Resolution of severe neurobehavioral difficulties in an individual with Primrose syndrome with sertraline.

Primrose syndrome (PS) is a rare genetic disease characterized by developmental delay, intellectual disability, sensorineural hearing loss, and dysmorphic features. PS is caused by de novo pathogenic variants in the ZBTB20 gene, which encodes a transcription factor modulating neurogenesis. We describe resolution with sertraline of neurobehavioral difficulties in a 17-year-old Hispanic male with PS with de novo heterozygous c.

Correlation Between Average Segment Width and Gamma Passing Rate as a Function of MLC Position Error in Volumetric Modulated Arc Therapy.

Objective: This study analyzed the correlation between the average segment width (ASW) and gamma passing rate according to the multi-leaf collimator (MLC) position error.

Method: To evaluate the changes in the gamma passing rate according to the MLC position error, 21 volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) plans were generated using pelvic lymph node metastatic prostate cancer patient's data which is sensitive to MLC position errors as they involve several long, narrow, irregular fields. The ASW for each VMAT plan was calculated using our own code developed using Visual Basic for Applications (VBA).

Evaluation of monoxide film-based dosimeters for surface dose detection in electron therapy.

Generally, electron therapy is applied to tumors on or close to the skin surface. However, this causes a variety of skin-related side effects. To alleviate the risk of these side effects, clinical treatment uses skin dosimeters to verify the therapeutic dose.

Which Is Better for Liver SBRT: Dosimetric Comparison Between DCAT and VMAT for Liver Tumors.

Stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) is currently well-adopted as a curative treatment for primary and metastatic liver tumors. Among SBRT methods, dynamic conformal arc therapy (DCAT) and volumetric-modulated arc therapy (VMAT) are the most preferred methods. In this study, we report a comparison study measuring the dose distribution and delivery efficiency differences between DCAT and VMAT for liver SBRT.

Clinical Experience of Vibroplasty With Direct Coupling to the Oval Window Without Use of a Coupler.

Objectives/hypothesis: To investigate the efficacy of direct implantation of a Vibrant Soundbridge (VSB) implant in the oval window (OW) without the use of an OW coupler in patients with severe mixed hearing loss.

Study Design: Retrospective chart review METHODS: A total of 62 patients underwent VSB implantation between July 2016 and December 2018 at Severance Hospital in Seoul, South Korea. Among them, eight patients (nine ears) with moderate-to-severe mixed hearing loss were implanted with a VSB directly in the OW.

Gasless transoral robotic thyroidectomy using the DaVinci SP system: Feasibility, safety, and operative technique.

Background: Transoral robotic thyroidectomy (TORT) is an ideal method for minimally invasive thyroidectomy, as there is less flap dissection during the procedure and no postoperative scars. However, this method also has the limitation of present DaVinci system and some technical problems related to CO gas insufflation that must be resolved. We investigated the feasibility and safety of gasless TORT using the latest version of the DaVinci system (SP).

Which Patients With a Unilateral Hearing Aid for Symmetric Sensorineural Hearing Loss Have Auditory Deprivation?

Objectives: The aim of study is to find conditions that aggravate auditory deprivation in patients with symmetric hearing loss after unilateral digital, non-linear hearing aid (HA).

Methods: In the retrospective case-comparison study, we assessed 47 patients with symmetric sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL), wearing unilateral conventional HAs. Audiological outcomes were assessed >1 year after HA fitting (mean duration, 31.

Predictors of Institutionalization in Patients with Alzheimer's Disease in South Korea.

Background And Purpose: We investigated predictors of institutionalization in patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) in South Korea.

Methods: In total, 2,470 patients with AD aged 74.5±7.

Poor Sleep Quality Predicts Hypogonadal Symptoms and Sexual Dysfunction in Male Nonstandard Shift Workers.

Objective: To investigate the impact of sleep quality in hypogonadal symptoms and sexual function in men working nonstandard shifts.

Materials And Methods: Men treated at a single andrology clinic between July and October 2014 completed questionnaires assessing sleep quality, hypogonadal symptoms (Androgen Deficiency in the Aging Male [ADAM/qADAM]), and sexual function (International Index of Erectile Function [IIEF]). Serum hormone levels were assessed at the time of survey completion.

Evaluation of the Synergistic Effect Between Ethyl Formate and Phospine for Control of Aphis gossypii (Homoptera: Aphididae).

Cotton aphid, Aphis gossypii Glover, is known as a quarantine pest that is hard to control with short periods of fumigation with phosphine (PH(3)) or low concentrations of ethyl formate. Moreover, low-temperature fumigation with ethyl formate can lead to phototoxic damage of some perishable commodities. Therefore, a laboratory study was conducted to evaluate the synergistic effect of mixing ethyl formate and PH(3) for the treatment of adults and nymphs of A.

Rhodopsin management during the light-dark cycle of Anopheles gambiae mosquitoes.

The tropical disease vector mosquito Anopheles gambiae possesses 11 rhodopsin genes. Three of these, GPROP1, GPROP3, and GPROP4, encode rhodopsins with >99% sequence identity. We created antisera against these rhodopsins and used immunohistology to show that one or more of these rhodopsins are expressed in the major R1-6 photoreceptor class of the adult A.

Serum uric acid and chronic kidney disease: the Severance cohort study.

Background: Both serum uric acid (SUA) and chronic kidney disease (CKD) are associated with the risk of cardiovascular disease; however, it is unclear whether SUA independently increases the risk of CKD based on longitudinal data.

Methods: To investigate the relationship between SUA levels and CKD development, we initiated a 10.2-year prospective cohort study.

Efficacy and safety of prolonged 3-year telbivudine treatment in patients with chronic hepatitis B.

Background: In the GLOBE trial, telbivudine demonstrated superior efficacy to lamivudine at 2 years in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB).

Aims: To investigate the long-term efficacy and safety of telbivudine in the telbivudine-treated cohort from the GLOBE trial.

Methods: Virological and biochemical responses were assessed in 213 HBeAg-positive and 186 HBeAg-negative CHB patients who continued telbivudine treatment for 3 years.

Anti-nuclear antibody reactivity in lupus may be partly hard-wired into the primary B-cell repertoire.

When monoclonal ANAs and non-ANAs generated from a genetically simplified mouse model of lupus, B6.Sle1, were recently compared, the ANAs exhibited three sequence motifs in their immunoglobulin heavy chains, including increased cationicity in CDR3 ("motif A"), reduced anionicity in CDR2 ("motif B") and increased aspartate at H50 ("motif C"). The present study was designed to elucidate the extent to which these ANA-associated sequence motifs might be hard-wired into the primary B-cell repertoire in lupus.

Recombinant interferon-Beta-1alpha plus ribavirin for the treatment of chronic HCV infection: a prospective, randomized, comparative pilot study.

Background/aims: Interferon beta (IFN-beta) has been shown to have antiviral activity, and thus could be useful in treating viral infections. Therefore, we compared the efficacy and safety of recombinant IFN-beta (IFN-beta-1a) plus oral ribavirin versus interferon alpha (IFN-alpha) plus ribavirin therapy for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C (HCV).

Methods: Twenty treatment-naïve patients were randomized into two equal-sized treatment groups.

Phase II study of transarterial holmium-166-chitosan complex treatment in patients with a single, large hepatocellular carcinoma.

Purpose: Holmium-166 ((166)Ho) is a neutron-activated radioactive isotope whose effectiveness in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) was first reported in a preclinical study in 1991. Chitosan is a polymer of 2-deoxy-2-amino-D-glucose that readily forms a chelate with heavy metals and converts from a solution under acidic conditions into a gel under neutral or basic conditions. We performed a prospective trial of a transarterial administration of a radiopharmaceutical (166)Ho-chitosan complex in patients with single, large HCC.

Combination therapy of thymosin alpha-1 and lamivudine for HBeAg positive chronic hepatitis B: A prospective randomized, comparative pilot study.

Background And Aim: Monotherapy of lamivudine, interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha), and thymosin alpha-1 (Talpha1) is unlikely to be sufficient for the eradication of a chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. The aim of our study is to elucidate whether the combination of Talpha1 and lamivudine is superior to lamivudine monotherapy in hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) positive naïve patients with chronic hepatitis B.

Methods: Sixty-seven patients were assigned to two different groups in a randomized manner.

[The efficacy and safety of telbivudine in korean patients with chronic hepatitis B].

Background And Aims: Telbivudine is an L-nucleoside analogue with potent antiviral activity against hepatitis B virus (HBV). Clinical trials have shown that telbivudine is more potent than lamivudine for suppressing virus.

Methods: A total 101 Korean patients among 1,367 patients who participated in the phase III GLOBE trial were randomized in this study.

Prediction of microvascular invasion before curative resection of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background: The accurate staging of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is important in establishing treatment strategies and prognosis. Among tumor factors, microvascular invasion, one of TNM staging components and prognostic factors, is underestimated preoperatively, due to inaccuracy of imaging modalities. We investigated preoperative predictors of microvascular invasion.

Telbivudine versus lamivudine in patients with chronic hepatitis B.

Background: Reducing hepatitis B virus (HBV) replication to minimal levels is emerging as a key therapeutic goal for chronic hepatitis B.

Methods: In this double-blind, phase 3 trial, 1370 patients with chronic hepatitis B were randomly assigned to receive 600 mg of telbivudine or 100 mg of lamivudine once daily. The primary efficacy end point was noninferiority of telbivudine to lamivudine for therapeutic response (i.

Persistent hepatitis B viral replication affects recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma after curative resection.

Background: Elevated serum hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA increases the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Rather than instantaneous DNA level, the duration of persistent HBV replication is more important in carcinogenesis. Nevertheless, most investigators evaluated the DNA level at study entry.

Treatment of hepatitis B e antigen positive chronic hepatitis with telbivudine or adefovir: a randomized trial.

Background: The efficacy of nucleoside and nucleotide analogues for hepatitis B has been linked to the magnitude and durability of hepatitis B virus (HBV) suppression.

Objective: To compare the antiviral efficacy of telbivudine and adefovir dipivoxil, and the effects of switching from adefovir to telbivudine, in hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg)-positive patients with chronic hepatitis B.

Design: Randomized, controlled, open-label trial.

[Clinical features and treatment outcome of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma with inferior vena caval invasion or atrial tumor thrombus].

Background/aims: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with an extension to the inferior vena cava (IVC) or right atrium is uncommon, and its prognosis remains unclear due to the few case reports. In order to elucidate the natural history and treatment outcome, this study investigated advanced HCC patients with an IVC invasion or atrial tumor thrombus.

Methods: Between November 1987 and June 2004, a total of 41 patients were diagnosed as having HCC with IVC or right atrial involvement using the new imaging techniques including a two-dimensional echocardiography.

Noninvasive models to predict liver cirrhosis in patients with chronic hepatitis B.

Objectives: Few noninvasive models of chronic hepatitis B (CHB) to predict liver cirrhosis have been studied. The aim of the current study is to investigate the diagnostic accuracy of two simple novel models of spleen-platelet ratio index (SPRI) and age-spleen-platelet ratio index (ASPRI) in patients with CHB.

Patients And Methods: A total of 346 consecutive treatment-naïve patients with CHB were retrospectively studied.