1.Twenty Years of Progress and the Way Forward: Immunization Registry Information System in Korea
Junghee KIM ; Minju SONG ; Seohyeon AHN ; Seunghyun Lewis KWON
Journal of Korean Medical Science 2024;39(12):e119-
The National Immunization Program in The Republic of Korea offers mandatory and free vaccinations to children under 12, regulated by the Infectious Disease Prevention and Control Act. Tracking vaccination coverage is crucial for population protection and public health strategies. Since 2002, the Immunization Registry Information System (IRIS) has been used nationwide to capture vaccination data. This study reviewed documents related to IRIS’s establishment and development. The Republic of Korea legally supports IRIS's construction and data collection, integrating vaccination data with the Ministry of the Interior and Safety's resident registration to minimize errors. This collaboration also facilitates cost reimbursement and digital registration, promoting wider vaccination coverage. IRIS manages expense claims once vaccination details are logged, and authorized medical institutions can access these records in real-time. Since 2015, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency has been compiling annual data on national vaccination coverage. IRIS also sends automated reminders in 12 languages, reports adverse effects, and issues vaccination certificates. However, IRIS lacks integration between vaccine and disease registries, unlike countries such as England, Denmark, and the Netherlands. Improving integration capabilities could enhance IRIS's support for public health through an integrated information system.
2.Corrigendum to: Cardioprotection via mitochondrial transplantation supports fatty acid metabolism in ischemia-reperfusion injured rat heart
Jehee JANG ; Ki-Woon KANG ; Young-Won KIM ; Seohyun JEONG ; Jaeyoon PARK ; Jihoon PARK ; Jisung MOON ; Junghyun JANG ; Seohyeon KIM ; Sunghun KIM ; Sungjoo CHO ; Yurim LEE ; Hyoung Kyu KIM ; Jin HAN ; Eun-A KO ; Sung-Cherl JUNG ; Jung-Ha KIM ; Jae-Hong KO
The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology 2024;28(4):391-391
3.Cardioprotection via mitochondrial transplantation supports fatty acid metabolism in ischemia-reperfusion injured rat heart
Jehee JANG ; Ki-Woon KANG ; Young-Won KIM ; Seohyun JEONG ; Jaeyoon PARK ; Jihoon PARK ; Jisung MOON ; Junghyun JANG ; Seohyeon KIM ; Sunghun KIM ; Sungjoo CHO ; Yurim LEE ; Hyoung Kyu KIM ; Jin HAN ; Eun-A KO ; Sung-Cherl JUNG ; Jung-Ha KIM ; Jae-Hong KO
The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology 2024;28(3):209-217
In addition to cellular damage, ischemia-reperfusion (IR) injury induces substantial damage to the mitochondria and endoplasmic reticulum. In this study, we sought to determine whether impaired mitochondrial function owing to IR could be restored by transplanting mitochondria into the heart under ex vivo IR states. Additionally, we aimed to provide preliminary results to inform therapeutic options for ischemic heart disease (IHD). Healthy mitochondria isolated from autologous gluteus maximus muscle were transplanted into the hearts of Sprague–Dawley rats damaged by IR using the Langendorff system, and the heart rate and oxygen consumption capacity of the mitochondria were measured to confirm whether heart function was restored. In addition, relative expression levels were measured to identify the genes related to IR injury. Mitochondrial oxygen consumption capacity was found to be lower in the IR group than in the group that underwent mitochondrial transplantation after IR injury (p < 0.05), and the control group showed a tendency toward increased oxygen consumption capacity compared with the IR group. Among the genes related to fatty acid metabolism, Cpt1b (p < 0.05) and Fads1 (p < 0.01) showed significant expression in the following order: IR group, IR + transplantation group, and control group. These results suggest that mitochondrial transplantation protects the heart from IR damage and may be feasible as a therapeutic option for IHD.