Background/Aims: Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death worldwide. This study aimed to investigate the recent nationwide trends in major dietary risk factors for dyslipidemia and atherosclerosis. Methods: We estimated age-standardized mean intakes of fresh fruits, fresh vegetables, whole grains, dietary fiber, and sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs); and mean percentage of energy intake from protein, total fat, saturated fat, and polyunsaturated fat using nationally representative samples from the Korean National Health Examination and Nutrition Survey 2013–2022. To assess overall diet quality, we calculated mean Korean Healthy Eating Index (KHEI) (range 0–100, higher scores indicating greater diet quality). Results: In 2013–2022, there were overall decreasing trends in age-standardized mean KHEI score and intakes of fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and dietary fiber; and overall increasing trends in mean intakes of SSBs, protein, and dietary fat among both male and female. The KHEI score increased in older adults aged ≥ 60 years, whereas it decreased among younger adults. Throughout the study period, younger adults tended to have lower intakes of fresh fruits, fresh vegetables, and whole grains; higher intakes of SSBs, protein, and dietary fat; and lower KHEI score. The mean KHEI score was lower in male (vs. female) and lower (vs. higher) income groups. Conclusions Our data suggest that, from 2013 to 2022, there was a trend toward an unhealthy diet in Korean adults. Our findings also suggest dietary inequalities among age, sex, and income groups, suggesting the need for more intense interventions targeting the vulnerable populations.

Background/Aims: Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death worldwide. This study aimed to investigate the recent nationwide trends in major dietary risk factors for dyslipidemia and atherosclerosis. Methods: We estimated age-standardized mean intakes of fresh fruits, fresh vegetables, whole grains, dietary fiber, and sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs); and mean percentage of energy intake from protein, total fat, saturated fat, and polyunsaturated fat using nationally representative samples from the Korean National Health Examination and Nutrition Survey 2013–2022. To assess overall diet quality, we calculated mean Korean Healthy Eating Index (KHEI) (range 0–100, higher scores indicating greater diet quality). Results: In 2013–2022, there were overall decreasing trends in age-standardized mean KHEI score and intakes of fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and dietary fiber; and overall increasing trends in mean intakes of SSBs, protein, and dietary fat among both male and female. The KHEI score increased in older adults aged ≥ 60 years, whereas it decreased among younger adults. Throughout the study period, younger adults tended to have lower intakes of fresh fruits, fresh vegetables, and whole grains; higher intakes of SSBs, protein, and dietary fat; and lower KHEI score. The mean KHEI score was lower in male (vs. female) and lower (vs. higher) income groups. Conclusions Our data suggest that, from 2013 to 2022, there was a trend toward an unhealthy diet in Korean adults. Our findings also suggest dietary inequalities among age, sex, and income groups, suggesting the need for more intense interventions targeting the vulnerable populations.

Background/Aims: Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death worldwide. This study aimed to investigate the recent nationwide trends in major dietary risk factors for dyslipidemia and atherosclerosis. Methods: We estimated age-standardized mean intakes of fresh fruits, fresh vegetables, whole grains, dietary fiber, and sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs); and mean percentage of energy intake from protein, total fat, saturated fat, and polyunsaturated fat using nationally representative samples from the Korean National Health Examination and Nutrition Survey 2013–2022. To assess overall diet quality, we calculated mean Korean Healthy Eating Index (KHEI) (range 0–100, higher scores indicating greater diet quality). Results: In 2013–2022, there were overall decreasing trends in age-standardized mean KHEI score and intakes of fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and dietary fiber; and overall increasing trends in mean intakes of SSBs, protein, and dietary fat among both male and female. The KHEI score increased in older adults aged ≥ 60 years, whereas it decreased among younger adults. Throughout the study period, younger adults tended to have lower intakes of fresh fruits, fresh vegetables, and whole grains; higher intakes of SSBs, protein, and dietary fat; and lower KHEI score. The mean KHEI score was lower in male (vs. female) and lower (vs. higher) income groups. Conclusions Our data suggest that, from 2013 to 2022, there was a trend toward an unhealthy diet in Korean adults. Our findings also suggest dietary inequalities among age, sex, and income groups, suggesting the need for more intense interventions targeting the vulnerable populations.

Background/Aims: Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death worldwide. This study aimed to investigate the recent nationwide trends in major dietary risk factors for dyslipidemia and atherosclerosis. Methods: We estimated age-standardized mean intakes of fresh fruits, fresh vegetables, whole grains, dietary fiber, and sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs); and mean percentage of energy intake from protein, total fat, saturated fat, and polyunsaturated fat using nationally representative samples from the Korean National Health Examination and Nutrition Survey 2013–2022. To assess overall diet quality, we calculated mean Korean Healthy Eating Index (KHEI) (range 0–100, higher scores indicating greater diet quality). Results: In 2013–2022, there were overall decreasing trends in age-standardized mean KHEI score and intakes of fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and dietary fiber; and overall increasing trends in mean intakes of SSBs, protein, and dietary fat among both male and female. The KHEI score increased in older adults aged ≥ 60 years, whereas it decreased among younger adults. Throughout the study period, younger adults tended to have lower intakes of fresh fruits, fresh vegetables, and whole grains; higher intakes of SSBs, protein, and dietary fat; and lower KHEI score. The mean KHEI score was lower in male (vs. female) and lower (vs. higher) income groups. Conclusions Our data suggest that, from 2013 to 2022, there was a trend toward an unhealthy diet in Korean adults. Our findings also suggest dietary inequalities among age, sex, and income groups, suggesting the need for more intense interventions targeting the vulnerable populations.

Background/Aims: Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death worldwide. This study aimed to investigate the recent nationwide trends in major dietary risk factors for dyslipidemia and atherosclerosis. Methods: We estimated age-standardized mean intakes of fresh fruits, fresh vegetables, whole grains, dietary fiber, and sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs); and mean percentage of energy intake from protein, total fat, saturated fat, and polyunsaturated fat using nationally representative samples from the Korean National Health Examination and Nutrition Survey 2013–2022. To assess overall diet quality, we calculated mean Korean Healthy Eating Index (KHEI) (range 0–100, higher scores indicating greater diet quality). Results: In 2013–2022, there were overall decreasing trends in age-standardized mean KHEI score and intakes of fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and dietary fiber; and overall increasing trends in mean intakes of SSBs, protein, and dietary fat among both male and female. The KHEI score increased in older adults aged ≥ 60 years, whereas it decreased among younger adults. Throughout the study period, younger adults tended to have lower intakes of fresh fruits, fresh vegetables, and whole grains; higher intakes of SSBs, protein, and dietary fat; and lower KHEI score. The mean KHEI score was lower in male (vs. female) and lower (vs. higher) income groups. Conclusions Our data suggest that, from 2013 to 2022, there was a trend toward an unhealthy diet in Korean adults. Our findings also suggest dietary inequalities among age, sex, and income groups, suggesting the need for more intense interventions targeting the vulnerable populations.

Objective:To explore the characteristics of SMN1 gene variants and carry out functional verification for two children with Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). Methods:Two male children with complicated SMA diagnosed at the Children′s Hospital Affiliated to Capital Institute of Pediatrics respectively in July 2021 and April 2022 due to delayed or retrograde motor development were selected as the study subjects. Clinical data of the children were collected. Primary culture of skin fibroblasts was carried out, and peripheral blood samples were collected from both children and their parents. Multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification, combined long-range PCR and nested PCR, and Sanger sequencing were carried out to detect the copy number and variants of the SMN1 gene. Absolute quantitative real-time PCR, Western blotting and immunofluorescence were used to determine the transcriptional level of the SMN gene, expression of the SMN protein, and the number of functional SMN protein complexes (gems body), respectively. This study was approved by Medical Ethics Committee of the Children′s Hospital Affiliated to Capital Institute of Pediatrics (Ethics No. SHERLLM2021009). Results:Child 1, a 1-year-old boy, was clinically diagnosed with type 1 SMA. Child 2, a 2-and-a-half-year-old boy, was clinically diagnosed with type 3 SMA. Both children were found to harbor a paternally derived SMN1 deletion and a maternally derived SMN1 gene variant, namely c. 824G>T (p.Gly275Val) and c. 884A>T (p.*295Leu). Compared with the normal controls and carriers, the levels of full-length SMN1 transcripts in their peripheral blood and skin fibroblast cell lines were significantly decreased ( P<0.05), and the levels of SMN protein normalized to that of β-actin, and the numbers of gems bodies in the primary fibroblast cells were also significantly lower ( P<0.05). Based on the guidelines from the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics, both variants were classified as likely pathogenic (PS3+ PM3+ PM5+ PP3; PS3+ PM3+ PM4+ PP3). Following the diagnosis, both children had received nusinersen treatment. Although their motor function was improved, child 1 still died at the age of 2 due to severe pulmonary infection. The walking ability of child 2 was significantly improved, and his prognosis appeared to be good. Conclusion:Two cases of clinically complicated SMA have been confirmed by genetic testing and experimental studies, which has provided a reference for their accurate treatment.

Anti-N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor encephalitis is known to have various clinical symptoms, but usually shows acute behavioral changes, memory deficit, speech problems and dysregulation of autonomic nervous system. Recently, it has been found that NMDA receptors perform important roles not only in central nervous system but also in peripheral organs, like control the cardiac rhythm by located in the myocardium and cardiac conduction system. The authors would like to report a case of bradycardia accompanied by anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis.

Herpes simplex encephalitis is known to cause intracranial hypertension and cerebral edema. When cerebral edema occurs, venous sinuses are compressed, resulting in congestion and thrombosis. An arteriovenous fistula may form as a result, particularly in conjunction with superior sagittal sinus thrombosis. In this report, the authors describe a patient with protein S and C deficiency who developed venous sinus thrombosis and dural arteriovenous fistula after experiencing herpes simplex encephalitis.

Lipid-coated microbubbles are widely used as an ultrasound contrast agent, as well as drug delivery carriers. However, the two main limitations in ultrasound diagnosis and drug delivery using microbubbles are the short half-life in the blood system, and the difficulty of surface modification of microbubbles for active targeting. The exosome, a type of extracellular vesicle, has a preferentially targeting ability for its original cell. In this study, exosome-fused microbubbles (Exo-MBs) were developed by embedding the exosome membrane proteins into microbubbles. As a result, the stability of Exo-MBs is improved over the conventional microbubbles. On the same principle that under the exposure of ultrasound, microbubbles are cavitated and self-assembled into nano-sized particles, and Exo-MBs are self-assembled into exosome membrane proteins-embedded nanoparticles (Exo-NPs). The Exo-NPs showed favorable targeting properties to their original cells. A photosensitizer, chlorin e6, was loaded into Exo-MBs to evaluate therapeutic efficacy as a drug carrier. Much higher therapeutic efficacy of photodynamic therapy was confirmed, followed by cancer immunotherapy from immunogenic cell death. We have therefore developed a novel ultrasound image-guided drug delivery platform that overcomes the shortcomings of the conventional ultrasound contrast agent and is capable of simultaneous photodynamic therapy and cancer immunotherapy.

Objective:To explore the distribution of the copy number of survival motor neuron gene 2 ( SMN2) and the transcript level of the full-length SMN2 ( fl-SMN2) transcript level in patients with type 1-3 spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), and to evaluate their influences on disease severity, progression, and prognosis. Methods:It was a retrospective study involving 78 therapy-naive SMA patients with SMN1 gene homozygous deletion who were diagnosed and treated in the Capital Institute of Pediatrics from January 2019 to December 2021.Cross-sectional clinical data, including age at onset, motor milestones, and complications were recorded.They were followed up for monitoring motor function degeneration and survival.The copy number of SMN2 and the transcript level of fl-SMN2 were detected.Differences between groups were compared by the Student′s t-test or One- Way ANOVA or Chi- square test.Kaplan-Meier analysis was used for survival analysis, and Kendall′ s tau- c was performed to assess the correlation of these two biomarkers with SMA phenotypes, age at onset, motor milestones, and survival. Results:Of the 78 SMA patients, there were 17 cases (21.8%) of type 1, 34 cases(43.6%) of type 2, and 27 cases(34.6%) of type 3.Seven cases(41.2%) type 1 SMA patients died, with a median survival time of 11 months, and no deaths were observed in type 2 and type 3 SMA patients.There was a significant difference in the median age at onset among SMA patients with 2, 3, and 4 copies of SMN2 (1.8, 12.0, and 24.0 months, respectively; F=4.943, P=0.01). The mean transcript level of fl-SMN2 in type 1, 2 and 3 SMA patients were 196.25±68.79, 331.21±108.79 and 455.69±122.27, respectively ( F=37.154, P<0.001). The survival rate of SMA with 2 SMN2 copies at 1, 2, and 5 years were 50.5%, 0, and 0, respectively, and their median survival age was 7 months.The survival rate of SMA with 3 and 4 SMN2 copies at 5 years were 97.4% and 100.0%, respectively.Moreover, a negative correlation was observed between the transcript level of fl-SMN2 and phenotype severity ( Kendall′ s tau- c=-0.444, P<0.001), and the transcript level of fl-SMN2 of the survival group was much higher than that of the death group (342.93±125.74 vs.212.14±92.31). More copies of SMN2 and higher transcript level of fl- SMN2 indicated more motor function acquisitions (head control, sitting and walking) ( P<0.001). In addition, there was a significant difference in the transcription level of fl-SMN2 between the undegenerated group and the degenerated group in sitting and standing ( F=5.432, P=0.023 and F=4.315, P=0.047, respectively). Conclusions:Both the copy number of SMN2 and the transcript level of fl-SMN2 are correlated with SMA severity, survival, and motor milestones, serving as valuable biomarkers for evaluating phenotypic severity of SMA.The transcript level of fl-SMN2 s may play an important role in the degeneration of sitting and standing.