Clinical features and outcomes of gastric variceal bleeding: retrospective Korean multicenter data.

Background/aims: While gastric variceal bleeding (GVB) is not as prevalent as esophageal variceal bleeding, it is reportedly more serious, with high failure rates of the initial hemostasis (>30%), and has a worse prognosis than esophageal variceal bleeding. However, there is limited information regarding hemostasis and the prognosis for GVB. The aim of this study was to determine retrospectively the clinical outcomes of GVB in a multicenter study in Korea.

Bragg stack-functionalized counter electrode for solid-state dye-sensitized solar cells.

A highly reflective counter electrode is prepared through the deposition of alternating layers of organized mesoporous TiO(2) (om-TiO(2)) and colloidal SiO(2) (col-SiO(2)) nanoparticles. We present the effects of introducing this counter electrode into dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) for maximizing light harvesting properties. The om-TiO(2) layers with a high refractive index are prepared by using an atomic transfer radical polymerization and a sol-gel process, in which a polyvinyl chloride-g-poly(oxyethylene) methacrylate graft copolymer is used as a structure-directing agent.

Synthesis of low-cost, rubbery amphiphilic comb-like copolymers and their use in the templated synthesis of mesoporous TiO2 films for solid-state dye-sensitized solar cells.

Low-cost, rubbery amphiphilic comb-like copolymers consisting of hydrophobic poly(lauryl methacrylate) (PLMA) and hydrophilic poly(oxyethylene methacrylate) (POEM) were synthesized via one-step free radical polymerization. The synthesis of PLMA-POEM copolymers was confirmed using Fourier transform infra-red spectroscopy (FT-IR), (1)H-nuclear magnetic resonance ((1)H-NMR) and gel permeation spectroscopy (GPC). The PLMA-POEM copolymers were used as a structure-directing agent for the formation of anatase mesoporous TiO2 films.

Discovery of the novel mTOR inhibitor and its antitumor activities in vitro and in vivo.

The phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3-K)/Akt and mTOR signaling pathway plays a critical role in cell survival and proliferation and is often aberrantly activated in many types of cancer. The mTOR kinase protein, one of the key molecules in this pathway, has been shown to be an important target for cancer therapy. In the present study, a ligand docking method was used to screen for novel scaffold mTOR inhibitors.

Coil-protected embolization technique for a branch-incorporated aneurysm.

Objective: A small branch-incorporated aneurysm is an aneurysm with a small branch incorporated into the sac or the neck. It is one of the most difficult aneurysms to treat with coil embolization. The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of the coil-protected embolization technique for small-branch incorporated aneurysm.

Autophagy and cellular senescence mediated by Sox2 suppress malignancy of cancer cells.

Autophagy is a critical cellular process required for maintaining cellular homeostasis in health and disease states, but the molecular mechanisms and impact of autophagy on cancer is not fully understood. Here, we found that Sox2, a key transcription factor in the regulation of the "stemness" of embryonic stem cells and induced-pluripotent stem cells, strongly induced autophagic phenomena, including intracellular vacuole formation and lysosomal activation in colon cancer cells. The activation occurred through Sox2-mediated ATG10 gene expression and resulted in the inhibition of cell proliferation and anchorage-independent colony growth ex vivo and tumor growth in vivo.

Direct targeting of MEK1/2 and RSK2 by silybin induces cell-cycle arrest and inhibits melanoma cell growth.

Abnormal functioning of multiple gene products underlies the neoplastic transformation of cells. Thus, chemopreventive and/or chemotherapeutic agents with multigene targets hold promise in the development of effective anticancer drugs. Silybin, a component of milk thistle, is a natural anticancer agent.

Tumor suppressor p16(INK4a) inhibits cancer cell growth by downregulating eEF1A2 through a direct interaction.

The tumor suppressor protein p16(INK4a) is a member of the INK4 family of cyclin-dependent kinase (Cdk) inhibitors, which are involved in the regulation of the eukaryotic cell cycle. However, the mechanisms underlying the anti-proliferative effects of p16(INK4a) have not been fully elucidated. Using yeast two-hybrid screening, we identified the eukaryotic elongation factor (eEF)1A2 as a novel interacting partner of p16(INK4a).

PKCδ as a regulator for TGFβ1-induced α-SMA production in a murine nonalcoholic steatohepatitis model.

The precise mechanism of TGFβ1 signaling in the progression of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) has remained unclear. In particular, a potential regulatory mechanism by which PKCδ affects profibrogenic gene expression had never been explored. In this study, therefore, the role of PKCδ in TGFβ1 mediated α-SMA expression was investigated using NASH model mice.

Obesity, insulin resistance, and the risk of an elevated alanine aminotransferase activity in the Korean adolescent population.

Background: It is unclear to what extent insulin resistance (IR) modulates the association linking obesity to alanine aminotransferase (ALT) activity elevation.

Methods: We measured the homeostatic model assessment for IR (HOMA-IR) in 1591 participants aged 12-18 years from the 2008 to 2009 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

Results: Overweight adolescents had an odds ratio of 7.

Aortic Surgery without Infusion of Cardioplegic Solution at Total Circulatory Arrest.

Background: MINIMAL INFUSION OF CARDIOPLEGIC SOLUTION (CPS) DURING AORTIC SURGERY USING TOTAL CIRCULATORY ARREST (TCA) MAY REDUCE SEVERAL POTENTIAL SIDE EFFECTS: clamping on a diseased aorta, insult of coronary ostia, and edema.

Materials And Methods: From 2006 to 2009, 72 patients underwent aortic surgery without infusion of cardioplegic solution at the initiation of circulatory arrest. The diagnoses were acute aortic dissection (44), aneurysm (22), and intramural hematoma (6).

Discordance between liver biopsy and FibroTest in assessing liver fibrosis in chronic hepatitis B.

Background And Aims: The FibroTest (FT) demonstrated excellent diagnostic performance in the prediction of liver fibrosis in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB). Here, we aimed to identify predictors of discordance between FT and liver biopsy (LB) in Asian patients with CHB.

Methods: Consecutive patients with CHB who underwent both LB and FT on the same day between 2007 and 2010 were recruited from three medical institutes.

Anti-oxidant and natural killer cell activity of Korean red ginseng (Panax ginseng) and urushiol (Rhus vernicifera Stokes) on non-alcoholic fatty liver disease of rat.

Anti-oxidative and immunologic effects of the Korea red ginseng (KRG; Panax ginseng) and urushiol (Rhus vernicifera Stokes) on non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) were evaluated. Forty-five rats (five Long-Evans Tokushima Otsuka and 40 Otsuka Long-Evans Tokushima Fatty [OLETF] rats) received chew diets for 10months; after this period. The OLETF rats were divided into the following four groups according to diet for 2months: NAFLD (chew), KRG (chew+KRG [200mg/kg/day]), urushiol (chew+urushiol [0.

The influence of anti-platelet resistance on the development of cerebral ischemic lesion after carotid artery stenting.

Purpose: Cerebral ischemic lesions are frequently observed after carotid artery stenting (CAS), and anti-platelet agents are used to prevent stent thrombosis and peri-procedural complications. However, despite the premedication, cerebral ischemic lesions are observed, suggesting that they may rather be related to anti-platelet resistance. We, therefore, investigated the effects of anti-platelet resistance on the development of cerebral ischemic lesions after CAS.

A nationwide seroepidemiology of hepatitis C virus infection in South Korea.

Background & Aims: The aim of this study was to reveal nationwide seroprevalence of HCV infection in South Korea by a large-scale survey.

Methods: From January to December 2009, a total of 291 314 adults underwent health check-up in 29 centres nationwide. The data concerning anti-HCV antibody and biochemical tests were obtained from all participants.

CInQ-03, a novel allosteric MEK inhibitor, suppresses cancer growth in vitro and in vivo.

The mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase 1 and 2 signaling pathway is a major component of the RAS (Rat sarcoma)/RAF (Radpidly accelerated fibrosarcoma)/MEK (mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase)/ERKs (Extracellular signal-regulated kinases) signaling axis that regulates tumorigenesis and cancer cell growth. MEK is frequently activated in various cancers that have mutations in the KRAS and BRAF oncogenes. Therefore, MEK has been suggested as a therapeutic target for inhibitor development against tumors that are dependent on the activating mutations in mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling.

Relationship between the hepatic venous pressure gradient and first variceal hemorrhage in patients with cirrhosis: a multicenter retrospective study in Korea.

Background/aims: Variceal hemorrhage is one of the major complications of cirrhosis and is associated with significant mortality and morbidity. The development of gastroesophageal varices and variceal hemorrhage is the most direct consequence of portal hypertension. Correlations between the hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG) and first variceal hemorrhage were examined.

Wingspan stenting for intracranial atherosclerotic stenosis: clinical outcomes and risk factors for in-stent restenosis.

Background: Intracranial atherosclerotic stenosis (ICAS) is responsible for 9% to 37% of ischemic strokes.

Objective: To evaluate the clinical outcome and risk factors for in-stent restenosis (ISR) after treatment of ICAS with a Wingspan stent.

Methods: Seventy-seven patients with 79 total target ICAS > 60% (mean, 79.

Biomarkers of liver fibrosis.

Liver fibrosis is the final common pathway for almost all causes of chronic liver injury. Liver fibrosis is now known to be a dynamic process having significant potential for resolution. Therefore, fibrosis prediction is an essential part of the assessment and management of patients with chronic liver disease.

Amelioration of Alzheimer's disease by neuroprotective effect of sulforaphane in animal model.

Pathophysiological evidences of AD have indicated that aggregation of Aβ is one of the principal causes of neuronal dysfunction, largely by way of inducing oxidative stresses such as free radical formation. We hypothesized that the known antioxidative attribute of SFN could be harnessed in Alzheimer's treatment. SFN is an indirect, potent antioxidant derived from broccoli that has previously been found to stimulate the Nrf2-ARE pathway and facilitate several other cytoprotective mechanisms.

Trends in the eradication rates of Helicobacter pylori infection for eleven years.

Aim: To evaluate the trends in the eradication rate of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) over the past 11 years in a single center.

Methods: This retrospective study covered the period from January 2000 to December 2010.

MR-DWI-positive lesions and symptomatic ischemic complications after coiling of unruptured intracranial aneurysms.

Background And Purpose: The aims of this study are to evaluate the risk factors for symptomatic ischemic complication (symptomatic ischemic complication [SIC], transient ischemic attack, or stroke) and microembolisms detected as MR diffusion-weighted imaging (MR-DWI)-positive (DWI(+)) lesions, and the relationship between DWI(+) and SIC after coiling of unruptured intracranial aneurysm.

Methods: Between March 2009 and November 2011, 382 unruptured intracranial aneurysms in 343 patients underwent both coiling and posttreatment MR-DWI. The incidence of and risk factors for SIC and DWI(+), and the relationship between DWI(+) and SIC were retrospectively analyzed.

Relationship between Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease and Carotid Artery Atherosclerosis Beyond Metabolic Disorders in Non-Diabetic Patients.

Background: The objective of this study was to investigate the association between nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and carotid artery atherosclerosis beyond metabolic disorders.

Methods: We studied 320 non-diabetic patients with ultrasonographically diagnosed NAFLD and 313 non-diabetic patients without NAFLD who have less than 40 g alcohol/week drinking history. Carotid atherosclerotic burden was assessed by carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) and plaque.

A practical scoring system for predicting cirrhosis in patients with chronic viral hepatitis.

Background/aims: The purpose of the current study was to develop a simple model for predicting cirrhosis in chronic viral hepatitis patients and to evaluate the usefulness of decision tree algorithms.

Methodology: Serum markers of fibrosis were compared with the stage of fibrosis in liver biopsy specimens prospectively obtained from 526 subjects with chronic HBV and HCV infections (estimation set, 367; validation set, 159).

Results: Univariate analysis revealed that age, bilirubin, platelet count, APRI, ALP, hyaluronic acid (HA), α2-macroglobulin, MMP-2, TIMP-1, and procollagen III N-terminal peptide (PIIINP) were significantly different between patients with (F4) and without cirrhosis (F0123).

Identification of patients with decompensated cirrhosis at high risk for death: improving the prediction by hepatic venous pressure gradient?

Background/aims: The incremental usefulness of adding hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG) for predicting the risk of death has not, to our knowledge, been evaluated among patients with decompensated cirrhosis. We investigated whether the incorporation of the HVPG in an established model improved the prediction of death in a cohort of decompensated cirrhosis patients.

Methodology: We used data from 106 consecutive patients with decompensated cirrhosis who underwent a hemodynamic study between January 2006 and December 2007, to investigate whether the HVPG improved the risk discrimination of a patient beyond an assessment that was based on the Model for End-stage Liver Disease (MELD) or MELD-Na.