Background: Emergency living donor liver transplantation (e-LDLT) is crucial for patients experiencing acute liver failure, acute-on-chronic liver failure, or severe, life-threatening cirrhosis. The purpose of this study was to determine the risk factors that affect the death rate of patients who are waiting for e-LDLT by analyzing data on the Korean Network for Organ Sharing (KONOS). Methods: A retrospective examination of KONOS data was performed, encompassing consecutive e-LDLT applications from 2017 to 2021. Exclusions were made for pediatric patients. The data were classified into two distinct groups. Patients who died before getting e-LDLT were classified as Group 1 (n=38), while patients who spontaneously recovered without liver transplantation, non-emergency LDLT, or deceased donor liver transplantation more than 14 days following e-LDLT treatment were classified as Group 2 (n=30). Results: Significantly greater rates of pre-transplant critical care unit stay, pre-transplant ventilator support, or continuous renal replacement treatment were observed in Group 1 compared to Group 2. In comparison to Group 2, Group 1 exhibited notably lower serum albumin levels and higher model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) scores. Significantly, the MELD score increased by more than 10% for 3 days preceding to e-LDLT applications in Group 1 compared to Group 2. The multivariate analysis revealed that the only factor that affected the death of patients waiting for LDLT after e-LDLT applications was pre-transplant ventilator support. Conclusion The present study suggested that patients receiving mechanical ventilator support in the pre-transplant period should be approached cautiously when deciding on e-LDLT.

Background: Deceased donor liver transplantation (DDLT) and living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) are employed to address highly urgent patients, including those with acute liver failure (ALF), acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF), or critical cirrhosis. This study compares outcomes between LDLT and DDLT patients with ALF, ACLF, or critical cirrhosis in highly urgent LDLT (HU-LDLT) applications. Methods: This study conducted a retrospective analysis of the Korean Network for Organ Sharing (KONOS) data, which included 391 consecutive HU-LDLT applications from 2017 to 2021. Results: The proportion of DDLT was 15.1% (n=59) within the cohort of HU-LDLT applications. The prevalence of hepatorenal syndrome, duration of pre-transplant intensive care unit (ICU) care, incidence of pre-transplant continuous renal replacement therapy, and median model for end-stage liver disease scores were significantly greater and prolonged in DDLT patients compared to LDLT patients. Statistical analysis revealed no significant differences in postoperative complications or overall survival between the two groups. In the multivariate analysis, only pre-transplant ventilator care emerged as a significant predisposing factor for mortality. Conclusion The present study indicates that LDLT is a viable option, yielding comparable perioperative and long-term outcomes to DDLT for HU patients, which can encourage living liver donation to overcome organ shortages in HU patients.

Objective: This study evaluated the relationship between IVD degeneration and the vertebral body FSF in dogs and compared these factors between chondrodystrophic (CD) and nonchondrodystrophic (NCD) dogs. Methods: IVD degeneration in dogs was classified morphologically using the Pfirrmann grade, and the vertebral body FSF was evaluated quantitatively. Results: The vertebral body FSF showed a statistically significant difference among the age groups. The vertebral body FSF was significantly higher in Pfirrmann grades 3–5 than in grades 1 and 2. The mean Pfirrmann grade of CD dogs was higher than that of NCD dogs in the four-to-six-year-old group. The mean vertebral body FSF of CD dogs was higher than that of NCD dogs in the group of seven years and above. Conclusions and Relevance: In dogs, the vertebral body FSF increased significantly with age and Pfirrmann grade. The CD dogs showed a higher degree of IVD degeneration at a younger age than the NCD dogs. CD dogs appeared to experience more severe fat deposition of the vertebral body in old age than NCD dogs. MRI examinations are helpful for evaluating IVD degeneration and vertebral body fat deposition.

Objective: This study evaluated the relationship between IVD degeneration and the vertebral body FSF in dogs and compared these factors between chondrodystrophic (CD) and nonchondrodystrophic (NCD) dogs. Methods: IVD degeneration in dogs was classified morphologically using the Pfirrmann grade, and the vertebral body FSF was evaluated quantitatively. Results: The vertebral body FSF showed a statistically significant difference among the age groups. The vertebral body FSF was significantly higher in Pfirrmann grades 3–5 than in grades 1 and 2. The mean Pfirrmann grade of CD dogs was higher than that of NCD dogs in the four-to-six-year-old group. The mean vertebral body FSF of CD dogs was higher than that of NCD dogs in the group of seven years and above. Conclusions and Relevance: In dogs, the vertebral body FSF increased significantly with age and Pfirrmann grade. The CD dogs showed a higher degree of IVD degeneration at a younger age than the NCD dogs. CD dogs appeared to experience more severe fat deposition of the vertebral body in old age than NCD dogs. MRI examinations are helpful for evaluating IVD degeneration and vertebral body fat deposition.

Objective: This study evaluated the relationship between IVD degeneration and the vertebral body FSF in dogs and compared these factors between chondrodystrophic (CD) and nonchondrodystrophic (NCD) dogs. Methods: IVD degeneration in dogs was classified morphologically using the Pfirrmann grade, and the vertebral body FSF was evaluated quantitatively. Results: The vertebral body FSF showed a statistically significant difference among the age groups. The vertebral body FSF was significantly higher in Pfirrmann grades 3–5 than in grades 1 and 2. The mean Pfirrmann grade of CD dogs was higher than that of NCD dogs in the four-to-six-year-old group. The mean vertebral body FSF of CD dogs was higher than that of NCD dogs in the group of seven years and above. Conclusions and Relevance: In dogs, the vertebral body FSF increased significantly with age and Pfirrmann grade. The CD dogs showed a higher degree of IVD degeneration at a younger age than the NCD dogs. CD dogs appeared to experience more severe fat deposition of the vertebral body in old age than NCD dogs. MRI examinations are helpful for evaluating IVD degeneration and vertebral body fat deposition.

Objective: This study evaluated the relationship between IVD degeneration and the vertebral body FSF in dogs and compared these factors between chondrodystrophic (CD) and nonchondrodystrophic (NCD) dogs. Methods: IVD degeneration in dogs was classified morphologically using the Pfirrmann grade, and the vertebral body FSF was evaluated quantitatively. Results: The vertebral body FSF showed a statistically significant difference among the age groups. The vertebral body FSF was significantly higher in Pfirrmann grades 3–5 than in grades 1 and 2. The mean Pfirrmann grade of CD dogs was higher than that of NCD dogs in the four-to-six-year-old group. The mean vertebral body FSF of CD dogs was higher than that of NCD dogs in the group of seven years and above. Conclusions and Relevance: In dogs, the vertebral body FSF increased significantly with age and Pfirrmann grade. The CD dogs showed a higher degree of IVD degeneration at a younger age than the NCD dogs. CD dogs appeared to experience more severe fat deposition of the vertebral body in old age than NCD dogs. MRI examinations are helpful for evaluating IVD degeneration and vertebral body fat deposition.

Most influenza vaccines currently in use target the highly variable hemagglutinin protein to induce neutralizing antibodies and therefore require yearly reformulation. T cell-based universal influenza vaccines focus on eliciting broadly cross-reactive T-cell responses, especially the tissue-resident memory T cell (TRM ) population in the respiratory tract, providing superior protection to circulating memory T cells. This study demonstrated that intramuscular (i.m.) administration of the adenovirus-based vaccine expressing influenza virus nucleoprotein (rAd/NP) elicited weak CD8 TRM responses in the lungs and airways, and yielded poor protection against lethal influenza virus challenge. However, a novel “prime-and-deploy” strategy that combines i.m. vaccination of rAd/NP with subsequent intranasal administration of an empty adenovector induced strong NP-specific CD8+ TRM cells and provided complete protection against influenza virus challenge. Overall, our results demonstrate that this “prime-and-deploy” vaccination strategy is potentially applicable to the development of universal influenza vaccines.

Although the prevalence of hereditary hemolytic anemia (HHA) is relatively low in Korea, it has been gradually increasing in recent decades due to increment in the proportions of hemoglobinopathies from immigrants of South East Asia, raising awareness of the disease among clinicians, and advances in diagnostic technology. As such, the red blood cell (RBC) Disorder Working Party (WP), previously called HHA WP, of the Korean Society of Hematology (KSH) developed the Korean Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for the diagnosis of HHA in 2007. These SOPs have been continuously revised and updated following advances in diagnostic technology [e.g., flow cytometric osmotic fragility test (FOFT) and eosin-5-maleimide (EMA) binding test], current methods for membrane protein or enzyme analysis [e.g., liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS), ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS), high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)], and molecular genetic tests using next-generation sequencing (NGS). However, the diagnosis and treatment of HHA remain challenging as they require considerable experience and understanding of the disease. Therefore, in this new Korean Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Diagnosis of HHA, on behalf of the RBC Disorder WP of KSH, updated guidelines to approach patients suspected of HHA are summarized. NGS is proposed to perform prior to membrane protein or enzyme analysis by LC-MS/MS, UPLC-MS/MS or HPLC techniques due to the availability of gene testing in more laboratories in Korea. We hope that this guideline will be helpful for clinicians in making diagnostic decisions for patients with HHA in Korea.

The objective of our study was to determine individual and global glomerular filtration rates (GFRs) using dynamic renal computed tomography (CT) in Beagle dogs. Twenty-four healthy Beagle dogs were included in the experiment. Anesthesia was induced in all dogs by using propofol and isoflurane prior to CT examination. A single slice of the kidney was sequentially scanned after a bolus intravenous injection of contrast material (iohexol, 1 mL/kg, 300 mgI/mL). Time attenuation curves were created and contrast clearance per unit volume was calculated using a Patlak plot analysis. The CT-GFR was then determined based on the conversion of contrast clearance per unit volume to contrast clearance per body weight. At the renal hilum, CT-GFR values per unit renal volume (mL/min/mL) of the right and left kidneys were 0.69 +/- 0.04 and 0.57 +/- 0.05, respectively. No significant differences were found between the weight-adjusted CT-GFRs in either kidney at the same renal hilum (p = 0.747). The average global GFR was 4.21 +/- 0.25 mL/min/kg and the whole kidney GFR was 33.43 +/- 9.20 mL/min. CT-GFR techniques could be a practical way to separately measure GFR in each kidney for clinical and research purposes.
Animals ; Dogs/*physiology ; Female ; Glomerular Filtration Rate/*physiology ; Male ; Reference Values ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed/methods/*veterinary

The frontal cephalometric analysis has not gained its importance in maxillofacial surgery compared to the lateral cephalometric analysis. In general, the frontal cephalometric analysis is practicable in providing an accurate measurement of the horizontal position and the width of maxilla, zygoma, and mandible. It also provides an assessment in the horizontal and vertical asymmetry of the face. With this knowledge, it is reasonable to regard the frontal cephalometric analysis as a valuable tool in making accurate diagnosis, planning of operation and evaluation of the results for sophisticated maxillofacial surgery. In addition, a recent development of computer software provides an extra benefit in diagnosing and performing surgery which has been frequently used in the dental field, in contrast to its limited application in the plastic surgery. The authors measured the frontal cephalometry of 115 patients who had maxillofacial surgery in our hospital from January 2000 to October 2002. The total 124 operative procedures for the patients are as follows: 58 was angle contouring; 22 zygomatic reduction; 16 genioplasty; 11 sagital split ramus osteotomy; 4 anterior segmental osteotomy; 10 distraction osteogenesis, and 6 was two-jaw surgery. The detailed procedure of the measurement is as follows: Digital scanning of cephalometric films; Presentation of the digital images on computer software (Vceph(R), CyberMed Inc. Korea); Registration of 43 anatomic landmarks such as zygomatic arch, gonion, antegonion, jugular process, and the automatic analysis with a custom-modified computer software with 27 items including midline analysis, facial width and height analysis, ratio analysis, symmetry analysis, and mandibular analysis. The analyzed data can be depicted as in the figure and chart. With above the mentioned automatic analysis, we found it to be effective, time-saving and accurate in the diagnosis of the facial asymmetry and estimation of the ratio of the facial bone. In this study, the authors have devised the frontal cephalometric analysis for the plastic and reconstructive maxillofacial surgery and its automatically analyzed measurements by using the computer software. This modified frontal cephalometric analysis has proved to be useful and efficient for diagnosis, operation planning and evaluation of the result in maxillofacial surgery.
Anatomic Landmarks ; Cephalometry ; Diagnosis ; Facial Asymmetry ; Facial Bones* ; Genioplasty ; Humans ; Mandible ; Maxilla ; Osteogenesis, Distraction ; Osteotomy ; Surgery, Oral* ; Surgery, Plastic ; Surgical Procedures, Operative ; Zygoma