NUAK2 Inhibitors, KHKI-01128 and KHKI-01215, Exhibit Potent Anticancer Activity Against SW480 Colorectal Cancer Cells.

Background/aim: NUAK family kinase 2 (NUAK2) is a promising target for cancer therapeutics due to its reported role in protein phosphorylation, a critical process in cancer cell survival, proliferation, invasion, and senescence. This study aimed to identify novel inhibitors that disrupt NUAK2 activity. We have already identified two KRICT Hippo kinase inhibitor (KHKI) compounds, such as KHKI-01128 and KHKI-01215.

Anthocyanin oligomer (grape skin extract) administration improves dry eye disease: A randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study.

Background: Dry eye disease is a chronic, progressive ocular disease characterised by ocular discomfort and is one of the most common ophthalmological disorders that affects people's lives.

Methods: This study investigated the clinical efficacy of anthocyanin oligomers (grape skin extract) for the treatment of dry eye. One hundred and eight patients with dry eye were randomly divided into placebo and treatment groups, each with 54 cases.

Risk of Emergency Operations, Adverse Maternal and Neonatal Outcomes according to the Planned Gestational Age for Cesarean Delivery.

Background: The objective of this study was to assess the risk of emergency cesarean deliveries (CDs) and adverse neonatal/maternal outcomes according to the planned gestational age at delivery (GAD) for elective CD.

Methods: The study population consisted of term singleton pregnant women who were booked for elective CD and were subsequently delivered at term by CD, after excluding cases with a trial of labor. The relationship between the planned GAD, risk of emergency CD prior to planned date, and adverse neonatal/maternal outcomes were determined.

Refractive error characteristics in patients with congenital blepharoptosis before and after ptosis repair surgery.

Background: We examined the effect of surgical repair on the pattern of refractive errors in Korean patients with congenital blepharoptosis.

Methods: We reviewed the clinical records of 54 patients with congenital blepharoptosis who attended our hospital from 2006 to 2012 and underwent a detailed refractive examination before and after ptosis repair surgery. Among them, 21 of the patients whose refractive data was available for both before and after the surgery were included in order to observe the effect of ptosis repair surgery on refractive error characteristics.

Non-Invasive Prediction of Histologic Chorioamnionitis in Women with Preterm Premature Rupture of Membranes.

Purpose: To develop a model based on non-invasive clinical and ultrasonographic parameters for predicting the likelihood of subsequent histologic chorioamnionitis in women with preterm premature rupture of membranes (PPROM) and to determine whether the inclusion of invasive test results improves the predictive value of the model.

Materials And Methods: This retrospective cohort study included 146 consecutive women presenting with PPROM (20-33 weeks). Transvaginal ultrasonographic assessment of cervical length was performed.

N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide and cardiac troponin T in non-immune hydrops.

Aim: We analyzed the N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) and cardiac troponin T (cTnT) in non-immune hydrops cases, to determine whether congestive heart failure or inadequate cardiac output may be mechanisms underlying abnormal fluid collection in hydrops.

Methods: The study population consisted of singleton neonates with non-immune hydrops and healthy control neonates, matched for both gestational age at delivery and mode of delivery. The subjects were divided into three groups: group 1, hydrops of cardiac origin (n=6); group 2, hydrops of non-cardiac origin (n=17); and group 3, control (n=23).

Effect of Orbital Decompression on Corneal Topography in Patients with Thyroid Ophthalmopathy.

Objective: To evaluate changes in corneal astigmatism in patients undergoing orbital decompression surgery.

Methods: This retrospective, non randomized comparative study involved 42 eyes from 21 patients with thyroid ophthalmopathy who underwent orbital decompression surgery between September 2011 and September 2014. The 42 eyes were divided into three groups: control (9 eyes), two-wall decompression (25 eyes), and three-wall decompression (8 eyes).

Usefulness of fetal urine production measurement for prediction of perinatal outcomes in uteroplacental insufficiency.

Objectives: To evaluate whether fetal urine production measurement is useful for predicting adverse outcomes in patients with uteroplacental insufficiency.

Methods: We enrolled patients with uteroplacental insufficiency at 24 to 40 weeks' gestation and normal pregnancies matched for gestational age and divided them into 3 groups according to perinatal outcomes: group 1 (n = 141), a control group of normal pregnancies; group 2 (n = 29), uteroplacental insufficiency without adverse outcomes; and group 3 (n = 18), uteroplacental insufficiency with adverse outcomes. An adverse outcome was defined as 1 or more of the following: (1) cesarean delivery because of fetal distress; (2) admission to the neonatal intensive care unit; (3) cord arterial pH less than 7.

Pregnancy-related knowledge, risk perception, and reproductive decision making of women with epilepsy in Korea.

Purpose: To determine the influence of pregnancy-related knowledge and the risk perception on reproductive decision making in women with epilepsy.

Methods: We enrolled women with epilepsy, who were of reproductive age and were considering having children in the future. A questionnaire was used to assess the level of pregnancy-related knowledge, perception of the offspring's risk for developing epilepsy or for having a congenial anomaly, and discussion with a physician concerning pregnancy-related issues.

DIY guide-needle-assisted conjunctivodacryocystorhinostomy (CDCR).

In this study, we introduce DIY guide-needle-assisted conjunctivodacryocystorhinostomy (CDCR), in which a guide needle helps in measuring the initial Jones tube length for insertion and reduces unnecessary handling for tube changes. Three CDCR procedures were conducted in which the length of the Jones tube was calculated using a 22-gauge DIY guide needle, and a prospective study of tube position change and migration, (a major cause of CDCR failure) was done. Wound healing was almost complete within 4 weeks postoperatively in the osteotomy site, but in cases of partial middle turbinectomy, a little more time was necessary.

Development of a highly sensitive compact sized optical fiber current sensor.

We have experimentally developed a highly sensitive and a compact size current sensor by using the CdSe quantum dots-doped bend insensitive optical fiber, operating in the visible band of wavelength. The modified sensitivity of this sensor was about 675 microrad/(Turn.A.