Search

Background: Adoptive cell therapy using tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) has shown promising results in cancer treatment, including breast cancer. However, clonal dynamics and clinical significance of TIL expansion ex vivo remain poorly understood. Methods: We investigated T cell receptor (TCR) repertoire changes in expanded TILs from 19 patients with breast cancer. We compared TCR repertoire of TILs at different stages of expansion, including initial (2W TILs) and rapid expansion (REP TILs), and their overlap with formalin fixed paraffin embedded (FFPE) and peripheral blood. Additionally, we examined differences in TCR repertoire between CD4+ and CD8+ REP TILs. Results: In descending order of proportion, average of 60% of the top 10% clonotypes of FFPE was retained in 2W TIL (60% in TRB, 64.7% in TRA). Among the overlapped clonotypes between 2W TILs and REP TILs, 69.9% was placed in top 30% of 2W TIL. The proportion of clonotypes in 2W TIL and REP TIL showed a significant positive correlation. CD4+ and CD8+ T cells show similar results in diversity and CDR3 length. Conclusions: Our study traces the changes in TILs repertoire from FFPE to 2W TIL and REP TIL and confirmed that clonotypes with high frequencies in TILs have a high likelihood of maintaining their priority throughout culture process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Postoperative minimal residual disease (MRD) detection using circulating-tumour DNA (ctDNA) requires a highly sensitive analysis platform. We have developed a tumour-informed, hybrid-capture ctDNA sequencing MRD assay. Methods: Personalised target-capture panels for ctDNA detection were designed using individual variants identified in tumour whole-exome sequencing of each patient. MRD status was determined using ultra-high-depth sequencing data of plasma cell-free DNA. The MRD positivity and its association with clinical outcome were analysed in Stage II or III colorectal cancer (CRC). Results: In 98 CRC patients, personalised panels for ctDNA sequencing were built from tumour data, including a median of 185 variants per patient. In silico simulation showed that increasing the number of target variants increases MRD detection sensitivity in low fractions (<0.01%). At postoperative 3-week, 21.4% of patients were positive for MRD by ctDNA. Postoperative positive MRD was strongly associated with poor disease-free survival (DFS) (adjusted hazard ratio 8.40, 95% confidence interval 3.49–20.2). Patients with a negative conversion of MRD after adjuvant therapy showed significantly better DFS (P < 0.001). Conclusion: Tumour-informed, hybrid-capture-based ctDNA assay monitoring a large number of patient-specific mutations is a sensitive strategy for MRD detection to predict recurrence in CRC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Circulating tumour DNA (ctDNA) has been spotlighted as an attractive biomarker because of its easy accessibility and real-time representation of tumour genetic profile. However, the clinical utility of longitudinal ctDNA monitoring has not been clearly defined. Methods: Serial blood samples were obtained from metastatic colorectal cancer patients undergoing first-line chemotherapy. ctDNA was sequenced using a targeted next-generation sequencing platform which included 106 genes. Changes in ctDNA profile and treatment outcome were comprehensively analysed. Results: A total of 272 samples from 62 patients were analysed. In all, 90.3% of patients had detectable ctDNA mutation before treatment. ctDNA clearance after chemotherapy was associated with longer progression-free survival which was independent of radiological response (adjusted hazard ratio 0.22, 95% confidence interval 0.10–0.46). Longitudinal monitoring was able to detect ctDNA progression which preceded radiological progressive disease (PD) in 58.1% (median 3.3 months). Diverse resistant mutations (34.9%) and gene amplification (7.0%) at the time of PD were discovered. For 16.3% of the PD patients, the newly identified mutations could be potential candidates of targeted therapy or clinical trial. Conclusion: ctDNA profile provided a more accurate landscape of tumour and dynamic changes compared to radiological evaluation. Longitudinal ctDNA monitoring may improve personalised treatment decision-making. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stable composites of water-dispersed graphene oxide (GO) and UV-cured acrylic resin, poly (ethylene glycol) diacrylate (PEGDA), were prepared to make printed conductive patterns using a digital light processing (DLP) three-dimensional (3D) printing method. The targeted structures were successfully printed by DLP 3D printing and the electrically conductive properties were obtained by reducing the insulating GO in the composites to reduced GO by chemical and thermal reduction processes. Three basic reduction procedures, pre-thermal, pre-chemical, and post-thermal reduction, were performed to introduce a high conductivity into a printed structure and the lowest resistance was achieved by the pre-thermal reduction in our study. The stability of the printed structures was also evaluated by monitoring the change in resistance with time. The strategy pursued by photopolymerization gives the outstanding features of printed structures for extensive applications in the manufacturing of electronic and sensing devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The National Culture Collection of Pathogens (NCCP) is a microbial resource bank in Korea that collects pathogen resources causing infectious disease in human and distributes them for research and education. The NCCP bank attempts to discover strains with various characteristics and specific purposes to provide diverse resources to researchers. Staphylococcus aureus American Type Culture Collection (ATCC) 6538P is used as a reference strain in the microbial assay for antibiotics in the Korean and in the United States Pharmacopoeias. We aimed to analyze domestically isolated microbial resources from the NCCP to replace the S. aureus reference strain. Staphylococcus aureus strains were identified using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry and the VITEK-2 system and characterized by multilocus sequence typing, 16S rRNA sequencing, and antibiotic susceptibility testing. Several candidate strains had similar characteristics as the reference strain. Among them, the nucleotide sequence of the 16S rRNA region of NCCP 16830 was 100% identical to that of the reference strain; it was sensitive to six types of antibiotics and showed results most similar to the reference strain. A validity evaluation was conducted using the cylinder-plate method. NCCP 16830 presented valid results and had the same performance as ATCC 6538P; therefore, it was selected as an alternative candidate strain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A Gram-positive, aerobic, rod-shaped bacterium, designated as strain 1605-214T, was isolated from the blood sample of a patient with cholangitis. Based on its 16S rRNA gene sequence, the strain 1605-214T belonged to the genus Cohnella and exhibited 97.9% sequence identity with Cohnella luojiensis DSM 24270T (GQ214052). DNA–DNA hybridization, digital DNA–DNA hybridization, and average nucleotide identity values between the two species were 23% ± 1.9, 21.1%, and 77.2%, respectively. The cellular fatty acids of strain 1605-214T were mainly comprised of anteiso-C15:0 (36.1%), iso-C16:0 (16.5%), and C16:0 (15.1%). The predominant quinone was menaquinone-7; predominant polar lipids were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, and aminophospholipid-1. The cell wall peptidoglycan of strain 1605-214T contained meso-diaminopimelic acid. DNA G + C content of strain 1605-214T was 50.6 mol%. 5187 genes out of a total of 5413 (94.6%) were assigned putative functions using eggNOG v5.0. Based on genotypic characteristics and genomic sequence analysis results, strain 1605-214T was confirmed to represent a novel species of genus Cohnella, for which the name Cohnella cholangitidis sp. nov., was proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Understanding the genetic diversity and distribution patterns of seaweeds species is crucial for evaluating key regions of high genetic diversity. Identifying hotspots of high intraspecific diversity is an important step for developing conservation strategies. Grateloupia is a diverse genus of Rhodophyta, many of which are resource of numerous useful bioactive compounds; therefore, the genus is valuable target for conservation. Objective: The aim of this study is to examine the genetic diversity and population structure of two Grateloupia species, Grateloupia asiatica and Grateloupia jejuensis, with the understanding of the phylogeography of the Korean genetic diversity hotspot for two species. Methods: Plastid rbcL gene sequences of 134 specimens of G. asiatica and 112 specimens of G. jejuensis collected from the Korean coast were analyzed. We evaluated the number of haplotypes, genetic diversity (haplotype and nucleotide diversity), and haplotype networks of two species. Historical demographic was inferred by calculating neutrality tests and genetic differentiation was estimated using the fixation index, FST. Results: Our results show that both species are generally similar in geographical distribution patterns, that is, relatively homogeneous with few haplotypes derived from the most frequent haplotype. The east coast of Korea is identified as a 'hotspot' with the highest genetic diversity for both species, whereas Jeju Island is identified as a 'cold spot' with the lowest genetic diversity for G. jejuensis. Analyses across most distribution ranges of the two species in Korea reveal low genetic and haplotype diversities, which could indicate that these two Grateloupia species have either experienced a historical lack of diversity or a recent reduction in diversity due to high gene flow. Conclusions: The low genetic diversity values found in the present study raise considerable concern about the conservation status of these two Grateloupia species and highlight the need to locate further hotspots of genetic diversity to strengthen their resilience against further decline. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present work, a new series of 4-(1-(tert-butyl)-3-phenyl-1H-pyrazol-4-yl) pyridine possessing terminal ethyl or propyl sulfonamides was designed and synthesized. The cytotoxic effect of the final compounds was measured by applying MTT assay in LPS-Induced RAW264.7 macrophage cells. The final target compounds were screened for their anti-inflammatory effect through their ability to inhibit NO and PGE2 production and cytokines production (TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1β) in LPS-induced RAW264.7 macrophage at 10 μM concentration. Compounds 8d, 9d, and 9k showed the highest inhibitory effect on NO production. Compounds 8d and 9k exhibited high PGE2 inhibition with IC50 values of 3.47, 2.54 μM, respectively. Compounds 8d and 9k exhibited high cytokines inhibition ≥60%. The most potent compounds 8d and 9k were tested to determine their effect on iNOS and COX-2 mRNA expression level. Compound 9k activity on iNOS and COX-2 proteins level, pro-inflammatory mediators and cytokines was determined and showed remarkable inhibition for both proteins level. Compounds 8d, 9k showed high binding affinity to COX-2 active site and exhibited similar binding interactions of the native ligand celecoxib. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cellular dynamics and fate decision in early human embryogenesis remain largely unknown owing to the challenges of performing studies in human embryos1. Here, we explored whole-genomes of 334 single-cell colonies and targeted deep sequences of 379 bulk tissues obtained from various anatomical locations of seven recently deceased adult human donors. Using somatic mutations as an intrinsic barcode, we reconstructed early cellular phylogenies that demonstrate (1) an endogenous mutational rate that is higher in the first cell division but decreases to approximately one per cell per cell division later in life; (2) universal unequal contribution of early cells to embryo proper, resulting from early cellular bottlenecks that stochastically set aside epiblast cells within the embryo; (3) examples of varying degrees of early clonal imbalances between tissues on the left and right sides of the body, different germ layers and specific anatomical parts and organs; (4) emergence of a few ancestral cells that will substantially contribute to adult cell pools in blood and liver; and (5) presence of mitochondrial DNA heteroplasmy in the fertilized egg. Our approach also provides insights into the age-related mutational processes and loss of sex chromosomes in normal somatic cells. In sum, this study provides a foundation for future studies to complete cellular phylogenies in human embryogenesis.Adult human tissues from diverse sites around the body are used to reconstruct cellular phylogenies from early development, using somatic mutations as an internal barcode. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herein, Gd-doped BaTiO3 (Gd:BTO) solid-solution powders were prepared by microwave-assisted heat treatment (MWH). The structural and chemical characteristics of the powders were analysed by scanning transmission electron microscopy and electron energy loss spectroscopy. The defect formation reactions relevant to Gd doping are discussed based on the change in the electron energy structure as well as the density functional theory calculations. Ba(OH)2·H2O, TiO2·4H2O and Gd(NO3)3·6H2O were used as Ba, Ti and Gd precursors, respectively. A Ba/Ti mole ratio of 1.2 in the precursor at a reaction temperature of 300°C was determined to be the optimal synthetic conditions for preparing the Gd:BTO solid solution. Gd evidently occupied the Ti sites (denoted as GdTi) of BaTiO3 structure, and the substitution of Ti with Gd was accompanied by a change in the oxidation state of the Ti ions and the generation of oxygen vacancies. The magnetic susceptibility of the Gd:BTO powders increased with increase in concentration of GdTi with unidirectional electron spins. In contrast, the relative dielectric constant varied inversely with the Gd concentration owing to the evolution of oxygen vacancies and lattice distortion of the Gd:BTO powders with the increase in the Gd concentration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present study, we evaluated extract of Jerusalem artichoke tubers (JAT) as a substrate for the production of lipid containing high levels of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) by cultivated Aurantiochytrium sp. KRS101, an oleaginous protist. The optimal conditions for cultivation determined using response surface methods were as follows: pH, 5.9; enzyme loading, 282.6; and temperature, 27.7°C. The maximal levels of lipid (16.4 g/L) and productivity (3.6 g/L/d) were obtained during fed-batch fermentation, which achieved a DHA yield of 7.9 g/L (>48% of total fatty acids by weight). Moreover, JAT was more economical, reducing costs of expensive yeast extract as a nitrogen source by about 40%. These results suggest that JAT may be further explored as a low-cost feedstock for lipid production using microalgae strains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Hermetia illucens is a voracious insect scavenger that efficiently decomposes food waste. To exploit novel hydrolytic enzymes from this insect, we constructed a fosmid metagenome library using unculturable H. illucens intestinal microorganisms.Results: Functional screening of the library on carboxymethyl cellulose plates identified a fosmid clone with a product displaying hydrolytic activity. Fosmid sequence analysis revealed a novel mannan-degrading gene (ManEM17) composed of 1371 base pairs, encoding 456 amino acids with a deduced 54 amino acid N-terminal signal peptide sequence. Conceptual translation and domain analysis revealed that sequence homology was highest (46%) with endo-1,4-β-mannosidase of Anaerophaga thermohalophila. Phylogenetic and domain analysis indicated that ManEM17 belongs to a novel β-mannanase containing a glycoside hydrolase family 26 domain. The recombinant protein (rManEM17) was expressed in Escherichia coli, exhibiting the highest activity at 55 °C and pH 6.5. The protein hydrolyzed substrates with β-1,4-glycosidic mannoses; maximum specific activity (5467 U mg−1) occurred toward locust bean gum galactomannan. However, rManEM17 did not hydrolyze p-Nitrophenyl-β-pyranosides, demonstrating endo-form mannanase activity. Furthermore, rManEM17 was highly stable under stringent conditions, including polar organic solvents as well as chemical reducing and denaturing reagents.Conclusions: ManEM17 is an attractive candidate for mannan degradation under the high-organic-solvent and protein-denaturing processes in food and feed industries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Acute visual loss after facial injection of cosmetic materials is rarely reported. In this study, we report one patient who developed acute visual loss after an injection of botulinum toxin A for esthetic purposes.Methods: A 43-year-old Korean woman presented with a decrease in visual acuity to 20/800 after an injection of botulinum toxin A in the masseter muscle. The visual field testing showed an inferior altitudinal defect, and fluorescein angiography revealed a delayed arm-retinal circulation time.Results: After intravenous and oral prednisolone was administered, the patient’s visual acuity gradually improved. Two months after the botulinum toxin A injection, the visual acuity had almost returned to baseline, with a remaining paracentral scotoma.Conclusions: This is the first case of acute visual loss following an injection of botulinum toxin A in a facial lesion. This case emphasizes that the potential risks of botulinum toxin A injection should be considered, and the procedure should be performed delicately. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The calcium-sensing receptor (CaSR) is a G-protein-coupled receptor that plays an essential role in maintaining calcium homeostasis. In the present study, we analyzed the CaSR gene in a Korean family with familial hypocalciuric hypercalcemia (FHH). Genetic studies were performed by direct sequence analysis of the CaSR gene in genomic DNA obtained from peripheral leukocytes. A novel heterozygous G to T substitution at nucleotide position 1711 in exon 6, resulting in the G571W mutation, was identified in the CaSR gene in a 26-year-old female with asymptomatic hypercalcemia, a low calcium/creatinine clearance ratio, and normal intact parathyroid hormone. To study CaSR expression, the mutation was introduced by site-directed mutagenesis into a wild-type (WT) CaSR-expressing pCR3.1 vector, and COS-7 cells were transfected with either the WT or mutant CaSR-containing vector. Transfected cells loaded with Fura-2/AM, a fluorescent indicator of Ca2+, were assessed for CaSR function by the change in intracellular calcium [as measured by the 340 nm/380 nm fluorescence intensity ratio (F340/F380)] made in response to challenge with extracellular Ca2+. Both WT and G571W cells had equivalent amounts of CaSR protein in the cell membrane. However, after challenge with extracellular Ca2+, cells transfected with G571W CaSR responded with a lower F340/F380 ratio than those transfected with WT CaSR and showed decreased sensitivity to extracellular Ca2+ concentrations. The G571W mutation had therefore impaired the CaSR function. In conclusion, we identified a novel loss-of-function mutation, G571W, in the CaSR gene in a Korean family with FHH. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Identification of bitter components from the aerial parts of Artemisia princeps Pamp. was performed to search for a method to eliminate the bitter taste from A. princeps products. The aerial parts of A. princeps were extracted in an aqueous EtOH solution, and the obtained extracts were partitioned into essential-oil, flavonoid-rich, n-BuOH, and aqueous fractions. Two purified bitter sesquiterpenoids were identified through repeated column chromatography of the bitterest fraction, the flavonoid-rich fraction, through an activity-guided fractionation method. The compounds were identified to be 1α,6α,8α-trihydroxy-5α,7βH-guaia-3,9,11(13)-trien-12-oic acid and artecalin, respectively, based on the interpretation of NMR, MS, and IR spectroscopic data. Both compounds were 50 times bitterer than caffeine and had similar bitterness to quinine HCl. Neither eupatilin nor jaceosidin, the major active components of A. princeps, showed any bitterness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One new phenylglycoside, 1-hydroxy-3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl-1-O-[6′-O-(4″-carboxy-1″ ,3″ ,5″ - trihydroxy)phenyl]-β-D-glucopyranoside ( 1), along with eight known ones, isosalicin ( 2), vanilloloside ( 3), (4-hydroxy-3,5-dimethoxyphenyl)methyl-β-D-glucopyranoside ( 4), crenatin ( 5), hydrageifolin I ( 6), tachioside ( 7), isotachioside ( 8), and koaburside ( 9), were isolated from the stems of Spiraea prunifolia var. simpliciflora. The chemical structures of these compounds were identified on the basis of spectroscopic data such as NMR, FAB-MS, and IR. All these compounds were isolated from this plant for the first time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The characteristics of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted from several consumer and commercial products (body wash, dishwashing detergent, air freshener, windshield washer fluid, lubricant, hair spray, and insecticide) were studied and compared. The spray products were found to emit the highest amount of VOCs (~96 wt%). In contrast, the body wash products showed the lowest VOC contents (~1.6 wt%). In the spray products, 21.6-96.4 % of the VOCs were propane, iso-butane, and n-butane, which are the components of liquefied petroleum gas. Monoterpene (CH) was the dominant component of the VOCs in the non-spray products (e.g., body wash, 53-88 %). In particular, methanol was present with the highest amount of VOCs in windshield washer fluid products. In terms of the number of carbon, the windshield washer fluids, lubricants, insecticides, and hair sprays comprised >95 % of the VOCs in the range C-C. The VOCs in the range C-C were predominantly found in the body wash products. The dishwashing detergents and air fresheners contained diverse VOCs from C to C. Besides comprising hazardous VOCs, VOCs from consumer products were also ozone precursors. The ozone formation potential of the consumer and commercial spray products was estimated to be higher than those of liquid and gel materials. In particular, the hair sprays showed the highest ozone formation potential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The stem wood of Machilus japonica Siebold & Zucc were extracted with 80 % aqueous MeOH, and the concentrated extract was successively partitioned with ethyl acetate (EtOAc), normal butanol, and water. From the EtOAc fraction, five procyanidins, procyanidin A1 ( 1), procyanidin A2 ( 2), procyanidin B7 ( 3), cinnamtannin B1 ( 4), and aesculitannin B ( 5), were isolated. Their chemical structures were identified through spectroscopic data analyses including NMR, MS, and IR. This is the first time any of these compounds have been isolated from this plant. The compounds were evaluated for inhibition activity on LDL oxidation. All of these compounds and the positive control, BHT, showed a very high inhibition effect with IC values of 0.94, 2.1, 1.8, 1.1, 1.0, and 1.9 μM, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim:To investigate the effects of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) on melanin synthesis and related regulatory mechanisms.Methods:B16F10 mouse melanoma cells were exposed to DHA for 3 d, and melanin content and tyrosinase activity were measured. Western blot analysis was used to analyze the protein levels in DHA-mediated signal transduction pathways.Results:DHA (1-25 μmol/L) did not affect the viability of B16F10 cells, but decreased α-MSH-induced melanin synthesis in a concentration-dependent manner. DHA concentration-dependently reduced tyrosinase activity in the cells, but did not affect mushroom tyrosinase activity in a cell-free system. Furthermore, DHA treatment significantly reduced tyrosinase level without affecting microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF) in the cells. DHA did not activate ERK and Akt in the cells. Pretreatment with the proteasome inhibitor MG132 (80 nmol/L) abolished DHA-induced tyrosinase reduction.Conclusion:DHA inhibits melanogenesis in B16F10 cells in vitro through increasing tyrosinase degradation. The results suggest that DHA may be a potential agent for treatment of hyperpigmentary disorders of skin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Brassica rapa ssp. campestris (Brassicaceae) is a conical, deep purple, edible root vegetable commonly known as a turnip. We initiated phytochemical and pharmacological studies to search for biological active compounds from the roots of B. rapa ssp. campestris. We isolated a novel phenanthrene derivative, 6-methoxy-1-[10-methoxy-7-(3-methylbut-2-enyl)phenanthren-3-yl]undecane-2,4-dione, named brassicaphenanthrene A ( 3) along with two known diarylheptanoid compounds, 6-paradol ( 1) and trans-6-shogaol ( 2), through the repeated silica gel (SiO), octadecyl silica gel, and Sephadex LH-20 column chromatography. The chemical structures of the compounds were determined by spectroscopic data analyses including nuclear magnetic resonance, mass spectrometry, ultraviolet spectroscopy, and infra-red spectroscopy. All compounds exhibited high inhibitory activity against the growth of human cancer lines, HCT-116, MCF-7, and HeLa, with IC values ranging from 15.0 to 35.0 μM and against LDL-oxidation with IC values ranging from 2.9 to 7.1 μM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To select proper soybean cultivars for producing functional cheonggukjang, a comparison was made of the physiological activities of different cheonggukjang prepared with 30 different soybean cultivars. The isoflavone content was highest in the cheonggukjang made from 'Daepung' soybeans at 208.75 mg%. In general, the contents of glycone types (and derivatives) of isoflavone, specifically daidzin, glycitin, genistin, and malonylgenistin, were higher than that of aglycone types. The polyphenol contents ranged from 30.62 to 80.32 mg%. The DPPH radical scavenging activity and superoxide dismutase (SOD)-like activity of the cheonggukjang made from yellow soybeans had a higher activity than those of black soybeans. Although there are no consistent tendencies in the functional activity of cheonggukjang according to soybean color and size, the antioxidative activity is highest in the cheonggukjang made of yellow soybeans. Additionally, the fibrinolytic and inhibitory activities against angiotensin I-converting enzyme are highest in the cheonggukjang made of black soybeans. From these results, it can be concluded that the DPPH free radical scavenging activity and SOD-like activity in cheonggukjang depends on the phenolic compound content in soybean. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Several studies have been performed on the association between non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) and the presence of certain human leukocyte antigens (HLA) class II alleles in Asian countries, and these studies have shown different results, according to the ethnicity, for the frequencies of the HLA class II alleles, and especially for HLA-DRB1. Therefore, the distribution of the HLA-A, B, C, DRB1, and DQB1 alleles in 89 Korean patients with NHL and also in 200 healthy Korean controls was investigated in this study. For the class I alleles, the frequencies of HLA-B51 was increased in patients with NHL and diffuse large B cell (DLBC) lymphoma compared with the normal control. For the class II alleles, the frequencies of the HLA-DRB1*09 and DQB1*03 alleles were increased in patients with NHL and DLBC lymphoma compared with the normal controls. Also, the B51-DRB1*09-DQB1*03 haplotype was significantly increased in the patients with NHL. These results suggest that some genes in HLA-B*51-DRB1*09-DQB1*03 haplotype may contribute to NHL susceptibility in the Korean population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new hydroxy fatty acid, named bombyxmoric acid methyl ester ( 1), along with three known ones, 12(S)-methyl 12-hydroxyoctadeca-9Z,13E,15Z-trienoate ( 2), 13(S)-methyl 13-hydroxyoctadeca-9Z, 11E-dienoate ( 3), and 13(S)-hydroxyoctadeca-9Z,11E-dienoic acid ( 4), were isolated from Bombyx mori droppings. The structure of compound 1 was established as methyl 7-hydroxyoctadeca-8E,10Z,15E-trienote on the basis of spectroscopic methods including HR-EI/MS, IR, 1D, and 2D NMR experiments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Skeletal muscle regeneration occurs continuously to repair muscle damage incurred during normal activity and in chronic disease or injury. Herein, we report that A-kinase anchoring protein 6 (AKAP6) is important for skeletal myoblast differentiation and muscle regeneration. Compared with unstimulated skeletal myoblasts that underwent proliferation, differentiated cells show significant stimulation of AKAP6 expression. AKAP6 knockdown with siRNA effectively halts the formation of myotubes and decreases the expression of the differentiation markers myogenin and myosin heavy chain. When shAKAP6-lentivirus is delivered to mice with cardiotoxin (CTX)-induced muscle injury, muscle regeneration is impaired compared with that of mice injected with control shMock-lentivirus. The motor functions of mice infected with shAKAP6-lentivirus (CTX+shAK6) are significantly worse than those of mice infected with shMock-lentivirus (CTX+shMock). Mechanistic analysis showed that AKAP6 promotes myogenin expression through myocyte enhancer factor 2A (MEF2A). Notably, myogenin increases AKAP6 expression as well. The results of chromatin immunoprecipitation and luciferase assays showed that myogenin binds to an E-box site on the AKAP6 promoter. Taken together, our findings demonstrate a novel interplay between AKAP6 and myogenin, and we suggest that AKAP6 is an important regulator of myoblast differentiation, myotube formation, and muscle regeneration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The 14-3-3 protein has been used as a biomarker for the diagnosis of sporadic Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (sCJD). However, weakly positive 14-3-3 leads to false positive results and an incorrect diagnosis. We attempted to use quantitative data for tau protein to provide an accurate diagnosis based on weak 14-3-3 protein. Sixty-two patients with sCJD, including pathologically confirmed, clinically definite, and probable cases, and 89 non-CJD patients were investigated based on a Korean population. Among them, 20 sCJD and 14 non-CJD showed weakly positive 14-3-3. The total tau (t-tau) and phosphorylated tau (p-tau) protein levels were measured by ELISA, and the p-tau to t-tau ratio (p/t ratio) was calculated. The combined use of the 14-3-3 protein assay, t-tau levels, and p/t ratio improved the specificity of diagnosis compared with the use of the 14-3-3 protein assay alone (47% for 14-3-3 alone; 85.94% for 14-3-3 combined with t-tau; 90.62% for 14-3-3 combined with the p/t ratio). In addition, 18 of 20 sCJD and 12 of 14 non-CJD who were weakly positive for 14-3-3 were positive for the p/t ratio and negative for the p/t ratio, respectively. When used in combination with the 14-3-3 protein, the tau protein is useful as a biomarker for the precise diagnosis of sCJD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

LiYF4:Eu nanophosphors with a single tetragonal phase are synthesized, and various strategies to enhance the Eu3+ emission from the nanophosphors are investigated. The optimized Eu3+ concentration is 35 mol%, and the red emission peaks due to the 5D0 →7FJ (J = 1 and 2) transitions of Eu3+ ions are further enhanced by energy transfer from a sensitizer pair of Ce3+ and Tb3+. The triple doping of Ce, Tb, and Eu into the LiYF4 host more effectively enhances the Eu3+ emission than the core/shell strategies of LiYF4:Eu(35%)/LiYF4:Ce(15%), Tb(15%) and LiYF4:Ce(15%), Tb(15%)/LiYF4:Eu(35%) architectures. Efficient energy transfer from Ce3+ to Eu3+ through Tb3+ results in three times higher Eu3+ emission intensity from LiYF4:Ce(15%), Tb(15%), Eu(1%) nanophosphors compared with LiYF4:Eu(35%), which contains the optimized Eu3+ concentration. Owing to the energy transfer of Ce3+ → Tb3+ and Ce3+ → Tb3+ → Eu3+, intense green and red emission peaks are observed from LiYF4:Ce(13%), Tb(14%), Eu(1-5%) (LiYF4:Ce, Tb, Eu) nanophosphors, and the intensity ratio of green to red emission is controlled by adjusting the Eu3+ concentration. With increasing Eu3+ concentration, the LiYF4:Ce, Tb, Eu nanophosphors exhibit multicolor emission from green to orange. In addition, the successful incorporation of LiYF4:Ce, Tb, Eu nanophosphors into polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) facilitates the preparation of highly transparent nanophosphor-PDMS composites that present excellent multicolor tunability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]