The microRNAs (miRNAs) are known to be commonly expressed in papillary thyroid carcinoma. The BRAF^V600E mutation is the most common genetic mutation in thyroid cancer. The main aim of this study was to determine the possible association between expression of the three miRNAs and that of BRAF^V600E mutation and the clinicopathological features in papillary thyroid carcinoma.

This study was conducted on 51 paraffin-embedded tissues (42 thyroid cancer, 9 benign tumor) obtained from patients undergoing thyroidectomy at the Endocrine Center of OOO University Hospital.

miRNAs expression was significantly high in patients with cervical lymph node metastasis and advanced TNM stage. In addition, miR-146b expression levels were significantly higher in papillary thyroid carcinoma patients with BRAF^V600E mutation. The relative quantification (2-^ΔΔCt) of miR-146b was also high among the miRNAs. Individually, the AUCs for miRNA-146b was 0.923 (cutoff value −1.97, sensitivity 88.9%, specificity 85.7%).

Especially, expression of miR-146b increased higher in PTC patients with BRAF^V600E mutation. These findings showed a role of miR-146b as potential biomarkers in differentiating PTC from benign tumor and as a prognostic indicator of PTCs. Further investigation will need for the roles of miRNAs in the pathogenesis of papillary thyroid carcinomas.

Short stature in childhood is defined to the cases in which the stature is below 3 percentiles of the standard value in accordance with that of those in the same age and gender group. The influence of the socioeconomic status on the short stature in childhood are analyzed.

154 children from the community child center in a region of poor socioeconomic status and 78 children in normal socioeconomic status who visited the Busan Medical Center due to the issue of short stature were selected for examination and analysis.

The prevalence rate of short stature at the community child center in 2 municipalities in Busan was confirmed to be 7.3%. In the comparison of the average growth parameters of poor socioeconomic status and normal socioeconomic status in the short stature group, there was no observation of significant difference in terms of the chronological age, mid-parental height, bone age, bone age/chronological age, height standard deviation score (SDS), body mass index(BMI) percentile and insulin like growth factor binding protein 3 (IGFBP3) SDS. In the short stature suspicious group, there was observation of significant difference in the averages of bone age, weight, BMI percentile, IGFBP3 and IGFBP3 SDS.

Although the prevalence rate of short stature in children belonging to the poor socioeconomic class was observed to be higher than the existing results, there was no significant difference in the growth parameters associated with the growth of the height from those of the children in normal socioeconomic status.

Biobanking plays an important role in future research. Assessment and control of the preanalytical variables of biobanked tissues are fundamentals for the optimal use of biospecimens.

Forty-five colorectal cancer (CRC) tissues stored at −80°C in Bio-Resource Bank were evaluated to define the influence of cold ischemia time (CIT) and storage period (SP) on DNA quality in biobanked tissues. Three CITs (less than 30 minutes (CIT-1), 30–45 minutes (CIT-2), and 45–60 minutes (CIT-3)) and three SPs (less than 1 year (SP-1), 2–3 years (SP-2), and 4–5 years (SP-3)) were chosen. NanoDrop spectrophotometer was used to determine the 260/280 ratio for DNA purity. DNA integrity was analyzed by a UV transilluminator following electrophoresis on 2% agarose gel. To evaluate the practical usability of DNA for biomarker research, KRAS mutation status was assessed by PCR amplification.

All DNA specimens had a 260/280 ratio ranging between 1.8 and 2.0 with the exception of one specimen (CIT-2/SP-2 group). For DNA integrity, DNA appeared as a compact, high-molecular-weight band with no or scanty low-molecular-weight smears. The concordance of KRAS mutation status between paired biobanked frozen tissues and formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissues was 100%. DNA remained stable in CRC tissues kept at room temperature for up to 1 hour and long-term storage up to 5 years.

Storage conditions of our biobank are suitable for long-term (at least five years) specimen preservation with high DNA quality. These results have practical implications that could affect banking guidelines.

The aim of this study is to investigate the clinical utility of contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CE-CT) in patient with non-obstrcutive acute pyelonephritis (APN).

From 2007 to 2013, 537 APN patients who underwent a CE-CT scan within 24 hours after hospital admission were enrolled. We divided these patients into greater (50% or greater involvment, n = 143) and lesser (less than 50% involvement, n = 394) groups based on renal parenchymal involvement in CE-CT examination. We compared clinical characteristics between two groups and analyzed the clinical value of CE-CT scan as a reliable marker for predicting clinical severity and disease course in patient with non-obstructive APN.

The mean estimated glomerular filtration rate was 70.6 ± 25.5 mL/min/1.73m². Compared with patients in lesser group, the patients in greater group had lower serum albumin levels (3.5 ± 0.5 vs 3.8 ± 0.6, P < 0.01) and longer hosptal stay (10.1 ± 4.7 vs 8.8 ± 4.5, P < 0.05). In addition, acute kidney injury (AKI) (23.1% vs 11.4%, P < 0.005) and bacteremia (36.4% vs 26.8%, P = 0.02) were frequently developed in greater group, respectively. The overall incidence of AKI was 14.8% based on RIFLE criteria. In a multivariate logistic regression analysis for predciting AKI, age, presence of diabetes mellitus and the presence of renal parenchymal involvement of greater than 50% in CE-CT were significant predictors of AKI.

The CE-CT scan could be useful to predict the clinical severity and course in non-obstructive APN patients with preserved renal function.