Purpose: To evaluate whether the added value of contrast leakage information from dynamic susceptibility contrast magnetic resonance imaging (DSC MRI) is a better prognostic imaging biomarker than the cerebral blood volume (CBV) value in distinguishing true progression from pseudoprogression in glioblastoma patients. Materials and Methods: Forty-nine glioblastoma patients who had undergone MRI after concurrent chemoradiotherapy with temozolomide were enrolled in this retrospective study. Twenty features were extracted from the normalized relative CBV (nCBV) and extraction fraction (EF) map of the contrast-enhancing region in each patient. After univariable analysis, we used multivariable stepwise logistic regression analysis to identify significant predictors for differentiating between pseudoprogression and true progression. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was employed to determine the best cutoff values for the nCBV and EF features. Finally, leave-one-out cross-validation was used to validate the best predictor in differentiating between true progression and pseudoprogression. Results: Multivariable stepwise logistic regression analysis showed that MGMT (O 6 -methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase) and EF max were independent differentiating variables (P = 0.004 and P = 0.02, respectively). ROC analysis yielded the best cutoff value of 95.75 for the EF max value for differentiating the two groups (sensitivity, 61%; specificity, 84.6%; AUC, 0.681 ± 0.08; 95% CI, 0.524-0.837; P = 0.03). In the leave-one-out cross-validation of the EF max value, the cross-validated values for predicting true progression and pseudoprogression accuracies were 69.4% and 71.4%,respectively. Conclusion We demonstrated that contrast leakage information parameter from DSC MRI showed significance in differentiating true progression from pseudoprogression in glioblastoma patients.

Objective: For an accurate dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE) MRI analysis, exact baseline T1 mapping is critical. The purpose of this study was to compare the pharmacokinetic parameters of DCE MRI using synthetic MRI with those using fixed baseline T1 values. Materials and Methods: This retrospective study included 102 patients who underwent both DCE and synthetic brain MRI. Two methods were set for the baseline T1: one using the fixed value and the other using the T1 map from synthetic MRI. The volume transfer constant (Ktrans ), volume of the vascular plasma space (vp), and the volume of the extravascular extracellular space (ve) were compared between the two methods. The interclass correlation coefficients and the Bland-Altman method were used to assess the reliability. Results: In normal-appearing frontal white matter (WM), the mean values of Ktrans , ve, and vp were significantly higher in the fixed value method than in the T1 map method. In the normal-appearing occipital WM, the mean values of ve and vp were significantly higher in the fixed value method. In the putamen and head of the caudate nucleus, the mean values of Ktrans , ve, and vp were significantly lower in the fixed value method. In addition, the T1 map method showed comparable interobserver agreements with the fixed baseline T1 value method. Conclusion The T1 map method using synthetic MRI may be useful for reflecting individual differences and reliable measurements in clinical applications of DCE MRI.

Objective: For an accurate dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE) MRI analysis, exact baseline T1 mapping is critical. The purpose of this study was to compare the pharmacokinetic parameters of DCE MRI using synthetic MRI with those using fixed baseline T1 values. Materials and Methods: This retrospective study included 102 patients who underwent both DCE and synthetic brain MRI. Two methods were set for the baseline T1: one using the fixed value and the other using the T1 map from synthetic MRI. The volume transfer constant (Ktrans ), volume of the vascular plasma space (vp), and the volume of the extravascular extracellular space (ve) were compared between the two methods. The interclass correlation coefficients and the Bland-Altman method were used to assess the reliability. Results: In normal-appearing frontal white matter (WM), the mean values of Ktrans , ve, and vp were significantly higher in the fixed value method than in the T1 map method. In the normal-appearing occipital WM, the mean values of ve and vp were significantly higher in the fixed value method. In the putamen and head of the caudate nucleus, the mean values of Ktrans , ve, and vp were significantly lower in the fixed value method. In addition, the T1 map method showed comparable interobserver agreements with the fixed baseline T1 value method. Conclusion The T1 map method using synthetic MRI may be useful for reflecting individual differences and reliable measurements in clinical applications of DCE MRI.

Objective: To evaluate the association of MRI features with the major genomic profiles and prognosis of World Health Organization grade III (G3) gliomas compared with those of glioblastomas (GBMs). Materials and Methods: We enrolled 76 G3 glioma and 155 GBM patients with pathologically confirmed disease who had pretreatment brain MRI and major genetic information of tumors. Qualitative and quantitative imaging features, including volumetrics and histogram parameters, such as normalized cerebral blood volume (nCBV), cerebral blood flow (nCBF), and apparent diffusion coefficient (nADC) were evaluated. The G3 gliomas were divided into three groups for the analysis: with this isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH)-mutation, IDH mutation and a chromosome arm 1p/19q-codeleted (IDHmut1p/19qdel), IDH mutation, 1p/19q-nondeleted (IDHmut1p/19qnondel), and IDH wildtype (IDHwt). A prediction model for the genetic profiles of G3 gliomas was developed and validated on a separate cohort. Both the quantitative and qualitative imaging parameters and progression-free survival (PFS) of G3 gliomas were compared and survival analysis was performed. Moreover, the imaging parameters and PFS between IDHwt G3 gliomas and GBMs were compared. Results: IDHmut G3 gliomas showed a larger volume (p = 0.017), lower nCBF (p = 0.048), and higher nADC (p = 0.007) than IDHwt. Between the IDHmut tumors, IDHmut1p/19qdel G3 gliomas had higher nCBV (p = 0.024) and lower nADC (p = 0.002) than IDHmut1p/19qnondel G3 gliomas. Moreover, IDHmut1p/19qdel tumors had the best prognosis and IDHwt tumors had the worst prognosis among G3 gliomas (p < 0.001). PFS was significantly associated with the 95th percentile values of nCBV and nCBF in G3 gliomas. There was no significant difference in neither PFS nor imaging features between IDHwt G3 gliomas and IDHwt GBMs. Conclusion We found significant differences in MRI features, including volumetrics, CBV, and ADC, in G3 gliomas, according to IDH mutation and 1p/19q codeletion status, which can be utilized for the prediction of genomic profiles and the prognosis of G3 glioma patients. The MRI signatures and prognosis of IDHwt G3 gliomas tend to follow those of IDHwt GBMs.

BACKGROUND: The ongoing Multicenter Prospective Cohort Study of Active Surveillance on Papillary Thyroid Microcarcinoma (MAeSTro) aims to observe the natural course of papillary thyroid microcarcinoma (PTMC), develop a protocol for active surveillance (AS), and compare the long-term prognosis, quality of life, and medical costs between the AS and immediate surgery groups. METHODS: This multicenter prospective cohort study of PTMC started in June 2016. The inclusion criteria were suspicious of malignancy or malignancy based on fine needle aspiration or core needle biopsy, age of ≥18 years, and a maximum diameter of ≤1 cm. If there was no major organ involvement, no lymph node/distant metastasis, and no variants with poor prognosis, the patients were explained of the pros and cons of immediate surgery and AS before selecting AS or immediate surgery. Follow-up visits (physical examination, ultrasonography, thyroid function, and questionnaires) are scheduled every 6 months during the first 2 years, and then every 1 year thereafter. Progression was defined as a maximum diameter increase of ≥3, ≥2 mm in two dimensions, suspected organ involvement, or lymph node/distant metastasis. RESULTS: Among 439 enrolled patients, 290 patients (66.1%) chose AS and 149 patients (33.9%) chose immediate surgery. The median follow-up was 6.7 months (range, 0.2 to 11.9). The immediate surgery group had a larger maximum tumor diameter, compared to the AS group (7.1±1.9 mm vs. 6.6±2.0 mm, respectively; P=0.014). CONCLUSION: The results will be useful for developing an appropriate PTMC treatment policy based on its natural course and risk factors for progression.
Biopsy, Fine-Needle ; Biopsy, Large-Core Needle ; Cohort Studies* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Prognosis ; Prospective Studies* ; Quality of Life ; Risk Factors ; Thyroid Gland* ; Thyroid Neoplasms ; Ultrasonography

No abstract available.

Ginsenosides are the major components of ginseng, which is known to modulate blood pressure, metabolism, and immune function, and has been used to treat various diseases. It has been reported that ginseng and several ginsenosides have immunoregulatory effects on the innate and T cell-mediated immune response. However, their effects on the humoral immune response have not been fully explored. The present study examined the direct effects of red ginseng extract (RGE) and ginsenosides on mouse B cell proliferation and on antibody production and the expression of germline transcripts (GLT) by mouse B cells in vitro. RGE slightly reduced B cell proliferation, but increased IgA production by LPS-stimulated B cells. Furthermore, ginsenoside Rg1 and 20(S)-Rg3 selectively induced IgA production and expression of GLTalpha transcripts by LPS-stimulated B cells. Collectively, these results suggest that ginsenoside Rg1 and 20(S)-Rg3 can drive the differentiation of B cells into IgA-producing cells through the selective induction of GLTalpha expression.
Animals ; Antibody Formation ; B-Lymphocytes* ; Blood Pressure ; Cell Proliferation ; Ginsenosides ; Immunity, Humoral ; Immunoglobulin A* ; Metabolism ; Mice* ; Panax

The quality control for genetic tests would be of great importance as the test volume and clinical demands increase dramatically. Diagnostic genetics subcommitee of KSQACP performed two trials for cytogenetic study in 2008. A total of 41 laboratories participated in the cytogenetic surveys, and most of them showed acceptable results. However, some laboratories showed unacceptable results for the karyotype nomenclature and detection of complex cytogenetic abnormalities in hematologic neoplasias. The molecular genetics surveys included various tests: M. tuberculosis detection, hepatitis B (HBV) and C virus (HCV) detection and quantification, human papilloma virus (HPV) genotyping, gene rearrangement tests for leukemias and lymphomas, apolipoprotein E (APOE) genotyping, methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) genotyping, hereditary breast and ovarian cancer genes (BRCA1 and BRCA2), and genetic tests for hereditary disorders such as spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), Huntington disease (HD), spinocerebellar ataxia (SCA), Prader-Willi/Angelman syndrome (PWS/AS), mitochondrial encephalopathy with lactic acidosis and strokelike episodes (MELAS), myoclonic epilepsy ragged red fiber (MERRF), wilson disease (ATP7B) and cancer-associated genes (KRAS). Molecular genetic surveys showed excellent results in most of the participants. External quality assessment program for genetic analysis in 2008 was proved to be helpful in continuous education and evaluation of quality improvement.
Acidosis, Lactic ; Apolipoproteins ; Breast ; Chromosome Aberrations ; Cytogenetics ; Epilepsies, Myoclonic ; Gene Rearrangement ; Hepatitis B ; Hepatolenticular Degeneration ; Humans ; Huntington Disease ; Karyotype ; Korea ; Leukemia ; Lymphoma ; Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase (NADPH2) ; Mitochondrial Encephalomyopathies ; Molecular Biology ; Muscular Atrophy, Spinal ; Ovarian Neoplasms ; Papilloma ; Quality Control ; Quality Improvement ; Spinocerebellar Ataxias ; Tuberculosis ; Viruses

The human genome has evolved as a consequence of evolutionary forces, such as natural selection. In this study, we investigated natural selection on the human genes by comparing the numbers of nonsynonymous(NS) and synonymous (S) mutations in individual genes. We initially collected all coding SNP data of all human genes from the public dbSNP. Among the human genes, we selected 3 different selection groups of genes: positively selected genes (NS/S > or = 3), negatively selected genes (NS/S < or = 1/3) and neutral selection genes (0.9 < NS/S < 1.1). We characterized human genes targeted by natural selection. Negatively selected human genes were markedly associated with disease occurrence, but not positively selected genes. Interestingly, positively selected genes displayed an increase in potentially deleterious nonsynonymous SNPs with an increased frequency of tryptophan and tyrosine residues, suggesting a correlation with protective effects against human disease. Furthermore, our nonsynonymous/synonymous ratio data imply that specific human genes, such as ALMS1 and SPTBN5 genes, are differentially selected among distinct populations. We confirmed that inferences of natural selection using the NS/S ratio can be used extensively to identify functional genes selected during the evolutionary adaptation process.
Clinical Coding ; Genome, Human ; Humans ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Selection, Genetic ; Tryptophan ; Tyrosine

PURPOSE: A common side effect of the scalp reduction is a creation of a 'slot' with the hair growing in the opposite directions away from the scar. Overcoming the unnatural appearance of the slot has been a vexing problem in the scalp reduction surgery. None of the conventional corrective surgical techniques provides a complete and satisfactory aesthetic result. The Frechet flap is a triple transposition flap used for the correction of the slot defect secondary to scalp reduction surgery, seldom needing further scar revision. The Frechet technique provides a solution to the problem of the central slot concealment that is unattainable by other means, such as; Z-plasty and mini-graft. METHODS: Authors applied the Frechet technique to Asian patients who had undergone scalp reduction and operated on 4 patients from March, 2000 to January, 2001. Average follow-up period was 13 months. Patients with long scars passing through the temporoparietoccipital zone were excluded. All the undermining was performed in the subgaleal plane, reaching the upper auricular sulcus and stopping just above the nuchal ridge. RESULTS: None of the patients experienced infection, hematoma, nor any permanent hair loss. Transient telogen effluvium at the distal end of flap 2 and 3 was noticeable in one case. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, the results are aesthetically satisfactory without any significant complications.
Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Cicatrix ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hair* ; Hematoma ; Humans ; Scalp