A New ID-based Signature with Batch Verification

An identity (ID)-based signature scheme allows any pair of users to communicate securely and to verify each other\u27s signatures without exchanging public key certificates. We have several ID-based signatures based on the discrete logarithm problem. While they have an advantage that the system secret can be shared by several parties through threshold schemes, they have a critical disadvantage in efficiency. To enhance the efficiency of verification, we propose a new ID-based signature scheme that allows batch verification of multiple signatures. The verification cost of the proposed signature scheme for $k$ signatures is almost constant with minimal security loss and when a new signature by a different signer is added to the batch verification, the additional cost is almost a half of that of a single signature. We prove that the proposed signature scheme is secure against existential forgery under adaptively chosen message and ID attack in the random oracle model and show why other ID-based signature schemes are hard to achieve these properties

Trib2 regulates the pluripotency of embryonic stem cells and enhances reprogramming efficiency

Embryonic stem (ES) cells are pluripotent cells characterized by self-renewability and differentiation potential. Induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells are ES cell-equivalent cells derived from somatic cells by the introduction of core reprogramming factors. ES and iPS cells are important sources for understanding basic biology and for generating therapeutic cells for clinical applications. Tribbles homolog 2 (Trib2) functions as a scaffold in signaling pathways. However, the relevance of Trib2 to the pluripotency of ES and iPS cells is unknown. In the present study, we elucidated the importance of Trib2 in maintaining pluripotency in mouse ES cells and in generating iPS cells from somatic cells through the reprogramming process. Trib2 expression decreased as ES cells differentiated, and Trib2 knockdown in ES cells changed their colony morphology while reducing the activity of alkaline phosphatase and the expression of the pluripotency marker genes Oct4, Sox2, Nanog and Klf4. Trib2 directly interacted with Oct4 and elevated Oct4 promoter activity. During the generation of iPS cells, Trib2 knockdown decreased the reprogramming efficiency of mouse embryonic fibroblasts, whereas Trib2 overexpression significantly increased their reprogramming efficiency. In summary, our results suggest that Trib2 is important for maintaining self-renewal in ES cells and for pluripotency induction during the reprogramming process

Incidentally Discovered a Self-Inflicted a Nail in the Brain of Schizophrenia Patient

The self-infliction of foreign bodies into the brain represents rare a clinical phenomenon that has been reported primarily in cases involving accidents and suicide attempts. However, various motivations for self-injurious behaviors as well as suicide attempts have been reported, especially in patients with psychotic illnesses. A 47-year-old man with a history of schizophrenia presented to our hospital due to the presence of a nail on his plain skull X-ray. He diagnosed paranoid type of schizophrenia about 17 years earlier, and his psychiatric symptoms were well controlled by medication. Interestingly, he was not aware of the presence of the nail in his brain and showed no neurological deficits. In the course of detailed history taking, we discovered that the nail was driven into his brain during a hallucinatory experience that had occurred more than 10 years earlier. Because we believed that removing the nail from his brain would be more dangerous than maintaining the status quo, the nail was not removed. This is a very rare case of a self-inflicted injury involving inserting a nail into the brain under the influence of hallucinations. The absence of adverse effects or neurological symptoms/signs related to the presence of a foreign metallic body in the brain for over 10 years is exceptional

Feasibility of video-based real-time nystagmus tracking: a lightweight deep learning model approach using ocular object segmentation

BackgroundEye movement tests remain significantly underutilized in emergency departments and primary healthcare units, despite their superior diagnostic sensitivity compared to neuroimaging modalities for the differential diagnosis of acute vertigo. This underutilization may be attributed to a potential lack of awareness regarding these tests and the absence of appropriate tools for detecting nystagmus. This study aimed to develop a nystagmus measurement algorithm using a lightweight deep-learning model that recognizes the ocular regions.MethodThe deep learning model was used to segment the eye regions, detect blinking, and determine the pupil center. The model was trained using images extracted from video clips of a clinical battery of eye movement tests and synthesized images reproducing real eye movement scenarios using virtual reality. Each eye image was annotated with segmentation masks of the sclera, iris, and pupil, with gaze vectors of the pupil center for eye tracking. We conducted a comprehensive evaluation of model performance and its execution speeds in comparison to various alternative models using metrics that are suitable for the tasks.ResultsThe mean Intersection over Union values of the segmentation model ranged from 0.90 to 0.97 for different classes (sclera, iris, and pupil) across types of images (synthetic vs. real-world images). Additionally, the mean absolute error for eye tracking was 0.595 for real-world data and the F1 score for blink detection was ≥ 0.95, which indicates our model is performing at a very high level of accuracy. Execution speed was also the most rapid for ocular object segmentation under the same hardware condition as compared to alternative models. The prediction for horizontal and vertical nystagmus in real eye movement video revealed high accuracy with a strong correlation between the observed and predicted values (r = 0.9949 for horizontal and r = 0.9950 for vertical; both p < 0.05).ConclusionThe potential of our model, which can automatically segment ocular regions and track nystagmus in real time from eye movement videos, holds significant promise for emergency settings or remote intervention within the field of neurotology

Fecal calprotectin concentration in neonatal necrotizing enterocolitis

PurposeAmong the many factors associated with acute intestinal mucosal infection, numerous studies have proposed the usefulness of fecal calprotectin. The aim of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of fecal calprotectin in the diagnosis of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC).MethodsWe collected 154 stool samples from 16 very low birth weight and premature newborns at the Konyang University Hospital neonatal intensive care unit or neonatal nursery. The stool samples were collected using the Calprest device, and the fecal calprotectin level was measured with the BÜHLMANN Calprotectin enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit.ResultsFecal calprotectin levels were significantly higher in the NEC group than in the non-NEC group (P=0.02). There was a significant positive linear relationship between the fecal calprotectin level and number of days after birth (P=0.00) in the gestational age <26 weeks group. There was a significant negative linear relationship between the calprotectin level and number of days after birth (P=0.03) in the gestational age ≥26 weeks and <30 weeks group. There was no difference in the calprotectin levels according to the type and method of feeding between the NEC and non-NEC groups.ConclusionFecal calprotectin levels were significantly increased in premature infants with NEC. The fecal calprotectin test is a noninvasive, easy, and useful tool for the diagnosis of NEC

Interstitial deletion of 5q33.3q35.1 in a boy with severe mental retardation

Constitutional interstitial deletions of the long arm of chromosome 5 (5q) are quite rare, and the corresponding phenotype is not yet clearly delineated. Severe mental retardation has been described in most patients who present 5q deletions. Specifically, the interstitial deletion of chromosome 5q33.3q35.1, an extremely rare chromosomal aberration, is characterized by mental retardation, developmental delay, and facial dysmorphism. Although the severity of mental retardation varies across cases, it is the most common feature described in patients who present the 5q33.3q35.1 deletion. Here, we report a case of a de novo deletion of 5q33.3q35.1, 46,XY,del(5)(q33.3q35.1) in an 11-year-old boy with mental retardation; to the best of our knowledge this is the first case in Korea to be reported. He was diagnosed with severe mental retardation, developmental delay, facial dysmorphisms, dental anomalies, and epilepsy. Chromosomal microarray analysis using the comparative genomic hybridization array method revealed a 16-Mb-long deletion of 5q33. 3q35.1(156,409,412-172,584,708)x1. Understanding this deletion may help draw a rough phenotypic map of 5q and correlate the phenotypes with specific chromosomal regions. The 5q33.3q35.1 deletion is a rare condition; however, accurate diagnosis of the associated mental retardation is important to ensure proper genetic counseling and to guide patients as part of long-term management

Overexpression of CIITA in T Cells Aggravates Th2-Mediated Colitis in Mice

The MHC class II transactivator (CIITA) is the master transcriptional regulator of genes involved in MHC class II restricted antigen presentation. Previously we suggested another role of CIITA in Th1/Th2 balance by demonstrating that forced expression of CIITA in murine T cells repressed Th1 immunity both in vitro and in vivo. However, the results were contradictory to the report that CIITA functioned to suppress the production of Th2 cytokine by CD4+ T cells in CIITA deficient mice. In this study, we investigated the influence of constitutive expression of CIITA in T cells on Th2 immune response in vivo using murine experimental colitis model. In the dextran sodium sulfate-induced acute colitis, a disease involving innate immunity, CIITA transgenic mice and wild type control mice showed similar progression of the disease. However, the development of oxazolone-induced colitis, a colitis mediated by predominantly Th2 immune response, was aggravated in CIITA-transgenic mice. And, CD4+ T cells from the mesenteric lymph node of CIITA-transgenic mice treated with oxazolone exhibited a high level of IL-4 secretion. Together, these data demonstrate that constitutive expression of CIITA in T cells skews immune response to Th2, resulting in aggravation of Th2-mediated colitis in vivo

Prognostic significance of lymph node yield on oncologic outcomes according to tumor response after preoperative chemoradiotherapy in rectal cancer patients

Purpose This study aimed to evaluate the predictive value of lymph node yield (LNY) for survival outcomes according to tumor response after preoperative chemoradiotherapy (PCRT) in patients with rectal cancer. Methods This study was a retrospective study conducted in a tertiary center. A total of 1,240 patients with clinical stage II or III rectal cancer who underwent curative resection after PCRT between 2007 and 2016 were included. Patients were categorized into the good response group (tumor regression grade [TRG], 0–1) or poor response group (TRG, 2–3). Propensity score matching was performed for age, sex, and pathologic stage between LNY of ≥12 and LNY of <12 within tumor response group. The primary outcome was 5-year disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS). Results LNY and positive lymph nodes were inversely correlated with TRG. In good responders, 5-year DFS and 5-year OS of patients with LNY of <12 were better than those with LNY of ≥12, but there was no statistical significance. In poor responders, the LNY of <12 group had worse survival outcomes than the LNY of ≥12 group, but there was also no statistical significance. LNY of ≥12 was not associated with DFS and OS in multivariate analysis. Conclusion LNY of <12 showed contrasting outcomes between the good and poor responders in 5-year DFS and OS. LNY of 12 may not imply adequate oncologic surgery or proper staging in rectal cancer patients treated by PCRT. Furthermore, a decrease in LNY should be comprehended differently according to tumor response

Acute Oral Poisoning Due to Chloracetanilide Herbicides

Chloracetanilide herbicides (alachlor, butachlor, metachlor) are used widely. Although there are much data about chronic low dose exposure to chloracetanilide in humans and animals, there are few data about acute chloracetanilide poisoning in humans. This study investigated the clinical feature of patients following acute oral exposure to chloracetanilide. We retrospectively reviewed the data on the patients who were admitted to two university hospitals from January 2006 to December 2010. Thirty-five patients were enrolled. Among them, 28, 5, and 2 cases of acute alachlor, metachlor, butachlor poisoning were included. The mean age was 49.8 ± 15.4 yr. The poison severity score (PSS) was 17 (48.6%), 10 (28.6%), 5 (14.3%), 2 (5.7%), and 1 (2.9%) patients with a PSS of 0, 1, 2, 3, and 4, respectively. The age was higher for the symptomatic patients (1-4 PSS) than that for the asymptomatic patients (0 PSS) (43.6 ± 15.2 vs 55.7 ± 13.5). The arterial blood HCO3 ¯ was lower in the symptomatic patients (1-4 PSS) than that in the asymptomatic patients (0 PSS). Three patients were a comatous. One patient died 24 hr after the exposure. In conclusion, although chloracetanilide poisoning is usually of low toxicity, elder patients with central nervous system symptoms should be closely monitored and cared after oral exposure