Journal of Korean medical science
-
J. Korean Med. Sci. · Jul 2014
ReviewDiverse molecular targets for therapeutic strategies in Alzheimer's disease.
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia caused by neurodegenerative process and is tightly related to amyloid β (Aβ) and neurofibrillary tangles. The lack of early diagnostic biomarker and therapeutic remedy hinders the prevention of increasing population of AD patients every year. ⋯ In this review, we summarize various drug targets and strategies in recent preclinical studies and clinical trials for AD therapy: Allopathic treatment, immunotherapy, Aβ production/aggregation modulator, tau-targeting therapy and metabolic targeting. Some has already failed in their clinical trials and the others are still in various stages of investigations, both of which give us valuable information for future research in AD therapeutic development.
-
J. Korean Med. Sci. · Jul 2014
Application of damage control resuscitation strategies to patients with severe traumatic hemorrhage: review of plasma to packed red blood cell ratios at a single institution.
When treating trauma patients with severe hemorrhage, massive transfusions are often needed. Damage control resuscitation strategies can be used for such patients, but an adequate fresh frozen plasma: packed red blood cell (FFP:PRBC) administration ratio must be established. We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 100 trauma patients treated with massive transfusions from March 2010 to October 2012. ⋯ Kaplan-Meier plots revealed that the 24-hr survival rate was significantly higher in the high-ratio group (71.9% vs. 97.1%, P<0.001). In severe hemorrhagic trauma, raising the FFP:PRBC ratio to 0.5 or higher may increase the chances of survival. Efforts to minimize bloodstream infections during the resuscitation must be increased.
-
J. Korean Med. Sci. · Jul 2014
Relationship between neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio and plaque components in patients with coronary artery disease: virtual histology intravascular ultrasound analysis.
The aim of this study was to evaluate the relation between neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and plaque components assessed by virtual histology-intravascular ultrasound in 399 coronary artery disease (CAD) patients with 471 coronary lesions. We classified the lesions into two groups according to the NLR on admission {low NLR group (NLR≤2.73 [n=370]) vs. high NLR group (NLR>2.73 [n=101])}. ⋯ ST segment elevation myocardial infarction (odds ratio [OR], 2.159; 95% CI, 1.000-4.660, P=0.050) and NLR>2.73 (OR, 1.848; 95% CI, 1.016-3.360, P=0.044) and total atheroma volume (OR, 1.003; 95% CI, 1.001-1.004, P=0.004) were the independent predictors of TCFA. CAD patients with high NLR had more vulnerable plaque components (greater NC-containing plaques) than those with low NLR.
-
J. Korean Med. Sci. · Jul 2014
Case ReportsParadoxical increase of IgE binding components during allergen-specific immunotherapy in pollinosis patients.
Allergen-specific immunotherapy (SIT) reduces allergen specific IgE (sIgE) levels and achieves clinical and immunological tolerance by modulating innate and adaptive immunological responses. Increased temperature and CO2 concentrations caused by climate changes contribute to an increase of pollen count and allergenicity that influences clinical SIT outcomes. ⋯ IgE immunoblot analysis confirmed the intensification or new generation of major IgE binding components that could be induced by climate change. The findings suggest that the regular monitoring of sIgE levels and symptom changes is required to improve the clinical outcomes of SIT in patients undergoing SIT for tree and weed pollens.
-
J. Korean Med. Sci. · Jul 2014
Clinical significance of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease as a risk factor for prehypertension.
Previous epidemiologic studies have shown the clinical association between non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and cardiovascular disease (CVD). However, there is only limited information about the effect of NAFLD on the development of hypertension. Accordingly, we investigated the clinical association between NAFLD and prehypertension. ⋯ Even after adjusting for multiple covariates, the HRs (95% confidence interval) for prehypertension were higher in the mild group (1.18; 1.07-1.31) and moderate to severe group (1.62; 1.21-2.17), compared to normal group, respectively (P for trend <0.001). The development of prehypertension is more potentially associated with the more progressive NAFLD than normal and milder state. These findings suggest the clinical significance of NAFLD as one of risk factors for prehypertension.