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Yunji Choi

Korea University · Medicine

About the Lab

Professor Yunji Choi's research lab focuses on translational and clinical research in pain mechanisms, oncology, and perioperative medicine. Key research directions include the neurobiological mechanisms of neuropathic pain, particularly involving NMDA receptors and nitric oxide signaling, as well as the impact of anemia and nutritional status on surgical outcomes and organ injury. The lab also investigates biomarkers and genetic factors influencing patient responses to sedation and cancer survivorship, with a strong emphasis on quality of life and functional outcomes in cancer survivors. These studies integrate molecular neuroscience, clinical pharmacology, and population health to improve patient-centered care.

neuropathic painanemia and AKIcancer survivorshipsedation pharmacogenomicsbiomarkers in surgery

Research Overview

Papers
365
Total Citations
3,449
Papers (5y)
98
Primary Field
Medicine

Research Output Trend

Figures are computed from collected data and may differ slightly.

Publications per year (5y)
98total
2022
2023
2024
2025
2026
Citations per year (5y)
504total
20222023202420252026

Selected Papers

15
1
Article|89 citations·1996
Neuropathic pain in rats is associated with altered nitric oxide synthase activity in neural tissue
Yoon Ji Choi, Srinivasa N. Raja, Lisa C. Moore, Joseph R. Tobin
SJR Q1Journal of the Neurological SciencesOA

Peripheral nerve injury may lead to a chronic neuropathic pain state that results from an increase in excitability of central neurons. This central sensitization is mediated via an N-methyl-D-aspartic acid (NMDA) receptor and may involve the production of nitric oxide (NO). As NO is suggested to play a role in nociceptive transmission following nerve injury, we examined for altered NO synthase activity at multiple levels of peripheral and spinal neural tissue in a rat model of neuropathic pain.

PhysiologyMedicine
2
Article|62 citations·2015
Postoperative Anemia Is Associated with Acute Kidney Injury in Patients Undergoing Total Hip Replacement Arthroplasty: A Retrospective Study
Yoon Ji Choi, Seon‐Ok Kim, Ji‐Hoon Sim, Kyung‐Don Hahm
SJR Q1Anesthesia & Analgesia

BACKGROUND: Chronic and acute anemia are both correlated with an increased risk of injury to major organs, such as the brain, heart, and kidney. We evaluated the association between postoperative anemia (hemoglobin [Hb] < 10 g/dL) and acute kidney injury (AKI) in patients undergoing total hip replacement arthroplasty (THRA). METHODS: Patients who underwent THRA between January 2005 and February 2013 were retrospectively reviewed. We divided patients into 2 groups: Hb < 10 (n = 938) and Hb ≥ 10 (

HematologyMedicine
3
Article|55 citations·2019
Association between hand grip strength and impaired health-related quality of life in Korean cancer survivors: a cross-sectional study
Jeongki Paek, Yoon Ji Choi
SJR Q1BMJ OpenOA

OBJECTIVES: To assess the association between hand grip strength (HGS) and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) among Korean cancer survivors. DESIGN: Population-based cross-sectional study. SETTING: A nationally representative population survey data (face-to-face interviews and health examinations were performed in mobile examination centres). PARTICIPANTS: A total of 1037 cancer survivors (person with cancer of any type who is still living) with available data on HGS and HRQoL in the sixth a

PhysiologyMedicine
4
Article|41 citations·2001
The role of peripheral N-methyl-d-aspartate receptors in Freund's complete adjuvant induced mechanical hyperalgesia in rats
Joong Woo Leem, Jae Hyun Hwang, Jin‐Yong Hwang, Hyoungsup Park, Min Kyung Kim, Yoon Ji Choi
SJR Q2Neuroscience LettersOA
PhysiologyMedicine
5
Article|37 citations·2018
Phase II Study of Dovitinib in Patients with Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer (KCSG-GU11-05)
Yoon Ji Choi, Hye Sook Kim, Se Hoon Park, Bong-Seog Kim, Kyoung Ha Kim, Hyo Jin Lee, Hong Song, Dong‐Yeop Shin, Ha Young Lee, Hoon-Gu Kim, Kyung Hee Lee, Jae‐Lyun Lee
SJR Q1Cancer Research and TreatmentOA

Dovitinib showed modest antitumor activity with manageable toxicities in men with mCRPC. Especially, patients who were chemo-naïve benefitted from dovitinib.

Pulmonary and Respiratory MedicineMedicine
6
Article|37 citations·2011
The serum bone morphogenetic protein-2 level in non-small-cell lung cancer patients
Yoon Ji Choi, Seung Tae Kim, Kyong Hwa Park, Sang Cheul Oh, Jae Hong Seo, Sang Won Shin, Jun Suk Kim, Yeul Hong Kim
SJR Q1Medical Oncology
Molecular BiologyBiochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology
7
Review|34 citations·2015
Circulating levels of vitamin D and colorectal adenoma: A case-control study and a meta-analysis
Yoon Ji Choi
SJR Q1World Journal of GastroenterologyOA

These data suggest an inverse association between circulating 25(OH)D levels and colorectal adenoma in both Western and Asian populations.

Pathology and Forensic MedicineMedicine
8
Article|32 citations·2015
Polymorphism rs4263535 in GABRA1 intron 4 was related to deeper sedation by intravenous midazolam
Yoon Ji Choi, Shin Yuong Lee, Kyung‐Sook Yang, Ji Young Park, Seung Zhoo Yoon, Seung Zhoo Yoon, Suk Min Yoon, Suk Min Yoon
SJR Q3Journal of International Medical ResearchOA

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate whether polymorphisms in the gamma-aminobutyric acid A receptor α1 subunit (GABRA1) gene influence sleep induction time, bispectral index score (BIS) during sleep induction and the total dose of midazolam required to reach a Ramsay Sedation Assessment Scale (RSAS) score of 4. METHODS: Patients scheduled for elective orthopaedic surgery were enrolled. All patients received initial doses of 0.02 mg/kg intravenous midazolam. If the RSAS score did not reach 4, an additional 1-

Anesthesiology and Pain MedicineMedicine
9
Article|21 citations·2023
The Effect of Maternal Exposure to Air Pollutants and Heavy Metals during Pregnancy on the Risk of Neurological Disorders Using the National Health Insurance Claims Data of South Korea
Kuen Su Lee, Won Kee Min, Yoon Ji Choi, Sejong Jin, Kyu Hee Park, Suhyun Kim
SJR Q2MedicinaOA

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of high levels of maternal exposure to ambient air pollution and heavy metals on risks of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and epilepsy using the National Health Insurance claims data of South Korea. The data of mothers and their newborns from 2016 to 2018 provided by the National Health Insurance Service were used (n = 843,134). Data on exposure to ambient air pollutants (PM2.5, CO, SO2, NO2, and O3) and heavy metals (Pb, Cd, Cr, Cu, Mn, Fe,

Health, Toxicology and MutagenesisEnvironmental Science
10
Article|21 citations·2022
A Comparison of the Anesthetic Methods for Recurrence Rates of Bladder Cancer after Transurethral Resection of Bladder Tumors Using National Health Insurance Claims Data of South Korea
Sang Won Lee, Bum Sik Tae, Yoon Ji Choi, Sang Min Yoon, Yoon Sook Lee, Jae Hwan Kim, Hye Won Shin, Jae Young Park, Jae Hyun Bae
SJR Q1Journal of Clinical MedicineOA

Bladder cancers have high recurrence rates and are usually removed via transurethral resection of bladder tumor (TURBT). Recently, some reports showed that the anesthetic method may affect the recurrence rates of bladder cancers. The purpose of this population-based study was to compare the effect of anesthetic methods with the recurrence rates of bladder cancers in South Korea. A total of 4439 patients were reviewed retrospectively using the data of the Korean National Health Insurance (NHI) cl

Psychiatry and Mental healthMedicine
11
Article|17 citations·2015
Randomized phase II study of paclitaxel/carboplatin intercalated with gefitinib compared to paclitaxel/carboplatin alone for chemotherapy-naïve non-small cell lung cancer in a clinically selected population excluding patients with non-smoking adenocarcinoma or mutated EGFR
Yoon Ji Choi, Ki Hyeong Lee, Chang‐Min Choi, Jung Shin Lee, Seung Jin Lee, Jin Hee Ahn, Sang-We Kim
SJR Q2BMC CancerOA

BACKGROUND: Considering cell cycle dependent cytotoxicity, intercalation of chemotherapy and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) may be a treatment option in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). This randomized phase 2 study compared the efficacy of paclitaxel and carboplatin (PC) intercalated with gefitinib (G) versus PC alone in a selected, chemotherapy-naïve population of advanced NSCLC patients with a history of smoking or wild-type EGFR. METHODS: Eligible

Pulmonary and Respiratory MedicineMedicine
12
Article|17 citations·2013
Transplantation Is a Risk Factor for Acute Kidney Injury in Patients Undergoing Total Hip Replacement Arthroplasty for Avascular Necrosis: An Observational Study
Yoon Ji Choi, Eun‐Ho Lee, Kyung‐Don Hahm, Ki Hyun Kwon, Young‐Jin Ro
SJR Q3Transplantation Proceedings
NephrologyMedicine
13
Article|17 citations·2014
Propofol Infusion Associated Metabolic Acidosis in Patients Undergoing Neurosurgical Anesthesia: A Retrospective Study
Yoon Ji Choi, Min Chul Kim, Young Jin Lim, Seung Zhoo Yoon, Suk Min Yoon, Hei Ryeo Yoon
SJR Q2Journal of Korean Neurosurgical SocietyOA

The incidence of metabolic acidosis was similar during neurosurgical anesthesia with propofol or sevoflurane. In addition, severe acidosis associated with propofol infusion appears to be reversible when propofol is discontinued.

Anesthesiology and Pain MedicineMedicine
14
Article|14 citations·2020
Liver Transplant Patients with High Preoperative Serum Bilirubin Levels Are at Increased Risk of Postoperative Delirium: A Retrospective Study
Kyu Hee Park, Hyo Jung Son, Yoon Ji Choi, Gene Hyun Park, Yoon Sook Lee, Ju Yeon Park, Hyun-Su Ri, Jae Ryong Shim
SJR Q1Journal of Clinical MedicineOA

Postoperative delirium is a common complication after liver transplantation (LT). A high model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) score is an independent risk factor for postoperative delirium, but it is unclear which of the components of this score are risk indicators. The aim of this study was to analyze the incidence of postoperative delirium according to the preoperative serum bilirubin level, a component of the MELD score, in patients who underwent LT. The medical records of 325 patients wh

Critical Care and Intensive Care MedicineMedicine
15
Article|13 citations·2017
Chlorhexidine and silver sulfadiazine coating on central venous catheters is not sufficient for protection against catheter-related infection: Simulation-based laboratory research with clinical validation
Yoon Ji Choi, Jae Kwan Lim, Jeongjun Park, Hyub Huh, Dong‐Joo Kim, Chang‐Hoon Gong, Seung Zhoo Yoon
SJR Q3Journal of International Medical ResearchOA

Objective The efficacy of chlorhexidine- and silver sulfadiazine-coated central venous catheters (CSS-CVC) against catheter-related infection remains controversial. We hypothesized that the loss of silver nanoparticles may reduce the antibacterial efficacy of CSS-CVCs and that this loss could be due to the frictional force between the surface of the CVC and the bloodstream. The objective of this study was to investigate whether the antimicrobial effect of CSS-CVCs decreases with increasing expos

Emergency Medical ServicesHealth Professions

Research Areas

SurgeryPulmonary and Respiratory MedicineOncologyAnesthesiology and Pain MedicineCancer ResearchPhysiology

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