Vasoconstriction is regulated by various ion channels expressed in the plasma membrane of vascular smooth muscle cells. In particular, potassium (K+) channel activity determines resting membrane potential and regulates intracellular calcium (Ca2+) signaling. A number of studies have suggested that dysregulation of K+ channel activity is associated with increased myogenic tone or diminished vasorelaxation. Among the various families of K+ channels, voltage-dependent K+ channels (Kv channels) encoded by the KCNQ gene family (Kv7 channels or M channels) are widely expressed in various blood vessels isolated from mouse, rat, and human. Recent studies have demonstrated that a subunit of the Kv7 channel, Kv7.4, is down-regulated in the aorta and mesenteric and renal arteries of the Spontaneously Hypertensive Rat (SHR) model. Previous studies have also suggested that Kv7 channels play an important role in the regulation of vasorelaxation/vasoconstriction in response to activators/blockers. In addition, previous studies have indicated that hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and cerebrovascular disease result in development of vascular dysfunction associated with Kv7 abnormalities in various animal models. This review focuses on the potential role of the Kv7 channel in vascular dysfunction.
Animals ; Aorta ; Blood Vessels ; Calcium ; Cell Membrane ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Ion Channels ; Membrane Potentials ; Mice ; Models, Animal ; Muscle, Smooth, Vascular ; Potassium ; Rats ; Rats, Inbred SHR ; Renal Artery ; Vasoconstriction ; Vasodilation

Deep learning has recently achieved remarkable results in the field of medical imaging. However, as a deep learning network becomes deeper to improve its performance, it becomes more difficult to interpret the processes within. This can especially be a critical problem in medical fields where diagnostic decisions are directly related to a patient's survival. In order to solve this, explainable artificial intelligence techniques are being widely studied, and an attention mechanism was developed as part of this approach. In this paper, attention techniques are divided into two types: post hoc attention, which aims to analyze a network that has already been trained, and trainable attention, which further improves network performance. Detailed comparisons of each method, examples of applications in medical imaging, and future perspectives will be covered.

Deep learning has recently achieved remarkable results in the field of medical imaging. However, as a deep learning network becomes deeper to improve its performance, it becomes more difficult to interpret the processes within. This can especially be a critical problem in medical fields where diagnostic decisions are directly related to a patient's survival. In order to solve this, explainable artificial intelligence techniques are being widely studied, and an attention mechanism was developed as part of this approach. In this paper, attention techniques are divided into two types: post hoc attention, which aims to analyze a network that has already been trained, and trainable attention, which further improves network performance. Detailed comparisons of each method, examples of applications in medical imaging, and future perspectives will be covered.

Occupational use of cleaning products can cause asthma in healthcare workers but the cleaning agents responsible are not yet known. This study aimed to identify respiratory and other hazards in cleaning products on the National Health Service (NHS) supply chain online catalogue and used in the NHS. Information on cleaning products, their composition, and H-statements that identified hazard characteristics of chemical substances in them was obtained from chemical safety data sheets (SDSs). Furthermore, a quantitative structure-activity relationship model and a published asthmagen list were used to identify potential additional respiratory hazards. 473 cleaning products and 229 substances were identified. SDSs reported only 4 respiratory sensitizers but an additional 51 were suggested by the other 2 methods. In contrast, 25 respiratory irritants were identified using SDSs and only one from the asthmagen list. This comprehensive overview of cleaning agents' hazards has potential use in future risk assessment and epidemiological studies.

BACKGROUND: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is characterized by pruritic and eczematous skin lesions, which often cause depressive symptoms, anxiety, stress, sleep disturbances, social withdrawal, and stigmatization. METHODS: In total, 23,442 subjects (434 AD patients and 23,008 control subjects) aged 19 years or older and without a history of major medical illness or depressive disorders were selected from The Fifth Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2007-2012. Following the initial selection, 2,170 age- and sex-matched control subjects were selected using 1:5 propensity score matching. Multiple logistic regression analysis was performed to identify the presence of depressive symptoms of at least 2 weeks in duration. RESULTS: The demographic, socioeconomic, and clinical characteristics of AD patients and control subjects were presented and compared, and some variables differed significantly between groups. Presence of depressive symptoms was set as dependent variable, and multiple logistic regression analysis was performed as follows: (1) unadjusted; (2) with alcohol use, exercise status, smoking status, and body mass index (BMI) adjusted for; and (3) with alcohol use, exercise status, smoking status, marital status, occupation, BMI, total caloric intake, history of hypertension, and history of diabetes mellitus adjusted for. Depressive symptoms were significantly higher (odds ratios, 1.46, 1.40, and 1.36; 95% confidence intervals, 1.09-1.95, 1.0.4-1.88, and 1.01-1.85, respectively) in AD patients relative to those of matched controls. CONCLUSION: AD and clinical depression interact closely, and causal relationships between the two conditions have frequently been observed. Physicians should consider mental health interventions cautiously. It is particularly important that primary care physicians provide comprehensive, continuous long-term care.
Adult* ; Anxiety ; Body Mass Index ; Depression* ; Depressive Disorder ; Dermatitis, Atopic* ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Energy Intake ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Korea* ; Logistic Models ; Long-Term Care ; Marital Status ; Mental Health ; Nutrition Surveys* ; Occupations ; Physicians, Primary Care ; Propensity Score ; Skin ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Stereotyping

Extramammary Paget’s Disease (EMPD) is a rare intraepithelial malignancy of apocrine bearing glands, which occur usually in the perianal region, vulva, scrotum, penis and ax-illa. Most of the disease are treated by surgical resection and the prognosis is generally good. Even though recurrent disease, it is usually slowly progressed with good prognosis. Here we describe the case of a 70-year-old male who has presented with initially just as an EMPD component of squamous cell carcinoma in inguinal skin, but he showed recur-rence of EMPD. The disease has progressed rapidly, finally he died of that EMPD in 2 months of recurrence. The purpose of this study is to report the rare case of fulminant disease course of EMPD after recurrence.

OBJECTIVE: Several lines of evidence suggest that brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) plays a role in the pathophysiology of anxiety. We analyzed the association of the BDNF gene polymorphism, G196A (val66met), in the coding region of exon XIIIA in chromosome 11p13, and generalized social anxiety disorder (GSAD). METHODS: Patients with GSAD (n=73) and age-matched control subjects (n=152) were tested for the BDNF (val66met) polymorphism. A clinical interview and a Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview were conducted by trained psychiatrists in order to diagnose GSAD. The symptomatic characteristics of the GSAD patients were assessed with the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale, the Beck Anxiety Inventory, the Retrospective Self Report of Inhibition, the Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, and the Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in the frequencies of the genotypes (chi2=0.961, degree of freedom [df]=2, p=0.619), alleles (chi2=0.415, df=1, p=0.519), or allele (methionine) carriers (chi2=0.019, df=1, p=0.889) between the patients and controls. In addition, when we compared the severity of social anxiety symptom as determined by the clinical scales with the genotypes of the BDNF gene, we could not find any significant differences between the genotypes or allele carriers. CONCLUSION: These results do not support the hypothesis that the BDNF gene might be a candidate gene for susceptibility or severity of GSAD in the Korean population in this study.
Alleles ; Anxiety ; Anxiety Disorders ; Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor ; Clinical Coding ; Exons ; Freedom ; Genotype ; Humans ; Psychiatry ; Retrospective Studies ; Self Report ; Weights and Measures

Hepatic sinusoidal obstruction syndrome (SOS) is a life-threatening syndrome that generally occurs as a complication after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation or, less commonly, after conventional chemotherapy. Regarding SOS in rhabdomyosarcoma patients who received conventional chemotherapy, the doses of chemotherapeutic agents are associated with the development of SOS. Several cases of SOS in rhabdomyosarcoma patients after receiving chemotherapy with escalated doses of cyclophosphamide have been reported. Here, we report on a 9-year-old female with rhabdomyosarcoma who developed severe SOS after receiving chemotherapy consisting of vincristine, actinomycin-D, and a moderate dose of cyclophosphamide. She was treated successfully with defibrotide without sequelae to the liver.
Child* ; Cyclophosphamide* ; Drug Therapy ; Female ; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation ; Hepatic Veno-Occlusive Disease* ; Humans ; Liver ; Rhabdomyosarcoma* ; Vincristine*

OBJECTIVES: Many patients diagnosed with cancer suffer from various psychiatric symptoms such as depression, anxiety and insomnia as well as cancer itself. Patients with cancer are more vulnerable to possible adverse events of psychotropic medications. Although antidepressants are widely used among cancer patients, there is little information about tolerability of antidepressants. This study was conducted to compare tolerability of antidepressants in cancer patients referred for psychiatric consultation. METHODS: The participants were cancer patients who had been referred to psychiatrist for their psychiatric symptoms. We retrospectively analyzed the data of patients diagnosed with cancer from 9 general hospitals in Korea. The discontinuation rate for a 6 months period after treatment initiation for three antidepressants(Escitalopram, Mirtazapine, Paroxetine) were compared. RESULTS: Antidepressants were prescribed for 96.3% of subjects and Escitalopram 150(47.2%), Mirtazapine 92 (28.9%) and Paroxetine 76(23.9%) were prescribed frequently in order There were no significant differences in discontinuation rates among the three antidepressants during the 6 month period after initiation of pharmacotherapy. But there was a difference in discontinuation rates between inpatients versus outpatients(p<0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: In a naturalistic setting for the antidepressant treatment for cancer patients, it seems that there are no differences in discontinuation rates among these three antidepressants. It is therefore essential that such interactions are carefully considered when treating patients of antidepressants who already have cancer.
Antidepressive Agents ; Anxiety ; Citalopram ; Depression ; Hospitals, General ; Humans ; Inpatients ; Korea ; Mianserin ; Paroxetine ; Psychiatry ; Retrospective Studies ; Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders

PURPOSE: This study aimed to set priorities for improving the medical device distribution structure and to suggest an innovative improvement plan for the distribution structure using the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) method, focusing on stakeholders in the medical device industry. METHODS: This study conducted a survey with 35 specialists using the AHP method, which is a multiple-criteria decisionmaking methodology, in order to set priorities for improvement plans to address the problems faced by the medical device distribution structure. RESULTS: The AHP analysis showed that supply stability was the most important factor, followed by greater transparency, efficiency, smart supply, and cost reduction. CONCLUSIONS: It is necessary to establish a stable supply system and manage crises through supply stability, as well as to provide opportunities for fair trade through greater transparency. As steps towards those goals, we propose establishing a unique device identification system, an information disclosure system, online distribution, and a group purchasing organization system in Korea.
Disclosure ; Group Purchasing ; Korea ; Methods ; Online Systems ; Specialization