Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome in young people, from childhood to young adulthood: relationships between age and clinical and electrophysiological findings

PurposeThe aim of the present study was to evaluate the characteristics of electrophysiologic studies (EPS) and radiofrequency ablation (RFA) performed in subjects aged less than 30 years with Wolff-Parkinson-White (WPW) syndrome, particularly pediatric patients under 18 years of age, based on our experience.MethodsTwo hundred and one consecutive patients with WPW syndrome were recruited and divided to 3 groups according to age: group 1, 6 to 17 years; group 2, 18 to 29 years; and group 3, 30 to 60 years. The clinical, electrophysiological, and therapeutic data for these patients were evaluated by a retrospective medical record review.ResultsA total of 73 (36%) of these patients were <30 years of age. Although there were more males than females in group 2 (male:female, 31:11), there was no sex difference in group 1 (male:female, 16:15). Left accessory pathway was detected less frequently in group 1 (32%, 10/31) than in group 2 (57%, 24/42) and group 3 (63%, 81/128) (P=0.023 and P=0.002, respectively).ConclusionThe present study describes several different electrophysiological characteristics in children and adolescents with WPW syndrome. Therefore, when EPS and RFA are performed in children and adolescence with WPW syndrome, we recommend that these characteristics be considered

Effects of a Tumor Necrosis Factor-α Antagonist on Experimentally Induced Rhinosinusitis

This prospective, randomized, and controlled study examined the effects of tumor necrosis factor soluble receptor type I (sTNFRI, a TNF-α antagonist) on experimentally induced rhinosinusitis in rats. The experimental groups received an instillation of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) plus an intramuscular injection of amoxicillin/clavulanate (antibiotic group), an instillation of sTNFRI (sTNFRI group), an instillation of sTNFRI and an injection of amoxicillin/clavulanate (sTNFRI/antibiotic group), or no additional treatment (LPS group). Histopathological changes were determined using hematoxylin-eosin and periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) staining. Leakage of exudate was determined using fluorescence microscopy. Vascular permeability was measured using the Evans blue dye technique. Expression of MUC5AC was measured using reverse transcriptase PCR. The sTNFRI, antibiotic, and sTNFRI/antibiotic groups had significantly less capillary permeability, mucosal edema, PAS staining, and expression of MUC5AC than the LPS group. There were no differences in capillary permeability, mucosal edema, PAS staining, and MUC5AC expression between the sTNFRI and sTNFRI/antibiotic groups. The antibiotic group had PAS staining similar to that of the sTNFRI and sTNFRI/antibiotic groups but had a greater increase in capillary permeability, mucosal edema, and MUC5AC expression. This study shows that sTNFRI reduces inflammatory activity and mucus hypersecretion in LPS-induced rhinosinusitis in rats

Ectopic Hidradenoma Papilliferum of the Breast: Ultrasound Finding

Hidradenoma papilliferum (HP) is a benign neoplasm arising from mammary-like glands which typically involves the dermal layer of the female anogenital area. The prognosis for HP is good. Recurrence is unusual and is typically attributed to incomplete excision of the primary tumor. Malignant transformation is rare and HP of the breast has not yet been reported. Ectopic HP is usually solitary, small, and asymptomatic. It appears as a well-circumscribed, complex cystic mass in the dermis on ultrasound. We present a case of HP arising from the axillary tail of the breast

Primary Osteosarcoma Arising from the Middle Turbinate in a Pediatric Patient

Osteosarcomas usually occur as secondary tumors after radiation therapy or chemotherapy. Without a history of irradiation to the head and neck area, primary osteosarcoma of the turbinate is extremely rare. We report here a rare case of primary turbinate osteosarcoma presenting as a relatively small, well-circumscribed, turbinate mass. Its appearance mimicked a benign nasal mass like mucocele and polyp. We also reviewed the previously reported cases of tumor arising from turbinate

Obsessive-Compulsive Behavior Disappearing after Left Capsular Genu Infarction

This case report describes a 74-year-old woman with obsessive-compulsive behaviors that disappeared following a left capsular genu infarction. The patient's capsular genu infarction likely resulted in thalamocortical disconnection in the cortico-basal ganglia-thalamocortical loop, which may have caused the disappearance of her obsessive-compulsive symptoms. The fact that anterior capsulotomy has been demonstrated to be effective for treating refractory obsessive-compulsive disorder further supports this hypothesis

Sleep disturbances, depressive symptoms, and cognitive efficiency as determinants of mistakes at work in shift and non-shift workers

IntroductionShift work is known to reduce productivity and safety at work. Previous studies have suggested that a variety of interrelated factors, such as mood, cognition, and sleep, can affect the performance of shift workers. This study aimed to identify potential pathways from depression, sleep, and cognition to work performance in shift and non-shift workers.Material and methodsOnline survey including the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D), Cognitive Failure Questionnaire (CFQ), and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), as well as two items representing work mistakes were administered to 4,561 shift workers and 2,093 non-shift workers. A multi-group structural equation model (SEM) was used to explore differences in the paths to work mistakes between shift and non-shift workers.ResultsShift workers had higher PSQI, CES-D, and CFQ scores, and made more mistakes at work than non-shift workers. The SEM revealed that PSQI, CES-D, and CFQ scores were significantly related to mistakes at work, with the CFQ being a mediating variable. There were significant differences in the path coefficients of the PSQI and CES-D between shift and non-shift workers. The direct effects of sleep disturbances on mistakes at work were greater in shift workers, while direct effects of depressive symptoms were found only in non-shift workers.DiscussionThe present study found that shift workers made more mistakes at work than non-shift workers, probably because of depressed mood, poor sleep quality, and cognitive inefficiency. Sleep influences work performance in shift workers more directly compared to non-shift workers

A Large Bandgap Shift in InGaAs(P)/InP Multi-Quantum Well Structure Obtained by Impurity-Free Vacancy Diffusion Using SiO2 Capping and its Application to Photodetectors

In this paper, we have investigated the bandgap tuning in the InGaAs (P)/ InP multiquantum well (MQW) structure obtained by impurity-free vacancy diffusion (IFVD) using low temperature photoluminescence (PL). The MQW intermixing was performed in a rapid thermal annealer (RTA) using the dielectric capping materials, Si02 and SiNX. The Si02 capping was successfully used with InGaAs cap layer to cause a large bandgap tuning effect in the InGaAs/InP MQW material. The blue shift of bandgap energy after RTA treatment was as much as 185 and 230 meV at 750 t and 850 t, respectively, with its value controllable using annealing time and temperature. Samples with Si02-InP or SiN-InGaAs cap layer combinations, on the other hand, did not show any significant energy shifts. The absorption spectra taken from the same samples confimed the energy shifts obtained using PL. The process developed can be readily applied to fabrication of photodetectors that are sensitive to wavelength and/or polarization.This work was fmancially supported in part by OERC(Opto-Electronic Research Center) through the grant # 97K3-0809- 02-06-1 and by the SPRC (Semiconductor Physics Research Center) of Korea. The authors thank U. H. Lee and Prof. D. Lee of Chung Nam National Univ. for their help with the absorption measurement

Efficacy of fermented grain using Bacillus coagulans in reducing visceral fat among people with obesity: a randomized controlled trial

BackgroundObesity is a socioeconomic problem, and visceral obesity, in particular, is related to cardiovascular diseases or metabolic syndrome. Fermented grains and various microorganisms are known to help with anti-obesity effects and weight management. Studies on the relationship between Bacillus coagulans and anti-obesity effects are not well known, and studies on the application of fermented grains and microorganisms to the human body are also insufficient.ObjectivesThis study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of Curezyme–LAC, an ingredient mixed with six-grain types fermented by B. coagulans, in reducing fat mass in adults with obesity.MethodsIn this randomized double-blinded placebo-controlled study, 100 participants [aged 40–65 years; body mass index (BMI) ≥ 25 to ≤ 33 kg/m2) were randomly allocated to two groups: 4 g/day Curezyme–LAC administered as a granulated powder or placebo (steamed grain powder mixture).ResultsAfter 12 weeks, visceral adipose tissue decreased significantly in the Curezyme–LAC group compared with that in the placebo group (mean ± standard error, SE of −9.3 cm2 ± 5.1) vs. (6.8 cm2 ± 3.4; p = 0.008). Compared to the placebo group, the Curezyme–LAC group also showed significant reductions in total fat mass (−0.43 ± 0.24 kg vs. 0.31 ± 0.19 kg, p = 0.011), body weight (−0.4 ± 0.3 kg vs. 0.3 ± 0.2 kg, p = 0.021), BMI (−0.14 ± 0.12 vs. 0.10 ± 0.07, p = 0.028), and waist circumference (−0.6 ± 0.2 cm vs. −0.1 ± 0.2 cm, p = 0.018) without a change in dietary intake and physical activity.ConclusionCurezyme–LAC supplementation for 12 weeks may benefit individuals with obesity by reducing visceral fat mass