Obesity is one of the most serious health problems in developed countries. It negatively affects diverse aspects of human wellbeing. Of these, a relationship between obesity and depression is widely recognized but biomarkers for assessment of obesityassociated mood changes in animal obesity models are rarely known. Here we explored the link between obesity and the plasma levels of monoamine neurotransmitters involved in mood control using a sensitive UPLC/MSMS technique in high fat diet (HFD)-induced obesity model in male C57BL/6 mice to explore the potential utility of plasma tests for obesity-associated mood change. HFD (60% of total calories, 8 weeks) induced significantly higher weight gains in body (+37.8%) and fat tissue (+306%) in male C57BL/6 mice. Bioanalysis of serotonin, dopamine and norepinephrine in plasma at 8 weeks of HFD revealed that serotonin decreased significantly in the obese mice when compared to normal diet-fed mice (2.7 +/- 0.6 vs 4.3 +/- 2.0 ng/ml, N=8). Notably, a negative correlation was found between the levels of serotonin and body weight gains. Furthermore, principal component analysis (PCA) with the individual levels of neurotransmitters revealed that plasma levels of dopamine and serotonin could apparently differentiate the obese mice from lean ones. Our study demonstrated that blood plasma levels of neurotransmitters can be employed to evaluate the mood changes associated with obesity and more importantly, provided an important clue for understanding of the relationship between obesity and mood disorders.
Animals ; Biomarkers ; Body Weight ; Depression ; Developed Countries ; Diet, High-Fat ; Dopamine ; Humans ; Male ; Mice* ; Mice, Obese ; Mood Disorders ; Neurotransmitter Agents* ; Norepinephrine ; Obesity* ; Plasma* ; Principal Component Analysis ; Serotonin ; Weight Gain

Strongyloides stercoralis infection is not endemic in the Republic of Korea (Korea) with a positivity rate of <1% in stool examination. However, there is a risk of hyperinfection in immunosuppressed individuals. It is necessary to determine the seropositivity of S. stercoralis antibodies in Korea. This study investigated the seropositivity of S. stercoralis antibodies in the southeastern area of Korea. From January 2019 to June 2021, serum samples were collected from participants who visited the study center in the southeastern region of Korea for routine health check-ups. We determined serum levels of specific anti-Strongyloides IgG antibodies in 834 samples by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. We observed that 92 samples (11.0%) tested showed a positive response. The age of the participants was 51±10.7 years, and 43.4% of them were men. The antibody positivity rate based on the location of the participants’ residence were 12.3% (Gyoungsangnam-do), 10.2% (Busan), and 10.1% (Ulsan), respectively. Total eosinophil count was associated with positive test results (154.8±152.0 per mm3 versus 202.1±178.9 per mm3, P=0.006). Logistic regression analysis revealed that blood eosinophil count, age above 50 years, and residence in Sacheon were factors associated with the positive status of S. stercoralis antibody. Our finding suggests that it is necessary to test for S. stercoralis in actual clinical settings in Korea.

As the field of interventional pain management (IPM) grows, the risk of surgical site infections (SSIs) is increasing. SSI is defined as an infection of the incision or organ/space that occurs within one month after operation or three months after implantation. It is also common to find patients with suspected infection in an outpatient clinic. The most frequent IPM procedures are performed in the spine. Even though primary pyogenic spondylodiscitis via hematogenous spread is the most common type among spinal infections, secondary spinal infections from direct inoculation should be monitored after IPM procedures. Various preventive guidelines for SSI have been published. Cefazolin, followed by vancomycin, is the most commonly used surgical antibiotic prophylaxis in IPM. Diagnosis of SSI is confirmed by purulent discharge, isolation of causative organisms, pain/tenderness, swelling, redness, or heat, or diagnosis by a surgeon or attending physician. Inflammatory markers include traditional (C-reactive protein, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, and white blood cell count) and novel (procalcitonin, serum amyloid A, and presepsin) markers. Empirical antibiotic therapy is defined as the initial administration of antibiotics within at least 24 hours prior to the results of blood culture and antibiotic susceptibility testing. Definitive antibiotic therapy is initiated based on the above culture and testing. Combination antibiotic therapy for multidrug-resistant Gramnegative bacteria infections appears to be superior to monotherapy in mortality with the risk of increasing antibiotic resistance rates. The never-ending war between bacterial resistance and new antibiotics is continuing. This article reviews prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of infection in pain medicine.

A pulmonary arteriovenous malformation (PAVM) is a rare pulmonary vascular anomaly presenting as dyspnea or recurrent epistaxis. Ebstein's anomaly (EA), a congenital cardiac malformation, is also a rare condition. There have been no reports concerning the co-existence of PAVM with hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT) and EA. A 40-year-old woman was admitted with a 2-month history of increasing dyspnea and several years of recurrent epistaxis. On transthoracic echocardiography, she was diagnosed with EA and agreed to undergo surgical treatment. A chest CT angiography showed a 12-mm serpiginous vascular structure suspicious for a PAVM and a liver CT suggested HTT. Although it is unclear whether or not a concurrent PAVM and EA have an embryologic or genetic relationship, we report a case of a PAVM with EA. Further genetic and embryonic studies are needed to identify a possible relationship of the two medical conditions.
Adult ; Angiography ; Arteriovenous Malformations ; Dyspnea ; Ebstein Anomaly ; Echocardiography ; Epistaxis ; Female ; Humans ; Liver ; Lung ; Telangiectasia, Hereditary Hemorrhagic ; Thorax

No abstract available.
Aged, 80 and over ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/therapeutic use ; Community-Acquired Infections/diagnosis/*microbiology/therapy ; Debridement ; Drainage ; Female ; Genotype ; Humans ; Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus/classification/genetics/*isolation & purification ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests ; Republic of Korea ; Staphylococcal Infections/diagnosis/*microbiology/therapy ; Treatment Outcome

Transplantation studies about the clinical differences according to the type of donors are mostly conducted in western countries with rare reports from Asians. The aims of this study were to evaluate the clinical impacts of the type of donor, and the predictors of 1-year mortality in patients who underwent liver transplantation (LT). This study was performed for liver transplant recipients between May 2010 and December 2014 at the Pusan National University Yangsan Hospital. A total of 185 recipients who underwent LT were analyzed. Of the 185 recipients, 109 (58.9%) belonged to the living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) group. The median age was 52.4 years. LDLT recipients had lower model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) score compared with better liver function than deceased donor liver transplantation (DDLT) recipients (mean ± standard deviation [SD], 12.5 ± 8.3 vs. 24.9 ± 11.7, respectively; P < 0.001), and had more advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) (62.4% vs. 21.1%, respectively; P = 0.001). In complications and clinical outcomes, LDLT recipients showed shorter stay in intensive care unit (ICU) (mean ± SD, 10.8 ± 8.8 vs. 23.0 ± 13.8 days, respectively, P < 0.001), ventilator care days, and post-operative admission days, and lower 1-year mortality (11% vs. 27.6%, respectively, P = 0.004). Bleeding and infectious complications were less in LDLT recipients. Recipients with DDLT (P = 0.004) showed higher mortality in univariate analysis, and multi-logistic regression analysis found higher MELD score and higher pre-operative serum brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) were associated with 1-year mortality. This study may guide improved management before and after LT from donor selection to post-operation follow up.
Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Busan ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; Donor Selection ; Follow-Up Studies ; Gyeongsangnam-do ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Intensive Care Units ; Liver Diseases ; Liver Transplantation* ; Liver* ; Living Donors ; Mortality* ; Natriuretic Peptide, Brain ; Tissue Donors* ; Transplant Recipients ; Ventilators, Mechanical

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Infections following liver transplant (LT) remain a major cause of mortality. This study was conducted to evaluate risk factors for infection and to review clinical characteristics. METHODS: Medical records of patients who underwent LT from 2010 to 2014 were retrospectively analyzed. Binary logistic regression analysis was used to investigate risk factors of infection. Kaplan-Meier analysis was used to predict prognosis of infected and non-infected groups. RESULTS: Of 185 recipients, 89 patients experienced infectious complications. The median follow-up period was 911 days (range, 9 to 2,031). The infected group had higher 1-year mortality (n = 22 [24.7%] vs. n = 8, [8.3%], p = 0.002), and longer postoperative admission days (mean: 53.7 ± 35.8 days vs. 28.3 ± 13.0 days, p < 0.001), compared to the non-infected group. High preoperative Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) score (odds ratio [OR], 1.057; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.010 to 1.105; p = 0.016), deceased-donor type (OR, 5.475; 95% CI, 2.442 to 12.279; p < 0.001), and acute rejection (OR, 3.042; 95% CI, 1.241 to 7.454; p = 0.015) were independent risk factors associated with infection. Intra-abdominal infection (n = 35, 20.8%) was the major infectious complication. Among identified bacteria, Enterococcus species (28.4%) were major pathogens, followed by Escherichia coli and Klebsiella species. CONCLUSIONS: High preoperative MELD score, deceased-donor type, and acute rejection were risk factors associated with infection. To prevent infections following surgery, it is important to determine the appropriate time of operation before the recipient has a high MELD score.
Bacteria ; Enterococcus ; Escherichia coli ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Intraabdominal Infections ; Kaplan-Meier Estimate ; Klebsiella ; Liver Diseases ; Liver Transplantation ; Liver* ; Logistic Models ; Medical Records ; Mortality ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Transplant Recipients*

Non-typhoidal Salmonella species are important foodborne pathogens that can cause gastroenteritis, bacteremia, and subsequent focal infections. Non-typhoidal salmonellosis is problematic, particularly in immunocompromised hosts. Any anatomical site can be affected by this pathogen via hematogenous seeding and may develop local infections. However, cervical lymphadenitis caused by non-typhoidal Salmonella species is rarely reported. Herein, we have reported a case of cervical lymphadenitis caused by group D non-typhoidal Salmonella associated with lymphoma.
Bacteremia ; Focal Infection ; Gastroenteritis ; Immunocompromised Host ; Lymphadenitis ; Lymphoma ; Salmonella ; Salmonella Infections ; Seeds

Background: In Korea, there were issues regarding the use of immunoassays for anti-severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) antibodies to detect infection. So, we compared antibody results of eight kinds of commercial immunoassays using clinical remnant specimens. Methods: We compared the results of several immunoassay kits tested on 40 serum samples from 15 confirmed patients and 86 remnant serum samples from clinical laboratory.Eight kinds of IVD kits—four enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, two lateral flow rapid immunochromatographic assays, and two chemiluminescent immunoassays with one RUO kit were tested. Results: Among 40 serum samples from 15 coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients, 35 yielded at least one positive result for detecting antibodies in the combined assessment. There were inconsistent results in 12 (28%) samples by single immunoassay. Forty samples collected in 2019 before the first COVID-19 Korean case showed negative results except for one equivocal result. Conclusion The discrepant results obtained with different immunoassay kits in this study show that serological assessment of SARS-CoV-2 by a single immunoassay requires caution not only in detecting infection but also in assessing immunologic status.

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) may occur in any organ. In patients with SLE, myocarditis is extremely rare and potentially life-threatening. Herein, we report on a patient with lupus myocarditis, diagnosed by myocardial biopsy, immunologic tests, and clinical manifestations. Our findings suggest that securing time for diagnosis via extracorporeal membrane oxygenation and other intensive care is helpful for obtaining a good prognosis.