Joint Association of Hard of Hearing and Handgrip Strength with Falls in the Older Adults: A Cross-sectional Analysis of Data from the Korean Longitudinal Study of Aging / 대한스포츠의학회지

Purpose@#This study aimed to confirm the joint association of hard of hearing and handgrip strength with falls among Koreans aged 65 years and above. @*Methods@#This cross-sectional study was based on the 2020 Korean Longitudinal Study of Aging data and included 4,372 participants who completed a falls-related questionnaire. Grip strength was measured, and hearing status was self-reported. Multivariate logistic regression assessed associations between hearing status, handgrip strength, and falls. Analyses were adjusted for variables such as age, sex, body mass index, education level, and medical history. @*Results@#The study found a significant association between being hard of hearing and increased odds of falls (odds ratio [OR], 2.73; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.56–4.78). Additionally, individuals with low handgrip strength had higher odds of falls (OR, 1.70; 95% CI, 0.88–3.31) than those with normal handgrip strength. Among individualswho were hard of hearing, the group with normal handgrip strength showed 28% lower odds of falls (OR, 0.72; 95% CI, 0.18–2.87), although this result did not reach statistical significance. @*Conclusion@#These findings highlight the high fall odds associated with being hard of hearing and suggest that handgrip strength may have a potential protective effect in individuals aged 65 years and older. Our study contributes to an increased understanding of risk factors for falls in older adults and emphasizes the need to address sensory impairment and muscle strength in prevention efforts. Future studies must validate and extend these findings to improve quality of life and reduce fall-related injuries in older adults.

Analyzing the characteristics of mission statements in Korean medical schools based on the Korean Doctor’s Role framework / 한국의학교육

Purpose@#This study assessed the alignment between Korean medical schools’ mission statements (MSs) and Korean Doctor’s Role (KDR) domains, considering school characteristics. @*Methods@#We analyzed the South Korean medical school’s MS characteristics using a mixed-methods approach. Quantitative analysis preprocessed MS text data to identify concept words, while qualitative content analysis categorized information into predefined KDR domains and extracted themes from other parts. @*Results@#At the KDR domain level, “social accountability” was the most frequent, followed by “education and research” and “patient care,” while “professionalism” had the least frequency. At the competency level, the most frequent domains were “involvement in public and global health initiatives,” while “self-regulation based on professional leadership” and “professionalism and self-management” were not present. @*Conclusion@#The study found that the majority of MSs had a homogeneous pattern and included traditional themes. Medical schools should evaluate and incorporate missing elements in their MSs to reflect the institution’s own purpose and current societal needs.

Spatial and temporal trends in food security during the COVID-19 pandemic in Asia Pacific countries: India, Indonesia, Myanmar, and Vietnam

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES@#The economic recession caused by the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic disproportionately affected poor and vulnerable populations globally. Better uunderstanding of vulnerability to shocks in food supply and demand in the Asia Pacific region is needed. @*SUBJECTS/METHODS@#Using secondary data from rapid assessment surveys during the pandemic response (n = 10,420 in mid-2020; n = 6,004 in mid-2021) in India, Indonesia, Myanmar, and Vietnam, this study examined the risk factors for reported income reduction or job loss in mid-2021 and the temporal trend in food security status (household food availability, and market availability and affordability of essential items) from mid-2020 to mid-2021. @*RESULTS@#The proportion of job loss/reduced household income was highest in India (60.4%) and lowest in Indonesia (39.0%). Urban residence (odds ratio [OR] range, 2.20-4.11; countries with significant results only), female respondents (OR range, 1.40–1.69), engagement in daily waged labor (OR range, 1.54–1.68), and running a small trade/business (OR range, 1.66–2.71) were significantly associated with income reduction or job loss in three out of 4 countries (allP< 0.05). Food stock availability increased significantly in 2021 compared to 2020 in all four countries (OR range, 1.91–4.45) (all P < 0.05). Availability of all essential items at markets increased in India (OR range, 1.45–3.99) but decreased for basic foods, hygiene items, and medicine in Vietnam (OR range, 0.81–0.86) in 2021 compared to 2020 (all P < 0.05). In 2021, the affordability of all essential items significantly improved in India (OR range, 1.18–3.49) while the affordability of rent, health care, and loans deteriorated in Indonesia (OR range, 0.23–0.71) when compared to 2020 (all P < 0.05). @*CONCLUSIONS@#Long-term social protection programs need to be carefully designed and implemented to address food insecurity among vulnerable groups, considering each country’s market conditions, consumer food purchasing behaviors, and financial support capacity.

Risk Factors for the Severity of Complications in Minimally Invasive Total Gastrectomy for Gastric Cancer: a Retrospective Cohort Study

Purpose@#Minimally invasive gastrectomy is a promising surgical method with well-known benefits, including reduced postoperative complications. However, for total gastrectomy of gastric cancers, this approach does not significantly reduce the risk of complications. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate the incidence and risk factors for the severity of complications associated with minimally invasive total gastrectomy for gastric cancer. @*Materials and Methods@#The study included 392 consecutive patients with gastric cancer who underwent either laparoscopic or robotic total gastrectomy between 2011 and 2019.Clinicopathological and operative characteristics were assessed to determine the features related to postoperative complications after minimally invasive total gastrectomy. Binomial and multinomial logistic regression models were used to identify the risk factors for overall complications and mild and severe complications, respectively. @*Results@#Of 103 (26.3%) patients experiencing complications, 66 (16.8%) and 37 (9.4%) developed mild and severe complications, respectively. On multivariate multinomial regression analysis, independent predictors of severe complications included obesity (OR, 2.56; 95% CI, 1.02−6.43; P=0.046), advanced stage (OR, 2.90; 95% CI, 1.13−7.43; P=0.026), and more intraoperative bleeding (OR, 1.04; 95% CI, 1.02−1.06; P=0.001). Operation time was the only independent risk factor for mild complications (OR, 1.06; 95% CI, 1.001−1.13; P=0.047). @*Conclusions@#The risk factors for mild and severe complications were associated with surgery, indicating surgical difficulty. Surgeons should be aware of these potential risks that are related to the severity of complications so as to reduce surgery-related complications after minimally invasive total gastrectomy for gastric cancer.

Lamina Cribrosa Changes after Laser In Situ Keratomileusis in Myopic Eyes

PURPOSE: To determine deep optic nerve head structure changes after transient intraocular pressure elevation during laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) for myopia. METHODS: Enhanced depth imaging-optical coherence tomography was performed in each myopic eye that underwent LASIK surgery. Enhanced depth imaging-optical coherence tomography images were created at postoperative 1 day, 1 week, 2 weeks, and 1 month. Lamina cribrosa (LC) thickness, LC depth and prelaminar thickness at the superior, middle and inferior portions of the optic nerve head were measured by two investigators. RESULTS: Forty eyes in 40 patients were included in the present study. During follow-up, there were no significant differences in prelaminar thickness or LC depth. The LC demonstrated increased thickness at postoperative 1 day at all three locations (superior, middle, and inferior) (p < 0.001, p < 0.001, p < 0.001, respectively). However, no significant changes were observed at postoperative 1 week, 2 weeks, and 1 month. CONCLUSIONS: The LC thickness could increase at 1 day after LASIK surgery. However, the thickness will gradually return to baseline morphology. Temporary intraocular pressure increase during LASIK does not appear to induce irreversible LC thickness changes.

A Case of Congenital Glaucoma in Associated with Nail-patella Syndrome

PURPOSE: To report a case of congenital glaucoma associated with nail-patella syndrome. CASE SUMMARY: A 20-day-old female was referred to our clinic for bilateral intraocular pressure (IOP) elevation and treatment of corneal opacities. Her IOP was 25 mmHg and 30 mmHg in the right and left eyes, respectively. After a diagnosis of congenital glaucoma, bilateral trabeculotomy was performed under general anesthesia. On the first postoperative day, the IOP was 12 mmHg in the right eye and 10 mmHg in the left eye, and remained stable thereafter. The infant was the second of fraternal twins (birth weight of 2.42 kg) and had no family history of any particular disease. During the regular checkup, she was referred to an orthopedic clinic for disorders of the elbow and knee. She presented with a dystrophic thumbnail, patella hypoplasia, elbow hypoplasia, and bilateral triangular protrusions of the lateral iliac crest (iliac horn). Based on the above findings, typical nail-patella syndrome was diagnosed and a mutation in the LMX1B gene was detected. CONCLUSIONS: If glaucoma patients have nail deformities or musculoskeletal abnormalities, nail-patella syndrome should be suspected and a multidisciplinary approach should be conducted.

Prenatal diagnosis of an unbalanced translocation between chromosome Y and chromosome 15 in a female fetus

We report the prenatal diagnosis of an unbalanced translocation between chromosome Y and chromosome 15 in a female fetus. Cytogenetic analysis of parental chromosomes revealed that the mother had a normal 46,XX karyotype, whereas the father exhibited a 46,XY,der(15)t(Y;15) karyotype. We performed cytogenetic analysis of the father's family as a result of the father and confirmed the same karyotype in his mother and brother. Fluorescence in situ hybridization and quantitative fluorescent-polymerase chain reaction analysis identified the breakpoint and demonstrated the absence of the SRY gene in female members. Thus, the proband inherited this translocation from the father and grandmother. This makes the prediction of the fetal phenotype possible through assessing the grandmother. Therefore, we suggest that conventional cytogenetic and molecular cytogenetic methods, in combination with family history, provide informative results for prenatal diagnosis and prenatal genetic counseling.

Osteogenic and adipogenic differentiation of rabbit adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells in vitro / 中国组织工程研究

BACKGROUND:Adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells have the ability to self-renew and have pluripotent potential under specific conditions in vitro, which have broad application prospects in clinical practice. However, isolation and culture of adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells stil appear to have many difficulties and shortcomings. OBJECTIVE:To isolate and culture rabbit adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells in vitro in order to study their morphology, cellsurface markers and biological properties as wel as to investigate the osteogenic and adipogenic potentials of adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells in vitro. METHODS:Primary adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells were isolated from the subcutaneous adipose tissue of posterior cervical region from New Zealand white rabbits and digested by 0.1%col agenase I. The cells were passaged and amplified by the trypsin digestion. The passage 4 adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells were induced to differentiate after exposure to adipogenic or osteogenic medium. The oil red O staining, alkaline phosphatase and alizarin red staining were used to detect the results. The cellviability was detected by the cellcounting kit 8 method to drawn the growth curve. cellsurface markers were examined using flow cytometry. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:The adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells isolated from the subcutaneous adipose tissue of rabbits exhibited a fusiform adherent growth in a vortex pattern, and had a strong capability of proliferation that could be passaged stably to the 10th generation. Flow cytometry results showed that the cells highly expressed CD29, CD90, CD44, but lowly expressed CD45 and CD34. After adipogenic induction, the adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells were positive for oil red O staining;after osteogenic induction, the cells were both positive for alkaline phosphatase and alizarin red staining. These findings suggest that the adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells were successful y isolated and cultured from the subcutaneous adipose tissue of rabbits, and these cells are pluripotent with the potential to differentiate into adipocytes and osteoblasts, which are expected to be ideal seed cells for bone tissue engineering.

The Recurrent Pregnancy Loss Associated with a Female Carrier of a Structural Chromosome Rearrangement

Inversion, one of the balanced rearrangements, usually does not lead to phenotypic abnormalities; all genetic information exists in the proper amount, merely in a different order or in an abnormal location. However, offspring of an inversion carrier is at risk of chromosomal imbalance because an inversion loop can be formed during crossing-over of the paternal and the maternal chromosomes in meiosis. We report a 38-year-old woman with inversion and balanced translocation and her fetus with unusual rearrangement causing chromosomal imbalance. We performed conventional cytogenetic analysis, MLPA, and subtelomeric FISH in the cells of the embryo. The results showed that the distal portion of chromosome 13q was added to the terminal portion of chromosome 9p during crossing-over. Therefore, the final karyotype of the fetus was 46,XY,rec(9)t(9;13)(p22;q32)inv(9)(p12q13)mat, confirmed using molecular-cytogenetic analyzing tools.

Unbalanced translocation der(8)t(8:13)(p23.3;q32.1)dn identified by array CGH and subtelomeric FISH in a patient with mental retardation

Molecular cytogenetics allows the identification of unknown chromosome rearrangements, which is clinically useful in patients with mental retardation and/or development delay. We report on a 31-year- old woman with severe mental retardation, behavior development delay, and verbal performance delay. Conventional cytogenetic analysis showed a 46,XX,add(8)(p23.3) karyotype. To determine the origin of this unbalanced translocation, we performed array CGH and subtelomeric FISH. The results showed that the distal region of chromosome 8p was added to the terminal of chromosome 13q. This was confirmed the final result of 46,XX,der(8)t(8:13)(p23.3;q32.1)dn.

A Case of a 46,XX Male with SRY Gene

46,XX male is a rare sex constitution characterized by the development of bilateral testis in persons who lack a Y chromosome. Manifestations of 46,XX males are usually hypogonadism, gynecomastia, azoospermia, and hyalinations of seminiferous tubules. The incidence of XX male reversal is approximately 1 in 20,000 male neonates. The SRYgene is located at the short arm of the Y chromosome(Yp11.31) and codes for testis determining factor in humans. Here, the patient, who presented with a normal male phenotype, was referred for azoospermia. Conventional cytogenetic analysis showed a 46,XX karyotype. Quantitative fluorescent polymerase chain reaction(QF-PCR) and Multiplex PCR studies identified SRY gene. And, Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization(FISH) confirmed the SRY gene on the distal short arm of chromosome X. We identified the SRY gene on the distal short arm of chromosome X by molecular cytogenetic and molecular analyses. Therefore, molecular-cytogenetics and molecular studies were proved to be clinically useful adjunctive tool to conventional prenatal cytogenetic analysis.

Rapid detection of aneuploidy using FISH in uncultured amniocytes for prenatal diagnosis : 8-year experience

PURPOSE: FISH is suggested as a useful tool for rapid detection of specific aneuploidy in uncultured amniocytes abnormality in interphase nucleus. In this study, we are going to share our experience using FISH in prenatal diagnosis and suggest the criteria for the diagnosis of aneuploidy by analyzing the results of FISH test. METHODS: From January, 1999 to May, 2006, 8,613 tests in amniotic fluids obtained from 7,893 pregnant women were performed by using FISH for prenatal diagnosis of trisomy 21, trisomy 18 and trisomy 13. The indications of chromosome study were a screen positive for Down syndrome or Edwards syndrome in maternal serum marker screening test and an advanced maternal age (> or =35 years old). RESULTS: We have the 8,502 informative results from 8,613 tests (98.7%) which is submitted our criteria and the sensitivity is 98.2%. CONCLUSION: FISH on uncultured amniocytes is a rapid, clinically useful tool for prenatal diagnosis, with informative specimens being highly accurate. But the limitation of FISH is both expensive and labor-intensive.