Supplemental Screening Breast US in Women with Negative Mammographic Findings: Effect of Routine Axillary Scanning.

Purpose To evaluate the effect of routine axillary scanning when supplemental screening breast ultrasonography (US) is performed in women with negative mammographic findings. Materials and Methods This retrospective review included 12 844 screening breast US examinations performed in 8664 asymptomatic women aged 40 years or older with dense breasts and negative results for cancer at mammography performed between January 2012 and December 2014. Bilateral whole-breast US was performed with a handheld device by one of 10 experienced radiologists.

Variation of C-Reactive Protein and White Blood Cell Counts in Spinal Operation: Primary Fusion Surgery Versus Revision Fusion Surgery.

Objective: Serum C-reactive protein (CRP) concentrations and white blood cell (WBC) count are commonly used to identify postoperative wound infections. We investigated whether changes in serum CRP levels and WBC counts actually differed between patients undergoing revision spinal fusion surgery and those undergoing a primary fusion.

Methods: Patients who underwent posterolateral fusion (PLF) surgery at Pusan National University Yangsan Hospital between October 2013 and April 2015 were considered for this study.

Imaging features of breast cancers on digital breast tomosynthesis according to molecular subtype: association with breast cancer detection.

Objective: To evaluate imaging features of breast cancers on digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT) according to molecular subtype and to determine whether the molecular subtype affects breast cancer detection on DBT.

Methods: This was an institutional review board--approved study with a waiver of informed consent. DBT findings of 288 invasive breast cancers were reviewed according to Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System lexicon.

The Predictable Factors of the Postoperative Kyphotic Change of Sagittal Alignment of the Cervical Spine after the Laminoplasty.

Objective: Laminoplasty is an effective surgical method for treating cervical degenerative disease. However, postoperative complications such as kyphosis, restriction of neck motion, and instability are often reported. Despite sufficient preoperative lordosis, this procedure often aggravates the lordotic curve of the cervical spine and straightens cervical alignment.

A Lower T1 Slope as a Predictor of Subsidence in Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion with Stand-Alone Cages.

Objective: Preoperative parameters including the T1 slope (T1S) and C2-C7 sagittal vertical axis (SVA) have been recognized as predictors of kyphosis after laminoplasty, which is accompanied by posterior neck muscle damage. The importance of preoperative parameters has been under-estimated in anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) because there is no posterior neck muscle damage. We aimed to determine whether postoperative subsidence and pseudarthrosis could be predicted according to specific parameters on preoperative plain radiographs.

The Effect of Uncinate Process Resection on Subsidence Following Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion.

Objective: Subsidence is a frequent complication of anterior cervical discectomy and fusion. Postoperative segmental micro-motion, thought to be a causative factor of subsidence, has been speculated to increase with uncinate process resection area (UPR). To evaluate the effect of UPR on micro-motion, we designed a method to measure UPR area based on pre- and postoperative computed tomography images and analyzed the relationship between UPR and subsidence as a proxy of micro-motion.

Hand grip strength and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in Korea: an analysis in KNHANES VI.

Background: Muscle mass is known to be associated with mortality in elderly adults. Because hand grip strength (HGS) is known as a simple assessment tool for muscular strength, many researchers have studied the association between HGS and disease. However, empirical evidence for the relationship between chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and HGS is still controversial.

p62/SQSTM1/Sequestosome-1 is an N-recognin of the N-end rule pathway which modulates autophagosome biogenesis.

Macroautophagy mediates the selective degradation of proteins and non-proteinaceous cellular constituents. Here, we show that the N-end rule pathway modulates macroautophagy. In this mechanism, the autophagic adapter p62/SQSTM1/Sequestosome-1 is an N-recognin that binds type-1 and type-2 N-terminal degrons (N-degrons), including arginine (Nt-Arg).

-Mannanase Derived from Improves the Performance of Commercial Laying Hens Fed Low or High Mannan-Based Diets.

A trial was conducted to investigate the effects of dietary mannan level and -mannanase supplementation on egg production performance, nutrient retention and blood metabolites of laying hens. Two hundred and forty Hy-Line Brown layers (52 wk-old) were randomly allotted to 6 treatments on the basis of laying performance. Each treatment had 8 replicates with 5 birds (40 birds per treatment).

Effect of Modic Changes in Cervical Degenerative Disease.

Objective: Modic changes are signal intensity changes in adjacent vertebral bone marrow on magnetic resonance imaging. Few studies have investigated these changes with regard to the cervical spine. In this study, we investigated the associations between cervical degenerative disease and Modic changes.

Computer-aided prediction of axillary lymph node status in breast cancer using tumor surrounding tissue features in ultrasound images.

Background And Objective: The presence or absence of axillary lymph node (ALN) metastasis is the most important prognostic factor for patients with early-stage breast cancer. In this study, a computer-aided prediction (CAP) system using the tumor surrounding tissue features in ultrasound (US) images was proposed to determine the ALN status in breast cancer.

Methods: The US imaging database used in this study contained 114 cases of invasive breast cancer and 49 of them were ALN metastasis.

Clinical analysis of single filtration plasmapheresis using continuous renal replacement therapy machines in kidney transplantation.

Background: Plasmapheresis has become an essential element of kidney transplantation (KT). In the present study, we report clinical outcomes of filtration plasmapheresis using continuous renal replacement therapy machines with a single filter for the first time in Korea.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed six patients who underwent filtration plasmapheresis for KT in our center; plasmapheresis was performed using the Plasmaflex (Baxter) with a TPE 2000 filter set (Baxter) in our hemodialysis unit.

Survival Estimates after Stopping Sorafenib in Patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma: NEXT Score Development and Validation.

Background/aims: Limited information is available regarding patient survival after sorafenib discontinuation in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Thus, we developed and validated a novel survival prediction model.

Methods: Clinical data from 409 patients with HCC who stopped taking sorafenib between September 2008 and February 2015 were reviewed.

Evaluation of Screening US-detected Breast Masses by Combined Use of Elastography and Color Doppler US with B-Mode US in Women with Dense Breasts: A Multicenter Prospective Study.

Purpose To investigate the value of the combined use of elastography and color Doppler ultrasonography (US) with B-mode US for evaluation of screening US-detected breast masses in women with dense breasts. Materials and Methods This prospective, multicenter study included asymptomatic women with dense breasts who were referred for screening US between November 2013 and December 2014. Eligible women had a newly detected breast mass at conventional B-mode US screening, for which elastography and color Doppler US were performed.

Risk factors associated with treatment refusal in lung cancer.

Background: The incidence of lung cancer is increasing with longer life expectancy. Refusal of active treatment for cancer is prone to cause patients to experience more severe symptoms and shorten survival. The purpose of this study was to define the factors related to refusal or abandonment of active therapy in lung cancer.

Risk factors for Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (PJP) in kidney transplantation recipients.

Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (PJP) is a potentially life-threatening infection that occurs in immunocompromised patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate risk factors for PJP in kidney transplantation recipients. We conducted a retrospective analysis of patient data from 500 consecutive kidney transplants performed at Severance Hospital between April 2011 and April 2014.

A Pilot Study of the Effectiveness of Medical Emergency System Implementation at a Single Center in Korea.

Background: An automatic alarm system was developed was developed for unexpected vital sign instability in admitted patients to reduce staffing needs and costs related to rapid response teams. This was a pilot study of the automatic alarm system, the medical emergency system (MES), and the aim of this study was to determine the effectiveness of the MES before expanding this system to all departments.

Methods: This retrospective, observational study compared the performance of patients admitted to the pulmonary department at a single center using patient data from three 3-month periods (before implementation of the MES, December 2013-February 2014; after implementation of the MES, December 2014-February 2015 and December 2015-February 2016).

Computer-aided tumor diagnosis using shear wave breast elastography.

The shear wave elastography (SWE) uses the acoustic radiation force to measure the stiffness of tissues and is less operator dependent in data acquisition compared to strain elastography. However, the reproducibility of the result is still interpreter dependent. The purpose of this study is to develop a computer-aided diagnosis (CAD) method to differentiate benign from malignant breast tumors using SWE images.

transplantation of horseshoe kidney in Korea.

Transplantation of the horseshoe kidney can be performed or split into 2 grafts according to the vascular anomaly and the existence of the urinary collecting system in isthmus. From 2011 to 2014, there were 3 horseshoe kidney transplantations in Korea and transplantations were performed at 2 different centers. The transplantations were carried out successfully for all recipients without complications.

Background echotexture classification in breast ultrasound: inter-observer agreement study.

Background According to the American College of Radiology (ACR) Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System (BI-RADS), background echotexture in breast ultrasound (US) can be categorized as homogeneous or heterogeneous. Purpose To prospectively evaluate the inter-observer agreement of a four-category classification in background echotexture assessments of breast US and to determine whether background echotexture is related to breast cancer risk factors, including mammography density. Material and Methods Thirty-eight healthy women (age range, 25-72) were recruited.

Diagnostic performance of tomosynthesis and breast ultrasonography in women with dense breasts: a prospective comparison study.

Purpose: To compare the diagnostic performances of tomosynthesis and ultrasonography as adjunctives to digital mammography in women with dense breasts.

Methods: A total of 778 women with dense breasts underwent digital mammography with tomosynthesis and ultrasonography for screening and diagnostic purposes. The findings of tomosynthesis and ultrasonography were evaluated independently.

Addition of Digital Breast Tomosynthesis to Full-Field Digital Mammography in the Diagnostic Setting: Additional Value and Cancer Detectability.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to assess the value of adding digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT) to full-field digital mammography (FFDM) in the diagnostic workup of breast cancer and to determine which lesion variables affect cancer detectability in the combined modality.

Methods: Between March and May 2012, paired FFDM and DBT images were obtained from 203 women as part of a diagnostic workup for breast cancer. Images from FFDM alone, DBT alone, and DBT combined with FFDM were reviewed in separate sessions by six blinded readers.

Association of serum ferritin levels with smoking and lung function in the Korean adult population: analysis of the fourth and fifth Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

Background: Iron-catalyzed oxidative stress contributes to lung injury after exposure to various toxins, including cigarette smoke. An oxidant/antioxidant imbalance is considered to play a critical role in the pathogenesis of COPD. Ferritin is a key protein in iron homeostasis, and its capacity to oxidize and sequester the metal preventing iron prooxidant activity implicates its possible role in the alteration of antioxidant imbalance.

Simultaneous Analysis of Free and Sulfated Steroids by Liquid Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry with Selective Mass Spectrometric Scan Modes and Polarity Switching.

Sulfated steroids can act as a latent form of active free steroids, coexisting with them in biological specimens. To evaluate the metabolic significance of free and sulfated steroid species, a simultaneous analysis of eight free steroids [cholesterol, pregnenolone, 17α-hydroxypregnenolone, progesterone, 17α-hydroxyprogesterone, dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), testosterone, and 17β-estradiol] and four biologically relevant sulfated steroids was developed and validated, using selected-ion and multiple-reaction monitoring modes coupled to polarity-switching liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC/MS). All steroids were separated on a reversed-phase phenyl column (50 mm × 2 mm, 3 μm) at a flow rate of 0.