Risk of Fungal Endophthalmitis Associated with Cataract Surgery: A Mini-Review.

Fungal endophthalmitis is a rare complication after cataract surgery and is associated with significant morbidity including vision loss. The common causative fungal pathogens implicated in fungal endophthalmitis after cataract surgery include Candida species (spp.) and molds such as Aspergillus spp.

Survival in Subcortical Vascular Dementia: Predictors and Comparison to Probable Alzheimer's Disease in a Tertiary Memory Clinic Population.

Background: Subcortical vascular dementia (SVaD) is one of the most common dementias, after Alzheimer's disease (AD) dementia. Few survival analyses in SVaD patients have been reported.

Methods: The dates and causes of death of 146 SVaD and 725 AD patients were included.

Periventricular white matter hyperintensities and the risk of dementia: a CREDOS study.

Background: Cerebral white matter hyperintensities (WMH) are prevalent incident findings on brain MRI scans among elderly people and have been consistently implicated in cognitive dysfunction. However, differential roles of WMH by region in cognitive function are still unclear. The aim of this study was to ascertain the differential role of regional WMH in predicting progression from mild cognitive impairment (MCI) to different subtypes of dementia.

Inducible Deletion of Protein Kinase Map4k4 in Obese Mice Improves Insulin Sensitivity in Liver and Adipose Tissues.

Studies in vitro suggest that mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase kinase kinase 4 (Map4k4) attenuates insulin signaling, but confirmation in vivo is lacking since Map4k4 knockout is lethal during embryogenesis. We thus generated mice with floxed Map4k4 alleles and a tamoxifen-inducible Cre/ERT2 recombinase under the control of the ubiquitin C promoter to induce whole-body Map4k4 deletion after these animals reached maturity. Tamoxifen administration to these mice induced Map4k4 deletion in all tissues examined, causing decreased fasting blood glucose concentrations and enhanced insulin signaling to AKT in adipose tissue and liver but not in skeletal muscle.

Cholecystocolic fistula caused by gallbladder carcinoma: preoperatively misdiagnosed as hepatic colon carcinoma.

Cholecystocolic fistula secondary to gallbladder carcinoma is extremely rare and has been reported in very few studies. Most cholecystocolic fistulae are late complications of gallstone disease, but can also develop following carcinoma of the gallbladder when the necrotic tumor penetrates into the adjacent colon. Although no currently available imaging technique has shown great accuracy in recognizing cholecystocolic fistula, abdominopelvic computed tomography may show fistulous communication and anatomical details.

Transient receptor potential vanilloid type-1 channel regulates diet-induced obesity, insulin resistance, and leptin resistance.

Insulin resistance is a major characteristic of obesity and type 2 diabetes, but the underlying mechanism is unclear. Recent studies have shown a metabolic role of capsaicin that may be mediated via the transient receptor potential vanilloid type-1 (TRPV1) channel. In this study, TRPV1 knockout (KO) and wild-type (WT) mice (as controls) were fed a high-fat diet (HFD), and metabolic studies were performed to measure insulin and leptin action.

Right atrial reduction plasty associated with the cox-maze procedure.

We performed a right atrial reduction plasty combined with the Cox-maze procedure in a patient with a giant right atrium and permanent atrial fibrillation. The reduction plasty involved excisions of the redundant atrial wall along two ablation lines of the maze procedure, and excision of the redundant thin septum primum. This procedure achieved a 60% dimension reduction and an 80% volume reduction.

Efficacy of conservative management in patients with right colonic diverticulitis.

Background: Although right colonic diverticulitis is more common than sigmoid diverticulitis, and its incidence has been increasing in Asian countries, there is no definitive treatment strategy for right colonic diverticulitis. This retrospective clinical study assessed the effect of conservative management in patients with right colonic diverticulitis.

Methods: Of the 169 patients who were diagnosed with right colonic diverticulitis at Chonbuk National University Hospital, South Korea, from 2005 to 2012, 152 patients evaluated by abdominopelvic computed tomography (CT) and managed conservatively were included.

Body Mass Index and Mortality Rate in Korean Patients with Alzheimer's Disease.

Background: A relationship between body weight, cognitive impairment, and the onset of Alzheimer's disease (AD) was recently reported. However, to our knowledge, no studies have investigated the relationship between body weight and mortality in Asian AD patients.

Objective: We evaluated the relationship between body mass index (BMI) and mortality rate in Korean AD cohorts.

Is Hemiresurfacing Arthroplasty for Osteonecrosis of the Hip a Viable Solution?

We conducted a systematic review of published studies that evaluated the outcomes of hemiresurfacing arthroplasty (HRA) in patients with osteonecrosis (ON). A structured literature review of multiple databases referenced articles from 1950 to 2014. A total of 430 patients from 14 published studies were identified.

Correction: Highly lithium-ion conductive battery separators from thermally rearranged polybenzoxazole.

Correction for 'Highly lithium-ion conductive battery separators from thermally rearranged polybenzoxazole' by Moon Joo Lee et al., Chem. Commun.

Adult-onset leukoencephalopathy with axonal spheroids and pigmented glia linked CSF1R mutation: Report of four Korean cases.

We describe detailed clinical, biochemical, neuroimaging and neuropathological features in adult-onset leukoencephalopathy with axonal spheroids and pigmented glia (ALSP), encompassing hereditary diffuse leukoencephalopathy with axonal spheroids (HDLS) and pigmentary orthochromatic leukodystrophy (POLD), linked to colony-stimulating factor 1 receptor (CSF1R) mutations in four Korean cases. Clinical, biochemical, neuroimaging and neuropathological findings were obtained by direct evaluation and from previous medical records. The genetic analysis of the CSF1R gene was done in two autopsy-confirmed ALSP cases and two cases where ALSP was suspected based on the clinical and neuroimaging characteristics.

Systemic review of published literature on Candida infection following total hip arthroplasty.

Candida species (Candida spp.) infection following total hip arthroplasty (THA) is a rare but potentially devastating complication. The purpose of this study was to provide an evidence-based summarization of the treatment and outcome of Candida spp.

Highly lithium-ion conductive battery separators from thermally rearranged polybenzoxazole.

High power density lithium ion battery (HLIB) separators were fabricated for the first time from thermally rearranged poly(benzoxazole-co-imide) (TR-PBOI) nanofibrous membranes coated with TR-PBOI nanoparticles, which show distinct thermal and dimensional stabilities as well as excellent cycle retention and rate capability.

Unexpected positive cultures including isolation of Propionibacterium acnes in revision shoulder arthroplasty.

Objective: Little information is available to guide treatment strategies regarding patients with unexpected positive cultures (UPC), including Propionibacterium acnes (PA), without overt signs of infection in revision shoulder arthroplasty (RSA). The purpose of our study was to analyze the prevalence, clinical meaning, treatment and prognosis of UPC in RSA.

Data Sources And Study Selection: We performed a systematic review of the literature between 1950 and 2013 for all studies reporting on UPC for PA.

Gene-based rare allele analysis identified a risk gene of Alzheimer's disease.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) has a strong propensity to run in families. However, the known risk genes excluding APOE are not clinically useful. In various complex diseases, gene studies have targeted rare alleles for unsolved heritability.

Outcome of concomitant cox maze procedure with narrow mazes and left atrial volume reduction.

Background: TO IMPROVE SINUS RHYTHM CONVERSION, THE COX MAZE III PROCEDURE WITH NARROW MAZES (WIDTH: ≤3.0 cm) was performed in combination with left atrial volume reduction.

Methods: From October 2007 to April 2013, 87 patients with atrial fibrillation (paroxysmal in 3, persistent in 14, and permanent in 70) underwent the Cox maze procedure concomitant with another cardiac procedure.

Posaconazole salvage treatment for invasive fungal infection.

Invasive fungal infection (IFI) is an important cause of morbidity and mortality. Posaconazole is a second generation triazole with a broad spectrum, and it may be suitable for salvage antifungal treatment although posaconazole is not usually considered to be as first-line antifungal therapy for IFI. The purpose of this study was to assess the utility of posaconazole salvage treatment for IFI.

Infection after arthroscopic anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction.

Septic arthritis is a rare but potentially devastating complication of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction surgery. The purpose of this study was to provide an evidence-based summarization of the treatment and outcome of infection after ACL reconstruction with a pooled analysis of the reported cases. The authors conducted a systematic review of published studies that evaluated the outcome of septic arthritis after arthroscopic ACL reconstruction.

Inverse opal-inspired, nanoscaffold battery separators: a new membrane opportunity for high-performance energy storage systems.

The facilitation of ion/electron transport, along with ever-increasing demand for high-energy density, is a key to boosting the development of energy storage systems such as lithium-ion batteries. Among major battery components, separator membranes have not been the center of attention compared to other electrochemically active materials, despite their important roles in allowing ionic flow and preventing electrical contact between electrodes. Here, we present a new class of battery separator based on inverse opal-inspired, seamless nanoscaffold structure ("IO separator"), as an unprecedented membrane opportunity to enable remarkable advances in cell performance far beyond those accessible with conventional battery separators.

Intrinsic relationship between enhanced oxygen reduction reaction activity and nanoscale work function of doped carbons.

Nanostructured carbon materials doped with a variety of heteroatoms have shown promising electrocatalytic activity in the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). However, understanding of the working principles that underpin the superior ORR activity observed with doped nanocarbons is still limited to predictions based on theoretical calculations. Herein, we demonstrate, for the first time, that the enhanced ORR activity in doped nanocarbons can be correlated with the variation in their nanoscale work function.