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Background and Purpose: Atypical meningiomas are prevalent intracranial tumors with varied prognoses and recurrence rates. The role of adjuvant radiotherapy (ART) in atypical meningiomas remains debated. This study aimed to develop and validate a prognostic model incorporating machine learning techniques and clinical factors to predict progression-free survival (PFS) in patients with atypical meningiomas and assess the impact of ART., Materials and Methods: A retrospective review of 669 patients from five institutions in Korea and China was conducted. Cox proportional hazards, gradient boosting machine, and random survival forest models were employed for comparative analysis, utilizing both internal and external validation sets. Model performance was assessed using Harrell's concordance index and permutation feature importance., Results: Of 581 eligible patients, age, post-operative platelet count, performance status, Simpson grade, and ART were identified as significant prognostic factors across all models. In the ART subgroup, age and tumor size were the top prognostic indicators. The Cox model outperformed other methods, achieving a training C-index of 0.73 (95 % CI: 0.72-0.73) and an external validation C-index of 0.74 (95 % CI: 0.73-0.74). The model effectively stratified patients into risk categories, revealing a differential impact of ART: low-risk patients in the active surveillance group showed a 5.6 % improvement in 5-year PFS with predicted ART addition, compared to a 15.9 % improvement in the high-risk group., Conclusion: This multicenter study offers a validated prognostic model for atypical meningiomas, highlighting the need for tailored treatment plans. The model's ability to stratify patients into risk categories for PFS provides a valuable tool for clinical decision-making, potentially optimizing patient outcomes., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The Yangtze River Estuary (YRE) is one of the areas in China most severely affected by harmful algal blooms (HABs). This study explored the distributive patterns of HABs in the YRE and how they are influenced by the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and other environmental factors. Quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) was employed to detect and quantify the four predominant HAB species in the YRE, Karenia mikimotoi, Margalefidinium polykrikoides, Prorocentrum donghaiense, and Heterosigma akashiwo. Additionally, the study analyzed how turbidity, pH, salinity, and temperature influence these algae. Distribution of the four HAB species in the YRE area shows clear geographical variations: K. mikimotoi is predominantly found in the northwest and central sea areas, M. polykrikoides (East Asian Ribotype, EAR) is mainly distributed in the southeastern part, P. donghaiense is abundant in the northern regions, and H. akashiwo is especially prevalent at stations S26 and S27 in the northeastern part of the study area. HABs dominated by H. akashiwo and P. donghaiense were observed in the northeastern sea area of the YRE on July 22, 2020. Our study reveals that K. mikimotoi, M. polykrikoides (EAR), and P. donghaiense are mainly affected by turbidity, pH, and salinity, while temperature predominantly influences the blooms of H. akashiwo. Moreover, runoff in the YRE has a certain correlation with ENSO events, which may also impact the nutrient content of the region. The findings of this study illustrate the distributive patterns of the four HAB species under various ecological conditions in the YRE and emphasize the importance of establishing practical cases for future warning systems. To better understand how climate change affects HABs, exploring the link between ENSO and HABs is essential., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

For four decades, cordgrass (Spartina alterniflora) has invaded salt marshes in the Yellow Sea, altering physical, biogeochemical, and biological processes. Here, we investigated the ecological effects of S. alterniflora invasion on benthic environments compared to native halophytes. S. alterniflora contributed to higher carbon accumulation rates compared with bare tidal flat in sediments (3.4 times), through greater primary production and root biomass, compared to Suaeda japonica (2.5 times) and Phragmites australis (2.4 times) over the given period. The results showed that S. alterniflora eradication treatments inhibited its growth but did not significantly affect the benthic communities. Compared to P. australis and bare tidal flats, S. alterniflora invasion resulted in lower greenhouse gas emission and higher contributions to macrobenthos nutrition, and increased sediment stability and carbon burial. Overall, these multiple lines of evidence provide new insights on S. alterniflora invasion, suggesting that the current eradication policy would be carefully reviewed., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

To elucidate the spatial-temporal impact of invasive saltmarsh plant Spartina anglica on the biogeochemical processes in coastal wetlands, we investigated the rates and partitioning of organic carbon (C org ) mineralization in three representative benthic habitats: (1) vegetated sediments inhabited by invasive S. anglica (SA); vegetated sediments by indigenous Suaeda japonica; and (3) unvegetated mud flats. Microbial metabolic rates were greatly stimulated at the SA site during the active growing seasons of Spartina, indicating that a substantial amount of organic substrates was supplied from the high below-ground biomass of Spartina. At the SA site, sulfate reduction dominated the C org mineralization pathways during the plant growing season, whereas iron reduction dominated during the non-growing season. Overall, due to its greater biomass and longer growing season than native Suaeda, the expansion of invasive Spartina is likely to greatly alter the C org -Fe-S cycles and carbon storage capacity in the coastal wetlands., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The morphology, morphogenesis, and molecular phylogeny of a new ciliate, Aspidisca koreana n. sp., discovered in the eastern coast of South Korea, were investigated. The morphological description is based on the observation of living cells, 4'-6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI) and silver-stained specimens (e.g., protargol, silver nitrate), and scanning electron micrographs. The new species is characterized by having a small body size (17-25 × 15-18 μm in vivo), a distinct peristomial spur on the posterior portion of left margin, seven frontoventral cirri in "polystyla-arrangement", and the arrangement of the anterior portion of adoral zone of membranelles, i.e., anteriormost membranelle is distinctly separated from the other three membranelles. The morphogenesis follows the typical pattern of this genus. Phylogenetic analyses, using the 18S rDNA sequence, also support the establishment of a new species., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.)

Background: Nerve entrapment syndrome occurs when the nerves become compressed or entrapped and restricted. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of pharmacopuncture in patients with nerve entrapment syndrome., Methods: A search will be conducted from inception to August 2022 using the following 11 electronic databases: MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Allied and Complementary Medicine Database China National Knowledge Infrastructure, and 6 Korean databases. All randomized controlled trials (RCTs) evaluating pharmacopuncture treatment for various nerve entrapment syndromes will be considered, with no restrictions regarding the type of pharmacopuncture solution used. Two reviewers will perform the data extraction and quality assessment using a predefined data extraction form. The methodological quality of the included RCTs will be assessed using the Cochrane risk-of-bias tool., Results: This systematic review will provide high-quality evidence to determine the efficacy and safety of pharmacopuncture therapy for nerve entrapment syndrome., Conclusion: Our findings will be informative for patients with nerve entrapment syndrome, as well as clinicians, policymakers, and researchers., Competing Interests: The authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose., (Copyright © 2022 the Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.)

A dual isotopes approach and the Bayesian isotope mixing model were applied to trace nitrogen pollution sources and to quantify their relative contribution to river water quality. We focused on two points to enhance the applicability of the method: 1) Direct measurement on the end-members to distinguish "sewage" and "manure" which used to be grouped in one pollution source as their isotope ranges overlap; 2) The Lagrangian sampling method was applied to consider the transport of nitrogen pollutants in a long river so that any fractionation process can be dealt with in the given Bayesian modeling framework. The results of the analysis confirmed the NO 3 - isotope composition in the river of interest to be within the range of NO 3 - with origins in "NH 4 + in fertilizer", "Soil N", and "Manure and sewage" pollution. This suggests that nitrogen pollution is mostly attributed to anthropogenic sources. The δ 18 O NO3 value follows the range +2.5∼+15.0‰, implying that NO 3 - in the river is mainly derived from nitrification, and possible nitrification in groundwater or waterfront other than surface water. The ratio of the concentration of δ 15 N NO3 to that of δ 18 O NO3 , and the corresponding regression equation indicates that the denitrification effect in surface water was insignificant during the study period. From the results of the contribution ratio of each source, improving the water quality of the discharge from the sewage treatment plants was proved to be the key factor to reduce nitrogen pollution in the river., (Copyright © 2021. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

The first human case of zoonotic A(H7N4) avian influenza virus (AIV) infection was reported in early 2018 in China. Two months after this case, novel A(H7N4) viruses phylogenetically related to the Jiangsu isolate emerged in ducks from live bird markets in Cambodia. During active surveillance in Cambodia, a novel A(H7N6) reassortant of the zoonotic low pathogenic AIV (LPAIV) A(H7N4) was detected in domestic ducks at a slaughterhouse. Complete genome sequencing and phylogenetic analysis showed that the novel A(H7N6) AIV is a reassortant, in which four gene segments originated from Cambodia A(H7N4) viruses and four gene segments originated from LPAIVs in Eurasia. Animal infection experiments revealed that chickens transmitted the A(H7N6) virus via low-level direct contacts, but ducks did not. Although avian-origin A(H7Nx) LPAIVs do not contain the critical mammalian-adaptive substitution (E627K) in PB2, the lethality and morbidity of the A(H7N6) virus in BALB/c mice were similar to those of A(H7N9) viruses, suggesting potential for interspecies transmission. Our study reports the emergence of a new reassortant of zoonotic A(H7N4) AIVs with novel viral characteristics and emphasizes the need for ongoing surveillance of avian-origin A(H7Nx) viruses., (© 2021 Wiley-VCH GmbH.)

We report the response process of the Laboratory Analysis Task Force (LATF) for Unknown Disease Outbreaks (UDOs) at the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) during January 2020 to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), which developed as a UDO in Korea. The advanced preparedness offered by the laboratory diagnostic algorithm for UDOs related to respiratory syndromes was critical for the rapid identification of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and enabled us to establish and expand the diagnostic capacity for COVID-19 on a national scale in a timely manner.

Background: COVID-19, which is accompanied by acute respiratory distress, multiple organ failure, and death, has spread worldwide much faster than previously thought. However, at present, it has limited treatments., Objective: To overcome this issue, we developed an artificial intelligence (AI) model of COVID-19, named EDRnet (ensemble learning model based on deep neural network and random forest models), to predict in-hospital mortality using a routine blood sample at the time of hospital admission., Methods: We selected 28 blood biomarkers and used the age and gender information of patients as model inputs. To improve the mortality prediction, we adopted an ensemble approach combining deep neural network and random forest models. We trained our model with a database of blood samples from 361 COVID-19 patients in Wuhan, China, and applied it to 106 COVID-19 patients in three Korean medical institutions., Results: In the testing data sets, EDRnet provided high sensitivity (100%), specificity (91%), and accuracy (92%). To extend the number of patient data points, we developed a web application (BeatCOVID19) where anyone can access the model to predict mortality and can register his or her own blood laboratory results., Conclusions: Our new AI model, EDRnet, accurately predicts the mortality rate for COVID-19. It is publicly available and aims to help health care providers fight COVID-19 and improve patients' outcomes., (©Hoon Ko, Heewon Chung, Wu Seong Kang, Chul Park, Do Wan Kim, Seong Eun Kim, Chi Ryang Chung, Ryoung Eun Ko, Hooseok Lee, Jae Ho Seo, Tae-Young Choi, Rafael Jaimes, Kyung Won Kim, Jinseok Lee. Originally published in the Journal of Medical Internet Research (http://www.jmir.org), 23.12.2020.)

Objectives: Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a major cause of cervical cancer in women. The characteristics of HPV infection vary; therefore, it is necessary to identify the most common HPV genotypes among a group of subjects when introducing a vaccine program. Currently, in the Yanbian Autonomous Region, no HPV vaccinations are not provided, and no data has been reported regarding HPV rates or genotype prevalence. We aimed to find the most suitable HPV vaccine for this region and reasons why no vaccine has been introduced., Methods: HPV genotyping of 200 Korean-Chinese women living in the Yanbian Autonomous Region who visited the hospital for annual health examination was done. We also checked main factors necessary for HPV vaccine administrative system; (1) vaccine manufacturers in China, (2) vaccine importers, (3) vaccine suppliers, (4) applicable vaccine laws, (5) the HPV vaccine permit system in Jilin Province, and (6) vaccination hospital facilities-were assessed by direct inquiry and search., Results: The results showed that HPV genotypes 52, 58, 16, 53, and 33 were the most common among Korean-Chinese women. These results differed from those previously reported for Korean or Chinese women. All elements necessary for introduction of HPV vaccine were prepared, but there is no HPV vaccination plan based on epidemiological investigation., Conclusions: Gardasil® 9 should be the most suitable vaccine for Korean-Chinese women with HPV infection and cervical cancer in this region considering the prevalence of certain genotypes. Governments and medical institutions should take an active stance on HPV vaccination to lower the incidence of cervical cancer here. Our study may serve as an important reference for introducing a Chinese government program designed to prevent cervical cancer.

Although physiological changes are the most evident indicators of skin aging by alteration of the skin's structure and function, we question whether skin aging is also affected by the structure and assembly process of the skin microbiome. We analysed the skin microbiomes of 73 healthy Chinese women in two age groups (25-35 years old and 56-63 years old) using 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing; the overall microbiome structure was significantly different between the two age groups. An analysis using ecological theory to evaluate the process of microbial community assembly processes revealed that the microbiomes of the older group were formed under a greater influence of the niche-based process, with the network of microbes being more collapsed than that of the younger group. Inferred metagenomic functional pathways associated with replication and repair were relatively more predominant in the younger group whereas, among the various metabolism-related pathways, those associated with biodegradation were more predominant in the older group. Interestingly, we found two segregated sub-typing patterns in the younger group which were also observed in the skin microbiomes of young Chinese women living in four other cities in China. The results of our study highlights candidate microbes and functional pathways that are important for future research into preventing skin aging and which could lead to a comprehensive understanding of age-related skin microbiome characteristics.

The Yellow Sea features unique characteristics due to strong tides and nutrient-enriched freshwater outflows from China and Korea. The coupling of archaeal and bacterial assemblages associated with environmental factors at two bay areas in the Yellow Sea was investigated. Temporal variations of the archaeal and bacterial assemblages were shown to be greater than the spatial variations based on an analysis of the 16S rRNA gene sequences. Distinct temporal dynamics of both planktonic archaeal and bacterial assemblages was associated with temperature, NO2-, and chlorophyll a ([chl-a]) concentrations in the bays of the Yellow Sea. The [chl-a] was the prime predictor of bacterial abundance, and some taxa were clearly correlated with [chl-a]. Bacteroidetes and Alpha-proteobacteria dominated at high [chl-a] stations while Gamma-proteobacteria (esp. SAR86 clade) and Actinobacteria (Candidatus Actinomarina clade) were abundant at low [chl-a] stations. The archaeal abundance was comparable with the bacterial abundance in most of the October samples. Co-dominance of Marine Group II (MGII) and Candidatus Nitrosopumilus suggests that the assimilation of organic nitrogen by MGII could be coupled with nitrification by ammonia-oxidizing archaea. The distinct temporal dynamics of the archaeal and bacterial assemblages might be attributable to the strong tides and the inflow of nutrient-rich freshwater., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Organic residue analysis of ancient ceramic vessels enables the investigation of natural resources that were used in daily cooking practices in different part of the world. Despite many methodological advances, the utilization of plants in pottery has been difficult to demonstrate chemically, hindering the study of their role in ancient society, a topic that is especially important to understanding early agricultural practices at the start of the Neolithic period. Here, we present the first lipid residue study on the Chinese Neolithic pottery dated to 5.0 k - 4.7 k cal BC from the Tianluoshan site, Zhejiang province, a key site with early evidence for rice domestication. Through the identification of novel molecular biomarkers and extensive stable isotope analysis, we suggest that the pottery in Tianluoshan were largely used for processing starchy plant foods. These results not only highlight the significance of starchy plants in Neolithic southern China but also show a clear difference with other contemporary sites in northern Eurasia, where pottery is clearly orientated to aquatic resource exploitation. These differences may be linked with the early development of rice agriculture in China compared to its much later adoption in adjacent northerly regions.

Background: The optimal treatment for patients with ischaemic stroke with a high risk of cerebral haemorrhage is unclear. We assessed the efficacy and safety of cilostazol versus aspirin, with and without probucol, in these patients., Methods: In this randomised, controlled, 2 × 2 factorial trial, we enrolled patients with ischaemic stroke with a history of or imaging findings of intracerebral haemorrhage or two or more microbleeds from 67 centres in three Asian countries. Patients were randomly assigned (1:1:1:1) to receive oral cilostazol (100 mg twice a day), aspirin (100 mg once a day), cilostazol plus probucol (250 mg twice a day), or aspirin plus probucol with centralised blocks stratified by centre. Cilostazol versus aspirin was investigated double-blinded; probucol treatment was open-label, but the outcome assessor was masked to assignment. The co-primary outcomes were incidence of the composite of stroke, myocardial infarction, or vascular death (efficacy) and incidence of haemorrhagic stroke (safety), which were assessed in intention-to-treat and modified intention-to-treat populations. Efficacy was analysed with a non-inferiority test and a superiority test if non-inferiority was satisfied. Safety was assessed with a superiority test only. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT01013532., Findings: Between Aug 1, 2009, and Aug 31, 2015, we randomly assigned 1534 patients to one of the four study groups, of whom 1512 were assessed for the co-primary endpoints. During a median follow-up of 1·9 years (IQR 1·0-3·0), the incidence of composite vascular events was 4·27 per 100 person-years in patients who received cilostazol and 5·33 per 100 person-years in patients who received aspirin (HR 0·80, 95% CI 0·57-1·11; non-inferiority p=0·0077; superiority p=0·18). Incidence of cerebral haemorrhage was 0·61 per 100 person-years in patients who received cilostazol and 1·20 per 100 person-years in those who received aspirin (HR 0·51, 97·5% CI 0·20-1·27; superiority p=0·18). The incidence of vascular events was 3·91 per 100 person-years in the probucol group compared with 5·75 per 100 person-years in the non-probucol group (HR 0·69, 95% CI 0·50-0·97; superiority p=0·0316). The incidence of cerebral haemorrhage was 0·72 per 100 person-years in the probucol group and 1·11 per 100 person-years in the non-probucol group (HR 0·65, 97·5% CI 0·27-1·57; p=0·55). Adverse events were similar across the four study groups; the most common events were dizziness, headache, diarrhoea, and constipation., Interpretation: In patients with ischaemic stroke at high risk of cerebral haemorrhage, cilostazol was non-inferior to aspirin for the prevention of cardiovascular events, but did not reduce the risk of haemorrhagic stroke. Addition of probucol to aspirin or cilostazol could be beneficial for reducing the incidence of cardiovascular events., Funding: Korea Otsuka Pharmaceutical., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

China has high incidence of gastric cancer (GC). However, the treatment outcomes of China were unsatisfactory compared to those of Korea. We performed this study to compare tumour characteristics, treatment parameters, and survival outcomes of GC patients between Korea and China based on the databases of two high-volume hospitals, with the aim of identifying indicators of GC prognosis. Data of patients undergoing gastrectomy for GC from 2006 to 2010 were analysed retrospectively. Subgroup survival analyses, stratified by clinicopathologic factors and multivariable analyses, were performed. The interactive roles of chemotherapy and D2 lymphadenectomy for overall survival were also investigated. Among 1365 Chinese and 4981 Korean patients, the proportion of early cancer detection in Chinese patients was much lower relative to that of Korean patients. There were no significant differences between countries in terms of surgical morbidity and mortality. The overall 5-year survival rates were 54.3% and 81.4%; when stratified by clinicopathologic factors, the survival were generally statistically higher in Korean patients. Gender, age, T stage, N stage, extent of lymphadenectomy, radicality of surgery, resection type, and chemotherapy were independently associated with survival in patients without metastasis. Survival rates for stage II and III GC differed significantly between the two countries, but this difference was eliminated among patients who underwent D2 lymphadenectomy or received chemotherapy. These treatments were given to patients with advanced-stage diagnoses (approximately 20% and 80% of patients, respectively). Treatment type was selected as independent prognostic factors in stage I-III and D2/D2+, with chemotherapy resulting in the best prognosis. Many differences in GC tumour characteristics exist between two countries. Early cancer detection and standardized treatment in Korea contribute to superior survival rates. Promotion of an early screening program, training and dissemination of standard D2 lymphadenectomy, and appropriate applications of chemotherapy would improve survival outcomes., Competing Interests: No potential conflicts of interest were disclosed.

Identification of frozen crushed garlic, commercially available in the Korean market, was performed using four different analytical techniques (three screening and one confirmation). The garlic samples produced in Korea and China were irradiated (electron-beam and γ-rays) at 0, 1, 4, and 7 kGy. Non-irradiated samples showed a relatively moderate population of aerobic bacteria and yeasts/molds around 10(5) CFU/g. Irradiation treatments unequivocally reduced the microbial/fungal populations with dose increments. Microbiological screening through direct epifluorescent filter technique/aerobic plate count (DEFT/APC) method effectively differentiated the non-irradiated and irradiated samples. An electronic nose method positively differentiated the odor patterns of samples based on chemical sensing. However, photostimulated luminescence technique (PSL) exhibited poor sensitivity. Minerals separated from irradiated samples produced thermoluminescence (TL) glow curves in the specific temperature range of 150-250 °C. In conclusion, TL confirmatory analysis gave the most promising results in detecting the irradiation status of garlic samples irrespective of the production origin and type of ionizing radiation treatment.

Cultivated ginseng (CG) (Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer), an herb used in Korean herbal medicine, has been widely used in China and Japan to treat fatigue and to enhance resistance to many diseases. It contains many bioactive constituents, including various ginsenosides that are believed to have antioxidant, immunostimulatory, and antiaging activities. Previous studies have revealed that treatment with Panax ginseng is significantly associated with reduced photoaging, but the underlying mode of action has not been elucidated. In this study, we hypothesized that CG inhibits ultraviolet B (UVB)-induced collagenase activation through mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) and nuclear factor κB (NF-κB)/activator protein-1 (AP-1)-dependent signaling in human skin fibroblasts. HS68 cells were treated with CG, followed by irradiation with UVB. Those effects were assessed by semiquantitative polymerase chain reaction, Western blotting, and enzymic activity assays. We found that CG increased cell viability and inhibited the production of reactive oxygen species in HS68 cells exposed to UVB irradiation. Pretreatment of HS68 cells with CG inhibited UVB-induced production of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) 1 and MMP-13. Western blot analysis further revealed that CG markedly suppressed the enhancement of collagen degradation in UVB-exposed HS68 cells. Cultivated ginseng also suppressed UVB-induced activation of NF-κB, c-Jun, and c-Fos and the phosphorylation of MAPKs, which are upstream modulators of NF-κB and AP-1. These results indicate that CG inhibits UVB-induced collagenolytic MMP production by interfering with MAPK/AP-1 and NF-κB signaling and thus may be useful in the prevention and treatment of skin photoaging., (Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Three (KT2, 133, and DAE) transmissible gastroenteritis viruses (TGEVs) were isolated from pigs suspected of having TGE in Korea. One, KT2 (KT2-L), was passaged 128 times (KT2-H) in swine testicular cells. The open reading frame 7 (ORF 7) gene from each of the four TGEVs (KT2-L, KT2-H, 133, and DAE), which is located at the 3' end of the TGEV genome, was amplified by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Amplified PCR products were cloned, sequenced, and compared with published sequences of non-Korean TGEV strains. Differences in replication and cytopathic effect (CPE) between the KT2-L and KT2-H strains in swine testicular cells were investigated. Korean TGEV field strains had 94.8-99.6% nucleotide and 92.1-98.7% amino acid sequence similarity with each other, and 87.8-100.0% nucleotide and 84.2-100.0% amino acid sequence similarity with non-Korean TGEV strains. Compared to the original KT2-L strain, the KT2-H strain differed by 2.2 and 3.9% in nucleotide and amino acid sequences, respectively. Specifically, the KT2-H had six nucleotide and two amino acid deletions compared to the original KT2-L strain. In phylogenetic analysis of the ORF 7 gene, Korean TGEV strains were clustered into two groups. One group (KT2-L, KT2-H, 133) was related to TGEV strains isolated in Japan. Another Korean TGEV isolate (DAE) was related to a strain from China and one from the USA. The Korean TGEV isolates appear to have evolved from a separate lineage of TGEV strain. Differences in growth rate and CPE between the KT2-L and KT2-H strains were discovered in swine testicular cells (STCs). The KT2-H strain exhibited a higher replication rate than KT2-L and produced a CPE distinctly different from that of the KT2-L strain.

The extract of Pyrolae herba (PH), which has been used as an anti-inflammatory folk remedy in Korea and China, was investigated for its anti-inflammatory action using arachidonic acid, 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate or carrageenan-induced edema assays. The anti-nociceptive activity of PH was also tested in mice using the acetic acid-induced writhing model. PH showed dose-dependent and significant (P<0.05 at 100-400mg/kg) anti-inflammatory and anti-nociceptive activities in the animal assays. The mechanism of the activities of PH was examined by testing the extract to determine if it inhibits the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and the production of nitric oxide (NO) from the murine macrophages, RAW 264.7 cells. Similar to the in vivo activities, both the iNOS expression and NO production were significantly suppressed by PH in a dose-dependent manner. PH also inhibited the activating phosphorylation of p38 MAP kinase and NF-kappaB in these cells. These results provide a scientific basis to explain the effects of PH as an anti-inflammatory folk remedy in Asian countries.

Background: Although traditional Korean medicine (TKM) has been influenced by traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), it has developed distinctive features. Around the tenth century, Chinese medical books were introduced to Korea. In those days, Koreans started movement to develop its own medical system., Methods: We reviewed Korean and Chinese medical literatures, and analysed the characteristics between two medical systems., Results: In the early 17th century, Dongeuibogam was published by Dr Joon Hur. He provided a turning point to establish Korean medical system independent from TCM. TKM emphasizes specific characteristics of the individual who suffered from the disease, rather than single symptom. The concept was elaborated by Dr Jae Ma Lee who published Dongeuisusaebowon in the early 20th century., Conclusion: Through historical development, TKM has established the unique characteristic and modality as the whole-person-centered medicine.

Physiological activities of Korean-grown garlic (GKG) and Chinese-grown garlic (GCG) were examined. Nitrite-scavenging activity (NSA), superoxide dismutase (SOD)-like activity, and electron-donating ability (EDA) of garlic extracted with water or with either 50% or 100% ethanol were measured. NSA was optimized at pH 1.2 and was highest in water and 50% ethanol extracts of both origins. SOD-like activities of water or 50% ethanol extracts from both Korea and China were 48.43-63.89% lower than those of 1% or 0.1% L-ascorbate solutions. SOD-like activities of GKG extracts were higher than those of GCG extracts, and those of water extracts of samples were highest. EDAs of GKG extracts were higher (32.51-43.74%) than those of GCG extracts, while those of both sample extracts were lower than 1% or 0.1% L-ascorbate solutions.

Lifetime exposures to environmental tobacco smoke from the home or workplace for 88 "never-smoked" female lung cancer patients and 137 "never-smoked" district controls were estimated in Hong Kong to assess the possible causal relationship of passive smoking to lung cancer risk. Relative risks based on the husband's smoking habits, or lifetime estimates of total years, total hours, mean hours/day, or total cigarettes/day smoked by each household smoker did not show dose-response results. Similarly, when such categories as mean hours/day, or earlier age of initial exposure, were combined with years of exposure, there were no apparent increases in relative risk. However, when the data were segregated by histological type and location of the primary tumor, it was seen that peripheral tumors in the middle or lower lobes, or, less strongly, squamous or small-cell tumors in the middle or lower lobes, had increasing relative risks that might indicate some association with passive smoking exposure.

Three undifferentiated nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) tumour lines were successfully established from fresh biopsy material injected s.c. into athymic mice and passaged for many generations. These xenografts were found to be free of infiltrating lymphoid cells and remained undifferentiated up to passage 30. They were designated NPC/HK2117 (Xeno-1), NPC/HK1915 (Xeno-2) and NPC/HK1530 (Xeno-3), respectively. Passage 16 from Xeno-1, passage 1 from Xeno-2 and passage 14 from Xeno-3 were studied cytogenetically using G-banding with the trypsin-Giemsa method. Two xenografts were hyperdiploid with chromosome modal numbers ranging from 49 to 76, and one was hypodiploid with modal numbers ranging from 28 to 38. Five marker chromosomes have been identified with involvement of chromosomes 1, 3, 11, 12 and 17. Marker chromosomes derived from chromosomes 12q, 1q and 3q were consistent in one of the 2 xenografts successfully G-banded, and chromosomes 12, 11 and 17 were consistent in another. Three out of the 6 markers involve 12q13----qter. An abnormal chromosome 3 with most of the p arm deleted was also observed.

Histocompatibility locus A typing of 43 Malaysian Chinese and 51 Hong Kong Chinese patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) confirmed the association between the occurrence of A2-Sin 2 and the increased risk for NPC that was previously demonstrated in Singapore Chinese. The results support the previous interpretation that the histocompatibility locus A genotype of importance in NPC predisposition is the A2-Sin 2 haplotype. The histocompatibility locus A-linked, genetically determined NPC risk is common to Asian Chinese from at least three geographic locations.

New data are presented concerning the relationship between NPC and HLA antigens among Chinese. When attention is confined to newly diagnosed cases, it can be shown that, apart from the increased risk associated with the joint occurrence of A2 and B-Sin 2, there is also an increased risk associated with BW17 and a decrease in risk associated with A11. Among long-term survivors, however, BW17 is appreciably decreased, whereas A2 in the absence of B-Sin 2 or BW17 is increased. Among Malays, a non-Chinese group, there is an excess among NPC patients of a locus A blank, a blank which is probably associated with the AW19 complex.

Delayed hypersensitivity to antigens derived from four EBV-related (KHLY 28, Raji, F265 and NC37) and one EBV-unrelated (Molt) T-lymphoid cell lines and to standard antigens (Trichophyton, Candida albicans and streptokinase/streptodornase) was measured in 104 NPC patients and 24 patients with other cancers. Of the NPC patients with non-disseminated disease, 55/86 (63.2%) had a positive skin reaction to HKLY 28 extract, compared with only 1/18 (5.6%) OC patients with non-disseminated disease. The frequencies of these NPC patients with positive skin reactions to the other cell-line extracts were significantly lower (1.7-5.4%). From the preliminary results of a longitudinal study, skin testing with this particular crude membrane extract from HKLY 28 cells appears to be of little practical value in monitoring the clinical evolution of NPC, although a significant association between clinical evolution and certain patterns of skin reactivity response to the extract was found in about two-thirds of the cases analysed.

Cantonese salted fish is suspected on epidemiological grounds to be an etiological factor in human NPC. To determine whether this food contains a carcinogen which acts on the upper respiratory epithelial lining, WA albino rats and Syrian golden hamsters were given Cantonese salted fish in their diet for one to two years from the age of one month and examined for tumours in that area. Three of 20 treated rats, but no control rats and no treated or control hamsters, developed carcinomas (two adenocarcinomas and one undifferentiated) in the nasal or paranasal sinus cavities after 12 to 24 months' treatment. NDEA was given orally to a similar group of animals as a positive control, and NDMA, the only volatile nitrosamine detected in salted fish, was added to the drinking-water of a third group. Three of 14 NDEA-treated rats developed adenocarcinomas in the nasal cavities, but none of the other animals developed nasal or paranasal tumours. These findings lead us to suspect that salted fish may contain a carcinogen or procarcinogen that can act systematically on the epithelial cells of the nasal and paranasal cavities.

Ninety-five sera from Chinese NPC patients in different stages of the disease, 38 sera from Chinese patients with other cancers, and 50 normal Chinese sera, were titrated for EBNA, VCA, EA and complement-fixing (CF/S) EBV-specific antibodies. The geometric mean (GMT) EBNA antibody titre of patients with NPC at stage I was found to be four times higher than that of normal individuals and increased in parallel with clinical deterioration. Antibody titres against EBNA did not correlate with either VCA or EA antibodies but, in general, correlated with CF/S antibodies. EA antibodies correlated relatively well with VCA antibodies and discriminated better than EBNA titre between NPC at stage I and controls.

Six types of salted fish and 10 other sorts of salted food products traditionally consumed by southern Chinese were analysed by GC-MS for the presence of volatile nitrosamines. The detection limit in the original raw food was 1 microg/kg for each nitrosamine. Only NDMA, in the range of 1-35 microg/kg, could be detected, in four of the six types of salted fish samples examined; and no nitrosamines were found in the other salted food products.