Fibromyalgia is characterized by chronic widespread musculoskeletal pain and accompanied by various somatic and psychological symptoms such as sleep problems, fatigue, cognitive dysfunction, depression and anxiety. Fibromyalgia, as a representative condition of nociplastic pain and classified as chronic primary pain, is recognized as an independent disorder. However, its pathogenesis and treatment remain incompletely established to date. The pathogenesis of fibromyalgia involves a complex interplay of factors, including neurotransmitter imbalances, dysregulation of the neuro-endocrine-hormonal axis mediated by the autonomic nervous system gut microbiota imbalances, mitochondrial dysfunction, impaired antioxidant capacity, as well as genetic and psycho-social factors. The management of fibromyalgia requires an integrated approach combining pharmacological and non-pharmacological therapies tailored to individual patients. Pharmacological treatment includes FDA-approved medications such as pregabalin, duloxetine, and milnacipran, as well as the use of tricyclic antidepressants, gabapentin, and tramadol. Generally, using more than one medication tailored to symptoms is effective, and a multidisciplinary approach that prioritizes non-pharmacological treatments is necessary. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and strong opioids have not demonstrated benefits for fibromyalgia and have significant limitations. Lifestyle modification, such as low-intensity exercise, mind-body relaxation, an anti-inflammatory and antioxidant diet and maintaining a nutritional status that supports gut microbiota balance, are key factors in fibromyalgia management. This study aims to review the latest insights on fibromyalgia and enhance the understanding of this condition to ultimately aid in patient treatment.

Postherpetic itch (PHI), a common condition in neuropathic itch is not as well studied as postherpetic neuralgia. Intractable PHI is thought to be hyperexcitability of itch-transmission nervous system caused by neural injury from herpes zoster. In some cases, PHI is very severe to compromise patient’s quality of life and refractory to conventional treatments. Here, it is reported that a case of severe chronic PHI was reduced with trigeminal ganglion blocks and thymosin alpha 1 injections. A 74-year-old man complained of severe itching with hypoesthesia in his left eyebrow and scalp for 5 years after the initial onset of herpes zoster at the same site, despite treatment with two types of antihistamines, gabapentin, and amitriptyline. He developed ulcers on his forehead and scalp because of his scratching. Trigeminal ganglion blocks and thymosin alpha 1 injections reduced itching, with the ulcers disappearing within 1 month. In this case, it is suggested that trigeminal ganglion blocks and thymosin alpha 1 injection may be a useful treatment option for PHI.

Genome-wide association (GWA) studies have found many important genetic variants that affect various traits. Since these studies are useful to investigate untyped but causal variants using linkage disequilibrium (LD), it would be useful to explore the haplotypes of single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) within the same LD block of significant associations based on high-density variants from population references. Here, we tried to make a haplotype catalog affecting body mass index (BMI) through an integrative analysis of previously published whole-genome next-generation sequencing (NGS) data of 7 representative Korean individuals and previously known Korean GWA signals. We selected 435 SNPs that were significantly associated with BMI from the GWA analysis and searched 53 LD ranges nearby those SNPs. With the NGS data, the haplotypes were phased within the LDs. A total of 44 possible haplotype blocks for Korean BMI were cataloged. Although the current result constitutes little data, this study provides new insights that may help to identify important haplotypes for traits and low variants nearby significant SNPs. Furthermore, we can build a more comprehensive catalog as a larger dataset becomes available.
Body Mass Index* ; Dataset ; Genome-Wide Association Study ; Haplotypes* ; Korea ; Linkage Disequilibrium ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide

OBJECTIVES: N-Nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) is classified as a probable human carcinogen by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) and is formed during the chlorination of municipal drinking water. In this study, selected nitrosamines were measured in chlorinated drinking water collected from Chuncheon, Kangwon-do, Republic of Korea, and a risk assessment for NDMA was conducted. METHODS: Twelve water samples were collected from 2 treatment plants and 10 household taps. Samples were analyzed for 6 nitrosamines via solid-phase extraction cleanup followed by conversion to dansyl derivatives and high-performance liquid chromatography-fluorescence detection (HPLC-FLD). Considering the dietary patterns of Korean people and the concentration change of NDMA by boiling, a carcinogenic risk assessment from ingestion exposure was conducted following the US EPA guidelines. RESULTS: NDMA concentrations ranged between 26.1 and 112.0 ng/L. NDMA in water was found to be thermally stable, and thus its concentration at the end of boiling was greater than before thermal treatment owing to the decrease in water volume. The estimated excess lifetime carcinogenic risk exceeded the regulatory baseline risk of 10(-5). CONCLUSIONS: This result suggests that more extensive studies need to be conducted on nitrosamine concentration distributions over the country and the source of relatively high nitrosamine concentrations.
Dimethylnitrosamine ; Drinking ; Drinking Water ; Eating ; Family Characteristics ; Halogenation ; Humans ; Nitrosamines ; Oligopeptides ; Phosphatidylcholines ; Republic of Korea ; Risk Assessment ; United States Environmental Protection Agency ; Water