Background/Aims: The prognostic significance of 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG)-positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET/CT) in peripheral T-cell lymphomas (PTCLs) are controversial. We explored the prognostic impact of sequential 18F-FDG PET/CT during frontline chemotherapy of patients with PTCLs. Methods: In total, 143 patients with newly diagnosed PTCLs were included. Sequential 18F-FDG PET/CTs were performed at the time of diagnosis, during chemotherapy, and at the end of chemotherapy. The baseline total metabolic tumor volume (TMTV) was calculated using the the standard uptake value with a threshold method of 2.5. Results: A baseline TMTV of 457.0 cm3 was used to categorize patients into high and low TMTV groups. Patients with a requirehigh TMTV had shorter progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) than those with a low TMTV (PFS, 9.8 vs. 26.5 mo, p = 0.043; OS, 18.9 vs. 71.2 mo, p = 0.004). The interim 18F-FDG PET/CT response score was recorded as 1, 2–3, and 4–5 according to the Deauville criteria. The PFS and OS showed significant differences according to the interim 18F-FDG PET/CT response score (PFS, 120.7 vs. 34.1 vs. 5.1 mo, p < 0.001; OS, not reached vs. 61.1 mo vs. 12.1 mo, p < 0.001). Conclusions The interim PET/CT response based on visual assessment predicts disease progression and survival outcome in PTCLs. A high baseline TMTV is associated with a poor response to anthracycline-based chemotherapy in PTCLs. However, TMTV was not an independent predictor for PFS in the multivariate analysis.

Background/Aims: Low-level viremia (LLV) after nucleos(t)ide analog treatment was presented as a possible cause of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB). However, detailed information on patients’ adherence in the real world was lacking. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of LLV on HCC development, mortality, and cirrhotic complications among patients according to their adherence to entecavir (ETV) treatment. Methods: We performed a retrospective observational analysis of data from 894 consecutive adult patients with treatment-naïve CHB undergoing ETV treatment. LLV was defined according to either persistent or intermittent episodes of <2,000 IU/mL detectable hepatitis B virus DNA during the follow-up period. Good adherence to medication was defined as a cumulative adherence ≥90% per study period. Results: Without considering adherence in the entire cohort (n=894), multivariate analysis of the HCC incidence showed that LLV was an independent prognostic factor in addition to other traditional risk factors in the entire cohort (P=0.031). Good adherence group comprised 617 patients (69.0%). No significant difference was found between maintained virologic response and LLV groups in terms of the incidence of liver-related death or transplantation, HCC, and hepatic decompensation in good adherence group, according to multivariate analyses. Conclusions In patients with treatment-naïve CHB and good adherence to ETV treatment in the real world, LLV during treatment is not a predictive factor for HCC and cirrhotic complications. It may be unnecessary to adjust their antiviral agent for patients with good adherence who experience LLV during ETV treatment.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) is treated with appropriate canalith repositioning procedures, which are very effective for the treatment of BPPV. Nevertheless, the recurrence of BPPV may occur after the initial successful treatment. The purpose of this study was to investigate the risk factors and clinical features of recurrent BPPV. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: The retrospective study was performed for 227 patients who were diagnosed with BPPV and treated with appropriate canalith repositioning procedures from March 2013 to December 2014. We analyzed various clinical characteristics, locations and types of canalith for the whole BPPV patients, and the interval and frequency of recurrence in the patients of recurrent BPPV. RESULTS: Of the total of 227 BPPV patients, 47 patients were recurrent BPPV (21%). The patients of recurrent BPPV were significantly older than those of non-recurrent BPPV (p=0.034). BPPV patients recurred more with increased age, with the significantly increased frequency of recurrence (p=0.010). Twenty two patients were posterior semicircular canal canalolithiasis (PSCC) (46.8%) and 25 patients were lateral semicircular canal canalolithiasis (LSCC) (53.2%). The number of canalith repositioning procedures was significantly higher in LSCC patients than in PSCC patients (p=0.041). The location change of affected canal were identified for 23 patients and the type change of LSCC to ipsilateral PSCC was the most common. CONCLUSION: Age is an important prognostic factor to be considered in BPPV recurrence. Also, the affected semicircular canals were frequently changed in the recurrent BPPV.
Age Factors ; Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo ; Humans ; Methods ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Semicircular Canals

BACKGROUND: Static parameters such as central venous pressure and pulmonary artery occlusion pressure, have limitation in evaluation of patients' volume status. Dynamic parameters such as stroke volume variation (SVV), have been used to evaluate intraoperative hemodynamic volume status, in various operations. We examined if SVV is also effective for patients undergoing operation with prone position for fluid management. METHODS: Eighteen patients that received spinal surgery under prone position November 2015 to May 2016, were enrolled. Patients were kept at an SVV value less than 14% during surgery. Changes of pre-, post-operative volume status were evaluated, using transthoracic echocardiography. RESULTS: Mean fluid administered was 1,731.97 ± 792.38 ml. Left ventricular end-diastolic volume was 72.85 ± 13.50 ml before surgery, and 70.84 ± 15.00 ml after surgery (P value = 0.594). Right ventricular end-diastolic area was 15.56 ± 1.71 cm² before surgery, and 13.52 ± 2.65 cm² after surgery (P value = 0.110). Inferior vena cava diameter was 14.99 ± 1.74 mm before surgery, and 13.57 ± 2.83 mm after surgery (P value = 0.080). CONCLUSIONS: We can confirm that fluid management based on SVV is effective, even in prone position surgery. So, SVV, that can be measured by continuous arterial pressure, can be considered a guideline for effective fluid management in spinal surgery.
Arterial Pressure ; Central Venous Pressure ; Echocardiography ; Fluid Therapy ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Prone Position ; Pulmonary Artery ; Stroke Volume ; Stroke ; Vena Cava, Inferior

BACKGROUND: Maintenance of tracheal intubation is associated with use of sedatives, stress due to mechanical ventilation, or respiratory complications. The aim of this study is to compare the incidence of delirium between early and late extubation groups after liver transplantation (LT). METHODS: Medical records from 247 patients who received LT from January 2010 to July 2017 in a single university hospital were retrospectively reviewed. Patients were divided with 2 groups: Those who underwent early extubation after LT (E group, n = 52) and those who underwent extubation within few hours of intensive care unit (ICU) admission after surgery (C group, n = 195). The patients’ demographic data, perioperative managements and postoperative complications were collected. Early extubation was defined as performing extubation in the operating room after LT. A propensity score matching analysis was performed to reduce the effects of selection bias. RESULTS: Among them, 4/52 (7.69%) in E group and 30/195 (15.38%) in C group occurred postoperative delirium after LT, respectively (P = 0.180). After propensity score matching, there was no difference of the period of hospitalization in ICU (P = 0.961), time to discharge after surgery (P = 0.117) and incidence of delirium between groups (P = 1.000). CONCLUSIONS: Although this study is a retrospective study and limited by the small number of subjects, early extubation does not affect the incidence of delirium after LT. Therefore, further prospective studies on this were needed.
Airway Extubation ; Delirium ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Hypnotics and Sedatives ; Incidence ; Intensive Care Units ; Intubation ; Liver Transplantation ; Liver ; Medical Records ; Operating Rooms ; Postoperative Complications ; Propensity Score ; Prospective Studies ; Respiration, Artificial ; Retrospective Studies ; Selection Bias

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) is treated with appropriate canalith repositioning procedures, which are very effective for the treatment of BPPV. Nevertheless, the recurrence of BPPV may occur after the initial successful treatment. The purpose of this study was to investigate the risk factors and clinical features of recurrent BPPV.SUBJECTS AND METHOD: The retrospective study was performed for 227 patients who were diagnosed with BPPV and treated with appropriate canalith repositioning procedures from March 2013 to December 2014. We analyzed various clinical characteristics, locations and types of canalith for the whole BPPV patients, and the interval and frequency of recurrence in the patients of recurrent BPPV. RESULTS: Of the total of 227 BPPV patients, 47 patients were recurrent BPPV (21%). The patients of recurrent BPPV were significantly older than those of non-recurrent BPPV (p=0.034). BPPV patients recurred more with increased age, with the significantly increased frequency of recurrence (p=0.010). Twenty two patients were posterior semicircular canal canalolithiasis (PSCC) (46.8%) and 25 patients were lateral semicircular canal canalolithiasis (LSCC) (53.2%). The number of canalith repositioning procedures was significantly higher in LSCC patients than in PSCC patients (p=0.041). The location change of affected canal were identified for 23 patients and the type change of LSCC to ipsilateral PSCC was the most common. CONCLUSION Age is an important prognostic factor to be considered in BPPV recurrence. Also, the affected semicircular canals were frequently changed in the recurrent BPPV.

PURPOSE: The dried body of Scolopendra subspinipes mutilans has long been used as a traditional Korean medicinal food, but little is known about its mechanisms of action. In this study, we investigated the anti-inflammatory activities of Scolopendra subspinipes mutilans and possible mechanisms in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. METHODS: Cytotoxicity of Scolopendra subspinipes mutilans extract (SSME) was measured by MTT assay, anti-inflammatory activities were analyzed by nitric oxide (NO) production, the expression of inducible NO synthase (iNOS) and the mRNA level of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and interleukin-6 (IL-6). Nuclear translocation of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) p65 subunit and degradation of inhibitory kappa B (IκB) were examined by western blot. RESULTS: SSME inhibited LPS-induced NO production and iNOS expression without cytotoxicity. Up-regulation of LPS-induced pro-inflammatory cytokines, IL-1β and IL-6 was dose dependently attenuated by SSME. Exposure of pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate, an NF-κB specific inhibitor, accelerated the inhibitory effects of SSME on NO production and iNOS expression in LPS-stimulated cells. Moreover, translocation of NF-κB from the cytosol to the nucleus and degradation of IκB were decreased by treatment with SSME in LPS-induced cells. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that the SSME might have the inhibitory effects on inflammation, partly through inhibition of the NF-κB signaling pathway.
Blotting, Western ; Cytokines ; Cytosol ; Inflammation ; Interleukin-6 ; Nitric Oxide ; Nitric Oxide Synthase ; RAW 264.7 Cells* ; RNA, Messenger ; Up-Regulation

Porcine parvovirus 7 (PPV7) was first detected in Korean pig farms in 2017. The detection rate of PPV7 DNA was 24.0% (30/125) in aborted pig fetuses and 74.9% (262/350) in finishing pigs, suggesting that PPV7 has circulated among Korean domestic pig farms. Phylogenetic analysis based on capsid protein amino acid sequences demonstrated that the nine isolated Korean strains (PPV-KA1-3 and PPV-KF1-6) were closely related to the previously reported USA and Chinese PPV7 strains. In addition, the Korean strains exhibit genetic diversity with both insertion and deletion mutations. This study contributes to the understanding of the molecular epidemiology of PPV7 in Korea.
Aborted Fetus ; Agriculture ; Amino Acid Sequence ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Capsid Proteins ; DNA ; Fetus ; Genetic Variation ; Humans ; Korea ; Molecular Epidemiology ; Parvovirus, Porcine ; Sequence Deletion ; Sus scrofa ; Swine

The molecular mechanism underlying the initiation of somatic cell reprogramming into induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) has not been well described. Thus, we generated single-cell-derived clones by using a combination of drug-inducible vectors encoding transcription factors (Oct4, Sox2, Klf4 and Myc) and a single-cell expansion strategy. This system achieved a high reprogramming efficiency after metabolic and epigenetic remodeling. Functional analyses of the cloned cells revealed that extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) signaling was downregulated at an early stage of reprogramming and that its inhibition was a driving force for iPSC formation. Among the reprogramming factors, Myc predominantly induced ERK suppression. ERK inhibition upregulated the conversion of somatic cells into iPSCs through concomitant suppression of serum response factor (SRF). Conversely, SRF activation suppressed the reprogramming induced by ERK inhibition and negatively regulated embryonic pluripotency by inducing differentiation via upregulation of immediate early genes, such as c-Jun, c-Fos and EGR1. These data reveal that suppression of the ERK-SRF axis is an initial molecular event that facilitates iPSC formation and may be a useful surrogate marker for cellular reprogramming.

PURPOSE: Neuroinflammation is mediated by activation of microglia implicated in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease. Inhibition of neuroinflammation may be an effective solution to treat these brain disorders. Petalonia binghamiae is known as a traditional food, based on multiple biological activities such as anti-oxidant and anti-obesity. In present study, the anti-neuroinflammatory potential of Petalonia binghamiae was investigated in LPS-stimulated BV2 microglial cells. METHODS: Cell viability was measured by MTT assay. Production of nitric oxide (NO) was examined using Griess reagent. Expression of inducible NO synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) was detected by Western blot analysis. Activation of nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) signaling was examined by nuclear translocation of NF-κB p65 subunit and phosphorylation of IκB. RESULTS: Extract of Petalonia binghamiae significantly inhibited LPS-stimulated NO production and iNOS/COX-2 protein expression in a dose-dependent manner without cytotoxicity. Pretreatment with Petalonia binghamiae suppressed LPS-induced NF-κB p65 nuclear translocation and phosphorylation of IκB. Co-treatment with Petalonia binghamiae and pyrrolidine duthiocarbamate (PDTC), an NF-κB inhibitor, reduced LPS-stimulated NO release compared to that in PB-treated or PDTC-treated cells. CONCLUSION: The present results indicate that extract of Petalonia binghamiae exerts anti-neuroinflammation activities, partly through inhibition of NF-κB signaling. These findings suggest that Petalonia binghamiae might have therapeutic potential in relation to neuroinflammation and neurodegenerative diseases.
Alzheimer Disease ; Blotting, Western ; Brain Diseases ; Cell Survival ; Cyclooxygenase 2 ; Microglia ; Neurodegenerative Diseases ; Nitric Oxide ; Nitric Oxide Synthase ; Parkinson Disease ; Phosphorylation