STUDY DESIGN: Prospective, single-center study.PURPOSE: The current trend of operative treatment for adult spinal deformity (ASD) is combined anterior-posterior staged surgery. When anterior surgery was first performed, oblique lumbar interbody fusion (OLIF) was employed; this method became increasing popular. This study aimed to determine the lordosis correction that can be achieved using OLIF and assess whether we can preoperatively predict the lordosis correction angle achieved using OLIF.OVERVIEW OF LITERATURE: Many previous studies on OLIF have shown improved clinical and radiologic outcomes. With the increase in the popularity of OLIF, several surgeons have started using larger cages to attain greater lordosis correction. Moreover, some studies have reported complications of OLIF because of immoderate cage insertion. To our knowledge, this is the first prospective study that attempted to determine whether it is possible to predict the lordosis correction angle achieved with OLIF preoperatively, using fullextension lateral view (FELV).METHODS: Forty-six patients with ASD were enrolled. All the operations were performed by a single surgeon in two stages (first, anterior and second, posterior) with a 1-week interval. Radiological evaluation was performed by comparing the Cobb’s angle of the segmental and regional lordosis obtained using preoperative and postoperative simple radiography (including the FELV) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).RESULTS: Regional lordosis (L1–S1) in the whole-spine standing lateral radiograph was −3.03°; however, in the supine lateral MRI, it was 20.92°. The regional lordosis of whole-spine standing lateral and supine lateral (MRI) was significantly different. In the FELV, regional lordosis was 25.72° and that in the postoperative supine lateral (MRI) was 25.02°; these values were not significantly different.CONCLUSIONS: Although OLIF offers many advantages, it alone plays a limited role in ASD treatment. Lordosis correction using OLIF as well as lordosis determined in the FELV was possible. Hence, our results suggest that FELV can help predict the lordosis correction angle preoperatively and thus aid the selection of the appropriate technique in the second staged operation.
Adult ; Animals ; Congenital Abnormalities ; Humans ; Leukemia Virus, Feline ; Lordosis ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Methods ; Prospective Studies ; Radiography ; Surgeons

B lymphoma Moloney murine leukemia virus insertion region 1 (BMI1), a core member of polycomb repressive complex 1 (PRC1), has been intensely investigated in the field of cancer epigenetics for decades. Widely known as a critical regulator in cellular physiology, BMI1 is essential in self-renewal and differentiation in different lineages of stem cells. BMI1 also plays a significant role in cancer etiology for its involvement in pathological progress such as epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and cancer stem cell maintenance, propagation, and differentiation. Importantly, overexpression of BMI1 is predictive for drug resistance, tumor recurrence, and eventual therapy failure of various cancer subtypes, which renders the pharmacological targeting at BMI1 as a novel and promising therapeutic approach. The study on prostate cancer, a prevalent hormone-related cancer among men, has promoted enormous research advancements in cancer genetics and epigenetics. This review summarizes the role of BMI1 as an oncogenic and epigenetic regulator in tumor initiation, progression, and relapse of prostate cancer.
Animals ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Humans ; Lymphoma, B-Cell/genetics* ; Male ; Mice ; Moloney murine leukemia virus/genetics* ; Mutagenesis, Insertional/genetics* ; Polycomb Repressive Complex 1/genetics* ; Prostatic Neoplasms/genetics*

The Bcr-Abl oncogene is produced by the reciprocal translocation between c-Abl gene on chromosome 9 and the Bcr gene on chromosome 22 in human genome. The encoded Bcr-Abl fusion protein is responsible for the pathogenesis of certain human leukemias. Abelson murine leukemia virus (A-MuLV) is a retrovirus that could lead to transformation of B lymphocyte in mice, and v-Abl is the oncogene of A-MuLV. Abl oncoproteins (such as Bcr-Abl and v-Abl) play critical roles in tumorigenesis of certain cell types. Several signal transduction pathways, including JAK/STAT/Pim, PI3K/AKT/mTOR and RAS/RAF/MEK signaling pathway, are involved in Abl-mediated tumorigenesis. In addition, Abl-mediated tumorigenesis is associated with mutation or abnormal modification of key signal molecules as well as dysregulation of some critical long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs). Here, we review the molecular mechanisms by which Abl oncogenes activate three major signaling pathways, and provide a scientific basis for therapy of Abl oncoprotein-induced tumors.
Abelson murine leukemia virus ; Animals ; Cell Transformation, Neoplastic ; Fusion Proteins, bcr-abl ; Genes, abl ; Humans ; Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases

Laboratory inbred mice are used widely and commonly in biomedical research, but inbred mice do not have a big enough gene pool for the research. In this study, genetic and morphometric analyses were performed to obtain data on the characteristics of a newly developing inbred strain (KWM/Hym) captured from Chuncheon, Korea. All of five Korean wild male mice have the zinc-finger Y (ZfY) gene. Also, all of 19 Korean wild mice used in this analysis have the AKV-type murine leukemia virus gene, indicating that Korean wild mice might be Mus musculus musculus. To identify the genetic polymorphism in KWM/Hym, SNP analysis was performed. In a comparison with 28 SNP markers, there was a considerable difference between KWM/Hym and several inbred strains. The homogeneity between KWM/Hym and the inbred strains was as follows: C57BL/6J (39.3%), BALB/c AJic (42.9%), and DBA/2J (50%). KWM/Hym is most similar to the PWK/PhJ inbred strain (96.4%) derived from wild mice (Czech Republic). To identify the morphometric characteristics of KWM/Hym, the external morphology was measured. The tail ratio of male and female was 79.60±3.09 and 73.55±6.14%, respectively. KWM/Hym has short and agouti-colored hairs and its belly is white with golden hair. Taking these results together, KWM/Hym, a newly developing inbred mouse originated from wild mouse, might be use as new genetic resources to overcome the limitations of the current laboratory mice.
Animals ; Female ; Gangwon-do* ; Gene Pool ; Hair ; Humans ; Korea* ; Leukemia Virus, Murine ; Male ; Mice* ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Tail

At the time of visiting, the cat was 6-year-old female Siamese cat. The mammary mass was solid and firm and measured 2 × 5 cm2 in greatest diameter. The uterus revealed thick uterine horn and cross sectioned wall. Histopathologically, the mammary mass revealed feline mammary carcinoma. In the uterus, cystic endometrial hyperplasia was observed. Feline leukemia virus positive reaction was detected by polymerase chain reaction. As far as we know, this is the first report of the simultaneous feline mammary carcinoma and uterine endometrial cystic hyperplasia with Feline leukemia virus infection in a cat.
Animals ; Cats* ; Child ; Endometrial Hyperplasia* ; Female ; Horns ; Humans ; Hyperplasia ; Leukemia Virus, Feline ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Uterus

Protozoan viruses may influence the function and pathogenicity of the protozoa. Trichomonas vaginalis is a parasitic protozoan that could contain a double stranded RNA (dsRNA) virus, T. vaginalis virus (TVV). However, there are few reports on the properties of the virus. To further determine variations in protein expression of T. vaginalis, we detected 2 strains of T. vaginalis; the virus-infected (V⁺) and uninfected (V⁻) isolates to examine differentially expressed proteins upon TVV infection. Using a stable isotope N-terminal labeling strategy (iTRAQ) on soluble fractions to analyze proteomes, we identified 293 proteins, of which 50 were altered in V⁺ compared with V⁻ isolates. The results showed that the expression of 29 proteins was increased, and 21 proteins decreased in V⁺ isolates. These differentially expressed proteins can be classified into 4 categories: ribosomal proteins, metabolic enzymes, heat shock proteins, and putative uncharacterized proteins. Quantitative PCR was used to detect 4 metabolic processes proteins: glycogen phosphorylase, malate dehydrogenase, triosephosphate isomerase, and glucose-6-phosphate isomerase, which were differentially expressed in V⁺ and V⁻ isolates. Our findings suggest that mRNA levels of these genes were consistent with protein expression levels. This study was the first which analyzed protein expression variations upon TVV infection. These observations will provide a basis for future studies concerning the possible roles of these proteins in host-parasite interactions.
Glucose-6-Phosphate Isomerase ; Glycogen Phosphorylase ; Heat-Shock Proteins ; Host-Parasite Interactions ; Malate Dehydrogenase ; Metabolism ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Proteome ; Reticuloendotheliosis virus ; Ribosomal Proteins ; RNA, Double-Stranded ; RNA, Messenger ; Trichomonas vaginalis* ; Trichomonas* ; Triose-Phosphate Isomerase ; Virulence

In order to develop monoclonal antibodies (McAbs) against the gp90 protein of reticuloendotheliosis virus (REV), the His-tagged gp90 protein of REV was used to immunize BALB/c mice. Hybridomas were generated by fusing mouse myeloma cells SP2/0 with the splenocytes from the immunized mice. After screening and 3 rounds of cloning process, 3 hybridomas (3G5-B8, 3G5-A10 and 1G12) that stably secreted McAbs against the REV-gp90 were obtained. The isotypes of the McAbs were determined to be IgG1, IgG1 and IgG2b. The McAbs specifically bound to gp90 in REV-infected DF-1 cells, as demonstrated by Western blotting and indirect immunofluorescence assay. The recognition regions on gp90 that were recognized by 3G5-B8/3G5-A10 and 1G12 were located between amino acids 200 to 245 and 230 to 235, respectively, as demonstrated by Western blotting analysis. These McAbs will be useful in the diagnosis and pathogenesis study of REV.
Animals ; Antibodies, Monoclonal ; biosynthesis ; Antibody Specificity ; Blotting, Western ; Epitope Mapping ; Hybridomas ; Immunoglobulin G ; biosynthesis ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Reticuloendotheliosis virus ; immunology ; Viral Envelope Proteins ; immunology

We investigated inhibition of Moloney leukemia virus 10 (MOV10) upon xenotropic murine leukemia virus-related virus (XMRV) and made a preliminary study of the mechanism of action. Using transfection, infection, western blotting and real-time polymerase chain reaction, we found that MOV10 inhibited XMRV replication. Using MOV10 overexpressed in viral producer cells, MOV10 was shown to reduce the infectivity of XMRV. MOV10 could be incorporated into XMRV, suggesting that MOV10 could undergo encapsidation by XMRV during viral assembly. MOV10 could also restrict the DNA production of XMRV in target cells. We found that the putative RNA-helicase domain of MOV10 maintained most of its XMRV inhibition. These results suggest that MOV10 could be required during the retroviral lifecycle. Perturbation of MOV10 disrupts the generation of infectious viral particles, suggesting that MOV10 has broad antiretroviral activity. Hence, MOV10 could be actively involved in host defense against retroviral infection.
Humans ; Moloney murine leukemia virus ; physiology ; RNA Helicases ; physiology ; Virus Replication

Feline leukemia virus (FeLV) causes a range of neoplastic and degenerative diseases in cats. To obtain a more sensitive and convenient diagnosis of the disease, we prepared monoclonal antibodies specific for the FeLV p27 to develop a rapid diagnostic test with enhanced sensitivity and specificity. Among these antibodies, we identified two clones (hybridomas 8F8B5 and 8G7D1) that specifically bound to FeLV and were very suitable for a diagnostic kit. The affinity constants for 8F8B5 and 8G7D1 were 0.35 x 10(9) and 0.86 x 10(9), respectively. To investigate the diagnostic abilities of the rapid kit using these antibodies, we performed several clinical studies. Assessment of analytical sensitivity revealed that the detection threshold of the rapid diagnostic test was 2 ng/mL for recombinant p27 and 12.5 x 10(4) IU/mL for FeLV. When evaluating 252 cat sera samples, the kit was found to have a kappa value of 0.88 compared to polymerase chain reaction (PCR), indicating a significant correlation between data from the rapid diagnostic test and PCR. Sensitivity and specificity of the kit were 95.2% (20/21) and 98.5% (257/261), respectively. Our results demonstrated that the rapid diagnostic test would be a suitable diagnostic tool for the rapid detection of FeLV infection in cats.
Animals ; Antibodies, Monoclonal/blood ; Cats ; Diagnostic Tests, Routine/*veterinary ; Female ; Gene Products, gag/*blood ; Leukemia Virus, Feline/immunology/*isolation & purification ; Leukemia, Feline/*diagnosis ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Sensitivity and Specificity

BACKGROUND: Xenotropic murine leukemia virus-related virus (XMRV) has been detected in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMNs), therefore, it has been regarded as being infectious and transmittable by transfusion. Thus, we attempted to detect XMRV in blood samples in order to confirm the absence of XMRV from blood donors. METHODS: We achieved 165 blood donors and four chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) patients. We performed real-time polymerase chain reaction using the LightCycler 480 (Roche, Penzberg, Germany) for the gag and env genes of the XMRV genome. DNA was extracted from peripheral blood samples. We used Uracil-N-Glycosylase in order to prevent contamination and DNA extracted from mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEF) for amplification control. RESULTS: No XMRV was detected in any of the blood donors in both the gag and env genes. In four CFS patients, amplification was not detected in the gag gene. In two of four CFS patients, amplifications were detected and the melting temperature was in agreement with that of MEF control in the env gene. CONCLUSION: Although XMRV was not present in blood samples from blood donors, this is the first report on XMRV in Korean blood donors. We confirmed the absence of XMRV in Korean blood donors, the same as studies reported in other countries.
Animals ; Blood Donors ; DNA ; Fatigue Syndrome, Chronic ; Fibroblasts ; Freezing ; Genes, env ; Genes, gag ; Genome ; Humans ; Mice ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Xenotropic murine leukemia virus-related virus