Visualizing mast cell migration to tumor sites using sodium iodide symporter of nuclear medicine reporter gene.

Purpose: Owing to the close relationship between mast cells and cancer progression, an imaging technique that can be applied in a clinical setting to explore the biological behavior of mast cells in the tumor microenvironment is needed. In this study, we visualized mast cell migration to lung tumor lesions in live mice using sodium iodide symporter (NIS) as a nuclear medicine reporter gene.

Experimental Design: The murine mast cell line MC-9 was infected with retrovirus including NIS, luciferase (as a surrogate marker for NIS), and Thy1.

A new cyclin-dependent kinase-9 inhibitor A09-003 induces apoptosis in acute myeloid leukemia cells with reduction of myeloid cell leukemia sequence-1 protein.

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is the most common type of hematological disease in adults, and has a very poor outcome [1]. Based on its wide range of efficacy in AML models, a small-molecule inhibitor of the anti-apoptotic protein BCL-2, venetoclax (ABT-199/GDC-0199), was developed for clinical trials. However, venetoclax showed limited monotherapy activity [2].

An Inverse Agonist of Estrogen-Related Receptor Gamma, GSK5182, Enhances Na/I Symporter Function in Radioiodine-Refractory Papillary Thyroid Cancer Cells.

Previously, we reported that an inverse agonist of estrogen-related receptor gamma (ERRγ), GSK5182, enhances sodium iodide (Na/I) symporter (NIS) function through mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase signaling in anaplastic thyroid cancer cells. This finding helped us to further investigate the effects of GSK5182 on NIS function in papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) refractory to radioactive iodine (RAI) therapy. Herein, we report the effects of ERRγ on the regulation of NIS function in RAI-resistant PTC cells using GSK5182.

Synthesis and discovery of the first potent proteolysis targeting chimaera (PROTAC) degrader of AIMP2-DX2 as a lung cancer drug.

ARS-interacting multifunctional proteins 2 (AIMP2) is known to be a powerful tumour suppressor. However, the target AIMP2-DX2, AIMP2-lacking exon 2, is often detected in many cancer patients and cells. The predominant approach for targeting AIMP-DX2 has been attempted small molecule mediated inhibition, but due to the lack of satisfactory activity against AIMP2-DX2, new therapeutic strategies are needed to develop a novel drug for AIMP2-DX2.

and Galactooligosaccharide Improve Skin Barrier Dysfunction and Atopic Dermatitis-like Skin.

Purpose: The beneficial effects of a combination therapy using and galactooligosaccharide (GOS) for the treatment of atopic dermatitis (AD) have not been elucidated.

Methods: Gene expressions of interleukin (IL)-4 and IL-13 from peripheral blood mononuclear cells and fecal abundance of . from 12-month-old infants were evaluated.

Discovery of benzodioxane analogues as lead candidates of AIMP2-DX2 inhibitors.

Aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase (ARS) interacting multifunctional protein2 (AIMP2) plays a vital role in protein synthesis. However, a splicing variant in which the second of the four exons of AIMP2 is deleted, inhibits the tumor suppression activity of AIMP2. Herein, we describe our discovery of series of potent AIMP2-DX2 inhibitors that are targeting lung cancer.

Dietary Diversity during Early Infancy Increases Microbial Diversity and Prevents Egg Allergy in High-Risk Infants.

We aimed to investigate associations of dietary diversity (DD) with gut microbial diversity and the development of hen's egg allergy (HEA) in infants. We enrolled 68 infants in a high-risk group and 32 infants in a control group based on a family history of allergic diseases. All infants were followed from birth until 12 months of age.

Inhibition of histone demethylase KDM4 by ML324 induces apoptosis through the unfolded protein response and Bim upregulation in hepatocellular carcinoma cells.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is an extremely aggressive malignancy that ranks as the sixth-leading cause of cancer-associated death worldwide. Recently, various epigenetic mechanisms including gene methylation were reported to be potential next era HCC therapeutics and biomarkers. Although inhibition of epigenetic enzymes including histone lysine demethylase 4 (KDM4) enhanced cell death in HCC cells, the detailed mechanism of cell death machinery is poorly understood.

Effect of prenatal phthalate exposure on childhood atopic dermatitis: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

The association between prenatal exposure to phthalate and childhood atopic dermatitis (AD) has previously been investigated; however, the results are inconsistent. We aimed to perform a systematic review and meta-analysis of birth cohort studies to investigate whether prenatal exposure to phthalate increases the risk of developing AD in children. We performed an electronic search of medical literature data bases.

A Comparative Study of Survivor Outcomes between Preoperative Evaluation Using CT Alone and Combined CT and MRI in Patients with Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma.

Purpose: To compare the recurrence pattern, disease-free survival (DFS), and overall survival (OS) after curative surgery for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) in patients who underwent preoperative evaluation with CT alone or in combination with MRI, and to compare the prognosis according to the first recurrence site.

Materials And Methods: We retrospectively evaluated 152 patients who underwent R0 resection of PDAC. Preoperative CT or combined CT and MRI were performed for 103 and 49 patients, respectively.

Tunicamycin as a Novel Redifferentiation Agent in Radioiodine Therapy for Anaplastic Thyroid Cancer.

The silencing of thyroid-related genes presents difficulties in radioiodine therapy for anaplastic thyroid cancers (ATCs). Tunicamycin (TM), an N-linked glycosylation inhibitor, is an anticancer drug. Herein, we investigated TM-induced restoration of responsiveness to radioiodine therapy in radioiodine refractory ATCs.

Iterative Suzuki-Miyaura Cross-coupling/Bromo-desilylation Reaction Sequences for the Assembly of Chemically Well-defined, Acyclic Oligopyrrole/Benzenoid Hybrids Embodying Mixed Modes of Connectivity.

Syntheses of a range of chemically well-defined oligopyrrole/benzenoid hybrids are described using tandem Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling/bromo-desilyation reaction sequences for linking borylated pyrroles, halogenated pyrroles and/or dibromobenzenes to one another. By such means, including iterative variants, a range of all α-linked, all β-linked oligopyrroles as well as certain combinations thereof have been assembled, some of them for the first time. The conductivities of iodine-treated thin films formed from certain such systems have been determined.

Efficacy of fetal cardiac axis evaluation in the first trimester as a screening tool for congenital heart defect or aneuploidy.

Objective: To prove the efficacy of determining the abnormal fetal cardiac axis for screening congenital heart defects (CHDs) and predicting fetal aneuploidy at 11.0 to 13.6 weeks of pregnancy.

Fast food consumption alongside socioeconomic status, stress, exercise, and sleep duration are associated with menstrual irregularities in Korean adolescents: Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2009-2013.

Background And Objectives: Menstrual irregularities in adolescents are a concern because they are considered a subjective indicator of poor physical and reproductive health. Menstrual regularity is associated with many genetic and mental health factors, and lifestyle changes can markedly influence an individual's level of menstrual regularity. Therefore, we investigated associations between lifestyle factors and menstrual irregularities in Korean adolescents by analysing data collected from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from 2009 to 2013.

Dual CCR2/5 Antagonist Attenuates Obesity-Induced Insulin Resistance by Regulating Macrophage Recruitment and M1/M2 Status.

Objective: Adipose tissue inflammation induced by macrophage infiltration through the C-C motif chemokine receptor (CCR) 2 or CCR5 pathway has a pivotal role in obesity-related disease and insulin resistance. Here, the effect of PF4178903, a dual CCR2/CCR5 antagonist, on obesity and insulin resistance was evaluated.

Methods: Forty male C57BL/6J mice were divided into four groups as follows: (1) regular diet (RD), (2) RD with PF4178903, (3) high-fat diet (HFD), and (4) HFD with PF4178903.

Imaging Features of Gadoxetic Acid-enhanced and Diffusion-weighted MR Imaging for Identifying Cytokeratin 19-positive Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Retrospective Observational Study.

Purpose To determine the preoperative magnetic resonance (MR) imaging findings potentially most useful for predicting cytokeratin 19 (CK19)-positive hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and to evaluate the prognosis after curative resection in patients with a single HCC lesion positive for CK19 compared with patients with HCC who are negative for CK19. Materials and Methods The institutional review board approved this study and waived the requirement for informed consent. Two hundred four patients with CK19-negative HCC and 38 with CK19-positive HCC who underwent curative resection after gadoxetic acid-enhanced and diffusion-weighted MR imaging were retrospectively evaluated in a single institution.

Ultrasound-guided percutaneous bone drilling for the treatment of lateral epicondylitis.

Objective: To determine the clinical efficacy of sonographically-guided percutaneous bone drilling of the lateral epicondyle (LE) for the treatment of patients with LE.

Methods: We included 24 patients with LE who reported pain in this study. All patients underwent sonographically-guided percutaneous bone drilling of the lateral epicondyle.

α-Mangostin ameliorates hepatic steatosis and insulin resistance by inhibition C-C chemokine receptor 2.

Obesity induces various metabolic diseases such as dyslipidemia, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), and type 2 diabetes. Fat expansion in adipose tissue induces adipose tissue dysfunction and inflammation, insulin resistance, and other metabolic syndromes. α-Mangostin (α-MG) has been previously studied for its anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant activities.

Silver-Catalyzed 1,3-Acyloxy Migration/Diels-Alder Reaction of 1,9-Dien-4-yne Esters to Partially Hydrogenated Isoquinolines.

A synthetic method to prepare partially hydrogenated isoquinolines efficiently from silver-mediated [3,3]-sigmatropic rearrangement/Diels-Alder reaction of 1,9-dien-4-yne esters is described. The reactions were shown to be robust with a wide variety of substitution patterns tolerated to provide the corresponding nitrogen-containing heterocyclic products in good to excellent yields. This includes examples containing a bridgehead sp quaternary carbon center as well as the cycloisomerization of one substrate to give the corresponding bicyclic adduct in excellent yield at the gram scale.

Relationship between Heavy Metal Exposure and Bone Mineral Density in Korean Adult.

Background: Exposure to heavy metals from environmental and industrial sources remains a concern of serious public health risk. This study was conducted to analysis the relationship between heavy metal concentrations and bone density.

Methods: This study used data from a nation-based sample of Koreans (n=2,429) from 2008 to 2011 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

KIF3A binds to β-arrestin for suppressing Wnt/β-catenin signalling independently of primary cilia in lung cancer.

Aberrant Wnt/β-catenin signalling is implicated in the progression of several human cancers, including non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, mutations in Wnt/β-catenin pathway components are uncommon in NSCLC, and their epigenetic control remains unclear. Here, we show that KIF3A, a member of the kinesin-2 family, plays a role in suppressing Wnt/β-catenin signalling in NSCLC cells.

Interleukin-10 attenuates tumour growth by inhibiting interleukin-6/signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 signalling in myeloid-derived suppressor cells.

Interleukin-10 (IL-10) is a well-characterized anti-inflammatory cytokine, but its role in anti-cancer immunity is controversial. After injection with TC-1 cancer cells, we observed more rapid tumour growth and significantly higher interleukin-6 (IL-6) production in IL-10 knockout (IL-10(-/-)) mice than wild-type (WT) mice. Blocking IL-6 with an anti-IL-6 receptor (IL-6R) monoclonal antibody (mAb) inhibited tumour growth and myeloid-derived suppressor cell (MDSC) generation, which were significantly increased in IL-10-deficient mice.

Hypertension and age at onset of natural menopause in Korean postmenopausal women: Results from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2008-2013).

Objectives: Menopause is a natural phenomenon of aging, although the timing and management of menopause can significantly affect a woman's quality of life. It is therefore important to identify measures to ensure a healthy menopause. We set out to investigate the association between hypertension and early menopause in Korean women.

The value of contrast-enhanced dynamic and diffusion-weighted MR imaging for distinguishing benign and malignant splenic masses.

Objective: To assess the value of contrast-enhanced dynamic and diffusion-weighted (DW) MR imaging for differentiating malignant from benign splenic lesions.

Methods: This retrospective study included 51 patients with 35 benign and 16 malignant focal splenic lesions. All patients underwent contrast-enhanced dynamic and DW MR imaging.