Search

Background Dual antiplatelet therapy based on aspirin and P2Y12 receptor antagonists such as clopidogrel is currently the primary treatment for coronary artery disease (CAD). However, a percentage of patients exhibit clopidogrel resistance, in which genetic factors play vital roles. This study aimed to investigate the roles of GAS5 (growth arrest‐specific 5) and its rs55829688 polymorphism in clopidogrel response in patients with CAD. Methods and Results A total of 444 patients with CAD receiving dual antiplatelet therapy from 2017 to 2018 were enrolled to evaluate the effect of GAS5 single nucleotide polymorphism rs55829688 on platelet reactivity index. Platelets from 37 patients of these patients were purified with microbeads to detect GAS5 and microRNA‐223‐3p (miR‐223‐3p) expression. Platelet‐rich plasma was isolated from another 17 healthy volunteers and 46 newly diagnosed patients with CAD to detect GAS5 and miR‐223‐3p expression. A dual‐luciferase reporter assay was performed to explore the interaction between miR‐223‐3p and GAS5 or P2Y12 3′‐UTR in (human embryonic kidney 293 cell line that expresses a mutant version of the SV40 large T antigen) HEK 293T and (megakaryoblastic cell line derived in 1983 from the bone marrow of a chronic myeloid leukemia patient with megakaryoblastic crisis) MEG‐01 cells. Loss‐of‐function and gain‐of‐function experiments were performed to reveal the regulation of GAS5 toward P2Y12 via miR‐223‐3p in MEG‐01 cells. We observed that rs55829688 CC homozygotes showed significantly decreased platelet reactivity index than TT homozygotes in CYP2C19 poor metabolizers. Platelet GAS5 expression correlated positively with both platelet reactivity index and P2Y12 mRNA expressions, whereas platelet miR‐223‐3p expression negatively correlated with platelet reactivity index. Meanwhile, a negative correlation between GAS5 and miR‐223‐3p expressions was observed in platelets. MiR‐223‐3p mimic reduced while the miR‐223‐3p inhibitor increased the expression of GAS5 and P2Y12 in MEG‐01 cells. Knockdown of GAS5 by siRNA increased miR‐223‐3p expression and decreased P2Y12 expression, which could be reversed by the miR‐223‐3p inhibitor. Meanwhile, overexpression of GAS5 reduced miR‐223‐3p expression and increased P2Y12 expression, which could be reversed by miR‐223‐3p mimic. Conclusions GAS5 rs55829688 polymorphism might affect clopidogrel response in patients with CAD with the CYP2C19 poor metabolizer genotypes, and GAS5 regulates P2Y12 expression and clopidogrel response by acting as a competitive endogenous RNA for miR‐223‐3p.

Objective Methamphetamine is a drug abused worldwide. Even though its abuse is a serious problem in many countries, there are few safe and effective therapies to treat addiction. In a previous study, music therapy attenuated relapse to morphine. Based on the study, we investigated whether music therapy suppresses the reinstatement of methamphetamine self-administration behavior. Methods Male Sprague-Dawley rats were trained to intravenously self-administer methamphetamine (0.1 mg/kg) using a fixed ratio 1 schedule in a daily 2 h session. Following 3 weeks of training, rats who had established a stable daily intake were subjected to extinction for 1 week. On the next day, priming injection was performed to induce reinstatement. Music therapy was played twice daily during the extinction period and immediately before the test session. In the second experiment, the selective GABAA and GABAB receptor antagonists were treated prior to the last music therapy to investigate a possible neuronal mechanism. Immunofluorescence was performed to immunohistochemically examine the behavioral effects. Results The meditation music by Young-Dong Kim but not the control music by Jeff Beck reduced active lever responding during the reinstatement session. And the effects of music therapy were blocked by GABA receptors antagonists. Also, immunofluorescence showed the pattern of c-Fos expression in the nucleus accumbens paralleled the behavioral results. Conclusion Results of the present study suggest that meditation music by Young-Dong Kim can be a useful therapy to prevent the reinstatement of methamphetamine addiction during abstinence.

The growth of Pt nanocrystals (NCs) on Al2O3 surface via atomic layer deposition (ALD) was investigated deeply. A charge trapping memory using Pt NC as charge trapping layer and amorphous ALD Al2O3/HfO2 as the tunneling/blocking layers was fabricated. Pure metallic Pt NC can be formed at the initial growth stage, following the nucleation incubation model. Electrical measurements of p-Si\Al2O3\Pt NCs\HfO2 show a larger memory window of 6.6 V at the sweeping gate voltage of ±12 V and ∼73% retention property after 105 s. Fowler–Nordheim tunneling serves as the dominant tunneling mechanism at the applied gate voltage of 10 V. Compared to that of 4.0 V with HfO2 blocking layer, control sample with Al2O3 blocking layer shows negligible memory window of 0.3 V at ±10 V, which is attributed to the smaller electric field intensity in the Al2O3 tunneling layer of stacking structures of p-Si\Al2O3\Pt NCs\Al2O3. ALD Pt NCs with a high density of 1.0 × 1012/cm2 provides a potential approach to fabricate large area nanocrystals for future ultrahigh density nonvolatile memory applications.

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to analyze an effect of medical Qigong therapy using Dong Chu Chim (DCC) which was invented by "Dongchu Han Medicine Institute", by measuring HRV. We compared effects of DCC with non-treatment, filiform acupuncture and filiform acupuncture with natural abdominal breathing. Methods : 1. The authors stimulated Nogung (PC8) of 26 normal adults by using DCC or filiform acupuncture in turn. 2. The natural abdominal breathing has been carried comfortably with consciousness in the lower abdomen. 3. HRV was measured for 5 minutes, three times (pre-treatment, during-treatment and post-treatment). Results and Conclusions : From this study, it seems that the stimulus of DCC, filiform acupuncture, filiform acupuncture with natural abdominal breathing can all affect the autonomic nervous system and control the balance of that. But there were not significant differences between these stimulus groups and the non-treatment group. Therefore, we suggest additional studies about the effect of DCC in the future.

This study evaluates the erectile function of male patients treated by preoperative radiotherapy followed by surgery and surgery alone for locally advanced rectal cancer.A total of 112 men treated by total mesorectal excision with autonomic nerve preservation were included. Seventy-three patients were treated by preoperative radiotherapy followed by surgery (RTS group), and 39 were treated by surgery alone (surgery group). Patients filled out the five-item version of the international index of erectile function (IIEF-5) questionnaire at least 6 months after initial erectile function assessment. We analyzed the impact of age, surgery type, location, and size of tumor on erectile function.Total score was decreased significantly at follow-up compared to initial assessment in both RTS and surgery group (20.31 +/- 4.39 vs. 11.52 +/- 4.83, P = 0.012; 19.86 +/- 4.61 vs. 14.07 +/- 6.37, P = 0.031, respectively). Score difference was statistically higher in RTS group compared with surgery group (P = 0.028). In terms of surgery type for RTS group, score difference was statistically higher in the patients with abdominoperineal resection (APR) compared with those with lower anterior resection (P = 0.023). In comparison of score difference according to tumor location, difference was statistically higher in the patients with lower rectal cancer compared with those with upper rectal cancer (P = 0.017).The erectile functions of patients treated by preoperative radiotherapy followed by surgery are more affected than that of patients treated by surgery alone in locally advanced rectal cancer. Also APR and lower rectal cancer were significantly associated with erectile dysfunction in the patients treated by preoperative radiotherapy followed by surgery.

本研究では，畜糞を燃料に用いる内部循環型流動床炉上部のフリーボード部における燃焼特性を実験および理論両面から検討した．燃料としてブロイラー鶏糞，およびブロイラー鶏糞と豚糞の混合物を用いた．水分が約40wt%の混合燃料を用いた場合においても，ガスの出口温度は1,000K以上であることがわかった．フリーボード部についてk-e 法に基づいた3次元数値解析を行った．フリーボード部におけるガス温度の計算値は実験値と妥当に一致した．流動床から発生する燃料ガスはフリーボード部においてほぼ完全に燃焼し，内部は高温に維持されることが示された．

During liver resection and liver transplant, liver is damaged by ischemia-reperfusion injury. Until now, there is no approved method to measure or predict the extent of liver injury during the operation. This is the preliminary study to make the real time monitoring system by quantification of bioimpedance and ischemia-reperfusion injury in liver. Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to different periods of 70% partial hepatic ischemia (30, 60, 90 and 120minutes ischemia) and reperfusion. We measured changes of liver bioelectrical impedance (120 Hz-100 KHz) every five minutes.

This study was designed to develop a new radiosurgery technique by using multiple noncoplanar arc therapy with intensity modulated fine MLC shaped photon beam. The stereotactic radiosurgery was performed with 6-MV x-ray beams from a Clinac 21EX LINAC (Varian, Palo Alto, CA, USA) with a MLC-120, which features a full 40 × 40 cm field and is the first MLC for general use that offers 0.5 cm resolution for high precision treatment of small and irregular fields. We used a single isocenter and five gantry-couch combinations with a new set of intensity modulated arc therapy, Using a 3D treatment planning system (Eclipse, Varian, Palo Alto, CA, USA), which was developed for IMRT converted into multiple non-coplanar arc therapy with a fine MLC shaped photon beam. We investigated dosimetric characteristics for 2 cm sized spherical target volume with film (X-OMAT V2 film, Kodak Inc, Rochester NY, USA) dosimetry within 25 × 25 cm acrylic phantom. A simulated single isocentric treatment using inversely planned 3D radiotherapy planning system demonstrates the ability to conform the dose distribution to an spherical target volume. The 80% dose level is adequate to encompass the target volume in frontal, sagittal, and transverse planes, and the region between the 40% and 80% isodose lines was 4.0∼4.5 mm and comparable to the dose distribution of the Boston Arcs. We expect that our radiosurgery technique could be a treatment option for irregular-shaped large intracranial target, and the time to deliver will be reduced compared with conventional cylindrical collimator technique.

Patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) are at higher risk for malignant lymphomas, among which, however, primary CNS lymphoma (PCNSL) is rare. PCNSL usually occurs within the cerebral hemispheres, occasionally in the cerebellum, but rarely in the cerebellopontine angle (CPA). We report our findings in a 45-year-old man with SLE on azathioprine, who presented with sudden hearing loss and dysphagia. The brain MRI revealed a mass lesion in the right CPA. A biopsy was performed and the final diagnosis was diffuse large B cell lymphoma. This is the first report of CPA lymphoma in a SLE patient. The patient was treated with whole brain radiotherapy only because of recurrent pneumonia that was a result of dysphagia from permanent cranial nerve injury. He has been in complete remission for over 10 months. (Korean J Med 2014;86:89-95)

Background: Electromagnetic fields (EMF) are ubiquitous in modern society including medical field. As the technology of medical instruments and telecommunications has developed rapidly, it has influenced on our lives in many ways. Modern medical practice requires high quality medical equipments, which have a great deal of electromagnetic interference and susceptibility. The purpose of this study were to evaluate electromagnetic condition under usual clinical condition and to suggest a practical guideline in general hospital. Materials and Methods: The actual state of the electromagnetic interference in the medical field was studied under usual clinical conditions including operating rooms, intensive care units, magnetic resonance imaging unit, and hyperthermia unit. Results: There was considerable noise as a result of electromagnetic fields from medical equipments including electrosurgical units and hyperthermia unit, and cellular phones, which could induce serious functional derangements of functioning medical devices. Conclusion: It will be necessary to evaluate the individual electromagnetic situations under various medical conditions and to define a limited zone for cellular phone as well as reposition medical equipments to secure a safer medical practice and to minimize electromagnetic interference.