Journal of Korean medical science
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J. Korean Med. Sci. · Oct 2023
Effectiveness and Safety of COVID-19 Vaccination During Preconceptional and Preclinical Pregnancy Period: A National Population Study.
We aimed to assess the risk of maternal severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection and early abortive outcomes after the association between coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination during the preconceptional period and preclinical pregnancy, which are likely to be inadvertent vaccination. ⋯ Our findings have provided compelling evidence regarding the effectiveness and safety of COVID-19 vaccination prior to and during early pregnancy. Further research is required to extend the safety and efficacy profiles of COVID-19 vaccines to pregnant women and their babies.
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J. Korean Med. Sci. · Oct 2023
Long-Term Efficacy and Safety of Eculizumab in Patients With Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria and High Disease Burden: Real-World Data From Korea.
Paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) is a rare hematologic disorder characterized by uncontrolled terminal complement activation. Eculizumab, a monoclonal antibody C5 inhibitor was introduced in Korea in 2009 and has been the standard treatment option for PNH. ⋯ These data provided evidence for the long-term efficacy and safety of eculizumab in Korean PNH patients with high disease burdens.
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J. Korean Med. Sci. · Oct 2023
Far-Infrared Irradiation Decreases Proliferation in Basal and PDGF-Stimulated VSMCs Through AMPK-Mediated Inhibition of mTOR/p70S6K Signaling Axis.
Far-infrared (FIR) irradiation has been reported to improve diverse cardiovascular diseases, including heart failure, hypertension, and atherosclerosis. The dysregulated proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) is well established to contribute to developing occlusive vascular diseases such as atherosclerosis and in-stent restenosis. However, the effects of FIR irradiation on VSMC proliferation and the underlying mechanism are unclear. This study investigated the molecular mechanism through which FIR irradiation inhibited VSMC proliferation. ⋯ These results show that FIR irradiation decreases the basal and PDGF-stimulated VSMC proliferation, at least in part, by the AMPK-mediated inhibition of mTOR/p70S6K signaling axis irrespective of its hyperthermal effect. These observations suggest that FIR therapy can be used to treat arterial narrowing diseases, including atherosclerosis and in-stent restenosis.
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J. Korean Med. Sci. · Oct 2023
Reference Respiratory Muscle Strength Values and a Prediction Equation Using Physical Functions for Pulmonary Rehabilitation in Korea.
In Korea, tests for evaluating respiratory muscle strength are based on other countries' clinical experience or standards, which can lead to subjective evaluations. When evaluating respiratory function based on the standards of other countries, several variables, such as the race and cultures of different countries, make it difficult to apply these standards. The purpose of this study was to propose objective respiratory muscle strength standards and predicted values for healthy Korean adults based on age, height, weight, and muscle strength, by measuring maximal inspiratory pressure (MIP), maximal expiratory pressure (MEP), and peak cough flow (PCF). ⋯ Respiratory muscle strength index may differ by country. For more accurate diagnoses, standard values for each country are required. This study presents reference values for Korea, and a formula for estimation is proposed when no respiratory muscle strength measurement equipment is available.