No abstract available.
Endometrial Neoplasms ; Female ; Lymph Nodes ; Risk Factors

Anaplasmosis is a tick-borne, non-contagious, zoonotic disease caused by Anaplasma spp., which include Anaplasma marginale, A. centrale, A. phagocytophilum, A. platys, A. ovis, and A. bovis. Recently, in Korea, the prevalence of Anaplasma spp. has been investigated in some animals, such as dogs, horses, goats, cats, and Korean water deer. In cattle, A. marginale is the most virulent species and regarded as the typical type of species. However, data on the seroprevalence of Anaplasma spp. in cattle in Korea during the last decade is limited. This study was designed to investigate the seroprevalence of bovine anaplasmosis in Korea. From 2010 to 2013, blood samples were collected from 568 cattle. Forty animals (7.0%) tested seropositive for Anaplasma spp. by cELISA. Despite that current bovine anaplasmosis seropositivity rate in the Gyeongsangbuk-do is lower than those in tropical countries, anaplasmosis needs to be regarded as a concerning disease. The identification of the specific Anaplasma species infecting cattle in this province requires additional molecular studies. Moreover, further monitoring and control programs for bovine anaplasmosis is required, and the information from this study will be beneficial to develop these programs.
Anaplasma marginale ; Anaplasma ; Anaplasmosis ; Animals ; Antibodies ; Cats ; Cattle ; Deer ; Dogs ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Goats ; Gyeongsangbuk-do ; Horses ; Korea ; Prevalence ; Seroepidemiologic Studies ; Sheep ; Water ; Zoonoses

Eradication of cervical cancer involves the expansion of human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine coverage and the development of efficient screening guidelines that take vaccination into account. In Korea, the HPV National Immunization Program was launched in 2016 and is expected to shift the prevalence of HPV genotypes in the country, among other effects. The experiences of another countries that implement national immunization programs should be applied to Korea. If HPV vaccines spread nationwide with broader coverage, after a few decades, cervical intraepithelial lesions or invasive cancer should become a rare disease, leading to a predictable decrease in the positive predictive value of cervical screening cytology. HPV testing is the primary screening tool for cervical cancer and has replaced traditional cytology-based guidelines. The current screening strategy in Korea does not differentiate women who have received complete vaccination from those who are unvaccinated. However, in the post-vaccination era, newly revised policies will be needed. We also discuss on how to increase the vaccination rate in adolescence.
Adolescent ; Early Detection of Cancer ; Female ; Genotype ; Humans ; Immunization Programs ; Korea ; Mass Screening* ; Papillomavirus Vaccines ; Prevalence ; Rare Diseases ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms* ; Vaccination*

This report describes an innovative and effective application of the extracorporeal suturing needle (ESN) to perform a laparoscopic inguinal herniorraphy. Between 1/1/96 and 12/31/96, we treated 23 patients with inguinal hernia using this suturing needle uniquely designed by Nahm-gun Oh. This new technique and device allow sutures to be made in the tissues near the floor of the internal inguinal canal without exposing the area while the movement of the ESN is observed with a laparoscopic camera. In 16 patients, the internal inguinal ring was ligated and fixed medially to the fascial root of the inferior epigastric vessels and to laterally the internal oblique muscle, using the ESN. In 5 patients with large inguinal hernias, the sutures were placed to force the inguinal canal with intraperitoneal onlay mesh fixation to the fascia, using the ESN, causing a narrowing of the internal inguinal canal. In 2 patients with inguinal hernias, the peritoneum of the internal inguinal ring was closed and laterally fixed to the internal oblique muscle by using the ESN. The ESN has been used successfully in 96% of the patients with inguinal hernias. One patient had a recurrence of the hernia. No permanent complications were seen in the patients involved in this study. Some transient postoperative complications included groin pain (21%), urinary retention (13%), and abdominal wall hematoma (9%). In four patients (17%), contralateral inguinal hernias were discovered during their operations and were corrected using the same procedures. We conclude that the extracorporeal suturing needle was safely and effectively used in laparoscopic inguinal herniorrhaphies and should be considered for use in laparoscopic herniorrhaphies and other laparoscopic surgeries.
Abdominal Wall ; Fascia ; Groin ; Hematoma ; Hernia ; Hernia, Inguinal ; Herniorrhaphy ; Humans ; Inguinal Canal ; Inlays ; Laparoscopy ; Needles* ; Peritoneum ; Postoperative Complications ; Recurrence ; Sutures ; Urinary Retention

Calbindin is a calcium binding protein that controls intracellular calcium levels and has a neuroprotective function against apoptotic stimuli. We investigated the expression of calbindin in ischemic brain injury. Focal cerebral ischemia was induced in male rats by middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) and cerebral cortices were collected 24 h after MCAO. Cerebral ischemia significantly increased infarct volume. RT-PCR and Western blot analyses showed that MCAO injury induced a decrease of calbindin expression. Moreover, immunohistochemical staining showed that the number of calbindin-positive cells decreased in ischemic regions of MCAO-operated animals. In cultured hippocampal-derived cell lines, glutamate exposure increased intracellular Ca2+ concentrations and decreased calbindin expression. Taken together, both in vivo and in vitro results demonstrated decreases of calbindin after neuronal cell injury. These results suggest that decreases of calbindin in ischemic brain injury contribute to neuronal cell death.
Animals ; Blotting, Western ; Brain ; Brain Injuries ; Brain Ischemia ; Calcium ; Calcium-Binding Protein, Vitamin D-Dependent ; Carrier Proteins ; Cell Death ; Cell Line ; Cerebral Cortex ; Glutamic Acid ; Humans ; Infarction, Middle Cerebral Artery ; Male ; Neurons ; Rats

The identification and characterization of pathogenic and zoonotic tick-borne diseases like granulocytic anaplasmosis are essential for developing effective control programs. The differential diagnosis of pathogenic Anaplasma phagocytophilum and non-pathogenic A. phagocytophilum-like Anaplasma spp. is important for implementing effective treatment from control programs. The objective of the present study was to investigate the prevalence of Anaplasma spp. in horses in Korea by nucleotide sequencing and restriction enzyme fragment length polymorphism assay. Of the 627 horses included in the study, only 1 (0.2%) was infected with A. phagocytophilum. Co-infection with A. phagocytophilumlike Anaplasma spp. was not detected in the study. The 16S rRNA sequence of A. phagocytophilum was similar (99.5–100%) to A. phagocytophilum 16S rRNA isolated from horses in other countries. PCR adapted to amplify A. phagocytophilum groEL and msp2 genes failed to generate amplicons, suggesting genetic diversity in these genes. This study is the first molecular detection of A. phagocytophilum in horses in Korea. Human granulocytic anaplasmosis and animal infection of A. phagocytophilum have been reported in Korea recently. Because of vector tick distribution, global warming, and the increase of the horse industry, horses should be considered as a potential reservoir for A. phagocytophilum, and cross infectivity should be evaluated even though a low prevalence of infection was detected in this study. Furthermore, continuous surveillance and effective control measures for A. phagocytophilum should be established to prevent disease distribution and possible transmission to humans.
Anaplasma phagocytophilum ; Anaplasma ; Anaplasmosis ; Animals ; Coinfection ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Genetic Variation ; Global Warming ; Granulocytes ; Horses ; Humans ; Korea ; Phylogeny ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length ; Prevalence ; Tick-Borne Diseases ; Ticks

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to verify the effects of hormone therapy (HT) on recurrence in endometrial cancer (EC) survivors using the Korean Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service (HIRA) database. METHODS: Using the HIRA claims database, we identified all Korean women who were newly diagnosed with EC and underwent surgical staging between 2010 and 2013. Patient characteristics such as age, HT exposure, lymphadenectomy, and adjuvant therapy were evaluated. Cox proportional hazards models were used to estimate the adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the recurrence of EC. RESULTS: The mean follow-up time of all 5,667 eligible patients was 47.5 months. Of these, 847 (14.9%) received HT. Recurrence was seen in 446 (7.8%) patients. Univariate analysis revealed an increased recurrence rate in patients older than 50 years (HR=2.05; 95% CI=1.62–2.63), patients with high-risk EC (HR=24.51; 95% CI=18.63–32.35), and patients who underwent lymphadenectomy (HR=1.52; 95% CI=1.21–2.03), and a reduced recurrence rate in patients who received HT (HR=0.62; 95% CI=0.46–0.83). Multivariate analysis confirmed the significant increase in recurrence in patients older than 50 years (HR=1.47; 95% CI=1.14–1.89) and in patients with high-risk EC (HR=23.90; 95% CI=18.12–31.51). HT did not increase the recurrence rate of EC (HR=0.81; 95% CI=0.31–2.10). CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates that HT does not increase disease recurrence in EC survivors, despite lack of data that could affect the outcome.
Endometrial Neoplasms ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hormone Replacement Therapy ; Humans ; Insurance, Health ; Lymph Node Excision ; Multivariate Analysis ; Proportional Hazards Models ; Recurrence ; Survivors

OBJECTIVE: Persistent infection of HPV increases the chance of carcinoma in situ of cervix through stages of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) 1, 2, and 3, and finally progresses into cervical cancer. We aimed to explore the safety and efficacy of BLS-M07 which is orally administered agent expressing human papillomavirus (HPV) 16 E7 antigen on the surface of Lactobacillus casei in patients with CIN 3. METHODS: Patients with CIN 3 were recruited in our clinical trial. Reid Colposcopic Index (RCI) grading and serum HPV16 E7 specific antibody production were used to evaluate efficacy of BLS-M07. In phase 1, BLS-M07 was administered orally, 5 times a week, on weeks 1, 2, 4, and 8 with dosages of 500 mg, 1,000 mg, and 1,500 mg. In phase 2a, patients were treated with 1,000 mg. The primary endpoints were the safety and the pathologic regression on colposcopic biopsy. RESULTS: Nineteen patients were enrolled in the CIN 3 cohort. In phase 1, no patients experienced dose limiting toxicity. No grade 3 or 4 treatment-related adverse events or deaths were observed. At 16 weeks after treatment, RCI grading was improved and serum HPV16 E7 specific antibody production increased (p<0.05). Six of 8 (75%) patients with CIN 3 were cured in phase 2a. CONCLUSIONS: Oral immunization with BLS-M07 increases production of serum HPV16 E7 specific antibody which induces protective humoral immunity. The safety of this oral vaccine was proved and could be a competitive non-surgical therapeutic agent of CIN 3. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02195089
Antibody Formation ; Biopsy ; Carcinoma in Situ ; Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia ; Cervix Uteri ; Cohort Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Immunity, Humoral ; Immunization ; Lactobacillus casei ; Papillomavirus E7 Proteins ; Papillomavirus Vaccines ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms

We assessed the seroprevalence of Coxiella burnetii (C. burnetii) in cattle on Ulleung Island, Korea in a population-based follow up study for 4 years and determined the spatial distribution and risk factors associated with C. burnetii. The seroprevalence of C. burnetii was determined to be 1.4–2.0% during 2011–2014. Overall, nine cattle from three farms that tested seropositive showed C. burnetii antibody seroconversions between 2011 and 2014. The number of seropositive cattle was low, suggesting that movement of and contact between animals was possible risk factors for the transmission of C. burnetii.
Agriculture ; Animals ; Cattle ; Coxiella burnetii ; Coxiella ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Follow-Up Studies ; Korea ; Q Fever ; Risk Factors ; Seroconversion ; Seroepidemiologic Studies