Macrolide-Resistant and Macrolide-Sensitive Pneumonia in Children Treated Using Early Corticosteroids.

We have found that early corticosteroid therapy was effective for reducing morbidity during five Korea-wide epidemics. We evaluated the clinical and laboratory parameters of 56 children who received early corticosteroid treatment for pneumonia that was caused by macrolide-resistant () or macrolide-sensitive between July 2019 and February 2020. All subjects had dual positive results from a PCR assay and serological test, and received corticosteroids within 24-36 h after admission.

Early Confirmation of Infection by Two Short-Term Serologic IgM Examination.

The aim of the present study is to re-evaluate the clinical application of two-times serologic immunoglobulin M (IgM) tests using microparticle agglutination assay (MAA), an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay in diagnosing (MP) infection. A retrospective analysis of 62 children with MP pneumonia during a recent epidemic (2019-2020) was conducted. The MAA and ELISA immunoglobulin M (IgM) and IgG measurements were conducted twice at admission and around discharge, and MP PCR once at presentation.

4-Hydroxybenzaldehyde Restricts the Intracellular Growth of Toxoplasma gondii by Inducing SIRT1-Mediated Autophagy in Macrophages.

Toxoplasma gondii is an intracellular protozoan parasite that infects approximately one third of the human popu- lation worldwide. Considering the toxicity and side effects of anti-toxoplasma medications, it is important to develop effec- tive drug alternatives with fewer and less severe off-target effects. In this study, we found that 4-hydroxybenzaldehyde (4- HBA) induced autophagy and the expression of NAD-dependent protein deacetylase sirtuin-1 (SIRT1) in primary murine bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDMs).

Ultrasound-guided needle biopsy of large thyroid nodules: Core needle biopsy yields more reliable results than fine needle aspiration.

Purpose: The objective of this study was to compare the false negative rate, sensitivity and false positive rate of ultrasound (US)-guided fine needle aspiration (FNA) with those of US-guided core needle biopsy (CNB) for large thyroid nodules ≥2.0 cm, which reportedly have an increased risk of thyroid malignancy.

Methods: We retrospectively studied surgically confirmed thyroid nodules that had preoperative US-guided FNA or CNB between March 2005 and December 2013.

Comparison of the efficacy of diegnogest and levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system after laparoscopic surgery for endometriosis.

Aim: To compare the efficacy between dienogest and levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system (LNG-IUS) after laparoscopic surgery for endometriosis.

Methods: A total of 285 women were diagnosed as endometriosis by laparoscopy between 2011 and 2015. Patients were grouped into no treatment (n = 83), treatment with dienogest (n =130) and treatment with LNG-IUS (n =72) after laparoscopic surgery.

Current practices of cytoreductive surgery and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy in the treatment of peritoneal surface malignancies: an international survey of oncologic surgeons.

Background: The goal of the study was to investigate the current clinical practices among oncologic surgeons regarding cytoreductive surgery (CRS) with intraoperative hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC).

Methods: From September to October 2016, an online questionnaire surveyed the oncologic surgeons by email. The questionnaire included 20 multiple-choice questions of the following: eligibility for the CRS with HIPEC procedure, perioperative staging and surgery skill, assessment of residual tumors, and method used for intraperitoneal HIPEC.

Relationship between starting age of cranial-remolding-orthosis therapy and effectiveness of treatment in children with deformational plagiocephaly.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the optimal age for starting cranial-remolding-orthosis therapy in children with deformational plagiocephaly.

Methods: Medical records of 310 patients with deformational plagiocephaly were retrospectively reviewed and the initial and final cranial vault asymmetry index (CVAI), age when starting therapy, duration of therapy, mean change of CVAI, improvement rate, and treatment success were analyzed. We compared outcomes according to the groups divided by ages starting therapy.

Expression of Yes-associated protein 1 and its clinical significance in ovarian serous cystadenocarcinoma.

Yes-associated protein 1 (YAP1) is a key transcriptional regulator in the Hippo signaling pathway that plays a critical role in the development and progression of several types of malignancies, including ovarian cancer. Herein, we investigated the expression of YAP1 and its clinical significance in a large population of patients with ovarian serous cystadenocarcinoma (OSC), which is the most common form of epithelial ovarian neoplasm, using the TCGA database. Surprisingly, cross-cancer mRNA expression and alterations in YAP1 were higher in OSC than in those of other types of cancers in the TCGA database.

Discovery of 2-((R)-4-(2-Fluoro-4-(methylsulfonyl)phenyl)-2-methylpiperazin-1-yl)-N-((1R,2s,3S,5S,7S)-5-hydroxyadamantan-2-yl)pyrimidine-4-carboxamide (SKI2852): A Highly Potent, Selective, and Orally Bioavailable Inhibitor of 11β-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenase Type 1 (11β-HSD1).

A series of picolinamide- and pyrimidine-4-carboxamide-based inhibitors of 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 was synthesized and evaluated to optimize the lead compound 9. The combination of the replacement of a pyridine ring of 9 with a pyrimidine ring and the introduction of an additional fluorine substituent at the 2-position of the phenyl ring resulted in the discovery of a potent, selective, and orally bioavailable inhibitor, 18a (SKI2852), which demonstrated no CYP and PXR liabilities, excellent PK profiles across species, and highly potent and sustainable PD activity. Repeated oral administration of 18a significantly reduced blood glucose and HbA1c levels and improved the lipid profiles in ob/ob mice.

Clinical Findings of Asymptomatic Carpal Tunnel Syndrome in Patients With Diabetes Mellitus.

Objective: To evaluate the clinical differences between patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) who have asymptomatic carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) and those who have symptomatic CTS.

Methods: Sixty-three patients with DM were assessed using the Boston Carpal Tunnel Questionnaire (BCTQ), nerve conduction studies (NCS), and ultrasonographic evaluation of the cross-sectional area (CSA) of the median nerve. According to the BCTQ responses and NCS results, the patients were divided into the following three groups: group 1 (n=16), in which NCS results did not reveal CTS; group 2 (n=19), in which NCS results revealed CTS but the group scored 0 points on the BCTQ (asymptomatic); and group 3 (n=28), in which NCS results revealed CTS and the group scored >1 point on the BCTQ (symptomatic).

A potent and selective 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 inhibitor, SKI2852, ameliorates metabolic syndrome in diabetic mice models.

11β-Hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 (11βHSD1) has been targeted for new drugs to treat type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome. In this study, we determined whether the inhibition of 11βHSD1 with a new selective inhibitor, SKI2852, could improve lipid profiles, glucose levels, and insulin sensitivity in type 2 diabetic and obese conditions. SKI2852 showed a potent inhibition of cortisone to cortisol conversion for over 80% in both liver and adipose tissue ex vivo from orally administered C57BL/6 mice, and in vivo analysis results were consistent with this.

Voltammetric studies of topotecan transfer across liquid/liquid interfaces and sensing applications.

An amperometric ion sensor featuring a microhole supported water/organic gel interface was developed for the quantitative analysis of a water-soluble anticancer drug species, namely, topotecan, which has been used for ovarian and lung cancer treatments. Voltammetric responses associated with topotecan transfer across a polarized water/1,2-dichloroethane (1,2-DCE) interface were first investigated at different aqueous pH values to provide information on a topotecan partition diagram for understanding the lipophilicity of the topotecan drug species. The well-defined voltammetric characteristics for topotecan transfer in pH 4.

Synthesis and optimization of picolinamide derivatives as a novel class of 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 (11β-HSD1) inhibitors.

The synthesis and structure-activity relationship of a series of 6-substituted picolinamide inhibitors of 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 are described. The optimization of the left-hand side of lead compound 1 resulted in the discovery of the highly potent, selective, and orally available inhibitor 24, which demonstrated an excellent activity in a mouse ex vivo pharmacodynamic model. Moreover, compound 24 reduced the blood glucose and improved the lipid profiles in ob/ob mice after oral administration.

Synthesis and biological evaluation of picolinamides as potent inhibitors of 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 (11β-HSD1).

Synthesis of a series of 6-substituted picolinamide derivatives and their inhibitory activities against 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 are described. Optimization of the initial hit compound, N-cyclohexyl-6-(piperidin-1-yl)picolinamide (1) from high throughput screening of in-house library resulted in the discovery of the highly potent and metabolically stable compound 25, which was efficacious in a mouse ex vivo pharmacodynamic model and reduced the fasting blood glucose and insulin levels in a HF/STZ mouse model after oral dosing.

Holmes tremor after brainstem hemorrhage, treated with levodopa.

Holmes tremor is a rare movement phenomenon, with atypical low-frequency tremor at rest and when changing postures, often related to brainstem pathology. We report a 70-year-old female patient who was presented with dystonic head and upper limb tremor after brainstem hemorrhage. The patient had experienced a sudden onset of left hemiparesis and right facial paralysis.

Ginkgo biloba extract (GbE) enhances the anti-atherogenic effect of cilostazol by inhibiting ROS generation.

In this study, the synergistic effect of 6-[4-(1-cyclohexyl- 1H-tetrazol-5-yl) butoxy]-3,4-dihydro-2(1H )-quinolinone (cilostazol) and Ginkgo biloba extract (GbE) was examined in apolipoprotein E (ApoE) null mice. Co-treatment with GbE and cilostazol synergistically decreased reactive oxygen species (ROS) production in ApoE null mice fed a high-fat diet. Co-treatment resulted in a significantly decreased atherosclerotic lesion area compared to untreated ApoE mice.

Ginkgo biloba extract enhances antiplatelet and antithrombotic effects of cilostazol without prolongation of bleeding time.

Thrombosis and thromboembolic occlusions of major and minor blood vessels are a major complication in various peripheral vascular diseases. Antiplatelet agents (APA), key tools in the treatment of atherothrombosis, therefore became a mainstay medication for a wide range of vascular diseases. Cilostazol and Ginkgo biloba extract (GB), commonly used remedies for peripheral arterial disease, inhibit platelet aggregation with distinct therapeutic mechanisms.

Pulsed and color Doppler sonographic findings of penile Mondor's disease.

This report describes the color and pulsed Doppler US findings of penile Mondor's disease. The pulsed Doppler US findings of penile Mondor's disease have not been previously published, so we report here for the first time on the cavernosal arterial flow signal pattern of penile Mondor's disease. Penile Mondor's disease is rare disease that's characterized by thrombosis in the dorsal vein of the penis.