Health-Related Quality of Life and Psychologic Distress in Korean Kidney Transplant Recipients.

BACKGROUND: Little is known about the extent to which transplant recipients face psychologic distress with the receipt of a transplanted organ. The purpose of this study was to investigate health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and psychologic distress in 105 adults who had undergone kidney transplantation (KT). METHODS: HRQoL was measured with the use of the Korean version of Medical Outcome Study Short Form 36 version 2, and psychologic distress with the use of the Transplant Effects Questionnaire (TEQ). Clinical and demographic data were collected from questionnaires. The data were collected from August 2014 to November 2014 at 2 medical centers in Korea. RESULTS: Of the 105 patients, 53.3% were male and the overall mean age was 46.99 years. The mean score of each of the TEQ subscales ranged from 2.45 to 4.62. In the subscales of HRQoL, the mean score of physical component summary (PCS) was 50.23, and the mean score of mental component summary (MCS) was 46.19. MCS was negatively correlated with worry (P = .001) and guilt (P = .037) and positively correlated with adherence (P = .006) in the TEQ subscales, whereas there was no significant correlation between PCS and the TEQ subscales. CONCLUSIONS: The study indicates that mental HRQoL is correlated with psychologic distress. Therefore, to increase the HRQoL, continuous attention is needed in kidney transplant recipients who experience psychologic distress and adherence problem. In addition, further empirical studies should be conducted to explain the mechanisms underlying this relationship.

Complete genome sequence of a newly isolated lytic bacteriophage, EFAP-1 of Enterococcus faecalis, and antibacterial activity of its endolysin EFAL-1.

AIMS: In this work, we aimed to identify an effective treatment of infections caused by Enterococcus spp. strains resistant to conventional antibiotics. METHODS AND RESULTS: We report the isolation and characterization of a new lytic bacteriophage, designated bacteriophage EFAP-1, that is capable of lysing Enterococcus faecalis bacteria that exhibit resistance to multiple antibiotics. EFAP-1 has low sequence similarity to all known bacteriophages. Transmission electron microscopy confirmed that EFAP-1 belongs to the Siphoviridae family. A putative lytic protein of EFAP-1, endolysin EFAL-1, is encoded in ORF 2 and was expressed in Escherichia coli. Recombinant EFAL-1 had broad-spectrum lytic activity against several Gram-positive pathogens, including Ent. faecalis and Enterococcus faecium. CONCLUSIONS: The complete genome sequence of the newly isolated enterococcal lytic phage was analysed, and it was demonstrated that its recombinant endolysin had broad lytic activity against various Gram-positive pathogens. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: Bacteriophage EFAP-1 and its lytic protein, EFAL-1, can be utilized as potent antimicrobial agents against Enterococcus spp. strains resistant to conventional antibiotics in hospital infections and also as environmental disinfectants to control disease-causing Enterococcus spp. in dairy farms.

Increased expression of p63 and survivin in cholesteatomas.

CONCLUSION: This study showed increased expression of p63 and survivin in cholesteatoma. Our finding indicates a putative role of p63 and survivin in the development of certain cholesteatomas. OBJECTIVES: Keratinocytes in cholesteatoma demonstrate uncoordinated hyperproliferation, migration, and invasion properties. p63 is a p53 homologue and a marker expressed in replicating keratinocytes. Survivin is an inhibitor of apoptosis protein that is abundantly expressed in most solid and hematologic malignancies. The purpose of this study was to investigate the differential expression of p63 and survivin in human middle ear cholesteatoma epithelium. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The expression levels of p63 and survivin protein were examined by immunohistochemical analysis of 40 cholesteatomas and 5 skin tissues obtained from patients during ear surgery. RESULTS: Expression of p63 protein was diffusely observed in entire samples of cholesteatoma, especially in acquired cholesteatoma, compared with the control group. Congenital cholesteatoma showed variable p63 reactivity in a basal cell-like pattern. Primary and recurrent cholesteatomas showed no significant difference in p63 expression. Survivin was detected in 31 of 40 cholesteatoma samples. Acquired cholesteatomas showed especially increased survivin expression compared with congenital cases. The expression of p63 was correlated with survivin expression.

Aspartate aminotransferase to platelet ratio index (APRI) can predict liver fibrosis in chronic hepatitis B.

BACKGROUND: There have been still few valuable markers that can be used as indirect markers of liver fibrosis in chronic hepatitis B. AIMS: This study aimed to evaluate efficacy of several indirect markers of liver fibrosis and to identify the most valuable test in chronic hepatitis B. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 264 patients with chronic hepatitis B were consecutively enrolled. Fibrosis was staged by a single blinded pathologist according to the METAVIR system. Significant fibrosis was defined as stage >or=2. We investigated diagnostic accuracy of four indirect markers including aspartate aminotransferase to platelet ratio index for predicting significant fibrosis. RESULTS: Mean age was 28 years. 53% (141/264) had significant hepatic fibrosis. Of indirect markers, aspartate aminotransferase to platelet ratio index yielded the best area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (0.86; 95% confidence interval, 0.82-0.91). Positive predictive value/negative predictive value at 0.5, 1.5 and 2.0 of aspartate aminotransferase to platelet ratio index score for predicting significant fibrosis were 63%/91%, 83%/74% and 86%/65%, respectively. The odds ratio for aspartate aminotransferase to platelet ratio index >or=1.4 relative to less than aspartate aminotransferase to platelet ratio index of 1.4 was 17.971 (p<0.0001; 95% confidence interval, 9.677-33.376). CONCLUSIONS: Of simple markers already developed in chronic hepatitis C, aspartate aminotransferase to platelet ratio index may be the most accurate and simple marker for predicting significant fibrosis in chronic hepatitis B.

Observation of a narrow charm-strange meson D(+)(sJ)(2632)-->D(+)(s)eta and D(0)K(+).

We report the first observation of a charm-strange meson D(+)(sJ)(2632) at a mass of 2632.5+/-1.7 MeV/c(2) in data from SELEX, the charm hadro-production experiment E781 at Fermilab. This state is seen in two decay modes, D(+)(s)eta and D0K+. In the D(+)(s)eta decay mode we observe a peak with 101 events over a combinatoric background of 54.9 events at a mass of 2635.4+/-3.3 MeV/c(2). There is a corresponding peak of 21 events over a background of 6.9 at 2631.5+/-2.0 MeV/c(2) in the decay mode D0K+. The decay width of this state is <17 MeV/c(2) at 90% confidence level. The relative branching ratio Gamma(D0K+)/Gamma(D(+)(s)eta) is 0.14+/-0.06. The mechanism that keeps this state narrow is unclear. Its decay pattern is also unusual, being dominated by the D(+)(s)eta decay mode.

p57kip2 is useful in the classification and differential diagnosis of complete and partial hydatidiform moles.

AIMS: To determine the utility of p57kip2 in the diagnosis of hydatidiform mole. p57kip2 protein is a cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor (CDKI) and is strongly paternally imprinted, being expressed from the maternal allele. It has been hypothesized that complete mole (CHM) with only the paternal genome would display reduced or nearly absent expression of p57kip2 compared to partial mole (PHM) having both paternal and maternal genomes. METHODS AND RESULTS: The immunohistochemical expression of p57kip2 protein was investigated using paraffin-embedded tissue sections in histologically unequivocal cases of CHM (n = 51), PHM (n = 7), invasive mole (n = 1), and hydropic miscarriage (n = 2), as well as in histologically undetermined cases (n = 9). In the histologically unequivocal complete and invasive moles, expression of p57kip2 was absent except for one case in which villous cytotrophoblast covering the villous stroma was positive (51/52) as well as villous stromal cells (51/52). In contrast, it was strongly and continuously expressed in both villous cytotrophoblast and stromal cells in all cases of PHM and hydropic miscarriage. Among the nine histologically undetermined cases, five cases showing p57kip2 immunopositivity and hyperploid DNA were classified as PHMs, two cases showing p57kip2 immunonegativity and hyperploidy as CHMs, and two cases with p57kip2 immunopositivity and diploid DNA as hydropic miscarriage and diploid PHM, respectively, upon review of the histopathological findings. Intermediate trophoblast forming trophoblastic columns or anchoring villi and extravillous trophoblast at the implantation site showed variable expression of p57kip2 in all gestational conditions. Maternal decidua showed diffuse and strong p57kip2 expression, whereas syncytiotrophoblast was completely negative in all cases regardless of the diagnosis. CONCLUSIONS: In summary, p57kip2 immunostaining results correlated well with morphological features of molar pregnancies and were helpful in determining histologically equivocal cases.

First observation of the doubly charmed baryon Xi(+)(cc).

We observe a signal for the doubly charmed baryon Xi(+)(cc) in the charged decay mode Xi(+)(cc)-->Lambda(+)(c)K-pi(+) in data from SELEX, the charm hadroproduction experiment at Fermilab. We observe an excess of 15.9 events over an expected background of 6.1+/-0.5 events, a statistical significance of 6.3sigma. The observed mass of this state is 3519+/-1 MeV/c(2). The Gaussian mass width of this state is 3 MeV/c(2), consistent with resolution; its lifetime is less than 33 fs at 90% confidence.

Precision measurements of the lambda(+)(c) and D0 lifetimes.

We report new precision measurements of the lifetimes of the Lambda(+)(c) and D0 from SELEX, the charm hadroproduction experiment at Fermilab. Based upon 1630 Lambda(+)(c) and 10 210 D0 decays we observe lifetimes of tau[Lambda(+)(c)] = 198.1+/-7.0+/-5.6 fs and tau[D0] = 407.9+/-6.0+/-4.3 fs.

An autopsy case of Adams-Oliver syndrome.

We report an autopsy case of a male fetus with Adams-Oliver syndrome. His mother was a healthy, 31-year-old woman and her family and past histories were unremarkable. Therapeutic termination was done at 28(+6) weeks gestational age due to oligohydramnios detected by antenatal ultrasonography. Chromosomal study revealed normal karyotype. On autopsy, characteristic transverse terminal defect of four extremities was found. Both feet were short and broad. All toes were rudimentary with no nails and fingers were irregularly short. On infantogram, all toe-bones were stubby and rudimentary. The middle and terminal phalanges of 2nd, 3rd & 5th fingers and the terminal phalange of 4th finger on the right hand were absent. The middle and terminal phalanges of 2nd & 5th fingers and terminal phalange of 3rd finger were defected on the left hand. His abnormalities were consistent with features of Adams-Oliver syndrome, which has not been reported in Korea.

Observation of the Cabibbo-Suppressed Decay Ξ_{c}

We report the first observation of the Cabibbo-suppressed charm baryon decay Ξ_{c}^{+}→pK^{-}π^{+}. We observe 150±22±5 events for the signal. The data were accumulated using the SELEX spectrometer during the 1996-1997 fixed target run at Fermilab, chiefly from a 600 GeV/c Σ^{-} beam. The branching fractions of the decay relative to the Cabibbo-favored Ξ_{c}^{+}→Σ^{+}K^{-}π^{+} and Ξ_{c}^{+}→Ξ^{-}π^{+}π^{+} are measured to be B(Ξ_{c}^{+}→pK^{-}π^{+})/B(Ξ_{c}^{+}→Σ^{+}K^{-}π^{+})=0.22±0.06±0.03 and B(Ξ_{c}^{+}→pK^{-}π^{+})/B(Ξ_{c}^{+}→Ξ^{-}π^{+}π^{+})=0.20±0.04±0.02, respectively.

Stages at presentation, prognostic factors, and outcome of breast cancer in males.

BACKGROUND: In order to support or refute conventional notions of breast cancer in males as a late-presenting disease associated with a worse prognosis than the same disease in females, we reviewed a recent, multi-institutional experience. METHODS: A case series from three area hospital system cancer data bases was reviewed. Demographics, pathology, stages at presentation, and treatment were determined from the data set and correlated with outcomes (recurrence/survival). RESULTS: Fifty-four patients (mean age 64.5, SD = 12.8) were identified; half of the tumors were stage T0 or T1, 62% were node negative (N0), and 57% had an American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) stage grouping of IIA or less. Eighty-five percent of tumors examined expressed hormone receptors. There were no local-only recurrences in the 50 cases resected for cure, including 5 cases of minimal breast cancer treated by lumpectomy only. Five- and 10-year overall disease-free survival was AJCC stage related: 100% and 71%, respectively, for early stage (0-IIA) disease, and 71% and 20%, respectively, for advanced (IIB-IV) stage (P = 0.0051 by log-rank). Only AJCC stage and its components (tumor size, nodal status, presence of metastases) correlated with survival by multivariate analysis; other factors such as age, family history, and presenting symptoms/signs did not. CONCLUSIONS: The majority of breast cancers in males present at early stages and are hormone receptor positive. In contrast to older notions of this disease as uniformly aggressive, we conclude that prognostic factors and stage-for-stage outcomes for breast cancer in males are similar to those published for the disease in females.