Objective: Autophagy is highly active in ovariectomized mice experiencing hormone deprivation, especially in the uterine mesenchyme. Autophagy is responsible for the turnover of vasoactive factors in the uterus, which was demonstrated in anti-Müllerian hormone receptor type 2 receptor (Amhr2)-Cre-driven autophagy-related gene 7 (Atg7) knockout (Amhr-Cre/Atg7f/f mice). In that study, we uncovered a striking difference in the amount of sequestosome 1 (SQSTM1) accumulation between virgin mice and breeder mice with the same genotype. Herein, we aimed to determine whether repeated breeding changed the composition of mesenchymal cell populations in the uterine stroma. Methods: All female mice used in this study were of the same genotype. Atg7 was deleted by Amhr2 promoter-driven Cre recombinase in the uterine stroma and myometrium, except for a triangular stromal region on the mesometrial side. Amhr-Cre/Atg7f/f female mice were divided into two groups: virgin mice with no mating history and aged between 11 and 12 months, and breeder mice with at least 6-month breeding cycles with multiple pregnancies and aged around 12 months. The uteri were used for Western blotting and immunofluorescence staining. Results: SQSTM1 accumulation, representing Atg7 deletion and halted autophagy, was much higher in virgin mice than in breeders. Breeders showed reduced accumulation of several vasoconstrictive factors, which are potential autophagy targets, in the uterus, suggesting that the uterine stroma was repopulated with autophagy-intact cells during repeated pregnancies. Conclusion Multiple pregnancies seem to have improved the uterine environment by replacing autophagy-deficient cells with autophagy-intact cells, providing evidence of cell mixing.

Spinal ependymomas are generally located in the intramedullary compartment in adults. Intradural extramedullary spinal ependymomas are extremely rare. Spinal ependymomas show various contrast enhancements on MRI. In this study, we report a rare case of a 52-year-old female who had a pathologically confirmed intradural extramedullary ependymoma that showed no enhancement on MRI.

Spinal ependymomas are generally located in the intramedullary compartment in adults. Intradural extramedullary spinal ependymomas are extremely rare. Spinal ependymomas show various contrast enhancements on MRI. In this study, we report a rare case of a 52-year-old female who had a pathologically confirmed intradural extramedullary ependymoma that showed no enhancement on MRI.

This study compared the microleakages and compressive strengths of various base materials.
To evaluate microleakages, 50 extracted permanent premolars were prepared. The teeth divided into 5 groups of 10 each according to the base materials. Cavities with a 5.0 mm width, 3.0 mm length, and 3.0 mm depth were formed on the buccal surfaces of the teeth. After filling the cavities with different base materials, a composite resin was used for final restoration. Each specimen was immersed in 2% methylene blue solution and then observed under a stereoscopic microscope (× 30). To evaluate the compressive strength, 5 cylindrical specimens were prepared for each base material. A universal testing machine was used to measure the compressive strength.
The microleakage was highest in the Riva light cureTM group and lowest in the BiodentineTM and Well-RootTM PT groups. For the compressive strengths, in all groups, acceptable strength values for base materials were found. The highest compressive strength was observed in the Fuji II LCTM group and the lowest strength in the Well-RootTM PT group.

PURPOSE: Recently, the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), an inflammatory response marker, has been reported to be associated with the prognosis in patients with various type of cancer. However, there have been no studies until now that have explored the prognostic role of combined detection of NLR and CEA in patients with synchronous liver-limited colorectal metastases (sCRLM). METHODS: Eighty-three patients who histologically diagnosed as sCRLM were selected. Their laboratory and clinical data were collected retrospectively. Using receiver operating characteristic curve analysis, the cutoff value of NLR was calculated based on which patients were assigned to a high NLR (more than 1.94) group and low NLR (less than 1.94) group. A cutoff value of 100 ng/mL for serum CEA level was used in light of the previous literature. RESULTS: CEA level and Poorly differentiated histology of colon cancer was significantly correlated with high NLR (P = 0.005 and P = 0.048, respectively). The multivariate analysis identified the high NLR as independent prognostic factors for OS and DFS in all patients (P = 0.010 and P = 0.006, respectively). Patients with both low levels of NLR and CEA had a significantly longer OS and DFS (P = 0.026 and P = 0.009, respectively). CONCLUSION: In conclusion, elevated preoperative NLR is strongly correlated with both survival and recurrence in patients who have been diagnosed with resectable sCRLM. The combination of NLR and CEA level could be a more powerful prognostic marker than NLR alone.
Colonic Neoplasms ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; Humans ; Liver ; Multivariate Analysis ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Neutrophils ; Prognosis ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies ; ROC Curve

A 46-year old man visited our outpatient clinic with complaint of foreign body sensation in throat after consuming raw freshwater fish 5 days ago. Laryngoscopic examination revealed a motile worm attached on posterior pharyngeal wall. The worm was removed using biopsy forceps under transnasal endoscopy and evidently identified as Clinostomum complanatum after microscopic examination. Patient’s subjective foreign body sensation of throat and hyperemia of laryngeal mucosa remained for approximately 2 weeks post-removal, which were eventually resolved after administration of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug and anti-refluxant drug for 2 weeks. Treatment was ended at three weeks since the first visit. C. complanatum infections in humans are rare, and only four cases have been reported in Korea. Symptoms resembling pharyngitis or laryngitis occurs by consumption of raw, infected freshwater fish and treatment is done by mechanically removing the parasite.
Ambulatory Care Facilities ; Biopsy ; Endoscopy ; Foreign Bodies ; Fresh Water ; Humans ; Hyperemia ; Korea ; Laryngeal Mucosa ; Laryngitis ; Parasites ; Pharyngitis ; Pharynx ; Sensation ; Surgical Instruments

The aim of this study was to evaluate and compare the microstructural properties and mineralization quality of mesiodens with permanent and primary central incisors.Fifteen mesiodens, permanent and primary central incisors were collected. The enamel rod diameter and enamel thickness were observed and measured using field emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM). Chemical composition of the enamel was analyzed using energy dispersive X-ray spectrometer (EDS). The measurements were then assessed using the one-way ANOVA and Tukey test.There was no statistically significant difference in the enamel rod diameter between mesiodens and permanent central incisors. However, enamel rods of primary central incisors were smaller than remaining two groups. The thickness of enamel was thick in order of permanent central incisors, mesiodens, primary central incisors. In the composition analysis using EDS, there was no difference in the Ca/P ratio and Ca/C ratio between mesiodens and permanent central incisors, but small in primary central incisors.In conclusion, the microstructural properties of mesiodens were more similar to those of permanent central incisors compared to primary central incisors. Futher, the mineralization quality of mesiodens did not differ significantly from that of permanent central incisors.
Dental Enamel ; Incisor ; Miners

The aim of this study was to compare the degree of conversion and polymerization shrinkage of low and high viscosity bulk-fill giomer-based and resin-based composites. Two bulk-fill giomer (Beautifil Bulk Restorative (BBR), Beautifil Bulk Flowable (BBF)), two bulk-fill (Tetric N-Ceram Bulk-fill (TBF), SureFil SDR flow (SDR)) and two conventional resin composites (Tetric N-Ceram (TN), Tetric N-flow (TF)) were selected for this study. The degree of conversion was measured by using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Polymerization shrinkage was measured with the linometer. For all depth, BBR had the lowest degree of conversion and SDR had the highest. At 4 mm, the degree of conversion of low and high viscosity bulk-fill giomer resin composites was lower than that of bulk-fill resin composites (p < 0.05). At the depth between 2 mm and 4 mm, there were significant difference with TBF, TN and TF (p < 0.05), while no significant difference in the degree of conversion was measured for BBR, BBF and SDR. Polymerization shrinkage of six resin composites decreased in the following order: TF > SDR > BBF > TBF > TN and BBR (p < 0.05). Polymerization shrinkage of bulk-fill giomer resin composites was lower than that of bulk-fill resin composites (p < 0.05). From this study, it is found that the bulk-fill giomer resin composites and TBF were not sufficiently cured in 4 mm depth. The degree of conversion of low and high viscosity bulk-fill giomer resin composites was significantly lower than bulk-fill resin composites in both 2 mm and 4 mm depths. Therefore, such features of bulk-fill giomer resin composites should be carefully considered in clinical application.
Polymerization ; Polymers ; Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared ; Viscosity

BACKGROUND: Timely intervention in the treatment of bloodstream infection is important for prescription of appropriate antimicrobials. With prompt determination of the antimicrobial susceptibility of a causative agent, rapid antimicrobial susceptibility test (AST) can help select the appropriate antimicrobial therapy. This clinical study is for evaluation of the clinical performance of the QMAC-dRAST for rapid AST directly from positive blood culture (PBC)s with Gram-positive cocci. METHODS: A total of 115 PBC samples with Gram-positive organisms (76 Staphylococcus spp. and 39 Enterococcus spp.) were evaluated by the QMAC-dRAST system, and their pure culture isolates were evaluated by the MicroScan WalkAway (Beckman Coulter, USA) as the comparative AST system. Thirteen antimicrobial agents were included, and the agreement and discrepancy rates of the QMAC-dRAST system (Quantamatrix Inc., Republic of Korea) compared to the MicroScan WalkAway were calculated. To resolve discrepancies, the broth microdilution method was performed. RESULTS: The QMAC-dRAST system exhibited a categorical agreement rate of 94.9% (1,126/1,187) and an essential agreement rate of 98.3% (1,167/1,187). The QMAC-dRAST system yielded very major (false-susceptible) errors at 1.0% (5/485), major (false-resistant) errors at 1.3% (9/693), and minor errors at 4.0% (47/1,187) compared to the MicroScan WalkAway. The QMAC-dRAST system significantly eliminated 30 hours of total turnaround time by combination of direct inoculation of PBC and an image-based approach. CONCLUSION: The results of the QMAC-dRAST system were highly accurate. Thereby, the QMAC-dRAST may provide essential information to accelerate therapeutic decisions for earlier and adequate antibiotic treatment and patient management in clinical settings.
Anti-Infective Agents ; Bacteremia ; Bioengineering ; Clinical Study ; Drug Resistance, Microbial ; Enterococcus ; Gram-Positive Cocci* ; Humans ; Methods ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests ; Prescriptions ; Staphylococcus

There was an error in the article, the names of manufacturers and countries of equipments in the Korean abstract were reversed.