Rapid Symptom Improvement in Major Depressive Disorder Using Accelerated Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation.

Objective: Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) has contributed to increase in the remission rate for patients with major depressive disorder (MDD). However, current rTMS treatment is practically inconvenient because it requires daily treatment sessions for several weeks. Accelerated rTMS treatment is as efficient and safe for MDD patients as conventional rTMS.

Examination of the Ability of N-acetylcysteine Administration during Anesthesia to Prevent Perioperative Deterioration of Pulmonary Function in Patients Undergoing Nephrectomy.

Background: Postoperative pulmonary complications are associated with significant morbidity and mortality in patients undergoing major surgeries. Acetylcysteine is a known antioxidant and is also used as a mucolytic agent to reduce hypersecretion and the viscosity of mucus secretions by the lung. Several studies have revealed that high doses of N-acetylcysteine can significantly prevent pulmonary complications.

Overexpression of renal tumor antigen is associated with tumor invasion and poor prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the roles of renal tumor antigen (RAGE) in the progression and clinical outcome of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Methods: RAGE mRNA levels in 350 cases of HCC were investigated by quantitative real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. We analyzed the relationship of RAGE mRNA level with clinicopathologic parameters and clinical outcome.

Overexpression of high-mobility group box 2 is associated with tumor aggressiveness and prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Purpose: We investigated the expression of high-mobility group box 2 (HMGB2) in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and its clinical effects with underlying mechanisms.

Experimental Design: HMGB2 mRNA levels were measured in 334 HCC patients by real-time reverse transcription-PCR and HMGB2 protein levels in 173 HCC patients by immunohistochemical studies. The HMGB2 expression level was measured by Western blotting for three HCC cell lines.

Epithelial-mesenchymal transition gene signature to predict clinical outcome of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Hepatocellular carcinoma is one of the most lethal cancers worldwide. More accurate stratification of patients at risk is necessary to improve its clinical management. As epithelial-mesenchymal transition is critical for the invasiveness and metastasis of human cancers, we investigated expression profiles of 12 genes related to epithelial-mesenchymal transition through a real-time polymerase chain reaction.

Expression of cystathionine beta-synthase is downregulated in hepatocellular carcinoma and associated with poor prognosis.

The cystathionine beta-synthase (CBS) gene encodes an enzyme that catalyzes the synthesis of cystathionine in the trans-sulfuration pathway and is subject to tight regulation because of its critical role in antioxidant and methylation metabolism. The expression level of CBS in 120 hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) specimens evaluated by real-time reverse transcriptase PCR (RT-PCR) is markedly lower than in surrounding non-cancerous liver (P<0.0001).

Expression of nicotinamide N-methyltransferase in hepatocellular carcinoma is associated with poor prognosis.

Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common tumor in the adult liver, with high relapse and mortality rates despite diverse treatment modalities. In this study, nicotinamide N-methyltransferase (NNMT), a key enzyme in drug metabolism, was investigated as a potential prognostic factor.

Methods: Frozen tumors and non-cancerous surrounding tissues from 120 patients with primary HCC were studied.