Background: The purpose of the present study was to assess the daily protein uptake and its relationship with sarcopenia, as defined by the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia (AWGS), among elderly patients with hip fractures. Methods: Forty-seven elderly patients with hip fractures were enrolled in this retrospective observational study. The main outcome measures included protein uptake, muscle mass, and grip strength for sarcopenia in elderly patients. Sarcopenia was diagnosed according to AWGS. Wholebody densitometry was used to measure skeletal muscle mass, and muscle strength was evaluated using handgrip testing. Results: Of 47 patients with hip fractures (12 men and 35 women), 37 (79%) patients exhibited insufficient protein intake (range, 0.01-0.588 g/kg/day), and 10 (21%) patients exhibited excessive protein intake (range, 1.215-2.121 g/kg/day). The mean daily protein intake was 56.5 g (range, 7.2–136.0 g). Prevalence of low muscle strength (handgrip strength <18 kg in women and <26 kg in men) was detected in 13 (37%) women and 8 (67%) men (P=0.076). Sarcopenia (lower muscle mass and lower muscle strength) was detected in 9 (26%) women and 6 (50%) men (P=0.119). Although lower protein intake was marginally associated with sarcopenia (P=0.189), it was significantly associated with lower grip strength (P=0.042). Conclusions The present study demonstrated that insufficient protein intake in elderly patients with hip fractures was common, and lower protein intake was significantly associated with lower muscle strength.

OBJECTIVE: The aims of the present study were to evaluate the changes in the maximum lip-closing force (MLF) after orthodontic treatment with or without premolar extractions and verify the correlation of these changes with dentoskeletal changes. METHODS: In total, 17 women who underwent nonextraction orthodontic treatment and 15 women who underwent orthodontic treatment with extraction of all four first premolars were included in this retrospective study. For all patients, lateral cephalograms and dental models were measured before (T0) and after (T1) treatment. In addition, MLF was measured at both time points using the Lip De Cum LDC-110R® device. Statistical analyses were performed to evaluate changes in clinical variables and MLF and their correlations. RESULTS: Both groups showed similar skeletal patterns, although the extraction group showed greater proclination of the maxillary and mandibular incisors and lip protrusion compared to the nonextraction group at T0. MLF at T0 was comparable between the two groups. The reduction in the arch width and depth and incisor retroclination from T0 to T1 were more pronounced in the extraction group than in the nonextraction group. MLF in the extraction group significantly increased during the treatment period, and this increase was significantly greater than that in the nonextraction group. The increase in MLF was found to be correlated with the increase in the interincisal angle and decrease in the intermolar width, arch depth, and incisor–mandibular plane angle. CONCLUSIONS This study suggests that MLF increases to a greater extent during extraction orthodontic treatment than during nonextraction orthodontic treatment.

Transient receptor potential vanilloid subtype 1 (TRPV1) on astrocytes prevents ongoing degeneration of nigrostriatal dopamine (DA) neurons in MPP⁺-lesioned rats via ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF). The present study determined whether such a beneficial effect of astrocytic TRPV1 could be achieved after completion of injury of DA neurons, rather than ongoing injury, which seems more relevant to therapeutics. To test this, the MPP⁺-lesioned rat model utilized here exhibited approximately 70~80% degeneration of nigrostriatal DA neurons that was completed at 2 weeks post medial forebrain bundle injection of MPP⁺. TRPV1 agonist, capsaicin (CAP), was intraperitoneally administered. CNTF receptor alpha neutralizing antibody (CNTFRαNAb) was nigral injected to evaluate the role of CNTF endogenously produced by astrocyte through TRPV1 activation on DA neurons. Delayed treatment of CAP produced a significant reduction in amphetamine-induced rotational asymmetry. Accompanying this behavioral recovery, CAP treatment increased CNTF levels and tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) activity in the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNpc), and levels of DA and its metabolites in the striatum compared to controls. Interestingly, behavioral recovery and increases in biochemical indices were not reflected in trophic changes of the DA system. Instead, behavioral recovery was temporal and dependent on the continuous presence of CAP treatment. The results suggest that delayed treatment of CAP increases nigral TH enzyme activity and striatal levels of DA and its metabolites by CNTF endogenously derived from CAP-activated astrocytes through TRPV1, leading to functional recovery. Consequently, these findings may be useful in the treatment of DA imbalances associated with Parkinson's disease.
Animals ; Antibodies, Neutralizing ; Astrocytes ; Capsaicin ; Ciliary Neurotrophic Factor ; Dopamine ; Dopaminergic Neurons ; Medial Forebrain Bundle ; Models, Animal ; Neurons ; Parkinson Disease ; Pars Compacta ; Rats ; Receptor, Ciliary Neurotrophic Factor ; Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Colorectal cancer is associated with different anatomical, biological, and clinical characteristics. We determined the impact of the primary tumor location in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). METHODS: Demographic data and clinical information were collected from 1,115 patients from the Republic of Korea, who presented with mCRC between January 2009 and December 2011, using web-based electronic case report forms. Associations between the primary tumor location and the patient's clinical characteristics were assessed, and factors inf luencing overall survival were analyzed using Cox proportional hazards regression models. RESULTS: Of the 1,115 patients recruited to the study, 244 (21.9%) had right colon cancer, 483 (43.3%) had left colon cancer, and 388 (34.8%) had rectal cancer. Liver and lung metastases occurred more frequently in patients with left colon and rectal cancer (p = 0.005 and p = 0.006, respectively), while peritoneal and ovarian metastases occurred more frequently in patients with right and left colon cancer (p < 0.001 and p = 0.031, respectively). The median overall survival of patients with tumors originating in the right colon was significantly shorter than that of patients whose tumors had originated in the left colon or rectum (13.7 months [95% confidence interval (CI), 12.0 to 15.5] vs. 18.0 months [95% CI, 16.3 to 19.7] or 19.9 months [95% CI, 18.5 to 21.3], respectively; p = 0.003). Tumor resection, the number of metastatic sites, and primary tumor location correlated with overall survival in the univariate and multivariate analyses. CONCLUSIONS: Primary tumor location influences the metastatic sites and prognosis of patients with mCRC.
Colon ; Colonic Neoplasms ; Colorectal Neoplasms* ; Humans ; Liver ; Lung ; Multivariate Analysis ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Prognosis ; Rectal Neoplasms ; Rectum ; Republic of Korea

Cirsium japonicum belongs to the Asteraceae or Compositae family and is a medicinal plant in Asia that has a variety of effects, including tumour inhibition, improved immunity with flavones, and antidiabetic and hepatoprotective effects. Silymarin is synthesized by 4-coumaroyl-CoA via both the flavonoid and phenylpropanoid pathways to produce the immediate precursors taxifolin and coniferyl alcohol. Then, the oxidative radicalization of taxifolin and coniferyl alcohol produces silymarin. We identified the expression of genes related to the synthesis of silymarin in C. japonicum in three different tissues, namely, flowers, leaves, and roots, through RNA sequencing. We obtained 51,133 unigenes from transcriptome sequencing by de novo assembly using Trinity v2.1.1, TransDecoder v2.0.1, and CD-HIT v4.6 software. The differentially expressed gene analysis revealed that the expression of genes related to the flavonoid pathway was higher in the flowers, whereas the phenylpropanoid pathway was more highly expressed in the roots. In this study, we established a global transcriptome dataset for C. japonicum. The data shall not only be useful to focus more deeply on the genes related to product medicinal metabolite including flavolignan but also to study the functional genomics for genetic engineering of C. japonicum.
Asia ; Asteraceae ; Cirsium ; Dataset ; Estrone ; Flavones ; Flowers ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Genetic Engineering ; Genomics ; Humans ; Plants, Medicinal ; Sequence Analysis, RNA ; Silymarin ; Transcriptome

BACKGROUND/AIMS: To evaluate the diagnostic value of contrast (SonoVue(R)) enhancement ultrasonography (CEUS) and to compare this method with computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in evaluating liver masses. METHODS: CEUS (n=50), CT (n=47), and MRI (n=43) were performed on 50 liver masses in 48 patients for baseline mass characterization. The most likely impression for each modality and the final diagnosis, based on the combined biopsy results (n=14), angiography findings (n=36), and clinical course, were determined. The diagnostic value of CEUS was compared to those of CT and MRI. RESULTS: The final diagnosis of the masses was hepatocellular carcinoma (n=43), hemangioma (n=3), benign adenoma (n=2), eosinophilic abscess (n=1), and liver metastasis (n=1). The overall diagnostic agreement with the final diagnosis was substantial for CEUS, CT, and MRI, with kappa values of 0.621, 0.763, and 0.784, respectively. The sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy were 83.3%, 87.5%, and 84.0%, respectively, for CEUS; 95.0%, 87.5%, and 93.8%, respectively, for CT; and 94.6%, 83.3%, and 93.0%, respectively for MRI. After excluding the lesions with poor acoustic sonographic windows, the sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy for CEUS were 94.6%, 87.5%, and 93.3%, respectively, with a kappa value of 0.765. CONCLUSIONS: If an appropriate acoustic window is available, CEUS is comparable to CT and MRI for the diagnosis of liver masses.
Adult ; Aged ; Contrast Media/diagnostic use ; Female ; Humans ; Liver Diseases/pathology/radiography/*ultrasonography ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Ewing's sarcoma/primitive neuroectodermal tumor (ES/PNET) family mainly occurs from skeletal system. ES/PNET from the female reproductive organs such as ovary and uterus has been reported very rarely. Recently, we experienced one case of malignant ovarian neoplasm, which was diagnosed as extraosseous ES/PNET of ovary and received operation and chemotherapy. So, we report this case and include a brief literature review.
Female ; Humans ; Neural Plate ; Neuroectodermal Tumors ; Ovarian Neoplasms ; Ovary ; Uterus

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to report the efficacy of the first dorsal metacarpal artery island flap for soft tissue defect of the thumb. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We performed the first dorsal metacarpal artery island flap for soft tissue defect of the thumb in 14 cases since 1992 to 2008. There were dorsal defect in 9 cases, volar defect in 2 cases and lateral defect in 3 cases. The cases are limited by defect size under 2.5 cm in width. We checked a vessel diameter in the flap pedicle, a mobile pedicle length in operative field. Evaluation results was based on flap quality, donor site quality, two-point sensory discrimination, scar contractures, total active movement of the thumb and donor digit. RESULTS: The flap quality was well vascularized and survived in 12 cases (success rate : 86%). Diameter of vessels in flap was estimated within 0.5 mm by operational findings. Dorsal vein was irregular and complicated. Average of the pedicle length was 3.2 cm. Sensory function were preserved in all cases after long term follow up, but the cases we could measure two-point discrimination were 9 cases and average was 5.3 mm. Donor sites were dermatized using skin graft and 2 cases were complained limitation of motion at joints of index finger. CONCLUSION: The failure rate of flap were about 14%. We considered that it need to prepare under operational microscopy because vessels distributed into flap are small and complex. Problems of donor site are not negligible. However it was regarded as a useful island flap which could preserve sensory function in case of soft tissue defect of thumb when it applied to appropriate cases and operated by skilled procedure.
Arteries ; Cicatrix ; Contracture ; Discrimination (Psychology) ; Fingers ; Follow-Up Studies ; Glycosaminoglycans ; Humans ; Joints ; Microscopy ; Sensation ; Skin ; Thumb ; Tissue Donors ; Transplants ; Veins

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate whether determination of the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) viral load is helpful to predict the presence of high-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) that requires aggressive treatment in menopausal women who have presented with an unsatisfactory colposcopic finding and ASCUS or LSIL. METHODS: In menopausal women with ASCUS or LSIL and with who were positive for HPV, 54 women had diagnostic conization were analyzed retrospectively. We used the Hybrid Capture II method. We classified women in a low-risk group (chronic cervicitis, CIN I) and a high-risk group (> or =CIN II) according to the pathological results of conization. We also classified patients into the HPV viral load <100 RLU/PC group and > or =100 RLU/PC group. We analyzed the relationship between the pathological results of conization and viral load. RESULTS: For the conization, 30 women had chronic cervicitis, nine women had CIN I, three women had CIN II and 12 women had CIN III. In the low Hybrid Capture titer-group (<100 RLU/PC), four women had high risk > or =CIN II pathology but in the high Hybrid Capture titer-group (> or =100 RLU/PC), 11 women had high risk pathology this finding was statistically significant (P=0.013). Compared to the low Hybrid Capture titer group, the relative risk of high grade CIN (> or =CIN II) in the high Hybrid Capture titer group was 2.043 (95% CI, 1.216~3.432). CONCLUSIONS: For menopausal women with an unsatisfactory colposcopic finding and also have ASCUS or LSIL women with high HPV viral load might have tendency of > or =CIN II pathology.
Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia ; Chimera ; Conization ; Female ; Humans ; Menopause ; Papilloma ; Retrospective Studies ; Uterine Cervicitis ; Viral Load ; Viruses