Comparative analysis of the JAK/STAT signaling through erythropoietin receptor and thrombopoietin receptor using a systems approach

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The Janus kinase-signal transducer and activator of transcription (JAK/STAT) pathway is one of the most important targets for myeloproliferative disorder (MPD). Although several efforts toward modeling the pathway using systems biology have been successful, the pathway was not fully investigated in regard to understanding pathological context and to model receptor kinetics and mutation effects.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We have performed modeling and simulation studies of the JAK/STAT pathway, including the kinetics of two associated receptors (the erythropoietin receptor and thrombopoietin receptor) with the wild type and a recently reported mutation (JAK2V617F) of the JAK2 protein.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>We found that the different kinetics of those two receptors might be important factors that affect the sensitivity of JAK/STAT signaling to the mutation effect. In addition, our simulation results support clinically observed pathological differences between the two subtypes of MPD with respect to the JAK2V617F mutation.</p

Comparison of influenza surveillance data from the Republic of Korea, selected northern hemisphere countries and Hong Kong SAR (China) from 2012 to 2017

Influenza surveillance is conducted in many countries; it is one of the most important types of infectious disease surveillance due to the significant impact and burden of the influenza virus. The Republic of Korea has a temperate climate, and influenza activity usually peaks in the winter as in other temperate-climate countries in the northern hemisphere. This descriptive study compared the influenza surveillance data from the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention with that from other countries and areas in the northern hemisphere, namely China, including Hong Kong SAR, Japan and the United States of America, to identify seasonal influenza patterns from 2012 to 2017. Data on influenza-like illnesses (ILIs) and laboratory surveillance were collected from various sources; visual comparisons were conducted on the onset, duration and the peak timing of each influenza season based on subtypes. Correlation coefficients were estimated, and time differences for the beginning of influenza seasons between the Republic of Korea and other countries were measured. ILIs in North China and cases reported from Japan’s sentinel surveillance showed high correlations with the Republic of Korea. The number of confirmed influenza cases in Japan showed a high correlation with the laboratory-confirmed influenza cases in the Republic of Korea. We found that there are similarities in the influenza patterns of the Republic of Korea, Japan and North China. Monitoring these neighbouring countries’ data may be useful for understanding influenza patterns in the Republic of Korea. Continuous monitoring and comparison of influenza surveillance data with neighbouring countries is recommended to enhance preparedness against influenza

First confirmed report of Nassarius sinarum (Mollusca, Gastropoda) in Korea

The marine gastropod mollusc Nassarius sinarum has attracted attention due to its status as a potential invasive species and the ecological impact it may have on local environments and the fishing industry. It was observed exclusively within China initially, but its distribution now seems to have expanded into Japan and Korea. Accurate identification of N. sinarum, particularly in its juvenile stage, is vital for understanding its ecological influences and distribution patterns.This study represents the first comprehensive analysis of N. sinarum samples from Korea. It includes morphological examination, scanning electron microscopy images and molecular sequencing. Two live specimens were collected from the Yeongsan River estuary in Korea and their morphological features were analysed and compared to those of samples from China and Japan. The samples’ species were confirmed by molecular identification, based on cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) and histone H3 (H3) genetic markers.It was observed that juvenile N. sinarum shells lack key species-characteristic morphological traits, such as a thick outer lip and diminishing axial ribs. However, COI marker-based molecular identification affirmed that these Korean specimens were N. sinarum. The H3 region was registered with the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) for the first time. Phylogenetic analysis of the H3 region did not resolve species distinctions within the Nassarius, suggesting that the H3 marker is not suitable for species identification within this genus. In this context, multiple genetic markers, when used appropriately, can also be applied to genus-level searches, enhancing species identification accuracy and reducing misidentification.The sequences provided in this study can serve as a valuable reference for future DNA barcoding research. Additional samples and surveys should be conducted through collaborative efforts amongst national and institutional organisations to further clarify the ecological status of N. sinarum and to investigate its distribution and potential impact around East Asia. Finally, a new Korean name, (No-lan-jul-job-ssal-mu-nui-go-dung; 노란줄좁쌀무늬고둥) has been proposed for N. sinarum

Rapid suppression of quantum many-body magnetic exciton in doped van der Waals antiferromagnet (Ni,Cd)PS3

The unique discovery of magnetic exciton in van der Waals antiferromagnet NiPS3 arises between two quantum many-body states of a Zhang-Rice singlet excited state and a Zhang-Rice triplet ground state. Simultaneously, the spectral width of photoluminescence originating from this exciton is exceedingly narrow as 0.4 meV. These extraordinary properties, including the extreme coherence of the magnetic exciton in NiPS3, beg many questions. We studied doping effects using Ni1-xCdxPS3 using two experimental techniques and theoretical studies. Our experimental results show that the magnetic exciton is drastically suppressed upon a few % Cd doping. All these happen while the width of the exciton only gradually increases, and the antiferromagnetic ground state is robust. These results highlight the lattice uniformity's hidden importance as a prerequisite for coherent magnetic exciton. Finally, an exciting scenario emerges: the broken charge transfer forbids the otherwise uniform formation of the coherent magnetic exciton in (Ni,Cd)PS3.Comment: 40 pages, 4 main figures, 13 supporting figures, accepted by Nano Letter

Nematic response revealed by coherent phonon oscillations in BaFe2_2As2_2

We investigate coherent phonon oscillations of BaFe$_2$As$_2$ using optical pump-probe spectroscopy. Time-resolved optical reflectivity shows periodic modulations due to $A_{1g}$ coherent phonon of $c$-axis arsenic vibrations. Optical probe beams polarized along the orthorhombic $a$- and $b$-axes reveal that the initial phase of coherent oscillations shows a systematic deviation as a function of temperature, although these oscillations arise from the same $c$-axis arsenic vibrations. The oscillation-phase remains anisotropic even in the tetragonal structure, reflecting a nematic response of BaFe$_2$As$_2$. Our study suggests that investigation on the phase of coherent phonon oscillations in optical reflectivity can offer unique evidence of a nematic order strongly coupled to a lattice instability.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figure

Prospective evaluation of clinical symptoms of chemotherapy-induced oral mucositis in adult patients with acute leukemia: A preliminary study

Objective The objective of this study was to prospectively evaluate the clinical features of chemotherapy-induced oral mucositis (CIOM) in adult patients with acute leukemia and the aggravating factors for such symptoms. Subjects Thirty-seven prospective patients aged &gt;= 19 years with acute leukemia undergoing chemotherapy were enrolled. Oral and clinical investigations were performed at baseline and on Day 14 after starting chemotherapy. The presence and severity of cancer-induced oral mucositis were demonstrated using the World Health Organization (WHO) scoring system. Results On Day 14, we found that oral mucositis had developed in eight patients (21.6%). Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) in patients was a predictor of increased WHO scores (beta = 1.937, p &lt; .001). Regarding oral sites, ventral tongue (beta = 1.670), soft palate (beta = 1.242), and buccal mucosa (beta = 0.593) were predictors for increased scores. In addition, the increase in WHO scores was positively correlated with the number of oral lesions (r = .521), the difficulty in eating (r = .250), and the overall oral health (r = .534; all p &lt; .05). Conclusion The main factors affecting the severity of CIOM symptoms were the treatment with HSCT and the location of oral lesions. The incidence of CIOM and WHO scores were not significantly different between the subgroups of disease. Our findings will help clinicians investigate the oral findings after chemotherapy in adult patients with acute leukemia.Y