Purpose: To investigate the short-term outcomes of intravitreal injections of the ranibizumab biosimilar SB11 in patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Methods: This retrospective comparative study assessed changes in best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and central retinal thickness (CRT) in patients diagnosed with neovascular AMD who received three monthly injections of SB11. The outcomes were compared to those of patients who received the same treatment using the ranibizumab originator. Within the SB11 group, comparisons were made between BCVA and CRT at diagnosis and after three injections. The proportion of patients with resolved subretinal fluid/intraretinal fluid was also evaluated. Results: The study included 46 eyes. In the SB11 group (n = 23), the average BCVA improved significantly from a baseline of logarithm of minimal angle of resolution 0.54 ± 0.42 to 0.40 ± 0.32 after three injections (p = 0.008). The average CRT decreased significantly from 447.4 ± 167.7 µm at baseline to 267.9 ± 66.9 µm after treatment (p < 0.001). Complete resolution of macular edema was observed in 19 eyes (82.7%). No significant differences were found in the degree of change in BCVA (p = 0.883) and CRT (p = 0.629) when compared to the ranibizumab originator group (n = 23). No complications such as intraocular inflammation or retinal detachment were noted. Conclusions Treatment with SB11 loading injections in neovascular AMD led to significant improvements in vision and reductions in macular thickness. The extent of improvement was comparable to that achieved with the ranibizumab originator and no severe complications were observed.

Purpose: To investigate the short-term outcomes of intravitreal injections of the ranibizumab biosimilar SB11 in patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Methods: This retrospective comparative study assessed changes in best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and central retinal thickness (CRT) in patients diagnosed with neovascular AMD who received three monthly injections of SB11. The outcomes were compared to those of patients who received the same treatment using the ranibizumab originator. Within the SB11 group, comparisons were made between BCVA and CRT at diagnosis and after three injections. The proportion of patients with resolved subretinal fluid/intraretinal fluid was also evaluated. Results: The study included 46 eyes. In the SB11 group (n = 23), the average BCVA improved significantly from a baseline of logarithm of minimal angle of resolution 0.54 ± 0.42 to 0.40 ± 0.32 after three injections (p = 0.008). The average CRT decreased significantly from 447.4 ± 167.7 µm at baseline to 267.9 ± 66.9 µm after treatment (p < 0.001). Complete resolution of macular edema was observed in 19 eyes (82.7%). No significant differences were found in the degree of change in BCVA (p = 0.883) and CRT (p = 0.629) when compared to the ranibizumab originator group (n = 23). No complications such as intraocular inflammation or retinal detachment were noted. Conclusions Treatment with SB11 loading injections in neovascular AMD led to significant improvements in vision and reductions in macular thickness. The extent of improvement was comparable to that achieved with the ranibizumab originator and no severe complications were observed.

Purpose: To investigate the short-term outcomes of intravitreal injections of the ranibizumab biosimilar SB11 in patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Methods: This retrospective comparative study assessed changes in best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and central retinal thickness (CRT) in patients diagnosed with neovascular AMD who received three monthly injections of SB11. The outcomes were compared to those of patients who received the same treatment using the ranibizumab originator. Within the SB11 group, comparisons were made between BCVA and CRT at diagnosis and after three injections. The proportion of patients with resolved subretinal fluid/intraretinal fluid was also evaluated. Results: The study included 46 eyes. In the SB11 group (n = 23), the average BCVA improved significantly from a baseline of logarithm of minimal angle of resolution 0.54 ± 0.42 to 0.40 ± 0.32 after three injections (p = 0.008). The average CRT decreased significantly from 447.4 ± 167.7 µm at baseline to 267.9 ± 66.9 µm after treatment (p < 0.001). Complete resolution of macular edema was observed in 19 eyes (82.7%). No significant differences were found in the degree of change in BCVA (p = 0.883) and CRT (p = 0.629) when compared to the ranibizumab originator group (n = 23). No complications such as intraocular inflammation or retinal detachment were noted. Conclusions Treatment with SB11 loading injections in neovascular AMD led to significant improvements in vision and reductions in macular thickness. The extent of improvement was comparable to that achieved with the ranibizumab originator and no severe complications were observed.

Purpose: This multi-center, retrospective study was conducted to evaluate the long-term survival in patients who underwent surgical resection for small cell lung cancer (SCLC) and to identify the benefit of adjuvant therapy following surgery. Materials and Methods: The data of 213 patients who underwent surgical resection for SCLC at four institutions were retrospectively reviewed. Patients who received neoadjuvant therapy or an incomplete resection were excluded. Results: The mean patient age was 65.29±8.93 years, and 184 patients (86.4%) were male. Lobectomies and pneumonectomies were performed in 173 patients (81.2%), and 198 (93%) underwent systematic mediastinal lymph node dissections. Overall, 170 patients (79.8%) underwent adjuvant chemotherapy, 42 (19.7%) underwent radiotherapy to the mediastinum, and 23 (10.8%) underwent prophylactic cranial irradiation. The median follow-up period was 31.08 months (interquartile range, 13.79 to 64.52 months). The 5-year overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival were 53.4% and 46.9%, respectively. The 5-year OS significantly improved after adjuvant chemotherapy in all patients (57.4% vs. 40.3%, p=0.007), and the survival benefit of adjuvant chemotherapy was significant in patients with negative node pathology (70.8% vs. 39.7%, p=0.004). Adjuvant radiotherapy did not affect the 5-year OS (54.6% vs. 48.5%, p=0.458). Age (hazard ratio [HR], 1.032; p=0.017), node metastasis (HR, 2.190; p < 0.001), and adjuvant chemotherapy (HR, 0.558; p=0.019) were associated with OS. Conclusion Adjuvant chemotherapy after surgical resection in patients with SCLC improved the OS, though adjuvant radiotherapy to the mediastinum did not improve the survival or decrease the locoregional recurrence rate.

Background: The stromal vascular fraction (SVF) isolated from adipose tissue, which contains stem cells as well as other cell types, has been applied in various research fields. Although different enzymatic concentrations and treatment durations have been applied to isolate the SVF, optimal conditions have not been established. Thus, we aimed to establish the optimal conditions for isolation of the SVF from adipose tissue by automated systems. Methods: The SVF was collected from removed adipose tissues of five donors during surgery. The SVF was treated with 0.1% or 0.2% collagenase type I for 20, 40, or 60 min. Then, colony forming unit (CFU) assays and flow cytometry were performed to characterize the adipose stem cells (ASCs). A cytokine array was used to investigate the correlation between colony-formation ability and the secretion of isolated ASCs. Results: Treatment with 0.1% collagenase type I for 60 min resulted in a higher SVF yield, whereas treatment with 0.1% collagenase for 40 min resulted in higher CFU values. In addition, expression of interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 in the SVF was higher in the high-CFU group than in the low-CFU group. Conclusion The optimal conditions for isolation of the SVF from adipose tissue were treatment with 0.1% collagenase type I for 40 min. We identified the conditions required for efficient SVF isolation based on high CFU values, and our results will facilitate the development of automated systems.

No abstract available.
Hematopoietic Stem Cells ; Receptors, Aryl Hydrocarbon

BACKGROUND: Pathologic diagnosis of central nervous system (CNS) neoplasms is made by comparing light microscopic, immunohistochemical, and molecular cytogenetic findings with clinicoradiologic observations. Intraoperative frozen cytology smears can improve the diagnostic accuracy for CNS neoplasms. Here, we evaluate the diagnostic value of cytology in frozen diagnoses of CNS neoplasms. METHODS: Cases were selected from patients undergoing both frozen cytology and frozen sections. Diagnostic accuracy was evaluated. RESULTS: Four hundred and fifty-four cases were included in this retrospective single-center review study covering a span of 10 years. Five discrepant cases (1.1%) were found after excluding 53 deferred cases (31 cases of tentative diagnosis, 22 cases of inadequate frozen sampling). A total of 346 cases of complete concordance and 50 cases of partial concordance were classified as not discordant cases in the present study. Diagnostic accuracy of intraoperative frozen diagnosis was 87.2%, and the accuracy was 98.8% after excluding deferred cases. Discrepancies between frozen and permanent diagnoses (n = 5, 1.1%) were found in cases of nonrepresentative sampling (n = 2) and misinterpretation (n = 3). High concordance was observed more frequently in meningeal tumors (97/98, 99%), metastatic brain tumors (51/52, 98.1%), pituitary adenomas (86/89, 96.6%), schwannomas (45/47, 95.8%), high-grade astrocytic tumors (47/58, 81%), low grade astrocytic tumors (10/13, 76.9%), non-neoplastic lesions (23/36, 63.9%), in decreasing frequency. CONCLUSIONS: Using intraoperative cytology and frozen sections of CNS tumors is a highly accurate diagnostic ancillary method, providing subtyping of CNS neoplasms, especially in frequently encountered entities.
Brain Neoplasms ; Central Nervous System Neoplasms ; Central Nervous System ; Cytogenetics ; Diagnosis ; Frozen Sections ; Humans ; Meningeal Neoplasms ; Methods ; Neurilemmoma ; Pituitary Neoplasms ; Retrospective Studies

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study is to investigate relationship between the horse racing addiction and the health status indicators. METHODS: Surveys were conducted with visitors of the Korea Racing Association in Gyeonggi-do, from September 1 to September 24, 2017. We used the questionnaire, which contains questions to assess the horse racing addiction, mood depression, health-related quality of life, smoking amount, alcohol dependency, etc. Survey data were analyzed through t-test, chi-square test, logistic regression analysis, and multiple regression analysis by SPSS program (IBM Corp., Chicago, IL, USA). RESULTS: The pathological gambling group was 47.5% (n=38) of the visitors, and they showed a different racecourse use behavior compared to the normal group. In addition, we found that the pathological gambling group had a significantly different health-related quality of life score and a depression score from the normal group, and that the addiction score and the depression score had a linear correlation. CONCLUSIONS Among the racecourse visitors, the ratio of the pathological gambler was considerably high, and the pathological gambling group showed different health-related quality of life score and a depression score compared to the normal group; especially, the depression score has a significant correlation with horse racing addiction. Therefore, the horse racing association and the health authorities should recognize the seriousness of the horse racing addiction, make an effort to select high risk users, and prepare a program to prevent pathological gambling.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study is to investigate relationship between the horse racing addiction and the health status indicators. METHODS: Surveys were conducted with visitors of the Korea Racing Association in Gyeonggi-do, from September 1 to September 24, 2017. We used the questionnaire, which contains questions to assess the horse racing addiction, mood depression, health-related quality of life, smoking amount, alcohol dependency, etc. Survey data were analyzed through t-test, chi-square test, logistic regression analysis, and multiple regression analysis by SPSS program (IBM Corp., Chicago, IL, USA). RESULTS: The pathological gambling group was 47.5% (n=38) of the visitors, and they showed a different racecourse use behavior compared to the normal group. In addition, we found that the pathological gambling group had a significantly different health-related quality of life score and a depression score from the normal group, and that the addiction score and the depression score had a linear correlation. CONCLUSIONS: Among the racecourse visitors, the ratio of the pathological gambler was considerably high, and the pathological gambling group showed different health-related quality of life score and a depression score compared to the normal group; especially, the depression score has a significant correlation with horse racing addiction. Therefore, the horse racing association and the health authorities should recognize the seriousness of the horse racing addiction, make an effort to select high risk users, and prepare a program to prevent pathological gambling.
Continental Population Groups ; Depression ; Gambling ; Gyeonggi-do ; Health Status Indicators ; Horses ; Humans ; Korea ; Logistic Models ; Quality of Life ; Smoke ; Smoking

BACKGROUND: Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) mutations may regulate the progression and chemosensitivity of leukemia. Few studies regarding mitochondrial aberrations and haplogroups in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and their clinical impacts have been reported. Therefore, we focused on the mtDNA length heteroplasmies minisatellite instability (MSI), copy number alterations, and distribution of mitochondrial haplogroups in Korean patients with AML. METHODS: This study investigated 74 adult patients with AML and 70 controls to evaluate mtDNA sequence alterations, MSI, mtDNA copy number, haplogroups, and their clinical implications. The hypervariable (HV) control regions (HV1 and HV2), tRNA(leu1)gene, and cytochrome b gene of mtDNA were analyzed. Two mtDNA minisatellite markers, 16189 poly-C (¹⁶¹⁸⁴CCCCCTCCCC¹⁶¹⁹³, 5CT4C) and 303 poly-C (³⁰³CCCCCCCTCCCCC³¹⁵, 7CT5C), were used to examine the mtDNA MSI. RESULTS: In AML, most mtDNA sequence variants were single nucleotide substitutions, but there were no significant differences compared to those in controls. The number of mtMSI patterns increased in AML. The mean mtDNA copy number of AML patients increased approximately 9-fold compared to that of controls (P < 0.0001). Haplogroup D4 was found in AML with a higher frequency compared to that in controls (31.0% vs. 15.7%, P=0.046). None of the aforementioned factors showed significant impacts on the outcomes. CONCLUSION: AML cells disclosed more heterogeneous patterns with the mtMSI markers and had increased mtDNA copy numbers. These findings implicate mitochondrial genome instability in primary AML cells. Therefore, mtDNA haplogroup D4 might be associated with AML risk among Koreans.
Adult ; Cytochromes b ; DNA, Mitochondrial ; Genome, Mitochondrial* ; Humans ; Leukemia ; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute* ; Minisatellite Repeats