Exome analysis of the evolutionary path of hepatocellular adenoma-carcinoma transition, vascular invasion and brain dissemination.

Hepatocellular adenoma (HCA) is a rare benign liver tumor, predominantly seen in young women. Its major complications are malignant transformation, spontaneous hemorrhage, and rupture. We describe a case of a young female with no underlying liver disease who presented with acute abdominal pain and was found to have a 17cm heterogeneous mass in the left lobe of the liver.

Introduction: Applying Clinical Psychological Science to Practice.

Mental illness is a prevalent and extraordinarily complex phenomenon. Psychologists have developed distinct approaches toward understanding and treating mental illness, rooted in divergent epistemology. This introduction to the Special Issue on Clinical Psychological Science and Practice provides a brief overview of the scientist-practitioner gap, and explores one step (of many) toward bridging this divide.

High Calcium-Magnesium Ratio in Hair Is Associated with Coronary Artery Calcification in Middle-Aged and Elderly Individuals.

The interaction between calcium and magnesium as a risk modifier for cardiovascular disease (CVD) has been largely overlooked in previous studies, for the strict regulatory system in blood has been thought to keep such homeostatic interactions under tight control. This study aimed to investigate the association between calcium-magnesium ratio in hair and subclinical coronary artery calcification. Using multiple linear regression analysis, we examined the associations between calcium-magnesium ratio in hair and the coronary calcium score (CCS) in 216 Koreans aged 40 years and above (122 men and 94 women).

Effects of precursor composition and mode of crosslinking on mechanical properties of graphene oxide reinforced composite hydrogels.

Graphene oxide (GO) is increasingly investigated as a reinforcing nanofiller for various hydrogels for biomedical applications for its superior mechanical strength. However, the reinforcing mechanism of GO in different hydrogel conditions has not been extensively explored and elucidated to date. Herein, we systematically examine the effects of various types of precursor molecules (monomers vs.

A role of PLC/PKC-dependent pathway in GLP-1-stimulated insulin secretion.

Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) is an endogenous glucose-lowering hormone and GLP-1 receptor agonists are currently being used as antidiabetic drugs clinically. The canonical signalling pathway (including cAMP, Epac2, protein kinase A (PKA) and K channels) is almost universally accepted as the main mechanism of GLP-1-stimulated insulin secretion. This belief is based on in vitro studies that used nanomolar (1-100 nM) concentrations of GLP-1.

Practical Issues of Conducting a Q Methodology Study: Lessons Learned From a Cross-cultural Study.

This article advances nursing research by presenting the methodological challenges experienced in conducting a multination Q-methodology study. This article critically analyzes the relevance of the methodology for cross-cultural and nursing research and the challenges that led to specific responses by the investigators. The use of focus groups with key stakeholders supplemented the Q-analysis results.

Capacity building for global nursing leaders: challenges and experiences.

Aim: The aim of this article is to describe our experience in operating a capacity-building programme, the Korea International Cooperation Project, for global nursing leaders from developing countries, held during the International Council of Nurses (ICN) Conference in 2015 in Seoul, Korea.

Background: Globalization points to the importance of global leadership among nursing leaders. In accordance with the theme of 'Global Citizen, Global Nursing' at the ICN conference in 2015, a capacity-building programme for nursing leaders of developing countries was implemented.

Refined control of thermoresponsive swelling/deswelling and drug release properties of poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) hydrogels using hydrophilic polymer crosslinkers.

Thermoresponsive poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAm)-based hydrogels are widely investigated for their ability to alter their physical properties (e.g. dimensions, swelling/deswelling) in response to change in temperature.

Enhancing the biocompatibility of microfluidics-assisted fabrication of cell-laden microgels with channel geometry.

Microfluidic flow-focusing devices (FFD) are widely used to generate monodisperse droplets and microgels with controllable size, shape and composition for various biomedical applications. However, highly inconsistent and often low viability of cells encapsulated within the microgels prepared via microfluidic FFD has been a major concern, and yet this aspect has not been systematically explored. In this study, we demonstrate that the biocompatibility of microfluidic FFD to fabricate cell-laden microgels can be significantly enhanced by controlling the channel geometry.

Flavihumibacter sediminis sp. nov., isolated from tidal flat sediment.

A yellow, Gram-staining-positive, aerobic, rod-shaped and non-motile bacterial strain, designated CJ663T, was isolated from the tidal flat sediment in Ganghwa-do, South Korea. Strain CJ663T grew optimally on R2A at 30 °C and pH 7.0 and did not require NaCl for growth.

CRMP4 regulates dendritic growth and maturation via the interaction with actin cytoskeleton in cultured hippocampal neurons.

CRMP family proteins (CRMPs) are critical for neurite outgrowth and maturation in the developing nervous system. However, the distinct roles of CRMP isoforms remain to be elucidated, especially in dendritic development. Here, we show that CRMP4 is sufficient and necessary for dendritic growth and maturation in cultured hippocampal neurons.

Associations between OPG and RANKL polymorphisms, vertebral fractures, and abdominal aortic calcification in community-dwelling older subjects: the Sao Paulo Ageing & Health Study (SPAH).

Unlabelled: This is the first study analyzing concomitantly osteoprotegerin (OPG)/receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa B ligand (RANKL) polymorphisms and OPG/RANKL serum levels and their association with bone mineral density (BMD), vertebral fractures, and vascular aortic calcification in a cohort of 800 subjects in community-dwelling older individuals.

Introduction: Osteoprotegerin (OPG) and RANKL play an important role in osteoclast activation and differentiation as well as in vascular calcification. At present, there are no studies of OPG or RANKL gene polymorphisms in Brazilian older populations.

Renalase Expression by Melanoma and Tumor-Associated Macrophages Promotes Tumor Growth through a STAT3-Mediated Mechanism.

To sustain their proliferation, cancer cells overcome negative-acting signals that restrain their growth and promote senescence and cell death. Renalase (RNLS) is a secreted flavoprotein that functions as a survival factor after ischemic and toxic injury, signaling through the plasma calcium channel PMCA4b to activate the PI3K/AKT and MAPK pathways. We show that RNLS expression is increased markedly in primary melanomas and CD163(+) tumor-associated macrophages (TAM).

Improving the physiological realism of experimental models.

The Virtual Physiological Human (VPH) project aims to develop integrative, explanatory and predictive computational models (C-Models) as numerical investigational tools to study disease, identify and design effective therapies and provide an in silico platform for drug screening. Ultimately, these models rely on the analysis and integration of experimental data. As such, the success of VPH depends on the availability of physiologically realistic experimental models (E-Models) of human organ function that can be parametrized to test the numerical models.

Final analysis of a phase II study of modified FOLFIRINOX in locally advanced and metastatic pancreatic cancer.

Background: Modifications of FOLFIRINOX are widely used despite the absence of prospective data validating efficacy in metastatic disease (metastatic pancreatic cancer (MPC)) or locally advanced pancreatic cancer (LAPC). We conducted a multicentre phase II study of modified FOLFIRINOX in advanced pancreatic cancer to assess the impact of dose attenuation in MPC and efficacy in LAPC.

Methods: Patients with untreated MPC or LAPC received modified FOLFIRINOX (irinotecan and bolus 5-fluorouracil reduced by 25%).

Inhibition of renalase expression and signaling has antitumor activity in pancreatic cancer.

An essential feature of cancer is dysregulation of cell senescence and death. Renalase, a recently discovered secreted flavoprotein, provides cytoprotection against ischemic and toxic cellular injury by signaling through the PI3K-AKT and MAPK pathways. Here we show that renalase expression is increased in pancreatic cancer tissue and that it functions as a growth factor.

Cohnella saccharovorans sp. nov., isolated from ginseng soil.

A novel bacterial strain, CJ22T, was isolated from soil of a ginseng field located in Anseong, Korea. Cells of strain CJ22T were aerobic, Gram-stain-positive, endospore-forming, motile, oxidase- and catalase-positive and rod-shaped. The isolate grew optimally at pH 7 and 30 °C.