p62/sequestosome-1 as a severity-reflecting plasma biomarker in Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease type 1A.

Autophagy is a self-degradation system for recycling to maintain homeostasis. p62/sequestosome-1 (p62) is an autophagy receptor that accumulates in neuroglia in neurodegenerative diseases. The objective of this study was to determine the elevation of plasma p62 protein levels in patients with Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease 1A (CMT1A) for its clinical usefulness to assess disease severity.

Characterization of novel HLA-A*24:608N allele discovered in Koreans.

A novel null HLA-A*24 allele, HLA-A*24:608N, was identified in five Korean subjects including three from a family and two separate individuals. This study was performed to discern its immunological function in transplantation settings. Because this null variant had deletions of approximately 12 k base pairs from intron 3 to 3' end of the HLA-A gene, low resolution HLA typing and amplicon-based next generation sequencing (NGS) typing methods had failed to assign it.

Current Status of Flow Cytometric Immunophenotyping of Hematolymphoid Neoplasms in Korea.

Background: Flow cytometric immunophenotyping of hematolymphoid neoplasms (FCI-HLN) is essential for diagnosis, classification, and minimal residual disease (MRD) monitoring. FCI-HLN is typically performed using in-house protocols, raising the need for standardization. Therefore, we surveyed the current status of FCI-HLN in Korea to obtain fundamental data for quality improvement and standardization.

The impact of dentition status and barriers to dental care services on perceived oral health of medicare beneficiaries.

Objective: To examine the association among barriers to dental care services, dentition groups, and self-reported oral health status for Medicare beneficiaries.

Methods: We used data from the 2017 to 2018 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), which included participants aged ≥65 years who were enrolled in Medicare and had completed the oral health exam. We created a dentition group variable using the detailed dental examination data to account for the presence of natural, replaced, removable, or missing teeth.

Detection of antinuclear antibodies: recommendations from EFLM, EASI and ICAP.

Objectives: Antinuclear antibodies (ANA) are important for the diagnosis of various autoimmune diseases. ANA are usually detected by indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA) using HEp-2 cells (HEp-2 IFA). There are many variables influencing HEp-2 IFA results, such as subjective visual reading, serum screening dilution, substrate manufacturing, microscope components and conjugate.

Two new endemic species, and (Apiaceae), from Korea.

Two new species of (Apiaceae), and , from Gangwon Province, South Korea, are described. Both species are most similar to and because of their linear ultimate leaf segments. was found on crevices of rocks in mountain summits and can be distinguished by its pubescent ovary, purple anthers, oblong schizocarp, and 1 or (2) vittae per vallecula and 4 on the commissural face.

Floral micromorphological, palynological, and carpological characteristics of the rare endemic Korean species Peucedanum miroense (Apiaceae).

Peucedanum miroense K. Kim, H.-J.

Choice of ABO Group for Blood Component Transfusion in ABO-Incompatible Solid Organ Transplantation: A Questionnaire Survey in Korea and Guideline Proposal.

The number of ABO-incompatible solid organ transplantations (ABOi SOTs) has markedly increased worldwide since the early 2000s. We investigated the choice of ABO group for blood component transfusion in ABOi SOT. We conducted a survey by e-mailing a questionnaire to blood bank specialists at 77 major hospitals in Korea, among whom 34 responded to the survey.

Problems and Implications of Shelter Planning Focusing on Habitability: A Case Study of a Temporary Disaster Shelter after the Pohang Earthquake in South Korea.

Habitability is an essential concept for shelter planning in terms of supporting victims' right to life with dignity and recovering from what they suffered. The study aimed to identify problems and needs in shelter spaces and suggest measures to improve shelter space plans by conducting a case study in South Korea. The temporary disaster shelter in Pohang built right after the earthquake (2018) was selected as a case subject.

Toxicodendron vernicifluum Stokes extract inhibits solid tumor growth and lung metastasis of 4T1 murine mammary carcinoma cells in BALB/c mice.

Toxicodendron vernicifluum Stokes has long been used as a food supplement and traditional herbal medicine in East Asia. We applied a new extraction method to produce Toxicodendron vernicifluum Stokes extract (TVSE), that doesn't contain urushiol (an allergenic toxin) but dose have higher levels of some flavonoids such as fustin and fisetin. This study was conducted to investigate the anticancer effects of TVSE in an in vivo system.

Stokes extract suppresses migration and invasion in human gastric adenocarcinoma AGS cells.

Background/objectives: Many studies have suggested that Stokes (RVS) and its extract are anticancer agents. However, RVS had limited use because it contains urushiol, an allergenic toxin. By improving an existing allergen-removal extraction method, we developed a new allergen-free Stokes extract (RVSE) with higher flavonoid content.

Comparative chloroplast genome analysis of Artemisia (Asteraceae) in East Asia: insights into evolutionary divergence and phylogenomic implications.

Background: Artemisia in East Asia includes a number of economically important taxa that are widely used for food, medicinal, and ornamental purposes. The identification of taxa, however, has been hampered by insufficient diagnostic morphological characteristics and frequent natural hybridization. Development of novel DNA markers or barcodes with sufficient resolution to resolve taxonomic issues of Artemisia in East Asia is significant challenge.

Distinct shear-induced Ca signaling in the left and right atrial myocytes: Role of P2 receptor context.

Atrial myocytes are continuously exposed to shear stress during cardiac cycles. Previous reports have shown that shear stress induces two different types of global Ca signaling in atrial myocytes-longitudinal Ca waves (L-waves) and action potential-involved transverse waves (T-waves), and suggested an underlying role of the autocrine activation of P2 receptors. We explored the correlations between ATP release and Ca wave generation in atrial myocytes and investigated why the cells develop two Ca-wave types during the same shear force.

Evaluation of neutrophil extracellular traps as the circulating marker for patients with acute coronary syndrome and acute ischemic stroke.

Introduction: Neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) are known to be induced by various factors. In this study, we tried to identify circulating levels of NETs in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and acute ischemic stroke (AIS) and to confirm its suitability as a new circulating marker in their detection.

Methods: We prospectively enrolled 95 patients with a diagnosis of ACS (N = 37) or AIS (N = 58) in Dong-A University Hospital, Busan, Korea.

Complete chloroplast genomes of all six Hosta species occurring in Korea: molecular structures, comparative, and phylogenetic analyses.

Background: The genus Hosta is a group of economically appreciated perennial herbs consisting of approximately 25 species that is endemic to eastern Asia. Due to considerable morphological variability, the genus has been well recognized as a group with taxonomic problems. Chloroplast is a cytoplasmic organelle with its own genome, which is the most commonly used for phylogenetic and genetic diversity analyses for land plants.

The complete chloroplast genome sequence of Kom. (Aristolochiaceae).

is a medicinal plant belonging to the family Aristolichiaceae. In this study, complete chloroplast (cp) genome sequence of was characterized through assembly with next-generation sequencing data. The cp genome is 160,182 bp long and has a typical quadripartite organization consisting of a large single-copy (LSC), a small single-copy (SSC), and a pair of inverted repeats (IRs).

Early prediction of severity in acute ischemic stroke and transient ischemic attack using platelet parameters and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio.

Background: It is still not easy to predict severity promptly in patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS) and transient ischemic attack (TIA). We investigated that platelet parameters or combinations of them could be a useful tool for early prediction of severity of AIS and TIA at admission and after 3 months.

Methods: We prospectively recruited 104 patients newly diagnosed with AIS and TIA.

Association of neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio and natural killer cell activity revealed by measurement of interferon-gamma levels in a healthy population.

Background: While a method of assaying natural killer (NK) cell activity by measuring the amount of interferon (IFN)-γ released from NK cells has been proposed, no data are available about the factors that influence IFN-γ levels related to NK cell activity. NLR has recently been reported to be a predictor of several diseases. In the present study, we investigated the pre-analytical variables for NK cell activity using measurements of IFN-γ and the relationship between NLR and NK cell activity.

The Allele (c.280A>T) Is Responsible for the Weak A Phenotype.

The allele was found in a 71-year-old Korean male with ABO discrepancy and in his two sons. Although the allele (c.280A>T, I94F) in an AwB case was registered in GenBank, the impact of the I94F mutation of the ABO gene on the activity of A transferase has not been studied.

Signaling Pathway for Endothelin-1- and Phenylephrine-Induced cAMP Response Element Binding Protein Activation in Rat Ventricular Myocytes: Role of Inositol 1,4,5-Trisphosphate Receptors and CaMKII.

Background/aims: Endothelin-1 (ET-1) and the α₁-adrenoceptor agonist phenylephrine (PE) activate cAMP response element binding protein (CREB), a transcription factor implicated in cardiac hypertrophy. The signaling pathway involved in CREB activation by these hypertrophic stimuli is poorly understood. We examined signaling pathways for ET-1- or PE-induced cardiac CREB activation.

The Diagnostic Utility of the Point-of-Care CYP2C19 Genotyping Assay in Patients with Acute Coronary Syndrome Dosing Clopidogrel: Comparison with Platelet Function Test and SNP Genotyping.

Background: Clopidogrel is a widely used antiplatelet agent for dual antiplatelet therapy and metabolized by CYP2C19. The polymorphism of CYP2C19 is associated with the therapeutic effect of clopidogrel.

Methods: A total of 119 patients diagnosed with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and underwent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with drug-eluting stents was enrolled.

Fisetin-Rich Extracts of Rhus verniciflua Stokes Improve Blood Flow Rates in Mice Fed Both Normal and High-Fat Diets.

Although it has been previously reported that Rhus verniciflua Stokes (RVS) possesses in vitro anti-inflammatory activity, the precise in vivo mechanisms of RVS extracts and a main active component called fisetin have not been well elucidated. In this study, using newly developed protocols, we prepared urushiol-free but fisetin-enriched RVS extracts and investigated their effects on the vascular immune system. We found that the water-soluble fractions of detoxified RVS with the flavonoid fisetin can inhibit lipopolysaccharide-induced production of nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2).