We describe the first reported case of grain-free diet-induced dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) in a dog in Korea. An 11-year-old female dog was referred with abdominal distention, anorexia, and vomiting, having been fed a grain-free diet for > 5 years. Thoracic radiography revealed cardiomegaly and pulmonary edema. Atrial fibrillation was detected using electrocardiography. The dog was tentatively diagnosed with congestive heart failure (CHF) secondary to grain-free diet-induced DCM, and its diet changed to contain grain. Digoxin and diltiazem were prescribed for the atrial fibrillation, and pimobendan, enalapril, and furosemide for CHF. Significant improvements in echocardiographic indices were confirmed after 3 months.

We describe the first reported case of grain-free diet-induced dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) in a dog in Korea. An 11-year-old female dog was referred with abdominal distention, anorexia, and vomiting, having been fed a grain-free diet for > 5 years. Thoracic radiography revealed cardiomegaly and pulmonary edema. Atrial fibrillation was detected using electrocardiography. The dog was tentatively diagnosed with congestive heart failure (CHF) secondary to grain-free diet-induced DCM, and its diet changed to contain grain. Digoxin and diltiazem were prescribed for the atrial fibrillation, and pimobendan, enalapril, and furosemide for CHF. Significant improvements in echocardiographic indices were confirmed after 3 months.

We describe the first reported case of grain-free diet-induced dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) in a dog in Korea. An 11-year-old female dog was referred with abdominal distention, anorexia, and vomiting, having been fed a grain-free diet for > 5 years. Thoracic radiography revealed cardiomegaly and pulmonary edema. Atrial fibrillation was detected using electrocardiography. The dog was tentatively diagnosed with congestive heart failure (CHF) secondary to grain-free diet-induced DCM, and its diet changed to contain grain. Digoxin and diltiazem were prescribed for the atrial fibrillation, and pimobendan, enalapril, and furosemide for CHF. Significant improvements in echocardiographic indices were confirmed after 3 months.

We describe the first reported case of grain-free diet-induced dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) in a dog in Korea. An 11-year-old female dog was referred with abdominal distention, anorexia, and vomiting, having been fed a grain-free diet for > 5 years. Thoracic radiography revealed cardiomegaly and pulmonary edema. Atrial fibrillation was detected using electrocardiography. The dog was tentatively diagnosed with congestive heart failure (CHF) secondary to grain-free diet-induced DCM, and its diet changed to contain grain. Digoxin and diltiazem were prescribed for the atrial fibrillation, and pimobendan, enalapril, and furosemide for CHF. Significant improvements in echocardiographic indices were confirmed after 3 months.

We describe the first reported case of grain-free diet-induced dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) in a dog in Korea. An 11-year-old female dog was referred with abdominal distention, anorexia, and vomiting, having been fed a grain-free diet for > 5 years. Thoracic radiography revealed cardiomegaly and pulmonary edema. Atrial fibrillation was detected using electrocardiography. The dog was tentatively diagnosed with congestive heart failure (CHF) secondary to grain-free diet-induced DCM, and its diet changed to contain grain. Digoxin and diltiazem were prescribed for the atrial fibrillation, and pimobendan, enalapril, and furosemide for CHF. Significant improvements in echocardiographic indices were confirmed after 3 months.

Hyperthyroidism, characterized by elevated thyroid hormone levels and thyroid gland hyperplasia or adenoma, is a prevalent endocrinopathy in older cats. Treatment options include antithyroid drugs, surgical thyroidectomy, and radioiodine therapy (RAIT), which is non-invasive treatment option that can achieve complete remission. However, efficacy and safety of RAIT in hyperthyroid cats have not been investigated in South Korea. This study includes 10 hyperthyroid cats with RAIT. Initial assessments comprised history, physical examination, blood analysis, and serum total T4 (tT4) concentration. Thyroid scintigraphy revealed hyperactivity and enlargement of thyroid gland at 24 hours before the RAIT. Radioiodine (RAI) was injected subcutaneously with 2 to 6 mCi, determined by the fixed dose or the scoring system based on severity of clinical signs, tT4 concentration, and thyroid size individually. After RAIT, the concentration of serum tT4 and liver enzymes were significantly decreased at discharge. However, no significant differences were noted in blood urea nitrogen, creatinine, symmetric dimethylarginine, hematocrits, and white blood cell counts pre- and post-treatment. Although 4 cats received RAI twice, clinical signs disappeared and tT4 levels decreased following the RAIT. All 10 cats achieved complete remission after 6 months without critical adverse effect. The safety and the effectiveness of RAIT was confirmed based on protocols reported other countries. Therefore, RAIT could be considered the treatment option and prevent adverse effects from medication or surgery. This preliminary study presents the first evaluation of RAIT for hyperthyroid cats using locally produced RAI in South Korea and provide valuable insight for clinicians and further studies.

Purpose: Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is the most common hematologic malignancy worldwide. Although substantial improvement has been achieved by the frontline rituximab-based chemoimmunotherapy, up to 40%-50% of patients will eventually have relapsed or refractory disease, whose prognosis is extremely dismal. Materials and Methods: We have carried out two prospective cohort studies that include over 1,500 DLBCL patients treated with rituximab plus CHOP (#NCT01202448 and #NCT02474550). In the current report, we describe the outcomes of refractory DLBCL patients. Patients were defined to have refractory DLBCL if they met one of the followings, not achieving at least partial response after 4 or more cycles of R-CHOP; not achieving at least partial response after 2 or more cycles of salvage therapy; progressive disease within 12 months after autologous stem cell transplantation. Results: Among 1,581 patients, a total of 260 patients met the criteria for the refractory disease after a median time to progression of 9.1 months. The objective response rate of salvage treatment was 26.4%, and the complete response rate was 9.6%. The median overall survival (OS) was 7.5 months (95% confidence interval, 6.4 to 8.6), and the 2-year survival rate was 22.1%±2.8%. The median OS for each refractory category was not significantly different (p=0.529). Conclusion In line with the previous studies, the outcomes of refractory DLBCL patients were extremely poor, which necessitates novel approaches for this population.

Background and Objectives: Identifying patients with high bleeding risk (HBR) is important when making decisions for antiplatelet therapy strategy. This study evaluated the impact of ticagrelor monotherapy after 3-month dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) according to HBR in acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients treated with drug eluting stents (DESs). Methods: In this post-hoc analysis of the TICO trial, HBR was defined by 2 approaches: meeting Academic Research Consortium for HBR (ARC-HBR) criteria or Predicting Bleeding Complications in Patients Undergoing Stent Implantation and Subsequent DAPT (PRECISEDAPT) score ≥25. The primary outcome was a 3–12 months net adverse clinical event (composite of major bleeding and adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events). Results: Of the 2,980 patients without adverse events during the first 3 months after DES implantation, 453 (15.2%) were HBR by ARC-HBR criteria and 504 (16.9%) were HBR by PRECISE-DAPT score. The primary outcome rate was higher in HBR versus non-HBR patients (by ARC-HBR criteria: hazard ratio [HR], 2.87; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.76– 4.69; p<0.001; by PRECISE-DAPT score: HR, 3.09; 95% CI, 1.92–4.98; p<0.001). Ticagrelor monotherapy after 3-month DAPT was associated with lower primary outcome rate than ticagrelor-based 12-month DAPT regardless of HBR by ARC-HBR criteria, with similar magnitudes of therapy effect for HBR and non-HBR patients (p-interaction=0.400). Results were consistent by PRECISE-DAPT score (p-interaction=0.178). Conclusions In ACS patients treated with DESs, ticagrelor monotherapy after 3-month DAPT was associated with lower rate of adverse clinical outcomes regardless of HBR, with similar magnitudes of therapy effect between HBR and non-HBR.Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02494895

BACKGROUND: In Vitro follicular maturation (IVFM) of ovarian follicles is an emerging option for fertility preservation. Many paracrine factors and two-dimensional or three-dimensional (3D) environments have been used for optimization. However, since most studies were conducted using the murine model, the physiological differences between mice and humans limit the interpretation and adaptation of the results. Marmoset monkey is a non-human primate (NHPs) with more similar reproductive physiology to humans. In this study, we attempted to establish a 3D matrix (Matrtigel)-based IVFM condition for marmoset ovarian follicles in combination with anti-apoptotic factor, X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis protein (XIAP). METHODS: Marmoset follicles were isolated as individual follicles and cultured in a single drop with the addition of 0, 10, and 100 lg/mL of XIAP molecules. Matured oocytes and granulosa cells from mature follicles were collected and analyzed. The average number of isolated follicles was less than 100, and primordial and antral follicles were abundant in the ovaries. RESULTS: IVFM of marmoset follicles in 3D matrix conditions with XIAP increased the rates of survival and In Vitro follicle development. Furthermore, oocytes from the 3D cultures were successfully fertilized and developed In Vitro. The addition of XIAP increased the secretion of estradiol and aromatase. Furthermore, expression of granulosa-specific genes, such as bone morphogenetic protein 15, Oct4, and follicle-stimulating hormone receptor were upregulated in the In Vitro-matured follicles than in normal, well-grown, and atretic follicles. Apoptosis-related B-cell lymphoma-2 was highly expressed in the atretic follicles than in the XIAP-treated follicles, and higher caspase-3 was localized in the XIAP-treated follicles. CONCLUSION In this study, we attempted to establish a 3D-matrix-based marmoset IVFM condition and demonstrated the synergistic effects of XIAP. The use of a 3D matrix may be applied as an optimal culture condition for marmoset ovarian follicles.