This report presents the latest statistics on the stroke population in South Korea, sourced from the Clinical Research Collaborations for Stroke in Korea-National Institute for Health (CRCS-K-NIH), a comprehensive, nationwide, multicenter stroke registry. The Korean cohort, unlike western populations, shows a male-to-female ratio of 1.5, attributed to lower risk factors in Korean women. The average ages for men and women are 67 and 73 years, respectively.Hypertension is the most common risk factor (67%), consistent with global trends, but there is a higher prevalence of diabetes (35%) and smoking (21%). The prevalence of atrial fibrillation (19%) is lower than in western populations, suggesting effective prevention strategies in the general population. A high incidence of large artery atherosclerosis (38%) is observed, likely due to prevalent intracranial arterial disease in East Asians and advanced imaging techniques.There has been a decrease in intravenous thrombolysis rates, from 12% in 2017–2019 to 10% in 2021, with no improvements in door-to-needle and door-to-puncture times, worsened by the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. While the use of aspirin plus clopidogrel for noncardioembolic stroke and direct oral anticoagulants for atrial fibrillation is well-established, the application of direct oral anticoagulants for non-atrial fibrillation cardioembolic strokes in the acute phase requires further research. The incidence of early neurological deterioration (13%) and the cumulative incidence of recurrent stroke at 3 months (3%) align with global figures. Favorable outcomes at 3 months (63%) are comparable internationally, yet the lack of improvement in dependency at 3 months highlights the need for advancements in acute stroke care.

BACKGROUND: Vitamin D has been known to maintain the body's balance of calcium and phosphorus as well as skeletal health. There has been increasing emphasis on the importance of vitamin D as recent studies have been reporting the specific functions of vitamin D in the cerebral nervous system and the association between the level of serum vitamin D and depressive symptoms. However, there is currently a paucity of research investigating the association between serum vitamin D and depressive symptoms in Korean subjects. Consequently, this study has aimed to determine the level of serum vitamin D and explore the association between serum vitamin D and depressive symptoms in Korean female workers. METHOD: A medical examination, questionnaire, anthropometric measurements, and a blood test were conducted between February 3 and March 7, 2014 in 1054 subjects among female workers in the manufacturing industry who underwent physical examinations in a university hospital. From this data, we identified the level of serum vitamin D and investigated the association between serum vitamin D deficiency and depressive symptoms. RESULTS: The average serum vitamin D level of the 1054 subjects was 9.07 +/- 3.25 ng/mL, and the number of subjects in the serum vitamin D deficiency group with less than 10 ng/mL was 721 (68.4 %). The odds ratio of the depressive symptom group with a CES-D score of 16 or above being in the deficiency group with a serum vitamin D level less than 10 ng/mL was found to be 1.55 (95 % CI = 1.15-2.07). CONCLUSION: 68.4 % of female workers in the manufacturing industry were in the deficiency group with serum vitamin D levels less than 10 ng/mL. Additionally, we identified an association between serum vitamin D deficiency and depressive symptoms. In the future, if serum vitamin D deficiency is checked regularly in workers, we expect to achieve better outcomes in managing their depressive symptoms.
Calcium ; Depression* ; Female* ; Hematologic Tests ; Humans ; Nervous System ; Odds Ratio ; Phosphorus ; Physical Examination ; Vitamin D Deficiency ; Vitamin D* ; Vitamins*

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Advances in endoscopic technology seek to improve the accuracy of neoplastic tumor detection. Recently developed endoscopy devices such as narrow-band imaging (NBI) nevertheless have limitations in morphologic diagnosis. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether a novel imaging technique-near-infrared fluorescence (NIRF) imaging using a protease-activatable nanoprobe-could provide more accurate neoplastic tumor detection, compared to NBI. METHODS: Images of the intestines of Apc(Min/+) mice were obtained by NIRF using a matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-sensing probe, which was based on a nanoparticle platform. Immediately after imaging, endoscopy with NBI capability was performed on the same excised intestine. Macroscopic and microscopic findings in the intestines were assessed, and MMP expression was analyzed by Western blotting and real-time polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: Numerous tiny polypoid lesions were present in the intestines of aged Apc(Min/+) mice. These lesions included adenomas, lymphoid follicles, and protruding normal tissues. When using NIRF imaging with an MMP-activatable nanoprobe, adenomatous polyps showed higher fluorescence, compared to lymphoid follicles or adjacent normal tissues. The expression of MMP was higher in the adenomatous tissue than in the other tissues. The sensitivity and specificity for adenoma detection were 88.9% and 82.2%, respectively, when using NIRF imaging with a MMP-nanoprobe, compared to 77.8% and 66.7%, respectively, when using NBI (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Near-infrared fluorescence imaging with a protease-activatable nanoprobe could aid in the differentiation of tumor characteristics. Clinical application of this approach may improve the endoscopic detection of neoplastic tumors.
Adenoma ; Adenomatous Polyps ; Animals ; Blotting, Western ; Endoscopy ; Fluorescence* ; Intestines ; Mice ; Molecular Imaging ; Nanoparticles ; Narrow Band Imaging ; Optical Imaging* ; Sensitivity and Specificity

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Early tumor detection is crucial for the prevention of colon cancer. Near-infrared fluorescence (NIRF) imaging using a target-activatable probe may permit earlier disease detection. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) participate in tumorigenesis and tumor growth. The aim of this study was to determine whether NIRF imaging using an MMP-activatable probe can detect colon tumors at early stages. METHODS: We utilized two murine colon cancer models: a sporadic colon cancer model induced by azoxymethane (AOM), and a colitis-associated cancer model induced by a combination of AOM and dextran sodium sulfate (DSS). Colonic lesions were analyzed by histologic examination, Western blotting, immunohistochemical staining, and NIRF imaging using an MMP-activatable probe. RESULTS: Multiple variable-sized tumors developed in both models and progressed from adenomas to adenocarcinomas over time. At the early stage of the AOM/DSS model, diffuse inflammation was observed within the tumors. MMP expression increased progressively through normal, inflammation, adenoma, and adenocarcionoma stages. NIRF signal intensities were strongly correlated with each tumor stage from adenoma to adenocarcinoma. NIRF imaging also distinguished tumors from inflamed mucosa. CONCLUSIONS: NIRF imaging using a protease-activatable probe may be a useful tool for early tumor detection. This approach could translate to improve the endoscopic detection of colon tumors, especially in patients with inflammatory bowel disease.
Adenocarcinoma ; Adenoma ; Azoxymethane ; Blotting, Western ; Cell Transformation, Neoplastic ; Colon ; Colonic Neoplasms ; Dextrans ; Fluorescence ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Inflammatory Bowel Diseases ; Matrix Metalloproteinases ; Optical Imaging ; Sodium ; Sulfates

Takayasu's arteritis (TA) is a nonspecific, chronic and stenotic panarteritis which usually involves the aorta and its major branches. Corticosteroid and immunosuppressants are recommended to manage the acute inflammatory phase, but their long term benefits are uncertain. Blood pressure (BP) control during the chronic phase of TA is essential to preserve renal function, which is associated with the patient's long-term prognosis and survival. Revascularization in organ damaging arterial stenosis with percutaneous angioplasty (PTA)/stenting or bypass surgery have been accepted as established treatment options in chronic complicated phase of TA. We present a case of a 31-year-old female patient with a two-day history of sudden onset oliguria and generalized edema whose acute oliguric renal failure was successfully reversed following PTA and stenting in a solitary functioning kidney with critical renal artery stenosis (RAS) caused by TA.
Acute Kidney Injury ; Adult ; Angioplasty ; Aorta ; Blood Pressure ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Edema ; Female ; Humans ; Immunosuppressive Agents ; Kidney ; Oliguria ; Prognosis ; Renal Artery ; Renal Artery Obstruction ; Renal Insufficiency ; Stents ; Takayasu Arteritis

Molecular imaging is a bioimaging that can detect biochemically and genetically relevant events in molecular level in cells and tissues via quantitative imaging signal. Molecular imaging provides potential advantages to examine early diagnosis of specific diseases, to screen new candidates of a drug, to monitor therapeutic effects in real time, and to communicate with both diagnosis and therapeutics. These diverse advantages of molecular imaging can be allowed by development of nanoplatform technology. The nanoplatform-based probes for molecular imaging is widely investigated to grant multimodal molecular imaging and drug delivery together with medical imagings, which includes the issues of biocompatibility, targeting moiety, proteasespecific peptide substrate, quenching/dequenching system etc. In this paper, nanoplatformbased probes are reviewed in aspects of cancer targeting for diagnosis and therapy and multimodal molecular imaging with inorganic/organic hybrid nanoparticles.
Chimera ; Early Diagnosis ; Financing, Organized ; Molecular Imaging ; Nanoparticles ; Organothiophosphorus Compounds

Molecular imaging is a bioimaging that can detect biochemically and genetically relevant events in molecular level in cells and tissues via quantitative imaging signal. Molecular imaging provides potential advantages to examine early diagnosis of specific diseases, to screen new candidates of a drug, to monitor therapeutic effects in real time, and to communicate with both diagnosis and therapeutics. These diverse advantages of molecular imaging can be allowed by development of nanoplatform technology. The nanoplatform-based probes for molecular imaging is widely investigated to grant multimodal molecular imaging and drug delivery together with medical imagings, which includes the issues of biocompatibility, targeting moiety, proteasespecific peptide substrate, quenching/dequenching system etc. In this paper, nanoplatformbased probes are reviewed in aspects of cancer targeting for diagnosis and therapy and multimodal molecular imaging with inorganic/organic hybrid nanoparticles.
Chimera ; Early Diagnosis ; Financing, Organized ; Molecular Imaging ; Nanoparticles ; Organothiophosphorus Compounds

OBJECTIVE: We examined the effect of long-term aripiprazole therapy on social functioning in Korean patients with schizophrenia, schizophreniform disorder, or schizoaffective disorder. METHODS: In this 52-week open-label, multicenter, single-arm study, 300 Korean patients with schizophrenia were treated with aripiprazole 10-30 mg/day after administration of 15 mg/day during the first 2 weeks. The primary efficacy measure was the Korean-Social Functioning Scale (SFS-K), and the secondary efficacy measures were the Emotion Assessment, and the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) score and the Clinical Global Impression - Severity of Illness (CGI-S) to investigate for correlation between social functioning and clinical symptoms. RESULTS: At week 52, there were significant improvements in all the areas of the SFS-K. There was generally no difference in the change of social functioning between patients in the first episode and patients having previous episodes. Significant improvements were also observed in negative emotion and emotional control. Statistically significant correlation between the SFS-K and the PANSS score was observed at week 52. CONCLUSION: The present study showed that long-term treatment with aripiprazole contributed to significant improvement in social functioning in patients with schizophrenia in the long-term treatment. This improvement of social functioning was modestly associated with clinical improvement of symptoms. The results suggest that long-term aripiprazole therapy could be effective not only in treating clinical symptoms, but also in improving social functioning in patients with schizophrenia-spectrum disorder.
Humans ; Piperazines ; Prospective Studies ; Psychotic Disorders ; Quinolones ; Schizophrenia ; Aripiprazole

No abstract available.
Genetic Therapy* ; Molecular Imaging*

This study was carried out on 80 New Zealand white rabbits, each weighing 3-3.5kg. Twenty rabbits were allocated into each of the four groups. After a 1cm sized ostectomy was made on the tibial body with the periosteum preserved, artificial bone substitutes were implanted. Except for control group(I), manufactured chitosan pellets were implanted in group II, Osteoset(R)(calcium sulfate) in group III and manufactured calcium sulfate-chitosan composite pellets in group IV. Results were evaluated using radiographic study, bone mineral density test and histologic examination in 2, 4, 6 weeks and three point bending test in 6 weeks after implantation. In the radiographic study, the formation and corticalization of callus were similar in groups III, IV and this was much earlier than in groups I, II. In the bone mineral density test and three point bending test to contralateral normal tibia in 6 weeks, the values in groups III and IV were statistically significantly higher than in groups I and II(p<0.05). In histologic examination, groups III and IV have more abundant and faster new bone formation than groups I and II. In conclusion, the synergistic effect between calcium sulfate and chitosan in group IV is considered to facilitate new bone formation as effectively as Osteoset(R) does.
Bone Density ; Bone Substitutes ; Bony Callus ; Calcium Sulfate ; Calcium* ; Chitosan ; Osteogenesis* ; Periosteum ; Rabbits* ; Tibia