Cardiac organoids have emerged as invaluable tools for assessing the impact of diverse substances on heart function.This report introduces guidelines for general requirements for manufacturing cardiac organoids and conducting cardiac organoid-based assays, encompassing protocols, analytical methodologies, and ethical considerations. In the quest to employ recently developed three-dimensional cardiac organoid models as substitutes for animal testing, it becomes imperative to establish robust criteria for evaluating organoid quality and conducting toxicity assessments. This guideline addresses this need, catering to regulatory requirements, and describes common standards for organoid quality and toxicity assessment methodologies, commensurate with current technological capabilities. While acknowledging the dynamic nature of technological progress and the potential for future comparative studies, this guideline serves as a foundational framework. It offers a comprehensive approach to standardized cardiac organoid testing, ensuring scientific rigor, reproducibility, and ethical integrity in investigations of cardiotoxicity, particularly through the utilization of human pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiac organoids.

Background: Patients with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) present challenges in dental treatment cooperation owing to deficits in communication skills and social interaction. Behavioral guidance, sedation, and general anesthesia may be employed to ensure the quality of dental care for individuals with ASD. This study aimed to examine the trends in dental treatment for patients with ASD who visited the Department of Pediatric Dentistry at Dankook University Jukjeon Dental Hospital, an oral health center for the disabled in the Gyeonggi region, over the past 10 years. Methods: This study utilized the order communication system to gather data on sex, age, cooperation level, number of quadrants treated, and administration of sedation or general anesthesia for patients with ASD who visited the Department of Pediatric Dentistry at Dankook University Jukjeon Dental Hospital between January 2013 and December 2022. Results: The total number of patients with ASD increased annually, possibly due to an increase in ASD prevalence and the hospital's designation as a center for disabled oral health. General anesthesia was predominant before 2017, with a shift towards N2O-O2 sedation. The most common age group for sedation or general anesthesia was 6–9 years, with a higher prevalence in males than in females. Notably, N2O-O2 and midazolam sedation resulted in better cooperation and fewer treated teeth than general anesthesia. Conclusion This study highlights the evolving trends in dental treatment for individuals with ASD, indicating a shift towards outpatient methods, particularly N2O-O2 sedation. The sex distribution aligns with national statistics, emphasizing a higher prevalence of ASD in males than in females. These findings underscore the need for further research to establish evidence-based guidelines for optimal dental care strategies tailored to the unique needs of individuals with ASD.

Objectives: Excess mortality associated with long-term exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) has been documented. However, research on the disease burden following short-term exposure is scarce. We investigated the cause-specific mortality burden of short-term exposure to PM2.5 by considering the potential non-linear concentration–response relationship in Korea. Methods: Daily cause-specific mortality rates and PM2.5 exposure levels from 2010 to 2019 were collected for 8 Korean cities and 9 provinces. A generalized additive mixed model was employed to estimate the non-linear relationship between PM2.5 exposure and cause-specific mortality levels. We assumed no detrimental health effects of PM2.5 concentrations below 15 μg/m3. Overall deaths attributable to short-term PM2.5 exposure were estimated by summing the daily numbers of excess deaths associated with ambient PM2.5 exposure. Results: Of the 2 749 704 recorded deaths, 2 453 686 (89.2%) were non-accidental, 591 267 (21.5%) were cardiovascular, and 141 066 (5.1%) were respiratory in nature. A non-linear relationship was observed between all-cause mortality and exposure to PM2.5 at lag0, whereas linear associations were evident for cause-specific mortalities. Overall, 10 814 all-cause, 7855 non-accidental, 1642 cardiovascular, and 708 respiratory deaths were attributed to short-term exposure to PM2.5. The estimated number of all-cause excess deaths due to short-term PM2.5 exposure in 2019 was 1039 (95% confidence interval, 604 to 1472). Conclusions Our findings indicate an association between short-term PM2.5 exposure and various mortality rates (all-cause, non-accidental, cardiovascular, and respiratory) in Korea over the period from 2010 to 2019. Consequently, action plans should be developed to reduce deaths attributable to short-term exposure to PM2.5.

To provide a nationwide representative dataset for the study on health impact of air pollution, we combined the data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey with the daily air quality and weather data by matching the date of examination and the residential address of the participants. The database of meteorological factors and air quality as sources of exposure data were estimated using the Community Multiscale Air Quality model. The linkage dataset was merged by three ways; administrative district, si-gun-gu (city, county, and district), and geocode (in latitude and longitude coordinate units) based on the participants’ residential address, respectively. During the study period, the exposure dataset of 85,018 individuals (38,306 men and 46,712 women) whose examination dates were recorded were obtained. According to the definition of exposure period, the dataset was combined with the data on short-term, mid-term, and long-term exposure to air pollutants and the meteorological indices. Calculation of the daily merged dataset’s average air pollution linked by si-gun-gu and geocode units showed similar results. This study generated a daily average of meteorological indices and air pollution exposure dataset for all regions including rural and remote areas in Korea for 11 years. It is expected to provide a platform for the researchers studying the health impact of air pollution and climate change on the representative population and area, which may facilitate the establishment of local health care plans by understanding the residents’ health status at the local as well as national level.

To provide a nationwide representative dataset for the study on health impact of air pollution, we combined the data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey with the daily air quality and weather data by matching the date of examination and the residential address of the participants. The database of meteorological factors and air quality as sources of exposure data were estimated using the Community Multiscale Air Quality model. The linkage dataset was merged by three ways; administrative district, si-gun-gu (city, county, and district), and geocode (in latitude and longitude coordinate units) based on the participants’ residential address, respectively. During the study period, the exposure dataset of 85,018 individuals (38,306 men and 46,712 women) whose examination dates were recorded were obtained. According to the definition of exposure period, the dataset was combined with the data on short-term, mid-term, and long-term exposure to air pollutants and the meteorological indices. Calculation of the daily merged dataset’s average air pollution linked by si-gun-gu and geocode units showed similar results. This study generated a daily average of meteorological indices and air pollution exposure dataset for all regions including rural and remote areas in Korea for 11 years. It is expected to provide a platform for the researchers studying the health impact of air pollution and climate change on the representative population and area, which may facilitate the establishment of local health care plans by understanding the residents’ health status at the local as well as national level.

0.2 and p<0.05. NOTCH1 was identified as a candidate network hub gene in cases. NOTCH1 transcripts significantly increased in lung tissues from HDLI cases compared to unexposed controls (p=0.05). NOTCH1 may play an important role in pulmonary fibrosis of HDLI.]]>
Child ; DNA Methylation ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Humans ; Humidifiers ; Korea ; Lung Injury ; Lung ; Methylation ; Pulmonary Fibrosis

PURPOSE: Proliferation marker Ki-67 is widely used in cancer prognosis prediction. We tried to investigate the role of Ki-67 as a prognostic factor in stomach cancer after surgery in this study. METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated 251 patients who underwent curative resection for gastric cancer from 2010 to 2015. In pathologic examination, Ki-67 labeling index was defined as the percentage of Ki-67 antigen positive cells. Prognostic significance of Ki-67 for gastric cancer was evaluated. Disease-free survival (DFS) was assessed as a primary end-point. RESULTS: The median follow-up period was 28.0 months. Thirty-one patients (12.4%) showed Ki-67 labeling index (LI) lower than 25%. Sixty-eight patients (26.6%) showed recurrence during follow-up period. Recurrence was associated with Ki-67 LI level (≤25%, P = 0.016), and lymph node metastasis status (P = 0.002). High Ki-67 LI level (>25%) was also related to p53 positivity (P < 0.001) and poorly cohesive type (P = 0.002). The 3-year DFS was 69.4%. Low Ki-67 LI level (≤25%) was related with low DFS (47.6% vs. 72.6%, P = 0.016). T stage (P < 0.001), N stage (P = 0.006), lymphovascular invasion (P = 0.010), and neuronal invasion (P = 0.001) also affected the DFS. In addition, T stage (P = 0.03) and Ki-67 LI (P = 0.035) were independent prognostic factors for DFS. In patients treated with adjuvant chemotherapy (n = 239, 93.4%), low Ki-67 (≤25%) was a poor prognostic factor for DFS (P = 0.013). CONCLUSION: Low Ki-67 LI predicts high rate of progression and low DFS of stomach cancer. Ki-67 LI can be a predictive marker in resected stomach cancer treated with surgery and adjuvant chemotherapy.
Chemotherapy, Adjuvant ; Disease-Free Survival ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Ki-67 Antigen ; Lymph Nodes ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Neurons ; Prognosis ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies ; Stomach Neoplasms* ; Stomach*

BACKGROUND: Hypertension is a major contributor to the global disease burden of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease. The aim of this study was to determine demographic and clinical factors associated with adherence to antihypertensive medication. METHODS: From August 2012 to February 2015, we recruited 1,523 Korean patients with hypertension who visited family physicians. The study was conducted in 24 facilities located in urban and metropolitan areas. Of these facilities, two were primary care clinics and 22 were level 2 or 3 hospitals. Adherence was assessed using the pill count method; a cut-off value of 80% was used as the criterion for good adherence. Sociodemographic and lifestyle factors were compared between the adherent and nonadherent groups using the chi-square test for categorical variables and t-test for continuous variables. Binary logistic regression analysis was performed with medication adherence as the outcome variable. RESULTS: Of the 1,523 patients, 1,245 (81.7%) showed good adherence to antihypertensive medication. In the multivariate logistic analysis, age ≥65 years, exercise, treatment in a metropolitan-located hospital, being on ≥2 classes of antihypertensive medication and concomitant medication for diabetes, and a family history of hypertension or cardiovascular diseases were associated with good adherence. Patients who had a habit of high salt intake were less adherent to medication. CONCLUSION: Multiple classes of antihypertensive medications, concomitant medication, and exercise were associated with good adherence to antihypertensive medication, and high salt intake was associated with poor adherence to antihypertensive medication. These factors should be considered to improve hypertension control.
Cardiovascular Diseases ; Cerebrovascular Disorders ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Life Style ; Logistic Models ; Medication Adherence ; Methods ; Patient Compliance ; Physicians, Family ; Primary Health Care

Although lymphoepithelial cysts (LECs) of the pancreas are benign lesions, most of them have been treated with surgical resection due to diagnostic difficulty. We report a 66-year-old woman diagnosed with pancreatic LECs. Abdominal ultrasound revealed two masses in the pancreas, which were not visible on the abdominal computed tomography. In an abdominal magnetic resonance imaging, pancreas lesions showed solid tumors, which revealed a low signal intensity on T1-, moderate high signal intensity on T2 weighted images, and homogeneous delayed enhancement in the portal venous phase. Endosonography (EUS) revealed two hypoechoic round masses measuring 1.5 cm and 4.5 cm in the body and tail of the pancreas, respectively. EUS-guided fine needle aspiration (FNA) revealed squamous cells, amorphous keratinous debris, and lymphocytes. The patient was diagnosed with LECs of the pancreas. For the duration of the follow-up period of two years, imaging studies were unchanged. EUS-FNA is useful in making a definite diagnosis and avoiding unnecessary surgery. This is the first case of pancreatic LECs diagnosed with EUS-FNA in Korea.
Aged ; Biopsy, Fine-Needle* ; Diagnosis ; Endoscopic Ultrasound-Guided Fine Needle Aspiration ; Endosonography ; Epithelial Cells ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Korea ; Lymphocytes ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Pancreas ; Pancreatic Cyst ; Tail ; Ultrasonography ; Unnecessary Procedures

Peptic ulcer bleeding is treated using endoscopic hemostasis using clips or bands. Pancreas divisum (PD), a congenital anomaly of the pancreas, usually has no clinical symptoms; however, pancreatitis may occur if there are disturbances in the drainage of pancreatic secretions. We report an unusual case of PD accompanied by acute pancreatitis, following endoscopic band ligation for duodenal ulcer bleeding. A 48-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital due to melena. An upper endoscopy revealed a small ulcer with oozing adjacent minor papilla. An endoscopic band ligation was performed on this lesion. Acute pancreatitis developed suddenly 6 hours after the band ligation and improved dramatically after removal of the band. Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography was performed, revealing complete PD. Endoscopic band ligation is known as the effective method for peptic ulcer bleeding; however, it should be used carefully in duodenal ulcer bleeding near the minor duodenal papilla due to the possibility of PD.
Cholangiopancreatography, Magnetic Resonance ; Drainage ; Duodenal Ulcer* ; Endoscopy ; Female ; Hemorrhage* ; Hemostasis, Endoscopic* ; Humans ; Ligation ; Melena ; Methods ; Middle Aged ; Pancreas* ; Pancreatic Ducts ; Pancreatitis* ; Peptic Ulcer ; Ulcer