DNA Barcoding Using 18S rRNA Gene Fragments for Identification of Tick-Borne Protists in Ticks in the Republic of Korea.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the diversity and prevalence of tick-borne protists in the Republic of Korea via DNA barcoding using 18S rRNA gene fragments and PCR. Between 2021 and 2022, questing ticks were collected using the flagging method, with a total of 13,375 ticks collected and pooled into 1003 samples. Of these, 50 tick pools were selected for DNA barcoding targeting the V4 and V9 regions of 18S rRNA using the MiSeq platform.

Clinical Implication of Concurrent Amplification of MET and FGFR2 in Metastatic Gastric Cancer.

Background: c-mesenchymal epithelial transition factor receptor (c-MET) and fibroblast growth factor receptor 2 (FGFR2) amplification have been identified as factors associated with advanced stage and poor prognosis in gastric cancer (GC). While they are typically considered mutually exclusive, concurrent amplifications have been reported in a small subset of GC patients.

Methods: in this retrospective study, we analyzed the clinical outcomes of GC patients with MET and FGFR2 amplification using the next-generation sequencing (NGS) database cohort at Samsung Medical Center, which included a total of 2119 patients between October 2019 and April 2021.

Clinical Implication of Aberration in Patients With Metastatic Cancer Using Next-Generation Sequencing: A Pan-Tumor Analysis.

Purpose: Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) protein expression or gene amplification is a significant predictive biomarker for identifying patients with cancer, who may benefit from -targeted therapy. The aim of this study was to survey the proportion of patients who had aberration and to investigate the correlation between amplification and HER2 overexpression in immunohistochemistry (IHC) as a real-world data.

Methods: We surveyed the incidence of aberration including mutation (single-nucleotide variant [SNV]), amplification (copy-number variation), and fusion by next-generation sequencing (NGS) in 2,119 patients with cancer from Samsung Medical Center in South Korea.

High tumor mutational burden predicts favorable response to anti-PD-(L)1 therapy in patients with solid tumor: a real-world pan-tumor analysis.

Background: Tumor mutation burden (TMB) is an important biomarker to predict response to anti-PD-L1 treatment across cancer types. TruSight Oncology 500 (TSO500) is currently used globally as a routine assay for TMB.

Methods: Between 2019 and 2021, 1744 patients with cancer received TSO500 assay as part of a real-world clinical practice at the Samsung Medical Center, and 426 received anti-PD-(L)1 treatment.

TP53 mutations predict poor response to immunotherapy in patients with metastatic solid tumors.

Background: TP53 is the most commonly mutated gene across all cancer types. R175H mutation was considered structural mutation where the mutation causes misfolding of the protein and leads to a significant conformational alterations within p53's DNA binding domain. The aim of this study was to explain the reason why R175H worse the response to immunotherapy by analyzing tumor immune microenvironment through the expression of immune cells and PD-1.

MET gene alterations predict poor survival following chemotherapy in patients with advanced cancer.

To aid in oncology drug development, we investigated MET proto-oncogene receptor tyrosine kinase gene aberrations in 2,239 oncology patients who underwent next-generation sequencing (NGS) in clinical practice. From November 2019 to January 2021, 2,239 patientswith advanced solid tumors who visited oncology clinics underwent NGS. The NGS panel included >500 comprehensive NGS tests using archival tissue specimens.

Impact of Intubator's Training Level on First-Pass Success of Endotracheal Intubation in Acute Care Settings: A Four-Center Retrospective Study.

(1) Background: First-pass success (FPS) of endotracheal intubation is more challenging in children than in adults. We aimed to identify factors associated with FPS of intubation in acute care settings. (2) Methods: We analyzed data of children aged <10 years who underwent intubation within ≤24 h of arrival at four Korean emergency departments (2016−2019).

Incidence of FGFR2 Amplification and FGFR2 Fusion in Patients with Metastatic Cancer Using Clinical Sequencing.

Aberrations in the () gene, including genetic alterations and chromosomal rearrangements, lead to the development and progression of cancer with poor prognosis. However, the mechanisms underlying the FGFR2 signaling pathway to facilitate the development of FGFR2-targeted therapies have not been fully explored. Here, we examined the clinicopathological features of amplification and fusion in gastrointestinal tract/genitourinary tract cancers.

The Establishment of a Fast and Safe Orthotopic Colon Cancer Model Using a Tissue Adhesive Technique.

Purpose: We aimed to develop a novel method for orthotopic colon cancer model, using tissue adhesive in place of conventional surgical method.

Materials And Methods: RFP HCT 116 cell line were used to establish the colon cancer model. Fresh tumor tissue harvested from a subcutaneous injection was grafted into twenty nude mice, divided into group A (suture method) and group B (tissue adhesive method).

Computational inference of cancer-specific vulnerabilities in clinical samples.

Background: Systematic in vitro loss-of-function screens provide valuable resources that can facilitate the discovery of drugs targeting cancer vulnerabilities.

Results: We develop a deep learning-based method to predict tumor-specific vulnerabilities in patient samples by leveraging a wealth of in vitro screening data. Acquired dependencies of tumors are inferred in cases in which one allele is disrupted by inactivating mutations or in association with oncogenic mutations.

Adipogenic effects of prenatal exposure to bisphenol S (BPS) in adult F1 male mice.

Bisphenol S (BPS) has been increasingly used as a substitute for bisphenol A (BPA), a known endocrine disruptor. Early-life exposure to BPA affects fetal development and the risk of obesity in adolescence and adulthood. However, the effects of fetal exposure BPS in later life are unknown.

Effect of serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors for patients with chemotherapy-induced painful peripheral neuropathy: A meta-analysis.

Background: To compare the efficacy of serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) treatment for chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) METHODS:: Two authors independently searched MEDLINE, Embase, Cochran Library, and Web of Science to identify and review articles published from January 1998 until December 2018 according to selection criteria. Outcomes were expressed as mean difference, the pooled odds ratio, or relative risk in a meta-analysis model.

Results: A total of 10 studies were included in this meta-analysis: 6 randomized-controlled studies and 4 observational studies.

TRPV1 regulates inflammatory process in the tongue of surgically induced xerostomia mouse.

Background: The aim of study is to investigate the role of transient receptor potential cation channel subfamily V member 1 (TRPV1) on xerostomia-induced inflammatory response in vivo.

Methods: Parotid, submandibular, and lingual gland were removed for xerostomia induction. The expression of inflammatory cytokines, TRPV1, NFkB, and MAPK in xerostomia was evaluated and compared in both TRPV1 wild and knockout mice.

Grxcr2 is required for stereocilia morphogenesis in the cochlea.

Hearing and balance depend upon the precise morphogenesis and mechanosensory function of stereocilia, the specialized structures on the apical surface of sensory hair cells in the inner ear. Previous studies of Grxcr1 mutant mice indicated a critical role for this gene in control of stereocilia dimensions during development. In this study, we analyzed expression of the paralog Grxcr2 in the mouse and evaluated auditory and vestibular function of strains carrying targeted mutations of the gene.

Novel cancer gene variants and gene fusions of triple-negative breast cancers (TNBCs) reveal their molecular diversity conserved in the patient-derived xenograft (PDX) model.

Despite the improved 5-year survival rate of breast cancer, triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) remains a challenge due to lack of effective targeted therapy and higher recurrence and metastasis than other subtypes. To identify novel druggable targets and to understand its unique biology, we tried to implement 24 patient-derived xenografts (PDXs) of TNBC. The overall success rate of PDX implantation was 45%, much higher than estrogen receptor (ER)-positive cases.

microRNA-155 positively regulates glucose metabolism via PIK3R1-FOXO3a-cMYC axis in breast cancer.

MicroRNA is an endogenous, small RNA controlling multiple target genes and playing roles in various biological processes including tumorigenesis. Here, we addressed the function of miR-155 using LC-MS/MS-based metabolic profiling of miR-155 deficient breast cancer cells. Our results revealed the loss of miR-155 hampers glucose uptake and glycolysis, via the down-regulation of glucose transporters and metabolic enzymes including HK2, PKM2, and LDHA.

Expansion of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes and their potential for application as adoptive cell transfer therapy in human breast cancer.

Adoptive cell transfer (ACT) of expanded tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) has been successful in treating a considerable proportion of patients with metastatic melanoma. In addition, some patients with several other solid tumors were recently reported to have benefited clinically from such ACT. However, it remains unclear whether ACT using TILs is broadly applicable in breast cancer, the most common cancer in women.

The Generation and Application of Patient-Derived Xenograft Model for Cancer Research.

Establishing an appropriate preclinical model is crucial for translational cancer research. The most common way that has been adopted by far is grafting cancer cell lines, derived from patients. Although this xenograft model is easy to generate, but has several limitations because this cancer model could not represent the unique features of each cancer patient sufficiently.

Generation and molecular characterization of pancreatic cancer patient-derived xenografts reveals their heterologous nature.

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is the most challenging type of cancer to treat, with a 5-year survival rate of <10%. Furthermore, because of the large portion of the inoperable cases, it is difficult to obtain specimens to study the biology of the tumors. Therefore, a patient-derived xenograft (PDX) model is an attractive option for preserving and expanding these tumors for translational research.

Simultaneous inhibition of multiple oncogenic miRNAs by a multi-potent microRNA sponge.

The roles of oncogenic miRNAs are widely recognized in many cancers. Inhibition of single miRNA using antagomiR can efficiently knock-down a specific miRNA. However, the effect is transient and often results in subtle phenotype, as there are other miRNAs contribute to tumorigenesis.