It is difficult to conclude that COVID-19 is associated with a decrease in the suicide attempts rate by comparing only a short-term period. Therefore, it is necessary to examine attempted suicide ...rates through a trend analysis over a longer period. This study aimed to investigate an estimated long-term trend regarding the prevalence of suicide-related behaviors among adolescents in South Korea from 2005 to 2020, including COVID-19.
We sourced data from a national representative survey (Korea Youth Risk Behavior Survey) and analyzed one million Korean adolescents aged 13 to 18 years (n=1,057,885) from 2005 to 2020. The 16-year trends regarding the prevalence of sadness or despair and suicidal ideation and attempt and the trend changes before and during COVID-19.
Data of 1,057,885 Korean adolescents was analyzed (weighted mean age, 15.03 years; males, 52.5%; females, 47.5%). Although the 16-year trend in the prevalence of sadness or despair and suicide ideation and attempt consistently decreased (prevalence of sadness or despair between 2005-2008, 38.0% with 95% confidence interval CI, 37.7 to 38.4 vs. prevalence in 2020, 25.0% 24.5 to 25.6; suicide ideation between 2005-2008, 21.9% 21.6 to 22.1 vs. prevalence in 2020, 10.7% 10.3 to 11.1; and suicide attempt between 2005-2008, 5.0% 4.9 to 5.2 vs. prevalence in 2020, 1.9% 1.8 to 2.0), the downward slope decreased during COVID-19 (βdiff in sadness, 0.215 with 95% CI 0.206 to 0.224; βdiff in suicidal ideation, 0.245 0.234 to 0.256; and βdiff in suicide attempt, 0.219 0.201 to 0.237) compared with pre-pandemic period.
This study found that the observed risk of suicide-related behaviors during the pandemic was higher than expected through long-term trend analysis of the prevalence of sadness/despair and suicidal ideation and attempts among South Korean adolescents. We need a profound epidemiologic study of the change in mental health due to the pandemic's impact and the establishment of prevention strategies for suicide ideation and attempt.
We fabricated Pt-functionalised hydrogen gas sensors on AlGaN/GaN heterojunction platform and investigated the influence of GaN-cap layer on the sensing characteristics. Pt-Schottky diodes with ...GaN-cap layer exhibited a larger change of Schottky barrier height than ones with no GaN-cap layer when hydrogen gas was detected. Technology computer-aided design simulation indicated that the increase of electron concentration at heterojunction can be magnified by a larger change of barrier height. The AlGaN/GaN FET-type sensors with Pt catalyst on the gate area demonstrated significant enhancement of hydrogen gas sensitivity from 16 to 35% at 200°C when GaN cap layer was employed.
Summary
The effects of genomic changes in hepatitis B virus (HBV) on the occurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are still unclear, especially in relation to the genotype of HBV. In this study, ...we examined the effects of genomic changes in HBV of genotype C2 on the development of HCC. A total of 318 patients with HBV‐associated HCC and 234 patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) were studied. All of HCC cases were diagnosed histologically and treated with surgical resection. The whole of the X, S, basal core promoter (BCP) and precore regions of the viral genome from sera or liver tissues were sequenced. All subjects had HBV of genotype C2. The prevalence of the T1653 mutation in the X region and the A1896 mutation in the precore region of HBV was significantly higher in the HCC group than in the control CHB group (22% vs 11%, P = 0.003; 50% vs 23%, P < 0.001, respectively). Moreover, the T1762/A1764 mutations in the BCP region in combination with either T1653 or A1896 were more common in the HCC compared with the CHB group (BCP+X1653: 18% vs 11%, P = 0.05; BCP+PC, 40% vs 15%, P < 0.001, respectively). In multivariate analysis, T1653 and A1896 were revealed to be independent risk factors for HCC development. G1896A in the precore region and C1653T mutation in the X region of genotype C2 HBV are important risk factors for HCC development. Also, the A1762T/G1764A double mutation may act in synergy with C1653T to increase the risk of HCC in patients chronically infected with HBV genotype C2.
In this paper, a new control strategy for improving weighted efficiency in photovoltaic (PV) ac module-type interleaved flyback inverters (ILFIs) is proposed. The efficiency of the ILFI for PV ac ...modules has to be high, not only for the maximum power, but also for other power levels according to weather conditions. For PV power conversion efficiency improvement in all load ranges, a new control method for an ILFI according to the output of the PV module is proposed in this paper. The proposed method controls an active clamp circuit and each converter phase of an ILFI according to the output power of the PV module. Thus, the efficiency of an ILFI as a PV power conditioner can be improved in all power range of the PV module. Theoretical analysis, simulation, and experiment are performed in order to verify the proposed control method.
Nasal-type NK/T cell lymphoma is an increasingly recognised disease entity of aggressive clinical behaviour. The objective of this study was to investigate clinical features and treatment outcomes in ...patients with nasal-type NK/T cell lymphoma. From January 1991 to December 2003, 26 patients diagnosed as nasal-type NK/T cell lymphoma were included in the analysis. One half of patients presented with poor performance status (ECOG > or =2); 46% of patients were categorised as high intermediate or high-risk group according to IPI; and 46% of patients were diagnosed at advanced stage. The median survival for 26 patients with nasal-type NK/T cell lymphoma was 7.4 months (95% CI, 0.1, 16.9). The treatment outcome of primary anthracycline-based chemotherapy was poor: 60% CR rate in localised disease and 0% CR rate in advanced disease. After a median follow-up of 24.4 months (range 3.1-99.0) in patients with localised disease who had achieved a CR (range 29.6-165.7), three patients (50.0%) developed disease recurrence at 6.1, 21.8, and 52.1 months, respectively, and all patients presented with locoregional failure. The predictive factors for poor survival were of age greater than 60, advanced stage and poor performance in multivariate analysis. In conclusion, Nasal-type NK/T cell lymphomas showed a poor response to the conventional anthracycline-based chemotherapy, and thus an investigation for an innovative therapy is urgently needed to improve survival in these patients.
We describe a directed genome-engineering approach that combines genome-wide methods for mapping genes to traits Warner JR, Reeder PJ, Karimpour-Fard A, Woodruff LBA, Gill RT (2010) Nat Biotechnol ...28:856–862 with strategies for rapidly creating combinatorial ribosomal binding site (RBS) mutation libraries containing billions of targeted modifications Wang HH, et al. (2009) Nature 460:894–898. This approach should prove broadly applicable to various efforts focused on improving production of fuels, chemicals, and pharmaceuticals, among other products. We used barcoded promoter mutation libraries to map the effect of increased or decreased expression of nearly every gene in Escherichia coli onto growth in several model environments (cellulosic hydrolysate, low pH, and high acetate). Based on these data, we created and evaluated RBS mutant libraries (containing greater than 100,000,000 targeted mutations), targeting the genes identified to most affect growth. On laboratory timescales, we successfully identified a broad range of mutations (>25 growth-enhancing mutations confirmed), which improved growth rate 10–200% for several different conditions. Although successful, our efforts to identify superior combinations of growth-enhancing genes emphasized the importance of epistatic interactions among the targeted genes (synergistic, antagonistic) for taking full advantage of this approach to directed genome engineering.
Summary The present study aimed to analyse the treatment outcome of four cycles of CHOP (cyclophosphamide—vincristine—doxorubicin—prednisolone) followed by involved field radiation therapy (IF RT) ...for the treatment of stage I–II nasal natural killer (NK)/T-cell lymphoma. From March 1995 to December 1999, 17 patients (median age 41 years; range 30–66) with localized nasal NK/T-cell lymphoma were enrolled. B symptoms were noted in five patients (31%). Sixteen of seventeen patients (94%) were of low risk when classified according to the International Prognostic Index (IPI). The treatment plan consisted of four cycles of CHOP/ chemotherapy followed by IF RT of 45 Gy. Two patients received radiation during the first or second cycle of CHOP because of bleeding from the primary tumour site. Both patients achieved complete responses (CRs). In the remaining 15 patients, after 4 cycles of CHOP, 6 CRs and 3 partial responses (PRs) were achieved (53% of response rate). IF RT was given to six patients (four in CR, one in PR and one in PD), and all six patients achieved CR. Overall, CR was achieved in 10 of 17 patients (58%). The planned sequential chemoradiotherapy was completed in only 6 of 17 patients (35%) because of the progression during chemotherapy. None of the patients who achieved CR experienced relapse of lymphoma during follow-up. The estimated overall three-year survival rate was 59%. In univariate analysis, B symptoms and stage were significant prognostic factors for response and overall survival (P < 0.05). The present study suggests that four cycles of CHOP followed by IF RT is not satisfactory for treating patients with localized nasal NK/T-cell lymphoma, and that further exploration for improved therapy is needed.
Abstract Background To achieve en bloc resection for large lesions, endoscopic mucosal resection after circumferential precutting and endoscopic submucosal dissection techniques have been developed. ...Aim To compare endoscopic submucosal dissection with endoscopic mucosal resection after circumferential precutting in terms of the clinical efficacy and safety. Patients and methods 346 consecutive patients underwent their first endoscopic mucosal resection after circumferential precutting (103 patients) or endoscopic submucosal dissection (243 patients) for early gastric cancer and their clinical outcomes were compared. Results For early gastric cancer ≥20 mm endoscopic submucosal dissection group demonstrated significantly higher en bloc resection and en bloc plus R0 resection rate compared with endoscopic mucosal resection after circumferential precutting group. For early gastric cancer with size of 10–19 mm, endoscopic submucosal dissection group also showed significantly higher en bloc resection rate. For early gastric cancer <20 mm, however, en bloc plus R0 resection rate for endoscopic mucosal resection after circumferential precutting group was comparable to that for endoscopic submucosal dissection group. In case of R0 resection of intramucosal differentiated cancer, neither group showed local recurrence during the median 29 and 17 months of follow-up. Two groups did not show significant difference in the bleeding or perforation rates. Conclusion For early gastric cancer <20 mm endoscopic mucosal resection after circumferential precutting may be considered as an alternative choice to endoscopic submucosal dissection. However, for early gastric cancer ≥20 mm endoscopic submucosal dissection should be considered as the first choice for treating early gastric cancer.
AIMS: This study aimed to investigate the potential of Bacillus methylotrophicus as a probiotic. METHODS AND RESULTS: A Bacillus isolate designated strain C14 was isolated from Korean traditional ...fermented soybean paste (doenjang). The strain was identified, and its physiological and biochemical properties were characterized. The gastrointestinal tolerance and immunomodulatory function of strain C14 were also investigated. Strain C14 was identified as B. methylotrophicus by analysis of its biochemical properties using the API 50CHB system and by phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rDNA sequence. Strain C14 showed >80% and >75% of survival for artificial gastric juices (pH 2·5 and 1% pepsin) and 0·5% (w/v) bile salt, respectively. Heat‐killed B. methylotrophicus C14 inhibited the adhesion of various pathogens and enhanced the adhesion of probiotic bacteria to Caco‐2 cells. The heat‐killed cells also induced high levels of immune cell proliferation compared with the control and stimulated interleukin‐6 and tumour necrosis factor‐α production in mouse macrophages. CONCLUSIONS: Bacillus methylotrophicus C14 could be used as a probiotic. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: Recently identified B. methylotrophicus is a new potential probiotic with high gastrointestinal tolerance.
Hydrogen production by water splitting energized by biomass sugars is one of the most promising technologies for distributed green H2 production. Direct H2 generation from NADPH, catalysed by an ...NADPH‐dependent, soluble NiFe‐hydrogenase (SH1) is thermodynamically unfavourable, resulting in slow volumetric productivity. We designed the biomimetic electron transport chain from NADPH to H2 by the introduction of an oxygen‐insensitive electron mediator benzyl viologen (BV) and an enzyme (NADPH rubredoxin oxidoreductase, NROR), catalysing electron transport between NADPH and BV. The H2 generation rates using this biomimetic chain increased by approximately five‐fold compared to those catalysed only by SH1. The peak volumetric H2 productivity via the in vitro enzymatic pathway comprised of hyperthermophilic glucose 6‐phosphate dehydrogenase, 6‐phosphogluconolactonase, and 6‐phosphogluconate dehydrogenase, NROR, and SH1 was 310 mmol H2/L h−1, the highest rate yet reported. The concept of biomimetic electron transport chains could be applied to both in vitro and in vivo H2 production biosystems and artificial photosynthesis.
Sugar rush: A biomimetic electron‐transport chain from NADPH to an electron mediator benzyl viologen catalysed by NADPH rubredoxin oxidoreductase to H2 catalysed by NiFe‐hydrogenase was constructed in vitro. The highest volumetric H2 productivity from glucose 6‐phosphate was 310 mmol H2/L h−1, which was the fastest biological H2 formation rate from sugars yet reported.
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