• Genomics & Informatics
• /
• v.21 no.2
• /
• pp.18.1-18.11
• /
• 2023

Immunologists have activated T cells in vitro using various stimulation methods, including phorbol myristate acetate (PMA)/ionomycin and αCD3/αCD28 agonistic antibodies. PMA stimulates protein kinase C, activating nuclear factor-κB, and ionomycin increases intracellular calcium levels, resulting in activation of nuclear factor of activated T cell. In contrast, αCD3/αCD28 agonistic antibodies activate T cells through ZAP-70, which phosphorylates linker for activation of T cell and SH2-domain-containing leukocyte protein of 76 kD. However, despite the use of these two different in vitro T cell activation methods for decades, the differential effects of chemical-based and antibody-based activation of primary human T cells have not yet been comprehensively described. Using single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) technologies to analyze gene expression unbiasedly at the single-cell level, we compared the transcriptomic profiles of the non-physiological and physiological activation methods on human peripheral blood mononuclear cell-derived T cells from four independent donors. Remarkable transcriptomic differences in the expression of cytokines and their respective receptors were identified. We also identified activated CD4 T cell subsets (CD55⁺) enriched specifically by PMA/ionomycin activation. We believe this activated human T cell transcriptome atlas derived from two different activation methods will enhance our understanding, highlight the optimal use of these two in vitro T cell activation assays, and be applied as a reference standard when analyzing activated specific disease-originated T cells through scRNA-seq.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
• /
• v.50 no.5
• /
• pp.452-462
• /
• 2023

This scoping review aimed to identify and categorize the available measurement options for vaginal laxity (VL), their indications of use, and whether these measurements can sufficiently provide objective clinical judgment for cases indicated for vaginal rejuvenation with many treatment options nowadays. Systematic searches were conducted on five electronic databases, manually searching articles' bibliographies and predetermined key journals with no date or study design limitations. We included all studies involving VL in their inclusion criteria, treatment indications, and outcome parameters. We used the Arksey and O'Malley frameworks as the guideline in writing this scoping review. Of the 9,464 articles identified, 66 articles and 11,258 subjects were included in the final analysis. The majority of studies were conducted in obstetrics and gynecology (73%), followed by plastic surgery (10%), medical rehabilitation (4.5%), dermatology (4.5%), and others (8%). Most studies originated from the North American region (30%). The following measurement tools were used: (1) interviews, (2) questionnaires, (3) physical/digital examinations, (4) perineometers, and (5) others. Our results suggested that subjective perception of laxity confirmed by directed interview or questionnaire is sufficient to confirm VL. Additional evaluation of pelvic floor muscle through digital examination or perineometer or other preferred tools and evaluation of sexual function through validated questionnaire (Female Sexual Function Index, Female Sexual Distress Scale-Revised, etc.) should follow to ensure holistic care to patients. Future research on the psychometric properties (reliability and validity) of commonly used measurements and the correlation in between subjective and objective measurements should be initiated before their clinical applications.

• 대한상한금궤의학회지
• /
• v.14 no.1
• /
• pp.69-79
• /
• 2022

Objective : Fatigue is the most common symptom in post-COVID-19 syndrome. We report the case of a patient with post-COVID-19 syndrome with fatigue treated using herbal medicine (Saengkangsasim-tang). Methods : A 64-year-old man had severe fatigue for 4 months after a severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. Saengkangsasim-tang was administered to this patient based on the disease pattern identification diagnostic system by Shanghanlun provisions (DPIDS). We used the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) to evaluate the effectiveness of Saengkangsasim-tang for fatigue in the patient with post-COVID-19 syndrome. Results : According to DPIDS, the patient was diagnosed with the provision 157. After administration of Saengkangsasim-tang for 30days, the fatigue based on NRS and depression based on BDI were improved. Conclusions : The administration of Saengkangsasim-tang to patients with post-COVID-19 syndrome with fatigue, diagnosed according to the Shanghanlun provision 157, may be effective.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
• /
• v.44 no.4
• /
• pp.741-750
• /
• 2023

Objectives: This study investigated the effects of Korean medicine treatments on Buerger's disease. Methods: From December 27, 2022, to January 16, 2023, we treated Soeumin patients with Buerger's disease admitted to a hospital specializing in Korean medicine. The patient's symptoms included feelings of coldness in the lower extremities, feelings of dullness, and stabbing pain. For treatment, Korean medicine treatments, such as acupuncture, moxibustion, and herbal medications (Sogyeonghwalhyeol-tang granules and Gwangyebujaijung-tang-gami) were administered. The patient's improvement was evaluated using the numerical rating scale (NRS) every day. Lower extremity and foot temperatures were evaluated using digital infrared thermal imaging (DITI). Results: Through the treatment regimen, the patient's NRS scores decreased, and lower extremity and foot temperatures increased. Conclusions: Korean medicine treatments for cold lower extremities, feelings of dullness, and stabbing pain caused by Buerger's disease are potentially effective.

• Annals of Hepato-Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery
• /
• v.27 no.1
• /
• pp.56-62
• /
• 2023

Backgrounds/Aims: Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography-guided gallbladder drainage (ERGD) is an alternative to percutaneous cholecystostomy (PTC) for hospitalized acute cholecystitis (AC) patients. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed propensity score matched (PSM) AC hospitalizations using the National Inpatient Sample database between 2016 and 2019 to compare the outcomes of ERGD and PTC. Results: After PSM, there were 3,360 AC hospitalizations, with 48.8% undergoing PTC and 51.2% undergoing ERGD. There was no difference in median length of stay between the PTC and ERGD cohorts (p = 0.110). There was a higher median hospitalization cost in the ERGD cohort, $62,562 (interquartile range [IQR] $40,707-97,978) compared to PTC, $40,413 (IQR $25,244-65,608; p < 0.001). The 30-day inpatient mortality was significantly lower in hospitalizations with ERGD compared to PTC (adjusted hazard ratio 0.16, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.1-0.41; p < 0.001). There was no difference in association with blood transfusions, acute renal failure, ileus, small bowel obstruction, and open cholecystectomy conversion (p > 0.05) between hospitalizations with ERGD and PTC. There was lower association of acute hypoxic respiratory failure (adjusted ratio [AOR] 0.46, 95% CI: 0.29-0.72; p = 0.001), hypovolemia (AOR 0.66, 95% CI: 0.49-0.82; p = 0.009) and higher association of lower gastrointestinal bleed (AOR 1.94, 95% CI: 1.48-2.54; p < 0.001) with ERGD compared to PTC. Conclusions: ERGD is a safer alternative to PTC in patients with AC. The risk complications are lower in ERGD compared to PTC but no difference exists based on mortality or conversion to open cholecystectomy.

• International Journal of Computer Science & Network Security
• /
• v.24 no.3
• /
• pp.135-141
• /
• 2024

The article examines the key constants of reengineering the modern educational cluster, associated with the processes of digital transformation of all spheres of modern socio-cultural space. The first constant is the strategic rethinking of the educational process organization and awareness of the new roles of all participants (tutors, applicants, controlling elements, etc.). The other constant involves practical re-design of the system of educational services, which consists in the reorientation from the traditional model of education functioning for society to the implementation of the educational format in the form of new projects (structural, target, business). Consequently, the purpose of the study is to highlight the attitudes relevant to the modern realities of information and technological support of education in the context of socio-economic interactions of society. The criteria for the reengineering of educational concepts and the structural organization of the educational sphere are defined. The modern world is going through a period of complete digital transformation of all spheres of public activity. The scientific intelligence notes that education is no exception in these processes, as the dependence of educational realities on information and computer technologies is now noted. The COVID-19 pandemic, for all its tragedy, was also a kind of trigger, clearly marking the new components that have become defined in the organization of the educational process. The conclusion is made that the use of digital technologies in the organization of the educational institution or in the organization of the educational process has become not an auxiliary element, but a dominant factor. Mobility, dynamism, interdisciplinarity, synergy - all these aspects are relevant for socio-economic interactions of society and should be provided by educational programs. The results of the study can be used in the reorganization processes of educational institutions and institutions. Further research requires aspects of the analysis of the foreign experience of reengineering in education, carried out taking into account digital transformations of modern sociocultural space.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
• /
• v.50 no.6
• /
• pp.573-577
• /
• 2023

Pachyonychia congenita is a rare genetic disorder characterized by hypertrophic nail plates, hyperkeratotic nail beds, and thickened hyponychium of the fingers and toes, impairing manual dexterity and resulting in poor aesthetics. The current body of literature describes various treatment modalities, but no singular approach has been defined as the gold standard. In this case, the authors employed different surgical techniques for treating pachyonychia congenita to evaluate the most effective approach. A 3-year-old boy presented with hypertrophic nail growth involving all digits of both hands and feet. Three surgical procedures were performed on the patient's fingers and toes using germinal matrix excision (GME) alone, GME plus partial sterile matrix excision (pSME), or GME plus complete sterile matrix excision (cSME). The digits treated with GME + cSME exhibited no recurrence of nail growth. Those treated with GME alone exhibited recurrence of hypertrophic nail growth, although their growth slowed. Excision of GME + cSME prevented recurrence of hypertrophic nails, while GME alone or with pSME led to slower-growing hypertrophic nails. Complete excision of the germinal and sterile matrices with skin graft closure may be a definitive treatment for pachyonychia congenita, but further studies are needed to validate these findings.

• Archives of Craniofacial Surgery
• /
• v.25 no.2
• /
• pp.77-84
• /
• 2024

Background: The facial artery is an important blood vessel responsible for supplying the anterior face. Understanding the branching patterns of the facial artery plays a crucial role in various medical specialties such as plastic surgery, dermatology, and oncology. This knowledge contributes to improving the success rate of facial reconstruction and aesthetic procedures. However, debate continues regarding the classification of facial artery branching patterns in the existing literature. Methods: We conducted a comprehensive anatomical study, in which we dissected 102 facial arteries from 52 embalmed and formaldehyde-fixed Vietnamese cadavers at the Anatomy Department, University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Results: Our investigation revealed eight distinct termination points and identified 35 combinations of branching patterns, including seven arterial branching patterns. These termination points included the inferior labial artery, superior labial artery, inferior alar artery, lateral nasal artery, angular artery typical, angular artery running along the lower border of the orbicularis oculi muscle, forehead branch, duplex, and short course (hypoplastic). Notably, the branching patterns of the facial artery displayed marked asymmetry between the left and right sides within the same cadaver. Conclusion: The considerable variation observed in the branching pattern and termination points of the facial artery makes it challenging to establish a definitive classification system for this vessel. Therefore, it is imperative to develop an anatomical map summarizing the major measurements and geometric features of the facial artery. Surgeons and medical professionals involved in facial surgery and procedures must consider the detailed anatomy and relative positioning of the facial artery to minimize the risk of unexpected complications.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
• /
• v.27 no.3
• /
• pp.176-185
• /
• 2024

Purpose: Acute pancreatitis (AP) is common among children in Bangladesh. Its management depends mainly on risk stratification. This study aimed to assess the severity of pediatric AP using computed tomography (CT). Methods: This cross-sectional, descriptive study was conducted in pediatric patients with AP at the Department of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition, BSMMU, Dhaka, Bangladesh. Results: Altogether, 25 patients with AP were included, of whom 18 (mean age, 10.27±4.0 years) were diagnosed with mild AP, and 7 (mean age, 10.54±4.0 years) with severe AP. Abdominal pain was present in all the patients, and vomiting was present in 88% of the patients. Etiology was not determined. No significant differences in serum lipase, serum amylase, BUN, and CRP levels were observed between the mild and severe AP groups. Total and platelet counts as well as hemoglobin, hematocrit, serum creatinine, random blood sugar, and serum alanine aminotransferase levels (p>0.05) were significantly higher in the mild AP group than in the severe AP group (p=0.001). The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of CT severity index (CTSI) were 71.4%, 72.2%, 50%, and 86.7%, respectively. In addition, significant differences in pancreatic appearance and necrosis were observed between the two groups on CT. Conclusion: CT can be used to assess the severity of AP. In the present study, the CTSI effectively assessed the severity of AP in pediatric patients.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
• /
• v.45 no.1
• /
• pp.1-16
• /
• 2024

Introduction: The importance of clinical skills training in traditional Korean medicine education is increasingly emphasized. Since the clinical skills tests are high-stakes tests that determine success in national licensing exams, it is essential to develop reliable multifaceted analysis methods for clinical skills tests in actual education settings. In this study, we applied the multifaceted validity evaluation methods to the evaluation results of the cardiopulmonary resuscitation module to confirm the applicability and effectiveness of the methods. Methods: In this study, we used internal consistency, factor analysis, generalizability theory G-study and D-study, ANOVA, Kendall's tau, descriptive statistics, and other statistical methods to analyze the multidimensional validity of a cardiopulmonary resuscitation test in clinical education settings over the past three years. Results: The factor analysis and internal consistency analysis showed that the evaluation rubric had an unstable structure and low concordance. The G-study showed that the error of the clinical skills assessment was large due to the evaluator and unexpected errors. The D-study showed that the variance error of the evaluator should be significantly reduced to validate the evaluation. The ANOVA and Kendall's tau confirmed that evaluator heterogeneity was a problem. Discussion and Conclusion: Clinical skills tests should be continuously evaluated and managed for validity in two steps of pre-production and actual implementation. This study has presented specific methods for analyzing the validity of clinical skills training and testing in actual education settings. This study would contribute to the foundation for competency-based evidence-based education in practical clinical training.