Oxidative stress plays a crucial role in the development of neuronal disorders including brain ischemic injury. Thioredoxin 1 (Trx1), a 12 kDa oxidoreductase, has anti-oxidant and anti-apoptotic functions in various cells. It has been highly implicated in brain ischemic injury. However, the protective mechanism of Trx1 against hippocampal neuronal cell death is not identified yet. Using a cell permeable Tat-Trx1 protein, protective mechanism of Trx1 against hydrogen peroxide-induced cell death was examined using HT-22 cells and an ischemic animal model. Transduced Tat-Trx1 markedly inhibited intracellular ROS levels, DNA fragmentation, and cell death in H 2O 2-treatment HT-22 cells. Tat-Trx1 also significantly inhibited phosphorylation of ASK1 and MAPKs in signaling pathways of HT-22 cells. In addition, Tat-Trx1 regulated expression levels of Akt, NF-κB, and apoptosis related proteins. In an ischemia animal model, Tat-Trx1 markedly protected hippocampal neuronal cell death and reduced astrocytes and microglia activation. These findings indicate that transduced Tat-Trx1 might be a potential therapeutic agent for treating ischemic injury.

Purpose: This study aimed to analyze whether patients with lung cancer have a higher susceptibility of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), severe presentation, and higher mortality than those without lung cancer. Materials and Methods: A nationwide cohort of confirmed COVID-19 (n=8,070) between January 1, 2020, and May 30, 2020, and a 1:15 age-, sex-, and residence-matched cohort (n=121,050) were constructed. A nested case-control study was performed to compare the proportion of patients with lung cancer between the COVID-19 cohort and the matched cohort. Results: The proportion of patients with lung cancer was significantly higher in the COVID-19 cohort (0.5% [37/8,070]) than in the matched cohort (0.3% [325/121,050]) (p=0.002). The adjusted odds ratio [OR] of having lung cancer was significantly higher in the COVID-19 cohort than in the matched cohort (adjusted OR, 1.51; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.05 to 2.10). Among patients in the COVID-19 cohort, compared to patients without lung cancer, those with lung cancer were more likely to have severe COVID-19 (54.1% vs. 13.2%, p < 0.001), including mortality (18.9% vs. 2.8%, p < 0.001). The adjusted OR for the occurrence of severe COVID-19 in patients with lung cancer relative to those without lung cancer was 2.24 (95% CI, 1.08 to 4.74). Conclusion The risk of COVID-19 occurrence and severe presentation, including mortality, may be higher in patients with lung cancer than in those without lung cancer.

Oxidative stress plays a crucial role in the development of neuronal disorders including brain ischemic injury. Thioredoxin 1 (Trx1), a 12 kDa oxidoreductase, has anti-oxidant and anti-apoptotic functions in various cells. It has been highly implicated in brain ischemic injury. However, the protective mechanism of Trx1 against hippocampal neuronal cell death is not identified yet. Using a cell permeable Tat-Trx1 protein, protective mechanism of Trx1 against hydrogen peroxide-induced cell death was examined using HT-22 cells and an ischemic animal model. Transduced Tat-Trx1 markedly inhibited intracellular ROS levels, DNA fragmentation, and cell death in H 2O 2-treatment HT-22 cells. Tat-Trx1 also significantly inhibited phosphorylation of ASK1 and MAPKs in signaling pathways of HT-22 cells. In addition, Tat-Trx1 regulated expression levels of Akt, NF-κB, and apoptosis related proteins. In an ischemia animal model, Tat-Trx1 markedly protected hippocampal neuronal cell death and reduced astrocytes and microglia activation. These findings indicate that transduced Tat-Trx1 might be a potential therapeutic agent for treating ischemic injury.

Purpose: This study aimed to analyze whether patients with lung cancer have a higher susceptibility of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), severe presentation, and higher mortality than those without lung cancer. Materials and Methods: A nationwide cohort of confirmed COVID-19 (n=8,070) between January 1, 2020, and May 30, 2020, and a 1:15 age-, sex-, and residence-matched cohort (n=121,050) were constructed. A nested case-control study was performed to compare the proportion of patients with lung cancer between the COVID-19 cohort and the matched cohort. Results: The proportion of patients with lung cancer was significantly higher in the COVID-19 cohort (0.5% [37/8,070]) than in the matched cohort (0.3% [325/121,050]) (p=0.002). The adjusted odds ratio [OR] of having lung cancer was significantly higher in the COVID-19 cohort than in the matched cohort (adjusted OR, 1.51; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.05 to 2.10). Among patients in the COVID-19 cohort, compared to patients without lung cancer, those with lung cancer were more likely to have severe COVID-19 (54.1% vs. 13.2%, p < 0.001), including mortality (18.9% vs. 2.8%, p < 0.001). The adjusted OR for the occurrence of severe COVID-19 in patients with lung cancer relative to those without lung cancer was 2.24 (95% CI, 1.08 to 4.74). Conclusion The risk of COVID-19 occurrence and severe presentation, including mortality, may be higher in patients with lung cancer than in those without lung cancer.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: As the prevalence of chronic diseases has risen, the need for straightforward diagnostic tools for monitoring nutrition status to improve nutrition counseling and disease prevention has likewise increased. This study developed an easily usable dietary behavior pattern diagnosis checklist and investigated its correlation with dietary quality index. SUBJECTS/METHODS: A draft dietary pattern evaluation tool was generated by analyzing previous studies. The draft questionnaire comprised 61 questions for assessing dietary habits. A survey was administered to 320 adults (19 to 64 years old) using the dietary pattern evaluation tool and 24-hour-recall method between March and May of 2014 in Jeonbuk province and the metropolitan area. Principal component analysis with varimax rotation was performed to identify dietary behavior patterns. Nutritional analysis was conducted using CAN-Pro 4.0, and the Diet Quality Index-International (DQI-I) was calculated to assess dietary quality. The correlation between dietary pattern scores and DQI-I scores was also analyzed. RESULTS: The factor analysis resulted in a total of 34 questions mapped to four main dietary behavior patterns: "high fat and calorie" pattern (12 questions), "overeating/binge" pattern (nine questions), "dietary impulse" pattern (eight questions), and "unbalanced food intake" pattern (five questions). The four dietary behavior patterns were negatively correlated with DQI-I adequacy and total scores (P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: The dietary pattern evaluation tool developed in this study can be used to diagnose a client's dietary behavior problems and is available as a nutrition counseling tool in the field.
Adult* ; Checklist ; Chronic Disease ; Counseling ; Diagnosis ; Diet ; Food Habits ; Humans ; Jeollabuk-do ; Methods ; Nutrition Assessment ; Nutritional Status ; Nutritive Value ; Prevalence ; Principal Component Analysis

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: As the prevalence of chronic diseases has risen, the need for straightforward diagnostic tools for monitoring nutrition status to improve nutrition counseling and disease prevention has likewise increased. This study developed an easily usable dietary behavior pattern diagnosis checklist and investigated its correlation with dietary quality index. SUBJECTS/METHODS: A draft dietary pattern evaluation tool was generated by analyzing previous studies. The draft questionnaire comprised 61 questions for assessing dietary habits. A survey was administered to 320 adults (19 to 64 years old) using the dietary pattern evaluation tool and 24-hour-recall method between March and May of 2014 in Jeonbuk province and the metropolitan area. Principal component analysis with varimax rotation was performed to identify dietary behavior patterns. Nutritional analysis was conducted using CAN-Pro 4.0, and the Diet Quality Index-International (DQI-I) was calculated to assess dietary quality. The correlation between dietary pattern scores and DQI-I scores was also analyzed. RESULTS: The factor analysis resulted in a total of 34 questions mapped to four main dietary behavior patterns: "high fat and calorie" pattern (12 questions), "overeating/binge" pattern (nine questions), "dietary impulse" pattern (eight questions), and "unbalanced food intake" pattern (five questions). The four dietary behavior patterns were negatively correlated with DQI-I adequacy and total scores (P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: The dietary pattern evaluation tool developed in this study can be used to diagnose a client's dietary behavior problems and is available as a nutrition counseling tool in the field.
Adult* ; Checklist ; Chronic Disease ; Counseling ; Diagnosis ; Diet ; Food Habits ; Humans ; Jeollabuk-do ; Methods ; Nutrition Assessment ; Nutritional Status ; Nutritive Value ; Prevalence ; Principal Component Analysis

In connective tissue diseases, autoantibodies cause pulmonary interstitial inflammation and fibrosis, and patients require treatment with an immunosuppressive agent such as a steroid. Dermatomyositis is an incurable, uncommon form of connective tissue disease that occasionally causes diffuse pulmonary inflammation leading to acute severe respiratory failure. In such cases, the prognosis is very poor despite treatment with high-dose steroid. In the present case, a 46-year-old man was admitted to our hospital with dyspnea. He was diagnosed with dermatomyositis combined with cryptogenic organizing pneumonia (COP) with respiratory failure and underwent treatment with steroid and an immunosuppressive agent, but the COP was not improved. However, the respiratory failure did improve after treatment with intravenous immunoglobulin, which therefore can be considered a treatment option in cases where steroids and immunosuppressive agents are ineffective.
Autoantibodies ; Connective Tissue Diseases ; Cryptogenic Organizing Pneumonia* ; Dermatomyositis* ; Dyspnea ; Fibrosis ; Humans ; Immunoglobulins* ; Immunosuppressive Agents ; Inflammation ; Lung Diseases, Interstitial ; Middle Aged ; Pneumonia ; Prognosis ; Respiratory Insufficiency ; Steroids

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The first edition of the Korean treatment guidelines for chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) was published in 2006. We intend to update those guidelines to include the use of next-generation tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs). METHODS: New guidelines were developed in 2012 based on the results of a survey and a consensus meeting of various Korean experts, the reports of recent clinical studies, and updated guidelines from external study groups. RESULTS: An assessment of risk factors is strongly recommended before treating newly diagnosed chronic phase CML. Imatinib, dasatinib, and nilotinib are reimbursable in Korea as first-line treatments, and the patient's age, comorbidities, and possible adverse events should be considered in the choice of treatment. Molecular studies are recommended for assessing treatment efficacy instead of invasive cytogenetic response evaluations, and an early response is believed to correlate with a good prognosis. Second-line TKIs can be considered for patients who fail or are intolerant of first-line therapy, pending analysis of ABL tyrosine kinase mutation status. For treating advanced stages, a combination of TKIs with cytotoxic agents and hematopoietic cell transplantation is recommended. The adverse effects of TKI therapy can be managed via dose reduction and supportive care, or switching to an alternate TKI. CONCLUSIONS: The use of TKIs has improved the outcome of CML treatment. Treatment-free remission after discontinuing TKIs might be possible in select patients who achieve sufficient response, indicating that curative treatment for CML can be expected in the future.
Cell Transplantation ; Comorbidity ; Consensus ; Cytogenetics ; Cytotoxins ; Hematology* ; Humans ; Korea ; Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive* ; Prognosis ; Protein-Tyrosine Kinases ; Risk Factors ; Transplants ; Treatment Outcome ; Dasatinib ; Imatinib Mesylate

In connective tissue diseases, autoantibodies cause pulmonary interstitial inflammation and fibrosis, and patients require treatment with an immunosuppressive agent such as a steroid. Dermatomyositis is an incurable, uncommon form of connective tissue disease that occasionally causes diffuse pulmonary inflammation leading to acute severe respiratory failure. In such cases, the prognosis is very poor despite treatment with high-dose steroid. In the present case, a 46-year-old man was admitted to our hospital with dyspnea. He was diagnosed with dermatomyositis combined with cryptogenic organizing pneumonia (COP) with respiratory failure and underwent treatment with steroid and an immunosuppressive agent, but the COP was not improved. However, the respiratory failure did improve after treatment with intravenous immunoglobulin, which therefore can be considered a treatment option in cases where steroids and immunosuppressive agents are ineffective.
Autoantibodies ; Connective Tissue Diseases ; Cryptogenic Organizing Pneumonia ; Dermatomyositis ; Dyspnea ; Fibrosis ; Humans ; Immunoglobulins ; Immunosuppressive Agents ; Inflammation ; Lung Diseases, Interstitial ; Middle Aged ; Pneumonia ; Prognosis ; Respiratory Insufficiency ; Steroids

The tumor embolism is defined as tumor cells within the vascular system such as pulmonary artery that is not contiguous with the other metastatic foci. The incidence of tumor embolism varies widely ranging from 3% to 26% among several studies; whereas lung cancer, prostate cancer, colorectal cancer, breast cancer, pancreas cancer are associated with high risks for tumor embolism. However thyroid cancer is rarely associated with tumor embolism. Among the rare cases, tumor embolism was reported as being mostly of follicular carcinoma or undifferentiated carcinoma, but few of papillary carcinoma. We report an unusual presentation that pulmonary tumor embolism from thyroid papillary carcinoma was diagnosed with positron emission tomography/computed tomography (CT) and chest CT.
Breast Neoplasms ; Carcinoma ; Carcinoma, Papillary ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; Electrons ; Incidence ; Lung Neoplasms ; Neoplastic Cells, Circulating ; Pancreatic Neoplasms ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; Pulmonary Artery ; Thorax ; Thyroid Gland ; Thyroid Neoplasms