Purpose: To describe the incidence and mortality of upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC) from 2002–2020 using data from the Korean National Health Insurance Service, which contains data from the entire Korean population. Materials and Methods: Reimbursement records for 43,255 patients diagnosed with primary UTUC (according to the International Classification of Disease 10th revision code C65 and C66) between 2002–2020 were retrieved. The study period was split into four: period I (2002–2005), period II (2006–2010), period III (2011–2015), and period IV (2016–2020). Trends were quantified by calculating the annual percentage change (APC). Mortality data were obtained from the Statistics Korea. Results: From 2002–2020, the incidence of UTUC in Korea increased gradually from 9.34 to 11.40 per 100,000 person-years. Although there was a male predominance, the male to female ratio did not change significantly over time; however, age at the time of diagnosis, the comorbidity index, and the proportion of patients undergoing open/laparoscopic surgery increased significantly over time. There was a modest improvement in 5-year survival (both all cause- and cancer-specific) over the study period. Multivariate analysis identified age at diagnosis, sex, the comorbidity index, and open/laparoscopic surgery as being associated with survival. Conclusions Between 2002 and 2020, the incidence of UTUC in Korea showed a general upward trend; however, survival outcomes have improved. These representative datasets from the Korean population might provide crucial information that enables clinicians to better understand of the epidemiology of UTUC in Korea.

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the sustained effects of a 3-week equine-assisted activities and therapies (EAAT) program on motor function and muscle activity in children with cerebral palsy (CP). Methods: Nine children with CP (aged 5–15 years, Gross Motor Function Classification System stages I–III) parti-cipated in the study. We assessed Gross Motor Function Measure-66 (GMFM-66) scores, Pediatric Balance Scale (PBS) scores, BioRescue static posturography (RM Ingenierie) findings, core-muscle activity, and body composition before, immediately after, and 3 months after EAAT. Results: Of the nine included children, eight showed improvement in their GMFM-66 scores and six showed improvement in their PBS scores. No significant changes were observed in GMFM-66 and PBS scores immediately after the EAAT program compared to baseline. However, significant improvements were noted 3 months after EAAT in both GMFM-66 and PBS scores. Trunk skeletal muscle mass showed a significant increase immediately after EAAT. Balance, stability, and muscle activity during the gait cycle remained stable throughout the study. Conclusion This study suggests that a short-period EAAT program can lead to long-term improvements in gross motor function for children with CP.

Background: Fabry disease is a rare X-linked genetic lysosomal disorder caused by mutations in the GLA gene encoding alpha-galactosidase A. Despite some data showing that profibrotic and proinflammatory cytokines and oxidative stress could be involved in Fabry disease-related renal injury, the pathogenic link between metabolic derangement within cells and renal injury remains unclear. Methods: Renal fibrosis was triggered by unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) in mice with Fabry disease to investigate the pathogenic mechanism leading to fibrosis in diseased kidneys. Results: Compared to kidneys of wild-type mice, lamellar inclusion bodies were recognized in proximal tubules of mice with Fabry disease. Sirius red and trichrome staining revealed significantly increased fibrosis in all UUO kidneys, though it was more prominent in obstructed Fabry kidneys. Renal messenger RNA levels of inflammatory cytokines and profibrotic factors were increased in all UUO kidneys compared to sham-operated kidneys but were not significantly different between UUO control and UUO Fabry mice. Protein levels of Nox2, Nox4, NQO1, catalase, SOD1, SOD2, and Nrf2 were not significantly different between UUO control and UUO Fabry kidneys, while the protein contents of LC3-II and LC3-I and expression of Beclin1 were significantly decreased in UUO kidneys of Fabry disease mouse models compared with wild-type mice. Notably, TUNEL-positive cells were elevated in obstructed kidneys of Fabry disease mice compared to wild-type control and UUO mice. Conclusion These findings suggest that impaired autophagy and enhanced apoptosis are probable mechanisms involved in enhanced renal fibrosis under the stimulus of UUO in Fabry disease.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate sperm motility and its changes after preparation as predictors of pregnancy in intrauterine insemination (IUI) cycles. Methods: In total, 297 IUI cycles from January 2012 to December 2017 at a single tertiary hospital were retrospectively analyzed. Patient and cycle characteristics, and sperm motility characteristics before and after processing were compared according to clinical pregnancy or live birth as outcomes. Results: The overall clinical pregnancy rate per cycle was 14.5% (43/297) and the live birth rate was 10.4% (30/289). Patient and cycle characteristics were similar between pregnant and non-pregnant groups. Sperm motility after preparation and the total motile sperm count before and after processing were comparable in terms of pregnancy outcomes. Pre-preparation sperm motility was significantly higher in groups with clinical pregnancy and live birth than in cycles not resulting in pregnancy (71.4%±10.9% vs. 67.2%±11.7%, p=0.020 and 71.6%±12.6% vs. 67.3%±11.7%, p=0.030, respectively). The change in sperm motility after processing was significantly fewer in the non-pregnant cycles, both when the comparison was conducted by subtraction (post-pre) and division (post/pre). These relationships remained significant after adjusting for the female partner’s age, anti-Müllerian hormone level, and number of pre-ovulatory follicles. According to a receiver operating characteristic curve analysis, an initial sperm motility of ≥72.5% was the optimal threshold value for predicting live birth after IUI. Conclusions Initial sperm motility, rather than the motility of processed sperm or the degree of change after preparation, predicted live birth after IUI procedures.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate sperm motility and its changes after preparation as predictors of pregnancy in intrauterine insemination (IUI) cycles. Methods: In total, 297 IUI cycles from January 2012 to December 2017 at a single tertiary hospital were retrospectively analyzed. Patient and cycle characteristics, and sperm motility characteristics before and after processing were compared according to clinical pregnancy or live birth as outcomes. Results: The overall clinical pregnancy rate per cycle was 14.5% (43/297) and the live birth rate was 10.4% (30/289). Patient and cycle characteristics were similar between pregnant and non-pregnant groups. Sperm motility after preparation and the total motile sperm count before and after processing were comparable in terms of pregnancy outcomes. Pre-preparation sperm motility was significantly higher in groups with clinical pregnancy and live birth than in cycles not resulting in pregnancy (71.4%±10.9% vs. 67.2%±11.7%, p=0.020 and 71.6%±12.6% vs. 67.3%±11.7%, p=0.030, respectively). The change in sperm motility after processing was significantly fewer in the non-pregnant cycles, both when the comparison was conducted by subtraction (post-pre) and division (post/pre). These relationships remained significant after adjusting for the female partner’s age, anti-Müllerian hormone level, and number of pre-ovulatory follicles. According to a receiver operating characteristic curve analysis, an initial sperm motility of ≥72.5% was the optimal threshold value for predicting live birth after IUI. Conclusions Initial sperm motility, rather than the motility of processed sperm or the degree of change after preparation, predicted live birth after IUI procedures.

Background: Fabry disease is a rare X-linked genetic lysosomal disorder caused by mutations in the GLA gene encoding alpha-galactosidase A. Despite some data showing that profibrotic and proinflammatory cytokines and oxidative stress could be involved in Fabry disease-related renal injury, the pathogenic link between metabolic derangement within cells and renal injury remains unclear. Methods: Renal fibrosis was triggered by unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) in mice with Fabry disease to investigate the pathogenic mechanism leading to fibrosis in diseased kidneys. Results: Compared to kidneys of wild-type mice, lamellar inclusion bodies were recognized in proximal tubules of mice with Fabry disease. Sirius red and trichrome staining revealed significantly increased fibrosis in all UUO kidneys, though it was more prominent in obstructed Fabry kidneys. Renal messenger RNA levels of inflammatory cytokines and profibrotic factors were increased in all UUO kidneys compared to sham-operated kidneys but were not significantly different between UUO control and UUO Fabry mice. Protein levels of Nox2, Nox4, NQO1, catalase, SOD1, SOD2, and Nrf2 were not significantly different between UUO control and UUO Fabry kidneys, while the protein contents of LC3-II and LC3-I and expression of Beclin1 were significantly decreased in UUO kidneys of Fabry disease mouse models compared with wild-type mice. Notably, TUNEL-positive cells were elevated in obstructed kidneys of Fabry disease mice compared to wild-type control and UUO mice. Conclusion These findings suggest that impaired autophagy and enhanced apoptosis are probable mechanisms involved in enhanced renal fibrosis under the stimulus of UUO in Fabry disease.

Background: Dietary intake of n-3 fatty acids have been suggested for their protective role against cardiovascular disease. However, findings from recent studies have been inconsistent. Thus, we investigated the association between dietary intake of n-3 fatty acids and the 10-year risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Methods: We analyzed data from 17,390 adults who were aged 30–64 years and free of CVD using the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2012–2016. Dietary intake of n-3 fatty acids was calculated by using food-frequency questionnaire, and the 10 year risk of CVD was calculated by Framingham general cardiovascular disease risk score (2008) model. We analyzed the odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) from logistic regression to evaluate the association between dietary intake of n-3 fatty acids and the 10-year risk of CVD. Results: Logistic regression anlaysis showed that dietary intake of n-3 fatty acids was not significantly associated with the 10-year risk of CVD, after adjusting for confounders (OR=0.91; 95% CI, 0.77–1.07). But higher dietary intake of n-3 fatty acids was associated with reduced the 10-year risk of CVD for the female (OR=0.74; 95% CI, 0.58–0.95). Conclusion Our research indicated no significant association between dietary intake of n-3 fatty acids and the 10-year risk of CVD. But the inverse association was observed in the female.

Background: Research has reported that atopic dermatitis degrades the quality of life of adults in their 20s and 30s. This study, therefore, explored factors associated with improvement of atopic dermatitis in adults in their 20s and 30s. Methods: Three hundred and forty-eight adults who had been diagnosed with atopic dermatitis (recovery group, 146; atopic group, 202) in the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2016–2018) were selected for this study. Complex sample descriptive, crosstab, and logistic analyses were used to identify significant factors associated with improvement of atopic dermatitis in adults in terms of sociodemographic characteristics, lifestyle, mental health, and physical activity. Results: Among several sociodemographic characteristics, the significant factors were age, sex, and marital status. When these factors were included as covariates in logistic regression models, adults were more likely to be in the recovery group if they thought positively about their health condition, if their stress recognition was low, and if they had enough sleep time during the week. Furthermore, adults were more likely to be in the recovery group if they were engaged in high- and moderate-intensity activities at work and leisure. Conclusion This study showed that positive mental health, sufficient sleep time, and high- and middle-intensity activities are important factors associated with improvement of atopic dermatitis in adults in their 20s and 30s. We expect that these findings will help improve the quality of life in young working adults who suffer from atopic dermatitis.

BACKGROUND: Granulocyte transfusion (GTx) is performed as a supportive therapy in severe neutropenic patients caused by various conditions. The study aimed to analyze the hematologic parameters of donors, patients, and granulocyte concentrates to predict successful GTx. METHODS: This study was performed in 281 donors, with their granulocyte concentrates being collected through apheresis, and in 54 severe neutropenic patients who had various hematologic diseases. Complete blood cell counts of donors pre- and post-apheresis, granulocyte concentrates, and patients pre- and post-GTx were analyzed. Patients were divided into two groups according to survival at discharge (Group S, survival; Group D, dead) to compare various factors including age, infection status, pre- and post-GTx total white blood cell counts (TWBCC) and absolute neutrophil counts (ANC), total number of GTx, infused TWBCC and ANC per weight, and use of G-CSF during therapy. RESULTS: Overall data of patients showed that both TWBCC and ANC were significantly increased after GTx (median values at pre-GTx, TWBCC=0.40×109/L, ANC=0.14×109/L; post-GTx, TWBCC=0.57×109/L, ANC=0.29×109/L, both P<0.0001). After GTx, Group S (N=25) showed significantly higher TWBCC and ANC than Group D (N=29) (P=0.01 and P=0.04, respectively). Using different cutoff levels, post-GTx TWBCC greater than 0.5×109/L showed statistically significant difference between the two groups (P<0.01). None of the other factors showed statistically significant differences. CONCLUSION: The TWBCC and ANC after GTx were significant factors to predict patients' outcome. Therefore, follow-up of those two parameters may be helpful to select or consider other therapeutic modalities including additional GTx.
Blood Cell Count ; Blood Component Removal ; Follow-Up Studies ; Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor ; Granulocytes ; Hematologic Diseases ; Humans ; Leukocyte Count ; Neutropenia ; Neutrophils ; Tissue Donors