Report of the CCQM-K97: measurement of arsenobetaine standard solution and arsenobetaine content in fish tissue (tunafish)

Ma, L D,Wang, J,WEI, C,Kuroiwa, T,Narukawa, T,Ito, N,HIOKI, A,CHIBA, K,Yim, Y H,Lee, K S,Lim, Y R,Turk, G C,Davis, C W,Mester, Z,Yang, L,McCooeye, M,Maxwell, P,Cankur, O,Tokman, N,Coskun, F G BUREAU INTERNATIONAL DES POIDS ET MESURES 2017 METROLOGIA -BERLIN- Vol.54 No.-

<P></P> <P>The CCQM-K97 key comparison was organized by the inorganic analysis working group (IAWG) of CCQM as a follow-up to completed pilot study CCQM-P96 and P96.1 to test the abilities of the national metrology institutes to accurately quantitate the mass fraction of arsenobetaine (AsB) in standard solution and in fish tissue. A pilot study CCQM-P133 was parallelized with this key comparison. National Institute of Metrology (NIM), China and National Metrology Institute of Japan (NMIJ) acted as the coordinating laboratories.</P> <P>Six NMIs participated in CCQM-K97 and two institutes participated in CCQM-P133, and all of them submitted the results. Some NMIs submitted more than one results by different methods. The results were in excellent agreement with each other, and obviously better than those of previous P96 and P96.1. Therefore the calibrant which each NMI used was comparable. It shows that the capabilities of some of the participants have been improved after the previous pilot studies.</P> <H2>Main text</H2> <P> To reach the main text of this paper, click on <A HREF='http://www.bipm.org/utils/common/pdf/final_reports/QM/K97/CCQM-K97.pdf'>Final Report</A>. Note that this text is that which appears in Appendix B of the BIPM key comparison database <A HREF='http://kcdb.bipm.org/'>kcdb.bipm.org/</A>.</P> <P>The final report has been peer-reviewed and approved for publication by the CCQM, according to the provisions of the CIPM Mutual Recognition Arrangement (CIPM MRA).</P>

Toward high efficiency organic photovoltaic devices with enhanced thermal stability utilizing P3HT-b-P3PHT block copolymer additives

Zhu, M.,Kim, H.,Jang, Y.,Park, S.,Ryu, D.,Kim, K.,Tang, P.,Qiu, F.,Kim, D.,Peng, J. Royal Society of Chemistry 2016 Journal of Materials Chemistry A Vol.4 No.47

<P>Organic photovoltaics (OPVs) have drawn an extensive amount of attention due to their low cost, processibility and flexibility. However, a cell based on a blend of poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) and [6,6]-phenyl-C-61-butyric acid methyl ester (PC61BM) has a limited power conversion efficiency (PCE) due to the short exciton diffusion length of similar to 10 nm. We address this issue by designing a series of all-conjugated diblock copolymers, poly(3-hexylthiophene)-b-poly(3-(6-diethylphosphonatohexyl) thiophene) (P3HT-b-P3PHT), intended for use as additives to improve the performance of P3HT:PC61BM-based photovoltaic devices. The PCE of the devices improved from 3.30% to 4.03% with the addition of P3HT-b-P3PHT (3 : 1). The thermal stability of devices with P3HT-b-P3PHT additives improved significantly relative to that of the P3HT:PC61BM reference device, where the devices including a copolymer with a higher P3PHT content exhibited a better thermal stability. It was found that the fill factor (FF) could be regulated by simply varying the block ratio of P3HT-b-P3PHT and played a crucial role in improving both the PCE and the thermal stability. The P3HT-b-P3PHT diffused at the P3HT:PC61BM interface, improved the miscibility between P3HT and PC61BM, optimized the nanoscale morphology of the photoactive layer, and reduced the active layer roughness, all of which improved the FF and thus contributed to an improvement in device performance.</P>

<i>In vitro</i> inhibitory effects of Wen‐pi‐tang‐Hab‐Wu‐ling‐san on human cytochrome P450 isoforms

Lee, H. W.,Kim, D. W.,Phapale, P. B.,Lim, M. ‐,S.,Park, J.,Seo, J. J.,Park, K. M.,Park, Y. ‐,K.,Yoon, Y. ‐,R. Blackwell Publishing Ltd 2011 Journal of clinical pharmacy and therapeutics Vol.36 No.4

<P><B>Summary</B></P><P><B>What is known and Objective: </B> Although Wen‐pi‐tang‐Hab‐Wu‐ling‐san (WHW), an oriental herbal medicine, has been prescribed for the treatment of chronic renal failure (CRF) in Korean clinics, no studies regarding WHW–drug interactions had been reported. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the possibility that WHW inhibits the catalytic activities of major cytochrome P450 (CYP) isoforms.</P><P><B>Methods: </B> The abilities of various WHW extracts to inhibit phenacetin O‐de‐ethylation (CYP1A2), tolbutamide 4‐methylhydroxylation (CYP2C9), omeprazole 4′‐hydroxylation (CYP2C19), dextromethorphan O‐demethylation (CYP2D6), chlorzoxazone 6‐hydroxylation (CYP2E1) and midazolam 1‐hydroxylation (CYP3A4) were assessed using human liver microsomes.</P><P><B>Results and Discussion: </B> WHW extract at concentrations up to 100 μ<SMALL>m</SMALL> showed negligible inhibition of the six CYP isoforms tested (CYP1A2, CYP2C9, CYP2C19, CYP2D6, CYP2E1 and CYP3A4), with apparent IC<SUB>50</SUB> values (concentration of the inhibitor causing 50% inhibition of the original enzyme activity) of 817.5, 601.6, 521.7, 310.2, 342.8 and 487.0 μg/mL, respectively.</P><P><B>What is new and Conclusion: </B> Our <I>in vitro</I> findings suggest that WHW extract at concentrations corresponding to a clinically recommended dosage range has no notable inhibitory effects on CYP isoforms. Therefore, we believe that WHW extract may be free of drug–herb interactions when co‐administered with other medicines. However, <I>in vivo</I> human studies are needed to confirm these results.</P>

The extraction of φ–N total cross section from d(γ,p^K+^K−)n

Qian, X.,Chen, W.,Gao, H.,Hicks, K.,Kramer, K.,Laget, J.M.,Mibe, T.,Stepanyan, S.,Tedeschi, D.J.,Xu, W.,Adhikari, K.P.,Amaryan, M.,Anghinolfi, M.,Baghdasaryan, H.,Ball, J.,Battaglieri, M.,Batourine, V Elsevier 2009 Physics letters: B Vol.680 No.5

<P><B>Abstract</B></P><P>We report on the first measurement of the differential cross section of <I>φ</I>-meson photoproduction for the d(γ,p<SUP>K+</SUP><SUP>K−</SUP>)n exclusive reaction channel. The experiment was performed using a tagged-photon beam and the CEBAF Large Acceptance Spectrometer (CLAS) at Jefferson Lab. A combined analysis using data from the d(γ,p<SUP>K+</SUP><SUP>K−</SUP>)n channel and those from a previous publication on coherent <I>φ</I> production on the deuteron has been carried out to extract the φ−N total cross section, <SUB>σφN</SUB>. The extracted φ−N total cross section favors a value above 20 mb. This value is larger than the value extracted using vector-meson dominance models for <I>φ</I> photoproduction on the proton.</P>

Efficient long-term amplification of hepatitis B virus isolates after infection of slow proliferating HepG2-NTCP cells

Kö,nig, Alexander,Yang, Jaewon,Jo, Eunji,Park, Kyu Ho Paul,Kim, Hyun,Than, Thoa Thi,Song, Xiyong,Qi, Xiaoxuan,Dai, Xinghong,Park, Soonju,Shum, David,Ryu, Wang-Shick,Kim, Jung-Hee,Yoon, Seung Kew,P Elsevier 2019 Journal of hepatology Vol.71 No.2

<P><B>Background & Aims</B></P> <P>As hepatitis B virus (HBV) spreads through the infected liver it is simultaneously secreted into the blood. HBV-susceptible <I>in vitro</I> infection models do not efficiently amplify viral progeny or support cell-to-cell spread. We sought to establish a cell culture system for the amplification of infectious HBV from clinical specimens.</P> <P><B>Methods</B></P> <P>An HBV-susceptible sodium-taurocholate cotransporting polypeptide-overexpressing HepG2 cell clone (HepG2-NTCPsec+) producing high titers of infectious progeny was selected. Secreted HBV progeny were characterized by native gel electrophoresis and electron microscopy. Comparative RNA-seq transcriptomics was performed to quantify the expression of host proviral and restriction factors. Viral spread routes were evaluated using HBV entry- or replication inhibitors, visualization of viral cell-to-cell spread in reporter cells, and nearest neighbor infection determination. Amplification kinetics of HBV genotypes B-D were analyzed.</P> <P><B>Results</B></P> <P>Infected HepG2-NTCPsec+ secreted high levels of large HBV surface protein-enveloped infectious HBV progeny with typical appearance under electron microscopy. RNA-seq transcriptomics revealed that HBV does not induce significant gene expression changes in HepG2-NTCPsec+, however, transcription factors favoring HBV amplification were more strongly expressed than in less permissive HepG2-NTCPsec−. Upon inoculation with HBV-containing patient sera, rates of infected cells increased from 10% initially to 70% by viral spread to adjacent cells, and viral progeny and antigens were efficiently secreted. HepG2-NTCPsec+ supported up to 1,300-fold net amplification of HBV genomes depending on the source of virus. Viral spread and amplification were abolished by entry and replication inhibitors; viral rebound was observed after inhibitor discontinuation.</P> <P><B>Conclusions</B></P> <P>The novel HepG2-NTCPsec+ cells efficiently support the complete HBV life cycle, long-term viral spread and amplification of HBV derived from patients or cell culture, resembling relevant features of HBV-infected patients.</P> <P><B>Lay summary</B></P> <P>Currently available laboratory systems are unable to reproduce the dynamics of hepatitis B virus (HBV) spread through the infected liver and release into the blood. We developed a slowly dividing liver-derived cell line which multiplies infectious viral particles upon inoculation with patient- or cell culture-derived HBV. This new infection model can improve therapy by measuring, in advance, the sensitivity of a patient’s HBV strain to specific antiviral drugs.</P> <P><B>Highlights</B></P> <P> <UL> <LI> Cell culture system that mimicks complete HBV life cycle from entry to egress. </LI> <LI> Efficient <I>in vitro</I> infection with crude HBV patient sera. </LI> <LI> Up to 50- and 1,300-fold net amplification of patient- and cell culture-derived input HBV in the supernatant. </LI> <LI> Polyethylene glycol-independent HBV spread to adjacent cells, forming infected cell clusters. </LI> <LI> Evaluation of patient- and cell culture-derived HBV amplification w/wo antivirals over 8 weeks. </LI> </UL> </P> <P><B>Graphical abstract</B></P> <P>[DISPLAY OMISSION]</P>

Balanced intake of protein and carbohydrate maximizes lifetime reproductive success in the mealworm beetle, Tenebrio molitor (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae)

Rho, M.S.,Lee, K.P. Pergamon Press 2016 Journal of insect physiology Vol.91 No.-

<P>Recent developments in insect gerontological and nutritional research have suggested that the dietary protein:carbohydrate (P:C) balance is a critical determinant of lifespan and reproduction in many insects. However, most studies investigating this important role of dietary P:C balance have been conducted using dipteran and orthopteran species. In this study, we used the mealworm beetles, Tenebrio molitor L. (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae), to test the effects of dietary P:C balance on lifespan and reproduction. Regardless of their reproductive status, both male and female beetles had the shortest lifespan at the protein-biased ratio of P:C 5:1. Mean lifespan was the longest at P:C 1:1 for males and at both P:C 1:1 and 1:5 for females. Mating significantly curtailed the lifespan of both males and females, indicating the survival cost of mating. Age-specific egg laying was significantly higher at P:C 1:1 than at the two imbalanced P:C ratios (1:5 or 5:1) at any given age throughout their lives, resulting in the highest lifetime reproductive success at P:C 1:1. When given a choice, beetles actively regulated their intake of protein and carbohydrate to a slightly carbohydrate-biased ratio (P:C 1:1.54-1:1.64 for males and P:C 1:1.31:1.36 for females). The self-selected P:C ratio was significantly higher for females than males, reflecting a higher protein requirement for egg production. Collectively, our results add to a growing body of evidence suggesting the key role played by dietary macronutrient balance in shaping lifespan and reproduction in insects. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.</P>

Identification of a novel <i>FAM83H</i> mutation and microhardness of an affected molar in autosomal dominant hypocalcified amelogenesis imperfecta

Hyun, H.-K.,Lee, S.-K.,Lee, K.-E.,Kang, H.-Y.,Kim, E.-J.,Choung, P.-H.,Kim, J.-W. Blackwell Publishing Ltd 2009 International endodontic journal Vol.42 No.11

<P>Abstract</P><P>Aim </P><P>To determine the underlying molecular genetic aetiology of a family with the hypocalcified form of amelogenesis imperfecta and to investigate the hardness of the enamel and dentine of a known <I>FAM83H</I> mutation.</P><P>Methodology </P><P>Mutational screening of the <I>FAM83H</I> on the basis of candidate gene approach was performed. All exons and exon–intron boundaries was amplified and sequenced. A microhardness test was performed to measure the Vickers microhardness value.</P><P>Results </P><P>A novel nonsense mutation (c.1354C>T, p.Q452X) was identified in the last exon of <I>FAM83H</I>, which resulted in soft, uncalcified enamel. The affected enamel was extremely soft (about 17% of the normal control), but the underlying dentine was as hard as the normal control.</P><P>Conclusions </P><P>Mutational analysis revealed a novel mutation in <I>FAM83H</I> gene. Hardness of dentine was not affected by the mutation, whilst the enamel was extremely soft.</P>

Effect of <i>CYP3A5*3</i> genotype on serum carbamazepine concentrations at steady-state in Korean epileptic patients

Park, P.-W.,Seo, Y. H.,Ahn, J. Y.,Kim, K.-A.,Park, J.-Y. Blackwell Publishing Ltd 2009 Journal of clinical pharmacy and therapeutics Vol.34 No.5

<P>Abstract</P><P>Background and Objective: </P><P>Carbamazepine (CBZ) is metabolized mainly by the CYP3A family of enzymes, which includes CYP3A4 and CYP3A5. Several studies have suggested that the <I>CYP3A5*3</I> genotype influences the pharmacokinetics of CYP3A substrates. The present study aimed to assess the effect of the <I>CYP3A5*3</I> genotype on serum concentration of CBZ at the steady-state in Korean epileptic patients.</P><P>Method: </P><P>The serum concentrations of CBZ in 35 Korean epileptic patients were measured and their <I>CYP3A5</I> genotype was determined. Fourteen patients were <I>CYP3A5</I> expressors (two for <I>CYP3A5*1/*1</I> and 12 for <I>CYP3A5*1/*3</I>) and 21 patients were <I>CYP3A5</I> non-expressors (<I>CYP3A5*3/*3</I>). Dose-normalized concentrations (mean ± SD) of CBZ were 9·9 ± 3·4 ng/mL/mg for <I>CYP3A5</I> expressors and 13·1 ± 4·5 ng/mL/mg for <I>CYP3A5</I> non-expressors (<I>P</I> = 0·032). The oral clearance of CBZ was significantly higher in <I>CYP3A5</I> non-expressors than that of <I>CYP3A5</I> expressors (0·056 ±0·017 L/h/kg vs. 0·040 ± 0·014 L/h/kg, <I>P</I> = 0·004). The <I>CYP3A5</I> genotype affected the CBZ concentrations in Korean epileptic patients and is a factor that may contribute to inter-individual variability in CBZ disposition in epileptic patients.</P>

Emission of solar chromospheric and transition region features related to the underlying magnetic field

Barczynski, K.,Peter, H.,Chitta, L. P.,Solanki, S. K. Springer-Verlag 2018 Astronomy and astrophysics Vol.619 No.-

<P><I>Context</I>. The emission of the upper atmosphere of the Sun is closely related to magnetic field concentrations at the solar surface.</P><P><I>Aims</I>. It is well established that this relation between chromospheric emission and magnetic field is nonlinear. Here we investigate systematically how this relation, characterised by the exponent of a power-law fit, changes through the atmosphere, from the upper photosphere through the temperature minimum region and chromosphere to the transition region.</P><P><I>Methods</I>. We used spectral maps from the Interface Region Imaging Spectrograph (IRIS) covering Mg II and its wings, C II, and Si IV together with magnetograms and UV continuum images from the Solar Dynamics Observatory. After a careful alignment of the data we performed a power-law fit for the relation between each pair of observables and determine the power-law index (or exponent) for these. This was done for different spatial resolutions and different features on the Sun.</P><P><I>Results</I>. While the correlation between emission and magnetic field drops monotonically with temperature, the power-law index shows a hockey-stick-type variation: from the upper photosphere to the temperature-minimum it drops sharply and then increases through the chromosphere into the transition region. This is even seen through the features of the Mg II line, this is, from k1 to k2 and k3. It is irrespective of spatial resolution or whether we investigate active regions, plage areas, quiet Sun, or coronal holes.</P><P><I>Conclusions</I>. In accordance with the general picture of flux-flux relations from the chromosphere to the corona, above the temperature minimum the sensitivity of the emission to the plasma heating increases with temperature. Below the temperature minimum a different mechanism has to govern the opposite trend of the power-law index with temperature. We suggest four possibilities, in other words, a geometric effect of expanding flux tubes filling the available chromospheric volume, the height of formation of the emitted radiation, the dependence on wavelength of the intensity-temperature relationship, and the dependence of the heating of flux tubes on the magnetic flux density.</P>

Feasibility of proposed single-nucleotide polymorphisms as predictive markers for targeted regimens in metastatic colorectal cancer

Kim, J C,Ha, Y J,Roh, S A,Choi, E Y,Yoon, Y S,Kim, K P,Hong, Y S,Kim, T W,Cho, D H,Kim, S Y,Kim, Y S Nature Publishing Group 2013 The British journal of cancer Vol.108 No.9

<P><B>Background:</B></P><P>Surrogate biomarkers for metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) are urgently needed to achieve the best outcomes for targeted therapy.</P><P><B>Methods:</B></P><P>A clinical association analysis was performed to examine the three single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) that were previously proposed as markers of chemosensitivity to the cetuximab (124 patients) and bevacizumab regimens (100 patients) in mCRC patients. In addition, biological correlations were examined for the candidate SNPs in terms of their regulatory pathway.</P><P><B>Results:</B></P><P>For cetuximab regimens, patients homozygous for the wild-type alleles (<I>GG</I>) of <I>LIFR rs3729740</I> exhibited a 1.9 times greater overall response rate (ORR) and 1.4 months longer progression-free survival (PFS) than those homozygous or heterozygous for the mutant allele (<I>GA</I> and <I>AA</I>; <I>P</I>=0.022 and 0.027, respectively). For bevacizumab regimens, patients homozygous for the minor alleles (<I>TT</I>) of <I>ANXA11 rs1049550</I> exhibited an ORR twice as high as those homozygous or heterozygous for the ancestral allele (<I>CC</I> and <I>CT</I>; <I>P</I>=0.031). Overall response rate gain was achieved up to 10% in patients with wild-type <I>LIFR rs3729740</I> patients either with wild-type <I>KRAS</I> or skin toxicity (<I>P</I>=0.001) respectively. Specifically in clones treated with cetuximab and bevacizumab regimens, active p-ERK and MMP-9 expressions were significantly reduced in clones expressing wild-type <I>LIFR rs3729740</I> (<I>P</I>=0.044) and in those expressing minor-type <I>ANXA11 rs1049550</I> (<I>P</I>=0.007), respectively.</P><P><B>Conclusion:</B></P><P><I>LIFR rs3729740</I> and possibly <I>ANXA11 rs1049550</I> may be useful as biomarkers for predicting whether mCRC patients are sensitive to relevant target regimens, although further validation in large cohorts is needed.</P>