Cardiovascular disease (CVD) accounts for approximately 30% of all deaths worldwide and its prevalence is constantly increasing despite advancements in medical treatments. Cardiac remodeling and dysfunction are independent risk factors for CVD. Recent studies have demonstrated that cardiac structure and function are genetically influenced, suggesting that understanding the genetic basis for cardiac structure and function could provide new insights into developing novel therapeutic targets for CVD. Regular exercise has long been considered a robust nontherapeutic method of treating or preventing CVD. However, recent studies also indicate that there is inter-individual variation in response to exercise. Nevertheless, the genetic basis for cardiac structure and function as well as their responses to exercise training have yet to be fully elucidated. Therefore, this review summarizes accumulated evidence supporting the genetic contribution to these traits, including findings from population-based studies and unbiased large genomic-scale studies in humans.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) accounts for approximately 30% of all deaths worldwide and its prevalence is constantly increasing despite advancements in medical treatments. Cardiac remodeling and dysfunction are independent risk factors for CVD. Recent studies have demonstrated that cardiac structure and function are genetically influenced, suggesting that understanding the genetic basis for cardiac structure and function could provide new insights into developing novel therapeutic targets for CVD. Regular exercise has long been considered a robust nontherapeutic method of treating or preventing CVD. However, recent studies also indicate that there is inter-individual variation in response to exercise. Nevertheless, the genetic basis for cardiac structure and function as well as their responses to exercise training have yet to be fully elucidated. Therefore, this review summarizes accumulated evidence supporting the genetic contribution to these traits, including findings from population-based studies and unbiased large genomic-scale studies in humans.

PURPOSE: This study was done to gain understanding of what career and related experience mean to individuals undergoing hemodialysis. METHODS: Ten male patients receiving hemodialysis participated in the study. Data collection took place between November 18, 2008 and February 10, 2010, via unstructured interviews. Data collection and analysis were conducted simultaneously, and Colaizzi's phenomenological method (1978) was used for the analysis. RESULTS: The significance the participants found in their "dual" life as worker and dialysis patients was classified into five categories: 'Recognition of self-existence value', 'My health comes before my work', 'Being afraid of stigma', 'Limitation of restricted work', and 'Difficulty with time management.' CONCLUSION: It was found that the dialysis patients showed ambivalent feelings towards their careers, hoping they will be able to continue to work yet fearing that the continued work might break balance the between their livelihood and healing. Therefore, it is recommended that hours for hemodialysis be more flexible to ensure that patients can keep their jobs and better manage their time while undergoing treatment.
Surveys and Questionnaires ; Dialysis ; Dietary Sucrose ; Humans ; Hypogonadism ; Male ; Mitochondrial Diseases ; Ophthalmoplegia ; Qualitative Research ; Renal Dialysis

Alpha-1 antitrypsin (AAT), an alpha globulin glycoprotein, is a member of the serine protease inhibitor (serpin) superfamily. The clinical significance of AAT is highlighted by AAT deficiency. Genetic deficiency of AAT can present as several neutrophilic diseases associated with emphysema, liver cirrhosis, panniculitis, and systemic vasculitis. Recently, animal and human studies have shown that AAT can control inflammatory, immunological, and tissue-protective responses. In addition, AAT treatment can prevent overt hyperglycemia, increase insulin secretion, and reduce cytokine-mediated apoptosis of pancreatic β-cells in diabetes. These multifunctional roles of AAT draw attention to the glycoprotein's therapeutic potential for many inflammatory and autoimmune diseases beyond AAT deficiency. As underlying mechanisms, recent studies have suggested the importance of serine protease inhibitory activity of AAT in obesity-associated insulin resistance, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and cystic fibrosis. In this review, we explore the multiple functions of AAT, in particular, the anti-inflammatory and serine protease inhibitory functions, and AAT's therapeutic potential in a variety of human diseases through published literature.
alpha 1-Antitrypsin ; Alpha-Globulins ; Animals ; Apoptosis ; Autoimmune Diseases ; Cystic Fibrosis ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Emphysema ; Glycoproteins ; Humans* ; Hyperglycemia ; Insulin ; Insulin Resistance ; Liver Cirrhosis ; Neutrophils ; Panniculitis ; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive ; Serine Proteases ; Systemic Vasculitis ; Therapeutic Uses

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to examine whether non-cognitive student attributes such as learning style and personality type affected academic performance in a flipped learning classroom of a pre-dental undergraduate science course. METHODS: ‘Biodiversity and Global Environment,’ a 15-week, 3-credit course, was designed as a flipped class in Seoul National University School of Dentistry in 2017. Second-year pre-dental students were required to enroll in the course and to engage in online learning and in-class discussion. The Kolb's Learning Style Inventory and the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator were conducted to measure non-cognitive student factors. Independent samples t-test and multivariate regression analyses were used to examine the relationships between self-rated measurements and academic achievement. RESULTS: More than half of the students enrolled in the flipped science course had an assimilator learning style (50%), followed by convergers (24%), accommodators (16%), and divergers (10%), and their personality types were dominated by the introverted, sensing, thinking, and judging types, respectively. Examining group differences using the t-test demonstrated a significant relationship between the diverger group and higher academic success. In particular, the multivariate regression analysis indicated that both thinking types and female students performed better in discussion than feeling types and male students. CONCLUSION: To operate the flipped learning classroom more effectively in medical and dental education, the instructor should carefully develop and apply a more tailored facilitation and relevant assessment by considering student learning styles and personality types.
Dentistry ; Education, Dental ; Female ; Humans ; Learning* ; Male ; Personality Inventory ; Seoul ; Thinking

Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in children with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM). Although T1DM can occur in children and adults, DKA caused by T1DM is more severe in children and adolescents and metabolic changes occur more rapidly. This review discusses clinical factors associated with DKA assessed during diagnosis in children and adolescents with T1DM.Current Concepts: DKA is a severe complication that can occur in children with T1DM because of insulin deficiency, leading to high levels of catabolism with increased gluconeogenesis, glycogenolysis, lipolysis, muscle proteolysis, hyperglycemia, and osmotic diuresis. High levels of counterregulatory hormones that enhance ketogenesis have also been noted. High blood sugar levels, dehydration, and the release of ketone bodies into the circulation cause high occurrence of acidosis. DKA can lead to life-threatening complications, such as cerebral edema, which is more common in children than in adults. Other potential complications include kidney failure, respiratory distress, and cardiovascular collapse. Children with T1DM are at a higher risk of developing DKA, particularly during times of illness or stress, or when insulin doses are missed or insufficient. In addition, undiagnosed T1DM in children can lead to DKA when the body enters a state of severe insulin deficiency.Discussion and Conclusion: The risks should be detected earlier and the pathogenesis of T1DM should be understood and assessed by physicians in children and adolescents during check-ups. Furthermore, efforts to increase public awareness are required to reduce the cognitive delays associated with DKA.

Background: The relationship between cystitis glandularis (CG) and bladder malignancy remains unclear. Methods: We identified the oncologic significance of CG at the molecular level using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry-based proteomic analysis of 10 CG, 12 urothelial carcinoma (UC), and nine normal urothelium (NU) specimens. Differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) were identified based on an analysis of variance false discovery rate < 0.05, and their functional enrichment was analyzed using a network model, Gene Set Enrichment Analysis, and Gene Ontology annotation. Results: We identified 9,890 proteins across all samples and 1,139 DEPs among the three entities. A substantial number of DEPs overlapped in CG/NU, distinct from UC. Interestingly, we found that a subset of DEP clusters (n = 53, 5%) was differentially expressed in NU but similarly between CG and UC. This “UC-like signature” was enriched for reactive oxygen species (ROS) and energy metabolism, growth and DNA repair, transport, motility, epithelial-mesenchymal transition, and cell survival. Using the top 10 shortlisted DEPs, including SOD2, PRKCD, CYCS, and HCLS1, we identified functional elements related to ROS metabolism, development, and transport using network analysis. The abundance of these four molecules in UC/CG than in NU was consistent with the oncologic functions in CG. Conclusions Using a proteomic approach, we identified a predominantly non-neoplastic landscape of CG, which was closer to NU than to UC. We also confirmed a small subset of common DEPs in UC and CG, suggesting that altered ROS metabolism might imply potential cancerous risks in CG.

Purpose: We aimed to investigate the relationship between the tri-ponderal mass index (TMI), a new indirect measure of fat mass, and insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-I/IGF binding protein (IGFBP)-3. Methods: The study included 1,630 children and adolescents who visited Jeonbuk National University Children's Hospital. Each patient’s medical record was retrospectively reviewed for age, sex, height, weight, body mass index (BMI), TMI, and IGF-1 and IGFBP-3 levels. Study participants were divided by sex and then categorized by age, BMI, and TMI. Finally, the correlations of TMI with IGF-1 level, IGF-1 standard deviation score (SDS), IGFBP-3 level, IGFBP-3 SDS, and IGF-1/IGFBP-3 ratio were investigated. Results: All participants were <19 years of age. BMI correlated with IGF-1 and IGFBP-3 levels in both sexes; however, the relationship with TMI differed by sex. TMI correlated with IGF-1 and IGFBP-3 SDS in boys and with IGF-1, IGFBP-3, and IGFBP-3 SDS in girls across all ages. In boys, BMI and TMI significantly correlated with IGF-1, IGF-1 SDS, IGFBP-3, IGFBP-3 SDS, and the IGF-1/IGFBP-3 ratio in the normal-weight group. TMI also correlated with IGF-1, IGFBP-3, and IGFBP-3 SDS in the overweight group. In girls, BMI significantly correlated with IGF-1, IGF-1 SDS, IGFBP-3, IGFBP-3 SDS, and the IGF-1/IGFBP-3 ratio in the normal-weight group and with IGFBP-3 and IGFBP-3 SDS in the overweight group, while TMI correlated with IGF-1, IGF-1 SDS, and the IGF-1/IGFBP-3 ratio in the normal-weight group; with IGF-1, IGFBP-3, and IGFBP-3 SDS in the overweight group; and with IGFBP-3 SDS in the obese group. Conclusion TMI may more strongly correlate with IGFBP-3 level than BMI in overweight boys and with IGFBP-3 SDS in overweight and obese girls. The correlation of IGFBP-3 SDS with TMI may be helpful for evaluating weight status in adolescent girls.

Purpose: We aimed to investigate the relationship between the tri-ponderal mass index (TMI), a new indirect measure of fat mass, and insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-I/IGF binding protein (IGFBP)-3. Methods: The study included 1,630 children and adolescents who visited Jeonbuk National University Children's Hospital. Each patient’s medical record was retrospectively reviewed for age, sex, height, weight, body mass index (BMI), TMI, and IGF-1 and IGFBP-3 levels. Study participants were divided by sex and then categorized by age, BMI, and TMI. Finally, the correlations of TMI with IGF-1 level, IGF-1 standard deviation score (SDS), IGFBP-3 level, IGFBP-3 SDS, and IGF-1/IGFBP-3 ratio were investigated. Results: All participants were <19 years of age. BMI correlated with IGF-1 and IGFBP-3 levels in both sexes; however, the relationship with TMI differed by sex. TMI correlated with IGF-1 and IGFBP-3 SDS in boys and with IGF-1, IGFBP-3, and IGFBP-3 SDS in girls across all ages. In boys, BMI and TMI significantly correlated with IGF-1, IGF-1 SDS, IGFBP-3, IGFBP-3 SDS, and the IGF-1/IGFBP-3 ratio in the normal-weight group. TMI also correlated with IGF-1, IGFBP-3, and IGFBP-3 SDS in the overweight group. In girls, BMI significantly correlated with IGF-1, IGF-1 SDS, IGFBP-3, IGFBP-3 SDS, and the IGF-1/IGFBP-3 ratio in the normal-weight group and with IGFBP-3 and IGFBP-3 SDS in the overweight group, while TMI correlated with IGF-1, IGF-1 SDS, and the IGF-1/IGFBP-3 ratio in the normal-weight group; with IGF-1, IGFBP-3, and IGFBP-3 SDS in the overweight group; and with IGFBP-3 SDS in the obese group. Conclusion TMI may more strongly correlate with IGFBP-3 level than BMI in overweight boys and with IGFBP-3 SDS in overweight and obese girls. The correlation of IGFBP-3 SDS with TMI may be helpful for evaluating weight status in adolescent girls.

Purpose: We aimed to investigate the relationship between the tri-ponderal mass index (TMI), a new indirect measure of fat mass, and insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-I/IGF binding protein (IGFBP)-3. Methods: The study included 1,630 children and adolescents who visited Jeonbuk National University Children's Hospital. Each patient’s medical record was retrospectively reviewed for age, sex, height, weight, body mass index (BMI), TMI, and IGF-1 and IGFBP-3 levels. Study participants were divided by sex and then categorized by age, BMI, and TMI. Finally, the correlations of TMI with IGF-1 level, IGF-1 standard deviation score (SDS), IGFBP-3 level, IGFBP-3 SDS, and IGF-1/IGFBP-3 ratio were investigated. Results: All participants were <19 years of age. BMI correlated with IGF-1 and IGFBP-3 levels in both sexes; however, the relationship with TMI differed by sex. TMI correlated with IGF-1 and IGFBP-3 SDS in boys and with IGF-1, IGFBP-3, and IGFBP-3 SDS in girls across all ages. In boys, BMI and TMI significantly correlated with IGF-1, IGF-1 SDS, IGFBP-3, IGFBP-3 SDS, and the IGF-1/IGFBP-3 ratio in the normal-weight group. TMI also correlated with IGF-1, IGFBP-3, and IGFBP-3 SDS in the overweight group. In girls, BMI significantly correlated with IGF-1, IGF-1 SDS, IGFBP-3, IGFBP-3 SDS, and the IGF-1/IGFBP-3 ratio in the normal-weight group and with IGFBP-3 and IGFBP-3 SDS in the overweight group, while TMI correlated with IGF-1, IGF-1 SDS, and the IGF-1/IGFBP-3 ratio in the normal-weight group; with IGF-1, IGFBP-3, and IGFBP-3 SDS in the overweight group; and with IGFBP-3 SDS in the obese group. Conclusion TMI may more strongly correlate with IGFBP-3 level than BMI in overweight boys and with IGFBP-3 SDS in overweight and obese girls. The correlation of IGFBP-3 SDS with TMI may be helpful for evaluating weight status in adolescent girls.