Transmissibility of the Campaign for Colorectal Cancer Awareness in Korea Among Twitter Users

PURPOSE: The Korean Society of Coloproctology holds its annual colorectal awareness month every September. This study analyzed the users and the contents of Korean tweets regarding colorectal cancer and estimated the transmissibility of the awareness campaign among Twitter users. METHODS: Prospective data collection was employed to accumulate Korean tweets containing the keywords "colorectal cancer," "colorectal cancer awareness campaign," "gold ribbon," and/or "love handle," from August 1 to September 30, 2014. Twitter users and contents were analyzed, and the credibility of information-sharing tweets throughout the study period was evaluated. RESULTS: In total, 10,387 tweets shared by 1,452 unique users were analyzed. As for users, 57.8% were individuals whereas 5.8% were organizations/communities; spambots accounted for a considerable percentage (36.4%). As for content, most tweets were spam (n = 8,736, 84.1%), repetitively advertising unverified commercial folk remedies, followed by tweets that shared information (n = 1,304, 12.6%) and non-information (n = 347, 3.3%). In the credibility assessment, only 80.6% of the information-sharing tweets were medically correct. After spam tweets had been excluded, a significant increase was seen in the percentage of information-sharing tweets (77.1% to 81.1%, P = 0.045) during the awareness campaign month. CONCLUSION: Most Korean tweets regarding colorectal cancer during the study months were commercial spam tweets; informative public tweets accounted for an extremely small percentage. The transmissibility of the awareness campaign among Twitter users was questionable at best. To expand the reach of credible medical information on colorectal cancer, public health institutions and organizations must pay greater attention to social media.

Interatrial septal thickness as a marker of structural and functional remodeling of the left atrium in patients with atrial fibrillation

BACKGROUND/AIMS: There have been reports that interatrial septal (IAS) thickness is increased in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). This study was performed to investigate whether IAS thickness determined by transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) represents the amount of left atrium (LA) structural and functional remodeling. METHODS: The study population consisted of 104 consecutive patients who underwent catheter ablation (CA) for AF (paroxysmal atrial fibrillation [PAF], 82; persistent atrial fibrillation [PeAF], 22). IAS thickness and left atrium volume (LAV) using TTE, and LA voltage (LAVOL) using 3-dimensional electroanatomical mapping system were assessed during sinus rhythm. RESULTS: IAS thickness was significantly correlated with maximal LAV (LAVmax) (r = 0.288, p = 0.003), mean LAVOL (r = -0.537, p or = 2) compared to other groups according to CHA2DS2-VASc score (p = 0.019). During a follow-up of 19.6 months, 23 subjects (22.1%; PAF, 17; PeAF, 6) had recurrence of arrhythmia. Univariate analysis showed that LAVmax, minimal LAV, mean LAVOL, LVEFtotal, LVEFactive, and IAS thickness were associated with recurrence of arrhythmia. However, on multivariate analysis, only mean LAVOL and LAEFactive were independent risk factors for recurrence. CONCLUSIONS: Although IAS thickness showed significant correlations with parameters for LA structural and functional remodeling, this parameter alone could not independently predict recurrence of arrhythmia after CA for AF.

Antiviral Activity of Hederasaponin B from Hedera helix against Enterovirus 71 Subgenotypes C3 and C4a

Enterovirus 71 (EV71) is the predominant cause of hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD). The antiviral activity of hederasaponin B from Hedera helix against EV71 subgenotypes C3 and C4a was evaluated in vero cells. In the current study, the antiviral activity of hederasaponin B against EV71 C3 and C4a was determined by cytopathic effect (CPE) reduction method and western blot assay. Our results demonstrated that hederasaponin B and 30% ethanol extract of Hedera helix containing hederasaponin B showed significant antiviral activity against EV71 subgenotypes C3 and C4a by reducing the formation of a visible CPE. Hederasaponin B also inhibited the viral VP2 protein expression, suggesting the inhibition of viral capsid protein synthesis.These results suggest that hederasaponin B and Hedera helix extract containing hederasaponin B can be novel drug candidates with broad-spectrum antiviral activity against various subgenotypes of EV71.

Antiviral Activity of Hederasaponin B from Hedera helix against Enterovirus 71 Subgenotypes C3 and C4a

Enterovirus 71 (EV71) is the predominant cause of hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD). The antiviral activity of hederasaponin B from Hedera helix against EV71 subgenotypes C3 and C4a was evaluated in vero cells. In the current study, the antiviral activity of hederasaponin B against EV71 C3 and C4a was determined by cytopathic effect (CPE) reduction method and western blot assay. Our results demonstrated that hederasaponin B and 30% ethanol extract of Hedera helix containing hederasaponin B showed significant antiviral activity against EV71 subgenotypes C3 and C4a by reducing the formation of a visible CPE. Hederasaponin B also inhibited the viral VP2 protein expression, suggesting the inhibition of viral capsid protein synthesis.These results suggest that hederasaponin B and Hedera helix extract containing hederasaponin B can be novel drug candidates with broad-spectrum antiviral activity against various subgenotypes of EV71.

A Case Report of Breast Cancer with Extensive Pulmonary Lymphovascular Tumor Emboli / 한국유방암학회지

We describe a patient with breast cancer who relapsed with an extensive pulmonary lymphovascular tumor embolism. A 38-year-old female, who previously received neoadjuvant chemotherapy and curative resection of breast cancer, underwent adjuvant chemotherapy and was referred to the emergency room because of sudden-onset pleuritic chest pain lasting for 10 days. Despite a trial of empirical antibiotics, the chest pain and the extent of consolidative lung lesion on chest radiographs rapidly aggravated. We performed an open lung biopsy to confirm the etiology. The histopathological review revealed a hemorrhagic infarction caused by lymphovascular tumor emboli from a metastatic breast carcinoma. Palliative first-line chemotherapy was administered, consisting of ixabepilone and capecitabine, and the lung lesion improved markedly.

A case of cutaneous acrometastasis in the right 5th finger tip by metastatic breast cancer / 대한내과학회지

Acral metastasis to the finger is a very rare phenomenon. We report herein a case of cutaneous acrometastasis to the right 5th finger tip in a 36-year-old woman with metastatic breast cancer. The patient underwent a right modified radical mastectomy for T3N3 invasive ductal carcinoma and received adjuvant chemotherapy and radiotherapy. After 2 years, she developed metastasis to the brain, bones, and lungs. She was found to have a growing tender mass on the tip of right 5th finger. A well-demarcated, soft tissue mass was identified on sonography. Under the clinical impression of a possible benign process, the nodule was surgically removed. The pathologic finding was consistent with metastatic breast cancer. Immunohistochemical staining for estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor, and HER2 were all negative, as in the primary tumor. Radiation was given to the finger tip and systemic chemotherapy with capecitabine was tried for systemic metastatic disease.

Colon Injury Caused by Coffee Enema / 대한소화기내시경학회지

Enema has been used to treat constipation. Injuries to colon and rectum during enema, whether mechanical, thermal, or chemical, can be life-threatening. Injudicious use of enema solutions not proven to be safe can also cause such injuries. We herewith report a case of colon injury caused by a coffee enema.

Time-Related Alterations of Endogenous Ouabain in DOCA-Salt Hypertensive Rats

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Controversy exists regarding the role of endogenous ouabain in the pathogenesis of DOCA-salt induced hypertension. The purpose of this study was to investigate the role of endogenous ouabain in the development of hypertension in DOCA-salt rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The mean blood pressure and heart rate were recorded in 1, 2 and 4 week old control and DOCA-salt treated rats. The endogenous levels of ouabain in the plasma, hypothalamus, pituitary and adrenal glands of the 1, 2 and 4 week old control and DOCA-salt treated rats were also measured using a radioimmunoassay. RESULTS: The mean blood pressures in the 2 and 4 week old DOCA-salt treated rats were significantly higher than those of the controls. There was no significant change in the heart rate between the DOCA-salt treated and control groups. In the 4 week old DOCA-salt treated rats, the endogenous level of ouabain in the adrenal glands was higher than that in the control rats, but this was only weakly significant. The endogenous level of ouabain in the hypothalamus was significantly higher in the 1 week old DOCA-salt treated rats than in the control, but this significance disappeared in the 2 and 4 week old DOCA-salt treated rats. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that the endogenous level of ouabain contributes to the development and maintenance of high blood pressure in DOCA-salt rats. Further studies will be required to elucidate the relationship between the endogenous level of ouabain and DOCA-salt hypertension.

Effects of Psychiatric Rehabilitation on the Number of Relapse, Number of Admission, Days of Hospitalization, and Direct Treatment Costs of Schizophrenic Patients: Two-Year Follow-up Study / 신경정신의학

OBJECTIVE: We evaluated the clinical efficacy of a comprehensive psychiatric rebabiliation of schizophrenia, including family psychoeducation,patient education,socail skills tranining,group psychotherapy,art therapy,and ocupational therapy. METHOD: From September 1993 to february 1995,173 chronic schizophrenics who met DSM-lV criteria and were discharged from a locked ward were assigned into the psychiatric rehabilitation service group(psychiatric rehabilitation group,n=46) or the customary out patient service group(out-patient group,n=127)prospectively,but not randomly. Assignment was based on preferences of patients and their relatives. Each subject included in the psychiatric rehabilitation group received twice weekly patient education,social skills training, family psychoeducation, group psychotherapy, art therapy, occupational therapy and maintenance chemotherapy during a 6-month period. Those in the out-patient group received individual supportive psychotherapy and maintenance chemotherapy according to their clinical needs for 10-20 minutes once per week. After entry into the study,all subjects were assessed for the number of readmission,days of hospitalization,and the direct treatment costs through the first and second year of follow-ups. These outcome variables were also compared pre-and post-2 years at the time point of entry into the study. Aftercare chemotherapy on a weekly to monthly basis continued for the remailder of the two year follow-up period. RESULTS: With regard to the mean number of hospital admissions per vear,the mean days of hospitalization per year, and the direct treatment costs per year, psychiatric rehabilitation broup had significantly decreased all clinical outcomes 2 years after compared with before receiving psychiatric rehabilitation. But there were no significant differences in the all clinical outcomes between between before and after study intake in the out-patient group. For the number of relapse regardless of drug compliance, 4 patients(9%) during first year and 14 patients(30%) during second year were relapsed in the 46 subjects of the psychiatric rehabiliation group. In contrast, 75 patients(59%) during first year and 90 patients(71%) during second year relapsed in the out-patient group. When considering the effect of drug noncompliance to relapse,4(9%) and 14 patients(30%) were relapsed while on medication respectively during the first and second year in the 46 of the psychiatric rehabilitation group, vs. 27(34%) of 79 patients on medication during the first year and 31(46%) of 68 patients on medication during the second year were relapsed in the out-patient group. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that the comprehensive psychiatric rehabiliation can be useful therapeutic intervention both to improve the clinical outcomes of schizophrenic patients and to reduce the economical burden of their relatives.