Development of a population pharmacokinetic model of pyrazinamide to guide personalized therapy: impacts of geriatric and diabetes mellitus on clearance.

This study was performed to develop a population pharmacokinetic model of pyrazinamide for Korean tuberculosis (TB) patients and to explore and identify the influence of demographic and clinical factors, especially geriatric diabetes mellitus (DM), on the pharmacokinetics (PK) of pyrazinamide (PZA). PZA concentrations at random post-dose points, demographic characteristics, and clinical information were collected in a multicenter prospective TB cohort study from 18 hospitals in Korea. Data obtained from 610 TB patients were divided into training and test datasets at a 4:1 ratio.

Mutational Analysis of Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Using Targeted Kinome Sequencing.

Purpose: Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) does not have defined therapeutic targets and is currently treated with chemotherapy only. Kinase dysregulation triggers cancer cell proliferation and metastasis and is a crucial therapeutic target for cancer. In this study, targeted kinome sequencing of TNBC tumors was performed to assess the association between kinome gene alterations and disease outcomes in TNBC.

Artificial Intelligence-based Radiomics in the Era of Immuno-oncology.

The recent, rapid advances in immuno-oncology have revolutionized cancer treatment and spurred further research into tumor biology. Yet, cancer patients respond variably to immunotherapy despite mounting evidence to support its efficacy. Current methods for predicting immunotherapy response are unreliable, as these tests cannot fully account for tumor heterogeneity and microenvironment.

Impact of birth season on second-to-fourth digit ratio, prostate volume, and prostate cancer.

Purpose: The second-to-fourth digit ratio (digit ratio), which is determined , is associated with exposure to visible sunlight during early pregnancy and the season of birth. The digit ratio is also associated with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and prostate cancer. This suggests that BPH and prostate cancer may be related to the birth season.

Factors Preventing Nosocomial Outbreak Following a Single case of COVID-19 Diagnosed During Hospitalization: A Retrospective Review.

Objective: Our hospital experienced a hospital shutdown and 2 week quarantine after a case of COVID-19 was diagnosed during hospitalization. We analyzed the reopening process following hospital closure and possible factors that prevented hospital spread.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the confirmed patient's medical records and results of epidemiological survey available from the infection control team of our hospital.

Fabrication of 2D and 3D Cell Cluster Arrays Using a Cell-Friendly Photoresist.

Cells in 3D behave differently than cells in 2D. We develop a new method for the fabrication of 2D and 3D cell cluster arrays on an identical substrate using a cell-friendly photoresist, which enables comparative study between cells in 2D and 3D cell clusters. The fabricated cell cluster arrays maintain their structure up to 3 days with good viability.

Overcoming acquired resistance to PD-1 inhibitor with the addition of metformin in small cell lung cancer (SCLC).

Metformin has been widely used as the treatment of type II diabetes mellitus for its anti-hyperglycemic effect. In recent years, it has also been extensively studied for its anti-cancer effect as it diminishes immune exhaustion of CD8 + tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs). It decreases apoptosis of CD8 + TILs, thereby enhancing T cell-mediated immune response to tumor cells.

Development and Validation of a Next-Generation Sequencing-Based Multigene Assay to Predict the Prognosis of Estrogen Receptor-Positive, HER2-Negative Breast Cancer.

Purpose: Multigene assays provide useful prognostic information regarding hormone receptor (HR)-positive breast cancer. Next-generation sequencing (NGS)-based platforms have numerous advantages including reproducibility and adaptability in local laboratories. This study aimed to develop and validate an NGS-based multigene assay to predict the distant recurrence risk.

Dynamic Contrast-enhanced Breast MRI for Evaluating Residual Tumor Size after Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy.

Purpose To investigate the accuracy of dynamic contrast material-enhanced (DCE) breast MRI for determining residual tumor size after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC). Materials and Methods For this retrospective study, 487 consecutive women (mean age, 47.0 years ± 10.

Integrated F-FDG PET/MRI in breast cancer: early prediction of response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy.

Purpose: To explore whether integrated F-FDG PET/MRI can be used to predict pathological response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) in patients with breast cancer.

Methods: Between November 2014 and April 2016, 26 patients with breast cancer who had received NAC and subsequent surgery were prospectively enrolled. Each patient underwent F-FDG PET/MRI examination before and after the first cycle of NAC.

The Need for a Well-Organized, Video-Assisted Asthma Education Program at Korean Primary Care Clinics.

Background: The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of our new video-assisted asthma education program on patients' knowledge regarding asthma and asthma control.

Methods: Adult asthmatics who were diagnosed by primary care physicians and followed for at least 1 year were educated via smart devices and pamphlets. The education sessions were carried out three times at 2-week intervals.

Qualitative and quantitative results of interferon-γ release assays for monitoring the response to anti-tuberculosis treatment.

Background/aims: The usefulness of interferon-γ release assays (IGRAs) in monitoring to responses to anti-tuberculosis (TB) treatment is controversial. We compared the results of two IGRAs before and after anti-TB treatment in same patients with active TB.

Methods: From a retrospective review, we selected patients with active TB who underwent repeated QuantiFERON-TB Gold (QFN-Gold, Cellestis Limited) and T-SPOT.

Pretreatment MR Imaging Features of Triple-Negative Breast Cancer: Association with Response to Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy and Recurrence-Free Survival.

Purpose To investigate whether pretreatment breast magnetic resonance (MR) imaging features are associated with pathologic complete response (PCR) and recurrence-free survival after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) in patients with triple-negative breast cancer. Materials and Methods Identified were 132 patients with primary triple-negative breast cancers who underwent NAC and pretreatment MR imaging between 2004 and 2010. Three breast radiologists independently reviewed the MR images based on the 2013 Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System lexicon.

Patients with Concordant Triple-Negative Phenotype between Primary Breast Cancers and Corresponding Metastases Have Poor Prognosis.

Purpose: We investigated the prognostic impact of discordance between the receptor status of primary breast cancers and corresponding metastases.

Methods: A total 144 patients with breast cancer and distant metastasis were investigated. The estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) status of primary tumor and corresponding metastases were assessed.

Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome as the Initial Clinical Manifestation of an Antisynthetase Syndrome.

Antisynthetase syndrome has been recognized as an important cause of autoimmune inflammatory myopathy in a subset of patients with polymyositis and dermatomyositis. It is associated with serum antibody to aminoacyl-transfer RNA synthetases and is characterized by a constellation of manifestations, including fever, myositis, interstitial lung disease, mechanic's hand-like cutaneous involvement, Raynaud phenomenon, and polyarthritis. Lung disease is the presenting feature in 50% of the cases.

Features of Pure Lobular Carcinoma In Situ on Magnetic Resonance Imaging Associated with Immediate Re-Excision after Lumpectomy.

Purpose: To evaluate imaging features of pure lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS) on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in patients who underwent immediate re-excision after lumpectomy.

Methods: Twenty-six patients (46.1±6.

Spontaneous Pneumomediastinum: An Unusual Pulmonary Complication in Anorexia Nervosa.

Spontaneous pneumomediastinum (PM) is an uncommon condition in which free air enters the mediastinum. This usually occurs either through esophageal tears after vigorous vomiting, or after alveolar rupture subsequent to a rapid increase in intra-alveolar pressure. Spontaneous PM is a rare entity in anorexia nervosa (AN) and self-induced vomiting is often the cause of PM in patients with AN.

Early prediction of response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy in breast cancer patients: comparison of single-voxel (1)H-magnetic resonance spectroscopy and (18)F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography.

Objectives: To prospectively compare performances of single-voxel proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy ((1)H-MRS) and (18)F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) in predicting pathologic response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) in breast cancer patients.

Methods: Thirty-five breast cancer patients who received NAC and subsequent surgery were prospectively enrolled. MRS and FDG-PET were performed before and after the 1st NAC cycle.

Early Stage Triple-Negative Breast Cancer: Imaging and Clinical-Pathologic Factors Associated with Recurrence.

Purpose: To determine the imaging and clinical-pathologic factors associated with recurrence in patients with early stage triple-negative breast cancer.

Materials And Methods: This study was approved by the institutional review board, and the requirement to obtain informed consent was waived. The authors evaluated 398 patients with stage I or II triple-negative breast cancer (median age, 48 years; range, 21-81 years) who were treated between January 2003 and December 2008.

Recurrent Pseudomonas aeruginosa Infection in Chronic Lung Diseases: Relapse or Reinfection?

Background: Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection is particularly associated with progressive and ultimately chronic recurrent respiratory infections in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, bronchiectasis, chronic destroyed lung disease, and cystic fibrosis. Its treatment is also very complex because of drug resistance and recurrence.

Methods: Forty eight cultures from 18 patients with recurrent P.

Effect of inhaled tiotropium on spirometric parameters in patients with tuberculous destroyed lung.

Background: In Korea, patients with destroyed lung due to tuberculosis (TB) account for a significant portion of those affected by chronic pulmonary function impairment. The objective of our research was to evaluate the efficacy of inhaled tiotropium bromide in TB destroyed lung.

Methods: We compared the effectiveness of inhaled tiotropium bromide for 2 months between pre- and post-treatment pulmonary function tests performed on 29 patients with destroyed lung due to TB.

Heterogeneity of triple-negative breast cancer: mammographic, US, and MR imaging features according to androgen receptor expression.

Objective: Our aim was to determine whether triple-negative breast cancers (TNBCs) with and without androgen receptor (AR) expression have distinguishing imaging features on mammography, breast ultrasound (US), and magnetic resonance (MR) imaging.

Methods: AR expression was assessed immunohistochemically in 125 patients with TNBC from a consecutive series of 1,086 operable invasive breast cancers. Two experienced radiologists blinded to clinicopathological findings reviewed all imaging studies in consensus using the BI-RADS lexicon.