In this study, we sought to identify a criterion for the intermediate-risk grouping of patients with cervical cancer who exhibit any intermediate-risk factor after radical hysterectomy.
In total, ...2158 patients with pathologically proven stage IB-IIA cervical cancer with any intermediate-risk factor after radical hysterectomy were randomly assigned to two groups, a development group and a validation group, at a ratio of 3 : 1 (1620 patients:538 patients). To predict recurrence, multivariate models were developed using the development group. The ability of the models to discriminate between groups was validated using the log-rank test and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis.
Four factors (histology, tumour size, deep stromal invasion (DSI), and lymphovascular space involvement (LVSI)) were significantly associated with disease recurrence and included in the models. Among the nine possible combinations of the four variables, models consisting of any two of the four intermediate-risk factors (tumour size ≥3 cm, DSI of the outer third of the cervix, LVSI, and adenocarcinoma or adenosquamous carcinoma histology) demonstrated the best performance for predicting recurrence.
This study identified a 'four-factor model' in which the presence of any two factors may be useful for predicting recurrence in patients with cervical cancer treated with radical hysterectomy.
Given the mode of transmission of Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS), healthcare workers (HCWs) in contact with MERS patients are expected to be at risk of MERS infections. We evaluated the ...prevalence of MERS coronavirus (CoV) immunoglobulin (Ig) G in HCWs exposed to MERS patients and calculated the incidence of MERS-affected cases in HCWs. We enrolled HCWs from hospitals where confirmed MERS patients had visited. Serum was collected 4 to 6 weeks after the last contact with a confirmed MERS patient. We performed an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to screen for the presence of MERS-CoV IgG and an indirect immunofluorescence test (IIFT) to confirm MERS-CoV IgG. We used a questionnaire to collect information regarding the exposure. We calculated the incidence of MERS-affected cases by dividing the sum of PCR-confirmed and serology-confirmed cases by the number of exposed HCWs in participating hospitals. In total, 1169 HCWs in 31 hospitals had contact with 114 MERS patients, and among the HCWs, 15 were PCR-confirmed MERS cases in study hospitals. Serologic analysis was performed for 737 participants. ELISA was positive in five participants and borderline for seven. IIFT was positive for two (0.3%) of these 12 participants. Among the participants who did not use appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE), seropositivity was 0.7% (2/294) compared to 0% (0/443) in cases with appropriate PPE use. The incidence of MERS infection in HCWs was 1.5% (17/1169). The seroprevalence of MERS-CoV IgG among HCWs was higher among participants who did not use appropriate PPE.
Background and purpose
The progression pattern of brain structural changes in patients with isolated cerebrovascular disease (CVD) remains unclear. To investigate the role of isolated CVD in ...cognitive impairment patients, patterns of cortical thinning and hippocampal atrophy in pure subcortical vascular mild cognitive impairment (svMCI) and pure subcortical vascular dementia (SVaD) patients were characterized.
Methods
Forty‐five patients with svMCI and 46 patients with SVaD who were negative on Pittsburgh compound B (PiB) positron emission tomography imaging and 75 individuals with normal cognition (NC) were recruited.
Results
Compared with NC, patients with PiB(−) svMCI exhibited frontal, language and retrieval type memory dysfunctions, which in patients with PiB(−) SVaD were further impaired and accompanied by visuospatial and recognition memory dysfunctions. Compared with NC, patients with PiB(−) svMCI exhibited cortical thinning in the frontal, perisylvian, basal temporal and posterior cingulate regions. This atrophy was more prominent and extended further toward the lateral parietal and medial temporal regions in patients with PiB(−) SVaD. Compared with NC subjects, patients with PiB(−) svMCI exhibited hippocampal shape deformities in the lateral body, whilst patients with PiB(−) SVaD exhibited additional deformities within the lateral head and inferior body.
Conclusions
Our findings suggest that patients with CVD in the absence of Alzheimer's disease pathology can be demented, showing cognitive impairment in multiple domains, which is consistent with the topography of cortical thinning and hippocampal shape deformity.
Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are one of the most common diseases by which humans seek medical help and are caused mainly by uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC). Studying the virulence and ...antibiotic resistance of UPEC with respect to various phylogenetic groups is of utmost importance in developing new therapeutic agents. Thus, in this study, we analysed the virulence factors, antibiotic resistance and phylogenetic groups among various UPEC isolates from children with UTIs. The phylogenetic analysis revealed that majority of the strains responsible for UTIs belonged to the phylogenetic groups B2 and D. Of the 58 E. coli isolates, 79·31% belonged to group B2, 15·51% to group D, 3·44% to group A and 1·72% to B1. Simultaneously, the number of virulence factors and antibiotic resistance exhibited were also significantly high in groups B2 and D compared to other groups. Among the isolates, 44·8% were multidrug resistant and of that 73% belonged to the phylogenetic group B2, indicating the compatibility of antibiotic resistance and certain strains carrying virulence factor genes. The antibiotic resistance profiling of UPEC strains elucidates that the antimicrobial agents such as chloramphenicol, cefoxitin, cefepime, ceftazidime might still be used in the therapy for treating UTIs. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: As the antibiotic resistance pattern of uropathogenic Escherichia coli varies depending on different geographical regions, the antibiotic resistance pattern from this study will help the physicians to effectively administer antibiotic therapy for urinary tract infections. In addition, the frequency of virulence factors and antibiotic resistance genes among various phylogenic groups could be effectively used to draw new targets for uropathogenic Escherichia coli antibiotic‐independent therapies. The study emphasizes need of public awareness on multidrug resistance and for more prudent use of antimicrobials.
The benefit of surgical resection of liver metastases from gastric cancer has not been well established. The aim of this study was to evaluate the rationale for hepatic resection in patients with ...hepatic metastases from gastric cancer.
Among 10259 patients diagnosed with gastric adenocarcinoma in the Yonsei University Health System from 1995 to 2005, we reviewed the records of 58 patients with liver-only metastases from gastric cancer who underwent gastric resection regardless of hepatic surgery.
The overall 1-year, 3-year, and 5-year survival rates of 41 patients who underwent hepatic resection with curative intent were 75.3%, 31.7%, and 20.8%, respectively, and three patients survived >7 years. Of the 41 patients, 22 had complete resection and 19 had palliative resection. Between the curative and palliative resections, survival rates after curative intent were not different. The number of liver metastasis (solitary or multiple) was a marginally significant prognostic factor for survival.
Surgery for liver metastases arising from gastric adenocarcinoma is reasonable if complete resection seems feasible after careful preoperative staging, even if complete resection is not actually achieved. Hepatic resection should be considered as an option for gastric cancer patients with hepatic metastases.
Aims To investigate whether fatty liver per se is an independent risk factor of incident type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in Koreans.
Methods We examined the clinical and laboratory data of 5372 ...non‐diabetic participants (3670 men and 1702 women; age 46.8 ± 8.4 years, range 20–79 years) who underwent voluntary medical check‐ups in 2000 and follow‐up examinations in 2005.
Results Two hundred and thirty‐three participants (4.3%) developed T2DM after 5 years. Univariate analysis showed that the development of diabetes was associated with: male sex; family history of diabetes; smoking; older age; higher body mass index (BMI), systolic and diastolic blood pressure, fasting plasma glucose (FPG), hepatic enzymes, total cholesterol and triglycerides; lower HDL cholesterol; and the presence of fatty liver on ultrasonography at baseline. In multiple logistic regression models, after adjusting for age, sex and alcohol consumption, patients with fatty liver were at significantly higher risk of developing T2DM compared to those without fatty liver relative risk (RR) 3.92, 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.89–5.31. After further adjustment for smoking, BMI, triglycerides, HDL cholesterol, FPG, alanine aminotransferase and ultrasonographer, fatty liver remained significantly associated with the development of T2DM (RR 1.51, 95% CI 1.04–2.20). Patients with moderate to severe fatty liver had higher risk ratios than patients with mild fatty liver. Exclusion of frequent drinkers did not attenuate the association.
Conclusions Fatty liver on ultrasonography is associated with the development of T2DM, independently of classical risk factors, in Korean adults.
Aims
To evaluate the antimicrobial activities of an active compound isolated from the culture broth of Amphirosellinia nigrospora JS‐1675 against various plant pathogenic bacteria and fungi.
Methods ...and Results
While screening for bioactive secondary metabolites from endophytic fungi, we found that A. nigrospora JS‐1675 showed strong in vitro antibacterial activity against Ralstonia solanacearum. One compound (1) was isolated and identified as (4S, 5S, 6S)‐5,6‐epoxy‐4‐hydroxy‐3‐methoxy‐5‐methyl‐cyclohex‐2‐en‐1‐one. Growth of most of the tested phytopathogenic bacteria was inhibited by compound 1 and the ethyl acetate (EtOAc) layer except Pseudomonas syringae pv. lachrymans. Compound 1 also inhibited the mycelial growth of several plant pathogenic fungi. Both compound 1 and the EtOAc layer reduced bacterial leaf spot disease in detached peach leaves. They also suppressed the development of bacterial wilt on tomato seedlings quite effectively.
Conclusions
Amphirosellinia nigrospora JS‐1675 showed antimicrobial activity against plant pathogenic bacteria and fungi by producing compound 1.
Significance and Impact of the Study
This is the first report on the occurrence of compound 1 in A. nigrospora JS‐1675 and its efficacy against plant pathogenic bacteria and fungi. Their strong disease control efficacy against tomato bacterial wilt suggests that this fungus can be used as a microbial bactericide.
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► We examined NGF and cognitive function, and neurogenesis in the hippocampus after exercise. ► NGF levels in the hippocampus increased through long-term exercise. ► Regular exercise ...stimulates neurogenesis in the adult rat hippocampus. ► This phenomenon was more apparent when the exercise form was swimming.
We investigated the effects of swimming and treadmill exercise on the level of nerve growth factor (NGF) protein and neurogenesis in the hippocampus, and cognitive function of adult rats over a period of 8weeks. We divided 144 male Sprague–Dawley rats into 3 groups: (1) a control group (COG; total n=48, n=8 for each time-point), (2) a swimming exercise group (SEG; total n=48; n=8 for each time-point), and (3) a treadmill exercise group (TEG; total n=48, n=8 for each time-point). The SEG and TEG were made to perform their respective exercise type for 5days per week over a period of 8weeks. The level of NGF on the second day, and after the first, second, and fourth weeks increased significantly in the SEG and TEG, compared to the COG (p<0.001 for each time-point). Specifically, a significant increase was observed in the SEG at the 2-day, 2-week, and 4-week time-points. A significant difference in the number of BrdU-positive cells was found between groups at all time-points (6months: p<0.05; 2days, 2weeks, 4weeks, and 3months: p<0.01; 1week: p<0.001). Specifically, a significant increase was observed in the SEG at the 1-week and 4-week time-points. The number of NeuN-positive cells in the SEG increased significantly at all time-points (2weeks: p<0.01; 2days, 1week, 4weeks, 3months, and 6months: p<0.001). The number of DCX-positive cells between groups was also significantly different at all time-points, except for the fourth week, (6months: p<0.05; 2days: p<0.01; 1week, 2weeks, 3months: p<0.001). Specifically, a significant increase was observed in the SEG at the 3-month time-point. These results show that regular exercise in adult rats increased the level of NGF in the hippocampus, increased the number of newly proliferated nerve cells, and extended the period of neuron survival and maintenance. Furthermore, this phenomenon was more apparent when the exercise form was swimming.
Summary
Background Subungual haemorrhages are characterized by well‐circumscribed dots or blotches with a red to red–black pigmentation, but some cases can be difficult to distinguish from subungual ...melanoma by the naked eye alone. Dermoscopy has proven to be a useful, noninvasive tool in the diagnosis of pigmented lesions in the nail; however, few dermoscopic studies of subungual haemorrhages have been reported.
Objectives To investigate characteristic dermoscopic patterns of subungual haemorrhages, and to find distinctive features that can differentiate them from nail‐unit melanomas.
Methods Patients with a confirmed diagnosis of either subungual haemorrhage or nail‐unit melanoma at a tertiary university hospital were included in the study. Clinical features and dermoscopic patterns were evaluated.
Results Sixty‐four patients with a total of 90 lesions of subungual haemorrhage were enrolled in the study. The majority of cases (84%) showed combinations of more than one colour, while 16% had only one colour. The most common colour of the subungual haemorrhages was purple–black, in 37% of cases. A homogeneous pattern was observed in 92% of cases, globular patterns in 42% and streaks in 39%. Peripheral fading and periungual haemorrhages were found in 54% and 22% of cases, respectively. Destruction or dystrophy of the nail plate was observed in 16% of cases. In the 16 cases of nail‐unit melanomas, Hutchinson sign, longitudinal irregular bands or lines, triangular shape of bands, vascular pattern, and ulcerations were found in 100%, 81%, 25%, 6% and 81% of cases, respectively. In contrast, these features were not found in subungual haemorrhages.
Conclusions Dermoscopy provides valuable information for the diagnosis of subungual haemorrhage and aids in the differential diagnosis from nail‐unit melanoma.
What’s already known about this topic?
•
Subungual haemorrhage is a common imitator of subungual melanoma, and thus subungual melanoma should always be included in the differential diagnosis of subungual haemorrhage.
•
Dermoscopy is a helpful, noninvasive diagnostic tool that has been reported to improve diagnostic accuracy in pigmented nail lesions.
What does this study add?
•
The results of our study show that the characteristic dermoscopic findings of subungual haemorrhage can be summarized as homogeneous patterns, globular patterns, streaks, peripheral fading and periungual haemorrhages.
•
This study shows that dermoscopy provides valuable information for the diagnosis of subungual haemorrhages and assists in its differential diagnosis from nail‐unit melanomas.
Design of the RAON accelerator systems Jeon, D.; Hong, I. S.; Kim, H. J. ...
Journal of the Korean Physical Society,
10/2014, Letnik:
65, Številka:
7
Journal Article
Recenzirano
The RAON is the name of the heavy ion accelerator facility under construction in Korea that includes the In-flight Fragment (IF) and Isotope Separation On-Line (ISOL) facilities to support ...cutting-edge research in various science fields. The superconducting linac is the driver for the IF facility that can accelerate beams from proton to uranium with 200 MeV/u, 400 kW (for uranium beam). A 70-MeV, 1-mA H
−
cyclotron is the driver for the ISOL facility and is followed by a post-accelerator consisting of s superconducting linac that can accelerate rare-isotope (RI) beams and deliver them to experimental halls. These facilities provide high-intensity stable ion and rare isotope (RI) beams for domestic and international users. In this paper, design and prototyping efforts for the RAON accelerator systems are presented.
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