• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.48 no.1
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• pp.26-32
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• 2021

Background Although loss of sensation in patients with breast cancer after mastectomy followed by breast reconstruction is an important factor affecting patients' quality of life, the mechanism of sensory recovery is still unclear. Our study aimed to identify variables that affect sensory recovery, especially pain, in reconstructed breasts. Methods All patients with breast cancer who underwent mastectomy followed by immediate breast reconstruction, including nipple reconstruction or areolar tattooing, were included in this study. Sensation was evaluated in the nipple as an endpoint of sensation recovery of the whole breast. Patients rated pain severity using a 3-point verbal rating scale (VRS): grade 0, no pain; grade 1, mild to moderate pain; and grade 2, severe pain. The VRS was assessed by a single experienced plastic surgeon. Results In the univariate analysis, the odds ratio (OR) for sensation recovery was 0.951 for age (P=0.014), 0.803 for body mass index (P=0.001), 0.996 for breast volume before surgery (P=0.001), 0.998 for specimen weight after mastectomy (P=0.040), and 1.066 for the period between mastectomy and sensory assessment (P=0.003). In the multivariate analysis, the variables that showed a significant effect were age (OR, 0.953; P=0.034), the period between mastectomy and sensory assessment (OR, 1.071; P=0.006), and reconstruction using abdominal tissue instead of prosthetic reconstruction (OR, 0.270; P=0.004). Conclusions Based on our results, it can be inferred that aging has a negative impact on the recovery of sensation, breast sensation improves with time after surgery, and the recovery of sensation is better in prosthetic reconstruction.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.54 no.3
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• pp.200-205
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• 2021

Background: Various methods have been used to reduce postoperative pain after thoracic surgery. However, these methods may affect the patient's respiratory response and delay recovery from anesthesia. We aimed to evaluate the effects of fentanyl and remifentanil during extubation after video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS). Methods: This study included 45 randomly-selected male patients who underwent VATS for pneumothorax between July 2011 and August 2012. We divided the participants into 3 groups: the F group, which received a bolus injection of 1.0 ㎍/kg of fentanyl; the R1 group, which received a 0.04 ㎍/kg/min remifentanil infusion; and the R2 group, which received a 0.08 ㎍/kg/min remifentanil infusion. Hemodynamics, pain, cough, consciousness level, and nausea were assessed for each group. Results: The number and severity of coughs were lower in the R1 and R2 groups than in the F group, and there were no differences between the R1 and R2 groups. Respiratory depression and loss of consciousness were not observed in any of the patients, and there were no differences in hemodynamics. Conclusion: In comparison with fentanyl, remifentanil did not result in a wide fluctuation of blood pressure and heart rate upon emergence from general anesthesia. Moreover, remifentanil contributed to cough suppression and postoperative pain control. Remifentanil seems to be a safe and effective analgesic after VATS.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.74-83
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• 2021

Purpose: No consensus exists on whether to preserve or ligate an aberrant left hepatic artery (ALHA), which is the most commonly encountered hepatic arterial variation during gastric surgery. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate the clinical effects of ALHA ligation by analyzing the perioperative outcomes. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the data of 5,310 patients who underwent subtotal/total gastrectomy for gastric cancer. Patients in whom the ALHA was ligated (n=486) were categorized into 2 groups according to peak aspartate aminotransferase (AST) or alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels: moderate-to-severe (MS) elevation (≥5 times the upper limit of normal [ULN]; MS group, n=42) and no-to-mild (NM) elevation (<5 times the ULN; NM group, n=444). The groups were matched 1:3 using propensity score-matching analysis to minimize confounding factors that can affect the perioperative outcomes. Results: The mean operation time (P=0.646) and blood loss amount (P=0.937) were similar between the 2 groups. The length of hospital stay was longer in the MS group (13.0 vs. 7.8 days, P=0.022). No postoperative mortality occurred. The incidence of grade ≥ IIIa postoperative complications (19.0% vs. 5.1%, P=0.001), especially pulmonary complications (11.9% vs. 2.5%, P=0.003), was significantly higher in the MS group. This group also showed a higher Comprehensive Complication Index (29.0 vs. 13.9, P<0.001). Conclusions: Among patients with a ligated ALHA, those with peak AST/ALT ≥5 times the ULN showed worse perioperative outcomes in terms of hospital stay and severity of complications. More precise perioperative decision-making tools are needed to better determine whether to preserve or ligate an ALHA.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.61 no.4
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• pp.36.1-36.8
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• 2021

The objective of this study was to evaluate the beneficial effects of the short-term application of insect-based diet in canine allergic dermatitis. Total 19 atopic dogs with concurrent cutaneous adverse food reactions were enrolled and classified into 3 groups. The treatment group (n = 7) was fed insect-based diet, the positive control group (n = 6) was fed salmon-based diet, and the negative control group (n = 6) was fed commercial or homemade diet for 12 weeks. The degree of skin lesions was evaluated based on canine atopic dermatitis extent and severity index (CADESI-4). Additionally, transepidermal water loss (TEWL) and pruritus visual analog scale were evaluated. All indices were evaluated every 4 weeks after the initial administration of hypoallergenic diets. In the treatment group, significant decrease in the CADESI-4 score was observed at 8 weeks compared to the baseline score (p = 0.031). There were significant differences in the CADESI-4 score between the groups at 8 weeks (p = 0.008), 12 weeks (p = 0.012), and TEWL at 12 weeks (p = 0.022). This preliminary result demonstrates the potential hypoallergenicity of an insect-based diet through features that diminish cutaneous lesions and skin barrier dysfunction.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.35-42
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• 2022

When an accident occurs, the associated human activity is typically regarded as a "human error," or a temporal deviation. On the other hand, if the accident results in a serious loss or if it evokes a social issue, the person determined to be responsible may be punished with a "violation" of related laws or regulations. However, as Heinrich stated, it is neither appropriate nor reasonable in terms of probability theory and cognitive science to distinguish whether it is a "human error" or a "violation" with a criterion of resultant accident severity. Nonetheless, some in society get on the social climate to strengthen regulations on workers who have caused accidents, especially violations. This response can present a social issue due to the lack of systematic judgment procedure which distinguishes violations from human errors. The purpose of this study was to develop an objective and systematic procedure to assess whether workers' activities which induced industrial accidents should be categorized as violations rather than human errors. Various analysis techniques for the determination of violation procedure were investigated and compared using an analysis approach method. An appropriate technique was not found, however, for judging the culpability of intentional violations. As an alternative, this study developed the process of creating violations, based on cognitive procedure, as well as the criteria to determine and categorize an activity as a violation. In addition, the developed procedure was applied to cases of industrial accidents and nuclear power plant issues to test its practical applicability. The study demonstrated that the proposed model could be used to determine the existence of a violation even in the case of multiple workers who work simultaneously.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.32 no.7
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• pp.835-843
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• 2022

Deinococcus radiodurans is an extremophilic bacterium that can thrive in harsh environments. This property can be attributed to its unique metabolites that possess strong antioxidants and other pharmacological properties. To determine the potential of D. radiodurans R1 lysate (DeinoLys) as a pharmacological candidate for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), we investigated the antiinflammatory activity of DeinoLys in bone marrow-derived dendritic cells (BMDCs) and a colitis mice model. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated BMDCs treated with DeinoLys exhibited alterations in their phenotypic and functional properties by changing into tolerogenic DCs, including strongly inhibited proinflammatory cytokines (TNF-α and IL-12p70) and surface molecule expression and activated DC-induced T cell proliferation/activation with high IL-10 production. These phenotypic and functional changes in BMDCs induced by DeinoLys in the presence of LPS were abrogated by IL-10 neutralization. Furthermore, oral administration of DeinoLys significantly reduced clinical symptoms against dextran sulfate sodium-induced colitis, including body weight loss, disease activity index, histological severity in colon tissue, and lower myeloperoxidase level in mice. Our results establish DeinoLys as a potential anti-inflammatory candidate for IBD therapy.

• Journal of Veterinary Science
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.82.1-82.10
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• 2020

Background: The clinical presentation of horses with back pain (BP) vary considerably with most horse's willingness to take part in athletic or riding purpose becoming impossible. However, there are some clinical features that are directly responsible for the loss or failure of performance. Objectives: To investigate the clinical features of the thoracolumbar region associated with BP in horses and to use some of the clinical features to classify equine BP. Methods: Twenty-four horses comprised of 14 with BP and 10 apparently healthy horses were assessed for clinical abnormality that best differentiate BP from normal horses. The horses were then graded (0-5) using the degree of pain response, muscular hypertonicity, thoracolumbar joint stiffness and overall physical dysfunction of the horse. Results: The common clinical features that significantly differentiate horses with BP from non-BP were longissimus dorsi spasm at palpation (78.6%), paravertebral muscle stiffness (64.3%), resist lateral bending (64.3%), and poor hindlimb impulsion (85.7%). There were significantly (p < 0.05) higher scores for pain response to palpation, muscular hypertonicity, thoracolumbar joint stiffness and physical dysfunction among horses with BP in relation to non-BP. A significant relationship exists between all the graded abnormalities. Based on the cumulative score, horses with BP were categorized into mild, mild-moderate, moderate and severe cases. Conclusions: BP in horse can be differentiated by severity of pain response to back palpation, back muscle hypertonicity, thoracolumbar joint stiffness, physical dysfunctions and their cumulative grading score is useful in the assessment and categorization of BP in horses.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.164-171
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• 2023

Background: The study aimed to evaluate the effect of prehydration solution on hearing thresholds after cisplatin chemotherapy. Methods: In this retrospective cohort study, we reviewed the data of patients who underwent ≥3 courses of cisplatin-based chemotherapy for locally advanced head and neck cancers at a tertiary referral center (n=64). The dextrose solution (DW) group (n=26) received 2 L of normal saline and 1 L of 5% dextrose. The Hartmann solution (HS) group (n=38) received 2 L of normal saline and 1 L of HS. Hearing data were measured 1 day before starting the first course of chemotherapy, and again 20 days after the first, second, and third courses of chemotherapy. The severity of hearing loss was evaluated using the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE). Results: Thresholds at all frequencies after chemotherapy were greater in the DW group than in the HS group. The increase in thresholds in 1 to 4 kHz after the third course of chemotherapy was greater in the DW group than in the HS group. CTCAE grades after the second and third courses of chemotherapy were greater in the DW group than in the HS group. Logistic regression showed that the odds ratio for CTCAE grade 3 or 4 after the third course of chemotherapy in the DW group was 4.84 on univariate analysis. Conclusion: Prehydration using a solution with salt was associated with a decrease in change in hearing thresholds after cisplatin chemotherapy in patients with head and neck cancers.

• BMB Reports
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• v.57 no.5
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• pp.256-261
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• 2024

In the context of aging, the susceptibility to infectious diseases increases, leading to heightened morbidity and mortality. This phenomenon, termed immunosenescence, is characterized by dysregulation in the aging immune system, including abnormal alterations in lymphocyte composition, elevated basal inflammation, and the accumulation of senescent T cells. Such changes contribute to increased autoimmune diseases, enhanced infection severity, and reduced responsiveness to vaccines. Utilizing aging animal models becomes imperative for a comprehensive understanding of immunosenescence, given the complexity of aging as a physiological process in living organisms. Our investigation focuses on Cisd2, a causative gene for Wolfram syndrome, to elucidate on immunosenescence. Cisd2 knockout (KO) mice, serving as a model for premature aging, exhibit a shortened lifespan with early onset of aging-related features, such as decreased bone density, hair loss, depigmentation, and optic nerve degeneration. Intriguingly, we found that the Cisd2 KO mice present a higher number of neutrophils in the blood; however, isolated neutrophils from these mice display functional defects. Through mass spectrometry analysis, we identified an interaction between Cisd2 and Calnexin, a protein known for its role in protein quality control. Beyond this function, Calnexin also regulates calcium homeostasis through interaction with sarcoendoplasmic reticulum calcium transport ATPase (SERCA). Our study proposes that Cisd2 modulates calcium homeostasis via its interaction with Calnexin and SERCA, consequently influencing neutrophil functions.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.303-312
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• 2024

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is the most common inflammatory pruritic skin disease worldwide, characterized by the infiltration of multiple pathogenic T lymphocytes and histological symptoms such as epidermal and dermal thickening. This study aims to investigate the effect of vinpocetine (Vinp; a phosphodiesterase 1 inhibitor) on a 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene (DNCB)-induced AD-like model. DNCB (1%) was administered on day 1 in the AD model. Subsequently, from day 14 onward, mice in each group (Vinp-treated groups: 1 mg/kg and 2 mg/kg and dexamethasone-treated group: 2 mg/kg) were administered 100 µl of a specific drug daily, whereas 0.2% DNCB was administered every other day for 30 min over 14 days. The Vinp-treated groups showed improved Eczema Area and Severity Index scores and trans-epidermal water loss, indicating the efficacy of Vinp in improving AD and enhancing skin barrier function. Histological analysis further confirmed the reduction in hyperplasia of the epidermis and the infiltration of inflammatory cells, including macrophages, eosinophils, and mast cells, with Vinp treatment. Moreover, Vinp reduced serum concentrations of IgE, interleukin (IL)-6, IL-13, and monocyte chemotactic protein-1. The mRNA levels of IL-1β, IL-6, Thymic stromal lymphopoietin, and transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) were reduced by Vinp treatment. Reduction of TGF-β protein by Vinp in skin tissue was also observed. Collectively, our results underscore the effectiveness of Vinp in mitigating DNCB-induced AD by modulating the expression of various biomarkers. Consequently, Vinp is a promising therapeutic candidate for treating AD.