Tolvaptan reduces height-adjusted total kidney volume (htTKV) and renal function decline in autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD). This study was aimed at investigating the efficacy and safety of tolvaptan in Korean patients with ADPKD during the titration period. Methods: This study is a multicenter, single-arm, open-label phase 4 study. We enrolled 108 patients with ADPKD (age, 19–50 years) with an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) of >30 mL/min/1.73 m2 and factors defined as indicative of rapid disease progression. After tolvaptan titration, we evaluated efficacy and side effects and assessed factors associated with the effects. Results: After titration for 4 weeks, eGFR and htTKV decreased by 6.4 ± 7.9 mL/min/1.73 m2 and 16 ± 45 mL/m, respectively. No serious adverse drug reactions were observed during the titration period. The greatest eGFR decline was observed in the first week, with a starting tolvaptan dose of 45 mg. Multivariate linear regression for htTKV decline showed that the greater the change in urine osmolality (Uosm), the greater the decrease in htTKV (β, 0.436; p = 0.009) in the 1D group stratified by the Mayo Clinic image classification. Higher baseline eGFR was related to a higher htTKV reduction rate in the 1E group (β, –0.642; p = 0.009). Conclusion: We observed short-term effects and safety during the tolvaptan titration period. The decline of htTKV can be predicted as a short-term effect of tolvaptan by observing Uosm changes from baseline to end of titration in 1D and baseline eGFR in 1E groups.

Background/Aims: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is associated with acute respiratory syndrome. The mechanisms underlying the different degrees of pneumonia severity in patients with COVID-19 remain elusive. This study provides evidence that COVID-19 is associated with eosinophil-mediated inflammation. Methods: We performed a retrospective case series of three patients with laboratory and radiologically confirmed COVID-19 pneumonia admitted to Chosun University Hospital. Demographic and clinical data on inflammatory cell lung infiltration and cytokine levels in patients with COVID-19 were collected. Results: Cytological analysis of sputum, tracheal aspirates, and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) samples from all three patients revealed massive infiltration of polymorphonuclear cells (PMNs), such as eosinophils and neutrophils. All sputum and BALF specimens contained high levels of eosinophil cationic proteins. The infiltration of PMNs into the lungs, together with elevated levels of natural killer T (NKT) cells in BALF and peripheral blood samples from patients with severe pneumonia in the acute phase was confirmed by flow cytometry. Conclusions These results suggest that the lungs of COVID-19 patients can exhibit eosinophil-mediated inflammation, together with an elevated NKT cell response, which is associated with COVID-19 pneumonia.

Background: As the number of large-scale studies involving multiple organizations producing data has steadily increased, an integrated system for a common interoperable format is needed. In response to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, a number of global efforts are underway to develop vaccines and therapeutics. We are therefore observing an explosion in the proliferation of COVID-19 data, and interoperability is highly requested in multiple institutions participating simultaneously in COVID-19 pandemic research. Results: In this study, a laboratory information management system (LIMS) approach has been adopted to systemically manage various COVID-19 non-clinical trial data, including mortality, clinical signs, body weight, body temperature, organ weights, viral titer (viral replication and viral RNA), and multiorgan histopathology, from multiple institutions based on a web interface. The main aim of the implemented system is to integrate, standardize, and organize data collected from laboratories in multiple institutes for COVID-19 non-clinical efficacy testings. Six animal biosafety level 3 institutions proved the feasibility of our system. Substantial benefits were shown by maximizing collaborative high-quality non-clinical research. Conclusions This LIMS platform can be used for future outbreaks, leading to accelerated medical product development through the systematic management of extensive data from non-clinical animal studies.

Background: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is closely associated with the aging process. However, changes in metabolic conditions and cardiac function that occur in middle aged population remain unclear. We evaluated longitudinal changes in metabolic parameters and cardiac function during a 3-year period in subjects with suspected MetS. Methods: We studied 191 participants with suspected MetS at baseline and after 3 years. Anthropometric parameters, including waist circumference (WC), and metabolic parameters, including fasting blood glucose and lipid profile were measured. Conventional echocardiography with two-dimensional speckle tracking was performed. Results: Mean age was 56.2±4.4 years, and there were 97 women (50.8%). Men had increased WC and triglycerides (TG) (WC 91.2±6.8 cm vs. 84.0±8.0 cm, P<0.001; TG 184.4±116.3 mg/dL vs. 128.2±53.6 mg/dL, P<0.001), and reduced global longitudinal strain (GLS) (–15.4%±2.1% vs. –17.1%±2.0%, P<0.001) compared to women. After 3.4 years, values of WC and TG did not change in men but increased in women (all P<0.05). The absolute value of left ventricular (LV) GLS did not change in men but was reduced in women (P=0.011). Change in TG was independently associated with worsening of LV GLS only in women (standardized β, –0.309; 95% confidence interval, –0.130 to –0.009; P=0.025). Conclusion In middle aged population, a vulnerable period for metabolic disturbance, cardiac remodeling tended to progress, which was prominent in women. Progression of adiposity and dyslipidemia after menopause may accelerate subclinical cardiac remodeling in middle-aged women. Lifestyle modification and medical interventions may help prevent further cardiac dysfunction in these subjects.

Background: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is closely associated with the aging process. However, changes in metabolic conditions and cardiac function that occur in middle aged population remain unclear. We evaluated longitudinal changes in metabolic parameters and cardiac function during a 3-year period in subjects with suspected MetS. Methods: We studied 191 participants with suspected MetS at baseline and after 3 years. Anthropometric parameters, including waist circumference (WC), and metabolic parameters, including fasting blood glucose and lipid profile were measured. Conventional echocardiography with two-dimensional speckle tracking was performed. Results: Mean age was 56.2±4.4 years, and there were 97 women (50.8%). Men had increased WC and triglycerides (TG) (WC 91.2±6.8 cm vs. 84.0±8.0 cm, P<0.001; TG 184.4±116.3 mg/dL vs. 128.2±53.6 mg/dL, P<0.001), and reduced global longitudinal strain (GLS) (–15.4%±2.1% vs. –17.1%±2.0%, P<0.001) compared to women. After 3.4 years, values of WC and TG did not change in men but increased in women (all P<0.05). The absolute value of left ventricular (LV) GLS did not change in men but was reduced in women (P=0.011). Change in TG was independently associated with worsening of LV GLS only in women (standardized β, –0.309; 95% confidence interval, –0.130 to –0.009; P=0.025). Conclusion In middle aged population, a vulnerable period for metabolic disturbance, cardiac remodeling tended to progress, which was prominent in women. Progression of adiposity and dyslipidemia after menopause may accelerate subclinical cardiac remodeling in middle-aged women. Lifestyle modification and medical interventions may help prevent further cardiac dysfunction in these subjects.

Background: A laparoscopic approach is widely used in abdominal surgery. Although several studies have compared surgical and oncological outcomes between laparoscopic surgery (LS) and open surgery (OS) in rectal cancer patients, there have been few studies on postoperative renal outcomes. Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study involving 1,633 patients who underwent rectal cancer surgery between 2003 and 2017. Postoperative acute kidney injury (AKI) was diagnosed according to the serum creatinine criteria of the Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes classification. Results: Among the 1,633 patients, 1,072 (65.6%) underwent LS. After matching propensity scores, 395 patients were included in each group. The incidence of postoperative AKI in the LS group was significantly lower than in the OS group (9.9% vs. 15.9%; p = 0.01). Operation time, estimated blood loss, and incidence of transfusion in the LS group were significantly lower than those in the OS group. Cox proportional hazard models revealed that LS was associated with decreased risk of postoperative AKI (hazard ratio [HR], 0.599; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.402–0.893; p = 0.01) and postoperative transfusion was associated with increased risk of AKI (HR, 2.495; 95% CI, 1.529–4.072; p < 0.001). In the subgroup analysis, the incidence of postoperative AKI in patients with middle or high rectal cancer who underwent LS was much lower than in those who underwent OS (HR, 0.373; 95% CI, 0.197–0.705; p = 0.002). Conclusion This study showed that LS may have a favorable effect on the development of postoperative AKI in patients with rectal cancer.

PURPOSE: Differences in the utility of routine angiographic follow-up (RAF) and clinical follow-up (CF) after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in acute myocardial infarction (AMI) are not well understood. The present study aimed to compare the 3-year clinical outcomes of RAF and CF in AMI patients who underwent PCI with drug-eluting stents (DES). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 774 consecutive AMI patients who underwent PCI with DES were enrolled. RAF was performed at 6 to 9 months after index PCI (n=425). The remaining patients were medically managed and clinically followed (n=349); symptom-driven events were captured. To adjust for any potential confounders, a propensity score matched analysis was performed using a logistic regression model, and two propensity-matched groups (248 pairs, n=496, C-statistic=0.739) were generated. Cumulative clinical outcomes up to 3 years were compared between RAF and CF groups. RESULTS: During the 3-year follow-up period, the cumulative incidences of revascularization [target lesion revascularization: hazard ratio (HR), 2.40; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.18–4.85; p=0.015, target vessel revascularization (TVR): HR, 3.33; 95% CI, 1.69–6.58; p=0.001, non-TVR: HR, 5.64; 95% CI, 1.90–16.6; p=0.002] and major adverse cardiac events (MACE; HR, 3.32; 95% CI, 1.92–5.73; p<0.001) were significantly higher in the RAF group than the CF group. However, the 3-year incidences of death and myocardial infarction were not different between the two groups. CONCLUSION: RAF following index PCI with DES in AMI patients was associated with increased incidences of revascularization and MACE. Therefore, CF seems warranted for asymptomatic patients after PCI for AMI.
Coronary Angiography ; Drug-Eluting Stents ; Follow-Up Studies* ; Humans ; Incidence ; Logistic Models ; Myocardial Infarction* ; Percutaneous Coronary Intervention* ; Propensity Score

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to investigate the change of nutritional status and the incidence of dumping syndrome after gastrectomy for gastric cancer. METHODS: From January 2013 to May 2014, 36 patients who underwent gastrectomy for gastric cancer were prospectively investigated in terms of nutritional status by body weight, anthropometric measurements, biochemical data, and Patient-Generated Subjective Global Assessment (PG-SGA). Dumping syndrome was assessed using a newly developed questionnaire based on the Japanese Society of Gastroenterological Surgery survey and Sigstad's scoring system. RESULTS: Body weight losses were 4.6%, 8.1%, and 6.9% at discharge, six months, and one year after discharge, respectively. Triceps skinfold thickness had no significance, however, mid-arm muscle circumference showed significant loss after gastrectomy. A part of the biochemical data showed significant change after gastrectomy, but almost indicated a restoring tendency within two months after discharge. In terms of PG-SGA, 33 patients (91.7%) were classified as A (well-nourished) before surgery, however, the number of well-nourished patients showed a sharp decrease to 1 (2.8%) at two weeks after discharge, and then gradually increased to 25 (69.4%) at one year. The main obstacles against diet intake were reported as 'early satiety' and 'anxiety'. The number of patients who had experience in at least one dumping syndrome related symptom was 21 (58.3%) at discharge, 26 (72.2%) at two months after discharge, and 11 (30.6%) at one year after discharge. CONCLUSION: Nutritional deficit as well as dumping syndrome is encountered in a large number of gastric cancer patients after gastrectomy. Postoperative nutritional support and personalized education seem to be very important during the postoperative period.
Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Body Weight ; Diet ; Dumping Syndrome* ; Education ; Gastrectomy* ; Humans ; Incidence* ; Nutritional Status* ; Nutritional Support ; Observational Study* ; Postoperative Period ; Prospective Studies* ; Skinfold Thickness ; Stomach Neoplasms ; Surveys and Questionnaires

Gastrointestinal tracts are the most frequently involved sites of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma. Stomach is the most common site of involvement among the gastrointestinal tract. Simultaneous occurrence of primary gastric and colonic MALT lymphoma is rarely reported. We report a case of synchronous double primary MALT lymphoma of the colon and stomach in a healthy subject. A 62-year-old male underwent an esophagogastroduodenoscopy and colonoscopy for medical checkup. An endoscopic examination of the stomach showed an erythematous mucosa in the great curvature of the lower body. The endoscopic finding of the colon was a flat elevated lesion in the sigmoid colon. Microscopic examinations revealed MALT lymphoma and gastric Helicobacter pylori infection. We performed imaging studies to evaluate distant metastasis and confirmed that there is no other metastasis. The patient was treated with H. pylori eradication therapy and CHOP (cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, prednisone) chemotherapy. He had not experienced any recurrence since the treatments, and reached a complete remission state after six months.
Colon ; Colon, Sigmoid ; Colonoscopy ; Doxorubicin ; Endoscopy, Digestive System ; Gastrointestinal Tract ; Helicobacter pylori ; Humans ; Lymphoid Tissue ; Lymphoma ; Lymphoma, B-Cell, Marginal Zone ; Male ; Mucous Membrane ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Recurrence ; Stomach ; Vincristine