Kidney Transplantation Using Expanded-Criteria Deceased Donors: A Comparison With Ideal Deceased Donors and Non-Expanded-Criteria Deceased Donors.

PURPOSE: The use of expanded-criteria deceased-donor (ECD) kidneys must be evaluated within the objective perspective of critical organ shortage and graft function and survival. In this study, we aimed to compare the clinical outcomes of ECD reliance with concurrent use of ideal-criteria deceased donors (IDDs) and non-ECDs in adult renal transplantation. METHODS: Between February 2000 and December 2015, we analyzed 405 deceased-donor renal transplants, specifically 129 grafts (31.9%) from ECDs, 233 grafts (57.5%) from non-ECDs, and 43 grafts (10.6%) from IDDs. ECDs were classified according to the United Network for Organ Sharing guidelines, while an IDD was defined as a younger person (10-39 years of age) with no medical risk factors who died from a traumatic head injury. Donor and recipient risk factors were separately analyzed and correlated with recipient graft function, and survival was evaluated. RESULTS: ECDs were older (56.8 ± 6.3 years); showed increased incidence of hypertension, diabetes, and cerebrovascular brain death; and had a higher pre-retrieval serum creatinine level than the other groups. ECD kidney recipients were also older (50.6 ± 9.8 years), had a shorter waiting time (P = .031), and demonstrated a low frequency of re-transplantation (P = .028). Long-term renal function followed longitudinally was lower in ECD kidney recipients until five years after transplantation, while the glomerular filtration rate (GFR) level at 7 and 10 years did not differ significantly among the groups (P = .074 and .262, respectively). There were no significant differences in terms of graft survival (P = .394) or patient survival (P = .737) among the groups. CONCLUSIONS: Although the long-term renal function followed longitudinally was lower in ECD kidney recipients, the use of renal grafts from ECDs is an acceptable method to resolve the disparity of critical organ shortage. However, the classification of the high-risk group should be updated with consideration given to differences in regional characteristics.

Coagulase-negative staphylococcal bacteremia: risk factors for mortality and impact of initial appropriate antimicrobial therapy on outcome.

It is uncertain whether an initial inappropriate empirical antibiotic treatment of coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS) bacteremia adversely affects the outcome. A retrospective cohort study of CoNS bacteremia was performed at the Dongguk University Ilsan Hospital during a 3-year period. During the study period, 109 patients with CoNS bacteremia were enrolled. The median age of the patients was 72 years and most (96%, 105/109) had one or more comorbid diseases. Among the participants, 29% (32/109) received an appropriate empirical antimicrobial therapy. The 30-day mortality was 24% (26/109) and CoNS bacteremia-related mortality was 14% (15/109). There was no difference in the CoNS bacteremia-related mortality between the group with an inappropriate empirical treatment (13%, 10/77) and that with an appropriate treatment (16%, 5/32) (p = 0.46). In the multivariate analysis using the Cox regression analysis method, Pitt bacteremia scores [hazard ratio (HR) 1.48; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.09-2.01; p = 0.01] and retention of eradicable focus (HR 5.0; 95% CI 1.39-17.9; p = 0.01) were found to be associated with CoNS bacteremia-related mortality. The results suggest that inappropriate empirical therapy might not necessarily be associated with the 30-day mortality or CoNS bacteremia-related mortality. Conversely, Pitt bacteremia scores and retention of eradicable focus were associated with poor outcomes.

Oncological and functional results after the surgical treatment of parotid cancer.

The objective of this study was to analyze the oncological and functional outcomes after the surgical treatment of parotid cancer. We reviewed 80 primary parotid carcinomas retrospectively. A superficial parotidectomy was performed in 10 patients; 27 patients underwent total parotidectomy and 43 patients underwent radical parotidectomy. A facial-facial nerve anastomosis was chosen for the facial nerve reconstruction in eight patients, while an interpositional graft was selected in 24 patients. The overall N-positive rate of pathology was 21.3%. The rate of occult metastasis was 8.1%. High-grade carcinoma and lymphovascular emboli were independent factors for nodal metastasis. The 5-year disease-free survival and overall survival rates were 79.7% and 78.8%, respectively. Preoperative facial nerve palsy and extraparenchymal invasion were the independent factors associated with poor disease-free survival. Of the 41 patients in the facial nerve preservation group, 13 (31.7%) had transient facial nerve paresis. In the facial nerve sacrifice group of 39 cases, (sub)total recovery (House-Brackmann grade I/II) occurred in 14 (35.9%), partial recovery (House-Brackmann grade III/IV) in 13 (33.3%), and no recovery (House-Brackmann grade V) in 12 (30.8%). Facial nerve palsy upon presentation and extraparenchymal invasion indicate a grave prognosis. Facial nerve function after proper reconstruction is tolerable.

Effects of injection of acetic acid and propionic acid for total phosphorus removal at high temperature in enhanced biological phosphorus removal process.

In summer, wastewater treatment plant total phosphorus (TP) removal efficiency is low in South Korea. The reason is because of high temperatures or significant fluctuation of inflow characteristics caused by frequent rainfall. Hence, this study tried to raise TP removal efficiency by injecting fixed external carbon sources in real sewage. Polyphosphate accumulating organisms (PAOs) and glycogen accumulating organisms (GAOs) compete to occupy microorganisms at high temperature. Propionate is known to restrain GAOs. Thus, acetate and propionate were chosen as the external carbon source in this study to find out the suitable volume and ratio of carbon source which ensured the dominance of PAOs. An external carbon source was supplied in the anaerobic reactor of the biological phosphorus removal process at high temperature (above 25 °C). TP removal efficiency was improved by injecting an external carbon source compared to that without an external carbon source. Also, it remained relatively stable when injecting an external carbon source, despite the variation in temperature. TP removal efficiency was the highest when injecting acetate and propionate in the proportion of 2:1 (total concentration as chemical oxygen demand (COD) is 12 mg/L in influent).

Long-term outcomes of kidney transplantation from expanded criteria deceased donors at a single center: comparison with standard criteria deceased donors.

Our objective was to compare the clinical outcomes of adult kidney transplants from expanded criteria deceased donors (ECD) with those from concurrent standard criteria deceased donors (SCD). Between January 2000 and December 2011, we transplanted 195 deceased donor renal transplants into adult recipients, including 31 grafts (15.9%) from ECDs and 164 grafts (84.1%) from SCDs. ECDs were classified using the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) definitions. Donor and recipient risk factors were analyzed separately and their correlation with recipient graft function and survival was evaluated (minimum 6-month follow-up). ECDs were older (56.8 ± 6.3 years), showed an increased incidence of hypertension, diabetes, and cerebrovascular brain death, and had a higher preretrieval serum creatinine level than SCDs. ECD kidney recipients had a shorter waiting time (P = .019) but other baseline characteristics (age, gender, body mass index [BMI], cause of end-stage renal disease, type of renal replacement therapy, incidence of diabetes and hypertension, number of HLA antigen mismatches, positivity for panel-reactive antigen, and cold ischemic time) were not significantly different from those of SCD kidney recipients. Mean glomerular filtration rate (GFR) at 1 month, 6 months, 1 year, and 3 years after transplantation was significantly lower in recipients of ECD transplants than recipients of SCD transplants, but the GFR level at 5 and 10 years was not significantly different between ECD and SCD recipient groups (P = .134 and .702, respectively). Incidence of acute rejection episodes and surgical complications did not differ significantly between the 2 recipient groups, but the incidence of delayed graft function (DGF) and infectious complications was higher in ECD kidney recipients than SCD kidney recipients (P = .007 and P = .008, respectively). Actual patient and graft survival rates were similar between the 2 recipient groups with a mean follow-up of 43 months. There were no significant differences in graft survival (P = .111) or patient survival (P = .562) between the 2 groups. Although intermediate-term renal function followed longitudinally was better in SCD kidney recipients, graft and patient survival of ECD kidney recipients were comparable with those of SCD kidney recipients. In conclusion, use of renal grafts from ECDs is a feasible approach to address the critical organ shortage.

Discrepancy between preoperative MRI evaluation and intraoperative or postoperative pathological findings for the extent of local invasion in maxillary squamous cell carcinoma.

Preoperative radiological evaluation of the extent of local invasion in maxillary squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is very important in planning curative surgery. The aim of this study was to examine the accuracy of preoperative radiological evaluation with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for the extent of local invasion in maxillary SCC. A retrospective study was conducted of 33 patients who underwent a maxillectomy for maxillary SCC. We compared the MRI findings for 18 structures around the maxillary sinus with intraoperative or postoperative pathological findings. Discrepancies were found between preoperative MRI findings and intraoperative or postoperative pathological findings for 22 patients (66.7%). Overall, the specificity, sensitivity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of MRI were 83.4%, 83.0%, 64.5%, and 90.4%, respectively. The receiver operating characteristic curve showed that MRI evaluation of the posterolateral structures including the pterygoid plate, pterygoid muscle, and infratemporal fossa had a lower area under the curve (0.614) and a significantly lower accuracy when compared with the other structures (P = 0.294, 95% confidence interval 0.405-0.822). In conclusion, as the accuracy of preoperative MRI evaluation of the posterolateral structures is low, careful evaluation of local extension to the posterolateral structures is needed when planning curative surgery for maxillary SCC.

A Fas-associated via death domain promoter polymorphism (rs10898853, -16C/T) as a risk factor for papillary thyroid cancer.

PURPOSE: To determine whether a Fas-associated via death domain (FADD) promoter single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) is associated with susceptibility to papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) and clinicopathological features of PTC. METHODS: To identify a possible association with PTC, 94 patients with PTC and 346 healthy controls were recruited. One promoter SNP (rs10898853, -16C/T) was analyzed by direct sequencing. Multiple logistic regression models (co-dominant, dominant, recessive, and log-additive models) were applied, and odds ratios (ORs), 95% confidence intervals (CIs), and p values were calculated. RESULTS: The genotype of the promoter SNP (rs10898853) of FADD was found to be significantly associated with PTC in the co-dominant model 2 (T/T vs. C/C; p = 0.002, OR = 2.80, 95% CI = 1.39-5.65), the recessive model (p = 0.003, OR = 2.21, 95% CI = 1.31-3.71), and the log-additive model (p = 0.002, OR = 1.71, 95% CI = 1.20-2.44). Allele frequency analysis showed that the C allele of rs10898853 was significantly associated with an increased risk of PTC (p = 0.002, OR = 1.67, 95% CI = 1.21-2.32). CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that the FADD promoter polymorphism is associated with susceptibility to PTC.

Contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance angiography in the early period after kidney transplantation.

Our objective was to evaluate the usefulness of three-dimensional (3-D) contrast-enhanced (CE) magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) to assess renal parenchyma, arterial inflow stenosis, and peritransplant fluid collections in the early period after kidney transplantation (KT). Between January 2010 and April 2011, we examined a consecutive series of 144 renal transplants using 3-D CE MRA at 14 days after KT. MRA showed parenchyma infarctions (n = 17, 11.8%), arterial inflow stenoses (n = 23, 16%), lymphoceles (n = 14, 9.7%), and hematomas (n = 6, 4.2%). The degree of renal transplant artery inflow stenosis was graded qualitatively based on diameter criterion; <50% = mild, 50% to 70% = moderate, and >70% = severe in 10 (6.9%), 5 (3.5%), and 8 (5.6%) subjects, respectively. The study recipients were divided into 3 groups according to the degree of renal artery inflow stenosis (group I: normal; group II: mild and moderate, <70%; group III: severe, >70%). Among group III patients who underwent digital subtraction angiography, 5 had percutaneous transluminal angioplasty or stenting performed after 1 month. Their mean resume creatinine levels at 1, 6, and 12 months after transplantation were not significantly different from those in the other groups (P = .391, .447, .110). The prevalence of graft loss (n = 2) was high in group III (P = .012), although the frequency of acute rejection episodes was not different among the groups (P = .890). The incidences of renal parenchyma infarction, peritransplant fluid collection and arterial inflow stenosis were unexpectedly high in the early period after KT. Thus, 3-D CE MRA provided a rapid global assessment of the renal parenchyma, transplant arterial system, and peritransplant fluid collection that can be helpful to detect or exclude many causes of renal transplant dysfunction.

Interleukin 22 polymorphisms and papillary thyroid cancer.

BACKGROUND: IL22RA1 (Interleukin 22 receptor-alpha 1), a member of the class II cytokine receptor family, mediates diverse biologic activities and appears to be important in pathogen defense, wound healing, and tissue reorganization. Polymorphisms in genes encoding inflammatory cytokines are associated with increased cancer risk. AIM: The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between the single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) in the IL22 and IL22RA1 and papillary thyroid cancer (PTC), and to assess the relationship between the SNP in the IL22 and IL22RA1 and the clinical parameters of PTC. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Study enrolled experimental group of 94 PTC patients and 213 controls. PTC patients were grouped and compared for clinical PTC parameters. One promoter SNP of IL22, -429C/T (rs2227485), and one SNP of IL22RA1, Arg518Gly (rs3795299) were analyzed using direct sequencing. Genetic data were analyzed using Helixtree, SNPAnalyzer Pro, SNPStats, and Haploview. RESULTS: A SNP in IL22 (rs2227485) was significantly associated with PTC (codominant2 model [C/C vs T/T], odds ratio (OR) 2.39, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.21-4.71, p=0.012; dominant model, OR 1.89, 95% CI 1.08-3.31, p=0.022). The allele T frequency of rs2227485 in IL22 was also associated with PTC (OR 1.59, 95% CI 1.13-2.25, p=0.009). According to clinical parameters, rs2227485 of IL22 was associated with number of cancers (dominant model, OR 3.03, 95% CI 1.02-9.01, p=0.035). By haplotype analysis, TG was associated with PTC (codominant model, OR 1.52, 95% CI 1.07-2.16, p=0.019; dominant model, OR 1.91, 95% CI 1.13- 3.24, p=0.015). Genotype and allele analysis of rs3795299 in IL22RA1 showed no significant differences between PTC patients and controls. CONCLUSION: The rs2227485 SNP in IL22 might be associated with the risk and the multifocality of PTC.

Percolated pore networks of oxygen plasma-activated multi-walled carbon nanotubes for fast response, high sensitivity capacitive humidity sensors.

We report on the preparation of capacitive-type relative humidity sensors incorporating plasma-activated multi-wall carbon nanotube (p-MWCNT) electrodes and on their performance compared with existing commercial technology. Highly open porous conductive electrodes, which are almost impossible to obtain with conventional metal electrodes, are fabricated by spray-depositing MWCNT networks on a polyimide layer. Oxygen plasma activation of the MWCNTs is also explored to improve the water adsorption of the MWCNT films, by introducing oxygen-containing functional groups on the CNT surface. Polyimide humidity sensors with optimized p-MWCNT network electrodes exhibit exceptionally fast response times (1.5 for adsorption and 2 s for desorption) and high sensitivity (0.75 pF/% RH). These results may be partially due to their percolated pore structure being more accessible for water molecules, expending the diffusion of moisture to the polyimide sensing film, and partially due to the oxygenated surface of p-MWCNT films, allocating more locations for adsorption or attraction of water molecules to contribute to the sensitivity.

Use of antimicrobial agents in aquaculture.

The aquaculture industry has grown dramatically, and plays an important role in the world's food supply chain. Antimicrobial resistance in bacteria associated with food animals receives much attention, and drug use in aquaculture is also an important issue. There are many differences between aquatic and terrestrial management systems, such as the methods used for administration of drugs. Unique problems are related to the application of drugs in aquatic environments. Residual drugs in fish products can affect people who consume them, and antimicrobials released into aquatic environments can select for resistant bacteria. Moreover, these antimicrobial-resistant bacteria, or their resistance genes, can be transferred to humans. To decrease the risks associated with the use of antimicrobials, various regulations have been developed. In addition, it is necessary to prevent bacterial diseases in aquatic animals by vaccination, to improve culture systems, and to monitor the amount of antimicrobial drugs used and the prevalence of antimicrobial-resistant bacteria.

Association between a promoter polymorphism (rs2192752, -1028A/C) of interleukin 1 receptor, type I (IL1R1) and location of papillary thyroid carcinoma in a Korean population.

The interleukin 1 receptor, type I (IL1R1) is important in the pathogenesis of cancer. We investigated whether single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of IL1R1 contribute to the development of papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC), in addition to the clinicopathological features such as the size, number, location, extrathyroidal invasion and metastasis of PTC. Three promoter SNPs (rs949963 -615G/A, rs2192752 -1028A/C and rs3917225 -1099A/G) in IL1R1 were genotyped using direct sequencing in 118 patients with PTC and 347 controls. The odds ratio (OR), 95% confidence interval (CI) and P value were analysed using SNPStats and SNPAnalyzer Pro. For the exact results, Fisher's exact test and Bonferroni correction (P(c)) were performed. The three promoter SNPs of IL1R1 were not associated with PTC development. For the clinicopathological features of PTC, rs2192752 was associated with location (one lobe versus both lobes): dominant model, OR = 3.11, 95% CI = 1.39-6.96, P(c) = 0.015; log-additive model, OR = 2.79, 95% CI = 1.38-5.66, P(c) = 0.0087. The C allele frequency of rs2192752 was higher in the both lobes group (28.0%) than the one lobe group (12.3%) (OR = 2.77, 95% CI = 1.40-5.48, P(c) = 0.009). However, rs949963 and rs3917225 were not correlated with clinicopathological features including location of PTC. The IL1R1 promoter SNP rs2192752 may contribute to the location of PTC, and the C allele of rs2192752 may be a risk factor for the development of PTC in both lobes.

Detection of CC17 Enterococcus faecium in dogs and a comparison with human isolates.

Enterococcus faecium strains of clonal complex (CC) 17 were isolated from domestic dogs. The strains were more prevalent in infectious isolates than in colonized isolates, suggesting that strains of the CC17 lineage may have an advantage in causing infections in dogs. The pulsed field gel electrophoresis patterns of some dog and human isolates were over 90% similar. However, antimicrobial resistance patterns and virulence factors were not identical, which might reflect different use of antimicrobials in veterinary medicine or in host specificity.

Analysis of etching mechanism and etched slope control of silicon for nanoimprinting lithography.

In the nanoimprint lithography (NIL) process, profile control of imprint masters is a very important task. Therefore, we attempted to control the etched slope of imprint masters as a function of adding O2 to CF4 plasma. Etched profile mechanisms and relationships between the etch kinetics and plasma chemistry were explored using zero-dimensional-based modeling. O2 flow rate increased to 24 sccm, the Si etch rate increased in the range of 186-393 nm/min, while the etch rate rapidly decreased as the O2 flow rate increases beyond 24 sccm. Meanwhile, change in the etch rate of SiO2 followed a similar tendency as the etch rate of Si as a function of O2 flow rate in the CF4/O2 mixing gases. The Si and SiO2 etch rate were expected to be closely dependent on the F radical intensity in CF4/O2 mixing gases. Moreover, the results of simulated normalized lateral etch critical dimension (NLECD) are in agreement with the measured NLECD as a function of O2 flow rate in the CF4/O2 mixing gases.

Mathematical models for biomass in membrane-BNR process for wastewater treatment.

The equation of biomass is related to the mass-balance equation of substrate. This equation of substrate is expressed according to a model using the Monod equation, which indicates some limits for calculating the amounts of VSS in the MBR process. Some degradation of biomass which is caused by long SRT might result in the generation of substrate based on COD. Research was conducted by lab-scale tests with two membrane-BNR (Biological Nutrients Removal) processes. These were composed of multi-reactors as anaerobic, anoxic, aerobic tank and oxygen exhauster. The aerobic tank was also divided into 3 reactors, which were oxic for nitrification, oxic-media containing fluidized sponge typed media for simultaneous nitrification and denitrification, and oxic-membrane for submerged membrane. This membrane-BNR process could remove most of the organics, suspended solids and nutrient substances like nitrogen thus satisfying the reuse guidelines issued by the Korean Ministry of Environment. The value measured of VSS (X(v)) through the experiment with SRT of 35 days was similar to the biomass using the conventional equation while the one with SRT of 60 days was close to the concentration of VSS calculated by a revised equation which considered the biomass degraded with long SRT.

Economical and technical efficiencies evaluation of full scale piggery wastewater treatment BNR plants.

A method evaluating the economic efficiency of piggery waste treatment plant based on kinetics for nitrogen removal performances is executed in this study and five full scale plants were evaluated, monitored intensively during one year under steady-state conditions. The performance data from those surveyed plants were recalculated by first-order kinetic equation instead of the Monod's equation, and the nitrogen removal kinetics related with COD/TKN ratios. Two plants adapting two extreme strategies for pre treatment, 'excess phase separation', and 'minimum phase separation', were evaluated by the assessment of life cycle cost (LCC). Although the compared two plants use an opposite strategy to each other, similar evaluation results are deduced by nitrogen removal efficiencies and operational and construction costs. But the proportions of constituent elements are as different as two opposite strategies, so electrical and construction costs are inversely proportional to chemical costs and operational costs respectively.

A cell culturing system that integrates the cell loading function on a single platform and evaluation of the pulsatile pumping effect on cells.

In this paper, we present a novel microfluidic system with pulsatile cell storing, cell-delivering and cell culturing functions on a single PDMS platform. For this purpose, we have integrated two reservoirs, a pulsatile pumping system containing two soft check valves, which were fabricated by in situ photopolymerization, six switch valves, and three cell culture chambers all developed through a simple and rapid fabrication process. The sample volume delivered per stroke was 120 nl and the transported volume was linearly related to the pumping frequency. We have investigated the effect of the pulsatile pneumatic micropumping on the cells during transport. For this purpose, we pumped two types of cell suspensions, one containing human breast adenocarcinoma cells (MCF-7) and the other mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) derived from bone marrow. The effect of pulsatile pumping on both cell types was examined by short and long-term culture experiments. Our results showed that the characteristics of both cells were maintained; they were not damaged by the pumping system. Evaluations were carried out by morphological inspection, viability assay and immunophenotyping analysis. The delivered MCF-7 cells and hMSCs spread and proliferated onto the gelatin coated cell culture chamber. This total micro cell culture system can be applied to cell-based high throughput screening and for co-culture of different cells with different volume.

A high yield of fetal nucleated red blood cells isolated using optimal osmolality and a double-density gradient system.

OBJECTIVES: To increase the yield of fetal nucleated red blood cells (NRBCs) from maternal blood using a discontinuous Percoll gradient and to determine the effects of osmolality on NRBC yield. METHODS: Fetal NRBCs were isolated from combined umbilical cord blood and adult female blood, or from maternal blood using single or double Percoll gradients with different osmolalities. Magnetic activated cell sorting was used to enrich isolated NRBCs, and morphological differentiation was performed with Kleihauer-Betke stain. We also isolated fetal NRBCs from 25 10 mL samples of maternal blood and determined fetal sex by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), using X-Y probes. RESULTS: For single-density Percoll columns, the greatest number of NRBCs was isolated using 280 mOsm/kg H(2)O with 1.077 g/mL Percoll and 520 mOsm/kg H(2)O with 1.119 g/mL Percoll. Significantly more fetal NRBCs were isolated with double Percoll density gradients than with double-Histopaque gradients (p = 0.043). FISH analysis on NRBC in 25 cases correctly identified 15 male and 9 female euploid fetuses and one Trisomy 21 fetus. CONCLUSION: The NRBC enrichment method we present requires less maternal blood and yields more NRBCs compared to previous methods.

Peripheral ossifying fibroma in the oral cavity: CT and MR findings.

We report a case of peripheral ossifying fibroma arising from the anterior oral cavity in a 12-year-old boy. CT and MR scans showed a large exophytic soft tissue mass overlying the anterior hard palate and maxillary alveolar ridge. The tumour revealed peripheral calcification without adjacent bone changes.

Posterior circulation ischemic stroke in Korean population.

To understand the characteristics of posterior circulation ischemic stroke (PCS) in the Korean population better, we retrospectively reviewed the data from the Hallym Stroke Registry (HSR). We analyzed the demographic features, risk factors, stroke subtypes, lesion distributions and clinical outcomes of 591 consecutive patients with PCS, enrolled in HSR between January 1996 and July 2002. PCS was 39.8% of all ischemic strokes. Mean age of PCS patients was 63.4 years and 55.7% were men. Hypertension was the most common risk factor (69.9%). However, potential cardioembolic sources were found only in 11.0%. The most frequent stroke subtype was large artery disease (50.0%), followed by small vessel disease (33.8%). Only 5.2% of patients were classified as affected with cardioembolism. The most common location of infarcts was in the middle territory (36.5%), followed by distal (28.1%), proximal (19.0%), and multiple territories (16.4%). The hospital mortality rate (4.1%) and discharge outcome of PCS were comparable with those of the anterior circulation stroke (ACS). In conclusion, the etiology and lesion topography of PCS in the Korean population appeared to be different from those of the Caucasians.