Case Reports of Acute Transverse Myelitis Associated With mRNA Vaccine for COVID-19

Acute transverse myelitis (ATM) has been reported as rare complication of vaccination. Herein, we report 2 cases of ATM after the administration of an mRNA vaccine for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The first one is an 81-year-old man who received the BNT162b2 vaccine. He presented with bilateral hand weakness. Spine magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed high signal intensity from the C1 to C3 vertebrae. The second is a 23-year-old woman who received the BNT162b2 vaccine and experienced tingling in her legs. Spine MRI showed a high signal intensity lesion at the conus medullaris. These patients were treated with intravenous methylprednisolone and their symptoms improved slightly. Careful follow-up is needed to identify adverse events after the administration of mRNA vaccines for COVID-19.

Is robot-assisted laparoscopic myomectomy limited in multiple myomas?: a feasibility for ten or more myomas

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the feasibility of robot-assisted laparoscopic myomectomy in multiple myomas over 10. METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted for 662 patients who underwent robot-assisted laparoscopic myomectomy and open myomectomy by a single operator in a tertiary university hospital. RESULTS: A total of 30 women underwent removal of 10 or more uterine myomas by robotics and 13 patients were selected for this study. The average number of myomas removed was 13.7 (range 10–20). The maximum diameter of the myomas was 6.8 cm (range 5.0–10.0 cm). The sum of the diameters of each myoma was 34.7 cm (range 20.0–54.5 cm) and the mass of resected myomas for each case was 229.1 g (range 106.8–437.9 g). In no case was the robotic procedure converted into conventional laparoscopy or laparotomy, and all patients recovered without any major complications. In comparison with 13 cases of open myomectomy during the same period, robotic surgery took longer time than open surgery (360.5 vs. 183.8 minutes; P=0.001) but had shorter postoperative hospital days after surgery (mean 2.5 vs. 3.5 days; P=0.003). CONCLUSION: Robot-assisted laparoscopic myomectomy could be an alternative to laparotomic myomectomy for numerous myomas over 10 in number.

Androgen Receptor-dependent Expression of Low-density Lipoprotein Receptor-related Protein 6 is Necessary for Prostate Cancer Cell Proliferation

Androgen receptor (AR) signaling is important for prostate cancer (PCa) cell proliferation. Here, we showed that proliferation of hormone-sensitive prostate cancer cells such as LNCaP was significantly enhanced by testosterone stimulation whereas hormone-insensitive prostate cancer cells such as PC3 and VCaP did not respond to testosterone stimulation. Blocking of AR using bicalutamide abolished testosterone-induced proliferation of LNCaP cells. In addition, knockdown of AR blocked testosterone-induced proliferation of LNCaP cells. Basal expression of low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 6 (LRP6) was elevated in VCaP cells whereas stimulation of testosterone did not affect the expression of LRP6. However, expression of LRP6 in LNCaP cells was increased by testosterone stimulation. In addition, knockdown of LRP6 abrogated testosterone-induced proliferation of LNCaP cells. Given these results, we suggest that androgen-dependent expression of LRP6 plays a crucial role in hormone-sensitive prostate cancer cell proliferation.

Role of LPA and the Hippo pathway on apoptosis in salivary gland epithelial cells

Lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) is a bioactive lysophospholipid involved in numerous physiological responses. However, the expression of LPA receptors and the role of the Hippo signaling pathway in epithelial cells have remained elusive. In this experiment, we studied the functional expression of LPA receptors and the associated signaling pathway using reverse transcriptase-PCR, microspectrofluorimetry, western blotting and immunocytochemistry in salivary gland epithelial cells. We found that LPA receptors are functionally expressed and involved in activating the Hippo pathway mediated by YAP/TAZ through Lats/Mob1 and RhoA/ROCK. Upregulation of YAP/TAZ-dependent target genes, including CTGF, ANKRD1 and CYR61, has also been observed in LPA-treated cells. In addition, based on data suggesting that tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha induces cell apoptosis, LPA upregulates TNF-induced caspase-3 and cleaved Poly(ADP-ribose)polymerase (PARP). However, small interfering RNA treatment to Yes-associated protein (YAP) or transcriptional co-activator with a PDZ-binding motif (TAZ) significantly decreased TNF-alpha- and LPA-induced apoptosis, suggesting that YAP and TAZ modulate the apoptotic pathway in salivary epithelial cells.

Effect of loading time on marginal bone loss around hydroxyapatite-coated implants

OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study is compare the rate of marginal bone resorption around hydroxyapatite-coated implants given different loading times in order to evaluate their stability. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study was conducted retrospectively for one year, targeting 41 patients whose treatment areas were the posterior maxilla and the mandible. Osstem TS III HA (Osstem Implant Co., Busan, Korea) and Zimmer TSV-HA (Zimmer Dental, Carlsbad, CA, USA), which employ the new hydroxyapatite coating technique, were used. The patients were divided into two groups - immediate and delayed loading - and the bone level at the time of loading commencement and after one year of loading was measured using periapical radiography. Differences between the groups were evaluated using Mann-Whitney (alpha=0.05). RESULTS: For all patients as a single group, the survival rate of the implants was 100%, and the mean marginal bone loss was 0.26+/-0.59 mm. In comparison of the differences by loading, mean marginal bone loss of 0.32+/-0.69 mm was recorded for the immediate loading group whereas the delayed loading group had mean marginal bone loss of 0.16+/-0.42 mm. However, the difference was not significant (P>0.05). CONCLUSION: Within the limited observation period of one year, predictable survival rates can be expected when using immediately loaded hydroxyapatite-coated implants.

The Effects of Pain Management Education on Knowledge, Concern, and Attitude about Pain Management in Cancer Patients Receiving Chemotherapy in Outpatient Settings

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to identify the effects of pain management education on knowledge, concern, and attitude about pain management for cancer patients receiving chemotherapy in outpatient settings. METHODS: This study used a nonequivalent control group pre-post test design. Data collection was conducted from June to September 2012. The participants of this study were 56 patients (Experimental group; 28, Control group; 28) at one University Hospital in D city. The data were analysed with a SPSS/WIN program. RESULTS: There was a significant difference on knowledge about pain management (t=2.139, p=.037), but there were no difference on concern (t=-1.355, p=.181) and attitude (F=3.276, p=.076) about pain management between experimental group and control group. CONCLUSION: The pain management education had positive effects on knowledge about pain management for cancer patients receiving chemotherapy in outpatient settings. Therefore, to validate the effectiveness of pain management education, customized program and further research should be considered focusing on demographic and disease-specific characteristics.