Radioanatomic study of the skull base and septum in Asians: implications for using the nasoseptal flap for anterior skull-base reconstruction.

Background: The objective of this work was to assess the feasibility of using the nasoseptal flap (NSF) for covering the anterior skull-base defect in Asians, and to compare the results in whites.

Methods: A retrospective radioanatomic analysis was conducted in 100 Korean adult patients. Septal and skull-base dimensions were measured and the feasibility of the NSF in reconstructing a full anterior skull-base defect was evaluated.

Sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) for house dust mites does not prevent new allergen sensitization and bronchial hyper-responsiveness in allergic rhinitis children.

Introduction: The aim of this study is to identify the effects of sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) on immunologic parameters and bronchial-hyper-responsiveness in children with allergic rhinitis to house-dust mite (HDM), through long-term follow-up cohort.

Methods: Among the Allergic Rhinitis Cohort Study for Kids, pediatric patients who visited the hospital for rhinitis symptoms and proven allergy to HDM through skin prick test were studied. In this cohort, 37 patients received SLIT more than 3-years (SLIT group), and 184 patients received only pharmacologic therapy (non-SLIT group) were included in this study.

Anticancer effects of an extract from the scallop on MCF-7 human breast carcinoma cells.

, is a species of scallop and a marine bivalve mollusk. In traditional East Asian medicine, scallop meat is used as a drug for the treatment of diabetes, pollakisuria, and indigestion. The present study was conducted in order to examine the potential anticancer effects of scallop flesh extract (SE) on MCF-7 human breast cancer cells.

Classification of chronic rhinosinusitis according to a nasal polyp and tissue eosinophilia: limitation of current classification system for Asian population.

Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) can be classified according to the presence of a nasal polyp (NP): CRS with NP (CRSwNP) and CRS without NP (CRSsNP). CRSwNP has characteristics with high infiltration of tissue eosinophilia with a burst of Th2 inflammatory cytokine. However recent findings in Eastern Asia countries suggest that CRSwNP can be divided according to the presence of tissue eosinophilia.

Increase in nitrite content and functionality of ethanolic extracts of Perilla frutescens following treatment with atmospheric pressure plasma.

This study investigated the effect of atmospheric pressure plasma (APP) treatment on nitrite content and functionality of plant extracts. Ethanolic extracts of Perilla frutescens (EEP) were prepared and treated with APP for 60min. Nitrite content increased from 0 to 45.

Resection plane-dependent error in computed tomography volumetry of the right hepatic lobe in living liver donors.

Background/aims: Computed tomography (CT) hepatic volumetry is currently accepted as the most reliable method for preoperative estimation of graft weight in living donor liver transplantation (LDLT). However, several factors can cause inaccuracies in CT volumetry compared to real graft weight. The purpose of this study was to determine the frequency and degree of resection plane-dependent error in CT volumetry of the right hepatic lobe in LDLT.

Cases of acute mercury poisoning by mercury vapor exposure during the demolition of a fluorescent lamp factory.

Background: In 2015, workers dismantling a fluorescent lamp factory in Korea were affected by mercury poisoning from exposure to mercury vapor.

Case Presentation: Eighteen out of the 21 workers who participated in the demolition project presented with symptoms of poisoning and, of these, 10 had persistent symptoms even at 18 months after the initial exposure to mercury vapor. Early symptoms of 18 workers included a general skin rash, pruritus, myalgia, sleep disturbance, and cough and sputum production.

Systemic sclerosis due to crystalline silica exposure among jewelry workers in Korea: two case reports.

Background: Occupational exposure to crystalline silica is a potential risk factor for various systemic autoimmune diseases including systemic sclerosis. The etiology of systemic sclerosis is not conclusively known, but there are epidemiological studies that show the relationship between exposure to crystalline silica and risk of systemic sclerosis. Here we report, for the first time, two cases of crystalline silica-related systemic sclerosis in patients who worked in crystal processing in the jewelry-manufacturing field.

The Optimal Approach for a Superior Hypogastric Plexus Block.

Introduction: Superior hypogastric plexus block (SHGPB) is technically difficult, and an accurate procedure is required to avoid potential complications. We attempted to determine the reference angles for fluoroscopy-assisted SHGPB and to establish a predictor as a guide to select the optimal approach between the classic posterior approach and transdiscal approach.

Methods: Abdominopelvic computed tomography (CT) scans from 268 patients diagnosed with pelvic malignancies were examined.

Activation of AMPK by Maxim. Flower Extract Contributes to Protecting Hepatocytes from Oxidative Stress.

The Maxim. flower is used in traditional Chinese and Korean medicine to treat inflammation, vascular diseases, headache, and stroke, as well as enhance liver function. This research investigated the effects of Maxim.

Langerhans cells prevent subbasal nerve damage and upregulate neurotrophic factors in dry eye disease.

The functional role of Langerhans cells (LCs) in ocular surface inflammation and nerve damage in dry eye (DE) disease has yet to be determined. This study was performed to investigate this relationship through both clinical study on DE patients and in vivo mouse models with induced DE disease. In a cross-sectional case-control study (54 eyes of DE patients; 34 eyes of control patients), average cell density, area, and process length of LCs were measured using confocal microscopy.

Rattusin structure reveals a novel defensin scaffold formed by intermolecular disulfide exchanges.

Defensin peptides are essential for innate immunity in humans and other living systems, as they provide protection against infectious pathogens and regulate the immune response. Here, we report the solution structure of rattusin (RTSN), an α-defensin-related peptide, which revealed a novel C-symmetric disulfide-linked dimeric structure. RTSN was synthesized by solid-phase peptide synthesis (SPPS) and refolded by air oxidation in vitro.

Structural analysis and enhanced production of fusaricidin from Paenibacillus kribbensis CU01 isolated from yellow loess.

A bacterial strain showing strong antifungal activity was isolated from yellow loess and was identified as Paenibacillus kribbensis CU01. Insoluble mucoidal polymers were separated from M9 culture medium via low-speed centrifugation. Most antifungal activity was associated with substances in the insoluble precipitate, which was purified by reverse phase high performance liquid chromatography.

Renal function affects hippocampal volume and cognition: The role of vascular burden and amyloid deposition.

Aim: We determined if differences in renal function, even within normal levels, influenced hippocampal volume (HCV) and cognition.

Methods: Cognitively normal (CN) and mild cognitive impairment (MCI) subjects with eGFR ≥ 60 ml/min/1.73m were selected from the ADNI database (N = 1,269) and divided into three groups (eGFR 60-75, 75-90 and ≥90).

Role of Interleukin-17A on the Chemotactic Responses to CCL7 in a Murine Allergic Rhinitis Model.

Background: The proinflammatory cytokine interleukin (IL)-17A is associated with eosinophil infiltration into the nasal mucosa in a mouse model of ovalbumin-induced allergic rhinitis. Chemotaxis of eosinophils is mediated primarily through C-C chemokine receptor type 3 (CCR3). However, the mechanism underlying the IL-17A-mediated enhancement of eosinophil recruitment via chemoattractants/chemokines remains unknown.

Multicenter study on the asymmetry of skin temperature in complex regional pain syndrome: An examination of temperature distribution and symptom duration.

According to the International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP) and American Medical Association (AMA), the diagnostic criteria for complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) require the presence of skin temperature asymmetry. In CRPS, it is generally accepted that the temperature of skin of affected limbs changes from warm to cold; however, in our clinical practice, we have experienced many cases with different thermographic characteristics. Therefore, we conducted a retrospective multicenter study that examined the distribution of skin temperature in patients with CRPS and skin temperature asymmetry versus symptom duration.

A Maximum a Posteriori Estimation Framework for Robust High Dynamic Range Video Synthesis.

High dynamic range (HDR) image synthesis from multiple low dynamic range exposures continues to be actively researched. The extension to HDR video synthesis is a topic of significant current interest due to potential cost benefits. For HDR video, a stiff practical challenge presents itself in the form of accurate correspondence estimation of objects between video frames.

The relative accuracy of 4D dose accumulation for lung radiotherapy using rigid dose projection versus dose recalculation on every breathing phase.

Purpose: To investigate the accuracy of 4D dose accumulation using projection of dose calculated on the end-exhalation, mid-ventilation, or average intensity breathing phase CT scan, versus dose accumulation performed using full Monte Carlo dose recalculation on every breathing phase.

Methods: Radiotherapy plans for 10 patients with stage I-II lung cancer were analyzed. All patients had respiratory-correlated computed tomography (4D-CT) performed as part of an IRB-approved research protocol.

Synthesis of Mesoporous α-FeO Nanoparticles by Non-ionic Soft Template and Their Applications to Heavy Oil Upgrading.

This paper reports the synthetic route of 3-D network shape α-FeO from aqueous solutions of iron precursor using a non-ionic polymeric soft-template, Pluronic P123. During the synthesis of α-FeO, particle sizes, crystal phases and morphologies were significantly influenced by pH, concentrations of precursor and template. The unique shape of worm-like hematite was obtained only when a starting solution was prepared by a weakly basic pH condition and a very specific composition of constituents.

A Viewpoint on Treatment of Traumatic Bilateral Basal Ganglia Hemorrhage in a Child: Case Report.

Traumatic basal ganglia hemorrhage (TBGH) is a rare presentation of head injuries. Bilateral lesions are extremely rare. The pathophysiologic mechanism of bilateral TBGH seems to be the same as diffuse axonal injury.

Chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps is associated with chronic otitis media in the elderly.

Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) and chronic otitis media (COM) are common diseases in the otorhinolaryngology field. Although clinicians frequently encounter patients presenting both diseases simultaneously, a few studies have shown relationships between them. We examined whether CRS was associated with COM in adults who participated in the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from 2009 to 2012.

The Safety and Decision Making of Instrumented Surgery in Infectious Spondylitis.

Objective: Infectious spondylitis is mostly managed by appropriate antibiotic treatment options, and some patients may require surgical interventions. However, surgical interventions that use spinal instrumentation to correct the mechanical instability may be associated with the risk of an increase in the recurrence rate. In this study, we investigated whether spinal instrumentation effects on recurrence of infectious spondylitis.

Air pollution and urinary n-acetyl-B-glucosaminidase levels in residents living near a cement plant.

Background: To identify adverse renal effects due to air pollution derived from a cement plant in Korea. Urinary n-acetyl-B-glucosaminidase (U-NAG) levels in residents living near a cement plant were compared to those in a group who lived farther away from the plant.

Methods: From June to August 2013 and from August to November 2014, laboratory tests for U-NAG and heavy metal were conducted on 547 study participants.