Hallym University

About: Hallym University is a education organization based out in Chuncheon, South Korea. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Medicine. The organization has 10605 authors who have published 18891 publications receiving 302498 citations.

Prevalence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in Korea: The fourth Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2008

Abstract: Background and objective: Because the mortality and social burden associated with COPD is increasing, repeated surveys of the prevalence of COPD have been used to assess risk factors, detect potential patients, and establish early diagnoses and management protocols. We report the prevalence of spirometrically detected COPD in Korea in 2008, using data from the fourth Korean National Health and Nutrition Survey. Methods: Using nationwide stratified random sampling, based on the Korean Statistical Office census, 6840 subjects aged ≥19 years underwent spirometry, which was performed by four trained technicians, during 2008. The place of residence, levels of education and income and smoking status, as well as other results from a COPD survey questionnaire were also assessed. Results: Airflow obstruction (FEV1/FVC < 0.7) was detected in 8.8% of subjects aged ≥19 years (11.6% of men and 5.9% of women) and COPD was detected in 13.4% of subjects aged ≥40 years (19.4% of men and 7.9% of women). Of the 6840 subjects, 27.3% were current smokers and 17.2% were former smokers, and the prevalence of COPD was higher in current and former smokers than in never smokers. Approximately 94% of patients with COPD had mild-to-moderate disease, without apparent symptoms; only 2.4% had been diagnosed by a physician and only 2.1% of patients had been treated. The independent risk factors for COPD were smoking, advanced age and male gender. Conclusions: Although the prevalence of COPD in Korea is high, the disease is underdiagnosed and most COPD patients are under-treated.

High MET copy number and MET overexpression: poor outcome in non-small cell lung cancer patients.

Abstract: The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence and prognostic role of increased gene copy number and protein expression of MET and EGFR in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients Samples were collected from 380 patients with surgically resected NSCLC, and fluorescence in situ hybridisation (FISH) and immunohistochemistry (IHC) were performed EGFR amplification and high polysomy (EGFR FISH-positive) were observed in 97% and 174% of the patients, respectively EGFR was overexpressed (EGFR IHC-positive) in 192% of the patients Neither EGFR FISH-positive nor EGFR IHC-positive status affected survival after resection Increased MET copy number (MET FISH-positive by University of Colorado Cancer Center criteria) was observed in 111% of the patients (high polysomy, 87%; gene amplification, 24%) According to the Cappuzzo system, 71% of the patients were MET FISH-positive MET FISH positivity was a negative prognostic factor, especially in patients with adenocarcinoma histology (p=0040), female gender (p=0010), old age (p=0084), and EGFR FISH negativity (p=0020) at the univariate level but not at the multivariate level MET was overexpressed (MET IHC-positive) in 137% of the patients and associated with shorter overall and disease-free survival (p=0010 and p=0056, respectively) Multivariate analysis revealed that MET IHC-positive patients had a significantly increased risk of death (hazard ratio, 1618; 95% confidence interval, 1066-2456; p=0024) Increased MET copy number and MET overexpression are negative prognostic factors for surgically resected NSCLCs

Prevalence of obesity and metabolic syndrome in Korean adults.

Abstract: We studied the prevalence and trend of obesity and metabolic syndrome in Korean adults aged at least 20 years using Korean National Health Examination and Nutrition Survey data from 1998 and 2001. The prevalence of body mass index (BMI) > or = 25 kg m(-2) among Korean adults in 2001 was 32.9% in men and 27.4% in women, and the number of Korean men with BMI > or = 25 kg m(-2) has increased markedly since 1998. A significant positive association between obesity and socioeconomic status was found in Korean men, whereas a significant negative association was identified in Korean women. The prevalence rates of waist circumference (WC) > or = 90 cm in men and WC > or = 85 cm in women were 23.4% and 23.1% in 2001 respectively. The prevalence of metabolic syndrome among Korean adults was 15-30% according to various criteria of metabolic syndrome. Future studies are needed to determine the changes in prevalence of obesity and contributing factors for obesity in Koreans.

Nanoparticle based insulin delivery system: the next generation efficient therapy for Type 1 diabetes

Abstract: Diabetic cases have increased rapidly in recent years throughout the world. Currently, for type-1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM), multiple daily insulin (MDI) injections is the most popular treatment throughout the world. At this juncture, researchers are trying to develop different insulin delivery systems, especially through oral and pulmonary route using nanocarrier based delivery system. This next generation efficient therapy for T1DM may help to improve the quality of life of diabetic patients who routinely employ insulin by the subcutaneous route. In this paper, we have depicted various next generation nanocarrier based insulin delivery systems such as chitosan-insulin nanoparticles, PLGA-insulin nanoparticles, dextran-insulin nanoparticles, polyalkylcyanoacrylated-insulin nanoparticles and solid lipid-insulin nanoparticles. Modulation of these insulin nanocarriers may lead to successful oral or pulmonary insulin nanoformulations in future clinical settings. Therefore, applications and limitations of these nanoparticles in delivering insulin to the targeted site have been thoroughly discussed.