OBJECTIVES: This study aims to evaluate the size-dependent toxicity of spherical silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) to an endemic benthic organism, Glyptotendipes tokunagai. METHODS: Ag nanoparticles of three nominal sizes (50, 100, and 150 nm) capped with polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP-Ag NPs) were used. Their physicochemical properties, acute toxicity (48 hours), and bioaccumulation were measured using third instar larvae of G. tokunagai. RESULTS: The aggregation and dissolution of PVP-Ag NPs increased with exposure time and concentration, respectively, particularly for 50 nm PVP-Ag NPs. However, the dissolved concentration of Ag ions was not significant compared with the median lethal concentration value for AgNO3 (3.51 mg/L). The acute toxicity of PVP-Ag NPs was highest for the smallest particles (50 nm), whereas bioaccumulation was greatest for the largest particles (150 nm). However, larger PVP-Ag NPs were absorbed and excreted rapidly, resulting in shorter stays in G. tokunagai than the smaller ones. CONCLUSIONS: The size of PVP-Ag NPs significantly affects their acute toxicity to G. tokunagai. In particular, smaller PVP-Ag NPs have a higher solubility and stay longer in the body of G. tokunagai, resulting in higher toxicity than larger PVP-Ag NPs.
Chironomidae ; Ions ; Larva ; Nanoparticles* ; Polyvinyls ; Silver* ; Solubility

OBJECTIVES: This study aims to evaluate the size-dependent toxicity of spherical silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) to an endemic benthic organism, Glyptotendipes tokunagai. METHODS: Ag nanoparticles of three nominal sizes (50, 100, and 150 nm) capped with polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP-Ag NPs) were used. Their physicochemical properties, acute toxicity (48 hours), and bioaccumulation were measured using third instar larvae of G. tokunagai. RESULTS: The aggregation and dissolution of PVP-Ag NPs increased with exposure time and concentration, respectively, particularly for 50 nm PVP-Ag NPs. However, the dissolved concentration of Ag ions was not significant compared with the median lethal concentration value for AgNO3 (3.51 mg/L). The acute toxicity of PVP-Ag NPs was highest for the smallest particles (50 nm), whereas bioaccumulation was greatest for the largest particles (150 nm). However, larger PVP-Ag NPs were absorbed and excreted rapidly, resulting in shorter stays in G. tokunagai than the smaller ones. CONCLUSIONS: The size of PVP-Ag NPs significantly affects their acute toxicity to G. tokunagai. In particular, smaller PVP-Ag NPs have a higher solubility and stay longer in the body of G. tokunagai, resulting in higher toxicity than larger PVP-Ag NPs.
Chironomidae ; Ions ; Larva ; Nanoparticles* ; Polyvinyls ; Silver* ; Solubility

Desmoplastic Spitz nevus is a rare variant of Spitz nevus characterized by predominantly spindle-shaped or epithelioid nevus cells within the fibrotic stroma that can be confused with fibrous lesions. A 43-year-old woman presented with a 1-cm-sized dome-shaped papule on the dorsum of her left foot. The lesion showed histopathological features of a desmoplastic Spitz nevus with structures that resemble adenoma. Immunohistochemical staining was positive for S-100 protein, Melan-A, and SOX-10. Herein, we report this case because desmoplastic Spitz nevus is rare and can lead to confusion regarding the diagnosis of adnexal neoplasms.

Background: Oral ivermectin is an effective alternative to topical agents for scabies infestation, and may be beneficial in the treatment of crusted scabies in case of failure or impracticability of topical therapy. Objective: The present study aims to evaluate treatment outcomes of patients with scabies treated with oral ivermectin. Furthermore, we analyzed the efficacy and safety of oral ivermectin based on clinical characteristics. Methods: Overall, 16 patients with scabies received 200 μg/kg of ivermectin and topical scabicide (5% permethrin or 10% crotamiton) at 1-week intervals. Treatment outcome was evaluated by mineral oil test and medical examination at intervals of 1 or 2 weeks. If no improvement was observed at the follow-up, treatment was repeated. Results: All patients achieved a clinical response. The average number of administrations of ivermectin was 2.69, and the mode was 3 (n=8). The average number of administrations was higher for those over 70 years of age than for those under 70 years of age (2.80 vs. 2.50), but this was not statistically significant (p=0.558). There were no significant differences based on clinical type. The mean time from the first administration of ivermectin to the negative conversion of the mineral oil examination was 18.43±7.26 days. No adverse events were observed. Conclusion Oral ivermectin is an effective and safe therapy for treating human scabies.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The risk of herpes zoster (HZ) among patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) remains unclear in terms of age and metabolic comorbidities, including diabetes mellitus, hypertension, or dyslipidemia. We conducted a nationwide population-based study to investigate the risk of HZ in patients with IBD. METHODS: From 2010 to 2013, a retrospective study was performed using claims data in Korea. We compared the incidence of HZ between 30,100 IBD patients (10,517 Crohn’s disease [CD] and 19,583 ulcerative colitis [UC] patients) and 150,500 non-IBD controls matched by age and sex. RESULTS: During a mean follow-up of 5.0 years, incidence rates of HZ (per 1,000 person-years) were 13.60, 14.99, and 9.19 in the CD, UC, and control groups, respectively. The risk of HZ was significantly higher in patients with CD (adjusted hazard ratio [HR], 2.13; p<0.001) and UC (adjusted HR, 1.40; p<0.001) than in the controls. The impact of CD on developing HZ was significantly more prominent in younger patients (adjusted HR, 2.61 for age <15, whereas 1.39 for age ≥60; interaction p=0.001) and in patients without metabolic comorbidities (adjusted HR, 2.24, whereas 1.59 in those with metabolic comorbidities; interaction p=0.015). Moreover, the impact of UC on developing HZ significantly increased in younger patients (adjusted HR, 2.51 in age <15, whereas 1.22 in age ≥60; interaction p=0.014) and patients without metabolic comorbidities (adjusted HR, 1.49 whereas 1.16 in those with metabolic comorbidities; interaction p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: IBD was associated with an increased risk of HZ, especially in younger patients without metabolic comorbidities.
Colitis, Ulcerative ; Comorbidity ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Dyslipidemias ; Follow-Up Studies ; Herpes Zoster ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Incidence ; Inflammatory Bowel Diseases ; Korea ; Retrospective Studies

Background: Guselkumab is a monoclonal antibody that selectively blocks the p19 subunit of interleukin-23. It has shown good efficacy and safety profile in several clinical trials of plaque psoriasis. However, studies on the efficacy of guselkumab in patients treated with other biologics are lacking. Objective: We aimed to investigate the efficacy and safety profile of guselkumab in patients with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis. We also compared the efficacy of guselkumab between biologic-naïve (Bio-Naïve) and biologicexperienced (Bio-Ex) patients. Methods: This multicenter, retrospective study included 72 patients treated with guselkumab. The patients’ clinical characteristics and psoriasis area and severity index (PASI) scores were recorded at each visit. The PASI90 and PASI100 responses and mean PASI scores were compared between the Bio-Naïve and Bio-Ex groups. Results: Fifty-five Bio-Naïve patients and 17 Bio-Ex patients were included in the study. At week 20, there were no significant differences in the PASI90 (64.2% vs. 53.8%) and PASI100 (28.3% vs. 15.4%) responses between the groups. However, at weeks 36 and 44, the PASI90 response (week 36: 89.2% vs. 36.4% and week 44: 97.8% vs. 63.6%) and the PASI100 response (week 36: 64.9% vs. 18.2% and week 44: 68.9% vs. 27.3%) were significantly higher in the Bio-Naïve group (p＜0.05). There were no differences in PASI90 and PASI100 responses between the groups in terms of other clinical characteristics and comorbidities at week 20. Conclusion The efficacy of guselkumab remained consistent among patients in whom other biologics had failed. However, the efficacy was slightly lower in the Bio-Ex group than in the Bio-Naïve group.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Thromboembolism (TE) is a common complication of atrial fibrillation (AF). Although several serum markers for TE in AF patients have been reported, the mechanisms for TE have not been completely determined. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Seventy four patients with persistent or permanent AF (M:F=39:35, mean age: 53+/-18 years) were enrolled. The epidemiologic risk factors for TE, including old age (> or =65 years), diabetes, hypertension, heart failure (HF), valvular heart disease, left ventricular (LV) dysfunction, and a history of TE were investigated. Serum markers for the endothelial function [von-Willebrand factor (vWF) and thrombomodulin (TM)], inflammation [quantitative and high sensitive C-reactive protein (CRP) and interleukin (IL)-6], coagulation [fibrinogen, fibrinogen degradation product (FDP), d-dimer] and platelet activity (p-selectin), and the echocardiographic parameters were measured. RESULTS: The vWF was increased in patients with old age, hypertension, HF and a history of TE, and the vWF was positively correlated with age and the left atrium dimension (LAD), respectively. TM was also increased in the patients with old age and a history of TE and the LV dysfunction, and it was positively correlated with age and the LAD. The quantitative CRP was increased with old age, hypertension and LV dysfunction, and it was positively correlated with age and the LAD. High sensitive CRP was increased with old age and LV dysfunction, and it was positively correlated with age and the LAD. IL-6 was increased in diabetic patients. Fibrinogen was increased with old age and hypertension, and it was positively correlated with age and the LAD. FDP and d-dimer were increased in the patients with a history of TE and LV dysfunction. P-selectin was neither increased nor correlated with any other parameters. All the analyzed serum markers, except the markers for coagulation and platelet activity, were correlated with age and the LAD. CONCLUSIONS: It was shown that endothelial dysfunction plays an important role for the TE in AF patients. The serum markers for endothelial function may be used to screen the AF patients who are at a high risk for TE.
Atrial Fibrillation* ; Biomarkers ; Blood Platelets ; C-Reactive Protein ; Echocardiography ; Fibrinogen ; Heart Atria ; Heart Failure ; Heart Valve Diseases ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Inflammation ; Interleukin-6 ; Interleukins ; P-Selectin ; Risk Factors ; Thromboembolism ; Thrombomodulin

The effect of acupuncture in the treatment of young pigs with induced enteropathogenic Escherichia coli diarrhea was histopathologically evaluated by routine hematoxylin and eosin stain. Thirty two pigs weighed 4-5kg and aged 21days old were used in this study. The animals with diarrhea were treated with traditional acupuncture, or enrofloxacin. In the group treated with traditional acupuncture, acupoint GV1 (Jiaochao) was used and in the group treated with antibiotics, enrofloxacin was injected intramuscularly. Ten pigs were inoculated with E. coli, but were not treated and served as nontreated control group. At postinoculation day 6, all pigs of the acupuncture and antibiotic treated groups recovered from diarrhea. In the ascending and descending colons of the nontreated control group, severe infiltration of inflammatory cells in the lamina propria was observed and in the fundic stomach, destruction of the fundic gland architecture and necrotic lesions were observed, however, in the same sites of the acupuncture and antibiotics treated groups, the mucosae of the colon and stomach were relatively similar to those of the normal group. These results indicate that acupuncture treatment is effective in controlling induced E. coli diarrhea in pigs at its early stage.
Acupuncture ; Animals ; Colon/cytology/microbiology/pathology ; Diarrhea/therapy/*veterinary ; Escherichia coli Infections/therapy/*veterinary ; Gastric Mucosa/cytology/microbiology/pathology ; Intestinal Mucosa/cytology/microbiology/pathology ; Male ; Stomach/cytology/microbiology/pathology ; Swine ; Swine Diseases/*microbiology/therapy