Background: Colon cancer is believed to develop from colon polyps. Early detection of colon polyps and identification of risk factors will decrease theprevalence of colon cancer. The purpose of this study was to determine whether age, body mass index (BMI), and dyslipidemia are risk factors for thedevelopment of colon polyps. Methods: In this study, we included 2,477 patients who underwent colonoscopic examinations and BMI measurements, including waist circumference,between January 2016 and December 2018 at the health promotion center of Dongsuwon Hospital in Suwon. We analyzed the relationshipsbetween the risk factors and colon polyp formation by using an age-adjusted multiple regression analysis. Results: The prevalence of colon polyps was 14.3% (n=353) and was significantly higher in the older age group (P<0.05). No association was foundbetween the risk of colon polyp formation and the levels of total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein. However, high-density lipoprotein leveland BMI showed a relationship with the prevalence of colon polyps. Conclusion The development of colon polyps was associated with obesity rather than dyslipidemia in the asymptomatic healthy adults in this study.

HExDB is a database for analyzing exon and splicing pattern information in Homo sapiens. HExDB is useful for specific purposes: 1) to design primers for exon amplification from cDNA and 2) to understand the change of ORFs by alternative splicing. HExDB was constructed by integrating data from AltExtron which is the computationally predicted exon database, Ensemble cDNA annotation, and Affymetrix genome tile published recently. Although it may contain false positive data, HExDB is good starting point due to its sensitivity. At present, there are as many as 2,046,519 exons stored in the HExDB. We found that 16.8% of the exons in the database was constitutive exons and 83.1% were novel gene exons.
Alternative Splicing* ; Animals ; DNA, Complementary ; Ecthyma, Contagious ; Exons* ; Genome ; Humans* ; Open Reading Frames

Peutz-Jeghers type hamartomatous polyp is known to be associated with Peutz-Jeghers syndrome, which shows characteristic multiple hamartomatous polyp involvement in the gastrointestinal tract, combined with mucocutaneous symptom, familial history of Peutz- Jeghers syndrome or STK11/LTB1 mutation. However, some cases showing histologic appearance of the polyps discovered in Peutz- Jeghers syndrome while lacking other diagnostic criteria of the syndrome have been reported, and these are called solitary Peutz- Jeghers type polyps. Herein, we report a case of solitary Peutz-Jeghers type polyp covered with heterotopic epithelium. The patient was 47-year-old female without any mucocutaneous symptoms nor familial history of Peutz-Jeghers syndrome. Microscopic examination revealed Peutz-Jeghers type hamartomatous polyp in duodenum covered with gastric type foveolar epithelium. Considering the definition of hamartomatous polyp, which is, the abnormal overgrowth of the indigenous epithelial component, the histological feature of current case is noteworthy in a point that it shows proliferation of heterotopic component, rather than the indigenous component.

Pseudoaneurysm formation in the profunda femoris artery (PFA) is a rare complication of femur shaft fractures or, more usually, a consequence of operative repair. Over the past few years, percutaneous transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE) has increasingly been considered the most effective treatment for pseudoaneurysms of the PFA. We report two cases with pseudoaneurysms of the PFA that were caused by femur shaft fractures and were successfully treated using TAE with n-butyl cyanoacrylate (NBCA). When a pseudoaneurysm of the PFA occurs due to a femur shaft fracture, early recognition and prompt radiologic intervention may prevent severe vascular injury without the need for additional surgery. The advent of TAE using NBCA enables minimally invasive treatment to be undertaken and it is effective for managing pseudoaneurysms of the PFA.

The objective of the present study was to investigate the effects of heat treatment (HT) time on the optical properties, mechanical properties, and microstructure of lithium disilicate (Li 2 Si 2 O 5) glass-ceramic blocks. Samples were prepared by cutting lithium disilicate glass-ceramic blocks – Amber® Mill Prototype (AMP) and IPS e.max CAD (IEC) – into a disc shape (diameter of 12 mm and thickness of 1.2 mm) and evenly polishing the surface. Each sample was heat treated according to the manufacturer’s manual and HT holding time was set to 15, 30, 45, and 60 minutes according to different groups. The samples were tested by color difference analysis using a spectrophotometer. X-ray diffraction analysis, HR FE-SEM observation, Vickers hardness test, fracture toughness test, and biaxial flexural strength test were carried out. The acicular crystals of lithium disilicate became coarser and less transparent with increasing HT time. The results for color difference (ΔE * ) compared to VITA A2 standard shade showed that the difference was significantly higher in the AMP groups than the IEC groups (P<0.05). Translucency parameter (TP) values were significantly higher in the AMP groups than the IEC groups (P<0.05). The AMP30 group showed the highest TP value, while all other experimental groups showed the tendency of decrease in TP value with increase in HT time. Moreover, increase in TP value was associated with decrease in contrast ratio. When fracture toughness was measured by indentation fracture method, both AMP and IEC groups showed similar results with 1.77 MPa·m 1/2 after HT for 15 minutes. However, as HT time increased, the IEC groups showed significantly higher values than the AMP groups (P<0.05). X-ray diffraction analysis results showed that quartz (SiO 2) and cristobalite (SiO 2) peaks were observed together with the lithium disilicate (Li 2Si 2O 5) peak in the AMP groups, whereas a lithium phosphate (Li 3PO 4) peak was observed together with the lithium disilicate (Li 2Si 2O 5) peak in the IEC groups. With respect to biaxial flexural strength in the AMP groups, the AMP15 group (HT for 15 minutes) showed the highest value of (524.09±89.95) MPa, whereas the AMP60 group (HT for 60 minutes) showed the lowest value of (446.56±76.75) MPa, with a significant difference between the two groups (P<0.05). In the IEC groups, IEC30 group showed the highest value of (668.51±158.57) MPa and the IEC45 group showed the lowest value of (517.37±129.52) MPa, with a significant difference between the two groups (P<0.05). Within the limitations of the present study, it is concluded that if increased strength is required when fabricating restorations using lithium disilicate glass-ceramic, then changing the HT time could be considered as long as such change does not significantly alter the color tone.

OBJECTIVE: Although surgical intervention, such as percutaneous vertebroplasty (PVP), is the standard treatment for osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures (OVCFs), its effectiveness and safety are unclear. Therefore, this study compared the safety and efficacy of conservative treatment with that of PVP for acute OVCFs.METHODS: Patients with single-level OVCFs who were treated conservatively with a transdermal fentanyl patch (TFP) or with PVP between March 2013 and December 2017 and followed-up for more than 1 year were retrospectively evaluated. Patients with pathologic fractures, fractures of more than two columns, or a history of PVP were excluded. Clinical outcomes (visual analog scale [VAS] scores) and radiographic factors were evaluated, including changes in the compression rate of the corresponding vertebral body at onset and after 12 months, sagittal Cobb angle at onset and after 6 and 12 months, and the incidence of adjacent compression fractures.RESULTS: Of the 131 patients evaluated, 75 were treated conservatively using TFPs and 56 underwent PVP. We divided the patients into TFP and PVP groups. Their baseline characteristics (including sex, level of fracture, and bone mineral density T-scores) were similar, but the TFP group was significantly younger. The overall VAS score for pain showed a greater decrease during the first month (1 week after PVP) in the PVP group but remained similar in the two groups thereafter. The compression rate after 12 months increased in the TFP group but decreased in the PVP group. Five patients in the PVP group, but none in the TFP group, experienced adjacent compression fractures within 12 months.CONCLUSION: We compared clinical and radiological outcomes between the TFP and PVP groups. The immediate pain reduction effect was superior in the PVP group, but the final clinical outcome was similar. Although the PVP group had a better-preserved compression rate than the TFP group for 1 year, the development of adjacent fractures was significantly higher. Although TFPs seemed to be beneficial in reducing the failure rate of conservative treatment, the possibility of side effects (22.6%, 17 out of 75 patients, in this study) should be carefully monitored.
Bone Density ; Fentanyl ; Fractures, Compression ; Fractures, Spontaneous ; Humans ; Incidence ; Retrospective Studies ; Vertebroplasty

The current study aimed to compare the pH, solubility value, and ion release capability of premixed mineral trioxide aggregates (MTAs) versus conventional pulp capping materials before and after setting. The following materials were used: resin-modified calcium silicate cement (TheraCal LC®, TLC), resin-modified calcium hydroxide cement (Ultra-BlendTM plus, UBP), and 2 kinds of premixed MTA (Endocem MTA® premixed regular 〔EMPR〕 and Well-RootTM PT 〔WRP〕). The specimens of each material were prepared before and after setting and were immersed in distilled water. The materials’ pH and solubility value were assessed. Next, three kinds of ion (calcium, sulfide, and strontium) released by pulp capping materials were evaluated via inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry. In the after-setting group, the pH of TLC and UBP decreased. However, the pH of the premixed MTAs increased with time. TLC released a higher concentration of strontium ion compared with the other materials. Meanwhile, EMPR released a significantly high concentration of sulfide ion (p < 0.05). In the after-setting group, the 2 kinds of premixed MTAs released a significantly higher concentration of calcium ion compared with the other materials (p < 0.05). In the after-setting group, EMPR had a significantly low solubility value (p < 0.05). The Kruskal-Wallis test, followed by the Mann-Whitney U test with Bonferroni correction, was used in statistical analysis. In conclusion, resin-modified calcium silicate cement, modified calcium hydroxide cement, and the 2 kinds of premixed MTAs had an alkaline pH and low solubility value and they released various concentrations of ions after setting.

This study aimed to enhance the physicochemical properties of sodium iodide-based root filling materials, particularly solubility. In earlier developmental stages, the iodoformcontaining paste exhibited high antibacterial efficacy but failed to meet only the solubility requirement among the ISO 6876 criteria. Therefore, this study focused on enhancing the physicochemical properties of the paste under development, particularly centering on reducing its solubility. Four experimental groups were established, including three control group. The previously developed D30 paste was named the Oil 33 group, and the control group was named the Vitapex® group. The Oil 50 group, in which the oil content was increased, and the Oil 45L group, in which lanolin was incorporated. The physical properties (solubility, pH, flowability, and film thickness) of the four pastes were evaluated according to the ISO 6876 standards. No significant differences were observed between the Oil 45L and Vitapex® groups in any of the physical property evaluations. While the Oil 33 and Oil 50 groups met the ISO 6876 standards for flowability and film thickness, the Oil 45L group met all the physical properties. However, reducing the overall oil content may be necessary to enhance the antimicrobial properties. The result of the physicochemical experiments showed that the Oil 45L group with the newly formulated composition and incorporated lanolin exhibited low solubility meeting the ISO 6876 standard of ≤ 3%. We were able to develop a paste with more stable solubility than previous iodide-based root-filling materials. Therefore, the oil content must be further adjusted to improve its antimicrobial properties. If other physical properties also meet the ISO 6876 standards and demonstrate excellent results in cytotoxicity tests, this root filling material could potentially replace existing options.

PURPOSE: The bedside lung ultrasound in emergency (BLUE) protocol is an excellent diagnostic tool for acute respiratory failures requiring admission to the intensive care unit. We incorporated cardiac ultrasound in the BLUE algorithm because cardiac origin is also necessary to examine in an emergency setting. We studied the usefulness of the emergency department (ED)-BLUE protocol for patients complaining of dyspnea in an emergency department. METHODS: At first, we assessed lung sliding, artifacts (Alines and B-lines), alveolar consolidation and pleural effusion on stage I and II evaluation. Then, we checked heart to detect 3Es (Effusion, Equality, and Ejection fractions). We divided all the possible conditions into 10 categories. We compared it with final diagnosis and examined the agreements using kappa statistics. We compared the physician's level of confidence for the first impression. The 10 categories were: 1) normal or inconclusive, 2) pulmonary embolism, 3) airway disease (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or asthma), 4) pneumothorax, 5) large pleural effusion, 6) alveolar consolidation, 7) acute pulmonary edema due to systolic congestive heart failure, 8) acute respiratory distress syndrome, 9) chronic interstitial lung disease with exacerbation, and 10) pericardial effusion with/without tamponade. RESULTS: This prospective study was performed for 172 patients over 18-years-of-age with dyspnea during a 25-month period. Kappa value between the diagnosis after ED-BLUE and final diagnosis was 0.812(p<0.001). The mean of physician's full term for LOC for the first impression before and after ED-BLUE was 3.09+/-0.83 and 4.36+/-0.70 (paired t-test, p<0.001). CONCLUSION: ED-BLUE protocol could help the emergency physician make an accurate diagnosis in patients with dyspnea in the emergent setting.
Artifacts ; Dyspnea ; Emergencies ; Heart ; Heart Failure ; Humans ; Intensive Care Units ; Lung ; Lung Diseases, Interstitial ; Lung Diseases, Obstructive ; Pericardial Effusion ; Pleural Effusion ; Pneumothorax ; Prospective Studies ; Pulmonary Edema ; Pulmonary Embolism ; Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Adult

No abstract available.
Central Nervous System* ; Humans ; Lymphoma* ; Methotrexate*