Hyperreflective foveal lesion observed with optical coherence tomography in cases of epiretinal membranes with a firm foveal attachment.

Purpose: To report the optical coherence tomography (OCT) findings of the firmly attached foveal area and to investigate the functional results and predictive values in correlation to the degree of firmness of the foveal adherence of the epiretinal membrane (ERM).

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records regarding 167 eyes of 166 patients who underwent vitrectomy for the removal of the ERM between January 2009 and December 2012. We evaluated the degree of foveal attachment in all the patients based on the surgical video and reviewed the OCT images.

Granulocyte-colony stimulating factor reduces cardiomyocyte apoptosis and ameliorates diastolic dysfunction in Otsuka Long-Evans Tokushima Fatty rats.

Background: In recent studies, granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) was shown to improve cardiac function in myocardial infarction and non-ischemic cardiomyopathies. The mechanisms of these beneficial effects of G-CSF in diabetic cardiomyopathy are not yet fully understood. Therefore, we investigated the mechanisms of action of G-CSF on diabetic cardiomyopathy in a rat model of type 2 diabetes.

Clinical applications of SPECT/CT after first I-131 ablation in patients with differentiated thyroid cancer.

Objective: This study aimed to determine which thyroid cancer patients would benefit from SPECT/CT in addition to whole-body planar scintigraphy (RxWBS) for the detection and characterization of I-131 focal uptake after first ablation.

Design And Patients: Neck and thoracic SPECT/CT was performed in 187 patients with I-131 focal uptake suggestive of remnant thyroid tissue (Rem group, n = 152) or presumed lymph node (LN) metastases (mLN group, n = 35) on RxWBS. Clinical and pathologic parameters were analysed and compared in patients with and without additional SPECT/CT findings.

Characteristics and antioxidant effect of garlic in the fermentation of Cheonggukjang by Bacillus amyloliquefaciens MJ1-4.

The changes in the β-glucosidase activity, total phenolic contents, isoflavone contents, and antioxidant activities during the fermentation of cheonggukjang by Bacillus amyloliquefaciens MJ1-4 with and without garlic were investigated. The levels of total phenolic and isoflavonemalonylglycoside, -acetylglycoside, and -aglycone contents increased, whereas the 2,2-diphenyl- 1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2'-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) radical scavenging activities and ferric reducing/antioxidant power (FRAP) assay results increased, but isoflavone-glycoside levels decreased during cheonggukjang fermentation. The levels of total phenolic and total isoflavone contents and the antioxidant activities were higher in cheonggukjang fermented without garlic (CFWOG) than in cheonggukjang fermented with garlic (CFWG) after 24 h of fermentation, but they were lower in CFWOG than in CFWG after 72h of fermentation.

Quantitative determination of absorption and first-pass metabolism of apicidin, a potent histone deacetylase inhibitor.

Apicidin, a potential oral chemotherapeutic agent, possesses potent anti-histone-deacetylase activity. After oral administration, the total bioavailability of apicidin is known to be low (14.2%-19.

A novel PRF1 gene mutation in a fatal neonate case with type 2 familial hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis.

Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) occurs in the primary form (genetic or familial) or secondary form (acquired). The familial form of HLH (FHL) is a potentially fatal autosomal recessive disorder that occurs because of constitutional defects in cell-mediated cytotoxicity. Here, we report a fatal neonatal case of type 2 FHL (FHL2) that involved a novel frameshift mutation.

Spinal noradrenergic modulation and the role of the alpha-2 receptor in the antinociceptive effect of intrathecal nefopam in the formalin test.

Background: Nefopam has shown an analgesic effect on acute pain including postoperative pain. The reuptake of monoamines including serotonin and noradrenaline has been proposed as the mechanism of the analgesic action of nefopam, but it remains unclear. Although alpha-adrenergic agents are being widely used in the perioperative period, the role of noradrenergic modulation in the analgesic effect of nefopam has not been fully addressed.

[Usefulness of polyp and adenoma detection rate in the proximal and distal colon].

Background/aims: The polyp detection rate (PDR) has been suggested as a surrogate for adenoma detection rate (ADR). The purpose of this study was to determine the level of agreement between PDR and ADR in the proximal and distal colon.

Methods: A total of 1,937 consecutive, asymptomatic individuals aged 40 years and older who underwent colonoscopies at six academic teaching hospitals in Korea were included in this study.

Draft Genome Sequences of Fusobacterium nucleatum ChDC F145, ChDC F174, ChDC F206, and ChDC F300, Isolated from Human Subgingival Plaques in the Republic of Korea.

Recently, five strains were isolated from human subgingival plaques and were proposed as a novel subspecies of Fusobacterium nucleatum. Here, we report the draft genome sequences of the strains, except one for which the draft sequence was already introduced.

Gender difference in the association of metabolic syndrome and its components with age-related cataract: the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2008-2010.

Purpose: To explore the relationship of the metabolic syndrome (MetS) and its components with age-related cataract in a representative Korean population.

Methods: We analyzed the data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (2008-2010). A total of 11,076 adults (4,811 men and 6,265 women) aged 40 and over who completed ophthalmologic examination were evaluated.

G-CSF prevents progression of diabetic nephropathy in rat.

Background: The protective effects of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) have been demonstrated in a variety of renal disease models. However, the influence of G-CSF on diabetic nephropathy (DN) remains to be examined. In this study, we investigated the effect of G-CSF on DN and its possible mechanisms in a rat model.

Draft Genome Sequence of the Novel Peptoniphilus sp. Strain ChDC B134, Isolated from a Human Periapical Abscess Lesion.

The genus Peptoniphilus comprises butyrate-producing, nonsaccharolytic species that use peptone and amino acids as major energy sources. The novel Peptoniphilus sp. strain ChDC B134 (=KCOM 1628) was isolated from a human periapical abscess lesion.

Ameliorating effects of aged garlic extracts against Aβ-induced neurotoxicity and cognitive impairment.

Background: In vitro antioxidant activities and neuron-like PC12 cell protective effects of solvent fractions from aged garlic extracts were investigated to evaluate their anti-amnesic functions. Ethyl acetate fractions of aged garlic had higher total phenolics than other fractions.

Methods: Antioxidant activities of ethyl acetate fractions from aged garlic were examined using 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) diammonium salt (ABTS) and malondialdehyde (MDA) inhibitory effect using mouse whole brain homogenates.

Unexpected red cell antibody detection by conditional combination of LISS/Coombs and NaCl/Enzyme gel tests at a tertiary care hospital in Korea: A 5-year study.

Background: A combination of the LISS/Coombs and enzyme methods is recommended for identifying unexpected antibodies. However, many laboratories in which tests are to be performed within the limits of medical fees covered by insurance, use only the LISS/Coombs method because the permissible medical fee is low as compared to the price of reagents required for both methods. The NaCl/Enzyme gel is used as a secondary assay when the LISS/Coombs gel test yields inconclusive results.

Prediction for recurrence using F-18 FDG PET/CT in pathologic N0 lung adenocarcinoma after curative surgery.

Background: The aim of this study was to investigate risk factors for recurrence in patients with lung adenocarcinoma (LAD) who were pathologically N0 (pN0) after curative surgical resection.

Methods: A total of 102 LAD patients (M/F = 55/47, mean age, 62.6 ± 9.

Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry determination of baclofen in various biological samples and application to a pharmacokinetic study.

Baclofen is a structural analogue of γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) that has been used for the treatment of spasticity since 1977. This study describes a simple and sensitive LC/MS/MS assay for the quantification of baclofen in rat plasma, urine, as well as various tissue samples. The assay utilized a simple protein precipitation and achieved lower limit of quantification (LLOQ) of 0.

Recurrence of a functional adrenocortical oncocytoma of borderline malignant potential showing high FDG uptake on 18F-FDG PET/CT.

Adrenocortical oncocytoma is a very rare tumor, which is not malignant and nonfunctioning in most cases. We report a case of a 53-year-old male with a 9.8 cm sized hyperfunctioning, well-encapsulated adrenal mass, which exhibited by high FDG uptake on a PET/CT scan.

Clinical features and predictors of clinical outcomes in Korean patients with Crohn's disease: a Korean association for the study of intestinal diseases multicenter study.

Background And Aim: Although differences in genetic susceptibility and the clinical features of Crohn's disease (CD) have been reported between Asian and Caucasian patients, the disease course and predictors of CD in Asians remains poorly defined. The study therefore aimed to investigate factors predictive of the clinical outcomes of patients with CD in a Korean population.

Methods: This retrospective multicenter cohort study included 728 Korean CD patients from 13 university hospitals.

Serotyping and antimicrobial susceptibility of Salmonella spp.: nationwide multicenter study in Korea.

The study aimed to investigate the prevalence of various serotypes and extended-spectrum β-lactamase-producing features of Salmonella strains and to determine the antimicrobial susceptibility of 256 Salmonella strains other than Salmonella serotype Typhi, which were isolated at 12 university hospitals in Korea. We identified 46 serotypes of Salmonella spp. Serogroup D was the most common (39.

Post annealing effects on the electrical characteristics of pentacene thin film transistors on flexible substrates.

This work studies the effect of post annealing of pentacene on a flexible substrate through the examination of electrical properties and surface morphologies. It is confirmed that the best performance of devices is achieved when the post annealing temperature is 60 degrees C, since the grain size increases, which decrease grain boundaries caused charge transport limit. We can also confirmed the large threshold voltage shift of device annealed at 60 degrees C that means the lower trap density between channel and insulator interface.

Comparison of the accuracy of noninvasive hemoglobin sensor (NBM-200) and portable hemoglobinometer (HemoCue) with an automated hematology analyzer (LH500) in blood donor screening.

Background: The Hb levels of prospective blood donors are usually determined using a finger prick test. A new noninvasive Hb device has the advantage of not causing any sampling pain. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of the noninvasive Hb sensor and to compare its measurements with those of a currently used portable hemoglobinometer.

A case of pulmonary sarcoidosis with endobronchial nodular involvement.

Sarcoidosis is a multisystemic disorder of unknown cause that is characterized pathologically by noncaseating granulomas. Diagnosis is based on the exclusion of other infectious, interstitial, and neoplastic diseases and on the typical pathology. Although the lungs and mediastinal lymph nodes are almost involved, endobronchial nodular lesions of sarcoidosis with lung involvements are rare.

Prevalence and risk factors of Helicobacter pylori infection in Korea: nationwide multicenter study over 13 years.

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the time trend of seropositivity of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) over the period of 13 years in an asymptomatic Korean population, and investigate associated risk factors.

Methods: This cross-sectional nationwide multicentre study surveyed anti-H.

Time course of the development of nonalcoholic Fatty liver disease in the Otsuka long-evans Tokushima Fatty rat.

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is considered a hepatic manifestation of metabolic syndrome. In this study, we investigated histological and biochemical changes in NAFLD and the gene expression involving de novo lipogenesis in Otsuka Long-Evans Tokushima fatty (OLETF) rats. We used OLETF rats and Long-Evans Tokushima Otsuka (LETO) rats as animal models of NAFLD and as controls, respectively.