Comparison of 90‐day case‐fatality after ischemic stroke between two different stroke outcome registries using propensity score matching analysis

Yu, K‐,H.,Hong, K‐,S.,Lee, B‐,C.,Oh, M‐,S.,Cho, Y‐,J.,Koo, J‐,S.,Park, J‐,M.,Bae, H‐,J.,Han, M‐,K.,Ju, Y‐,S.,Kang, D‐,W.,Appelros, P. Blackwell Publishing Ltd 2011 Acta neurologica Scandinavica Vol.123 No.5

<P>Yu K‐H, Hong K‐S, Lee B‐C, Oh M‐S, Cho Y‐J, Koo J‐S, Park J‐M, Bae H‐J, Han M‐K, Ju Y‐S, Kang D‐W, Appelros P, Norrving B, Terent A. Comparison of 90‐day case‐fatality after ischemic stroke between two different stroke outcome registries using propensity score matching analysis. 
Acta Neurol Scand: 2011: 123: 325–331. 
© 2010 John Wiley & Sons A/S.</P><P><B>Background – </B> It has not been clarified whether the disparity in ischemic stroke outcome between populations is caused by ethnic and geographic differences or by variations in case mix. Propensity score matching (PSM) analysis can overcome some analytical problems but is rarely used in stroke outcome research. This study was to compare the ischemic stroke case‐fatality between two PSM cohorts of Sweden and Korea.</P><P><B>Methods – </B> Prognostic variables related to baseline characteristics and stroke care were included in our PSM model. Then, we selected 7675 Swedish and 1220 Korean patients with ischemic stroke from each stroke registers and performed one‐to‐one matching based on propensity scores of each patient.</P><P><B>Results – </B> After PSM, all measured variables were well balanced in 1163 matched subjects, and the 90‐day case‐fatality was identical 6.2% (HR 0.997, 95%CI 0.905–1.099) in Sweden and Korea.</P><P><B>Conclusions – </B> No difference is found in the 90‐day case‐fatality in propensity score‐matched Swedish and Korean patients with ischemic stroke.</P>

Foxp3 is a key downstream regulator of p53-mediated cellular senescence

Kim, J-E,Shin, J-S,Moon, J-H,Hong, S-W,Jung, D-J,Kim, J H,Hwang, I-Y,Shin, Y J,Gong, E-Y,Lee, D H,Kim, S-M,Lee, E Y,Kim, Y S,Kim, D,Hur, D,Kim, T W,Kim, K-p,Jin, D-H,Lee, W-J Macmillan Publishers Limited 2017 Oncogene Vol.36 No.2

<P>The downstream events and target genes of p53 in the process of senescence are not fully understood. Here, we report a novel function of the forkhead transcription factor Foxp3, which is a key player in mediating T-cell inhibitory functions, in p53-mediated cellular senescence. The overexpression of Foxp3 in mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) accelerates senescence, whereas Foxp3 knockdown leads to escape from p53-mediated senescence in p53-expressing MEFs. Consistent with these results, Foxp3 expression resulted in the induction of senescence in epithelial cancer cells, including MCF7 and HCT116 cells. Foxp3 overexpression also increased the intracellular levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS). The ROS inhibitor N-acetyl-L-cysteine rescued cells from Foxp3-expression-induced senescence. Furthermore, the elevated ROS levels that accompanied Foxp3 overexpression were paralleled by an increase in p21 expression. Knockdown of p21 in Foxp3-expressing MEFs abrogated the Foxp3-dependent increase in ROS levels, indicating that Foxp3 acts through the induction of p21 and the subsequent ROS elevation to trigger senescence. Collectively, these results suggest that Foxp3 is a downstream target of p53 that is sufficient to induce p21 expression, ROS production and p53-mediated senescence.</P>

N-Methyl, N-propynyl-2-phenylethylamine (MPPE), a Selegiline Analog, Attenuates MPTP-induced Dopaminergic Toxicity with Guaranteed Behavioral Safety: Involvement of Inhibitions of Mitochondrial Oxidative Burdens and p53 Gene-elicited Pro-apoptotic Change

Shin, E. J.,Nam, Y.,Lee, J. W.,Nguyen, P. K.,Yoo, J. E.,Tran, T. V.,Jeong, J. H.,Jang, C. G.,Oh, Y. J.,Youdim, M. B. HUMANA PRESS INC 2016 Molecular Neurobiology Vol.53 No.9

<P>Selegiline is a monoamine oxidase-B (MAO-B) inhibitor with anti-Parkinsonian effects, but it is metabolized to amphetamines. Since another MAO-B inhibitor N-Methyl, N-propynyl-2-phenylethylamine (MPPE) is not metabolized to amphetamines, we examined whether MPPE induces behavioral side effects and whether MPPE affects dopaminergic toxicity induced by 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP). Multiple doses of MPPE (2.5 and 5 mg/kg/day) did not show any significant locomotor activity and conditioned place preference, whereas selegiline (2.5 and 5 mg/kg/day) significantly increased these behavioral side effects. Treatment with MPPE resulted in significant attenuations against decreases in mitochondrial complex I activity, mitochondrial Mn-SOD activity, and expression induced by MPTP in the striatum of mice. Consistently, MPPE significantly attenuated MPTP-induced oxidative stress and MPPE-mediated antioxidant activity appeared to be more pronounced in mitochondrial-fraction than in cytosolic-fraction. Because MPTP promoted mitochondrial p53 translocation and p53/Bcl-xL interaction, it was also examined whether mitochondrial p53 inhibitor pifithrin-mu attenuates MPTP neurotoxicity. MPPE, selegiline, or pifithrin-mu significantly attenuated mitochondrial p53/Bcl-xL interaction, impaired mitochondrial transmembrane potential, cytosolic cytochrome c release, and cleaved caspase-3 in wild-type mice. Subsequently, these compounds significantly ameliorated MPTP-induced motor impairments. Neuroprotective effects of MPPE appeared to be more prominent than those of selegiline. MPPE or selegiline did not show any additional protective effects against the attenuation by p53 gene knockout, suggesting that p53 gene is a critical target for these compounds. Our results suggest that MPPE possesses anti-Parkinsonian potentials with guaranteed behavioral safety and that the underlying mechanism of MPPE requires inhibition of mitochondrial oxidative stress, mitochondrial translocation of p53, and pro-apoptotic process.</P>

Golimumab, a human antibody to tumour necrosis factor α given by monthly subcutaneous injections, in active rheumatoid arthritis despite methotrexate therapy: the GO-FORWARD Study

Keystone, E C,Genovese, M C,Klareskog, L,Hsia, E C,Hall, S T,Miranda, P C,Pazdur, J,Bae, S-C,Palmer, W,Zrubek, J,Wiekowski, M,Visvanathan, S,Wu, Z,Rahman, M U BMJ Publishing Group 2009 Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases Vol.68 No.6

<P><B>Objective:</B></P><P>The phase III GO-FORWARD study examined the efficacy and safety of golimumab in patients with active rheumatoid arthritis (RA) despite methotrexate therapy.</P><P><B>Methods:</B></P><P>Patients were randomly assigned in a 3 : 3 : 2 : 2 ratio to receive placebo injections plus methotrexate capsules (group 1, n  =  133), golimumab 100 mg injections plus placebo capsules (group 2, n  =  133), golimumab 50 mg injections plus methotrexate capsules (group 3, n  =  89), or golimumab 100 mg injections plus methotrexate capsules (group 4, n  =  89). Injections were administered subcutaneously every 4 weeks. The co-primary endpoints were the proportion of patients with 20% or greater improvement in the American College of Rheumatology criteria (ACR20) at week 14 and the change from baseline in the health assessment questionnaire-disability index (HAQ-DI) score at week 24.</P><P><B>Results:</B></P><P>The proportion of patients who achieved an ACR20 response at week 14 was 33.1% in the placebo plus methotrexate group, 44.4% (p = 0.059) in the golimumab 100 mg plus placebo group, 55.1% (p = 0.001) in the golimumab 50 mg plus methotrexate group and 56.2% (p<0.001) in the golimumab 100 mg plus methotrexate group. At week 24, median improvements from baseline in HAQ-DI scores were 0.13, 0.13 (p = 0.240), 0.38 (p<0.001) and 0.50 (p<0.001), respectively. During the placebo-controlled portion of the study (to week 16), serious adverse events occurred in 2.3%, 3.8%, 5.6% and 9.0% of patients and serious infections occurred in 0.8%, 0.8%, 2.2% and 5.6%, respectively.</P><P><B>Conclusion:</B></P><P>The addition of golimumab to methotrexate in patients with active RA despite methotrexate therapy significantly reduced the signs and symptoms of RA and improved physical function.</P>

Clinical efficacy and safety of abatacept in methotrexate-naive patients with early rheumatoid arthritis and poor prognostic factors

Westhovens, R,Robles, M,Ximenes, A C,Nayiager, S,Wollenhaupt, J,Durez, P,Gomez-Reino, J,Grassi, W,Haraoui, B,Shergy, W,Park, S-H,Genant, H,Peterfy, C,Becker, J-C,Covucci, A,Helfrick, R,Bathon, J BMJ Group 2009 Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases Vol.68 No.12

<P><B>Objectives:</B></P><P>To assess the efficacy and safety of abatacept in methotrexate-naive patients with early rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and poor prognostic factors.</P><P><B>Methods:</B></P><P>In this double-blind, phase IIIb study, patients with RA for 2 years or less were randomly assigned 1 : 1 to receive abatacept (∼10 mg/kg) plus methotrexate, or placebo plus methotrexate. Patients were methotrexate-naive and seropositive for rheumatoid factor (RF), anti-cyclic citrullinated protein (CCP) type 2 or both and had radiographic evidence of joint erosions. The co-primary endpoints were the proportion of patients achieving disease activity score in 28 joints (DAS28)-defined remission (C-reactive protein) and joint damage progression (Genant-modified Sharp total score; TS) at year 1. Safety was monitored throughout.</P><P><B>Results:</B></P><P>At baseline, patients had a mean DAS28 of 6.3, a mean TS of 7.1 and mean disease duration of 6.5 months; 96.5% and 89.0% of patients were RF or anti-CCP2 seropositive, respectively. At year 1, a significantly greater proportion of abatacept plus methotrexate-treated patients achieved remission (41.4% vs 23.3%; p<0.001) and there was significantly less radiographic progression (mean change in TS 0.63 vs 1.06; p = 0.040) versus methotrexate alone. Over 1 year, the frequency of adverse events (84.8% vs 83.4%), serious adverse events (7.8% vs 7.9%), serious infections (2.0% vs 2.0%), autoimmune disorders (2.3% vs 2.0%) and malignancies (0.4% vs 0%) was comparable for abatacept plus methotrexate versus methotrexate alone.</P><P><B>Conclusions:</B></P><P>In a methotrexate-naive population with early RA and poor prognostic factors, the combination of abatacept and methotrexate provided significantly better clinical and radiographic efficacy compared with methotrexate alone and had a comparable, favourable safety profile.</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>

Search for Λc+→ϕpπ0 and branching fraction measurement of Λc+→K−π+pπ0

Pal, B.,Schwartz, A. J.,Adachi, I.,Aihara, H.,Al Said, S.,Asner, D. M.,Aushev, T.,Ayad, R.,Badhrees, I.,Bakich, A. M.,Bansal, V.,Behera, P.,Berger, M.,Bhardwaj, V.,Biswal, J.,Bobrov, A.,Bozek, A.,Bra& American Physical Society 2017 Physical review. D Vol.96 No.5

<P>We have searched for the Cabibbo-suppressed decay Lambda(+)(c) -> pi p(0) in e(+) e(-) collisions using a data sample corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 915 fb(-1). The data were collected by the Belle experiment at the KEKB e(+) e(-) asymmetric-energy collider running at or near the (4S) and (5S) resonances. No significant signal is observed, and we set an upper limit on the branching fraction of B(Lambda(+)(c) -> phi p(0)) < 15.3 x 10(-5) at 90% confidence level. The contribution of nonresonant Lambda(+)(c) -> K+ K- p pi(0) decays is found to be consistent with zero, and the corresponding upper limit on its branching fraction is set to be B(Lambda(+)(c) ->. K+ K- p pi(0))(NR) < 6.3 x 10(-5) at 90% confidence level. We also search for an intermediate hidden-strangeness pentaquark decay P-s(+) -> phi p. We see no evidence for this intermediate decay and set an upper limit on the product branching fraction of B(Lambda(+)(c) -> P-s(+) pi(0)) x B(P-s(+) -> phi p) < 8.3 x 10(-5) at 90% confidence level. Finally, we measure the branching fraction for the Cabibbo-favored decay Lambda(+)(c) -> K- pi(+) p pi(0); the result is B(Lambda(+)(c) -> K- pi(+) p pi(0)) = (4.42 +/- 0.05(stat)+/- 0.12(syst)+/- 0.16(norm))%, which is the most precise measurement to date.</P>

Synthesis, structure and magnetic properties of ultra-high purity CrO₂ prepared under high O₂-gas pressure

Wang, X.L.,Si, P.Z.,Ge, H.L.,Shinde, K.P.,Chung, K.C.,Choi, C.J. Elsevier 2017 SOLID STATE SCIENCES Vol.67 No.-

<P><B>Abstract</B></P> <P>Ultra-high purity CrO<SUB>2</SUB> was prepared by decomposing CrO<SUB>3</SUB> in O<SUB>2</SUB> with gas pressures up to 40 MPa, which were maintained throughout the decomposition process of CrO<SUB>3</SUB> to prevent the formation of any other phases of chromium oxides. Our method is different from the traditional methods that start from or under ambient pressures. The high oxygen pressure makes the meta-stable CrO<SUB>2</SUB> stable from the initial stage of preparation. As a result, the purity of the as-prepared CrO<SUB>2</SUB> is improved, and this has been further proved by the highest magnetization of the samples. The as-prepared CrO<SUB>2</SUB> particles show very large grains with flat surfaces, octagonal cross-section, and straight edges, owing to the high mobility of Cr ions in CrO<SUB>2</SUB> at temperatures above its melting point. The lattice parameters of CrO<SUB>2</SUB> are <I>a</I> = 4.4176 Å and <I>c</I> = 2.9144 Å. The maximum value of the magnetic entropy change of the high purity CrO<SUB>2</SUB> particles is ∼2.83 J/kg·K for an applied field of 1.5 T. The preparation of pure CrO<SUB>2</SUB> is important for studying its intrinsic properties and for applications in spintronic devices.</P> <P><B>Highlights</B></P> <P> <UL> <LI> Ultra-high purity CrO<SUB>2</SUB> was prepared. </LI> <LI> High O<SUB>2</SUB>-gas pressure was employed. </LI> <LI> The CrO<SUB>2</SUB> rods show straight edges and high magnetization. </LI> </UL> </P> <P><B>Graphical abstract</B></P> <P>[DISPLAY OMISSION]</P>

Isostructural metal-insulator transition in VO₂

Lee, D.,Chung, B.,Shi, Y.,Kim, G.-Y.,Campbell, N.,Xue, F.,Song, K.,Choi, S.-Y.,Podkaminer, J. P.,Kim, T. H.,Ryan, P. J.,Kim, J.-W.,Paudel, T. R.,Kang, J.-H.,Spinuzzi, J. W.,Tenne, D. A.,Tsymbal, E. Y. American Association for the Advancement of Scienc 2018 Science Vol.362 No.6418

<P><B>Separating structure and electrons in VO<SUB>2</SUB></B></P><P>Above 341 kelvin—not far from room temperature—bulk vanadium dioxide (VO<SUB>2</SUB>) is a metal. But as soon as the material is cooled below 341 kelvin, VO<SUB>2</SUB> turns into an insulator and, at the same time, changes its crystal structure from rutile to monoclinic. Lee <I>et al.</I> studied the peculiar behavior of a heterostructure consisting of a layer of VO<SUB>2</SUB> placed underneath a layer of the same material that has a bit less oxygen. In the VO<SUB>2</SUB> layer, the structural transition occurred at a higher temperature than the metal-insulator transition. In between those two temperatures, VO<SUB>2</SUB> was a metal with a monoclinic structure—a combination that does not occur in the absence of the adjoining oxygen-poor layer.</P><P><I>Science</I>, this issue p. 1037</P><P>The metal-insulator transition in correlated materials is usually coupled to a symmetry-lowering structural phase transition. This coupling not only complicates the understanding of the basic mechanism of this phenomenon but also limits the speed and endurance of prospective electronic devices. We demonstrate an isostructural, purely electronically driven metal-insulator transition in epitaxial heterostructures of an archetypal correlated material, vanadium dioxide. A combination of thin-film synthesis, structural and electrical characterizations, and theoretical modeling reveals that an interface interaction suppresses the electronic correlations without changing the crystal structure in this otherwise correlated insulator. This interaction stabilizes a nonequilibrium metallic phase and leads to an isostructural metal-insulator transition. This discovery will provide insights into phase transitions of correlated materials and may aid the design of device functionalities.</P>

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>