Cascaded Biocatalysis and Bioelectrocatalysis: Overview and Recent Advances.

Enzyme cascades are plentiful in nature, but they also have potential in artificial applications due to the possibility of using the target substrate in biofuel cells, electrosynthesis, and biosensors. Cascade reactions from enzymes or hybrid bioorganic catalyst systems exhibit extended substrate range, reaction depth, and increased overall performance. This review addresses the strategies of cascade biocatalysis and bioelectrocatalysis for () CO fixation, () high value-added product formation, () sustainable energy sources via deep oxidation, and () cascaded electrochemical enzymatic biosensors.

Distinct Microbial Communities in Adjacent Rock and Soil Substrates on a High Arctic Polar Desert.

Understanding microbial niche variability in polar regions can provide insights into the adaptive diversification of microbial lineages in extreme environments. Compositions of microbial communities in Arctic soils are well documented but a comprehensive multidomain diversity assessment of rocks remains insufficiently studied. In this study, we obtained two types of rocks (sandstone and limestone) and soils around the rocks in a high Arctic polar desert (Svalbard), and examined the compositions of archaeal, bacterial, fungal, and protistan communities in the rocks and soils.

The role of Zur-regulated lipoprotein A in bacterial morphology, antimicrobial susceptibility, and production of outer membrane vesicles in Acinetobacter baumannii.

Background: Zinc uptake-regulator (Zur)-regulated lipoprotein A (ZrlA) plays a role in bacterial fitness and overcoming antimicrobial exposure in Acinetobacter baumannii. This study further characterized the zrlA gene and its encoded protein and investigated the roles of the zrlA gene in bacterial morphology, antimicrobial susceptibility, and production of outer membrane vesicles (OMVs) in A. baumannii ATCC 17978.

Single incision laparoscopic totally extraperitoneal hernioplasty: lessons learned from 1,231 procedures.

Purpose: Although there are many articles about single incision laparoscopic (SIL) hernioplasty, a large-scale study or article about its long-term outcome has not been reported yet. The aim of this study is to assess short- and long-term outcomes of SIL totally extraperitoneal (TEP) hernia repair with large number of cases.

Methods: A prospectively collected database containing details of 1,231 procedures in 1,129 consecutive patients who underwent SIL-TEP hernia repair between June 2010 and December 2017 at a single institution was retrospectively analyzed.

Carfilzomib in addition to lenalidomide and dexamethasone in Asian patients with RRMM outside of a clinical trial.

Carfilzomib, lenalidomide, and dexamethasone (KRd) effectively improve survival in patients with relapsed and refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM). However, the outcome of KRd treatment in Asian patients reflecting a general RRMM population outside of a clinical trial has not been reported. Fifty-five RRMM patients who were treated with carfilzomib in combination with Rd from the time of the first approval of KRd in the Republic of Korea were analyzed.

NK cell-based cancer immunotherapy: from basic biology to clinical development.

Natural killer (NK) cell is a specialized immune effector cell type that plays a critical role in immune activation against abnormal cells. Different from events required for T cell activation, NK cell activation is governed by the interaction of NK receptors with target cells, independent of antigen processing and presentation. Due to relatively unsophisticated cues for activation, NK cell has gained significant attention in the field of cancer immunotherapy.

Second allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in patients with acute leukemia relapsed after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

The prognosis of patients with acute leukemia relapsed after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is dismal. We aimed to evaluate the outcomes and prognostic factors of the second HSCT (HSCT2) in acute leukemia patients relapsed after the first HSCT (HSCT1). We analyzed 80 patients who received HSCT2 for relapsed acute leukemia in two Korean institutes.

Vitamin D Rescues Pancreatic β Cell Dysfunction due to Iron Overload via Elevation of the Vitamin D Receptor and Maintenance of Ca Homeostasis.

Scope: Accumulating evidence indicates that micronutrients are related to metabolic diseases. However, comparatively less attention has been devoted to their influence on each other during the development of metabolic diseases. To investigate the underlying mechanisms, the effects of iron and vitamin D on pancreatic β cell functions are examined.

C1q/TNF-related protein-9 attenuates palmitic acid-induced endothelial cell senescence via increasing autophagy.

Autophagy is an important process in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. C1q/tumor necrosis factor-related protein 9 (CTRP9) is the closest adiponectin paralog. CTRP9 has anti-aging and anti-atherogenic effects, but its roles in autophagy and endothelial senescence are currently unknown.

Radotinib enhances cytarabine (Ara-C)-induced acute myeloid leukemia cell death.

Background: Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a heterogeneous disease that frequently relapses after standard chemotherapy. Therefore, there is a need for the development of novel chemotherapeutic agents that could treat AML effectively. Radotinib, an oral BCR-ABL tyrosine kinase inhibitor, was developed as a drug for the treatment of chronic myeloid leukemia.

Effects of a Δ-9-fatty acid desaturase and a cyclopropane-fatty acid synthase from the novel psychrophile Pseudomonas sp. B14-6 on bacterial membrane properties.

Psychrophilic bacteria, living at low and mild temperatures, can contribute significantly to our understanding of microbial responses to temperature, markedly occurring in the bacterial membrane. Here, a newly isolated strain, Pseudomonas sp. B14-6, was found to dynamically change its unsaturated fatty acid and cyclic fatty acid content depending on temperature which was revealed by phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) analysis.

Busulfan, etoposide, cytarabine, and melphalan as a high-dose regimen for autologous stem cell transplantation in peripheral T-cell lymphomas.

Given the unsatisfactory survival in patients who received high-dose chemotherapy followed by autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) for peripheral T-cell lymphomas (PTCLs), we conducted a prospective trial of busulfan (Bu), etoposide (E), cytarabine (A), and melphalan (M) (BuEAM), including IV Bu instead of carmustine (BCNU) as in standard BEAM, as a high-dose regimen in such patients. This study evaluated the efficacy and toxicity of BuEAM as a high-dose regimen for ASCT in patients with T-cell lymphomas. The high-dose chemotherapy at seven centers in Korea included Bu (3.

Pain Intensity at Injection Site during Esophagogastroduodenoscopy Using Long- and Medium-Chain versus Long-Chain Triglyceride Propofol: A Randomized Controlled Double-Blind Study.

Background/aims: The intensities of injection pain resulting from the use of long- and medium-chain triglyceride (LCT/MCT) propofol and conventional LCT propofol during esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) have yet to be compared. We aimed to determine the pain intensity caused by different formulations of propofol and to evaluate the formulation that would be preferred by patients as a sedative agent during their next procedure.

Methods: This study was a single-center, randomized, controlled, and double-blind trial.

Analysis of the risk factors of acute kidney injury after total hip or knee replacement surgery.

Backgruound: Postoperative acute kidney injury (AKI), which increases the risk of postoperative morbidity and mortality, poses a major concern to surgeons. We conducted this study to analyze the risk factors associated with the occurrence of AKI after orthopedic surgery.

Methods: This was a retrospective study that included 351 patients who underwent total hip or knee replacement surgery at Inje University Haeundae Paik Hospital between January 2012 and December 2016.

Different Immunohistochemical Localization of Fatty Acid Binding Protein 5 in Actinic Keratosis Compared with That in Bowen's Disease: A Retrospective Study.

Actinic keratosis (AK) and Bowen's disease (BD) are common premalignant lesions of invasive squamous cell carcinoma that have different pathogenesis and clinical significance. Fatty acid-binding protein 5 (FABP5) is responsible for keratinocyte homeostasis and differentiation; however, no study has revealed its expression in AK and BD. Our study aimed to investigate the differential expression and significance of FABP5 in these lesions.

Fundamentals, Applications, and Future Directions of Bioelectrocatalysis.

Bioelectrocatalysis is an interdisciplinary research field combining biocatalysis and electrocatalysis via the utilization of materials derived from biological systems as catalysts to catalyze the redox reactions occurring at an electrode. Bioelectrocatalysis synergistically couples the merits of both biocatalysis and electrocatalysis. The advantages of biocatalysis include high activity, high selectivity, wide substrate scope, and mild reaction conditions.

Severe Persistent Jaundice after the Abuse of an Anabolic Androgenic Steroid Analogue.

Hepatic disorders with prominent cholestasis can be caused by a range of conditions, and anabolic androgenic steroids have been considered a cause of protracted cholestasis. A 29-year-old man who had taken an anabolic androgenic steroid analogue for 2 months visited the hospital complaining of jaundice and indigestion. After stopping the medication, the hyperbilirubinemia tended to decrease, but a transiently elevated aminotransferase level was observed.

Effect of a new Lactobacillus plantarum product, LRCC5310, on clinical symptoms and virus reduction in children with rotaviral enteritis.

Background: Rotavirus is one of the most common causes of infantile enteritis. In common enterocolitis, probiotic organisms, including Lactobacilli, are effective in treating diarrhea. A new species, Lactobacillus plantarum (LRCC5310), which was shown to inhibit the adherence and proliferation of rotavirus in the small intestine through animal experiments, was investigated for the efficacy and safety of patients with rotaviral enteritis.

How Should We Assign Large Infiltrative Hepatocellular Carcinomas for Staging?

Infiltrative gross morphology of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is known to be associated with poor prognosis, but this is not considered for staging. A total of 774 HCC patients who underwent curative liver resection were retrospectively reviewed and the prognostic significance of infiltrative type HCC was assessed using the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) and Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) staging systems. Seventy-four patients (9.

Clinical applications of Doppler ultrasonography for thyroid disease: consensus statement by the Korean Society of Thyroid Radiology.

Doppler ultrasonography (US) is widely used for the differential diagnosis of thyroid nodules, metastatic cervical lymph nodes in patients with thyroid cancer, and diffuse parenchymal disease, as well as for guidance in various US-guided procedures, including biopsy and ablation. However, controversies remain regarding the appropriate use and interpretation of Doppler US. Therefore, the Korean Society of Thyroid Radiology organized a taskforce to develop a consensus statement on the clinical use of Doppler US for thyroid disease.

Metabolomics Comparison of Hanwoo () Biofluids Using Proton Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy.

The aim of this study was to identify the metabolomic profiles of rumen fluid, serum, and urine from Hanwoo (), using proton nuclear magnetic resonance (H-NMR) spectroscopy. In all, 189, 110, and 188 metabolites were identified in rumen fluid, serum, and urine, and 107, 49, and 99 were quantified, respectively. Organic acids, carbohydrates, and aliphatic acyclic compound metabolites were present at the highest concentrations in rumen fluid, serum, and urine, respectively.

Comparison of different types of covered self-expandable metal stents for malignant colorectal obstruction.

Background: Stent migration is one of the main drawbacks of covered self-expandable metal stent (SEMSs), occurring in up to 40% of malignant colorectal obstruction management cases. Various types of covered SEMSs have been developed to reduce this risk. We aimed to compare the effectiveness and complication rates of the flare-type covered SEMS (Flare) with those of the double-layered covered SEMS (ComVi).

Biosensing and electrochemical properties of flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD)-Dependent glucose dehydrogenase (GDH) fused to a gold binding peptide.

In the present work, direct electron transfer (DET) based biosensing system for the determination of glucose has been fabricated by utilizing gold binding peptide (GBP) fused flavin adenine dinucleotide-dependent glucose dehydrogenase (FAD-GDH) from Burkholderia cepacia. The GBP fused FAD-GDH was immobilized on the working electrode surface of screen-printed electrode (SPE) which consists of gold working electrode, a silver pseudo-reference electrode and a platinum counter electrode, to develop the biosensing system with compact design and favorable sensing ability. The bioelectrochemical and mechanical properties of GBP fused FAD-GDH (GDH-GBP) immobilized SPE (GDH-GBP/Au) were investigated.

Association between the incidence of hypertension and alcohol consumption pattern and the alcohol flushing response: A 12-year follow-up study.

Background: Alcohol consumption is associated with hypertension, and this association depends on the alcohol consumption pattern and alcohol flushing response. In this 12-year follow-up study, we investigated the relationship between the alcohol consumption pattern and incidence of hypertension in the Korean population.

Methods: We analyzed 1,366 Korean participants in the Ansung-Ansan cohort study without hypertension at baseline.