Journal of Korean medical science
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The process of cancer metastasis is dependent on the cancer cells' capacity to detach from the primary tumor, endure in a suspended state, and establish colonies in other locations. Anchorage dependence, which refers to the cells' reliance on attachment to the extracellular matrix (ECM), is a critical determinant of cellular shape, dynamics, behavior, and, ultimately, cell fate in nonmalignant and cancer cells. Anchorage-independent growth is a characteristic feature of cells resistant to anoikis, a programmed cell death process triggered by detachment from the ECM. ⋯ Notably, AST factors are highly expressed in circulating tumor cells compared to their attached counterparts, indicating their crucial role in the spread of cancer. Crucially, the suppression of AST substantially reduces metastasis while sparing primary tumors. These findings open up possibilities for developing targeted therapies that inhibit metastasis and emphasize the importance of AST, leading to a fundamental change in our comprehension of how cancer spreads.
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J. Korean Med. Sci. · May 2024
Epidemiology of Respiratory Viruses in Korean Children Before and After the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Prospective Study From National Surveillance System.
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic led to a decrease in the seasonal incidence of many respiratory viruses worldwide due to the impact of nonpharmaceutical interventions (NPIs). However, as NPI measures were relaxed, respiratory viral infections re-emerged. We aimed to characterize the epidemiology of respiratory viruses in Korean children during post-COVID-19 pandemic years compared to that before the pandemic. ⋯ With the relaxation of NPI measures, several seasonal respiratory viruses cocirculated with unusual seasonal epidemic patterns and were associated with increasing age of infected children.
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J. Korean Med. Sci. · May 2024
Clinical Characteristics and Frequency of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Exacerbations in Korean Patients: Findings From the KOCOSS Cohort 2012-2021.
Acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD) exert a substantial burden on patients and healthcare systems; however, data related to the frequency of AECOPD in the Korean population are limited. Therefore, this study aimed to describe the frequency of severe, and moderate or severe AECOPD, as well as clinical and demographic characteristics of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in South Korea. ⋯ Findings from this Korean cohort of patients with COPD indicated a high exacerbation burden, which may be attributable to the unique characteristics of the study population and suboptimal disease management. This highlights the need to align clinical practices with the latest treatment recommendations to alleviate AECOPD burden in Korea.
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J. Korean Med. Sci. · May 2024
Diagnostic Pitfall and Clinical Characteristics of Variant Versus Wild-Type Transthyretin Amyloid Cardiomyopathy in Asian Population: The Korean Nationwide Cohort Study.
Transthyretin amyloidosis cardiomyopathy (ATTR-CM) is an under-recognized cause of heart failure (HF) with clinical phenotypes that vary across regions and genotypes. We sought to characterize the clinical characteristics of ATTR-CM in Asia. ⋯ A nationwide cohort of ATTR-CM exhibited less male predominance, a proportion of patients without increased LV wall thickness, and distinct characteristics of genetic mutations, compared to cohorts in other parts of the world. Our results highlight the ethnic variation in ATTR-CM and may contribute to improving the screening process for ATTR-CM in the Asian population.