The Role of Sex-specific Long Non-coding RNAs in Cancer Prevention and Therapy.

The functions of a large number of non-coding genes in human DNA have yet to be accurately identified. Long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) measuring 10 kb or less in length regulates transcription or post-transcriptional events. The lncRNAs have attracted increased attention of researchers in recent years.

Whole genome survey of big cats (Genus: Panthera) identifies novel microsatellites of utility in conservation genetic study.

Big cats (Genus: Panthera) are among the most threatened mammal groups of the world, owing to hunting, habitat loss, and illegal transnational trade. Conservation genetic studies and effective curbs on poaching are important for the conservation of these charismatic apex predators. A limited number of microsatellite markers exists for Panthera species and researchers often cross-amplify domestic cat microsatellites to study these species.

CCL8 mediates crosstalk between endothelial colony forming cells and triple-negative breast cancer cells through IL-8, aggravating invasion and tumorigenicity.

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is an aggressive type of breast cancer with a poor prognosis for which no effective therapeutic measures are currently available. The present study aimed to investigate whether interactions with endothelial colony-forming cells (ECFCs) promote aggressive progression of TNBC cells. Herein, using an indirect co-culture system, we showed that co-culture increased the invasive and migratory phenotypes of both MDA-MB-231 TNBC cells and ECFCs.

Sex-Biased Molecular Signature for Overall Survival of Liver Cancer Patients.

Sex/gender disparity has been shown in the incidence and prognosis of many types of diseases, probably due to differences in genes, physiological conditions such as hormones, and lifestyle between the sexes. The mortality and survival rates of many cancers, especially liver cancer, differ between men and women. Due to the pronounced sex/gender disparity, considering sex/ gender may be necessary for the diagnosis and treatment of liver cancer.

Relationship between the endoscopic withdrawal time and adenoma/polyp detection rate in individual colonic segments: a KASID multicenter study.

Background And Aims: Appropriate colonoscopy withdrawal times for individual colonic segments are not well known. The relationship between withdrawal time and adenoma detection rate (ADR)/polyp detection rate (PDR) in individual colonic segments was examined in this study.

Methods: This was a prospective observational study involving 724 patients who underwent colonoscopy screening or surveillance colonoscopy from October 2015 to February 2017 at 10 university hospitals.

Quality of care in inflammatory bowel disease in Asia: the results of a multinational web-based survey in the 2(nd) Asian Organization of Crohn's and Colitis (AOCC) meeting in Seoul.

Background/aims: The quality of care in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) has not been systematically estimated. The aim of this study was to investigate the current status of quality of IBD care in Asian countries.

Methods: A questionnaire-based survey was conducted between March 2014 and May 2014.

Muscle mass is a strong correlation factor of total hip BMD among Korean premenopausal women.

Objectives: This study was to investigate mean Z-score of BMD of Korean premenopausal women and also to investigate the relationship between BMD and body composition, such as skeletal muscle (SM) mass, body fat mass, and abdominal adiposity among healthy Korean premenopausal women in their forties.

Methods: A total of 2711 premenopausal women in her forties (40-49 years) who had taken dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) for BMD screening and body composition analyser (InBody J10) from 2012 to 2013 at health promotion center of Ewha Womans university Mokdong hospital were analyzed retrospectively. Demographic data such as body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), hip circumference (HC), waist hip ratio (WHR), SM mass, body fat mass, and serum lipid profile were included in this study.

Importance of Patients' Knowledge of Their Prescribed Medication in Improving Treatment Adherence in Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

Goals: To investigate the association between treatment nonadherence and patients' knowledge of the prescribed medication among individuals with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), and evaluate the impact of nonadherence on relapse.

Background: The patient's knowledge of the prescribed medication has been identified as an important predictor of treatment adherence in chronic diseases. However, this association has not been examined in IBD.

Associations of colorectal cancer incidence with nutrient and food group intakes in korean adults: a case-control study.

This study aimed to examine the associations between intakes of various nutrients and food groups and colorectal cancer risk in a case-control study among Koreans aged 20 to 80 years. A total of 150 new cases and 116 controls were recruited with subjects' informed consent. Dietary data were collected using the food frequency questionnaire developed and validated by the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The use of low-volume polyethylene glycol containing ascorbic acid versus 2 L of polyethylene glycol plus bisacodyl as bowel preparation for colonoscopy.

Objective: Low-volume polyethylene glycol (PEG) bowel preparations have been developed to improve compliance for colonoscopy. Our study aimed to compare the efficacy and tolerability of low-volume PEG containing ascorbic acid for colonoscopy against 2 L of PEG plus bisacodyl.

Methods: We prospectively enrolled consecutive inpatients who had not undergone polypectomy at the index colonoscopy and were subsequently referred for polypectomy at our hospital.

[Caustic injury of upper gastrointestinal tract: 20 year experience at a tertiary referral center].

Background/aims: Caustic ingestion can cause severe injury to upper gastrointestinal tract. There were few studies about clinical characteristics and treatments of caustic injury in Korea. We investigated the changes in clinical features of caustic injury over the past 20 years including pattern of endoscopic mucosal injury and treatment modality.

Isolated terminal ileal ulcerations in asymptomatic individuals: natural course and clinical significance.

Background: Although isolated terminal ileal ulcerations (ITIUs) are occasionally observed on colonoscopic examination of asymptomatic individuals, their clinical course and guidelines for treatment are unclear.

Objective: To evaluate the clinical course and significance of ITIUs in asymptomatic individuals.

Design: Single-center retrospective analysis.

Genetic characteristics of 207 microsatellite markers in the Korean population and in other Asian populations.

Microsatellites, short tandem repeats, are useful markers for genetic analysis because of their high frequency of occurrence over the genome, high information content due to variable repeat lengths, and ease of typing. To establish a panel of microsatellite markers useful for genetic studies of the Korean population, the allele frequencies and heterozygosities of 207 microsatellite markers in 119 unrelated Korean, Indian and Pakistani individuals were compared. The average heterozygosity of the Korean population was 0.

Screening colonoscopy in asymptomatic average-risk Koreans: analysis in relation to age and sex.

Background And Aims: Although the incidence of colorectal cancer is rising in Asian countries, there are no guidelines for its screening in this region due in part to the lack of epidemiological data regarding colorectal neoplasms. This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of colorectal neoplasms in average-risk Koreans and to assess the effectiveness of screening colonoscopy in Korea.

Methods: The prevalence of colorectal neoplasms was assessed by primary screening colonoscopy in 5,086 consecutive asymptomatic adults (males 70.

[Clinical factors associated with response to biofeedback therapy for patients with chronic constipation].

Background/aims: Biofeedback therapy has been widely used for the treatment of constipated patients. However, there are only a few reports about the clinical factors that can predict the effectiveness of biofeedback therapy. The aim of this study was to evaluate prognostic factors before the initiation of biofeedback treatment in constipated patients.