The progress of transplantation has been propelled forward by animal experiments.Animal models have not only provided opportunities to understand complex immune mechanisms in transplantation but also served as a platform to assess therapeutic interventions. While small animals have been instrumental in uncovering new therapeutic concepts related to immunosuppression and immune tolerance, the progression to human trials has largely been driven by studies in large animals. Recent research has begun to explore the potential of porcine organs to address the shortage of available organs. The consistent progress in transplant immunology research can be attributed to a thorough understanding of animal models. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the available animal models, detailing their modifications, strengths, and weaknesses, as well as their historical applications, to aid researchers in selecting the most suitable model for their specific research needs.

The progress of transplantation has been propelled forward by animal experiments.Animal models have not only provided opportunities to understand complex immune mechanisms in transplantation but also served as a platform to assess therapeutic interventions. While small animals have been instrumental in uncovering new therapeutic concepts related to immunosuppression and immune tolerance, the progression to human trials has largely been driven by studies in large animals. Recent research has begun to explore the potential of porcine organs to address the shortage of available organs. The consistent progress in transplant immunology research can be attributed to a thorough understanding of animal models. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the available animal models, detailing their modifications, strengths, and weaknesses, as well as their historical applications, to aid researchers in selecting the most suitable model for their specific research needs.

The progress of transplantation has been propelled forward by animal experiments.Animal models have not only provided opportunities to understand complex immune mechanisms in transplantation but also served as a platform to assess therapeutic interventions. While small animals have been instrumental in uncovering new therapeutic concepts related to immunosuppression and immune tolerance, the progression to human trials has largely been driven by studies in large animals. Recent research has begun to explore the potential of porcine organs to address the shortage of available organs. The consistent progress in transplant immunology research can be attributed to a thorough understanding of animal models. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the available animal models, detailing their modifications, strengths, and weaknesses, as well as their historical applications, to aid researchers in selecting the most suitable model for their specific research needs.

The progress of transplantation has been propelled forward by animal experiments.Animal models have not only provided opportunities to understand complex immune mechanisms in transplantation but also served as a platform to assess therapeutic interventions. While small animals have been instrumental in uncovering new therapeutic concepts related to immunosuppression and immune tolerance, the progression to human trials has largely been driven by studies in large animals. Recent research has begun to explore the potential of porcine organs to address the shortage of available organs. The consistent progress in transplant immunology research can be attributed to a thorough understanding of animal models. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the available animal models, detailing their modifications, strengths, and weaknesses, as well as their historical applications, to aid researchers in selecting the most suitable model for their specific research needs.

Background: and Purpose Falls are not uncommon even in patients with early stages of Parkinson’s disease (PD). The aims of this study were to determine the relationships between gait parameters and falls and identify crucial gait parameters for predicting future falls in patients with de novo PD. Methods: We prospectively recruited patients with de novo PD, and evaluated their baseline demographics, global cognitive function on the Montreal Cognitive Assessment test, and parkinsonian motor symptoms including their subtypes. Both forward gait (FG) and backward gait (BG) were measured using the GAITRite system. The history of falls in consecutive patients with de novo PD was examined along with 1 year of follow-up data. Results: Among the 76 patients with de novo PD finally included in the study, 16 (21.1%) were classified as fallers. Fallers had slower gait and shorter stride for FG and BG parameters than did non-fallers, while stride-time variability was greater in fallers but only for BG. Multivariable logistic regression analysis revealed that slow gait was an independent risk factor in BG. Conclusions Among the patients with de novo PD, gait speed and stride length were more impaired for both FG and BG in fallers than in non-fallers. It was particularly notable that slow BG was significantly associated with future fall risk, indicating that BG speed is a potential biomarker for predicting future falls in patients with early-stage PD.

Objective: This is the first prospective cohort study of Huntington’s disease (HD) in Korea. This study aimed to investigate the caregiver burden in relation to the characteristics of patients and caregivers. Methods: From August 2020 to February 2022, we enrolled patients with HD from 13 university hospitals in Korea. We used the 12-item Zarit Burden Interview (ZBI-12) to evaluate the caregiver burden. We evaluated the clinical associations of the ZBI-12 scores by linear regression analysis and investigated the differences between the low- and high-burden groups. Results: Sixty-five patients with HD and 45 caregivers were enrolled in this cohort study. The average age at onset of motor symptoms was 49.3 ± 12.3 years, with an average cytosine-adenine-guanine (CAG)n of 42.9 ± 4.0 (38–65). The median ZBI-12 score among our caregivers was 17.6 ± 14.2. A higher caregiver burden was associated with a more severe Shoulson–Fahn stage (p = 0.038) of the patients. A higher ZBI-12 score was also associated with lower independence scale (B = -0.154, p = 0.006) and functional capacity (B = -1.082, p = 0.002) scores of patients. The caregiving duration was longer in the high- than in the low-burden group. Caregivers’ demographics, blood relation, and marital and social status did not affect the burden significantly. Conclusion HD patients’ neurological status exerts an enormous impact on the caregiver burden regardless of the demographic or social status of the caregiver. This study emphasizes the need to establish an optimal support system for families dealing with HD in Korea. A future longitudinal analysis could help us understand how disease progression aggravates the caregiver burden throughout the entire disease course.

Objective: The Scales for Outcomes in Parkinson’s Disease–Cognition (SCOPA-Cog) was developed to assess cognition in patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD). In this study, we aimed to evaluate the validity and reliability of the Korean version of the SCOPACog (K-SCOPA-Cog). Methods: We enrolled 129 PD patients with movement disorders from 31 clinics in South Korea. The original version of the SCOPA-Cog was translated into Korean using the translation-retranslation method. The test–retest method with an intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and Cronbach’s alpha coefficient were used to assess reliability. Spearman’s rank correlation analysis with the Montreal Cognitive Assessment-Korean version (MOCA-K) and the Korean Mini-Mental State Examination (K-MMSE) were used to assess concurrent validity. Results: The Cronbach’s alpha coefficient was 0.797, and the ICC was 0.887. Spearman’s rank correlation analysis revealed a significant correlation with the K-MMSE and MOCA-K scores (r = 0.546 and r = 0.683, respectively). Conclusion Our results demonstrate that the K-SCOPA-Cog has good reliability and validity.

Primary hypoparathyroidism is a rare disorder that presents with various psychiatric and neurological symptoms. A 50-year-old female patient visited hospital due to recurrent seizures. Despite treatment with phenytoin and diazepam, her seizures persisted. Laboratory tests revealed hypocalcemia, hyperphosphatemia, and decreased intact parathyroid hormone level. Following treatment with valproic acid and calcium supplementation, her seizures ceased. Thorough examination including laboratory tests play a crucial role in the accurate diagnosis of primary hypoparathyroidism in a patient with recurrent seizures.

Purpose: With the revision of the Organ and Transplantation Act in 2018, the hand has become legal as an area of transplantable organs in Korea. In January 2021, the first hand allotransplantation since legalization was successfully performed, and we have performed a total of three successful hand transplantation since then. By comparing and incorporating our experiences, this study aimed to provide a comprehensive reconstructive solution for hand amputation in Korea. Materials and Methods: Recipients were selected through a structured preoperative evaluation, and hand transplantations were performed at the distal forearm level. Postoperatively, patients were treated with three-drug immunosuppressive regimen, and functional outcomes were monitored. Results: The hand transplantations were performed without intraoperative complications. All patients had partial skin necrosis and underwent additional surgical procedures in 2 months after transplantation. After additional operations, no further severe complications were observed. Also, patients developed acute rejection within 3 months of surgery, but all resolved within 2 weeks after steroid pulse therapy. Motor and sensory function improved dramatically, and patients were very satisfied with the appearance and function of their transplanted hands. Conclusion Hand transplantation is a viable reconstructive option, and patients have shown positive functional and psychological outcomes. Although this study has limitations, such as the small number of patients and short follow-up period, we should focus on continued recovery of hand function, and be careful not to develop side effects from immunosuppressive drugs. Through the present study, we will continue to strive for a bright future regarding hand transplantation in Korea.

Objective: Studies on gait and autonomic dysfunction have been insufficient so far, particularly de novo Parkinson’s disease (PD). The aim of this study was to identify the association between gait dynamics and autonomic dysfunction in patients with de novo PD. Methods: A total 38 patients with de novo PD were retrospectively included in this study. Details of patients’ dysautonomia were assessed using the Scales for Outcomes in Parkinson’s Disease-Autonomic Dysfunction (SCOPA-AUT). For assessment of gait, a computerized gait analysis was performed using the GAITRite system for forward gait and backward gait. High SCOPA-AUT score (PD-HSAS) group and low SCOPA-AUT score (PD-LSAS) group were identified according to their SCOPA-AUT scores. Results: Nineteen (50%) patients with high SCOPA-AUT scores above median value (12.5) were assigned into the PD-HSAS group and others were assigned to the PD-LSAS group. Compared with the PD-LSAS group, the PD-HSAS group exhibited slower gait, shorter stride, decreased cadence, increased double support phase, decreased swing phase, and increased variability in swing time. Total SCOPA-AUT score showed significantly positive correlations with gait variability and instability but a negative correlation with gait hypokinesia. In subdomain analysis, urinary dysautonomia was highly associated with impairment of gait dynamics. All significant results were found to be more remarkable in backward gait than in forward gait. Conclusion Our findings suggest that alteration in gait dynamics, especially backward gait, is highly associated with autonomic dysfunction in patients with de novo PD.