OBJECTIVES: An automatic needle destroyer (ANDY) was developed to prevent needlestick injuries, and usability tests were conducted in several hospitals. The addition of extra features to the ANDY is in progress, such as data collection and automatic identification of used syringes. Thus, this report describes how the ANDY can be used to track the data of used syringes. METHODS: The motor torque required for barrel separation differs according to syringe diameters. By monitoring the electric current which is consumed for the motor torque, the type of syringe can be identified. Twelve prototypes were produced, and five usability tests were conducted in hospitals. RESULTS: After use, a syringe is inserted into the proposed device, and the needle portion is then cut and separated from the syringe body (barrel) and discarded. The needles are collected in a sharps container for hygienic disposal, and the barrel is dropped into a general medical waste container. CONCLUSIONS: The ANDY can be used to track the syringe used for each patient. The barcode can be read while the syringe rotates in the main body of the ANDY with a built-in omnidirectional scanner. Collection of information during syringe disposal can facilitate stock management. This system could also be extended to other types of consumable medical devices, although it would still be a challenge to differentiate each medical device.
Data Collection* ; Disposable Equipment ; Equipment and Supplies ; Equipment Design ; Humans ; Medical Waste ; Medical Waste Disposal ; Needles ; Needlestick Injuries ; Syringes* ; Torque

Background: The need for regulatory science development to evaluate advanced regulatory products is gradually increasing without hindering the technological development. Creating a research environment and fostering experts through the establishment of regulatory agency-led policies are essential for the development of regulatory science. Method: This is a comparative study of the United States, Japan, Singapore, and Korea. The literature and websites of each regulatory agency were reviewed, and the focus was on advantages and comparing advantages based on definition, development trends, and expert training projects. Results: The United States is striving to develop regulatory science in response to changes in the new pharmaceutical industry through the regulatory science report, and to foster expert both inside and outside the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Japan is promoting regulatory science centered on regulatory science centers, and is focusing on researching work-related regulatory science within the Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Agency (PMDA) and improving employees’ ability to make regulatory decisions. Singapore was aiming to improve Southeast Asia’s regulatory capabilities under the leadership of Centre of Regulatory Excellence (CoRE) within Duke-NUS University. In 2021, Korea is in its early stages, starting to run a university's degree program related to regulatory science this year. Conclusion Regulatory science should be developed with the aim of improving the regulatory ability of the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety with Korea’s independent concept of regulatory science.

The term “multiple primary (MP) cancers” refers to the existence of more than one cancer in the same patient. The combination of MP cancers with hematological malignancies is relatively uncommon. In this study, we present five patients diagnosed with MP cancers concomitant with hematological malignancies. We comprehensively analyzed their clinical characteristics, cytogenetic profiles, and germline and somatic variants. As first primaries, two patients had solid cancer not followed by cytotoxic therapy and three had hematologic cancer, followed by cytotoxic therapy. The second primaries were all hematologic malignancies that did not meet the criteria for therapy-related myeloid neoplasm. Notably, two (40%) out of the five patients harbored pathogenic potential/presumed germline variants in cancer predisposition genes. Therefore, germline variant testing should be considered when MP cancers with hematological malignancies require consideration for related donor stem cell transplantation.

The term “multiple primary (MP) cancers” refers to the existence of more than one cancer in the same patient. The combination of MP cancers with hematological malignancies is relatively uncommon. In this study, we present five patients diagnosed with MP cancers concomitant with hematological malignancies. We comprehensively analyzed their clinical characteristics, cytogenetic profiles, and germline and somatic variants. As first primaries, two patients had solid cancer not followed by cytotoxic therapy and three had hematologic cancer, followed by cytotoxic therapy. The second primaries were all hematologic malignancies that did not meet the criteria for therapy-related myeloid neoplasm. Notably, two (40%) out of the five patients harbored pathogenic potential/presumed germline variants in cancer predisposition genes. Therefore, germline variant testing should be considered when MP cancers with hematological malignancies require consideration for related donor stem cell transplantation.

The term “multiple primary (MP) cancers” refers to the existence of more than one cancer in the same patient. The combination of MP cancers with hematological malignancies is relatively uncommon. In this study, we present five patients diagnosed with MP cancers concomitant with hematological malignancies. We comprehensively analyzed their clinical characteristics, cytogenetic profiles, and germline and somatic variants. As first primaries, two patients had solid cancer not followed by cytotoxic therapy and three had hematologic cancer, followed by cytotoxic therapy. The second primaries were all hematologic malignancies that did not meet the criteria for therapy-related myeloid neoplasm. Notably, two (40%) out of the five patients harbored pathogenic potential/presumed germline variants in cancer predisposition genes. Therefore, germline variant testing should be considered when MP cancers with hematological malignancies require consideration for related donor stem cell transplantation.

The term “multiple primary (MP) cancers” refers to the existence of more than one cancer in the same patient. The combination of MP cancers with hematological malignancies is relatively uncommon. In this study, we present five patients diagnosed with MP cancers concomitant with hematological malignancies. We comprehensively analyzed their clinical characteristics, cytogenetic profiles, and germline and somatic variants. As first primaries, two patients had solid cancer not followed by cytotoxic therapy and three had hematologic cancer, followed by cytotoxic therapy. The second primaries were all hematologic malignancies that did not meet the criteria for therapy-related myeloid neoplasm. Notably, two (40%) out of the five patients harbored pathogenic potential/presumed germline variants in cancer predisposition genes. Therefore, germline variant testing should be considered when MP cancers with hematological malignancies require consideration for related donor stem cell transplantation.

Sheehan's syndrome is postpartum hypopituitarism due to the necrosis of the pituitary gland. Usually, it is the result of severe hypotension caused by massive hemorrhage during or after delivery. A 40-year-old woman who had been performed cesarean section delivery was complicated by hemorrhage due to uterine atony. After transfusion and hysterectomy, she is gradually recovering her general condition. On 16th day after operation, she visited emergency room in critical condition with nausea, vomiting, and general weakness and laboratory finding was hyponatremia. So, we medicated her with hydrocortisone and thyroxine. Sheehan's syndrome should be considered in the differential diagnosis of hyponatremia in the early postpartum period.
Adult ; Cesarean Section ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Emergency Service, Hospital ; Female ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Hydrocortisone ; Hypoglycemia ; Hyponatremia ; Hypopituitarism* ; Hypotension ; Hysterectomy ; Nausea ; Necrosis ; Pituitary Gland ; Postpartum Hemorrhage* ; Postpartum Period* ; Pregnancy ; Thyroxine ; Uterine Inertia ; Vomiting

Primary malignant melanoma of the breast (PMMB) is a rare tumor with only a few case reports available in the literature. We report two cases of PMMB, one derived from the breast parenchyma and the other from the breast skin. The first case consisted of atypical epithelioid cells without overt melanocytic differentiation like melanin pigments. The tumor cells showed diffuse positivity for S100 protein, tyrosinase, and BRAF V600E. However, the tumor cells were negative for cytokeratin, epithelial membrane antigen, and HMB-45. The second case showed atypical melanocytic proliferation with heavy melanin pigmentation. The tumor cells were positive for S100 protein, HMB-45, tyrosinase, and BRAF V600E. These two cases represent two distinct presentations of PMMB in terms of skin involvement, melanin pigmentation, and HMB-45 positivity. Although PMMB is very rare, the possibility of this entity should be considered in malignant epithelioid neoplasms in the breast parenchyma.
Breast ; Epithelioid Cells ; Keratins ; Melanins ; Melanoma ; Monophenol Monooxygenase ; Mucin-1 ; Pigmentation ; Skin

The liver is a vital organ that regulates systemic energy metabolism and many physiological functions. Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the commonest cause of chronic liver disease and end-stage liver failure. NAFLD is primarily caused by metabolic disruption of lipid and glucose homeostasis. Serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine [5-HT]) is a biogenic amine with several functions in both the central and peripheral systems. 5-HT functions as a neurotransmitter in the brain and a hormone in peripheral tissues to regulate systemic energy homeostasis. Several recent studies have proposed various roles of 5-HT in hepatic metabolism and inflammation using tissue-specific knockout mice and 5-HT-receptor agonists/antagonists. This review compiles the most recent research on the relationship between 5-HT and hepatic metabolism, and the role of 5-HT signaling as a potential therapeutic target in NAFLD.