Assess the expression of ubiquitin specific protease USP2a for bladder cancer diagnosis

Background: Given that a deubiquitinating enzyme, ubiquitin-specific protease 2a (USP2a), regulates ubiquitination, trafficking, and degradation of EGFR, which plays a critical role in bladder cancer, in this study, we aimed to quantify the USP2a gene expression, and to determine the possibility that USP2a can be used for bladder cancer diagnosis. Methods: Using two independent cohorts (cohort 1, n = 339 in total; cohort 2, n = 140 in total) consisting of human bladder tissues from BC patients and normal controls, we analyzed the gene expression levels of USP2a. A quantitative real-time PCR amplification was performed using a Rotor Gene 6000 instrument to quantify the expression of USP2a mRNA. Results: A comparison of 305 bladder cancers and 34 age-matched controls showed an 81.4 % reduction in USP2a expression in bladder cancers as compared to normal bladder tissues (p < 0.001). In the independent cohort consisting of 140 BC tissues and matched adjacent normal bladder tissues, the levels of USP2a in the specimens of BC patients were reduced by 86.9 % as compared to matched surrounding normal specimens from the same patients (p < 0.001). Furthermore, there was 36.3 % reduction of USP2a gene expression in muscle invasive bladder cancer (MIBC, n = 121), compared to non muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC, n = 184) (p = 0.004). Lastly, USP2a mRNA expression was significantly reduced in higher stages of MIBC patients (p = 0.024), but not in NMIBC patients. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that USP2a mRNA may be considered as a diagnostic marker candidate for bladder cancer, in particular, to stratify MIBC patients with a more invasive phenotype

Highly sensitive active pixel image sensor array driven by large-area bilayer MoS2 transistor circuitry

Various large-area growth methods for two-dimensional transition metal dichalcogenides have been developed recently for future electronic and photonic applications. However, they have not yet been employed for synthesizing active pixel image sensors. Here, we report on an active pixel image sensor array with a bilayer MoS2 film prepared via a two-step large-area growth method. The active pixel of image sensor is composed of 2D MoS2 switching transistors and 2D MoS2 phototransistors. The maximum photoresponsivity (Rph) of the bilayer MoS2 phototransistors in an 8 7 8 active pixel image sensor array is statistically measured as high as 119.16 AW 121. With the aid of computational modeling, we find that the main mechanism for the high Rph of the bilayer MoS2 phototransistor is a photo-gating effect by the holes trapped at subgap states. The image-sensing characteristics of the bilayer MoS2 active pixel image sensor array are successfully investigated using light stencil projection

Compositional assessment of carotenoid-biofortified rice using substantial equivalence

One important aspect in assessing the safety of genetically modified (GM) crops for human consumption is characterizing their nutrient composition. A β-carotene-biofortified rice was generated by inserting phytoene synthase (Psy) and carotene desaturase (Crtl) genes isolated from Capsicum and Pantoea into the genome of a conventional variety of rice (Nakdongbyeo). Nutrients (proximates, amino acids, fatty acids, minerals, and vitamins), anti-nutritive components (trypsin inhibitors and phytic acid), and ferulic acid in GM rice were compared with those in the parent line Nakdongbyeo. Statistical comparisons to test for equivalence showed that all of the analyzed components in the GM plants were equivalent to those in its non-transgenic counterpart, and most nutritional components fell within the range of values reported for other commercial lines, indicating the safety of the GM plant.Key words: Genetically modified crop, β-Carotene, Transgenic rice, Nutrient, Substantial equivalence

Impacts of coexisting bronchial asthma on severe exacerbations in mild-to-moderate COPD : results from a national database

Acknowledgments The authors would like to thank Kyungjoo Kim for the confident statistical analyses in this work. This study was supported by a grant (2014P3300300) from the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The abstract of this paper was presented at the Asian Pacific Society of Respirology 20th Congress as an oral presentation with interim findings. The poster’s abstract was published in “Poster Abstracts” in Respirology.Peer reviewedPublisher PD

PINK1 deficiency impairs osteoblast differentiation through aberrant mitochondrial homeostasis

Background PTEN-induced kinase 1 (PINK1) is a serine/threonine-protein kinase in mitochondria that is critical for mitochondrial quality control. PINK1 triggers mitophagy, a selective autophagy of mitochondria, and is involved in mitochondrial regeneration. Although increments of mitochondrial biogenesis and activity are known to be crucial during differentiation, data regarding the specific role of PINK1 in osteogenic maturation and bone remodeling are limited. Methods We adopted an ovariectomy model in female wildtype and Pink1−/− mice. Ovariectomized mice were analyzed using micro-CT, H&E staining, Masson’s trichrome staining. RT-PCR, western blot, immunofluorescence, alkaline phosphatase, and alizarin red staining were performed to assess the expression of PINK1 and osteogenic markers in silencing of PINK1 MC3T3-E1 cells. Clinical relevance of PINK1 expression levels was determined via qRT-PCR analysis in normal and osteoporosis patients. Results A significant decrease in bone mass and collagen deposition was observed in the femurs of Pink1−/− mice after ovariectomy. Ex vivo, differentiation of osteoblasts was inhibited upon Pink1 downregulation, accompanied by impaired mitochondrial homeostasis, increased mitochondrial reactive oxygen species production, and defects in mitochondrial calcium handling. Furthermore, PINK1 expression was reduced in bones from patients with osteoporosis, which supports the practical role of PINK1 in human bone disease. Conclusions In this study, we demonstrated that activation of PINK1 is a requisite in osteoblasts during differentiation, which is related to mitochondrial quality control and low reactive oxygen species production. Enhancing PINK1 activity might be a possible treatment target in bone diseases as it can promote a healthy pool of functional mitochondria in osteoblasts.So-Young Lee received National Research Foundation Grant of Korea (NRF2019R1A2C4070492), funded by the Korean government (https://www.nrf.re.kr) for this work. Soonchul Lee received National Research Foundation Grant of Korea (NRF-2019R1C1C1004017), funded by the Korean government (https://www.nrf.re.kr) for this work