Objectives: . Our study aimed to explore the role of the potassium channel KCNK1 in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, focusing on its impact on tumor growth, invasion, and metastasis. We also investigated the therapeutic potential of quinidine, a known KCNK1 inhibitor, in both in vitro cell lines and a zebrafish patient-derived xenograft (PDX) model. Methods: . We established primary cell cultures from head and neck cancer tissues and employed the FaDu cell line for in vitro studies, modulating KCNK1 expression through overexpression and knockdown techniques. We evaluated cell migration, invasion, and proliferation. Additionally, we developed a zebrafish PDX model to assess the impact of quinidine on tumor growth and metastasis in vivo. RNA sequencing and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analyses were conducted to elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying the role of KCNK1 in cancer progression. Results: . Overexpression of KCNK1 in FaDu cells resulted in enhanced cell migration and invasion, whereas its knockdown diminished these processes. In the zebrafish PDX model, quinidine markedly inhibited tumor growth and metastasis, demonstrating a significant reduction in tumor volume and micrometastasis rates compared to the control groups. The molecular analyses indicated that KCNK1 plays a role in critical signaling pathways associated with tumor growth, such as the Ras and MAPK pathways. Conclusion . Our findings highlight the critical role of KCNK1 in promoting tumor growth and metastasis in head and neck cancer. The inhibitory effect of quinidine on tumor progression in the zebrafish PDX model highlights the therapeutic potential of targeting KCNK1. These results suggest that KCNK1 could serve as a valuable therapeutic target for head and neck cancer, warranting further investigation into treatments that target KCNK1.

Objectives: . Our study aimed to explore the role of the potassium channel KCNK1 in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, focusing on its impact on tumor growth, invasion, and metastasis. We also investigated the therapeutic potential of quinidine, a known KCNK1 inhibitor, in both in vitro cell lines and a zebrafish patient-derived xenograft (PDX) model. Methods: . We established primary cell cultures from head and neck cancer tissues and employed the FaDu cell line for in vitro studies, modulating KCNK1 expression through overexpression and knockdown techniques. We evaluated cell migration, invasion, and proliferation. Additionally, we developed a zebrafish PDX model to assess the impact of quinidine on tumor growth and metastasis in vivo. RNA sequencing and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analyses were conducted to elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying the role of KCNK1 in cancer progression. Results: . Overexpression of KCNK1 in FaDu cells resulted in enhanced cell migration and invasion, whereas its knockdown diminished these processes. In the zebrafish PDX model, quinidine markedly inhibited tumor growth and metastasis, demonstrating a significant reduction in tumor volume and micrometastasis rates compared to the control groups. The molecular analyses indicated that KCNK1 plays a role in critical signaling pathways associated with tumor growth, such as the Ras and MAPK pathways. Conclusion . Our findings highlight the critical role of KCNK1 in promoting tumor growth and metastasis in head and neck cancer. The inhibitory effect of quinidine on tumor progression in the zebrafish PDX model highlights the therapeutic potential of targeting KCNK1. These results suggest that KCNK1 could serve as a valuable therapeutic target for head and neck cancer, warranting further investigation into treatments that target KCNK1.

Objectives: . Our study aimed to explore the role of the potassium channel KCNK1 in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, focusing on its impact on tumor growth, invasion, and metastasis. We also investigated the therapeutic potential of quinidine, a known KCNK1 inhibitor, in both in vitro cell lines and a zebrafish patient-derived xenograft (PDX) model. Methods: . We established primary cell cultures from head and neck cancer tissues and employed the FaDu cell line for in vitro studies, modulating KCNK1 expression through overexpression and knockdown techniques. We evaluated cell migration, invasion, and proliferation. Additionally, we developed a zebrafish PDX model to assess the impact of quinidine on tumor growth and metastasis in vivo. RNA sequencing and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analyses were conducted to elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying the role of KCNK1 in cancer progression. Results: . Overexpression of KCNK1 in FaDu cells resulted in enhanced cell migration and invasion, whereas its knockdown diminished these processes. In the zebrafish PDX model, quinidine markedly inhibited tumor growth and metastasis, demonstrating a significant reduction in tumor volume and micrometastasis rates compared to the control groups. The molecular analyses indicated that KCNK1 plays a role in critical signaling pathways associated with tumor growth, such as the Ras and MAPK pathways. Conclusion . Our findings highlight the critical role of KCNK1 in promoting tumor growth and metastasis in head and neck cancer. The inhibitory effect of quinidine on tumor progression in the zebrafish PDX model highlights the therapeutic potential of targeting KCNK1. These results suggest that KCNK1 could serve as a valuable therapeutic target for head and neck cancer, warranting further investigation into treatments that target KCNK1.

Background and Objectives: There is limited evidence regarding machine-learning prediction for the recurrence of atrial fibrillation (AF) after electrical cardioversion (ECV).This study aimed to predict the recurrence of AF after ECV using machine learning of clinical features and electrocardiograms (ECGs) in persistent AF patients. Methods: We analyzed patients who underwent successful ECV for persistent AF. Machine learning was designed to predict patients with 1-month recurrence. Individual 12-lead ECGs were collected before and after ECV. Various clinical features were collected and trained the extreme gradient boost (XGBoost)-based model. Ten-fold cross-validation was used to evaluate the performance of the model. The performance was compared to the C-statistics of the selected clinical features. Results: Among 718 patients (mean age 63.5±9.3 years, men 78.8%), AF recurred in 435(60.6%) patients after 1 month. With the XGBoost-based model, the areas under the receiver operating characteristic curves (AUROCs) were 0.57, 0.60, and 0.63 if the model was trained by clinical features, ECGs, and both (the final model), respectively. For the final model, the sensitivity, specificity, and F1-score were 84.7%, 28.2%, and 0.73, respectively. Although the AF duration showed the best predictive performance (AUROC, 0.58) among the clinical features, it was significantly lower than that of the final machine-learning model (p<0.001).Additional training of extended monitoring data of 15-minute single-lead ECG and photoplethysmography in available patients (n=261) did not significantly improve the model’s performance. Conclusions Machine learning showed modest performance in predicting AF recurrence after ECV in persistent AF patients, warranting further validation studies.

Purpose: Occupational exposure to pesticides is thought to be associated with lung cancer, but studies have yielded conflicting results. We performed a propensity score (PS) based analyses to evaluate the relationship between occupational exposure to pesticides and lung cancer risk in the Korea National Cancer Center community-based cohort study (KNCCCS). Materials and Methods: During the follow-up period, 123 incidental lung cancer cases were identified, of the 7,471 subjects in the final statistical analysis. Information about occupational exposure to pesticides and other factors was collected at enrollment (2003-2010). Cox proportional hazards regression analyses were conducted. Four PS-based approaches (i.e., matching, stratification, inverse probability-of-treatment weighting, and the use of the PS as a covariate) were adopted, and the results were compared. PS was obtained from the logistic regression model. Absolute standardized differences according to occupational exposure to pesticides were provided to evaluate the balance in baseline characteristics. Results: In the Cox proportional hazards regression model, the hazard ratio (HR) for lung cancer according to occupational exposure to pesticides was 1.82 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.11 to 2.98). With all the propensity score matching (PSM) methods, the HRs for lung cancer based on exposure to pesticides ranged from 1.65 (95% CI, 1.04 to 2.64) (continuous term with PSM) to 2.84 (95% CI, 1.81 to 4.46) (stratification by 5 strata of the PS). The results varied slightly based on the method used, but the direction and statistical significance remained the same. Conclusion Our results strengthen the evidence for an association between occupational exposure to pesticides and the risk of lung cancer.

Objectives: This study aimed to determine the status of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in children in South Korea between 2010 and 2019), as well as to establish preventive maintenance guidelines to reduce the incidence of STIs in children. Methods: Data reports from 590 STI surveillance systems in community clinics, hospital-level medical institutions with urology or obstetrics/gynecology departments and public hospitals between 2010 and 2019 in the integrative disease management system of the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency as of December 2020 were analyzed. Results: A total of 172,645 cases of STIs were reported over the 10-year period (2010–2019), of which 2,179 cases (1.26%) represented STIs in children below the age of 18 years. A higher incidence of infections was observed in girls (1,499 cases, 68.79%) than in boys (680 cases, 31.21%). The STIs that had the highest incidence were, in descending order, chlamydia (997 cases, 45.75%), gonorrhea (592 cases, 27.17%), genital warts (338 cases, 15.51%), genital herpes (250 cases, 11.47%), and chancroid (2 cases, 0.09%). In adolescents aged 14 to 17 years, chlamydia, genital herpes, and gonorrhea were most frequently reported. Genital warts, in particular, have been consistently reported in children below the age of 14 years. Conclusion Children must be protected legally and institutionally from sexual abuse. Specific management protocols for STIs in children must be established by local governments and associated organizations. National human papillomavirus vaccination programs should be expanded to include boys, and anti-STI educational efforts using modern media should be implemented.

Objectives: This study aimed to determine the status of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in children in South Korea between 2010 and 2019), as well as to establish preventive maintenance guidelines to reduce the incidence of STIs in children. Methods: Data reports from 590 STI surveillance systems in community clinics, hospital-level medical institutions with urology or obstetrics/gynecology departments and public hospitals between 2010 and 2019 in the integrative disease management system of the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency as of December 2020 were analyzed. Results: A total of 172,645 cases of STIs were reported over the 10-year period (2010–2019), of which 2,179 cases (1.26%) represented STIs in children below the age of 18 years. A higher incidence of infections was observed in girls (1,499 cases, 68.79%) than in boys (680 cases, 31.21%). The STIs that had the highest incidence were, in descending order, chlamydia (997 cases, 45.75%), gonorrhea (592 cases, 27.17%), genital warts (338 cases, 15.51%), genital herpes (250 cases, 11.47%), and chancroid (2 cases, 0.09%). In adolescents aged 14 to 17 years, chlamydia, genital herpes, and gonorrhea were most frequently reported. Genital warts, in particular, have been consistently reported in children below the age of 14 years. Conclusion Children must be protected legally and institutionally from sexual abuse. Specific management protocols for STIs in children must be established by local governments and associated organizations. National human papillomavirus vaccination programs should be expanded to include boys, and anti-STI educational efforts using modern media should be implemented.

PURPOSE: This study was designed to examine both actor and partner effects of perceived marital relationship on quality of life, as well as the mediating effect of holding back cancer-related concerns.METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study in an outpatient setting. Participants were 150 couples consisting of patients with lung cancer and their spouses. Perceived marital relationship, holding back cancer-related concerns, and quality of life were measured with self-report scales. Actor and partner effects on quality of life were analyzed using the actorepartner interdependence mediation model by using structural equation modeling.RESULTS: A couple's quality of life had a significant direct actor effect on the perceived marital relationship. However, the partner effect and the indirect effect of holding back cancer-related concerns on quality of life was not significant.CONCLUSION: When patients with lung cancer and their spouses perceived their marital relationship positively, they assessed their quality of life positively. They were also found to be less hesitant when talking about cancer-related concerns. However, holding back on talking concerns did not have a significant impact on the quality of life (of either oneself or the spouse). Therefore, nurses should first check how they perceive their marital relationship before encouraging communication between patients with lung cancer and their spouses. Nurses can assess these risk factors and intervene if needed, along their cancer trajectory.
Cross-Sectional Studies ; Family Characteristics ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; Lung ; Marriage ; Negotiating ; Outpatients ; Quality of Life ; Risk Factors ; Spouses ; Weights and Measures

OBJECTIVE: The effect of induced hypothermia on severe acute carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning remains to be addressed further. We investigated the effect of induced hypothermia on severe acute CO poisoning. METHODS: Retrospective chart review was conducted for patients who diagnosed as severe acute CO poisoning in emergency department and underwent induced hypothermia from May 2013 to May 2014. Hospital courses with critical medication and major laboratory results were investigated through the chart review. RESULTS: Among total 227 patients with acute CO poisoning during the period of study, patients with severe acute CO poisoning were 15. All patients underwent induced hypothermia with a temperature goal 33°C. Initial and follow-up levels of S100B protein after induced hypothermia were 0.47 μg/L (interquartile range, 0.11 to 0.71) and 0.10 μg/L (interquartile range, 0.06 to 0.37), respectively (P = 0.01). The mean Glasgow Coma Scales at emergency department admission was 6.87 ± 3.36. Except 1 patient who expired after cardiopulmonary resuscitation, Glasgow Coma Scales at 30-day of hospital discharge were 15 in 10 patients (71.4%), 14 in 1 patient (7.1%), 13 in 1 patient (7.1%), and 6 in 2 patients (14.2%). Seven patients (46.7%) developed delayed neurologic sequelae. Four patients showed mild types of delayed neurologic sequelae and 3 showed moderate to severe types of delayed neurologic sequelae. CONCLUSION: Most of patients underwent induced hypothermia had a good recovery from severe acute CO poisoning. Therefore, induced hypothermia may be considered as a possible treatment in severe acute CO poisoning.
Carbon Monoxide Poisoning* ; Carbon Monoxide* ; Carbon* ; Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation ; Coma ; Emergency Service, Hospital ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Hypothermia, Induced* ; Poisoning ; Retrospective Studies ; Weights and Measures

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to explore educational needs for sexual health, to identify relations among educational needs for sexual health, depression and quality of life, and to identify the factors affecting quality of life in patients with prostate cancer aged > 40 years. METHODS: A sample of 78 patients was recruited from a university hospital in Seoul. A cross-sectional design was used in which participants completed the questionnaires to assess educational needs for sexual health, depression and quality of life. The data were analyzed using the t-test, ANOVA, correlation analysis and stepwise regression analysis. RESULTS: The quality of life of participants differed significantly by occupation status before and after diagnosis, stage at diagnosis, underlying disease, performance status, and in the Gleason sum score. Stepwise regression analysis of the data showed that depression, sexual interaction, Gleason sum score, and occupation since diagnosis were the statistically significant factors associated with quality of life of patients with prostate cancer. This regression model explained 55.1% of the quality of life. CONCLUSION: These results indicate that depression and sexual interaction had the greatest impact on quality of life in prostate cancer patients. In clinical practice, we recommend that healthcare professionals take the initiative to provide adequate and accurate information about sexual health to prostate cancer survivors.
Delivery of Health Care ; Depression* ; Diagnosis ; Humans ; Needs Assessment ; Occupations ; Prostate* ; Prostatic Neoplasms* ; Quality of Life* ; Reproductive Health* ; Seoul ; Survivors