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Zastaprazan (JP‐1366) is a novel potassium‐competitive acid blocker for the treatment of acid‐related disorders. We aimed to establish a population pharmacokinetic (PK) model of zastaprazan, thereby characterizing the PK of zastaprazan in patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) as well as evaluating the impact of various covariates, including CYP2C19 phenotypes, on zastaprazan PK. This population PK analysis included zastaprazan plasma concentration–time data from 92 patients with erosive GERD and 68 healthy volunteers without any gastrointestinal disorders and was performed using nonlinear mixed‐effect modeling. Simulations were conducted to predict zastaprazan PK under various dosing regimens in patients with GERD. The plasma PK of zastaprazan was adequately described by a two‐compartment model with Erlang‐type absorption (six sequential compartments) and first‐order elimination. CYP2C19 phenotypes had no significant effect on zastaprazan PK. The disease status was identified as a significant covariate on apparent clearance of zastaprazan, showing lower values in patients with GERD compared to healthy volunteers. However, the model‐based simulation indicated that the impact of disease status on zastaprazan exposure was not clinically meaningful. Overall, the current population PK model successfully characterized the observed zastaprazan PK in both patients with GERD and healthy volunteers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Resumen: La República de Corea presenta un fuerte desajuste de la calificación y necesita formación profesional para mitigarlo. En este artículo se analiza el impacto, en gran medida inexplorado, de la formación profesional en ese desajuste a partir de datos administrativos (HRD‐Net, 2016–2019). Se examinan las tasas de ocupación ajustada a la calificación (en contraste con la tasa de ocupación convencional) aplicando un modelo de efectos fijos para sondear sus determinantes. Se concluye que las horas de formación tienen un efecto positivo significativamente mayor sobre la tasa de ocupación ajustada que sobre la tasa de ocupación convencional, al contrario de lo que ocurre con las características individuales. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Résumé: Les auteurs examinent l'impact de la formation professionnelle sur l'inadéquation des qualifications ‐ un sujet peu étudié ‐ dans le contexte de la République de Corée, où cette inadéquation est forte. Ils utilisent des données administratives sur la formation professionnelle (2016‐2019) et un modèle à effets fixes pour analyser les déterminants des taux d'emploi spécifiques (dans le métier ciblé ou les métiers connexes) au lieu de se cantonner au taux d'emploi total. Ils constatent que le nombre d'heures de formation a un impact positif plus grand sur les taux d'emploi spécifiques que sur le taux d'emploi total, tandis que l'inverse est vrai s'agissant des caractéristiques individuelles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives: This study aimed to develop an embolic agent with short-term embolic effects using cilastatin as the basic material. Materials and Methods: The particle size distribution of 25 mg cilastatin-based short-term embolic agents was evaluated microscopically under three different mixing conditions. A total of thirty-six healthy male Sprague Dawley rats were divided into four groups. Each group of six rats was injected once into the tail artery with 0.4 mL each of (A) Cilastatin + D-Mannitol Mixture, (B) Iohexol, (C) Prepenem, and (D) embolization promoter (EGgel). Results: A visual inspection of the tail appearance of rats in each group was performed at 0, 3, 7, 15, and 21 days. At weeks 1 and 3, three rats per group were euthanized, and histopathological analyses were performed on the specimens obtained from each group. No significant differences were observed on day 7, but mild inflammation was observed in Group (D) on day 15. Histopathological inflammation scoring of tail central artery embolization was performed using a six-point scale (from 0 = absent to 5 = marked inflammation). Three groups were formed consisting of six male New Zealand white rabbits each: control, positive control, and test groups. The control group received an Iohexol injection (rabbits: 0.8 mL). The positive control and experimental groups were injected with prepenem and cilastatin/D-mannitol compound, respectively (0.8 mL), and vascular angiography was performed. The order of occlusion progression after embolization was as follows: test group, positive control group, and control group. Conclusions: We developed a cilastatin/D-mannitol compound that exhibits characteristics of short-term embolization by utilizing the pharmacokinetic properties of cilastatin and the crystalline material D-mannitol. We evaluated its particle size distribution microscopically, conducted histopathological evaluation including inflammation via animal experiments, and assessed the embolization effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction/Aims: The care burden of people living with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (pALS) increases with disease progression. This study aimed to investigate the home care status and preparedness of care partners of pALS (cALS) in Korea. Methods: An online survey was conducted with family care partners of patients diagnosed with ALS for over 1 year in 2022. The data collected included care time, depression evaluated using the patient health questionnaire‐9 (PHQ‐9), preparedness for caregiving scale (PCS), and caregiver competence scale (CCS). Results were compared based on whether the pALS underwent a tracheostomy or not. Results: Ninety‐eight cALS of 98 pALS participated in the study, of whom 59 pALS had undergone tracheostomy. Among the cALS, 60.2% were spouses, and 34.7% were children. The cALS took care of the patients for 13 (8–20) hours/day (median, interquartile range [IQR]) on weekdays and 15 (10–24) h/day on weekends. Among the cALS, 91.8% were depressed, and 28.6% had severe depression. The median (IQR) PCS and CCS scores were low (11/32 (8–15) and 8/20 (8–11), respectively), and both were lower in those caring for patients without than with tracheostomy (p <.001 and p <.02, respectively). Most cALS (77.6%) wished to continue caring for their pALS at home. Discussion: Family care partners of pALS spend more than half of each day caring for patients and are often depressed. Most cALS preferred providing care at home, but felt ill‐prepared. Designing home‐based medical care is necessary for pALS to thrive at home. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was conducted to compare and analyze whether Pilates exercise and yoga exercise help improve the performance of female fencers and prevent injury, and the dynamic balance test (LQ-YBT) and functional movement screening (FMS) test score of the elite adult female fencers were compared and analyzed as evaluation indicators. Participants were randomly classified into Pilates (n = 10) and yoga groups (n = 10), members of which took part in 50 min of exercise (5 min of warm-up, 40 min of main exercise, and 5 min of cool-down) twice weekly for eight weeks. The results obtained from this study were analyzed via independent t-test and 2-way ANOVA. The results were as follows: LQ-YBT measures (reaching distance) increased significantly for both groups, as did FMS scores (deep squat, hurdle step, inline lunge, shoulder mobility, active straight-leg raise, trunk-stability push-up, and rotary stability). These results suggest that Pilates exercise and yoga exercise might be likely effective in improving the performance of adult female fencers and injury prevention by increasing their dynamic balance ability and functional movement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Valbenazine is a selective vesicular monoamine transporter 2 (VMAT2) inhibitor approved for tardive dyskinesia treatment by the US Food and Drug Administration; its major active metabolite (NBI‐98782) is a 45‐fold more potent inhibitor of VMAT2 than the parent drug. This study aimed to evaluate the pharmacokinetics (PKs), safety, and tolerability and the effect of cytochrome P450 2D6 (CYP2D6) genotypes to the PKs after the administration of valbenazine in Korean participants. A randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled, single‐ and multiple‐dose study was conducted in healthy Korean male participants. The single‐dose study was conducted for both 40 and 80 mg valbenazine and the multiple dose study was conducted for 40 mg. After a 1‐week washout, the 40 mg dose group participants received valbenazine 40 mg or placebo once daily for 8 days. Serial blood samples were collected up to 96 h postdose for PK analysis. The CYP2D6 genotypes of the participants were retrospectively analyzed. A total of 50 participants were randomized, and 43 and 20 participants completed the single‐ and multiple‐dose phases of the study, respectively. After single doses, the PK characteristics of valbenazine and its metabolites were similar between the 40 and 80 mg dose groups. After multiple doses, the mean accumulation ratios of valbenazine and NBI‐98782 were ~1.6 and 2.4, respectively. Plasma concentrations of valbenazine and NBI‐98782 were similar between CYP2D6 normal and intermediate metabolizers. Valbenazine was well‐tolerated in healthy Koreans, and its PK characteristics were similar to results previously reported in Americans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explores the evolutionary mechanisms of the inter-firm collaborative innovation network in the Korean ICT industry, focusing on inter-firm homophily. Using firm network data based on a joint patent from 1980 to 2015, this study reveals that firms participate in collaborative innovation primarily to complement their technological resources. Also, the collaborative innovation network among Korean ICT firms has evolved mainly by homophily mechanisms and has limited expandability. The findings suggest that the government can promote SMEs' participation in collaborative innovation by concentrating on supporting the development of technological capabilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reducing the peripheral absolute lymphocyte count (ALC) is a promising therapeutic approach in treating autoimmune diseases. LC51‐0255 is a sphingosine‐1‐phosphate 1 receptor modulator, which is known to decrease the peripheral ALC. We aimed to assess the pharmacokinetics (PKs), pharmacodynamics (PDs), safety, and tolerability profiles of LC51‐0255 after a single oral administration in healthy subjects. A randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled, dose‐escalation study was conducted in 50 healthy subjects. Each subject orally received LC51‐0255 (0.25, 0.5, 1, 2, or 4 mg) or its matching placebo in an 8:2 ratio. Blood and urine samples were collected to assess the PKs, and PDs was evaluated using peripheral ALC and 24‐h hourly heart rate data. Safety and tolerability were assessed by monitoring treatment emergent adverse events (TEAEs), vital signs, 12‐lead electrocardiogram (ECG), continuous 24‐h ECG (via Holter monitoring), clinical laboratory tests, ophthalmologic tests, pulmonary function tests, and physical examinations. A single dose of LC51‐0255 reduced ALC and heart rate in a reversible and dose‐dependent manner. Systemic exposure of LC51‐0255 increased dose‐dependently and its half‐life ranged from 72.2 to 134.0 h. ALC and the systemic exposure of LC51‐0255 seemed to be negatively correlated. LC51‐0255 was well‐tolerated up to 2 mg, and the most common TEAE was bradycardia. The results of this study suggest that LC51‐0255 can be developed into a beneficial treatment option for autoimmune disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]