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Background and aims Thrombomodulin (TM) is an endothelial cell membrane-bound anticoagulant protein expressed in normal arteries. After vascular injury, medial and neointimal smooth muscle cells (SMCs) exhibit large amounts of TM. The purpose of this study was to investigate the physiological significance of vascular SMC-bound TM. Methods The morphology, expression of phenotype markers and cell behaviors of cultured aortic SMCs after knockdown of TM were observed. Transgenic mice with SMC-specific TM deletion were generated, and carotid neointima formation was induced by carotid ligation. Results Cultured human aortic SMCs displayed a synthetic phenotype with a rhomboid-shaped morphology and expressed TM. TM knockdown induced a spindle-shaped change in morphology with an increased expression of contractile phenotype marker and decreased expression of synthetic phenotype marker. TM knockdown not only attenuated the proliferation of SMCs but also reduced tumor necrosis factor-α-induced nuclear factor-κB activation and interlukin-6 production. In a carotid artery ligation model, transgenic mice with SMC-specific TM deletion (SM22-cretg/TMflox/flox) had significantly less cellular proliferation in arterial walls compared with wild type mice (SM22-cretg/TM+/+). The neointima area and neointima/media area ratio were smaller in SM22-cretg/TMflox/flox mice at 4 weeks after ligation. Conclusions Our results indicate that vascular SMC-bound TM plays a role in changes of the SMC phenotype. It also influences SMC cell behavior and injury-induced neointima formation.

According to many studies, product diversification will benefit companies and motivate companies to carry out business diversification, including improving market competitiveness, spreading business risks and reducing ruin probabilities. In contrast to previous studies which only focus on the factors influencing diversification and the benefits of diversification, this study intends to analyze the causal relationship among diversification strategies, financial performance, and market values by the three-stage least squares (3SLS).

The Long-Term Care Service Act stipulates that it will be implemented two years after its formulation. This study explored the feasibility of introducing community-based long-term care institutions into service apartments. The conclusions are as follows:(1) The establishment of community-based long- old-age support, live a healthy life dignity, the general family economy to reduce the burden on the community can promote peace and harmony. (2) service apartment management model in line with the development of community-based long-term care institutions, apartment-style equipment and personal training is based on hotel-like professional services. For the day-to-day placement of the elderly as a tourist-like accommodation, the use of various types of equipment for the elderly and courses designed specifically for the elderly is more likely to be favored by the elderly and less expensive than the private care center. The introduction of serviced apartments into community long-term care institutions is an important reference for viable decisions.

In recent years, the government has actively promoted the development of relevant regulations for long-term care institutions. This study analyzes the feasibility of introducing daily rental suites business model into long-term care institutions, and draws the following conclusions: (1) The introduction of a daily rental suites business model into long-term care institutions has great benefits for the elderly and can also reduce the family financial burden. As the cost of daily rented suites is compared with that of private security centers, the public accepts that the cost of daily rented suites is higher. This also makes the financial burden of the elderly’s family less. (2) Relevant equipment and professional training provided by day-rent suites are aimed at hotel-level management. They provide a holiday-like living environment, and they also create many courses for the elderly. These courses can help the elderly develop their potential skills. Therefore, after analyzing the feasibility results of this study, it is feasible for the community-based long-term care institution to introduce the daily rental suites business model. This conclusion can provide a reference for the operator’s decision.

Advance care planning (ACP) and advance directives (ADs) ensure patient autonomy in end-of life care. The number of ADs made and followed in Taiwan is still lacking. This study aimed to determine the factors that influence the willingness to participate in ACP among outpatients in Taiwan. In this study, we conducted a cross-sectional survey based on convenient sampling methods. The questionnaire included questions about participants’ basic sociodemographic information, knowledge of ACP, and awareness of ACP. A total of 198 adults who were outpatients of a family medicine clinic in an affiliated hospital in Taiwan were recruited. The associations between each variable were evaluated using the χ2 test. The adjusted odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using the logistic regression method to examine the influence of each variable on willingness to participate in ACP. Being happy and being a healthcare professional were positively correlated with ACP participation. A lack of ACP knowledge (OR = 0.30 in model A and OR = 0.42 in model C), valuing “Reducing families’ end-of-life decision-making burden” (OR = 2.53 in model B and OR = 2.65 in model C), and a “Belief in a good death” (OR = 4.02 in model B and OR = 4.10 in Model C) were the main factors affecting subjects’ willingness to participate in ACP. Knowing which factors influence willingness to participate in ACP helps in the promotion of ACP. Continuously educating both the general public and healthcare professionals strengthens knowledge about the right to autonomy, about its associated laws, and about the ACP process, and thus, programs should be created to provide this education. Additionally, taking into account the differences between cultures can be helpful.

BACKGROUND PCDH8 is a newly-discovered suppressor gene that is frequently inactivated by aberrant methylation in several human cancers, including prostate cancer. The identification of PCDH8 methylation can be used as a potential predictive biomarker. Prostate cancer patients with high Gleason score are considered as being at high risk for tumor recurrence and progression, and adjuvant therapy is often routinely performed in clinical practice. In the present study, we did not measure the methylation of PCDH8 in these patients. The main purpose of the present study was to evaluate the clinical significance of PCDH8 methylation in serum of prostate cancer patients with low Gleason score. MATERIAL AND METHODS PCDH8 methylation in serum samples of 117 patients and 47 controls was checked by methylation-specific PCR (MSP). Then, we correlated PCDH8 methylation status with the clinicopathological parameters of prostate cancer patients with low Gleason score and patient outcomes. RESULTS We found that PCDH8 was more frequently methylated in serum samples of patients with prostate cancer than in controls. PCDH8 methylation was correlated with advanced clinical stage (P=0.021), higher level of preoperative PSA (P=0.008), and positive lymph node metastasis (P=0.010). Moreover, patients with PCDH8 methylation had worse biochemical recurrence (BCR)-free survival (P

After 20 year experiences in laparoscopic dismembered pyeloplasty, many studies have confirmed that laparoscopic dismembered pyeloplasty provided the advantages of minimal invasiveness and good success rate [1]. Moreover, laparoscopic approach had significant higher success rate compared with endoscopic incision technique for the treatment of UPJO [2].

Background: The rapid outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic promptly changed people's daily lives, influenced human interactions and economic activities and induced mental reactions. Objective: This review synthesized the evidence of correlation between demographic factors, social media exposure, stressors and anxiety and depression status in the early phase of COVID-19. Method: A systematically search included observational studies published before May15, 2020. We selected studies designed with valid measuring instruments of anxiety and depression. Result: 20 articles were included (19 cross-sectional) for review. People who were divorced/widowed, with poor self-rated health status, chronic illness and previous psychiatric illness had higher anxiety and depression prevalence. Higher COVID-19 awareness (including COVID-19 knowledge and precautionary measure) decreased anxiety and depression. The protective measures to reduce anxiety and depression levels included avoiding sharing meals, frequently washing hands and wearing mask. Economic loss, academic delay, influence of daily life, worrying and symptoms related to infection were stressors of anxiety and depression. There were lots of inconsistent results due to convenience sampling and diverse measuring instrument. Conclusion: Our review suggested that reliable information from health authorities, enhancing health literacies and prevention measures of general population can reduce anxiety and depression levels.

// Ying-Li Lin 1, * , Yan-Ling Wang 2, * , Xing-Li Fu 3 , Wen-Ping Li 4 , Yu-Hao Wang 5 , Jian-Guo Ma 4 1 Department of Urology, Xuzhou Cancer Hospital, Affiliated Xuzhou Hospital of Jiangsu University, Xuzhou, 221000, Jiangsu, China 2 Department of Anesthesiology, Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510630, Guangdong, China 3 Health Science Center, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, 212000, Jiangsu, China 4 Department of Urology, Third Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, 050051, Hebei, China 5 Department of Clinical Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210000, Jiangsu, China * These authors contributed equally to this work Correspondence to: Jian-Guo Ma, email: mjg2014sjz@163.com Keywords: bladder cancer, biomarker, protocadherin7, PCDH7, prognosis Received: December 04, 2015 Accepted: February 23, 2016 Published: April 07, 2016 ABSTRACT Bladder cancer is a heterogeneous disease with outcome difficult to predict, and novel predictive biomarkers are needed. PCDH7, a member of protocadherins family, functions as tumor suppressor in several human cancers. The human PCDH7 gene is localized in chromosome 4p15, which is often inactivated in human cancers, including bladder cancer. The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical significance of PCDH7 expression in non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC). PCDH7 expression was examined using immunohistochemical staining in 199 primary NMIBC tissues and 25 normal bladder epithelial tissues. Then the relationship between PCDH7 expression and clinicopathologic features was evaluated. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis and Cox analysis was used to evaluate the correlation between PCDH7 expression and prognosis. PCDH7 expression in NMIBC tissues was significantly lower than that in normal bladder epithelial tissues ( P < 0.001). Low PCDH7 expression correlated with advanced grade ( P = 0.021) and larger tumor size ( P = 0.044). Moreover, patients with low PCDH7 expression have shorter recurrence-free survival ( P < 0.001), progression-free survival ( P = 0.007) and overall survival ( P = 0.011) than patients with high PCDH7 expression. Low PCDH7 expression is an independent predictor of recurrence-free survival (multivariate Cox analysis: P = 0.007), progression-free survival (multivariate Cox analysis: P = 0.014) and overall survival (multivariate Cox analysis: P = 0.004). The findings indicate that low PCDH7 expression is a potential prognostic biomarker for primary NMIBC.

CXCL3 and its receptor CXCR2 were considered to play particularly important roles in the progression of malignancies. However, the investigations about CXCL3/CXCR2 axis in prostate cancer have been poorly involved. Herein we firstly reported our studies on the expression and biological roles of CXCL3 and CXCR2 in prostate cancer. Expression levels of CXCL3 and CXCR2 in prostate cancer cell lines (PC-3, DU145 and LNCaP), immortalized prostate stromal cell line (WPMY-1) and immortalized prostate epithelial cell line (RWPE-1) were investigated by RT-PCR, ELISA and western blot, whereas expression levels of CXCL3 in a prostate tissue microarray were detected by immunohistochemistry. Cell counting kit-8 and transwell assays were, respectively, utilized to determine the effects of exogenous CXCL3 on the cell proliferation and migration. We further examined whether CXCL3 could regulate the expression of genes correlated with prostate tumorigenesis by RT- PCR. Elevated expression of CXCR2 was detected in DU145, LNCaP and RWPE-1. Moreover, high-level CXCL3 can be secreted by PC-3 and RWPE-1, and CXCL3 protein expression level in tissue microarray is concordant with prostate cancer metastasis. Exogenous CXCL3 does not contribute to proliferation, but has a significant effect on migration of prostate cancer cells and RWPE-1. Finally, our data showed that exogenous CXCL3 can regulate the expression of genes including ERK, TP73, NUMB, BAX and NDRG3. Our findings suggest that CXCL3 and its receptor CXCR2 are overexpressed in prostate cancer cells, prostate epithelial cells and prostate cancer tissues, which may play multiple roles in prostate cancer progression and metastasis.

BACKGROUND Prostate cancer is a heterogeneous malignancy with outcome difficult to predict. Currently, there is an urgent need to identify novel biomarkers that can accurately predict patient outcome and improve the treatment strategy. The aim of this study was to investigate the methylation status of PCDH10 in serum of prostate cancer patients and its potential relevance to clinicopathological features and prognosis. MATERIAL AND METHODS The methylation status of PCDH10 in serum of 171 primary prostate cancer patients and 65 controls was evaluated by methylation-specific PCR (MSP), after which the relationship between PCDH10 methylation and clinicopathologic features was evaluated. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis and Cox analysis were used to evaluate the correlation between PCDH10 methylation and prognosis. RESULTS PCDH10 methylation occurred frequently in serum of prostate cancer patients. Moreover, PCDH10 methylation was significantly associated with higher preoperative PSA level, advanced clinical stage, higher Gleason score, lymph node metastasis, and biochemical recurrence (BCR). In addition, patients with methylated PCDH10 had shorter BCR-free survival and overall survival than patients with unmethylated PCDH10. Univariate and multivariate Cox proportional hazards model analysis indicated that PCDH10 methylation in serum is an independent predictor of worse BCR-free survival and overall survival. CONCLUSIONS PCDH10 methylation in serum is a potential prognostic biomarker for prostate cancer.

Administration of ulinastatin was proved to protect many organs from ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) induced injury, yet its protective effects on renal I/R injury under cold condition and mechanism still remain unclear. In the present study, the protective effects of ulinastatin on renal cold I/R injury as well as its mechanism were investigated. Renal cold I/R model was constructed via cross-clamping of left renal artery and vein at 4 °C. The ulinastatin was administrated and multi-methods were performed to evaluate the protective effects. The results showed that ulinastatin could mitigate the renal cold I/R injury. In addition, the attenuated kidney cold I/R injury by ulinastatin was also accompanied with its regulating capability of the microenvironment, such as decreased acute inflammatory response, oxidative stress damage and apoptosis, as well as attenuation of vasculature levels decrease, as evidence by reduced TNF-α, IL-6 mRNA expression, MDA levels and apoptosis, higher levels of SOD activity and CD31/α-SMA expression. The present study suggested that ulinastatin might be clinically useful in reducing preservation injury induced by cold I/R during renal transplantation surgery.

When people eat, the taste is very complex and be influenced easily by other senses. Such as visual, olfactory, and haptic, even past experiences, can affect the human perception, which in turn creates more taste possibilities. We present TransFork, an eating tool with olfactory feedback, which augments the tasting experience with video see-through head-mounted display. Additionally, we design a recipe via preliminary experiments to find out the taste conversion formula, which could enhance the flavor of foods and change the user perception to recognize the food. In this demonstration, we prepare a mini feast with bite-sized fruit, the participants use the TransFork to eat food A and smell the scent of food B stored at the aromatic box via airflow guiding. Before they deliver the food to their mouth, the head-mounted display augmented the color of food B on food A by the QR code on the aromatic box. With this augmented reality techniques and the recipe, the tasting experience could be augmented or enhanced, which is a potential approach and could be a playful used for eating.

During interaction in a virtual environment, haptic displays provide users with sensations such as vibration, texture simulation, and electrical muscle stimulation. However, as humans perceive object weights naturally in daily life, objects picked up in virtual reality feel unrealistically light. To create an immersive experience in virtual reality that includes weight sensation, we propose GravityCup, a liquid-based haptic feedback device that simulates realistic object weights and inertia when moving virtual handheld objects. In different scenarios, GravityCup uses liquid to provide users with a dynamic weight sensation experience that enhances interaction with handheld objects in virtual reality.

This paper explores the relationship among the job complexity of senior managers on their compensation and operating performances. The job complexity of senior managers is measured with proxy variables associated with operating activities. Simultaneous equations are then constructed to validate the endogenous relationships among these three factors. The empirical study indicates that the job complexity of senior managers is relevant to the improvement of operating performances and the level of executive compensation. This finding should serve as a reference for the information and electronics industry in the planning of executive compensation programs in order to enhance operating performances.

This study was undertaken to assess the effect of blood glucose on BMD and interactions with age, sex, and BMI in a Taiwanese population. Both obese and non-obese people with type 2 diabetes (T2DM) had higher BMD, at lumbar spine and femoral neck, compared with healthy subjects. In addition, the prevalence of osteoporosis significantly decreased with blood sugar and HbA1c. This study was undertaken to assess the effect of blood glucose on BMD and possible interactions with age, sex, and BMI in a Taiwanese population. This study was a retrospective cross-sectional study using data from the Health Examination Database of Changhua Christian Hospital. Data on BMD of the lumbar spine and femoral neck were obtained by dual X-ray absorptiometry (DXA), and other relevant clinical and laboratory data were recorded. The type 2 diabetes (T2DM) group had a higher BMD than the controls. When comparing the prevalence of osteoporosis between subjects by glucose and HbA1c level, the prevalence of osteoporosis significantly decreased with blood glucose and HbA1c. In addition, the BMD of the lumbar spine and femoral neck was higher in the T2DM group than in the controls. Osteoporosis was negatively associated with DM, BMI, and drinking, but positively associated with age, female gender, previous fracture history, and other diseases of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue. The association between diabetes and osteoporosis remained statistically significant after adjusting for the above factors. T2DM was associated with lower odds of osteoporosis in both obese (OR = 0.77) and non-obese (OR = 0.63) (p for interaction = 0.555). Both obese and non-obese people with T2DM had higher BMD, at lumbar spine and femoral neck, compared with healthy subjects. In addition, the prevalence of osteoporosis significantly decreased with blood glucose and HbA1c.

BACKGROUND Current studies indicated that PCDH17 functions as a tumor suppressor, which is frequently inactivated by aberrant promoter methylation in urologic tumors. The main purpose of this study was to investigate the methylation status of PCDH17 in serum and its clinical significance in renal cell carcinoma (RCC). MATERIAL AND METHODS The methylation status of PCDH17 in serum samples of 142 RCC patients and 34 controls was evaluated by methylation-specific PCR (MSP). Then we correlated PCDH17 methylation status with the clinicopathologic features of RCC patients and patient outcomes. RESULTS We found that PCDH17 was more frequently methylated in RCC patients than in controls. Moreover, PCDH17 methylation in serum was significantly correlated with advanced stage (p=0.044), higher grade (p=0.019), lymph node metastasis (p=0.008) and tumor progression (p

Fierce competition in today’s rapidly changing economic environment, the company must establish a sound corporate governance mechanism, in order to strengthen its competitiveness; General manager of corporate governance in the primary leader of the company’s response to the business environment of the test must be the general manager of professionalism in order to develop a clear proper management decisions. Empirical results show significant positive impact of the general manager and the longer the term of the higher professional level of corporate performance was. The general manager turnover, part-time situation it’s of having a significant negative impact on company performance.

BACKGROUND PCDH8 is a tumor suppressor that regulates cell adhesin, proliferation, and migration. It is often inactivated by aberrant promoter methylation in several human cancers, including clear cell renal cell carcinoma (CCRCC). The clinical significance of PCDH8 methylation in CCRCC remains unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between PCDH8 methylation and clinicopathological characteristics as well as outcome of patients with CCRCC. MATERIAL/METHODS The methylation status of PCDH8 in 153 CCRCC tissues and 97 paired adjacent normal renal tissues were examined using methylation-specific PCR (MSP). Then the relationships between PCDH8 methylation and clinicopathological features as well as progression-free survival of CCRCC patients were evaluated. RESULTS PCDH8 methylation was significantly more frequent in CCRCC tissues compared with normal renal tissues. Moreover, PCDH8 methylation was significantly correlated with advanced clinical stage (P=0.0141), higher grade (P=0.0190), and lymph node metastasis (P=0.0098). In addition, multivariate analysis showed that PCDH8 methylation was independently associated with poor progression-free survival (P=0.0316). CONCLUSIONS PCDH8 methylation is a frequent event in CCRCC and is correlated with unfavorable clinicopathological features. Moreover, PCDH8 methylation may be a useful biomarker to predict the progression of CCRCC.

BACKGROUND Prostate cancer is a common malignancy in men, and inevitably some patients experience biochemical recurrence after radical prostatectomy. To date, there are no reliable predictors for prostate cancer recurrence, and novel predictors are urgently needed. PCDH10 (protocadherin-10) is a novel tumor suppressor gene, which is down-regulated by promoter methylation in prostate cancer. The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of using PCDH10 methylation to predict the biochemical recurrence (BCR) of prostate cancer after radical prostatectomy. MATERIAL/METHODS Fresh tissue samples were obtained from 151 patients with primary prostate cancer, and from 34 patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) as control. The methylation status of PCDH10 in prostate cancer tissues and controls were examined using methylation-specific PCR (MSP), and then associated with clinicopathological features and BCR-free survival of patients with prostate cancer. RESULTS We found that PCDH10 methylation was detected in 79 (52.3%) patients with prostate cancer, but no methylation was found in controls (P