Effects of urbanisation and seasons on the relationship between frozen road conditions and road traffic injury: a longitudinal study of national emergency medical service data in South Korea.

Background: Frozen road conditions could be a factor in road traffic injuries, and seasonality and urbanisation level are potential influencing factors. However, few studies have considered this relationship. Therefore, we examined the effect of frozen road conditions on road traffic injury rates and the differences across seasons and urbanisation levels.

Correlations of pre- and post-operative symptoms with cytokines in different phenotypes and endotypes of chronic rhinosinusitis.

Background: Recognising inflammatory endotypes in chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) has become more important, especially with the advent of biological treatments. In this study, we investigated the correlations of pre- and post-operative symptoms with cytokine positivity in different endotypes and phenotypes of CRS.

Methodology: In total, 102 patients undergoing routine functional endoscopic sinus surgery were enrolled.

Effect of Acinetobacter lwoffii on the modulation of macrophage activation and asthmatic inflammation.

Background: Although lung macrophages are directly exposed to external stimuli, their exact immunologic roles in asthma are still largely unknown. The aim of this study was to investigate the anti-asthmatic effect of Acinetobacter lwoffii in terms of lung macrophage modulation.

Methods: Six-week-old female BALB/c mice were sensitized and challenged with ovalbumin (OVA) with or without intranasal administration of A.

Comparison of demineralized bone matrix and hydroxyapatite as carriers of Escherichia coli recombinant human BMP-2.

Background: Autograft has been widely used in various orthopedic and dental surgery for its superior osteogenicity, osteoinductivity and osteoconductivity. But the available volume of the autograft is limited and the efficacy of it is highly affected by the condition of the patients. Therefore, growth factors such as Escherichia coli bone morphogenetic protein-2 (ErhBMP-2) has been widely used in some countries and regions with various carriers that could affect the effects of the growth factors.

Inter-spike mitochondrial Ca release enhances high frequency synaptic transmission.

Key Points: Presynaptic mitochondria not only absorb but also release Ca during high frequency stimulation (HFS) when presynaptic [Ca ] is kept low (<500 nm) by high cytosolic Ca buffer or strong plasma membrane calcium clearance mechanisms under physiological external [Ca ]. Mitochondrial Ca release (MCR) does not alter the global presynaptic Ca transients. MCR during HFS enhances short-term facilitation and steady state excitatory postsynaptic currents by increasing vesicular release probability.

Multilocus genotyping and risk factor analysis of Giardia duodenalis in dogs in Korea.

Giardia duodenalis (syn. G. intestinalis, G.

Risk factors for haemoptysis after percutaneous transthoracic needle biopsies in 4,172 cases: Focusing on the effects of enlarged main pulmonary artery diameter.

Objectives: To evaluate the risk factors for haemoptysis after cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT)-guided percutaneous transthoracic needle biopsy (PTNB), particularly on whether the enlargement of main pulmonary artery diameter (mPAD) is a risk factor for PTNB-related haemoptysis.

Methods: 4,172 cases of CBCT-guided PTNBs in 3,840 patients were retrospectively included in this study. Various data including mPAD measured on preprocedural CT images were evaluated using logistic regression analyses to determine significant risk factors for both haemoptysis and severe haemoptysis, designated as when blood transfusion, vascular embolisation or cardiopulmonary resuscitation were required to manage patients with haemoptysis.

Repeat biopsy of patients with acquired resistance to EGFR TKIs: implications of biopsy-related factors on T790M mutation detection.

Objectives: To find predictors of non-diagnostic repeat biopsy specimen acquisition for mutational analysis and detection of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) T790M mutation.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 90 non-small cell lung cancer patients harbouring EGFR mutations who underwent repeat cone-beam CT-guided transthoracic needle biopsy. Clinical characteristics as well as biopsy-related factors were compared between patients with and without diagnostic specimen acquisition and between patients with and without T790M mutation.

Post-clip placement MRI following second-look US-guided core biopsy for suspicious lesions identified on breast MRI.

Objectives: To evaluate whether the post-clip placement MRI following second-look ultrasound (US)-guided core biopsy is useful to confirm the adequate sampling of suspicious lesions identified on breast MRI.

Methods: Between 2014 and 2016, 31 consecutive women with 34 suspicious lesions that had not been identified on previous mammography or US were detected using MRI. Among them, 26 women with 29 lesions (mean size 1.

Kv1.2 mediates heterosynaptic modulation of direct cortical synaptic inputs in CA3 pyramidal cells.

Key Points: We investigated the cellular mechanisms underlying mossy fibre-induced heterosynaptic long-term potentiation of perforant path (PP) inputs to CA3 pyramidal cells. Here we show that this heterosynaptic potentiation is mediated by downregulation of Kv1.2 channels.

Metabolic syndrome and sex-specific socio-economic disparities in childhood and adulthood: the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys.

Aims: To examine whether adulthood and/or childhood sex-specific socio-economic disparities are associated with metabolic syndrome and its components in a developed non-Western setting.

Methods: Based on the Fourth Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys, 14 888 people aged ≥ 20 years were analysed to evaluate the effect of adult and childhood socio-economic status on metabolic syndrome. Metabolic syndrome was defined according to the National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III guidelines.

Peri-ictal broadband electrocorticographic activities between 1 and 700 Hz and seizure onset zones in 18 patients.

Objective: We investigated the relationship between locations of broadband peri-ictal electrocorticographic activities determined by a semi-automatic detection method and seizure onset zones in medically intractable epilepsy patients.

Methods: We included 18 patients. Peri-ictal periods (-15 to +5s from the ictal onset) were divided into 4 periods of 5s duration each in bandwidth from 1 to 700 Hz divided into 11 bins.

Identification of RAS genotypes that modulate blood pressure change by outdoor temperature.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of polymorphisms of renin-angiotensin system (RAS) genes in modulating outdoor temperature-related blood pressure (BP) responses. Data for RAS gene polymorphisms, BP and outdoor temperature were collected from 4903 subjects from February 2003 to August 2004. Generalized additive and linear models were used to determine whether genetic variants of RAS affected the interplay between outdoor temperature and BP.

Asian Dust Storm and pulmonary function of school children in Seoul.

Health effects of the Asian Dust Storm (ADS) have not been evaluated adequately, even though it may affect health of people in East Asia. This study was conducted to evaluate whether the ADS affects particulate air pollution and pulmonary function of children. We studied 110 school children in Seoul, Korea with daily measurement of peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) from May 13 to June 15, 2007.

Rhabdomyoma of the orbit: a case report.

Extracardiac rhabdomyoma is a rare benign neoplasm of skeletal muscle differentiation. It occurs most often in the head and neck, but only four cases with occurrence in the orbit have been reported in the literature. A 3-month-old infant presented with right proptosis.

Meningioangiomatosis: MR imaging and pathological correlation in two cases.

Meningioangiomatosis is a rare, benign neoplastic disorder involving the cortex and leptomeninges. The pathological findings are characterised by proliferation of meningothelial cells and leptomeningeal vessels and calcifications within the mass. We experienced two cases of pathologically confirmed meningioangiomatosis, one as a solitary cortical mass with calcification and the other as a cortical lesion manifested as extensive intracranial haemorrhage.