Anticoagulation and Antiplatelet Agent Resumption Timing following Traumatic Brain Injury.

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a major global health concern. Due to the increase in TBI incidence and the aging population, an increasing number of patients with TBI are taking antithrombotic agents for their underlying disease. When TBI occurs in patients with these diseases, there is a conflict between the disease, which requires an antithrombotic effect, and the neurosurgeon, who must minimize intracranial hemorrhage.

Importance of Differential Diagnosis of a Possible Brain Tumor in Patients with Cervical Radiculopathy.

Lesions occurring simultaneously in the somatosensory or motor cortex of the brain and the cervical spine are rare. Brain tumors can cause similar symptoms to cervical lesions which can lead to confusion in treatment priorities. Moreover, if cervical disease is noticeably observed in radiologic findings of a patient complaining of cervical radiculopathy with non-specific electromyography results, it is common to no longer perform further evaluation.

Management of Traumatic Cervical Spondyloptosis with an Unsealable Dura Tear: A Case Report.

Cervical spondyloptosis is defined as dislocation of the spinal column, most often caused by trauma. Due to transection of the spinal cord, severe neurological deficits are common. Here, we reviewed the case of a young man who presented with mental stupor and complete tetraplegia below the level of C5.

Ultra-rare renal diseases diagnosed with whole-exome sequencing: Utility in diagnosis and management.

Background: This study aimed to use whole-exome sequencing (WES) to diagnose ultra-rare renal diseases and the clinical impact of such an approach on patient care.

Methods: Clinical, radiological, pathological, and genetic findings were reviewed in the patients and their family members.

Results: Nine patients from nine unrelated Korean families were included in the study and evaluated.

Long-Term Outcome of Live Kidney Donation in South Korea.

BACKGROUND Kidney donors may be at increased risk for end-stage renal disease (ESRD) as well as cardiovascular and all-cause mortality. In particular, data on long-term safety after kidney donation in Asian populations are lacking. We aimed to assess the safety of live kidney donation in Korean donors by using a matched control group.

Cytotoxic Scalarane Sesterterpenes from the Sponge .

Twelve new sesterterpenes along with eight known sesterterpenes were isolated from the marine sponge collected off the coast of Chuuk Island, the Federated State of Micronesia. Based upon a combination of spectroscopic and computational analyses, these compounds were determined to be eight glycine-bearing scalaranes (-), a 3-keto scalarane (), two oxidized-furan-bearing scalaranes ( and ), and a salmahyrtisane (). Several of these compounds exhibited weak antiproliferation against diverse cancer cell lines as well as moderate anti-angiogenesis activities.

Febuxostat, a novel inhibitor of xanthine oxidase, reduces ER stress through upregulation of SIRT1-AMPK-HO-1/thioredoxin expression.

Background: Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress has been implicated in the development of various renal diseases. Thus, inhibition of ER stress using pharmacological agents may serve as a promising therapeutic approach. We postulated that febuxostat, a novel xanthine oxidase inhibitor, could suppress the ER stress through upregulation of SIRT1 (silent mating type information regulation 2 homolog 1)-AMPK (AMP activated protein kinase)-HO-1 (heme oxygenase-1)/thioredoxin expression.

Comparison of Clinical Outcomes Between Preemptive Transplant and Transplant After a Short Period of Dialysis in Living-Donor Kidney Transplantation: A Propensity-Score-Based Analysis.

BACKGROUND The permissible extent of pretransplant dialysis for patient and allograft survival is unclear. We assumed that a short period of dialysis before living donor kidney transplantation (LDKT) will show the similar results as preemptive kidney transplantation (PKT). MATERIAL AND METHODS We retrospectively evaluated the outcomes of LDKT according to pretransplant dialysis duration in both unmatched cohorts (n=1984) and propensity-score-matched cohorts (n=986) cohorts.

Assessment of acute, 14-day, and 13-week repeated oral dose toxicity of Tiglium seed extract in rats.

Background: Seed of mature Croton tiglium Linne, also known as Tiglium seed (TS), has been widely used as a natural product due to its several health beneficial properties including anti-tumor and antifungal activities. Despite its ethnomedicinal beneficial properties, toxicological information regarding TS extract, especially its long-term toxicity, is currently limited. Therefore, the objective of the present study was to evaluate acute and subchronic toxicity of TS extract in rats after oral administration following test guidelines of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).

Analysis According to Characteristics of 18 Cases of Brachial Plexus Tumors : A Review of Surgical Treatment Experience.

Objective: Because the anatomical structure of the brachial plexus is very complex, surgical treatment of tumors in this region is challenging. Therefore, a lot of clinical and surgical experience is required for successful treatment; however, many neurosurgeons have difficulty accumulating this experience owing to the rarity of brachial plexus tumors. The purpose of this report is to share our surgical experience with brachial plexus tumor with other neurosurgeons.

Effects of Renal Impairment on the Pharmacokinetics and Safety of Udenafil.

Udenafil is a phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitor used to treat erectile dysfunction. Although udenafil is not predominantly eliminated by the kidney, renal impairment can alter its secretion/transport pathways. Drug pharmacokinetics and safety must therefore be assessed in subjects with a renal impairment.

Anti-Fibrotic Effect of Losartan, an Angiotensin II Receptor Blocker, Is Mediated through Inhibition of ER Stress via Up-Regulation of SIRT1, Followed by Induction of HO-1 and Thioredoxin.

Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress is increasingly identified as modulator of fibrosis. Losartan, an angiotensin II receptor blocker, has been widely used as the first choice of treatment in chronic renal diseases. We postulated that anti-fibrotic effect of losartan is mediated through inhibition of ER stress via SIRT1 (silent mating type information regulation 2 homolog 1) hemeoxygenase-1 (HO-1)/thioredoxin pathway.

Spontaneous Resolution of Chronic Subdural Hematoma : Close Observation as a Treatment Strategy.

Objective: Chronic subdural hematoma (cSDH) is common condition in neurosurgical field. It is difficult to select the treatment modality between the surgical method and the conservative method when patients have no or mild symptoms. The purpose of this study is to provide a suggestion that the patients could be cured with conservative treatment modality.

Analysis of Mortality and Epidemiology in 2617 Cases of Traumatic Brain Injury : Korean Neuro-Trauma Data Bank System 2010-2014.

Objective: The aims of the Korean Neuro-Trauma Data Bank System (KNTDBS) are to evaluate and improve treatment outcomes for brain trauma, prevent trauma, and provide data for research. Our purpose was to examine the mortality rates following traumatic brain injury (TBI) in a retrospective study and to investigate the sociodemographic variables, characteristics, and causes of TBI-related death based on data from the KNTDBS.

Methods: From 2010 to 2014, we analyzed the data of 2617 patients registered in the KNTDBS.

Up-Regulation of SIRT1 Reduces Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress and Renal Fibrosis.

Background: Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress is emerging as an important factor in the development of organ fibrosis. Therefore, modulation of ER stress may serve as one of the possible therapeutic approaches to renal fibrosis. SIRT1, a class III histone deacetylase, has been found to exert beneficial effects in kidney diseases.

Late-onset IgA vasculitis in adult patients exhibits distinct clinical characteristics and outcomes.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine whether adult IgA vasculitis patients who developed the disease at an older age differ from early-onset patients in terms of clinical features and outcomes.

Methods: All consecutive adult patients who were diagnosed with IgA vasculitis between January 1997 and December 2014 were reviewed retrospectively. Patients who developed the disease at an older age (≥60 years; late-onset) were compared with those with an earlier onset of disease (<60 years; early-onset).

Primary osteolytic intraosseous atypical meningioma with soft tissue and dural invasion: report of a case and review of literatures.

Primary intraosseous meningioma is a rare tumor, and atypical pathologic components both osteolytic lesion and dura and soft tissue invasion is extremely rare. A 65-year-old woman presented with a 5-month history of a soft mass on the right frontal area. MR imaging revealed a 4 cm sized, multilobulated, strongly-enhancing lesion on the right frontal bone, and CT showed a destructive skull lesion.

Activation of AMP-activated protein kinase inhibits ER stress and renal fibrosis.

It has been suggested that endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress facilitates fibrotic remodeling. Therefore, modulation of ER stress may serve as one of the possible therapeutic approaches to renal fibrosis. We examined whether and how activation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) suppressed ER stress induced by chemical ER stress inducers [tunicamycin (TM) and thapsigargin (TG)] and also nonchemical inducers in tubular HK-2 cells.

Endoplasmic reticulum stress induces epithelial-mesenchymal transition through autophagy via activation of c-Src kinase.

Background: Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress has been implicated in inducing epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). ER stress is also known to induce autophagy. However, it is unclear whether ER stress-induced autophagy contributes to EMT.

Large intracranial aneurysm after transsphenoidal surgery for pituitary macroadenoma.

Uncontrolled cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leakage after transsphenoidal surgery (TSS) for pituitary adenoma can lead to meningitis. Intracranial mycotic pseudoaneurysm is a rare complication in central nervous system infection. Large single pseudoaneurysm is more uncommon.