Quantifying the subjective: length-to-height ratio characterizes achalasia esophageal tortuosity.

Background: Esophageal morphology in achalasia is thought to affect outcomes, with "end-stage" sigmoidal morphology faring poorly; however, evaluation of morphology's role in outcomes has been limited by lack of objective characterization. Hence, the goals of this study were twofold: characterize the variability of timed barium esophagram (TBE) interpretation and evaluate an objective classification of TBE tortuosity: length-to-height ratio (LHR). We hypothesized that the esophagus must elongate to become sigmoidal such that sigmoidal morphology would demonstrate a larger LHR.

Primary single anastomosis duodeno-ileal bypass with sleeve gastrectomy (SADI-S) versus sleeve gastrectomy to SADI conversions: a comparison study of prevalence and safety.

Background: Conversion from sleeve gastrectomy (SG) to single anastomosis duodeno-ileal bypass (SADI) is becoming increasingly common, but data regarding safety is of these conversions is scarce. As such, the objective of this study was to compare the 30-day rate of serious complications and mortality of primary SADI (p-SADI-S) with SG to SADI (SG-SADI) conversions.

Methods: This retrospective cohort study analyzed the MBSAQIP database.

1,3,5,8-Tetrahydroxyxanthone suppressed adipogenesis via activating Hedgehog signaling in 3T3-L1 adipocytes.

In this study, we investigated the effect of 1,3,5,8-tetrahydroxyxanthone (THX) on the adipogenesis of 3T3-L1 adipocytes. THX, a xanthone isolated from , inhibited lipid accumulation in 3T3-L1 adipocytes and reduced the protein levels of the key adipogenic transcriptional factors, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) and CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein α (C/EBPα), in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, THX enhanced the transcriptional activity of Gli1 known as the key indicator of Hedgehog (Hh) signaling activity and increased the expression of Gli1 and its upstream regulator Smo.

Endoscopic findings do not predict per-oral pyloromyotomy (POP) response.

Introduction: Gastroparesis is a life-altering diagnosis caused by the stomach's inability to function in the absence of a mechanical obstruction. The primary causes are idiopathic, diabetic, and postoperative. Our first-line treatment for medical refractory gastroparesis is the endoscopic per-oral pyloromyotomy (POP) procedure.

Tunable resistivity of correlated VO(A) and VO(B) via tungsten doping.

Applications of correlated vanadium dioxides VO(A) and VO(B) in electrical devices are limited due to the lack of effective methods for tuning their fundamental properties. We find that the resistivity of VO(A) and VO(B) is widely tunable by doping them with tungsten ions. When x < 0.

Thyroid function in obese Korean children and adolescents: Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2013-2015.

Purpose: In recent years, there has been an increasing focus on thyroid function in pediatric obese patients, but no nationwide study evaluating the relationship between thyroid function and obesity has yet been conducted in Korea. We aimed to evaluate thyroid dysfunction in obese Korean children.

Methods: We analyzed the associations between obesity and thyroid hormone levels among 975 Korean boys and girls aged 10-18 years and who participated in the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey VI (2013-2015).

Spectroscopic Studies on the Metal-Insulator Transition Mechanism in Correlated Materials.

The metal-insulator transition (MIT) in correlated materials is a novel phenomenon that accompanies a large change in resistivity, often many orders of magnitude. It is important in its own right but its switching behavior in resistivity can be useful for device applications. From the material physics point of view, the starting point of the research on the MIT should be to understand the microscopic mechanism.

The effect of low-dose intravenous bisphosphonate treatment on osteoporosis in children with quadriplegic cerebral palsy.

Purpose: Quadriplegic children with cerebral palsy are more susceptible to osteoporosis because of various risk factors that interfere with bone metabolism. Pamidronate is effective for pediatric osteoporosis, but there are no guidelines for optimal dosage or duration of treatment in quadriplegic children with osteoporosis. We aimed to evaluate the efficacy of low-dose pamidronate treatment in these patients.

Characteristics of airborne pollen in Incheon and Seoul (2015-2016).

Background: Pollen allergens are one of the main contributors to the development and/or aggravation of allergic rhinitis, allergic conjunctivitis, and asthma.

Objective: An examination of the airborne pollen in residential areas should be conducted to aid the diagnosis and treatment of allergic diseases.

Methods: Airborne pollen samples were collected from 2 sites in Incheon and 2 in Seoul from 2015 to 2016.

Dimensionality control of d-orbital occupation in oxide superlattices.

Manipulating the orbital state in a strongly correlated electron system is of fundamental and technological importance for exploring and developing novel electronic phases. Here, we report an unambiguous demonstration of orbital occupancy control between t2g and eg multiplets in quasi-two-dimensional transition metal oxide superlattices (SLs) composed of a Mott insulator LaCoO3 and a band insulator LaAlO3. As the LaCoO3 sublayer thickness approaches its fundamental limit (i.

Breast-specific gamma imaging: correlations with mammographic and clinicopathologic characteristics of breast cancer.

Objective: The purpose of this article is to evaluate the correlations between breast-specific gamma imaging (BSGI) findings and mammographic and clinicopathologic characteristics of breast cancer.

Materials And Methods: Our study included 56 breast cancers that had undergone BSGI between August 2010 and December 2012. We reviewed imaging findings (BSGI and mammography) with histopathologic findings, including tumor size, histologic type, nuclear grade, presence of ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), and presence of extensive intraductal component (EIC); and immunochemical features, including estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (ERBB2, formerly HER2), Ki67, and p53.

Diagnostic value of peritumoral minimum apparent diffusion coefficient for differentiation of glioblastoma multiforme from solitary metastatic lesions.

Objective: In glioblastoma multiforme, the peritumoral region may be infiltrated with malignant cells in addition to vasogenic edema, whereas in a metastatic deposit, the peritumoral areas comprise predominantly vasogenic edema. The purpose of this study was to determine whether the minimum apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) can be used to differentiate glioblastoma from solitary metastasis on the basis of cellularity levels in the enhancing tumor and in the peritumoral region.

Materials And Methods: Seventy-three patients underwent conventional MRI and diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) before undergoing treatment.

Facile approach to optically active alpha-alkylidene-beta-amino esters by thermal Overman rearrangement.

A convenient synthetic method for enantioenriched (E)-alpha-alkylidene-beta-amino esters has been developed through thermal Overman rearrangement. Readily accessible (Z)-beta-branched Morita-Baylis-Hillman esters serve as chiral pool precursors. Thermal rearrangement proceeded through a concerted pseudopericyclic transition state to produce (E)-stereoselective products.

Inhibitory effect of snake venom toxin from Vipera lebetina turanica on hormone-refractory human prostate cancer cell growth: induction of apoptosis through inactivation of nuclear factor kappaB.

We investigated whether the snake venom toxin (SVT) from Vipera lebetina turanica inhibits cell growth of human prostate cancer cells by inducing apoptosis and also studied possible signaling pathways involved in this cell death. SVT inhibited growth of PC-3 and DU145 cells, androgen-independent prostate cancer cells, but not LNCaP cells, a human androgen-dependent prostate cancer cell. Cells were arrested in the G(2)-M phase by SVT with a concomitant decrease in the expression of the G(2)-M phase regulatory protein cyclin B1 and were also arrested in the G(1)-S phase with decreasing expression of cyclin-dependent kinase 4, cyclin D1 and cyclin E.