Comparing miR-16 and miR-1228 as an optimal endogenous control for quantification of circulating microRNAs in colorectal cancer patients.

Objectives: Circulating microRNAs (miRNAs) have been discovered to play a novel role in intercellular communication and cancer biology. They are emerging candidates for noninvasive molecular biomarkers of cancer and other diseases. However, current translational researches have been limited by the lack of consensus on the optimal endogenous control of circulating miRNAs quantitation.

Surgical Outcomes of LigaSure Hemorrhoidectomy in the Elderly Population: A retrospective cohort study.

Background: This study aims to assess the association between age and outcomes in patients undergoing hemorrhoidectomy.

Methods: This is a population-based cohort study. A retrospectively collected database with consecutive patients whose symptomatic prolapsed hemorrhoids managed by the LigaSure hemorrhoidectomy between Jan.

Preoperative Serum Macrophage Migration Inhibitory Factor Level Correlates with Surgical Difficulty and Outcome in Patients with Autoimmune Thyroiditis.

Surgical treatment for autoimmune thyroid disease is theoretically risky due to its chronic inflammatory status. This study aimed to investigate the correlation between preoperative serum migration inhibitory factor (MIF) levels and the difficulty of thyroidectomy in patients with autoimmune thyroiditis. Forty-four patients (average age: 54 years) were prospectively recruited: 30 with autoimmune thyroiditis and 14 with nodular goiter.

Potential Negative Effects of Dextromethorphan as an Add-On Therapy to Methylphenidate in Children With ADHD.

Methylphenidate (MPH) is highly effective in controlling the symptoms of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), but some children with ADHD either do not respond to, or do not tolerate, treatment. Dextromethorphan (DM) is a neuroprotective agent which has been used in the treatment of neuropsychiatric disorders. This clinical trial had examined the effect of DM on the use of MPH in the children with ADHD.

FaPEx® Multipesticide Residues Extraction Kit for Minimizing Sample Preparation Time in Agricultural Produce.

The quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged, and safe method, generally applied to the determination of pesticide residues in food, has been recently modified and adopted for the analysis of pesticide residues worldwide, including Taiwan. The method still needs to be improved, particularly in efficiency and normalization, because the time costs 20-30 min for extraction and cleanup of multiple pesticides in every food. In this study, we present a highly efficient and simple sample preparation method that was developed for the determination of 380 pesticide residues in food, including mangoes, scallions, bok choy, apples, carrots, and pea seedlings.

Modified QuEChERS method for 24 plant growth regulators in grapes using LC-MS/MS.

A multiresidue analytical method was developed for grapes for the following 24 plant growth regulators: 1-naphthylacetamide, 2,3,5-triiodobenzoic acid, 2,4,5-T, 2-naphthoxyacetic acid, 3-indolylacetic acid, 4-(3-indolyl)-butyric acid, 4-chlorophenoxyacetic acid, 4-nitrophenol, 6-benzylaminopurine, N6-isopentenyladenine, butralin, chlormequat chloride, chlorphonim-Cl, cloprop, forchlorfenuron, gibberellic acid 3, gibberellic acid 4, gibberellic acid 7, inabenfide, mepiquat chloride, paclobutrazol, prohydrojasmon, thidiazuron and uniconizole-P. The compounds were extracted from grape samples using an extraction method modified from the Quick, Easy, Cheap, Effective, Rugged and Safe (QuEChERS) method. Liquid chromatography - tandem mass spectrometry was used for the detection and quantification of the compounds.

VEGF-D and A Preoperative Serum Levels Predict Nodal and Distant Metastases in Differentiated Thyroid Cancer Patients.

Background: Preoperative tumor aggressiveness biomarkers may help surgeons decide the extent of an operation. However, whether serum angiogenetic factors can be used to predict the prognosis of patients with differentiated thyroid cancer is still unclear.

Methods: Seventy-six DTC patients were prospectively recruited.

Amisulpride-associated mania in a young adult with schizophrenia and cerebral disease.

Purpose: A case of rapid-onset mania after initiating amisulpride in a patient with schizophrenia and cerebral disease is reported.

Summary: A 19-year-old Taiwanese man had a 1-year history of schizophrenia, paranoid type, and cerebral palsy. His only medication was a 12-week course of risperidone 6 mg orally daily.

Invasive adenocarcinoma arising from a mixed hyperplastic/adenomatous polyp and synchronous transverse colon cancer.

An admixture of hyperplastic and adenomatous components within the same polyp is unusual. Adenocarcinoma arising from a mixed hyperplastic/adenomatous polyp (MHAP) occurs even more rarely. We report the first case of a 59-year-old male who presented with invasive adenocarcinoma originating from a MHAP at a sigmoid colon and synchronous transverse colon cancer.

Single-incision laparoscopic surgery using a homemade transumbilical port for synchronous colon and hepatic lesions: a case report.

Single-incision laparoscopic surgery (SILS) is an emerging technique and has been utilized in various abdominal surgeries. Herein, we reported a case of synchronous colon and hepatic lesions that underwent right hemicolectomy and wedge resection of the liver by SILS. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case report of synchronous colon and liver resection with SILS using homemade transumbilical port.

Modified LigaSure hemorrhoidectomy for the treatment of hemorrhoidal crisis.

Purpose: This study aimed at reporting a modified LigaSure technique for the treatment of acute hemorrhoidal crisis.

Methods: Consecutive patients with an acute hemorrhoidal crisis received a modified LigaSure hemorrhoidectomy. After removing the hemorrhoidal tissues above the welding line, scissors were used to undermine the anoderm to excise residual thrombosed hemorrhoidal tissue.

Synchronous adenocarcinomas of the colon presenting as synchronous colocolic intussusceptions in an adult.

Intussusception is uncommon in adults. To our knowledge, synchronous colocolic intussusceptions have never been reported in the literature. Here we described the case of a 59-year-old female of synchronous colocolic intussusceptions presenting as acute abdomen that was diagnosed by CT preoperatively.

Results of 666 consecutive patients treated with LigaSure hemorrhoidectomy for symptomatic prolapsed hemorrhoids with a minimum follow-up of 2 years.

Background: Our aim is to report the outcomes of hemorrhoidectomy performed via LigaSure™ with a minimum follow-up of 2 years.

Methods: A total of 666 patients underwent hemorrhoidectomy for symptomatic prolapsed hemorrhoids (grade III and IV) via LigaSure between June 2006 and June 2008. Patient demographic and operative data were collected and analyzed.

Service suspension for mental disorders in armed forces draftees in the Penghu area.

Background: It is important to monitor draftees for mental disorders before or at an early stage of military service. The aim of this study was to characterize the draftees who were suspended from service for mental disorders among draftees in a high readiness military zone in the Taiwan Strait.

Method: A total of 152 draftees consulted the outpatient service of the Department of Psychiatry at Penghu branch, Tri-Service General Hospital in Taiwan during the period between August 2004 and July 2008, and whose severity of mental disorder fit the criteria for service suspension were recruited as the study group (SG).

Primary non-Hodgkin's lymphoma of rectum presenting with rectal prolapse.

Involvement of the rectum by primary or secondary malignant lymphoma is uncommon in adults. Primary lymphoma of the rectum in children is an extremely rare occurrence. We describe a 12-year-old boy with a localized rectal tumor that presented with rectal prolapse and bleeding, mimicking a juvenile polyp.

Massive lower gastrointestinal hemorrhage caused by a large extraluminal leiomyoma of the colon: report of a case.

The occurrence of leiomyoma of the colon is uncommon. Most of these lesions are clinically silent and are found incidentally during laparotomy or endoscopic procedures for unrelated conditions. Symptomatic leiomyomas of the colon are encountered less frequently, with only sporadic reports in the literatures.

Necrotizing fasciitis due to acute perforated appendicitis: case report.

Acute appendicitis is one of the most common surgical emergencies. Accurate diagnosis is often hindered due to various presentations that differ from the typical signs of appendicitis, especially the position of the appendix. A delay in treatment increases the likelihood of complications such as perforation, which is associated with an increase in morbidity and mortality rates.

Modified Longo's stapled hemorrhoidopexy with additional traction sutures for the treatment of residual prolapsed piles.

Purpose: Residual prolapsed piles is a problem after the stapled hemorrhoidopexy, especially in large third- or fourth-degree hemorrhoids. We have developed a method using additional traction sutures along with modified Longo's procedure to manage this problem.

Materials And Methods: From January 2005 to October 2005, 30 consecutive patients with symptomatic third- or fourth-degree hemorrhoids who underwent the modified Longo's stapled hemorrhoidopexy with additional traction sutures in a single institution were collected.

Spontaneous rupture of a large exogastric hemangioma complicated by hemoperitoneum and sepsis.

Hemangiomas are benign congenital tumors of mature blood vessels and usually consist of dense masses of capillaries or larger blood vessels. Hemangioma of the stomach presenting with spontaneous rupture and sepsis is rare. We report a 22-year-old male who presented at the emergency room with sudden-onset epigastric pain, intractable nausea, and vomiting.