Choroidal Blood Flow Change in Eyes with High Myopia.

Purpose: To evaluate choroidal blood flow changes in eyes with high myopia according to the pulsatile components of ocular blood flow analysis.

Methods: A total of 104 subjects (52 males and 52 females) were included in this study. One eye of each participant was randomly selected and assigned to one of four refractive groups, designated as, hyperopes (n = 20; refractive error, ≥+1.

Skin Flap Necrosis by Bone Marking with Methylene Blue in Cochlear Implantation.

One of surgical complications in cochlear implantation is the necrosis of the skin flap above the receiver-stimulator coil. We present a case of 55-year-old woman who underwent cochlear implantation and developed a bluish skin necrosis due to bone marking. The planned position for the receiver-stimulator was marked using methylene blue through skin to bone.

Association Between Platelet Function and Disc Hemorrhage in Patients With Normal-Tension Glaucoma: A Prospective Cross-Sectional Study.

Purpose: To evaluate the association between platelet function and disc hemorrhage in patients with normal-tension glaucoma.

Design: Prospective, cross-sectional study.

Methods: Study involved a total of 315 subjects, including patients with normal-tension glaucoma and disc hemorrhage (n = 120), patients with normal-tension glaucoma without disc hemorrhage (n = 75), and healthy individuals (control group, n = 120).

Factors Contributing to the Preference of Korean Patients with Crohn's Disease When Selecting an Anti-Tumor Necrosis Factor Agent (CHOICE Study).

Background/aims: Two comparable anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF) agents with different routes of administration (intravenous [iv] infliximab [IFX] vs subcutaneous [sc] adalimumab [ADA]) are available for patients with Crohn's disease (CD) in Korea. This study aimed to identify the preferences of Korean CD patients for a specific anti-TNF agent and the factors contributing to the decision.

Methods: A prospective survey was performed among anti-TNF-naive CD patients in 10 tertiary referral hospitals.

The structural basis of substrate promiscuity in UDP-hexose 4-epimerase from the hyperthermophilic Eubacterium Thermotoga maritima.

UDP-galactose 4-epimerase (GalE) catalyzes the interconversion of UDP-glucose (UDP-Glc) and UDP-galactose (UDP-Gal), which is a pivotal step in the Leloir pathway for d-galactose metabolism. Although GalE is widely distributed in prokaryotes and eukaryotes, little information is available regarding hyperthermophilic GalE. We overexpressed the TM0509 gene, encoding a putative GalE from Thermotoga maritima (TMGalE), in Escherichia coli and characterized the encoded protein.

High-sensitivity C-reactive protein and mean platelet volume as predictive values after percutaneous coronary intervention for long-term clinical outcomes: a comparable and additive study.

This study was designed to establish the relationship of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) and mean platelet volume (MPV) with the development of adverse outcomes after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). hsCRP levels and MPV were analysed in 372 patients who underwent PCI, with the primary endpoint as major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events (MACCE): a composite of cardiac death, myocardial infarction (MI), target vessel revascularization (TVR), ischemic stroke and stent thrombosis. During the follow-up period (mean, 25.

The Alpha-Melanocyte-Stimulating Hormone Suppresses TLR2-Mediated Functional Responses through IRAK-M in Normal Human Keratinocytes.

Alpha-melanocyte stimulating hormone (α-MSH) is a highly conserved 13-aa neuropeptide derived from pro-opiomelanocortin by post-translational processing, which has been reported to exhibit potent anti-inflammatory activity and a wide range of immunosuppressive activities in the skin. However, the regulatory effect of α-MSH is not completely clear in cutaneous innate immunity. In this study, we investigate the functional regulation of α-MSH in TLR2-mediated inflammatory responses in normal human keratinocytes (HKs).

Role of autophagy in cisplatin-induced ototoxicity.

Objective: Hearing loss is a major side effect of cisplatin chemotherapy. Although cell death in cisplatin-induced ototoxicity is primarily caused by apoptosis, the exact mechanism behind the ototoxic effects of cisplatin is not fully understood. Autophagy is generally known as a pro-survival mechanism that protects cells under starvation or stress conditions.

Clinical Implications of Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase Mutations and Plasma Homocysteine Levels in Patients with Thromboembolic Occlusion.

Purpose: Hyperhomocysteinemia has been identified as an independent risk factor in arterial and venous thrombosis. Mutations in genes encoding methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR), involved in the metabolism of homocysteine, may account for reduced enzyme activity and elevated plasma homocysteine levels. In this study, we investigated the interrelation of MTHFR C677T genotype and level of homocysteine in patients with arterial and venous thrombosis.

SNAREs support atlastin-mediated homotypic ER fusion in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Dynamin-like GTPases of the atlastin family are thought to mediate homotypic endoplasmic reticulum (ER) membrane fusion; however, the underlying mechanism remains largely unclear. Here, we developed a simple and quantitative in vitro assay using isolated yeast microsomes for measuring yeast atlastin Sey1p-dependent ER fusion. Using this assay, we found that the ER SNAREs Sec22p and Sec20p were required for Sey1p-mediated ER fusion.

23-gauge transconjunctival vitrectomy in eyes with pre-existing functioning filtering blebs.

Background: We investigated the outcome of 23-gauge transconjunctival pars plana vitrectomy (23G PPV) for the treatment of vitreoretinal disorder in patients with prior trabeculectomy.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed medical records of 23G PPV in 11 eyes that had functioning filtering blebs after trabeculectomy. The main outcome measures were the visual acuity, intraocular pressure (IOP) and subconjunctival fluid height in bleb by anterior segment optical coherence tomography (OCT) before and after the surgery.

The Korean guideline for cervical cancer screening.

The incidence rate of cervical cancer in Korea is still higher than in other developed countries, notwithstanding the national mass-screening program. Furthermore, a new method has been introduced in cervical cancer screening. Therefore, the committee for cervical cancer screening in Korea updated the recommendation statement established in 2002.

Death by aortoesophageal fistula due to disseminated tuberculosis: a case study.

Tuberculosis remains a serious public health problem worldwide, especially in Korea. Although tuberculosis is generally considered a non-fatal chronic disease, deaths have occurred. In this case study, a 68-year-old man was admitted to the hospital with dyspepsia, vomiting, and abdominal pain.

Effect of Detrusor Overactivity on Functional Outcomes After Holmium Laser Enucleation of the Prostate in Patients With Benign Prostatic Obstruction.

Objective: To investigate the effect of detrusor overactivity (DO) on functional outcomes after holmium laser enucleation of the prostate (HoLEP).

Materials And Methods: One hundred ten men with benign prostatic obstruction were evaluated retrospectively. International Prostate Symptom Score, International Continence Society male questionnaire short form, 3-day voiding diary, and uroflowmetry with postvoid residual were evaluated preoperatively and at 3 and 6 months postoperatively.

Successful Delivery Following Staphylococcus aureus Bacteremia after In Vitro Fertilization and Embryo Transfer.

A 30-year-old, 16-week primipara woman visited with complaints of lower back pain over the past 3 weeks. She had a history of ultrasound-guided transvaginal oocyte retrieval for in vitro fertilization (IVF) 14 weeks earlier. Lumbar spine magnetic resonance imaging showed infectious spondylitis and the results of blood and spinal biopsy cultures showed Staphylococcus aureus.

Effect of 15-hydroxyprostaglandin dehydrogenase inhibitor on wound healing.

PGE2 is an important mediator of wound healing. It is degraded and inactivated by 15-hydroxyprostaglandin dehydrogenase (15-PGDH). Various growth factors, type IV collagen, TIMP-2 and PGE2 are important mediators of inflammation involving wound healing.

Peripheral facial nerve palsy after therapeutic endoscopy.

Peripheral facial nerve palsy (FNP) is a mononeuropathy that affects the peripheral part of the facial nerve. Primary causes of peripheral FNP remain largely unknown, but detectable causes include systemic infections (viral and others), trauma, ischemia, tumor, and extrinsic compression. Peripheral FNP in relation to extrinsic compression has rarely been described in case reports.

Crystal structure of CagL from Helicobacter pylori K74 strain.

Helicobacter pylori (Hp) CagL is a component of the type IV secretion system (T4SS) and interacts with integrin in host cells through its flexible RGD domain to translocate CagA. Differences in CagL amino acid polymorphisms between Western and East-Asian Hps are correlated with clinical outcome. CagL of East-Asian clinical Hp isolate K74 (CagL(K74)) contains multiple residue variations upstream of RGD motif and has different integrin binding affinities compared to those of CagL from Western Hp 26695.

Cutoff value of serum procalcitonin as a diagnostic biomarker of infection in end-stage renal disease patients.

Background/aims: Serum procalcitonin (PCT) levels are low in healthy individuals but are elevated in patients with a serious bacterial infection or sepsis. In this study, we examined the ability of serum PCT concentration to diagnose infections in end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients, and sought to determine an appropriate threshold level.

Methods: Serum PCT levels were measured in ESRD patients on antibiotic therapy for a suspected bacterial infection (ESRD infection [iESRD] group, n = 21), and compared with those of ESRD patients on hemodialysis with no sign of infection (ESRD control [cESRD] group, n = 20).

Long-term effects of gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogs in girls with central precocious puberty.

Gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogs (GnRHa) are widely used to treat central precocious puberty (CPP). The efficacy and safety of GnRHa treatment are known, but concerns regarding long-term complications are increasing. Follow-up observation results after GnRHa treatment cessation in female CPP patients up to adulthood showed that treatment (especially <6 years) was beneficial for final adult height relative to that of pretreated or untreated patients.

Factors associated with ischemic stroke on therapeutic anticoagulation in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation.

Purpose: In this study, we investigated the stroke mechanism and the factors associated with ischemic stroke in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF) who were on optimal oral anticoagulation with warfarin.

Materials And Methods: This was a multicenter case-control study. The cases were consecutive patients with NVAF who developed cerebral infarction or transient ischemic attack (TIA) while on warfarin therapy with an international normalized ratio (INR) ≥2 between January 2007 and December 2011.

IER3 is a crucial mediator of TAp73β-induced apoptosis in cervical cancer and confers etoposide sensitivity.

Infection with high-risk human papillomaviruses (HPVs) causes cervical cancer. E6 oncoprotein, an HPV gene product, inactivates the major gatekeeper p53. In contrast, its isoform, TAp73β, has become increasingly important, as it is resistant to E6.