Objective: The liver plays a central role in lipid metabolism. During fasting and feeding, the fatty acid trafficking between adipose tissue and liver induces accumulation and dissociation of dynamic hepatic lipid droplets (LDs). Herein, we established an intravital 2-photon imaging technique to longitudinally visualize the dynamic in vivo alteration of hepatic LD deposition during fasting and refeeding in the liver of live mouse. Methods: Intravital 2-photon imaging of liver was performed to observe hepatic LD alteration induced by fasting for different periods of time, 12, 24, and 48 hours followed by refeeding. Hepatic LDs were fluorescently labelled in vivo by intravenous injection of Seoul-Flour 44 and visualized by custom-built intravital 2-photon microscope. Results: Significant increases of the number and size of hepatic LDs were observed by intravital 2-photon imaging of the liver after 12 hours of fasting. The degree of hepatic LD accumulation continuously increased with fasting up to 48 hours. Remarkably, with refeeding for 24 hours, the hepatic LDs accumulated by fasting were fully dissociated and the LD occupancy in the liver was recovered to the normal state. Conclusion Utilizing intravital 2-photon microscope with in vivo systemic fluorescent labeling of LD in live mice, dynamic alterations of hepatic LDs such as accumulation and dissociation by fasting and refeeding were successfully visualized at a subcellular level in vivo. The established method enabling the in vivo visualization of LDs will be a useful tool to investigate the pathophysiology of various diseases associated with dysregulated lipid metabolism.

Background: Determination of inter-method differences between clinically available volumetry methods are essential for the clinical application of brain volumetry in a wider context.Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the inter-method reliability and differences between the Siemens morphometry (SM) software and the NeuroQuant (NQ) software. Materials and Methods: MR images of 86 subjects with subjective or objective cognitive impairment were included in this retrospective study. For this study, 3D T1 volume images were obtained in all subjects using a 3T MR scanner (Skyra 3T, Siemens). Volumetric analysis of the 3D T1 volume images was performed using SM and NQ. To analyze the inter-method difference, correlation, and reliability, we used the paired t-test, Bland-Altman plot, Pearson’s correlation coefficient, intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), and effect size (ES) using the MedCalc and SPSS software. Results: SM and NQ showed excellent reliability for cortical gray matter, cerebral white matter, and cerebrospinal fluid; and good reliability for intracranial volume, whole brain volume, both thalami, and both hippocampi. In contrast, poor reliability was observed for both basal ganglia including the caudate nucleus, putamen, and pallidum. Paired comparison revealed that while the mean volume of the right hippocampus was not different between the two software, the mean difference in the left hippocampus volume between the two methods was 0.17 ml (P < 0.001). The other brain regions showed significant differences in terms of measured volumes between the two software. Conclusion SM and NQ provided good-to-excellent reliability in evaluating most brain structures, except for the basal ganglia in patients with cognitive impairment.Researchers and clinicians should be aware of the potential differences in the measured volumes when using these two different software interchangeably.

Ischiofemoral impingement syndrome is known as one of the causes of hip pain due to impingement of ischium and femur, and usually correlated with trauma or operation. We report a rare case of ischiofemoral impingement syndrome that has no history of trauma or surgery. A 48-year-old female patient was referred for 2 months history of the left hip pain, radiating to lower extremity with a hip snapping sensation. She had no history of trauma or surgery at or around the hip joint and femur. The magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the lumbar spine showed no abnormality, except diffuse bulging disc without cord compression at the lumbosacral area. Electrophysiologic study was normal, and there were no neurologic abnormalities compatible with the lumbosacral radiculopathy or spinal stenosis. Hip MRI revealed quadratus femoris muscle edema with concurrent narrowing of the ischiofemoral space. The distance of ischiofemoral space and quadratus femoris space were narrow. It was compatible with ischiofemoral impingement syndrome. After treatment with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, physical therapy, and exercise program, the patient's pain was relieved and the snapping was improved. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of a nontraumatic, noniatrogenic ischiofemoral impingement syndrome, and also the first case to be treated by a nonsurgical method in the Republic of Korea.
Edema ; Female ; Femur ; Hip ; Hip Joint ; Humans ; Ischium ; Lower Extremity ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Muscles ; Radiculopathy ; Republic of Korea ; Sensation ; Spinal Stenosis ; Spine

PURPOSE: Child obesity has been on the rise and become a worldwide health issue. Low socioeconomic status (SES) is known as an influencing factor for childhood obesity, but relevant studies on a national level are scarce in Korea. The purpose of this study was to identify the prevalence of obesity for each age group by parental SES and analyze the trends of changes in weight status using a Korean national cohort dataset. METHODS: In Korea, children are eligible for the National Children Health Examination, a mandatory seven-time health checkup for those aged 4 to 80 months. This study tracked 4 to 9-month-old children up to 80 months through seven distinct age groups. A total of 12,362 children had received all seven health exams consecutively. Parental SES was categorized as three stages according to national classifications. Z scores of weight-for-height (for children aged < 24 months) and body mass index (for children aged ≥ 24 months) were used for detecting overweight and obesity. RESULTS: Children with low parental SES showed the highest prevalence of overweight and obesity in all age groups, although there was no consistency in statistical significance. Also, normal and underweight children of 4 to 9 months with low parental SES showed the highest change rate to either overweight or obesity, although no consistency of statistical significance was observed. CONCLUSIONS: Low parental SES can affect the weight status of offspring from early childhood. Thus, early obesity prevention interventions should be provided especially for children in low-income families.
Age Distribution ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Cohort Studies ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Humans ; Infant ; Overweight/epidemiology ; *Parents ; Pediatric Obesity/*epidemiology ; Prevalence ; Republic of Korea/epidemiology ; Social Class

BACKGROUND: Human chorionic plate-derived mesenchymal stem cells (CP-MSCs) isolated from the placenta have been reported to demonstrate therapeutic effects in animal models of liver injury; however, the underlying epigenetic mechanism of this effect has not been elucidated. Thus, we investigated whether CP-MSCs influence epigenetic processes during regeneration of the injured liver. METHODS: CP-MSCs were engrafted into a carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-injured rat model through direct transplantation into the liver (DTX), intrasplenic transplantation (STX), and intravenous transplantation via the tail vein (TTX). Non-transplanted (NTX) rats were maintained as sham controls. Liver tissues were analyzed after transplantation using immunohistochemistry, western blot analysis, and quantitative methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction. Proliferation and human interleukin-6 (hIL-6) enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays were performed using CCl4-treated hepatic cells that were co-cultured with CP-MSCs. RESULTS: The Ki67 labeling index, cell cyclins, albumin, IL-6, and gp130 levels were elevated in the CP-MSC transplantation groups. The concentration of hIL-6 in supernatants and the proliferation of CCl4-treated rat hepatic cells were enhanced by co-culturing with CP-MSCs (p<0.05), while the methylation of IL-6/IL-6R and STAT3 by CP-MSC transplantation decreased. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that administration of CP-MSCs promotes IL-6/STAT3 signaling by decreasing the methylation of the IL-6/SATA3 promoters and thus inducing the proliferation of hepatic cells in a CCl4-injured liver rat model. These data advance our understanding of the therapeutic mechanisms in injured livers, and can facilitate the development of cell-based therapies using placenta-derived stem cells.
Animals ; Blotting, Western ; Carbon Tetrachloride ; Chorion ; Cyclins ; DNA Methylation ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Epigenesis, Genetic ; Epigenomics* ; Hepatocytes ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Interleukin-6 ; Liver Regeneration ; Liver* ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells ; Methylation ; Models, Animal* ; Placenta ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Rats ; Regeneration* ; Stem Cells* ; Veins

Purpose: This study was conducted to build a direction for government policies regarding strategies for the commercialization of digital therapeutics in Korea, as well as its globalization. Materials and Methods: The study included 37 participants from the Korea Digital Health Industry Association (KODHIA). The data was based on a survey conducted in 2020 targeting employees of companies engaged in the digital health industry in Korea.Participants were asked about their involvement in product development of digital therapeutics and their opinion about the growing motivator for digital therapeutics in Korea and the global market. Results: According to our data, among subjects not involved in making digital therapeutics products, the main reason for not being involved was the lack of experts (73.9%) and difficulty in licensing (73.9%). Responses concerning the priority area in need of national support were R&D funding (43.2%), and the next was licensing guidance and simplifying regulations (24.3%). Possible difficulties of overseas market expansion were the unfamiliarity in digital therapeutics technology verification and licensing structures of foreign countries (73%), and concerns regarding the level of recognition of clinical trials and technology in Korea from overseas (70.3%). Overall, respondents were hesitant in starting a related business due to the lack of government support and the complexity of the regulation process. Moreover, concerns about global market entry were similar. Being unfamiliar with the novel process and worrying about the achievement despite existing challenges were the biggest drawback. Conclusion For the digital therapeutics industry to evolve domestically and internationally, government support and guidance are essential.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to determine the associations between blood hemoglobin (Hgb) levels and the risk of death by specific causes. METHODS: Using the National Health Insurance Services-National Health Screening Cohort (n=487 643), we classified serum Hgb levels into 6 sex-specific groups. Cox regression analysis was used to analyze the associations between Hgb levels and the risk of cause-specific death. RESULTS: Hgb levels in male population showed a U-shaped, J-shaped, or inverse J-shaped association with the risk of death from ischemic heart disease, acute myocardial infarction, liver cancer, cirrhosis and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) (all non-linear p<0.05; hazard ratio [HR]; 95% confidence interval [CI]) for the lowest and the highest Hgb levels for the risk of each cause of death in male population: HR, 1.14; 95% CI, 0.98 to 1.34; HR, 2.87; 95% CI, 1.48 to 5.57; HR, 1.16; 95% CI, 0.96 to 1.40; HR, 3.05; 95% CI, 1.44 to 6.48; HR, 1.36; 95% CI, 1.18 to 1.56; HR, 2.11; 95% CI, 1.05 to 4.26; HR, 3.64; 95% CI, 2.49 to 5.33; HR, 5.97; 95% CI, 1.44 to 24.82; HR, 1.62; 95% CI, 1.14 to 2.30; HR, 3.84; 95% CI, 1.22 to 12.13, respectively), while in female population, high Hgb levels were associated with a lower risk of death from hypertension and a higher risk of death from COPD (overall p<0.05; HR, 1.86; 95% CI, 1.29 to 2.67 for the lowest Hgb levels for hypertension; overall p<0.01, HR, 6.60; 95% CI, 2.37 to 18.14 for the highest Hgb levels for COPD). For the risk of lung cancer death by Hgb levels, a linear negative association was found in male population (overall p<0.01; the lowest Hgb levels, HR, 1.17; 95% CI, 1.05 to 1.33) but an inverse J-shaped association was found in female population (non-linear p=0.01; HR, 1.25; 95% CI, 0.96 to 1.63; HR, 2.58; 95% CI, 1.21 to 5.50). CONCLUSIONS Both low and high Hgb levels were associated with an increased risk of death from various causes, and some diseases showed different patterns according to sex.

Background: Osteoporosis is characterized by a decrease in bone mineral density (BMD) and increased risk of fragility fractures. Serum iron level may interact with bone health status. This study investigated the correlations of BMD with serum iron level, hemoglobin level, and total iron-binding capacity (TIBC). Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of data from the medical records of premenopausal women in South Korea. The women’s BMDs and the Z scores of the BMDs were verified using dual-energy X-ray absorption. The participants were stratified into quartiles for analyses of the associations of BMD with serum iron level, TIBC, and hemoglobin level. Results: A simple linear regression analysis revealed associations of changes in BMD with iron level (β=-0.001, standard error [SE]=0.001, P<0.001), hemoglobin level (β=0.015, SE=0.003, P<0.001), and TIBC (β=0.001, SE=0.001, P<0.001). This pattern was also observed in a multiple linear regression analysis. A multivariate logistic regression analysis of iron level and TIBC for low BMD revealed odds ratios of 1.005 (P<0.001) and 0.995 (P<0.001), respectively. Conclusion This study demonstrated clear relationships of changes in BMD with serum iron level and TIBC, and thus confirms the usefulness of these markers in the clinical evaluation of iron storage and BMD in younger women.

The digital treatment technology industry is one of the core fostering industries of the Moon Jae-in government along with the global trend. The purpose of this study is to compare and analyze the investment and economic ripple effect on the related industries. To this end, we used the industry-related table, which is the actual measurement data for 2015 that the Bank of Korea actually measured and released every 5 years in 2019. The digital treatment technology industry was not clearly classified within Korea’s industrial classification system, so the contents of the industry-related survey were analyzed, and the digital treatment technology industry was reclassified and then analyzed. As a result of the analysis, it was analyzed that the production induction effect of the digital treatment technology-related industry in 2015 was 1.770, the value-added induction effect was 0.875, and the employment induction effect was 19.128, which was higher than that of other industries in Korea. As a result of the analysis of the economic ripple effect (scenario 1), the production inducing effect was about 370 billion won, the added value inducing effect was about 185 billion won, and the employment inducing effect was 4,044 people. The results of this study are expected to play a large role in economic revitalization as the effect of inducing production, increasing employment, and creating added value through fostering the digital treatment technology industry is expected to play a large role in activating the economy. It is expected to play a large role in providing central medical services. Therefore, it is expected that policy support for revitalizing the digital treatment technology industry through active investment support and tax benefits from the government to foster the digital treatment technology industry is necessary.

Background and Objectives: Hizikia fusiformis is widely used in oriental health food in Japan, China, and Korea, and is known for its anti-oxidation properties.Materials and Method: In this study, we investigated the anti-inflammatory and immune-modulatory effects and mechanisms of Hizikia fusiformis (H. fusiformis) extracts in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-treated RAW 264.7 cells. RAW 264.7 cells were incubated in the presence of different concentrations of the viscozyme component of H. fusiformis (1, 2, 5, and 10 μg/mL), and changes in expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines (GM-CSF, iNOS, VEGF, and COX-2) were evaluated by real-time PCR and immunoblotting. In addition, the associated signaling pathway including phospho (p)-pNF-κB 65, p-pIkBa, p-p38, and p-p44/42 was also evaluated. Results: The viscozyme component of H. fusiformis downregulated the expression of GM-CSF, iNOS, VEGF, and COX-2 mRNA. The augmented NO and ROS production was decreased by administration of H. fusiformis. The signal intensity of p-pNF-κB 65, p-pIkBa, p-p38, and p-p44/42 protein activated by LPS was ameliorated by administration of the viscozyme fraction in RAW 264.7 cells. Conclusion These results suggest that H. fusiformis has potential as a therapeutic agent for inflammatory diseases.