Imaging of Facial Nerve With 3D-DESS-WE-MRI Before Parotidectomy: Impact on Surgical Outcomes

Objective@#The intra-parotid facial nerve (FN) can be visualized using three-dimensional double-echo steady-state waterexcitation sequence magnetic resonance imaging (3D-DESS-WE-MRI). However, the clinical impact of FN imaging using 3D-DESS-WE-MRI before parotidectomy has not yet been explored. We compared the clinical outcomes of parotidectomy in patients with and without preoperative 3D-DESS-WE-MRI. @*Materials and Methods@#This prospective, non-randomized, single-institution study included 296 adult patients who underwent parotidectomy for parotid tumors, excluding superficial and mobile tumors. Preoperative evaluation with 3D-DESS-WE-MRI was performed in 122 patients, and not performed in 174 patients. FN visibility and tumor location relative to FN on 3D-DESSWE-MRI were evaluated in 120 patients. Rates of FN palsy (FNP) and operation times were compared between patients with and without 3D-DESS-WE-MRI; propensity score matching (PSM) and inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) were used to adjust for surgical and tumor factors. @*Results@#The main trunk, temporofacial branch, and cervicofacial branch of the intra-parotid FN were identified using 3D-DESSWE-MRI in approximately 97.5% (117/120), 44.2% (53/120), and 25.0% (30/120) of cases, respectively. The tumor location relative to FN, as assessed on magnetic resonance imaging, concurred with surgical findings in 90.8% (109/120) of cases. Rates of temporary and permanent FNP did not vary between patients with and without 3D-DESS-WE-MRI according to PSM (odds ratio, 2.29 [95% confidence interval {CI} 0.64–8.25] and 2.02 [95% CI: 0.32–12.90], respectively) and IPTW (odds ratio, 1.76 [95% CI: 0.19–16.75] and 1.94 [95% CI: 0.20–18.49], respectively). Conversely, operation time for surgical identification of FN was significantly shorter with 3D-DESS-WE-MRI (median, 25 vs. 35 min for PSM and 25 vs. 30 min for IPTW, P < 0.001). @*Conclusion@#Preoperative FN imaging with 3D-DESS-WE-MRI facilitated anatomical identification of FN and its relationship to the tumor during parotidectomy. This modality reduced operation time for FN identification, but did not significantly affect postoperative FNP rates.

The Leadership Experience of Advanced Practice Nurses in a Tertiary Hospital Setting : Focus Group Interview / 중환자간호학회지

Purpose@#: This study aimed to identify and describe the leadership experience of advanced practice nurses (APN). @*Methods@#: Data were collected through five focus group interviews in 2022 with a total of 24 APNs in groups of 4-6 participants. All interviews were recorded, transcribed, and data were analyzed using qualitative content analysis. @*Results@#: Nine categories emerged from three main themes. First, “Roles of APN leadership” comprised a trusted clinical expert, a moderator for the entire team, a resource person for nurturing the next generation, and a change agent for improving clinical practice. Second, “Facilitators and barriers to APN leadership” included ambiguity of APN role, support system, and institutional backing. Third, “Strategies for strengthening APN leadership competencies” comprised systematic leadership education and speaking up for APNs. @*Conclusion@#: APNs are passionate about their expertise and practice, but lack the legal and organizational authority and support to provide successive leadership. Systematic education including leadership and organizational advocacy will enable APN to provide leadership that benefits patients, institutions, and the wider healthcare system.

The Protective Effect of Roseburia faecis Against Repeated Water Avoidance Stress-induced Irritable Bowel Syndrome in a Wister Rat Model

Roseburia faecis, a butyrate-producing, gram-positive anaerobic bacterium, was evaluated for its usefulness against repeated water avoidance stress (WAS)-induced irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) in a rat model, and the underlying mechanism was explored.We divided the subjects into three groups: one without stress exposure, another subjected to daily 1-hour WAS for 10 days, and a third exposed to the same WAS regimen while also receiving two different R. faecis strains (BBH024 or R22-12-24) via oral gavage for the same 10-day duration. Fecal pellet output (FPO), a toluidine blue assay for mast cell infiltration, and fecal microbiota analyses were conducted using 16S rRNA metagenomic sequencing. Predictive functional profiling of microbial communities in metabolism was also conducted. FPO and colonic mucosal mast cell counts were significantly higher in the WAS group than in the control group (male, P = 0.004; female, P = 0.027). The administration of both BBH024 (male, P = 0.015; female, P = 0.022) and R22-12-24 (male, P = 0.003; female, P = 0.040) significantly reduced FPO. Submucosal mast cell infiltration in the colon showed a similar pattern in males. In case of fecal microbiota, the WAS with R. faecis group showed increased abundance of the Roseburia genus compared to WAS alone. Moreover, the expression of a gene encoding a D-methionine transport system substrate-binding protein was significantly elevated in the WAS with R. faecis group compared to that in the WAS (male, P = 0.028; female, P = 0.025) group. These results indicate that R. faecis is a useful probiotic for treating IBS and colonic microinflammation.

Application and Evaluation of the Pilot Program for the Education Nurse System in a Medical Institution / 임상간호연구

Purpose@#This study was conducted to evaluate the performance following the application of the pilot program for the education nurse system of the Ministry of Health and Welfare in a medical institution. @*Methods@#This study was employed a non-homogeneous comparative group design by comparing new nurses who entered the medical institution after the pilot project from December 2019 to April 2020 with new nurses who entered before the pilot project during the same period. Satisfaction, academic achievement, job adaptation, personal turnover within one year, and patient safety incident rate were investigated as performance indicators. @*Results@#After the pilot project, the overall satisfaction among new nurses, preceptors, and fellow nurses increased, but there were no significant changes in academic achievement and job adaptation in new nurses. The personal turnover rate decreased from 15.6% to 9.1%, and the patient safety incident rate also decreased from 26.3% to 15.7%. Also, the preceptor overtime also decreased from 3.67 to 0.66 hours. @*Conclusion@#The performance of the pilot project for the education nurse system was related to improvements in satisfaction, turnover rate of new nurses, patient safety incident rate, and preceptor overtime. Above all long-term monitoring of each performance indicator is necessary through the continuation of the education nurse system of the Ministry of Health and Welfare.

Characteristics of Medication Administration Error Alerts in Application of Mobile Medication System / 기본간호학회지

Purpose@#To assess characteristics the application of mobile medication system and medication administration error (MAE) alerts in a general hospital. @*Methods@#The subject hospital adopted a mobile medication system in 2016. All medication administrations in the general wards and ICUs were automatically recorded in real-time using identification barcodes, drug barcodes, and hand-held point-of-care devices. MAE alert logs were recorded from April 1st 2017 to March 31st 2018. For this study analysis was done using Pearson’s chi-squared test for potentially related factors of MAE alerts included administration time, order type, medication route, and length of nurse’s employment. @*Results@#The total number of medications during the period of this study was 3,227,990. Among them, 2,698,317 medication doses were recorded, resulting in the system application rate of 83.6%. The system application rate was significantly correlated with all factors related to potential MAE alters. In this study 23,314 MAE alerts(0.9% of the total medication doses) were identified. The MAE alerts were related to new (OR=2.26, p<.001) and emergency (OR=2.25, p<.001) orders, and administration at a non-standard time (OR=2.032, p<.001). Medication route (p<.001), and nurse’s employment duration(p<.001) were also related. @*Conclusion@#A mobile medication system contributes to improving patient safety by preventing potential MAEs. The MAE alerts were related to administration time, order type, medication route, and duration of nurse’s employment. In order to prevent medication administration errors, it is necessary to standardize the process of medication and create an environment in which medication administration can be performed in a planned situation.

Optimal First-Line Therapy for Acute Low-Tone Sensorineural Hearing Loss

Background and Objectives@#We aimed to analyze treatment outcomes following different initial management approaches and confirm treatment regimens for acute low-tone sensorineural hearing loss (ALHL) that would yield the best results. @*Subjects and Methods@#We retrospectively analyzed the medical records of 106 patients with ALHL who visited a university hospital’s otology clinic from March 2013 to June 2019. Pure-tone averages at the initial visit and at 2 and 4 weeks after the initial visit were evaluated. @*Results@#Forty-nine patients were enrolled in this study; of them, 41 (83.7%) exhibited complete recovery (CR) at 2 weeks and 43 (87.8%) exhibited CR at 1 month after the initial visit. Regression analysis revealed that CR at 2 weeks after the initial visit was associated with diuretic use [Exp(B): 10.309, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.007-100]. An initial daily low-dose steroid use was marginally significant [Exp(B): 1.042, 95% CI: 0.997-1.092; p=0.066]. Isolated diuretic use [Exp(B): 25.641, 95% CI: 1.121-90.909; p=0.039] was an independent, good prognostic factor at 1 month after the initial visit. However, other treatment regimens did not affect the final results. @*Conclusions@#A combination of initial daily administration of ≤30 mg prednisolone plus diuretics was sufficient as the first-line treatment for ALHL. High-dose steroids and salvage intratympanic steroid injections can be applied as a second choice; however, the predicted outcome would not be good in that case.

Sensory Based Feeding Intervention for Toddlers With Food Refusal: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Objective@#To investigate the effect of sensory-based feeding treatment for toddlers with food refusal compared with only providing nutrition education. @*Methods@#Thirty-two toddlers with food refusal were randomly assigned to an intervention group or the control group. Toddlers in the intervention group received the sensory-based feeding intervention and the duration was for 1 hour for 5 days per week for 4 weeks, and then 1 hour, once a week for 8 weeks. Subjects in both the intervention and control groups received nutritional education once every 4 weeks for 12 weeks. The participants were evaluated at their entry into the study and 12 weeks later based on height, weight, behavior at mealtime using the Behavioral Pediatrics Feeding Assessment Scale (BPFAS), and sensory processing ability using the Infant/Toddler Sensory Profile. @*Results@#Sixteen toddlers were included in each group. Two subjects in the intervention group and four toddlers in the control group were excluded from the final analysis. Significant improvements in child or parent subscales of the BPFAS were observed in the intervention group. In contrast, there were no significant improvements in any BPFAS scores in the control group. @*Conclusion@#Sensory-based feeding intervention was effective for improving mealtime behavior in toddlers with food refusal. Therefore, a sensory-based feeding intervention could be considered as an intervention approach to address feeding disorders in toddlers.

The Korean Version of the Fugl-Meyer Assessment: Reliability and Validity Evaluation

Objective@#To systematically translate the Fugl-Meyer Assessment (FMA) into a Korean version of the FMA (K-FMA). @*Methods@#We translated the original FMA into the Korean version with three translators and a translation committee, which included physiatrists, physical therapists, and occupational therapists. Based on a test-retest method, each of 31 patients with stroke was assessed by two evaluators twice, once on recruitment, and again after a week. Analysis of intra- and inter-rater reliabilities was performed using the intra-class correlation coefficient, whereas validity was analysed using Pearson correlation test along with the Motricity Index (MI), Motor Assessment Scale (MAS), and Berg Balance Scale (BBS). @*Results@#The intra- and inter-rater reliabilities were significant for the total score, and good to excellent reliability was noted in all domains except for the joint range of motion of the lower extremity domain of the K-FMA. The MI and MAS scores were significantly correlated with all domains, all with p<0.01. The results for the MI ranged from r=0.639 to r=0.891 and those for the MAS from r=0.339 to r=0.555. However, the BBS was not significantly correlated with any domain, as the K-FMA lacks balance evaluation items. @*Conclusion@#The K-FMA was found to have high reliability and validity. Additionally, the newly developed manual for the K-FMA may help minimise errors that can occur during evaluation and improve the reliability of motor function evaluation.

The Korean Version of the Fugl-Meyer Assessment: Reliability and Validity Evaluation

Objective@#To systematically translate the Fugl-Meyer Assessment (FMA) into a Korean version of the FMA (K-FMA). @*Methods@#We translated the original FMA into the Korean version with three translators and a translation committee, which included physiatrists, physical therapists, and occupational therapists. Based on a test-retest method, each of 31 patients with stroke was assessed by two evaluators twice, once on recruitment, and again after a week. Analysis of intra- and inter-rater reliabilities was performed using the intra-class correlation coefficient, whereas validity was analysed using Pearson correlation test along with the Motricity Index (MI), Motor Assessment Scale (MAS), and Berg Balance Scale (BBS). @*Results@#The intra- and inter-rater reliabilities were significant for the total score, and good to excellent reliability was noted in all domains except for the joint range of motion of the lower extremity domain of the K-FMA. The MI and MAS scores were significantly correlated with all domains, all with p<0.01. The results for the MI ranged from r=0.639 to r=0.891 and those for the MAS from r=0.339 to r=0.555. However, the BBS was not significantly correlated with any domain, as the K-FMA lacks balance evaluation items. @*Conclusion@#The K-FMA was found to have high reliability and validity. Additionally, the newly developed manual for the K-FMA may help minimise errors that can occur during evaluation and improve the reliability of motor function evaluation.

CORM-2-entrapped ultradeformable liposomes ameliorate acute skin inflammation in an ear edema model

The short release half-life of carbon monoxide (CO) is a major obstacle to the effective therapeutic use of carbon monoxide-releasing molecule-2 (CORM-2). The potential of CORM-2-entrapped ultradeformable liposomes (CORM-2-UDLs) to enhance the release half-life of CO and alleviate skin inflammation was investigated in the present study. CORM-2-UDLs were prepared by using soy phosphatidylcholine to form lipid bilayers and Tween 80 as an edge activator. The deformability of CORM-2-UDLs was measured and compared with that of conventional liposomes by passing formulations through a filter device at a constant pressure. The release profile of CO from CORM-2-UDLs was evaluated by myoglobin assay.

The Clinical Efficacy of a Pure Alginate Formulation (Lamina G) for Controlling Symptoms in Individuals with Reflux Symptoms: A Randomized Clinical Study

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Bicarbonate-containing alginate formulations are reported to be effective for controlling reflux symptoms. However, the efficacy of Lamina G alginate without gas production has not been reported. The aim is to evaluate the efficacy of a non-bicarbonate alginate in individuals with reflux symptoms without reflux esophagitis. METHODS: Participants who had experienced heartburn or regurgitation for 7 consecutive days were randomized to one of the following treatment groups: proton pump inhibitors (PPI) plus alginate (combination) or PPI plus placebo (PPI only). In addition, as a reference group, patients received placebo plus alginate (alginate only). The primary endpoint compared the percentage of patients with complete resolution of symptoms for the final 7 days of the treatment. Secondary endpoints compared changes in symptom score, symptom-free days during the treatment period, the Reflux Disease Questionnaire, Patient Assessment of Upper Gastrointestinal Disorders (PAGI)-Quality of Life and PAGI-Symptoms Severity Index scores, the investigator's assessment of symptoms, and incidence of adverse events. RESULTS: Complete resolution of heartburn or regurgitation was not significantly different between the combination and PPI only groups (58.7% vs 57.5%, p=0.903). The secondary endpoints were not significantly different between the two groups. Complete resolution of heartburn or regurgitation, did not differ between the alginate only reference group and the PPI only group (75.0% vs 57.5%, p=0.146). CONCLUSIONS: The addition of non-bicarbonate alginate to PPI was no more effective than PPI alone in controlling reflux symptoms.

Cigarette Smoking Preferentially Affects Intracranial Vessels in Young Males: A Propensity-Score Matching Analysis / 신경중재치료의학

PURPOSE: Cigarette smoking (CS) is one of the major risk factors of cerebral atherosclerotic disease, however, its level of contribution to extracranial and intracranial atherosclerotic stenosis (ECAS and ICAS) was not fully revealed yet. The purpose of our study was to assess the association of CS to cerebral atherosclerosis along with other risk factors. MATERIALS AND METHODS: All consecutive patients who were angiographically confirmed with severe symptomatic cerebral atherosclerotic disease between January 2002 and December 2012 were included in this study. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to identify risk factors for ECAS and ICAS. Thereafter, CS group were compared to non-CS group in the entire study population and in a propensity-score matched population with two different age-subgroups. RESULTS: Of 1709 enrolled patients, 794 (46.5%) had extracranial (EC) lesions and the other 915 (53.5%) had intracranial (IC) lesions. CS group had more EC lesions (55.8% vs. 35.3%, P<0.001) whereas young age group (<50 years) had more IC lesion (84.5% vs. 47.6%, P<0.001). In multivariate analysis, seven variables including CS, male, old age, coronary heart disease, higher erythrocyte sedimentation rate, multiple lesions, and anterior lesion were independently associated with ECAS. In the propensity-score matched CS group had significant more EC lesion compared to non-CS group (65.7% vs. 47.9%) only in the old age subgroup. CONCLUSION: In contrast to a significant association between CS and severe symptomatic ECAS shown in old population, young patients did not show this association and showed relatively higher preference of ICAS.

YJI-7 Suppresses ROS Production and Expression of Inflammatory Mediators via Modulation of p38MAPK and JNK Signaling in RAW 264.7 Macrophages

Chalcone, (2E)-1,3-Diphenylprop-2-en-1-one, and its synthetic derivatives are known to possess anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory properties. In the present study, we prepared a novel synthetic chalcone compound, (E)-1-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-3-(2-(trifluoromethoxy)phenyl)prop-2-en-1-one name (YJI-7), and investigated its inhibitory effects on endotoxin-stimulated production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and expression of inflammatory mediators in macrophages. We demonstrated that treatment of RAW 264.7 macrophages with YJI-7 significantly suppressed lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated ROS production. We also found that YJI-7 substantially decreased NADPH oxidase activity stimulated by LPS, indicating that YJI-7 regulates ROS production via modulation of NADPH oxidase in macrophages. Furthermore, YJI-7 strongly inhibited the expression of a number of inflammatory mediators in a gene-selective manner, suggesting that YJI-7 possesses potent anti-inflammatory properties, as well as anti-oxidative activity. In continuing experiments to investigate the mechanisms that could underlie such biological effects, we revealed that YJI-7 suppressed phosphorylation of p38MAPK and JNK stimulated by LPS, whereas no significant effect on ERK was observed. Furthermore, LPS-stimulated production of ROS, activation of NADPH oxidase and expression of inflammatory mediators were markedly suppressed by treatment with selective inhibitor of p38MAPK (SB203580) and JNK (SP600125). Taken together, these results demonstrated that YJI-7, a novel synthetic chalcone derivative, suppressed LPS-stimulated ROS production via modulation of NADPH oxidase and diminished expression of inflammatory mediators, at least in part, via down-regulation of p38MAPK and JNK signaling in macrophages.

Non-Curative Endoscopic Resection for Superficial Esophageal Cancer

No abstract available.

Lenticulostriate Artery Involvement is Predictive of Poor Outcomes in Superficial Middle Cerebral Artery Territory Infarction

PURPOSE: Patients with superficial middle cerebral artery (MCA) territory infarction may have concomitant lenticulostriate artery (LSA) territory infarction. We investigated the mechanisms thereof and the outcomes of patients with superficial MCA territory infarction according to the presence or absence of LSA involvement. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Consecutive patients with first-ever infarction in the unilateral superficial MCA territory were included in this study. They were divided into the superficial MCA only (SM) group and the superficial MCA plus LSA (SM+L) group. RESULTS: Of the 398 patients, 84 patients (21.1%) had LSA involvement (SM+L group). The SM+L group more frequently had significant stenosis of the proximal MCA or carotid artery and high-risk cardioembolic sources. Stroke severity and outcomes were remarkably different between the groups. The SM+L group showed more severe neurologic deficits (National Institute of Health Stroke Scale score 10.8±7.1 vs. 4.0±5.0, p2) at 3 months was more common in the SM+L group (64.3% vs. 15.9%, p<0.001). During a mean follow-up of 26 months, 67 patients died. All-cause (hazard ratio, 2.246) and stroke (hazard ratio, 9.193) mortalities were higher in the SM+L group than the SM group. In multivariate analyses, LSA involvement was an independent predictor of poor functional outcomes and stroke mortality. CONCLUSION: LSA territory involvement is predictive of poor long-term outcomes in patients with superficial MCA territory infarction.

Low-Level Laser Irradiation Improves Motor Recovery After Contusive Spinal Cord Injury in Rats

This study investigated the therapeutic effects of low-level laser irradiation (LLLI) on the recovery of motor function and its underlying mechanisms in rats with spinal cord injury (SCI). The spinal cord was contused at the T11 level using a New York University impactor. Thirty-eight rats were randomly divided into four groups: LLLI with 0.08 J, 0.4 J, 0.8 J, and sham. We transcutaneously applied at the lesion site of the spinal contusive rats 5 min after injury and then daily for 21 days. The Basso, Beattie and Bresnahan (BBB) locomotor scale and combined behavioral score (CBS) were used to evaluate motor function. The spinal segments of rostral and caudal from the lesion site, the epicenter, and L4–5 were collected from normal and the all groups at 7 days after SCI. The expression of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) was compared across groups in all regions. In the present study, LLLI with 0.4 J and 0.8 J led to a significant improvement in motor function compared to sham LLLI, which significantly decreased TNF-α expression at the lesion epicenter and reduced iNOS expression in the caudal segment for all LLLI groups and in the L4–5 segments for the 0.4 J and 0.8 J groups when compared to sham LLLI group. Our results demonstrate that transcutaneous LLLI modulate inflammatory mediators to enhance motor function recovery after SCI. Thus, LLLI in acute phase after SCI might have therapeutic potential for neuroprotection and restoration of motor function following SCI.

The effects of intra-articular resiniferatoxin on monosodium iodoacetate-induced osteoarthritic pain in rats

This study was performed to investigate whether an intra-articular injection of transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1) receptor agonist, resiniferatoxin (RTX) would alleviate behavioral signs of arthritic pain in a rat model of osteoarthritis (OA). We also sought to determine the effect of RTX treatment on calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) expression in the spinal cord. Knee joint inflammation was induced by intra-articular injection of monosodium iodoacetate (MIA, 8 mg/50 microl) and weight bearing percentage on right and left hindpaws during walking, paw withdrawal threshold to mechanical stimulation, and paw withdrawal latency to heat were measured to evaluate pain behavior. Intra-articular administration of RTX (0.03, 0.003 and 0.0003%) at 2 weeks after the induction of knee joint inflammation significantly improved reduction of weight bearing on the ipsilateral hindlimb and increased paw withdrawal sensitivity to mechanical and heat stimuli. The reduction of pain behavior persisted for 3~10 days according to each behavioral test. The MIA-induced increase in CGRP immunoreactivity in the spinal cord was decreased by RTX treatment in a dose-dependent manner. The present study demonstrated that a single intra-articular administration of RTX reduced pain behaviors for a relatively long time in an experimental model of OA and could normalize OA-associated changes in peptide expression in the spinal cord.

Gray-Matter Volume Estimate Score: A Novel Semi-Automatic Method Measuring Early Ischemic Change on CT / 대한뇌졸중학회지

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: We developed a novel method named Gray-matter Volume Estimate Score (GRAVES), measuring early ischemic changes on Computed Tomography (CT) semi-automatically by computer software. This study aimed to compare GRAVES and Alberta Stroke Program Early CT Score (ASPECTS) with regards to outcome prediction and inter-rater agreement. METHODS: This was a retrospective cohort study. Among consecutive patients with ischemic stroke in the anterior circulation who received intra-arterial therapy (IAT), those with a readable pretreatment CT were included. Two stroke neurologists independently measured both the GRAVES and ASPECTS. GRAVES was defined as the percentage of estimated hypodense lesion in the gray matter of the ipsilateral hemisphere. Spearman correlation analysis, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) comparison test, and intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC) comparison tests were performed between GRAVES and ASPECTS. RESULTS: Ninety-four subjects (age: 68.7+/-10.3; male: 54 [54.9%]) were enrolled. The mean GRAVES was 9.0+/-8.9 and the median ASPECTS was 8 (interquartile range, 6-9). Correlation between ASPECTS and GRAVES was good (Spearman's rank correlation coefficient, 0.642; P<0.001). ROC comparison analysis showed that the predictive value of GRAVES for favorable outcome was not significantly different from that of ASPECTS (area under curve, 0.765 vs. 0.717; P=0.308). ICC comparison analysis revealed that inter-rater agreement of GRAVES was significantly better than that of ASPECTS (0.978 vs. 0.895; P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: GRAVES had a good correlation with ASPECTS. GRAVES was as good as ASPECTS in predicting a favorable clinical outcome, but was better than ASPECTS regarding inter-rater agreement. GRAVES may be used to predict the outcome of IAT.

Gray-Matter Volume Estimate Score: A Novel Semi-Automatic Method Measuring Early Ischemic Change on CT / 대한뇌졸중학회지

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: We developed a novel method named Gray-matter Volume Estimate Score (GRAVES), measuring early ischemic changes on Computed Tomography (CT) semi-automatically by computer software. This study aimed to compare GRAVES and Alberta Stroke Program Early CT Score (ASPECTS) with regards to outcome prediction and inter-rater agreement. METHODS: This was a retrospective cohort study. Among consecutive patients with ischemic stroke in the anterior circulation who received intra-arterial therapy (IAT), those with a readable pretreatment CT were included. Two stroke neurologists independently measured both the GRAVES and ASPECTS. GRAVES was defined as the percentage of estimated hypodense lesion in the gray matter of the ipsilateral hemisphere. Spearman correlation analysis, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) comparison test, and intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC) comparison tests were performed between GRAVES and ASPECTS. RESULTS: Ninety-four subjects (age: 68.7+/-10.3; male: 54 [54.9%]) were enrolled. The mean GRAVES was 9.0+/-8.9 and the median ASPECTS was 8 (interquartile range, 6-9). Correlation between ASPECTS and GRAVES was good (Spearman's rank correlation coefficient, 0.642; P<0.001). ROC comparison analysis showed that the predictive value of GRAVES for favorable outcome was not significantly different from that of ASPECTS (area under curve, 0.765 vs. 0.717; P=0.308). ICC comparison analysis revealed that inter-rater agreement of GRAVES was significantly better than that of ASPECTS (0.978 vs. 0.895; P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: GRAVES had a good correlation with ASPECTS. GRAVES was as good as ASPECTS in predicting a favorable clinical outcome, but was better than ASPECTS regarding inter-rater agreement. GRAVES may be used to predict the outcome of IAT.

Protective effects of Cirsium setidens ethanolic extracts against alcoholic fatty liver injury in rats / 한국영양학회지

PURPOSE: In this study, we investigated the effects of Cirsium setidens ethanolic extract (CS) on the development of alcoholic fatty liver and associated injury. METHODS: Sprague-Dawley male rats were fed either Lieber-DeCarli control (C) or ethanol (35.5% of total calories) liquid diet with 0 (E), 100 mg/kgBW CS (E+LCS), or 500 mg/kgBW CS (E+HCS) for 8 weeks. Serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) activities as well as TG and cholesterol concentrations in the serum and liver tissues were measured by colorimetric assays. Liver histopathology was examined by Hematoxylin-eosin staining of the fixed liver tissues. Protein levels of phosphorylated-AMP activated protein kinase (p-AMPK), phosphorylated-acetyl CoA carboxylase (p-ACC), phosphorylated-nuclear factor kappa B (p-NFκB), and TNFα were measured by Western blot analyses. RESULTS: Both doses of CS markedly suppressed alcohol-induced lipid droplets accumulation in the liver tissues and significantly inhibited alcohol-induced increases in activities of serum ALT and serum AST. Similarly, CS significantly reduced hepatic and serum TG concentrations. Compared to groups fed alcohol only, CS supplementation strongly increased hepatic levels of p-AMPK and p-ACC. Further, CS significantly inhibited alcohol-induced phosphorylation of NFκB, which was associated with reduced hepatic protein levels of TNFα. CONCLUSION: Our data demonstrated that CS has a protective effect against alcoholic liver injury, which was associated with activation of AMPK and inhibition of NFκB.