Comparison between Conventional Smear and Liquid-Based Preparation in Endoscopic Ultrasonography-Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology of Pancreatic Lesions.

The present study aimed to compare the diagnostic accuracy between conventional smear (CS) and liquid-based preparation (LBP) in endoscopic ultrasonography-fine needle aspiration cytology (EUS-FNAC) of pancreatic lesions. Using 31 eligible studies, the diagnostic accuracy of cytologic examination in CS and LBP was evaluated through a conventional meta-analysis and diagnostic test accuracy review. Overall concordance rates were 82.

Physicians' Difficulties Due to Patient Safety Incidents in Korea: a Cross-Sectional Study.

Background: Medical professionals who experience patient safety incidents (PSIs) are vulnerable to emotional pain and other difficulties; such individuals are referred to as "second victims." This study quantitatively examines the characteristics of physicians' experiences of PSIs, along with the consequent difficulties and levels of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and post-traumatic embitterment disorder (PTED) regarding the events.

Methods: An anonymous, self-report online survey was administered to physicians.

Serum interleukin-16 significantly correlates with the Vasculitis Damage Index in antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis.

Background: Interleukin (IL)-16 is a T cell chemoattractant produced by peripheral mononuclear cells. We investigated whether IL-16 plays a pro- or an anti-inflammatory role in antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis (AAV). Furthermore, we investigated whether the level of IL-16 could predict the activity and extent of organ damage in AAV based on AAV-specific indices.

Clinical characteristics associated with drug-free sustained remission in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: Data from Korean Intensive Management of Early Rheumatoid Arthritis (KIMERA).

Objectives: There is limited information on treatment withdrawal in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). This study investigated the clinical course after stopping disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) in patients with well-controlled RA and the clinical features associated with disease flare.

Methods: Among patients in the Korean Intensive Management of Early Rheumatoid Arthritis (KIMERA) cohort, discontinuation of DMARDs was determined by a shared decision between patient and rheumatologist.

Air evolution during drop impact on liquid pool.

We elucidate the evolution of the entrained air in drop impact on a wide range of liquids, using ultrafast X-ray phase-contrast imaging. We elaborate the retraction mechanism of the entrapped air film in terms of liquid viscosity. We found the criterion for deciding if the entrapped air evolves into single or double bubbles, as determined by competition among inertia, capillarity, and viscosity.

Experience and Awareness of Health Managers, Administrators, and Workers on a Hearing Conservation Program in Korea: A Qualitative Study.

This study aims to evaluate the experience and awareness of a hearing conservation program to explore its activation plan. Three focus group discussions were conducted with five health managers, five labor supervisors, and five workers. A single in-depth interview was conducted with a health manager.

[Impact of Sarcopenia on the Risk of Erosive Esophagitis].

Background/aims: An association between obesity and erosive esophagitis has been reported, but the effects of sarcopenia and obesity on erosive esophagitis are unknown. This study examined the relationship between obesity, sarcopenia, sarcopenic obesity, and erosive esophagitis in a large population of asymptomatic men and women.

Methods: This study analyzed 32,762 subjects who underwent a comprehensive health check-up, which included upper gastrointestinal endoscopy, from August 2006 to December 2011 by a cross-sectional study.

Bus Workers' Experiences with and Perceptions of a Health Promotion Program: A Qualitative Study Using a Focus Group Discussion.

We conducted a focus group discussion with bus workers to evaluate their experiences and perceptions, as well as their reasons for participating in a program for vulnerable workers. The study also sought to identify the strengths and weaknesses of the program. A total of nine bus workers participated in the focus group discussion.

Impact of Patient Safety Incidents Reported by the General Public in Korea.

Objective: The study aimed to investigate the impacts of patient safety incident (PSI) experienced by the general public.

Methods: We conducted a self-administered online survey, in which we examined the following experiences of the patients and the caregivers: the level of harm induced by PSIs, difficulties due to PSIs, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and posttraumatic embitterment disorder, etc. A χ2 test was performed to identify differences in difficulties because of the direct and indirect experience of PSIs.

Feeding colostrum or a 1:1 colostrum:milk mixture for 3 days postnatal increases small intestinal development and minimally influences plasma glucagon-like peptide-2 and serum insulin-like growth factor-1 concentrations in Holstein bull calves.

This study evaluated how feeding colostrum- or a colostrum-milk mixture for 3 d postnatal affects plasma glucagon-like peptide-2 (GLP-2), serum insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), and small intestinal histomorphology in calves. Holstein bulls (n = 24) were fed colostrum at 2 h postnatal and randomly assigned to receive either colostrum (COL), whole milk (WM), or a 1:1 COL:WM mixture (MIX) every 12 h from 12 to 72 h. A jugular venous catheter was placed at 1 h postnatal to sample blood frequently for the duration of the experiment.

Recent Advances in Sustainable Plastic Upcycling and Biopolymers.

Advances in scientific technology in the early twentieth century have facilitated the development of synthetic plastics that are lightweight, rigid, and can be easily molded into a desirable shape without changing their material properties. Thus, plastics become ubiquitous and indispensable materials that are used in various manufacturing sectors, including clothing, automotive, medical, and electronic industries. However, strong physical durability and chemical stability of synthetic plastics, most of which are produced from fossil fuels, hinder their complete degradation when they are improperly discarded after use.

Effect of acetylcholinesterase inhibitors on post-stroke cognitive impairment and vascular dementia: A meta-analysis.

Cognitive impairment is a common complication observed after a stroke. Currently there are no definitively proven pharmacologic therapies for recovery from post-stroke cognitive impairment and vascular dementia. In this meta-analysis, we evaluated the efficacy and safety of cholinesterase inhibitors in their improvement of cognition in patients with post-stroke cognitive impairment and vascular dementia.

Metabolic study of vardenafil analogues: Pseudovardenafil and hydroxyvardenafil.

Vardenafil, a remedy for erectile dysfunction, is easily modified, facilitating the creation of analogues that have been illegally added to functional foods and counterfeit medications. However, the medical profile of these analogues, including their safety, efficacy, safe drug combinations, metabolism and excretion, has not been completely evaluated, which could cause serious health problems. In this study, two representative vardenafil analogues, pseudovardenafil and hydroxyvardenafil, were metabolized with in-vitro model (human liver microsome) and in-vivo model (rats).

Understanding the immunopathogenesis of autoimmune diseases by animal studies using gene modulation: A comprehensive review.

Autoimmune diseases are clinical syndromes that result from pathogenic inflammatory responses driven by inadequate immune activation by T- and B-cells. Although the exact mechanisms of autoimmune diseases are still elusive, genetic factors also play an important role in the pathogenesis. Recently, with the advancement of understanding of the immunological and molecular basis of autoimmune diseases, gene modulation has become a potential approach for the tailored treatment of autoimmune disorders.

Prognostic Accuracy of Massive Transfusion, Critical Administration Threshold, and Resuscitation Intensity in Assessing Mortality in Traumatic Patients with Severe Hemorrhage: a Meta-Analysis.

Background: The aim of this study was to assess the prognostic value of massive transfusion (MT), critical administration threshold (CAT), and resuscitation intensity (RI) for the mortality of trauma patients with severe hemorrhage.

Methods: Seventeen relevant articles were obtained by searching the PubMed databases through February 15, 2019. The estimated mortality rates and injury severity scores were obtained through a meta-analysis.

Clinicopathological significance of PD-L1 expression in colorectal cancer: Impact of PD-L1 expression on pFOXO1 expression.

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the clinicopathological significance of PD-L1 expression and its impact on phospho-Forkhead box O 1 (pFOXO1) expression in colorectal cancer (CRC).

Methods: Immunohistochemical analysis for PD-L1 and pFOXO1 was performed on 265 human CRC tissues. PD-L1 expression was evaluated in the tumor and immune cells.

The Effects of Bariatric Surgery on Type 2 Diabetes in Asian Populations: a Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

Background: To evaluate the effects of bariatric surgery on patients with type 2 diabetes through comparing Asian and non-Asian populations according to follow-up time.

Methods: In this meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs), we searched PubMed databases for relevant articles. A meta-analysis was undertaken of 37 eligible RCTs.

Selenium bioisosteric replacement of adenosine derivatives promoting adiponectin secretion increases the binding affinity to peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor δ.

N-(3-Iodobenzyl)adenosine-5'-N-methyluronamide (1a, IB-MECA) exhibited polypharmacological characteristics targeting A adenosine receptor (AR), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) γ, and PPARδ, simultaneously. The bioisosteric replacement of oxygen in 4'-oxoadenosines with selenium significantly increased the PPARδ-binding activity. 2-Chloro-N-(3-iodobenzyl)-4'-selenoadenosine-5'-N-methyluronamide (3e) and related 4'-selenoadenosine derivatives significantly enhanced adiponectin biosynthesis during adipogenesis in human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (hBM-MSCs).

CXCL14 downregulation in human keratinocytes is a potential biomarker for a novel in vitro skin sensitization test.

To elucidate the roles of epidermal keratinocytes in the toxicological outcomes of chemically induced contact dermatitis, genome-scale transcriptional analyses were performed using normal human keratinocytes (NHKCs) treated with 10 μM sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) or 5 μM urushiol. In Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment analyses, SLS- and urushiol-induced upregulated DEGs are commonly associated with the regulation of pro-inflammatory responses and epidermal differentiation processes in NHKCs whereas cellular protein metabolic process was also identified as a commonly downregulated DEG signature. Among the downregulated DEGs, CXCL14 was investigated as a potential biomarker for a new in vitro skin sensitization test using OECD TG429 reference chemicals.

Immunohistochemical analysis of the impact of ischemic change in benign prostatic hyperplasia.

Objective: We conducted experiments to elucidate the impact of ischemic change on benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) using immunohistochemistry.

Methods: Medical records of consecutive patients over 60 years of age who underwent transurethral resection of the prostate for BPH between January 2009 and September 2012 were evaluated. As vascular risk factors, the presence or absence of diabetes mellitus, hypertension, current smoking, obesity, dyslipidemia, and diseases related to bladder function were investigated.

PAX8 expression in anaplastic thyroid carcinoma is less than those reported in early studies: a multi-institutional study of 182 cases using the monoclonal antibody MRQ-50.

Anaplastic thyroid carcinoma (ATC) is an aggressive malignant tumor composed of undifferentiated thyroid follicular cells. Pathological diagnosis of ATC can be challenging as the tumor may show morphological overlap with other neoplasms with anaplastic morphology. Immunohistochemical demonstration of thyroid origin facilitates the diagnosis of ATC.

Prognostic Implication of pN Stage Subdivision Using Metastatic Lymph Node Ratio in Resected Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma.

In this meta-analysis, we aimed to evaluate the prognostic implication of the metastatic lymph node ratio (mLNR) and its optimal criterion in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) with lymph node metastasis (LNM). The present study included 3735 patients with PDAC who had LNM, from 11 eligible studies. We carried out a meta-analysis to determine the correlation between a high mLNR and PDAC prognosis.

Prognostic Implication of Metastatic Lymph Node Ratio in Colorectal Cancers: Comparison Depending on Tumor Location.

Background: The proportion of the number of involved lymph nodes (LNs) to the number of examined LNs-defined as metastatic LN ratio (mLNR)-has been considered as a prognostic parameter. This study aims to elucidate the prognostic implication of the mLNR in colorectal cancer (CRC) according to the tumor location.

Methods: We evaluated the correlation between prognoses and the involved and examined LNs as well as mLNR according to the tumor location in 266 surgically resected human CRCs.

A Multi-institutional Study of Prevalence and Clinicopathologic Features of Non-invasive Follicular Thyroid Neoplasm with Papillary-like Nuclear Features (NIFTP) in Korea.

Background: In the present multi-institutional study, the prevalence and clinicopathologic characteristics of non-invasive follicular thyroid neoplasm with papillary-like nuclear features (NIFTP) were evaluated among Korean patients who underwent thyroidectomy for papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC).

Methods: Data from 18,819 patients with PTC from eight university hospitals between January 2012 and February 2018 were retrospectively evaluated. Pathology reports of all PTCs and slides of potential NIFTP cases were reviewed.