Detection of miR-133a-5p Using a Molecular Beacon Probe for Investigating Postmortem Intervals.

When a body is discovered at a crime or murder scene, it is crucial to examine the body and estimate its postmortem interval (PMI). Accurate estimation of PMI is vital for identifying suspects and providing clues to resolve the case. MicroRNAs (miRNAs or miRs) are small non-coding RNAs that remain relatively stable in the cell nucleus even after death-related changes occur.

MiR-122, miR-133a, and miR-206 as potential biomarkers for post-mortem interval estimation.

Backgroud: Accurate estimation of post-mortem interval (PMI) is crucial in forensic investigations. MicroRNAs (miRNAs or miRs) are small non-coding RNAs that remain relatively stable within the cell nucleus despite post-mortem changes.

Objective: We assessed three target genes (miR-122, miR-133a, and miR-206) for PMI estimation using 72 healthy adult male BALB/c mice exposed to two different temperatures (4 and 21℃) at nine different time points over 10 days.

Biomechanical and Biological Assessment of Polyglycelrolsebacate-Coupled Implant with Shape Memory Effect for Treating Osteoporotic Fractures.

Poly(glycerol sebacate) is a biocompatible elastomer that has gained increasing attention as a potential biomaterial for tissue engineering applications. In particular, PGS is capable of providing shape memory effects and allows for a free form, which can remember the original shape and obtain a temporary shape under melting point and then can recover its original shape at body temperature. Because these properties can easily produce customized shapes, PGS is being coupled with implants to offer improved fixation and maintenance of implants for fractures of osteoporosis bone.

Validation of the Finite Element Model versus Biomechanical Assessments of Dental Implants and Total Knee Replacements.

Computer modeling and simulation (CM&S) technology is widely used in the medical device industry due to its advantages such as reducing testing time and costs. However, the developer's parameter settings during the modeling and simulation process can have a significant impact on the results. This study developed a test model for the rotational shear strength of dental implants and the constraint force of total knee replacements based on CM&S technology and proposes ideal parameters to ensure reliability.

Feasibility of 3D-Printed Locking Compression Plates with Polyether Ether Ketone (PEEK) in Tibial Comminuted Diaphyseal Fractures.

The applicability of a polyether ether ketone locking compression plate (PEEK LCP) fabricated using FDM (fused deposition modeling)-based 3D printing to treat actual patients was studied. Three different tests-bending, axial compression, and axial torsion-were conducted on tibial non-osteoporotic comminuted diaphyseal fracture samples fixed with the commercial titanium alloy LCP and 3D-printed PEEK LCP. Comparing the outcomes of these tests revealed that the commercial titanium alloy LCP underwent plastic deformation in the bending and axial torsion tests, though the LCP did not fail even when an external force greater than the maximum allowable load of the tibia fixture of the LCP was applied.

Safe Optimal Tear Drop View for Spinopelvic Fixation Using a Three-Dimensional Reconstruction Model of the Pelvis.

Background: Spinopelvic fixation (SPF) has been a challenge for surgeons despite the advancements in instruments and surgical techniques. C-arm fluoroscopy-guided SPF is a widely used safe technique that utilizes the tear drop view. The tear drop view is an image of the corridor from the posterior superior iliac spine to the anterior inferior iliac spine (AIIS) of the pelvis.

Design Optimization of Additive Manufactured Edgeless Simple Cubic Lattice Structures under Compression.

This study proposed an optimization framework and methodologies to design edgeless lattice structures featuring fillet and multipipe functions. Conventional lattice structures typically experience stress concentration at the sharp edges of strut joints, resulting in reduced mechanical performance and premature failure. The proposed approach aimed to improve the compression behavior of lattice structures by introducing edgeless features.

Design Optimization of Lattice Structures under Compression: Study of Unit Cell Types and Cell Arrangements.

Additive manufacturing enables innovative structural design for industrial applications, which allows the fabrication of lattice structures with enhanced mechanical properties, including a high strength-to-relative-density ratio. However, to commercialize lattice structures, it is necessary to define the designability of lattice geometries and characterize the associated mechanical responses, including the compressive strength. The objective of this study was to provide an optimized design process for lattice structures and develop a lattice structure characterization database that can be used to differentiate unit cell topologies and guide the unit cell selection for compression-dominated structures.

Chloride Diffusion by Build Orientation of Cementitious Material-Based Binder Jetting 3D Printing Mortar.

Binder jetting 3D printing (BJ3DP) is used to create geometrical and topology-optimized building structures via architectural geometric design owing to its high degree of freedom in geometry implementation. However, building structures require high mechanical and durability performance. Because of the recent trend of using 3D printing concrete as a structural component in reinforcing bars, its durability with respect to chloride penetration needs to be reviewed.

Surgical outcomes are hampered after endoscopic ultrasonography-guided ethanol lavage and/or Taxol injection in cystic lesions of the pancreas.

Backgrounds/aims: Endoscopic ultrasonography-guided ethanol lavage and Taxol injection (EUS-ELTI) for pancreatic cystic lesions have been recently performed in some medical centers. The aim of this study was to optimize patient selection and analyze outcomes of patients who underwent surgeries after EUS-ELTI for pancreatic cystic lesions.

Methods: Among 310 patients who underwent EUS-ELTI between January 2007 and December 2014, 23 underwent surgeries after EUS-ELTI owing to incomplete treatment and/or adverse events.

Mechanical alterations in the avascular region of the meniscus following partial meniscectomy: A cadaveric porcine longitudinal meniscal tear model.

Background: Although partial meniscectomy is a common treatment for the tears in the avascular region of the meniscus, mechanical alterations following meniscectomy are known to initiate mechanically-induced osteoarthritis. We aimed to measure the articular cartilage contact pressure distributions in the knees with surgically repaired and partially resected menisci in the avascular region.

Methods: A pneumatic loading device was developed to apply a 1000 N compressive load on the cadaveric porcine knee samples at the flexion angles of 20, 35, 50, and 65°.

Prognostic comparison of the longitudinal margin status in distal bile duct cancer: R0 on first bile duct resection versus R0 after additional resection.

Background: This study investigated survival differences following intra-operative frozen-section examination of bile duct resection margins and final longitudinal margin status (LMS) in distal bile duct cancer (BDC).

Methods: One hundred and ninety-three patients underwent Whipple's operation for curative resection of distal BDC from 2008 to 2016. Patients were sorted into two and three groups according to LMS of the frozen-sections and the final pathological specimen results: R0 on first bile duct resection (primary R0), R0 after additional resection (secondary R0), and no evidence of residual carcinoma (FR0), carcinoma in situ or high-grade dysplasia (FR1-CIS/HGD), or invasive carcinoma (FR1-INV).

The feasibility of robotic left-side hepatectomy with comparison of laparoscopic and open approach: Consecutive series of single surgeon.

Background: Recent studies report safety and effectiveness of robotic hepatectomy. In present study, we describe our initial experiences with robotic hepatectomy, focusing on left-side procedures.

Methods: A retrospective review was conducted of 13, 10, and 11 consecutive patients who underwent robotic, laparoscopic, and open left-side hepatectomy by the single surgeon.

Clinicopathologic Characteristics and Optimal Surgical Treatment of Duodenal Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor.

Background: The clinicopathologic characteristics of duodenal gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) were unclear and the optimal surgical procedure for duodenal GIST remains poorly defined. We aimed to analyze clinicopathological characteristics, survival outcomes based on the surgical procedure, and recommend optimal surgical treatment for duodenal GIST.

Methods: From July 2000 to April 2017, 118 patients with localized duodenal GIST underwent curative surgical resection at a single institution.

Transduodenal ampullectomy for ampullary tumors - single center experience of consecutive 26 patients.

Purpose: Transduodenal ampullectomy (TDA) has been reported in a limited number of cases and in a small number of case series. The aim of this study was to analyze perioperative and long-term oncological outcomes of patients with ampullary tumors who underwent TDA in a single large-volume center.

Methods: Through a retrospective review of data from 2004 to 2016, we identified 26 patients who underwent TDA at Asan Medical Center.

Chronologic changes in clinical and survival features of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma since 2000: A single-center experience with 2,029 patients.

Background: To identify chronologic changes in clinical and survival features of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma based on diagnosis and treatment strategy development since 2000.

Methods: Among 2,029 patients enrolled in this study, 746 and 1,283 were treated between 2000 and 2009 (group 1) and between 2010 and 2016 (group 2), respectively. We used patient clinicopathologic, biologic, and molecular factors to assess the prognostic factors.

Validation of the Eighth American Joint Committee on Cancer Staging System for Distal Bile Duct Carcinoma.

Purpose: T category of the eighth edition of the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) staging system for distal bile duct carcinoma (DBDC) was changed to include tumor invasion depth measurement, while the N category adopted a 3-tier classification system based on the number of metastatic nodes.

Materials And Methods: To validate cancer staging, a total of 200 surgically resected DBDCs were staged and compared according to the seventh and eighth editions.

Results: T categories included T1 (n=37, 18.

Diagnostic value of chromogranin A in pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors depends on tumor size: A prospective observational study from a single institute.

Background: Chromogranin A has recently been recommended as the most practical tumor marker in patients with pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors. However, the diagnostic effectiveness of circulating chromogranin A levels remains controversial. Here, we aimed to assess the clinical diagnostic value of plasma chromogranin A levels for pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors.

Novel Preoperative Nomogram for Prediction of Futile Resection in Patients Undergoing Exploration for Potentially Resectable Intrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma.

Surgical resection is the treatment of choice for intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (IHCC). However, discrepancies between preoperative workup and intraoperative findings can occur, resulting in unexpected and unfavorable surgical outcomes. The aim of this study was to develop a feasible preoperative nomogram to predict futile resection of IHCC.

Autophagy Induced by CX-4945, a Casein Kinase 2 Inhibitor, Enhances Apoptosis in Pancreatic Cancer Cell Lines.

Objectives: Pancreatic cancer is the most lethal malignancy with only a few effective chemotherapeutic drugs. Because the inhibition of casein kinase 2 (CK2) has been reported as a novel therapeutic strategy for many cancers, we investigated the effects of CK2 inhibitors in pancreatic cancer cell lines.

Methods: The BxPC3, 8902, MIA PaCa-2 human pancreatic cancer cell lines, and CX-4945, a novel CK2 inhibitor, were used.

Postoperative Radiotherapy for Pancreatic Cancer with Microscopically-positive Resection Margin.

Aim: To analyze the outcomes in pancreatic cancer (PC) cases with a microscopically-positive resection margin (R1 resection) treated with postoperative radiotherapy (PORT).

Patients And Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the outcomes in 62 patients who received PORT for PC with R1 resection between 2001 and 2012. All patients received three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy.

Bilateral lung metastasectomy in carcinoma of the ampulla of Vater.

The efficacy of lung metastasectomy is well established in several cancers, including colorectal cancer. However, little is known about the result of lung metastasectomy in carcinoma of the ampulla of Vater. Only two case reports have reported the efficacy of metastasectomy in ampullary cancer patients with pulmonary metastasis.

The DPC4/SMAD4 genetic status determines recurrence patterns and treatment outcomes in resected pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma: A prospective cohort study.

Objectives: The objective of this study was to investigate the role of genetic status of DPC4 in recurrence patterns of resected pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC).

Methods: Between April 2004 and December 2011, data on patients undergoing surgical resection for PDAC were reviewed. Genetic status of DPC4 was determined and correlated to recurrence patterns and clinical outcomes.

Totally laparoscopic or robot-assisted pancreaticoduodenectomy versus open surgery for periampullary neoplasms: separate systematic reviews and meta-analyses.

Objective: To compare perioperative and oncologic outcomes of pure (totally) laparoscopic pancreaticoduodenectomy (TLPD) or robot-assisted pancreaticoduodenectomy (RAPD) with those of conventional open pancreaticoduodenectomy (OPD).

Methods: A systematic literature search was performed using PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane library databases. Studies comparing TLPD with OPD and RAPD with OPD were included; only original studies reporting more than 10 cases for each technique were included.

Appraisal of Laparoscopic Distal Pancreatectomy for Left-Sided Pancreatic Cancer: A Large Volume Cohort Study of 152 Consecutive Patients.

Background: The aim of this study was to appraise the value of laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy (LDP) for left-sided pancreatic cancer based on a large volume cohort study.

Methods: We reviewed data for all consecutive patients undergoing LDP for left-sided pancreatic cancer at Asan Medical Center (Seoul, Korea) between December 2006 and December 2014.

Results: A total of 91 male and 61 female patients, with a median age of 62.