Background: Data on the status of long-term follow-up (LTFU) care for childhood cancer survivors (CCSs) in Korea is lacking. This study was conducted to evaluate the current status of LTFU care for CCSs and relevant physicians’ perspectives. Methods: A nationwide online survey of pediatric hematologists/oncologists in the Republic of Korea was undertaken. Results: Overall, 47 of the 74 board-certified Korean pediatric hematologists/oncologists currently providing pediatric hematology/oncology care participated in the survey (response rate = 63.5%). Forty-five of the 47 respondents provided LTFU care for CCSs five years after the completion of primary cancer treatment. However, some of the 45 respondents provided LTFU care only for CCS with late complications or CCSs who requested LTFU care. Twenty of the 45 respondents oversaw LTFU care for adult CCSs, although pediatric hematologists/ oncologists experienced more difficulties managing adult CCSs. Many pediatric hematologists/oncologists did not perform the necessary screening test, although CCSs had risk factors for late complications, mostly because of insurance coverage issues and the lack of Korean LTFU guidelines. Regarding a desirable LTFU care system for CCSs in Korea, 27 of the 46 respondents (58.7%) answered that it is desirable to establish a multidisciplinary CCSs care system in which pediatric hematologists/oncologists and adult physicians cooperate. Conclusion The LTFU care system for CCS is underdeveloped in the Republic of Korea. It is urgent to establish an LTFU care system to meet the growing needs of Korean CCSs, which should include Korean CCSs care guidelines, provider education plans, the establishment of multidisciplinary care systems, and a supportive national healthcare policy.

Objective: This study was carried out to establish a basis for understanding and correcting the problems of the emergency physicians (EP) in Korea by examining the current status through the 2020 emergency physician survey conducted by the Korean Society of Emergency Medicine (KSEM). Methods: An online survey was conducted from January 15 to February 26, 2021, through a website and mobile application. The final questionnaire was classified into three types based on the clinical work in the emergency department (ED), current position, and the year of board certification. The contents of the questionnaire were organized into eight themes, and a subcommittee was put in charge of each. Results: Of the 400 emergency medical institutions surveyed, 295 hospitals (74.2%) had board-certified EPs, and 1,453 EPs (72.5%) out of 2,000 were working in the ED. Of these, on average, 7.2 EPs worked together, and they worked 11.6 days/153.1 hours per month and did night shifts 5.9 days per month. 30.7% showed excessive sleepiness during the day, and only 9.6% said that they could adhere to mealtimes. 27.1% responded that they suffered from depression. The level of satisfaction was 3.2 points, and 43.0% responded that they would choose emergency medicine (EM) again as their major. The most important factor in choosing EM was the availability of adequate free time. Their responses indicated that the retirement age was 59.7 years, and the upper age limit for the night shift was 54.3 years. Conclusion Though there have been improvements since the first survey in 2010, there was no notable increase in EP satisfaction. Therefore, appropriate future policies should be formulated and implemented based on these survey results.

In the present study, we investigated the effects of heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) on novel object recognition, cell proliferation, and neuroblast differentiation in the hippocampus. To facilitate penetration into the blood–brain barrier and neuronal plasma membrane, we created a Tat-HSP70 fusion protein. Eight-week-old mice received intraperitoneal injections of vehicle (10% glycerol), control-HSP70, or Tat-HSP70 protein once a day for 21 days. To elucidate the delivery efficiency of HSP70 into the hippocampus, western blot analysis for polyhistidine was conducted. Polyhistidine protein levels were significantly increased in control-HSP70- and Tat-HSP70-treated groups compared to the control or vehicle-treated group. However, polyhistidine protein levels were significantly higher in the Tat-HSP70-treated group compared to that in the control-HSP70-treated group. In addition, immunohistochemical study for HSP70 showed direct evidences for induction of HSP70 immunoreactivity in the control-HSP70- and Tat-HSP70-treated groups. Administration of Tat-HSP70 increased the novel object recognition memory compared to untreated mice or mice treated with the vehicle. In addition, the administration of Tat-HSP70 significantly increased the populations of proliferating cells and differentiated neuroblasts in the dentate gyrus compared to those in the control or vehicle-treated group based on the Ki67 and doublecortin (DCX) immunostaining. Furthermore, the phosphorylation of cAMP response element-binding protein (pCREB) was significantly enhanced in the dentate gyrus of the Tat-HSP70-treated group compared to that in the control or vehicle-treated group. Western blot study also demonstrated the increases of DCX and pCREB protein levels in the Tat-HSP70-treated group compared to that in the control or vehicle-treated group. In contrast, administration of control-HSP70 moderately increased the novel object recognition memory, cell proliferation, and neuroblast differentiation in the dentate gyrus compared to that in the control or vehicle-treated group. These results suggest that Tat-HSP70 promoted hippocampal functions by increasing the pCREB in the hippocampus.
Animals ; Blotting, Western ; Cell Membrane ; Cell Proliferation ; Cyclic AMP Response Element-Binding Protein ; Dentate Gyrus ; Heat-Shock Proteins ; Hippocampus ; Hot Temperature ; HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins ; Injections, Intraperitoneal ; Memory ; Mice ; Neurons ; Phosphorylation

In this study, we observed chronological changes in the immunoreactivity and expression level of myelin basic protein (MBP), one of the most abundant proteins in the central nervous system, in the hippocampus of Zucker diabetic fatty (ZDF) rats and their control littermates (Zucker lean control; ZLC). In the ZLC group, body weight steadily increased with age; the body weight of the ZDF group, however, peaked at 30 weeks of age, and subsequently decreased. Based on the changes of body weight, animals were divided into the following six groups: early (12-week), middle (30-week), and chronic (52-week) diabetic groups and their controls. MBP immunoreactivity was found in the alveus, strata pyramidale, and lacunosum-moleculare of the CA1 region, strata pyramidale and radiatum of the CA3 region, and subgranular zone, polymorphic layer, and molecular layer of the dentate gyrus. MBP immunoreactivity was lowest in the hippocampus of 12-week-old rats in the ZLC group, and highest in 12-week-old rats in the ZDF group. Diabetes increased MBP levels in the 12-week-old group, while MBP immunoreactivity decreased in the 30-week-old group. In the 52-week-old ZLC and ZDF groups, MBP immunoreactivity was detected in the hippocampus, similar to the 30-week-old ZDF group. Western blot results corroborated with immunohistochemical results. These results suggested that changes in the immunoreactivity and expression of MBP in the hippocampus might be a compensatory response to aging, while the sustained levels of MBP in diabetic animals could be attributed to a loss of compensatory responses in oligodendrocytes.
Aging ; Animals* ; Blotting, Western ; Body Weight ; Central Nervous System ; Dentate Gyrus ; Hippocampus* ; Models, Animal* ; Myelin Basic Protein* ; Myelin Sheath* ; Oligodendroglia ; Rats

Despite advancements in therapy for advanced gastric and gastroesophageal junction cancers, their prognosis remains dismal. Tumor angiogenesis plays a key role in cancer growth and metastasis, and recent studies indicate that pharmacologic blockade of angiogenesis is a promising approach to therapy. In this systematic review, we summarize current literature on the clinical benefit of anti-angiogenic agents in advanced gastric cancer. We conducted a systematic search of PubMed and conference proceedings including the American Society of Clinical Oncology, the European Society for Medical Oncology, and the European Cancer Congress. Included studies aimed to prospectively evaluate the efficacy and safety of anti-angiogenic agents in advanced gastric or gastroesophageal junction cancer. Each trial investigated at least one of the following endpoints: overall survival, progression-free survival/time to progression, and/or objective response rate. Our search yielded 139 publications. Forty-two met the predefined inclusion criteria. Included studies reported outcomes with apatinib, axitinib, bevacizumab, orantinib, pazopanib, ramucirumab, regorafenib, sorafenib, sunitinib, telatinib, and vandetanib. Second-line therapy with ramucirumab and third-line therapy with apatinib are the only anti-angiogenic agents so far shown to significantly improve survival of patients with advanced gastric cancer. Overall, agents that specifically target the vascular endothelial growth factor ligand or receptor have better safety profile compared to multi-target tyrosine kinase inhibitors.
Angiogenesis Inhibitors ; Bevacizumab ; Disease-Free Survival ; Esophagogastric Junction* ; Humans ; Medical Oncology ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Prognosis ; Prospective Studies ; Protein-Tyrosine Kinases ; Stomach Neoplasms ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors

In this study, we investigated the effects of chronic aluminum (Al) exposure for 10 weeks on cell proliferation and neuroblast differentiation in the hippocampus of type 2 diabetic rats. Six-week-old Zucker diabetic fatty (ZDF) and Zucker lean control (ZLC) rats were selected and randomly divided into Al- and non-Al-groups. Al was administered via drinking water for 10 weeks, after which the animals were sacrificed at 16 weeks of age. ZDF rats in both Al- and non-Al-groups showed increases in body weight and blood glucose levels compared to ZLC rats. Al exposure did not significantly affect body weight, blood glucose levels or pancreatic β-cells and morphology of the pancreas in either ZLC or ZDF rats. However, exposure to Al reduced cell proliferation and neuroblast differentiation in both ZLC and ZDF rats. Exposure to Al resulted in poor development of the dendritic processes of neuroblasts in both ZLC and ZDF rats. Furthermore, onset and continuation of diabetes reduced cell proliferation and neuroblast differentiation, and Al exposure amplified reduction of these parameters. These results suggest that Al exposure via drinking water aggravates the impairment in hippocampal neurogenesis that is typically observed in type 2 diabetic animals.
Aluminum/*toxicity ; Animals ; Blood Glucose/analysis ; Cell Differentiation/drug effects ; Cell Proliferation/drug effects ; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental/pathology ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2/*pathology ; Disease Models, Animal ; Hippocampus/*drug effects ; Neurogenesis/*drug effects ; Random Allocation ; Rats, Zucker

Aluminum (Al) accumulation increases with aging, and long-term exposure to Al is regarded as a risk factor for Alzheimer's disease. In this study, we investigated the effects of Al and/or D-galactose on neural stem cells, proliferating cells, differentiating neuroblasts, and mature neurons in the hippocampal dentate gyrus. AlCl3 (40 mg/kg/day) was intraperitoneally administered to C57BL/6J mice for 4 weeks. In addition, vehicle (physiological saline) or D-galactose (100 mg/kg) was subcutaneously injected to these mice immediately after AlCl3 treatment. Neural stem cells, proliferating cells, differentiating neuroblasts, and mature neurons were detected using the relevant marker for each cell type, including nestin, Ki67, doublecortin, and NeuN, respectively, via immunohistochemistry. Subchronic (4 weeks) exposure to Al in mice reduced neural stem cells, proliferating cells, and differentiating neuroblasts without causing any changes to mature neurons. This Al-induced reduction effect was exacerbated in D-galactose-treated mice compared to vehicle-treated adult mice. Moreover, exposure to Al enhanced lipid peroxidation in the hippocampus and expression of antioxidants such as Cu, Zn- and Mn-superoxide dismutase in D-galactose-treated mice. These results suggest that Al accelerates the reduction of neural stem cells, proliferating cells, and differentiating neuroblasts in D-galactose-treated mice via oxidative stress, without inducing loss in mature neurons.
Adult ; Aging ; Aluminum* ; Alzheimer Disease ; Animals ; Antioxidants ; Dentate Gyrus* ; Galactose ; Hippocampus ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Lipid Peroxidation ; Mice* ; Nestin ; Neural Stem Cells* ; Neurons ; Oxidative Stress* ; Risk Factors ; Superoxide Dismutase

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: To investigate the effectiveness of fine needle aspiration (FNA) conducted by the otolaryngologists, we compared the ultrasound (US)-guided FNA results conducted by a radiologist (RD-US), the US-guided FNA results (ENT-US), and the palpation guided FNA results (ENT-palpation) conducted by an otolaryngologist. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: 1646 patients who underwent FNA were classified according to the site and periods of investigation (2007-2015), and their sampling adequacy was retrospectively reviewed. They were also divided into three groups (ENT-US, ENT-palpation, and RD-US); each group was then investigated for sampling adequacy. Results of further surgical excisional biopsy were compared with the those of the FNA results to investigate the diagnostic accuracy of all three groups. RESULTS: The sampling adequacy identified by the groups showed the result of ENT-US at 87.9%, ENT-palpation at 87.1% and RD-US at 91.3%. The periodical inadequacy rate failed to show any significant differences between the groups. The sensitivity of ENT-palpation was lower than other two groups. Diagnostic accuracy identified by the groups showed the result of ENT-US at 95.2%, ENT-palpation at 93.6%, and RD-US at 97.4%. CONCLUSION: FNA performed by otolaryngologists demonstrates the effectiveness of diagnosis and treatment, and that doing so would improve economic efficiency. Therefore, it is recommended that well-trained otolaryngologists conduct FNA actively.
Biopsy ; Biopsy, Fine-Needle* ; Diagnosis ; Humans ; Methods ; Palpation ; Retrospective Studies ; Ultrasonography

Inducible cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) has received much attention because of its role in neuro-inflammation and synaptic plasticity. Even though COX-2 levels are high in healthy animals, the function of this factor in adult neurogenesis has not been clearly demonstrated. Therefore, we performed the present study to compare the effects of pharmacological and genetic inhibition of COX-2 on adult hippocampal neurogenesis. Physiological saline or the same volume containing celecoxib was administered perorally every day for 5 weeks using a feeding needle. Compared to the control, pharmacological and genetic inhibition of COX-2 reduced the appearance of nestin-immunoreactive neural stem cells, Ki67-positive nuclei, and doublecortin-immunoreactive neuroblasts in the dentate gyrus. In addition, a decrease in phosphorylated cAMP response element binding protein (pCREB) at Ser133 was observed. Compared to pharmacological inhibition, genetic inhibition of COX-2 resulted in significant reduction of neural stem cells, cell proliferation, and neuroblast differentiation as well as pCREB levels. These results suggest that COX-2 is part of the molecular machinery that regulates neural stem cells, cell proliferation, and neuroblast differentiation during adult hippocampal neurogenesis via pCREB. Additionally, genetic inhibition of COX-2 strongly reduced neural stem cell populations, cell proliferation, and neuroblast differentiation in the dentate gyrus compared to pharmacological inhibition.
Animals ; Celecoxib/*pharmacology ; Cell Differentiation/drug effects/physiology ; Cell Proliferation/drug effects/physiology ; Cyclooxygenase 2/*genetics/metabolism ; Cyclooxygenase 2 Inhibitors/*pharmacology ; Dentate Gyrus/drug effects/*physiology ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Knockout ; Neural Stem Cells/drug effects/physiology ; Neurogenesis/drug effects