Targeted tumor detection:guidelines for developing biotinylated diagnostics

We highlight the prominent role of hydrophilicity in the preferential cellular uptake process of biotinylated fluorescent probes.</p

Percutaneous Coronary Intervention Versus Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting in Patients with Coronary Artery Disease and Diabetic Nephropathy: A Single Center Experience

Background Patients with diabetic nephropathy (DN) and coronary artery disease (CAD) represent a subset of patients with high cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. The optimal revascularization strategy using either percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) or coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) remains controversial. The purpose of this study was to compare the clinical outcomes of PCI to CABG in DN patients with CAD. Methods The clinical and angiographic records of DN patients with CAD who underwent either CABG (n=52) or PCI (n=48) were retrospectively analyzed. Results The baseline characteristics were similar in the two groups except for the severity of the CAD. At 30 days, the death rate (PCI: 2.1% vs. CABG: 9.6%, p=0.21) and major adverse cardiac events (MACE) rate (PCI: 2.1% vs. CABG: 9.6%, p=0.21) were similar in comparisons between the PCI and CABG groups. At three years, the death rate (PCI: 18.8% vs. CABG: 19.2%, p=0.94) was similar between the PCI and CABG groups but the MACE rate (PCI: 47.9% vs. CABG: 21.2%, p=0.006) was higher in the PCI group compared to the CABG group. In addition, the repeat revascularization rate was higher in the PCI group compared to the CABG group (PCI: 12.5% vs. CABG: 1.9%, p=0.046). Conclusions The CABG procedure was associated with a lower incidence of MACE and repeat revascularization for up to three years of follow-up in DN patients with CAD. However, the overall survival rate was similar in the CABG and PCI groups. Therefore, CABG may be superior to PCI with regard to MACE and repeat revascularization.ope

Chylous Manifestations and Management of Gorham-Stout Syndrome

Gorham-Stout disease (GSD) was first described by Gorham and colleagues in 1954, but its precise mechanism and cause remain to be elucidated. In this condition, voluminous and potentially fatal chylous effusions into the thorax can occur. Herein, we describe a case of GSD in which the patient presented with massive pleural effusions and mottled osteolytic bone lesions. We performed multiple operations, including thoracic duct ligation using video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery and thoracotomic decortication, but these procedures did not succeed in preventing recurrent pleural effusion and chest wall lymphedema. After administering sirolimus (0.8 mg/m2, twice a day) and propranolol (40 mg, twice a day), the process of GSD in this patient has been controlled for more than 2 years

Ab Initio Simulation of Various DNA Base-Pairing Layers and Their Stacking Interactions

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Prohexadione-Calcium Application during Vegetative Growth Affects Growth of Mother Plants, Runners, and Runner Plants of Maehyang Strawberry

Strawberry (Fragaria &#215; ananassa Duch.) is an important horticultural crop that is vegetatively propagated using runner plants. To achieve massive production of runner plants, it is important to transfer the assimilation products of the mother plant to the runner plants, and not to the runner itself. Application of prohexadione&#8211;calcium (Pro&#8211;Ca), a plant growth retardant with few side effects, to strawberry is effective in inhibiting transport of assimilates to runners. This study aimed to determine the optimum application method and concentration of Pro&#8211;Ca on the growth characteristics of mother plants, runners, and runner plants for the propagation of strawberry in nurseries. Pro&#8211;Ca was applied at the rate of 0, 50, 100, 150, or 200 mg&#183;L&#8722;1 (35 mL per plant) to plants via foliar spray or drenching under greenhouse conditions at 30 days after transplantation. Petiole lengths of mother plants were measured 15 weeks after treatment; growth was suppressed at the higher concentrations of Pro&#8211;Ca regardless of the application method. However, the crown diameter was not significantly affected by the application method or Pro&#8211;Ca concentration. The number of runners was 7.0 to 8.2, with no significant difference across treatments. Runner length was shorter at higher concentrations of Pro&#8211;Ca, especially in the 200 mg&#183;L&#8722;1 drench treatment. However, fresh weight (FW) and dry weights (DW) of runners in the 50 mg&#183;L&#8722;1 Pro&#8211;Ca drench treatments were higher than controls. Foliar spray and drench treatments were more effective for runner plant production than the control; a greater number of runner plants were produced with the 100 and 150 mg&#183;L&#8722;1 Pro&#8211;Ca foliar spray treatment and the 50 and 100 mg&#183;L&#8722;1 drench treatment. The FW and DW of the first runner plant was not significantly different in all treatments, but DW of the second runner plant, and FW and DW of the third runner plant were greatest in the 50 mg&#183;L&#8722;1 Pro&#8211;Ca drench treatment. These results suggested that growth and production of runner plants of Maehyang strawberry were greatest under the 50 mg&#183;L&#8722;1 Pro&#8211;Ca drench treatment

Killed Whole-Cell Oral Cholera Vaccine Induces CCL20 Secretion by Human Intestinal Epithelial Cells in the Presence of the Short-Chain Fatty Acid, Butyrate

Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), such as acetate, butyrate, and propionate, modulate immune responses in the gut. However, the effect of SCFAs on mucosal vaccine-induced immune cell migration is poorly understood. Here, we investigated whether SCFAs modulate chemokine expression induced by the killed whole-cell oral cholera vaccine, Shanchol™, in human intestinal epithelial cells. Shanchol™ induced expression of CCL2, CCL5, CCL20, and CXCL10 at the mRNA level, but not at the protein level. Interestingly, CCL20 secretion was substantially increased by co-stimulation with Shanchol™ and butyrate, while neither acetate nor propionate showed such effect. Enhanced CCL20 secretion was associated with GPR109A activation, and histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibition. In addition, co-treatment with Shanchol™ and butyrate synergistically increased the secretion of adenosine triphosphate (ATP). Moreover, CCL20 secretion was decreased by inhibiting the extracellular ATP receptor P2X7. However, neither inflammasomes nor caspases were involved in CCL20 production. The culture supernatant of cells treated with Shanchol™ and butyrate augmented human immature dendritic cell migration. Collectively, these results suggest that butyrate enhances Shanchol™-induced CCL20 production in human intestinal epithelial cells via HDAC inhibition and ATP-P2X7 signaling by activating GPR109A. These effects potentially enhance the mucosal immune responses in the gut induced by this oral cholera vaccine

Aortic Root Reimplantation in a Patient Who Underwent an Arterial Switch Operation

Neo-aortic insufficiency associated with root enlargement following an arterial switch operation is a serious late complication. To achieve successful surgical correction of this condition, multiple factors should be considered, including the individual patient’s anatomy, the challenging nature of the redo procedure, and the patient’s young age. However, limited publications have described the use of valve-sparing techniques for the treatment of neo-aortic insufficiency associated with root enlargement following an arterial switch operation. Herein, we report our recent experience of a valve-sparing aortic root procedure with ascending aorta and hemiarch replacement despite the presence of a discrepancy in leaflet size and nearby severe adhesions