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Objective It is necessary to identify the mental health types of young women considering the importance of the mental health during the peripartum period. This study aimed to classify the mental health types in a community sample of young women with pre-pregnancy, pregnancy, or the postpartum period.Methods A total of 293 young women during pre-pregnancy, pregnancy, or the postpartum period were included in this study. The clinical characteristics of depression, anxiety, perceived stress, and quality of life were assessed. The clinical characteristics of the subject were classified by cluster analysis and compared by analysis of variance.Results From the cluster analysis, the subjects were classified into three groups. Cluster 1 showed significantly lower depression and anxiety and higher quality of life than those of cluster 2 and 3. Cluster 2 demonstrated significantly higher depression and anxiety and lower quality of life than those of cluster 3 and 1. Cluster 3 represented the intermediate levels between cluster 2 and 1.Conclusion This study suggested that young women during pre-pregnancy, pregnancy, or the postpartum period might be in a good mental health group, a high-risk group requiring active monitoring, or a group in need of treatment. By monitoring mental health, the groups with high risk or requiring treatment could be discovered and proper management for prevention or improvement of mental health and quality of life can be provided.

Objective Optimism, social support, and spirituality can be important factors related to coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) stress. However, studies investigating the influence and interplay of optimism, social support, and spirituality on COVID-19 simultaneously are still few. This study is aimed to explore the influence of optimism, social support, and spirituality on COVID-19 stress in the Christian church community.Methods A total 350 participants were included in this study. This study was cross-sectionally conducted by using an online survey on optimism, social support, spirituality, and COVID-19 stress that were measured by the Life Orientation Test-Revised (LOT-R), Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support Scale (MSPSS), Spiritual Well-Being Scale (SWBS), and COVID-19 Stress Scale for Korean People (CSSK). The prediction models for COVID-19 stress were analyzed by using univariate and multiple linear regression.Results Based on the results of univariate linear regression, subjective feelings on income (p2=0.177).Conclusion This study showed that subjective feeling on low income, those who had poor health status, lower optimism, lower perceived social support, and lower spirituality were significantly affected with COVID-19 stress. Especially, the model with subjective feelings on income and health status, and spirituality showed highly significant effects, despite the interaction with associated factors. To cope with unpredictable stressful situations like the COVID-19 pandemic, integrated interventions on psycho-socio-spiritual aspect are warranted.

This study aimed to explore the relationship among several indices of circadian rhythms and lipid peroxidation of brain tissue in mice.After entrainment of 4-week-old mice, one group was disrupted their circadian rhythms for three days and the other group for seven days (n = 10, respectively). After a recovery period, the Y-maze test, the elevated plus maze test, the tail suspension test, and the forced swimming test were conducted. To assess lipid peroxidation in brain tissue, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances were measured in the cortex, hippocampus, and cerebellum.When circadian rhythms were disrupted and adapted back to their original rhythm, the recovery time of the 7-day disruption group (median 3.35 days) was significiantly faster than one of the 3-day disruption group (median 4.87 days). In the group with a 7-day disruption, mice that had recovered their rhythms early had higher malondialdehyde levels in their hippocampus compared to those with delayed recovery. The entrainment of circadian rhythms was negatively correlated with the malondialdehyde level of brain tissue. The behavioral test results showed no differences depending on the disruption durations or recovery patterns of circadian rhythms.These results suggest that disruption types, recovery patterns, and the entrainment of circadian rhythms are likely to affect oxidative stress in adolescents or young adult mice. Future study is needed to confirm and specify these results on the effects of circadian rhythms on oxidative stress and age-dependent effects.

Background In advanced cancer patients, pelvic bone metastasis often causes pain and gait disturbance. The use of percutaneous bone cement [polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA)] injection for pain management and strengthening in pelvic bone metastasis has rarely been reported. To evaluate this method, we aimed to determine surgical outcomes and complications over a long-term follow-up period using a large patient group. Patients and Methods We retrospectively collected data from 178 patients who underwent percutaneous cementoplasty for pelvic metastatic lesions, 201 in total. Surgical outcomes evaluated included pain reduction and improvement of ambulation. Mortality within 1 month after procedure and pulmonary embolism caused by thrombus, fat, tumor emboli, or bone cement were investigated as surgical complications. For long-term survivors, pain relapse and mechanical failure were analyzed. The mean follow-up period was 12.6 months, and there were 159 fatalities at last follow-up. Results The mean regional pain numerical rating scale scores decreased from 6.1 preoperatively to 2.4 1 month after procedure (p < 0.01). Gait function was maintained, worsened, and uncheckable in 68%, 24%, and 8% of patients, respectively, 1 month after procedure. Of long-term survivors followed up for > 12 months (n = 53), there were no significant changes in serial plain radiographs, and regional pain aggravation was observed in 9%. Pulmonary cement embolism and bone cement implantation syndrome was observed in 11% and 10%, respectively. However, all patients with these complications were asymptomatic. Conclusions Percutaneous cement injection into the pelvis is a feasible and safe palliative surgical option for patients with advanced malignancy in terms of pain reduction and maintenance of ambulatory function under regional anesthesia.

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to investigate factors influencing preventive behavior against COVID-19 among college students majoring in dental hygiene. Methods: This study is based on a questionnaire survey via online collected from students currently majoring in dental hygiene from 2 colleges in Busan area. Subjects were informed of the purpose and the necessity of the study and agreed to participate in the investigation beforehand. Results: Preventive behavior against COVID-19 was highly affected by attitude and knowledge of COVID-19. Conclusions: Knowledge and attitude toward COVID-19 have significant effect on preventive behavior against COVID-19

Objectives: This study examines dental hygiene students’ knowledge of and compliance with coughing etiquette; it also seeks to identify factors that influence dental hygiene students’ compliance with coughing etiquette. Methods: An online questionnaire was distributed to students currently majoring in dental hygiene at two colleges in the Busan area. The subjects were informed of the purpose of the study; all participants provided informed consent to take part in the study. Results: The findings show that factors that impact compliance with coughing etiquette include knowledge of coughing etiquette, carrying tissues, and awareness of coughing etiquette. Conclusions: Dental hygiene students’ compliance with coughing etiquette was significantly influenced by knowledge of coughing etiquette, carrying tissues, and awareness of coughing etiquette

Objective Even though the importance of stress-coping, there is no reliable and valid scale to measure the stress-coping behavior yet. The purpose of this study is to explore the psychometric properties of Behavioral Checklist for Coping with Stress (BCCS).Methods A total of 458 subjects including healthy subjects and patients with bipolar or depressive disorders were analyzed. The reliability and validity of BCCS were examined by Chronbach’s alpha and exploratory factor analysis using Principal Component Analysis. In order to evaluate criterion-related validity, the Pearson’s correlation analyses between factors of BCCS and relevant scales were performed.Results BCCS showed good Chronobach’s alpha (0.695–0.833) and had acceptable validity. Factor 1 and factor 4 of BCCS were negatively correlated with depression, anxiety and positivity correlated with task and problem-solving, avoidance, tension-releasing copings in common. Factor 2 and 3 were positively correlated with impulsivity, emotionality, avoidance, behavioral and verbal aggression and tension-releasing copings in common. Different from factor 2, factor 3 was positively correlated with depression, anxiety and anger-suppression.Conclusion The results of this study suggest that this BCCS might be a reliable and valid scale for measuring stress-coping behaviors. This scale could facilitate research to investigate clinical implications related to behavioral stress-coping.

1~5 μm 직경을 가진 니페디핀(NF)을 함유하는 폴리카프로락톤(PCL)과 PCL/폴리에틸렌 글리콜(PEG) 마이크로캡슐을 고속교반기를 이용하여 액중건조법으로 제조하여 교반속도, PCL 농도, PCL/PEG 중량비에 따른 캡슐의 형상과 약물전달거동을 조사하였다. PCL 농도가 8에서 2 wt%로 감소하고, 교반속도가 3000에서 5000 rpm로 증가함에 따라 캡슐크기는 감소하였다. 반면에, PCL/PEG 캡슐의 크기는 PCL/PEG 비가 10/0에서 6/4로 변화함에 따라 증가하였다. 직경이 작은 PCL 캡슐과 큰 PCL/PEG 캡슐에서 많은 양의 NF가 관찰되었다. FTIR 관찰결과, NF의 카보닐기와 아민기에 의해 PCL과 NF가 성공적으로 결합되어 있었다. 세포독성 실험결과, PCL과 PCL/PEG 캡슐은 세포 용해나 독성이 없어 안전하였다.

Ceritinib is a potent selective ALK inhibitor with a manageable safety profile. In anecdotal reports, ceritinib was associated with organizing pneumonia (OP), which could be confused with disease progression. We aimed to delineate the characteristics of OP that occurs during treatment with ceritinib, and evaluate its clinical implications. We retrospectively analyzed 44 lung cancer patients whose tumors harbored ALK or ROS1 fusions and who had received ceritinib. OP diagnosis was based on radiographic and clinical features. Four OP cases were pathologically confirmed. Among 44 patients, 22 OP events occurred in 16 (36.4%) patients. The median time to the first event was 17.2 weeks (range 6.7–68.7 weeks). All events were grade 1 or 2. Radiographic features were categorized into four patterns: nodular (54.6%), consolidation (27.3%), parenchymal band (4.5%), and ground-glass opacity (GGO) (13.6%). OP improved in 20 events with drug interruption or corticosteroids. The median duration of OP was 11.3 weeks (range 2–24 weeks). Tumor response rate was 75% in OP-positive and 42.9% in OP-negative groups. The median progression-free survival was 16.7 months [95% confidence interval (CI) 10.1–not applicable (NA)] in OP-positive and 5.4 months (95% CI 3.6–8.4) in OP-negative patients (P = 0.004). The median overall survival was 46.2 months (95% CI 38.1–NA) in OP-positive and 10.5 months (95% CI 6.2–18.9) in OP-negative patients (P

본 연구에서는 유아의 또래놀이, 교실환경, 교사-유아 상호작용이 유아의 언어능력에 미치는 영향을 알아보았다. 이를 위해 육아정책연구소의 한국아동패널(PSKC) 7차년도 자료를 사용하였는데 연구대상은 유아와 유아를 담당하고 있는 교사 각각 1,203명이다. 검사도구의 신뢰도를 살폈으며, 변인의 평균과 표준편차, 변인 간 상관관계를 알아보았다. 유아의 또래놀이, 교실환경, 교사-유아 상호작용이 유아의 언어능력에 미치는 영향은 구조방정식을 활용하여 검증하였는데, 모델의 적합도는 우수하였다. 연구결과, 유아의 또래놀이는 유아의 언어능력에 강한 정적 영향을 나타내고 있었다. 놀이상호작용은 유아의 언어능력에 긍정적 작용을 하고 있었으며 놀이방해와 놀이단절은 유아의 언어발달에 부정적 영향을 미침을 알 수 있었다. 교실환경은 유아의 언어능력에 긍정적 영향을 미쳤으며, 교사-유아상호작용도 유아의 언어발달에 긍정적 작용을 하는 것으로 나타났다. 이를 통해 또래놀이에서의 놀이상호작용, 유아의 발달에 맞게 구성된 교실환경, 질적으로 우수한 교사-유아 상호작용은 유아의 언어능력(듣기, 말하기, 읽기 쓰기)의 긍정적 강화변인에 해당함을 알 수 있었다.

Objective As coping strategies can influence the illness course of mood disorder, they could be potential targets for psychological intervention. The current study investigated the similarities and differences in stress coping styles between bipolar disorder (BD) and depressive disorder (DD). Methods Subjects with BD (n=135) and DD (n=100) who met the DSM-IV diagnostic criteria were included in this analysis. Coping strategies were assessed using the coping inventory for stressful situations and depressive symptoms were assessed by Beck depression inventory. Results The BD group showed significantly more avoidant and task-oriented coping than the DD group (t=2.714, p=0.007; t=2.193, p=0.039). After excluding the effect of the depressive symptoms themselves (by comparing two groups in non-depressive state), the BD group still showed significantly more avoidant and task-oriented coping than the DD group (t=2.040, p=0.045; t=2.556, p=0.013), but when the symptoms of depression get greater, the difference between BD and DD coping strategies were reduced. Conclusion Subjects with BD tend to use more task and avoidant coping than DD subjects. But when the symptoms of depression get greater, the difference in coping strategies between BD and DD were reduced.

본 연구에서는 어머니의 부모유능감, 부모불안감과 유아의 자아존중감, 행복감이 유아의 사회적 유능성에 미치는 영향력을 분석하였다. 이를 위해 2014년 육아정책연구의 한국아동패널 7차년도 자료를 사용하였으며, 한국아동패널에 참여한 1,620쌍의 유아와 어머니를 대상으로 하였다. 연구도구의 신뢰도를 알아보기 위해 Cronbach’s  값을 살폈다. 또한, 각 변인 간 직·간접 영향력을 알아보기 위해 구조모형으로 검증하였는데 모형의 적합도는 우수하였다. 연구결과, 어머니의 부모 유능감은 유아의 사회적 유능성에 강한 긍정적 영향력을 나타내고 있었다. 유아의 자아존중감, 행복감을 매개로 한 간접효과에서도 약한 긍정적 효과를 나타내고 있었다. 또한, 어머니의 부모불안감은 유아의 사회적 유능성에 부정적 영향력을 나타내고 있었으며, 유아의 자아존중감, 행복감을 매개로 하였을 때에는 미미한 긍정적 효과를 나타내었다. 마지막으로 자아존중감, 행복감은 유아의 사회적 유능성에 긍정적 영향력을 미치고 있었다. 이에 어머니의 부모유능감과 유아의 자아존중감, 행복감은 유아의 사회적 유능성 발달에 긍정적 영향을 미치는 변인에 해당함을 알 수 있었다.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the accuracy of model-based iterative reconstruction (MIR) for volume measurement of part-solid nodules (PSNs) and solid nodules (SNs) in comparison with filtered back projection (FBP) or hybrid iterative reconstruction (HIR) at various radiation dose settings. MATERIALS AND METHODS CT scanning was performed for eight different diameters of PSNs and SNs placed in the phantom at five radiation dose levels (120 kVp/100 mAs, 120 kVp/50 mAs, 120 kVp/20 mAs, 120 kVp/10 mAs, and 80 kVp/10 mAs). Each CT scan was reconstructed using FBP, HIR, or MIR with three different image definitions (body routine level 1 [IMR-R1], body soft tissue level 1 [IMR-ST1], and sharp plus level 1 [IMR-SP1]; Philips Healthcare). The SN and PSN volumes including each solid/ground-glass opacity portion were measured semi-automatically, after which absolute percentage measurement errors (APEs) of the measured volumes were calculated. Image noise was calculated to assess the image quality. RESULTS Across all nodules and dose settings, the APEs were significantly lower in MIR than in FBP and HIR (all p < 0.01). The APEs of the smallest inner solid portion of the PSNs (3 mm) and SNs (3 mm) were the lowest when MIR (IMR-R1 and IMR-ST1) was used for reconstruction for all radiation dose settings. (IMR-R1 and IMR-ST1 at 120 kVp/100 mAs, 1.06 ± 1.36 and 8.75 ± 3.96, p < 0.001; at 120 kVp/50 mAs, 1.95 ± 1.56 and 5.61 ± 0.85, p = 0.002; at 120 kVp/20 mAs, 2.88 ± 3.68 and 5.75 ± 1.95, p = 0.001; at 120 kVp/10 mAs, 5.57 ± 6.26 and 6.32 ± 2.91, p = 0.091; at 80 kVp/10 mAs, 5.84 ± 1.96 and 6.90 ± 3.31, p = 0.632). Image noise was significantly lower in MIR than in FBP and HIR for all radiation dose settings (120 kVp/100 mAs, 3.22 ± 0.66; 120 kVp/50 mAs, 4.19 ± 1.37; 120 kVp/20 mAs, 5.49 ± 1.16; 120 kVp/10 mAs, 6.88 ± 1.91; 80 kVp/10 mAs, 12.49 ± 6.14; all p < 0.001). CONCLUSION MIR was the most accurate algorithm for volume measurements of both PSNs and SNs in comparison with FBP and HIR at low-dose as well as standard-dose settings. Specifically, MIR was effective in the volume measurement of the smallest PSNs and SNs.

Nifedipine (NF)-loaded poly(lactic acid) (PLA) and PLA/polyethylene glycol (PLA/PEG) microcapsules are synthesized using a high-speed agitator and a syringe pump with an oil-in-water emulsion-solvent evaporation technique to evaluate the effect of PLA/PEG ratio on morphology and drug release behavior of the capsules. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), differential scanning calorimeter (DSC), and X-ray diffraction (XRD) results indicate that PEG reacts successfully with PLA due to the ether bond between PEG and PLA. The drug release rate of PLA and PLA/PEG capsules increases dramatically from 0 to 5 min and then reaches a plateau within 15 to 20 min. Due to the high specific surface area, the amount of NF released is raised by reducing the PLA concentration from 5 wt% to 2 wt%. Unlike PLA capsules, the drug release rate of PLA/PEG capsules increases due to the size effect by varying the PLA/PEG ratio from 10/0 to 6/4. Larger PLA/PEG capsules are attributed to higher amounts of encapsulated NF. The capsules show no evidence of cytotoxicity, suggesting that the PLA and PLA/PEG drug carriers are clinically safe.

Although preclinical models of spinal cord injury have shown that matrix inclusion in stem cell therapy leads to greater neurological improvements than that including cells alone, there has been insufficient matrix optimization for human cells.

Objective Behavioral assessments that effectively predict sleep-wake states were tried in animal research. This study aimed to examine the prediction power of an infrared locomotion detector on the sleep-wake states in ICR (Institute Cancer Research) mice. We also explored the influence of the durations and ways of data processing on the prediction power. Methods The locomotor activities of seven male mice in home cages were recorded by infrared detectors. Their sleep-wake states were assessed by video analysis. Using the receiver operating characteristic curve analysis, the cut-off score was determined, then the area under the curve (AUC) values of the infrared motion detector that predicted sleep-wake states were calculated. In order to improve the prediction power, the four ways of data processing on the prediction power were performed by Matlab 2013b. Results In the initial analysis of raw data, the AUC value was 0.785, but it gradually reached to 0.942 after data summation. The simple data averaging and summation among four different methods showed the maximal AUC value. The 10-minute data summation improved sensitivity (0.889) and specificity (0.901) significantly from the baseline value (sensitivity 0.615; specificity 0.936) (p < 0.001). Conclusion This study suggests that the locomotor activity measured by an infrared motion detector might be useful to predict the sleep-wake states in ICR mice. It also revealed that only simple data summation may improve the predictive power. Using daily locomotor activities measured by an infrared motion detector is expected to facilitate animal research related to sleep-wake states.

Hyaluronic acid (HA) with one reactive moiety grafted to the backbone is a commonly used matrix in tissue engineering. The addition of a second orthogonal moiety to the backbone allows for greater control in bioactive signal tethering and gelation. In this study, thiol and azide functional groups were grafted to the HA backbone at separate modification sites. NMR, FT-IR, colorimetric assay, and radio-TLC activity were used to confirm and quantify thiol and azide grafting to the HA backbone. Various ratios of di-functional HA (dif HA) and methacrylate HA (mHA) were used to encapsulate mouse embryonic stem cells in order to examine the neural differentiation of the cells. Greater neural maturation was observed in hydrogels containing a higher percentage of dif HA compared to mHA over a six day neural differentiation time course. This formulation was then tested in a contusion spinal cord injury model for biological effect and was found to reduce the ED1+ area in the spinal cord compared to control and allow for host axon extension into the matrix filled lesion area. These results indicate that dif HA is supportive of neural differentiation and can reduce inflammation without additional bioactive signal tethering. dif HA is a promising matrix base for the central nervous system, which should be further developed.

To evaluate the time-dependent incidence, risk factors and clinical significance of percutaneous lung biopsy (PLB)-related pneumothorax. From January 2012–November 2015, 3,251 patients underwent 3,354 cone-beam CT-guided PLBs for lung lesions. Cox, logistic and linear regression analyses were performed to identify time-dependent risk factors of PLB-related pneumothorax, risk factors of drainage catheter insertion and those of prolonged catheter placement, respectively. Pneumothorax occurred in 915/3,354 PLBs (27.3 %), with 230/915 (25.1 %) occurring during follow-ups. Risk factors for earlier occurrence of PLB-related pneumothorax include emphysema (HR=1.624), smaller target (HR=0.922), deeper location (HR=1.175) and longer puncture time (HR=1.036), while haemoptysis (HR=0.503) showed a protective effect against earlier development of pneumothorax. Seventy-five cases (8.2 %) underwent chest catheter placement. Mean duration of catheter placement was 3.2±2.0 days. Emphysema (odds ratio [OR]=2.400) and longer puncture time (OR=1.053) were assessed as significant risk factors for catheter insertion, and older age (parameter estimate=1.014) was a predictive factor for prolonged catheter placement. PLB-related pneumothorax occurred in 27.3 %, of which 25.1 % developed during follow-ups. Smaller target size, emphysema, deeply-located lesions were significant risk factors of PLB-related pneumothorax. Emphysema and older age were related to drainage catheter insertion and prolonged catheter placement, respectively. • One-fourth of percutaneous lung biopsy (PLB)-related pneumothorax occurs during follow-up. • Smaller, deeply-located target and emphysema lead to early occurrence of pneumothorax. • Emphysema is related to drainage catheter insertion for PLB-related pneumothorax. • Older age may lead to prolonged catheter placement for PLB-related pneumothorax. • Tailored management can be possible with time-dependent information of PLB-related pneumothorax.

Many studies have utilized Irgacure 2959 photopolymerized poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) hydrogels for tissue engineering application development. Due to the limited penetration of ultraviolet light through tissue, Irgacure 2959 polymerized hydrogels are not suitable for use in tissues where material injection is desirable, such as the spinal cord. To address this, several free radical initiators (thermal initiator VA044, ammonium persulfate (APS)/TEMED reduction-oxidation reaction, and Fenton chemistry) are evaluated for their effects on the material and mechanical properties of PEG hydrogels compared with Irgacure 2959. To emulate the effects of endogenous thiols on in vivo polymerization, the effects of chain transfer agent (CTA) dithiothreitol on gelation rates, material properties, Young's and shear modulus, are examined. Mouse embryonic stem cells and human induced pluripotent stem cell derived neural stem cells were used to investigate the cytocompatibility of each polymerization. VA044 and Fenton chemistry polymerization of PEG hydrogels both had gelation rates and mechanical properties that were highly susceptible to changes in CTA concentration and showed poor cytocompatibility. APS/TEMED polymerized hydrogels maintained consistent gelation rates and mechanical properties at high CTA concentration and had a similar cytocompatibility as Irgacure 2959 when cells were encapsulated within the PEG hydrogels. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A: 105A: 3059-3068, 2017.

Although preclinical models of spinal cord injury have shown that matrix inclusion in stem cell therapy leads to greater neurological improvements than that including cells alone, there has been insufficient matrix optimization for human cells. N-Cadherin influences the development and maintenance of neural tissue, but the effects of N-cadherin derived peptide His-Ala-Val-Asp-Ile (HAVDI) on the survival, neurite extension, and expression of neural differentiation markers in human induced pluripotent stem cell derived neural stems (hNSC) have not been widely examined. Using polyethylene glycol hydrogels containing a continuous gradient of HAVDI, this study identifies concentration dependent effects on hNSC survival and neural differentiation.

Objective Though anger was highly associated with eveningness in general population, there is no study on the relationship between chronotype and anger-related characteristics in bipolar or depressive disorders. This study aimed to investigate the difference of anger-related characteristics according to chronotypes in bipolar or depressive disorders.Methods Patients with bipolar or depressive disorders (n=238) were included in this study. Their chronotypes and anger-related characteristics were assessed with a self-evaluation of the Composite Scale of Morningness (CSM), the State Trait Anger Expression Inventory (STAXI) and the Anger Coping Scale (ACS).Results The eveningness group in patients with mood disorders showed the highest scores of anger-trait (p

BackgroundThe performance of PET/MRI in the determination of distant metastases (M stage) in rectal cancer relative to the current practice with contrast material-enhanced CT is largely unknown.PurposeTo compare the staging of clinical M stage rectal cancer with fluorine 18 fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) PET/MRI (including dedicated liver and rectal MRI) to that of chest and abdominopelvic CT and dedicated rectal MRI.Materials and MethodsFrom January 2016 to August 2017, patients with newly diagnosed advanced mid to low rectal cancers were recruited for this prospective study (clinicaltrials.gov identifier: NCT0265170). Participants underwent both FDG PET/MRI with dedicated liver and rectal MRI and chest and abdominopelvic CT (the standard-of-care protocol) within 3 weeks of each other. Thereafter, M stage assessment performance was determined by using findings from 6-month clinical follow-up or biopsy as the reference standard. Performance was compared between protocols. Agreement in M stage classification was also assessed. Nonparametric statistical analyses were performed, and P .99).ConclusionPET/MRI with dedicated rectal and liver MRI can facilitate the staging work-up of newly diagnosed advanced rectal cancers by helping assess indeterminate lesions, metastases, and incidental findings better than contrast-enhanced CT, obviating for additional imaging work-up.© RSNA, 2019Online supplemental material is available for this article.Clinical trial registration no. NCT02651701.

Mechanotransduction in neural cells involves multiple signaling pathways that are not fully understood. Differences in lineage and maturation state are suggested causes for conflicting reports on neural cell mechanosensitivity. To optimize matrices for use in stem cell therapy treatments transplanting human induced pluripotent stem cell derived neural stem cells (hNSC) into lesions after spinal cord injury, the effects of Young's Modulus changes on hNSC behavior must be understood. The present study utilizes polyethylene glycol hydrogels containing a continuous gradient in Young's modulus to examine changes in the Young's Modulus of the culture substrate on hNSC neurite extension and neural differentiation. Changes in the Young's Modulus of the polyethylene glycol hydrogels was found to affect neurite extension and cellular organization on the matrices. hNSC cultured on 907 Pa hydrogels were found to extend longer neurites than hNSC cultured on other tested Young's Moduli hydrogels. The gene expression of β tubulin III and microtubule-associated protein 2 in hNSC was affected by changes in the Young's Modulus of the hydrogel. The combinatory method approach used in the present study demonstrates that hNSC are mechanosensitive and the matrix Young's Modulus should be a design consideration for hNSC transplant applications. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A: 105A: 824-833, 2017.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the impact of iterative reconstruction (IR) on the assessment of diffuse interstitial lung disease (DILD) using CT. MATERIALS AND METHODS An American College of Radiology (ACR) phantom (module 4 to assess spatial resolution) was scanned with 10-100 effective mAs at 120 kVp. The images were reconstructed using filtered back projection (FBP), adaptive statistical iterative reconstruction (ASIR), with blending ratios of 0%, 30%, 70% and 100%, and model-based iterative reconstruction (MBIR), and their spatial resolution was objectively assessed by the line pair structure method. The patient study was based on retrospective interpretation of prospectively acquired data, and it was approved by the institutional review board. Chest CT scans of 23 patients (mean age 64 years) were performed at 120 kVp using 1) standard dose protocol applying 142-275 mA with dose modulation (high-resolution computed tomography [HRCT]) and 2) low-dose protocol applying 20 mA (low dose CT, LDCT). HRCT images were reconstructed with FBP, and LDCT images were reconstructed using FBP, ASIR, and MBIR. Matching images were randomized and independently reviewed by chest radiologists. Subjective assessment of disease presence and radiological diagnosis was made on a 10-point scale. In addition, semi-quantitative results were compared for the extent of abnormalities estimated to the nearest 5% of parenchymal involvement. RESULTS In the phantom study, ASIR was comparable to FBP in terms of spatial resolution. However, for MBIR, the spatial resolution was greatly decreased under 10 mA. In the patient study, the detection of the presence of disease was not significantly different. The values for area under the curve for detection of DILD by HRCT, FBP, ASIR, and MBIR were as follows: 0.978, 0.979, 0.972, and 0.963. LDCT images reconstructed with FBP, ASIR, and MBIR tended to underestimate reticular or honeycombing opacities (-2.8%, -4.1%, and -5.3%, respectively) and overestimate ground glass opacities (+4.6%, +8.9%, and +8.5%, respectively) compared to the HRCT images. However, the reconstruction methods did not differ with respect to radiologic diagnosis. CONCLUSION The diagnostic performance of LDCT with MBIR was similar to that of HRCT in typical DILD cases. However, caution should be exercised when comparing disease extent, especially in follow-up studies with IR.

Background and objective The aim of endoscopic valve therapy in patients with emphysema is complete lobar atelectasis of the most emphysematous lobe. However, even after the radiological advent of atelectasis, great variability in clinical outcomes can be observed. Methods The baseline clinical measures (vital capacity (VC), forced expiratory flow in 1 s (FEV1), residual volume (RV) and 6-min walk test (6-MWT)) and computed tomography variables (low attenuation volume (LAV) of the target lobe, LAV% of the target and the ipsilateral untreated lobe and LAV of the target lobe to LAV of the target lung and to LAV of the total lung) of 77 patients with complete atelectasis following valve therapy were retrospectively examined to determine their impact on patient´s outcome (changes in VC, FEV1, RV and 6-MWT from baseline to the time of atelectasis). Results Low attenuation volume of the target lobe to LAV of the target lung predicts a significant FEV1 improvement in patients with complete lobar atelectasis following valve therapy. A 10% difference in that computed tomography predictor was associated with a 82-mL improvement in FEV1 (P = 0.006). Lower 6-MWT scores, low VC and high RV at baseline were significantly associated with greater improvement in the respective parameter (all P

Rhabdoviral G protein-based DNA vaccines have been recognized as a useful way to protect cultured fish from rhabdoviral diseases. In Korea, viral hemorrhagic septicemia virus (VHSV) genotype IVa has been the primary culprit of high mortalities of cultured olive flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus). In this study, we inserted a miR-155-expressing cassette into the VHSV's G protein-based DNA vaccine, and analyzed the effects of miR-155 on the antiviral activity and on the vaccine efficacy in olive flounder. Olive flounder fingerlings were intramuscularly (i.m.) immunized with 10 μg/fish (1st experiment) or 1 μg/fish (2nd experiment) of DNA vaccine plasmids. However, there were no significant differences in mortalities and serum neutralization titers between fish immunized with 1 μg and 10 μg plasmids/fish, suggesting that i.m. injection with 1 μg plasmids/fish would be enough to induce effective adaptive immune responses in olive flounder fingerlings. In survival rates, as fish immunized with just G protein expressing plasmids showed no or too low mortalities, the adjuvant effect of miR-155 was not discernible. Also, in the serum neutralization activities, although G gene or G gene plus miR-155 expressing DNA vaccines induced significantly higher activities than control vaccines (PBS and vacant vector), no significant differences were found between G gene alone and G gene plus miR-155 expressing DNA vaccines. In the serum virucidal activity, fish immunized with G gene plus miR-155 expressing DNA vaccine showed significantly higher activity against hirame rhabdovirus (HIRRV) at 3 days post-immunization (d.p.i.) compared to other groups, suggesting that miR-155 produced from the vector can enhance innate immune responses in olive flounder. The significantly enhanced serum virucidal activities against VHSV especially at 28 d.p.i. in the groups immunized with G gene alone and G gene plus miR-155 expressing DNA vaccines reflect the increased antibodies against G protein, which could activate the classical complement pathway and subsequent viral inactivation. As the available information on the DNA vaccines in olive flounder is not sufficient, more diverse researches on the protective efficacy of DNA vaccines are needed to make more practical use of DNA vaccines in olive flounder farms.

BACKGROUND: Unlike bone, cartilage, or muscle, tendon-specific markers are not well established. The purpose of the study was to investigate expression pattern and level of 6 well-known tendon-specific markers, in various human musculoskeletal tissues, tenocytes, and mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). METHODS: Musculoskeletal tissue samples of tendon, bone, cartilage, nerve, muscle, and fat were obtained from patients undergoing orthopedic surgery. Tenocytes, MSCs from bone marrow, adipose tissue, and umbilical cord were isolated from each tissue and cultured. Six tendon-specific markers, scleraxis (Scx), tenomodulin (TNMD), thrombospondin-4 (TSP-4), tenascin-C (TNC), type I collagen (Col I), and type III collagen (Col III) were investigated in tendon tissue, tenocytes, and MSCs. RESULTS: mRNA levels of 6 tendon-specific markers were significantly higher in tendon tissue that in other connective tissues levels of Scx, TNMD, TSP-4, and Col III immediately decreased after plating tenocytes in culture dishes whereas those of TNC and Col I did not. In comparison with tendon tissue, mRNA levels pattern of Scx, TNMD, and TSP-4 in tenocytes were significantly higher than that in MSCs, but lower than in tendon tissue whereas expression pattern of TNC, Col I and III showed different pattern with each other. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated that 6 commonly used tendon-specific markers were mainly expressed in tendon tissue, but that expression level and pattern of the tendon-specific markers with respect to kinds of tissues, culture duration of tenocytes and sources of MSCs.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the impact of nodule visibility during real-time fluoroscopy and other biopsy-related variables on the diagnostic accuracy and complication rates of cone beam CT (CBCT) virtual navigation (VN)-guided percutaneous transthoracic needle biopsies (PTNBs) of small (≤1 cm) pulmonary nodules. METHODS: Patients (99 males and 114 females; age, 62.1 ± 11.1 years) who underwent CBCT VN-guided biopsies for lung nodules ≤ 1 cm were retrospectively reviewed. The visibility of target nodules was assessed on the captured fluoroscopy images. Diagnostic accuracies were calculated and logistic regression analyses were performed to determine independent influencing factors for the correct diagnosis and complications (pneumothoraxes and hemoptysis) in CBCT VN-guided PTNBs, respectively. RESULTS: Among 213 nodules, 63 (29.6%) were invisible on real-time fluoroscopy during VN. The diagnostic accuracy of CBCT VN-guided PTNBs for the invisible nodules was 76.7%, while for the visible nodules was 89.1% (p = 0.042). In the logistic regression analysis, the visibility of a target nodule (odds ratio = 2.49, p = 0.047) was the only independent influencing factor for a correct diagnosis. As regards complication rates, nodule visibility was not a significant factor for the occurrence of a pneumothorax or hemoptysis. CONCLUSION: Although nodule visibility on real-time fluoroscopy was an affecting factor for the correct diagnosis, CBCT VN-guided PTNB was feasible for the invisible nodules with diagnostic accuracy of 76.7%. ADVANCE IN KNOWLEDGE: CBCT VN-guided PTNB can be tried safely for the subcentimeter-sized pulmonary nodules regardless of their fluoroscopic visibility.

Malignancy is an independent risk factor of venous thromboembolism, although it is difficult to determine whether occult cancer is the cause of unprovoked VTE. About 25% of patients with VTE remain idiopathic. Here, the authors report the case of a 63-year-old woman with a history of unprovoked VTE some 10 months previously who presented with recurrent cough and dyspnea of 6 months’ duration and was finally diagnosed to have multiple myeloma.

Purpose The molecular pathophysiology of venous malformations (VMs), which are a type of vascular malformation, is poorly understood. Until now, it is known that VM lesions are related to the process of angiogenesis. Because angiogenesis is induced under hypoxic conditions, hypoxia is thought to be important in VM lesion formation. Therefore, we examined the implications of hypoxia on the biological behavior of VM vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). In doing so, we investigated the expression patterns of hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α), which plays a key role in hypoxia-induced angiogenesis, to provide a further understanding of the molecular mechanisms involved in VM. Methods Vascular smooth muscle cells from 5 normal veins and 5 VM lesions were cultured under moderate hypoxic conditions (3% O2, 5% CO2). The effects of hypoxia on HIF-1α expression were measured by immunocytochemical staining, reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, and real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. Results Overall, the expression of HIF-1α in cells was high after exposure to hypoxia for 6 or 12 hours, but decreased after 24 hours of hypoxia. HIF-1α expression in VM VSMCs was 2 times higher than that in normal VSMCs. Immunocytochemically, HIF-1α was mainly located in the nucleus and the intensity in VM VSMCs was stronger after 6 and 12 hours of hypoxia when compared to the expression pattern of HIF-1α in VSMCs from normal tissue. This suggested that VM tissue is more susceptible to the effects of hypoxia than normal tissue. Conclusions These results indicate that the high expression of HIF-1α in VM VSMCs under hypoxic conditions could be an important factor for stimulating downstream angiogenesis in VM. Furthermore, the results of this investigation could provide the basis for future studies of VM pathophysiology, and ultimately lead to the development of new therapeutic approaches.