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During the early months of COVID-19, many people in the US turned to charitable crowdfunding to seek and provide assistance. Little is known about the needs, hopes or experiences that motivated US pandemic crowdfunding and how these were correlated with campaign success. This study uses a mixed-methods data analysis of a randomised cluster sample of 919 US GoFundMe campaigns during the first 7 months of the pandemic. Overall, most campaigns performed poorly, and 38% got no donations at all. The largest proportion of campaigns aimed to address individual, acute financial struggles, often arising from considerable challenges accessing or qualifying for government assistance. These campaigns, as well as those involving campaigners and beneficiaries of colour, tended to be least successful. Qualitative thematic analysis revealed three key crowdfunding motivations that reflect individualistic, agentive responses to the pandemic: struggling, helping and adapting. These motivations reveal a shift away from social suffering and collective mobilisation and towards largely individualised efforts of survival as digital crowdfunding becomes a key domain of crisis response. Crowdfunding platforms are playing an increasingly important role in mediating and influencing individual and collective responses to crisis, which has important political ramifications for how societies perceive and address health emergencies.

Aim Tenofovir and para-aminosalicylic acid (PAS) may be co-prescribed to treat patients with concomitant infections of human immunodeficiency virus and Mycobacterium tuberculosis bacteria. Both drugs are known to have remarkable renal uptake transporter-mediated clearance. Owing to the lack of clinical studies on drug-drug interaction between the two drugs, we conducted a translational clinical study to investigate the effect of PAS on tenofovir pharmacokinetics. Methods Initially, we studied in vitro renal uptake transporter-mediated drug-drug interactions using stably transfected cells with human organic anion transporters (organic anion transporter 1 and 3 [OAT1 and OAT3]). Later, we estimated clinical drug interactions using static and physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) modeling. Finally, we investigated the effects of PAS-calcium formulation (PAS-Ca) on tenofovir disoproxil fumarate pharmacokinetics in healthy male Korean subjects. Results PAS inhibited OAT1- and OAT3-mediated tenofovir uptake in vitro. The PBPK drug-drug interaction model suggested a 1.26-fold increase in tenofovir peak plasma concentration when co-administered with PAS. By contrast, an open-label, randomized, crossover clinical trial evaluating the effects of PAS-Ca on tenofovir pharmacokinetics showed significantly altered geometric mean ratio (90% confidence intervals) of maximum plasma concentration (Cmax ) and area under the curve (AUC0-inf ) by 0.33 (0.28-0.38) and 0.29 (0.26-0.33), respectively. Conclusions Our study findings suggest that the PAS-Ca formulation significantly reduced systemic exposure to tenofovir through an unexplained mechanism, which was contrary to the initial prediction. Caution should be exercised while predicting in vivo PK profiles from in vitro data, particularly when there are potential confounders such as pharmaceutical interactions.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE Global Lung Function Initiative (GLI) 2012 equations were developed to resolve the age-related disparity in interpreting spirometry results. Local validation of the equation is needed, especially in Northeast Asian children. This study evaluated the GLI equation in Korean children. METHODS Spirometry indices (FEV1, FVC, FEV1/FVC, and FEF25%-75%) and clinical information were gathered from three population-based birth cohorts. Predicted GLI reference values and z scores of spirometry results were calculated for 1239 healthy children. The mean, standard deviation of z scores were compared with the expected 0 and 1. Probabilities of falling below the lower limit of normal (LLN) (z score: -1.64) were compared with the expected value 5%. GLI z scores were assessed according to low ( 2) BMI z score groups. RESULTS Mean z scores significantly differed from 0 for FEV1/FVC in males (mean [95% confidence interval]: 0.18 [0.08, 0.27]) and forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) and forced vital capacity (FVC) in females (-0.23 [-0.31, -0.15] and -0.26 [-0.36, -0.16], respectively). The standard deviation was larger than 1 for all variables in males and FVC and FEV1/FVC in females. The probability of falling below the LLN was significantly larger than 5% for FEV1 (12.13% [9.64, 14.77]), FVC (15.86% [13.06, 18.81]), and forced expiratory flow at 25%-75% of forced vital capacity (FEF25%-75%) (7.31% [5.29, 9.49]) in males and FVC (11.91% [9.40, 14.60]) in females. FEV1 and FVC z scores increased across low to high body mass index (BMI) groups, and FEV1/FVC decreased from low to high BMI groups. CONCLUSION GLI equations marginally differ from real-world values, which should be considered by pulmonologists in practice or research.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Although body weight variability has been associated with mortality, cardiovascular disease, and dementia, the relationship between body weight variability and Parkinson disease (PD) has rarely been studied. We aimed to investigate the longitudinal association between body weight variability and PD incidence. METHODS A nationwide population-based, cohort study was conducted using the database from the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service of the whole Korean population. We analyzed 2,815,135 participants (≥40 years old, mean age = 51.7 ± 8.6 years, 66.8% men) without a previous PD diagnosis. We determined individual body weight variability from baseline weight and follow-up visits. We used Cox proportional hazards regression models. RESULTS The highest quartile group was associated with increased PD incidence compared with the lowest quartile group after adjustment for confounding factors (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.18, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.08-1.29). In contrast, baseline body mass index, baseline waist circumference, and waist circumference variability were not associated with increased PD incidence. In the body weight loss group, individuals within the quartile of the highest variation in body weight showed a higher HR of PD risk than those within other quartiles (HR = 1.41, 95% CI = 1.18-1.68). CONCLUSIONS Body weight variability, especially weight loss, was associated with higher PD incidence. This finding has important implications for clinicians and supports the need for preventative measures and surveillance for PD in individuals with fluctuating body weight.

Background White matter hyperintensities, prevalent in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD), significantly affect parkinsonian motor symptoms. The objective of this study was to investigate the relationship between white matter hyperintensities and nigrostriatal dopamine depletion and their interaction or mediating effects on motor symptoms in patients with drug-naive early-stage PD. Methods This cross-sectional study enrolled 501 patients with de novo PD who initially underwent [18 F] N-(3-fluoropropyl)-2β-carbonethoxy-3β-(4-iodophenyl) nortropane positron emission tomography and brain magnetic resonance imaging scans between April 2009 and September 2015 in a tertiary-care university hospital. We quantified dopamine transporter availability in each striatal subregion and assessed the severity of periventricular and lobar white matter hyperintensities using the Scheltens scale. The relationship between white matter hyperintensities, dopamine transporter availability in the posterior putamen, and Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) motor scores was assessed using multivariate linear regression and mediation analyses. Results Periventricular and frontal white matter hyperintensities were generally associated with dopamine transporter availability in striatal subregions after adjusting for age at symptom onset, sex, disease duration, and vascular risk factors. There was an interaction effect between periventricular white matter hyperintensities and dopamine transporter availability in the posterior putamen for the axial motor score. The effect of white matter hyperintensities on UPDRS total score and bradykinesia subscore was indirectly mediated by dopamine transporter availability in the posterior putamen, whereas the axial sub-score was directly affected by white matter hyperintensities. Conclusions This study suggests that the detrimental effect of white matter hyperintensities on parkinsonian motor symptoms is more relevant and independent for axial motor impairments in the status of mildly decreased striatal dopamine transporter availability. © 2021 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society.

Aim This study investigated the change in self-rated health (SRH) status among elderly Koreans and sought influential factors affecting SRH by reference to data collected during the Korean Community Health Survey 2008-2017. Methods We obtained raw data from the Korea Community Health Survey for 10 years (2008-2017), which included sociodemographic and health information on Koreans aged ≥65 years (242 552 men and 349 586 women). SRH was measured using the SRH scale and divided into not-poor and poor. Logistic regression analyses of poor SRH were performed using a weighted sampling method and interaction models (year × variables) to represent the entire Korean elderly population and estimate the changes in poor SRH over time. Results The proportion of elderly subjects in the population increased over 10 years. After adjusting for all confounding variables, the weighted adjusted odds ratios for poor SRH decreased consistently between 2008 and 2017 (men: 0.64, 95% confidence interval 0.50-0.81; women: 0.62, 0.46-0.83). The odds ratios for poor SRH were markedly higher in subjects who reported being stressed (men: 7.02, 5.89-8.38; women 6.14, 5.33-7.08) and those who lacked formal education (men: 2.42, 2.18-2.69; women 3.12, 2.59-3.75) over times. Conclusions Despite the increase in the proportion of the elderly, poor SRH among elderly Koreans decreased over the past 10 years. Poor SRH was associated with high-level perceived stress and a lower educational level in both elderly men and women. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2020; 20: 1190-1195.

Objective To investigate the role of motor cerebellar connectivity in future development of freezing of gait, because it is a complex network disorder in Parkinson's disease (PD). Methods We recruited 26 de novo patients with PD who experienced freezing of gait within 5 years from magnetic resonance imaging acquisition (vulnerable PD group), 61 patients with PD who had not experienced freezing of gait within 5 years (resistant PD group), and 27 healthy control subjects. We compared the resting state functional connectivity between the motor cerebellum and the whole brain between the groups. In addition, we evaluated the relationship between motor cerebellar connectivity and freezing of gait latency. Results The vulnerable PD group had increased functional connectivity between the motor cerebellum and parieto-occipito-temporal association cortices compared with the control group or the resistant PD group. Connectivity between lobule VI and the right superior parietal lobule, right fusiform gyrus, and left inferior temporal gyrus; between lobule VIIb and the right superior parietal lobule, right hippocampus, and right middle temporal gyrus; and between lobule VIIIb and the bilateral fusiform gyri, right middle occipital gyrus, and bilateral parietal lobes was inversely proportional to freezing of gait latency. The freezing of gait latency-related cortical functional connectivity from the motor cerebellum was also significantly higher in the vulnerable PD group compared with the control group, as well as the resistant PD group. Conclusions The data suggest that the motor cerebellar functional connectivity with the posterior cortical areas play an important role in future development of freezing of gait in PD. © 2020 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society.

Radiography is a standard diagnostic test for characterizing left heart enlargement in dogs however limited information is available on the effects of respiratory phases. This prospective and retrospective method comparison study investigated the respiratory effect on the size and shape of the left heart in dogs to determine the usefulness of expiratory radiographs to detect enlargements in the left atrium (LA) and left ventricle (LV). Thoracic radiographs taken at full inspiration and expiration were evaluated in 20 normal beagles and 100 dogs diagnosed with mitral regurgitation (MR). Vertebral heart score (VHS), vertebral left atrial size, elevation of the carina, and dorsal bulging of LA on lateral view and lateral bulging of the left auricular appendage and LV on ventrodorsal view were assessed. In normal dogs, there were no significant differences in the evaluative factors between inspiration and expiration. In dogs with MR, VHS did not change according to respiration. However, bulging of the LA, left auricular appendage, and LV had sharp margin during expiration compared with inspiration. The expiratory radiographic finding of LA bulging had a higher correlation with the LA to aorta ratio compared with LA bulging in the inspiratory radiography. Using a LA to aorta echocardiographic ratio greater than 1.5 as the gold standard, the radiographic sensitivity for LA enlargement was higher during expiration than inspiration. These findings of our study indicated that expiratory radiography can be helpful to support the detection of left heart enlargement, although it can overestimate LA enlargement in dogs with MR.

Background The severity of motor symptoms in Parkinson's disease (PD) does not always correlate with the degree of nigral dopaminergic neuronal loss. Individuals with greater motor reserve may have milder motor signs than their striatal dopamine loss. In this study, we explored the functional brain network associated with motor reserve in early-stage PD. Methods We analyzed 134 patients with de novo PD who underwent dopamine transporter scans and resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging. We estimated individual motor reserve based on initial motor deficits and striatal dopamine depletion using a residual model. We applied network-based statistic analysis to identify the functional brain network associated with the measure of motor reserve (ie, motor reserve network). We also assessed the effect of motor reserve network connectivity strength on the longitudinal increase in levodopa-equivalent dose during the 2-year follow-up period. Results Network-based statistic analysis identified the motor reserve network composed of the basal ganglia, inferior frontal cortex, insula, and cerebellar vermis at a primary threshold of P value 0.001. Patients with an increased degree of functional connectivity within the motor reserve network had greater motor reserve. There was a significant interaction between the motor reserve network strength and time in the linear mixed model, indicating that higher motor reserve network strength was associated with slower longitudinal increase in levodopa-equivalent dose. Conclusions The present study revealed the functional brain network associated with motor reserve in patients with early-stage PD. Functional connections within the motor reserve network are associated with the individual's capacity to cope with PD-related pathologies. © 2020 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society.

Background Extrinsic skin aging caused by atmospheric pollutants is associated with a sustained inflammatory response which is a significant risk factor for lentigines and melasma. Aims The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of topical application of combination formulation of vitamin C, vitamin E, and ferulic acid as an adjuvant to Q-switched Nd:YAG (QSNY) lasers treatment in individuals with lentigines and melasma. Methods A single blinded, prospective, randomized split-face trial was conducted. Eighteen men and women between 26 and 53 years old were treated with a combination antioxidant serum on one randomized side of their face immediately after QSNY laser and twice daily for 2 weeks. Patients were evaluated using digital photography and spectrometry to assess the melanin index and erythema index. Melasma severity score and global improvement scores also were assessed. Results The treated side of the face exhibited a significantly greater reduction in the melanin index. There was no significant difference in post-treatment erythema. More clinical improvement was observed on the treated side compared with the untreated side. Conclusions Our study suggests that topical application of a combination vitamins C, E, and ferulic acid antioxidant formula may be effective as an adjuvant option in QSNY lasers.

The soybean pod borer, Maruca vitrata is one of the key insect pests of tropical legumes. It damages tender leaf axils, flower buds, flowers and pods by webbing and boring clusters of flowers and pods. In this study, we investigated the survival and life table parameters of M. vitrata on several leguminous crops; soybean (cvs. Daewon, Poongsannamool and Socheongja), azuki bean (cv. Hongeon), mung bean (cv. Sanpo), and cowpea (cv. Jangchae), compared to artificial diet to assess the antibiosis resistance to M. vitrata. The life‐variables of M. vitrata were significantly affected by the tested legume cultivars. None of the larvae fed cowpea cultivar Jangchae survived. The azuki bean cultivar Hongeon and mung bean cultivar Sanpo were found susceptible to M. vitrata, whereas cowpea cultivar Jangchae and soybean cultivar Daewon showed antibiosis resistance to M. vitrata. Further studies should examine the chemicals associated with leguminous crop cultivars and its mechanism to develop a control method against M. vitrata.

Although bronchial responsiveness (BR) is usually categorized as normal or hyperresponsive to aid the diagnosis of asthma, it exists on a continuous spectrum, not in a dichotomous manner. We aimed to evaluate the distribution profile of BR in a general population of 7-year-olds.In 2015, 7-year-old Korean children from a nationwide birth cohort study visited regional study hospitals for skin prick test, standard spirometry, and bronchial provocation to establish reference values for the general population. Their BR degrees were categorized into five ordered groups: hyperresponsive BRs were classified into group 1 (provocative concentration (PC) of methacholine causing a 20% fall in forced expiratory volume in 1 second [FEV1], PC20 of4 mg/mL) and group 2 (PC20 of ≥4 mg/mL and16 mg/mL), and nonresponsive BRs were categorized into group 3 (final FEV1 percentage fall after inhaling 16 mg/mL of methacholine [FEV1%fall] of15% and ≤20%), group 4 (FEV1%fall of10% and ≤15%), and group 5 (FEV1%fall of ≤10%).In total, 559 subjects finished all tests reliably. Groups 1 and 2 comprised 10.0% and 15.7% of the total population, respectively. Groups 3, 4, and 5 comprised 14.7%, 18.4%, and 41.1%, respectively. As the group number increased, the proportion of those with recent wheezing and those with indoor allergen sensitization decreased (P for trend = 0.001 and P for trend 0.001, respectively), and the baseline FEV1/FVC increased (P for trend 0.001) CONCLUSION: BR of the 7-year-olds in the general population, while showing a wide distribution across phenotypes, is associated with allergic symptoms, negatively correlated with baseline lung function and positively correlated with indoor allergen sensitization.

Antiseptics are being used for prevention of infections in acute wounds and for treatment of infections in acute and chronic wounds. However, some antiseptics' high tissue toxicity might delay the healing process. The aim of this study was to investigate the tissue toxicity of preferentially used wound antiseptics and the influence of antiphlogistic additives via the hen's egg test on the chorioallantoic membrane (HET-CAM). The HET-CAM is a semi-in-vivo method testing the tissue tolerability of wound antiseptics by evaluating the blood vessel reaction of the chorioallantoic membrane in terms of hemorrhage, vessel lysis, and coagulation. For each test day, selected test substances were applied on the membranes of two to three eggs according to the test protocol. The overall irritation was then evaluated by referring to a calculated score. Normal distribution of the resulting scores was confirmed by D'Agostino-Pearson omnibus K2 test. Significant differences between the antiseptics were calculated by Tukey's multiple comparisons test. Severe CAM reactions were observed after short-term application of octenidine based wound gel (0.05%) and chlorhexidine digluconate (0.5% solution), moderate reactions for octenidine (0.05%) in aqueous solution combined with dexpanthenol (1.34%) and allantoin (0.2%) or for hydrogen peroxide (1.5% and 0.5%) in aqueous solution, slight reactions were observed for hydrogen peroxide (1.5%) in aqueous solution in combination with sodium thiocyanate (0.698%) and for the combination of NaOCl/HOCl (each 0.004%). Polyhexanide (0.04%) in Ringer solution and polyhexanide (0.05%) in Lipofundin, the hemoglobin spray (10%), dexpanthenol, and allantoin showed no irritation. The HET-CAM qualifies as a primary screening test for tissue tolerance of wound antiseptics. Regarding local tolerability, polyhexanide and hypochlorite are superior to other antiseptics.

A conjugated polymer particle in an aqueous phase is covalently networked in 3D by crosslinking with azide groups, leading to significantly enhanced activity-a high photocatalytic H

The presence of abdominal obesity and lack of physical activity are both risk factors for the development of hypertension. The aim of this study was to analyze the risk of developing hypertension according to baseline waist circumference (WC). In total, 16 312 476 non-hypertensive participants who were covered by the National Health Insurance Service (NHIS) from 2009 to 2012 in Korea were included in the study. The participants were divided into six groups according to the level of baseline WC with a 5-cm interval starting from 80 cm in men and 75 cm in women. The risk for the future development of hypertension was assessed in 2015 using the claims data on the diagnosis of hypertension and prescription of anti-hypertensive medications. Approximately 7.8% of the participants developed hypertension over a median follow-up of 5.48 years. The proportion of participants who developed hypertension significantly increased from 4.2% in the WC level 1% to 17.5% in the WC level 6. After adjusting for confounding factors, level 6 of the baseline WC had a higher hazard ratio (HR) for the development of hypertension among the 6 levels of baseline with level 3 as the reference (1736; 95% confidence interval [95% CI]: 1.72-1.753). The participants with abdominal obesity had a significantly higher HR than those without abdominal obesity regardless of whether they engage in high- or moderate-intensity physical intensity (1.741; 95% CI: 1.718-1.764). WC had a linear association with the development of hypertension based on this large nationwide population-based cohort study, which was not influenced by physical activity.

A male Mongolian child with a complete congenital absence of both nose and nasal passage had a poor survival prognosis due to respiratory distress. To enable his survival, a new nose capable of conferring respiratory function was constructed. Following reconstructive surgery, an absence of mucoepithelium in the nasal passage can lead to rhinostenosis. To avoid this complication, a custom-made nasal silicone stent was created using three-dimensional (3D) printing technology in conjunction with the patient's computed tomography data. The stent was implanted for 2 months to maintain the shape and size of the nasal passage. At 2 months after stent implantation, the mucoepithelium tissue in the passage had successfully regenerated with no immune reaction. Three years after stent removal, respiratory function, nasal passage structure, and external nose shape were maintained without additional medical care. These results indicate the successful nasal reconstruction in an arhinia patient using a customized, 3D-printed nasal stent. Laryngoscope, 129:582-585, 2019.

A metal-free, one-pot synthesis of 1,2-naphthoquinone was accomplished from 2-naphthol by utilizing economically cheap NBS under open air conditions. Initial formation of 1,1-dibromonaphthalen-2-one and subsequent transformation afforded the 1,2-naphthoquinone. This oxidation was completed within 30 min and had broad substrate scope. Moreover, this system tolerated heterocyclic systems and was also applicable to 1,3-dicarbonyl systems. This practical approach with short reaction times, a simple workup, and insensitivity to moisture could override the usage of expensive and hazardous oxidizing and metal reagents.

Although postmenopausal breast cancer (BC) risk has been linked to adiposity, associations between adiposity and premenopausal BC remain unclear. To address this question, we investigated the association of BC risk with measures of adiposity, including body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC), in a large cohort of Asian women. We used a nationwide cohort of adult Korean women selected from the National Health Insurance Corporation database merged with national health examination data from 2009 to 2015. A total of 11,227,948 women were tracked to retrospectively identify incident cases of BC. Our analysis used Cox proportional hazards models to calculate hazard ratios and assess the association of BC risk with BMI and/or WC in both pre- and postmenopausal women. BMI and WC were robustly associated with increased risk for postmenopausal BC (ptrend

Decoctions obtained from the dried flowers of Lonicera japonica Thunb. (Indongcho) have been utilized in folk remedies against inflammatory diseases. Recently, many agents that have used for inflammatory diseases are showing anticancer effects. Here, we have isolated polyphenols extracted from lyophilized Lonicera japonica Thunb (PELJ) and investigated the anticancer effects of PELJ on U937 cells. Here, we demonstrated that PELJ induced apoptosis by upregulation of DR4 and Fas, and further it is augmented by suppression of XIAP. In addition, The PELJ-induced apoptosis is at least in part by blocking PI3K/Akt pathway. These findings suggest that PELJ may provide evidence of anticancer activities on U937 cells. Further study for detailed mechanism and the effects on animal models is warranted to determine whether PELJ provide more conclusive evidence that PELJ which may provide a beneficial effect for treating cancer.

Manuscript Type Empirical Research Question/Issue Directors can serve different roles: advisors, liaisons, or monitors. Affiliated outside directors have social or business/financial ties to firm executives, are often more trusted than others by the latter, have more knowledge of the firm, give better advice, or liaise more effectively with other organizations. However, they monitor less effectively than other outside directors do. This study theoretically predicts and empirically examines whether affiliated outside directors' contributions to firm value are moderated by corporate conditions: external control threats, uncertainty, government regulation, or information asymmetry. Research Findings/Insights Panel data analysis shows that among firms that are standalone, have M&A threats, suffer financial distress, face financial uncertainty, or are subject to stricter government regulations, those with more affiliated outside directors—especially those with social ties—have greater firm value. In low information asymmetry environments, firms with more affiliated outside directors have lower firm value. In high information asymmetry environments, however, firms with more independent outside directors have lower firm value. These results remain robust after controlling for endogeneity issues of board composition, outside directors' human capital, social capital, CEO attributes, firm attributes, and industry attributes. Theoretical/Academic Implications This study extends and links resource dependence theory and agency theory by showing how outside directors with social ties and those with business ties are related to firm value. Furthermore, the value of affiliated outside directors' resources and liaisons differ across corporate conditions, which extends resource dependence theory. Also, effective monitoring by unaffiliated outside directors requires sufficient access to firm information, which extends agency theory. Practitioner/Policy Implications The relations of different outside directors to firm value across corporate conditions suggest that firms can benefit from considering their corporate conditions when designing the composition of their board of directors.

BACKGROUND A standardized classification system for breast surgery that incorporates oncoplastic techniques is needed. We classified the surgical techniques for breast cancer treatment into five groups according to the extent of surgery and reconstructive methods, i.e. conventional breast-conserving surgery, partial mastectomy with volume displacement, partial mastectomy with volume replacement, simple mastectomy and total mastectomy with immediate reconstruction. We then evaluated the oncological outcomes for each of the five groups. METHODS We analysed clinical data and 5-year oncological results from patients with breast cancer who underwent breast surgery with reconstruction between 2008 and 2013. Local recurrence, distant metastasis and overall survival were investigated. RESULTS In total, 1469 patients had 1504 breast surgeries performed with a mean follow-up of 72.40 ± 16.76 months. There were 35 cases (2.3%) of locoregional recurrence and 85 cases (5.7%) of distant metastasis, and the 5-year overall survival rate was 98.6%. No statistically significant differences were observed in local recurrence, distant metastasis or death among the five surgical technique groups (P = 0.218, 0.518 and 0.450, respectively). CONCLUSION Oncological outcomes among all patients and within each surgical technique group were excellent during the 5-year follow-up period. No significant differences in oncological results were observed among the five surgical technique groups.

PURPOSE To determine whether an oral effervescent agent improves magnetic resonance cholangiography (MRC) images, both qualitatively and quantitatively, in potential live liver donors. MATERIALS AND METHODS This retrospective study was approved by the Institutional Review Board, and informed consent was waived. Seventy potential liver donors underwent 2D MRC before and after administration of an oral effervescent agent. One radiologist measured relative contrast ratio (rC) and relative signal intensity (rS) for right and left intrahepatic ducts (RHD and LHD), and common hepatic duct (CHD). After assessment of overall image quality, two other radiologists independently scored visualization of five ductal segments (RHD, LHD, CHD, cystic, and common bile duct) and assessed the preferred image set. In consensus, they assessed the biliary anatomy. The data were analyzed using a paired t-test, Wilcoxon's signed-rank test, and chi-square test. RESULTS Both rC and rS of RHD and CHD were significantly higher on MRC images after administration of an oral effervescent agent than before (P < 0.03). The overall image quality grades and biliary visualization scores for all five duct segments were significantly higher on MRC images after administration of an oral effervescent agent than before (P < 0.0001). Between these images, both readers more often preferred MRC images with an effervescent agent rather than those without this agent (reader 1: 56/70, 80.0%; reader 2: 55/70, 78.6%; P = 0.0003). The readers correctly assessed second-order biliary tract anatomy in two more subjects on MRC after administration of an effervescent agent than before. CONCLUSION Oral administration of an effervescent agent improves MRC images, both qualitatively and quantitatively, in live liver donors. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE 3 Technical Efficacy: Stage 2 J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2017;46:1656-1663.