Incidence, clinical features, and prognostic impact of CALR exon 9 mutations in essential thrombocythemia and primary myelofibrosis: an experience of a single tertiary hospital in Korea.

We evaluated the incidence, clinical characteristics, and prognostic impact of calreticulin (CALR) mutations in essential thrombocythemia (ET) and primary myelofibrosis (PMF) patients. In all, 48 ET and 14 PMF patients were enrolled, and the presence of CALR mutations was analyzed by direct sequencing. Patients were classified into three subgroups according to Janus kinase 2 (JAK2) V617F and CALR mutation status, and their clinical features and prognosis were compared.

Diffuse thyroid 18F-FDG uptake after R-CHOP therapy predicts favorable outcome in patients with DLBCL.

Therapy-induced autoimmunity may mediate the destruction of cancer cells. Previous studies have demonstrated that presence of autoimmune thyroid disorder is associated with favorable outcome in patients with solid cancer. Patients with diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL) who achieved complete response on positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) after rituximab, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone (R-CHOP) therapy were enrolled in this study.

Romo1 and the NF-κB pathway are involved in oxidative stress-induced tumor cell invasion.

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are important contributors to tumor cell invasion. ROS enhanced by reactive oxygen species modulator 1 (Romo1) expression has been reported to increase invasive potential and constitutive activation of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Therefore, we investigated whether constitutive NF-κB activation due to Romo1 expression is associated with breast cancer tumor cell invasion.

Incidence and prognostic impact of DNMT3A mutations in Korean normal karyotype acute myeloid leukemia patients.

Background: DNA methyltransferase 3A (DNMT3A) mutation was recently introduced as a prognostic indicator in normal karyotype (NK) AML and we evaluated the incidence and prognostic impact of DNMT3A mutations in Korean NK AML patients.

Methods: Total 67 NK AML patients diagnosed during the recent 10 years were enrolled. DNMT3A mutations were analyzed by direct sequencing and categorized into nonsynonymous variations (NSV), deleterious mutations (DM), and R882 mutation based on in silico analysis results.

DNA ligase4 as a prognostic marker in nasopharyngeal cancer patients treated with radiotherapy.

Background: The capability for DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) repair is crucial for inherent radiosensitivity of tumor and normal cells. We have investigated the clinicopathologic significance of DNA repair gene expression in nasopharyngeal (NP) carcinoma.

Materials And Methods: A total of 65 NP cancer patients who received radiotherapy were included.

Overall survival and renal function after partial and radical nephrectomy among older patients with localised renal cell carcinoma: a propensity-matched multicentre study.

Background: This study aimed to evaluate the overall survival (OS) rate and renal function after radical nephrectomy (RN) and partial nephrectomy (PN) in patients aged ⩾65years.

Methods: Patients who underwent RN (n=622) or PN (n=622) for renal cell carcinoma (pT1N0M0) between 1999 and 2011 were propensity-score matched in our multicentre database. To investigate the relative effect of PN on OS according to age, we divided the patients into two age subgroups (<65 and ⩾65years).

Management of complications after reverse shoulder arthroplasty.

Reverse total shoulder arthroplasty (RTSA) has become the treatment of choice for patients with rotator cuff arthropathy. Complication rate after RTSA has been reported to be three to five times that of conventional total shoulder arthroplasty. Intraoperative and postoperative complications include neurological injury, infection, dislocation or instability, acromial or scapular spine fracture, hematoma, and scapular notching.

Early intensified intravenous cyclosporine therapy predicts favorable response to immunosuppressive therapy with rabbit antithymocyte globulin in patients with severe aplastic anemia.

Because of relapse after horse ATG (hATG) therapy, rabbit ATG (rATG) would be a realistic alternative as second line immunosuppressive therapy (IST) in severe aplastic anemia (SAA) patients. We investigated whether intensified intravenous (IV) CsA therapy with rATG would increase the response of IST in SAA patients. Sixty-one of the 123 patients received IV CsA therapy with rATG during initial 2 weeks then changed to oral form (IV CsA group), while other 62 patients just received oral CsA therapy with rATG (oral CsA group).

Monosomal and complex karyotypes as prognostic parameters in patients with International Prognostic Scoring System higher risk myelodysplastic syndrome treated with azacitidine.

Background: Azacitidine (AZA) is standard care for patients with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) who have not had allogeneic stem cell transplantation. Chromosomal abnormalities (CA) including complex karyotype (CK) or monosomal karyotype (MK) are associated with clinical outcome in patients with MDS.

Methods: We investigated which prognostic factors including CAs would predict clinical outcomes in patients with International Prognostic Scoring System (IPSS) higher risk MDS treated with AZA, retrospectively.

Statin use has negative clinical impact on non-germinal center in patients with diffuse large B cell lymphoma in rituximab era.

Rituximab improved prognosis in diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL). However, activity of rituximab may be reduced by conformational change in CD20 by statin-induced cholesterol depletion. Conformation change in CD20 could impair the binding of rituximab and significantly decrease the killing effect of lymphoma cells.

High Ki-67 expression in involved bone marrow predicts worse clinical outcome in diffuse large B cell lymphoma patients treated with R-CHOP therapy.

Approximately 10-25 % of patients with diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL) at the time of diagnosis exhibit bone marrow involvement (BMI). After introduction of rituximab, immunohistochemistry (IHC) markers lost to prognostic value in DLBCL patients. However, the specimens used have mainly been diagnostic tissues, not bone marrow (BM).

A multicenter phase II study of everolimus in patients with progressive unresectable adenoid cystic carcinoma.

Background: The aim of this study was to examine the efficacy and safety of everolimus in patients with progressive unresectable adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC).

Methods: Histologically confirmed ACC patients with documented disease progression within 12 months prior to the study entry were eligible. Everolimus was given at a dose of 10 mg daily until progression or occurrence of unacceptable toxicities.

Influence of NK cell count on the survival of patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma treated with R-CHOP.

Background: Although adding rituximab to the chemotherapy regimen of cyclophosphamide, vincristine, doxorubicin, and prednisone (R-CHOP) has improved clinical outcomes of patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), several recent studies have shown that the effect of rituximab is dominantly in the non-germinal center (non-GC) subtype compared to the germinal center (GC) subtype. Natural killer (NK) cell count, a surrogate marker of immune status, is associated with clinical outcomes in DLBCL patients in the rituximab era. We investigated whether the impact of NK cells on clinical outcomes differed according to the immunophenotype of DLBCL.

Reduced chemically modified graphene oxide for supercapacitor electrode.

An efficient active material for supercapacitor electrodes is prepared by reacting potassium hydroxide (KOH) with graphene oxide followed by chemical reduction with hydrazine. The electrochemical performance of KOH treated graphene oxide reduced for 24 h (reduced chemically modified graphene oxide, RCMGO-24) exhibits a specific capacitance of 253 F g(-1) at 0.2 A g(-1) in 2 M H2SO4 compared to a value of 141 F g(-1) for graphene oxide reduced for 24 h (RGO-24), and good cyclic stability up to 3,000 cycles.

Polymorphic transformations and optical properties of graphene-based Ag-doped titania nanostructures.

TiO2 is the most studied semiconductor material for photovoltaics and photocatalyst applications, but due to a very large electron hole recombination process it is difficult to use it as a photovoltaics material. In this context graphene-decorated Ag-doped TiO2 nanostructures have been synthesized by a simple, cost effective chemical method. In this paper, we have studied the structural transformations and electronic band structure of Ag-doped TiO2 due to the incorporation of graphene oxide.

Crustacean hyperglycemic hormones of two cold water crab species, Chionoecetes opilio and C. japonicus: isolation of cDNA sequences and localization of CHH neuropeptide in eyestalk ganglia.

Crustacean hyperglycemic hormone (CHH) is primarily known for its prototypical function in hyperglycemia which is induced by the release of CHH. The CHH release takes place as an adaptive response to the energy demands of the animals experiencing stressful environmental, physiological or behavioral conditions. Although >63 decapod CHH nucleotide sequences are known (GenBank), the majority of them is garnered from the species inhabiting shallow and warm water.

Seasonal variations in reproductive activity of the blue crab, Callinectes sapidus: Vitellogenin expression and levels of vitellogenin in the hemolymph during ovarian development.

In general, season affects the physiology and behavior of most animals. Warmer temperatures accelerate growth and reproduction of ectotherms, whereas these processes are slowed or halted in colder temperatures. Female blue crabs, Callinectes sapidus inhabiting the Chesapeake Bay, exhibit a seasonal migratory behavior that is closely tied with spawning and the release of larvae.

Clinical efficacy of mitoxantrone and Ara-C with or without etoposide salvage chemotherapy in adult patients with relapsed or refractory acute lymphoblastic leukemia: retrospective multicenter study of the Korean Adult ALL Working Party.

Mitoxantrone is a conventional agent for relapsed or refractory acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). However, an effective combination with other drugs and a feasible dosage has not been identified. A retrospective study of 46 patients with relapsed or refractory ALL was conducted to determine the efficacy of mitoxantrone and Ara-C treatment with (MEC) and or without etoposide (MC).

Controlled atom transfer radical polymerization of MMA onto the surface of high-density functionalized graphene oxide.

We report on the grafting of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) onto the surface of high-density functionalized graphene oxides (GO) through controlled radical polymerization (CRP). To increase the density of surface grafting, GO was first diazotized (DGO), followed by esterification with 2-bromoisobutyryl bromide, which resulted in an atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) initiator-functionalized DGO-Br. The functionalized DGO-Br was characterized by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Raman, and XRD patterns.

The CONSTANS-like 4 transcription factor, AtCOL4, positively regulates abiotic stress tolerance through an abscisic acid-dependent manner in Arabidopsis.

The precise roles of the B-box zinc finger family of transcription factors in plant stress are poorly understood. Functional analysis was performed on AtCOL4, an Arabidopsis thaliana L. CONSTANS-like 4 protein that is a putative novel transcription factor, and which contains a predicted transcriptional activation domain.

Constitutive NF-κB activation and tumor-growth promotion by Romo1-mediated reactive oxygen species production.

Deregulation of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) and related pathways contribute to tumor cell proliferation and invasion. Mechanisms for constitutive NF-κB activation are not fully explained; however, the underlying defects appear to generate and maintain pro-oxidative conditions. In hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) tissues, up-regulation of reactive oxygen species modulator 1 (Romo1) correlates positively with tumor size.

Clinical Usefulness of Hydromorphone-OROS in Improving Sleep Disturbances in Korean Cancer Patients: A Multicenter, Prospective, Open-Label Study.

Purpose: To evaluate the efficacy of hydromorphone-OROS (HM-OROS) in reducing sleep disturbance and relieving cancer pain.

Materials And Methods: One hundred twenty cancer patients with pain (numeric rating scale [NRS] ≥ 4) and sleep disturbance (NRS ≥ 4) were evaluated. The initial HM-OROS dosing was based on previous opioid dose (HM-OROS:oral morphine=1:5).

Thulium laser (RevoLix) vaporesection versus vapoenucleation with morcellator (Piranha) for the treatment of benign prostatic obstruction: a propensity-matched multicenter analysis.

Objectives: To compare the efficacy and safety of vaporesection without a morcellator, and vapoenucleation with a morcellator in thulium laser prostatectomy for the treatment of benign prostatic obstruction.

Methods: Between March 2010 and January 2013, 405 patients underwent thulium:yttrium-aluminium-garnet laser prostatectomy. Among these patients, 150 patients who underwent thulium:yttrium-aluminium-garnet laser prostatectomy without a morcellator (n = 75) or with a morcellator (n = 75) were analyzed in a propensity matching study.

DC-HIL-expressing myelomonocytic cells are critical promoters of melanoma growth.

A major barrier to successful cancer immunotherapy is the tumor's ability to induce T-cell tolerance by exploiting host regulatory mechanisms. Having discovered the DC-HIL receptor, which inhibits T-cell responses by binding to syndecan-4 on effector T cells, we posited the DC-HIL/syndecan-4 pathway to have an important role in cancer promotion. Among DC-HIL(+) myelomonocytic cells, during growth of implanted mouse melanoma, CD11b(+)Gr1(+) cells were the most expanded population and the most potent at suppressing T-cell activation.