Clinical course and outcome of rheumatoid arthritis-related usual interstitial pneumonia

BACKGROUND

Although the prognosis of interstitial pneumonia in connective tissue disorders is better than that of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), the prognosis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) related usual interstitial pneumonia (UIP) is controversial.

OBJECTIVES

To determine prognosis, clinical course and prognostic factors of the patients with RA-UIP and compare them to IPF.

DESIGN

Retrospective review of 84 patients with RA-UIP (biopsy-proven: 30) from two tertiary referral centers.

RESULTS

The median follow-up period was 33 months. One half of the patients were stable, one third progressed, 17% had acute exacerbation and 6% improved. TLC % predicted was the only significant predictor for the stable group. Among non-AEx patients, 41% was treated due to poor initial lung function or progression of the disease and one half of them improved or had stable lung function. Despite of worse initial lung function, the survival of treated group was similar to untreated group. Age, FVC and change in DLco during 6 months were significant predictors for mortality. The prognosis of RA-UIP was significantly better than that of IPF matched with age, sex, smoking and baseline lung function (median survival, 53 vs. 41 months respectively, p = 0.015).

CONCLUSIONS

In spite of variable clinical course of RA-UIP, overall prognosis of RA-UIP was significantly better compared to IPF. Our data supported the treatment of the patients with significant functional impairments or progression.

The evaluation of dentinal tubule occlusion by desensitizing agents: a real-time measurement of dentinal fluid flow rate and scanning electron microscopy

The aims of this study were to examine changes in dentinal fluid flow (DFF) during the application of a desensitizing agent and to compare the permeability reduction levels among different types of desensitizing agents. A cervical cavity was prepared for the exposure of cervical dentin on an extracted human premolar connected to a subnanoliter fluid flow measuring device under 20 cm of water pressure. The cavity was acid-etched with 32% phosphoric acid to make dentin highly permeable. The different types of desensitizing agents that were applied on the cavity were Seal&Protect as the light-curing adhesive type, SuperSeal and BisBlock as oxalate types, Gluma Desensitizer as the protein-precipitation type, and Bi-Fluoride 12 as the fluoride type. DFF was measured from the time before the application of the desensitizing agent throughout the application procedure to five minutes after the application. The characteristics of dentinal tubule occlusion of each desensitizing agent were examined by scanning electron microscopy. The DFF rate after each desensitizing agent application was significantly reduced when compared to the initial DFF rate before application for all of the desensitizing agents (p<0.05). Seal&Protect showed a greater reduction in the DFF rate when compared to Gluma Desensitizer and Bi-Fluoride 12 (p<0.05). SuperSeal and BisBlock exhibited a greater reduction in DFF rate when compared to Bi-Fluoride 12 (p<0.05). The dentin hypersensitivity treatment effects of the employed desensitizing agents in this study were confirmed through real-time measurements of DFF changes. The light-curing adhesive and oxalate types showed greater reduction in the DFF rate than did the protein-precipitation and fluoride types.

GenoType® MTBDRplus assay detection of drug-resistant tuberculosis in routine practice in Korea

SETTING

Korea is an intermediate-burden country with high rates of tuberculosis (TB) drug resistance.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the performance of the GenoType® MTBDRplus (MTBDR) assay in diagnosing drug-resistant TB in routine practice in Korea.

DESIGN

The MTBDR assay was performed on 428 samples, and the results were retrospectively compared with the results of conventional drug susceptibility testing (DST). The interval between treatment and diagnosis of drug resistance was also compared.

RESULTS

The sensitivity, specificity and positive and negative predictive values of the MTBDR assay were respectively 96.6%, 98.9%, 93.4% and 99.5% for the detection of rifampicin (RMP) resistance; 93.8%, 98.3%, 92.7% and 98.6% for isoniazid (INH) resistance; and 91.1%, 99.2%, 99.4% and 98.7% for multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB). The median interval between the start of anti-tuberculosis chemotherapy and the reporting of results was 88.9 days for conventional DST and 19.8 days for MTBDR using clinical specimens.

CONCLUSION

The specificity of the MTBDR assay in detecting MDR-TB was very high, although the sensitivity in detecting INH resistance and MDR-TB was not optimal (<95%). Although the turnaround time in detecting drug resistance was dramatically reduced with MTBDR compared to conventional DST, more effort is needed to shorten the turnaround time.

Steady heat conduction-based thermal conductivity measurement of single walled carbon nanotubes thin film using a micropipette thermal sensor

In this paper, we describe the thermal conductivity measurement of single-walled carbon nanotubes thin film using a laser point source-based steady state heat conduction method. A high precision micropipette thermal sensor fabricated with a sensing tip size varying from 2 μm to 5 μm and capable of measuring thermal fluctuation with resolution of ±0.01 K was used to measure the temperature gradient across the suspended carbon nanotubes (CNT) film with a thickness of 100 nm. We used a steady heat conduction model to correlate the temperature gradient to the thermal conductivity of the film. We measured the average thermal conductivity of CNT film as 74.3 ± 7.9 W m(-1) K(-1) at room temperature.

Ginsenoside Rs(3), a genuine dammarane-glycoside from Korean red ginseng

A genuine dammarane-glycoside, named as ginsenoside Rs(3), was isolated from the MeOH extracts of Korean red ginseng (Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer) through repeated silica gel column chromatographies and its chemical structure was determined as (20S)-protopanaxadiol 3-O-[6''-O-acetyl-beta-D-glucopyranosyl (1-->2)-beta-D-glucopyranoside on the basis of several spectral and physical evidences including HMBC and FAB-MS.

Anticomplementary activity of ergosterol peroxide fromNaematoloma fasciculare and reassignment of NMR data

A very high content (at least 0.23%) of ergosterol peroxide was isolated fromNaematoloma fasciculare Karst. Not only ergosterol peroxide but also ergosterol showed very strong anticomplementary activity on the classical pathway, the IC(50) values being 5.0 muM and 1.0 muM, respectively. The(1)H and(13)C NMR data of ergosterol peroxide were revised and completely assigned by DEPT,(1)H-(1)H COSY, HMQC and HMBC correlations.

[Radiation ecological environment in the Republic of Kazakhstan in the vicinity of the reactors and on the territory of the Semipalatinsk Test Site]

The results of research into the environmental conditions in the regions of location of the pressurized water reactor WWR-K, fast neutron breeder BN-350 and on the territory of the Semipalatinsk Test Site are represented. The effects of the exposure to aerosol emissions from WWR-K and BN-350 reactors on the environment are summarized. We present some arguments in favor of the safe operation of fission reactors in compliance with the rules and norms of nuclear and radiation protection and the efficient disposal of radioactive waste on the territory of the Republic.

The effects of humidity and serum on the surface microhardness and morphology of five retrograde filling materials

The purpose of this study was to compare the surface morphology and surface hardness of five materials 24 h after filling, in conditions of 100% humidity, and fetal bovine serum. The five materials were ProRoot Mineral Trioxide Aggregate (MTA), Super-EBA, Intermediate Restorative Materials (IRM), Zinc Oxide Eugenol (ZOE), and Amalgam. The microhardness of these materials was evaluated by Vickers microhardness test, and their morphologies were compared by using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). To evaluate the microhardness, the mixed five materials were measured with Vickers microhardness test. Differences between the experimental groups were analyzed by two-way ANOVA and Duncan's multiple comparison tests. All analyses were performed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL). For the microstructural morphological evaluation, the cross cut and root-end cavity prepared surfaces followed by retrograde filling with five different materials were observed under a Scanning Electron Microscope (Steroscan 440; Leica, Cambridge, England) at ×500. To summarize, Super EBA was less influenced by storage medium than the other materials, especially MTA. However, further long-term studies considering other factors, such as biocompatibility (i.e. cellular toxicity) and retention, are needed to be collaborated with these findings in the clinical context.

Proteomic characterization of Kunitz trypsin inhibitor variants, Tia and Tib, in soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merrill]

The soybean Kunitz trypsin inhibitor (KTi) has several polymorphic variants. Of these, Tia and Tib, which differ by nine amino acids, are the two main types. In this study, differences in KTi proteome between Tia and Tib were investigated using three soybean cultivars and three mutant lines. Two cultivars, Baekwoon (BW) and Paldal (PD), and one mutant line, SW115-24, were Tia type, whereas one soybean cultivar, Suwon115 (SW115), and two mutant lines, BW-7-2 and PD-5-10, were Tib type. Protein from the six soybean lines was extracted and analyzed by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE), non-denaturing polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (non-denaturing PAGE), and two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (2-DE). By SDS-PAGE, there was no difference between soybean cultivars and mutant lines, except for SW115-24. Western blot analysis revealed that, in comparison with Tia, Tib type accumulated relatively low amounts of KTi. By non-denaturing PAGE, the three soybean lines of Tib type were characterized by slower mobility than the three soybean lines of Tia type. Zymography detected eight distinct zones of trypsin inhibitory activity among which Tia and Tib lacked the fifth and sixth zone, respectively. By two-dimensional native polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (2-DN), the spots related to trypsin inhibitory activity showed different mobilities, whereas only one KTi (21.5 kDa) spot was resolved by 2-DE. By two-dimensional zymography (2-DZ), Tib showed a broader activity zone (pI 4-7) in comparison with Tia (pI 4-5). The results indicate that the genotypes with a different type of KTi present different proteomic profiles and trypsin inhibitory activities.

The relationship between mast cell density and tumour grade in transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder

This study investigated the relationship between mast cell numbers and the grade of bladder transitional cell carcinoma (TCC). Bladder TCC biopsies were obtained via transurethral resection and 45 stage T1 specimens were included in the study. Specimens were sorted into two groups, low grade (grade I) and high grade (grades II and III). Samples were stained using haematoxylin and eosin, toluidine blue and immunohistochemical staining for tryptase. Mast cells were examined by light microscopy and cell density was recorded. Mast cell density was significantly higher in high-grade TCC than low-grade TCC. There was also a significant relationship between the number of mast cells identified using toluidine blue staining or immunohistochemical staining for tryptase. Detailed studies of mast cell function will enable the development of more effective antitumour therapies via mast cell manipulation.

Shallow Population Genetic Structures of Thread-sail Filefish (Stephanolepis cirrhifer) Populations from Korean Coastal Waters

Genetic diversities, population genetic structures and demographic histories of the thread-sail filefish Stephanolepis cirrhifer were investigated by nucleotide sequencing of 336 base pairs of the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) control region in 111 individuals collected from six populations in Korean coastal waters. A total of 70 haplotypes were defined by 58 variable nucleotide sites. The neighbor-joining tree of the 70 haplotypes was shallow and did not provide evidence of geographical associations. Expansion of S. cirrhifer populations began approximate 51,000 to 102,000 years before present, correlating with the period of sea level rise since the late Pleistocene glacial maximum. High levels of haplotype diversities (0.974±0.029 to 1.000±0.076) and nucleotide diversities (0.014 to 0.019), and low levels of genetic differentiation among populations inferred from pairwise population F_ST values (−0.007 to 0.107), support an expansion of the S. cirrhifer population. Hierarchical analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) revealed weak but significant genetic structures among three groups (F_CT = 0.028, p<0.05), and no genetic variation within groups (0.53%; F_SC = 0.005, p = 0.23). These results may help establish appropriate fishery management strategies for stocks of S. cirrhifer and related species.

Compensatory Growth of Grower Olive Flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus) with Different Feeding Regime at Suboptimal Temperature

Compensatory growth of grower olive flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus) was determined at suboptimal temperature (13.0±1.9°C). Fifteen fish averaging 201.1 g per tank were distributed into 18 of 300 L flow-through tanks. Six treatments were prepared in triplicate: fish were hand-fed with an extruded pellet to apparent satiation once a day for 16 weeks (16 WF); and the other five groups of fish were hand-fed for 15, 14, 13, 12 and 10 weeks after 1-, 2-, 3-, 4- and 6-week feed deprivation, referred to as 15 WF, 14 WF, 13 WF, 12 WF and 10 WF, respectively. A linear relationship between body weight of fish and feed deprivation was observed: Y (Body weight of fish) = −1.81X (Weeks of feed deprivation)+201.07, R² = 0.83. Weight gain of grower olive flounder in 15 WF, 14 WF, 13 WF and 12 WF treatments was comparable to that of fish in 16 WF treatment, but lower than that of fish in 10 WF treatment. Specific growth rate of fish in 15 WF treatment was higher than that of fish in 16 WF, 14 WF and 10 WF treatments. Feed consumption of fish was not affected by feeding regime. Feed and protein efficiency ratios of fish in 15 WF treatment were higher than those of fish in 13 WF, 12 WF and 10 WF treatments. Grower olive flounder could achieve full compensatory growth when fish were daily fed for 12 weeks after 4-week feed deprivation at suboptimal temperature.

Bronchoalveolar lavage pepsin in acute exacerbation of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis

Some patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis experience acute exacerbations in their respiratory status leading to substantial morbidity and mortality. Occult aspiration of gastric contents has been proposed as one possible mechanism leading to these acute exacerbations. We sought to determine whether pepsin, a marker of gastric aspiration, is elevated in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid obtained from patients during acute exacerbation of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, compared with that obtained in stable disease. Lavage samples were obtained in a case-control study of well-characterised patients. Acute exacerbation was defined using standard criteria. Levels of lavage pepsin were compared in cases and controls, and were correlated with clinical features and disease course. 24 cases with acute exacerbations and 30 stable controls were identified. There were no significant differences in baseline demographics between the two groups. Pepsin level was an indicator of acute exacerbation status (p=0.04). On average, pepsin appeared higher in patients with acute exacerbations compared with stable controls. This difference was driven by a subgroup of eight patients (33%) with pepsin levels ≥70 ng·mL(-1). Pepsin level was not an independent predictor of survival time. These results suggest occult aspiration may play a role in some cases of acute exacerbation of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

Distinguishing tuberculosis from Mycobacterium avium complex disease using an interferon-gamma release assay

SETTING

The QuantiFERON-TB Gold (QFT-G) test can be used to distinguish between tuberculosis (TB) and non-tuberculous mycobacterial disease, but a high background TB infection rate may pose a problem. Although the QuantiFERON-TB (QFT) test, the first-generation QFT-G test, employs a non-specific PPD antigen, avium sensitin is also used as a stimulating antigen.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the utility of these two interferon gamma release assays (IGRAs), QFT-G and QFT, and the tuberculin skin test (TST), to differentiate TB from Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) disease in an intermediate TB burden country.

METHODS

We compared the diagnostic performance of these three tests in 38 prospectively enrolled patients with TB and 40 with MAC lung disease.

RESULTS

The TST yielded positive results in 70.6% of TB and 47.5% of MAC patients; the proportions were respectively 89.5% and 34.3% for QFT-G and 86.8% and 35.3% for QFT. The three tests were of similar accuracy, sensitivity and specificity in diagnosing TB.

CONCLUSION

Our findings indicate that the TST and IGRAs could not discriminate between active TB and MAC disease or latent TB infection in a TB-endemic area.

Long-term central infusion of adiponectin improves energy and glucose homeostasis by decreasing fat storage and suppressing hepatic gluconeogenesis without changing food intake

Adiponectin is known to be an anti-diabetic adipocytokine. However, the action mechanism by which it produces this effect remains controversial. In the present study, we investigated the long-term central effect of adiponectin on energy homeostasis, peripheral insulin resistance, β-cell function and mass in rats and aimed to determine the mechanism by which its effect was achieved. Intracerebroventricular infusion of adiponectin (50 ng/h) and artificial cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) was conducted by means of an osmotic pump for 4 weeks on nondiabetic rats and 90% pancreatectomised diabetic rats that were both fed 45% energy fat diets. After 4-weeks of treatment, i.c.v. adiponectin improved hypothalamic insulin/leptin signalling in nondiabetic and diabetic rats compared to i.c.v. CSF but it did not change the phosphorylation of AMP kinase (AMPK) in the hypothalamus. Adiponectin infusion decreased epididymal fats, representing visceral fat, by increasing energy expenditure and fat oxidation. During the euglycaemic hyperinsulinaemic clamp, i.c.v. adiponectin improved whole body insulin sensitivity and decreased hepatic glucose output in the hyperinsulinaemic state by attenuating hepatic insulin resistance. Central infusion of adiponectin did not modulate glucose-stimulated insulin secretion during the hyperglycaemic clamp compared to i.c.v. CSF infusion but it enhanced insulin sensitivity at a hyperglycaemic state. Although there were no changes in insulin secretion capacity, central adiponectin increased pancreatic β-cell mass in nondiabetic and diabetic rats as a result of decreasing β-cell death. In conclusion, long-term central infusion of adiponectin enhanced energy homeostasis by increasing energy expenditure via activating hypothalamic leptin and insulin signalling pathways but without potentiating AMPK signalling; it also improved glucose homeostasis by attenuating insulin resistance.

Higher harmonic anisotropic flow measurements of charged particles in Pb-Pb collisions at sqrt(s(NN)) = 2.76 TeV

We report on the first measurement of the triangular v3, quadrangular v4, and pentagonal v5 charged particle flow in Pb-Pb collisions at sqrt(s(NN)) = 2.76  TeV measured with the ALICE detector at the CERN Large Hadron Collider. We show that the triangular flow can be described in terms of the initial spatial anisotropy and its fluctuations, which provides strong constraints on its origin. In the most central events, where the elliptic flow v2 and v3 have similar magnitude, a double peaked structure in the two-particle azimuthal correlations is observed, which is often interpreted as a Mach cone response to fast partons. We show that this structure can be naturally explained from the measured anisotropic flow Fourier coefficients.

Bacille Calmette Guérin (BCG) can induce Kawasaki disease-like features in programmed death-1 (PD-1) gene knockout mice

OBJECTIVES

Various genetic variants of inhibitory immune signals have been suspected as feasible causes of Kawasaki disease (KD). We investigated the associative role of programmed death-1 (PD-1) gene in the pathogenesis of KD by injecting bacilli Calmette Guérin (BCG) to PD-1 gene knockout (PD-1KO) mice.

METHODS

In order to induce KD-like clinical manifestations in young PD-1KO mice, intradermal injection of the bacilli Calmette Guérin (BCG) was performed twice on the abdominal skin with a 4-week interval. For defining the role of BCG, heat shock protein (HSP) 65 was challenged. In addition, Staphylococcus aureus was adopted as a microorganism that does not contain HSP65 structure. One month after the second injection, heart, liver, and kidneys were removed and examined.

RESULTS

PD-1KO mice showed KD-like features including prolonged fever for more than 5 days, erythematous swelling on soles, tail skin desquamation, and gallbladder (GB) hydrops. Inflammatory cell aggregation and intimal proliferation in at least more than one coronary artery was found in all PD-1KO mice whereas scanty coronary lesion was found in wild type (WT) mice. When the PD-1KO mice were injected twice with HSP65, coronary arterial lesions similar to those seen after BCG injection were observed. Inflammatory reactions in other organs including hepatic arteries, renal arteries, and biliary arteries were also observed in PD-1KO mice.

CONCLUSIONS

Our data suggest that PD-1 gene may be one of the genetic predispositions of KD and antigens containing HSP65 structure could be a triggering factor of KD by our animal model of KD.

Centrality dependence of the charged-particle multiplicity density at midrapidity in Pb-Pb collisions at sqrt[s(NN)] = 2.76 TeV

The centrality dependence of the charged-particle multiplicity density at midrapidity in Pb-Pb collisions at sqrt[s_{NN}]=2.76  TeV is presented. The charged-particle density normalized per participating nucleon pair increases by about a factor of 2 from peripheral (70%-80%) to central (0%-5%) collisions. The centrality dependence is found to be similar to that observed at lower collision energies. The data are compared with models based on different mechanisms for particle production in nuclear collisions.

The different infarct patterns between adulthood-onset and childhood-onset moyamoya disease

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

The pattern of infarctions based on the findings of diffusion-weighted image was assessed, and it was also investigated whether there are any age-specific differences in patients with moyamoya disease (MMD).

METHODS

The subjects were 66 consecutive patients with MMD who had an acute cerebral infarction. Each ischaemic lesion was categorised into one of seven patterns (gyral, atypical territorial, honeycomb, classic territorial, multiple-dot, borderzone, deep lacunar) based on diffusion-weighted image findings. The patterns were compared between adulthood-onset MMD (A-MMD, ≥20 years old, 34 patients) and childhood/adolescent-onset MMD (C-MMD, <20 years old, 32 patients) according to their ages of infarct presentation.

RESULTS

A total of 91 infarct patterns were observed from 66 patients. The gyral, atypical territorial, and honeycomb patterns, which are not usually seen in conventional stroke patients, were common in MMD (68.1%). Among all patterns, a gyral pattern was most common (40/91, 44.0%). Borderzone and deep lacunar patterns were infrequent. Gyral and borderzone patterns were more frequently seen in the C-MMD group, whereas a honeycomb pattern was not seen in young patients. Honeycomb pattern was more common at advanced vascular stages. Infarctions confined to the cortex were more common in the C-MMD group (26/32, 75.0%) than in A-MMD patients (14/34, 41.2%).

CONCLUSIONS

Moyamoya disease showed various characteristic and age-specific infarct patterns. Different infarct patterns between the A-MMD and C-MMD groups may be associated with age-specific vulnerability of the brain to ischaemia, stage of arteriopathy or changes of abnormal collateral pathways.

Elliptic flow of charged particles in Pb-Pb collisions at sqrt[S(NN)] = 2.76 TeV

We report the first measurement of charged particle elliptic flow in Pb-Pb collisions at sqrt[S(NN)] =2.76 TeV with the ALICE detector at the CERN Large Hadron Collider. The measurement is performed in the central pseudorapidity region (|η|<0.8) and transverse momentum range 0.2<p t<5.0 GeV/c. The elliptic flow signal v₂, measured using the 4-particle correlation method, averaged over transverse momentum and pseudorapidity is 0.087 ± 0.002(stat) ± 0.003(syst) in the 40%-50% centrality class. The differential elliptic flow v₂ p t reaches a maximum of 0.2 near p t =3 GeV/c. Compared to RHIC Au-Au collisions at sqrt[S(NN)] 200 GeV, the elliptic flow increases by about 30%. Some hydrodynamic model predictions which include viscous corrections are in agreement with the observed increase.

Charged-particle multiplicity density at midrapidity in central Pb-Pb collisions at sqrt[S(NN)] = 2.76 TeV

The first measurement of the charged-particle multiplicity density at midrapidity in Pb-Pb collisions at a center-of-mass energy per nucleon pair √ S NN = 2.76 TeV is presented. For an event sample corresponding to the most central 5% of the hadronic cross section, the pseudorapidity density of primary charged particles at midrapidity is 1584 ± 4(stat) ± 76(syst), which corresponds to 8.3 ± 0.4(syst) per participating nucleon pair. This represents an increase of about a factor 1.9 relative to pp collisions at similar collision energies, and about a factor 2.2 to central Au-Au collisions at √ S NN = 2.76 TeV. This measurement provides the first experimental constraint for models of nucleus-nucleus collisions at LHC energies.

Non-tuberculous mycobacterial diseases presenting as solitary pulmonary nodules

SETTING

South Korea, 2005-2007.

BACKGROUND

Non-tuberculous mycobacterial diseases presenting as solitary pulmonary nodules (NTM-SPN) are rare and may be misdiagnosed as tuberculoma.

DESIGN

Eleven NTM-SPN patients were enrolled retrospectively and compared with two groups each of 33 patients with upper lobe cavitary (UC) and nodular bronchiectatic (NB) type NTM diseases, respectively.

RESULTS

The patients' median age was 52 years. Compared with UC-type disease, NTM-SPN patients showed female (n = 9) and never smoker (n = 8) predominance and fewer comorbidities (n = 0; P < 0.05 for each). Mycobacterium avium (n = 9) was predominant in NTM-SPN patients, followed by M. intracellulare (n = 2), whereas M. intracellulare was most frequently isolated from patients with both UC- and NB-type NTM (P < 0.05). The nodules were a median of 2.3 cm in diameter (range 1.6-6.3 cm) and were distributed evenly in all lobes. In all patients, percutaneous needle aspiration/biopsy was performed with a median 71 days of diagnostic delay. Ten patients successfully completed treatment, and one showed spontaneous reduction of nodule size without treatment. Reverse blot hybridisation assays of six DNA samples identified four subjects with M.avium-intracellulare complex (MAC), in line with conventional test data.

CONCLUSION

NTM-SPN was caused exclusively by MAC. Although clinical outcome was favourable, confirmatory diagnosis was delayed. Molecular methods are needed for early diagnosis of NTM-SPN.

Midrapidity antiproton-to-proton ratio in pp collisons at sqrt[s]=0.9 and 7 TeV measured by the ALICE experiment

The ratio of the yields of antiprotons to protons in pp collisions has been measured by the ALICE experiment at sqrt[s]=0.9 and 7 TeV during the initial running periods of the Large Hadron Collider. The measurement covers the transverse momentum interval 0.45<p_{t}<1.05  GeV/c and rapidity |y|<0.5. The ratio is measured to be R_{|y|<0.5}=0.957±0.006(stat)±0.014(syst) at 0.9 TeV and R_{|y|<0.5}=0.991±0.005(stat)±0.014(syst) at 7 TeV and it is independent of both rapidity and transverse momentum. The results are consistent with the conventional model of baryon-number transport and set stringent limits on any additional contributions to baryon-number transfer over very large rapidity intervals in pp collisions.

Identification of Kunitz trypsin inhibitor mutations using SNAP markers in soybean mutant lines

The Kunitz trypsin inhibitor (KTi) in soybean has several polymorphic types that are controlled by multiple alleles, which behave in a co-dominant fashion. Of these, Tia and Tib, which differ by nine amino acids, are the predominant types. In order to develop a single nucleotide amplified polymorphism (SNAP) marker for the classification of the predominant KTi types, Tia and Tib, and evaluate KTi activities by differing KTi type total 451 soybean mutant lines (M(12)-M(16) generation) were incorporated in this study. Among 451 soybean mutants, 144 and 13 mutant lines showed decreased and increased trypsin inhibitor activity when compared with the original cultivars, respectively. To identify the KTi type, we designed a SNAP marker. Among 451 mutant lines from 12 soybean cultivars and landraces, 8 mutant lines derived from cvs. Baekwoon, Paldal and Suwon115 showed a change in KTi type when compared with the original cultivars using the SNAP marker. Five mutant lines in Suwon115 changed from Tib to Tia, while two mutant lines derived from cv. Baekwoon and one mutant line derived from cv. Paldal were changed from Tia to Tib. These changes of KTi types were confirmed by sequencing of the KTi genes and non-denaturing polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of the KTi proteins. To identify the effect of KTi activity based on the change in KTi type, we measured the KTi activity using the three cultivars and eight mutant lines that showed changes in KTi type. Two mutant lines (BW-1 and 7-2) derived from cv. Baekwoon and one mutant line (PD-5-10) from cv. Paldal that changed from Tia to Tib showed lower activity than the original cultivar. In cv. Suwon115, five mutant lines that changed from Tib to Tia showed higher activity than the original cultivar. These results indicate that the designed SNAP marker was capable of identifying the KTi type and that Tia activity was higher than Tib activity in soybean.