Search

Autoantibodies against specific lung cancer-associated antigens have been suggested for the performance of lung cancer diagnosis. This study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic performance of the antigen–autoantibody immune complex (AIC) against its free antigens for CYFRA21-1, ProGRP, neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL), and neuron-specific enolase (NSE) in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). In total, 85 patients with NSCLC and 120 healthy controls (HCs) were examined using a 9-guanine DNA chip method. The ratios of AICs to their antigens and the combinations of ratios consisting of two to four markers were calculated. The levels of AICs for CYFRA21-1, ProGRP, NGAL, and NSE were higher than those for their free antigens in all participants. The levels of each free antigens distinguished patients with NSCLC from the HCs. The ratios of the AIC to its antigen and seven combinations of two to four ratios were significantly higher in patients with NSCLC than in the HCs. Excellent diagnostic performance was observed for all combination ratios (C4-1), with 85.9% sensitivity and 86.7% specificity at a 3.51 cut-off. Higher sensitivity was observed in the early stages (0–I) and adenocarcinoma than in stages II–IV and other pathological types. Combining all ratios of AICs and their antigens for all four markers was useful when diagnosing NSCLC.

In the era of precision medicine, the prediction of ovarian function recovery from chemotherapy-induced amenorrhoea using feasible biological markers may be helpful to optimise the treatment strategy for young patients with hormone receptor-positive breast cancer. The purpose of this study was to investigate the accuracy of post-chemotherapy biological markers for predicting the recovery of ovarian function in breast cancer patients of the ASTRRA trial, with chemotherapy-induced amenorrhoea. Using data of 82 participants from a single institution in the ASTRRA trial, the post-chemotherapy serum levels of the anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH), oestradiol, inhibin B and other clinical factors associated with chemotherapy-induced amenorrhoea were evaluated. Recovery of ovarian function was defined by the resumption of menstruation manifested by vaginal bleeding. Fifty-two patients regained menstruation within 55 months after enrolment. In univariate analysis,

Variations and alterations of copy numbers (CNVs and CNAs) carry disease susceptibility and drug responsiveness implications. Although there are many molecular methods to measure copy numbers, sensitivity, reproducibility, cost, and time issues remain. In the present study, we were able to solve those problems utilizing our modified real competitive PCR method with cloned competitors (mrcPCR). First, the mrcPCR for ERBB2 copy number was established, and the results were comparable to current standard methods but with a shorter assay time and a lower cost. Second, the mrcPCR assays for 24 drug-target genes were established, and the results in a panel of NCI-60 cells were comparable to those from real-time PCR and microarray. Third, the mrcPCR results for FCGR3A and the FCGR3B CNVs were comparable to those by the paralog ratio test (PRT), but without PRT's limitations. These results suggest that mrcPCR is comparable to the currently available standard or the most sensitive methods. In addition, mrcPCR would be invaluable for measurement of CNVs in genes with variants of similar structures, because combination of the other methods is not necessary, along with its other advantages such as short assay time, small sample amount requirement, and applicability to all sequences and genes.

Abstract Background Suicide rates in older adults are much higher than those in younger age groups. Given the rapid increase in the proportion of older adults in Korea and the high suicide rate of this age group, it is worth investigating the mechanism of suicidal ideation for older adults. Generally, adverse childhood experiences are positively associated with suicidal ideation; however, it is not fully understood what mediating relationships are linked to the association between these experiences and current suicidal ideation. Methods The data from 685 older Korean adults were analyzed utilizing logistic regression, path analyses, and structural equation modeling. Based on our theoretical background and the empirical findings of previous research, we examined three separate models with mental health, physical health, and social relationship mediators. After that, we tested a combined model including all mediators. We also tested another combined model with mediation via mental health moderated by physical health and social relationships. Results The univariate logistic regression results indicated that childhood adversity was positively associated with suicidal ideation in older adults. However, multivariate logistic regression results demonstrated that the direct effect of childhood adversity became nonsignificant after accounting all variables. Three path models presented significant mediation by depression and social support in the association between childhood adversity and suicidal ideation. However, combined structural equation models demonstrated that only mediation by a latent variable of mental health problems was statistically significant. Social relationships moderated the path from mental health problems to suicidal ideation. Conclusions Despite several limitations, this study has clinical implications for the development of effective strategies to mitigate suicidal ideation. In particular, effectively screening the exposure to adverse childhood experiences, early identification and treatment of depressive symptoms can play a crucial role in weakening the association between childhood adversity and suicidal ideation in older adults.

Introduction Despite the high prevalence of major depressive disorder (MDD) among the elderly population, the rate of treatment is low due to stigmas and barriers to medical access. Wearable devices such as smartphones and smartwatches can help to screen MDD symptoms earlier in a natural setting while forgoing these concerns. However, previous research using wearable devices has mostly targeted the younger population. By collecting longitudinal data using wearable devices from the elderly population, this research aims to produce prediction algorithms for late-life depression and to develop strategies that strengthen medical access in community care systems.Methods and analysis The current cohort study recruited a subsample of 685 elderly people from the Korean Genome and Epidemiology Study—Cardiovascular Disease Association Study, a national large cohort established in 2004. The current study has been conducted over a 3-year period to explore the development patterns of late-life depression. Participants have completed three annual face-to-face interviews (baseline, the first follow-up and the second follow-up) and 2 years of app-based surveys and passive sensing data collection. All the data collection will end at the second follow-up interview. The collected self-report, observational and passive sensing data will be primarily analysed by machine learning.Ethics and dissemination This study protocol has been reviewed and approved by the Yonsei University Mirae Campus Institutional Review Board (1041849–2 02 111 SB-180-06) in South Korea. All participants provided written informed consent. The findings of this research will be disseminated by academic publications and conference presentations.

BackgroundAs life expectancy increases, understanding the mechanism for late-life depression and finding a crucial moderator becomes more important for mental health in older adults. Childhood adversity increases the risk of clinical depression even in old age. Based on the stress sensitivity theory and stress-buffering effects, stress would be a significant mediator, while social support can be a key moderator in the mediation pathways. However, few studies have tested this moderated mediation model with a sample of older adults. This study aims to reveal the association between childhood adversity and late-life depression in older adults, taking into consideration the effects of stress and social support.MethodsThis study used several path models to analyze the data from 622 elderly participants who were never diagnosed with clinical depression.ResultsWe found that childhood adversity increases the odds ratio of depression by approximately 20% in older adults. Path model with mediation demonstrates that stress fully mediates the pathway from childhood adversity to late-life depression. Path model with moderated mediation also illustrates that social support significantly weakens the association between childhood adversity and perceived stress.ConclusionThis study provides empirical evidence to reveal a more detailed mechanism for late-life depression. Specifically, this study identifies one crucial risk factor and one protective factor, stress and social support, respectively. This brings insight into prevention of late-life depression among those who have experienced childhood adversity.

This study was carried out to observe and measure the microstructure, distance between dendrite arms, aspect ratio, and Knoop hardness change of extruded material formed by the hydro co-extrusion of Al3003/Al4004 clad material manufactured by the duo-casting method. The specimen of duo-casted Al3003/Al4004 clad materials was circle shaped; it was composed of Al3003 (outside) and Al4004 (inside) materials. The manufacturing conditions of the hydro co-extruded specimen were 423 K temperature and 6.5 ratio of extrusion. At the interface of the duo-casted Al3003/Al4004 clad material, a non-junction at the interface and non-metallic inclusions of Si- and Mn-based oxides were observed. Al3003 exhibits equiaxed crystals; Al4004 has a casted structure with dendrites before extrusion, showed slight deformation during extrusion, and then finally exhibited completely deformed structures after extrusion. In the cast material, the distance between dendrite arms increased, and the aspect ratio of dendrites tended to decrease from the surface to the center. However, in the case of the extruded material, neither Al3003 nor Al4004 changed significantly from the surface to the inside. As extrusion progressed, the Knoop hardness value at the interface of Al3003/Al4004 increased rapidly compared with those of Al3003 and Al4004 matrixes.