Background: High mean corpuscular volume (MCV) has been implicated in various health problems, such as anemia, liver disease, and thyroid disease. However, the clinical significance of borderline-high MCV is poorly understood in the primary care setting. This study aimed to investigate whether borderline-high MCV was related to arterial stiffness in Korean adults as measured by brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV). Methods: This cross-sectional study comprised 582 participants aged >30 years who underwent routine health examinations. Borderline-high MCV was defined as over 95.0 fl (>90th percentile) after excluding participants with MCV of ≥100 fl or ≤80 fl, and high baPWV was defined as >1,600 cm/s (>90th percentile). The odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for high baPWV according to borderline-high MCV were calculated using multiple logistic regression analyses after adjusting for the confounding variables. Results: The mean age of the study population was 47.8±11.7 years, and 56.9% of the participants were male. Compared to that in the control group, the OR (95% CI) of high baPWV in those with a borderline-high MCV was 3.68 (1.39–9.74) after adjusting for age, sex, body mass index, alcohol intake, smoking status, regular exercise, mean blood pressure, fasting plasma glucose, triglyceride, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, C-reactive protein, γ-glutamyltransferase, uric acid, hypertension medication, and diabetes medication. Conclusion Borderline-high MCV was independently associated with arterial stiffness among apparently healthy Korean individuals.

Clopidogrel is an antiplatelet agent prescribed widely to prevent stent thrombosis after coronary or peripheral vascular interventions and for stroke prophylaxis. The side effects of this drug include gastrointestinal symptoms, such as nausea, abdominal pain, vomiting, and bleeding. Thrombotic thrombocytopenia purpura (TTP) is a rare complication of this drug. Here, we report a case of clopidogrel-associated TTP in a patient with cerebral infarction. To our knowledge, it is first reported case of clopidogrel-associated TTP in Korea.
Abdominal Pain ; Cerebral Infarction* ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Korea ; Nausea ; Purpura ; Purpura, Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic* ; Stents ; Stroke ; Thrombocytopenia ; Thrombosis ; Vomiting

Clopidogrel is an antiplatelet agent prescribed widely to prevent stent thrombosis after coronary or peripheral vascular interventions and for stroke prophylaxis. The side effects of this drug include gastrointestinal symptoms, such as nausea, abdominal pain, vomiting, and bleeding. Thrombotic thrombocytopenia purpura (TTP) is a rare complication of this drug. Here, we report a case of clopidogrel-associated TTP in a patient with cerebral infarction. To our knowledge, it is first reported case of clopidogrel-associated TTP in Korea.
Abdominal Pain ; Cerebral Infarction* ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Korea ; Nausea ; Purpura ; Purpura, Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic* ; Stents ; Stroke ; Thrombocytopenia ; Thrombosis ; Vomiting

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to assess the quality of long-term-stored leftover blood samples, and to evaluate the long-term stability of selected serum biomarkers such as proteins, enzymes, electrolytes, and tumour markers. METHODS: Stored blood samples were transferred to our biobank after being used to conduct tests for routine medical examinations in one health care institution, and were preserved at or below -70degrees C for 4 years. We analysed 24 biomarkers whose levels had been reported 4 years ago and tested them using the same analyser, reagents, and methods by utilizing an ADVIA Centaur Immunoassay System (Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics, USA) or an ADVIA 2400 Chemistry System (Siemens, USA). RESULTS: A total of 15 out of the 24 tested biomarkers showed significant differences in paired Student t-tests (P<0.01). Among them, 5 biomarkers (free T3, free T4, thyroid stimulating hormone, carcino-embryonic antigen, and alpha feto-protein) showed significant differences and high correlation coefficients (R2>0.975). Two biomarkers, creatinine and rheumatoid arthritis factor, showed no significant differences but were poorly correlated with previously analysed data. Aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, hepatitis B virus (HBV) surface antigen, and insulin levels were discordant according to their reference ranges. A total of 3 biomarkers, C-reactive protein, cancer antigen 125, and HBV surface antibody, showed no significant differences and good correlations without discordant data. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings showed that long-term storage for more than 4 years can result in a considerable bias for variable biomarkers. Only 3 of the 24 biomarkers evaluated were found to be stable biomarkers. Long-term storage of leftover samples is not recommended for most chemical analyses.
Alanine Transaminase ; Antigens, Surface ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid ; Aspartate Aminotransferases ; Bias (Epidemiology) ; Biomarkers* ; C-Reactive Protein ; Chemistry ; Creatinine ; Delivery of Health Care ; Electrolytes ; Enzyme Stability ; Hepatitis B virus ; Humans ; Immunoassay ; Indicators and Reagents ; Insulin ; Methods ; Protein Stability ; Reference Values ; Serum ; Thyrotropin

Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is the most common malignant tumor of the skin, with a nearly 2-fold increase in incidence rates over the last two decades. A punch biopsy is considered the primary diagnostic tool for BCC; however, recent studies have reported favorable sensitivity and specificity of dermoscopy as a diagnostic tool for this malignancy. Diagnosis of BCC using the “Menzies criteria” was associated with high sensitivity, and surgery performed immediately after clinico-dermoscopic diagnosis was associated with a high positive predictive value.Therefore, in view of the high diagnostic accuracy, positive predictive value, and cost-effectiveness, direct surgical treatment without preoperative biopsy may serve as a primary therapeutic strategy for BCCs that present with typical clinico-dermoscopic features. We report two cases of BCC in patients who underwent successful Mohs microsurgery without preoperative biopsy, using dermoscopy as a primary diagnostic tool.

Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is the most common malignant tumor of the skin, with a nearly 2-fold increase in incidence rates over the last two decades. A punch biopsy is considered the primary diagnostic tool for BCC; however, recent studies have reported favorable sensitivity and specificity of dermoscopy as a diagnostic tool for this malignancy. Diagnosis of BCC using the “Menzies criteria” was associated with high sensitivity, and surgery performed immediately after clinico-dermoscopic diagnosis was associated with a high positive predictive value.Therefore, in view of the high diagnostic accuracy, positive predictive value, and cost-effectiveness, direct surgical treatment without preoperative biopsy may serve as a primary therapeutic strategy for BCCs that present with typical clinico-dermoscopic features. We report two cases of BCC in patients who underwent successful Mohs microsurgery without preoperative biopsy, using dermoscopy as a primary diagnostic tool.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The methacholine bronchial provocation test (MBPT) is used to detect and quantify airway hyper-responsiveness (AHR). Since improvements in the severity of asthma are associated with improvements in AHR, clinical studies of asthma therapies routinely use the change of airway responsiveness as an objective outcome. The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between serial MBPT and clinical profiles in patients with asthma. METHODS: A total of 323 asthma patients were included in this study. The MBPT was performed on all patients beginning at their initial diagnosis until asthma was considered controlled based on the Global Initiative for Asthma guidelines. A responder was defined by a decrease in AHR while all other patients were considered non-responders. RESULTS: A total of 213 patients (66%) were responders, while 110 patients (34%) were non-responders. The responder group had a lower initial PC20 (provocative concentration of methacholine required to decrease the forced expiratory volume in 1 second by 20%) and longer duration compared to the non-responder group. Members of the responder group also had superior qualities of life, compared to members of the non-responder group. Whole blood cell counts were not related to differences in PC20; however, eosinophil concentration was. No differences in sex, age, body mass index, smoking history, serum immunoglobulin E, or frequency of acute exacerbation were observed between responders and non-responders. CONCLUSIONS: The initial PC20, the duration of asthma, eosinophil concentrations, and quality-of-life may be useful variables to identify improvements in AHR in asthma patients.
Asthma* ; Blood Cell Count ; Body Mass Index ; Bronchial Provocation Tests* ; Diagnosis ; Eosinophils ; Forced Expiratory Volume ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin E ; Immunoglobulins ; Methacholine Chloride* ; Respiratory Hypersensitivity ; Smoke ; Smoking

PURPOSE: The tight junction protein claudin-5 (CLDN5) is critical to the control of endothelial cellular polarity and pericellular permeability. The role of CLDN5 in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) remains unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between CLDN5 levels and clinical variables in patients with COPD. METHODS: In total, 30 patients with COPD and 30 healthy controls were enrolled in the study. The plasma CLDN5 level was checked in patients with stable or exacerbated COPD and in healthy controls. RESULTS: The mean plasma CLDN5 level of patients with COPD was 0.63 ± 0.05 ng/mL and that of healthy controls was 6.9 ± 0.78 ng/mL (P = 0.001). The mean plasma CLDN5 level was 0.71 ± 0.05 ng/mL in exacerbated COPD patients and 0.63 ± 0.04 ng/mL in patients with stable COPD (P < 0.05). The plasma CLDN5 level among COPD subjects was correlated with the smoking amount (r = −0.530, P = 0.001). The plasma CLDN5 level in stable COPD patients was correlated with forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1, %pred.) (r = −0.481, P = 0.037). CONCLUSIONS: The plasma CLDN5 level was not correlated with age. CLDN5 may be involved in the pathogenesis of COPD. Further studies having a larger sample size will be needed to clarify CLDN5 in COPD.
Claudin-5* ; Forced Expiratory Volume ; Humans ; Permeability ; Plasma ; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive* ; Sample Size ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Tight Junctions*

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder that involves the loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra (SN). Matrix metalloproteinases-8 (MMP-8), neutrophil collagenase, is a functional player in the progressive pathology of various inflammatory disorders. In this study, we administered an MMP-8 inhibitor (MMP-8i) in Leucine-rich repeat kinase 2 (LRRK2) G2019S transgenic mice, to determine the effects of MMP-8i on PD pathology. We observed a significant increase of ionized calcium- binding adapter molecule 1 (Iba1)-positive activated microglia in the striatum of LRRK2 G2019S mice compared to normal control mice, indicating enhanced neuro-inflammatory responses. The increased number of Iba1-positive activated microglia in LRRK2 G2019S PD mice was down-regulated by systemic administration of MMP-8i. Interestingly, this LRRK2 G2019S PD mice showed significantly reduced size of cell body area of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) positive neurons in SN region and MMP-8i significantly recovered cellular atrophy shown in PD model indicating distinct neuro-protective effects of MMP-8i. Furthermore, MMP-8i administration markedly improved behavioral abnormalities of motor balancing coordination in rota-rod test in LRRK2 G2019S mice. These data suggest that MMP-8i attenuates the pathological symptoms of PD through anti-inflammatory processes.