• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.16
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• pp.7139-7142
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• 2015

Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the sixth most common cancer and the third leading cause of cancer related death overall. The role of insulin resistance in the development of HCC associated with chronic HCV infection has not been established. Resistin is a polypeptide hormone belonging to the adipokine family which could contribute to tumorigenesis and angiogenesis. Our aim was to study serum resistin and insulin resistance as risk factors for HCC in HCV cirrhotic patients. Materials and Methods: This prospective case controlled study included 100 patients with HCV related liver cirrhosis and HCC, 100 patients with HCV related liver cirrhosis without HCC and 50 apparently healthy participants as controls. For all subjects, liver profile, serologic markers for viral hepatitis, lipid profile, alpha-fetoprotein level (AFP), homeostasis model assessment (HOMA) were examined along with resistin. Results: HCC patients had higher mean values of HOMA-IR and resistin than cirrhotic patients and the control subjects (p<0.01). HOMA and resistin were considered independent risk factors in development of HCC, those patients with resistin > 12 ng/ml and HOMA > 4 being 1.6 times more likely to have HCC. Conclusions: HOMA and serum resistin allow for early identification of patients with cirrhosiswho are at substantially increased risk of HCC. Recommendation: HOMA and serum resistin could represent novel markers to identify HCV cirrhotic patients at greater risk of development of HCC.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.105-111
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• 2016

Background: Neutropenic fever is one of the most common and potentially severe complications of chemotherapy in pediatric oncology patients, while urinary tract infection (UTI) is one of the most prevalent bacterial infections in these patients. Therefore, this study was conducted to investigate features of UTI with neutropenic fever in pediatric oncology patients. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed and analyzed the medical records, laboratory results and image findings of cases of neutropenic fever in the Department of Pediatrics of Yeungnam University Medical Center, South Korea between November 2013 and May 2015. Episodes were divided into two groups, UTI vs. non-UTI group according to the results of urine culture. The results were then compared between groups. The analysis was performed using IBM SPSS 23.0. A p-value <0.05 was considered to indicate a significant difference between groups. Results: Overall, 112 episodes of neutropenic fever were analyzed, among which 22 episodes (19.6%) showed organisms on urine culture and were classified as UTI. The remaining 90 episodes were classified as non-UTI. Only four episodes (18.2%) of the UTI group showed pyuria on urine analysis. In the UTI group, 76.5% were sensitive to the first line antibiotics and showed higher clinical response than the non-UTI group. Among hematologic malignancy patients, the UTI group revealed higher serum ${\beta}2$-microglobulin levels than the non-UTI group ($1.56{\pm}0.43mg/L$ vs. $1.2{\pm}0.43mg/L$, p<0.028). Conclusion: UTI in pediatric neutropenic fever responds well to antibiotics. Hematologic malignancy cases with UTI reveal increased serum ${\beta}2$-microglobulin level. These results will be helpful to early phase diagnosis of UTI.

• Mycobiology
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• v.46 no.2
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• pp.92-100
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• 2018

The filamentous Ascomycota Colletotrichum gloeosporioides sensu lato is a fungus that has been reported worldwide as a causal agent of anthracnose disease in avocado and other crops. In Mexico, this species affects fruits from an early stage of development in the orchard until the post-harvest stage. Although fungicides are continuously applied to control Colletotrichum species, pericarp cankers and soft rot mesocarp in fruits are still frequently observed. Considering the lack of a precise description of the causative agent, the aim of the current study was to determine the pathogens involved in this symptomatology. Twenty-four isolates were consistently obtained from the pericarp of avocado fruits cv. "Hass" collected in the central avocado-producing area of Mexico. Morphological features such as colony growth, conidia size, and mycelial appressorium were assessed. Bayesian multilocus phylogenetic analyses were performed using amplified sequences of the internal transcribed spacer region of the nuclear ribosomal DNA; actin, chitin synthase, glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase partial genes; and APn2-Mat1-2 intergenic spacer and mating type Mat1-2 partial gene from the nine selected isolates. In addition, fruits were inoculated with a conidial suspension and reproducible symptoms confirmed the presence of Colletotrichum fructicola in this area. This pathogenic species can now be added to those previously reported in the country, such as C. acutatum, C. boninense, C. godetiae, C. gloeosporioides, and C. karstii. Disease management programs to reduce the incidence of anthracnose should include C. fructicola to determine its response to fungicides that are routinely applied, considering that the appearance of new species is affecting the commercial quality of the fruits and shifting the original population structure.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.199-206
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• 2005

C. neoformans-associated cryptococcosis is primarily a disease of immunocompromised persons, has a world-wide distribution, and is often spread by pigeons in the urban environment. In contrast, C. gattii causes infection in normal hosts, has only been described in tropical and semi-tropical areas of the world, and has a unique niche in river gum Eucalyptus trees. Cryptococcosis is acquired through inhalation of the yeast propagules from the environment. C. gattii has been identified as the cause of an emerging infectious disease centered on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada. No cases of C. gattii-disease were diagnosed prior to 1999; the current incidence rate is 36 cases per million population. A search was initiated in 2001 to find the ecological niche of this basidiomycetous yeast. C. gattii was found in the environment in treed areas of Vancouver Island. The highest percentage of colonized-tree clusters were found around central Vancouver Island, with decreasing rates of colonization to the north and south. Climate, soil and vegetation cover of this area, called the Coastal Douglas fir biogeoclimatic zone, is unique to British Columbia and Canada. The concentration of airborne C. gattii was highest in the dry summer months, and lowest during late fall, winter, and early spring, months which have heavy rainfall. The study of the emerging colonization of this organism and subsequent cases of environmentally acquired disease will be informative in planning public health management of new routes of exposure to exotic agents in areas impacted by changing climate and land use patterns.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.224-235
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• 1996

Early implantation before sufficient ossification has taken place usually results in osseointegartion failure due to reduced bone-fixture interface area. However, various studies have shown successful osseointegration results following immediate implants concurrently with GTR. The clinical trends have been to shorten the patients' edentulous state by immediate implantation, and reduce the alveolar bone resorption. However, it may be difficult to attain the complete soft tissue coverage of the sites, increasing the chance of infection. Furthermore, there may be more studies needed on the clinical behaviors of e-PTFE membranes, various modofications in the membrane materials and bone graft materials. Various animal and clinical studies have been reported on the successful osseointagration following immediate implantation, but the long-term follow-up studies are limited. The present study investigated 16 immediately-implanted implants with GTR therapy with or without calcium carbonate grafting on 11 patients 3 years after installation and 24-30 months after functional loading. Based on the clinical, radiographic and histologic findings, the following results have been attained. 1. Clinically, stability has been shown on all 16 implants throughout the investigated periods. 2. Radiologically, the alveolar bone loss has progressed up to the polished neck portion but not beyond it, suggesting the progressive osseointegration from the GTR therapy. 3. The GTR method used in the present study is easy to use clinically, and may be appied in the regeneration of ossoeous defects around implants and in the immediate implantation. 4. The difficulty in complete tissue coverage may be avoided by delaying the installation for 2 to 3 weeks after the extraction allowing certain degree of soft tissue healing.

• Journal of Korean Foot and Ankle Society
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.140-145
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• 2005

Purpose: To analyze the outcome of metatarsal lengthening of first brachymetatarsia by callotasis using an external fixator. Materials and Methods: Between January 1998 and February 2004, 10 patients (17 cases) were reviewed. The mean age at operation was 17.3 years. Seven patients had bilateral first brachymetatarsia and eight patients had combined 4th brachymetatarsia. The operations were performed with a monoexternal fixator, and distraction was started at a rate of 0.75 mm/day after 7 days. The radiographic results were evaluated by lengthening amount and percentage, fixation time, and healing index. Complications and AOFAS score were evaluated. Results: The average lengthening amount was 17.7 mm and the average lengthening percentage was 43.4%. The external fixation time was 107 days and average healing index was 69.8 days/cm. The evaluation according to AOFAS score was excellent in 12 cases and good in 5 cases. Complications were 4 cases of hallux valgus, 4 of metatarsophalangeal joint stiffness, 3 of medial angular deformity, 3 of pes cavus, 2 of pin breakage, 2 of pin site infection, and 1 of skin hyperpigmentation. Conclusion: Callotasis for 1st brachymetatarsia is a very useful treatment method with high patient satisfaction, excellent healing rate and early ambulation without bone graft. Nevertheless, great care must be taken to minimize the various possible complications.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.569-584
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• 2000

In order to evaluate the effects of the early exposure of e-PTFE membrane on the periodontal regeneration, 21 cases of 21 patients diagnosed as the chronic adult periodontitis were evaluated. All were class II furcation involvement cases. The control group was composed of 7 cases treated only by the flap operation. 14 cases were treated by the e-PTFE membrane as the experimental group, the membranes of 7 cases were exposed more than 1mm during healing period, which were named as the experimental group I, and the others, experimental group II. Clinical parameters such as probing pocket depth, clinical attachment level, bone probing depth, and gingival recession were recorded before the treatment and 6 months after the treatment. The results were as follows. 1. Significant probing depth reductions were observed for all groups(p<0.05), but no group shows significantly greater reductions than another. 2. Significant clinical attachment gains were observed for the experimental group II(p<0.05), no significant gains were observed in the other groups. 3. Significant bone probing depth reductions were observed for the experimental group II(p<0.05), no significant reductions were observed in the other groups. 4. All but the experimental group II exhibited a significant increase in gingival recession(p<0.05). The result suggested that is case of the e-PTFE membrane is exposed, the result is similar to that of flap operation without membrane. Therefore selecting the proper treatment case, intricate surgical procedure and infection control are essential for minimizing the chance of membrane exposure and finally for the good treatment results.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.19-28
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• 2002

From 1994-2001, 25 mutilated digits were reconstructed with immediate toe-to-hand transfer in acute hand injury in 21 patients. There were 15 cases of great toe-to-hand transfer(partial great toe transfer 8 cases, modified wrap-around procedure 2 cases, and trimmed great toe transfer 2 cases) for thumb reconstruction, 2 cases of second toe transfer for index reconstruction, and 4 cases of simultaneous two toe-to-hand transfer(great toe & second toe transfer 1 case, bilateral second-toe transfer 2 cases, combined second & third toe transfer 1 case) for reconstruction of multiple digit amputations. Two cases of emergency exploration(2/25, 8%) were successfully salvaged. The incidence of emergency exploration and postoperative infection was not significantly different from that of the elective toe-to-hand transfer cases. Duration of industrial insurance coverage was 225 days, which is much shorter than that of elective cases. Among 43% of patients maintained their original job even after injury and immediate toe-to-hand transfer. The subjective satisfaction self- assessment scores of aesthetic appearance and function on the new reconstructed thumb were 80 and 88 in average, respectively, over a total score of 100. These were higher than those of reconstruction of other digits, but lower than those of elective reconstruction. The donor site after harvest of the great toe was mostly unsatisfied in a view of appearance. Immediate toe-to-hand transfer provides many advantages over elective procedure in acute hand injuries such as single stage reconstruction, shortened convalescent period, early return to work and efficient socio-economic factor. Furthermore because there were no significant differences in success rate, frequency of complications or ultimate functional result, immediate toe-to-hand transfer is a safe and reliable procedure in case of limited indications for acute digits loss.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.80-87
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• 2007

Beet curly top virus (BCTV) and Beet severe curly top virus (BSCTV), members of curtoviruses, encode seven open reading frames (ORFs) within a ~3 kb genome. One of these viral ORFs, C1, is known to play an important role in the early stage of viral infection in plants during initiation of viral DNA replication. We used promoter:: reporter (${\beta}$-glucuronidase) gene fusions in transgenic Arabidopsis to identify the putative promoter region of BCTV ORF C1. Unlike other geminiviruses, the intergenic region of BCTV was not sufficient to promote C1 expression in transgenic plants. When sequences extending into the coding region of C1 were tested, strong expression of the reporter protein was observed in vascular tissues of transgenic plants. This expression was not dependent on the presence of the intergenic regions or proximal 5' portions of the C1 coding region. Transgenic plants expressing a reporter gene under control of the putative complete C1 promoter were inoculated with virus to determine if any viral transcript affected C1 expression. Virus inoculated plants did not show any altered pattern or change in of reporter gene expression level. These results suggest that (1) important transcriptional activator elements for C1 expression reside in the 3' portion of C1 coding area itself, (2) C1 protein does not auto-regulate its own expression and (3) C1 expression of two curtoviruses is controlled differently compared to other geminiviruses.

• Clinics in Shoulder and Elbow
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.19-25
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• 1998

Appropriate clinical examination and imaging may lead to early diagnosis and treatment of the shoulder impingement syndrome, thus preventing progressing to a complete tear of rotator cuff. The impingement syndrome was caused by repeated entrapment and compression of supraspinatus tendon between the proximal end of humerus inferiorly, particullary its greater tuberosity. and one or m <)re component of coracoacromial arch superiorly. The purpose of this study is to critically, evaluate the result of twenty-five consecutive subacromial decompression with impingement syndrome and to assess the diagnostic accuracy of MR imaging by using oblique coronal and oblique sagittal plan. These patients were treated by arthroscopic subacromial decompression after their pains failed to improve with conservative therapy over three month. The average follow up was 25 month(range, 12 to 50). The mean age was 43 year old. The results were rated based on subjective response and the UCLA shoulder rating scale of the result. Ten patients(40%) were rated as excellent, 11patients(44%) were good. while four patients(16%) were fair. Radiologic evaluation suggested that the oblique sagittal plan of MRI can be helpful in evaluation of bony and soft-tissue structure of the coracoacromial arch and determining depth of bony resection. There were no infection or neurovascular injury. In reviewing our result, it appears that the arthroscopic subacromial decompression can be successful sugery for shoulder impingement syndrome and diagnostic accuracy of supplimentary oblique sagittal view of MRI was relatively higher than oblique coronal view alone for apprqpriate surgical plan.