The Prospect of Hydrolytic Enzymes from Bacillus Species in the Biological Control of Pests and Diseases in Forest and Fruit Tree Production

Plant diseases and insect pest damage cause tremendous losses in forestry and fruit tree production. Even though chemical pesticides have been effective in the control of plant diseases and insect pests for several decades, they are increasingly becoming undesirable due to their toxic residues that affect human life, animals, and the environment, as well as the growing challenge of pesticide resistance. In this study, we review the potential of hydrolytic enzymes from Bacillus species such as chitinases, β-1,3-glucanases, proteases, lipases, amylases, and cellulases in the biological control of phytopathogens and insect pests, which could be a more sustainable alternative to chemical pesticides. This study highlights the application potential of the hydrolytic enzymes from different Bacillus sp. as effective biocontrol alternatives against phytopathogens/insect pests through the degradation of cell wall/insect cuticles, which are mainly composed of structural polysaccharides like chitins, β-glucans, glycoproteins, and lipids. This study demonstrates the prospects for applying hydrolytic enzymes from Bacillus sp. as effective biopesticides in forest and fruit tree production, their mode of biocidal activity and dual antimicrobial/insecticidal potential, which indicates a great prospect for the simultaneous biocontrol of pests/diseases. Further research should focus on optimizing the production of hydrolytic enzymes, and the antimicrobial/insecticidal synergism of different Bacillus sp. which could facilitate the simultaneous biocontrol of pests and diseases in forest and fruit tree production.

Entomopathogenic Potential of Bacillus velezensis CE 100 for the Biological Control of Termite Damage in Wooden Architectural Buildings of Korean Cultural Heritage

Biocontrol strategies are gaining tremendous attention in insect pest management, such as controlling termite damage, due to the growing awareness of the irreparable harm caused by the continuous use of synthetic pesticides. This study examines the proteolytic and chitinolytic activities of Bacillus velezensis CE 100 and its termiticidal effect through cuticle degradation. The proteolytic and chitinolytic activities of B. velezensis CE 100 systematically increased with cell growth to the respective peaks of 68.3 and 128.3 units/mL after seven days of inoculation, corresponding with the highest cell growth of 16 × 10⁷ colony-forming units (CFU)/mL. The in vitro termiticidal assay showed that B. velezensis CE 100 caused a rapid and high rate of termite mortality, with a median lethal time (LT50) of >1 h and the highest mortality rates of 91.1% and 92.2% recorded at 11 h and 12 h in the bacterial broth culture and crude enzyme fraction, respectively. In addition to broken setae and deformed sockets, termites treated with the bacterial broth culture exhibited degraded epicuticles, while the crude enzyme fraction caused severe disintegration of both the epicuticle and endocuticle. These results indicate the tremendously higher potential of B. velezensis CE 100 in the biological control of subterranean termites compared to the previously used entomopathogenic bacteria.

Biological Control of Leaf Blight Disease Caused by Pestalotiopsis maculans and Growth Promotion of Quercus acutissima Carruth Container Seedlings Using Bacillus velezensis CE 100

Leaf blight disease caused by Pestalotiopsismaculans lead to deleterious losses in the quality of forest container seedlings. The use of plant growth-promoting bacteria provides a promising strategy to simultaneously control diseases and enhance forest seedling production. This study investigated the biocontrol of leaf blight disease and growth promotion potential of Bacillus velezensis CE 100 in Quercus acutissima Carruth seedlings. B. velezensis CE 100 produced cell wall degrading enzymes, such as chitinase, β-l,3-glucanase, and protease, which caused cell wall lysis and hyphae deformation of P. maculans, leading to mycelial growth inhibition by 54.94%. Inoculation of B. velezensis CE 100 suppressed P. maculans infection and increased seedling survival rate by 1.6-fold and 1.3-fold compared to chemical fertilizer and control, respectively. In addition, B. velezensis CE 100 produced indole-3-acetic acid, which improved root development and nutrient uptake compared to chemical fertilizer and control. Especially, inoculation with B. velezensis CE 100 increased the total nitrogen content of Q. acutissima seedlings, improved the chlorophyll index in the leaves, and increased seedling biomass by 1.3-fold and 2.2-fold compared to chemical fertilizer and control, respectively. Thus, B. velezensis CE 100 could be applied in the eco-friendly production of high-quality forest seedlings.

Antifungal Activity of Bacillus velezensis CE 100 against Anthracnose Disease (Colletotrichum gloeosporioides) and Growth Promotion of Walnut (Juglans regia L.) Trees

Walnut anthracnose caused by Colletotrichum gloeosporioides is a deleterious disease that severely affects the production of walnut (Juglans regia L.). The aim of this study was to assess the antifungal and growth promotion activities of Bacillus velezensis CE 100 as an alternative to chemical use in walnut production. The crude enzyme from B. velezensis CE 100 exhibited chitinase, protease, and β-l,3-glucanase activity and degraded the cell wall of C. gloeosporioides, causing the inhibition of spore germination and mycelial growth by 99.3% and 33.6% at 100 µL/mL, respectively. The field application of B. velezensis CE 100 culture broth resulted in a 1.3-fold and 6.9-fold decrease in anthracnose disease severity compared to the conventional and control groups, respectively. Moreover, B. velezensis CE 100 produced indole-3-acetic acid (up to 1.4 µg/mL) and exhibited the potential for ammonium production and phosphate solubilization to enhance the availability of essential nutrients. Thus, field inoculation of B. velezensis CE 100 improved walnut root development, increased nutrient uptake, enhanced chlorophyll content, and consequently improved total biomass by 1.5-fold and 2.0-fold compared to the conventional and control groups, respectively. These results demonstrate that B. velezensis CE 100 is an effective biocontrol agent against anthracnose disease and a potential plant growth-promoting bacteria in walnut tree production.

Bacillus velezensis CE 100 Inhibits Root Rot Diseases (Phytophthora spp.) and Promotes Growth of Japanese Cypress (Chamaecyparis obtusa Endlicher) Seedlings

Root rot diseases, caused by phytopathogenic oomycetes, Phytophthora spp. cause devastating losses involving forest seedlings, such as Japanese cypress (Chamaecyparis obtusa Endlicher) in Korea. Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) are a promising strategy to control root rot diseases and promote growth in seedlings. In this study, the potential of Bacillus velezensis CE 100 in controlling Phytophthora root rot diseases and promoting the growth of C. obtusa seedlings was investigated. B. velezensis CE 100 produced β-1,3-glucanase and protease enzymes, which degrade the β-glucan and protein components of phytopathogenic oomycetes cell-wall, causing mycelial growth inhibition of P. boehmeriae, P. cinnamomi, P. drechsleri and P. erythoroseptica by 54.6%, 62.6%, 74.3%, and 73.7%, respectively. The inhibited phytopathogens showed abnormal growth characterized by swelling and deformation of hyphae. B. velezensis CE 100 increased the survival rate of C. obtusa seedlings 2.0-fold and 1.7-fold compared to control, and fertilizer treatment, respectively. Moreover, B. velezensis CE 100 produced indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) up to 183.7 mg/L, resulting in a significant increase in the growth of C. obtusa seedlings compared to control, or chemical fertilizer treatment, respectively. Therefore, this study demonstrates that B. velezensis CE 100 could simultaneously control Phytophthora root rot diseases and enhance growth of C. obtusa seedlings.

Antifungal Activity of Cyclic Tetrapeptide from Bacillus velezensis CE 100 against Plant Pathogen Colletotrichum gloeosporioides

The aim of this study was to investigate the antifungal activity of a cyclic tetrapeptide from Bacillus velezensis CE 100 against anthracnose-causing fungal pathogen Colletotrichum gloeosporioides. Antifungal compound produced by B. velezensis CE 100 was isolated and purified from ethyl acetate extract of B. velezensis CE 100 culture broth using octadecylsilane column chromatography. The purified compound was identified as cyclo-(prolyl-valyl-alanyl-isoleucyl) based on mass spectrometer and nuclear magnetic resonance analyses. This is the first report of the isolation of a cyclic tetrapeptide from B. velezensis CE 100 culture filtrate. Cyclic tetrapeptide displayed strong antifungal activity at concentration of 1000 µg/mL against C. gloeosporioides mycelial growth and spore germination. Our results demonstrate that the antifungal cyclic tetrapeptide from B. velezensis CE 100 has potential in bioprotection against anthracnose disease of plants caused by C. gloeosporioides.

Preoperative evaluation of mammographic microcalcifications after neoadjuvant chemotherapy for breast cancer

AIM

To assess the predictive value of preoperative residual mammographic microcalcifications for residual tumours after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) for breast cancer.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This single-centre retrospective study included breast cancer patients who underwent NAC and demonstrated suspicious microcalcifications within or near the tumour bed on mammography from June 2015 to August 2018. The residual microcalcifications and remnant lesion on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were correlated with histopathological findings of residual tumours and immunohistochemical markers.

RESULTS

A total of 96 patients were included. Ten patients achieved pathological complete response (pCR) and previous suspicious microcalcifications were associated with benign pathology in 10.4% (10/96) of the patients. In the remaining 86 patients who did not achieve pCR, 61.5% (59/96) of the residual microcalcifications were associated with invasive or in situ carcinoma and 28.1% (27/96) with benign pathology. Hormone receptor-positive (HR⁺) patients had the highest proportion of residual malignant microcalcifications compared to HR^- patients (48.9% versus 13.5%, respectively; p=0.019). MRI correlated better than residual microcalcifications on mammography in predicting residual tumour extent in all subtypes (ICC=0.709 versus 0.365). MRI also showed higher correlation with residual tumour size for the HR^-/HER2⁺ and HR^-/HER2^- subtype (ICC=0.925 and 0.876, respectively).

CONCLUSION

The extent of microcalcifications on mammography after NAC did not correlate with the extent of residual cancer in 38.5% of women. Regardless of the extent of microcalcifications, residual tumour extent on MRI after NAC and molecular subtype could be an accurate tool in evaluating residual cancer after NAC.

Notch1 inactivation promotes invasion and metastasis of nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells partly through Slug activation

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is a rare form of the head and neck cancer of the epithelial lining of the nasopharynx and exhibits the highest metastatic rate among head and neck cancers. Underlying mechanisms of metastasis remain largely unknown. Here, we explored whether Notch1 affects the invasion and metastasis of NPC cells. In vitro migration and invasion capacities were evaluated after the knockdown of Notch1 expression in NPC cells. To investigate the role of Notch1 in in vivo metastasis, we examined the metastatic ability to the lungs following administration of cancer cells via mouse tail vein. The expression of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) markers associated with Notch1-mediated metastasis was investigated, and their roles in metastasis and relationship with Notch1 expression were investigated. Suppression of Notch1 expression increased the ability of NPC cells to invade Matrigel in vitro. Knockdown of Notch1 expression in NPC cells resulted in extensive lung metastasis in a mouse model and increased the mRNA expression of Slug in NPC cells. Slug-specific RNA interference resulted in the loss of the metastatic and invasion capacities in Notch1-suppressed NPC cells. These findings show that Notch1 has a significant suppressive role in the regulation of metastasis in NPCs, suggestive of its prudent use in clinical trials.

Is Polypharmacy Associated with Cognitive Frailty in the Elderly? Results from the Korean Frailty and Aging Cohort Study

OBJECTIVES

Cognitive frailty-the coexistence of physical frailty and cognitive impairment-is a phenotype of frailty in the elderly. The coexistence of physical frailty and cognitive impairment, known as cognitive frailty, is one of the phenotypes of frailty in the elderly. Cognitive frailty predicts adverse health outcome more accurately than does physical frailty. In this study, we aim to determine whether the polypharmacy common among the elderly is linked with cognitive frailty.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS

The elderly, aged between 70 and 84 years, who participated in the cross-sectional Korean Frailty and Aging Cohort Study were included in the present study.

MEASUREMENTS

Polypharmacy and hyperpolypharmacy were defined as the use of at least five and ten medications, respectively. Physical frailty was assessed by the Korean version of the FRAIL scale, and cognitive status was measured by the Trail Making Test part A, word list recall test, the Korean version of the Frontal Assessment Battery, and the Digit Span Backward test.

RESULTS

Among the 2,392 participants, 26.8% and 4.1% took more than five and ten prescribed medications, respectively. Polypharmacy and hyperpolypharmacy participants tend to have more cognitive impairment and physical frailty. Participants with cognitive frailty had the highest polypharmacy rate regardless of medication type. After controlling for the potential confounders including severity of comorbidities, frailty was found to be significantly related to polypharmacy, as defined by prescribed as well as total medications, including non-prescribed medications. However, cognitive impairment only showed a linkage to polypharmacy of prescribed medications, which-according to the results of multivariable analysis- could increase cognitive frailty, with an odds ratio of 2.70.

CONCLUSION

Although the elderly tend to depend on various medications, they should seriously consider the risk of polypharmacy for better health outcomes.

Review article: Asia-Pacific consensus recommendations on endoscopic tissue acquisition for biliary strictures

BACKGROUND

Pre-operative tissue diagnosis for suspected malignant biliary strictures remains challenging.

AIM

To develop evidence-based consensus statements on endoscopic tissue acquisition for biliary strictures.

METHODS

The initial draft of statements was prepared following a systematic literature review. A committee of 20 experts from Asia-Pacific region then reviewed, discussed, and modified the statements. Two rounds of independent voting were conducted to reach a final version. Consensus was considered to be achieved when 80% or more of voting members voted "agree completely" or "agree with some reservation."

RESULTS

Eleven statements achieved consensus. The choice of tissue sampling modalities for biliary strictures depends on the clinical setting, the location of lesion, and availability of expertise. Detailed radiological and endoscopic evaluation is useful to guide the selection of appropriate tissue acquisition technique. Standard intraductal biliary brushing and/or forceps biopsy is the first option when endoscopic biliary drainage is required with an overall (range) sensitivity and specificity of 45% (26%-72%) and 99% (98%-100%), and 48% (15%-100%) and 99% (97%-100%), respectively, in diagnosing malignant biliary strictures. Probe-based confocal laser endomicroscopy and fluorescence in situ hybridisation using 4 fluorescent-labelled probes targeting chromosomes 3, 7, 17 and 9p21 locus may be added to improve the diagnostic yield. Cholangioscopy-guided biopsy and EUS-guided tissue acquisition can be considered after prior negative conventional tissue sampling with an overall (range) sensitivity and specificity of 60% (38%-88%) and 98% (83%-100%), and 80% (46%-100%) and 97% (92%-100%), respectively, in diagnosing malignant biliary strictures.

CONCLUSION

These consensus statements provide evidence-based recommendations for endoscopic tissue acquisition of biliary strictures.

The effects of body mass index on the hereditary influences that determine peak bone mass in mother-daughter pairs (KNHANES V)

A daughter's bone mineral density (BMD) is significantly correlated with her mother's BMD, but the daughter's body mass index (BMI) could modulate this association. Maternal inheritance dominantly affects daughters with a lower BMI, but BMI could compensate for hereditary influences in daughters with a higher BMI in terms of daughter's BMD.

INTRODUCTION

Achieving optimal peak bone mass at a young age is the best way to protect against future osteoporosis and subsequent fractures. Although environmental components influence bone mass accrual, but peak bone mass is largely programmed by inheritance. The aims of this study were to investigate the influence of maternal inheritance on the daughter's bone mass and to assess whether these influences differ according to the daughter's body mass index (BMI).

METHODS

We used data obtained from the 2010 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey V and included 187 mother-daughter pairs. Bone mineral density (BMD) was measured at the lumbar spine (LS), femur neck (FN), and total hip (TH) by using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). The daughter group was stratified into two groups according to the mean BMI (21.4 kg/m(2)).

RESULTS

The daughters' BMD correlated significantly with both their BMI and their mothers' Z-score for each skeletal site. In the daughters with a lower BMI (≤21.4 kg/m(2)), the BMDs at the FN and TH were affected more by the mothers' Z-score than by the daughters' BMI. Meanwhile, the influence of the daughters' BMI on their BMD was higher than that of their mothers' Z-score in daughters with a higher BMI (>21.4 kg/m(2)). Moreover, the mothers' Z-scores were a significant predictor of their daughters having Z-scores < -1.0 only in daughters with a lower BMI.

CONCLUSIONS

This study suggests that maternal inheritance is an important determinant of the daughters' bone mass, but that this hereditary factor may vary according to the daughters' BMI.

Serous cystic neoplasm of the pancreas: a multinational study of 2622 patients under the auspices of the International Association of Pancreatology and European Pancreatic Club (European Study Group on Cystic Tumors of the Pancreas)

OBJECTIVES

Serous cystic neoplasm (SCN) is a cystic neoplasm of the pancreas whose natural history is poorly known. The purpose of the study was to attempt to describe the natural history of SCN, including the specific mortality.

DESIGN

Retrospective multinational study including SCN diagnosed between 1990 and 2014.

RESULTS

2622 patients were included. Seventy-four per cent were women, and median age at diagnosis was 58 years (16-99). Patients presented with non-specific abdominal pain (27%), pancreaticobiliary symptoms (9%), diabetes mellitus (5%), other symptoms (4%) and/or were asymptomatic (61%). Fifty-two per cent of patients were operated on during the first year after diagnosis (median size: 40 mm (2-200)), 9% had resection beyond 1 year of follow-up (3 years (1-20), size at diagnosis: 25 mm (4-140)) and 39% had no surgery (3.6 years (1-23), 25.5 mm (1-200)). Surgical indications were (not exclusive) uncertain diagnosis (60%), symptoms (23%), size increase (12%), large size (6%) and adjacent organ compression (5%). In patients followed beyond 1 year (n=1271), size increased in 37% (growth rate: 4 mm/year), was stable in 57% and decreased in 6%. Three serous cystadenocarcinomas were recorded. Postoperative mortality was 0.6% (n=10), and SCN's related mortality was 0.1% (n=1).

CONCLUSIONS

After a 3-year follow-up, clinical relevant symptoms occurred in a very small proportion of patients and size slowly increased in less than half. Surgical treatment should be proposed only for diagnosis remaining uncertain after complete workup, significant and related symptoms or exceptionally when exists concern with malignancy. This study supports an initial conservative management in the majority of patients with SCN.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

IRB 00006477.

Sarcopenia as a Predictor of Future Cognitive Impairment in Older Adults

OBJECTIVES

We investigated the association between the indices of sarcopenia and future risk of cognitive impairment in older adults.

DESIGN

Community-based prospective cohort study.

SETTING

Community.

PARTICIPANTS

A total of 297 participants aged ≥65 years without cognitive impairment at baseline (mean age, 71.9 ± 6.6 years; men:women, 158:139) and who underwent cognitive evaluation at the 5-year follow-up.

MEASUREMENTS

Sarcopenia parameters including appendicular lean mass (ALM), handgrip strength, and the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB) score at baseline were compared according to the later progression of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and/or dementia. The operational criteria suggested by the Foundation for the National Institutes of Health Sarcopenia Project were used. We performed multivariate logistic regression analysis to identify the independent indicators of the progression of cognitive impairment.

RESULTS

Among the 297 participants, 242 (81.5%) remained cognitively normal (nonprogression group), whereas 55 (18.5%) showed progression of cognitive impairment (50 subjects (16.8%) to MCI and 5 subjects (1.7%) to dementia) (progression group). Compared with the nonprogression group, subjects in the progression group were older, had a lower educational level, and had lower physical function as assessed by the SPPB; a higher percentage were depressed. Other baseline markers of sarcopenia, including the ALM-to-body mass index ratio and handgrip strength did not differ significantly between the groups. The association between a low SPPB score (<9) and progression of cognitive impairment was maintained after adjustment for conventional risk factors for cognitive impairment (hazard ratio 2.222, 95% confidence interval 1.047-4.716, P = 0.038).

CONCLUSION

Decreased physical performance, as assessed by the SPPB, but not other markers of sarcopenia, was independently associated with the risk of later cognitive impairment in older adults.

Identification of a novel HLA-B*15 variant, B*15:367, using sequence-based typing in a Korean woman

New allele, B*15:367, differs from B*15:11:01 by a single nucleotide exchange at codon 222 (GAG→AAG).

Classification by causes of dark circles and appropriate evaluation method of dark circles

BACKGROUND

Dark circles refer to a symptom that present darkness under the eyes. Because of improvement in the quality of life, the dark circles have been recognized as one of major cosmetic concerns. However, it is not easy to classify the dark circles because they have various causes.

METHODS

To select suitable instruments and detailed evaluation items, the dark circles were classified according to the causes through visual assessment, Wood's lamp test, and medical history survey for 100 subjects with dark circles. After the classification, were newly recruited for instrument conformity assessment. Through this, suitable instruments for dark circle evaluation were selected. We performed a randomized clinical trial for dark circles, a placebo-controlled double-blind study, using effective parameters of the instruments selected from the preliminary test.

RESULTS

Dark circles of vascular type (35%) and mixed type (54%), a combination of pigmented and vascular types, were the most common. Twenty four subjects with the mixed type dark circles applied the test product (Vitamin C 3%, Vitamin A 0.1%, Vitamin E 0.5%) and placebo on randomized split-face for 8 weeks. The effective parameters (L*, a, M.I., E.I., quasi L*, quasi a* and dermal thickness) were measured during the study period. Result showed that the L* value of Chromameter(®) , Melanin index (M.I.) of Mexameter(®) and quasi L* value obtained by image analysis improved with statistical significance after applying the test product compared with the placebo product.

CONCLUSION

We classified the dark circles according to the causes of the dark circles and verified the reliability of the parameter obtained by the instrument conformity assessment used in this study through the efficacy evaluation. Also based on this study, we were to suggest newly established methods which can be applied to the evaluation of efficacy of functional cosmetics for dark circles.

Favorable effect of dietary vitamin C on bone mineral density in postmenopausal women (KNHANES IV, 2009): discrepancies regarding skeletal sites, age, and vitamin D status

Dietary vitamin C intake showed significant positive associations with BMD in postmenopausal women, especially with vitamin D deficiency.

INTRODUCTION

Although there is a positive role of vitamin C in osteoblastogenesis, debate remains about the contribution of vitamin C to bone mineral density (BMD) in humans.

METHODS

Data were derived from the Fourth Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Dietary information was assessed using a 24-h dietary recall questionnaire. BMD was measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry at the lumbar and hip.

RESULTS

A total of 1,196 postmenopausal women aged 50 years and older were stratified into tertiles by daily dietary vitamin C intake. After adjusting for traditional confounders, dietary vitamin C intake tertile was significantly positively associated with BMD at all sites (R = 0.513 for lumbar spine (LS) and R = 0.657 for femoral neck (FN), P < 0.05 for each). The subjects with osteoporosis had significantly lower dietary vitamin C intake than did subjects without osteoporosis (74.4 ± 66.2 vs 94.1 ± 78.6 mg/day for LS and 65.5 ± 56.6 vs 94.3 ± 79.2 mg/day for FN, respectively, P < 0.001). The multiple-adjusted odds ratio for osteoporosis for dietary vitamin C <100 mg/day was 1.790 (95 % CI 1.333-2.405, P < 0.001). However, the significant association between vitamin C intake and BMD was only observed in subjects with vitamin D deficiency and aged 50-59 years or >70 years.

CONCLUSION

Dietary vitamin C intake was positively associated with BMD in postmenopausal women, and inadequate vitamin C intake could increase the risk of osteoporosis.

Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D level and the risk of mild cognitive impairment and dementia: the Korean Longitudinal Study on Health and Aging (KLoSHA)

OBJECTIVE

The association of low vitamin D status with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), a preclinical condition that can lead to dementia, has not yet been fully explored. Our aim was to investigate the association between vitamin D status and the future risk of MCI and dementia in older adults.

DESIGN, SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS

We conducted a population-based prospective study as a part of the Korean Longitudinal Study on Health and Aging. Four hundred and twelve elderly participants who completed evaluations of cognitive function and metabolic parameters in 2005-2006 and 2010-2011 were analysed.

MAJOR OUTCOME MEASURE

The rate of development of MCI or dementia during the study period was compared according to baseline vitamin D status. Binary logistic regression analysis was performed to investigate any independent association between vitamin D status and the risks of MCI or dementia.

RESULTS

Among 405 subjects that remained after excluding seven demented subjects at baseline, 338 subjects remained unchanged or improved in their diagnosis for cognitive function during the study period, whereas 67 subjects showed progression to MCI or dementia. When analyzing 236 subjects whose baseline mini-mental state examination (MMSE) scores were <27, severe vitamin D deficiency at baseline, defined as <25 nmol/l, was independently associated with the progression of cognitive impairment. Among 297 subjects who were normal at baseline, 50 acquired MCI and 247 remained normal. Severe vitamin D deficiency was also independently associated with the development of MCI when analyzing 145 subjects whose baseline MMSE scores were <27.

CONCLUSION

Severe vitamin D deficiency was independently associated with the future risk of MCI as well as dementia, especially in older adults whose baseline MMSE scores had decreased only modestly.

Optimizing electrical activation of porcine oocytes by adjusting pre- and post-activation mannitol exposure times

Modifying electrical activation conditions have been used to improve in vitro embryo production and development in pigs. However, there is insufficient information about correlations of porcine embryo development with oocyte pre- and post-activation conditions. The purpose of this study was to compare the developmental rates of porcine oocytes subjected to different mannitol exposure times, either pre- or post-electrical activation, and to elucidate the reason for the optimal mannitol exposure time. Mannitol exposure times around activation were adjusted as 0, 1, 2 or 3 min. Blastocyst development were checked on day 7. Exposure of oocytes to mannitol for 1 or 2 min before electrical activation produced significantly higher blastocyst rates than exposure for 0 or 3 min. There was no significant difference in blastocyst rates when activated oocytes were exposed to mannitol for 0, 1, 2 or 3 min after electrical activation. While exposure of oocytes to mannitol for 1 min pre- and 3 min post-activation showed significantly higher blastocyst development than 0 min pre- and 0 min post-activation. It also showed higher maintenance of normal oocyte morphology than exposure for 0 min pre- and 0 min post-activation. In conclusion, exposure of oocytes to mannitol for 1 min pre- and 3 min post-activation seems to be optimal for producing higher in vitro blastocyst development of porcine parthenogenetic embryos. The higher blastocyst development is correlated with higher maintenance of normal morphology in oocytes exposed to mannitol for 1 min pre- and 3 min post-activation.

Oct4 is a critical regulator of stemness in head and neck squamous carcinoma cells

Cancer stem cells (CSCs) have been suggested as responsible for the initiation and progression of cancers. Octamer-binding transcription factor 4 (Oct4) is an important regulator of embryonic stem cell fate. Here, we investigated whether Oct4 regulates stemness of head and neck squamous carcinoma (HNSC) CSCs. Our study showed that ectopic expression of Oct4 promotes tumor growth through cyclin E activation, increases chemoresistance through ABCC6 expression and enhances tumor invasion through slug expression. Also, Oct4 dedifferentiates differentiated HNSC cells to CSC-like cells. Furthermore, Oct4(high) HNSC CSCs have more stem cell-like traits compared with Oct4(low) cells, such as self-renewal, stem cell markers' expression, chemoresistance, invasion capacity and xenograft tumorigeneity in vitro and in vivo. In addition, knockdown of Oct4 led to markedly lower HNSC CSC stemness. Finally, there was a significant correlation between Oct4 expression and survival of 119 HNSC patients. Collectively, these data suggest that Oct4 may be a critical regulator of HNSC CSCs and its targeting may be potentially valuable in the treatment of HNSC CSCs.

Technical tips and issues of biliary stenting, focusing on malignant hilar obstruction

In patients with inoperable hilar cholangiocarcinoma (HCCA), palliative endoscopic or percutaneous drainage provides benefits in terms of symptomatic improvement and quality of life. Endoscopic biliary stent placement is considered the gold standard, with metal stents preferred over plastic stents in patients with more than three months of life expectancy. However, the endoscopic management of advanced hilar obstruction is often more challenging and complex than distal malignant biliary obstructions. Recently, the Asia-Pacific working group on hepatobiliary cancers produced consensus recommendations on the use of endoscopic vs. percutaneous drainage and unilateral vs. bilateral drainage in the management of HCCA. However, these guidelines must be weighed against context-specific information, such as the volume of liver drainage required, life expectancy of the patient, and the available expertise. In this literature review, we describe the issues commonly encountered during endoscopic biliary stenting for malignant hilar obstruction and provide technical guidance to improve success rates and patient outcomes.

FDTD analysis of the light extraction efficiency of OLEDs with a random scattering layer

The light extraction efficiency of OLEDs with a nano-sized random scattering layer (RSL-OLEDs) was analyzed using the Finite Difference Time Domain (FDTD) method. In contrast to periodic diffraction patterns, the presence of an RSL suppresses the spectral shift with respect to the viewing angle. For FDTD simulation of RSL-OLEDs, a planar light source with a certain spatial and temporal coherence was incorporated, and the light extraction efficiency with respect to the fill factor of the RSL and the absorption coefficient of the material was investigated. The design results were compared to the experimental results of the RSL-OLEDs in order to confirm the usefulness of FDTD in predicting experimental results. According to our FDTD simulations, the light confined within the ITO-organic waveguide was quickly absorbed, and the absorption coefficients of ITO and RSL materials should be reduced in order to obtain significant improvement in the external quantum efficiency (EQE). When the extinction coefficient of ITO was 0.01, the EQE in the RSL-OLED was simulated to be enhanced by a factor of 1.8.

INCB018424 induces apoptotic cell death through the suppression of pJAK1 in human colon cancer cells

Janus kinase (JAK) is one of the main upstream activators of signal transducers and activators of transcription (STAT) that are constitutively activated in various malignancies and are associated with cell growth, survival, and carcinogenesis. Here, we investigated the role of JAKs in colorectal cancer in order to develop effective therapeutic targets for INCB018424, which is the first JAK1/2 inhibitor to be approved by FDA. After examining the basal expression levels of phospho-JAK1 and phospho-JAK2, we measured the effects of INCB018424 on the phosphorylation of JAK1/2 using western blot analysis. Cell viability was determined using the trypan blue exclusion assay. The cell death mechanism was identified by the activation of caspase 3 using western blot and annexin V staining. The basal levels of phospho-JAK1 and phospho-JAK2 were cancer cell type dependent. Colorectal cancer cell lines that phosphorylate both JAK1 and JAK2 include DLD-1 and RKO. INCB018424 inactivates both JAK1 and JAK2 in DLD-1 cells but inactivates only JAK1 in RKO cells. Cell death was proportional to the inactivation of JAK1 but not JAK2. INCB018424 causes caspase-dependent cell death, which is prevented by treatment with z-VAD. The inhibition of JAK1 phosphorylation seemed sufficient to allow INCB018424-mediated apoptosis. JAK1 is a key molecule that is involved in colon cancer cell survival and the inhibition of JAK1 by INCB01424 results in caspase-dependent apoptosis in colorectal cancer cells. The use of selective JAK1 inhibitors could be an attractive therapy against colorectal cancer, but further clinical investigations are needed to test this possibility.

Primary and revision efficacy of cross-wired metallic stents for endoscopic bilateral stent-in-stent placement in malignant hilar biliary strictures

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS

Endoscopic bilateral drainage for inoperable malignant hilar biliary strictures (HBS) using metal stents is considered to be technically difficult. Furthermore, endoscopic revision of bilateral stenting after occlusion can be challenging. This study was performed to evaluate the long-term efficacy of endoscopic bilateral stent-in-stent placement of cross-wired metallic stents in high-grade malignant HBS and planned endoscopic bilateral revision.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A total of 84 patients with inoperable high-grade malignant HBS were enrolled from three academic tertiary referral centers. Two cross-wired metal stents were inserted using a bilateral stent-in-stent placement method. Bilateral endoscopic revision was also performed during follow-up using either identical metal stents or plastic stents. The main outcome measurements were technical and functional success, complications, stent patency, and endoscopic revision efficacy.

RESULTS

The technical and clinical success rates of endoscopic bilateral stent-in-stent placement of cross-wired metallic stents were 95.2% (80/84) and 92.9% (78/84), respectively. Median patency (range) and survival were 238 days (10-429) and 256 days (10-1130), respectively. Obstruction of primary bilateral stents occurred in 30.8% (24/78) of patients with functionally successful stent placement. The technical and clinical success rates of planned bilateral endoscopic revision for occluded stents were 83.3% (20/24) and 79.2% (19/24), respectively. For revision, bilateral metallic stents were placed in 11 patients (55.0%); the remaining patients received plastic stents.

CONCLUSIONS

Palliative endoscopic bilateral stent-in-stent placement of cross-wired metallic stents was effective in patients with inoperable HBS. Revision endoscopic bilateral stenting may be feasible and successful in cases where the primary deployed metal stents are occluded.

Esophageal submucosal dissection under steady pressure automatically controlled endoscopy (SPACE): a randomized preclinical trial

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS

A new overtube system has been developed for steady pressure automatically controlled endoscopy (SPACE) in the gastrointestinal tract. The objectives of this study were to validate the feasibility and safety of SPACE in the esophagus, and to evaluate its potential advantages over conventional (manually insufflating) endoscopy in endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD).

METHODS

This was a multicenter preclinical trial using acute porcine models (n = 20). In Experiment 1 (feasibility/safety study), SPACE was attempted in the esophagus with continuous monitoring of cardiopulmonary parameters and intraluminal pressures in the downstream bowel. Different insufflation pressures were tested to optimize the insufflation condition. Each session was video-recorded and scored by blinded reviewers. In Experiment 2 (randomized trial), esophageal ESD was attempted using either SPACE or conventional endoscopy, and results were compared.

RESULTS

In Experiment 1, SPACE was performed safely without intraluminal pressure elevation in the downstream bowel. According to video review, SPACE provided more stable, reproducible, and rapid visualization than conventional endoscopy. The insufflation pressure was optimized at 14 mmHg for esophageal SPACE. In Experiment 2, ESD was completed in all animals. The ESD time was significantly shorter with SPACE compared with conventional endoscopy (1326 vs. 1616 seconds; P = 0.009). Responses to questionnaires showed that 94 % - 100 % of participants considered SPACE to provide improved exposure and more uniform tissue tension than conventional endoscopy. Other data were comparable.

CONCLUSIONS

SPACE is feasible, safe, and potentially effective for complicated endoscopic procedures, such as ESD. SPACE improves and standardizes endoscopic exposure and tissue tension. A clinical study is required to further confirm its safety and clinical effectiveness.

Direct peroral cholangioscopy using an ultraslim upper endoscope for management of residual stones after mechanical lithotripsy for retained common bile duct stones

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS

The incidence of residual stones after mechanical lithotripsy for retained common bile duct (CBD) stones is relatively high. Peroral cholangioscopy using a mother-baby system may be useful for confirming complete extraction of stones, but has several limitations regarding routine use. We evaluated the role of direct peroral cholangioscopy (DPOC) using an ultraslim upper endoscope for the evaluation and removal of residual CBD stones after mechanical lithotripsy.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

From August 2006 to November 2010, 48 patients who had undergone mechanical lithotripsy for retained CBD stones with no evidence of filling defects in balloon cholangiography were recruited. The bile duct was inspected by DPOC after balloon cholangiography. Detected residual CBD stones were directly retrieved with a basket or balloon catheter under DPOC. The incidence of residual stones detected by DPOC, and the success rate of residual stone retrieval under DPOC were investigated.

RESULTS

DPOC was successfully performed in 46 of the 48 patients (95.8%). Of these, 13 patients (28.3%) had residual CBD stones (mean number 1.4, range 1-3; mean diameter 4.5 mm, range 2.3-9.6). The residual stones were removed directly under DPOC in 11 of these patients (84.6%). There were no complications associated with DPOC or stone removal.

CONCLUSION

DPOC using an ultraslim upper endoscope is a useful endoscopic procedure for the evaluation and extraction of residual stones after mechanical lithotripsy for retained CBD stones.

Immunoglobulin D multiple myeloma: response to therapy, survival, and prognostic factors in 75 patients

BACKGROUND

To analyze the clinical features, outcomes including efficacy of treatment, and prognostic factors of patients with immunoglobulin D multiple myeloma (IgD MM).

DESIGN AND METHODS

Seventy-five patients diagnosed with IgD MM were selected from the Korean Myeloma Registry database (www.myeloma.or.kr).

RESULTS

Median age was 57 years and the main presenting features were bone pain (77%). Renal function impairment and hypercalcemia were present in 40 (53%) and 20 (27%) patients. Sixty-seven patients (89%) had lambda light chains. Forty-eight patients (64%) were of stage III by International Staging System. Twenty-six patients (53%) had chromosomal abnormalities mostly by conventional cytogenetics. Thirty-nine patients (54%) were treated with vincristine, adriamycin, and dexamethasone chemotherapy; the overall response rate (ORR) of 56%. Sixteen patients (22%) received first-line chemotherapy including new drugs (bortezomib or thalidomide), with an ORR of 81%. At a median follow-up time of 28.6 months, median overall survival (OS) was 18.5 months. Age, extramedullary plasmacytoma, del(13) or hypoploidy, serum β(2) microglobulin level, and platelet count were significant prognostic factors for OS.

CONCLUSIONS

IgD MM is an aggressive disease that is usually detected at an advanced stage. Despite a positive initial response, survival after relapse was dismal. Intensive treatment strategies before and following stem cell transplantation may improve outcomes in younger patients.

Early onset of acute GVHD indicates worse outcome in terms of severity of chronic GVHD compared with late onset

Acute GVHD (aGVHD) is an important risk factor for predicting the incidence or severity of chronic GVHD (cGVHD). Transplant outcome can be influenced by the onset time of aGVHD in patients who have received allogeneic PBSC transplants (PBSCTs). The medical records of 134 patients who survived more than 3 months after myeloablative allogeneic PBSCT were retrospectively reviewed. In all, 38 patients (28.4%) developed grade II-IV aGVHD before day +28 (early aGVHD) and 25 patients (18.7%) after day +28 (late aGVHD). The 5-year cumulative incidence of cGVHD was 78.9% in the early-aGVHD group and 56.6% in the late-aGVHD group (P=0.034). The 5-year OS was 51.0% for the early-aGVHD and 80.8% for the late-aGVHD group (P=0.406). Infection was the primary cause of death for the early-aGVHD group (51.4 vs 16.7%, P=0.017), whereas relapse of the primary disease was higher among the patients with late aGVHD, although this was statistically insignificant (58.3 vs 25.7%, P=0.309). In a multivariate analysis, early aGVHD was identified as a risk factor for developing cGVHD (hazard ratio (HR) 2.278, P=0.004). The development of aGVHD early after allogeneic PBSCT increased the risk of cGVHD and infection-related death rate when compared with the late onset of aGVHD.

Endoscopic treatment of difficult bile duct stones by using a double-lumen basket for laser lithotripsy--a case series

Laser lithotripsy is an effective and safe method for difficult common bile duct (CBD) stones. However, radiolucent laser fibers make accurate fragmentation difficult and require continuous visual control or an accessory for effective targeting. The newly developed double-lumen basket may promote effective laser lithotripsy after stone capture. We performed laser lithotripsy using a double-lumen basket in 14 patients with CBD stones refractive to conventional endoscopic treatment, and evaluated the feasibility and efficacy of this procedure. Stones were successfully fragmented in 13 of 14 patients, and 13 patients eventually became stone-free. Mechanical lithotripsy was applied in two patients with biliary strictures. Minor complications were noted in three patients, including transient hemobilia in one patient. For a selected group of patients with difficult CBD stones, laser lithotripsy using a double-lumen basket appears to be an effective and safe method. However, continuous development of basket protocols to increase the success rate of lithotripsy is needed.

IVS10+12A>G polymorphism in hMSH2 gene associated with prognosis for patients with colorectal cancer

BACKGROUND

The polymorphisms in DNA repair genes may contribute to a variation in the DNA repair capacity, thereby affecting the risk of carcinogenesis and prognosis of colorectal cancer. Accordingly, the present study analyzed 14 polymorphisms in DNA repair genes and their impact on the prognosis for patients with colorectal cancer.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Three hundred and ninety-seven consecutive patients with curatively resected colorectal adenocarcinoma were enrolled in the present study. The genomic DNA was extracted from fresh colorectal tissue and 14 polymorphisms of DNA repair genes determined using a real-time PCR genotyping assay.

RESULTS

The median age of the patients was 63 years, and 218 (54.9%) patients had colon cancer, while 179 (45.1%) patients had rectal cancer. A multivariate survival analysis, including age, differentiation, carcinoembryonic antigen level, and stage, revealed a better survival for the patients with the combined IVS10+12AG and GG genotype than for the patients with the IVS10+12AA genotype [disease-free survival: hazard ratio (HR) 0.47, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.30-0.75, P = 0.002; overall survival: HR 0.50, 95% CI 0.26-0.98, P = 0.042]. None of the other polymorphisms was associated with survival.

CONCLUSION

The IVS10+12A>G polymorphism in the hMSH2 gene was found to be an independent prognostic marker for patients with colorectal cancer.

Human amnion-derived mesenchymal stem cells are a potential source for uterine stem cell therapy

OBJECTIVES

Human amnion is an easy-to-obtain novel source of human mesenchymal stem cells, which poses little or no ethical dilemmas. We have previously shown that human amnion-derived mesenchymal (HAM) cells exhibit certain mesenchymal stem cell-like characteristics with respect to expression of stem cell markers and differentiation potentials.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In this study, we further characterized HAM cells' potential for in vivo therapeutic application.

RESULTS

Flow cytometric analyses of HAM cells show that they express several stem cell-related cell surface markers, including CD90, CD105, CD59, CD49d, CD44 and HLA-ABC, but not CD45, CD34, CD31, CD106 or HLA-DR. HAM cells at the 10th passage showed normal karyotype. More interestingly, the AbdB-like HOXA genes HOXA9, HOXA10 and HOXA11 that are expressed in the mesenchyme of the developing female reproductive tract and pregnant uteri are also expressed in HAM cells, suggesting similarities between these two mesenchymal cell types. Progesterone receptor is also highly expressed in HAM cells and expression of genes or proteins in HAM cells could be manipulated with the aid of lentivirus technology or cell-permeable peptides. To test potentials of HAM cells for in vivo application, we introduced enhanced green fluorescence protein (EGFP)-expressing HAM cells to mice by intrauterine infusion (into uteri) or by intravenous injection (into the circulation). Presence of EGFP-expressing cells within the uterine mesenchyme after intrauterine infusion or in lungs after intravenous injection was noted within 1-4 weeks.

CONCLUSIONS

Collectively, these results suggest that HAM cells are a potential source of mesenchymal stem cells with therapeutic potential.

New myeloablative conditioning regimen with fludarabine and busulfan for allogeneic stem cell transplantation: comparison with BuCy2

A regimen of busulfan and cyclophosphamide (BuCy2) is regarded as the standard myeloablative regimen for SCT. This study evaluated the hypothesis that fludarabine can replace cyclophosphamide for myeloablative allogeneic SCT. Ninety-five patients underwent allogeneic SCT from HLA-identical donors, following BuCy2 (n=55) or busulfan+fludarabine (BF, n=40). The efficacy of fludarabine compared to cyclophosphamide was retrospectively evaluated. The BF group exhibited a shorter duration until engraftment (P=0.001), lower incidence of acute and chronic GVHD (P<0.001 and P=0.003, respectively), and non-relapse mortality (NRM) (P=0.039). Furthermore, the event-free survival and overall survival were significantly higher for the BF group compared to the BuCy2 group (P=0.004 and 0.002, respectively). After adjusting for age, the risk status of disease, GVHD prophylaxis and donor type, the BF regimen was found to be an independent favorable risk factor for event-free survival (hazard ratio (HR), 0.181; 95% confidence interval, 0.045-0.720; P=0.016) and overall survival (HR, 0.168; 0.035-0.807; P=0.026). The replacement of cyclophosphamide with fludarabine for myeloablative conditioning seems to be more effective in terms of short-term NRM, and GVHD compared to BuCy2 regimen in allogeneic transplantation.

Surgical resection of solitary adrenal metastasis from esophageal carcinoma following esophagectomy

The prognosis of esophageal carcinoma following esophagectomy is poor due to a high frequency of metastasis to periesophageal lymph nodes and distant organs. However, we experienced a case with good prognosis following resection of a solitary adrenal metastatic tumor. The patient was a 70-year-old man diagnosed with type 2 esophageal cancer (Lt-Ae, T2N1M0, Stage IIB) who was treated with esophagectomy. Eight months following surgery, solitary adrenal metastasis was detected by CT, and was resected. At 42 months follow-up he has had a good quality of life in the community without evidence of recurrence. To the best of our knowledge, only five cases with resected solitary adrenal metastases including our case, have been reported, and show a greater than 1-year survival. Consequently, we suggest that resection of solitary organ metastases is a good alternative, even following esophagectomy.

Endoscopic submucosal resection with double ligation technique for treatment of small rectal carcinoid tumors

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS

It is difficult to achieve complete endoscopic resection of rectal carcinoid tumors without any procedure-related complications. In this study, we evaluated the efficacy and safety of endoscopic submucosal resection with double ligation (ESMR-DL) for the treatment of small rectal carcinoid tumors.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Eleven rectal carcinoid tumors (in 11 patients) were resected by ESMR-DL between November 2001 and April 2004, using a conventional single-channel endoscope with an attached band-ligator device. The lesion was aspirated into the ligator device and an elastic band was placed around the base; a detachable snare was then used to ligate the stalk below the elastic band; and snare resection was performed above the elastic band. The resected specimens were examined with respect to size, histological atypia, depth of invasion, and the histological appearance of the resection margins.

RESULTS

All the lesions were excised completely without any complications. There was no tumor invasion beyond the submucosal layer and there was no evidence of atypia in any of the specimens. Tumor diameter varied from 2.0 mm to 10.0 mm (average 6.2 mm). None of the 11 specimens showed histopathological evidence of tumor involvement at the resection margins. There were no immediate or late complications (bleeding or perforation) after ESMR-DL. There was no local recurrence and there were no distant metastases in any patients during the mean follow-up period of 18 months.

CONCLUSION

Endoscopic submucosal resection with double ligation is a useful and safe method for the treatment of small rectal carcinoid tumors.

Benign Breast Diseases Associated With Cyclosporine Therapy in Renal Transplant Recipients

PURPOSE

Our aim was to correlate the radiologic characteristics of cyclosporine-induced benign breast diseases with clinical and pathologic findings.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The clinical, mammographic, and ultrasonographic records of 33 female renal transplant recipients who received cyclosporine were retrospectively reviewed. Eleven patients had 46 breast masses on ultrasonography. We performed core needle biopsies on 20 masses and reviewed the pathologic findings.

RESULTS

Among 33 female renal transplant recipients, 11 (33%) had 46 benign breast lesions detected on ultrasonography. We performed core needle biopsies on 20 of the 46 masses. On pathologic examination, 12 were fibroadenomas, 6 showed fibrocystic changes, and 2 revealed dense fibrosis. Regardless of the final pathologic diagnosis, more than half of the lesions revealed severe lymphatic and venular swellings. Among 11 patients with breast lesions on ultrasonography, 10/11 (91%) showed multiplicity, and 7/11 (64%) bilaterality. Mammographically, patients with breast lesions revealed heterogeneous or extremely dense breast patterns, and 8 of 11 patients, circumscribed masses. Twenty-two patients without breast lesions showed scattered fibroglandular densities (n = 7), or heterogeneously dense (n = 11) or extremely dense (n = 4) breast patterns, and 3 of 22 patients showed vague or asymmetric densities that needed further evaluation.

CONCLUSION

The development of new breast lesions in patients after renal transplantation should suggest a diagnosis of cyclosporine-induced benign breast disease including fibroadenoma, fibrocystic changes, and dense fibrosis.

Relationship between inspiratory muscle strength and cough capacity in cervical spinal cord injured patients

STUDY DESIGN

Prospective single centre study.

OBJECTIVES

Pulmonary rehabilitation focuses on improving the expiratory muscle function in order to increase the reduced cough capacity in patients with cervical spinal cord injuries (SCI). However, an improvement in the inspiratory function is also important for coughing effectively. Therefore, this study was to examine the significance of the inspiratory muscle strength on the cough capacity in the patients with a cervical SCI.

SETTING

SCI unit, Yonsei Rehabilitation Hospital, Seoul, Korea.

METHODS

The vital capacity (VC), maximum inspiratory pressure (MIP), and maximum expiratory pressure (MEP) were measured. Moreover, the unassisted peak cough flow (PCF) and assisted PCF under three conditions were evaluated.

RESULTS

All three assisted cough methods showed a significantly higher value than the unassisted method (P < 0.001). The VC correlated with the voluntary cough capacity and the MIP (R = 0.749) correlated more significantly with the VC than the MEP (R = 0.438) (P < 0.01). The MIP showed a higher correlation with both the unassisted PCF and all three assisted PCFs than the MEP (P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

The management of the inspiratory muscle strength should be considered in the pulmonary rehabilitation at cervical SCI patients.

Prospective study of the effectiveness of percutaneous transhepatic photodynamic therapy for advanced bile duct cancer and the role of intraductal ultrasonography in response assessment

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS

We evaluated the therapeutic effects of percutaneous transhepatic photodynamic therapy (PDT) in patients with advanced bile duct cancer. The utility of intraductal ultrasonography (IDUS) for the assessment of responses and for regular follow up after PDT was also examined.

METHODS

Percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage (PTBD) was initiated before PDT. Following dilation and maturation of the PTBD tract, percutaneous PDT was performed. Intraluminal photoactivation was carried out using percutaneous cholangioscopy 2 days after intravenous application of a hematoporphyrin derivative. All patients were additionally provided with percutaneous bile duct drainage catheters after PDT. IDUS was conducted monthly to measure the thickness of the tumor mass before and after PDT.

RESULTS

24 patients with advanced cholangiocarcinomas (Bismuth IIIa, n = 4; IIIb, n = 10; IV, n = 10) were treated with PDT. At 3 months after PDT, the mean thickness of the tumor mass had decreased from 8.7 +/- 3.7 mm to 5.8 +/- 2.0 mm (P < 0.01). At 4 months after PDT, the thickness of the mass had increased to 7.0 +/- 3.7 mm. Quality of life indices improved dramatically and remained stable 1 month after PDT; the Karnofsky index increased from 39.1 +/- 11.36 to 58.2 +/- 22.72 points (P = 0.003). The 30-day mortality rate was 0 %, and the median survival time was 558 +/- 178.8 days (current range 62 - 810 days).

CONCLUSIONS

PDT using percutaneous cholangioscopy is safe and effective for advanced hilar cholangiocarcinoma, and seems to prolong survival. IDUS is useful for evaluating changes in the thickness of the tumor mass after PDT.

Invasive intraductal papillary mucinous tumor of the pancreas with simultaneous invasion of the stomach and duodenum

An 81-year-old woman was admitted with epigastric pain and weight loss. She had been diagnosed with an intraductal papillary mucosal tumor (IPMT) 7 years previously, but had refused surgery for religious reasons. Esophagogastroduodenoscopy revealed a nodular, elevated lesion that was discharging mucin into the duodenal bulb and posterior wall of the upper body of the stomach. Endoscopic ultrasonography, abdominal computed tomography, and endoscopic retrograde cholangiography were carried out, and a highly invasive IPMT with simultaneous invasion of the stomach and duodenum was diagnosed.

Protection by quercetin and quercetin 3-O-beta-D-glucuronide of peroxynitrite-induced antioxidant consumption in human plasma low-density lipoprotein

Effect of quercetin and its conjugated metabolite quercetin 3-O-beta-D-glucuronide (Q3GA), on peroxynitrite-induced consumption of lipophilic antioxidants in human plasma low-density lipoprotein (LDL) was measured to estimate the role of dietary flavonoids in the defense system against oxidative modification of LDL based on the reaction of nitric oxide and superoxide anion. Synthesized peroxynitrite-induced consumption of endogenous lycopene beta-carotene and alpha-tocopherol was effectively suppressed by adding quercetin aglycone into LDL solution. Q3GA also inhibited the consumption of these antioxidants effectively. These results indicate that dietary quercetin is capable of inhibiting peroxynitrite-induced oxidative modification of LDL in association with lipophilic antioxidants present within this lipoprotein particle.

Inhibitory effect of a quercetin metabolite, quercetin 3-O-beta-D-glucuronide, on lipid peroxidation in liposomal membranes

To study the antioxidant activity of quercetin 3-O-beta-D-glucuronide (Q3GA), which is one of the quercetin metabolites in the blood after intake of quercetin-rich food, the inhibitory effect of Q3GA on lipid peroxidation was estimated using phosphatidylcholine large unilamellar vesicles (PC LUV) as a biomembrane model. Iron ion, an aqueous peroxyl radical generator, a peroxynitrite generator, or lipoxygenase was used as the inducer of lipid peroxidation. In all cases, Q3GA inhibited lipid peroxidation significantly, although its inhibitory effect was lower than that of quercetin aglycon. The ultrafiltration of PC LUV containing Q3GA revealed that Q3GA has low but significant affinity with the membranes of phospholipid bilayers. It is therefore likely that Q3GA acts as an efficient antioxidant in membranous lipid peroxidation through its localization in the phospholipid bilayer. This conjugated quercetin metabolite seems to retain the ability to protect cellular and subcellular membranes from peroxidative attack by reactive oxygen species and peroxidative enzymes.

Fixation of a modified covered esophageal stent: its clinical usefulness for preventing stent migration

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS

Membrane-covered self-expandable metal stents are effective in preventing tumor ingrowth and stent obstruction in patients with inoperable esophageal cancer, but migration of stents continues to be a major problem. We therefore constructed a modified covered self-expandable esophageal metal stent capable of being fixed using a silk thread. The stent was studied prospectively to define its palliative characteristics and whether it is effective in preventing migration.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Modified covered self-expandable metal stents were placed in 17 patients with malignant gastric cardiac cancer involving the esophagogastric junction, 41 patients with esophageal cancer, and three patients with tracheoesophageal fistulas. Clinical and radiographic follow-up examinations were carried out at regular intervals.

RESULTS

Placement of the stent was successful in all patients, with good symptomatic relief and no serious stent-related complications such as esophageal perforation or hemorrhage. Acute stent placement problems, such as incomplete expansion or acute angulation of the stent, were noted in four patients. However, during a mean follow-up period of 7.5 months (range 1 to 17 months), there was no stent migration.

CONCLUSIONS

Modified covered self-expandable esophageal metal stents of this type would be very effective in preventing stent migration, especially in patients with malignant gastric cardiac cancer extending to the lower esophagus, those with short-segment esophageal cancer, and those with tracheoesophageal fistulas.

The role of percutaneous transhepatic papillary balloon dilation in percutaneous choledochoscopic lithotomy

BACKGROUND

When choledochoscopic lithotomy with basket and electrohydraulic lithotripsy is used to remove intrahepatic duct stones, fragments or small stones usually remain in the bile duct that are too small to be captured with a basket.

METHODS

An attempt was made to remove stone fragments in 16 patients with intrahepatic duct stones by antegrade balloon dilation of the sphincter of Oddi with a conventional balloon catheter. After balloon dilation, remnant stones and sludge were pushed through the papilla with the choledochoscope.

RESULTS

Bile duct stones were completely removed in 12 of 16 patients (75%); stones were removed in 1 session. There was no clinical evidence of procedure-related pancreatitis or fatal complications.

CONCLUSIONS

Percutaneous transhepatic papillary balloon dilation of the sphincter of Oddi and clearance of remnant bile duct stones and stone fragments with the tip of choledochoscope is simple and effective in patients undergoing percutaneous transhepatic choledochoscopic lithotomy.

Efficiency of absorption and metabolic conversion of quercetin and its glucosides in human intestinal cell line Caco-2

The efficiency of intestinal absorption and metabolic conversion of quercetin aglycone and its glucosides, quercetin-4'-O-beta-D-glucoside (Q4'G), quercetin-3-O-beta-D-glucoside (Q3G), and quercetin-3,4'-di-O-beta-D-glucoside (Q3,4'G), was estimated by using Caco-2 cell monolayers as an intestinal epithelial cell model. Aglycone was significantly lost from the apical side, resulting in the appearance of free and conjugated forms of quercetin and those of isorhamnetin in the cellular extracts. In the basolateral solution, the conjugated form of quercetin was predominant and increased with the elapse of incubation. As compared with quercetin aglycone, none of the quercetin glucosides were absorbed efficiently from apical side. However, Q4'G yielded conjugated quercetin and isorhamnetin in basolateral solution at higher amounts than Q3G or Q3,4'G. Lipophilicity of Q4'G was found to be higher than that of Q3G or Q3,4'G. This suggests that lipophilicity contributes to the relatively efficient absorption of Q4'G. It is likely that the occurrence of hydrolysis enhances the efficiency of intestinal absorption and metabolic conversion of dietary quercetin glucosides.

Identification of quercetin 3-O-beta-D-glucuronide as an antioxidative metabolite in rat plasma after oral administration of quercetin

The potential beneficial effect of dietary quercetin (3,3',4',5,7-pentahydroxyflavone) has attracted much attention in relation to the prevention of cardiovascular disease. It is generally recognized that dietary quercetin is subject to metabolic conversion resulting in conjugated forms during absorption and circulation. However, no quercetin conjugates have yet been identified from biological fluids or tissues. In the present study, we isolated and characterized two quercetin conjugates from the plasma of quercetin-administered rats. The blood plasma was collected from 26 rats 30 min after oral administration of quercetin (250 mg/kg body weight), concentrated, dissolved in 2% acetic acid aqueous solution (pH 2.65), and extracted with ethyl acetate. Two compounds (P2, P3) were obtained from the extract by repeated reversed-phase HPLC. On the other hand, two quercetin glucuronides were synthesized chemically and identified as quercetin 3-O-beta-D-glucuronide (Q3GA) and quercetin 4'-O-beta-D-glucuronide (Q4'GA), as determined from FABMS, 1H- and 13C-NMR, and HMBC data. The retention times of P2 and P3 in the HPLC chromatogram corresponded to those of Q3GA and Q4'GA, respectively. FABMS data demonstrated that P2 and P3 are quercetin monoglucuronides. 1H-NMR data for P2 were completely in agreement with those for Q3GA. P2 was therefore identified as Q3GA. This is, to our knowledge, the first evidence that Q3GA accumulates in vivo after oral administration of quercetin. Q3GA is likely to act as an effective antioxidant in blood plasma low-density lipoprotein, because this conjugated metabolite was found to possess a substantial antioxidant effect on copper ion-induced oxidation of human plasma low-density lipoprotein as well as 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical-scavenging activity.