Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty and stenting for severe stenosis of the intracranial extradural internal carotid artery causing transient ischemic attack or minor stroke

The purpose of this study is to assess the technical feasibility and clinical efficacy of percutaneous transluminal angioplasty and stenting (PTAS) for symptomatic stenosis of the intracranial extradural (petrous and cavernous) internal carotid artery (ICA).Review of medical records identified 26 consecutive patients who underwent PTAS using a balloon-expandable coronary stent (n = 15, 57.7%) or a Wingspan self-expandable stent (n = 11, 42.3%) for treatment of severe stenosis (>70%) involving the intracranial extradural ICA. The inclusion criteria were transient ischemic attack with an ABCD² score of ≥3 (n = 12, 46.2%) or minor stroke with an NIHSS score of ≤4 (n = 14, 53.8%). Technical success rates, complications, and angiographic and clinical outcomes were analyzed retrospectively.PTAS was technically successful in all patients. The mean stenosis ratio decreased from 77.1% to 10.0% immediately after PTAS. The overall incidence of procedural complications was 23.1%, and the postoperative permanent morbidity/mortality rate was 7.7%. A total of 22 patients were tracked over an average period of 29.9 months. During the observation period, 20 patients (90.9%) had no further cerebrovascular events and stroke recurrence occurred in two patients (9.1%), resulting in an annual stroke risk of 3.7%. Two cases (11.1%) of significant in-stent restenosis (>50%) were found on follow-up angiography (n = 18).PTAS for severe stenosis (>70%) involving the intracranial extradural ICA showed a good technical feasibility and favorable clinical outcome in patients with transient ischemic attack or minor stroke.     

Myocardial Contrast Defect Associated with Thrombotic Coronary Occlusion: Pre-Autopsy Diagnosis of a Cardiac Death with Post-Mortem CT Angiography

We report the case of a female who died of suspected acute myocardial infarction. Post-mortem CT angiography (PMCTA) was performed with intravascular contrast infusion before the standard autopsy, and it successfully demonstrated the complete thrombotic occlusion of a coronary artery and also a corresponding perfusion defect on myocardium. We herein describe the PMCTA findings of a cardiac death with special emphasis on the potential benefits of this novel CT technique in forensic practice.     

Socioeconomic Characteristics and Trends in the Consumption of Ultra-Processed Foods in Korea from 2010 to 2018

There is growing evidence for a global transition to a more highly processed diet. While the dietary share of ultra-processed foods depends on a country’s economic status, food choice and consumption are also influenced by the socioeconomic situation of individuals. This study investigated whether ultra-processed food consumption differed across socioeconomic subgroups and over time (2010–2018) in Korea. Cross-sectional data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2010–2018 were analyzed. Food and beverages reported in a one-day 24 h recall were classified according to the NOVA food classification criteria. The dietary energy contribution of ultra-processed foods was high among men and urban residents, and increased with education and income level; additionally, it reached its peak in adolescents and thereafter decreased with increasing age. After adjusting the socioeconomic variables, such associations remained significant, except for income level. The overall contribution of ultra-processed foods increased from 23.1% (2010–2012) to 26.1% (2016–2018), and the same trend over time was observed in all age groups and socioeconomic strata. In the Korean population, ultra-processed food consumption differed by individual socioeconomic characteristics, but gradually increased over time, and this trend was consistently found in all socioeconomic subgroups. Future strategies to promote healthy food choices are needed for the Korean population.     

Atrial Cardiopathy Biomarkers and MRI-Based Infarct Patterns in Patients with Embolic Strokes of Undetermined Source

ObjectivesThe study aimed to investigate whether N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) concentration and/or left atrial volume index (LAVI), as atrial cardiopathy biomarkers, were associated with infarct patterns on diffusion-weighted imaging in patients with embolic strokes of undetermined source (ESUS).Materials and MethodWe retrospectively evaluated patient with ESUS from our stroke registry between January 2018 and November 2019. Cut-off values for atrial cardiopathy biomarkers were defined as >250 pg/mL for NT-proBNP and >34 mL/m² for LAVI. Eligible patients were then assigned to 3 groups and infarct patterns were compared according to their atrial cardiopathy markers: Group 1 (no atrial cardiopathy markers), Group 2 (one marker), and Group 3 (both markers).ResultsAmong 194 eligible patients with ESUS (76 women; mean age, 69.2 years), simultaneous increases of NT-proBNP concentration and LAVI were identified in 39 (20.1%). Group 3 had a significantly larger infarct volume, relative to Group 1 and Group 2 (P=0.043) Multivariable logistic regression analyses revealed that these patients (Group 3) were significantly more likely to have multi-territorial infarcts (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]: 3.03, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.05-8.72; P=0.04), a maximal lesion diameter >15mm (aOR: 4.51, 95% CI: 1.70-11.93; P=0.001), and large cortical infarctions (aOR: 4.17, 95% CI: 1.75-9.96; P=0.001).ConclusionWe found that simultaneously increased values for NT-proBNP concentration and LAVI were independently associated with multi-territorial and large cortical infarct patterns in patients with ESUS. These findings suggest that NT-proBNP and LAVI may be useful biomarkers for identifying cardioembolic subtypes and guiding treatment selection in patients with ESUS.     

Colorectal adenocarcinoma-derived EGFR mutants are oncogenic and sensitive to EGFR-targeted monoclonal antibodies,cetuximab and panitumumab

Somatic mutations of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) occur in ~3% of colorectal cancer (CRC) patients. Here, through systematic functional screening of 21 recurrent EGFR mutations selected from public data sets, we show that 11 colon cancer-derived EGFR mutants (G63R, E114K, R165Q, R222C, S492R, P596L, K708R, E709K, G719S, G724S and L858R) are oncogenic and able to transform cells in a ligand-independent manner. We demonstrate that cellular transformation by these mutants requires receptor dimerization. Importantly, the EGF-induced and constitutive oncogenic potential of these EGFR mutants are inhibited by cetuximab or panitumumab in vivo and in vitro. Taken together, we propose that a subset of EGFR mutations can serve as genomic predictors for response to anti-EGFR antibodies and that metastatic CRC patients with such mutations may benefit from these drugs as part of the first-line therapy.     

WB852-β环糊精包合物的研究

环糊精(cyclodextrin,CD)的发现已近百年,其基础和应用方面的研究至今仍相当活跃,由于环糊精优良的理化性质和生物学特性,可使不稳定的药物包含于环糊精分子内,因此在某种程度上切断药物分子与周围化学环境的联系,而提高药物的稳定性。本文就抗癌抗炎新药WB_(852)~((2,3))的环糊精包合物进行研究,以期提高其化学稳定性。