Purpose: This study compared COVID-19 vaccination intentions in those with and without chronic diseases (CDs and non-CDs) in South Korea. We hypothesized that the factors associated with COVID-19 vaccination intentions would differ between CDs and non-CDs in South Korea. Methods: Using survey data collected through a Korean online panel in June 2021, we conducted a crosssectional secondary data analysis. Of the 2292 participants, 411 had at least one chronic disease. To construct a comparable dataset, we selected non-CDs via a 1:1 case-control matching for age and gender.We then utilized a multivariable binary logistic regression model to explore the factors contributing to COVID-19 vaccination intentions in CDs and non-CDs. Results: All told, over 75% of participants in both groups indicated that they intended to vaccinate against COVID-19. In both groups, those who mistrusted general vaccine benefits reported significantly lower COVID-19 vaccination intentions. Regarding factors associated with vaccination intentions, CDs identified anxiety regarding coronavirus and exposure to COVID-19 vaccination promotions at the community level, while non-CDs highlighted hesitancy regarding vaccines and confidence in government/health services. Conclusion Improving vaccination acceptance will require the development and implementation of tailored approaches for CDs and non-CDs and efforts to minimize general vaccine mistrust.

Purpose: This study compared COVID-19 vaccination intentions in those with and without chronic diseases (CDs and non-CDs) in South Korea. We hypothesized that the factors associated with COVID-19 vaccination intentions would differ between CDs and non-CDs in South Korea. Methods: Using survey data collected through a Korean online panel in June 2021, we conducted a crosssectional secondary data analysis. Of the 2292 participants, 411 had at least one chronic disease. To construct a comparable dataset, we selected non-CDs via a 1:1 case-control matching for age and gender.We then utilized a multivariable binary logistic regression model to explore the factors contributing to COVID-19 vaccination intentions in CDs and non-CDs. Results: All told, over 75% of participants in both groups indicated that they intended to vaccinate against COVID-19. In both groups, those who mistrusted general vaccine benefits reported significantly lower COVID-19 vaccination intentions. Regarding factors associated with vaccination intentions, CDs identified anxiety regarding coronavirus and exposure to COVID-19 vaccination promotions at the community level, while non-CDs highlighted hesitancy regarding vaccines and confidence in government/health services. Conclusion Improving vaccination acceptance will require the development and implementation of tailored approaches for CDs and non-CDs and efforts to minimize general vaccine mistrust.

Purpose: This study compared COVID-19 vaccination intentions in those with and without chronic diseases (CDs and non-CDs) in South Korea. We hypothesized that the factors associated with COVID-19 vaccination intentions would differ between CDs and non-CDs in South Korea. Methods: Using survey data collected through a Korean online panel in June 2021, we conducted a crosssectional secondary data analysis. Of the 2292 participants, 411 had at least one chronic disease. To construct a comparable dataset, we selected non-CDs via a 1:1 case-control matching for age and gender.We then utilized a multivariable binary logistic regression model to explore the factors contributing to COVID-19 vaccination intentions in CDs and non-CDs. Results: All told, over 75% of participants in both groups indicated that they intended to vaccinate against COVID-19. In both groups, those who mistrusted general vaccine benefits reported significantly lower COVID-19 vaccination intentions. Regarding factors associated with vaccination intentions, CDs identified anxiety regarding coronavirus and exposure to COVID-19 vaccination promotions at the community level, while non-CDs highlighted hesitancy regarding vaccines and confidence in government/health services. Conclusion Improving vaccination acceptance will require the development and implementation of tailored approaches for CDs and non-CDs and efforts to minimize general vaccine mistrust.

Adoptive cell therapy with chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-engineered T cells (CAR-Ts) has emerged as an innovative immunotherapy for hematological cancer treatment. However, the limited effect on solid tumors, complex processes, and excessive manufacturing costs remain as limitations of CAR-T therapy. Nanotechnology provides an alternative to the conventional CAR-T therapy. Owing to their unique physicochemical properties, nanoparticles can not only serve as a delivery platform for drugs but also target specific cells. Nanoparticle-based CAR therapy can be applied not only to T cells but also to CAR-natural killer and CAR-macrophage, compensating for some of their limitations. This review focuses on the introduction of nanoparticle-based advanced CAR immune cell therapy and future perspectives on immune cell reprogramming.

Background: Hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells (HSPCs) have the property to return to the bone marrow, which is believed to be critical in situations such as HSPC transplantation. This property plays an important role in the stemness, viability, and proliferation of HSPCs, also. However, most in vitro models so far have not sufficiently simulated the complicate environment. Here, we proposed a three-dimensional experimental platform for the quantitative study of the migration of HSPCs. Methods: After encapsulating osteoblasts (OBs) in alginate beads, we quantified the migration of HSPCs into the beads due to the physical environment using digital image processing. Intermittent hydrostatic pressure (IHP) was used to mimic the mechanical environment of human bone marrow without using any biochemical factors. The expression of stromal cell-derived factor 1 (SDF-1) under IHP was measured. Results: The results showed that the presence of OBs in the hydrogel scaffold initiate the movement of HSPCs. Furthermore, the IHP promotes the migration of HSPCs, even without the addition of any biochemical factors, and the results were confirmed by measuring SDF-1 levels. Conclusion We believe this suggested three-dimensional experimental platform consisting of a simulated in vivo physical environment and encapsulated OBs should contribute to in vitro migration studies used to investigate the effects of other external factors.

Background: Hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells (HSPCs) have the property to return to the bone marrow, which is believed to be critical in situations such as HSPC transplantation. This property plays an important role in the stemness, viability, and proliferation of HSPCs, also. However, most in vitro models so far have not sufficiently simulated the complicate environment. Here, we proposed a three-dimensional experimental platform for the quantitative study of the migration of HSPCs. Methods: After encapsulating osteoblasts (OBs) in alginate beads, we quantified the migration of HSPCs into the beads due to the physical environment using digital image processing. Intermittent hydrostatic pressure (IHP) was used to mimic the mechanical environment of human bone marrow without using any biochemical factors. The expression of stromal cell-derived factor 1 (SDF-1) under IHP was measured. Results: The results showed that the presence of OBs in the hydrogel scaffold initiate the movement of HSPCs. Furthermore, the IHP promotes the migration of HSPCs, even without the addition of any biochemical factors, and the results were confirmed by measuring SDF-1 levels. Conclusion We believe this suggested three-dimensional experimental platform consisting of a simulated in vivo physical environment and encapsulated OBs should contribute to in vitro migration studies used to investigate the effects of other external factors.

PURPOSE: To investigate regional cerebral amyloid beta retention in cognitively normal Korean adults using F-18 florbetaben (FBB).METHODS: We prospectively analyzed F-18 FBB positron emission tomography (PET)/CT scans of 30 cognitively healthy adults (age range, 50??0 years) using automated quantification. The standardized uptake value ratios (SUVRs) of F-18 FBB were calculated for predefined regions by normalizing the regional count with cerebellar cortex.RESULTS: The distribution of amyloid beta for each brain region revealed no age-related trends (p > 0.05). From all subjects, mean SUVR of amyloid deposit was 1.30 ± 0.18. The right parietal lobe showed the highest SUVR value (1.46 ± 0.23), whereas the right frontal lobe and left precuneus showed the lowest SUVR (1.23 ± 0.25).CONCLUSIONS: We provide reference values of normative data obtained from healthy elderly Koreans and suggest its use for accurate diagnosis of patients with Alzheimer's disease.
Adult ; Aged ; Alzheimer Disease ; Amyloid ; Brain ; Cerebellar Cortex ; Diagnosis ; Frontal Lobe ; Humans ; Parietal Lobe ; Plaque, Amyloid ; Positron-Emission Tomography ; Prospective Studies ; Reference Values

PURPOSE: F-18 florapronol (FPN) is the commercially recognized beta-amyloid positron emission tomography (PET) radiotracer in Korea. This study compared the early F-18 florapronol PET with F-18 fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) PET between healthy controls (HC) and Alzheimer's dementia (AD) patients.METHODS: A total of 29 subjects (15 HC and 14 AD subjects) underwent F-18 FPN PET and F-18 FDG PET. F-18 FDG PET image was acquired from 30 to 60 min and F-18 FPN PET for 0 to 10 min. F-18 FPN and F-18 FDG images were spatially normalized with transformation matrices obtained from individual CTimages and standardized uptake value ration (SUVR) from cerebellum area, and the global mean was calculated using PMOD 3.6. Pearson's correlation coefficients between F-18 FDG and early F-18 FPN for predefined cortical brain regions were calculated.RESULTS: We compared the F-18 FDG and F-18 FPN for SUVR of a specific region in global mean normalization and cerebellum normalization, and most of the correlation coefficient was higher in global mean normalization. In global mean normalization, the correlation coefficient for SUVR of HC was higher than that of AD in all brain regions.CONCLUSIONS: Early F-18 FPN study can be used as a proxy marker for the F-18 FDG PET.
Alzheimer Disease ; Brain ; Cerebellum ; Dementia ; Humans ; Korea ; Positron-Emission Tomography ; Proxy

PURPOSE: To investigate regional cerebral amyloid beta retention in cognitively normal Korean adults using F-18 florbetaben (FBB). METHODS: We prospectively analyzed F-18 FBB positron emission tomography (PET)/CT scans of 30 cognitively healthy adults (age range, 50??0 years) using automated quantification. The standardized uptake value ratios (SUVRs) of F-18 FBB were calculated for predefined regions by normalizing the regional count with cerebellar cortex. RESULTS: The distribution of amyloid beta for each brain region revealed no age-related trends (p > 0.05). From all subjects, mean SUVR of amyloid deposit was 1.30 ± 0.18. The right parietal lobe showed the highest SUVR value (1.46 ± 0.23), whereas the right frontal lobe and left precuneus showed the lowest SUVR (1.23 ± 0.25). CONCLUSIONS We provide reference values of normative data obtained from healthy elderly Koreans and suggest its use for accurate diagnosis of patients with Alzheimer's disease.

PURPOSE: F-18 florapronol (FPN) is the commercially recognized beta-amyloid positron emission tomography (PET) radiotracer in Korea. This study compared the early F-18 florapronol PET with F-18 fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) PET between healthy controls (HC) and Alzheimer's dementia (AD) patients. METHODS: A total of 29 subjects (15 HC and 14 AD subjects) underwent F-18 FPN PET and F-18 FDG PET. F-18 FDG PET image was acquired from 30 to 60 min and F-18 FPN PET for 0 to 10 min. F-18 FPN and F-18 FDG images were spatially normalized with transformation matrices obtained from individual CTimages and standardized uptake value ration (SUVR) from cerebellum area, and the global mean was calculated using PMOD 3.6. Pearson's correlation coefficients between F-18 FDG and early F-18 FPN for predefined cortical brain regions were calculated. RESULTS: We compared the F-18 FDG and F-18 FPN for SUVR of a specific region in global mean normalization and cerebellum normalization, and most of the correlation coefficient was higher in global mean normalization. In global mean normalization, the correlation coefficient for SUVR of HC was higher than that of AD in all brain regions. CONCLUSIONS Early F-18 FPN study can be used as a proxy marker for the F-18 FDG PET.