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Background Helminth infections and their components has been recognized to have a positive impact on the immune system. This study aimed to investigate the potential of Metagonimus yokogawai-derived proteins (MYp) to provide protection against ankylosing spondylitis (AS) through modulation of immune responses. Methods The cytotoxicity of MYp at various doses was first assessed using MTS and flow cytometry. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were collected from AS patients, and the production of inflammatory cytokines was analyzed through flow cytometry. In the experiments with SKG mice, MYp or vehicle was administered and inflammation was evaluated through immunohistochemistry and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results The results showed that MYp did not decrease cell viability of PBMCs even after 48 hours. Additionally, the frequencies of IFN-γ and IL-17A producing cells were significantly reduced after MYp treatment in the PBMC cultures. In the SKG mouse model, MYp treatment could reduce serum levels of INF- γ, IL-17A, and TNF-α. Overall, MYp treatment significantly suppressed arthritis and enthesitis in the SKG mouse model. Conclusions The results suggest the first evidence that MYp can effectively alleviate clinical symptoms and restore cytokine balance in patients with AS.

Switching peptides were designed to bind reversibly to the binding pocket of antibodies (IgG) by interacting with frame regions (FRs). These peptides can be quantitatively released when antigens bind to IgG. As FRs have conserved amino acid sequences, switching peptides can be used as antibodies for different antigens and different source animals. In this study, an electrochemical one-step immunoassay was conducted using switching peptides labeled with ferrocene for the quantitative measurement of analytes. For the effective amperometry of the switching peptides labeled with ferrocene, a pyrolyzed carbon electrode was prepared by pyrolysis of the parylene-C film. The feasibility of the pyrolyzed carbon electrode for the electrochemical one-step immunoassay was determined by analyzing its electrochemical properties, such as its low double-layer capacitance (

The influence of unicellular eukaryotic microorganisms on human gut health and disease is largely unexplored. Blastocystis species commonly colonize the gut, but their clinical significance and ecological role are unclear. We evaluated the effect of Blastocystis colonization on the fecal microbiota of Koreans. In total, 39 Blastocystis-positive and -negative fecal samples were analyzed. The fecal microbiome was assessed by targeting the V3–V4 region of the bacterial 16S ribosomal gene. Bacterial diversity was greater in the Blastocystis-positive than in the Blastocystis-negative group. The bacterial community structure and phylogenetic diversity differed according to the presence of Blastocystis. The mean proportions of Faecalibacterium species and Ruminococcaceae were larger in the Blastocystis-positive group, and that of Enterococcus species was larger in the Blastocystis-negative group. Linear discriminant analysis showed that Faecalibacterium, Prevotella 9, Ruminococcaceae UCG-002, Muribaculaceae, Rikenellaceae, Acidaminococcaceae, Phascolarctobacterium, and Ruminococcaceae UCG-005 were highly enriched in the Blastocystis-positive group, whereas Enterococcus hirae, Enterococcus faecalis, Enterococcus durans, Enterococcaceae, Lactobacillales, and Bacilli were highly abundant in the Blastocystis-negative group. Overall, our results enlighten the notion that Blastocystis colonization is associated with a healthy gut microbiota.

Nanostructures─coupled with mass spectrometry─have been intensively investigated to improve the detection sensitivity and reproducibility of small biomolecules in laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (LDI-MS). However, the impact of laser-induced shock wave on the ionization of the nanostructures has rarely been reported. Herein, we systematically elucidate the laser shock wave effect on the ionization in terms of the

Short and medium chain acylcarnitines have been used for the diagnosis of various fatty acid oxidation and organic acid disorders. This report presents a multiplex and quantitative analysis of acylcarnitines using MALDI-TOF MS based on a parylene matrix chip. The parylene matrix chip was fabricated by the deposition of a nanoporous film of parylene on an organic matrix array, which reduced the number of mass peaks from the organic matrix in the low

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of resistance ladder exercise on myocardial inflammatory cytokines and extracellular signal regulated kinase (ERK)1/2 expression in type 2 diabetic rats.METHODS: A total of 21 8-week-old male Long Evans Tokushima Otsuka (LETO) and Otsuka Long Evans Tokushima Fatty (OLETF) rats were divided into three groups: LETO group (CON, n=7), OLETF group (DM, n=7), and resistance exercise group (DM+EXE, n=7). Resistance exercise referred to a climbing exercise on a slope. The rats performed this exercise 3 full d per week, for 8 week. The expression of myocardial inflammatory cytokines and ERK1/2 was analyzed via western blotting after 8 week of exercise intervention.RESULTS: After 8 weeks of resistance exercise for the management of type 2 diabetes, the production of anti-inflammatory factor Interleukin (IL)-10 in the myocardium increased. This inhibited the production of pro-inflammatory factors IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha. However, resistance exercise did not affect the expression of ERK1 and ERK2, which are apoptosis regulatory proteins.CONCLUSIONS: In type 2 diabetes, resistance exercise is thought to be effective in reducing inflammatory factors by mediating cytokines. Although the effects of resistance ladder exercise were confirmed, further studies on a variety of exercise types and intensities should be conducted to prevent and improve the conditions of those with diabetes.

To date, medical diagnosis of gout and pseudogout has been performed by observing the crystals in the joint fluid of patients under a polarized microscope. Conventional diagnostic methods using a polarized microscope have disadvantages, such as time-consuming analysis, a high false negative rate, and difficulty in distinguishing gout with monosodium urate (MSU) crystals and pseudogout with calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate (CPPD) crystals in synovial fluids. In this study, a chromogenic assay for the diagnosis of gout and pseudogout, without the requirement of a polarized microscope and trained experts, was proposed using Fv antibodies with specific binding activities to MSU and CPPD crystals. The IgG V

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to statistically verify the effects of blood glucose, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), calcium, and chloride ions on the facial wrinkles of premenopausal women. Methods: Premenopausal women were recruited through the internet to be study participants. Those who had disease or who consumed drugs or health foods such as ginseng were excluded. The levels of blood glucose, BUN, calcium, and chloride ions were obtained, and facial wrinkles were measured with a skin meter. Multiple regression analysis was performed to evaluate the effects of blood glucose, BUN, calcium, and chloride ions on face wrinkles. Results: After excluding 13 people whose blood measurement variables deviated from the outliers, statistical analysis was performed for the remaining 64 participants. Analysis revealed the nonstandardization coefficient of blood glucose to be 0.019 and the significance probability was p =0.027. The nonstandardized coefficient of BUN was 0.108, and the significance probability was p =0.006, which means that when BUN increased by 1 mg/dL, wrinkles increased by 0.108. The explanatory power of R2 was 0.203. Conclusion: This is the first report to reveal, based on empirical data, that blood glucose and BUN, which are known factors affecting cardiovascular disease and diabetes, also affect facial wrinkles.

Rapid spread of infectious diseases is a global threat and has an adverse impact on human health, livelihood, and economic stability, as manifested in the ongoing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Even though people wear a face mask as protective equipment, direct disinfection of the pathogens is barely feasible, which thereby urges the development of biocidal agents. Meanwhile, repetitive respiration generates temperature variation wherein the heat is regrettably wasted. Herein, a biocidal ZnO nanorod-modified paper (ZNR-paper) composite that is 1) integrated on a face mask, 2) harvests waste breathing-driven thermal energy, 3) facilitates the pyrocatalytic production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), and ultimately 4) exhibits antibacterial and antiviral performance is proposed. Furthermore, in situ generated compressive/tensile strain of the composite by being attached to a curved mask is investigated for high pyroelectricity. The anisotropic ZNR distortion in the bent composite is verified with changes in ZnO bond lengths and OZnO bond angles in a ZnO

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate potential therapeutic effect of Metagonimus yokogawai on the OVA-induced allergic rhinitis model. Methods: OVA-sensitized mice were used to assess potential therapeutic effect of the extract protein of M. yokogawai (My-TP). My-TP was administrated via the intralymphatic route to cervical lymph nodes. The frequencies of sneezing or nasal rubbing were recorded. Histopathologic evaluation was performed for eosinophil infiltrations in the tissues of the nasal mucosa and skin. The mRNA relative expressions of the cytokine profiles including Th1, Th2, Th17, and Treg subsets in the nasal mucosa, cervical lymph nodes, and spleen were analyzed by quantitative real-time reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction. The potential underlying mechanism was investigated by examining cytokine profiles including IL-4 and Treg subsets from lymphocytes of the spleen by flow cytometry. Results: Intralymphatic injection of My-TP reduced allergic symptoms and eosinophil infiltration in the nasal mucosa. My-TP-treated group showed markedly decreased levels of OVA-specific IgE and WBC counts in nasal lavage. My-TP-treated group showed the decreased expression levels of IL-4, while those of IL-10 were increased in both the nasal mucosa. The levels of IFN-γ and IL-17 were also decreased in the nasal mucosa and cervical lymph nodes. The immunological mechanism may involve the downregulation of Th2 response and upregulation of Tregs in the nasal mucosa and cervical lymph nodes. Conclusions: Our results provide the first evidence of potential therapeutic effect of M. yokogawai in OVA-sensitized allergic rhinitis mice, suggesting that a Treg/Th2 reorganization may play a role in clinical course of allergic rhinitis.

Quantitative analysis using laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (LDI-MS) has been limited because of the nonuniform distribution of analytes caused by the “coffee ring effect”. In this st...

Blastocystis has recently been recognized as the most common eukaryotic microbe of the human gut. We investigated the prevalence of Blastocystis and their subtypes in diarrheal and non-diarrheal groups and the associated clinical parameters. A total of 324 stool samples were obtained from 196 diarrheal and 128 non-diarrheal subjects. Blastocystis subtypes were determined by sequencing the small subunit ribosomal DNA (SSU rRNA) gene. Demographic, clinical and laboratory data were collected and analyzed by diarrhea and Blastocystis status. The overall rate of Blastocystis positivity was 9.0% (29/324) but was significantly higher in the non-diarrheal group (18.0% vs. 3.1%, P

Recently, the parylene-matrix chip was developed for quantitative analysis of small molecules less than 1 kDa. In this study, MALDI-TOF MS based on the parylene-matrix chip was performed to clinically diagnose intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (IHCC) and colorectal cancer (CRC). The parylene-matrix chip was applied for the detection of small cancer biomarkers, including N-methyl-2-pyridone-5-carboxamide (2PY), glutamine, lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC) 16:0, and LPC 18:0. The feasibility of MALDI-TOF MS based on the parylene-matrix chip was confirmed via analysis of spot-to-spot and shot-to-shot reproducibility. Serum metabolite markers of IHCC, N-methyl-2-pyridone-5-carboxamide (2PY), and glutamine were quantified using MALDI-TOF MS based on the parylene-matrix chip. For clinical diagnosis of CRC, two water-insoluble (barely soluble) biomarkers, lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC) 16:0 and LPC 18:0, were quantified. Finally, glutamine and LPC 16:0 were simultaneously detected at a range of concentrations in sera from colon cancer patients using the parylene-matrix chip. Thus, this method yielded high-throughput detection of cancer biomarkers for the mixture samples of water-soluble analytes (2PY and glutamine) and water-insoluble analytes (LPC 16:0 and LPC 18:0).

It has been challenging to detect small analytes in both positive and negative ion modes using organic matrices in conventional matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (MALDI-MS). Herein, TiO2 nanowires are presented as a solid matrix to form dual ions of analytes regardless of their chemical properties and to demonstrate versatile applicability in LDI-MS.

A novel method for quantifying galactose was developed to serve as a newborn screening test for galactosemia using laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight (LDI-TOF) mass spectrometry (MS) with a TiO2 nanowire chip. Herein, phosphate citrate buffer, serum, and dried blood spot (DBS) were employed for the quantitative analysis of galactose. To quantitatively analyze galactose, its reduction potential was used to oxidize o-phenylene diamine (OPD) into 2,3-diaminophenazine (DA), which were both detected using LDI-TOF MS with a TiO2 nanowire chip according to the concentration of galactose. The reproducibility and the interference of glucose were determined to demonstrate the applicability of this method. Moreover, mixtures of galactose, phenylalanine, and 17 α-OHP were analyzed to determine the interference induced by other biomarkers of metabolic disorders. The OPD oxidation of galactose was found to be selectively achieved under high-glucose conditions, similar to human blood, thereby showing good reproducibility. The intensities of the mass peaks of OPD and DA based on LDI-TOF MS with a TiO2 nanowire chip were linearly correlated in the galactose concentration range of 57.2–220.0 μg/mL (r2 = 0.999 and 0.950, respectively) for serum samples and 52.5–220.0 μg/mL (r2 = 0.993 and 0.985, respectively) for DBS after methanol precipitation/extraction. The enzyme immunoassay and LDI-TOF MS analysis results were statistically analyzed, and a mixture of phenylalanine, 17 α-OHP, and galactose was simultaneously investigated quantitatively at the cutoff level.

Fundamental properties of nanostructured substrates govern the performance of laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (LDI-MS); however, limited studies have elucidated the desorption/ionization mechanism based on the physicochemical properties of substrates. Herein, the enhancement in desorption/ionization is investigated using a hybrid matrix of Au nanoisland-functionalized ZnO nanotubes (AuNI-ZNTs). The underlying origin is explored in terms of the photo-electronic and -thermal properties of the matrix. This is the first study to report the effect of laser-induced surface restructuring/melting phenomenon on the LDI-MS performance. AuNI plays a central role as a photothermal nanofurnace, which facilitates the internal energy transfer from the AuNI to the adsorbed analytes by reconstruction in the structurally dynamic AuNI and therefore favors the desorption process. Moreover, piezoelectricity is driven in situ in the AuNI-ZNT hybrid, which modulates the overall band structure and thereby promotes the ionization process. Ultimately, high LDI-MS performance is demonstrated by analyzing small metabolites of fatty acids and monosaccharides, which are challenged to be detected in conventional LDI-MS. This study emphasizing the understanding of matrix properties can provide insights into the design and development of a novel nanomaterial as an efficient LDI matrix. Furthermore, the developed hybrid matrix can overcome the major hurdles existing in conventional LDI-MS.

In this work, medical diagnosis of sepsis was conducted via quantitative analysis of lysophosphatidylcholine 16:0 (LPC 16:0) by using matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry based on a parylene-matrix chip. In the first step, specific mass peaks for the diagnosis of sepsis were searched by comparing MALDI-TOF mass spectra of sepsis patient sera with healthy controls and pneumonia patient sera. Two mass peaks at m/z = 496.3 and 518.3 were chosen as those that are specifically different for sepsis sera to compare with healthy controls and pneumonia patient sera. These mass peaks were identified to be protonated and sodium adducts of LPC 16:0 by using tandem mass spectra (MS2 and MS3) of purely synthesized LPC 16:0 and extracted LPC 16:0 from a healthy control and a sepsis patient. In the next step, a standard curve for LPC 16:0 for the quantitative analysis of LPC 16:0 with MALDI-TOF MS based on the parylene-matrix chip was prepared, and the statistical correlation to the LC-MS analysis results was demonstrated by using the Bland-Altman test and Passing-Bablok regression. Finally, MALDI-TOF MS based on the parylene-matrix chip was used for the quantification of LPC 16:0 with sera from patients with severe sepsis and septic shock (n = 143), pneumonia patients (n = 12), and healthy sera (n = 31). The sensitivity and the selectivity of medical diagnosis of sepsis was estimated to be 97.9% and 95.5% by using MALDI-TOF MS based on the parylene-matrix chip, respectively.

Crystals of monosodium urate monohydrate (MSU) and calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate (CPPD) are known to induce arthropathic diseases called gout and pseudogout, respectively. These crystals are deposited in various joints or tissues, causing severe pain. Correct identification of crystals is crucial for the appropriate treatment of gout and pseudogout, which exhibit very similar symptoms. Herein, a novel approach of laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight (LDI-ToF) mass spectrometry (MS) was introduced to analyze MSU and CPPD crystals with three different types of nanostructured TiO2 materials including TiO2 nanoparticles (P25), TiO2 nanowires synthesized from wet-corrosion method, and the mixture of P25 and TiO2 nanowires (P25/TiO2 nanowires) as inorganic solid matrices. Furthermore, the feasibility of LDI-ToF MS based on these TiO2 nanostructures for the analysis of the two arthropathy-related crystals was tested using spiked samples in synovial fluid at known crystal concentrations. The mass analysis results of MSU and CPPD crystals demonstrated that (1) the electrostatic interaction between analytes and solid matrices was key for the analyte ionization and (2) LDI-ToF MS with nanostructured TiO2 materials has the potential to be a practical approach for the diagnosis of gout and pseudogout.

A combination nanostructured matrix with metal Au nanoislands and semiconductor TiO2 nanowires is presented to enhance both desorption and ionization efficiency in laser desorption/ionization (LDI) mass spectrometry. The heterostructure of Au nanoislands on TiO2 nanowires was fabricated via (1) TiO2 nanowire synthesis through a modified wet-corrosion method and (2) Au nanoisland formation through thermal annealing of a sputtered Au layer on the TiO2 nanowires. Herein, the synergistic effect of this heterostructure for highly efficient ion production was experimentally elucidated in terms of the formation of high temperature on the surface of Au and the creation of a Schottky barrier at the Au–TiO2 interface. Finally, four types of immunosuppressors were analyzed to demonstrate the improved ionization performance of the heterostructure for LDI mass spectrometry.

BACKGROUND Immunotherapy has revolutionized the clinical outcomes of intractable cancer patients. Little is known about the intestinal nonpathogenic bacterial composition of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients treated by immunotherapy. AIM To determine whether there is a correlation between gut bacterial composition and prognosis in HCC patients. METHODS From September 2019 to March 2020, we prospectively collected fecal samples and examined the gut microbiome of 8 advanced HCC patients treated with nivolumab as a second- or third-line systemic treatment. Fecal samples were collected before the start of immunotherapy. Fecal samples of patients with progression during treatment were collected at the time of progression, and fecal samples of patients who showed good response to nivolumab were collected after 5-7 mo as follow-up. Metagenomic data from 16S ribosomal RNA sequencing were analyzed using CLC Genomics Workbench. Microbiome data were analyzed according to therapeutic response. RESULTS All 8 patients were male, of which 6 had underlying chronic hepatitis B. A higher Shannon index was found in the responders than in the non-responders after nivolumab therapy (P = 0.036). The unweighted beta diversity analysis also showed that the overall bacterial community structure and phylogenetic diversity were clearly distinguished according to therapeutic response. There was no significant difference in the diversity or composition of the patient gut microbiome according to the immunotherapy used. Several taxa specific to therapeutic response were designated as follows: Dialister pneumosintes, Escherichia coli, Lactobacillus reteri, Streptococcus mutans, Enterococcus faecium, Streptococcus gordonii, Veillonella atypica, Granulicatella sp., and Trchuris trichiura for the non-responders; Citrobacter freundii, Azospirillum sp. and Enterococcus durans for the responders. Of note, a skewed Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio and a low Prevotella/Bacteroides ratio can serve as predictive markers of non-response, whereas the presence of Akkermansia species predicts a good response. CONCLUSION The current presumptive study suggests a potential role for the gut microbiome as a prognostic marker for the response to nivolumab in treatment of HCC patients.

Helminth infections and their components have been shown to have the potential to modulate and attenuate immune responses. The objective of this study was to evaluate the potential protective effects of Clonorchis sinensis-derived protein (CSp) on ankylosing spondylitis (AS). Cytotoxicity of CSp at different doses was assessed by MTS and flow cytometry before performing experiments. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and synovial fluid mononuclear cells (SFMCs) were obtained from AS patients. Inflammatory cytokine-producing cells were analyzed using flow cytometry. The levels of INF-γ, IL-17A, TNF-α, and IL-6 were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). SKG mice were treated with CSp or vehicles. Inflammation and new bone formation were evaluated using immunohistochemistry, positron emission tomography (PET), and micro-computed tomography (CT). Treatment with CSp resulted in no reduced cell viability of PBMCs or SFMCs until 24 h. In experiments culturing PBMCs and SFMCs, the frequencies of IFN-γ and IL-17A producing cells were significantly reduced after CSp treatment. In the SKG mouse model, CSp treatment significantly suppressed arthritis, enthesitis, and enteritis. Micro-CT analysis of hind paw revealed reduced new bone formation in CSp-treated mice than in vehicle-treated mice. We provide the first evidence demonstrating that CSp can ameliorate clinical signs and cytokine derangements in AS. In addition, such CSp treatment could reduce the new bone formation of AS.

Background: Helminth infections and their components have been shown to have potential to modulate immunity and attenuate immune response. The objective of this study was to evaluate potential protective effects of Clonorchis sinensis–derived protein (CSp) on ankylosing spondylitis (AS).Methods: Cytotoxicity of CSp at different doses was assessed by MTS and flow cytometry before performing experiments. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and Synovial fluid mononuclear cells (SFMCs) were obtained from AS patients. Inflammatory cytokine-producing cells were analyzed using flow cytometry. SKG mice were treated with CSp or vehicle. Inflammation and new bone formation were evaluated using immunohistochemistry, positron emission tomography (PET) and micro–computed tomography (CT).Results: Treatment with CSp resulted in no reduced cell viability of PBMCs or SFMCs. In experiments culturing PBMCs and SFMCs, the frequencies of IFN-g and IL-17A producing cells were significantly reduced after CSp treatment. In the SKG mouse model, CSp treatment significantly suppressed arthritis and enthesitis. Micro-CT analysis of hind paw revealed less new bone formation in CSp-treated mice than in vehicle-treated mice. Conclusions: We provide the first evidence demonstrating that CSp can ameliorate clinical signs and cytokine derrangements in AS. In addition, such CSp treatment could reduce new bone formation of AS.

Morphological and molecular characterization of clinostomid metacercariae (CMc) was performed with the specimens collected in fish from Korea and Myanmar. Total 6 batches of clinostomid specimens by the fish species and geographical localities, 5 Korean and 1 Myanmar isolates, were analyzed with morphological (light microscopy and SEM) and molecular methods (the cytochrome c oxidase 1 gene and internal transcribed spacer 1/5.8S rRNA sequence). There were some morphological variations among CMc specimens from Korea. However, some morphometrics, i.e., the size of worm body and each organ, ratio of body length to body width, and morphology of cecal lumens, were considerably different between the specimens from Korea and Myanmar. The surface ultrastructures were somewhat different between the specimens from Korea and Myanmar. The CO1 sequences of 5 Korean specimens ranging 728-736 bp showed 99.6-100% identity with Clinostomum complanatum (GenBank no. KM923964). They also showed 99.9-100% identity with C. complanatum (FJ609420) in the ITS1 sequences ranging 692-698 bp. Meanwhile, the ITS1 sequences of Myanmar specimen showed 99.9% identity with Euclinostomum heterostomum (KY312847). Five sequences from Korean specimens clustered with the C. complanatum genes, but not clustered with Myanmar specimens. Conclusively, it was confirmed that CMc from Korea were morphologically and molecularly identical with C. complanatum and those from Myanmar were E. heterostomum.

This study aimed to evaluate potential therapeutic effect of Metagonimus yokogawai on the OVA-induced allergic rhinitis model.OVA-sensitized mice were used to assess potential therapeutic effect of the extract protein of M. yokogawai (My-TP). My-TP was administrated via the intralymphatic route to cervical lymph nodes. The frequencies of sneezing or nasal rubbing were recorded. Histopathologic evaluation was performed for eosinophil infiltrations in the tissues of the nasal mucosa and skin. The mRNA relative expressions of the cytokine profiles including Th1, Th2, Th17, and Treg subsets in the nasal mucosa, cervical lymph nodes, and spleen were analyzed by quantitative real-time reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction. The potential underlying mechanism was investigated by examining cytokine profiles including IL-4 and Treg subsets from lymphocytes of the spleen by flow cytometry.Intralymphatic injection of My-TP reduced allergic symptoms and eosinophil infiltration in the nasal mucosa. My-TP-treated group showed markedly decreased levels of OVA-specific IgE and WBC counts in nasal lavage. My-TP-treated group showed the decreased expression levels of IL-4, while those of IL-10 were increased in both the nasal mucosa. The levels of IFN-γ and IL-17 were also decreased in the nasal mucosa and cervical lymph nodes. The immunological mechanism may involve the downregulation of Th2 response and upregulation of Tregs in the nasal mucosa and cervical lymph nodes.Our results provide the first evidence of potential therapeutic effect of M. yokogawai in OVA-sensitized allergic rhinitis mice, suggesting that a Treg/Th2 reorganization may play a role in clinical course of allergic rhinitis.

It has been challenging to detect small analytes in both positive and negative ion modes using organic matrices in conventional matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (MALDI-MS). Herein, TiO

Purpose: To compare extended care facility (ECF) and home as discharge destination after total knee arthroplasty (TKA) at a single high-volume tertiary center in South Korea. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 1,120 primary TKAs (614 patients) performed between January 2012 and December 2013. A telephonic survey was conducted to determine discharge destination. The data reviewed included demographic and surgical data, functional outcome at 2 years and complications within 3 months. Results: ECF and home received 316 patients (51%) and 298 patients (49%), respectively. The ECF group had more bilateral TKA patients than the home group (272 vs. 234; p=0.014) and more patients with additional hospital stay (44 vs. 22; p=0.009). A higher tendency of complications was seen at home (n=8, 2.7%) than the ECF (n=2, 0.6%) (p=0.057). No significant differences were found in any functional outcome measure. Home patients had better patient satisfaction than ECF patients (81.9% vs. 54.3%; p

The objective of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of the yield predictive models of Italian ryegrass (IRG, Lolium multiflorum Lam.) and forage rye (FR, Secale cereale L.) reported in previous studies through K-fold cross-validation method. In previous studies, statistical models were constructed for dry matter yield prediction of IRG and FR using general linear model based on climatic data by locations in the Republic of Korea. The yield predictive model for IRG cultivated in the southern region of the Korean Peninsula and Jeju Island were DMY = 78.178AGD–254.622MTJ + 64.156SGD–76.954PAT150 + 4.711SAP + 1028.295 + Location and DMY =–8.044AAT + 18.640SDS–7.542SAT + 9.610SAP + 17282.191, respectively. The yield predictive model for FR was as follows: DMY = 20.999AGD + 163.705LTJ + 113.716SGD + 64.379PAT100–4964.728 + Location. However, accuracy evaluation was not performed in the previous research. In this study, the reported models and the data set used for model construction were investigated. Subsequently, K-fold cross-validation was performed to assess the accuracy of the models. The results showed that the yield predictive models fit to the data sets well, while the accuracy of these models was in the common level since the data sources might keep major variances in cultivars, climatic conditions, and cultivated locations. Therefore, models with better fitness and accuracy might be constructed based on a data set with smaller variance. Hence, the standardization of the crop cultivation experiments is very necessary to decrease the variance in the historical data used for future crop yield modeling.