Estrogen Receptor-Beta Genotype, Seven Immunohistochemical Markers, and Human Lung Cancer

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in the United States. However, few new and effective treatments are available for lung cancer. A comprehensive understanding of the multiple signaling pathways that lead to tumor growth is a prerequisite for more effective and targeted cancer treatments. The purpose of this research was to investigate the relationship between proteins [hepatocypte growth factor (HGF), c-Met, and estrogen receptor-beta (ER-beta)] and gene expression of ER-beta (ESR2) and lung cancer survival along with identifying meaningful expression patterns of seven biomarkers [HGF, c-Met, ER-alpha, ER-beta, progesterone receptor (PR), aromatase, and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)]. We used immunohistochemistry to quantify the expression of seven proteins in primary lung tumor tissues from the Lung Cancer Specialized Program of Research Excellence substudy (N=204). The generalized linear mixed model approach, which controlled for sample type (tissue microarray vs. whole-section), showed high HGF expression associated negatively with advanced cancer stage (Pglobal=0.05) and positively with smoking (Pglobal=0.14). After accounting for stage and other factors, neither HGF nor c-Met expression predicted survival. Using a cluster algorithm, two groups were identified: (Cluster 1: high expression of ER-alpha ER-beta, cytoplasmic PR, EGFR, and aromatase; Cluster 2: high expression of HGF, c-Met, and nuclear PR). Two lung cancer subgroups exhibiting dissimilar 7-protein IHC expression patterns were similar in terms of host and tumor characteristics and in terms of overall survival (log rank test: p=0.69).Among 22 htSNPs of ESR2 gene, we have identified that rare allele of rs1256061 is associated with the maximum ER-beta expression among patients with adenocarcinoma, but not with squamous cell carcinoma.The results of this research enhanced the knowledge of the role of HGF and c-Met on lung cancer survival and also suggested that the relationship between genetic variation of ESR2 gene and protein expression may differ by lung cancer histology. Understanding the roles, the expression patterns, and the genetic of steroid hormones, growth factors and their receptors in lung cancer is of great public health significance because it may enable biologically directed and individually tailored treatment and their possible use as biomarkers for early detection and prevention

BIM-Based Construction Information Management Framework for Site Information Management

Projects in the construction industry are becoming increasingly large and complex, with construction technologies, methods, and the like developing rapidly. Various different types of information are generated by construction projects. Especially, a construction phase requires the input of many resources and generates a diverse set of information. While a variety of IT techniques are being deployed for information management during the construction phase, measures to create databases of such information and to link these various different types of information together are still insufficient. As such, this study aims to suggest a construction information database system based on BIM technology to enable the comprehensive management of site information generated during the construction phase. This study analyzed the information generated from construction sites and proposed a categorization system for structuring the generated information, along with a database model for storing such structured information. Through such efforts, it was confirmed that such a database system can be used for accumulating and using construction information; it is believed that, in the future, the continual accumulation and management of construction information will allow for corporate-level accumulation of knowledge as opposed to the individual accumulation of know-how

PD-1 deficiency protects experimental colitis via alteration of gut microbiota

Programmed cell death-1 (PD-1) is a coinhibitory molecule and plays a pivotal role in immune regulation. Here, we demonstrate a role for PD-1 in pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Wild-type (WT) mice had severe wasting disease during experimentally induced colitis, while mice deficient for PD-1 (PD-1(-/-)) did not develop colon inflammation. Interestingly, PD-1(-/-) mice cohoused with WT mice became susceptible to colitis, suggesting that resistance of PD-1(-/-) mice to colitis is dependent on their gut microbiota. 16S rRNA gene-pyrosequencing analysis showed that PD-1(-/-) mice had altered composition of gut microbiota with significant reduction in Rikenellaceae family. These altered colon bacteria of PD-1(-/-) mice induced less amount of inflammatory mediators from colon epithelial cells, including interleukin (IL)-6, and inflammatory chemokines. Taken together, our study indicates that PD-1 expression is involved in the resistance to experimental colitis through altered bacterial communities of colon.112Ysciescopuskc

Bloody nipple discharge in an infant

Although milky nipple discharge appears frequently in infants, bloody nipple discharge is a very rare finding. We experienced a 4-month-old, breast-fed infant who showed bilateral bloody nipple discharge with no signs of infection, engorgement, or hypertrophy. The infant's hormonal examination and coagulation tests were normal, and an ultrasound examination revealed mammary duct ectasia. The symptoms resolved spontaneously within 6 weeks without any specific treatment, except that we advised the mother to refrain from taking herbal medicine. Since no such case has been previously reported in Korea, we present this case with a brief review of the literature

A 0.5 μm Thick Polysilicon Schottky Diode with Rectification Ratio of 10^6

Polycrystalline Si films, 0.5-mm thick, were obtained as a result of metal-induced growth by sputtering from a Si target on 25 nm thick Ni prelayers at 525 °C. Silicon grew heteroepitaxially on the NiSi2 layer formed due to the reaction between the sputtered Si atoms and Ni. Schottky diodes were fabricated on the Si films by deposition of a Schottky metal on the front surface of the film while Ni disilicide provided an intimate ohmic contact at the back. A Pd/n-Si diode using an n-Si film annealed for 2 h at 700 °C in forming gas demonstrated a rectification ratio of 106, while an as-deposited p-Si film provided an Al/p-Si diode with rectification of five orders of magnitude. Schottky barrier properties are briefly discussed

The uncalibrated pulse contour cardiac output during off-pump coronary bypass surgery: performance in patients with a low cardiac output status and a reduced left ventricular function

BACKGROUND: We compared the continuous cardiac index measured by the FloTrac/Vigileo™ system (FCI) to that measured by a pulmonary artery catheter (CCI) with emphasis on the accuracy of the FCI in patients with a decreased left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and a low cardiac output status during off-pump coronary bypass surgery (OPCAB). We also assessed the influence of several factors affecting the pulse contour, such as the mean arterial pressure (MAP), the systemic vascular resistance index (SVRI) and the use of norepinephrine. METHODS: Fifty patients who were undergoing OPCAB (30 patients with a LVEF ≥ 40%, 20 patients with a LVEF < 40%) were enrolled. The FCI and CCI were measured and we performed a Bland-Altman analysis. Subgroup analyses were done according to the LVEF (< 40%), the CCI (≤ 2.4 L/min/m), the MAP (60-80 mmHg), the SVRI (1,600-2,600 dyne/s/cm(5)/m(2)) and the use of norepinephrine. RESULTS: The FCI was reliable at all the time points of measurement with an overall bias and limit of agreement of -0.07 and 0.67 L/min/m(2), respectively, resulting in a percentage error of 26.9%. The percentage errors in the patients with a decreased LVEF and in a low cardiac output status were 28.2% and 22.3%, respectively. However, the percentage error in the 91 data pairs outside the normal range of the SVRI was 40.2%. CONCLUSIONS: The cardiac output measured by the FloTrac/Vigileo™ system was reliable even in patients with a decreased LVEF and in a low cardiac output status during OPCAB. Acceptable agreement was also noted during the period of heart displacement and grafting of the obtuse marginalis branch.ope