Peptide mass mapping is the matching of experimentally generated peptides masses with the predicted masses of digested proteins contained in a database. To identify proteins by matching their constituent fragment masses to the theoretical peptide masses generated from a protein database, the peptide mass fingerprinting technique is used for the protein identification. Thus, it is important to know the theoretical mass distribution of the database. However, few researches have reported the peptide mass distribution of a database. We analyzed the peptide mass distribution of non-redundant protein sequence database in the NCBI after digestion with 15 different types of enzymes. In order to characterize the peptide mass distribution with different digestion enzymes, a power law distribution (Zipfs law) was applied to the distribution. After constructing simulated digestion of a protein database, rank-frequency plot of peptide fragments was applied to generalize a Zipfs law curve for all enzymes. As a result, our data appear to fit Zipfs law with statistically significant parameter values.
Databases, Protein* ; Dermatoglyphics ; Digestion ; Jurisprudence ; Peptide Fragments ; Peptides

In this study, we investigated the effects of the ethanol extract of aerial parts of Raphanus sativus L. (ERL) on breast cancer cell proliferation and gene expression associated with cell proliferation and apoptosis in MDA-MB-231 human breast cancer cells. The MDA-MB-231 cells were cultured in the presence or absence of various concentrations (100, 200, or 300 microg/mL) of ERL. ERL significantly decreased cell proliferation after 48 h of incubation (P < 0.05). The protein and mRNA expression of ErbB2 were decreased significantly in a dose-dependent manner (P < 0.05). The protein expression of ErbB3 was decreased significantly at an ERL concentration of 300 microg/mL (P < 0.05), and mRNA expression of ErbB3 was decreased significantly in a dose-dependent manner (P < 0.05). The protein expression of Akt was decreased significantly at the ERL concentration of 200 microg/mL (P < 0.05), and the protein expression of pAkt was decreased significantly in a dose-dependent manner (P < 0.05). The mRNA expression of Akt was decreased significantly at the ERL concentration of 200 microg/mL ERL (P < 0.05). The protein and mRNA expression of Bax were increased significantly at ERL concentrations of 200 microg/mL or higher (P < 0.05). The protein expression of Bcl2 was increased significantly at ERL concentrations of 100 microg/mL or higher (P < 0.05), and mRNA expression of Bcl2 was increased significantly at an ERL concentration of 300 microg/mL (P < 0.05). In conclusion, we suggest that Raphanus sativus, L. inhibits cell proliferation via the ErbB-Akt pathway in MDA-MB-231 cells.
Apoptosis ; Breast ; Breast Neoplasms ; Cell Proliferation ; Ethanol ; Gene Expression ; Humans ; Raphanus ; Receptor, Epidermal Growth Factor ; RNA, Messenger

A male, 5-year-old Jindo dog underwent enterectomy and enteroanastomosis due to ileus of the intestine at a local veterinary hospital. Grossly, the excised intestine showed markedly thickened multinodular masses in the serosal layer of the upper part, and soft-to-firm, creamcolored neoplastic masses that displayed extensive nodular mucosal protuberances into the lumen. The neoplastic masses were filled with large round cells that were ovoid in shape and they had pale and/or hyperchromatic nuclei. The neoplastic cells had mainly infiltrated into the mucosal and submucosal layers, and they had diffusely invaded the muscular and serosal layers. Therefore, the diagnosis of canine multiple intestinal malignant lymphomatous polyposis was made based on the gross and histopathological findings. The origin of these tumor cells was determined to be B-cells since they were positive for anti-CD20.
Animals ; Antigens, CD20/metabolism ; Dog Diseases/*pathology/surgery ; Dogs ; Immunohistochemistry/veterinary ; Intestinal Neoplasms/pathology/surgery/*veterinary ; Intestinal Polyps/*pathology/surgery ; Lymphoma, Mantle-Cell/pathology/surgery/*veterinary ; Male

Histopathological findings of eosinophilic myositis in the carcass of a slaughtered Korean native cow are presented. Lesions contained massive fibrous septae with vacuolar changes in some lesions, and the hypercontraction and rupturing of muscle bundles, with replacement by eosinophils. Necrosis and severe eosinophil infiltration were observed. Sarcoplasmic fragmentation and atrophy developed. Typical of granuloma, calcified myofibers were focally surrounded by macrophages and numerous inflammatory cells, and multinucleated giant cell formation was evident.
Animals ; Cattle ; Cattle Diseases/*pathology ; Eosinophilia/pathology/*veterinary ; Female ; Muscle, Skeletal/*pathology ; Muscular Diseases/pathology/*veterinary

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is associated with insulin resistance. Compound K (CK) is the final metabolite of panaxadiol ginsenosides that have been shown to exert antidiabetic effects. However, the molecular mechanism of the antidiabetic effects in the liver have not been elucidated; further, whether CK has beneficial effects in hepatosteatosis remains unclear. Therefore, we evaluated the effect of CK on hepatosteatosis as well as its mechanism in high-fat diet (HFD)-fed type 2 diabetic Otsuka Long-Evans Tokushima Fatty (OLETF) rats. METHODS: Twenty-four-week-old male OLETF rats were assigned to four groups: control (saline), CK 10 mg/kg, CK 25 mg/kg, or metformin 300 mg/kg (positive control); all treatments were administered orally for 12 weeks. RESULTS: Fasting glucose levels of the CK25 group were significantly lower than those of the control group during the 12 weeks. The results of the oral glucose tolerance test showed that both the glucose concentration after glucose loading and the fasting insulin levels of the CK25 group were significantly lower than those of the control. Hepatosteatosis was significantly improved by CK25. CK25 and metformin significantly increased the phosphorylation of hepatic adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK). CK25 significantly inhibited the expression of sterol regulatory element-binding protein-1c and fatty acid synthase, while upregulating that of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-α and carnitine palmitoyltransferase-1. CONCLUSIONS: CK improved glucose intolerance and hepatosteatosis in HFD-fed OLETF rats through AMPK activation, which has dual mode of action that involves decreasing the synthesis of fatty acids and increasing fatty acid oxidation.
Adenosine ; AMP-Activated Protein Kinases ; Animals ; Carnitine ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; Diet, High-Fat ; Fasting ; Fatty Acids ; Ginsenosides ; Glucose Intolerance* ; Glucose Tolerance Test ; Glucose* ; Humans ; Insulin ; Insulin Resistance ; Liver ; Male ; Metformin ; Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease ; Peroxisomes ; Phosphorylation ; Protein Kinases ; Rats ; Rats, Inbred OLETF*

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the significance of pH monitoring at two levels, hypopharynx and esophagus in gastroesophageal reflux. METHODS: 29 patients with pathological gastroesophageal reflux were classified into two groups: Group I had recurrent respiratory symptoms and Group II had not recurrent respiratory symptoms. The ambulatory pH monitoring was performed at the hypopharynx and the esophagus simultaneously with two channel catheter for 18~24 hr. The pathological reflux was defined when the percent of time that pH was below 4.0 exceeding the 95th percentile of normal value. Hypopharyngeal reflux was defined as the pharyngeal pH drops below 4. RESULTS: 39 patients were performed pH monitoring at the level of hypopharynx and esophagus for 24 hours. Among 7 patients with chronic respiratory symptom, 6 patients (85.7%) have pathological esophageal reflux. Among 32 patients without chronic respiratory symptom, 23 patients (71.8%) have pathological esophageal reflux. Thus 29 out of 39 patients (74%) have pathological esophageal reflux. In the Group I, all parameters except the longest episode showed significant differences between hypopharyngeal and esophageal pH monitoring. None of parameters showed significant differences between group I and II in the pharyngeal pH monitoring. CONCLUSION: Regardless of presence of respiratory symptoms, the pH monitoring at the pharyngeal level in patients with gastroesophageal reflux did not showed any differences compared with the esophageal pH monitoring. Therefore we may reconsider the usefulness of hypopharyngeal pH monitoring in patients with chronic respiratory symptoms.
Catheters ; Esophageal pH Monitoring ; Esophagus ; Gastroesophageal Reflux* ; Humans ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration* ; Hypopharynx ; Reference Values

Odontogenic myxoma of the jaws is a rare benign odontogenic tumor. In this case, a 61-year-old male patient had a chief complaint about maxillary anterior gingival mass and excisional biopsy result confirmed odontogenic myxoma. The clear acrylic resin custom tray was designed to minimize displacement of flabby tissue which remained after the surgery. Neutral zone and external impression technique could provide satisfactory result in terms of denture stability and retention during jaw relation record and wax denture try-in procedure. This clinical report describes fabrication of complete dentures for a patient with odontogenic myxoma in regard to flabby tissue and neutral zone.
Biopsy ; Denture Retention ; Denture, Complete ; Dentures ; Humans ; Jaw ; Jaw Relation Record ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Myxoma ; Odontogenic Tumors

Objective: This study analyzed the relationship between sociodemographic and physical health, mental health, living habit, and environment factor that affect cognitive function of elderly living alone in one area. Methods: This study were surveyed for 400 elderly living alone in one area, and the factors affecting cognitive function were analyzed through multiple regression analysis. Results: The demographic and cognitive function with difference were gender, age, education, economic activities, monthly living expense, leisure, visual, and auditory. The physical health, mental health, living habit, environment factor, and cognitive function with differences were balance, physical activity, frail, sarcopenia, and area. The factors affecting cognitive function was education, economic activities, monthly living expense, instrumental activities of daily living, and hope. Conclusion This study identified the factors affecting the cognitive function of the elderly living alone, and the most influen-tial factor was Instrumental Activities of Daily Living. This study is meaningful in developing the basis of a program to prevent and manage cognitive decline in the elderly living alone.

Objectives: Restricted and repetitive behaviors (RRBs) are a core symptom in the diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The complexity of behavioral patterns has called for the creation of phenotypically homogeneous subgroups among individuals with ASD.The purpose of this study was 1) to investigate the different types of RRBs and 2) to explore whether subgroups created by RRBs would show unique levels of functioning in toddlers and young children with ASD. Methods: A total of 313 children with ASD, aged 12–42 months were included in the analysis. The Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised was used to obtain information on the different types of RRBs by grouping 15 items into six categories. The Vineland Adaptive Behaviors Scale, a parent-reported questionnaire, was used to measure adaptive functioning. A portion of the children were analyzed separately for verbal-related RRBs based on their expressive language level. Two-step cluster analysis using RRB groups as features was used to create subgroups. Analysis of covariance while covarying for age and language was performed to explore the clinical characteristics of each cluster group. Results: Sensory-related RRBs were the most prevalent, followed by circumscribed interests, interest in objects, resistance to change, and repetitive body movements. A subset of the children was analyzed separately to explore verbal-related RRBs. Four cluster groups were created based on reported RRBs, with multiple RRBs demonstrating significant delays in adaptive functioning. Conclusion Heterogeneity of RRBs emerges at a young age. The different patterns of RRBs can be used as valuable information to determine developmental trajectories with better implications for treatment approaches.

Purpose: This study was a descriptive study to identify the factors affecting nurses' care burden of patients with hematologic neoplasm (PHN) in the intensive care unit (ICU). Methods: A total of 139 ICU nurses were enrolled and data were collected using self-report questionnaires about compassion satisfaction, compassion fatigue, nursing work performance, and the care burden of PHN. Data were analyzed using the independent t-test and one–way analysis of variance, Pearson's correlation coefficient, and hierarchical regression analysis. Results: The average of nurses’ care burden of PHN was 35.75 points in the ICU. Analyzing the correlations among the main variables showed that the care burden of PHN showed a negative correlation with compassion satisfaction and nursing work performance, and a positive correlation with compassion fatigue. We noted that the compassion satisfaction showed a negative correlation with burnout and a positive correlation with nursing work performance. The factor affecting the care burden of PHN was burnout (β=.30, p=.019), and showed a significant explanatory power of 16.0% (F=7.37, p<.001) Conclusion Efforts such as policies and nurse support programs are needed to reduce burnout, a factor that affects care burden of PHN in intensive care nurses.