Osteoarthritis (OA) is a degenerative condition of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) characterised by chronic inflammation and damage to joint structures. Because of the complexity of TMJ-OA, only symptomatic treatments are currently available. Recent reports have shown that many of stem cells can exert anti-inflammatory and tissue-regenerating effects. In this study, we investigated the potential cartilage-regenerating and anti-inflammatory effects of human umbilical cord matrix-mesenchymal stem cells (hUCM-MSCs) for the treatment of TMJ-OA. hUCM-MSC lines, isolated from different donors, which showed different activities in vitro. Using a selected cell line, we used different concentrations of hUCM-MSCs to assess therapeutic effects in a rabbit model of monosodium iodoacetate-induced TMJ-OA. Compared with the untreated control group, the potential regenerative result and anti-inflammatory effects of hUCM-MSCs were evident at all the tested concentrations in rabbits with induced TMJ-OA. The median dose of hUCM-MSCs showed the prominent cartilage protective effect and further cartilage regeneration potential. This effect occurred via upregulated expression of growth factors, extracellular matrix markers, and anti-inflammatory cytokines, and reduced expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines. The anti-inflammatory effect of hUCM-MSCs was comparable to that of dexamethasone (DEX). However, only hUCM-MSCs showed potential chondrogenesis effects in this study. In conclusion, our results indicate that hUCM-MSCs may be an effective treatment option for the treatment of TMJ-OA.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) accounts for up to 90% of all primary hepatic malignancies and is the fifth most common malignancy and fourth leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide. 1,2 Treatment choices for patients with HCC are affected by the tumor stage, degree of liver dysfunction, and patient comorbidities.Liver transplantation (LT), liver resection (LR), and radiofrequency ablation are common curative treatment options, although LT is considered the best treatment strategy, as it removes the tumor and cures the underlying liver disease. 3,4 However, because of the shortage of available donor grafts leading to dropout or waiting-time mortality, LR is considered a reasonable first-line locoregional treatment modality in selected transplantation-eligible patients. Unfortunately,

Backgrounds/Aims: Formula-derived standard liver volume (SLV) has been clinically used for living donor liver transplantation and hepatic resection. The majority of currently available SLV formulae are based on body surface are (BSA). However, they often show a wide range of error. Skeletal muscle index measured at the third lumbar vertebra level (L3SMI) appears to reflect lean body mass. The objective of this study was to compare the accuracy of L3SMI-based formula and BSA-based formula for calculating SLV. Methods: The study cohort was 500 hundred living liver donors who underwent surgery between January 2010 and December 2013. Computed tomography images were used for liver volumetry and skeletal muscle area measurement. Results: The study cohort included 250 male and 250 female donors. Their age, BSA, L3SMI, and body mass index were 26.8±8.7 years, 1.68±0.16 m 2 , 45.6±9.0 cm 2 /m 2 , and 21.7±2.5 kg/m 2 , respectively. The BSA-based SLV formula was "SLV (ml)=−362.3+901.5×BSA (m 2 ) (r=0.71, r 2 =0.50, p＜0.001)". The L3SMI-based SLV formula was "SLV (ml)=471.9+14.9×L3SMI (cm 2 /m 2 ) (r=0.65, r 2 =0.42, p＜0.001)".Correlation coefficients were similar in subgroup analyses with 250 male donors and 250 female donors. There was a crude correlation between L3SMI and body mass index (r=0.51, r 2 =0.27, p＜0.001). Conclusions: The results of this study suggest that SLV calculation with L3SMI-based formula does not appear to be superior to the currently available BSA-based formulae.

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Purpose: Anastomotic leakage (AL) is a type of intra-abdominal infection (IAI) which requires appropriate antibiotics with proper intervention. This study aimed to improve the appropriateness of antibiotic treatment by assessing the patterns of antibiotic treatment and resistance of pathogen profiles in patients who had AL after colorectal cancer surgery. Methods: From June 2006 through December 2017, the medical records of the patients who had AL after elective abdominal surgery for colorectal cancer in Kyung Hee University Hospital at Gangdong, Seoul, Korea were reviewed retrospectively. Baseline characteristics and consistence of antibiotics with culture study results were analyzed to evaluate the appropriateness of treatment. Results: Among 982 patients who underwent primary surgery for colorectal cancer, 41 (4.2%) had AL. Mean time of diagnosis of AL from surgery was 6.3 days. The most commonly used prophylactic antibiotics for the primary surgery was 2nd generation cephalosporin (66.6%). Mean duration of prophylactic antibiotics usage was 2.8 days. The most commonly used empirical antibiotics after AL occurred was piperacillin and tazobactam (32.6%). Mean duration of empirical antibiotics usage was 8.2 days. The most commonly identified pathogens were Escherichia coli and Enterococci spp. (26.8% each), and 12.2% of the "ESKAPE" pathogens were identified. Resistance to empirical antibiotics was 45.5% (10/22). Conclusion: Penetration of culture study for AL after colorectal cancer surgery appeared relatively low, although the profile of pathogens isolated from the AL patients can give important clues and evidence for appropriate antibiotics use. Surgeons should pay attention in performing culture studies for IAI including AL for proper patient treatment.

Background: Model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) score-based allocation system was started in 2016 in Korea. This study aimed to analyze the profiles of adult patients who underwent living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) in the pre-and post-MELD eras. Methods: This study was a retrospective double-arm analysis using a single-institution LDLT cohort. We compared the LDLT recipient profiles by focusing on pretransplant MELD score for 4 years before and after the introduction of the MELD scorebased allocation system. Patients without and with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) were categorized as Group A and B in the pre-MELD era and Group C and D in the post-MELD era, respectively. Results: The number of patients in Groups A, B, C and D was 615, 599, 704 and 713, respectively; and their MELD scores were 19.0±9.4, 11.2±5.6, 17.9±8.5 and 11.6±5.7, respectively. Clinical parameters of liver cirrhosis indicate that Group A had worse general conditions than Group C; and Groups B and D had similar general conditions. The comparative analysis between Groups A and C revealed the mean and median MELD scores as 19.0±9.4 and 17.9±8.5 (p=0.009), and 16 and 15 (p=0.077), respectively. The comparative analysis between Groups B and D revealed the mean and median MELD scores as 11.2±5.6 and 11.6±5.7 (p=0.14), and 9 and 9 (p=0.14), respectively. Conclusion: Median pretransplant MELD score was in the range of 15-16 in LDLT recipients without HCC and 9 in those with HCC. Introduction of MELD score in deceased donor organ allocation system resulted in a marginal decrease in the pretransplant MELD score in patients undergoing LDLT without HCC, but no change in those with HCC.