1.Clinical rapid evaluation of proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 inhibitors for hypercholesterolemia
Xin YAO ; Fengjiao KANG ; Qinan YIN ; Lizhu HAN ; Yuan BIAN
China Pharmacy 2026;37(2):149-154
OBJECTIVE To conduct a clinical rapid evaluation of the marketed proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) inhibitors in China, including evolocumab, tafolecimab, recaticimab, ebronucimab, ongericimab and inclisiran. METHODS Based on the Rapid Guide for Drug Evaluation and Selection in Chinese Medical Institutions (second edition), drug instructions, clinical diagnosis and treatment guidelines, and literature for six drugs were retrieved from CNKI, Wanfang Data, VIP, PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library and related official websites. The clinical rapid evaluation was conducted from five aspects: pharmaceutical characteristics, effectiveness, safety, economy, and other attributes. RESULTS The pharmaceutical characteristics, effectiveness, safety, economy, other attributes, and total score of evolocumab scored 24, 27, 15.7, 10, 5.3, and 82 points, respectively. Tafolecimab scored 23.5, 23, 11.5, 9.97, 4.6, and 72.57 points, respectively. Recaticimab scored 20.5, 22, 15.5, 6.37, 3.5, and 67.87 points. Ebronucimab scored 20, 23, 11, 6.48, 3.5, and 63.98 points. Ongericimab scored 20.5, 23, 8.5, 4.83, 3.5, and 60.33 points. Inclisiran scored 25.5, 24, 13, 6.48, 5, and 73.98 points. CONCLUSIONS Evolocumab is the optimal choice for treating hypercholesterolemia and is recommended as the first-line option. Tafolecimab is the second-line option, and recaticimab is suitable for patients who are sensitive to drug adverse reactions. Inclisiran is suitable for patients with poor compliance. Ebronucimab and ongericimab are weakly recommended due to their later market introduction. Clinicians should make individualized drug selections based on factors such as patient risk level and compliance requirements.
2.Precise application of O-arm navigation system in thoracolumbar fractures with developmental pedicle stenosis
Lintao SU ; Jianfeng JIANG ; Jun MA ; Liangliang HUANG ; Changyu LEI ; Yaozheng HAN ; Hui KANG
Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research 2025;29(9):1855-1862
BACKGROUND:For thoracolumbar spine fractures with developmental stenosis of the vertebral arch,accurate nail placement is difficult using traditional fluoroscopy-assisted techniques.O-arm navigation assistance systems offer higher precision in general vertebral arch nail placement,but there is scarce literature on the application of O-arm navigation-assisted nail placement in thoracolumbar spine fractures with developmental stenosis of the vertebral arch both domestically and abroad. OBJECTIVE:To explore the accuracy of percutaneous vertebral arch nail placement assisted by O-arm navigation in patients with thoracolumbar spine fractures complicated by developmental stenosis of the vertebral arch. METHODS:A retrospective analysis was conducted on 53 patients who underwent percutaneous vertebral arch screw fixation surgery at Department of Orthopedics,General Hospital of Central Theater Command of PLA for thoracolumbar spine fractures complicated by developmental stenosis of the vertebral arch from January 2021 to March 2023.Totally 208 cases of vertebral arch developmental stenosis were found(cases with multiple vertebral arch developmental stenosis were counted separately).Based on the surgical approach,the patients were divided into two groups:O-arm navigation group(n=98)and C-arm fluoroscopy group(n=110).Postoperative imaging data were compared between the two groups,including anatomical perforation score,functional perforation score,actual vs.expected nail trajectory in the horizontal plane,and sagittal plane angle differences. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)There was no significant difference in the narrowest width of the pedicle isthmus(pow)between the two groups of patients(P>0.05).The proportions of different degrees of narrowing(mild:6 mm≤pow<7 mm,moderate:5 mm≤pow<6 mm,severe:pow<5 mm)were also not significantly different between the two groups(P>0.05).(2)The overall grade and scores of anatomical perforation and functional perforation were lower in the O-arm group compared to the C-arm group,and these differences were statistically significant(P<0.001).In terms of the angular deviation between the actual and planned screw trajectories,the O-arm group had smaller deviations,and these differences were statistically significant(P<0.05).(3)In the mild and moderate narrowing groups,the O-arm group showed significant advantages in anatomical perforation,functional perforation,and angular deviation between actual and planned screw trajectories,and these differences were statistically significant(P<0.001).(4)The O-arm group demonstrated better performance in anatomical perforation and functional perforation,especially in the T12-L2 segment,with more significant advantages.Additionally,the O-arm group had better angular deviations in actual and planned screw trajectories in all segments compared to the C-arm group.(5)Therefore,the use of O-arm navigation-assisted percutaneous screw placement for the treatment of thoracolumbar fractures with developmental pedicle isthmal narrowing provides higher accuracy and safer surgery.
3.Association between Skeletal Muscle Mass and Ocular Perfusion Pressure in Glaucoma
Jisoo KANG ; Ji Hong KIM ; Yu Jeong KIM ; Han Woong LIM ; Jooyoung YOON ; Won June LEE
Korean Journal of Ophthalmology 2025;39(3):246-260
Purpose:
This study aimed to investigate the relationship between body composition and glaucoma by analyzing the associations between anthropometric and ocular parameters.
Methods:
A total of 494 eyes from 247 patients were reviewed from a general health examination database at a tertiary hospital. Anthropometric parameters were assessed using a multifrequency bioelectrical impedance device. Mean ocular perfusion pressure (MOPP) was calculated based on systolic and diastolic blood pressures and intraocular pressure (IOP). Retinal thickness and other ocular parameters were analyzed for their association with body composition.
Results:
A total of 221 eyes from 221 patients, including 104 with glaucoma, were enrolled in the final analysis. The prevalence of sarcopenia was significantly higher in patients with glaucomatous damage than in those without (p = 0.025). Higher IOP showed significant associations with lower MOPP (p < 0.001), higher body mass index (BMI; p = 0.001), and higher waist to hip ratio (p = 0.001). Retinal thickness was not significantly associated with body composition parameters, including BMI and appendicular lean mass adjusted with squared height. Higher MOPP was significantly correlated with lower IOP (p < 0.001), higher BMI (p < 0.001), higher waist to hip ratio (p < 0.001), and higher appendicular lean mass divided by squared height (p = 0.009).
Conclusions
Skeletal muscle mass and BMI were significantly associated with MOPP. Since low MOPP is a known risk factor for glaucoma, its association with skeletal muscle mass may indicate a relationship between systemic muscle health, ocular blood perfusion, and glaucomatous damage. Further large-scale studies are needed to validate these associations between skeletal muscle mass and glaucoma and explore their clinical implications.
4.The Effect of Postnatal Systemic Corticosteroid on Neurodevelopmental Outcome in Very Low Birth Weight Preterm Infants
Joo Yun YANG ; Young Min YOUN ; Jung In KANG ; Ye Jin HAN ; Do Kyung LEE ; Hyun Kyung BAE ; So-Yeon SHIM
Neonatal Medicine 2025;32(1):10-20
Purpose:
This study aimed to investigate the effects of postnatal systemic corticosteroids on neurodevelopment in very low birth weight (VLBW) preterm infants.
Methods:
This was a population-based study of the Korean Neonatal Network of VLBW infant born at 23+0 and 31+6 weeks of gestation between 2013 and 2020. VLBW preterm infants assessed using the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development, third edition (BSID-III) at 18–24 months of corrected age and 3 years of age were enrolled. The primary outcomes were BSID-III scores and neurodevelopmental delays, with scores of <85. Socioeconomic status and clinical variables were adjusted for using multivariate regression analyses.
Results:
In total, 517 infants were enrolled in this study. Among the 216 (41.8%) infants who received postnatal systemic corticosteroids, the rate of cognitive delay was significantly higher at 18–24 months of corrected age than at 3 years of age. The rates of language and motor delays were significantly higher both at 18–24 months of corrected age and at 3 years of age. When multivariate logistic regression was performed, postnatal systemic corticosteroid use was significantly associated with cognitive delay at 18–24 months of corrected age, but not at 3 years of age. There was no significant association between postnatal systemic corticosteroid use and language or motor delay at 18-24 months of corrected age or at 3 years of age after multivariate logistic regression.
Conclusion
Postnatal systemic corticosteroid use in VLBW preterm infants increased the risk of cognitive delay at 18–24 months of corrected age, but not at 3 years.
5.Resveratrol attenuates aging-induced mitochondrial dysfunction and mitochondria-mediated apoptosis in the rat heart
Youngju CHOI ; Mi-Hyun NO ; Jun-Won HEO ; Eun-Jeong CHO ; Dong-Ho PARK ; Ju-Hee KANG ; Chang-Ju KIM ; Dae Yun SEO ; Jin HAN ; Hyo-Bum KWAK
Nutrition Research and Practice 2025;19(2):186-199
RESULTS:
Resveratrol significantly reduced cardiac hypertrophy and remodeling in aging hearts. In addition, resveratrol significantly ameliorated aging-induced mitochondrial dysfunction (e.g., decreased oxygen respiration and increased hydrogen peroxide emission) and mitochondria-dependent apoptotic signaling (the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio, mitochondrial permeability transition pore opening sensitivity, and cleaved caspase-3 protein levels).Resveratrol also significantly attenuated aging-induced apoptosis (determined via cleaved caspase-3 staining and TUNEL-positive myonuclei) in cardiac muscles.
CONCLUSION
This study demonstrates that resveratrol treatment has a beneficial effect on aging-induced cardiac remodeling by ameliorating mitochondrial dysfunction and inhibiting mitochondria-mediated apoptosis in the heart.
6.The role of placenta Hofbauer cells during pregnancy and pregnancy complications
Seung-Woo YANG ; Han-Sung HWANG ; Young-Sun KANG
Obstetrics & Gynecology Science 2025;68(1):9-17
Placental Hofbauer cells (HBCs) are specialized macrophages present in the human placenta that play a crucial role in maintaining a healthy pregnancy. These cells are derived from the fetal mesoderm and are responsible for various functions, including immune regulation, angiogenesis, and nutrient transport. In normal pregnancies, HBCs primarily exhibit an M2 or immunomodulatory phenotype, which helps maintain a tolerant and antiinflammatory environment at the maternal-fetal interface. However, in pregnancies complicated by conditions such as immunological disorders, inflammation, or infection, the phenotype and function of HBCs may be altered. Although emerging evidence has highlighted the vital role of HBCs in both normal pregnancies and those with complications, such as chorioamnionitis, gestational diabetes, preeclampsia, and viral infections, their role remains unclear. Recent research also suggests a relationship between HBCs and the development of diseases in offspring. Understanding the role of HBCs in pregnancy could provide insights into the pathophysiology of various pregnancy-related disorders and offer potential therapeutic targets for improving maternal and fetal outcomes. This review explores the functions of HBCs in normal pregnancy and their involvement in complications, emphasizing their potential as biomarkers or targets for interventions aimed at reducing the incidence of adverse pregnancy outcomes. Additionally, we reviewed their potential for perinatal research in recent studies.
7.Clinical Characteristics of Apnea in Full-Term Infants: Compared to Late Preterm Infants
Youngmin YOUN ; Joo Yun YANG ; Jung In KANG ; Yejin HAN ; Dokyung LEE ; So-Yeon SHIM
Perinatology 2025;36(1):26-31
Objective:
Apnea in newborns is defined as a respiratory pause of 20 seconds or longer, or apnea accompanied by bradycardia or cyanosis. To date, research on neonatal apnea has focused on premature infants born within 34 weeks of gestation. The aim of this study is to present clinical significance of apnea in full-term infants compared with late premature infants born over 34 weeks of gestation.
Methods:
In a retrospective study, we reviewed medical records of neonates born over 34 weeks of gestation hospitalized for apnea and their mothers from November 2020 to May 2024. A total of 124 neonates were collected and divided into full-term infants (n=54) and late preterm infants (n=70) groups.
Results:
The mean gestational age of full-term and late preterm infants was 38 +5 weeks and 35 +2weeks, and the mean birth weight was 3.16 kg and 2.14 kg. Apnea was associated with diseases in 44.4% of full-term infants and 38.6% of late preterm infants. The rates of multiple births, small for gestational age, and cesarean section deliveries were significantly higher in late preterm infants.Apnea occurred significantly earlier and recovered faster in full-term infants. Neurologic disease was significantly more occurred in full-term infants (P=0.021). Especially, cerebral infarction and seizure were diagnosed only in full-term infants.
Conclusion
Apnea occurred earlier in full-term infants and severe neurologic diseases were significantly more found in full-term infants compared with late preterm infants. A close examination is needed in full-term infants with apnea.
8.Shank3 Overexpression Leads to Cardiac Dysfunction in Mice by Disrupting Calcium Homeostasis in Cardiomyocytes
Tae Hee KO ; Yoonhee KIM ; Chunmei JIN ; Byeongil YU ; Minju LEE ; Phuong Kim LUONG ; Tran Nguyet TRINH ; Yeji YANG ; Hyojin KANG ; Yinhua ZHANG ; Ruiying MA ; Kwangmin YOO ; Jungmin CHOI ; Jin Young KIM ; Sun-Hee WOO ; Kihoon HAN ; Jong-Il CHOI
Korean Circulation Journal 2025;55(2):100-117
Background and Objectives:
SH3 and multiple ankyrin repeat domains 3 (Shank3) proteins play crucial roles as neuronal postsynaptic scaffolds. Alongside neuropsychiatric symptoms, individuals with SHANK3 mutations often exhibit symptoms related to dysfunctions in other organs, including the heart. However, detailed insights into the cardiac functions of Shank3 remain limited. This study aimed to characterize the cardiac phenotypes of Shank3-overexpressing transgenic mice and explore the underlying mechanisms.
Methods:
Cardiac histological analysis, electrocardiogram and echocardiogram recordings were conducted on Shank3-overexpressing transgenic mice. Electrophysiological properties, including action potentials and L-type Ca2+ channel (LTCC) currents, were measured in isolated cardiomyocytes. Ca2+ homeostasis was assessed by analyzing cytosolic Ca2+transients and sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ contents. Depolarization-induced cell shortening was examined in cardiomyocytes. Immunoprecipitation followed by mass spectrometrybased identification was employed to identify proteins in the cardiac Shank3 interactome.Western blot and immunocytochemical analyses were conducted to identify changes in protein expression in Shank3-overexpressing transgenic cardiomyocytes.
Results:
The hearts of Shank3-overexpressing transgenic mice displayed reduced weight and increased fibrosis. In vivo, sudden cardiac death, arrhythmia, and contractility impairments were identified. Shank3-overexpressing transgenic cardiomyocytes showed prolonged action potential duration and increased LTCC current density. Cytosolic Ca2+ transients were increased with prolonged decay time, while sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ contents remained normal. Cell shortening was augmented in Shank3-overexpressing transgenic cardiomyocytes. The cardiac Shank3 interactome comprised 78 proteins with various functions. Troponin I levels were down-regulated in Shank3-overexpressing transgenic cardiomyocytes.
Conclusions
This study revealed cardiac dysfunction in Shank3-overexpressing transgenic mice, potentially attributed to changes in Ca2+ homeostasis and contraction, with a notable reduction in troponin I.
9.Sex Differences in Procedural Characteristics and Clinical Outcomes Among Patients Undergoing Bifurcation PCI
Hyun Jin AHN ; Francesco BRUNO ; Jeehoon KANG ; Doyeon HWANG ; Han-Mo YANG ; Jung-Kyu HAN ; Leonardo De LUCA ; Ovidio de FILIPPO ; Alessio MATTESINI ; Kyung Woo PARK ; Alessandra TRUFFA ; Wojciech WANHA ; Young Bin SONG ; Sebastiano GILI ; Woo Jung CHUN ; Gerard HELFT ; Seung-Ho HUR ; Bernardo CORTESE ; Seung Hwan HAN ; Javier ESCANED ; Alaide CHIEFFO ; Ki Hong CHOI ; Guglielmo GALLONE ; Joon-Hyung DOH ; Gaetano De FERRARI ; Soon-Jun HONG ; Giorgio QUADRI ; Chang-Wook NAM ; Hyeon-Cheol GWON ; Hyo-Soo KIM ; Fabrizio D’ASCENZO ; Bon-Kwon KOO
Korean Circulation Journal 2025;55(1):5-16
Background and Objectives:
The risk profiles, procedural characteristics, and clinical outcomes for women undergoing bifurcation percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) are not well defined compared to those in men.
Methods:
COronary BIfurcation Stenting III (COBIS III) is a multicenter, real-world registry of 2,648 patients with bifurcation lesions treated with second-generation drug-eluting stents.We compared the angiographic and procedural characteristics and clinical outcomes based on sex. The primary outcome was 5-year target lesion failure (TLF), a composite of cardiac death, myocardial infarction, and target lesion revascularization.
Results:
Women (n=635, 24%) were older, had hypertension and diabetes more often, and had smaller main vessel and side branch reference diameters than men. The pre- and post-PCI angiographic percentage diameter stenoses of the main vessel and side branch were comparable between women and men. There were no differences in procedural characteristics between the sexes. Women and men had a similar risk of TLF (6.3% vs. 7.1%, p=0.63) as well as its individual components and sex was not an independent predictor of TLF. This finding was consistent in the left main and 2 stenting subgroups.
Conclusions
In patients undergoing bifurcation PCI, sex was not an independent predictor of adverse outcome.
10.Fine particulate matter induces osteoclast-mediated bone loss in mice
Hye Young MUN ; Septika PRISMASARI ; Jeong Hee HONG ; Hana LEE ; Doyong KIM ; Han Sung KIM ; Dong Min SHIN ; Jung Yun KANG
The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology 2025;29(1):9-19
Fine particulate matter (FPM) is a major component of air pollution and has emerged as a significant global health concern owing to its adverse health effects. Previous studies have investigated the correlation between bone health and FPM through cohort or review studies. However, the effects of FPM exposure on bone health are poorly understood. This study aimed to investigate the effects of FPM on bone health and elucidate these effects in vitro and in vivo using mice. Micro-CT analysis in vivo revealed FPM exposure decreased bone mineral density, trabecular bone volume/total volume ratio, and trabecular number in the femurs of mice, while increasing trabecular separation. Histological analysis showed that the FPM-treated group had a reduced trabecular area and an increased number of osteoclasts in the bone tissue. Moreover, in vitro studies revealed that low concentrations of FPM significantly enhanced osteoclast differentiation. These findings further support the notion that short-term FPM exposure negatively impacts bone health, providing a foundation for further research on this topic.

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