The correlation between conventional coagulation tests and thromboelastography in each phase of liver transplantation.

Introduction: Thromboelastography (TEG) is gaining increasing acceptance in liver transplantation (LT) with conventional coagulation tests (CCTs) such as prothrombin time (PT), activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT), antithrombin III (ATIII), platelet count (PLT), and fibrinogen concentration. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical utility of TEG in LT and investigate the correlation between TEG and CCT values during each phase of LT.

Materials And Methods: Medical records of patients who underwent deceased donor LT at a single, university hospital between October 2010 and July 2015 were retrospectively reviewed.

P-gp Inhibition by XL019, a JAK2 Inhibitor, Increases Apoptosis of Vincristine-treated Resistant KBV20C Cells with Increased p21 and pH2AX Expression.

The present study was designed to identify conditions that could increase the sensitivity of resistant cancer cells to antimitotic drugs. We investigated whether a Janus kinase 2 (JAK2) inhibitor used in clinical trials, XL019, sensitizes antimitotic drug-resistant KBV20C cells. XL019 reduced cellular viability and increased apoptosis in vincristine-treated KBV20C cells, independently of the JAK/signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) pathway.

The JAK2 inhibitors CEP-33779 and NVP-BSK805 have high P-gp inhibitory activity and sensitize drug-resistant cancer cells to vincristine.

P-glycoprotein (P-gp) is overexpressed in cancer cells in order to pump out chemotherapeutic drugs, and is one of the major mechanisms responsible for multidrug resistance (MDR). It is important to identify P-gp inhibitors with low toxicity to normal cells in order to increase the efficacy of anti-cancer drugs. Previously, a JAK2 inhibitor CEP-33779 demonstrated inhibitory actions against P-gp and an ability to sensitize drug-resistant cancer cells to treatment.

Prediction of endotracheal tube size for pediatric patients from the epiphysis diameter of radius.

Background: Using a too big or a too small size of an endotracheal tube in pediatric patients would result in tracheal injury or insufficient ventilation. Determining the appropriate endotracheal tube size is important because using an inappropriate size can cause complications. This study was performed to predict the appropriate endotracheal tube size by measuring the transverse diameter of the epiphysis of the distal radius under the assumption that the growth rates of cartilages in the entire body are close to each other.

Highly Halaven-resistant KBV20C Cancer Cells Can Be Sensitized by Co-treatment with Fluphenazine.

Aim: To identify conditions that induce an increase in the sensitivity of highly Halaven (HAL)-resistant cancer cells compared to sensitive cells.

Materials And Methods: We observed that drug-resistant KBV20C cells are highly resistant to HAL compared to other antimitotic drugs. The concentration required to treat KBV20C cells was almost 500-fold higher than that used to treat sensitive parent KB cells.

Attenuation of Colchicine Toxicity in Drug-resistant Cancer Cells by Co-treatment with Anti-malarial Drugs.

Background/aim: Colchicine (COL) is a well-known and potent microtubule targeting anticancer agent. The purpose of our study was to identify conditions that increase sensitization of COL-resistant cancer cells that overexpress P-glycoprotein (P-gp).

Materials And Methods: The anti-malarial drugs chloroquine (CHL), mefloquine (MEF) and primaquine (PRI) have been shown to increase sensitization in drug-resistant KBV20C cells via P-gp inhibition.

A pictorial review of signature patterns living in musculoskeletal ultrasonography.

The musculoskeletal system is mainly composed of the bones, muscles, tendons, and ligaments, in addition to nerves and blood vessels. The greatest difficulty in an ultrasonographic freeze-frame created by the examiner is recognition of the targeted structures without indicators, since an elephant's trunk may not be easily distinguished from its leg. It is not difficult to find descriptive ultrasonographic terms used for educational purposes, which help in distinguishing features of these structures either in a normal or abnormal anatomic condition.

Post-operative intravenous patient-controlled analgesic efficacy of morphine with ketorolac versus nefopam after laparoscopic gynecologic surgery: a randomized non-inferiority trial.

Background: Nefopam is a non-opioid non-steroidal centrally acting analgesic. This study was conducted to assess the analgesic efficacy of intravenous patient-controlled analgesia (IV-PCA) using nefopam alone, compared with a combination of morphine and ketorolac, after laparoscopic gynecologic surgery.

Methods: Sixty patients undergoing laparoscopic gynecologic surgery received IV-PCA.

Pyruvate Kinase M2: A Novel Biomarker for the Early Detection of Acute Kidney Injury.

The identification of biomarkers for the early detection of acute kidney injury (AKI) is clinically important. Acute kidney injury (AKI) in critically ill patients is closely associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Conventional biomarkers, such as serum creatinine (SCr) and blood urea nitrogen (BUN), are frequently used to diagnose AKI.

Nefopam Reduces Dysesthesia after Percutaneous Endoscopic Lumbar Discectomy.

Background: Neuropathic pain, including paresthesia/dysesthesia in the lower extremities, always develops and remains for at least one month, to variable degrees, after percutaneous endoscopic lumbar discectomy (PELD). The recently discovered dual analgesic mechanisms of action, similar to those of antidepressants and anticonvulsants, enable nefopam (NFP) to treat neuropathic pain. This study was performed to determine whether NFP might reduce the neuropathic pain component of postoperative pain.

Regulatory effect of hydroquinone-tetraethylene glycol conjugates on zebrafish pigmentation.

We synthesized two hydroquinone-tetraethylene glycol conjugates (HQ-TGs) and investigated their logP, photophysical stability, and redox chemical stability. HQ-TGs are a little more hydrophilic than hydroquinone (HQ) and show an enhanced photophysical and redox chemical stability compared with HQ. In addition we studied the effect of HQ-TGs on cell viability and on zebrafish pigmentation.

Trends in Helicobacter pylori eradication rates by first-line triple therapy and related factors in eradication therapy.

Background/aims: Trends in successful eradication of Helicobacter pylori using first-line triple therapy, consisting of a proton pump inhibitor, amoxicillin, and clarithromycin, have been understudied. We evaluated H. pylori eradication rates at a single center over the last 10 years and identified risk factors related to eradication failure.

[A case of intestinal tuberculosis with perianal fistula diagnosed after 30 years].

Tuberculosis can occur anywhere in the gastrointestinal tract. However, anorectal tuberculosis has rarely been reported. A 46-years-old male presented with abdominal pain and perianal discharge of 30 years' duration.

Surgical removal of endovascular stent after migration to the right ventricle following right subclavian vein deployment for treatment of central venous stenosis.

Central venous stenosis or occlusion occurs in 11-50% of hemodialysis patients with prior subclavian vein cannulation and ipsilateral fistula or shunt. Most patients are asymptomatic but some require treatment to reduce the risk of thrombosis and improve inadequate hemodialysis pressure. In these cases, endovascular intervention, including ballooning and stenting, is a feasible strategy for selected patents.