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Objective: To develop and implement a pilot educational program on genetic testing at the Tokai University School of Medicine with a public engagement approach through a local junior-high school outreach program. Methods: Seven medical students underwent 2 weeks of education and training to act as instructors for a one-day course on genetic testing for local junior-high school students. The one-day course comprised a lecture and an experimental lesson. The variation of UDP-glucuronosyltransferase 1A1 gene (UGT1A1) was selected as the teaching topic. A commercially available cultured human leukemia cell line was used as the source of human genomic DNA to circumvent the ethical concerns associated with obtaining samples from participants for genomic analysis. The medical students received instructions on the basics of conducting laboratory work and handling the equipment and reagents during the 2-week training. Results: The seven medical students completed the 2-week training. They then taught PCR and restriction enzyme experiments and the meaning of the results to junior-high school students. Conclusion: A pilot educational program on genetic testing with a local community outreach approach was successfully developed and implemented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. The Coccomyxa sp. strain KJ (Coccomyxa KJ), a microalga found in Japan, has a potential function in controlling viral infections. Recently, its dry powder has been marketed as a health food product. Objectives. This pilot study investigated the effects of Coccomyxa KJ powder tablet intake on allergic reactions and immune functions in healthy participants. Materials and methods. Nine healthy volunteers (4 males and 5 females) who expressed interest in foods containing Coccomyxa KJ, and were willing to undergo blood tests, were recruited. Each individual was asked to take 2 Coccomyxa KJ powder tablets (0.3 g) before breakfast once a day for 4 weeks. The salivary immunoglobulin A (IgA) level and blood parameters (white blood cell (WBC) count, eosinophil and lymphocyte counts and percentages, natural killer (NK) cell activity, interleukin (IL)-6 level, and T helper (Th)1/Th2 cell ratio) were evaluated at baseline and weeks 2 and 4. Results. The 4-week intake of Coccomyxa KJ did not affect salivary IgA levels, WBC count, eosinophil and lymphocyte counts and percentages, or the Th1/Th2 ratio. There were significant differences in the NK cell activity after 4 weeks, with an average increase of 11.78 (95% confidence interval (95% CI): 6.80-16.76). None of the patients experienced adverse reactions during or after the study. Conclusions. Long-term Coccomyxa KJ intake improved NK cell activity without causing adverse effects on the indicators of local immunity, systemic inflammation and immune response balance. This study suggests that Coccomyxa KJ powder tablets can induce beneficial immune modifications without causing any adverse effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gene alterations are a well-established mechanism leading to drug resistance in acute leukemia cells. A full understanding of the mechanisms of drug resistance in these cells will facilitate more effective chemotherapy. In this study, we investigated the mechanism(s) of drug resistance in the human acute leukemia cell line MOLT-3 and its idarubicin-resistant derivative MOLT-3/IDR through complete mitochondrial and nuclear DNA analyses. We identified genetic differences between these two cell lines. The ND3 mutation site (p.Thr61Ile) in the mitochondrial DNA sequence was unique to MOLT-3/IDR cells. Moreover, we identified five candidate genes harboring genetic alterations, including GALNT2, via CGH array analysis. Sequencing of the GALNT2 exon revealed a G1716K mutation present within the stop codon in MOLT-3/IDR cells but absent from MOLT-3 cells. This mutation led to an additional 18 amino acids in the protein encoded by GALNT2. Using real-time PCR, we determined an expression value for this gene of 0.35. Protein structure predictions confirmed a structural change in GALNT2 in MOLT-3/IDR cells that corresponded to the site of the mutation. We speculate that this mutation may be related to idarubicin resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]