Background: Preeclampsia (PE) is known to arise from insufficient trophoblast invasion as uterine spiral arteries lack remodeling. A significant reduction in placental perfusion induces an ischemic placental microenvironment due to reduced oxygen delivery to the placenta and fetus, leading to oxidative stress. Mitochondria are involved in the regulation of cellular metabolism and the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). NME/NM23 nuceloside diphosphate kinase 4 (NME4) gene is known to have the ability to supply nucleotide triphosphate and deoxynucleotide triphosphate for replication and transcription of mitochondria. Our study aimed to investigate changes in NME4 expression in PE using trophoblast stem-like cells (TSLCs) from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) as a model of early pregnancy and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMNCs) as a model of late preterm pregnancy. Methods: Transcriptome analysis using TSLCs was performed to identify the candidate gene associated with the possible pathophysiology of PE. Then, the expression of NME4 associated with mitochondrial function, p53 associated with cell death, and thioredoxin (TRX) linked to ROS were investigated through qRT-PCR, western blotting and deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT)-mediated deoxyuridine triphosphate (dUTP) nick end labelling (TUNEL) assay. Results: In patients with PE, NME4 was significantly downregulated in TSLCs but upregulated in PBMNCs. p53 was shown to be upregulated in TSLCs and PBMNCs of PE. In addition, western blot analysis confirmed that TRX expression had the tendency to increase in TSLCs of PE. Similarly, TUNEL analysis confirmed that the dead cells were higher in PE than in normal pregnancy. Conclusion Our study showed that the expression of the NME4 differed between models of early and late preterm pregnancy of PE, and suggests that this expression pattern may be a potential biomarker for early diagnosis of PE.

Background: There are several differences in the clinical course of hypertension due to the biological and social differences between men and women. Resistant hypertension is an advanced disease state, and significant gender difference could be expected, but much has not been revealed yet. The purpose of this study was to compare gender differences on the current status of blood pressure (BP) control and clinical prognosis in patients with resistant hypertension. Methods: This is a multicenter, retrospective cohort study using common data model databases of 3 tertiary hospitals in Korea. Total 4,926 patients with resistant hypertension were selected from January 2017 to December 2018. Occurrence of dialysis, heart failure (HF) hospitalization, myocardial infarction, stroke, dementia or all-cause mortality was followed up for 3 years. Results: Male patients with resistant hypertension were younger but had a higher cardiovascular risk than female patients. Prevalence of left ventricular hypertrophy and proteinuria was higher in men than in women. On-treatment diastolic BP was lower in women than in men and target BP achievement rate was higher in women than in men.During 3 years, the incidence of dialysis and myocardial infarction was higher in men, and the incidence of stroke and dementia was higher in women. After adjustment, male sex was an independent risk factor for HF hospitalization, myocardial infarction, and all-cause death. Conclusion In resistant hypertension, men were younger than women, but end-organ damage was more common and the risk of cardiovascular event was higher. More intensive cardiovascular prevention strategies may be required in male patients with resistant hypertension.

Purpose: Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia (MP) is a major cause of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) in children and is associated with extrapulmonary manifestations (EPM). The incidence and risk factors for EPM in children are unknown. Methods: This was a retrospective study involving 65,243 pediatric patients with CAP between 2010 and 2015 at 23 nationwide hospitals in South Korea. Medical records were reviewed to collect information regarding the clinical characteristics, radiological results, and laboratory findings. Logistic regression with multivariate analysis was performed to evaluate the risk factors associated with EPM in MP. Results: The incidence of EPM was 23.9%, including elevation of liver enzymes (18.1%), mucocutaneous manifestations (4.4%), proteinuria (4.1%), cardiovascular and neurological manifestations (0.4%), hematologic manifestations (0.2%), and arthritis (0.2%). Statistical analysis showed that mucocutaneous manifestations significantly increased with elevated alanine aminotransferase (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 3.623; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.933-6.790) and atopic sensitization (aOR, 2.973; 95% CI, 1.615–5.475) and decreased with respiratory virus coinfection (aOR, 0.273; 95% CI, 0.084–0.887). Elevated liver enzymes were significantly associated with elevated lactate dehydrogenase (aOR, 3.055; 95% CI, 2.257–4.137), presence of pleural effusion (aOR, 2.635; 95% CI, 1.767–3.930), and proteinuria with respiratory virus coinfection (aOR, 2.245; 95% CI, 1.113–4.527). Conclusion Approximately 24% of pediatric patients with MP had various EPM. As the risk factors associated with each EPM were different, it is necessary to evaluate the various clinical aspects and findings of MP to predict and prepare for the occurrence of EPM.

Background: Following the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak in Wuhan, China, a total of 637 patients had been diagnosed with the disease in Seoul as of May 2, 2020. Our study aimed to describe the impact of the 3T strategies (preemptive testing, prompt tracing and proper treatment) on the epidemiological characteristics of COVID-19 in Seoul. Methods: The descriptive and explanatory analysis was carried out on critical indicators such as epidemiological characteristics and key duration of patient status change from January 24 to May 2 in Seoul before and after preemptive testing for patients under investigation associated with COVID-19 clusters. Results: Preemptive testing increased the positive test rate (3.9% to 4.2%), an asymptomatic case at diagnosis (16.9% to 30.6%), and reduced the time from symptom onset to quarantine (4.0 to 3.0 days). Prompt tracing decreased unknown sources of infection (6.9% to 2.8%), the mean number of contacts (32.2 to 23.6), and the time-varying reproduction number R(t) (1.3 to 0.6). With proper treatment, only 2 cases of mortality occurred, resulting in a fatality rate of just 0.3%. Conclusion In the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic lasting 100 days, the effect of the 3T strategies flattened the curve and decreased the time during which infected individuals were contagious, thereby lowering the R(t) below 1 in Seoul.

PURPOSE: Croup is known to have epidemics in seasonal and biennial trends, and to be strongly associated with epidemics of parainfluenza virus. However, seasonal and annual epidemics of croup have not been clearly reported in Korea. This study aimed to examine the seasonal/annual patterns and etiologies of childhood croup in Korea during a consecutive 6-year period. METHODS: Pediatric croup data were collected from 23 centers in Korea from 1 January 2010 to 31 December 2015. Electronic medical records, including multiplex reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) results, demographics and clinical information were cross-sectionally reviewed and analyzed. RESULTS: Overall, 2,598 childhood croup patients requiring hospitalization were identified during the study period. Among them, a total of 927 who underwent RT-PCR were included in the analysis. Males (61.5%) predominated, and most (63.0%) of them were younger than 2 years of age (median, 19 months; interquartile range, 11–31 months). Peak hospitalization occurred in 2010 and 2012 in even-numbered years, and parainfluenza virus (PIV, 39.7%) was the most common cause of childhood croup requiring hospitalization, followed by respiratory syncytial virus (14.9%), human rhinovirus (12.5%), Mycoplasma pneumonaie (10.6%), and human coronavirus (7.3%). CONCLUSION: It is concluded that croup hospitalization has a biennial pattern in even-numbered years. PIV may be the most common cause of childhood croup; however, croup epidemics could be attributed to other viruses.
Child ; Coronavirus ; Croup ; Demography ; Electronic Health Records ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Korea ; Male ; Mycoplasma ; Paramyxoviridae Infections ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Respiratory Syncytial Viruses ; Retrospective Studies ; Reverse Transcription ; Rhinovirus ; Seasons

BACKGROUND: Limited data are available on the efficacy of statin therapy in stable ischemic heart disease with chronic total occlusion (CTO) without revascularization. We investigated whether statin therapy could be beneficial in stable patients with CTO without revascularization. METHODS: From March 2003 to February 2012, 2,024 patients with at least one CTO were enrolled in a retrospective, single-center registry; 664 of these patients were managed conservatively without an initial revascularization strategy. Among them, we excluded CTO cases involving acute coronary syndrome, in-hospital death or incomplete data and classified 551 patients into statin (n = 369) and non-statin (n = 182) groups according to use of statin at discharge. Propensity score matching analysis was also performed in 148 pairs. The primary outcome was cardiac death. RESULTS: The median overall follow-up duration was 45.7 months (interquartile range: 19.9–70.5 months). Cardiac death occurred in 22 patients (6.0%) in the statin group vs. 24 patients (13.2%) in the non-statin group (P < 0.001). In propensity score matching analysis, statin therapy was associated with a low risk of cardiac death (adjusted hazard ratio [HR], 0.39; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.18–0.85; P = 0.022) and major adverse cardiac events (adjusted HR, 0.66; 95% CI, 0.43–0.98; P = 0.043). On multivariate analysis, independent predictors for cardiac death were age > 70 years, renal insufficiency, prior myocardial infarction, left ventricular ejection fraction < 40%, proximal-to-mid CTO location, and no use of statin in CTO patients. CONCLUSION: Statin therapy at discharge may be associated with a reduction in long-term cardiac mortality in stable CTO patients without revascularization.
Acute Coronary Syndrome ; Death ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors* ; Mortality ; Multivariate Analysis ; Myocardial Infarction ; Myocardial Ischemia ; Propensity Score ; Renal Insufficiency ; Retrospective Studies ; Stroke Volume

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Recent studies showed vitamin D deficiency is linked to chronic diseases in addition to skeletal metabolism which could threaten the elderly. We analyzed health conditions and socio-demographic factors associated with vitamin D deficiency in community dwelling people aged 65 years and older. SUBJECTS/METHOD: Data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) 2010 to 2012 were obtained. A total of 2,687 subjects aged 65 years and older were participated. The cutoff value of the Vitamin D deficiency was considered as serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] ≤ 20 ng/mL (50 nmol/L). RESULTS: The overall prevalence rate of vitamin D deficiency in the elderly was 62.1%. The factors such as female, obesity, metabolic syndrome, current smoker, and skipping breakfast were positively associated with vitamin D deficiency, but high intensity of physical activity and more than 9 hours of sleep duration were negatively associated with vitamin D deficiency (all P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: It is important that health professions know that the factors proved in this study are connected to vitamin D deficiency thus provide information and intervention strategies of vitamin D deficiency to old aged people.
Aged* ; Aging ; Breakfast ; Chronic Disease ; Female ; Health Occupations ; Humans ; Independent Living* ; Korea* ; Metabolism ; Motor Activity ; Nutrition Surveys ; Obesity ; Prevalence ; Risk Factors ; Vitamin D Deficiency* ; Vitamin D* ; Vitamins*

PURPOSE: Severe sepsis is associated with functional disability among patients surviving an acute phase of infection. Efforts to improve functional impairment are important. We assessed the effects of early exercise rehabilitation on functional outcomes in patients with severe sepsis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A prospective, single-center, case-control study was conducted between January 2013 and May 2014 at a tertiary care center in Korea. Patients with severe sepsis and septic shock were enrolled and randomized to receive standard sepsis treatment or intervention. Intervention involved early targeted physical rehabilitation with sepsis treatment during hospitalization. Participants were assessed at enrollment, hospital discharge, and 6 months after enrollment. Functional recovery was measured using the Modified Barthel Index (MBI), Functional Independence Measure (FIM), and Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL). RESULTS: Forty participants (21 intervention patients) were included in an intention-to-treat analysis. There were no significant differences in baseline MBI, FIM, and IADL between groups. Intervention yielded greater improvement of MBI, FIM, and IADL in the intervention group at hospital discharge, but not significantly. Subgroup analysis of patients with APACHE II scores ≥10 showed significantly greater improvement of physical function at hospital discharge (MBI and FIM) in the intervention group, compared to the control group (55.13 vs. 31.75, p=0.048; 52.40 vs. 31.25, p=0.045). Intervention was significantly associated with improvement of MBI in multiple linear regression analysis (standardized coefficient 0.358, p=0.048). CONCLUSION: Early physical rehabilitation may improve functional recovery at hospital discharge, especially in patients with high initial severity scores.
Activities of Daily Living ; APACHE ; Case-Control Studies ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Korea ; Linear Models ; Prospective Studies ; Rehabilitation* ; Sepsis* ; Shock, Septic ; Tertiary Care Centers

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The aim of this study was to identify the role of BCR-ABL1 transcript level as a predictor for post-transplant relapse and outcome in patients who underwent allogeneic stem cell transplantation (SCT) for chronic phase (CP) chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). METHODS: Of 101 patients receiving allograft in CML CP, 85 had available quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction data at post-transplant 3 months. These patients were divided into two groups according to molecular response (MR(4.5)), defined as a BCR-ABL₁ transcript level ≤ 0.0032% on the international scale, at 3 months based on receiver operating characteristic curve analysis of relapse. RESULTS: The 4-year overall survival and event-free survival (EFS) were 80.6% and 57.3%, respectively, and the cumulative incidence of relapse at 4 years was 29.6% after a median follow-up of 126.4 months. We performed multivariate analyses including potential variables to evaluate the early predictive role of MR(4.5) at 3 months and found that MR(4.5) at 3 months was associated with a higher EFS (p = 0.028) and showed a trend for a lower relapse rate (p = 0.089). CONCLUSIONS: our results imply that frequent molecular monitoring and immune suppressive therapy modulation are required for patients without reduction of BCR-ABL1 transcripts to this level after SCT.
Allografts ; Disease-Free Survival ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Incidence ; Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive* ; Multivariate Analysis ; Recurrence ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; ROC Curve ; Stem Cell Transplantation

PURPOSE: This research was done to identify the hospital arrival rate and factors related to prehospital delay in arriving at an emergency medical center within the golden time after symptom onset in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). METHODS: Data used in the research was from the National Emergency Department Information System of the National Emergency Medical Center which reported that in 2014, 9,611 patients went to emergency medical centers for acute myocardial infarction. Prehospital time is the time from onset to arrival at an emergency medical center and is analyzed by subdividing arrival and delay based on golden time of 2 hour. RESULTS: After onset of acute myocardial infarction, arrival rate to emergency medical centers within the golden time was 44.0%(4,233), and factors related to prehospital delay were gender, age, region of residence, symptoms, path to hospital visit, and method of transportation. CONCLUSION: Results of this study show that in 2014 more than half of AMI patients arrive at emergency medical centers after the golden time for proper treatment of AMI. In order to reduce prehospital delay, new policy that reflects factors influencing prehospital delay should be developed. Especially, public campaigns and education to provide information on AMI initial symptoms and to enhance utilizing EMS to get to the emergency medical center driectly should be implemented for patients and/or caregivers.
Caregivers ; Education ; Emergencies ; Emergency Medical Services ; Emergency Service, Hospital ; Humans ; Information Systems ; Methods ; Myocardial Infarction* ; Transportation