Insulin-Like Growth Factor II mRNA-Binding Protein 3 Expression Correlates with Poor Prognosis in Acral Lentiginous Melanoma

<div><p>Insulin-like growth factor-II mRNA-binding protein 3 (IMP-3) is an RNA-binding protein expressed in multiple cancers, including melanomas. However, the expression of IMP-3 has not been investigated in acral lentiginous melanoma (ALM). This study sought to elucidate its prognostic value in ALMs. IMP-3 expression was studied in 93 patients diagnosed with ALM via immunohistochemistry. Univariate and multivariate analyses for survival were performed, according to clinical and histologic parameters, using the Cox proportional hazard model. Survival curves were graphed using the Kaplan-Meier method. IMP-3 was over-expressed in 70 out of 93 tumors (75.3%). IMP-3 expression correlated with thick and high-stage tumor and predicted poorer overall, melanoma-specific, recurrence-free and distant metastasis-free survivals (<i>P</i> = 0.002, 0.006, 0.008 and 0.012, respectively). Further analysis showed that patients with tumor thickness ≤ 4.0 mm and positive IMP-3 expression had a significantly worse melanoma-specific survival than those without IMP-3 expression (<i>P</i> = 0.048). IMP-3 (hazard ratio 3.67, 95% confidence intervals 1.35–9.97, <i>P</i> = 0.011) was confirmed to be an independent prognostic factor for melanoma-specific survival in multivariate survival analysis. Positive IMP-3 expression was an important prognostic factor for ALMs.</p></div

Kaplan-Meier curves of survival associated with IMP-3 expression in 93 primary ALMs.

<p>IMP-3 overexpression was significantly associated with overall (<b>A</b>), melanoma-specific (<b>B</b>), recurrence-free (<b>C</b>), and distant metastasis-free survival (<b>D</b>) (<i>P</i> = 0.002, 0.006, 0.008 and 0.012, respectively; log rank test).</p

Kaplan-Meier analysis of survival in patients with or without IMP-3 expression in relation to thickness.

<p>The <i>P</i> value was obtained from comparison of four groups (log rank test). Patient with tumor thickness ≤ 4.0 mm and negative IMP-3 expression had the best overall (<b>A</b>), melanoma-specific (<b>B</b>), recurrence-free (<b>C</b>), and distant metastasis-free survival (<b>D</b>) (<i>P</i><0.001, <i>P</i><0.001, <i>P</i><0.001, and <i>P</i> = 0.001, respectively).</p

Association between Frailty, Osteoporosis, Falls and Hip Fractures among Community-Dwelling People Aged 50 Years and Older in Taiwan: Results from I-Lan Longitudinal Aging Study

<div><p>Background</p><p>Association of frailty with adverse clinical outcomes has been reported in Western countries, but data from the Asian population are scarce. This study aimed to evaluate the epidemiology of frailty among community-dwelling middle-aged and elderly population and to explore its association with musculoskeletal health in Taiwan.</p><p>Methods</p><p>I-Lan Longitudinal Aging Study (ILAS) data were retrieved for this study. Frailty was defined by the Fried’s criteria; a comparison of demographic characteristics, physical performance, and body composition, including skeletal muscle mass and bone mineral density (BMD), as well as recent falls, history of hip fractures and the functional status of subjects with different frailty statuses were accomplished.</p><p>Results</p><p>Overall, the data of 1,839 participants (mean age: 63.9±9.3 years, male 47.5%) were obtained for analysis. The prevalence of pre-frailty was 42.3% in men and 38.8% in women, whereas the prevalence of frailty was 6.9% and 6.7% in men and women, respectively. Frailty was significantly associated with older age, the male gender, larger waist circumference, lower skeletal muscle index, lower hip BMD, poorer physical function, poorer nutritional status, and poorer cognitive function. Also, frailty was significantly associated with osteoporosis (OR: 7.73, 95% CI: 5.01–11.90, p<0.001), history of hip fractures (OR: 8.66, 95% CI: 2.47–30.40, p = 0.001), and recent falls (O.R: 2.53, 95% CI: 1.35–4.76, p = 0.004).</p><p>Conclusions</p><p>Frailty and pre-frailty, in Taiwan, was closely associated with recent falls, history of hip fractures and osteoporosis among community-dwelling people 50 years of age and older. Furthermore, frailty intervention programs should take an integrated approach towards strengthening both and muscle mass, as well as prevention of falls.</p></div

IMP-3 was expressed in ALM and associated with its progression.

<p>(<b>A</b>) Benign melanocytic nevi such as intradermal nevus were negative for IMP-3. (<b>B</b>) Focal IMP-3 expression was found in ALM with thickness ≤ 4 mm (Breslow thickness = 1.2 mm). (<b>C</b>) Strong and diffuse cytoplasmic expression was noted in ALM with depth >4.0mm (Breslow thickness = 6 mm). <b>(D</b>) Metastatic melanoma expressed IMP-3 in most tumor cells (Bar, 100 μm).</p

Designed Synergetic Effect of Electrolyte Additives to Improve Interfacial Chemistry of MCMB Electrode in Propylene Carbonate-Based Electrolyte for Enhanced Low and Room Temperature Performance

The performance of lithium ion batteries rapidly falls at lower temperatures due to decreasing conductivity of electrolytes and solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) on graphite anode. Hence, it limits the practical use of lithium ion batteries at subzero temperatures and also affects the development of lithium ion batteries for widespread applications. The SEI formed on the graphite surface is very influential in determining the performance of the battery. Herein, a new electrolyte additive, 4-chloromethyl-1,3,2-dioxathiolane-2-oxide (CMDO), is prepared to improve the properties of commonly used electrolyte constituentsethylene carbonate (EC), and fluoroethylene carbonate. The formation of an efficient passivation layer in propylene carbonate-based electrolyte for MCMB electrode was investigated. The addition of CMDO resulted in a much less irreversible capacity loss and induces thin SEI formation. However, the combination of the three additives played a key role to enhance reversible capacity of MCMB electrode at lower or ambient temperature. The electrochemical measurement analysis showed that the SEI formed from a mixture of the three additives gave better intercalation–deintercalation of lithium ions

Demographic characteristics of participants of the I-Lan Longitudinal Aging Study.

<p>ASM = appendicular skeletal muscle mass; RASM = relative appendicular skeletal muscle; BMD = bone mineral density; SMAF = the Functional Autonomy Measurement System; CES-D = the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale; MMSE = Mini–mental state examination.</p><p>Demographic characteristics of participants of the I-Lan Longitudinal Aging Study.</p

Survival time of C26/tk-luc colon carcinoma-bearing mice that treated with various liposomal drugs.

*<p>: <i>p</i><0.05,</p>**<p>: <i>p</i><0.01 compared with control group (NanoX).</p

Odds ratios for frailty status in association with poor medical conditions.

<p>Odds ratios for frailty status in association with poor medical conditions.</p

Body weight loss of the C26/tk-luc colon carcinoma-bearing mice after treatment with various liposomal drugs.

<p>The mice bearing large tumor (<i>n</i> = 9 for each group, A) and those bearing small tumor (<i>n</i> = 6 for each group, B) were injected intravenously with NanoX (•), InNanoX (▽), NanoVNB (▪) or InVNBL (◊) at 0, 7, and 14 days after first injection (arrow; three injections total). The zero time point indicates the initiation of therapy. Data were expressed as mean ± S.E.M.</p