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Background Long-term oxygen therapy (LTOT) improves the survival of patients with hypoxemia due to chronic respiratory diseases. The clinical outcomes of LTOT are strongly associated with patient adherence. To improve the adherence of patients, physicians have focused on the efficacy of LTOT. However, poor adherence may stem from patients’ perceptions of LTOT. Herein we evaluated patients’ perceptions of LTOT affecting adherence. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional survey study using descriptive, open, and closed-ended questionnaire. Patients using oxygen therapy (OT) or requiring it but avoiding OT responded to the questionnaires at three university hospitals. Results Seventy-nine patients responded to the questionnaires. The number of patients using home and portable OT was 69 (93%) and 37 (46.3%), respectively. Patients with good adherence were 22 (30.1%). Among patients with good adherence, 90.9% used oxygen according to physicians’ prescriptions whereas only 37.3% of those with poor adherence followed physicians’ prescriptions (p

Cotoneaster wilsonii Nakai is an endangered species endemic to Ulleung Island, Korea. Here we reported the first complete chloroplast gnome sequences of C. wilsonii, which is 159,999 bp in total length with the large single copy (LSC) region of 87,868 bp, the small single copy (SSC) region of 19,335 bp, and two inverted repeat (IR) regions of 26,399 bp. The plastome contains 131 genes, including 84 protein-coding, eight ribosomal RNA, and 37 transfer RNA genes. The overall GC content is 42.6% and those in the LSC, SSC, and IR regions are 34.2, 30.3, and 42.6%, respectively. Phylogenetic analysis of 21 representative plastomes within the family Rosaceae suggests strongly the monophyly of Cotoneaster and C. wilsonii being sister to the clade of Cotoneaster franchetii and Cotoneaster horizontalis.

The first complete chloroplast genome sequence of Korean insular endemic to Ulleung-do Island, Zabelia insularis, was reported in this study. The plastome size was 158,100 bp in total length, with one large single copy (90,529 bp), one small single copy (17,235 bp), and two inverted repeat (IR) regions (IRa and IRb, each with 25,168 bp). The overall GC content was 38.3% and the genome contained 130 genes, including 83 protein-coding, 37 transfer RNA, and 8 ribosomal RNA genes. Phylogenetic analysis of 15 representative plastomes within the Caprifoliaceae suggests that Z. insularis is closely related to the species in the genus Patrinia.

The first complete chloroplast genome sequences of Korean endemic pokeweed in Ulleung Island, Phytolacca insularis, were reported in this study. The P. insularis plastome was 156,419 bp long, with the large single copy (LSC) region of 86,106 bp, the small single copy (SSC) region of 18,335 bp, and two inverted repeat (IR) regions of 25,989 bp. The plastome contained 132 genes, including 84 protein-coding, eight ribosomal RNA, and 39 transfer RNA genes. The overall GC content was 36.8%. Phylogenetic analysis of 13 representative plastomes within the order Caryophyllales suggests that P. insularis is closely related to the species in family Aizoaceae.

Background: The aim of this study was to compare mineral metabolism between anuric and nonanuric chronic hemodialysis patients, and determine the differences in phosphate control between the two groups. Methods: A total of 77 chronic hemodialysis patients were enrolled in this cross-sectional study from January 2012 to February 2012. Patient demographics, laboratory findings, medication histories, and vascular calcification scores were collected. We divided the patients into anuric and nonanuric groups according to the residual renal function and then compared their clinical features. Multivariate binary regression analysis was used in each group to determine the independent factors related to phosphate control. Results: The mean patient age was 59.27±13.95 years, and 57.1% of patients were anuric. In anuric patients, dialysis vintage was significantly longer, but the mean Kt/V was not different between groups. Serum phosphate, fibroblast growth factor (FGF)-23, and Ca/P products were significantly higher, and 1,25(OH)2D3 levels were significantly lower in the anuric patients, although the intact parathyroid hormone and 25(OH)D levels were not different. In anuric patients, LnFGF-23 [hazard ratio (HR) 2.894, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.294–6.474, P=0.010] was an independent factor predictive of phosphate control. However, in the nonanuric patients, glomerular filtration rate (HR 0.409, 95% CI 0.169–0.989, P=0.047) and blood urea nitrogen (HR 1.090, 95% CI 1.014–1.172, P=0.019) were independent factors predictive of phosphate control. Conclusion: In chronic hemodialysis patients, preservation of residual renal function is a significant determinant of phosphate control, and the factors associated with phosphate control is different depending on the residual renal function status. In the anuric patients, FGF-23 is most significantly associated with phosphate control; however, glomerular filtration rate and blood urea nitrogen are more important than FGF-23 in the nonanuric HD patients.

The first complete chloroplast genome sequences of Korean endemic basswood in Ulleung Island, Tilia insularis, were reported in this study. The T. insularis plastome was 162,565 bp long, with the large single-copy (LSC) region of 91,100 bp, the small single-copy (SSC) region of 20,381 bp, and two inverted repeat (IR) regions of 25,542 bp. The plastome contained 131 genes, including 86 protein-coding, eight ribosomal RNA, and 37 transfer RNA genes. The overall GC content was 36.5%. Phylogenetic analysis of 14 representative plastomes within the family Malvaceae suggests that T. insularis is closely related to other congeneric species in subfamily Tilioideae.

The first complete chloroplast genome sequences of Korean endemic Epilobium in Ulleung Island, Epilobium ulleungensis, were reported in this study. The E. ulleungensis plastome was 160,912 bp long, with the large single copy (LSC) region of 88,915 bp, the small single copy (SSC) region of 17,327 bp, and two inverted repeat (IR) regions of 27,335 bp. The plastome contained 131 genes, including 84 protein-coding, eight ribosomal RNA, and 37 transfer RNA genes. The overall GC content was 36.5%. Phylogenetic analysis of nine representative plastomes within the family Onagraceae suggests strongly that E. ulleungensis is sister to the clade containing species of Oenothera in tribe Onagreae.

Prunus takesimensis is an endemic flowering cherry on Ulleung Island, Korea. The complete chloroplast (cp) genome of P. takesimensis was generated by de novo assembly using whole-genome next-generation sequencing approach. The cp genome size was 157,948 bp in length consisting of four regions; large single copy region (85,959 bp), small single copy region (19,117 bp), and a pair of inverted repeat regions (26,436 bp). The genome contained a total of 128 genes, including 83 coding genes, 8 rRNA genes, and 37 tRNA genes. Phylogenetic analysis for 20 reported genomes within the family Rosaceae showed the monophyly of the genus Prunus including newly sequenced P. takesimensis.

The first complete chloroplast genome sequences of Korean raspberry, oriental herbal medicinal plant of Korea, were reported in this study. The genome size was 155,714 bp, composed with one pair of inverted repeats (IRs) of 25,781 bp, which were separated by one large single copy (LSC; 85,402 bp) and one small single copy (SSC; 18,750 bp). The genome contained 131 genes, coding for 86 proteins, eight ribosomal RNAs, and 37 transfer RNAs. The overall GC content was 37.1%. Phylogenetic analysis suggests that R. crataegifolius is sister to R. corchorifolius, which belongs to subgenus Idaeobatus.

Acinetobacter baumannii is an aerobic and gram-negative pathogenic bacterium that is resistant to most antibiotics. Recently, A. baumannii 1656-2 exhibited the ability to form biofilms under clinical conditions. In this study, global metabolite profiling of both planktonic and biofilm forms of A. baumannii 1656-2 was performed using high-resolution nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy and multivariate statistical analysis to investigate the metabolic patterns leading to biofilm formation. Principal components analysis (PCA) and orthogonal partial least-squares discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) score plots showed a distinct separation between planktonic and biofilm cells. Metabolites including acetates, pyruvate, succinate, UDP-glucose, AMP, glutamate, and lysine were increasingly involved in the energy metabolism of biofilm formation. In particular, the ratio of N-acetyl-D-glucosamine (GlcNAc) to D-glucosamine (GlcNH2) was significantly higher during biofilm formation than under the planktonic condition. This study demonstrates that NMR-based global metabolite profiling of bacterial cells can provide valuable insight into the metabolic changes in multidrug resistant and biofilm-forming bacteria such as A. baumannii 1656-2.

Background. We investigated the effects of corticosteroids on the 90-day mortality outcomes in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis who were admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) because of acute respiratory failure (ARF). Methods. The medical records of 124 patients who had pulmonary tuberculosis with ARF and were admitted to the ICU at our tertiary referral center in South Korea between March 1989 and December 2014 were retrospectively analyzed. The 90-day mortality rate in this population was analyzed after adjustments with the inverse probability of treatment weighted (IPTW) method. Results. The mean patient age was 62 years, and the 90-day mortality rate was 49.2% (61/124). Adjuvant steroids were used in 70 (56.5%) patients. The 90-day mortality rate was similar irrespective of corticosteroid use (48.6%, steroid group; 50.0%, nonsteroid group). The use of adjuvant steroids was not associated with the unadjusted 90-day mortality (odds ratio [OR], 0.94; 95% confidence interval [CI], .46-1.92; P = .875). In a comparison using an adjusted IPTW approach of the 90-day mortality between the 2 groups, we found that corticosteroid use was independently associated with reduced 90-day mortality (OR, 0.47; 95% CI, .22-.98; P = .049). Conclusions. The study results showed that corticosteroids could reduce the 90-day mortality rate in critically ill pulmonary tuberculosis patients with ARF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Halocynthia aurantium (Stolidobranchia: Pyuridae) is a species of tunicate of commercial value that is commonly found in the northern Pacific Ocean and in the Bering Sea. Here, we determined the complete mitogenome of sea peach H. aurantium using 150 PE high-throughput sequencing. The assembled mitogenome is 14,979 bp in length (overall A þ T contents 56.2%), and contains 13 proteincoding genes, 21 transfer RNAs, two ribosomal RNAs. Phylogenetic analysis of the mitogenome sequence of H. aurantium fully resolved it in a clade with H. roretzi. These data and results will be useful for future studies on the evolution of the Halocynthia and the Pyuridae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of our study was to investigate changes in immunological parameters induced by weaning stress (including milk restriction) in calves. Fifteen Holstein calves were subjected to weaning at 6 weeks of age. Blood samples were collected at --14, --7, --2,1,3, and 5 days post-weaning (DPW; 0 DPW = 42 days). Weaning caused significant (p < 0.01) increases in the neutrophil (NE):lymphocyte (LY) ratio at 5 DPW with a significant (p < 0.05) reduction of LYs. The concentration of acute-phase proteins (haptoglobin and serum amyloid A) also increased significantly (p < 0.05) at 3 and 5 DPW compared to --2 DPW. Levels of the iron-binding protein lactoferrin decreased significantly (p < 0.05) after weaning. Serum tumor necrosis factor-α and cortisol levels were elevated (p < 0.05) at 3 DPW, while those of serum interferon-γ decreased (p < 0.05) at 1 and 3 DPW compared to levels observed before weaning. Weaning significantly (p < 0.05) decreased the percentage of CD25+ T cells in the peripheral blood. In conclusion, weaning stress affected the NE:LY ratio along with the levels of acute phase proteins, lactoferrin, cortisol, and inflammatory cytokines in the peripheral blood of calves. Weaning stress may induce an acute phase response possibly through the elevation of cortisol production and modulation of inflammatory cytokines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Toxicometabolomics of urinary biomarkers for human gastric cancer in a mouse model was investigated using 1H-nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. A human gastric adenocarcinoma cell line (1 × 107 cells/ml) was grafted onto the skin of the back of intact male BALB/c-nu/nu mice. After the xenografted tumors developed, urine was collected and analyzed for endogenous metabolites. Global profiling combined with principal components analysis (PCA), partial least squares-discriminant analysis (PLS-DA), and orthogonal projections to latent squares-discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) showed distinct separation of clusters between control and tumor-bearing mice. Targeted profiling revealed significant changes in trimethylamine oxide (TMAO), 3-indoxylsulfate, hippurate, and citrate levels in mice carrying human gastric cancer cells compared to normal mice. The levels of TMAO (0.41-fold) and hippurate (0.26-fold) in tumor-bearing mice were significantly decreased, whereas the levels of 3-indoxylsulfate (3.39-fold), 2-oxoglutarate (2.32-fold), and citrate (1.9-fold) were significantly increased in urine samples of tumor-bearing mice. Data suggest that TMAO, hippurate, 3-indoxylsulfate, 2-oxoglutarate, and citrate may serve as useful urinary biomarkers for gastric tumorigenesis in a mouse model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lithium (Li) treatment for bipolar affective disorders is associated with a variety of renal side effects. The metabolic response of the kidney to chronic Li treatment has rarely been studied. We applied a novel method of ¹H-nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR)-based metabonomics to integrate metabolic profiling and to identify the changes in the levels of metabolites in the kidney and urine from rats with Li-induced NDI. Metabolic profiles of urine and kidney homogenate [3 different zones (cortex, outer medulla, and inner medulla) or whole kidney] were investigated using high-resolution NMR spectroscopy coupled with pattern recognition methods. The accurate concentrations of metabolites in kidney homogenates and urine were rapidly measured using the target-profiling procedure, and the difference in the levels of metabolites was compared using multivariate analysis, such as principal component analysis and orthogonal partial least squares-discriminant analysis. Major endogenous metabolites for kidney homogenates contained products of glycolysis (glucose, lactate) and amino acids, as well as organic osmolytes (e.g., betaine, myo-inositol, taurine, and glycerophosphocholine). Many metabolites revealed changes in their levels, including decreased levels of organic osmolytes and amino acids in the inner medulla. A number of urinary metabolites were changed in Li-induced ND!, and in particular, elevated urinary levels of acetate, lactate, allantoin, trimethylamine, and creatine could suggest Li-induced renal cell stress or injury. Taken together, metabonomics of kidney tissue and urine based on ¹H-NMR spectroscopy could provide insight into the effects of Li-induced renal effects and cell injury. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metabonomic investigation of doxorubicin (adriamycin) was carried out in male Sprague-Dawley rats using high-resolution 1H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy coupled with multivariate statistics. Urine samples (d -1 to 7) from rats treated with doxorubicin at two dose levels (5 or 15 mg/kg body weight) were collected at each time point and doxorubicin-induced biomarkers were examined. Of metabolites, early elevated biochemical changes were observed in trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO) levels suggesting renal dysfunction. Perturbation in TMAO was maximal in the low-dose group at 48 h post dose (p.d.) and returned to control at 168 h p.d., indicating recovery from renal toxicity induced by doxorubicin. After doxorubicin administration, the high-dose group was divided into low and high responders at 48 h and further divided into high, moderate, and no recovery animals at 96 h, indicating individual susceptible response to drug-induced toxicity. Urinary increases in glucose, lactate, alanine, and valine suggested progression of renal damage resulting in glycosuria, lactic aciduria, and aminoaciduria up to 168 h in the high-dose group. Urinary elevation of creatine and phenylacetylglycine (PAG) together with reduction of N-methylnicotinic acid (NMNA) and hippurate levels was suggestive of liver injury in the high-dose group. Impairment of energy metabolism was also indicated by decreased levels of tricarboxylic acid cycle intermediates in urine of rats treated with high-dose doxorubicin. This study highlights the applicability of NMR-based metabonomics with multivariate statistics for monitoring biomarkers produced by doxorubicin treatments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mud loach (Misgurnus mizolepis) has long been consumed in Korea. Recently, Chinese mud loaches were replaced with expensive Korean mud loaches, owing to taste and preference. Such issues occur in aquatic food distribution processes, leading to inferior food delivery. Previously, a study was conducted to confirm the origin of mud loaches using genetic analysis. However, untargeted metabolites profiling of mud loaches has not been reported. Untargeted metabolomics provides information on the overall metabolic profiling of a sample, allowing the identification of new metabolites. Here, we analyzed the metabolites of mud loaches of different geographical origins using liquid chromatography (LC)-quadrupole-time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MS). Orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis from LC/MS datasets showed a clear distinction between Korean and Chinese mud loaches, and univariate statistical analysis showed significantly different metabolites between them. N-acetylhistidine and anserine were selected as biomarkers for geographical origin discrimination using the receiver operating characteristic curve. N-acetylhistidine and anserine levels were significantly higher in Chinese than in Korean mud loaches. These results indicate that metabolic analysis can be used to discriminate between the geographical origins of mud loaches, curtailing the inadvertent substitution of mud loaches from different regions.

Petrale sole Eopsetta jordani (Pleuronectiformes: Pleuronectidae) is a species of flounder, found in the northeastern Pacific Ocean and the Bering Sea of the United States and Canada. The complete mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) of E. jordani has 16,483 bp with an overall A + T content of 61% and consists of 2 ribosomal RNA (rRNA) genes, 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 22 transfer RNA (tRNA) genes, and a non-coding control region. It has incomplete stop codon genes in ND2, COII, ATPase6, COIII, ND3, and ND4. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that E. jordani is not monophyletic with cogeneric Eopsetta grigorjewi and is separated from other species in the same family by a large distance. Present study results provide useful data for further research on genetic diversity and evolution of the Eopsetta and the Pleuronectidae.

Eopsetta grigorjewi (Pleuronectiformes: Pleuronectidae) is a demersal flatfish found in South Korea, Japan, Taiwan, China, and the Yellow Sea. E. grigorjewi complete mitochondrion DNA (mtDNA) consists of 16,921 bp and a 54% A + T content. It includes 2 ribosomal RNA (rRNA), 22 transfer RNA (tRNA), 13 protein-coding genes, and 1 non-coding regulatory area. ND2, ND3, ND4, COII, COIII, ATPase6, and CytB all have incomplete stop codon genes. The evolutionary analysis of 13 species from the same family indicated a close relationship. This work will be valuable for future research on molecular evolution and the creation of biomarker databases for determining the originality of E. grigorjewi.

Scorpaena neglecta (Temminck and Schlegel, 1843) is a marine fish, in the family Scorpaenidae, order Scorpaeniformes, class Actinopterygii of the phylum Chordata. The first species of Scorpaena with a complete mitochondrial genome is described in the present study. The circular mitochondrial genome of S. neglecta has 17,202 bp with 54.75% A + T content and encodes 37 genes, including 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 22 transfer RNA (tRNA), and two ribosomal RNA (rRNA). The phylogenetic tree indicates S. neglecta clustered into one branch and is closely related to other Scorpaenidae species. The mitochondrial genome structure and gene content of S. neglecta will support the study of evolution and phylogenetic relationships among Scorpaenidae species.

The complete mitogenome of Pseudotolithus typus (Perciformes: Sciaenidae) is analyzed by high-throughput sequencing. The 16,502 nucleotides of assembled mitogenome has 13 protein-coding genes, 22 transfer RNA genes, 2 ribosomal RNA genes, and the 1 putative control region. Incomplete stop codons were found in seven genes (ND2, ND3, ND4, COII, COIII, CytB, ATPase6). The phylogenetic analysis indicated that P. typus is closely related to P. elongatus. This study will provide useful information to understand the evolutionary and phylogenetic exploration of the family Sciaenidae.

The complete mitochondrial genome of Pseudotolithus elongatus (Perciformes: Sciaenidae) is determined based on NGS technology. The assembled mitogenome is a 16,497 bp in length containing a typical set of the 13 protein-coding genes, 22 tRNAs, 2 rRNA genes, and the 1 putative control region. The overall base composition is A (27.8%), T (25.3%), G (16.1%), and C (30.8%) with an A-T content of 53.1%. The phylogenetic analysis of 36 mitogenomes from the GenBank indicated that P. elongatus is closely related to the Aplodinotus grunniens. This mitogenome information of the P. elongatus would be useful to understand evolutionary and phylogenetic analysis of the family Sciaenidae fishes.

The complete mitochondrial genome of pitted stingray, Bathytoshia brevicaudata (Myliobatiformes: Dasyatoidea) was investigated by next-generation sequencing. The analyzed mitochondrial genome was 17,640 nucleotides in length and had 59.2% for AT contents. This genome contains 2 ribosomal RNA genes, 13 protein-coding genes, 22 transfer RNA genes. and 1 putative control region. Five protein-coding genes (ATPase6, COII, ND2, ND3, ND4) including incomplete stop codons and four tRNAs have atypical codons. The phylogenetic inference including 13 species of the same family revealed a close relationship with Pteroplatytrygon violacea. This is the first mitochondrial genome report from genus Bathytoshia.

The complete mitochondrial genome of smallscale blackfish, Girella melanichthys (Perciformes: Kyphosidae), was analyzed using MGISEQ-2000 platform. The assembled mitogenome had 16,518 nucleotides (overall A + T contents 56.2%), containing canonical 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 22 transfer RNA genes, 2 ribosomal RNA genes, and 1 putative control region. Among 13 PCGs, seven genes (ND2, ND3, ND4, COII, COIII, CytB, ATPase6) had incomplete stop codons. The phylogenetic study revealed that G. melanichthys is more closely related to G. leonina than G. punctate. This study will be useful to shed light on the evolution of the family Kyphosidae and the genus Girella.