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한국국제의료협회 Korea International Medical Association, Cheongwon (2025)

07/07/2025

“KIMA is now at Incheon Airport’s Medical Tourism Support Center 🇰🇷✈️

“First stop in Korea? Incheon Airport.
Next stop? World-class healthcare 🏥
KIMA is here to guide you.”

26/06/2025

Hanyang University Medical Center Rheumatism Hospital Celebrates 27th Anniversary

Hanyang University Medical Center’s Rheumatism Hospital (Director: Kim Tae-hwan) held its 27th anniversary ceremony on the first-floor lobby of the Rheumatism Hospital on the 23rd. The event was attended by approximately 90 participants, including Vice President for Medical Affairs and Medical Center Director Yoon Ho-joo, Rheumatism Hospital Director Kim Tae-hwan, Hanyang University Hospital Vice Director Lee Hang-rak, and other key hospital staff and employees.

In his commemorative speech, Director Kim stated, “Since its founding, our hospital has played a pivotal role in treating intractable rheumatic diseases as the first specialized rheumatism hospital in Korea, achieving balanced development in clinical care, research, and education. Moving forward, based on our core values of ‘Compassionate Care, Human-Centered Value, Innovation Capability, and Globalization,’ we will continue to contribute to the health of humanity by providing patient-centered, customized medical services and striving to overcome rheumatic diseases.”

Vice President and Medical Center Director Yoon congratulated the institution by saying, “The recognition that Hanyang University Medical Center Rheumatism Hospital has received over the past 27 years as a leading rheumatism hospital in Korea and globally is due to the dedication of all members. I hope the hospital continues to grow as a global hub for rheumatism treatment through precision, patient-centered care and differentiated services.”

The ceremony included a reaffirmation of the hospital’s mission, three major visions, and core values. A commemorative video showcasing the hospital’s journey since its founding was presented, followed by a vision-sharing session with staff members.

Additionally, this year’s “Hallyu Excellence Awards” were presented. The honorees were Eun-sik Park from the Rheumatology Outpatient Clinic, Se-jung Choi from the 17th floor of the main building, and Soo-in Jung from the Rehabilitation Medicine Outpatient Clinic.

26/06/2025

Ewha Womans University Seoul Hospital Establishes Minimally Invasive Surgery System for Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH)

Mr. A, a man in his 50s diagnosed with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), initially underwent medication therapy. However, as the effectiveness declined and he became concerned about side effects from surgery, he hesitated to proceed. After careful consideration, he visited the Department of Urology at Ewha Womans University Seoul Hospital and, following a consultation with a specialist, underwent a minimally invasive Rezum procedure, resulting in significant improvement.

According to Professor Hyun-Kyu Ahn of the Department of Urology at Ewha Womans University Seoul Hospital (Director: Woong Joo), two months after surgery, Mr. A reported no discomfort during urination and has stopped taking all medications for BPH. Moreover, his previously experienced ej*******on disorders have fully recovered, leading to improved urinary function and greater sexual satisfaction.

The hospital proactively introduced the Rezum system in November 2023 and has since performed approximately 50 cases by May 2024, making it one of the most active university hospitals in Korea in performing this procedure. Rezum is a treatment method that injects water v***r to ablate enlarged prostate tissue, thereby reducing its size. It was approved by the U.S. FDA in 2015 and recognized as a new medical technology in Korea as of January 2023.

Included in the American Urological Association (AUA) guidelines, the Rezum procedure is clinically proven and safe. As a minimally invasive treatment, it has become a standard care option for BPH due to its speed and safety.

Professor Ahn, who performed Mr. A’s procedure, explained, “Patients in their 50s and 60s with active social lives often prefer the Rezum procedure because it minimizes side effects like retrograde ej*******on and sexual dysfunction by avoiding damage to ej*******on-related structures while inserting a needle into the prostate to inject steam.”

He added, “Even for patients in their 70s and 80s, the Rezum procedure can be completed safely and easily in about 5 to 10 minutes under light anesthesia, with minimal risk of bleeding, leading to high satisfaction.”

Meanwhile, the Department of Urology at Ewha Womans University Seoul Hospital (Chief: Dr. Kwang-Hyun Kim) continues to introduce advanced technologies to build a personalized treatment system for the growing number of BPH patients.

In November 2022, the hospital became the first university hospital in Korea to introduce the AQUABEAM® Robotic System and has been steadily performing procedures using it. For cases of significantly enlarged prostate, it also introduced Korea’s first single-port robotic surgery (SP), offering an innovative alternative to traditional treatments such as TURP or HoLEP.

Dr. Kwang-Hyun Kim emphasized, “Effective BPH treatment is not about the most expensive or newest method, but rather about selecting the right treatment based on each patient’s symptoms, prostate size and shape, and bladder function. Our hospital offers skilled physicians, state-of-the-art equipment, and a variety of surgical techniques to provide tailored care.”

26/06/2025

Incheon Sejong Hospital Introduces AI and Advanced Medical Solutions in Its Health Screening Center

Incheon Sejong Hospital is enhancing national health promotion by incorporating various advanced medical technologies, including artificial intelligence (AI), into its health screening center.

According to Incheon Sejong Hospital on the 29th, the hospital has recently introduced a solution called "DeepCatch," which uses AI to automatically analyze CT and X-ray images to predict and diagnose major diseases at an early stage.

DeepCatch utilizes CT images to precisely analyze key body components such as skin, bones, muscles, subcutaneous fat, visceral fat, and internal organs through AI. It comprehensively evaluates the quantity and quality of each component and their correlation with cardiovascular and metabolic diseases, providing the results in a report format. Additionally, by visualizing the aorta and heart structure in 3D and performing quantitative analysis using X-ray images, it can screen for major cardiovascular conditions such as aortic aneurysms and cardiomegaly at an early stage.

Previously, in June 2023, Incheon Sejong Hospital adopted a diagnostic program that uses an AI algorithm to quickly detect stroke lesions that are difficult to identify using conventional MRI. The program generates heatmaps to show stroke presence on MRI images, and automatically calculates data such as stroke type, lesion size and volume, severity, and likely causes within seconds for clinicians.

As a result, the hospital is now better able to secure the golden time for stroke treatment. Even tiny lesions that were difficult to identify with the naked eye can now be diagnosed quickly and accurately, allowing for immediate treatment.

In 2023, the hospital also introduced an AI-based brain disease screening program.

This program analyzes conditions such as Parkinson’s disease and dementia, which are difficult to detect through conventional MRI, using AI algorithms.

Parkinson’s disease occurs due to damage in the substantia nigra, a small region in the brain responsible for producing dopamine. The AI program can detect these lesions solely from MRI images.

For Alzheimer’s disease, which is characterized by progressive brain atrophy, the program helps in diagnosis by analyzing overall brain size, cortical thickness, and asymmetry between the left and right hemispheres, and is also useful for tracking brain health over time.

Additionally, Incheon Sejong Hospital has fully adopted AI-assisted endoscopy (ENAD), with no extra charge for the use of AI.

The AI endoscope highlights abnormal lesions in gastric and colonoscopy images using visual markers and alerts, assisting physicians in image interpretation. Clinical results show that using AI improves the adenoma detection rate (ADR) by approximately 6% compared to traditional visual interpretation.

Notably, in 2023, the hospital became the first in Korea to introduce the AI program AiTiALVSD, which can detect heart failure risk using only a simple electrocardiogram (ECG).

AiTiALVSD analyzes simple ECG data to estimate the likelihood of left ventricular systolic dysfunction (LVSD) and presents the result as a score. It was developed by Medical AI Inc., a startup spun off from Sejong Hospital.

According to confirmed clinical trials by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, AiTiALVSD demonstrated an accuracy of 91.9%, significantly surpassing the 72% accuracy of the conventional NT-proBNP blood test for heart failure.

Chairman Park Jin-sik of the Hyewon Medical Foundation, which operates Incheon Sejong Hospital, stated, “The synergy between existing medical expertise and advanced technologies like AI allows for remarkable progress in early disease detection. We will continue to adopt cutting-edge technologies to contribute to public health and become a more accurate and trusted hospital.”

26/06/2025

Samsung Medical Center : Early-Stage Cancer After Stent Procedure: Surgery Within One Month Reduces Recurrence Risk

ven if a patient has undergone coronary artery stent placement, a new study shows that undergoing cancer surgery within one month can lower the risk of recurrence — if the cancer is in an early stage and bleeding can be managed.

Traditionally, surgery has been delayed for at least 6 months to a year after a coronary stent procedure due to bleeding risks. However, this study suggests that, under the right conditions, earlier surgery may be preferable.

A research team at Samsung Medical Center — including Professors Kim Hong-kwan and Lee Jung-hee from the Department of Thoracic and Esophageal Surgery, Professor Choi Ki-hong from the Division of Cardiology, and Professor Kang Dan-bi from the Center for Clinical Epidemiology — recently published their findings in the Journal of the American Heart Association, analyzing outcomes based on the timing of cancer surgery following a stent procedure.

The team reviewed 3,621 patients who underwent cancer surgery within one year of stent implantation from 2008 to 2018. Patients who received surgery within one month of diagnosis showed a 30% lower recurrence rate compared to those who had delayed surgery.

Even within one year of stenting, if the cancer is in an early stage and bleeding risks are controllable, early surgery appears to significantly help reduce the risk of recurrence before the cancer progresses.

The average time from stenting to surgery was 5 months — earlier than the 6-month guideline — yet the study found no significant increase in cardiovascular complications such as bleeding or myocardial infarction.

Nevertheless, the researchers stressed the importance of a multidisciplinary approach to carefully identify patients eligible for early surgery. The study also revealed that surgeries performed within 6 months of stenting had a 24% higher risk of bleeding and a 112% higher risk of myocardial infarction. Even surgeries within 12 months carried higher risks compared to later surgeries.

Professor Kang Dan-bi noted, “This is a nationwide study based on Korea’s National Health Insurance Service big data, and its clinical implications are significant. Given that most coronary intervention patients are elderly, we need strategies to lessen the burden of cancer.”

Professor Kim Hong-kwan emphasized, “Delaying cancer surgery may result in progression of the disease, making surgery impossible or worsening the prognosis. A patient-centered approach is essential to balance cancer treatment efficacy with cardiovascular safety. Collaboration among internal medicine, surgery, and hemato-oncology teams is crucial to determine the optimal timing for surgery.”

26/06/2025

Seoul St. Mary’s Hospital, The Catholic University of Korea Hosts Symposium Celebrating 4,000 Kidney Transplants

Seoul St. Mary’s Hospital, The Catholic University of Korea announced on June 10 that it successfully hosted a symposium titled “Celebrating the Achievement of 4,000 Kidney Transplants” on June 5 in the auditorium on the basement level of its main building. Supported by the Korean Society for Transplantation, the symposium brought together medical professionals and organ transplant experts from across the country to share the latest clinical knowledge and experience in kidney transplantation.

The Long-Term Organ Transplant Center at Seoul St. Mary’s Hospital, The Catholic University of Korea performed Korea’s first kidney transplant on March 25, 1969, and has since continuously refined its surgical techniques. As of February 5, 2024, the hospital achieved a cumulative total of 4,000 kidney transplants.

The symposium was led by Professor Oh Haeng-jin of the Department of Surgery. Professor Park Sun-cheol, head of the Long-Term Transplant Center, delivered the opening remarks, followed by a congratulatory speech from Professor Yoon Seung-gyu, the hospital’s director. Professor Jang Eun-joo delivered a keynote presentation titled “Current Status and Future Directions of Kidney Transplantation at Seoul St. Mary’s Hospital”.

In the first session, chaired by Professor Moon In-seong, speakers addressed “Latest Trends in Surgical Techniques and Pharmacological Therapies”, including topics such as immune testing, antibody therapy, and robot-assisted kidney transplant surgery. The second session, moderated by Professor Yang Cheol-woo, focused on “Optimal Donor and Recipient Management Strategies”, covering immunosuppressant protocols, ABO-incompatible transplantation, bone metabolism, and the management of chronic diseases.

Attendees agreed that the symposium not only celebrated a major milestone in kidney transplantation but also provided a vision for the future of solid organ transplantation in Korea. Professor Park Sun-cheol emphasized that the achievement was made possible through the trust of patients and the dedication of medical professionals, and he expressed his hope that the hospital will continue to contribute to improving the quality of life for transplant recipients and expanding solid organ transplant programs.

26/06/2025

Chung-Ang University Health Care System Hyundae Hospital Delivers Scholarships at Kazakhstan National Medical University

Chung-Ang University Health Care System Hyundae Hospital announced that on the 4th, Director Kim Bu-seop participated in the international forum commemorating the 95th anniversary of the founding of Aspendiyarov Kazakhstan National Medical University in Almaty, Kazakhstan. He delivered the keynote speech and presented scholarships and research funding.

Director Kim awarded scholarships of USD 2,000 each to five outstanding medical students, totaling USD 10,000, and provided USD 20,000 in research funds to a distinguished professor, demonstrating a genuine commitment to practical support for healthcare exchange and talent development between the two countries.

Since 2018, Chung-Ang University Health Care System Hyundae Hospital has been conducting annual medical volunteer services for local residents and ethnic Koreans in Kazakhstan. The hospital has also engaged in social contribution activities such as establishing a memorial park in Ush-Tobe and offering scholarships to descendants of independence patriots. Their goal is to open a 200-bed general hospital, 'SLG‑Hyundae Hospital', in the Almaty region by 2028, further accelerating healthcare infrastructure development and bilateral cooperation.

Director Kim expressed his delight at the ongoing cooperation with Kazakhstan National Medical University and stated: “We will continue to collaborate in various ways to promote healthcare advancement and foster talent in Kazakhstan.”

26/06/2025

Severance Hospital: Electroporation surgery extends survival for inoperable pancreatic cancer patients

A research team from Severance Hospital has found that irreversible electroporation (IRE), a novel cancer treatment that uses high-voltage electricity to destroy cancer cells, can significantly extend the survival of patients with inoperable pancreatic cancer, the hospital.

A Severance Hospital research team, led by Professors Kim Man-deuk and Kwon Joon-ho, demonstrated that irreversible electroporation (IRE) surgery can significantly extend survival for inoperable pancreatic cancer patients. (Credit: Severance Hospital)

Pancreatic cancer remains one of the most lethal cancers, with a five-year survival rate of only 15.9 percent. Only about 20 percent of patients are eligible for surgery, while most are diagnosed at an advanced stage, rendering surgical intervention impossible. Even with chemotherapy, patients with locally advanced pancreatic cancer, where the tumor has invaded nearby blood vessels or organs, typically survive only six to 11 months on average.

IRE is a U.S.-developed technology widely used worldwide. It was first introduced in Korea at Severance Hospital in 2016 and has recently been recognized as an advanced medical technology. The procedure involves inserting three to six electrodes around the tumor and applying high-voltage electricity—over 3,000 volts, more than ten times the voltage of a standard household outlet—to destroy cancer cells. Unlike thermal ablation techniques, IRE does not rely on heat, minimizing damage to surrounding blood vessels and tissues.

The treatment works by creating microscopic pores in cancer cell membranes, disrupting intracellular balance and causing cell death. Additionally, the release of cancer cell components through these pores triggers an immune response, potentially enhancing the body’s ability to fight cancer.

To prove the efficacy of IRE, the team, led by Professors Kim Man-deuk and Kwon Joon-ho from the Department of Radiology at Severance Hospital, conducted a study on 13 pancreatic cancer patients who were not candidates for surgery.

In the study, patients who underwent IRE treatment showed a notable increase in survival time. The average post-procedure survival period increased from 11–14 months with conventional IRE to 20.7 months.

Meanwhile, the total survival period from diagnosis improved from 17–27 months to an average of 43.9 months, marking an extension of up to 26 months.

The research also highlighted improvements in procedural efficiency. The study utilized the EPO-IRE system, an advanced IRE device developed by Korean medical technology company The Standard.

Traditional IRE systems require electrodes to be placed in parallel at exact intervals of 1.5–2 cm, which demands significant expertise. In contrast, the EPO-IRE system uses a clustered electrode design, allowing multiple electrodes to be inserted at once. This improves accuracy and cuts procedure time by more than 50 percent.

However, Professor Kim cautioned that IRE is not suitable for tumors that have metastasized or grown excessively large.

“Although the study involved a limited number of patients and requires further research, our findings suggest that IRE can be a viable option for patients who cannot undergo surgery or have limited chemotherapy options due to drug resistance or side effects,” Kim said.

Professor Kim is set to present the clinical results at the Society of Interventional Radiology (SIR) meeting in Nashville, the U.S., on March 30. The abstract of the study was also published in the Journal of Vascular and Interventional Radiology.

Credit : KBR(https://www.koreabiomed.com)

26/06/2025

Korea Attracts 1.17 Million Foreign Patients in 2024

The Ministry of Health and Welfare (MOHW, Minister Cho KyooHong)announced that a record-breaking 1.17 million foreign patients visited Korea in 2024, marking an increase of approximately 93.2%—nearly double the 610,000 recorded in 2023.

The number of foreign patients had steadily increased through 2019 (with an average annual growth rate of 23.5%), but dropped sharply to 120,000 in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. After three years of gradual recovery, the number rose to 610,000 in 2023 and then surged to 1.17 million in 2024.

This marks the highest figure since Korea actively began attracting foreign patients in 2009. The cumulative number of foreign patients who have visited Korea over the past 16 years now stands at 5.05 million.

By country, the largest numbers of foreign patients came from Japan, China, the United States, Thailand, and Taiwan, in that order.Taiwan(550.6%),Japan(135.0%), and China(132.4%) showed the most significant growth. By medical specialty,dermatology, plastic surgery, internal medicine/general care, and health screening services were the most commonly used. By type of medical institution,clinics accounted for the largest share at 82.0%. Regionally, the Seoul metropolitan area continued to dominate, accounting for 8 5.4%of all foreign patients.

The year 2024 marks a significant milestone, as the number of foreign patients visiting Korea surpassed one million for the first time—signifying Korea’s emergence as a key hub for medical tourism in Asia.

Jung Eunyoung, Director-General for Health Industry Policy at the Ministry of Health and Welfare,said, “Thanks to the Strategy to Facilitate Attraction of International Patients announced in May 2023, we were able to achieve―ahead of schedule―the government’s original goal of attracting 700,000 foreign patients by 2027.” She added, “The foreign patient attraction program is a high-value industry that combines medical services and tourism. The government will continue to expand support and reform relevant laws and systems to enhance their effectiveness, there by fostering a sustainable industry ecosystem.”

Korea Attracts 1.17 Million Foreign Patients in 2024
Marking a Leap Toward Becoming Asia’s Medical Tourism Hub

-Record number of foreign patients since 2009, with a cumulative total of 5.05 million -

- Significant increases in visitors from Japan (135.0%), China (132.4%), and Taiwan (550.6%) compared to 2023

26/06/2025

Seoul National University Bundang Hospital Achieves 2,000th Cochlear Implant Surgery

The Auditory Rehabilitation Center at Seoul National University Bundang Hospital (Professors Koo Ja-won, Choi Byung-yun, and Song Jae-jin of the Department of Otolaryngology) announced on the 18th that it has achieved a cumulative total of 2,000 cochlear implant surgeries.

Since commencing cochlear implant surgeries in 2005, the center reached 500 cases in 2019, followed by 1,000 in 2021, and 1,500 in 2023, culminating in the milestone of 2,000 surgeries in March of this year.

Cochlear implant surgery is an auditory rehabilitation method for patients with severe hearing loss, involving the implantation of electrodes that replace the function of the cochlea, directly transmitting signals to the auditory nerve to enable hearing. Unlike hearing aids, which amplify external sounds, cochlear implants convert sound into electrical signals to provide auditory information.

This surgical intervention can be a particularly effective solution for patients with significant cochlear damage or congenital hearing impairments.

The center provides optimized precision medicine tailored to each patient, utilizing electroencephalography, imaging, and genetic analysis to implement personalized treatment plans. Furthermore, the center has established a collaborative approach involving various clinical departments and a systematic treatment process, thereby increasing surgical success rates and hearing restoration rates.

Research activities related to hearing loss and cochlear implants led by Professor Choi Byung-yun, along with continuous development of treatment methods, are considered key factors driving this growth. The center is at the forefront of the latest trends, including: hybrid cochlear implant surgery to maximize the preservation of natural hearing in pediatric patients with high-frequency hearing loss; precision medicine-based surgery that utilizes genetic testing for hearing loss and molecular genetic diagnosis to predict prognosis; pull-back surgery involving electrode repositioning; and the establishment of early mapping after surgery.

Professor Koo Ja-won stated, “While the increase in the number of surgeries is significant, what is more important is improving the qualitative success rate. Sufficient consultation with patients and their guardians to establish realistic expectations, along with consistent speech therapy and the mapping process, play a pivotal role in increasing patient satisfaction.”

26/06/2025

Seoul Ahnkang Hospital Announces the Opening of a Pediatric Rehabilitation Day Hospital and Sensory Integration Therapy Unit

The pediatric rehabilitation day hospital addresses the limitations of both inpatient and outpatient treatment models. It allows young patients to receive intensive rehabilitation therapy during the day and return home in the evening. This approach enables children to maintain familiar routines, promoting psychological stability, while also alleviating the care giving burden on parents.

The sensory integration therapy unit is a specialized treatment space designed to improve a child's sensory processing skills and motor development through the use of diverse sensory stimuli. Therapy tools that incorporate play elements are utilized to enhance engagement in the therapeutic process, fostering an enjoyable environment conducive to effective rehabilitation. Dr. Ko Young-jin, Director of Seoul Ahnkang Hospital, stated, "The opening of the pediatric rehabilitation day hospital and sensory integration therapy unit will enable us to provide more specialized and systematic rehabilitation services. We remain committed to doing our utmost to support the healthy growth and development of our young patients."

In April of last year, Seoul Ahnkang Hospital relocated and expanded to a location near Nambu Bus Terminal in Seocho-gu, reinforcing its role as a rehabilitation-focused hospital with a capacity of 178 beds. It currently operates the largest adult and pediatric rehabilitation center in Seocho-gu. Through its Health Promotion Center and Pain Center, the hospital provides patients with high-quality medical services. Seoul Ahnkang Hospital remains dedicated to providing professional rehabilitation treatment and integrated medical services to ensure the rapid recovery and improved quality of life for its patients.

26/06/2025

A study analyzing differentially expressed genes in spinal stenosis has been published by researchers at Jaseng Hospital of Korean Medicine.

The research elucidates the pathological mechanisms underlying spinal stenosis and identifies potential therapeutic target genes through genetic analysis. Notably, the study revealed the overexpression of genes contributing to impaired neural regeneration and the stiffening of spinal tissues in spinal stenosis, alongside a reduction in the expression of genes involved in cellular energy metabolism and digestive function.

The findings, led by Dr. Hong Jin-young from the Spine and Joint Research Institute at Jaseng Hospital of Korean Medicine (Director: Ha In-hyuk), have been published in the SCI(E)-indexed international journal, *Biomedicines* (IF=3.9), as of November 2nd. The study aims to explore new therapeutic strategies for spinal stenosis.

Spinal stenosis, a prevalent degenerative spinal condition, is characterized by the narrowing of the spinal canal, which compresses surrounding nerves, leading to pain and inflammation. The condition affects approximately 1.8 million individuals annually in South Korea, predominantly impacting middle-aged and elderly populations. Current treatments primarily focus on pain relief and inflammation reduction, with no established therapies addressing the fundamental causes of the disease.

To address this gap, the research team investigated the pathological mechanisms of spinal stenosis and explored novel therapeutic strategies by analyzing gene expression changes in a rat model. Spinal cords were harvested from rats with induced spinal stenosis, and RNA sequencing was performed using Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS). NGS is a technique used to precisely analyze gene expression changes in specific diseases, while RNA sequencing analyzes RNA molecules in cells or tissues to determine gene expression levels.

The researchers identified 1203 genes specifically expressed in the normal control group and 749 genes specifically expressed in the spinal stenosis-induced group, out of a total of 30,560 genes. In addition, they discovered 21,547 genes commonly expressed in both groups and 7061 genes that were not expressed.

Based on this genetic data, the researchers analyzed differentially expressed genes (DEGs) that exhibited significantly increased or decreased expression in spinal stenosis. DEGs, defined as genes with significantly altered expression levels under specific conditions or environments, were used to investigate the biological impact of spinal stenosis.

The results indicated a decrease in the activity of genes crucial for nerve regeneration and protein synthesis in rats with induced spinal stenosis, leading to impaired nerve regeneration and alterations in the gene regulatory systems maintaining the stability of the cellular cytoskeleton. Furthermore, the expression of genes involved in cellular structure and function changes was elevated, potentially inducing the expression of smooth muscle contraction fibers, which line blood vessels. This may impede blood circulation and stiffen spinal tissues.

Among 113 DEGs, Slc47a1, involved in toxin excretion, and Prg4, which aids joint lubrication, were significantly increased in spinal stenosis rats. Conversely, the expression of Higd1c, related to cellular energy metabolism, and Mln, which regulates gastrointestinal motility, was reduced. These findings suggest that spinal stenosis may induce biological responses aimed at increasing toxin removal and reducing friction in the spine, while simultaneously affecting cellular energy metabolism and gastrointestinal function.

Notably, the research team's observation of increased expression of Prg4 and Acta2, a gene involved in muscle contraction and cell adhesion, suggests that these genes play a critical role in maintaining cellular cytoskeleton stability and extracellular matrix composition, as well as being crucial for elucidating the mechanisms underlying spinal stenosis.

Dr. Hong Jin-young of the Spine and Joint Research Institute at Jaseng Hospital of Korean Medicine stated, "This study is expected to provide significant evidence for future research on treatment methods and mechanisms by elucidating the gene functions and molecular pathways associated with spinal stenosis. We will continue to expand RNA sequencing-based research and dedicate efforts not only to spinal stenosis but also to other spinal and joint diseases."

한국국제의료협회 Korea International Medical Association

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