Sites of Metastasis and Survival in Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma: Results From the Korean Renal Cancer Study Group Database.

Background: In patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC), sites of metastatic involvement have been reported to be associated with a difference in survival. However, the frequency and survival according to different sites of metastases in Korean patients with mRCC remain unclear. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the frequency of metastatic site involvement and the association between sites of metastatic involvement and survival in Korean patients with mRCC.

Impact of variant histology in the prognosis of non‑muscle invasive bladder cancer with low‑tumor burden: A propensity score‑matched analysis with conventional urothelial carcinoma.

Bladder cancer (BCa) with variant histology (VH) is associated with an increased risk of recurrence and progression, as well as worse survival. However, the available literature does not provide the prognostic value of VH based on its tumor burden in non-muscle invasive BCa (NMIBC). The purpose of the present study was to investigate the prognosis of VH in NMIBC with low-tumor volume compared with conventional urothelial carcinoma (UC) with a similar tumor burden.

Optimal sequential therapy using tyrosine kinase inhibitors as the first-line treatment in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma: A nationwide multicenter study.

Objective: The purpose of the study was to identify the best sequence of therapy beginning with a tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) as the first-line therapy for patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) in terms of overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), and rates of discontinuation and adverse effects during the treatment period.

Methods: This is a retrospective, nationwide multicenter study of patients with mRCC after diagnosis at 10 different tertiary medical centers in Korea from January 1992 to December 2017. We focused on patients at either "favorable" or "intermediate" risk according to the International mRCC Database Consortium criteria, and they were followed up (median 335 days).

Establishment of canine mammary gland tumor cell lines harboring PI3K/Akt activation as a therapeutic target.

Canine mammary gland tumors (MGT) have a poor prognosis in intact female canines, posing a clinical challenge. This study aimed to establish novel canine mammary cancer cell lines from primary tumors and characterize their cellular and molecular features to find potential therapeutic drugs. The MGT cell lines demonstrated rapid cell proliferation and colony formation in an anchorage-independent manner.

Impact of Circulating Tumor Cell-Expressed Prostate-Specific Membrane Antigen and Prostate-Specific Antigen Transcripts in Different Stages of Prostate Cancer.

Purpose: Prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA)-based images, which visually quantify PSMA expression, are used to determine prostate cancer micrometastases. This study evaluated whether a circulating tumor cell (CTC)-based transcript platform, including PSMA mRNA, could help identify potential prognostic markers in prostate cancer.

Experimental Design: We prospectively enrolled 21 healthy individuals and 247 patients with prostate cancer [localized prostate cancer (LPCa), n = 94; metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer (mHSPC), n = 44; and metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC), n = 109].

Survival pattern of metastatic renal cell carcinoma patients according to WHO/ISUP grade: a long-term multi-institutional study.

The World Health Organization/International Society of Urological Pathology (WHO/ISUP) grading of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is classified from grade 1-4, regardless of subtype. The National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) guidelines (2022) state that if there is an adverse pathological feature, such as grade 3 or higher RCC in stage 1 patients, more rigorous follow-up imaging is recommended. However, the RCC guidelines do not provide specific treatment or follow-up policies by tumor grade.

Ablation of the deubiquitinase USP15 ameliorates nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis.

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) occurs due to the accumulation of fat in the liver, leading to fatal liver diseases such as nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and cirrhosis. Elucidation of the molecular mechanisms underlying NAFLD is critical for its prevention and therapy. Here, we observed that deubiquitinase USP15 expression was upregulated in the livers of mice fed a high-fat diet (HFD) and liver biopsies of patients with NAFLD or NASH.

Hemicellulose-based hydrogels for advanced applications.

Hemicellulose-based hydrogels are three-dimensional networked hydrophilic polymer with high water retention, good biocompatibility, and mechanical properties, which have attracted much attention in the field of soft materials. Herein, recent advances and developments in hemicellulose-based hydrogels were reviewed. The preparation method, formation mechanism and properties of hemicellulose-based hydrogels were introduced from the aspects of chemical cross-linking and physical cross-linking.

Prognostic value of the endothelial activation and stress index in patients with upper tract urothelial cancer undergoing radical nephroureterectomy.

Purpose: The relationship with endothelial activation and stress index (EASIX), which represents the degree of endothelial dysfunction, is unwell known in upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC). The present study aims to assess the prognostic value of the EASIX for recurrence-free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS) in patients with UTUC who underwent radical nephroureterectomy (RNU).

Materials And Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the clinical data of 627 patients with UTUC who underwent RNU without neoadjuvant chemotherapy at three hospitals between 2002 and 2019.

Coexpression of lymphocyte-activation gene 3 and programmed death ligand-1 in tumor infiltrating immune cells predicts worse outcome in renal cell carcinoma.

Objectives: Lymphocyte-activation gene 3 (LAG-3) represents a potential immune checkpoint target for cancer treatment. We investigated LAG-3 expression and its prognostic value in patients with surgically treated clear cell renal cell carcinoma (RCC) and correlated LAG-3 expression with programmed cell death ligand 1(PD-L1).

Methods: We evaluated LAG-3 and PD-L1 expression using immunohistochemistry on tissue microarrays incorporating 134 primary excision specimens of clear cell RCC (ccRCC).

A Novel Approach on Deep Learning-Based Decision Support System Applying Multiple Output LSTM-Autoencoder: Focusing on Identifying Variations by PHSMs' Effect over COVID-19 Pandemic.

Following the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, the continued emergence of major variant viruses has caused enormous damage worldwide by generating social and economic ripple effects, and the importance of PHSMs (Public Health and Social Measures) is being highlighted to cope with this severe situation. Accordingly, there has also been an increase in research related to a decision support system based on simulation approaches used as a basis for PHSMs. However, previous studies showed limitations impeding utilization as a decision support system for policy establishment and implementation, such as the failure to reflect changes in the effectiveness of PHSMs and the restriction to short-term forecasts.

Implementation of a Collaborated Antimicrobial Stewardship Program and Outpatient Parenteral Antimicrobial Therapy (OPAT) Unit-driven Monoclonal Antibody Therapy Program for COVID-19 at an NYC Hospital.

Objectives: This study aimed to assess the processes and clinical outcomes of a joint collaboration between Antimicrobial Stewardship Program (ASP) and the outpatient parenteral antimicrobial therapy (OPAT) unit for delivery of monoclonal antibody therapy for mild-to-moderate COVID-19.

Methods: We carried out a retrospective, interim analysis of our COVID-19 monoclonal antibody therapy program. Outcomes included clinical response, incidence of hospitalization, and adverse events.

Comparative Analysis of Proteomes and Phosphoproteomes in Patients with Prostate Cancer Using Different Surgical Conditions.

Purpose: To establish the standard of procedure in preparing benign and cancerous prostate tissues and evaluate the quality of proteomics and phosphoproteomics during transurethral resection of the prostate (TUR-P) with different surgical conditions.

Materials And Methods: TUR-P tissue samples from three patients, two diagnosed with prostate cancer and one with benign prostatic hyperplasia, were each analyzed under three different conditions, based on differences in energy values, tissue locations, and surgical techniques. Global- and phosphorylated proteomic profiles of prostate tissues were analyzed by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry.

Low Subthreshold Slope AlGaN/GaN MOS-HEMT with Spike-Annealed HfO Gate Dielectric.

AlGaN/GaN metal-oxide semiconductor high electron mobility transistors (MOS-HEMTs) with undoped ferroelectric HfO have been investigated. Annealing is often a critical step for improving the quality of as-deposited amorphous gate oxides. Thermal treatment of HfO gate dielectric, however, is known to degrade the oxide/nitride interface due to the formation of Ga-containing oxide.

Visible and infrared dual-band imaging via Ge/MoS van der Waals heterostructure.

Multispectral photodetectors are emerging devices capable of detecting photons in multiple wavelength ranges, such as visible (VIS), near infrared (NIR), etc. Image data acquired with these photodetectors can be used for effective object identification and navigations owing to additional information beyond human vision, including thermal image and night vision. However, these capabilities are hindered by the structural complexity arising from the integration of multiple heterojunctions and selective absorbers.

Deep Dichromatic Model Estimation Under AC Light Sources.

The dichromatic reflection model has been popularly exploited for computer vison tasks, such as color constancy and highlight removal. However, dichromatic model estimation is an severely ill-posed problem. Thus, several assumptions have been commonly made to estimate the dichromatic model, such as white-light (highlight removal) and the existence of highlight regions (color constancy).

Prognostic Impact of Resection Margin Length in Patients Undergoing Resection for Mid-Common Bile Duct Cancer: A Single-Center Experience.

Introduction: The purpose of this study was to analyze survival outcomes after segmental bile duct resection (BDR) for mid-common bile duct cancer according to the length of the tumor-free BDR margins.

Method: A total of 133 consecutive patients underwent BDR for mid-bile duct cancers between December 2007 and June 2017. The Cox proportional hazard model was used to verify the cutoff value of the R0 resection margin.