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Bone mineral density (BMD) is significantly decreased after gastrectomy in patients with gastric cancer. Calcium malabsorption, secondary hyperparathyroidism, and dominant bone resorption appear to contribute to bone loss in these patients. Patients should undergo early surveillance and nutritional or pharmacologic intensive interventions for bone health. Survivorship care, including bone health, has become an important issue in gastric cancer. We performed a meta-analysis of the available observational studies to determine whether and how osteoporosis risk is increased after gastrectomy in patients with gastric cancer. A total of 1204 patients (802 men) from 19 cohort studies were included. We evaluated the prevalence of osteoporosis in postgastrectomy patients, comparing the incidence according to the type of gastrectomy and sex. Additionally, we evaluated changes in bone mineral density (BMD) and bone metabolism-related markers pre- to postoperatively and between patients who underwent gastrectomy and matched controls. Proportion meta-analysis was performed and pooled odds ratios (ORs) were calculated. The pooled incidence estimate was 36% [95% confidence interval (CI), 32–40]. The incidence of osteoporosis was significantly higher in women than in men (OR = 1.90, p < 0.001) but was similar between partial and total gastrectomy groups (OR = 0.983, p = 0.939). BMD was significantly decreased, and calcium, phosphorous, and parathyroid hormone levels were significantly increased in patients after gastrectomy compared to those before gastrectomy. BMD and calcium and 25OH-vitamin D levels were significantly decreased, and parathyroid hormone and 1,25OH-vitamin D levels were significantly increased in the gastrectomy group compared to that in the control group. We found that BMD is significantly decreased after gastrectomy in patients with gastric cancer. Vitamin D deficiency and secondary hyperparathyroidism are suggested to be common mechanism underlying BMD impairment. After resection, patients should undergo long-term nutritional and bone health surveillance, in addition to their oncological follow-up.

Background and aims Early diagnosis of arteriosclerosis is fundamental for the prevention of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. The current study was performed to identify major predictors of arteriosclerosis and to assess the association between arterial stiffness as measured by cardio-ankle vascular index (CAVI) and muscle mass deficit (MMD) estimated by bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) in middle-aged men. Methods and results Data were gathered from 3356 middle-aged men who visited a health promotion center. CAVI was measured as an index of arterial stiffness. Body composition analysis was performed using BIA. MMD was positively associated with CAVI in the regression model. The odds ratios for high-CAVI (≥9.0) rose with MMD grade in a dose-dependent manner after adjusting for age, lifestyle factors and current medication use. The estimated mean CAVI rose as MMD grade increased (P for trend >0.001). Conclusions MMD estimated from BIA was positively associated with arterial stiffness in middle-aged men. These findings show a close interaction between low muscle mass and cardiovascular risk.

Background Liver transplantation (LT) is the treatment of choice for hepatorenal syndrome (HRS). Recently, acute kidney injury (AKI) due to acute hepatitis A (HA) is increasing, but the outcome of LT is not well established. We investigated the outcomes of LT in patients with AKI due to acute HA compared with those of patients with HRS due to other causes. Methods We investigated the outcomes of LT in 20 patients with AKI associated with acute HA (HAV group) compared with 76 patients with hepatorenal syndrome (HRS) due to other causes (HRS group) at 3 Korea centers. Results Preoperative mean prothrombin time and serum creatinine level were higher in the HAV group than in the HRS group. But mean total bilirubin level was lower in the HAV group. There was no difference in Model for End-Stage Liver Disease scores. Post-transplantation patient and graft survival rates were similar between the 2 groups. More patients in the HAV group needed post-transplantation hemodialysis than in the HRS group (65.0% vs 38.2%; P = .043). However, post-transplantation estimated glomerular filtration rate was significantly higher in the HAV group after post-transplantation month 2 ( P Conclusions Peri-transplantation kidney function of the HAV group was poorer than that of HRS group. However, post-transplantation long-term renal outcome could be better in the HAV group.

The increase of capacitance on dielectric layer is associated with enlargement of etched surface area of electrodes for aluminum electrolytic capacitors. Etched tunnels extending along [100] directions are formed by crystallographic dissolution of aluminum in a chloride solution. This study has been focused primarily on the effects of addition of inhibitors to hydrochloric acid solution on the increase of the surface area by Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS). The addition of 3 % ethylene glycol was more effective for the enlargement of the surface area comparing with those of 1M sulfuric acid and no additive. And it was observed by TEM that the tunnels were grown straight and parallel to [100] directions.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the catalytic role of granular activated carbon (GAC), and metal (Mn or Fe) doped-GAC, on the transformation of ozone into more reactive secondary radicals, such as hydroxyl radicals (.OH), for the treatment of wastewater. The GAC doped with Mn showed the highest catalytic performance in terms of ozone decomposition into OH radicals. Likewise, activated carbon alone accelerated the ozone decomposition, resulting in the formation of .OH radicals. In the presence of promoters, the ozone depletion rate was enhanced further by the Mn-GAC catalyst system, even under aqueous acidic pH conditions.

Epidural administration of dexamethasone might reduce postoperative pain in adults. We evaluated whether a caudal block of 0.1 mg kg(-1) dexamethasone combined with ropivacaine improves analgesic efficacy in children undergoing day-case orchiopexy.This randomized, double-blind study included 80 children aged 6 months to 5 yr who underwent day-case, unilateral orchiopexy. Patients received either 1.5 ml kg(-1) of 0.15% ropivacaine (Group C) or 1.5 ml kg(-1) of 0.15% ropivacaine in which dexamethasone of 0.1 mg kg(-1) was mixed (Group D) for caudal analgesia. Postoperative pain scores, rescue analgesic consumption, and side-effects were evaluated 48 h after operation.Postoperative pain scores at 6 and 24 h post-surgery were significantly lower in Group D than in Group C. Furthermore, the number of subjects who remained pain free up to 48 h after operation was significantly greater in Group D [19 of 38 (50%)] than in Group C [four of 37 (10.8%); P0.001]. The number of subjects who received oral analgesic was significantly lower in Group D [11 of 38 (28.9%)] than in Group C [20 of 37 (54.1%); P=0.027]. Time to first oral analgesic administration after surgery was also significantly longer in Group D than in Group C (P=0.014). Adverse events after surgery including vomiting, fever, wound infection, and wound dehiscence were comparable between the two groups.The addition of dexamethasone 0.1 mg kg(-1) to ropivacaine for caudal block can significantly improve analgesic efficacy in children undergoing orchiopexy. Clinical trial registration NCT01604915.

Objective: To determine the immediate and long-term therapeutic efficacies of Gufoni and head-shaking maneuvers in apogeotropic type of benign paroxysmal positional vertigo involving the horizontal semicircular canal (HC-BPPV), a randomized, prospective, sham-controlled study was conducted. Methods: In 10 nationwide dizziness clinics in Korea, 157 consecutive patients (95 women, age range: 18–89 years, mean age ± SD = 59.9 ± 13.6) with apogeotropic HC-BPPV were randomized to Gufoni (n = 52), head-shaking (n = 54), or sham maneuver (n = 51). For Gufoni maneuver, patients underwent ipsilesional side-lying and upward head-turn for migration of the debris toward the vestibule. Immediate responses were determined within 1 hour after a maximum of 2 trials of each maneuver and in the following day. The patients also had weekly follow-ups for 1 month after the initial maneuver. Results: After a maximum of 2 maneuvers on the initial visit day, Gufoni (38/52, 73.1%) and head-shaking (33/53, 62.3%) maneuvers showed better responses than the sham maneuver (17/49, 34.7%). The cumulative therapeutic effects were also better with Gufoni ( p p = 0.026) maneuvers compared with the sham maneuver. However, therapeutic efficacies did not differ between the Gufoni and head-shaking groups in terms of both immediate ( p = 0.129) and long-term ( p = 0.239) outcomes. Conclusion: Using a prospective randomized trial, we demonstrated that the Gufoni and head-shaking maneuvers are effective in treating apogeotropic HC-BPPV. Classification of evidence: This study provides Class II evidence that Gufoni and head-shaking maneuvers are effective in treating apogeotropic horizontal BPPV up to 1 month after initial treatment. Clinical trial registration: NCT00810641.

Ionizing radiation and restriction endonucleases are very efficient in inducing chromosomal aberrations (CAs). These aberrations are mainly consequences of misrepair of DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs). The fast repairing component of DSBs induced by ionizing radiation seems to be responsible for exchange aberration. Use of premature chromosome condensation technique in combination with DNA repair inhibitors such as ara A has given valuable information on the assessment of the frequencies of initial chromosome breaks and the kinetics of their repair following low LET radiation. The recently developed 'chromosome painting' technique using chromosome-specific libraries has also increased considerably the resolution of identifying and scoring of CAs. After low LET radiation, stable chromosome exchanges (translocations) are induced more frequently than unstable chromosome exchanges (dicentrics). Fluorescence in situ hybridization employing telomeric probe has made it possible to score efficiently exchange aberrations involving the acrocentric chromosomes of mouse. Chinese hamster cells have several intercalary telomeric sequences present in most of the chromosomes. These telomeric blocks have been found to be associated with chromosomal aberrations induced by restriction endonucleases and short wave UV and evidence has been obtained for apparent amplification of telomeric sequences at the break points.

Fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) using non-radioactive probes has become an important tool in cytogenetics. With this technique, using chromosome specific DNA libraries, one can paint whole chromosomes, or using specific probes it is possible to hybridize with specific regions of the chromosome, such as telomeres, centromeres etc. This technique has been used extensively in our laboratory to study several cytogenetical end points in genetic toxicology.

In the bitch, oocytes are ovulated at the germinal vesicle (GV) stage and mature in the isthmus of the oviduct around 3 days after ovulation, it is not known what elements trigger the release of this meiotic arrest. Canine IVM has shown limited success with maturation rates, usually around 20% (MII) (Farstad W, 2000 Anim. Reprod. Sci. 60–61, 375–387). Estrogen and progesterone are suggested to play a significant role in causing oocyte resumption of meiosis and progression to MII stage. The purpose of this study was to investigate the role of estradiol-17β (E2) and progesterone (P4) during in vitro maturation of canine oocytes in serum-free tissue culture medium (TCM)-199. Canine oocytes collected from bitches were categorized into three groups based on estrous stages, follicular, luteal, or anestrus, at routine ovariohystrectomy. Oocytes were cultured in vitro in TCM-199 supplemented with E2, P4 or E2+P4 according to experimental design at 39°C in 5% CO2 and O2. After 72h of maturation culture, oocytes were denuded, fixed in a 3.7% paraformaldehyde solution for 10min, stained with Hoechst 33342 in glycerol, and observed under the UV light. Three groups of oocytes were cultured in TCM-199 supplemented with different concentrations (0, 0.1, 1.0 or 2.0μgmL−1) of E2 (Experiment 1, n=898, replications: 5) or P4 (0, 0.5, 1.0 or 2.0μgmL−1, Experiment 2, n=734, replications: 5). Multiple comparisons were implemented using Generalized Linear Models in the SAS 8.12 program. The rates of oocyte maturation to MII stage were higher (P