Pancreatic cystic lesions are being recognized with increasing frequency because of the widespread use of cross-sectional imaging. Although most pancreatic cysts are incidentally detected, pancreatic cysts represent a wide spectrum of histopathology, and neoplastic cysts are more prevalent than previously estimated. Some histologic types have malignant potential. Considering the incidence of perioperative morbidity in patients undergoing surgical resection, deciding whether to operate on or observe an indeterminate pancreatic cyst is challenging. This clinical dilemma has created the need to develop a minimally invasive approach for treating pancreatic cysts. EUS-guided pancreatic cyst ablation has been investigated in several clinical trials and has the potential to become an alternative to surgical resection.
Endosonography ; Humans ; Incidence ; Pancreatic Cyst*

Preprints are preliminary research reports that have not yet been peer-reviewed. They have been widely adopted to promote the timely dissemination of research across many scientific fields. In August 1991, Paul Ginsparg launched an electronic bulletin board intended to serve a few hundred colleagues working in a subfield of theoretical high-energy physics, thus launching arXiv, the first and largest preprint platform. Additional preprint servers have since been implemented in different academic fields, such as BioRxiv (2013, Biology; www.biorxiv.org) and medRxiv (2019, Health Science; www.medrxiv.org). While preprint availability has made valuable research resources accessible to the general public, thus bridging the gap between academic and non-academic audiences, it has also facilitated the spread of unsupported conclusions through various media channels. Issues surrounding the preprint policies of a journal must be addressed, ultimately, by editors and include the acceptance of preprint manuscripts, allowing the citation of preprints, maintaining a double-blind peer review process, changes to the preprint’s content and authors’ list, scoop priorities, commenting on preprints, and preventing the influence of social media. Editors must be able to deal with these issues adequately, to maintain the scientific integrity of their journal. In this review, the history, current status, and strengths and weaknesses of preprints as well as ongoing concerns regarding journal articles with preprints are discussed. An optimal approach to preprints is suggested for editorial board members, authors, and researchers.

Preprints are preliminary research reports that have not yet been peer-reviewed. They have been widely adopted to promote the timely dissemination of research across many scientific fields. In August 1991, Paul Ginsparg launched an electronic bulletin board intended to serve a few hundred colleagues working in a subfield of theoretical high-energy physics, thus launching arXiv, the first and largest preprint platform. Additional preprint servers have since been implemented in different academic fields, such as BioRxiv (2013, Biology; www.biorxiv.org) and medRxiv (2019, Health Science; www.medrxiv.org). While preprint availability has made valuable research resources accessible to the general public, thus bridging the gap between academic and non-academic audiences, it has also facilitated the spread of unsupported conclusions through various media channels. Issues surrounding the preprint policies of a journal must be addressed, ultimately, by editors and include the acceptance of preprint manuscripts, allowing the citation of preprints, maintaining a double-blind peer review process, changes to the preprint’s content and authors’ list, scoop priorities, commenting on preprints, and preventing the influence of social media. Editors must be able to deal with these issues adequately, to maintain the scientific integrity of their journal. In this review, the history, current status, and strengths and weaknesses of preprints as well as ongoing concerns regarding journal articles with preprints are discussed. An optimal approach to preprints is suggested for editorial board members, authors, and researchers.

PURPOSE: Cytokines, hormones and growth factors use signal transducers and activators of transcription (STAT) signaling pathways to control various biological responses, including development, differentiation, cell proliferation and survival. STAT3 and 5 help promote cell cycle progression and cellular transformation and prevent apoptosis. In this research, the presence of STAT3 and STAT5 activation and their association with pathological features and clinical outcome in renal cell carcinoma cases were studied. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Using immunohistochemistry with rabbit polyclonal anti-STAT3 and STAT5 antibodies, forty-eight paraffin-embedded renal cell carcinoma specimens were examined for the activation status of STAT3 and STAT5. Cells of which 10% or more were left with a dark brown stains in the nucleus were regarded as positive tumor cells. The activation status of STAT3 and STAT5 were compared with the clinicopathological variables. RESULTS: Significant associations of STAT3 activation with tumor size, T-stage, distant metastases and low survival rate were observed (p<0.05); and in STAT5, significant associations with distant metastases and low survival rate were observed (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study strongly suggest that the activation of STAT3 and STAT5 contribute to the development and progression of the renal cell carcinoma.
Antibodies ; Apoptosis ; Carcinoma, Renal Cell* ; Cell Cycle ; Cell Differentiation ; Coloring Agents ; Cytokines ; Immunohistochemistry ; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; STAT3 Transcription Factor ; STAT5 Transcription Factor ; Survival Rate ; Transducers

The authors have intended to measure intrinsic dose distribution by Farmer dosimeter in irregularly shaped fields such as L.M. and T shape models in order to determine dose in homogeneity in those models. We made 2 off-xis points in each model and measured the depth dose at 1.5, 5 and 9cm below surface. The results showed 1~3% dose discrepancy between 2 points. We also measured the depth dose by geometric approximation and computer calculation in those models, and came to the conclusion that computer calculation using Clarkson's principle is simpler and the measurements are closer to the ideal data obtained by the experiment in three models of irregularly shaped fields than those of geometric approximation method.

Bilioenteric anastomosis strictures are a serious complication of biliary surgery, and often result in recurrent cholangitis, choledocholithiasis, biliary cirrhosis, and hepatic failure. Bilioenteric reconstructive surgery is the standard treatment of choice for such complications. However, percutaneous transhepatic cholangioscopy (PTCS), also known as per-oral endoscopic-guided intervention, is a less invasive procedure that is becoming an increasingly popular alternative. This review describes the PTCS procedure (including the preparation process), as well as the diagnostic and therapeutic role of PTCS in bilioenteric anastomosis strictures.
Cholangitis ; Choledocholithiasis ; Constriction, Pathologic* ; Liver Cirrhosis, Biliary ; Liver Failure

No abstract available.
Ischemia* ; Skin*

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effects of photodynamic therapy with verteporfin on visual acuity and fluorescein angiography in choroidal neovascularization (CNV) associated with pathologic myopia and to determine if this treatment could reproduce the results achieved in the Verteporfin in Photodynamic Therapy (VIP) Trial in Korean patients. METHODS: Forty-two eyes of 39 patients with CNV secondary to pathologic myopia were included. A retrospective review of their clinical records and fluorescein angiography was done. The patients underwent photodynamic therapy with verteporfin and were followed up for more than 6 months after the therapy. The change in best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and leakage in fluorescein angiography were evaluated. RESULTS: The mean age of the patients was 39.6 and mean follow-up period was 23.5 months. The BCVA of the patients improved in 22 (52.4%) eyes, was unchanged in 13 (30.9%), and worsened in 7 (16.7%). The leakage in fluorescein angiography decreased in 25 (59.5%) eyes. CONCLUSIONS: Photodynamic therapy with verteporfin for myopic CNV in Korean patients appeared to be effective in stabilization of the lesions and improvement of visual acuity.
Choroidal Neovascularization ; Fluorescein Angiography ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Myopia ; Photochemotherapy* ; Retrospective Studies ; Visual Acuity

BACKGROUND: Among the many methods estimating the quantity of beta-hCG for pregnancy testing in urine, immunochromatography is one of most widely used semi-quantitative detection method for its convenience to use and also for its rapid result reporting system. PREG-Q(TM) is a newly introduced semi-quantitative immunochromatography method for detecting b-hCG. Clinical usefulness of PREG-Q(TM) was evaluated as a screening test for early pregnancy detection. METHODS: Accuracy, detection limit, cross-reactivity with various glycoprotein hormones, interference study, and comparison study using total 100 urine samples from pregnant (50 samples) and non-pregnant women (50 samples) was evaluated. RESULTS: All the 50 urine samples of pregnant women showed positive results, and another 50 urine samples of non-pregnant women showed negative results with PREG-Q(TM). The lower detection limit of PREG-Q(TM) was 25 mIU/mL and the result was not affected by addition of glycoprotein hormones tested. Interfering substance causing false negative or false positive results enrolled didn't affect the test results in this study. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude PREG-Q(TM) is an excellent test kit for pregnancy test, and is valuable especially for detecting early pregnancy.
Female ; Glycoproteins ; Humans ; Immunochromatography ; Limit of Detection ; Mass Screening* ; Pregnancy Tests ; Pregnancy* ; Pregnant Women