Ophthalmologic outcomes after chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy in non-conjunctival ocular adnexal MALT lymphoma

In the present study, we evaluated the ophthalmologic outcomes of 24 patients who received chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy for the treatment of non-conjunctival ocular adnexal mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue-type (MALT) lymphoma. Ophthalmologic outcomes were assessed in patients who received chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy from March 2004 until May 2010. Outcomes were determined according to common symptoms following chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy, which consisted of decreased visual acuity, dry eye symptoms, retinopathy, optic neuropathy, increased intraocular pressure, and blepharitis. Nine patients received chemotherapy alone, eight patients received radiotherapy alone, and seven patients received chemotherapy with additional radiotherapy (chemoradiation therapy). Patients treated by chemotherapy alone showed better ophthalmologic outcome scores (mean score, 1.56) than those treated by radiation alone or chemoradiation therapy (mean score, 4.01). In conclusion, the treatment of ocular adnexal lymphoma including radiotherapy showed poor ophthalmologic outcomes due to radiation-induced complications. Recently, many new treatment options have emerged, such as immunotherapy or radioimmunotherapy. In the future study, to select a better treatment modality with fewer complications, well-designed prospective trials with ophthalmologic outcomes are needed.     

A case of Castleman's disease mimicking a hepatocellular carcinoma: a case report and review of literature

Castleman's disease is a rare disease characterized by lymph node hyperplasia. Although Castleman's disease can occur wherever lymphoid tissue is found, it rarely appears in the abdominal cavity, and is especially rare adjacent to the liver. Here, we report a rare case of Castleman's disease in the portal area that mimicked a hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in a chronic hepatitis B patient. A 40 year-old woman with chronic hepatitis B presented with right upper quadrant discomfort. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging results showed a 2.2 cm-sized, exophytic hypervascular mass in the portal area. HCC was suspected. However, histologic examination revealed Castleman's disease. We suggest that Castleman's disease should be included as a rare differential diagnosis of a hypervascular mass in the portal area, even in patients with chronic hepatitis B.     

Effective in vitro delivery of paclitaxel by nanocargo of mesoporous polycaprolactone against triple negative breast cancer cells by minimalizing drug dose

Among the breast cancers, triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) has relatively poor outcomes with a lower survival rate and personalised chemotherapy is the only option available for treatment. Currently in the biomedical domain, nanomaterials with porous morphology have revealed their tremendous possibilities to be used as a nanocarrier in treating cancer by offering void space to encapsulate/entrap biological agents. However, the development of nanocarrier-based targeted therapy with high therapeutic efficacy and fewer side effects to normal cells is always a challenge. Here, we have developed nanocargos based on biodegradable mesoporous PCL (polycaprolactone) of approx. diameter of 75 nm by template removal synthesis techniques. Succeeding the comparative analysis of the nanocarriers, the efficiencies of core shell PCL-mZnO (PZ) and mesoporous PCL (HPZ) to deliver paclitaxel (Taxol/T) into breast cancer cells, is investigated. We found that HPZ nanocapsules have less cytotoxicity and drug loading efficiency of about 600 μg mg⁻¹. The Taxol-loaded nanoparticles (T-HPZ) have exhibited more cytotoxicity than Taxol alone treated cancer cells. Furthermore, T-HPZ treated MDA-MB231 cells are accumulated at G2/M phase of the cell cycle and eventually undergo apoptosis. In support of this, anchorage independent growth of MDA-MB231 cells are significantly inhibited by T-HPZ treatment. Together, our findings suggest that T-HPZ-based paclitaxel (Taxol/T) loaded nanoparticles provide a novel therapeutic option in the treatment of TNBC.

Porous-PCL-nanocapsules-Taxol is an effective nanomedicine for the treatment of triple negative breast cancer which can reduce the extent of side effects also.     

New and efficient method using Saccharomyces cerevisiae mutants for identification of siderophores produced by microorganisms

The separation and identification of siderophores produced by microorganisms is a time-consuming and an expensive procedure. We have developed a new and efficient method to identify siderophores using well-established Saccharomyces cerevisiae deletion mutants. The Δfet3,arn strains fail to sustain growth, even when specific siderophores are supplied, and mutants are siderophore-specific: Δfet3,arn2 for triacetylfusarinine C (TAFC), Δfet3,arn1,sit1 for ferrichrome (FC), and Δfet3,sit1 for ferrioxamine B (FOB). The culture broth of Fusarium graminearum was separated by HPLC, and each peak was subjected to a plate assay using S. cerevisiae mutants. We have found that each peak contained specific siderophores produced by F. graminearum, and these coincided with reference siderophores. This method is quite novel because nobody tried this method to identify the siderophores. Furthermore, this method will save time and cost in the identification of siderophores produced by microorganisms.     

Characterization of a G11,P[4] strain of human rotavirus isolated in South Korea

A novel human rotavirus strain, CUK-1, containing a G11 type combined with a P[4] type was isolated from a 1-year-old female patient with fever and severe diarrhea at Our Lady of Mercy Hospital in Incheon, South Korea. This CUK-1 strain showed the highest degree of nucleic acid similarity (98.7% and 93%) to G11 Dhaka6 and P[4] RV 5, respectively. This novel combined type of CUK-1 rotavirus strain (G11,P[4]) was uncovered from humans and is reported on here for the first time.     

Durability improvement of polymer chamber of pulsatile extracorporeal life support system in terms of mechanical change

Twin Pulse Life Support, T-PLS™ has received the CE mark (2003) and Korea Food and Drug Administration (KFDA) approval (2004) for short-term application as an Extracorporeal Life Support system (ECLS). T-PLS’s original intention was to apply for not only short-term but also long-term application such as Extracorporeal ventricular assist device (VAD). Hence, a long-term durability test was conducted. The 1-year reliability of the systems tested in this study did not meet the STS/ASAIO standard of 80% reliability with 60% confidence for a 1-year mission life. However, without the disposable units, which are only designed to operate for 6 h, the 1-year reliability exceeded the STS/ASAIO standard of 80% reliability with 60% confidence. In this study, by using the existing analysis methods and analyzing the root cause of the failure used by a numerical analysis. As eliminating or mitigating of the root cause of the failure, we improved the durability of blood chamber and evaluated the performance of the modified system via the hemolysis test.     

Health service utilization,unmet healthcare needs,and the potential of telemedicine services among Korean expatriates

Background

With the significant growth of migration and expatriation, facilitated by increased global mobility, the number of Koreans living abroad as of 2016 is approximately 7.4 million (15% of the Korean population). Healthcare utilization or health problems, especially among expatriates in developing countries, have not been well researched despite the various health risks these individuals are exposed to. Consequently, we identified the health utilization patterns and healthcare needs among Korean expatriates in Vietnam, Cambodia, and Uzbekistan.

Methods

This cross-sectional survey examined 429 Korean expatriates living in Vietnam (n?=?208), Cambodia (n?=?60), and Uzbekistan (n?=?161) who had access to the Internet and were living abroad for at least 6?months. A 67-item questionnaire was used, and feedback was received via an online survey program. Stepwise logistic regression analyses were performed to evaluate factors associated with unmet healthcare needs and preferences of certain type of telemedicine.

Results

We found that 45.5% (195/429) of respondents had used medical services in their country of stay. Among those who visited health institutions >?3 times, the most popular choice was general hospitals (39.4%, 15/38); however, they initially visited Korean doctors’ or local doctors’ offices. The most essential criteria for healthcare service facilities was a “skilled professional” (39.3%, 169/429), 42% wanted a health program for chronic disease management, and 30% wanted specialized internal medicine. A substantial number wanted to access telemedicine services and were willing to pay for this service. They were particularly interested in experts’ second opinion (61.5%, 264/429) and quick, 24-h medical consultations (60.8%, 261/429). Having unmet healthcare needs and being younger was strongly associated with all types of telemedicine networks.

Conclusions

Nearly half of the expatriates in developing countries had unmet healthcare needs. Telemedicine is one potential solution to meet these needs, especially in developing countries.