Severe bark decay disease was observed on oak logs at a shiitake cultivation farm in Geochang-gun, Gyeongnam province. The symptoms observed were fruiting bodies that had developed on the top and side surface of oak logs. As a result, the bark came off easily exposing the sapwood. Slime mold specimens collected from oak logs showed developing fruiting bodies comprising of stalks, hypothallus, capillitium, and columella, and the causal agent of bark decay disease was identified as Stemonitis splendens on the basis of morphological characteristics. To our knowledge, this is the first report of Stemonitis splendens causing bark decay of oak logs used for shiitake mushroom cultivation in Korea.
Fruit ; Fungi ; Korea ; Shiitake Mushrooms

Background: This study aimed to identify factors influencing dementia-screening behaviors among community-dwelling middle-aged and older adults using the Korean Community Health Survey data in 2018. Methods: This cross-sectional study included community-dwelling adults aged ≥50 years. We used data related to socio-demographic and health-related factors and subjective cognitive function. We conducted a chi-squared test and multiple logistic regression analysis with weighted analysis. Results: Of 108,050 participants (men, 46.6%; ≥65 years old, 41.5%), only 13.4% (20,404 participants) performed dementia-screening. Using multiple logistic regression, we found that advanced age, female, and unemployed, having a low level of education, low monthly family income, and rural residence, no alcohol intake, no-smoking, hypertension, cognitive dysfunction, and awareness of the dementia helpline service center were positively associated with dementia-screening behaviors. Conclusions This study suggests the application of holistic approaches to improve dementia-screening behaviors among middle-aged and older adults considering their socioeconomic and health related conditions. Our findings highlight that government health programs should consider socio-economic status and awareness of dementia helpline services in designing dementia prevention programs.

Background: The direct entry of the camera under the epiglottis may provide a better view of the glottis than the indirect lifting of the epiglottis by placing the Macintosh blade tip on the vallecula when using the video laryngoscope. This study aimed to compare the efficiency of two different methods of lifting the epiglottis during the visualization of glottis using video laryngoscopy in the same patient. Methods: This prospective study enrolled 60 patients who underwent general anesthesia with tracheal intubation. In each patient, glottic views were obtained by directly (group DE) and indirectly lifting the epiglottis (group IE). These two methods were compared using the modified Cormack and Lehane grade and the percentage of glottis opening (POGO) score as assessment parameters. Results: Modified Cormack and Lehane grade showed a significant difference between the groups DE and IE (P = 0.004). The difference in the POGO score between the groups DE and IE was also statistically significant (87.5% and 64.4%, respectively; P < 0.001). Conclusions Our results, therefore, revealed that the method of directly lifting epiglottis was better at exposing glottis than the method of indirectly lifting epiglottis using a video laryngoscope.

Background: The direct entry of the camera under the epiglottis may provide a better view of the glottis than the indirect lifting of the epiglottis by placing the Macintosh blade tip on the vallecula when using the video laryngoscope. This study aimed to compare the efficiency of two different methods of lifting the epiglottis during the visualization of glottis using video laryngoscopy in the same patient. Methods: This prospective study enrolled 60 patients who underwent general anesthesia with tracheal intubation. In each patient, glottic views were obtained by directly (group DE) and indirectly lifting the epiglottis (group IE). These two methods were compared using the modified Cormack and Lehane grade and the percentage of glottis opening (POGO) score as assessment parameters. Results: Modified Cormack and Lehane grade showed a significant difference between the groups DE and IE (P = 0.004). The difference in the POGO score between the groups DE and IE was also statistically significant (87.5% and 64.4%, respectively; P < 0.001). Conclusions Our results, therefore, revealed that the method of directly lifting epiglottis was better at exposing glottis than the method of indirectly lifting epiglottis using a video laryngoscope.

Background/Aims: Serum gastrin levels may be elevated following proton pump inhibitor (PPI) therapy. We aim to elucidate the predictors for the development of hypergastrinemia in maintenance treatment for mild gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) using a half-dose PPI. Methods: This study analyzed data from a prospective randomized trial to compare continuous versus on-demand maintenance treatment modalities in patients with mild GERD. Age, sex, body mass index, Helicobacter pylori infection, serum gastrin levels, pepsinogen (PG) I/II ratios, total days of PPI intake, and weight-based PPI dosage (mg/kg) were evaluated. Results: Data from 293 patients who completed a randomized trial were analyzed (continuous group, n = 147 vs on-demand group, n = 146). In univariate analysis, age (P < 0.001), H. pylori infection (P = 0.012), baseline gastrin levels (P < 0.001), and baseline PG ratios (P = 0.016) significantly correlated with post-treatment gastrin levels. In multivariate analysis, age, baseline gastrin levels, and baseline PG ratios were independently associated with final serum gastrin levels. In univariate analysis, age (P = 0.018), H. pylori infection (P = 0.028), baseline gastrin levels (P = 0.011), and baseline PG ratios (P = 0.031) significantly correlated with the development of hypergastrinemia. In multivariate analysis, age, baseline gastrin levels, and baseline PG ratios were independently associated with the development of hypergastrinemia. Conclusion Old age, high baseline serum gastrin levels, and low baseline PG ratios are significant predictors of the development of hypergastrinemia in maintenance treatment for mild GERD using a half-dose PPI.

Background/Aims: Serum gastrin levels may be elevated following proton pump inhibitor (PPI) therapy. We aim to elucidate the predictors for the development of hypergastrinemia in maintenance treatment for mild gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) using a half-dose PPI. Methods: This study analyzed data from a prospective randomized trial to compare continuous versus on-demand maintenance treatment modalities in patients with mild GERD. Age, sex, body mass index, Helicobacter pylori infection, serum gastrin levels, pepsinogen (PG) I/II ratios, total days of PPI intake, and weight-based PPI dosage (mg/kg) were evaluated. Results: Data from 293 patients who completed a randomized trial were analyzed (continuous group, n = 147 vs on-demand group, n = 146). In univariate analysis, age (P < 0.001), H. pylori infection (P = 0.012), baseline gastrin levels (P < 0.001), and baseline PG ratios (P = 0.016) significantly correlated with post-treatment gastrin levels. In multivariate analysis, age, baseline gastrin levels, and baseline PG ratios were independently associated with final serum gastrin levels. In univariate analysis, age (P = 0.018), H. pylori infection (P = 0.028), baseline gastrin levels (P = 0.011), and baseline PG ratios (P = 0.031) significantly correlated with the development of hypergastrinemia. In multivariate analysis, age, baseline gastrin levels, and baseline PG ratios were independently associated with the development of hypergastrinemia. Conclusion Old age, high baseline serum gastrin levels, and low baseline PG ratios are significant predictors of the development of hypergastrinemia in maintenance treatment for mild GERD using a half-dose PPI.

Background/Aims: Serum gastrin levels may be elevated following proton pump inhibitor (PPI) therapy. We aim to elucidate the predictors for the development of hypergastrinemia in maintenance treatment for mild gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) using a half-dose PPI. Methods: This study analyzed data from a prospective randomized trial to compare continuous versus on-demand maintenance treatment modalities in patients with mild GERD. Age, sex, body mass index, Helicobacter pylori infection, serum gastrin levels, pepsinogen (PG) I/II ratios, total days of PPI intake, and weight-based PPI dosage (mg/kg) were evaluated. Results: Data from 293 patients who completed a randomized trial were analyzed (continuous group, n = 147 vs on-demand group, n = 146). In univariate analysis, age (P < 0.001), H. pylori infection (P = 0.012), baseline gastrin levels (P < 0.001), and baseline PG ratios (P = 0.016) significantly correlated with post-treatment gastrin levels. In multivariate analysis, age, baseline gastrin levels, and baseline PG ratios were independently associated with final serum gastrin levels. In univariate analysis, age (P = 0.018), H. pylori infection (P = 0.028), baseline gastrin levels (P = 0.011), and baseline PG ratios (P = 0.031) significantly correlated with the development of hypergastrinemia. In multivariate analysis, age, baseline gastrin levels, and baseline PG ratios were independently associated with the development of hypergastrinemia. Conclusion Old age, high baseline serum gastrin levels, and low baseline PG ratios are significant predictors of the development of hypergastrinemia in maintenance treatment for mild GERD using a half-dose PPI.

CCL5/regulated on activation, normal T expressed and secreted production (RANTES) is a principal CC chemokine, and can activate macrophages and Th1 lymphocytes, however, little is known about the CCL5 profiles associated with active tuberculosis (TB). In this study, we investigated the production of CCL5 by the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of patients with active pulmonary TB after stimulation with Triton X-100 soluble proteins (TSP) or the 30-kDa antigen. The profiles of cytokines/chemokines [CXCL8/interleukin (IL)-8, IL-12 p40, and interferon (IFN)-gamma] were also examined by PBMCs from TB patients, and compared with those obtained from healthy tuberculin reactors (HTR). Concordant with earlier studies, IFN-gamma production was significantly depressed in the PBMCs from TB patients compared with those from HTR. In addition, the CCL5, but not CXCL8, levels in the PBMCs from TB patients were significantly depressed after stimulation for 18 hr compared to those in the PBMCs from HTRs. The CCL5 release was not significantly correlated with the release of IFN-gamma in the cells from TB patients and HTRs. Further, inhibitor studies show that the 30-kDa- or TSP-induced CCL5 mRNA expression is sensitive to inhibitors of mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase (MEK) 1/2 and Janus kinase (JAK) 2, but not p38, pathway activation, suggesting a MEK1/2- or JAK2-based mechanism is responsible for modulating of the CCL5 expression in human PBMCs. Collectively, these data suggest that TB patients show depressed production of CCL5 secretion, which can be modulated by MEK- and JAK2-based transcriptional regulatory mechanisms, in response to the mycobacterial antigens.
Corynebacterium ; Humans ; Interferon-gamma ; Interferons ; Interleukin-12 ; Lymphocytes ; Macrophages ; Octoxynol ; Phosphotransferases ; Protein Kinases ; Proteins ; RNA, Messenger ; Tuberculin ; Tuberculosis ; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary

Intrathoracic metastasis of ovarian cancer has poor prognosis regardless of treatment modality. Recent development of surgical techniques and the new concept of direct infusion of chemotherapeutic agents with hyperthermia could help with the treatment of disseminated diseases in ovarian cancer. Using video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery and intracavitary chemotherapy with hyperthermia, we tried hyperthermic intrathoracic chemotherapy for a case of stage IV high-grade serous ovarian cancer with pleural metastasis. There was no high-grade complication related to the procedure. The patient is alive without disease at 32 months after initial treatment.
Cisplatin* ; Drug Therapy* ; Fever ; Humans ; Neoplasm Metastasis* ; Ovarian Neoplasms* ; Prognosis ; Thoracic Surgery, Video-Assisted

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Transient elastography is a new noninvasive tool for measuring liver stiffness that accurately predicts significant fibrosis and cirrhosis. However, several studies have indicated that liver stiffness can be significantly influenced by major changes in aminotransferase in patients with chronic viral hepatitis. The aim of this study was to determine the factors influencing liver stiffness in patients with chronic liver disease. METHODS: We studied 158 patients with chronic liver disease who underwent transient elastography and liver biopsy sampling. Histologic findings on fibrosis and necroinflammatory activity in the biopsy specimens were evaluated according to the Korean Society of Pathologists Scoring System. Routine biochemical tests were performed according to standard methods. RESULTS: Liver stiffness was strongly correlated with liver fibrosis stage (Spearman coefficient=0.636, P<0.001), lobular activity (Spearman coefficient=0.359, P<0.001), and portoperiportal activity grade (Spearman coefficient=0.448, P<0.001). Liver stiffness was significantly associated with serum levels of total bilirubin (P=0.025), direct bilirubin (P=0.049), gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (P=0.014), platelet count (P=0.004), albumin (P<0.001), and international normalized ratio (P<0.001). Multivariate analysis showed that fibrosis stage (B 3.50, P=0.009) and lobular activity grade (B 3.25, P=0.047) were independently associated with liver stiffness. CONCLUSIONS: Liver stiffness as measured by transient elastography is associated with the grade of necroinflammatory activity and the stage of fibrosis, irrespective of serum ALT levels.
Adult ; Aged ; Bilirubin/blood ; Biopsy ; Chronic Disease ; Elasticity ; *Elasticity Imaging Techniques ; Female ; Hepatitis B, Chronic/*complications ; Hepatitis C, Chronic/*complications ; Humans ; International Normalized Ratio ; Liver Cirrhosis/etiology/pathology/*ultrasonography ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Platelet Count ; Risk Factors ; Severity of Illness Index ; gamma-Glutamyltransferase/blood