1.The Characteristics of RNA Vaccine; its Strengths and Weaknesses.
Hyo Jung PARK ; Hae Li KO ; Seo Yeon JUNG ; Han Byeol JO ; Jae Hwan NAM
Journal of Bacteriology and Virology 2016;46(3):115-127
Since 1990 when Wolff and co-authors proved that both RNA and DNA expression vectors containing interest gene were directly injected into mouse muscle and expressed the protein in vivo, the concept of gene vaccine has been broadly tested in the vaccine field. However, due to the limitations of technology and the misconception about RNA, most previous studies have focused on the DNA vaccine. Recently, the RNA vaccine has emerged as a new game-changing disruptive innovation technology in the vaccine field. This review has covered the characteristics of the RNA vaccine, including its strengths and weaknesses. Finally, we have suggested future directions for the RNA vaccine.
Animals
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DNA
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Mice
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RNA*
2.Autophagy Regulates Formation of Primary Cilia in Mefloquine-Treated Cells.
Ji Hyun SHIN ; Dong Jun BAE ; Eun Sung KIM ; Han Byeol KIM ; So Jung PARK ; Yoon Kyung JO ; Doo Sin JO ; Dong Gyu JO ; Sang Yeob KIM ; Dong Hyung CHO
Biomolecules & Therapeutics 2015;23(4):327-332
Primary cilia have critical roles in coordinating multiple cellular signaling pathways. Dysregulation of primary cilia is implicated in various ciliopathies. To identify specific regulators of autophagy, we screened chemical libraries and identified mefloquine, an anti-malaria medicine, as a potent regulator of primary cilia in human retinal pigmented epithelial (RPE) cells. Not only ciliated cells but also primary cilium length was increased in mefloquine-treated RPE cells. Treatment with mefloquine strongly induced the elongation of primary cilia by blocking disassembly of primary cilium. In addition, we found that autophagy was increased in mefloquine-treated cells by enhancing autophagic flux. Both chemical and genetic inhibition of autophagy suppressed ciliogenesis in mefloquine-treated RPE cells. Taken together, these results suggest that autophagy induced by mefloquine positively regulates the elongation of primary cilia in RPE cells.
Autophagy*
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Cilia*
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Humans
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Mefloquine
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Retinaldehyde
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Small Molecule Libraries
3.The Economic Burden of Psoriasis in Korea
Byeol HAN ; Ki-Heon JEONG ; Tae-Gyun KIM ; Kwang Joong KIM ; Dong Hyun KIM ; Byung-Soo KIM ; Kyung Duck PARK ; Chul Jong PARK ; Hai-Jin PARK ; Chul Hwan BANG ; Bong Seok SHIN ; Sang Woong YOUN ; Jai Il YOUN ; Ju Hee LEE ; Kyung Eun JUNG ; Yong Beom CHOE ; Seong-jin JO
Korean Journal of Dermatology 2021;59(5):321-331
Background:
Psoriasis is a chronic disease that can have accompanying comorbidities including arthritis, metabolic syndrome, and cardiovascular diseases. Patients with psoriasis tend to frequently visit medical institutions, and their economic burden for medical services is high.
Objective:
To investigate the economic burden of psoriasis in Korea.
Methods:
The Korean Society for Psoriasis conducted a multi-center field survey of the patients and analyzed the national insurance claim data. Also, we discussed the medical environment of psoriasis in Korea based on the results.
Results:
The economic burden of psoriasis patients is substantial and varied by the type of medical institute. Patients also paid the indirect and intangible medical costs. Biological agents, which is used in patients with severe psoriasis, led to an increase in the cost.
Conclusion
This is the first study to estimate the economic burden of psoriasis in Korea comprehensively. To improve the medical environment of psoriasis and alleviate the burden of patients, discussion on the more efficient health policy and medical insurance criteria for psoriasis would be needed.
4.The Economic Burden of Psoriasis in Korea
Byeol HAN ; Ki-Heon JEONG ; Tae-Gyun KIM ; Kwang Joong KIM ; Dong Hyun KIM ; Byung-Soo KIM ; Kyung Duck PARK ; Chul Jong PARK ; Hai-Jin PARK ; Chul Hwan BANG ; Bong Seok SHIN ; Sang Woong YOUN ; Jai Il YOUN ; Ju Hee LEE ; Kyung Eun JUNG ; Yong Beom CHOE ; Seong-jin JO
Korean Journal of Dermatology 2021;59(5):321-331
Background:
Psoriasis is a chronic disease that can have accompanying comorbidities including arthritis, metabolic syndrome, and cardiovascular diseases. Patients with psoriasis tend to frequently visit medical institutions, and their economic burden for medical services is high.
Objective:
To investigate the economic burden of psoriasis in Korea.
Methods:
The Korean Society for Psoriasis conducted a multi-center field survey of the patients and analyzed the national insurance claim data. Also, we discussed the medical environment of psoriasis in Korea based on the results.
Results:
The economic burden of psoriasis patients is substantial and varied by the type of medical institute. Patients also paid the indirect and intangible medical costs. Biological agents, which is used in patients with severe psoriasis, led to an increase in the cost.
Conclusion
This is the first study to estimate the economic burden of psoriasis in Korea comprehensively. To improve the medical environment of psoriasis and alleviate the burden of patients, discussion on the more efficient health policy and medical insurance criteria for psoriasis would be needed.
5.Impact of COVID-19 Infection and Its Association With Previous Vaccination in Patients With Myasthenia Gravis in Korea: A Multicenter Retrospective Study
Hee Jo HAN ; Seung Woo KIM ; Hyunjin KIM ; Jungmin SO ; Eun-Jae LEE ; Young-Min LIM ; Jung Hwan LEE ; Myung Ah LEE ; Byung-Jo KIM ; Seol-Hee BAEK ; Hyung-Soo LEE ; Eunhee SOHN ; Sooyoung KIM ; Jin-Sung PARK ; Minsung KANG ; Hyung Jun PARK ; Byeol-A YOON ; Jong Kuk KIM ; Hung Youl SEOK ; Sohyeon KIM ; Ju-Hong MIN ; Yeon Hak CHUNG ; Jeong Hee CHO ; Jee-Eun KIM ; Seong-il OH ; Ha Young SHIN
Journal of Korean Medical Science 2024;39(18):e150-
Background:
During the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, patients with myasthenia gravis (MG) were more susceptible to poor outcomes owing to respiratory muscle weakness and immunotherapy. Several studies conducted in the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic reported higher mortality in patients with MG compared to the general population. This study aimed to investigate the clinical course and prognosis of COVID-19 in patients with MG and to compare these parameters between vaccinated and unvaccinated patients in South Korea.
Methods:
This multicenter, retrospective study, which was conducted at 14 tertiary hospitals in South Korea, reviewed the medical records and identified MG patients who contracted COVID-19 between February 2022 and April 2022. The demographic and clinical characteristics associated with MG and vaccination status were collected. The clinical outcomes of COVID-19 infection and MG were investigated and compared between the vaccinated and unvaccinated patients.
Results:
Ninety-two patients with MG contracted COVID-19 during the study. Nine (9.8%) patients required hospitalization, 4 (4.3%) of whom were admitted to the intensive care unit. Seventy-five of 92 patients were vaccinated before contracting COVID-19 infection, and 17 were not. During the COVID-19 infection, 6 of 17 (35.3%) unvaccinated patients were hospitalized, whereas 3 of 75 (4.0%) vaccinated patients were hospitalized (P < 0.001). The frequencies of ICU admission and mechanical ventilation were significantly lower in the vaccinated patients than in the unvaccinated patients (P = 0.019 and P = 0.032, respectively). The rate of MG deterioration was significantly lower in the vaccinated patients than in the unvaccinated patients (P = 0.041). Logistic regression after weighting revealed that the risk of hospitalization and MG deterioration after COVID-19 infection was significantly lower in the vaccinated patients than in the unvaccinated patients.
Conclusion
This study suggests that the clinical course and prognosis of patients with MG who contracted COVID-19 during the dominance of the omicron variant of COVID-19 may be milder than those at the early phase of the COVID-19 pandemic when vaccination was unavailable. Vaccination may reduce the morbidity of COVID-19 in patients with MG and effectively prevent MG deterioration induced by COVID-19 infection.