Sequential morphological changes in follow-up CT of pulmonary mucormycosis

PURPOSEWe aimed to describe the computed tomography (CT) features of pulmonary mucormycosis including sequential changes between follow-ups. MATERIALS AND METHODSBetween June 2001 and May 2011, five patients (three males and two females; median age, 43 years; age range, 13–73 years) who had been pathologically diagnosed with pulmonary mucormycosis constituted our study population. Their clinical and CT features including sequential changes over follow-ups were evaluated retrospectively. RESULTSAll patients were immunocompromised due to either hematologic diseases (n=3), diabetes mellitus (n=1), or steroid administration for autoimmune hepatitis (n=1). All patients had symptoms such as fever (n=5), tachycardia (n=1), or pleuritic chest pain (n=1) on admission. Regarding the clinical outcome after treatment, one patient died, and the remaining four recovered from the disease. In terms of initial CT features, the morphologies of pulmonary mucormycosis included a single mass (n=3), consolidation (n=1), or multiple masses (n=1). There were seven pulmonary lesions in total, 3–7 cm in size, which showed a CT halo sign (n=3), reversed-halo sign (n=2), or air-fluid levels (n=2). On follow-up CTs, the lesions of all patients contained necrosis. All three patients with a mass or masses with a CT halo sign on initial CT had a decreased surrounding halo followed by central necrosis, and the lesions gradually decreased in size on recovery. CONCLUSIONPulmonary mucormycosis usually manifests as a mass or masses with a halo or reversed-halo sign on the initial CT scan followed by a decreased extent of surrounding ground-glass opacities with the development of internal necrosis during follow-up

Lactobacillus plantarum DK119 as a Probiotic Confers Protection against Influenza Virus by Modulating Innate Immunity

Lactobacillus plantarum DK119 (DK119) isolated from the fermented Korean cabbage food was used as a probiotic to determine its antiviral effects on influenza virus. DK119 intranasal or oral administration conferred 100% protection against subsequent lethal infection with influenza A viruses, prevented significant weight loss, and lowered lung viral loads in a mouse model. The antiviral protective efficacy was observed in a dose and route dependent manner of DK119 administration. Mice that were treated with DK119 showed high levels of cytokines IL-12 and IFN-c in bronchoalveolar lavage fluids, and a low degree of inflammation upon infection with influenza virus. Depletion of alveolar macrophage cells in lungs and bronchoalveolar lavages completely abrogated the DK119-mediated protection. Modulating host innate immunity of dendritic and macrophage cells, and cytokine production pattern appeared to be possible mechanisms by which DK119 exhibited antiviral effects on influenza virus infection. These results indicate that DK119 can be developed as a beneficial antiviral probiotic microorganism

Current Trends of Infectious Complications following Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation in a Single Center

This study was to analyze the infectious complications after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) according to the recent changes of HSCT. Medical records of 379 adult patients who underwent HSCT consecutively at Catholic HSCT Center from January 2001 to December 2002 were reviewed retrospectively. Allogeneic HSCT accounted for 75.7% (287/379) and autologous HSCT for 24.3% (92/379). During pre-engraftment period, bacterial infection was predominant, and E. coli was still the most common organism. After engraftment, viral infection was predominant. The incidence of invasive fungal infection showed bimodal distribution with peak correlated with neutropenia and graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). The overall mortality and infection-related mortality rates according to 3 periods were as follows; during pre-engraftment, 3.16% (12/379) and 1.8% (7/379); during midrecovery period, 7.9% (29/367) and 4.1% (15/367); during late-recovery period, 26.9% (91/338), and 15.9% (54/338). Risk factors for infection-related mortality were as follows; during pre-engraftment period, fungal infection and septic shock; during the mid-recovery period, hemorrhagic cystitis and delayed engraftment; during the late-recovery period, fungal infection, chronic GVHD, and relapse. In conclusion, infection was still one of the main complications after HSCT and highly contributes to mortality. The early diagnosis and the effective vaccination strategy are needed for control of infections

Engineering homoeologs provide a fine scale for quantitative traits in polyploid

Numerous staple crops exhibit polyploidy and are difficult to genetically modify. However, recent advances in genome sequencing and editing have enabled polyploid genome engineering. The hexaploid black nightshade species Solanum nigrum has immense potential as a beneficial food supplement. We assembled its genome at the scaffold level. After functional annotations, we identified homoeologous gene sets, with similar sequence and expression profiles, based on comparative analyses of orthologous genes with close diploid relatives Solanum americanum and S. lycopersicum. Using CRISPR-Cas9-mediated mutagenesis, we generated various mutation combinations in homoeologous genes. Multiple mutants showed quantitative phenotypic changes based on the genotype, resulting in a broad-spectrum effect on the quantitative traits of hexaploid S. nigrum. Furthermore, we successfully improved the fruit productivity of Boranong, an orphan cultivar of S. nigrum suggesting that engineering homoeologous genes could be useful for agricultural improvement of polyploid crops

Unlocking the Transcriptomes of Two Carcinogenic Parasites, Clonorchis sinensis and Opisthorchis viverrini

The two parasitic trematodes, Clonorchis sinensis and Opisthorchis viverrini, have a major impact on the health of tens of millions of humans throughout Asia. The greatest impact is through the malignant cancer ( = cholangiocarcinoma) that these parasites induce in chronically infected people. Therefore, both C. sinensis and O. viverrini have been classified by the World Health Organization (WHO) as Group 1 carcinogens. Despite their impact, little is known about these parasites and their interplay with the host at the molecular level. Recent advances in genomics and bioinformatics provide unique opportunities to gain improved insights into the biology of parasites as well as their relationships with their hosts at the molecular level. The present study elucidates the transcriptomes of C. sinensis and O. viverrini using a platform based on next-generation (high throughput) sequencing and advanced in silico analyses. From 500,000 sequences, >50,000 sequences were assembled for each species and categorized as biologically relevant based on homology searches, gene ontology and/or pathway mapping. The results of the present study could assist in defining molecules that are essential for the development, reproduction and survival of liver flukes and/or that are linked to the development of cholangiocarcinoma. This study also lays a foundation for future genomic and proteomic research of C. sinensis and O. viverrini and the cancers that they are known to induce, as well as novel intervention strategies

Retrospective evaluation of whole exome and genome mutation calls in 746 cancer samples

Funder: NCI U24CA211006Abstract: The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and International Cancer Genome Consortium (ICGC) curated consensus somatic mutation calls using whole exome sequencing (WES) and whole genome sequencing (WGS), respectively. Here, as part of the ICGC/TCGA Pan-Cancer Analysis of Whole Genomes (PCAWG) Consortium, which aggregated whole genome sequencing data from 2,658 cancers across 38 tumour types, we compare WES and WGS side-by-side from 746 TCGA samples, finding that ~80% of mutations overlap in covered exonic regions. We estimate that low variant allele fraction (VAF < 15%) and clonal heterogeneity contribute up to 68% of private WGS mutations and 71% of private WES mutations. We observe that ~30% of private WGS mutations trace to mutations identified by a single variant caller in WES consensus efforts. WGS captures both ~50% more variation in exonic regions and un-observed mutations in loci with variable GC-content. Together, our analysis highlights technological divergences between two reproducible somatic variant detection efforts

Clinical and Pathological Characteristics of Hard Nodules Resistant to Morcellation During Holmium Laser Enucleation of the Prostate

Purpose: To identify the clinical and pathological characteristics of hard nodules resistant to morcellation (HNRM) during holmium laser enucleation of the prostate (HoLEP) for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Methods: Between July 2008 and October 2011, 246 patients underwent HoLEP for symptomatic BPH. The first 30 patients were excluded from the analysis due to the learning curve of the procedure. The remaining patients were divided into HNRM (n=29) and non-HNRM groups (n=187), and comparative analysis of the clinical parameters of the two groups was performed. International prostate symptom score analysis and urodynamic studies were performed preoperatively. Histological analysis was performed after hematoxylin and eosin staining and Masson trichrome staining of the HNRM specimens. Results: Twenty-nine patients (13.4%) had HNRM. The patients in the HNRM group had significantly higher proportions of advanced age (≥65 years, P=0.029), total prostate volume ≥65 mL (P<0.001), transition zone volume ≥35 mL (P<0.001), serum prostate-specific antigen levels ≥10 ng/mL (P=0.007), and functional urethral length ≥70 mm (P=0.009); larger enucleation weight (P<0.001); longer operation (P=0.001), enucleation (P=0.042), and morcellation times (P<0.001); and higher enucleation ratio (P=0.028) and enucleation efficacy (P=0.001). After adjusting for confounding factors, multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that age ≥65 years and total prostate volume ≥65 mL were independent risk factors for HNRM. Pathological examination did not reveal any malignant cells, with mainly dense fibrous tissue found in the HNRM. Conclusions: HNRM can make morcellation cumbersome and time-consuming, and older patients with larger prostates have a higher incidence of HNRM. However, the histopathology of HNRM revealed mainly fibrotic tissue

Mussel-inspired polydopamine-treated composite electrolytes for long-term operations of polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells

While composite proton-conductive membranes have been demonstrated to enhance the durability of polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs), preservation of homogeneous interfaces between inner components has often been a nontrivial challenge for long-term cell operations. Herein, we report mussel-inspired polydopamine as an adhesive mediator between proton-conductive sulfonated poly(ether ether ketone) (sPEEK) and mechanically stable porous polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) substrates. The polydopamine coating facilitates a conformal interface between both components with a large surface energy difference and enables such homogeneous membranes for long-term cell operations. The enhanced mechanical stability and stable conformation of the composite membranes were reflected by superior electrochemical performance over repeated wet/dry cycles via suppressed crack/void space formation and edge failure. The present study suggests that the mussel-inspired polymer coating is a useful scheme for various energy devices that need to deal with multiple components with different surface energies.

Sequential morphological changes in follow-up CT of pulmonary mucormycosis

PURPOSE: We aimed to describe the computed tomography (CT) features of pulmonary mucormycosis including sequential changes between follow-ups. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between June 2001 and May 2011, five patients (three males and two females; median age, 43 years; age range, 13–73 years) who had been pathologically diagnosed with pulmonary mucormycosis constituted our study population. Their clinical and CT features including sequential changes over follow-ups were evaluated retrospectively. RESULTS: All patients were immunocompromised due to either hematologic diseases (n=3), diabetes mellitus (n=1), or steroid administration for autoimmune hepatitis (n=1). All patients had symptoms such as fever (n=5), tachycardia (n=1), or pleuritic chest pain (n=1) on admission. Regarding the clinical outcome after treatment, one patient died, and the remaining four recovered from the disease. In terms of initial CT features, the morphologies of pulmonary mucormycosis included a single mass (n=3), consolidation (n=1), or multiple masses (n=1). There were seven pulmonary lesions in total, 3–7 cm in size, which showed a CT halo sign (n=3), reversed-halo sign (n=2), or air-fluid levels (n=2). On follow-up CTs, the lesions of all patients contained necrosis. All three patients with a mass or masses with a CT halo sign on initial CT had a decreased surrounding halo followed by central necrosis, and the lesions gradually decreased in size on recovery. CONCLUSION: Pulmonary mucormycosis usually manifests as a mass or masses with a halo or reversed-halo sign on the initial CT scan followed by a decreased extent of surrounding ground-glass opacities with the development of internal necrosis during follow-up