Exploring the effect of BRCA1/2 status on chemotherapy-induced hematologic toxicity in patients with ovarian cancer.

OBJECTIVE: BRCA1/2 are integral to the DNA repair mechanism and their germline pathogenic variants (gBRCA) result in a high risk for developing breast and ovarian cancer. Patients with gBRCA mutations showed increased sensitivity to DNA cross-linking agent but might have increased treatment-related toxicities. Thus, we hypothesized that gBRCA mutation ovarian cancer patients who underwent platinum-based chemotherapy might be at higher risk of developing chemotherapy-induced hematologic toxicity. METHODS: This study enrolled 160 patients with ovarian cancer who received frontline platinum-based chemotherapy between 2011 and 2019 in Kyungpook National University Chilgok Hospital. Incidence rate and severity of chemotherapy-induced hematologic toxicity (neutropenia, anemia, thrombocytopenia) was compared for BRCA mutation and wild patients. RESULTS: 160 women, including 62 BRCA1/2 (38 BRCA1, and 25 BRCA2) mutation group, and 98 noncarriers, were analyzed. A higher frequency of G2 anemia was noted in the BRCA -mutant group (22% vs. 1%, p = 0.07). Furthermore, G3 anemia was significantly common among BRCA group (12.9% vs. 3%, p = 0.02). In the subgroup analysis according to BRCA1/2 status, BRCA1 mutated patients showed a significantly higher frequency of G1 anemia than BRCA2 (89% vs. 60%, p = 0.01). In terms of neutropenia and thrombocytopenia, BRCA mutated patients and noncarriers had similar hematologic toxicity. CONCLUSION: Germline BRCA mutations were associated with a higher frequency of G2/3 anemia in ovarian cancer patients who underwent first-line platinum-based chemotherapy. Moreover, the BRCA1 mutation appeared to be more strongly associated with the incidence of chemotherapy-induced anemia. Our findings warrant further investigation in larger, prospective studies to confirm these current findings and determine whether preventive interventions may be necessary.

Phylogenetic analysis of swine influenza A (H1N2) viruses isolated in Jinju City, Republic of Korea.

Genomic sequences of the swine influenza A (H1N2) viruses "A/Swine/South Korea/GN-1/2018" and "A/Swine/South Korea/GNJJ/2020" sampled from Jinju City, Republic of Korea, are reported here. The sequences of these viruses were 99% similar. These included eight genes from each of the H3N2pM, A(H1N1)2009pdm, and North American swine lineages.

Evaluation of Oxygen Absorbers Using Food Simulants and Inductively Coupled Mass Spectrometry.

In this study, we developed and validated an analytical method to evaluate the heavy metal elution from an active packaging material's oxygen absorber to a food simulant. Using water, 4% acetic acid, n-heptane, 20% ethanol, and 50% ethanol as food simulants, we quantified cobalt, copper, platinum, and iron with inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry. The method was thoroughly validated for linearity, accuracy, precision, LOD, and LOQ through inter-day and intra-day analysis repetitions. R2 values ranged from 0.9986 to 1.0000, indicating excellent linearity. The LOD values ranged from 0.00002 to 0.2190 mg/kg, and the LOQ values ranged from 0.00007 to 0.6636 mg/kg. The method's accuracy was 95.14% to 101.98%, with the precision ranging from 0.58% to 10.37%. Our results confirmed the method's compliance with CODEX standards. Monitoring the oxygen absorber revealed undissolved platinum, cobalt levels from 0.10 to 19.29 µg/kg, copper levels from 0.30 to 976.14 µg/kg, and iron levels from 0.06 to 53.08 mg/kg. This study established a robust analytical approach for evaluating the heavy metal elution from oxygen absorbers, ensuring safety in the food industry.

Assessment of Equine Influenza Virus Status in the Republic of Korea from 2020 to 2022.

Equine influenza virus (EIV) causes acute respiratory disease in horses and belongs to the influenza A virus family Orthomyxoviridae, genus Orthomyxovirus. This virus may have severe financial implications for the horse industry owing to its highly contagious nature and rapid transmission. In the Republic of Korea, vaccination against EIV has been practiced with the active involvement of the Korea Racing Authority since 1974. In this study, we monitored the viral RNA for EIV using PCR, as well as the antibody levels against 'A/equine/South Africa/4/03 (H3N8, clade 1)', from 2020 to 2022. EIV was not detected using RT-PCR. The seropositivity rates detected using a hemagglutination inhibition assay were 90.3% in 2020, 96.7% in 2021, and 91.8% in 2022. The geometric mean of antibody titer (GMT) was 83.4 in 2020, 135.7 in 2021, and 95.6 in 2022. Yearlings and two-year-olds in training exhibited lower positive rates (59.1% in 2020, 38.9% in 2021, and 44.1% in 2022) than the average. These younger horses may require more attention for vaccination and vaccine responses against EIV. Continuous surveillance of EIV should be performed to monitor the prevalence and spread of this disease.

Comparison of serum anti-Müllerian hormone between unilateral and bilateral ovarian endometriomas during follicular, luteal, and random menstrual phases: a retrospective study.

BACKGROUND: Over the last two decades, serum levels of anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) have been shown to be reliable markers of ovarian reserve. This study aimed to compare baseline serum AMH levels and well-controlled clinical factors between patients with unilateral and bilateral ovarian endometriomas during the menstrual phase. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective study. We enrolled 136 patients aged 18 to 36 years who were diagnosed with unilateral or bilateral ovarian endometriomas. Serum AMH levels of all patients and their latest two to three menstrual cycles were measured before surgery for ovarian endometriomas. The latest menstrual cycle length ranged from 26 to 30 days. Patients with irregular menstruation, a recent medication history of hormonal drugs other than oral contraceptive pills, a previous history of ovarian surgery, or any medical history influencing ovarian function were excluded. RESULTS: Of the 136 patients, 76 (55.9%) had unilateral ovarian endometriomas and 60 (44.1%) had bilateral ovarian endometriomas. Serum AMH levels were not significantly different between the two groups in the follicular phase, luteal phase, or at any random time point. CONCLUSION: Serum AMH levels were not significantly different between unilateral and bilateral ovarian endometriomas in the follicular and luteal phases, or at any random time during the menstrual cycle when various confounding factors were excluded.

First Detection of Influenza D Virus Infection in Cattle and Pigs in the Republic of Korea.

Influenza D virus (IDV) belongs to the Orthomyxoviridae family, which also include the influenza A, B and C virus genera. IDV was first detected and isolated in 2011 in the United States from pigs with respiratory illness. IDV circulates in mammals, including pigs, cattle, camelids, horses and small ruminants. Despite the broad host range, cattle are thought to be the natural reservoir of IDV. This virus plays a role as a causative agent of the bovine respiratory disease complex (BRDC). IDV has been identified in North America, Europe, Asia and Africa. However, there has been no information on the presence of IDV in the Republic of Korea (ROK). In this study, we investigated the presence of viral RNA and seroprevalence to IDV among cattle and pigs in the ROK in 2022. Viral RNA was surveyed by the collection and testing of 999 cattle and 2391 pig nasal swabs and lung tissues using a real-time RT-PCR assay. IDV seroprevalence was investigated by testing 742 cattle and 1627 pig sera using a hemagglutination inhibition (HI) assay. The viral RNA positive rate was 1.4% in cattle, but no viral RNA was detected in pigs. Phylogenetic analysis of the hemagglutinin-esterase-fusion (HEF) gene was further conducted for a selection of samples. All sequences belonged to the D/Yamagata/2019 lineage. The seropositivity rates were 54.7% in cattle and 1.4% in pigs. The geometric mean of the antibody titer (GMT) was 68.3 in cattle and 48.5 in pigs. This is the first report on the detection of viral RNA and antibodies to IDV in the ROK.

LC-MS/MS Method Minimizing Matrix Effect for the Analysis of Bifenthrin and Butachlor in Chinese Chives and Its Application for Residual Study.

The matrix effect refers to the change in the analytical signal caused by the matrix in which the sample is contained, as well as the impurities that are co-eluted with the target analyte. In crop sample analysis using LC-MS/MS, the matrix effect can affect the quantification results. Chinese chives are likely to exhibit a strong matrix effect when co-extracted with bifenthrin and butachlor due to the presence of phytochemicals and chlorophyll. A novel analytical method was developed to reduce the matrix effects of bifenthrin and butachlor to a negligible level in Chinese chives. The established method had a limit of quantitation of 0.005 mg/kg and correlation coefficients greater than 0.999 within the range of 0.005-0.5 mg/kg. Matrix effects were found to be negligible, with values ranging from -18.8% to 7.2% in four different sources of chives and two leafy vegetables. Compared to conventional analytical methods for the LOQ and matrix effect, the established method demonstrated improved performances. The analytical method was further applied in a residual study in chive fields. The active ingredient of butachlor 5 granule (GR) was not detected after soil admixture application, while that of bifenthrin 1 emulsifiable concentrate (EC) showed a range from 1.002 to 0.087 mg/kg after foliar spraying. The dissipation rate constant (k) of bifenthrin was determined to be 0.115, thus its half-life was calculated to be 6.0 days. From the results, PHI and safety use standards of both pesticides were suggested. The developed analytical method can be applied to accurately determine bifenthrin and butachlor residues in Chinese chives and provides a foundation for further research on the fate and behavior of these pesticides in the environment.

Synthesis of Dioxa-1,7-naphthicorrole and Its Oxidized Porphyrinoid as a Potential Built-In Linker for Biomolecules.

The first aromatic benzicorrole termed naphthicorrole was synthesized with a carbon donor containing more than six members. Its oxidized (enedione-embedded) porphyrinoid was also obtained using different meso-aryl substitutions under sequential oxidation conditions. The resulting enedione motif of the nonaromatic porphyrinoid was regioselective to the C2 position for S or N nucleophiles. Thus, the oxidized porphyrinoid was tested as a built-in linker for biomolecules. The progress of the reaction was visually monitored due to their different conjugation pathways.

Transcriptomic Network Analysis Using Exfoliative Cervical Cells Could Discriminate a Potential Risk of Progression to Cancer in HPV-related Cervical Lesions: A Pilot Study.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Cervical cancer is the fourth most common type of cancer in women worldwide and it is a major cause of cancer-related deaths in developing countries. Despite the marked reduction observed in the rates of the disease as a result of screening programs, it is necessary to develop robust biomarkers that can detect the neoplastic progression early in HPV-related cervical lesions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed comparative mRNA sequencing from exfoliative cervical cytology samples from nine Korean women using the Illumina NovaSeq6000 platform. Each pathological tissue was matched to the corresponding cytological sample. The pathologic diagnosis was scrutinized with ancillary immunohistochemistry and was considered a confirmative (endpoint) diagnosis. The pathological diagnoses consisted of three cases of chronic cervicitis, 2 high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (HSILs), 2 squamous cell carcinomas in situ (CIS), and 2 invasive squamous cell carcinomas (SQCCs), respectively. Using bioinformatic analyses, differentially expressed genes (DEGs; fold change ≥1.5; p<0.05) were applied for Gene Ontology (GO), Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA), and protein-protein interaction (PPI) networks. RESULTS: From a total of 55,882 genes, 438 DEGs were pinpointed; 282 genes were up-regulated and 156 genes down-regulated. These transcriptomic profiles were clearly divided into neoplastic (HSIL, CIS, and SQCC; ≥HSILs) and non-neoplastic lesions. The up-regulated DEGs were HIF-1a, EDN1, PIK3R3, PPP1CA and AKR1C1. GO, GSEA, and PPI network analyses showed marked associations with metabolism, proteolysis, or proteoglycan process pathways in cervical carcinogenesis. CONCLUSION: The transcriptomic analysis using exfoliative cervical cells was more likely representative of its corresponding histopathological diagnosis, thus emphasizing its potential utility in clinical practice. This study provides comprehensive transcriptomic network analyses for robust biomarkers that might present a high potential risk of progression to cancer in the exfoliative cervical cytology; our findings support their clinical utility for improved cervical cancer screening.

Comparison of Multi- and Single-Site Robotic Myomectomy Using the Da Vinci® SP Surgical System: A Propensity Score Matching Analysis.

Objective: This study aimed to compare the surgical outcomes between robotic multi-site myomectomy (RMSM) and robotic single-site myomectomy (RSSM), using the da Vinci® SP surgical system and perform propensity score matching analysis to ensure inter-group comparability. Methods: This retrospective study included 105 patients who underwent either three-incision RMSM or RSSM using the da Vinci® SP surgical system. We retrospectively reviewed and compared surgical outcomes using 1:1 propensity score matching. Results: After 1:1 propensity score matching, there were no differences in the total operation time and estimated blood loss between the groups. The docking time (p < 0.0001) and duration of hospital stay (p = 0.0001) were significantly shorter in the RSSM group than in the RMSM group. Conclusions: The surgical outcomes of RSSM were comparable to those of RMSM. Moreover, compared to RMSM, RSSM using the da Vinci® SP surgical system has shorter docking and morcellation times, and duration of hospital stay.

Survival Outcomes With Reduced Doses of Adjuvant Chemotherapy in Advanced Epithelial Ovarian Cancer.

BACKGROUND/AIM: There have not been enough recent studies investigating the incidence or efficacy of dose reduction in adjuvant chemotherapy for epithelial ovarian cancer. This study examined whether patients who needed dose reduction showed poorer survival outcomes. PATIENTS AND METHODS: From 2011 to 2021, 102 patients were included in the study. Patients who underwent neoadjuvant chemotherapy and those with early-stage disease were excluded. Patients were divided into two groups: those who had a ≥60% dose reduction during the whole period of first-line adjuvant chemotherapy, and those with dose reductions <60%. Of the 102 patients, 38 (37.3%) underwent dose reduction ≥60%. RESULTS: PFS was significantly longer in the group whose dose reductions were ≥60%, whereas OS was not significant. CONCLUSION: A dose reduction of ≥60%, determined by patients' medical conditions, during first-line of adjuvant chemotherapy does not negatively influence survival outcomes, such as OS and PFS, in advanced epithelial ovarian cancer.

Comparison of Survival Outcomes According to BRCA1/2 Variant Type in High-grade Serous Ovarian Cancer.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Mutations of BRCA1/2 improve cancer prognosis due to their better response to platinum-based chemotherapy. This study evaluated overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) under similar conditions of first-line adjuvant chemotherapy within seven years in high-grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSOC). PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 160 patients were enrolled. The pathogenic BRCA1/2 variant group included pathogenic variant and likely-pathogenic variant, while the non-pathogenic group included wild-type and variant of uncertain significance. For first-line chemotherapy, delivered dose intensity, relative dose intensity, and delay of duration were calculated in all patients. RESULTS: Of the tested variants, 108 (67.5%) were non-pathogenic and 52 (32.5%) were pathogenic. No significant difference was found in various clinical factors of cancer stage, surgery, or chemotherapy. There was no significance for OS or PFS within five or seven years. CONCLUSION: In patients with HGSOC, the OS and PFS for germline BRCA1/2 pathogenic and non-pathogenic variants were not significantly different under similar conditions of first-line adjuvant chemotherapy within seven years.

Survival Impact of Residual Cancer Cells in Intraoperative Peritoneal Washes following Radical Hysterectomy for Cervical Cancer.

OBJECTIVE: Residual cancer cells (RCCs) contribute to cancer recurrence either because of tumor spillage or undetectable pre-existing micrometastatic tumor clones. We hypothesized that the pathologic evaluation of intraoperative peritoneal washes may reveal RCCs. The aim of this study was to evaluate the survival impact of RCCs identified in intraoperative peritoneal washes and their correlation with clinicopathologic parameters following radical hysterectomy for cervical cancer. METHODS: A total of 229 patients with cervical cancer who underwent radical hysterectomy with pelvic and/or paraaortic lymphadenectomy were included. The intraoperative peritoneal washes after surgery were filtered through a strainer and the presence of tumor cells in the residual aspirate was determined. Univariate and multivariate analyses of clinicopathological parameters were performed to identify predictors of recurrence. RESULTS: RCCs in intraoperative peritoneal washes were identified in 19 patients (8.3%). Multivariate analysis revealed that deep stromal invasion (hazard ratio [HR], 13.32; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.81-98.27; p = 0.0111), lymph node metastasis (HR, 2.00; 95% CI, 1.01-3.99; p = 0.0482), and neoadjuvant chemotherapy (HR, 2.34; 95% CI, 1.89-4.61; p = 0.0139) were associated with tumor recurrence. However, the presence of RCCs was not associated with tumor recurrence (HR, 2.60; 95% CI, 0.74-9.11; p = 0.1352). Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that RCCs were associated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy (odds ratio [OR], 0.22; 95% CI, 0.05-0.99; p = 0.0488) and large tumor size (OR, 4.16; 95% CI, 0.77-22.48; p = 0.0981). CONCLUSIONS: Although the presence of RCCs in intraoperative peritoneal washes do not significantly impact survival outcomes, there was a tendency of inferior survival outcomes in patients with RCCs. RCCs were associated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy and large tumor size.

Correlation Between Clinical Outcomes and Serum CA-125 Levels After Standard Treatment for Epithelial Ovarian Cancer.

BACKGROUND/AIM: To analyze the relationship between clinical outcomes for epithelial ovarian cancer and serum CA-125 levels after chemotherapy in Korean women. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This study included 183 patients who underwent the standard treatment regimen for epithelial ovarian cancer. They were divided into early- (I, II) and advanced-stage (III, IV) groups. Serum CA-125 level after adjuvant chemotherapy completion (post-chemotherapy; PC-CA-125) was measured. Overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), platinum-free interval (PFI), and platinum resistance were evaluated. RESULTS: In advanced-stage group, OS, PFS, PFI, and platinum resistance were significantly correlated with PC-CA-125. In early-stage group, PFS and platinum resistance differed significantly. Cutoff value for platinum resistance was 10.45 U/ml, 10.40 U/ml, and 15.80 U/ml for study population, early stage, and advanced groups, respectively. Accuracy was 71.1%-77.1%. CONCLUSION: PC-CA-125 is correlated with clinical outcomes in ovarian cancer. Thus, CA-125 can be used to predict platinum resistance in ovarian cancer treatment.

A Plant-Produced Porcine Parvovirus 1-82 VP2 Subunit Vaccine Protects Pregnant Sows against Challenge with a Genetically Heterologous PPV1 Strain.

Porcine parvovirus (PPV) causes reproductive failure in sows, and vaccination remains the most effective means of preventing infection. The NADL-2 strain has been used as a vaccine for ~50 years; however, it does not protect animals against genetically heterologous PPV strains. Thus, new effective and safe vaccines are needed. In this study, we aimed to identify novel PPV1 strains, and to develop PPV1 subunit vaccines. We isolated and sequenced PPV1 VP2 genes from 926 pigs and identified ten PPV1 strains (belonging to Groups C, D and E). We selected the Group D PPV1-82 strain as a vaccine candidate because it was close to the highly pathogenic 27a strain. The PPV1-82 VP2 protein was produced in Nicotiana benthamiana. It formed virus-like particles and exhibited a 211 agglutination value. The PPV1-190313 strain (Group E), isolated from an aborted fetus, was used as the challenging strain because it was pathogenic. The unvaccinated sow miscarried at 8 days postchallenge, and mummified fetuses were all PPV1-positive. By contrast, pregnant sows vaccinated with PPV1-82 VP2 had 9-11 Log2 antibody titers and produced normal fetuses after PPV1-190313 challenge. These results suggest the PPV1-82 VP2 subunit vaccine protects pregnant sows against a genetically heterologous PPV1 strain by inducing neutralizing antibodies.

Applicability of the Histoculture Drug Response Assay to Predict Platinum Sensitivity and Prognosis in Ovarian Cancer.

BACKGROUND/AIM: To retrospectively analyze the results of histoculture drug response assays (HDRAs) to determine whether the results could predict platinum sensitivity and prognosis in ovarian cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS: One hundred thirty-nine patients with ovarian cancer were reviewed. HDRAs were conducted for platinum and taxane agents. Platinum resistance and sensitivity occurred in 21 and 118 patients, respectively. To analyze the relationship between the inhibition rates (IRs) of tumor growth caused by the platinum agent and clinical outcomes, Student's t-test and linear regression analysis were used. RESULTS: We found that the average IRs of the platinum and taxane agent were not statistically significant between the platinum-sensitive and - resistant groups. There was no statistical significance for overall survival, progression-free survival, or platinum-free interval. CONCLUSION: The HDRA is not useful for predicting platinum sensitivity and survival outcomes.

Prognostic Value of Lymph Node Characteristics in Patients with Cervical Cancer Treated with Radical Hysterectomy.

OBJECTIVE: This study evaluated the prognostic value of various lymph node (LN) characteristics, including the lymph node ratio (LNR), in patients with cervical cancer treated with radical hysterectomy. METHODS: In this retrospective study, 260 patients with cervical cancer who had undergone radical hysterectomy with pelvic or paraaortic lymphadenectomies were included. LN characteristics related to several LN statuses included total LN counts, LN metastasis, total positive LN counts, LNR, and levels of lymphadenectomy. LNR was defined as the number of metastatic LNs divided by the total number of LNs harvested. Univariate and multivariate analyses for disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) were performed using the clinicopathological and LN characteristics. RESULTS: Based on receiver-operating characteristics curve analysis, the cut-off value of LNR was 0.0625. Multivariate analysis revealed that high LNR was significantly related to tumor recurrence (hazard ratio [HR], 5.182; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.424-11.075; p < 0.0001). After adjusting for clinicopathological factors, LNR was also independent prognostic factor for predicting tumor recurrence (HR, 5.930; 95% CI, 2.114-16.634; p = 0.0007). However, total retrieved LN counts and level of lymphadenectomy were not associated with survival outcomes. CONCLUSION: LNR may be a prognostic biomarker for predicting disease recurrence in cervical cancer treated with radical hysterectomy.

Novel method to repair articular cartilage by direct reprograming of prechondrogenic mesenchymal stem cells.

Age-related cartilage loss is worsened by the limited regenerative capacity of chondrocytes. The role of cell-based therapies using mesenchymal stem cells is gaining interest. Adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ADSCs) are an attractive source to generate the optimal number of chondrocytes required to repair a cartilage defect and regenerate hyaline articular cartilage. Here, we report an outstanding technique to prepare chondrocytes for cartilage repair using canine ADSCs. We hypothesized that external electrical fields promote prechondrogenic condensation without requiring genetic modifications or exogenous factors. We analyzed the effect of electrical stimulation (ES) on the differentiation of ADSC micromass into chondrocytes. Highly compact structures were formed within 3 days of ES of canine ADSC micromass. The expression of type I collagen gene was abolished in these cells compared with that in control micromass cultures and monolayer cultures. We further found that ES enhanced the production of proteoglycan, a highly produced extracellular matrix component in chondrocytes. Additionally, single-cell RNA sequencing analysis showed that canine ADSC micromass undergoing ES developed a prechondrogenic cell aggregation, suggesting their metabolic conversion, biogenesis, and calcium ion change. Collectively, our findings demonstrate the capacity of ES to drive the chondrogenesis of ADSCs in the absence of exogenous factors and confirm its commercial potential as a budget-friendly therapy for the repair of cartilage defects.

Predicting Tumor Budding Status in Cervical Cancer Using MRI Radiomics: Linking Imaging Biomarkers to Histologic Characteristics.

BACKGROUND: Our previous study demonstrated that tumor budding (TB) status was associated with inferior overall survival in cervical cancer. The purpose of this study is to evaluate whether radiomic features can predict TB status in cervical cancer patients. METHODS: Seventy-four patients with cervical cancer who underwent preoperative MRI and radical hysterectomy from 2011 to 2015 at our institution were enrolled. The patients were randomly allocated to the training dataset (n = 48) and test dataset (n = 26). Tumors were segmented on axial gadolinium-enhanced T1- and T2-weighted images. A total of 2074 radiomic features were extracted. Four machine learning classifiers, including logistic regression (LR), random forest (RF), support vector machine (SVM), and neural network (NN), were used. The trained models were validated on the test dataset. RESULTS: Twenty radiomic features were selected; all were features from filtered-images and 85% were texture-related features. The area under the curve values and accuracy of the models by LR, RF, SVM and NN were 0.742 and 0.769, 0.782 and 0.731, 0.849 and 0.885, and 0.891 and 0.731, respectively, in the test dataset. CONCLUSION: MRI-based radiomic features could predict TB status in patients with cervical cancer.

Canine Natural Killer Cell-Derived Exosomes Exhibit Antitumor Activity in a Mouse Model of Canine Mammary Tumor.

Natural killer (NK) cells are key immune cells engaged in fighting infection and malignant transformation. In this study, we found that canine NK cell-derived exosomes (NK-exosomes) separated from activated cytotoxic NK cell supernatants express specific markers including CD63, CD81, Alix, HSP70, TSG101, Perforin 1, and Granzyme B. We examined the antitumor effects of NK-exosomes in an experimental murine mammary tumor model using REM134 canine mammary carcinoma cell line. We observed changes in tumor size, tumor initiation, progression, and recurrence-related markers in the control, tumor group, and NK-exosome-treated tumor group. We found that the tumor size in the NK-exosome-treated tumor group decreased compared with that of the tumor group in the REM134-driven tumorigenic mouse model. We observed significant changes including the expression of tumorigenesis-related markers, such as B cell-specific Moloney murine leukemia virus insertion site 1 (Bmi-1), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), matrix metallopeptidase-3 (MMP-3), interleukin-1ß (IL-1ß), IL-6, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), multidrug resistance protein (MDR), tumor suppressor protein p53 (p53), proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), and the apoptotic markers, B cell lymphoma-2 associated X (Bax) and B cell lymphoma-extra large (Bcl-xL) belonging to the Bcl-2 family, in the tumor group compared with those in the control group. The expression of CD133, a potent cancer stem cell marker, was significantly higher than that of the control. By contrast, the NK-exosome-treated tumor group exhibited a significant reduction in Bmi-1, MMP-3, IL-1ß, IL-6, TNF-α, Bax, Bcl-xL, and PCNA expression compared with that in the tumor group. Furthermore, the expression of CD133, which mediates tumorigenesis, was significantly decreased in the NK-exosome-treated tumor group compared with that in the tumor group. These findings indicate that canine NK-exosomes represent a promising therapeutic tool against canine solid tumors, including mammary carcinoma.