Clinical and radiological outcome of the locked plate osteosynthesis in distal metadiaphyseal tibial fracture according to the severity of comminution: Varus reduction would not be preferable with lower clinical outcomes.

Background: The optimal treatment for distal tibial fractures remains a matter of debate. Nonetheless, plate osteosynthesis produces favorable results to intramedullary stabilization in aspects of alignment restoration. Aim: The aim of the study was to compare the radiologic and clinical outcomes of distal metadiaphyseal tibial fracture between a simple/wedge fracture (SWF) and a comminuted fracture (CF) using minimally invasive plate osteosynthesis (MIPO). Patients and Methods: This retrospective study analyzed patients with SWF or CF of the distal tibial metadiaphysis that was surgically treated with a locking compression plate. Postoperative radiographic assessments and the time to radiologic union were noted. Clinical assessments were evaluated using both the American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) ankle-hindfoot score and the foot function index (FFI). Postoperative complications were documented. Results: Seventy-one cases were analyzed over a mean follow-up period of 20.9 months. Thirty-six patients had SWF and 35 patients presented with CF. The mean time to radiologic union, amounts of postoperative coronal angulation, and incidence of malunion showed no statistical differences. Fibular fixation was more applied in the CF group (P < 0.001). Moreover, the clinical scores revealed no differences. Nonetheless, in the valgus union group, the AOFAS ankle-hindfoot score was 90.9 compared to 84.1 in the varus union group (P = 0.042) and the FFI was 9.2% compared to 20.2% in the varus union group (P = 0.017). Conclusion: Plate osteosynthesis for SWF or CF of the distal tibial metadiaphysis led to high union rates and good clinical outcomes. There was no significant difference in the radiologic and clinical results according to the presence of fracture comminution. Nonetheless, the valgus union group showed better clinical outcomes than the varus union group. Clinically, it would be preferred to avoid intraoperative varus reduction.

Zinc-depletion associates with tissue eosinophilia and collagen depletion in chronic rhinosinusitis.

BACKGROUND: Zinc plays an important role in many biological processes. Reduced zinc levels have been found in chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) patients, however, its role in the pathophysiology of this disease remains unknown. This study examined zinc levels in the serum, mucus and tissue from CRS patients in relation to collagen content and eosinophil infiltration. The effect of zinc depletion on inflammatory cytokine production and collagen synthesis was assessed in vitro. METHODOLOGY: Zinc levels were determined in serum, mucus and tissue from controls, CRS with (CRSwNP) and without nasal polyps (CRSsNP) patients. Tissue zinc levels, collagen and inflammatory cell infiltration was examined using zinquin assays, immunofluorescence and histology on Tissue Micro Arrays. Cytokine expression and collagen synthesis was evaluated in zinc depleted primary human nasal epithelial cells (HNECs) and primary fibroblasts. RESULTS: CRSwNP patients showed reduced tissue zinc levels in correlation with a reduction in collagen content, and increased eosinophil numbers. Zinc depletion of HNECs and fibroblasts induced the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines and MUC5AC and reduced collagen secretion. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest mucosal zinc depletion associates with tissue eosinophilia and collagen depletion in CRSwNP and induces pro-inflammatory cytokine expression and reduction of collagen synthesis in vitro.

Juvenile mild traumatic brain injury elicits distinct spatiotemporal astrocyte responses.

Mild-traumatic brain injury (mTBI) represents ~80% of all emergency room visits and increases the probability of developing long-term cognitive disorders in children. To date, molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying post-mTBI cognitive dysfunction are unknown. Astrogliosis has been shown to significantly alter astrocytes' properties following brain injury, potentially leading to significant brain dysfunction. However, such alterations have never been investigated in the context of juvenile mTBI (jmTBI). A closed-head injury model was used to study jmTBI on postnatal-day 17 mice. Astrogliosis was evaluated using glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), vimentin, and nestin immunolabeling in somatosensory cortex (SSC), dentate gyrus (DG), amygdala (AMY), and infralimbic area (ILA) of prefrontal cortex in both hemispheres from 1 to 30 days postinjury (dpi). In vivo T2-weighted-imaging (T2WI) and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) were performed at 7 and 30 dpi to examine tissue level structural alterations. Increased GFAP-labeling was observed up to 30 dpi in the ipsilateral SSC, the initial site of the impact. However, vimentin and nestin expression was not perturbed by jmTBI. The morphology of GFAP positive cells was significantly altered in the SSC, DG, AMY, and ILA up to 7 dpi that some correlated with magnetic resonance imaging changes. T2WI and DTI values were significantly altered at 30 dpi within these brain regions most prominently in regions distant from the impact site. Our data show that jmTBI triggers changes in astrocytic phenotype with a distinct spatiotemporal pattern. We speculate that the presence and time course of astrogliosis may contribute to pathophysiological processes and long-term structural alterations following jmTBI.

Interventional treatment of arterial injury during blind central venous catheterisation in the upper thorax: experience from two centres.

AIM: To evaluate the safety and clinical efficacy of interventional treatment for arterial injury during blind, central venous catheterisation in the upper thorax at two tertiary medical centres. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eighteen consecutive patients (37-81 years; M:F=8:10) who underwent interventional treatment for the arterial injuries that occurred during central venous catheterisation without any imaging guidance between November 2007 and December 2018 were included. Clinical data, angiographic findings, detailed interventional procedures, and technical and clinical outcomes were analysed retrospectively. RESULTS: Arterial injury sites were the subclavian artery/branches (n=12), axillary artery/branches (n=2), and common carotid artery (n=4). The target vein was not correlated with the corresponding artery/branches in eight patients (44.4%); internal jugular vein to subclavian artery branches. Angiographic findings were pseudoaneurysm (66.7%, 12/18), contrast medium extravasation (22.2%, 4/18), or both (11.1%, n=2). A stent graft was inserted for the main trunk injuries in nine patients, with (n=2) or without (n=7) prior arterial branch embolisation to prevent potential endoleak, while embolisation for the arterial branch injuries was performed in nine patients. Direct percutaneous access with thrombin injection to the pseudoaneurysm or residual arteriovenous fistula was utilised in two. The technical and clinical success rate was 94.4% (17/18) each. There were no procedure-related complications. In one patient without immediate clinical success, there was a persistent pseudoaneurysm after stent graft placement, which was treated with in-stent balloon dilation. CONCLUSION: Interventional treatment serves as a safe and effective treatment modality for inadvertent arterial injury related to blind, central venous access catheterisation in the upper thorax.

Repeated isoflurane in adult male mice leads to acute and persistent motor decrements with long-term modifications in corpus callosum microstructural integrity.

Isoflurane is a commonly used inhalational anesthetic, clinically and in animal experimental studies. Although it has been reported as safe, recent findings suggest that despite widespread use, isoflurane-induced inhalational anesthesia can lead to various pathophysiological and cognitive alterations. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the long-term behavioral and white matter consequences of repeated isoflurane exposure. Twenty 3-month-old C57BL/6J male mice received one exposure of isoflurane for 40 min or 2 exposures to isoflurane separated by 3 days. Behavioral paradigms (open field, balance beam, foot fault, rotarod, elevated zero maze, tail suspension, water maze, and social recognition tests) were administered at 1, 3, 5, 7, and 90 days post exposure. Animals exposed to repeated isoflurane showed significant motor deficits on the balance beam and increased anxiety-like behavior. Animals exposed to single isoflurane showed impaired performance on the foot fault test. Diffusion tensor imaging showed that repeated isoflurane exposure led to long-term disruption of water diffusivity in corpus callosum (CC) white matter. Furthermore, 2-D structure-tensor analysis from stained brain sections showed differences in the microstructural organization of CC white matter in mice with single versus repeated isoflurane exposures. These results suggest that behavioral deficits observed up to 90 days after repeated isoflurane exposure resulted from, at least in part, altered CC white matter microstructural integrity.

First Report of the Korean Lung Transplantation Registry.

BACKGROUND: The Korean Organ Transplantation Registry (KOTRY) began to register lung transplants in 2015. This is an initial report on the status of patients receiving lung transplants over the past 2 years. METHODS: We analyzed a total of 69 patients who received lung transplants in 2015 and 2016 and who registered with the KOTRY. RESULTS: The 69 patients were treated in 5 institutions. The average (SD) donor age was 39.2 (12.6) years; there were 40 male patients. The average (SD) recipient age was 55.7 (10.0) years, and the number of male recipients was 46. A total of 66 patients underwent bilateral lung transplantation, 3 underwent single-lung transplantation, and 1 underwent simultaneous heart-lung transplantation. The most frequent indication for lung transplantation was idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (35 patients), followed by connective tissue disease-related interstitial lung disease (9) and acute respiratory failure (8). Prior to transplantation, 23 patients required ventilator care, and 12 required extracorporeal membrane oxygenation while on the waiting list. Episodes of acute rejection during follow-up were reported in 4, 2, 1, and 1 patients at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months, respectively. Infections requiring hospitalization were reported in 27, 10, 4, and 3 patients at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months, respectively. CONCLUSION: The establishment of KOTRY renders it possible to collect nationwide data on lung transplantation, improving research on the topic and clarifying clinical feasibility.

Compensatory structural and functional adaptation after radical nephrectomy for renal cell carcinoma according to preoperative stage of chronic kidney disease. Choi DK, Jung SB, Park BH, Jeong BC, Seo SI, Jeon SS, Lee HM, Choi HY, Jeon HG.J Urol. 2015 Oct;194(4):910-5. [Epub 2015 Apr 28]. doi: 10.1016/j.juro.2015.04.093.

PURPOSE: We investigated structural hypertrophy and functional hyperfiltration as compensatory adaptations after radical nephrectomy in patients with renal cell carcinoma according to the preoperative chronic kidney disease stage. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively identified 543 patients who underwent radical nephrectomy for renal cell carcinoma between 1997 and 2012. Patients were classified according to preoperative glomerular filtration rate as no chronic kidney disease-glomerular filtration rate 90ml/min/1.73m2 or greater (230, 42.4%), chronic kidney disease stage II-glomerular filtration rate 60 to less than 90ml/min/1.73m2 (227, 41.8%), and chronic kidney disease stage III-glomerular filtration rate 30 to less than 60ml/min/1.73m2 (86, 15.8%). Computerized tomography performed within 2 months before surgery and 1 year after surgery was used to assess functional renal volume for measuring the degree of hypertrophy of the remnant kidney, and the preoperative and postoperative glomerular filtration rate per unit volume of functional renal volume was used to calculate the degree of hyperfiltration. RESULTS: Among all patients (mean age = 56.0y) mean preoperative glomerular filtration rate, functional renal volume, and glomerular filtration rate/functional renal volume were 83.2ml/min/1.73m2, 340.6cm3, and 0.25ml/min/1.73m2/cm3, respectively. The percent reduction in glomerular filtration rate was statistically significant according to chronic kidney disease stage (no chronic kidney disease 31.2% vs. stage II 26.5% vs. stage III 12.8%, P<0.001). However, the degree of hypertrophic functional renal volume in the remnant kidney was not statistically significant (no chronic kidney disease 18.5% vs. stage II 17.3% vs. stage III 16.5%, P = 0.250). The change in glomerular filtration rate/functional renal volume was statistically significant (no chronic kidney disease 18.5% vs. stage II 20.1% vs. stage III 45.9%, P<0.001). Factors that increased glomerular filtration rate/functional renal volume above the mean value were body mass index (P = 0.012), diabetes mellitus (P = 0.023), hypertension (P = 0.015), and chronic kidney disease stage (P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with a lower preoperative glomerular filtration rate had a smaller reduction in postoperative renal function than those with a higher preoperative glomerular filtration rate due to greater degrees of functional hyperfiltration.

The intergenerational production of depression in South Korea: results from a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Although a number of studies have uncovered relationships between parental capital and the manifestation of depression in their children, little is known about the mechanisms that undergird the relationships. This study investigates the intergenerational effects of the cultural and economic capitals of South Korean parents on depressive symptoms in their adult children and the degree to which the capitals of the adult children explain them. METHODS: We employed nationally representative cross-sectional survey data from the 2006 Korea Welfare Panel Study. A sample of 11,576 adults over thirty years of age was used to investigate the intergenerational production of depression in South Korea. We applied binary logistic regression modelling to the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CES-D). RESULTS: Parental education (institutionalized cultural capital) manifested an independent and statistically significant inverse association with depressive symptoms [OR = 1.680 (95% CI: 1.118-2.523) for men; OR = 2.146 (95% CI: 1484-3.102) for women]. Childhood economic circumstances (economic capital) had an independent and statistically significant inverse association with depressive symptoms among adult women only [OR = 2.009 (95% CI: 1.531-2.635)]. The education of the adult children themselves was strongly associated with depressive symptoms in the expected direction [OR = 4.202 (95% CI: 2.856-6.181) for men; OR = 4.058 (95% CI: 2.824-5.830)] and the most of the association between parental capitals and depressive symptoms was explained by the educational attainment of the children. Receipt of monetary inheritance from parents had a weak but statistically significant association with depression among men [OR = 1.248 (95% CI: 1.041-1.496)] but was unrelated to depression among women. A large portion of the association between respondent education and depressive symptoms was explained by household income. Finally, childhood economic circumstances were associated with depressive symptoms among women over and above the cultural and economic capitals held by the women themselves [OR = 1.608 (95% CI: 2.08-2.139)]. CONCLUSIONS: Our study illuminates the importance of the intergenerational transmission of capitals for the development of depressive symptoms among adults in South Korea.

Implication of vitamin D-associated factors in patients with non-tuberculous mycobacterial lung disease.

BACKGROUND: Little information is available regarding vitamin D-associated factors in patients with non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) lung disease. OBJECTIVE: To determine the association between vitamin D-related factors and susceptibility to NTM lung disease. DESIGN: The relative gene expression levels of cathelicidin (CAMP), defensin (DEFB4), vitamin D receptor (VDR) and 1-hydroxylase (CYP27B1), as well as the serum levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25[OH]D), cathelicidin (LL-37), defensin (hBD-2) and vitamin D-binding protein (DBP) from 82 patients with NTM lung disease and 28 control subjects were analysed. RESULTS: Gene expression of CAMP and DEFB4 was significantly higher, and gene expression of VDR and CYP27B1 was significantly lower, in NTM patients than controls. Serum LL-37 and hBD-2 levels were not significantly different between NTM patients and controls; however, the serum DBP level was higher in NTM patients than controls. The serum vitamin D status of patients did not correlate with serum LL-37, hBD-2, or DBP concentration or gene expression of CAMP, DEFB4, VDR or CYP27B1. CONCLUSION: A higher level of gene expression for antimicrobial peptide is more likely to be associated with NTM lung disease than serum vitamin D status.

The Effect of 3-Isocyanato-1-Propene on Adhesive Properties of UV-Curing Urethane/Siloxane Acrylate Resin.

We synthesized the urethane/siloxane acrylate oligomer from isophorone diisocyanate (IPDI), hydroxyl alkyl terminated polydimethylsiloxane and 2-hydroxyethyl acrylate (2-HEA). UV-curable resins were formulated from the synthesized oligomer, ethylene glycol phenyl ether acrylate (PHEA), 1,6-hexanediol diacrylate (HDDA), trimethylolpropane triacrylate (TMPTA) as a reactive diluent, 3-isocyanato-1-propene as an adhesion promoter and photoinitiators. The PET film was treated with plasma in order to introduce the functional group on the PET surface and the functional group was observed through X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and the Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR). The adhesion strength between the PET film and the UV-cured resin were increased by using the adhesion promoter. Also, the thermal stability, the modulus and surface hardness were increased, as the adhesion promoter was added.

COUP-TFII Stimulates Dentin Sialophosphoprotein Expression and Mineralization in Odontoblasts.

Chicken ovalbumin upstream promoter transcription factor 2 (COUP-TFII), an orphan nuclear receptor belonging to the steroid-thyroid hormone receptor superfamily, plays an important role in cell fate determination of various tissues. However, the specific role of COUP-TFII in tooth development has not yet been elucidated. In the present study, we aimed to explore the role of COUP-TFII in dentin sialophosphoprotein (DSPP) expression and matrix mineralization in odontoblast-lineage cells. In primary human dental pulp cells (HDPCs) and murine dental papilla-derived cells (MDPC-23) cultured in a mineralizing medium, the expression of COUP-TFII was induced along with the increased odontoblast-specific dentin matrix protein-1 (DMP-1) and DSPP expression. Endogenous expression of COUP-TFII in maxillary second molar germs of rats showed an increasing tendency as development of the tooth progressed. Also, COUP-TFII protein was detected in greater quantity in the odontoblastic layer of second molar germs than in that of third molar germs of rats. Overexpression of COUP-TFII using an adenoviral system upregulated the expression of odontoblast-specific genes with increased alkaline phosphatase activity and matrix mineralization in odontoblast-lineage cells. In contrast, knockdown of COUP-TFII using small interfering RNA decreased the expression of odontoblast-specific genes, which reduced matrix mineralization. Mechanistic studies revealed that COUP-TFII increased DSPP transcription by direct binding on the DSPP promoter. In addition, COUP-TFII physically interacted with the homeodomain transcription factor Msx2 and antagonistically regulated the Msx2 effect on DSPP promoter activity. Taken together, these results suggest that COUP-TFII has a stimulatory role in DSPP expression and matrix mineralization in odontoblast-lineage cells.

Sex differences in interactions between nucleus accumbens and visual cortex by explicit visual erotic stimuli: an fMRI study.

Men tend to have greater positive responses than women to explicit visual erotic stimuli (EVES). However, it remains unclear, which brain network makes men more sensitive to EVES and which factors contribute to the brain network activity. In this study, we aimed to assess the effect of sex difference on brain connectivity patterns by EVES. We also investigated the association of testosterone with brain connection that showed the effects of sex difference. During functional magnetic resonance imaging scans, 14 males and 14 females were asked to see alternating blocks of pictures that were either erotic or non-erotic. Psychophysiological interaction analysis was performed to investigate the functional connectivity of the nucleus accumbens (NA) as it related to EVES. Men showed significantly greater EVES-specific functional connection between the right NA and the right lateral occipital cortex (LOC). In addition, the right NA and the right LOC network activity was positively correlated with the plasma testosterone level in men. Our results suggest that the reason men are sensitive to EVES is the increased interaction in the visual reward networks, which is modulated by their plasma testosterone level.

MicroRNA-194 reciprocally stimulates osteogenesis and inhibits adipogenesis via regulating COUP-TFII expression.

Osteoblasts and adipocytes are differentiated from common mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in processes which are tightly controlled by various growth factors, signaling molecules, transcriptional factors and microRNAs. Recently, chicken ovalbumin upstream promoter-transcription factor II (COUP-TFII) was identified as a critical regulator of MSC fate. In the present study, we aimed to identify some microRNAs (miR), which target COUP-TFII, and to determine the effects on MSCs fate. During osteoblastic or adipocytic differentiation from MSCs lineage cells, miR-194 expression was found to be reversal. In the cultures of mesenchymal C3H10T1/2 and primary bone marrow stromal cells, osteogenic stimuli increased miR-194 expression with accompanying decreases in COUP-TFII expression, whereas adipogenic stimuli reduced miR-194 expression with accompanying increases in COUP-TFII expression. A luciferase assay with COUP-TFII 3'-untranslated region (UTR) reporter plasmid, including the miR-194 binding sequences, showed that the introduction of miR-194 reduced the luciferase activity. However, it did not affect the activity of mutated COUP-TFII 3'-UTR reporter. Enforced expression of miR-194 significantly enhanced osteoblast differentiation, but inhibited adipocyte differentiation by decreasing COUP-TFII mRNA and protein levels. In contrast, inhibition of the endogenous miR-194 reduced matrix mineralization in the MSCs cultures, promoting the formation of lipid droplets by rescuing COUP-TFII expression. Furthermore, overexpression of COUP-TFII reversed the effects of miR-194 on the cell fates. Taken together, our results showed that miR-194 acts as a critical regulator of COUP-TFII, and can determinate the fate of MSCs to differentiate into osteoblasts and adipocytes. This suggests that miR-194 and COUP-TFII may be good target molecules for controlling bone and metabolic diseases.

Clinical applications of platelet-rich plasma in patellar tendinopathy.

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP), a blood derivative with high concentrations of platelets, has been found to have high levels of autologous growth factors (GFs), such as transforming growth factor-ß (TGF-ß), platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), fibroblastic growth factor (FGF), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and epidermal growth factor (EGF). These GFs and other biological active proteins of PRP can promote tissue healing through the regulation of fibrosis and angiogenesis. Moreover, PRP is considered to be safe due to its autologous nature and long-term usage without any reported major complications. Therefore, PRP therapy could be an option in treating overused tendon damage such as chronic tendinopathy. Here, we present a systematic review highlighting the clinical effectiveness of PRP injection therapy in patellar tendinopathy, which is a major cause of athletes to retire from their respective careers.

The prognostic impact of the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio in patients with small-cell lung cancer.

BACKGROUND: The neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) are prognostic factors for various types of cancer. In this study, we assessed the association of NLR and PLR with the prognosis of small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) in patients who received the standard treatment. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed patients who were diagnosed with SCLC and treated with platinum-based chemotherapy between July 2006 and October 2013 in Gyeongsang National University Hospital Regional Cancer Center and Changwon Samsung Hospital. RESULTS: In total, 187 patients were evaluated. Compared with low NLR (<4), high NLR (⩾4) at diagnosis was associated with poor performance status, advanced stage, and lower response rate. Median overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) were worse in the high-NLR group (high vs low, 11.17 vs 9.20 months, P=0.019 and 6.90 vs 5.49 months, P=0.005, respectively). In contrast, PLR at diagnosis was not associated with OS or PFS (P=0.467 and P=0.205, respectively). In multivariate analysis, stage, lactate dehydrogenase, and NLR at diagnosis were independent prognostic factors for OS and PFS. CONCLUSIONS: NLR is easily measurable and reflects the SCLC prognosis. A future prospective study is warranted to confirm our results.

Transcriptional factor ATF6 is involved in odontoblastic differentiation.

ATF6 is an endoplasmic reticulum (ER) membrane-bound transcription factor that regulates various cellular functions. The purpose of this study was to investigate the role of ATF6 in odontoblast differentiation. Rat tooth germs were isolated, changes in gene expression were evaluated over time, and localization of ATF6 was determined by immunohistochemistry. Human dental pulp cells (HDPCs) were cultured with 50 µg/mL ascorbic acid and 5 mmol/L ß-glycerophosphate or 100 ng/mL bone morphogenetic protein 2 to induce differentiation. Translocation of ATF6 was observed by immunofluorescence and confocal microscopy. Overexpression of ATF6 was performed with an adenoviral vector. Matrix mineralization was evaluated by alizarin red staining. Immunoreactivity to anti-ATF6 was observed in the odontoblastic layer of the molar tooth germ, and expressions of ATF6, dentin sialophosphoprotein (DSPP) and dentin matrix protein 1 (DMP1) increased gradually during tooth germ development. When HDPCs were cultured in differentiation media, ATF6, DSPP, and DMP1 expression increased with the expression of unfolded protein response (UPR) markers, BiP and CHOP. Immunofluorescence results showed that ATF6 protein moved from cytoplasm to nucleus when cells were exposed to differentiation media. Notably, overexpression of ATF6 increased DSPP and DMP1 expression, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, and matrix mineralization in HDPC cultures. Inhibition of ATF6 decreased ALP activity and mineralization. These results suggest that ER membrane-bound transcriptional factor ATF6 may be involved in odontoblastic differentiation.

Genotyping of Mycobacterium intracellulare isolates and clinical characteristics of lung disease.

BACKGROUND: Variable number of tandem repeats (VNTR) loci were recently identified in Japanese isolates of Mycobacterium intracellulare. We hypothesised that some mycobacterial genotypes are more virulent than others, resulting in particular genotypes being associated with disease phenotype and progression. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the VNTR loci of M. intracellulare in clinical isolates from Korean patients, and investigate the association between mycobacterial genotype and disease phenotype and progression. DESIGN: In total, 70 M. intracellulare clinical isolates were genotyped using 16 M. intracellulare VNTR loci. RESULTS: VNTR typing showed strong discriminatory power and genetic diversity for molecular epidemiological studies of M. intracellulare. In a phylogenetic tree, the M. intracellulare clinical isolates were divided into two clusters (A and B). Cluster A was observed more frequently (77%) than Cluster B; however, there was no association between the clinical characteristics, disease progression, drug susceptibility and clusters based on VNTR genotyping. CONCLUSIONS: VNTR typing could be used for epidemiological studies of M. intracellulare lung disease; however, no association was found between the specific VNTR genotypes of M. intracellulare and the clinical characteristics of Korean patients.

Erythrocyte sedimentation rate and anaemia are independent predictors of survival in patients with clear cell renal cell carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: The 1997 international consensus conference on renal cell cancer (RCC) prognosis suggested erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and anaemia as prognostic biomarkers, but most studies reviewed were limited by small sample sizes. METHODS: The Cox proportional hazards model was used to evaluate whether ESR, ALP, haemoglobin (Hb), and haematocrit (Hct) could predict survival outcomes in 1307 patients with clear cell RCC (ccRCC) who underwent nephrectomy during 1994-2008. RESULTS: During a median follow-up of 43 months, we found that the patients with preoperative high levels of ESR, had a 2.10-fold (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.21-3.67) greater risk of dying from RCC compared with patients with low levels (normal range). Patients with preoperative anaemia, assessed by Hb and Hct, had a 3.11-fold (95% CI: 1.17-8.25) and 6.20-fold (95% CI: 2.30-16.72) greater risk of dying from other illnesses, respectively, compared with patients without anaemia. ALP levels were not associated with ccRCC patients' survival. These associations for ESR and anaemia were more pronounced in patients with body mass index (BMI) <25 compared with patients with BMI ≥ 25 kg m(-2). CONCLUSION: Preoperative high ESR, but not ALP, was a significant predictor for cancer-specific survival among ccRCC patients. Anaemia increases the risk of death from other illness.

Clinical significance of mycobacterial genotyping in Mycobacterium avium lung disease in Korea.

SETTING: A recent study in Japan found that mycobacterial genotyping was associated with disease progression and susceptibility to certain drugs in Mycobacterium avium lung disease. However, it is not known whether this association is true in other populations. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the association between mycobacterial genotype, clinical characteristics and the progression of M. avium lung disease in Korean patients. DESIGN: A total of 102 M. avium clinical isolates were genotyped using M. avium tandem repeats-variable number of tandem repeats (MATR-VNTR). RESULTS: MATR-VNTR typing demonstrated a high discriminatory power and genetic diversity for molecular epidemiological studies of M. avium. In the phylogenetic tree, the M. avium clinical isolates were divided into three major clusters: A, B and C. Cluster A was observed most frequently (64/102, 63%), whereas cluster C was found in a minor proportion of the isolates (8/102, 8%). However, there was no association between the clinical characteristics, disease progression and drug susceptibility and the phylogenetic tree based on VNTR genotyping. CONCLUSIONS: MATR-VNTR genotyping may be useful for epidemiological studies of M. avium lung disease; however, no association was found between the specific VNTR genotypes of M. avium and the clinical characteristics of Korean patients.