A Multicenter Collaborative Study by the Korean Society of Vitiligo about Patients' Occupations and the Provoking Factors of Vitiligo.

Background: It was previously thought that persons with genetic predispositions to vitiligo develop the condition after exposure to various precipitating environmental factors. However, in many cases, the aggravating factors of vitiligo have not been clearly identified.

Objective: To identify the aggravating factors of vitiligo in the working environment and daily life.

Relationship between 15-hydroxyprostaglandin dehydrogenase and gastric adenocarcinoma.

Purpose: Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) is a contributory carcinogen in gastric adenocarcinoma. 15-Hydroxyprostaglandin dehydrogenase (15-PGDH) catabolizes PGE2 by oxidizing its 15(s)-hydroxy group. The aim of this study was to investigate the expression of 15-PGDH in gastric adenocarcinoma tissue and the relationship between 15-PGDH expression and clinicopathologic features of gastric adenocarcinoma.

Enhanced power conversion efficiency of quantum dot sensitized solar cells with near single-crystalline TiO₂ nanohelixes used as photoanodes.

Photo-electrodes with tailored three-dimensional nanostructures offer a large enhancement in light harvesting capability for various optoelectronic devices enabled by strong light scattering in the nanostructures as well as improved charge transport. Here we present an array of three-dimensional titanium dioxide (TiO₂) nanohelixes fabricated by the oblique angle deposition method as a multifunctional photoanode for CdSe quantum dot sensitized solar cells (QDSSCs). The CdSe QDSSC with a TiO₂ nanohelix photoanode shows a 100% higher power conversion efficiency despite less light being absorbed in CdSe QDs when compared with a conventional TiO₂ nanoparticle photoanode.

Neuroendocrine carcinoma of the stomach: A case report.

Neuroendocrine carcinoma (NEC) is a rare tumor, comprising < 1% of stomach cancers. A 55-year-old woman was referred to our hospital with biopsy-proven gastric cancer. A shallow ulcerative lesion was detected in the lesser curvature of the lower body.

Recurrence of gastric cancer in the jejunal stump after radical total gastrectomy.

This is a very rare case of the recurrence of gastric cancer in the jejunal stump after radical total gastrectomy with Roux-en-Y reconstruction. In January 2008, a 65-year-old man underwent radical total gastrectomy with Roux-en-Y reconstruction for stage IB gastric cancer of the upper body. At a follow-up in December 2011, the patient had a recurrence of gastric cancer on gastroduodenal fibroscopy.

Enhancement of organic solar cells efficiency with acetic acid modulated poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) poly(styrenesulfonate) buffer layers.

Bulk-heterojunction organic solar cells (OSCs) based on poly(3-hexylthiophene) as a donor material and (6.6) phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester as an acceptor material were investigated using a poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) buffer layer that was modulated with acetic acid. The 1.

Altered vimentin protein expression in human dermal microvascular endothelial cells after ultraviolet or intense pulsed light treatment.

Background: Endothelial cell senescence is closely related to tissue aging and age-related vascular disease. Detailed pathophysiology and essential biomarkers of skin aging are not well known. A recent report suggests that advanced glycosylation end products, especially N(ϵ) -(carboxymethyl)lysine (CML) modification of vimentin, accelerate the aging process.

Association between a close distal resection margin and recurrence after a sphincter-saving resection for t3 mid- or low-rectal cancer without radiotherapy.

Purpose: To maintain the patient's quality of life, surgeons strive to preserve the sphincter during rectal cancer surgery. This study evaluated the oncologic safety of a sphincter-saving resection with a distal resection margin (DRM) <1 cm without radiotherapy in T3, mid- or low-rectal cancer.

Methods: This retrospective study enrolled 327 patients who underwent a sphincter-saving resection for proven T3 rectal cancer located <10 cm from the anal verge and without radiotherapy between January 1995 and December 2011.

Reversible cyclic deformation mechanism of gold nanowires by twinning-detwinning transition evidenced from in situ TEM.

Mechanical response of metal nanowires has recently attracted a lot of interest due to their ultra-high strengths and unique deformation behaviours. Atomistic simulations have predicted that face-centered cubic metal nanowires deform in different modes depending on the orientation between wire axis and loading direction. Here we report, by combination of in situ transmission electron microscopy and molecular dynamic simulation, the conditions under which particular deformation mechanisms take place during the uniaxial loading of [110]-oriented Au nanowires.

Comparison of the psychological impacts of asymptomatic and symptomatic cutaneous diseases: vitiligo and atopic dermatitis.

Background: Vitiligo and atopic dermatitis (AD) are common dermatological disorders which may cause significant psychological and social distress leading to impaired quality of life (QoL) in patients.

Objective: We evaluated the degree of psychological stress and impairment of QoL in vitiligo patients as compared with AD patients and normal controls (NCs).

Methods: A total of 60 patients from each group and 60 NCs were enrolled.

Protease-activated receptor-2 activates NQO-1 via Nrf2 stabilization in keratinocytes.

Background: Protease-activated receptor-2 (PAR-2) mediates inflammation and immune responses by serine proteinases. NF-E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) confers protection against tissue injury through antioxidant responses to oxidative stress induced by a variety of factors, including electrophilic chemicals, hydrogen peroxide, and ultraviolet irradiation.

Objective: In this study, we investigated if PAR-2 activation can stimulate Nrf2 signaling to preserve homeostasis in keratinocytes.

Influence of high-pressure treatment on charge carrier transport in PbS colloidal quantum dot solids.

We investigated the effects of high-pressure treatment on charge carrier transport in PbS colloidal quantum dot (CQD) solids. We applied high pressure to PbS CQD solids using nitrogen gas to reduce the inter-dot distance. Using this simple process, we obtained conductive PbS CQD solids.

Modification of hybrid active bilayer for enhanced efficiency and stability in planar heterojunction colloidal quantum dot photovoltaics.

Solution-processed planar heterojunction colloidal quantum dot photovoltaics with a hybrid active bilayer is demonstrated. A power conversion efficiency of 1.24% under simulated air mass 1.

Effects of ZnO nanoparticles on P3HT:PCBM organic solar cells with DMF-modulated PEDOT:PSS buffer layers.

In this study, we investigated hybrid bulk heterojunction organic solar cells containing ZnO nanoparticles blended with poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) and phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM) and having poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) or N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF)-modulated PEDOT:PSS buffer layers. The reference cell, which had a P3HT:PCBM active layer sandwiched between ITO\PEDOT:PSS and LiF\Al electrodes, exhibited an efficiency of 1.55%.

Effect of culture medium type on canine adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells and developmental competence of interspecies cloned embryos.

Canine adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ASCs) are promising as donor cells for somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT). It has been suggested that different cell cultures possess different capacities to support pre-implantation development of SCNT embryos. The aim of this study is to investigate whether two culture medium (RCMEP, Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium [DMEM]) affect gene expression of ASCs, subsequent development of interspecies SCNT (iSCNT) and gene expression of cloned embryos.

Efficacy of fractional microneedle radiofrequency device in the treatment of primary axillary hyperhidrosis: a pilot study.

Background: Fractional microneedle radiofrequency (FMR) devices deliver energy to the deep dermis through insulated microneedles without destroying the epidermis. These FMR devices have been shown to be effective for the treatment of wrinkles, acne scars and large pores. In this study it was postulated that FMR energy could specifically affect the sweat glands, preserving the skin surface even if sweat glands were seated in the deep dermis.