Insights from Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-2 Genotypes to Decipher the Genetic Architecture of Childhood Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia Risk.

Background/aim: Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is the most common pediatric hematologic malignancy, particularly affecting children aged 2~5 years. Tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-2 (TIMP-2), a key regulator of MMP-2 activity, has been implicated in several cancers, yet its genetic role in childhood ALL remains unexplored.

Materials And Methods: This study investigated four polymorphic genotypes, rs8179090, rs4789936, rs2009196, and rs7342880, in 266 Taiwanese children with ALL and 266 matched controls using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism methodology.

Contribution of Cyclin Dependent Kinase Inhibitor 1A Genotypes to Childhood Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia Risk in Taiwan.

Background/aim: The disruption of cell-cycle control can lead to an imbalance in cell proliferation, often accompanied by genomic instability, which in turn can facilitate carcinogenesis. This study aimed to examine the impact of CDKN1A rs1801270 and rs1059234 polymorphisms on the risk of childhood acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) in Taiwan.

Materials And Methods: The genotypes of CDKN1A rs1801270 and rs1059234 in 266 childhood ALL cases and 266 controls were determined using PCR-RFLP techniques.

Impacts of Interleukin-10 Promoter Genotypes on Prostate Cancer.

Prostate cancer (PCa) is a multifactorial disease influenced by genetic, environmental, and immunological factors. Genetic polymorphisms in the () gene have been implicated in PCa susceptibility, development, and progression. This study aims to assess the contributions of three promoter single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), A-1082G (rs1800896), T-819C (rs3021097), and A-592C (rs1800872), to the risk of PCa in Taiwan.

Impacts of Matrix Metalloproteinase-2 Promoter Genotypes on Breast Cancer Risk.

Background/aim: Matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) has been implicated in the pathogenesis of breast cancer (BC). However, there is limited research on the role of MMP-2 genotypes in BC risk. This study aimed to investigate the associations between two MMP-2 promoter polymorphisms, rs243865 and rs2285053, and BC risk.

The Contribution of Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-2 Genotypes to Breast Cancer Risk in Taiwan.

Tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-2 (TIMP-2) is an endogenous inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase-2 and is highly expressed in breast cancer (BC) cases at diagnosis. However, the genetic investigations for the association of genotypes with BC risk are rather limited. In this study, contribution of rs8179090, rs4789936, rs2009196 and rs7342880 genotypes to BC risk was examined among Taiwan's BC population.

Impacts of Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 Genotypes on Renal Cell Carcinoma.

Background/aim: The expression of matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP9) is elevated in various renal diseases, including renal cell carcinoma. However, the role of MMP9 genotype in this context remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the association between MMP9 promoter rs3918242 genotypes and the risk of renal cell carcinoma.

Protective Effects of Crocetin on Arsenic Trioxide-induced Oxidative Stress in Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells.

Background/aim: The clinical use of arsenic trioxide (AsO) is hampered due to its cardiotoxicity. Therefore, it is critical to prevent AsO-induced loss of endothelial integrity. The purpose of this study was to examine AsO-induced endothelial dysfunction and evaluate the efficacy of crocetin on reversing AsO-induced cardiotoxicity.

Protective Effects of Baicalin on Arsenic Trioxide-induced Oxidative Damage and Apoptosis in Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells.

Background/aim: Arsenic trioxide (AsO) is an environmental pollutant. However, the detailed mechanisms about AsO-induced loss of endothelial integrity are unknown. This study aimed at investigating how AsO causes endothelial dysfunction and whether baicalin can reverse such dysfunction.

Interleukin-13 Promoter Genotypes and Taiwanese Breast Cancer Susceptibility.

Background/aim: The current study aimed at evaluating the contribution of IL-13 promoter rs1881457 and rs1800925 genotypes to the risk of breast cancer in Taiwan.

Materials And Methods: A total of 1,232 breast cancer cases and 1,232 age-matched controls were genotyped by typical polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) methodology.

Results: As for IL-13 rs1881457, the rates of AA, AC and CC genotypes were 54.

Suppressed humoral immunity is associated with dengue nonstructural protein NS1-elicited anti-death receptor antibody fractions in mice.

Dengue virus (DENV) infections may cause life-threatening dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF). Suppressed protective immunity was shown in these patients. Although several hypotheses have been formulated, the mechanism of DENV-induced immunosuppression remains unclear.

Clinical features, management, and outcome of iliopsoas abscess associated with cardiovascular disorders: a hospital-based observational case series study.

Background: Iliopsoas abscess (IPA) is a rare clinical entity and is difficult to diagnose due to its insidious onset and nonspecific symptoms. The association between IPA and cardiovascular disorders (CVD) has been rarely reported. Computed tomographic (CT) scan can provide a definitive diagnosis of IPA and associated foci of adjacent structures.

Long-Term Outcomes in Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Patients Using Internal Thoracic Artery with Ipsilateral Arteriovenous Shunt for Hemodialysis.

Background: The goal of this study was to evaluate the long-term results of coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) using internal thoracic artery (ITA) grafts in hemodialysis (HD) patients with arteriovenous (AV) fistulae or AV grafts involving the ipsilateral or contralateral brachial artery or radial artery.

Methods: From March 2007 to May 2017, 76 end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients with an upper limb AV fistula or graft for HD underwent CABG at a single center. Group A included 23 patients who underwent CABG using an ITA graft ipsilateral to the AV vascular access (AVVA); Group B included 22 patients who underwent CABG using a contralateral ITA with AVVA; and Group C included 29 patients who underwent CABG with AVVA without the use of an ITA graft.

Tracheomalacia as Complication of Stenting for Esophageal Injury After Transsternal Approach to High Thoracic Vertebral Metastasis.

Background: Esophageal injury is a severe surgical complication of a transsternal approach to high thoracic vertebral metastasis, which can result in mediastinitis and life-threatening consequences. A covered stent can be placed in the esophagus to prevent mediastinal leakage. However, tracheomalacia is a rare complication following esophageal stenting.

Effect of Retrograde Cerebral Protection Strategy on Outcome of Patients with Stanford Type A Aortic Dissection.

Background: Neurological complications are an important concern in the repair of type A aortic dissection. Supra-aortic involvement is considered to be an important risk factor for neurological injuries. However, the optimal brain protection strategy still remains controversial.

Primary aortoduodenal fistula associated with abdominal aortic aneurysm with presentation of gastrointestinal bleeding: a case report.

Background: Primary aortoduodenal fistula (ADF) is a rare cause of gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding and is difficult to diagnose as the clinical presentation is subtle. Clinicians should keep a high level of suspicion for an unknown etiology of GI bleeding, especially in older patients with or without abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA). Computed tomographic angiography (CTA) can be used to detect primary ADF.

Interleukin-32 plays an essential role in human calcified aortic valve cells.

Interleukin-32 (IL-32) is an inflammatory cytokine produced mainly by T, natural killer, and epithelial cells. Previous studies on IL-32 have primarily investigated its proinflammatory properties. The IL-32 also has been described as an activator of the p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and NF-κB, and induces several cytokines.

PD-1 and PD-L1 Up-regulation Promotes T-cell Apoptosis in Gastric Adenocarcinoma.

Background/aim: The programmed death 1 (PD-1) receptor and its ligand (PD-L1) play pivotal roles in regulating host immune responses. However, the inhibitory effects of this pathway on the function of tumor infiltrating T lymphocytes in gastric adenocarcinoma patients are not well-defined.

Materials And Methods: We characterized the expression of PD-1 and PD-L1 in peripheral blood and tumor infiltrating cells and analyzed the association between PD-1/PD-L1 expression and disease progression in a cohort of 60 patients with Helicobacter pylori infection, including 18 with gastric adenocarcinoma, 23 with gastritis, and 19 asymptomatic controls.

Gallic Acid Induces Apoptosis in Human Gastric Adenocarcinoma Cells.

Background/aim: Gastric cancer is one of the most common malignant cancers with a poor prognosis and high mortality rate worldwide. Current treatment of gastric cancer includes surgery and chemotherapy as the main modalities, but the potentially severe side-effects of chemotherapy present a considerable challenge. Gallic acid is a trihydroxybenzoic acid found to exert an anticancer effect against a variety of cancer cells.

Modified Sleeve Technique in Aortic Valve-Sparing Operation for Marfan Syndrome.

We devised a simple modification of the Florida Sleeve procedure to perform aortic valve-sparing surgery. This technique is simple, quick, effective, and safe. We used this technique in operations performed on two young patients with Marfan syndrome.

Spontaneous hemothorax caused by ruptured multiple mycotic aortic aneurysms: a case report and literature review.

Background: Mycotic aortic aneurysm (MAA) is a rare clinical entity with an incidence of 1-3%, but it is a life-threatening infection of aorta characterized by dilatation of aorta with false lumen. Multiple MAAs have been reported rarely with an incidence of 0.03% and associated with a high mortality rate of 80% if ruptured.

Iatrogenic Subclavian Artery Perforation Rescued by Operator-Modified Graft Stent.

Subclavian artery (SCA) perforation is a rare complication while performing SCA intervention. In our present report, a 73-year-old female, with stenosis of the left SCA and situs inversus, presented with exercise-induced left arm weakness. The SCA stenosis was treated with direct stenting with a balloon-expansible Express LD 10×25 mm stent.

Hybrid Repair of Ruptured Arch Aneurysm Without Sternotomy Through an Unusual Extraanatomic Bypass.

A 42-year-old man experienced a complex aortic arch aneurysm rupture. He had previously undergone an operation for type A dissection and had extremely poor cardiac performance as well as deep sternal infection after the first procedure. The conventional open repair was considered to be a high risk for this patient.

The "Lantern" Procedure to Simplify Treatment of Retrograde Type A Dissection After Thoracic Endograft Stenting.

The emergency repair of retrograde type A aortic dissection after thoracic endovascular aortic repair is a complex and challenging surgical procedure and carries a surgical challenge. Previous studies have reported a significant mortality in the complex repair of retrograde type A aortic dissection after thoracic endovascular aortic repair. We devised a simplified hybrid method-the "Lantern" procedure-to solve this retrograde type A aortic dissection complication.

Excellent mid-term durability of the On-X mechanical aortic valve in the pulmonary position with a low international normalized ratio.

Background And Aim Of The Study: Although the pulmonary position has been preferred for the placement of homografts or bioprosthetic valves, the limited longevity of these implants makes reoperation almost unavoidable. Good durability of mechanical valves in the pulmonary position has been reported. The mid-term outcomes were analyzed of patients who received an On-X mechanical heart valve for pulmonary valve replacement (PVR) with a relatively low International Normalized Ratio (INR).

Advanced complicated diabetes mellitus is associated with a reduced risk of thoracic and abdominal aortic aneurysm rupture: a population-based cohort study.

Background: Studies have associated diabetes mellitus (DM) with the reduced risk of abdominal aortic aneurysm and thoracic aortic aneurysm and dissection. We used the national insurance data of Taiwan to examine these correlations for an Asian population. The association was also evaluated by DM severity.