Efficacy and Safety of Etomidate in Comparison with Propofol or Midazolam as Sedative for Upper Gastrointestinal Endoscopy.

Background/aims: In this study, we compared the efficacy and safety of etomidate with those of propofol or midazolam for the maintenance of sedation during endoscopy.

Methods: The study enrolled patients who underwent sedative endoscopy in our hospital and divided them into three groups. Patients in each group were administered midazolam as induction therapy and were subsequently administered either midazolam (M + M group), propofol (M + P group), or etomidate (M + E group) as maintenance medication.

Time-to-enhancement at ultrafast breast DCE-MRI: potential imaging biomarker of tumour aggressiveness.

Objectives: This study was conducted in order to investigate whether there is a correlation between the time-to-enhancement (TTE) in ultrafast MRI and histopathological characteristics of breast cancers.

Methods: Between January and August 2017, 274 consecutive breast cancer patients (mean age, 53.5 years; range, 25-80 years) who underwent ultrafast MRI and subsequent surgery were included for analysis.

Ultrafast Infrared Photoresponse from Heavily Hydrogen-Doped VO Single Crystalline Nanoparticles.

Infrared photodetectors are sought for diverse applications and their performance relies on photoactive materials and photocurrent generation mechanisms. Here, we fabricate IR photodetectors with heavily hydrogen-doped VO (i.e.

[Optimal Laxatives for Oral Colonoscopy Bowel Preparation: from High-volume to Novel Low-volume Solutions].

Optimal bowel preparation is essential for a more accurate, comfortable, and safe colonoscopy. The majority of postcolonoscopy colorectal cancers can be explained by procedural factors, mainly missed polyps or inadequate examination. Therefore the most important goal of optimal bowel preparation is to reduce the incidence of colorectal cancer.

Supplemental Breast US Screening in Women with a Personal History of Breast Cancer: A Matched Cohort Study.

Background There is limited research on supplemental screening breast US in women with a personal history of breast cancer (PHBC). Purpose To compare the performance of supplemental screening breast US in women with and women without a PHBC by using a matched cohort. Materials and Methods Consecutive asymptomatic women who underwent radiologist-performed supplemental breast US and mammography between January 2013 and December 2013 at a tertiary referral university hospital were retrospectively identified.

Computer-aided diagnosis of breast ultrasound images using ensemble learning from convolutional neural networks.

Breast ultrasound and computer aided diagnosis (CAD) has been used to classify tumors into benignancy or malignancy. However, conventional CAD software has some problems (such as handcrafted features are hard to design; conventional CAD systems are difficult to confirm overfitting problems, etc.).

Computer-aided tumor detection in automated breast ultrasound using a 3-D convolutional neural network.

Background And Objectives: Automated breast ultrasound (ABUS) is a widely used screening modality for breast cancer detection and diagnosis. In this study, an effective and fast computer-aided detection (CADe) system based on a 3-D convolutional neural network (CNN) is proposed as the second reader for the physician in order to decrease the reviewing time and misdetection rate.

Methods: Our CADe system uses the sliding window method, a CNN-based determining model, and a candidate aggregation algorithm.

Blind Source Separation for Myelin Water Fraction Mapping Using Multi-Echo Gradient Echo Imaging.

In conventional gradient-echo myelin water imaging (GRE-MWI), myelin water fraction (MWF) is estimated by fitting the multi-echo gradient recalled echo (mGRE) signal to a pre-assumed numerical model (e.g., multi-component exponential curves or three component exponential curves).

The clinical significance of simple endoscopic scoring of patients with rectal cancer after concurrent chemoradiotherapy.

Background: Neoadjuvant concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) is an effective treatment option for patients with rectal cancer. In this study, we investigated the clinical efficacy of simple endoscopic scoring of patients with rectal cancer after CCRT.

Methods: Between July 2008 and October 2015, medical records including endoscopic imaging from 41 patients with rectal cancer who received CCRT were retrospectively reviewed.

Concordance of Three International Guidelines for Thyroid Nodules Classified by Ultrasonography and Diagnostic Performance of Biopsy Criteria.

Objective: To investigate the concordance of three international guidelines: the Korean Thyroid Association/Korean Society of Thyroid Radiology, American Thyroid Association, and American College of Radiology for thyroid nodules classified by ultrasonography (US) and the diagnostic performance of simulated size criteria for malignant biopsies.

Materials And Methods: A total of 2586 thyroid nodules (≥ 1 cm) were collected from two multicenter study datasets. The classifications of the thyroid nodules were based on three different guidelines according to US categories for malignancy risk, and the concordance rate between the different guidelines was calculated for the classified nodules.

Automated Breast Ultrasound System for Breast Cancer Evaluation: Diagnostic Performance of the Two-View Scan Technique in Women with Small Breasts.

Objective: To comparatively evaluate the scan coverage and diagnostic performance of the two-view scan technique (2-VST) of the automated breast ultrasound system (ABUS) versus the conventional three-view scan technique (3-VST) in women with small breasts.

Materials And Methods: Between March 2016 and May 2017, 136 asymptomatic women with small breasts (bra cup size A) suitable for 2-VST were enrolled. Subsequently, 272 breasts were subjected to bilateral whole-breast ultrasound examinations using ABUS and the hand-held ultrasound system (HHUS).

Automated Breast Ultrasound Screening for Dense Breasts.

Mammography is the primary screening method for breast cancers. However, the sensitivity of mammographic screening is lower for dense breasts, which are an independent risk factor for breast cancers. Automated breast ultrasound (ABUS) is used as an adjunct to mammography for screening breast cancers in asymptomatic women with dense breasts.

[Mixed Neuroendocrine-non-neuroendocrine Neoplasm of the Stomach that is Distributed in Depth on the Same Tumor: Inconsistent with the Definition of Mixed Adenoneuroendocrine Carcinoma in the 2010 World Health Organization Classification of Tumors of the Digestive System].

A mixed adenoneuroendocrine carcinoma (MANEC) of the stomach is a rare disease entity that was first defined by the World Health Organization (WHO) classification (2010) for tumors of the digestive system. According to the WHO classification (2010), MANEC is referred to as a tumor with both neuroendocrine and non-neuroendocrine neoplasms; each component of the tumor should be at least 30%. On the other hand, this cut-off value lacks clinical evidence and does not explain the characteristics and heterogeneity of this tumor.

Knowledge and Viewpoints on Biosimilar Monoclonal Antibodies among Asian Physicians: Comparison with European Physicians.

Background/aims: Current knowledge and viewpoints regarding biosimilars among physicians in Asia are unknown, even though these were investigated by European Crohn's and Colitis Organization (ECCO) members in 2013 and 2015. Thus, this study conducted a multinational survey to assess the awareness of biosimilar monoclonal antibodies among Asian physicians.

Methods: A 17-question multiple-choice anonymous web survey was conducted with the logistic support of the Asian Organization of Crohn's and Colitis (AOCC).

Risk of Delayed Bleeding after a Colorectal Endoscopic Mucosal Resection without Prophylactic Clipping: Single Center, Observational Study.

Background/aims: Bleeding is one of the major complications of a colorectal polypectomy. The aim of this study was to identify the risk of delayed bleeding, particularly after a colorectal endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) without prophylactic clipping.

Methods: Between April 2014 and August 2014, patients who underwent colorectal EMR (≥6 mm and <2 cm) without prophylactic clipping were included.

Clinicopathologic analysis of intraductal papillary neoplasm of bile duct: Korean multicenter cohort study.

Background: IPNB is very rare disease and most previous studies on IPNB were case series with a small number due to low incidence. The aim of this study is to validate previously known clinicopathologic features of intraductal papillary neoplasm of bile duct (IPNB) based on the first largest multicenter cohort.

Methods: Among 587 patients previously diagnosed with IPNB and similar diseases from each center in Korea, 387 were included in this study after central pathologic review.

Estimated number of adult survivors of childhood cancer in United States with cancer-predisposing germline variants.

Purpose: To estimate the absolute number of adult survivors of childhood cancer in the U.S. population who carry a pathogenic or likely pathogenic variant in a cancer predisposition gene.

"Ecological risk assessments and eco-toxicity analyses using chemical, biological, physiological responses, DNA damages and gene-level biomarkers in Zebrafish (Danio rerio) in an urban stream".

We conducted the ecological risk assessment in an urban stream by using multiple-level approaches ranging from community level, chemical analyses in water and sediments, physiological assays of DNA biomarkers, embryonic development tests, and gene-level marker analyses of cyp1a, c-Fos, CRH, transgenic fli1:GFP and HuC:eGFP in zebrafish (Danio rerio). In water, the chemical perturbations based on nutrients (N,P), organic matter, ionic contents and metals identified in downstream zone. Analogous corroborations verified in sediment samples having hazardous metals (Zn, Pb, Cu, Ni, As, Cd).

Comparison of transcriptome expression alterations by chronic exposure to low-dose bisphenol A in different subtypes of breast cancer cells.

The impacts of chronic bisphenol A (BPA) exposure suspected to be a potential risk factor for breast cancer progression are not thoroughly understood in different subtypes of breast cancer cells (BCCs). This study aimed to compare the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and biological functions in MCF-7 (luminal A), SK-BR3 (HER2-enriched) and MDA-MB-231 (triple-negative) cells exposed to BPA at an environmentally human-relevant low dose (10 M) for 30 days, by using the approach of RNA sequencing and online informatics tools. BPA-exposure resulted in 172, 137, and 139 DEGs in MCF-7/BPA, SK-BR3/BPA, and MDA-MB-231/BPA, respectively.

Correlation of the grade of hepatic steatosis between controlled attenuation parameter and ultrasound in patients with fatty liver: a multi-center retrospective cohort study.

Background/aims: The controlled attenuation parameter (CAP), based on transient elastography, is widely used for noninvasive assessment of the degree of hepatic steatosis (HS). We investigated the correlation of the degree HS between CAP and ultrasound (US) in patients with HS.

Methods: In total, 986 patients with US-based HS who underwent transient elastography within 1 month were evaluated.

Three-dimensional changes of the zygomaticomaxillary complex after mini-implant assisted rapid maxillary expansion.

Introduction: The aim of this study was to investigate 3-dimensional changes of the zygomaticomaxillary complex (ZMC) after mini-implant assisted rapid maxillary expansion (MARME).

Methods: A total of 15 pairs of cone-beam computed tomography 3-dimensional images taken before expansion (T0) and after expansion (T1) were analyzed by measuring changes in the coordinates of the landmarks of the ZMC.

Results: Changes in the x coordinates of the landmarks showed significant expansion (P <0.

Coupling functions in climate.

We examine how coupling functions in the theory of dynamical systems provide a quantitative window into climate dynamics. Previously, we have shown that a one-dimensional periodic non-autonomous stochastic dynamical system can simulate the monthly statistics of surface air temperature data. Here, we expand this approach to two-dimensional dynamical systems to include interactions between two sub-systems of the climate.

Role of Muscle Profile in Alzheimer's Disease: A 3-Year Longitudinal Study.

Introduction: Many factors are known to affect the rate of cognitive decline; however, studies on clinical outcomes are rare. Muscle profile and their relationship to dementia trajectories have not been extensively investigated. We investigated factors that affect the rate of clinical decline and the usefulness of muscle profiles for predicting the clinical outcomes of patients with Alzheimer's dementia (AD).

A Critical Step to Using a Parametric Array Loudspeaker in Mobile Devices.

A parametric array (PA) loudspeaker is a highly directional audio source that might grant one's convenience if it is used with mobile devices. However, conventional PA loudspeakers is almost impossible to apply in mobile devices using a battery because of the large power consumption and large device size. In this study, a PA loudspeaker system (PALS) was fabricated and evaluated to show that those difficulties could be overcome to apply it to mobile devices.