) was suppressed by PRA pretreatment. PRA also showed dose-dependent ABTS and DPPH radical scavenging activities. Furthermore, the inhibitory effect of tyrosinase activity by PRA was confirmed. Conclusion : These results demonstrated the protective role of PRA in UVB photodamage of human keratinocytes, mainly due to its antioxidant and antiapoptotic properties. We also suggest that PRA can be considered as an effective natural agent to prevent skin photodamage.

• Genomics & Informatics
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.6.1-6.8
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• 2023

Glaucoma is the second leading cause of irreversible blindness, and primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) is the most common type. Due to inadequate diagnosis, treatment is often not administered until symptoms occur. Hence, approaches enabling earlier prediction or diagnosis of POAG are necessary. We aimed to identify novel drugs for glaucoma through bioinformatics and network analysis. Data from 36 samples, obtained from the trabecular meshwork of healthy individuals and patients with POAG, were acquired from a dataset. Next, differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified to construct a protein-protein interaction (PPI) network. In both stages, the genes were enriched by studying the critical biological processes and pathways related to POAG. Finally, a drug-gene network was constructed, and novel drugs for POAG treatment were proposed. Genes with p < 0.01 and |log fold change| > 0.3 (1,350 genes) were considered DEGs and utilized to construct a PPI network. Enrichment analysis yielded several key pathways that were upregulated or downregulated. For example, extracellular matrix organization, the immune system, neutrophil degranulation, and cytokine signaling were upregulated among immune pathways, while signal transduction, the immune system, extracellular matrix organization, and receptor tyrosine kinase signaling were downregulated. Finally, novel drugs including metformin hydrochloride, ixazomib citrate, and cisplatin warrant further analysis of their potential roles in POAG treatment. The candidate drugs identified in this computational analysis require in vitro and in vivo validation to confirm their effectiveness in POAG treatment. This may pave the way for understanding life-threatening disorders such as cancer.

• Journal of Veterinary Science
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• v.24 no.5
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• pp.71.1-71.12
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• 2023

With the growing interest in companion animals and the rapidly expanding animal healthcare and pharmaceuticals market worldwide. With the advancements in RNAsequencing (RNA-seq) technology, it has become a valuable tool for understanding biological processes in companion animals and has multiple applications in animal healthcare. Historically, veterinary diagnoses and treatments relied solely on clinical symptoms and drugs used in human diseases. However, RNA-seq has emerged as an effective technology for studying companion animals, providing insights into their genetic information. The sequencing technology has revealed that not only messenger RNAs (mRNAs) but also noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs) such as long ncRNAs and microRNAs can serve as biomarkers. Based on the examination of RNA-seq applications in veterinary medicine, particularly in dogs and cats, this review concludes that RNA-seq has significant potential as a diagnostic and research tool. It has enabled the identification of potential biomarkers for cancer and other diseases in companion animals. Further research and development are required to maximize the utilization of RNA-seq for improved disease diagnosis and therapeutic targeting in companion animals.

• The Journal of Korean Medical History
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.99-113
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• 2023

This paper is a study to find the philological basis of Bihoon (鼻熏) therapy. There is no separate philological study of Bihoon therapy to date, and for this reason, there is no clear definition or specific treatment manual. In this study, a related database was created and analyzed by examining literature data related to Bihoon therapy, focusing on Korean traditional medical books. There were about 1,000 data points related to Bihoon therapy in 45 kinds of medical books. They were largely classified into 1. Acute diseases such as insensitivity, 2. Diseases that occur in the upper human body such as nose, head, eyes, and throat, 3. Women's diseases related to childbirth, 4. Treatment of skin diseases and prevention of infectious diseases. In the case of insensitivity treatment, the focus was on awakening the patient's mind, and the treatment of diseases such as the nose, head, eyes, etc. was focused on resolving each symptom. Symptoms related to childbirth were mainly treated for uterine escapism or fainting after childbirth, while skin diseases were mainly treated for diseases that did not heal well, such as amniotic fluid. If a multifaceted approach to non-discipline therapy is added in the future, it is expected that clinical utilization will also be increased.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.9.1-9.21
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• 2020

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have been changing the paradigm of cancer treatment. However, immune-related adverse effects (irAEs) have also increased with the exponential increase in the use of ICIs. ICIs can break up the immunologic homeostasis and reduce T-cell tolerance. Therefore, inhibition of immune checkpoint can lead to the activation of autoreactive T-cells, resulting in various irAEs similar to autoimmune diseases. Gastrointestinal toxicity, endocrine toxicity, and dermatologic toxicity are common side effects. Neurotoxicity, cardiotoxicity, and pulmonary toxicity are relatively rare but can be fatal. ICI-related gastrointestinal toxicity, dermatologic toxicity, and hypophysitis are more common with anti- CTLA-4 agents. ICI-related pulmonary toxicity, thyroid dysfunction, and myasthenia gravis are more common with PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors. Treatment with systemic steroids is the principal strategy against irAEs. The use of immune-modulatory agents should be considered in case of no response to the steroid therapy. Treatment under the supervision of multidisciplinary specialists is also essential, because the symptoms and treatments of irAEs could involve many organs. Thus, this review focuses on the mechanism, clinical presentation, incidence, and treatment of various irAEs.

• Imaging Science in Dentistry
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• v.54 no.2
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• pp.211-220
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• 2024

Non-secretory multiple myeloma (NSMM) is a rare cancer of plasma cells characterized by the absence of detectable monoclonal M protein in the blood or urine. A 57-year-old woman presented with mandibular pain but without intraoral swelling. Imaging studies revealed multiple osteolytic lesions in her mandible and pronounced root resorption of the left mandibular second molar. Biopsy results showed atypical plasmacytoid cells positive for anti-kappa, CD138, MUM1, and CD79a antibodies, but negative for anti-lambda and CD20. These results were indicative of a malignant plasma cell neoplasm. No abnormalities were revealed by free light chain assay or by serum or urine protein electrophoresis, leading to a diagnosis of NSMM. The patient began chemotherapy in conjunction with bisphosphonate therapy and achieved remission following treatment. This case underscores the critical role of dentists in the early detection and prevention of NSMM complications, as the disease can initially present in the oral cavity.

• Clinical Endoscopy
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• v.55 no.1
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• pp.22-32
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• 2022

Radiotherapy (RT) is a treatment modality that uses high-energy rays or radioactive agents to generate ionizing radiation against rapidly dividing cells. The main objective of using radiation in cancer therapy is to impair or halt the division of the tumor cells. Over the past few decades, advancements in technology, the introduction of newer methods of RT, and a better understanding of the pathophysiology of cancers have enabled physicians to deliver doses of radiation that match the exact dimensions of the tumor for greater efficacy, with minimal exposure of the surrounding tissues. However, RT has numerous complications, the most common being radiation proctitis (RP). It is characterized by damage to the rectal epithelium by secondary ionizing radiation. Based on the onset of signs and symptoms, post-radiotherapy RP can be classified as acute or chronic, each with varying levels of severity and complication rates. The treatment options available for RP are limited, with most of the data on treatment available from case reports or small studies. Here, we describe the types of RT used in modern-day medicine and radiation-mediated tissue injury. We have primarily focused on the classification, epidemiology, pathogenesis, clinical features, treatment strategies, complications, and prognosis of RP.