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Extracellular sulfatase-2 (Sulf-2) influences receptor-ligand binding and subsequent signaling by chemokines and growth factors, yet Sulf-2 remains unexplored in inflammatory cytokine signaling in the context of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). In the present study, we characterized Sulf-2 expression in RA and investigated its potential role in TNF-α-induced synovial inflammation using primary human RA synovial fibroblasts (RASFs). Sulf-2 expression was significantly higher in serum and synovial tissues from patients with RA and in synovium and serum from hTNFtg mice. RNA sequencing analysis of TNF-α-stimulated RASFs showed that Sulf-2 siRNA modulated ~2500 genes compared to scrambled siRNA. Ingenuity Pathway Analysis of RNA sequencing data identified Sulf-2 as a primary target in fibroblasts and macrophages in RA. Western blot, ELISA, and qRT‒PCR analyses confirmed that Sulf-2 knockdown reduced the TNF-α-induced expression of ICAM1, VCAM1, CAD11, PDPN, CCL5, CX3CL1, CXCL10, and CXCL11. Signaling studies identified the protein kinase C-delta (PKCδ) and c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) pathways as key in the TNF-α-mediated induction of proteins related to cellular adhesion and invasion. Knockdown of Sulf-2 abrogated TNF-α-induced RASF proliferation. Sulf-2 knockdown with siRNA and inhibition by OKN-007 suppressed the TNF-α-induced phosphorylation of PKCδ and JNK, thereby suppressing the nuclear translocation and DNA binding activity of the transcription factors AP-1 and NF-κBp65 in human RASFs. Interestingly, Sulf-2 expression positively correlated with the expression of TNF receptor 1, and coimmunoprecipitation assays demonstrated the binding of these two proteins, suggesting they exhibit crosstalk in TNF-α signaling. This study identified a novel role of Sulf-2 in TNF-α signaling and the activation of RA synoviocytes, providing the rationale for evaluating the therapeutic targeting of Sulf-2 in preclinical models of RA.

Dismutation reaction of superoxide radical catalyzed by EUK-134 has lower activation energy than non-catalytic reaction, and therefore, EUK-134 catalyzes dismutation reaction of superoxide radical. For non-catalytic dismutation reaction of hydrogen peroxide, there are three possible reaction paths, among which MEP3 has the lowest activation energy, and therefore, is thought to be the most probable reaction path. Dismutation reaction of hydrogen peroxide catalyzed by EUK-134 occurs in two successive steps and has lower energy barrier than non-catalytic dismutation reaction, and therefore, EUK-134 is thought to catalyze the dismutation reaction of hydrogen peroxide. HOMO (highest occupied molecular orbital) and LUMO (lowest unoccupied molecular orbital) and ESP-fitted charge analysis of EUK-134 indicate that Mn atom plays an electron acceptor and donor for dismutation reactions of superoxide radical and hydrogen peroxide catalyzed by EUK-134, respectively.

Two Monodiamesa species collected in all stages and both sexes from the Tibetan Plateau are erected as M. secunditibetica Han and Tang, sp. n. and M. bonalpicola Han and Tang, sp. n. Molecular analysis of barcodes (COI-5P) for some related known species confirms the species validity and allows inference of internal relationships. Detailed description, habitat ecology and geographical information of two new species are provided. Additionally, brief comments on some known eastern Palaearctic species of Monodiamesa are made to give insights on further study.

The marine Chironomidae Ainuyusurika Sasa et Shirasaka, 1988, previously known from the adults only, is associated with its immature stages for the first time based on reared specimens from Oriental China. The larva resembles those of Sergentia Kieffer and Endochironomus Kieffer in the ventromental plate with an anteromedial projection and the 5-segmented antenna with opposite Lauterborn organs. The pupal thoracic horn has 12 branches at maximum and netted tergite spinulation which appears to be similar to those of Polypedilum Kieffer, Endotribelos Grodhaus, Phaenopsectra Kieffer and Sergentia. The phylogenetic relationship was furtherly explored through molecular analysis based on concatenation of five gene makers (18S, 28S, CAD1, CAD4 and COI-3P) using both mixed-model Bayesian and maximum likelihood inference methods. The result shows Ainuyusurika is nested with an assemblage of Endochironomus, Phaenopsectra and Endotribelos. We concluded that Ainuyusurika is a good independent genus showing affinity with Endochironomus-Phaenopsectra related genera.

Xylogone ganodermophthora (Xg) is an ascomycetous fungus that causes yellow rot on cultivated Ganoderma lucidum. Previously, we reported in vitro antifungal activities of a Xg culture extract against several watermelon pathogens. In 2014, we conducted greenhouse experiments to evaluate the control efficacy of a water extract of cultured Xg on watermelon powdery mildew (WPM). The test material (stock solution, ca. 4,000 µg/ml) was prepared by an autoclaved Xg culture in water at a ratio of 800 g of culture per 6 liter of water, and then filtering it through filter paper. Six foliar applications of the solutions (diluted 100- and 1,000-fold) significantly suppressed the formation of conidiophores and conidia. The inhibitory effect of aqueous potassium phosphonate solution on the disease and its phytotoxicity was tested. Phytotoxicity on watermelon plants was observed at concentrations of 1,000 and 2,000 µg/ml as irregular brownish spots. The control efficacies against WPM were 91.9% at 2,000 µg/ml, 64.9% at 1,000 µg/ml, and 62.2% at 500 µg/ml.

Aim: To describe imaging features of different breast adenosis lesions. Materials and methods: Mammographic and ultrasonographic findings of patients with different types of adenosis were reviewed retrospectively Tissue samples were obtained either with US-guided core needle biopsy or localization with needle-wire system and surgical excision. Results: Forty-three adenosis lesions were diagnosed in 41 patients: 27 sclerosing adenosis, 13 blunt duct adenosis and 3 microglandular adenosis. Most frequent abnormal findings of sclerosing adenosis were masses with non-circumscribed margins and focal acoustic shadowing without mass configuration (54%) on ultrasonography. Mammography was normal in 54% of sclerosing adenosis, the most common abnormality was architectural distortion (21%). In blunt duct adenosis, usually circumscribed masses (46%) were detected on ultrasonography, clustered punctate microcalcifications (23%) and circumscribed masses (23%) were observed on mammography. All microglandular adenosis lesions were non-circumscribed masses. Premalignant components were detected only with surgical excisional biopsy in three patients that showed suspicious radiological findings and benign pathological result on core biopsy. Conclusion: The adenosis lesions have no pathognomonic characteristics on mammography and ultrasound. Total excision may be considered when suspicious radiological findings are present although core needle biopsy results are benign.

BACKGROUND: Recently, as the consumption of fresh jujube is increased, fertilizer in jujube cultivation is excessively used to supply nutrient for large fruit produce. This study was conducted to obtain the useful data related to optimum nutrient management technique for fresh jujube cultivation. METHODS AND RESULTS: Nutrient contents of the jujube orchard soils were investigated at 30 different jujube orchards in Boeun, Chungbuk. Soil samples were collected from the different orchards in June, both 2012 and 2013. Soil chemical properties such as pH, organic matter, available phosphate, and exchangeable potassium, calcium, and magnesium were analyzed. Soil available phosphates in optimum level for jujube cultivation were 7% and 13% of total samples in the 2011 and 2012 respectively, and 73% and 57% were higher than optimum level. In Exchangeable K, 37%, 30% were optimum level, 63%, 67% were higher in the year 2011 and 2012 respectively. CONCLUSION: These results showed that nutrient contents of soils were accumulated in jujube orchard of Boeun area. Especially, available phosphate and exchangeable potassium were greatly higher than their optimum level for jujube cultivation respectively.

To obtain the useful data related to optimum nutrient management technique for pesticides-free jujube cultivation, nutrient contents of jujube leaves and fruits and the selected chemical properties of jujube orchard soils were investigated at 9 different orchards with pesticides-free cultivation in Boeun, Chungbuk, Korea. Soil and jujube leaf samples were collected from the different orchards in July and October, and jujube fruit samples were taken in October, 2012. Soil available P2O5 contents in the optimum level for jujube cultivation were 11% and 33% of total samples in July and October, respectively, but 56% of total samples was higher than the optimum level in both July and October. Exchangeable K and Ca ion contents were 44% and 67% of total samples, respectively, in both July and October, whereas exchangeable Mg ion content was 100% and 56% of total samples in July and October, respectively. Nutrient contents in jujube leaves were higher than those in fresh fruits. In addition, total nitrate, potassium and magnesium contents in the jujube leaves were higher in the samples collected in July than in October.

Objectives:This study aimed to investigate the effect of local and intraperitoneal administration of l-carnitine on the prevention of experimentally induced myringosclerosis, and to compare treatment efficiency.Methods:Twenty-four Albino-Wistar rats (48 ears) were bilaterally myringotomised and divided randomly into four groups: group one received no treatment, group two received intraperitoneal l-carnitine, group three received local l-carnitine, and group four received both intraperitoneal and local l-carnitine. On the 15th day after treatment, tympanic membranes were harvested and evaluated histopathologically for myringosclerotic plaque formation, fibroblastic proliferation, tympanic membrane thickness and new vessel formation.Results:The group one tympanic membranes showed extensive thickness, and the incidence of myringosclerosis and fibroblast proliferation were greater than in groups two and four. There were statistically significant differences in tympanic membrane thickness between groups three and four, and in myringosclerosis incidence and fibroblast proliferation, comparing groups two, three and four.Conclusion:Myringosclerosis development was significantly reduced in rats receiving myringotomy plus intraperitoneal l-carnitine. Intraperitoneal l-carnitine administration prevented fibroblastic proliferation and tympanic membrane thickening (both of which cause further tympanic membrane destruction), thus reducing myringotomy-associated morbidity. Local l-carnitine administration had limited effectiveness in this experimental setting.

Incidence of Phytophthora blight of hot pepper (Capsicum annuum) and yield (fresh weight) of pepper fruits were investigated at four separate fields located in Cheongwon, Boeun, Eumsung, and Goesan, which are major pepper production areas in Chungcheongbuk-Do. In all of the experimental fields except the Goesan field, increased incidence of Phytophthora blight led to decreased yield of pepper fruits. The harvest time in which the yield of red pepper fruits was highly correlated with the incidence of Phytophthora blight was different between areas: it was highly correlated in the third harvest in Cheongwon (y=-11.0x+435.2, r2= 0.99), but in the second harvest in Boeun (y=-15.0x+944.6, r2=0.76). In contrast, there was a very low correlation between the pepper yield and the disease incidence in Goesan in which pepper seedlings grafted on resistant stocks were planted. The final disease incidence in the Cheongwon experimental field reached 100% more than 40 days later in 2007 compared with that in 2006. The control threshold of Phytophthora blight in the pepper fields where disease incidence had been lower than 5% was set as 0.8% disease incidence, which caused less than 5% yield loss

The occurrence factors of Rice stripe virus (RSV) in Chungcheongbukdo were analyzed by investigating the viruliferous insect rate (VIR) of overwintered small brown plant hopper (SBPH), the population density of SBPH, the infection rate of natural host plants, and the occurrence rate of RSV on rice paddy fields at the 3 areas of Cheongwon, Jincheon, and Boeun in 2008 and 2009. The average VIR of overwintered SBPH was 0.0% in 2008 and 1.1% in 2009. From SBPH collected on early June in 2009, VIR was higher as 1.4% at Jincheon and 4.2% at Boeun than those of overwintered SBPH, and this higher VIR might relate stronlgy with the adult population of SBPH immigrated from China. The populations of SBPH at Cheongwon, Jincheon and Boeun in 2008 were 3.8, 7.5 and 20.8 Head/, respectively. However, those of Cheongwon and Jincheon increased up to about two folds as 8.4 and 13.1 in 2009. No RSV was detected on the natural host plants including barley. The factors involved in RSV occurrence were affected negatively by the low VIR of overwintered SBPH, the low population of overwintered SBPH, the low infection rate of RSV on the natural host plants, and the clean cultivation environment in Chungcheongbukdo.

This paper investigates the recovery property of p-MOSFETs with an ultra-thin SiON gate dielectric which are degraded by negative bias temperature instability (NBTI). The experimental results indicate that the recovery of the NBTI degradation occurs through an electrical neutralization of the NBTI-induced positive charges at the SiON/Si interface and in the gate dielectric. The neutralization of interface charges was a fast process occurring just after the device returned to the recovery state. The neutralization of positive charges in the gate dielectric was a slow process associated with the electron injection into the gate dielectric. Below the gate voltage for strong accumulation, the amount of recovery increased with an increase of the gate voltage. A further increase of gate voltage did not affect the amount of recovery. These experimental results indicate that the major cause of the recovery is a neutralization of the NBTI-induced positive charges by electrons instead of a hydrogen passivation of the NBTI-induced defect sites.

This paper presents the time-dependence of the negative bias temperature instability (NBTI) degradation of p-MOSFETs with an ultra-thin silicon oxynitride gate dielectric. The concentrations of nitrogen in the gate dielectric were approximately 3% and 10%. The device with 10% nitrogen concentration had unique time-dependent degradation characteristics due to the nitrogen enhanced NBTI effect. It degraded significantly just after application of an NBTI stress. After this initial degradation, a fast and slow degradation followed in sequence. The initial, fast, and slow degradations appear to be associated with the deep donor effect of nitrogen, the diffusion of ionic and neutral hydrogen combined with Si-H bond breaking, and the diffusion of neutral hydrogen combined with O-H bond breaking, respectively. Owing to the slow down of the NBTI degradation after the initial and fast degradations, the lifetime for the device with 10% nitrogen concentration was three times longer than that with 3% nitrogen concentration.

We have previously identified genes for four different protease inhibitors (PIs) that were induced upon rice blast infection in a rice blast resistant mutant SHM-11. Our expression analysis of the PIs indicated that induction of the PIs was the highest 24 hr after rice blast inoculation in the rice mutant SHM-11. Three PIs in the group of serine PIs were highly expressed while a cystein PI was weakly expressed upon rice blast inoculation. Four PIs were weakly induced 48 hr after pathogen inoculation in rice blast susceptible wild type rice plant. The simultaneous expression of three serine PIs was apparent from SHM-11 and two of them were induced in rice blast resistant Taebaegbyeo. One of them was induced in rice blast resistant Hwayeongbyeo while none of them were expressed in rice blast susceptible Nagdongbyeo and rice blast resistant Dongjinbyeo. Our results suggest that the expression of PI gene is rice cultivar specific and may be linked with the rice blast resistance in a specific rice mutant by the simultaneous expression of the PI genes.

Seasonal growth and maturation process of Caulerpa okamurae were investigated in natural populations and in culture. Monthly sampling was carried out by SCUBA diving at Baekunpo, Busan, southeastern coast of Korea from November 1999 to October 2001. Growth of erect branches depended mainly on the wa...

Background: Long-term evaluation of gastric pathology after H. pylori infection is very important in order to reveal its clinical implications, since debate still exists on the gastric carcinogenesis provoked by H. pylori infection in animal models. Aim: Either to evaluate the long-term outcome of H. pylori infection or to determine how H. pylori could provoke gastric cancer in the mice model. Methods: Four-week-old specific pathogen free C57BL/6 mice (n = 115) were infected with SS1. the mouse-adapted H. pylori strain. After 4, 8, 16, 24, 36, 50 and 80 weeks of bacterial infection, the H. pylori-infected mice were sacrificed. Results: After 80 weeks of infection, almost all the H. pylori-infected mice developed hyperplastic gastritis. but did not show any evidence of gastric adenoma, dysplasia or carcinoma. PCNA positive cells were most abundant after 50 weeks and tended to decrease thereafter up to 80 weeks, whereas apoptosis began to be noted 8 weeks after H. pylori infection, showing 7-8 apoptotic cells/high power field, and tending to increase as time passed. Normally observed neutral mucin decreased during the experiment, showing the most marked decrease 50 weeks after H. pylori infection. In contrast, acidic mucin was noted from 50 weeks after infection. Conclusion: The SS1-infected mouse seems to be a suitable animal model for H. pylori-related research. and H. pylori itself does not induce gastric cancer in normal wild-type mouse model following long-term exposure, which could be explained by the balance that exists between cell proliferation and apoptosis.

Samarium–fullerene intercalation compounds of nominal composition Sm x C 60 ( x =1,2,…,6) have been synthesized by a solid-state reaction method. We obtain a Sm 2.75 C 60 superconducting phase with orthogonal structure and a Sm 6 C 60 phase with body-centered cubic structure. The broadening and weakening of Raman peaks of the Sm x C 60 compounds are due to the distortion of C 60 and electron–phonon interaction. The Raman measurements reveal that the distortion of C 60 decrease in Sm x C 60 ( x =3,4,5) exposed to air, although the fulleride solids have transformed into an amorphous state. The Raman results also show that the distortion of C 60 is still very large in the Sm 6 C 60 exposed to air, or the C 60 molecules have been destroyed and become some amorphous carbide.

Background: Downregulation of TGF-β receptors is implicated in colon cancer development. Inactivation of either of the two transmembrane serine/threonine kinases, TGF-β1 types I/II receptors, is now implicated in carcinogenesis, especially gastrointestinal carcinogenesis. Methods: We generated transgenic mice, called pS2–dnRII or ITF–dnRII, of which the dominant negative mutant of the TGF-β type II receptor was expressed under the control of tissue-specific promoters, the pS2 promoter for stomach and ITF for intestine. They were either infected with H.pylori (ATCC 43504 strain, CagA+ and VacA+) or administered with azoxymethane to determine the significance of loss of TGF-β signalling in gastrointestinal carcinogenesis. Results: Gastric adenocarcinoma developed in pS2–dnRII mice, whereas only chronic active gastritis was noted in wild-type littermates after 36 weeks of H.pylori infection. Mice lacking in TGF-β signalling specifically in the stomach showed a significantly higher proliferation cell nuclear antigen-labelling index when infected with H.pylori than wild-type littermates (P

In this paper we propose the efficient blind signature scheme based on Gap problem. We can find the short signature schemes for Weil pairing as the example of signature schemes based on Gap problem. Since short signature scheme is based on elliptic curve, our proposed signature scheme can be used in wireless PKI environment.

Clean stockers are being used by semiconductor and TFT-LCD manufacturers to store and buffer work in process. The only way to keep the stored product clean is to provide constant clean airflow the product and through stocker. Up to now, stockers typically have been configured to receive their laminar airflow from fan filter units that are located on the side of the stocker. This type of stocker may have such problems as complexity of structure, increment of temperature, mechanical vibration, initial investment and running cost. In this study, in order to solve the above mentioned problems, new air control system in stocker is proposed, which is to control open ratios of exits that are located on the side of the stocker without fan filter units. In this study, static pressure regain was used for the analysis of the open ratios of exits theoretically and experiment was also conducted using actual clean stocker for TFT-LCD manufacturers and CFDesign, was used for simulating airflow in stocker. As a result, open ratios of exits can be obtained by the analysis of static pressure regain and was verified by experiment and simulation results. Therefore, new air control system in stocker can be used by the semiconductor and TFT-LCD manufacturers.

This paper reports on the organizational and individual determinants of media use in Singaporean organizations. While past research on media use has focused on matching a particular medium with a particular type of task, the current study proposes a "media coexistence" approach. This approach suggests that different media have, at the same time, both unique attributes (which allow them to exist as complements in a portfolio of choices) and similarities (which allow users to substitute one medium for another when needed). Data was collected using a survey from 151 respondents — comprised of managers and professionals — working in a variety of organizations located in Singapore. The results suggest that media use is multidimensional and not nearly as dichotomous as media richness theory suggests. For example, the same medium, telephones, can play a dual role depending on the circumstances: as a substitute for face-to-face communication and as a complement to other media such as e-mail or written com...

We analyzed that how gate-poly-undercuts caused the disturbance failure in static random access memory (SRAM) bit-cells embedded in display driver integrated circuit (DDI) products. The beta ratio (ION of the pull-down transistor / ION of the pass-gate transistor) degradation induced by gate-poly undercuts was the main factor of the disturbance failure. Regarding the relation of undercuts and beta ratio, the hypothesis is as following: When the undercuts exist, dopants implanted with the halo process reach below the channel area more closely and it makes well concentration more high. Hence, the performance of the transistor (TR) with undercut becomes slower than normal TR. As the gate length of the pull-down (PD) TR is smaller than that of the pass-gate (PS) TR, the performance of the PD TR becomes more degraded than that of the PS TR. Consequently, the beta ratio decreases. To enhance beta ratio, we changed the thickness of photo-mask materials for the gate-poly layer and reduced the gate-poly etch time. Thanks to those actions, beta ratio was improved and we could completely overcome the disturbance failure issue.

A total of 1002 Escherichia coli strains isolated from pre-weaned pigs with diarrhoea on 1114 swine farms were screened for the presence of the adhesin involved in diffuse adherence (AIDA) gene by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Escherichia coli isolates that carried AIDA genes were also tested by PCR for the detection of five fimbriae (F4, F5, F6, F18 and F41), heat-stable (STa, STb) and heat-labile (LT) enterotoxin, enteroaggregative E. coli heat-stable enterotoxin 1 (EAST1), and Shiga toxin 2 oedema disease (Stx2e) genes. Twenty-three (2.3%) of the 1002 E. coli isolates carried the gene for AIDA. Among 23 isolates shown to carry genes for AIDA, three carried the AIDA gene as the only shown virulence factor. Other isolates carried other virulence factor genes in addition to AIDA. Four isolates carried genes for at least one of the fimbrial adhesins and enterotoxins. Sixteen isolates carried genes for enterotoxins only. The AIDA may represent an additional virulence determinant in pre-weaned pigs with diarrhoea.

The in vitro susceptibilities of 128 isolates of east1 + Escherichia coli from pre-weaned and post-weaned pigs with diarrhoea were tested with nine commonly used anti-microbial agents by an agar dilution minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) procedure according to National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards guidelines. For the isolates from preweaned and post-weaned pigs, most of them were susceptible to low concentrations (MIC90) of tetracycline (4 and 2 microg/ml), ceftiofur (2 and 2 microg/ml), and colistin (4 and 2 microg/ml). Marked resistance was found in others.

Aim: It was the aim of this study to develop a simple, effective and reversible model of obstructive jaundice in rats. Material and Method: Totally, 24 rats were divided into 3 groups: the sham group including sham-operated control rats who underwent laparotomy only (n = 8), the common bile duct standard ligation technique (CBD-SL) group including rats with CBD ligation using silk (n = 8), and the CBD new ligation technique (CBD-NL) group consisting of rats with CBD ligation by a new technique (n = 8). After release of the ligations, the CBD-SL group continued as the CBD-SL releasing group, and the CBD-NL group as the CBD-NL releasing group. Results: It was observed that all the CBD ligated rats were both clinically and biochemically jaundiced but they were relieved after reversing the procedure. Conclusion: We present a simple, effective and reliable rat model which is suitable for studies which require a reversal of obstructive jaundice in rats.

Background: To evaluate the time-dependent effects and pathophysiological mechanism of erythropoietin (Epo) on oxidative stress and liver injury resulting from obstructive jaundice in common bile duct-ligated rats. Methods: Wistar Albino rats were divided into 5 groups, each including 8 rats. The sham group underwent laparotomy only, while the Non-Epo-3 and Non-Epo-7 groups underwent common bile duct ligation and were sacrificed 3 and 7 days, respectively, after the operation. The Epo-3 and Epo-7 groups underwent common bile duct ligation and Epo treatment and were sacrificed 3 and 7 days, respectively, after the operation. Blood and tissue samples were collected from all groups for the determination of oxidative injury and hepatocellular damage. Serum total and direct bilirubin levels, alkaline phosphatase, reduced glutathione (GSH), nitric oxide (NO), malondialdehyde (MDA) and white blood cell counts were measured. Results: Significantly higher NO and MDA levels were found in Non-Epo groups than Epo groups. Significantly lower GSH levels were found in the Non-Epo-7 group than the Epo-7 and sham groups. Hepatocellular damage was also found to be reduced in Epo groups. Conclusions: In the present model, while common bile duct ligation increased oxidative injury and hepatocellular damage, treatment with Epo attenuated oxidative injury and hepatocellular damage by decreasing NO and increasing GSH.

Tracheal stenosis and dehiscence of anastomosis due to excessive tension are well-known problems after long-segment tracheal resections. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of the W-plasty technique to prevent these two complications.Animals were divided into a study and a control group. Each group consisted of 6 animals. In the control group, we performed a 5-cm tracheal segment resection, and then reconstruction was performed with an interrupted technique with 6/0 Prolene sutures. In the study group, we used the W-plasty technique with 6/0 Prolene interrupted sutures. The animals were sacrificed on the 30th day postoperatively and tracheal resection including the entire anastomosis site was performed. The traction and pullout test was applied to each specimen and all the specimens were analysed histopathologically. The intraluminal diameter and the thickness of the tracheal wall at the level of anastomoses were measured by using a micrometer. The pattern of the reaction and localization were recorded.The traction and pullout test results were 131.6 +/- 4.3 g and 187.5 +/- 6.4 g in the control and the study group, respectively, which was a significant difference (p = 0.004). The intraluminal diameters were 3.3 +/- 1.2 mm and 4.3 +/- 0.9 mm in the control and study group, respectively (p = 0.134). In contrast to the control group, early inflammatory and late fibroblastic reactions were negative in the study group.Considering the outcomes of this study, we think that the W-plasty technique has much more advantages than the standard techniques in terms of anastomosis durability and development of stenosis.

WOS: 000248997700003 PubMed: 17760650 The prognosis of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma is primarily determined by staging. Although radiological methods have revealed lymph node metastasis preoperatively, these radiological findings cannot be correlated with pathological staging. The aim of this study was to compare the expressions of p53, vascular endothelial growth factor C (VEGF C) and p21 with lymph node metastasis in preoperative endoscopic biopsy and postoperative resection material. Tissue samples were taken from 40 patients who had undergone endoscopic biopsies and radical esophagectomies. The expressions of p53, VEGF C and p21 proteins in these sections were immunohistochemically examined. The expression of each antibody was characterized as a negative or positive reaction according to the pattern and intensity of semiquantitative immunostaining. The staining pattern of antibodies was divided into three groups: < 10% cancer cells were accepted to be (-), 10-50% were (+), heterogenous and > 50% were (+ +), homogenous. For each antibody, statistical correlation with conventional prognostic parameters such as localization, microscopic grade, stage, pathological lymph node metastasis and survival, were investigated. p53 expression was observed in 65.5% (19/29) of lymph node positive cases, whereas p53 was in 50% (20/40) of cases. VEGF C was in 65% (26/40) and p21 was in 15% (6/40) of cases. p53 has the specificity of 90.9% and sensitivity rate of 65.5% in detecting lymph node metastasis and positive predictive value was 95%. Expression of p53 was significantly correlated with stage and lymph node metastasis (P = 0.02 and P = 0.03, respectively). Prediction of lymph node metastasis by p53 was correlated independently and in coexpression with VEGF C (P < 0.01). There was no relation detected between p21 and other parameters. In esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), p53 and VEGF C expressions were correlated with pathologically positive lymph nodes. When preoperative staging has been insufficient in esophageal carcinoma cases, immunohistochemical analysis of p53 and VEGF C staining in tissues could be an aid to clinicians regarding lymph node metastasis.

To clarify mechanisms of rice blast resistance in rice plants we used suppression subtractive hybridization (SSH) to isolate genes induced upon rice blast inoculation in a rice blast-resistant mutant. A total of 26 rice cDNAs were isolated and found to have elevated expression upon rice blast infection in a rice blast-resistant derivative, SHM-11, of the rice cultivar, Sanghaehyanghyella. Sequencing of the cDNAs revealed that many of the proteins they encoded had been previously described as involved in plant responses against pathogen attack. Two interesting groups of the defense-related proteins consisted of three different PR5 homologues and four different protease inhibitors, all highly expressed in the rice blast mutant. Genes encoding proteins involved in signal transduction and regulation were also identified, including translation initiation factor eIF5A, C2 domain DNA binding protein, putative rice EDS and putative receptor like kinase. Most of the identified cDNAs were highly expressed 24 h after blast inoculation. Our results suggest that a pathway regulating defense gene expression may be altered in the mutant, resulting in early induction of the defense genes upon fungal infection.

The aim of these experiments was to investigate the potential antiviral effect of Saccharomyces cerevisiae beta-glucan on the pneumonia induced by swine influenza virus (SIV). Forty colostrum-deprived 5-day-old piglets were randomly divided into four groups of 10. The 20 pigs in groups 1 and 2 were administered Saccharomyces cerevisiae beta-glucan orally (50 mg/day/pig; En-Bio Technology Co., Ltd) for 3 days before SIV infection and those in groups 3 and 4 were given culture medium/diluent alone. Groups 1 and 3 were inoculated intranasally with 3 ml of tissue culture fluid containing 2 x 10(6) tissue culture infective doses 50% (TCID(50))/ml of SIV and those in groups 2 and 4 were exposed in the same manner to uninfected cell culture supernatant. The microscopic lung lesions induced by SIV infection (group 1 pigs) were significantly more severe than those induced by infection in animals pre-administered beta-glucan (group 3) (P < 0.05). Significantly more SIV nucleic acid was detected in the lungs of pigs experimentally infected with SIV only (group 1) at 5, 7 and 10 days post-inoculation (dpi) compared with lungs from pigs pre-administered beta-glucan and infected with SIV (group 3) (P < 0.05). The concentrations of interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) and nitric oxide (NO) in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid from pigs pre-administered beta-glucan and infected with SIV (group 3) were significantly higher than for any other group at 7 and 10 dpi for IFN-gamma, and at 5, 7 and 10 dpi for NO (P < 0.05). Saccharomyces cerevisiae beta-glucan reduced the pulmonary lesion score and viral replication rate in SIV-infected pigs. These findings support the potential application of beta-glucan as prophylactic/treatment agent in influenza virus infection.

Downregulation of TGF-beta receptors is implicated in colon cancer development. Inactivation of either of the two transmembrane serine/threonine kinases, TGF-beta1 types I/II receptors, is now implicated in carcinogenesis, especially gastrointestinal carcinogenesis.We generated transgenic mice, called pS2-dnRII or ITF-dnRII, of which the dominant negative mutant of the TGF-beta type II receptor was expressed under the control of tissue-specific promoters, the pS2 promoter for stomach and ITF for intestine. They were either infected with H.pylori (ATCC 43504 strain, CagA+ and VacA+) or administered with azoxymethane to determine the significance of loss of TGF-beta signalling in gastrointestinal carcinogenesis.Gastric adenocarcinoma developed in pS2-dnRII mice, whereas only chronic active gastritis was noted in wild-type littermates after 36 weeks of H.pylori infection. Mice lacking in TGF-beta signalling specifically in the stomach showed a significantly higher proliferation cell nuclear antigen-labelling index when infected with H.pylori than wild-type littermates (P0.01). Development of colonic aberrant crypt foci was provoked in mice by intraperitoneal injections of azoxymethane, and ITF-dnRII mice showed significantly higher incidences of ACF and colon cancers than wild-type littermates.Maintaining normal TGF-beta signalling in the gastrointestinal tract seems to be important either for preventing abnormal mucosal proliferation, or for suppressing or retarding carcinogenesis.

We read the case report about imaging findings of cutaneous B-cell lymphoma in JBR-BTR with great interest (1). We would like to share ultrasonographic and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings of our case with primary cutaneous B-cell lymphoma, leg type.

Multiplex PCR of nasopharyngeal aspirates detected viruses and atypical bacteria in 75.3% (219/291) of infants with acute respiratory infections from July 2010 to June 2013. Frequent viruses were human rhinovirus (29.9%), parainfluenza virus (21.7%), respiratory syncytial virus (17.9%), and human metapneumovirus (10.3%). Mycoplasma pneumoniae and Bordetella pertussis were detected in 3.4% and 0.3%, respectively. (Ann Clin Microbiol 2014;17:86-90)

O(6)-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT) can remove O(6)alkylG DNA adducts. If they are not removed, then the adducts mispair with T during DNA replication, resulting in G-to-A mutation. Interrelations between MGMT gene inactivation by promoter methylation, K-ras mutation, and clinicopathologic features in patients with gastric carcinoma were studied.Surgically removed tumor tissues from 79 patients were analyzed with MGMT methylation by genomic DNA modification and methylation specific polymerase chain reaction analysis, K-ras mutation by mutant allele specific amplification, TNM classification according to the International Union Against Cancer system, and MGMT protein expression by immunohistochemistry.MGMT-promoter methylation was found in 18 of 79 tumors. Among those 18 tumors, K-ras mutations were found in 33% and 11% of tumors at codons 12 and 13, respectively, corresponding to 20 times and 7 times greater rates of mutation compared with unmethylated tumors. MGMT methylation was associated significantly with lymph node invasion (P0.01), tumor stage (P0.03) and 5-year disease free survival (P0.02). MGMT protein expression was detected in intestinal metaplasia and adenocarcinoma samples, whereas no expression was detected in normal foveolar cells.MGMT-promoter methylation in patients with gastric carcinoma was associated significantly with point mutations of K-ras at codons 12 and 13, lymph node invasion, tumor stage, and disease free survival. These associations indicate a significant role of MGMT methylation during gastric carcinogenesis.