Engineered T Cell Receptor for Cancer Immunotherapy.

Among the therapeutic strategies in cancer immunotherapy-such as immune-modulating antibodies, cancer vaccines, or adoptive T cell transfer-T cells have been an attractive target due to their cytotoxicity toward tumor cells and the tumor antigen-specific binding of their receptors. Leveraging the unique properties of T cells, chimeric antigen receptor-T cells and T cell receptor (TCR)-T cells were developed through genetic modification of their receptors, enhancing the specificity and effectiveness of T cell therapy. Adoptive cell transfer of chimeric antigen receptor-T cells has been successful for the treatment of hematological malignancies.

Association of frailty with fall events in older adults: A 12-year longitudinal study in Korea.

Background: Evidence has shown that frailty is associated with the risk of falls in older people. However, the components of frailty that have the highest association with fall events are largely unknown.

Methods: This study analyzed panel data from the Korean Longitudinal Study of Aging.

Deciphering Clinicoradiologic Phenotype for Thymidylate Synthase Expression Status in Patients with Advanced Lung Adenocarcinoma Using a Radiomics Approach.

We aimed to identify predictive clinicoradiologic characteristics of thymidylate synthase (TS) expression status in advanced non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer patients. We reviewed clinicoradiologic features of 169 patients stratified into TS-negative (n = 84) and TS-positive (n = 85) groups, including quantitative CT radiomic features of both primary lung and metastatic lesions from initial CT and PET. Clinical factors including age and smoking history were significantly associated with TS as well as radiomic features.

Heterologous expression and enzymatic characterization of γ-glutamyltranspeptidase from Bacillus amyloliquefaciens.

γ-Glutamyltranspeptidase (GGT) catalyzes the cleavage of γ-glutamyl compounds and the transfer of γ-glutamyl moiety to water or to amino acid/peptide acceptors. GGT can be utilized for the generation of γ-glutamyl peptides or glutamic acid, which are used as food taste enhancers. In the present study, Bacillus amyloliquefaciens SMB469 with high GGT activity was isolated from Doenjang, a traditional fermented soy food of Korea.

Improvement in imaging diagnosis technique and modalities for solitary pulmonary nodules: from ground-glass opacity nodules to part-solid and solid nodules.

With advances in CT technology and the popularity of low-dose CT as a device for lung cancer screening, the detection rate of sub-solid pulmonary nodules as well as solid nodules has been increased. Distinguishing solid from sub-solid features is an essential step in the CT evaluation of solitary pulmonary nodules (SPNs) because strategies for nodule characterization and guidelines for management are different for each category. In addition to conventional CT parameters, numerous novel concepts and modalities have been developed.

Combined Undifferentiated and Neuroendocrine Carcinomas of the Gallbladder Appearing as Two Separate Lesions: A Case Report with Radiological-Pathological Correlation.

We report herein a rare case of incidentally detected combined undifferentiated and neuroendocrine carcinomas of the gallbladder. An incidental gallbladder malignancy was revealed on abdominal ultrasound and multi-detector computed tomography in a 54-year-old man. A short distance from the main polypoid hypoechoic mass at the fundus of the gallbladder, focal wall thickening was noted with prominently increased power Doppler flow.

Role of CT and PET Imaging in Predicting Tumor Recurrence and Survival in Patients with Lung Adenocarcinoma: A Comparison with the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer/American Thoracic Society/European Respiratory Society Classification of Lung Adenocarcinoma.

Introduction: Recently, a new lung adenocarcinoma classification scheme was published. The prognostic value of this new classification has not been elaborated together with the value of imaging biomarkers including computed tomography (CT) and positron emission tomography (PET).

Methods: We reviewed pathologic specimens and imaging characteristics of primary tumors from 723 consecutive patients who underwent surgical resection for lung adenocarcinoma.

Standard chest CT using combined automated tube potential selection and iterative reconstruction: image quality and radiation dose reduction.

Objective: To evaluate the image quality and radiation dose reduction of chest computed tomography (CT) using combined automated tube potential selection (ATPS) and iterative reconstruction (IR).

Materials And Methods: Image quality and radiation dose were compared between conventional contrast-enhanced chest CT using 120 kVp and filtered back projection (Protocol A) and CT using ATPS and IR (Protocol B) in 43 patients.

Results: The effective radiation dose was 3.

Image quality assessment of ultra low-dose chest CT using sinogram-affirmed iterative reconstruction.

Objectives: To assess the image quality of ultra-low-dose computed tomography (ULDCT) using sinogram-affirmed iterative reconstruction (SAFIRE) compared to reduced dose CT (RDCT).

Methods: Eighty-one consecutive patients underwent non-enhanced ULDCT using 80 kVp and 30 mAs and contrast-enhanced RDCT using automated tube potential selection and tube current modulation. CT images were reconstructed with SAFIRE.

Tuberculous-destroyed lung: cardiovascular CT findings and prognostic imaging factors.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate cardiovascular computed tomography (CT) findings in tuberculous-destroyed lung (TDL) and to correlate these imaging features with survival. CT was assessed for the diameter of the pulmonary artery (dPA) and ascending aorta, the diameters of ventricles, ventricular septal bowing (VSB), extent of TDL, or hypertrophied bronchial artery and others. Seventy-three percent of the TDL patients had a dPA greater than 29 mm.

A newly designed Y-shaped covered stent in the palliative treatment of hepatic hilar malignant obstruction: case report.

We report a case in an inoperable patient with the hilar malignant biliary obstruction treated palliatively by the use of a newly designed Y-shaped covered stent without interfering contra-lateral bile duct. We percutaneously inserted a newly designed Y-shaped covered stent into a biliary tree in an inoperable patient with Bismuth Type II cholangiocarcinoma. We checked tubograms, enhanced CT studies, and blood bilirubin levels before, one week after, and at every three month after the stenting, by observing closely the signs of clinical infection as well.

Detailed modes of action and biochemical characterization of endo-arabinanase from Bacillus licheniformis DSM13.

An endo-arabinanase (BLABNase) gene from Bacillus licheniformis DSM13 was cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli, and the biochemical properties of its encoded enzyme were characterized. The BLABNase gene consists of a single open reading frame of 987 nucleotides that encodes 328 amino acids with a predicted molecular mass of about 36 kDa. BLABNase exhibited the highest activity against debranched α-(1,5)-arabinan in 50 mM sodium acetate buffer (pH 6.