N-linked glycosylation is essential for anti-tumor activities of KIAA1324 in gastric cancer.

KIAA1324 is a transmembrane protein largely reported as a tumor suppressor and favorable prognosis marker in various cancers, including gastric cancer. In this study, we report the role of N-linked glycosylation in KIAA1324 as a functional post-translational modification (PTM). Loss of N-linked glycosylation eliminated the potential of KIAA1324 to suppress cancer cell proliferation and migration.

Trend changes and factor analysis of endometrial hyperplasia in patients with polycystic ovarian syndrome based on the Korean National Health Insurance Database.

Background: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common endocrine disorder associated with an increased risk of other gynecological disorders, such as endometrial hyperplasia (EH). However, substantial factors in the comorbidity of EH and PCOS remain to be investigated. We analyzed trend changes in PCOS and factors related to the comorbidity of PCOS and EH using data from the Korea National Health Insurance (KNHI) claims database.

Cloning and Functional Characterization of Dihydroflavonol 4-Reductase Gene Involved in Anthocyanin Biosynthesis of Chrysanthemum.

Dihydroflavonol 4-reductase (DFR) catalyzes a committed step in anthocyanin and proanthocyanidin biosynthesis by reducing dihydroflavonols to leucoanthocyanidins. However, the role of this enzyme in determining flower color in the economically important crop chrysanthemum ( Ramat.) is unknown.

Efficacy of the Monte Carlo method and dose reduction strategies in paediatric panoramic radiography.

Monte Carlo (MC) simulation is a simpler radiation dose assessment method than the conventional method, thermoluminescent dosimetry (TLD). MC simulation and TLD were compared as tools to evaluate the effective dose from paediatric panoramic radiography. Various exposure conditions and machine geometries were simulated using the MC method to investigate factors resulting in effective dose reduction.

Molecular and Functional Characterization of Oryza sativa Flavonol Synthase (OsFLS), a Bifunctional Dioxygenase.

Flavonol synthase (FLS) belongs to the 2-oxoglutarate-dependent dioxygenase (2-ODD) superfamily. We isolated OsFLS from the rice ( Oryza sativa) cultivar "Ilmi" OsFLS includes highly conserved 2-ODD-specific motifs and FLS-specific regions. Recombinant OsFLS exhibited both FLS and flavanone 3β-hydroxylase (F3H) activities, converting dihydroflavonols into flavonols and flavanones into dihydroflavonols, respectively, and more efficiently used dihydrokaempferol than dihydroquercetin as a substrate.

Nitro Sulfonyl Fluorides are a new pharmacophore for the development of antibiotics.

The development of antibiotics against Gram-negative bacteria is a central problem in drug discovery. In this report, we demonstrate that aromatic sulfonyl fluorides with a nitro group in their ortho position have remarkable antibacterial activity and are active against drug-resistant pathogens, such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), multidrug resistant Acinetobacter baumannii, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Effectiveness of collaborative treatment using Korean and Western medicine for mild cognitive impairment or dementia: A protocol for a prospective observational exploratory study.

Background: South Korea has a dual medical system comprising conventional Western medicine (WM) and traditional Korean medicine (KM), which has yielded both positive results (increased opportunity to choose medical care) and negative results (increased medical costs). Thus, the Ministry of Health and Welfare has been performing a pilot project to evaluate this collaborative system in the real clinical situation. As treatment of dementia requires a social approach, the Korean government aims to strengthen the role of the national health care system to reduce the burden of dementia.

Erratum: Identification of Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition-related Target Genes Induced by the Mutation of Smad3 Linker Phosphorylation.

[This corrects the article on p. 1 in vol. 23, PMID: 29629343.

A Trimethoprim Conjugate of Thiomaltose Has Enhanced Antibacterial Efficacy In Vivo.

Trimethoprim is one of the most widely used antibiotics in the world. However, its efficacy is frequently limited by its poor water solubility and dose limiting toxicity. Prodrug strategies based on conjugation of oligosaccharides to trimethoprim have great potential for increasing the solubility of trimethoprim and lowering its toxicity, but they have been challenging to develop due to the sensitivity of trimethoprim to chemical modifications, and the rapid degradation of oligosaccharides in serum.

Novel identification of STAT1 as a crucial mediator of ETV6-NTRK3-induced tumorigenesis.

Chromosomal rearrangements that facilitate tumor formation and progression through activation of oncogenic tyrosine kinases are frequently observed in cancer. The ETV6-NTRK3 (EN) fusion has been implicated in various cancers, including infantile fibrosarcoma, secretory breast carcinoma, and acute myeloblastic leukemia, and has exhibited in vivo and in vitro transforming ability. In the present study, we analyzed transcriptome alterations using DNA microarray and RNA-Seq in EN-transduced NIH3T3 fibroblasts to identify the mechanisms that are involved in EN-mediated tumorigenesis.

Co-chaperone BAG2 Determines the Pro-oncogenic Role of Cathepsin B in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Cells.

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is considered incurable with currently available treatments, highlighting the need for therapeutic targets and predictive biomarkers. Here, we report a unique role for Bcl-2-associated athanogene 2 (BAG2), which is significantly overexpressed in TNBC, in regulating the dual functions of cathepsin B as either a pro- or anti-oncogenic enzyme. Silencing BAG2 suppresses tumorigenesis and lung metastasis and induces apoptosis by increasing the intracellular mature form of cathepsin B, whereas BAG2 expression induces metastasis by blocking the auto-cleavage processing of pro-cathepsin B via interaction with the propeptide region.

Comparison of older adults' visual perceptual skills, cognitive function, and fall efficacy according to fall risk in the elderly.

[Purpose] This research aims to identify the relationships among visual perceptual skills, cognitive functioning, and fall efficacy of older adults based on whether they are at risk for falls. [Subjects and Methods] Subjects included 116 older adults over 65 years of age who use D Seniors Welfare Center and Y Senior Citizen Center in Busan Metropolitan City. All research subjects were classified based on balance maintenance ability evaluation and whether or not they had experienced falls more than once.

Expression of Ezrin and Estrogen Receptors During Cervical Carcinogenesis.

Rationale: Development of cervical squamous carcinoma (CXCA) is accompanied by changes in estrogen receptors (ERs, ERα and ERβ) and ezrin expression; however, reports have been conflicting. Using histologically documented staging of cervical biopsies, we determined ezrin and ER relationships during CXCA development.

Methods: Immunoreactive (ir) ezrin, ir-ERα, and ir-ERβ were studied in normal epithelium, carcinoma in situ/cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) 1 to 3, and local invasion or metastatic CXCA.

Design, synthesis and biological evaluation of a highly-potent and cancer cell selective folate-taxoid conjugate.

The folate receptor (FR) has been widely recognized as an excellent target for the tumor-selective delivery of cytotoxic agents, and four folate-drug conjugates have entered clinical evaluations for the treatment of solid tumors to date. However, most of these conjugates required structural modification of the cytotoxic warheads in order to achieve efficient drug release from the linkers. We designed and constructed a novel folate conjugate of a highly-potent next-generation taxoid, SB-T-1214, by exploiting bioorthogonal Cu-free 'click' chemistry.

Clinical significance of a negative loop electrosurgical excision procedure biopsy in patients with biopsy-confirmed high-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia.

Objective: We sought to determine which clinical factors can predict this phenomenon and to better understand the clinical significance of negative loop electrosurgical excision procedure (LEEP) findings through long-term follow-up.

Methods: We identified 559 patients with biopsy-confirmed cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade 2 or 3 (CIN 2, 3) who were treated by LEEP between February 2001 and December 2010. Preconization clinical characteristics, as well as high-risk human papillomavirus (hrHPV) status, were analyzed as possible predictors of an absence of a lesion in the specimen.

Design, synthesis and evaluation of novel 2,5,6-trisubstituted benzimidazoles targeting FtsZ as antitubercular agents.

Filamenting temperature-sensitive protein Z (FtsZ), an essential cell division protein, is a promising target for the drug discovery of new-generation antibacterial agents against various bacterial pathogens. As a part of SAR studies on benzimidazoles, we have synthesized a library of 376 novel 2,5,6-trisubstituted benzimidazoles, bearing ether or thioether linkage at the 6-position. In a preliminary HTP screening against Mtb H37Rv, 108 compounds were identified as hits at a cut off concentration of 5 μg/mL.

Paclitaxel: biosynthesis, production and future prospects.

Plants are capable of producing a wide variety of secondary metabolites which have a diverse range of functions that can be exploited for medicinal purposes; for example, paclitaxel is a major anti-cancer drug found in the bark of Taxus spp. There are however supply issues as the compound is only found at low concentrations (0.05%) within the plant.

A study on the necessity of medical facilities safety design adoption.

[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to investigate the requirements of the introduction of a safety design and certification system for medical facilities. [Subjects] A survey was carried out of one hundred nurses, physical therapists, occupational therapists, speech and language therapists from May to August in 2012. [Methods] The survey was conducted after giving subjects some information about safety design.