Bucillamine prevents cisplatin-induced ototoxicity through induction of glutathione and antioxidant genes.

Bucillamine is used for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. This study investigated the protective effects of bucillamine against cisplatin-induced damage in auditory cells, the organ of Corti from postnatal rats (P2) and adult Balb/C mice. Cisplatin increases the catalytic activity of caspase-3 and caspase-8 proteases and the production of free radicals, which were significantly suppressed by pretreatment with bucillamine. Bucillamine induces the intranuclear translocation of Nrf2 and thereby increases the expression of γ-glutamylcysteine synthetase (γ-GCS) and glutathione synthetase (GSS), which further induces intracellular antioxidant glutathione (GSH), heme oxygenase 1 (HO-1) and superoxide dismutase 2 (SOD2). However, knockdown studies of HO-1 and SOD2 suggest that the protective effect of bucillamine against cisplatin is independent of the enzymatic activity of HO-1 and SOD. Furthermore, pretreatment with bucillamine protects sensory hair cells on organ of Corti explants from cisplatin-induced cytotoxicity concomitantly with inhibition of caspase-3 activation. The auditory-brainstem-evoked response of cisplatin-injected mice shows marked increases in hearing threshold shifts, which was markedly suppressed by pretreatment with bucillamine in vivo. Taken together, bucillamine protects sensory hair cells from cisplatin through a scavenging effect on itself, as well as the induction of intracellular GSH

The Risk of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus according to Changes in Obesity Status in Late Middle-Aged Adults: A Nationwide Cohort Study of Korea

Background Although obesity is a well-known risk factor of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), there is scant data on discriminating the contribution of previous obesity and recent weight gain on developing T2DM. Methods We analyzed the Korean National Health Insurance Service-Health Screening Cohort data from 2002 to 2015 where Korean residents underwent biennial health checkups. Participants were classified into four groups according to their obesity status (body mass index [BMI] ≥25 kg/m2) before and after turning 50 years old: maintaining normal (MN), becoming obese (BO), becoming normal (BN), and maintaining obese (MO). Cox proportional hazards regression model was used to estimate the risk of T2DM factoring in the covariates age, sex, BMI, presence of impaired fasting glucose or hypertension, family history of diabetes, and smoking status. Results A total of 118,438 participants (mean age, 52.5±1.1 years; men, 45.2%) were prospectively evaluated for incident T2DM. A total of 7,339 (6.2%) participants were diagnosed with T2DM during a follow-up period of 4.8±2.6 years. Incidence rates of T2DM per 1,000 person-year were 9.20 in MN, 14.81 in BO, 14.42 in BN, 21.38 in MO. After factoring in covariates, participants in the groups BN (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR], 1.15; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.04 to 1.27) and MO (aHR, 1.14; 95% CI, 1.06 to 1.24) were at increased risk of developing T2DM compared to MN, whereas BO (hazard ratio, 1.06; 95% CI, 0.96 to 1.17) was not. Conclusion Having been obese before 50 years old increased the risk of developing T2DM in the future, but becoming obese after 50 did not. Therefore, it is important to maintain normal weight from early adulthood to prevent future metabolic perturbations

Crystal Structure of the TLR4-MD-2 Complex with Bound Endotoxin Antagonist Eritoran

SummaryTLR4 and MD-2 form a heterodimer that recognizes LPS (lipopolysaccharide) from Gram-negative bacteria. Eritoran is an analog of LPS that antagonizes its activity by binding to the TLR4-MD-2 complex. We determined the structure of the full-length ectodomain of the mouse TLR4 and MD-2 complex. We also produced a series of hybrids of human TLR4 and hagfish VLR and determined their structures with and without bound MD-2 and Eritoran. TLR4 is an atypical member of the LRR family and is composed of N-terminal, central, and C-terminal domains. The β sheet of the central domain shows unusually small radii and large twist angles. MD-2 binds to the concave surface of the N-terminal and central domains. The interaction with Eritoran is mediated by a hydrophobic internal pocket in MD-2. Based on structural analysis and mutagenesis experiments on MD-2 and TLR4, we propose a model of TLR4-MD-2 dimerization induced by LPS

Chemoenzymatic Synthesis of Glycosylated Macrolactam Analogues of the Macrolide Antibiotic YC‐17

YC‐17 is a 12‐membered ring macrolide antibiotic produced from Streptomyces venezuelae ATCC 15439 and is composed of the polyketide macrolactone 10‐deoxymethynolide appended with D‐desosamine. In order to develop structurally diverse macrolactam analogues of YC‐17 with improved therapeutic potential, a combined approach involving chemical synthesis and engineered cell‐based biotransformation was employed. Eight new antibacterial macrolactam analogues of YC‐17 were generated by supplying a novel chemically synthesized macrolactam aglycone to S. venezuelae mutants harboring plasmids capable of synthesizing several unnatural sugars for subsequent glycosylation. Some YC‐17 macrolactam analogues were active against erythromycin‐resistant bacterial pathogens and displayed improved metabolic stability in vitro. The enhanced therapeutic potential demonstrated by these glycosylated macrolactam analogues reveals the unique potential of chemoenzymatic synthesis in antibiotic drug discovery and development.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/113147/1/adsc_201500250_sm_miscellaneous_information.pdfhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/113147/2/2697_ftp.pd

A Wearable Wrist Band-Type System for Multimodal Biometrics Integrated with Multispectral Skin Photomatrix and Electrocardiogram Sensors

Multimodal biometrics are promising for providing a strong security level for personal authentication, yet the implementation of a multimodal biometric system for practical usage need to meet such criteria that multimodal biometric signals should be easy to acquire but not easily compromised. We developed a wearable wrist band integrated with multispectral skin photomatrix (MSP) and electrocardiogram (ECG) sensors to improve the issues of collectability, performance and circumvention of multimodal biometric authentication. The band was designed to ensure collectability by sensing both MSP and ECG easily and to achieve high authentication performance with low computation, efficient memory usage, and relatively fast response. Acquisition of MSP and ECG using contact-based sensors could also prevent remote access to personal data. Personal authentication with multimodal biometrics using the integrated wearable wrist band was evaluated in 150 subjects and resulted in 0.2% equal error rate ( EER ) and 100% detection probability at 1% FAR (false acceptance rate) ( PD.1 ), which is comparable to other state-of-the-art multimodal biometrics. An additional investigation with a separate MSP sensor, which enhanced contact with the skin, along with ECG reached 0.1% EER and 100% PD.1 , showing a great potential of our in-house wearable band for practical applications. The results of this study demonstrate that our newly developed wearable wrist band may provide a reliable and easy-to-use multimodal biometric solution for personal authentication

Molecular Subgroup Analysis of Clinical Outcomes in a Phase 3 Study of Gemcitabine and Oxaliplatin with or without Erlotinib in Advanced Biliary Tract Cancer

AbstractBACKGROUND: We previously reported that the addition of erlotinib to gemcitabine and oxaliplatin (GEMOX) resulted in greater antitumor activity and might be a treatment option for patients with biliary tract cancers (BTCs). Molecular subgroup analysis of treatment outcomes in patients who had specimens available for analysis was undertaken. METHODS: Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), KRAS, and PIK3CA mutations were evaluated using peptide nucleic acid–locked nucleic acid polymerase chain reaction clamp reactions. Survival and response rates (RRs) were analyzed according to the mutational status. Sixty-four patients (48.1%) were available for mutational analysis in the chemotherapy alone group and 61 (45.1%) in the chemotherapy plus erlotinib group. RESULTS: 1.6% (2/116) harbored an EGFR mutation (2 patients; exon 20), 9.6% (12/121) harbored a KRAS mutation (12 patients; exon 2), and 9.6% (12/118) harbored a PIK3CA mutation (10 patients, exon 9 and 2 patients, exon 20). The addition of erlotinib to GEMOX in patients with KRAS wild-type disease (n = 109) resulted in significant improvements in overall response compared with GEMOX alone (30.2% vs 12.5%, P = .024). In 95 patients with both wild-type KRAS and PIK3CA, there was evidence of a benefit associated with the addition of erlotinib to GEMOX with respect to RR as compared with GEMOX alone (P = .04). CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates that KRAS mutational status might be considered a predictive biomarker for the response to erlotinib in BTCs. Additionally, the mutation status of PIK3CA may be a determinant for adding erlotinib to chemotherapy in KRAS wild-type BTCs

Auricular Cartilage Regeneration with Adipose-Derived Stem Cells in Rabbits

Tissue engineering cell-based therapy using induced pluripotent stem cells and adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs) may be promising tools for therapeutic applications in tissue engineering because of their abundance, relatively easy harvesting, and high proliferation potential. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether ASCs can promote the auricular cartilage regeneration in the rabbit. In order to assess their differentiation ability, ASCs were injected into the midportion of a surgically created auricular cartilage defect in the rabbit. Control group was injected with normal saline. After 1 month, the resected auricles were examined histopathologically and immunohistochemically. The expression of collagen type II and transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) were analyzed by quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Histopathology showed islands of new cartilage formation at the site of the surgically induced defect in the ASC group. Furthermore, Masson’s trichrome staining and immunohistochemistry for S-100 showed numerous positive chondroblasts. The expression of collagen type II and TGF-β1 were significantly higher in the ASCs than in the control group. In conclusion, ASCs have regenerative effects on the auricular cartilage defect of the rabbit. These effects would be expected to contribute significantly to the regeneration of damaged cartilage tissue in vivo

A new mosaic der(18)t(1;18)(q32.1;q21.3) with developmental delay and facial dysmorphism

We report the case of a 22-month-old boy with a new mosaic partial unbalanced translocation of 1q and 18q. The patient was referred to our Pediatric Department for developmental delay. He showed mild facial dysmorphism, physical growth retardation, a hearing disability, and had a history of patent ductus arteriosus. White matter abnormality on brain magnetic resonance images was also noted. His initial routine chromosomal analysis revealed a normal 46,XY karyotype. In a microarray-based comparative genomic hybridization (aCGH) analysis, subtle copy number changes in 1q32.1–q44 (copy gain) and 18q21.33–18q23 (copy loss) suggested an unbalanced translocation of t(1;18). Repeated chromosomal analysis revealed a low-level mosaic translocation karyotype of 46,XY,der(18)t(1;18)(q32.1;q21.3)[12]/46,XY[152]. Because his parents had normal karyotypes, his translocation was considered to be de novo. The abnormalities observed in aCGH were confirmed by metaphase fluorescent in situ hybridization. We report this patient as a new karyotype presenting developmental delay, facial dysmorphism, cerebral dysmyelination, and other abnormalities

The Outcomes of Hypertransfusion in Major ABO Incompatible Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplantation

Major ABO incompatibility may be potentially associated with immediate or delayed hemolysis and delayed onset of erythropoiesis in patients receiving allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). To determine if hemolysis can be prevented by the inhibition of graft erythropoiesis, we performed hypertransfusion and assessed red cell transfusion requirement and independence. Between October 1995 and December 2001, 28 consecutive patients receiving major ABO incompatible HSCT at Samsung Medical Center were hypertransfused to maintain their hemoglobin levels at 15 g/dL or more. We retrospectively compared the outcomes of these patients with those of 47 patients at Asan Medical Center whose target hemoglobin levels were 10 g/dL. Reticulocyte engraftment was significantly delayed in hypertransfused group (51 days vs. 23 days; p=.001). There was no significant difference in the total amount of red cells transfused within 90 days post-HSCT (25 units vs. 26 units; p=.631). No significant difference in the time to red cell transfusion independence was observed between the two groups (63 days vs. 56 days; p=.165). In conclusion, we failed to improve red cell transfusion requirement and independence in major ABO incompatible HSCT with hypertransfusion