VCGIDB: A database and web resource for the genomic islands from Vibrio cholerae

Vibrio cholerae is the causative agent of cholera, which is a severe, life-threatening diarrheal disease. The current seventh pandemic has not been eradicated and the outbreak is still ongoing around the world. The evolution of the pandemic-causing strain has been greatly influenced by lateral gene transfer, and the mechanisms of acquisition of pathogenicity in V. cholerae are mainly involved with genomic islands (GIs). Thus, detecting GIs and their comprehensive information is necessary to understand the continuing resurgence and newly emerging pathogenic V. cholerae strains. In this study, 798 V. cholerae strains were tested using the GI-Scanner algorithm, which was developed to detect candidate GIs and identify them in a comparative genomics approach. The algorithm predicted 435 highly possible genomic islands, and we built a database, called Vibrio cholerae Genomic Island Database (VCGIDB). This database shows advanced results that were acquired from a large genome set using phylogeny-based predictions. Moreover, VCGIDB is a highly expendable database that does not require intensive computation, which enables us to update it with a greater number of genomes using a novel genomic island prediction method. The VCGIDB website allows the user to browse the data and presents the results in a visual manner.

Dual Effect of Chrysanthemum indicum

The risk of bone-related diseases increases due to the imbalance between bone resorption and bone formation by osteoclasts and osteoblasts, respectively. The goal in the development of antiosteoporotic treatments is an agent that will improve bone through simultaneous osteoblast stimulation and osteoclast inhibition without undesirable side effects. To achieve this goal, numerous studies have been performed to identify novel approaches using natural oriental herbs to treat bone metabolic diseases. In the present study, we investigated the effect of Chrysanthemum indicum extract (CIE) on the differentiation of osteoclastic and osteoblastic cells. CIE inhibited the formation of TRAP-positive mature osteoclasts and of filamentous-actin rings and disrupted the bone-resorbing activity of mature osteoclasts in a dose-dependent manner. CIE strongly inhibited Akt, GSK3β, and IκB phosphorylation in RANKL-stimulated bone marrow macrophages and did not show any effects on MAP kinases, including p38, ERK, and JNK. Interestingly, CIE also enhanced primary osteoblast differentiation via upregulation of the expression of alkaline phosphatase and the level of extracellular calcium concentrations during the early and terminal stages of differentiation, respectively. Our results revealed that CIE could have a potential therapeutic role in bone-related disorders through its dual effects on osteoclast and osteoblast differentiation

Update on the role of ultrasound guided radiofrequency ablation for thyroid nodule treatment

Publisher Copyright: © 2017 IJS Publishing Group LtdThyroid nodules can be frequently detected in general population, most of them are benign, however malignant cases are rising in the past decades. Ultrasound (US) is the most common imaging modality to assess thyroid nodular lesions, plan patient work-up and guide minimally invasive treatment. The present review paper has been researched to evaluate the current status of radiofrequency ablation (RFA) treatment in order to evaluate indications, techniques, complications, limitations and outcome assessment in benign solid, partially cystic nodules and recurrent malignant nodules. RFA comparison with other ablation techniques has been provided as well. US guided Radiofrequency ablation has been proved to be effective and safe in cases of benign thyroid nodules and a promising treatment method alternative to surgery for patients with recurrent papillary thyroid cancer. It's major role lies in significant reduction of thyroid nodule mean volume and improvement of the patient symptoms. However, future multicenter studies are warranted to better clarify the multi-parametric patient selection criteria and evaluate RFA technique efficacy, advantages and limitations in the variety of thyroid nodular disease.publishersversionPeer reviewe

Radiofrequency Ablation of Benign Thyroid Nodules and Recurrent Thyroid Cancers: Consensus Statement and Recommendations

Thermal ablation using radiofrequency is a new, minimally invasive modality employed as an alternative to surgery in patients with benign thyroid nodules and recurrent thyroid cancers. The Task Force Committee of the Korean Society of Thyroid Radiology has developed recommendations for the optimal use of radiofrequency ablation for thyroid nodules. These recommendations are based on a comprehensive analysis of the current literature, the results of multicenter studies, and expert consensus

Prefoldin 6 mediates longevity response from heat shock factor 1 to FOXO in C-elegans

Heat shock factor 1 (HSF-1) and forkhead box O (FOXO) are key transcription factors that protect cells from various stresses. In Caenorhabditis elegans, HSF-1 and FOXO together promote a long life span when insulin/IGF-1 signaling (IIS) is reduced. However, it remains poorly understood how HSF-1 and FOXO cooperate to confer IIS-mediated longevity. Here, we show that prefoldin 6 (PFD-6), a component of the molecular chaperone prefoldin-like complex, relays longevity response from HSF-1 to FOXO under reduced IIS. We found that PFD-6 was specifically required for reduced IIS-mediated longevity by acting in the intestine and hypodermis. We showed that HSF-1 increased the levels of PFD-6 proteins, which in turn directly bound FOXO and enhanced its transcriptional activity. Our work suggests that the prefoldin-like chaperone complex mediates longevity response from HSF-1 to FOXO to increase the life span in animals with reduced IIS.11Ysciescopu

Short- and Long-Term Results of Triple Valve Surgery: A Single Center Experience

Triple valve surgery is usually complex and carries a reported operative mortality of 13% and 10-yr survival of 61%. We examined surgical results based on our hospital's experience. A total of 160 consecutive patients underwent triple valve surgery from 1990 to 2006. The most common aortic and mitral valve disease was rheumatic disease (82%). The most common tricuspid valve disease was functional regurgitation (80%). Seventy-four percent of the patients were in New York Heart Association (NYHA) class III and IV. Univariate and multivariable analyses were performed to identify predictors of early and late survival. Operative mortality was 6.9% (n=11). Univariate factors associated with mortality included old age, preoperative renal failure, postoperative renal failure, pulmonary complications, and stroke. Of them, postoperative renal failure and stroke were associated with mortality on multivariable analysis. Otherwise, neither tricuspid valve replacement nor reoperation were statistically associated with late mortality. Survival at 5 and 10 yr was 87% and 84%, respectively. Ninety-two percent of the patients were in NYHA class I and II at their most recent follow-up. Ten-year freedom from prosthetic valve endocarditis was 97%; from anticoagulation-related hemorrhage, 82%; from thromboembolism, 89%; and from reoperation, 84%. Postoperative renal failure and stroke were significantly related with operative mortality. Triple valve surgery, regardless of reoperation and tricuspid valve replacement, results in acceptable long-term survival

Comparison of Postoperative Neck Pain and Discomfort, Swallowing Difficulty, and Voice Change After Conventional Open, Endoscopic, and Robotic Thyroidectomy: A Single-Center Cohort Study

Background: The objective of this study was to compare the postoperative neck pain and discomfort, swallowing difficulty, and voice change after conventional open thyroidectomy (COT), endoscopic thyroidectomy (ET), or robotic thyroidectomy (RT) performed by a single surgeon.Methods: From January 2013 to December 2017, 254 patients underwent COT, ET, or RT performed by a single surgeon and completed a postoperative symptom survey conducted in the outpatient clinic by three nurses. The survey collected information on postoperative neck pain and discomfort, swallowing difficulty, and voice change.Results: Of the 254 patients, 169 underwent COT, 32 underwent ET, and 53 underwent RT. The mean age in the COT, ET, and RT groups was 50.1, 44.5, and 41.6 years, respectively. The mean interval between thyroidectomy and survey in the COT, ET, and RT groups was 42.7, 50.2, and 9.2 months, respectively. Postoperative neck pain was significantly higher in the ET and RT groups than in the COT group (p = 0.026). The average neck impairment index score in the RT group was significantly higher than that in the COT group (p < 0.001). There were no significant differences in pain scale scores, swallowing difficulty, swallowing impairment index, voice change, and voice hand index among the three groups.Conclusions: There were no significant differences in postoperative voice change or swallowing difficulty among the COT, ET, and RT groups, whereas neck pain and discomfort were more common after ET and RT than COT