To assess the histological response and the reinforcing effects of bone ingrowth within porous hydroxyapatite (HA) implants depending on pore geometry, four kinds of cylindrical-type with parallel ...linear pores (
φ50, 100, 300, 500
μm), one kind of sponge-type with irregular interconnecting pores (
φ250
μm) and one cross-type with crossing linear pores (
φ100×120
μm) of porous HA were prepared. Eighty-four rabbits were divided into six groups, and a 5×5×7
mm sized porous HA block was inserted through the medial cortical window of the proximal tibia. Histomorphological changes were examined using light and scanning electron microscopy. A biomechanical compression test was performed using material test machines. After implantation, the implants showed different histological changes depending on pore geometry. Active osteoconduction was also found in the
φ50
μm sized cylindrical-type porous HA. Evidence of remodeling of new bone and bone marrow formation within porous HA was found in the larger cylindrical-types (
φ300, 500
μm), and the sponge- and cross-types. The biomechanical test showed that the ultimate compressive strength increased significantly in the
φ300
μm sized cylindrical-type, and in the sponge- and cross-types eight weeks after implantation. Porous HA with cylindrical pores could be a useful graft material due to its strength, osteoconductivity and the ease with which its pore geometry can be controlled.
Many patients with refractory or relapsed gastric cancer after first-line chemotherapy have received salvage chemotherapy in routine clinical practice. However, there was no evidence to support this ...treatment until recent phase III trials demonstrated substantial prolongation of overall survival. Therefore, we conducted a meta-analysis of these trials and investigated whether second-line chemotherapy was more effective than best supportive care.
We searched the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL, Issue 1, 2013), MEDLINE (1950 to March week 4, 2013) and EMBASE (1980–2013, week 13). In addition, we searched all abstracts and virtual meeting presentations from the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) conferences held between 2004 and 2013.
The search process yielded 578 studies, two of which were randomized phase III trials that compared chemotherapy with supportive care. From the abstracts and virtual meeting presentations of ASCO held between 2004 and 2013, 127 abstracts were identified that evaluated second-line chemotherapy; only one relevant abstract was included in the meta-analysis.
A total of 410 patients were eligible for analysis, of whom 150 received docetaxel chemotherapy, and 81 received irinotecan chemotherapy. A significant reduction in the risk of death HR = 0.64, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.52–0.79, P < 0.0001 was observed with salvage chemotherapy.
When the analysis was restricted to irinotecan or docetaxel, there was still significant reduction in the risk of death with each chemotherapeutic agent. The HR was 0.55 (95% CI 0.40–0.77, P = 0.0004) for irinotecan and 0.71 (95% CI 0.56–0.90, P = 0.004) for docetaxel.
This meta-analysis demonstrated evidence to support second-line chemotherapy in advanced gastric cancer.
XIAP-associated factor 1 (XAF1) is a new candidate tumor suppressor, which has been known to exert proapoptotic effects by interfering with the caspase-inhibiting activity of XIAP. To explore the ...XAF1's candidacy for a suppressor in urogenital tumorigenesis, we investigated the XAF1 status in a series of cancer cell lines and primary tumors derived from the bladder, kidney and prostate. Expression of XAF1 transcript was undetectable or extremely low in 60% (3/5) of bladder, 66% (10/15) of kidney, and 100% (3/3) prostate cancer cell lines. Abnormal reduction of XAF1 was also found in 33% (18/55) of primary bladder and 40% (8/20) of primary kidney tumors, and showed a correlation with advanced stage and high grade of bladder tumor. Hypermethylation at 14 CpG sites in the 5' proximal region of the XAF1 promoter was highly prevalent in cancers versus adjacent normal or benign tissues and tightly associated with reduced gene expression. XAF1 expression enhanced the apoptotic response of tumor cells to chemotherapeutic agents, such as etoposide or 5-FU. While XAF1 expression did not influence the subcellular distribution or expression of XIAP, it elevated the protein stability of p53 and its target gene expression. Moreover, the apoptosis-sensitizing and growth suppression function of XAF1 was markedly impeded by blockade of p53 function. Collectively, our study demonstrates that epigenetic alteration of XAF1 is frequent in human urogenital cancers and may contribute to the malignant progression of tumors by rendering tumor cells a survival advantage partially through the attenuated p53 response to apoptotic stresses.
This randomized, double-blind, prospective study was undertaken to evaluate the effects of magnesium sulphate on anaesthetic requirements and postoperative analgesia in patients undergoing total i.v. ...anaesthesia (TIVA).
Fifty patients who underwent gynaecological surgery were randomly divided into two groups. Before induction of anaesthesia, the magnesium group (Group M) received magnesium sulphate 50 mg kg−1 i.v. as a bolus and then 15 mg kg−1 h−1 i.v. by continuous infusion. The control group (Group S) received the same amount of isotonic saline. TIVA (propofol+remifentanil) was administered under bispectral index monitoring during anaesthesia induction and maintenance. Rocuronium was administered before orotracheal intubation and during surgery when the train-of-four count was 2 or more. After operation, patient-controlled analgesia with a solution of ketorolac and morphine was used and the consumption of this solution was recorded. Pain scores at rest and upon movement were evaluated 30 min, 4, 24, and 48 h after surgery.
Patients in Group M required less rocuronium than those in Group S mean (sd) 0.44 (0.09) vs 0.35 (0.07) μg kg−1 min−1, P<0.05. The total amounts of propofol and remifentanil administered were similar in the two groups. Postoperative pain scores, cumulative analgesic consumption, and shivering incidents were significantly lower in Group M (P<0.05). Mean arterial pressure just after intubation and during the immediate postoperative period was also significantly lower in Group M (P<0.05).
I.V. magnesium sulphate during TIVA reduced rocuronium requirement and improved the quality of postoperative analgesia.
The purpose of this study was to develop a diagnostic tool to automatically detect temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis (TMJOA) from cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) images with artificial ...intelligence. CBCT images of patients diagnosed with temporomandibular disorder were included for image preparation. Single-shot detection, an object detection model, was trained with 3,514 sagittal CBCT images of the temporomandibular joint that showed signs of osseous changes in the mandibular condyle. The region of interest (condylar head) was defined and classified into 2 categories—indeterminate for TMJOA and TMJOA—according to image analysis criteria for the diagnosis of temporomandibular disorder. The model was tested with 2 sets of 300 images in total. The average accuracy, precision, recall, and F1 score over the 2 test sets were 0.86, 0.85, 0.84, and 0.84, respectively. Automated detection of TMJOA from sagittal CBCT images is possible by using a deep neural networks model. It may be used to support clinicians with diagnosis and decision making for treatments of TMJOA.
We determined the fecal carriage rate of serotype K1
Klebsiella pneumoniae
in healthy Koreans and studied their genetic relationship with liver abscess isolates. We compared the carriage according to ...the country of residence. The stool specimens were collected through health promotion programs in Korea.
K. pneumoniae
strains were selected and tested for K1 by PCR. Serotype K1 isolates were characterized by multilocus sequence typing and pulsed field gel electrophoresis. A total of 248
K. pneumoniae
isolates were obtained from 1,174 Koreans. Serotype K1 was identified in 57 (4.9%), of which 54 (94.7%) were ST 23 and were closely related to the liver abscess isolates. Participants aged >25 years showed a higher fecal carriage rate than those ≤ 25 (
P
= 0.007). The proportion of serotype K1 out of
K. pneumoniae
isolates in foreigners of Korean ethnicity who had lived in other countries was lower compared with those who had lived in Korea (5.6% vs 24.1%,
P
= 0.024). A substantial proportion of Koreans >25 years carries serotype K1
K. pneumoniae
ST23 strains, which are closely related to liver abscess isolates. Differences in carriage rates by country of residence suggests that environmental factors might play an important role in the carriage of this strain.
A binder‐free nanocrystalline TiO2 paste with high viscosity (see Figure) has been developed using non‐thermal sintering conditions to deposit a TiO2 film with good interparticle connectivity. A ...dye‐sensitized TiO2 film dried at 150 °C demonstrates an overall conversion efficiency of 3.52 % under AM 1.5 (1000 W m–2) illumination. The binder‐free TiO2 paste is expected to be utilizable in flexible dye‐sensitized solar cells.
We investigated the efficiency droop and polarization-induced internal electric field of InGaN blue light-emitting diodes (LEDs) grown on silicon(111) and c-plane sapphire substrates. The efficiency ...droop of the LED sample grown on silicon substrates was considerably lower than that of the identically fabricated LED sample grown on sapphire substrates. Consequently, the LED on silicon showed higher efficiency at a sufficiently high injection current despite the lower peak efficiency caused by the poorer crystal quality. The reduced efficiency droop for the LED on silicon was attributed to its lower internal electric field, which was confirmed by reverse-bias electro-reflectance measurements and numerical simulations. The internal electric field of the multiple quantum wells (MQWs) on silicon was found to be reduced by more than 40% compared to that of the MQWs on sapphire, which resulted in a more homogenous carrier distribution in InGaN MQWs, lower Auger recombination rates, and consequently reduced efficiency droop for the LEDs grown on the silicon substrates. Owing to its greatly reduced efficiency droop, the InGaN blue LED on silicon substrates is expected to be a good cost effective solution for future lighting technology.
Background and purpose
Reduction of metaiodobenzylguanidine (MIBG) uptake has been observed in almost all patients with Parkinson's disease (PD), associated with hyposmia, orthostatic hypotension and ...rapid eye movement sleep behavioral disorder (RBD). In contrast, a subgroup of patients with PD with normal MIBG uptake have been reported to have milder disease and preserved cognition compared with those with lower MIBG. The aim of this study was to investigate whether non‐motor manifestations of PD differ between patients with normal and abnormal myocardial MIBG uptake.
Methods
Among 160 de‐novo cases of PD, 44 had normal MIBG uptake. Twelve candidate non‐motor features were evaluated using questionnaires and laboratory tests.
Results
Patients with decreased MIBG uptake had more constipation, RBD, cognitive impairment, hyposmia and orthostatic hypotension than did those with normal MIBG uptake. On linear regression analysis, orthostatic hypotension, olfactory function and probable RBD were significantly associated with MIBG uptake in PD. The principal component analysis showed that the group with normal MIBG was not associated with non‐motor impairments.
Conclusions
These results suggest that patients with PD with normal MIBG scans have a relatively low disease burden compared with those with abnormal MIBG. Fewer synuclein pathologies in the myocardia and sympathetic ganglia in PD with preserved MIBG uptake might be associated with lower threshold patterns of Braak synuclein pathology for non‐motor manifestations compared with PD with decreased MIBG.
Screening and partial characterization of a bacteriocin produced by Pediococcus pentosaceus K23-2 isolated from Kimchi, a traditional Korean fermented vegetable. A total of 1000 lactic acid bacteria ...were isolated from various Kimchi samples and screened for the production of bacteriocin. Pediocin K23-2, a bacteriocin produced by the Pediococcus pentosaceus K23-2 strain, showed strong inhibitory activity against Listeria monocytogenes. The bacteriocin activity remained unchanged after 15 min of heat treatment at 121°C or exposure to organic solvents; however, it diminished after treatment with proteolytic enzymes. The bacteriocin was maximally produced at 37°C, when the pH of the culture broth was maintained at 5·0 during the fermentation, although the optimum pH for growth was 7·0. The molecular weight of the bacteriocin was about 5 kDa according to a tricine SDS-PAGE analysis. Pediococcus pentosaceus K23-2 isolated from Kimchi produces a bacteriocin, which shares similar characteristics to the Class IIa bacteriocins. The bacteriocin is heat stable and shows wide antimicrobial activity against Gram-positive bacteria, especially L. monocytogenes. Pediocin K23-2 and pediocin K23-2-producing P. pentosaceus K23-2 could potentially be used in the food and feed industries as natural biopreservatives, and for probiotic application to humans or livestock.
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