1.Preclinical Pharmacological and Toxicological Evaluation of SB5794, a Novel Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor Modulator on the Kynurenine–AhR Axis
Daewon CHA ; Soo-Jung CHOI ; Hyunwoo PARK ; Dae Young LEE ; Min Sung JOO ; Wonhyung LEE ; Jungsang PARK ; Eunhye LEE ; Hakwon KIM
Biomolecules & Therapeutics 2026;34(1):146-153
Conventional aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) antagonists, which play a critical role in modulating tumor immune evasion, have shown limited clinical translation due to poor solubility, restricted systemic exposure, and dose-limiting toxicities. To overcome these limitations, we developed SB5794, a phosphate prodrug of the potent AhR antagonist SB2617, designed to improve aqueous solubility and pharmacokinetic properties. SB5794 exhibited markedly enhanced solubility and achieved more than six-fold higher systemic exposure in mice compared with SB2617, while fully retaining its in vitro AhR antagonistic activity. In syngeneic tumor models, SB5794 significantly inhibited tumor growth, and its combination with anti–PD-1 therapy further enhanced antitumor efficacy. However, repeated-dose studies revealed dose-dependent histopathological changes in the gastrointestinal tract, liver, and immune organs. Collectively, these findings demonstrate that SB5794 possesses improved drug-like properties and strong immunomodulatory activity, supporting its potential as a next-generation AhR-targeted immunotherapeutic candidate.
2.Comparative Analysis of Ultrasound and Surgical Findings in Anatomical Variations of de Quervain’s Disease
Young Seok LEE ; Wan-Sun CHOI ; Seung Hun BAEK ; Hyunwoo KANG ; Chang-Hun LEE
Clinics in Orthopedic Surgery 2025;17(2):308-316
Background:
This study compares ultrasound and surgical findings of anatomical variations in de Quervain’s disease.
Methods:
Seventy-four wrists from patients with unilateral de Quervain’s disease were examined through ultrasonography and surgery. Presence of intracompartment septum, abductor pollicis longus (APL) slips, and selective stenosis were verified by both methods. Two orthopedic surgeons assessed ultrasound findings for intra- and interobserver reliability.
Results:
Amongst 74 participants (43 women and 31 men), 60.8% had a complete septum, 31.1% had an incomplete septum, and 8.1% had no septum; 70.3% had multi-slip APL and 66.2% had extensor pollicis brevis stenosis. Surgical and ultrasonographic findings displayed a high level of sensitivity and specificity. Intraobserver reliability was high, and interobserver reliability was substantial.
Conclusions
The study confirms ultrasonography’s reliability in identifying anatomical variations in de Quervain’s disease, with high sensitivity, specificity, and substantial intra- and interobserver reliability, emphasizing its usefulness in preoperative assessment and planning.
3.Comparative Analysis of Ultrasound and Surgical Findings in Anatomical Variations of de Quervain’s Disease
Young Seok LEE ; Wan-Sun CHOI ; Seung Hun BAEK ; Hyunwoo KANG ; Chang-Hun LEE
Clinics in Orthopedic Surgery 2025;17(2):308-316
Background:
This study compares ultrasound and surgical findings of anatomical variations in de Quervain’s disease.
Methods:
Seventy-four wrists from patients with unilateral de Quervain’s disease were examined through ultrasonography and surgery. Presence of intracompartment septum, abductor pollicis longus (APL) slips, and selective stenosis were verified by both methods. Two orthopedic surgeons assessed ultrasound findings for intra- and interobserver reliability.
Results:
Amongst 74 participants (43 women and 31 men), 60.8% had a complete septum, 31.1% had an incomplete septum, and 8.1% had no septum; 70.3% had multi-slip APL and 66.2% had extensor pollicis brevis stenosis. Surgical and ultrasonographic findings displayed a high level of sensitivity and specificity. Intraobserver reliability was high, and interobserver reliability was substantial.
Conclusions
The study confirms ultrasonography’s reliability in identifying anatomical variations in de Quervain’s disease, with high sensitivity, specificity, and substantial intra- and interobserver reliability, emphasizing its usefulness in preoperative assessment and planning.
4.Comparative Analysis of Ultrasound and Surgical Findings in Anatomical Variations of de Quervain’s Disease
Young Seok LEE ; Wan-Sun CHOI ; Seung Hun BAEK ; Hyunwoo KANG ; Chang-Hun LEE
Clinics in Orthopedic Surgery 2025;17(2):308-316
Background:
This study compares ultrasound and surgical findings of anatomical variations in de Quervain’s disease.
Methods:
Seventy-four wrists from patients with unilateral de Quervain’s disease were examined through ultrasonography and surgery. Presence of intracompartment septum, abductor pollicis longus (APL) slips, and selective stenosis were verified by both methods. Two orthopedic surgeons assessed ultrasound findings for intra- and interobserver reliability.
Results:
Amongst 74 participants (43 women and 31 men), 60.8% had a complete septum, 31.1% had an incomplete septum, and 8.1% had no septum; 70.3% had multi-slip APL and 66.2% had extensor pollicis brevis stenosis. Surgical and ultrasonographic findings displayed a high level of sensitivity and specificity. Intraobserver reliability was high, and interobserver reliability was substantial.
Conclusions
The study confirms ultrasonography’s reliability in identifying anatomical variations in de Quervain’s disease, with high sensitivity, specificity, and substantial intra- and interobserver reliability, emphasizing its usefulness in preoperative assessment and planning.
5.Comparative Analysis of Ultrasound and Surgical Findings in Anatomical Variations of de Quervain’s Disease
Young Seok LEE ; Wan-Sun CHOI ; Seung Hun BAEK ; Hyunwoo KANG ; Chang-Hun LEE
Clinics in Orthopedic Surgery 2025;17(2):308-316
Background:
This study compares ultrasound and surgical findings of anatomical variations in de Quervain’s disease.
Methods:
Seventy-four wrists from patients with unilateral de Quervain’s disease were examined through ultrasonography and surgery. Presence of intracompartment septum, abductor pollicis longus (APL) slips, and selective stenosis were verified by both methods. Two orthopedic surgeons assessed ultrasound findings for intra- and interobserver reliability.
Results:
Amongst 74 participants (43 women and 31 men), 60.8% had a complete septum, 31.1% had an incomplete septum, and 8.1% had no septum; 70.3% had multi-slip APL and 66.2% had extensor pollicis brevis stenosis. Surgical and ultrasonographic findings displayed a high level of sensitivity and specificity. Intraobserver reliability was high, and interobserver reliability was substantial.
Conclusions
The study confirms ultrasonography’s reliability in identifying anatomical variations in de Quervain’s disease, with high sensitivity, specificity, and substantial intra- and interobserver reliability, emphasizing its usefulness in preoperative assessment and planning.
6.Tumors in pet hamsters in Korea: a retrospective study of 80 cases (2017–2023)
Dayoung CHOI ; Da-Ye NAM ; Jae-Hoon KIM ; Hannah KIM ; Kyunghwa HONG ; Hyunwoo JOO ; Ji-Youl JUNG
Korean Journal of Veterinary Research 2025;65(2):e12-
This study analyzed 80 biopsy specimens from pet hamsters in South Korea, focusing on naturally occurring tumors, particularly integumentary tumors. Tumors were most commonly found in the integumentary system (71.3%), followed by the reproductive (16.3%) and hematopoietic systems. In Djungarian hamsters, cutaneous atypical fibroma (27.8%) was the most frequent integumentary tumor, with the abdomen being the most affected site (42.6%). These findings highlight the importance of monitoring common neoplastic sites for better clinical management and preventative care, ultimately improving the health and longevity of pet hamsters.
7.Effects of rapid antigen testing for pre-admission COVID-19 screening: a before and after study in the emergency department
Hyunwoo LEE ; Moon Hwan KWAK ; Hyun Kyung PARK ; Chang Hae PYO ; Keun Hong PARK ; Hahn Bom KIM ; Eun Mi HAM ; Jin Hyung PARK ; Dong Sun CHOI ; Jee Hyeon KIM ; Soo Bok CHOI
Journal of the Korean Society of Emergency Medicine 2025;36(6):221-231
Objective:
As the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has been prolonged, the pre-hospital screening test performed in hospitals has changed from polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to rapid antigen test (RAT). RAT has lower sensitivity than PCR, but a lower cost and shorter test time. In the hospital where this study was conducted, the preadmission COVID-19 test was changed from PCR to RAT on February 24, 2023. This study compared the efficacy of PCR and RAT as the pre-admission COVID-19 test.
Methods:
This was a retrospective observational study comparing two periods, 90 days from November 25, 2022 to February 23, 2023, and 90 days from February 28, 2023 to May 29, 2023. Patients hospitalized from the emergency medical center during these two periods were included. Binomial logistic regression was used to compare the emergency department length of stay (ED LOS) between the two groups (PCR vs. RAT). Logistic regression was used to compare the mortality.
Results:
Four thousand seven hundred and thirty-eight patients were admitted through the emergency room: 2,202 patients in the PCR group and 2,443 patients in the RAT group. No statistically significant differences in the characteristics and severity were observed between the two groups. The mean ED LOS of PCR 5.07 hours (interquartile range, 3.80-6.75) was longer than RAT 3.65 hours (interquartile range, 2.83-4.68) (P<0.001). Mortality was higher in PCR 8.9% than RAT 6.6% (P=0.005).
Conclusion
The study showed that ED LOS and mortality were reduced when using RAT rather than PCR as a preadmission COVID-19 test.
8.Comparative Evaluation of Popular Search Websites on Search Results and Reliability of Health Information between Korea and United States
Yoojung CHOI ; Kwanghyeon JUNG ; Jonghyun JEONG ; Hyunwoo CHAE ; Ju-Yeun LEE ; Jaekyu SHIN
Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy 2024;34(3):164-174
Background:
Health information should be accurate and of high quality. While search websites are widely used to obtain health information, search results can vary depending on the availability of information in each language and the algorithms of search websites. We compared the search results and their reliability on popular search websites in Korea and the United States.
Methods:
Using the most popular search websites in Korea (A) and the US (B), with B divided into KR and US domains, we evaluated the search results for three diseases (hypertension, diabetes, osteoporosis) and two medications (Lipitor, Norvasc). We compared the proportion of paid ads and website categories, as well as quality and accuracy using a validated scoring tool.
Results:
Search website A had a high proportion of paid ads (40.3%), compared to B KR (4.3%) and B US (0%). B US had the highest proportion of reliable websites (58.1%), followed by B KR (52.9%) and A (14.6%). B US had the highest median quality score (25) while A had the lowest (14).Additionally, B US had the highest accuracy (95%), followed by B KR (87.7%) and A (52.2%).
Conclusions
Our data suggest that health information provided by popular search website in Korea is inaccurate and of low quality compared with that provided by its counterpart in the US. Users should prioritize credible websites, be cautious of ads, and seek professional advice. In addition, jointefforts from the government, search websites, and healthcare professionals are needed to provide accurate online health information.
9.Comparative Evaluation of Popular Search Websites on Search Results and Reliability of Health Information between Korea and United States
Yoojung CHOI ; Kwanghyeon JUNG ; Jonghyun JEONG ; Hyunwoo CHAE ; Ju-Yeun LEE ; Jaekyu SHIN
Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy 2024;34(3):164-174
Background:
Health information should be accurate and of high quality. While search websites are widely used to obtain health information, search results can vary depending on the availability of information in each language and the algorithms of search websites. We compared the search results and their reliability on popular search websites in Korea and the United States.
Methods:
Using the most popular search websites in Korea (A) and the US (B), with B divided into KR and US domains, we evaluated the search results for three diseases (hypertension, diabetes, osteoporosis) and two medications (Lipitor, Norvasc). We compared the proportion of paid ads and website categories, as well as quality and accuracy using a validated scoring tool.
Results:
Search website A had a high proportion of paid ads (40.3%), compared to B KR (4.3%) and B US (0%). B US had the highest proportion of reliable websites (58.1%), followed by B KR (52.9%) and A (14.6%). B US had the highest median quality score (25) while A had the lowest (14).Additionally, B US had the highest accuracy (95%), followed by B KR (87.7%) and A (52.2%).
Conclusions
Our data suggest that health information provided by popular search website in Korea is inaccurate and of low quality compared with that provided by its counterpart in the US. Users should prioritize credible websites, be cautious of ads, and seek professional advice. In addition, jointefforts from the government, search websites, and healthcare professionals are needed to provide accurate online health information.
10.Comparative Evaluation of Popular Search Websites on Search Results and Reliability of Health Information between Korea and United States
Yoojung CHOI ; Kwanghyeon JUNG ; Jonghyun JEONG ; Hyunwoo CHAE ; Ju-Yeun LEE ; Jaekyu SHIN
Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy 2024;34(3):164-174
Background:
Health information should be accurate and of high quality. While search websites are widely used to obtain health information, search results can vary depending on the availability of information in each language and the algorithms of search websites. We compared the search results and their reliability on popular search websites in Korea and the United States.
Methods:
Using the most popular search websites in Korea (A) and the US (B), with B divided into KR and US domains, we evaluated the search results for three diseases (hypertension, diabetes, osteoporosis) and two medications (Lipitor, Norvasc). We compared the proportion of paid ads and website categories, as well as quality and accuracy using a validated scoring tool.
Results:
Search website A had a high proportion of paid ads (40.3%), compared to B KR (4.3%) and B US (0%). B US had the highest proportion of reliable websites (58.1%), followed by B KR (52.9%) and A (14.6%). B US had the highest median quality score (25) while A had the lowest (14).Additionally, B US had the highest accuracy (95%), followed by B KR (87.7%) and A (52.2%).
Conclusions
Our data suggest that health information provided by popular search website in Korea is inaccurate and of low quality compared with that provided by its counterpart in the US. Users should prioritize credible websites, be cautious of ads, and seek professional advice. In addition, jointefforts from the government, search websites, and healthcare professionals are needed to provide accurate online health information.

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