Search

First, the Thomas-Fermi-Amaldi (TFA) equation was formulated with a newly derived condition to remove the singularities at the nuclei, which coincided with the molecular cusp condition. Next, the collocation method was applied to the TFA equation using the grid-based density functional theory. In this paper, the electron densities and the radial probabilities for specific atoms (He, Be, Ne, Mg, Ar, Ca) were found to agree with those from the Thomas-Fermi-Dirac (TFD) method. Total energies for specific atoms (He, Ne, Ar, Kr, Xe, Rn) and molecules (H2,CH4) were also found to be close to those from the Hartree-Fock method using the Pople basis set 6-311G relative to the TFD method. In addition, the computational expense to determine the electron density and its corresponding energy for a large scale structure, such as a carbon nanotube, is shown to be much more efficient compared to the conventional Hartree-Fock method using the 6-31G Pople basis set. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increasing penetration of broadband and multiscreen availability has encouraged the development of premium video consumption through over-the-top (OTT) services. Netflix, the leading global OTT provider, is aggressively expanding its international operations and has ambitiously entered the Asian market. To prepare for the shift that the streaming service giant will bring, a proper understanding of consumer acceptance and intent to pay for OTT services is crucial. Therefore, this empirical study uses conjoint analysis to investigate the key attributes and to examine consumers' marginal willingness to pay (WTP) for OTT services. We identified recommendation systems, resolution, and viewing options as important product attributes of OTT services that influence the WTP of Chinese and Korean consumers. The most important attribute for Chinese consumers of OTT services was resolution, followed by the recommendation system and viewing options. For Korean consumers, the recommendation system was ranked as the most valuable attribute, followed by viewing options and resolution. The overall WTP of Chinese consumers was 22.6 yuan (3.4 USD) per month, while Korean consumers' intent to pay amounted to a total of 3530 won (3.1 USD) for OTT services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Recent studies have revealed that vitamin D and its synthetic analogues have a protective effect on experimental ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) models in several organs, but little is known about its effect on the liver. The aim of this study was to evaluate the beneficial effects of vitamin D in a model of liver I/R in rats, focusing on Toll-like receptor (TLR) 4 signaling, which has been shown to be involved in I/R injury.Material and Methods: Twenty-four male Wistar rats were randomized into four groups: Saline + Sham, Saline + I/R, Paricalcitol + Sham, and Paricalcitol + I/R. A synthetic vitamin D2 analogue, paricalcitol, was intraperitoneally injected 24 h prior to surgery. The animals were subjected to 60 min of partial warm ischemia (70%), followed by reperfusion for 6 h on the same day. The ischemic lobe of the liver and blood were collected for molecular biochemical analyses.Results: Liver damage following I/R was diminished by pretreatment with paricalcitol. Pretreatment with paricalcitol decreased the levels of pro-inflammatory mediators, such as interleukin (IL)-1β, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, and macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF), in both plasma and liver tissue. In addition, pretreatment with paricalcitol markedly down-regulated the expression of TLR4, HMGB1, TNF-α and NF-κB.Conclusions: The vitamin D analogue paricalcitol attenuates hepatic I/R injury through down-regulation of the TLR4 signaling pathway and might be considered to be a potential nutritional therapeutic agent against I/R injury in the liver. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Owing to increased life expectancy, the number of elderly patients with gastric cancer has increased. This study aimed to identify the outcomes of gastric cancer patients aged 80 years or older through comparison of their clinicopathological characteristics, surgical outcomes, and oncologic outcomes. Materials and Methods: Between January 2006 and December 2013, the records of 478 patients who underwent surgery for gastric cancer were retrospectively evaluated. Patients were divided into two groups: patients <80 years old (n=446) and patients ≥80 years old (n=32). Results: There were no significant differences in sex, body mass index, length of hospital stay, duration of surgery, depth of invasion, nodal metastasis, histologic type, or tumor size between the two groups. However, significant differences were found for the American Society of Anesthesiologist score and the serum albumin level between the two groups. Postoperative morbidity, mortality, disease-free survival, and recurrence rate did not differ between curatively resected patients in the two groups. Conclusions: In elderly patients with gastric cancer, active treatment including radical gastrectomy is necessary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pulmonary sclerosing hemangioma (PSH) is a benign tumor with two cell populations (epithelial and stromal cells), for which genomic profiles remain unknown. We conducted exome sequencing of 44 PSHs and identified recurrent somatic mutations of AKT1 (43.2%) and β-catenin (4.5%). We used a second subset of 24 PSHs to confirm the high frequency of AKT1 mutations (overall 31/68, 45.6%; p.E17K, 33.8%) and recurrent β-catenin mutations (overall 3 of 68, 4.4%). Of the PSHs without AKT1 mutations, two exhibited AKT1 copy gain. AKT1 mutations existed in both epithelial and stromal cells. In two separate PSHs from one patient, we observed two different AKT1 mutations, indicating they were not disseminated but independent arising tumors. Because the AKT1 mutations were not found to cooccurwith β-catenin mutations (or any other known driver alterations) in any of the PSHs studied, we speculate that this may be the singlemost common driver alteration to develop PSHs. Our study revealed genomic differences between PSHs and lung adenocarcinomas, including a high rate of AKT1 mutation in PSHs. These genomic features of PSH identified in the present study provide clues to understanding the biology of PSH and for differential genomic diagnosis of lung tumors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Mohs micrographic surgery (MMS) is a unique minimal marginal surgery that offers cure rates superior to other treatments of skin cancers. Our purpose was to report our experience with MMS for treatment of skin cancers, the clinical characteristics, and recurrence rates of the skin cancers, and MMS operation times. Methods: We retrospectively evaluated 293 patients who were diagnosed with skin cancer and treated by MMS and several reconstructive methods from May 2010 to April 2015. Results: The male-female patient ratio was 0.47:1, and mean patient age was 70.88 years (male, 69.98 years; female, 72.2 years). The most frequent age group was the seventh decade (36%). The most common cancer was basal cell carcinoma (57.3%), followed by squamous cell carcinoma (42.7%). The most commonly involved site was the face (80.8%), particularly the nose. Local flap was the most common method of repairing surgical defects (79.8%), followed by primary closure (13%). Recurrence after MMS was observed in 3 of 293 patients (1.0%). The minimum and maximum MMS operative times were 65 and 251 minutes, and the mean operative time was 131 minutes. The mean operative time per stage was 46.7, 43.6, and 40.0 minutes for the first, second, and third, respectively. Image studies for cancer metastasis revealed lymph node enlargement in 6 patients. Conclusion: MMS is a reliable and satisfactory method for treatment of skin cancer, and offers a low recurrence rate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report the direct growth of graphene on a dielectric SiO2 surface by utilizing complementary metal oxide semiconductor compatible germane as a gas-phase catalyst. Results of Raman spectroscopy and XPS confirmed that the synthesized graphene consist of a sp2 hybridized carbon network. We were able to fabricate graphene field effect transistors without the wet etching process, and the calculated mobility was ∼160 cm2/V.s at high carrier concentration (n=3×1012 cm-2). Furthermore, the crystallinity and morphology of graphene is easily controlled from single-layer graphene to graphene nanowall structures by adjusting the reaction conditions. The results of this study verify the promising catalytic graphene growth method on a non-catalytic insulating surface without metal contaminations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Primary squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the stomach is a very rare disease. However, the pathogenesis, clinical characteristics, and prognosis of gastric SCC are controversial and remain to be elucidated. Herein, we report a case of primary gastric SCC of the remnant stomach after subtotal gastrectomy. A 65-year-old man was admitted to our hospital due to epigastric discomfort and dizziness. He had undergone subtotal gastrectomy 40 years previously for gastric ulcer perforation. Endoscopy revealed a normal esophagus and a large mass in the remnant stomach. Abdominal computed tomography revealed enhanced wall thickening of the anastomotic site and suspected metachronous gastric cancer. Endoscopic biopsy revealed SCC. Total gastrectomy was performed with Roux-en-Y esophagojejunostomy. A 10-cm tumor was located at the remnant stomach just proximal to the previous area of anastomosis. Pathologic examination showed well-differentiated SCC extended into the subserosa without lymph node involvement (T3N0M0). The patient received adjuvant systemic chemotherapy with 6 cycles of 5-FU and cisplatin regimen, and he is still alive at the 54-month follow-up. According to the treatment principles of gastric cancer, early detection and radical surgical resection can improve the prognosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Aims: The aims of this study were to compare the bowel-cleansing efficacy, patient affinity for the preparation solution, and mucosal injury between a split dose of polyethylene glycol (SD-PEG) and low-volume PEG plus ascorbic acid (LV-PEG+Asc) in outpatient scheduled colonoscopies. Methods: Of the 319 patients, 160 were enrolled for SDPEG, and 159 for LV-PEG+Asc. The bowel-cleansing efficacy was rated according to the Ottawa bowel preparation scale. Patient affinity for the preparation solution was assessed using a questionnaire. All mucosal injuries observed during colonoscopy were biopsied and histopathologically reviewed. Results: There was no significant difference in bowel cleansing between the groups. The LV-PEG+Asc group reported better patient acceptance and preference. There were no significant differences in the incidence or characteristics of the mucosal injuries between the two groups. Conclusions: Compared with SD-PEG, LV-PEG+Asc exhibited equivalent bowel-cleansing efficacy and resulted in improved patient acceptance and preference. There was no significant difference in mucosal injury between SD-PEG and LV-PEG+Asc. Thus, the LV-PEG+Asc preparation could be used more effectively and easily for routine colonoscopies without risking significant mucosal injury. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pd-Cu supported on TiO2-CeO2 mixed oxides (Pd-Cu/TiO2-CeO2) were tested for the reduction of nitrate ions in water. Compared with a Pd-Cu catalyst with TiO2 only as support (Pd-Cu/TiO2), which was proved to be active for this reaction in our previous study, Pd-Cu/TiO2-CeO2 showed improved activity if TiO2-CeO2 contained an appropriate amount of ceria (Ti:Ce = 18:1). Especially, the Pd-Cu/TiO2-CeO2 (Ti:Ce = 18:1) showed the initial nitrate reduction rate of 3.20 mmol/min/gcat, eight times higher than that of Pd-Cu/TiO2 (0.41 mmol/min/gcat). It was supposed that the improved activity of the catalyst was attributable to the reduced surface (oxygen vacancies) of the support and zero-valence states of the active metals (including the Pd-Cu alloy) in the catalyst. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin disease that involves immune-mediated cutaneous inflammation and keratinocyte hyperproliferation. Psoriasis in patients with HIV responds poorly to treatment and has a high morbidity rate, thus posing a challenge to clinicians. Until now, there have been no documented cases of acitretin therapy for HIV-associated psoriasis in Korea. Here, we report a case of safe and successful therapy with acitretin in a 52-year-old man with HIV-associated psoriasis that responded poorly to previous treatments including steroids and ultraviolet B phototherapy. We also review the relevant literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acute otitis media (AOM) is one of the most common childhood infectious diseases. Despite antibiotic treatment for AOM, AOM and its complication still continue to develop. Acute mastoiditis is a serious complication of AOM and epidural abscess constitutes the commonest of all intracranial complication of AOM. Neurological complication of acute mastoiditis are rare but can be life threatening. Their presentation may be masked by the use of antibiotics. We report the rare case of acute otitis media progressing to acute mastoiditis, epidural abscess formation and lateral sinus thrombophlebitis caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae in a child. She was admitted with acute otitis media with fever. Despite proper antibiotics, acute mastodititis and epidural abscess were developed, and after surgical drainage and antibiotics therapy she was recovered without sequalae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim. To prove the safety and feasibility of minimally invasive (laparoscopic and robotic) colorectal resection in kidney recipients by evaluating the technical protocol and reviewing short- and long-term outcomes. Methods. Between May 2007 and August 2012, a retrospective review of ten kidney transplant patients diagnosed with colorectal cancer was evaluated for technical tips, short- and long-term outcomes. Results. The mean patients' age was 56.8 ± 9.91 years and 50% of them were male. Anterior and low anterior resections were performed in 40% of the patients each; 20% and 10% of the patients underwent right and left hemicolectomy, respectively. Most (90%) procedures were performed laparoscopically and 10% were performed robotically. No open conversions. Mean operating time was 192.5 ± 15 min, blood loss was 30 ± 50 mL, and mean hospital stay was 9.7 ± 5.5 days. Two (20%) patients had postoperative complications: wound seroma and chyloperitoneum. Over a mean follow-up period of 31.4 ± 21.57 months, no mortality or kidney rejection occurred. Among the six patients followed up for a mean of 43.5 ± 9.84 months, 83.3% were 3-year disease-free and the overall survival rate was 100%. Conclusion. Minimally invasive colorectal resection is likely to be safe and feasible, with fewer complications and acceptable short- and long-term outcomes, in kidney transplant recipients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Amebic liver abscess (ALA) has been diagnosed in travelers to endemic areas or in patients with immunosuppression secondary to human immunodeficiency virus infection since the late 1990s. Further, it is a rare disease in Korea. ALA should be considered in patients present with fever and right upper quadrant pain along with a risk of exposure to amebiasis. We report an 82-year-old man with symptoms of fever, gross hematuria and severe renal impairment as having amebic liver abscess complicated with the obstruction of the inferior vena cava. Amebic liver abscess was successfully treated with antibiotics alone. Also, hematuria disappeared and renal dysfunction improved after treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Recently, two tests are commercially available for the identification of latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI): tuberculin skin test (TST) and interferon-γ release assay (IGRA). Due to its false positiveness, TST tends to be preferred by IGRA until now. In our study, we simultaneously performed both TST and QuantiFERON®-TB Gold In-Tube (QFT-GIT) and compared their results. Methods: TST and QFT-GIT were done for the diagnosis of LTBI among children who visited pediatric out-patient clinic at St. Vincent's Hospital, The Catholic University of Korea from February of 2007 to May of 2008. The study group was stratified into two groups in terms of whether there was intrafamilial contact or not. Results: Out of total 35 children, 29 were tuberculosis (TB)-exposed cases and the remainders were diagnosed as clinical pulmonary TB. Among these 29 children, TST was positive 38.9% (7/18) for the intrafamilial and 45.5% (5/11) for the non-intrafamilial, and at the same time, the result for QFT-GIT was positive 5.6% (1/18) and 9.1% (1/11), respectively which implies that TST was more sensitive than QFT-GIT. Among 29 TB-exposed cases, 26 initially went through TST and QFT-GIT together on their first visit to out-patient clinic, and 15 continued the follow-up tests. Out of total 41 cases collected, the agreement (known as kappa value) was 0.063 which was relatively low. Including 6 cases with pulmonary TB who were all positive for TST and only 5 being positive for QFT-GIT, the final kappa value was 0.334. Conclusion: In our study, the agreement for TST and QFT-GIT was low, and the majorities were almost the cases of positive TST. In current situation with lacking a gold standard test and limited data on children to adolescents, this result is quite alarming that the recent trend tends to replace TST by QFT-GIT when diagnosing LTBI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Glypicans are heparan sulfate proteoglycans that modulate the signaling of multiple growth factors active during animal development, and loss of glypican function is associated with widespread developmental abnormalities. Glypicans consist of a conserved, approximately 45-kDa N-terminal protein core region followed by a stalk region that is tethered to the cell membrane by a glycosyl-phosphatidylinositol anchor. The stalk regions are predicted to be random coil but contain a variable number of attachment sites for heparan sulfate chains. Both the N-terminal protein core and the heparan sulfate attachments are important for glypican function. We report here the 2.4-Å crystal structure of the N-terminal protein core region of the Drosophila glypican Dally-like (Dlp). This structure reveals an elongated, α-helical fold for glypican core regions that does not appear homologous to any known structure. The Dlp core protein is required for normal responsiveness to Hedgehog (Hh) signals, and we identify a localized region on the Dlp surface important for mediating its function in Hh signaling. Purified Dlp protein core does not, however, interact appreciably with either Hh or an Hh:Ihog complex. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The process of neurite outgrowth is the initial step in producing the neuronal processes that wire the brain. Current models about neurite outgrowth have been derived from classic two-dimensional (2D) cell culture systems, which do not recapitulate the topographical cues that are present in the extracellular matrix (ECM) in vivo. Here, we explore how ECM nanotopography influences neurite outgrowth. Methodology/Principal Findings: We show that, when the ECM protein laminin is presented on a line pattern with nanometric size features, it leads to orientation of neurite outgrowth along the line pattern. This is also coupled with a robust increase in neurite length. The sensing mechanism that allows neurite orientation occurs through a highly stereotypical growth cone behavior involving two filopodia populations. Non-aligned filopodia on the distal part of the growth cone scan the pattern in a lateral back and forth motion and are highly unstable. Filopodia at the growth cone tip align with the line substrate, are stabilized by an F-actin rich cytoskeleton and enable steady neurite extension. This stabilization event most likely occurs by integration of signals emanating from non-aligned and aligned filopodia which sense different extent of adhesion surface on the line pattern. In contrast, on the 2D substrate only unstable filopodia are observed at the growth cone, leading to frequent neurite collapse events and less efficient outgrowth. Conclusions/Significance: We propose that a constant crosstalk between both filopodia populations allows stochastic sensing of nanotopographical ECM cues, leading to oriented and steady neurite outgrowth. Our work provides insight in how neuronal growth cones can sense geometric ECM cues. This has not been accessible previously using routine 2D culture systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 1892 Drude and Nernst reported the first observation of a standing light wave by using a fluorescent thin film, which is a real-time version of Wiener's first experiment on standing light wave. We reproduce the experiment by Drude and Nernst with improved efficiency using modem laser technology and a highly fluorescent π-conjugated polymer. We also used a glass plate scratched slightly on one surface to visualize the same phenomenon using diffuse reflection instead of fluorescence. This method has the advantage of being a wavelength-independent observation compared to the fluorescence method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drosophila peptidoglycan recognition protein (PGRP)-LCx and -LCa are receptors that preferentially recognize meso-diaminopimelic acid (DAP)-type peptidoglycan (PGN) present in Gram-negative bacteria over lysine-type PGN of Gram-positive bacteria and initiate the IMD signaling pathway, whereas PGRP-LE plays a synergistic role in this process of innate immune defense. How these receptors can distinguish the two types of PGN remains unclear. Here the structure of the PGRP domain of Drosophila PGRP-LE in complex with tracheal cytotoxin (TCT), the monomeric DAP-type PGN, reveals a buried ionic interaction between the unique carboxyl group of DAP and a previously unrecognized arginine residue. This arginine is conserved in the known DAP-type PGN-interacting PGRPs and contributes significantly to the affinity of the protein for the ligand. Unexpectedly, TCT induces infinite head-to-tail dimerization of PGRP-LE, in which the disaccharide moiety, but not the peptide stem, of TCT is positioned at the dimer interface. A sequence comparison suggests that TCT induces heterodimerization of the ectodomains of PGRP-LCx and -LCa in a closely analogous manner to prime the IMD signaling pathway, except that the heterodimer formation is nonperpetuating. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transport protein particle (TRAPP) comprises a family of two highly related multiprotein complexes, with seven common subunits, that serve to target different classes of transport vesicles to their appropriate compartments. Defining the architecture of the complexes will advance our understanding of the functional differences between these highly related molecular machines. Genetic analyses in yeast suggested a specific interaction between the TRAPP subunits Bet3p and Trs33p. A mammalian bet3–trs33 complex was crystallized, and the structure was solved to 2.2 Å resolution. Intriguingly, the overall fold of the bet3 and trs33 monomers was similar, although the proteins had little overall sequence identity. In vitro experiments using yeast TRAPP subunits indicated that Bet3p binding to Trs33p facilitates the interaction between Bet3p and another TRAPP subunit, Bet5p. Mutational analysis suggests that yeast Trs33p facilitates other Bet3p protein–protein interactions. Furthermore, we show that Trs33p can increase the Golgi-localized pool of a mutated Bet3 protein normally found in the cytosol. We propose that one of the roles of Trs33p is to facilitate the incorporation of the Bet3p subunit into assembling TRAPP complexes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

RbsD is the only protein whose biochemical function is unknown among the six gene products of the rbs operon involved in the active transport of ribose. FucU, a paralogue of RbsD conserved from bacteria to human, is also the only protein whose function is unknown among the seven gene products of the L-fucose regulon. Here we report the crystal structures of Bacillus subtilis RbsD, which reveals a novel decameric toroidal assembly of the protein. Nuclear magnetic resonance and other studies on RbsD reveal that the intersubunit cleft of the protein binds specific forms of D-ribose, but it does not have an enzyme activity toward the sugar. Likewise, FucU binds L-fucose but lacks an enzyme activity toward this sugar. We conclude that RbsD and FucU are cytoplasmic sugar-binding proteins, a novel class of proteins whose functional role may lie in helping influx of the sugar substrates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Enantiomerically pure N-(R)-α-methylbenzyl-4(R)-(chloromethyl)oxazolidinones (4R)-5a-k were synthesized in one step and high yields from various aziridine-2-methanols (S)-2a-k by intramolecular cyclization with phosgene. The α-methylbenzyl substituent on the nitrogen was easily cleaved to give both enanatiomers of 4-(chloromethyl)oxazolidinones (R)-7a and (S)-7a. (R)-7a was used for the efficient syntheses of (L)-homophenylalaninol analogizes (S)-12a-j. We also applied the same methodology to prepare oxazolidinones 9a-c containing a heteroatom-substituted alkyl group at C-4 in high yields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A letter to the editor is presented in response to an article related to rarity of the somatic mutation of G-alpha-q (GNAQ) gene in common solid cancers and leukemias that was published in a previous issue.

The article provides information on a study which determined whether the pattern of FBXW7 mutation in acute leukemia in an Asian country is similar to that in Western countries. The study selected 160 acute leukemia samples and analyzed the FBXW7 mutation. The samples in the study were comprised of 105 cases of acute myelogenous leukemia (AML), 54 cases of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and 1 undifferentiated acute leukemia.

A letter to the editor is presented about death receptor-mediated apoptosis in cancer.

A letter to the editor is presented in response to an article on the absence of oncogenic AKT1 E17K mutation in prostate, esophageal, laryngeal and urothelial carcinomas, hepatoblastomas, gastrointestinal stromal tumors and malignant meningiomas that was published in a previous issue is presented.

A letter to the editor is presented about somatic mutation of the death domain of tumor necrosis factor-receptor 1 in cancers.

A letter to the editor is presented discussing the absence of ERCC6 gene mutation in common cancers of patients in Korea.

A letter to the editor is presented about a study which analyzed the absence of somatic mutation of the tumor suppressor gene eukaryotic translation elongation factor 1, epsilon-1 (EEF1E1) in common human cancers.

A letter to the editor is presented in response to an article about COSMC gene mutations in breast and colorectal carcinomas.

Background: Due to its anatomical location, the external ear is easily exposed and damaged due to trauma, weathering, and inflammation. Therefore, depending on the patient’s age, different cutaneous diseases can occur. In addition, because of its small percentage of the overall body area, patients and doctors may miss observing dermatologic diseases of the ear. The purpose of this study was to provide information on the most common dermatologic diseases according to the location on the external ear. Methods: This retrospective study was conducted on patients who visited the Department of Dermatology of Chosun University Hospital in the past 7 years. Results: We included 269 patients and categorized their ear lesions according to 8 anatomical locations and 5 types of dermatologic diseases. In older patients over 60 years of age, the most common site of dermatologic disease was the postauricular region (33.9%), followed by the antihelix (19.4%), and earlobe (12.9%). The most common dermatologic disease was benign tumor (53.2%), followed by malignant and premalignant tumors (32.3% and 9.7%, respectively). Conclusion: The proportion of older adults with premalignant and malignant diseases was relatively high and these were most commonly observed in the antihelix and postauricular area. Therefore, it is important to aware the need for the examination, diagnosis, and treatment of disease in the antihelix and postauricular area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

HIV-1 reverse transcriptase (RT) contains both DNA polymerase and RNase H activities to convert the viral genomic RNA to dsDNA in infected host cells. Here we report the 2.65-Å resolution structure of HIV-1 RT engaging in cleaving RNA in an RNA/DNA hybrid. A preferred substrate sequence is absolutely required to enable the RNA/DNA hybrid to adopt the distorted conformation needed to interact properly with the RNase H active site in RT. Substituting two nucleotides 4 bp upstream from the cleavage site results in scissile-phosphate displacement by 4 Å. We also have determined the structure of HIV-1 RT complexed with an RNase H-resistant polypurine tract sequence' which adopts a rigid structure and is accommodated outside of the nuclease active site. Based on this newly gained structural information and a virtual drug screen, we have identified an inhibitor specific for the viral RNase H but not for its cellular homologs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Kim M S, Chung N G, Kang M R, Yoo N J & Lee S H (2011) Histopathology, 660-668 Chromodomain helicase DNA-binding protein (CHD) is a regulator of the chromatin remodelling process. The aim was to determine the CHD1, CHD2, CHD3, CHD4, CHD7, CHD8 and CHD9mutational status of mononucleotide repeats in gastric and colorectal cancers with microsatellite instability (MSI). The repeats were determined in 28 gastric cancers (GCs) with high MSI (MSI-H), 45 GCs with low MSI (MSI-L)/stable MSI (MSS), 35 colorectal cancers (CRCs) with MSI-H and 45 CRCs with MSI-L/MSS by single-strand conformation polymorphism analysis. CHD4 and CHD8 expressionwas also examined in GCs and CRCs by immunohistochemistry. CHD1, CHD2, CHD3, CHD4, CHD7, CHD8 and CHD9 mutations were found in five, 19, three, five, seven, 10 and seven cancers, respectively. They were detected in MSI-H cancers, but not in MSI-L/MSS cancers. Loss of CHD4 expression was observed in 56.4% of the GCs and 55.7% of the CRCs, and loss of CHD8 was observed in 35.7% of the GCs and 28.6% of the CRCs. The cancers with CHD4 and CHD8 mutations showed loss of CHD4 and CHD8 expression, respectively. Frameshift mutation and loss of expression of CHD genes are common in GCs and CRCs with MSI-H.These alterations might contribute to cancer pathogenesis by deregulating CHD-mediated chromatin remodelling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mammalian immune receptor diversity is established via a unique restricted set of site-specific DNA rearrangements in lymphoid cells, known as V(D)J recombination. The lymphoid-specific RAG1-RAG2 protein complex (RAG1/2) initiates this process by binding to two types of recombination signal sequences (RSS), 12RSS and 23RSS, and cleaving at the boundaries of RSS and V, D, or J gene segments, which are to be assembled into immunoglobulins and T-cell receptors. Here we dissect the ordered assembly of the RAG1/2 heterotetramer with 12RSS and 23RSS DNAs. We find that RAG1/2 binds only a single 12RSS or 23RSS and reserves the second DNA-binding site specifically for the complementary RSS, to form a paired complex that reflects the known 12/23 rule of V(D)J recombination. The assembled RAG1/2 paired complex is active in the presence of Mg2+, the physiologically relevant metal ion, in nicking and double-strand cleavage of both RSS DNAs to produce a signal-end complex. We report here the purification and initial crystallization of the RAG1/2 signal-end complex for atomic-resolution structure elucidation. Strict pairing of the 12RSS and 23RSS at the binding step, together with information from the crystal structure of RAG1/2, leads to a molecular explanation of the 12/23 rule. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a warpage analysis method that predicts the warpage behavior of electroplated Cu films on glass fiber-reinforced polymer (GFRP) packaging substrates. The analysis method is performed using the following sequence: fabricate specimens for scanning 3D contours, transform 3D data into curvatures, compute the built-in stress of the film using a stress-curvature analytic model, and verify it through comparisons of the finite element method (FEM) simulations with the measured data. The curvature is used to describe the deflection and warpage modes and orientations of the specimen. Two primary factors that affect the warpage behavior of the electroplated Cu film on FRP substrate specimens are investigated. The first factor is the built-in stress in a Cu film that explains the room temperature warpage of the specimen under no thermal process. The second factor is the misfit of the coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) between the Cu and FRP layer, which is a dominant factor during the temperature change. The calculated residual stress, and predicted curvatures using FEM simulation throughout the reflow process temperature range between 25 and 180 °C are proven to be accurate by the comparison of the FEM simulations and experiment measurements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Photorhabdus temperata is an entomopathogenic enterobacterium; it is a nematode symbiont that possesses pathogenicity islands involved in insect virulence. Herein, we constructed a P. temperata M1021 cosmid library in Escherichia coli XL1-Blue MRF' and obtained 7.14 × 105 clones. However, only 1020 physiologically active clones were screened for insect virulence factors by injection of each E. coli cosmid clone into Galleria mellonella and Tenebrio molitor larvae. A single cosmid clone, PtC1015, was consequently selected due to its characteristic virulent properties, e.g., loss of body turgor followed by death of larvae when the clone was injected into the hemocoel. The sequence alignment against the available sequences in Swiss-Prot and NCBI databases, confirmed the presence of the mcf gene homolog in the genome of P. temperata M1021 showing 85% homology and 98% query coverage with the P. luminescens counterpart. Furthermore, a 2932 amino acid long Mcf protein revealed limited similarity with three protein domains. The N-terminus of the Mcf encompassed consensus sequence for a BH3 domain, the central region revealed similarity to toxin B, and the C-terminus of Mcf revealed similarity to the bacterial export domain of ApxIVA, an RTX-like toxin. In short, the Mcf toxin is likely to play a role in the elimination of insect pests, making it a promising model for use in the agricultural field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fas-mediated apoptosis is considered a principal pathway for apoptosis induction in normal and cancer cells. Expression of Fas has been reported in prostate tissues several times, but the data were not consistent. Expression of FLICE-like inhibitory protein (FLIP), an inhibitor of Fas-mediated apoptosis, has not been studied by immunohistochemistry in prostate tissues. The aim of this study is to explore whether alterations of Fas and FLIP expression occur in prostate cancer tissues. We analyzed the expression of Fas and FLIP in 107 prostate adenocarcinoma tissues by immunohistochemistry using a tissue microarray approach. Normal glandular cells of the prostates strongly expressed both Fas and FLIP proteins. Prostate intraepithelial neoplasm also showed a strong Fas immunoreacitity. Fas expression was strongly positive in 60 cancers (56.1%), but the remaining 47 cancers showed no (6.5%) or markedly decreased (37.4%) Fas immunostaining compared with the normal glandular cells of the same patients. By contrast, FLIP expression was strong in most (103/107; 96.3%) of the cancers, and only four cancers (3.7%) showed decreased immunoreactivities compared with the normal cells. The decreased expression of Fas was not associated with pathologic characteristics, including FLIP expression, size of the cancers, age, Gleason score and stage. The decreased expression of Fas in a large fraction of prostate cancers compared with their normal cells suggested that loss of Fas expression might play a role in tumorigenesis in some prostate cancers possibly by inhibiting apoptosis mediated by Fas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article discusses a study which examined endonuclease G (EndoG) expression in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), cirrhosis and liver tissues. Particular focus is given to the link between apoptosis and the pathogenesis of several human diseases, along with the important role played by EndoG in the apoptosis of cells. Immunohistochemistry was used in analyzing EndoG expression. Results showed that EndoG expression is frequently lost in HCC. A homogenous pattern was observed in the expression of EndoG in each HCC nodule.

Examines the catalysis of the allylic isomerization of heat[sup 5]-3-ketosteroid isomerase. Pseudoreversion of Y14F catalytic activity by substituting tyrosine with phenylalanine; Application of electrophilic catalysts; Kinetic parameters of tyrosine mutants.

Immunotherapy via interleukin-2 (IL-2) mediated activation of anti-tumor immune response is a promising approach for cancer treatment. The multi-potent cytokine, IL-2 has a central role in immune cell activation and homeostasis. Since IL-2 preferentially activates immunosuppressive T regulatory cells by IL-2Rα dependent manner, blocking IL-2:IL-2Rα interaction is a key to amplify the IL-2 activity in effector T cells toward anti-tumor response. Anti-IL-2 monoclonal antibodies are good candidates to control the IL-2:IL-2Rα interaction. In a previous study, we developed a new IL-2Rα mimetic antibody, TCB2, and showed that the human IL-2(hIL-2):TCB2 complex can stimulate T effector cells specifically and elicit potent anti-cancer immunotherapeutic effect, especially when administered in combination with immune checkpoint inhibitors. To understand the molecular mechanism, we determined the crystal structure of TCB2-Fab in a complex with hIL-2 at 2.5 Å resolution. Our structural analysis reveals that TCB2 binds to the central area of the hIL-2Rα binding region on hIL-2, and binding angle and epitope are different from previously known hIL-2Rα mimicking antibody NARA1 which recognizes the top part of hIL-2. TCB2 binding to hIL-2 also induces an allosteric effect that increases the affinity for the hetero-dimeric hIL-2 receptor, IL-2R (β + γ), on effector T cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The most common sites for metastasis of lung cancer are the bones, liver, adrenal glands, and brain. Only a few studies have reported on perianal or perirectal metastasis of lung cancer. Herein, we report the case of a 78-year-old man who developed distant perianal metastasis of small cell lung carcinoma (SCLC), presenting as a palpable mass and pain in the buttock, diagnosed through magnetic resonance imaging. Immunohistochemical staining confirmed perianal metastasis from SCLC. It is important to be aware of this uncommon manifestation of lung cancer, which will help in early diagnosis and proper treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cryptococcus neoformans is an encapsulated yeast that can be found in pigeon droppings, hay, and dust. Primary cutaneous cryptococcosis (PCC) without systemic involvement is recognized as a distinct clinical condition and is rarely reported in immunocompetent patients. A 78-year-old woman with no history of other diseases except for hypertension presented with a painful diffuse erythematous plaque along with oozing on left forearm that had lasted for 7 weeks. She was treated with cefoperazone/sulbactam for 3 weeks under suspicion of bacterial cellulitis, although the lesions aggravated without any improvement. We performed bacterial and fungal cultures as well as incisional biopsy. The pathogen was identified as Cryptococcus neoformans following sequence analysis of the internal transcribed spacer gene. The patient was treated with fluconazole 400 mg/day for 3 months, and there was no evidence of recurrence after 3 months of follow-up. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) therapy is a promising alternative approach for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases, according to its neuroprotective and immunomodulatory potential. Despite numerous clinical trials involving autologous MSCs, their outcomes have often been unsuccessful. Several reports have indicated that MSCs from patients have low capacities in terms of the secretion of neurotrophic or anti-inflammatory factors, which might be associated with cell senescence or disease severity. Therefore, a new strategy to improve their capacities is required for optimal efficacy of autologous MSC therapy. In this study, we compared the secretory potential of MSCs among cerebellar ataxia patients (CA-MSCs) and healthy individuals (H-MSCs). Our results, including secretome analysis findings, revealed that CA-MSCs have lower capacities in terms of proliferation, oxidative stress response, motility, and immunomodulatory functions when compared with H-MSCs. The functional differences were validated in a scratch wound healing assay and neuron-glia co-cultures. In addition, the neuroprotective and immunoregulatory protein follistatin-like 1 (FSTL1) was identified as one of the downregulated proteins in the CA-MSC secretome, with suppressive effects on proinflammatory microglial activation. Our study findings suggest that targeting aspects of the downregulated anti-inflammatory secretome, such as FSTL1, might improve the efficacy of autologous MSC therapy for CA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mycobacterium abscessus comprises rapidly growing mycobacteria, and the clinical manifestations of M. abscessus skin infection include papule, nodule, ulcer, scar and mixed form. The cutaneous infections have been reported due to minor trauma, cosmetic therapy, acupuncture and disseminated infection. A 75-year-old man presented with pruritic diffuse various sized erythematous papuloplaques and pustules on the neck and chest for 2 months. The cutaneous lesions were spread around the wound of the shaving on the neck. The histopathologic findings were consistent with abscess showing infiltrations of neutrophils and lymphocytes in the dermis and negative findings were observed on immunohistochemical stain including acid-fast bacilli stain. One month later, mycobacterial culture result showed positive findings, and the pathogen was identified by reversetranscriptase polymerase chain reaction with hybridization. The patient was treated with combination of clarithromycin and ethambutol for 5 months and there is no evidence of recurrence after 6 months of follow-up. Herein, we report a case of M. abscessus cutaneous infection through minor trauma caused by shaving in the elderly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In 2015, workers dismantling a fluorescent lamp factory in Korea were affected by mercury poisoning from exposure to mercury vapor. Case presentation: Eighteen out of the 21 workers who participated in the demolition project presented with symptoms of poisoning and, of these, 10 had persistent symptoms even at 18 months after the initial exposure to mercury vapor. Early symptoms of 18 workers included a general skin rash, pruritus, myalgia, sleep disturbance, and cough and sputum production. Following alleviation of these initial symptoms, late symptoms, such as easy fatigue, insomnia, bad dreams, and anxiety disorder, began to manifest in 10 out of 18 patients. Seven workers underwent psychiatric care owing to sleep disturbance, anxiety disorder, and depression, and three workers underwent dermatologic treatment for hyperpigmentation, erythematous skin eruption, and chloracne-like skin lesions. Furthermore, three workers developed a coarse jerky movement, two had swan neck deformity of the fingers, and two received care at an anesthesiology clinic for paresthesia, such as burning sensation, cold sensation, and pain. Two workers underwent urologic treatment for dysfunction of the urologic system and impotence. However, symptomatic treatment did not result in satisfactory relief of these symptoms. Conclusion: Awareness of the perils of mercury and prevention of mercury exposure are critical for preventing health hazards caused by mercury vapor. Chelation therapy should be performed promptly following mercury poisoning to minimize damage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) is considered a relatively safe procedure. However, the procedure and the materials used in EGD with conscious sedation can cause stress to the patient. Adverse events during EGD have been reported, represented by cardiopulmonary complications. To date, five cases have reported worldwide to be associated with gastrointestinal endoscopy. Stress cardiomyopathy (SCMP) is a reversible cardiomyopathy that typically occurs in postmenopausal women due to stress and may resolve within a few weeks. SCMP resembles acute myocardial infarction but differs in terms of treatment and prognosis. Here, we describe two cases of SCMP with shock during EGD with conscious sedation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses a study on the mutation of JAK2 exon 12 in selected acute leukemia. The study involved 142 acute leukemia patients whose bone marrows were extracted for acute leukemia DNA. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with one primer pair were used to analyze possible mutations in the JAK2 exon 12.

Introduction: Condyloma acuminatum are caused by human papillomavirus. Giant condyloma acuminatum is a locally invasive, destructive, and large sized mass. Risk factors for the development of giant condyloma acuminatum include an immunodeficient state, such as human immunodeficiency virus infection, post-organ transplantation, or post-allogeneic bone marrow transplantation. However, reports of giant condyloma after bone marrow transplantation are extremely rare (0.3 to 1.3%). The standard treatment for giant condyloma acuminatum is recommended as wide surgical resection due to its high rate of success and low rate of recurrence. Case presentation: A 31-year-old Korean man presented to our hospital with anal discomfort for more than one month due to a protruding mass. He had a history of BCR-ABL-positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia and had undergone an allogenic stem cell transplantation. Gross findings revealed a large perianal cauliflower-like mass over 7cm in size with invasion of the anal orifice. He was diagnosed with giant anal condyloma occurring after an allogeneic bone marrow transplantation. However, we achieved successful treatment using a combination of topical podophyllin and cryotherapy and transanal surgical excision, followed by bleomycin irrigation. Conclusions: We report an extremely rare case of giant condyloma acuminatum of anus due to human papillomavirus type six in a patient with acute lymphoblastic leukemia following an allogeneic bone marrow transplantation. The tumor was successfully treated with a combination of topical podophyllin and cryotherapy and transanal surgical excision, followed by bleomycin irrigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Condyloma acuminatum are caused by human papillomavirus. Giant condyloma acuminatum is a locally invasive, destructive, and large sized mass. Risk factors for the development of giant condyloma acuminatum include an immunodeficient state, such as human immunodeficiency virus infection, post-organ transplantation, or post-allogeneic bone marrow transplantation. However, reports of giant condyloma after bone marrow transplantation are extremely rare (0.3 to 1.3%). The standard treatment for giant condyloma acuminatum is recommended as wide surgical resection due to its high rate of success and low rate of recurrence. Case presentation: A 31-year-old Korean man presented to our hospital with anal discomfort for more than one month due to a protruding mass. He had a history of BCR-ABL-positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia and had undergone an allogenic stem cell transplantation. Gross findings revealed a large perianal cauliflower-like mass over 7cm in size with invasion of the anal orifice. He was diagnosed with giant anal condyloma occurring after an allogeneic bone marrow transplantation. However, we achieved successful treatment using a combination of topical podophyllin and cryotherapy and transanal surgical excision, followed by bleomycin irrigation. Conclusions: We report an extremely rare case of giant condyloma acuminatum of anus due to human papillomavirus type six in a patient with acute lymphoblastic leukemia following an allogeneic bone marrow transplantation. The tumor was successfully treated with a combination of topical podophyllin and cryotherapy and transanal surgical excision, followed by bleomycin irrigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]