Software-Based Hybrid Perfusion SPECT/CT Provides Diagnostic Accuracy When Other Pulmonary Embolism Imaging Is Indeterminate

Nishant Kumar,Karen Xie,Winnie Mar,Thomas M. Anderson,Benjamin Carney,Nikhil Mehta,Roberto Machado,Michael J. Blend,Yang Lu 대한핵의학회 2015 핵의학 분자영상 Vol.49 No.4

Purpose To investigate the diagnostic performance of perfusion single-photon emission computed tomography/computed tomography (Q-SPECT/CT) in patients suspected to have pulmonary embolism (PE) but with indeterminate computed tomographic pulmonary angiography (CTPA) or planar ventilation/perfusion (V/Q) scans. Methods This retrospective study included two groups of patients. Group I consisted of 49 patients with nondiagnostic CTPA. These 49 patients underwent subsequent V/Q scans. Further Q-SPECTs were obtained in patients with indeterminate planar images and fused with existing CTPA. Group II consisted of 182 non-CTPA patients with indeterminate V/Q scans. These 182 patients underwent further Q-SPECT and separate noncontrast low-dose CT chest. Fusion Q-SPECT/ CT scans were obtained through FDA-approved software and interpreted according to published criteria as positive, negative, or indeterminate for PE. Upon retrospective analyses, the final diagnosis was made using composite reference standards including all available clinical and imaging information for at least 6-month follow-up. Results In group I patients, 1 was positive, 24 were negative, and another 24 (49 %, 24/49) were indeterminate. In the subsequent 24 Q-SPECT/CTPAs, 4 were positive, 19 were negative, and 1 was indeterminate (4.2 %, 1/24). In group II patients, 9 (4.9 %, 9/182) were indeterminate, 33 were positive, and 140 were negative. The combined nondiagnostic rate for Q-SPECT/CT was only 4.9 % (10/ 206). There was six false-negative and one false-positive Q-SPECT/CT examinations. The sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive value of Q-SPECT/ CT were 85.7 % (36/42), 99.4 % (153/154), 97.3 % (36/ 37) and 96.2 % (153/159), respectively. Conclusions Q-SPECT/CT improves the diagnostic rate with promising accuracy in diagnosing PE that yields a satisfactory clinical verdict, especially when the CTPA and planar V/Q scan are indeterminate.

Robotic versus laparoscopic liver resection for hepatocellular carcinoma: Short-term and long-term oncologic outcomes

Hye Yeon YANG,Karen LATORRE,Seoung Yoon RHO,Dai Hoon HAN,Kyung Sik KIM,Jin Sub CHOI,Gi Hong CHOI 한국간담췌외과학회 2022 Annals of hepato-biliary-pancreatic surgery Vol.26 No.-

Cloning and characterization of the cardiac-specific Lrrc10 promoter

( Xiong Wei Fan ),( Qing Yang ),( You Liang Wang ),( Yan Zhang ),( Jian Wang ),( Jia Jia Yuan ),( Yong Qing Li ),( Yue Qun Wang ),( Yun Deng ),( Wu Zhou Yuan ),( Xiao Yang Mo ),( Yong Qi Wan ),( Karen 생화학분자생물학회(구 한국생화학분자생물학회) 2011 BMB Reports Vol.44 No.2

Leucine-rich repeat containing protein 10 (LRRC10) is characterized as a cardiac-specific gene, suggesting a role in heart development and disease. A severe cardiac morphogenic defect in zebrafish morphants was recently reported but a contradictory result was found in mice, suggesting a more complicated molecular mechanism exists during mouse embryonic development. To elucidate how LRRC10 is regulated, we analyzed the 5`enhancer region approximately 3 kilo bases (kb) upstream of the Lrrc10 start site using luciferase reporter gene assays. Our characterization of the Lrrc10 promoter indicates it possesses complicated cis-and trans-acting elements. We show that GATA4 and MEF2C could both increase transcriptional activity of Lrrc10 promoter individually but that they do not act synergistically, suggesting that there exists a more complex regulation pattern. Surprisingly, knockout of Gata4 and Mef2c binding sites in the 5`enhancer region (-2,894/-2,889) didn`t change the transcriptional activity of the Lrrc10 promoter and the likely GATA4 binding site identified was located in a region only 100 base pair (bp) upstream of the promoter. Our data provides insight into the molecular regulation of Lrrc10 expression, which probably also contributes to its tissue-specific expression. [BMB reports 2011; 44(2): 123-128]

Pathologic basis of the sonographic differences between thyroid cancer and noninvasive follicular thyroid neoplasm with papillary-like nuclear features

Grace C. H. Yang,Karen O. Fried 대한초음파의학회 2018 ULTRASONOGRAPHY Vol.37 No.2

Ultrasonography is pivotal in triage thyroid biopsy in the era after the identification of noninvasive follicular thyroid neoplasm with papillary-like nuclear features (NIFTP). This pictorial essay illustrates the pathologic basis of the sonographic features that distinguish NIFTP from thyroid cancers. In this study, we present the correlations of ultrasonography to ×1 histopathology to assess shape and margin characteristics. Markedly hypoechoic nodules correlate to microfollicular/solid nodules, while isoechoic/hyperechoic thyroid nodules correlate to normofollicular/macrofollicular nodules. The ultrasound findings of NIFTP and minimally invasive encapsulated thyroid cancers are similar. Both are well-circumscribed, oval-to-round nodules with regular margins. Blurred or microlobulated margins indicate infiltrating tumors, while lobulated margins are characteristic of expansile tumors. Overtly invasive encapsulated tumors are characterized by oval-to-round nodules with irregular or lobulated margins. The ultrasound findings for infiltrative thyroid cancers show at least one of the following malignant features: marked hypoechoicity, taller-than-wide shape, microcalcifications, and blurred or microlobulated margins.

Trends in gynecologic cancer mortality in East Asian regions

Lee, Jung-Yun,Kim, Eun-Yang,Jung, Kyu-Won,Shin, Aesun,Chan, Karen K. L.,Aoki, Daisuke,Kim, Jae-Weon,Low, Jeffrey J. H.,Won, Young-Joo Asian Society of Gynecologic Oncology; Korean Soci 2014 Journal of Gynecologic Oncology Vol.25 No.3

<P><B>Objective</B></P><P>To evaluate uterine and ovarian cancer mortality trends in East Asian countries.</P><P><B>Methods</B></P><P>For three Asian countries and one region (Japan, Korea, Singapore, and Hong Kong), we extracted number of deaths for each year from the World Health Organization (WHO) mortality database, focusing on women ≥20 years old. The WHO population data were used to estimate person-years at risk for women. The annual age-standardized, truncated rates were evaluated for four age groups. We also compared age-specific mortality rates during three calendar periods (1979 to 1988, 1989 to 1998, and 1999 to 2010). Joinpoint regression was used to determine secular trends in mortality. To obtain cervical and uterine corpus cancer mortality rates in Korea, we re-allocated the cases with uterine cancer of unspecified subsite according to the proportion in the National Cancer Incidence Databases.</P><P><B>Results</B></P><P>Overall, uterine cancer mortality has decreased in each of the Asian regions. In Korea, corrected cervical cancer mortality has declined since 1993, at an annual percentage change (APC) of -4.8% (95% confidence interval [CI], -5.3 to -4.4). On the other hand, corrected uterine corpus cancer mortality has abruptly increased since 1995 (APC, 6.7; 95% CI, 5.4 to 8.0). Ovarian cancer mortality was stable, except in Korea, where mortality rates steadily increased at an APC of 6.2% (95% CI, 3.4 to 9.0) during 1995 to 2000, and subsequently stabilized.</P><P><B>Conclusion</B></P><P>Although uterine cancer mortality rates are declining in East Asia, additional effort is warranted to reduce the burden of gynecologic cancer in the future, through the implementation of early detection programs and the use of optimal therapeutic strategies.</P>

Brain Tumor Tropism of Transplanted Human Neural Stem Cells Is Induced by Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor

Schmidt, Nils Ole,Przylecki, Wojciech,Yang, Wendy,Ziu, Mateo,Teng, Yang,Kim, Seung U.,Black, Peter Mcl.,Aboody, Karen S.,Carroll, Rona S. Elsevier 2005 Neoplasia Vol.7 No.6

<P>The transplantation of neural stem cells (NSCs) offers a new potential therapeutic approach as a cell-based delivery system for gene therapy in brain tumors. This is based on the unique capacity of NSCs to migrate throughout the brain and to target invading tumor cells. However, the signals controlling the targeted migration of transplanted NSCs are poorly defined. We analyzed the in vitro and in vivo effects of angiogenic growth factors and protein extracts from surgical specimens of brain tumor patients on NSC migration. Here, we demonstrate that vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is able to induce a long-range attraction of transplanted human NSCs from distant sites in the adult brain. Our results indicate that tumor-upregulated VEGF and angiogenic-activated microvasculature are relevant guidance signals for NSC tropism toward brain tumors.</P>

Placental TAM receptor plays a critical role in the maintenance of pregnancy by regulating TLR mediated immune response

( Ja-young Kwon ),( Paulomi Aldo ),( Karen Racicot ),( Carlos Cardenas ),( Michelle Silasi ),( Eydis Lima ),( Yang Yang-hartwich ),( John Murphy ),( Guy Glukshtad ),( Vikki B Abrahams ),( Carla V Roth 대한산부인과학회 2016 대한산부인과학회 학술대회 Vol.102 No.-

목적: The aim of the present study was to investigate the expression and function of AXL and MER receptors in trophoblasts and to demonstrate that these receptors play a critical role in preventing LPS-induced preterm birth through cytokine and chemokine regulation. 방법: Immortalized first trimester trophoblast cell line, Swan71 cells and primary murine trophoblasts isolated from control and AxlMer-/- mice were used for in vitro study. For in vivo studies, C57Bl6 wild type and AxlMer-/- mice were used. RNA, protein expression, and cytokine and Gas6 profile was evaluated by qRT-PCR, Western blotting, and multiplex (Luminex and Cyplex), respectively. Reagents used were Gas6 and IFNβ, IRF3 inhibitor, and LPS. 결과: Axl and Mer receptors and ligand Gas6 were present and functional in first trimester trophoblast Swan71 cells. In trophoblast, both MyD88 dependent and independent pathways were activated by TLR4 ligation but NFκB -dependent proinflammatory cytokine production was suppressed. However, absence of Axl and Mer receptors resulted in dysregulated production of cytokine and chemokine in response to LPS and it was associated with increased preterm birth in pregnant mice. 결론: Placental TAM receptor plays a critical role in the maintenance of pregnancy by modulating and maintaining balance of TLR4-driven cytokine and chemokine production. How these cytokine and chemokine deviation is inducing preterm birth requires future investigation.

Exome sequencing and subsequent association studies identify five amino acid-altering variants influencing human height.

Kim, Jae-Jung,Park, Young-Mi,Baik, Kyu-Heum,Choi, Hye-Yeon,Yang, Gap-Seok,Koh, InSong,Hwang, Jung-Ah,Lee, Jieun,Lee, Yeon-Su,Rhee, Hwanseok,Kwon, Tae Soo,Han, Bok-Ghee,Heath, Karen E,Inoue, Hiroshi,Yo Springer-Verlag 2012 HUMAN GENETICS Vol.131 No.3

<P>Height is a highly heritable trait that involves multiple genetic loci. To identify causal variants that influence stature, we sequenced whole exomes of four children with idiopathic short stature. Ninety-five nonsynonymous single-nucleotide polymorphisms (nsSNPs) were selected as potential candidate variants. We performed association analysis in 740 cohort individuals and identified 11 nsSNPs in 10 loci (DIS3L2, ZBTB38, FAM154A, PTCH1, TSSC4, KIF18A, GPR133, ACAN, FAM59A, and NINL) associated with adult height (P < 0.05), including five novel loci. Of these, two nsSNPs (TSSC4 and KIF18A loci) were significant at P < 0.05 in the replication study (n = 1,000) and five (ZBTB38, FAM154A, TSSC4, KIF18A, and FAM59A loci) were significant at P < 0.01 in the combined analysis (n = 1,740). Together, the five nsSNPs accounted for approximately 2.5% of the height variation. This study demonstrated the utility of next-generation sequencing in identifying genetic variants and loci associated with complex traits.</P>

Effects of particle size of processed barley grain, enzyme addition and microwave treatment on in vitro disappearance and gas production for feedlot cattle

Shin-ichi Tagawa,Lucia Holtshausen,Tim A McAllister,Wen Zhu Yang,Karen Ann Beauchemin 아세아·태평양축산학회 2017 Animal Bioscience Vol.30 No.4

Objective: The effects of particle size of processed barley grain, enzyme addition and microwave treatment on in vitro dry matter (DM) disappearance (DMD), gas production and fermentation pH were investigated for feedlot cattle. Methods: Rumen fluid from four fistulated feedlot cattle fed a diet of 860 dry-rolled barley grain, 90 maize silage and 50 supplement g/kg DM was used as inoculum in 3 batch culture in vitro studies. In Experiment 1, dry-rolled barley and barley ground through a 1-, 2-, or 4-mm screen were used to obtain four substrates differing in particle size. In Experiment 2, cellulase enzyme (ENZ) from Acremonium cellulolyticus Y-94 was added to dry-rolled and ground barley (2-mm) at 0, 0.1, 0.5, 1, and 2 mg/g, while Experiment 3 examined the interactions between microwaving (0, 30, and 60 s microwaving) and ENZ addition (0, 1, and 2 mg/g) using dry-rolled barley and 2-mm ground barley. Results: In Experiment 1, decreasing particle size increased DMD and gas production, and decreased fermentation pH (p<0.01). The DMD (g/kg DM) of the dry-rolled barley after 24 h incubation was considerably lower (p<0.05) than that of the ground barley (119.1 dry-rolled barley versus 284.8 for 4-mm, 341.7 for 2-mm; and 358.6 for 1-mm). In Experiment 2, addition of ENZ to dry-rolled barley increased DMD (p<0.01) and tended to increase (p = 0.09) gas production and decreased (p<0.01) fermentation pH, but these variables were not affected by ENZ addition to ground barley. In Experiment 3, there were no interactions between microwaving and ENZ addition after microwaving for any of the variables. Microwaving had minimal effects (except decreased fermentation pH), but consistent with Experiment 2, ENZ addition increased (p<0.01) DMD and gas production, and decreased (p<0.05) fermentation pH of dry-rolled barley, but not ground barley. Conclusion: We conclude that cellulase enzymes can be used to increase the rumen disappearance of barley grain when it is coarsely processed as in the case of dry-rolled barley. However, microwaving of barley grain offered no further improvements in ruminal fermentation of barley grain.

A Chaperone Function of NO CATALASE ACTIVITY1 Is Required to Maintain Catalase Activity and for Multiple Stress Responses in Arabidopsis

Li, Jing,Liu, Juntao,Wang, Guoqiang,Cha, Joon-Yung,Li, Guannan,Chen, She,Li, Zhen,Guo, Jinghua,Zhang, Caiguo,Yang, Yongqing,Kim, Woe-Yeon,Yun, Dae-Jin,Schumaker, Karen S.,Chen, Zhongzhou,Guo, Yan American Society of Plant Biologists 2015 The Plant cell Vol.27 No.3

<P>Arabidopsis protein NCA1 interacts with catalases in the cytosol and increases catalase activity through maintaining catalase folding state, which is required for stress responses.</P><P>Catalases are key regulators of reactive oxygen species homeostasis in plant cells. However, the regulation of catalase activity is not well understood. In this study, we isolated an <I>Arabidopsis thaliana</I> mutant, <I>no catalase activity1-3</I> (<I>nca1-3</I>) that is hypersensitive to many abiotic stress treatments. The mutated gene was identified by map-based cloning as NCA1, which encodes a protein containing an N-terminal RING-finger domain and a C-terminal tetratricopeptide repeat-like helical domain. NCA1 interacts with and increases catalase activity maximally in a 240-kD complex in planta. In vitro, NCA1 interacts with CATALASE2 (CAT2) in a 1:1 molar ratio, and the NCA1 C terminus is essential for this interaction. CAT2 activity increased 10-fold in the presence of NCA1, and zinc ion binding of the NCA1 N terminus is required for this increase. NCA1 has chaperone protein activity that may maintain the folding of catalase in a functional state. NCA1 is a cytosol-located protein. Expression of <I>NCA1</I> in the mitochondrion of the <I>nca1-3</I> mutant does not rescue the abiotic stress phenotypes of the mutant, while expression in the cytosol or peroxisome does. Our results suggest that NCA1 is essential for catalase activity.</P>