Effectiveness of question prompt lists in patients with breast cancer: A randomized controlled trial.

Objectives: To evaluate the effectiveness of a question prompt list (QPL) in decision self-efficacy, decision-making participation, patient-physician communication, decisional conflict or regret, and health status in patients with breast cancer.

Methods: A total of 240 patients with breast cancer were randomly assigned to a QPL group or control group (n = 120 each). The intervention and control groups received an additional educational QPL booklet and routine care, respectively.

Afamin expression in breast cancer.

Background: Breast cancer is a collection of molecularly and clinically distinct neoplastic disease. Recent research has shown the information regarding gene expression in breast cancer could be beneficial in the designing of an optimal treatment plan and may also provide with prognostic information. The creation of tissue microarrays (TMA) allows for the rapid immunohistochemical analysis of thousands of tissue samples in parallel with minimal damage to the original blocks.

The "right" way is not always popular: comparison of surgeons' perceptions during laparoscopic cholecystectomy for acute cholecystitis among experts from Japan, Korea and Taiwan.

Background: Generally, surgeons' perceptions of surgical safety are based on experience and institutional policy. Our recent pilot survey demonstrated that the acceptable duration of surgery and criteria for open conversion during laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) vary among workplaces.

Methods: A web-based survey was distributed to 554 expert LC surgeons in Japan, Korea, and Taiwan.

What are the appropriate indicators of surgical difficulty during laparoscopic cholecystectomy? Results from a Japan-Korea-Taiwan multinational survey.

Background: Serious complications continue to occur in laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC). The commonly used indicators of surgical difficulty such as the duration of surgery are insufficient because they are surgeon and institution dependent. We aimed to identify appropriate indicators of surgical difficulty during LC.

The kinetic expression of lipopolysaccharide-binding protein and CD14 gene in obstructive jaundice.

Background: Binding lipopolysaccharide (LPS) with high-affinity, lipopolysaccharide-binding protein (LBP) and CD14 lower the threshold stimulatory concentrations of LPS dramatically and enhance the rate of cytokine production markedly. This study aimed to investigate the kinetic expression of LBP/CD14 and its possible relationship with tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) to better understand the pathophysiology of obstructive jaundice.

Materials And Methods: The tissues (liver, spleen, intestine, and lung) of male Sprague-Dawley rats were harvested at pre-bile duct ligation in controls and at specific time points (24, 48, 72, 96, and 120 hr) after bile duct ligation.

Intrathecal miR-183 delivery suppresses mechanical allodynia in mononeuropathic rats.

Members of the miR-183 family are unique in that they are highly abundant in sensory organs. In a recent study, significant downregulation was observed for miR-96 and miR-183 in the L5 dorsal root ganglion (DRG) 2 weeks after spinal nerve ligation (SNL). In this study, we focused on miR-183, which is the most regulated member of the miR-183 family, to look at the specific role on neuropathic pain.

An evaluation of fatty acid-CoA ligase 4 in breast cancer.

Background: Fatty acid-CoA ligase 4 (FACL4) has been detected in various types of tumors. However, there is still very limited information about the role of FACL4 in breast cancer. Tissue microarray (TMA) technique analyzes thousands of specimens in a parallel fashion with minimal damage to the original blocks.

Pulsed radiofrequency reduced complete Freund's adjuvant-induced mechanical hyperalgesia via the spinal c-Jun N-terminal kinase pathway.

Pulsed radiofrequency (PRF) treatment involves the pulsed application of a radiofrequency electric field to a nerve. The technology offers pain relief for patients suffering from chronic pain who do not respond well to conventional treatments. We tested whether PRF treatment attenuated complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA) induced inflammatory pain.

Epigenetic histone methylation regulates transforming growth factor β-1 expression following bile duct ligation in rats.

Background: Multiple mechanisms contribute to the liver fibrosis following cholestasis. Recent research has focused on the role of transforming growth factor β-1 (TGF-β1) in the progression of fibrosis. The aim of our study is to examine the role of epigenetic chromatin marks, such as histone H3 lysine methylation (H3Kme), in bile duct ligation (BDL)-induced TGF-β1 gene expression in rat liver.

Pulsed radiofrequency treatment attenuates increases in spinal excitatory amino acid release in rats with adjuvant-induced mechanical allodynia.

Excitatory amino acids (EAAs) play a critical role in the development of peripheral tactile and thermal hypersensitivity after the induction of paw inflammation in rats. We used a spinal microdialysis model to examine the effect of complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA)-induced inflammation on the spinal release of EAAs and assessed the antinociceptive effect of pulsed radiofrequency (PRF). CFA was injected into the plantar surface of the left hind paw to induce inflammation.

An evaluation of focal adhesion kinase in breast cancer by tissue microarrays.

Background: Many studies have shown that focal adhesion kinase (FAK) is a positive regulator of tumor progression and invasion. However, there is still very limited information about the role of FAK in breast cancer. Tissue microarrays (TMA) can analyze thousands of tissue samples in a parallel fashion with minimal damage to the origin block.

Yes-associated protein is not an independent prognostic marker in breast cancer.

Background: The development of tissue microarray (TMA) technology has provided the opportunity to perform analyses of tissue samples on a large scale in an uniform fashion. This study was designed with the use of TMA to explore the Yes-associated protein (YAP) status in breast cancer.

Patients And Methods: YAP expression in tumor and tumor-free samples from 94 patients with primary breast cancer was analyzed by TMA.

An evaluation of prognostic value of death-associated protein kinase 1 in breast cancer.

Background: The benefit of tissue microarray (TMA) is its capability to analyse large numbers of tissue samples in a uniform fashion. This study was designed to evaluate the capability of TMA for analyzing the status of death-associated protein kinase 1 (DAPK1) in breast cancer patient and to explore its potential in the management of breast cancer.

Patients And Methods: Over a 60-month period, tissue specimens of 99 patients with primary invasive breast cancer were selected.

Noninvasive positive pressure ventilation in the management of post-thyroidectomy tracheomalacia.

Background: Post-thyroidectomy tracheomalacia is a rare but complicated problem. It has often been treated with tracheostomy or prolonged endotracheal intubation. However, noninvasive positive pressure ventilation (NPPV) has been successfully employed with increasing frequency in patients with respiratory failure from other causes.

Clustered microcalcifications of intermediate concern detected on digital mammography: ultrasound assessment.

To report our experience with targeted-ultrasound in assessing 142 cases with clustered microcalcifications of intermediate concern detected on digital mammography. All cases had histopathologically-proven microcalcifications within the biopsied or surgical specimens. There were 30%[43/142] breast cancers and 70%[99/142] benign lesions.

GADD45A protects against cell death in dorsal root ganglion neurons following peripheral nerve injury.

A significant loss of neurons in the dorsal root ganglia (DRG) has been reported in animal models of peripheral nerve injury. Neonatal sensory neurons are more susceptible than adult neurons to axotomy- or nerve growth factor (NGF) withdrawal-induced cell death. To develop therapies for preventing irreversible sensory cell loss, it is essential to understand the molecular mechanisms responsible for DRG cell death and survival.

Cortactin in breast cancer: analysis with tissue microarray.

Background: Tissue microarray (TMA) allows the rapid immunohistochemical analysis of thousands of tissue samples in a parallel fashion. This study was designed to analyze the cortactin status in breast cancer using TMA and to investigate the relationship of cortactin status to breast cancer biology.

Patients And Methods: Archival tissue specimens from 99 patients with primary invasive breast cancer were selected.

Cellular changes in hepatocytes and intestinal endothelium after hepatoduodenal ligament occlusion and protective effects of caspase inhibition.

Introduction: Hepatic vascular control is used by many surgeons to prevent massive hemorrhage during hepatectomy. However, this may carry a risk of ischemic damage to the hepatocytes. Another major drawback of intraoperative occlusion of the hepatoduodenal ligament is portal stasis with resultant intestinal congestion which may cause adverse effects on the intestinal functions.

Weekly paclitaxel combining with gemcitabine is an effective and safe treatment for advanced breast cancer patients.

Objective: Patients with metastatic breast cancer usually accept several lines of chemotherapy. This retrospective study is to analyze the therapeutic effect and tolerance of weekly paclitaxel/gemcitabine combination on patients with metastatic breast cancer.

Methods: Paclitaxel 80 mg/m(2) and gemcitabine 800 mg/m(2) were administered sequentially on days 1, 8 and 15 every 28 days.

Lack of prognostic value of topoisomerase II alpha in patients with breast cancer: analysis with tissue microarray.

Background: The creation of a tissue microarray (TMA) allows for the rapid immunohistochemical analysis of thousands of tissue samples in a parallel fashion. This study applied TMA in order to analyse the topoisomerase II alpha status in breast cancer and to elucidate its relationship in breast cancer biology.

Patients And Methods: Archived tissue specimens from 94 patients with primary invasive breast cancer were selected and the topoisomerase II alpha expression was analysed by TMA.

Sonoporation-mediated gene transfer into adult rat dorsal root ganglion cells.

Background: Gene transfer into many cell types has been successfully used to develop alternative and adjunct approaches to conventional medical treatment. However, effective transfection of postmitotic neurons remains a challenge. The aim of this study was to develop a method for gene transfer into rat primary dorsal root ganglion neurons using sonoporation.

Antithrombin-III attenuates hepatocyte apoptosis in bile duct ligated rat: a striking cellular change.

Background And Purpose: Retention and accumulation of toxic hydrophobic bile salts within hepatocyte may cause hepatocyte toxicity by inducing apoptosis. This study was designed with the purpose of evaluating the possible effect of antithrombin-III on hepatocyte apoptosis in bile duct ligated rat.

Materials And Methods: The rats were randomized to 3 groups: group 1 (control, C) underwent sham operation; group 2 (obstructive jaundice, OB) underwent common bile duct ligation; and group 3 (obstructive jaundice with antithrombin-III, OBAT-III) underwent common bile duct ligation and simultaneously were treated with antithrombin-III.

Intraluminal versus infiltrating gallbladder carcinoma: clinical presentation, ultrasound and computed tomography.

Aim: To compare clinical presentation and ultrasound (US) and computed tomography (CT) sensitivity between intraluminal and infiltrating gallbladder carcinoma (GBCA).

Methods: This retrospective study evaluated 65 cases of GBCA that were categorized morphologically into the intraluminal-GBCA (n = 37) and infiltrating-GBCA (n = 28) groups. The clinical and laboratory findings, presence of gallstones, gallbladder size, T-staging, nodal status, sensitivity of preoperative US and CT studies, and outcome were compared between the two groups.

Gene transfer of IGF1 attenuates hepatocellular apoptosis after bile duct ligation.

Background: Cholestasis occurs in a wide variety of human liver diseases, and hepatocellular injury is an invariant feature of cholestasis, causing liver dysfunction and inflammation, promoting fibrogenesis, and ultimately leading to liver failure. Insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF1) acts in an autocrine and paracrine manner to promote glucose utilization, using phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase (PI3 K)/Akt, the downstream glycogen synthase kinase 3β (GSK3β), and anti-apoptotic pathways. This study investigated whether gene transfer of IGF1 could attenuate hepatocellular injury after bile duct ligation in rats.