Development and Effects of Simulation Practice Program about Family centered Delivery Care

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to investigate the relationship of knowledge, attitudes and needs of sex education in high school students. METHODS: There were 258 participants who were high school students in S high school in G city. Data were collected from October 1 to October 31, 2011, and analyzed using SPSS/WIN 19.0. RESULTS: The mean score for sexual knowledge was 69.78, sexual attitudes was 63.66, and needs of sex education was 75.37. Sexual knowledge had positive correlation with needs of sex education (r=.17, p=.007). CONCLUSION: The findings of this study indicated a need to develop programs for high school students to increase appropriate sexual knowledge, and to encourage appropriate sexual attitudes, and to reflect needs of sex education

Oncologic outcomes after immediate breast reconstruction following mastectomy: comparison of implant and flap using propensity score matching

Although immediate breast reconstruction has been reported to be oncologically safe, no affirmative study comparing the two reconstruction methods exists. We investigated breast cancer recurrence rates in two breast reconstruction types; implant reconstruction and autologous flap reconstruction. A retrospective cohort study was performed on propensity score-matched (for age, stage, estrogen receptor status) patients who underwent IBR after mastectomy at Seoul National University Hospital between 2010 and 2014. The main outcomes determined were locoregional recurrence-free interval (LRRFI) and disease-free interval (DFI). We analyzed 496 patients among 731 patients following propensity score matching (Median age 43, 247 implant reconstruction and 249 flap reconstruction). During median follow-up of 58.2 months, DFI was not different between the two groups at each tumor stage. However, flap reconstruction showed inferior DFI compared to implant reconstruction in patients with high histologic grade (p = 0.012), and with high Ki-67 (p = 0.028). Flap reconstruction was related to short DFI in multivariate analysis in aggressive tumor subsets. Short DFI after flap reconstruction in aggressive tumor cell phenotype was most evident in hormone positive/Her-2 negative cancer (p = 0.008). LRRFI, on the other hand, did not show difference according to reconstruction method regardless of tumor cell aggressiveness. Although there is no difference in cancer recurrence according to reconstruction method in general, flap-based reconstruction showed higher systemic recurrence associated with histologically aggressive tumors

Gestational Estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate and Adverse Maternofetal Outcomes

Background/Aims: The association between gestational estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and adverse pregnancy outcomes has not been fully investigated. Methods: This observational cohort study included pregnancy cases of singleton mothers whose serum creatinine levels were measured during pregnancy at two tertiary hospitals in Korea from 2000 to 2015. Those with identified substantial renal function impairment (eGFR < 60 mL/min/1.73 m2 at baseline, during, or after pregnancy) were excluded. The Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration equation was used for the eGFR calculation. We computed the time-averaged eGFR during gestation to determine representative values when there were multiple measurements. We studied the following three gestational complications: preterm birth (< 37 weeks’ gestational age), low birth weight (< 2.5 kg), and preeclampsia. Results: Among the 12,899 studied pregnancies, 4,360 cases experienced one or more gestational complications. The adjusted odds ratio (aOR) and 95% confidence interval of composite gestational complications for eGFR ranges other than the reference range of 120–150 mL/ min/1.73m2 were: ≥150 mL/min/1.73m2, aOR 1.64 (1.38–1.95), P< 0.001; 90–120 mL/min/1.73m2, aOR 1.41 (1.28–1.56), P< 0.001; and 60–90 mL/min/1.73m2, aOR 2.56 (1.70–3.84), P< 0.001. Incidence of preterm birth or low birth weight showed similar U-shaped association with eGFR values; otherwise, preeclampsia or small for gestational age occurred more often in mothers with a lower gestational eGFR than in those with a higher value. Conclusion: Considering the unique association between gestational eGFR and pregnancy outcomes, carefully interpreting these results may help predict obstetric complications

Erratum: Correction of Abstract. Development and Effects of Simulation Practice Program about Family centered Delivery Care

The authors found abstract and key words errors in the published article

Photo-induced crosslinked and anti-PD-L1 peptide incorporated liposomes to promote PD-L1 multivalent binding for effective immune checkpoint blockade therapy

Immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) therapy targeting PD-L1 via monoclonal antibody (mAb) has shown extensive clinical benefits in the diverse types of advanced malignancies. However, most patients are completely refractory to ICB therapy owing to the PD-L1 recycling mechanism. Herein, we propose photo-induced crosslinked and anti-PD-L1 peptide incorporated liposomes (immune checkpoint blockade liposomes; ICB-LPs) to promote PD-L1 multivalent binding for inducing lysosomal degradation of PD-L1 in tumor cells. The ICB-LPs are prepared by formulation of DC8,9PC with photo-polymerized diacetylenic moiety, 1,2-dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC) and anti-PD-L1 peptide (D-form NYSKPTDRQYHF)-conjugated DSPE-PEG2k (anti-PD-L1-DSPE-PEG2k) in a molar ratio of 45:45:10, followed by cross-linking of liposomal bilayer upon UV irradiation. The 10 mol% anti-PD-L1-DSPE-PEG2k incorporated ICB-LPs have a nano-sized lipid bilayer structure with an average diameter of 137.7 ± 1.04 nm, showing a high stability in serum condition. Importantly, the ICB-LPs efficiently promote the multivalent binding with PD-L1 on the tumor cell membrane, which are endocytosed with aim to deliver PD-L1 to the lysosomes, wherein the durable PD-L1 degradation is observed for 72 h, in contrast to anti PD-L1 mAbs showing the rapid PD-L1 recycling within 9 h. The in vitro co-culture experiments with CD8+ T cells show that ICB-LPs effectively enhance the T cell-mediated antitumor immune responses against tumor cells by blocking the PD-L1/PD-1 axis. When ICB-LPs are intravenously injected into colon tumor-bearing mice, they efficiently accumulate within the targeted tumor tissues via both passive and active tumor targeting, inducing a potent T cell-mediated antitumor immune response by effective and durable PD-L1 degradation. Collectively, this study demonstrates the superior antitumor efficacy of crosslinked and anti-PD-L1 peptide incorporated liposome formulation that promotes PD-L1 multivalent binding for trafficking of PD-L1 toward the lysosomes instead of the recycling endosomes

Plasmon-Triggered Upconversion Emissions and Hot Carrier Injection for Combinatorial Photothermal and Photodynamic Cancer Therapy

Despite the unique ability of lanthanide-doped upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) to convert near-infrared (NIR) light to high-energy UV–vis radiation, low quantum efficiency has rendered their application unpractical in biomedical fields. Here, we report anatase titania-coated plasmonic gold nanorods decorated with UCNPs (Au NR@aTiO2@UCNPs) for combinational photothermal and photodynamic therapy to treat cancer. Our novel architecture employs the incorporation of an anatase titanium dioxide (aTiO2) photosensitizer as a spacer and exploits the localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) properties of the Au core. The LSPR-derived near-field enhancement induces a threefold boost of upconversion emissions, which are re-absorbed by neighboring aTiO2 and Au nanocomponents. Photocatalytic experiments strongly infer that LSPR-induced hot electrons are injected into the conduction band of aTiO2, generating reactive oxygen species. As phototherapeutic agents, our hybrid nanostructures show remarkable in vitro anticancer effect under NIR light [28.0% cancer cell viability against Au NR@aTiO2 (77.3%) and UCNP@aTiO2 (98.8%)] ascribed to the efficient radical formation and LSPR-induced heat generation, with cancer cell death primarily following an apoptotic pathway. In vivo animal studies further confirm the tumor suppression ability of Au NR@aTiO2@UCNPs through combinatorial photothermal and photodynamic effect. Our hybrid nanomaterials emerge as excellent multifunctional phototherapy agents, providing a valuable addition to light-triggered cancer treatments in deep tissue

Phthalocyanine-Aggregated Polymeric Nanoparticles as Tumor-Homing Near-Infrared Absorbers for Photothermal Therapy of Cancer

Phthalocyanine-aggregated Pluronic nanoparticles were constructed as a novel type of near-infrared (NIR) absorber for photothermal therapy. Tiny nanoparticles (&#126; 60 nm, FPc NPs) were prepared by aqueous dispersion of phthalocyanine-aggregated self-assembled nanodomains that were phase-separated from the melt mixture with Pluronic. Under NIR laser irradiation, FPc NPs manifested robust heat generation capability, superior to an individual cyanine dye and cyanine-aggregated nanoparticles. Micro- and macroscopic imaging experiments showed that FPc NPs are capable of internalization into live cancer cells as well as tumor accumulation when intravenously administered into living mice. It is shown here that continuous NIR irradiation of the tumor-targeted FPc NPs can cause phototherapeutic effects in vitro and in vivo through excessive local heating, demonstrating potential of phthalocyanine-aggregated nanoparticles as an all-organic NIR nanoabsorber for hyperthermia.</p

Characterization and Mechanistic Studies of a Novel Melanoma-Targeting Construct Containing IκBa for Specific Inhibition of Nuclear Factor-κB Activity12

The transcription factor nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) is a central mediator of growth and homeostasis for both normal and neoplastic cells. IκBα is the natural intracellular inhibitor of NF-κB and can effectively complex with and thereby inhibit the biologic activity and translocation of NF-κB to the nucleus. We designed a fusion protein designated IκBα/scFvMEL composing of human IκBα and the single-chain antibody scFvMEL, targets melanoma gp240 antigen. Cells treated with IκBα/scFvMEL before irradiation showed specifically inhibition of both constitutive and radiation-induced NF-κB activity on gp240 antigen-positive A375M cells. Pretreatment of A375M cells with IκBα/scFvMEL significantly sensitized melanoma cells to ionizing radiation assessed using a clonogenic survival assay. Mechanistic studies showed that IκBα/scFvMEL, when exogenously added to A375M cells, could be coimmunoprecipitated with the p65 subunit of NF-κB. IκBα/scFvMEL inhibited in a time and/or dose-dependent manner of tumor necrosis factor α- or radiation-induced NF-κB activity in vitro. IκBα/scFvMEL was also shown to specifically inhibit the translocation of the NF-κB p65 subunit to the cell nucleus and NF-κB-mediated gene transcription. Further, initial studies showed that mice bearing well-established A375M xenografts were treated (intravenously) with IκBα/scFvMEL and showed a significant suppression of tumor growth. We also observed a decrease in levels of Bcl-2 and Bcl-XL signaling events downstream of NF-κB in the tumor model. These studies demonstrate for the first time that tumor cell-targeted delivery of IκBα may be beneficial for the treatment of melanoma when combined with standard anticancer therapies such as radiation

Neuroanatomical abnormalities in fragile X syndrome during the adolescent and young adult years.

Abnormal brain development and cognitive dysfunction have been reported both in children and in adults with fragile X syndrome (FXS). However, few studies have examined neuroanatomical abnormalities in FXS during adolescence. In this study we focus on adolescent subjects with FXS (N = 54) as compared to age- and sex-matched subjects with idiopathic intellectual disability (Comparison Group) (N = 32), to examine neuroanatomical differences during this developmental period. Brain structure was assessed with voxel-based morphometry and independent groups t-test in SPM8 software. Results showed that the FXS group, relative to the comparison group, had significantly larger gray matter volume (GMV) in only one region: the bilateral caudate nucleus, but have smaller GMV in several regions including bilateral medial frontal, pregenual cingulate, gyrus rectus, insula, and superior temporal gyrus. Group differences also were noted in white matter regions. Within the FXS group, lower FMRP levels were associated with less GMV in several regions including cerebellum and gyrus rectus, and less white matter volume (WMV) in pregenual cingulate, middle frontal gyrus, and other regions. Lower full scale IQ within the FXS group was associated with larger right caudate nucleus GMV. In conclusion, adolescents and young adults with FXS demonstrate neuroanatomical abnormalities consistent with those previously reported in children and adults with FXS. These brain variations likely result from reduced FMRP during early neurodevelopment and mediate downstream deleterious effects on cognitive function