SummaryContext Several ultrasonographic (US) features of thyroid nodules have been reported to predict malignancy. The BRAF V600E mutation is a useful diagnostic marker for differentiating papillary thyroid carcinoma from benign thyroid nodules, especially in BRAF V600E -prevalent populations such as in Korea.Objective To evaluate the association of BRAF V600E mutation with US features of thyroid nodules in predicting the malignancy of thyroid nodules in Korean patients. Design A total of 991 thyroid nodules from 823 patients in fineneedle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) specimens were investigated. The relationship between US features and the presence of BRAF V600E mutation by pyrosequencing method was prospectively analysed.Results The BRAF V600E mutation was associated with the following US features: solid composition [odds ratio (OR) 20AE338; 95% confidence interval (CI): 4AE952-83AE532; P < 0AE001], marked hypoechogenicity (OR 30AE744; 95% CI: 15AE951-59AE255; P < 0AE001), irregular margin (OR 9AE889; 95% CI: 7AE005-13AE859; P < 0AE001), taller-than-wide shape (OR 6AE031; 95% CI: 4AE343-8AE376; P < 0AE001) and the presence of microcalcifications (OR 6AE664; 95% CI: 4AE604-9AE648; P < 0AE001). The BRAF V600E mutation with malignant US features in FNAB enhanced the diagnostic accuracy compared with cytologic diagnosis alone (94AE3% vs 69AE7%). Conclusion The BRAF V600E mutation is significantly associated with malignant US features, such as solid composition, marked hypoechogenicity, irregular margin, taller-than-wide shape and the presence of microcalcifications. The application of BRAF V600E mutation analysis in US-guided FNAB can improve the diagnostic accuracy of thyroid nodules.

The CD44þ/CD24-phenotype identifies cancer stem cell (CSC) properties in canine mammary carcinoma (MC); however, the histopathological features associated with this phenotype remain to be elucidated. Here, we determined whether the CD44þ/ CD24-phenotype was associated with hormonal receptor (HR; estrogen receptor [ER] and/or progesterone receptor [PR]) status and/or triple (ER, PR, and human epithelial growth factor receptor 2)-negative (TN) subtype; conventional histological evaluation was also performed. We found that, as single markers, both CD44þ and CD24þ were associated with less aggressive histological types, low grade, and a non-TN subtype; both markers were associated with HR positivity. On the other hand, a CD44þ/CD24-phenotype was associated with higher grade of carcinoma. Therefore, our results suggest that immunohistochemical phenotyping for CD44/CD24 is useful for the evaluation of tumor behavior as well as CSC-like properties in canine MCs. Keywords cancer stem cell, canine mammary carcinoma, CD44, CD24, immunohistochemistryCancer stem cells (CSCs) are capable of self-renewal and asymmetric differentiation, a type of plasticity that directly contributes to tumorigenesis, tumor maintenance, and resistance to therapeutics.13 CSCs in human breast cancer with a CD44þ/CD24-phenotype are associated with poor prognosis.8 Efforts to identify canine CSCs have also revealed a CD44þ/CD24-phenotype in mammary carcinomas (MCs). Specifically, spheroids derived from canine MC cell lines in an in vitro CSC model have high CD44 expression but are negative or low for CD24 expression. 3A previous study reported that the CD44þ/CD24-phenotype was detectable in archival tissues; 10 however, the molecular and histopathological features associated with those markers remain to be elucidated. It is suggested that hormone receptor (HR) status (specifically, the estrogen receptor [ER] and/or progesterone receptor [PR]) and the triple-negative (TN) subtype (ER, PR, and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 [HER2] negative) are associated with aggressive tumor types in canine MCs. 6,7 We hypothesized that immunohistochemical analysis of the 2 markers, CD44 and CD24, would be a useful tool for predicting tumor behavior. The aims of this study were to examine CD44 and CD24 expression, either alone or in combination, with regard to canine MCs. Specifically, we determined the relationship of these markers with histological findings, HR status, and the TN subtype. Materials and MethodsWe investigated 88 cases of canine MCs from the histopathology database of the Department of Veterinary Pathology, Konkuk University Animal Teaching Hospital, Seoul, Korea. Routine hematoxylin and eosin staining and immunohistochemistry (IHC) were performed as previously described. 6 Classification of histological type and grade was achieved as previously described.4 Double immunostaining for CD44 and CD24 was performed consecutively using immunoperoxidase with DAB for CD44 and immunoalkaline phosphatase with Vector Red substrate for CD24...

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Enterococcus spp. are pathogens that cause environmental mastitis and are difficult to eliminate owing to their resistance to antibiotics. To compare the virulence characteristics of isolates from bovine mastitis milk (BMM) and bovine normal raw milk (NRM), we isolated Enterococcus spp. from 39 dairy farms in South Korea from 2015–2020. A total of 122 Enterococcus spp. were identified, with Enterococcus faecalis (73.8%) accounting for the majority, followed by Enterococcus faecium (26.2%). E. faecalis isolated from BMM harbored gelE, asa1, esp, and cylA genes with a prevalence of 85.7, 71.4, 54.3, and 30.0%, respectively. These genes were significantly more abundant in BMM than in NRM, except for asa1 (p < 0.0001). Interestingly, strong biofilm and gelatinase formation was predominately observed for BMM isolates and this was significantly correlated to the presence of esp and gelE genes (p < 0.05). BMM isolates demonstrated higher resistance to tetracycline (59.3%), followed by chloramphenicol (21.0%), rifampicin (18.5%), doxycycline (4.9%), ciprofloxacin (1.2%), and nitrofurantoin (1.2%), than those from NRM. E. faecalis harboring esp, gelE, and cylA may be causative agents for bovine mastitis and act as a reservoir for the transmission of virulence factors to humans.

BackgroundThe common characteristics of metabolic syndrome (MetS) and Cushing's syndrome suggest that excess cortisol may be involved in the pathogenesis of MetS. Salivary cortisol measurements are simple and can be surrogates for plasma free cortisol, which is the most biologically active form. We evaluated the association between levels of midnight salivary cortisol and MetS in Korean adults.MethodsA total of 46 subjects, aged 20 to 70 years, who visited the Health Care Center at Konkuk University Hospital from August 2008 to August 2009 were enrolled. We compared the levels of midnight salivary cortisol in subjects with MetS with those in subjects without MetS. We analyzed the associations between midnight salivary cortisol levels and components of MetS.ResultsMidnight salivary cortisol levels were higher in the MetS group (70±42.4 ng/dL, n=12) than that in the group without MetS (48.1±36.8 ng/dL, n=34) (P=0.001). Positive correlations were observed between midnight salivary cortisol levels and waist circumference, fasting blood glucose, and homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance. The risk for MetS was significantly higher in subjects with midnight salivary cortisol levels ≥100 ng/dL than in those with levels <50 ng/dL (odds ratio, 5.9; 95% confidence interval, 2.35 to 36.4).ConclusionThe results showed a positive correlation between midnight salivary cortisol levels and MetS, suggesting that hypercortisolism may be related to MetS.

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