S6K1 deficiency in tumor stroma impairs lung metastasis of melanoma in mice

Accumulating data suggest that ribosomal protein S6 kinase 1 (S6K1), an effector in the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway, plays pleiotropic roles in tumor progression. However, to date, while the tumorigenic function of S6K1 in tumor cells has been well elucidated, its role in the tumor stroma remains poorly understood. We recently showed that S6K1 mediates vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF-A) production in macrophages, thereby supporting tumor angiogenesis and growth. As macrophage-derived VEGF-A is crucial for both tumor cell intravasation and extravasation across the vascular endothelium, our previous findings suggest that stromal S6K1 signaling is required for tumor metastatic spread. Therefore, we aimed to determine the impact of host S6K1 depletion on tumor metastasis using a murine model of pulmonary metastasis (S6k1-/- mice implanted with B16F10 melanoma). The ablation of S6K1 in the host microenvironment significantly reduced the metastasized B16F10 melanoma cells on the lung surface in both spontaneous and intravenous lung metastasis mouse models without affecting the incidence of metastasis to distant lymph nodes. In addition, stromal S6K1 loss decreased the number of tumor cells circulating in the peripheral blood of mice bearing B16F10 xenografts without affecting the vascular leakage induced by VEGF-A in vivo. These observations demonstrate that S6K1 signaling in host cells other than endothelial cells is required to modulate the host microenvironment to facilitate the metastatic spread of tumors via blood circulation, thus revealing its novel role in the tumor stroma during tumor progression.

Activation of Lysosomal Function Ameliorates Amyloid-β-Induced Tight Junction Disruption in the Retinal Pigment Epithelium

Accumulation of pathogenic amyloid-β disrupts the tight junction of retinal pigment epithelium (RPE), one of its senescence-like structural alterations. In the clearance of amyloid-β, the autophagy-lysosome pathway plays the crucial role. In this context, mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) inhibits the process of autophagy and lysosomal degradation, acting as a potential therapeutic target for age-associated disorders. However, efficacy of targeting mTOR to treat age-related macular degeneration remains largely elusive. Here, we validated the therapeutic efficacy of the mTOR inhibitors, Torin and PP242, in clearing amyloid-β by inducing the autophagy-lysosome pathway in a mouse model with pathogenic amyloid-β with tight junction disruption of RPE, which is evident in dry age-related macular degeneration. High concentration of amyloid-β oligomers induced autophagy-lysosome pathway impairment accompanied by the accumulation of p62 and decreased lysosomal activity in RPE cells. However, Torin and PP242 treatment restored the lysosomal activity via activation of LAMP2 and facilitated the clearance of amyloid-β in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, clearance of amyloid-β by Torin and PP242 ameliorated the tight junction disruption of RPE in vivo. Overall, our findings suggest mTOR inhibition as a new therapeutic strategy for the restoration of tight junctions in age-related macular degeneration.

Comparison of Check-All-That-Apply (CATA), Rate-All-That-Apply (RATA), Flash Profile, Free Listing, and Conventional Descriptive Analysis for the Sensory Profiling of Sweet Pumpkin Porridge

With significant progress in the use of rapid descriptive methodologies as alternatives to conventional descriptive analysis (DA), several consumer-based approaches have emerged. In this study, we compared four such methodologies-check-all-that-apply (CATA), rate-all-that-apply (RATA), flash profile (FP), and free listing (FL)-for sensory profiling to DA, using six sweet pumpkin porridges. The DA involved eight trained panelists, whereas each consumer evaluation engaged 60 untrained consumers. Overall, the performance of the consumer methods was similar to the DA, and it could effectively profile differences in consumer perceptions of sensory attributes, as evident from high regressor vector (RV) values (>0.89). RATA exhibited the highest similarity to the DA (Rv = 0.96), featuring quicker and less tedious processes compared with FP or FL. Novel combined methods for sensory characterization using the strengths of these four approaches are warranted. This includes leveraging the simplicity and versatility of CATA or RATA coupled with the capacity of FP or FL to capture spontaneous perceptions of products by consumers.

Plk2-mediated phosphorylation and translocalization of Nrf2 activates anti-inflammation through p53/Plk2/p21cip1 signaling in acute kidney injury

The Plk2 is a cellular stress-responsive factor that is induced in response to oxidative stress. However, the roles of Plk2 in acute kidney injury (AKI) have not been clarified. We previously found that Plk2 is an interacting factor of Nrf2 in response to cellular stress, since Plk2 is upregulated in the Nrf2-dependent network. Here, we show that the levels of p53, Plk2, p21cip1, and chromatin-bound Nrf2 were all upregulated in kidney tissues of mice or NRK52E cells treated with either cisplatin or methotrexate. Upregulation of Plk2 by p53 led to an increase of Nrf2 in both soluble and chromatin fractions in cisplatin-treated NRK52E cells. Consistently, depletion of Plk2 suppressed the levels of Nrf2. Of note, Plk2 directly phosphorylated Nrf2 at Ser40, which facilitated its interaction with p21cip1 and translocation into the nuclei for the activation of anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory factors in response to AKI. Together, these findings suggest that Plk2 may serve as an anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory regulator through the phosphorylation and activation of Nrf2 to protect kidney cells from kidney toxicants and that Plk2 and Nrf2 therefore work cooperatively for the protection and survival of kidney cells from harmful stresses.

PLK1-mediated phosphorylation of β-catenin enhances its stability and transcriptional activity for extracellular matrix remodeling in metastatic NSCLC

Rationale: β-catenin is a component for cell adhesion and a transcriptional coactivator in epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Previously we found that catalytically active PLK1 drives EMT in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), upregulating extracellular matrix factors including TSG6, laminin γ2, and CD44. To understand the underlying mechanism and clinical significance of PLK1 and β-catenin in NSCLC, their relationship and function in metastatic regulation were investigated. Methods: The clinical relevance between the survival rate of NSCLC patients and the expression of PLK1 and β-catenin was analyzed by a KM plot. Immunoprecipitation, kinase assay, LC-MS/MS spectrometry, and site-directed mutagenesis were performed to reveal their interaction and phosphorylation. A lentiviral doxycycline-inducible system, Transwell-based 3D culture, tail-vein injection model, confocal microscopy, and chromatin immunoprecipitation assays were used to elucidate the function of phosphorylated β-catenin in the EMT of NSCLC. Results: Clinical analysis revealed that the high expression of CTNNB1/PLK1 was inversely correlated with the survival rates of 1,292 NSCLC patients, especially in metastatic NSCLC. In TGF-β-induced or active PLK1-driven EMT, β-catenin, PLK1, TSG6, laminin γ2, and CD44 were concurrently upregulated. β-catenin is a binding partner of PLK1 in TGF-β-induced EMT and is phosphorylated at S311. Phosphomimetic β-catenin promotes cell motility, invasiveness of NSCLC cells, and metastasis in a tail-vein injection mouse model. Its upregulated stability by phosphorylation enhances transcriptional activity through nuclear translocation for the expression of laminin γ2, CD44, and c-Jun, therefore enhancing PLK1 expression by AP-1. Conclusions: Our findings provide evidence for the critical role of the PLK1/β-catenin/AP-1 axis in metastatic NSCLC, implying that β-catenin and PLK1 may serve as a molecular target and prognostic indicator of the therapeutic response in metastatic NSCLC patients.

CONTEMPLATING TEMPORAL LANDMARKS, SENSING TIME, AND PURSUING A MEANINGFUL LIFE IN ADULTHOOD

Research has shown that experiencing and anticipating temporal landmarks affect one’s goal priorities and motivation. Particularly, milestone birthdays (MBD) remind people of where they stand in life timeline, prompting time experience that has consequences for pursuit of meaning. The current study examines this thesis in the context of adult development and aging. We tested whether (1) thinking about past and future MBDs (vs. a regular birthday) affects young, middle-aged, and older adults’ possession of and search for meaning in life and (2) sense of time, and (3) the association between contemplating MBDs and meaning in life is, at least in part, explained by sense of time. Participants (N = 239) were randomly assigned to one of the three conditions to verbally visualize a past MBD, a future MBD, or an upcoming regular birthday. They then completed a meaning in life questionnaire, which assessed presence of and search for meaning (Steger et al., 2016). Future time perspective (Lang & Carstensen, 1996) and time savoring (Carstensen et al. in prep) were also measured. We found that thinking about past and future MBDs (vs. regular birthdays) prompted people to search for meaning. Thinking about past MBDs (vs. regular birthdays) also elicited a sense that time left in life is limited. Mediation analysis indicated that perceived future time constraints helped explain the relation of recalling past MBDs to search for meaning. Results held when age effects were considered. We draw on motivation theories of temporal landmarks and socioemotional selectivity to discuss the findings.

Application of Hexanoyl Glycol Chitosan as a Non-cell Adhesive Polymer in Three-Dimensional Cell Culture

Cell culture technology has evolved into three-dimensional (3D) artificial tissue models for better reproduction of human native tissues. However, there are some unresolved limitations that arise due to the adhesive properties of cells. In this study, we developed a hexanoyl glycol chitosan (HGC) as a non-cell adhesive polymer for scaffold-based and -free 3D culture. The uniform cell distribution in a porous scaffold was well maintained during the long culutre period on the HGC-coated substrate by preventing ectopic adhesion and migration of cells on the substrate. In addition, when culturing many spheroids in one dish, supplementation of the culture medium with HGC prevented the aggregation of spheroids and maintained the shape and size of spheroids for a long culture duration. Collectively, the use of HGC in 3D culture systems is expected to contribute greatly to creating excellent regenerative therapeutics and screening models of bioproducts.

Mitotic protein kinase-driven crosstalk of machineries for mitosis and metastasis

Accumulating evidence indicates that mitotic protein kinases are involved in metastatic migration as well as tumorigenesis. Protein kinases and cytoskeletal proteins play a role in the efficient release of metastatic cells from a tumor mass in the tumor microenvironment, in addition to playing roles in mitosis. Mitotic protein kinases, including Polo-like kinase 1 (PLK1) and Aurora kinases, have been shown to be involved in metastasis in addition to cell proliferation and tumorigenesis, depending on the phosphorylation status and cellular context. Although the genetic programs underlying mitosis and metastasis are different, the same protein kinases and cytoskeletal proteins can participate in both mitosis and cell migration/invasion, resulting in migratory tumors. Cytoskeletal remodeling supports several cellular events, including cell division, movement, and migration. Thus, understanding the contributions of cytoskeletal proteins to the processes of cell division and metastatic motility is crucial for developing efficient therapeutic tools to treat cancer metastases. Here, we identify mitotic kinases that function in cancer metastasis as well as tumorigenesis. Several mitotic kinases, namely, PLK1, Aurora kinases, Rho-associated protein kinase 1, and integrin-linked kinase, are considered in this review, as an understanding of the shared machineries between mitosis and metastasis could be helpful for developing new strategies to treat cancer.

Improving understanding of the mechanisms linking cell division and cancer spread (metastasis) could provide novel strategies for treatment. A group of enzymes involved in cell division (mitosis) are also thought to play critical roles in the spread of cancers. Hyungshin Yim at Hanyang University in Ansan, South Korea, and co-workers in Korea and the USA reviewed the roles of several mitotic enzymes that are connected with metastasis as well as tumorigenesis. They discussed how these enzymes modify cytoskeletal proteins and other substrates during cancer progression. Some regulatory control of cell cytoskeletal structures is required for cancer cells to metastasize. Recent research has uncovered crosstalk between mitotic enzymes and metastatic cytoskeletal molecules in various cancers. Targeting mitotic enzymes and the ways they influence cytoskeletal mechanisms could provide valuable therapeutic strategies for suppressing metastasis.

The Benefits of Spiritual Diaries: A Mixed-Method Study in Korea

This mixed study examined the benefits of spiritual diaries in Korea. Quantitatively, differences in spiritual growth and psychological well-being were examined in relation to the frequency of writing spiritual diaries among 385 participating adults. The group who wrote spiritual diaries '5-7 times a week' had significantly higher scores relating to spiritual growth and psychological wellbeing than other groups across the outcome variables. Qualitatively, the study also explored the benefits of writing spiritual diaries among 37 adults. Three major themes using four focus group interviews, were identified: (a) the acquisition of godly habits, (b) a closer walk with Jesus, and (c) the fullness of God's presence. These findings are particularly important for healthcare providers who want to facilitate patient self-care.

Comparison of Trunk Muscle Activity Between Traditional Plank Exercise and Plank Exercise With Isometric Contraction of Ankle Muscles in Subjects With Chronic Low Back Pain

ABSTRACT

Choi, JH, Kim, DE, and Cynn, HS. Comparison of trunk muscle activity between traditional plank exercise and plank exercise with isometric contraction of ankle muscles in subjects with chronic low back pain. J Strength Cond Res 35(9): 2407-2413, 2021-This study aimed to compare the effects of 4 different ankle conditions on the activities of rectus abdominis (RA), external oblique (EO), transversus abdominis/internal oblique (TrA/IO), and erector spinae (ES) muscles during plank exercise in subjects with chronic low back pain (CLBP). Twenty-two subjects with CLBP participated in this study. The subjects performed the traditional plank and plank with 3 different ankle muscle contraction types (isometric contraction of ankle dorsiflexor, plantarflexor, and without ankle muscle contraction). Surface electromyography was used to measure the activities of RA, EO, TrA/IO, ES, tibialis anterior, and gastrocnemius muscles. A 1-way repeated-measures analysis of variance was used to assess the statistical significance of activities of the RA, EO, TrA/IO, and ES muscles. The activities of RA, EO, and TrA/IO muscles were significantly greater in the plank with isometric contraction of ankle dorsiflexor (PlankDF) than in the other 3 plank exercises. No significant difference in the activity of ES muscles was revealed during the 4 plank exercises. The activities of all abdominal muscles during PlankDF were significantly higher than those during the traditional plank, as well as during the plank with isometric contraction of ankle plantarflexor (PlankPF) and the plank without ankle muscular contraction (Plankw/o), and more than 60% of maximal voluntary isometric contraction was observed. Thus, PlankDF could be applied not only as a rehabilitation strategy for patients with decreased core stability owing to weakness of abdominal muscles but also as fitness program for improving core strength.

Genome Analysis of Streptomyces nojiriensis JCM 3382 and Distribution of Gene Clusters for Three Antibiotics and an Azasugar across the Genus Streptomyces

Streptomyces spp. have been major contributors of novel natural products that are used in many application areas. We found that the nojirimycin (NJ) producer JCM 3382 has antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus via cellular degradation. Genome analysis revealed 30 biosynthetic gene clusters, including those responsible for producing antibiotics, including an azasugar NJ. In-depth MS/MS analysis confirmed the production of 1-deoxynojirimycin (DNJ) along with NJ. In addition, the production of tambromycins, setomimycin, and linearmycins was verified by spectroscopic analyses, including LC-MS and NMR. The distribution of the clusters of genes coding for antibiotics in 2061 Streptomyces genomes suggested potential producers of tambromycin, setomimycin, and linearmycin. For a DNJ gene cluster, homologs of gabT1 and gutB1 were commonly found; however, yktC1 was identified in only 112 genomes. The presence of several types of clusters suggests that different strains may produce different types of azasugars. Chemical-profile-inspired comparative genome analysis may facilitate a more accurate assessment of the biosynthetic potential to produce secondary metabolites.

Abstract 689: Strong anti-tumor activity and stability of IL-2/anti IL-2 conjugate SLC-3010 in preclinical experiments

To achieve successful anti-cancer response with IL-2, it is necessary to develop a method delivering selective IL-2 signaling on CD8 T and NK cells than Tregs We report preclinical results with SLC-3010 that consist of IL-2 conjugate with anti-IL-2 antibody named TCB2 TCB2 is a humanized mouse antibody that specifically recognize the epitope on IL-2 where interact with CD25 as demonstrated with crystallography To develop SLC-3010, stable cell lines producing wild type human IL-2 or TCB2 were separately manufactured using mammalian cell system The pharmacokinetics analysis of SLC-3010 revealed 8-12h of half-life in mouse Although SLC-3010 dose not employ any artificial linker between IL-2 and TCB2, the half-life of SLC-3010 is comparable with other IL-2 based molecules thereby demonstrating stable binding of TCB2 against IL-2 under physiological condition In mouse model, single dosing of SLC-3010 preferentially stimulates CD8 T cells than Tregs in both secondary lymphoid organ and tumor microenvironment SLC-3010 exhibited strong anti-tumor activity which is demonstrated with circulating B cell lymphoma, metastatic solid tumor, and traditional solid tumor models Furthermore, synergistic anti-tumor response was observed by SLC-3010 with various anti-cancer drugs including chemotherapeutic reagents, targeted therapeutics, and checkpoint inhibitors such as anti PD-1 and anti CTLA-4 Once the transplanted tumor was completely cured by SLC-3010, the mice acquired strong memory response against the rejected tumor indicating strong immunological memory formation against recurrent tumors Non-human primate (NHP) efficacy test revealed that single dosing of SLC-3010 expanded CD8 T and NK cells in dose dependent manner, hence the number of CD8 T cells were increased up to 5 fold in the PBMC population with non-toxic dose of SLC3010 The peak of response in NHP was day 6-7 as analyzed the number of CD8 T cells in PBMC The strong activation of CD8 and NK cells with NHP model indicating that the binding of TCB2 and IL-2 is stable in the system as well The SLC-3010 induced selective stimulation of CD8 T cells was also demonstrated with human T cells using humanized NSG mice thereby providing an insight for developing future clinical trials with SLC-3010.

Citation Format: Geon-A Kim, Da-Eun Kim, Yoo-Jin Kim, Kyung-Mi Han, Hee-Sung Kim, Soon-Hye Park, Jae-Hyun Park, Eun-Jihn Roh, Gil-Tae Wie, Jun-Young Lee. Strong anti-tumor activity and stability of IL-2/anti IL-2 conjugate SLC-3010 in preclinical experiments [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2021; 2021 Apr 10-15 and May 17-21. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2021;81(13_Suppl):Abstract nr 689.

Investigation of the damping wiggler effect and application on the PAL fourth-generation storage ring

An investigation of the damping wiggler effect to reduce the emittance in the Pohang Accelerator Laboratory (PAL), a fourth-generation storage ring (4GSR) that uses a multi-bend achromat, is presented. A 4GSR lattice which has reduced emittance and increased dynamic aperture to amplify the synergy with two existing light sources (PLS-II and PAL-XFEL) at PAL is described.

Genome-wide specificity of dCpf1 cytidine base editors

Cpf1-linked base editors broaden the targeting scope of programmable cytidine deaminases by recognizing thymidine-rich protospacer-adjacent motifs (PAM) without inducing DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs). Here we present an unbiased in vitro method for identifying genome-wide off-target sites of Cpf1 base editors via whole genome sequencing. First, we treat human genomic DNA with dLbCpf1-BE ribonucleoprotein (RNP) complexes, which convert C-to-U at on-target and off-target sites and, then, with a mixture of E. coli uracil DNA glycosylase (UDG) and DNA glycosylase-lyase Endonuclease VIII, which removes uracil and produces single-strand breaks (SSBs) in vitro. Whole-genome sequencing of the resulting digested genome (Digenome-seq) reveals that, on average, dLbCpf1-BE induces 12 SSBs in vitro per crRNA in the human genome. Off-target sites with an editing frequency as low as 0.1% are successfully identified by this modified Digenome-seq method, demonstrating its high sensitivity. dLbCpf1-BEs and LbCpf1 nucleases often recognize different off-target sites, calling for independent analysis of each tool.

Demonstration of a ring-FEL as an EUV lithography tool

This paper presents the required structure and function of a ring-FEL as a radiation source for extreme ultraviolet radiation lithography (EUVL). A 100 m-long straight section that conducts an extremely low emittance beam from a fourth-generation storage ring can increase the average power at 13.5 nm wavelength to up to 1 kW without degrading the beam in the rest of the ring. Here, simulation results for a ring-FEL as a EUVL source are described.

Genome-wide target specificity of CRISPR RNA-guided adenine base editors

Adenine base editors1 enable efficient targeted adenine-to-guanine single nucleotide conversions to induce or correct point mutations in human cells, animals, and plants1-4. Here we present a modified version of Digenome-seq, an in vitro method for identifying CRISPR (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats)-induced double-strand breaks using whole-genome sequencing5-8, to assess genome-wide target specificity of adenine base editors. To produce double-strand breaks at sites containing inosines, the products of adenine deamination, we treat human genomic DNA with an adenine base editor 7.10 protein-guide RNA complex and either endonuclease V or a combination of human alkyladenine DNA glycosylase and endonuclease VIII in vitro. Digenome-seq detects adenine base editor off-target sites with a substitution frequency of 0.1% or more. We show that adenine base editor 7.10, the cytosine base editor BE3, and unmodified CRISPR-associated protein 9 (Cas9) often recognize different off-target sites, highlighting the need for independent assessments of their genome-wide specificities6. Using targeted sequencing, we also show that use of preassembled adenine base editor ribonucleoproteins, modified guide RNAs5,8-11, and Sniper/Cas9 (ref. 12) reduces adenine base editor off-target activity in human cells.

Tactile cues change trunk and scapular muscle activity, scapular winging, and thoracic kyphosis during knee push-up plus in subjects with scapular winging: The cross-sectional study

Serratus anterior muscle weakness causes scapular winging, characterized by scapular downward rotation and scapular anterior tipping in the resting position. Knee push-up plus (KPP), a modified push-up plus that is generally used in early rehabilitation programs, is performed to elicit SA activation. However, excessive thoracic kyphosis can easily occur as a compensatory movement during KPP. Therefore, the aim of this study was to examine the effect of tactile cues during KPP on activities of the thoracic erector spinae, rectus abdominis, lower trapezius, serratus anterior, and upper trapezius; scapular winging; and thoracic kyphosis in subjects with scapular winging.Thirteen men with scapular winging performed KPP exercises under 3 different tactile cue conditions (no cue, to the thoracic spinous process [TSP], and to the interscapular region [ISR]). Electromyography was used to collect the muscle activity; in addition, a scapulometer and ImageJ software were used to measure the amount of scapular winging and thoracic kyphosis, respectively. One-way repeated-measures analysis of variance and Bonferroni correction were used to assess for statistical significance.The activity of the thoracic erector spinae, rectus abdominis, serratus anterior, and upper trapezius had significant difference among three conditions (P < .05). Lower trapezius activity was no significantly different among 3 conditions. Degrees of scapular winging and thoracic kyphosis had also significant difference among 3 conditions (P < .05).These results suggest that the tactile cue to the TSP and ISR in KPP exercise can be an effective method for decreasing scapular winging as well as correcting compensatory thoracic kyphosis during the KPP in subjects with scapular winging.

Adenine base editing in mouse embryos and an adult mouse model of Duchenne muscular dystrophy

Adenine base editors (ABEs) composed of an engineered adenine deaminase and the Streptococcus pyogenes Cas9 nickase enable adenine-to-guanine (A-to-G) single-nucleotide substitutions in a guide RNA (gRNA)-dependent manner. Here we demonstrate application of this technology in mouse embryos and adult mice. We also show that long gRNAs enable adenine editing at positions one or two bases upstream of the window that is accessible with standard single guide RNAs (sgRNAs). We introduced the Himalayan point mutation in the Tyr gene by microinjecting ABE mRNA and an extended gRNA into mouse embryos, obtaining Tyr mutant mice with an albino phenotype. Furthermore, we delivered the split ABE gene, using trans-splicing adeno-associated viral vectors, to muscle cells in a mouse model of Duchenne muscular dystrophy to correct a nonsense mutation in the Dmd gene, demonstrating the therapeutic potential of base editing in adult animals.

Thera-Band application changes muscle activity and kyphosis and scapular winging during knee push-up plus in subjects with scapular winging: The cross-sectional study

Scapular winging (SW) is defined as increased prominence of the whole medial border of the scapula. Many researchers recently recommended knee push-up plus (KPP) for enhancing serratus anterior (SA) activation. However, during push-up plus, thoracic kyphosis (TK) may usually occur as a compensatory movement. Thus, the purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of Thera-Band application during KPP on rectus abdominis (RA) activity, TK angle (TKA), SA activity, and amount of SW in subjects with SW.Fifteen subjects performed KPP with Thera-Band applied to different posterior body parts (no Thera-Band, in the occiput, and in the thoracic region). Electromyography was used to record the RA and SA activities. Image J software was used to calculate the compensatory TKA during KPP, and a scapulometer was used to measure SW in the quadruped position. One-way repeated-measures analysis of variance was used to test for significance.KPP with Thera-Band in the occiput showed significantly lower RA activity (P = .001) and TKA (P < .001) than KPP with no Thera-Band. SA activity (P = .020, P = .047) and SW (P < .001, P < .001) were significantly lower with Thera-Band applied to the occiput and thoracic regions than in KPP with no Thera-Band.Thera-Band applied to the occiput and thorax can be beneficial as it decreases RA and SA muscle activity and reduces TKA and SW during KPP in subjects with SW.

Mental Stress from Animal Experiments: a Survey with Korean Researchers

Animal experiments have been widely conducted in the life sciences for more than a century, and have long been a subject of ethical and societal controversy due to the deliberate infliction of harm upon sentient animals. However, the harmful use of animals may also negatively impact the mental health of researchers themselves. We sought to evaluate the anxiety level of researchers engaged in animal use to analyse the mental stress from animal testing. The State Anxiety Scale of the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) was used to evaluate how researchers feel when they conduct animal, as opposed to non-animal, based experiments (95 non-animal and 98 animal testing researchers). The Trait Anxiety Scale of STAI was employed to measure proneness to anxiety, namely the base trait of the researchers. Additionally, the information on sex, age, education, income, and total working periods was collected. While the Trait Anxiety scores were comparable (41.5 ± 10.9 versus 42.9 ± 10.1, p = 0.3682, t-test), the State Anxiety scores were statistically significantly higher for animal users than non-animal users (45.1 ± 10.7 versus 41.3 ± 9.4, p = 0.011). This trend was consistent for both male and female. Notably, younger animal testers (≤ 30 years of age) with less work experience (≤ 2 years) and lower income level (≤ 27,000 USD) exhibited higher anxiety scores, whereas these factors did not affect the anxiety level of non-animal users. The present study demonstrated that participation in animal experiments can negatively impact the mental health of researchers.

Fusion guide RNAs for orthogonal gene manipulation with Cas9 and Cpf1

The bacteria-derived clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat (CRISPR)-Cas systems are powerful tools for genome engineering. Recently, in addition to Cas protein engineering, the improvement of guide RNAs are also performed, contributing to broadening the research area of CRISPR-Cas9 systems. Here we develop a fusion guide RNA (fgRNA) that functions with both Cas9 and Cpf1 proteins to induce mutations in human cells. Furthermore, we demonstrate that fgRNAs can be used in multiplex genome editing and orthogonal genome manipulation with two types of Cas proteins. Our results show that fgRNAs can be used as a tool for performing multiple gene manipulations.

Seizures in patients with acute pesticide intoxication, with a focus on glufosinate ammonium

The incidence and clinical aspects of seizures remain to be elucidated in patients with acute pesticide intoxication. The present study included subjects who ingested pesticide with the intention of committing suicide and were treated at Soonchunhyang University Hospital (Cheonan, Korea) between January 2011 and December 2014. We analyzed the incidence and characterized the type and frequency of seizure, from the medical records of 464 patients with acute pesticide intoxication, according to the pesticide class. The effect of seizure on the clinical outcome was assessed. The incidence of seizure was 31.5% in patients who ingested glufosinate ammonium {2-amino-4-[hydroxyl (methyl) phosphinoyl] butyrate; ammonium DL-homoalanin-4-yl (methyl) phosphinate}, followed by those who ingested pyrethroid (5.9%) or glycine derivatives (5.4%). All of the seizures developed between 12 and 24 h of pesticide ingestion and had ceased by 72 h after seizure initiation, following treatment with antiseizure medication. Generalized tonic-clonic seizures were the most commonly observed (85.7% of the cases). Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that the effect of seizure on mortality was not statistically significant. In conclusion, glufosinate ammonium herbicide is the most common seizurogenic pesticide class. Seizure itself was not a risk factor for mortality in patients with acute glufosinate ammonium intoxication.

A portable lab-on-a-chip system for gold-nanoparticle-based colorimetric detection of metal ions in water

Heavy metal ions released into various water systems have a severe impact on the environment and human beings, and excess exposure to toxic metal ions through drinking water poses high risks to human health and causes life-threatening diseases. Thus, there is high demand for the development of a rapid, low-cost, and sensitive method for detection of metal ions in water. We present a portable analytical system for colorimetric detection of lead (Pb(2+)) and aluminum (Al(3+)) ions in water based on gold nanoparticle probes and lab-on-a-chip instrumentation. The colorimetric detection of metal ions is conducted via single-step assays with low limits of detection (LODs) and high selectivity. We design a custom-made microwell plate and a handheld colorimetric reader for implementing the assays and quantifying the signal readout. The calibration experiments demonstrate that this portable system provides LODs of 30 ppb for Pb(2+) and 89 ppb for Al(3+), both comparable to bench-top analytical spectrometers. It promises an effective platform for metal ion analysis in a more economical and convenient way, which is particularly useful for water quality monitoring in field and resource-poor settings.

Analytical model development for the prediction of the frictional resistance of a capsule endoscope inside an intestine

For the purpose of optimizing the design of the locomotion mechanism as well as the body shape of a self-propelled capsule endoscope, an analytical model for the prediction of frictional resistance of the capsule moving inside the small intestine was first developed. The model was developed by considering the contact geometry and viscoelasticity of the intestine, based on the experimental investigations on the material properties of the intestine and the friction of the capsule inside the small intestine. In order to verify the model and to investigate the distributions of various stress components applied to the capsule, finite element (FE) analyses were carried out. The comparison of the frictional resistance between the predicted and the experimental values suggested that the proposed model could predict the frictional force of the capsule with reasonable accuracy. Also, the FE analysis results of various stress components revealed the stress relaxation of the intestine and explained that such stress relaxation characteristics of the intestine resulted in lower frictional force as the speed of the capsule decreased. These results suggested that the frontal shape of the capsule was critical to the design of the capsule with desired frictional performance. It was shown that the proposed model can provide quantitative estimation of the frictional resistance of the capsule under various moving conditions inside the intestine. The model is expected to be useful in the design optimization of the capsule locomotion inside the intestine.

Frictional resistance characteristics of a capsule inside the intestine for microendoscope design

The design of the capsule body for a self-proplled endoscope is important from the frictional resistance point of view. The motivation of this work was to gain a better understanding of the effect of capsule shape on the frictional resistance of the capsule inside a small intestine. Special experimental set-ups were built to investigate the frictional resistance of the capsule and the viscoelastic deformation characteristics of the small intestine specimen of a pig. Tests were performed with capsules of various shapes and dimensions. Experimental data showed that a smooth cylindrical capsule geometry resulted in the least frictional resistance due to the shape and relatively small surface area. Also, it was found that the variation of frictional resistance of the capsule was closely related to the local change in the viscoelastic property of the intestine due to the heterogeneity of the internal structure of the intestine.

The 2003 Carl A Moyer Award: real-time metabolic monitors, ischemia-reperfusion, titration endpoints, and ultraprecise burn resuscitation

Real-time metabolic monitoring of varied vascular beds provides the raw data necessary to conduct ultraprecise burn shock resuscitation based on second-by-second assessment of regional tissue perfusion. It also illustrates shortcomings of current clinical practices. Arterial base deficit was continuously monitored during 11 clinical resuscitations of patients suffering burn shock using a Paratrend monitor. Separately, in a 30% TBSA rat burn model (N = 70), three Paratrend monitors simultaneously recorded arterial blood gas and tissue pCO2 of the burn wound and colonic mucosa during resuscitation at 0, 2, 4, 6, and 8 ml/kg/%TBSA. Paratrend data were analyzed in conjunction with previously reported laser Doppler images of actual burn wound capillary perfusion. With current clinical therapy, continuous monitoring of arterial base deficit revealed repetitive cycles of resolution/worsening/resolution during burn shock resuscitation. In the rat model, tissue pCO2 in both burn wounds and splanchnic circulation differed depending on the rate of fluid resuscitation (P <.01 between sham and 0 ml/kg/%TBSA and between 2 ml/kg/%TBSA and 4 ml/kg/%TBSA). Burn wound pCO2 values correlated well with laser Doppler determination of actual capillary perfusion (rho = -.48, P <.01). The following conclusions were reached: 1). Gratuitous and repetitive ischemia-reperfusion-ischemia cycles plague current clinical therapy as demonstrated by numerous "false starts" in the resolution of arterial base deficit; 2). in a rat model, real-time monitoring of burn wound and splanchnic pCO2 demonstrate a dose-response relationship with rate of fluid administration; and 3). burn wound and splanchnic pCO2 are highly correlated with direct measurement of burn wound capillary perfusion by laser Doppler imager. Either technique can serve as a resuscitation endpoint for real-time feedback-controlled ultraprecise resuscitation.

Microvascular assessment of burn depth conversion during varying resuscitation conditions

Conversion of partial- to full-thickness injuries, even after the burning has stopped, remains a significant clinical problem. We developed a rat model with a wide range of burn depths to study this phenomenon by microvascular assessment. Fifty-four male Sprague-Dawley rats weighing 460 g on average were studied. Real-time tissue monitoring of pH, paCO2, and paO2 was achieved by placement of a continuous blood gas monitor transducer in the aorta. Ten, 2-cm x 2-cm burns were created on each animal with milled aluminum templates (100 degrees C) with varying contact times. Conversion of burn depth in these wounds was documented by serial laser Doppler imager scanning over a 5-hour period. Animals received Ringer's lactate resuscitation at 0, 2, 4, 6, and 8 ml/kg/%burn. Serial laser Doppler scanning directly demonstrated progressive loss of perfusion to partial-thickness burns dependent upon the amount of fluid resuscitation. Conversion of partial- to full-thickness burns in this rat model (documented by laser Doppler microvascular assessment) was dependent upon how the animals were resuscitated.

Single-site mutations induce 3D domain swapping in the B1 domain of protein L from Peptostreptococcus magnus

BACKGROUND

Thermodynamic and kinetic studies of the Protein L B1 domain (Ppl) suggest a folding pathway in which, during the folding transition, the first beta hairpin is formed while the second beta hairpin and the alpha helix are largely unstructured. The same mutations in the two beta turns have opposite effects on the folding and unfolding rates. Three of the four residues composing the second beta turn in Ppl have consecutive positive phi angles, indicating strain in the second beta turn.

RESULTS

We have determined the crystal structures of the beta turn mutants G55A, K54G, and G15A, as well as a core mutant, V49A, in order to investigate how backbone strain affects the overall structure of Ppl. Perturbation of the hydrophobic interactions at the closed interface by the V49A mutation triggered the domain swapping of the C-terminal beta strand that relieved the strain in the second beta turn. Interestingly, the asymmetric unit of V49A contains two monomers and one domain-swapped dimer. The G55A mutation escalated the strain in the second beta turn, and this increased strain shifted the equilibrium toward the domain-swapped dimer. The K54G structure revealed that the increased stability is due to the reduction of strain in the second beta turn, while the G15A structure showed that increased strain alone is insufficient to trigger domain swapping.

CONCLUSIONS

Domain swapping in Ppl is determined by the balance of two opposing components of the free energy. One is the strain in the second beta turn that favors the dimer, and the other is the entropic cost of dimer formation that favors the monomer. A single-site mutation can disrupt this balance and trigger domain swapping.

Conversion of monomeric protein L to an obligate dimer by computational protein design

Protein L consists of a single alpha-helix packed on a four-stranded beta-sheet formed by two symmetrically opposed beta-hairpins. We use a computer-based protein design procedure to stabilize a domain-swapped dimer of protein L in which the second beta-turn straightens and the C-terminal strand inserts into the beta-sheet of the partner. The designed obligate dimer contains three mutations (A52V, N53P, and G55A) and has a dissociation constant of approximately 700 pM, which is comparable to the dissociation constant of many naturally occurring protein dimers. The structure of the dimer has been determined by x-ray crystallography and is close to the in silico model.

The kinetic pathway of RNA binding to the Escherichia coli transcription termination factor Rho

The Escherichia coli transcription termination factor Rho is structurally and functionally homologous to hexameric helicases that assemble into ring structures. Using stopped-flow fluorescence and presteady-state ATPase kinetics, we have determined the kinetic pathway of poly(C) RNA binding to Rho hexamer, both in the presence and in absence of ATP. These studies indicate a four-step sequential mechanism of RNA binding and reveal the respective roles of the primary and secondary RNA binding sites in initiation and ATPase activation of Rho. The primary RNA binding sites of Rho hexamer interact with poly(C) RNA at a diffusion-limited rate constant close to 8 x 10(8) m(-1) s(-1), resulting in the Rho-RNA species PR1, which subsequently isomerizes to PR2 with a rate constant 21 s(-1). The PR2 isomerizes to PR3 with a rate constant of 32 s(-1) in the presence of ATP, and the formation of PR4 from PR3 results in a species that is fully competent in hydrolyzing ATP at the RNA-stimulated rate. The PR3 to PR4 isomerization occurs at a relatively slow rate of 4.1 s(-1); thus, the presteady-state ATPase kinetics show a distinct lag due to the slow initiation step. The interactions of the RNA with the primary sites trigger ring opening, and we propose that during the last two steps, the RNA migrates into the central channel and interacts with the secondary sites, resulting in the activation of the ATPase activity. The primary RNA binding sites, in addition to promoting sequence specific initiation, kinetically facilitate loading of the RNA into the secondary sites, which are relatively inaccessible, since they are present in the central channel. These studies reveal common features used by hexameric helicases to bind nucleic acids in an efficient and specific manner.

Sensory dermatomal representation in the medial lemniscus

BACKGROUND

Restricted sensory deficits along the somatotopic topography of the medial lemniscus rarely develop in medial medullary infarction. We describe a patient with medial medullary infarction who presented with dermatomal sensory deficits caused by a medial lemniscal lesion.

CASE DESCRIPTION

A 58-year-old man presented with sudden right-sided hemiparesis and paresthesia. He had noticed the paresthesia below the level of the right L5 dermatome, where his vibration and position senses were mildly diminished. His paresthesia was more severe over the right calf and foot. Magnetic resonance images of the brain showed an acute small infarct in the medial-ventral portion of the left rostral medulla oblongata. A nerve conduction study and electromyography showed no abnormalities. At follow-up, the patient's motor and sensory deficits had improved considerably.

CONCLUSIONS

The patient showed lemniscal sensory deficits below the right L5 dermatome that were caused by the partial involvement of the medial lemniscus. These findings suggest that lemniscal sensory dermatomal representation is preserved at least up to the level of the medulla oblongata.

Structures of the B1 domain of protein L from Peptostreptococcus magnus with a tyrosine to tryptophan substitution

The three-dimensional structure of a tryptophan-containing variant of the IgG-binding B1 domain of protein L has been solved in two crystal forms to 1.7 and 1.8 A resolution. In one of the crystal forms, the entire N-terminal histidine-tag region was immobilized through the coordination of zinc ions and its structural conformation along with the zinc coordination scheme were determined. However, the ordering of the histidine tag by zinc does not affect the overall structure of the rest of the protein. Structural comparisons of the tryptophan-containing variant with an NMR-derived wild-type structure, which contains a tyrosine at position 47, reveals a common fold, although the overall backbone root-mean-square difference is 1.5 A. The Y47W substitution only caused local rearrangement of several side chains, the most prominent of which is the rotation of the Tyr34 side chain, resulting in a 6 A displacement of its hydroxyl group. A small methyl-sized cavity bounded by beta-strands 1, 2 and 4 and the alpha-helix was found in the structures of the Y47W-substituted protein L B1 domain. This cavity may be created as the result of subsequent side-chain rearrangements caused by the Y47W substitution. These high-resolution structures of the tryptophan-containing variant provide a reference frame for the analysis of thermodynamic and kinetic data derived from a series of mutational studies of the protein L B1 domain.

Cerebral venous thrombosis associated with tentorial subdural hematoma during oxymetholone therapy

Androgen was reported to cause cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT) during replacement therapy for aplastic anemia. Oxymetholone, a synthetic androgen analogue, has been widely used in the treatment of aplastic anemia. A 40-year-old woman with aplastic anemia visited our hospital because of severe headache, nausea, vomiting, blurred vision and diplopia for a period of 1 month. She had taken oxymetholone for 2 years. Neurological examination revealed bilateral papilledema and bilateral sixth nerve palsies. Brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), performed at the time of admission, demonstrated left-sided tentorial SDH, and focal cerebral thrombosis of the left superficial sylvian vein and sigmoid sinus. MR venography revealed multiple irregularities in the superior sagittal sinus and left transverse sinus. CVT with tentorial subdural hematoma (SDH) caused by oxymetholone was strongly suggested. Oxymetholone was immediately discontinued, and her symptoms and signs disappeared. Because of the thrombocytopenia, anticoagulation was not started. She was discharged and visited the outpatient clinic without neurological symptoms for 6 months. This report supports the cautions given about the risk of CVT with oxymetholone supplementation in aplastic anemia. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of CVT associated with tentorial SDH that was probably caused by oxymetholone.

The p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway regulates interleukin-6 synthesis in response to tumor necrosis factor in osteoblasts

The induction of interleukin-6 (IL-6), using a proinflammatory cytokine (tumor necrosis factor-alpha), was studied in a human osteoblast cell line (MG-63) in relation to p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and nuclear factor (NF)-kappaB transcription factor. When added to MG-63 cells, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) had a stimulatory effect on the production of IL-6, and this elevation was significantly reduced by SB203580, a specific p38 MAPK inhibitor. In addition, the stimulation of IL-6 release was also reduced by pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (PDTC) or NF-kappaB SN50, which has been reported to be a potent NF-kappaB inhibitor. Both the NF-kappaB inhibitors in the presence of SB203580 had a more inhibitory effect on IL-6 release. In this study, TNF-alpha stimulated NF-kappaB binding affinity as well as p38 MAP kinase activation, leading to the release of IL-6. However, the specific inhibitor of p38 MAPK, SB203580, had no effect on TNF-alpha-induced NF-kappaB activation and both NF-kappaB inhibitors failed to reduce the p38 MAPK activation in the TNF-alpha-stimulated osteoblasts. In addition, inhibition of p38 MAPK partially, but significantly, impaired TNF-alpha-regulated release of osteocalcin, an important differentiation marker in osteoblasts. These results strongly suggest that both p38 MAPK and NF-kappaB are required in TNF-alpha-induced IL-6 synthesis and that these two TNF-alpha-activated pathways can be primarily dissociated. Furthermore, p38 MAPK may play a significant role in differentiation in MG-63 cells.

Scrub typhus encephalomyelitis with prominent focal neurologic signs

BACKGROUND

Encephalomyelitis with prominent focal neurologic signs and associated neuroradiologic abnormalities has not been previously described in scrub typhus.

CASE DESCRIPTION

A 22-year-old woman was admitted because of fever and an altered mental state. Neurologic examination revealed bilateral sixth and seventh nerve palsies, bilateral gaze evoked nystagmus, anarthria, dysphagia, quadriparesis, and sensory level at T1. Serum and cerebrospinal fluid samples were positive for tsutsugamushi antibody. The patient's magnetic resonance images demonstrated the lesions responsible for the neurologic dysfunctions: in the lower brainstem, cerebellar peduncles, and spinal cord. It was interesting that the gray matter of the spinal cord was predominantly involved.

CONCLUSIONS

The recognition of unusual manifestations and the clinical suspicion of this treatment-responsive disease may be important, particularly in the face of increasing international and intranational travel.

Reversed current structure in a Z-pinch plasma

The current profile of a Z-pinch plasma is investigated using a one-dimensional magnetohydrodynamic code. Simulation results reveal the formation of a reversed current profile, its propagation, and an ejection of plasma at boundary region, which have been observed in previous experiments. A new physical mechanism is proposed to account for such phenomena. The physical mechanism involves the propagation of a shock wave. It is found that a reversed current profile appears when a shock wave reflected at axis expands in a compressing plasma column.