Purpose: Gastric cancer (GC) is among the most prevalent and fatal cancers worldwide.National cancer screening programs in countries with high incidences of this disease provide medical aid beneficiaries with free-of-charge screening involving upper endoscopy to detect early-stage GC. However, the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has caused major disruptions to routine healthcare access. Thus, this study aimed to assess the impact of COVID-19 on the diagnosis, overall incidence, and stage distribution of GC. Materials and Methods: We identified patients in our hospital cancer registry who were diagnosed with GC between January 2018 and December 2021 and compared the cancer stage at diagnosis before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Subgroup analyses were conducted according to age and sex. The years 2018 and 2019 were defined as the “before COVID” period, and the years 2020 and 2021 as the “during COVID” period. Results: Overall, 10,875 patients were evaluated; 6,535 and 4,340 patients were diagnosed before and during the COVID-19 period, respectively. The number of diagnoses was lower during the COVID-19 pandemic (189 patients/month vs. 264 patients/month) than before it.Notably, the proportion of patients with stages 3 or 4 GC in 2021 was higher among men and patients aged ≥40 years. Conclusions During the COVID-19 pandemic, the overall number of GC diagnoses decreased significantly in a single institute. Moreover, GCs were in more advanced stages at the time of diagnosis. Further studies are required to elucidate the relationship between the COVID-19 pandemic and the delay in the detection of GC worldwide.

Purpose: To determine whether travoprost 0.003% has a similar intraocular pressure (IOP) reduction effect to that of travoprost 0.004% while reducing side effects. Methods: This was a prospective study from January 2018 to December 2018 that included 102 patients diagnosed with open angle glaucoma who switched from travoprost 0.004% to travoprost 0.003%. We investigated the changes in IOP, conjunctival hyperemia, corneal erosion, and eyelid pigmentation before and at 3 months after switching to travoprost 0.003%. Additionally, a questionnaire survey of these patients was conducted to determine possible side effects, including hyperemia, stinging, pruritus, irritation, blurred vision, dryness, and foreign body sensation. Results: IOP readings before and after switching to travoprost 0.003% were 12.95 ± 4.25 and 12.94 ± 3.89 mmHg, respectively, showing no significant change (p = 0.974). No changes were observed in corneal erosion or eyelid pigmentation; however, conjunctival hyperemia was reduced significantly from 1.60 ± 0.88 to 1.36 ± 0.84 (p = 0.001). No significant changes in hyperemia, stinging, pruritus, irritation, or foreign body sensation were reported; however, a significant improvement was noted for blurred vision and dryness (p = 0.008, p = 0.007, respectively). Conclusions We were able to show the effectiveness and safety of travoprost 0.003% as being as effective as travoprost 0.004% in reducing IOP and injections while improving blurred vision and dryness.

Purpose: To determine whether travoprost 0.003% has a similar intraocular pressure (IOP) reduction effect to that of travoprost 0.004% while reducing side effects. Methods: This was a prospective study from January 2018 to December 2018 that included 102 patients diagnosed with open angle glaucoma who switched from travoprost 0.004% to travoprost 0.003%. We investigated the changes in IOP, conjunctival hyperemia, corneal erosion, and eyelid pigmentation before and at 3 months after switching to travoprost 0.003%. Additionally, a questionnaire survey of these patients was conducted to determine possible side effects, including hyperemia, stinging, pruritus, irritation, blurred vision, dryness, and foreign body sensation. Results: IOP readings before and after switching to travoprost 0.003% were 12.95 ± 4.25 and 12.94 ± 3.89 mmHg, respectively, showing no significant change (p = 0.974). No changes were observed in corneal erosion or eyelid pigmentation; however, conjunctival hyperemia was reduced significantly from 1.60 ± 0.88 to 1.36 ± 0.84 (p = 0.001). No significant changes in hyperemia, stinging, pruritus, irritation, or foreign body sensation were reported; however, a significant improvement was noted for blurred vision and dryness (p = 0.008, p = 0.007, respectively). Conclusions We were able to show the effectiveness and safety of travoprost 0.003% as being as effective as travoprost 0.004% in reducing IOP and injections while improving blurred vision and dryness.

Purpose: To establish a corneal-fibroblast senescence model induced by ultraviolet B (UVB) exposure and to investigate the anti-senescence effect of angiogenin (ANG). Methods: Fibroblasts were exposed to UVB (1 mJ/cm 2 ) and then cultured with ANG-containing solution for 24 hours. The 24-hour culture procedure was repeated for three days after UVB irradiation. Cell viability was evaluated using the 3-[4, 5–dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. The degree of senescence was assessed using the ratio of senescence-associated (SA)-β-gal-stained cells to total cells. The expression of age-related factors and degree of DNA damage were assessed via Western blot. Samples were divided into a non-UVB group, a UVB group without ANG treatment, and a UVB group with ANG treatment after irradiation (UVB + ANG). Results: Cell viability in the UVB + ANG group was 11% higher than that in the UVB group (p < 0.05). The UVB + ANG group exhibited a 10% lower degree of SA-β-gal staining compared with the UVB group (p < 0.05). Western blot analysis showed that there was reduced expression of p53, p21, p16, and RB in the UVB + ANG group compared with the UVB group. The expression of phosphorylated histone (Y-H2AX) and p38 in the UVB + ANG group was less than that in the UVB group. Conclusions Senescence in corneal fibroblasts is induced by UVB, and ANG may exert an anti-aging effect by regulating the cell cycle through p53, p21, p16, and RB and reducing DNA damage.

Objective: A retrospective study was performed to evaluate the usefulness of the delta neutrophil index as a prognosticfactor for mortality in intensive care unit patients admitted via the emergency department. Methods: Patients, who presented to the emergency department and were admitted to the intensive care unit fromJanuary 2018 to August 2018, were reviewed retrospectively. The clinical features, inflammatory marker levels, such asC-reactive protein, lactate, simplified acute physiology score 3, length of stay, and in-hospital mortality were obtainedfrom the medical records. Patients, who visited the emergency department because of trauma or suicidal attempts,arrived after out-hospital cardiac arrest, or were diagnosed with cerebrovascular disease, were excluded. Results: Of the 310 patients included, 65 died during their admission, and 245 patients were discharged after treatment.The receiver operating characteristic curve showed that the delta neutrophil index (area under curve [AUC], 0.72), Creactiveprotein (AUC, 0.70), lactate (AUC, 0.64), and simplified acute physiology score 3 (AUC, 0.79) indicated a lowpredictive power for in-hospital mortality. Whole patients were divided into four subgroups (infectious diseases, cardiovasculardiseases, gastrointestinal bleeding diseases, and others). The receiver operating curve of delta neutrophil indexrevealed infectious diseases (AUC, 0.65), in cardiovascular diseases (AUC, 0.70), and gastrointestinal bleeding diseases(AUC, 0.79). Conclusion The role of the delta neutrophil index for predicting the prognosis of in-hospital mortality showed equally lowpredictive power for critically ill patients with the C-reactive protein and lactate.

Purpose: We used optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) to evaluate changes in the vessel densities of macular capillary plexuses after cataract surgery. Methods: We performed a retrospective chart review of 24 eyes of 24 cataract patients who underwent phacoemulsification cataract surgery from July 2018 to June 2019. The changes in vessel density (VD) in the macular superficial capillary plexus (SCP), the deep capillary plexus (DCP), inside the disc, and in the peripapillary area and foveal avascular zone (FAZ), were analyzed on OCTA images obtained preoperatively and at 1 week, and 1, 3, and 6 months, postoperatively. Results: The VDs of the foveal SCP and DCP increased significantly from 15.42 ± 6.61 and 28.43 ± 7.62% preoperatively to 17.20 ± 6.21 and 30.52 ± 7.06% at 6 months postoperatively (p < 0.001, p = 0.001). The VDs of the parafoveal SCP and DCP increased significantly from 47.28 ± 5.76 and 53.06 ± 3.89% preoperatively to 50.34 ± 5.00 and 53.90 ± 4.20% at 6 months postoperatively (p = 0.002, p = 0.014). The VDs of the perifoveal SCP and DCP increased significantly from 45.20 ± 5.01 and 46.62 ± 5.89% preoperatively to 48.52 ± 4.32 and 50.96 ± 5.57% at 6 months postoperatively (p < 0.001, p = 0.002). The VDs of the area inside the disc, and of the peripapillary area and FAZ, did not change significantly (p = 0.068, 0.332, and 0.206, respectively). Conclusions After cataract surgery, the VDs of the SCP and DCP increased significantly at 1 week, and 1, 3, and 6 months, postoperatively.

Purpose: We used optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) to evaluate changes in the vessel densities of macular capillary plexuses after cataract surgery. Methods: We performed a retrospective chart review of 24 eyes of 24 cataract patients who underwent phacoemulsification cataract surgery from July 2018 to June 2019. The changes in vessel density (VD) in the macular superficial capillary plexus (SCP), the deep capillary plexus (DCP), inside the disc, and in the peripapillary area and foveal avascular zone (FAZ), were analyzed on OCTA images obtained preoperatively and at 1 week, and 1, 3, and 6 months, postoperatively. Results: The VDs of the foveal SCP and DCP increased significantly from 15.42 ± 6.61 and 28.43 ± 7.62% preoperatively to 17.20 ± 6.21 and 30.52 ± 7.06% at 6 months postoperatively (p < 0.001, p = 0.001). The VDs of the parafoveal SCP and DCP increased significantly from 47.28 ± 5.76 and 53.06 ± 3.89% preoperatively to 50.34 ± 5.00 and 53.90 ± 4.20% at 6 months postoperatively (p = 0.002, p = 0.014). The VDs of the perifoveal SCP and DCP increased significantly from 45.20 ± 5.01 and 46.62 ± 5.89% preoperatively to 48.52 ± 4.32 and 50.96 ± 5.57% at 6 months postoperatively (p < 0.001, p = 0.002). The VDs of the area inside the disc, and of the peripapillary area and FAZ, did not change significantly (p = 0.068, 0.332, and 0.206, respectively). Conclusions After cataract surgery, the VDs of the SCP and DCP increased significantly at 1 week, and 1, 3, and 6 months, postoperatively.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to compare microRNA (miRNA) gene expression in saliva using miRNA polymerase chain reaction (PCR) arrays in healthy and aggressive periodontitis (AP) patients. Methods: PCR arrays of 84 miRNAs related to the human inflammatory response and autoimmunity from the saliva samples of 4 patients with AP and 4 healthy controls were performed. The functions and diseases related to the miRNAs were obtained using TAM 2.0. Experimentally validated targets of differentially expressed miRNAs were obtained from mirTarBase. Gene ontology terms and pathways were analyzed using ConsensusPathDB. Results: Four downregulated miRNAs (hsa-let-7a-5p, hsa-let-7f-5p, hsa-miR-181b-5p, and hsa-miR-23b-3p) were identified in patients with AP. These miRNAs are associated with cell death and innate immunity, and they target genes associated with osteoclast development and function. Conclusions This study is the first analysis of miRNAs in the saliva of patients with AP.Identifying discriminatory human salivary miRNA biomarkers reflective of periodontal disease in a non-invasive screening assay is crucial for the development of salivary diagnostics. These data provide a first step towards the discovery of key salivary miRNA biomarkers for AP.

Background: Skin diseases characterized by epithelial barrierdysfunction show altered sphingolipid metabolism,which results in changes in the stratum corneum intercellularlipid components and structure. Under pathological conditions,1-deoxysphingolipids form as atypical sphingolipidsfrom de novo sphingolipid biosynthesis. Objective: Thisstudy investigated the potential role of 1-deoxysphingolipidsin skin barrier dysfunction secondary to X-ray and ultravioletB (UVB) irradiation in vitro and in vivo. It was also evaluatedchanges in the expression of 1-deoxysphingolipids in lesionalhuman skin of atopic dermatitis. Methods: In thisstudy, the changes in these 1-deoxysphingolipids levels ofskin and serum samples were investigated in skin barrier dysfunctionassociated with X-ray and UVB irradiation in vitroand in vivo. Results: Increased 1-deoxysphingolipids were observed in cultured normal human epidermal keratinocytesafter X-ray irradiation. X-ray or UVB irradiation increased theproduction of 1-deoxysphingosine in a reconstituted 3-dimensional(3D) skin model. Interestingly, treatment with aphysiological lipid mixture (multi-lamellar emulsion containedpseudoceramide), which can strengthen the epidermalpermeability barrier function, resulted in decreased1-deoxysphingosine formation in a reconstituted 3D skinmodel. Further investigation using a hairless mouse modelshowed similar preventive effects of physiological lipid mixtureagainst 1-deoxysphingosine formation after X-ray irradiation.An increased level of 1-dexoysphingosine in the stratumcorneum was also observed in lesional skin of atopic dermatitis. Conclusion 1-deoxysphingosine might be a novelbiomarker of skin barrier dysfunction and a physiological lipidmixture treatment could prevent 1-deoxysphingosine productionand consequent skin barrier dysfunction.

Sinus pericranii is a rare vascular anomaly characterized by abnormal venous communication betweenthe inner and outer regions of the cranial cavity. Here, we report a case of sinus pericraniiand venous malformations in the right periorbital region of a 2-year-old girl. Radiologic findingsshowed venous malformations in the right parietal region communicating with the superior sagittalsinus in the intracranial region. There were notable improvements following surgical resectionfor the abnormal venous lesions and several sclerotherapies. Presence of a bluish and pulsatingmass on the scalp, which showed bruit on auscultation, may indicate sinus pericranii, whichshould be included in the differential diagnosis.