Oral stereognosis is a function recognizing the characteristics, such as the size and shape, of objects in the mouth by integrating the senses with movement. As a child grows up, this function develops gradually but is reduced by aging and neurological damage, such as a stroke. In addition, it may affect the swallowing function in the oral phase of stroke patients with dysphagia. The shape and size of an intraoral bolus provide sensory information that is important for swallowing. Therefore, oral stereognosis is important for safety during eating and drinking. Oral stereognosis is designed for evaluation using two-dimensional or three-dimensional shapes of various sizes, and the accuracy or response rate is scored. On the other hand, there is no method of standardized examination. Accordingly, it is necessary to develop a new training method for promoting the recovery of the oral sensory function. The method should also aim to recover the oral stereognostic ability through a larger number of subjects and diseases in the future.

Species of the genus Aspergillus have a variety of effects on humans and have been considered industrial cell factories due to their prominent ability for manufacturing several products such as heterologous proteins, secondary metabolites, and organic acids. Scientists are trying to improve fungal strains and re-design metabolic processes through advanced genetic manipulation techniques and gene delivery systems to enhance their industrial efficiency and utility. In this review, we describe the current status of the genetic manipulation techniques and transformation methods for species of the genus Aspergillus. The host strains, selective markers, and experimental materials required for the genetic manipulation and fungal transformation are described in detail. Furthermore, the advantages and disadvantages of these techniques are described.

The velvet regulators VosA and VelB are primarily involved in spore maturation and dormancy. Previous studies found that the VosA-VelB hetero-complex coordinates certain target genes that are related to fungal differentiation and conidial maturation in Aspergillus nidulans. Here, we characterized the VosA/VelB-inhibited developmental gene vidD in A. nidulans.Phenotypic analyses demonstrated that the vidD deleted mutant exhibited defect fungal growth, a reduced number of conidia, and delayed formation of sexual fruiting bodies. The deletion of vidD decreased the amount of conidial trehalose, increased the sensitivity against heat stress, and reduced the conidial viability. Moreover, the absence of vidDresulted in increased production of sterigmatocystin. Together, these results show that vidD is required for proper fungal growth, development, and sterigmatocystin production in A. nidulans.

Species of the genus Aspergillus have a variety of effects on humans and have been considered industrial cell factories due to their prominent ability for manufacturing several products such as heterologous proteins, secondary metabolites, and organic acids. Scientists are trying to improve fungal strains and re-design metabolic processes through advanced genetic manipulation techniques and gene delivery systems to enhance their industrial efficiency and utility. In this review, we describe the current status of the genetic manipulation techniques and transformation methods for species of the genus Aspergillus. The host strains, selective markers, and experimental materials required for the genetic manipulation and fungal transformation are described in detail. Furthermore, the advantages and disadvantages of these techniques are described.

The velvet regulators VosA and VelB are primarily involved in spore maturation and dormancy. Previous studies found that the VosA-VelB hetero-complex coordinates certain target genes that are related to fungal differentiation and conidial maturation in Aspergillus nidulans. Here, we characterized the VosA/VelB-inhibited developmental gene vidD in A. nidulans.Phenotypic analyses demonstrated that the vidD deleted mutant exhibited defect fungal growth, a reduced number of conidia, and delayed formation of sexual fruiting bodies. The deletion of vidD decreased the amount of conidial trehalose, increased the sensitivity against heat stress, and reduced the conidial viability. Moreover, the absence of vidDresulted in increased production of sterigmatocystin. Together, these results show that vidD is required for proper fungal growth, development, and sterigmatocystin production in A. nidulans.

No abstract available.
Animals ; Antibodies, Neutralizing* ; Immunization* ; Mice*

Purpose: This study investigated the prevalence and perceptions of workplace violence against registered nurses (RNs) in hospitals. Methods: One thousand RNs replied to a nationwide survey from November 14 to December 22, 2022. They reported their general characteristics, prevalence of and their responses to different types of workplace violence from patients, family caregivers, physicians, and nurse peers, as well as their perceptions of workplace violence management systems. Results: A total of 71.1% of the RNs reported that they had experienced workplace violence in the last six months. The violence and sexual harassment experienced from patients and family caregivers were 57.3% and 19.1%, respectively. Furthermore, violence, sexual harassment, and workplace harassment from physicians were experienced by 24.6%, 4.0%, and 7.4%, respectively, of the RNs, and those from nurse peers by 21.4%, 3.1%, and 11.3%, respectively. The RNs stated that they often responded to workplace violence with passive and inactive behaviors, which were more serious toward physicians’ workplace violence or sexual harassment from different perpetrators. Only 69.5% were aware of their hospital’s workplace violence management systems, while only 14.7%~27.4%, according to the type of hospital (p=.471), perceived the systems as effective. Multiple important strategies were identified to prevent workplace violence. Conclusion Critical suggestions are discussed for the prevention of workplace violence, including protecting the human rights of healthcare professionals, inter-organizational collaboration, and a culture of person-centered healthcare, and training nurse managers’ competency in managing workplace violence.

A 70-year-old female was referred for brown-to-gray colored papules and nodules on her lower legs. She had been diagnosed with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) in her stomach, and myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) by bone marrow biopsy. Three years after complete remission of DLBCL, she experienced DLBCL recurrence in her small bowel and was hospitalized. MDS had been stationary, but during the treatment of DLBCL, her laboratory findings suggested signs of leukemia. Bone marrow biopsy was done, and acute monoblastic leukemia (AMoL) was diagnosed. After 1 cycle of chemotherapy for AMoL, skin lesions developed, and her skin biopsy showed cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL). Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase staining and CD123 staining were negative, and bone marrow re-biopsy conducted after the skin lesion developed still showed monoblastic proliferation. Whether the CTCL represented with an AMoL lineage switch could not be completely proved due to the absence of molecular or clonal marker evaluations, but the possibility of coexistence of three different malignancies was higher. During treatment, a neutropenic fever developed, and the patient died due to sepsis. We herein report a rare case of CTCL accompanied by AmoL and DLBCL.

Tea contains polyphenols and is one of the most popular beverages consumed worldwide. Because most tyrosinase inhibitors that regulate melanogenesis are phenol/catechol derivatives, this study investigated the inhibitory effects of Camellia sinensis water extracts (CSWEs), including black tea, green tea, and white tea extracts, on melanogenesis using immortalized melanocytes. CSWEs inhibited melanin accumulation and melanin synthesis along with tyrosinase activity in a concentration-dependent manner. These inhibitory effects were superior to those of arbutin, a well-known depigmenting agent. The anti-melanogenic activity of black (fermented) tea was higher than that of a predominant tea catecholamine, epigallocatechin gallate. CSWEs, especially black tea extract, decreased tyrosinase protein levels in a concentration-dependent manner. These results suggest that the anti-melanogenic effect of CSWEs is mediated by a decrease in both tyrosinase activity and protein expression, and may be augmented by fermentation. Thus, CSWEs could be useful skin-whitening agents in the cosmetic industry.
Animals ; Catechin/analogs & derivatives/metabolism ; Cell Line ; Melanins/*metabolism ; Melanocytes/enzymology/*metabolism ; Mice ; Monophenol Monooxygenase/*metabolism ; Plant Extracts/*pharmacology ; Plant Leaves/chemistry ; Tea/*chemistry

PURPOSE: The accurate analysis of urinary stone components is fundamental for studying of the etiology of stone formation and it is essential for the treatment of urinary stone and its prevention. We compared the analysis of urinary stone components during the last two decades. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Stone analysis was performed by Louis C. Herring and Company. The urinary stones were aobtained from January, 1986 to December, 2005. We compared the stone components of the first decade (Group A, 301 cases) with that of the second decade(Group B, 158 cases). RESULTS: The mean age was 47.2+/-14.5 in Group A and 46.0+/-10.2 in Group B(p=0.658). The ratio of males to females was 2.04:1 in Group A and 1.98:1 in Group B(p=0.888). Ureteral stones were the most common stones in both groups. Among all the components analyzed in Group A, calcium oxalate made up 73.1% of the total. Other components found in the stones were uric acid 12.3%, calcium phosphate 8.3%, magnesium ammonium 5.3%, ammonium acid urate 0.7% and cystine 0.3%. In Group B, calcium oxalate was only 56.3% of the total and uric acid was 22.2%, calcium phosphate was 11.4%, magnesium ammonium phosphate was 8.2%, ammonium acid urate was 1.3% and cystine was 0.6%. On comparison of the stones of the two groups, the incidence of calcium oxalate was decreased in Group A(73.1% vs 56.3%, p<0.001). However, the incidence of uric acid in Group B was increased(12.3% vs 22.2%, respectively, p=0.006). There were no notable statistical increases in the frequency of the other components(p>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: In this study, the incidence of calcium oxalate was decreased and that of the uric acid was increased in the recent decade. These changes of stone components probably resulted from the increased animal protein diet.
Ammonium Compounds ; Animals ; Calcium ; Calcium Oxalate ; Cystine ; Diet ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Magnesium ; Male ; Ureter ; Uric Acid ; Urinary Calculi*