ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Successful cryopreservation of bovine oocytes is very important for research and commercial applications. However, the survival and development rate of vitrified-thawed (VT) oocytes are lower than those of non-vitrified-thawed (non-VT) oocytes. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of adding hydroxypropyl cellulose (HPC) to the vitrification solution for bovine oocytes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: For vitrification, bovine metaphase II oocytes were pretreated with a solution containing 10% ethylene glycol supplemented with 0, 10, 50, or 100 ug/mL HPC for 5 min, exposed to a solution containing 30% ethylene glycol supplemented with 0, 10, 50, or 100 ug/mL HPC for 30 s, and then directly plunged into liquid nitrogen. RESULTS: The survival rate of oocytes was significantly higher in the 50 HPC group than in the 0, 10, and 100 HPC groups. The reactive oxygen species level was lower in the non-VT and 50 HPC groups than in the other groups. The mRNA levels of proapoptotic genes (Bax) were lower in the non-VT, 0, and 50 HPC groups than in the other groups. The mRNA levels of antiapoptotic genes (BCl2) were higher in the non-VT than in the other groups. The development rates of embryos (day 8) obtained via parthenogenetic activation (PA) were determined in the non-VT, 0 HPC, and 50 HPC groups. The cleavage rate was significantly higher in the non-VT group. CONCLUSION: Supplementation of vitrification solution with HPC improves the survival of VT bovine oocytes and the development capacity of embryos derived from these oocytes via PA. doi.org/10.54680/fr23110110212.
Subject(s)
Cryopreservation , Vitrification , Animals , Cattle , Cryopreservation/veterinary , Oocytes/physiology , Cryoprotective Agents/pharmacology , Dietary Supplements , Ethylene Glycols/pharmacologyABSTRACT
We describe the case of a 52-year-old male who presented with two episodes of acute exacerbations (AE) of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) during work, while suspending live chickens for slaughter. The patient was exposed to high levels of bioaerosols, including endotoxins and microorganisms. Endotoxins can induce bronchoconstriction and airway inflammation, and COPD patients are more vulnerable to airway infections caused by microorganisms inhaled with bioaerosols. This study suggests that a high level of bioaerosols may induce airway infections, resulting in acute exacerbations of COPD.
Subject(s)
Abattoirs , Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive , Male , Humans , Animals , Chickens , Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive/complications , Disease ProgressionABSTRACT
AIM: To assess the predictive value of preoperative residual mammographic microcalcifications for residual tumours after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) for breast cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This single-centre retrospective study included breast cancer patients who underwent NAC and demonstrated suspicious microcalcifications within or near the tumour bed on mammography from June 2015 to August 2018. The residual microcalcifications and remnant lesion on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were correlated with histopathological findings of residual tumours and immunohistochemical markers. RESULTS: A total of 96 patients were included. Ten patients achieved pathological complete response (pCR) and previous suspicious microcalcifications were associated with benign pathology in 10.4% (10/96) of the patients. In the remaining 86 patients who did not achieve pCR, 61.5% (59/96) of the residual microcalcifications were associated with invasive or in situ carcinoma and 28.1% (27/96) with benign pathology. Hormone receptor-positive (HR+) patients had the highest proportion of residual malignant microcalcifications compared to HR- patients (48.9% versus 13.5%, respectively; p=0.019). MRI correlated better than residual microcalcifications on mammography in predicting residual tumour extent in all subtypes (ICC=0.709 versus 0.365). MRI also showed higher correlation with residual tumour size for the HR-/HER2+ and HR-/HER2- subtype (ICC=0.925 and 0.876, respectively). CONCLUSION: The extent of microcalcifications on mammography after NAC did not correlate with the extent of residual cancer in 38.5% of women. Regardless of the extent of microcalcifications, residual tumour extent on MRI after NAC and molecular subtype could be an accurate tool in evaluating residual cancer after NAC.
Subject(s)
Antineoplastic Agents/therapeutic use , Breast Neoplasms/diagnosis , Breast/diagnostic imaging , Calcinosis/diagnosis , Mammography/methods , Preoperative Care/methods , Breast Neoplasms/drug therapy , Breast Neoplasms/surgery , Female , Humans , Middle Aged , Neoadjuvant TherapyABSTRACT
SETTING: The Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey is a national, population-based, cross-sectional surveillance programme.OBJECTIVE: 1) To investigate the prevalence of spontaneously healed pulmonary tuberculosis (SHPTB) on chest radiographs (CXRs) in South Korea, as well as its demographic and clinical associations, and 2) to determine the relationship between SHPTB and smoking.DESIGN: People with normal findings on CXRs (n = 24 190) and those with SHPTB (n = 1863) were compared in univariate, bivariate and multivariate analyses with respect to smoking and demographic and clinical factors.RESULTS: The prevalence of SHPTB was 7.2%. The proportion of patients with SHPTB tended to be higher in males, people of older age, ever smokers, as well as people with low body mass index and low education level. In bivariate analysis, after adjustments for age and sex, SHPTB was found more often among ex-smokers (P = 0.005) and current smokers (P = 0.024) than in non-smokers. Multivariate analyses revealed increased relative odds for SHPTB with increased age (P < 0.001), male sex (P < 0.001) and ex-smoker status (P = 0.016). Passive smoking was also significantly associated with SHPTB (P = 0.022).CONCLUSION: In addition to increasing the risk of active TB and negatively affecting the outcome of TB treatment, smoking is also associated with SHPTB, as detected on CXRs.
Subject(s)
Lung/diagnostic imaging , Radiography, Thoracic , Smoking/epidemiology , Tuberculosis, Pulmonary/epidemiology , Adult , Aged , Cross-Sectional Studies , Female , Humans , Logistic Models , Male , Middle Aged , Multivariate Analysis , Nutrition Surveys , Prevalence , Republic of Korea/epidemiology , Risk Factors , Tuberculosis, Pulmonary/diagnostic imagingABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To examine the relationship between high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) levels and lung function in a community-based cohort of South Korea.DESIGN: The Ansung-Ansan cohort database (an ongoing prospective study of a community-based population) was used in the analysis. We defined airway obstruction as the ratio between forced expiratory volume in 1 sec:forced vital capacity ratio (FEV1:FVC) of <95% of the predicted value for a healthy person. We also used the serum level of hs-CRP as a marker of inflammation. Multivariate analysis was performed with adjustment for the clinical characteristics of the participants.RESULTS: A total of 5528 individuals were eligible for the study. The average age was 55.1 years, and 47.8% were males. The prevalence of airway obstruction was 9.0%, and the mean hs-CRP level was 1.51 mg/dl. Serum hs-CRP levels increased with the severity of airway obstruction, and the latter worsened with an increase in the hs-CRP level. In multivariate analysis, as the hs-CRP level increased, FEV1 and FVC decreased. A higher FEV1:FVC ratio was associated with lower hs-CRP levels in males.CONCLUSION: Higher hs-CRP levels were associated with decreased FEV1 and FVC in a general population of Korea. The FEV1:FVC ratio decreased with an increase in the hs-CRP level in males.
Subject(s)
Airway Obstruction/epidemiology , C-Reactive Protein/analysis , Lung/physiopathology , Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive/epidemiology , Airway Obstruction/blood , Airway Obstruction/physiopathology , Biomarkers/blood , Female , Forced Expiratory Volume , Humans , Linear Models , Male , Middle Aged , Multivariate Analysis , Predictive Value of Tests , Prospective Studies , Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive/blood , Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive/physiopathology , Republic of Korea/epidemiology , Severity of Illness Index , Spirometry , Vital CapacityABSTRACT
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Assessment of the collateral status has been emphasized for appropriate treatment decisions in patients with acute ischemic stroke. The purpose of this study was to introduce a multiphase MRA collateral imaging method (collateral map) derived from time-resolved dynamic contrast-enhanced MRA and to verify the value of the multiphase MRA collateral map in acute ischemic stroke by comparing it with the multiphase collateral imaging method (MRP collateral map) derived from dynamic susceptibility contrast-enhanced MR perfusion. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From a prospectively maintained registry of acute ischemic stroke, MR imaging data of patients with acute ischemic stroke caused by steno-occlusive lesions of the unilateral ICA and/or the M1 segment of the MCA were analyzed. We generated collateral maps using dynamic signals from dynamic contrast-enhanced MRA and DSC-MRP using a Matlab-based in-house program and graded the collateral scores of the multiphase MRA collateral map and the MRP collateral map independently. Interobserver reliabilities and intermethod agreement between both collateral maps for collateral grading were tested. RESULTS: Seventy-one paired multiphase MRA and MRP collateral maps from 67 patients were analyzed. The interobserver reliabilities for collateral grading using multiphase MRA or MRP collateral maps were excellent (weighted κ = 0.964 and 0.956, respectively). The agreement between both collateral maps was also excellent (weighted κ = 0.884; 95% confidence interval, 0.819-0.949). CONCLUSIONS: We demonstrated that the dynamic signals of dynamic contrast-enhanced MRA could be used to generate multiphase collateral images and showed the possibility of the multiphase MRA collateral map as a useful collateral imaging method in acute ischemic stroke.
Subject(s)
Collateral Circulation , Magnetic Resonance Angiography/methods , Neuroimaging/methods , Stroke/diagnostic imaging , Aged , Brain Ischemia/diagnostic imaging , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Pilot ProjectsABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The management of a deceased donor in the intensive care unit before organ transplantation is important for the outcome of the recipient. Herein, we analyze the pre-transplant resuscitation factors managed before procurement that could influence graft function immediately after deceased-donor kidney transplantation (DDKT). METHODS: A total of 271 DDKTs performed at Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, Korea, from January 2009 to March 2016 were reviewed. We divided the patients into a delayed graft function (DGF) group and a non-DGF group, and compared postoperative outcomes between the 2 groups. We also analyzed the predisposing factors of DGF using multivariate analysis. RESULTS: A total of 36 cases developed DGF while 235 patients did not, and the demographic characteristics of the recipients in the two groups had no significant difference. Of the pre-transplant resuscitation factors, preoperative polyuria, the maximal levels of serum sodium and BUN, and transfer times were significantly higher in the DGF group (P < .001). In a multivariable analysis, preoperative polyuria (odds ratio 4.835, P = .036), elevated preoperative level of sodium (odds ratio 1.227, P = .001), and extended transfer times (odds ratio 1.001, P < .001) were the independent risk factors of the donor in pre-transplant resuscitation management associated with DGF. CONCLUSIONS: Polyuria, high levels of sodium before procurement, and prolonged transfer times are independent risk factors for DGF after a DDKT. Active intervention and early implementation of the intensivist can help in managing these factors effectively and thus ultimately improve graft function.
Subject(s)
Delayed Graft Function/etiology , Kidney Transplantation/methods , Tissue and Organ Procurement/methods , Transplants/physiopathology , Adult , Aged , Brain Death/physiopathology , Female , Humans , Kidney/physiopathology , Kidney Transplantation/adverse effects , Male , Middle Aged , Multivariate Analysis , Odds Ratio , Republic of Korea , Resuscitation/methods , Risk Factors , Tissue Donors , Treatment Outcome , Young AdultABSTRACT
To determine the prognostic significance of CT-determined cachexia scores (CSs) in 127 consecutive male small cell lung cancer (SCLC) patients, cross-sectional areas of muscle and fat tissues at the third lumbar vertebra (L3) were retrospectively measured on baseline CT images. CSs were determined based on the presence of sarcopenia and/or adipopenia. According to the presence of sarcopenia (L3 muscle index <55 cm2 /m2 , 86.8%) and adipopenia (L3 fat index <22 cm2 /m2 , 11.8%), CSs were defined as follows: CS2 (sarcopenia and adipopenia, 11.8%), CS1 (sarcopenia only, 74.8%) and CS0 (13.4%). CS2 was significantly related to lower body mass index (p < .001) and poor performance status (p = .002), and patients with CS2 had shorter OS than patients with CS1 or CS0 (median OS, 5.0 months vs. 8.9 months vs. 18.3 months; p = .007). Multivariable analysis revealed that CS was an independent prognostic factor of poor survival (HR, 1.99 for CS1 and 2.59 for CS2, p = .036 and .023, CS0 as a reference), along with extensive stage (p < .001), supportive care only (p < .001) and an elevated lactate dehydrogenase (p = .005). CT-determined CSs, based on the presence of sarcopenia and/or adipopenia, could be used to predict prognosis in male SCLC.
Subject(s)
Cachexia/epidemiology , Lung Neoplasms/mortality , Small Cell Lung Carcinoma/mortality , Adipose Tissue/diagnostic imaging , Aged , Cachexia/diagnostic imaging , Humans , L-Lactate Dehydrogenase/blood , Lung Neoplasms/blood , Lung Neoplasms/pathology , Male , Middle Aged , Multivariate Analysis , Muscle, Skeletal/diagnostic imaging , Neoplasm Staging , Positron Emission Tomography Computed Tomography , Prognosis , Proportional Hazards Models , Retrospective Studies , Sarcopenia , Small Cell Lung Carcinoma/blood , Small Cell Lung Carcinoma/pathology , Survival Rate , Tomography, X-Ray Computed , Whole Body ImagingABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Sarcopenia, reduced skeletal muscle mass, is associated with frailty, injuries, and mortality. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of computed tomography-determined sarcopenia on surgical complications and outcomes after resection of non-small cell lung cancer. METHODS: For a total 272 non-small cell lung cancer patients that underwent surgery between 2011 and 2016, cross-sectional area of muscle at the third lumbar vertebra (L3) was retrospectively measured using preoperative chest computed tomography images. Sarcopenia was defined as an L3 muscle index of <55 cm2/m2 for men and of <39 cm2/m2 for women. Clinical characteristics, postoperative complications, disease-free survival, and overall survival of patients with or without sarcopenia were compared. RESULTS: A total of 60.3% ( n = 164) were male, and mean patient age was 62.9 ± 9.6 years. The prevalence of sarcopenia was 22.4% for all study subjects, 32.9% for men, and 6.5% for women. No significant difference was observed between patients with or without sarcopenia in terms of intensive care unit or hospital stay ( p = 0.502 and p = 0.378, respectively), and the presence of sarcopenia was not associated with postoperative complications. Furthermore, no significant difference was observed between the 3-year disease-free survival rate (74.3% vs 66.7%, p = 0.639) or 3-year overall survival rate (83.9% vs 87.7%, p = 0.563) of patients with or without sarcopenia. CONCLUSION: Sarcopenia as determined by preoperative computed tomography does not appear to have a negative impact on surgical outcome or overall survival for resected non-small cell lung cancer patients.
Subject(s)
Back Muscles/diagnostic imaging , Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung/surgery , Lung Neoplasms/surgery , Pneumonectomy/adverse effects , Sarcopenia/diagnostic imaging , Aged , Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung/complications , Female , Humans , Lung Neoplasms/complications , Male , Middle Aged , Preoperative Care , Prognosis , Sarcopenia/complications , Tomography, X-Ray Computed , Treatment OutcomeSubject(s)
Cerebral Infarction , Perfusion Imaging , Arteries , Humans , Magnetic Resonance Imaging , Spin LabelsABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: We conducted co-clinical trials in patient-derived xenograft (PDX) models to identify predictive biomarkers for the multikinase inhibitor dovitinib in lung squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC). METHODS: The PDX01-02 were established from LSCC patients enrolled in the phase II trial of dovitinib (NCT01861197) and PDX03-05 were established from LSCC patients receiving surgery. These five PDX tumors were subjected to in vivo test of dovitinib efficacy, whole exome sequencing and gene expression profiling. RESULTS: The PDX tumors recapitulate histopathological properties and maintain genomic characteristics of originating tumors. Concordant with clinical outcomes of the trial enrolled-LSCC patients, dovitinib produced substantial tumor regression in PDX-01 and PDX-05, whereas it resulted in tumor progression in PDX-02. PDX-03 and -04 also displayed poor antitumor efficacy to dovitinib. Mutational and genome-wide copy number profiles revealed no correlation between genomic alterations of FGFR1-3 and sensitivity to dovitinib. Of note, gene expression profiles revealed differentially expressed genes including FGF3 and FGF19 between PDX-01 and 05 and PDX-02-04. Pathway analysis identified two FGFR signaling-related gene sets, FGFR ligand binding/activation and SHC-mediated cascade pathway were substantially up-regulated in PDX-01 and 05, compared with PDX-02-04. The comparison of gene expression profiles between dovitinib-sensitive versus -resistant lung cancer cell lines in the Cancer Cell Line Encyclopedia database also found that transcriptional activation of 18 key signaling components in FGFR pathways can predict the sensitivity to dovitinib both in cell lines and PDX tumors. These results highlight FGFR pathway activation as a key molecular determinant for sensitivity to dovitinib. CONCLUSIONS: FGFR gene expression signatures are predictors for the response to dovitinib in LSCC.
Subject(s)
Benzimidazoles/therapeutic use , Biomarkers/blood , Carcinoma, Squamous Cell/drug therapy , Clinical Trials as Topic , Lung Neoplasms/drug therapy , Quinolones/therapeutic use , Receptors, Fibroblast Growth Factor/antagonists & inhibitors , Carcinoma, Squamous Cell/genetics , Humans , Lung Neoplasms/genetics , Mutation , Receptors, Fibroblast Growth Factor/metabolism , Signal Transduction , Exome SequencingABSTRACT
AIM: To investigate the advantage of digital tomosynthesis (DTS) over chest radiography (CXR) and dual-energy subtraction radiography (DES) for pulmonary nodule detection according to the location and size of solid simulated pulmonary nodules (SPNs). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ninety-six SPNs of variable sizes were inserted into eight different regions of a lung phantom. These regions were further classified into two groups of danger and non-danger zones based on anatomical location influencing the detection of pulmonary nodules. The 96 cases with inserted SPNs and an additional nodule-free 96 control cases all underwent CXR, DES, and DTS examinations. Three observers independently reviewed all the images. The jackknife alternative free-response receiver operating characteristic was used to analyse diagnostic performance for each technique. RESULTS: DTS was superior to CXR and DES for detection of smaller SPNs, except in the retrodiaphragmatic and apical regions. DTS outperformed CXR and DES for detection of larger SPNs in the paramediastinal region. For 5- and 8-mm SPNs, DTS was superior to CXR and DES in the apical, paramediastinal and lateral pulmonary regions. In the retrodiaphragmatic region, the three techniques showed similar diagnostic performance regardless of the SPN size. DES was similar to DTS for detection of 8-mm SPN in the apical region. For 10- and 12-mm SPNs, CXR and DES showed similar diagnostic performance to DTS in the apical and lateral pulmonary regions; however, DTS was superior to CXR and DES in the paramediastinal region. CONCLUSIONS: DTS significantly improved the capability to detect synthetic pulmonary nodules compared with CXR and DES, for detection of smaller nodules in the apical, paramediastinal, and lateral pulmonary regions, and larger nodules located in the paramediastinal region in a thoracic phantom.
Subject(s)
Radiographic Image Enhancement/methods , Radiography, Dual-Energy Scanned Projection/methods , Radiography, Thoracic/methods , Solitary Pulmonary Nodule/diagnostic imaging , Humans , Phantoms, Imaging , Sensitivity and SpecificityABSTRACT
We examined depression, impulse control disorder, and life style by degree of smartphone addiction. Chi-square tests and ANOVA were used to identify significant variables. CART was used to generate a decision making diagram of variables affecting smartphone addiction. The severe smartphone addiction group had rates of depression and impulse control disorder than the initial smartphone group.
Subject(s)
Behavior, Addictive , Depression , Disruptive, Impulse Control, and Conduct Disorders , Smartphone , Humans , Life StyleABSTRACT
A telephone survey involving 200 household members in and around Seoul, South Korea, was completed during the maturity stage of the outbreak of Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) in Korea during June 2015. The study found that respondents perceived low risk from contracting MERS, had low trust in government in controlling MERS, and generally held unfavorable attitudes toward quarantine.
Subject(s)
Attitude , Coronavirus Infections/epidemiology , Disease Outbreaks , Quarantine/psychology , Adult , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Female , Humans , Interviews as Topic , Male , Middle Aged , Republic of Korea/epidemiology , Trust , Young AdultABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: We evaluated the effect of magnesium sulphate on increased pain in 44 patients undergoing staged bilateral total knee arthroplasty (TKA). METHODS: The magnesium group (n=22) and the control group (n=22) received magnesium sulphate and isotonic saline, respectively, throughout the surgery. Postoperative pain (visual analogue scale, VAS) at rest and the amounts of patient-controlled analgesia (PCA, fentanyl) and rescue analgesia (ketoprofen) administered during the first 48 h were compared between the two groups and within each group between the first and second TKA. RESULTS: The VAS scores were significantly higher in the control group than in the magnesium group not only after the first TKA [29 (11) vs 19 (9) at 24 h and 33 (8) vs 24 (10) at 48 h; P=0.001] but also after the second TKA [44 (17) vs 20 (10) at 24 h and 43 (14) vs 25 (10) at 48 h; P<0.001]. In the control group, VAS scores were significantly higher for the second than for the first operated knee [44 (17) vs 29 (11) at 24 h and 43 (14) vs 33 (8) at 48 h; P<0.001 and P=0.006, respectively]. In the magnesium group, there were no significant differences in VAS scores between the first and second TKA. Magnesium significantly reduced the amounts of rescue analgesics and fentanyl administered over the first 48 h postoperatively. CONCLUSIONS: Magnesium sulphate administration significantly reduced postoperative pain and minimized the difference in pain intensity between the first and second operations. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: KCT0001361.
Subject(s)
Acute Pain/drug therapy , Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee , Magnesium Sulfate/therapeutic use , Pain, Postoperative/drug therapy , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Double-Blind Method , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Visual Analog ScaleABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Large-for-size (LFS) is a serious problem that can develop during liver transplantation (LT) and is related to morbidities such as insufficient blood supply causing graft dysfunction or impractical closure of the abdominal wall leading to graft compression. LFS is usually discussed in pediatric LT and is often managed by reducing the size of the graft before implantation. In contrast, only a few cases about managing unexpected LFS during adult LT have been reported, and no case after the vascular anastomosis has been completed has been reported. CASE REPORT: A 36-year-old, 43-kg woman underwent an emergency LT using a deceased donor, although the estimated graft/recipient weight ratio was 3.98%. After completing the vascular anastomosis, a severe hepatic venous outflow obstruction from the graft developed due to compression of the inferior vena cava from the hypertrophied right posterior lobe of the graft. We performed a right hemihepatectomy sequentially after LT, and hepatic blood flow recovered sufficiently based on a Doppler sonogram. The postoperative clinical course was uneventful without vascular or ductal complications, and the primary abdominal wall closure was successfully achieved without wound complications. CONCLUSIONS: Performing a right hemihepatectomy sequentially after completing the vascular anastomosis during LT could be a very simple and effective solution for unexpected LFS during LT.
Subject(s)
Budd-Chiari Syndrome/complications , Delayed Graft Function/surgery , Hepatectomy/methods , Liver Transplantation/adverse effects , Liver/blood supply , Adult , Anastomosis, Surgical , Budd-Chiari Syndrome/surgery , Child , Delayed Graft Function/etiology , Female , Hepatic Veins/surgery , Humans , Liver/diagnostic imaging , Organ Size , Reoperation , Ultrasonography, Doppler , Vena Cava, Inferior/surgeryABSTRACT
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: In the early stages of idiopathic Parkinson disease, motor symptoms are usually asymmetric. We aimed to assess the feasibility of nigrosome 1 detection at 3T MR imaging to analyze the agreement of its asymmetry and clinical laterality. MATERIALS AND METHODS: High-resolution 3D multiecho imaging was performed at 3T MR imaging in 13 healthy subjects and 24 patients with idiopathic Parkinson disease confirmed by N-3-fluoropropyl-2-ß-carbomethoxy-3-ß-(4-iodophenyl) nortropane ((18)F-FP-CIT) PET. The nigrosome 1 detection findings by using the MR imaging data were rated as "normal," "possibly abnormal," and "abnormal" by 2 independent reviewers. The degree of (18)F-FP-CIT binding was visually assessed in the caudate nucleus and putamen on PET images. Clinical laterality was evaluated by scores of the Unified Parkinson Disease Rating Scale, Part III. Asymmetry of the affected nigrosome 1 and the degree of (18)F-FP-CIT binding were analyzed for agreement with clinical laterality. RESULTS: The diagnostic sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of the nigrosome 1 detection at 3T MR imaging was 100%, 84.6%, and 94.6%, respectively. Interrater agreements for the abnormality and asymmetry of nigrosome 1 were excellent (κ = 0.863 and 0.835, respectively). In patients with idiopathic Parkinson disease, the agreement of asymmetry between clinical laterality and nigrosome 1 detection was good (κ = 0.724). The degree of the (18)F-FP-CIT PET binding showed fair agreement (κ = 0.235) with clinical laterality. CONCLUSIONS: The abnormality involving nigrosome 1 can be detected at 3T MR imaging with an accuracy of 94.6%. The clinical laterality is in high concordance with the laterality of the nigrosome 1 detection at 3T (κ = 0.724).
Subject(s)
Dopaminergic Neurons/pathology , Imaging, Three-Dimensional/methods , Magnetic Resonance Imaging/methods , Parkinson Disease/diagnosis , Aged , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Sensitivity and SpecificityABSTRACT
AIM: To assess the prevalence and radiological findings of macronodules in patients with thoracic sarcoidosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Data was collected regarding 226 patients with pathologically proven thoracic sarcoidosis. Among them, macronodules defined as well-defined nodules greater than 5 mm were found in 58 patients. The macronodules were evaluated by their number, size, margin, shape, lobar location, distance from the pleura, and temporal change. Patients were classified into two groups, patients with macronodules (n = 58) and without macronodules (n = 168). The level of serum angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE), systemic involvement, and the maximum standardized uptake value (maxSUV) on (18)F-fluoro-2-deoxy-d-glucose (FDG) positron emission tomography (PET) in both groups were then compared. RESULTS: A total of 216 macronodules were identified in 58 patients. The mean number of macronodules per patient was 3.3, and the mean size was 6.3 mm. Most of the macronodules were located in lower lobes (63.4%) and showed round-to-ovoid (95.8%) shape. The mean distance from the pleura was 5 mm. In 76% of the 63 nodules that were followed using CT scanning, any interval changes in size was also accompanied by the same change in mediastinal lymphadenopathy. On comparison of the two groups, the presence of lymphadenopathy, parenchymal involvement, and the maxSUV of thoracic lymphadenopathy were shown to be statistically different. CONCLUSION: Well-defined macronodules greater than 5 mm were not uncommonly seen in patients with thoracic sarcoidosis. The macronodules are usually located in the lower lobes near the pleura, and the interval changes in mediastinal lymphadenopathy may be associated with similar changes in the size of nodules.
Subject(s)
Lymphatic Diseases/diagnostic imaging , Sarcoidosis/diagnostic imaging , Thoracic Diseases/diagnostic imaging , Adult , Female , Fluorodeoxyglucose F18 , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A/blood , Positron-Emission Tomography/methods , Radiopharmaceuticals , Retrospective Studies , Tomography, X-Ray Computed/methodsABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The use of a marginal donor, such as an elderly donor, in liver transplantation has been increasing in response to organ disparity; however, major risk factors for graft and patient survivals have been reported. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 559 patients who underwent living-donor liver transplantation (LDLT) at our hospital from May 2003 to June 2013. Elderly donors were defined as those >50 years old, and elderly recipients were defined as those >60 years old. We evaluated the differences in survival according to donor and recipient ages. Furthermore, we compared post-transplantation outcomes according to donor-recipient age matching. RESULTS: The overall 5-year survival rate of the recipients was significantly lower in the elderly donor group than in the younger donor group (84.6% vs 58.2%; P < .001). However, no significant difference in survival rate was observed according to recipient age (P = .908). The survival rate of elderly recipients who received a graft from an elderly donor was significantly lower than those of the other groups (P < .001-.037). The mortality rate was significantly different among the groups (P < .001), and among the causes of death, surgical complications were most frequent cause in the elderly donor group (P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: LDLT with the use of elderly donors >50 years of age could result in higher mortality rates than using younger donors. As such, elderly donor livers ideally should be matched with young recipients and attention concentrated on the surgical complications.