Multiple Trajectories and Predictors of Self-Esteem Change in Later Life: A Latent Growth Mixture Modeling Approach.

Applying latent growth mixture modeling (GMM), this study delves into the examination of self-esteem trajectories in a sample of 5,597 older adults over a nine-year period. Four distinct patterns of self-esteem changes have emerged: low, decreasing, increasing, and high. Additionally, the study explores the relationships between each trajectory and various predictors encompassing demographic factors, socioeconomic status, health, and interpersonal relationships.

Comparative RNA-Seq Analysis Revealed Tissue-Specific Splicing Variations during the Generation of the PDX Model.

Tissue-specific gene expression generates fundamental differences in the function of each tissue and affects the characteristics of the tumors that are created as a result. However, it is unclear how much the tissue specificity is conserved during grafting of the primary tumor into an immune-compromised mouse model. Here, we performed a comparative RNA-seq analysis of four different primary-patient derived xenograft (PDX) tumors.

Relationship between core self-evaluation and innovative work behavior: mediating effect of affective organizational commitment and moderating effect of organizational learning capacity.

Focusing on employees, this study examined the respective mediating and moderating effects of affective organizational commitment and organizational learning capacity in the relationship between core self-evaluation and innovation work behavior. We collected data an online survey from 330 office workers at midsize and large companies in a metropolitan area of South Korea. The results of analyzing the data using PROCESS macro were as follows: (1) core self-evaluation was positively related to innovative work behavior; (2) the relationship was mediated by affective organizational commitment; (3) the relationship was buffered by organizational learning capacity, such that a higher level of organizational learning capacity diminished the impact of core self-evaluation on innovative wok behavior; and (4) the conditional effect of core self-evaluation on innovative work behavior existed only in the group of a low level of organizational learning capacity.

Study on Rolling Defects of Al-Mg Alloys with High Mg Content in Normal Rolling and Cross-Rolling Processes.

This study investigated defect formation and strain distribution in high-Mg-content Al-Mg alloys during normal rolling and cross-rolling processes. The finite element analysis (FEA) revealed the presence of wave defects and strain localization-induced zipper cracks in normal cold rolling, which were confirmed by the experimental results. The concentration of shear strain played a significant role in crack formation and propagation.

MHC II immunogenicity shapes the neoepitope landscape in human tumors.

Despite advances in predicting physical peptide-major histocompatibility complex I (pMHC I) binding, it remains challenging to identify functionally immunogenic neoepitopes, especially for MHC II. By using the results of >36,000 immunogenicity assay, we developed a method to identify pMHC whose structural alignment facilitates T cell reaction. Our method predicted neoepitopes for MHC II and MHC I that were responsive to checkpoint blockade when applied to >1,200 samples of various tumor types.

Complete genome sequences of JNU 534, a potential food and feed preservative.

A new bacteriocin-producing lactic acid bacteria isolated from kimchi was identified as JNU 534, presenting preservative properties for foods of animal origin. In this study, we present the complete genome sequence of the bacterial strain JNU 534. The final complete genome assembly consists of one circular chromosome (2,443,687 bp [base pair]) with an overall GC (guanine-cytosine) content of 35.

Prospective clinical evaluation of Momguard non-invasive prenatal test in 1011 Korean high-risk pregnant women.

Clinical performance of the Momguard non-invasive prenatal test (NIPT) was evaluated in a cohort of Korean pregnant women. The foetal trisomies 21, 18 and 13 (T21, T18 and T13) were screened by low-coverage massive parallel sequencing in the maternal blood. Among the 1011 confirmed samples, 32 cases (3.

Universally applicable, quantitative PCR method utilizing fluorescent nucleobase analogs.

We herein describe a novel quantitative PCR (qPCR) method, which operates in both signal-off and on manners, by utilizing a unique property of fluorescent nucleobase analogs. The first, signal-off method is developed by designing the primers to contain pyrrolo-dC (PdC), one of the most common fluorescent nucleobase analogs. The specially designed single-stranded primer is extended to form double-stranded DNA during PCR and the fluorescence signal from the PdCs incorporated in the primer is accordingly reduced due to its conformation-dependent fluorescence properties.

Frequency of hereditary neuropathy with liability to pressure palsies (HNPP) due to 17p11.2 deletion in a Korean newborn population.

Hereditary neuropathy with liability to pressure palsies (HNPP) is an autosomal dominant disorder mainly due to a deletion of chromosome 17p11.2 including PMP22 (PMP22 Del HNPP). The prevalence of HNPP is estimated to be 0.

A mass spectrometry-based multiplex SNP genotyping by utilizing allele-specific ligation and strand displacement amplification.

We herein describe a new mass spectrometry-based method for multiplex SNP genotyping by utilizing allele-specific ligation and strand displacement amplification (SDA) reaction. In this method, allele-specific ligation is first performed to discriminate base sequence variations at the SNP site within the PCR-amplified target DNA. The primary ligation probe is extended by a universal primer annealing site while the secondary ligation probe has base sequences as an overhang with a nicking enzyme recognition site and complementary mass marker sequence.

Frequency of pathogenic germline mutation in CHEK2, PALB2, MRE11, and RAD50 in patients at high risk for hereditary breast cancer.

Purpose: This study was performed to evaluate the frequency of mutations in CHEK2, PALB2, MRE11, and RAD50 among Korean patients at high risk for hereditary breast cancer.

Methods: A total of 235 Korean patients with hereditary breast cancer who tested negative for BRCA1/2 mutation were enrolled to this study. Entire coding regions of CHEK2, PALB2, MRE11, and RAD50 were analyzed using massively parallel sequencing (MPS).

Exercise improves the effects of testosterone replacement therapy and the durability of response after cessation of treatment: a pilot randomized controlled trial.

The effects of the combination of exercise and TRT on symptoms of late-onset hypogonadism (LOH) and the durability of response after cessation of TRT were investigated. A total of fifty patients with erectile dysfunction (ED) who had a sedentary lifestyle and low serum total testosterone (T) levels were enrolled and followed for 20 weeks. Patients were randomly divided into two groups; all of them received T gel for 12 weeks and it was discontinued for 8 weeks.

A Whole-Cell Surface Plasmon Resonance Sensor Based on a Leucine Auxotroph of Escherichia coli Displaying a Gold-Binding Protein: Usefulness for Diagnosis of Maple Syrup Urine Disease.

We developed a whole-cell surface plasmon resonance (SPR) sensor based on a leucine auxotroph of Escherichia coli displaying a gold-binding protein (GBP) in response to cell growth and applied this sensor to the diagnosis of maple syrup urine disease, which is represented by the elevated leucine level in blood. The leucine auxotroph was genetically engineered to grow displaying GBP in a proportion to the concentration of target amino acid leucine. The GBP expressed on the surface of the auxotrophs directly bound to the golden surface of an SPR chip without the need for any additional treatment or reagents, which consequently produced SPR signals used to determine leucine levels in a test sample.

Analysis of BRIP1 Variants among Korean Patients with BRCA1/2 Mutation-Negative High-Risk Breast Cancer.

Purpose: The aim of the current study is to assess the spectrum of genetic variation in the BRIP1 gene among Korean high-risk breast cancer patients who tested negative for the BRCA1/2 mutation.

Materials And Methods: Overall, 235 Korean patientswith BRCA1/2 mutation-negative high-risk breast cancerwere screened for BRIP1 mutations. The entire BRIP1 gene was analyzed using fluorescent-conformation sensitive gel electrophoresis.

Colorimetric Quantification of Glucose and Cholesterol in Human Blood Using a Nanocomposite Entrapping Magnetic Nanoparticles and Oxidases.

In this study, a microscale well-plate colorimetric assay for the multiplexed detection of glucose and cholesterol in clinical human blood samples has been developed. This system utilized one-pot nanocomposite entrapping Fe3O4 magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) as peroxidase mimetics and glucose oxidase (GOx)/cholesterol oxidase (ChOx) in mesoporous silica to detect glucose and cholesterol in blood samples. The sensing mechanism involves the generation of H2O2 by the catalytic action of an immobilized oxidase on the target molecules in the sample.

Performance of Momguard, a new non-invasive prenatal testing protocol developed in Korea.

Objective: To evaluate the performance of Momguard, non-invasive prenatal test (NIPT) for detecting trisomy (T) 21, T18, T13, and sex-chromosome abnormalities recently developed in Korea.

Methods: This preliminary study formed part of a large prospective cohort study conducted at Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Korea. Only pregnant women who underwent both NIPT and confirmatory karyotyping were included in this study.

Heterozygous germline mutations in NBS1 among Korean patients with high-risk breast cancer negative for BRCA1/2 mutation.

The purpose of the present study was to analyze genetic variations in the NBS1 gene and to evaluate the contribution of heterozygous NBS1 mutation to the risk of breast cancer among Korean patients with high-risk breast cancer negative for BRCA1/2 mutation. We screened 235 non-BRCA1/2 Korean patients with high-risk breast cancer for NBS1 mutations. The entire NBS1 gene was sequenced using fluorescent conformation-sensitive capillary electrophoresis.

The efficacy of combination treatment with injectable testosterone undecanoate and daily tadalafil for erectile dysfunction with testosterone deficiency syndrome.

Introduction: Both testosterone therapy and chronic treatment with phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors (PDE5Is) have positive effects on the histology of penile corpora and erectile function. However, few clinical studies have evaluated the efficacy of combination therapy with both testosterone replacement and chronic PDE5Is.

Aim: This study was designed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of combination treatment with long-acting injectable testosterone undecanoate (TU) and a once-daily tadalafil 5 mg for erectile dysfunction with testosterone deficiency syndrome.

Large genomic rearrangement of BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes in familial breast cancer patients in Korea.

We screened large genomic rearrangements of the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes in Korean, familial breast cancer patients. Multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification assay was used to identify BRCA1 and BRCA2 genomic rearrangements in 226 Korean familial breast cancer patients with risk factors for BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations, who previously tested negative for point mutations in the two genes. We identified only one large deletion (c.

Cell-based method utilizing fluorescent Escherichia coli auxotrophs for quantification of multiple amino acids.

A cell-based assay system for simultaneous quantification of the three amino acids, phenylalanine (Phe), methionine (Met), and leucine (Leu) in a single biological sample, was developed and applied in the multiplex diagnosis of three key metabolic diseases of newborn babies. The assay utilizes three Escherichia coli auxotrophs, which grow only in the presence of the corresponding target amino acids and which contain three different fluorescent reporter plasmids that produce distinguishable fluorescence signals (red, green, and cyan) in concert with cell growth. To mixtures of the three auxotrophs, immobilized on agarose gels arrayed on a well plate, is added a test sample.

Antioxidant Effect and Functional Properties of Hydrolysates Derived from Egg-White Protein.

This study utilized commercially available proteolytic enzymes to prepare egg-white protein hydrolysates (EPHs) with different degrees of hydrolysis. The antioxidant effect and functionalities of the resultant products were then investigated. Treatment with Neutrase yielded the most α-amino groups (6.

Cell-based galactosemia diagnosis system based on a galactose assay using a bioluminescent Escherichia coli array.

A new cell-based galactose assay system, which is comprised of two bioluminescent Escherichia coli strains immobilized within an agarose gel arrayed on a well plate, has been developed. For this purpose, a galT knockout strain [galT(-) cell] of E. coli was genetically constructed so that cell growth is not promoted by galactose but rather by glucose present in a sample.