Abstract P2-04-24: Changes of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes and programmed death-ligand1 positivity after neoadjuvant chemotherapy in patients with locally advanced breast cancer

Background

Recently, the balance in immune system between immune surveillance and tolerance is known to be associated with the prognosis of breast cancer patients. The aim of this study was to investigate changes of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) and programmed death-ligand1 (PD-L1) status after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) and their impact on recurrence in patients with locally advanced breast cancer.

Methods

Paired samples (before and after NAC) of triple negative or HER2+ breast cancer tissue were obtained from clinical stage II or III patients (n=39) undergoing NAC and subsequent breast resection. The assessment of immunohistochemical (IHC) staining for PD-L1 were performed. Immunostaining of forkhead box P3 (Foxp3) and CD4/CD8 were performed for subtyping of TILs in triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) only. Clinicopathologic data including baseline characteristics, tumor response and recurrence were reviewed.

Results

Proportion of PD-L1 (+) tumor cells in pre-chemotherapy tissue was 20% (5/25) in HER2+ and 28.6% (4/14) in TNBC. It could not predict pathologic complete response. Most post-chemotherapy tissue (21/24) showed same PD-L1 positivity with pre-chemotherapy tissue. The rest showed the decreased PD-L1 positivity after NAC.

In cases of TNBC, the increased number of CD8+ T cells was significantly associated with PD-L1 positivity in pre-chemotherapy tissue. (p=0.001) Foxp3+ T cell proportions decreased significantly (p=0.046) and CD8+/Foxp3+ T-cell ratio increased significantly (p=0.023) after NAC. The patients with increased number of CD8+ T cells after NAC had a tendency to live longer without recurrence compared to patients with decreased CD8+ T cells (62.3 vs 38.1 months, p=0.158).

Conclusion

Our data provides the clinical evidence that PD-L1 positivity are associated with CD8+ T cell proportion and increased CD8+ T cells after NAC might be good prognostic marker. The role of immunologic balance as a prognostic marker for recurrence must be evaluated in future study.

Citation Format: Choi YJ, Lee JH, Moon SY, Choi JY, Jung SP, Bae JW, Park KH. Changes of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes and programmed death-ligand1 positivity after neoadjuvant chemotherapy in patients with locally advanced breast cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2016 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2016 Dec 6-10; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2017;77(4 Suppl):Abstract nr P2-04-24.

Ranitidine-induced anaphylaxis: clinical features, cross-reactivity, and skin testing

BACKGROUND

Histamine H2 receptor antagonists are commonly prescribed medications and are known to be well tolerated. However, 99 cases of ranitidine-induced anaphylaxis occurred in Korea from 2007 to 2014.

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to determine the incidence, clinical features, and diagnostic methods for ranitidine-induced anaphylaxis.

METHODS

Ranitidine-related pharmacovigilance data from 2007 to 2014 were reviewed. Adverse drug reactions with causal relationships were selected, and clinical manifestations, outcomes, and drug-related information were assessed. For further investigation, 8 years of pharmacovigilance data were collected at a single centre. Twenty-three patients participated in in vivo and in vitro studies. Skin tests, oral provocation tests, and laboratory tests were performed, including tests using other kinds of histamine H2 receptor antagonists.

RESULTS

Over 7 years, 584 patients suffered adverse reactions to ranitidine. The most common manifestation was cutaneous symptoms. Among them, 99 patients (17.0%) experienced anaphylaxis. In a single-centre study, skin prick tests were positive in 91.7% of ranitidine-induced anaphylaxis patients (11/12); the optimal concentration was 20 mg/mL. Detection of ranitidine-specific immunoglobulin E failed. Cimetidine and proton pump inhibitors showed no cross-reactivity with ranitidine based on the skin prick test, oral provocation test, or clinical determination. Surprisingly, 82.6% of patients reintroduced ranitidine and re-experienced the same adverse reactions because ranitidine was not considered the culprit drug.

CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE

Although ranitidine is known as a safe drug, it can also cause diverse adverse reactions, including anaphylaxis. This study demonstrates the need to pay attention to adverse reactions to ranitidine and consider ranitidine as a cause of anaphylaxis.

Inhibition of microRNA-449a prevents IL-1β-induced cartilage destruction via SIRT1

OBJECTIVE

SIRT1 has anti-inflammatory as well as protective effects in chondrocytes. The object of this study was to investigate whether microRNA-449a regulates expression of SIRT1, which inhibits expression of catabolic genes in IL-1β-induced cartilage destruction.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

MicroRNA-449a expression was determined in OA chondrocytes and IL-1β-induced chondrocytes by real-time PCR. MicroRNA-449a binding sites on the 3'-UTR of SIRT1 mRNA and binding site conservation were examined using microRNA target prediction tools. SIRT1-overexpressing or knockdown chondrocytes were transfected with microRNA-449a or anti-microRNA-449a mimic and stimulated by IL-1β. Expression of catabolic and anabolic genes was examined by real-time PCR and western blotting. Finally, positive effects of anti-microRNA-449a on expression of these genes were confirmed by western analysis of OA chondrocytes.

RESULTS

Expression of microRNA-449a was increased in OA chondrocytes and IL-1β-induced chondrocytes. MMP-13 expression was enhanced, whereas type II collagen and SIRT1 expression were decreased in IL-1β-induced chondrocytes. SIRT1 overexpression resulted in decreased expression of catabolic genes such as MMPs and ADAMTSs in response to IL-1β, but these effects were moderated by microRNA-449a. Suppression of microRNA-449a by anti-microRNA-449a inhibited expression of catabolic genes despite IL-1β stimulation, but these effects were abolished in SIRT1 knockdown chondrocytes. Furthermore, expression of catabolic genes was decreased and expression of type II collagen as well as SIRT1 was restored by anti-microRNA-449a in OA chondrocytes as well as in IL-1β-induced chondrocytes.

CONCLUSION

Silencing of microRNA-449a had a protective effect, inhibiting catabolic gene expression and restoring anabolic gene expression, by targeting SIRT1 in IL-1β-induced cartilage destruction.

A randomized, multi-center, open-label, phase III study of once-per-cycle DA-3031, a pegylated G-CSF, in comparison with daily filgrastim in patients receiving TAC chemotherapy for breast cancer

PURPOSE

This multi-center, randomized, phase III study was conducted to demonstrate the non-inferiority of DA-3031 compared with daily filgrastim in patients during the first cycle of chemotherapy for breast cancer in terms of the duration of severe neutropenia (DSN).

METHODS

Seventy-four patients with breast cancer who were receiving combination chemotherapy with docetaxel, doxorubicin, and cyclophosphamide (TAC) were enrolled. All participants were randomized to receive either daily subcutaneous injections of filgrastim 100 μg/m²/day for up to 10 days or a single subcutaneous injection of DA-3031 at fixed doses of 6 mg on day 2 of each chemotherapy cycle.

RESULTS

The mean duration of grade 4 (G4) neutropenia in cycle 1 was 2.08 ± 0.85 days for the filgrastim group and 2.28 ± 1.14 days for the DA-3031 group. The difference between groups was 0.2 ± 1.10 days (95 % confidence interval (CI) = -0.26, 0.66), which supported non-inferiority. No statistically significant differences were observed in nadir absolute neutrophil count (ANC) (154.34/mm³ and 161.75/mm³ for the filgrastim and DA-3031 groups, respectively; P = 0.8414) or in time to ANC recovery (10.03 ± 0.75 and 9.83 ± 1.56 days in the filgrastim and DA-3031 groups, respectively; P = 0.0611) during cycle 1. Serious AEs occurred in six (15.8 %) patients receiving filgrastim and in ten (27.8 %) patients receiving DA-3031; however, none was determined to be related to the study drug.

CONCLUSIONS

DA-3031 and daily filgrastim are similar in regard to DSN and safety in breast cancer patients receiving TAC chemotherapy.

Reference Range of Respiratory Muscle Strength and Its Clinical Application in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: A Single-Center Study

Background and Purpose

Evaluating respiratory function is important in neuromuscular diseases. This study explored the reference ranges of the maximal inspiratory pressure (MIP), maximal expiratory pressure (MEP), and sniff nasal inspiratory pressure (SNIP) in healthy adults, and applied them to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients.

Methods

MIP, MEP, and SNIP were measured in 67 healthy volunteers aged from 21 to 82 years. Reference ranges were evaluated by multivariate regression analysis using the generalized additive modeling of location, scale, and shape method. Thirty-six ALS patients were reviewed retrospectively, and abnormal values of MIP, MEP, and SNIP were determined according to the reference ranges.

Results

MIP, MEP, and SNIP were abnormal in 57.1%, 51.4%, and 25.7% of the ALS patients, respectively. MIP and SNIP were significantly correlated with the degree of restrictive pattern and respiratory symptoms. The ALS Functional Rating Scale-Revised score was correlated with SNIP.

Conclusions

This study has provided the reference range of respiratory muscle strength in healthy adults. This range is suitable for evaluating respiratory function in ALS patients.

Toxocara canis-Associated Myelitis with Eosinophilic Pneumonia

The existence of Toxocara canis-specific antibodies has recently been reported in patients with atopic myelitis. Here, we report the case of a 35-year-old male patient admitted with a chief complaint of right lower limb hypoesthesia lasting for a month. The patient was diagnosed with eosinophilic pneumonia 3 months ago, and a spine MRI revealed the presence of myelitis in the cervicothoracic cord. After confirming the presence of hyper-IgE-emia and Toxocara canis antibodies, the patient was treated with steroids and albendazole treatment, which improved his symptoms. To our knowledge, this is the first case of Toxocara canis-associated myelitis with eosinophilic pneumonia.

Blood Transcriptome Profiling in Myasthenia Gravis Patients to Assess Disease Activity: A Pilot RNA-seq Study

Myasthenia gravis (MG) is an antibody-mediated autoimmune disease characterized by exertional weakness. There is no biomarker to reflect disease activity and guide treatment decision. Here, we reported a pilot blood transcriptome study using RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) that identified differences of 5 samples in active status and 5 in remission from 8 different patients and 2 patients provided samples for both active and remission phase. We found a total of 28 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) possibly related to disease activity (23 up-regulated and 5 down-regulated). The DEGs were enriched for the cell motion and cell migration processes in which included were ICAM1, CCL3, S100P and GAB2. The apoptosis and cell death pathway was also significantly enriched, which includes NFKBIA, ZC3H12A, TNFAIP3, and PPP1R15A. Our result suggests that transcript abundance profiles of the genes involved in cell trafficking and apoptosis may be a molecular signature of the disease activity in MG patients.

Abstract P1-09-09: Role of endocrine therapy in premenopausal patients with hormone receptor-positive metastatic breast cancer, compared with postmenopausal patients: Diachronic analyses from nationwide cohort in Korea (KCSG BR 14-07)

Background

Endocrine therapy (E) has a major role in treatment of hormone receptor (HR)-positive metastatic breast cancer (MBC). However, in contrast to western countries, premenopausal patients (PRE) more prevalent (50% of all breast cancer patients) and have less options of E than postmenopausal patients (POST) in Korea where the use of LHRH agonist in combination aromatase inhibitors (AIs) in PRE is restricted. Recently we have been successfully established nationwide cohort for the patients MBC (575 patients from 26 institutes). This study was designed to evaluate the role of E especially in PRE.

Methods

The patients with MBC were prospectively or retrospectively enrolled between September 2014 and May 2015. Only menopausal status-confirmed patients (296) were analyzed. Postmenopause was defined, based on NCCN guideline. Total duration of treatment was defined as the time from start day of any first treatment to end of any last treatment. Total duration of E was defined as the sum of time duration of each E. Overall survival was calculated from the start day of any treatment for MBC to any causes of death. This work is supported by National Strategic Coordinating Center for Clinical Research (H110C2020).

Results

A total of 296 patients with HR-positive MBC were analyzed [PRE, 169 (57.1%) and POST, 127 (42.9%)]. Except age (mean 44 and 60 years), baseline characteristics including in pathology, HER2 status, initial pathologic stage, de novo metastasis versus recurrence, surgery and adjuvant treatment (chemotherapy, endocrine therapy and radiotherapy) were well balanced. 92 (54.4%) of PRE and 77 (60.6%) of POST received at least one or more E through all treatment course. 41 (24.2%) of PRE and 44 (34.6%) received E as 1st-line treatment (p=0.034). Among PRE who received 1st-line of E, 30 (71.4%) and 9 (21.4%) of PRE received 2nd- and 3rd-line E. 20 (45.4%) and 10 (22.7%) of POST received 2nd- and 3rd- or more line of E. Most of PRE (54%) received tamoxifen+/-goserelin and 32% of PRE received AIs along with ovarian suppression. 71% of POST received AIs. As initial treatment, E was more frequently used in POST than in PRE (34.6% and 24.3%, p=0.053). Overall survival (OS) of all patients was 18.2 months (95% CI, 14.8-21.5). There was no difference in OS between PRE (17.8 months, 10.9-24.8) and POST (18.5 months, 95% CI, 13.2-23.9) (P=0.337). No difference of OS was observed (E, 18.1 moths, 95% CI, 13.0-23.3; chemotherapy 21.2 moths, 95% CI, 16.8-25.5), regardless of initial treatment. Total duration of treatment of PRE and POST were 15.2 and 13.6 months, respectively with no significant difference (p=0.389). PRE (8.3 moths, 95% CI,5.7-10.8) showed the trend toward longer duration of E in comparison with POST (5.5 moths, 95% CI,4.4-6.7), however the difference did not reach statistical significance (p=0.051).

Conclusion

E was more commonly used as 1st-line therapy in POST than in PRE. Although PRE had limited options of E, E was used in long duration of treatment especially in PRE. These findings suggested that E had a role in treatment for PRE with HR-positive MBC and could be used in treatment for PRE with good efficacy.

Citation Format: Kim T-Y, Ahn J-H, Yoon JH, Sohn JH, Kim GM, Lee KH, Park YH, Koh S-J, Lee SE, Chae Y, Lee KS, Lee KE, Won HS, Kim JH, Jeong J, Park KH, Cho EK, Im Y-H, Im S-A, Jung KH. Role of endocrine therapy in premenopausal patients with hormone receptor-positive metastatic breast cancer, compared with postmenopausal patients: Diachronic analyses from nationwide cohort in Korea (KCSG BR 14-07). [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Thirty-Eighth Annual CTRC-AACR San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium: 2015 Dec 8-12; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(4 Suppl):Abstract nr P1-09-09.

Abstract P6-10-03: Does participation in clinical trials influence on survival in patients with metastatic breast cancer?

Background

Recently, many clinical trials (TRIAL) especially incorporated with molecular-targeted agents are being conducted in treatment for breast cancer worldwide. However, the relation of participating clinical trials with survival has not been actively studied. This study was designed to evaluate whether participation in clinical trials could improve overall survival (OS) or not in patients with metastatic breast cancer (MBC), compared with conventional treatment.

Method

Korean Cancer Study Group (KCSG) has successfully established Nationwide Cohort in KOREA to conduct diachronic analysis (KCSG BR 14-07). Clinical data for patients with MBC were collected from this Cohort. OS was defined as the time duration from first diagnosis of metastasis to any cause of death. This work is supported by National Strategic Coordinating Center for Clinical Research (H110C2020).

Results

A total of 575 patients with metastatic breast from 26 institutes in KOREA cancer MBC were consequently enrolled between September 2014 and May 2015. 156 (27.1%) of patients were enrolled to at least one or more clinical trials and 419 patients received only conventional treatment (CONV). Age, hormone status, HER2 status, initial pathologic stage, metastasis versus recurrence, adjuvant treatment, ECOG performance status (PS) (0, 1 vs 2 or more) were similar between TRIAL and CONV. 30% of trials were associated with HER2-targeted agents. As initial treatment, chemotherapy was more frequently used in TRIAL (85.9%) than in CONV (79.0%) (P=0.038). Number of regimens of chemotherapy was greater in TRIAL (2.9+/-1.8) than CONV (2.1+/-1.6) (P<0.001). Number of regimens of endocrine therapy (E) was similar between TRIAL (1.4+/-0.6) and CONV (1.5+/-0.7) (P=0.474). Overall survival of all patients was 16.2 months (95% CI, 14.1-18.1). TRIAL showed significant prolongation of survival, compared with CONV [21.1 (95% CI, 17.7-24.6) vs 15.1 months (95% CI, 13.1-17.2); P=0.005]. The differences in OS was constantly observed in HER2-positive [23.8 (16.7-30.9) vs 17.2 months (95% CI, 12.4-21.9); P=0.018] and Triple-negative [15.4 (10.5-20.3) vs 12.0 months (95% CI, 10.2-13.8); P=0.025]. In multivariate analysis, initial metastasis, hormone status, ECOG PS did not influence on OS between TRIAL and CONV (P=0.849)

Conclusion

Participating in clinical trials could be associated with prolongation of survival. This results constantly maintained in HER2-positive and triple-negative MBC. These findings suggested that clinical trials are useful for the patients with MBC, even if the patients do not complete the standard treatment.

Citation Format: Kim T-Y, Sohn JH, Kim S-B, Yoon JH, Kim GM, Lee KH, Koh S-J, Park YH, Lee SE, Chae Y, Lee KS, Lee KE, Won HS, Kim JH, Jeong J, Park KH, Cho EK, Im Y-H, Im S-A, Jung KH. Does participation in clinical trials influence on survival in patients with metastatic breast cancer?. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Thirty-Eighth Annual CTRC-AACR San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium: 2015 Dec 8-12; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(4 Suppl):Abstract nr P6-10-03.

Comparison of short wrist transverse open and limited open techniques for carpal tunnel release: a randomized controlled trial of two incisions

The purpose of this randomized controlled trial was to compare outcomes of limited open and short wrist transverse techniques in patients with carpal tunnel syndrome. In a single centre randomized controlled trial, 84 patients with idiopathic carpal tunnel syndrome were randomized before surgery to limited open or short wrist transverse open carpal tunnel release. The patients were evaluated at 6 weeks, 3 months, 6 months, and 1 and 2 years after surgery. At every follow-up, the Brigham and Women's Carpal Tunnel Questionnaire scores, scar discomfort, and subjective patient satisfaction were evaluated. Two years after surgery, five patients were lost to follow-up. The groups had similar Brigham and Women's Carpal Tunnel Questionnaire Symptom Severity and Functional Status scores and subjective satisfaction scores. The incidence of scar discomfort was not significantly different between the two groups on serial postoperative follow-up. Short wrist transverse open release surgery showed similar early postoperative symptoms and subjective and functional outcomes to limited open release.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

II.

Electronic and thermal transport study of sinusoidally corrugated nanowires aiming to improve thermoelectric efficiency

Improvement of thermoelectric efficiency has been very challenging in the solid-state industry due to the interplay among transport coefficients which measure the efficiency. In this work, we modulate the geometry of nanowires to interrupt thermal transport with causing only a minimal impact on electronic transport properties, thereby maximizing the thermoelectric power generation. As it is essential to scrutinize comprehensively both electronic and thermal transport behaviors for nano-scale thermoelectric devices, we investigate the Seebeck coefficient, the electrical conductance, and the thermal conductivity of sinusoidally corrugated silicon nanowires and eventually look into an enhancement of the thermoelectric figure-of-merit [Formula: see text] from the modulated nanowires over typical straight nanowires. A loss in the electronic transport coefficient is calculated with the recursive Green function along with the Landauer formalism, and the thermal transport is simulated with the molecular dynamics. In contrast to a small influence on the thermopower and the electrical conductance of the geometry-modulated nanowires, a large reduction of the thermal conductivity yields an enhancement of the efficiency by 10% to 35% from the typical nanowires. We find that this approach can be easily extended to various structures and materials as we consider the geometrical modulation as a sole source of perturbation to the system.

Effects of beta-blockers for congestive heart failure in pediatric and congenital heart disease patients: a meta-analysis of published studies

AIM

The effects of beta-blockers in pediatric and congenital heart disease (CHD) patients suffering from heart failure are controversial. We performed a meta-analysis to determine whether beta-blockers are effective for heart failure in pediatric and CHD patients.

METHODS

We searched for clinical trials focusing on clinical on clinical and ventricular functional/dimensional changes after beta-blocker therapy in PubMed (from its inception to August 2013) and bibliographies of identified studies. Studies investigating any of three beta blockers (carvedilol, bisoprolol, and extended release metoprolol succinate) which are known to be effective in adult patients with heart failure were included.

RESULTS

Of the 158 screened, 17 (N.=476) fulfilled the study criteria and were analyzed. Beta-blockers were associated with significant improvements in left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction (EF) (12.47%; 95% CI, 10.36 to 14.61), fraction shortening (5.75%; 95% CI, 4.42 to 7.08), LV end-diastolic dimension (-2.91 mm; 95% CI, -5.46 to -0.36), and LV systolic dimension (-4.03 mm; 95% CI, -6.81 to -1.25). No significant change in the pooled mean difference of the right ventricular (RV) EF (3.50%; P=0.08) was observed. However, the RV EF in the untreated group showed a deteriorating trend (-3%), which was different from the trend in the treatment group. There was a significant reduction in the incidence of clinical worsening (odds ratio, 2.15; 95% CI, 1.27 to 3.66).

CONCLUSION

Beta-blocker therapy was associated with a significant improvement of echocardiographic parameters in patients with systemic LV failure. However, the use of beta-blockers did not provide significant benefits in terms of improving the EF in patients with RV failure. Nonetheless, beta-blockers may be effective to prevent the clinical deterioration of pediatric and CHD patients with heart failure.

Comparison of short wrist transverse open and limited open techniques for carpal tunnel release: a randomized controlled trial of two incisions

The purpose of this randomized controlled trial was to compare outcomes of limited open and short wrist transverse techniques in patients with carpal tunnel syndrome. In a single centre randomized controlled trial, 84 patients with idiopathic carpal tunnel syndrome were randomized before surgery to limited open or short wrist transverse open carpal tunnel release. The patients were evaluated at 6 weeks, 3 months, 6 months, and 1 and 2 years after surgery. At every follow-up, the Brigham and Women's Carpal Tunnel Questionnaire scores, scar discomfort, and subjective patient satisfaction were evaluated. Two years after surgery, five patients were lost to follow-up. The groups had similar Brigham and Women's Carpal Tunnel Questionnaire Symptom Severity and Functional Status scores and subjective satisfaction scores. The incidence of scar discomfort was not significantly different between the two groups on serial postoperative follow-up. Short wrist transverse open release surgery showed similar early postoperative symptoms and subjective and functional outcomes to limited open release.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

II.

Intraocular pharmacokinetics of intravitreal vascular endothelial growth factor-Trap in a rabbit model

PURPOSE

To determine intraocular pharmacokinetic properties of intravitreally injected vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-Trap in a rabbit model.

METHODS

VEGF-Trap was intravitreally injected in 18 rabbit eyes. Eyes were enucleated 1 h and 1, 2, 5, 14, and 30 days after injections and immediately frozen at -80 °C. Concentration of VEGF-Trap in vitreous, aqueous humor, and retina/choroid was determined using an indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and analyzed to obtain pharmacokinetic properties.

RESULTS

Maximum concentration of VEGF-Trap was achieved at 1 h in all three tissues. A one-compartment model of distribution was selected as the final model for all tissues studied. Estimated half-life of VEGF-Trap in vitreous, aqueous humor, and retinal/choroid was 87.1, 36.8, and 35.0 h, respectively, and estimated mean residence time was 125.7, 53.1, and 50.5 h, respectively. Area under the curve from time 0 to the end point was 10009.8, 3945.1, and 1189.3, respectively. Total exposure of the aqueous humor and retina/choroid to VEGF-Trap was 39.4% and 11.9% of vitreous exposure, respectively.

CONCLUSION

The vitreous half-life of VEGF-Trap is 3.63 days. This is shorter than that of bevacizumab (6.99 days) and longer than that of ranibizumab (2.51 days), as shown in studies using the same experimental settings. The concentration of VEGF-Trap peaked at 1 h after injections in all eye tissues studied.

Motivational needs on team performance of Korean nursing students

AIM

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of an individual's motivational needs on team performance, centering on the needs for affiliation, power and achievement, following the McClelland's Achievement Motivation Theory.

BACKGROUND

Most previous studies related to McClelland's Achievement Motivation Theory have focused on achievement motivation as a predictor of team performance. In contrast, affiliation and power motivations were relatively little known in connection with team performance.

METHODS

This was a descriptive, cross-sectional study using data from 181 junior nursing students in Korea. Data were collected from a questionnaire when the subjects' teamwork task was completed in November 2013. Multiple regression analysis was used to examine the influence of motivational needs on team performance.

FINDING

Each group having high levels of the need for affiliation, or the need for power and/or the need for achievement showed a significantly high level of teamwork skills and team effectiveness. The factors influencing teamwork skills were the need for affiliation and the need for achievement. Additionally, the factors influencing team effectiveness were also the need for affiliation and the need for achievement.

CONCLUSION

The study reconfirmed the positive influence of the need for achievement, which was the focus of most previous research, in regard to personal and organizational growth. Furthermore, it identified that the need for affiliation, another type of internal motive, positively affected team performance as well.

IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING AND HEALTH POLICY

Nursing schools and nursing organizations should pay attention to their members' affiliation and achievement needs to enhance organizational efficiencies. Through efforts such as developing diverse continuing education programmes for need training, they could enhance their members' needs for affiliation or achievement and consequently increase nursing team performance.

Process development for recovery of vanadium and nickel from an industrial solid waste by a leaching-solvent extraction technique

A process for recovering V(V) and Ni(II) from an industrial solid waste using sulfuric acid leaching, solvent extraction, precipitation and crystallization has been developed. The leaching parameters investigated were time, temperature and H2SO4 concentration. To quantify the linear and interaction coefficients a 2(3) full factorial experimental design was used. Regression equations for the extraction of V(V) and Ni(II) were determined and the adequacy of these equations was tested by Student's t-Test. More than 98% of both V(V) and Ni(II) were extracted in 90 min using 1.35 M H2SO4 at 40 °C. In addition, solvent extraction of V(V) with LIX 84-I in kerosene from the acidic leach liquor bearing 10.922 g/L V(V) and 18.871 g/L of Ni(II) was investigated. V(V) was extracted selectively using 40% LIX 84-I followed by stripping with NH4OH solution. McCabe-Thiele plots at O:A = 2:3 with 40% LIX 84-I and O:A = 3:1 with 15% (v/v) NH4OH showed two and three theoretical stages are needed for quantitative extraction and stripping of V(V), respectively. Ni(II) was selectively recovered from the V(V) free raffinate by adding ammonium oxalate at 60 °C. The purity of different products such as ammonium vanadate, nickel oxalate and nickel oxide obtained during the processes were analyzed and confirmed from the XRD studies.

Association of aldehyde dehydrogenase 1 expression and biologically aggressive features in breast cancer

Aldehyde dehydrogenase 1 (ALDH1) has been regarded as a breast cancer stem cell marker. Several studies have reported that ALDH1 expression is associated with poor prognosis in breast cancer. We aimed, therefore, to determine the prognostic value of ALDH1 expression and its association with several biomarkers in breast cancer tissue using immunohistochemistry. Furthermore, we investigated the characteristics of and differences between cellular and stromal expression of ALDH1. We performed tissue microarray (TMA) analysis of 425 breast cancer tissue samples collected during surgery. Immunohistochemical staining was then performed to measure the expression of ALDH1 and other breast cancer biomarkers. Statistical analysis of the relationship between ALDH1 expression and clinicopathologic characteristics was performed for 390 TMA samples. We found that ALDH1 was expressed in 71 cases (18.2%) in the tumor cells and/or stroma. Of these cases, 38 (9.7%) showed ALDH1 expression in tumor cells and 38 (9.7%) showed ALDH1 expression in the stroma. ALDH1 expression was significantly associated with markers of a poor prognosis, such as young age, estrogen receptor negativity, progesterone receptor negativity, a high histological grade, and a high Ki-67 index. However, ALDH1 expression was not associated with p53, transforming growth factor-beta, Gli-1, YKL-40, or sonic hedgehog expression status. With regard to the expression site, the clinical characteristics did not differ between cases of cellular expression and those of stromal expression. However, ALDH1 expression in tumor cells was correlated with hormone receptor status, histological grade, molecular subtype, epidermal growth factor receptor expression status, and cytokeratin 5/6 expression status while stromal expression of ALDH1 was only correlated with hormone receptor status. Overall, these findings suggest that ALDH1 expression in tumor tissue is associated with a biologically aggressive phenotype.

KEYWORDS

ALDH1, biologically aggressive, breast cancer.

Data Build-up for the Construction of Korean Specific Greenhouse Gas Emission Inventory in Livestock Categories

Many studies on methane (CH₄) and nitrous oxide (N₂O) emissions from livestock industries have revealed that livestock production directly contributes to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions through enteric fermentation and manure management, which causes negative impacts on animal environment sustainability. In the present study, three essential values for GHG emission were measured; i.e., i) maximum CH₄ producing capacity at mesophilic temperature (37°C) from anaerobically stored manure in livestock category (B_0,KM, Korean livestock manure for B₀), ii) EF_3(s) value representing an emission factor for direct N₂O emissions from manure management system S in the country, kg N₂O-N kg N⁻¹, at mesophilic (37°C) and thermophilic (55°C) temperatures, and iii) N_ex(T) emissions showing annual N excretion for livestock category T, kg N animal⁻¹ yr⁻¹, from different livestock manure. Static incubation with and without aeration was performed to obtain the N₂O and CH₄ emissions from each sample, respectively. Chemical compositions of pre- and post-incubated manure were analyzed. Contents of total solids (% TS) and volatile solid (% VS), and the ratio of carbon to nitrogen (C/N) decrease significantly in all the samples by C-containing biogas generation, whereas moisture content (%) and pH increased after incubation. A big difference of total nitrogen content was not observed in pre- and post-incubation during CH₄ and N₂O emissions. CH₄ emissions (g CH₄ kg VS⁻¹) from all the three manures (sows, layers and Korean cattle) were different and high C/N ratio resulted in high CH₄ emission. Similarly, N₂O emission was found to be affected by % VS, pH, and temperature. The B_0,KM values for sows, layers, and Korean cattle obtained at 37°C are 0.0579, 0.0006, and 0.0828 m³ CH₄ kg VS⁻¹, respectively, which are much less than the default values in IPCC guideline (GL) except the value from Korean cattle. For sows and Korean cattle, N_ex(T) values of 7.67 and 28.19 kg N yr⁻¹, respectively, are 2.5 fold less than those values in IPCC GL as well. However, N_ex(T) value of layers 0.63 kg N yr⁻¹ is very similar to the default value of 0.6 kg N yr⁻¹ in IPCC GLs for National greenhouse gas inventories for countries such as South Korea/Asia. The EF_3(s) value obtained at 37°C and 55°C were found to be far less than the default value.