Objective: To analyze the characteristics and trends of scientific publications on thyroid ultrasound (US) from 2001 to 2020, specifically examining the differences among disciplines. Materials and Methods: The MEDLINE database was searched for scientific articles on thyroid US published between 2001 and 2020 using the PubMed online service. The evaluated parameters included year of publication, type of document, topic, funding, first author’s specialty, journal name, subject category, impact factor, and quartile ranking of the publishing journal, country, and language. Relationships between the first author’s specialty (radiology, internal medicine, surgery, otorhinolaryngology, and miscellaneous) and other parameters were analyzed. Results: A total of 2917 thyroid US publications were published between 2001 and 2020, which followed an exponential growth pattern, with an annual growth rate of 11.6%. Radiology produced the most publications (n = 1290, 44.2%), followed by internal medicine (n = 716, 24.5%), surgery (n = 409, 14.0%), and otorhinolaryngology (n = 171, 5.9%). Otorhinolaryngology and internal medicine published significantly more case reports than radiology (p < 0.001, each). Radiology published a significantly higher proportion of publications on imaging diagnosis (p < 0.001 for all) and a significantly lower proportion of publications on biopsy (p < 0.001 for all) than the other disciplines. Publications produced by radiology authors were less frequently published in Q1 journals than those from other disciplines (p < 0.005 for internal medicine and miscellaneous disciplines and < 0.01 for surgery and otorhinolaryngology). China contributed the greatest number of publications (n = 622, 21.3%), followed by South Korea (n = 478, 16.4%) and the United States (n = 468, 16.0%). Conclusion Radiology produced the most publications for thyroid US than any other discipline. Radiology authors published more notably on imaging diagnosis compared to other topics and in journals with lower impact factors compared to authors in other disciplines.

PURPOSE: Lipopolysaccharide-binding protein (LBP) is a 65-kDa acute phase protein, derived from the liver, which is present in high concentrations in plasma. Data regarding the association between circulating plasma LBP levels and obesity-related biomarkers in the pediatric population are scarce. We aimed to determine whether there was a difference in plasma LBP levels between overweight/obese and normal-weight adolescents and to assess the correlation of circulating LBP levels with anthropometric measures and obesity-related biomarkers, including insulin resistance, liver enzyme levels, and lipid profiles. METHODS: The study included 87 adolescents aged 12-13 years; 44 were overweight/obese and 43 were of normal-weight. We assessed anthropometric and laboratory measures, including body mass index (BMI), blood pressure, insulin resistance, liver enzyme levels, and lipid profiles. Plasma LBP levels were measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS: The mean age of the participants was 12.9±0.3 years. Circulating plasma LBP levels were significantly increased in overweight/obese participants compared with those in normal-weight participants (7.8±1.9 µg/mL vs. 6.0±1.6 µg/mL, P<0.001). LBP levels were significantly and positively associated with BMI, systolic blood pressure, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein-cholesterol, fasting glucose and insulin, and insulin resistance as indicated by the homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) (all P<0.05). In multivariate linear regression analysis, BMI and HOMA-IR were independently and positively associated with plasma LBP levels. CONCLUSION: LBP is an inflammatory biomarker associated with BMI and obesity-related insulin resistance in adolescents. The positive correlation between these parameters suggests a potentially relevant pathophysiological mechanism linking LBP to obesity-related insulin resistance in adolescents.
Acute-Phase Proteins ; Adolescent* ; Alanine Transaminase ; Aspartate Aminotransferases ; Biomarkers ; Blood Pressure ; Body Mass Index ; Cholesterol ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Fasting ; Glucose ; Humans ; Insulin Resistance* ; Insulin* ; Linear Models ; Liver ; Obesity ; Plasma*

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) is the main polyphenol in green tea and has anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative effects. The aim of this study was to determine the impact of EGCG on the expression of adhesion molecules and lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kappaB) signaling in rat intestinal epithelial (RIE) cells. METHODS: The effect of EGCG on LPS-induced NF-kappaB signaling and expression of intercellular adhesion molecule (ICAM)-1 and vascular cell adhesion molecule (VCAM)-1 was examined by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, western blotting, immunofluorescence and electrophoretic mobility shift assay. RESULTS: LPS-induced expression of ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 mRNA was inhibited by EGCG treatment in RIE cells. LPS-induced inhibitor of kappa B alpha degradation and NF-kappaB nuclear translocation were blocked by EGCG in RIE cells. EGCG blocked LPS-induced NF-kappaB DNA-binding activity in RIE cells. The pharmacological NF-kappaB inhibitor Bay11-7082 suppressed the LPS-induced expression of ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 mRNA in RIE cells. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that EGCG inhibits LPS-induced ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 expression by blocking NF-kappaB signaling in intestinal epithelial cells.
Animals ; Blotting, Western ; Catechin ; Epithelial Cells* ; Fluorescent Antibody Technique ; Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 ; NF-kappa B* ; Nitriles ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Rats ; Reverse Transcription ; RNA, Messenger ; Sulfones ; Tea ; Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1

We reports a case of a newly formed thrombus in the left atrial appendage during cardiopulmonary bypass detected by transesophageal echocardiography in a patient with chronic atrial fibrillation and mitral stenosis. This case alerts the anesthesiologists of possible thrombus formation despite full heparinization during cardiac surgery and the importance of a comprehensive echocardiography examination.
Atrial Appendage ; Atrial Fibrillation ; Cardiopulmonary Bypass ; Echocardiography ; Echocardiography, Transesophageal ; Heparin ; Humans ; Mitral Valve Stenosis ; Thoracic Surgery ; Thrombosis

OBJECTIVES: This study was designed to investigate the association between the dopamine D2 receptor (DRD2) genetic polymorphism [TaqIB (rs17294542) and TaqID (rs1800498)] and patients with schizophrenia. METHODS: TaqIB (rs17294542) and TaqID (rs1800498) polymorphism of the DRD2 gene were typed in 100 patients with schizophrenia and 109 normal controls. RESULTS: There were no statistical differences in genotype and allele distribution of TaqIB (rs17294542) and TaqID (rs1800498) genetic polymorphism between patients with schizophrenia and normal controls. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that the TaqIB (rs17294542) and TaqID (rs1800498) polymorphisms of the DRD2 gene may not be associated with schizophrenia in the Korean population.
Alleles ; Genotype ; Humans ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Receptors, Dopamine D2 ; Schizophrenia

BACKGROUND: Valvular heart surgery (VHS) utilizing cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) is inevitably associated with ischemic-reperfusion injury, which is known to depend on oxygen tension during reperfusion. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of arterial oxygen tension during reperfusion on myocardial recovery in patients undergoing VHS. METHODS: Fifty-six patients undergoing isolated VHS were randomly exposed to an oxygen fraction of 0.7 (hyperoxic group, n = 28) or 0.5 (normoxic group, n = 28) during reperfusion. All patients received an oxygen fraction of 0.7 during CPB. In the normoxic group, the oxygen fraction was lowered to 0.5 from the last warm cardioplegia administration to 1 minute after aortic unclamping, and was then raised back to 0.7. Hemodynamic data were measured after induction of anesthesia, weaning from CPB, and sternum closure. The frequency of cardiotonic medications used during and after weaning from CPB, and the short-term outcomes during the hospital stay were also assessed. RESULTS: The frequency of vasopressin and milrinone use during weaning from CPB, but not norepinephrine, was significantly less in the normoxic group. The post-operative cardiac enzyme levels and short-term outcomes were not different between the groups. CONCLUSIONS: Normoxic reperfusion from the last cardioplegia administration to 1 minute after aortic unclamping in patients undergoing VHS resulted in significantly less frequent use of vasopressin and inotropics during weaning from CPB than hyperoxic reperfusion, although it did not affect the post-operative myocardial enzyme release or short-term prognosis.
Anesthesia ; Cardiopulmonary Bypass ; Heart ; Heart Arrest, Induced ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Length of Stay ; Milrinone ; Norepinephrine ; Oxygen ; Prognosis ; Reperfusion ; Reperfusion Injury ; Sternum ; Thoracic Surgery ; Vasopressins ; Weaning

OBJECTIVES: This study was conducted to compare between hallucination group and delusion group in patient with schizophrenia, using Brain (99m)Tc-ECD SPECT. METHODS: Among 16 patients with less than 3 schizophrenic episodes, 8 patients whose initial symptom was hallucination were assigned to the hallucination group, and other 8 patients with initial sumptom of delusion were assinged to the hallucination group. All of the patients clinically evaluated using the PANSS and BPRS. Both groups of patients and 8 healthy subjects underwent (99m)Tc-ECD SPECT. RESULTS: Score of thinking disturbance subscale of BPRS were significantly lower in the hallucination group than the delusion group. In SPECT analysis, the hallucination group showed significantly increased perfusion in some areas of the right temporal lobe, bilateral limbic lobes and left parietal lobe compared to delusion group. Both group had a reduced rCBF in some areas of the frontal lobe. CONCLUSION: The hallucniation group, compared with the delusion group, showed significantly increased regional cerebral blood flow in some regions. Therefore, this data suggests that different neural substrates may affect the process of auditory hallucination and delusion.
Brain ; Delusions ; Frontal Lobe ; Hallucinations ; Humans ; Parietal Lobe ; Perfusion ; Schizophrenia ; Temporal Lobe ; Thinking ; Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon

PURPOSE: Histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACIs) induce accumulation of acetylated histones in nucleosomes, which lead to reactivate gene expression and inhibit the growth and survival of tumor cells. This study evaluated the efficacy of HDACIs in breast cancer cells in comparison with other established drug regimens. METHODS: Drug responses of tumor samples from mastectomy specimens of 78 breast cancer patients were evaluated using the histoculture drug response assay (HDRA). Tumor inhibition rates (IRs) of established drug regimens such as doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin with cyclophosphamide (AC), paclitaxel, docetaxel and doxorubicin with docetaxel (AT), as well as those of three HDACIs (SAHA, PXD101, and a novel compound CG-2) were evaluate. RESULTS: The percentages of chemosensitive tumors (chemoresponsiveness) were 26.9-60.3% with established regimens and 61.5-73.1% with HDACIs when the cutoff value for inhibition rate was set at 30%. Breast cancer cells appeared to be more chemoresponsive to HDACIs than to established drug regimens. Chemoresponsiveness to AT was the highest among the established drug regimens. A combination regimen offered higher activity than did a single drug (doxorubicin vs AT; p<0.001). HER2/Neu-overexpressing breast cancers were chemosensitive to SAHA and AT (p=0.031 and 0.04, respectively). CONCLUSION: Our findings show that breast cancer cells were sensitive to HDACIs, with therapeutic efficacies comparable to those of established drug regimens. Specific biological markers such as HER2/Neu could be assessed for effectiveness as HDACIs chemosensitivity markers in further clinical trials.
Biomarkers ; Breast ; Breast Neoplasms ; Cyclophosphamide ; Doxorubicin ; Gene Expression ; Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors ; Histone Deacetylases ; Histones ; Humans ; Hydroxamic Acids ; Mastectomy ; Nucleosomes ; Paclitaxel ; Sulfonamides ; Taxoids

PURPOSE: Previously, Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection was diagnosed by serological examination; currently, many EBV antigen detection methods have been developed and applied clinically for diagnosing EBV infection. To delineate the clinical characteristics of EBV infection, clinical and laboratory findings were evaluated for patients who tested positive in EBV polymerase chain reaction (PCR). METHODS: EBV PCR was conducted in 352 patients admitted to the pediatric ward from January 2004 to December 2006, with more than 2 clinical signs such as fever (> or =37.5degrees C), exudative throat infection, lymphadenopathy, hepatitis of unknown etiology, and splenomegaly. The EBV viral gene was detected by PCR in 115 patients (32%), and the clinical characteristics of these patients were evaluated. Laboratory findings such as leukocytosis, thrombocytopenia, atypical lymphocyte, and alteration in aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels in peripheral blood were examined. The EBV-specific immunoglobulin M antibody (EBV-IgM Ab) was also tested. RESULTS: Most of the children were younger than 8 years (89%), and the male to female ratio was 1.3:1. Exudative throat infection and fever (> or =37.5degrees C) were observed in all patients. Cervical lymph node enlargement was seen in 36 patients (31%); leukocytosis (WBC> or =10,000/mm3), in 54 patients (47%); and atypical lymphocyte (> or =20%), in 28 patients (24%). EBV-IgM Ab was positive in 33 patients (29%). The younger patients had higher ALT levels and higher incidence of positive EBV-IgM Ab than the older patients. CONCLUSION: The cumulative number of patients diagnosed to have EBV infection by PCR increased markedly for those under 8 years. ALT was higher and EBV-IgM Ab was detected more in younger patients with EBV infection.
Alanine Transaminase ; Aspartate Aminotransferases ; Child ; Epstein-Barr Virus Infections ; Female ; Fever ; Genes, Viral ; Hepatitis ; Herpesvirus 4, Human ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin M ; Incidence ; Leukocytosis ; Lymph Nodes ; Lymphatic Diseases ; Lymphocytes ; Male ; Pharynx ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Splenomegaly ; Thrombocytopenia

BACKGROUND: Off-pump coronary artery bypass (OPCAB) patients often require fluid, vasopressor, or inotropic support.It is therefore important that vigilant monitoring be undertaken to guide intervention and monitor the effects of therapy.Continuous monitoring of cardiac output (CO) is advisable.The aim of this study was to compare continuous cardiac index (CCI) and stat cardiac index (SCI) with intermittent bolus cardiac index (ICI) in patients undergoing OPCAB surgery. METHODS: Matched sets of CI measurements among CCI, SCI, and ICI were collected in 35 patients undergoing elective OPCAB at specific time periods.Bland-Altman analysis was used to compare the agreement among the different methods. RESULTS: Bland-Altman analysis of CI measurements yielded a bias, precision, and percent error of 0.09 +/- 0.63 L/min/m(2) (46.2%) for CCI and 0.09 +/- 0.60 L/min/m(2) (44.0%) for SCI, compared with ICI measurements. CONCLUSIONS: We found that the agreement of CCI, SCI, and ICI was poor.This disagreement increased during periods of open thorax and open pericardium when compared to the period of closed thorax.Continuous CO measurements through pulmonary artery catheter should be interpreted with caution during OPCAB.
Bias (Epidemiology) ; Cardiac Output ; Catheters ; Coronary Artery Bypass, Off-Pump ; Humans ; Organothiophosphorus Compounds ; Pericardium ; Pulmonary Artery ; Thoracic Surgery ; Thorax