New breast cancer risk variant discovered at 10q25 in East Asian women.

Background: Recently, 41 new genetic susceptibility loci for breast cancer risk were identified in a genome-wide association study (GWAS) conducted in European descendants. Most of these risk variants have not been directly replicated in Asian populations.

Methods: We evaluated nine of those nonreplication loci in East Asians to identify new risk variants for breast cancer in these regions.

Preparation of quercetin and rutin-loaded ceramide liposomes and drug-releasing effect in liposome-in-hydrogel complex system.

In this study, we developed a 2-step delivery system to enhance transdermal permeation of quercetin and its glycoside rutin, an antioxidant. Liposome-in-hydrogel complex systems were prepared by incorporating ceramide liposomes, which consist of biocompatible lipid membranes, into cellulose hydrogel. We evaluated the encapsulation efficiency, in vitro release behavior, and skin permeability of formulations that remained stable for over 3 weeks.

Heteroleptic tris-cyclometalated iridium(III) complexes supported by an o-carboranyl-pyridine ligand.

Heteroleptic tris-cyclometalated Ir(III) complexes supported by the o-carboranyl-pyridine (CBpy) as a novel C^N chelating ligand were synthesized and characterized. While the CBpy ligand contributes to the electronic stabilization of complexes, their photophysical properties are dominated by 2-arylpyridine ligands.

Synthesis and electron transporting properties of methanofullerene-o-carborane dyads in organic field-effect transistors.

A series of methanofullerene-o-carborane dyads (PCB-Ph-CB, PCB-Cn-CB, n = 1, 3, 6, 11) were synthesized via esterification of [6,6]-phenyl-C61-butyric acid (PCBA) with 2-alcohol functionalized o-carborane derivatives, 1-(4-n-BuC6H4)-2-R-1,2-closo-C2B10H10 (R = p-C6H4OH, (CH2)nOH, n = 1, 3, 6, 11). All the dyads are highly soluble in chlorinated and aromatic solvents under ambient conditions. UV-vis absorption and electrochemical reduction of the dyads exhibited features almost identical to each other, as well as to their parent PCBM, suggesting that the electronic properties of the dyads would be dominated by the methanofullerene moiety.

Common genetic determinants of breast-cancer risk in East Asian women: a collaborative study of 23 637 breast cancer cases and 25 579 controls.

In a consortium including 23 637 breast cancer patients and 25 579 controls of East Asian ancestry, we investigated 70 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in 67 independent breast cancer susceptibility loci recently identified by genome-wide association studies (GWASs) conducted primarily in European-ancestry populations. SNPs in 31 loci showed an association with breast cancer risk at P < 0.05 in a direction consistent with that reported previously.

Crif1 deficiency reduces adipose OXPHOS capacity and triggers inflammation and insulin resistance in mice.

Impaired mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) has been proposed as an etiological mechanism underlying insulin resistance. However, the initiating organ of OXPHOS dysfunction during the development of systemic insulin resistance has yet to be identified. To determine whether adipose OXPHOS deficiency plays an etiological role in systemic insulin resistance, the metabolic phenotype of mice with OXPHOS-deficient adipose tissue was examined.

Mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation reserve is required for hormone- and PPARγ agonist-induced adipogenesis.

Adipocyte differentiation requires the coordinated activities of several nuclear transcription factors. Recently, mitochondria biogenesis was reported to occur during adipocyte differentiation and following treatment with thiazolidinediones in vitro and in vivo. Crif1 is a translational factor for mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) and is important for transcription of the mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) complex.

Superior field emissions from boron-doped nanocrystalline diamond compared to boron-doped microcrystalline diamond.

Boron-doped microcrystalline diamond (BMD) and nanocrystalline diamond (BND) thin films were grown on Si substrates by microwave-assisted chemical vapor deposition, and their field emission properties were evaluated. BND exhibited a lower turn-on field and higher field enhancement factor than BMD. Furthermore, in a long-term emission stability test, BND showed only a 4% increase in the current density after 12 h of emission, whereas the current density of BMD decreased by - 59%.

Omentum Cells Promote Healing of Colonic Tissues in Dextran Sulfate Sodium (DSS) Induced Model of Colitis in Mice.

Background: Inflammatory bowel disease is characterized by persistent inflammation of the intestinal tissues. Although the usage of biologics has greatly enhanced the management of this disorder, a permanent treatment does not exist. In this study, we investigated whether the cells with anti-inflammatory and healing properties from the omentum could be harnessed to treat colitis in dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced mouse colitis model.

Enhanced secretion of biologically active, non-glycosylated VEGF from Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) mediates angiogenesis, which plays a critical role in the development and differentiation of the vascular system. VEGF is a homodimeric glycoprotein that contains one N-glycosylation site. In this study, we evaluated Saccharomyces cerevisiae expression systems producing glycosylated and non-glycosylated splice variants of human VEGF, VEGF121, and VEGF165.

Biological advantages of porous hydroxyapatite scaffold made by solid freeform fabrication for bone tissue regeneration.

Presently, commercially available porous bone substitutes are manufactured by the sacrificial template method, direct foaming method, and polymer replication method (PRM). However, current manufacturing methods provide only the simplest form of the bone scaffold and cannot easily control pore size. Recent developments in medical imaging technology, computer-aided design, and solid freeform fabrication (SFF), have made it possible to accurately produce porous synthetic bone scaffolds to fit the defected bone shape.

Detecting hepatitis E virus with a reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

This study aimed to develop a specific and sensitive reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (RT-PCR-ELISA) for detecting hepatitis E virus (HEV). Eight sets of primers and biotinylated probes designed in the ORF2-ORF3 overlapping region of HEV were tested for sensitivity. The ability of nested reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and RT-PCR-ELISA to detect HEV was compared.

Highly improved uniformity in the resistive switching parameters of TiO2 thin films by inserting Ru nanodots.

Limiting the location where electron injection occurs at the cathode interface to a narrower region is the key factor for achieving a highly improved RS performance, which can be achieved by including Ru Nanodots. The development of a memory cell structure truly at the nanoscale with such a limiting factor for the electric-field distribution can solve the non-uniformity issue of future ReRAM.

Integrated analysis of diverse transcriptomic data from Arabidopsis reveals genetic markers that reliably and reproducibly respond to ionizing radiation.

Studies focused on the responses of plants to ionizing radiation are becoming more important due to the increased need for radiation-induced mutations, post-harvest or phytosanitary irradiation treatment of plants, and environmental monitoring of radioactive sites. To elucidate the influence of ionizing radiation on genome-wide transcription in plants, we performed integrated analysis of diverse transcriptomic data from different Arabidopsis samples and at various time points after γ irradiation or H2O2 treatment. The expression levels of most of the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) that were induced or repressed after γ irradiation returned to baseline levels of transcription within 12h, while some of these genes showed prolonged transcriptional changes.

Toxicity and quality of life of Korean breast cancer patients treated with docetaxel-containing chemotherapy without primary G-CSF prophylaxis.

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the toxicity and quality of life (QoL) of breast cancer patients treated with a docetaxel-containing chemotherapeutic regimen and to compare adriamycin and cyclophosphamide (AC) for four cycles followed by docetaxel (D) for four cycles with docetaxel, adriamycin, and cyclophosphamide (TAC) for six cycles without primary granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) prophylaxis.

Methods: Node-positive breast cancer patients who received surgery from three hospitals were included. Subjects received docetaxel-containing chemotherapy and completed a questionnaire on QoL (EORTC QLQ-C30 and QLQ-BR23) at each cycle.

Meta-analysis identifies a MECOM gene as a novel predisposing factor of osteoporotic fracture.

Background: Osteoporotic fracture (OF) as a clinical endpoint is a major complication of osteoporosis. To screen for OF susceptibility genes, we performed a genome-wide association study and carried out de novo replication analysis of an East Asian population.

Methods: Association was tested using a logistic regression analysis.

Fabrication of low-temperature solid oxide fuel cells with a nanothin protective layer by atomic layer deposition.

Anode aluminum oxide-supported thin-film fuel cells having a sub-500-nm-thick bilayered electrolyte comprising a gadolinium-doped ceria (GDC) layer and an yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) layer were fabricated and electrochemically characterized in order to investigate the effect of the YSZ protective layer. The highly dense and thin YSZ layer acted as a blockage against electron and oxygen permeation between the anode and GDC electrolyte. Dense GDC and YSZ thin films were fabricated using radio frequency sputtering and atomic layer deposition techniques, respectively.

A case of renal schwannoma.

Schwannomas are benign tumors that arise from the neural sheath of Schwann cells. Renal schwannomas are extremely rare and are commonly misdiagnosed as renal cell carcinoma, which typically results in a radical nephrectomy. We present a case of a renal schwannoma that mimics a renal pelvis tumor.

Measurement of urinary N-telopeptides and serum C-telopeptides from type I collagen using a lateral flow-based immunoassay.

Measuring bone turnover markers could detect early stages of osteoporosis and early responses to anti-osteoporotic treatments. Currently, commonly used bone turnover markers, N-telopeptides (NTx) and C-telopeptides (CTx), are measured using ELISA tests, which demands time and increases cost. Bone turnover markers need to be measured more easily for general use.

Phosphorescence color tuning of cyclometalated iridium complexes by o-carborane substitution.

Heteroleptic (C(^)N)(2)Ir(acac) (C(^)N = 4-CBppy (1); 5-CBppy (2), 4-fppy (4) CB = ortho-methylcarborane; ppy = 2-phenylpyridinato-C(2),N, 4-fppy = 2-(4-fluorophenyl)pyridinato-C(2),N, acac = acetylacetonate) complexes were prepared and characterized. While 1 exhibits a phosphorescence band centered at 531 nm, which is red-shifted compared to that of unsubstituted (ppy)(2)Ir(acac) (3) (λ(em) = 516 nm), the emission spectrum of 2 shows a blue-shifted band at 503 nm. Comparison with the emission band for the 4-fluoro-substituted 4 (λ(em) = 493 nm) indicates a substantial bathochromic shift in 1.

Intraoperative infusion of 0.6-0.9 µg·kg(-1)·min(-1) remifentanil induces acute tolerance in young children after laparoscopic ureteroneocystostomy.

Background: Intraoperative infusion of opioids has been associated with increased postoperative pain and analgesic requirements, but the development of tolerance in young children is less clear. This prospective, randomized, double-blinded study was designed to test the hypothesis that the intraoperative administration of remifentanil results in postoperative opioid tolerance in a dose-related manner in young children.

Methods: We enrolled 60 children (aged 1-5 yr) who were undergoing elective laparoscopic ureteroneocystostomy.

Dual sensing of fluoride ions by the o-carborane-triarylborane dyad.

The o-carborane-triarylborane dyad shows high fluoride ion affinity through the trigonal-planar boron center while degradation to nido-carborane leads to a turn-on fluorescence response toward fluoride.

Skin-sparing mastectomy and immediate latissimus dorsi flap reconstruction: a retrospective analysis of the surgical and patient-reported outcomes.

Background: Skin-sparing mastectomy (SSM) and latissimus dorsi (LD) flap immediate breast reconstruction (IBR) is a tailored surgical procedure. The surgical and patient-reported outcome (PRO) of SSM and LD IBR were assessed.

Methods: Retrospective data of 146 SSMs performed by a single surgeon was reviewed.