Asbestos Exposure and Ovarian Cancer: A Meta-analysis

Background@#The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) Monograph conducted a systematic review of the relationship between asbestos and ovarian cancer. However, there may have been information bias due to the undue weight given to few articles. To address this limitation, the present study performed a meta-analysis integrating studies published both before and after the 2012 IARC Monograph on Asbestos, with the aim of investigating the association between asbestos exposure and ovarian cancer. @*Methods@#A comprehensive search of major journal databases was conducted to identify studies examining the relationship between asbestos exposure and ovarian cancer, including those featured in the 2012 IARC Monograph on Asbestos. A meta-analysis on asbestos exposure and cancer risk was performed. @*Results@#The meta-analysis of studies published after the 2012 IARC Monograph on Asbestos found a summary Standardized Mortality Ratio (SMR) of 2.04 (95% CI: 1.03—4.05; p = 0.0123; 5 studies), with a significant degree of heterogeneity among the studies (I2 = 72.99%). The combined analysis of 15 studies before and after the 2012 IARC Monograph showed an overall summary SMR of 1.72 (95% CI: 1.43—2.06; p = 0.0349; 15 studies), with a moderate degree of heterogeneity (I2 = 42.99%). @*Conclusion@#This meta-analysis provides evidence of a significant association between asbestos exposure and ovarian cancer mortality. While the possibility of misdiagnosis in earlier studies cannot be completely ruled out, recent findings suggest a robust correlation between asbestos exposure and ovarian cancer. This highlights the importance of sustained efforts to minimize asbestos exposure and protect public health.

Myocardial Injury After Noncardiac Surgery in Major General Surgical Patients a Prospective Observational Cohort Study.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to determine the prognostic relevance, clinical characteristics, and 30-day outcomes associated with myocardial injury after noncardiac surgery (MINS) in major general surgery patients. BACKGROUND: MINS has been independently associated with 30-day mortality after noncardiac surgery. The characteristics and prognostic importance of MINS in major general surgical patients have not been described. METHODS: This was an international prospective cohort study of a representative sample of 22,552 noncardiac surgery patients 45 years or older, of whom 4490 underwent major general surgery in 24 centers in 13 countries. All patients had fifth-generation plasma high-sensitivity troponin T (hsTnT) concentrations measured during the first 3 postoperative days. MINS was defined as a hsTnT of 20-65 ng/L and absolute change >5 ng/L or hsTnT ≥65 ng/L secondary to ischemia. The objectives of the present study were to determine (1) whether MINS is prognostically important in major general surgical patients, (2) the clinical characteristics of major general surgical patients with and without MINS, (3) the 30-day outcomes for major general surgical patients with and without MINS, and (4) the proportion of MINS that would have gone undetected without routine postoperative monitoring. RESULTS: The incidence of MINS in the major general surgical patients was 16.3% (95% CI, 15.3-17.4%). Thirty-day all-cause mortality in the major general surgical cohort was 6.8% (95% CI, 5.1%-8.9%) in patients with MINS compared with 1.2% (95% CI, 0.9%-1.6%) in patients without MINS ( P <0.01). MINS was independently associated with 30-day mortality in major general surgical patients (adjusted odds ratio 4.7, 95% CI, 3.0-7.4). The 30-day mortality was higher both among MINS patients with no ischemic features (ie, no ischemic symptoms or electrocardiogram findings) (5.4%, 95% CI, 3.7%-7.7%) and among patients with 1 or more clinical ischemic features (10.6%, 95% CI, 6.7%-15.8%). The proportion of major general surgical patients who had MINS without ischemic symptoms was 89.9% (95% CI, 87.5-92.0). CONCLUSIONS: Approximately 1 in 6 patients experienced MINS after major general surgery. MINS was independently associated with a nearly 5-fold increase in 30-day mortality. The vast majority of patients with MINS were asymptomatic and would have gone undetected without routine postoperative troponin measurement.

Health Effects Associated With Humidifier Disinfectant Use: A Systematic Review for Exploration

Background@#It has been 10 years since the outbreak of lung disease caused by humidifier disinfectants in Korea, but the health effects have not yet been summarized. Therefore, this study aims to systematically examine the health effects of humidifier disinfectants that have been discovered so far. @*Methods@#All literature with humidifier disinfectants and their representative components as the main words were collected based on the web, including PubMed, Research Information Sharing Service, and government publication reports. A total of 902 studies were searched, of which 196 were selected. They were divided into four groups: published human studies (group 1), published animal and cytotoxicology studies (group 2), technical reports (group 3), and gray literature (group 4). @*Results@#Out of the 196 studies, 97 (49.5%) were published in peer-reviewed journals as original research. Group 1 consisted of 49 articles (50.5%), while group 2 consisted of 48 articles (49.5%). Overall, respiratory diseases such as humidifier disinfectant associated lung injury, interstitial lung disease, and asthma have a clear correlation, but other effects such as liver, heart, thymus, thyroid, fetal growth, metabolic abnormalities, and eyes are observed in toxicological experimental studies, but have not yet been identified in epidemiologic studies. @*Conclusion@#The current level of evidence does not completely rule out the effects of humidifier disinfectants on extrapulmonary disease. Based on the toxicological evidence so far, it is required to monitor the population of humidifier disinfectant exposure continuously to see if similar damage occurs.

A Neurotoxocariasis Case Manifesting Multiple Cerebral Infarction and Eosinophilic Meningoencephalitis

Although Toxocara canis is known to cross the blood-brain barrier, central nervous system involvement is uncommon. Clinical manifestations vary and include cerebral infarction, meningoencephalitis, myelitis, vasculitis or seizure. However cerebral infarction and meningoencephalitis rarely occur simultaneously. We report a case of multiple cerebral infarction combined with eosinophilic meningoencephalitis in a patient with neurotoxocariasis. After control of increased intracranial pressure and treatment with albendazole and steroid, the patient’s clinical symptoms improved markedly.

The Associations between Dietary Intake of N-3 Fatty Acids and 10-Year Cardiovascular Disease Risk: The Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2012–2016

Background@#Dietary intake of n-3 fatty acids have been suggested for their protective role against cardiovascular disease. However, findings from recent studies have been inconsistent. Thus, we investigated the association between dietary intake of n-3 fatty acids and the 10-year risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). @*Methods@#We analyzed data from 17,390 adults who were aged 30–64 years and free of CVD using the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2012–2016. Dietary intake of n-3 fatty acids was calculated by using food-frequency questionnaire, and the 10 year risk of CVD was calculated by Framingham general cardiovascular disease risk score (2008) model. We analyzed the odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) from logistic regression to evaluate the association between dietary intake of n-3 fatty acids and the 10-year risk of CVD. @*Results@#Logistic regression anlaysis showed that dietary intake of n-3 fatty acids was not significantly associated with the 10-year risk of CVD, after adjusting for confounders (OR=0.91; 95% CI, 0.77–1.07). But higher dietary intake of n-3 fatty acids was associated with reduced the 10-year risk of CVD for the female (OR=0.74; 95% CI, 0.58–0.95). @*Conclusion@#Our research indicated no significant association between dietary intake of n-3 fatty acids and the 10-year risk of CVD. But the inverse association was observed in the female.

Improvement of Post Stroke Echolalia after Using Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors

No abstract available.

Hemorrhagic Transformation in Thalamic Infarction

No abstract available.

Non-Enhancing Primary Central Nervous System Lymphoma

No abstract available.

Simultaneous Nonaneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage and Acute Cerebral Infarction in a Patient with Intracranial Atherosclerosis

No abstract available.

Association between Physical Activity and Estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate in Adults

BACKGROUND: This study was conducted to examine the correlation between physical activity and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) in Korean adults.METHODS: We selected 6,546 adults aged >19 years from among the participants of the 2016 National Health and Nutrition Survey. Physical activity and sedentary time were measured using the global physical activity questionnaires developed by the World Health Organization. eGFR was calculated using the Modification of Diet in Renal Disease equation. After adjustment for covariates (age, marital status, hypertension, diabetes, myocardial infarction, drinking, smoking, total cholesterol level, body mass index, and C-reactive protein level), the correlations among physical activity, sedentary time, and eGFR were analyzed using multivariate linear regression analysis.RESULTS: No correlation was found between physical activity level and eGFR. However, sedentary time was significantly correlated with eGFR. The result showed that eGFR increased as sedentary time decreased.CONCLUSION: No correlation was found between physical activity level and eGFR in adults aged >19 years, but sedentary time was significantly correlated with eGFR. Further research is needed to clarify the relationship between physical activity and eGFR, using other physical activity indicators and changing the physical activity criteria.

Hypercholesterolemia Is Associated with a Shorter Time to Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer in Patients Who Have Undergone Androgen Deprivation Therapy

PURPOSE: The goal of this study was to investigate the association between hypercholesterolemia and the time required for progression to castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) in patients who have undergone androgen deprivation therapy (ADT). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Data from 154 patients with prostate cancer between 2005 and 2012 were reviewed retrospectively. ADT was employed as a treatment modality for these patients either due to multiple bone metastases at the time of diagnosis or due to old age in combination with other morbidities. Serum cholesterol levels and statin use were reviewed. We analyzed the factors associated with the development of CRPC after ADT treatment. The mean follow-up period was 34.8 months. RESULTS: The mean age of the patients was 71.3 years old and their mean prostate-specific antigen level was 141.8±212.6 ng/mL. Their mean cholesterol level was 175.9±37.7 mg/dL, and 14 patients (9.1%) were statin users. CRPC developed in 44 patients (28.6%), and the mean duration from ADT treatment to CRPC was 24.1 months. In a multivariate analysis, hypercholesterolemia was associated with the development of CRPC (hazard ratio [HR]=1.017, p<0.001), depending on clinical T stage (p=0.005) and the presence of bone metastasis (p<0.001). A subanalysis showed that hypercholesterolemia was associated with the development of CRPC in patients with bone metastasis (HR=1.032, p<0.001), but not in patients without bone metastasis. CONCLUSIONS: Hypercholesterolemia may be associated with the development of CRPC after ADT in patients with bone metastasis. Further studies with longer follow-up periods and larger samples are needed to validate this finding.