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Periventricular nodular heterotopia (PNH) is a neuronal migration disorder that occurs during early brain development. Patients with PNH may be asymptomatic and have normal intelligence; however, PNH is also known to cause various symptoms such as seizures, dyslexia, and cardiovascular anomalies. PNH is not commonly diagnosed during early infancy because of the lack of clinical manifestations during this period. We present the case of a female infant diagnosed with PNH based on brain magnetic resonance imaging, who had symptomatic patent ductus arteriosus that had to be ligated surgically and had prolonged feeding cyanosis with frequent apneic spells.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has caused major psychological distress, mental health problems, sleep disturbances, anxiety, and depression. Among them, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is known as a comorbidity of diabetes, cardiovascular disease, asthma, obesity, high blood pressure, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and these are poor prognostic factors for COVID-19 morbidity. Therefore, it is important to properly diagnose and treat sleep apnea during the COVID-19 pandemic. Due to the pandemic of COVID-19, in-lab sleep studies such as polysomnography (PSG) tend to slightly decrease, and alternative methods such as home sleep apnea tests (HSAT) and telemedicine tend to emerge relatively. In the post-COVID-19 era, HSAT with a technically adequate device and telemedicine may become an important modality for the diagnosis and treatment of OSA. In addition, the protection of PSG technicians and the disinfection of equipment and the environment of in-lab sleep studies are emphasized. If COVID-19 is ruled out, the use of positive airway pressure devices for therapeutic purposes is not restricted, but efforts should be made to minimize the risk of aerosol generation. Infection and quality control in PSG are important and inevitable issues, and regulation within each institution will be required during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.

Background: Ear canal skin is directly attached to bone or cartilage, and is also connected to the eardrum. Acute otitis externa is cellulitis of the ear canal skin and subdermal tissue associated with acute inflammation and variable edema. We characterized the microbiome of the normal ear canal and ear canal with otitis externa. Methods: In total, 28 samples (14 each from the ear canal skin of patients with acute otitis externa and normal healthy controls) were collected using swabs. DNA extraction and bacterial microbiome analysis via 16S rRNA gene sequencing were performed. Results: The diversity index (mean amplicon sequence variants and Shannon index) were lower in the otitis externa than control group. According to linear discriminant effect size (LEfSe) analysis, a number of taxa differed significantly between the groups. Pseudomonas at the genus level and Staphylococcus warneri at the species level were identified in the otitis externa group. Conclusion: Our results show the importance of the microbiome in the pathogenesis of otitis externa and provide a basis for treating acute otitis externa by targeting the microbiome.

This study evaluated the bone regeneration capacity and mechanical properties of block-type hydroxyapatite (HA)/tricalcium phosphate (TCP) scaffolds in response to different concentrations of polydeoxyribonucleotide (PDRN) and recombinant human bone morphogenic protein 2 (rhBMP-2). Thirty-two male white rabbits were used as a model of calvarial bone defect and classified into eight groups according to type and concentration of growth factor administered, viz., control group (only HA/TCP scaffold), scaffold + PDRN (0.1, 1, 5, and 10 mg/mL each) and scaffold + rhBMP-2 (0.01, 0.05, and 0.1 mg/mL each). The specimens were evaluated using histomorphometric and radiological analyses. Histomorphometric analyses indicated that the administration of PDRN did not increase bone formation. However, significant increases in bone formation were observed with the administration of rhBMP-2 at 0.05 and 0.10 mg/mL on week 8 compared to the control (p p

Self-disturbances such as an anomalous perception of one’s own body boundary are central to the phenomenology of schizophrenia (SZ), but measuring the spatial parameters of the hypothesized self–other boundary has proved to be challenging. Peripersonal space (PPS) refers to the immediate zone surrounding the body where the self interacts physically with the environment; the space that corresponds to hypothesized self–other boundary. PPS is represented by enhanced multisensory integration and faster reaction time (RT) for objects near the body. Thus, multisensory RT tasks can be used to estimate self–other boundary. We aimed to quantify PPS in SZ using an immersive virtual reality visuotactile RT paradigm. Twenty-four participants with SZ and 24 demographically matched controls (CO) were asked to detect tactile vibration while watching a ball approaching them, thrown by either a machine (nonsocial condition) or an avatar (social condition). Parameters of PPS were estimated from the midpoint of the spatial range where the tactile RT decreased most rapidly (size) and the gradient of the RT change at this midpoint (slope). Overall, PPS was smaller in participants with SZ compared with CO. PPS slope for participants with SZ was shallower than CO in the social but not in nonsocial condition, indicating an increased uncertainty of self–other boundary across an extended zone in SZ. Social condition also increased false alarms for tactile detection in SZ. Clinical symptoms were not clearly associated with PPS parameters. These findings suggest the context-dependent nature of weakened body boundary in SZ and underscore the importance of reconciliating objective and subjective aspects of self-disturbances.

Background Chronic periodontitis is a multifactorial inflammatory disease resulting in patients exhibiting high levels of inflammatory factors causing systemic inflammatory bone destruction that may lead to osteoporosis development. The association between periodontitis and osteoporosis has been documented; however, the findings remain unclear. This study aimed to identify the association between periodontitis and osteoporosis using a cross-sectional study design and Korean Genome and Epidemiology Study (KoGES) health examinee data. Methods This cross-sectional study used epidemiological data from the KoGES during 2004–2016. Of 125,324 participants (age, 40–79 years), 9969 with periodontitis and 115,332 controls (without periodontitis) were selected. We analyzed the history of osteoporosis and fractures of all participants. All participants were examined according to age, sex, income group, obesity, smoking habits, alcohol consumption, and food intake. To analyze the odds ratio (OR) of periodontitis for those with osteoporosis and fractures, a logistic regression model was used. Results The adjusted odds ratio (aOR) of periodontitis for osteoporosis was 2.16 (95% confidence interval [CI], 2.01–2.31; P P Conclusion Osteoporosis and fractures are associated with periodontitis. Performing regular oral hygiene and examinations of bone mineral density are recommended to prevent aggravation of osteoporosis and periodontitis.

Background The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between the lobar emphysema ratio (LER) and tumor recurrence and survival in patients with stage I non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Methods We enrolled 258 patients with surgically proven stage I NSCLC. These patients underwent noncontrast chest CT, and pulmonary lobe segmentation and lobar emphysema quantification were performed using commercially available software. We assessed the LER in the lobe with lung cancer. We divided the patients into two groups according to the LER, and the cut-off value was 1. Furthermore, we analyzed the disease-free survival of high LER and other clinical factors after surgical resection. Results The 258 patients were divided into two groups: low LER (n = 195) and high LER (n = 63). The right upper lobe was the most frequent location in lung cancer and the most severe location in emphysema. In the Kaplan‒Meier curve, high LER showed a significantly lower disease-free survival (8.21 ± 0.27 years vs 6.53 ± 0.60 years, p = 0.005) and overall survival (9.56 ± 0.15 years vs. 8.51 ± 0.49 years, p = 0.011) than low LER. Stage Ib (2.812 [1.661–4.762], p Conclusion A LER of more than 1% in the lobe with lung cancer is a poor predictor for cancer recurrence and overall survival in patients with stage I NSCLC.

Understanding the interaction between nanoparticles and immune cells is essential for the evaluation of nanotoxicity and development of nanomedicines. However, to date, there is little data on the membrane microstructure and biochemical changes in nanoparticle-loaded immune cells. In this study, we observed the microstructure of nanoparticle-loaded macrophages and changes in lipid droplets using holotomography analysis. Quantitatively analyzing the refractive index distribution of nanoparticle-loaded macrophages, we identified the interactions between nanoparticles and macrophages. The results showed that, when nanoparticles were phagocytized by macrophages, the number of lipid droplets and cell volume increased. The volume and mass of the lipid droplets slightly increased, owing to the absorption of nanoparticles. Meanwhile, the number of lipid droplets increased more conspicuously than the other factors. Furthermore, alveolar macrophages are involved in the development and progression of asthma. Studies have shown that macrophages play an essential role in the maintenance of asthma-related inflammation and tissue damage, suggesting that macrophage cells may be applied to asthma target delivery strategies. Therefore, we investigated the target delivery efficiency of gold nanoparticle-loaded macrophages at the biodistribution level, using an ovalbumin-induced asthma mouse model. Normal and severe asthma models were selected to determine the difference in the level of inflammation in the lung. Consequently, macrophages had increased mobility in models of severe asthma, compared to those of normal asthma disease. In this regard, the detection of observable differences in nanoparticle-loaded macrophages may be of primary interest, as an essential endpoint analysis for investigating nanomedical applications and immunotheragnostic strategies.

Objectives The adenoid pad, which is located between the orifice of the Eustachian tube (ET) and posterior nasal cavity, can affect the development of otitis media with effusion (OME) because of its anatomical location. The aim of the present study was to evaluate adenoid microbial colonization through 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) pyrosequencing, an advanced molecular technique, and to document the relationship with OME. Materials and methods Adenoid samples were collected using sterile cotton from 32 children during ventilation tube insertion. Sixteen children with OME who underwent tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy due to obstructive symptoms were assigned to the OME group and sixteen children without OME were assigned to the control group. We performed a 16S rRNA-based culture-independent survey of bacterial communities using the MiSeq platform. Results The diversity index, mean operational taxonomic units, and Shannon index were lower in the OME group than those in the control group. A taxonomic analysis showed differences in microbiota distribution between the OME and control groups at the phylum, genus, and species levels. The analysis, which was based on weighted UniFrac distances, revealed differences in microbial composition between the two groups. Conclusion Bacterial community analysis using 16S rRNA pyrosequencing allows us to understand the relationship between the microbial communities of adenoids and the development of OME better.

Background: This study analyzed the presentation, characteristics, and management of foreign bodies in different age groups of pediatric patients with ear, nose, and throat foreign bodies. Methods: A retrospective study was performed using data from October 2012 to September 2020. A total of 1285 patients with ear, nose, and throat foreign bodies who were less than 12 years of age and who presented to the emergency room were included in this study. Their biographical data, clinical presentations, foreign body types and locations, and management outcomes were obtained from medical records and analyzed as three age groups (infancy

Pneumonia and chronic otitis media (COM) share a common pathophysiological mechanism in terms of respiratory infection and inflammation, but the epidemiologic association between the 2 diseases has not been investigated. We investigated the association between an event of COM and previous events of pneumonia in a national cohort.Data from the Korean National Health Insurance Service-Health Screening Cohort were collected from 2002 to 2015. A 1:4 stratified cohort matched for age, sex, income, and residence region composing the COM group (n=23,436) and a control group (n=93,744) was selected. The crude and adjusted odds ratios (ORs) of pneumonia occurring before the index date for COM were analyzed using a conditional logistic regression model. In addition, ORs of the number of diagnoses of pneumonia (≥5 times vs.5 times) for COM were analyzed.The incidence of pneumonia (9.3%) was significantly higher (p0.001) in the COM group than in the control group (7.2%). The ORs of pneumonia were significantly higher in the COM group than in the control group. Pneumonia (adjusted OR=1.31, 95% confidence interval [CI]=1.25-1.38, p0.001) increased the ORs for COM in all ages and gender. Pneumonia being diagnosed ≥5 times before the index date showed higher ORs (adjusted OR=1.34, 95% CI=1.20-1.49, p0.001) for COM than pneumonia being diagnosed5 times.Our population-based nationwide cohort study indicates that diagnosis of pneumonia was significantly associated with an increased incidence of COM.

Our aim was to investigate the bone regeneration capacity of powder-type biphasic ceramic scaffold (BCP powder), block-type BCP (BCP block), and collagen-added block-type BCP (BCP collagen) with different concentrations of recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein 2 (rhBMP-2) in an animal model. Four rabbits were assigned to each of the following groups: no graft + rhBMP-2 (0.1/0.2 mg/mL), BCP powder + rhBMP-2 (0.1/0.2 mg/mL), BCP block + rhBMP-2 (0.1/0.2 mg/mL), and BCP collagen + rhBMP-2 (0.1/0.2 mg/mL), i.e., a total of 32 rabbits. Polycarbonate tubes (Φ 7 mm × 5 mm) for supporting scaffolds were fixed into a 7 mm round border. Subsequently, 0.1 mL of rhBMP-2 solutions with different concentrations was injected into the tubes. Both radiological and histomorphometric analyses showed that osteogenesis was not enhanced by increasing the concentration of rhBMP-2 in all groups at both 3 and 6 weeks. Radiological analysis showed that bone formation was higher in the BCP collagen group than in the BCP powder and BCP block groups at both rhBMP-2 concentrations at 3 weeks. rhBMP-2 enhanced bone formation, however, as the concentration increased, bone formation could not be enhanced infinitely. Collagen-added alloplastic graft material may be useful for mediating rapid bone formation in initial stages.

Alpha-lipoic acid (α-LA) is a potent antioxidant that can prevent apoptosis associated with cisplatin-induced ototoxicity through ROS. Ferroptosis is defined as an iron-dependent cell death pathway that has recently been highlighted and is associated with the accumulation of intracellular lipid droplets (LDs) due to an inflammatory process. Herein, we investigated the impact of α-LA on ferroptosis and analyzed the characteristics of LDs in auditory hair cells treated with cisplatin using high-resolution 3D quantitative-phase imaging with reconstruction of the refractive index (RI) distribution. HEI-OC1 cells were treated with 500 μM α-LA for 24 h and then with 15 μM cisplatin for 48 h. With 3D optical diffraction tomography (3D-ODT), the RI values of treated cells were analyzed. Regions with high RI values were considered to be LDs and labelled to measure the count, mass, and volume of LDs. The expression of LC3-B, P62, GPX4, 4-hydroxynonenal (4-HNE), and xCT was evaluated by Western blotting. HEI-OC1 cells damaged by cisplatin showed lipid peroxidation, depletion of xCT, and abnormal accumulation of 4-HNE. Additionally, the count, mass, and volume of LDs increased in the cells. Cells treated with α-LA had inhibited expression of 4-HNE, while the expression of xCT and GPX4 was recovered, which restored LDs to a level that was similar to that in the control group. Our research on LDs with 3D-ODT offers biological evidence of ferroptosis and provides insights on additional approaches for investigating the molecular pathways.

We hypothesized that asthma/chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) might increase the risk of chronic otitis media (COM), as asthma or COPD affects other diseases. The aim of this research was to investigate whether the incidence of COM is affected by a diagnosis of asthma or COPD in patients compared to matched controls from the national health screening cohort. A COM group (n = 11,587) and a control group that was 1:4 matched for age, sex, income, and residence area (n = 46,348) were selected. The control group included participants who never received treatment for COM from Korean National Health Insurance Service-Health Screening Cohort from 2002 to 2015. The crude and adjusted odds ratios (ORs) of previous asthma/COPD before the index date for COM were analyzed using conditional logistic regression. The analyses were stratified by age, sex, income, and region of residence. The period prevalence of asthma (17.5% vs. 14.3%, p

Background and objectives: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is closely associated with insulin resistance (IR) and is an independent risk factor for incident type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Most studies evaluate the correlation between OSA and IR in only obese or T2DM patients. Therefore, we tried to investigate the effect of OSA on metabolic syndrome and IR in the general healthy male population. Materials and Methods: 184 subjects who visited a preventive health examination program were recruited for this study. All subjects received overnight polysomnography by a portable device (Watch-PAT 200). We examined several metabolic parameters and a homeostasis model of assessment for insulin resistance index (HOMA-IR). The subjects were divided into three groups by AHI (Apnea-hyponea index): normal group (AHI &lt, 5), mild OSA group (5 ≤ AHI &lt, 15), and moderate-severe OSA group (AHI ≥ 15). They were also divided into two groups according to minimum oxygen saturation: low group, Min-SpO2 &lt, 88%, and high group, Min-SpO2 ≥ 88%. Results: Parameters of metabolic syndrome, including waist circumference, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, triglyceride, and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol showed significant differences among the AHI groups. Furthermore, HOMA-IR showed significant differences among the AHI groups. Those parameters, including metabolic syndrome and HOMA-IR, also showed differences between Min-SpO2 groups. Conclusions: In summary, this study helps confirm that AHI is associated with HOMA-IR in the general male population. Furthermore, the severity of AHI correlated with the parameters of metabolic syndrome. Therefore, AHI might be an indicator for evaluating both T2DM and metabolic syndrome, even in the general male population.

Objective Embodied emotions arise from interoceptive and somatosensory processes, and are essential to the development of a stable sense of self. Emotional embodiment is therefore inherently interwoven with our sense of bodily self-awareness, and allows us to navigate complex social situations. Given that the core feature of schizophrenia (SZ) is characterized by the presence of bodily self-disturbances and social-emotional deficits, we hypothesized that embodiment of emotion would be disrupted in SZ. Method Twenty-six medicated individuals with SZ and 26 demographically matched controls used a computerized topographical mapping tool (“EmBODY”) to indicate on a body outline where they felt bodily sensations while experiencing an emotion. There were 13 different emotions plus a neutral state. The resulting bodily maps of emotions were quantitatively compared between groups using linear discriminant analysis and similarity scores. Results Bodily maps of emotions were anomalous in SZ as indicated by indistinguishable maps across different emotions. Relative to the control group, patients reported less discrete and less clear bodily sensations across emotions. In particular, bodily maps for low-arousal emotions were atypical in comparison with healthy controls. Conclusions Anomalous and undifferentiated mapping of embodied emotions in SZ could lead to deficits in linking bodily sensations to conceptual categories of emotions. Disrupted emotional embodiment could also contribute to poor social functioning. Abnormal bodily sensations of emotions might therefore be a promising target for future psychosocial interventions.