BACKGROUND: Effective treatment and monitoring of tuberculosis (TB) requires biomarkers that can be easily evaluated in blood samples. The aim of this study was to analyze the serum proteome of patients with TB and to identify protein biomarkers for TB. METHODS: Serum samples from 26 TB patients and 31 controls were analyzed by using nano-flow ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled to quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry in data-independent mode, and protein and peptide amounts were calculated by using a label-free quantitative approach. The generated data were analyzed by using principal component analysis and partial least squares discriminant analysis, a multivariate statistical method. RESULTS: Of more than 500 proteins identified, alpha-1-antitrypsin was the most discriminative, which was 4.4 times higher in TB patients than in controls. Peptides from alpha-1-antitrypsin and antithrombin III increased in TB patients and showed a high variable importance in the projection scores and coefficient in partial least square discriminant analysis. CONCLUSIONS: Sera from patients with TB had higher alpha-1-antitrypsin levels than sera from control participants. Alpha-1-antitrypsin levels may aid in the diagnosis of TB.
Adult ; Aged ; Antithrombin III/analysis ; Biological Markers/blood ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Discriminant Analysis ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Multivariate Analysis ; Proteome/*analysis ; *Proteomics ; Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization ; Tuberculosis/*blood/genetics/metabolism ; alpha 1-Antitrypsin/analysis

OBJECTIVES: Cyberbullying has recently become a major concern in Korea and especially poses a serious threat to adolescents. The object of this study is to examine the psychopathology of perpetrators and victims of cyberbullying. METHODS: In a cross-sectional study, 490 middle school students completed questionnaires on bullying and victimization experiences in cyberspace. Korean-Youth Self Report (K-YSR) was included to evaluate the psychopathology of the students. RESULTS: The prevalence rates of victims and perpetrators of cyberbullying were 6.92% and 3.33%, respectively. Among 9 sub-scales of K-YSR, the scores of depressed/anxious (p=0.049), thought problems (p=0.002), and attention problems (p=0.039) were significantly different between victim, perpetrator, victim/perpetrator, and control group. Multinomial logistic regression indicated that the victim group was associated with depressed/anxious [odds ratio (OR)=1.10], social immaturity (OR=1.24), thought problems (OR=1.32), and self-destructive identity problems (OR=1.16). The perpetrator group was associated with thought problems (OR=1.37) and attention problems (OR=1.21). The victim/perpetrator group was associated with delinquent behavior (OR=2.04). CONCLUSION: Middle school students involved in cyberbullying were associated with psychopathologies including depression, anxiety, thought problems, attention problems, and delinquent behaviors. The risk of cyberbullying is escalating with the rapid advancement in technology. Therefore, a comprehensive approach should be employed for prediction and prevention of cyberbullying in adolescents.
Adolescent ; Anxiety ; Bullying* ; Crime Victims ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Depression ; Humans ; Korea ; Logistic Models ; Prevalence ; Psychopathology* ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Self Report

Metachromatic leukodystrophy (MLD) is an autosomal recessive disease caused by a deficiency in arylsulfatase A (ARSA). However, decreased ARSA activity is also observed in pseudodeficiency (PD). To distinguish between MLD and PD, we performed gene mutation and sulfatide analyses by using dried blood spots (DBSs) from seven Korean individuals who underwent an analysis of ARSA activity. DNA was extracted from DBSs, and PCR-direct sequencing of ARSA was performed. The cDNA obtained was analyzed to confirm a novel mutation. Of the seven subjects, three were confirmed as having MLD, one was confirmed as having MLD-PD, one was confirmed as having PD, and the remaining two were obligate heterozygotes. We verified the novel pathogenic variant c.1107+1delG by performing familial and cDNA analyses. Sulfatide concentrations in DBSs were analyzed and were quantified by using ultra-performance liquid chromatography and tandem mass spectrometry, respectively. Total sulfatide concentration was inversely correlated with ARSA activity (Spearman's coefficient of rank correlation, P=0.929, P=0.0025). The results of this mutational and biochemical study on MLD will increase our understanding of the genetic characteristics of MLD in Koreans.
Cerebroside-Sulfatase ; Chromatography, Liquid ; DNA ; DNA, Complementary ; Heterozygote ; Leukodystrophy, Metachromatic* ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry

Objective: We implemented a novel resectable myocardial model for mock myectomy using a hybrid method of threedimensional (3D) printing and silicone molding for patients with apical hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (ApHCM). Materials and Methods: From January 2019 through May 2020, 3D models from three patients with ApHCM were generated using the end-diastolic cardiac CT phase image. After computer-aided designing of measures to prevent structural deformation during silicone injection into molding, 3D printing was performed to reproduce anatomic details and molds for the left ventricular (LV) myocardial mass. We compared the myocardial thickness of each cardiac segment and the LV myocardial mass and cavity volumes between the myocardial model images and cardiac CT images. The surgeon performed mock surgery, and we compared the volume and weight of the resected silicone and myocardium. Results: During the mock surgery, the surgeon could determine an ideal site for the incision and the optimal extent of myocardial resection. The mean differences in the measured myocardial thickness of the model (0.3, 1.0, 6.9, and 7.3 mm in the basal, midventricular, apical segments, and apex, respectively) and volume of the LV myocardial mass and chamber (36.9 mL and 14.8 mL, 2.9 mL and -9.4 mL, and 6.0 mL and -3.0 mL in basal, mid-ventricular and apical segments, respectively) were consistent with cardiac CT. The volume and weight of the resected silicone were similar to those of the resected myocardium (6 mL [6.2 g] of silicone and 5 mL [5.3 g] of the myocardium in patient 2; 12 mL [12.5 g] of silicone and 11.2 mL [11.8 g] of the myocardium in patient 3). Conclusion Our 3D model created using hybrid 3D printing and silicone molding may be useful for determining the extent of surgery and planning surgery guided by a rehearsal platform for ApHCM.

Objective: We implemented a novel resectable myocardial model for mock myectomy using a hybrid method of threedimensional (3D) printing and silicone molding for patients with apical hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (ApHCM). Materials and Methods: From January 2019 through May 2020, 3D models from three patients with ApHCM were generated using the end-diastolic cardiac CT phase image. After computer-aided designing of measures to prevent structural deformation during silicone injection into molding, 3D printing was performed to reproduce anatomic details and molds for the left ventricular (LV) myocardial mass. We compared the myocardial thickness of each cardiac segment and the LV myocardial mass and cavity volumes between the myocardial model images and cardiac CT images. The surgeon performed mock surgery, and we compared the volume and weight of the resected silicone and myocardium. Results: During the mock surgery, the surgeon could determine an ideal site for the incision and the optimal extent of myocardial resection. The mean differences in the measured myocardial thickness of the model (0.3, 1.0, 6.9, and 7.3 mm in the basal, midventricular, apical segments, and apex, respectively) and volume of the LV myocardial mass and chamber (36.9 mL and 14.8 mL, 2.9 mL and -9.4 mL, and 6.0 mL and -3.0 mL in basal, mid-ventricular and apical segments, respectively) were consistent with cardiac CT. The volume and weight of the resected silicone were similar to those of the resected myocardium (6 mL [6.2 g] of silicone and 5 mL [5.3 g] of the myocardium in patient 2; 12 mL [12.5 g] of silicone and 11.2 mL [11.8 g] of the myocardium in patient 3). Conclusion Our 3D model created using hybrid 3D printing and silicone molding may be useful for determining the extent of surgery and planning surgery guided by a rehearsal platform for ApHCM.