PURPOSE: This study evaluated the usefulness of International Classification of Functioning, disability and health core set for children and youths with cerebral palsy (ICF-core set for CP) by comparing the Gross Motor Function Measure-88 (GMFM-88), which is the most widely used outcome measure in children with cerebral palsy (ICF-core set for CP). METHODS: One subject (Female, 14) was evaluated by GMFM-88 and ICF-core set for CP. In addition, the concept of GMFM-88 was compared with the concept of the ICF-core set for CP in compliance with ICF linking rules. The numerical values both of the GMFM-88 categories and the ICF-core set for CP's items were compared. RESULTS: The ICF b760 was linked to the GMFM-88 59~61. d415 was linked to 57~58 of GMFM-88. d450 was linked to GMFM-88's 65~72. d455 was linked to GMFM-88 at 77and 80~83. CONCLUSION: The association of the ICF-core set for CP and GMFM-88 was confirmed. In addition, the number of categories of ICF-core set for CP was smaller than the number of items of GMFM-88. In conclusion, the ICF-core set for CP is an evaluation tool that can identify the various features of children. In addition, GMFM-88 was linked to the ICF core set for CP according to the ICF linking rules.
Adolescent ; Cerebral Palsy ; Child ; Compliance ; Humans ; International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health ; Outcome Assessment (Health Care)

Spinal cord injury is a destructive disease characterized by motor/sensory dysfunction and severe inflammation. Alendronate is an anti-inflammatory molecule and may therefore be of benefit in the treatment of the inflammation associated with spinal cord injury. This study aimed to evaluate whether alendronate attenuates motor/sensory dysfunction and the inflammatory response in a thoracic spinal cord clip injury model. Alendronate was intraperitoneally administered at 1 mg/kg/day or 5 mg/kg/day from day (D) 0 to 28 post-injury (PI). The histopathological evaluation showed an alleviation of the inflammatory response, including the infiltration of inflammatory cells, and a decrease in gliosis. Alendronate also led to reductions in the levels of inflammation-related molecules, including mitogen-activated protein kinase, p53, pro-inflammatory cytokines, and pro-inflammatory mediators. Neuro-behavioral assessments, including the Basso, Beattie, and Bresnahan scale for locomotor function, the von Frey filament test, the hot plate test, and the cold stimulation test for sensory function, and the horizontal ladder test for sensorimotor function improved significantly in the alendronate-treated group at D28PI. Taken together, these results suggest that alendronate treatment can inhibit the inflammatory response in spinal cord injury thus improving functional responses.

Cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA) is one of the most common causes of lobar intracerebral hemorrhages. It characteristically occurs in persons aged ≥ 55 years. However, there are several reported cases of CAA occurring in those younger than 55 years. Herein, we report a case of a 46-year-old male patient who presented with cerebral infarction. The patient complained of repetitive right-side weakness. The patient was diagnosed with presumed CAA considering his clinical symptoms, brain MRI findings, and 18 F-flutemetamol brain positron-emission tomography findings.

The explosive development of genomics technologies including microarrays and next generation sequencing (NGS) has provided comprehensive maps of cancer genomes, including the expression of mRNAs and microRNAs, DNA copy numbers, sequence variations, and epigenetic changes. These genome-wide profiles of the genetic aberrations could reveal the candidates for diagnostic and/or prognostic biomarkers as well as mechanistic insights into tumor development and progression. Recent efforts to establish the huge cancer genome compendium and integrative omics analyses, so-called "integromics", have extended our understanding on the cancer genome, showing its daunting complexity and heterogeneity. However, the challenges of the structured integration, sharing, and interpretation of the big omics data still remain to be resolved. Here, we review several issues raised in cancer omics data analysis, including NGS, focusing particularly on the study design and analysis strategies. This might be helpful to understand the current trends and strategies of the rapidly evolving cancer genomics research.
Coat Protein Complex I ; DNA ; Epigenomics ; Genome ; Genomics ; MicroRNAs ; Population Characteristics ; Research Design ; RNA, Messenger ; Statistics as Topic ; Biomarkers

The explosive development of genomics technologies including microarrays and next generation sequencing (NGS) has provided comprehensive maps of cancer genomes, including the expression of mRNAs and microRNAs, DNA copy numbers, sequence variations, and epigenetic changes. These genome-wide profiles of the genetic aberrations could reveal the candidates for diagnostic and/or prognostic biomarkers as well as mechanistic insights into tumor development and progression. Recent efforts to establish the huge cancer genome compendium and integrative omics analyses, so-called "integromics", have extended our understanding on the cancer genome, showing its daunting complexity and heterogeneity. However, the challenges of the structured integration, sharing, and interpretation of the big omics data still remain to be resolved. Here, we review several issues raised in cancer omics data analysis, including NGS, focusing particularly on the study design and analysis strategies. This might be helpful to understand the current trends and strategies of the rapidly evolving cancer genomics research.
Coat Protein Complex I ; DNA ; Epigenomics ; Genome ; Genomics ; MicroRNAs ; Population Characteristics ; Research Design ; RNA, Messenger ; Statistics as Topic ; Biomarkers

PURPOSE: To examine community integration and contributing factors in people with aphasia (PWA) following stroke and to investigate the relationship between community integration and quality of life (QOL). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty PWA and 42 age-and education-matched control subjects were involved. Main variables were as follows: socioeconomic status, mobility, and activity of daily living (ADL) (Modified Barthel Index), language function [Frenchay Aphasia Screening Test (FAST)], depression [Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS)], Community Integration Questionnaire (CIQ) and Stroke and Aphasia Quality of Life Scale-39 (SAQOL-39). Differences between aphasia and control groups and factors affecting community integration and QOL were analyzed. RESULTS: Home and social integration and productive activity were significantly decreased in the aphasia group compared to the control group; 8.5 and 18.3 points in total CIQ score, respectively. Amount of time spent outside the home and frequency of social contact were also significantly reduced in the aphasia group. Total mean score on the SAQOL-39 was 2.75+/-0.80 points and was significantly correlated with economic status, gait performance, ADL, depressive mood, and social domain score on the CIQ. Depression score measured by GDS was the single most important factor for the prediction of QOL, but the FAST score was significantly correlated only with the communication domain of the SAQOL-39. CONCLUSION: Community activities of PWA were very limited, and depression was highly associated with decreased community integration and QOL. Enhancing social participation and reducing emotional distress should be emphasized for rehabilitation of PWA.
Activities of Daily Living ; Adult ; Aged ; Aphasia/etiology/*psychology/rehabilitation ; Case-Control Studies ; Community Integration/*psychology ; Depression/psychology ; Female ; Humans ; *Interpersonal Relations ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Psychiatric Status Rating Scales ; *Quality of Life ; Residence Characteristics ; Sickness Impact Profile ; Social Behavior ; Socioeconomic Factors ; Stroke/complications/psychology/*rehabilitation ; Surveys and Questionnaires

Animals ; Blotting, Western ; Cell Adhesion ; Cerebrum ; Colon ; Connective Tissue ; Homeostasis ; Ileum ; Immunohistochemistry ; Kidney ; Liver ; Lung ; Mice ; Neurons ; Pancreas ; Rats ; Schwann Cells ; Sciatic Nerve ; Skin ; Spleen ; Stomach ; Testis

PURPOSE: The aims of this pilot study were to introduce implant loading devices designed for animal study and to evaluate the validity of the load transmission ability of the loading devices. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Implant loading devices were specially designed and fabricated with two implant abutments and cast metal bars, and orthodontic expansion screw. In six Beagles, all premolars were extracted and two implants were placed in each side of the mandibles. The loading device was inserted two weeks after the implant placement. According to the loading protocol, the load was applied to the implants with different time and method,simulating early, progressive, and delayed loading. The implants were clinically evaluated and the loading devices were removed and replaced to the master cast, followed by stress-strain analysis. Descriptive statistics of remained strain (microepsilon) was evaluated after repeating three cycles of the loading device activation. Statistic analysis was performed using nonparametric, independent t-test with 5% significance level and Friedman's test was also used for verification. RESULTS: The loading devices were in good action. However, four implants in three Beagles showed loss of osseointegration. In stress-strain analysis, loading devices showed similar amount of increase in the remained strain after applying 1-unit load for three times. CONCLUSION: Specialized design of the implant loading device was introduced. The loading device applied similar amount of loads near the implant after each 1-unit loading. However, the direction of the loads was not parallel to the long axis of the implants as predicted before the study.
Animal Experimentation ; Animals ; Axis, Cervical Vertebra ; Bicuspid ; Dental Implants ; Dental Stress Analysis ; Immediate Dental Implant Loading ; Mandible ; Osseointegration ; Pilot Projects ; Sprains and Strains

Rituximab, a chimeric monoclonal antibody directed against CD20, has become a part of the standard therapy for patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma either in combination with other drugs or as a single agent. The CD20 antigen is expressed on 95% of B-cell lymphoma cells and normal B-cells but, is not found on precursor B-cells or stem cells. Rituximab is now approved for patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma when combined with standard CHOP chemotherapy (cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine and prednisone) or patients with follicular lymphoma who have failed first line chemotherapy. The monoclonal antibody is generally well tolerated. Most of the adverse events are infusion-associated, mild to moderate non-hematological toxicities. Severe respiratory adverse events have been infrequent. Here, we report two patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in whom interstitial pneumonitis developed with rituximab therapy.
Prednisolone/therapeutic use ; Methylprednisolone/therapeutic use ; Male ; Lung Diseases, Interstitial/*chemically induced/diagnosis/drug therapy ; Humans ; Antineoplastic Agents/*adverse effects ; Antibodies, Monoclonal/*adverse effects ; Aged

The purpose of this study is to comprehensively compare and evaluate the characteristics of image quality for digital mammography systems which use a direct and indirect conversion detector. Three key metrics of image quality were evaluated for the direct and indirect conversion detector, the modulation transfer function (MTF), normalized noise power spectrum (NNPS), and detective quantum efficiency (DQE), which describe the resolution, noise, and signal to noise performance, respectively. DQE was calculated by using a edge phantom for MTF determination according to IEC 62220-1-2 regulation. The contrast to noise ratio (CNR) was evaluated according to guidelines offered by the Korean Institute for Accreditation of Medical Image (KIAMI). As a result, the higher MTF and DQE was measured with direct conversion detector compared to indirect conversion detector all over spatial frequency. When the average glandular dose (AGD) was the same, direct conversion detector showed higher CNR value. The direct conversion detector which has higher DQE value all over spatial frequency would provide the potential benefits for both improved image quality and lower patient dose in digital mammography system.
Accreditation ; Humans ; Mammography ; Noise