Primary malignant fibrous histiocytoma (MFH) is a malignant tumor of mesenchymal origin that rarely occurs in the urinary tract, particularly in the urinary bladder. Unlike urothelial carcinoma, which accounts for most bladder cancers, it occurs in the submucosal portion of the bladder wall and consists of the lamina propria, muscularis propria, and adventitia.It is presumed to originate from poorly differentiated pluripotent mesenchymal cells in which fibroblasts and histiocytes are partially differentiated. Radiologically, it is known as the “non-papillary tumor” and is commonly diagnosed as a large mass without necrosis, which shows invasion beyond the muscularis propia. Although the prognosis of this rare malignancy depends on pathological parameters, it generally has a poor prognosis with high local tumor recurrence. Here, we present a case of primary MFH in the urinary bladder with clinical symptoms of lower abdominal pain without gross hematuria that recurred rapidly and showed an aggressive disease course.

Background: and Purpose We delineated the association between otolithic dysfunction and blood pressure (BP) variability. Methods: We prospectively recruited 145 consecutive patients (age=71 [59–79] years, median [interquartile range]; 76 females) with orthostatic intolerance between December 2021 and December 2023 at a tertiary hospital in South Korea. Each patient underwent evaluations of cervical and ocular vestibular-evoked myogenic potentials (oVEMPs), 24-h noninvasive ambulatory BP monitoring (ABPM), and a head-up tilt-table test using the Finometer device. As measures of BP variability, the standard deviations (SDs) of the systolic BP (SBP SD) and the diastolic BP were calculated based on serial ABPM recordings. Patients were divided into those with orthostatic hypotension (OH, n=68) and those with a normal head-up tilt-table test despite orthostatic intolerance (NOI, n=77) groups. Results: A multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that OH was associated with bilateral oVEMP abnormalities (p=0.021), SBP SD (p=0.012), and female sex (p=0.004). SBP SD was higher in patients with OH than in those with NOI (p<0.001), and was not correlated with n1–p1 amplitude (p=0.491) or normalized p13–n23 amplitude (p=0.193) in patients with OH.The sensitivity and specificity for differentiating OH from NOI were 72.1% and 67.5%, respectively, at a cutoff value of 12.7 mm Hg for SBP SD, with an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.73. Conclusions Bilaterally deficient oVEMP responses may be associated with OH regardless of 24-h BP variability, reflecting the integrity of the otolith-autonomic reflex during orthostasis. Alternatively, 24-h BP variability is predominantly regulated by the baroreflex, which also participates in securing orthostatic tolerance complementary to the vestibulo-autonomic reflex.

Background: and Purpose We delineated the association between otolithic dysfunction and blood pressure (BP) variability. Methods: We prospectively recruited 145 consecutive patients (age=71 [59–79] years, median [interquartile range]; 76 females) with orthostatic intolerance between December 2021 and December 2023 at a tertiary hospital in South Korea. Each patient underwent evaluations of cervical and ocular vestibular-evoked myogenic potentials (oVEMPs), 24-h noninvasive ambulatory BP monitoring (ABPM), and a head-up tilt-table test using the Finometer device. As measures of BP variability, the standard deviations (SDs) of the systolic BP (SBP SD) and the diastolic BP were calculated based on serial ABPM recordings. Patients were divided into those with orthostatic hypotension (OH, n=68) and those with a normal head-up tilt-table test despite orthostatic intolerance (NOI, n=77) groups. Results: A multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that OH was associated with bilateral oVEMP abnormalities (p=0.021), SBP SD (p=0.012), and female sex (p=0.004). SBP SD was higher in patients with OH than in those with NOI (p<0.001), and was not correlated with n1–p1 amplitude (p=0.491) or normalized p13–n23 amplitude (p=0.193) in patients with OH.The sensitivity and specificity for differentiating OH from NOI were 72.1% and 67.5%, respectively, at a cutoff value of 12.7 mm Hg for SBP SD, with an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.73. Conclusions Bilaterally deficient oVEMP responses may be associated with OH regardless of 24-h BP variability, reflecting the integrity of the otolith-autonomic reflex during orthostasis. Alternatively, 24-h BP variability is predominantly regulated by the baroreflex, which also participates in securing orthostatic tolerance complementary to the vestibulo-autonomic reflex.

Primary malignant fibrous histiocytoma (MFH) is a malignant tumor of mesenchymal origin that rarely occurs in the urinary tract, particularly in the urinary bladder. Unlike urothelial carcinoma, which accounts for most bladder cancers, it occurs in the submucosal portion of the bladder wall and consists of the lamina propria, muscularis propria, and adventitia.It is presumed to originate from poorly differentiated pluripotent mesenchymal cells in which fibroblasts and histiocytes are partially differentiated. Radiologically, it is known as the “non-papillary tumor” and is commonly diagnosed as a large mass without necrosis, which shows invasion beyond the muscularis propia. Although the prognosis of this rare malignancy depends on pathological parameters, it generally has a poor prognosis with high local tumor recurrence. Here, we present a case of primary MFH in the urinary bladder with clinical symptoms of lower abdominal pain without gross hematuria that recurred rapidly and showed an aggressive disease course.

Background: and Purpose We delineated the association between otolithic dysfunction and blood pressure (BP) variability. Methods: We prospectively recruited 145 consecutive patients (age=71 [59–79] years, median [interquartile range]; 76 females) with orthostatic intolerance between December 2021 and December 2023 at a tertiary hospital in South Korea. Each patient underwent evaluations of cervical and ocular vestibular-evoked myogenic potentials (oVEMPs), 24-h noninvasive ambulatory BP monitoring (ABPM), and a head-up tilt-table test using the Finometer device. As measures of BP variability, the standard deviations (SDs) of the systolic BP (SBP SD) and the diastolic BP were calculated based on serial ABPM recordings. Patients were divided into those with orthostatic hypotension (OH, n=68) and those with a normal head-up tilt-table test despite orthostatic intolerance (NOI, n=77) groups. Results: A multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that OH was associated with bilateral oVEMP abnormalities (p=0.021), SBP SD (p=0.012), and female sex (p=0.004). SBP SD was higher in patients with OH than in those with NOI (p<0.001), and was not correlated with n1–p1 amplitude (p=0.491) or normalized p13–n23 amplitude (p=0.193) in patients with OH.The sensitivity and specificity for differentiating OH from NOI were 72.1% and 67.5%, respectively, at a cutoff value of 12.7 mm Hg for SBP SD, with an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.73. Conclusions Bilaterally deficient oVEMP responses may be associated with OH regardless of 24-h BP variability, reflecting the integrity of the otolith-autonomic reflex during orthostasis. Alternatively, 24-h BP variability is predominantly regulated by the baroreflex, which also participates in securing orthostatic tolerance complementary to the vestibulo-autonomic reflex.

Primary malignant fibrous histiocytoma (MFH) is a malignant tumor of mesenchymal origin that rarely occurs in the urinary tract, particularly in the urinary bladder. Unlike urothelial carcinoma, which accounts for most bladder cancers, it occurs in the submucosal portion of the bladder wall and consists of the lamina propria, muscularis propria, and adventitia.It is presumed to originate from poorly differentiated pluripotent mesenchymal cells in which fibroblasts and histiocytes are partially differentiated. Radiologically, it is known as the “non-papillary tumor” and is commonly diagnosed as a large mass without necrosis, which shows invasion beyond the muscularis propia. Although the prognosis of this rare malignancy depends on pathological parameters, it generally has a poor prognosis with high local tumor recurrence. Here, we present a case of primary MFH in the urinary bladder with clinical symptoms of lower abdominal pain without gross hematuria that recurred rapidly and showed an aggressive disease course.

Complement component 3 glomerulonephritis (C3GN) is a rare kidney disease characterized by complement dysregulation that results in prominent complement component 3 (C3) deposition in the kidneys. The clinical course of C3GN varies from mild hematuria to progressive chronic kidney disease. In most patients, C3GN is driven by acquired factors, namely, autoantibodies that target C3 or C5 convertases. Genetic variations in complement-related genes are less frequent. We report the case of a 9-yearold Korean boy who presented with microscopic hematuria and a persistently low C3 level and had biopsy findings of C3GN, with the presence of a C3 gene mutation: a frameshift mutation associated with C3 deficiency. However, the patient did not exhibit any other symptoms of complement deficiency. Direct DNA sequencing of his family members revealed the same genetic mutation in his father and older brother. This case report is significant because there are very few such reports worldwide concerning gene mutations related to C3 deficiency to be discovered in patients with C3GN. Explaining C3GN pathogenesis is challenging; therefore, additional research is required in the future.

Background: Atherogenic dyslipidemia, which is frequently associated with type 2 diabetes (T2D) and insulin resistance, contributes to the development of vascular complications. Statin therapy is the primary approach to dyslipidemia management in T2D, however, the role of non-statin therapy remains unclear. Ezetimibe reduces cholesterol burden by inhibiting intestinal cholesterol absorption. Fibrates lower triglyceride levels and increase high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels via peroxisome proliferator- activated receptor alpha agonism. Therefore, when combined, these drugs effectively lower non-HDL-C levels. Despite this, few clinical trials have specifically targeted non-HDL-C, and the efficacy of triple combination therapies, including statins, ezetimibe, and fibrates, has yet to be determined. Methods: This is a multicenter, prospective, randomized, open-label, active-comparator controlled trial involving 3,958 eligible participants with T2D, cardiovascular risk factors, and elevated non-HDL-C (≥100 mg/dL). Participants, already on moderate-intensity statins, will be randomly assigned to either Ezefeno (ezetimibe/fenofibrate) addition or statin dose-escalation. The primary end point is the development of a composite of major adverse cardiovascular and diabetic microvascular events over 48 months. Conclusion This trial aims to assess whether combining statins, ezetimibe, and fenofibrate is as effective as, or possibly superior to, statin monotherapy intensification in lowering cardiovascular and microvascular disease risk for patients with T2D. This could propose a novel therapeutic approach for managing dyslipidemia in T2D.

Viral load and the duration of viral shedding of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) are important determinants of the transmission of coronavirus disease 2019.In this study, we examined the effects of viral doses on the lung and spleen of K18-hACE2 transgenic mice by temporal histological and transcriptional analyses. Approximately, 1×105 plaque-forming units (PFU) of SARS-CoV-2 induced strong host responses in the lungs from 2 days post inoculation (dpi) which did not recover until the mice died, whereas responses to the virus were obvious at 5 days, recovering to the basal state by 14 dpi at 1×102 PFU. Further, flow cytometry showed that number of CD8+ T cells continuously increased in 1×102 PFU-virusinfected lungs from 2 dpi, but not in 1×105 PFU-virus-infected lungs. In spleens, responses to the virus were prominent from 2 dpi, and number of B cells was significantly decreased at 1×105PFU; however, 1×102 PFU of virus induced very weak responses from 2 dpi which recovered by 10 dpi. Although the defense responses returned to normal and the mice survived, lung histology showed evidence of fibrosis, suggesting sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Our findings indicate that specific effectors of the immune response in the lung and spleen were either increased or depleted in response to doses of SARS-CoV-2. This study demonstrated that the response of local and systemic immune effectors to a viral infection varies with viral dose, which either exacerbates the severity of the infection or accelerates its elimination.

Objectives: In this study, we aimed to compare the genetic architecture of schizophrenia (SCZ) and bipolar disorder (BD) in a Korean population by analyzing polygenic risk scores (PRS) derived from large-scale psychiatric disorder genome-wide association study data, based on genetic information collected from SCZ, BD, and healthy control groups. Methods: The study included 713 Korean patients with SCZ, 1,317 with BD, 526 healthy controls. Genotyping was performed using the Korean Biobank Array. PRS-continuous shrinkage method was used to calculate the PRS. Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) was conducted to determine the association between SCZ or BD disorder and PRS after adjusting for sex. Results: ANCOVA revealed significant differences in PRS values by diagnosis for PRS for SCZ (F=215.281, p<0.001), PRS for BD (F=13.811, p<0.001), and PRS for major depressive disorder (F=6.042, p=0.002). Post-hoc analysis showed that PRS for SCZ was highest in SCZ, followed by BD, and healthy controls. PRS for BD was elevated in both BD and SCZ compared to healthy controls. Conclusion Our study revealed quantitative differences in genetic architecture between SCZ and BD compared to healthy controls, while also suggesting a shared genetic background between the two disorders.