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Purpose Tropomyosin receptor kinase (TRK) inhibitors are approved for the treatment of neurotrophic receptor tyrosine kinase (NTRK) fusion-positive tumors. The detection of NTRK fusion using a validated method is required before therapeutic application. An interlaboratory comparison study of next-generation sequencing (NGS)–based NTRK gene fusion detection with validated clinical samples was conducted at six major hospitals in South Korea. Materials and Methods A total of 18 samples, including a positive standard reference and eight positive and nine negative clinical samples, were validated using the VENTANA pan-TRK (EPR17341) and TruSight Oncology 500 assays. These samples were then tested using four different NGS panels currently being used at the six participating institutions. Results NTRK fusions were not detected in any of the nine negative clinical samples, demonstrating 100% specificity in all six participating institutions. All assays showed 100% analytical sensitivity to identify the NTRK fusion status in formalin-fixed paraffinembedded (FFPE) samples, although with variable clinical sensitivity. False-negative results were due to low tumor purity, poor RNA quality, and DNA-based sequencing panel. The RNA-based targeted NGS assay showed an overall high success rate of identifying NTRK fusion status in FFPE samples. Conclusion This study is the first to test the proficiency of NGS-based NTRK detection in South Korea with the largest participating institutions. RNA-based NGS assays to detect NTRK fusions can accurately characterize fusion transcripts if sufficient RNA of adequate quality is available. The comparative performance data will support the implementation of targeted NGS-based sequencing assays for NTRK fusion detection in routine diagnostics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objectives of this study were twofold. The first was to compare differences in perceptions of the talent development environment, achievement goals, and perceived competence, in terms of an individual characteristic (i.e. gender), a cultural characteristic (i.e. country), and their interactions (i.e. gender by country). The second was to examine the moderating effects of perceived competence on the relationships between the talent development environment and achievement goals. Data were collected from 363 athletes in Singapore and 349 athletes in Korea. A series of MANOVAs and path analyses were employed for testing of the main hypotheses. First, in terms of the talent development environment, male athletes scored higher in long-term development focus, communication, support network, and long-term development fundamentals. Second, in terms of achievement goals and perceived competence, male athletes scored higher in competence and performance-approach goal, but female athletes scored higher in mastery-avoidance goal. While Singaporean athletes scored higher in perceived competence, mastery-approach, and mastery-avoidance, Korean athletes scored higher in performance-avoidance. Lastly, the path analysis provided empirical evidence supporting the moderation effects of perceived competence on the relationships between the talent development environment and achievement goal adoption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Propolis is a natural product made by honeybees that has been widely used in folk medicine with a broad spectrum of biological activities. To investigate the antidepressant-like activity of propolis extract, CD-I mice were administered an ethanol extract of propolis (50, 100, or 200 mg/kg, p.o.) prior to the behavioral test. The propolis extract-treated group showed a dose-dependent decrease in immobility time in the FST and tail suspension test without altering locomotor activity. Propolis extract decreased the limbic hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis response to the FST as indicated by an attenuated corticosterone response and decreased in c-fos immunoreactive neurons in the hippocampal dentate gyrus. Western blot analysis revealed a reduction in hippocampal glucocorticoid receptor (GR) expression following the FST, which was reversed by propolis extract. Propolis extract also increased pGR(S220)/(S234) ratio by a differential phosphorylation in S220 and S234. FST-induced downregulation of cAMP-responsive element binding protein phosphorylation at S133 (pCREB) was restored by propolis extract, showing a strong and positive relationship between pCREB and pGR(S220)/(S234) ratio. These findings suggest that the propolis extract potentiates antidepressant-like activity by enhancing GR function which is one of the therapeutic mechanisms of antidepressant; thus, propolis extract may provide a novel therapy for depression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gugijihwang-Tang (the herbal formula PM012), a decoction consisting of several herbs including Rehmanniae Radix Preparata, has been widely used as herbal treatment for dementia. In order to investigate the neuroprotective action of this prescription, we examined the effect of Gugijihwang-Tang on learning and memory using the Morris water maze and [F-18]FDG micro PET neuroimaging technique. After injection of trimethyltin (TMT, 8.0 mg/kg, i.p.), which is a potent toxicant that selectively kills cells in the central nervous system, rats were administered Gugijihwang-Tang (100 mg/kg, p.o.) daily for two weeks, followed by the Morris water maze tasks and [F-18]FDG micro PET neuroimaging. In Gugijihwang-Tang administered TMT-treated rats, they showed improved learning and memory abilities in water maze tasks and glucose metabolism, suggesting that Gugijihwang-Tang plays effectively positive role in the improvement of brain function including learning and memory after TMT-induced neurodegeneration. Taken together, our results suggested that the Gugijihwang-Tang should be useful for developing strategies protecting nervous system and improving brain function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]