Construction of SARS-CoV-2 spike-pseudotyped retroviral vector inducing syncytia formation.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is handled in biosafety level 3 (BSL-3) facilities, whereas the antiviral screening of pseudotype virus is conducted in BSL-2 facilities. In this study, we developed a SARS-CoV-2 spike-pseudotyped virus based on a semi-replication-competent retroviral (s-RCR) vector system. The s-RCR vector system was divided into two packageable vectors, each with gag-pol and env genes. For env vector construction, SARS-CoV-2 SΔ19 env was inserted into the pCLXSN-IRES-EGFP retroviral vector to generate pCLXSN-SΔ19 env-EGFP. When pCLXSN-gag-pol and pCLXSN-SΔ19env-EGFP were co-transfected into HEK293 T cells to generate an s-RCR virus, titers of the s-RCR virus were consistently low in this transient transfection system (1 × 104 TU/mL). However, a three-fold higher amounts of MLV-based SARS-CoV-2 pseudotyped viruses (3 × 104 TU/mL) were released from stable producer cells, and the spike proteins induced syncytia formation in HEK293-hACE2 cells. Furthermore, s-RCR stocks collected from stable producer cells induced more substantial syncytia formation in the Vero E6-TMPRSS2 cell line than in the Vero E6 cell line. Therefore, a combination of the s-RCR vector and the two cell lines (HEK293-hACE2 or Vero E6-TMPRSS2) that induce syncytia formation can be useful for the rapid screening of novel fusion inhibitor drugs.

Effectiveness of Different Washing Strategies on Pesticide Residue Removal: The First Comparative Study on Leafy Vegetables.

Leafy vegetables are used in various cuisines worldwide; however, as they cannot be peeled and their leaf surface area is large, the risk of retaining pesticide residues on these vegetables is relatively higher than on others. To our knowledge, this is the first comparative study to reveal the effect of removing pesticide residues from five artificially contaminated leafy vegetables (lettuce, perilla leaves, spinach, crown daisy, and ssamchoo (Brassica lee ssp. namai)) using different removal methods. The percent reduction range for each method was 43.7−77.0%, and the reduction range for the five leafy vegetables was 40.6−67.4%. Lettuce had the highest reduction (67.4 ± 7.3%), whereas ssamchoo had the lowest reduction (40.6 ± 12.9%). Spinach and crown daisy showed no significant difference in their reductions. Based on reduction by method, running water (77.0 ± 18.0%) and boiling (59.5 ± 31.2%) led to the highest reduction, whereas detergent (43.7 ± 14.5%) led to the lowest reduction. The reductions of chlorfenapyr, diniconazole, indoxacarb, fludioxonil, pyraclostrobin, and lufenuron in the leafy vegetables were lower with blanching and boiling than with other methods (p < 0.05). These results highlight the importance of thoroughly washing leafy vegetables to lower the intake of pesticide residues before cooking.

Effect of high-pressure D2 and H2 annealing on LFN properties in FD-SOI pTFET.

Tunneling field-effect transistors (TFETs) are a promising candidate for the next generation of low-power devices, but their performance is very sensitive to traps near the tunneling junction. This study investigated the effects of high-pressure deuterium (D2) annealing and hydrogen (H2) annealing on the electrical performance and low-frequency noise (LFN) of a fully depleted silicon-on-insulator p-type TFET. Without high-pressure annealing, the typical noise power spectral density exhibited two Lorentzian spectra that were affected by fast and slow trap sites. With high-pressure annealing, the interface trap density related to fast trap sites was reduced. The passivation of traps near the tunneling junction indicates that high-pressure H2 and D2 annealing improves the electrical performance and LFN properties, and it may become a significant and necessary step for realizing integrated TFET technology in the future.

[Interventional Treatment of Chemical Pleuritis and Hemothorax Caused by Iatrogenic Internal Jugular Vein Perforation after Central Venous Port System Implantation: A Case Report]. / ì¤‘ì‹¬ì •ë§¥í¬íŠ¸ ì‚½ìž í›„ 의인성 ì†ëª©ì •ë§¥ 천공에 의한 í™”í•™ì  늑막염과 혈흉의 ì¤‘ìž¬ì  치료: 증례 ë³´ê³ .

The perforation of the intrathoracic internal jugular vein during the placement of an implantable central venous chemoport is a rare complication that is manifested by hemothorax or hemorrhagic shock. Furthermore, inappropriate instillation of a chemotherapeutic agent in the chemoport can cause chemical pleuritis, and the diagnosis of these complications prior to the instillation of chemotherapeutic agents and open thoracic surgery is mandatory. We report a patient with chemical pleuritis and hemothorax following an inappropriate instillation of a chemotherapeutic agent, through the perforated right internal jugular vein after placement of an implantable central venous chemoport. Treatment by embolization using coils and N-butyl cyanoacrylate, after percutaneous drainage, was successful.

Characteristics of Heat Waves From a Disaster Perspective.

In September 2018, heat waves were declared to be a type of natural disaster by the Framework Act on the Management of Disasters and Safety. The present study examined the characteristics of heat waves from the perspectives of meteorological phenomena and health damage. The government's efforts to minimize the damages incurred by heat waves are summarized chronologically. Furthermore, various issues pertaining to heat waves that are being raised in our society despite the government's efforts are summarized by analyzing big data derived from reported news and academic articles.

[Undifferentiated Pleomorphic Sarcoma of the Thoracic Aorta Presenting with Ruptured Saccular Aneurysm: A Case Report]. / 소낭성 동맥류 파열로 발현된 흉부 대동맥에서 기원한 미분화성 다형성 ìœ¡ì¢ : 증례 ë³´ê³ .

Cases of undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma of the thoracic aorta are rare, and usually present with embolic events, renovascular hypertension, or back pain. Mural-based undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcomas that present as ruptured saccular aneurysms are extremely rare and are difficult to differentiate from mycotic aneurysms or penetrating atherosclerotic ulcers. Herein, we report a case of histopathologically proven undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma arising from the wall of the descending thoracic aorta that manifested as a mass after thoracic endovascular aortic repair for the treatment of a ruptured saccular aneurysm. We present findings obtained by CT and PET to provide helpful information for the accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment of future cases.