Hallym University

About: Hallym University is a education organization based out in Chuncheon, South Korea. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Medicine. The organization has 10605 authors who have published 18891 publications receiving 302498 citations.

Stability and Reproducibility Underscore Utility of RT-QuIC for Diagnosis of Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease.

Abstract: Real-time quaking-induced conversion (RT-QuIC) allows the amplification of miniscule amounts of scrapie prion protein (PrP Sc ). Recent studies applied the RT-QuIC methodol- ogy to cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) for diagnosing human prion diseases. However, to date, there has not been a formal multi- centre assessment of the reproducibility, validity and stability of RT-QuIC in this context, an indispensable step for establish- ment as a diagnostic test in clinical practice. In the present study, we analysed CSF from 110 prion disease patients and 400 control patients using the RT-QuIC method under various conditions. In addition, "blinded" ring trials between different participating sites were performed to estimate reproducibility. Using the previously established cut-off of 10,000 relative fluo- rescence units (rfu), we obtained a sensitivity of 85 % and a specificity of 99 %. The multi-centre inter-laboratory reproduc- ibility of RT-QuIC revealed a Fleiss'kappa value of 0.83 (95 % CI: 0.40-1.00) indicating an almost perfect agreement. More- over, we investigated the impact of short-term CSF storage at different temperatures, long-term storage, repeated freezing and thawing cycles and the contamination of CSF with blood on the RT-QuIC seeding response. Our data indicated that the PrP Sc seed in CSF is stable to any type of storage condition but sensitive to contaminations with blood (>1250 erythrocytes/ μL), which results in a false negative RT-QuIC response. Fresh blood-contaminated samples (3 days)can be rescued by remov- al of erythrocytes. The present study underlines the reproduc- ibility and high stability of RT-QuIC across various CSF stor- age conditions with a remarkable sensitivity and specificity, suggesting RT-QuIC as an innovative and robust diagnostic method.

Complete chloroplast and ribosomal sequences for 30 accessions elucidate evolution of Oryza AA genome species

Abstract: Cytoplasmic chloroplast (cp) genomes and nuclear ribosomal DNA (nR) are the primary sequences used to understand plant diversity and evolution. We introduce a high-throughput method to simultaneously obtain complete cp and nR sequences using Illumina platform whole-genome sequence. We applied the method to 30 rice specimens belonging to nine Oryza species. Concurrent phylogenomic analysis using cp and nR of several of specimens of the same Oryza AA genome species provides insight into the evolution and domestication of cultivated rice, clarifying three ambiguous but important issues in the evolution of wild Oryza species. First, cp-based trees clearly classify each lineage but can be biased by inter-subspecies cross-hybridization events during speciation. Second, O. glumaepatula, a South American wild rice, includes two cytoplasm types, one of which is derived from a recent interspecies hybridization with O. longistminata. Third, the Australian O. rufipogan-type rice is a perennial form of O. meridionalis.

Application of artificial intelligence in gastroenterology

Abstract: Artificial intelligence (AI) using deep-learning (DL) has emerged as a breakthrough computer technology. By the era of big data, the accumulation of an enormous number of digital images and medical records drove the need for the utilization of AI to efficiently deal with these data, which have become fundamental resources for a machine to learn by itself. Among several DL models, the convolutional neural network showed outstanding performance in image analysis. In the field of gastroenterology, physicians handle large amounts of clinical data and various kinds of image devices such as endoscopy and ultrasound. AI has been applied in gastroenterology in terms of diagnosis, prognosis, and image analysis. However, potential inherent selection bias cannot be excluded in the form of retrospective study. Because overfitting and spectrum bias (class imbalance) have the possibility of overestimating the accuracy, external validation using unused datasets for model development, collected in a way that minimizes the spectrum bias, is mandatory. For robust verification, prospective studies with adequate inclusion/exclusion criteria, which represent the target populations, are needed. DL has its own lack of interpretability. Because interpretability is important in that it can provide safety measures, help to detect bias, and create social acceptance, further investigations should be performed.

Anti-inflammatory/Anti-oxidative Stress Activities and Differential Regulation of Nrf2-Mediated Genes by Non-Polar Fractions of Tea Chrysanthemum zawadskii and Licorice Glycyrrhiza uralensis

Abstract: Accumulating evidence from epidemiological studies indicates that chronic inflammation and oxidative stress play critical roles in neoplastic development. The aim of this study was to investigate the anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidative stress activities, and differential regulation of Nrf2-mediated genes by tea Chrysanthemum zawadskii (CZ) and licorice Glycyrrhiza uralensis (LE) extracts. The anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative stress activities of hexane/ethanol extracts of CZ and LE were investigated using in vitro and in vivo approaches, including quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) and microarray. Additionally, the role of the transcriptional factor Nrf2 (nuclear erythroid-related factor 2) signaling pathways was examined. Our results show that CZ and LE extracts exhibited potent anti-inflammatory activities by suppressing the mRNA and protein expression levels of pro-inflammatory biomarkers IL-1β, IL-6, COX-2 and iNOS in LPS-stimulated murine RAW 264.7 macrophage cells. CZ and LE also significantly suppressed the NO production of LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. Additionally, CZ and LE suppressed the NF-κB luciferase activity in human HT-29 colon cancer cells. Both extracts also showed strong Nrf2-mediated antioxidant/Phase II detoxifying enzymes induction. CZ and LE induced NQO1, Nrf2, and UGT and antioxidant response element (ARE)-luciferase activity in human hepatoma HepG2 C8 cells. Using Nrf2 knockout [Nrf2 (−/−)] and Nrf2 wild-type (+/+) mice, LE and CZ showed Nrf2-dependent transactivation of Nrf2-mediated antioxidant and phase II detoxifying genes. In summary, CZ and LE possess strong inhibitory effects against NF-κB-mediated inflammatory as well as strong activation of the Nrf2-ARE-anti-oxidative stress signaling pathways, which would contribute to their overall health promoting pharmacological effects against diseases including cancer.

T1 slope as a predictor of kyphotic alignment change after laminoplasty in patients with cervical myelopathy.

Abstract: STUDY DESIGN: Prospective study. OBJECTIVE: To analyze the effect of T1 slope on kyphotic alignment change after cervical laminoplasty in patients with cervical myelopathy. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Laminoplasty is a posterior method, and maintenance of both preoperative and postoperative lordotic alignment is prerequisite for the successful surgery. Unfortunately, patients who underwent laminoplasty tend to have kyphotic alignment change after operation despite sufficient preoperative lordosis, and such kyphotic alignment change after cervical laminoplasty can reduce surgical outcome and require additional surgery. METHODS: Consecutive patients who underwent cervical laminoplasty for cervical myelopathy were enrolled. Cervical spine lateral radiography in neutral, flexion, and extension were taken before surgery and at 2-year follow-up. Patients were divided into 2 groups according to the preoperative T1 slope, and postoperative cervical alignment change was compared according to the preoperative T1 slope. RESULTS: A total of 51 patients were enrolled in this study. The mean age was 57.2 years (range, 39-88 yr). There were 39 male patients and 12 female patients. There were no differences in age, sex, the presence and type of ossification of posterior longitudinal ligament, and operation level between the patients with higher and lower preoperative T1 slope. Patients with higher preoperative T1 slope had more lordotic preoperative cervical alignment; however, they had more kyphotic alignment changes after laminoplasty (P < 0.001). After univariate logistic regression, only higher preoperative T1 slope was associated with significantly increased odds ratio for postoperative kyphotic alignment changes. CONCLUSION: We hypothesized that kyphotic alignment change by posterior structural injury after cervical laminoplasty would be more marked in patients with high T1 slope, and demonstrated that patients with cervical myelopathy with high T1 slope had more kyphotic alignment changes after cervical laminoplasty at 2-year follow-up.