1.Ratio of Skeletal Muscle Mass to Visceral Fat Area Is a Useful Marker for Assessing Left Ventricular Diastolic Dysfunction among Koreans with Preserved Ejection Fraction: An Analysis of the Random Forest Model
Jin Kyung OH ; Yuri SEO ; Wonmook HWANG ; Sami LEE ; Yong-Hoon YOON ; Kyupil KIM ; Hyun Woong PARK ; Jae-Hyung ROH ; Jae-Hwan LEE ; Minsu KIM
Journal of Obesity & Metabolic Syndrome 2025;34(1):54-64
Background:
Although the presence of both obesity and reduced muscle mass presents a dual metabolic burden and additively has a negative effect on a variety of cardiometabolic parameters, data regarding the associations between their combined effects and left ventricular diastolic function are limited. This study investigated the association between the ratio of skeletal muscle mass to visceral fat area (SVR) and left ventricular diastolic dysfunction (LVDD) in patients with preserved ejection fraction using random forest machine learning.
Methods:
In total, 1,070 participants with preserved left ventricular ejection fraction who underwent comprehensive health examinations, including transthoracic echocardiography and bioimpedance body composition analysis, were enrolled. SVR was calculated as an index of sarcopenic obesity by dividing the appendicular skeletal muscle mass by the visceral fat area.
Results:
In the random forest model, age and SVR were the most powerful predictors of LVDD. Multivariate logistic regression analysis demonstrated that older age (adjusted odds ratio [OR], 1.11; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.07 to 1.15) and lower SVR (adjusted OR, 0.08; 95% CI, 0.01 to 0.57) were independent risk factors for LVDD.SVR showed a significant improvement in predictive performance and fair predictability for LVDD, with the highest area under the curve noted in both men and women, with statistical significance. In non-obese and metabolically healthy individuals, the lowest SVR tertile was associated with a greater risk of LVDD compared to the highest SVR tertile.
Conclusion
Decreased muscle mass and increased visceral fat were significantly associated with LVDD compared to obesity, body fat composition, and body muscle composition indices.
2.Treatment of Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy
Eun Kyoung LEE ; Sooyoung KIM ; Eunhee SOHN
Journal of the Korean Neurological Association 2025;43(2):83-89
Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP) is a chronic autoimmune disease of the peripheral nervous system, primarily treated with corticosteroids and intravenous immunoglobulin as first-line therapies. Early treatment yields better outcome before nerve damage caused by the immune response. Once axonal damage has progressed, immunotherapy becomes ineffective, making early intervention crucial. Additionally, as treatment responses vary among patients, it is essential to assess treatment efficacy objectively and tailor therapy accordingly. Since there are currently no biomarkers that accurately reflect disease status, regular physical examinations are necessary to evaluate treatment effectiveness and adjust maintenance therapy. This review outlines the current clinical guidelines for the treatment of CIDP and explores emerging therapeutic options, including neonatal Fc receptor inhibitors and complement pathway inhibitors.
3.Allergy Inhibition Using Naturally Occurring Compounds Targeting Thymic Stromal Lymphopoietin Pathways: a Comprehensive Review
Le Ba VINH ; Kyeong Seon LEE ; Yoo Kyong HAN ; Young Jun KIM ; Suzy KIM ; Abdul Bari SHAH ; Youngjoo BYUN ; Ki Yong LEE
Biomolecules & Therapeutics 2025;33(2):249-267
Naturally occurring compounds have widely been applied to treat diverse pharmacological effects, including asthma, allergic diseases, antioxidants, inflammation, antibiotics, and cancer. Recent research has revealed the essential role of the thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) in regulating inflammatory responses at mucosal barriers and maintaining immune homeostasis. Asthma, inflammation, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease are allergic disorders in which TSLP plays a significant role. Although TSLP’s role in type 2 immune responses has undergone comprehensive investigation, its involvement in inflammatory diseases and cancer has also been found to be expanding. However, investigating how to block the TSLP pathway using natural products has been limited. This paper summarizes the roles of various medicinal plants and their chemical components that effectively inhibit the TSLP pathway. In addition, we also highlight the contributions of several plant-derived compounds to treat allergic diseases via targeting TSLP. This review intends to offer innovative concepts to scientists investigating the use of naturally produced compounds and extracts for the treatment of allergic illnesses.
4.Treatment of Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy
Eun Kyoung LEE ; Sooyoung KIM ; Eunhee SOHN
Journal of the Korean Neurological Association 2025;43(2):83-89
Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP) is a chronic autoimmune disease of the peripheral nervous system, primarily treated with corticosteroids and intravenous immunoglobulin as first-line therapies. Early treatment yields better outcome before nerve damage caused by the immune response. Once axonal damage has progressed, immunotherapy becomes ineffective, making early intervention crucial. Additionally, as treatment responses vary among patients, it is essential to assess treatment efficacy objectively and tailor therapy accordingly. Since there are currently no biomarkers that accurately reflect disease status, regular physical examinations are necessary to evaluate treatment effectiveness and adjust maintenance therapy. This review outlines the current clinical guidelines for the treatment of CIDP and explores emerging therapeutic options, including neonatal Fc receptor inhibitors and complement pathway inhibitors.
5.Ratio of Skeletal Muscle Mass to Visceral Fat Area Is a Useful Marker for Assessing Left Ventricular Diastolic Dysfunction among Koreans with Preserved Ejection Fraction: An Analysis of the Random Forest Model
Jin Kyung OH ; Yuri SEO ; Wonmook HWANG ; Sami LEE ; Yong-Hoon YOON ; Kyupil KIM ; Hyun Woong PARK ; Jae-Hyung ROH ; Jae-Hwan LEE ; Minsu KIM
Journal of Obesity & Metabolic Syndrome 2025;34(1):54-64
Background:
Although the presence of both obesity and reduced muscle mass presents a dual metabolic burden and additively has a negative effect on a variety of cardiometabolic parameters, data regarding the associations between their combined effects and left ventricular diastolic function are limited. This study investigated the association between the ratio of skeletal muscle mass to visceral fat area (SVR) and left ventricular diastolic dysfunction (LVDD) in patients with preserved ejection fraction using random forest machine learning.
Methods:
In total, 1,070 participants with preserved left ventricular ejection fraction who underwent comprehensive health examinations, including transthoracic echocardiography and bioimpedance body composition analysis, were enrolled. SVR was calculated as an index of sarcopenic obesity by dividing the appendicular skeletal muscle mass by the visceral fat area.
Results:
In the random forest model, age and SVR were the most powerful predictors of LVDD. Multivariate logistic regression analysis demonstrated that older age (adjusted odds ratio [OR], 1.11; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.07 to 1.15) and lower SVR (adjusted OR, 0.08; 95% CI, 0.01 to 0.57) were independent risk factors for LVDD.SVR showed a significant improvement in predictive performance and fair predictability for LVDD, with the highest area under the curve noted in both men and women, with statistical significance. In non-obese and metabolically healthy individuals, the lowest SVR tertile was associated with a greater risk of LVDD compared to the highest SVR tertile.
Conclusion
Decreased muscle mass and increased visceral fat were significantly associated with LVDD compared to obesity, body fat composition, and body muscle composition indices.
6.Allergy Inhibition Using Naturally Occurring Compounds Targeting Thymic Stromal Lymphopoietin Pathways: a Comprehensive Review
Le Ba VINH ; Kyeong Seon LEE ; Yoo Kyong HAN ; Young Jun KIM ; Suzy KIM ; Abdul Bari SHAH ; Youngjoo BYUN ; Ki Yong LEE
Biomolecules & Therapeutics 2025;33(2):249-267
Naturally occurring compounds have widely been applied to treat diverse pharmacological effects, including asthma, allergic diseases, antioxidants, inflammation, antibiotics, and cancer. Recent research has revealed the essential role of the thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) in regulating inflammatory responses at mucosal barriers and maintaining immune homeostasis. Asthma, inflammation, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease are allergic disorders in which TSLP plays a significant role. Although TSLP’s role in type 2 immune responses has undergone comprehensive investigation, its involvement in inflammatory diseases and cancer has also been found to be expanding. However, investigating how to block the TSLP pathway using natural products has been limited. This paper summarizes the roles of various medicinal plants and their chemical components that effectively inhibit the TSLP pathway. In addition, we also highlight the contributions of several plant-derived compounds to treat allergic diseases via targeting TSLP. This review intends to offer innovative concepts to scientists investigating the use of naturally produced compounds and extracts for the treatment of allergic illnesses.
7.Allergy Inhibition Using Naturally Occurring Compounds Targeting Thymic Stromal Lymphopoietin Pathways: a Comprehensive Review
Le Ba VINH ; Kyeong Seon LEE ; Yoo Kyong HAN ; Young Jun KIM ; Suzy KIM ; Abdul Bari SHAH ; Youngjoo BYUN ; Ki Yong LEE
Biomolecules & Therapeutics 2025;33(2):249-267
Naturally occurring compounds have widely been applied to treat diverse pharmacological effects, including asthma, allergic diseases, antioxidants, inflammation, antibiotics, and cancer. Recent research has revealed the essential role of the thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) in regulating inflammatory responses at mucosal barriers and maintaining immune homeostasis. Asthma, inflammation, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease are allergic disorders in which TSLP plays a significant role. Although TSLP’s role in type 2 immune responses has undergone comprehensive investigation, its involvement in inflammatory diseases and cancer has also been found to be expanding. However, investigating how to block the TSLP pathway using natural products has been limited. This paper summarizes the roles of various medicinal plants and their chemical components that effectively inhibit the TSLP pathway. In addition, we also highlight the contributions of several plant-derived compounds to treat allergic diseases via targeting TSLP. This review intends to offer innovative concepts to scientists investigating the use of naturally produced compounds and extracts for the treatment of allergic illnesses.
8.Ratio of Skeletal Muscle Mass to Visceral Fat Area Is a Useful Marker for Assessing Left Ventricular Diastolic Dysfunction among Koreans with Preserved Ejection Fraction: An Analysis of the Random Forest Model
Jin Kyung OH ; Yuri SEO ; Wonmook HWANG ; Sami LEE ; Yong-Hoon YOON ; Kyupil KIM ; Hyun Woong PARK ; Jae-Hyung ROH ; Jae-Hwan LEE ; Minsu KIM
Journal of Obesity & Metabolic Syndrome 2025;34(1):54-64
Background:
Although the presence of both obesity and reduced muscle mass presents a dual metabolic burden and additively has a negative effect on a variety of cardiometabolic parameters, data regarding the associations between their combined effects and left ventricular diastolic function are limited. This study investigated the association between the ratio of skeletal muscle mass to visceral fat area (SVR) and left ventricular diastolic dysfunction (LVDD) in patients with preserved ejection fraction using random forest machine learning.
Methods:
In total, 1,070 participants with preserved left ventricular ejection fraction who underwent comprehensive health examinations, including transthoracic echocardiography and bioimpedance body composition analysis, were enrolled. SVR was calculated as an index of sarcopenic obesity by dividing the appendicular skeletal muscle mass by the visceral fat area.
Results:
In the random forest model, age and SVR were the most powerful predictors of LVDD. Multivariate logistic regression analysis demonstrated that older age (adjusted odds ratio [OR], 1.11; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.07 to 1.15) and lower SVR (adjusted OR, 0.08; 95% CI, 0.01 to 0.57) were independent risk factors for LVDD.SVR showed a significant improvement in predictive performance and fair predictability for LVDD, with the highest area under the curve noted in both men and women, with statistical significance. In non-obese and metabolically healthy individuals, the lowest SVR tertile was associated with a greater risk of LVDD compared to the highest SVR tertile.
Conclusion
Decreased muscle mass and increased visceral fat were significantly associated with LVDD compared to obesity, body fat composition, and body muscle composition indices.
9.Treatment of Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy
Eun Kyoung LEE ; Sooyoung KIM ; Eunhee SOHN
Journal of the Korean Neurological Association 2025;43(2):83-89
Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP) is a chronic autoimmune disease of the peripheral nervous system, primarily treated with corticosteroids and intravenous immunoglobulin as first-line therapies. Early treatment yields better outcome before nerve damage caused by the immune response. Once axonal damage has progressed, immunotherapy becomes ineffective, making early intervention crucial. Additionally, as treatment responses vary among patients, it is essential to assess treatment efficacy objectively and tailor therapy accordingly. Since there are currently no biomarkers that accurately reflect disease status, regular physical examinations are necessary to evaluate treatment effectiveness and adjust maintenance therapy. This review outlines the current clinical guidelines for the treatment of CIDP and explores emerging therapeutic options, including neonatal Fc receptor inhibitors and complement pathway inhibitors.
10.Development of a Clinical Guideline for Suicide Prevention in Psychiatric Patients Based on the ADAPTE Methodology
Jeong Hun YANG ; Jieun YOO ; Dae Hun KANG ; C. Hyung Keun PARK ; Sang Jin RHEE ; Min Ji KIM ; Sang Yeol LEE ; Se-Hoon SHIM ; Jung-Joon MOON ; Seong-Jin CHO ; Shin Gyeom KIM ; Min-Hyuk KIM ; Jinhee LEE ; Won Sub KANG ; Weon-Young LEE ; Yong Min AHN
Psychiatry Investigation 2024;21(10):1149-1166
Objective:
Suicide is a significant public health issue, with South Korea having the highest suicide rate among Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development countries. This study aimed to develop clinical guidelines for suicide prevention in psychiatric patients in Korea using the ADAPTE methodology.
Methods:
The development process involved a comprehensive review of literature, expert consultations, and consensus-building using the Nominal Group Technique and Delphi method. The guidelines focus on evidence-based psychiatric treatments, including both pharmacological and non-pharmacological approaches, tailored to the Korean context. Key findings underscoring the need for standardized treatment protocols for patients with major psychiatric disorders, including bipolar disorder, major depressive disorder, and schizophrenia.
Results:
The guidelines incorporate treatments like lithium, clozapine, atypical antipsychotics, electroconvulsive therapy, and cognitive behavioral therapy, which have shown effectiveness in suicide prevention. Applicability and acceptability within Korea’s healthcare system were addressed, ensuring feasibility given the country’s medical insurance coverage and accessibility. The guidelines were validated through expert reviews and Delphi rounds, achieving consensus on the final recommendations.
Conclusion
The developed guidelines provide a structured, evidence-based approach to reducing suicide rates among psychiatric patients in Korea. Future research will focus on expanding these guidelines to include screening protocols for high-risk groups.

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