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Accurately investigating the composition of zooplankton species is crucial for monitoring changes in marine ecosystems and assessing biodiversity. In this study, we utilized bulk DNA and environmental DNA metabarcoding in the Ulleung Basin, known for its high zooplankton species diversity among the seas surrounding the Korean Peninsula. Genomic DNA extracted from samples collected during three summer seasons in the survey area was analyzed using high-throughput sequencing of the cytochrome c oxidase I barcode region. We identified 350 species, which were three to six times more than those identified by traditional morphological methods. Furthermore, we observed significant differences in species composition and diversity between bulk DNA and eDNA samples. Notably, eDNA metabarcoding effectively detected species with high swimming ability and those that were difficult to capture using traditional sampling methods. This study underscores the significant impact of sampling methods on research outcomes in zooplankton species diversity studies and highlights the importance of integrating different sampling techniques. Specifically, it suggests the need for the active adoption of non-invasive methods, such as eDNA metabarcoding, for the comprehensive monitoring of diverse biological groups in marine ecosystems.

Abstract Background Recent advances in circulating cell-free DNA (cfDNA) analysis from biofluids have opened new avenues for liquid biopsy (LB). However, current cfDNA LB assays are limited by the availability of existing information on established genotypes associated with tumor tissues. Certain cancers present with a limited list of established mutated cfDNA biomarkers, and thus, nonmutated cfDNA characteristics along with alternative biofluids are needed to broaden the available cfDNA targets for cancer detection. Saliva is an intriguing and accessible biofluid that has yet to be fully explored for its clinical utility for cancer detection. Methods In this report, we employed a low-coverage single stranded (ss) library NGS pipeline “Broad-Range cell-free DNA-Seq” (BRcfDNA-Seq) using saliva to comprehensively investigate the characteristics of salivary cfDNA (ScfDNA). The identification of cfDNA features has been made possible by applying novel cfDNA processing techniques that permit the incorporation of ultrashort, ss, and jagged DNA fragments. As a proof of concept using 10 gastric cancer (GC) and 10 noncancer samples, we examined whether ScfDNA characteristics, including fragmentomics, end motif profiles, microbial contribution, and human chromosomal mapping, could differentiate between these two groups. Results Individual and integrative analysis of these ScfDNA features demonstrated significant differences between the two cohorts, suggesting that disease state may affect the ScfDNA population by altering nuclear cleavage or the profile of contributory organism cfDNA to total ScfDNA. We report that principal component analysis integration of several aspects of salivary cell-free DNA fragmentomic profiles, genomic element profiles, end-motif sequence patterns, and distinct oral microbiome populations can differentiate the two populations with a p value of

Purpose This study analyzes the characteristics and prognosis of patients with de novo and recurrent metastatic gastric cancers. Methods This retrospective study included 301 advanced, pathologically confirmed gastric cancer patients who received palliative chemotherapy between 2012 and 2022. The de novo cohort included patients who presented with distant metastasis at diagnosis, and the recurrent metastatic cohort was composed of patients with metastasis after curative gastrectomy. We analyzed prognostic association by Cox regression and compared survival time of both cohorts using the Kaplan-Meier survival analysis. Results The study included 167 de novo and 112 recurrent patients. No differences were noted among the patients with de novo disease and recurrent metastatic disease concerning age, sex, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group scores, primary cancer location, and pathologic features. Patients in the recurrent group versus the de novo group had a longer duration of chemotherapy (1.16±1.18 years vs. 0.85±0.84 years, P= 0.01) and lower mean body mass index (20.22±2.78 kg/m2 vs. 21.93±3.38 kg/m2, P< 0.001). The median overall survival in the de novo group was 11.6 versus 14.4 months in the recurrent group (P= 0.02). Conclusion De novo and recurrent metastatic gastric cancer are characterized by distinct subpopulations. Advanced gastric cancer patients with recurrence have significantly better survival versus those in the de novo cohort. The differences between de novo and recurrent gastric cancer patient outcomes could facilitate discussions about the selection of the clinical trial of each patient and help with their personalized treatment.

The programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) plays a critical role in cancer immune evasion. Blocking the PD-1-PD-L1 interaction by monoclonal antibodies has shown remarkable clinical efficacy in treating certain types of cancer. However, antibodies are costly to produce, and antibody-based therapies can cause immune-related adverse events. To address the limitations associated with current PD-1/PD-L1 blockade immunotherapy, we aimed to develop peptide-based inhibitors of the PD-1/PD-L1 interaction as an alternative means to PD-1/PD-L1 blockade antibodies for anti-cancer immunotherapy. Through the functional screening of peptide arrays encompassing the ectodomains of PD-1 and PD-L1, followed by the optimization of the hit peptides for solubility and stability, we have identified a 16-mer peptide, named mL7N, with a remarkable efficacy in blocking the PD-1/PD-L1 interaction both in vitro and in vivo. The mL7N peptide effectively rejuvenated PD-1-suppressed T cells in multiple cellular systems designed to recapitulate the PD-1/PD-L1 interaction in the context of T-cell receptor signaling. Furthermore, PA-mL7N, a chimera of the mL7N peptide coupled to albumin-binding palmitic acid (PA), significantly promoted breast cancer cell killing by peripheral blood mononuclear cells ex vivo and significantly curbed tumor growth in a syngeneic mouse model of breast cancer. Our work raises the prospect that mL7N may serve as a prototype for the development of a new line of peptide-based immunomodulators targeting the PD-1/PD-L1 immune checkpoint with potential applications in cancer treatment.

Abstract Inlet flow direction significantly affects the hydraulic performance of an axial-flow pump. Usually, the research papers ignore this phenomenon, resulting in discrepancies between simulation and experimental results. This study examines the influence of inflow direction in five cases (0%, 5%, 10%, 15%, and 30% pre-swirl intensities) to determine the relationship between the pre-swirl intensity and the hydraulic performance of the axial-flow pump. Based on this, changing the setting angle of the inlet guide vane (IGV) is proposed and thoroughly investigated to reduce the effect of inflow direction. In this study, the influence of clearances in IGV blades on hydraulic performance is also investigated in detail. Numerical simulations are performed using ANSYS–CFX and a shear stress transport reattachment modification (SST k- $$\omega$$ ω ) turbulence model with small y+ values at all walls. Specifically, the hydraulic performance curves and internal flow characteristics, including contours and streamlines, are assessed and analyzed. The inflow direction significantly impacts the hydraulic efficiency of the axial-flow pump. Increased pre-swirl intensity causes more loss in the IGV passage. The internal flow field and performance are not affected by the clearance at the hub and shroud of the IGV. However, the tip clearance of the impeller causes a decrease in hydraulic efficiency due to the tip leakage vortex. By adjusting the setting angle of the IGV, the efficiency and head gradually increase from a negative to a positive setting angle. Additionally, 30° is considered the critical setting angle for IGV.

Concurrent chemotherapy and radiotherapy are the cornerstones of curative intent treatment for nasopharyngeal cancer (NPC). When planning radiation, classic teaching is that nasopharyngeal carcinoma can involve the pterygopalatine fossa (PPF) through either direct extension or retrograde perineural spread from branches of V2, and then spread towards the middle cranial fossa via the foramen rotundum. Radiation oncologists are trained to cover this pathway by giving a prophylactic dose to the PPF, the posterior nasal cavity and maxillary sinuses, and also the foramen rotundum. Here we present a case in which the patient had disease recurrence in the bilateral orbits and ipsilateral premaxillary soft tissues despite standard therapy. This case is notable because it clearly demonstrates not just retrograde, but antegrade perineural spread (PNS) via bilateral infraorbital nerves.

Abstract Moiré heterostructures produced by twisted heterojunction of transition-metal dichalcogenides are recognized as novel platforms for unique and tunable means of controlling the optical phenomena including photoluminescence (PL). Despite some interesting results on the PL peak shifts by the heterojunction at twist angles (θ) far from 0 or 60°, all of them are redshifts. Here, we first report blue shift of energy and strong enhancement of intensity in the PL by twisted heterojunction of MoS2 and WS2 monolayers (MLs) in a particular range of θ. The PL peak energy of the heterobilayer steeply increases (about 120 meV) as θ gets closer to 15 or 52° from 3 or 57°, respectively and reaches a plateau at around 2.01 eV in the θ range from 15 to 52°, higher than that of the separate MoS2 or WS2 ML. The PL intensity shows a similar θ-dependent behavior with its magnitude in the plateau being ∼4 or 80 times larger than that of the WS2 or MoS2 ML, respectively. These novel light-emission behaviors are well explained with reference to theoretical predictions on the avoided crossing between the intralayer and interlayer excitons. Our findings highlight extendable tuning and remarkable enhancement of light emission from two-dimensional semiconductors by a simple approach of twisted heterojunction in a proper θ range, very useful for their optoelectronic device applications.

Abstract Marine ecosystems in urban coastal areas are exposed to many risks due to human activity. Thus, long-term and continuous monitoring of zooplankton diversity is necessary. High-throughput DNA metabarcoding has gained recognition as an efficient and highly sensitive approach to accurately describing the species diversity of marine zooplankton assemblages. In this study, we collected 30 zooplankton samples at about 2-week intervals for 1 year. Zooplankton diversity showing a typical four season pattern. Of the “total” and “common” zooplankton, we assigned 267 and 64 taxa. The cluster structure and seasonal diversity pattern were rough when only the “common” zooplankton was used. Our study examined how to maximize the benefits of metabarcoding for monitoring zooplankton diversity in urban coastal areas. The results suggest that to take full advantage of metabarcoding when monitoring a zooplankton community, it is necessary to carefully investigate potential ecosystem threats (non-indigenous species) through sufficient curation rather than disregarding low-abundance operational taxonomic units.

Fish eggs have a wide range of predators. However, observing these predators is challenging, as is identifying fish eggs based on morphological traits. In this study, we observed hydroids, which are sessile organisms, consuming pelagic fish eggs. We conducted cytochrome c oxidase I (COI) metabarcoding to identify both the predator and the prey species. Massive COI reads were de novo assembled and nine representative sequences were constructed. The predator, identified from the representative sequences and its morphological features, was determined as Ectopleura crocea. The fish eggs that had been preyed upon belonged to two species: Sillago japonica and Parajulis poecilepterus. Additionally, four arthropod species (Labidocera rotunda, Oithona similis, Paracalanus parvus, and Pseudevadne tergestina) were consumed, and their morphological traits could not be observed, due to digestion. COI metabarcoding was an effective tool for studying the feeding activity of these small predators.

The flow in a double-suction twin-volute five-stage centrifugal pump is studied numerically using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) calculations. The pump performance at various flow rates obtained numerically are compared with the theoretically results. The deterioration in pump performance at various flow rates were investigated to find the losses associated with the design of the pump components. The stage-wise performance analysis revealed the hydraulic losses associated with the second-stage impeller due to highly swirled flow exiting from the first stage twin-volute. The fluid exiting the twin-volute have a high circumferential velocity than its radial component leading to a high pre-swirl at the inlet of stage 2 impeller. In order to regulate the high pre-swirl, baffle plates were installed at the exit of the twin-volute. Three baffle plate configurations were studied and their effects on the pump performances were compared. The vertical configuration improved the pump efficiency by 1.36% and head by 6.04% while the horizontal configuration improved them by 2.42% and 5.96% respectively. The 4-plate baffle configuration improved the pump performance by only a small margin. The installation of the baffle plates also improved the stage performances in both design and off-design conditions. The horizontally installed baffle plates were then tested at various angles. The plates installed at 300° clock-wise increased the pump head by 9.08% and efficiency by 3.87%. A comprehensive analysis of the flow physics inside the pump are also presented.

The complete mitochondrial DNA sequence of sleek unicornfish, Naso hexacanthus was first determined in this study. The complete mitogenome is 16,611 bp in length composed of 13 protein-coding genes, 2 ribosomal RNAs, 22 transfer RNAs, and a control region. The nucleotides consist of 33.8% A, 20.6% C, 25.0% G, 20.6% T. The gene order and direction are identical to those of N. lopezi and the species of Acanthuridae. The result would be useful to investigate genetic relationships among the species of Naso.

Summary: The extracellular RNA communication consortium (ERCC) is an NIH-funded program aiming to promote the development of new technologies, resources, and knowledge about exRNAs and their carriers. After Phase 1 (2013–2018), Phase 2 of the program (ERCC2, 2019–2023) aims to fill critical gaps in knowledge and technology to enable rigorous and reproducible methods for separation and characterization of both bulk populations of exRNA carriers and single EVs. ERCC2 investigators are also developing new bioinformatic pipelines to promote data integration through the exRNA atlas database. ERCC2 has established several Working Groups (Resource Sharing, Reagent Development, Data Analysis and Coordination, Technology Development, nomenclature, and Scientific Outreach) to promote collaboration between ERCC2 members and the broader scientific community. We expect that ERCC2’s current and future achievements will significantly improve our understanding of exRNA biology and the development of accurate and efficient exRNA-based diagnostic, prognostic, and theranostic biomarker assays.

Abstract This phase II clinical trial was performed to determine whether reduced-port laparoscopic surgery with complete D2 lymph node (LN) dissection for gastric cancer is a safe and feasible surgical technique. The prospectively enrolled 65 gastric cancer patients underwent reduced-port surgery (i.e., triple-incision totally laparoscopic distal gastrectomy [Duet TLDG] with D2 lymphadenectomy). Compliance rate was the primary outcome, which was defined as cases in which there was no more than one missing LN station during D2 LN dissection. The secondary outcomes were the numbers of dissected and retrieved LNs in each station and other short-term surgical outcomes and postoperative course. The compliance rate was 58.5%. The total number of retrieved LNs was 41 (range: 14–83 LNs). The most common station missing from LN retrieval was station no. 5 (35/65; 53.8%), followed by station no. 1 (24/65; 36.9%). The overall postoperative complication rate was 20.0% (13/65). One patient underwent surgical treatment for postoperative complications. There was no instances of mortality. Duet TLDG is an oncologically and technically safe surgical method of gastrectomy and D2 lymphadenectomy.

The fish diversity of Chuuk Micronesia is currently under threat due to rapid changes in the coral reef ecosystem. Thus, accurate fish identification using DNA barcodes is fundamental for exploring species biodiversity and resource protection. In this study, we analyzed 162 fish mitochondrial DNA cytochrome c oxidase I (COI) barcodes from Chuuk Micronesia. Consequently, we identified 95 species from 53 genera in 26 families and seven orders. The average Kimura 2-parameter genetic distances within species, genera, families, and orders were calculated as 0.17%, 11.78%, 15.63%, and 21.90%, respectively. Also, we have utilized DNA barcodes to perform genetic divergence and phylogenetic analysis of families recognized as dominant groups in Chuuk State. Our findings confirm that DNA barcodes using COI are an effective approach in identifying coral reef fish species. We anticipate that the results of this study will provide baseline data for the protection of coral reef fish biodiversity at Chuuk Micronesia.

PurposeIn radiotherapy, high radiation exposure to optic nerve (ON) can cause optic neuropathy or vision loss. In this study, we evaluated the pattern and extent of the ON movement using MRI, and investigated the potential dosimetric effect of this movement on radiotherapy.MethodsMRI was performed in multiple planes in 5 human subjects without optic pathway abnormalities to determine optic nerve motion in different scenarios. The subjects were requested to gaze toward five directions during MRI acquisitions, including neutral (straight forward), left/right (horizontal movement), and up/down (vertical movement). Subsequently, the measured displacement was applied to patients with peri-optic tumors to evaluate the potential dosimetric effect of this motion.ResultsThe motion of ON followed a nearly conical shape. By average, the anterior end of ONs moved with 10.8 ± 2.2 mm horizontally and 9.3 ± 0.8 mm vertically, while posterior end has negligible displacement. For patients who underwent stereotactic radiotherapy to a peri-optic tumors, the movement of ON in this measured range introduced non-negligible dosimetric effect.ConclusionThe range of motion of the anterior portions of the optic nerves is on the order of centimeters, which may need to be considered with extra attention during radiation therapy in treating peri-optic lesions.

The oceanic lightfish Vinciguerria nimbaria is a mesopelagic species found in tropical and subtropical waters. In this study, we collected a total of 266 mixed fish egg samples from 78 stations in Korean waters of the Northwest Pacific Ocean from January to November 2021, and analysed these samples for V. nimbaria using cytochrome c oxidase I (COI) metabarcoding. We detected V. nimbaria eggs five times in May and once in August, with 20 V. nimbaria eggs to be estimated among the 266 mixed samples, which consisted of 68,844 eggs. To verify the accuracy of the metabarcoding results, two samples consisting of 1 and 6 eggs (diameter, 0.82 ± 0.07 mm; n = 5), respectively, that were identified as V. nimbaria were reanalysed using partial COI regions with the Sanger sequencing method. COI sequences obtained using both sequencing methods showed 100% identity in the overlapping regions. The mixed eggs formed one clade with V. nimbaria (average pairwise genetic distance, 0.002 ± 0.003; n = 7) in a phylogenetic ML tree based on the mitogenome (2 rRNAs and 13 protein-coding genes) of order Stomiiformes, including partial COIs from the mixed egg samples. The pairwise genetic distances in this clade were smaller than that of Stomiiformes (0.468 ± 0.081), except for V. nimbaria. These eggs represent direct evidence of the intrusion or distribution of adult V. nimbaria, an unrecorded species, in Korean waters.

Abstract Background Gastric cancer is among the most lethal human malignancies. Previous studies have identified molecular aberrations that constitute dynamic biological networks and genomic complexities of gastric tumors. However, the clinical translation of molecular-guided targeted therapy is hampered by challenges. Notably, solid tumors often harbor multiple genetic alterations, complicating the development of effective treatments. Methods To address such challenges, we established a comprehensive dataset of molecularly annotated patient derivatives coupled with pharmacological profiles for 60 targeted agents to explore dynamic pharmacogenomic interactions in gastric cancers. Results We identified lineage-specific drug sensitivities based on histopathological and molecular subclassification, including substantial sensitivities toward VEGFR and EGFR inhibition therapies in diffuse- and signet ring-type gastric tumors, respectively. We identified potential therapeutic opportunities for WNT pathway inhibitors in ALK-mutant tumors, a significant association between PIK3CA-E542K mutation and AZD5363 response, and transcriptome expression of RNF11 as a potential predictor of response to gefitinib. Conclusions Collectively, our results demonstrate the feasibility of drug screening combined with tumor molecular characterization to facilitate personalized therapeutic regimens for gastric tumors.

We report a non-covalent loading of ginsenoside compound K (CK) onto our previously reported gold nanoparticles (DCY51T-AuCKNps) through one-pot biosynthesis using a probiotic Lactobacillus kimchicus DCY51T isolated from Korean kimchi. The ginsenoside-loaded gold nanoparticles were characterized by various analytical and spectroscopic techniques such as field emission transmission electron microscopy (FE-TEM), energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectroscopy, elemental mapping, X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), selected area electron diffraction (SAED), Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and dynamic light scattering (DLS). Furthermore, drug loading was also determined by liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC–MS). In addition, DCY51T-AuNps and DCY51T-AuCKNps were resistant to aggregation caused by pH variation or a high ionic strength environment. Cell-based study confirmed that DCY51T-AuCKNps exhibited slightly higher cytotoxicity compared to ginsenoside CK treatment in A549 cells (human lung adenocarcinoma cell line) and HT29 (human colorectal adenocarcinoma cell line). Upon laser treatment, DCY51T-AuCKNps showed enhanced cell apoptosis in A549, HT29 and AGS cells (human stomach gastric adenocarcinoma cell line) compared with only DCY51T-AuCKNps treated cells. In conclusion, this preliminary study identified that DCY51T-AuCKNps act as a potent photothermal therapy agents with synergistic chemotherapeutic effects for the treatment of cancer.

Purpose Preoperative endoscopic clipping is a popular method in identifying the location of tumors during total laparoscopic or robotic gastrectomy. We investigated the usefulness of additional intraoperative abdominal radiographs to identify the location of clips. Methods We retrospectively analyzed 331 patients with early gastric cancer who underwent endoscopic clipping before total laparoscopic or robotic gastrectomy between September 2012 and September 2018. Endoscopists applied two clips 1 cm from the proximal aspect of the upper margin of the tumor which was located above the angle of the stomach. We compared outcomes of patients who underwent preoperative abdominal radiographs only (group A) and those who underwent additional abdominal radiographs (group B). Results Of the total patients, 80 (24.2%) underwent additional intraoperative abdominal radiographs. The rates of positive frozen biopsy in the two groups were not significantly different (group A vs. group B: 2.8% vs. 3.8%, P=0.456). The additional resection rate was significantly higher in group B compared to group A (8.8% vs. 2.8%, P=0.048). The mean distance from the tumor was 3.3 cm (±2.4) in group A and 2.4 cm (±1.3) in group B (P

Purpose The Adjuvant chemoRadioTherapy In Stomach Tumors 2 (ARTIST 2) trial was conducted to compare the efficacy between adjuvant chemotherapy regimens and chemoradiotherapy in D2-resected, node-positive, stage 2 or 3 gastric cancer. Methods In this prospective, multicenter, phase IIItrial, we randomly assigned patients to three treatment arms: patients who receive adjuvant S-1 for 1 year, S-1 plus oxaliplatin (SOX) for 6 months, or SOX plus chemoradiotherapy (SOXRT). Herein, we report the safety outcomes of patients who received adjuvant chemotherapy or chemoradiotherapy. Results Among a total of 514 patients registered between February 2013 and December 2017, 499 patients who either completed or discontinued the assigned study treatments were included in the present analysis. Allthe three treatment arms were generally well-tolerated, with the overall treatment completion rate of 94% (96% in S-1, 93% in SOX, and 92% in SOXRT). The median delivered dose of radiotherapy in the SOXRT arm was 4,500 cGy (range, 0 to 4,500 cGy). The most frequently observed adverse events were fatigue (29%) in S-1 arm and peripheral neuropathy in the SOX and SOXRT arms (59% and 50%,respectively). Conclusion Our preliminary data confirm that there are no significant safety concerns in ARTIST 2 trial (ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT0176146). According to the Independent Data Monitoring Committee, patient accrual is underway.

Purpose/ObjectivesDespite its widespread availability, the use of kilovoltage (kV) image guidance is often related to factors such as perceived adequacy of clinical patient setup and individual practice patterns. We sought to determine whether kV image guidance in the treatment of painful bone metastases would improve therapeutic efficacy.Materials/MethodsUnder an Institutional Review Board approved protocol, hospital records of 164 patients having received radiation therapy to 257 individual painful osseous metastases were retrospectively reviewed. Marginal logistic regression analyses using the generalized estimating equation (GEE) approach were used to investigate potential associations between pain reduction and several patient, disease, and treatment related variables. Correlation of kV image guidance with pain reduction was analyzed by univariate and multivariate GEE logistic regression analysis.ResultsMedian time to pain reduction was 3 days (range 0~109 days) from the start of radiation therapy. Pain reduction ≥ 50% was noted in 196 (77%) metastatic lesions with 136 (53%) demonstrating complete pain relief. Patients with metastatic lesions from non-small cell lung cancer experienced less pain relief (p = 0.007). Disease extension outside of bone was a negative predictor for pain reduction (p = 0.02). On univariate and multivariate logistic regression, kV image guidance demonstrated a statistically significant correlation with improved pain control in cases involving treatment of the lower extremities (p = 0.03) and those with fewer treatment fractions (p = 0.01), particularly in the setting of extra-osseous disease extension (p = 0.003).ConclusionsKilovoltage image guidance in the treatment of painful bone metastases may offer greater pain control through improved patient setup, particularly for patients with tumors of the lower extremities, extraosseous disease extension, and fewer treatment fractions.

In this study, two types of mixed-flow pump models exhibiting different suction performances were investigated to understand the cavitation characteristics of head drop gradients due to the decrease in inlet pressure. Both models were designed with the same specifications except for the shroud inlet blade angle and inlet radius which directly affect the incidence angle. The steady- and unsteady-state analyses were performed using ANSYS CFX, and the results of both models were compared. Bubble generation and patterns were systemically represented at the design flow rate to observe their influence on suction performance. Furthermore, experimental tests were performed to validate the numerical results. From the results, the head drop gradient can determine the suction performance of mixed-flow pumps. The amount and shape of the bubbles concerning the suction performance of a mixed-flow pump exhibit significant differences with the changes in time and inlet pressure. The patterns of generated bubble are not stable even for each blade.

The ecology of the mesopelagic fish genus Trachipterus, which is rarely found in oceans, remains unclear. In this study, we found 22 eggs of T. trachypterus and T. jacksonensis around the Ulleung Basin of the East/Japan Sea during ichthyoplankton surveys from 2019 to 2021. The eggs were identified through genetic relationships with the genus Trachipterus based on partial sequences (COI and 16S) or concatenated sequences of 13 protein-coding genes and 2 rRNA genes of mitochondrial DNA. T. trachypterus eggs were discovered in all seasons, but more frequently during the winter. One T. jacksonensis egg that appeared during the autumn was the first in the northwestern Pacific Ocean. Identifying Trachipterus pelagic eggs would provide insight into their spawning ecology and biogeography.

The prognosis and treatment of gastric cancer is complicated by heterogeneity. Here, the authors reveal two molecular subtypes, the mesenchymal subtype associated with poor survival and chemoresistance, and the epithelial phenotype associated with better survival and sensitivity to chemotherapy.

Background/AimsOutcomes of endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) for undifferentiated-type early gastric cancer (EGC) need to be further evaluated. We aimed to simulate the outcomes of ESD for undifferentiated-type EGC from a surgical database.Methods : Among 802 patients who underwent gastrectomy with endoscopic biopsy for poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma (PD-type) or signet ring cell carcinoma (SRC-type), ESD candidates meeting the expanded indication (n=280) were selected by reviewing the endoscopic images. According to the surgical pathologic results, the outcomes of the ESD simulation were evaluated.Results : Among the candidates, 104 (37.1%) were PD-type and 176 (62.9%) were SRC-type. The curative resection (CR) rate was 42.1%. Among the patients with CR, three patients (2.5%) showed lymph node metastasis (LNM). Three EGCs with CR and LNM were mucosal cancers ≥1.0 cm in size. The CR rate was higher in the SRC-type than in the PD-type (48.3% vs 31.7%, respectively, p=0.007). In the SRC-type, the CR rate was increased, with a smaller size criterion for the ESD indication, but was similar between the 1.0 cm and 0.6 cm criteria (63.3% and 63.6%, respectively), whereas the CR rate was below 50% in all of the different tumor size criteria (2.0 to 0.6 cm) in the PD-type.Conclusion : sIn undifferentiated-type EGC, ESD should be considered in selected patients with tumor sizes

Purpose Addition of molecular markers to the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) staging system would allow further refinements in predicting recurrence and help individualize treatment decisions. We aimed to validate the Gastric Cancer Prognostic Score (GCPS) in an independent cohort using an easy and cost effective quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) assay. Methods We performed qRT-PCR using 48 samples from our previous study and expanded to 128 independent patients. The GCPS was recalculated using Cox regression estimates and the performance of cutoff values for GCPS was reassessed. Results The qRT-PCR results showed a similar pattern to nanostring data by scale function data comparison. Using a new cutoff value, GCPS stratified 95 stage IB–III patients who received adjuvant chemotherapy into 74 high-risk patients and 21 low-risk patients with significantly different recurrence-free survival (P< 0.0001). The survival difference remained significant (P= 0.028) in 27 patients who did not receive adjuvant chemotherapy. Among stage I and II patients who were treated with surgery only, one AJCC stage IIA patient was defined as low-risk and showed long-term survival. Nine of 12 high-risk patients showed recurrence less than 67 months after operation. Conclusion We reproduced the GCPS with an easily applicable qRT-PCR assay and successfully predicted recurrence in patients with gastric cancer.

Abstract Background We aimed to evaluate the potential benefits of the Leadership and Coaching for Health (LEACH) program on physical activity (PA), dietary habits, and distress management in cancer survivors. Methods We randomly assigned 248 cancer survivors with an allocation ratio of two-to-one to the LEACH program (LP) group, coached by long-term survivors, or the usual care (UC) group. At baseline, 3, 6, and 12 months, we used PA scores, the intake of vegetables and fruits (VF), and the Post Traumatic Growth Inventory (PTGI) as primary outcomes and, for secondary outcomes, the Ten Rules for Highly Effective Health Behavior adhered to and quality of life (QOL), the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), and the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire (EORTC QLQ-C30). Results For primary outcomes, the two groups did not significantly differ in PA scores or VF intake but differed marginally in PTGI. For secondary outcomes, the LP group showed a significantly greater improvement in the HADS anxiety score, the social functioning score, and the appetite loss and financial difficulties scores of the EORTC QLQ-C30 scales from baseline to 3 months. From baseline to 12 months, the LP group showed a significantly greater decrease in the EORTC QLQ-C30 fatigue score and a significantly greater increase in the number of the Ten Rules for Highly Effective Health Behavior. Conclusion Our findings indicate that the LEACH program, coached by long-term survivors, can provide effective management of the QOL of cancer survivors but not of their PA or dietary habits. Trial registration Clinical trial information can be found for the following: NCT01527409 (the date when the trial was registered: February 2012).

In this article, design optimization was carried out to improve the suction performance and efficiency of a mixed-flow pump impeller. Commercial computational fluid dynamics code and a response surface method were used in the optimization to design a mixed-flow pump impeller. When it comes to a mixed-flow pump, the two main research objectives namely efficiency and suction performance tend to contradict. It is very important that the design technology improves the suction performance while maintaining high efficiency. Meridional plane and vane plane development variables were defined in the design of the impeller. The meridional plane expresses the shapes and sizes of the blades, while the vane plane development describes the impeller inlet and outlet angles as well as the blade angle distribution. The blade angle distribution of the impeller was designed using the traditional method by which inlet and outlet angles are connected smoothly. The surface response method was applied to the design variables of the impeller inlet part in this design optimization because they influence the performance of the mixed-flow pump. Objective functions were set to satisfy the total head at the design flow rate as well as to improve efficiency and suction performance. Design variables of the impeller inlet part of the mixed-flow pump and the changes in performance were analyzed in order to produce the optimal shape. The performance of the optimally designed shape was verified by numerical analysis, and the reliability of the test result was checked by comparative analysis against the reference model.

Purpose: Strong mentorship has been shown to improve mentee productivity, clinical skills, medical knowledge, and career preparation. We conducted a survey to evaluate resident satisfaction with mentorship within their radiation oncology residency programs.Methods and Materials: In January 2019, 126 radiation oncology residents training at programs in the northeastern United States were asked to anonymously complete the validated Munich Evaluation of Mentoring Questionnaire (MEMeQ). Results of residents with a formal mentoring program were compared to those without a formal program.Results: Overall response rate was 42%(n = 53). Participants were 25% post-graduate year two (PGY-2), 21% PGY-3, 26% PGY-4, and 28% PGY-5. Only 38% of residents reported participation in a formal mentoring program, while 62% had no formal program, and 13% reported having no mentor at all. Residents participating in a formal mentoring program reported strikingly higher rates of overall satisfaction with mentoring compared to those who were not (90% vs. 9%, p < 0.001). Overall, 38% of residents were either satisfied/very satisfied with their mentoring experience, while 49% of residents were unsatisfied/very unsatisfied.Conclusion: Residents participating in a formal mentorship program are significantly more likely to be satisfied with their mentoring experience than those who are not. Our results suggest that radiation oncology residency programs should strongly consider implementing formal mentorship programs.

Purpose The main limitation of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) consensus criteria is the biological and prognostic heterogeneity of tumors while the utility of the newly proposed UICC TNM staging system has not yet been validated. Our object is to compare the overall and disease-free survival (DFS) of patients with gastric gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST) using the UICC TNM staging system and the NIH consensus criteria and to determine the optimal risk stratification system for GIST. Methods Retrospective analysis of 164 patients who underwent operative management for primary gastric GIST between 1994 and 2004. Results The overall five-year survival rate was 89.6%. In the 149 patients who underwent an R0 resection, the five-year DFS rate was 86.3%. According to the NIH consensus criteria, the five-year survival rate after resection was 100% for patients in the very low-, low-, and intermediate-risk groups and 71.9% for patients in the high-risk group. The UICC TNM stages IA, IB, and II had the same survival rates (100%) and stage IIIA (75.0%) and stage IIIB (69.5%) showed no significant difference in survival compared to the NIH criteria, which precluded better risk stratification. The patients who were included in the high-risk group by NIH consensus criteria (>10 cm, ≤5/50 high power field) and were stage II by the UICC TNM staging system had a 100% five-year survival rate. Conclusion Using the current schemes, one system does not demonstrate superior prognostic ability over the other. However, the high-risk group (T4/low mitotic rate) and stage II patients appear to be appropriately classified.

A multistage centrifugal pump is designed for pumping low-viscosity, highly volatile and flammable chemicals, including hydrocarbons, for high head requirements. The five-stage centrifugal pump consists of a double-suction impeller at the first stage followed by a twin volute. The impellers for stages two through five are single-suction impellers followed by diffuser vanes and return channel vanes. The analytical performance is calculated initially in the design stage by applying similarity laws to an existing scaled-down pump model designed for low flow rate applications. The proposed pump design is investigated using computational fluid dynamics tools to study its performance in design and off-design conditions for water as the base fluid. The design feasibility of the centrifugal pump is tested for other fluids, such as water at a high temperature and pressure, diesel and debutanized diesel. The pump design is found to be suitable for a variety of fluids and operating ranges. The losses in the pump are analyzed in each stage at the best efficiency point. The losses in efficiency and head are observed to be higher in the second stage than in other stages. The detailed flow behavior at the second stage is studied to identify the root cause of the losses. Design modifications are recommended to diminish the losses and improve the overall performance of the pump.

BACKGROUND: IGFBP-3 is a multifunctional protein that inhibits growth and induces apoptosis of cancer cells. Hypermethylation of the promoter represses expression of the IGFBP-3 gene. We undertook this study to assess the impact of IGFBP-3 methylation on survival of early stage gastric cancer patients. METHODS: Of the 482 tissue samples from gastric cancer patients who underwent curative surgery, IGFBP-3 methylation was tested in 138 patients with stage IB/II gastric cancer. We also analyzed IGFBP-3 methylation in 26 gastric cancer cell lines. IGFBP-3 methylation was evaluated by methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction (MethyLight). Statistical analyses, all two-sided, were performed to investigate the prognostic effects of methylation status of the IGFBP-3 promoter on various clinical parameters. RESULTS: Hypermethylation of IGFBP-3 was observed in 26 (19%) of the 138 stage IB/II gastric cancer patients. Clinicopathological factors such as age, Lauren classification, sex, tumor infiltration, lymph node metastasis, and histologic grade did not show a statistically significant association with the methylation status of the IGFBP-3 promoter. Patients with a hypermethylated IGFBP-3 promoter had similar 8-year disease-free survival compared with those without a hypermethylated IGFBP-3 promoter (73% vs 75%, P = .78). In subgroup analyses, females, but not males, seemed to have poorer prognosis for DFS and OS in the subset of patients with IGFBP-3 methylation as compared with those without IGFBP-3 methylation (8-year DFS: 55.6% vs 71.6%, P = .3694 and 8-year overall survival: 55.6% vs 68.4%, P = .491, respectively) even with no statistical significance. CONCLUSIONS: The status of IGFBP-3 methylation as measured by methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction proposed the modest role for predicting survival in specific subgroups of patients with early-stage gastric cancer who undergo curative surgery. However, this needs further investigation.

We report the first genetic identification of eggs of four species of Anguilliformes caught in the northern East China Sea during August 2016, where leptocephali and adults have been collected. The species were Ophisurus macrorhynchos and Echelus uropterus belonging to the Ophichthidae, and Ariosoma majus and Gnathophis heterognathos belonging to the Congridae. The eggs were identified using three molecular genetic markers (mitochondrial 12S rRNA, 16S rRNA, and cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1), sequences obtained from local adult specimens, and geographical distribution data. All eggs were in the early or middle developmental stages. For all species except A. majus, the eggs were found near the range of small leptocephali in the East China Sea and the southern Korean Peninsula, which indicates these species had spawned along the continental near these areas during the summer.

Tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL) in Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-associated/microsatellite-unstable (MSI) gastric carcinomas (GC) constitute immune-active principal cellular components of tumor microenvironment and contribute to better prognosis. With the remarkable success of cancer immunotherapies, there is an urgent need for a comprehensive understanding of tumor-immune interactions in patients with GC in the context of host immune response. To identify GC subtype-specific immune response gene set, we tested differentially expressed genes for MSI and EBV+ GC subtypes in randomly selected test set (n = 278) in merged ACRG-SMC microarray and TCGA RNA sequencing data set. We identified Host ImmunE Response index (HIERÏ) consisting of 29 immune genes classifying GC patients into robust 3 groups with prognostic significance. Immune-high cluster 1 was enriched with PD-L1High/EBV+/MSI/TILHigh with the best clinical outcome while immune-low cluster 3 displayed worst outcome and exemplified with PD-L1Low/EBV-/MSS. The results were validated in the same cohort (n = 279) and independent cohort (n = 181) with RNA from formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissue. Unexpectedly, nearly half of GC in cluster 1 were EBV-/MSS and 10% of cluster 3 GC were EBV+/MSI GC patients, suggesting that in addition to EBV+/MSI GC subtypes, EBV-/MSS subtype also constitutes almost half of high immune cluster and would be a good candidate for immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy. In contrary, almost 10% of EBV+/MSI GC patients may not respond to immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy. Thus, our HIERÏ gene signature demonstrates the potential to subclassify tumor immunity levels, predict prognosis and help immunotherapeutic decisions.

Purpose: The prognosis of patients with liver metastasis from gastric cancer is poor and the optimal treatment remains undetermined. This study identified prognostic factors for survival of patients with metachronous liver metastasis with no other metastatic site after gastrectomy for primary gastric cancer. We also evaluated the clinical impact of hepatic resection. Methods: Between 1997 and 2013, 19,588 curative gastrectomies for gastric adenocarcinoma were performed and 52 patients were diagnosed with metastasis to only the liver. We retrospectively analyzed the clinicopathologic factors of these patients. Results: The median time from gastrectomy to diagnosis of liver metastasis was 16 months (range, 1–65 months). Median survival time after the diagnosis of liver metastasis was 13 months (range, 3–64 months). The 1-year, 2-year, and 3-year patient survival rates after diagnosis of liver metastasis were 53.8%, 26.6%, and 19.9%, respectively. Twelve patients (23%) underwent liver resection for liver metastasis. The 1-year, 3-year, and 5-year overall survival rates were 92%, 42%, and 42% in the hepatic resection group and 43%, 13%, and 7% in the non-hepatic resection group (P=0.002). Multivariate analysis showed that hepatic resection, pathologic stage Ⅰ and Ⅱ of the primary tumor, and intestinal type in Lauren classification were predisposing factors for patient survival. Conclusion: Liver resection for resectable metachronous liver metastasis diagnosed after curative gastrectomy increases survival in patients with pathologic stage Ⅰ or Ⅱ and intestinal type in Lauren classification for the primary tumor.

Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α is one of the pro-inflammatory cytokines highly expressed in Helicobacter pylori that inhibits gastric acid secretion. In this study we determined the effect of silibinin on TNF-α-induced MMP-9 expression in gastric cancer cell lines. MMP-9 mRNA and protein expression was dose-dependently increased by TNF-α in SNU216 and SNU668 gastric cancer cells. On the other hand, TNF-α-induced MMP-9 expression was dose-dependently suppressed by silibinin. To verify the regulatory mechanism of silibinin on TNF-α-induced MMP-9 expression, the gastric cancer cell lines were pretreated with silibinin prior to TNF-α. TNF-α-induced MMP-9 expression was inhibited by the MEK1/2 specific inhibitor, UO126. Finally, we investigated the effect of adenoviral constitutively active (CA)-MEK and CA-Akt on MMP-9 expression. The expression of MMP-9 was significantly increased by CA-MEK overexpression, but not by CA-Akt overexpression. Taken together, we suggest that silibinin down-regulates TNF-α- induced MMP-9 expression through inhibition of the MEK/ERK pathway in gastric cancer cells.

BACKGROUND AND AIM:Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) for undifferentiated type early gastric cancer is regarded as an investigational treatment. Few studies have tried to identify the risk factors that predict lymph-node metastasis (LNM) in intramucosal poorly differentiated adenocarcinomas (PDC). This study was designed to develop a risk scoring system (RSS) for predicting LNM in intramucosal PDC. METHODS:From January 2002 to July 2015, patients diagnosed with mucosa-confined PDC, among those who underwent curative gastrectomy with lymph node dissection were reviewed. A risk model based on independent predicting factors of LNM was developed, and its performance was internally validated using a split sample approach. RESULTS:Overall, LNM was observed in 5.2% (61) of 1169 patients. Four risk factors [Female sex, tumor size ≥ 3.2 cm, muscularis mucosa (M3) invasion, and lymphatic-vascular involvement] were significantly associated with LNM, which were incorporated into the RSS. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve for predicting LNM after internal validation was 0.69 [95% confidence interval (CI), 0.59-0.79]. A total score of 2 points corresponded to the optimal RSS threshold with a discrimination of 0.75 (95% CI 0.69-0.81). The LNM rates were 1.6% for low risk (

We developed the frost prediction models in spring in Korea using logistic regression and decision tree techniques. Hit Rate (HR), Probability of Detection (POD), and False Alarm Rate (FAR) from both models were calculated and compared. Threshold values for the logistic regression models were selected to maximize HR and POD and minimize FAR for each station, and the split for the decision tree models was stopped when change in entropy was relatively small. Average HR values were 0.92 and 0.91 for logistic regression and decision tree techniques, respectively, average POD values were 0.78 and 0.80 for logistic regression and decision tree techniques, respectively, and average FAR values were 0.22 and 0.28 for logistic regression and decision tree techniques, respectively. The average numbers of selected explanatory variables were 5.7 and 2.3 for logistic regression and decision tree techniques, respectively. Fewer explanatory variables can be more appropriate for operational activities to provide a timely warning for the prevention of the frost damages to agricultural crops. We concluded that the decision tree model can be more useful for the timely warning system. It is recommended that the models should be improved to reflect local topological features.

The present study was aimed at discovering DNA copy number alterations (CNAs) involved in the carcinogenesis of stomach and at understanding their clinicopathological significances in the Korean population. DNA copy numbers were analyzed using Agilent 244K or 400K array comparative genomic hybridization (aCGH) in fresh-frozen tumor and matched normal tissues from 40 gastric cancer patients. Some of the detected CNA regions were validated using multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification (MLPA) in six of the 40 patients and customized Agilent 60K aCGH in an independent set of 48 gastric cancers. The mRNA levels of genes at common CNA regions were analyzed using quantitative real-time PCR. Copy number gains were more common than losses across the entire genome in tumor tissues compared to matched normal tissues. The mean number of alterations per case was 64 for gains and 40 for losses, and the median aberration length was 44016 bp for gains and 4732 bp for losses. Copy number gains were frequently detected at 7p22.1 (20%), 8q24.21 (27%-30%), 8q24.3 (22%-48%), 13q34 (20%-31%), and 20q11-q13 (25%-30%), and losses at 3p14.2 (43%), 4q35.2 (27%), 6q26 (23%), and 17p13.3 (20%-23%). CNAs at 7p22.1, 13q34, and 17p13.3 have not been reported in other populations. Most of the copy number losses were associated with down-regulation of mRNA levels, but the correlation between copy number gains and mRNA expression levels varied in a gene-dependent manner. In addition, copy number gains tended to occur more commonly in intestinal-type cancers than in diffuse-type cancers. In conclusion, the present study suggests that copy number gains at 8q24 and 20q11-q13 and losses at 3p14.2 may be common events in gastric cancer but CNAs at 7p22.1, 13q34, and 17p13.3 may be Korean-specific.