A risk stratification model of acute pyelonephritis to indicate hospital admission from the ED.

Objectives: There are no guidelines regarding the hospitalization of female patients with acute pyelonephritis (APN); therefore, we performed a retrospective analysis to construct a clinical prediction model for hospital admission.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of a prospective database of women diagnosed as having APN in the emergency department between January 2006 and June 2012. Independent risk factors for admission were determined by multivariable logistic regression analysis in half of the patients in this database.

Prediction of bio-methane potential and two-stage anaerobic digestion of starfish.

The present work reports the first ever evaluation of the biological CH₄ potential (BMP) of starfish, classified as invasive species. Since starfish contain a large amount of inorganic matter, only the supernatant obtained through grinding and centrifugation was used for BMP test. By applying response surface methodology, the individual and interactive effects of three parameters, inoculum/substrate ratios, substrate concentrations, and buffer capacities on CH₄ production were investigated, and the maximum CH₄ yield of 334 mL CH₄/g COD was estimated.

Application of low-strength ultrasonication to the continuous anaerobic digestion processes: UASBr and dry digester.

In this study, the positive effects of low-strength ultrasonication (LS-ultrasonication) on the anaerobic digestion (AD) performance were investigated by continuously operating an upflow anaerobic sludge blanket reactor (UASBr) and a dry digester. In the ultrasonicated UASBr system (1 s per min, 0.05 W/mL), ultrasonication enhanced the CH₄ production by 38% and 19% in an ambient and a mesophilic condition, respectively.

Low strength ultrasonication positively affects the methanogenic granules toward higher AD performance. Part I: physico-chemical characteristics.

To elucidate the correlation between enhanced biogas production and changed physico-chemical properties of methanogenic granules after low strength ultrasonication, in this study, the effects of low strength ultrasonication on the settling velocity, permeability, porosity, and fluid collection efficiency of the methanogenic granules were investigated. In addition, their morphological changes were visualized using a scanning electron microscopic technique. The experimental results indicate that low strength ultrasonication increased both the permeability (37%) and specific surface area (230%) of the granules through the generation of greater craters and cracks on the granular surface compared to the control granules.

Optimization of dark fermentative H₂ production from microalgal biomass by combined (acid + ultrasonic) pretreatment.

In this study, individual pretreatments (acid and ultrasonic) and a combination of these pretreatments were optimized to enhance the efficiency of dark fermentative hydrogen production (DFHP) from microalgal biomass. The experimental results show that the maximum H₂ production performance of 42.1 mL H₂/g dry cell weight (dcw) was predicted at 0.

Activation of nuclear factor-κB contributes to growth and aggressiveness of papillary thyroid carcinoma.

Nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) is involved in proliferation, angiogenesis, and metastasis in various malignancies; however, the role of NF-κB in papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) has not been fully elucidated. The purpose of this study was to elucidate the role and clinicopathological significance of the NF-κB signaling pathway in PTC. We investigated NF-κB RelA expression in 122 patients with conventional PTC by immunohistochemistry, and evaluated the correlation between RelA expression and clinicopathological parameters, including BRAF(V600E) mutation.

Metformin decreases meal size and number and increases c-Fos expression in the nucleus tractus solitarius of obese mice.

Metformin is widely used to treat obese diabetics because of its beneficial effects on body weight, energy intake, and glucose regulation. However, it has not been investigated how oral metformin affects meal patterns, or whether the reduced food intake is associated with neuronal activation in the hindbrain. Accordingly, we investigated how orally administered metformin (150 or 300 mg/kg daily for 4 or 7 days) reduces body weight in obese mice on a high-fat diet by continuously measuring meal patterns, energy expenditure, and locomotor activity, and whether oral metformin (300 mg/kg daily for 3 days) increases c-Fos expression in the nucleus tractus solitarius (NTS) and area postrema.

Dry anaerobic digestion of food waste under mesophilic conditions: performance and methanogenic community analysis.

The performance of dry anaerobic digestion (AD) of food waste was investigated under mesophilic conditions and the methanogenic community was investigated using 454 pyrosequencing. Stable dry AD was achieved by hydraulic retention time (HRT) control without the addition of alkali agents. The average CH4 production rate, CH4 content, and volatile solid reduction rate were 2.

Plastic bronchitis in an adult with asthma.

Plastic bronchitis is a rare disease characterized by marked airway obstruction, via the formation of large gelatinous or rigid airway cast. In Korea, there were a few case reports with plastic bronchitis not in adults, but in children. So we report a case of an adult who was diagnosed as plastic bronchitis with eosinophilic casts, with no history of atopic and cardiac disease.

A proposal for creating a guideline for cancer registration of the fibromatosis, PEComa group, malignant lymphoma In Situ and dendritic cell tumors (III).

Background: Understanding the biologic behavior of a tumor is a prerequisite for tumor registration code assignment. The aim of this report was to propose appropriate behavior codes of the International Classification of Disease Oncology 3 (ICD-O3) to rare, yet pathologically interesting hematopoietic and soft tissue tumors.

Methods: The Study Group for Hematopathology, the Bone and Soft Tissue Pathology Study Group, and the Cancer Registration Committee prepared the questionnaire containing provisional behavior codes of selected diseases.

Development of a novel three-stage fermentation system converting food waste to hydrogen and methane.

In this study, a novel three-stage (lactate-+photo-H(2)+CH(4)) fermentation system was developed, which converts food waste to H(2) and CH(4), with an emphasis on achieving high H(2) yield. The system begins by first fermenting food waste to lactate, rather than acetate and butyrate, using indigenous lactic acid bacteria. Lactate fermentation effluent was then centrifuged, and the supernatant was used for H(2) production by photo-fermentation, while the residue was used for CH(4) production by anaerobic digestion.

Diagnostic and prognostic relevance of MMP-11 expression in the stromal fibroblast-like cells adjacent to invasive ductal carcinoma of the breast.

Background: Matrix metalloproteinase 11 (MMP-11) is a matrix degrading enzyme known to be involved in the remodeling of extracellular matrix proteins. This enzyme recently has been reported to play a key role in tumor progression and results in poor clinical outcomes for several different types of tumors.

Methods: A total of 192 patients diagnosed with invasive ductal carcinoma between 2000 and 2005 were included in this study.

Extranodal follicular dendritic cell sarcoma with rapid growth in parapharynx: a case report.

Follicular dendritic cell sarcoma (FDCS) is a rare malignancy arising from the antigen-presenting cells in the lymph node and extranodal tissue. We describe a 31-year-old male patient who presented with a swelling of the left parapharynx. The radiologic findings showed a 4.

Robot versus laparoscopic gastrectomy for cancer by an experienced surgeon: comparisons of surgery, complications, and surgical stress.

Background: No previous robotic studies present an equivalent surgical quality comparison in an experienced setting for gastric cancer. In addition, a reliable postoperative complication assessment is needed to accurately evaluate surgical outcomes.

Methods: After 20 cases of robotic-assisted gastrectomy (RAG), a total of 121 consecutive gastric cancer patients underwent gastrectomy (38 RAG vs 83 laparoscopic-assisted gastrectomy [LAG]) from February 2009 to November 2010 at the Department of Surgery, Korea University Anam Hospital, Seoul, Korea.

Enhancing factors of electricity generation in a microbial fuel cell using Geobacter sulfurreducens.

In this study, we investigated various cultural and operational factors to enhance electricity generation in a microbial fuel cell (MFC) using Geobacter sulfurreducens. The pure culture of G. sulfurreducens was cultivated using various substrates including acetate, malate, succinate, and butyrate, with fumarate as an electron acceptor.

Relationships between Lymph Node Metastasis and Expression of CD31, D2-40, and Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors A and C in Papillary Thyroid Cancer.

Objectives: To investigate the relationships between lymph node metastasis (LNM) and expression of CD31, D2-40 and vascular endothelial growth factors (VEGF)-A and -C in patients with papillary thyroid cancer (PTC).

Methods: Paraffin-embedded thyroid tissues of 72 patients were evaluated, which included 25 patients with thyroid nodular hyperplasia (TNH), 24 PTC patients without LNM, and 23 PTC patients with LNM. Three pathologists, who were blinded to the patient's clinical information, assessed the immunohistochemical staining results.

Waste activated sludge hydrolysis during ultrasonication: two-step disintegration.

In order to clearly describe the hydrolysis of waste activated sludge (WAS) during ultrasonication by a 2-step disintegration process, concentrations of ribonucleic acid (RNA) and bound extracellular polymeric substance (EPS) were measured. Apparently, different decreasing patterns of RNA and EPS concentrations during WAS hydrolysis made it possible to distinguish the floc disintegration (FD) and cell lysis (CL). Initially, FD and CL appear to take simultaneously, but the dominant hydrolytic process is shifted from FD to CL after 10 min of ultrasonication.

How can we predict the presence of missed synchronous lesions after endoscopic submucosal dissection for early gastric cancers or gastric adenomas?

Goals: To identify predictive factors associated with the presence of missed synchronous lesions after endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) for gastric adenoma or early gastric cancer (EGC).

Background: Secondary gastric neoplasms that develop during follow-up period after ESD for gastric adenoma or EGC are divided into metachronous lesions and missed synchronous lesions.

Methods: ESD was performed in 250 patients with EGC or gastric adenoma.

Diagnostic and prognostic relevance of Cullin1 expression in invasive ductal carcinoma of the breast.

Background: Cullin1 (Cul1) is a matrix degrading enzyme known to be involved in the remodelling of extracellular matrix proteins. This enzyme has recently been reported to play a key role in tumour progression and its presence is associated with poor clinical outcome for several different types of tumours.

Methods: 159 patients diagnosed with invasive ductal carcinoma between 2000 and 2005 were studied.

Papillary thyroid carcinoma involving cervical neck lymph nodes: correlations with lymphangiogenesis and ultrasound features.

Stratification of risk factors for cervical lymph node metastasis (LNM) in thyroid papillary carcinoma is important for providing standards for post-operative adjuvant radio-iodine therapy and for patient prognosis. We investigated pathological factors based on the lymphatic vessel system and radiological features associated with tumor with cervical neck LNM. Among patients who had undergone thyroidectomy confirmed to be papillary thyroid carcinoma, we selected 126 age-sex matched paired patients without cervical LNM (group 1) and with LNM (group 2) to evaluate risk factors.

Enhanced activity of methanogenic granules by low-strength ultrasonication.

In this study, low-strength ultrasonication was applied at various ultrasonication densities (UDs) (0-0.1 W/mL) and ultrasonication time (UT) (0-30 min) to methanogenic granules on the purpose of increasing their activity, and eventually, enhancing the performance of upflow anaerobic sludge blanket reactor (UASBr). Batch test results showed that 5 min of ultrasonication at 0.

Effect of temperature on continuous fermentative lactic acid (LA) production and bacterial community, and development of LA-producing UASB reactor.

A frequently used fermentation manner in lactic acid (LA) production, batch fermentation by pure cultures, has a limited practicability: low volumetric productivity and high energy consumption. In this study, continuous LA fermentation was performed in a completely stirred tank reactor at 12h HRT, inoculated with anaerobic digester sludge. Glucose (25 g COD/L) was used as a feedstock and temperature was increased from 35 to 60°C.

Rapid and weight-independent improvement of glucose tolerance induced by a peptide designed to elicit apoptosis in adipose tissue endothelium.

A peptide designed to induce apoptosis of endothelium in white adipose tissue (WAT) decreases adiposity. The goal of this work is to determine whether targeting of WAT endothelium results in impaired glucose regulation as a result of impaired WAT function. Glucose tolerance tests were performed on days 2 and 3 of treatment with vehicle (HF-V) or proapoptotic peptide (HF-PP) and mice pair-fed to HF-PP (HF-PF) in obese mice on a high-fat diet (HFD).

Aggressive classical Kaposi's sarcoma mimicking malignant lymphoma.

Classical Kaposi's sarcoma is an unusual multifocal neoplasm of vascular endothelial cell origin, and considered a less malignant, slowly-progressing tumor. Although visceral involvement is occasionally seen in HIV/AIDS patients with KS, tumor dissemination to visceral lymph nodes in classical KS is very rare. A 72-year-old woman without any other relevant past medical history presented with anorexia, weight loss, night sweats, and skin eruptions.