Effect of postbiotic Lactiplantibacillus plantarum LRCC5314 supplemented in powdered milk on type 2 diabetes in mice

Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is a chronic multifactorial disease characterized by a combination of insulin resistance and impaired glucose regulation. The alleviative effects of probiotics on T2D have been widely studied. However, studies on the effects of postbiotics, known as inactivated probiotics, on dairy products are limited. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of postbiotic Lactiplantibacillus plantarum LRCC5314 in milk powder (MP-LRCC5314) in a stress-T2D mouse model. Compared with probiotic MP-LRCC5314, postbiotic MP-LRCC5314 significantly influenced stress-T2D-related factors. The administration of heat-killed MP-LRCC5314 reduced corticosterone levels, increased short-chain fatty acid production by modulating gut microbiota, and regulated immune response, glucose metabolism, stress-T2D-related biomarkers in the brain, gut, and adipose tissues, as well as glucose and insulin sensitivity. Additionally, heat-killed MP-LRCC5314 treatment led to a decrease in pro-inflammatory cytokine levels and an increase in anti-inflammatory cytokine levels. Overall, these findings suggest that adding postbiotic MP-LRCC5314 to milk powder could serve as a potential supplement for stress-T2D mitigation.

Korean consumers' use and concerns about food delivery service

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES

Despite the rapid growth of the online food delivery service market since the outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019, little research has focused on how consumers are using food delivery service and what they are concerned about when using food delivery service. Moreover, previous studies have not paid adequate attention to how these concerns are related to consumers' intention to use food delivery service. Therefore, our study examines behaviors and concerns regarding food delivery service and identifies the key factors in consumers' intention to use food delivery service.

SUBJECTS/METHODS

Using data collected from 549 Korean consumers, we conducted descriptive analysis, exploratory factor analysis, and multiple regressions.

RESULTS

We found that using food delivery service is not only for main meals at home or the office but also to meet a variety of dietary needs and occasions. The findings indicated that Korean consumers are most concerned about the sustainability of food delivery service, followed by health, hygiene, hedonic, and usability aspects of the service. Hygiene concerns and a hedonic aspect of the service were negatively associated with consumers' intention to use food delivery service among users, while health concerns decreased the intention of non-users.

CONCLUSION

The findings have implications for practitioners and policy makers in food delivery service. To further propel market growth, they should help reduce health concerns of non-users, as well as hygiene and hedonic concerns of existing users.

COUPLES’ FINANCIAL BEHAVIORS AND SATISFACTION AMONG KOREAN BABY BOOMERS

The life-cycle theory posits that midlife is a peak time of earning and productivity. However, middle-aged adults also face complex financial decisions (e.g., mortgage, child tuition cost, care expenses for older parents, and their own health care expenses), which may influence their current and future financial well-being. While research has focused on individuals’ financial management behaviors at midlife, less is known about the interdependence of financial behaviors and well-being within a couple, which may be a more relevant unit of financial decisions. To address this gap, we examined middle-aged couples’ financial behaviors and satisfaction, using a sample of 1,111 couples (age 51–59) from the 2014 Korean Baby Boomer Panel Study (KBBPS). Wives showed consistently higher levels of financial behaviors in (a) recognizing financial status, (b) planning and monitoring financial goals, and (c) building and maintaining household wealth. Korean Baby Boomer couples also showed substantial within-couple similarity in planning and monitoring financial goals (ICC = .51) and building and maintaining household wealth (ICC = .65)—whereas they showed less shared awareness of household financial status (ICC = .23) between spouses. Results from the Actor-Partner Interdependence Models (APIM) revealed that beyond one’s own financial behaviors, their spouses’ financial behaviors were associated with higher financial satisfaction for both husbands and wives (partner effect). Further, intra-couple differences in financial behaviors were associated with lower financial satisfaction only for wives. These findings highlight the importance of shared process of financial decision making for financial well-being among couples in middle and later life.

P-530 tRNA fragments in follicle fluid can be explored in Diminished Ovarian Reserve patients as a marker of IVF outcomes

Study question

Can tRNA fragments in follicle fluid be explored for markers that predict blastocyst formation in patients with diminished ovarian reserve?

Summary answer

tRNA-Ser-CGA-4 is up-regulated in the follicle fluid of patients with diminished ovarian reserve (DOR)

What is known already

tRNA fragments are a novel class of small non-coding RNAs that have been shown to play regulatory roles in reproductive biology.

Study design, size, duration

Non-Randomized case control study in patients presenting for IVF treatment at a University affiliated fertility clinic from September 2020- January 2021. Thirty three patients were included: 15 patients with DOR and 18 controls.

Participants/materials, setting, methods

Patients were stimulated by appropriate protocols according to their age, diagnosis and AMH.

At retrieval, non-bloody follicle fluid (FF) was retrieved for after removing the cumulus-oophorus complex. FF was centrifuged at 1600 g x 10 mins and filtered with 80 nm filter for analysis.

Main results and the role of chance

There were no differences between the two groups with respect to age, BMI and duration of infertility. The mean age was 35.1 years

As anticipated, the mean AMH, antral follicle count and number of eggs retrieved were statistically lower in the DOR groups compared with controls (<0.05)

The fertilization rate was 61.2% in DOR vs 79.5% in controls

The blastocyst rate was 39.5% in DOR patients and 50.6% in controls

Total RNA yield was lower in DOR patients, as 50% of the DOR samples had undetectable levels (p < 0.001).

Samples were predominantly processed in duplicate. Input into the pipeline was paired end data which showed an overall tRNA fragment count that was higher in the DOR population. Log2FC showed an up-regulation of the tRNA fragments tRNA-Ser-CGA-4, tRNA-Cys-GCA-15, tRNA-Cys-GCA-10 and tRNA-Cys-GCA-19 in the DOR population.

Limitations, reasons for caution

Undetectable levels in follicle fluid of some of the DOR patients introduced selection bias

Larger sample size and broader applicability across various ethnic groups.

Wider implications of the findings

Follicle fluid can be explored to give insight into the signaling pathways of ovarian biology

Non-invasive method of assessing oocyte competence

Useful in explaining the pathophysiology of DOR

Can these findings assist is in the identification of therapeutic targets to delay the progression of age related/non-age related DOR?

Trial registration number

not applicable

Korean clinical practice guidelines for the diagnosis of hereditary hemolytic anemia

Although the prevalence of hereditary hemolytic anemia (HHA) is relatively low in Korea, it has been gradually increasing in recent decades due to increment in the proportions of hemoglobinopathies from immigrants of South East Asia, raising awareness of the disease among clinicians, and advances in diagnostic technology. As such, the red blood cell (RBC) Disorder Working Party (WP), previously called HHA WP, of the Korean Society of Hematology (KSH) developed the Korean Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for the diagnosis of HHA in 2007. These SOPs have been continuously revised and updated following advances in diagnostic technology [e.g., flow cytometric osmotic fragility test (FOFT) and eosin-5-maleimide (EMA) binding test], current methods for membrane protein or enzyme analysis [e.g., liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS), ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS), high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)], and molecular genetic tests using next-generation sequencing (NGS). However, the diagnosis and treatment of HHA remain challenging as they require considerable experience and understanding of the disease. Therefore, in this new Korean Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Diagnosis of HHA, on behalf of the RBC Disorder WP of KSH, updated guidelines to approach patients suspected of HHA are summarized. NGS is proposed to perform prior to membrane protein or enzyme analysis by LC-MS/MS, UPLC-MS/MS or HPLC techniques due to the availability of gene testing in more laboratories in Korea. We hope that this guideline will be helpful for clinicians in making diagnostic decisions for patients with HHA in Korea.

Periodic Comparability Verification and Within-Laboratory Harmonization of Clinical Chemistry Laboratory Results at a Large Healthcare Center With Multiple Instruments

Background

Results from laboratories using multiple instruments should be standardized or harmonized and comparability-verified for consistent quality control. We developed a simple frequent comparability verification methodology applicable to large healthcare centers using multiple clinical chemistry instruments from different manufacturers.

Methods

Comparability of five clinical chemistry instruments (Beckman Coulter AU5800, Abbott Architect Ci16000, two Siemens Vista 1500, and Ortho Vitros 5600) was evaluated from 2015 to 2019 for 12 clinical chemistry measurements. Pooled residual patient samples were used for weekly verifications. Results from any instrument exceeding the allowable verification range versus the results from the comparative instrument (AU5800) were reported to clinicians after being multiplied by conversion factors that were determined via a linear regression equation obtained from simplified comparison.

Results

Over the five-year study period, 432 weekly inter-instrument comparability verification results were obtained. Approximately 58% of results were converted due to non-comparable verification. Expected average absolute percent bias and percentage of non-comparable results for non-converted and converted results after conversion action were much lower than those for data measured before conversion action. The inter-instrument CV for both non-converted and converted results after conversion action was much lower than that for measured data before conversion action for all analytes.

Conclusions

We maintained within-laboratory comparability of clinical chemistry tests from multiple instruments for five years using frequent low-labor periodic comparability verification methods from pooled residual sera. This methodology is applicable to large testing facilities using multiple instruments.

What drives the use of wearable healthcare devices? A cross-country comparison between the US and Korea

Objective

Given the rapid growth of the wearable healthcare device market, we examined the associations among health-related and technology-related characteristics of using wearable healthcare devices and demonstrated how the associations differ between the US and Korean users.

Methods

Online self-administered surveys were conducted with 4098 participants (3035 in the US and 1063 in Korea) who were recruited through two online survey service providers based on quota sampling. The primary outcome was the use of wearable healthcare devices. Seven health-related, two technology-related, and five socio-demographic factors were included as explanatory variables. Binary logistic regression analyses and a Chow test were conducted.

Results

The health-related characteristics that were significantly associated with using wearable healthcare devices included disease-related worries (β = 0.11**), health information seeking (β = 0.26***), physical activity (β = 0.62***), and health-related expenditures ($50–$199, β = 0.38***; $200 or more, β = 0.56***). Hedonic (β = 0.33***), social (β = 0.31***), and cognitive innovativeness (β = 0.14*) also exhibited positive relationships. Younger, higher earner, and individuals with a child were more likely to use wearable healthcare devices. However, for Korean users, several associations disappeared including health information seeking, hedonic and social innovativeness, age, and household income.

Conclusions

Key drivers of using wearable healthcare devices include greater concern about a specific illness, active engagement in health-promoting behaviors, and hedonic and social motivation to adopt new technologies. However, more country-specific considerations are needed in future studies to identify the main benefits for target markets.

COVID-19 and changes in Korean consumers' dietary attitudes and behaviors

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak has dramatically changed nearly every aspect of our lives. Although Dietary lifestyle includes attitudes and behaviors to meet their most basic needs, but few studies have examined the pattern of changes in dietary lifestyle driven by COVID-19. This study explores changes in dietary attitudes and behaviors among Korean consumers after COVID-19.

SUBJECTS/METHODS

An online survey was conducted with 549 Korean adults aged 20 and older to identify general demographics and changes in dietary attitudes and behaviors. Data were collected from Oct 12 to Oct 18, 2020. Frequency, percentage, and mean values were calculated and a K-means cluster analysis was performed to categorize consumers based on the 5S of dietary attitudes (i.e., savor-oriented, safety-oriented, sustainability-oriented, saving-oriented, and socializing-oriented).

RESULTS

Findings indicate consumers considered safety, health, and freshness to be most important when choosing groceries and prepared meal such as home meal replacement and delivery food. Among the types of services, a large proportion of consumers increased their delivery and take-out services. Regarding retail channels, the increase in the use of online retailers was remarkable compared to offline retailers. Finally, consumers were classified into four segments based on changes in dietary attitudes: “most influenced,” “seeking safety and sustainability,” “abstaining from savor and socializing,” and “least influenced.” Each type of consumer exhibited statistically significant differences by sex, age, household composition, presence of disease, and perceived risk of COVID-19.

CONCLUSIONS

This exploratory study provides initial insights for future research by identifying various aspects of dietary attitudes and behaviors among Korean consumers after COVID-19.

Complete blood count and cell population data parameters from the Abbott Alinity hq analyzer are useful in differentiating myelodysplastic syndromes from other forms of cytopenia

INTRODUCTION

Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) are characterized by morphologic dysplasia and cytopenia and have a propensity for acute leukemic transformation. However, dysplasia is diagnosed by morphology, thus having cell population data (CPD) that can differentiate cytopenic patients with MDS from other conditions may facilitate accurate diagnosis. We assessed the utility of complete blood count (CBC) parameters and CPD derived from an Abbott Alinity hq analyzer to discriminate MDS-related cytopenia.

METHODS

The patient cohort (n = 345) included 64 samples from patients with MDS, 162 from patients with other cytopenia, and 119 from healthy controls. The hematological parameters and research use-only parameters of the Abbott Alinity hq analyzer were compared between the cytopenic groups. The effectiveness of the individual standard and research CBC parameters to differentiate MDS from other forms of cytopenia was assessed through a receiver operating characteristics (ROC) analysis.

RESULTS

The percentage of MAC (Macrocytic RBCs) and hemoglobin distribution width (HDW) were higher in the MDS group than in the other cytopenia group and showed the greatest difference between both groups, with an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.766 (0.678-0.855) and 0.786 (0.702-0.870), respectively. The platelet distribution width was higher in the MDS group than in the other cytopenia group, with an AUC of 0.697 (0.623-0.770). WBC CPD extracted from histograms, especially Atyp-PMN-loc and Neu-ALL-M, showed high AUCs of 0.815 (0.750-0.879) and 0.778 (0.711-0.845), respectively.

CONCLUSION

Our findings demonstrate the clinical utility of CPD and hematology parameters of the Abbott Alinity hq analyzer in the differential diagnosis of MDS.

Determining the Degree of Dopaminergic Denervation Based on the Loss of Nigral Hyperintensity on SMWI in Parkinsonism

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Nigrostriatal dopaminergic function in patients with Parkinson disease can be assessed using ¹²³I-2β-carbomethoxy-3β-(4-iodophenyl)-N-(3-fluoropropyl)-nortropan dopamine transporter (¹²³I-FP-CIT) SPECT, and a good correlation has been demonstrated between nigral status on SWI and dopaminergic denervation on ¹²³I-FP-CIT SPECT. Here, we aim to correlate quantified dopamine transporter attenuation on ¹²³I-FP-CIT SPECT with nigrosome-1 status using susceptibility map-weighted imaging (SMWI).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Between May 2017 and January 2018, consecutive patients with idiopathic Parkinson disease (n = 109) and control participants (n = 29) who underwent ¹²³I-FP-CIT SPECT with concurrent 3T SWI were included. SMWI was generated from SWI. Two neuroradiologists evaluated nigral hyperintensity from nigrosome-1 on each side of the substantia nigra. Using consensus reading, we compared the ¹²³I-FP-CIT-specific binding ratio according to nigral hyperintensity status and the ¹²³I-FP-CIT specific binding ratio threshold to confirm the loss of nigral hyperintensity was determined using receiver operating characteristic curve analysis.

RESULTS

The concordance rate between SMWI and ¹²³I-FP-CIT SPECT was 65.9%. The ¹²³I-FP-CIT-specific binding ratios in the striatum, caudate nucleus, and putamen were significantly lower when nigral hyperintensity in the ipsilateral substantia nigra was absent than when present (all, P < .001). The ¹²³I-FP-CIT-specific binding ratio threshold values for the determination of nigral hyperintensity loss were 2.56 in the striatum (area under the curve, 0.890), 3.07 in the caudate nucleus (0.830), and 2.36 in the putamen (0.887).

CONCLUSIONS

Nigral hyperintensity on SMWI showed high positive predictive value and low negative predictive value with dopaminergic degeneration on ¹²³I-FP-CIT SPECT. In patients with Parkinson disease, the loss of nigral hyperintensity is prominent in patients with lower striatal specific binding ratios.

Multiplex LC-MS/MS for simultaneous determination of 25-hydroxyvitamin D, 24,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3, albumin, and vitamin D-binding protein with its isoforms: One-step estimation of bioavailable vitamin D and vitamin D metabolite ratio

Bioavailable vitamin D and vitamin D metabolite ratio (VMR) have emerged as potential novel vitamin D markers. We developed a multiplex liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method to determine all elements necessary for the calculation of bioavailable vitamin D and VMR, including 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25-(OH)D] and 24,25-dihydroxyvitamin D₃ [24,25-(OH)₂D₃], VDBP and its isoforms, and albumin. Following separate reactions of hexane extraction and trypsin digestion, serum samples were analyzed using LC-MS/MS to measure 25-(OH)D₃, 25-(OH)D₂, 24,25-(OH)₂D₃, VDBP and its isoforms, and albumin. Analytical performances were assessed. Korean (n = 229), Arab (n = 98), White (n = 99) and Black American (n = 99) samples were analyzed. Bioavailable vitamin D and VMR were calculated. All target molecules were clearly separated and accurately quantified by LC-MS/MS. Analytical performances, including imprecision, accuracy, ion suppression, limit of quantification, linearity, and comparison with existing methods were within acceptable levels. The allele frequencies of VDBP isoforms in various races resulted similar to previously known values. The levels of bioavailable vitamin D were highest in White Americans and lowest in Black Americans. We have successfully developed a multiplex LC-MS/MS-based assay method that can simultaneously perform the measurement of all parameters needed to calculate bioavailable vitamin D and VMR. Our devised method was robust and reliable in terms of analytical performances and could be applied to routine clinical samples in the future to more accurately assess vitamin D status.

Molecular insights into the development of hepatic metastases in colorectal cancer: a metastasis prediction study

OBJECTIVE

Colorectal cancer is presently the third most commonly diagnosed cancer in the United States. In this study, we identified molecular differences between hepatic and non-hepatic metastases in colorectal cancer and evaluated their prognostic significance.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We downloaded primary data from the NCBI Gene Expression Omnibus (GSE6988, GSE62321, GSE50760, and GSE28722). To identify the molecular differences, we used the Significance Analysis of Microarray method. We selected nine prognostic genes (SYTL2, PTPLAD1, CDS1, RNF138, PIGR, WDR78, MYO7B, TSPAN3, and ATP5F1) with hepatic metastasis prediction score in colorectal cancer (hereafter referred to as LASSO Score). We confirmed the prognostic significance of the LASSO Score by using Kaplan-Meier survival analysis, multivariate analysis, the time-dependent area under the curve (AUC) of Uno's C-index, and the AUC of the receiver operating characteristic curve at 1-5 years.

RESULTS

Survival analysis revealed that a high LASSO Score is associated with a poor prognosis in colorectal cancer patients with hepatic metastases (p = 0). Analysis of C-indices and AUC values from the receiver operating characteristic curve further supported this prediction by the LASSO Score. Multivariate analysis confirmed the prognostic significance of the LASSO Score (p = 1.13e-06).

CONCLUSIONS

This study reveals the biological mechanisms underlying hepatic metastases in colorectal cancer and will help in developing targeted therapies for colorectal cancer.

Evaluation of analytical performance of Alinity i system on 31 measurands

Introduction

Accurate, precise and reliable laboratory test results play a critical role in medical decision making. To satisfy the increasing needs in clinical laboratory tests, the analyzers have been advanced. In this study, authors aimed to evaluate the analytical performance of the Alinity i system (Abbott Laboratories, IL, USA) for diverse analytes measured by using immunoassay principle.

Materials and methods

Analytical performance of recently launched Alinity i system has been evaluated for 31 assays in aspects of precision, linearity and analytical measurement range, correlation with the Architect i2000sr system (Abbott Laboratories), carry-over, and reference interval validation in accordance with CLSI guidelines.

Results

The within-laboratory CVs of the analytes tested in the study ranged between 1.00 and 7.84%, which met vendor claimed value in precision. In linearity test, most assays satisfied acceptable linearity criteria, best-fit first order regression or polynomial regression with nonlinearity smaller than ±10%, compared with linear regression. The recovery of each analyte distributed from 90.1 to 109.7%. The coefficient of determination (R²) for each test was larger than 0.95 except for folate when compared to the results obtained from existing routine analyzer and statistically or clinically equivalent. The carry-over rates were acceptable, and reference intervals were validated.

Conclusion

Through this study, acceptable analytical performance of novel Alinity i system has been verified. It is expected to readily replace existing instrument and to be an option for laboratories considering introduction of automated immunoassay analyzer.

Analytical performance evaluation of the Norudia HbA1c assay

BACKGROUND

Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) is arguably the most important biomarker used in the diagnosis and treatment monitoring of diabetes mellitus. We evaluated the analytical performance of the Norudia HbA1c assay (Sekisui Medical Co., LTD), which uses an enzymatic method incorporated into a fully automated, high-throughput system.

METHODS

The precision, linearity, and carryover of the Norudia HbA1c assay were evaluated. Using 60 patient samples, comparative analysis of HbA1c measurements with two commonly used HbA1c assays, the D100 (Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc) and HLC-723 G11 (Tosoh), was undergone. Thirteen commutable samples with known HbA1c concentrations measured using an IFCC reference measurement procedure were used to compare accuracy between methods. Interference of HbA1c measurement by Hb variants was evaluated using 16 known Hb variant samples.

RESULTS

Repeatability (% CV) for low and high concentrations ranged from 1.12%-1.50% and 0.66%-0.75%, respectively, and within-laboratory precision for low and high concentrations ranged from 1.73%-2.89% and 0.98%-1.64%, respectively. For linearity, the coefficient of determination was 0.9987. No significant carryover was observed. When compared to the D100 and HLC-723 G11 assays, the Norudia HbA1c assay showed the best accuracy with the lowest mean bias (-1.72%). Furthermore, the Norudia was least affected by Hb variants and gave the most reliable HbA1c measurements.

CONCLUSION

The Norudia HbA1c showed excellent analytical performance with good precision and linearity, and minimal carryover. When compared to other routine HbA1c methods, the Norudia HbA1c assay showed the highest accuracy and was least affected by Hb variants.

Prediction of Human Papillomavirus Status and Overall Survival in Patients with Untreated Oropharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma: Development and Validation of CT-Based Radiomics

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Human papillomavirus is a prognostic marker for oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma. We aimed to determine the value of CT-based radiomics for predicting the human papillomavirus status and overall survival in patients with oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Eighty-six patients with oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma were retrospectively collected and grouped into training (n = 61) and test (n = 25) sets. For human papillomavirus status and overall survival prediction, radiomics features were selected via a random forest-based algorithm and Cox regression analysis, respectively. Relevant features were used to build multivariate Cox regression models and calculate the radiomics score. Human papillomavirus status and overall survival prediction were assessed via the area under the curve and concordance index, respectively. The models were validated in the test and The Cancer Imaging Archive cohorts (n = 78).

RESULTS

For prediction of human papillomavirus status, radiomics features yielded areas under the curve of 0.865, 0.747, and 0.834 in the training, test, and validation sets, respectively. In the univariate Cox regression, the human papillomavirus status (positive: hazard ratio, 0.257; 95% CI, 0.09-0.7; P = .008), T-stage (≥III: hazard ratio, 3.66; 95% CI, 1.34-9.99; P = .011), and radiomics score (high-risk: hazard ratio, 3.72; 95% CI, 1.21-11.46; P = .022) were associated with overall survival. The addition of the radiomics score to the clinical Cox model increased the concordance index from 0.702 to 0.733 (P = .01). Validation yielded concordance indices of 0.866 and 0.720.

CONCLUSIONS

CT-based radiomics may be useful in predicting human papillomavirus status and overall survival in patients with oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma.

Benchmarking an 11-qubit quantum computer

The field of quantum computing has grown from concept to demonstration devices over the past 20 years. Universal quantum computing offers efficiency in approaching problems of scientific and commercial interest, such as factoring large numbers, searching databases, simulating intractable models from quantum physics, and optimizing complex cost functions. Here, we present an 11-qubit fully-connected, programmable quantum computer in a trapped ion system composed of 13 ¹⁷¹Yb⁺ ions. We demonstrate average single-qubit gate fidelities of 99.5\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \usepackage{amsmath} \usepackage{wasysym} \usepackage{amsfonts} \usepackage{amssymb} \usepackage{amsbsy} \usepackage{mathrsfs} \usepackage{upgreek} \setlength{\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \begin{document}$$\%$$\end{document}%, average two-qubit-gate fidelities of 97.5\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \usepackage{amsmath} \usepackage{wasysym} \usepackage{amsfonts} \usepackage{amssymb} \usepackage{amsbsy} \usepackage{mathrsfs} \usepackage{upgreek} \setlength{\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \begin{document}$$\%$$\end{document}%, and SPAM errors of 0.7\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \usepackage{amsmath} \usepackage{wasysym} \usepackage{amsfonts} \usepackage{amssymb} \usepackage{amsbsy} \usepackage{mathrsfs} \usepackage{upgreek} \setlength{\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \begin{document}$$\%$$\end{document}%. To illustrate the capabilities of this universal platform and provide a basis for comparison with similarly-sized devices, we compile the Bernstein-Vazirani and Hidden Shift algorithms into our native gates and execute them on the hardware with average success rates of 78\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \usepackage{amsmath} \usepackage{wasysym} \usepackage{amsfonts} \usepackage{amssymb} \usepackage{amsbsy} \usepackage{mathrsfs} \usepackage{upgreek} \setlength{\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \begin{document}$$\%$$\end{document}% and 35\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \usepackage{amsmath} \usepackage{wasysym} \usepackage{amsfonts} \usepackage{amssymb} \usepackage{amsbsy} \usepackage{mathrsfs} \usepackage{upgreek} \setlength{\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \begin{document}$$\%$$\end{document}%, respectively. These algorithms serve as excellent benchmarks for any type of quantum hardware, and show that our system outperforms all other currently available hardware.

The growing complexity of quantum computing devices makes presents challenges for benchmarking their performance as previous, exhaustive approaches become infeasible. Here the authors characterise the quality of their 11-qubit device by successfully computing two quantum algorithms.

Targeted sequencing aids in identifying clonality in chronic myelomonocytic leukemia

Chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMML) typically shows monocytosis in the peripheral blood (PB), which must be differentiated from reactive monocytosis. To determine the clonality of CMML, we performed molecular and cytogenetic analysis in Korean patients. To investigate whether monocytes in the PB harbored clonal mutational changes, we performed single-cell sequencing after selecting monocytes, neutrophils, and lymphocytes by morphology-aided laser microdissection. Targeted sequencing was performed in 35 patients with CMML with 41 bone marrow samples. Single-cell analysis was performed in two cases. Most (94.3%) patients harbored at least one variant, in genes considered as potential therapeutic targets, while cytogenetic aberrations occurred in only 28.6% of cases. ASXL1 (54.3%), SRSF2 (37.1%), NRAS (31.4%), and TET2 (25.7%) were frequently mutated, with lower frequencies of TET2 mutation and higher frequencies of NRAS, DNMT3A (17.1%), and NPM1 (11.4%) mutations compared to in previous studies of Caucasians. Patients with SETBP1 mutation and those with more than two variants showed poorer survival than those without mutation (P < 0.001 and P = 0.007, respectively). Most (70.8%) variants were detected at diagnosis and follow-up with no significant differences in variant allele frequency, warranting sequencing during follow-up if diagnostic samples were unavailable. Single-cell analysis revealed clonal monocytes with mutations, and the same mutations were also identified in lymphocytes and neutrophils. Targeted sequencing aided in clonality detection in most patients with CMML and single-cell sequencing facilitated identification of clonal monocytes and the co-existence of mutations in non-myeloid cells, suggesting that certain mutations are acquired by pluripotent stem cells.

Cancer cell-induced neutrophil extracellular traps promote both hypercoagulability and cancer progression

Introduction

Neutrophils can generate extracellular net-like structures by releasing their DNA–histone complexes and antimicrobial peptides, which is called neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs). Various stimuli can induce NET formation. In particular, neutrophils and NET formation are abundant in tumor tissue. This study investigated how cancer cells induce NET formation and whether this NET formation promotes plasma thrombin generation and cancer progression.

Methods

Induction of NET formation by a pancreatic cancer cell line (AsPC-1) was assessed by measuring the histone–DNA complex level. The endogenous thrombin potential (ETP) was measured by thrombin generation assay. In vitro migration, invasion, and tubule formation assays were performed. The circulating levels of NET markers and hypercoagulability markers were assessed in 62 patients with pancreatobiliary malignancy and 30 healthy controls.

Results

AsPC-1 significantly induced NET formation in a dose-dependent manner. Conditioned medium (CM) from AsPC-1 also induced NETs. Interestingly, NET-formation was abolished by heat-inactivated CM, but not by lipid-extracted CM, suggesting an important role of protein components. A reactive oxygen species inhibitor did not inhibit cancer cell–induced NET formation, but prostaglandin E1 (PGE1, cyclic adenosine monophosphate inducer) and antithrombin did. NETs significantly increased ETP of normal plasma. Of note, NETs promoted cancer cell migration and invasion as well as angiogenesis, which were inhibited by histone-binding agents (heparin, polysialic acid), a DNA-degrading enzyme, and Toll-like receptor neutralizing antibodies. In patients with pancreatobiliary malignancy, elevated NET markers correlated well with hypercoagulability makers.

Conclusion

Our findings indicate that cancer cell–induced NET formation enhances both hypercoagulability and cancer progression and suggest that inhibitors of NET formation such as PGE1 and antithrombin can be potential therapeutics to reduce both hypercoagulability and cancer progression.

Geriatric oral and maxillofacial dysfunctions in the context of geriatric syndrome

OBJECTIVES

To propose the application of the concept of geriatric syndrome for common geriatric oral and maxillofacial dysfunctions and to suggest the necessity of developing effective evaluation methods for oral and maxillofacial frailty.

DESIGN

The concepts of frailty and geriatric syndrome based on multi-morbidity and polypharmacy were applied to five common geriatric oral medicinal dysfunctional problems: salivary gland hypofunction (dry mouth), chronic oral mucosal pain disorders (burning mouth symptoms), taste disorders (taste disturbances), swallowing disorders (dysphagia), and oral and maxillofacial movement disorders (oromandibular dyskinesia and dystonia).

RESULTS

Each of the dysfunctions is caused by various kinds of diseases and/or conditions and medications, thus the concept of geriatric syndrome could be applied. These dysfunctions, suggested as components of oral and maxillofacial geriatric syndrome, are associated and interacted with each other in a complexity of vicious cycle. The resulting functional impairments caused by this syndrome can cause oral and maxillofacial frailty.

CONCLUSIONS

Geriatric oral and maxillofacial dysfunctions could be better appreciated in the context of geriatric syndrome. The development of effective methods for evaluating the severity of these dysfunctions and the resulting frailty is essential.

High-resolution electrohydrodynamic inkjet printing of stretchable metal oxide semiconductor transistors with high performance

As demands for high pixel densities and wearable forms of displays increase, high-resolution printing technologies to achieve high performance transistors beyond current amorphous silicon levels and to allow low-temperature solution processability for plastic substrates have been explored as key processes in emerging flexible electronics. This study describes electrohydrodynamic inkjet (e-jet) technology for direct printing of oxide semiconductor thin film transistors (TFTs) with high resolution (minimum line width: 2 μm) and superb performance, including high mobility (∼230 cm² V^-1 s^-1). Logic operations of the amplifier circuits composed of these e-jet-printed metal oxide semiconductor (MOS) TFTs demonstrate their high performance. Printed In₂O TFTs with e-jet printing-assisted high-resolution S/D electrodes were prepared, and the direct printing of passivation layers on these channels enhanced their gate-bias stabilities significantly. Moreover, low process temperatures (<250 °C) enable the use of thin plastic substrates; highly flexible and stretchable TFT arrays have been demonstrated, suggesting promise for next-generation printed electronics.

A superhydrophilic nitinol shape memory alloy with enhanced anti-biofouling and anti-corrosion properties

This work reports on a nitinol (NiTi) surface modification scheme based on a chemical oxidation method, and characterizes its effects on wetting, biofouling and corrosion. The scheme developed is also compared with selected previous oxidation methods. The proposed method turns NiTi into superhydrophilic in ~5 min, and the static contact angle and contact angle hysteresis were measured to be ~7° and ~12°, respectively. In the PRP (platelet rich plasma) test, platelet adhesion was reduced by ~89% and ~77% respectively, compared with the original NiTi and the NiTi treated with the previous chemical oxidation scheme. The method developed provides a high (~1.1 V) breakdown voltage, which surpasses the ASTM standard for intervascular medical devices. It also provides higher superhydrophilicity, hemo-compatibility and anti-corrosion resistance than previous oxidation schemes, with a significantly reduced process time (~5 min), and will help the development of high performance NiTi devices.

CCL28 Cannot Replace IgE for Severity by Objective SCORAD Index in Atopic Dermatitis in Children

BACKGROUND

Recently, CC chemokine ligand28 (CCL28) has been reported as a severity marker in atopic dermatitis. We studied the association between objectively observed lesions and the level of CCL28 in children patients.

METHODS

A total of 105 children patients were grouped by the objective Scoring Atopic Dermatitis index (SCORAD). Total IgE, specific IgE, complete blood count, and serum level of CCL28 were evaluated.

RESULTS

The mean age of the subjects was 5.3 (range, 0 - 12 years). The median SCORAD was 21.4 and consisted of mild 70%, moderate 25%, and severe 6% disease. There were no statistical differences among severity groups for CCL28 or for total IgE. Total IgE showed positive correlation with eosinophil count (r = 0.429, p < 0.01), and SCORAD (r = 0.210, p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

The disease severity of atopic dermatitis in children is not correlated to the level of CCL28, but rather related to that of total IgE.

Disseminated mucormycosis with myocardial involvement in a renal transplant recipient

We report the case of a renal transplant recipient with pulmonary and splenic mucormycosis whose demise was accelerated by a myocardial abscess. Once pulmonary and splenic mucormycosis was diagnosed, liposomal amphotericin B was started and immunosuppressant treatments were discontinued. The pulmonary cavities regressed during treatment, but new myocardial and peri-allograft abscesses developed. The myocardial abscess diffusely infiltrated the left ventricular wall and was associated with akinesia, which led to sudden cardiac arrest. This case demonstrates a rare manifestation of mucormycosis and highlights the fatality and invasiveness of this infection.

Quasi 3D ECE imaging system for study of MHD instabilities in KSTAR

A second electron cyclotron emission imaging (ECEI) system has been installed on the KSTAR tokamak, toroidally separated by 1/16th of the torus from the first ECEI system. For the first time, the dynamical evolutions of MHD instabilities from the plasma core to the edge have been visualized in quasi-3D for a wide range of the KSTAR operation (B0 = 1.7∼3.5 T). This flexible diagnostic capability has been realized by substantial improvements in large-aperture quasi-optical microwave components including the development of broad-band polarization rotators for imaging of the fundamental ordinary ECE as well as the usual 2nd harmonic extraordinary ECE.

Design of the reflective optics for Tore Supra ECEI system

A 2D electron cyclotron emission (ECE) imaging system for Tore Supra is under design for studying the MHD physics of the magnetically confined plasma such as sawteeth, tearing modes, and turbulent fluctuations. Complex beam path due to the tight access in Tore Supra led to the design of reflective optics made of 6 or more large cylindrical∕flat mirrors. The total path length of the ECE beam is about 11 m, including almost 4 m inside the vacuum vessel. The imaging property of the optics has been estimated using the Gaussian beam simulation and ray transfer analysis. The possible setups for the optical alignment of the diagnostic and the operation scenarios with single- or dual-array measurement system are discussed.