Ninjurin 2 Modulates Tumorigenesis, Inflammation, and Metabolism via Pyroptosis.

The nerve injury-induced protein 2 (NINJ2) belongs to a family of homophilic adhesion molecules and was initially found to be involved in nerve regeneration. However, the role of NINJ2 in other cellular processes is not well studied. The Ninj2-deficient mice generated in the current study had a short lifespan and were prone to spontaneous tumors, systemic inflammation, and metabolic defects.

Ninjurin 2, a Cell Adhesion Molecule and a Target of p53, Modulates Wild-Type p53 in Growth Suppression and Mutant p53 in Growth Promotion.

The nerve injury-induced protein 1 (NINJ1) and NINJ2 constitute a family of homophilic adhesion molecules and are involved in nerve regeneration. Previously, we showed that NINJ1 and p53 are mutually regulated and the NINJ1-p53 loop plays a critical role in p53-dependent tumor suppression. However, the biology of NINJ2 has not been well-explored.

Isoform-specific disruption of the gene reveals a critical role for TAp73γ in tumorigenesis via leptin.

a member of the p53 family, is expressed as TAp73 and ΔNp73 along with multiple C-terminal isoforms (α-η). ΔNp73 is primarily expressed in neuronal cells and necessary for neuronal development. Interestingly, while TAp73α is a tumor suppressor and predominantly expressed in normal cells, TAp73 is found to be frequently altered in human cancers, suggesting a role of TAp73 C-terminal isoforms in tumorigenesis.

Effect of pre-fragmentation on efficacy and safety for phacoemulsification in femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery: a non-randomized clinical trial.

Background: Ultrasound energy during phacoemulsification results in the endothelial cell loss of cornea. Crystallin lens fragmentation with softening before phacoemulsification can be used with femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery (FLACS) device.

Methods: This non-randomized clinical trial included patients who underwent cataract surgery and not had corneal opacity.

Partial oxidation of methane to methanol by isolated Pt catalyst supported on a CeO nanoparticle.

Catalytic transformation of methane (CH) into methanol in a single step is a challenging issue for the utilization of CH. We present a direct method for converting CH into methanol with high selectivity over a Pt/CeO catalyst which contains ionic Pt species supported on a CeO nanoparticle. The Pt/CeO catalyst reproducibly yielded 6.

Effects of radiation therapy on the meibomian glands and dry eye in patients with ocular adnexal mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma.

Background: Radiation therapy (RT) is the treatment of choice in patients with low-grade ocular adenexal mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma (OAML) and many of them experience post-RT dry eye with varying severity. The purpose of the present study was to investigate ocular effects of RT on meibomian glands and dry eye by directly visualizing structural changes. Secondly, we focused on the comparison of two groups of patients according to tumor location and radiation technique.

Mutant p53 antagonizes p63/p73-mediated tumor suppression via Notch1.

p53 is the most frequently mutated gene in human cancers and mutant p53 has a gain of function (GOF) that promotes tumor progression and therapeutic resistance. One of the major GOF activities of mutant p53 is to suppress 2 other p53 family proteins, p63 and p73. However, the molecular basis is not fully understood.

Comparison of Selection and Long-term Clinical Outcomes Between Chemotherapy and Radiotherapy as Primary Therapeutic Modality for Ocular Adnexal MALT Lymphoma.

Background: The choice of a primary treatment for ocular adnexal mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma (OAML) depends on the extent of tumor spread. However, radiotherapy is commonly used as a first-line therapy despite ophthalmic complications, because most OAMLs are in a limited stage of progression. However, the initial therapeutic modality, including chemotherapy and treatment of the advanced stage, has not been fully established for OAML.

A comprehensive metabolomics investigation of hippocampus, serum, and feces affected by chronic fluoxetine treatment using the chronic unpredictable mild stress mouse model of depression.

A metabolomic investigation of depression and chronic fluoxetine treatment was conducted using a chronic unpredictable mild stress model with C57BL/6N mice. Establishment of the depressive model was confirmed by body weight measurement and behavior tests including the forced swim test and the tail suspension test. Behavioral despair by depression was reversed by four week-treatment with fluoxetine.

Changes in the levels of depressive symptoms and anxiety in Ansan city after the 2014 Sewol ferry disaster.

Background: In April 2014, a ferry carrying 476 passengers sunk on the coast of Korea, resulting in 304 deaths. Of these, 250 were local high school students, and the disaster significantly affected their community. This study aimed to examine the prevalence of depressive symptoms and anxiety among Ansan city residents to understand their recovery process after the accident.

Genetic Ablation of Promotes Lymphomagenesis in the Context of Mutant p53 by Downregulating PTEN.

Mutant p53 exerts gain-of-function effects that drive metastatic progression and therapeutic resistance, but the basis for these effects remain obscure. The RNA binding protein RBM38 limits translation of mutant p53 and is often altered in tumors harboring it. Here we show how loss of Rbm38 significantly alters cancer susceptibility in mutant p53 knock-in mice by shortening lifespan, altering tumor incidence, and promoting T-cell lymphomagenesis.

Ninjurin 1 has two opposing functions in tumorigenesis in a p53-dependent manner.

WT p53 is critical for tumor suppression, whereas mutant p53 promotes tumor progression. Nerve injury-induced protein 1 (Ninj1) is a target of p53 and forms a feedback loop with p53 by repressing p53 mRNA translation. Here, we show that loss of increased mutant p53 expression and, subsequently, enhanced cell growth and migration in cells carrying a mutant p53.

The Clinical Differences between Urgent Visits and Non-Urgent Visits in Emergency Department During the Neonatal Period.

As neonates are brought to the emergency department (ED) for various complaints, it is challenging for emergency physicians to clinically determine the urgency of the visit. We sought to explore clinical characteristics associated with urgent visits to the ED. We conducted a retrospective study by reviewing medical records of neonatal visits to a tertiary pediatric regional emergency center for 5 years.

TRAF4 promotes lung cancer aggressiveness by modulating tumor microenvironment in normal fibroblasts.

Normal fibroblasts surrounding tumor cells play a crucial role in cancer progression through formation of the tumor microenvironment. Because factors secreted from normal fibroblasts can modulate the tumor microenvironment, it is necessary to identify key factors associated with regulation of secreted factors and to investigate the molecular mechanisms contributing to the tumor microenvironment formation process. In this study, we found that radiation induced the expression and K63-linkage poly-ubiquitination of TRAF4 in normal lung fibroblasts.

Characteristics of corneal biomechanical responses detected by a non-contact scheimpflug-based tonometer in eyes with glaucoma.

Purpose: To determine the corneal biomechanical properties in eyes with glaucoma using a non-contact Scheimpflug-based tonometer.

Methods: Corneal biomechanical responses were examined using a non-contact Scheimpflug-based tonometer. The tonometer parameters of the normal control group (n = 75) were compared with those of the glaucoma group (n = 136), including an analysis of glaucoma subgroups categorized by visual field loss.

Inhibitory effect of traditional oriental medicine-derived monoamine oxidase B inhibitor on radioresistance of non-small cell lung cancer.

Increased survival of cancer cells mediated by high levels of ionizing radiation (IR) reduces the effectiveness of radiation therapy for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). In the present study, danshensu which is a selected component of traditional oriental medicine (TOM) compound was found to reduce the radioresistance of NSCLC by inhibiting the nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) pathway. Of the various TOM compounds reported to inhibit the IR activation of NF-κB, danshensu was chosen as a final candidate based on the results of structural comparisons with human metabolites and monoamine oxidase B (MAOB) was identified as the putative target enzyme.

Community mental health status six months after the Sewol ferry disaster in Ansan, Korea.

Objectives: The disaster of the Sewol ferry that sank at sea off Korea's southern coast of the Yellow Sea on April 16, 2014 was a tragedy that brought grief and despair to the whole country. The aim of this study was to evaluate the mental health effects of this disaster on the community of Ansan, where most victims and survivors resided.

Methods: The self-administered questionnaire survey was conducted 4 to 6 months after the accident using the Korean Community Health Survey system, an annual nationwide cross-sectional survey.

The new stimulant designer compound pentedrone exhibits rewarding properties and affects dopaminergic activity.

Cathinone derivatives are new recreational drugs known to produce psychostimulant effects. However, unlike other psychostimulants, the addictive potential of cathinone derivatives has not been widely studied. Here, we investigated the effects of pentedrone, a type of cathinone derivative, on the dopaminergic system using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and Western blot.

Effects of Smoking on Menopausal Age: Results From the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2007 to 2012.

Objectives: Decreased fertility and impaired health owing to early menopause are significant health issues. Smoking is a modifiable health-related behavior that influences menopausal age. We investigated the effects of smoking-associated characteristics on menopausal age in Korean women.

A Family with Axenfeld-Rieger Syndrome: Report of the Clinical and Genetic Findings.

Purpose: To describe clinical findings in a Korean family with Axenfeld-Rieger syndrome.

Methods: A retrospective review of clinical data about patients with diagnosed Axenfeld-Rieger syndrome. Five affected members of the family underwent a complete ophthalmologic examination.

Inhibition of hedgehog signalling attenuates UVB-induced skin photoageing.

The hedgehog (Hh) signalling pathway regulates normal development and cell proliferation in metazoan organisms, but its aberrant activation can promote tumorigenesis and progression of a variety of aggressive human cancers including skin cancer. Despite its importance, little is known about its role in photoageing, a type of UV-induced skin lesions. In this study, we investigated the involvement of Hh signalling in the photoageing process as well as the use of an Hh-regulating alkaloid compound as a novel therapeutic drug to regulate photoageing in keratinocytes.

Metabolomic identification of biochemical changes induced by fluoxetine and imipramine in a chronic mild stress mouse model of depression.

Metabolomics was applied to a C57BL/6N mouse model of chronic unpredictable mild stress (CMS). Such mice were treated with two antidepressants from different categories: fluoxetine and imipramine. Metabolic profiling of the hippocampus was performed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis on samples prepared under optimized conditions, followed by principal component analysis, partial least squares-discriminant analysis, and pair-wise orthogonal projections to latent structures discriminant analyses.

Strain differences in the chronic mild stress animal model of depression and anxiety in mice.

Chronic mild stress (CMS) has been reported to induce an anhedonic-like state in mice that resembles some of the symptoms of human depression. In the present study, we used a chronic mild stress animal model of depression and anxiety to examine the responses of two strains of mice that have different behavioral responsiveness. An outbred ICR and an inbred C57BL/6 strain of mice were selected because they are widely used strains in behavioral tests.

PAK1 tyrosine phosphorylation is required to induce epithelial-mesenchymal transition and radioresistance in lung cancer cells.

The p21-activated Ser/Thr kinase 1 (PAK1) kinase has an essential role in tumorigenesis and cell survival in many cancers, but its regulation is not fully understood. In this study, we showed that in response to irradiation of lung cancer cells, PAK1 was upregulated, tyrosine phosphorylated, and translocated to the nucleus. Tyrosine phosphorylation relied upon JAK2 kinase activity and was essential for PAK1 protein stability and binding to Snail.