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In mammalian cells, the bulky DNA adducts caused by ultraviolet radiation are mainly repaired via the nucleotide excision repair (NER) pathway; some defects in this pathway lead to a genetic disorder known as xeroderma pigmentosum (XP). Ribosomal protein S3 (rpS3), a constituent of the 40S ribosomal subunit, is a multi-functional protein with various extra-ribosomal functions, including a role in the cellular stress response and DNA repair-related activities. We report that rpS3 associates with transcription factor IIH (TFIIH) via an interaction with the xeroderma pigmentosum complementation group D (XPD) protein and complements its function in the NER pathway. For optimal repair of UV-induced duplex DNA lesions, the strong helicase activity of the TFIIH complex is required for unwinding damaged DNA around the lesion. Here, we show that XP-D cells overexpressing rpS3 showed markedly increased resistance to UV radiation through XPD and rpS3 interaction. Additionally, the knockdown of rpS3 caused reduced NER efficiency in HeLa cells and the overexpression of rpS3 partially restored helicase activity of the TFIIH complex of XP-D cells in vitro. We also present data suggesting that rpS3 is involved in post-excision processing in NER, assisting TFIIH in expediting the repair process by increasing its turnover rate when DNA is damaged. We propose that rpS3 is an accessory protein of the NER pathway and its recruitment to the repair machinery augments repair efficiency upon UV damage by enhancing XPD helicase function and increasing its turnover rate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: In aged population, the association of thyroid hormones on physical performance, especially within their normal range, has yet to be elucidated. In this study, individuals with low serum free T3/free T4 were likely to have low muscle mass and impaired physical performance. Purpose: We aimed to evaluate the associations of muscle mass, strength, and physical performance with thyroid hormone in an aged euthyroid population from a community-based cohort. Methods: We examined 918 men aged over 60 years and 1215 postmenopausal women from the Ansung cohort study. Appendicular skeletal muscle mass divided by square of height (ASM/ht2) was used as the muscle mass index. Hand grip strength was measured using a hydraulic dynamometer. Physical performance was assessed using the short physical performance battery (SPPB). Results: Participants with higher tertiles of free T3 and free T3/free T4 were younger and had higher ASM/ht2, stronger hand grip strength, and higher SPPB scores than those in the lower tertiles. In adjusted models, men within higher tertiles of free T3 had higher ASM/ht2 compared with those within lower tertiles (p = 0.033), whereas subjects with higher tertiles of free T4 had lower ASM/ht2 compared with those within lower tertiles (p = 0.043). Subjects within higher tertiles of free T3/free T4 had higher ASM/ht2 (p < 0.001) and better physical performance (p = 0.048) than those within lower tertiles after adjustments. However, free T3, free T4, or free T3/free T4 was not related to hand grip strength after adjustment for covariates. Conclusion: Our results thus indicate that in an aged euthyroid population, low serum free T3/free T4 was a better index for low muscle mass and impaired physical performance than serum free T3 or free T4 alone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For successful clinical tumor immunotherapy outcomes, strong immune responses against tumor antigens must be generated. Cell-based vaccines compromise one strategy with which to induce appropriate strong immune responses. Previously, we established a natural killer T-cell (NKT) ligand-loaded, adenoviral vector-transduced B-cell-based anticancer cellular vaccine. To enhance tumor antigen delivery to B cells, we established a modified adenoviral vector (Ad-k35) that encoded a truncated form of the breast cancer antigen Her2/neu (Ad-k35HM) in which fiber structure was substituted with adenovirus serotype 35. We observed increased tumor antigen expression with Ad-k35HM in both human and murine B cells. In addition, an Ad-k35HM-transduced B-cell vaccine elicited strong antigen-specific cellular and humoral immune responses that were further enhanced with the additional loading of soluble NKT ligand KBC009. An Ad-k35HM-transduced, KBC009-loaded B-cell vaccine efficiently suppressed the in vivo growth of established tumors in a mouse model. Moreover, the vaccine elicited human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-A2 epitope-specific cytotoxic T-cell responses in B6.Cg (CB)-Tg (HLA-A/H2-D) 2Enge/Jat mice. These findings indicated that the Ad-k35 could be appropriate for the preclinical and clinical development of B-cell-based anticancer immunotherapies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We evaluated the prevalence, awareness, treatment and control of hypertension in Korean adults with diagnosed diabetes using nationally representative data. Among subjects aged 30 years who participated in the Fourth Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey in 2007 and 2008, a total of 745 subjects (336 men and 409 women) with a previous diagnosis of diabetes mellitus were analyzed. The prevalence of hypertension in adults with diagnosed diabetes was 55.5%. The rates of awareness, treatment and control were 88.0, 94.2, and 30.8%, respectively. Compared with the general population, the prevalence of hypertension in adults with diagnosed diabetes was higher in all age groups in both genders. Factors independently associated with a high prevalence of hypertension included being male, increasing age, single, <9 years of education, the presence of chronic kidney disease risk, hypercholesterolemia (240 mg dl−1) and high body mass index (25 kg m−2). Regular medical screening was positively associated with hypertension control, whereas a high triglyceride level (150 mg dl−1) was inversely associated. A high prevalence and a low control rate of hypertension in adults with diagnosed diabetes suggest that stringent efforts are needed to control blood pressure in diabetic patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A two-dimensional optical imaging method is presented for monitoring the laser-induced breakdown events of aqueous nanoparticles. The method is based on measuring the light intensity distribution of plasma from spatially resolved breakdown events. The number of laser breakdown events as a function of the emission intensity follows the Gaussian distribution and its full-width at a half-maximum appears in direct correlation with the particle size. Hence the particle size can be determined by measuring the plasma emission intensity distribution. Calibration of the method is carried out with reference polystyrene particles dispersed in water. Application is demonstrated for measuring bentonite colloidal particles of different sizes in groundwater. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copper bonding wires were characterized using electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD). During drawing, shear components are mainly located under the surface and <111> and <100> fiber texture components develop with similar volume fractions. Grain average misorientation (GAM) and scalar orientation spread (SOS) of the <100> component are lower than those of the <111> or other orientations. Also, <100> components grow into other texture orientations during recrystallization. Copper wires experience three stages of microstructure change during annealing. The first stage is subgrain growth to keep elongated grain shapes overall and to be varied in aspect ratio. The grain sizes of the <111> and <100> components increase. The volume fraction of the <100> component increases, whereas that of the <111> decreases. The second stage is recrystallization, during which equiaxed grains appear and coexist with elongated ones. The third stage is grain growth, which eliminates the elongated grains. The <111> and <100> grains compete with each other, and the <111> grains grow faster than the <100> grains during the third stage. Comparison of recrystallization and grain growth processes in copper and gold wires reveals many common microstructural features. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The risk of locoregional recurrence in resected gastric adenocarcinoma is high, but the benefit of adjuvant treatment remains controversial. In particular, after extended lymph node dissection, the role of radiotherapy is questionable. Since 1995, we started a clinical protocol of adjuvant chemoradiotherapy after D2 gastrectomy and analysed the patterns of failure for 291 patients. Adjuvant chemotherapy consisted of five cycles of fluorouracil and leucovorin, and concurrent radiotherapy was given with 4500 cGy from the second cycle of chemotherapy. With a median follow-up of 48 months, 114 patients (39%) showed any type of failure, and the local and regional failures were seen in 7% (20 out of 291) and 12% (35 out of 291), respectively. When the recurrent site was analysed with respect to the radiation field, in-field recurrence was 16% and represented 35% of all recurrences. Our results suggest that adjuvant chemoradiotherapy has a potential effect on reducing locoregional recurrence. Moreover, low locoregional recurrence rates could give a clue as to which subset of patients could be helped by radiotherapy after D2 gastrectomy. However, in order to draw a conclusion on the role of adjuvant radiotherapy, a randomised study is needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A neutron induced prompt γ -ray spectrometry (NIPS) facility has been developed at the Nuclear Chemistry Research Division, of the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI) with the aim of analyzing the major components of various elements in aqueous samples. The facility is equipped with a 252Cf neutron source and a γ-γ coincidence setup with two n-type coaxial HPGe detectors based on NIM spectrometric modules in association with data acquisition and spectral analysis systems. The development of the system, its set-up and the calibration of detection efficiency up to 8 MeV using a set of radionuclides and the (n,γ) reactions of chlorine are described in the paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Clubroot disease, caused by Plasmodiophora brassicae Wor., is highly damaging for Chinese cabbage. The CR (clubroot resistant) Shinki DH (doubled haploid) line of Chinese cabbage carries a single dominant gene, CRb, which confers resistance to the P. brassicae races 2, 4, and 8. An F2 population derived from a cross between the CR Shinki DH line and a susceptible line, 94SK, was used to map the CRb gene. Inoculation of F3 families with SSI (single-spore isolate) resulted in a 1:2:1 segregation ratio. Use of the AFLP technique combined with bulked segregant analysis allowed five co-dominant AFLP markers, and four and seven dominant AFLP markers linked in coupling and repulsion, respectively, to be identified. Six of the 16 AFLP markers showing low frequencies of recombination with the CRb locus among 138 F2 lines were cloned. A reliable conversion procedure allowed five AFLP markers to be successfully converted into CAPS and SCAR markers. An F2 population (143 plants) was analyzed with these markers and a previously identified SCAR marker, and a genetic map around CRb covering a total distance of 6.75 cM was constructed. One dominant marker, TCR09, was located 0.78 cM from CRb. The remaining markers (TCR05, TCR01, TCR10, TCR08, and TCR03) were located on the other side of CRb, and the nearest of these was TCR05, at a distance of 1.92 cM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Peutz-Jeghers syndrome (PJS) is an autosomal dominantly inherited disease characterized by hamartomatous gastrointestinal polyps and mucocutaneous pigmentation, with an increased risk for various neoplasms, including gastrointestinal cancer. Recently, the PJS gene encoding the serine/threonine kinase STK11 (also named LKB1) was mapped to chromosome 19p13.3, and germline mutations were identified in PJS patients. We screened a total of ten Korean PJS patients (nine sporadic cases and one familial case including two patients) to investigate the germline mutations of theSTK11 gene. By polymerase chain reaction-single-strand conformation polymorphism and DNA sequencing analysis, three kinds of mis-sense mutation and a frame-shift mutation were identified: codon 232 (TCC to CCC) in exon 5, codon 256 (GAA to GCA) in exon 6, codon 324 (CCG to CTG) in exon 8, and a guanine insertion at codon 342 resulting in a premature stop codon in exon 8. These mis-sense variants were not detected in 100 control DNA samples. Furthermore, we found an intronic mutation at the dinucleotide sequence of a splice-acceptor site: a one base substitution from AG to CG in intron 1, which may cause aberrant splicing. Most reported germline mutations of theSTK11 gene in PJS patients were frame-shift or non-sense mutations resulting in truncated proteins. Together, these findings indicate that germline mis-sense mutations of theSTK11 gene are found in PJS patients in addition to truncating mutations. The effects of these mutations on protein function require further examination. In summary, we found germline mutations of the STK11 gene in five out of ten Korean PJS patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Peutz-Jeghers syndrome is an autosomal dominant inherited disorder characterized by hamartomatous polyps in the small bowel and mucocutaneous pigmentation. Patients with Peutz-Jeghers syndrome often present as surgical emergencies with complications of the polyps, such as intussusception, bowel obstruction, and bleeding. Recently an increased risk of malignancies has also been reported. This study was initiated to determine the clinical features of Peutz-Jeghers syndrome in Korean patients, with special attention to the development of malignancies. Thirty patients with Peutz-Jeghers syndrome were investigated; their median age was 23.5 years, and symptoms appeared at a median age of 12.5 years. Family history was positive in one-half of cases, and mucocutaneous pigmentation was observed in almost all patients (93%). The jejunoileum was the most frequent site of the polyps, and there were generally 10–100 polyps. Multiple laparotomies were performed in a substantial portion of the patients, due mainly to polyp-induced bowel obstruction, and the surgical interventions were begun at a relatively young age (average 21.4 years). Four cases of small-bowel cancer and one case of breast cancer were detected in probands, at a relatively young age (mean 36 years). Cancers of the small bowel, stomach, colon, breast and cervix were diagnosed in the first relatives of the probands. Close follow-up from an early age should thus be performed in patients with Peutz-Jeghers syndrome as they are at high risk of surgical emergency and development of malignancy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to investigate the changing pattern of rectal cancers in Korea and to identify prognostic factors, we investigated the case histories of 1446 rectal cancer patients who had received surgical treatment. During the study period there were trends toward a decrease in the ratio of rectal cancer to colon cancer, earlier detection (more Dukes' stages A and B and fewer C), a decrease in the number of abdominoperineal resections, and an increase in the number of sphincter-preserving operations. Univariate analysis of prognostic factors showed that gender, obstruction symptoms, preoperative serum carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) level, tumor size, depth of bowel wall invasion, lymph node metastases (presence and number), tumor differentiation, operative method, and date of operation were significant, but age, symptom duration, and tumor location were not. The use of sphincter-saving operations did not adversely affect the clinical outcome. Multivariate analysis showed lymph node metastasis factor to be the most significant factor ( P<0.001); the depth of bowel wall invasion, differentiation, CEA level, and date of operation were also significant (0.001

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The effect of alkali-soluble resin (ASR), poly(ethylene-co-acrylic acid), EAA, postadded to emulsifier-free monodisperse poly(butyl methacrylate) (PBMA) latexes on the kinetics of film formation was investigated using atomic force microscopy (AFM). Corrugation height of latex particles in films was monitored at various annealing temperatures as a function of annealing time. Enhanced polymer diffusion was found in a latex film containing ASR regardless of anneal-ing temperature. With increasing annealing temperature, a much higher rate of polymer diffusion was found in latex films containing ASR. These results can be interpreted that the low molecular weight and low Tg EAA resin adsorbed at the particle surface is more susceptible to diffusion than that of the PBMA in the film formation stage, thus it enhances the mobility of PBMA polymer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The optical and electrical properties of "tilted" and "spiral" indium tin oxide (ITO) thin films are reported. The influence of the flux incident angle on the optical and electrical properties is investigated. When the flux incident angle is increased, both the refractive index and extinction coefficient of the film are decreased, but the resistivity is increased. Thus, the physical properties of the film can be modified over a wide range by adjusting the flux incident angle and substrate rotation scheme. It is suggested that the oblique angle deposition technique provides ITO films with more application possibilities by allowing their optical and electrical properties to be tailored. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We examined the relationship between dietary intake and cognitive performance in Korean elderly people. Data for dietary intake, anthropometric measurements and cognitive function tests were collected and the relationships of the variables were analyzed. A random sample of 210 men and 239 women in Korea, aged 60 and over, was selected. Subjects were free-living elderly people who had not experienced major cognitive function impairment. Main outcome measures, 24 h dietary recall method, food behaviour variables, anthropometrics indices, health variables, and Kwon's Mini-Mental State Examination for Koreans (MMSE-K) for cognitive function test. The prevalence rate of poor cognitive function (MMSE-K score ≤19) of Korean elderly was 22.3%: women with poor cognitive function had a higher rate (31.0%) than that in men (12.3%). Cognitive ability was related negatively with age and positively with school education level. Female subjects of poor cognitive function had significantly lower intakes of total amount of foods, cereals, vegetables, fruits, milk, spices, and also, energy, protein, fat, carbohydrate, Ca, P, Fe, vitamin A, thiamin, riboflavin, and niacin than those of the normal cognitive score (≥24) group (P<0.05). Male subjects of poor cognitive function had significantly lower intakes of fruits, fiber, and vitamin C than the normal subjects (P<0.05). The MMSE-K score of female subjects showed a significant positive correlation with total amount of foods, cereals, beans, fruits, milk, oil, spices, and energy, protein, fat, carbohydrate, Ca, Fe, P, riboflavin and niacin intakes. The consumption of adequate nutrients, by taking sufficient amounts and variety of foods, may be important in maintaining adequate cognitive function in elderly Koreans.Public Health (2001) 115, 133–138. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]