Background
Recent evidence indicates that Staphylococcus aureus, one of the most important human pathogens, secretes vesicles into the extracellular milieu.
Objective
To evaluate whether inhalation ...of S. aureus‐derived extracellular vesicles (EV) is causally related to the pathogenesis of inflammatory pulmonary diseases.
Methods
Staphylococcus aureus EV were prepared by sequential ultrafiltration and ultracentrifugation. The innate immune response was evaluated in vitro after the application of EV to airway epithelial cells and alveolar macrophages. In vivo innate and adaptive immune responses were evaluated after airway exposure to EV. Adjuvant effects of EV on the development of hypersensitivity to inhaled allergens were also evaluated after airway sensitization with S. aureus EV and ovalbumin (OVA).
Results
Staphylococcus aureus and S. aureus EV were detected in house dust. Alveolar macrophages produced both tumor necrosis α (TNF‐α) and interleukin 6 (IL‐6) after in vitro stimulation with S. aureus EV, whereas airway epithelial cells produced only IL‐6. Repeated airway exposure to S. aureus EV induced both Th1 and Th17 cell responses and neutrophilic pulmonary inflammation, mainly via a Toll‐like receptor 2 (TLR2)‐dependent mechanism. In terms of adjuvant effects, airway sensitization with S. aureus EV and OVA resulted in neutrophilic pulmonary inflammation after OVA challenge alone. This phenotype was partly reversed by the absence of interferon γ (IFN‐γ) or IL‐17.
Conclusion
Staphylococcus aureus EV can induce Th1 and Th17 neutrophilic pulmonary inflammation, mainly in a TLR2‐dependent manner. Additionally, S. aureus EV enhance the development of airway hypersensitivity to inhaled allergens.
The COSINE-100 dark matter search experiment is an array of NaI(Tl) crystal detectors located in the Yangyang Underground Laboratory (Y2L). To understand measured backgrounds in the NaI(Tl) crystals ...we have performed Monte Carlo simulations using the Geant4 toolkit and developed background models for each crystal that consider contributions from both internal and external sources, including cosmogenic nuclides. The background models are based on comparisons of measurement data with Monte Carlo simulations that are guided by a campaign of material assays and are used to evaluate backgrounds and identify their sources. The average background level for the six crystals (70 kg total mass) that are studied is 3.5 counts/day/keV/kg in the (2–6) keV energy interval. The dominant contributors in this energy region are found to be
210
Pb and
3
H.
To compare the long-term survival outcomes between laparoscopic radical hysterectomy (LRH) and open radical hysterectomy (ORH).
We matched patients with stage IA2 to IIA cervical cancer with known ...risk factors for recurrence who underwent ORH and LRH.
Compared with ORH (n = 263), LRH (n = 263) did not have higher risks of recurrence hazard ratio (HR) = 1.28; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.62–2.64 or death (HR = 1.46; 95% CI 0.62–3.43). Even in patients with tumors >2 cm in diameter, the risks of recurrence (HR = 0.82; 95% CI 0.31–2.16) or death (HR = 1.01; 95% CI 0.35–2.95) were not higher for LRH than for ORH. The LRH and ORH group had 5-year recurrence-free survival rates of 92.8% and 94.4%, respectively (P = 0.499). LRH resulted in significantly lower estimated blood loss (379.6 versus 541.1 ml, P < 0.001) and shorter postoperative hospital stay (12.5 versus 20.3 days, P < 0.001). Intraoperative complication rates were similar in the two groups (6.8% versus 5.7%, P = 0.711), but postoperative complication rate was lower in the LRH than in the ORH group (9.2% versus 21%, P < 0.001).
LRH is an oncologically safe alternative to ORH and was associated with fewer postoperative complication and earlier recovery.
Summary
Background
Little is known about factors affecting the quality of life (QoL) of patients with vitiligo, and previous studies have shown conflicting results.
Objectives
To explore the QoL of ...patients with vitiligo and to identify factors affecting QoL.
Methods
A nationwide questionnaire‐based study was conducted with 1123 patients with vitiligo recruited from 21 hospitals in Korea from July 2015 to June 2016. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire for demographic information and the Skindex‐29 instrument. Mild or severely impaired QoL in patients with vitiligo was assessed according to each domain (symptoms, functioning and emotions) of Skindex‐29. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to determine the factors associated with QoL.
Results
Of the enrolled participants, 609 were male and 514 female, with a mean age of 49·8 years (range 20–84). The median duration of disease was 3·0 years (range 0–60). Using multivariate logistic regression modelling, the involvement of visible body parts and a larger affected body surface area were consistently associated with QoL impairment in all three domains of Skindex‐29. Additionally, the QoL of patients aged 20–59 years, who potentially had a more active social life than older patients, was associated with functional impairment. Furthermore, a higher educational background was associated with emotional impairment.
Conclusions
A multitude of factors significantly influence the QoL of patients with vitiligo. A better appreciation of these factors would help the management of these patients.
What's already known about this topic?
Quality of life is highly impaired in patients with vitiligo.
What does this study add?
The involvement of visible body parts and a larger affected body surface area were consistently associated with impaired symptoms, functioning and emotions.
Vitiligo with nonvisible lesions also considerably compromises quality of life; vitiligo should not be regarded as a cosmetic problem.
Patients aged 20–59 years experienced significant functional impairment, and those with a higher educational background had more impairment in their emotions.
Linked Comment: Ezzedine and Eleftheriadou. Br J Dermatol 2018; 178:28–29.
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Pig islets are an alternative source for islet transplantation to treat type 1 diabetes (T1D), but reproducible curative potential in the pig‐to‐nonhuman primate (NHP) model has not been ...demonstrated. Here, we report that pig islet grafts survived and maintained normoglycemia for >6 months in four of five consecutive immunosuppressed NHPs. Pig islets were isolated from designated pathogen‐free (DPF) miniature pigs and infused intraportally into streptozotocin‐induced diabetic rhesus monkeys under pretreatment with cobra venom factor (CVF), anti‐thymocyte globulin (ATG) induction and maintenance with anti‐CD154 monoclonal antibody and low‐dose sirolimus. Ex vivo expanded autologous regulatory T cells were adoptively transferred in three recipients. Blood glucose levels were promptly normalized in all five monkeys and normoglycemia (90–110 mg/dL) was maintained for >6 months in four cases, the longest currently up to 603 days. Intravenous glucose tolerance tests during the follow‐up period showed excellent glucose disposal capacity and porcine C‐peptide responses. Adoptive transfer of autologous regulatory T cells was likely to be associated with more stable and durable normoglycemia. Importantly, the recipients showed no serious adverse effects. Taken together, our results confirm the clinical feasibility of pig islet transplantation to treat T1D patients without the need for excessive immunosuppressive therapy.
The authors report control of diabetes for longer than six months in four consecutive nonhuman primates by the transplantation of adult pig islets using a modest immunosuppressive regimen with an acceptable adverse effect profile.
To evaluate the safety and efficacy of Lipiodol lymphangiography and 3 adjunctive N-butyl cyanoacrylate (NBCA) glue embolization techniques for the management of postoperative lymphatic leakage.
This ...retrospective study included 27 patients with postoperative lymphatic leakage (17 with ascites, 3 with chylothorax, 6 with lymphoceles, and 1 with a skin fistula) who underwent Lipiodol lymphangiography for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes in 3 tertiary referral centers between August 2010 and January 2016. Adjunctive glue embolization was performed as needed by using 3 different techniques: "lymphopseudoaneurysm" embolization, closest upstream lymph node embolization, or direct upstream lymphatic vessel embolization.
Sixteen patients were observed to determine the therapeutic effect of lymphangiography, and 8 patients (50%) recovered without further embolization. In 16 patients, including 11 who underwent immediate embolization after lymphangiography and 5 who underwent delayed embolization, a total of 28 embolizations (12 lymphopseudoaneurysms, 14 lymph nodes, and 2 lymphatic vessels) were performed. The technical and clinical success rates of the adjunctive embolizations were 89% (25 of 28) and 94% (15 of 16), respectively. The overall clinical success rate was 85% (23 of 27). The median time from initial lymphangiography to recovery was 5 days. No procedure-related major complications were reported.
Lipiodol lymphangiography and adjunctive glue embolization techniques appear safe and provide promising efficacy for the management of postoperative lymphatic leakage.
Present study investigated the effect of dietary supplementation of Bacillus subtilis LS 1-2 on growth performance, apparent nutrient retention, caecal microbial population and intestinal morphology ...in broilers. Three hundred and twenty day-old Ross broiler chicks were randomly allotted to four treatments on the basis of BW in a randomized complete block design. Experimental diets were fed in two phases: starter (d0–21) and finisher (d22–35). Dietary treatments were basal diet supplemented with 0% (control), 0.15%, 0.30% and 0.45% B. subtilis LS 1-2. Supplementation of increasing levels of B. subtilis LS 1-2 showed linear improvement (P<0.05) in growth performance and apparent nutrient retention. At d35, birds supplemented with increasing levels of B. subtilis LS 1-2 showed decrease in caecal Clostridium and Coliform count (linear, P<0.05). Moreover, supplementation of B. subtilis LS 1-2 increased (linear, P<0.05) villus height and villus height to crypt depth ratio in both duodenum and ileum. Results obtained in the present study indicate that B. subtilis LS 1-2 can be used as a growth promoter in broiler diets and can improve intestinal microbial balance and gut health of broilers.
Design of the RAON accelerator systems Jeon, D.; Hong, I. S.; Kim, H. J. ...
Journal of the Korean Physical Society,
10/2014, Letnik:
65, Številka:
7
Journal Article
Recenzirano
The RAON is the name of the heavy ion accelerator facility under construction in Korea that includes the In-flight Fragment (IF) and Isotope Separation On-Line (ISOL) facilities to support ...cutting-edge research in various science fields. The superconducting linac is the driver for the IF facility that can accelerate beams from proton to uranium with 200 MeV/u, 400 kW (for uranium beam). A 70-MeV, 1-mA H
−
cyclotron is the driver for the ISOL facility and is followed by a post-accelerator consisting of s superconducting linac that can accelerate rare-isotope (RI) beams and deliver them to experimental halls. These facilities provide high-intensity stable ion and rare isotope (RI) beams for domestic and international users. In this paper, design and prototyping efforts for the RAON accelerator systems are presented.
The genome of soybean (Glycine max), a commercially important crop, has recently been sequenced and is one of six crop species to have been sequenced. Here we report the genome sequence of G. soja, ...the undomesticated ancestor of G. max (in particular, G. soja var. IT182932). The 48.8-Gb Illumina Genome Analyzer (Illumina-GA) short DNA reads were aligned to the G. max reference genome and a consensus was determined for G. soja. This consensus sequence spanned 915.4 Mb, representing a coverage of 97.65% of the G. max published genome sequence and an average mapping depth of 43-fold. The nucleotide sequence of the G. soja genome, which contains 2.5 Mb of substituted bases and 406 kb of small insertions/deletions relative to G. max, is ∼0.31% different from that of G. max. In addition to the mapped 915.4-Mb consensus sequence, 32.4 Mb of large deletions and 8.3 Mb of novel sequence contigs in the G. soja genome were also detected. Nucleotide variants of G. soja versus G. max confirmed by Roche Genome Sequencer FLX sequencing showed a 99.99% concordance in single-nucleotide polymorphism and a 98.82% agreement in insertion/deletion calls on Illumina-GA reads. Data presented in this study suggest that the G. soja/G. max complex may be at least 0.27 million y old, appearing before the relatively recent event of domestication (6,000∼9,000 y ago). This suggests that soybean domestication is complicated and that more in-depth study of population genetics is needed. In any case, genome comparison of domesticated and undomesticated forms of soybean can facilitate its improvement.
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