Shedding and Transmission Modes of Severe Fever With Thrombocytopenia Syndrome Phlebovirus in a Ferret Model.

Background: Although human-to-human transmission of severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome phlebovirus (SFTSV) via direct contact with body fluids has been reported, the role of specific body fluids from SFTSV-infected hosts has not been investigated in detail.

Methods: To demonstrate the virus transmission kinetics in SFTSV-infected hosts, we adapted the ferret infection model and evaluated the virus shedding periods, virus titers, and transmission modes from various specimens of infected ferrets.

Results: Large amounts of infectious SFTSV are shed through nasal discharge, saliva, and urine from SFTSV-infected ferrets.

Rapid and simple colorimetric detection of multiple influenza viruses infecting humans using a reverse transcriptional loop-mediated isothermal amplification (RT-LAMP) diagnostic platform.

Background: In addition to seasonal influenza viruses recently circulating in humans, avian influenza viruses (AIVs) of H5N1, H5N6 and H7N9 subtypes have also emerged and demonstrated human infection abilities with high mortality rates. Although influenza viral infections are usually diagnosed using viral isolation and serological/molecular analyses, the cost, accessibility, and availability of these methods may limit their utility in various settings. The objective of this study was to develop and optimized a multiplex detection system for most influenza viruses currently infecting humans.

Predicting Outcome in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis: Addition of Fibrotic Score at Thin-Section CT of the Chest to Gender, Age, and Physiology Score Improves the Prediction Model.

Purpose: To assess the impact of adding thin-section CT-derived semiquantitative fibrotic score to gender, age, and physiology (GAP) model for predicting survival in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF).

Materials And Methods: In this retrospective study of 194 patients with IPF, primary outcome was transplant-free survival. Two thoracic radiologists visually estimated the percentage of reticulation and honeycombing at baseline thin-section CT, which were added to give fibrotic score.

Seroprevalence of Severe Fever with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome Phlebovirus in Domesticated Deer in South Korea.

Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome phlebovirus (SFTSV) has a wide host range. Not only has it been found in humans, but also in many wild and domesticated animals. The infection of breeding deer on farms is a particularly worrisome public health concern due to the large amount of human contact and the diverse use of deer products, including raw blood.

Cyclic O exposure synergizes with aging leading to memory impairment in male APOE ε3, but not APOE ε4, targeted replacement mice.

The etiology of late-onset Alzheimer's disease is unknown. Recent epidemiological studies suggest that exposure to high levels of ozone (O) may be a risk factor for late-onset Alzheimer's disease. Nonetheless, whether and how O exposure contributes to AD development remains to be determined.

Development of a rapid, simple and efficient one-pot cloning method for a reverse genetics system of broad subtypes of influenza A virus.

The reverse genetics (RG) system of influenza A viruses is well established. However, the conventional sequence-dependent method for cloning influenza genome segments is time-consuming and requires multiple processes (eg. enzyme digestion and ligation) and exhibits low cloning efficiency compared to the sequence-independent cloning method.

Atmospheric deposition of anthropogenic inorganic nitrogen in airborne particles and precipitation in the East Sea in the northwestern Pacific Ocean.

The atmospheric deposition of anthropogenic nitrogen is an increasingly important new source of nitrogen to the ocean. Coastal areas east of the Korean Peninsula are suitable for the investigation of the effects of atmospheric anthropogenic nitrogen on the ocean nutrient system because of the low riverine discharge rates and the prevailing influence of the East Asian outflow. Thus, we measured the concentrations of nitrate (NO) and ammonium (NH) in airborne particles and in precipitation from March 2014 to February 2016 at a coastal site (37.

Corrigendum to "Effectiveness and Safety of Acupotomy for Lumbar Disc Herniation: A Randomized, Assessor-Blinded, Controlled Pilot Study".

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1155/2018/5871657.].

Expression of Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress-Related mRNAs in Chronic Otitis Media.

Objectives: Unfolded proteins in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) cause an ER stress response and can result in various pathologic conditions, including inflammation. Otitis media is the most common disease in otolaryngology and is associated with inflammation. The pathophysiology of chronic otitis media is not well understood; we therefore investigated the expression pattern of ER stress-related mRNAs in chronic otitis media.

Effect of Treatment on Long-term Mortality in Patients with Hypertension.

A meta-analysis of randomized trials performed in healthy asymptomatic individuals suggested that overall mortality may increase after eradication despite a significant decrease in the gastric cancer incidence and mortality rates. This retrospective population-based cohort study investigated if treatment is associated with an increase in overall mortality in patients with hypertension. From the database of the Korean National Health Insurance Sample Cohort, we selected 198,487 patients treated for hypertension between 2002 and 2010.

Expression of endoplasmic reticulum stress-related mRNA in otitis media with effusion.

Objectives: The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is an intracellular organelle involved in the synthesis and secretion of proteins. The ER stress response, which protects cells from cytotoxic proteins such as unfolded proteins, is related to several diseases including inflammation. In this study, we investigated the effect of ER stress on the pathophysiology of otitis media with effusion (OME).

The Peak Index: Spirometry Metric for Airflow Obstruction Severity and Heterogeneity.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is characterized by airflow limitation. Spirometry loops are not smooth curves and have undulations and peaks that likely reflect heterogeneity of airflow. To assess whether the Peak Index, the number of peaks adjusted for lung size, is associated with clinical outcomes.

Sinking Skin Flap Syndrome or Syndrome of the Trephined: A Report of Two Cases.

Decompressive craniectomy (DC) is commonly performed in patients with intracranial hypertension or brain edema due to traumatic brain injury. Infrequently, neurologic deteriorations accompanied by sunken scalp may occur after DC. We report two patients with traumatic subdural hemorrhage who had neurologic deteriorations accompanied by sunken scalp after DC.

Anticancer Effects of Baicalein in FRO Thyroid Cancer Cells Through the Up-regulation of ERK/p38 MAPK and Akt Pathway.

Background/aim: The aim of the study was to evaluate the anticancer effects of baicalein in FRO anaplastic thyroid cancer (ATC) cells.

Materials And Methods: FRO cells were treated with baicalein and viability was measured by the MTT assay. Cell apoptosis was observed by staining with Hoechst dye.

Efficacy and safety of gyejigachulbutang (Gui-Zhi-Jia-Shu-Fu-Tang, Keishikajutsubuto, TJ-18) for knee pain in patients with degenerative knee osteoarthritis: a randomized, placebo-controlled, patient and assessor blinded clinical trial.

Background: Degenerative knee osteoarthritis is a leading cause of disability in the elderly. If patients do not respond to pharmacological or nonpharmacological intervention, total knee replacement surgery is recommended. However, owing to the contraindications and adverse effects of surgery, the need for a new treatment strategy is emerging.

Cognitive improvement effects of electro-acupuncture for the treatment of MCI compared with Western medications: a systematic review and Meta-analysis.

Background: Almost half of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) patients progress to dementia, which is associated with decreased quality of life and obstacles to independent living. Relevant management is expected to prevent MCI patients from progressing to dementia. In recent years, electroacupuncture (EA) has been used to treat various kinds of neurological disorders including MCI.

Expression of C-type lectin receptor mRNA in otitis media with effusion and chronic otitis media with and without cholesteatoma.

Background & Objectives: C-type lectin receptors (CLRs) are a family of pattern recognition receptors (PRPs). The expression of CLRs has been analyzed in other diseases but has not yet been compared in patients with otitis media with effusion (OME), chronic otitis media (COM) and COM with cholesteatoma (Chole OM). This study therefore evaluated the levels of expression of mRNAs encoding Dectin-1, MR1, MR2, DC-SIGN, Syk, Card-9, Bcl-10, Malt-1, Src, DEC-205, Tim-3, Trem-1, and DAP-12 in patients with OME, COM, and Chole OM.

Rationales for a Urodynamic Study in Patients with Cervical Spondylotic Myelopathy.

Background: Detrusor sphincter dyssynergia, involuntary detrusor contractions (IDCs), and poor bladder compliance are common urodynamic findings in cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM). There is little information regarding the role of a urodynamic study after decompression surgery for CSM.

Methods: Urodynamic study was performed before and 6 months after decompression of CSM.

Centrilobular emphysema and coronary artery calcification: mediation analysis in the SPIROMICS cohort.

Background: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is associated with a two-to-five fold increase in the risk of coronary artery disease independent of shared risk factors. This association is hypothesized to be mediated by systemic inflammation but this link has not been established.

Methods: We included 300 participants enrolled in the SPIROMICS cohort, 75 each of lifetime non-smokers, smokers without airflow obstruction, mild-moderate COPD, and severe-very severe COPD.

Effectiveness and Safety of Polydioxanone Thread-Embedding Acupuncture as an Adjunctive Therapy for Patients with Chronic Nonspecific Neck Pain: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of treatment with thread-embedding acupuncture (TEA) using polydioxanone in addition to usual care for patients with chronic nonspecific neck pain (CNP) compared with treatment with usual care alone.

Methods: A single-center, assessor-blinded, two-armed randomized controlled trial was performed. One hundred and six outpatients with CNP were randomly allocated into the TEA plus usual care (TU) group or the usual care (UC) group in a 1:1 ratio.

Efficacy and safety of polydioxanone thread embedded at specific acupoints for non-specific chronic neck pain: a study protocol for a randomized, subject-assessor-blinded, sham-controlled pilot trial.

Background: This study aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of thread-embedding acupuncture (TEA) with polydioxanone thread embedded at various acupoints, compared with sham TEA, for the treatment of non-specific chronic neck pain.

Methods/design: This study will be an 8-week-long, two-armed, parallel, randomized, subject-assessor-blinded, sham-controlled pilot trial. Fifty eligible patients will be randomly allocated into the real TEA group or the sham TEA group.

Ferret animal model of severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome phlebovirus for human lethal infection and pathogenesis.

Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome phlebovirus (SFTSV), listed in the most dangerous pathogens by the World Health Organization, has 12-30% fatality rates with a characteristic thrombocytopenia syndrome. With a majority of clinically diagnosed SFTSV patients older than ~50 years of age, age is a critical risk factor for SFTSV morbidity and mortality. Here, we report an age-dependent ferret model of SFTSV infection and pathogenesis that fully recapitulates the clinical manifestations of human infections.

Decreased Aquaporin 4 and 6 mRNAs in Patients With Chronic Otitis Media With Otorrhea.

Objectives: Aquaporins (AQPs) are integral membrane proteins engaged in the modulation of water homeostasis, but the roles they play in chronic otitis media (COM) have not been well investigated. Accordingly, we undertook document relations between the mRNA expressions of AQPs and COM, and explored the relation between these expressions and otorrhea, which is one of the most common symptoms of COM.

Methods: Levels of the mRNAs of AQP 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, and 10 were assayed by real-time polymerase chain reaction in inflammatory tissue samples from 81 patients with COM with or without otorrhea.

New Spirometry Indices for Detecting Mild Airflow Obstruction.

The diagnosis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) relies on demonstration of airflow obstruction. Traditional spirometric indices miss a number of subjects with respiratory symptoms or structural lung disease on imaging. We hypothesized that utilizing all data points on the expiratory spirometry curves to assess their shape will improve detection of mild airflow obstruction and structural lung disease.