Hyunkyung Park

Association of diethylhexyl phthalate with obesity-related markers and body mass change from birth to 3 months of age

Background Several studies have suggested potential links of phthalates to obesity in children and adults. Limited evidence, however, has been available for the relations between diethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP) and obesity-related markers or body mass change in early life. Methods 128 healthy pregnant women were recruited and, after delivery, their newborns’ first urine and umbilical cord blood samples were collected. We measured urinary levels of two DEHP metabolites, mono-(2-ethyl-5-hydroxyhexyl) phthalate (MEHHP) and mono-(2-ethyl-5-oxohexyl) phthalate (MEOHP). We also measured the levels of leptin, total cholesterol and triglyceride (TG) in cord serum, and used them along with weight, length, head circumference and ponderal index (PI, 100u2005g/cm3) at birth, as obesity-related markers, and estimated the relations between DEHP metabolites and obesity-related markers using generalised linear models. For the evaluation of body mass increase by early life DEHP exposure, body mass index (BMI) z-score change during 3u2005months after birth by DEHP metabolites in the first urine samples of the newborns were evaluated using logistic regression. Results DEHP exposure was associated with decrease of PI and increase of TG (PI, β=−0.11, p=0.070 and TG, β=0.14, p=0.027), especially for boys (PI, β=−0.13, p=0.021; and TG, β=0.19, p=0.025). Moreover, DEHP exposure was positively associated with body mass increase during 3u2005months after birth (change of BMI z-scores, OR=4.35, p=0.025). Conclusions Our findings suggest that DEHP exposure may affect body mass change in early life through changes of obesity-related markers.

Effects of Aging on Visuospatial Performance and Cerebral Activation and Lateralization: An FMRI Study

This study examines the differences between visuospatial performance of subjects in their 20s and 40s, including the number of activated voxels and cerebral lateralization using functional magnetic resonance imaging during visuospatial tasks. Eight college students in their 20s (21.5 ± 2.3 years old) and six adults in their 40s (45.7 ± 2.6 years old) participated in the experiment. Functional brain images were taken from 3T magnetic resonance imaging using the single-shot echo planar imaging method. Compared to subjects in their 20s, those in their 40s showed lower visuospatial performance, longer reaction time, and a smaller number of activated voxels. There was no difference in cerebral lateralization between the two age groups.

Infectious complications in multiple myeloma receiving autologous stem cell transplantation in the past 10 years

Infection is one of the main causes of early-treatment mortality in multiple myeloma (MM) patients during autologous stem cell transplantation (autoSCT). In the present study, we sought to determine the incidence of, and risk factors for, infection during hospital stays after autoSCT. We retrospectively evaluated 324 autoSCT events that occurred in 285 MM patients between 2006 and 2015, and reviewed the clinical characteristics of patients and history of infections. Sixty-eight infection events occurred, including bacteremia (24), other bacterial infections (7), as well as infections caused by Cytomegalovirus (17), Herpes simplex virus (12), Varicella zoster virus (3), Aspergillus (3) and Pneumocystis jiroveci (2). There was no significant difference in number of infections in the 2006–2010 and 2011–2015 periods (Pxa0=xa00.194). Risk factors for bacteremia included higher beta-2 microglobulin levels at diagnosis [≥3.5xa0mg/L; adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 3.544 (95% CI 1.070–11.736), Pxa0=xa00.038] and previous bortezomib treatment [aOR 4.270 (95% CI 1.389–13.125), Pxa0=xa00.011]. In-hospital mortality occurred in 1.2% of all cases and all were infection-related. In conclusion, infection was the main cause of in-hospital mortality in patients who underwent autoSCT. Bacteremia was the most common type of microbiologically confirmed infection, and was associated with higher beta-2 microglobulin levels and previous bortezomib treatment.

Pulmonary Lymphoma Misdiagnosed as Pneumonia

Pulmonary lymphoma is a very rare cause of lung tumors which occurs in less than one percent of primary malignant lung tumors. When seemingly pneumonia does not respond to treatment, the possibility of malignant lymphoma should always be considered. Here, we report two cases of pulmonary lymphoma misdiagnosed as pneumonia.

Sorting microparticles by orientation using wedged-fin and railed microfluidics

We present a new method for sorting directionally-oriented microparticles in a microfluidic channel. During the process of injecting the microparticles into a microfluidic channel, directionally-oriented microparticles are disordered, floating freely in the solution. In order to arrange microparticles where proper directional orientation is required, two sorting methods can be used with respect to the microparticles rotation and flip. For sorting microparticles based on their rotation, we used a lean wedge shaped fin on the microparticles and a Y-shaped railed microfluidic channel containing a groove on the top of the channel. For sorting according to flip, we used two grooves on the top and bottom of the microfluidic channel, and rectangular fins on the microparticles. Thus, we have demonstrated simple direction-oriented fluidic assembly, allowing for two plane orientation of prefabricated microparticles injected into a microfluidic channel.

Serum free light chain difference and beta-2 microglobulin levels are risk factors for thromboembolic events in patients with AL amyloidosis

&NA; AL amyloidosis might increase the risk of thromboembolism and other plasma cell dyscrasias. Therefore, we evaluated the features of thromboembolism in AL amyloidosis. The incidence of thromboembolism was substantial (12.3%); most events developed within the first year after the diagnosis, and arterial thromboembolism occurred frequently. In particular, patients with risk factors might require close monitoring for thromboembolism. Background: AL amyloidosis might increase the risk of thromboembolism and other plasma cell dyscrasias; however, only a few reports have described the clinical features of thromboembolism. The present study aimed to elucidate the clinical features of thromboembolic events and to identify the risk factors for these events. Materials and Methods: The medical records were retrospectively reviewed to define the clinically significant thromboembolic events. Results: A total of 106 patients with biopsy‐proven AL amyloidosis were included. During a median follow‐up of 18.1 months (range, 0.4‐166.9 months), 13 thromboembolism events were identified in 13 patients. Of the 13 patients, 9 (8.5%) experienced acute cerebral infarction, 2 (1.9%) experienced pulmonary embolism, and 2 (1.9%) experienced deep vein thrombosis. Patients with a higher serum free light chain (FLC) difference (≥ 172.4 mg/L) or &bgr;2‐microglobulin (&bgr;2MG) levels (≥ 2.78 mg/L) experienced significantly more thromboembolic events compared with those with a lower value according to multivariable analysis (for FLC difference: hazard ratio, 4.309; 95% confidence interval, 1.158‐16.032; P = .029; for &bgr;2MG: hazard ratio, 9.739; 95% confidence interval, 1.127‐84.174; P = .039). Most thromboembolic events (11 of 13; 84.6%) occurred within the first year after the AL amyloidosis diagnosis. Conclusion: The incidence of thromboembolism was substantial in those with AL amyloidosis. A greater FLC difference and for &bgr;2MG levels were risk factors for thromboembolic events.

Effect of Caffeic Acid on Nasal Polyp Derived Fibroblasts

Objectives: Caffeic acids are known to have anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, and tissue reparative effects. The purposes of this study were to determine the effect of caffeic acid on transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1-induced myofibroblast differentiation and collagen production, and to determine whether caffeic acid is involved in the antioxidant effect. Method: Nasal polyp-derived fibroblasts (NPDFs) were pre-treated with caffeic acid (5-25 µM) for 2 hours and stimulated with TGF-β1 (5 ng/mL) for 24 hours. The expression of α-SMA, collagen types I and III, and Nox4 mRNA was determined by a reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, and the expression of α-SMA protein was determined by immunofluorescence microscopy. The amount of total soluble collagen production was analyzed by the Sircol collagen dye-binding assay. The reactive oxygen species (ROS) generated by NPDFs were determined using 2′,7′-dichlorfluorescein-diacetate. siNox4 was used to determine the effect of Nox4. Results: The expression of α-SMA and production of collagen were significantly increased following TGF-β1 treatment. In contrast, the level of expression of α-SMA and the level of production of collagen were decreased by pre-treatment with caffeic acid. The activation of Nox4 and the subsequent production of ROS were also reduced by pre-treatment with caffeic acid. The expression of α-SMA was prevented by inhibition of ROS generation with siNox4. Conclusion: Caffeic acid may inhibit TGF-β1-induced differentiation of fibroblasts into myofibroblasts and collagen production by regulating NADPH oxidase-derived ROS.

Crystal growth and properties of photorefractive materials BaTiO/sub 3/

Barium titanate has special features such as high beam coupling gain, self-pumped phase conjugation, high phase conjugate reflectivity, and a wide operating wavelength range. Therefore BaTiO/sub 3/ is adequate for applications to photorefractive devices with excellent electro-optic properties. The BaTiO/sub 3/ single crystals could be grown by the TSSG technique or the modified Czochralski method. The study on poling process was necessary for the optical application of grown single crystals. Furthermore the photorefractive properties were measured and compared with the data reported previously in order to characterize the quality of the grown crystals. The temperature fluctuations, the thermal gradients, and the cooling rates in the high temperature solutions were controlled during the growth process in order to improve the quality of BaTiO/sub 3/ single crystals. The BaTiO/sub 3/ crystals grown under the high thermal gradient exhibited oxygen deficiency. On the other hand, the second phases were precipitated on the BaTiO/sub 3/ crystal under the very low thermal gradient. The BaTiO/sub 3/ crystals grown under moderate thermal gradient were transparent, pale yellow and good in quality.