Onychopapilloma: its clinical, dermoscopic and pathologic features.

BACKGROUND: Onychopapilloma is a benign tumour of the nail bed and distal matrix and commonly presents as longitudinal erythronychia, longitudinal leukonychia or longitudinal melanonychia. Because onychopapilloma is rare, its clinical characteristics and dermoscopic findings have not been well investigated in Asia. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to investigate the clinical characteristics and dermoscopic and pathologic findings of onychopapilloma in Korea. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records and clinical/dermoscopic photographs of 39 patients diagnosed with onychopapilloma in the Pusan National University Hospitals (Busan and Yangsan) for 11 years (2010-2021). RESULTS: Among 39 patients, 23 (59.0%) were men, and 16 (41.0%) were women. The mean age was 46.1 (16-77) years. All lesions were single, and most of them were located on the fingers (92.3%), especially the thumb (66.7%). The most common clinical feature was longitudinal erythronychia (56.4%), and the most common dermoscopic finding was distal subungual hyperkeratosis (100%). We found two new dermoscopic features: macrolunula and trailing lunula along the longitudinal band. Among 18 patients who underwent surgical excision, only 6 (33.3%) showed typical acanthosis and papillomatosis on the nail bed. CONCLUSIONS: We found that Asian onychopapilloma has similar clinicodermoscopic findings to the Caucasian one, that is to say, longitudinal erythronychia and distal subungual hyperkeratosis were the most common nail change and dermoscopic finding, respectively. We propose two new dermoscopic features of onychopapilloma: macrolunula and trailing lunula along the longitudinal band.

A polyol-mediated synthesis of titania-based nanoparticles and their electrochemical properties.

Ti-based nanoparticles were prepared in polyol mediums of EG (ethylene glycol) and TEG (triethylene glycol), with heating treatment. Ti-based materials of dried power and heated samples showed average sizes of 4, 10, 3, and 8 nm with spherical shapes and monodispersed state, respectively. The XRD patterns of TiO2 and Li4Ti5O12 materials of dried powder and heated samples were indexed to anatase phase TiO2 (space group: I4(1)/amd) and the spinel phase (space group: Fd3m) except for the dried powder sample of Li4Ti5O12, which was corresponded with amorphous-like characteristics from the X-ray diffraction and electron diffraction pattern of Field emission-TEM analysis. The TiO2 and Li4Ti5O12 samples after heat-treated at 500 degrees C exhibited excellent high rate capabilities at a current density of 0.4 mA/cm2 during extended cycles due to their electrochemically beneficial highly crystalline characteristics, nano-sized (approximately 10 nm), and uniform distributions state.

Structure-activity relationships: analogues of the dicaffeoylquinic and dicaffeoyltartaric acids as potent inhibitors of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 integrase and replication.

The dicaffeoylquinic acids (DCQAs) and dicaffeoyltartaric acids (DCTAs) are potent and selective inhibitors of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) integrase. They also inhibit HIV-1 replication at nontoxic concentrations. Since integrase is an excellent target for anti-HIV therapy, structure-activity relationships were employed to synthesize compounds with: (1) improved potency against HIV-1 integrase, (2) improved anti-HIV effect in tissue culture, and (3) increased selectivity as indicated by low cellular toxicity. Thirty-four analogues of the DCTAs and DCQAs were synthesized and tested for cell toxicity, anti-HIV activity, and inhibition of HIV-1 integrase. Seventeen of the 34 analogues had potent activity against HIV-1 integrase ranging from 0. 07 to >10 microM. Seventeen analogues that were synthesized or purchased had no inhibitory activity against integrase at concentrations of 25 microM. Of the biologically active analogues, 7 of the 17 inhibited HIV replication at nontoxic concentrations. The most potent compounds were D-chicoric acid, meso-chicoric acid, bis(3,4-dihydroxydihydrocinnamoyl)-L-tartaric acid, digalloyl-L-tartaric acid, bis(3,4-dihydroxybenzoyl)-L-tartaric acid, dicaffeoylglyceric acid, and bis(3, 4-dihydroxyphenylacetyl)-L-tartaric acid. Anti-HIV activity of the active compounds in tissue culture ranged from 35 to 0.66 microM. Structure-activity relationships demonstrated that biscatechol moieties were absolutely required for inhibition of integrase, while at least one free carboxyl group was required for anti-HIV activity. These data demonstrate that analogues of the DCTAs and the DCQAs can be synthesized which have improved activity against HIV integrase.

High-level expression of bovine beta-lactoglobulin in Pichia pastoris and characterization of its physical properties.

Bovine beta-lactoglobulin (BLG) variant A has been expressed in the methylotropic yeast Pichia pastoris by fusion of the cDNA to the sequence coding for the alpha-mating factor prepro-leader peptide from Saccharomyces cerevisiae. P. pastoris Mut+ transformants were obtained by single cross-over integration of the BLG-containing vector into the AOX1 locus. In a fed-batch fermenter, a cell density of approximately 300 mg/ml was achieved by controlled glycerol feeding for a total of 24 h. After 72 h of methanol induction, the secreted BLG reached levels of > 1 g/l. The secreted protein could be purified to homogeneity by ion-exchange chromatography. Amino-terminal sequencing of the secreted BLG revealed that the Glu-Ala spacer repeats inserted between the mature protein and the alpha-factor prepro-leader were still present. The purified protein was characterized by a number of methods, including CD spectroscopy, guanidine-HCl unfolding, crystallization and two-dimensional 1H-NMR spectroscopy. By all of these measures, the physical characteristics of recombinant BLG were indistinguishable from those of the native purified bovine BLG, making it useful as a model for protein folding and other biophysical studies.

Thermostable variants of bovine beta-lactoglobulin.

The thermal stability of bovine beta-lactoglobulin (BLG) has been enhanced by the introduction of an additional disulfide bond. Wild-type BLG has two disulfide bonds, C106-C119 and C66-C160, with a free cysteine at position 121. We have designed, with the aid of molecular modeling calculations, two mutants of a recombinant BLG (rBLG), L104C and A132C. Molecular dynamics simulations were performed at 300K to study the effect of these alterations on the conformation of the protein. These mutants were then created by site-directed mutagenesis and purified from Escherichia coli carrying a tac expression vector using a two-step renaturation method. Formation of disulfide linkages in the correct arrangement, as designed, was confirmed by peptide mapping. In contrast to wild-type rBLG, which polymerizes at temperatures > 65 degrees C, neither of the mutant proteins polymerized. The conformational stability of the L104C and A132C mutant proteins against thermal denaturation has been substantially increased (8-10 degrees C) as compared with wild-type rBLG. Furthermore, the A132C rBLG exhibits an enhanced stability against denaturation by guanidine hydrochloride as compared with the wild-type or L104C rBLG.

[The interrelationship between family planning and child health (author's transl)].

PIP: The interrelationship among such variables as number of siblings, birth order, interval between births, and existence of a younger brother or sister of a given child, all factors thought important in affecting the decision to adopt contraception by the parents and the occurrence of injuries due to illness and accidents and developmental parameters of the same child, were studied in 848 children (aged 1-3 years) by physical measurements such as height and weight and interviews with mothers to determine child morbidity. The findings suggested that the larger the number of siblings, the more advanced the birth orders, and the shorter the intervals from the birth of the preceding births, the smaller were the indices for physical growth and development; the morbidity due to accidents or disease did not show any definitive pattern. (Author's Modified)^ieng

[A study on the effectiveness of special incentive program for insertion of IUD in urban Korea].

PIP: The findings and experiences obtained by the Urban Population Studies Center, College of Medicine, Seoul National University, from a program named, Special Incentive Program are described. The objective of the study was to assess the differential effectiveness in terms of IUD acceptance by women referred through special agents who were on incentives paid out by number of cases referred to regular IUD insertion service. 2 incentive programs were attempted for comparison. 1 incentive program was based on 7 of the city's 9 district(Gu) health centers, and the other 1 was directed towards the women residing in Chunho Dong, Sungdong Gu (District), Seoul City, Korea. 67% of all acceptors were in the age range of 25 to 34 years; 83% of all acceptors belonged to lower educational strata, namely those who had had no formal education and with only primary school education. 64% of all IUD acceptors had 2 or 3 live births. 44% had had induced abortion. Women had married at an average of 21.7 years. The average for duration of marriage was calculated at 8.9 years. Much of this study remains to be compared with pertinent data.^ieng