Soluble Programmed Cell Death Ligand-1 (sPD-L1) Levels in Various Cancer Types and Normal Populations.

BACKGROUND: To date, PD-L1 expression in tumor tissue, assessed by immunohistochemical stain, is clinically applicable as a predictive companion biomarker for PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitor which has been highlighted over the past several years. Before blood-based sPD-L1 enters clinical use, it is critical to establish the reference range. This study was designed to investigate soluble sPD-L1 levels in various cancer patients and normal population. METHODS: For the detection of sPD-L1, 4 cancer groups (hepatocellular carcinoma, lung cancer, bladder cancer, gastric cancer) and healthy volunteers' samples were analyzed using an ELISA kit. Using a receiver operating characteristic curve, optimal sPD-L1 cutoff levels were determined. RESULTS: The mean serum sPD-L1 level of the normal population was 59.97 pg/mL (range; 23.780 - 115.2 pg/mL). In various cancer types, serum sPD-L1 levels ranged from 38.696 pg/mL to 228.77 pg/mL, and cutoff values under AUC ranged from 60.307 pg/mL to 64.371 pg/mL. CONCLUSIONS: sPD-L1 can be used as a screening biomarker in various cancer patients referring to optimal cutoff levels suggested.

Genome-based reclassification of Paenibacillus jamilae Aguilera et al. 2001 as a later heterotypic synonym of Paenibacillus polymyxa (Prazmowski 1880) Ash et al. 1994.

Paenibacillus is one of the genera that has high species diversity and Paenibacillus polymyxa, the type species of the genus, is mainly isolated from plant-associated environments. Among the plant-associated species, Paenibacillus jamilae B.3T (=CECT 5266T=DSM 13815T=KACC 10925T=KCTC 13919T) was proposed to be a novel species according to 16S rRNA gene similarity and DNA-DNA relatedness with related species, including Paenibacillus polymyxa. Nevertheless, in the description of Paenibacillus jamilae the used strain of Paenibacillus polymyxa was not the type strain of this species. In this work we found that the type strains of both species showed 16S rRNA gene similarity of 99.6 %. Therefore, in this study, we sequenced the genome of Paenibacillus jamilae KACC 10925T and compared it with those of the type strain of Paenibacillus polymyxa ATCC 842T and other phylogenetically related species. Genome relatedness value calculated by DNA-DNA hybridization between type strains of Paenibacillus polymyxa and Paenibacillus jamilae was 73.5 %, which is higher than the threshold value (70 %). For more objective and repeatable results of genome relatedness, we analysed an average nucleotide identity (ANI) between two strains. Our results showed that ANI value between the type strains of Paenibacillus jamilae and Paenibacillus polymyxa is 98.5 %, a phylogenetic distance also higher than the threshold values (95~96 %). These values were proposed by Yoon et al. (2017). In addition, their phylogenetic distance based on 92 bacterial core genes is highly close compared to other species. These mean that Paenibacillus jamilae and Paenibacillus polymyxa should be reclassified as a single species. Based on the results from genomic level comparison as well as reexamination results of physiological and chemotaxonomic features, we propose reclassification of Paenibacillus jamilae as a later heterotypic synonym of Paenibacillus polymyxa.

Genome-based reclassification of Weissella jogaejeotgali as a later heterotypic synonym of Weissella thailandensis.

Members of the genus Weissella are mostly found in fermented plant material. Among the Weissella species, two species, Weissella thailandensis and Weissella jogaejeotgali, were isolated from foods fermented from marine animals. The two species showed a high level of 16S rRNA gene similarity (99.39 %), whereas they exhibited a moderate level of DNA-DNA hybridization relatedness (63.9 %) in an earlier study. In this study, we determined the whole genome sequence of W. thailandensis KCTC 3751T and compared it to those of W. jogaejeotgali FOL01T and other related species. The average nucleotide identity value between the type strains of W. thailandensis and W. jogaejeotgali was 96.4 %, which is clearly higher than the cut-off proposed for bacterial species. We, therefore, propose to reclassify W. jogaejeotgali as a later heterotypic synonym of W. thailandensis.

Effect of a Social Support Program for Mothers of Children with Precocious Puberty: A Preliminary Quasi-Experimental Study.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of a social support program on the stress, anxiety, guilt, and life satisfaction levels among Korean mothers of children with precocious puberty. DESIGN AND METHODS: A non-equivalent control group and a non-synchronized design were used in this quasi-experiment study. Thirty-four mothers (divided into equal-sized experimental and control groups), 32-47 years of age, with children aged 6-11 years old, were recruited from a pediatric outpatient department at a national university hospital. The experimental group was involved in four sessions of a 4-week social support program. Descriptive statistics were used for demographic characteristics. Chi-square tests and t-tests were used to evaluate group differences. RESULTS: The program significantly reduced mothers' stress and guilt and significantly increased their life satisfaction. No significant differences in changes in anxiety were reported between the groups. CONCLUSIONS: This study confirms that the social support program was a useful nursing intervention for Korean mothers of children with precocious puberty, which can be extensively applied to help mothers in similar situations. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: The preliminary study findings may inform healthcare professionals to develop effective interventions to promote psychosocial well-being of mothers of children with precocious puberty through strengthening their social support and to further improve the quality of life of children with precocious puberty and their families.

Gut-Specific Delivery of T-Helper 17 Cells Reduces Obesity and Insulin Resistance in Mice.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Obesity and metabolic syndrome have been associated with alterations to the intestinal microbiota. However, few studies examined the effects of obesity on the intestinal immune system. We investigated changes in subsets of intestinal CD4+ T-helper (TH) cells with obesity and the effects of gut-tropic TH17 cells in mice on a high-fat diet (HFD). METHODS: We isolated immune cells from small intestine and adipose tissue of C57BL/6 mice fed a normal chow diet or a HFD for 10 weeks and analyzed the cells by flow cytometry. Mice fed a vitamin A-deficient HFD were compared with mice fed a vitamin A-sufficient HFD. Obese RAG1-deficient mice were given injections of only regulatory T cells or a combination of regulatory T cells and TH17 cells (wild type or deficient in integrin ß7 subunit or interleukin 17 [IL17]). Mice were examined for weight gain, fat mass, fatty liver, glucose tolerance, and insulin resistance. Fecal samples were collected before and after T cell transfer and analyzed for microbiota composition by metagenomic DNA sequencing and quantitative polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: Mice placed on a HFD became obese, which affected the distribution of small intestinal CD4+ TH cells. Intestinal tissues from obese mice had significant reductions in the proportion of TH17 cells but increased proportion of TH1 cells, compared with intestinal tissues from nonobese mice. Depletion of vitamin A in obese mice further reduced the proportion of TH17 cells in small intestine; this reduction correlated with more weight gain and worsening of glucose intolerance and insulin resistance. Adoptive transfer of in vitro-differentiated gut-tropic TH17 cells to obese mice reduced these metabolic defects, which required the integrin ß7 subunit and IL17. Delivery of TH17 cells to intestines of mice led to expansion of commensal microbes associated with leanness. CONCLUSIONS: In mice, intestinal TH17 cells contribute to development of a microbiota that maintains metabolic homeostasis, via IL17. Gut-homing TH17 cells might be used to reduce metabolic disorders in obese individuals.

AAV8-mediated expression of N-acetylglucosamine-1-phosphate transferase attenuates bone loss in a mouse model of mucolipidosis II.

Mucolipidoses II and III (ML II and ML III) are lysosomal disorders in which the mannose 6-phosphate recognition marker is absent from lysosomal hydrolases and other glycoproteins due to mutations in GNPTAB, which encodes two of three subunits of the heterohexameric enzyme, N-acetylglucosamine-1-phosphotransferase. Both disorders are caused by the same gene, but ML II represents the more severe phenotype. Bone manifestations of ML II include hip dysplasia, scoliosis, rickets and osteogenesis imperfecta. In this study, we sought to determine whether a recombinant adeno-associated viral vector (AAV2/8-GNPTAB) could confer high and prolonged gene expression of GNPTAB and thereby influence the pathology in the cartilage and bone tissue of a GNPTAB knock out (KO) mouse model. The results demonstrated significant increases in bone mineral density and content in AAV2/8-GNPTAB-treated as compared to non-treated KO mice. We also showed that IL-6 (interleukin-6) expression in articular cartilage was reduced in AAV2/8-GNPTAB treated ML II mice. Together, these data suggest that AAV-mediated expression of GNPTAB in ML II mice can attenuate bone loss via inhibition of IL-6 production. This study emphasizes the value of the MLII KO mouse to recapitulate the clinical manifestations of the disease and highlights its amenability to therapy.

Report of 5 novel mutations of the α-L-iduronidase gene and comparison of Korean mutations in relation with those of Japan or China in patients with mucopolysaccharidosis I.

BACKGROUND: Mucopolysaccharidosis I (MPS I) is an autosomal recessive lysosomal storage disorder caused by a lack of the lysosomal enzyme α-L-iduronidase (IDUA). To date, more than 200 IDUA mutations have been reported. However, only a few types of mutations are recurrent and the frequencies of mutations differ from country to country. METHODS: We performed the IDUA mutation analysis in seven patients who were biochemically diagnosed with MPS I in the Department of Pediatrics, Samsung Medical Center, from 2009 to 2014. Here, we describe the results of the IDUA mutation analysis in seven patients with MPS I and the IDUA mutational spectrum in Korean patients with MPS I, including previous data. RESULTS: The IDUA mutations were found in all 14 alleles of 7 patients, and 11 kinds of IDUA mutations were identified. The detected mutations were five missense mutations (p.A79V, p.L346R, p.T388K, p.P496R, and p.C577Y), two nonsense mutations (p.Y618* and p.R628*), two deletions (c.683delC and c.1591delC), one splice site mutation (c.972+1G>A), and one duplication (c.613_617dup). Among these, p.T388K, p.C577Y, c.683delC, c.1591delC, and c.972+1G>A were novel mutations that have not previously been reported. After taking everything into consideration, including IDUA mutation analysis of the previously reported 10 unrelated Korean patients with MPS I, p.L346R and c.704ins5 were most commonly found in Korean patients with MPS I. However, p.W402* and p.Q70*, which have mainly been found in Caucasian patients, were not found. CONCLUSION: As a result, p.L346R and c.704ins5, which were the most common in Korea, which is geographically situated midway between China and Japan, were some of the most common mutations in China and Japan, respectively. These results are especially worthy of notice.

Does the intestinal microbial community of Korean Crohn's disease patients differ from that of western patients?

BACKGROUND: Intestinal microbiota play an important role in maintaining the homeostasis of the host immune system. To analyze the alteration of the intestinal microbial community structure in Korean Crohn's disease (CD) patients, we performed a comparative metagenomic analysis between healthy people and CD patients using fecal samples and mucosal tissues of ileocecal valve. METHODS: 16S rRNA genes from fecal samples or mucosal tissues of 35 CD patients and 15 healthy controls (HC) were amplified using a universal primer set and sequenced with GS FLX Titanium. The microbial composition and diversity of each sample were analyzed with the mothur pipeline, and the association between microbial community and clinical characteristics of the patients were investigated. RESULTS: The contribution of bacterial groups to the intestinal microbial composition differed between CD and HC, especially in fecal samples. Global structure and individual bacterial abundance of intestinal microbial community were different between feces and ileocecal tissues in HC. In CD patients with active stage, relative abundances of Gammaproteobacteria and Fusobacteria were higher in both fecal and mucosal tissue samples. Moreover, the intestinal microbial community structure was altered by anti-tumor necrosis factor (anti-TNF) treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Our 16S rRNA sequence data demonstrate intestinal dysbiosis at the community level in Korean CD patients, which is similar to alterations of the intestinal microbial community seen in the western counterparts. Clinical disease activity and anti-TNF treatment might affect the intestinal microbial community structure in CD patients.

Blood lead concentrations and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in Korean children: a hospital-based case control study.

BACKGROUND: Because the developing brain of a child is vulnerable to environmental toxins, even very low concentration of neurotoxin can affect children's neurodevelopment. Lead is a neurotoxic heavy metal which has the harmful effect on the striatal-frontal circuit of brain. This area of the brain is known to be closely related to attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) pathophysiology. The primary objective of the present study was to investigate whether elevated blood lead concentration is a risk factor for ADHD. The secondary objective was to examine the association between blood lead concentration and symptom severity. METHODS: We conducted a frequency-matched, hospital-based case-control study with 114 medically diagnosed ADHD cases and 114 controls. The participants were matched for age and sex. The diagnoses of ADHD were assessed with semi-structured diagnostic interviews. The participants completed the continuous performance test (CPT), and their parents completed the ADHD-rating scale (ADHD-RS). Blood lead concentrations were measured by using graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry featuring Zeeman background correction. RESULTS: Children with ADHD exhibited blood lead concentrations that were significantly higher than those of the controls ( 1.90 ± 086 µg/dℓ vs. 1.59 ± 0.68 µg/dℓ, p = 0.003). The log transformed total blood lead concentration was associated with a higher risk of ADHD (OR: 1.60, 95 % CI: 1.04-2.45, p < 0.05). The analysis also revealed that the children with blood lead concentrations above 2.30 µg/dℓ were at a 2.5-fold (95 % CI: 1.09-5.87, p < 0.05) greater risk of having ADHD. After adjusting for covariates, our multivariate regression models indicated that blood lead concentrations were not significantly associated with ADHD-RS or CPT profiles among the ADHD cases. CONCLUSION: Even low blood lead concentrations are a risk factor for ADHD in children. This study warrants primary prevention policies to reduce the environmental lead burden. Future studies may be required to ascertain the effects of lead on symptom severity in ADHD.

Sulfitobacter geojensis sp. nov., Sulfitobacter noctilucae sp. nov., and Sulfitobacter noctilucicola sp. nov., isolated from coastal seawater.

Four Gram-stain-negative, aerobic, rod-shaped bacterial strains, MM-124, MM-126, NB-68 and NB-77, were isolated from the coastal seawater or a region with a bloom of sea sparkle around Geoje island in Korea. The sequence similarity values of the 16S rRNA gene between the isolates and Sulfitobacter mediterraneus DSM 12244(T) ranged from 97.7 to 98.2%, and phylogenetic relationships suggested that they belong to a phylogenetic branch that includes the genera Sulfitobacter and Roseobacter. The isoprenoid quinone of all three novel strains was ubiquinone-10 and the major fatty acid was cis-vaccenic acid, as in other species of the genus Sulfitobacter. However, there were several differences in the morphological, physiological and biochemical characteristics among the four strains and the reference species of the genus Sulfitobacter. Moreover, the average nucleotide identity values between the three sequenced isolates and the reference strains were below 76.33, indicating that genomic variation exists between the isolates and reference strains. Chemotaxonomic characteristics together with phylogenetic affiliations and genomic distances illustrate that strains MM-124, NB-68 and NB-77 represent novel species of the genus Sulfitobacter, for which the names Sulfitobacter geojensis sp. nov. (type strain MM-124(T) =KCTC 32124(T) =JCM 18835(T)), Sulfitobacter noctilucae sp. nov. (type strain NB-68(T) =KCTC 32122(T) =JCM 18833(T)) and Sulfitobacter noctilucicola sp. nov. (type strain NB-77(T) =KCTC 32123(T) =JCM 18834(T)) are proposed.

Clinical use of whole exome sequencing in children with developmental delay/intellectual disability.

BACKGROUND: Identifying the underlying etiology of developmental delay/intellectual disability (DD/ID) is challenging but important. The genetic diagnosis of unexplained DD/ID helps in the treatment and prognosis of the disability in patients. In this study, we reported our experience of using whole exome sequencing (WES) of children with unexplained DD/ID. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective analysis of WES results of children under 19 years of age with unexplained DD/ID between January 2020 and December 2021. The demographic data of all patients and variants identified through WES were evaluated. Furthermore, we evaluated the clinical characteristics that influenced the identification of genetic causes. RESULTS: Forty-one patients with DD/ID were included, of whom 21 (51.2 %) were male. The average age at symptom onset was 1.6 ± 1.3 years, and the duration from symptom onset to diagnosis was 3.1 ± 3.7 years. Hypotonia was the most common symptom (17 patients, 41.5 %), and epilepsy was confirmed in 10 patients (24.4 %). Twenty-two pathogenic/likely pathogenic variants were identified in 20 patients, and three variants of uncertain significance were identified in three patients. Family-based trio Sanger sequencing for candidate variants of 12 families was conducted; 10 variants were de novo, one variant paternally inherited, and two variants compound heterozygous. The diagnostic yield of WES for DD/ID was 48.8 % and was significantly high in patients with an early onset of DD/ID and facial dysmorphism. In contrast, patients with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) were more likely to have negative WES results compared with others without ASD. CONCLUSION: The diagnostic yield of WES was 48.8 %. We conclude that patients' characteristics, such as dysmorphic features and the age of symptom onset, can predict the likelihood that WES will identify a causal variant of a phenotype.

Triglyceride-Catabolizing Lactiplantibacillus plantarum GBCC_F0227 Shows an Anti-Obesity Effect in a High-Fat-Diet-Induced C57BL/6 Mouse Obesity Model.

Given the recognized involvement of the gut microbiome in the development of obesity, considerable efforts are being made to discover probiotics capable of preventing and managing obesity. In this study, we report the discovery of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum GBCC_F0227, isolated from fermented food, which exhibited superior triglyceride catabolism efficacy compared to L. plantarum WCSF1. Molecular analysis showed elevated expression levels of α/ß hydrolases with lipase activity (abH04, abH08_1, abH08_2, abH11_1, and abH11_2) in L. plantarum GBCC_F0227 compared to L. plantarum WCFS1, demonstrating its enhanced lipolytic activity. In a high-fat-diet (HFD)-induced mouse obesity model, the administration of L. plantarum GBCC_F0227 mitigated weight gain, reduced blood triglycerides, and diminished fat mass. Furthermore, L. plantarum GBCC_F0227 upregulated adiponectin gene expression in adipose tissue, indicative of favorable metabolic modulation, and showed robust growth and low cytotoxicity, underscoring its industrial viability. Therefore, our findings encourage the further investigation of L. plantarum GBCC_F0227's therapeutic applications for the prevention and treatment of obesity and associated metabolic diseases.

Complete mitochondrial genome of the Eurasian flying squirrel Pteromys volans (Sciuromorpha, Sciuridae) and revision of rodent phylogeny.

In this study, the complete mitochondrial genome of the Eurasian flying squirrel Pteromys volans (Rodentia, Sciuromorpha, Sciuridae) was sequenced and characterized in detail. The entire mitochondrial genome of P. volans consisted of 16,513 bp and contained 13 protein-coding genes, 22 tRNA genes, two rRNA genes, and two non-coding regions. Its gene arrangement pattern was consistent with the mammalian ground pattern. The overall base composition and AT contents were similar to those of other rodent mitochondrial genomes. The light-strand origin generally identified between tRNA ( Asn ) and tRNA ( Cys ) consisted of a secondary structure with an 11-bp stem and an 11-bp loop. The large control region was constructed of three characteristic domains, ETAS, CD, and CSB without any repeat sequences. Each domain contained ETAS1, subsequences A, B, and C, and CSB1, respectively. In order to examine phylogenetic contentious issues of the monophyly of rodents and phylogenetic relationships among five rodent suborders, here, phylogenetic analyses based on nucleotide sequence data of the 35 rodent and 3 lagomorph mitochondrial genomes were performed using the Bayesian inference and maximum likelihood method. The result strongly supported the rodent monophyly with high node confidence values (BP 100 % in ML and BPP 1.00 in BI) and also monophylies of four rodent suborders (BP 85-100 % in ML and BPP 1.00 in BI), except for Anomalumorpha in which only one species was examined here. Also, phylogenetic relationships among the five rodent suborders were suggested and discussed in detail.

Upper limit of normal serum alanine and aspartate aminotransferase levels in Korea.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: The widely accepted range of upper limits of normal (ULN) alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels (ULN < 40 U/L) was recently challenged by several reports. Both ALT and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) are commonly used as surrogate markers of liver disease, but almost all studies of aminotransferase activity were conducted on ALT. We investigated not only ULN of ALT but also AST activity and to identify factors modulating them in healthy Korean. METHODS: A cross-sectional study of 411,240 registered blood donors in all nationwide blood banks belonging to the Korean Red Cross were conducted. ULN of ALT and AST was evaluated adjusting their age according to the national population census database. "Decision tree model" was used to identify the affecting factors of ALT and AST and optimal cut-off points of affecting factors. RESULTS: "ULN of ALT" was 34 U/L in men and 24 U/L in women and "ULN of AST" was 32 U/L in men and 26 U/L in women in the blood donor database. Decision tree analysis showed that ALT levels were mostly influenced by body mass index level and its critical two cut-off points were 23.5 kg/m2 and 25.8 kg/m2 , respectively. The most affecting factor of AST was gender. CONCLUSION: Upper limits of normal of ALT and AST in Koreans were lower than conventional accepted values (< 40 U/L) but higher than recently suggested values (male < 30 U/L and female < 19 U/L). Body mass index was the most determining factor for ALT and gender was the most influencing factor for AST activity.

Investigating psychological and motivational predictors of problematic smartphone use among Smartphone-based Social Networking Service (SNS) users.

Given that the active use of certain smartphone applications is associate with problematic smartphone use, it has been proposed that certain smartphone applications are more addictive than others, such as Social Networking Services (SNS). Still, studies that consider smartphone users' main usage application which are known to influence the users' problematic smartphone use, such as SNS, remain to be explored. Thus, the current study aims to investigate the psychological and motivational predictors of problematic smartphone use in a sample of smartphone-based SNS users whose main device usage is SNS. A series of mean comparison tests and binary logistic regression were performed in this study. Of the 433 smartphone-based SNS users, 218 were male (50.3%) and 215 were female (49.7%). Age of 433 participants ranged from 20 to 40, and mean age was 30.75 (SD = 7.84). 73 participants (16.9%) were sorted into the high-risk problematic smartphone use group and 360 participants (83.1%) were categorized as the normal user group. The finding from binary regression analysis showed that reward responsiveness from the Behavioral Activation System (BAS), a lack of self-control, and anxiety significantly increased the odds of problematic smartphone use of the smartphone-based SNS users. Reward responsiveness was found to be the most powerful predictor. Our findings broaden the existing literature and provide implications to reduce addictive smartphone use relating to smartphone-based SNS usage.

Incidence of congenital hypothyroidism by gestational age: a retrospective observational study.

BACKGRUOUND: Congenital hypothyroidism (CH) is the leading cause of preventable physical and intellectual disabilities. This study aimed to assess the incidence and clinical characteristics of CH in newborns. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of all newborns delivered at the Pusan National University Hospital between January 2011 and March 2021. The incidence of CH was compared according to gestational age, birth weight, and small for gestational age (SGA). The patients aged ≥3 years who could not maintain normal thyroid function and required levothyroxine treatment were diagnosed with permanent CH. Logistic regression analysis was performed to compare CH risks. RESULTS: Of 3,722 newborns, 40 were diagnosed with CH (1.07%). Gestational age and birth weight were significantly associated with CH incidence. The odds ratios (ORs) of CH in infants delivered at 32-37, 28-31, and <28 weeks were 2.568 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.141-5.778), 5.917 (95% CI, 2.264-15.464), and 7.441 (95% CI, 2.617-21.159) times higher, respectively, than those delivered at term. The ORs of CH in infants weighing 1,500-2,499 g, 1,000-1,499 g, and <1,000 g were 4.664 (95% CI, 1.928-11.279), 11.076 (95% CI, 4.089-29.999), and 12.544 (95% CI, 4.350-36.176) times greater, respectively, than those in infants weighing ≥2,500 g. The OR of CH was 6.795 (95% CI, 3.553-13.692) times greater in SGA than in non-SGA infants. CONCLUSION: The CH incidence in South Korea has increased significantly compared with that in the past. Gestational age, birth weight, and SGA were significantly associated with CH incidence.

Effect of gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist treatment on near final height in girls with central precocious puberty and early puberty.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to examine whether gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonist treatment is effective in preserving final height in patients with central precocious puberty (CPP) or early puberty (EP). METHODS: The medical records of 40 patients with CPP and 206 patients with EP who completed GnRH agonist treatment following diagnosis were analyzed retrospectively. Height and height standard deviation (height SDS) scores based on bone age (BA) were measured and calculated at baseline, after treatment completion, and at final follow-up to compare changes within and between groups. Predicted adult height (PAH) was estimated by the height corresponding to height SDS for BA in girls at 18 years 11 months of age based on the growth chart. RESULTS: PAH at baseline did not differ significantly between the CPP group (153.67±4.95) and the EP group (154.77±3.72). In the CPP group, PAH significantly increased at treatment completion (156.01±4.61) and at final follow-up (158.52±6.04) compared to baseline. In the EP group, PAH significantly increased at treatment completion (157.7±3.60) and at final follow-up (159.31±4.26) compared to baseline. The increase in PAH at all timepoints compared to baseline did not significantly differ between the CPP and EP groups. CONCLUSION: Both CPP and EP groups had significantly greater PAH after treatment, with no difference in the amount of increase between groups. These results show that GnRH agonist treatment can help increase final height even in patients diagnosed with EP after the age of 8 years.

Adult height in girls with central precocious puberty without gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist treatment: a retrospective case-control study.

BACKGROUND: The primary aim of this study was to investigate the final adult height (FAH) of girls diagnosed with central precocious puberty (CPP) who were untreated. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the medical records of 36 girls diagnosed with CPP between 8 and 9 years of age who did not receive treatment, and 206 girls diagnosed with CPP within the same age range who received gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonist treatment. Midparental height (MPH), predicted adult height (PAH) obtained using height and bone age (BA) at the time of diagnosis (PAH for BA), and PAH obtained using the Bayley-Pinneau method (PAH by BP) were calculated. Additionally, height at the time of growth completion was compared with the predicted height. RESULTS: The FAHs were 160.71±4.56 cm in the untreated group and 159.31±4.26 cm in the treated group. In the untreated group, the FAH was 0.99±4.50 cm shorter than the MPH but 4.29±3.33 cm and 3.46±3.93 cm greater than the PAH for BA and PAH by BP, respectively. CONCLUSION: In children diagnosed with CPP between 8 and 9 years of age who were untreated, FAH was greater than PAH for BA and PAH by BP at the time of diagnosis, indicating that the prognosis of FAH was not poor. Therefore, for girls diagnosed with CPP, it is recommended to consider various conditions, such as pubertal onset, height at diagnosis, BA, peak luteinizing hormone level, predicted height, and speed of puberty, when deciding whether to administer GnRH agonists.

Genome sequence of the agar-degrading marine bacterium Alteromonadaceae sp. strain G7.

Here, we present the high-quality draft genome sequence of the agar-degrading marine gammaproteobacterium Alteromonadaceae sp. strain G7, which was isolated from coastal seawater to be utilized as a bioresource for production of agar-derived biofuels. The 3.91-Mb genome contains a number of genes encoding algal polysaccharide-degrading enzymes such as agarases and sulfatases.

Draft genome sequence of the antifungal-producing plant-benefiting bacterium Burkholderia pyrrocinia CH-67.

Burkholderia pyrrocinia CH-67 was isolated from forest soil as a biocontrol agent to be utilized in agriculture. Here, we report the 8.05-Mb draft genome sequence of this bacterium. Its genome contains genes involved in biosynthesis of secondary metabolites and plant growth promotion, which may contribute to probiotic effects on plants.