Nematicidal Activity of Grammicin Biosynthesis Pathway Intermediates in KCTC 13121BP against .

Grammicin, a polyketide metabolite produced by the endolichenic fungus KCTC 13121BP, shows strong nematicidal activity against This study was performed to elucidate the grammicin biosynthesis pathway of KCTC 13121BP and to examine the nematicidal activity of the biosynthesis intermediates and derivatives against . Two grammicin biosynthesis intermediates were isolated from a T-DNA insertion transformant (strain TR-74) of KCTC 13121BP and identified as 2-(hydroxymethyl)cyclohexa-2,5-diene-1,4-dione (compound ) and 2,5-dihydroxybenzaldehyde (compound ), which were also reported to be intermediates in the biosynthesis pathway of patulin, an isomer of grammicin. This indicates that the grammicin biosynthesis pathway overlaps almost with that of patulin, except for the last few steps.

Quantification of Outdoor Tobacco Smoke Exposure at Outdoor Smoking Facilities.

Introduction: The implementation of indoor smoke-free policy has compelled smokers to go outdoors to smoke. Outdoor smoking facilities were installed to designate outdoor smoking area. The purposes of the study were to identify factors of outdoor tobacco smoke (OTS) around open type outdoor smoking facility and to compare the OTS exposure by the type of outdoor smoking facility.

A Single-Chip 64-Channel Ultrasound RX-Beamformer Including Analog Front-End and an LUT for Non-Uniform ADC-Sample-Clock Generation.

A 64-channel RX digital beamformer was implemented in a single chip for 3-D ultrasound medical imaging using 2-D phased-array transducers. The RX beamformer chip includes 64 analog front-end branches including 64 non-uniform sampling ADCs, a FIFO/Adder, and an on-chip look-up table (LUT). The LUT stores the information on the rising edge timing of the non-uniform ADC sampling clocks.

An analog-digital hybrid RX beamformer chip with non-uniform sampling for ultrasound medical imaging with 2D CMUT array.

To reduce the memory area, a two-stage RX beamformer (BF) chip with 64 channels is proposed for the ultrasound medical imaging with a 2D CMUT array. The chip retrieved successfully two B-mode phantom images with a steering angle from -45 (°) to +45 (°), the maximum delay range of 8 μs, and the delay resolution of 6.25 ns.

Increased expression of cathelicidin by direct activation of protease-activated receptor 2: possible implications on the pathogenesis of rosacea.

Purpose: Recent findings of increased cathelicidin protein and its proteolytic fragments in rosacea suggest a pathogenic role for cathelicidin in this disease. The relationship between cathelicidin and protease-activated receptor 2 (PAR-2) is therefore of interest, as PAR-2, expressed principally in keratinocytes, regulates pro-inflammatory cytokine expression in the skin. The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between expression of PAR-2 and cathelicidin in rosacea and to test the effect of direct PAR-2 activation on cathelicidin expression in keratinocytes.

Biological activities of fusarochromanone: a potent anti-cancer agent.

Background: Fusarochromanone (FC101) is a small molecule fungal metabolite with a host of interesting biological functions, including very potent anti-angiogenic and direct anti-cancer activity.

Results: Herein, we report that FC101 exhibits very potent in-vitro growth inhibitory effects (IC50 ranging from 10nM-2.5 μM) against HaCat (pre-malignant skin), P9-WT (malignant skin), MCF-7 (low malignant breast), MDA-231 (malignant breast), SV-HUC (premalignant bladder), UM-UC14 (malignant bladder), and PC3 (malignant prostate) in a time-course and dose-dependent manner, with the UM-UC14 cells being the most sensitive.

A single-chip 32-channel analog beamformer with 4-ns delay resolution and 768-ns maximum delay range for ultrasound medical imaging with a linear array transducer.

A single-chip 32-channel analog beamformer is proposed. It achieves a delay resolution of 4 ns and a maximum delay range of 768 ns. It has a focal-point based architecture, which consists of 7 sub-analog beamformers (sub-ABF).

Protease-activated receptor-2 activates NQO-1 via Nrf2 stabilization in keratinocytes.

Background: Protease-activated receptor-2 (PAR-2) mediates inflammation and immune responses by serine proteinases. NF-E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) confers protection against tissue injury through antioxidant responses to oxidative stress induced by a variety of factors, including electrophilic chemicals, hydrogen peroxide, and ultraviolet irradiation.

Objective: In this study, we investigated if PAR-2 activation can stimulate Nrf2 signaling to preserve homeostasis in keratinocytes.

Efficacy and safety of 1,064 nm Q-switched Nd:YAG laser treatment for removing melanocytic nevi.

Background: Until recently, the removal of melanocytic nevi has been performed with a CO(2) laser or Er:YAG laser. These lasers have been useful for removing affected spots. However, enlargement of spots or some sequelae, including depressed or hypertrophic scars, could develop as unwanted results.

Childhood granulomatous periorificial dermatitis.

Childhood granulomatous periorificial dermatitis (CGPD), also known as facial Afro-Caribbean childhood eruption (FACE), is a distinctive granulomatous form of perioral dermatitis. It is a condition of unknown etiology, characterized by monomorphous, small, papular eruptions around the mouth, nose and eyes that histopathologically show a granulomatous pattern. It affects prepubescent children of both sexes and typically persists for several months but resolved without scarring.