1.Gene Therapy for Huntington’s Disease: The Final Strategy for a Cure?
Seulgi BYUN ; Mijung LEE ; Manho KIM
Journal of Movement Disorders 2022;15(1):15-20
Huntington’s disease (HD) has become a target of the first clinical trials for gene therapy among movement disorders with a genetic origin. More than 100 clinical trials regarding HD have been tried, but all failed, although there were some improvements limited to symptomatic support. Compared to other neurogenetic disorders, HD is known to have a single genetic target. Thus, this is an advantage and its cure is more feasible than any other movement disorder with heterogeneous genetic causes. In this review paper, the authors attempt to cover the characteristics of HD itself while providing an overview of the gene transfer methods currently being researched, and will introduce an experimental trial with a preclinical model of HD followed by an update on the ongoing clinical trials for patients with HD.
2.Food literacy and its relationship with food intake: a comparison between adults and older adults using 2021 Seoul Food Survey data
Seulgi LEE ; Sohyun PARK ; Kirang KIM
Epidemiology and Health 2023;45(1):e2023062-
OBJECTIVES:
This study was conducted to examine the differences in food literacy between adults and older adults and the association of food literacy with food group intake.
METHODS:
In total, 4,039 participants from the 2021 Survey for Food Consumption in Seoul were included in this study. The intake of whole grains, high-protein foods, total vegetables, vegetables excluding kimchi and pickles, fresh fruits, and milk and dairy products was assessed using a simple food frequency questionnaire. Food literacy was measured using a food literacy measurement questionnaire.
RESULTS:
With the exception of milk and dairy, adults had a significantly higher proportion of insufficient food intake than older adults (p<0.001). Both adults and older adults with sufficient food group consumption had higher food literacy scores. Notably, the difference in food literacy scores by level of food intake was highest for fresh fruits (p<0.001). After adjusting for confounding factors affecting food literacy scores, a higher score was associated with a lower probability of having insufficient food intake in all food groups for both adults and older adults. Specifically, those in the highest food literacy score quartile were less likely to have insufficient intake of vegetables (odds ratio [OR], 0.35; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.28 to 0.43) and fresh fruits (OR, 0.32; 95% CI, 0.24 to 0.43), compared to the lowest quartile.
CONCLUSIONS
Improving food literacy is an important factor for promoting healthy food intake in older adults as well as adults. Therefore, it is necessary to develop intervention programs to work toward this goal.
3.What do we take consideration in the patient who has an unpredicted severe portopulmonary hypertension in liver transplantation?: a case report.
Hyunjung KOH ; Seulgi AHN ; Jaemin LEE
Korean Journal of Anesthesiology 2015;68(1):83-86
Severe portopulmonary hypertension (PPHT) is considered a contraindication for liver transplantation (LT) because of the associated high mortality and poor prognosis. We report the case of a 57-year-old cirrhotic woman with severe PPHT (mean pulmonary artery pressure [mPAP] > 65 mmHg), who underwent a successful living donor LT. Intra-operative use of inhaled iloprost, milrinone, dobutamine, and postoperative use of inhaled nitric oxide and oral sildenafil failed to lower the pulmonary artery pressure (PAP). The patient responded only to nitroglycerin and drainage of massive ascites. Meticulous intra-operative volume control, which included minimizing blood loss and subsequent transfusion, was carried out. The use of vasopressors, which may have elevated the PAP, was strictly restricted. Intra-operative PAP did not show an increase, and the hemodynamics was maintained within relatively normal range, compared to the preoperative state. The patient was discharged without any complications or related symptoms.
Ascites
;
Dobutamine
;
Drainage
;
Female
;
Hemodynamics
;
Humans
;
Hypertension*
;
Iloprost
;
Liver Transplantation*
;
Living Donors
;
Middle Aged
;
Milrinone
;
Mortality
;
Nitric Oxide
;
Nitroglycerin
;
Prognosis
;
Pulmonary Artery
;
Reference Values
;
Sildenafil Citrate
4.Atypical loculated pericardial effusion with infectious pericarditis mimicking a cardiac mass in a dog: a case report
Ji-Yun LEE ; Seulgi BAE ; Jin-Kyu PARK ; Min JANG ; Kija LEE ; Sang-Kwon LEE
Korean Journal of Veterinary Research 2024;64(2):e15-
A 13-year-old, Maltese dog presented with syncope and lethargy. Abdominal ultrasonography demonstrated anechoic peritoneal effusion and hepatic congestion. A focal echogenic round mass compressing the right ventricle and atrium was observed on echocardiography. Cardiac tamponade and right ventricular outflow tract obstruction occurred. On computed tomography, a homogeneous soft-tissue structure compressing the right chamber without contrast enhancement, suspected to be loculated pericardial effusion. During pericardiocentesis, cardiac tamponade was resolved, and irregular pericardial thickening was noted. Pericardial effusion was exudate and gram-positive bacterial colonies were observed on cytology. A diagnosis of fibrinous pericarditis secondary to bacterial infection was established.
5.Molecular Testing in Diagnosis of Thyroid Cancer.
Seulgi LEE ; Young Suk JO ; Jandee LEE
Korean Journal of Endocrine Surgery 2015;15(3):53-59
With increasing prevalence of thyroid nodules, clinicians are increasingly impelled to identify the optimal predictor of thyroid cancer, with the goal of guiding management based on assessed risk. Fine-needle aspiration cytology is the gold standard diagnostic method for thyroid nodules. However, fine-needle aspiration cytology is not perfect and adjuncts which might complement its predictive value are being investigated from several innovative perspectives. For these vigorous efforts, remarkable advances have been achieved in understanding several major biologic areas of thyroid cancer, including the molecular alterations for loss of radioiodine avidity of thyroid cancer, the pathogenic role of the MAP kinase and PI3K/Akt pathways and their related genetic alterations in thyroid tumorigenesis and pathogenesis. These exciting advances provide unprecedented opportunities for development of molecular-based novel diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for thyroid cancer. The common somatic genetic changes in thyroid cancer of follicular cell origin (RET/PTC, NTRK, RAS, BRAF, PAX8-PPARgamma) are generally mutually exclusive, with distinct genotype-histologic subtype associations of thyroid cancer. Mutation analysis in fine needle aspiration samples has been applied to improve the diagnostic accuracy. In studies regarding gene expression profiling, aberrant gene methylation and miRNA have shown significant progress toward identification of biomarkers that could improve the accuracy of fine needle aspiration cytology in the evaluation of patients with thyroid nodule and prediction of disease aggressiveness. Future clinical trials evaluating the accuracy and cost-effectiveness of applying these biomarkers in the management of thyroid neoplasm should be considered.
Biomarkers
;
Biopsy, Fine-Needle
;
Carcinogenesis
;
Complement System Proteins
;
Diagnosis*
;
Gene Expression Profiling
;
Humans
;
Methylation
;
MicroRNAs
;
Phosphotransferases
;
Prevalence
;
Thyroid Gland*
;
Thyroid Neoplasms*
;
Thyroid Nodule
6.Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging features of suspected transitional cell carcinoma lesions involving the bladder, prostate, and urethra in a dog: a case report
Wooseok JIN ; Sang-Kwon LEE ; Seulgi BAE ; Taeho OH ; Kija LEE
Korean Journal of Veterinary Research 2023;63(4):e39-
A 14-year-old, spayed female, poodle was presented with dysuria and hematuria. A mass that appeared hypoechoic on ultrasound and hypoattenuating on computed tomography (CT) extended from the bladder neck to the urethra. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed the mass invading the muscular layer of the bladder, urethra, and prostate with distinct margins. Transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) was confirmed with the CADET-BRAF test. This study describes the CT and MRI features of suspected TCC lesions involving the bladder, prostate, and urethra. MRI showed superior soft tissue contrast resolution, enabling evaluation of invasion of the muscular layer of the bladder and urethra.
8.Expert Consensus on COVID-19 Vaccination in Korean Adolescents:A Modified Delphi Survey
Jae Hong CHOI ; Jihyun MOON ; Seulgi KIM ; Hyuna BAE ; Jia LEE ; Young June CHOE
Journal of Korean Medical Science 2022;37(9):e69-
The effectiveness of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccines had been shown in many studies in adult population, however, the real-world evidence in the childhood population was scarce. We aimed to organize the collective expert’s opinions on adolescent vaccination against COVID-19 in Korea, therefore to guide the vaccination policy in the setting of available evidence. The Delphi panels responded that adolescents were greatly impacted by the quarantine measures, and COVID-19 is an important health problem for adolescents.Panels responded that in general, the benefits of the COVID-19 vaccine overweigh the potential risks in Korean adolescents. Continuing monitoring of available data is needed to provide the best vaccination practices in adolescents guided by the updated evidence.
9.Successful treatment of a severe open wound in a raccoon dog (Nyctereutes procyonoides): antibiotic susceptibility testing supported
Myeongsu KIM ; Haerin RHIM ; Seulgi GIM ; Chang-Eun LEE ; Hakyoung YOON ; Jae-Ik HAN
Korean Journal of Veterinary Research 2023;63(3):e29-
An adult raccoon dog with extensive, deep, and contaminated wounds on the right hip and multiple fractures was rescued. The open wound was managed daily by debridement and flushing for 3 weeks. Modified active drainage was then performed, and antibiotics administered according to the antibiotic susceptibility test. After 2 weeks, the exudate disappeared and the drain was removed. After monitoring for 1 month, the animal was released in to the wild. This case shows that even if infection remains, rapid wound repair is possible if appropriate antibiotic selection through regular examination and active drainage are combined.
10.The Effect of A2 Milk on Gastrointestinal Symptoms in Comparison to A1/A2 Milk: A Single-center, Randomized, Double-blind, Cross-over Study
Yonghoon CHOI ; Nayoung KIM ; Chin-Hee SONG ; Seulgi KIM ; Dong Ho LEE
Journal of Cancer Prevention 2024;29(2):45-53
β-Casein, a major protein in cow’s milk, is divided into the A1 and A2 type variants. Digestion of A1 β-casein yields the peptide β-casomorphin-7 which could cause gastrointestinal (GI) discomfort but A2 milk containing only A2 β-casein might be more beneficial than A1/A2 (regular) milk. The aim of this study was to evaluate the differences in GI discomfort after ingestion of A2 milk and A1/A2 milk. A randomized, double-blind, cross-over human trial was performed with 40 subjects who experienced GI discomfortfollowing milk consumption. For each intervention period, either A2 milk first (A2→A1/A2) or A1/A2 milk was first consumed for 2 weeks (A1/A2→A2) following a 2-week washout period. GI symptom rating scale (GSRS) scores, questionnaire for digestive symp-toms, and laboratory tests including fecal calprotectin were evaluated. For symptom analysis, generalized estimating equations gamma model was used. A2 milk increased bloating (P = 0.041) and loose stools (P = 0.026) compared to A1/A2 milk in GSRS. However, A2 milk caused less abdominal pain (P = 0.050), fecal urgency (P < 0.001) and borborygmus (P = 0.007) compared to A1/A2 milk in questionnaire for digestive symptoms. In addition, fecal calprotectin also decreased or less increased after consumption of A2 milk compared to A1/A2 milk (P = 0.030), and this change was more pronounced in males (P = 0.005) than in females.There were no significant adverse reactions during the trial. A2 milk alleviated digestive discomfort in Koreans following A2 milk consumption (ClinicalTrials.gov NCT06252636 and CRIS KCT0009301).