The Effects of Attention Problems on Psychosocial Functioning in Childhood Brain Tumor Survivors: A 2-Year Postcraniospinal Irradiation Follow-up.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the psychosocial outcomes and impact of attention problems in survivors of pediatric brain tumor. STUDY DESIGN: The survivors' cognitive functioning was measured using the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children. The Child Behavior Checklist-Attention Problems scale was used to screen for attention problems, and participants were classified as having attention problems (n=15) or normal attention (n=36). Psychosocial functioning was examined with the Korean Personality Rating scale for Children (K-PRC) at precraniospinal radiation and at 2-year follow-up. RESULTS: The attention problem group showed significantly higher depression and externalizing symptoms (delinquency, hyperactivity) and more significant impairment in family relationships than did the normal attention group at baseline. At follow-up, the attention problem group demonstrated significantly more delinquency and impaired family and social relationships. With the K-PRC scores, except for the somatization, social relationship subscale, there were significant differences between groups, but not in terms of treatment by time interaction or within time. At follow-up, multiple linear regressions showed that age at diagnosis significantly predicted K-PRC somatization (B=-1.7, P=0.004) and social relationships (B=-1.7, P=0.004), baseline full-scale intelligence quotient predicted K-PRC depression (B=-0.4, P=0.032) and somatization (B=-0.3, P=0.015), and attention problems at baseline predicted K-PRC depression (B=-15.2, P=0.036) and social relationships (B=-11.6, P=0.016). CONCLUSION: Pediatric brain tumor survivors, in particular, patients with attention problems, had worse psychosocial functioning at baseline and follow-up. Attention problems at baseline need to be carefully evaluated in assessing psychosocial functioning of pediatric brain tumor survivors.

Ultrasensitive detection of microRNAs using nanoengineered micro gold shells and laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight MS.

We report on a simple, fast, and highly sensitive method that allows femtomolar detection of microRNAs (miRNAs) without the need of polymerase chain reaction using a nanoengineered micro gold shell (µAuS) and laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight (LDI-TOF) mass spectrometry (MS). Target miRNAs are selectively captured by a chemically decorated gold chip and a µAuS, which carries with it a large number of small molecules, termed amplification tags (Am-tags). Subsequent LDI-TOF MS analysis allows a highly amplified mass signal of Am-tags for the presence of target miRNAs in a sample, resulting in ultrasensitive detection.

Characterization of the complete mitochondrial genome of Melibe japonica (Eliot, 1913) collected from Korean water.

Melibe japonica is the rarely identified nudibranch species in Korean and Japanese waters. Total mitochondrial genome of M. japonica collected from the coastal water of Busan, Korea, was determined by the bioinformatic assembly of the contigs generated by Illumina Miseq platform. The circular complete mitochondrial genome of M. japonica was 13, 216 bp in length, which contains 13 proteins, 2 ribosomal RNAs, and 22 tRNAs. Mitochondrial gene order of M. japonica is considerably different from the mitochondrial genome of Melibe leonina in which 6 genes (ND1, COX2, CYTB, ND4L, ND5, and ND6) were differently located. Phylogenetic analysis with COI regions showed that M. japonica is most closely related to Melibe viridis. However, not all Melibe species formed a single clade based on the phylogenetic analysis by COI region and more mitochondrial genomes in this genus should be further studied to have a better knowledge of the evolutional relationship of the nudibranchs.

Methacholine bronchial provocation test in patients with asthma: serial measurements and clinical significance.

Background/Aims: The methacholine bronchial provocation test (MBPT) is used to detect and quantify airway hyper-responsiveness (AHR). Since improvements in the severity of asthma are associated with improvements in AHR, clinical studies of asthma therapies routinely use the change of airway responsiveness as an objective outcome. The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between serial MBPT and clinical profiles in patients with asthma. METHODS: A total of 323 asthma patients were included in this study. The MBPT was performed on all patients beginning at their initial diagnosis until asthma was considered controlled based on the Global Initiative for Asthma guidelines. A responder was defined by a decrease in AHR while all other patients were considered non-responders. RESULTS: A total of 213 patients (66%) were responders, while 110 patients (34%) were non-responders. The responder group had a lower initial PC20 (provocative concentration of methacholine required to decrease the forced expiratory volume in 1 second by 20%) and longer duration compared to the non-responder group. Members of the responder group also had superior qualities of life, compared to members of the non-responder group. Whole blood cell counts were not related to differences in PC20; however, eosinophil concentration was. No differences in sex, age, body mass index, smoking history, serum immunoglobulin E, or frequency of acute exacerbation were observed between responders and non-responders. Conclusions: The initial PC20, the duration of asthma, eosinophil concentrations, and quality-of-life may be useful variables to identify improvements in AHR in asthma patients.

[Spontaneously Resolving of Huge Simple Hepatic Cyst].

Simple hepatic cysts are common benign liver lesions that usually have no malignant capability. They are generally asymptomatic and are often found incidentally by abdominal imaging procedures. Treatment becomes necessary, however, when huge hepatic cysts cause symptoms and develop complications, such as hemorrhage, adjacent organ damage, and infection. Several therapeutic options have been performed for symptomatic and huge cysts, including the aspiration of cystic fluid, infusion of various sclerosing agents, and surgical intervention. The optimal management of huge hepatic cysts is controversial and each option has its complications and limitations. This paper reports a case of a 66-year-old woman diagnosed with a simple hepatic cyst 2 years earlier, who was referred to hospital due to abdominal pain. The diagnosis was a huge hepatic cyst with symptoms by abdominal imaging studies. During the follow-up period, the huge cysts resolved spontaneously without treatment.

Serum sickness reaction with skin involvement induced by bee venom injection therapy.

Bee venom injection therapy is an alternative treatment sometimes used for chronic inflammatory diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis and multiple sclerosis, to reduce pain. Several chemical components of bee venom have anti-inflammatory effects, and apitoxin, one of the mixed components, has been used for pain prevention therapy. However, there have been no large-scale investigations regarding the efficacy or side effects or apitoxin. In this study, a case of serum sickness reaction that developed after receiving bee venom injection therapy is reported.

Detection of enrofloxacin and its metabolite ciprofloxacin using gold nanoparticles and laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry.

This paper describes a new, simple, and sensitive method for detecting two fluoroquinolones: enrofloxacin and its metabolite ciprofloxacin, which are widely used as drugs for humans and animals. We utilized gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) and laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight (LDI-TOF) mass spectrometry (MS) with a matrix-free format. An antibody for the drug was immobilized on a chip based on self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) on gold, and AuNPs were decorated with the drug along with a large excess of small molecules, called amplification tags (Am-tags). In this strategy, target drugs in solution bound to the antibody on the chip compete with the AuNP-immobilized drugs. The presence of targets was verified by the amplified LDI-TOF MS signals of Am-tags on AuNPs.