Identifying and preventing modifiable risk factors for cardiovascular disease is very important. Vascular calcification has been studied clinically as an asymptomatic preclinical marker of atherosclerosis and a risk factor for cardio-cerebrovascular disease. It is known that higher homocysteine levels are associated with calcified plaques and the higher the homocysteine level, the higher the prevalence and progression of vascular calcification. Homocysteine is a byproduct of methionine metabolism and is generally maintained at a physiological level. Moreover, it may increase if the patient has a genetic deficiency of metabolic enzymes, nutritional deficiencies of related cofactors (vitamins), chronic diseases, or a poor lifestyle. Homocysteine is an oxidative stress factor that can lead to calcified plaques and trigger vascular inflammation. Hyperhomocysteinemia causes endothelial dysfunction, transdifferentiation of vascular smooth muscle cells, and the induction of apoptosis. As a result of transdifferentiation and cell apoptosis, hydroxyapatite accumulates in the walls of blood vessels. Several studies have reported on the mechanisms of multiple cellular signaling pathways that cause inflammation and calcification in blood vessels. Therefore, in this review, we take a closer look at understanding the clinical consequences of hyperhomocysteinemia and apply clinical approaches to reduce its prevalence.
Citations
Citations to this article as recorded by
Blood metabolites mediate causal inference studies on the effect of gut microbiota on the risk of vascular calcification Aoran Huang, Jianshuai Ma, Huijin Zhu, Yanli Qi, Yang Jin, Mingxuan Zhang, Li Yin, Minhong Luo, Sifan Chen, Chen Xie, Hui Huang Journal of Advanced Research.2025;[Epub] CrossRef
Guidelines for nutrition counseling in primary healthcare clinics Gyeongsil Lee, Seung-Won Oh Journal of the Korean Medical Association.2024; 67(4): 278. CrossRef
Plasma Homocysteine Levels as Cardiovascular Disease Risk vis-a-vis Estrogen Levels in Pre and Postmenopausal Women Likhitha Munnangi, K. S. S. Sai Baba, Noorjahan Mohammed, Oruganti Sai Satish, M. Vijaya Bhaskar, Siraj Ahmed Khan, N. N. Sreedevi, Bhavya Sirivelu Indian Journal of Cardiovascular Disease in Women.2024; 9: 143. CrossRef
Impact of Hyperhomocysteinemia on Cytokine and Matrix Metalloproteinases Contents in Rat Skeletal Muscle Olha Kravchenko, Raksha Nataliia, Kostiuk Oleksandra, Liashevska Oleksandra, Tiron Oksana, Maievskyi Oleksandr Biomedical and Biotechnology Research Journal.2024; 8(3): 387. CrossRef
Methionine synthetase A2756G and Cystathionine-β-synthase 844ins68 polymorphisms and coronary artery disease: A meta-analysis Yan-yan Li, Hui Wang, Yang-yang Zhang The American Journal of the Medical Sciences.2024;[Epub] CrossRef
Vitamin K and age-related diseases K. A. Eruslanova, Yu. S. Onuchina, E. V. Ivannikova, E. N. Dudinskaya Russian Journal of Geriatric Medicine.2023; (4): 236. CrossRef
Pharmacovigilance is used to detect, assess, understand, and prevent the adverse effects of medications. The need for safety monitoring has evolved around unfortunate incidents in history, with deaths caused by anesthesia and congenital malformations from thalidomide use. Reports from adverse drug reactions (ADRs) are stored in a global database and can be used to evaluate the associations between various medications and associated ADRs. Clinicians play an important role in the recognition and reporting of ADRs to national pharmacovigilance centers (NPCs). The purpose of NPCs is to make the clinicians understand their functions, including the monitoring, investigation, and assessment of ADR reports, along with periodical benefit-risk assessments of medications via multiple sources. A case study on NPCs and the types of safety issues evaluated by them are provided to illustrate their role in medicine safety surveillance. ADR monitoring was also combined with vaccine safety surveillance approaches. Overall, this study will provide insights to clinicians on the importance of pharmacovigilance in maintaining patient safety with the proper use of medications.
Citations
Citations to this article as recorded by
Analysis of literature-derived duplicate records in the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) database Weiru Han, Robert Morris, Kun Bu, Tianrui Zhu, Hong Huang, Feng Cheng Canadian Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology.2025; 103(2): 56. CrossRef
Leveraging Natural Language Processing and Machine Learning Methods for Adverse Drug Event Detection in Electronic Health/Medical Records: A Scoping Review Su Golder, Dongfang Xu, Karen O’Connor, Yunwen Wang, Mahak Batra, Graciela Gonzalez Hernandez Drug Safety.2025; 48(4): 321. CrossRef
Patient Experience Regarding Medication-Related Information Received in a Rural Private Polyclinic Setting in Vietnam Quang Loc Duyen Vo, Minh Trung Nguyen, Thi Ngoc Yen Dang, Thi Hong Dung Quach, Huynh Kim Ngoc Truong, Rebecca Susan Dewey, Thi Thu Tran, Van De Tran Journal of Patient Experience.2025;[Epub] CrossRef
Interações Fármaco-fármaco em Prescrições de Pacientes em Unidade de Terapia Intensiva Adulto em Hospital Público de Montes Claros Anna Lívia Lima, Kelly Cristiane Lopes, Esther Alves Marinho , Flávio Júnior Figueredo , Cecília Paiva Duarte , Viviane de Oliveira Vasconcelos, Izabella Mendes Lima , Thiago Santos Monção, Guilherme Henrique Azevedo dos Reis , Yves André Rodrigues Gomes Revista de Gestão e Secretariado.2025; 16(2): e4715. CrossRef
Safety of COVID-19 Vaccination During Pregnancy and Lactation: A VigiBase Analysis Dayeon Kang, Ahhyung Choi, Suneun Park, Seung-Ah Choe, Ju-Young Shin Journal of Korean Medical Science.2024;[Epub] CrossRef
Revolutionizing drug discovery: The impact of artificial intelligence on advancements in pharmacology and the pharmaceutical industry Seema Yadav, Abhishek Singh, Rishika Singhal, Jagat Pal Yadav Intelligent Pharmacy.2024; 2(3): 367. CrossRef
Drug Repurposing Using FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS)
Database Robert Morris, Rahinatu Ali, Feng Cheng Current Drug Targets.2024; 25(7): 454. CrossRef
Drug-Related Glomerular Phenotypes: A Global Pharmacovigilance Perspective Alexandre Baptista, Ana M. Macedo, Ana Marreiros, André Coelho, Mark A. Perazella Journal of Clinical Medicine.2024; 13(16): 4869. CrossRef
Postmarketing Surveillance: Review of Open Sources of Drug Safety Data E. V. Shubnikova Safety and Risk of Pharmacotherapy.2024; 12(3): 309. CrossRef
Exploring the community pharmacist’s knowledge, attitude, and practices regarding adverse drug reactions and its reporting in the United Arab Emirates: a survey-based cross-sectional study Javedh Shareef, Sathvik Belagodu Sridhar, Mullaicharam Bhupathyraaj, Atiqulla Shariff, Sabin Thomas Therapeutic Advances in Drug Safety.2024;[Epub] CrossRef
Pharmacovigilance: A Comprehensive Review of Drug Safety Monitoring Practices Aniket Anil Pawar, Aftab Imtiyaz Patel, Suhani Balu Jadhav, Harshavardhan T. Suryawanshi, Suhani Balu Jadhav International Journal of Advanced Research in Science, Communication and Technology.2024; : 314. CrossRef
Explicit potentially inappropriate medications criteria for older population in Asian countries: A systematic review Chee Tao Chang, Siew Li Teoh, Philip Rajan, Shaun Wen Huey Lee Research in Social and Administrative Pharmacy.2023; 19(8): 1146. CrossRef
A Real-World Data Driven Pharmacovigilance Investigation on Drug-Induced Arrhythmia Using KAERS DB, a Korean Nationwide Adverse Drug Reporting System Chaerin Go, Semi Kim, Yujin Kim, Yongjun Sunwoo, Sae Hyun Eom, Jiseong Yun, Sooyoung Shin, Yeo Jin Choi Pharmaceuticals.2023; 16(11): 1612. CrossRef
Background After the advent of heated tobacco products (HTPs) in 2017, domestic cigarette sales declined until 2019, but have increased in South Korea since 2020. This study aimed to analyze tobacco use and cessation behavior among HTP users compared with conventional cigarette (CC) users.
Methods We analyzed data from the eighth Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2019). Of 6,188 study participants, 1,181 were current tobacco product users (single, dual, and triple), including all combinations of CCs, HTPs, and electronic cigarettes (ECs). Tobacco use and cessation behaviors among single and dual users of CCs and HTPs were assessed using various categorical methods.
Results In 2019, proportions of HTP use in men and women aged ≥19 years in South Korea were 8.8% and 1.5%, respectively, and those of single, dual, and triple users were 23.6%, 58.0%, and 18.4%, respectively. Dual users had more tobacco use than CC only and HTP only users (all P<0.001). Each daily user accounted for a lower percentage of attempt and preparation stages for cessation than intermittent users (all P<0.001, except for dual users).
Conclusion In this study, we analyzed the differences in tobacco use and cessation behavior among CC and HTP users in various populations in South Korea. Additionally, we found that all novel tobacco product users had already experienced CCs in adulthood. Further studies that address HTP’s harmful effects in humans are necessary.
Citations
Citations to this article as recorded by
Pharmacotherapy guidelines for smoking cessation in primary healthcare clinics Cheol Min Lee, Yu Jin Paek, Yoo Bin Seo, Eon Sook Lee Journal of the Korean Medical Association.2024; 67(4): 230. CrossRef
Heated tobacco product use frequency, smoking quit
attempts, and smoking reduction among Mexican adult
smokers Lizeth Cruz-Jiménez, Inti Barrientos-Gutiérrez, Dèsirée Vidaña-Pérez, Katia Gallegos-Carrillo, Edna Arillo-Santillán, Rosibel Rodríguez-Bolaños, James W. Hardin, Minji Kim, James F. Thrasher Tobacco Induced Diseases.2024; 22(May): 1. CrossRef
A Scoping Review of Behavioural Studies on Heated Tobacco Products Ian M Fearon, Sarah F Cordery, Martin Fitzpatrick, Sarah Weaver, Matthew Stevenson, Erika Grandolfo, Layla Malt, Keith Thompson, Thomas Nahde Cureus.2024;[Epub] CrossRef
Current status of tobacco use, cessation and control policy in Korea Cheol Min Lee Journal of the Korean Medical Association.2022; 65(12): 789. CrossRef
Background The International Classification of Primary Care-2 (ICPC-2) is a classification method designed for primary care. Although previous studies have found that ICPC-2 is a useful tool for demonstrating the relationship between patients’ expectations and health providers’ diagnoses, its utility of ICPC-2 has yet to be fully studied in Korea. This study aimed to evaluate the practicality of ICPC-2 in Korean primary care.
Methods The study was conducted at primary care clinics in Seoul and Gyeonggi areas from October to November 2015. Third-year family medicine residents examined and analyzed the medical records of patients who visited primary care physicians using ICPC-2, and the results were compared with those obtained using the International Classification of Diseases-10 (ICD-10) (Korean version: Korean Standard Classification of Diseases-7).
Results A total of 26 primary care physicians from 23 primary care clinics participated in the study. Furthermore, 2,458 ICD-10 codes and 6,091 ICPC-2 codes were recorded from the data of 1,099 patients. The common disease codes were vasomotor and allergic rhinitis (J30), according to ICD-10, and acute upper respiratory infection (R74) in ICPC-2. Comparing disease status by body systems, the proportion of gastrointestinal disease with ICD-10 codes was significantly higher than that with ICPC-2 codes (P<0.001). Furthermore, patients with >4 diagnoses accounted for 36% of the ICD-10 classifications, whereas those with >4 diagnoses accounted for 4% of the ICPC-2 classifications.
Conclusion Introducing ICPC as a complementary means for diagnosing common diseases could be a practical approach in Korean primary care.
Citations
Citations to this article as recorded by
Evaluation of Diagnoses According to ICD‐10 and ICPC‐2 in Family Medicine Practice: A Retrospective Study Olgun Göktaş, Marta Laranjo International Journal of Clinical Practice.2025;[Epub] CrossRef
Background Sleep duration is associated with various health conditions, including chronic kidney disease. However, the association between sleep duration and decline in kidney function in the South Korean population remains unclear. We aimed to investigate the impact of sleep duration on kidney function decline in adult patients with hypertension.
Methods This cohort study was performed using data obtained from the Korean Genome and Epidemiology Study; 2,837 patients with hypertension who initially had normal kidney function were included. Glomerular filtration rates (GFRs) were estimated at baseline and throughout the 16 years of follow-up. A person was considered to have a decline in kidney function if they had a GFR <60 mL/min/1.73 m2. Sleep duration data were obtained through interviewer-assisted questionnaires. Sleep durations were classified as short (<6 hours), normal (≥6 hours but <9 hours), and long (≥9 hours). The Cox proportional hazards model was applied, with adjustments for covariates.
Results After adjusting for covariates, sleep duration was not associated with a decline in kidney function. However, among men with poorly controlled hypertension at baseline, compared to men with normal sleep durations, men with sleep durations <6 hours had a significantly higher risk of kidney function decline (hazard ratio, 1.56; 95% confidence interval, 1.02–2.36).
Conclusion Short sleep duration did not seem to be associated with an increased risk of decline in kidney function; however, it may be a risk factor for the decline in kidney function in men with poorly controlled hypertension.
Citations
Citations to this article as recorded by
The risk of chronic kidney disease or proteinuria with long or short sleep duration: a systematic review and meta-analysis of cohort studies Meng Hu, Yongchong Wang, Wen Zhu, Xiaozhen Chen Clinical and Experimental Nephrology.2025; 29(3): 301. CrossRef
Short or long sleep duration was associated with chronic kidney disease in the general population Gang Wang, Ning Zhuo, Zhichun Liu International Urology and Nephrology.2024; 56(7): 2441. CrossRef
The association of sleep duration with the risk of chronic kidney disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis Jin Hean Koh, Brian Sheng Yep Yeo, Timothy Wei En Tan, Mark Yong Siang See, Adele Chin Wei Ng, Shaun Ray Han Loh, Joshua Gooley, Chieh Suai Tan, Song Tar Toh Clinical Kidney Journal.2024;[Epub] CrossRef
Association of plant and animal protein intake with sleep quality and quality of life in hemodialysis patients: a multicenter cross-sectional study Saber Jafari Maskouni, Hossein Bavi Behbahani, Meysam Alipour, Ahmad Zare Javid, Fatemeh Fayazfar, Pardis Tofighzadeh, Shiva Shokri, Sara Keramatzadeh, Haleh Soltaniyan Dehkordi, Morteza Sharifat, Siavash Babajafari Esfandabad, Shokouh Shayanpour Frontiers in Nutrition.2024;[Epub] CrossRef
Background Previous studies have shown a close relationship between skipping breakfast and nutritional deficiency. However, the impact of regular eating, including lunch and dinner, has not been studied well. We explored the correlation between regularity and frequency of daily meals and nutritional status.
Methods We analyzed Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys between 2016 and 2018. A total of 7,725 adults aged 19–49 years were classified into four groups according to the regularity of meal intake: three-meal regular diet (3MRD), two-meal regular diet, one-meal regular diet, and irregular diet (IRD). Food and nutrient intake was assessed using the 24-hour recall method and estimated by a generalized linear model in complex sample weight variables.
Results In IRD, there were relatively more females who were not married, lived alone, or reported low levels of education. As subjects ate more meals, more people felt thinner and healthier by themselves. Dietary intake of cereal, vegetables, seaweed, and fiber was directly proportional to the number of regular meals as well as essential components such as water, carbohydrates, protein, fat, and micronutrients. Contrarily, alcohol and beverage consumption was inversely proportional to the number of regular meals. Intake level of legumes, fish, fruits, seasonings, milk, oils, sugars, and cholesterol was consistent regardless of meal frequency.
Conclusion Our findings suggest that 3MRD showed nutrient adequacy and a healthier profile on body weight, body mass index, waist circumference, blood pressure, serum fasting glucose, total cholesterol, and triglyceride.
Citations
Citations to this article as recorded by
Eating patterns in Korean adults, 1998–2018: increased energy contribution of ultra-processed foods in main meals and snacks Sukyoung Jung, Jee Young Kim, Sohyun Park European Journal of Nutrition.2024; 63(1): 279. CrossRef
Analysis of dietary behavior and intake related to glycemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes aged 30 years or older in Korea: Utilizing the 8th Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2019–2021) Jin-Ah Seok, Yeon-Kyung Lee Nutrition Research and Practice.2024; 18(2): 239. CrossRef
Guidelines for nutrition counseling in primary healthcare clinics Gyeongsil Lee, Seung-Won Oh Journal of the Korean Medical Association.2024; 67(4): 278. CrossRef
A national cross-sectional study on breakfast skipping-related factors and comparison of nutritional status according to breakfast skipping in older adults based on the 8th Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES, 2020) Anna Han, Yean Jung Choi The Journal of nutrition, health and aging.2024; 28(9): 100335. CrossRef
The Association between Personality Factors and Metabolic Parameters among Patients with Non-Alcoholic-Fatty Liver Disease and Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus—A Cross-Sectional Study Marcin Kosmalski, Rafał Frankowski, Monika Różycka-Kosmalska, Kasper Sipowicz, Tadeusz Pietras, Łukasz Mokros Journal of Clinical Medicine.2023; 12(13): 4468. CrossRef
Nutrition fact label (NFL) use is related to meeting the requirements for vitamins and minerals not listed on NFLs: Data from the Korea National Health and Nutritional Examination Survey VIII (2019–2021) for the prepandemic and pandemic periods Jung Min Cho, Niravkumar Joshi PLOS ONE.2023; 18(12): e0296268. CrossRef
Association between Prediabetes and Meal Patterns Related to Meal Sharing among Korean Young Adults: Eighth Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2019–2020 Saebom Kim, Sehee Kim, Youngmin Kim, Seonmi Seo, Yu Jin Chung, Sam Cheol Kim Korean Journal of Family Practice.2023; 13(3): 179. CrossRef
Meal Frequency, Metabolic Health, and Social Norms Young Gyu Cho Korean Journal of Family Medicine.2022; 43(5): 275. CrossRef
Background In addition to its antidiabetic effects, metformin has pleiotropic effects, such as the inhibition of carcinogenesis. This study aimed to investigate the association between metformin use and pancreatic cancer risk in the Korean National Health Insurance Service (NHIS)-National Health Screening Cohort (HEALS).
Methods Of the individuals in the Korean NHIS-HEALS, 29,271 men and 19,091 women were included in the final analysis after propensity score matching based on age, body mass index, and smoking status. The study population was categorized into three groups: metformin non-users with diabetes mellitus (DM), metformin users with DM, and non-diabetic users. A Cox proportional hazards regression model was used to examine the association between metformin use and pancreatic cancer.
Results The median follow-up period was 12.9 years. The estimated pancreatic cancer incidence was highest in metformin users with DM, regardless of sex (P<0.001), and lowest in non-diabetic men and female metformin non-users (P=0.053). The hazard ratios (95% confidence interval) for pancreatic cancer incidence in metformin users and non-diabetic individuals were 1.116 (0.648–1.923) and 0.447 (0.259–0.771) in men and 2.769 (1.003–7.642) and 1.451 (0.529–3.984) in women, respectively, after full adjustment.
Conclusion Women with diabetes using metformin are at a higher risk of pancreatic cancer than women with diabetes not using metformin. Meanwhile, men with DM using metformin have a similar risk of pancreatic cancer as men with DM not using metformin.
Citations
Citations to this article as recorded by
Metformin adverse event profile: a pharmacovigilance study based on the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) from 2004 to 2022 Yikuan Du, Jinfeng Zhu, Zhuoming Guo, Zhenjie Wang, Yuni Wang, Mianda Hu, Lingzhi Zhang, Yurong Yang, Jinjin Wang, Yixing Huang, Peiying Huang, Mianhai Chen, Bo Chen, Chun Yang Expert Review of Clinical Pharmacology.2024; 17(2): 189. CrossRef
Metformin: A Dual-Role Player in Cancer Treatment and Prevention Mariam Ahmed Galal, Mohammed Al-Rimawi, Abdurrahman Hajeer, Huda Dahman, Samhar Alouch, Ahmad Aljada International Journal of Molecular Sciences.2024; 25(7): 4083. CrossRef
Anti-Diabetic Therapies and Cancer: From Bench to Bedside Dimitris Kounatidis, Natalia G. Vallianou, Irene Karampela, Eleni Rebelos, Marina Kouveletsou, Vasileios Dalopoulos, Petros Koufopoulos, Evanthia Diakoumopoulou, Nikolaos Tentolouris, Maria Dalamaga Biomolecules.2024; 14(11): 1479. CrossRef
Exploring the Basic Molecular Pathways: Metformin as a Potential Treatment Option for Pancreatic Cancer Sepehr Ramezani, Dariush Moslemi, Faezeh Firuzpour, Hamidreza Didar, Seyedamirmohammad Mazloumi, Narjes rezaeiroushan Iranian Journal of Blood and Cancer.2024; 16(4): 56. CrossRef
Diabetes Mellitus in Pancreatic Cancer: A Distinct Approach to Older Subjects with New-Onset Diabetes Mellitus Jan Bures, Darina Kohoutova, Jan Skrha, Bohus Bunganic, Ondrej Ngo, Stepan Suchanek, Pavel Skrha, Miroslav Zavoral Cancers.2023; 15(14): 3669. CrossRef
Background Hearing loss (HL) has been suggested to be associated with impaired microcirculation of the inner ear. This cross-sectional study aimed to evaluate an association between HL and serum lipid levels.
Methods The study comprised 10,356 Korean adults who participated in the fifth Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2010–2012). We defined HL as the average hearing thresholds exceeding 25 dB at predetermined frequency levels by pure tone audiometry. Serum lipid levels were measured using an enzymatic assay. The associations between lipid levels and HL were evaluated using a multiple logistic regression model after adjusting for covariates including age, sex, hypertension, diabetes, smoking status, alcohol, physical activity, educational level, household income, and noise exposure. Stratified analyses were performed to examine the effect of the covariates on the association between lipid levels and HL.
Results The high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) level was inversely associated with high-frequency (HF)-HL, with an odds ratio (95% confidence interval) of 0.78 (0.64–0.96) for 1-mmol/L increase in the HDL-C level. Neither the triglyceride nor the low-density lipoprotein cholesterol level was associated with HF-HL. For low-frequency HL, association with any of the serum lipid components was absent. A stratified analysis showed that the inverse association between HDL-C levels and HF-HL was evident (P trend <0.05) in some subjects with specific characteristics such as older age (≥65 years), female sex, non-hypertensive state, and non-regular physical activity. However, a significant interaction between HDL-C levels and all of the stratified variables was absent (P for interaction >0.05).
Conclusion The HDL-C level has a linear inverse association with the risk of HF-HL. Given the known protective role of HDL-C against atherosclerotic changes, this finding seems to support the concept of impaired microcirculation in the inner ear as a mechanism for HF-HL.
Citations
Citations to this article as recorded by
Cardiovascular Diseases and Sensorineural Hearing Loss—A Systematic Review of the Literature Anna N. Berezovsky, Mana Espahbodi, Samantha L. LaPrade, David R. Friedland, Michael S. Harris Otology & Neurotology.2025; 46(1): 23. CrossRef
Triglyceride to High-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol Ratio and Sensorineural Hearing Loss in Community-Dwelling Adults: an NHANES Analysis Yang Yu, Zhi-Chao Yang, Li-Xin Wang Yonsei Medical Journal.2024; 65(12): 741. CrossRef
Association between Hyperuricemia and Hearing Impairment: Results from the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey Hyemin Jeong, Young-Soo Chang, Chan-Hong Jeon Medicina.2023; 59(7): 1273. CrossRef
First
Prev
