Saliva assay: a call for methodological standardization.

The oral cavity provides an ideal environment for microorganisms, including bacteria, viruses, and fungi, to flourish. Increasing attention has been focused on the connection between the oral microbiome and both oral and systemic diseases, spurring active research into the collection and analysis of specimens for healthcare purposes. Among the various methods for analyzing the oral microbiome, saliva analysis is especially prominent.

Impact of a computerised clinical decision support system on vancomycin loading and the risk of nephrotoxicity.

Background: A vancomycin loading dose is recommended for the treatment of serious methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections. However, clinicians often do not adhere to these recommendations, mainly due to nephrotoxicity risk, unfamiliarity with the guideline, or complexity of calculating an individual dose. Therefore, we introduced a computerised clinical decision support system (CDSS) for vancomycin loading (hereafter Vancomycin CDSS) to promote the use of vancomycin loading dose.

Effect of combining a recruitment maneuver with protective ventilation on inflammatory responses in video-assisted thoracoscopic lobectomy: a randomized controlled trial.

Background: We hypothesized that the addition of a recruitment maneuver to protective ventilation (PVRM) would result in lower pulmonary and systemic inflammatory responses than traditional ventilation or protective ventilation (PV) alone in patients undergoing lung surgery.

Methods: Sixty patients who underwent scheduled thoracoscopic lobectomy were randomly assigned to three groups: traditional ventilation, PV, or PVRM. Ventilations were performed using a tidal volume of 10 mL/kg for the traditional ventilation group and either 8 mL/kg (two-lung) or 6 mL/kg (one-lung, OLV) with a positive end-expiratory pressure of 5 cm HO for the PV and PVRM groups.

Cadaveric Evaluation of Different Approaches for Quadratus Lumborum Blocks.

Background: A quadratus lumborum (QL) block is an abdominal truncal block technique that primarily provides analgesia and anaesthesia to the abdominal wall. This cadaveric study was undertaken to compare the dye spread between different needle approaches for ultrasound-guided QL blocks in soft-embalmed cadavers.

Methods: After randomization, an experienced anesthesiologist performed two lateral, three posterior, and five alternative QL blocks on the left or right sides of five cadavers.

Skin perfusion pressure as an indicator of tissue perfusion in valvular heart surgery: Preliminary results from a prospective, observational study.

Hemodynamic management aims to provide adequate tissue perfusion, which is often altered during cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). We evaluated whether skin perfusion pressure (SPP) can be used for monitoring of adequacy of tissue perfusion in patients undergoing valvular heart surgery. Seventy-two patients undergoing valve replacement were enrolled.

Ultrasonographic optic nerve sheath diameter for predicting elevated intracranial pressure during laparoscopic surgery: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Laparoscopic surgery involves the creation of a carbon dioxide (CO) pneumoperitoneum to facilitate a clear surgical view, which may result in an elevated intracranial pressure (ICP). Depending on the surgical area, steep Trendelenburg positioning may be used as well, further increasing the ICP. The objective of this study was to assess the effects of laparoscopic surgery on changes in ICP assessed by ultrasonographic measurement of optic nerve sheath diameter (ONSD), which is a generally accepted simple, reliable, and non-invasive ICP measurement technique.

A randomized comparison of volume- and pressure-controlled ventilation in children with the i-gel: Effects on peak inspiratory pressure, oropharyngeal leak pressure, and gastric insufflation.

Background: The i-gel provides good airway sealing but gastric insufflation may occur when peak inspiratory pressure (PIP) exceeds the sealing pressure of the i-gel without a gastric tube. Pressure-controlled ventilation (PCV) provides lower PIP compared with volume-controlled ventilation (VCV) and low PIP may reduce the incidence of gastric insufflation in children during positive pressure ventilation. This study was designed to evaluate PIP, oropharyngeal leak pressure, and gastric insufflation during VCV or PCV in children undergoing general anesthesia with i-gel without a gastric tube in situ.

Autoantibodies with mimicking specificity detected by the dilution technique in patients with warm autoantibodies.

Background: The aim of this study was to investigate the frequency of autoantibodies with mimicking specificity by using the dilution technique, to assess the usefulness of the combination of the dilution technique and red blood cell (RBC) phenotyping, and to establish a pre-transfusion testing algorithm in patients with warm autoantibodies.

Methods: Serum samples from 71 patients with warm autoantibodies were tested using the dilution technique. Among them, 25 samples were adsorbed with allogeneic ZZAP (a combination of dithiothreitol and enzyme) or polyethylene glycol (PEG) and their RBC phenotypes were determined.

Outcome of various treatments for posttransplant hepatitis B virus recurrence.

Background: Currently, no treatment guidelines are available for posttransplant hepatitis B virus (HBV) recurrence. We retrospectively evaluated the rate of clearance of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) from serum according to various treatment regimens in two large Korean liver transplantation centers.

Methods: Between 1996 and 2008, HBV recurred in 59 patients among 933 HBV liver recipients (6.

Comparison of single-incision laparoscopic distal gastrectomy and laparoscopic distal gastrectomy for gastric cancer in a porcine model.

Introduction: The single-incision laparoscopic approach may be suitable for several intra-abdominal surgical interventions, but its usefulness for treating gastric cancer has not been established. The aim of this study is to compare the perioperative outcomes of single-incision laparoscopic distal gastrectomy (SIDG) and conventional laparoscopic distal gastrectomy (LDG) by using a porcine model.

Methods: Ten pigs were used to compare the perioperative outcomes of SIDG and LDG.

Genital group B Streptococcus carrier rate and serotype distribution in Korean pregnant women: implications for group B streptococcal disease in Korean neonates.

Aims: We investigated the genital group B streptococcus (GBS) carrier rate in Korean pregnant women and the serotype distribution in face of the recent increase of late-onset GBS disease in Korea.

Methods: GBS screening was performed on 4045 healthy pregnant women at 35-37 weeks' gestation. In case of positive GBS culture, serotyping was performed by using GBS typing antisera.

Extramedullary peritoneal hematopoiesis combined with tuberculosis in a patient with primary myelofibrosis.

Primary myelofibrosis (PMF) is a myeloproliferative disorder characterized by bone marrow fibrosis or dysmegakaryocytes, extramedullary hematopoiesis, and the presence of JAK2 mutations. We present a 73-year-old man with PMF that had a fulminant clinical course. Peritoneal extramedullary hematopoiesis combined with tuberculosis was found 4 months after the diagnosis.

Significance of small dense low-density lipoproteins as coronary risk factor in diabetic and non-diabetic Korean populations.

Small dense low-density lipoproteins (LDLs) have been associated with coronary heart disease (CHD) and type 2 diabetes in previous studies. However, the significance of small dense LDLs as a coronary risk factor for subjects with type 2 diabetes remains unclear. We measured mean LDL particle diameter by gradient gel electrophoresis (Quantimetrix Lipoprinttrade mark LDL System) in 44 type 2 diabetes patients, 100 CHD patients, 35 CHD patients with type 2 diabetes and 88 age-matched control subjects.