Striking efficacy of a vaccine targeting TOP2A for triple-negative breast cancer immunoprevention.

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is an aggressive subtype of breast cancer that has a poor prognosis. TOP2A is a key enzyme in DNA replication and is a therapeutic target for breast and other cancers. TOP2A-specific Th1-promoting epitopes with optimal binding affinity to MHC II were identified using a combined scoring system.

Multi-omics analysis reveals the genetic basis of rice fragrance mediated by betaine aldehyde dehydrogenase 2.

Introduction: Fragrance is an important economic and quality trait in rice. The trait is controlled by the recessive gene betaine aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 (BADH2) via the production of 2-acetyl-1-pyrroline (2AP).

Objectives: Variation in BADH2 was evaluated at the population, genetic, transcriptional, and metabolic levels to obtain insights into fragrance regulation in rice.

Antiviral activity of soybean GL 2626/96 (Glycine max) ethanolic extract against influenza A virus in vitro and in vivo.

Influenza viruses cause respiratory infections in humans with high morbidity and mortality rates. Neuraminidase inhibitors such as oseltamivir and peramivir are the most commonly used drugs for influenza virus infections. However, the emergence of resistant viruses necessitates the urgent need to develop next-generation anti-influenza drugs.

Genome-Scale Profiling and High-Throughput Analyses Unravel the Genetic Basis of Arsenic Content Variation in Rice.

Ionomics, the study of the composition of mineral nutrients and trace elements in organisms that represent the inorganic component of cells and tissues, has been widely studied to explore to unravel the molecular mechanism regulating the elemental composition of plants. However, the genetic factors of rice subspecies in the interaction between arsenic and functional ions have not yet been explained. Here, the correlation between As and eight essential ions in a rice core collection was analyzed, taking into account growing condition and genetic factors.

The discovery of novel SNPs associated with group A soyasaponin biosynthesis from Korea soybean core collection.

Soyasaponin is a type of glycoside such as steroids, steroidal alkaloids or triterpenes, which enhance the body immunity. In order to efficiently identify genes and markers related to the soyasaponin, we used a 180K Axiom® SoyaSNP array and whole genome resequencing data from the Korean soybean core collection. As a result of conducting GWAS for group A soyasaponin (Aa and Ab derivatives), 16 significant common markers associated with Aa and Ab derivatives were mapped to chromosome 7, and three candidate genes including Glyma.

sp. nov., an endophytic bacterium isolated from soybean ( L. cv. Gwangan) stems.

A Gram-stain-negative, facultatively anaerobic, motile by gliding, rod-shaped, oxidase- and catalase-positive bacterial strain, designated BB8, was isolated from the stems of a Korean soybean cultivar ( L. cv. Gwangan).

Functional Haplotype and eQTL Analyses of Genes Affecting Cadmium Content in Cultivated Rice.

Background: Rice is a major food resource for Asian countries including Korea. However, most Asian countries are facing food safety problems due to cropland contamination by heavy metals. Thus, this study was conducted to investigate genetic factors affecting the expression of cadmium (Cd) gene, and to confirm differences in Cd translocation among cultivars because the current molecular understanding of Cd uptake-transport mechanisms remains insufficient.

Optimized Bexarotene Aerosol Formulation Inhibits Major Subtypes of Lung Cancer in Mice.

Bexarotene has shown inhibition of lung and mammary gland tumorigenesis in preclinical models and in clinical trials. The main side effects of orally administered bexarotene are hypertriglyceridemia and hypercholesterolemia. We previously demonstrated that aerosolized bexarotene administered by nasal inhalation has potent chemopreventive activity in a lung adenoma preclinical model without causing hypertriglyceridemia.

Morphometric Study of the Lumbar Posterior Longitudinal Ligament.

Objective: Morphometric data for the lumbar posterior longitudinal ligament (PLL) was investigated to identify whether there is a difference in the morphometry of the PLL of the lumbar spine at each level with respect to the pattern of intervertebral disc displacement.

Methods: In 14 formalin-fixed adult cadavers (12 males and 2 females), from L1 to L5, the authors measured the width and height of the PLL and compared them with other landmarks such as the disc and the pedicle.

Results: Horizontally, at the upper margin of the disc, the central portion of the superficial PLL covered 17.

Effect of weekly or daily dosing regimen of Gefitinib in mouse models of lung cancer.

Gefitinib showed response in phase II clinical trials and with better clinical response in lung cancer with activating mutations in the tyrosine kinase domain of the EGFR. Questions of toxicity and potential dosing regimens impede the use in a prevention setting. This study will provide scientific evidence for the utility of testing and comparing weekly and daily dosing regimens in clinical trials.

Unusual Transformation from a Solvent-Stabilized 1D Coordination Polymer to a Metal-Organic Framework (MOF)-Like Cross-Linked 3D Coordination Polymer.

An unusual 1D-to-3D transformation of a coordination polymer based on organic linkers containing highly polar push-pull π-conjugated side chains is reported. The coordination polymers are synthesized from zinc nitrate and an organic linker, namely, 2,5-bis{4-[1-(4-nitrophenyl)pyrrolidin-2-yl]butoxy}terephthalic acid, which possesses highly polar (4-nitrophenyl)pyrrolidine groups, with high dipole moments of about 7 D. The coordination polymers exhibit an unusual transformation from a soluble, solvent-stabilized 1D coordination polymer into an insoluble, metal-organic framework (MOF)-like 3D coordination polymer.

Paenalcaligenes hermetiae sp. nov., isolated from the larval gut of Hermetia illucens (Diptera: Stratiomyidae), and emended description of the genus Paenalcaligenes.

A novel Gram-stain-negative, facultatively anaerobic, non-motile and short rod-shaped bacterium, strain KBL009(T), was isolated from the larval gut of Hermetia illucens. Strain KBL009(T) grew optimally at 37 °C, at pH 6.0 and with 1-2 % (w/v) NaCl.

Idiopathic thoracic epidural lipomatosis with chest pain.

Spinal epidural lipomatosis (SEL) is an overgrowth of the normally encapsulated adipose tissue in the epidural space around the spinal cord in the thoracic and lumbar spine causing compression of the neural components. Idiopathic SEL in non-obese patients is exceptional. Idiopathic SEL can result in thoracic myelopathy and lumbar radiculopathy.

Morphometric study of the upper thoracic sympathetic Ganglia.

Objective: Morphometric data for the sympathetic ganglia (SG) of the upper thoracic spine was investigated to identify the exact location of the SG in order to reduce normal tissue injury in the thoracic cavity during thoracoscopic sympathectomy.

Methods: In 46 specimens from 23 formalin-fixed adult cadavers, the authors measured the shortest distance from the medial margin of the T1, T2 and T3 SG to the most prominent point and medial margin of the corresponding rib heads, and to the lateral margin of the longus colli muscle. In addition, the distance between the most prominent point of the rib head and the lateral margin of longus colli muscle and the width of each SG were measured.

The intestinal bacterial community in the food waste-reducing larvae of Hermetia illucens.

As it is known that food waste can be reduced by the larvae of Hermetia illucens (Black soldier fly, BSF), the scientific and commercial value of BSF larvae has increased recently. We hypothesised that the ability of catabolic degradation by BSF larvae might be due to intestinal microorganisms. Herein, we analysed the bacterial communities in the gut of BSF larvae by pyrosequencing of extracting intestinal metagenomic DNA from larvae that had been fed three different diets.

Nonleaching antibacterial glass surfaces via "Grafting Onto": the effect of the number of quaternary ammonium groups on biocidal activity.

Antimicrobial surfaces were prepared using the "grafting onto" technique. Well-defined block copolymers containing poly(2-(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate) and poly(3-(trimethoxysilyl)propyl methacrylate) segments (PDMAEMA/PTMSPMA) and corresponding random copolymers were prepared via atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP), followed by covalent attachment to a glass surface through reaction of the trimethoxysilyl groups with surface silanol groups. The density of quaternary ammonium (QA) groups available to bind small molecules in solution increased with polymer solution concentration and immobilization time.

Surface dispersion and hardening of self-assembled diacetylene nanotubes.

We describe here the first method for dispersion of individual self-assembled diacetylene nanotubes on surfaces. Complete polymerization by UV exposure was achieved as demonstrated by nanotubes that were resistant to aggressive organic solvents and temperatures well above the melting point of the monomer. The polymerized tubes displayed reversible thermochromic and mechanochromic properties.

Self-assembly of biocidal nanotubes from a single-chain diacetylene amine salt.

We describe the facile two-step synthesis of nanotubes that form pure, well-defined, nanostructured materials. We have synthesized a secondary amine HBr salt as the headgroup of a single-chain diacetylenic lipid. This molecule can form a number of different self-assembled nanostructures in aqueous or organic solvents.

Permanent, nonleaching antibacterial surfaces. 1. Synthesis by atom transfer radical polymerization.

We have grown an antimicrobial polymer directly on the surfaces of glass and paper using atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). The method described here results in potentially permanent nonleaching antibacterial surfaces without the need to chemically graft the antimicrobial material to the substratum. The tertiary amine 2-(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate was polymerized directly onto Whatman #1 filter paper or glass slides via atom transfer radical polymerization.

ATRP synthesis of amphiphilic random, gradient, and block copolymers of 2-(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate and n-butyl methacrylate in aqueous media.

Amphiphilic random, gradient, and block copolymers of 2-(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate (DMAEMA) and n-butyl methacrylate (BMA) were synthesized by atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) in water/2-propanol mixtures using a methoxy-poly(ethylene glycol) (MPEG) (M(n) = 2000) macroinitiator. Kinetic studies indicate that the copolymerization is well controlled with molecular weights increasing linearly with conversion. Copolymers with molecular weights up to M(n) = 34000 and low polydispersities (M(w)/M(n) = 1.

Synthesis and antitumor activity of novel thermosensitive platinum(II)-cyclotriphosphazene conjugates.

Thermosensitive cyclotriphosphazenes bearing alkoxy poly(ethylene glycol) and amino acid esters as side groups could be functionalized to chelate the antitumor (diamine)platinum(II) moiety through the dicarboxylate group of the amino acid substituent on the cyclic phosphazene ring. Surprisingly, like the precursor cyclotriphosphazenes, these (diamine)platinum(II)-cyclotriphosphazene conjugates were also found to exhibit variable lower critical solution temperatures (LCST) in the wide range of 12 to 92 degrees C. Furthermore, the present conjugates have shown outstanding in vitro and in vivo antitumor activities due to controlled release of the antitumor (diamine)platinum(II) moiety with hydrolytic degradation of the phosphazene ring.

Polymer surfaces derivatized with poly(vinyl-N-hexylpyridinium) kill airborne and waterborne bacteria.

A facile methodology has been developed for covalently derivatizing the surfaces of common materials with a designed antibacterial polycation, poly(vinyl-N-pyridinium bromide), wherein the first, key step involves surface coating with a nanolayer of silica. Various commercial synthetic polymers derivatized in this manner become bactericidal-they kill up to 99% of deposited, from either an aerosol or an aqueous suspension, Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria on contact.