Mechanical Surface Area of Prosthetic Heart Valve: Adverse Clinical Impact of Large Mechanical Valve in Mitral Position.

Although thromboembolic accidents are serious adverse events associated with mechanical mitral valves, there have been no studies on the clinical impact of the large mechanical surface areas (MSAs) of mechanical mitral prostheses. Between 1995 and 2010, 488 consecutive adult patients underwent isolated mechanical mitral valve replacement. We measured the MSA via three-dimensional computed tomography for each prosthesis.

Peptide Nucleic Acid Based Molecular Authentication for Identification of Four Medicinal Paeonia Species Using Melting Array Analysis of the Internal Transcribed Spacer 2 Region.

Accurate taxonomic identification of plant materials in herbal medicines is important for product quality control. The genus (Saxifragales) is the source of the herbal preparations Paeoniae Radix (Paeoniae Radix Alba and Paeoniae Radix Rubra) and Moutan Radicis Cotex. However, confusion has arisen regarding their contents due to linguistic and taxonomic ambiguities, similar morphologies and different definitions of Paeoniae Radix in the Korean and Chinese national pharmacopoeias, leading to the distribution of adulterated products.

Association between Gene Polymorphisms and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder in Korean Children.

Objective: Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is common disorder of the school-age population. ADHD is familial and genetic studies estimate heritability at 80-90%. The aim of the present study was to investigate the association between the genetic type and alleles for gamma-aminobutyric acid receptor subunit beta-3 (GABA3) gene in Korean children with ADHD.

Heat Tolerance Induction of the Indian Meal Moth (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) Is Accompanied by Upregulation of Heat Shock Proteins and Polyols.

The Indian meal moth, Plodia interpunctella, causes massive damage to stored grains and processed foods. Heat treatment has been widely used to control insect pests infesting stored grains. However, heat treatment may result in unsatisfactory control owing to heat tolerance of target insects.

3'-Sialyllactose protects against osteoarthritic development by facilitating cartilage homeostasis.

3'-Sialyllactose has specific physiological functions in a variety of tissues; however, its effects on osteoarthritic development remain unknown. Here, we demonstrated the function of 3'-sialyllactose on osteoarthritic cartilage destruction. In vitro and ex vivo, biochemical and histological analysis demonstrated that 3'-sialyllactose was sufficient to restore the synthesis of Col2a1 and accumulation of sulphated proteoglycan, a critical factor for cartilage regeneration in osteoarthritic development, and blocked the expression of Mmp3, Mmp13 and Cox2 induced by IL-1β, IL-6, IL-17 and TNF-α, which mediates cartilage degradation.

Impact of ablation duration on rhythm outcome after concomitant maze procedure using cryoablation in patients with persistent atrial fibrillation.

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of ablation duration during a maze procedure using a nitrous oxide-based cryosurgical system.

Methods: From May 2001 to December 2006, 256 consecutive patients who underwent a concomitant maze procedure using nitrous oxide-based cryoablation for chronic atrial fibrillation (AF) during cardiac surgery were enrolled. The ablation duration for each lesion was between 120 s at -60 °C in 140 patients (control group) and 160 s in 116 patients (long duration group).

Aronia Berry Extract Ameliorates the Severity of Dextran Sodium Sulfate-Induced Ulcerative Colitis in Mice.

Inflammatory bowel disease, including Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis (UC), is a group of inflammatory conditions of the colon and small intestine. UC is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the colon and rectum that includes intervals of acute exacerbation. Although recent studies have suggested that proinflammatory cytokines might have initiated the inflammatory responses in UC, its etiology remains unclear.

Dedifferentiated carcinoma with clear cell carcinoma of the endometrium: A case report.

Endometrial dedifferentiated carcinoma consists of a combination of undifferentiated and differentiated carcinomas. To date, clear cell carcinoma components in endometrial dedifferentiated carcinoma have not been reported. We report the first case of endometrial dedifferentiated carcinoma with clear cell carcinoma in a 58-year-old woman.

The Complete Chloroplast Genome Sequences of Fritillaria ussuriensis Maxim. and Fritillaria cirrhosa D. Don, and Comparative Analysis with Other Fritillaria Species.

The genus belongs to the widely distributed Liliaceae. The bulbs of , and are valuable herbaceous medicinal ingredients. However, they are still used indiscriminately in herbal medicine.

microRNA-200a-3p increases 5-fluorouracil resistance by regulating dual specificity phosphatase 6 expression.

Acquisition of resistance to anti-cancer drugs is a significant obstacle to effective cancer treatment. Although several efforts have been made to overcome drug resistance in cancer cells, the detailed mechanisms have not been fully elucidated. Here, we investigated whether microRNAs (miRNAs) function as pivotal regulators in the acquisition of anti-cancer drug resistance to 5-fluorouracil (5-FU).

The relationship of 19 functional polymorphisms in iodothyronine deiodinase and psychological well-being in hypothyroid patients.

Purpose: Levothyroxine supplementation is insufficient for the management of one tenth of patients with hypothyroidism. Iodothyronine deiodinases have been suggested to play a role in residual hypothyroid symptoms of these patients by controlling local thyroid hormone homeostasis. Previous research has suggested a relationship between commonly inherited variations in type 2 iodothyronine deiodinase and impaired well-being.

Comparison of Loop Electrosurgical Excision Procedure Using a Ring-Shaped Loop Versus a Right-Angled Triangular Loop.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the resection margin (RM) status and postoperative severe hemorrhage using different loop electrosurgical excision procedure (LEEP) techniques for cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) 2/3 treatment. STUDY DESIGN: We retrospectively reviewed 278 patients who underwent LEEPs for CIN 2/3 treatment at our institute between 2005–2014. In type A surgery (N=148), a ring-shaped loop was used.

The gene copy number of c-MET has a significant impact on progression-free survival in Korean patients with ovarian carcinoma.

The aim of this study was to compare the protein overexpression and gene copy number (GCN) of c-MET in ovarian carcinoma and to assess their prognostic roles in Korean women. MET protein expression and GCN status were determined using immunohistochemistry (IHC) and silver in situ hybridization, respectively, in 105 ovarian carcinomas comprising 63 serous, 12 mucinous, 20 clear cell, and 10 endometrioid carcinomas. All cases had been treated and followed up at a single institute in Seoul, Korea.

Calculations of actual corneal astigmatism using total corneal refractive power before and after myopic keratorefractive surgery.

Purpose: To calculate actual corneal astigmatism using the total corneal refractive astigmatism for the 4-mm apex zone of the Pentacam (TCRP4astig) and keratometric astigmatism (Kastig) before and after photorefractive keratectomy or laser in situ keratomileusis.

Methods: Uncomplicated 56 eyes after more than 6 months from the surgery were recruited by chart review. Various corneal astigmatisms were measured using the Pentacam and autokeratometer before and after surgery.

Determinants of Late Tricuspid Regurgitation After Aortic-Mitral Double Valve Replacement.

The aims of this study are to evaluate the long-term outcomes of double valve replacement (aortic and mitral valves) and to investigate the determinants of late tricuspid regurgitation (TR). A total of 239 consecutive patients who underwent double valve replacement were enrolled. Valve pathology was rheumatic in 86.

The miR-24-3p/p130Cas: a novel axis regulating the migration and invasion of cancer cells.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNAs that negatively regulate gene expression by suppressing translation or facilitating mRNA decay. Differential expression of miRNAs is involved in the pathogenesis of several diseases including cancer. Here, we investigated the role of-miR-24-3p as a downregulated miRNA in metastatic cancer.

Ultra-performance convergence chromatography for the quantitative determination of bioactive compounds in Aralia continentalis Kitagawa as quality control markers.

A rapid ultra-performance convergence chromatography method was developed for the quantitative determination of bioactive compounds in Aralia continentalis as quality control markers. Quantitative analysis indicated the presence of two major bioactive compounds: diterpenoid acids continentalic acid and kaurenoic acid. Using a Torus 1-aminoanthracene column, continentalic acid and kaurenoic acid were separated in less than 8 min.

Development of SyneBrick Vectors As a Synthetic Biology Platform for Gene Expression in PCC 7942.

Cyanobacteria are oxygenic photosynthetic prokaryotes that are able to assimilate CO using solar energy and water. Metabolic engineering of cyanobacteria has suggested the possibility of direct CO conversion to value-added chemicals. However, engineering of cyanobacteria has been limited due to the lack of various genetic tools for expression and control of multiple genes to reconstruct metabolic pathways for biochemicals from CO.

Molecular Profiling of Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma in Korea with a High Prevalence of BRAF Mutation.

Background: The BRAF mutation in papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) is particularly prevalent in Korea, and a considerable number of wild-type BRAF PTCs harbor RAS mutations. In addition, subsets of other genetic alterations clearly exist, but their prevalence in the Korean population has not been well studied. Recent increased insight into noninvasive encapsulated follicular variant PTC has prompted endocrine pathologists to reclassify this entity as "noninvasive follicular thyroid neoplasm with papillary-like nuclear features" (NIFTP).

Clinical implications of residual SYNTAX score after percutaneous coronary intervention in patients with chronic total occlusion and multivessel coronary artery disease: a comparison with coronary artery bypass grafting.

Aims: In this study we sought to evaluate the clinical impact of the residual SYNTAX score (rSS) after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in patients with chronic total occlusion (CTO) and multivessel coronary artery disease (CAD).

Methods And Results: We analysed data from 1,043 patients with CTO and multivessel CAD who were treated with PCI or coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). Patients were divided into three groups: patients with rSS≤12 after PCI (rSS≤12 group, n=445), patients with rSS>12 after PCI (rSS>12 group, n=150), and patients who underwent CABG (CABG group, n=448).

Evaluation of augmented pulse pressure variation using the Valsalva manoeuvre as a predictor of fluid responsiveness under open-chest conditions: A prospective observational study.

Background: Pulse pressure variation (PPV) is a well known dynamic preload indicator of fluid responsiveness. However, its usefulness in open-chest conditions remains controversial.

Objective: We evaluated whether augmented PPV during a Valsalva manoeuvre can predict fluid responsiveness after sternotomy.

Safety of laparoscopic radical gastrectomy in gastric cancer patients with liver cirrhosis.

Background: Laparoscopic gastrectomy (LG) in gastric cancer patients with liver cirrhosis (LC) has rarely been reported. In this study, we aimed to elucidate the feasibility of LG compared with that of open gastrectomy (OG) for LC patients.

Methods: Of the 75 LC patients who underwent radical gastrectomy for gastric cancer between April 2005 and March 2014, 36 patients who underwent LG were compared with 39 patients who underwent OG.

A Comparison of Self-Inflicted Stab Wounds Versus Assault-Induced Stab Wounds.

Background: Although self-inflicted and assault-induced knife injuries might have different mortality and morbidity rates, no studies have actually evaluated the importance of the cause of knife injuries in terms of patient outcomes and treatment strategies.

Objectives: The aims of this study were to assess the difference between the outcomes of patients presenting with self-inflicted stab wounds (SISW) versus assault-induced stab wounds (AISW).

Patients And Methods: A retrospective review of the relevant electronic medical records was performed for the period between January 2000 and December 2012 for patients who were referred to the department of surgery for stab wounds by the trauma team.

Revisiting the male genetic landscape of China: a multi-center study of almost 38,000 Y-STR haplotypes.

China has repeatedly been the subject of genetic studies to elucidate its prehistoric and historic demography. While some studies reported a genetic distinction between Northern and Southern Han Chinese, others showed a more clinal picture of small differences within China. Here, we investigated the distribution of Y chromosome variation along administrative as well as ethnic divisions in the mainland territory of the People's Republic of China, including 28 administrative regions and 19 recognized Chinese nationalities, to assess the impact of recent demographic processes.

Spatially Pressure-Mapped Thermochromic Interactive Sensor.

A thermochromic-based interactive sensor that can generate local color switching and pressure mapping is developed using a 2D array of resistive pressure sensor switch. This thermochromic-based interactive sensor will enable the visualization of localized information in arbitrary shapes with dynamic responses in the context of serial/parallel pressure mapping and quantifying capability without optoelectronic arrays.