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This study investigates how the presence of foreign multinational enterprises (MNEs) in downstream sectors influences innovation in upstream local suppliers via backward linkages. Analysis using Korean Innovation Surveys shows backward linkages of foreign MNEs to have negative effects on local suppliers. While local suppliers operating in dynamic environments can avert negative effects, those locked in extant innovation networks continue to experience adverse effects. Our findings show that the effect of MNE presence on local firms should be evaluated in conjunction with given industrial changes and heterogeneous firm strategies.

Nano-formulated CrkII siRNA improves bone microenvironment via simultaneous regulation of the formation and function of both osteoclasts and osteoblasts.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to report three cases of post-COVID-19 dry cough that persisted even after taking Western medicine but was successfully treated with Maekmundong-tang.Methods: Three patients who were treated with Maekmundong-tang from March to June 2022 were selected from patients who visited Dong-Eui University Korean Medicine Hospital with post-Covid-19 dry cough. Jeil Maekmundong-tang Ext. granules were used to improve the cough. The effect of the treatment was evaluated using a visual analog scale, cough symptom score, and cough assessment test.Results: After the treatment, Cases 1, 2, and 3 showed decreases from 90 to 30, 65 to 0, and 70 to 20, respectively, for the visual analog scale score, decreases from 9 to 3, 5 to 0, and 5 to 3, respectively, for the cough symptom score, and decreases from 20 to 4, 9 to 1, and 8 to 3, respectively, for the cough assessment test score.Conclusion: Maekmundong-tang provided an effective improvement in the post-COVID-19 dry cough that persisted even after taking Western medicine.

This clinical trial was conducted to investigate whether discontinuing methotrexate (MTX) for 1 week after seasonal influenza vaccination is noninferior to discontinuing for 2 weeks after vaccination in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).In this multicenter, prospective, randomized, parallel-group noninferiority trial, RA patients receiving a stable dose of MTX were randomly assigned at a ratio of 1:1 to discontinue MTX for 1 week or for 2 weeks after they received the quadrivalent 2021-2022 seasonal influenza vaccine containing H1N1, H3N2, B/Yamagata, and B/Victoria strains. The primary outcome measure was the proportion of patients with a satisfactory vaccine response, which was defined as ≥4-fold increase in antibody titers, as determined with the hemagglutination inhibition assay, against ≥2 of the 4 vaccine strains at 4 weeks after vaccination.The modified intent-to-treat population included 90 patients in the 1-week MTX hold group and 88 patients in the 2-week MTX hold group. The mean ± SD MTX doses were 12.6 ± 3.4 mg/week in the 1-week MTX hold group and 12.9 ± 3.3 mg/week in the 2-week MTX hold group. The proportion of satisfactory vaccine responses did not differ between the groups (68.9% versus 75.0%; P = 0.364). The rate of seroprotection and the fold increase in antibody titers for each of the 4 influenza antigens were similar between the groups.A temporary discontinuation of MTX for 1 week after vaccination was noninferior to a discontinuation of MTX for 2 weeks after vaccination, regarding induction of a satisfactory vaccine response to a seasonal influenza vaccine in patients with RA receiving a stable dose of MTX.

Although the production of several founder animals (F0) for gene editing in livestock has been reported in cattle, very few studies have assessed germline transmission to the next generation due to the long sexual maturation and gestation periods. The present study aimed to assess the germline transmission of MSTN mutations (-12bps deletion) in MSTN mutant F0 male and female cattle. For this purpose, oocytes and semen were collected after the sexual maturation of MSTN cattle, and embryos produced by in vitro fertilization were analyzed. In addition, the embryos were subjected to additional gene (PRNP) editing using electroporation. Embryos produced by in vitro fertilization with MSTN male and female cattle were transferred to a surrogate, and one calf was successfully born. MSTN heterozygous mutation was shown by sequencing of the F1 calf, which had no health issues. As a further experiment, using electroporation, additional gene-edited embryos fertilized with the MSTN male sperm showed a high mutation rate of PRNP (86.2 ± 3.4%). These data demonstrate that the cattle produced through gene editing matured without health issues and had transmitted MSTN mutation from the germ cells. Also, additional mutation of embryos fertilized with the MSTN male sperm could enable further mutagenesis using electroporation.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of Yigong-san on anorexia in children by conducting a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs).Methods: Eleven electronic databases were searched on May 30, 2022 to collect relevant studies. All studies published up to the search date were considered. RCTs reporting the effect of Yigong-san on the treatment of anorexia in children were included. The primary outcome was an improvement in clinical anorexia symptoms after treatment. In this meta-analysis, continuous and binary outcomes were assessed, and the data were presented as the mean difference and risk ratio with their 95% confidence intervals. The risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane Collaboration’s risk of bias tool.Results: A total of nine studies were included in this systematic review. The treatment group (Yigong-san only or Yigong-san plus conventional treatment) showed a statistically significant effect compared to the control group (conventional treatment only) in total effective rate (Yigong-san only: RR 1.26, 95% CI 1.17, 1.36, I2=0%; Yigong-san plus conventional treatment: RR 1.32, 95% CI 1.18, 1.47, I2=0%), clinical symptoms, some of the anthropometric outcomes, and biological markers related to appetite and growth in children with anorexia. No serious adverse events related to Yigong-san were reported.Conclusions: Yigong-san showed statistically significant effects as a treatment for anorexia in children. However, the number of studies included in the meta-analysis was insufficient, and the herbs contained in the Yigong-san used in the included studies were not standardized. Future research should focus on the implementation of methodologically robust clinical research.

Background and Objectives Preoperative assessment is one of the most important fields in surgery and anesthesia as it can reduce morbidity and mortality from surgery and detect abnormal findings not clinically observed through preoperative examination. However, excessive non-vital preoperative routine tests have been criticized. The aim of the study is to investigate the current use of elective preoperative evaluations using otorhinolaryngologic surgery covering patients of all ages with various levels of difficulty.Subjects and Method Using the Korean National Health Insurance Service National Sample Cohort data, we investigated 98890 subjects who underwent otorhinolaryngologic surgery during the year 2018. We evaluated sociodemographic characteristics, clinical characteristics, medical institutions, and operation characteristics of the subjects and analyzed in detail their routine blood and urine test items, sonographic exams and pulmonary function tests.Results There were differences in the implementation of preoperative blood and urine tests, sonographic exams and pulmonary function tests according to sociodemographic characteristics, types and locations of medical institutions. Old age, low socioeconomic status, comorbid condition, high Charlson’s Comorbidity Index, tertiary hospital were the factors that increased preoperative evaluation tests.Conclusion Appropriate preoperative evaluation is needed for predicting and preparing for the possibility of treatment complications as well as improving treatment quality while reducing costs for perioperative management.

Objective To compare the risk of blindness and vision-threatening ocular comorbidities in patients with Behçet’s disease (BD) vs the general population. Methods Using 2002–2017 Korea National Health Insurance Service database, we did a population-based cohort study comparing newly diagnosed BD patients and age- and sex-matched non-BD controls at a 1:5 ratio. The primary outcome was blindness, defined as a best-corrected visual acuity of ≤20/500 in the better-seeing eye. Secondary outcomes were vision-threatening ocular comorbidities (cataract, glaucoma and retinal disorders) that require surgical interventions and incident uveitis. Cox proportional hazards models were used to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% CIs. We performed subgroup analyses by sex and BD diagnosis age. Results We included 31 228 BD patients and 156 140 controls. During a follow-up of 9.39 years, the incidence rate of blindness per 1000 person-years was 0.24 in BD and 0.02 in controls with an HR of 10.73 (95% CI 7.10, 16.22). The HR for secondary outcomes was 2.06 (95% CI 1.98, 2.15) for cataract surgery, 5.43 (4.57, 6.45) for glaucoma surgery and 2.71 (2.39, 3.07) for retinal surgery. The HR of incident uveitis was 6.19 (95% CI 5.83, 6.58). Males suffered a disproportionately higher risk of blindness than females due to greater severity rather than a lower incidence of uveitis. The risk of uveitis and blindness decreased as BD diagnosis age increased. Conclusions In this large population-based cohort study, BD patients compared with the general population have a 10.73-fold risk of blindness in 10 years and also a substantially higher risk of diverse ocular comorbidities that pose potential threats to vision.

Objectives: This study was designed to investigate the clinical effectiveness of Ikgibohyeol-tang(Yìqìbǔxuè-tāng) granules and Deer antler granules on fatigue symptoms.Methods: This is a 39-patient case series from a retrospective chart review of outpatients who were treated with Ikgibohyeol-tang granules and Deer antler granules at a Kyung Hee University Korean Medicine Hospital (Seoul) between 1st, January 2015 to 1st, August 2021. We reviewed the patients who complained of fatigue and analyzed changes in the degree of discomfort with fatigue and accompanying symptoms and HRV (Heart Rate Variability) score before and after treatment.Results: After taking Ikgibohyeol-tang granules and Deer antler granules, the degree of discomfort with fatigue and accompanying symptoms decreased significantly compared to before taking them. After treatment, Autonomic nervous system activity, Stress resistance, Heart Stability increased, and Stress index, Degree of fatigue decreased significantly.Conclusions: This study showed subjective symptoms and objective indicator (HRV score) were improved by taking Ikgibohyeol-tang granules and Deer antler granules.

Background: Excess and repetitive glenohumeral external rotation (ER) is at a higher risk for shoulder injuries, which occurs frequently in professional sports and specific occupations. Current rehabilitation programs emphasize selective targeting of muscle activity, which can help restore dysfunctional muscle imbalances or prevent injuries. However, the impact of different body postures on GH muscle activity during ER exercises has not been fully understood. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate shoulder EMG activity for different body positions and humeral abduction angles during ER exercises. Method: Twenty-three healthy young men (age: 22.3 ± 2.3, height: 175.75 ± 4.02, mass: 75.37 ± 9.14) participated in this study. Surface Electromyography was recorded from seven shoulder muscles: upper trapezius, lower trapezius, serratus anterior, infraspinatus, and deltoid. Six ER exercises: three postures (sitting, supine lying, and prone lying) and two abduction angles (ABD; 45° and 90°) were tested using an isokinetic dynamometer. Results: During a sitting position, the lower trapezius/upper trapezius muscle activity ratios were significantly increased for sitting compared to supine lying and prone lying (p < 0.001, p = 0.004). Serratus anterior/upper trapezius co-contraction indices were significantly increased for 90° than 45° ABD (p < 0.001). Conclusion: These findings can provide insight into new training programs aimed at restoring GH muscle imbalances.

Background: Liriope platyphylla and organic acids (humic and fulvic acids) as additives in the feedstock may aid in decreasing CH4 formation in the rumen. Based on previous studies, Hanwoo steers were raised with feedstock added with Liriope platyphylla and organic acids and their fecal samples were analyzed to determine the changes in their organic matter and nitrogen content determining the GHG emissions from feces in the form of CH4 and N2O. Methods: Ten Hanwoo cattle were provided with experimental diet and their weights were measured to determine harmful effects of experimental diet and measure fecal composition. To measure CH4 emission from the rumen in vitro, rumen fluid with Liriope platyphylla 1.0% and organic acids 0.05% added to the feed was prepared and incubated in triplicate. Result: The addition of Liriope platyphylla had a positive effect on immune function and blood composition, as well as CH4 reduction and further the addition of organic acids resulted in the lowering of CH4 emissions when compared with that of the control. The addition of Liriope platyphylla and organic acids is a potential additive of reducing CH4 emissions from ruminants without disrupting cattle growth.