• Clinical Nutrition Research
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• 제11권3호
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• pp.183-193
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• 2022

We investigated the predictors of survival in patients with advanced BTC according to their baseline nutritional status estimated by the Nutritional Risk Screening (NRS)-2002. From September 2006 to July 2017, we reviewed the data of 601 inpatients with BTC. Data on demographic and clinical parameters was collected from electronic medical records, and overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival were analyzed using the Kaplan-Meier method and the stepwise Cox regression analysis. Patients with an NRS-2002 score of ≤ 2, 3, and ≥ 4 were respectively classified as "no risk," "moderate risk," "high risk." Following initial NRS-2002 score, 333 patients (55%) were classified as "no-risk," 109 patients (18%) as "moderate-risk," and 159 patients (27%) as "high-risk." Survival analysis demonstrated significant differences in the median OS: "no-risk": 12.6 months (95% confidence interval [CI], 11.5-13.7); "moderate-risk": 6.1 months (95% CI, 4.3-8.0); and "high-risk": 3.9 months (95% CI, 3.2-4.6) (p < 0.001). NRS-2002 score was an independent factor for OS (hazard ratio [HR], 1.616 for "moderate-risk", 95% CI, 1.288-2.027, p < 0.001; HR, 2.121 for "high-risk", 95% CI, 1.722-2.612, p < 0.001), along with liver metastasis, peritoneal seeding, white blood cell count, platelet count, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, cholesterol, carcinoembryonic antigen, and carbohydrate antigen 19-9. In conclusion, baseline NRS-2002 is an appropriate method for discriminating those who are already malnourished and who have poor prognosis in advanced BTC patient. Significance of these results merit further validation to be integrated in the routine practice to improve quality of care in BTC patients.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• 제66권6호
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• pp.437-443
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• 2009

연구배경: 결핵성 흉막염의 진단에 있어 여러 보조 지표들이 이용되고 있으나 흉수 아데노신 탈아미노효소만큼 시행이 용이하고 저렴하면서 높은 특이도를 보이는 검사법은 없는 실정이다. 하지만 위양성이 문제가 될 수 있으며, 질병의 유병률에 따라 진단율이 좌우될 수 있다. 본 연구는 중등도 결핵 유병률을 보이는 지역에서 결핵성 흉막염의 진단에 있어 흉수 아데노신 탈아미노효소와 림프구/호중구 비의 유용성을 확인해보고자 하였다. 방 법: 흉수천자에서 삼출성 흉수가 확인된 총 388명의 환자를 대상으로 하였다. 이들을 흉수 아데노신 탈아미노효소 활성도 및 림프구/호중구 비에 따라 구분한 후 최종 진단 결과와 비교 분석하는 후향적 연구를 시행하였다. 결 과: 388명 중 108명의 환자가 결핵성 흉막염으로 진단되었다. 그 중 102명에서 흉수 아데노신 탈아미노효소 활성도가 40 IU/L 이상이었다. 결핵성 흉막염의 진단 기준을 흉수 아데노신 탈아미노효소 40 IU/L 이상으로 하였을 때 민감도는 94.4%, 특이도는 87.5%였으며, 사후확률은 74.5%였다. 하지만 흉수 림프구/호중구 비 0.75 이상을 결핵성 흉막염의 진단 기준으로 함께 고려하였을 때 특이도와 사후확률은 각각 97.5%, 93%로 현저히 증가하였으며, 양성우도비도 39.5로 높게 나타났다. 흉수 아데노신 탈아미노효소와 림프구/호중구 비가 높았던 다른 원인으로는 림프종, 전이암종이 있었으며, 이들의 경우 흉부단순촬영이나 CT에서 종괴형 병변을 관찰할 수 있었다. 결 론: 중등도 결핵 유병률을 보이는 지역에서 삼출성 흉수의 원인을 평가하는데 있어 흉수 아데노신 탈아미노효소와 림프구/호중구 비를 우선 측정하고, 그 결과가 높고 임상적, 방사선학적으로 종양이 의심되지 않는다면 결핵성 흉막염으로 진단할 수 있겠다.

• 한국간담췌외과학회지
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• 제26권1호
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• pp.40-46
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• 2022

Backgrounds/Aims: The role of inflammation in malignant cell proliferation has been well described. High values of platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) as markers of systemic inflammation have shown associations with unfavorable long-term outcomes. The purpose of this study was to determine values of NLR and PLR evaluated prior to and after surgery and their associations with mortality and recurrence rates of liver transplant patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Methods: A total of 105 patients with HCC who underwent orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) were retrospectively reviewed. NLR and PLR values were obtained from complete blood counts prior to and after surgery. Overall survival (OS) and recurrence-free survival (RFS) in relation with delta NLR and PLR were estimated. Results: Serum alpha-fetoprotein levels > 100 ng/mL (p = 0.014) and lymphovascular emboli in the specimen (p = 0.048) were identified to be significant predictors of RFS. Child-Pugh score (p = 0.016) was found to be an independent factor associated with poorer OS. An increasing delta PLR was associated with worse RFS, although it showed no significant association with OS. Conclusions: The analysis of PLR as a continuous variable may predict recurrence outcomes in patients undergoing OLT for HCC. It is more representative than isolated values.

• Journal of Veterinary Science
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• 제23권5호
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• pp.76.1-76.14
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• 2022

Background: Clinical dexamethasone (DEX) treatment or stress in bovines results in extensive physiological changes with prominent hyperglycemia and neutrophils dysfunction. Objectives: To elucidate the effects of DEX treatment in vivo on cellular energy status and the underlying mechanism in circulating neutrophils. Methods: We selected eight-month-old male bovines and injected DEX for 3 consecutive days (1 time/d). The levels of glucose, total protein (TP), total cholesterol (TC), and the proinflammatory cytokines interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α in blood were examined, and we then detected glycogen and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) content, phosphofructosekinase-1 (PFK1) and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH) activity, glucose transporter (GLUT)1, GLUT4, sodium/glucose cotransporter (SGLT)1 and citrate synthase (CS) protein expression and autophagy levels in circulating neutrophils. Results: DEX injection markedly increased blood glucose, TP and TC levels, the Ca²⁺/P⁵⁺ ratio and the neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio and significantly decreased blood IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α levels. Particularly in neutrophils, DEX injection inhibited p65-NFκB activation and elevated glycogen and ATP contents and SGLT1, GLUT1 and GR expression while inhibiting PFK1 activity, enhancing G6PDH activity and CS expression and lowering cell autophagy levels. Conclusions: DEX induced neutrophils glucose uptake by enhancing SGLT1 and GLUT1 expression and the transformation of energy metabolism from glycolysis to pentose phosphate pathway (PPP)-tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle. This finding gives us a new perspective on deeper understanding of clinical anti-inflammatory effects of DEX on bovine.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• 제7권3호
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• pp.167-173
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• 2007

목적: 미슬토 추출물은 서양에서 오래전부터 사용되어진 면역치료 물질로 위암에 대해서는 연구가 부족한 실정이다. 본 연구에서 수술 받은 위암환자를 대상으로 항암제와 미슬토 추출물의 병합투여가 면역기능에 미치는 효과를 파악하기 위해 시행되었다. 대상 및 방법: 원발성 위암으로 진단받고 근치적 수술을 받은 10명의 환자를 선정하여 항암화학요법과 병행하여 수술 후 7일째부터 미슬토 추출물(ABNOVA viscum-Q)을 주 3회, 총 16주간 피하주사 하였다. 면역기능에 미치는 효과는 환자의 말초혈액에서 백혈구수와 그 분획, 백혈구에 대한 총림프구의 분율 그리고 시토카인들(Interleukin-$1{\beta}$, Interleukin-2, Interleukin-6, Interferon-$\gamma$, Tumor necrosis factor-$\alpha$)의 변화를 분석하였다. 상기 항목들은 수술 전과 수술 후 8주, 16주 총 3회 측정되었다. 결과: 남녀비는 9 : 1이며, 평균연령은 55.9세(range $33{\sim}74$세)였다. 병기는 stage Ib가 4명, II가 6명이었다. 백혈구수와 총호중구수는 기저치에 비해 치료 후 8주와 16주에 유의한 감소를 보였다. 총호산구수는 기저치에 비해 8주와 16주에 증가하는 경향을 보였지만 통계적 유의성은 없었다(P=0.15). 총림프구의 수치는 치료 전후 유의한 감소를 보이지만 백혈구 수에 대한 총 림프구의 분율은 유의하지는 않지만(P=0.91) 오히려 증가하고 있다. 각각의 시토카인들은 치료전후 큰 변화를 보이지 않았다. 결론: 치료 전후 의미있는 면역반응의 증가는 관찰하기 어려웠다. 이것은 미슬토 추출물과 항암제의 병용투여에 의한 면역활성과 억제의 상쇄반응으로 생각된다. 총호산구수가 증가하였고, 백혈구에 대한 림프구의 분율이 감소하지 않고 증가하는 양상을 보인 것은 미슬토 추출물에 의해 유발된 면역반응으로 생각된다.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• 제51권2호
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• pp.163-169
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• 2024

Objective: This retrospective study aimed to investigate the prevalence of chronic endometritis, diagnosed using CD138 immunohistochemistry, among infertile women and to assess the association between chronic endometritis and recurrent implantation failure (RIF). Methods: In total, 266 patients who underwent hysteroscopy due to infertility between 2019 and 2020 were included in the analysis. Of these, 136 patients with RIF and 130 non-RIF patients were included in the study. CD138 immunohistochemistry test results, blood biomarkers (including natural killer cells, white blood cells, and the lymphocyte-to-neutrophil ratio), and data on pregnancy outcomes were obtained. If the CD138 test yielded a positive result, the patients received antibiotic treatment. Results: The overall proportion of CD138-positive patients was 32.7% (87/266). The CD138 positivity rate was not related to the number of cycles with implantation failure. In the RIF patient group, no significant associations were found between CD138 positivity and peripheral blood markers. The clinical pregnancy rates were similar between infertile women treated with antibiotics for chronic endometritis and those without chronic endometritis. Conclusion: To improve the pregnancy rate in infertile patients, it may be helpful to combine CD138 testing with other laboratory tests and administer antibiotic treatment if the result is positive.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• 제55권4호
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• pp.325-330
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• 2013

Providing an adequate environment for horses is important to minimize the level of stress for domesticated horses. The objectives of this study were 1) to evaluate the effect of living conditions on stress level of horses, 2) to observe the effect of one month confinement on self-maintenance behavior and stereotypic behavior of horses. The experiment was conducted at National Institute of Animal Science, Equine Field Station (Seonghwan-eup, Korea). Horses were staying in the paddock prior to the experiment. On day 1, five horses were randomly selected and housed in metal fence panels stall. Six horses remained in the same paddock. The ratio of neutrophil to lymphocyte (on day 15) and cortisol (on day 1 and 29) from stalled horses were significantly higher than horses in the paddock. Duration or frequency of self-maintenance behaviors such as feeding, drinking, resting, walking was not significantly different between day 1 and day 29. However, the frequency of urination significantly decreased (p<0.05) on day 29 compared with day 1. The frequency of stereotypic behaviors was not different between day 1 and 29. Our data indicate that horses may be more stabled when they are staying in the paddock rather than staying in the stall, but the stress level of horses in the stall during one month confinement was not effective for horses to adapt stereotypic behavior. In conclusion, providing an adequate environment and stress-less horse management techniques can minimize the stress level of horses.

• Journal of Veterinary Science
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• 제25권1호
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• pp.11.1-11.16
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• 2024

Background: Canine parvoviral enteritis (CPE) is a fatal disease worldwide. The treatment of CPE is based mainly on supportive and symptomatic treatment. Antiviral addition to the treatment may result in a higher survival. Objectives: This study evaluated the effects of antiviral treatments with a standardized treatment (ST) on the clinical and inflammatory response of dogs with naturally occurring CPE. Methods: Twenty-eight dogs with CPE caused by canine parvovirus type 2 were divided randomly into treatment groups. The ST group received fluid, antibiotic, antiemetic, and deworming treatments. The antiviral treatment groups received the same ST with an additional antiviral drug, recombinant feline interferon omega (rFeIFN-ω), oseltamivir (OSEL) or famciclovir (FAM). Results: Compared to the healthy control, the tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-1β, interferon (IFN)-α, IFN-γ, haptoglobin, and C-reactive protein values were high (p < 0.05) on day zero. At presentation, mild lymphopenia, neutropenia, and a high neutrophil to lymphocyte (LYM) ratio (NLR) were also observed. Adding rFeIFN-ω to the ST produced the best improvement in the clinical score with a decreased NLR, while leucocytes remained low and inflammatory markers stayed high on day three. The survival rates of the groups were 85.7% in ST+IFN, 71.4% in ST+OSEL, 71.4% in ST+FAM, and 57.1% in ST groups on day seven. Conclusions: Antiviral drugs may be valuable in treating CPE to improve the clinical signs and survival. In addition, the decrease in NLR in favor of LYM may be an indicator of the early prognosis before the improvement of leukocytes, cytokines, and acute phase proteins in CPE.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제16권13호
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• pp.5159-5162
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• 2015

Background: Chronic myeloproliferative diseases are clonal stem cell diseases which occur as a result of uncontrollable growth and reproduction of hematopoietic stem cells, which are the myeloid series source in bone marrow. Recent studies have suggested that chronic inflammation can be a triggering factor in the clonal change in chronic myeloproliferative neoplasia (CMPN). In our study, we evaluated the existence of a chronic inflammation process in our Philadelphia negative (Ph-)CMPN patients using inflammation parameters in combination with demographic, laboratory and clinical characteristics of the patients. Materials and Methods: Demographic characteristics, clinical and laboratorial data, and thrombosis histories of 99 Ph-CMPN patients, who were diagnosed at our outpatient clinic of hematology in accordance with WHO 2008 criteria, were analyzed retrospectively,with 80 healthy individuals of matching gender and age included as controls. Complete blood counts, sedimentation, C reactive protein (CRP), JAK V617F gene mutations, abdomen ultrasound images and previous thrombosis histories of these patients were retrospectively analyzed. Results: Ph-CMPN and healthy control groups included 99 and 80 cases, respectively. PV, ET and MF diagnoses of patients were 43 (%43.4), 44 (44.4%) and 12 (12.1%), respectively. JAK V617F gene mutation was found to be positive in 64 (71.1%) of all cases and in 27(65.8%), 32 (82%), 5 (50%) of the cases in PV, ET and PMF groups, respectively. Thrombosis was determined as 12 (12%) in the entire group, 12.5% in the JAK V617F negative and 15.3% in the positive patients, with no statistical significance (p=0.758). No significant difference was observed between patients with and without previous thrombosis history in respect to hemogram parameters, sedimentation and CRP (p>0.05), neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR), erythrocyte distribution width (RDW), mean platelet volume (MPV) and sedimentation levels of the patient.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• 제21권3호
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• pp.308-318
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• 2021

Purpose: The benefits of robotic gastrectomy remain controversial. We designed this study to elucidate the advantages of a hybrid robot and laparoscopic gastrectomy over conventional laparoscopic surgery. Materials and Methods: A total of 176 patients who underwent gastrectomy for gastric cancer were included in this study. We compared 88 patients treated with hybrid robotic and laparoscopic gastrectomy (HRLG) and 88 patients who underwent conventional laparoscopic gastrectomy (CLG). In HRLG, suprapancreatic lymph node (LN) dissection was performed in a robotic setting. Clinicopathological characteristics, operative details, and short-term outcomes were analyzed for the patients. Results: The number of LNs retrieved from the suprapancreatic area was significantly greater in the HRLG group (11.27±5.46 vs. 9.17±5.19, P=0.010). C-reactive protein levels were greater in the CLG group on both postoperative day (POD) 1 (5.11±2.64 vs. 4.29±2.38, P=0.030) and POD 5 (9.86±6.51 vs. 7.75±5.17, P=0.019). In addition, the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio was significantly greater in the CLG group on both POD 1 (7.44±4.72 vs. 6.16±2.91, P=0.031) and POD 5 (4.87±3.75 vs. 3.81±1.87, P=0.020). Pulmonary complications occurred only in the CLG group (4/88 [4.5%] vs. 0/88 [0%], P=0.043). Conclusions: HRLG is superior to CLG in terms of suprapancreatic LN dissection and postoperative inflammatory response.