No abstract available.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Malformations of Cortical Development*

BACKGROUND: Next-generation sequencing is increasingly used for taxonomic identification of pathogenic bacterial isolates. We evaluated the performance of a newly introduced whole genome-based bacterial identification system, TrueBac ID (ChunLab Inc., Seoul, Korea), using clinical isolates that were not identified by three matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) systems and 16S rRNA gene sequencing. METHODS: Thirty-six bacterial isolates were selected from a university-affiliated hospital and a commercial clinical laboratory. Species was identified by three MALDI-TOF MS systems: Bruker Biotyper MS (Bruker Daltonics, Billerica, MA, USA), VITEK MS (bioMérieux, Marcy l'Étoile, France), and ASTA MicroIDSys (ASTA Inc., Suwon, Korea). Whole genome sequencing was conducted using the Illumina MiSeq system (Illumina, San Diego, CA, USA), and genome-based identification was performed using the TrueBac ID cloud system (www.truebacid.com). RESULTS: TrueBac ID assigned 94% (34/36) of the isolates to known (N=25) or novel (N=4) species, genomospecies (N=3), or species group (N=2). The remaining two were identified at the genus level. CONCLUSIONS: TrueBac ID successfully identified the majority of isolates that MALDI-TOF MS failed to identify. Genome-based identification can be a useful tool in clinical laboratories, with its superior accuracy and database-driven operations.
Genes, rRNA ; Genome ; Gyeonggi-do ; Mass Spectrometry ; Seoul

Objective: There is no recommendation for the use of disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) who developed cancer. We examined changes in the DMARDs prescription patterns associated with cancer diagnosis in RA patients. Methods: We reviewed the medical records of 2,161 RA patients who visited rheumatology clinic between January 2008 and February 2017 and found 40 patients who developed cancer during RA treatment. In these patients, we examined DMARDs prescription patterns before and right after cancer diagnosis and at recent outpatient clinic visits. Results: Before cancer diagnosis, methotrexate (MTX)-combined conventional synthetic DMARDs (csDMARDs) were most commonly prescribed (22, 55.0%) and biological DMARDs (biologics) in nine patients (22.5%). For cancer treatment, 19 patients received chemotherapy (including adjuvant chemotherapy) and 21 patients had surgery only. Right after cancer diagnosis, changes in the DMARDs prescription patterns were similar in discontinuation (13, 32.5%), switching (14, 35.0%), and maintenance (13, 32.5%). DMARDs were discontinued more frequently in the chemotherapy group (9/19, 47.4%) than the surgery only group (4/2, 19.0%) (p<0.05). Among the 13 patients who discontinued DMARDs, nine (69.2%) resumed DMARDs after a median of 5.5 months (interquartile range [IQR] 2.9, 18.3) due to arthritis flare. At a median of 4.6 years (IQR 3.3, 6.7) after cancer diagnosis, 25 patients were evaluated at recent outpatient clinic visits. Four patients received no DMARD, three MTX monotherapies, 11 csDMARDs combination therapies, and seven biologics. Conclusion A significant number of RA patients who developed cancer during RA treatment were still receiving DMARDs including biologics after cancer diagnosis.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Chlamydia pneumoniae (CP) has been linked with atherosclerosis. While several studies have shown that CP contributes to the acceleration of atherosclerotic lesions, any studies on the initiation of atherosclerosis are sparse. The present study investigated whether CP infection could initiate atherosclerotic lesions in rats that are known to be resistant to atherosclerosis; further, we investigated if these lesions do form, then how does the CP participate in this and develop of atherosclerosis in these rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty 11-week-old Otsuka Long-Evans Tokushima Fatty (OLETF) rats, thirty type 2 diabetic rats and thirty age-matched Long-Evans Tokushima Fatty (LETO) rats that were maintained on a high-cholesterol diet were either mock-inoculated or inoculated intranasally 3 times at 11, 13 and 15 weeks of age. The serum levels of the lipid profiles, plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1), monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) and C-reactive protein (CRP) were measured by performing ELISA at 24 weeks and 40 weeks of age. The atherosclerotic lesion areas were analyzed, and immunohistochemical staining using chlamydia genus-specific monoclonal antibody and PDGF-B was performed in the ascending aorta at 40 weeks of age. RESULTS: Immunohistochemical staining with using specific monoclonal antibody demonstrated CP infection in the vessel walls. The serum PAI-1 level of the OLETF rats was higher than that of the LETO rats (p<0.05) regardless of the state of the CP infection, but there were no differences in the serum MCP-1 and CRP levels between the OLETF rats and the LETO rats. While no atherosclerotic lesion was observed in the mock-infected LETO rats, early-to-advanced atherosclerotic lesions were found in the other rat groups. CP-infected OLETF rats showed more advanced atherosclerotic lesions and greater mean lesion areas than the other rat groups (LT-N, 0 mm2; LETO-CP, 3.29+/-1.23 mm2; OT-N, 4.91+/-2.11 mm2; OT-CP, 9.20+/-4.62 mm2)(p<0.05). The characteristics of the atherosclerotic lesions in the rats were intimal thickening that was mainly composed of smooth muscle cells. The atherosclerotic lesion area positively correlated with the presence and the extent of PDGF-B staining in the aortic wall (p<0.01). CONCLUSION: Chronic infection of CP in the vessel walls initiated the development of atherosclerosis in the LETO rats and it accelerated the atherosclerosis in the OLETF rats. CP-induced smooth muscle proliferation and the resultant intimal thickening may be mediated by PDGF-B in these atherosclerotic lesions.
Acceleration ; Animals ; Aorta ; Atherosclerosis* ; C-Reactive Protein ; Chemokine CCL2 ; Chlamydia* ; Chlamydophila pneumoniae* ; Diet ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Muscle, Smooth ; Myocytes, Smooth Muscle ; Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1 ; Plasminogen Activators ; Rats* ; Rats, Inbred OLETF

Fibromuscular dysplasia (FMD) is a rare, segmental nonatheromatous angiopathy of unknown etiology affecting small to medium-sized arteries. The most common angiographic pattern is the classic string-of-beads appearance. But the tubular stenosis type of the FMD is a rare finding and has not been reported previously. We report a case who presented with recurrent intracerebral hemorrhages, whose angiographic features were long tubular stenosis type of FMD affecting the both internal carotid arteries associated with terminal carotid occlusions.
Arteries ; Carotid Artery, Internal ; Cerebral Hemorrhage* ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Fibromuscular Dysplasia*

PURPOSE: In recent years, the number of elderly patients visiting from residential aged care facilities (RACFs) has been increasing. We analyzed a comparison of characteristics between patients who visited the ER with diseases from RACFs and those who visited from home. METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted in a public hospital between January 2013 and December 2014. The subjects included patients who visited the ED from RACFs and elderly patients who visited the ED from home. Comparisons of the following parameters were made between the two groups: gender, age, mode of insurance, mode of ED visit, mobile status, Charlson comorbidity index (CCI), chief complaint, final results in the ED, and length of stay (LOS) in the ED and hospital. RESULTS: A total of 7,603 patients were enrolled during the study period. There were 6,401 elderly patients who visited from home and 1,202 patients who visited from RACFs. Patients from RACFs were older than those from home (79.90±8.01 vs. 75.78±7.26, p<0.001). More patients from RACFs were on Medicaid (56.6% vs. 27.9%, p<0.001), took more ambulance (86.3% vs. 49.4%, p<0.001), more bedridden (68.2% vs. 6.4%, p<0.001), and higher CCI (2.38±1.99 vs. 1.45±1.84, p<0.001). Compared with patients from home, those from RACFs showed a significantly higher proportion of admission (63.2% vs. 32.9%, p<0.001), ED LOS (403.03±361.77 vs. 277.07±258.82, p<0.001), and hospital LOS (19.65±18.58 vs. 15.67±15.63, p<0.001). Patients from RACFs showed especially longer ED LOS from discharged ED than those from home (388.87±422.88 vs. 221.90±215.30, p<0.001). CONCLUSION: Compared with elderly patients from home, patients from RACFs also had higher admission rate and longer ED LOS, as well as hospital LOS. Patients from RACFs had long ED LOS. The findings in this study suggest that there could be ED overcrowding in the near future.
Aged* ; Ambulances ; Comorbidity ; Emergencies* ; Emergency Service, Hospital* ; Hospitals, Public ; Humans ; Insurance ; Length of Stay ; Medicaid ; Nursing Homes ; Residential Facilities ; Retrospective Studies

BACKGROUND: Bone remodeling is tightly regulated through bone resorption and bone formation; imbalances in bone remodeling can cause various pathological conditions such as osteoporosis. Antiresorptive agents commonly used for treating osteoporosis do not substantially reverse osteoporotic bone loss. METHODS: We evaluated the effects of the RVYFFKGKQYWE motif (residues 270–281; VnP-16) of human vitronectin on the osteogenic differentiation of human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) and osteoclastogenesis of bone marrowderived macrophages. The effects of VnP-16 were also assessed in a mouse model of estrogen deficiency-induced osteoporosis (ovariectomized female C57BL/6 mice). To assay whether VnP-16 can reverse ovariectomy-induced bone loss, synthetic peptides or vehicle were subcutaneously injected into ovariectomized mice once a week for 4 weeks (n = 10/group). To evaluate the bone restorative effects of VnP-16, in-vivo micro-computed tomography analysis and histological staining were performed. RESULTS: VnP-16 induced osteogenic differentiation of hMSCs and inhibited the RANKL–RANK–TRAF6 axis in the osteoclastogenesis signaling pathway. Furthermore, systemic administration of VnP-16 reversed ovariectomy-induced bone loss in the femoral neck, distal femur and lumbar spine by increasing osteoblast differentiation and promoting bone formation, and concomitantly decreasing osteoclastogenesis and inhibiting bone resorption. The bone restorative effect of VnP-16 was observed one week after subcutaneous administration, and although the timing of the effect differed according to bone location, it persisted for at least 3 weeks. CONCLUSION Our findings suggest that VnP-16 is a potential therapeutic agent for treating osteoporosis that mediates its effects through dual regulation of bone remodeling.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: LMWH as a periprocedural anticoagulant during PCI has not yet been extensively studied. The aim of this study is to compare the clinical outcomes of enoxaparin to those of unfractionated heparin (UH) during elective PCI. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: The eligible patients were randomized 1:1 into two treatment arms, either a single IV bolus of enoxaparin (75 IU/kg) or UH (100 IU/kg). The patients who had received any anticoagulants at therapeutic doses were excluded in this study. Data on patient characteristics, angiographic complications, laboratory variables and the in-hospital and 1-month clinical outcomes were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: Of the 139 patients enrolled in this study, 68 received enoxaparin and 71 received UH. The patients' demographic and angiographic characteristics (gender, weight, creatinine and the PCI target vessel) were not different except for age between the groups. Multi-vessel angioplasty was performed in 59 (42.4%) patients. At least one stent was implanted in 130 (93.5%) patients. The sheath was removed immediately after PCI, except for one case, and then a collagen plug was applied in all the cases. There were no significant differences in angiographic complications like no reflow, thrombus at the treated lesion site, occlusion of collateral branches, distal embolism, dissection, coronary rupture or abrupt closure. Cardiac markers including CK (6 [8.8%] in the LMWH group vs 8 [11.3%] in the UH group), CK-MB (6 [8.8%] vs 8 [11.3%], respectively), and troponin-I (6 [8.8%] vs 10 [14.1%], respectively) were slightly increased after PCI compared to the last value obtained before the procedure in both groups, but the differences were not statistically significant. One patient in the enoxaparin arm and 2 patients in the UH arm developed NSTEMI during their admission. Four patients from the UH arm and 3 from the enoxaparin arm experienced hematoma at the puncture site. After discharge, no other events were reported at the 1-month follow-up. CONCLUSION: The use of enoxaparin (75 IU/kg) during elective PCI was effective and safe as using UH. Enoxaparin could be used like UH as a periprocedural anticoagulant in the elective PCI setting.
Angioplasty ; Anticoagulants ; Arm ; Collagen ; Creatinine ; Embolism ; Enoxaparin ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hematoma ; Heparin* ; Heparin, Low-Molecular-Weight* ; Humans ; Percutaneous Coronary Intervention* ; Prospective Studies* ; Punctures ; Rupture ; Stents ; Thrombosis ; Troponin I

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: LMWH as a periprocedural anticoagulant during PCI has not yet been extensively studied. The aim of this study is to compare the clinical outcomes of enoxaparin to those of unfractionated heparin (UH) during elective PCI. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: The eligible patients were randomized 1:1 into two treatment arms, either a single IV bolus of enoxaparin (75 IU/kg) or UH (100 IU/kg). The patients who had received any anticoagulants at therapeutic doses were excluded in this study. Data on patient characteristics, angiographic complications, laboratory variables and the in-hospital and 1-month clinical outcomes were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: Of the 139 patients enrolled in this study, 68 received enoxaparin and 71 received UH. The patients' demographic and angiographic characteristics (gender, weight, creatinine and the PCI target vessel) were not different except for age between the groups. Multi-vessel angioplasty was performed in 59 (42.4%) patients. At least one stent was implanted in 130 (93.5%) patients. The sheath was removed immediately after PCI, except for one case, and then a collagen plug was applied in all the cases. There were no significant differences in angiographic complications like no reflow, thrombus at the treated lesion site, occlusion of collateral branches, distal embolism, dissection, coronary rupture or abrupt closure. Cardiac markers including CK (6 [8.8%] in the LMWH group vs 8 [11.3%] in the UH group), CK-MB (6 [8.8%] vs 8 [11.3%], respectively), and troponin-I (6 [8.8%] vs 10 [14.1%], respectively) were slightly increased after PCI compared to the last value obtained before the procedure in both groups, but the differences were not statistically significant. One patient in the enoxaparin arm and 2 patients in the UH arm developed NSTEMI during their admission. Four patients from the UH arm and 3 from the enoxaparin arm experienced hematoma at the puncture site. After discharge, no other events were reported at the 1-month follow-up. CONCLUSION: The use of enoxaparin (75 IU/kg) during elective PCI was effective and safe as using UH. Enoxaparin could be used like UH as a periprocedural anticoagulant in the elective PCI setting.
Angioplasty ; Anticoagulants ; Arm ; Collagen ; Creatinine ; Embolism ; Enoxaparin ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hematoma ; Heparin* ; Heparin, Low-Molecular-Weight* ; Humans ; Percutaneous Coronary Intervention* ; Prospective Studies* ; Punctures ; Rupture ; Stents ; Thrombosis ; Troponin I

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The degree of coronary vasoconstriction induced by acetylcholine administeration can vary. We compared the prognosis between coronary vasospasm and intermediate vasoconstriction, which were both induced by acetylcholine administration. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: The subjects were 156 patients with the coronary vasospasm or intermediate vasoconstriction, as observed on the acetylcholine provocation tests that were performed from January, 2000 to January, 2004. The patients with a spasm showing greater than 90% reduction of vessel diameter along with chest pain or ST changes or both were classified as having 'strong positive vasospasm' (n=113). The patients with 70-90% reduction of diameter were classified as having 'intermediate vasoconstriction' (n=43). The mortality, frequency of chest pain and clinical events were then analyzed. RESULTS: A smoking history (p<0.001) and multivessel involvement (p=0.02) were more frequent in the strong positive group. We compared the mortality and clinical events due to chest pain during the average 26.4+/-14.1 months of follow-up. There were 5 patients (4.4%) who incurred cardiac death in the strong positive group as compared with none in the intermediate group. The total clinical events were more frequent in the strong positive group (p<0.001). Also, the strong positive group showed a significantly higher frequency of chest pain (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: The long-term prognosis of the intermediate vasoconstriction was better than that of strong positive vasospasm. Thus, the intermediate vasoconstriction must be ruled out by strict application of the positive criteria for the acetylcholine provocation test.
Acetylcholine* ; Chest Pain ; Coronary Vasospasm* ; Death ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Mortality ; Prognosis* ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Spasm ; Vasoconstriction*