BACKGROUND: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection leads to hepatic and extrahepatic manifestations including chronic kidney disease (CKD). However, the association between HBV and CKD is not clear. This study investigated the association between chronic HBV infection and CKD in a nationwide multicenter study. METHODS: A total of 265,086 subjects who underwent health-check examinations in 33 hospitals from January 2015 to December 2015 were enrolled. HBV surface antigen (HBsAg) positive cases (n = 10,048), and age- and gender-matched HBsAg negative controls (n = 40,192) were identified. CKD was defined as a glomerular filtration rate (GFR) < 60 mL/min/1.73 m² or proteinuria as at least grade 2+ of urine protein. RESULTS: HBsAg positive cases showed a significantly higher prevalence of GFR < 60 mL/min/1.73 m² (3.3%), and proteinuria (18.9%) than that of the controls (2.6%, P < 0.001, and 14.1%, P < 0.001, respectively). In the multivariate analysis, HBsAg positivity was an independent factor associated with GFR < 60 mL/min/1.73 m² along with age, blood levels of albumin, bilirubin, anemia, and hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c). Likewise, HBsAg positivity was an independent factor for proteinuria along with age, male, blood levels of bilirubin, protein, albumin, and HbA1c. A subgroup analysis showed that HBsAg positive men but not women had a significantly increased risk for GFR < 60 mL/min/1.73 m². CONCLUSION: Chronic HBV infection was significantly associated with a GFR < 60 mL/min/1.73 m² and proteinuria (≥ 2+). Therefore, clinical concern about CKD in chronic HBV infected patients, especially in male, is warranted.
Anemia ; Antigens, Surface ; Bilirubin ; Case-Control Studies* ; Female ; Glomerular Filtration Rate ; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens ; Hepatitis B virus ; Hepatitis B, Chronic* ; Hepatitis, Chronic* ; Humans ; Male ; Multivariate Analysis ; Prevalence ; Proteinuria ; Renal Insufficiency, Chronic*

PURPOSE: Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury is one of the most common injuries that occur in the knee, and ACL reconstruction (ACLR) is commonly performed for preventing aggravation of degenerative changes and restoring of knee stability in young, athletic patients. This metaanalysis has a purpose of evaluating the clinical and arthrometrical outcomes of ACLR in a group of middle age patients (40 years and older) and comparing with patients under 40 years of age. METHODS: MEDLINE, EMBASE, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Web of Science, and SCOPUS electronic databases were searched for relevant articles comparing the outcomes of ACLR between younger and older than 40 years of age until December 2016. Data searching, extraction, analysis, and quality assessment were performed based on the Cochrane Collaboration guidelines. Clinical outcomes were evaluated and compared between groups. The results were presented as mean difference for continuous outcomes with 95% confidence intervals whereas risk ratio for binary outcomes. RESULTS: Seven studies were included in the meta-analysis. Based on International Knee Documentation Committee classification, side-to-side difference, Tegner activity score, Lysholm knee score, there were no significant clinical and mechanical differences between the groups. CONCLUSIONS: This meta-analysis confirmed that after ACLR, middle age (>40 years) and young age (<40 years) patients did not present with significant difference in clinical and arthrometric results.
Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction ; Anterior Cruciate Ligament ; Classification ; Cooperative Behavior ; Humans ; Knee ; Lysholm Knee Score ; Middle Aged ; Odds Ratio ; Sports

PURPOSE: The optimal adjuvant therapy modality for treating pN2 non-small cell lung cancer patients has not yet been established. In this study, the authors investigated clinical outcomes following three different adjuvant therapy modalities. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From January 2006 to December 2012, 240 patients with cN0/1 disease were found to have pN2 disease following curative resection and received one of three adjuvant therapy modalities:thoracic radiation therapy (TRT) and concurrent chemotherapy (CTx) (CCRT) (group I), CCRT plus consolidation CTx (group II), and CTx alone (group III). TRT was delivered to 155 patients (groups I/II), and full dose CTx was delivered to 172 patients either as a consolidative or a sole modality (group II/III). RESULTS: During 30 months of median follow-up, 44 patients died and 141 developed recurrence. The 5-year overall survival (OS), locoregional control (LRC), distant metastasis-free survival (DMFS), and disease-free survival (DFS) rates of all patients were 76.2%, 80.7%, 36.4%, and 29.6%, respectively. There was no difference in OS among groups. TRT (groups I/II) significantly improved LRC, full dose CTx (groups II/III) did DMFS, and CCRT plus consolidation CTx (group II) did DFS, respectively. CONCLUSION: The current study could support that TRT could improve LRC and full dose CTx could improve DMFS and that CCRT plus consolidation CTx could improve DFS.
Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung* ; Chemotherapy, Adjuvant ; Disease-Free Survival ; Drug Therapy* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Radiotherapy ; Recurrence

PURPOSE: The optimal perioperative treatment for resectable esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) remains controversial. We evaluated the efficacy and safety of leucovorin and 5-fluorouracil (LV5FU2) and LV5FU2 plus oxaliplatin (FOLFOX) combination chemotherapies administered adjuvantly for curatively-resected, node-positive ESCC. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients with pathologically node-positive esophageal cancer after curative R0 resection were enrolled and randomly assigned to receive LV5FU2 or FOLFOX biweekly for up to eight cycles. The primary endpoint was disease-free survival (DFS). RESULTS: Between 2011 and 2015, 62 patients were randomized into the two treatment groups (32 in the LV5FU2 arm and 30 in the FOLFOX arm). The median age was 60 years and both groups had similar pathologic characteristics in tumor, nodal status, and location. Treatment completion rates were similarly high in both groups. The DFS rate at 12 months was 67% in the LV5FU2 group and 63% in the FOLFOX group with a hazard ratio of 1.3 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.66 to 2.62). After a median follow-up period of 27 months, the median DFS was 29.6 months (95% CI, 4.9 to 54.2) in the LV5FU2 arm and 16.8 months (95% CI, 7.5 to 26.1) in the FOLFOX arm (p=0.428), respectively, while the median overall survival was not reached in either arm. Grade 3 or 4 neutropenia was more frequent in patients in the FOLFOX arm than the LV5FU2 arm (20.0% vs. 3.1%). CONCLUSION: The addition of oxaliplatin (FOLFOX) did not lead to better efficacy compared to LV5FU2 chemotherapy in an adjuvant setting in node-positive ESCC patients.
Arm ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell* ; Chemotherapy, Adjuvant ; Disease-Free Survival ; Drug Therapy ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Epithelial Cells* ; Esophageal Neoplasms ; Fluorouracil ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Leucovorin ; Neutropenia

PURPOSE: The optimal perioperative treatment for resectable esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) remains controversial. We evaluated the efficacy and safety of leucovorin and 5-fluorouracil (LV5FU2) and LV5FU2 plus oxaliplatin (FOLFOX) combination chemotherapies administered adjuvantly for curatively-resected, node-positive ESCC. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients with pathologically node-positive esophageal cancer after curative R0 resection were enrolled and randomly assigned to receive LV5FU2 or FOLFOX biweekly for up to eight cycles. The primary endpoint was disease-free survival (DFS). RESULTS: Between 2011 and 2015, 62 patients were randomized into the two treatment groups (32 in the LV5FU2 arm and 30 in the FOLFOX arm). The median age was 60 years and both groups had similar pathologic characteristics in tumor, nodal status, and location. Treatment completion rates were similarly high in both groups. The DFS rate at 12 months was 67% in the LV5FU2 group and 63% in the FOLFOX group with a hazard ratio of 1.3 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.66 to 2.62). After a median follow-up period of 27 months, the median DFS was 29.6 months (95% CI, 4.9 to 54.2) in the LV5FU2 arm and 16.8 months (95% CI, 7.5 to 26.1) in the FOLFOX arm (p=0.428), respectively, while the median overall survival was not reached in either arm. Grade 3 or 4 neutropenia was more frequent in patients in the FOLFOX arm than the LV5FU2 arm (20.0% vs. 3.1%). CONCLUSION: The addition of oxaliplatin (FOLFOX) did not lead to better efficacy compared to LV5FU2 chemotherapy in an adjuvant setting in node-positive ESCC patients.
Arm ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell* ; Chemotherapy, Adjuvant ; Disease-Free Survival ; Drug Therapy ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Epithelial Cells* ; Esophageal Neoplasms ; Fluorouracil ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Leucovorin ; Neutropenia

PURPOSE: We report the performance of natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (NOTES) low anterior resection in animals using transanal total mesorectal excision (TME) with laparoscopic assistance and endoscopic inferior mesenteric artery (IMA) dissection. METHODS: Four pigs weighing 45 kg each, and one dog weighing 25 kg, underwent surgery via a transanal approach. The rectum was occluded transanally using a purse-string suture, approximately 3-4 cm from the anal verge. The rectal mucosa was incised circumferentially just distal to the purse-string. A SILS or GelPOINT port was inserted transanally. Transanal TME was assisted by laparoscopy and proceeded up to the peritoneal reflection. More proximal dissection, including IMA dissection, was performed along the retroperitoneal avascular plane by endoscopy alone and facilitated by CO2 insufflation. The IMA was clipped and divided endoscopically. The mobilized rectosigmoid were exteriorized transanally and transected. A colorectal anastomosis was performed using a circular stapler with a single stapling technique. RESULTS: Endoscopic dissection of the IMA was successful in all five animals. The mean operation time was 125 minutes (range, 90-170 minutes). There were no intraoperative complications or hemodynamic instability. The mean length of the resected specimen was 14.4 cm (range, 12-16 cm). CONCLUSION: A NOTES retroperitoneal approach to the IMA with CO2 insufflation and intact peritoneal covering overcame the difficulties of retraction and exposure of endoscopic dissection in animals.
Animals ; Dogs ; Endoscopy ; Hemodynamics ; Insufflation ; Intraoperative Complications ; Laparoscopy ; Mesenteric Artery, Inferior* ; Models, Animal* ; Mucous Membrane ; Natural Orifice Endoscopic Surgery* ; Rectum ; Sutures ; Swine

Coronary artery aneurysms are detected rarely during coronary angiography, and are associated with injury to the mechanical vessel wall during percutaneous coronary intervention. Potential causes also include atherosclerosis, congenital defects, connective tissue disorders, vasculitis, infection, drug-related injury, and trauma; it can also be idiopathic. The complications of coronary artery aneurysms vary, but they rupture only rarely. However, there is no consensus treatment strategy for coronary artery aneurysm after coronary intervention. We report a case of a 55-year-old male who developed a coronary artery aneurysm and in-stent restenosis after percutaneous coronary intervention with a drug-eluting stent. The aneurysm was treated successfully with the implantation of a graft stent.
Aneurysm* ; Atherosclerosis ; Congenital Abnormalities ; Connective Tissue ; Consensus ; Coronary Angiography ; Coronary Vessels* ; Drug-Eluting Stents* ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Percutaneous Coronary Intervention ; Rupture ; Stents ; Transplants ; Vasculitis

Plasma pH can be altered during pregnancy and at labor. Membrane excitability of smooth muscle including uterine muscle is suppressed by the activation of K+ channels. Because contractility of uterine muscle is regulated by extracellular pH and humoral factors, K+ conductance could be connected to factors regulating uterine contractility during pregnancy. Here, we showed that TASK-2 inhibitors such as quinidine, lidocaine, and extracellular acidosis produced contraction in uterine circular muscle of mouse. Furthermore, contractility was significantly increased in pregnant uterine circular muscle than that of non-pregnant muscle. These patterns were not changed even in the presence of tetraetylammonium (TEA) and 4-aminopyridine (4-AP). Finally, TASK-2 inhibitors induced strong myometrial contraction even in the presence of L-methionine, a known inhibitor of stretchactivated channels in myometrium. When compared to non-pregnant myometrium, pregnant myometrium showed increased immunohistochemical expression of TASK-2. Therefore, TASK-2, seems to play a key role during regulation of myometrial contractility in the pregnancy and provides new insight into preventing preterm delivery.
4-Aminopyridine ; Acidosis ; Animals ; Contracts ; Female ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Lidocaine ; Membranes ; Methionine ; Mice ; Muscle, Smooth ; Muscles ; Myometrium ; Plasma ; Pregnancy ; Quinidine ; Relaxation ; Uterine Contraction ; Uterus

A 61-year-old male who complained of right upper quadrant pain was referred to the authors for evaluation after his computed tomography suggested biliary adenocarcinoma. The lesion consisted of multiple cysts with papillary mass and peri-ampullay mass. The patient underwent an operation due to a clinical suspicion of biliary cystadenocarcinoma, but the pathology confirmed biliary papillomatosis (BP) after diagnosing intrahepatic papillary neoplasm with high-grade dysplasia and invasive adenocarcinoma with papillary neoplasm from the distal common bile duct to the duodenum. BP is a disease characterized by multiple papillary masses. Its cause has yet to be discovered. It commonly manifests as bile duct dilation but rarely as a ductal cystic change. Under computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging, both the BP and the cystic neoplasm can show bile duct dilation and a papillary mass, which makes their differential diagnosis difficult. A confirmative diagnosis can be made through a pathologic examination. BP is classified as a benign disease that can become malignant and may recur, though rarely. Its treatment of choice is surgical resection. Laser ablation or photodynamic therapy can be used for unresectable lesions. In the case featured in this paper, biliary papillomatosis was difficult to differentiate from cystic adenocarcinoma due to diffusely scattered multiple large cystic lesions in the liver, and it was histologically confirmed to have become malignant with cystic duct dilation after the operation. This case is reported herein with a literature review.
Adenocarcinoma ; Bile ; Bile Ducts ; Biliary Tract Neoplasms ; Common Bile Duct ; Cystadenocarcinoma ; Cystic Duct ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Dilatation ; Duodenum ; Humans ; Laser Therapy ; Liver ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Papilloma ; Photochemotherapy

This study investigated the hypothesis that a sorghum extract exerts anti-diabetic effects through a mechanism that improves insulin sensitivity via peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPAR-gamma) from adipose tissue. Seven C57BL/6 mice were fed an AIN-93M diet with fat consisting of 10% of total energy intake (LF) for 14 weeks, and 21 mice were fed a high-fat AIN diet with 60% of calories derived from fat (HF). From week 8, the HF diet-fed mice were orally administered either saline (HF group), 0.5% (0.5% SE group), or 1% sorghum extract (1% SE group) for 6 weeks (n = 7/group). Perirenal fat content was significantly lower in the 0.5% SE and 1% SE groups than that in the HF mice. Levels of total and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglycerides, glucose, and the area under the curve for glucose were significantly lower in mice administered 0.5% SE and 1% SE than those in HF mice. Serum insulin level was significantly lower in mice administered 1% SE than that in HF mice or those given 0.5% SE. PPAR-gamma expression was significantly higher, whereas the expression of tumor necrosis factor-alpha was significantly lower in mice given 1% SE compared to those in the HF mice. Adiponectin expression was also significantly higher in mice given 0.5% SE and 1% SE than that in the HF mice. These results suggest that the hypoglycemic effect of SE may be related with the regulation of PPAR-gamma-mediated metabolism in this mouse model.
Adiponectin ; Adipose Tissue ; Animals ; Cholesterol ; Diet ; Diet, High-Fat ; Energy Intake ; Glucose ; Hypoglycemic Agents ; Insulin ; Insulin Resistance ; Lipoproteins ; Mice ; PPAR gamma ; Sorghum ; Triglycerides ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha