Suppression of colitis-associated carcinogenesis through modulation of IL-6/STAT3 pathway by balsalazide and VSL#3.

Background And Aim: Recent studies suggest that the anti-inflammatory agent balsalazide (BSZ) and probiotic agent VSL#3 have potential therapeutic benefits for the treatment of patients with inflammatory bowel disease. However, their effectiveness in preventing colitis-associated carcinogenesis (CAC) remains uncertain. The aim of the present study was to determine the chemopreventive effects of BSZ and VSL#3 in the murine azoxymethane (AOM)/dextran sodium sulfate (DSS) model.

The effect of body contouring on the dose distribution delivered with volumetric-modulated arc therapy technique.

The purpose of the study was to investigate the dosimetric effect defining the body structure with various Hounsfield unit (HU) threshold values on the dose distributions of volumetric-modulated arc therapy (VMAT) plans. Twenty patients with prostate cancer and twenty patients with head and neck (H&N) cancer were retrospectively selected. For each patient, the body structure was redefined with HU threshold values of -180 (Body180), -350 (Body350), -700 (Body700), and -980 (Body980).

Loop-mediated Isothermal Amplification Assay to Rapidly Detect Wheat Streak Mosaic Virus in Quarantined Plants.

We developed a loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) method to rapidly diagnose Wheat streak mosaic virus (WSMV) during quarantine inspections of imported wheat, corn, oats, and millet. The LAMP method was developed as a plant quarantine inspection method for the first time, and its simplicity, quickness, specificity and sensitivity were verified compared to current reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and nested PCR quarantine methods. We were able to quickly screen for WSMV at quarantine sites with many test samples; thus, this method is expected to contribute to plant quarantine inspections.

Blockage of STAT3 Signaling Pathway by Morusin Induces Apoptosis and Inhibits Invasion in Human Pancreatic Tumor Cells.

Objectives: Signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) is an oncogenic transcription factor implicated in carcinogenesis. Here, we investigated the role of morusin, the major prenylflavonoid, isolated from Chinese herbal medicine in abrogating the constitutive STAT3 activation in human pancreatic tumor cells.

Methods: The effect of morusin on STAT3 activation, associated protein kinases, STAT3-regulated gene products, cellular proliferation, and apoptosis was examined.

Isotype-Specific Inhibition of Histone Deacetylases: Identification of Optimal Targets for Radiosensitization.

Purpose: Histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors radiosensitize tumor cells. To elucidate mechanisms underlying radiosensitization by HDAC inhibition, understanding of differential contributions of HDAC isotypes is needed. The aim of this study was to investigate involvement of known HDAC isotypes in modulation of cellular radiosensitivity.

Colonic Chicken Skin Mucosa is an Independent Endoscopic Predictor of Advanced Colorectal Adenoma.

Background/aims: Chicken skin mucosa (CSM), surrounding colorectal adenoma, is an endoscopic finding with pale yellow-speckled mucosa; however, its clinical significance is unknown. This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence and clinical characteristics of CSM, and the association between colorectal carcinogenesis and CSM.

Methods: This cross-sectional study was performed in 733 consecutive patients who underwent endoscopic polypectomy for colorectal adenoma after the screening of colonoscopy at the Asan Health Promotion Center between June 2009 and December 2011.

Clinical Outcomes of Postoperative Upper Gastrointestinal Leakage According to Treatment Modality.

Background & Aim: We evaluated the clinical outcomes according to treatment modality for gastrointestinal anastomotic leakage.

Methods: Of the 19,207 patients who underwent gastrectomy for gastric cancer from March 2000 to April 2013, we retrospectively analyzed the 133 cases who developed anastomotic leakage. These patients were treated using endoscopic management, surgery, or conservative management (endoscopic treatment was introduced in 2009).

Metabolic engineering of the Stevia rebaudiana ent-kaurene biosynthetic pathway in recombinant Escherichia coli.

The ent-kaurene is a dedicated precursor pool and is responsible for synthesizing natural sweeteners such as steviol glycosides. In this study, to produce ent-kaurene in Escherichia coli, we modularly constructed and expressed two ent-kaurene genes encoding ent-copalyl diphosphate synthase (CPPS) and ent-kaurene synthase (KS) from Stevia rebaudiana known as a typical plant producing steviol glycoside. The CPPS and KS from S.

Effect of Aerated Compost Tea on the Growth Promotion of Lettuce, Soybean, and Sweet Corn in Organic Cultivation.

This study investigated the chemical characteristics and microbial population during incubation of four kinds of aerated compost teas based on oriental medicinal herbs compost, vermicompost, rice straw compost, and mixtures of three composts (MOVR). It aimed to determine the effects of the aerated compost tea (ACT) based on MOVR on the growth promotion of red leaf lettuce, soybean and sweet corn. Findings showed that the pH level and EC of the compost tea slightly increased based on the incubation time except for rice straw compost tea.

Nomogram prediction of survival in patients with brain metastases from hepatocellular carcinoma treated with whole-brain radiotherapy: a multicenter retrospective study.

The incidence of brain metastasis from hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is increasing because of the improved survival outcome of HCC patients, but the prognosis of these patients is extremely poor. HCC patients with brain metastasis were investigated to identify their prognostic factors for overall survival. Patients with brain metastasis from HCC who had been treated with whole-brain radiotherapy (WBRT) in five hospitals were enrolled in the study.

Dynamics of bacterial community structure during blooms of Cochlodinium polykrikoides (Gymnodiniales, Dinophyceae) in Korean coastal waters.

Recent studies of dinoflagellates have reported that blooms can be closely related to the characteristics of the associated bacteria, but studies of the correlation between the toxic dinoflagellate, Cochlodinium polykrikoides and their associated bacterial community composition has not been explored. To understand this correlation, changes in bacterial community structure through the evolution of a C. polykrikoides bloom in Korean coastal waters via clone library analysis were investigated.

Planococcus faecalis sp. nov., a carotenoid-producing species isolated from stools of Antarctic penguins.

Taxonomic studies were performed on a novel carotenoid-producing strain, designated AJ003T, isolated from faeces of Antarctic penguins. Cells of strain AJ003T were aerobic, Gram-stain-positive, cocci-shaped and orange. Strain AJ003T was capable of growing in a broad temperature range, including sub-zero growth (below − 20 to 30 °C).

Superficial Esophageal Neoplasms Overlying Leiomyomas Removed by Endoscopic Submucosal Dissection: Case Reports and Review of the Literature.

The coexistence of an epithelial lesion and a subepithelial lesion is uncommon. In almost all such cases, the coexistence of these lesions appears to be incidental. It is also extremely rare to encounter a neoplasm in the surface epithelium that overlies a benign mesenchymal tumor in the esophagus.

Six Cases of Lung Injury Following Anti-tumour Necrosis Factor Therapy for Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

Background And Aims: Limited data are available regarding the pulmonary toxicity of anti-tumour necrosis factor (anti-TNF) therapy for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

Methods: We retrospectively searched the IBD registry of Asan Medical Center in order to identify patients with lung injury following anti-TNF therapy.

Results: Among 1002 patients who were treated using anti-TNF therapy, six cases (0.

Effect of bone marrow-derived stem cells and bone morphogenetic protein-2 on treatment of osteoradionecrosis in a rat model.

Purpose: We investigated the effect of rat mesenchymal stem cells (rMSCs) and bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2) on the osseous healing of osteoradionecrosis in the rat mandible, depending on application time.

Material And Methods: One week after irradiation (30 Gy) on the right mandible, all molar teeth were extracted. In Group 1 (n = 25), rMSCs and/or BMP-2 carried with hydrogel were applied immediately after surgery.

Clinical outcomes of endoscopic submucosal dissection for large colorectal neoplasms: a comparison of protruding and laterally spreading tumors.

Background And Aims: The therapeutic outcome of endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) for large protruding tumors has not yet been evaluated. We aimed to compare the outcomes of ESD in protruding tumors with those of laterally spreading tumors (LSTs).

Methods: Endoscopic submucosal dissection was attempted in 218 patients with 220 colorectal tumors ≥30 mm in diameter (67, protruding tumors; 153, LSTs) from July 2007 to June 2014.

Use of Endoscopic Ultrasound to Evaluate Large Gastric Folds: Features Predictive of Malignancy.

The aim of this study was to investigate with endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) the features of the gastric wall that can be used to predict malignant disease in patients with large gastric folds. We retrospectively reviewed the EUS findings of 65 patients (26 with benign and 39 with malignant disease) with large gastric folds on endoscopy and EUS and analyzed the predictors of malignant disease (e.g.

Risk factors and correlations of immediate, early delayed, and late delayed bleeding associated with endoscopic resection for gastric neoplasms.

Background: Bleeding is a major complication following endoscopic resection (ER) of gastric mucosal lesions. We aimed to determine the risk factors for post-ER bleeding and their correlations according to the time elapsed since the procedure.

Methods: We retrospectively enrolled 670 lesions in 610 patients who underwent ER between March 2009 and December 2010.

The Feasibility of Performing Colorectal Endoscopic Submucosal Dissection Without Previous Experience in Performing Gastric Endoscopic Submucosal Dissection.

Background: Experience in gastric endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) has been suggested as a prerequisite for performing colorectal ESD by some experts.

Aims: To evaluate the feasibility of performing colorectal ESD without experience in gastric ESD.

Methods: Between November 2009 and December 2013, ESD was attempted for 250 colorectal lesions by an endoscopist having extensive colonoscopy experience but no prior experience of gastric ESD.

The Effect of Chemoradiotherapy with SRC Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor, PP2 and Temozolomide on Malignant Glioma Cells In Vitro and In Vivo.

Purpose: We investigated the effect of chemoradiotherapy with PP2 and temozolomide (TMZ) on malignant glioma cells using clonogenic assays and in vivo brain tumor model.

Materials And Methods: The effect of PP2 on radiosensitivity of U251 and T98G cells was investigated using clonogenic assays. The expression of E-cadherin, matrix metalloproteinases 2 (MMP2), Ephrin type-A receptor 2 (EphA2), and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) was measured by Western blotting and an accumulation of γH2AX foci 6 hours after radiotherapy was measured after PP2 treatment.

The diagnostic value of a digital rectal examination compared with high-resolution anorectal manometry in patients with chronic constipation and fecal incontinence.

Objectives: Digital rectal examination (DRE) is a simple clinical method to diagnose anorectal disorders. High-resolution antorectal manometry (HRAM) based on a spatiotemporal plot is expected to promote improved diagnostic accuracy. However, there are no reports comparing the effectiveness of DRE and HRAM.

Delayed Bleeding Rate According to the Forrest Classification in Second-Look Endoscopy After Endoscopic Submucosal Dissection.

Background And Aim: Forrest classification is a valid tool to predict rebleeding rate in peptic ulcer, not in post-endoscopic resection ulcer. We evaluated the delayed bleeding rate in Forrest classification II and III lesions when they were not treated in second-look endoscopy.

Methods: Between July 2011 and February 2012, 706 lesions in 656 consecutive patients who underwent second-look endoscopy performed on the second day after endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) were prospectively investigated.

Risk factors of lymph node metastasis in patients with gastric neuroendocrine tumor with normal serum gastrin level.

Background/aims: Locoregional gastric carcinoids with normal serum gastrin level have been recommended radical resection regardless of tumor size or depth of invasion. However, there have been some reports which showed small sporadic gastric carcinoids could be treated with local resection. The aim of this study was to elucidate risk factors of lymph node metastasis in patients with gastric carcinoids with normal serum gastrin level and determine the indications for limited resection such as endoscopic treatment.

Sphingomonas lacus sp. nov., an astaxanthin-dideoxyglycoside-producing species isolated from soil near a pond.

Taxonomic studies were performed on an astaxanthin-dideoxyglycoside-producing strain, designated PB304(T), isolated from soil near a pond in Daejeon city, South Korea. Cells of strain PB304(T) were Gram-staining-negative, strictly aerobic, orange-coloured and motile, and occurred as single or paired short chains. PB304(T) did not contain bacteriochlorophyll a.

Short- and Long-Term Outcomes of Acute Severe Ulcerative Colitis in Korea: The 1999-2005 Cohort.

Background: No previous studies have evaluated the long-term outcomes of acute severe ulcerative colitis (ASUC) in non-Caucasian populations. The purposes of this study were to evaluate the short- and long-term outcomes of Korean patients with ASUC.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 99 Korean patients with ASUC who satisfied the criteria given by Truelove and Witts between 1999 and 2005.