A close relationship has emerged between obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and cardiac arrhythmia. However, transient sinus arrest or atrioventricular (AV) conduction disturbance during rapid eye movement (REM) sleep was rarely reported. This sleep stage specific arrhythmia has been referred to as REM sleep-related bradyarrhythmia syndrome. The differential diagnosis between OSA-related arrhythmia and REM sleep-related bradyarrhythmia syndrome is important in determining the treatment strategy for the underlying disease and its complication, especially in patient with a history of OSA. Here, we report a case with both REM sleep-related AV block and severe OSA, whose REM sleep-related AV block was not improved with continuous positive airway pressure treatment.
Arrhythmias, Cardiac ; Atrioventricular Block ; Bradycardia ; Continuous Positive Airway Pressure ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Humans ; Sleep Apnea, Obstructive ; Sleep Stages ; Sleep, REM

PURPOSE: As the mobile internet spread, patients can access to health information via mobile applications. But this information must be a reliable for treatment. This study evaluated the quality of information of mobile applications that with atopic dermatitis. METHODS: On April 2014, the 98 mobile applications that had been searched on three application markets using the keywords, 'atopic dermatitis' etc. were enrolled. Thirty-one applications with information about atopic dermatitis written in Korean were surveyed. The informational quality of each application was examined using DISCERN tool and we also examined authorship, price, number of downloads. And we analyzed relations between these factors and informational quality. RESULTS: The mean score (+/-standard deviation) of overall rating of the publications of the 31 applications were 1.55 (+/-0.888) points. The overall quality of the publication was 'low' in 80.6% of applications, 'moderate' in 16.1%, 'high' in 3.2% of the applications we evaluated. There were no significant differences between the score of price of applications in all questions. However the mean score of group of downloads 1,000 and more were 2.25 (+/-1.035), significantly higher than group of downloads less than 1,000, 1.30 (+/-0.703) (P=0.043). CONCLUSION: The quality of mobile applications providing health information on atopic dermatitis needs significant improvement. Some guidelines and certifications of the mobile application are needed to provide health information about atopic dermatitis, association with experts.
Authorship ; Certification ; Consumer Health Information ; Dermatitis, Atopic ; Humans ; Internet ; Korea ; Mobile Applications* ; Publications

Purpose: Eph receptors are differentially expressed in numerous malignant tumors. This study intended to analyze the roles of EphB receptors (EphB2, B3, and B4) in urinary bladder cancer. Materials and Methods: Tissue microarray-based immunohistochemical analysis was used to investigate the expression patterns of EphB2, EphB3, and EphB4 in 154 bladder cancer specimens. Immunohistochemical staining was conducted examining the extent of stained cells and staining intensity. EphB was considered to be highly expressed when the intensity of staining was more than moderate in >25% of cells in the tissue section. Small interfering RNA (siRNA) was used to knock down EphB expression in bladder cancer cell lines (T24, 5637) to determine the effects of EphB on tumor cell invasion, proliferation, and migration. Results: EphB receptors (B2, B3, and B4) were detected in 40.9% (EphB2, 63/154), 71.4% (EphB3, 110/154), and 53.2% (EphB4, 82/154) of bladder cancer specimens. Low expression of EphB2, B3, and B4 receptors were significantly associated with higher tumor grade (EphB2, p<0.001; EphB3, p=0.032; EphB4, p<0.001) and muscular invasion (EphB2, p=0.002; EphB3, p=0.009; EphB4, p<0.001). No obvious correlation was observed with other clinicopathological variables, such as age, sex, recurrence, lymph node involvement, metastasis, and overall survival. Inactivation of EphB receptors by siRNA transfection increased cell viability, tumor cell invasion, proliferation, and migration in comparison with untransfected cancer cells. Conclusion Low expression of EphB receptors (B2, B3, and B4) can be a predictive marker for muscular invasion of bladder cancer.

Purpose: Eph receptors are differentially expressed in numerous malignant tumors. This study intended to analyze the roles of EphB receptors (EphB2, B3, and B4) in urinary bladder cancer. Materials and Methods: Tissue microarray-based immunohistochemical analysis was used to investigate the expression patterns of EphB2, EphB3, and EphB4 in 154 bladder cancer specimens. Immunohistochemical staining was conducted examining the extent of stained cells and staining intensity. EphB was considered to be highly expressed when the intensity of staining was more than moderate in >25% of cells in the tissue section. Small interfering RNA (siRNA) was used to knock down EphB expression in bladder cancer cell lines (T24, 5637) to determine the effects of EphB on tumor cell invasion, proliferation, and migration. Results: EphB receptors (B2, B3, and B4) were detected in 40.9% (EphB2, 63/154), 71.4% (EphB3, 110/154), and 53.2% (EphB4, 82/154) of bladder cancer specimens. Low expression of EphB2, B3, and B4 receptors were significantly associated with higher tumor grade (EphB2, p<0.001; EphB3, p=0.032; EphB4, p<0.001) and muscular invasion (EphB2, p=0.002; EphB3, p=0.009; EphB4, p<0.001). No obvious correlation was observed with other clinicopathological variables, such as age, sex, recurrence, lymph node involvement, metastasis, and overall survival. Inactivation of EphB receptors by siRNA transfection increased cell viability, tumor cell invasion, proliferation, and migration in comparison with untransfected cancer cells. Conclusion Low expression of EphB receptors (B2, B3, and B4) can be a predictive marker for muscular invasion of bladder cancer.

Purpose: This study aimed to analyze the clinical outcomes of venous thromboembolism (VTE) patients and identify the risk factors for VTE-related unfavorable outcomes, major bleeding, and 30-day all-cause mortality. Materials and Methods: From January 2016 to December 2020, 198 patients with confirmed VTE were enrolled. Potential risk factors for unfavorable outcomes, major bleeding, and all-cause mortality were analyzed. Results: VTE-related unfavorable outcomes developed in 13.1%, while 30-day all-cause mortality was 8.6%. In the multivariate analysis, a pulse ≥110/min and respiratory rate ≥30/min were statistically significant predictors for VTE-related unfavorable outcomes. Diabetes was a significant risk factor for major bleeding. In addition, a history of malignancy, no anticoagulation treatment, and need for mechanical ventilation were significant predictors of all-cause mortality. Conclusion VTE-related mortality and morbidity rates remained high. In cases of tachycardia and tachypnea, early aggressive treatment is needed to prevent unfavorable outcomes. Patients with risk factors should be closely monitored.

Background and objectives: Carvedilol is a cardiovascular drug, beta- and alpha1-adrenoceptor antagonist, currently approved for the treatment of hypertension, angina, congestive heart failure by FDA. Carvedilol has been shown to attenuate oxygen free radical-initiated lipid peroxidation and to inhibit neointimal formation of aorta following vascular injury by balloon angioplasty. We have investigated the effect of carvedilol on DNA synthesis of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) stimulated by platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)-BB. MATERIALS AND METHOD: Rat aortic smooth muscle cells were obtained by the combined collagenase and elastase methods. Cells between the 4th and 8th passages were used for the experiments. Incorporated radioactivity of [3H]-thymidine was measured by liquid scintillation spectrometry. RESULTS: PDGF-BB (1 nM) increased [3H]-thymidine incorporation about 70-100% over basal value in cultured VSMC. PDGF-stimulated increase in DNA synthesis was significantly suppressed by simultaneous administration of carvedilol. In contrast, propranolol did not significantly affect 3[H]-thymidine uptake in rat aortic VSMC. CONCLUSION: The present study demonstrate that carvedilol significantly inhibits the proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cell in our condition. These results indicate that carvedilol may be effective in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases principally associated with abnormal vascular smooth muscle growth.
Angioplasty, Balloon ; Animals ; Aorta ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Cell Proliferation ; Collagenases ; DNA ; Heart Failure ; Hypertension ; Lipid Peroxidation ; Muscle, Smooth, Vascular* ; Myocytes, Smooth Muscle ; Oxygen ; Pancreatic Elastase ; Platelet-Derived Growth Factor ; Propranolol ; Radioactivity ; Rats ; Spectrum Analysis ; Vascular System Injuries

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the difference of clinical features among patients with enteroviral mengitis according to the presence of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) pleocytosis. METHODS: This was a retrospective analysis of the patients' data diagnosed with enteroviral meningitis by CSF reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). We reviewed the medical records of children younger than 16 years who visited Korea University Ansan Hospital and Guro Hospital for meningitis or encephalitis between March 2013 and August 2013. Clinical and laboratory variables were compared with regard to the presence of CSF pleocytosis. RESULTS: Among 49 patients with enteroviral meningitis, eight of 49 (16.3%) did not have pleocytosis. The enteroviral meningitis patients without pleocytosis had lower CSF protein level than patients with pleocytosis (18.9+/-4.3 vs 34.9+/-18.3 mg/dL; P=0.002). Age, duration of hospital stay, severity of clinical symptom, peripheral white cell blood counts, absolute neutrophil counts and CSF/serum glucose ratio were not different between two groups. CONCLUSION: Enteroviral meningitis could manifest without pleocytosis. We therefore think that CSF RT-PCR is helpful for the diagnosis, especially in suspected cases, which leads to shorter hospital stay and minimal use of antibiotics.
Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Cerebrospinal Fluid ; Child ; Diagnosis ; Encephalitis ; Enterovirus ; Glucose ; Gyeonggi-do ; Humans ; Korea ; Length of Stay ; Leukocytosis* ; Medical Records ; Meningitis* ; Neutrophils ; Retrospective Studies ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction

PURPOSE: Thrombocytosis is reported in patients with various tumors, including stomach, colon, ovarian, lung and pancreatic cancers. Some clinical reports have shown thrombocytosis to be a poor prognostic factor in cancer patients. However, in hepatocellular carcinoma patients, the incidence and clinical significance of thrombocytosis have not been clearly verified. In this study, the clinical significance of platelet counts was investigated in patients with hepatocellular carcinomas. METHODS: 212 patients with surgically proven hepatocellular carcinomas were enrolled in this study. The incidence, relationship with other clinicopathological factors, and the prognostic value of thrombocytosis were retrospectively evaluated. RESULTS: The incidence of thrombocytosis (> or =400, 000/ul) was 2.8% (6/212). The platelet counts were elevated in patients with a large sized tumor (p< 0.001), advanced TNM stage (p=0.009) and gross tumor thrombi in the portal vein (p=0.009). There was no difference in the survival between patients with low and high platelet counts. CONCLUSION: The incidence of thrombocytosis in hepatocellular carcinoma patients was very low. The platelet counts were elevated in patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinomas, but no prognostic significance was shown in this study.
Blood Platelets* ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular* ; Colon ; Humans ; Incidence ; Lung ; Pancreatic Neoplasms ; Platelet Count* ; Portal Vein ; Retrospective Studies ; Stomach ; Thrombocytosis

No abstract available.
Drug Therapy, Combination* ; Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin*

PURPOSE: To evaluate the practical applications of the diagnosis algorithms recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics urinary tract infection (UTI) guideline. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of febrile UTI patients aged between 2 and 24 months. The patients were divided into 3 groups: group I (patients with positive urine culture and urinalysis findings), group II (those with positive urine culture but negative urinalysis findings), and group III (those with negative urine culture but positive urinalysis findings). Clinical, laboratory, and imaging results were analyzed and compared between the groups. RESULTS: A total of 300 children were enrolled. The serum C-reactive protein level was lower in children in group II than in those in groups I and III (P<0.05). Children in group I showed a higher frequency of hydronephrosis than those in groups II and III (P<0.05). However, the frequencies of acute pyelonephritis (APN), vesicoureteral reflux (VUR), renal scar, and UTI recurrence were not different between the groups. In group I, recurrence of UTI and presence of APN were associated with the incidence of VUR (recurrence vs. no recurrence: 40% vs.11.4%; APN vs. no APN: 23.3% vs. 9.2%; P<0.05). The incidence of VUR and APN was not related to the presence of hydronephrosis. CONCLUSION: UTI in febrile children cannot be ruled out solely on the basis of positive urinalysis or urine culture findings. Recurrence of UTI and presence of APN may be reasonable indicators of the presence of VUR.
C-Reactive Protein ; Child ; Cicatrix ; Diagnosis ; Humans ; Hydronephrosis ; Incidence ; Medical Records ; Pediatrics* ; Pyelonephritis ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies ; Urinalysis ; Urinary Tract Infections* ; Urinary Tract* ; Vesico-Ureteral Reflux