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Abstract Background Macrophages promote angiogenesis, metastasis, and drug resistance in several cancers. Similarly, TonEBP/NFAT5 induces metastasis in renal carcinoma and colon cancer cells. However, the role of this transcription factor and that of macrophages in lung cancer cells remains unclear. Therefore, this study investigated the effects of macrophages and TonEBP/NFAT5 expression on cisplatin resistance and migration in A549 lung adenocarcinoma cells. Results A549 cells were cultured alone or indirectly co-cultured with THP-1-derived macrophages using a transwell culture chamber. Cisplatin-induced cell death was markedly decreased and migration increased in co-cultured A549 cells. Macrophage-conditioned media (CM) showed a similar effect on drug resistance and migration. Cisplatin-induced apoptosis, DNA fragmentation, and cleaved apoptotic proteins PARP and caspase-3 were markedly reduced in macrophage CM-induced A549 cells. Here, ERK, p38, JNK, and NF-κB activities were increased by macrophage CM. Furthermore, the proteins involved in cisplatin resistance and cancer cell migration were identified using specific inhibitors of each protein. ERK and NF-κB inhibition considerably reduced cisplatin resistance. The increase in macrophage CM-induced migration was partially reduced by treatment with ERK, JNK, and NF-κB inhibitors. TonEBP/NFAT5 expression was increased by macrophages, resulting in increased cisplatin resistance, cell migration, and invasion. Moreover, RNAi-mediated knockdown of TonEBP/NFAT5 reduced cisplatin resistance, migration, and invasion in macrophage CM-induced A549 cells. Conclusions These findings demonstrate that paracrine factors secreted from macrophages can change A549 cells, resulting in the induction of drug resistance against cisplatin and migration. In addition, the TonEBP/NFAT5 ratio, increased by macrophages, is an important regulator of the malignant transformation of cells.

A metasurface is an ultrathin-layered artificial material which consists of an array of nanoscaled optical element and is capable of manipulating light by adjusting the phase in subwavelength scale. Such structures are typically fabricated by cascaded CMOS (Complementary Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor) processes including deposition, etching, and lift-off techniques. Recently, as the demand for optical functionality increases, multiple metasurfaces are designed and integrated in a cascaded fashion which, as a trade-off, causes more fabrication complexity and cost. In this article, we present the double-layered metasurface for phase and wavefront control using dielectric materials, which can be easily fabricated by a single lithographic step without the need for additional etching or lift-off process. The proposed metasurface consists of amorphous silicon (a-Si) nanobeams acting as phase retarders based on the Mie-type resonance and an additional polymer layer serving as nanostructured spacers between the constituent a-Si layers. We analyze the effect of actual fabrication techniques on the performance of our proposed metasurface and demonstrate that the double-layered phase gradient metasurface (PGM) deflects light at approximately twice the angle compared to that of single-layered PGM. Furthermore, we extend our study to double-layered metalenses and achieve a high numerical aperture (NA) exceeding 0.9. The proposed design concept demonstrates the potential for enhancing light manipulation and paves the way for the development of advanced optical devices with improved performance and a simplified fabrication process.

Abstract Cytochrome b5 reductase 3 (CYB5R3) is involved in various cellular metabolic processes, including fatty acid synthesis and drug metabolism. However, the role of CYB5R3 in cancer development remains poorly understood. Here, we show that CYB5R3 expression is downregulated in human lung cancer cell lines and tissues. Adenoviral overexpression of CYB5R3 suppresses lung cancer cell growth in vitro and in vivo. However, CYB5R3 deficiency promotes tumorigenesis and metastasis in mouse models. Transcriptome analysis revealed that apoptosis- and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress-related genes are upregulated in CYB5R3-overexpressing lung cancer cells. Metabolomic analysis revealed that CYB5R3 overexpression increased the production of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) and oxidized glutathione (GSSG). Ectopic CYB5R3 is mainly localized in the ER, where CYB5R3-dependent ER stress signaling is induced via activation of protein kinase RNA-like ER kinase (PERK) and inositol-requiring enzyme 1 alpha (IRE1α). Moreover, NAD+ activates poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase16 (PARP16), an ER-resident protein, to promote ADP-ribosylation of PERK and IRE1α and induce ER stress. In addition, CYB5R3 induces the generation of reactive oxygen species and caspase-9-dependent intrinsic cell death. Our findings highlight the importance of CYB5R3 as a tumor suppressor for the development of CYB5R3-based therapeutics for lung cancer.

Abstract Background Central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC) is the fourth most prevalent retinal disease leading to age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and retinal atrophy. However, CSC's pathogenesis and therapeutic target need to be better understood. Results We investigated exosomal microRNA in the aqueous humor of CSC patients using next-generation sequencing (NGS) to identify potential biomarkers associated with CSC pathogenesis. Bioinformatic evaluations and NGS were performed on exosomal miRNAs obtained from AH samples of 62 eyes (42 CSC and 20 controls). For subgroup analysis, patients were divided into treatment responders (CSC-R, 17 eyes) and non-responders (CSC-NR, 25 eyes). To validate the functions of miRNA in CECs, primary cultured-human choroidal endothelial cells (hCEC) of the donor eyes were utilized for in vitro assays. NGS detected 376 miRNAs. Our results showed that patients with CSC had 12 significantly upregulated and 17 downregulated miRNAs compared to controls. miR-184 was significantly upregulated in CSC-R and CSC-NR patients compared to controls and higher in CSC-NR than CSC-R. In vitro assays using primary cultured-human choroidal endothelial cells (hCEC) demonstrated that miR-184 suppressed the proliferation and migration of hCECs. STC2 was identified as a strong candidate for the posttranscriptional down-regulated target gene of miR-184. Conclusion Our findings suggest that exosomal miR-184 may serve as a biomarker reflecting the angiostatic capacity of CEC in patients with CSC.

Objective To examine (1) the location of brain lesion that would predict post-traumatic delirium and (2) the association between volume of brain lesion and occurrence of delirium in patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI). Methods A retrospective study was conducted by reviewing medical records of 68 TBI patients, categorized into two groups: the delirious group (n=38) and non-delirious group (n=30). The location and volume of TBI were investigated with the 3D Slicer software. Results The TBI region in the delirious group mainly involved the frontal or temporal lobe (p=0.038). All 36 delirious patients had brain injury on the right side (p=0.046). The volume of hemorrhage in the delirious group was larger by about 95 mL compared to the non-delirious group, but this difference was not statistically significant (p=0.382). Conclusion Patients with delirium after TBI had significantly different injury site and side, but not lesion size compared to patients without delirium.

Abstract The recent interests in bridging intriguing optical phenomena and thermal energy management has led to the demonstration of controlling thermal radiation with epsilon‐near‐zero (ENZ) and the related near‐zero‐index (NZI) optical media. In particular, the manipulation of thermal emission using phononic ENZ and NZI materials has shown promise in mid‐infrared radiative cooling systems operating under low‐temperature environments (below 100 °C). However, the absence of NZI materials capable of withstanding high temperatures has limited the spectral extension of these advanced technologies to the near‐infrared (NIR) regime. Herein, a perovskite conducting oxide, lanthanum‐doped barium stannate (La:BaSnO3 [LBSO]), as a refractory NZI material well suited for engineering NIR thermal emission is proposed. This work focuses on the experimental demonstration of superior high‐temperature stability (of at least 1000 °C) of LBSO films in air and its durability under intense UV‐pulsed laser irradiation below peak power of 9 MW cm−2. Based on the low optical‐loss in LBSO, a selective narrow‐band thermal emission utilizing a metal‐insulator‐metal (MIM) Fabry–Pérot nanocavity consisting of LBSO films as metallic component is demonstrated. This study shows that LBSO is an ideal candidate as a refractory NZI component for thermal energy conversion operating at high temperatures in air and under strong light irradiations.

The firefighting protective suits (FPSs) of firefighters at fire scenes affect their health and safety. However, the association between firefighters’ health awareness of occupational exposure risks and the FPS use, washing and management remains unclear. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the association between firefighters’ health awareness of occupational exposure risks and their recognition, behaviors regarding the use, washing and management of FPSs. This study design is a cross-sectional study and used a web-based survey of the Seoul Metropolitan Government’s electronic survey system. The survey was conducted on metropolitan firefighters performing shift work in charge of fire and rescue work for 21 days from 1 to 22 April 2019, with 1097 (40.3%) respondents. Characteristics of FPS use, washing and management and the association between thoughts and behaviors thereof and health awareness of occupational exposure risks were evaluated. Data of 1097 firefighters were analyzed using the SAS 9.4 statistical package, chi-square test and logistic regression analysis. Firefighters’ fire scene awareness rate of possible carcinogens was 94.4%. There was an association between public health thinking of occupational exposure risks and the correct use of an FPS for one’s own safety (AOR 1.97. 95% CI 1.02–3.80). However, no association was shown between correct FPS use (AOR 1.49, 95% CI 0.48–4.59), washing (AOR 2.50, 95% CI 0.93–6.68) and management (AOR 1.38, 95% CI 0.75–2.50) behaviors. This study analyzed the relationship between the use, washing and management of personal protective equipment called firefighting clothing and firefighters perceived occupational exposure risks. This study found an association between the health awareness of occupational exposure risks and recognition of the correct use of FPSs at fire scenes but not between using, washing and managing behaviors of FPSs. This study is the first to analyze the relationship between firefighting clothing and occupational health awareness level. The results confirm that future interventions are required to help firefighters practice desirable behaviors toward FPSs and provided evidenced data for preventing occupational diseases among firefighters. Therefore, this study can be used to develop a firefighter occupational health curriculum and establish health and safety plans from mid- to long-term perspectives for firefighters’ safety against occupational exposure risks.

BackgroundAutonomic neuropathy commonly occurs as a long-term complication of diabetes mellitus (DM) and can be diagnosed based on heart rate variability (HRV), calculated from electrocardiogram (ECG) recordings. There are limited data on HRV using real-time ECG and ambulatory glucose monitoring in patients with DM. The aim of this study was to investigate real-time HRV according to ambulatory glucose levels in patients with DM.MethodsA total of 43 patients (66.3 ± 7.5 years) with DM underwent continuous real-time ECG monitoring (225.7 ± 107.3 h) for HRV and ambulatory glucose monitoring using a remote monitoring system. We compared the HRV according to the ambulatory glucose profile. Data were analyzed according to the target in glucose range (TIR).ResultsThere were no significant differences in the baseline characteristics of the patients according to the TIR. During monitoring, we checked ECG and ambulatory glucose levels (a total of 15,090 times) simultaneously for all patients. Both time- and frequency-domain HRVs were lower when the patients had poorly controlled glucose levels (TIR 70%). In addition, heart and respiratory rates increased with real-time glucose levels (P

OBJECTIVES This study examined the association between lack of compensation for COVID-19-related overtime work (LCCOW) and burnout among emergency medical service (EMS) providers in Seoul, Korea. METHODS We conducted a cross-sectional survey of 693 EMS providers in Seoul, Korea. Participants were classified into 3 groups according to their experience of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)-related overtime work and LCCOW: (1) “did not experience,” (2) “experienced and was compensated,” and (3) “experienced and was not compensated.” Burnout was measured using the Korean version of the Copenhagen Burnout Inventory, which has 3 subdomains: personal burnout (PB), work-related burnout (WRB), and citizen-related burnout (CRB). Multiple linear regression was applied to examine whether LCCOW was associated with burnout after adjusting for potential confounders. RESULTS In total, 74.2% of participants experienced COVID-19-related overtime work, and 14.6% of those who worked overtime experienced LCCOW. COVID-19-related overtime work showed a statistically non-significant association with burnout. However, the association differed by LCCOW. Compared to the “did not experience” group, the “experienced and was not compensated” group was associated with PB (β=10.519; 95% confidence interval [CI], 3.455 to 17.584), WRB (β=10.339; 95% CI, 3.398 to 17.280), and CRB (β=12.290; 95% CI, 6.900 to 17.680), whereas no association was observed for the “experienced and was compensated” group. Furthermore, an analysis restricted to EMS providers who worked overtime due to COVID-19 showed that LCCOW was associated with PB (β=7.970; 95% CI, 1.064 to 14.876), WRB (β=7.276; 95% CI, 0.270 to 14.283), and CRB (β=10.000; 95% CI, 3.435 to 16.565). CONCLUSIONS This study suggests that LCCOW could be critical in worsening burnout among EMS providers who worked overtime due to COVID-19.

Background: Autonomic dysfunction as a long-term complication may occur in end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) patients and can be diagnosed using heart rate variability (HRV) analyzed from electrocardiogram (ECG) recordings. There is limited data about HRV using real-time ECG to predict hemodialysis (HD) efficiency in patients with ESKD who are routinely doing HD in the real world. Methods: A total of 50 patients (62.1 ± 10.7 years) with ESKD underwent continuous real-time ECG monitoring (237.4 ± 15.3 min) during HD for HRV using remote monitoring system. Their electrolyte levels were checked before and after HD. We compared HRV according to electrolyte levels. Results: During the monitor, we checked the ECG and electrolyte levels simultaneously a total of 2374 times for all of the patients. Both time and frequency domain HRV were higher when the patients had lower K+ level (+ level change (+ level (≥0.5 mEq/L) and P+ level change (≥2 mEq/L). Additionally, patients with lower K+ and P+ level change groups had higher incidences of arrhythmic events including atrial/ventricular premature complexes, despite no difference of mean heart rate (p < 0.001). Conclusions: Higher HRV was independently associated with a poorly controlled K+ and P+ level during HD in patients with ESKD. This is consistently evidenced by the independent association between higher HRV, K+ and P+ levels in real time, suggesting that low electrolyte changes before and after HD alone may cause cardiac autonomic dysfunction.

Abstract Cholesterol is essential for neuronal activity and function. Cholesterol depletion in the plasma membrane impairs synaptic transmission. However, the molecular mechanisms by which cholesterol deficiency leads to defects in vesicle fusion remain poorly understood. Here, it is shown that cholesterol is required for Ca2+‐dependent native vesicle fusion using the in vitro reconstitution of fusion and amperometry to monitor exocytosis in chromaffin cells. Purified native vesicles are crucial for the reconstitution of physiological Ca2+‐dependent fusion, because vesicle‐mimicking liposomes fail to reproduce the cholesterol effect. Intriguingly, cholesterol has no effect on the membrane binding of synaptotagmin‐1, a Ca2+ sensor for ultrafast fusion. Cholesterol strengthens local membrane deformation and bending induced by synaptotagmin‐1, thereby lowering the energy barrier for Ca2+‐dependent fusion to occur. The data provide evidence that cholesterol depletion abolishes Ca2+‐dependent vesicle fusion by disrupting synaptotagmin‐1‐induced membrane bending, and suggests that cholesterol is an essential lipid regulator for Ca2+‐dependent fusion.

(1) Background: When a fire breaks out, combustibles are burned and toxic substances such as carbon monoxide (CO), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), benzene, and hydrogen cyanide are produced. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the air quality inside self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) by comparing it to that in the environment where the SCBA charger is installed. (2) Methods: The design of this study was a simulation-based case-control experiment study, and the experiment was conducted at two fire stations located on land and on water. When charging the SCBA, it was differentiated according to the presence or absence of exposure to harmful substances and the degree of exposure. The air quality inside the SCBA in the charging room installed in the fire station garages located on land and in the water, which were not completely isolated from harmful substances, was evaluated. CO, carbon dioxide (CO2), water, and oil mist were measured and analyzed to determine the air quality inside the SCBA. (3) Results: In the case of land firefighting stations, the mean CO among the SCBA internal air quality items was 20 times higher than the outside the SCBA, and higher than the safe range in the group with the highest exposure at the sites of firefighting buildings completely isolated from hazardous substances. The CO levels of all items of water were analyzed to be higher than the safe range in the floating fire station. (4) Conclusions: It was confirmed that the installation environment of an SCBA charging room can affect the safety of the charged internal air quality components. The results of this study can be actively used for the operation and management of SCBA charging room environments when building firefighting buildings in the future for the hygiene, safety, and health of firefighters.

We present monolithically integrated waveguide with thin isolated layers of dielectric material, which ensure efficient emission of guided light in multiple optical windows. The proposed waveguide is fabricated by using silicon oxynitride (SiON) which functions as the core guiding layer, and silicon nitride (SiN) which facilitates effective vertical emission of guided light via optical windows. The theoretical operating principle is analyzed by Finite-Difference-Time-Domain (FDTD) simulation, and the experimentally fabricated device is demonstrated to find the expected operational trend by measuring vertical emission of light through the optical windows. We further find that the physical origin of such efficient emission stems from the Fabry-Perot resonance induced laterally at the interface between the optical windows and cladding layers, which leads to the strong emission of light at the edge of optical windows. The output efficiencies of light emission from SiN optical windows, which are fabricated in cascaded fashion on top of the SiON waveguide, are 30, 45 and 55 percent at the wavelength of 457, 532, and 637 nm, respectively. The proposed design concept can be applied to various potential applications including optical integrated circuits with vertical interconnection, optical emission in wearable devices for virtual and augmented reality, and other emerging optical sensors.

Background : The role of interleukin-10 (IL-10) in humans is controversial because IL-10 has been proposed to exhibit both pro- and anti-inflammatory effects. We aimed to determine the relationships between the changes in these parameters in obese individuals participating in a weight-reduction program. Methods : We measured cardiometabolic parameters including lipid profile and serum IL-10 concentration before and after completion of a 12-week weight-reduction program in 63 non-diabetic obese subjects with a body mass index ≥27 kg/m2 who had comorbid hypertension or dyslipidemia. All the participants were provided with individual intervention sessions designed to implement lifestyle modifications and administered 120 mg orlistat three times daily for 12 weeks. The relationships between changes in serum IL-10 concentration and changes in cardiometabolic risk factors were analyzed. Results : Changes in serum IL-10 concentration were significantly negatively correlated with changes in total cholesterol (r=-0.377), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C; r=-0.377), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C; r=-0.278) concentrations. However, there were no correlations between changes in serum IL-10 concentration and changes in other cardiometabolic parameters. Conclusion : Serum IL-10 concentration can increase as serum total cholesterol decreases. Additional studies are needed to explore the mechanisms linking changes in serum IL-10 with serum LDL-C and HDL-C concentrations.

Abstract High intra-patient variability (IPV) of tacrolimus trough concentrations is increasingly recognized as a predictor of poor long-term outcomes in kidney transplant. However, there is a lack of information regarding the association between tacrolimus IPV and graft outcomes according to immunological risk. We analyzed tacrolimus IPV using the coefficient of variability from months 6–12 after transplantation in 1080 kidney transplant recipients. Patients were divided into two immunological risk groups based on pre-transplant panel reactive antibodies and donor-specific antibodies. High immunological risk was defined as panel reactive antibodies ≥ 20% or the presence of donor-specific antibodies. The effects of tacrolimus IPV on graft outcomes were significantly different between low and high immunological risk patients. A multivariable Cox regression model confirmed that high tacrolimus IPV was an independent risk factor for graft failure in the high risk group (HR, 2.90; 95% CI, 1.42–5.95, P = 0.004). In the high risk group, high tacrolimus IPV was also significantly associated with increased risk of antibody-mediated rejection (P = 0.006). In contrast, death-censored graft survival and antibody-mediated rejection in the low immunological risk group was not significantly different by tacrolimus IPV. High tacrolimus IPV significantly increases the risk of graft failure and antibody-mediated rejection in patients with high immunological risk.

Animal models of retinal artery occlusion (RAO) have been widely used in many studies. However, most of these studies prefer using a central retinal artery occlusion (CRAO) which is a typical global ischemia model of the retina, due to the technical limitation of producing single vessel targeted modeling with real-time imaging. A focal ischemia model, such as branch retinal artery occlusion (BRAO), is also needed for explaining interactions, including the immunological reaction between the ischemic retina and adjacent healthy retina. Accordingly, a relevant model for clinical RAO patients has been demanded to understand the pathophysiology of the RAO disease. Herein, we establish a convenient BRAO mouse model to research the focal reaction of the retina. As a photo-thrombotic agent, Rose bengal was intravenously injected into 7 week-old transgenic mice (CX3CR1-GFP) for making embolism occlusion, which causes pathology similarly to clinical cases. In an optimized condition, a 561 nm laser (13.1 mw) was projected to a targeted vessel to induce photo-thrombosis for 27 s by custom-built retinal confocal microscopy. Compared to previous BRAO models, the procedures of thrombosis generation were naturally and minimal invasively generated with real-time retinal imaging. In addition, by utilizing the self-remission characteristics of Rose bengal thrombus, a reflow of the BRAO with immunological reactions of the CX3CR1-GFP+ inflammatory cells such as the retinal microglia and monocytes was monitored and analyzed. In this models, reperfusion began on day 3 after modeling. Simultaneously, the activation of CX3CR1-GFP+ inflammatory cells, including the increase of activation marker and morphologic change, was confirmed by immunohistochemical (IHC) staining and quantitative real-time PCR. CD86 and Nox2 were prominently expressed on day 3 after the modeling. At day 7, blood flow was almost restored in the large vessels. CX3CR1-GFP+ populations in both superficial and deep layers of the retina also increased around even in the BRAO peri-ischemic area. In summary, this study successfully establishes a reproducible BRAO modeling method with convenient capabilities of easily controllable time points and selection of a specific single vessel. It can be a useful tool to analyze the behavior of inflammatory cell after spontaneous arterial recanalization in BRAO and further investigate the pathophysiology of BRAO.

Background/Aims: Some cases of gastric low-grade dysplasia (LGD) and high-grade dysplasia (HGD) on forceps biopsy (FB) are diagnosed as gastric cancer (GC) after endoscopic resection (ER). This study aims to evaluate the clinical outcomes of ER for gastric LGD and HGD on pretreatment FB and to identify the factors that predict pathologic upstaging to GC. Methods: Patients who underwent ER for LGD and HGD on pretreatment FB from March 2005 to February 2018 in 14 hospitals in South Korea were enrolled, and the patients’ medical records were reviewed retrospectively. Results: This study included 2,150 cases of LGD and 1,534 cases of HGD diagnosed by pretreatment FB. In total, 589 of 2,150 LGDs (27.4%) were diagnosed as GC after ER. Helicobacter pylori infection, smoking history, tumor location in the lower third of the stomach, tumor size >10 mm, depressed lesion, and ulceration significantly predicted GC. A total of 1,115 out of 1,534 HGDs (72.7%) were diagnosed with GC after ER. Previous history of GC, H. pylori infection, smoking history, tumor location in the lower third of the stomach, tumor size >10 mm, depressed lesion, and ulceration were significantly associated with GC. As the number of risk factors predicting GC increased in both LGD and HGD on pretreatment FB, the rate of upstaging to GC after ER increased. Conclusions: A substantial proportion of LGDs and HGDs on pretreatment FB were diagnosed as GC after ER. Accurate ER procedures such as endoscopic submucosal dissection should be recommended in cases of LGD and HGD with factors predicting pathologic upstaging to GC.

Facilitating anti-reflection has been of great scientific and practical interest due to its diverse applications in optical devices including solar cells and photodetectors. Various anti-reflection schemes are exploited and elaborated to realize effective broadband suppression of reflected light. In this work, we present and analyze a metasurface coating on silicon for efficient anti-reflection by leveraging the design rules of the Chebyshev transformer in the field of transmission line theory in the microwave regime. We explore the underlying physics of the metasurface by comparing the two representative types of constituent nanostructures and evaluating their optical properties using effective index retrieval methods. In particular, by designing nanostructures with subtle vertical etching in the pyramid valley, a broadband anti-reflection coating ranging from 400 to 1100 nm is achieved with reflection of less than 3%. We believe that the proposed design rule and analysis for this Chebyshev metasurface could pave an important way to realize systematic and effective anti-reflection schemes for diverse optical devices.

Abstract Background The purpose of this study is to investigate the heritability of total rotation, matrix rotation, and intramatrix rotation of the mandible in Korean monozygotic (MZ) twins, dizygotic (DZ) twins, and their siblings. Materials and methods The samples consisted of 75 pairs of Korean twins (39.7 + 9.26 years; MZ group, 36 pairs; DZ group, 13 pairs; sibling group, 26 pairs). Lateral cephalograms were taken, and 13 variables related to internal and external mandible rotation were measured. Three types of occlusal planes (bisected occlusal plane, functional occlusal plane, and the MM bisector occlusal plane) were used to evaluate genetic influence on the occlusal plane. Heritability (h 2) was calculated by using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and Falconer’s method. Results With regard to mandibular rotation, the MZ twin group showed significantly higher ICC values compared to the DZ twin and sibling groups. The ICC mean values for 13 cephalometric measurements were 0.85 (MZ), 0.62 (DZ), and 0.52 (siblings) respectively. The heritability of the total rotation (0.48) and matrix rotation (0.5) between the MZ and DZ groups was higher than that of the intramatrix rotation (− 0.14). All of the three types of occlusal plane showed high heritability, and among the three types, the functional occlusal plane showed the highest heritability (h 2 = 0.76). Conclusion Based on these findings that showed a strong genetic effect on total rotation and matrix rotation, maintaining these rotations should be carefully considered in the orthodontic treatment plan, while the lower border of the mandible may be responsive to various treatments. Occlusal plane change, especially with regard to the functional occlusal plane, may not be stable due to strong genetic influences.

Background Previous research has shown a beneficial effect of prewarming for preventing inadvertent perioperative hypothermia. However, there are few studies of the effects of a short prewarming period, especially in gynecologic laparoscopic surgery. Methods Fifty-four patients were randomly assigned to 2 groups. Patients in the non-prewarming group were only warmed intraoperatively with a forced air warming device, while those in the prewarming group were warmed for 10 min before anesthetic induction and during the surgery. The primary outcome was incidence of intraoperative hypothermia. Results Intraoperative hypothermia was observed in 73.1% of the patients in the non-prewarming group and 24% of the patients in the prewarming group (P < 0.001). There were significant differences in core temperature changes between the groups (P < 0.001). Postoperative shivering occurred in 8 of the 26 (30.8%) patients in the non-prewarming group and in 1 of the 25 (4.0%) patients in the prewarming group (P = 0.024). Conclusions Forced air warming for 10 min before induction on the operating table combined with intraoperative warming was an effective method to prevent hypothermia in patients undergoing gynecologic laparoscopic surgery.

Background : Living donors are the major source of kidneys in countries with a shortage of deceased donors. Kidney donation after careful donor selection is generally accepted as a safe procedure, but the physiologic consequences after donor nephrectomy are not fully verified. In this study we retrospectively reviewed the renal function of the residual kidney in living donors. Methods : Post-nephrectomy laboratory data of 1,175 living donors (60.7%) from 1,933 living donors who received uninephrectomy from January 1999 to December 2017 at Yonsei University, Severance Hospital, Korea were retrospectively collected. Post-nephrectomy renal function was monitored by the relative ratio of estimated glomerular filtration rate (e-GFR; pre-nephrectomy e-GFR ratio vs. post-nephrectomy e-GFR) that was calculated by the Modification of Diet in Renal Disease formula. Results : During 36.3±37.6 months of mean follow-up, two cases (0.17%, 2/1,175) of renal failure developed. The mean e-GFR decreased to 64.3±14.2 mL/min/1.73 m2 immediately after nephrectomy from 99.2±19.9 mL/min/1.73 m2 of the pre-nephrectomy e-GFR. Early decrement of e-GFR was prominent in male and obese donors (body mass index >25 kg/m2, P0.05). Conclusions: Our data showed that long-term compensation of the renal function after nephrectomy occurs independently of preoperative donor characteristics.

Summary: Background: Many immunosuppressive drugs are prescribed as twice-daily dosing. A simplified once-daily dosing of immunosuppressive drug regimen may improve medication adherence. We investigated medication adherence of simplified once-daily immunosuppressive regimen consisting of extended-release tacrolimus, sirolimus, and corticosteroids along with the efficacy and safety of this regimen. Methods: This study was a prospective, multicenter, controlled and cohort trial. Stable kidney transplant recipients who had received transplantation at least 3 months before the study enrollment were eligible for the study. Participants were required to fill-out the self-reported immunosuppressant therapy barrier scale (ITBS) questionnaire before and after the conversion. Other clinical laboratory parameters and adverse events were evaluated until 6 months post-conversion. Results: A total of 160 kidney recipients comprised the intention-to-treat population. The mean total ITBS score was 19.5 ± 4.0 at pre-conversion and 6 months after converting, the mean total ITBS score was 16.6 ± 3.6 (p

Background/Aims: Little is known about the national colonoscopy volume in Asian countries. This study aimed to assess the national colonoscopy volume in Korea over a 12-year period on the basis of a nationwide population-based database. Methods: We conducted a population-based study for colonoscopy claims (14,511,158 colonoscopies performed on 13,219,781 patients) on the basis of the Korean National Health Insurance Service database from 2002 to 2013. The 12-year national colonoscopy burden was analyzed according to patient age, patient sex, and healthcare facility type. Results: The overall volume of colonoscopy increased 8-fold over the 12-year period. The annual colonoscopic polypectomy rate significantly increased in all patient sex and age groups over the 12-years period (all p

The therapeutic potential of saquinavir, a specific inhibitor of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-1 and HIV-2 protease enzymes, has been largely limited because of a low solubility and consequnt low bioavailability. Thus, we aimed to design a supersaturated self-microemulsifying drug delivery system (S-SMEDDS) that can maintain a high concentration of saquinavir in gastro-intestinal fluid thorugh inhibiting the drug precipitation to enhance the lymphatic transport of saquinavir and to increase the bioavailability of saquinavir considerably. Solubilizing capacity of different oils, surfactants, and cosurfactants for saquinavir was evaluated to select optimal ingredients for preparation of SMEDDS. Through the construction of pseudo-ternary phase diagram, SMEDDS formulations were established. A polymer as a precipitation inhibitor was selected based on its viscosity and drug precipitation inhibiting capacity. The S-SMEDDS and SMEDDS designed were administered at an equal dose to rats. At predetermined time points, levels of saquinavir in lymph collected from the rats were assessed. SMEDDS prepared presented a proper self-microemulsification efficiency and dispersion stability. The S-SMEDDS fabricated using the SMEDDS and hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose 2910 as a precipitation inhibitor exhibited a signficantly enhanced solubilizing capacity for saquinavir. The drug concentration in a simulated intestinal fluid evaluated with the S-SMEDDS was also maintained at higher levels for prolonged time than that examined with the SMEDDS. The S-SMEDDS showed a considerably enhanced lymphatic absoprtion of saquinavir in rats compared to the SMEDDS. Therefore, the S-SMEDDS would be usefully exploited to enhance the lymphatic absorption of hydrophobic drugs that need to be targeted to the lymphatic system.

Abstract Background The insertion of a laryngeal mask airway (LMA) is difficult in children due to the unique features of their airways. Muscle relaxants have been reported to facilitate LMA insertion in adults; however, there is a lack of evidence supporting this in children. This trial is designed to assess the feasibility of LMA insertion with and without the use of muscle relaxants in pediatric patients under general anesthesia. Methods/design This is a prospective, double-blind, single-center, parallel-arm, non-inferiority, randomized controlled trial to be conducted with participants aged 2–7 years who are undergoing elective ophthalmic surgery under general anesthesia. Participants are randomly assigned to one of two groups based on whether muscle relaxants are used (MR group, n = 64) or not used (Saline group, n = 64) prior to LMA insertion. The primary outcome is the oropharyngeal leak pressure (OLP) at a fixed gas flow of 3 L/min. The secondary outcomes are intubation time for successful insertion, ease of insertion and mask bagging, intubation attempt for successful insertion, successful insertion rate on the first attempt, fiberoptic view of the LMA position, postoperative complications, and changes in hemodynamic and ventilatory parameters. Discussion We will compare the OLPs to determine whether the muscle relaxant provides better conditions for the manipulation of the LMA. This is the first randomized controlled trial to investigate whether muscle relaxants are beneficial to the clinical performance of LMA insertion in pediatric patients under general anesthesia. This trial will be a resource for improving the process and safety of pediatric LMA insertion under general anesthesia. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03487003. Registered on 18 April 2018.

Abstract Background Insertion under laryngoscopic guidance has been used to achieve ideal positioning of the laryngeal mask airway (LMA). However, to date, the efficacy of this technique has been evaluated only using fiberoptic evaluation, and the results have been conflicting. Other reliable tests to evaluate the efficacy of this technique have not been established. Recently, it has been suggested that the accuracy of LMA placement can be determined by clinical signs such as oropharyngeal leak pressure (OPLP). The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy of LMA insertion under laryngoscopic guidance using OPLP as an indicator. Methods After approved by the institutional ethics committee, a prospective comparison of 100 patients divided into 2 groups (50 with blind technique and 50 with the laryngoscope technique) were evaluated. An LMA (LarySeal™, Flexicare medical Ltd., UK) was inserted using the blind approach in the blind insertion group and using laryngoscopy in the laryngoscope-guided insertion group. The OPLP, fiberoptic position score, whether the first attempt at LMA insertion was successful, time taken for insertion, ease of LMA insertion, and adverse airway events were recorded. Results Data were presented as mean ± standard deviation. The OPLP was higher in the laryngoscope-guided insertion group than in the blind insertion group (21.4 ± 8.6 cmH2O vs. 18.1 ± 6.1 cmH2O, p = 0.031). The fiberoptic position score, rate of success in the first attempt, ease of insertion, and pharyngolaryngeal adverse events were similar between both groups. The time taken for insertion of the LMA was significantly longer in the laryngoscope-guided insertion group, compared to blind insertion group (35.9 ± 9.5 s vs. 28.7 ± 9.5 s, p

(1) Background: It is well known that various toxic substances, including carcinogens, are generated at the fire scenes, so it is very important for firefighters to wear comprehensive personal protective equipment. The extent of the type and amount of harmful substances contained in the washing water of fire protection suits (FPS) exposed to fire scenes have not yet been confirmed. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the characteristics of harmful substances contained in wash water extracted from FPSs exposed to fire. (2) Methods: The study design was a simulation-based experimental study. To evaluate the degree of contamination exposure of FPSs, 10 sets of fire suits were classified into four groups as follows: newly supplied, field use, one fire exposure, and two consecutive fire exposures. In the experimental environment, after exposing three to four groups of FPSs to residential fire conditions. they were sealed in a plastic bag in the experimental space. The washing water for FPSs was extracted through manual washing in the order of Groups 1 to 4, and 24 items were analyzed according to the water pollution process test standards. (3) Results: According to the results of the FPS laundry analysis, the concentration of acrylonitrile in laundry was higher when exposed to fire twice than when exposed to fire once. Moreover, there was a dose–response relationship, and the risk of cumulative toxicity was shown. Naphthalene and diethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP) were detected to be high in the washing water of Group 3 FPSs exposed to incomplete combustion fire. Of the 24 items that were analyzed for in the water, four item exceeded the standard for sewage discharge facilities in accordance with the Water Environment Conservation Act. Copper and its compounds exceeded the standards by 3.4 times, antimony 4.8 times, acrylonitrile 26.0 times, and DEHP 4.1 times, respectively. (4) Conclusions: Therefore, when removing FPSs after firefighting activities, care should be taken to avoid contaminating the skin. In addition, facilities that wash FPS that have been exposed to a fire scene must have a sewage treatment and purification facility. However, if emergency decontamination of FPSs is conducted at the fire scene, the concentration of toxic substances contained in laundry can be reduced. In the case of large-scale fire, there is a risk of water pollution near the fire scene, so it is necessary to prepare a national countermeasure. The results of this study can be applied to the revision of regulations related to the building of the fire departments, reduction of water pollution, and water environment policy.

Lacquer sap has received much attention as a traditional natural resin because it is a renewable and eco-friendly biopolymer resource unlike artificial coating materials. However, strict drying conditions and long drying times of lacquer sap should be modified to expand its applications. This study presents the first attempt to investigate the effect of different amplitudes of ultrasonic waves on the lacquer sap composed of water-in-oil (W/O) emulsion droplets and the mechanical properties of the resultant film by solvent evaporation. Acoustically induced cavitation via batch ultrasonication facilitates the generation of submicron-sized W/O emulsion. The drying time of sonicated lacquer sap was noticeably shortened as the amplitude of acoustic power increased. Interestingly, the transparency of the film cast from lacquer sap consisting of the smallest emulsion droplets increased significantly, weakening the degree of colour change from caramel-like yellow to dark brown as polymerisation progressed. These are attributed to the effective and frequent contact of laccase enzyme with urushiol at the increased interfacial area of nano-emulsified W/O droplets pulverised by ultrasonic waves. The quinone radical-generation in the interface layer and its transfer to the urushiol oil phase through water-insoluble glycoprotein emulsifier are greatly promoted, resulting in highly cross-linked, dense three-dimensional polymer networks, which also increased the lacquer film hardness after drying. As the emulsion droplet size decreased, the mutual interaction between the catechol moiety of urushiol and the substrates increased, resulting in improved adhesion. The nano-emulsification of the lacquer sap by ultrasonic waves can be used in a simple, effective, and eco-friendly way to shorten the drying time and improve the film characteristics of natural resins. This approach could pave the way for its wide range of applications in industrial fields, taking into account green and sustainable chemistry.

Abstract We report a phase I pharmacological study of an oral formulation of CKD‐516, a vascular‐disrupting agent, in patients with refractory solid tumors. Twenty‐seven patients (16 in the dose‐escalation cohort and 11 in the expansion cohort) received a single daily dose (5‐25 mg) of CKD‐516 five days per week. Nausea (67%) and diarrhea (63%) were the most common treatment‐related adverse events. The recommended phase II dose of oral CKD‐516 was 20 mg/d (15 mg/d with a body surface area (BSA)

Abstract Background Odontogenic Ameloblast-Associated Protein (ODAM) in gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) can provide evidence of the detachment of junctional epithelium from the tooth surface by periodontitis. This study sought to investigate the ability of ODAM to reflect the severity of periodontitis at a site-specific level; thus whether there was a relationship between clinical diagnostic parameters and the value of ODAM in GCF was analyzed. Methods Eight periodontitis patients with various severities were enrolled, and the clinical parameters and samples of GCF were obtained from 44 to 60 sites of each subject. The ODAM concentration was quantified by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Correlation analyses between clinical parameters and ODAM values and unadjusted and adjusted (linear) mixed model analyses were performed. The accuracy of ODAM to reflect sites having a probing depth (PD) ≥ 5 mm and a positive bleeding on probing (BOP) was evaluated by receiver-operating characteristic analysis. Results A total of 424 GCF samples were collected. The mean ODAM concentration from each patient varied from 0.2 to 1.52 ng/ml. Correlations between PD or clinical attachment level (CAL) and ODAM values were found (p

Purpose The purpose of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic efficacy of fine-needle aspiration (FNA), core needle biopsy (CNB), and combined FNA/CNB for the first-line diagnosis of thyroid nodules. Methods A total of 782 consecutive nodules that underwent simultaneous FNA and CNB were analyzed in this study. We compared the rate of inconclusive results and the diagnostic values for malignancy among FNA, CNB, and combined FNA/CNB. Results CNB showed a lower rate (10.2%) of inconclusive results than FNA (23.7%) (P

Palatal myoclonus (PM) is a rare disease that may induce dysphagia. Since dysphagia related to PM is unique and is characterized by myoclonic movements of the involved muscles, specific treatments are needed for rehabilitation. However, no study has investigated the treatment effectiveness for this condition. Therefore, the aim of this case report was to describe the benefit of combining behavioral treatment with valproic acid administration in patients with dysphagia triggered by PM. The two cases were treated with combined treatment. The outcomes evaluated by videofluoroscopic swallowing studies before and after the treatment showed significant decreases in myoclonic movements and improved swallowing function. We conclude that the combined treatment was effective against dysphagia related to PM.

Subwavelength photon sorting in photodetection systems with a narrow spectral bandwidth has remained elusive. The authors spectrally sort and detect photons by suppressing the near-field interaction and maximizing the far-field interactions between photodetector elements, achieving a spectral separation of 30 nm.

Reactive species of oxygen promote the development of hepatic steatosis. Here, Kim et al. demonstrate that palmitate stimulates macrophage infiltration and increases oxidative stress during steatosis by binding to the TLR4–MD2 complex, which results in the activation of NOX2.

Abstract Here we study single-crystalline silicon nanobeams having 470 nm width and 80 nm thickness cross section, where we produce tortuous thermal paths (i.e. labyrinths) by introducing slits to control the impact of the unobstructed “line-of-sight” (LOS) between the heat source and heat sink. The labyrinths range from straight nanobeams with a complete LOS along the entire length to nanobeams in which the LOS ranges from partially to entirely blocked by introducing slits, s = 95, 195, 245, 295 and 395 nm. The measured thermal conductivity of the samples decreases monotonically from ~47 W m−1 K−1 for straight beam to ~31 W m−1 K−1 for slit width of 395 nm. A model prediction through a combination of the Boltzmann transport equation and ab initio calculations shows an excellent agreement with the experimental data to within ~8%. The model prediction for the most tortuous path (s = 395 nm) is reduced by ~14% compared to a straight beam of equivalent cross section. This study suggests that LOS is an important metric for characterizing and interpreting phonon propagation in nanostructures.

Circular dichroism (CD) is a physical property observed in chiral molecules by inducing the difference of absorption between left- and right-handed circularly polarized light (CPL). Circular dichroism spectroscopy is widely used in the field of chemistry and biology to distinguish the enantiomers, which typically show either positive or severe side effects in biological applications depending on the molecular structures’ chirality. To effectively detect the chirality of molecules, diverse designs of nanostructured platforms are proposed based on optical resonances that can enhance the optical chirality and amplify the signal of circular dichroism. However, the underlying physics between the optical chirality and the resonance in a nanostructure is largely unexplored, and thus designing rules for optimal chiral detection is still elusive. Here, we carry out an in-depth analysis of chiral enhancement (C enhancement) in nanostructured surfaces to find the relationship between optical resonances and chirality. Based on the relations, we optimize the nanostructured metasurface to induce effective chiral detection of enantiomers for diverse conditions of molecule distribution. We believe that the proposed designing rules and physics pave the important pathway to enhance the optical chirality for effective circular dichroism spectroscopy.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of radiofrequency (RF) ablation for benign thyroid nodules and assess the usefulness of internal factors (ultrasonographic findings) and external factors (treatment-related findings) in prediction of treatment efficacy. Methods: We evaluated 22 benign thyroid nodules from 19 patients treated with RF ablation between March 2010 and January 2013. The internal and external factors of these nodules were retrospectively reviewed and correlated with the therapeutic success and the volume reduction ratio (VRR). The volume and size of the nodules were determined before treatment, and the VRR was calculated at 6-month and 1-year follow-up examinations after RF ablation. Therapeutic success was defined as a >50% volume reduction. Results: The mean VRRs were 66.1±18.7% at 6 months and 74.3±16.7% at 1 year. The therapeutic success rate after 6 months and 1 year was 81.8% and 90.9%, respectively. At the 1-year follow-up, the margin of the nodule correlated with therapeutic success. Most of the successfully ablated nodules showed well-defined margins on initial ultrasonography (18/20, 90%) (P=0.026). In addition, nodules with ill-defined margins showed a tendency toward having a low VRR at the 6-month and 1-year follow-up examinations. Conclusion: RF ablation was effective in decreasing the volume of benign thyroid nodules. Thyroid nodules with well-defined margins tended to show successful outcomes at the 1-year follow-up examination after RF ablation.

Purpose: This study was performed to determine the malignancy risk of thyroid nodules with isolated macrocalcification and to evaluate the diagnostic efficacy of fine-needle aspiration (FNA) and core needle biopsy (CNB). Methods: From May 2008 to December 2014, a total of 44 patients with isolated macrocalcifications were enrolled from 4,081 consecutive patients who underwent FNA or CNB at a single institution. We assessed the malignancy risk of nodules with isolated macrocalcification. We compared the diagnostic results between FNA and CNB, and the diagnostic efficacy of each procedure was evaluated by the rate of inconclusive results. We compared the diagnostic performance for malignancy between FNA and CNB with a criterion of malignant or atypia/follicular lesion of undetermined significance (indeterminate) diagnostic results. We investigated whether the ultrasonographic feature of isolated macrocalcification was predictive of malignancy. Results: The malignancy risk of nodules with isolated macrocalcification was 16.1% in 31 nodules with final diagnoses and 11.4% in all nodules. CNB demonstrated a significantly lower rate of nondiagnostic and inconclusive results than FNA (7.7% vs. 53.8%, P=0.002 and 15.4% vs. 57.7%, P=0.003, respectively) in 26 nodules that underwent both FNA and CNB. CNB showed a marginally higher diagnostic performance for identifying malignancy than FNA (P=0.067). The ultrasonographic features of the anterior margin of isolated macrocalcification were not predictive of malignancy (P>0.999). Conclusion: Thyroid nodules with isolated macrocalcification had a low to intermediate malignancy risk and should not be considered benign nodules. CNB showed a higher diagnostic efficacy than FNA in these nodules.

Purpose: The goal of this study was to determine the risk of malignancy of thyroid nodules with minimal cystic changes. Methods: A total of consecutive 1,000 thyroid nodules (≥1 cm) with final diagnoses from twoinstitutions were included in this study. The risk of malignancy of thyroid nodules was analyzed according to the internal content, which was categorized as purely solid, minimally cystic (cystic changes ≤10%), and partially cystic (cystic changes >10%). We also assessed the risk of malignancy of nodules with minimal cystic changes depending on echogenicity and presence of any suspicious ultrasonografic (US) features. Results: The overall frequency of purely solid, minimally cystic, and partially cystic noduleswas 730/1,000 (73%), 61/1,000 (6.1%), and 209/1,000 (20.9%), respectively, with risks ofmalignancy of 14.8% (108/730), 3.3% (2/61), and 3.3% (7/209), respectively. The risk ofmalignancy of nodules with minimal cystic changes was significantly lower than that of purelysolid nodules (P=0.013). The risk of malignancy of nodules with minimal cystic changes was also lower than that of purely solid nodules in the group of hypoechoic nodules (P=0.063) and in the group of nodules with suspicious US features (P=0.028), but was not significantly different from that of partially cystic nodules regardless of echogenicity or the presence of suspicious US features (P≥0.652). Conclusion: Thyroid nodules with minimal cystic changes have a low risk of malignancy, similar to that of partially cystic nodules regardless of echogenicity or the presence of suspicious US features. The US lexicon could define solid nodules as nodules with purely solid internal content in order to enhance the accuracy of estimated risks of malignancy.

Double-hit lymphoma (DHL) and double-expressor lymphoma (DEL) are aggressive forms of lymphoma that require better treatments to improve patient outcomes. CKD-581 is a new histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor that exhibited a better safety profile in clinical trials compared to other HDAC inhibitors. Here, we demonstrate that CKD-581 inhibited the class I–II HDAC family via histone H3 and tubulin acetylation. CKD-581 treatment also up-regulated the phosphorylation of histone H2AX (γH2AX, DNA double-strand break marker), and reduced levels of MYC and anti-apoptotic proteins such as BCL-2, BCL-6, BCL-XL, and MCL-1 in DH/DE-diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL) cell lines. Ultimately, CKD-581 also induced apoptosis via poly(ADP ribose) polymerase 1 (PARP1) cleavage. In a DLBCL SCID mouse xenograft model, CKD-581 exhibited anti-cancer effects comparable with those of rituximab (CD20 mAb). Our findings suggest that CKD-581 could be a good candidate for the treatment of DLBCL.

Structural alterations of pericytes in microvessels are important features of diabetic retinopathy. Although capillary pericytes had been known not to have α-smooth muscle actin (αSMA), a recent study revealed that a specific fixation method enabled the visualization of αSMA along retinal capillaries. In this study, we applied snap-fixation in wild type and streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice to evaluate the differences in vascular smooth muscle cells of the retina and the choroid. Mice eyeballs were fixed in ice-cold methanol to prevent the depolymerization of filamentous actin. Snap-fixated retina showed αSMA expression in higher-order branches along the capillaries as well as the arterioles and venules, which were not detected by paraformaldehyde fixation. In contrast, most choriocapillaris, except those close to the arterioles, were not covered with αSMA-positive perivascular mural cells. Large choroidal vessels were covered with more αSMA-positive cells in the snap-fixated eyes. Diabetes induced less coverage of αSMA-positive perivascular mural cells overall, but they reached higher-order branches of the retinal capillaries, which was prominent in the aged mice. More αSMA-positive pericytes were observed in the choroid of diabetic mice, but the αSMA-positive expression reduced with aging. This study suggests the potential role of smooth muscle cells in the pathogenesis of age-related diabetic retinopathy and choroidopathy.

In this study, the mitogenome of nine Raja pulchra individuals from Yellow Sea (n = 7) and even from Alaska (n = 2) was sequenced, and the genomic variation and phylogeny were examined. The length of the mitogenome was 16,906 and 16,907 bp showing 99.6% sequence similarity with the previously reported sequence. Of the one hundred and fifty-one single nucleotide polymorphisms, sixty-three were newly detected compared to previous studies. They were present in the 16s rRNA gene, 2 tRNA genes, 13 protein-coding genes, and a non-coding region. The mitogenomes and SNPs will provide a better understanding of the ecological genetics of R. pulchra.

We investigated an October 2014 outbreak of illness caused by Shigella sonnei in a daycare center in the Republic of Korea (South Korea). The outbreak strain was resistant to extended-spectrum cephalosporins and fluoroquinolones and was traced to a child who had traveled to Vietnam. Improved hygiene and infection control practices are needed for prevention of shigellosis.

Objective Suicide remains a serious, preventable public health problem. This study aims to describe the epidemiological characteristics associated with various suicide methods and to investigate outcomes after suicide-associated sudden cardiac arrest (S-SCA), stratified by different suicide attempt methods. Methods An S-SCA database was constructed from ambulance run sheets and augmented by a review of hospital medical records from 2008 to 2010 in Korea. The cases with non-cardiac etiologies and suicide attempts were initially extracted. Suicide attempts were classified as hanging, poisoning, fall, and other. The primary end point was survival to discharge. Age- and sex-adjusted incidence rates were calculated for each suicide method. Adjusted odds ratios for outcome were calculated with adjustments for potential confounding variables. Results A total 5,743 patients were analyzed as S-SCAs. The most common method of suicide attempt was hanging (58.7%), followed by falls (17.6%), poisoning (17.5%), and others (5.8%). The survival to discharge rates were 2.1% (n=119) overall, 2.4% in hanging, 2.4% in poisoning and 0.5% in fall, respectively. The age- and sex-adjusted incidence rates (male/female) per million persons was 32.7 (35.8/29.7) in 2008, 41.8 (46.0/37.7) in 2009, and 43.0 (50.1/36.0) in 2010. Compared with hanging, adjusted odds ratios (95% confidence intervals) for survival to discharge was 1.05 (0.60 to 1.83) for poisoning and 0.08 (0.03 to 0.21) for falls. Conclusion In this nationwide S-SCA cohort study from 2008 to 2010, the standardized incidence rate increased annually. However, the rate of survival to discharge remains very low.

The prevalence of cefotaxime-resistant Salmonella enterica serotype Virchow has dramatically increased in South Korea since the first isolation in 2011. Of 68 isolates collected over 10 years, 28 cefotaxime-resistant isolates harbored the blaCTX-M-15 extended-spectrum β-lactamase gene and were closely related genetically, demonstrating the clonal dissemination of CTX-M-15–producing Salmonella Virchow in South Korea.

A 51-year-old male patient was referred for a sudden out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. Upon arrival, he was conscious and had no chest pain complaints. There was no abnormality in initial electrocardiographic and echocardiographic examinations. However, episodes of recurrent ventricular fibrillation (VF) were documented on rhythm monitoring. Each VF episode was triggered by an isolated monomorphic ventricular premature complex (VPC). Suspecting idiopathic VF, emergency radiofrequency catheter ablation was planned for the VPCs. However, when coronary angiography was performed to exclude silent ischemia, the results showed a total occlusion of the right coronary artery posterolateral branch, which is thought to supply the left ventricular inferior and septal wall. After successful reperfusion, VF episodes and the triggering VPCs disappeared. We are documenting this case to emphasize the potential for silent myocardial infarction to cause out-of-hospital sudden cardiac arrest even in a patient without any symptom or sign of acute coronary syndrome.

Purpose: This study was designed to determine the rate of ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) underestimation diagnosed after an ultrasound-guided 14-gauge core needle biopsy (US-14G- CNB) of breast masses and to compare the clinical and imaging characteristics between true DCIS and underestimated DCIS identified following surgical excision. Methods: Among 3,124 US-14G-CNBs performed for breast masses, 69 lesions in 60 patients were pathologically-determined to be pure DCIS. We classified these patients according to the final pathology after surgical excision as those with invasive ductal carcinoma (underestimated group) and those with DCIS (non-underestimated group). We retrospectively reviewed and compared the clinical and imaging characteristics between the two groups. Results: Of the 69 lesions, 21 were shown after surgery to be invasive carcinomas; the rate of DCIS underestimation was 30.4%. There were no statistically significant differences with respect to the clinical symptoms, age, lesion size, mammographic findings, and ultrasonographic findings except for the presence of abnormal axillary lymph nodes as detected on ultrasound. The lesions in 2 patients in the non-underestimated group (2/41, 4.9%) and 5 patients in the underestimated group (5/19, 26.3%) were associated with abnormal lymph nodes on axillary ultrasound, and the presence of abnormal axillary lymph nodes on ultrasound was tatistically significant (P=0.016). Conclusion: We found a 30.4% rate of DCIS underestimation in breast masses based on a US-14G-CNB. The presence of abnormal lymph nodes as detected on axillary ultrasound may be useful to preoperatively predict underestimation.

Blue toe syndrome is the most frequent manifestation of tissue ischemia caused by cholesterol embolization (CE), which can lead to amputation of affected lower extremities, if severe. However, any effective treatment is lacking. We experienced a case of spontaneously presenting blue toe syndrome and concomitant acute renal failure in a patient with multiple atherosclerotic risk factors. CE was confirmed by renal biopsy. Despite medical treatment including prostaglandin therapy and narcotics, the toe lesion progressed to gangrene with worsening ischemic pain. Therefore, we performed lumbar sympathectomy, which provided dramatic pain relief as well as an adequate blood flow to the ischemic lower extremities, resulting in healing of the gangrenous lesion and avoiding toe amputation. This is the first reported case of a patient with intractable ischemic toe syndrome caused by CE that was treated successfully by sympathectomy. Our observations suggest that sympathectomy may be beneficial in some patients with CE-associated blue toe syndrome.