Brainstem infarction can be a critical condition, typically due to ischemic mechanisms such as large artery atherosclerosis, small vessel disease, or cardioembolic sources. In rare instances, infectious or inflammatory etiologies may lead to brainstem infarction, posing substantial diagnostic complexities. We report the case of a 74-year-old man presenting bilateral pontine infarctions secondary to clival osteomyelitis and an adjacent abscess, which was further complicated by a basilar artery pseudoaneurysm and subsequent subarachnoid hemorrhage. This case highlights the importance of considering uncommon infectious causes of brainstem infarction, especially in patients with intricate medical backgrounds and immunosuppression.

Background: Coronary artery calcification and carotid plaque are recognized indicators of atherosclerosis, both linked to elevated cardiovascular and cerebrovascular risks. This study investigates the association between coronary artery calcification and carotid plaque and examines key risk factors associated with carotid plaque presence. Methods: We enrolled 2,620 participants who underwent coronary artery calcium scoring via computed tomography and carotid ultrasound for health check-up from January 2017 to December 2022. Patient data, including age, sex, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia, smoking history, body mass index, glucose, cholesterol, triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and lipoprotein(a), were collected. Logistic regression analyses were performed to explore the relationship between coronary artery calcification and carotid plaque, adjusting for major cerebrovascular risk factors. Results: Coronary artery calcification was present in 44.7% of participants, and carotid plaque was detected in 43.5%. Univariable analysis showed a significant association between coronary artery calcification and carotid plaque (unadjusted odds ratio: 4.393, p<0.001). In the multivariable model, which included age, sex, hypertension, dyslipidemia, glucose, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and coronary artery calcification presence, coronary artery calcification remained an independent predictor of carotid plaque (adjusted odds ratio: 2.327, p<0.001). The model’s area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.768. Conclusion Our study demonstrates that coronary artery calcification is independently and significantly associated with carotid plaque in a health check-up population. Carotid imaging, such as carotid ultrasound, may be beneficial for early detection and management of carotid atherosclerosis in patients with coronary artery calcification.

Background: Carotid plaque formation is a major global health issue and contributes in pathogenesis of vascular diseases. Lipoprotein(a), similar to low-density lipoprotein, may influence atherogenesis by promoting inflammation and thrombosis. However, the association between lipoprotein(a) levels and presence of carotid plaques has been debated. This study investigated the correlation between these parameters. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 4,896 individuals who underwent lipoprotein(a) measurement and carotid ultrasonography at Gangnam Severance Hospital between January 2017 and December 2022. The relationship between lipoprotein(a) levels and the presence of carotid plaques was evaluated using logistic regression analysis adjusted for factors such as age, sex, hypertension (HTN), dyslipidemia, and diabetes mellitus (DM). Results: Among the 4,896 enrolled participants, those with carotid plaques were older, more likely to be men, and had a higher prevalence of HTN, DM, and dyslipidemia. The analysis showed a significant association between the presence of carotid plaques and a level of lipoprotein(a) ≥50 mg/dL in both univariable (unadjusted odds ratio=1.508, p<0.001, 95% confidence interval: 1.192–1.907) and multivariable (adjusted odds ratio=1.335, p=0.029, 95% confidence interval: 1.030–1.731) models. Conclusion Elevated lipoprotein(a) level emerged as an independent risk factor for carotid plaque formation, emphasizing the need for integrated risk assessment. Targeting lipoprotein(a) could enhance preventive strategies against cerebrovascular events. Therefore, further research is warranted to elucidate this disease’s underlying mechanisms and evaluate therapeutic interventions.

Purpose: Few studies have reported the prevalence of inflammatory bowel disease unclassified (IBDU) among Korean pediatric IBD (PIBD) population. To address this gap, we used two tertiary centers and nationwide population-based healthcare administrative data to estimate the prevalence of Korean pediatric IBDU at the time of diagnosis. Methods: We identified 136 patients aged 2–17 years with newly diagnosed IBD (94 Crohn’s disease [CD] and 42 ulcerative colitis [UC]) from two tertiary centers in Korea between 2005 and 2017. We reclassified these 136 patients using the revised Porto criteria. To estimate the population-based prevalence, we analyzed Korean administrative healthcare data between 2005 and 2016, which revealed 3,650 IBD patients, including 2,538 CD and 1,112 UC. By extrapolating the reclassified results to a population-based dataset, we estimated the prevalence of PIBD subtypes. Results: Among the 94 CD, the original diagnosis remained unchanged in 93 (98.9%), while the diagnosis of one (1.1%) patient was changed to IBDU. Among the 42 UC, the original diagnosis remained unchanged in 13 (31.0%), while the diagnoses in 11 (26.2%), 17 (40.5%), and one (2.4%) patient changed to atypical UC, IBDU, and CD, respectively. The estimated prevalences of CD, UC, atypical UC, and IBDU in the Korean population were 69.5%, 9.4%, 8.0%, and 13.1%, respectively. Conclusion This study is the first in Korea to estimate the prevalence of pediatric IBDU.This prevalence (13.1%) aligns with findings from Western studies. Large-scale prospective multicenter studies on PIBDU are required to examine the clinical features and outcomes of this condition.

Objective: To investigate demographic and skeletodental characteristics of one-jaw (1J-OGS) and two-jaw orthognathic surgery (2J-OGS) in patients with skeletal Class III malocclusion. Methods: 750 skeletal Class III patients who underwent OGS at 10 university hospitals in Korea between 2015 and 2019 were investigated; after dividing them into the 1J-OGS (n = 186) and 2J-OGS groups (n = 564), demographic and skeletodental characteristics were statistically analyzed. Results: 2J-OGS was more frequently performed than 1J-OGS (75.2 vs. 24.8%), despite regional differences (capital area vs. provinces, 86.6 vs. 30.7%, p < 0.001). Males outnumbered females, and their mean operation age was older in both groups. Regarding dental patterns, the most frequent maxillary arch length discrepancy (ALD) was crowding in the 1J-OGS group (52.7%, p < 0.001) and spacing in the 2J-OGS group (40.4%, p < 0.001). However, the distribution of skeletal pattern was not significantly different between the two groups (all p > 0.05). The most prevalent skeletal patterns in both groups were hyper-divergent pattern (50.0 and 54.4%, respectively) and left-side chin point deviation (both 49.5%).Maxillary spacing (odds ratio [OR], 3.645; p < 0.001) increased the probability of 2J-OGS, while maxillary crowding (OR, 0.672; p < 0.05) and normo-divergent pattern (OR, 0.615; p < 0.05) decreased the probability of 2J-OGS. Conclusions In both groups, males outnumbered females, and their mean operation age was older. The most frequent ALD was crowding in the 1J-OGS group, and spacing in the 2J-OGS group, while skeletal characteristics were not significantly different between the two groups.

Niemann-Pick disease type C (NPC) is a neurovisceral lysosomal storage disorder caused by mutations in the NPC1 and NPC2 genes. These mutations cause the accumulation of unesterified cholesterol and other lipids in the lysosomes. NPC has a broad spectrum of clinical manifestations, depending on the age of onset. A 15-day-old infant presented at the Seoul National University Children's Hospital with neonatal cholestasis and hepatosplenomegaly, with the onset of jaundice at 5 days of age. Despite supportive treatment, the patient was considered for a liver transplant because of progressive liver failure. Unfortunately, the patient died from gastrointestinal bleeding before undergoing the transplant. The neonatal cholestasis gene panel revealed two novel likely pathogenic variants in the NPC1 gene (c.1145C>G [p.Ser382*] and c.2231_2233del [p.Val744del]). The patient was diagnosed with NPC, and both parents were found to be carriers of each variant. In infants presenting with neonatal cholestasis, a gene panel can help diagnose NPC.

No abstract available.
Nail Diseases ; Nails, Malformed ; Melanoma ; Skin Neoplasms

PURPOSE: The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the perioperative changes in bladder wall thickness and detrusor wall thickness after transurethral prostatectomy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty-one men who were treated for benign prostatic hyperplasia/lower urinary tract symptoms with transurethral prostatectomy were prospectively analyzed from May 2012 to July 2013. Prostate size, detrusor wall thickness, and bladder wall thickness were assessed by transrectal and transabdominal ultrasonography perioperatively. All postoperative evaluations were performed 1 month after the surgery. RESULTS: The patients' mean age was 69.0 years, the mean prostate-specific antigen concentration was 8.1 ng/mL, and the mean prostate volume was 63.2 mL. The mean bladder wall thickness was 5.1 mm (standard deviation [SD], +/-1.6), 5.1 mm (SD, +/-1.6), and 5.0 mm (SD, +/-1.4) preoperatively and 4.5 mm (SD, +/-1.5), 4.5 mm (SD, +/-1.3), and 4.6 mm (SD, +/-1.2) postoperatively in the anterior wall, dome, and trigone, respectively (p=0.178, p=0.086, and p=0.339, respectively). The mean detrusor wall thickness was 0.9 mm (SD, +/-0.4) preoperatively and 0.7 mm (SD, +/-0.3) postoperatively (p=0.001). A subgroup analysis stratifying patients into a large prostate group (weight, > or =45 g) and a high Abrams-Griffiths number group (>30) showed a significant decrease in detrusor wall thickness (p=0.002, p=0.018). CONCLUSIONS: There was a decrease in detrusor wall thickness after transurethral prostatectomy. The large prostate group and the high Abrams-Griffiths number group showed a significant decrease in detrusor wall thickness after surgery.
Humans ; Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms* ; Male ; Prospective Studies ; Prostate ; Prostate-Specific Antigen ; Transurethral Resection of Prostate ; Ultrasonography ; Urinary Bladder* ; Urinary Tract

In this study, we examined the therapeutic effects of an immune-stimulating peptide, WKYMVm, in ulcerative colitis. The administration of WKYMVm to dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-treated mice reversed decreases in body weight, bleeding score and stool score in addition to reversing DSS-induced mucosa destruction and shortened colon. The WKYMVm-induced therapeutic effect against ulcerative colitis was strongly inhibited by a formyl peptide receptor (FPR) 2 antagonist, WRWWWW, indicating the crucial role of FPR2 in this effect. Mechanistically, WKYMVm effectively decreases intestinal permeability by stimulating colon epithelial cell proliferation. WKYMVm also strongly decreases interleukin-23 and transforming growth factor-beta production in the colon of DSS-treated mice. We suggest that the potent immune-modulating peptide WKYMVm and its receptor FPR2 may be useful in the development of efficient therapeutic agents against chronic intestinal inflammatory diseases.
Adjuvants, Immunologic/pharmacology/*therapeutic use ; Animals ; Caco-2 Cells ; Cell Proliferation ; Colitis, Ulcerative/*drug therapy/metabolism ; Colon/pathology ; Humans ; Interleukin-23/genetics/metabolism ; Intestinal Mucosa/drug effects/metabolism/pathology ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Oligopeptides/pharmacology/*therapeutic use ; Permeability ; Receptors, Formyl Peptide/antagonists & inhibitors ; Transforming Growth Factor beta/genetics/metabolism