BackgroundThe aim of this study was to evaluate whether stage at cancer diagnosis differed according to patient economic status.MethodsA total of 10,528 patients with cancer of the stomach, colorectum, breast, or cervix, which are target organs of the Korean National Cancer Screening Program (NCSP; fully implemented in 2005) were extracted from population-based cancer registries. The patients were classified into four groups based on socioeconomic status (SES), as determined using their National Health Insurance (NHI) monthly premium at the time of cancer diagnosis. Cancer stage at diagnosis was defined as early (in situ/local) or late stage (regional/distant) based on the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) summary stage. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to estimate the risk of non-local stage using age, residential area, and community deprivation index as covariates.ResultsThe lowest SES subjects showed significantly higher risks of being diagnosed at a later stage for stomach, colorectal, and female breast cancer, but not for cervical cancer, compared with the highest SES subjects. The estimated ORs were 1.28 (95% CI, 1.10–1.49), 1.29 (95% CI, 1.03–1.61), and 1.35 (95% CI, 1.02–1.81) in the lowest SES subjects with stomach, colorectal, and breast cancer, respectively.ConclusionsIn conclusion, later stage diagnoses of stomach, colon, and female breast cancer are still associated with SES in Korea in the era of the NCSP for the lower SES population.

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In this paper, composite polymer electrolytes were prepared by a blend of poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) and poly(acrylonitrile) (PAN) as a polymer matrix, ethylene carbonate as a plasticizer, LiClO4 as a salt, and by containing a different content of nano-sized Al2O3. The composite films were prepared by using the solution casting method. The crystallinity and ionic conductivity of the polymer electrolytes was investigated using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and AC impedance method, respectively. The morphology of composite polymer electrolyte film was analyzed by SEM method. From the experimental results, by increasing the Al2O3 content, the crystallinity of PEO was reduced, and the ionic conductivity was increased. In particular, by a doping of 15 wt.% Al2O3 in PEO/PAN polymer blend, the CPEs showed the superior ionic conductivity. However, when Al2O3 content exceeds 15 wt.%, the ionic conductivity was decreased. From the surface morphology, it was concluded that the ionic conductivity was decreased because the CPEs showed a heterogenous morphology due to immiscibility or aggregation of the ceramic filler within the polymer matrix.

Oxidative stress, caused by the excessive production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), results in cellular damage. Therefore, functional materials with antioxidant properties are necessary to maintain redox balance. Turmeric leaves (Curcuma longa L. leaves; TL) are known to have antioxidant properties, including 2,2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), 2,2′-Azino-di-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline)-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS), and Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) radical scavenging activity in several studies. The antioxidant effects of TL come from distinct bioactive compounds, such as curcumin, total phenolic compounds, and flavonoids. Therefore, in this study, the antioxidant effects of a water extract of TL (TLE) against H2O2 treatment were assessed in vitro Vero cells and in vivo zebrafish models. The intracellular ROS generation and the proportion of sub-G1 phase cells were evaluated in H2O2- or/and TLE-treated Vero cells to measure the antioxidant activity of TLE. TLE showed outstanding intracellular ROS scavenging activity and significantly decreased the proportion of cells in the sub-G1 phase in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, cell death, ROS generation, and lipid peroxidation in the H2O2-treated zebrafish model were attenuated as a consequence of TLE treatment. Collectively, the results from this study suggested that TLE may be an alternative material to relieve ROS generation through its antioxidant properties or a suitable material for the application in a functional food industry.

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It is important but challenging to elucidate the electrochemical reaction mechanisms of organic compounds using electroanalytical methods. Particularly, a rapid and straightforward method that provides information on reaction intermediates or other key electrochemical parameters may be useful. In this work, we exploited the advantages of classic thin-layer electrochemistry to develop a thin-layer electroanalysis microchip (TEAM). The TEAM provided better-resolved voltammetric peaks than under semi-infinite diffusion conditions owing to its small height. Importantly, rapid and accurate determination of the number of electrons transferred, n, was enabled by mechanically confining the microliter-scale volume analyte at the electrode, while securing ionic conduction using polyelectrolyte gels. The performance of the TEAM was validated using voltammetry and coulometry of standard redox couples. Utilizing the TEAM, a (spectro)­electrochemical analysis of FM 1–43, an organic dye widely used in neuroscience, was successfully performed. Moreover, the TEAM was applied to study the electrochemical oxidation mechanism of pivanilides and alkyltrifluoroborate salts with different substituents and solvents. This work suggests that TEAM is a promising tool to provide invaluable mechanistic information and promote the rational design of electrosynthetic strategies.

Carbonate-type organic electrolytes were prepared using propylene carbonate (PC) and dimethyl carbonate (DMC) as a solvent, quaternary ammonium salts, and by adding different contents of 1-ethyl-3-methyl imidazolium tetrafluoroborate (EMImBF 4 ). Cyclic voltammetry and linear sweep voltammetry were performed to analyze conducting behaviors. The surface characterizations were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy method and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. From the experimental results, increasing the EMImBF 4 content increased the ionic conductivity and reduced bulk resistance and interfacial resistance. In particular, after adding 15 vol% EMImBF 4 in 0.2 M SBPBF 4 PC/DMC electrolyte, the organic electrolyte showed superior capacitance and interfacial resistance. However, when EMImBF 4 content exceeded 15 vol%, the capacitance was saturated and the voltage range decreased.

Introduction: Although platelet reactivity on clopidogrel is related to outcomes in patients with acute coronary syndromes, few studies have investigated its relation to clinical outcomes in acute ischemic stroke. Hypothesis: This study evaluated the association between clopidogrel resistance and early neurological outcomes in patients diagnosed with acute large artery atherosclerotic stroke. Methods: 1067 consecutive patients with onset within 7 days and stroke classification of large artery atherosclerosis were included. Platelet reactivity on clopidogrel was assessed using VeryfyNow P2Y12 assay at least 72 hours after the time of first clopidogrel dosage. Optimal cutoff value of clopidogrel resistance was obtained by using receiver-operating characteristic curve. Early neurological deterioration was defined as an increment of motor NIHSS score ≥1 before P2Y12 assay. We assessed any hemorrhagic transformation on 5-day MRI. Results: A total of 235 patients who met inclusion criteria were analyzed. The median initial dose of clopidogrel was 300 mg, and their median P2Y12 % inhibition was 26.3. P2Y12 % inhibition <29 was the significant discriminator of clopidogrel resistance with an AUC of 0.632 (95% CI 0.48-0.67; p=0.048). A multivariate analysis revealed that clopidogrel resistance is an independent risk factor even after adjustment for the variables that may affect the outcome (OR 2.75; 95% CI 1.11 to 6.83; p=0.029). Hemorrhagic transformation was not influenced by clopidogrel resistance (OR 0.60, 95% CI 0.14 to 2.540; P=0.484). Conclusion: In conclusion, high platelet reactivity with clopidogrel is an independent risk factor of early neurological worsening in acute large artery atherosclerotic stroke. Evaluation of ischemic stroke patients regarding antiplatelet resistance might be of clinical importance and alternative pharmacological strategies could be investigated in patients with high platelet reactivity.