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Geum-Yun Kwon

Sungkyunkwan University · Medicine

About the Lab

Professor Geum-Yun Kwon's research lab specializes in metabolic and chronic disease epidemiology, with a primary focus on non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) as a systemic condition linked to multiple organ complications. The lab investigates the role of NAFLD in the progression of cardiovascular disease, insulin resistance, chronic kidney disease, colorectal neoplasia, and sarcopenia, using large-scale cohort studies and advanced imaging techniques such as ultrasonography and bioelectrical impedance analysis. Their work emphasizes early detection and risk stratification in asymptomatic populations, particularly in middle-aged Asian adults, to identify high-risk individuals before clinical manifestations arise. The lab's research bridges hepatology, metabolic syndrome, and preventive medicine, aiming to improve population health through early intervention strategies.

non-alcoholic fatty liver diseasemetabolic syndromechronic kidney diseaseinsulin resistancesarcopenia

Research Overview

Papers
320
Total Citations
12,418
Papers (5y)
51
Primary Field
Medicine

Research Output Trend

Figures are computed from collected data and may differ slightly.

Publications per year (5y)
51total
2022
2023
2024
2025
2026
Citations per year (5y)
495total
20222023202420252026

Selected Papers

15
1
Article|188 citations·2004
Hypoxia stimulates proliferation of human hepatoma cells through the induction of hexokinase II expression
Geum‐Youn Gwak, Jung‐Hwan Yoon, Kang Mo Kim, Hyo-Suk Lee, Jin Wook Chung, Gregory J. Gores
SJR Q1Journal of Hepatology
Cancer ResearchBiochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology
2
Article|164 citations·2016
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and progression of coronary artery calcium score: a retrospective cohort study
Dong Hyun Sinn, Danbee Kang, Yoosoo Chang, Seungho Ryu, Seonhye Gu, Hyun‐Kyoung Kim, Donghyeong Seong, Soo Jin Cho, Byoung-Kee Yi, Hyung‐Doo Park, Seung Woon Paik, Young Bin Song
SJR Q1Gut

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), a hepatic manifestation of the metabolic syndrome, was associated with subclinical atherosclerosis in many cross-sectional studies, but the prospective association between NAFLD and the progression of atherosclerosis has not been evaluated. This study was conducted to evaluate the association between NAFLD and the progression of coronary atherosclerosis. METHODS: This retrospective cohort study included 4731 adult men and women with

EpidemiologyMedicine
3
Article|162 citations·2017
Development of chronic kidney disease in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: A cohort study
Dong Hyun Sinn, Danbee Kang, Hye Ryoun Jang, Seonhye Gu, Soo Jin Cho, Seung Woon Paik, Seungho Ryu, Yoosoo Chang, Mariana Lazo, Eliseo Güallar, Juhee Cho, Geum‐Youn Gwak
SJR Q1Journal of Hepatology
EpidemiologyMedicine
4
Article|126 citations·2011
Ultrasonographically Detected Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Is an Independent Predictor for Identifying Patients With Insulin Resistance in Non-Obese, Non-Diabetic Middle-Aged Asian Adults
Dong Hyun Sinn, Geum‐Youn Gwak, Ha Na Park, Jee Eun Kim, Yang Won Min, Kwang Min Kim, Yu Jin Kim, Moon Seok Choi, Joon Hyeok Lee, Kwang Cheol Koh, Seung Woon Paik, Byung Chul Yoo
SJR Q1The American Journal of Gastroenterology

US-NAFLD was an independent predictor for IR, irrespective of the number of metabolic components of MetS in the non-obese, non-diabetic middle-aged Asian adults. US-NAFLD could identify individuals with IR that cannot be identified by MetS in this population.

EpidemiologyMedicine
5
Article|116 citations·2016
Persistent Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Increases Risk for Carotid Atherosclerosis
Dong Hyun Sinn, Soo Jin Cho, Seonhye Gu, Donghyeong Seong, Danbee Kang, Hyun‐Kyoung Kim, Byoung-Kee Yi, Seung Woon Paik, Eliseo Güallar, Juhee Cho, Geum‐Youn Gwak
SJR Q1Gastroenterology
EpidemiologyMedicine
6
Article|112 citations·2019
Non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease and the incidence of myocardial infarction: A cohort study
Dong Hyun Sinn, Danbee Kang, Yoosoo Chang, Seungho Ryu, Soo Jin Cho, Seung Woon Paik, Young Bin Song, Roberto Pastor‐Barriuso, Eliseo Güallar, Juhee Cho, Geum‐Youn Gwak
SJR Q1Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a multisystem disease associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD), diabetes, and chronic kidney disease. Indeed, CVD is the most common cause of death in NAFLD patients. This study aimed to evaluate the association between NAFLD and the risk of incident myocardial infarction. METHODS: This is a retrospective cohort study involving 111 492 adults over 40 years old without history of CVD, liver disease, or cance

EpidemiologyMedicine
7
Article|109 citations·2018
Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease accelerates kidney function decline in patients with chronic kidney disease: a cohort study
Hye Ryoun Jang, Danbee Kang, Dong Hyun Sinn, Seonhye Gu, Soo Jin Cho, Jung Eun Lee, Wooseong Huh, Seung Woon Paik, Seungho Ryu, Yoosoo Chang, Tariq Shafi, Mariana Lazo
SJR Q1Scientific ReportsOA

Abstract This study aimed to investigate the association of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and its severity with the decline in kidney function in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). We conducted a cohort study of 1,525 CKD patients who underwent repeated health check-up examinations from January 2003 through December 2013. NAFLD was diagnosed by ultrasonography and its severity was assessed by the NAFLD fibrosis score. At baseline, the prevalence of NAFLD was 40.9%, and the me

EpidemiologyMedicine
8
Article|108 citations·2005
Detection of response-predicting mutations in the kinase domain of the epidermal growth factor receptor gene in cholangiocarcinomas
Geum‐Youn Gwak, Jung‐Hwan Yoon, Chang-Yup Shin, Y. J. Ahn, Junho Chung, Y. A. Kim, Tae‐Yong Kim, H. -S. Lee
SJR Q1Journal of Cancer Research and Clinical OncologyOA
SurgeryMedicine
9
Article|73 citations·2016
Non‐alcoholic fatty liver diseases and risk of colorectal neoplasia
Joonghyun Ahn, Dong Hyun Sinn, Yang Won Min, Sung Noh Hong, H. S. Kim, Sun‐Ah Jung, Seonhye Gu, Poong‐Lyul Rhee, Seung Woon Paik, Hee Jung Son, Geum‐Youn Gwak
SJR Q1Alimentary Pharmacology & Therapeutics

BACKGROUND: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is associated with colorectal neoplasia. Yet, NAFLD ranges from simple steatosis to steatohepatitis with advanced fibrosis. AIM: To investigate the risk of colorectal neoplasia according to the presence and severity of NAFLD. METHODS: A total of 26 540 asymptomatic adults who underwent same day first-time colonoscopy and abdominal ultrasonography as a health check-up programme were analysed. NAFLD was diagnosed by ultrasonography. Advanced co

EpidemiologyMedicine
10
Article|71 citations·2021
Tenofovir Alafenamide for Drug-Resistant Hepatitis B: A Randomized Trial for Switching From Tenofovir Disoproxil Fumarate
Kwan Soo Byun, Jonggi Choi, Ji-Hoon Kim, Yung Sang Lee, Han Chu Lee, Yoon Jun Kim, Byung Chul Yoo, So Young Kwon, Geum‐Youn Gwak, Young‐Suk Lim
SJR Q1Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology
EpidemiologyMedicine
11
Article|60 citations·2022
Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and accelerated loss of skeletal muscle mass: A longitudinal cohort study
Dong Hyun Sinn, Danbee Kang, Mira Kang, Eliseo Güallar, Yun Soo Hong, Kyung Hyun Lee, Jiyeon Park, Juhee Cho, Geum‐Youn Gwak
SJR Q1Hepatology

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Whether subjects with NAFLD are at increased risk of sarcopenia is not well established. APPROACH AND RESULTS: This is a cohort study of 52,815 men and women of 20 years of age or older who underwent at least two health check-up exams with bioelectrical impedance analysis and abdominal ultrasound imaging. Bioelectrical impedance analysis was used to calculate appendicular skeletal muscle mass (ASM). NAFLD was assessed by ultrasonography, and its severity was assessed by the

PhysiologyMedicine
12
Article|58 citations·2015
Different Survival of Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer Stage C Hepatocellular Carcinoma Patients by the Extent of Portal Vein Invasion and the Type of Extrahepatic Spread
Dong Hyun Sinn, Ju‐Yeon Cho, Geum‐Youn Gwak, Yong‐Han Paik, Moon Seok Choi, Joon Hyeok Lee, Kwang Cheol Koh, Seung Woon Paik, Byung Chul Yoo
SJR Q1PLoS ONEOA

Portal vein invasion (PVI) and extrahepatic spread (ES) are two tumor-related factors that define advanced stage in the Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) staging system (BCLC stage C), and the recommended first line therapy in this stage is sorafenib. However, the extent of PVI and the type of ES may affect patient prognosis as well as treatment outcome. This study analyzed survival of BCLC stage C HCC patients in order to see whether sub-classification of BCLC stage C is necessary. A total o

HepatologyMedicine
13
Article|58 citations·2019
Lean non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and development of diabetes: a cohort study
Dong Hyun Sinn, Danbee Kang, Soo Jin Cho, Seung Woon Paik, Eliseo Güallar, Juhee Cho, Geum‐Youn Gwak
SJR Q1European Journal of Endocrinology

OBJECTIVE: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), a condition associated with multiple metabolic abnormalities, is frequently observed in normal weight individuals (lean NAFLD). The metabolic consequences of lean NAFLD, however, are not well characterized. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the risk of incident diabetes in lean NAFLD. METHODS: This is a cohort study of 51,463 adults without diabetes, history of liver disease or cancer at baseline who participated in a regular health screenin

EpidemiologyMedicine
14
Article|56 citations·2014
Comparison of Clinical Manifestations and Outcomes between Hepatitis B Virus- and Hepatitis C Virus-Related Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Analysis of a Nationwide Cohort
Dong Hyun Sinn, Geum‐Youn Gwak, Juhee Cho, Seung Woon Paik, Byung Chul Yoo
SJR Q1PLoS ONEOA

HBV-related and HCV-related HCC have clear differences in clinical manifestation, requiring different screening strategy according to etiology to optimize HCC surveillance in HBV-endemic area. However, etiology did not affect treatment outcomes and long-term survival within the same stage except for far advanced tumors.

HepatologyMedicine
15
Article|50 citations·2020
Incidence of extrahepatic cancers among individuals with chronic hepatitis B or C virus infection: A nationwide cohort study
Chai Yeong Hong, Dong Hyun Sinn, Danbee Kang, Seung Woon Paik, Eliseo Güallar, Juhee Cho, Geum‐Youn Gwak
SJR Q2Journal of Viral Hepatitis

This study examined the association between chronic HBV or HCV infection and the risk of extrahepatic cancers. A total of 537 103 adults aged ≥20 years without history of cancer were identified from the Korean National Health Insurance Service-National Sample Cohort between 2003 and 2013. The difference in cancer incidence was compared between those with and without chronic HBV or HCV infection. During 3 854 130 person-years of follow-up (median follow-up: 8.0 years), 19 089 participants develop

EpidemiologyMedicine

Research Areas

HepatologyEpidemiologyOncologySurgeryMolecular BiologyPathology and Forensic Medicine

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