Factors associated with depression in disease-free stomach cancer survivors.

Context: Depression in cancer survivors affects the rest of their lives in many ways.

Objectives: To estimate the prevalence of depression and identify associated factors in disease-free stomach cancer survivors.

Methods: We enrolled 391 stomach cancer survivors who had been disease-free for at least one year after surgery from the cancer registries of two hospitals in Korea.

Microporous carbon nanoplates from regenerated silk proteins for supercapacitors.

Novel carbon-based microporous nanoplates containing numerous heteroatoms (H-CMNs) are fabricated from regenerated silk fibroin by the carbonization and activation of KOH. The H-CMNs exhibit superior electrochemical performance, displaying a specific capacitance of 264 F/g in aqueous electrolytes, a specific energy of 133 Wh/kg, a specific power of 217 kW/kg, and a stable cycle life over 10000 cycles.

Fasting glucose level and the risk of incident atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases.

Objective: Although diabetes increases the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and mortality, the dose-response relationship between fasting glucose levels below those diagnostic of diabetes with cardiovascular events has not been well characterized.

Research Design And Methods: A prospective cohort study of more than one million Koreans was conducted with a mean follow-up of 16 years. A total of 1,197,384 Korean adults with no specific medical conditions diagnosed were classified by baseline fasting serum glucose level.

Adiponectin as predictor for diabetes among pre-diabetic groups.

Adiponectin is found to associate with diabetes in studies apart from cohort studies. This prospective cohort study is to evaluate the predictive role of adiponectin in diabetes among participants with impaired fasting glucose (IFG). A total of 42,845 participants who visited 7 health examination centers located in Seoul and Kyunggi province, South Korea, during 2004-2008 were first included.

The attitudes of Korean cancer patients, family caregivers, oncologists, and members of the general public toward advance directives.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate Korean attitudes toward advance directives (ADs) among cancer patients, family caregivers, oncologists, and the general public.

Methods: A multicenter survey study explored the attitudes of participants to ADs, and hospice-palliative care (HPC) was conducted. A total of 1,242 cancer patients, 1,289 family caregivers, 303 oncologists, and 1,006 members of the general public participated in the survey.

cAMP-binding site of PKA as a molecular target of bisabolangelone against melanocyte-specific hyperpigmented disorder.

Microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF) is inducible in response to cAMP and has a pivotal role in the melanocyte-specific expression of tyrosinase for skin pigmentation. Here we suggest that the cAMP-binding site of protein kinase A (PKA) is a target in the inhibition of the melanogenic process in melanocytes, as evidenced from the molecular mechanism of small molecules such as bisabolangelone (BISA) and Rp-adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphorothioate (Rp-cAMPS). BISA is a sesquiterpene constituent of Angelica koreana, a plant of the Umbelliferae family, whose roots are used as an alternative medicine.

Changes of quality of life in gastric cancer patients after curative resection: a longitudinal cohort study in Korea.

Objective: Little is known about how quality of life (QOL) changes over time after gastrectomy. We prospectively examined changes of QOL in Korean patients with gastric cancer after curative resection.

Background: As early detection and improved treatment have led to higher survival rates and an increasing number of long-term survivors, the importance of QOL has increased.

Decreased pain responses of C-C chemokine receptor 5 knockout mice to chemical or inflammatory stimuli.

Chemokines are small chemotactic cytokines that elicit many physiological and pathological effects through binding to their corresponding receptors. Recent studies have suggested that C-C chemokine receptor (CCR) 5 interacts with μ-opioid receptor and modifies a nociceptive reaction. We examined effects of CCR5 deficiency on pain responses by employing CCR5 knockout (KO) mice.

Impaired fasting glucose and risk of cardiovascular disease in Korean men and women: the Korean Heart Study.

Objective: The relationship between impaired fasting glucose (IFG) and risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) or ischemic heart disease (IHD) varies widely according to sex and ethnicity. We evaluated the relationship between IFG and CVD or IHD among Korean men and women.

Research Design And Methods: A total of 408,022 individuals who underwent voluntary private health examinations in 17 centers in South Korea were followed for 10 years.

Phenolic diterpenes from rosemary suppress cAMP responsiveness of gluconeogenic gene promoters.

The cAMP/protein kinase A/cAMP response element (CRE)-binding protein pathway is important for various physiological aspects including regulation of gluconeogenic gene expression. Rosemary, a well-known herb, has been reported to decrease blood glucose levels. We found that methanol extracts of rosemary suppressed forskolin (FSK)-stimulated luciferase expression under the control of CRE, as well as the promoters for cytosolic phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK-C) and glucose-6-phosphatase (G6Pase) catalytic subunit genes in human hepatoma HepG2 cells.

Rapamycin inhibits both motility through down-regulation of p-STAT3 (S727) by disrupting the mTORC2 assembly and peritoneal dissemination in sarcomatoid cholangiocarcinoma.

Cholangiocarcinoma (CC) is a malignant epithelium neoplasm that originates from the bile epithelium and for which there are few therapeutic strategies. The mTOR pathway involved in many cellular processes was reported to be up-regulated in various cancers. We investigated the activation of the AKT/mTOR pathway in CC cell lines with different degrees of dedifferentiation and found that rapamycin could suppress the motility and the peritoneal dissemination of sarcomatoid SCK cells.

Enhanced thermal properties of graphene oxide-incorporated polymeric microspheres.

Polystyrene (PS) microspheres coated with graphene oxide (GO) were prepared and the variation of their thermal properties according to the GO loading was examined. The GO content in the PS-GO nanocomposites was controlled by the GO dispersions at various concentrations. The GO was coated onto the surface of the PS microspheres through the strong ionic interaction between polyvinylpyrrolidone and the GO sheet.

Complementary and alternative medicine use among cancer patients at the end of life: Korean national study.

Objectives: To investigate in depth the use of complementary and alternative medicines (CAMs) by cancer patients at the end-of-life (EOL) and how they communicate with physicians about them. DESIGN AND LOCATION: In 17 hospitals in Korea between January and December 2004 we identified 4,042 families of cancer patients.

Results: The prevalence of CAM use among cancer patients at the EOL was 37.

Resveratrol prevents nicotine-induced teratogenesis in cultured mouse embryos.

Nicotine, a major toxic component in tobacco smoke, leads to severe embryonic damage during organogenesis in embryos. We investigated whether resveratrol would positively influence nicotine-induced teratogenesis in mouse embryos (embryonic day 8.5) cultured for 48 h using a whole embryo culture system.

Flexible bio-composites based on silks and celluloses.

Biomaterials have attracted worldwide attention due to the concerns regarding health and the environment. Silk, a natural protein produced by several species of insects, has been examined as a potential material for applications in many biotechnological and biomedical fields. However, regenerated silk fibroin has poor ductility and mechanical properties.

Health-related quality of life in disease-free survivors of surgically treated lung cancer compared with the general population.

Objective: We compared the health-related quality of life (HRQOL) of disease-free lung cancer survivors with those from the general population.

Background: Although clinical research usually is focused on how to better identify the lung patients most likely to benefit from surgery in terms of survival, few studies have concentrated specifically on HRQOL in disease-free lung cancer survivors compared with that of the general population.

Methods: We enrolled 830 disease-free cancer survivors (median time since diagnosis, 4.

Web-based tailored education program for disease-free cancer survivors with cancer-related fatigue: a randomized controlled trial.

Purpose: To determine whether an Internet-based tailored education program is effective for disease-free cancer survivors with cancer-related fatigue (CRF).

Patients And Methods: We randomly assigned patients who had completed primary cancer treatment within the past 24 months in any of four Korean hospitals and had reported moderate to severe fatigue for at least 1 week to participate in a 12-week, Internet-based, individually tailored CRF education program or to receive routine care. We based the program on the CRF guidelines of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) and incorporated the transtheoretic model (TTM).

Evaluation of a new method for pulse push/pull hemodialysis: comparison with conventional hemodialysis.

The repetition of forward and backward filtration during hemodialysis (HD) increases convective mass transfer, and thus, the authors devised a method of achieving cyclic repletion of ultrafiltration and backfiltration. Hemodialytic efficiencies of the developed unit are described. The devised method, named pulse push/pull hemodialysis (PPPHD), is based on the utilization of dual pulsation in a dialysate stream.

Suppressive effect of zinc on the formation of colonic preneoplastic lesions in the mouse fed high levels of dietary iron.

We investigated the effect of zinc on the formation of colonic aberrant crypt foci induced by azoxymethane (AOM) followed by dextran sodium sulfate (DSS) in mice with high iron diet (HFe; 450 ppm iron). Sixweek old ICR mice were fed on high iron diets with combination of three different levels of zinc in diets, low-zinc (LZn; 0.01 ppm), medium-zinc (MZn; 0.

Inhibitory effect of 4-O-methylhonokiol on lipopolysaccharide-induced neuroinflammation, amyloidogenesis and memory impairment via inhibition of nuclear factor-kappaB in vitro and in vivo models.

Background: Neuroinflammation is important in the pathogenesis and progression of Alzheimer disease (AD). Previously, we demonstrated that lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced neuroinflammation caused memory impairments. In the present study, we investigated the possible preventive effects of 4-O-methylhonokiol, a constituent of Magnolia officinalis, on memory deficiency caused by LPS, along with the underlying mechanisms.

Validation of the Energy Conservation Strategies Inventory (ECSI).

Context: In applying good energy conservation strategies to relieve cancer-related fatigue, it is critical to first identify cancer patients who are at a high risk for poor energy conservation. However, instruments have not been developed to evaluate energy conservation strategies in an oncology setting.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to validate an instrument that cancer patients may use to evaluate energy conservation strategies to overcome cancer-related fatigue.

4-O-methylhonokiol prevents memory impairment in the Tg2576 transgenic mice model of Alzheimer's disease via regulation of β-secretase activity.

Alzheimer's disease (AD), the most common form of dementia, is characterized by memory deficits and deposition of amyloid-β (Aβ) in the brain. It has been known that neuroinflammation and oxidative stress are critical factors in the development of AD. 4-O-methylhonokiol, an extract from Magnolia officinalis, is known to have anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative effects.

Protective effect of [6]-gingerol on the ethanol-induced teratogenesis of cultured mouse embryos.

Excessive ethanol consumption during pregnancy causes fetal alcohol syndrome. We investigated the effect of [6]-gingerol on ethanol-induced embryotoxicity using a whole embryo culture system. The morphological changes of embryos and the gene expression patterns of the antioxidant enzymes cytosolic glutathione peroxidase (cGPx), cytoplasmic Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase (SOD1), and Mn-SOD (SOD2), and SOD activity were examined in the cultured mouse embryos exposed to ethanol (5 μL/3 mL) and/or [6]-gingerol (1×10(-8) or 1×10(-7) μg/mL) for 2 days.

Awareness of incurable cancer status and health-related quality of life among advanced cancer patients: a prospective cohort study.

Background: Many patients near death report an interest in knowing their prognoses. Patients' awareness of disease status may lead to more appropriate care and maintained or improved quality of life. However, it is not known whether advanced cancer patients' awareness of disease status is associated with patients' quality of life.

Alkylated graphene nanosheet composites with polyaniline nanofibers.

We demonstrate a simple method to prepare alkylated graphene/polyaniline composites (a-GR/PANI) using solution mixing of exfoliated alkyl Iodododecane treated graphene oxide sheets with polyaniline nanofiber; polyaniline nanofibers (PANI) prepared by using rapid mixing polymerization significantly improve the processibility of polyaniline and its performance in many conventional applications. Also, polyaniline nanofibers exhibit excellent water dispersibility due to their uniform nanofiber morphology. Morphological study using SEM and TEM analysis showed that the fibrous PANI in the composites a-GR/PANI mainly adsorbed onto the surface or intercalated between the graphene sheets, due especially to the good interfacial interaction between the alkylated gaphene and the polyaniline nanofibers.