• Childhood Kidney Diseases
• /
• 제27권1호
• /
• pp.19-25
• /
• 2023

Proteinuria is an important risk factor for renal and cardiovascular disease. It is associated with a risk for glomerulonephritis, chronic kidney disease, and end-stage renal disease. Therefore, if persistent proteinuria is detected, kidney biopsy is considered to diagnose and treat the underlying disease. Recently, variants in the cubilin (CUBN) gene, which is associated with albuminuria, have been reported. This gene encodes cubilin, a membrane glycoprotein receptor expressed in the renal proximal tubules. Cubilin is a component of the megalin and cubilin-amnionless complex that mediates albumin reabsorption into the proximal tubules through endocytosis. A defect in cubilin leads to a reduction in albumin reuptake, resulting in albumin-dominant proteinuria. Although numerous controversies exist, several reports suggest that cubilin defects lead to proteinuria with a high portion of albuminuria but may not impair renal filtration function. If albuminuria due to reduced cubilin function is confirmed as a benign condition, we can consider using genetic studies to detect CUBN mutations in patients with proteinuria and they may not require any treatment or kidney biopsy. Here, we review recent papers on CUBN mutations and discuss the prognosis and management of individuals with this mutation.

• 한국엔터테인먼트산업학회논문지
• /
• 제13권7호
• /
• pp.539-548
• /
• 2019

복합호흡운동과 넙다리네갈래근의 신경근전기자극 치료가 중증 만성폐쇄성폐질환 환자들의 폐기능과 대뇌겉질 활성도에 미치는 효과를 알아보고자 하였다. 60~80세 중증 만성폐쇄성폐질환 환자 20명을 대상으로 실험군은 복합호흡운동과 넙다리네갈래근의 신경근전기자극을, 대조군은 복합호흡운동만을 실시하였다. 사전 검사로 폐기능과 대뇌겉질 활성도를 측정하였고, 중재는 6주 간, 주 4일, 1일 1회, 30분씩 각 집단에 시행한 후, 사후검사를 사전검사와 동일하게 재측정하였다. 그 결과 집단 내 폐기능 변화는 실험군과 대조군 모두 1초간 노력성 날숨량에서 유의한 차이가 있었고(p<.001)(p<.05), 집단 간 폐기능 변화 비교에서 1초간 노력성 날숨량의 변화는 유의한 차이가 있었다(p<.05). 집단 내 대뇌겉질의 영역 별 알파파 변화 비교에서는 Fp1, Fp2, F3, F4 영역에서 대조군과 실험군 모두 유의한 차이가 있었다(p<.01)(p<.05). 따라서 6주 동안의 복합호흡운동과 넙다리네갈래근의 신경근전기자극은 중증 만성폐쇄성폐질환들의 폐기능을 향상시키고, 대뇌겉질 활성도에서 앞이마부 영역의 알파파가 증가되어 긍정적인 호흡의 변화가 나타났음을 알 수 있었다. 따라서 중증의 만성폐쇄성폐질환 환자들에게 복합호흡운동 뿐만 아니라 부가적으로 넙다리네갈래근에 신경근전기자극을 병행하면 보다 좋은 치료적 효과를 볼 수 있을 것으로 생각된다.

• Molecules and Cells
• /
• 제45권3호
• /
• pp.148-157
• /
• 2022

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a major cause of chronic liver disease and is highly dependent on cellular proteins for viral propagation. Using protein microarray analysis, we identified 90 cellular proteins as HCV nonstructural 5A (NS5A) interacting partners, and selected telomere length regulation protein (TEN1) for further study. TEN1 forms a heterotrimeric complex with CTC and STN1, which is essential for telomere protection and maintenance. Telomere length decreases in patients with active HCV, chronic liver disease, and hepatocellular carcinoma. However, the molecular mechanism of telomere length shortening in HCV-associated disease is largely unknown. In the present study, protein interactions between NS5A and TEN1 were confirmed by immunoprecipitation assays. Silencing of TEN1 reduced both viral RNA and protein expression levels of HCV, while ectopic expression of the siRNA-resistant TEN1 recovered the viral protein level, suggesting that TEN1 was specifically required for HCV propagation. Importantly, we found that TEN1 is re-localized from the nucleus to the cytoplasm in HCV-infected cells. These data suggest that HCV exploits TEN1 to promote viral propagation and that telomere protection is compromised in HCV-infected cells. Overall, our findings provide mechanistic insight into the telomere shortening in HCV-infected cells.

• Annals of Occupational and Environmental Medicine
• /
• 제35권
• /
• pp.26.1-26.15
• /
• 2023

Background: The objective of this study is to investigate the differences in incidence rates of targeted diseases by classification of occupations among construction workers in Korea. Methods: In a subject-based cohort of the Korean Construction Worker's Cohort, we surveyed a total of 1,027 construction workers. As occupational exposure, the classification of occupations was developed using two axes: construction business and job type. To analyze disease incidence, we linked survey data with National Health Insurance Service data. Eleven target disease categories with high prevalence or estimated work-relatedness among construction workers were evaluated in our study. The average incidence rates were calculated as cases per 1,000 person-years (PY). Results: Injury, poisoning, and certain other consequences of external causes had the highest incidence rate of 344.08 per 1,000 PY, followed by disease of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue for 208.64 and diseases of the skin and subcutaneous tissue for 197.87 in our cohort. We especially found that chronic obstructive pulmonary disease was more common in construction painters, civil engineering welders, and civil engineering frame mold carpenters, asthma in construction painters, landscape, and construction water proofers, interstitial lung diseases in construction water proofers. Conclusions: This is the first study to systematically classify complex construction occupations in order to analyze occupational diseases in Korean construction workers. There were differences in disease incidences among construction workers based on the classification of occupations. It is necessary to develop customized occupational safety and health policies for high-risk occupations for each disease in the construction industry.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
• /
• 제24권3호
• /
• pp.20.1-20.21
• /
• 2024

The brain and lungs, vital organs in the body, play essential roles in maintaining overall well-being and survival. These organs interact through complex and sophisticated bi-directional pathways known as the 'lung-brain axis', facilitated by their close proximity and neural connections. Numerous studies have underscored the mediation of the lung-brain axis by inflammatory responses and hypoxia-induced damage, which are pivotal to the progression of both pulmonary and neurological diseases. This review aims to delve into how pulmonary diseases, including acute/chronic airway diseases and pulmonary conditions, can instigate neurological disorders such as stroke, Alzheimer's disease, and Parkinson's disease. Additionally, we highlight the emerging research on the lung microbiome which, drawing parallels between the gut and lungs in terms of microbiome contents, may play a significant role in modulating brain health. Ultimately, this review paves the way for exciting avenues of future research and therapeutics in addressing respiratory and neurological diseases.

• Safety and Health at Work
• /
• 제5권2호
• /
• pp.91-96
• /
• 2014

Background: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is an important cause of occupational mortality in miners exposed to coal mine dust. Although the inflammatory mediators involved in COPD have not been defined, many studies have shown that inflammatory mediators such as reactive oxygen and nitrogen species are involved in orchestrating the complex inflammatory process in COPD. Methods: To investigate the relevance of exhaled biomarkers of oxidative and nitrosative stress in participants with COPD, we determined the levels of hydrogen peroxide, malondialdehyde (MDA), and 3-nitrotyrosine (3-NT) in exhaled breath condensate (EBC) in 90 retired elderly coal miners (53 non-COPD and 37 COPD participants). Results: Mean levels of MDA (4.64 nMvs. 6.46 nM, p = 0.005) and 3-NT (3.51 nMvs. 5.50 nM, p = 0.039) in EBC were significantly higher in participants with COPD. The median level of MDA did show statistical difference among the COPD severities (p = 0.017), and the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve forMDA (0.67) for the diagnostic discrimination of COPD indicated the biomarker. The optimal cutoff values were 5.34 nM (64.9% sensitivity and 64.2% specificity) and 5.58 nM (62.2% sensitivity and 62.3% specificity) forMDA and 3-NT, respectively. The results suggest that high levels ofMDA and 3-NT in EBC are associated with COPD in retired elderly miners. Conclusion: These results showed that the elevated levels of EBC MDA and EBC 3-NT in individuals with COPD are biomarkers of oxidative or nitrosative stress.

• 보건행정학회지
• /
• 제28권4호
• /
• pp.369-377
• /
• 2018

Background: Catastrophic health expenditure (CHE) occurs when medical expenditure of a household passes over a certain ratio of household income. This research studied the effect of gender on CHE based on Korea Health Panel data. Methods: This study implemented binary logistic regression model to figure out whether gender affects CHE and how different gender groups show pattern of CHE process. With gender, age, marital status, income level, economic activity, membership of private insurance, existence of chronic disease, and self-rated health were included in the model. Results: Results showed that females faced CHE 1.5 times more than males (odds ratio, 1.241). Also, main determinants of CHE in female groups were marital status, while age and economic activity status were significant in male groups. Subgroup analysis displayed that married female under 35 years old are located in intersectionality of CHE including pregnancy and delivery, multiple health risk behaviors, mental stress, and relatively vulnerable social status due to lower income. Meanwhile, both gender above 50 years old faced remarkably high chance of CHE, which seems to be caused by complex health risk behaviors and chronic diseases. Conclusion: Such results implied not only that gender is an important determinant of CHE, but also other determinants of CHE differ according to gender, which suggests a necessity of gender-based CHE support and rescue policy.

• 셀메드
• /
• 제7권2호
• /
• pp.9.1-9.6
• /
• 2017

Recurrent Acute Pancreatitis/ Chronic Pancreatitis (RAP/ CP) is generally marked by sudden onset of symptoms like severe abdominal pain, vomiting and weight loss that needs emergency hospitalization. Owing to irreversible and progressive nature of the disease and limitations of conventional treatment, many patients look for an alternative solution. Here, we report data of 250 well diagnosed cases of acute recurring/ chronic pancreatitis, enrolled in between January 1997 to August 2016, in our Ayurvedic clinical practice in Northern part of India. Ayurveda is well recognized as an independent medical system parallel to conventional medicines in India and a subject is free to opt for any system of medicine for the prevention and treatment of any ailment. The subjects were treated with a complex herbo-mineral formulation based on the principles of Rasa Shastra in Ayurveda that deals with the therapeutics of processed metals in the prevention and treatment of diseases. They were also prescribed a regulated balanced diet and lifestyle. Significant improvement has been noted in subjects who have completed the treatment.

• 문화기술의 융합
• /
• 제10권1호
• /
• pp.235-244
• /
• 2024

본 연구는 중장년 복합만성질환자의 일반적 특성과 건강관련 특성이 건강관련 삶의 질에 영향을 미치는 요인을 파악하기 위한 서술적 조사연구이다. 연구대상은 한국의료패널(version1.7)에서 2018년 자료를 추출하여 활용하였다. 2개 이상의 만성질환을 의사로부터 진단을 받은 경우를 복합만성질환자로 정의하여 2,408명을 대상으로 연구를 진행하였다. 수집된 자료는 STATA 15.0 프로그램을 이용해 서술적 통계, t-test, ANOVA, 다중회귀로 분석하였다. 연구결과 중년의 경우 교육수준, 가구소득분위, 경제활동, 스트레스, 좌절경험, 기본적 욕구충족은 건강관련 삶의 질에 양의 영향을, 의료보장유형, 우울감, 자살충동은 음의 영향을 미치는 것으로 나타났다. 장년의 경우 교육수준, 가구소득분위수준, 경제활동, 음주, 스트레스, 좌절경험, 기본적 욕구충족은 양의 영향을, 배우자, 의료보장유형, 우울감, 자살충동은 음의 영향을 미치는 것으로 나타났다. 따라서 중장년의 건강관련 삶의 질을 향상시키기 위해서는 개인별, 연령별 특성을 고려한 맞춤형 정책이 수립되어야 할 것이다.

• 한국임상약학회지
• /
• 제28권2호
• /
• pp.117-123
• /
• 2018

Background: Prostatitis, one of the most common diseases of the prostate, is a complex disease with various clinical features. This study aims to analyze the utilization and prescribing patterns of antibiotics in Korean patients with prostatitis between 2008 and 2015. Methods: We used the National Health Insurance Database complied from the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service (HIRA). The outcomes included the number of claims, number of patients, medical cost, and length of stay for each year. In addition, the prescribing patterns of antibiotics, including fluoroquinolone, and low-dose use of ciprofloxacin and levofloxacin were investigated. Results: The total number of patients and medical cost increased by 9.5% and 51.7% from 2008 to 2015, respectively. Most prostatitis patients were classified as chronic prostatitis patients. The prescribing proportion of antibiotics for chronic prostatitis outpatients decreased from 71.0% to 66.9% from 2008 to 2015, and fluoroquinolone accounted for more than half of the total antibiotics. Over 80% of prescription of levofloxacin and ciprofloxacin was identified to be for low-dose use. Conclusion: Most of the patients with prostatitis experienced pain relief and condition improvement after antibiotic treatment; however, chronic prostatitis and chronic pelvic pain syndrome recur easily. Therefore, active disease management and further studies are needed to enhance our understanding of effective treatment for prostatitis.