This case report aims to document and analyze a unique instance of functional dysphonia with diminished vocal cord movement observed in a patient following coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection. The study focuses on the outcomes of a one-month voice treatment regimen administered to alleviate the dysphonic symptoms. The findings provide valuable insights into the management of post-COVID-19 vocal impairments and contribute to the growing body of knowledge on the varied manifestations of this viral infection.

This case report aims to document and analyze a unique instance of functional dysphonia with diminished vocal cord movement observed in a patient following coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection. The study focuses on the outcomes of a one-month voice treatment regimen administered to alleviate the dysphonic symptoms. The findings provide valuable insights into the management of post-COVID-19 vocal impairments and contribute to the growing body of knowledge on the varied manifestations of this viral infection.

This case report aims to document and analyze a unique instance of functional dysphonia with diminished vocal cord movement observed in a patient following coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection. The study focuses on the outcomes of a one-month voice treatment regimen administered to alleviate the dysphonic symptoms. The findings provide valuable insights into the management of post-COVID-19 vocal impairments and contribute to the growing body of knowledge on the varied manifestations of this viral infection.

Metabolic abnormalities in the liver are closely associated with diverse metabolic diseases such as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, type 2 diabetes, and obesity. The aim of this study was to evaluate the ameliorating effect of robinetin (RBN) on the significant pathogenic features of metabolic failure in the liver and to identify the underlying molecular mechanism. RBN significantly decreased triglyceride (TG) accumulation by downregulating lipogenesis-related transcription factors in AML-12 murine hepatocyte cell line. In addition, mice fed with Western diet (WD) containing 0.025% or 0.05% RBN showed reduced liver mass and lipid droplet size, as well as improved plasma insulin levels and homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) values.CD38 was identified as a target of RBN using the BioAssay database, and its expression was increased in OPA-treated AML-12 cells and liver tissues of WD-fed mice. Furthermore, RBN elicited these effects through its anti-histone acetyltransferase (HAT) activity. Computational simulation revealed that RBN can dock into the HAT domain pocket of p300, a histone acetyltransferase, which leads to the abrogation of its catalytic activity. Additionally, knock-down of p300 using siRNA reduced CD38 expression.The chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assay showed that p300 occupancy on the promoter region of CD38 was significantly decreased, and H3K9 acetylation levels were diminished in lipid-accumulated AML-12 cells treated with RBN. RBN improves the pathogenic features of metabolic failure by suppressing the p300–CD38 axis through its anti-HAT activity, which suggests that RBN can be used as a new phytoceutical candidate for preventing or improving this condition.

Background: The Korean Endocrine Hormone Reference Standard Data Center (KEHRS DC) has created reference standards (RSs) for endocrine hormones since 2020. This study is the first of its kind, wherein the KEHRS DC established RSs for serum Cpeptide levels in a healthy Korean population. Methods: Healthy Korean adults were recruited from May 2021 to September 2023. After excluding participants according to our criteria, serum samples were collected; each participant could then choose between fasting glucose only or fasting glucose plus an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). If their sample showed high glucose (≥100 mg/dL) or hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) (≥5.70%), their C-peptide levels were excluded from analyzing the RSs. Results: A total of 1,532 participants were recruited; however, only the data of 1,050 participants were analyzed after excluding those whose samples showed hyperglycemia or high HbA1c. Post-30-minute OGTT data from 342 subjects and post-120-minute OGTT data from 351 subjects were used. The means±2 standard deviations and expanded uncertainties of fasting, post-30-minute and 120-minute OGTT C-peptide levels were 1.26±0.82 and 0.34–3.18, 4.74±3.57 and 1.14–8.33, and 4.85±3.58 and 1.25–8.34 ng/mL, respectively. Serum C-peptide levels correlated with obesity, serum glucose levels, and HbA1c levels. Conclusion The RSs for serum C-peptide levels established in this study are expected to be useful in both clinical and related fields.

Background: This study aimed to examine the clinical implications of selective station 4L lymph node dissection (S4L-LND) on survival in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and to evaluate its potential advantages. Methods: We enrolled patients with primary left-sided NSCLC who underwent upfront video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery with R0 resection including lobectomy and segmentectomy, with or without S4L-LND, at our institution between January 2007 and December 2021. Following 1:1 propensity score matching (PSM), we compared overall survival (OS) and recurrence-free survival (RFS) between patients with and without S4L-LND. Results: The study included 2,601 patients, of whom 1,126 underwent S4L-LND and 1,475 did not. PSM yielded 1,036 patient pairs. Among those who underwent S4L-LND, 87 (7.7%) exhibited S4L-LN involvement. Neither OS (p=0.12) nor RFS (p=0.24) differed significantly between matched patients with and without S4L-LND. In patients with S4L-LN involvement, metastases were more common in the left upper lobe (LUL) than in the left lower lobe (LLL) (3.6% vs. 2.0%, p=0.061). Metastasis became significantly more frequent with more advanced clinical N (cN) stage (cN0, 2.3%; cN1, 5.8%; cN2, 32.6%; p<0.001). Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that cN stage and tumor location were independently associated with S4L-LN involvement (p<0.001 for both). Conclusion OS and RFS did not differ significantly between matched patients with and without S4L-LND. Among participants with S4L-LN involvement, metastases occurred more frequently in the LUL than the LLL, and their incidence increased significantly with more advanced cN stage. Thus, patients with LUL or advanced cN lung cancers may benefit from S4L-LND.

Background and Objectives: Most laryngeal imaging modalities used continuous light source. However, videostroboscopy adopted the unique stroboscopic flashing light triggered externally and is consistent with fundamental voice frequencies. If laryngeal stroboscopic effect could be obtained in the field of continuous illumination, it woud be more compatible with conventional video. In this study, we established the mathematical algorithm for stroboscopic effect with continuous light and tried to determine the feasibility of laryngeal stroboscopic effect with conventional laryngoscopy using continuous light in the mechanical model.Materials and Method The mechanical model of fan motor system was used to validate to the present study. Rotational images of the fan motor were captured using conventional laryngoscope with continuous light source. Results: On the basis of the mathematical model, the optimal ranges of the frequency for stroboscopic effect were expected as (multiples of sampling rate [S])±(S/5). In the fan motor model, the stroboscopic effects could be confirmed on the basis of the mathematical model using conventional videolaryngoscopy with continuous light source. Conclusion Laryngeal stroboscopic effect with continuous light source might be feasible. The stroboscopic effect with continuous light would be expected to provide greater compatibility to integrate with the other imaging modalities for the vocal folds.

Background and Objectives: The aim of this study is to compare the acoustic and auditory-perceptual assessment of patients with vocal fold polyps (VP) before and after laryngeal microsurgery (LMS) and voice therapy (VT).Materials and Method A retrospective cohort design was employed. Sustained vowels and continuous speech samples produced by 36 patients diagnosed with VP were analyzed. Treatment outcome measures included, cepstral peak prominence (CPP), smoothed cepstral peak prominence (CPPS), acoustic voice quality index (AVQI), acoustic breathiness index (ABI), auditory-perceptual (A-P) ratings (G of GRBAS scale and overall severity [OS] of consensus auditory-perceptual evaluation of voice), and voice handicap index-10 (VHI-10). Results: Following LMS and VT, significant improvements in CPP, CPPS, AVQI, ABI (p<0.001) were observed. Additionally, A-P ratings (G and OS) and VHI-10 (p<0.001) significantly improved following LMS and VT. Acoustic analyses, A-P ratings and VHI-10 indicated that the voice quality has improved following LMS and VT. Conclusion Our study demonstrates that the concurrent application of LMS and VT in patients with VP leads to improvements in both voice quality and patient satisfaction. These findings underscore the importance of a multidisciplinary approach in the management of VP, integrating both surgical and therapeutic interventions for optimal outcomes.

Background/Aims: The Gout Impact Scale (GIS), a part of the Gout Assessment Questionnaire 2.0, is used to measure gout-specific health-related quality of life (HRQOL). Although several studies have been conducted on the factors affecting the HRQOL of patients with gout, few have focused on lifestyle factors. This study aimed to investigate the correlation between lifestyle habits and HRQOL using the GIS in patients with gout. Methods: We used data from the Urate-Lowering TheRApy in Gout (ULTRA) registry, a prospective cohort of Korean patients with gout treated at multiple centers nationwide. The patients were aged ≥18 years and met the 2015 American College of Rheumatology/European League Against Rheumatism gout classification criteria. They were asked to complete a GIS and questions regarding their lifestyle habits at enrollment. Results: The study included 232 patients. ‘Gout concern overall’ scores in the GIS were significantly lower in patients who exercised more frequently and consumed soft drinks and meat less, and ‘well-being during attack’ scores were significantly lower in patients who consumed vegetables and exercised more frequently. The frequency of vegetable consumption had a negative linear relationship with the ‘well-being during attack’ and ‘gout concern during attack’ scores (p = 0.01, p = 0.001, respectively). The frequency of exercise had a negative linear relationship with the ‘gout concern overall’ and ‘gout concern during attack’ scores (p = 0.04 and p = 0.002, respectively). Conclusions Patients with gout who frequently consumed vegetables and exercised regularly experienced less impact of gout, exhibiting a better GIS that represented HRQOL.

This study aimed to identify metabolic biomarkers and investigate changes in intestinal microbiota in the feces of healthy participants following administration of Lactococcus lactis GEN-001. GEN-001 is a single-strain L. lactis strain isolated from the gut of a healthy human volunteer. The study was conducted as a parallel, randomized, phase 1, open design trial. Twenty healthy Korean males were divided into five groups according to the GEN-001 dosage and dietary control.Groups A, B, C, and D1 received 1, 3, 6, and 9 GEN-001 capsules (1 × 1011 colony forming units), respectively, without dietary adjustment, whereas group D2 received 9 GEN-001 capsules with dietary adjustment. All groups received a single dose. Fecal samples were collected 2 days before GEN-001 administration to 7 days after for untargeted metabolomics and gut microbial metagenomic analyses; blood samples were collected simultaneously for immunogenicity analysis. Levels of phenylalanine, tyrosine, cholic acid, deoxycholic acid, and tryptophan were significantly increased at 5–6 days after GEN-001 administration when compared with predose levels. Compared with predose, the relative abundance (%) of Parabacteroides and Alistipes significantly decreased, whereas that of Lactobacillus and Lactococcus increased; Lactobacillus and tryptophan levels were negatively correlated. A single administration of GEN-001 shifted the gut microbiota in healthy volunteers to a more balanced state as evidenced by an increased abundance of beneficial bacteria, including Lactobacillus, and higher levels of the metabolites that have immunogenic properties.