Human β-galactoside α-2,3-sialyltransferase (ST3Gal III) attenuated Taxol-induced apoptosis in ovarian cancer cells by downregulating caspase-8 activity

Taxol triggers apoptosis in a variety of cancer cells, but it also upregulates cytoprotective proteins and/or pathways that compromise its therapeutic efficacy. In this report, we found that Taxol treatment resulted in caspase-8-dependent apoptosis in SKOV3 human ovarian cancer cells. Moreover, Taxol-induced apoptosis was associated with caspase-3 activation. Interestingly, Taxol treatment upregulated α-2,3-sialyltransferase (ST3Gal III) expression and forced expression of ST3Gal III attenuated Taxol-induced apoptosis. Furthermore, ST3Gal III overexpression inhibited Taxol-ttiggered caspase-8 activation, indicating that ST3Gal III upregulation produces cellular resistance to Taxol and hence reduces the efficacy of Taxol therapy

Effects of Energy Drink on Metabolic Response and Exercise Performance Post Basketball Game Simulation

Intermittent sports are characterized by intermittent bursts of high-intensity exercise and are dependent upon a combination of anaerobic and aerobic energy systems, both of which rely on carbohydrate as an important fuel source. A potential reason for athletes to use energy drinks is due to the conception that energy drinks would promote improvement of performance and this practice has been common among athletes in recent history. PURPOSE: This study examined the effects of an energy drink on metabolic parameters and exercise performance following basketball game simulation (BGS). METHODS: Six female college basketball players, aged 21.5±1.9 yrs, volunteered for this study which was designed by a randomized counterbalanced experimental design with repeated measures under two different trials: energy drink (ED, extrication glucose 20 g from corn, citrus juice 2% from pure Calamansi fruit, branched chain amino acid 600 mg and taurine 600 mg) and placebo (PO, aspartame) with a double-blind experiment. The drink, either ED or PO was provided for the participants right after BGS, and the participants had a 20 min recovery period (POST). The BGS consisted of major basketball movements such as walking, jogging, running, low and high shuffles, dribbling, jumping, sprinting, and passing which were all performed during 20 min. Height, body weight, blood pressure, heart rate, blood glucose (BG), and blood lactate (BL) were measured at a baseline (BASE). Vertical jump, 10 m× 5 shuttle run and Wingate tests were performed prior to BGC and POST to evaluate muscular power, agility, and anaerobic power, respectively. BG and BL were measured immediately after SBC (PRE) and POST. Data was analyzed by two-way ANOVA with repeated measures. RESULTS: BG decreased significantly in PO (PRE: 106.5± 13.2 mg· dL-1, POST: 91±5.1 mg· dL-1, p=.018) and BL decreased significantly in both ED (PRE: 5.5± 1.8 mmol·L-1, POST: 3.1±1.4 mmol·L-1, p=.0001) and PO (PRE: 5.0± 0.9 mmol·L-1, POST: 3.5±0.8 mmol·L-1, p=.000). Vertical jump (BASE: 58.0±7.3 cm, POST: 55.5±8.2 cm, p=.012) and anaerobic work (BASE: 12.3±1.3 KJ, POST: 11.4±1.5 KJ, p=.035) decreased significantly in PO. CONCLUSION: The results indicate that the energy drink may replenish a deficiency of fuel source and promote improvement of muscular and anaerobic power during a recovery period

Dual quadratic differentials and entire minimal graphs in Heisenberg space

We define holomorphic quadratic differentials for spacelike surfaces with constant mean curvature in the Lorentzian homogeneous spaces $\mathbb{L}(\kappa,\tau)$ with isometry group of dimension 4, which are dual to the Abresch-Rosenberg differentials in the Riemannian counterparts $\mathbb{E}(\kappa,\tau)$, and obtain some consequences. On the one hand, we give a very short proof of the Bernstein problem in Heisenberg space, and provide a geometric description of the family of entire graphs sharing the same differential in terms of a 2-parameter conformal deformation. On the other hand, we prove that entire minimal graphs in Heisenberg space have negative Gauss curvature.Comment: 19 page

Molecular characterization of the Tobacco rattle virus RNA2 genome isolated from Gladiolus

Tobacco rattle virus (TRV-K) was first identified in a symptomatic Gladiolus plant cultivated in Korea. We analyzed the TRV-K genome and compared its phylogeny with other TRV isolates. After constructing of a full-length genomic RNA2 strand clone, a complete sequence was generated from several overlapping clones. The cloned genome was 3261 bases in length, identical to TRV-K, and had three open reading frames. TRV-K had the highest sequence identity with the American isolate TRV-ORY. Sequence analysis of the RNA2 genome showed that TRV-K contains an intact 2a, 2b, and 2c coding sequence and an RNA1-related 3′ terminus, which is typical of TRV RNA2. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that TRV-K is in the same cluster as the American isolates and another Korean isolate, TRV-SK; however, it was in a different cluster than the European isolates

Resting-state EEG activity related to impulsivity in gambling disorder

Background and aims Impulsivity is a core feature of gambling disorder (GD) and is related to the treatment response. Thus, it is of interest to determine objective neurobiological markers associated with impulsivity in GD. We explored resting-state electroencephalographic (EEG) activity in patients with GD according to the degree of impulsivity. Methods In total, 109 GD subjects were divided into three groups according to Barratt impulsiveness scale-11 (BIS-11) scores: high (HI; 25th percentile of BIS-11 scores, n = 29), middle (MI; 26th–74th percentile, n = 57), and low-impulsivity (LI) groups (75th percentile, n = 23). We used generalized estimating equations to analyze differences in EEG absolute power considering group (HI, MI, and LI), brain region (frontal, central, and posterior), and hemisphere (left, midline, and right) for each frequency band (delta, theta, alpha, beta, and gamma). Results The results indicated that GD patients in the HI group showed decreased theta absolute power, and decreased alpha and beta absolute power in the left, right, particularly midline frontocentral regions. Discussion and conclusions This study is a novel attempt to reveal impulsive features in GD by neurophysiological methods. The results suggest different EEG patterns among GD patients according to the degree of impulsivity, raising the possibility of neurophysiological objective features in GD and helping clinicians in treating GD patients with impulsive features

Low-Energy Electron Scattering from c-C4F8

Electron collision cross-sections of c-C4F8 were investigated at low energies by using the R-matrix method. The static exchange (SE), static exchange with polarization (SEP), and close-coupling (CC) models of the R-matrix method were used for the calculation of the scattering cross-section. The shape resonance was detected with all the models at around 3~4 eV, and a Feshbach resonance was detected with the SEP model at 7.73 eV, in good agreement with the previous theoretical calculation. The resonance detected was also associated with the experimental dissociative electron attachment of c-C4F8, which displayed the resonances at the same energy range. The cross-sections calculated are important for plasma modeling and applications

The Impact of Slow Infusion Intermittent Feeding on Gavage Feeding-Associated Cardiorespiratory Deterioration in Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Infants

Purpose Infants in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) often show cardiorespiratory deterioration during gavage feeding. We aimed to determine whether slow infusion intermittent feeding (SIIF) can reduce respiratory deterioration during gavage feeding in preterm infants in the NICU. Methods Data on preterm infants whose gavage feeding method was changed to SIIF (1-­­hour infusion with an infusion pump and 2-­hour rest within a 3­-hour interval) from bolus gravity feeding (2-­ or 3-­hour interval) due to feeding­-associated cardiorespiratory deterioration were retrospectively reviewed. A significant cardiorespiratory event was defined as a saturation level below 80% or heart rate below 80 bpm. We compared the frequency of cardiorespiratory events and the level of respiratory support 24 hours before and after the application of SIIF. Results A total of 34 infants were enrolled and analyzed. The total frequency of desaturation or bradycardia significantly decreased after SIIF application (8.94 vs. 5.03, P=0.001). The frequency of feeding-­related bradycardia and desaturation also significantly decreased (4.15 vs. 1.68, P=0.008). Out of 34 patients, 11 (32.4%) had a decreased level of ventilator support within 1 day after SIIF. The respiratory severity scores of the 10 patients who received invasive ventilator support decreased significantly after SIIF (5.24 vs. 4.59, P=0.032). Conclusion SIIF significantly decreased gavage feeding­-associated cardiorespiratory events and reduced respiratory support in approximately one-­third of subjects. Therefore, SIIF may be a therapeutic option for gavage feed-­associated respiratory deterioration in preterm infants in the NICU

Remarkable Effect of Gefitinib Retreatment in a Lung Cancer Patient With Lepidic Predominat Adenocarcinoma who had Experienced Favorable Results From Initial Treatment With Gefitinib: A Case Report

Gefitnib is an oral agent of epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor, and it has a certain efficacy against non-small cell lung cancer. There are some reports that the non-small cell lung cancer patients who experienced disease progression after responding to gefitinib were again sensitive to re-administration of gefitinib following temporary cessation of gefitinib. This is the case report showing a remarkable effect of gefitinib re-treatment in a patient with metastatic invasive adenocarinoma who had experienced favorable results from the initial treatment with gefitinib