Differential effects of brain-derived neurotrophic factor and neurotrophin-3 on hindlimb function in paraplegic rats.

We compared the effect of viral administration of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) or neurotrophin 3 (NT-3) on locomotor recovery in adult rats with complete thoracic (T10) spinal cord transection injuries, in order to determine the effect of chronic neurotrophin expression on spinal plasticity. At the time of injury, BDNF, NT-3 or green fluorescent protein (GFP) (control) was delivered to the lesion via adeno-associated virus (AAV) constructs. AAV-BDNF was significantly more effective than AAV-NT-3 in eliciting locomotion.

Suppression of neointimal hyperplasia by sirolimus-eluting expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) haemodialysis grafts in comparison with paclitaxel-coated grafts.

Background: Haemodialysis vascular access dysfunction caused by aggressive venous neointimal hyperplasia is a major problem for haemodialysis patients with synthetic arteriovenous (AV) grafts. Several different strategies to prevent venous stenosis by inhibiting smooth muscle cell proliferation and migration using local delivery of potent antiproliferative agents are currently under investigation. We performed this study to evaluate the efficacy of sirolimus-eluting vascular grafts in preventing stenosis and to compare the effectiveness of sirolimus-coated grafts with that of paclitaxel-coated vascular grafts that we characterized in a previous study.

Visualization of tyrosinase activity in melanoma cells by a BODIPY-based fluorescent probe.

We have presented a fluorescent probe 1 that exhibits a fluorescence turn-on signal upon reaction with tyrosinase, and we show that it is readily employed for the assessment of tyrosinase activity and tyrosinase inhibitor activity in buffered aqueous solution, and further utilized for the visualization of endogenous tyrosinase activity in living melanoma cells.

Differences in corneal astigmatism between partial coherence interferometry biometry and automated keratometry and relation to topographic pattern.

Purpose: To compare the corneal astigmatism values obtained with a partial coherence interferometry (PCI) biometer and an automated keratometer and to evaluate the association between these differences and corneal topographic patterns.

Setting: Department of Ophthalmology, Guro Hospital, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.

Design: Comparative case series.

Rhodium-catalyzed oxidative ortho-acylation of benzamides with aldehydes: direct functionalization of the sp2 C-H bond.

A rhodium-catalyzed oxidative acylation of benzamides with aryl aldehydes via direct sp(2) C-H bond cleavage is described. In the presence of [Cp*RhCl(2)](2), AgSbF(6), and silver carbonate as an oxidant, N,N-diethyl benzamides can be effectively carbonylated to yield ortho-acyl benzamides.

The incidence of leukotrichia in segmental vitiligo: implication of poor response to medical treatment.

Background:   In vitiligo, the melanocyte of the hair follicle is one of the major sources for repigmentation. Segmental vitiligo seems to be often associated with white hairs. However, in the case of small vellus hairs, it is often difficult or impossible to detect hair color.

Pd-catalyzed decarboxylative coupling of propiolic acids: one-pot synthesis of 1,4-disubstituted 1,3-diynes via Sonogashira-homocoupling sequence.

One-pot synthesis of symmetric 1,4-disubstituted 1,3-diynes from iodoarenes and propiolic acid via Sonogashira reaction followed by Pd-catalyzed decarboxylative homocoupling is developed in high yields. Also, this system allows the one-pot synthesis of unsymmetric 1,4-disubstituted 1,3-diynes by cross-coupling of two different 3-substituted propiolic acids.

An antimicrobial protein, lactoferrin exists in the sweat: proteomic analysis of sweat.

The main function of the eccrine gland has been considered to be thermoregulation. Recently, it has been reported that antimicrobial peptides including cathelicidin and dermcidin exist in the sweat. Lactoferrin is found in body fluids such as milk tears and saliva.

Stereopsis in drug naïve Parkinson's disease patients.

Background: Motor deficits associated with Parkinson's disease (PD) have been well described, yet little attention has been paid to non-motor symptoms, especially cortical visual dysfunction. We investigated stereopsis, as well as the relationship between stereopsis and other cognitive function, in a sample of PD patients.

Methods: We used Titmus stereotest plates for assessing stereopsis.

Intravascular large B-cell lymphoma of the cutaneous variant in Korea.

Intravascular large B-cell lymphoma (IVLBCL) is a rare subtype of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. It is characterized by proliferation of malignant lymphoid cells within the small vessels of various organs. The skin and central nervous system are commonly involved although it occurs in other organs such as the kidneys, adrenals, lung and liver.

The in vitro and in vivo anti-tumor effect of KO-202125, a sauristolactam derivative, as a novel epidermal growth factor receptor inhibitor in human breast cancer.

Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is one of the most promising targets for cancer therapy. Here, we show the in vitro and in vivo anticancer effects and associated mechanisms of KO-202125, one of the synthesized aristolactam analogs, as a novel EGFR inhibitor, in EGFR-overexpressing cancer cell lines. KO-202125 showed more effective growth inhibition and apoptosis induction than gefitinib, a representative EGFR inhibitor, in various EGFR-overexpressing human cancers including estrogen receptor (ER)-negative MDA-MB-231 human breast cancer cells.

Negative regulation of p53 by the long isoform of ErbB3 binding protein Ebp1 in brain tumors.

The ErbB3 binding protein Ebp1 has been implicated in a number of human cancers. Ebp1 includes 2 isoforms, p48 and p42, that exhibit different cellular activities. Here we show that the larger p48 isoform is transforming and that it promotes cell growth, clonogenicity, and invasion in human glioblastoma (GBM).

A case of hydroa vacciniforme.

Hydroa vacciniforme (HV) is a rare and chronic pediatric disorder that is characterized by photosensitivity and recurrent vesicles that heal with vacciniforme scarring. The pathogenesis of HV is unknown; no chromosome abnormality has been identified. HV patients have no abnormal laboratory results, so the diagnosis of HV is based on identifying the associated histological findings in a biopsy specimen and using repetitive ultraviolet phototesting to reproduce the characteristic vesicles on a patient's skin.

A new esterase EstD2 isolated from plant rhizosphere soil metagenome.

Soil metagenome constitutes a reservoir for discovering novel enzymes from the unculturable microbial diversity. From three plant rhizosphere metagenomic libraries comprising a total of 142,900 members of recombinant plasmids, we obtained 14 recombinant fosmids that exhibited lipolytic activity. A selected recombinant plasmid, pFLP-2, which showed maximum lipolytic activity, was further analyzed.

Clinical features and the risk factors of infantile exotropia recurrence.

Purpose: To evaluate the clinical features and the risk factors of recurrence in infantile exotropia.

Design: Retrospective, observational case series.

Methods: The clinical records of 20 infantile exotropia patients who underwent exotropia surgery were reviewed retrospectively.

Ribosomal protein S3, a new substrate of Akt, serves as a signal mediator between neuronal apoptosis and DNA repair.

RPS3, a conserved, eukaryotic ribosomal protein of the 40 S subunit, is required for ribosome biogenesis. Because ribosomal proteins are abundant and ubiquitous, they may have additional extraribosomal functions. Here, we show that human RPS3 is a physiological target of Akt kinase and a novel mediator of neuronal apoptosis.

A cooperative activation loop among SWI/SNF, gamma-H2AX and H3 acetylation for DNA double-strand break repair.

Although recent studies highlight the importance of histone modifications and ATP-dependent chromatin remodelling in DNA double-strand break (DSB) repair, how these mechanisms cooperate has remained largely unexplored. Here, we show that the SWI/SNF chromatin remodelling complex, earlier known to facilitate the phosphorylation of histone H2AX at Ser-139 (S139ph) after DNA damage, binds to gamma-H2AX (the phosphorylated form of H2AX)-containing nucleosomes in S139ph-dependent manner. Unexpectedly, BRG1, the catalytic subunit of SWI/SNF, binds to gamma-H2AX nucleosomes by interacting with acetylated H3, not with S139ph itself, through its bromodomain.

Evaluation of inflammatory change and bone erosion using a murine type II collagen-induced arthritis model.

The exact mechanism of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is unclear, but a combination of genetic, environmental and hormonal factors is thought to be involved. This study examined the progressive arthritic reaction of murine type II collagen-induced arthritis (CIA), a representative animal model of RA. Arthritic reactions, including inflammation and bone erosion were examined using an objective non-invasive method.

Reduced serum vaspin concentrations in obese children following short-term intensive lifestyle modification.

Background: Recently, visceral adipose tissue-derived serpin (vaspin) was identified as a potential insulin sensitizing adipokine, however, the factors determining the levels of circulating vaspin levels have not been fully understood. We investigated the association between adiposity, insulin resistance, lipid profiles and inflammatory markers including vaspin levels, and the effects of short-term intensive lifestyle modification on circulating vaspin levels in overweight or obese children.

Methods: A total of 50 (25 boys, 25 girls) overweight or obese children aged 11 to 13 years (average age: 12.