Monosomal karyotype in acute myeloid leukemia and the role of allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation.

Monosomal karyotype (MK) in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is associated with an extremely poor outcome. The clinical significance of MK and the role of allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) were evaluated in 749 Korean patients with newly diagnosed AML. MK was found in 9.3% of patients and was more frequent in patients with advanced age or secondary AML. Patients with MK had significantly lower blood leukocyte counts and bone marrow blast percentages, and they had lower complete remission (CR) rate (43%) and shorter median overall survival (OS) (6.5 months) and relapse-free survival (RFS) (10.0 months) than any other prognostic group. MK+ patients who received allogeneic HCT at the first CR had higher OS [hazard ratio (HR) 0.344, P = 0.018], RFS (HR 0.257, P = 0.006), and lower relapse probability (HR 0.264, P = 0.008) than those not receiving. This study's results confirmed poor outcomes for AML patients with MK and suggest that allogeneic HCT at the first CR may improve outcome.

Validation and Application of the Mass Balance Model To Determine the Effectiveness of Portable Air Purifiers in Removing Ultrafine and Submicrometer Particles in an Apartment.

We validated the use of the mass balance model to determine the effectiveness of portable air purifiers in removing ultrafine (<0.10 µm) and submicrometer particles (0.10-0.53 µm) in an apartment. We evaluated two identical portable air purifiers, equipped with high efficiency particulate air filters, for their performance under three different air flow settings and three target air exchange rates: 0.60, 0.90, and 1.20 h(-1). We subsequently used a mixed effects model to estimate the slope between the measured and modeled effectiveness by particle size. Our study showed that effectiveness was highly particle size-dependent. For example, at the lowest target air exchange rate, it ranged from 0.33 to 0.56, 0.51 to 0.75, and 0.60 to 0.81 for the three air purifier flow settings, respectively. Our findings suggested that filtration was the dominant removal mechanism for submicrometer particles, whereas deposition could play a more important role in ultrafine particle removal. We found reasonable agreement between measured and modeled effectiveness with size-resolved slopes ranging from 1.11 ± 0.06 to 1.25 ± 0.07 (mean ± SE), except for particles <35 nm. Our study design can be applied to investigate the performances of other portable air purifiers as well as the influences of various parameters on effectiveness in different residential settings.

Development of Nano-Sized Copper-Deposited Antimicrobial Air Filters Using a Mixed Melt-Blown Process.

Air purification devices, such as air purifiers, provide fresh air by filtering out airborne pollutants, dust, and other harmful substances using various filter systems. While air filters are generally effective in filtering pollutants such as dust, they encounter a challenge when filtering harmful microorganisms such as mites, bacteria, mold, and viruses. These microorganisms, which are present in public transport and public indoor spaces, tend to proliferate on the surface of the filter media, eventually reintroducing themselves into the air or causing unpleasant odors. To address this issue, herein, copper particles were prepared as one masterbatch and deposited on polypropylene (PP) pellets through plasma vacuum deposition to effectively filter dust and microorganisms and prevent their growth on the surface of the filter media. After adding 3-10 wt.% of the masterbatch to conventional PP pellets to fabricate a filter media, the distribution of copper on the surface of the filter media was observed through a scanning electron microscope. To verify the safety and effectiveness of the antimicrobial material, the filter media containing antimicrobial particles was tested using Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Staphylococcus aureus through a filter emission test.

Identification of Pyrido[3,4-d]pyrimidine derivatives as RIPK3-Mediated necroptosis inhibitors.

Necroptosis executed by RIPK3-mediated phosphorylation of MLKL is a programmed necrotic cell death and implicated with various diseases such as sterile inflammation. We designed and synthesized pyrido[3,4-d]pyrimidine derivatives as novel necroptosis inhibitors capable of suppressing the phosphorylation of MLKL. Our SAR studies reveal that 20 possesses comparable inhibitory activity against RIPK3-mediated pMLKL in HT-29 cells relative to GSK872 (2), a representative selective RIPK3 inhibitor. Based on biochemical kinase assay results, 20 is comparable to GSK872 (2) with regard to activity against RIPK3 and less potent against RIPK1 than GSK872, indicating selectivity of 20 towards RIPK3 over RIPK1 is higher than that of GSK872. In HT-29 cells, 20 inhibits necroptosis via MLKL oligomerization impediment. Moreover, 20 suppresses migration and invasion of AsPC-1 cells by necroptosis induced- CXCL5 secretion downregulation. Significantly, 20 could relieve the TNFα-induced systemic inflammatory response syndrome in vivo. Taken together, this study would provide a useful insight into the design of novel necroptosis inhibitors possessing RIPK3-mediated pMLKL inhibitory activity.

Near-Road Exposure and Impact of Air Pollution on Allergic Diseases in Elementary School Children: A Cross-Sectional Study.

PURPOSE: The study aims to classify schools based on traffic pollutants and their complex sources, to assess the environment, to determine the state of allergic diseases among students using the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in children (ISAAC) questionnaire, and to assess their connection to air pollutants. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of seven schools were divided into three categories according to the characteristics of their surrounding environments: three schools in traffic-related zones, two schools in complex source zones I (urban), and two schools in complex source zones II (industrial complex). ISAAC questionnaires were administered and the 4404 completed questionnaires were analyzed. RESULTS: The frequency of asthma treatment during the past 12 months showed a significant increase (p<0.05) with exposure to NO2 [1.67, 95% confidence intervals (CIs) 1.03-2.71] in the complex source zones. The frequency of allergic rhinitis treatment during the past 12 months increased significantly with exposure to Black Carbon (1.60, 95% CIs 1.36-1.90) (p<0.001), SO2 (1.09, 95% CIs 1.01-1.17) (p<0.05), NO2 (1.18, 95% CIs 1.07-1.30) (p<0.01) for all subjects. CONCLUSION: In terms of supporting children's health, care, and prevention related to major spaces for children, such as school zones, spaces used in coming to and leaving school, playgrounds, and classrooms are essential to ensuring not only the safety of children from traffic accidents but also their protection from local traffic pollutants and various hazardous environmental factors.

Development of an activated carbon filter to remove NO2 and HONO in indoor air.

To obtain the optimum removal efficiency of NO2 and HONO by coated activated carbon (ACs), the influencing factors, including the loading rate, metal and non-metal precursors, and mixture ratios, were investigated. The NOx removal efficiency (RE) for K, with the same loading (1.0 wt.%), was generally higher than for those loaded with Cu or Mn. The RE of NO2 was also higher when KOH was used as the K precursor, compared to other K precursors (KI, KNO3, and KMnO4). In addition, the REs by the ACs loaded with K were approximately 38-55% higher than those by uncoated ACs. Overall, the REs (above 95%) of HONO and NOx with 3% KOH were the highest of the coated AC filters that were tested. Additionally, the REs of NOx and HONO using a mixing ratio of 6 (2.5% PABA (p-aminobenzoic acid)+6% H3PO4):4 (3% KOH) were the highest of all the coatings tested (both metal and non-metal). The results of this study show that AC loaded with various coatings has the potential to effectively reduce NO2 and HONO levels in indoor air.

Predominance of trisomy 1q in myelodysplastic syndromes in Korea: is there an ethnic difference? A 3-year multi-center study.

A predominance of total or partial chromosomal losses and the rarity of translocations are characteristics of myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), and 5q,-5, -7 and +8 are known to be the most predominant chromosomal changes. To investigate whether the incidence and the pattern of chromosomal changes in MDS varies by location in Korea, we reviewed the cytogenetic results of 205 MDS cases from three medical centers. Distribution of MDS subtypes and the incidence of chromosomal aberration (44.8%) of MDS in Korea were similar to those found in other countries, however, their patterns were different. Translocations (40.4%) predominated over partial or total deletions (36.3%) in Korea. The most common abnormalities in MDS were trisomy 8, trisomy 1q, -5/5q-, and -7/7q-, which occurred in 18(19.5%), 14(15.2%), 12(13.0%), and 11(11.9%) patients, respectively. It is of note that trisomy 1q, which is rarely reported in hematologic malignancies, was the second most common change associated with MDS in Korea, and that structural anomalies of chromosomes 1(19.6%) exceeded that of chromosome 5(15.2%). The most common sole anomalies were trisomy 8(7.6%) and 14(78%) of 18 cases with chromosome 1 anomalies accompanied by other chromosomal abnormalities, suggesting that the changes of chromosome 1 may be evolutionary events rather than sporadic events. In conclusion, trisomy 1q and trisomy 8 predominate in Korean MDS, suggesting the likelihood of ethnic differences.

Double autologous stem cell transplantation for multiple myeloma: a Korean single center study.

BACKGROUND: Although high dose chemotherapy coupled with an autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) is widely accepted as effective therapy for multiple myeloma (MM), few reports are available in Korea, especially in the area of double ASCT. We present the results of an institutional retrospective study of 12 patients with MM treated by double ASCT. METHODS: Eligible patients received induction therapy using vincristine, adriamycin, dexamethasone (VAD), and mobilization was performed using cyclophosphamide plus lenograstim. High-dose melphalan (total 200 mg/m2) was used to condition the ASCT. RESULTS: The median interval from diagnosis to ASCT was 6 months (range, 1.8-15.3 months). The median interval between the 1st and 2nd ASCT was 4.4 months (range 2.1-48.7 months). The median follow up was 18.3 months (range 8.1-50.5 months) for the nine surviving patients. No therapy-related mortality occurred. Following induction chemotherapy, two patients experienced CR. Following double ASCT, eight patients experienced CR. The 5 year OS was 59%. The median duration of event free survival was 2.13 years (95% CI, 0.84-3.42). CONCLUSION: Although the results of study did not demonstrate the advantage of double ASCT, this is the first report to outline the outcome of double ASCT for Korean MM patients.