Polylactic acid (PLA) and polycaprolactone (PCL) are commercially available bioplastics that are exploited worldwide, and both are biodegradable. The PLA and PCL polymer-degrading activity of 30 fungal strains that were isolated from terrestrial environments were screened based on the formation of a clear zone around fungal colonies on agar plates containing emulsified PLA or PCL. Among them, five strains yielded positive results of biodegradation.Strains Korean Agricultural Culture Collection (KACC) 83034BP and KNUF-20-PPH03 exhibited PCL degradation; two other strains, KACC 83035BP and KNUF-20-PDG05, degraded PLA; and the fifth strain, KACC 83036BP, biodegraded both tested plastics. Based on phylogenetic analyses using various combinations of the sequences of internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions, RPB2, LSU, CAL, and b-TUB genes, the above-mentioned strains were identified as Apiotrichum porosum, Penicillium samsonianum, Talaromyces pinophilus, Purpureocillium lilacinum, and Fusicolla acetilerea, respectively. Based on our knowledge, this is the first report on (i) plastic biodegraders among Apiotrichum and Fusicolla species, (ii) the capability of T. pinophilus to degrade biodegradable plastics, (iii) the biodegradative activity of P. samsonianumagainst PCL, and (iv) the accurate identification of P. lilacinum as a PLA biodegrader. Further studies should be conducted to determine how the fungal species can be utilized in Korea.

Polylactic acid (PLA) and polycaprolactone (PCL) are commercially available bioplastics that are exploited worldwide, and both are biodegradable. The PLA and PCL polymer-degrading activity of 30 fungal strains that were isolated from terrestrial environments were screened based on the formation of a clear zone around fungal colonies on agar plates containing emulsified PLA or PCL. Among them, five strains yielded positive results of biodegradation.Strains Korean Agricultural Culture Collection (KACC) 83034BP and KNUF-20-PPH03 exhibited PCL degradation; two other strains, KACC 83035BP and KNUF-20-PDG05, degraded PLA; and the fifth strain, KACC 83036BP, biodegraded both tested plastics. Based on phylogenetic analyses using various combinations of the sequences of internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions, RPB2, LSU, CAL, and b-TUB genes, the above-mentioned strains were identified as Apiotrichum porosum, Penicillium samsonianum, Talaromyces pinophilus, Purpureocillium lilacinum, and Fusicolla acetilerea, respectively. Based on our knowledge, this is the first report on (i) plastic biodegraders among Apiotrichum and Fusicolla species, (ii) the capability of T. pinophilus to degrade biodegradable plastics, (iii) the biodegradative activity of P. samsonianumagainst PCL, and (iv) the accurate identification of P. lilacinum as a PLA biodegrader. Further studies should be conducted to determine how the fungal species can be utilized in Korea.

The National Cancer Institute (NCI) Division of Cancer Prevention (DCP) convened the “Translational Advances in Cancer Prevention Agent Development (TACPAD) Workshop on Immunomodulatory Agents” as a virtual 2-day workshop on September 13 to 14, 2021. The main goals of this workshop were to foster the exchange of ideas and potentially new collaborative interactions among leading cancer immunoprevention researchers from basic and clinical research and highlight new and emerging trends in immunoprevention. The workshop included an overview of the mechanistic classes of immunomodulatory agents and three sessions covering the gamut from preclinical to clinical studies. The workshop convened individuals working in immunology and cancer prevention to discuss trends in discovery and development of immunomodulatory agents individually and in combination with other chemopreventive agents or vaccines.

The mitochondrial pathway of swine influenza virus (SIV)-induced apoptosis was investigated using porcine kidney (PK-15) cells, swine testicle (ST) cells, and HeLa cervical carcinoma cells which are known not to support viral replication. As judged by cell morphology, annexin V staining, and DNA fragmentation, PK-15 and ST cells infected with three different subtypes of SIV (H1N1, H3N2, and H1N2) were obviously killed by apoptosis, not necrosis. SIV infection in PK-15 and HeLa cells was shown to decrease the cellular levels of Bcl-2 protein compared to that of mock-infected control cells at 24 h post-infection, whereas expression levels of Bax protein increased in the PK-15 cells, but did not increase in HeLa cells by SIV infection. Cytochrome c upregulation was also observed in cytosolic fractions of the PK-15 and HeLa cells infected with SIV. Apoptosome (a multi-protein complex consisting of cytochrome c, Apaf-1, caspase-9, and ATP) formation was confirmed by immunoprecipitation using cytochrome c antibody. Furthermore, SIV infection increased the cellular levels of TAJ, an activator of the JNK-stressing pathway, and the c-Jun protein in the PK-15 and HeLa cells. Taken together, these results suggest that the mitochondrial pathway should be implicated in the apoptosis of PK-15 cells induced by SIV infection.
Animals ; Annexin A5/metabolism ; *Apoptosis ; Blotting, Western ; Cell Fractionation ; Cell Line ; Comparative Study ; Cytochrome c Group/metabolism ; Cytosol/chemistry ; DNA Fragmentation ; Enzyme Activation ; Gene Expression Regulation, Viral ; Hela Cells ; Humans ; Influenza A virus/*physiology ; Kinetics ; Mitochondria/metabolism/*physiology ; Precipitin Tests ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2/genetics/metabolism ; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't ; Swine ; bcl-2-Associated X Protein/genetics/metabolism

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: 2018 ESC/ESH Hypertension guideline recommends 2-drug combination as initial anti-hypertensive therapy. However, real-world evidence for effectiveness of recommended regimens remains limited. We aimed to compare the effectiveness of first-line anti-hypertensive treatment combining 2 out of the following classes: angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors/angiotensin-receptor blocker (A), calcium channel blocker (C), and thiazide-type diuretics (D).METHODS: Treatment-naïve hypertensive adults without cardiovascular disease (CVD) who initiated dual anti-hypertensive medications were identified in 5 databases from US and Korea. The patients were matched for each comparison set by large-scale propensity score matching. Primary endpoint was all-cause mortality. Myocardial infarction, heart failure, stroke, and major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events as a composite outcome comprised the secondary measure.RESULTS: A total of 987,983 patients met the eligibility criteria. After matching, 222,686, 32,344, and 38,513 patients were allocated to A+C vs. A+D, C+D vs. A+C, and C+D vs. A+D comparison, respectively. There was no significant difference in the mortality during total of 1,806,077 person-years: A+C vs. A+D (hazard ratio [HR], 1.08; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.97−1.20; p=0.127), C+D vs. A+C (HR, 0.93; 95% CI, 0.87−1.01; p=0.067), and C+D vs. A+D (HR, 1.18; 95% CI, 0.95−1.47; p=0.104). A+C was associated with a slightly higher risk of heart failure (HR, 1.09; 95% CI, 1.01−1.18; p=0.040) and stroke (HR, 1.08; 95% CI, 1.01−1.17; p=0.040) than A+D.CONCLUSIONS: There was no significant difference in mortality among A+C, A+D, and C+D combination treatment in patients without previous CVD. This finding was consistent across multi-national heterogeneous cohorts in real-world practice.
Adult ; Angiotensin Receptor Antagonists ; Antihypertensive Agents ; Calcium Channel Blockers ; Calcium Channels ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Cohort Studies ; Diuretics ; Heart Failure ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Korea ; Mortality ; Myocardial Infarction ; Propensity Score ; Stroke

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: 2018 ESC/ESH Hypertension guideline recommends 2-drug combination as initial anti-hypertensive therapy. However, real-world evidence for effectiveness of recommended regimens remains limited. We aimed to compare the effectiveness of first-line anti-hypertensive treatment combining 2 out of the following classes: angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors/angiotensin-receptor blocker (A), calcium channel blocker (C), and thiazide-type diuretics (D). METHODS: Treatment-naïve hypertensive adults without cardiovascular disease (CVD) who initiated dual anti-hypertensive medications were identified in 5 databases from US and Korea. The patients were matched for each comparison set by large-scale propensity score matching. Primary endpoint was all-cause mortality. Myocardial infarction, heart failure, stroke, and major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events as a composite outcome comprised the secondary measure. RESULTS: A total of 987,983 patients met the eligibility criteria. After matching, 222,686, 32,344, and 38,513 patients were allocated to A+C vs. A+D, C+D vs. A+C, and C+D vs. A+D comparison, respectively. There was no significant difference in the mortality during total of 1,806,077 person-years: A+C vs. A+D (hazard ratio [HR], 1.08; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.97−1.20; p=0.127), C+D vs. A+C (HR, 0.93; 95% CI, 0.87−1.01; p=0.067), and C+D vs. A+D (HR, 1.18; 95% CI, 0.95−1.47; p=0.104). A+C was associated with a slightly higher risk of heart failure (HR, 1.09; 95% CI, 1.01−1.18; p=0.040) and stroke (HR, 1.08; 95% CI, 1.01−1.17; p=0.040) than A+D. CONCLUSIONS There was no significant difference in mortality among A+C, A+D, and C+D combination treatment in patients without previous CVD. This finding was consistent across multi-national heterogeneous cohorts in real-world practice.

Tuberculosis (TB) is a serious infectious diseases threating human health, bacillus balmette-guerin vaccine (BCG) is the only available TB vaccine now, neonatal vaccination can significantly reduce the incidence and death of tuberculosis. However, due to its limited protection period, one dose vaccination after birth does not have a protective effect for adolescents and adults. Therefore, how to reduce the prevalence of TB in adolescents and adults effectively is essential for TB prevention and control. In this paper, we reviewed the literature from PubMed, CNKI, and Wanfang database to analyze and summarize the characteristics of BCG vaccine, immune effects and immunity endurance, the effects of BCG vaccination and repeated BCG vaccination in adolescents adults and discuse the change of attitude and trends of BCG use in the three documents issued by the World Health Organization on position of BCG.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Age Factors ; BCG Vaccine/immunology* ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Humans ; Time Factors ; Tuberculosis/prevention & control* ; Tuberculosis Vaccines ; Vaccination ; World Health Organization

Amyloid precursor protein (APP) plays an important role in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease (AD), but the normal function of APP at synapses is poorly understood. We and others have found that APP interacts with Reelin and that each protein is individually important for dendritic spine formation, which is associated with learning and memory, in vitro. However, whether Reelin acts through APP to modulate dendritic spine formation or synaptic function remains unknown. In the present study, we found that Reelin treatment significantly increased dendritic spine density and PSD-95 puncta number in primary hippocampal neurons. An examination of the molecular mechanisms by which Reelin regulates dendritic spinogenesis revealed that Reelin enhanced hippocampal dendritic spine formation in a Ras/ERK/CREB signaling-dependent manner. Interestingly, Reelin did not increase dendritic spine number in primary hippocampal neurons when APP expression was reduced or in vivo in APP knockout (KO) mice. Taken together, our data are the first to demonstrate that Reelin acts cooperatively with APP to modulate dendritic spine formation and suggest that normal APP function is critical for Reelin-mediated dendritic spinogenesis at synapses.

The Division of Cancer Prevention of the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and the Office of Disease Prevention of the National Institutes of Health co-sponsored the Translational Advances in Cancer Prevention Agent Development Meeting on August 27 to 28, 2020. The goals of this meeting were to foster the exchange of ideas and stimulate new collaborative interactions among leading cancer prevention researchers from basic and clinical research; highlight new and emerging trends in immunoprevention and chemoprevention as well as new information from clinical trials; and provide information to the extramural research community on the significant resources available from the NCI to promote prevention agent development and rapid translation to clinical trials. The meeting included two plenary talks and five sessions covering the range from pre-clinical studies with chemo/immunopreventive agents to ongoing cancer prevention clinical trials. In addition, two NCI informational sessions describing contract resources for the preclinical agent development and cooperative grants for the Cancer Prevention Clinical Trials Network were also presented.

The Division of Cancer Prevention of the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and the Office of Disease Prevention of the National Institutes of Health co-sponsored the Translational Advances in Cancer Prevention Agent Development Meeting on August 27 to 28, 2020. The goals of this meeting were to foster the exchange of ideas and stimulate new collaborative interactions among leading cancer prevention researchers from basic and clinical research; highlight new and emerging trends in immunoprevention and chemoprevention as well as new information from clinical trials; and provide information to the extramural research community on the significant resources available from the NCI to promote prevention agent development and rapid translation to clinical trials. The meeting included two plenary talks and five sessions covering the range from pre-clinical studies with chemo/immunopreventive agents to ongoing cancer prevention clinical trials. In addition, two NCI informational sessions describing contract resources for the preclinical agent development and cooperative grants for the Cancer Prevention Clinical Trials Network were also presented.