Impact of Young Age at Diagnosis on Survival in Patients with Surgically Treated Renal Cell Carcinoma: a Multicenter Study.

The prognostic significance of age in renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is a subject of debate. The aim of the present multi-institutional study was to evaluate the impact of age on clinicopathological features and survival in a large cohort of patients with RCC. A total of 5,178 patients who underwent surgery for RCC at eight institutions in Korea between 1999 and 2011 were categorized into three groups according to age at diagnosis as follows: young age (< 40 years, n = 541), middle-age (≥ 40 and < 60 years, n = 2,551), and old age (≥ 60 years, n = 2,096) groups.

Clinical characteristics of adverse events associated with therapeutic monoclonal antibodies in Korea.

Purpose: The use of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) is increasing in various clinical fields. Although mAb safety must be demonstrated prior to approval, targeted pharmacovigilance is essential for the recognition and assessment of adverse reactions. The purpose of this study was to identify the major clinical features of adverse reactions to mAbs in Korea.

G-Quadruplex in the NRF2 mRNA 5' Untranslated Region Regulates De Novo NRF2 Protein Translation under Oxidative Stress.

Inhibition of protein synthesis serves as a general measure of cellular consequences of chemical stress. A few proteins are translated selectively and influence cell fate. How these proteins can bypass the general control of translation remains unknown.

Graphene oxide induces apoptotic cell death in endothelial cells by activating autophagy via calcium-dependent phosphorylation of c-Jun N-terminal kinases.

Unlabelled: Despite the rapid expansion of the biomedical applications of graphene oxide (GO), safety issues related to GO, particularly with regard to its effects on vascular endothelial cells (ECs), have been poorly evaluated. To explore possible GO-mediated vasculature cytotoxicity and determine lateral GO size relevance, we constructed four types of GO: micrometer-sized GO (MGO; 1089.9±135.

Different Responses in Induction of Allergen Specific Immunoglobulin G4 and IgE-Blocking Factors for Three Mite Subcutaneous Immunotherapy Products.

Purpose: Specific immunoglobulin G4 (sIgG4) and immunoglobulin E (IgE)-blocking factors produced by subcutaneous immunotherapy (SCIT) play a critical role in the induction of allergen tolerance. However, comparative studies of available SCIT reagents on the induction of sIgG4 are limited. We compared increases in sIgG4 for three different house dust mite (HDM) SCIT reagents.

Comparative analysis of outcomes after multiport and single-port laparoscopic colectomy in emergency situations: Is single-port laparoscopic colectomy safe and feasible?

Background/objective: Although consensus has been reached on the superiority of laparoscopy for a majority of conditions underlying acute abdominal pain, the safety and feasibility of single-port laparoscopic colectomy (SPLC) in emergency situations have not been determined.

Methods: A prospective electronic database of all emergency patients who underwent either multiport laparoscopic colectomy (MPLC) or SPLC between April 2006 and December 2014 was used to compare the surgical outcomes of these operative methods.

Results: During the study period, 31 MPLCs and 76 SPLCs were performed.

Structural Insight into the Critical Role of the N-Terminal Region in the Catalytic Activity of Dual-Specificity Phosphatase 26.

Human dual-specificity phosphatase 26 (DUSP26) is a novel target for anticancer therapy because its dephosphorylation of the p53 tumor suppressor regulates the apoptosis of cancer cells. DUSP26 inhibition results in neuroblastoma cell cytotoxicity through p53-mediated apoptosis. Despite the previous structural studies of DUSP26 catalytic domain (residues 61-211, DUSP26-C), the high-resolution structure of its catalytically active form has not been resolved.

Clinical Significance of Component Allergens in Fagales Pollen-Sensitized Peanut Allergy in Korea.

Purpose: Clinical features of peanut allergy can range from localized to systemic reactions. Because peanut and birch pollen have cross-reactivity, peanut can lead to localized allergic reaction in Fagales pollen-sensitized oral allergy syndrome (OAS) patients without peanut sensitization per se. The purpose of this study was to discriminate true peanut food allergy from cross-reactive hypersensitivity in birch-sensitized peanut allergy.

Antihyperlipidemic effects of Korean ginseng in high-fat diet-fed ovariectomized rats.

Because of decreased estrogen levels, postmenopausal women are at a high risk of developing dyslipidemia, obesity, and other metabolic diseases. The effects of Korean ginseng were investigated to determine whether it can be used as an adjunct supplement for hyperlipidemia. Ovariectomized Sprague-Dawley rats were used to mimic postmenopausal conditions and were randomly divided into five groups (=6): normal control, high-fat diet, high-fat diet+statin, high-fat diet+white ginseng, and high-fat diet + heated ginseng.

Crucial role of HMGA1 in the self-renewal and drug resistance of ovarian cancer stem cells.

Cancer stem cells are a subpopulation of cancer cells characterized by self-renewal ability, tumorigenesis and drug resistance. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of HMGA1, a chromatin remodeling factor abundantly expressed in many different cancers, in the regulation of cancer stem cells in ovarian cancer. Spheroid-forming cancer stem cells were isolated from A2780, SKOV3 and PA1 ovarian cancer cells by three-dimensional spheroid culture.

Learning curve for single-port laparoscopic colon cancer resection: a multicenter observational study.

Background: The aim of this study was to investigate the learning curves (LCs) of single-port laparoscopic surgery (SPLS) for colon cancer using multidimensional statistical analyses. Although SPLS yields better cosmetic results and comparable short-term outcomes compared to conventional laparoscopic surgery, its technical difficulties make surgeons hesitant to try SPLS. Moreover, the LCs of SPLS for colon cancer are not well delineated.

High-resolution crystal structure of the PDZ1 domain of human protein tyrosine phosphatase PTP-Bas.

Protein tyrosine phosphatase-Basophil (PTP-Bas) is a membrane-associated protein tyrosine phosphatase with five PDZ domains and is involved in apoptosis, tumorigenesis, and insulin signaling. The interaction between PTP-Bas and tandem-PH-domain-containing protein 1/2 (TAPP1/2) plays an essential role in the regulation of insulin signaling. Despite its high sequence homology with the other PDZ domains, only the PDZ1 domain of PTP-Bas showed distinct binding specificity for TAPP1/2.

Origin and hysteresis of lithium compositional spatiodynamics within battery primary particles.

The kinetics and uniformity of ion insertion reactions at the solid-liquid interface govern the rate capability and lifetime, respectively, of electrochemical devices such as Li-ion batteries. Using an operando x-ray microscopy platform that maps the dynamics of the Li composition and insertion rate in Li(x)FePO4, we found that nanoscale spatial variations in rate and in composition control the lithiation pathway at the subparticle length scale. Specifically, spatial variations in the insertion rate constant lead to the formation of nonuniform domains, and the composition dependence of the rate constant amplifies nonuniformities during delithiation but suppresses them during lithiation, and moreover stabilizes the solid solution during lithiation.

Does Korea's current diagnosis-related group-based reimbursement system appropriately classify appendectomy patients?

Purpose: As several years have passed since the implementation of the Korean diagnosis-related group (DRG) payment system for appendicitis, its early outcomes should be assessed to determine if further improvements are warranted.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed clinical data from Korean patients who underwent appendectomy, dividing the sample into 2 groups of those who received services before and after implementation of the DRG system. Based on the DRG code classification, patient data were collected including the amount of DRG reimbursement and the total in-patient costs.

Association of human leukocyte antigen with postherpetic neuralgia in Koreans.

Postherpetic neuralgia (PHN), the most frequent complication of varicella-zoster virus reactivation, is characterized by pain that persists for more than 3 months, often for years after healing of zoster rash. A few studies revealing the association of human leukocyte antigen (HLA) with PHN have been reported, but only in the Japanese. The aim of this study was to investigate the primary HLA locus associated with PHN susceptibility in Koreans.

Korean Version of the painDETECT Questionnaire: A Study for Cultural Adaptation and Validation.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to adapt the painDETECT Questionnaire (PD-Q) into a Korean version (KPD-Q) and validate it.

Methods: A single-center prospective observational study was performed. During the first phase of the study, linguistic adaptation was carried out to develop the KPD-Q.

Ultrasonographic Evaluation of Anatomic Variations in the Sacral Hiatus: Implications for Caudal Epidural Injections.

Study Design: Prospective study OBJECTIVE.: The aim of this study was to evaluate variations in the sacral hiatus based on ultrasonographic images.

Summary Of Background Data: Caudal epidural injection is commonly used for the treatment of lower back pain, but blind injections commonly lead to mistakes made at the injection site due to anatomic variations in the sacral hiatus.

Promotion of osteoblastic differentiation and osteogenic transcription factor expression on a microgroove titanium surface with immobilized fibronectin or bone sialoprotein II.

We demonstrate that a composite surface of microgroove titanium (Ti) with immobilized fibronectin (FN) or bone sialoprotein II (BSP2) promotes osteoblastic differentiation and osteogenic transcription factor expression in human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). Comparisons made between smooth microgrooves, microgrooves with silanization and microgrooves with matrix protein (FN or BSP2)-immobilization Ti surfaces revealed a significant promotion of in vitro osteogenic activity and osteoblastic differentiation at various timelines of culture. An even more significant increase was verified on microgrooves with a matrix protein-immobilization Ti surface in 28 d time-dependent gene expression of the main osteogenic transcription factors, such as ARF4, FRA1, RUNX2, and OSX.

Removal of furan and phenolic compounds from simulated biomass hydrolysates by batch adsorption and continuous fixed-bed column adsorption methods.

It has been proposed to remove all potential inhibitors and sulfuric acid in biomass hydrolysates generated from dilute-acid pretreatment of biomass, based on three steps of sugar purification process. This study focused on its first step in which furan and phenolic compounds were selectively removed from the simulated hydrolysates using activated charcoal. Batch adsorption experiments demonstrated that the affinity of activated charcoal for each component was highest in the order of vanillic acid, 4-hydroxybenzoic acid, furfural, acetic acid, sulfuric acid, and xylose.

pH-Responsive mineralized nanoparticles as stable nanocarriers for intracellular nitric oxide delivery.

We describe a calcium carbonate (CaCO3) mineralization approach to generate pH-responsive nanocarriers that can stably load S-nitrosoglutathione (GSNO) and dissolve at acidic endosomes to trigger intracellular release of nitric oxide (NO). GSNO-loaded CaCO3-mineralized nanoparticles (GSNO-MNPs) were prepared by an anionic block copolymer (PEG-Poly(l-aspartic acid))-templated mineralization. Ionic GSNO could be loaded in situ inside the CaCO3 core during the mineralization process.

Spatiotemporal Characteristics of Freezing of Gait in Patients After Hypoxic-Ischemic Brain Injury: A Pilot Study.

The objective of this study was to investigate spatiotemporal characteristics with gait variability in patients with freezing of gait (FOG) after hypoxic-ischemic brain injury (HIBI).Eleven patients showing FOG after HIBI and 15 normal controls were consecutively enrolled. We performed gait analysis using a computerized gait system (VICON MX-T10 Motion Analysis System) and compared spatiotemporal characteristics and gait variability in both groups.

Methyltransferase and demethylase profiling studies during brown adipocyte differentiation.

Although brown adipose tissue is important with regard to energy balance, the molecular mechanism of brown adipocyte differentiation has not been extensively studied. Specifically, regulation factors at the level of protein modification are largely unknown. In this study, we examine the changes in the expression level of enzymes which are involved in protein lysine methylation during brown adipocyte differentiation.

Visual Evoked Potential Using Head-Mounted Display Versus Cathode Ray Tube: A Pilot Study.

Objective: To present a new stimulation method based on the use of a head-mounted display (HMD) during pattern reversal visual evoked potential (PR-VEP) testing and to compare variables of HMD to those of conventional cathode ray tube (CRT).

Methods: Twenty-three normal subjects without visual problems were recruited. PR-VEPs were generated using CRT or HMD stimuli.

Set7/9, a methyltransferase, regulates the thermogenic program during brown adipocyte differentiation through the modulation of p53 acetylation.

Brown adipose tissue, which is mainly composed of brown adipocytes, plays a key role in the regulation of energy balance via dissipation of extra energy as heat, and consequently counteracts obesity and its associated-disorders. Therefore, brown adipocyte differentiation should be tightly controlled at the multiple regulation steps. Among these, the regulation at the level of post-translational modifications (PTMs) is largely unknown.