Microsatellite Analysis of the Genetic Diversity and Population Structure in Dairy Goats in Thailand

The genetic relationships between different populations and breeds of exotic dairy goats in Thailand were studied using 12 microsatellite markers. Blood samples were obtained from 211 goats from Department of Livestock Development breeding and research farms: 29 Anglonubian (AN), 21 Alpine (AP), 23 Jamunapari (JAM), 50 Saanen (SN), and 88 Toggenburg (TG). Five of the 12 microsatellite markers were found to be polymorphic. A mean of 7.40 alleles per locus was found, with a range from 5 (SPS115 and ETH225) to 11 (TGLA122). We found 24, 27, 19, 32, and 24 alleles in the AN, AP, JAM, SN, and TG breeds, respectively; 37 alleles were present in all breeds. The mean number of alleles in each population ranged from 3.2 (ETH225 locus) to 7.6 (TGLA122 locus). Genetic variability within the breeds was moderate as evidenced by the mean expected heterozygosity of 0.539. The average observed heterozygosity across the 5 markers in all breeds was 0.529 with the maximum observed at the BM1818 locus (0.772) and the minimum at the ETH225 locus (0.248). The observed and expected heterozygosity for all breeds for the 5 microsatellite markers ranged from 0.419 to 0.772 and 0.227 to 0.792, respectively. On the basis of their means, the TGLA122 and BM1818 loci were the most suitable markers for distinguishing genetic diversity among the goats. The estimated average Fis value for the breeds ranged from −0.044 (ETH225) to 0.180 (SPS115), while the estimated average Fst value ranged from 0.021 (SPS115) to 0.104 (ETH10). These results indicated that TGLA122 and BM1818 markers are suitable to be used for aiding conservation and breeding improvement strategies of dairy

Failure of a Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study to Evaluate the Efficacy of H. pylori Eradication in H. pylori-Infected Patients with Functional Dyspepsia

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The role of Helicobacter pylori eradication in patients with functional dyspepsia (FD) is still uncertain. We originally planned a randomized clinical study to observe dyspeptic symptoms after H. pylori eradication therapy. However, we failed to complete the study; therefore, we analyzed the factors that affected the failure of the study. METHODS: Interviews and questionnaire surveys were conducted to analyze the factors that induced early termination from the study. RESULTS: Many patients were screened by gastroenterologists at 11 tertiary referral hospitals between July 2009 and August 2010; however, only 4 patients met the enrollment criteria. Most patients who visited our clinics had been experiencing FD symptoms for less than 6 months or were already taking medication. They also demanded to continue taking medications and using other drugs. Only 3 of the 4 patients signed informed consent. CONCLUSIONS: The application of the current Rome III criteria to FD is difficult to evaluate in Korean patients with dyspeptic symptoms because of the early medical evaluation. Most Korean patients who were diagnosed with FD by the Rome III criteria did not overcome their fear of being unable to use rescue medications during the study period.ope

Circulating tumor cells detected by lab-on-adisc: Role in early diagnosis of gastric cancer

[Background] The use of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) as an early diagnostic biomarker and prognostic indicator after surgery or chemotherapy has been suggested for various cancers. This study aimed to evaluate CTCs in patients who underwent gastrectomy for gastric cancer and to explore their clinical usefulness in the early diagnosis of gastric cancer. [Methods] A total of 116 patients with gastric cancer who underwent gastrectomy and 31 healthy volunteers were prospectively included between 2014 and 2015. Peripheral blood samples were collected before gastrectomy, and CTCs were examined using a centrifugal microfluidic system with a new fluid-assisted separation technique. [Results] After creating a receiver operating characteristic curve to identify the discriminative CTC value needed differentiate patients with gastric cancer from healthy volunteers, sensitivity and specificity were nearly optimized at a CTC threshold of 2 per 7.5 mL of blood. Of the 102 persons with a CTC level >= 2 per 7.5 mL of blood, 99 (97.1%) had gastric cancer, and of the 45 persons with a CTC level <2 per 7.5 mL of blood, 28 (62.2%) were healthy controls. Accordingly, the sensitivity and specificity for the differentiation of patients with gastric cancer from healthy controls were 85.3% and 90.3%, respectively. However, the presence of CTCs was not associated with any clinicopathologic features such as staging, histologic type, or mucin phenotype. [Conclusion] Although we could not prove the clinical feasibility of CTCs for gastric cancer staging, our results suggest a potential role of CTCs as an early diagnostic biomarker of gastric cancer

Randomized Controlled Trial Comparing the Efficacy of Sustained-Release Formula of Mosapride-Plus-Esomeprazole Combination Therapy to Esomeprazole Monotherapy in Patients with Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease

We aimed to evaluate whether adding a sustained-release (SR) formula of mosapride to proton-pump inhibitors (PPIs) would be more effective in controlling symptoms than PPI alone in patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Sixty patients with heartburn and/or regurgitation were randomly assigned to two groups: mosapride SR 15 mg combined with esomeprazole 20 mg once daily (ME group) and esomeprazole 20 mg once daily alone (E group). The primary endpoint was the complete-resolution rate of GERD symptoms after eight-week medication, and the secondary endpoints were the complete-resolution rate of GERD symptoms after four-week medication, symptom-improvement rates ≥ 50% after four- and eight-week medication, and change in reflux-disease-questionnaire (RDQ) and GERD-health-related quality-of-life (GERD-HRQL) scores from baseline at four- and eight-week medication. No significant differences in complete-symptom-resolution rates at eight weeks and four weeks or in the changes in RDQ and GERD-HRQL scores from baseline at four- and eight-week medication were observed between the ME and E groups. The symptom-improvement rate of ≥50% after four and eight weeks was comparable between both groups. Adding mosapride SR to esomeprazole in patients with GERD provides no additional benefits in controlling GERD symptoms

Randomized Controlled Trial Comparing the Efficacy of Sustained-Release Formula of Mosapride-Plus-Esomeprazole Combination Therapy to Esomeprazole Monotherapy in Patients with Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease

We aimed to evaluate whether adding a sustained-release (SR) formula of mosapride to proton-pump inhibitors (PPIs) would be more effective in controlling symptoms than PPI alone in patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Sixty patients with heartburn and/or regurgitation were randomly assigned to two groups: mosapride SR 15 mg combined with esomeprazole 20 mg once daily (ME group) and esomeprazole 20 mg once daily alone (E group). The primary endpoint was the complete-resolution rate of GERD symptoms after eight-week medication, and the secondary endpoints were the complete-resolution rate of GERD symptoms after four-week medication, symptom-improvement rates ≥ 50% after four- and eight-week medication, and change in reflux-disease-questionnaire (RDQ) and GERD-health-related quality-of-life (GERD-HRQL) scores from baseline at four- and eight-week medication. No significant differences in complete-symptom-resolution rates at eight weeks and four weeks or in the changes in RDQ and GERD-HRQL scores from baseline at four- and eight-week medication were observed between the ME and E groups. The symptom-improvement rate of ≥50% after four and eight weeks was comparable between both groups. Adding mosapride SR to esomeprazole in patients with GERD provides no additional benefits in controlling GERD symptoms

Resistance Temperature Detectors Fabricated via Dual Fused Deposition Modeling of Polylactic Acid and Polylactic Acid/Carbon Black Composites

Planar-type resistance temperature detectors (P-RTDs) were fabricated via fused deposition modeling by dual nozzle extrusion. The temperature-sensing element of the fabricated sensor was printed with electrically conductive polylactic acid/carbon black (PLA/CB) composite, while the structural support was printed with a PLA insulator. The temperature-dependent resistivity change of PLA/CB was evaluated for different stacking sequences of PLA/CB layers printed with [0°/0°], [−45°/45°], and [0°/90°] plies. Compared to a PLA/CB filament used as 3D printing source material, the laminated structures exhibited a response over 3 times higher, showing a resistivity change from −10 to 40 Ω∙cm between −15 and 50 °C. Then, using the [0°/90°] plies stacking sequence, a P-RTD thermometer was fabricated in conjunction with a Wheatstone bridge circuit for temperature readouts. The P-RTD yielded a temperature coefficient of resistance of 6.62 %/°C with high stability over repeated cycles. Fabrication scalability was demonstrated by realizing a 3 × 3 array of P-RTDs, allowing the temperature profile detection of the surface in contact with heat sources

Anticancer activity of ginsenosides Rh2 on various cancer cells

Background: This study has mainly focused on finding pharmacological effects of ginsenosides that can reduce the unwanted side effects of the cytotoxic anticancer drugs and are highly effective on prostate cancer, colorectal cancer, liver cancer, hormone-dependent breast cancer, triple-negative breast cancer, and brain cancer (neuroblastoma). Methods: Minor and rare ginsenosides (GS) of Rh2 which have a high absorption ability and excellent pharmacological actions were treated with the 6 different types of cancer cell lines and their anticancer activities were investigated by analyzing gene expressions associated with various cancers through qPCR and other relevant methods. Results: In cancer cells exposed to Rh2, cell viability and cell migration were reduced, and apoptosis was induced. Each cancer cell was divided into three groups according to the cell proliferation response by Rh2; 1) A group in which the cell viability decreases inversely to an increase in Rh2 treatment concentration; 2) A group in which the cell viability rapidly decreases in Rh2 treatment above a certain level of concentration; 3) A group in which the cell viability was not suppressed below 20-30% even with 100 μL of Rh2, the highest concentration used in this study. Conclusions: It was shown that Rh2 has a significant effect on inhibiting the proliferation of prostate cancer cells and hormone-dependent breast cancer cells

A rare ginsenoside compound K (CK) induces apoptosis for breast cancer cells

Background: A breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in women worldwide and among different types of breast cancers, triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) has a poor prognosis. Methods: We investigated the potential of ginsenoside compound K (CK), an active ingredient in the bio-transformed ginsenoside, to be used as a therapeutic ingredient by examining the effects of CK on cell proliferation, apoptosis, and cancer-related gene expressions in breast cancer cells. Results: From the results of treating MCF-7, an ER and PR-positive breast cancer cells, and MDA-MB-231 (TNBC) with CK at a concentration of 0-100 μM, the half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) values for each cell were 52.17 μM and 29.88 μM, respectively. And also, it was confirmed that cell migration was inhibited above the IC50 concentration. In addition, fluorescence analysis of Apoptosis/Necrosis showed that CK induced apoptosis rather than necrosis of breast cancer cells. Through qPCR, it was confirmed that the expression of genes related to apoptosis and cell cycle arrest was increased in CK-treated breast cancer cells, and it acted more effectively on TNBC. However, the expression of genes related to tumor invasion and metastasis is also increased, so it is necessary to consider the timing of application of CK as a potential therapeutic anticancer compound. Conclusions: CK showed a stronger inhibitory effect in TNBC with poor prognosis but considering the high tumor invasion and metastasis-related gene expression, the timing of application of CK should be considered

First-line Helicobacter pylori Eradication with Standard Triple Therapy and Concomitant Therapy: A Retrospective Study

Background/Aims: The eradication rate of Helicobacter pylori with standard triple therapy as a first-line treatment has decreased to 70∼85%. Recently, concomitant therapy has been reported to overcome this decrease in eradication rate to some degree. The aim of this retrospective study was to compare the efficacy of 7-day concomitant therapy with that of 7-day standard triple therapy as a first-line treatment. Materials and Methods: Between March 2013 and February 2017, the medical records of 261 patients who received 7-day standard triple therapy or 7-day concomitant therapy as a first-line H. pylori eradication therapy were retrospectively evaluated. Successful eradication was confirmed using the ¹³C-urea breath test 6 to 8 weeks after the end of the eradication therapy. Results: This study included 261 patients, 140 patients in the standard triple therapy group and 121 in the concomitant therapy group. The H. pylori eradication rate by intention-to-treat analysis was 60.0% in the standard triple therapy group and 81.0% in the concomitant therapy group (P＜0.001). In the per-protocol analysis, the H. pylori eradication rates in the standard triple therapy and concomitant therapy groups were 69.4% and 88.3%, respectively (P＜0.001). Conclusions: Concomitant therapy was more effective as a first-line H. pylori eradication therapy than the standard triple therapy