Inhibition of Polyphosphate Degradation in Synechocystis sp. PCC6803 through Inactivation of the phoU Gene.

Phosphorus is an essential but non-renewable nutrient resource critical for agriculture. Luxury phosphorus uptake allows microalgae to synthesize polyphosphate and accumulate phosphorus, but, depending on the strain of algae, polyphosphate may be degraded within 4 hours of accumulation. We studied the recovery of phosphorus from wastewater through luxury uptake by an engineered strain of Synechocystis sp. with inhibited polyphosphate degradation and the effect of this engineered Synechocystis biomass on lettuce growth. First, a strain (ΔphoU) lacking the phoU gene, which encodes a negative regulator of environmental phosphate concentrations, was generated to inhibit polyphosphate degradation in cells. Polyphosphate concentrations in the phoU knock-out strain were maintained for 24 h and then decreased slowly. In contrast, polyphosphate concentrations in the wild-type strain increased up to 4 h and then decreased rapidly. In addition, polyphosphate concentration in the phoU knockout strain cultured in semi-permeable membrane bioreactors with artificial wastewater medium was 2.5 times higher than that in the wild type and decreased to only 16% after 48 h. The biomass of lettuce treated with the phoU knockout strain (0.157 mg P/m2) was 38% higher than that of the lettuce treated with the control group. These results indicate that treating lettuce with this microalgal biomass can be beneficial to crop growth. These results suggest that the use of polyphosphate-accumulating microalgae as biofertilizers may alleviate the effects of a diminishing phosphorous supply. These findings can be used as a basis for additional genetic engineering to increase intracellular polyphosphate levels.

Sphincter of Oddi incompetence associated with duodenal stenosis in a newborn: A case report.

Newborn incompetence of the sphincter of Oddi is rare. While there are many causes of reflux of air or ingested contrast material into the biliary tree in adults, in the newborn, it is usually due to incompetence of the sphincter of Oddi associated with partial or complete duodenal obstruction. This paper presents upper gastrointestinal series findings of incompetence of the sphincter of Oddi associated with duodenal stenosis in a 3-day-old newborn. If pneumobilia is identified in the newborn, although the possibility is low, clinicians should consider incompetence of the sphincter of Oddi with duodenal obstruction as well as portal vein gas.

Combined effect of hygienic and polygenic risk scores in children with allergic rhinitis.

BACKGROUND: Although the development of allergic rhinitis (AR) is associated with multiple genetic and hygienic environmental factors, previous studies have focused mostly on the effect of a single factor on the development of AR. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the combined effect of multiple genetic and hygienic environmental risk factors on AR development in school children. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional study, comprising 1,797 children aged 9-12 years. Weighted environmental risk score (ERS) was calculated by using four hygienic environmental factors, including antibiotic use during infancy, cesarean section delivery, breast milk feeding, and having older siblings. Weighted polygenic risk score (PRS) was calculated by using four single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), including interleukin-13 (rs20541), cluster of differentiation 14 (rs2569190), toll-like receptor 4 (rs1927911), and glutathione S-transferase P1 (rs1695). Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used. RESULTS: More than three courses of antibiotic use during infancy increased the risk of current AR (adjusted odd ratio [aOR], 2.058; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.290-3.284). Having older siblings, especially > 2 (aOR, 0.526; 95%Cl: 0.303-0.913) had a protective effect. High ERS ( > median; aOR, 2.079; 95%Cl: 1.466-2.947) and PRS ( > median; aOR, 1.627; 95%Cl: 1.117-2.370) increased the risk of current AR independently. Furthermore, children who had both high ERS and PRS showed a higher risk of current AR (aOR, 3.176; 95%Cl: 1.787-5.645). CONCLUSIONS: Exposure to multiple hygienic risk factors during infancy increases the risk of AR in genetically susceptible children.

[Rice Bodies Presenting as Intra-Articular Masses in Pediatric Idiopathic Arthritis: A Case Report]. / 소아기 특발성 ê´€ì ˆì—¼ 환자에서 ê´€ì ˆ 내 ì¢ ì–‘í˜•íƒœë¡œ 나타난 쌀소체: 증례 ë³´ê³ .

Rice bodies are commonly detected in adults with rheumatoid arthritis and rarely occur in children. An 11-year-old female adolescent who visited our hospital for evaluation of knee pain underwent a MRI scan, which revealed an intra-articular mass. Arthroscopic examination of the mass confirmed conglomerated rice bodies. We report a case of rice bodies that clinically presented as intra-articular masses.

[Complete Rupture of the Extensor Hallucis Longus Tendon with Accessory Slip Mimicking a Partial Rupture: A Case Report]. / 부분파열로 오인된 긴엄지발가락폄근의 주힘줄의 ì™„ì „íŒŒì—´ê³¼ 동반된 보조힘줄: 증례 ë³´ê³ .

The accessory tendon of the extensor hallucis longus is a common type of extensor hallucis longus variation. This is a case of a 38-year-old female patient who initially considered conservative treatment for a suspected partial rupture, but finally underwent surgery after being diagnosed with a complete rupture of the main tendon and accessory tendon medial to the main tendon on MRI scan.

[Primary Neuroendocrine Carcinoma of the Breast: A Case Report and Literature Review]. / ìœ ë°©ì—ì„œ 발생한 원발성 ì‹ ê²½ë‚´ë¶„ë¹„ì•”ì¢ : 증례 ë³´ê³ ì™€ ë¬¸í—Œê³ ì°°.

In general, neuroendocrine cancer develops in the digestive or respiratory tract, and when it is found in other organs, it is often due to metastasis. Primary neuroendocrine carcinoma of the breast occurs very rarely, and the exact clinical picture, radiological findings, treatment and prognosis are not well known. Furthermore, only a small number of literature reports have been published. Here, we report the imaging findings of primary neuroendocrine carcinoma in the breast of a 51-year-old female, along with a literature review.

[Radiologic Manifestations of Pulmonary Nuclear Protein in Testis Midline Carcinoma: A Case Report]. / 폐에 발생한 ê³ í™˜ 핵단백질 ì •ì¤‘ì„ ì•”ì˜ ì˜ìƒì˜í•™ì  소견: 증례 ë³´ê³ .

Nuclear portein in testis (NUT) midline carcinoma is a very rare and low-differentiating malignant epithelial tumor that differentiates very aggressively and has poor prognosis. NUT midline carcinoma occurring in the lungs in particular can be confused with other cancers because few cases have been reported in Korea to date and can show various histological forms. Reports of radiology findings are very rare worldwide. Here we report the imaging findings of pulmonary NUT midline carcinoma in a 25-year-old female along with pathological findings.

The association between MTHFR polymorphism, dietary methyl donors, and childhood asthma and atopy.

BACKGROUND: Studies investigating the genetic association of the C677T methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) genotype and dietary methyl donors with asthma and atopy are limited, and have variable results. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of dietary methyl donor intake on the risk of childhood asthma and atopy, based on the C677T polymorphism in the MTHFR gene. METHODS: This cross-sectional study included 2,333 elementary school children aged 6-8 years across Korea during 2005 and 2006, as part of the first Children's Health and Environmental Research survey. Genotyping for the MTHFR (rs1801133) polymorphism was performed using the TaqMan assay. Multivariable-adjusted logistic regression analysis was performed to determine a descriptive association between the dietary methyl donor intake, MTHFR polymorphism, and childhood asthma and atopy. RESULTS: Intake of dietary methyl donors like folates was significantly associated with a decreased risk of the wheezing symptom, in the past 12 months, and "ever asthma" diagnosis, respectively. Vitamin B6 intake was also associated with a decreased atopy risk. The T allele of the MTHFR (rs1801133) gene was significantly associated with a decreased risk of atopy. Increased intakes of folate, vitamin B2, and vitamin B6 were protective factors against atopy, especially in children with the T allele on the MTHFR gene, compared to those with lower intakes and the CC genotype. CONCLUSIONS: High intakes of dietary methyl donors were associated with reduced risk of atopy and asthma symptoms. These may have additive effects related to the susceptibility alleles of the MTHFR gene. The clinical implications require evaluation.

Prenatal maternal anxiety promotes atopic dermatitis in offspring via placental DNA methylation changes.

BACKGROUND: Maternal anxiety during pregnancy has been previously reported to be associated with atopic dermatitis (AD) in offspring. The potential mechanism is not yet proven but epigenetic change may be suggested. OBJECTIVE: We examined whether maternal anxiety during pregnancy may alter placental DNA methylation, then develop AD in the offspring. METHODS: We evaluated maternal anxiety at 36 weeks of gestation by self-reported questionnaires, the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory-Trait subscale (STAI-T), in the Cohort for Childhood Origin of Asthma and Allergic Diseases (COCOA) study. AD was diagnosed at 6 months of age by pediatric allergists. We stratified the subjects into four groups according to the STAI score of mothers and diagnosis of AD in children. Placental genome-wide methylation microarray was analyzed using Infinium 450K BeadChip and selected genes were validated by pyrosequencing. RESULTS: From microarray, several differential methylation sites were identified in AD and healthy subjects and in total subjects, regarding to the STAI scores. Among differential methylation sites in microarray, six sites were selected for pyrosequencing. And site of matrix metalloproteinases 27 (MMP27) among 6 sites showed decreased methylation in AD infants with high STAI mothers compared to healthy infants with low STAI mothers. CONCLUSIONS: Epigenetic change in placenta can be a suggesting mechanism for the development of AD in offspring at 6 months of age associated with maternal anxiety during pregnancy and MMP27 may be a candidate gene.

Particulate matter exposure during pregnancy increases risk of childhood asthma: modified by gender and NRF2 genotype.

BACKGROUND: Exposure to particulate matter (PM) has been known to develop asthma in children and the oxidative stress-related mechanisms are suggested. For the development of asthma, not only the exposure dose but also the critical window and the risk modifying factors should be evaluated. OBJECTIVE: We investigated whether prenatal exposure to PM10 increases the risk of childhood asthma and evaluated the modifying factors, such as gender and reactive oxidative stress-related gene. METHODS: A general population-based birth cohort, the Panel Study of Korean Children (PSKC), including 1572 mother-baby dyads was analyzed. Children were defined to have asthma at age 7 when a parent reported physician-diagnosed asthma. Exposure to PM10 during pregnancy was estimated by land-use regression models based on national monitoring system. TaqMan method was used for genotyping nuclear factor, erythroid 2-related factor, NRF2 (rs6726395). A logistic Bayesian distributed lag interaction model (BDLIM) was used to evaluate the associations between prenatal PM10 exposure and childhood asthma by gender and NRF2. RESULTS: Exposure to PM10 during pregnancy was associated with the development of asthma (aOR 1.03, 95% CI 1.001.06). Stratifying by gender and NRF2 genotype, exposure to PM10 during 26-28 weeks gestation increased the risk of childhood asthma, especially in boys with NRF2 GG genotype. CONCLUSIONS: A critical window for PM10 exposure on the development of childhood asthma was during 26-28 weeks of gestation, and this was modified by gender and NRF2 genotype.

Imaging Findings of Metaplastic Breast Carcinoma with Chondroid Differentiation: A Case Reports.

Metaplastic carcinoma of the breast is a heterogeneous group of neoplasms with mixed epithelial and mesenchymal differentiation. Metaplastic carcinoma of the breast is a rare and aggressive malignancy, with high recurrence and metastasis. Metaplastic carcinoma with chondroid differentiation is an uncommon subtype that tends to have a relatively good prognosis than that of other subtypes. We report the imaging features of three cases of pathologically proven metaplastic carcinoma with chondroid differentiation as follows: a high-density mass with amorphous or coarse heterogeneous calcifications on mammography; a microlobulated or partially indistinct, complex cystic, and solid mass on sonography; and a relatively circumscribed or partially indistinct, irregular mass with heterogeneous T2 high-signal intensity and heterogeneous or rim enhancement with initial fast enhance ment and delayed washout on MRI.

Phenotype of Atopic Dermatitis With Food Allergy Predicts Development of Childhood Asthma via Gut Wnt Signaling.

PURPOSE: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic inflammatory skin disease characterized by a wide spectrum of clinical phenotype. However, specific description of phenotypes of AD depending on the comorbidities in early childhood is lacking. This study aimed to investigate whether the AD phenotype in early childhood is related to childhood asthma and to elucidate the mechanisms involved. METHODS: Data on the first 3 years of life were collected prospectively from 1,699 children in the COhort for Childhood Origin of Asthma and allergic diseases (COCOA). We applied an unsupervised latent class analysis to the following five factors: food sensitization, inhalant sensitization, food allergy (FA), AD, and recurrent wheezing. The risks of developing FA, AD, allergic rhinitis (AR), and asthma in children aged 5-7 years were evaluated. Colonocyte transcriptome and ingenuity pathway analysis were performed. RESULTS: Four phenotypes were identified; no allergic diseases (78.4%), AD without sensitization (16.4%), FA with AD (2.9%), and AD with sensitization (7.8%). The FA with AD had the highest risk for FA, AR, and asthma and the highest cord blood immunoglobulin E (IgE) levels. In AD without sensitization and with sensitization, scoring of AD (SCORAD) in early childhood was higher than in FA with AD. Canonical pathway analysis with the colonocyte transcriptome revealed that the key pathway in FA with AD was 'Wnt/ß-catenin Signaling.' The relative abundance of Wnt6 mRNA was positively correlated with food-specific IgE levels at 1 and 3 years. CONCLUSIONS: When FA is present in various phenotypes of AD at early life, regardless of severity of eczema, it may be associated with gut Wnt signaling and later development of asthma.

[A Rare Case of Thoracic Intradural Epidermoid Cyst after Spinal Cord Stimulator Insertion: A Case Report]. / 척수 자극기 ì‚½ìž ìˆ ì„ 받았던 환자에게 드물게 생긴 흉추부 경막내 표피양 ë‚­ì¢ : 증례 ë³´ê³ .

Spinal epidermoid cysts are extremely rare benign tumors and can be congenital or acquired. Acquired spinal epidermoid cysts are found in the lumbosacral region. To our knowledge, no case of epidermoid cyst related to spinal cord stimulator insertion has yet been reported. We report the MRI findings of a rare case of thoracic intradural epidermoid cyst acquired after spinal cord stimulator insertion in a 50-year-old female.

TGFß1 and POSTN as biomarkers of postinfectious bronchiolitis obliterans and asthma in children.

RATIONALE: Asthma and postinfectious bronchiolitis obliterans (PIBO) are common chronic lung diseases in company with wheezing in children. However, it is not clear what is common and unique mechanisms between the two diseases. Thus, we used proteomic analysis to compare differences in biomarkers between children with asthma and PIBO. METHODS: Overall, 30 healthy children without respiratory underlying diseases, 18 children with asthma and 15 with PIBO were included for this study. Sequential window acquisition of all theoretical mass spectra (SWATH)-mass spectrometry (MS) was used to measure proteins in plasma samples. To identify specific pathways of each groups, we used the ingenuity pathway analysis (IPA) software. RESULTS: We identified and quantified 354 proteins across all 63 samples in the SWATH-MS analysis. Forty eight proteins were significantly different among 3 groups. The upstream analysis of IPA suggested that inhibitor of nuclear factor kappa B kinase subunit beta (IKBKB) was the upstream inhibitor of 4 differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) in asthma, while the upstream activator in PIBO subjects. Among 4 DEPs, TGF-ß1 in PIBO and periostin in asthma were negatively correlated with forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1), FEV1/forced vital capacity, maximal med-expiratory flow, and PC20, respectively. CONCLUSION: These findings demonstrate that transforming growth factor ß1 and periostin were unique biomarkers of PIBO and asthma in children, respectively. The mechanism regulated by IKBKB may be therapeutically relevant for PIBO and asthma.

Radiological clues for diagnosing intra-abdominal seminoma in undescended testis on computed tomography.

We report a case of intra-abdominal seminoma in an undescended testis, focusing on the radiological clues for diagnosis on computed tomography. A 49-year-old man visited our hospital with a palpable abdominal mass and underwent abdominopelvic computed tomography. Computed tomography demonstrated an ovoid, mildly enhanced, well-defined mass measuring 21 × 16 × 9 cm in the small bowel mesentery mimicking a mass of mesenteric origin. However, a vascular structure was observed in the left posterior aspect of the mass. The vascular structure originated from the inferior posterior part of the mass and ran cranially. The artery subsequently united to the aorta, and the vein united to the left renal vein. We identified the artery and vein as the testicular artery and vein, respectively. We also noted the absence of a left spermatic cord in the left inguinal canal. Therefore, we concluded that the mass originated from the left undescended testis. The patient underwent surgery, and the mass was removed with the testicular vessels; the resected testicular vein was mostly filled with thrombus. On pathological examination, the mass was confirmed to be a seminoma in the undescended testis.

Host-microbial interactions between PTGR2 and Bifidobacterium in the early life gut of atopic dermatitis children.

BACKGROUND: Gut microbiota dysbiosis is linked to the development and responses of the immune system and can play an important role in the onset of allergic diseases including atopic dermatitis (AD). This study investigated the association between host genetics and the gut microbiota in AD. METHODS: A global gene expression profiling of the gut epithelial colonocytes, genetic variations analysis, and the gut microbial composition analysis were performed. RESULTS: This study identified the upregulation of PTGR2 (p = .028), a gene involved in prostaglandin catalysis and inflammatory responses, as a potential risk factor for AD. In subsequent fine mapping analysis using 17 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of PTGR2 in 864 Korean subjects (420 AD patients and 444 unaffected controls), several SNPs and haplotypes showed significant associations with AD and its SCORing AD (SCORAD) values (p = .002). To investigate host-microbial interactions, further gut microbiota data and genotypes were obtained from an independent cohort of 176 subjects (91 AD patients and 85 controls). From correlation analysis, a significantly negative association between SNP and Bifidobacterium abundance was observed in AD patients (p = .005). In additional observations of PTGR2-associated downstream molecules, NRF2 (p = .004) and several antioxidant genes (GSTT1, GCLC, GPX1; p < .05) showed significantly reduced expression in AD patients. CONCLUSIONS: Our current findings suggest that the interaction between PTGR2 dysregulated expression and a Bifidobacterium abundance affects a higher risk of AD and a more severe onset.

Effect of early-life antibiotic exposure and IL-13 polymorphism on atopic dermatitis phenotype.

BACKGROUND: Although atopic dermatitis (AD) is associated with certain gene variants, the rapidly increasing incidence of AD suggests that environmental factors contribute to disease development. In this study, we investigated the association of AD incidence and phenotype with antibiotic exposure within 6 months of age, considering the dose administered and genetic risk. METHODS: This study included 1637 children from the COCOA cohort. Pediatric allergists assessed the presence of AD at each visit and obtained information about antibiotic exposure for more than 3 days. IL-13 (rs20541) polymorphism was genotyped by the TaqMan method. We stratified the AD phenotypes into four groups and used multinomial logistic regression models for analysis. RESULTS: Antibiotic exposure within 6 months of age was found to increase the risk of AD within 3 years of life (aOR = 1.40; 95% CI, 1.09-1.81) in dose-dependent manner. Antibiotic exposure more than twice increased the risk of the early-persistent AD phenotype (aOR = 2.50; 95% CI, 1.35-4.63). There was a weak interaction between genetic polymorphisms and environmental factors on the development of AD (p for interaction = 0.06). Children with the IL-13 (rs20541) GA + AA genotype have a higher risk of the early-persistent AD phenotype when exposed to antibiotics more than twice than those with the IL-13 (rs20541) GG genotype and without exposure to antibiotics (aOR = 4.73; 95% CI, 2.01-11.14). CONCLUSION: Antibiotic exposure within 6 months was related to the incidence of early-persistent AD and a dose-dependent increase in the incidence of AD in childhood, whose effect was modified by the IL-13 (rs20541) genotype.

Interactions Between IL-17 Variants and Streptococcus in the Gut Contribute to the Development of Atopic Dermatitis in Infancy.

PURPOSE: Interleukin (IL)-17 variants and perturbations in the gut microbiota may influence the development of atopic dermatitis (AD). However, unifying principles for variants of host and microbe interaction remains unclear. We sought to investigate whether IL-17 variants and gut microbiota affect the development of AD in infancy. METHODS: Composition of the gut microbiota was analyzed in fecal samples from 99 normal healthy and 61 AD infants at 6 months of age. The associations between total immunoglobulin E (IgE), the scoring atopic dermatitis (SCORAD), short-chain fatty acids, transcriptome and functional profile of the gut measured in these subjects and Streptococcus were analyzed. IL-6 and IL-8 in the human intestinal epithelial cell line (HIEC-6) were measured after stimulation of IL-17 and Streptococcus mitis. RESULTS: In this study, Streptococcus was enriched in infants with AD and was higher in those with the GA + AA of IL-17 (rs2275913) variant. Streptococcus was positively correlated with IgE and SCORAD in infants with AD and GA + AA of IL-17. Butyrate and valerate were negatively correlated with Streptococcus and were decreased in infants with AD and GA + AA. Bacterial genes for oxidative phosphorylation induced by reduced colonization of Clostridium were decreased compared with normal and GG. In transcriptome analysis, lactate dehydrogenase A-like 6B was higher in infants with AD compared with healthy infants. IL-6 and IL-8 were increased in IL-17 and/or S. mitis-stimulated HIEC-6 cells. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that increased Streptococcus and A allele of IL-17 (rs2275913) may contribute to the pathogenesis of AD via modulation of the immune system in infancy.

Photosynthetic production of biodiesel in Synechocystis sp. PCC6803 transformed with insect or plant fatty acid methyltransferase.

Biodiesel contains methyl or ethyl esters of long-chain fatty acids and has recently attracted increasing attention. Microalgae have emerged as a sustainable biodiesel production system owing to their photosynthetic potential. However, the conversion of microalgal biomass to biodiesel requires high energy and is costly. This study aimed to overcome the high cost of the pretreatment process by generating cyanobacteria converting fatty acids to fatty acids methyl ester (FAME) in vivo by introducing the fatty acid methyl ester transferase (FAMT) gene. Two FAMT genes from Drosophila melanogaster and Arabidopsis thaliana were selected and their codons were optimized for insertion in the Synechocystis sp. PCC6803 genome through homologous recombination, respectively. FAMT mRNA and protein expression levels were confirmed through reverse-transcription PCR and western blot analysis, respectively. Furthermore, heterologous expression of the FAMT genes yielded FAME, which was analyzed by gas chromatography. We found that FAMT transformants can be further metabolically optimized and applied for commercial production of biodiesel.