Background: Improving β-cell function can lead to remission in some patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). However, research on pharmacotherapy-induced remission in youth-onset T2DM remains scarce. Our study aimed to identify the clinical characteristics of pediatric patients who experience remission. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 88 pediatric patients with T2DM followed for at least 1 year at Seoul National University Bundang Hospital between 2013 and 2023. Remission was defined as a glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) level less than 6.5% for at least 3 months after ceasing glucose-lowering pharmacotherapy. Results: Among 88 patients (60 males, 68.2%) diagnosed at an average age of 14.4±2.1 years, 19 patients (21.6%) achieved remission after a median duration of 1.4 years. The remission group had a larger proportion of males (89.5% vs. 62.3%, P=0.024) and a lower urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio (ACR) at diagnosis (P=0.011). They also showed lower HbA1c levels at 1 year and more significant changes in HbA1c and body mass index (all P<0.05). Higher urinary ACR levels correlated with a longer duration to achieve remission (hazard ratio, 0.928; P= 0.013). In three of the 19 remission patients (15.8%), recurrence occurred after a median of 1.5 years. Conclusion Among Korean youth with T2DM, 21.6% achieved remission after a median duration of 1.4 years.Those who experienced remission were predominantly male, had lower ACR at diagnosis, and had significant weight loss within the first year. Further investigation into the factors influencing remission and long-term outcomes is essential.

Nerve growth factor (NGF) is a neurotrophic factor usually involved in the survival, differentiation, and growth of sensory neurons and nociceptive function. Yet, it has been suggested to play a role in the pathogenesis of osteoarthritis (OA). Previous studies suggested a possible relationship between NGF and OA; however, the underlying mechanisms remain unknown. Therefore, we investigated the impact of NGF in chondrogenesis using human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs)-derived chondrogenic pellets. To investigate how NGF affects the cartilage tissue, hiPSC-derived chondrogenic pellets were treated with NGF on day 3 of differentiation, expression of chondrogenic, hypertrophic, and fibrotic markers was confirmed. Also, inflammatory cytokine arrays were performed using the culture medium of the NGF treated chondrogenic pellets. As a result, NGF treatment decreased the expression of pro-chondrogenic markers by approximately 2∼4 times, and hypertrophic (pro-osteogenic) markers and fibrotic markers were increased by approximately 3-fold or more in the NGF-treated cartilaginous pellets. In addition, angiogenesis was upregulated by approximately 4-fold or more, bone formation by more than 2-fold, and matrix metalloproteinase induction by more than 2-fold. These inflammatory cytokine array were using the NGF-treated chondrogenic pellet cultured medium.Furthermore, it was confirmed by Western blot to be related to the induction of the glycogen synthase kinase-3 beta (GSK3β) pathway by NGF. In Conclusions, these findings provide valuable insights into the multifaceted role of NGF in cartilage hypertrophy and fibrosis, which might play a critical role in OA progression.

Nerve growth factor (NGF) is a neurotrophic factor usually involved in the survival, differentiation, and growth of sensory neurons and nociceptive function. Yet, it has been suggested to play a role in the pathogenesis of osteoarthritis (OA). Previous studies suggested a possible relationship between NGF and OA; however, the underlying mechanisms remain unknown. Therefore, we investigated the impact of NGF in chondrogenesis using human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs)-derived chondrogenic pellets. To investigate how NGF affects the cartilage tissue, hiPSC-derived chondrogenic pellets were treated with NGF on day 3 of differentiation, expression of chondrogenic, hypertrophic, and fibrotic markers was confirmed. Also, inflammatory cytokine arrays were performed using the culture medium of the NGF treated chondrogenic pellets. As a result, NGF treatment decreased the expression of pro-chondrogenic markers by approximately 2∼4 times, and hypertrophic (pro-osteogenic) markers and fibrotic markers were increased by approximately 3-fold or more in the NGF-treated cartilaginous pellets. In addition, angiogenesis was upregulated by approximately 4-fold or more, bone formation by more than 2-fold, and matrix metalloproteinase induction by more than 2-fold. These inflammatory cytokine array were using the NGF-treated chondrogenic pellet cultured medium.Furthermore, it was confirmed by Western blot to be related to the induction of the glycogen synthase kinase-3 beta (GSK3β) pathway by NGF. In Conclusions, these findings provide valuable insights into the multifaceted role of NGF in cartilage hypertrophy and fibrosis, which might play a critical role in OA progression.

Background: Improving β-cell function can lead to remission in some patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). However, research on pharmacotherapy-induced remission in youth-onset T2DM remains scarce. Our study aimed to identify the clinical characteristics of pediatric patients who experience remission. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 88 pediatric patients with T2DM followed for at least 1 year at Seoul National University Bundang Hospital between 2013 and 2023. Remission was defined as a glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) level less than 6.5% for at least 3 months after ceasing glucose-lowering pharmacotherapy. Results: Among 88 patients (60 males, 68.2%) diagnosed at an average age of 14.4±2.1 years, 19 patients (21.6%) achieved remission after a median duration of 1.4 years. The remission group had a larger proportion of males (89.5% vs. 62.3%, P=0.024) and a lower urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio (ACR) at diagnosis (P=0.011). They also showed lower HbA1c levels at 1 year and more significant changes in HbA1c and body mass index (all P<0.05). Higher urinary ACR levels correlated with a longer duration to achieve remission (hazard ratio, 0.928; P= 0.013). In three of the 19 remission patients (15.8%), recurrence occurred after a median of 1.5 years. Conclusion Among Korean youth with T2DM, 21.6% achieved remission after a median duration of 1.4 years.Those who experienced remission were predominantly male, had lower ACR at diagnosis, and had significant weight loss within the first year. Further investigation into the factors influencing remission and long-term outcomes is essential.

Nerve growth factor (NGF) is a neurotrophic factor usually involved in the survival, differentiation, and growth of sensory neurons and nociceptive function. Yet, it has been suggested to play a role in the pathogenesis of osteoarthritis (OA). Previous studies suggested a possible relationship between NGF and OA; however, the underlying mechanisms remain unknown. Therefore, we investigated the impact of NGF in chondrogenesis using human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs)-derived chondrogenic pellets. To investigate how NGF affects the cartilage tissue, hiPSC-derived chondrogenic pellets were treated with NGF on day 3 of differentiation, expression of chondrogenic, hypertrophic, and fibrotic markers was confirmed. Also, inflammatory cytokine arrays were performed using the culture medium of the NGF treated chondrogenic pellets. As a result, NGF treatment decreased the expression of pro-chondrogenic markers by approximately 2∼4 times, and hypertrophic (pro-osteogenic) markers and fibrotic markers were increased by approximately 3-fold or more in the NGF-treated cartilaginous pellets. In addition, angiogenesis was upregulated by approximately 4-fold or more, bone formation by more than 2-fold, and matrix metalloproteinase induction by more than 2-fold. These inflammatory cytokine array were using the NGF-treated chondrogenic pellet cultured medium.Furthermore, it was confirmed by Western blot to be related to the induction of the glycogen synthase kinase-3 beta (GSK3β) pathway by NGF. In Conclusions, these findings provide valuable insights into the multifaceted role of NGF in cartilage hypertrophy and fibrosis, which might play a critical role in OA progression.

Background: Improving β-cell function can lead to remission in some patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). However, research on pharmacotherapy-induced remission in youth-onset T2DM remains scarce. Our study aimed to identify the clinical characteristics of pediatric patients who experience remission. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 88 pediatric patients with T2DM followed for at least 1 year at Seoul National University Bundang Hospital between 2013 and 2023. Remission was defined as a glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) level less than 6.5% for at least 3 months after ceasing glucose-lowering pharmacotherapy. Results: Among 88 patients (60 males, 68.2%) diagnosed at an average age of 14.4±2.1 years, 19 patients (21.6%) achieved remission after a median duration of 1.4 years. The remission group had a larger proportion of males (89.5% vs. 62.3%, P=0.024) and a lower urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio (ACR) at diagnosis (P=0.011). They also showed lower HbA1c levels at 1 year and more significant changes in HbA1c and body mass index (all P<0.05). Higher urinary ACR levels correlated with a longer duration to achieve remission (hazard ratio, 0.928; P= 0.013). In three of the 19 remission patients (15.8%), recurrence occurred after a median of 1.5 years. Conclusion Among Korean youth with T2DM, 21.6% achieved remission after a median duration of 1.4 years.Those who experienced remission were predominantly male, had lower ACR at diagnosis, and had significant weight loss within the first year. Further investigation into the factors influencing remission and long-term outcomes is essential.

Purpose: The female sex is reported to have a higher risk of adverse events (AEs) from cytotoxic chemotherapy. Few studies examined the sex differences in AEs and their impact on the use of medical services during adjuvant chemotherapy. This sub-study aimed to compare the incidence of any grade and grade ≥ 3 AEs, healthcare utilization, chemotherapy completion rate, and dose intensity according to sex. Materials and Methods: This is a sub-study of a multicenter cohort conducted in Korea that evaluated the impact of healthcare reimbursement on AE evaluation in patients who received adjuvant chemotherapy between September 2013 and December 2016 at four hospitals in Korea. Results: A total of 1,170 patients with colorectal, gastric, or non–small cell lung cancer were included in the study. Female patients were younger, had fewer comorbidities, and experienced less postoperative weight loss of > 10%. Females had significantly higher rates of any grade AEs including nausea, abdominal pain, stomatitis, vomiting, and neutropenia, and experienced more grade ≥ 3 neutropenia, nausea, and vomiting. The dose intensity of chemotherapy was significantly lower in females, and they also experienced more frequent dose reduction after the first cycle. Moreover, female patients receiving platinum-containing regimens had significantly higher rates of unscheduled outpatient visits. Conclusion Our study found that females experienced a higher incidence of multiple any-grade AEs and severe neutropenia, nausea, and vomiting, across various cancer types, leading to more frequent dose reductions. Physicians should be aware of sex differences in AEs for chemotherapy decisions.

This manuscript represents the official position of the Korean Society of Echocardiography on valvular heart diseases.This position paper focuses on the clinical management of valvular heart diseases with reference to the guidelines recently published by the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association and the European Society of Cardiology. The committee tried to reflect the recently published results on the topic of valvular heart diseases and Korean data by a systematic literature search based on validity and relevance. In part I of this article, we will review and discuss the current position of aortic valve disease in Korea.