Preliminary Animal Study on Bone Formation Ability of Commercialized Particle-Type Bone Graft with Increased Operability by Hydrogel.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the bone-generating ability of a new bovine-derived xenograft (S1-XB) containing hydrogel. For control purposes, we used Bio-Oss and Bone-XB bovine-derived xenografts. S1-XB was produced by mixing Bone-XB and hydrogel. Cell proliferation and differentiation studies were performed to assess cytotoxicities and cell responses. For in vivo study, 8 mm-sized cranial defects were formed in 16 rats, and then the bone substitutes were transplanted into defect sites in the four study groups, that is, a Bio-Oss group, a Bone-XB group, an S1-XB group, and a control (all n = 4); in the control group defects were left empty. Eight weeks after surgery, new bone formation areas were measured histomorphometrically. In the cell study, extracts of Bio-Oss, Bone-XB, and S1-XB showed good results in terms of the osteogenic differentiation of human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) and no cytotoxic reaction was evident. No significant difference was observed between mean new bone areas in the Bio-Oss (36.93 ± 4.27%), Bone-XB (35.07 ± 3.23%), and S1-XB (30.80 ± 6.41%) groups, but new bone area was significantly smaller in the control group (18.73 ± 5.59%) (p < 0.05). Bovine-derived bone graft material containing hydrogel (S1-XB) had a better cellular response and an osteogenic effect similar to Bio-Oss.

Effects of Gamma Radiation-Induced Crosslinking of Collagen Type I Coated Dental Titanium Implants on Osseointegration and Bone Regeneration.

This study aimed to compare two methods of crosslinking collagen type I on implanted titanium surfaces, that is, using glutaraldehyde (GA) or gamma-rays (GRs), in a beagle dog model. For in vivo experiments, implants were allocated to three groups and applied to mandibular bone defects in beagle dogs; Group SLA; non-treated Sandblasted, large grit, acid-etched (SLA) implants, Group GA; SLA implants coated with GA crosslinked collagen type I, Group GR; SLA surface implants coated with collagen type I and crosslinked using 25 kGy of 60Co gamma radiation. New bone µCT volumes were obtained, and histologic and histometric analyses were performed in regions of interest. The GR group had significantly better new bone areas (NBAs) and bone to implant contact (BIC) results than the SLA group (p < 0.05), but the GA and GR groups were similar in this respect. New bone volumes and inter-thread bone densities (ITBD) were non-significantly different in the three groups (p > 0.05). Within the limits of this study, gamma-ray collagen crosslinking on titanium implants can be considered a substitute for glutaraldehyde crosslinking.

Novel Emerging Therapies for Erectile Dysfunction.

Currently, several treatments exist for the improvement of erectile dysfunction (ED). These include medical therapies such as phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors (PDE5-Is), invasive methods such as intracavernosal injection therapy of vaso-active substances, vacuum erection devices, and penile prosthesis implants. However, the percentage of patients that are unresponsive to available treatments and who drop out from treatments remains high. Current evidence reveals that the pathogenesis of ED is related to multiple factors including underlying comorbidities, previous surgery, and psychological factors. Diverse approaches using novel molecular pathways or new technologies have been tested as potential therapeutic options for difficultto-treat ED populations. Melanocortin receptor agonist, a centrally acting agent, showed promising results by initiating erection without sexual stimulation in non-responders to PDE5-Is. Recent clinical and pre-clinical studies using human tissues suggested that new peripherally acting agents including the Max-K channel activator, guanylate cyclase activator, and nitric oxide donor could be potential therapies either as a monotherapy or in combination with PDE5-Is in ED patients. According to several clinical trials, regeneration therapy using stem cells showed favorable data in men with diabetic or post-prostatectomy ED. Low-intensity shock wave therapy also demonstrated promising results in patients with vasculogenic ED. There are growing evidences which suggest the efficacy of these emerging therapies, though most of the therapies still need to be validated by well-designed clinical trials. It is expected that, should their long-term safety and efficacy be proven, the emerging treatments can meet the needs of patients hitherto unresponsive to or unsatisfied by current therapies for ED.

Public Perceptions on Cancer Incidence and Survival: A Nation-wide Survey in Korea.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to compare the public perceptions of the incidence rates and survival rates for common cancers with the actual rates from epidemiologic data. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We conducted a survey of Korean adults without history of cancer (n=2,000). The survey consisted of questions about their perceptions regarding lifetime incidence rates and 5-year survival rates for total cancer, as well as those of eight site-specific cancers. To investigate associated factors, we included questions about cancer worry (Lerman's Cancer Worry Scale) or cared for a family member or friend with cancer as a caregiver. RESULTS: Only 19% of Korean adults had an accurate perception of incidence rates compared with the epidemiologic data on total cancer. For specific cancers, most of the respondents overestimated the incidence rates and 10%-30% of men and 6%-18% of women had an accurate perception. A high score in "cancer worry" was associated with higher estimates of incidence rates in total and specific cancers. In cancers with high actual 5-year survival rates (e.g., breast and thyroid), the majority of respondents underestimated survival rates. However, about 50% of respondents overestimated survival rates in cancers with low actual survival rates (e.g., lung and liver). There was no factor consistently associated with perceived survival rates. CONCLUSION: Widespread discrepancies were observed between perceived probability and actual epidemiological data. In order to reduce cancer worry and to increase health literacy, communication and patient education on appropriate risk is needed.

Visceral adipose tissue is prognostic for survival of diffuse large B cell lymphoma treated with frontline R-CHOP.

The potential role of visceral adipose tissue (VAT) as a prognostic factor in patients with diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL) treated with frontline rituximab, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisolone (R-CHOP) immunochemotherapy was explored. Total adipose tissue and VAT were measured by analyzing positron emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT) images obtained during the initial staging of patients with DLBCL. The VAT ratio was calculated as follows: VAT ratio = VAT area/total adipose tissue area. Body mass index (BMI), sex, and International Prognostic Index (IPI) were also incorporated as co-variates in the final model of multivariate Cox regression analysis for survival. A total of 156 patients with DLBCL, who were treated with frontline R-CHOP, were enrolled in our study. The median patient age was 61 years, and 81 patients were male (51.9 %). The median cycle of R-CHOP was six. The IPI risk group was a strong prognostic factor for progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) (p < 0.001). Obese BMIs were an independent prognostic factor for PFS, but not for OS in multivariate analyses, compared to patients with normal BMIs (HR = 0.43, 95 % CI = 0.19-0.98, and p = 0.046 for PFS). A high VAT ratio (third tertile) was an independent adverse prognostic factor for PFS and OS in multivariate analyses (HR = 2.87 and 2.66, 95 % CI = 1.30-6.32 and 1.30-5.44, and p = 0.009 and 0.007 for PFS and OS, respectively). VAT ratio was an independent prognostic factor for patients with DLBCL treated with first-line R-CHOP; thus, additional large prospective studies are warranted.

Cancer Screening Adherence of Asian Women According to Biochemically-verified Smoking Status: Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

BACKGROUND: Men and women who smoke tend to show less compliance to screening guidelines than non- smokers. However, a recent study in Korea showed that self-reported female smokers constituted less than half of cotinine-verified smokers. Therefore, the aim of this study was to identify hidden smokers using cotinine- verified method and examine cancer screening behavior according to biochemically verified smoking status. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Among 5,584 women aged 30 years and older who participated in the Fourth and Fifth Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES), 372 (6.66%) hidden smokers were identified based on interview responses and verified by urinary cotinine levels. We compared cancer-screening behavior (cervical, breast, stomach, and colon cancer) of female hidden smokers to that of non-smokers and self- reported smokers by cross-sectional analysis. RESULTS: Hidden female smokers had significantly lower adherence to breast cancer screening compared to non-smokers (aOR (adjusted odds ratio) [95% CI] = 0.71 [0.51-0.98]). Adherence to stomach cancer (aOR [95% CI] = 0.75 [0.54-1.03]) and cervical cancer (aOR [95% CI] = 0.85 [0.66-1.10]) screening was also lower among hidden female smokers compared to non-smokers. Self-reported (current) smokers showed lowest adherence to cervical cancer (aOR: 0.64, 95% CI0.47-0.87), breast cancer (0.47 [0.32-0.68]), stomach cancer (0.66[0.46-0.95]), and colon cancer (0.62 [0.38-1.01]) screening compared to non-smokers, followed by female hidden smokers, then non-smokers. These lower adherence rates of current smokers were attenuated after we incorporated hidden smokers into the current smoker group. CONCLUSIONS: Cancer screening adherence of female hidden smokers was lower than cotinine-verified non-smokers but higher than current smokers. Considering the risk of smoking-related cancer among women, identifying hidden smokers is important to encourage appropriate cancer screening.

Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels correlate with EGFR mutational status in pulmonary adenocarcinoma.

There have been several epidemiological studies of the association between 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) level and lung cancer risk. We explored the potential association between serum 25(OH)D levels and mutations in epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) in patients with pulmonary adenocarcinoma. We analyzed clinical data from 135 patients whose serum 25(OH)D levels were measured and EGFR mutational status was tested at the time of diagnosis. The relationship between 25(OH)D and clinical factors such as EGFR mutational status and sex was examined. The median serum 25(OH)D level in patients with pulmonary adenocarcinoma was 16.8 ng/ml (range: 3.0-84.3 ng/ml). The level of 25(OH)D was lower in female patients than in male patients (P=0.03). Interestingly, 25(OH)D levels of patients with EGFR-mutated tumors were low compared with those with wild-type tumors (median 18.2 vs 14.7 ng/ml, P=0.011). After a dose-response relationship between EGFR mutations and 25(OH)D levels (as a continuous variable) was observed (OR=0.96, P=0.036), we categorized 25(OH)D levels as low (≤16.8 ng/ml) and high (>16.8 ng/ml). Multivariate analysis revealed the association between low 25(OH)D levels and a high incidence of EGFR mutations (adjusted OR=2.42, 95% CI: 1.11-5.26, P=0.026). The results from this study indicate that low 25(OH)D levels are associated with EGFR mutations in pulmonary adenocarcinoma.

Family caregivers' awareness of illness and attitude toward disclosure during chemotherapy for advanced cancer.

OBJECTIVE: We investigated family caregivers' awareness of disease status and attitude toward disclosure of disease progression compared with those of cancer patients and explored the potential association between family caregivers' attitudes and patients' quality of life (QOL). METHODS: We carried out a survey using self-administered questionnaires answered by pairs of family caregivers and patients diagnosed with advanced cancer (n = 136 pairs). To assess patients' QOL, we used the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire. RESULTS: More than half of family caregivers (54%) did not have full knowledge of patients' advanced stage and goal of therapy. Positive attitudes toward disclosure were less common in family caregivers than in patients (59.4% and 85.4%, respectively; p < 0.01). The family caregivers' positive attitudes toward disclosure were inversely associated with patients' low functional scores (emotion [p = 0.04] and cognition [p = 0.02]) and high symptom scores (nausea and vomiting, pain, and insomnia; p < 0.05). However, in most QOL scales, patients' attitudes were not significantly associated with functioning and symptom scores. CONCLUSIONS: A large portion of family caregivers may not know the patients' exact status. This study also suggests that the family caregivers' attitudes may differ from patients' and may be associated with patients' QOL.

Enlarged cochlear aqueducts: a potential route for CSF gushers in patients with enlarged vestibular aqueducts.

OBJECTIVE: We investigated whether the size of the cochlear aqueduct (CA) is increased in patients with enlarged vestibular aqueducts (EVAs) compared with individuals with normal inner ear anatomy. Furthermore, we assessed whether the size of the CA is related to the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) gusher during cochlear implantation (CI) surgery. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective study. SETTING: Tertiary referral center. PATIENTS: The medical records for 35 patients with a biallelic SLC26A4 mutation were reviewed. All of the patients were confirmed to have EVA by temporal bone computed tomography (TBCT) and biallelic SLC26A4 mutation by genetic analysis. Thirty-six age- and sex-matched patients without a mutation in the SLC26A4 gene were selected as comparison group. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The diameters of the CA and vestibular aqueduct (VA) were measured, and the type of CA was evaluated using TBCT. RESULTS: The CA was larger in patients with EVA (2.39 ± 0.99 mm) as compared with controls (1.76 ± 0.87 mm; p < 0.001). The types that could be most easily visualized from the subarachnoid space to the cochlea were more common in patients with EVA. Furthermore, mean CA size was significantly larger in EVA patients with CSF gushers (3.65 ± 1.12 mm) as compared with those without CSF gushers (2.03 ± 0.66 mm; p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The CA is a potential pathway for CSF gushers between the subarachnoid space and the inner ear. Therefore, we suggest that evaluation of the CA by TBCT may be helpful in predicting intraoperative CSF gushers in patients with EVA.

Factors associated with breast and cervical cancer screening in Korea: data from a national community health survey.

This study investigated factors associated with breast and cervical cancer screening using data from a nationwide community survey. A nationwide cross-sectional study was performed in all 253 administrative districts of Korea. The breast and cervical cancer screening rate was negatively associated with the obesity (ß = -2.91, 95% confidence interval [CI] = -4.73 to -1.03; ß = -1.93, 95% CI = -3.43 to -0.43), positively associated with the European Quality of Life-5 Dimensions scale (ß =2.53, 95% CI = 0.24 to 4.81; ß = 2.51, 95% CI = 0.68 to 4.34). Moreover, higher alcohol consumption rate was negatively related to screening rates for breast cancer, while areas with higher proportion of diabetes were found to have higher screening rates. Area with higher rate of osteoarthritis had a lower screening rate for cervical cancer. This study showed breast and cervical cancer screening was associated with particular area characteristics. This ecological approach is thought to be a major complement to measures of health attributes.

One-pot synthesis and characterization of silver/polyphenylsilane hybrid nanocomposites.

The synthesis and characterization of spherical silver/polyphenylsilane (PPS) hybrid nanocomposites were carried out. A one-step conversion of metallic salts to stable metal nanoparticles was possible by a simple and mild PPS-mediated method. TEM (transmission electron microscopy) and FE-SEM (field emission scanning electron microscopy) data confirm the formation of the hybrid nanocomposites in which large numbers of silver nanoparticles (< 30 nm) are dispersed throughout the PPS matrix. XRD (X-ray diffraction) patterns are consistent with that for fcc-typed silver. The size and processability of such nanoparticles depend on the metal to PPS ratio. The PPS with Si-H functionalities play an important role as a reducing agent and as a stabilizing agent in the formation of the silver nanostructures. In the absence of the polymer, most of the silver particles underwent macroscopic precipitation.

Dry sol-gel polycondensation of hydrosilanes to organosilicas catalyzed by colloidal nickel nanoparticles.

The dry sol-gel polycondensation at toluene in ambient air atmosphere of p-X-C6H4SiH3 (X = H, CH3, CH3O, F, Cl) to silica p-X-C6H4SiO15 in high yield, catalyzed by colloidal nickel nanoparticles in-situ generated from nickelocene(II), nickel(II) acetate, and bis(1,5-cyclooctadiene)nickel(0), is described. Similar catalytic activities were observed for the catalysts. Similarly, the dry sol-gel polyco-condensation p-X-C6H4SiH3 (X = CH3, CH3O, F, Cl):C6H4SiH3 (9:1 mole ratio) at toluene in ambient air atmosphere of was performed to yield co-silicas (p-X-C6H4SiO1.5)9(p-X-C6H4SiO1.5)1 in high yield using nickelocene. The co-gels with higher molecular weights and TGA residue yield were obtained when compared to the homogels. The highest yield, molecular weight, polydispersity index, and TGA residue yield were obtained for p-Cl-C6H4SiH3. Some degree of unreacted Si-H bonds still remained in the gel matrix because of steric bulkiness. All the insoluble gels adopt an amorphous structure with a smooth surface. A plausible mechanism for the dry sol-gel reaction was suggested.

Physiological activity of irradiated green tea polyphenol on the human skin.

Physiological activity of irradiated green tea polyphenol on the human skin was investigated for further industrial application. The green tea polyphenol was separated and irradiated at 40 kGy by y-ray. For an anti-wrinkle effect, the collagenase inhibition effect was higher in the irradiated sample (65.3%) than that of the non-irradiated control (56.8%) at 200 ppm of the concentration (p < 0.05). Collagen biosynthesis rates using a human fibroblast were 19.4% and 16.3% in the irradiated and the non-irradiated polyphenols, respectively. The tyrosinase inhibition effect, which is related to the skin-whitening effect, showed a 45.2% and 42.9% in the irradiated and the non-irradiated polyphenols, respectively, at a 100 ppm level. A higher than 90% growth inhibition on skin cancer cells (SK-MEL-2 and G361) was demonstrated in both the irradiated and the non-irradiated polyphenols. Thus, the irradiation of green tea polyphenol did not change and even increased its anti-wrinkle, skin-whitening and anticancer effects on the human skin. The results indicated that irradiated green tea polyphenol can be used as a natural ingredient with excellent physiological functions for the human skin through cosmetic or food composition.