Generally, adjuvant chemotherapy (AC) should be initiated as soon as possible after surgery to eradicate microscopic cancer cells. In this study, we investigated the effect of early AC on the ...survival of stage II/III gastric cancer patients.
Four hundred sixty patients who received AC (S-1 or XELOX) for pathologic stage II/III gastric cancer at Seoul National University Bundang Hospital between January 2008 and December 2014 were included. Patients were divided into 2 groups: early AC administration (within 4 weeks) and late AC administration (more than 4 weeks). Patients in the early AC group (n=174) were matched 1:1 with patients in the late AC group (n=174) by propensity scoring to adjust for clinical differences. Three-year relapse-free survival (RFS) was evaluated according to the timing of AC.
Three-year RFS was 98.1% in stage IIA (n=109), 85.0% in stage IIB (n=83), 87.4% in stage IIIA (n=96), 83.5% in stage IIIB (n=91), and 62.5% in stage IIIC (n=81). After propensity score matching, RFS was similar between early and late AC groups (hazard ratio HR,1.04; 95% confidence interval CI, 0.62-1.74; P=0.889). Pathologic stage and histological type were independent prognostic factors of RFS (HR, 2.05; 95% CI, 1.06-3.96; P=0.033 and HR, 2.61; 95% CI, 1.42-4.80; P=0.002, respectively).
Early initiation of AC within 4 weeks does not affect survival rates in stage II/III gastric cancer.
Streptococcus agalactiae is the leading cause of meningitis in newborns and a significant cause of invasive diseases in pregnant women and adults with underlying diseases. Antibiotic resistance ...against erythromycin and clindamycin in group B streptococcus (GBS) isolates has been increasing worldwide. GBS expresses the Srr1 and Srr2 proteins, which have important roles in bacterial infection. They have been investigated as novel vaccine candidates against GBS infection, with promising results. But a recent study detected non-
-expressing clinical isolates belonging to serotype III. Thus, we aimed to analyze the genotypes of non-
GBS clinical isolates collected between 2013 and 2016 in South Korea. Forty-one (13.4%) of the 305 serotype III isolates were identified as non-
strains, including sequence type 19 (ST19) (
= 16) and ST27 (
= 18) strains. The results of the comparative genomic analysis of the ST19/serotype III/non-
strains further revealed four unique gene clusters. Site 4 in the
gene locus was replaced by an
(E)-
(B)-
-
-
-carrying multidrug-resistant gene cluster flanked by two IS
transposases with 99% homology to the enterococcal plasmid pKUB3007-1. Despite the Srr1 and Srr2 deficiencies, which resulted in reduced fibrinogen binding, the adherence of non-
strains to endothelial and epithelial cells was comparable to that of Srr1- or Srr2-expressing strains. Moreover, their virulence in mouse models of meningitis was not significantly affected. Furthermore, additional adhesin-encoding genes, including a gene encoding a BspA-like protein, which may contribute to colonization by non-
strains, were identified via whole-genome analysis. Thus, our study provides important findings that can aid in the development of vaccines and antibiotics against GBS.
Most previously isolated group B streptococcus (GBS) strains express either the Srr1 or Srr2 glycoprotein, which plays an important role in bacterial colonization and invasion. These glycoproteins are potential protein vaccine candidates. In this study, we first report GBS clinical isolates in which the
gene was deleted or replaced with foreign genes. Despite Srr1/2 deficiency,
adherence to mammalian cells and
virulence in murine models were not affected, suggesting that the isolates might have another adherence mechanism that enhanced their virulence aside from Srr1/2-fibrinogen-mediated adherence. In addition, several non-
isolates replaced the
gene with the
(B) and
(E) antibiotic resistance genes flanked by IS
, effectively causing multidrug resistance. Collectively, we believe that our study identifies the underlying genes responsible for the pathogenesis of new GBS serotype III. Furthermore, our study emphasizes the need for alternative antibiotics for patients who are allergic to β-lactams and for those who are pregnant.
Activin A, a member of the TGF-β superfamily, plays roles in neuroprotection and immunomodulation. In the present study, activin A expression was investigated on days 1, 4 and 7 post-injury in female ...adult Sprague-Dawley rats with spinal cord injuries (SCIs). The spinal cord was compressed with a vascular clip for 1min following laminectomy at T9/T10. Western blot analysis showed that activin A levels peaked in SCI core lesions 4 days post-injury (p<0.01) and fell thereafter until day 7. Immunohistochemically, activin A was constitutively expressed in vascular endothelial cells, astrocytes and neurons of sham-operated controls, and in macrophages and reactive astrocytes of lesional cores and peripheries. As activin A plays an immunomodulatory role in the early stages of SCI and facilitates behavioral improvement, we postulate that transient upregulation of activin A in SCI tissue may contribute to modulation of inflammation development during SCI, thus leading to neuroprotection.
Since insulin receptors and their downstream signaling molecules are organized in lipid rafts, proteomic analysis of adipocyte lipid rafts may provide new insights into the function of lipid rafts in ...adipogenesis and insulin signaling. To search for proteins involved in adipocyte differentiation and insulin signaling, we analyzed detergent-resistant lipid raft proteins from 3T3-L1 preadipocytes and adipocytes by 2-DE. Eleven raft proteins were identified from adipocytes. One of the adipocyte-specific proteins was globular C1q receptor (gC1qR), an acidic 32 kDa protein known as the receptor for the globular domain of complement C1q. The targeting of gC1qR into lipid rafts was significantly increased during adipogenesis, as determined by immunoblotting and immunofluorescence. Since the silencing of gC1qR by small RNA interference abolished adipogenesis and blocked insulin-induced activation of insulin receptor, insulin receptor substrate-1 (IRS-1), Akt, and Erk1/2, we can conclude that gC1qR is an essential molecule involved in adipogenesis and insulin signaling.
Korea is developing a Helium Cooled Solid Breeder Test Blanket Module for ITER. The primary candidate structural material is a Reduced Activation Ferritic/Martensitic steel. The complex TBM structure ...requires developing joining technologies for successful fabrication. The characteristics of Tungsten Inert Gas welding and Hot Isostatic Pressing joining of RAFM steel were investigated. Metallurgical examinations showed that the steel grain size was increased after HIP joining and recovered by post joining heat treatment. Both TIG welding and HIP joining are found to be acceptable for ITER TBM based on mechanical tests and microstructure examination.
The expression of two embryonic intermediate filaments, nestin and vimentin, in the rat brain at days 0 (control), 1, 4, 7 and 14 post-cryoinjury was studied to elucidate their roles in brain injury. ...Western blot analysis showed that both nestin and vimentin expressions in the ipsilateral cerebral cortex were significantly increased at 4 and 7 days post-cryoinjury, and were decreased at day 14 after cryoinjury. Immunohistochemistry showed that there were few nestin- and vimentin-positive cells in the cerebral cortex in normal controls. On days 4 and 7 post-injury, abundant glial cells in the periphery of the lesion were immunostained for nestin and/or vimentin; only vimentin was detected in the majority of inflammatory cells in the core lesion. These findings suggest that nestin and vimentin contribute to the repair of brain injury through the migration of activated cells and the formation of a glial scar.
In response to the climate crisis, nations are working to reduce emissions and improve energy efficiency, particularly in the transportation sector through the adoption of electric vehicles. However, ...the current official test methods for evaluating battery electric vehicle (BEV) energy economy and single-charge driving range are time-consuming, creating challenges for testing institutions and delaying the release of new models. The objective of this study is to compare the energy economy and single-charge driving range of BEVs using the different test methods, the full depleting test (e.g., multi cycle test (MCT), short multi cycle test, short multi cycle test plus) and partial depleting test (e.g., short process test (SPT)), with the aim of reducing the testing time on the chassis dynamometer. As a result of testing with three BEVs with different battery capacities, the test duration on the chassis dynamometer could be reduced by up to 85% compared to the MCT that is authorized test method by government. Each test has different repeatability, and SPT has a higher deviation from the MCT test results than other test methods. Overall, the study can provide reliable research outcomes conducive to the future improvement of official energy economy and single-charge driving range test standards for BEVs in each country.
한국에 기록된 독우산광대버섯의 재동정 진용주; Yong-ju Jin; 유기범 ...
Hangug gynnhaghoi ji,
03/2017, Letnik:
45, Številka:
1
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Odprti dostop
본 연구는 2000년부터 2015년까지 한국에서 수집되어 Amanita virosa로 동정된 40개 표본의 분자계통학적 종동정을 위해 internal transcribed spacer rDNA 영역의 염기서열을 사용하여 수행하였다. 이번 연구에서 Lepidella 아속의 Phalloideae절에 속하는 Amanita oberwinklerana의 14개 ...표본, A.cf. rimosa 5개 표본, A. pallidorosea 20개 표본 및 A. virosa1개 표본을 확인하였고, 그들의 형태학적 특성을 재조사하였다. 백색 계열의 맹독성 버섯에 속하는 위 3종(A. oberwinklerana, A.cf. rimosa, A. pallidorosea)은 아직 국내에는 잘 알려지지 않았지만, 형태학적 특징들이 A. virosa와 매우 유사하여 존재하더라도 오동정되었을 가능성이 높다. 본 연구에 사용된 모든 표본은 국립농업과학원 표본실에 보관되어 있다.
A molecular phylogenetic analysis of 40 fungal specimens that were collected from the Korean peninsula from 2000 to 2015 and recorded as Amanita virosa was performed using internal transcribed spacer sequence data. Results confirmed that Amanita oberwinklerana (14 specimens), Amanita rimosa (5), Amanita pallidorosea (20), and Amanita virosa (1) belong to section Phalloideae of subgenus Lepidella, and the morphological features of these specimens were re-examined. The former three species with deadly poisonous white mushrooms were not yet recorded in Korea. Because of their morphological similarities with A. virosa, they are frequently overlooked or misidentified in the field. All collections were deposited in the Herbarium Conservation Center of the National Institute of Agricultural Sciences.
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