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Objectives: To determine whether T2 mapping in liver MRI can predict decompensation and death in cirrhotic patients. Methods: This retrospective study included 292 cirrhotic patients who underwent gadoxetic acid-enhanced MRI, including T1 and T2 mapping at 10-min hepatobiliary phase by using the Look-Locker and radial turbo spin-echo sequences, respectively. T1 and T2 values of the liver and spleen were measured. The association of MR parameters and serum markers with decompensation and death was investigated. Risk models combining T2Liver, serum albumin level, and Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) score were created for predicting decompensation (T2Liver, < 49.3 versus ≥ 49.3 ms) and death (< 57.4 versus ≥ 57.4 ms). Results: In patients with compensated cirrhosis at baseline and in the full patient cohort, 9.6% (19 of 197) and 5.1% (15 of 292) developed decompensation and died during the mean follow-up periods of 18.7 and 19.2 months, respectively. A prolonged T2Liver (hazard ratio (HR), 2.59; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.26, 5.31) was independently predictive of decompensation along with the serum albumin level (HR, 0.28; 95% CI, 0.12, 0.68) and MELD score (HR, 1.34; 95% CI, 1.08, 1.66). T2Liver (HR, 2.61; 95% CI, 1.19, 5.72) and serum albumin level (HR, 0.46; 95% CI, 0.19, 1.14) were independent predictors of death. The mean times to decompensation (12.9 versus 29.2 months) and death (16.5 versus 29.6 months) were significantly different between the high- and low-risk groups (p < 0.001). Conclusion: T2Liver from T2 mapping can predict decompensation and death in patients with cirrhosis. Key Points: • Liver T2 values from the radial turbo spin-echo (TSE) T2 mapping sequence with tiered echo sharing and pseudo golden-angle (pGA) reordering were significantly higher in decompensated cirrhosis than compensated cirrhosis. • Liver T2 values from the radial TSE T2 mapping sequence with tiered echo sharing and pGA reordering can predict decompensation and death in patients with cirrhosis. • T2 mapping is recommended as part of liver MRI examinations for cirrhotic patients because it can provide a noninvasive prognostic marker for the development of decompensation and death. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phthalate exposure has been reported to be more associated with obesity in children than in adults. The concentration of di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (DEHP) was high temporal variability in spot urine, so additional tools of assessing DEHP exposure were required. Therefore, we used relative metabolite ratios (RMRs) as well as concentrations, and RMRs did not need to be corrected to the creatinine concentration. We aimed to evaluate the levels of urinary DEHP metabolites and their RMRs in obese children in South Korea, and to investigate the potential of RMRs for assessing the risks for childhood obesity. We analyzed the four urinary DEHP metabolites (mono-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (MEHP), mono-(2-ethyl-5-hydroxyhexyl) phthalate (MEHHP), mono-(2-ethyl-5-oxohexyl) phthalate (MEOHP), and mono-(2-ethyl-5-carboxypentyl) phthalate (MECPP)) in 240 children aged 5–16 years, using isotope dilution GC-MS/MS. The children were placed into three groups ("normal weight," "overweight," and "obese") according to body mass index (BMI) percentiles. We statistically compared the concentrations and RMRs of DEHP metabolites among these groups. The obese group had lower MEHP levels, and higher secondary metabolite (MEHHP, MEOHP, and MECPP) levels, than the normal weight group. DEHP metabolite levels did not differ significantly between the normal weight and obese groups, whereas RMRA2 (as the ratio of the molar concentrations of MEOHP to MEHHP) was found to be negatively associated with BMI percentile (β= −0.236, p <0.01) and weight percentile (β= −0.282, p<0.001). Therefore, we suggest that RMRs are an additional tool for assessing the health risks of DEHP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was aimed to evaluate the association between urinary bisphenol A (BPA) levels and risk of obesity in Korean adults. We analyzed data from the Korean National Environmental Health Survey (KoNEHS) Cycle 2 (2012–2014) and Cycle 3 (2015–2017). A total of 10,021 participants aged ≥ 19 years were included. Urine dilution was corrected by the covariate-adjusted standardization (CAS) method. We performed meta-analysis, logistic regression analysis by matching all covariates with a 1:1 propensity score, and a 4-knot restricted cubic spline plot model to calculate the odds ratios (ORs) for obesity according to natural log-transformed BPA levels. Mean urinary BPA concentration was 1.12 µg/L in KoNEHS Cycle 2 and 1.32 µg/L in Cycle 3. BPA levels were significantly higher among obese adults than among non-obese adults in both KoNEHS Cycles 2 and 3. In pooled data of KoNEHS Cycles 2 and 3, BPA showed significant positive associations with ORs for obesity in both sexes, which were more prominent in females (linear) than in males (non-linear). These associations were confirmed in spline analyses. CAS-applied BPA concentrations were positively associated with obesity in nationwide representative samples of Korean adults. Further studies are warranted to confirm and elucidate the underlying mechanism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to assess the association between urinary concentrations of chlorophenols and childhood central obesity. The study subjects were 165 girls (91 with central obesity and 74 with non-central obesity) aged 7–8 years who visited a hospital for regular health check-ups. The urinary concentrations of chlorophenols including 2,4-dichlorophenol (2,4-DCP), 2,5-dichlorophenol (2,5-DCP), 2,4,5-trichlorophenol (2,4,5-TCP), and 2,4,6-trichlorophenol (2,4,6-TCP) were analyzed using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. The central obesity group showed significantly higher urinary concentrations of 2,5-DCP (0.56 vs. 0.28 ng/mL) and 2,4,5-TCP (0.06 vs. 0.03 ng/mL) than the non-central obesity group. The sum of molar concentrations of urinary chlorophenols was also significantly higher in the central obesity group than in the non-central obesity group (9.83 vs. 5.26 nmol/L). Girls in the highest quartile of the molar sum of chlorophenols showed significantly higher body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), and waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) compared with the lowest quartile after adjusting for covariates. WC and WHtR, but not BMI, were significantly associated with higher quartiles of the molar sum of chlorophenols (P-for-trend = 0.025 and 0.028, respectively). We found a positive association between chlorophenol exposure and central obesity in Korean girls. Large-scale prospective studies are needed to confirm our findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We evaluated and classified forty five onion cultivars according to bulb initiation, bulb and scale characteristics, minerals and organic compounds contents, and storage quality in South Korea during 2016/2017 and 2017/2018 growing seasons. Field experiment was conducted in randomized block design with three replications. Bulb initiation ranged from 153 days after transplanting (DAT, April 2) to 177 DAT (April 26). Fresh bulb weight (FBW) and bulb index (BI) were 285.5 ± 18.5 g/individual, 0.93 ± 0.05, respectively. Number of scales (NS), number of center (NC), and scale thickness (ST) were 7.6 ± 0.2, 2.3 ± 0.2, and 5.5 ± 0.2 mm/scale, respectively. Chroma and Lightness of bulb skin were 27.1 ± 1.9, 61.2 ± 2.3, respectively. Storage loss (SL) on December 12 was 19.4 ± 5.9%. Nitrogen (N), Carbon (C) and sulfur (S) contents were 1.36 ± 0.14, 37.9 ± 3.2 and 0.40 ± 0.06 mg kg−1 on a fresh weight basis. Total soluble solids (TSS) and total phenolics content (TPC) were 8.6 ± 0.6 °Bx, 164.8 ± 15.6 mg GE kg−1 on a fresh weight basis. Days from transplanting to bulb initiation was significantly positively correlated with bulb height, NC, dry matter, N, C, S, TSS, TPC, total flavonoids content (TFC) etc., while it was negatively correlated with rot loss and SL. Dry matter content was significantly positively correlated with N, C, S, TSS, TPC, TFC etc., while it was negatively correlated with SL. Storage loss was negatively correlated with N, S, Potassium and TSS. Dendrogram of agglomerative hierarchical clustering for the forty five cultivars based on bulb initiation, bulb and scale characteristics, and bulb minerals and organic compounds contents classified five cultivar groups. Cluster 1 featured the earliest bulb initiation and the greatest SL. Cluster 2 featured the fewest NS and NR, and the thickest ST. Cluster 3 featured the greatest FBW, and the most NS and NC. Cluster 4 featured the greatest BI and the thinnest ST. Cluster 5 featured the lowest SL, and the highest minerals and antioxidant compounds contents. This information should be helpful for onion growers to decide onion cultivar and for onion breeders to promote new cultivars depending on their purpose. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To determine whether quantification of liver extracellular volume fraction (fECV) using dual-energy CT (DECT) allows prediction of liver-related events (LREs) in cirrhotic patients. Methods: This retrospective study included 305 cirrhotic patients who underwent dual-source DECT imaging and had serum markers analyzed within 2 weeks of initial CT imaging. The fECV score was measured using an iodine map of equilibrium-phase images obtained 3 min after contrast injection at 100/140 Sn kVp. The association of the fECV score and serum markers with LREs was investigated. A risk model combining the fECV score (< 27 versus ≥ 27%) and serum albumin level (< 4 versus ≥ 4 g/dL) was constructed for LRE prediction. Results: An increased fECV score (odds ratio, 1.27; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.15, 1.40) was independently associated with decompensated cirrhosis at baseline (n = 85) along with the Model for End-Stage Liver Disease score (odds ratio, 1.32; 95% CI, 1.07, 1.63). Among patients with compensated cirrhosis, 10.5% (23 of 220) experienced LREs during the median follow-up period of 2.0 years (decompensation, n = 14; hepatocellular carcinoma, n = 9). The fECV score (hazard ratio, 1.40; 95% CI, 1.22, 1.62) and serum albumin level (hazard ratio, 0.26; 95% CI, 0.09, 0.73) were independent predictors of LRE. The mean times to LRE among the high (16.5 months, n = 18)-, intermediate (25.6 months, n = 44)-, and low (30.5 months, n = 158)-risk groups were significantly different (p < 0.001). Conclusions: The fECV score derived from DECT allows prediction of LREs in cirrhotic patients. Key Points: • The extracellular volume fraction (fECV) score derived from the iodine map of dual-energy CT (DECT) was independently associated with the presence of hepatic decompensation. • The fECV score derived from the iodine map of DECT can predict liver-related events (LREs) in patients with cirrhosis. • Equilibrium-phase scanning in dual-energy mode is recommended as part of liver CT in cirrhotic patients because it can provide a prognostic indicator for LRE development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was conducted to measure the inactivation characteristics of UVs and TiO2 against Salmonella. Typhimurium and Escherichia coli O157:H7 on black pepper powder. The sample was irradiated by UV-A and UV-C combined with TiO2 coating. After treatment, microbial and physicochemical analysis was carried out. Among various sterilization conditions, the largest number of pathogen in black pepper powder was inactivated by UV-A and UV-C combined with TiO2 coating. The microbial count of black pepper powder treated simultaneously with UV-A and UV-C was less than that of black pepper powder treated with alone. The inactivation effect of UV-A and UV-C was increased when TiO2 coating was combined. Moisture content was decreased with increasing treatment time, but color did not change. In this study, it was indicated that the combined treatment of UV-C, UV-A and TiO2 coating was effective for reducing S. Typhimurium and E. coli O157:H7 on black pepper powder. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, UV-C and mild heat treatments were used alone or in combination for the inactivation of Salmonella Typhimurium and Escherichia coli O157:H7 on the black pepper powder. The treated pepper powder was analyzed microbiologically, and the physicochemical properties of the pepper powder were examined. UV-C combined with heat treatment at 60 °C most effectively inactivated the pathogens. However, heat treatment at 60 °C produced many injured cells and greatly reduced moisture content of the pepper powder. UV-C combined with heat treatment at 45 °C showed significantly (p < 0.05) similar inactivation results as that with heat treatment at 60 °C after 18 min. In addition, the combined treatment minimized the moisture loss and color change of the pepper powder compared to heat treatment at 60 °C. Thus, UV-C and heat treatment at 45 °C can effectively inactivate pathogens while maintaining the quality of black pepper powder. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Sarcopenia is suggested to be associated with cancer-related inflammation. We assessed the clinical outcome of small cell lung cancer (SCLC) patients according to sarcopenia and the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR).Methods: A total of 117 male SCLC patients treated with first-line chemo- or chemoradiotherapy were assessed based on a retrospective chart review. The mass of the pectoralis muscle was measured by computed tomography and normalized to height. Patients with the lowest quartile of muscle mass were considered to have sarcopenia. Patients were classified into four groups according to their sarcopenia and NLR statuses: sarcopenia/high NLR, sarcopenia/low NLR, non-sarcopenia/high NLR, and non-sarcopenia/low NLR.Results: Sarcopenic patients had lower progression-free survival (PFS) than did non-sarcopenic patients (median 6.0 vs. 7.5 months, p = 0.009), but the difference in overall survival (OS) was not statistically significant (median 10.5 vs. 13.5 months, p = 0.052). However, the OS of sarcopenic patients with high NLR was significantly lower than that in all other groups (median 3.2 vs. 16.0 vs. 12.5 vs. 13.7 months, respectively, p < 0.001), as was PFS (median 3.2 vs. 7.7 vs. 7.6 vs. 7.1 months, respectively, p < 0.001). On multivariate analysis, sarcopenia with high NLR was an independent prognostic factor for shorter PFS and OS. Early discontinuation of treatment (20.0 vs. 10.3 %) and treatment-related mortality (50.0 vs. 8.4 %) occurred more frequently in these patients than in the other groups (p < 0.001).Conclusions: In SCLC, sarcopenic male patients with high NLR have a poor prognosis and do not tolerate standard treatment. Intensive supportive care is needed in these patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mutation of KRAS genes occurs with a frequency of 0.5-32 % in AML. In the present study, mutations of KRAS codon 12, 13, and 61 were detected by pyrosequencing and direct sequencing in AML. Seven KRAS mutations (7/123, 5.7 %) were detected. The most common mutation was a G-to-A transition in the second base of KRAS codon 13. No mutations were detected in KRAS codon 61. Combinations of KRAS and FLT3 mutation were not found in the same patient. There was no statistically significant difference between patients with KRAS mutations and patients with wild-type KRAS in terms of sex, age, CBC at diagnosis, CD34 positivity, MPO positivity, FLT3 mutation, karyotype, progression-free survival, and overall survival, although this may be attributable to the small sample size. To our knowledge, this is the first report of the detection of KRAS mutation in Asian AML patients using pyrosequencing and direct sequencing. These two methods showed identical efficiencies in their ability to detect KRAS mutations in 84 patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mutation of KRAS genes occurs with a frequency of 0.5–32 % in AML. In the present study, mutations of KRAS codon 12, 13, and 61 were detected by pyrosequencing and direct sequencing in AML. Seven KRAS mutations (7/123, 5.7 %) were detected. The most common mutation was a G-to-A transition in the second base of KRAS codon 13. No mutations were detected in KRAS codon 61. Combinations of KRAS and FLT3 mutation were not found in the same patient. There was no statistically significant difference between patients with KRAS mutations and patients with wild-type KRAS in terms of sex, age, CBC at diagnosis, CD34 positivity, MPO positivity, FLT3 mutation, karyotype, progression-free survival, and overall survival, although this may be attributable to the small sample size. To our knowledge, this is the first report of the detection of KRAS mutation in Asian AML patients using pyrosequencing and direct sequencing. These two methods showed identical efficiencies in their ability to detect KRAS mutations in 84 patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The original version of this article unfortunately contained two mistakes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adults with short stature have been previously reported to have increased risk of cardiovascular events and hyper-LDL-cholesterolemia. We aimed to assess the association between height and lipid profiles among Korean adolescents and adults. We analyzed data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from 2007 to 2015, from 37,889 individuals (aged 12–59 years). In adolescents, total cholesterol (TC) and low density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) levels had profound associations with height in both boys and girls, while high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) levels had an inverse association with height only in boys. Height was inversely associated with TC, triglycerides (TG), and LDL-C concentrations in men and women and positively correlated with HDL-C concentration in women. In boys, the odds ratios (ORs) for hypercholesterolemia, hypertriglyceridemia, hyper-LDL-cholesterolemia were higher for shorter subjects (ORs = 2.38~7.01), while only the OR of hyper-LDL-cholesterolemia was significantly higher in girls with short stature (OR = 3.12). In adults, the ORs for hypercholesterolemia, hypo-HDL-cholesterolemia, and hyper-LDL-cholesterolemia were significantly higher in short subjects than in tall subjects after controlling for covariates (ORs = 1.50~2.61). Also, short men showed significantly higher ORs for hypertriglyceridemia (OR = 1.85) than tall men. Short stature was significantly associated with adverse lipid profiles in both adolescents and adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]