A low risk of nosocomial transmission of subclinical tuberculosis to neonates in a postpartum care center under COVID-19 control measures

We report the results of investigating and managing a tuberculosis (TB) exposure in a postpartum care center. Among the contacts exposed to a nursing assistant with subclinical TB, 5 of 44 neonates (11.4%) had positive tuberculin skin tests (TSTs) at 3 months of age, and all the TST-positive neonates received the Bacille Calmette-Guérin vaccination. Seven of 28 healthcare workers (25.0%) and 1 of 3 household contacts (33.3%) were positive in the initial or repeated interferon-gamma release assay. None of the contacts developed TB disease during the study period. Annual TB examinations of healthcare personnel at a postpartum care center under the Tuberculosis Prevention Act in South Korea enabled the early detection of subclinical TB, which reduced the risk of transmission to neonates under strict coronavirus disease 2019 prevention measures

The B subunits of cholera and Escherichia coli heat-labile toxins enhance the immune responses in mice orally immunised with a recombinant live P-fimbrial vaccine for avian pathogenic E. coli

This study aimed to investigate the adjuvant effect of recombinant attenuated Salmonella expressing cholera toxin B subunit (CTB) and Escherichia coli heat-labile enterotoxin B subunit (LTB) for the P-fimbriae subunit-based vaccine of avian pathogenic E. coli (APEC) in a murine model. The PapA-specific sIgA and IgG responses were significantly enhanced after immunisation with the Salmonella-PapA vaccine in the presence of CTB or LTB. The group immunised with the Salmonella-LTB strain promoted Th1-type immunity, whereas that immunised with the Salmonella-CTB strain produced Th2-type immunity. We concluded that both Salmonella-CTB and -LTB strains can enhance the immune response to PapA, and that the LTB strain may be a more effective adjuvant for APEC vaccination, which requires higher Th1-type immunity for protection. Thus, our findings provide evidence that immunisation with an adjuvant, LTB, is one of the strategies of developing effective vaccines against P-fimbriated APEC

Thermal Design of Blackbody for On-Board Calibration of Spaceborne Infrared Imaging Sensor

In this study, we propose a thermal design for an on-board blackbody (BB) for spaceborne infrared (IR) sensor calibration. The main function of the on-board BB is to provide highly uniform and precise radiation temperature reference sources from 0 °C to 40 °C during the calibration of the IR sensor. To meet the functional requirements of BB, a BB thermal design using a heater to heat the BB during sensor calibration and heat pipes to transfer residual heat to the radiator after calibration is proposed and investigated both numerically and experimentally. The main features of the proposed thermal design are a symmetric temperature gradient on the BB surface with less than 1 K temperature uniformity, ease of temperature sensor implementation to estimate the representative surface temperature of the BB, a stable thermal interface between the heat pipes and BB, and a fail-safe function under one heat pipe failure. The thermal control performance of the BB is investigated via in-orbit thermal analysis, and its effectiveness is verified via a heat-up test of the BB under ambient conditions. These results indicate that the temperature gradient on the BB surface was obtained at less than 1 K, and the representative surface temperature could be estimated with an accuracy of 0.005 °C via the temperature sensor

Thermal Design of Blackbody for On-Board Calibration of Spaceborne Infrared Imaging Sensor

In this study, we propose a thermal design for an on-board blackbody (BB) for spaceborne infrared (IR) sensor calibration. The main function of the on-board BB is to provide highly uniform and precise radiation temperature reference sources from 0 °C to 40 °C during the calibration of the IR sensor. To meet the functional requirements of BB, a BB thermal design using a heater to heat the BB during sensor calibration and heat pipes to transfer residual heat to the radiator after calibration is proposed and investigated both numerically and experimentally. The main features of the proposed thermal design are a symmetric temperature gradient on the BB surface with less than 1 K temperature uniformity, ease of temperature sensor implementation to estimate the representative surface temperature of the BB, a stable thermal interface between the heat pipes and BB, and a fail-safe function under one heat pipe failure. The thermal control performance of the BB is investigated via in-orbit thermal analysis, and its effectiveness is verified via a heat-up test of the BB under ambient conditions. These results indicate that the temperature gradient on the BB surface was obtained at less than 1 K, and the representative surface temperature could be estimated with an accuracy of 0.005 °C via the temperature sensor

Novel Estimation of Penumbra Zone Based on Infarct Growth Using Machine Learning Techniques in Acute Ischemic Stroke

While the penumbra zone is traditionally assessed based on perfusion–diffusion mismatch, it can be assessed based on machine learning (ML) prediction of infarct growth. The purpose of this work was to develop and validate an ML method for the prediction of infarct growth distribution and volume, in cases of successful (SR) and unsuccessful recanalization (UR). Pre-treatment perfusion-weighted, diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) data, and final infarct lesions annotated from day-7 DWI from patients with middle cerebral artery occlusion were utilized to develop and validate two ML models for prediction of tissue fate. SR and UR models were developed from data in patients with modified treatment in cerebral infarction (mTICI) scores of 2b–3 and 0–2a, respectively. When compared to manual infarct annotation, ML-based infarct volume predictions resulted in an intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) of 0.73 (95% CI = 0.31–0.91, p < 0.01) for UR, and an ICC of 0.87 (95% CI = 0.73–0.94, p < 0.001) for SR. Favorable outcomes for mismatch presence and absence in SR were 50% and 36%, respectively, while they were 61%, 56%, and 25%, respectively, for the low, intermediate, and high infarct growth groups. The presented method can offer novel and alternative insights into selecting patients for recanalization therapy and predicting functional outcome

USP1 targeting impedes GBM growth by inhibiting stem cell maintenance and radioresistance

Clinical benefits from standard therapies against glioblastoma (GBM) are limited in part due to intrinsic radio- and chemoresistance of GBM and inefficient targeting of GBM stem-like cells (GSCs). Novel therapeutic approaches that overcome treatment resistance and diminish stem-like properties of GBM are needed. We determined the expression levels of ubiquitination-specific proteases (USPs) by transcriptome analysis and found that USP1 is highly expressed in GBM. Using the patient GBM-derived primary tumor cells, we inhibited USP1 by shRNA-mediated knockdown or its specific inhibitor pimozide and evaluated the effects on stem cell marker expression, proliferation, and clonogenic growth of tumor cells. USP1 was highly expressed in gliomas relative to normal brain tissues and more preferentially in GSC enrichment marker (CD133 or CD15) positive cells. USP1 positively regulated the protein stability of the ID1 and CHEK1, critical regulators of DNA damage response and stem cell maintenance. Targeting USP1 by RNA interference or treatment with a chemical USP1 inhibitor attenuated clonogenic growth and survival of GSCs and enhanced radiosensitivity of GBM cells. Finally, USP1 inhibition alone or in combination with radiation significantly prolonged the survival of tumor-bearing mice. USP1-mediated protein stabilization promotes GSC maintenance and treatment resistance, thereby providing a rationale for USP1 inhibition as a potential therapeutic approach against GBM.Y

Phase II study of biweekly S-1 and oxaliplatin combination chemotherapy in metastatic colorectal cancer and pharmacogenetic analysis

To evaluate the efficacy and safety of S-1 in combination with oxaliplatin in a biweekly schedule as first-line treatment in metastatic colorectal cancer and the association between genetic polymorphisms and treatment outcomes. Eligibility included age 18-75 years, at least one measurable lesion, no prior chemotherapy except adjuvant chemotherapy, and Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group Performance Status (PS) 0-2. S-1 40 mg/m(2) b.i.d. on days 1-7 with 85 mg/m(2) of oxaliplatin on day 1 was repeated every 2 weeks. Genomic DNA from whole blood was analyzed for 15 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) among 8 genes. Fifty-two patients (median age 63 years, range 37-74) were enrolled: 37 men and 15 women; 44 with a PS of 0 and 8 with a PS of 1; and 41 with initially metastatic cancer and 11 with relapsed disease. Among 51 evaluable patients, objective response rate was 47.1% [95% confidence interval (CI) 32.9-61.2]. Median follow-up duration was 17.1 months (range 3.9-28.2 months). Median progression-free survival (PFS) was 6.4 months (95% CI 4.8-8.1), and median overall survival had not been reached yet. Reported grade 3 toxicities were neutropenia (7.7%), thrombocytopenia (5.8%), sensory neuropathy (7.7%) and diarrhea (1.9%). There was no grade 4 toxicity or neutropenic fever. Patients with A/G or G/G genotype in GSTP1 Ile105Val SNP had longer PFS than patients with A/A (median 8.3 vs. 6.1 months, P = 0.04). Biweekly S-1 with oxaliplatin is effective and has improved tolerability and convenience compared to other fluoropyrimidine with oxaliplatin combinations. GSTP1 Ile105Val SNP is associated with treatment outcomes

Perifollicular fibrosis: pathogenetic role in androgenetic alopecia

Androgenetic alopecia (AGA) is a dihydrotestosterone (DHT)-mediated process, characterized by continuous miniaturization of androgen reactive hair follicles and accompanied by perifollicular fibrosis of follicular units in histological examination. Testosterone (T: 10(-9)-10(-7) M) treatment increased the expression of type I procollagen at mRNA and protein level. Pretreatment of finasteride (10(-8) M) inhibited the T-induced type I procollagen expression at mRNA (40.2%) and protein levels (24.9%). T treatment increased the expression of transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-beta1) at protein levels by 81.9% in the human scalp dermal fibroblasts (DFs). Pretreatment of finasteride decreased the expression of TGF-beta1 protein induced by an average of T (30.4%). The type I procollagen expression after pretreatment of neutralizing TGF-beta1 antibody (10 microg/ml) was inhibited by an average of 54.3%. Our findings suggest that T-induced TGF-beta1 and type I procollagen expression may contribute to the development of perifollicular fibrosis in the AGA, and the inhibitory effects on T-induced procollagen and TGF-beta1 expression may explain another possible mechanism how finasteride works in AGA

Bacillus aryabhattai SRB02 tolerates oxidative and nitrosative stress and promotes the growth of soybean by modulating the production of phytohormones.

Plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) are diverse, naturally occurring bacteria that establish a close association with plant roots and promote the growth and immunity of plants. Established mechanisms involved in PGPR-mediated plant growth promotion include regulation of phytohormones, improved nutrient availability, and antagonistic effects on plant pathogens. In this study, we isolated a bacterium from the rhizospheric soil of a soybean field in Chungcheong buk-do, South Korea. Using 16S rRNA sequencing, the bacterium was identified as Bacillus aryabhattai strain SRB02. Here we show that this strain significantly promotes the growth of soybean. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis showed that SRB02 produced significant amounts of abscisic acid, indole acetic acid, cytokinin and different gibberellic acids in culture. SRB02-treated soybean plants showed significantly better heat stress tolerance than did untreated plants. These plants also produced consistent levels of ABA under heat stress and exhibited ABA-mediated stomatal closure. High levels of IAA, JA, GA12, GA4, and GA7, were recorded in SRB02-treated plants. These plants produced longer roots and shoots than those of control plants. B. aryabhattai SRB02 was found to be highly tolerant to oxidative stress induced by H2O2 and MV potentiated by high catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities. SRB02 also tolerated high nitrosative stress induced by the nitric oxide donors GSNO and CysNO. Because of these attributes, B. aryabhattai SRB02 may prove to be a valuable resource for incorporation in biofertilizers and other soil amendments that seek to improve crop productivity

Deep Learning for Automated Detection of Cyst and Tumors of the Jaw in Panoramic Radiographs

Patients with odontogenic cysts and tumors may have to undergo serious surgery unless the lesion is properly detected at the early stage. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the diagnostic performance of the real-time object detecting deep convolutional neural network You Only Look Once (YOLO) v2—a deep learning algorithm that can both detect and classify an object at the same time—on panoramic radiographs. In this study, 1602 lesions on panoramic radiographs taken from 2010 to 2019 at Yonsei University Dental Hospital were selected as a database. Images were classified and labeled into four categories: dentigerous cysts, odontogenic keratocyst, ameloblastoma, and no lesion. Comparative analysis among three groups (YOLO, oral and maxillofacial surgeons, and general practitioners) was done in terms of precision, recall, accuracy, and F1 score. While YOLO ranked highest among the three groups (precision = 0.707, recall = 0.680), the performance differences between the machine and clinicians were statistically insignificant. The results of this study indicate the usefulness of auto-detecting convolutional networks in certain pathology detection and thus morbidity prevention in the field of oral and maxillofacial surgery