Background: Circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) is a potential biomarker in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). However, studies on residual ctDNA in patients post-chemotherapy are limited. We assessed the prognostic value of residual ctDNA in metastatic PDAC relative to that of carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA19-9). Methods: ctDNA analysis using a targeted next-generation sequencing panel was performed at baseline and during chemotherapy response evaluation in 53 patients. Progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were first evaluated based on ctDNA positivity at baseline. For further comparison, patients testing ctDNA-positive at baseline were subdivided based on residual ctDNA into ctDNA responders (no residual ctDNA post-chemotherapy) and ctDNA non-responders (residual ctDNA post-chemotherapy). Additional survival analysis was performed based on CA19-9 levels. Results: The baseline ctDNA detection rate was 56.6%. Although clinical outcomes tended to be poorer in patients with baseline ctDNA positivity than in those without, the differences were not significant. Residual ctDNA post-chemotherapy was associated with reduced PFS and OS. The prognosis of ctDNA responders was better than that of non-responders but did not significantly differ from that of ctDNA-negative individuals (no ctDNA both at baseline and during post-chemotherapy). Compared with ctDNA responses to che-motherapy, a ≥ 50% decrease in the CA19-9 level had less effect on both PFS and OSbased on hazard ratios and significance levels. ctDNA could be monitored in half of the patients whose baseline CA19-9 levels were within the reference range. Conclusions Residual ctDNA analysis post-chemotherapy is a promising approach for predicting the clinical outcomes of patients with metastatic PDAC.

Purpose: With the revision of the Organ and Transplantation Act in 2018, the hand has become legal as an area of transplantable organs in Korea. In January 2021, the first hand allotransplantation since legalization was successfully performed, and we have performed a total of three successful hand transplantation since then. By comparing and incorporating our experiences, this study aimed to provide a comprehensive reconstructive solution for hand amputation in Korea. Materials and Methods: Recipients were selected through a structured preoperative evaluation, and hand transplantations were performed at the distal forearm level. Postoperatively, patients were treated with three-drug immunosuppressive regimen, and functional outcomes were monitored. Results: The hand transplantations were performed without intraoperative complications. All patients had partial skin necrosis and underwent additional surgical procedures in 2 months after transplantation. After additional operations, no further severe complications were observed. Also, patients developed acute rejection within 3 months of surgery, but all resolved within 2 weeks after steroid pulse therapy. Motor and sensory function improved dramatically, and patients were very satisfied with the appearance and function of their transplanted hands. Conclusion Hand transplantation is a viable reconstructive option, and patients have shown positive functional and psychological outcomes. Although this study has limitations, such as the small number of patients and short follow-up period, we should focus on continued recovery of hand function, and be careful not to develop side effects from immunosuppressive drugs. Through the present study, we will continue to strive for a bright future regarding hand transplantation in Korea.

Purpose: This study evaluates the potential protective effects of hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) seed oil supplementation in rats fed a high-cholesterol diet. Methods: Rats were fed a 1.25% cholesterol diet for 8 weeks, followed by oral administration of either of the two doses of hemp seed oil (HO) (0.5 mL/kg (HOL group) or 1 mL/kg (HOH group) body weight/day) or simvastatin at 10 mg/kg body weight/day. Oxidative stress, lipids, liver enzymes, and renal markers were measured in the serum. Western blot analysis was applied for evaluating the expressions of inflammatory makers. Results: Except for HDL-cholesterol, the altered levels of lipoproteins, aminotransferases, urea, and creatine kinases in hypercholesterolemic rats were significantly corrected by HO administration. Especially, compared to the HOH group, HOL treatment further reduced AST, ALT, creatinine, TC, and LDL-cholesterol levels. Moreover, both the atherogenic index and cardiac risk factor (CRF) in the HOL group were more restrained compared to the HOH group. Increased levels of p-AMPK coincided with the inhibition of SREBP-2 activation which subsequently suppressed the expression of HMGCR. Nuclear factor (NF)-κB activation coincided with the PI3K/Akt pathway activation and the increased phosphorylation of p38;these levels were significantly suppressed by HO treatment. In addition, HO treatment markedly reversed the changes in chemokines such as ICAM-1, VCAM-1, and MCP-1.Histological alterations induced by cholesterol overload in cardiac and hepatic tissues were ameliorated by HO supplementation. Conclusion Taken together, our results indicate a low concentration of HO demonstrates improved dysfunctions caused by a high-cholesterol diet via inhibition of the PI3K/Akt/NF-κB signaling pathway.

The treatment of complicated anterior cerebral artery aneurysms remains challenging. Here, the authors describe a case of ruptured complicated A3 aneurysm, which was treated with trapping and in-situ bypass. A 47-year-old man presented to the emergency department with severe headache and vomiting. Computed tomography illustrated acute intracerebral hemorrhage in the right frontal lobe. Digital subtraction angiography (DSA) confirmed a ruptured fusiform A3 aneurysm with lobulation and a daughter sac. Trapping of the ruptured fusiform A3 aneurysm and distal end-toside A4 anastomosis was performed. DSA on postoperative day 7 showed mild vasospasm to the afferent artery. However, 2 months later, DSA demonstrated that the antegrade flow through the anastomosis site had recovered. Thus, surgeons should be aware of the possibility of postsurgical vasospasm of anastomosed arteries, especially in cases of ruptured aneurysms.

Background and Objectives: Papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) with lateral neck lymph node metastasis is known as a major risk factor for tumor recurrence after surgical treatment. The aim of this study is to identify risk factors for loco-regional recurrence in patients with PTC with lateral neck lymph node metastasis, which has a high risk of recurrence.Subjects and Method This study involved 319 patients who underwent total thyroidectomy, central lymph node (LN) and lateral LN dissection due to PTC. The patients’ demographics and pathological factors, including lymph node metastasis were retrospectively reviewed. Univariate, multivariate and C-index with variable selection analyses were performed to identify factors associated with recurrence-free survival (RFS). Results: A mean follow-up of 101 months, 35 (10.9%) patients had a loco-regional recurrence. In multivariate analysis according to loco-regional recurrence, patients with a primary tumor of more than 4 cm, multifocality, vascular invasion, and bilateral lateral cervical metastasis were associated with worse RFS. In the variable selection analysis, lateral lymph node metastasis ratio was also statistically significant. Conclusion PTC with lateral neck lymph node metastasis included tumors larger than 4 cm. Multifocality, vascular invasion, high lateral lymph node metastasis ratio and bilateral neck lymph node metastasis are predictive factors of loco-regional recurrence, and these risk factors should be carefully followed-up after surgery.

Autosomal recessive spastic ataxia of Charlevoix-Saguenay (ARSACS), which is caused by mutations in SACS gene, is a very rare neurodegenerative disorder characterized by the clinical triad of early onset cerebellar ataxia, pyramidal tract features, and sensorimotor polyneuropathy. Herein, we report a 35-year-old Korean male who presented with gait disturbance and lower extremity weakness. Neuroimaging and ophthalmologic evaluation revealed features consistent with ARSACS. Mutation in SACS gene was demonstrated in clinical exome sequence analysis and the patient was finally diagnosed as ARSACS.
Adult ; Ataxia ; Cerebellar Ataxia ; Exome ; Gait ; Humans ; Lower Extremity ; Male ; Muscle Spasticity ; Neurodegenerative Diseases ; Neuroimaging ; Polyneuropathies ; Pyramidal Tracts ; Sequence Analysis ; Spinocerebellar Degenerations

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: There are no data comparing clinical outcomes of complex percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) between biodegradable polymer-biolimus-eluting stents (BP-BES) and durable polymer-everolimus-eluting stents (DP-EES). We sought to evaluate the safety and efficacy of BP-BES compared with DP-EES in patients undergoing complex PCI. METHODS: Patients enrolled in the SMART-DESK registry were stratified into 2 categories based on the complexity of PCI. Complex PCI was defined as having at least one of the following features: unprotected left main lesion, ≥2 lesions treated, total stent length >40 mm, minimal stent diameter ≤2.5 mm, or bifurcation as target lesion. The primary outcome was target lesion failure (TLF), defined as a composite of cardiac death, target vessel-related myocardial infarction (TV-MI), or target lesion revascularization (TLR) at 2 years of follow-up. RESULTS: Of 1,999 patients, 1,145 (57.3%) underwent complex PCI: 521 patients were treated with BP-BES and 624 with DP-EES. In propensity-score matching analysis (481 pairs), the risks of TLF (3.8% vs. 5.2%, adjusted hazard ratio [HR], 0.578; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.246–1.359; p=0.209), cardiac death (2.5% vs. 2.5%, adjusted HR, 0.787; 95% CI, 0.244–2.539; p=0.689), TV-MI (0.5% vs. 0.4%, adjusted HR, 1.128; 95% CI, 0.157–8.093; p=0.905), and TLR (1.1% vs. 2.9%, adjusted HR, 0.390; 95% CI, 0.139–1.095; p=0.074) did not differ between 2 stent groups after complex PCI. CONCLUSIONS: Clinical outcomes of BP-BES were comparable to those of DP-EES at 2 years after complex PCI. Our data suggest that use of BP-BES is acceptable, even for complex PCI.
Coronary Artery Disease ; Death ; Drug-Eluting Stents ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Myocardial Infarction ; Percutaneous Coronary Intervention ; Stents

BACKGROUND: Osteoarthritis (OA) is a highly prevalent degenerative joint disease involving joint cartilage and its surrounding tissues. OA is the leading cause of pain and disability worldwide. At present, there are no disease-modifying OA drugs, and the primary therapies include exercise and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs until total joint replacement at the end-stage of the disease. METHODS: In this review, we summarized the current state of knowledge in genetic and epigenetic associations and risk factors for OA and their potential diagnostic and therapeutic applications. RESULTS: Genome-wide association studies and analysis of epigenetic modifications (such as miRNA expression, DNA methylation and histone modifications) conducted across various populations support the notion that there is a genetic basis for certain subsets of OA pathogenesis. CONCLUSION: With recent advances in the development of genome editing technologies such as the CRISPR-Cas9 system, these genetic and epigenetic alternations in OA can be used as platforms from which potential biomarkers for the diagnosis, prognosis, drug response, and development of potential personalized therapeutic targets for OA can be approached. Furthermore, genome editing has allowed the development of “designer” cells, whereby the receptors, gene regulatory networks, or transgenes can be modified as a basis for new cell-based therapies.
Biomarkers ; Cartilage ; Diagnosis ; DNA Methylation ; Epigenomics ; Gene Regulatory Networks ; Genetics ; Genome ; Genome-Wide Association Study ; Histones ; Humans ; Joint Diseases ; Joints ; MicroRNAs ; Osteoarthritis ; Precision Medicine ; Prognosis ; Risk Factors ; Transgenes

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: There are no data comparing clinical outcomes of complex percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) between biodegradable polymer-biolimus-eluting stents (BP-BES) and durable polymer-everolimus-eluting stents (DP-EES). We sought to evaluate the safety and efficacy of BP-BES compared with DP-EES in patients undergoing complex PCI. METHODS: Patients enrolled in the SMART-DESK registry were stratified into 2 categories based on the complexity of PCI. Complex PCI was defined as having at least one of the following features: unprotected left main lesion, ≥2 lesions treated, total stent length >40 mm, minimal stent diameter ≤2.5 mm, or bifurcation as target lesion. The primary outcome was target lesion failure (TLF), defined as a composite of cardiac death, target vessel-related myocardial infarction (TV-MI), or target lesion revascularization (TLR) at 2 years of follow-up. RESULTS: Of 1,999 patients, 1,145 (57.3%) underwent complex PCI: 521 patients were treated with BP-BES and 624 with DP-EES. In propensity-score matching analysis (481 pairs), the risks of TLF (3.8% vs. 5.2%, adjusted hazard ratio [HR], 0.578; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.246–1.359; p=0.209), cardiac death (2.5% vs. 2.5%, adjusted HR, 0.787; 95% CI, 0.244–2.539; p=0.689), TV-MI (0.5% vs. 0.4%, adjusted HR, 1.128; 95% CI, 0.157–8.093; p=0.905), and TLR (1.1% vs. 2.9%, adjusted HR, 0.390; 95% CI, 0.139–1.095; p=0.074) did not differ between 2 stent groups after complex PCI. CONCLUSIONS Clinical outcomes of BP-BES were comparable to those of DP-EES at 2 years after complex PCI. Our data suggest that use of BP-BES is acceptable, even for complex PCI.

PURPOSE: Frequent desaturation due to immature incoordination of suck-swallow-breathing in preterm infants can influence multiple organs such as the heart, lungs, and brain, which can then affect growth and development. Most notably in preterm infants, feeding desaturation may even affect pulmonary function during gavage feeding. Because respiratory muscle activities may reflect the work required during respiration, we evaluated the differences in these activities between full-term and preterm infants with feeding desaturation, and investigated the correlations with clinical variables. METHODS: Nineteen preterm infants with feeding desaturation (group 1) and 19 age-matched full-term infants (group 2) were evaluated. Oromotor function was evaluated using video recording. The root-mean-squre (RMS) envelope of the electromyography signal was calculated to quantify the activities of muscles involved in respiration. The differences in RMS between both groups and the correlation with clinical variables including gestational age (GA), birth weight (BW), and Apgar scores (AS) at 1 and 5 minutes after birth were evaluated. RESULTS: The RMS values of the diaphragm (RMS-D) and rectus abdominis (RMS-R) were significantly greater in group 1 compared to group 2, and the 1- and 5-min AS were significantly lower in group 1 compared to group 2. RMS-D and RMS-R were inversely correlated with GA, BW, 1- and 5-min AS in all infants. CONCLUSION: This study showed that respiratory muscle activities were augmented during feeding in preterm infants compared to full-term infants. Additionally, respiratory muscle activities were inversely correlated with all clinical variables.
Ataxia ; Birth Weight ; Brain ; Diaphragm ; Electromyography ; Gestational Age ; Growth and Development ; Heart ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Premature* ; Lung ; Muscles ; Parturition ; Rectus Abdominis ; Respiration ; Respiratory Muscles* ; Video Recording