No abstract available.

OBJECTIVES: Cerebrovascular diseases seriously effect patient's quality of life, and the treatment has, its limitation to bring functional recovery unless a patient is brought to a hospital within several hours from the onset. In this study, we tried to find a way to prolong the survival cells under hypoxic conditions using cell culture. METHODS: Cultured rat glioma cells grew in normal and high glucose medium under hypoxic conditions, with or without doxycycline. Cell viability, glucose and lactic acid concentration were measured. RESULTS: The cells died after 1 day of culture under hypoxic conditions in normal glucose medium without doxycycline due to the total consumption of glucose. On the contrary, the cells still survived even after 3 days of culture under the same hypoxic conditions in normal glucose medium with doxycycline despite the total consumption of all glucose. For both cases, the cause of death was not, at least, due to the decrease of pH as the pH was kept neutral during the whole period of culture. In this case, doxycycline was the cell survival factor by suppressing apoptosis, which was proved by DNA fragmentation assay. On the other hand, the cells died after 60 hours of culture under hypoxic conditions in high glucose medium without doxycycline due to the decrease of pH. The cells still survived even after 70 hours of culture under the same hypoxic conditions in high glucose medium with doxycycline due to the inhibition of decreased pH. For both cases, the cause of death was not, at least, due to the consumption of total glucose because some glucose remained in the medium at the end culture. CONCLUSION: Doxycycline increased cell viability both in normal glucose and high glucose medium under hypoxic conditions, which might have an application for the treatment of patients with ischemic stroke.
Animals ; Apoptosis ; Cause of Death ; Cell Culture Techniques ; Cell Survival ; DNA Fragmentation ; Doxycycline* ; Glioma ; Glucose ; Hand ; Humans ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Ischemia ; Lactic Acid ; Quality of Life ; Rats ; Stroke

Objective: : ABM/P-15 (anorganic bone matrix/15-amino acid peptide fragment) is a commercially available synthetically manufactured P-15 collagen peptide fragment, that is adsorbed on ABM. This study was done to investigate the efficacy of ABM/ P-15 in achieving fusion in the lumbar spine and comparing it with that of recombinant bone morphogenic protein-2 (rhBMP-2) and demineralized bone matrix (DBM). Methods: : A retrospective observational study of prospectively collected data of 140 patients who underwent lumbar spinal fusion surgeries in a single specialty spine hospital between 2016 and 2020, with a minimum 6-month follow-up was conducted. Based on the material used for the augmentation of the bone graft at the fusion site, the patients were divided into three categories namely ABM/P-15, rhBMP-2, and DBM group. Results: : ABM/P-15, rhBMP-2, and DBM were used in 46, 44, and 50 patients, respectively. Patient characteristics like age, gender, bone mineral density, smoking history, and presence of diabetes mellitus were comparable amongst the three groups. Average follow-up was 16.0±5.2, 17.9±9.8, and 26.2±14.9 months, respectively in ABM/P-15, rhBMP-2, and DBM groups. The fusion was achieved in 97.9%, 93.2%, and 98% patients while the average time-to-union was 4.05±2.01, 10±4.28, and 9.44±3.49 months (p<0.001), respectively for ABM/P-15, rhBMP-2, and DBM groups. The average pre-operative Visual analogue scale score was 6.93±2.42, 7.14±1.97, 7.01±2.14 (p=0.900) for ABM/P-15, rhBMP-2 and DBM groups, respectively, which reduced to 1.02±0.80, 1.21±0.96, and 0.54±0.70 (p=0.112), respectively at the last follow up. Pre-operative Oswestry disability index scores were 52.7±18.02, 55.4±16.8, and 53.56±19.6 (p=0.751) in ABM/P-15, rhBMP-2, and DBM groups, which post-operatively reduced to 33.77±15.52, 39.42±16.47, and 38.3±15.89 (p=0.412) and further to 15.74±8.3, 17.41±10.45, and 16.76±9.81 (p=0.603), respectively at the last follow-up. Conclusion : ABM/P-15 appears to achieve union significantly earlier than rhBMP-2 and DBM in lumbar spinal fusion cases while maintaining a comparable clinical and complication profile.

The peripheral neuroblastomas are malignant neoplasms that originate from the adrenal gland and sympathetic nervous tissues. They usually occur in childhood. They exhibit such malignant features that they metastasize early to lung, liver, bone, rarely skull and other structures. The patients with peripheral neuroblastoma have short duration of symptom and short survival period. They reveal the characteristic light microscopic features that resemble other small cell carcinomas. The establishment of final diagnosis of peripheral neuroblastoma needs various special stainings for small cell carcinomas, and the electron microscopic findings are the most reliable. The authors recently experienced a case of peripheral neuroblastoma in a 26-year-old man which involved right frontoparietal skull vault. The only chief complaint was a local non-tender mass at right frontoparietal scalp. Neither headache nor any neurological deficits was detected. Simple skull X-ray revealed a punched out radiolucency at right frontoparietal bone and brain CT showed a superficial elliptical high density mass that enhanced strongly. The mass was totally removed by wide craniectomy. The tumor invaded and penetrated the dura but the arachnoid membrane. At the tumor bed was not invaded by the tumor. The tumor was confirmed as peripheral neuroblastoma by various special stainings for small cell carcinomas. Following surgical resection of the mass, post-operative radiotherapy was offered(4800 rads for about 5 weeks). The patient aggrevated progressively and showed numerous metastases to such bones as lumbar vertebrae, pelvis and humerus to became paraplegic. 8 months after the operation, the patient died.
Adrenal Glands ; Adult ; Arachnoid ; Brain ; Carcinoma, Small Cell ; Diagnosis ; Headache ; Humans ; Humerus ; Liver ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; Lung ; Membranes ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Neuroblastoma* ; Pelvis ; Radiotherapy ; Scalp ; Skull

BACKGROUND: Neuromuscular blocking agents (NMBAs) and neuromuscular monitoring in anesthetic management are integral for endotracheal intubation, better visualization of the surgical field, and prevention of residual neuromuscular blockade and pulmonary complications. Sugammadex is a drug that reduces risk of residual neuromuscular blockade, with more rapid recovery compared to anticholinesterase. The purpose of this study was to investigate current usage status of NMBAs and antagonist with neuromuscular monitoring, among anesthesiologists in Korea.METHODS: Anesthesiologists working in Korea were invited to participate in an online survey via email January 2–February 28, 2018. The questionnaire consisted of 45 items, including preferred NMBAs, antagonists, neuromuscular monitoring, and complications related to the use sugammadex. A total of 174 responses were analyzed.RESULTS: Rocuronium was a commonly used NMBA for endotracheal intubation (98%) of hospitals, and maintenance of anesthesia (83.3%) in of hospitals. Sugammadex, pyridostigmine, and neostigmine were used in 89.1%, 87.9%, and 45.4% of hospitals. Neuromuscular monitoring was employed in 79.3% of hospitals; however only 39.7% of hospitals used neuromuscular monitoring before antagonist administration. Usual dosage range of sugammadex was 2.1–4 mg/kg in 35.1% of hospitals, within 2 mg/kg in 34.5% of hospitals, and 1 vial regardless of body weight in 22.4% of hospitals. Sugammadex-related complications were encountered by 14.9% of respondents.CONCLUSIONS: This survey indicates several minor problems associated with the use of antagonists and neuromuscular monitoring. However, most anesthesiologists appear to have appropriate information regarding the usage of NMBAs and sugammadex.
Anesthesia ; Body Weight ; Delayed Emergence from Anesthesia ; Electronic Mail ; Intubation, Intratracheal ; Korea ; Neostigmine ; Neuromuscular Blockade ; Neuromuscular Blocking Agents ; Neuromuscular Monitoring ; Pyridostigmine Bromide ; Surveys and Questionnaires

Epidemiological data of Bordetella pertussis infection among adolescents and adults are limited in Korea. Patients (> or = 11 yr of age) with a bothersome cough for less than 30 days were enrolled during a 1-yr period at 22 hospitals in Korea. Nasopharyngeal swabs were collected for polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and for bacteriologic culture. In total, 490 patients were finally enrolled, and 34 (6.9%) patients tested positive for B. pertussis; cough duration (14.0 days [7.0-21.0 days]) and age distribution were diverse. The incidence was the highest in secondary referral hospitals, compared to primary care clinics or tertiary referral hospitals (24/226 [10.6%] vs. 3/88 [3.4%] vs. 7/176 [4.0%], P = 0.012), and the peak incidence was observed in February and August (15.8% and 15.9%), with no confirmed cases between March and June. In the multivariate analysis, post-tussive vomiting was significantly associated with pertussis (odds ratio, 2.508; 95% confidence interval, 1.146-5.486) and secondary referral hospital showed a borderline significance. In conclusion, using a PCR-based method, 6.9% of adolescent and adult patients with an acute cough illness had pertussis infection in an outpatient setting. However, hospital levels and seasonal trends must be taken into account to develop a better strategy for controlling pertussis.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Bordetella pertussis/*genetics ; Child ; DNA, Bacterial/*analysis ; Demography ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Multivariate Analysis ; Odds Ratio ; *Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Republic of Korea/epidemiology ; Seasons ; Vomiting/etiology ; Whooping Cough/*epidemiology/microbiology/pathology ; Young Adult

Background: As the number of large-scale studies involving multiple organizations producing data has steadily increased, an integrated system for a common interoperable format is needed. In response to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, a number of global efforts are underway to develop vaccines and therapeutics. We are therefore observing an explosion in the proliferation of COVID-19 data, and interoperability is highly requested in multiple institutions participating simultaneously in COVID-19 pandemic research. Results: In this study, a laboratory information management system (LIMS) approach has been adopted to systemically manage various COVID-19 non-clinical trial data, including mortality, clinical signs, body weight, body temperature, organ weights, viral titer (viral replication and viral RNA), and multiorgan histopathology, from multiple institutions based on a web interface. The main aim of the implemented system is to integrate, standardize, and organize data collected from laboratories in multiple institutes for COVID-19 non-clinical efficacy testings. Six animal biosafety level 3 institutions proved the feasibility of our system. Substantial benefits were shown by maximizing collaborative high-quality non-clinical research. Conclusions This LIMS platform can be used for future outbreaks, leading to accelerated medical product development through the systematic management of extensive data from non-clinical animal studies.