Single-incision multiport laparoscopic cholecystectomy for a patient with situs inversus totalis: report of a case.

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy has become the standard treatment for symptomatic cholelithiasis in patients with situs inversus totalis (SIT). Nowadays, single-incision multiport laparoscopic surgery is safe and feasible for treating benign gallbladder disease. We report a case of successful single-incision multiport laparoscopic cholecystectomy for a patient with SIT, and describe its technical advantages.

Comparison of instrumented posterolateral fusion versus percutaneous pedicle screw fixation combined with anterior lumbar interbody fusion in elderly patients with L5-S1 isthmic spondylolisthesis and foraminal stenosis.

Object: The purpose of this study was to compare the clinical and radiological outcomes of treating L5-S1 isthmic spondylolisthesis and foraminal stenosis in elderly patients with instrumented posterolateral fusion (PLF) versus percutaneous pedicle screw fixation (PSF) combined with anterior lumbar interbody fusion (ALIF).

Methods: Forty-nine patients older than 65 years of age with L5-S1 isthmic spondylolisthesis and symptomatic foraminal stenosis who underwent ALIF were retrospectively analyzed. An ALIF with instrumented PLF (Group A) was performed in 23 patients, and ALIF with percutaneous PSF (Group B) was performed in 26 patients.

Learning curve of single port laparoscopic cholecystectomy determined using the non-linear ordinary least squares method based on a non-linear regression model: An analysis of 150 consecutive patients.

Introduction: Single port laparoscopic surgery has come to the forefront of minimally invasive surgery. For those familiar with conventional techniques, however, this type of operation demands a different type of eye/hand coordination and involves unfamiliar working instruments. Herein, the authors describe the learning curve and the clinical outcomes of single port laparoscopic cholecystectomy for 150 consecutive patients with benign gallbladder disease.

Renoprotective antioxidant effect of alagebrium in experimental diabetes.

Background: Despite the beneficial effects of alagebrium (ALA), a putative advanced glycation end-product (AGE) breaker, on diabetic nephropathy, its renoprotective mechanisms are incompletely understood. Since oxidative stress exacerbates diabetic renal injury through interaction with AGE, the present study examined the antioxidative property of ALA in db/db mice, mesangial cells cultured under high glucose or H(2)O(2) and a test tube.

Methods: ALA (2 mg/kg/day) was administered intraperitoneally for 12 weeks to 8-week-old db/m and db/db (D(ALA)E) mice or for 4 weeks to 16-week-old db/db mice (D(ALA)L).

GARNET--gene set analysis with exploration of annotation relations.

Background: Gene set analysis is a powerful method of deducing biological meaning for an a priori defined set of genes. Numerous tools have been developed to test statistical enrichment or depletion in specific pathways or gene ontology (GO) terms. Major difficulties towards biological interpretation are integrating diverse types of annotation categories and exploring the relationships between annotation terms of similar information.

Clinical validation of colorectal cancer biomarkers identified from bioinformatics analysis of public expression data.

Purpose: Identification of novel biomarkers of cancer is important for improved diagnosis, prognosis, and therapeutic intervention. This study aimed to identify marker genes of colorectal cancer (CRC) by combining bioinformatics analysis of gene expression data and validation experiments using patient samples and to examine the potential connection between validated markers and the established oncogenes such as c-Myc and K-ras.

Experimental Design: Publicly available data from GenBank and Oncomine were meta-analyzed leading to 34 candidate marker genes of CRC.

Effect of myocardial protection of intracoronary adenosine and nicorandil injection in patients undergoing non-urgent percutaneous coronary intervention: a randomized controlled trial.

Background: Several studies have demonstrated that adenosine and nicorandil protect the myocardium against angioplasty-related myocardial injury. We conducted a prospective study to investigate the myocardial protective effects of combination therapy with intracoronary adenosine and nicorandil.

Methods: We enrolled 213 consecutive patients with stable or unstable angina who were scheduled for non-urgent PCI for de-novo coronary lesions.

Surgical results of thyroid nodules according to a management guideline based on the BRAF(V600E) mutation status.

Context: In Korea, where PTC comprises about 90-95% of the reported thyroid cancers, the prevalence of BRAF(V600E) mutation in papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) is above 80%.

Objective: We analyzed the surgical result according to a management guideline based on the BRAF(V600E) mutation status of thyroid nodules.

Design: A total of 865 thyroid nodules were prospectively analyzed for their cytology and BRAF(V600E) mutation status by pyrosequencing.

Fabrication of porous polycaprolactone/hydroxyapatite (PCL/HA) blend scaffolds using a 3D plotting system for bone tissue engineering.

For tissue engineering and regeneration, a porous scaffold with interconnected networks is needed to guide cell attachment and growth/ingrowth in three-dimensional (3D) structure. Using a rapid prototyping (RP) technique, we designed and fabricated 3D plotting system and three types of scaffolds: those from polycaprolactone (PCL), those from PCL and hydroxyapatite (HA), and those from PCL/HA and with a shifted pattern structure (PCL/HA/SP scaffold). Shifted pattern structure was fabricated to increase the cell attachment/adhesion.

Altered expression of tight junction proteins in cyclosporine nephrotoxicity.

Background/aims: The increased permeability of chloride in the distal cortical nephron in cyclosporine nephrotoxicity may involve the transcellular pathway mediated by the thiazide-sensitive Na(+)-Cl⁻ cotransporter and/or the paracellular pathway mediated by the tight junctions (TJs).

Methods: Cyclosporine was subcutaneously administered to Sprague-Dawley rats for 6 (7.5 mg/kg body weight) and 2 (25 mg/kg body weight) weeks, and immunoblot analysis and immunohistochemistry were carried out from the kidneys.

Identification of Calonectria colhounii Associated with Basal Stem Rot on Blueberry Seedlings Imported from the United States of America.

Basal stem rot symptoms were found on blueberry seedlings imported from the United States of America in 2008. The fungus obtained from the diseased seedlings was identified as Calonectria colhounii based on morphological and molecular characteristics. The consignments of the blueberry seedlings infected with C.

Notes on some new species of psathyrella.

This study contains descriptions and illustrations of three new and noteworthy taxa of the genus Psathyrella from Korea. Among them, Psathyrella pervelatoid, P. koreana, and P.

Radioguided surgery using an intraoperative PET probe for tumor localization and verification of complete resection in differentiated thyroid cancer: a pilot study.

Background: The major concerns in the surgical treatment of extensive or recurrent thyroid cancer include the difficulty of precise intraoperative and real-time tumor localization, the possibility of missing small metastatic lymph nodes during the operation, the need for reoperation due to recurrence, and complications. The usefulness and feasibility of an intraoperative PET probe have been reported for many other cancers; however, a standard, radioguided, operative protocol using a PET probe in thyroid cancer has not been established. The purpose of the current study was to evaluate the feasibility of an intraoperative PET probe with respect to precise tumor localization, verification of complete resection, and a decrease in unnecessary reoperations and complications.

Effects of chitooligosaccharide lactate salt on activity of acetaldehyde dehydrogenase.

Chitooligosaccharides (COS), a kind of oligosaccharide made from chitin or chitosan, have been used a popular remedy for hangovers. In this study we investigated the in vitro effect of COS lactate salt on ethanol-induced cytotoxicity and the in vivo effect of short-term COS lactate salt feeding on ethanol-induced hangover. Pretreatment of HepG2 cells with COS lactate salt significantly reduced ethanol-induced cytotoxicity and suppressed generation of reactive oxygen species.

The prediction of lymph node metastasis in ductal carcinoma in situ with microinvasion by assessing lymphangiogenesis.

Background And Objectives: Lymph node (LN) metastasis of ductal carcinoma in situ with microinvasion (DCISM) is variable (0-14%). To ascertain the role of lymphangiogenesis in LN metastasis in DCISM, we compared the lymphatic vessel density with the presence of LN metastasis in a group of patients that underwent axillary dissection with breast surgery due to DCISM.

Methods: We identified 46 patients with a diagnosis of DCISM who underwent breast surgery with axillary dissection to evaluate LN status from June 1996 to March 2008.

Optic capture in the anterior capsulorhexis during combined cataract and vitreoretinal surgery.

We describe an optic capture technique that can be used during combined cataract and vitreoretinal surgery if in-the-bag implantation of an intraocular lens (IOL) is not possible. The IOL is placed in the ciliary sulcus, and optic capture is performed behind an intact anterior continuous curvilinear capsulorhexis, with the haptics remaining in the sulcus. The technique maintains IOL stability and separation of the anterior and posterior segments intraoperatively and postoperatively.

Determinants of procedural success and patency following subintimal angioplasty in patients with TASC C and D femoropopliteal arterial disease.

Background: Subintimal percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (SIA) is a treatment option for long segment occlusions in the lower limb arteries. In the present study the factors influencing success and patency following SIA in patients with TransAtlantic Inter-Society Consensus (TASC) C and D peripheral arterial disease (PAD) were investigated.

Methods And Results: The 63 consecutive SIAs were performed in 54 consecutive patients suffering from limb ischemia with TASC C and D lesions.

Effects of chitooligosaccharide lactate salt on sleep deprivation-induced fatigue in mice.

Chitooligosaccharides (COS), oligosaccharides composed of two to seven glucosamine residues, are known to exhibit various biological activities. In this study, we investigated the effects of COS in an in vivo mouse sleep deprivation-induced fatigue model in an effort to develop a functional food with anti-fatigue efficacy. Male Balb/c mice were orally administered 500 mg (kg d)(-1) of COS lactate or COS HCl for 2 weeks, and severe fatigue was induced by sleep deprivation.

Comparison of 20-gauge transconjunctival sutureless vitrectomy with conventional vitrectomy.

Purpose: The purpose of the study was to compare the efficacy and safety of a transconjunctival sutureless technique for pars plana vitrectomy using conventional 20-gauge instruments versus the conventional technique.

Methods: Clinical data were reviewed retrospectively for a consecutive series of patients who underwent transconjunctival sutureless vitrectomy (TSV; 38 eyes of 37 patients) and a control group who underwent vitrectomy using the conventional technique (38 eyes of 38 patients).

Results: Eighty-nine of 107 sclerotomies (83.

Intraocular lens stability and refractive outcomes after cataract surgery using primary posterior continuous curvilinear capsulorrhexis.

Purpose: To evaluate the amount of intraocular lens (IOL) decentration and refractive changes after cataract surgery using posterior continuous curvilinear capsulorrhexis (PCCC).

Design: Prospective comparative case series.

Participants: We included 86 eyes of 77 patients who had cataract surgery using PCCC (the PCCC group), and 79 eyes of 68 patients treated without PCCC (the control group).

Gold nanoparticles attenuate LPS-induced NO production through the inhibition of NF-kappaB and IFN-beta/STAT1 pathways in RAW264.7 cells.

Macrophage-derived nitric oxide (NO) plays an important role in protection against microbial infection in immune responses. Overproduction of NO by inducible nitric synthase (iNOS) is known to be closely correlated with the pathology of a variety of diseases and inflammations. In this study, we investigated the inhibitory effect of polyethylene glycol coated gold nanoparticles (GNP) on NO production and its molecular mechanism in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW264.