An autopsy case of sudden unexpected death due to a glial cyst of the pineal gland.

Pineal cysts are usually asymptomatic; however, they may rarely cause symptoms such as chronic headache, paroxysmal headache with gaze paresis, postural syncope, loss of consciousness, and sudden death. A 30-year-old woman with no specific medical history except chronic headache was found collapsed in a public toilet per se. Postmortem examination revealed no external injuries or internal diseases except a cystic lesion of the pineal gland.

Granular cell tumours of the colorectum: histopathological and immunohistochemical evaluation of 30 cases.

Aims: Granular cell tumours (GCTs) are uncommon in the gastrointestinal tract, particularly in the colorectum. Herein, we report a series of 30 colorectal GCTs and discuss the properties of colorectal GCTs based on histopathological and immunohistochemical studies.

Methods And Results: Searching the surgical pathology files identified 30 cases of colorectal GCTs for 2005-2013.

Evaluation of Protein Expression in Housekeeping Genes across Multiple Tissues in Rats.

Background: Housekeeping genes, which show constant protein expression patterns between different tissue types, are very important in molecular biological studies as an internal control for protein research.

Methods: The protein expression profiles of seven housekeeping genes (HPRT1, PPIA, GYS1, TBP, YWHAZ, GAPDH and ACTB) in various rat tissues (cerebrum, cerebellum, cardiac ventricle and atrium, psoas muscle, femoral muscle, liver, spleen, kidney, and aorta) were analyzed by Western blot and compared by coefficient of variation (CV).

Results: HPRT1 was stably expressed (CV≤10%) in six tissues (cerebrum, cerebellum, ventricle, femoral muscle, spleen, and kidney), PPIA was stably expressed in five tissues (cerebrum, cerebellum, ventricle, spleen and kidney), YWHAZ was stably expressed in three tissues (cerebrum, cerebellum, and kidney), and GAPDH was stably expressed in four tissues (cerebrum, ventricle, psoas muscle, and kidney).

Regulation of inflammatory phenotype in macrophages by a diabetes-induced long noncoding RNA.

The mechanisms by which macrophages mediate the enhanced inflammation associated with diabetes complications are not completely understood. We used RNA sequencing to profile the transcriptome of bone marrow macrophages isolated from diabetic db/db mice and identified 1,648 differentially expressed genes compared with control db/+ mice. Data analyses revealed that diabetes promoted a proinflammatory, profibrotic, and dysfunctional alternatively activated macrophage phenotype possibly via transcription factors involved in macrophage function.

Optimal proteinuria target for renoprotection in patients with IgA nephropathy.

Background: Proteinuria is a target for renoprotection in kidney diseases. However, optimal level of proteinuria reduction in IgA nephropathy (IgAN) is unknown.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective observational study in 500 patients with biopsy-proven IgAN.

Prognostic factors and oncological outcomes of 122 head and neck soft tissue sarcoma patients treated at a single institution.

Background: Head and neck soft tissue sarcomas (HNSTS) are rare tumors with various histological types displaying different clinical behavior. As a result, prognostic factors of this disease remain unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate the prognostic factors and oncological outcomes of HNSTS.

Mesoporous TiO₂ Bragg stack templated by graft copolymer for dye-sensitized solar cells.

Organized mesoporous TiO₂ Bragg stacks (om-TiO₂ BS) consisting of alternating high and low refractive index organized mesoporous TiO₂ (om-TiO₂) films were prepared to enhance dye loading, light harvesting, electron transport, and electrolyte pore-infiltration in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). The om-TiO₂ films were synthesized via a sol-gel reaction using amphiphilic graft copolymers consisting of poly(vinyl chloride) backbones and poly(oxyethylene methacrylate) side chains, i.e.

Policy-based approach to emergency bio-data management for mobile healthcare.

In m-healthcare service, accurate detection and notification of emergency situation are critical to chronic patients' life. Since they are usually performed by a limited number of medical staff, it is difficult to simultaneously support many patients in real-time. This article presents an architecture to support the emergency bio-data management for m-healthcare service using personalized emergency policy.

Serial monitoring of sedation scores in benzodiazepine overdose.

Benzodiazepines are widely used for many diseases, and benzodiazepine overdose is globally increasing in proportion to its prescriptions. Although most benzodiazepine overdoses are known to be safe and nonfatal without coingestions, morbidity or mortality after benzodiazepine overdose is closely related with the duration of unconsciousness or depth of compromised airway. Proper use of flumazenil, a potent antidote of benzodiazepine, seems to accelerate the recovery from the toxicity after benzodiazepine overdose.

Excellent anti-fogging dye-sensitized solar cells based on superhydrophilic nanoparticle coatings.

We present a facile method for producing anti-fogging (AF) and anti-reflection (AR) coating functionalized photoanodes via one-step SiO2 nanoparticle coating for high performance solid state dye-sensitized solar cells (ssDSSCs). The AF and AR coating functionalized photoanodes are prepared by spin-coating of partially aggregated SiO2 colloidal solution. Poly((1-(4-ethenylphenyl)methyl)-3-butyl-imidazolium iodide) (PEBII), prepared via free radical polymerization, is used as a solid electrolyte in I2-free ssDSSCs.

Clinical implications of the middle temporal vein with regard to temporal fossa augmentation.

Background: The middle temporal vein (MTV) traverses the temporal fossa between the superficial and deep layers of the deep temporal fascia. During filler injection into a deficient temporal fossa, filling agents may be inadvertently injected into the MTV, which results in vascular complications.

Objective: To investigate the course of the MTV to enable safe filler injection in the temple area.

Interdialytic weight gain and cardiovascular outcome in incident hemodialysis patients.

Background: Interdialytic weight gain (IDWG) has been regarded as a surrogate of volume overload, but also as a marker of a better nutritional status in end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients on hemodialysis (HD). This paradoxical meaning of IDWG requires further investigation, particularly in adverse cardiovascular outcomes.

Methods: A prospective cohort of 1,013 incident HD patients from 36 HD centers of the Clinical Research Center for ESRD in Korea was included.

Inguinal endometriosis in a patient without a previous history of gynecologic surgery.

Endometriosis, defined as growth of endometrial stroma and glands outside the uterine cavity, is a chronic and recurrent disease that affects patients' quality of life. Ectopic endometrial tissue can proliferate at any location in the body, but the pelvic organs and peritoneum are the most frequent implantation sites. Among extrapelvic endometriosis, inguinal endometriosis is a very rare gynecologic condition usually associated with previous pelvic surgery.

Multifunctional organized mesoporous tin oxide films templated by graft copolymers for dye-sensitized solar cells.

The synthesis of organized mesoporous SnO2 films with high porosity, larger pores, and good interconnectivity, obtained by sol-gel templating with an amphiphilic graft copolymer, poly(vinyl chloride)-graft-poly(oxyethylene methacrylate), is reported. An improved performance of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) is demonstrated by the introduction of a 400 nm thick organized mesoporous SnO2 interfacial (om-SnO2 IF) layer between nanocrystalline TiO2 (nc-TiO2 ) and a fluorine-doped tin oxide substrate. To elucidate the improved efficiency, the structural, optical, and electrochemical properties of the devices were characterized by SEM, UV/Vis spectroscopy, noncontact 3D surface profilometry, intensity-modulated photocurrent/voltage spectroscopy, incident photon-to-electron conversion efficiency, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy measurements.

Clinical features and outcomes of focal segmental glomerulosclerosis pathologic variants in Korean adult patients.

Background: Many studies have shown that clinical characteristics and outcomes differ depending on pathologic variants of focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS). However, these are not well defined in Asian populations.

Methods: This retrospective study evaluated clinical features and outcomes of pathologic FSGS variants in 111 adult patients between January 2004 and December 2012.

Large cell calcifying sertoli cell tumor of the testis: a case study and review of the literature.

A 24-year-old man was admitted due to an incidentally detected mass in his left testis, which showed radiopaque calcification on plain X-ray film. Left orchiectomy was performed, and the resected testis contained a well-demarcated, hard mass measuring 1.1 cm.

Reaction kinetics of substrate transglycosylation catalyzed by TreX of Sulfolobus solfataricus and effects on glycogen breakdown.

We studied the activity of a debranching enzyme (TreX) from Sulfolobus solfataricus on glycogen-mimic substrates, branched maltotetraosyl-β-cyclodextrin (Glc₄-β-CD), and natural glycogen to better understand substrate transglycosylation and the effect thereof on glycogen debranching in microorganisms. The validation test of Glc₄-β-CD as a glycogen mimic substrate showed that it followed the breakdown process of the well-known yeast and rat liver extract. TreX catalyzed both hydrolysis of α-1,6-glycosidic linkages and transglycosylation at relatively high (>0.

The relationship of initial transferrin saturation to cardiovascular parameters and outcomes in patients initiating dialysis.

Background: The prognostic importance of anemia for cardiovascular (CV) events and mortality has been extensively investigated. However, little is known about the impact of transferrin saturation (TSAT), a marker reflecting the availability of iron for erythropoiesis, on clinical outcome in dialysis patients.

Methods: A total of 879 anemic incident dialysis patients were recruited from the Clinical Research Center for End-Stage Renal Disease in Korea and were divided into 3 groups according to baseline TSAT of ≤20%, 20-40%, and >40%.

Decreased circulating klotho levels in patients undergoing dialysis and relationship to oxidative stress and inflammation.

Introduction: It has been reported that klotho deficiency is associated with oxidative stress and inflammation in experimental kidney disease models. Patients with endstage renal disease (ESRD) are particularly characterized by increased oxidative stress and inflammation. However, little is known about the relationship between these features and klotho in patients with ESRD.

3D-transistor array based on horizontally suspended silicon nano-bridges grown via a bottom-up technique.

Integrated surround-gate field-effect-transistors enabled by bottom-up synthesis of nano-bridges are demonstrated. Horizontally oriented silicon nano-bridge devices are fabricated avoiding the rigorous processes for aligning and contacting nanowires grown via a bottom-up technique. Evaluation of electrical properties and a memory device application of the transistors are presented.

Effects of health and safety problem recognition on small business facility investment.

Objectives: This study involved a survey of the facility investment experiences, which was designed to recognize the importance of health and safety problems, and industrial accident prevention. Ultimately, we hope that small scale industries will create effective industrial accident prevention programs and facility investments.

Methods: An individual survey of businesses' present physical conditions, recognition of the importance of the health and safety problems, and facility investment experiences for preventing industrial accidents was conducted.

Improved electron transfer and plasmonic effect in dye-sensitized solar cells with bi-functional Nb-doped TiO2/Ag ternary nanostructures.

TiO2 nanoparticles are surface-modified via atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) with a hydrophilic poly(oxyethylene)methacrylate (POEM), which can coordinate to the Ag precursor, i.e. silver trifluoromethanesulfonate (AgCF3SO3).