Prognostic Value of Pathologic Chemotherapy Response Score in Patients With Ovarian Cancer After Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy

Michaan, Nadav,Chong, Woo Yoo,Han, Na Young,Lim, Myong Cheol,Park, Sang Yoon Blackwell Scientific Publications 2018 International journal of gynecological cancer Vol.28 No.9

<B>Objectives</B><P>The aim of the study was to investigate the correlation of chemotherapy response score (CRS) after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) to treatment outcomes in ovarian cancer (OC).</P><B>Methods</B><P>Chemotherapy response score was retrospectively determined on pathology slides of all patients with epithelial OC that had interval debulking surgery (IDS) between 2009-2014. Chemotherapy response score 1 was given when tumor was present and infiltrated by inflammatory cells, CRS 2 when both tumor and regressive chemotherapy changes were present, and CRS 3 when scant tumor was seen within extensive chemotherapy-induced changes. Patients’ characteristics including survival data were collected and compared between CRS groups.</P><B>Results</B><P>Pathology slides of 132 patients were reviewed. Forty-nine patients had CRS 1, 65 had CRS 2, and 18 had CRS 3. Age, stage, and grade were not different across CRS groups. A higher percent of CRS 1 and 2 patients required more than 3 cycles of NACT, whereas CRS 3 patients had higher rates of no residual disease at completion of IDS. Chemotherapy response score 3 group showed the most significant CA125 decrease after NACT (97% decrease, <I>P</I> = 0.016). Kaplan-Meir survival curves showed a significantly longer progression-free survival but not overall survival for patients with CRS 3 (median progression-free survival = 7.5, 12, and 17 months for CRS 1, 2, and 3, respectively, <I>P</I> = 0.012), and this remained statistically significant in both univariate and multivariate analysis. Interobserver reproducibility for CRS was good (weighed κ = 0.762).</P><B>Conclusions</B><P>Patients with CRS 3 have longest progression-free survival and highest CA125 drop after NACT. These parameters have important prognostic value and can be used for clinical decision-making.</P>

Elongation and gravitropic responses of <i>Arabidopsis</i> roots are regulated by brassinolide and IAA

KIM, TAE-WUK,LEE, SUN MIN,JOO, SE-HWAN,YUN, HYE SUP,LEE, YEW,KAUFMAN, PETER B.,KIRAKOSYAN, ARA,KIM, SOO-HWAN,NAM, KYOUNG HEE,LEE, JUNE SEUNG,CHANG, SOO CHUL,KIM, SEONG-KI Blackwell Scientific Publications 2007 Plant, cell and environment Vol.30 No.6

<P>ABSTRACT</P><P>Exogenously applied brassinolide (BL) increased both gravitropic curvature and length of primary roots of <I>Arabidopsis</I> at low concentration (10<SUP>−10</SUP> M), whereas at higher concentration, BL further increased gravitropic curvature while it inhibited primary root growth. <I>BRI1-GFP</I> plants possessing a high steady-state expression level of a brassinosteroid (BR) receptor kinase rendered the plant's responses to gravity and root growth more sensitive, while BR-insensitive mutants, <I>bri1-301</I> and <I>bak1</I>, delayed root growth and reduced their response to the gravitropic stimulus. The stimulatory effect of BL on the root gravitropic curvature was also enhanced in auxin transport mutants, <I>aux1-7</I> and <I>pin2</I>, relative to wild-type plants, and increasing concentration of auxin attenuated BL-induced root sensitivity to gravity. Interestingly, IAA treatment to the roots of <I>bri1-301</I> and <I>bak1</I> plants or of plants pretreated with a BL biosynthetic inhibitor, brassinazole, increased their sensitivity to gravity, while these treatments for the BL-hypersensitive transgenic plants, <I>BRI1-GFP</I> and <I>35S-BAK1</I>, were less effective. Expression of a <I>CYP79B2</I> gene, encoding an IAA biosynthetic enzyme, was suppressed in BL-hypersensitive plant types and enhanced in BL-insensitive or -deficient plants. In conclusion, our results indicate that BL interacts negatively with IAA in the regulation of plant gravitropic response and root growth, and its regulation is achieved partly by modulating biosynthetic pathways of the counterpart hormone.</P>

Outcomes in occupational asthma caused by reactive dye after long-term avoidance

Park, H. -W.,Kim, D. -I.,Sohn, S. -W.,Park, C. -H.,Kim, S. -S.,Chang, Y. -S.,Min, K. -U.,Kim, Y. -Y.,Cho, S. -H. Blackwell Scientific Publications 2007 Clinical and experimental allergy Vol.37 No.2

<P>Summary</P><P>Background</P><P>Reactive dye (RD) is known to be a causative agent of occupational asthma (OA). However, to date, no report has been issued concerning the long-term outcomes of RD-induced OA.</P><P>Objectives</P><P>We sought to evaluate the long-term outcomes in cases of OA caused by RD.</P><P>Methods</P><P>A total of 11 OA patients confirmed by RD bronchial challenge were enrolled in this study. First and second follow-up examinations were conducted at 4.3±2.3 and 13.7±2.3 years (means±SD) after the initial examinations, respectively. Skin prick test with RD and 11 common inhalant allergens, pulmonary function test, methacholine bronchial provocation testing, symptom and medication scores were determined at each visit. In addition, inflammatory cells in induced sputum were measured at the second follow-up examinations.</P><P>Results</P><P>Reduced lung function at initial examinations did not recover at the first and second examinations despite cessation of exposure and proper pharmacological treatment. In addition, asthma severity (as determined by symptom and medication scores) and non-specific airway hyper-responsiveness to methacholine also did not improve. However, skin reactivity to RD almost disappeared at the second examinations. Interestingly, four of the six patients who showed negative skin responses to all 11 common inhalant allergens at initial examinations were found to be atopic at the second examinations. Moreover, in terms of airway inflammation, seven of the 11 patients showed eosinophilia in induced sputum (⩾3%) at the second examinations despite having been on high-dose inhaled corticosteroid medication.</P><P>Conclusion</P><P>The present study demonstrates that reduced lung function and asthmatic symptoms persist in RD-induced OA even after long-term exposure avoidance.</P>

Complex extracellular interactions of proteases and a protease inhibitor influence multicellular development of <i>Streptomyces coelicolor</i>

Kim, Dae Wi,Hesketh, Andy,Kim, Eun Sook,Song, Ju Yeon,Lee, Dae Hoon,Kim, In Seop,Chater, Keith F.,Lee, Kye Joon Blackwell Scientific Publications 2008 Molecular microbiology Vol.70 No.5

<P>Summary</P><P><I>Streptomyces coelicolor</I> produces an extracellular protease inhibitor protein, STI (<I>Streptomyces</I> trypsin inhibitor). We show that post-growth elimination of STI is needed for colonies to develop aerial mycelium efficiently. Inactivation of STI, and thus the normal progression of colony development, at least partly involves an extracellular protease specified by gene SCO5913. Two-hybrid analysis identified two possible targets of STI inhibition (the products of SCO1355 and SCO5447), both extracellular proteases containing a domain homologous with the P-domain of eukaryotic convertases, proteases that mediate the processing of many precursors with important cellular or developmental roles. At least the SCO1355 protease is needed for the normal progression of development. Two components of the proposed cascade are dependent on the tRNA for the rare UUA (leucine) codon, which is specified by the developmental gene <I>bldA.</I> A model is presented that links intracellular regulatory events with an extracellular protease cascade to facilitate normal development.</P>

Role of endogenous 4-1BB in the development of systemic lupus erythematosus

Vinay, Dass S.,Choi, Jae H.,Kim, Jung D.,Choi, Beom K.,Kwon, Byoung S. Blackwell Scientific Publications 2007 Immunology Vol.122 No.3

<P>Summary</P><P>Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is characterized by the production of autoantibodies directed against nuclear antigens including nucleosomes and DNA. To determine the role of T-cell costimulatory molecule 4-1BB in the regulation of SLE, MRL-<I>Fas</I><SUP><I>lpr</I></SUP> (<I>lpr</I>) mice deficient in 4-1BB (<I>lpr</I>/4-1BB<SUP>–/–</SUP>) were generated and their disease phenotype was compared to that of control <I>lpr</I> mice. The main finding of this study is that the <I>lpr</I>/4-1BB<SUP>–/–</SUP> mice had more pronounced skin lesions which appeared earlier, increased lymphadenopathy, increased renal damage, and higher mortality than 4-1BB-intact control <I>lpr</I> mice. The increased severity of lesions in <I>lpr</I>/4-1BB<SUP>–/–</SUP> mice was closely associated with increases in CD4<SUP>+</SUP> T, CD3<SUP>+</SUP> B220<SUP>+</SUP> double-negative T cells, serum immunoglobulin, anti-dsDNA autoantibodies, and tissue immunoglobulin deposits. These data suggest that the 4-1BB−4-1BB ligand signalling pathway plays an important role in SLE and that deletion of 4-1BB confers susceptibility to <I>lpr</I> mice, leading to accelerated induction of disease and early mortality.</P>

Regulation of polar flagellum genes is mediated by quorum sensing and FlhDC in <i>Burkholderia glumae</i>

Kim, Jinwoo,Kang, Yongsung,Choi, Okhee,Jeong, Yeonhwa,Jeong, Jae-Eun,Lim, Jae Yun,Kim, Minkyun,Moon, Jae Sun,Suga, Hiroaki,Hwang, Ingyu Blackwell Scientific Publications 2007 Molecular microbiology Vol.64 No.1

<P>Summary</P><P>The bacterium <I>Burkholderia glumae</I> causes rice grain rot by producing toxoflavin, whose expression is regulated by quorum sensing (QS). We report a major deviation from the current paradigm for the regulation of bacterial polar flagellum genes. The <I>N</I>-octanoyl homoserine lactone (C8-HSL)-deficient mutant of <I>B. glumae</I> is aflagellate and has lost the ability to swim and swarm at 37°C. Mutagenesis of the bacterium with the mini-Tn<I>5rescue</I> identified an IclR-type transcriptional regulator, called QsmR, which is important for flagellum formation. TofR, which is a cognate C8-HSL receptor, activated <I>qsmR</I> expression by binding directly to the <I>qsmR</I> promoter region. From the flagellum gene cluster, we identified <I>flhDC</I> homologues that are directly activated by QsmR. FlhDC in turn activates the expression of genes involved in flagellum biosynthesis, motor functions and chemotaxis in <I>B. glumae</I>. Non-motile <I>qsmR</I>, <I>fliA</I> and <I>flhDC</I> mutants produced toxoflavin, but lost pathogenicity for rice. The unexpected discovery of FlhDC in a polarly flagellate bacterium suggests that exceptions to the typical regulatory mechanisms of flagellum genes exist in Gram-negative bacteria. The finding that functional flagella play critical roles in the pathogenicity of <I>B. glumae</I> suggests that either QS or flagellum formation constitutes a good target for the control of rice grain rot.</P>

Complete ophthalmoplegia after herpes zoster

Im, M.,Kim, B. J.,Seo, Y. J.,Park, J. K.,Lee, J. H. Blackwell Scientific Publications 2007 Clinical and experimental dermatology Vol.32 No.2

<P>Summary</P><P>Motor loss caused by herpes zoster is infrequent, and only a few studies have focused on ocular motor paralysis in ophthalmic herpes zoster. We report a case of complete ophthalmoplegia resulting from ophthalmic herpes zoster. A 69-year-old man presented with complete left-side ptosis with total ophthalmoplegia 7 days after the onset of left ophthalmic herpes zoster. The patient was treated with aciclovir and prednisolone. Five months later, the ptosis had resolved and the extraocular motility had almost returned to normal.</P>

The adaptation and relationship of FGF-23 to changes in mineral metabolism in Graves’ disease

Park, Se Eun,Cho, Mi Ae,Kim, Se Hwa,Rhee, Yumie,Kang, Eun Seok,Ahn, Chul Woo,Cha, Bong Soo,Lee, Eun Jig,Kim, Kyung Rae,Lee, Hyun Chul,Lim, Sung-Kil Blackwell Scientific Publications 2007 Clinical endocrinology Vol.66 No.6

<P>Summary</P><P>Objective </P><P>The aim of this study was to observe the changes in bone and mineral metabolism and to confirm the regulation of fibroblast growth factor-23 (FGF-23) in untreated Graves’ disease.</P><P>Patients and measurements </P><P>The study comprised 39 patients, with or without Graves’ disease. The Graves’ disease group was made up of 21 newly diagnosed patients, enrolled before starting treatment. Their disease was determined by biochemical and radiological means. The control group was composed of 18 people who were proven to be euthyroid without any diseases affecting bone and mineral metabolism. FGF-23, calcium, phosphate, PTH, 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D [1,25(OH)<SUB>2</SUB>D] levels and bone turnover markers were compared between these groups.</P><P>Results </P><P>Serum calcium and phosphate, plasma FGF-23 and free T4 were significantly higher in the Graves’ disease group than in the healthy control group (<I>P</I> < 0·05). The bone turnover markers serum osteocalcin and C-terminal cross-linked telopeptide of type 1 collagen (s-CTx) were also significantly elevated in the Graves’ disease group, and had a positive correlation with free T4 levels. However, there was no significant decrease in PTH and 1,25(OH)<SUB>2</SUB>D in the Graves’ disease group. Plasma levels of FGF-23 exhibited a positive correlation with serum phosphate levels and with free T4 levels (<I>P</I> < 0·05).</P><P>Conclusions </P><P>These findings suggest that FGF-23 is physiologically related to serum phosphate homeostasis, as indicated indirectly by the changes in bone and mineral metabolism, in untreated Graves’ disease.</P>

Lampisiphonia iberica gen. et sp. nov. (Ceramiales, Rhodophyta) based on morphology and molecular evidence

Barbara, I.,Choi, H.-G.,Secilla, A.,Diaz-Tapia, P.,Gorostiaga, J.M.,Seo, T.-K.,Jung, M.-Y.,Berecibar, E. BLACKWELL SCIENTIFIC PUBLICATIONS 2013 Phycologia Vol.52 No.2

An emended description of the genus Fogedia (Bacillariophyceae) with reports of four species new to science from a Korean sand flat

Park, J.,Khim, J.S.,Ryu, J.,Koh, C.-H.,Witkowski, A. BLACKWELL SCIENTIFIC PUBLICATIONS 2013 Phycologia Vol.52 No.5