Effect of the sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitor, DWP16001, as an add-on therapy to insulin for diabetic dogs: A pilot study.

BACKGROUND: Sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitors are a novel class of anti-hyperglycaemic agents. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate the safety and the adjuvant glycaemic control effect of an SGLT2 inhibitor, DWP16001, in diabetic dogs receiving insulin treatment. METHODS: Nineteen diabetic dogs receiving insulin treatment (NPH, porcine lente and glargine insulin) were divided into two groups according to dosing frequency: DWP TOD group (n = 10) and DWP SID group (n = 9). In the DWP TOD group, 0.025 mg/kg of DWP16001 was administered once every 3 days, whereas, in the DWP SID group, 0.025 mg/kg of DWP16001 was administered once a day. Food intake was maintained during the trial period. Hypoglycaemia, ketoacidosis or unexpected life-threatening reactions were assessed as adverse effects before and after DWP16001 administration. We compared insulin requirement reduction and blood glucose level control between two groups. RESULTS: No specific adverse effects were observed during the clinical trial, and haematological parameter remained unchanged. Moreover, the fasting glucose levels and daily insulin dose in the DWP TOD group were lower than the pre-administration values, but not significantly different for 8 weeks. Systolic blood pressure, fructosamine and insulin dose decreased significantly in the DWP SID group compared to the DWP TOD group at 8 weeks (p < 0.05) without affecting food consumption. Among these patients, 10 patients were monitored while receiving DWP16001 for 12 months (DWP TOD group n = 5, DWP SID group n = 5). The fasting glucose and fructosamine levels and daily insulin dose were reduced in both groups at 12 months compared with those before receiving DWP16001. CONCLUSION: When DWP16001, an SGLT2 inhibitor, was supplied to dogs with type 1 diabetes, no adverse effects were observed, and it was confirmed that the administered insulin dose can be reduced in controlling blood glucose.

Comparison of the Effects of DOTA and NOTA Chelators on 64Cu-Cudotadipep and 64Cu-Cunotadipep for Prostate Cancer.

BACKGROUND: This study compared the effects of 1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane-1,4,7,10-tetraacetic acid (DOTA) and 1,4,7-triazacyclononane-1,4,7-triacetic acid (NOTA) as 64Cu-chelating agents in newly developed prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) target compounds, 64Cu-cudotadipep and 64Cu-cunotadipep, on pharmacokinetics. METHODS: The in vitro stability of the chelators was evaluated using human and mouse serum. In vitro PSMA-binding affinity and cell uptake were compared using human 22Rv1 cells. To evaluate specific PSMA-expressing tumor-targeting efficiency, micro-positron emission tomography (mcroPET)/computed tomography (CT) and biodistribution analysis were performed using PSMA+ PC3-PIP and PSMA- PC3-flu tumor xenografts. RESULTS: The serum stability of DOTA- or NOTA-conjugated 64Cu-cudotadipep and 64Cu-cunotadipep was >97%. The Ki value of the NOTA derivative, cunotadipep, in the in vitro affinity binding analysis was higher (2.17 ± 0.25 nM) than that of the DOTA derivative, cudotadipep (6.75 ± 0.42 nM). The cunotadipep exhibited a higher cellular uptake (6.02 ± 0.05%/1 × 106 cells) compared with the cudotadipep (2.93 ± 0.06%/1 × 106 cells). In the biodistribution analysis and microPET/CT imaging, the 64Cu-labeled NOTA derivative, 64Cu-cunotadipep, demonstrated a greater tumor uptake and lower liver uptake than the DOTA derivative. CONCLUSIONS: This study indicates that the PSMA-targeted 64Cu-cunotadipep can be applied in clinical practice owing to its high diagnostic power for prostate cancer.

Evaluation of safety and anti-obesity effects of DWP16001 in naturally obese dogs.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to investigate the anti-obesity effects of DWP16001, a sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT2 inhibitor), in naturally obese dogs. A total of 20 dogs were divided into four equal groups: one obese control (OC group), and three treated groups; DWP0.2 group, DWP0.5 group, and DWP1 group. OC group fed with food for maintenance and treated groups were fed with food for maintenance with 0.2 mg/kg DWP16001, 0.5 mg/kg DWP16001 and 1 mg/kg DWP16001, respectively. The food for maintenance was provided to dogs as 2 RER (Resting energy requirement) in kcal and DWP16001-supplemented food was administered once a day for 8 weeks. RESULTS: Body condition score, body weight, and fat thickness were significantly reduced (P < 0.05) in the DWP0.2 group compared with the OC group, respectively without affecting the food consumption. At the 10th week the food consumption rate was 101.35 ± 2.56, 166.59 ± 4.72, 98.47 ± 1.44 and 123.15 ± 2.45% compared with initial food consumption rate. Body fat percentage, chest and waist circumference, blood glucose, and insulin were reduced compared to OC group but not significantly different from those of the OC group during experimental period. Serum alanine aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, creatine phosphokinase, and creatinine were significantly reduced in DWP0.2 group on 8 weeks. Serum cholesterol and triglycerides were reduced but not significantly. No specific adverse effects were observed throughout the experiment, and hematological parameters were unchanged. The results indicate that DWP16001 was not harmful to the dogs in our study and might have anti-obesity effects in naturally obese dogs. CONCLUSIONS: The above results and discussion suggest that DWP16001 is safe and might have anti-obesity effects in naturally obese dogs.

Behavioral characteristics to airborne particles generated from commercial spray products.

Commercial spray products are commonly used in daily life and airborne particles generated by these products may cause adverse health effects. Our study was aimed to characterize the behaviors of airborne particles from spray products and to determine the deposition loss rate. Four categories of spray products with highly frequent use - air fresheners, fabric deodorants, window cleaners, and a bathroom cleaner - were selected for the study. The products were applied in a cleanroom according to the instructions for use. Airborne particles (10-10,000 nm) were measured within the breathing zone of a user with a scanning mobility particle sizer and an optical particle spectrometer. Additionally, filter sampling was performed to examine the morphological characteristics of the particles using a field emission-scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM). The initial concentration and particle size distribution varied among different spray types and products. Two propellant-type air fresheners that we tested showed a high initial concentration of smaller sized particles. However, one of these and all hand-pressure type propellants showed a low initial concentration in all size ranges. We observed that particles in nucleation mode (10-31.6 nm) decreased and aggregated particles shifted to accumulation mode (100-1,000 nm) over time. The FS-SEM analysis confirmed the aggregation of nano-sized particles for all products. The deposition loss rates of various particle sizes depended on the initial concentration and distribution of particle sizes. For two air fresheners with high initial concentrations, the loss rate of small-sized particles was higher than that of the other products whereas the particle loss rate of large-sized particles was higher, regardless of initial concentration. The results of this study can give us useful information in the behaviors of airborne particles in the consumer spray products and resulting exposure assessment especially in the application to the exposure modeling of spray products.

Potential Health Risks of Chemicals in Car Colorant Products.

Public concern regarding the use of products with chemicals has increased in Korea, following reports indicating that hazardous chemicals in products, such as disinfectants, can cause fatal lung disease. Despite the widespread use of car colorant products, little is known regarding their potential health risks. The purpose of this study was to determine the potential health risks of substances that exist in car colorant products. Thirteen car colorant products were purchased from the Korean market and 15 commonly used chemicals were analyzed. Exposure and risk assessments were conducted in two assessment stages (screening and refined). The analysis showed that all of the examined products contained toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene. The maximum concentration of toluene was 52.5%, with a median concentration of 10.8%. Tier 1 (screening) assessment showed that four chemicals (toluene, ethylbenzene, xylene, and 2-butoxyethanol) may pose health risks, but tier 2 (refined) assessment showed that these chemicals do not pose any risk. However, these chemicals were present in all of the examined products, and government regulations did not control their concentrations in these products. Therefore, we suggest that levels of toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene in car colorant products should be regulated to protect public health.

Modulation of the intestinal microbiota of dogs by kefir as a functional dairy product.

Kefir is a traditional dairy product with multiple probiotic characteristics derived from its associated microorganisms, including more than 50 species of lactic acid bacteria and yeast. For centuries, many people have produced kefir for human consumption; its consumption and potential role as a probiotic supplement in companion animals have never been tested. The present study explored the potential application of kefir as a probiotic supplement for dogs. Kefir was orally administered to healthy adult dogs (n = 6) for 2 wk. On d 0 and 14 (before and after kefir consumption, respectively), gut microbiota was analyzed comprehensively using quantitative PCR and 16S rDNA amplicon-based community analysis using fresh fecal samples. The 16S rDNA amplicon-based community analysis showed that the relative abundance of the phylum Fusobacteria was significantly decreased after kefir consumption. Furthermore, the relative abundance of the families Prevotellaceae, Selenomonadaceae, and Sutterellaceae increased significantly, whereas that of the families Clostridiaceae, Fusobacteriaceae, and Ruminococcaceae decreased significantly. The quantitative PCR assay showed that kefir consumption significantly increased the population of lactic acid bacteria and the lactic acid bacteria:Enterobacteriaceae ratio and significantly decreased the Firmicutes:Bacteroidetes ratio. In summary, 2-wk kefir administration successfully modified the gut microbiota without causing any clinically evident adverse effects. Therefore, kefir could be further developed as a novel probiotic food supplement for dogs to improve the quality of life of dogs.

Inhalation exposure factors from the use of household products in South Korea.

Exposure assessment, a fundamental element of the risk assessment process, is the estimation of what consumers may be exposed to by using household products. Reliable exposure factors were investigated to understand the pattern of household products usage. Six household product categories were selected and divided by application types. Two surveys were carried out and 6397 participants completed the web-based questionnaires, and laboratory evaluations were also conducted to measure the actual level of exposure (g/use). We focused more on inhalation exposure from products (and/or their application types) that affect indoor air such as diffusible types. To estimate actual exposure amounts, the time spent to apply the products was investigated from the beginning to end of the product use. For spraying type products, the consumer could be exposed to the maximum amount of used product while using the triggering action and pressing the button on the aerosol spray product, and during cleaning, adhesion, and coating target, consumer could be exposed continuously. For diffuser type products, exposure duration was the time for which consumers were exposed to the diffused product. The exposure amount for trigger and aerosol spray type products were measured using the time taken to trigger or spray the product and the mass generated from the same. This study provides valuable information on the individual exposure factors that may be useful to conduct accurate exposure assessments and to manage household products.

Risk assessment to human health: Consumer exposure to ingredients in air fresheners.

Ingredient chemicals like fragrances may cause adverse health effects. Frequent health risk assessments and stringent management of consumer products are of paramount importance to reduce these serious occurrences. In this study, the respiratory and dermal health effects were assessed in relation to air fresheners. Twenty six fragrance ingredients, thirty four biocidal ingredients, and sixteen hazardous ingredients were analyzed and assessed according to their risk to human health on five groups by application type in eighty two air fresheners. For hazard characterization of ingredients, toxicological information on the intrinsic properties of the ingredients was collected, and reference values were determined as chronic NOAEL. Exposure assessment was performed in two steps. The 95th exposure factor values were used to estimate exposure to assume the worst-case scenario and the maximum concentration determined by the product purpose and application type was used type in tiered 1 assessment. The values input into the exposure algorithms were developed via the exposure route. In the tiered 2 assessment, the 75th exposure factor values were used to estimate the assumed reasonable exposure to ingredients. Six ingredients for the inhalation and twelve ingredients for the dermal route were conducted for tiered 2 assessment. This study showed that the assessed ingredients have no health risks at their maximum concentrations in air fresheners. The approach should be used to establish improved guidelines for specific ingredients that may pose inhalation and dermal hazard.

Health Risk Assessment on Hazardous Ingredients in Household Deodorizing Products.

The inhalation of a water aerosol from a humidifier containing disinfectants has led to serious lung injuries in Korea. To promote the safe use of products, the Korean government enacted regulations on the chemicals in various consumer products that could have adverse health effects. Given the concern over the potential health risks associated with the hazardous ingredients in deodorizing consumer products, 17 ingredients were analyzed and assessed according to their health risk on 3 groups by the application type in 47 deodorizing products. The risk assessment study followed a stepwise procedure (e.g., collecting toxicological information, hazard identification/exposure assessment, and screening and detailed assessment for inhalation and dermal routes). The worst-case scenario and maximum concentration determined by the product purpose and application type were used as the screening assessment. In a detailed assessment, the 75th exposure factor values were used to estimate the assumed reasonable exposure to ingredients. The exposed concentrations of seven ingredients were calculated. Due to limitation of toxicity information, butylated hydroxyl toluene for a consumer’s exposure via the dermal route only was conducted for a detailed assessment. This study showed that the assessed ingredients have no health risks at their maximum concentrations in deodorizing products. This approach can be used to establish guidelines for ingredients that may pose inhalation and dermal hazards.

Determining Exposure Factors of Anti-Fogging, Dye, Disinfectant, Repellent, and Preservative Products in Korea.

Reliable exposure factors are essential to determine health risks posed by chemicals in consumer products. We analyzed five risk-concerned product categories (anti-fogging, dye, disinfectant, repellent, and preservative products) for 13 products (three car anti-fogging products, a lens anti-fogging product, two car dye products, two drain disinfectants, an air conditioner disinfectant, a chlorine-based disinfectant, a fabric repellent, an insect repellent for food, and a wood preservative) considered to be of high risk in order to determine exposure factors via web surveys and estimation of amount of product. Among the 3000 participants (1482 (49%) men) aged ≥19 years, drain disinfectants were used most frequently (38.2%); the rate of usage of the other products ranged between 1.1-24.0%. The usage rates for the consumer products differed by sex, age, income, and education. Some consumer products such as car and lens anti-fogging products, chlorine-based disinfectants, fabric repellents, and drain disinfectants were regularly used more than once a month, while car dye products, air conditioner disinfectants, insect repellents for food, and wood preservatives were not regularly used owing to the specific product purposes and seasonal needs. Our results could be used for managing or controlling chemical substances in consumer products and conducting accurate exposure assessments.

Moderating Effects of Prevention-Focus on the Paths from Two Insecure Attachment Dimensions to Depression.

The present study investigated the moderating effects of prevention-focus on the paths from the dimensions of insecure attachment (attachment avoidance and attachment anxiety) to depression. Two hundred twenty eight Korean college students completed the Experience in Close Relationship - Revised Scale; the Regulatory Focus Strategies Scale; and the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale. Results revealed a significant moderating effect for prevention-focus on the path from attachment avoidance to depression, but not on the path from attachment anxiety to depression. They further suggest that different interventions are needed for different combinations of persons' insecure attachment dimensions and levels of prevention-focus. Counseling implications and suggestions for future research are discussed.

Undercorrection of planovalgus deformity after calcaneal lengthening in patients with cerebral palsy.

Calcaneal lengthening (CL) is one of the treatment options for planovalgus deformity in patients with cerebral palsy (CP). However, its indication still needs to be clarified according to the functional status of CP. The aim of this study was to investigate the radiographic outcome after CL in patients with CP and to evaluate the risk factors causing undercorrection of planovalgus deformities. We included consecutive patients with CP who underwent CL for planovalgus deformity, were followed for more than 2 years, and had preoperative and postoperative weight-bearing anteroposterior (AP) and lateral foot radiographs. Six radiographic indices were used to assess the radiographic outcome. The patient age, sex, and Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) level were evaluated as possible risk factors, and we controlled for the interaction of potentially confounding variables using multivariate analysis. A total of 44 (77 feet) patients were included in this study. The mean age of the patients at the time of surgery was 10.5±4.0 years and the mean follow-up was 5.1±2.2 years. Patients with GMFCS III/IV achieved less correction than those with GMFCS I/II in the AP talus-first metatarsal angle (P=0.001), lateral talocalcaneal angle (P=0.028), and the lateral talus-first metatarsal angle (P<0.001). The rate of undercorrection in the GMFCS III/IV group was 1.6 times higher than that in the GMFCS I/II group in the AP talus-first metatarsal angle (odds ratios: 1.6; 95% confidence interval: 1.2-2.0; P<0.001) and 1.6 times higher in the lateral talus-first metatarsal angle (odds ratios: 1.6; 95% confidence interval: 1.3-1.9; P<0.001). In GMFCS I/II patients with CP, we found CL to be an effective procedure for the correction of planovalgus foot deformities. However, in GMFCS III/IV patients with planovalgus deformities, CL appears to be insufficient on the basis of the high rate of undercorrection in these patients. For patients with GMFCS level III/IV, additional or alternative procedures should be considered to correct the deformity and maintain the correction achieved. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III, therapeutic study.

Image reconstruction in region-of-interest (or interior) digital tomosynthesis (DTS) based on compressed-sensing (CS).

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Digital tomosynthesis (DTS) based on filtered-backprojection (FBP) reconstruction requires a full field-of-view (FOV) scan and relatively dense projections, which results in high doses for medical imaging purposes. To overcome these difficulties, we investigated region-of-interest (ROI) or interior DTS reconstruction where the x-ray beam span covers only a small ROI containing a target area. METHODS: An iterative method based on compressed-sensing (CS) scheme was compared with the FBP-based algorithm for ROI-DTS reconstruction. We implemented both algorithms and performed a systematic simulation and experiments on body and skull phantoms. The image characteristics were evaluated and compared. RESULTS: The CS-based algorithm yielded much better reconstruction quality in ROI-DTS compared to the FBP-based algorithm, preserving superior image homogeneity, edge sharpening, and in-plane resolution. The image characteristics of the CS-reconstructed images in ROI-DTS were not significantly different from those in full-FOV DTS. The measured CNR value of the CS-reconstructed ROI-DTS image was about 12.3, about 1.9 times larger than that of the FBP-reconstructed ROI-DTS image. CONCLUSIONS: ROI-DTS images of substantially high accuracy were obtained using the CS-based algorithm and at reduced imaging doses and less computational cost, compared to typical full-FOV DTS images. We expect that the proposed method will be useful for the development of new DTS systems.

Time series analysis of patients seeking orthodontic treatment at Seoul National University Dental Hospital over the past decade.

OBJECTIVE: This paper describes changes in the characteristics of patients seeking orthodontic treatment over the past decade and the treatment they received, to identify any seasonal variations or trends. METHODS: This single-center retrospective cohort study included all patients who presented to Seoul National University Dental Hospital for orthodontic diagnosis and treatment between January 1, 2005 and December 31, 2015. The study analyzed a set of heterogeneous variables grouped into the following categories: demographic (age, gender, and address), clinical (Angle Classification, anomaly, mode of orthodontic treatment, removable appliances for Phase 1 treatment, fixed appliances for Phase 2 treatment, orthognathic surgery, extraction, mini-plate, mini-implant, and patient transfer) and time-related variables (date of first visit and orthodontic treatment time). Time series analysis was applied to each variable. RESULTS: The sample included 14,510 patients with a median age of 19.5 years. The number of patients and their ages demonstrated a clear seasonal variation, which peaked in the summer and winter. Increasing trends were observed for the proportion of male patients, use of non-extraction treatment modality, use of ceramic brackets, patients from provinces outside the Seoul region at large, patients transferred from private practitioners, and patients who underwent orthognathic surgery performed by university surgeons. Decreasing trends included the use of metal brackets and orthodontic treatment time. CONCLUSIONS: Time series analysis revealed a seasonal variation in some characteristics, and several variables showed changing trends over the past decade.

Novel stilbene-based Fischer base analog of leuco-TAM - (2E,2'Z)-{2-(4-(E)-styrylphenyl)propane-1,3-diylidene}bis(1,3,3-trimethylindoline) - derivatives: synthesis and structural consideration by 1D NMR and 2D NMR spectroscopy.

We report the synthesis of a series of novel stilbene-based (St) Fischer base analogs of leuco-triarylmethane (LTAM) dyes by treating Fischer base with (E)-4-styrylbenzaldehyde derivatives. All St-LTAM molecules examined herein are characterized by 1D and 2D NMR. They were found to exhibit ZE configuration and isomerize to their diastereomers EE and ZZ in 2-3 h. They exhibit type I behavior of diastereomeric isomerization.

AVQS: attack route-based vulnerability quantification scheme for smart grid.

A smart grid is a large, consolidated electrical grid system that includes heterogeneous networks and systems. Based on the data, a smart grid system has a potential security threat in its network connectivity. To solve this problem, we develop and apply a novel scheme to measure the vulnerability in a smart grid domain. Vulnerability quantification can be the first step in security analysis because it can help prioritize the security problems. However, existing vulnerability quantification schemes are not suitable for smart grid because they do not consider network vulnerabilities. We propose a novel attack route-based vulnerability quantification scheme using a network vulnerability score and an end-to-end security score, depending on the specific smart grid network environment to calculate the vulnerability score for a particular attack route. To evaluate the proposed approach, we derive several attack scenarios from the advanced metering infrastructure domain. The experimental results of the proposed approach and the existing common vulnerability scoring system clearly show that we need to consider network connectivity for more optimized vulnerability quantification.

A head shake sensory organization test to improve the sensitivity of the sensory organization test in the elderly.

OBJECTIVE: The head shake sensory organization test (HS-SOT) is an expansion of the sensory organization test (SOT), which evaluates impairment of the patient's ability to apply vestibular input while actively moving the head. HS-SOTs has been proposed to increase the sensitivity of SOTs. The purpose of this study was to investigate the value of HS-SOTs in a healthy population with respect to age and compare the sensitivity of HS-SOTs with that of SOTs in the elderly population. METHODS: One hundred two (n = 102) healthy subjects were divided into 3 age groups: the young adult group (between 20 and 39 yr), the adult group (between 40 and 59 yr), and the elderly group (between 60 and 79 yr). The subjects underwent SOTs and HS-SOTs. RESULTS: The equilibrium scores of HS-SOTs underwent more significant change than those of SOTs in the elderly group. The equilibrium score ratio SOT2/HS-SOT2 (HS-SOT during SOT condition 2) decreased by 4% more in the elderly group compared with that of the young adult group. The ratio of SOT5/HS-SOT5 decreased by 54% more in the elderly group compared with that of the young adult group. CONCLUSION: In the elderly, equilibrium scores of HS-SOTs changed more than those of SOTs. In addition, SOT5/HS-SOT5 demonstrated more sensitive changes in the elderly than SOT2/HS-SOT2 did.

Distinctive clinical characteristics and suicidal tendencies of patients with anxious depression.

This study evaluated clinical characteristics and suicidality of patients with anxious depression in a large cohort of samples. Data were collected from 1003 patients who were depressed. A total of 461 patients were diagnosed with anxious depression and 542 were diagnosed with nonanxious depression. After adjusting for the severity of depression, those in the anxious depression group had significantly younger onset age, had been suffering from depression for a longer period, were more likely to experience a recurrence, and obtained lower scores on a scale assessing quality of life. The anxious depression group was characterized by a significantly higher proportion of individuals reporting significant suicidal ideation and previous suicide attempts, and those in this group tended to obtain higher scores on the Scale for Suicide Ideation. The present findings that were drawn from detailed evaluation of suicidality strongly support previous results assessed only with the help of clinical reports. More attention should be paid to assess suicide risk in these patients.

Highly reproducible immunoassay of cancer markers on a gold-patterned microarray chip using surface-enhanced Raman scattering imaging.

This paper reports a highly reproducible immunoassay of cancer markers using surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) imaging. SERS is a highly sensitive detection method but it is limited in its ability to achieve reproducible signal enhancement because of the difficulty with precisely controlling the uniform distribution of hot junctions. Consequently, inconsistent enhancement prevents the wide exploitation of SERS detection as a bio-detection tool for quantitative analysis. To resolve this problem, we explored the use of a SERS imaging-based immunoassay. For this purpose, Raman reporter-labeled hollow gold nanospheres (HGNs), were manufactured and antibodies were immobilized onto their surfaces for targeting specific antigens. After the formation of sandwich immunocomplexes using these functional HGNs on the surfaces of gold patterned wells, the SERS mapping images were measured. For target protein markers, 12×9 pixels were imaged using a Raman mapping technique in the 0-10(-4) g/mL concentration range, and the SERS signals for 66 pixels were averaged. Here, the SERS imaging-based assay shows much better correlations between concentration and intensity than does the conventional point-based assay. The limits of detection were determined to be 0.1 pg/mL and 1.0 pg/mL for angiogenin (ANG) and alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), respectively. This detection sensitivity is increased by three or four orders of magnitude over that of conventional ELISA method. The detectable dynamic range for SERS imaging (10(-4)-10(-12) g/mL) is also much wider than that for ELISA (10(-6)-10(-9) g/mL).

A case of neck abscess caused by Salmonella serotype D in a patient with liver cirrhosis.

Non-typhoidal salmonellosis, which is increasing nowadays in Korea as well as in the developed countries, is manifested as enteritis in most cases, but it also encompasses bacteremia, intraabdominal infections, and bone, joint and soft tissue infections. These rare diseases are known to result from primary gastrointestinal infection and subsequent bacteremia with or without symptoms. We experienced a case of neck abscess caused by Salmonella serotype D, which is a rare but important differential diagnosis of neck abscess. We herein report it.