ECRG4 regulates neutrophil recruitment and CD44 expression during the inflammatory response to injury.

The complex molecular microenvironment of the wound bed regulates the duration and degree of inflammation in the wound repair process, while its dysregulation leads to impaired healing. Understanding factors controlling this response provides therapeutic targets for inflammatory disease. Esophageal cancer-related gene 4 (ECRG4) is a candidate chemokine that is highly expressed on leukocytes. We used ECRG4 knockout (KO) mice to establish that the absence of ECRG4 leads to defective neutrophil recruitment with a delay in wound healing. An in vitro human promyelocyte model identified an ECRG4-mediated suppression of the hyaluronic acid receptor, CD44, a key receptor mediating inflammation resolution. In ECRG4 KO mouse leukocytes, there was an increase in CD44 expression, consistent with a model in which ECRG4 negatively regulates CD44 levels. Therefore, we propose a previously unidentified mechanism in which ECRG4 regulates early neutrophil recruitment and subsequent CD44-mediated resolution of inflammation

A case of hemorrhagic gastritis caused by accidental ingestion of fluoride-containing toothpaste

Fluoride is one of the most reactive elements in nature, and commonly used in toothpaste since it helps to prevent cavities. Despite this advantage, excessive ingestion of fluoride can cause acute toxicity and gastric disturbance from hydrofluoric acid that was formed in the stomach. We report a case of previously healthy, 41-month-old girl who visited the emergency department with persistent abdominal pain and hematemesis after ingestion of fluoride-containing toothpaste. Though the ingested dose of fluoride was below the toxic dose, serious symptoms developed. We performed esophagogastroduodenoscopy, and confirmed a hemorrhagic gastritis caused by hydrofluoric acid. The girl was uneventfully discharged on day 3 after receiving conservative care. When managing children who ingested fluoride-containing toothpaste, physicians need to consider their symptoms, not the ingested amount. In addition, parents should be cautious when their children use fluoride-containing toothpaste

Characteristics of poisoning in younger children according to different forms of the drugs

Purpose This study aimed to investigate the characteristics of poisoning drug ingested by younger children, and to compare the clinical outcome by drug forms. Methods This was a retrospective analysis based on medical records from the Emergency Department based Injury In-depth Surveillance (EDIIS) registry in Korea from January to December 2015. Patients aged 7 years or younger visiting the emergency department (ED) with drug poisoning were included. We classified the forms of drugs as tablets or syrup, and analyzed the characteristics by size, color, and shape. In addition, clinical outcomes and ED length of stay were compared according to the drug forms. Results A total of 308 cases were collected, and 202 patients finally were analyzed. Tablets and capsules (TACs) were more common than syrup (67.3% vs. 32.7%). Regarding clinical outcomes, patients who took TACs had higher admission rate (18.4% vs. 7.6%, P = 0.040) without a significant difference in ED length of stay compared to those who took syrups. While commonly ingested drugs in TACs were hormones, sedative and analgesics, frequent drugs in syrup were antihistamines and cold drugs. In 136 case of TACs, median long and short axes were 0.85 cm (interquartile range [IQR], 0.7-1.1 cm) and 0.72 cm (IQR, 0.59-0.82 cm), respectively. Chromatic TACs were 80 cases (52.8%) and more common than achromatic TACs. Round shapes were preferred than angular ones (96.3% vs. 3.7%). Conclusion In younger children poisonings, the TACs showed higher incidence and admission rate compared to syrups. Especially, chromatic TACs and round shapes were preferred. Therefore, drugs with these characteristics need to be stored more carefully

Comprehensive Proteome Profiling of Platelet Identified a Protein Profile Predictive of Responses to An Antiplatelet Agent Sarpogrelate

Sarpogrelate is an antiplatelet agent widely used to treat arterial occlusive diseases. Evaluation of platelet aggregation is essential to monitor therapeutic effects of sarpogrelate. Currently, no molecular signatures are available to evaluate platelet aggregation. Here, we performed comprehensive proteome profiling of platelets collected from 18 subjects before and after sarpogrelate administration using LC-MS/MS analysis coupled with extensive fractionation. Of 5423 proteins detected, we identified 499 proteins affected by sarpogrelate and found that they strongly represented cellular processes related to platelet activation and aggregation, including cell activation, coagulation, and vesicle-mediated transports. Based on the network model of the proteins involved in these processes, we selected three proteins (cut-like homeobox 1; coagulation factor XIII, B polypeptide; and peptidylprolyl isomerase D) that reflect the platelet aggregation-related processes after confirming their alterations by sarpogrelate in independent samples using Western blotting. Our proteomic approach provided a protein profile predictive of therapeutic effects of sarpogrelate. © 2016 by The American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Inc.1

Comparison of student's satisfaction on school food service environment by the eating place and gender

The purpose of this study was to compare student's satisfaction with school food service environment to improve the quality of middle school meal service. A survey was conducted of 680 students (boys 246, girls 433) from 6 middle schools providing school meals from October to November 2007. The questionnaires were directly distributed to the subjects for comparison of satisfaction of school meals depending on the eating place. As for the quantity of food, classroom group (3.40) expressed significantly higher satisfaction than cafeteria group (3.16, P < 0.01), but as for the satisfaction on hygiene, classroom group (2.76) showed significantly lower satisfaction than cafeteria group (3.03, P < 0.01). About the satisfaction of school meal environment, classroom group showed more satisfaction on distribution time, eating place, eating atmosphere (P < 0.001). The classroom group showed higher satisfaction than cafeteria group in cases of quantity, diversity of types of soup, dessert, and the cost of school meal. To improve eating place and hygiene of school meal, sufficient cafeteria space and pleasant environment is needed to be established

Esophageal cancer-related gene 4 at the interface of injury, inflammation, infection, and malignancy

In humans, esophageal cancer-related gene 4 (ECRG4) is encoded by four exons in the c2orf40 locus of chromosome 2. Translation of ECRG4 messenger ribonucleic acid produces a 148 amino acid-secreted 17 KDa protein that is then processed to 14, ten, eight, six, four, and two KDa peptides, depending on the cell in which the gene is expressed. As hypermethylation at the c2orf40 locus inhibits ECRG4 gene expression in many epithelial cancers, several investigators have speculated that ECRG4 is a candidate tumor suppressor. Indeed, overexpression of ECRG4 inhibits cell proliferation in vitro, but it also has a wide range of effects in vivo beyond its antitumor activity. ECRG4 overexpression affects apoptosis, senescence, cell migration, inflammation, injury, and infection responsiveness. ECRG4 activities also depend on its cellular localization, secretion, and post-translational processing. These cytokine/chemokine-like characteristics argue that ECRG4 is not a traditional candidate tumor suppressor gene, as originally predicted by its downregulation in cancer. We review how insights into the regulation of ECRG4 gene expression, knowledge of its primary structure, and the study of its emerging physiological functions come together to support a much more complex role for ECRG4 at the interface of inflammation, infection, and malignancy

Highly controllable transparent and conducting thin films using layer-by-layer assembly of oppositely charged reduced graphene oxides

A new approach for the fabrication of reduced graphene oxide (rGO) multilayers which can be used for transparent and conducting thin films was developed. This was achieved by using layer-by-layer (LbL) assembly of positively and negatively charged rGO sheets, which could provide highly controllable thin films in terms of thickness, transmittance, and sheet resistance. In particular, the thickness of the multilayer thin films of rGO was able to be controlled precisely in the subnanometre scale by similar to 0.46 nm via simply varying the number of stacking layers. Therefore, this method enabled an excellent control of the rGO multilayers over the optical and electrical properties, which are related to the thickness. Furthermore, we demonstrated the application of the rGO multilayers for an OLED device.close585