Outbreak investigation of Serratia marcescens bloodstream infection in an obstetric ward for high-risk pregnant women.

Background: Serratia marcescens is a gram-negative bacterium that is widespread in the environment. S. marcescens bacteremia can be fatal during pregnancy and cause persistent chorioamnionitis.

Hepatocyte-specific deletion of Bis causes senescence in the liver without deteriorating hepatic function.

Bcl-2-interacting cell death suppressor (BIS), also called as BAG3, regulates numerous physiological processes, such as apoptosis, protein quality control, and senescence. Whole-body Bis-knockout (KO) mice exhibit early lethality following cardiac and skeletal muscle dysfunction. The first attempt to generate organ-specific knockout mice resulted in constitutive or inducible heart-specific Bis-knockout mice, which exhibited cardiac dilation and underwent premature death.

Spontaneous reduction of transvaginal small bowel evisceration after abdominal hysterectomy for cervical cancer: A case report.

Rationale: Transvaginal evisceration of the small bowel is an extremely rare condition after hysterectomy, which requires urgent surgical intervention to prevent serious bowel morbidity and mortality.

Patient Concerns: A 65-year-old woman presented with sudden-onset severe abdominal pain and a mass protruding through the vagina. The past surgical history was significant, with an abdominal hysterectomy for cervical cancer performed 11 weeks prior to presentation.

Successful treatment of locally advanced bulky cervical cancer complicated by irreducible complete uterine prolapse: A case report.

Rationale: Cervical cancer complicated by irreducible complete uterine prolapse in elderly patients is extremely rare. No standard treatment has been established for these conditions.

Patient Concerns: A 74-year-old woman with a 30-year history of pelvic organ prolapse presented with irreducible complete uterine prolapse and a large exophytic mass involving the cervix and vaginal wall.

The Expression and Contribution of SRCs with Preeclampsia Placenta.

The steroid hormones act by binding to their receptors and subsequently interacting with coactivators. Several classes of coactivators have been identified and shown to be essential in estradiol (E2) responsiveness. The major coregulators are the p160 steroid receptor coactivator (SRC) family.

Enzyme-Aided Extraction of Fucoidan by AMG Augments the Functionality of EPCs through Regulation of the AKT/Rheb Signaling Pathway.

The purpose of the present study is to improve the endothelial progenitor cells (EPC) activation, proliferation, and angiogenesis using enzyme-aided extraction of fucoidan by amyloglucosidase (EAEF-AMG). Enzyme-aided extraction of fucoidan by AMG (EAEF-AMG) significantly increased EPC proliferation by reducing the reactive oxygen species (ROS) and decreasing apoptosis. Notably, EAEF-AMG treated EPCs repressed the colocalization of TSC2/LAMP1 and promoted perinuclear localization of mTOR/LAMP1 and mTOR/Rheb.

MHY2233 Attenuates Replicative Cellular Senescence in Human Endothelial Progenitor Cells SIRT1 Signaling.

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are a major cause of death worldwide. Due to the prevalence of many side effects and incomplete recovery from pharmacotherapies, stem cell therapy is being targeted for the treatment of CVDs. Among the different types of stem cells, endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) have great potential.

Vascular leakage caused by loss of Akt1 is associated with impaired mural cell coverage.

Angiogenesis plays a critical role in embryo development, tissue repair, tumor growth and wound healing. In the present study, we investigated the role of the serine/threonine kinase Akt in angiogenesis. Silencing of Akt1 in human umbilical vein endothelial cells significantly inhibited vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-induced capillary-like tube formation.

Angiotensin II Attenuates the Bioactivities of Human Endothelial Progenitor Cells via Downregulation of 2-Adrenergic Receptor.

Cross talks between the renin-angiotensin system (RAS), sympathetic nervous system, and vascular homeostasis are tightly coordinated in hypertension. Angiotensin II (Ang II), a key factor in RAS, when abnormally activated, affects the number and bioactivity of circulating human endothelial progenitor cells (hEPCs) in hypertensive patients. In this study, we investigated how the augmentation of Ang II regulates adrenergic receptor-mediated signaling and angiogenic bioactivities of hEPCs.

Feasibility of Immediate in-Intensive Care Unit Pulmonary Rehabilitation after Lung Transplantation: A Single Center Experience.

Background: Physical function may influence perioperative outcomes of lung transplantation. We investigated the feasibility of a pulmonary rehabilitation program initiated in the immediate postoperative period at an intensive care unit (ICU) for patients who underwent lung transplantation.

Methods: We retrospectively evaluated 22 patients who received pulmonary rehabilitation initiated in the ICU within 2 weeks after lung transplantation at our institution from March 2015 to February 2016.

Long-Term Priming by Three Small Molecules Is a Promising Strategy for Enhancing Late Endothelial Progenitor Cell Bioactivities.

Endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) and outgrowth endothelial cells (OECs) play a pivotal role in vascular regeneration in ischemic tissues; however, their therapeutic application in clinical settings is limited due to the low quality and quantity of patient-derived circulating EPCs. To solve this problem, we evaluated whether three priming small molecules (tauroursodeoxycholic acid, fucoidan, and oleuropein) could enhance the angiogenic potential of EPCs. Such enhancement would promote the cellular bioactivities and help to develop functionally improved EPC therapeutics for ischemic diseases by accelerating the priming effect of the defined physiological molecules.

Amniotic fluid index, single deepest pocket and transvaginal cervical length: Parameter of predictive delivery latency in preterm premature rupture of membranes.

Objective: Prediction of delivery latency complicated with preterm premature rupture of membrane (PPROM) is crucial for reducing maternal and neonatal complications. Therefore, we investigated the correlations between latency period and cut-off values of ultrasonographic parameters, ultimately predicting delivery latency.

Materials And Methods: The retrospective study was performed on 121 PPROM patients enrolled between March 2010 and July 2015.

Leptin, leptin receptors and hypoxia-induced factor-1α expression in the placental bed of patients with and without preeclampsia during pregnancy.

The mechanism underlying the pathogenesis of preeclampsia (PE) has been previously investigated but remains to be elucidated. Among numerous biomarkers that are associated with the pathogenesis of PE, leptin is most frequently investigated. Although studies concerning the association between PE and the expression of leptin in the serum and placenta have been conducted, the results are conflicting and inconsistent.

Cosmetic outcomes of cesarean section scar; subcuticular suture versus intradermal buried suture.

Objective: The objective of the study was to compare cosmetic outcomes and overall satisfaction rate of cesarean section scar between conventional subcuticular suture and intradermal buried vertical mattress.

Methods: Patients were enrolled to the study by chart review. A scar assessment was obtained retrospectively through a telephone survey.

Peptide YY producing strumal carcinoid tumor of the ovary in a postmenopausal woman: a rare cause of chronic constipation.

Strumal carcinoid tumor of the ovary is a rare subtype of ovarian carcinoid tumors; it is characterized by an intimate mixture of thyroid and carcinoid tissues. We present a case of a 64-year-old woman who presented with the chief complaint of persistent, severe constipation for over 5 years; she was later found to have an ovarian strumal carcinoid tumor. Computed tomography showed a well-defined solid mass measuring 6.

Prognostic value of preoperative lymphocyte-monocyte ratio in elderly patients with advanced epithelial ovarian cancer.

Objective: To investigate the prognostic significance of preoperative lymphocyte-monocyte ratio (LMR) in elderly patients with advanced epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) receiving primary cytoreductive surgery and adjuvant platinum-based chemotherapy.

Methods: A total of 42 elderly patients (≥65 years) diagnosed with EOC who are receiving primary cytoreductive surgery and adjuvant platinum-based chemotherapy from 2009 to 2012 was included. LMR was calculated from complete blood cell count sampled before operation.

Lymphoepithelioma-like carcinoma of the uterine cervix.

Lymphoepithelioma-like carcinoma (LELC) of the uterine cervix is exceedingly uncommon. We herein report a rare case of cervical LELC. A 45-year-old woman was admitted to gynecology department with vaginal bleeding for one month.

Non-puerperal Uterine Inversion Presented with Hypovolemic Shock.

We report a non-puerperal uterine inversion with nulliparous women caused by huge pedunculated submucosal fibroid. Massive bleeding from protruding mass through vagina brought the heart to stop in 42-year-old nulliparous woman. She became cardiopulmonary resuscitation survivor in emergency room and then underwent laparotomy which ended in successful myomectomy rather than hysterectomy considering her demand for future fertility.

Regulation of retinal angiogenesis by endothelial nitric oxide synthase signaling pathway.

Angiogenesis plays an essential role in embryo development, tissue repair, inflammatory diseases, and tumor growth. In the present study, we showed that endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) regulates retinal angiogenesis. Mice that lack eNOS showed growth retardation, and retinal vessel development was significantly delayed.

Regulation of retinal angiogenesis by phospholipase C-β3 signaling pathway.

Angiogenesis has an essential role in many pathophysiologies. Here, we show that phospholipase C-β3 (PLC-β3) isoform regulates endothelial cell function and retinal angiogenesis. Silencing of PLC-β3 in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) significantly delayed proliferation, migration and capillary-like tube formation.

Recurrent Pregnancy Loss in Women with Killer Cell Immunoglobulin-Like Receptor KIR2DS1 is Associated with an Increased HLA-C2 Allelic Frequency.

Problem: During human pregnancy, the uterine lining is highly populated with killer-immunoglobulin-like receptor (KIR)-expressing NK cells that recognize HLA-C molecules on trophoblast cells. The goal of this study was to analyze the KIR gene contents and frequencies in a N. American cohort of women with RPL of unknown etiology to evaluate whether there is a genetic susceptibility to RPL based on a woman's KIR repertoire and her HLA-C group, as well as the HLA-C group of the partner.

Effect of Stepwise Doping on Lifetime and Efficiency of Blue and White Phosphorescent Organic Light Emitting Diodes.

We investigated a light emission mechanism of blue phosphorescent organic light emitting diodes (PHOLEDs), using a stepwise doping profile of 2, 8, and 14 wt.% within the emitting layer (EML). We fabricated several blue PHOLEDs with phosphorescent blue emitter iridium(III) bis[(4,6-difluorophenyl)-pyridinato-N,C2]picolinate doped in N,N'-dicarbazolyl-3,5-benzene as a p-type host material.

Performance improvement of green phosphorescent organic light emitting diodes with partial bulk heterojunctioned emitting layer.

Green phosphorescent organic light emitting diodes (PHOLEDs) were developed using a mixed layer system. They were fabricated with 4,4'-N,N'-dicarbazolyl-biphenyl (CBP) and typical charge transporting materials, which are 4,4'-bis[N-(naphthyl)-N-phenylamino]biphenyl (NPB) as a hole transporting material and 1,3,5-tris(N-phenylbenzimidazole-2-yl)benzene (TPBi) as an electron transporting material, mixed at each interface in a stacked organic layer to reduce the hole injection barrier and extend the recombination zone. We introduced a mixed layer for the hole transporting layer side, the electron transporting layer side, and on both sides to make a bulk heterojunction.