Colorless and transparent polyimide nanocomposites using organically modified montmorillonite and mica.

In this study, we introduce a method for replacing the glass used in existing display electronic materials, lighting, and solar cells by synthesizing a colorless and transparent polyimide (CPI) film with excellent mechanical properties and thermal stability using a combination of new monomers. Poly(amic acid) (PAA) was synthesized using dianhydride 4,4'-biphthalic anhydride (BPA) and diamine 2,2-bis(3-amino-4-hydroxyphenyl) hexafluoropropane (AHP). Various contents of organically modified montmorillonite (MMT) and mica were dispersed in PAA solution through solution intercalation, and then CPI hybrid films were prepared through multi-step thermal imidization.

Mechanical Properties and Electromagnetic Interference Shielding of Carbon Composites with Polycarbonate and Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene Resins.

As environmental pollution becomes a serious concern, considerable effort has been undertaken to develop power devices with minimal production of carbon dioxide (CO) and exhaust gases. Owing to this effort, interest in technologies related to hybrid and electric products that use fuel cells has been increasing. The risk of human injuries owing to electromagnetic waves generated by electrical and electronic devices has been also rising, prompting the development of mitigating technologies.

Clinical Outcomes Following Letrozole Treatment according to Estrogen Receptor Expression in Postmenopausal Women: LETTER Study (KBCSG-006).

Purpose: In this trial, we investigated the efficacy and safety of adjuvant letrozole for hormone receptor (HR)-positive breast cancer. Here, we report the clinical outcome in postmenopausal women with HR-positive breast cancer treated with adjuvant letrozole according to estrogen receptor (ER) expression levels.

Methods: In this multi-institutional, open-label, observational study, postmenopausal patients with HR-positive breast cancer received adjuvant letrozole (2.

A nationwide, multicenter retrospective study on the effectiveness and safety of eribulin in Korean breast cancer patients (REMARK).

Purpose: Approval of eribulin for metastatic breast cancer was based on data primarily from Western patients, and there is a paucity of data on the effectiveness and safety of eribulin for Asian patients. To determine the effectiveness and safety of eribulin in Korean women with breast cancer in a real-world setting, we conducted a nationwide, multicenter, retrospective study.

Methods: Patients with locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer who were treated with eribulin in 14 centers throughout Korea were included in this study.

Factors associated with disease upgrading in patients with papillary breast lesion in core-needle biopsy.

Background: Traditionally, surgical excision is recommended for benign papillary lesions in core-needle biopsy (CNB) because of their malignant potency. The aim of this study was to identify factors associated with disease upgrading to malignancy in patients with benign papillary lesions in CNB.

Methods: A total of 179 female patients were evaluated retrospectively who were diagnosed as having a benign papillary lesion in CNB and underwent a subsequent surgical excision between January 2007 and December 2016.

Adding Ovarian Suppression to Tamoxifen for Premenopausal Breast Cancer: A Randomized Phase III Trial.

Purpose: The addition of ovarian function suppression (OFS) for 5 years to tamoxifen (TAM) for treatment of premenopausal patients with breast cancer after completion of chemotherapy has beneficial effects on disease-free survival (DFS). This study evaluated the efficacy of adding 2 years of OFS to TAM in patients with hormone receptor-positive breast cancer who remain in a premenopausal state or resume ovarian function after chemotherapy.

Patients And Methods: We enrolled 1,483 premenopausal women (age ≤ 45 years) with estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer treated with definitive surgery after completing adjuvant or neoadjuvant chemotherapy.

Assessment of Quality of Life and Safety in Postmenopausal Breast Cancer Patients Receiving Letrozole as an Early Adjuvant Treatment.

Purpose: There are few reports from Asian countries about the long-term results of aromatase inhibitor adjuvant treatment for breast cancer. This observational study aimed to evaluate the long-term effects of letrozole in postmenopausal Korean women with operable breast cancer.

Methods: Self-reported quality of life (QoL) scores were serially assessed for 3 years during adjuvant letrozole treatment using the Korean version of the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Breast questionnaires (version 3).

Primary osteosarcoma of the breast: a case report.

Primary osteosarcomas of the breast are extremely uncommon. Here we describe a case of a 77-year-old woman who presented with a hard mass on her right breast. Mammography and breast ultrasound demonstrated a round-shaped calcified mass on the right breast but the features were not definitely diagnostic.

The Usefulness of Intraoperative Circumferential Frozen-Section Analysis of Lumpectomy Margins in Breast-Conserving Surgery.

Purpose: Intraoperative frozen-section analysis of the lumpect-omy margin during breast-conserving surgery (BCS) is an excellent method in obtaining a clear resection margin. This study aimed to investigate the usefulness of intraoperative circumferential frozen-section analysis (IOCFS) of lumpectomy margin during BCS for breast cancer, and to find factors that increase the conversion into mastectomy.

Methods: From 2007 to 2011, 509 patients with breast cancer underwent IOCFS during BCS.

Short-term outcomes of immediate breast reconstruction using an implant or tissue expander after mastectomy in breast cancer patients.

Background: Mastectomy is an optional surgical management of breast cancer, but it can cause significant adverse reactions. Breast reconstruction is a concern in post-mastectomy recovery. We assessed the oncologic safety and patient satisfaction following immediate breast reconstruction using an implant or tissue expander.

Differential expression of adenylate kinase 4 in the context of disparate stress response strategies of HEK293 and HepG2 cells.

Adenylate kinase isozyme 4 (AK4) belongs to a family of nucleotide monophosphate kinases involved in energy metabolism. Recently, AK4 was reported to play a role in protection from stress: In HEK293 cells, hypoxia increases AK4 expression but does not affect proliferation or viability, while RNA interference (RNAi) directed against AK4 inhibits proliferation and promotes death. By contrast, we show here that HepG2 cells showed much higher AK4 levels, which decreased under hypoxia along with markedly reduced cell proliferation and increased cell death.

Changing patterns in the clinical characteristics of korean breast cancer from 1996-2010 using an online nationwide breast cancer database.

Purpose: Breast cancer is one of the most frequent malignancies in Korean women, and its incidence is increasing at a rapid rate. Since 1996, the Korean Breast Cancer Society has collected nationwide breast cancer data using an online registration program and analyzed the data biennial. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the characteristics of Korean breast cancer and to analyze changes in these characteristics over the period of time.

Biodistribution and improved anticancer effect of NIK-siRNA in combination with 5-FU for hepatocellular carcinoma.

Increase of NF-κB inducing kinase (NIK) is known to promote the proliferation of the hepatitis B virus-derived hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells. Previously, we have reported that NIK-specific siRNA in cationic liposomes was shown to suppress the expression of NIK and the proliferation of HCC cells (Cho et al., 2009).

The effect of a sexual life reframing program on marital intimacy, body image, and sexual function among breast cancer survivors.

Background: Despite increasing awareness related to sexual health for breast cancer survivors, health care providers are passive in addressing their sexual issues.

Objective: The aims were to develop and investigate the effect of a sexual life reframing program on marital intimacy, body image, and sexual function (interest, dysfunction, and satisfaction) among breast cancer survivors.

Methods: Breast cancer survivors participated in this quasi-experimental study.

Evaluation of Maternal Toxicity in Rats Exposed to 1,3-Dichloro-2-propanol during Pregnancy.

The present study was carried out to investigate the potential adverse effects of 1,3-dichloro-2-propanol on pregnant dams after maternal exposure during the gestational days (GD) 6 through 19 in Sprague-Dawley rats. The tested chemical was administered orally to pregnant rats at dose levels of 0, 10, 30, or 90 mg/kg/day. During the test period, clinical signs, mortality, body weights, food consumption, serum biochemistry, gross findings, organ weights, and Caesarean section findings were examined.

The significance of c-erbB-2 overexpression and p53 expression in patients with axillary lymph node--negative breast cancer: a tissue microarray study.

We conducted this study to examine whether the expression of c-erbB-2 and p53 is the prognostic indicator for patients with early-stage breast cancer in which axillary lymph node metastasis is absent. We examined 326 patients with early-stage breast cancer in which axillary lymph node metastasis is absent. Tissue microarrays were constructed.

A phase II study of neoadjuvant docetaxel plus doxorubicin (KBCS-01) in stage II, III breast cancer.

Background: This multicenter phase II study was conducted to evaluate the response and safety of a combination of docetaxel plus doxorubicin as neoadjuvant therapy for stage II, III breast cancer.

Methods: Patients with stage II or III breast cancer underwent three cycles of neoadjuvant chemotherapy with doxorubicin 50 mg/m2 and docetaxel 75 mg/m2 every 3 weeks followed by curative surgery. Prophylactic GCSF was not used.

2'-Carboxybenzyl glycosides: glycosyl donors for C-glycosylation and conversion into other glycosyl donors.

Glycosylation of various glycosyl acceptors with 2'-carboxybenzyl (CB) 2,3,4,6-tetra-O-benzyl-beta-D-glucopyranoside and CB 2,3,4,6-tetra-O-benzyl-alpha-D-mannopyranoside as glycosyl donors afforded alpha-C-glycosides exclusively or predominantly in good yields. CB glycosides were also converted to other well-known glycosyl donors, the corresponding phenyl thioglycoside and the glycosyl fluoride derivatives.

Treatment results and prognostic factors of early breast cancer treated with a breast conserving operation and radiotherapy.

Background: The purpose of this study was to analyze the prognostic factors affecting local control and survival rates for patients with early breast cancer who received breast conserving treatment (BCT) and to find out the optimal treatment according to their risk factors.

Methods: From October 1994 to December 2001, 605 patients with 611 stage I and II breast cancers received BCT, and the results were analyzed retrospectively. BCT consists of breast conserving surgery and whole breast irradiation.

Glycosylation with glycosyl benzyl phthalates as a new type of glycosyl donor.

A glucopyranosyl benzyl phthalate, two mannopyranosyl benzyl phthalates, and a 2-deoxyglucopyranosyl benzyl phthalate, which were prepared from the corresponding 1-hydroxy sugars and benzyl hydrogen phthalate, were found to be efficient glycosyl donors in the glycosylations of various glycosyl acceptors using TMSOTf as a promoter.

Clinical significance of glucose transporter 1 (GLUT1) expression in human breast carcinoma.

Glucose uptake and glycolytic metabolism are enhanced in cancer cells compared to normal cells and tissues. Increased expression of glucose transporter 1 (GLUT1) has been reported in human malignant cells. The aim of this study is to determine the expression of the facilitative glucose transporter protein GLUT1 in human breast carcinomas and a possible correlation between GLUT1 expression and clinical outcome including disease-free or overall survival.

Ophthalmoplegic migraine with reversible thalamic ischemia shown by brain SPECT.

Two patients who presented with ophthalmoplegic migraine underwent electroencephalography, brain magnetic resonance imaging, cerebral angiography, and technetium Tc 99m ethyl cysteinate dimer single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) during an attack. Follow-up SPECT was performed after neurologic symptoms resolved. In both patients, SPECT during an attack of ophthalmoplegia and headache demonstrated significantly decreased regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) in the thalamus on the side of the ophthalmoplegia; rCBF reverted to normal on a follow-up SPECT during the symptom-free period.