Residual Red Blood Cell Volume in Extracorporeal Blood Circuit after Hemodialysis: A Single-Center Study.

Introduction: The factors contributing to blood loss during hemodialysis (HD) procedures remain underexplored. This study aimed to quantify blood loss during HD and identify the potential factors associated with it.

Methods: The study included 70 ESRD patients undergoing HD.

Clinical outcome of induction chemotherapy in locally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

Unlabelled: BACKGROUND AIM: We evaluated the efficacy and toxicities of three induction chemotherapy regimens in locally advanced head and neck cancer and assessed the clinical significance of human papillomavirus (HPV) in induction chemotherapy.

Patients And Methods: Fifty-two patients were retrospectively evaluated; 12 patients received 5-fluorouracil-plus-cisplatin (FP); 24 patients received docetaxel-plus-cisplatin (DP); 16 patients received docetaxel, cisplatin, and 5-fluorouracil (TPF).

Results: The TPF regimen showed a trend towards a higher overall response rate and pathological complete response and led to a significantly higher rate of metabolic complete response.

Serum Carcinoembryonic Antigen Levels and the Risk of Whole-body Metastatic Potential in Advanced Non-small Cell Lung Cancer.

Background: This study aimed to clarify the clinical associations between serum carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) levels and whole-body metastatic distribution in stage IV NSCLC patients.

Methods: This study analyzed 377 eligible patients between June 2007 and December 2012. All patients enrolled in the study were newly diagnosed with stage IV NSCLC and had records of pre-treatment serum CEA levels.

Human papillomavirus-stratified analysis of the prognostic role of miR-21 in oral cavity and oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma.

Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection plays a significant role in the development and progression of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Expression of miR-21 has a prognostic role in a wide variety of cancers. The upregulation of miR-21 suppresses a number of target genes, including phosphatase tensin homologue (PTEN) and programmed cell death 4 (PDCD4).

Outcomes in elderly patients treated with a single-agent or combination regimen as first-line chemotherapy for recurrent or metastatic gastric cancer.

Background: Palliative chemotherapy is used to prolong survival among elderly patients with inoperable gastric cancer (GC). We analyzed differences between single and combination first-line palliative chemotherapy among these patients.

Methods: Included patients were >70 years old and were treated for GC at four clinical centers of the Catholic University of Korea.

First reported case of interferon-alpha-induced sarcoidosis in an Asian patient with malignant melanoma.

Anticancer agents can induce sarcoidosis. Interferon-alpha, which is used for the treatment of malignant melanoma and renal cell cancer, is one causative agent of sarcoidosis. However, there are few reports of interferon-alpha-induced sarcoidosis in patients with malignant melanoma.

Prognostic significance of TMEM16A, PPFIA1, and FADD expression in invasive ductal carcinoma of the breast.

Background: 11q13 region is a frequently amplified locus in human malignancies. Among the genes located in this region, FADD is one of the alleged driving genes. Because amplification is not generally confined to a single gene and amplified genes may not show increased expression, we need to evaluate clinical significance of changes occurring in 11q13 region to understand their roles in carcinogenesis.

Prognostic significance of RSPO1, WNT1, P16, WT1, and SDC1 expressions in invasive ductal carcinoma of the breast.

Background: To better understand the mechanisms of the SDC1 expression in invasive ductal carcinoma, we studied the correlations between SDC1 expression and related gene expressions (RSPO1, WNT1, WT1, and P16).

Methods: Using 100 cases of invasive ductal carcinoma tissue, we screened expressions of RSPO1, WNT1, WT1, P16, and SDC1 using immunohistochemistry. We analyzed the association between the immunoreactivities and clinicopathological parameters.

Soluble interleukin-6 receptor is a prognostic marker for relapse-free survival in estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer.

Considering the protumorigenic roles of interleukin-6 (IL-6) transsignaling, we assessed the serum levels of IL-6, soluble interleukin-6 receptor (sIL-6R), and soluble glycoprotein 130 (sgp130) in 143 patients with breast cancer. Serum levels of IL-6 were elevated with advanced T and N stage. Serum levels of sIL-6R were lower in patients with estrogen receptor-positive cancer.

Prognostic significance of autophagy-related protein expression in resected pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.

Objectives: Autophagy is a critical intracellular pathway for the removal of aggregated proteins and damaged organelles. The aim of this study was to explore the contribution of autophagy-related proteins to clinical outcomes of patients with resected pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC).

Methods: The expression of 5 autophagy-related proteins in the PDAC tissues of 73 patients was evaluated by immunohistochemistry using a tissue array method.

Photoconductivity and enhanced memory effects in hybrid C60-graphene transistors.

We describe the observation of photoconductivity and enhanced memory effects in graphene devices functionalized with clusters of alkylated C(60) molecules. The alkylated C(60) clusters were adsorbed on chemical vapor deposition-grown graphene devices from an aprotic medium. The resulting alkylated C(60)-graphene hybrid devices showed reproducible photoconductive behavior originating from the electron-accepting nature of the C(60) molecules.

Treatment outcomes of systemic chemotherapy for peritoneal carcinomatosis arising from gastric cancer with no measurable disease: retrospective analysis from a single center.

Background: Few studies of systemic chemotherapy have focused on gastric cancer with peritoneal carcinomatosis (PC) without measurable lesions. In the present study, we characterized the outcomes of systemic chemotherapy and prognostic factors for gastric cancer with PC, particularly in patients without measurable disease.

Methods: Clinical data from 211 gastric cancer patients with PC (137 without and 74 with measurable disease) who had received systemic chemotherapy between January 2003 and December 2010 at a single center were reviewed.

Effect of green tea extracts on oxaliplatin-induced peripheral neuropathy in rats.

Background: A common side effect of oxaliplatin is peripheral neurotoxicity. Oxidative stress to dorsal root ganglion (DRG) may be one of important pathogenic mechanisms. Green tea contains four polyphenol catechins, which are known to be potent antioxidants.

Comparison of the efficacy and the toxicity between gemcitabine with capecitabine (GC) and gemcitabine with erlotinib (GE) in unresectable pancreatic cancer.

Objective: We retrospectively compared the efficacy and toxicity of gemcitabine combination with capecitabine or erlotinib in unresectable pancreatic cancer to know whether the combination with cytotoxic and target agent has more benefit comparing to combination of cytotoxic agents.

Methods: Fifty-three patients with unresectable pancreatic cancer, treated with gemcitabine and capecitabine (GC) or gemcitabine and erlotinib (GE) as first line between October 2006 and July 2010, were reviewed. In GC group, patients were treated with gemcitabine 1,000 mg/m(2) on days 1, 8, and capecitabine 1,300 mg/m(2) bid was administered on days 1-14, repeated every 21 days.

IL-6 is an independent risk factor for resistance to erythropoiesis-stimulating agents in hemodialysis patients without iron deficiency.

Anemia is a common complication in dialysis patients because of their relative erythropoietin deficiency. Despite treatment with erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs), some patients experienced ESA hyporesponsiveness. We evaluated the clinical and laboratory factors that affect ESA hyporesponsiveness and investigated the relationships between hepcidin, inflammatory markers, and the iron profiles of hemodialysis patients.

Modified FOLFIRI as Second-Line Chemotherapy after Failure of Modified FOLFOX-4 in Advanced Gastric Cancer.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate efficacy and toxicity of irinotecan, leucovorin and 5-fluorouracil (FOLFIRI) as second-line treatment after failure of oxaliplatin, leucovorin and 5-fluorouracil (FOLFOX) for advanced gastric cancer.

Materials And Methods: Patients who received modified FOLFOX-4 as first-line treatment and then received sequential modified FOLFIRI for disease progression were included in this study. The modified FOLFIRI regimen consisted of irinotecan 150 mg/m(2) in a 90-minute intravenous infusion on day 1, leucovorin (LV) 20 mg/m(2) and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) 400 mg/m(2) as a bolus followed by 600 mg/m(2) as a 22-hour infusion on days 1 and 2 with the same dose of 5-FU/LV of modified FOLFOX-4 every 2 weeks.

Prognostic significance of CD44s expression in resected non-small cell lung cancer.

Background: CD44s is a cell adhesion molecule known to mediate cellular adhesion to the extracellular matrix, a prerequisite for tumor cell migration. CD44s plays an important role in invasion and metastasis of various cancers. In the present study, we sought to determine whether CD44s is involved in clinical outcomes of patients with resected non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Pancreatic endocrine tumors: a report on a patient treated with sorafenib.

A 31-yr-old man with abdominal pain was diagnosed with a pancreatic endocrine tumor and multiple hepatic metastases. Despite optimal treatment with interferon alpha, a somatostatin analog, local therapy with high-intensity focused ultrasound ablation for multiple hepatic metastases, and multiple lines of chemotherapy with etoposide/cisplatin combination chemotherapy and gemcitabine monotherapy, the tumor progressed. As few chemotherapeutic options were available for him, sorafenib (800 mg/day, daily) was administered as a salvage regimen.

Prognostic significance of nuclear survivin expression in resected adenoid cystic carcinoma of the head and neck.

Objectives: The expression of survivin, an inhibitor of apoptosis, in tumor cells is associated with poor clinical outcome for various cancers. We conducted this study to determine survivin expression in patients with adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) of the head and neck and to identify its clinical significance as a prognostic factor.

Materials And Methods: We performed immunohistochemical staining for survivin, p53, bcl-2 protein, and Ki-67 in formalin fixed, paraffin-embedded blocks from 37 cases of head and neck ACC.

A global gene expression analysis of the peripheral blood mononuclear cells reveals the gene expression signature in psoriasis.

Background: Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin disease that affects approximately 1~3% of the general population.

Objective: We performed cDNA microarray analysis with using the dendrimer labelling method to investigate the gene expression profile in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of psoriatic patients.

Methods: The peripheral blood mononuclear cells of 5 patients with psoriasis and 8 control subjects were used in the gene expression analyses of psoriasis.

Resolving microscopic interfaces in Si(1-x)Ge(x) alloy nanowire devices.

We have fabricated Si(1-x)Ge(x) alloy nanowire devices with Ni and Ni/Au electrodes. The electrical transport characteristics of the alloy nanowires depended strongly on the annealing temperature and contact metals. Ni/Au-contacted devices annealed at 400 degrees C showed p-type transistor behavior as well as a resistance switching effect, while no switching was observed from Ni-contacted alloy nanowire devices.

Angiolymphoid hyperplasia with eosinophilia that was possibly induced by vaccination in a child.

Angiolymphoid hyperplasia with eosinophilia (ALHE) is a rare benign vasoproliferative disease of an unknown cause involving the skin or subcutaneous tissue of the head and neck, and particularly around the ear. It predominantly affects Caucasian adults during the third and fourth decades and it very rarely occurs in children. We experienced a case of ALHE in a 2-year-old Korean boy who had a firm, pruritic, skin-colored, subcutaneous nodule on his right upper arm.

The modification of the electrical property in double-walled carbon nanotube devices with a self-assembled monolayer of molecules.

We have investigated the electrical transports of double-walled carbon nanotube field effect transistors (DWNT-FETs) with modified contacts. The CNT/Au metal contacts of DWNT-FETs were modified with a self-assembled monolayer of 2-aminoethanethiol molecules. In ambient air, the contact-modified DWNT-FETs showed a decreased conductance in the p-channel (negative gate voltages) and an increased conductance in the n-channel (positive gate voltages), while the original device showed p-type transport.

Interface charge induced p-type characteristics of aligned Si(1-x)Gex nanowires.

This study reports the electrical transport characteristics of Si(1-x)Gex (x=0-0.3) nanowires. Nanowires with diameters of 50-100 nm were grown on Si substrates.