No abstract available.
Pulmonary Artery*

PURPOSE: To investigate the physical and biochemical parameters related with elevated serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels in obese children. METHODS: One hundred forty-two obese or overweight children who visited the out-patient clinics of Chungnam National University Hospital between January 2006 and August 2008 were enrolled. Physical measures and biochemical tests were performed in all patients. Liver sonography was performed in 43 patients. They were divided into the following 2 groups based on ALT levels: group I, normal ALT levels (n=65); and group II, elevated ALT levels (n=77). We compared the physical measures, biochemical results, and ultrasonographic findings of the livers in both groups. Other causes of elevated serum ALT levels were ruled out. RESULTS: The male-to-female ratios were 1.6:1 in group I and 7.6:1 in group II. Among physical parameters, the waist circumference-to-height ratio and hip circumference-to-height ratio were significantly higher in group II (p=0.001 and 0.046, respectively). Among biochemical parameters, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), gamma-glutamyltransferase (gamma-GT), and total cholesterol levels were significantly higher in group II (p<0.001, 0.001, and 0.001, respectively). The AST/ALT ratio was <1 (mean, 0.55) and statistically lower in group II. There was a positive correlation between the serum ALT level and gamma-GT (p<0.001, r=0.750), and a positive correlation between the serum ALT level and the waist circumference-to-height ratio in group II (p<0.001, r=0.401). CONCLUSION: The results suggest that the waist circumference-to-height ratio and gamma-GT may be associated with elevated alanine aminotransferase activity in obese children.
Alanine ; Alanine Transaminase ; Aspartate Aminotransferases ; Child ; Cholesterol ; gamma-Glutamyltransferase ; Hip ; Humans ; Liver ; Outpatients ; Overweight

Purpose: To assess the reliability and accuracy of an automated Cobb angle measurement (ACAM) using a convolutional neural network (CNN) for scoliosis evaluation and to compare measurement times. Materials and Methods: ACAM was applied to spine radiographs in 411 patients suspected of scoliosis. Observer 1 (consensus of two musculoskeletal radiologists) and observer 2 (a radiology resident) measured Cobb angle (CA). CA measurements were categorized using observer 1’s measurements as the reference standard. Inter-observer reliability and correlation were assessed using intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient, respectively. Accuracy and measurement time of ACAM and observers were evaluated. Results: ACAM demonstrated excellent reliability and very high correlation with observer 1 (ICC = 0.976, Spearman’s rank correlation = 0.948), with a mean CA difference of 1.1. Overall accuracy was high (88.2%), particularly in mild (92.2%) and moderate (96%) scoliosis. Accuracy was lower in spinal asymmetry (77.1%) and higher in severe scoliosis (95%), although the CA was lower compared to the observers. ACAM significantly reduced measurement time by nearly half compared to the observers (p < 0.001). Conclusion ACAM using CNN enhances CA measurement for assessing mild or moderate scoliosis, despite limitations in spinal asymmetry or severe scoliosis. Nonetheless, it substantially decreases measurement time.

Purpose: To assess the reliability and accuracy of an automated Cobb angle measurement (ACAM) using a convolutional neural network (CNN) for scoliosis evaluation and to compare measurement times. Materials and Methods: ACAM was applied to spine radiographs in 411 patients suspected of scoliosis. Observer 1 (consensus of two musculoskeletal radiologists) and observer 2 (a radiology resident) measured Cobb angle (CA). CA measurements were categorized using observer 1’s measurements as the reference standard. Inter-observer reliability and correlation were assessed using intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient, respectively. Accuracy and measurement time of ACAM and observers were evaluated. Results: ACAM demonstrated excellent reliability and very high correlation with observer 1 (ICC = 0.976, Spearman’s rank correlation = 0.948), with a mean CA difference of 1.1. Overall accuracy was high (88.2%), particularly in mild (92.2%) and moderate (96%) scoliosis. Accuracy was lower in spinal asymmetry (77.1%) and higher in severe scoliosis (95%), although the CA was lower compared to the observers. ACAM significantly reduced measurement time by nearly half compared to the observers (p < 0.001). Conclusion ACAM using CNN enhances CA measurement for assessing mild or moderate scoliosis, despite limitations in spinal asymmetry or severe scoliosis. Nonetheless, it substantially decreases measurement time.

Purpose: To assess the reliability and accuracy of an automated Cobb angle measurement (ACAM) using a convolutional neural network (CNN) for scoliosis evaluation and to compare measurement times. Materials and Methods: ACAM was applied to spine radiographs in 411 patients suspected of scoliosis. Observer 1 (consensus of two musculoskeletal radiologists) and observer 2 (a radiology resident) measured Cobb angle (CA). CA measurements were categorized using observer 1’s measurements as the reference standard. Inter-observer reliability and correlation were assessed using intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient, respectively. Accuracy and measurement time of ACAM and observers were evaluated. Results: ACAM demonstrated excellent reliability and very high correlation with observer 1 (ICC = 0.976, Spearman’s rank correlation = 0.948), with a mean CA difference of 1.1. Overall accuracy was high (88.2%), particularly in mild (92.2%) and moderate (96%) scoliosis. Accuracy was lower in spinal asymmetry (77.1%) and higher in severe scoliosis (95%), although the CA was lower compared to the observers. ACAM significantly reduced measurement time by nearly half compared to the observers (p < 0.001). Conclusion ACAM using CNN enhances CA measurement for assessing mild or moderate scoliosis, despite limitations in spinal asymmetry or severe scoliosis. Nonetheless, it substantially decreases measurement time.

Tularemia is a major laboratory acquired zoonoses caused by Francisella tularensis that have high virulence, and usually transmitted to humans from direct contact with infected wild animals like rabbits or insect vectors like ticks. Clinical tularemia can be divided with 6 major syndromes that are delineated by the mode of organism aquisition, in which ulceroglandular type is the most common. F. tularensis have 3 different biogroups which have homogeneous antigenecity, type A (biogroup tularensis), type B (biogroup palearctica) and biogroup novicida, and can be confirmed by serology most frequently. In the domestic area, there was no reports of tularemia in humans or presence of bacteria in the reservoirs. Authers experienced a case of tularemia which is suspected as F. tularensis type B, ulceroglandular type. A healthy 40-year-old man admitted the hospital for lymph node swelling in both axillary and upper arm area and for furuncles in both forearm and palm. He contacted with dead rabbit and eated it after cooking before 20 days from admission day. In laboratory cultures, F. tularensis did not grow in any of the routine or anaerobic culture media except for one blood agar plate at 5 days. After subculturing that to cystine containing chocolate agar plate at 37C degree, 5% CO2 incubator, we could see the accelerating growth of colony. In microbiological test, it was oxidase and urease negative. In acid production in cystine trypticase agar base, it was glucose positive and sucrose, maltose, glycerol negative. In agglutinating test, F. tularensis antiserum titer (Difco, USA) with isolates was 1:160 or over and antibody titer to F. tularensis antigen (Difco, USA) was 1:320 or over. Anti-F. tularensis-IF assay and Anti-F. tularensis-indirect-EIA with isolates were positive.
Adult ; Agar ; Animals ; Animals, Wild ; Arm ; Bacteria ; Cacao ; Cooking ; Culture Media ; Cystine ; Forearm ; Francisella tularensis* ; Francisella* ; Furunculosis ; Glucose ; Glycerol ; Humans ; Incubators ; Insect Vectors ; Lymph Nodes ; Maltose ; Oxidoreductases ; Rabbits ; Sucrose ; Ticks ; Tularemia* ; Urease ; Virulence ; Zoonoses

Purpose: The prevalence of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tb) and the status of M. bovis BCG vaccination may affect host immune responses to M.tb antigens. Understanding of the predominant local M. tb strain and immune signatures induced by its strain-specific antigens may contribute to an improved diagnosis of tuberculosis (TB). The aim of this study was to determine immune responses to M. tb antigen which was identified from the hyper-virulent Beijing/K strain in South Korea. Materials and Methods: Pulmonary TB patients (n=52) and healthy subjects (n=92) including individuals with latent TB infection (n=31) were recruited, and QuantiFERON-TB Gold In-Tube tests were performed. The Beijing/K-antigen specific immune signatures were examined by diluted whole blood assays and multiplex bead arrays in a setting where nationwide BCG vaccination is employed. Results: Statistical analyses demonstrated that three [C-X-C motif chemokine (CXCL10), interleukin (IL)-6, interferon (IFN)-α] of 17 cytokines/chemokines distinguished active cases from healthy controls following stimulation with the Beijing/K-specific antigen. IFN-α also differentiated between active diseases and latent TB infection (p<0.01),and the detection rate of TB was dramatically increased in combination with IL-6 and CXCL10 at the highest levels of specificity (95–100%). Conclusion Our data indicate that immune signatures to the M. tb Beijing/K-specific antigen can provide useful information for improved TB diagnostics. The antigen may be developed as a diagnostic marker or a vaccine candidate, particularly in regions where the M. tb Beijing/K strain is endemic.

Nasal type natural killer/T-cell lymphoma (NNKTL) is a rare and aggressive subtype of non-Hodgkin lymphoma originating from a natural killer cell or γδ T cell infected by the Epstein-Barr virus. It usually invades the aerodigestive tract and can rapidly destroy the paranasal sinus, hard palate, and central nervous system. NNKTL is often mistaken for benign conditions such as chronic hypertrophic rhinosinusitis or mucosal inflammatory change, as endoscopic findings of NNKTL presenting nasal mucosal hypertrophy are similar to endoscopic findings for these abovementioned benign conditions. Here, the authors report the diagnosis and examination of NNKTL in a 58-year-old male patient who visited our clinic for nasal cavity discomfort after he underwent a dacryocystorhinostomy to treat dacryocystitis.

PURPOSE: This study was aimed to investigate the combination effect of endoxifen and emodin on estrogen receptor (ER) positive breast cancer cell lines and to explain the mechanism of the combination effect. METHODS: We conducted this study on MCF-7 (ER+/human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 [HER2]−), T47D (ER+/HER2−), ZR-75-1 (ER+/HER2+), and BT474 (ER+/HER2+) cell lines, which confirmed combination effect of endoxifen and emodin. Optimal concentrations for combination were determined to study the effects on proliferation of MCF-7 and ZR-75-1 cells. Analysis of the combination effect was carried out in the CompuSyn software. The combination of downstream mechanisms, and combined effects of other similar compounds were tested on the MCF-7 and ZR 75-1 cell lines. Protein expression was confirmed by western blot. RESULTS: The combination of endoxifen and emodin had antagonistic effects on MCF-7 and ZR-75-1cell lines (combination index > 1). We validated the antagonistic effect in T47D and BT474 cell lines. During the combined treatment, the results showed elevated amounts of cyclin D1 and phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated kinase (pERK). Analysis of drug interactions showed antagonistic effect between endoxifen and chemical compounds similar to emodin, such as chrysophanol or rhein, in MCF-7 and ZR-75-1 cells. CONCLUSION: Addition of emodin attenuated tamoxifen's treatment effect via cyclin D1 and pERK up-regulation in ER-positive breast cancer cell lines.
Blotting, Western ; Breast Neoplasms ; Breast ; Cell Line ; Cyclin D1 ; Drug Interactions ; Emodin ; Epidermal Growth Factor ; Estrogens ; Phosphotransferases ; Phytoestrogens ; Tamoxifen ; Therapeutic Uses ; Up-Regulation

Primary sinusoidal non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL) is a very rare disease. The main symptoms of sinusoidal NHL are rhinorrhea, nasal obstruction, and post-nasal drip. Symptoms such as eye protrusion, diplopia, trismus, and periorbital pain can also occur. Epiphora is a very rare symptom of sinusoidal NHL, which can lead to a misdiagnosis of dacryocystitis or dacryostenosis. The authors report the case of a 46-year-old female patient who visited hospital for symptoms of epiphora, which did not improve even after 3 months of eye treatment, leading to a final diagnosis of maxillary NHL.