What is the real Hormotila? (Chlorophyceae)

Daniel E. Wujek,Michael J. Wynne 한국조류학회I 2016 ALGAE Vol.31 No.2

It is shown by the heterogenous nature of Borzi’s description and illustrations that Hormotila mucigena Borzi, the generitype of Hormotila, should be redefined. Borzi’s original description and accompanying illustrations of Hormotila (constituting the protologue) correspond to a minimum of five distinct genera of green algae. Two distinct concepts of the genus have persisted over the years. The genus has become based on a combination of palmelloid and physiologically stressed forms of two of the component algae. Our understanding of the genus is further confused by the incorporation of unrelated unicellular and colonial coccoid forms. There are only one or two distinctive attributes that would allow the selection of any one of the five forms as representing the genus and species. One of Borzi’s original figures is proposed to redefine the original species of the genus, Hormotila mucigena.

Risk Factors for Pseudarthrosis in Minimally- Invasive Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion

Michael Faloon,Nikhil Sahai, Conor J. Dunn,Kimona Issa,Daniel Thibaudeau,Kumar Sinha,Ki Soo Hwang 대한척추외과학회 2018 Asian Spine Journal Vol.12 No.5

Study Design: Retrospective cohort study (level of evidence: 4). Purpose: To describe the potential comorbid, operative, and radiographic risk factors for the development of clinically-relevant pseudarthrosis following minimally-invasive transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (MIS-TLIF). Overview of Literature: MIS-TLIF has shown long-term clinical outcomes with decreased perioperative morbidity and earlier return to work, similar to those of open TLIF. However, unsuccessful fusion still remains a concern. The impacts of various patient, operative, and radiographic risk factors have not been evaluated for their potential association with pseudarthrosis related to MIS-TLIF. Methods: Between 2012 and 2015, 204 consecutive patients underwent one or two-level MIS-TLIF at St. Joseph's University Medical Center, Paterson, NJ, USA; they had a minimum of 1 year of follow-up. The patients were divided into two cohorts: those who developed clinically-relevant pseudarthrosis and those who did not. Clinically-relevant pseudarthrosis was determined by both evidence on computed tomography and presence of continued clinical symptoms at 1-year follow-up. Results: Revision surgery was the only identified non-radiographic factor associated with pseudarthrosis. Disc angle had the highest (R 2=0.8), followed by anterior disc height (R 2=0.79). Although posterior disc height and the ratio of anterior to posterior disc height showed a marked relationship with the outcome, the R 2-values were <0.3, thus indicating a less-strong correlation. The overall pseudarthrosis rate was 8%. No statistically significant differences were identified between the two cohorts with respect to mean age, sex, medical comorbidities, smoking status, or number of levels fused. Conclusions: Clinically-relevant pseudarthrosis is not uncommon following MIS-TLIF. In the current study, undergoing revision surgery, disc angle, and anterior disc height were observed to be associated with clinically-relevant pseudarthrosis. This study demonstrated that the patient population may benefit from an alternate approach.

Is There a "Trial Effect" on Outcome of Patients with Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma Treated with Sunitinib?

Daniel Keizman,Keren Rouvinov,Avishay Sella,Maya Gottfried,Natalie Maimon,Jenny J. Kim,Mario A. Eisenberger,Victoria Sinibaldi,Avivit Peer,Michael A. Carducci,Wilmosh Mermershtain,Raya Leibowitz-amit 대한암학회 2016 Cancer Research and Treatment Vol.48 No.1

Purpose Studies suggested the existence of a ‘trial effect,’ in which for a given treatment, participa- tion in a clinical trial is associated with a better outcome. Sunitinib is a standard treatment for metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC). We aimed to study the effect of clinical trial participation on the outcome of mRCC patients treated with sunitinib, which at present, is poorly defined. Materials and Methods The records of mRCC patients treated with sunitinib between 2004-2013 in 7 centers across 2 countries were reviewed. We compared the response rate (RR), progression free survival (PFS), and overall survival (OS), between clinical trial participants (n=49) and a matched cohort of non-participants (n=49) who received standard therapy. Each clinical trial participant was individually matched with a non-participant by clinicopathologic factors. PFS and OS were determined by Cox regression. Results The groups were matched by age (median, 64), sex (male, 67%), Heng risk (favorable, 25%; intermediate, 59%; poor, 16%), prior nephrectomy (92%), RCC histology (clear cell 86%), pre-treatment neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (> 3 in 55%, n=27), sunitinib induced hyper- tension (45%), and sunitinib dose reduction/treatment interruption (41%). In clinical trial participants versus non-participants, RR was partial response/stable disease 80% (n=39) versus 74% (n=36), and progressive disease 20% (n=10) versus 26% (n=13) (p=0.63; odds ratio, 1.2). The median PFS was 10 versus 11 months (hazard ratio [HR], 0.96; p=0.84), and the median OS 23 versus 24 months (HR, 0.97; p=0.89). Conclusion In mRCC patients treated with sunitinib, the outcome of clinical trial participants was similar to that of non-participants who received standard therapy.

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD): Evaluation From Clinical, Immunological and Bacterial Pathogenesis Perspectives

Daniel J. Hassett,Michael T. Borchers,Ralph J. Panos 한국미생물학회 2014 The journal of microbiology Vol.52 No.3

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), a diseasemanifested by significantly impaired airflow, afflicts ~14.2million cases in the United States alone with an estimated63 million people world-wide. Although there are a numberof causes, the predominant cause is excessive tobacco smoke. In fact, in China, there have been estimates of 315,000,000people that smoke. Other less frequent causes are associatedwith indirect cigarette smoke, air pollutants, biomass fuels,and genetic mutations. COPD is often associated with heartdisease, lung cancer, osteoporosis and conditions can worsenin patients with sudden falls. COPD also affects both innateand adaptive immune processes. Cigarette smoke increasesthe expression of matrix metalloproteases and proinflammatorychemokines and increases lung titers of natural killercells and neutrophils. Yet, neutrophil reactive oxygen species(ROS) mediated by the phagocytic respiratory burst andphagocytosis is impaired by nicotine. In contrast to innateimmunity in COPD, dendritic cells represent leukocytes recruitedto the lung that link the innate immune responsesto adaptive immune responses by activating naïve T cellsthrough antigen presentation. The autoimmune process thatis also a significant part of inflammation associated withCOPD. Moreover, coupled with restricted FEV1 values, arethe prevalence of patients with single or multiple infectionsby bacteria, viruses and fungi. Finally, we focus on one ofthe more problematic infectious agents, the Gram-negativeopportunistic pathogenic bacterium, Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Specifically, we delve into the development of highlyproblematic biofilm infections that are highly refractory toconventional antibiotic therapies in COPD. We offer a nonconventional,biocidal treatment that may be effective forCOPD airway infections as well as with combinations ofcurrent antibiotic regimens for more effective treatment outcomes outcomes and relief for patients with COPD.

Magnetism and Its Uses in Early Korea

MICHAEL DANIELS S.J. The Academy of Korean Studies 1976 Korea Journal Vol.16 No.6

Korea’s Invaluable Astronomical Records

MICHAEL J. DANIELS, S. J. The Academy of Korean Studies 1975 Korea Journal Vol.15 No.7

Ancient Astronomy in Korea

MICHAEL J. DANIELS The Academy of Korean Studies 1975 Korea Journal Vol.15 No.2

The road to precision psychiatry: translating genetics into disease mechanisms

Gandal, Michael J,Leppa, Virpi,Won, Hyejung,Parikshak, Neelroop N,Geschwind, Daniel H NATURE AMERICA 2016 NATURE NEUROSCIENCE Vol.19 No.11

Hundreds of genetic loci increasing risk for neuropsychiatric disorders have recently been identified. This success, perhaps paradoxically, has posed challenges for therapeutic development, which are amplified by the highly polygenic and pleiotropic nature of these genetic contributions. Success requires understanding the biological impact of single genetic variants and predicting their effects within an individual. Comprehensive functional genomic annotation of risk loci provides a framework for interpretation of neurobiological impact, requiring experimental validation with in vivo or in vitro model systems. Systems-level, integrative pathway analyses are beginning to elucidate the additive, polygenic contributions of risk variants on specific cellular, molecular, developmental, or circuit-level processes. Although most neuropsychiatric disease modeling has focused on genes disrupted by rare, large-effect-size mutations, common smaller-effect-size variants may also provide solid therapeutic targets to inform precision medicine approaches. Here we enumerate the promise and challenges of a genomics-driven approach to uncovering neuropsychiatric disease mechanisms and facilitating therapeutic development.

Impact of Interspace Distraction on Fusion and Clinical Outcomes in Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion: A Longitudinal Cohort Study

Lawless Michael H.,Yoon Elise J.,Jasinski Jacob M.,Gabrail Joseph,Jordan Noah,Kado Karl,Tong Doris,Soo Teck M.,Carr Daniel A. 대한척추외과학회 2022 Asian Spine Journal Vol.16 No.3

Study Design: Longitudinal cohort study.Purpose: To determine the effect of change in interspace height on fusion and postoperative neck pain.Overview of Literature: The optimal height of a cervical interbody device (cage) in anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) is not well defined. In addition, the effect of interspace distraction on fusion and postoperative neck pain remains unclear.Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the charts of consecutive patients who underwent one- or two-level ACDF using polyetheretherketone cages by multiple surgeons from January 2015 to June 2016. We excluded patients younger than 18 years old, patients who had prior surgery at the same level (s), those with two-stage procedures, and those with less than 3 months of followup. Fusion was determined using the “Song” criteria. Ordinal regression was used to determine predictors of fusion. Patient-reported outcomes (PRO) were analyzed.Results: We identified 323 consecutive patients. Twenty-two patients met the exclusion criteria. A total of 435 operative levels were included in the 301 remaining patients. Interspace fusion did not significantly vary by increasing interspace height with fusion rates between 76.2% and 82.8% at a mean follow-up of 17.9±12.6 months. The effect of an increase in interspace height and neck pain PRO was available for 163 patients who underwent one-level ACDF at a mean follow-up period of 16.2±13.1 months. We found no significant difference in fusion rate or neck pain score with increasing interspace height from 1 to 8 mm. Ordinal regression demonstrated no significant predictors of fusion.Conclusions: Interspace distraction from 1 to 8 mm did not result in significantly different pseudarthrosis rates or postoperative neck pain.

2,4-Dimethoxy-2,4-dimethylpentan-3-one: An Aprotic Solvent Designed for Stability in Li–O₂ Cells

Sharon, Daniel,Sharon, Pessia,Hirshberg, Daniel,Salama, Michael,Afri, Michal,Shimon, Linda J. W.,Kwak, Won-Jin,Sun, Yang-Kook,Frimer, Aryeh A.,Aurbach, Doron American Chemical Society 2017 JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY - Vol.139 No.34

<P>In this study, we present a new aprotic solvent, 2,4-dimethoxy-2,4-dimethylpentan-3-one (DMDMP), which is designed to resist nucleophilic attack and hydrogen abstraction by reduced oxygen species. Li-O-2 cells using DMDMP solutions were successfully cycled. By various analytical measurements, we showed that even after prolonged cycling only a negligible amount of DMDMP was degraded. We suggest that the observed capacity fading of the Li-O-2 DMDMP-based cells was due to instability of the lithium anode during cycling. The stability toward oxygen species makes DMDMP an excellent solvent candidate for many kinds of electrochemical systems which involve oxygen reduction and assorted evaluation reactions.</P>