Background: With the introduction of disease-modifying treatments for Alzheimer’s disease (AD), less invasive and widely accessible screening tests are urgently needed. We assessed eight blood-based biomarkers in a well-defined cohort of preclinical AD, including participants with subjective cognitive decline (SCD) and mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Methods: Amyloid beta (Aβ) oligomerization tendency, Aβ42, Aβ40, Aβ42/Aβ40 ratio, phosphorylated tau (p-tau)181, p-tau217, glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), and neurofilament light (Nf-L) were assessed for distinguishing between SCD and MCI, for correlations, and for predicting Aβ positron emission tomography (PET) positivity. Results: Plasma p-tau181, p-tau217, and GFAP levels were significantly higher in participants with MCI than in those with SCD (P < 0.05) and in Aβ PET-positive versus Aβ PET-negative participants (P < 0.0001), whereas plasma Aβ42 and Aβ42/40 ratio levels were significantly lower in Aβ PET-positive than in Aβ PET-negative participants (P < 0.001). Logistic regression analysis revealed that plasma Aβ42 and p-tau217 levels predicted Aβ PET positivity with an area under the ROC curve (AUC) of 0.930 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.848–0.976) in the entire cohort, and p-tau217 alone predicted Aβ PET-positivity with an AUC of 0.887 (95% CI, 0.779–0.954) in the MCI subgroup. Conclusions Plasma p-tau217 levels outperform plasma p-tau181 levels in predicting Aβ PET-positivity in participants with preclinical AD. Plasma GFAP levels, along with different ptau isoforms (p-tau181 and p-tau217), effectively differentiate MCI from SCD. The predictive accuracy of blood-based biomarkers for Aβ PET-positivity strongly supports their clinical implementation, particularly with the introduction of disease-modifying therapies.

Primary rectal syphilis is a rare disease that can be misdiagnosed as lymphoma or other rectal cancers on sigmoidoscopy or CT. Here, we report a case of primary rectal syphilis mimicking rectal malignancy in a 23-year-old male who presented with a rectal mass and multiple lymphadenopathies. In this case report and literature review, we focused on the CT findings and endoscopic observations of primary rectal syphilis. Infectious diseases, such as rectal syphilis, should be considered in the differential diagnosis of young patients with unusual rectal lesions and disproportionately extensive lymphadenopathies.

Primary rectal syphilis is a rare disease that can be misdiagnosed as lymphoma or other rectal cancers on sigmoidoscopy or CT. Here, we report a case of primary rectal syphilis mimicking rectal malignancy in a 23-year-old male who presented with a rectal mass and multiple lymphadenopathies. In this case report and literature review, we focused on the CT findings and endoscopic observations of primary rectal syphilis. Infectious diseases, such as rectal syphilis, should be considered in the differential diagnosis of young patients with unusual rectal lesions and disproportionately extensive lymphadenopathies.

Primary rectal syphilis is a rare disease that can be misdiagnosed as lymphoma or other rectal cancers on sigmoidoscopy or CT. Here, we report a case of primary rectal syphilis mimicking rectal malignancy in a 23-year-old male who presented with a rectal mass and multiple lymphadenopathies. In this case report and literature review, we focused on the CT findings and endoscopic observations of primary rectal syphilis. Infectious diseases, such as rectal syphilis, should be considered in the differential diagnosis of young patients with unusual rectal lesions and disproportionately extensive lymphadenopathies.

Endosalpingiosis is a benign, non-neoplastic disease in which glandular tissue lined with ciliated tubal epithelium is ectopically present outside the fallopian tubes. Endosalpingiosis is rarely observed in the pelvic organs and its occurrence in the urinary bladder is particularly uncommon. Herein, we present a case of endosalpingiosis in the urinary bladder of a 62-year-old woman, which mimicked a bladder neoplasm, along with the corresponding magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings. The mass was a subepithelial lesion in the posterior portion of the urinary bladder dome. The lesion exhibited multiple cystic components with T2 high-intensity foci and mild heterogeneous enhancement on T1-weighted images. If there is a non-epithelial mass in the urinary bladder, especially on the posterior wall or dome, and the lesion exhibits MRI findings as described above, it is important to consider differential diagnoses, such as a non-neoplastic disease like endosalpingiosis.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify influencing factors on vision-related quality of life in patients with retinal diseases receiving intravitreal injections by examining relationships among anxiety, depression, coping, eye health behaviors and vision-related quality of life. Methods: One hundred and five outpatients who were diagnosed with macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy were recruited from one university hospital during August 16, 2019 to March 25, 2020. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics (frequency and percentage, mean, standard deviation), and t-tests, ANOVA, Scheffé test, Pearson’s correlations, and stepwise multiple regressions using the IBM SPSS Statistics 25.0. Results: The vision-related quality of life according to general characteristics of retinal disease patients with intravitreal injection showed significant differences in age (F=3.01, p=.034), subjective economic status (F=5.83, p=.004), types of retinal disease (t=2.62, p=.010), and disease in both eyes (t=-3.04, p=.003). The vision-related quality of life showed a significant positive correlation with age (r=.24, p=.012), and negative correlations with anxiety (r=-.66, p<.001), depression (r=-.48, p<.001), and emotion-focused coping (r=-.20, p=.036). The hierarchical regression analysis indicated that factors affecting vision-related quality of life in patients with retinal diseases were anxiety and subjective economic status, accounting for 47.0% of the variances of the vision-related quality of life. Conclusion Based on our results, health professionals need to pay attention to patients with low socioeconomic status due to frequent treatments. Also, a program needs to be developed to decrease anxiety for outpatients receiving intravitreal injections to improve their vision-related quality of life.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify influencing factors on vision-related quality of life in patients with retinal diseases receiving intravitreal injections by examining relationships among anxiety, depression, coping, eye health behaviors and vision-related quality of life. Methods: One hundred and five outpatients who were diagnosed with macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy were recruited from one university hospital during August 16, 2019 to March 25, 2020. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics (frequency and percentage, mean, standard deviation), and t-tests, ANOVA, Scheffé test, Pearson’s correlations, and stepwise multiple regressions using the IBM SPSS Statistics 25.0. Results: The vision-related quality of life according to general characteristics of retinal disease patients with intravitreal injection showed significant differences in age (F=3.01, p=.034), subjective economic status (F=5.83, p=.004), types of retinal disease (t=2.62, p=.010), and disease in both eyes (t=-3.04, p=.003). The vision-related quality of life showed a significant positive correlation with age (r=.24, p=.012), and negative correlations with anxiety (r=-.66, p<.001), depression (r=-.48, p<.001), and emotion-focused coping (r=-.20, p=.036). The hierarchical regression analysis indicated that factors affecting vision-related quality of life in patients with retinal diseases were anxiety and subjective economic status, accounting for 47.0% of the variances of the vision-related quality of life. Conclusion Based on our results, health professionals need to pay attention to patients with low socioeconomic status due to frequent treatments. Also, a program needs to be developed to decrease anxiety for outpatients receiving intravitreal injections to improve their vision-related quality of life.

Background: This study aimed to assess the potential efficacy of purified porcine atelocollagen (PAC) for the management of refractory chronic pain due to suspected connective tissue damage. Methods: Patients treated with PAC were retrospectively evaluated. Patients with chronic refractory pain, suspected to have originated from musculoskeletal damage or defects with the evidence of imaging studies were included. Pain intensity, using the 11-point numerical rating scale (NRS), was assessed before the procedure, and 1 month after the last procedure. Results: Eighty-eight patients were finally included for investigation. The mean NRS score was decreased from 5.8 to 4.1 after 1 month of PAC injection (P < 0.001). No independent factor was reported to be directly related to the decrease in NRS score by more than half. Conclusions Application of PAC may have potential as a treatment option for refractory chronic musculoskeletal pain. PAC might promote tissue recovery, act as a scaffold for repair, or directly reduce inflammation.