Feasibility of extracting cancer stage and metastasis codes from health insurance claims of outpatients and expressibility in ICD-11: a cross-sectional study using national health insurance data from South Korea.

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the incidence of health insurance claims recording the cancer stage and TNM codes representing tumor extension size (T), lymph node metastasis (N), and distant metastasis (M) for patients diagnosed with cancer and to determine whether this extracted data could be applied to the new ICD-11 codes.

Design: A cross-sectional study design was used, with the units of analysis as individual outpatients. Two dependent variables were extraction feasibility of cancer stage and TNM metastasis information from each claim.

Isoflavone-enriched soybean leaves (Glycine max) restore loss of dermal collagen fibers induced by ovariectomy in the Sprague Dawley rats.

Phytoestrogens, such as isoflavones, are known for their capacity to simulate various physiological impacts of estrogen in the human body. Our research evaluated the effects of isoflavone-enriched soybean leaves (IESL) on collagen fiber loss prompted by ovariectomy in Sprague Dawley (SD) rats, thereby simulating menopausal changes in women. IESL, bolstered with an increased concentration of isoflavones through a metabolite farming process, contained a significantly higher amount of isoflavones than regular soybean leaves.

COX-2 Acts as a Key Mediator of Trifluoperazine-induced Cell Death in U87MG Glioma Cells.

Background/aim: Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is one of the most common brain tumors with a poor prognosis. Previously, we reported that trifluoperazine (TFP), a well-known antipsychotic, has anti-glioma activity through the modulation of intracellular calcium levels. The present study aimed to investigate the anti-cancer mechanism of action of TFP on glioma cells.

Trifluoperazine and Its Analog Suppressed the Tumorigenicity of Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Cell; Applicability of Antipsychotic Drugs to Lung Cancer Treatment.

Despite significant advances in diagnostic and therapeutic technologies, lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide. Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) accounts for approximately 85% of lung cancer cases. Recently, some antipsychotics have been shown to possess anticancer activity.

Resveratrol prevents hypoxia-induced retinal ganglion cell death related with ErbB2.

Aim: To confirm the changes in proteins related with hypoxia-induced retinal cell death and to assess the effects of resveratrol (Res).

Methods: The therapeutic effect of Res was verified using an ischemic/reperfusion (I/R) model and a hypoxia modelin retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) . Death of RGCs were confirmed by TUNEL assay.

Phosphorylation of STAT3 and ERBB2 mediates hypoxia‑induced VEGF release in ARPE‑19 cells.

Neovascularization in the retina can cause loss of vision. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) serves an important role in the pathogenesis of retinal vascular diseases. Hypoxia is a notable cause of VEGF release and both STAT3 and ERBB2 are known to be associated with VEGF.

Size distribution of serum extracellular vesicles in mice with atherosclerosis.

Background And Aims: Atherosclerosis is a prominent vascular lesion, and potentially causing ischemic alterations in the brain and heart. Recent studies have reported that physiological and pathological alterations in atherosclerosis and extracellular vesicles (EV) are related. This study aimed to investigate the association between the extent of atherosclerotic lesions and the number of serum EVs in a mouse model of atherosclerosis (wild-type).

Anti-obesity Activity of Ethanol Extract from Bitter Melon in Mice Fed High-Fat Diet.

In many cases, obesity is associated with metabolic disorders. Recently, natural compounds that may be beneficial for improving obesity have received increasing attention. Bitter melon has received attention as a diabetes treatment.

Resveratrol epigenetically regulates the expression of zinc finger protein 36 in non‑small cell lung cancer cell lines.

Zinc finger protein 36 (ZFP36) is an AU‑rich element protein that binds to 3'‑untranslated regions and promotes the decay of target mRNAs. Downregulation of ZFP36 expression in turn results in stabilization of target mRNAs. A recent study indicated that downregulation of ZFP36 expression in human liver cancer is caused by epigenetic mechanisms.

Anti-diabetic Effects of Ethanol Extract from Bitter Melon in Mice Fed a High-fat Diet.

Present study aimed to determine the effect of 'bitter melon', a popularly used fruit in Bangladesh and several other Asian countries, on high-fat-diet-induced type 2 diabetes. To investigate the effect, ethanol extract from bitter melon (BME) as a dietary supplement with mouse chow was used. BME was found to significantly attenuate the high-fat diet (HFD) -induced body weight and total fat mass.

Effects of postnatal alcohol exposure on hippocampal gene expression and learning in adult mice.

Fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) is a condition resulting from excessive drinking by pregnant women. Symptoms of FAS include abnormal facial features, stunted growth, intellectual deficits and attentional dysfunction. Many studies have investigated FAS, but its underlying mechanisms remain unknown.

Resveratrol Induces Glioma Cell Apoptosis through Activation of Tristetraprolin.

Tristetraprolin (TTP) is an AU-rich elements (AREs)-binding protein, which regulates the decay of AREs-containing mRNAs such as proto-oncogenes, anti-apoptotic genes and immune regulatory genes. Despite the low expression of TTP in various human cancers, the mechanism involving suppressed expression of TTP is not fully understood. Here, we demonstrate that Resveratrol (3,5,4'-trihydroxystilbene, Res), a naturally occurring compound, induces glioma cell apoptosis through activation of tristetraprolin (TTP).

Resveratrol suppresses vascular endothelial growth factor secretion via inhibition of CXC-chemokine receptor 4 expression in ARPE-19 cells.

The present study characterizes the effects of resveratrol (Res) on vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) secretion in retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells. ARPE-19 cells were treated with CoCl2, a hypoxia mimetic agent. CoCl2 treatment increased protein levels of hypoxia inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) and CXC-chemokine receptor 4 (CXCR4), and secretion of VEGF.

Tristetraprolin inhibits the growth of human glioma cells through downregulation of urokinase plasminogen activator/urokinase plasminogen activator receptor mRNAs.

Urokinase plasminogen activator (uPA) and urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (uPAR) play a major role in the infiltrative growth of glioblastoma. Downregulatoion of the uPA and uPAR has been reported to inhibit the growth glioblastoma. Here, we demonstrate that tristetraprolin (TTP) inhibits the growth of U87MG human glioma cells through downregulation of uPA and uPAR.

Vertical distance between umbilicus to aortic bifurcation on coronal view in Korean women.

Objective: To evaluate the vertical distance between umbilicus to aortic bifurcation on coronal view in Korean women and their relation with body mass index (BMI) and woman's age.

Methods: This retrospective study included 257 women who visited emergency center at university-based hospital from January to December 2011. All women underwent abdomino-pelvic computerized tomography (CT) due to various symptoms in a supine position.

Effects of chronic restraint stress on body weight, food intake, and hypothalamic gene expressions in mice.

Background: Stress affects body weight and food intake, but the underlying mechanisms are not well understood.

Methods: We evaluated the changes in body weight and food intake of ICR male mice subjected to daily 2 hours restraint stress for 15 days. Hypothalamic gene expression profiling was analyzed by cDNA microarray.

PKCη Regulates the TGFβ3-induced Chondevrepogenic Differentiation of Human Mesenchymal Stem Cell.

Transforming growth factor (TGF) family is well known to induce the chondevrepogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSC). However, the precise signal transduction pathways and underlying factors are not well known. Thus the present study aims to evaluate the possible role of C2 domain in the chondevrepogenic differentiation of human mesenchymal stem cells.

Pregnancy-related knowledge, risk perception, and reproductive decision making of women with epilepsy in Korea.

Purpose: To determine the influence of pregnancy-related knowledge and the risk perception on reproductive decision making in women with epilepsy.

Methods: We enrolled women with epilepsy, who were of reproductive age and were considering having children in the future. A questionnaire was used to assess the level of pregnancy-related knowledge, perception of the offspring's risk for developing epilepsy or for having a congenial anomaly, and discussion with a physician concerning pregnancy-related issues.

Resveratrol reduces TNF-α-induced U373MG human glioma cell invasion through regulating NF-κB activation and uPA/uPAR expression.

Background: High invasiveness of glioma cells is one of the reasons that patients with malignant glioma have a poor prognosis. Resveratrol, a plant compound abundant in the peel of grapes, has been suggested as a potential cancer chemopreventive agent. Therefore, we investigated the effect of resveratrol on glioma cell invasion.

Caffeine inhibits cell proliferation and regulates PKA/GSK3β pathways in U87MG human glioma cells.

Caffeine is the most commonly ingested methylxanthine and has anti-cancer effects in several types of cancer. In this study, we examined the anti-cancer effects of caffeine on gliomas, both in vitro and in vivo. In vitro, caffeine treatment reduced glioma cell proliferation through G(0)/G(1)-phase cell cycle arrest by suppressing Rb phosphorylation.

4'-Acetoamido-4-hydroxychalcone, a chalcone derivative, inhibits glioma growth and invasion through regulation of the tropomyosin 1 gene.

Chalcones are precursors of flavonoids and have been shown to have anti-cancer activity. Here, we identify the synthetic chalcone derivative 4'-acetoamido-4-hydroxychalcone (AHC) as a potential therapeutic agent for the treatment of glioma. Treatment with AHC reduced glioma cell invasion, migration, and colony formation in a concentration-dependent manner.

CHI3L1 (YKL-40) is expressed in human gliomas and regulates the invasion, growth and survival of glioma cells.

Chitinase 3-like 1 (CHI3L1) is a secreted glycoprotein that has pleiotropic activity in aggressive cancers. In our study, we examined the expression and function of CHI3L1 in glioma cells. CHI3L1 was highly expressed in human glioma tissue, whereas its expression in normal brain tissue was very low.

Ethanol-induced oxidative stress is mediated by p38 MAPK pathway in mouse hippocampal cells.

It has been known that ethanol causes neuronal cell death through oxidative stress. Ethanol itself and reactive oxygen species (ROS) produced by ethanol modulate intracellular signaling pathways including mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascades. This study was conducted to examine the impact of ethanol on MAPK signaling in HT22 cells.

Suppression of survival kinases and activation of JNK mediate ethanol-induced cell death in the developing rat brain.

Administration of ethanol to immature rat pups during the period in which synaptogenesis occurs triggers extensive apoptotic cell death in the brain. This ethanol-induced cell death is known to be mediated by Bax activation, which is caused by mitochondrial dysfunction. However, little data is available regarding the regulation of survival signaling pathways and their downstream events that lead to Bax activation.