CaV α2δ Autoimmune Encephalitis: A Novel Antibody and its Characteristics.

OBJECTIVE: Discovery of a novel antibody would enable diagnosis and early treatment of autoimmune encephalitis. The aim was to discover a novel antibody targeting a synaptic receptor and characterize the pathogenic mechanism. METHOD: We screened for unknown antibodies in serum and cerebrospinal fluid samples from autoimmune encephalitis patients. Samples with reactivity to rat brain sections and no reactivity to conventional antibody tests underwent further processing for antibody discovery, using immunoprecipitation to primary neuronal cells, mass-spectrometry analysis, an antigen-binding assay on an antigen-overexpressing cell line, and an electrophysiological assay with cultured hippocampal neurons. RESULTS: Two patients had a novel antibody against CaV α2δ (voltage-gated calcium channel alpha-2/delta subunit). The patient samples stained neuropils of the hippocampus, basal ganglia, and cortex in rat brain sections and bound to a CaV α2δ-overexpressing cell line. Knockdown of CaV α2δ expression in cultured neurons turned off the immunoreactivity of the antibody from the patients to the neurons. The patients were associated with preceding meningitis or neuroendocrine carcinoma and responded to immunotherapy. In cultured neurons, the antibody reduced neurotransmitter release from presynaptic nerve terminals by interfering with tight coupling of calcium channels and exocytosis. INTERPRETATION: Here, we discovered a novel autoimmune encephalitis associated with anti-CaV α2δ antibody. Further analysis of the antibody in autoimmune encephalitis might promote early diagnosis and treatment. ANN NEUROL 2021;89:740-752.

A functional regulatory variant of MYH3 influences muscle fiber-type composition and intramuscular fat content in pigs.

Muscle development and lipid accumulation in muscle critically affect meat quality of livestock. However, the genetic factors underlying myofiber-type specification and intramuscular fat (IMF) accumulation remain to be elucidated. Using two independent intercrosses between Western commercial breeds and Korean native pigs (KNPs) and a joint linkage-linkage disequilibrium analysis, we identified a 488.1-kb region on porcine chromosome 12 that affects both reddish meat color (a*) and IMF. In this critical region, only the MYH3 gene, encoding myosin heavy chain 3, was found to be preferentially overexpressed in the skeletal muscle of KNPs. Subsequently, MYH3-transgenic mice demonstrated that this gene controls both myofiber-type specification and adipogenesis in skeletal muscle. We discovered a structural variant in the promotor/regulatory region of MYH3 for which Q allele carriers exhibited significantly higher values of a* and IMF than q allele carriers. Furthermore, chromatin immunoprecipitation and cotransfection assays showed that the structural variant in the 5'-flanking region of MYH3 abrogated the binding of the myogenic regulatory factors (MYF5, MYOD, MYOG, and MRF4). The allele distribution of MYH3 among pig populations worldwide indicated that the MYH3 Q allele is of Asian origin and likely predates domestication. In conclusion, we identified a functional regulatory sequence variant in porcine MYH3 that provides novel insights into the genetic basis of the regulation of myofiber type ratios and associated changes in IMF in pigs. The MYH3 variant can play an important role in improving pork quality in current breeding programs.

[Accuracy of references in eight nursing journals in Korea].

PURPOSE: This study was to investigate the reference accuracy in major nursing journals in Korea. METHODS: The references in articles from eight nursing journals from 2006 were compared with PubMed for authors, year, title, journal, volume, and page accuracy. Four hundred sixty-six references were reviewed. Errors were classified as major or minor and categorized by bibliographic headings (author, title, journal, year, volume and page). RESULTS: Of the 466 references, 223(47.9%) had citation errors. The reference error rates ranged from 28.6% to 58.7%. Most errors occurred in the author element (37.9%), followed by title (20.9%), journal (19.0%), page (13.9%), volume (5.9%), and year (2.4%). CONCLUSION: This study identified a considerable error rate in the references of nursing journals. Inaccuracy of references is a reflection on scholarly work of authors and journals. Authors and Editorial committees are responsible for the accuracy of references.

Changes in omeprazole pharmacokinetics in rats with diabetes induced by alloxan or streptozotocin: faster clearance of omeprazole due to induction of hepatic CYP1A2 and 3A1.

PURPOSE: To investigate the effect of diabetes mellitus induced by alloxan (DMIA) or streptozotocin (DMIS) on the pharmacokinetics of omeprazole in rats. It has been reported that omeprazole is primarily metabolized via hepatic CYP1A2, 2D1, and 3A1 in rats. The expression and mRNA levels of hepatic CYP1A2 and 3A1 increases in DMIA and DMIS rats, but the expression of hepatic CYP2D1 does not change in DMIS rats. In addition, the metabolic activities of intestinal CYP3A1/2 decreases in DMIS rats. Thus, it could be expected that the pharmacokinetics of omeprazole would be affected by changes in both DMIA and DMIS. METHODS: Omeprazole was administered intravenously (20 mg/kg) and orally (40 mg/kg) to DMIA and DMIS rats and their respective controls. RESULTS: After intravenous administration of omeprazole, the CLNR of the drug was significantly faster in DMIA (52.6 versus 67.4 mL/min/kg) and DMIS (50.2 versus 73.0 mL/min/kg) rats than the respective controls. However, after oral administration of omeprazole, the AUC was comparable between each type of diabetic rat and the respective controls. CONCLUSIONS: The significantly faster CLNR of intravenous omeprazole could be due to increased expression and mRNA levels of hepatic CYP1A2 and 3A1 in both types of diabetic rat. The comparable AUC of oral omeprazole could be due to a decrease in the intestinal first-pass effect of omeprazole caused by decreased intestinal CYP3A1/2 in diabetic rats. Following both intravenous and oral administration in DMIA and DMIS rats, the pharmacokinetics of omeprazole were similarly altered.

[Analysis of research papers published in the Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing].

PURPOSE: This study was to determine the current trend of nursing research as exploring both quantitative and qualitative methodologies, and to provide the explicit direction to improve the quality of published papers. METHODS: Total of 366 articles published between 2004 and 2006 was reviewed using the criteria of analysis. RESULTS: There was more number of quantitative studies than qualitative studies. More studies were conducted with subjects who had health problems, and studies that targeted women and elderly population have been significantly increased. In quantitative methodology, utilization of experimental and quasi-experimental designs has been increased, however descriptive study was dominant as yet. In qualitative methodology, studies using grounded theory and phenomenology were frequently published. It was noted that theoretical framework and rational for sample size were rarely presented in quantitative study. Philosophical position and the process of preparation for study, which guided the research, were not clearly described in qualitative study. CONCLUSION: The findings of this review suggest that published studies have been improved and diversified, however, detailed and clear evaluation tool that assesses study process and method should be developed as a way to further improve the quality of published papers.

[Trends of nursing science inquiry in doctoral dissertations].

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to identify the theoretical characteristics and direction of inquiry in the discipline of nursing by analyzing doctoral dissertations. METHOD: The materials used in this study were 277 doctoral dissertations from five universities in Korea. The framework for the study was derived from Kim's(1993) alternative linkage among philosophy, theory, and method in nursing science. RESULT: Of the 277 dissertations it was found that there were 13 types of linkages out of a possible 54 types. Most of the dissertations (128 of 277) were done within the linkage of realism/etic/quantitative/explanatory knowledge type. Of the 218 dissertations within scientific realism, 42 were within relativism, and 17 within practicism. There were 134 dissertations of the explanatory knowledge type, 112 descriptive ones, and 31 prescriptive ones. Studies done within the etic quantitative methodology included 209 dissertations and within the emic perspective, 43 with qualitative methodology, and 7 with quantitative. CONCLUSION: The results show that it is necessary to develop more alternative linkages for nursing practice and this will lead to expanding nursing knowledge.

[Analysis of research papers published in the Journal of the Korean Academy of Nursing-focused on research trends, intervention studies, and level of evidence in the research].

PURPOSE: This study aimed was done to analyze recent trends in nursing research published in the Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing by focusing on the content of nursing interventions and their level of evidence. METHODS: A total of 209 studies published between 2007 and 2008 were reviewed using analysis criteria developed by the researchers. RESULTS: The number of quantitative studies was greater than that of qualitative studies. There was a slight increase in the number of qualitative studies and studies including elderly populations, which reflects the recent population trend in Korea. More randomized controlled trials with a low risk of bias were needed to support more evidence-based nursing practice. Concerning the low rate of ethical consideration, stricter application of research ethics needs to be encouraged. CONCLUSION: The findings of this study suggest the recent trends in nursing research and the direction of nursing research and review in the Journal.