Purpose: Current clinical practices favor less or no thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) suppression for low- to intermediate-risk thyroid cancer patients who receive thyroid lobectomy. The association of TSH suppression on healthrelated quality of life (HR-QoL) in patients after thyroid lobectomy is not well studied. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of TSH suppression on patient HR-QoL after thyroid lobectomy. Methods: This study included patients enrolled in an ongoing, multicenter, randomized controlled study investigating the effects of TSH suppression. Patients were randomized to either the low-TSH group (TSH target range, 0.3–1.99 μIU/ mL) or the high-TSH group (TSH target range, 2.0–7.99 μIU/mL). The HR-QoL, hyperthyroidism symptom, and depression symptom questionnaires performed preoperatively and 2 weeks and 3 months postoperatively were evaluated. Results: Total of 669 patients (low-TSH group, 340; high-TSH group, 329) were included. Although total HR-QoL score changes were not different between the 2 groups, the high-TSH group had a significantly higher score in the physical domain at postoperative 3 months (P = 0.046). The 2 groups did not have significant differences in hyperthyroidism and depression scores. Conclusion In the short-term postoperative period, the physical HR-QoL scores in thyroid lobectomy patients were better when they did not receive TSH suppression. This study suggests the importance of considering HR-QoL when setting TSH suppression targets in thyroid lobectomy patients.

Objectives: This study aimed to assess the antibacterial, bactericidal, and mouth freshener effects of lysozyme hydrochloride 0.01%, sodium fluoride 0.02%, and cetylpyridinium chloride 0.05%. Methods: Eight oral disease-related bacteria were cultivated anaerobically. Four samples were prepared with or without 0.5% cetylpyridinium chloride, 0.2% sodium fluoride, and 0.1% lysozyme hydrochloride. Antimicrobial activity was tested in 96-well microplates. After assessing the bacterial count, the bacterial suspension was mixed with samples and spread on agar. The bactericidal rate was calculated by counting and comparing treated and untreated colonies. Results: Lysozyme hydrochloride 0.01%, sodium fluoride 0.02%, and cetylpyridinium chloride 0.05% mouth fresheners sterilized 99.99% of 8 oral bacteria, including Streprococcus mutans. Lysozyme hydrochloride 0.01%, sodium fluoride 0.02%, and cetylpyridinium chloride 0.05% mouth fresheners showed 99.97% bactericidal activity against Lactobacillus acidophilus. Conclusions Lysozyme hydrochloride 0.01%, sodium fluoride 0.02%, and cetylpyridinium chloride 0.05% mouth fresheners confirmed the sterilization and antibacterial effects on oral disease-causing bacteria.

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the effects of a toothpaste containing sodium pyrophosphate and a high concentration (1,450 ppm) of fluoride on dental plaque, gingivitis index, and calculus index in a clinical trial. Methods: This study used an eight-week, randomized, double-blinded, controlled, comparative, parallel design. The participants, who voluntarily signed a consent form, were screened through visit evaluation if they met the selection/exclusion criteria. After a one-week run-in period, the selected participants were randomly assigned to either an experimental or control group in the order of their enrollment. Subsequently, the participants were asked to brush their teeth with the study toothpaste using the rolling method for 3 min, thrice daily, for 8 weeks. Oral examinations were performed at baseline and after 3 weeks, 4 weeks, and 8 weeks. Evaluation of papillary marginal attachment index (PMA index), Talbott’s gingival index, patient hygiene performance index (PHP index), Turesky plaque index, and calculus index were performed during the oral examination. Results: After 8 weeks, the PMA indices were 7.12 for the control group and 5.00 for experimental groups. In addition, the PHP index was 2.06 for the control group and 1.66 for the experimental group. Significant differences were observed between the control and experimental groups in all indice (P<0.05). Conclusions This study shows that using a toothpaste containing sodium fluoride, sodium pyrophosphate, tocopherol acetate, and dental-type silica improves dental plaque removal, reduces gingivitis, and inhibits calculus formation.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to evaluate and report the antibacterial efficacy in relation to oral disease-causing bacteria using a mouthwash containing 0.05% CPC in an in vitro test. Methods: The sterilization test and susceptibility assay of mouthwash containing 0.05% CPC were investigated against Streptococcus mutans, Streptococcus sobrinus, and Lactobacillus acidophilus;Streptococcus sanguinis as oral bacteria related to dental caries; Enterococcus faecalis as apical periodontitis-related bacteria; and Actinomyces israelii, Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans, Fusobacterium nucleatum, Prevotella intermedia, Prevotella nigrescence, Porphyromonas gingivalis, Tannerella forsythia, Treponema denticola, and Filifactor alocis as periodontal disease-related bacteria. Results: In the sterilization test, most of the bacteria had more than 99.99% sterilizing power for all samples but compared to other bacteria, the sterilizing power of these samples was not successful for L. acidophilus and E. faecalis bacteria. When comparing the sterilization power between the samples, sample 3 (0.05% CPC+20% ethanol) was the strongest. Conclusions In the antimicrobial activity test, sample 3 inhibited growth at the lowest concentration overall.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to evaluate and report the antibacterial efficacy in relation to oral disease-causing bacteria using a mouthwash containing 0.05% CPC in an in vitro test. Methods: The sterilization test and susceptibility assay of mouthwash containing 0.05% CPC were investigated against Streptococcus mutans, Streptococcus sobrinus, and Lactobacillus acidophilus;Streptococcus sanguinis as oral bacteria related to dental caries; Enterococcus faecalis as apical periodontitis-related bacteria; and Actinomyces israelii, Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans, Fusobacterium nucleatum, Prevotella intermedia, Prevotella nigrescence, Porphyromonas gingivalis, Tannerella forsythia, Treponema denticola, and Filifactor alocis as periodontal disease-related bacteria. Results: In the sterilization test, most of the bacteria had more than 99.99% sterilizing power for all samples but compared to other bacteria, the sterilizing power of these samples was not successful for L. acidophilus and E. faecalis bacteria. When comparing the sterilization power between the samples, sample 3 (0.05% CPC+20% ethanol) was the strongest. Conclusions In the antimicrobial activity test, sample 3 inhibited growth at the lowest concentration overall.

PURPOSE: While there is an urgent need for diagnosis and therapeutic intervention in patients with primary immunodeficiency diseases (PIDs), current genetic tests have drawbacks. We retrospectively reviewed the usefulness of flow cytometry (FCM) as a quick tool for immunophenotyping and functional assays in patients suspected to have PIDs at a single tertiary care institute.METHODS: Between January 2001 and June 2018, patients suspected of having PIDs were subjected to FCM tests, including lymphocyte subset analysis, detection of surface- or intracellular-target proteins, and functional analysis of immune cells, at Samsung Medical Center, Seoul, Korea. The genetic diagnosis was performed using Sanger or diagnostic exome sequencing.RESULTS: Of 60 patients diagnosed with definite or probable PID according to the European Society of Immune Deficiencies criteria, 24 patients were provided with useful information about immunological dysfunction after initial FCM testing. In 10 patients, the PID diagnosis was based on abnormal findings in FCM testing without genetic tests. The FCM findings provided strong evidence for the diagnosis of severe combined immunodeficiency (n = 6), X-linked chronic granulomatous diseases (CGD) (n = 6), leukocyte adhesion deficiency type 1 (n = 3), X-linked agammaglobulinemia (n = 11), autoimmune lymphoproliferative syndrome-FASLG (n = 1), and familial hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis type 2 (n = 1), and probable evidence for autosomal recessive-CGD (n = 2), autosomal dominant-hyper-immunoglobulin E (IgE)-syndrome (n = 1), and STAT1 gain-of-function mutation (n = 1). In PIDs derived from PIK3CD (n = 2), LRBA (n = 2), and CTLA4 mutations (n = 3), the FCM test provided useful evidence of immune abnormalities and a tool for treatment monitoring.CONCLUSIONS: The initial application of FCM, particularly with known protein targets on immune cells, would facilitate the timely diagnosis of PIDs and thus would support clinical decisions and improve the clinical outcome.
Agammaglobulinemia ; Diagnosis ; Exome ; Flow Cytometry ; Genetic Testing ; Granulomatous Disease, Chronic ; Humans ; Immunophenotyping ; Korea ; Leukocytes ; Lymphocyte Subsets ; Lymphohistiocytosis, Hemophagocytic ; Phenotype ; Retrospective Studies ; Seoul ; Severe Combined Immunodeficiency ; Tertiary Healthcare

Objectives: In this study, we aimed to investigate the preventive and protective effects of new dentifrice containing dental type silica, tocopheryl acetate, fluorides, and sodium pyrophosphate on the mineral density of teeth and demineralization of tooth surfaces. Methods: A total of 119 bovine teeth pre-treated with the new dentifrice at three different concentrations for the experiment were randomly allocated into two control (DW and PW) and one experimental (EC) groups. The enamel surface of all bovine teeth were demineralized using an artificial demineralization solution. The dentifrice was diluted with distilled water (DW) at 1:1, 1:2, and 1:3 ratios. The samples were treated with the demineralization solution for 4 h after treatment with the supernatants of each diluted dentifrice for 30 min, and this procedure was repeated 3 times over a period of 24 h. The samples were examined using micro-CT to determine the amount of reduced bone mineral density (BMD) comparing the control and experimental dentifrices. The surface changes of the samples were also examined using the scanning electron microscope (SEM). Results: The average BMD of the bovine enamel surface between the treated and non-treated area with the dimineralization solution was significantly different in the control, DW, PW 1:1, PW 1:2, and PW 1:3 groups. However, there was no significant difference observed in the experimental groups, including EC 1:1, EC 1:2, and EC 1:3. The average BMD of the dimineralized surfaces based on the results of the 7 groups was significantly higher in every EC group when compared to the DW and three PW groups. Conclusions The new dentifrice containing dental type silica, tocopheryl acetate, fluorides, and sodium pyrophosphate is effective in inhibiting the decrease in BMD and demineralization of enamel surface, which was observed when the new dentifrice and demineralization solution was repeatedly applied to the samples for 24 h.

Hemostatic clips are widely used to treat gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding and closure of defects in the GI tract. Few data on retrieving hemostatic clips retained in the GI tract are available. Patients who had hemostatic clips retained in the stomach for more than 2 weeks after placement were enrolled. Clips were removed with grasping forceps during endoscopy. In 15 patients, a total of 45 clips were placed, and 31 clips (68.9%) were retained. The median periods of clip retention was 105 days (range, 39~1,383 days). Twenty-seven clips (87.1%) were successfully retrieved with grasping forceps, and four clips (12.9%) were not removed because they were fixed on the stomach wall. Adverse events occurred in two patients (13.3%): both involved immediate bleeding at the retrieval site; however, the bleeding was completely treated by replacing the clips. In conclusion, retrieving clips retained long-term was relatively safe and feasible. Complications were easily controlled by re-placement of clips.
Endoscopy ; Gastrointestinal Tract ; Hand Strength ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Stomach* ; Surgical Instruments

The incidence of type 2 diabetes is rising rapidly because of an increase in the incidence of being overweight and obesity. Identification of genetic determinants for complex diseases, such as type 2 diabetes, may provide insight into disease pathogenesis. The aim of the study was to investigate the shared genetic factors that predispose individuals to being overweight and developing type 2 diabetes. We conducted genome-wide linkage analyses for type 2 diabetes in 386 affected individuals (269 sibpairs) from 171 Korean families and association analyses with single-nucleotide polymorphisms of candidate genes within linkage regions to identify genetic variants that predispose individuals to being overweight and developing type 2 diabetes. Through fine-mapping analysis of chromosome 4q34-35, we detected a locus potentially linked (nonparametric linkage 2.81, logarithm of odds 2.27, P=6 x 10-4) to type 2 diabetes in overweight or obese individuals (body mass index, BMI> or =23 kg m-2). Multiple regression analysis with type 2 diabetes-related phenotypes revealed a significant association (false discovery rate (FDR) P=0.006 for rs13144140; FDR P=0.002 for rs6830266) between GPM6A (rs13144140) and BMI and waist-hip ratio, and between NEIL3 (rs6830266) and insulin level from 1314 normal individuals. Our systematic search of genome-wide linkage and association studies, demonstrate that a linkage peak for type 2 diabetes on chromosome 4q34-35 contains two type 2 diabetes-related genes, GPM6A and NEIL3.
Body Mass Index ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 4/*genetics ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2/*complications/*genetics ; Female ; Genetic Linkage ; *Genetic Loci ; *Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Genome-Wide Association Study ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Overweight/*complications/*genetics ; Phenotype ; Physical Chromosome Mapping ; Statistics, Nonparametric

Within the corpus luteum, macrophages exert luteotropic and luteolytic actions through secretion of TNF-alpha. However, the mechanisms of luteotropic actions on the development and maintenance of pregnant and nonpregnant corpora lutea are thoroughly unknown.In this experiment, TUNEL, macrophage, and TNF-alpha immunohistochemistry on the corpora lutea of pregnant and nonpregnant rats (Sprague-Dawley strain) were carried out to reveal the role of macrophages in the developing corpora lutea. The results were as follows; 1) In the nonpregnant corpora lutea, the number of macrophages was increased significantly, and the degree of ED1-immunoreactivity of macrophages was increased moderately. But lutein cells showed low-degree TNF-alpha-immunoreactivity. 2) In the pregnant corpora lutea, the number of macrophages was decreased significantly, and the degree of ED1- immunoreactivity of macrophages was low. But lutein cells showed moderate-degree TNF-alpha-immunoreactivity. Based on the above results, it was considered that macrophages in the nonpregnant corpora lutea exert phagocytic action mainly, and the macrophages in the pregnant corpora lutea exert TNF-alpha-secreting action to maintain the structure and function of lutein cells.
Animals ; Corpus Luteum* ; Female ; Immunohistochemistry ; In Situ Nick-End Labeling ; Luteal Cells ; Macrophages* ; Rats* ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha