Expression of Pregnancy Up-regulated Non-ubiquitous Calmodulin Kinase (PNCK) in Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Background/aim: Pregnancy up-regulated non-ubiquitous calmodulin kinase (PNCK) is a member of calmodulin kinase, and overexpression of PNCK with involvement in carcinogenesis have been reported in HER-2 amplified breast cancer, clear cell renal cell carcinoma and nasopharygeal carcinoma. However, the expression of PNCK and its clinical implication have not been elucidated in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Materials And Methods: We investigated PNCK expression at both the protein and mRNA level using immunohistochemistry (IHC) and microarray gene expression profiling in HCC tissue samples, and evaluated its association with clinicopathological parameters and their potential prognostic significance.

Epigallocatechin-3-Gallate Reduces Visceral Adiposity Partly through the Regulation of Beclin1-Dependent Autophagy in White Adipose Tissues.

Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) is a primary bioactive phytochemical in green tea. Its therapeutic potential in metabolic diseases has been reported; however, the molecular mechanisms of the anti-obesity effect of EGCG have not been fully elucidated. In this study, we examined the effects of EGCG on lipid metabolism and autophagy in adipose tissue.

Clinicopathological characteristics of primary lung nuclear protein in testis carcinoma: A single-institute experience of 10 cases.

Background: Nuclear protein in testis (NUT) carcinoma is a rare tumor associated with NUT rearrangement that can present as poorly differentiated to undifferentiated carcinoma, with or without abrupt squamous differentiation. It is often misdiagnosed as poorly differentiated carcinoma or undifferentiated carcinoma if NUT is not suspected. In this study, we retrospectively analyzed pulmonary NUT carcinoma cases diagnosed with NUT immunohistochemical staining and discuss the differential diagnosis to provide information for this rare and aggressive entity.

Anti-Obesity Effects of Soybean Embryo Extract and Enzymatically-Modified Isoquercitrin.

Soy isoflavones are bioactive phytoestrogens with known health benefits. Soybean embryo extract (SEE) has been consumed as a source of isoflavones, mainly daidzein, glycitein, and genistein. While previous studies have reported the anti-obesity effects of SEE, this study investigates their molecular mechanisms and the synergistic effects of co-treatment with SEE and enzymatically modified isoquercitrin (EMIQ).

A Crosstalk on Codon Usage in Genes Associated with Leukemia.

Leukemia is the outcome of aggregation of damaged white blood cells. Several genes were reported to be associated with the pathogenesis of leukemia. These genes were computationally analyzed to decipher their codon usage bias (CUB) and to identify the prime factors influencing the codon usage profile as no work was reported yet.

Relationship of Sarcopenia with Microcirculation Measured by Skin Perfusion Pressure in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes.

Background: Few studies have examined the relationship of sarcopenia with the microcirculation. The current study investigated the relationship of sarcopenia with microcirculatory function, as assessed by skin perfusion pressure (SPP), in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients.

Methods: In total, 102 T2DM patients who underwent SPP measurements and bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) were enrolled in this cross-sectional study.

Synonymous codon usage and context analysis of genes associated with pancreatic cancer.

Pancreatic cancer is a fatal disorder which originates in pancreas. Its mortality rate is increasing with time. Some studies also reported that pancreatic cancer would be ranked 2nd by the year 2030.

Frontal lobe oxyhemoglobin levels in patients with lower extremity burns assessed using a functional near-Infrared spectroscopy device during usual walking: a pilot study.

Background: Understanding the mechanisms associated with locomotor networks may be of benefit for rehabilitation of burn victims with neurological locomotor deficits. A wearable functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) device has been developed for studying cortical hemodynamics.

Objectives: To investigate cortical brain activity during usual walking, we examined patterns of cortical activation using fNIRS device (NIRSIT®; OBELAB Inc.

Effects of Robot-Assisted Gait Training in Patients with Burn Injury on Lower Extremity: A Single-Blind, Randomized Controlled Trial.

This study investigated the effects of robot-assisted gait training (RAGT) on gait function in burn patients. Briefly, 40 burn patients were randomly divided into an RAGT group or a conventional training (CON) group. SUBAR (Cretem, Korea) is a wearable robot with a footplate that simulates normal gait cycles.

The Effect of a Pulmonary Rehabilitation on Lung Function and Exercise Capacity in Patients with Burn: A Prospective Randomized Single-Blind Study.

We performed pulmonary function (PF) tests and factors affecting PF evaluation in 120 patients with inhalation injury to evaluate the effects of pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) in burn patients with inhalation injury. Patients were randomized into pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) group and conventional rehabilitation (CON) group. PF tests, including forced vital capacity (FVC), 1-s forced expiratory volume FEV1), maximum voluntary ventilation (MVV), and respiratory muscles strength (maximal expiratory pressure (MEP) and maximal inspiratory pressure (MIP)), were measured by mouth pressure meter in the sitting position.

Clinical Significance of Trk Receptor Expression as a New Therapeutic Target in Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Oncogenic fusion of the tropomyosin receptor kinase (Trk) receptor family encoded by the NTRK gene has been found in several carcinomas. About ten targeted therapies have been developed and clinical trials are in progress. However, the results of studies on expression of the Trk receptor in HCC have not yet been published.

Low Elevation and Physical Inactivity are Associated with a Higher Prevalence of Metabolic Syndrome in Ecuadorian Adults: A National Cross-Sectional Study.

Background: Elevation and health-related lifestyles have been associated with the development of metabolic syndrome (MetS). However, such associations have not been investigated extensively in a global context. The present study aimed to determine the associations among elevation of residence, health-related lifestyles, and the risk of MetS in an Ecuadorian adult population.

The association between vitamin D levels and burn factors in different burn types.

Background: Patients with burns present with different clinical features depending on the types of burn injury and burn patients with lower levels of vitamin D have worse prognoses and more complications. The study aims to investigate the association between vitamin D levels and burn factors according to each burn type in relation to early intensive rehabilitation therapy initiated for inpatients with burns.

Methods: In this retrospective study, we enrolled 757 of 1716 inpatients who underwent rehabilitative therapy between May 2013 and April 2017.

Evaluation of the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) 8th Edition Staging System for Hepatocellular Carcinoma in 1,008 Patients with Curative Resection.

Purpose: Recently, the 8th edition staging system of the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) was released, including a change in T category. We aimed to validate the new AJCC system.

Materials And Methods: The predictive value of the new AJCC was validated in comparison to the previous edition, in a total 1,008 patients who underwent curative resection for HCC as initial treatment.

Identification of type 2 diabetes loci in 433,540 East Asian individuals.

Meta-analyses of genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have identified more than 240 loci that are associated with type 2 diabetes (T2D); however, most of these loci have been identified in analyses of individuals with European ancestry. Here, to examine T2D risk in East Asian individuals, we carried out a meta-analysis of GWAS data from 77,418 individuals with T2D and 356,122 healthy control individuals. In the main analysis, we identified 301 distinct association signals at 183 loci, and across T2D association models with and without consideration of body mass index and sex, we identified 61 loci that are newly implicated in predisposition to T2D.

Aging-Induced Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor in Adipocyte Progenitors Contributes to Adipose Tissue Dysfunction.

Aging-related adipose tissue dysfunction contributes to the progression of chronic metabolic diseases. We investigated the role of age-dependent expression of a neurotrophin, brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in adipose tissue. Pro-BDNF expression was elevated in epididymal white adipose tissue (eWAT) with advanced age, which was associated with the reduction in sympathetic innervation.

Codon usage trend in genes associated with obesity.

Obesity is not only a social menace but also an economic burden as it reduces productivity and increases health care cost. We used bioinformatic tools to analyze the CUB of obesity associated genes and compared with housekeeping genes (control) to explore the similarities and differences between two data sets as no work was reported yet. The mean effective number of codons (ENC) in genes associated with obesity and housekeeping gene was 50.

Effectiveness of robot-assisted gait training on patients with burns: a preliminary study.

Gait enables individuals to move forward and is considered a natural skill. However, gait disturbances are very common in patients with burn injury. Recent studies have emphasized the role of robot-assisted gait training (RAGT) in rehabilitation.

Polymethoxyselenoflavones exert anti-obesity effects through activation of lipolysis and brown adipocyte metabolism.

Background/objectives: Polymethoxyselenoflavone (PMSF) is a compound that substitutes the oxygen atom in a flavonoid with selenium. This study aimed to investigate the effects of PMSFs on lipid metabolism in adipocytes and their anti-obesity potential.

Subjects/methods: To test lipolytic and thermogenic effects of the compounds in vitro, adipocytes differentiated from immortalized pre-brown adipocyte progenitors and pre-white adipocyte cell lines were treated with 19 PMSFs.

Thyroxine-binding globulin, peripheral deiodinase activity, and thyroid autoantibody status in association of phthalates and phenolic compounds with thyroid hormones in adult population.

Exposure to consumer chemicals such as phthalates and phenolic compounds has been associated with thyroid hormone disruption in humans. However, information related to factors that may influence such associations, e.g.

Effect of Combining Low Temperature Plasma, Negative Pressure Wound Therapy, and Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stem Cells on an Acute Skin Wound Healing Mouse Model.

Low-temperature plasma (LTP; 3 min/day), negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT; 4 h/day), and bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs; 1×10 cells/day) were used as mono- and combination therapy in an acute excisional skin wound-healing ICR mouse model. These therapies have been beneficial in treating wounds. We investigated the effectiveness of monotherapy with LTP, NPWT, and MSC and combination therapy with LTP + MSC, LTP + NPWT, NPWT + MSC, and LTP + NPWT + MSC on skin wounds in mice for seven consecutive days.

Factors affecting high-grade hepatotoxicity of tyrosine kinase inhibitors in cancer patients: a multi-center observational study.

Purpose: Although several studies have examined tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI)-induced hepatotoxicity, the majority of patients in those studies displayed low-grade (grade I-II) hepatotoxicity. The purpose of this study was to investigate factors affecting high-grade (grade III-IV) hepatotoxicity of TKIs.

Methods: This multi-center, retrospective study used individual patient data from five studies that examined factors affecting hepatotoxicity by TKIs (crizotinib, erlotinib, gefitinib, imatinib, and lapatinib).

MicroRNA expression in response to bisphenol A is associated with high blood pressure.

Bisphenol A (BPA) is a ubiquitous environmental contaminant that is known to be associated with the risk of arterial hypertension. However, the underlying mechanisms describing how BPA exposure leads to high blood pressure (BP) and the role of epigenetics are still unclear. Therefore, we evaluated associations among BPA exposure, microRNA (miRNA) expression, and BP in a randomized crossover trial with 45 non-smoking females over 60 years of age.