Primitive Neuroectodermal Tumor of the Stomach: A Case Report.

Ewing sarcoma/primitive neuroectodermal tumor (ES/PNET) is a highly aggressive small round cell tumor that mainly occurs in the bone or soft tissue of children or young adults but is extremely rare in the stomach. A 55-year-old man presented with melena and anemia. On endoscopy, an ulcerofungating mass was observed in the high body and total gastrectomy was performed.

De novo C3 glomerulonephritis in a renal allograft.

C3 glomerulonephritis (C3GN) is a recently described, rare glomerular disease characterized by predominant or sole glomerular C3 deposits. Morphologic features of C3GN are similar to those of dense deposit disease (DDD); however, ribbon-like intramembranous electron-dense deposits are absent in the former. We report a case of de novo C3GN in a renal allograft with morphologic transformation to DDD.

The Power of Renal Function Estimation Equations for Predicting Long-Term Kidney Graft Survival: A Retrospective Comparison of the Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration and the Modification of Diet in Renal Disease Study Equations.

Evaluation of renal function using an accurate estimation equation is important for predicting long-term graft survival. We designed this retrospective cohort study to evaluate the predictive power of renal function estimation by the Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration (CKD-EPI) and the Modification of Diet in Renal Disease (MDRD) study equations for graft survival. We reviewed data of 3290 adult kidney transplant recipients who underwent transplantation at a single center between April 1979 and September 2012.

Efficacies of quorum sensing inhibitors, piericidin A and glucopiericidin A, produced by Streptomyces xanthocidicus KPP01532 for the control of potato soft rot caused by Erwinia carotovora subsp. atroseptica.

To discover potential inhibitors of the quorum sensing (QS) system, a library of microbial culture extracts was screened with Chromobacterium violaceumCV026 strain. The culture extract of Streptomyces xanthocidicus KPP01532 contained quorum-sensing inhibitors (QSIs) of the CV026 strain. The active constituents of the culture extract of strain KPP01532 were purified using a series of chromatographic procedures, and based on data from NMR and mass spectroscopy, piericidin A and glucopiericidin A were identified.

Pathologic features of metastatic lymph nodes identified from prophylactic central neck dissection in patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma.

The importance of pathologic features of metastatic lymph nodes (LNs), such as size, number, and extranodal extension, has been recently emphasized in patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC). We evaluated the characteristics of metastatic LNs identified after prophylactic central neck dissection (CND) in patients with PTC. We performed a retrospective review of 1,046 patients who underwent unilateral or bilateral thyroidectomy with ipsilateral prophylactic CND.

Comparison the sixth and seventh editions of the AJCC staging system for T1 gastric cancer: a long-term follow-up study of 2124 patients.

Background/aim: The aim of this study was to establish an appropriate TNM staging system for early gastric cancer.

Methodology: We evaluated 2124 patients who had undergone gastrectomy for early gastric cancer between 1989 and 2001.

Results: Using the seventh edition of the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) staging system, we found no significant differences in tumor recurrence and survival between N1 and N2 cancers or between N3a and N3b cancers, whereas the survival curves for N2 and N3 cancers were quite different.

Associations between CYP2A6 polymorphisms and outcomes of adjuvant S-1 chemotherapy in patients with curatively resected gastric cancer.

Background: Oral fluoropyrimidine S-1 contains tegafur, which is metabolized to 5-fluorouracil by cytochrome P450 2A6 (CYP2A6). We here examined associations between CYP2A6 polymorphisms and treatment outcomes of adjuvant S-1 in gastric cancer patients.

Methods: Patients received adjuvant S-1 (40 mg/m twice daily, days 1-28, every 6 weeks for eight cycles) after curative surgery for pathological stage II-III gastric cancer.

Thoracolumbar junction: morphologic characteristics, various variants and significance.

Objective:: This study aimed to assess the types of vertebral segments at the thoracolumbar junction, as they relate to the most caudal ribs, to evaluate the reliability of this assessment using axial CT with curved planar reformatting (CPR) images, to describe the morphologic characteristics of a thoracolumbar transitional vertebra (TLTV), to introduce a new classification system for the TLTV and to evaluate the reliability of the classification system using axial CT with CPR images.

Methods:: This was a retrospective review of 744 consecutive patients who underwent spine CT imaging that included the thoracolumbar junction. Two radiologists (Readers 1 and 2) independently evaluated the axial CT with CPR images for all cases (n = 744).

Smoking-Related Renal Histologic Injury in IgA Nephropathy Patients.

Purpose: Smoking reportedly exerts deleterious effects on renal function; however, its effects on histology have not been clarified in patients with IgA nephropathy (IgAN).

Materials And Methods: Renal histology was evaluated in a cohort of 397 patients diagnosed with IgAN according to smoking status and dose in relation to renal function.

Results: Among the study cohort, which was predominantly male (88.

Highly sensitive and selective bioluminescence based ozone probes and their applications to detect ambient ozone.

Highly selective and sensitive bioluminescence based probes, which respond to ozone but not to other ROS, have been developed. These probes were used to determine ozone concentrations in environmental samples.

Is the new GFR equation using inulin clearance a more accurate method for Asian patients?

Recently, a new glomerular filtration rate (GFR) equation for the Japanese population was proposed using measured inulin clearance. To expand its applicability to other Asian populations, we performed a comparative study in the Korean population. Inulin clearance was measured in 166 patients from seven participating medical centers in Korea.

Differing Clinical Courses and Prognoses in Patients With Gastric Neuroendocrine Tumors Based on the 2010-WHO Classification Scheme.

The aim of this study is to test the prognostic accuracy of the 2010-WHO classification for postsurgery survival in nonmetastatic gastric neuroendocrine tumor (NET) cases. Whether the 2010-WHO classification of NETs can predict relapse after surgical resection has not yet been established.We selected 175 nonmetastatic gastric NET patients at Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Korea between 1996 and 2013.

Clinical Outcomes of Postoperative Upper Gastrointestinal Leakage According to Treatment Modality.

Background & Aim: We evaluated the clinical outcomes according to treatment modality for gastrointestinal anastomotic leakage.

Methods: Of the 19,207 patients who underwent gastrectomy for gastric cancer from March 2000 to April 2013, we retrospectively analyzed the 133 cases who developed anastomotic leakage. These patients were treated using endoscopic management, surgery, or conservative management (endoscopic treatment was introduced in 2009).

Evaluation of the endophytic nature of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens strain GYL4 and its efficacy in the control of anthracnose.

Background: Endophytic bacteria are viewed as a potential new source of biofungicides because they have beneficial characteristics as control agents for plant disease. This study was performed to examine the endophytic feature and disease control efficacy of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens strain GYL4 and to identify the antifungal compounds produced by this strain.

Results: B.

Association Between Heme Oxygenase-1 Promoter Polymorphisms and the Development of Albuminuria in Type 2 Diabetes: A Case-Control Study.

Heme oxygenase (HO)-1 is a key enzyme in cytoprotective mechanisms against oxidative stress in the cardiovascular-renal system. The T(-413)A single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) and (GT)n microsatellite polymorphism in the HO-1 gene promoter modulate the HO-1 gene transcriptional activity and these polymorphisms are associated with various human diseases.We investigated the association between HO-1 promoter polymorphisms and nephropathy in type 2 diabetes.

The Effect of Bortezomib on Antibody-Mediated Rejection after Kidney Transplantation.

Purpose: Recently, bortezomib has been used to treat antibody-mediated rejection (AMR) refractory to conventional treatment such as plasmapheresis, intravenous immunoglobulin, and rituximab. The authors aimed to describe their experiences when bortezomib was used to treat refractory AMR.

Materials And Methods: Eleven refractory AMR episodes treated with bortezomib were included in this study.

Increased valinomycin production in mutants of Streptomyces sp. M10 defective in bafilomycin biosynthesis and branched-chain α-keto acid dehydrogenase complex expression.

Streptomyces sp. M10 is a valinomycin-producing bacterial strain that shows potent bioactivity against Botrytis blight of cucumber plants. During studies to increase the yield of valinomycin (a cyclododecadepsipeptide) in strain M10, additional antifungal metabolites, including bafilomycin derivatives (macrolide antibiotics), were identified.

Biological synthesis of manganese dioxide nanoparticles by Kalopanax pictus plant extract.

Manganese dioxide (MnO₂) nanoparticles were synthesised by the reduction of potassium permanganate (KMnO₄) using Kalopanax pictus leaf extract at room temperature. A transparent dark-brown colour appeared after the addition of K. pictus leaf extract to the solution of permanganate.

Degradation of corn stover by fungal cellulase cocktail for production of polyhydroxyalkanoates by moderate halophile Paracoccus sp. LL1.

Bioprocessing of lignocellulose as a renewable resource for fuels, chemicals or value added products is a necessity to fulfil demands of petroleum products. This study aims to convert corn stover to polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA). Corn stover was hydrolyzed to crude sugars by an on-site prepared cellulase cocktail from co-culture of Trichoderma reesei and Aspergillus niger.

A rapid, sensitive, simple plate assay for detection of microbial alginate lyase activity.

Screening of microorganisms capable of producing alginate lyase enzyme is commonly carried out by investigating their abilities to grow on alginate-containing solid media plates and occurrence of a clearance zone after flooding the plates with agents such as 10% (w/v) cetyl pyridinium chloride (CPC), which can form complexes with alginate. Although the CPC method is good, advantageous, and routinely used, the agar in the media interferes with the action of CPC, which makes judgment about clearance zones very difficult. In addition, this method takes a minimum of 30 min to obtain the zone of hydrolysis after flooding and the hydrolyzed area is not sharply discernible.

Modified Peritoneal Dialysis Catheter Insertion: Comparison with a Conventional Method.

Purpose: The conventional trocar and cannula method in peritoneal dialysis (PD) catheter insertion has its limitation in clinical setting. The aim of this study was to compare a modified method for percutaneous PD catheter insertion with the conventional method, and demonstrate advantages of the modified method.

Materials And Methods: Patients at a single center who had percutaneous PD catheters inserted by nephrologists from January 2006 until September 2012, using either a modified method (group M) or the conventional trocar and cannula method (group C), were retrospectively analyzed, in terms of baseline characteristics, complications experienced up to 3 months after the procedure, and the suitability of the procedure for patients.

A 12-month single arm pilot study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of sirolimus in combination with tacrolimus in kidney transplant recipients at high immunologic risk.

The optimal immunosuppressive strategy for renal transplant recipients at high immunologic risk remains a topic of investigation. This prospective single arm pilot study was undertaken to evaluate the safety and efficacy of a combined tacrolimus and sirolimus regimen in recipients at immunological high risk and to compare outcomes with a contemporaneous control group received tacrolimus and mycophenolate mofetil. Patients that received a renal allograft between 2010 and 2011 at high risk (defined as panel reactive antibodies > 50%, 4 or more human leukocyte antigen mismatches, or retransplantation) were enrolled.

Mesenchymal stem cell-derived microparticles ameliorate peritubular capillary rarefaction via inhibition of endothelial-mesenchymal transition and decrease tubulointerstitial fibrosis in unilateral ureteral obstruction.

Introduction: Microparticles (MPs) derived from kidney-derived mesenchymal stem cells (KMSCs) have recently been reported to ameliorate rarefaction of peritubular capillaries (PTC) in ischemic kidneys via delivery of proangiogenic effectors. This study aimed to investigate whether KMSC-derived MPs show anti-fibrotic effects by ameliorating endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EndoMT) in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) in vitro and by preserving PTC in kidneys with unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) in vivo.

Methods: MPs isolated from the supernatants of KMSC were co-cultured with HUVEC to assess their in vitro biologic effects on endothelial cells.

Comparative study of MnO2 nanoparticle synthesis by marine bacterium Saccharophagus degradans and yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Microorganisms are one of the most attractive and simple sources for the synthesis of different types of metal nanoparticles. The synthesis of manganese dioxide nanoparticles (MnO2 NPs) by microorganisms from reducing potassium permanganate was investigated for the first time in the present study. The microbial supernatants of the bacterium Saccharophagus degradans ATCC 43961 (Sde 2-40) and of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae showed positive reactions to the synthesis of MnO2 NPs by displaying a change of color in the permanganate solution from purple to yellow.