• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.7
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• pp.2777-2783
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• 2015

Background: Nestin is associated with neoplastic transformation. However, the mechanisms by which nestin contributes regarding invasion and malignancy of gastric adenocarcinoma (GAC) remain unknown. Recent studies have shown that the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is important in invasion and migration of cancer cells. In the present study, we aimed to investigate the expression of nestin and its correlation with EMT-related proteins in GAC. Materials and Methods: The expression of nestin and EMT-related proteins was examined in GAC specimens and cell lines by immunohistochemistry and Western blotting. Clinicopathological features and survival outcomes were retrospectively analyzed. Results: Positive nestin immunostaining was most obviously detected in the cytoplasm, nucleus or both cytoplasm and nucleus of tumor cells in 19.2% (24/125) of GAC tissues, which was significantly higher than that in normal gastric mucosa tissues (1.7%, 1/60) (p=0.001). Nestin expression was closely related to several clinicopathological factors and EMT-related proteins (E-cadherin, vimentin and Snail) and displayed a poor prognosis. Interestingly, simultaneous cytoplasmic and nuclear nestin expression correlated with EMT-related proteins (E-cadherin, vimentin and Snail) (p<0.05) and lymph node metastasis (p=0.041) and a shorter survival time (p<0.05), but this was not the case with cytoplasmic or nuclear nestin expression. Conclusions: Nestin, particularly expression in both cytoplasm and nucleus, might be involved in regulating EMT and malignant progression in GAC, with potential as an unfavorable indicator in tumor diagnosis and a target for clinical therapy.

• Advances in pediatric surgery
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.131-135
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• 2004

The purpose of this retrospective study was to evaluate the effects of diagnostic sonography in pediatric patients with inguinal hernias. The patients were classified into two groups. Group A included the patients who had been operated upon for inguinal hernia in 1980's, when diagnostic sonography was not available. Group B included the patients, operated upon for inguinal hernia from 2001 to 2002, when inguinal sonography was employed to detect potential bilateral hernias. The age distribution, sex ratio, laterality, bilaterality, and concomitant symptoms were compared between group A and group B. There were 296 cases in group A and 377 cases in group B. The prevalent age group was from 1 to 5 years. There was no difference in age group distribution between both groups. The male to female ratio was 5.3:1 in group A and 3.5:1 in group B. The ratio of unilateral to bilateral hernia was 5:1 in group A and 3:1 in group B. In cases with a unilateral hernia, the ratio of right to left was 1.5:1 in group A and 1.8:1 in group B. In cases with bilateral hernia, the simultaneous bilateral hernia was 33 cases (67.4 %) in group A and 75 cases (80.6 %) in group B. The sequential bilateral hernia was 16 cases (32.7 %) in group A and 18 cases (19.4 %) in group B. Although the ratio of bilateral hernia was increased in group B, the portion of the sequential bilateral hernia was significantly decreased in group B. In conclusion, there were no differences in the age distribution and the laterality between group A and B. The ratio of female patients and the incidence of bilateral hernia were increased in group B even though the portion of the sequential bilateral hernia was decreased. This result shows that the preoperative inguinal sonography in unilateral hernia with potential bilateral hernia is useful in early detection of the sequential contralateral hernia.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.110-112
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• 2012

Intussusception in adult is a rare disease and laparotomy is usually considered because of the probability of malignancy. Especially with obstruction symptom or sign, it might be needed emergency operation. This case was a simultaneous development of small bowel intussusception and acute hepatitis A. The patient had abdominal pain and vomiting. Intitial laboratory examination with elevated aminotransferase revealed that the diagnosis was acute hepatitis. As managing acute hepatitis, the abdominal pain was not improved and the patient had tenderness on periumbilical area on physical examination. A jejunal intussusception with a lead point was proved on the abdominal computed tomography scan. Fortunately, symptom of intussusception was relieved while nulli per os (NPO) and intravenous hydration. After recovery of acute hepatitis, laparotomy was done. The lead point was $2.5{\times}3.0cm$ sized hamartoma. This was the case that the symptom of intussusception was confused with that of acute hepatitis.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.266-272
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• 2007

A rapid analytical method was developed to quantify very long-chain fatty acids (VLCFAs, C22:0, C24:0, C26:0) in human plasma with good sensitivity and specificity using tert-butyldimethylsilyl (TBDMS) derivatization and stable isotope GC-MS selective ion monitoring (GC-MS/SIM). Two-hundred and fifty ${\mu}L$ of plasma was fortified with deuterated stable isotope internal standards (d3-C22:0, d3-C24:0, d3-C26:0) and standard mixtures of chloroform and methanol, and then extracted with hexane and acetonitrile. To upper layer of liquid-liquid-extraction, N-(t-Butyldimethylsilyl)-N-methyltrifluoroacetamide was added and then heated to $60^{\circ}C$ for 30 min to produce the TBDMS derivatives. Derivatives of VLCFAs were analyzed by GC-MS/SIM. Calibration curves showed a linear relationship for the target compounds in the concentration range of $10^{-4}{\sim}2{\times}10^3\;{\mu}g/mL$ with the correlation coefficient ranging from 0.996 to 0.999. The limit of quantification for the plasma was $10^{-4}{\sim}2{\times}10^{-4}\;{\mu}g/mL$ (S/N=3). When applied to the plasma specimens of patients with peroxisomal disorder, X-linked adrenoleucodystropy (ALD, Mckusick 202370), the method clearly differentiated normal subjects from ALD patients. The C24:0/C22:0 and C26:0/C22:0 ratios were significantly elevated in the plasma of patients with X-linked ALD compared to normal subjects. The new developed method might be useful for a rapid and sensitive diagnosis of X-linked ALD and other peroxisomal disorders.

• Advances in pediatric surgery
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.213-220
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• 2006

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy has been increasingly used because of several advantages, less pain, better expectation for cosmesis (requires small incisions), and more rapid recovery compared with open cholecystectomy. Oral intake is tolerated on the day of operation or on the next. In this study, we evaluated the effectiveness and safety of laparoscopic cholecystectomy in children. Nine cases of laparoscopic cholecystectomy for acute and chronic cholecystitis in children were performed at Asan Medical Center between April 2002 and April 2004. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy was performed on a total of 10 patients, but one of them was excluded because of the simultaneous splenectomy for sickle cell anemia. Clinical presentation, operative findings, operation time, length of hospital stay, and postoperative complications were analyzed. Mean age was 10.4 (4.15) years, and only 3 of patients were less than 10 years. One patient was female. In 8 the diagnosis was calculous cholecystitis. Mild adhesions were found in 3 cases and intraoperative bile leakage in 2. There was no conversion to open surgery and there were no vascular, bowel, or bile duct injuries. Mean operation time was 82.2 (20.160) minutes; mean length of hospital stay was 2.1 (1.3) day. There was no postoperative complication. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy in children was remarkably free of side effects and complications and had a short recovery time. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy for cholecystitis is considered to be a standard procedure in children.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.5
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• pp.2027-2033
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• 2014

Background: We aimed to assess RET proto-oncogene polymorphisms in three different Iranian families with medullary thyroid cancer (MTC), and performed molecular dynamics simulations and free energy stability analysis of these mutations. Materials and Methods: This study consisted of 48 patients and their first-degree relatives with MTC confirmed by pathologic diagnosis and surgery. We performed molecular dynamics simulations and free energy stability analysis of mutations, and docking evaluation of known RET proto-oncogene inhibitors, including ZD-6474 and ponatinib, with wild-type and mutant forms. Results: The first family consisted of 27 people from four generations, in which nine had the C.G2901A (P.C634Y) mutation; the second family consisted of six people, of whom three had the C.G2901T (P.C634F) mutation, and the third family, who included 12 individuals from three generations, three having the C.G2251A (P.G691S) mutation. The automated 3D structure of RET protein was predicted using I-TASSER, and validated by various protein model verification programs that showed more than 96.3% of the residues in favored and allowed regions. The predicted instability indices of the mutated structures were greater than 40, which reveals that mutated RET protein is less thermo-stable compared to the wild-type form (35.4). Conclusions: Simultaneous study of the cancer mutations using both in silico and medical genetic procedures, as well as onco-protein inhibitor binding considering mutation-induced drug resistance, may help in better overcoming chemotherapy resistance and designing innovative drugs.

• Annals of Clinical Neurophysiology
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.34-37
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• 2002

Background : The term "mononeuropathy multiplex" means simultaneous or sequential involvement of individual noncontiguous nerve trunks, evolving over days to years. The aim of this study was to delineate the causes, clinical features, and detailed electrophysiological findings in the patients with mononeuropathy multiplex. Methods : We analyzed the medical records of 22 patients with mononeuropathy multiplex confirmed on electrophysiological studies in Inje University Seoul Paik Hospital, Seoul Municipal Boramae Hospital, and Seoul National University Hospital between 1991 to 2000. Results : The number of male and female patients was equal. The mean age was 48 years with a peak incidence in the sixth decade. The etiology could be divided into vasculitis(11 patients) or non-vasculitis group. In vasculitis group, Churg-Strauss syndrome, polyarteritis nodosa, and rheumatoid arthritis were included. The non-vasculitis group included diabetes mellitus, leprosy, and Guillain-Barre syndrome. Ulnar and median nerves were most commonly involved(91%). In descending order of frequency, peroneal, posterior tibial, sural, and radial nerves were also involved. Bilateral involvement occurred most commonly in ulnar nerve. The symptoms and signs of mononeuropathy multiplex were the initial manifestations in 12 patients(55%), which was more frequent in vasculitis group(73%). Nerve conduction abnormalities could be divided into axonal, demyelinating, or mixed type. Most(91%) of the patients in vasculitis group revealed axonal type abnormalities. The location of the nerve lesion was frequently related to potential site of entrapment in demyelinating type. Conclusions : Mononeuropathy multiplex is the presenting features of the etiological disease frequently, especially in vasculitis group. Nerve conduction studies(NCS) reveals not only axonal type but also demyelinating type abnormalities. The etiological diseases were different in each type. Therefore, NCS is very helpful for the early etiological diagnosis and therapeutic implication in the patients with mononeuropathy multiplex.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.5
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• pp.1917-1921
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• 2012

Background: Colorectal cancer is one of the leading causes of mortality worldwide. Genome wide analysis studies have identified sequence mutations causing loss-of-function that are associated with disease occurrence and severity. Epigenetic modifications, such DNA methylation, have also been implicated in many cancers but have yet to be examined in the East Asian population of colorectal cancer patients. Methods: Biopsies of tumors and matched non-cancerous tissue types were obtained and genomic DNA was isolated and subjected to the bisulphite conversion method for comparative DNA methylation analysis on the Illumina Infinium HumanMethylation27 BeadChip. Results: Totals of 258 and 74 genes were found to be hyper- and hypo-methylated as compared to the individual's matched control tissue. Interestingly, three genes that exhibited hypermethylation in their promoter regions, CMTM2, ECRG4, and SH3GL3, were shown to be significantly associated with colorectal cancer in previous studies. Using heatmap cluster analysis, eight hypermethylated and 10 hypomethylated genes were identified as significantly differentially methylated genes in the tumour tissues. Conclusions: Genome-wide methylation profiling facilitates rapid and simultaneous analysis of cancerous cells which may help to identify methylation markers with high sensitivity and specificity for diagnosis and prognosis. Our results show the promise of the microarray technology in identification of potential methylation biomarkers for colorectal cancers.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.51 no.11
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• pp.1140-1146
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• 2008

Nocturnal enuresis is a heterogeneous disorder with various underlying pathophysiological mechanisms and causes a mismatch between the nocturnal bladder capacity and the amount of urine produced during sleep at night. It is associated with a simultaneous failure of conscious arousal in response to the sensation of bladder fullness. Generally, a complete history and physical examination, with a specific focus on the genitourinary, gastrointestinal, and neurologic systems, is sufficient to evaluate a patient with enuresis. The therapeutic focus is directed toward a differential approach based on the underlying mechanism and toward combination therapies such as alarm devices and desmopressin as well as anticholinergic agents and desmopressin. Children with increased nocturnal urine production usually have a good response to desmopressin therapy. Patients with a small bladder generally show a poor response to desmopressin treatment, but they would benefit more from combination therapy with enuretic alarm, urotherapy, and antimuscarinic agents in addition to desmopressin. Different types of bladder dysfunction, which result in a small nocturnal bladder capacity, probably contribute significantly to the pathogenesis of nocturnal enuresis, particularly in those with treatment failure and refractory symptoms. Because different clinical subgroups may show different responses to treatment, it is necessary to distinguish these subgroups before a decision on the specific treatment protocol can be made.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.47 no.3
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• pp.223-227
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• 2020

Background After the laws regulating emergency medicine were amended in 2012, regional trauma centers were established in South Korea. Plastic surgeons specialize in the simultaneous surgical care of patients with facial trauma, burns, and complicated wounds. The objective of this study was to evaluate the role of the plastic surgery department in treating severe trauma patients. Methods From January 2012 to December 2018, we enrolled 366 severe trauma patients with an Injury Severity Score (ISS) over 15 who received treatment by specialists in the plastic surgery department. Of these patients, 298 (81.4%) were male, and their mean age was 51.35 years (range, 6-91 years). The average ISS was 22.01 points (range, 16-75 points). Results The most common diagnosis was facial trauma (95.1%), and facial bone fracture (65.9%) was most common injury within this subgroup. Patients were referred to 1.8 departments on average, with the neurosurgery department accounting for a high proportion of collaborations (37.0%). The most common cause of trauma was traffic accidents (62.3%), and the average length of stay in the general ward and intensive care unit was 36.90 and 8.01 days, respectively. Most patients were discharged home (62.0%) without additional transfer or readmission. Conclusions Through this study, we scoped out the role of the specialty of plastic surgery in the multidisciplinary team at regional trauma centers. These results may have implications for trauma system planning.