Evaluation of Band Selection for Spectrum-Aided Visual Enhancer (SAVE) for Esophageal Cancer Detection.

Band selection is a common approach to reduce the data dimensionality of hyperspectral imagery. It extracts several bands of importance in some sense by taking advantage of high spectral correlation. In medical imaging, narrow-band imaging (NBI) is an imaging technique for endoscopic diagnostic medical tests, where light of specific blue and green wavelengths is used to enhance the detail of certain aspects of the surface of the mucosa.

Functional variants of the pentraxin 3 gene are associated with the metastasis and progression of prostate cancer.

Age, ethnic background and genetic components have been identified as the established risks for prostate cancer (PCa). Pentraxin 3 (PTX3), originally identified as a pattern-recognition molecule for defence against infectious agents, has multiple functions in tissue repair and in the regulation of cancer-associated inflammation. In this study, we sought to investigate the impact of PTX3 gene variants on the development of PCa.

Mediation analysis for TNF-α as a mediator between multiple metal exposure and kidney function.

The association between metal mixtures and kidney function has been reported. However, reports on the mechanism of metal toxicity were limited. Oxidative stress was reported as a possible cause.

Using the Water Absorption Ability of Dried Hydrogels to Form Hydrogel-Supported Lipid Bilayers.

The formation of supported lipid bilayers (SLBs) on hydrogels can act as a biocompatible anti-fouling interface. However, generating continuous and mobile SLBs on materials other than conventional glass or mica remains a significant challenge. The interaction between lipid membrane vesicles and a typical hydrogel is usually insufficient to induce membrane vesicle rupture and form a planar lipid membrane.

Robot-assisted radical prostatectomy using hugo RAS system: The pioneer experience in Taiwan and Northeast Asia.

Background: Among the novel robotic platforms, the Hugo RAS system is the second most studied platform, next to the da Vinci system, and we aim to address our experiences in radical prostatectomy (RP) with the Hugo RAS system.

Methods: We recorded our first 12 cases of prostate cancer undergoing RP with the Hugo RAS system. The median console time was 145 min and median hospital stay was 7 days.

Robotic partial nephrectomy for renal tumor: The pentafecta outcomes of a single surgeon experience.

Purpose: This study investigated the oncological and functional surgical outcomes for patients with renal tumor who underwent robot-assisted partial nephrectomy (PN) by a single surgeon in Taiwan from 2006 to 2019.

Methods: This retrospective study assessed patients who underwent robot-assisted PN for renal tumor. Patient data were analyzed for age, sex, body mass index, operative time and total ischemic time, surgical margin (positive/negative), and surgical complications.

Impact of tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases-3 genetic variants on clinicopathological characteristics of urothelial cell carcinoma.

To investigate the distribution of single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) of tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases-3 () in patients with/without urothelial cell carcinoma (UCC), three loci of SNPs (rs9862 C/T, rs9619311 T/C, rs11547635 C/T) were genotyped via TaqMan allelic discrimination for 424 UCC patients and 848 non-UCC participants. Furthermore, the TIMP-3 mRNA expression and its correlation with clinical characters of urothelial bladder carcinoma was analyzed using The Cancer Genome Atlas database (TCGA). The distribution of all 3 studied SNPs of was insignificantly different between the UCC and non-UCC groups.

Effects of different tools and working height on physical workload in vertical cleaning tasks applying ambient control techniques.

This study aimed to investigate the effects of different tools and working heights on physical workloads in vertical cleaning tasks. Thirty healthy adults were recruited to use a rag and a long-handle tool (LHT) to simulate cleaning operations on the Wii Fit board surfaces of 3 different heights, respectively. Participants used a lower 50th percentile force but were required to spend a longer time to finish the task while using an LHT than using a rag.

Incidental Prostate Cancer from Prostate with Benign Biopsies: A Predictive and Survival Analysis from Cohort Study.

Purpose: This cohort was to evaluate incidental prostate cancer (iPCa) from men with preoperative benign biopsies and demonstrate their outcomes under different managements.

Patients And Methods: Between 2015 and 2017, we analyzed the risk factors having iPCa from surgical specimens from men provided with benign preoperative biopsies of their prostates. Furthermore, we compared the survival outcomes according to the different managements after iPCa was diagnosed.

Radium-223 for metastatic, castration-resistant prostate cancer: A retrospective chart review study of real-world use in a tertiary hospital in Taiwan.

Background: Radium-223 is an alpha-emitting, bone-targeting radiopharmaceutical that confers a survival benefit in patients with confirmed bone-metastatic, castration-resistant prostate cancer with no visceral metastases. We studied real-world use of radium-223 in eligible patients from a tertiary hospital.

Methods: We retrospectively collected clinical data of patients treated with radium-223 in Tungs' Taichung MetroHarbor Hospital by chart review.

Diffusive Ki67 and vimentin are associated with worse recurrence-free survival of upper tract urothelial carcinoma: A retrospective cohort study from bench to bedside.

Objectives: This study aimed to determine the prognostic values of Ki67 and vimentin in upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC) after extirpative surgery.

Methods And Materials: Between 2014 and 2019, patients diagnosed with UTUC and receiving radical nephroureterectomy were included retrospectively. Nuclear MIB-1 clones and cytoplasmic VIM 3B4 clones were used to assess Ki67 and vimentin levels, respectively.

Validation of robotic-assisted ureteroplasty with buccal mucosa graft for stricture at the proximal and middle ureters: the first comparative study.

Although ureteroplasty with buccal mucosa graft for long-segmental ureteral stenosis has been developed long ago, evidence was still restricted to case series in published literature. This study aims to validate ureteroplasty with buccal mucosa graft (BMG) in long-segment stricture at the proximal and middle ureters under designed comparative methods. From April 2015 to January 2019, we performed robotic-assisted ureteroplasty with BMG with a two-phase design and compared ureteroplasty and BMG (phase 2 surgery) with endoscopic stenting (phase 1 surgery).

Phloretin Ameliorates Testosterone-Induced Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia in Rats by Regulating the Inflammatory Response, Oxidative Stress and Apoptosis.

The inflammatory process is proposed to be one of the factors to benign prostatic enlargement (BPH), and this is the first study examining the anti-inflammatory ability of phloretin in treating rats with testosterone-induced BPH. BPH would be induced by testosterone (10 mg/kg/day testosterone subcutaneously for 28 days), and the other groups of rats were treated with phloretin 50 mg/kg/day or 100 mg/kg/day orally (phr50 or phr100 group) after induction. Prostate weight and prostate weight to body weight ratio were significantly reduced in the Phr100 group.

Biochemical recurrence of pathological T2+ localized prostate cancer after robotic-assisted radical prostatectomy: A 10-year surveillance.

Background: pT2+ prostate cancer (PCa), a term first used in 2004, refers to organ-confined PCa characterized by a positive surgical margin (PSM) without extracapsular extension. Patients with a PSM are vulnerable to biochemical recurrence (BCR) following radical prostatectomy (RP); however, whether adjuvant radiotherapy (aRT) is imperative to PSM after RP remains controversial. This study had the longest follow-up on pT2+ PCa after robotic-assisted RP since 2004.

Robotic Incisional Hernia Repair After Robotic-assisted Radical Prostatectomy (RARP): A 3-port Approach.

Background/aim: Incisional hernia is a complication that occurs occasionally, and surgical intervention is required to prevent more severe sequela. While there are several options for management, robotic-assisted incisional repair has not been well discussed yet. We herein report a case series of 10 patients who underwent robotic-assisted incisional hernia repair (RIHR) after robotic-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP).

Building a Nomogram for Prediction of Prostate Cancer in Patients With Preoperatively Suspected Prostate Cancer.

Background/aim: Expanded indications for patients with preoperatively suspected prostate cancer (PC) undergoing theranostic robotic-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (T-RARP) are reported. We aimed to build a nomogram of T-RARP to predict final pathologically proven PC. This study reviewed data of 153 patients that underwent T-RARP for suspected PC performed by the same surgeon.

Impact of Gene Polymorphisms in GAS5 on Urothelial Cell Carcinoma Development and Clinical Characteristics.

Urothelial cell carcinoma (UCC) is the commonest malignant tumor of the urinary tract and the second most common kidney cancer malignancy. Growth arrest-specific 5 (GAS5), a long noncoding RNA, is encoded by the GAS5 gene and plays a critical role in cellular growth arrest and apoptosis. In the current study, two single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the GAS5 gene, rs145204276 and rs55829688, were selected to investigate correlations between these single SNPs and susceptibility to UCC.

Simultaneous upper and lower urinary tract invasive Lymphoepithelioma-like carcinoma with programmed death-ligand 1 full expression on combined positive score.

Lymphoepithelioma-like carcinoma, named after nasopharyngeal lymphoepithelioma and rarely seen at genitourinary malignancy, accounts for 1%-2% along the upper and lower urinary tract. For its rarity, no published guideline can be adhered to. Roles of surgery and chemotherapy are solid, and rich Programmed Death-Ligand 1 characteristics may furthermore light on the possible immunotherapy.

Early Dutasteride Monotherapy in Patients With Elevated Serum Prostate-Specific Antigen Levels Following Robot-Assisted Radical Prostatectomy.

To evaluate the efficacy of early dutasteride administration in patients with a detectable prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels after robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP). We retrospectively analyzed RARP patients whose pathological stage is T2a to T3b without lymph node or distant metastasis from 2007 to 2017. All patients received a daily dose of 0.

Impact of prostatic anterior fat pads with lymph node staging in prostate cancer.

Several reports have revealed the presence of lymph nodes in the prostatic anterior fat pad (PAFP). To date, no study has described the characteristics of Taiwanese patients harboring PAFP lymph nodes with metastatic prostate cancer involvement. Between December 2006 and May 2015, a total of 849 consecutive patients underwent robot-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy with PAFP dissection.

Activation of Lysophosphatidic Acid Receptor 3 Inhibits Megakaryopoiesis in Human Hematopoietic Stem Cells and Zebrafish.

Lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) is a membrane-derived lysophospholipid that exists in the plasma and platelets. It exerts its functions through activation of various LPA receptors (LPARs), which belong to the family of G protein-coupled receptors. Activation of LPARs has important roles in stem cell differentiation.

Prophylactic Robotic-assisted Laparoscopic Radical Prostatectomy for Preoperative Suspicion of Prostate Cancer: Experience with 55 Cases.

Background/aim: Expanded indications are not yet reported for robotic-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (RARP) performed by experienced surgeons for patients with preoperative suspicion of prostate cancer. We report our experience with 55 cases of prophylactic RARP for preoperative suspicion of prostate cancer, including postoperative pathological characteristics and outcomes.

Patients And Methods: This retrospective study reviewed data of a subset of 55 consecutive patients among 1,060 patients who underwent RARP for preoperative suspicion of prostate cancer.

Effect of CD44 gene polymorphisms on risk of transitional cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder in Taiwan.

The carcinogenesis of transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) of the urinary bladder involves etiological factors, such as ethnicity, the environment, genetics, and diet. Cluster of differentiation (CD44), a well-known tumor marker, plays a crucial role in regulating tumor cell differentiation and metastasis. This study investigated the effect of CD44 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) on TCC risk and clinicopathological characteristics.

Interactions between environmental factors and melatonin receptor type 1A polymorphism in relation to oral cancer susceptibility and clinicopathologic development.

Background: The purpose of this study was to explore the combined effect of melatonin receptor type 1A (MTNR1A) gene polymorphisms and exposure to environmental carcinogens on the susceptibility and clinicopathological characteristics of oral cancer.

Methodology And Principal Findings: Three polymorphisms of the MTNR1A gene from 618 patients with oral cancer and 560 non-cancer controls were analyzed by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The CTA haplotype of the studied MTNR1A polymorphisms (rs2119882, rs13140012, rs6553010) was related to a higher risk of oral cancer.

Timosaponin AIII mediates caspase activation and induces apoptosis through JNK1/2 pathway in human promyelocytic leukemia cells.

Timosaponin AIII (TAIII) is a steroidal saponin isolated from Anemarrhena asphodeloides that has been shown to inhibit cell growth and induce apoptosis in cancer. However, the effect of TAIII on acute myeloid leukemia (AML) remains unclear. Here, the molecular mechanism by which TAIII-induced apoptosis affects human AML cells was investigated.