Increasing uptake of colorectal cancer screening in Korea: a population-based study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Colorectal cancer (CRC) screening rates are low in most Asian countries and remain largely unknown. This study examined trends in CRC screening rates after the introduction of the Korean National Cancer Screening Programme (NCSP) and determined the factors associated with uptake of CRC screening by test modality over time.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>An annual population-based survey conducted through nationally representative random sampling from 2005-2008. In total, 3,699 participants from the 2005-2008 surveys were selected as study subjects. Face-to-face interviews were performed to assess the utilization rate of CRC screening by each screening modality.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Overall, CRC screening within the recommended time interval increased significantly from 22.9% in 2005 to 36.6% in 2008 (<it>p </it>< 0.001). The proportion of subjects receiving a fecal occult blood test (FOBT) test within the previous year increased significantly from 7.2% in 2005 to 21.3% in 2008 (<it>p </it>< 0.001). Increases in FOBT testing were highest among those who had a lower income status (relative difference = 511.9%) and women (relative difference = 266.1%). Endoscopy use also increased from 18.0% in 2005 to 20.5% in 2008, albeit not significant. Overall, those who were male, non-smokers, 60-69 years old, and had a higher income status were more likely to have undergone up-to-date endoscopy and CRC screening.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>This study revealed a substantial increase in up-to-date CRC screening in the general population from 2005 to 2008. However, more than half of adults in Korea are still not up-to-date with their CRC tests. It will be important to continue to investigate factors associated with up-to-date CRC screening by each modality.</p

Variable Pathogenicity Determines Individual Lifespan in Caenorhabditis elegans

A common property of aging in all animals is that chronologically and genetically identical individuals age at different rates. To unveil mechanisms that influence aging variability, we identified markers of remaining lifespan for Caenorhabditis elegans. In transgenic lines, we expressed fluorescent reporter constructs from promoters of C. elegans genes whose expression change with age. The expression levels of aging markers in individual worms from a young synchronous population correlated with their remaining lifespan. We identified eight aging markers, with the superoxide dismutase gene sod-3 expression being the best single predictor of remaining lifespan. Correlation with remaining lifespan became stronger if expression from two aging markers was monitored simultaneously, accounting for up to 49% of the variation in individual lifespan. Visualizing the physiological age of chronologically-identical individuals allowed us to show that a major source of lifespan variability is different pathogenicity from individual to individual and that the mechanism involves variable activation of the insulin-signaling pathway

Genome-Wide Linkage in a Highly Consanguineous Pedigree Reveals Two Novel Loci on Chromosome 7 for Non-Syndromic Familial Premature Ovarian Failure

BACKGROUND: The human condition known as Premature Ovarian Failure (POF) is characterized by loss of ovarian function before the age of 40. A majority of POF cases are sporadic, but 10-15% are familial, suggesting a genetic origin of the disease. Although several causal mutations have been identified, the etiology of POF is still unknown for about 90% of the patients.¦METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: We report a genome-wide linkage and homozygosity analysis in one large consanguineous Middle-Eastern POF-affected family presenting an autosomal recessive pattern of inheritance. We identified two regions with a LOD(max) of 3.26 on chromosome 7p21.1-15.3 and 7q21.3-22.2, which are supported as candidate regions by homozygosity mapping. Sequencing of the coding exons and known regulatory sequences of three candidate genes (DLX5, DLX6 and DSS1) included within the largest region did not reveal any causal mutations.¦CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: We detect two novel POF-associated loci on human chromosome 7, opening the way to the identification of new genes involved in the control of ovarian development and function

hnRNP L is required for the translation mediated by HCV IRES

Translation of hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA is initiated by internal loading of the ribosome into the HCV internal ribosome entry site (IRES). Previously. heterogeneous ribonucleoprotein L (hnRNP L) was shown to bind specifically to the 3&apos; border region of the HCV IRES and enhance HCV mRNA translation. Here, we provide evidence for the functional requirement of hnRNP L for the HCV IRES-mediated translation initiation using specific RNA aptamers. In vitro selection techniques were employed to isolate RNA aptamers against hnRNP L, which were shown to contain consensus sequences with repetitive ACAC/U. The hnRNP L-specific RNA aptamers efficiently inhibited the in vitro translation reactions mediated by the HCV IRES in rabbit reticulocyte lysates. RNA ligands with only (ACAU)5 or (AC)10 nucleotide sequences could also specifically bind to hnRNP L, and specifically and effectively impeded in vitro translation reactions controlled by the HCV [RES. Importantly, the hnRNP L-specific RNA aptamers inhibited the HCV IRES function in cells in a dose-dependent manner, and the aptamer-mediated inhibition of the HCV [RES was considerably relieved by the addition of hnRNP L-expressing vector. These results strongly demonstrate the functional requirement of cellular hnRNP L for the HCV IRES activity. (C) 2008 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.X1140sciescopu

Detailed investigation on factors governing liquid crystal alignment on rubbed polystyrene films

The molecular orientations and surface morphologies of rubbed films formed from atactic polystyrene (PS) samples with various molecular weights were investigated in detail. Previously unknown surface topography features were newly discovered in rubbed films, depending on molecular weights: submicroscale groove-like meandering structures composed of fine-grooves like pebbles in 10 nm are present, oriented perpendicular to the rubbing direction. The vinyl main chains, however, were preferentially oriented along the rubbing direction and the planes of the phenyl side groups were preferentially oriented perpendicular to the rubbing direction with para-directions that were positioned nearly normal to the film plane. Nematic liquid crystal (LC) molecules were found to always align on the rubbed PS surfaces along the orientation direction of the submicroscale grooves generated by rubbing. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.X1112sciescopu

Rubbed films of isomeric poly (4-vinylpyridine) and poly(2-vinylpyridine): surface morphology, molecular orientation, and liquid crystal alignability

Films of poly(4-vinylpyridine) (P4VP) and poly(2-vinylpyridine) (P2VP) were characterized before and after they were rubbed with a rayon velvet, and their liquid crystal (LC) aligning abilities were investigated. Atomic force microscopy images showed that microgrooves developed along the rubbing direction in the surfaces of the rubbed films of both polymers. Retardation and linearly polarized infrared spectroscopy analyses revealed that in both polymers the vinyl backbones are oriented along the rubbing direction, while the pyridine side groups are oriented perpendicular to the rubbing direction; the para-directions of the pyridine rings in the P4VP film have a tilt angle of about 45 degrees in the plane perpendicular to the rubbing direction but the para-directions of the pyridine rings in the P2VP film align nearly in the film surface. These rubbed films were found to induce uniform, homogeneous LC alignment along the rubbing direction. Both LC alignments were, however, found to have low anchoring energies that are due to the inherently weak interactions of the LCs with the film surfaces. Moreover, LC cells prepared using these films were found to have only limited stability. These results lead to the conclusion that the microgrooves generated along the rubbing direction play a critical role in governing the alignment of LCs that weakly interact with the parallel oriented vinyl main chains in competition with the perpendicularly oriented pyridine side groups, despite their dimensions, which are larger than the LC molecules and thus limit their effectiveness. In addition, the zero degree pre-tilting behavior of the LCs on these films was investigated in detail, taking into account both the rubbing-induced orientations of the polymer segments and their anisotropic interactions with the LC molecules. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.X1111sciescopu

UV-driven switching of chain orientation and liquid crystal alignment in nanoscale thin films of a novel polyimide bearing stilbene moieties in the backbone

A novel photosensitive polyimide, poly(4,4&apos;-stilbenylene 4,4&apos;-oxidiphthalimide) (ODPA-Stilbene PSPI) was newly synthesized. The most surprising feature of this PSPI is that the PSPI films irradiated with linear polarized ultraviolet light (LPUVL) can favorably induce a unidirectional alignment of liquid crystals (LCs) in contact with the film surface and further switch the director of the unidirectionally aligned LCs from a perpendicular direction to a parallel direction with respect to the polarization direction of LPUVL by simply controlling the exposure dose in the irradiation process. These LPUVL-irradiated films were found to provide high anchoring energy to LCs, always giving very stable, homogeneous cells with unidirectionally aligned LCs regardless of the LC alignment directions. In the films, the PSPI polymer chains were found to undergo favorably unidirectional orientation via a specific orientation sequence of the polymer chain segments led by the directionally selective trans-cis photoisomerization of the stilbene chromophore units in the backbone induced by LPUVL exposure. Such unidirectionally oriented polymer chains of the films induce alignment of the LCs along the orientation direction of the polymer chains via favorable anisotropic molecular interactions between the oriented polymer chain segments and the LC molecules. In addition, the PSPI has an excellent film formation processibility; good quality PSPI thin films with a smooth surface are easily produced by simple spin-coating of the soluble poly(amic acid) precursor and subsequent thermal imidization process. In summary, this new PSPI is the promising LC alignment layer candidate with rubbing-free processing for the production of advanced LC display devices, including LC display televisions with large display areas.X113433sciescopu

Perpendicular and parallel alignment behaviors of liquid crystals at rubbed films of brush polyimides

Two series of brush polyimides (PIs) with various lengths of the bristles were studied as thin films using atomic force microscopy, optical retardation and linearly polarized infrared spectroscopy before and after rubbing, and their nematic liquid crystal (LC) aligning abilities were investigated: poly(p-phenylene 3,6-bis(4-(n-alkyloxy)phenyloxy)pyromellitimide)s (Cn-PMDA-PDA PIs: n = 4,6,7 and 8) and poly(4,4&apos;-methylenyldiphenylene 3,6-bis(4-(n-alkyloxy)phenyloxy)pyromellitimide)s (Cm-PMDA-MDA PIs: m = 1, 4, 8 and 12). For all the PI films, the rubbing process was found to create microgrooves in the films along the rubbing direction, and to orient the polymer main chains and the n-alkyl bristle end groups along the rubbing direction, but to orient the phenyloxy bristle units perpendicular to the rubbing direction. The LC molecules on the rubbed film surfaces of Cn-PMDA-PDA PIs with n = 4,6 and 7 were found to be aligned perpendicular to the rubbing direction. In contrast, rubbed films of Cn-PMDA-PDA PIs (n = 8) and Cm-PMDA-MDA PIs (m = 1, 4, 8 and 12) induced LC alignment parallel to the rubbing direction. These results collectively lead a conclusion that LC alignment on the rubbed PI film is determined by a play-off between the directionally anisotropic interactions the LC molecules with all possible factors associated at the film surface. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.112sciescopu

Perpendicular and parallel alignment behaviors of liquid crystals at rubbed films of brush polyimides

Two series of brush polyimides (PIs) with various lengths of the bristles were studied as thin films using atomic force microscopy, optical retardation and linearly polarized infrared spectroscopy before and after rubbing, and their nematic liquid crystal (LC) aligning abilities were investigated: poly(p-phenylene 3,6-bis(4-(n-alkyloxy)phenyloxy)pyromellitimide)s (Cn-PMDA-PDA PIs: n = 4,6,7 and 8) and poly(4,4'-methylenyldiphenylene 3,6-bis(4-(n-alkyloxy)phenyloxy)pyromellitimide)s (Cm-PMDA-MDA PIs: m = 1, 4, 8 and 12). For all the PI films, the rubbing process was found to create microgrooves in the films along the rubbing direction, and to orient the polymer main chains and the n-alkyl bristle end groups along the rubbing direction, but to orient the phenyloxy bristle units perpendicular to the rubbing direction. The LC molecules on the rubbed film surfaces of Cn-PMDA-PDA PIs with n = 4,6 and 7 were found to be aligned perpendicular to the rubbing direction. In contrast, rubbed films of Cn-PMDA-PDA PIs (n = 8) and Cm-PMDA-MDA PIs (m = 1, 4, 8 and 12) induced LC alignment parallel to the rubbing direction. These results collectively lead a conclusion that LC alignment on the rubbed PI film is determined by a play-off between the directionally anisotropic interactions the LC molecules with all possible factors associated at the film surface. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.