Developing Lactic Acid Bacteria as an Oral Healthy Food.

Lactic acid bacteria have functions in immunoregulation, antagonism, and pathogen inhibition. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) in countering oral pathogens and develop related products. After a series of assays to 450 LAB strains, 8 heat-inactivated strains showed a strong inhibitory effect on a caries pathogen, , and 308 heat-inactivated LAB strains showed a strong inhibitory effect on a periodontal pathogen, .

Does work time limit for resident physician affect short-term treatment outcome and hospital length of stay in patients with spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage?: a two-year experience at a single training hospital in South Korea.

Objective: To compare short-term treatment outcomes at hospital discharge and hospital length of stay (LOS) in patients with spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage (sICH) before and after introduction of resident physician work time limit (WTL).

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed consecutive patients treated for sICH at our institution between 2016 and 2019. Then we dichotomized these patients into two groups, pre-WTL and post-WTL.

Risk factors of postoperative remote intracerebral hemorrhage after craniotomy for ruptured cerebral aneurysms.

Objective: We aimed to identify the relation between perioperative cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) drain through lumbar drainage (LD) and development of postoperative (POP) remote intracerebral hemorrhage (rICH) in craniotomy to treat ruptured intracranial aneurysms.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed consecutive patients who underwent craniotomy for ruptured cerebral aneurysms at the authors' institution between 1998 and 2004. We subsequently compared the incidence and characteristics of POP rICH between the patients who had a perioperative LD and those who did not.

Efficacy and Safety of Tenofovir Disoproxil Fumarate in Treatment-Naïve Patients with Chronic Hepatitis B in Korea.

Aims: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of 144-week tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) therapy in treatment-naïve chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients in Korean.

Methods: In total, 579 treatment-naïve CHB patients at 11 medical centers were enrolled retrospective and prospective from September 2015 to January 2016 by design (NCT02533544). We evaluated the complete virologic response (CVR) rate and the renal safety of TDF.

Clinical outcomes after the introduction of direct antiviral agents for patients infected with genotype 1b hepatitis C virus depending on the regimens: A multicenter study in Korea.

Background: A real-life study is essential outside clinical trials. The aim is to evaluate the clinical outcomes of direct acting agents (DAA) for patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC) in real practice.

Methods: We analyzed 590 consecutively enrolled patients with CHC-1b who received DAAs since 2015, when DAAs were introduced in Korea.

Prediction model for hepatocellular carcinoma risk in treatment-naive chronic hepatitis B patients receiving entecavir/tenofovir.

Background/aim: Accurate assessment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) risk in chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients receiving entecavir (ETV)/tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) is likely to play a pivotal role in post-treatment follow-up strategy. We aimed to develop a simple and reliable predictive model for HCC risk in these patients.

Patients And Methods: A database of 1242 consecutive treatment-naive CHB patients who initially underwent ETV/TDF between February 2007 and January 2017 at four referral hospitals in South Korea was analyzed.

A Case of Ulcerative Colitis Following Acute Hepatitis Induced by Epstein-Barr Virus Infection.

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection varies in its clinical manifestations and severity. EBV can be a causative agent of hepatitis and may have a role in the pathogenesis of chronic autoimmune diseases including inflammatory bowel disease. A 24-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital, presenting with fever and elevated liver enzymes.

On-treatment and off-treatment efficacy of entecavir in a real-life cohort of chronic hepatitis B patients.

Background And Aims: Entecavir (ETV) is a potent nucleoside analogue with high genetic barrier to resistance. In this study, real-life clinical experiences in the long-term use of ETV and the durability of its off-treatment effectiveness were analyzed.

Materials And Methods: This study was based on a large real-life cohort of 2240 chronic hepatitis B patients treated with ETV between January 2006 and December 2012 using a centralized electronic data repository.

Combination transarterial chemoembolization and radiofrequency ablation therapy for early hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background/aims: We compared the recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and the survival of patients who received radiofrequency ablation (RFA) after transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) with patients treated with TACE or RFA alone.

Methods: This study included 201 patients with HCC, who were consecutively enrolled at Seoul St. Mary's Hospital between December 2004 and February 2010.

Anti-inflammatory Cerebrosides from Cultivated Cordyceps militaris.

Cordyceps militaris (bei-chong-chaw, northern worm grass) is a precious and edible entomopathogenic fungus, which is widely used in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) as a general booster for the nervous system, metabolism, and immunity. Saccharides, nucleosides, mannitol, and sterols were isolated from this fungus. The biological activity of C.

Electrical Property Variations in Organic Bistable Devices Utilizing CdSe/CdS/ZnS Core-Shell-Shell Nanoparticle Layer Embedded in a Polystyrene Layer Due to an Inserted WO3 Layer.

Organic bistable devices (OBDs) based on CdSe/CdS/ZnS core-shell-shell nanoparticles embedded in a polystyrene (PS) layer with an inserted WO3 layer were fabricated by using the spin coating method and the thermal evaporation. The current density-voltage (J-V) curves for the Al/CdSe/CdS/ZnS core-shell-shell nanoparticles embedded in PS layer/WO3/ITO devices with different thicknesses of WO3 layers exhibited electrical bistabilities. Simulated J-V curves for the OBDs containing CdSe/CdS/ZnS core-shell-shell nanoparticles were in reasonable agreement with the experimental results.

Update on hepatitis B virus infection.

Chronic infection with hepatitis B virus (HBV) leads to the development of hepatocellular carcinoma and/or chronic liver failure. Despite extensive research, the immunopathogenesis is not completely understood. Viral persistence and clinical outcomes following HBV infection depend on viral factors and host factors; including genetic factors that determine a host's immune mechanisms.

Association Between Non-erosive Reflux Disease and High Risk of Obstructive Sleep Apnea in Korean Population.

Background/aims: Obstructive sleep apnea is becoming more important in gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) patients. This study investigated the prevalence of high risk for obstructive sleep apnea in GERD patients in comparison with that in healthy controls using the Berlin Questionnaire. We also investigated the risk factors for obstructive sleep apnea in GERD patients.

Oleuropein prevents the progression of steatohepatitis to hepatic fibrosis induced by a high-fat diet in mice.

Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is characterized by hepatocyte injury and inflammatory cell infiltration, which has been linked to peripheral insulin resistance and increased levels of triglycerides in the liver. The purposes of this study were to establish a mouse model of NASH by feeding mice a 60% high-fat diet (HFD) and to demonstrate the anti-fibrotic effects of oleuropein, which has been shown to have anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, in this HFD-induced mouse model of NASH. C57BL/6 mice were divided into three groups: a regular diet group (Chow), a HFD group and an oleuropein-supplemented HFD group (OSD), which was fed a 0.

Safety and immunogenicity of therapeutic DNA vaccine with antiviral drug in chronic HBV patients and its immunogenicity in mice.

Background & Aims: Here, we evaluated the safety and immunogenicity of hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA vaccine, HB-110, in mice and Korean patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) undergoing adefovir dipivoxil (ADV) treatment.

Methods: For animal study, mice (BALB/c or HBV transgenic) were immunized with mHB-110, and T-cell and antibody responses were evaluated. For clinical study, 27 patients randomly received either ADV alone or ADV in combination with HB-110.

Is the AIMS65 score useful in predicting outcomes in peptic ulcer bleeding?

Aim: To evaluate the applicability of AIMS65 scores in predicting outcomes of peptic ulcer bleeding.

Methods: This was a retrospective study in a single center between January 2006 and December 2011. We enrolled 522 patients with upper gastrointestinal haemorrhage who visited the emergency room.

Size and charge characterization of polymeric drug delivery systems by Taylor dispersion analysis and capillary electrophoresis.

In this work, Taylor dispersion analysis and capillary electrophoresis were used to characterize the size and charge of polymeric drug delivery nanogels based on polyglutamate chains grafted with hydrophobic groups of vitamin E. The hydrophobic vitamin E groups self-associate in water to form small hydrophobic nanodomains that can incorporate small drugs or therapeutic proteins. Taylor dispersion analysis is well suited to determine the weight average hydrodynamic radius of nanomaterials and to get information on the size polydispersity of polymeric samples.

Prognostic value of C-reactive protein and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background: Accumulating evidence indicates that components of the systemic inflammatory response, such as C-reactive protein (CRP) and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), have been associated with prognosis of various cancers. We aimed to elucidate whether CRP and NLR could serve as potential surrogate markers for response and survival in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Methods: The study population consisted of 318 consecutive patients with HCC.

Serum interleukin-6 and C-reactive protein as a prognostic indicator in hepatocellular carcinoma.

The development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is often associated with chronic inflammation, suggesting a strong relationship between inflammation and carcinogenesis. This study evaluated the prognostic values of inflammatory and T-helper (Th) cytokines in the clinical outcome and survival of HCC. The study included 110 patients with HCC undergoing loco-regional therapy and 24 healthy controls.

Differences in the patterns and outcomes of enhanced viral replication between hepatitis C virus and hepatitis B virus in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma during transarterial chemolipiodolization.

Background/aims: Enhanced replication of hepatitis C virus (HCV) is well described in the setting of moderate to severe immunosuppression. The aims of this retrospective study were to determine the incidence of enhanced HCV replication in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients undergoing transarterial chemolipiodolization (TACL) and to identify the factors associated with enhanced replication of HCV. The clinical pattern of enhanced HCV replication was compared with hepatitis B virus (HBV) reactivation during TACL.

Serum IP-10 Levels Correlate with the Severity of Liver Histopathology in Patients Infected with Genotype-1 HCV.

Background/aims: Interferon-γ-inducible protein 10 (IP-10) plays important roles in the pathogenesis of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. We investigated the association between serum IP-10 levels and liver pathology in patients with chronic HCV infection.

Methods: The serum IP-10 concentration was assessed in 85 patients with chronic HCV infection using a solid phase sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and a liver biopsy specimen was obtained.

Risk of HBV reactivation according to viral status and treatment intensity in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background: There are no convincing data supporting the routine use of pre-emptive therapy against HBV reactivation in various loco-regional therapies for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). This study investigated the incidence, severity and risk factors of HBV reactivation during loco-regional therapies.

Methods: A total of 205 prospectively enrolled patients were classified in order of increasing intensity of loco-regional therapies: local ablation therapy (LAT; 43 patients), transarterial chemotherapy using adriamycin (TAC-ADR; 93 patients) or combined epirubicin-cisplatin (TAC-EC; 26 patients), and combined chemo-radiotherapy (TAC-EC+RT; 43 patients).

Role of intrahepatic tumor control in the prognosis of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma and extrahepatic metastases.

Background And Aim: There has been little information about the long-term outcome and prognostic factors in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and extrahepatic metastases. The purpose of this study was to investigate the clinical factors affecting survival after extrahepatic metastasis and to determine the survival benefit of controlling intrahepatic HCC.

Methods: Between 2004 and 2009, a total of 240 consecutive patients with HCC and extrahepatic metastasis were recruited.

Application of helical tomotherapy for two cases of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma.

The role of radiotherapy in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has been limited to date, because the liver has a low tolerance to radiation. However, reconstructing tumors and surrounding organs via a three-dimensional conformal planning system can avoid excess radiotherapy exposure to the rest of the liver and adjacent organs. Recently, the concept of "adaptive radiotherapy," such as with helical tomotherapy, has been introduced for treating HCC.

Suppression of hepatic tumor growth and metastasis by metronomic therapy in a rat model of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Although continuous low-dose (metronomic [MET]) therapy exerts anti-cancer efficacy in various cancer models, the effect of long-term MET therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains unknown. This study assessed the long-term efficacy of MET on suppression of tumor growth and spontaneous metastasis in a rat model of HCC induced by administration of diethylnitrosamine for 16 wk. The rats were divided into 3 groups: MTD group received intraperitoneal (i.