• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.52 no.4
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• pp.417-424
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• 2020

This study aimed to explore the effects of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), produced by engineered immortalized mesenchymal stem cells (imMSC), on lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) in a rat model with neurogenic bladder (NB). Forty-eight Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into the following groups: Sham control, LUTS, LUTS+imMSC (treated with immortalized MSC), and LUTS+BDNF-eMSC (treated with BDNF-expressing MSC) groups. LUTS was induced by a crush injury to the major pelvic ganglion (MPG). Bladder function was tested under anesthesia, and bladder tissue strips were collected thereafter for contractility test and western blot analysis. Western blot results showed that the expression of both Angiopoietin 1 (Ang 1) and platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) increased with MSC injection. The effect of treatment with BDNF-eMSC on LUTS was also evaluated, and the results were found to be better than those with imMSC (P<0.05). BDNF-eMSC prevented fibrosis in the bladder tissue and significantly reduced caspase-3 levels. In conclusion, high expression of BDNF in vivo resulted in recovery of bladder function and contractility, along with the inhibition of apoptosis in a rat model.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.55-61
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• 2023

Purpose: Urinary tract infections (UTIs) pose a significant disease burden in children. This study aims to determine whether a short-course regimen is non-inferior to a standard-course regimen in children with UTIs without complication and presence of bacteremia, and to define, in the optimal way possible, the term "short-course" in this context. Methods: We conducted a rapid systematic review of research up to April 2021 in PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane databases. We included studies that compared clinical outcomes in pediatric UTIs treated with short-course(≤4 days) or standard (≥5-7 days) courses. Results: Our analysis suggests that short-course regimes have equivalent efficacy to standard-course regimens, with similar clinical cure rates and recurrence rates. All 10 studies comparing the clinical cure rates of short- and standard-course regimens reported comparable outcomes. The study evaluating renal scarring indicated no inferiority of short-course regimens compared to standard-course ones. Regarding UTI relapse, 8 out of 10 studies reported no significant difference in outcomes between short- and standard-course regimens. Conclusions: Our results purpose that short-course UTI regimens of 6 days or less are just as effective as standard-term regimens of 7 days or more in terms of infection cure and prevention of recurrence. Considering the equivalent rates of clinical cure and relapse between short- and standard-course regimens, it could be inferred that short-course regimens might be a more optimal strategy for managing pediatric UTIs without increasing the risk of complications.

• Korean Journal of Healthcare-Associated Infection Control and Prevention
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.50-56
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• 2016

Background: Alternatives to carbapenem are increasingly needed to decrease the usage of carbapenem. We evaluated the possibility of using non-carbapenem antibiotics against urinary tract infections (UTI) caused by extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing Enterobacteriaceae (ESBL-PE). Methods: This retrospective study was performed at 2 university hospitals between October 2010 and December 2012. All diagnosed adult cases of ESBL-PE UTI were identified from the microbiological database. The subjects were divided into 3 groups based on the empirical antibiotic classes and susceptibility: carbapenem (C) group, susceptible non-carbapenem (SNC) group, and non-susceptible non-carbapenem (NSNC) group. Results: A total of 84 patients were eligible for analysis. For empirical therapy, 41, 23, and 20 patients were included in the NSNC, SNC, and C empirical groups, respectively. During the empirical therapy, 7 patients (17.1%) in the NSNC group, 18 patients (78.3%) in the SNC group, and 19 patients (78.3%) in the C group experienced clinical improvement. No significant difference was observed between the SNC and C empirical groups (P=0.192). Severe sepsis or shock was the predictor of empirical SNC treatment failure (P=0.048). There was a tendency to use carbapenem as a definite therapy in cases of NSNC. In contrast, empirical SNC was maintained as a definite therapy. Conclusion: SNC could be considered as an alternative to carbapenems for treating ESBL-PE UTI. This strategy might decrease the usage of carbapenem without clinical deterioration. However, it should be noted that SNC therapy may fail in the case of severe sepsis or shock.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.548-554
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• 2022

Objective: To evaluate the safety and feasibility of prostatic artery embolization (PAE) via transradial access (TRA) compared with transfemoral access (TFA). Materials and Methods: This retrospective study included 53 consecutive men with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) who underwent PAE between September 2018 and September 2021. Thirty-one patients (mean age ± standard deviation: 70.6 ± 8.4 years) were treated with TFA, including 14 patients treated before adopting TRA. Since December 2019, TRA has also been attempted with the procedure's selection criteria of patent carpal circulation and a height ≤ 172 cm, with 22 patients treated via TRA (69.1 ± 9.6 years). Parameters of technical success (defined as successful bilateral embolization), clinical success (defined as LUTS improvement), procedural time, radiation dose, and adverse events were compared between the two groups using the Fisher's exact test, independent sample t test, Wilcoxon signed-rank test, or Mann-Whitney test. Results: All patients received at least one-side PAE. Technical success of PAE was achieved in most patients (TRA, 21/22; TFA, 30/31; p > 0.999). No technical problem-related conversion from TRA to TFA occurred. The clinical success rate was 85% (11/13) in patients with TRA, and 89% (16/18) in patients with TFA for follow-up > 2 weeks post-PAE (median, 3 months) (p > 0.999). The median procedure time was similar in both groups (TRA, 81 minutes vs. TFA, 94 minutes; p = 0.570). No significant dose differences were found between the TRA and TFA groups in the dose-area product (median Gycm², 95 [range, 44-255] for TRA and 84 [34-255] for TFA; p = 0.678) or cumulative air kerma (median mGy, 609 [236-1584] for TRA and 634 [217-1594] for TFA; p = 0.551). No major adverse events occurred in either of the groups. Conclusion: PAE via TRA is a safe and feasible method comparable to conventional TFA. It can be safely implemented by selecting patients with patent carpal circulation and adequate height.

• Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.31-37
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• 1994

Primary hyperparathyroidism is rare disease entity which secretes parathyroid hormone in excessively resulting in hypercalcemia. It involves skeletal system, urinary tract, gastrointestinal tract, and central nervous system. Recently the determination of the serum calcium and parathyroid hormone level has become a routine laboratory test and the localization of involved gland by neck ultrasonogram and parathyroid gland substraction scan has reduced operative complications. For the purpose of improvement of diagnosis and treatment, the authors analyzed the clinical characteristics of 6 cases of primary hyperparathyroidism(adenoma 5 cases, carcinoma 1 case) during 10 years and report with literatures.

• Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.236-239
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• 2010

Sarcomatoid carcinoma is a rare carcinoma which arises from upper respiratoy system, gastrointestinal tract, urinary tract and skin. Sarcomatoid carcinoma of larynx is rare so pathogenesis, clinical behavior, treatment and prognosis of it is being debated. Treatment of sarcomatoid carcinoma of larynx is similar to squamous cell carcinoma of larynx. We report a case of recurred sarcomatoid carcinoma after surgical treatment and postoperative radiotherapy.

• Korean Journal of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery
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• v.61 no.11
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• pp.611-614
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• 2018

Lymphoepithelioma-like carcinoma exhibits immunohistochemically similar features to lymphoepithelioma and commonly occurs in the skin, salivary gland, breast, lung, gastrointestinal tract, liver, urinary tract, prostate, vulva and vagina. Lymphoepithelioma-like carcinoma from the thyroid gland is extremely rare. We recently experienced a case of lymphoepithelioma-like carcinoma of thyroid gland in a 28-year-old female, who presented a thyroid nodule that was suspicious of papillary carcinoma. We report this unusual case of lymphoepithelioma-like carcinoma of thyroid gland with a brief review of literature.

• 대한예방의학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2001.10a
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• pp.443-444
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• 2001

• Proceedings of the PSK Conference
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• 2002.10a
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• pp.136-137
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• 2002

Lonicera japonica Thunb. is a twining shrub that has been used as an antidote and to treat urinary disorders, fever and headache. It has been known as an anti-inflammatory agent in Korea from ancient times and is used widely for treating upper-respiratory tract infections, diabetes mellitus and rheumatoid arthritis. In the previous research, we isolated several flavonoid derivatives from the EtOAc soluble fraction. (omitted)

• Proceedings of the PSK Conference
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• 2003.04a
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• pp.269.3-270
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• 2003

CBNU-1 has been used as a folk medicine in India for general physical strengthening, anti-aging, blood sugar stabilization, urinary tract rejuvenation, enhanced brain functioning potency, kidney rejuvenation, immune system strengthening, arthritis, hypertension and many other application for numerous conditions. The present study was conducted to evaluate the possibility of CBNU-1 as fertility agent. (omitted)