Resveratrol-Enriched Rice Callus Extract Inhibits Oxidative and Cellular Melanogenic Activities in Melan-A Cells.

The excessive production of melanin can cause skin diseases and hyperpigmentation. In this study, resveratrol contained in Dongjin rice seed (DJ526) was increased through callus induction. The antioxidant capacity of resveratrol-enriched rice callus was evaluated using the ABTS radical scavenging method and was equivalent to that of vitamin C. DJ526 rice callus extract significantly increased antioxidant activities in a concentration-dependent manner. The anti-melanogenesis effects of DJ526 rice callus extract were also evaluated in melan-a cells. Resveratrol-enriched rice callus extract significantly (i) decreased the size and number of melanin-containing cells, (ii) suppressed the activity of cellular tyrosinase and melanin content, (iii) downregulated the expression of microphthalmia-associated transcription factor, tyrosinase, tyrosinase-related protein-1, and tyrosinase-related protein-2, (iv) increased the expression of phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 and protein kinase B, and (v) inhibited the activation of phosphorylated p38 in melan-a cells. From the above observations, DJ526 rice callus extract showed strong antioxidant and anti-melanogenesis activity at the concentration test. These findings indicate the potential of resveratrol-enriched rice callus as a novel agent for controlling hyperpigmentation.

Fungal Microbiome of Alive and Dead Korean Fir in its Native Habitats.

A rapid decline of Abies koreana has been reported in most of the natural alpine habitats in Korea. It is generally accepted that this phenomenon is due to climate change even though no clear conclusions have been drawn. Most research has focused on abiotic environmental factors, but studies on the relationships between A. koreana and soil fungal microbiomes are scarce. In this study, the rhizoplane and rhizosphere fungal communities in the alive and dead Korean fir trees from its three major natural habitats including Mt. Deogyu, Mt. Halla, and Mt. Jiri in Korea were investigated to identify specific soil fungal groups closely associated with A. koreana. Soil fungal diversity in each study site was significantly different from another based on the beta diversity calculations. Heat tree analysis at the genus level showed that Clavulina, Beauveria, and Tomentella were most abundant in the healthy trees probably by forming ectomycorrhizae with Korean fir growth and controlling pests and diseases. However, Calocera, Dacrymyces, Gyoerffyella, Hydnotrya, Microdochium, Hyaloscypha, Mycosymbioces, and Podospora were abundant in the dead trees. Our findings suggested that Clavulina, Beauveria, and Tomentella are the major players that could be considered in future reforestation programs to establish ectomycorrhizal networks and promote growth. These genera may have played a significant role in the survival and growth of A. koreana in its natural habitats. In particular, the genus Gyoerffyella may account for the death of the seedlings. Our work presented exploratory research on the specific fungal taxa associated with the status of A. koreana.

Protopanaxadiol-Enriched Rice Exerted Antiadipogenic Activity during 3T3-L1 Differentiation and Anti-Inflammatory Activity in 3T3-L1 Adipocytes.

Ginseng is a traditional medicine with health benefits for humans. Protopanaxadiol (PPD) is an important bioactive compound found in ginseng. Transgenic rice containing PPD has been generated previously. In the present study, extracts of this transgenic rice were evaluated to assess their antiadipogenic and anti-inflammatory activities. During adipogenesis, cells were treated with transgenic rice seed extracts. The results revealed that the concentrations of the rice seed extracts tested in this study did not affect cell viability at 3 days post-treatment. However, the rice seed extracts significantly reduced the accumulation of lipids in cells and suppressed the activation of CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein α (C/EBPα) and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ), which in turn inhibited the expression of adipogenesis-related mRNAs, such as adiponectin, PPARγ, C/EBPα, sterol regulatory element-binding protein 1, glucose transport member 4, and fatty acid synthase. In adipocytes, the extracts significantly reduced the mRNA expression of inflammation-related factors following LPS treatment. The activation of NF-κB p65 and ERK 1/2 was inhibited in extract-treated adipocytes. Moreover, treatment with extract #8 markedly reduced the cell population of the G2/M phase. Collectively, these results indicate that transgenic rice containing PPD may act as an obesity-reducing and/or -preventing agent.

Germinated Rice Seeds Improved Resveratrol Production to Suppress Adipogenic and Inflammatory Molecules in 3T3-L1 Adipocytes.

Obesity is a major risk factor for a variety of diseases and contributes to chronic inflammation. Resveratrol is a naturally occurring antioxidant that can reduce adipogenesis. In this study, the antiadipogenic and anti-inflammatory activities of resveratrol-enriched rice were investigated in 3T3-L1 adipocyte cells. Cotreatment of dexamethasone and isobutylmethylxanthin upregulated adipogenic transcription factors and signaling pathways. Subsequent treatment of adipocytes with rice seed extracts suppressed the differentiation of 3T3-L1 by downregulating adipogenic transcription factors (peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ and CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein α) and signaling pathways (extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 and protein kinase B Akt), this was especially observed in cells treated with germinated resveratrol-enriched rice seed extract (DJ526_5). DJ526_5 treatment also markedly reduced lipid accumulation in the cells and expression of adipogenic genes. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammatory cytokines (prostaglandin-endoperoxide synthase 2 (COX-2), tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-1ß, and IL-6) decreased in cells treated with DJ526_5. Collectively, DJ526_5 exerts antiadipogenic effects by suppressing the expression of adipogenesis transcription factors. Moreover, DJ526_5 ameliorates anti-inflammatory effects in 3T3-L1 adipocytes by inhibiting the activation of phosphorylation NF-κB p65 and ERK ½ (MAPK). These results highlight the potential of resveratrol-enriched rice as an alternative obesity-reducing and anti-inflammatory agent.

Inhibitory Effects of Polyphenol- and Flavonoid-Enriched Rice Seed Extract on Melanogenesis in Melan-a Cells via MAPK Signaling-Mediated MITF Downregulation.

Melanin production is an important process that prevents the host skin from harmful ultraviolet radiation; however, an overproduction of melanin results in skin diseases. In the present study, we determined the antioxidative and anti-melanogenic activities of polyphenol- and flavonoid-enriched rice seed extracts in melan-a cells. The polyphenol and flavonoid content of Hopum (HP) and Sebok (SB) rice seed extracts was measured. The antioxidant capacity was determined using the ABTS radical scavenging method. SB contained high amounts of polyphenols and flavonoids, which significantly increased antioxidative activity compared with HP. Various concentrations of these extracts were evaluated in a cytotoxicity using melan-a cells. At 100 µg/mL, there was no significant difference for all treatments compared with untreated cells. Therefore, 100 µg/mL was selected as a concentration for the further experiments. SB significantly suppressed the phosphorylation/activation of p-38 MAPK, increased the expression of phosphorylated ERK 1/2 and Akt, and downregulated the microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF). This resulted in decreased levels of tyrosinase and tyrosinase-related protein-1 and -2. These results indicate the potential of polyphenol- and flavonoid-enriched rice seed as a treatment for hyperpigmentation.

Use of Germination to Enhance Resveratrol Content and Its Anti-Inflammatory Activity in Lipopolysaccharide-Stimulated RAW264.7 Cells.

Inflammation is triggered by a variety of danger signals and is now a worldwide concern. Resveratrol, a natural nonflavonoid polyphenol found in naturally consumed plants and foods, has a wide spectrum of bioactive potency. We successfully generated resveratrol-enriched rice by introducing the resveratrol biosynthesis gene into Dongjin rice. In this study, resveratrol- and piceid-enriched rice (DJ526) was investigated for its anti-inflammatory activity in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW264.7 cells compared to normal rice (DJ). In addition, the 5-day-old germinated DJ526 (DJ526_5) was tested for its anti-inflammatory effects. The piceid and resveratrol amounts increased in DJ526_5 by germination. Treatment of LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells with resveratrol-enriched rice seed extracts (DJ526_0 and DJ526_5) significantly decreased the production of nitric oxide (NO) and the inflammatory mediator prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), downregulated proinflammatory gene expression, and inhibited nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) p65, p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase, and extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK 1/2) phosphorylation. These findings demonstrated the anti-inflammatory mechanisms of resveratrol-enriched rice in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells. Furthermore, resveratrol-enriched rice could be a potential source of anti-inflammatory agents.

Effect of Ginseng Sapogenin Protopanaxadiol-Enriched Rice (DJ-PPD) on Immunomodulation.

Protopanaxadiol (PPD), a gut microbiome-induced ginseng metabolite, has positive immune effects. We previously reported the immune-boosting and anti-inflammatory effects of PPD-enricshed rice seed extracts in normal and inflammatory cell environments, respectively. In the present study, the immunomodulatory activity of PPD-enriched transgenic rice seed extract (DJ-PPD), which exhibited the highest immune-related activity among all available extracts, was compared with that of commercially synthesized 20s-PPD (S-PPD) and natural ginseng root extract (GE), in RAW264.7 cells. Compared with S-PPD and GE treatment, DJ-PPD treatment (i) significantly promoted NF-κB p65 and c-Jun N-terminal protein kinase (JNK) phosphorylation; (ii) upregulated IL-1ß, IL-6, COX-2, TLR-4, and TNF-α expression; (iii) and increased prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) production. However, there were no significant differences in the effects of the three treatments containing PPD-type sapogenin or saponins on nitric oxide (NO) production and phagocytic activity. In the inflammatory cell environment, DJ-PPD treatment markedly decreased the production of LPS-induced inflammatory factors, including NO and PGE2, as well as proinflammatory cytokine expression, by decreasing phosphorylated (p-)NF-κB p65, p-p38 MAPK, and p-JNK levels. Thus, DJ-PPD that does not require complex intestinal microbial processes to exert higher anti-inflammatory effects compared with S-PPD and GE. However, DJ-PPD exerted similar or higher immune-boosting effects (depending on inflammatory biomarkers) than S-PPD and GE. These findings indicate the potential of PPD-enriched transgenic rice as an alternative immunomodulatory agent.

Protopanaxadiol-Enriched Rice Extracts Suppressed Oxidative and Melanogenic Activities in Melan-a Cells.

Concerns about hyperpigmentation and skin appearance have led to increasing research into the prevention and altering of skin pigmentation. Natural compounds may be of interest in the search for skin-lightening actives. Protopanaxadiol (PPD), a gut microbiome-induced ginseng metabolite, has been reported to have anti-melanogenic effects. This study aimed to evaluate the antioxidative and anti-melanogenic effects of PPD-enriched rice seed extracts on melan-a cells. The antioxidant and cytotoxicity activities of the extracts were investigated in melan-a cells before measuring their responses to melanogenic activities. The extracts significantly enhanced the antioxidant potency compared with normal rice seed extract. PPD-enriched rice seed extracts (i) significantly downregulated microphthalmia-associated transcription factor, which led to a reduction in tyrosinase and tyrosinase-related protein-1 and -2, (ii) decrease in the cellular tyrosinase activity and melanin content, (iii) reduction in the number of melanin-containing cells, (iv) promotion of melanogenesis downregulators, phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 and protein kinase B, and (v) downregulation of the phosphorylated p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase and melanin synthesis. These results indicate the feasibility of PPD-enriched rice seed extracts as a novel agent for suppressing melanogenesis and controlling hyperpigmentation.

Inhibitory Effects of Protopanaxadiol-Producing Transgenic Rice Seed Extracts on RANKL-Induced Osteoclast Differentiation.

(1) Background: Osteoporosis is a disease in which bones are weakened and fractured easily because of various factors. It is mainly observed in elderly and postmenopausal women, and it continues to carry high economic costs in aging societies. Normal bone maintains a healthy state through a balanced process of osteoclast suppression and osteoblast activation; (2) Methods: In this study, osteoclast inhibition was induced by inhibiting osteoclast differentiation using ginseng protopanaxadiol-enriched rice (PPD-rice) seed extract. To analyze the effect of PPD-rice extract on the inhibition of osteoclast differentiation, bone marrow macrophages extracted from mice were treated with PPD-rice and Dongjin seed (non-transformed rice) extracts and analyzed for the inhibition of osteoclast differentiation; (3) Results: The results illustrated that PPD-rice extract reduced the transcription and translation of NFATc1, a modulator of osteoclast formation, decreased the mRNA expression of various osteoclast differentiation marker genes, and reduced osteoclast activity. Moreover, the bone resorptive activity of osteoclasts was diminished by PPD-rice extract on Osteo Assay plates; (4) Conclusions: Based on these results, PPD-rice extract is a useful candidate therapeutic agent for suppressing osteoclasts, an important component of osteoporosis, and it could be used as an ingredient in health supplements.

Transgenic Rice Seed Extracts Exert Immunomodulatory Effects by Modulating Immune-Related Biomarkers in RAW264.7 Macrophage Cells.

Protopanaxadiol (PPD), a native active triterpenoid present in Panax ginseng, has been reported to exert immune-related effects. We previously created PPD-producing transgenic rice by introducing the P. ginseng protopanaxadiol synthase and dammarenediol-II synthase genes into Dongjin rice. In the present study, the seeds of the T4 generation of this transgenic rice were tested for their immunomodulatory effects in RAW264.7 macrophage cells. Treatment with transgenic rice seed extract in RAW264.7 cells (i) significantly enhanced nitric oxide (NO) production in a dose-dependent manner without any cytotoxicity (up to 100 µg/mL), (ii) upregulated the expression of immune-related genes and increased production of the inflammation mediator prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), and (iii) activated nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) by promoting the phosphorylation of NF-κB p65, p38 MAPK, and c-Jun N-terminal protein kinase (JNK). In lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-treated RAW264.7 cells used to mimic the inflammation condition, treatment with transgenic rice seed extract significantly reduced NO production, proinflammatory cytokine expression, and PGE2 production, all of which are LPS-induced inflammation biomarkers, by inhibiting the phosphorylation of NF-κB p65, p38 MAPK, and JNK. Collectively, these results indicate that PPD-producing transgenic rice has immunomodulatory effects.

Difference between self-reported adherence to standard precautions and surveillance and factors influencing observed adherence: a quantile regression approach.

BACKGROUND: Standard precautions are minimum healthcare-associated infection prevention practices applied in all healthcare settings. The aim of this study was to investigate adherence to standard precautions using a survey and surveillance. Factors affecting observed adherence to standard precautions were also determined. METHODS: This cross-sectional observational study included 163 clinical nurses who were directly involved in patient care. Differences in adherence according to investigative methods are represented as a boxplot. Quantile regression was used to identify factors affecting observed adherence, including organizational factors (such as department, safety environment, and patient safety climate) and personal factors (such as knowledge and awareness). Stata SE version 14.2 was used for all statistical analyses. RESULTS: The observed adherence to standard precautions was 76.8 out of 100, whereas the self-reported adherence was approximately 95. Hand hygiene adherence received the lowest score of less than 70. Factors influencing observed adherence were self-reported adherence (p = 0.043) in 25% and 50% quantiles, work experience (p = 0.002) in the 25% quantile, and working department (p = 0.030) in the 50% quantile. There were no significant factors in the 75% quantile. CONCLUSION: Inadequate adherence to standard precautions might increase healthcare-associated infections. Thus, an organizational environment such as nurse staffing needs to be established so that clinical nurses with high competency can comply with standard precautions in clinical settings.

Enhanced Anti-Skin-Aging Activity of Yeast Extract-Treated Resveratrol Rice DJ526.

Resveratrol is a powerful antioxidant that defends against oxidative stress in cells but is not found in large quantities in plants. Resveratrol-enriched rice DJ526, which was developed as a functional crop, shows a diverse range of biological activities. Resveratrol production is measured as total resveratrol and its glycoside, piceid, which is mainly found in plant-derived resveratrol. In the present study, elicitation using yeast extract (YE), methyl jasmonate, and jasmonic acid increased resveratrol production in DJ526 rice seeds. DJ526 seeds elicited using 1 g/L (YE1) and 5 g/L yeast extract (YE5) showed enhanced resveratrol production and antioxidant activity. YE5-treated DJ526 seeds showed decreased melanin content by 46.1% and 37.0% compared with the negative control and DJ526 (non-elicitation), respectively. Both YE1 and YE5 efficiently improved the wound-healing activity by reducing the wound gap faster than in untreated cells, with a maximum rate of 60.2% at 24 h and complete closure at 48 h. YE1 and YE5 significantly decreased the levels of proinflammatory cytokine, TNF-α, and enhanced collagen synthesis in inflammatory cells. These findings indicate that YE-treated resveratrol rice DJ526 may improve resveratrol production and could be an active antiaging ingredient for cosmetic and skin therapy applications.

Resveratrol-enriched rice identical to original Dongjin rice variety with respect to major agronomic traits in different cultivation years and regions.

Resveratrol is synthesized by the catalysis of resveratrol synthases (RS) in a limited number of higher plants. Resveratrol shows potential health-promoting properties, including as an antioxidant and in preventing cardiovascular diseases. Recently, resveratrol-enriched rice has been produced as a novel source of resveratrol. This study aimed to investigate the major agronomic characteristics of resveratrol-enriched rice, Iksan526 (I526) and compared them with those of a nontransgenic and commercial rice variety, Dongjin (DJ). Transgene (RS) integration was confirmed using Southern blot analysis, and homologous recombination was achieved after digestion with the SacI restriction enzyme. The phenotypic traits of I526 grown in Iksan were similar to those grown in Milyang but not similar to those grown in Suwon. In Suwon, I526 had slightly earlier heading dates [i.e., number of days from sowing to heading) and shorter culm lengths. When I526 was treated with 0.4% Basta in the seedling stage, no significant difference was observed among all the agronomic traits compared with nontreated I526; particularly, the culm length, panicle length, number of panicles per hill, 1,000 grain weight of brown rice, and brown rice yield of the Basta-treated rice were similar to those of the nontreated I526, regardless of their cultivation region. The resveratrol content of I526 grown in Suwon and Milyang was increased by 18% and 37%, respectively, than that of I526 grown in the Iksan area. Therefore, DJ and I526 are not significantly different in terms of major agronomic traits depending on variety/year and variety/cultivation region. The results indicated that I526 has the potential to become a commercialized variety in the near future.

Enhancing Resveratrol Bioproduction and Anti-Melanogenic Activities through Elicitation in DJ526 Cell Suspension.

Resveratrol, a secondary plant metabolite, and its derivatives, including piceid, show several potential health-related biological activities. However, resveratrol production is uncommon in plants; thus, resveratrol-enriched rice (DJ526) is produced for its nutritional and therapeutic value. Here, a DJ526 cell suspension was treated with various elicitors to determine its resveratrol-production potential and elicit its biological activity. Treatments with most elicitors produced more piceid than resveratrol; as elicitation periods increased, the average piceid levels were 75-fold higher than resveratrol levels. This increase is associated with glycosylation during growth and development. The duration of exposure and concentrations of elicitors were crucial factors affecting resveratrol synthase expression. Of all the elicitors tested, jasmonic acid and methyl jasmonate (MeJA) were strong elicitors; they increased resveratrol production to ≤115.1 µg g-1 (total resveratrol and piceid content). Moreover, 5 µM of MeJA increased total resveratrol production by >96.4% relative to the control production. In addition, the extract of cell suspension treated with 5 µM of MeJA significantly reduced melanin content and cellular tyrosinase activity (24.2% and 21.5% relative to the control, respectively) in melan-a cells without disturbing cell viability. Overall, elicitation can enhance resveratrol production and elicit the biological activity of the compound, in this case, its anti-melanogenic activities, in DJ526 cell suspension.

Alteration of resveratrol-dependent glycosyltransferase activity by elicitation in DJ-526 rice.

Since the successful creation of DJ-526, a resveratrol-enriched rice cultivar, research has focused on resveratrol production because of its great potential in pharmaceutical applications. However, the utilization of resveratrol in DJ-526 is limited by glycosylation, which converts resveratrol to its glucoside (piceid), in a process driven by glycosyltransferase. The verification of resveratrol-dependent glycosyltransferase activity is an essential strategy for improving resveratrol production in DJ-526 rice. In this study, 27 candidate glycosyltransferases were evaluated in germinated seeds. Among the candidates, only R12 exhibited upregulation related to increased resveratrol and piceid content during seed germination, whereas various effects on the activity of glycosyltransferase were observed by the presence of a bio-elicitor. Yeast extract tended to enhance glycosyltransferase activity by seven candidates, and a specific peak for an unknown compound production was identified. Conversely, chitosan acted as a glycosyltransferase inhibitor. Our results suggested that R12 and R19 are the most relevant candidate resveratrol-dependent glycosyltransferases in DJ-526 seeds during germination and elicitation. Future research should assess the possibility of silencing these candidate genes in an effort to improve resveratrol levels in DJ-526 rice.

MicroRNA-7-5p's role in the O-GlcNAcylation and cancer metabolism.

O-GlcNAc Transferase (OGT) is a complementary enzyme that regulates O-linked N-acetylglucosaminylation(O-GlcNAcylation) and plays a critical role in various cancer phenotypes, including invasion, migration, and metabolic reprogramming. In our previous study we found that miR-7-5p was downregulated at lung cancer cells with highly metastatic capacity. In the in-silico approach, OGT is the predicted target of miR-7-5p. To identify miR-7-5p's role in cell growth and metabolism, we transfected various lung cancer cell lines with miR-7-5p. The expression level of miR-7-5p was confirmed by qRT-PCR in lung cancer cell lines. Western blot assays and qRT-PCR were performed to demonstrate miR-7-5p's effect. Bioinformatic analysis indicated that OGT is a direct target of miR-7-5p. The binding sites of miR-7-5p in the OGT 3' UTR were verified by luciferase reporter assay. To investigate the role of miR-7-5p in the cancer metabolism of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells, mimic of miR-7-5p was transfected into NSCLC cells, and the effect of miR-7-5p on cancer metabolism was analyzed by LDH assays, glucose uptake, and mitochondrial ATP synthase inhibitor assay. O-GlcNAcylated protein level was determined by Western blot. The role of miR-7-5p in lung cancer growth was measured by MTS assays. To identify the delivery of miR-7-5p via PLGA, an in vitro release assay of PLGA-miR-7-5p was done. miR-7-5p was highly expressed whereas OGT showed low expression in H358, H827. However, miR-7-5p exhibited low expression while OGT had high expression in H522, H460, and H1299 cell lines. OGT were repressed by binding of miR-7a-5p to the 3'-UTR. Overexpression of miR-7-5p also diminished anaerobic glycolysis. miR-181a-5p transfection induced expression levels of OGT were diminished compared to those in the control group. O-GlcNAcylation was suppressed by miR-7-5p. Moreover, the overexpression of miR-7-5a suppressed lung cancer cell growth. miR-7-5p was released via PLGA for up to 10 days. In the present study, inhibition of OGT by miR-7-5p decreased the growth and cancer metabolism of lung cancer.

Electrochemical Descaling of Metal Oxides from Stainless Steel Using an Ionic Liquid-Acid Solution.

Oxide scales often formed on the surface of stainless steel, and it is of high interest to descale the surface oxide effectively and environment-friendly during steel smelting and engineering processing. It is generally done by treating the oxide layer under strong and harsh mixed acid (HNO3 + HF) conditions or in a strong molten salt (NaOH + NaNO3) environment at high temperatures, while the generation of very harmful and environmentally hazardous gases, such as NO x , is inevitable. A novel, simple, fast, and environment-friendly electrochemical method at ambient temperature is proposed in this research to remove the oxide scale from the stainless steel surface using an ionic liquid with a small amount of HCl. It was found that the optimized electrochemical anodization treatment in an ionic liquid environment could significantly improve the descaling efficiency at least 50 times faster than the simple passive and slow dissolution in a mixture of an ionic liquid and a concentrated acid.

Observational Study of Clinical and Functional Progression Based on Initial Brain MRI Characteristics in Patients with Alzheimer's Disease.

BACKGROUND: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a useful tool to predict the diagnosis and progression of Alzheimer's disease (AD), especially for primary physicians. However, the correlation between baseline MRI findings and AD progression has not been fully established. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the correlation between hippocampal atrophy (HA) and white matter hyperintensities (WMH) on initial brain MRI images and the degree of cognitive decline and functional changes over 1 year. METHODS: In this prospective, 12-month observational study, dementia outpatients were recruited from 29 centers across South Korea. Baseline assessments of HA and WMH on baseline brain MRI were derived as well as cognitive function, dementia severity, activities of daily living, and acetylcholinesterase inhibitor (AChEI) use. Follow-up assessments were conducted at 6 and 12 months. RESULTS: Among 899 enrolled dementia patients, 748 were diagnosed with AD of whom 654 (87%) were taking AChEIs. Baseline WMH showed significant correlations with age, current alcohol consumption, and Clinical Dementia Rating score; baseline HA was correlated with age, family history, physical exercise, and the results of cognitive assessments. Among the AChEI group, changes in the Korean version of the Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (K-IADL) were correlated with the severity of HA on baseline brain MRI, but not with the baseline severity of WMH. In the no AChEI group, changes in K-IADL were correlated with the severity of WMH and HA at baseline. CONCLUSION: Baseline MRI findings could be a useful tool for predicting future clinical outcomes by primary physicians, especially in relation to patients' functional status.

Diagnosis of gastric subepithelial mass as an accessory spleen using fusion of spleen SPECT and CT images.

More than 10% of the healthy population has one or more accessory spleens. An accessory spleen can be mistaken for a gastric subepithelial mass, and may not be differentiated by CT or endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS). A gastric subepithelial mass was detected on routine endoscopy in a 52-year-old man with a history of splenectomy 10 years previously for trauma. Subsequent EUS and CT located the subepithelial mass on the fourth layer of the stomach fundus. A definitive diagnosis was obtained by performing technetium-99m (99mTc-)-labeled denatured red blood cell (RBC) scintigraphy. Fusion images were obtained by combining the digital CT and SPECT images on a computer workstation. Here, we report the use of spleen SPECT and CT fusion images to diagnose a case of accessory spleen mimicking a gastric subepithelial mass, thereby avoiding the need for an invasive procedure.

Bithionol residue analysis in animal-derived food products by an effective and rugged extraction method coupled with liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry.

Herein, we developed a simple analytical procedure for the quantitation of bithionol residues in animal-derived food products such as porcine muscle, eggs, milk, eel, flatfish, and shrimp using a modified quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged, and safe (QuEChERS) extraction method coupled with liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (LC-ESI+/MS-MS). Samples were extracted with 0.1% solution of formic acid in acetonitrile and the extract was purified using a C18 sorbent. Separation was performed on a Waters XBridge™ C18 reversed-phase analytical column using 0.1% solution of formic acid/acetonitrile as the mobile phase. Six-point matrix-matched calibration indicated good linearity, with the calculated coefficients of determination (R2) being≥0.9813. Intra- and inter-day recoveries (determined at spiking levels equivalent to 1×and 2×the limit of quantitation (0.25µg/kg)) ranged between 80.0 and 94.0%, with the corresponding relative standard deviations (RSDs) being≤8.2%. The developed experimental protocol was applied to different samples purchased from local markets in Seoul, which were tested negative for bithionol residues. In conclusion, the proposed method proved to be versatile and precise, being ideally suited for the routine detection of bithionol residues in animal-derived food products with various protein and fat contents.