Stabilizing the Catalyst Layer for Durable and High Performance Alkaline Membrane Fuel Cells and Water Electrolyzers

Anion exchange membrane (AEM) fuel cells (AEMFCs) and water electrolyzers (AEMWEs) suffer from insufficient performance and durability compared with commercialized energy conversion systems. Great efforts have been devoted to designing high-quality AEMs and catalysts. However, the significance of the stability of the catalyst layer has been largely disregarded. Here, an in situ cross-linking strategy was developed to promote the interactions within the catalyst layer and the interactions between catalyst layer and AEM. The adhesion strength of the catalyst layer after cross-linking was improved 7 times compared with the uncross-linked catalyst layer due to the formation of covalent bonds between the catalyst layer and AEM. The AEMFC can be operated under 0.6 A cm-2 for 1000 h with a voltage decay rate of 20 μV h-1. The related AEMWE achieved an unprecedented current density of 15.17 A cm-2 at 2.0 V and was operated at 0.5, 1.0, and 1.5 A cm-2 for 1000 h.

High Free Volume Polyelectrolytes for Anion Exchange Membrane Water Electrolyzers with a Current Density of 13.39 A cm-2 and a Durability of 1000 h

The rational design of the current anion exchange polyelectrolytes (AEPs) is challenging to meet the requirements of both high performance and durability in anion exchange membrane water electrolyzers (AEMWEs). Herein, highly-rigid-twisted spirobisindane monomer is incorporated in poly(aryl-co-aryl piperidinium) backbone to construct continuous ionic channels and to maintain dimensional stability as promising materials for AEPs. The morphologies, physical, and electrochemical properties of the AEPs are investigated based on experimental data and molecular dynamics simulations. The present AEPs possess high free volumes, excellent dimensional stability, hydroxide conductivity (208.1 mS cm-1 at 80 °C), and mechanical properties. The AEMWE of the present AEPs achieves a new current density record of 13.39 and 10.7 A cm-2 at 80 °C by applying IrO2 and nonprecious anode catalyst, respectively, along with outstanding in situ durability under 1 A cm-2 for 1000 h with a low voltage decay rate of 53 µV h-1 . Moreover, the AEPs can be applied in fuel cells and reach a power density of 2.02 W cm-2 at 80 °C under fully humidified conditions, and 1.65 W cm-2 at 100 °C, 30% relative humidity. This study provides insights into the design of high-performance AEPs for energy conversion devices.

Triptycene Branched Poly(aryl-co-aryl piperidinium) Electrolytes for Alkaline Anion Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells and Water Electrolyzers

Alkaline polymer electrolytes (APEs) are essential materials for alkaline energy conversion devices such as anion exchange membrane fuel cells (AEMFCs) and water electrolyzers (AEMWEs). Here, we report a series of branched poly(aryl-co-aryl piperidinium) with different branching agents (triptycene: highly-rigid, three-dimensional structure; triphenylbenzene: planar, two-dimensional structure) for high-performance APEs. Among them, triptycene branched APEs showed excellent hydroxide conductivity (193.5 mS cm-1 @80 °C), alkaline stability, mechanical properties, and dimensional stability due to the formation of branched network structures, and increased free volume. AEMFCs based on triptycene-branched APEs reached promising peak power densities of 2.503 and 1.705 W cm-2 at 75/100 % and 30/30 % (anode/cathode) relative humidity, respectively. In addition, the fuel cells can run stably at a current density of 0.6 A cm-2 for 500 h with a low voltage decay rate of 46 μV h-1 . Importantly, the related AEMWE achieved unprecedented current densities of 16 A cm-2 and 14.17 A cm-2 (@2 V, 80 °C, 1 M NaOH) using precious and non-precious metal catalysts, respectively. Moreover, the AEMWE can be stably operated under 1.5 A cm-2 at 60 °C for 2000 h. The excellent results suggest that the triptycene-branched APEs are promising candidates for future AEMFC and AEMWE applications.

Diversity of nitrogen-fixing and phosphorus-solubilizing bacteria associated with the rhizosphere of Andean maize in Ecuador

A great diversity of microorganisms in the soil plays an important role in the sustainability of agricultural production systems. Among these microorganisms are bacteria that have the ability to fix atmospheric nitrogen or mineralize phosphorus, thus making it easily assimilable for plants. Maize is the main crop in the highlands of Ecuador (above 2000 meters) and it is predominantly traditional, using native seeds and very little or no agrochemicals. The National Institute of Agricultural Research (INIAP) has a collection of bacteria collected from the rhizosphere of maize in the highlands of Ecuador that has not been taxonomically identified. This research aimed to carry out a biochemical and genetic characterization to establish the identity of the collected nitrogen-fixing and phosphorus-solubilizing bacteria and to understand better the diversity of microorganisms present in the root biome of Andean maize. The hypothesis consisted of determining if there is a difference in the bacteria associated with the rhizosphere of maize in the Andean region of Ecuador compared with other regions. The bacteria underwent classical biochemical characterization based on catalase, oxidase, urease, sulfates, indole, sulfate-indole motility (SIM), and lactose, among others, and genetic identification by 16S rDNA ribosomal gene sequencing, PCR, and SANGER sequencing. A great diversity of microorganisms associated with the rhizosphere of the crop was found, including the genera Agrobacterium, Bacillus, Stenotrophomonas, Acinetobacter, Brevundimonas, Pseudomonas, and Pseudoxanthomonas. INIAP conserves these bacteria in a bank of microorganisms associated with crops of economic importance. They are useful for the development of biofertilizers that could contribute to a more sustainable agriculture in the region.

Development of Genetically Engineered Feeder Cells for Natural Killer Cell Expansion

BACKGROUND/AIM

To obtain sufficient numbers of high-quality natural killer (NK) cells, we developed feeder cells using synthetic biology techniques.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

K562 cells were engineered to express membrane bound interleukin-2 (mbIL2) or interleukin-13 (mbIL13).

RESULTS

The incubation of human primary NK cells isolated from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) with these feeder cells significantly increased the number of activated NK cells compared to K562 parental cells. Fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) analysis demonstrated that NKG2D activating receptors were abundant on the surface of NK cells expanded by K562-mbIL2 or mbIL13 cells. NK cells expanded on K562-mbIL2 or mbIL13 lysed cancer cells more effectively than those cultured with normal K562 cells. Using NK cells incubated with our feeder cells, we developed anti-CD19 chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-NK cells. They showed robust cytotoxic effect against CD19 positive cancer cell line.

CONCLUSION

Our newly developed feeder cells could provide useful tools for NK cell therapy.

T Cells Expressing CAR Equipped With Extracellular Domain of BTLA Are Effective Against HVEM-over-expressing Melanoma Cell Lines

BACKGROUND/AIM

Several chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells have been used to treat melanoma but have not shown favorable results. This study investigated whether Herpes virus entry mediator (HVEM), which is overexpressed in melanoma, is a potential novel antigen for CAR T cell therapy.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A CAR construct, composed of the BTLA extracellular domain for HVEM recognition (BTLA-28z), was developed and tested.

RESULTS

Jurkat cells transduced with BTLA-28z exhibited enhanced IL-2 secretion when incubated with HVEM-over-expressing melanoma cells. KHYG-1 cells transduced with BTLA-28z also lysed melanoma cell lines. Using primary T cells, we generated CAR T cells targeting HVEM. BTLA-28z CAR T cells exhibited excellent lytic activities against melanoma cell lines.

CONCLUSION

HVEM-targeting CAR T cells may be useful for the treatment of melanoma.

Optimized conditions for gene transduction into primary immune cells using viral vectors

Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapy has emerged as a promising modality for anti-cancer treatment. Its efficacy is quite remarkable in hematological tumors. Owing to their excellent clinical results, gene- modified cell therapies, including T cells, natural killer (NK) cells, and macrophages, are being actively studied in both academia and industry. However, the protocol to make CAR immune cells is too complicated, so it is still unclear how to efficiently produce the potent CAR immune cells. To manufacture effective CAR immune cells, we need to be aware of not only how to obtain highly infective viral particles, but also how to transduce CAR genes into immune cells. In this paper, we provide detailed information on spinoculation, which is one of the best known protocols to transduce genes into immune cells, in a methodological view. Our data indicate that gene transduction is significantly dependent on speed and duration of centrifugation, concentration and number of viral particles, the concentration of polybrene, and number of infected immune cells. In addition, we investigated on the optimal polyethylene glycol (PEG) solution to concentrate the viral supernatant and the optimized DNA ratios transfected into 293T cells to produce high titer of viral particles. This study provides useful information for practical production of the gene-modified immune cells using viral vectors.

Crystal structure of [1,2,4]triazolo[4,3-b]pyridazine derivatives as BRD4 bromodomain inhibitors and structure-activity relationship study

BRD4 contains two tandem bromodomains (BD1 and BD2) that recognize acetylated lysine for epigenetic reading, and these bromodomains are promising therapeutic targets for treating various diseases, including cancers. BRD4 is a well-studied target, and many chemical scaffolds for inhibitors have been developed. Research on the development of BRD4 inhibitors against various diseases is actively being conducted. Herein, we propose a series of [1,2,4]triazolo[4,3-b]pyridazine derivatives as bromodomain inhibitors with micromolar IC₅₀ values. We characterized the binding modes by determining the crystal structures of BD1 in complex with four selected inhibitors. Compounds containing [1,2,4] triazolo[4,3-b]pyridazine derivatives offer promising starting molecules for designing potent BRD4 BD inhibitors.

Biodegradation Studies of Polyhydroxybutyrate and Polyhydroxybutyrate-co-Polyhydroxyvalerate Films in Soil

Due to increased environmental pressures, significant research has focused on finding suitable biodegradable plastics to replace ubiquitous petrochemical-derived polymers. Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) are a class of polymers that can be synthesized by microorganisms and are biodegradable, making them suitable candidates. The present study looks at the degradation properties of two PHA polymers: polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) and polyhydroxybutyrate-co-polyhydroxyvalerate (PHBV; 8 wt.% valerate), in two different soil conditions: soil fully saturated with water (100% relative humidity, RH) and soil with 40% RH. The degradation was evaluated by observing the changes in appearance, chemical signatures, mechanical properties, and molecular weight of samples. Both PHB and PHBV were degraded completely after two weeks in 100% RH soil conditions and showed significant reductions in mechanical properties after just three days. The samples in 40% RH soil, however, showed minimal changes in mechanical properties, melting temperatures/crystallinity, and molecular weight over six weeks. By observing the degradation behavior for different soil conditions, these results can pave the way for identifying situations where the current use of plastics can be replaced with biodegradable alternatives.

Mesoscale Simulation Based on the Dynamic Mean-Field Density Functional Method on Block-Copolymeric Ionomers for Polymer Electrolyte Membranes

Block copolymers generally have peculiar morphological characteristics, such as strong phase separation. They have been actively applied to polymer electrolyte membranes for proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) to obtain well-defined hydrophilic regions and water channels as a proton pathway. Although molecular simulation tools are advantageous to investigate the mechanism of water channel formation based on the chemical structure and property relationships, classical molecular dynamics simulation has limitations regarding the model size and time scale, and these issues need to be addressed. In this study, we investigated the morphology of sulfonated block copolymers synthesized for PEM applications using a mesoscale simulation based on the dynamic mean-field density functional method, widely applied to investigate macroscopic systems such as polymer blends, micelles, and multi-block/grafting copolymers. Despite the similar solubility parameters of the monomers in our block-copolymer models, very different morphologies in our 3D mesoscale models were obtained. The model with sulfonated monomers, in which the number of sulfonic acid groups is twice that of the other model, showed better phase separation and water channel formation, despite the short length of its hydrophilic block. In conclusion, this unexpected behavior indicates that the role of water molecules is important in making PEM mesoscale models well-equilibrated in the mesoscale simulation, which results in the strong phase separation between hydrophilic and hydrophobic regions and the ensuing well-defined water channel. PEM synthesis supports the conclusion that using the sulfonated monomers with a high sulfonation degree (32.5 mS/cm) will be more effective than using the long hydrophilic block with a low sulfonation degree (25.2 mS/cm).

Evaluation of the MolecuTech® REBA MTB-XMDR kit for detection of pre-extensively drug-resistant TB

BACKGROUND: Rapid diagnosis of drug-resistant TB is critical for early initiation of effective therapy. YD Diagnostics in South Korea recently developed the MolecuTech^® REBA MTB-XMDR test to rapidly detect multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB), pre-extensively drug-resistant TB (pre-XDR-TB) and resistance to second-line injectable drugs (SLIDs) simultaneously using a fully automated test platform. This study aimed to evaluate the MolecuTech^® test for the detection of MDR- and pre-XDR-TB, as well as SLID resistance.METHODS: A total of 151 clinical Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates from South Korea were tested using the MolecuTech test, and the results were analysed by comparing these with phenotypic drug susceptibility testing (pDST) and sequencing.RESULTS: Compared to pDST, the MolecuTech test showed a sensitivity and specificity of respectively 97.7% and 100.0% for rifampicin (RIF), 82.4% and 100.0% for isoniazid (INH), 97.5% and 97.2% for fluoroquinolones (FQs), and 94.0% and 98.8% for SLIDs. Concordances with the sequencing results of each resistance determinant were 99.3% for RIF, 96.7% for INH, 98.7% for FQs and 99.3% for SLIDs.CONCLUSION: The MolecuTech test is an efficient and reliable rapid molecular diagnostic tool for the simultaneous screening of MDR- and pre-XDR-TB.

Atypical periprosthetic femoral fracture with stem breakage: a case report

Although the American Society for Bone and Mineral Research definition of atypical femoral fracture excludes periprosthetic fractures, fractures around the prosthesis with clinical features of atypical femoral fractures have been reported in the literature. All fractures reported thus far have been distal to the prosthetic segment; however, we encountered a case of a stress fracture in the middle of the femoral component segment. An 86-year-old woman with a history of bisphosphonate osteoporosis treatment and revisional total hip arthroplasty visited our outpatient clinic complaining of pain in the left thigh and groin. We diagnosed an incomplete atypical femoral fracture around the hip prosthesis; medical treatment was implemented. Two months later, the patient visited the emergency department with a complete subtrochanteric fracture with stem breakage. Without revision of the broken stem, two plates were applied after reduction. In this case, we recognized the possibility of a stress fracture but overlooked the possibility of stem breakage in an atypical femoral fracture. Even if it is not evident on the radiograph before complete fracture, clinicians should be alert to the signs of stress fracture in the middle of the femoral component segment, as they may be clues to atypical periprosthetic femoral fracture with stem failure. Isolated medical treatment plans are not recommended for incomplete subtrochanteric atypical periprosthetic femoral fracture. Instead, concomitant prophylactic plate fixation is recommended.

Copper-Mediated Three-Component Reaction for the Synthesis of N-Acylsulfonamide on DNA

The DNA-encoded library (DEL) technology is a new method for discovering hit compounds for target proteins in the pharmaceutical industry. The N-acylsulfonamide functional group has been reported to exhibit various pharmacological activities, and based on this, the demand for a method that allows its introduction into the DEL platform has increased. In this report, a procedure for synthesizing N-acylsulfonamide functional groups applicable to DEL construction was developed in the presence of a copper reagent and water as a nucleophile from simple alkynes or sulfonyl azides, which are widely commercially available. Furthermore, we prove that a new alternative procedure can be used to construct a DNA-encoded library.

Development of artificial neural networks software for arsenic adsorption from an aqueous environment

Arsenic contamination is a global problem, as it affects the health of millions of people. For this study, data-driven artificial neural network (ANN) software was developed to predict and validate the removal of As(V) from an aqueous solution using graphene oxide (GO) under various experimental conditions. A reliable model for wastewater treatment is essential in order to predict its overall performance and to provide an idea of how to control its operation. This model considered the adsorption process parameters (initial concentration, adsorbent dosage, pH, and residence time) as the input variables and arsenic removal as the only output. The ANN model predicted the adsorption efficiency with high accuracy for both training and testing datasets, when compared with the available response surface methodology (RSM) model. Based on the best model synaptic weights, user-friendly ANN software was created to predict and analyze arsenic removal as a function of adsorption process parameters. We developed various graphical user interfaces (GUI) for easy use of the developed model. Thus, a researcher can efficiently operate the software without an understanding of programming or artificial neural networks. Sensitivity analysis and quantitative estimation were carried out to study the function of adsorption process parameter variables on As(V) removal efficiency, using the GUI of the model. The model prediction shows that the adsorbent dosages, initial concentration, and pH are the most influential parameters. The efficiency was increased as the adsorbent dosages increased, decreasing with initial concentration and pH. The result show that the pH 2.0-5.0 is optimal for adsorbent efficiency (%).

c-Met-Specific Chimeric Antigen Receptor T Cells Demonstrate Anti-Tumor Effect in c-Met Positive Gastric Cancer

Simple Summary

c-Met is known to be overexpressed in gastric cancers. Here, we developed anti-c-Met CAR T cell and measured its anti-tumor efficacy in vitro and in vivo. Our anti c-Met CAR T cells have shown selective killing of c-Met overexpressed gastric cancer cells. Based on our results, we suggest that anti-c-Met CAR T cell therapy could be effective for gastric cancer patients.

Abstract

Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) technology has been highlighted in recent years as a new therapeutic approach for cancer treatment. Although the impressive efficacy of CAR-based T cell adoptive immunotherapy has been observed in hematologic cancers, limited effect has been reported on solid tumors. Approximately 20% of gastric cancer (GC) patients exhibit a high expression of c-Met. We have generated an anti c-Met CAR construct that is composed of a single-chain variable fragment (scFv) of c-Met antibody and signaling domains consisting of CD28 and CD3ζ. To test the CAR construct, we used two cell lines: the Jurkat and KHYG-1 cell lines. These are convenient cell lines, compared to primary T cells, to culture and to test CAR constructs. We transduced CAR constructs into Jurkat cells by electroporation. c-Met CAR Jurkat cells secreted interleukin-2 (IL-2) only when incubated with c-Met positive GC cells. To confirm the lytic function of CAR, the CAR construct was transduced into KHYG-1, a NK/T cell line, using lentiviral particles. c-Met CAR KHYG-1 showed cytotoxic effect on c-Met positive GC cells, while c-Met negative GC cell lines were not eradicated by c-Met CAR KHYG-1. Based on these data, we created c-Met CAR T cells from primary T cells, which showed high IL-2 and IFN-γ secretion when incubated with the c-Met positive cancer cell line. In an in vivo xenograft assay with NSG bearing MKN-45, a c-Met positive GC cell line, c-Met CAR T cells effectively inhibited the tumor growth of MKN-45. Our results show that the c-Met CAR T cell therapy can be effective on GC.

Subtrochanteric atypical femoral fracture induced solely by glucocorticoid without bisphosphonate treatment: a case report

An AFF is a form of stress fracture induced by excessive physiologic repetitive stress over the bone remodeling capacity. Although glucocorticoid administration is a known risk factor for AFF, no case of AFF with glucocorticoid administration as the only risk factor has been previously reported. In this report, we aimed to highlight the risk of AFF associated with long-term administration of glucocorticoids, and the importance of surveillance and correction of risk factors in patients undergoing long-term glucocorticoid therapy. A 58-year-old male patient was diagnosed with subtrochanteric AFF. He had no medical history of any condition that might disrupt bone metabolism and no known risk factors for AFF, except for long-term administration of glucocorticoid. After fixation of the fracture, the glucocorticoid was replaced with an alternative medication. Although AFF is notorious for delayed union or nonunion, complete union of the fracture was obtained at 14 months postoperatively. This case brought to our attention the possibility that glucocorticoids alone may be responsible for inducing AFF and highlighted the importance of regular assessments in case of necessity of glucocorticoid administration. Additionally, correction of risk factors might expedite the union of AFF.

Microporous polymers with cascaded cavities for controlled transport of small gas molecules

In membrane-based separation, molecular size differences relative to membrane pore sizes govern mass flux and separation efficiency. In applications requiring complex molecular differentiation, such as in natural gas processing, cascaded pore size distributions in membranes allow different permeate molecules to be separated without a reduction in throughput. Here, we report the decoration of microporous polymer membrane surfaces with molecular fluorine. Molecular fluorine penetrates through the microporous interface and reacts with rigid polymeric backbones, resulting in membrane micropores with multimodal pore size distributions. The fluorine acts as angstrom-scale apertures that can be controlled for molecular transport. We achieved a highly effective gas separation performance in several industrially relevant hollow-fibrous modular platform with stable responses over 1 year.

Modeling and optimization of process parameters of biofilm reactor for wastewater treatment

The efficiency of heavy metal in biofilm reactors depends on absorption process parameters, and those relationships are complicated. This study explores artificial neural networks (ANNs) feasibility to correlate the biofilm reactor process parameters with absorption efficiency. The heavy metal removal and turbidity were modeled as a function of five process parameters, namely pH, temperature(°C), feed flux(ml/min), substrate flow(ml/min), and hydraulic retention time(h). We developed a standalone ANN software for predicting and analyzing the absorption process in handling industrial wastewater. The model was tested extensively to confirm that the predictions are reasonable in the context of the absorption kinetics principles. The model predictions showed that the temperature and pH values are the most influential parameters affecting absorption efficiency and turbidity.

Making Potent CAR T Cells Using Genetic Engineering and Synergistic Agents

Immunotherapies are emerging as powerful weapons for the treatment of malignancies. Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-engineered T cells have shown dramatic clinical results in patients with hematological malignancies. However, it is still challenging for CAR T cell therapy to be successful in several types of blood cancer and most solid tumors. Many attempts have been made to enhance the efficacy of CAR T cell therapy by modifying the CAR construct using combination agents, such as compounds, antibodies, or radiation. At present, technology to improve CAR T cell therapy is rapidly developing. In this review, we particularly emphasize the most recent studies utilizing genetic engineering and synergistic agents to improve CAR T cell therapy.

Rapid custom prototyping of soft poroelastic biosensor for simultaneous epicardial recording and imaging

The growing need for the implementation of stretchable biosensors in the body has driven rapid prototyping schemes through the direct ink writing of multidimensional functional architectures. Recent approaches employ biocompatible inks that are dispensable through an automated nozzle injection system. However, their application in medical practices remains challenged in reliable recording due to their viscoelastic nature that yields mechanical and electrical hysteresis under periodic large strains. Herein, we report sponge-like poroelastic silicone composites adaptable for high-precision direct writing of custom-designed stretchable biosensors, which are soft and insensitive to strains. Their unique structural properties yield a robust coupling to living tissues, enabling high-fidelity recording of spatiotemporal electrophysiological activity and real-time ultrasound imaging for visual feedback. In vivo evaluations of custom-fit biosensors in a murine acute myocardial infarction model demonstrate a potential clinical utility in the simultaneous intraoperative recording and imaging on the epicardium, which may guide definitive surgical treatments.

Novel brd4 inhibitors with a unique scaffold exhibit antitumor effects

Since bromodomain containing 4 (brd4) has been considered as a prominent cancer target, numerous attempts have been made to develop potent brd4 bromodomain inhibitors. The present study provided a novel chemical scaffold which inhibited brd4 activity. Mid-throughput screening against brd4 bromodomain was performed using alpha-screen and homogeneous time-resolved fluorescence assays. Furthermore, cell cytotoxicity and xenograft assays were performed to examine if the compound was effective both in vitro and in vivo. As a result, it was revealed that compounds having naphthalene-1,4-dione scaffold inhibited the binding of bromodomain to acetylated histone. The compounds with naphthalene-1,4-dione had cytotoxic effects against the Ty82 cell line, a NUT midline carcinoma cell line, whose proliferation is dependent on brd4 activity. A10, one of the compounds with naphthalene-1,4-dione scaffold, also exhibited tumor growth inhibition effects in the xenograft assay. In addition, the compounds exhibited cytotoxic effects against gastric cancer cell lines which were resistant to I-BET-762, a BET bromodomain inhibitor. In conclusion, the novel scaffold to suppress brd4 activity was effective against cancer cells both in vitro and in vivo.

Development of Antigen-specific Chimeric Antigen Receptor KHYG-1 Cells for Glioblastoma

BACKGROUND/AIM

Glioblastoma is the most common cancer among primary brain tumors, however, its prognosis and treatment advances are very poor. Here, we investigated whether c-Met, FOLR1, and AXL proteins are promising targets for chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy, for they are known to be over-expressed in a variety of solid tumors.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

CAR constructs were prepared and CAR KHYG-1 cells targeting c-Met, FOLR1, or AXL were made by lentiviral transduction. The activity of CAR KHYG-1 cells against cancer cells was measured by cytokine secretion and cell lysis assays.

RESULTS

c-Met and AXL were over-expressed in most glioblastoma cell lines (11/13), but not in neuroblastoma cell lines (0/8). FOLR1 was over-expressed only in one among 16 glioblastoma cell lines. Our antigen-specific CAR KHYG-1 cells eradicated target positive glioblastoma cells selectively.

CONCLUSION

Anti-c-Met and anti-AXL CAR NK or T cells could be effective in glioblastoma cells.

Myocardial extracellular space expansion is related to burden of premature ventricular contractions in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy without non-sustained ventricular tachycardia

Funding Acknowledgements

Type of funding sources: None.

Background

Current guidelines suggest the presence of non-sustained ventricular tachycardia (NSVT) as a risk factor of sudden cardiac death in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). However, high burden of premature ventricular contraction (PVC) may reflect myocardial fibrosis although the absence of NSVT.

Purpose

We investigated the association between PVC burden and myocardial extracellular space expansion in HCM patients without NSVT.

Methods

Of the 212 patients prospectively enrolled to the HCM registry of genetics, 84 patients were evaluated with both cardiac magnetic resonance and 24hr holter. Among them, 71 patients (58 males, mean age: 71 ± 13 years) have not been diagnosed with NSVT.

Results

Patients with NSVT (n = 13) showed more impaired LA functional indices and higher myocardial fibrosis burden compared with patients without NSVT (n = 71). Among patients who have not been diagnosed with NSVT, patients with late gadolinium enhancement (LGE, n = 46) had a higher total beats (109 ± 332 vs. 7 ± 13 beats per a day, p = 0.003) and burden (0.114 ± 0.225 vs. 0.008 ± 0.014 %, p = 0.003) of PVC during 24-hour compared with patients without LGE (n = 25). %LGE was correlated with total beats of PVC (r = 0.358, p = 0.002) and PVC burden (r = 0.377, p = 0.001). ECV also correlated with total beats of PVC (r = 0.387, p = 0.001) and PVC burden (r = 0.401, p = 0.001). The optimal cutoff value for PVC number was 45 (37.0% of sensitivity and 100% of specificity) with 0.733 of the area under the ROC curve (p < 0.001). Pathogenic or likely pathogenic sarcomere mutation was higher in NSVT group than no NSVT group (p < 0.05), and had a higher tendency in higher PVC burden group (0.05 < p < 0.1) than lower PVC burden group.

Conclusions

Total beats and burden of PVC are significantly related to increase in myocardial fibrosis in HCM patients without NSVT.

Abstract Figure. Mechanism of ventricular arrhythmia

Identification of Potent CD19 scFv for CAR T Cells through scFv Screening with NK/T-Cell Line

CD19 is the most promising target for developing chimeric-antigen receptor (CAR) T cells against B-cell leukemic cancer. Currently, two CAR-T-cell products, Kymriah and Yescarta, are approved for leukemia patients, and various anti-CD19 CAR T cells are undergoing clinical trial. Most of these anti-CD19 CAR T cells use FMC63 single-chain variable fragments (scFvs) for binding CD19 expressed on the cancer cell surface. In this study, we screened several known CD19 scFvs for developing anti-CD19 CAR T cells. We used the KHYG-1 NK/T-cell line for screening of CD19 scFvs because it has advantages in terms of cell culture and gene transduction compared to primary T cells. Using our CAR construct backbone, we made anti-CD19 CAR constructs which each had CD19 scFvs including FMC63, B43, 25C1, BLY3, 4G7, HD37, HB12a, and HB12b, then made each anti-CD19 CAR KHYG-1 cells. Interestingly, only FMC63 CAR KHYG-1 and 4G7 CAR KHYG-1 efficiently lysed CD19-positive cell lines. In addition, in Jurkat cell line, only these two CAR Jurkat cell lines secreted IL-2 when co-cultured with CD19-positive cell line, NALM-6. Based on these results, we made FMC63 CAR T cells and 4G7 CAR T cells from PBMC. In in vitro lysis assay, 4G7 CAR T cells lysed CD19-positive cell line as well as FMC63 CAR T cells. In in vivo assay with NOD.Cg-PrkdcscidIl2rgtm1Wjl/SzJ (NSG) mice, 4G7 CAR T cells eradicated NALM-6 as potently as FMC63 CAR T cells. Therefore, we anticipate that 4G7 CAR T cells will show as good a result as FMC63 CAR T cells for B-cell leukemia patients.

Supporting data for impact of filler composition on mechanical and dynamic response of 3-D printed silicone-based nanocomposite elastomers

This research reports on the physical and mechanical effects of various filler materials used in direct ink write (DIW) 3-D printing resins. The data reported herein supports interpretation and discussion provided in the research article "Impact of Filler Composition on Mechanical and Dynamic Response of 3-D Printed Silicone-based Nanocomposite Elastomers" [1]. The datasheet describes the model structures and the interaction energies between the fillers and the other components by using Molecular Dynamics (MD) simulations. This report includes mechanical responses of single-cubic (SC) and face-centered tetragonal (FCT) structures printed using new DIW resin formulations (polydimethylsiloxane-based silicones filled with aluminum oxide, graphite, or titanium dioxide). Using MD simulations and mechanical data, the overall flexibility and interactions between resin components are fully characterized.

Discovery of a Novel Chemical Scaffold Against Mutant Isocitrate Dehydrogenase 1 (IDH1)

BACKGROUND

Mutations in the isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 (IDH1) gene are frequently found in various cancer types. IDH1 mutants produce 2-hydroxyglutarate (2-HG), an oncometabolite, from alpha-ketoglutarate (α-KG). This 2-HG plays a key role in tumorigenesis via inhibition of α-KG dependent enzymes. For this reason, IDH1 mutant could be an ideal target for the treatment of cancer.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

To find a new IDH1 inhibitor, 8,364 compounds were obtained from Korea Chemical Bank. Using high-throughput screening (HTS) of a chemical library, we unveiled a compound that could inhibit the IDH1 mutant.

RESULTS

According to the enzyme assay, our compound (KRC-09) effectively inhibited the activity of IDH1 R132H mutant. In addition, KRC-09 decreased the concentration of intracellular 2-HG in the U-87 MG cell line harboring IDH1 R132H.

CONCLUSION

In this article, we present a novel chemical scaffold that suppresses the activity of an IDH1 mutant.

A Chemical Switch System to Modulate Chimeric Antigen Receptor T Cell Activity through Proteolysis-Targeting Chimaera Technology

Despite the excellent efficacy of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR T) cell therapy, concerns about its safety have been constantly raised. The side effects of CAR T cells result from an aberrantly upregulation of CAR T cell activity. Therefore, it is crucial to control the CAR T cell activity whenever the patient is at risk. For this purpose, the iCas9 system, which induces apoptosis in CAR T cell through caspase-9 dimerization by compound, has been invented and is currently going under clinical trial. However, the iCas9 system is irreversible, as the entire CAR T cell population is removed from the patient. Thus, CAR T cells, which are very expensive, should be reinfused to the patients after they recovered from the side-effect. Here, we propose a new CAR T cell safety strategy, which targets CAR "protein", not CAR "T cell". In this system, the CAR construct is modified to bear a bromodomain (BD). The addition of a BD in the CAR protein did not interfere with the original CAR functions, such as cytokine secretion and target cell lysis. Our data showed that the use of a proteolysis-targeting chimaera (PROTAC) compound against BD successfully degraded the BD-containing CAR protein. Moreover, the CAR expression is recovered when the PROTAC compound is removed from the cell, demonstrating that our system is reversible. In a target cell lysis assay, the PROTAC compound successfully suppressed the lytic activity of CAR T cells by degrading the CAR protein. In conclusion, we developed a new safety system in which CAR T cells can be "reversibly" controlled by a compound.

Preoperative evaluation of mammographic microcalcifications after neoadjuvant chemotherapy for breast cancer

AIM

To assess the predictive value of preoperative residual mammographic microcalcifications for residual tumours after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) for breast cancer.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This single-centre retrospective study included breast cancer patients who underwent NAC and demonstrated suspicious microcalcifications within or near the tumour bed on mammography from June 2015 to August 2018. The residual microcalcifications and remnant lesion on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were correlated with histopathological findings of residual tumours and immunohistochemical markers.

RESULTS

A total of 96 patients were included. Ten patients achieved pathological complete response (pCR) and previous suspicious microcalcifications were associated with benign pathology in 10.4% (10/96) of the patients. In the remaining 86 patients who did not achieve pCR, 61.5% (59/96) of the residual microcalcifications were associated with invasive or in situ carcinoma and 28.1% (27/96) with benign pathology. Hormone receptor-positive (HR⁺) patients had the highest proportion of residual malignant microcalcifications compared to HR^- patients (48.9% versus 13.5%, respectively; p=0.019). MRI correlated better than residual microcalcifications on mammography in predicting residual tumour extent in all subtypes (ICC=0.709 versus 0.365). MRI also showed higher correlation with residual tumour size for the HR^-/HER2⁺ and HR^-/HER2^- subtype (ICC=0.925 and 0.876, respectively).

CONCLUSION

The extent of microcalcifications on mammography after NAC did not correlate with the extent of residual cancer in 38.5% of women. Regardless of the extent of microcalcifications, residual tumour extent on MRI after NAC and molecular subtype could be an accurate tool in evaluating residual cancer after NAC.

Combined effects of sous-vide cooking conditions on meat and sensory quality characteristics of chicken breast meat

This study investigated the combined effects of cooking temperature and time on the meat and eating quality characteristics of the sous-vide chicken breast. For the control group, chicken breast samples were cooked in a convection oven until the internal temperature reached 71°C. Each sample for sous-vide cooking was vacuum packaged and then cooked under continuous thermocontrolled conditions in a water bath at 6 combinations of cooking temperature (60 and 70°C) and time (1, 2, and 3 h). Sous-vide cooked chicken meat at 60°C for 1 h (SV60-1h) showed lower cooking loss (6.58 vs. 26.5%, P < 0.05), Warner-Bratzler shear force (21.7 vs. 29.1 N, P < 0.05), and hardness (9.40 vs. 17.3 N, P < 0.05) than meat cooked by conventional oven. Similar to the objective tenderness parameters, cooked chicken meat from the SV60 treatments for all cooking times showed higher scores in all the tenderness attributes than the control group (P < 0.05). However, a higher flavor intensity was observed in the SV70-3h and control groups than in the SV60 treatments (P < 0.05). Owing to a lesser developed flavor in chicken meat from the SV60-1h treatment, the SV60-2h and 3h treatments were assigned a higher acceptability rating for overall impression (P < 0.05). Therefore, cooking temperature and time of sous-vide significantly influenced the physicochemical and palatability characteristics of chicken breast. In this study, the optimum conditions for the sous-vide chicken breast are to continuously cook at 60°C for 2 to 3 h to improve sensory quality characteristics without reducing the water-holding capacity.

Betulinic acid inhibits high-fat diet-induced obesity and improves energy balance by activating AMPK

BACKGROUND AND AIM

Metabolic syndromes are prevalent worldwide and result in various complications including obesity, cardiovascular disease and type II diabetes. Betulinic acid (BA) is a naturally occurring triterpenoid that has anti-inflammatory properties. We hypothesized that treatment with BA may result in decreased body weight gain, adiposity and hepatic steatosis in a diet-induced mouse model of obesity.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Mice fed a high-fat diet and treated with BA showed less weight gain and tissue adiposity without any change in calorie intake. Gene expression profiling of mouse tissues and cell lines revealed that BA treatment increased expression of lipid oxidative genes and decreased that of lipogenesis-related genes. This modulation was mediated by increased AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) phosphorylation, which facilitates energy expenditure, lipid oxidation and thermogenic capacity and exerts protective effects against obesity and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. Overall, BA markedly inhibited the development of obesity and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in mice fed a high-fat diet, and AMPK activation in various tissues and enhanced thermogenesis are two possible mechanisms underlying the antiobesity and antisteatogenic effects of BA.

CONCLUSIONS

The current findings suggest that treatment with BA is a potential dietary strategy for preventing obesity and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.

Abstract P4-11-03: Withdrawn

This abstract was withdrawn by the authors.

Citation Format: Kim EY, Park YL, Park CH, Suh BC. Withdrawn [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2018 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2018 Dec 4-8; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2019;79(4 Suppl):Abstract nr P4-11-03.

Poly(2,6-dimethyl-1,4-phenylene oxide)s with Various Head Groups: Effect of Head Groups on the Properties of Anion Exchange Membranes

Poly(2,6-dimethyl-1,4-phenylene oxide)s (PPOs)-based anion exchange membranes (AEMs) with four of the most widely investigated head groups were prepared. Through a combination of experimental and simulation approaches, the effects of the different types of head groups on the properties of the AEMs, including hydroxide conductivity, water content, physicochemical stability, and fuel cell device performance were fully explored. Unlike other studies, in which the conductivity was mostly investigated in liquid water, the conductivity of the PPO-based AEMs in 95% relative humidity (RH) conditions as well as in liquid water was investigated. The conductivity trend in 95% RH condition was different from that in liquid water but corresponded well with the actual cell performance trend observed, suggesting that the AEM fuel cell performance under in situ cell conditions (95% RH, 60 °C, H₂/O₂) is more closely related to the conductivity measured ex situ under 95% RH conditions (60 °C) than in liquid water. On the basis of the conductivity data and molecular simulation results, it was concluded that the predominant hydroxide ion-conducting mechanism in liquid water differs from that in the operating fuel cell environment, where the ionomers become hydrated only as a result of water vapor transported into the cells.

Preparation and Characterization of Various Poly(ether ether ketone) Containing Imidazolium Moiety for Anion Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell Application

In this study, various poly(ether ether ketone) were synthesized using three different monomers and the imidazolium group was introduced into synthesized poly(ether ether ketone)s by using substitution reaction. Synthesized polymers were used to prepare anion exchange membranes and to evaluate its properties. Thermal, chemical and structural properties were carried out using thermogravimetric analysis, nuclear magnetic resonance. The anion exchange membranes with different imidazolium moieties were characterized by several different analytical techniques such as water up take, ion exchange capacity, hydroxide conductivity for checking the possibility to apply the anion exchange membrane fuel cell. Consequently, results of characterization were studied to understand the correlation between stabilities of the membrane and functional group and polymer backbone structures. And we confirm membrane performance was improved by increasing imidazolium cation groups.

A natural compound, aristoyagonine, is identified as a potent bromodomain inhibitor by mid-throughput screening

Bromodomain-containing protein 4 (Brd4) is known to play a key role in tumorigenesis. It binds acetylated histones to regulate the expression of numerous genes. Because of the importance of brd4 in tumorigenesis, much research has been undertaken to develop brd4 inhibitors with therapeutic potential. As a result, various scaffolds for bromodomain inhibitors have been identified. To discover new scaffolds, we performed mid-throughput screening using two different enzyme assays, alpha-screen and ELISA. We found a novel bromodomain inhibitor with a unique scaffold, aristoyagonine. This natural compound showed inhibitory activity in vitro and tumor growth inhibition in a Ty82-xenograft mouse model. In addition, we tested Brd4 inhibitors in gastric cancer cell lines, and found that aristoyagonine exerted cytotoxicity not only in I-BET-762-sensitive cancer cells, but also in I-BET-762-resistant cancer cells. This is the first paper to describe a natural compound as a Brd4 bromodomain inhibitor.

Folate receptor 1 (FOLR1) targeted chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells for the treatment of gastric cancer

Gastric cancer is a malignancy that has a high mortality rate. Although progress has been made in the treatment of gastric cancer, many patients experience cancer recurrence and metastasis. Folate receptor 1 (FOLR1) is overexpressed on the cell surface in over one-third of gastric cancer patients, but rarely is expressed in normal tissue. This makes FOLR1 a potential target for chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell immunotherapy, although the function of FOLR1 has not been elucidated. CAR are engineered fusion receptor composed of an antigen recognition region and signaling domains. T cells expressing CAR have specific activation and cytotoxic effects against cancer cells containing the target antigen. In this study, we generated a CAR that targets FOLR1 composed of a single-chain variable fragment (scFv) of FOLR1 antibody and signaling domains consisting of CD28 and CD3ζ. Both FOLR1-CAR KHYG-1, a natural killer cell line, and FOLR1-CAR T cells recognized FOLR1-positive gastric cancer cells in a MHC-independent manner and induced secretion of various cytokines and caused cell death. Conclusively, this is the first study to demonstrate that CAR KHYG-1/T cells targeting FOLR1 are effective against FOLR1-positive gastric cancer cells.

Comparison of mode of failure between primary and revision total knee arthroplasties

INTRODUCTION

Cognizance of common reasons for failure in primary and revision TKA, together with their time course, facilitates prevention. However, there have been few reports specifically comparing modes of failure for primary vs. revision TKA using a single prosthesis. The goal of the study was to compare the survival rates, modes of failure, and time periods associated with each mode of failure, of primary vs. revision TKA.

HYPOTHESIS

The survival rates, modes of failure, time period for each mode of failure, and risk factors would differ between primary and revision TKA.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Data from a consecutive cohort comprising 1606 knees (1174 patients) of primary TKA patients, and 258 knees (224 patients) of revision TKA patients, in all of whom surgery involved a P.F.C^® prosthesis (Depuy, Johnson & Johnson, Warsaw, IN), was retrospectively reviewed. The mean follow-up periods of primary and revision TKAs were 9.2 and 9.8 years, respectively.

RESULTS

The average 10- and 15-year survival rates for primary TKA were 96.7% (CI 95%,±0.7%) and 85.4% (CI 95%,±2.0%), and for revision TKA 91.4% (CI 95%,±2.5%) and 80.5% (CI 95%,±4.5%). Common modes of failure included polyethylene wear, loosening, and infection. The most common mode of failure was polyethylene wear in primary TKA, and infection in revision TKA. The mean periods (i.e., latencies) of polyethylene wear and loosening did not differ between primary and revision TKAs, but the mean period of infection was significantly longer for revision TKA (1.2 vs. 4.8 years, P=0.003).

DISCUSSION

Survival rates decreased with time, particularly more than 10 years post-surgery, for both primary and revision TKAs. Continuous efforts are required to prevent and detect the various modes of failure during long-term follow-up. Greater attention is necessary to detect late infection-induced failure following revision TKA.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Case-control study, Level III.

Diffusion-Weighted Imaging of Brain Metastasis from Lung Cancer: Correlation of MRI Parameters with the Histologic Type and Gene Mutation Status

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Development of noninvasive imaging biomarkers indicating the histology and the gene mutation status of brain metastasis from lung cancer is important. We aimed to investigate diffusion-weighted imaging parameters as predictors of the histology and gene mutations of brain metastasis from lung cancer.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

DWI data for 74 patients with brain metastasis from lung cancer were retrospectively reviewed. The patients were first grouped according to the primary tumor histology (adenocarcinoma, small-cell lung cancer, squamous cell carcinoma), and those with adenocarcinoma were further divided into epidermal growth factor receptor (EFGR) mutation-positive and wild type groups. Sex; age; number, size, and location of brain metastasis; DWI visual scores; the minimum ADC; and the normalized ADC ratio were compared among groups using χ² and ANOVA. Multiple logistic regression analysis was performed to determine independent predictors of the EGFR mutation.

RESULTS

The minimum ADC was lower in the small-cell lung cancer group than in the other 2 groups, though the difference was not significant. Furthermore, minimum ADC and the normalized ADC ratio were significantly lower in the EGFR mutation-positive group than in the wild type group (P = .021 and .014, respectively). Multivariate analysis revealed that minimum ADC and the normalized ADC ratio were independently associated with the EGFR mutation status (P = .028 and .021, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

Our results suggest that DWI parameters (minimum ADC and normalized ADC ratio) for the solid components of brain metastasis from lung cancer are not correlated with their histology, whereas they can predict the EGFR mutation status in brain metastasis from lung adenocarcinoma.

Mid-term outcomes and complications of total knee arthroplasty in haemophilic arthropathy: A review of consecutive 131 knees between 2006 and 2015 in a single institute

INTRODUCTION

Although total knee arthroplasty (TKA) in haemophilic arthropathy can reduce severe joint pain and improve functional disability, it is technically demanding.

AIM

To evaluate mid-term outcomes and complications of TKA in haemophilic arthropathy.

METHODS

This study retrospectively reviewed 131 consecutive primary TKAs in a single institute. The mean age was 41.0 years old, and the mean follow-up period was 6.8 years. Clinical and radiographic results were evaluated. Complications were categorized according to the classification system of the Knee Society for TKA complications.

RESULTS

The average Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Arthritis Index (WOMAC) score improved from 66.0 to 24.2. The average flexion contracture significantly decreased from 17.3° to 4.7°, but the average pre- and postoperative maximum flexion did not differ (80.9° vs 85.6°, respectively). The average mechanical axis was varus 5.2° preoperatively and valgus 0.3° postoperatively. The coronal positions of the femoral and tibial components and the sagittal positions of these components were within ±3° in 83.2%, 89.3%, 63.4% and 73.3% of cases, respectively. Complications occurred in 17 knees (13.0%): hemarthrosis (n = 7), medial collateral ligament injury (n = 1), stiffness (n = 2), deep periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) (n = 3) and periprosthetic fracture (n = 4).

CONCLUSIONS

The mid-term results of TKA in haemophilic arthropathy were satisfactory in pain relief, improved function and decreased flexion contracture. Bleeding and PJI continue to be major concerns for TKA in haemophilic arthropathy, and risk of periprosthetic fracture must be taken into account for patient education and appropriate prevention.

Synthesis and biological evaluation of indazole-4,7-dione derivatives as novel BRD4 inhibitors

Bromodomain-containing protein 4 (BRD4) is known to regulate the expression of c-Myc to control the proliferation of cancer cells. Therefore, development of small-molecule inhibitors targeting the bromodomain has been widely studied. However, some clinical trials on BRD4 inhibitors have shown its drawbacks such as toxicity including the loss of organ weight. Here, we report the development of the novel and promising scaffold, 1H-indazol-4,7-dione, as a bromodomain inhibitor and synthesized derivatives for the inhibition of binding of bromodomain to acetylated histone peptide. Through this effort, we obtained 6-chloro-5-((2,6-difluorophenyl)amino)-1H-indazole-4,7-dione (5i), which showed a highly potent activity with a half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC₅₀) of 60 nM. The in vivo xenograft assay confirmed that the 1H-indazol-4,7-dione compound reduced the tumor size significantly. These results show that the 1H-indazol-4,7-dione scaffold is highly potent against bromodomain.