TGF-β regulates DNA methyltransferase expression in prostate cancer, correlates with aggressive capabilities, and predicts disease recurrence.

Background: DNA methyltransferase (DNMT) is one of the major factors mediating the methylation of cancer related genes such as TGF-β receptors (TβRs). This in turn may result in a loss of sensitivity to physiologic levels of TGF-β in aggressive prostate cancer (CaP). The specific mechanisms of DNMT's role in CaP remain undetermined.

Septoplasty improves life quality related to allergy in patients with septal deviation and allergic rhinitis.

Objective: Evaluate the effect of septoplasty on the clinical course of allergic rhinitis by comparing (1) symptom change using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), (2) change of the medication score, and (3) improvement of the quality of life using a questionnaire.

Study Design: Prospective pilot.

Setting: Academic tertiary rhinological practice.

Solitary myxoid neurofibroma of the soft palate.

The neurofibroma is a benign tumor of neural origin, not frequently located in the oral cavity, and, especially, extremely rare in the soft palate. When it occurs solitarily, it is a spontaneous tumor without any internal manifestations. We report a case of an isolated neurofibroma of the soft palate not associated with von Recklinghausen disease.

A case of pneumothorax treated with thoracoscopic pleurodesis.

A 75 year-old male patient presented with exertional dyspnea that he had suffered for 7 days. The chest X-ray showed right-sided pneumothorax. Closed thoracostomy was performed on the 1st day of hospitalization and repeated with talc sclerotherapy and lower-power suction, but neither could improve air-leakage.

Risk factors associated with subdural hygroma after decompressive craniectomy in patients with traumatic brain injury : a comparative study.

Objective: Subdural hygroma (SDG) is a complication occurring after head trauma that may occur secondary to decompressive craniectomy (DC). However, the mechanism underlying SDG formation is not fully understood. Also, the relationship between the operative technique of DC or the decompressive effect and the occurrence and pathophysiology of SDG has not been clarified.

Outcomes of middle meatal antrostomy after different surgical strategies.

Conclusion: There was no significant difference in the postoperative outcomes between different surgical options for treating chronic maxillary sinusitis (CMS).

Objective: We aimed to compare the improvement in symptoms, and changes in endoscopic and CT grade in patients undergoing different surgical management of the maxillary sinus ostium.

Methods: In 32 patients (group A), the pathologic mucosa was radically removed with a power microdebrider.

Pathological findings following radical prostatectomy in patients who are candidates for active surveillance: impact of varying PSA levels.

Active surveillance is an acceptable treatment option in men with a low-risk prostate cancer. In the present study, we have retrospectively reviewed the outcomes of 509 men who fit the criteria for active surveillance but selected radical prostatectomy. Then, the impact of varying prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels on the risk of upstaging and upgrading in these patients was assessed.

Effect of Qigong on quality of life: a cross-sectional population-based comparison study in Taiwan.

Background: Qigong, similar to Tai Chi Chuan, is beneficial to health. In Taiwan, Waitankung, a type of Qigong, is as popular as Tai Chi Chuan. This population-based comparison study compares the health-related quality of life between people practicing Waitankung and their comparable community residents.

The association between impaired fasting glucose and noise-induced hearing loss.

Objectives: This study was performed to determine whether there is an association between impaired fasting glucose and noise-induced hearing loss.

Methods: The study subjects were workers in one automobile manufacturing company. The data were obtained from results of health examinations during 2005 and 2009.

Treatment profile and complications associated with cryotherapy for localized prostate cancer: a population-based study.

The aim of this study was to assess the treatment patterns and 3-12-month complication rates associated with receiving prostate cryotherapy in a population-based study. Men >65 years diagnosed with incident localized prostate cancer in Surveillance Epidemiology End Results (SEER)-Medicare-linked database from 2004 to 2005 were identified. A total of 21,344 men were included in the study, of which 380 were treated initially with cryotherapy.

Apoptosis of septal cartilage after bilateral spreader grafts in rhinoplasty.

Objective: There are few studies on the ischemic necrosis and apoptosis of septal cartilage after using bilateral spreader grafts in rhinoplasty. We attempted to evaluate structural changes to the septal cartilage after using the bilateral spreader graft and herein propose possible involved mechanisms observed by histopathologic examination, the apoptosis index using the TUNEL assay, and ultrastructural examination using an electron microscope.

Methods: Septal cartilage between bilateral spreader grafts (group A, n  =  12), cartilage beside unilateral spreader grafts (group B, n  =  12), and normal septal cartilage (group C, n  =  12) were obtained from 36 patients who had revision rhinoplasty because of minor cosmetic dissatisfaction.

Sonographic assessment of jugular venous distension and B-type natriuretic peptide levels in patients with dyspnoea.

Background: Sonographic assessment of jugular venous distension (US-JVD) has been described as a sensitive test for pulmonary oedema on chest x-ray in patients with dyspnoea, but chest x-ray may not detect all patients with raised B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels.

Objective: To compare US-JVD and initial BNP levels in patients with dyspnoea.

Methods: This was a secondary analysis of a previously collected dataset from a prospective study of US-JVD in patients with dyspnoea due to suspected congestive cardiac failure.

Crystallization and preliminary X-ray crystallographic studies of the N-terminal domain of human ribosomal protein L7a (RPL7a).

Ribosomal proteins are a major component of ribosomes, which catalyze protein synthesis. One ribosomal protein, L7a (RPL7a), which is a component of the 60S large ribosomal subunit, has additional functions involved in cell growth and differentiation that occur via interaction with human thyroid hormone receptor (THR) and retinoic acid receptor (RAR) and in turn inhibit the activities of the two nuclear hormone receptors. In this study, the N-terminal domain of human RPL7a was overexpressed in Escherichia coli using an engineered C-terminal His tag.

Diagnostic criteria of nonspecific hyperreactivity using cold dry air provocation with acoustic rhinometry.

Objective: The authors aimed to (1) compare symptom changes in patients with or without nonspecific hyperreactivity, (2) compare changes in total nasal volume (TNV) and minimal cross-sectional area (MCA) using acoustic rhinometry after cold dry air (CDA) challenge, and (3) set the diagnostic criteria using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis.

Study Design: Prospective pilot.

Setting: Academic tertiary rhinologic practice.

Superior long-term outcomes after surgery in child-pugh class a patients with single small hepatocellular carcinoma compared to radiofrequency ablation.

Background And Aims: There are insufficient data comparing long-term prognoses after radiofrequency ablation (RFA) and surgery.

Methods: We compared the baseline characteristics and survival rates of patients (single, ≤3 cm, and Child-Pugh class A) treated surgically (n = 215) and with RFA (n = 255) from January 2000 to December 2007 at our institution.

Results: The surgery group was characterized by younger age, higher prevalence of HBsAg, less cirrhosis, and an increased chance of Child-Pugh score of 5 and CLIP score of 1, compared to the RFA group.

Importance of symptomatic cerebral infarcts on cognitive performance in patients with Alzheimer's disease.

The coexistence of cerebral infarcts and Alzheimer's disease (AD) is common, but the influence of symptomatic cerebral infarcts on cognition is uncertain in AD. We hypothesize that symptomatic cerebral infarcts may provide an additive cognitive factor contributing to dementia in the AD population. We studied 1,001 clinically probable or possible AD patients in the Alzheimer Disease Research Center (ADRC) database.

Alleviating effects of dehydration under no hyperthermia on the immunomodulatory response to the polysaccharide fraction from fu-ling (Poria cocos) in male collegiate wrestlers.

Background: It is well known that dehydration can impair bodily functions. To evaluate the impact of hydration status under ambient environmental temperature on the immune system, 25 male collegiate wrestlers were recruited to undergo an experimental dehydration program.

Methods: Thirteen subjects had controlled diets with individual energy requirements to prevent body mass loss and restricted water intake to cause 4.

Impact of robot-assisted radical prostatectomy on health-related quality of life in patients with lower urinary tract symptoms.

Objective: Lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) are a common complaint in patients with prostate cancer. We attempted to elucidate the effect of robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP) on patients having different preoperative LUTS severity through analysis of postoperative health-related quality of life.

Methods: From 1/2006 to 9/2009, over 500 patients underwent RARP at our institution.