Mito-TEMPO improves development competence by reducing superoxide in preimplantation porcine embryos.

Mito-TEMPO is a well-known mitochondria-specific superoxide scavenger. However, the effect of Mito-TEMPO on porcine embryo development, to our knowledge, has not been studied yet. In the present study, porcine embryos were classified into two groups (G1 and G2) based on the cytoplasm lipid contents at the zygote stage.

Two-Dimensional Phosphorene-Derived Protective Layers on a Lithium Metal Anode for Lithium-Oxygen Batteries.

Lithium-oxygen (Li-O) batteries are desirable for electric vehicles because of their high energy density. Li dendrite growth and severe electrolyte decomposition on Li metal are, however, challenging issues for the practical application of these batteries. In this connection, an electrochemically active two-dimensional phosphorene-derived lithium phosphide is introduced as a Li metal protective layer, where the nanosized protective layer on Li metal suppresses electrolyte decomposition and Li dendrite growth.

Peri-tumor administration of 5-fluorouracil sol-gel using a hollow microneedle for treatment of gastric cancer.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of treating gastric cancer by injecting a pluronic F-127 sol-gel formulation of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) into normal tissue surrounding the tumor using a hollow microneedle. The MTS tetrazolium assay was performed to assess the cytotoxicity of 5-FU after application to gastric cancer cells at different concentrations for 1, 5 and 10 h. Gastric cancer cells were inoculated subcutaneously into 30 male nude mice (CrjBALB/c-nu/nu mice, male); the inoculated mouse were divided into three groups.

Predicting cumulative incidence of adverse events in older patients with cancer undergoing first-line palliative chemotherapy: Korean Cancer Study Group (KCSG) multicentre prospective study.

Background: Older patients have increased risk of toxicity from chemotherapy. Current prediction tools do not provide information on cumulative risk.

Methods: Patients aged ≥ 70 years with solid cancer were prospectively enrolled.

Extrachromosomal circular DNA-based amplification and transmission of herbicide resistance in crop weed .

Gene amplification has been observed in many bacteria and eukaryotes as a response to various selective pressures, such as antibiotics, cytotoxic drugs, pesticides, herbicides, and other stressful environmental conditions. An increase in gene copy number is often found as extrachromosomal elements that usually contain autonomously replicating extrachromosomal circular DNA molecules (eccDNAs). , a crop weed, can develop herbicide resistance to glyphosate [-(phosphonomethyl) glycine] by amplification of the 5-enolpyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate synthase () gene, the molecular target of glyphosate.

Synthesis and Characterization of Cation-Exchange Fibers with Radiation-Induced Grafting of Glycidyl Methacrylate onto Cotton Cellulose.

Conventional ion exchange beads are used for purification and demineralization of water and for various other applications in the chemical synthesis, hydrometallurgy, and agricultural industries. However, there are some disadvantages associated with ion exchange beads, such as distillation causing porosity during solvent removal, pre-swelling of beads to allow for core functionalization, and pre-swelling of beads overnight prior to end use. Fibrous ion exchange materials have advantages over the conventional ion exchange beads, including simplification of the overall preparation.

Efficacy and tolerability of ramucirumab monotherapy or in combination with paclitaxel in gastric cancer patients from the Expanded Access Program Cohort by the Korean Cancer Study Group (KCSG).

Background: Ramucirumab improves survival in gastric cancer patients. The efficacy and safety of ramucirumab outside of a clinical trial were evaluated using an expanded access program (EAP).

Methods: Advanced gastric cancer patients treated with ramucirumab in combination with paclitaxel or with ramucirumab monotherapy in a Korean EAP were evaluated.

Sleep Disturbances as a Risk Factor for Stroke.

Sleep, a vital process of human being, is carefully orchestrated by the brain and consists of cyclic transitions between rapid eye movement (REM) and non-REM (NREM) sleep. Autonomic tranquility during NREM sleep is characterized by vagal dominance and stable breathing, providing an opportunity for the cardiovascular-neural axis to restore homeostasis, in response to use, distress or fatigue inflicted during wakefulness. Abrupt irregular swings in sympathovagal balance during REM sleep act as phasic loads on the resting cardiovascular system.

Regulation of the Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress by BIP/GRP78 is involved in Meiotic Maturation of Porcine Oocytes .

In the present study, we investigated the role of binding immunoglobulin protein/glucose-regulated protein, 78-kDa (BIP/GRP78)-regulated endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-stress on meiotic maturation and cumulus cells expansion in porcine cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs). Previously, it has been demonstrated that unfolded protein response (UPR)-related genes, such as molecules involved in ER-stress defense mechanisms, were expressed in matured oocytes and cumulus cells during maturation (IVM) of porcine oocytes. However, BIP/GRP78-mediated regulation of ER stress in porcine oocytes has not been reported.

Gene Duplication and Aneuploidy Trigger Rapid Evolution of Herbicide Resistance in Common Waterhemp.

An increase in gene copy number is often associated with changes in the number and structure of chromosomes, as has been widely observed in yeast and eukaryotic tumors, yet little is known about stress-induced chromosomal changes in plants. Previously, we reported that the (5-enolpyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate synthase) gene, the molecular target of glyphosate, was amplified at the native locus and on an extra chromosome in glyphosate-resistant Here, we report that the extra chromosome is a ring chromosome termed extra circular chromosome carrying amplified (ECCAE). The ECCAE is heterochromatic, harbors four major amplified foci, and is sexually transmitted to 35% of the progeny.

From Servicescape to Loyalty in the Medical Tourism Industry: A Medical Clinic's Service Perspective.

Medical tourism organizations have increasingly recognized that loyalty makes a medical clinic a marketing success. To increase understanding of the importance of medical clinics, this study examined the roles of servicescapes, emotions, and satisfaction in the development of customer loyalty toward medical clinics and destination. Data were collected among international medical tourists visiting Korea.

Melatonin improves the meiotic maturation of porcine oocytes by reducing endoplasmic reticulum stress during in vitro maturation.

Under endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-stress conditions, the unfolded protein response (UPR) generates a defense mechanism in mammalian cells. The regulation of UPR signaling is important in oocyte maturation, embryo development, and female reproduction of pigs. Recent studies have shown that melatonin plays an important role as an antioxidant to improve pig oocyte maturation.

Public Health 3.0: A Call to Action for Public Health to Meet the Challenges of the 21st Century.

Public health is what we do together as a society to ensure the conditions in which everyone can be healthy. Although many sectors play key roles, governmental public health is an essential component. Recent stressors on public health are driving many local governments to pioneer a new Public Health 3.

Recurrent establishment of de novo centromeres in the pericentromeric region of maize chromosome 3.

Centromeres can arise de novo from non-centromeric regions, which are often called "neocentromeres." Neocentromere formation provides the best evidence for the concept that centromere function is not determined by the underlying DNA sequences, but controlled by poorly understood epigenetic mechanisms. Numerous neocentromeres have been reported in several plant and animal species.

Prevalence of Self-Perceived Snoring and Apnea and Their Association with Daytime Sleepiness in Korean High School Students.

Background And Purpose: There has been no nationwide population-based study of the prevalence of self-perceived snoring/apnea in Korean adolescents. The purpose of this study was to estimate prevalence of self-perceived snoring/apnea in Korean high-school students and to evaluate their association with daytime sleepiness.

Methods: An online survey was used to investigate 12,672 students at 75 high schools across the 15 nationwide districts of South Korea.

Effect of dietary net energy concentrations on growth performance and net energy intake of growing gilts.

Objective: This experiment investigated the effect of dietary net energy (NE) concentrations on growth performance and NE intake of growing gilts.

Methods: Five diets were formulated to contain 9.6, 10.

Effect of dietary β-mannanase on productive performance, egg quality, and utilization of dietary energy and nutrients in aged laying hens raised under hot climatic conditions.

Objective: The objective of this experiment was to investigate the effect of dietary β-mannanase on productive performance, egg quality, and utilization of dietary energy and nutrients in aged laying hens raised under hot climatic conditions.

Methods: A total of 320 84-wk-old Hy-line Brown aged laying hens were allotted to one of four treatments with eight replicates in a completely randomized design. Two dietary treatments with high energy (HE; 2,800 kcal/kg nitrogen-corrected apparent metabolizable energy [AME]) and low energy (LE; 2,700 kcal/kg AME) were formulated.

Antiemetic Corticosteroid Rotation from Dexamethasone to Methylprednisolone to Prevent Dexamethasone-Induced Hiccup in Cancer Patients Treated with Chemotherapy: A Randomized, Single-Blind, Crossover Phase III Trial.

Background: To assess whether the rotation of dexamethasone to methylprednisolone decreases the intensity of dexamethasone-induced hiccup (DIH) in cancer patients treated with chemotherapy.

Materials And Methods: Adult patients who experienced DIH within 3 days after the administration of dexamethasone as an antiemetic were screened. Eligible patients were randomly assigned to receive dexamethasone ( = 33) or methylprednisolone ( = 32) as an antiemetic (randomization phase).

Changes in subcortical shape and cognitive function in patients with chronic insomnia.

Objective: The aim of this study was to examine morphological changes in subcortical structures via surface-based analysis and to correlate local shape changes with cognitive function.

Methods: We analyzed subcortical brain morphology and compared the shape changes with clinical and neuropsychological features in patients with chronic insomnia.

Results: Hippocampal atrophy was associated with higher Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index scores (r = -0.

Ganglioside GM3 induces cumulus cell apoptosis through inhibition of epidermal growth factor receptor-mediated PI3K/AKT signaling pathways during in vitro maturation of pig oocytes.

Gangliosides are components of the mammalian plasma membrane that help regulate receptor signaling. Ganglioside GM3, for example, plays an important role in initiating apoptosis in cancer cells; however, physiological roles for GM3 in normal processes, such as during pig oocyte maturation, are not clear. The aim of this study was to investigate the functional link between GM3 and cellular apoptosis in porcine cumulus-oocyte-complexes (COCs) during in vitro maturation.

Stress and sleep quality in doctors working on-call shifts are associated with functional gastrointestinal disorders.

Aim: To investigate the role of sleep quality and psychosocial problems as predictors of functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs) in doctors that work 24 hour-on-call shifts.

Methods: In this cross-sectional observation study, using the Rome III Questionnaire and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), we analyzed 170 doctors with 24 hour-on-call shifts.

Results: Among the participants that had experienced a 24 hour-on-call shift within the last 6 mo, 48 (28.

Tyrphostin A9 improves blastocyst development in porcine embryos through induction of dynamin-related protein 1-dependent mitochondrial fission.

Mitochondrial dynamics are associated with the development of porcine embryos. However, little is known about the effects of mitochondrial dynamics-related genes (Drp1 and pDrp1-Ser616) on early porcine embryo development. Here, we investigated the effect of Drp1-dependent mitochondrial fission signaling on the development of porcine embryos using the mitochondrial fission inducer, tyrphostin A9 (TA9).

Drainage Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastrostomy for Malignant Bowel Obstruction in Gastrointestinal Cancers: Prognosis and Implications for Timing of Palliative Intervention.

Background: Malignant bowel obstruction (MBO) is a frequent complication in patients with advanced solid tumors. Palliative relief may be achieved by the use of a drainage percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (dPEG) tube, although optimal timing of placement remains unknown.

Objectives: To determine median survival after diagnosis of MBO and dPEG placement, factors associated with worse survival in MBO, factors associated with receipt of dPEG, and association of timing of dPEG placement on survival.