Diagnostic usefulness of a T cell-based assay for latent tuberculosis infection in kidney transplant candidates before transplantation

Kim, S.-H.,Lee, S.-O.,Park, I.-A.,Park, S.J.,Choi, S.-H.,Kim, Y.S.,Woo, J.H.,Park, S.-K.,Park, J.S.,Kim, S.C.,Han, D.J. Blackwell Publishing Inc 2010 Transplant infectious disease Vol.12 No.2

<P>S.-H. Kim, S.-O. Lee, I.-A. Park, S.J. Park, S.-H. Choi, Y.S. Kim, J.H. Woo, S.-K. Park, J.S. Park, S.C. Kim, D.J. Han. Diagnostic usefulness of a T cell-based assay for latent tuberculosis infection in kidney transplant candidates before transplantation.Transpl Infect Dis 2010: <B>12:</B> 113–119. All rights reserved</P><P>Background</P><P>The presence of latent tuberculosis (TB) infection (LTBI) should be evaluated before kidney transplantation. Although a new T cell-based assay for diagnosing LTBI gave promising results, this assay has not yet been compared with the tuberculin skin test (TST) for diagnosing LTBI in renal transplant candidates before transplantation.</P><P>Patients and methods</P><P>All adult patients admitted to a single institute for renal transplantation over a 1-year period were prospectively enrolled. A clinically predictive risk of LTBI was defined as: (i) recent close contact with a person with pulmonary TB; (ii) abnormal chest radiography; (iii) a history of untreated or inadequately treated TB; or (iv) a new infection (i.e., a recent conversion of TST).</P><P>Results</P><P>Of 209 renal recipients, 47 (22%) had a positive TST≥5 mm, 21 (10%) had a positive TST≥10 mm, 65 (30%) had a positive T-SPOT.<I>TB</I> test, and 25 (12%) had an indeterminate T-SPOT.<I>TB</I> test. The induration size of TST was significantly associated with a high positivity rate on T-SPOT.<I>TB</I> (<I>P</I><0.001). Agreement between T-SPOT.<I>TB</I> test and TST≥10 mm was fair (<I>k</I>=0.24, 95% confidence interval 0.11–0.36). However, neither univariate nor multivariate analysis showed any association between the clinical risk for LTBI and positivity on T-SPOT.<I>TB</I> or TST.</P><P>Conclusion</P><P>T-SPOT.<I>TB</I> test was more frequently positive than TST in renal transplant candidates. However, further longitudinal studies are awaited to determine whether the ability of T-SPOT.<I>TB</I> assay to detect LTBI in renal transplant recipients can better predict the development of TB than can TST after transplantation.</P>

Effects of Combining Feed Grade Urea and a Slow-release Urea Product on Characteristics of Digestion, Microbial Protein Synthesis and Digestible Energy in Steers Fed Diets with Different Starch:ADF Ratios

Lopez-Soto, M.A.,Rivera-Mendez, C.R.,Aguilar-Hernandez, J.A.,Barreras, A.,Calderon-Cortes, J.F.,Plascencia, A.,Davila-Ramos, H.,Estrada-Angulo, A.,Valdes-Garcia, Y.S. Asian Australasian Association of Animal Productio 2014 Animal Bioscience Vol.27 No.2

As a result of the cost of grains, the replacement of grains by co-products (i.e. DDGS) in feedlot diets is a common practice. This change produces diets that contain a lower amount of starch and greater amount of fibre. Hypothetically, combining feed grade urea (U) with slow release urea (Optigen) in this type of diet should elicit a better synchrony between starch (high-rate of digestion) and fibre (low-rate of digestion) promoting a better microbial protein synthesis and ruminal digestion with increasing the digestible energy of the diet. Four cannulated Holstein steers ($213{\pm}4$ kg) were used in a $4{\times}4$ Latin square design to examine the combination of Optigen and U in a finishing diet containing different starch:acid detergent fibre ratios (S:F) on the characteristics of digestive function. Three S:F ratios (3.0, 4.5, and 6.0) were tested using a combination of U (0.80%) and Optigen (1.0%). Additionally, a treatment of 4.5 S:F ratio with urea (0.80% in ration) as the sole source of non-protein nitrogen was used to compare the effect of urea combination at same S:F ratio. The S:F ratio of the diet was manipulated by replacing the corn grain by dried distillers grain with solubles and roughage. Urea combination did not affect ruminal pH. The S:F ratio did not affect ruminal pH at 0 and 2 h post-feeding but, at 4 and 6 h, the ruminal pH decreased as the S:F ratio increased (linear, p<0.05). Ruminal digestion of OM, starch and feed N were not affected by urea combination or S:F ratio. The urea combination did not affect ADF ruminal digestion. ADF ruminal digestion decreased linearly (p = 0.02) as the S:F ratio increased. Compared to the urea treatment (p<0.05) and within the urea combination treatment (quadratic, p<0.01), the flow of microbial nitrogen (MN) to the small intestine and ruminal microbial efficiency were greater for the urea combination at a S:F ratio of 4.5. Irrespective of the S:F ratio, the urea combination improved (2.8%, p = 0.02) postruminal N digestion. As S:F ratio increased, OM digestion increased, but ADF total tract digestion decreased. The combination of urea at 4.5 S:F improved (2%, p = 0.04) the digestible energy (DE) more than expected. Combining urea and Optigen resulted in positive effects on the MN flow and DE of the diet, but apparently these advantages are observed only when there is a certain proportion of starch:ADF in the diet.

Cytokine secreted by S100A9 via TLR4 in monocytes delays neutrophil apoptosis by inhibition of caspase 9/3 pathway

Lee, N.R.,Park, B.S.,Kim, S.Y.,Gu, A.,Kim, D.H.,Lee, J.S.,Kim, I.S. Saunders Scientific Publications, W.B. Saunders ; 2016 Cytokine Vol.86 No.-

Dysregulation of neutrophil apoptosis causes pathogenesis and aggravation of allergy. S100A9 exists as one of the proteins in the neutrophils, triggering inflammatory responses by activating the immune cells. In this study, we investigated whether S100A9 affects constitutive neutrophil apoptosis by activating the monocytes in normal and allergic subjects. Supernatant from human monocytic THP-1 cells after treatment with S100A9 suppressed normal neutrophil apoptosis by inhibiting the activations of caspase 9 and caspase 3. S100A9 upregulated the release of MCP-1, IL-6, and IL-8 in THP-1 cells. An increase in cytokine was suppressed by CLI-095, a Toll-like receptor (TLR) 4 inhibitor, PP2, a Src inhibitor, rottlerin, a PKCδ inhibitor, MAP kinase inhibitors, including PD98059, SB202190, and SP600125, and BAY-11-7085, an NF-κB inhibitor. Src, PKCδ, ERK½, p38 MAPK, and JNK were phosphorylated by S100A9. The phosphorylation of Src and PKCδ was suppressed by CLI-095, and the activation of ERK½, p38 MAPK, and JNK was inhibited by CLI-095, PP2, and rottlerin. S100A9 induced NF-κB activity, and the activation was suppressed by CLI-095, PP2, rottlerin, and MAPK kinase inhibitors. In normal and allergic subjects, supernatant from normal and allergic monocytes after stimulation with S100A9 suppressed normal and allergic neutrophil apoptosis, respectively; MCP-1, IL-6, and IL-8 in the supernatant was increased by S100A9. The cytokine secretion induced by S100A9 is related to TLR4, Src, PKCδ, ERK½, p38 MAPK, JNK, and NF-κB. Taken together, S100A9 induces anti-apoptotic effect on normal and allergic neutrophils by increasing cytokine secretion of monocytes. These findings may help us to better understand neutrophil apoptosis regulated by S100A9 and pathogenesis of allergic diseases.

Oral Fluoropyrimidines (Capecitabine or S-1) and Cisplatin as First Line Treatment in Elderly Patients with Advanced Gastric Cancer: A Retrospective Study

Seol, Y. M.,Song, M. K.,Choi, Y. J.,Kim, G. H.,Shin, H. J.,Song, G. A.,Chung, J. S.,Cho, G. J. Oxford University Press 2009 Japanese journal of clinical oncology Vol.39 No.1

<P>BACKGROUND: This study aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of oral fluoropyrimidines and cisplatin therapy in elderly patients with untreated advanced gastric cancer (AGC) retrospectively. In addition, we evaluated the relative activity and toxicity of these agents in this patient population. METHODS: Clinical data from 72 patients with previously untreated AGC, who were treated with capecitabine/cisplatin and S-1/cisplatin, were reviewed. Oral fluoropyrimidines were administered orally twice a day on Days 1-14. The dose of capecitabine was 1250 mg/m(2) and that of S-1 was 50 mg [body surface area (BSA) < 1.5 m(3)] or 60 mg (BSA > 1.5 m(3)) twice a day. Cisplatin was administered intravenously on Day 1 (before the first dose of capecitabine or S-1) at a dose of 70 mg/m(2) over a 2 h period. The chemotherapy cycle was of 3 weeks (with oral capecitabine or S-1). RESULTS: Thirty-two and 40 patients received the S-1 and capecitabine regimens, respectively, and were included in the analysis. The S-1 protocol had a response rate of 40.6%, a median time-to-progression (TTP) of 5.4 months and a median survival of 9.6 months. The capecitabine had a response rate of 55%, a median TTP of 5.9 months and a median survival of 10.2 months. Each protocol had a similar incidence of Grade 3 or 4 adverse events. However, there was a higher rate of the hand-foot syndrome (6 versus 37%) and diarrhea (25 versus 32%) in the capecitabine group. CONCLUSION: Oral fluoropyrimidines and cisplatin in elderly patients with untreated AGC showed encouraging results. The treatment was well tolerated with a manageable toxicity profile. The comparison of S-1 with capecitabine showed that capecitabine had a slightly higher response rate (statistically not significant) in addition to a higher rate of adverse events such as the hand-foot syndrome and diarrhea. These data should be warranted with further prospective studies.</P>

S-1 plus irinotecan and oxaliplatin for the first-line treatment of patients with metastatic colorectal cancer: a prospective phase II study and pharmacogenetic analysis

Kim, S Y,S Hong, Y,K Shim, E,Kong, S-Y,Shin, A,Baek, J Y,Jung, K H Nature Publishing Group 2013 The British journal of cancer Vol.109 No.6

<P><B>Background:</B></P><P>S-1 is an oral fluoropyrimidine that mimics infusional 5-fluorouracil. The aim of this phase II trial was to explore the clinical efficacy of the triplet regimen TIROX, which consists of S-1, irinotecan and oxaliplatin.</P><P><B>Methods:</B></P><P>Forty-two chemo-naive patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) were planned to be enrolled and be treated with irinotecan 150 mg m<SUP>−2</SUP> followed by oxaliplatin 85 mg m<SUP>−2</SUP> on day 1 and S-1 80 mg m<SUP>−2</SUP> per day from day 1 to 14 every 3 weeks. Polymorphisms in the <I>UGT1A1</I>, <I>UGT1A6</I>, <I>UGT1A7</I> and <I>CYP2A6</I> genes were analysed.</P><P><B>Results:</B></P><P>Between July 2007 and February 2008, 43 patients were enrolled. An objective response was noted in 29 patients (67.4%, 95% confidence interval: 53.4–81.4), of which 2 achieved durable complete responses. The median progression-free survival was 10.0 months and the median overall survival was 19.2 months. Significant grade 3 or 4 adverse events were neutropenia (45.2%), febrile neutropenia (9.5%), diarrhoea (7.1%) and vomiting (9.5%). Increased gastrointestinal toxicities were associated with the presence of <I>UGT1A6*2</I> or <I>UGT1A7*3</I> and an improved tumour response was noted in those without variant alleles of <I>CYP2A6</I> or <I>UGT1A1*60</I>.</P><P><B>Conclusion:</B></P><P>The combination of S-1, irinotecan and oxaliplatin showed favourable efficacy and tolerability in untreated patients with mCRC.</P>

Calorimetric studies of the crystallization process in a-Se75S25-xAgx chalcogenide glasses

Shamshad A. Khan,F.S. Al-Hazmi,A.S. Faidah,A.A. Al-Ghamdi 한국물리학회 2009 Current Applied Physics Vol.9 No.3

Calorimetric studies of amorphous Se75S25-xAgx (x = 2, 4, 6 and 8) chalcogenide glasses are made at different heating rates (5, 10, 15 and 20 K/min) under non-isothermal condition using Differential scanning calorimetry. The values of glass transition temperature and crystallization temperature are observed to be composition and heating rate dependence. From the heating rate dependence of glass transition temperature and crystallization temperature, the activation energy for structural relaxation (△Et), the activation energy of crystallization (△Ec) and the order parameter (n) have been calculated. It is observed that Se75S19Ag6 has a minimum value of activation energy for structural relaxation (△Et), which indicates that this particular glass has a larger probability to jump to a state of lower configurational energy and higher stability in the glassy region. On the basis of the obtained experimental data the temperature difference (Tc - Tg) is found to be maximum for Se75S19Ag6, which further indicate that this glass is the thermally most stable in the entire composition range of investigation. Calorimetric studies of amorphous Se75S25-xAgx (x = 2, 4, 6 and 8) chalcogenide glasses are made at different heating rates (5, 10, 15 and 20 K/min) under non-isothermal condition using Differential scanning calorimetry. The values of glass transition temperature and crystallization temperature are observed to be composition and heating rate dependence. From the heating rate dependence of glass transition temperature and crystallization temperature, the activation energy for structural relaxation (△Et), the activation energy of crystallization (△Ec) and the order parameter (n) have been calculated. It is observed that Se75S19Ag6 has a minimum value of activation energy for structural relaxation (△Et), which indicates that this particular glass has a larger probability to jump to a state of lower configurational energy and higher stability in the glassy region. On the basis of the obtained experimental data the temperature difference (Tc - Tg) is found to be maximum for Se75S19Ag6, which further indicate that this glass is the thermally most stable in the entire composition range of investigation.

Reconstitution of ST2 (IL-1R4) specific for IL-33 activity; no suppression by IL-1Ra though a common chain IL-1R3 (IL-1RAcP) shared with IL-1

Jo, S.,Kim, E.,Kwak, A.,Lee, J.,Hong, J.,Lee, J.,Youn, S.,Bae, S.,Kim, B.,Ryoo, S.,Kang, T.B.,Her, E.,Choi, D.K.,Kim, Y.S.,Lee, Y.,Jhun, H.,Kim, S. Saunders Scientific Publications, W.B. Saunders ; 2016 Cytokine Vol.83 No.-

Interleukin-33 (IL-33) receptors are composed of ST2 (also known as IL-1R4), a ligand binding chain, and IL-1 receptor accessory protein (IL-1RAcP, also known as IL-1R3), a signal transducing chain. IL-1R3 is a common receptor for IL-1α, and IL-1β, IL-33, and three IL-36 isoforms. A549 human lung epithelial cells are highly sensitive to IL-1α and IL-1β but not respond to IL-33. The lack of responsiveness to IL-33 is due to ST2 expression. ST2 was stably transfected into A549 cells to reconstitute its activity. RT-PCR and FACS analysis confirmed ST2 expression on the cell surface of A549/ST2 cells. Upon IL-33 stimulation, A549/ST2 cells induced IL-8 and IL-6 production in a dose dependent manner while A549/mock cells remained unresponsive. There was no difference in IL-1α and IL-1β activity in A549/ST2 cells compared to A549/mock cells despite the fact that IL-33 shares IL-1R3 with IL-1α/β. IL-33 activated inflammatory signaling molecules in a time- and dose-dependent manner. Anti-ST2 antibody and soluble recombinant ST2-Fc abolished IL-33-induced IL-6 and IL-8 production in A549/ST2 cells but the IL-1 receptor antagonist failed to block IL-33-induced cytokines. This result demonstrates for the first time the reconstitution of ST2 in A549 human lung epithelial cell line and verified its function in IL-33-mediated cytokine production and signal transduction.

PCR 기법을 이용한 한국재래산양의 α s2-casein 유전자의 특성

이상훈,상병찬,한성욱,김지애,서길웅 한국동물자원과학회 2000 한국축산학회지 Vol.42 No.4

This study was performed to provide the basic data for preservation and improvement of genetic resources according to finding genetic construction obtained from the analysis of genetic characteristics of α_(S2-) casein gene in Korean Native goat using PCR-RFLP. This study confirmed the amplified product of 1.3kb fragment obtained from the amplification of a α_(S2-)casein loci by PCR. The frequency of a α_(S2-)casein genotype in Korean Native goat was 100% for AA type and the frequencies of a α_(S2-)casein genotype in Saanen were 80 and 20% for AA and AB genotypes. The frequency of a α_(S2-)casein A allele was 1.000 in Korean Native goat, and the frequencies of a α_(S2-)casein A and B alleles were 0.900 and 0.100 in Saanen, respectively. The nucleotide sequence of a α_(S2-)casein gene of Korean Native goat was 99.0% homology with 12 nucleotide sequences difference of that of goat reported in GeneBank(AJ238965.1, AJ238967.1) and was 95.0% homology with 57 nucleotide sequences difference of that of Holstein reported in Gene Bank(M94327). Therefore, this study of molecular genetic characteristics by the analysis of genetic polymorphisms and sequences for a α_(S2-)casein gene should be used as basic data for preservation and improvement of genetic resources in Korean Native goat breeding.

Design a steam chamber to avoid over gelatinization thus producing straight and single form of rice noodles strings

M.K.A. Shanika(M.K.A. Shanika ),K.S. Kumararathna(K.S. Kumararathna ),S.B. Navarathne(S.B. Navarathne ),V.S. Jayamanne(V.S. Jayamanne ) 한국축산식품학회 2022 Food and Life Vol.2022 No.3

Over gelatinization of extruded rice noodles during open wet steam cooking is a major problem in the food processing industry and occurs due to the condensation of water droplets that come into contact with noodle strings during the steaming process. This issue may arise due to the presence of stuck noodles in the finished product. Therefore, 5 prototype designs; wooden frame enclosed with polythene sheet (A), wooden frame enclosed with gray cloth (B), wooden frame enclosed with a plywood sheet with two steam inlets in the galvanized door (C), wooden frame enclosed with plywood sheet with multiple steam inlets in the galvanized door (D), and completely enclosed galvanized chamber were made (E). All steam chambers had multiple steam inlets in lateral walls except the chamber with gray cloth. Red rice noodles were prepared from the combination (16% w/w moisture, 200 μm, water at ambient temperature (30±2℃), control atmosphere, 20 min) and fed into five different types of prototype designs to complete the cooking (gelatinization) process. The performance of the five prototype designs was evaluated in terms of the percentage of dried noodles coming out of each design in a single straight form. According to the results, the percentage of dried noodles coming out of each design was (A-50.0±7.1%, B-15.0±5.0%, C-15.0±5.0%, D-50.0±7.1%, E-77.5±4.3% w/w) analyzed. The mean values of all designs revealed that the effective prototype design was “design E” (steam chamber consisted of a completely enclosed galvanized chamber with multiple steam inlets in the two lateral sides). It was able to produce a higher percentage of straight single noodles when compared to other designs. In conclusion, design E is the effective steam chamber to produce straight single rice noodles for the market. The design of a steam chamber is also a very important aspect to avoid over gelatinization thus producing straight and single form of rice noodles strings.

GROUP S₃ CORDIAL REMAINDER LABELING FOR PATH AND CYCLE RELATED GRAPHS

LOURDUSAMY, A.,WENCY, S. JENIFER,PATRICK, F. The Korean Society for Computational and Applied M 2021 Journal of applied mathematics & informatics Vol.39 No.1

Let G = (V (G), E(G)) be a graph and let g : V (G) → S3 be a function. For each edge xy assign the label r where r is the remainder when o(g(x)) is divided by o(g(y)) or o(g(y)) is divided by o(g(x)) according as o(g(x)) ≥ o(g(y)) or o(g(y)) ≥ o(g(x)). The function g is called a group S3 cordial remainder labeling of G if |vg(i)-vg(j)| ≤ 1 and |eg(1)-eg(0)| ≤ 1, where vg(j) denotes the number of vertices labeled with j and eg(i) denotes the number of edges labeled with i (i = 0, 1). A graph G which admits a group S3 cordial remainder labeling is called a group S3 cordial remainder graph. In this paper, we prove that square of the path, duplication of a vertex by a new edge in path and cycle graphs, duplication of an edge by a new vertex in path and cycle graphs and total graph of cycle and path graphs admit a group S3 cordial remainder labeling.