Comparison between Matched Related and Alternative Donors of Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cells Transplanted into Adult Patients with Acquired Aplastic Anemia: Multivariate and Propensity Score-Matched Analysis

We retrospectively compared the outcomes of 225 patients with adult acquired aplastic anemia (AA) who underwent allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (alloHSCT) from matched related donors (MRDs), and those treated by alloHSCT from alternative donors (ADs). Univariate and multivariate analyses of factors associated with survival were performed. Multivariate analysis showed that age at alloHSCT of ≤31 years, MRD, successful engraftment, absence of acute graft-versus-host disease (aGVHD), and platelet engraftment at ≤21 days, were independent predictors of longer survival. In addition, time to aGVHD and cumulative nonrelapse mortality (NRM) were better in MRD than in AD recipients. Using propensity score matching (PSM), we performed a case-control study comparing 25 patients in each group who underwent alloHSCT from MRDs and ADs. Pretransplantation clinical factors were well balanced in either group. Median survival time was similar, and no statistically significant difference in transplantation outcomes was apparent when MRD and AD recipients were compared. In conclusion, our results suggest that alloHSCT from an AD should be considered earlier in adult patients with AA who do not have an MRD

Inter-arm arterial pressure difference caused by prone position in the thoracic outlet syndrome patient -A case report-

Thoracic outlet syndrome has neurologic symptoms caused by compression of brachial plexus, blood vessel symptoms are caused by compression of the artery or vein. The authors report a case of sudden decrease in blood pressure of the left arm after turning the patient from supine position to prone position. They confirmed that the patient had thoracic outlet syndrome after performing computed tomography

Interleukin-13 and Its Receptors in Idiopathic Interstitial Pneumonia: Clinical Implications for Lung Function

Idiopathic interstitial pneumonia (IIP) is characterized by varying degrees of interstitial fibrosis. IL-13 and IL-4 are strong inducers of tissue fibrosis, whereas IFN-γ has antifibrotic potential. However, the roles of these substances in IIP remain unknown. IL-13, IL-4, and IFN-γ were measured in the BAL fluid of 16 idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) patients, 10 nonspecific interstitial pneumonia (NSIP) patients, and 8 normal controls. The expression of IL-13 and IL-13Rα1/α2 in lung tissues was analyzed using ELISA and immunohistochemistry. IL-13 levels were significantly higher in IPF patients than the others (P<0.05). IL-4 levels were higher in both IPF and NSIP patients than in normal controls (P<0.05), and IFN-γ levels were lower in NSIP patients than in normal controls (P=0.047). IL-13 levels correlated inversely with FVC% (r=-0.47, P=0.043) and DLCO% (r=-0.58, P=0.014) in IPF and NSIP patients. IL-13 was strongly expressed in the smooth muscle, bronchial epithelium, alveolar macrophages and endothelium of IPF patients. IL-13Rα1, rather than IL-13Rα2, was strongly expressed in the smooth muscle, bronchial epithelium, and endothelium of IPF patients. IL-13 and its receptors may contribute to the pathogenesis of fibrosis in IIP and appear to be related to the severity of the disease

Etiology of Invasive Bacterial Infections in Immunocompetent Children in Korea (1996-2005): A Retrospective Multicenter Study

The purpose of this study was to identify the major etiological agents responsible for invasive bacterial infections in immunocompetent Korean children. We retrospectively surveyed invasive bacterial infections in immunocompetent children caused by eight major pediatric bacteria, namely Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, Neisseria meningitidis, Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus agalactiae, Streptococcus pyogenes, Listeria monocytogenes, and Salmonella species that were diagnosed at 18 university hospitals from 1996 to 2005. A total of 768 cases were identified. S. agalactiae (48.1%) and S. aureus (37.2%) were the most common pathogens in infants younger than 3 months. S. agalactiae was a common cause of meningitis (73.0%), bacteremia without localization (34.0%), and arthritis (50%) in this age group. S. pneumoniae (45.3%) and H. influenzae (20.4%) were common in children aged 3 months to 5 yr. S. pneumoniae was a common cause of meningitis (41.6%), bacteremia without localization (40.0%), and bacteremic pneumonia (74.1%) in this age group. S. aureus (50.6%), Salmonella species (16.9%), and S. pneumoniae (16.3%) were common in older children. A significant decline in H. influenzae infections over the last 10 yr was noted. S. agalactiae, S. pneumoniae, and S. aureus are important pathogens responsible for invasive bacterial infections in Korean children

Cardiovascular events and safety outcomes associated with remdesivir using a World Health Organization international pharmacovigilance database

On October 2020, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved remdesivir as the first drug for the treatment of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), increasing remdesivir prescriptions worldwide. However, potential cardiovascular (CV) toxicities associated with remdesivir remain unknown. We aimed to characterize the CV adverse drug reactions (ADRs) associated with remdesivir using VigiBase, an individual case safety report database of the World Health Organization (WHO). Disproportionality analyses of CV-ADRs associated with remdesivir were performed using reported odds ratios and information components. We conducted in vitro experiments using cardiomyocytes derived from human pluripotent stem cell cardiomyocytes (hPSC-CMs) to confirm cardiotoxicity of remdesivir. To distinguish drug-induced CV-ADRs from COVID-19 effects, we restricted analyses to patients with COVID-19 and found that, after adjusting for multiple confounders, cardiac arrest (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]: 1.88, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.08–3.29), bradycardia (aOR: 2.09, 95% CI: 1.24–3.53), and hypotension (aOR: 1.67, 95% CI: 1.03–2.73) were associated with remdesivir. In vitro data demonstrated that remdesivir reduced the cell viability of hPSC-CMs in time- and dose-dependent manners. Physicians should be aware of potential CV consequences following remdesivir use and implement adequate CV monitoring to maintain a tolerable safety margin

Depolarization Ratio Retrievals Using AERONET Sun Photometer Data

We present linear particle depolarization ratios (LPDRs) retrieved from measurements with an AERONET Sun photometer at the Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (GIST), Korea (35.10 degrees N, 126.53 E) between 19 October and 3 November 2009. The Sun photometer data were classified into three categories according to Angstrom exponent and size distribution: 1) pure Asian dust (19 October 2009), 2) Asian dust mixed with urban pollution observed in the period from 20-26 October 2009, and 3) clean conditions (3 November). We show that the LPDRs can be used to distinguish among Asian dust, mixed aerosol, and non-Asian dust in the atmosphere. The mean LPDR of the pure Asian dust case is 23%. Mean LPDRs are 13% for the mixed case. The lowest mean LPDR is 6% in the clean case. We compare our results to vertically resolved LPDRs (at 532 nm) measured by a Raman LIDAR system at the same site. In most cases, we find good agreement between LPDRs derived with Sun photometer and measured by LIDAR.Peer reviewe

Totally endovascular aortic arch repair by branched stent graft placement

Several methods for endovascular aortic arch repair have been proposed to reduce the morbidity and mortality associated with conventional open surgery for aortic arch aneurysms. We report our experience with aortic arch aneurysm repair by a totally endovascular technique, that is, a “reversed” stent graft technique using branched stent grafts

Genetic polymorphisms of the IL-1β genes in periodontally healthy Korean population

Interleukine-1(IL-1)은 여러 가지 기능을 가진 싸이토카인으로써 미생물에 대한 면역반응을 일으킨다. IL-1의 유전자 다형성과 치주질환과의 관련성에 대한 많은 연구가 있어왔지만, 대부분이 백인을 대상으로 한 연구였다. 이후 중국인과 일본인을 대상으로 한 연구에서 IL-1의 유전자 다형성의 분포가 인종간에 차이를 보인다는 점이 발견되었다. 이번 연구에서는 치주적으로 건강한 한국인에서 IL-1β-511, IL-1β+3954, IL-1RN에 대한 유전자형의 분포를 조사하고자 하였다. 서울대학교 치과병원에 근무하는 치과의사, 치과위생사, 간호조무사 및 서울대학교 치과대학 4학년 학생 중 치주낭 깊이와 부착소실이 4mm 이하인 치주적으로 건강한 한국인 65명을 대상으로 하였다. IL-1β-511, IL-1β+3954, IL-1RN의 유전자 다형성은 분리한 DNA에 각 대립유전자에 특이성을 지닌 primer를 넣고 PCR(Polymerase Chain Reaction)법을 이용하여 증폭시킨후 전기영동법을 이용하여 각 대립유전자의 존재를 확인함으로써 결정하였다. IL-1β-511 대립유전자 11, 대립유전자 12, 대립유전자 22의 유전자형에 대하여 각각 23.1%, 49.2%, 26.2%의 분포를 보였다. IL-1β+3954의 유전자 다형성은 대립유전자 11, 대립유전자 12의 유전자형에 대하여 각각 89.2%, 10.8%의 분포를 보였으며, 대립유전자 22의 유전자형을 갖는 사람은 한명도 발견되지 않았다. IL-1RN의 유전자형은 5가지의 대립유전자 중에서 1, 대립유전자 2, 대립유전자 4만일 발견되었으며, 대립유전자 11, 대립유전자 12, 대립유전자 14의 유전자형이 86.2%, 12.3%, 1.5%로 분포하였다. 이를 바탕으로 각 대립유전자의 발생빈도 계산한 결과 IL-1β-511에서는 대립유전자 1과 2의 비율이 거의 유사하였으나 (47.7%, 52.3%), IL-1β+3954, IL-1RN에서는 대립유전자 1이 90%이상 발견되었으며, 또한 대립유전자 1외의 다른 대립유전자가 발견된 경우, 모두 이형접합체였다. 이 연구는 IL-1β-511, IL-1β+3954, IL-1RN에 대한 유전자형의 분포를 조사한 것으로 한국인에서 이들 유전자의 유전자형의 분포는 백인에서의 분포와 차이를 보이고 있었다. 이후 치주질환자의 유전자형 분포와의 비교로 치주질환과 IL-1β-511, IL-1β+3954, IL-1RN의 유전자다형성과의 관련성에 관한 추가적인 연구가 필요할 것으로 여겨진다.This study was supported by a grant of the Korea Health 21 R & D Project. Ministry of Health & Welfare. Republic of Kore

치주적으로 건강한 한국인에서 IL-1 β 유전자의 유전자 다형성 발생빈도에 관한 연구

Interleukine-1(IL-1)은 여러가지 기능을 가진 싸이토카인으로써 미생물에 대한 면역반응을 일으킨다. IL-1의 유전자 다형성과 치주질환과의 관련성에 대한 많은 연구가 있어왔지만, 대부분이 백인을 대상으로 한 연구였다. 이후 중국인과 일본인을 대상으로 한 연구에서 IL-1의 유전자 다형성의 분포가 인종간에 차이를 보인다는 점이 발견되었다. 이번 연구에서는 치주적으로 건강한 한국인에서 IL-1 β-511, IL-1 β+3954, IL-1RN에 대한 유전자형의 분포를 조사하고자 하였다. 서울대학교 치과병원에서 근무하는 치과의사, 치과위생사, 간호조무사 및 서울대학교 치과대학 4학년 학생 중 치주낭 깊이와 부착소실이 4mm 이하인 치주적으로 건강한 한국인 65명을 대상으로 하였다. IL-1 β-511, IL-1 β+3954, IL-1RN의 유전자 다형성은 분리한 DNA에 각 대립유전자에 특이성을 지닌 primer를 넣고 PCR(Polymerase Chain Reaction)법을 이용하여 증폭시킨후 전기영동법을 이용하여 각 대립유전자의 존재를 확인합으로써 결정하였다. IL-1 β-511 대립유전자 11, 대립유전자 12, 대립유전자 22의 유전자형에 대하여 각각 23.1%, 49.2%, 26.2%의 분포를 보였다. IL-1 β+3954의 유전자 다형성은 대립유전자 11, 대립유전자 12의 유전자형에 대하여 각각 89.2%, 10.8%의 분포를 보였으며, 대립유전자 22의 유전자형을 갖는 사람은 한명도 발견되지 않았다. IL-1RN의 유전자형은 5가지의 대립유전자 중에서 대립유전자 1, 대립유전자 2, 대립유전자 4만이 발견되었으며, 대립유전자 11, 대립유전자 12, 대립유전자 14의 유전자형이 86.2%, 12.3%, 1.5%로 분포하였다.This study was supported by a grant of the Korean Health 21 R&D Project, Ministry of Health & Welfare, Republic of Korea.(02-PJ1-PG10-20507-0008