Purpose: This retrospective study aimed to assess the long-term cumulative survival rate of titanium, sandblasted, large-grit, acid-etched implants over a 10-year follow-up period and investigate the factors affecting the survival rate and change in marginal bone loss (MBL). Methods: The study included 400 patients who underwent dental implant placement at the Department of Periodontology of Seoul National University Dental Hospital (SNUDH) between 2005 and 2015. Panoramic radiographic images and dental records of patients were collected and examined using Kaplan-Meier analysis, Cox proportional hazards regression analysis, and multiple regression analysis to determine the survival rates and identify any factors related to implant failure and MBL. Results: A total of 782 implants were placed with a follow-up period ranging from 0 to 16 years (mean: 8.21±3.75 years). Overall, 25 implants were lost, resulting in a cumulative survival rate of 96.8%. Comparisons of the research variables regarding cumulative survival rate mostly yielded insignificant results. The mean mesial and distal MBLs were 1.85±2.31 mm and 1.59±2.03 mm, respectively. Factors influencing these values included age, diabetes mellitus (DM), jaw location, implant diameter, bone augmentation surgery, and prosthetic unit. Conclusions This study found that the implant survival rates at SNUDH fell within the acceptable published criteria. The patients’ sex, age, DM status, implant location, implant design, implant size, surgical type, bone augmentation, and prosthetic unit had no discernible influence on long-term implant survival. Sandblasted, large-grit, acid-etched implants might offer advantages in terms of implant longevity and consistent clinical outcomes.

Background and Objectives: To identify the factors associated with adverse outcomes following surgery for functional insufficiency of the mitral valve (MV) or tricuspid valve (TV) associated with atrial fibrillation (AF). Methods: We evaluated 100 patients (age, 66.5±10.0 years; 47 males) who consecutively underwent surgery for functional insufficiency of the MV or TV associated with AF between January 2000 and December 2020 at our center. The primary outcome was a composite endpoint of all-cause death, valve reoperation, congestive heart failure (CHF) requiring rehospitalization, and stroke. Results: During follow-up (532 patients-years [PYs]), adverse events included death in 16 (3.0%/yr), MV reoperation in 1 (0.2%/yr), CHF in 14 (2.6%/yr), and stroke in 5 (0.9%/yr) patients, demonstrating a 5-year rate of freedom from the primary endpoint of 69.5%. The rate of postoperative AF was high even in those who underwent AF ablation (n=92), with cumulative rates of 48.1% at 1 year and 60.2% at 5 years. In multivariable analyses, the primary outcome was significantly associated with age (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR], 1.06; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.02–1.10; p=0.005), chronic kidney disease (aHR, 7.76; 95% CI, 2.28–26.38;p=0.001), left atrial appendage exclusion (aHR, 0.35; 95% CI, 0.16–1.78; p=0.010), and postoperative AF as a time-varying covariate (aHR, 3.33; 95% CI, 1.50–7.40; p=0.003). Conclusion Among patients undergoing surgery for functional atrioventricular insufficiency associated with AF, a significant proportion showed recurrence of AF over time after concomitant AF ablation, which was significantly associated with poor clinical outcomes.

Kidney matrix stones are a rare form of calculi, which are challenging to diagnose. Matrix stones consist of a proteinaceous material which has a radiolucent appearance that might be overlooked on imaging. Recently, endourological intervention has been the standard treatment method for matrix stones. We report a case of urinary matrix stones in a patient with type 1 diabetes mellitus and chronic kidney disease, in whom the stones formed into a pure matrix and were not visualized in the computed tomography scan. The stones were found after additional work-up, and they were managed using a transureteral stone basket, not through endourological intervention.

Benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P) is a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon and ubiquitous environmental toxin with known harmful effects to human health. Abnormal phenotypes of keratinocytes are closely associated with their exposure to B[a]P. Resorcinol is a component of argan oil with reported anticancer activities, but its mechanism of action and potential effect on B[a]P damage to the skin is unknown. In this study, we investigated the effects of resorcinol on B[a]P-induced abnormal keratinocyte biology and its mechanisms of action in human epidermal keratinocyte cell line HaCaT. Resorcinol suppressed aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) activity as evidenced by the inhibition of B[a]P-induced xenobiotic response element (XRE)-reporter activation and cytochrome P450 1A1 (CYP1A1) expression. In addition, resorcinol attenuated B[a]P-induced nuclear translocation of AhR, and production of ROS and pro-inflammatory cytokines. We also found that resorcinol increased nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2 (Nrf2) activity. Antioxidant response element (ARE)-reporter activity and expression of ARE-dependent genes NAD(P)H dehydrogenase [quinone] 1 (NQO1), heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) were increased by resorcinol. Consistently, resorcinol treatment induced nuclear localization of Nrf2 as seen by Western analysis. Knockdown of Nrf2 attenuated the resorcinol effects on ARE signaling, but knockdown of AhR did not affect resorcinol activation of Nrf2. This suggests that activation of antioxidant activity by resorcinol is not mediated by AhR. These results indicate that resorcinol is protective against effects of B[a]P exposure. The mechanism of action of resorcinol is inhibition of AhR and activation of Nrf2-mediated antioxidant signaling. Our findings suggest that resorcinol may have potential as a protective agent against B[a]P-containing pollutants.

Background: and Purpose Lesions on diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) occasionally appear on follow-up magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) among initially DWI-negative but clinically suspicious stroke patients. We established the prevalence of positive conversion in DWI-negative stroke and determined the clinical factors associated with it. Methods: This retrospective, observational, single-center study included 5,271 patients hospitalized due to stroke/transient ischemic attack (TIA) in a single university hospital during 2010 to 2017. Patients without initial DWI lesions underwent follow-up DWI imaging as a routine practice. Adjusted hazard ratios (aHRs) for recurrent stroke risk according to positive conversion were determined using Cox proportional hazard regression. Adjusted odds ratios (aORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for positive conversion among initially DWI-negative patients were estimated. Results: In total, 694 (13.2%) patients (mean±standard deviation age, 62.9±13.7 years; male, 404 [58.2%]) were initially DWI-negative. Among them, 22.5% had positive-conversion on follow-up DWI. Positive conversion was associated with a higher risk of recurrent stroke (aHR, 3.12; 95% CI, 1.56 to 6.26). Early neurologic deterioration (aOR, 15.1; 95% CI, 5.71 to 47.66), atrial fibrillation (aOR, 6.17; 95% CI, 3.23 to 12.01), smoking (aOR, 3.76; 95% CI, 2.19 to 6.63), pre-stroke dependency (aOR, 1.62; 95% CI, 1.15 to 2.27), objective hemiparesis (aOR, 4.39; 95% CI, 1.90 to 10.32), longer symptom duration (aOR, 2.17; 95% CI, 1.57 to 3.08), high cholesterol (aOR, 4.70; 95% CI, 1.78 to 12.77), National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score (aOR, 1.44; 95% CI, 1.08 to 1.91), and high systolic blood pressure (aOR, 1.01; 95% CI, 1.00 to 1.02) were associated with a higher incidence of lesions with delayed appearance. Regarding the location of lesions on follow-up DWI, 34.6% and 21.2% were in the cortex and brainstem, respectively. Conclusions In DWI-negative stroke/TIA, positive conversion is associated with a higher risk of recurrent stroke. DWI-negative stroke with factors related to positive conversion may require follow-up MRI for a definitive diagnosis.

No abstract available.
Azathioprine ; Encephalomyelitis ; Myoclonus ; Steroids

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Recent studies have suggested an important role of adipokines in the development of insulin resistance and diabetes mellitus. The clinical relevance of adipokines on long-term outcomes in patients with diabetes and chronic kidney disease is uncertain. The purpose of this study was to identify a predictable factor in patients with long-term diabetic complications. METHODS: A total of 161 diabetic individuals were followed-up from 2002 to 2013. Circulating plasma levels of adiponectin, glypican-4, irisin, visfatin, and visit-to-visit glucose variability were measured in diabetic patients. Associations among adipokines and variable metabolic parameters and microvascular, and macrovascular complications were evaluated. RESULTS: Plasma adiponectin and glypican-4 levels were significantly increased in patients with renal insufficiency. These adipokines were negatively associated with estimated glomerular filtration rate and positively associated with urinary albumin excretion. The relative risk of renal progression to dialysis increased independently with increasing level of adiponectin. Glypican-4 and visfatin were not predictive of any microvascular or macrovascular complications. Glucose variability increased the risk of diabetic nephropathy and cerebrovascular complications. CONCLUSIONS: Adiponectin and glypican-4 were associated with renal function and might be able to predict renal progression. Glucose variability was a predictable factor for diabetic nephropathy and cerebrovascular complications.
Adipokines* ; Adiponectin ; Diabetes Complications* ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Diabetic Nephropathies ; Dialysis ; Glomerular Filtration Rate ; Glucose* ; Glypicans ; Humans ; Insulin Resistance ; Nicotinamide Phosphoribosyltransferase ; Plasma ; Renal Insufficiency ; Renal Insufficiency, Chronic

Limb-girdle muscular dystrophies (LGMD) are heterogeneous disorders with autosomal inheritance. Autosomal dominant LGMD mapped to 7q36.3 has been classified as LGMD type 1D (LGMD1D) in the Human Gene Nomenclature Committee Database. LGMD1D is characterized predominantly by limb-girdle weakness and may also show a bulbar symptom in some cases. In the past, the frequency of this disease was uncommon, and this disorder was mainly found in Europe and the United States. However, recently, this disorder has been reported in Asia, including Japan, Korea, and Taiwan. Here, we report on three LGMD1D patients, including one with a novel mutation in DNAJB6, c.298T>A. While two patients complained of limb-girdle weakness, as would be expected, one patient had distal weakness. They had various serum creatine kinase levels. Radiologic findings in one patient showed fatty degeneration and atrophy in the posterior part of distal muscles. Pathologic findings in one of the patients showed rimmed vacuoles. Although LGMD1D is still uncommon in Korea, we discovered three Korean patients with LGMD1D, including one novel mutation in DNAJB6, p.Phe100Ile (c.298T>A).
Asia ; Atrophy ; Creatine Kinase ; Europe ; Humans ; Japan ; Korea ; Muscles ; Muscular Diseases ; Muscular Dystrophies, Limb-Girdle* ; Taiwan ; United States ; Vacuoles ; Wills

No abstract available.
Population Characteristics*

No abstract available.
Humans ; Subacute Combined Degeneration ; Vitamin B 12