Nuclear IL-33/SMAD signaling axis promotes cancer development in chronic inflammation.

Interleukin (IL)-33 cytokine plays a critical role in allergic diseases and cancer. IL-33 also has a nuclear localization signal. However, the nuclear function of IL-33 and its impact on cancer is unknown. Here, we demonstrate that nuclear IL-33-mediated activation of SMAD signaling pathway in epithelial cells is essential for cancer development in chronic inflammation. Using RNA and ChIP sequencing, we found that nuclear IL-33 repressed the expression of an inhibitory SMAD, Smad6, by interacting with its transcription factor, RUNX2. IL-33 was highly expressed in the skin and pancreatic epithelial cells in chronic inflammation, leading to a markedly repressed Smad6 expression as well as dramatically upregulated p-SMAD2/3 and p-SMAD1/5 in the epithelial cells. Blocking TGF-ß/SMAD signaling attenuated the IL-33-induced cell proliferation in vitro and inhibited IL-33-dependent epidermal hyperplasia and skin cancer development in vivo. IL-33 and SMAD signaling were upregulated in human skin cancer, pancreatitis, and pancreatitis-associated pancreatic cancer. Collectively, our findings reveal that nuclear IL-33/SMAD signaling is a cell-autonomous tumor-promoting axis in chronic inflammation, which can be targeted by small-molecule inhibitors for cancer treatment and prevention.

CRYAB stop-loss variant causes rare syndromic dilated cardiomyopathy with congenital cataract: expanding the phenotypic and mutational spectrum of alpha-B crystallinopathy.

Missense mutations in the alpha-B crystallin gene (CRYAB) have been reported in desmin-related myopathies with or without cardiomyopathy and have also been reported in families with only a cataract phenotype. Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is a disorder with a highly heterogeneous genetic etiology involving more than 60 causative genes, hindering genetic diagnosis. In this study, we performed whole genome sequencing on 159 unrelated patients with DCM and identified an unusual stop-loss pathogenic variant in NM_001289808.2:c.527A>G of CRYAB in one patient. The mutant alpha-B crystallin protein is predicted to have an extended strand with addition of 19 amino acid residues, p.(Ter176TrpextTer19), which may contribute to aggregation and increased hydrophobicity of alpha-B crystallin. The proband, diagnosed with DCM at age 32, had a history of bilateral congenital cataracts but had no evidence of myopathy or associated symptoms. He also has a 10-year-old child diagnosed with bilateral congenital cataracts with the same CRYAB variant. This study expands the mutational spectrum of CRYAB and deepens our understanding of the complex phenotypes of alpha-B crystallinopathies.

Effects of autophagy-inhibiting chemicals on sialylation of Fc-fusion glycoprotein in recombinant CHO cells.

The occurrence of autophagy in recombinant Chinese hamster ovary (rCHO) cell culture has attracted attention due to its effects on therapeutic protein production. Given the significance of glycosylation in therapeutic proteins, this study examined the effects of autophagy-inhibiting chemicals on sialylation of Fc-fusion glycoproteins in rCHO cells. Three chemical autophagy inhibitors known to inhibit different stages were separately treated with two rCHO cell lines that produce the same Fc-fusion glycoprotein derived from DUKX-B11 and DG44. All autophagy inhibitors significantly decreased the sialylation of Fc-fusion glycoprotein in both cell lines. The decrease in sialylation of Fc-fusion glycoprotein is unlikely to be attributed to the release of intracellular enzymes, given the high cell viability and low activity of extracellular sialidases. Interestingly, the five intracellular nucleotide sugars remained abundant in cells treated with autophagy inhibitors. In the mRNA expression profiles of 27 N-glycosylation-related genes using the NanoString nCounter system, no significant differences in gene expression were noted. With the positive effect of supplementing nucleotide sugar precursors on sialylation, attempts were made to enhance the levels of intracellular nucleotide sugars by supplying these precursors. The addition of nucleotide sugar precursors to cultures treated with inhibitors successfully enhanced the sialylation of Fc-fusion glycoproteins compared to the control culture. This was particularly evident under mild stress conditions and not under relatively severe stress conditions, which were characterized by a high decrease in sialylation. These results suggest that inhibiting autophagy in rCHO cell culture decreases sialylation of Fc-fusion glycoprotein by constraining the availability of intracellular nucleotide sugars. KEY POINTS: •  The autophagy inhibition in rCHO cell culture leads to a significant reduction in the sialylation of Fc-fusion glycoprotein. •  The pool of five intracellular nucleotide sugars remained highly abundant in cells treated with autophagy inhibitors. •  Supplementation of nucleotide sugar precursors effectively restores decreased sialylation, particularly under mild stress conditions but not in relatively severe stress conditions.

Application of the extended parallel process model and risk perception attitude framework to obesity knowledge and obesity prevention behaviors among Korean adults.

BACKGROUND: Perceiving oneself as obese has been associated with weight loss attempts. However, such a perception may not sufficiently drive significant weight reduction in many individuals. Hence, relying solely on the traditionally emphasized perceived risk of behavioral changes in obesity is challenging. This study used an extended parallel process model and a risk perception attitude framework to explore the influence of perceived risk and perceived efficacy on individual obesity knowledge and obesity prevention behaviors. METHODS: Data were obtained from 1,100 Korean adults aged 40-69 years through an online survey conducted in October 2022. Multinomial logistic regression and analysis of variance were employed to assess the relationships among perceived risk, perceived efficacy, obesity knowledge, and obesity prevention behaviors. RESULTS: Sex was associated with being underweight, overweight, and obese. Moreover, perceived severity was associated with obesity, whereas perceived susceptibility was associated with overweight and obese. Response efficacy was related to being overweight alone, whereas self-efficacy was associated with being underweight, overweight, and obese. The main effects of sex and perceived risk, and their interaction effect were statistically significant for obesity knowledge. Additionally, the main effects of sex, perceived risk, and perceived efficacy on obesity prevention behaviors were statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: The extended parallel process model and risk perception attitude framework proved effective in classifying obesity based on body mass index, obesity knowledge, and obesity prevention behaviors.

A Comprehensive Analysis of HOXB13 Expression in Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Background and objectives: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common malignancies worldwide and is caused by multiple factors. To explore novel targets for HCC treatment, we comprehensively analyzed the expression of HomeoboxB13 (HOXB13) and its role in HCC. Materials and Methods: The clinical significance of HCC was investigated using open gene expression databases, such as TIMER, UALCAN, KM, OSlihc, and LinkedOmics, and immunohistochemistry analysis. We also analyzed cell invasion and migration in HCC cell lines transfected with HOXB13-siRNA and their association with MMP9, E2F1, and MEIS1. Results: HOXB13 expression was higher in fibrolamellar carcinoma than in other histological subtypes. Its expression was associated with lymph node metastasis, histological stage, and tumor grade. It was positively correlated with immune cell infiltration of B cells (R = 0.246), macrophages (R = 0.182), myeloid dendritic cells (R = 0.247), neutrophils (R = 0.117), and CD4+ T cells (R = 0.258) and negatively correlated with immune cell infiltration of CD8+ T cells (R = -0.107). A positive correlation was observed between HOXB13, MMP9 (R = 0.176), E2F1 (R = 0.241), and MEIS1 (R = 0.189) expression (p < 0.001). The expression level of HOXB13 was significantly downregulated in both HepG2 and PLC/PFR/5 cell lines transfected with HOXB13-siRNA compared to that in cells transfected with NC siRNA (p < 0.05). Additionally, HOXB13 significantly affected cell viability and wound healing. Conclusions: HOXB13 overexpression may lead to poor prognosis in patients with HCC. Additional in vivo studies are required to improve our understanding of the biological role and the exact mechanism of action of HOXB13 in HCC.

Comprehensive Analysis of NKX3.2 in Liver Hepatocellular Carcinoma by Bigdata.

Background and Objectives: The gene NKX3.2 plays a role in determining cell fate during development, and mutations of NKX3.2 have been studied in relation to human skeletal diseases. However, due to the lack of studies on the link between NKX3.2 and cancer, we aimed to provide insights into NKX3.2 as a new prognostic biomarker for liver hepatocellular carcinoma (LIHC). Materials and Methods: The clinical significance of LIHC was investigated using open gene expression databases. We comprehensively analyzed NKX3.2 expression in LIHC using Gene Expression Profiling Interactive Analysis 2, Tumor Immune Estimation Resource (TIMER), and Kaplan-Meier plotter databases. Then, we investigated the association between NKX3.2 expression and tumor-infiltrating immune cells (TIICs). Results: NKX3.2 expression was higher in the primary tumor group compared to the normal group, and expression was higher in fibrolamellar carcinoma (FLC) compared to other subtypes. When the prognostic value of NKX3.2 was evaluated, highly expressed NKX3.2 significantly improved the overall survival and had an unfavorable prognosis. In addition, NKX3.2 expression was associated with immune cell infiltration. Patients with low gene expression and high macrophage expression had a poorer survival rate than those with low NKX3.2 and low macrophage expression (p = 0.0309). Conclusions: High NKX3.2 expression may induce poorer prognosis in LIHC. In addition, these findings can be used as basic data due to the lack of available related research. However, further in vivo studies are essential to gain a deeper understanding of the biological role of NKX3.2 in LIHC and its potential implications for cancer development and progression.

A novel splicing variant in GALNS in mucopolysaccharidosis IVA and the necessity of re-evaluating primer sequences.

Mucopolysaccharidosis type IVA (MPS IVA; Morquio syndrome type A) is an autosomal recessive disorder caused by defects in the lysosomal hydrolase N-acetylgalactosamine-6-sulfatase (GALNS) gene, leading to progressive systemic skeletal dysplasia. Early diagnosis and early intervention with enzyme replacement therapy are crucial for improving outcomes in these patients. However, a relatively high number of patients are genetically undiagnosed due to high allelic heterogeneity and the absence of robust functional evidence for most variants of the GALNS gene. Herein, we report a novel intronic variant identified with RNA analysis and an allele dropout (ADO) event caused by a common benign variant in the primer-binding site in a Korean boy with MPS IVA. A 28-month-old boy presented with pectus carinatum, kyphoscoliosis, and joint hypermobility with multiple skeletal dysplasia involving the vertebrae and hip joint. Total urinary glycosaminoglycans were elevated with a predominant keratan sulfate fraction, and GALNS (EC 3.1.6.4) activity was significantly decreased in leukocytes. Sanger sequencing was performed; however, only one heterozygous intronic variant with uncertain clinical significance, c.566+3A > T (p.(?)), was identified. As the patient exhibited clinical and biochemical features of MPS IVA, we conducted whole genome sequencing (WGS) of the patient and his family to clarify the molecular diagnosis. WGS revealed a compound heterozygous genotype, c.1019G > A (p.(Gly340Asp)) and c.566+3A > T (p.(?)), in the GALNS gene. On mRNA sequencing, c.566+3A > T, was confirmed to cause exon 5 skipping and a premature stop codon. With subsequent investigation, we discovered that the variant, c.1019G > A, was undetected on initial sequencing because of ADO due to a common benign variant (rs3859024:G > C) at the primer annealing location. We present a novel intronic variant with a splicing defect in the GALNS gene and suggest that clinicians review primer sequences in cases not diagnosed on Sanger sequencing before progressing to diagnostic steps such as WGS.

Recombinase-mediated cassette exchange-based screening of a CRISPR/Cas9 library for enhanced recombinant protein production in human embryonic kidney cells: Improving resistance to hyperosmotic stress.

Targeted engineering of mammalian cells has been widely attempted to ensure the efficient production of therapeutic proteins with proper quality during bioprocesses. However, the identification of novel targets for cell engineering is labor-intensive and has not yet been fully substantiated. Here, we established a CRISPR/Cas9 library screening platform in human embryonic kidney (HEK293) cells based on guide RNA integration mediated by recombinase-mediated cassette exchange (RMCE) to interrogate gene function in a high-throughput manner. This platform was further advanced using a nuclear localization signal-tagged recombinase that increased RMCE efficiency by 4.8-fold. Using this platform, we identified putative target genes, such as CDK8, GAS2L1, and GSPT1, and their perturbation confers resistance to hyperosmotic stress that inhibits cell growth and induces apoptosis. Knockout of these genes in monoclonal antibody (mAb)-producing recombinant HEK293 (rHEK293) cells enhanced resistance to hyperosmotic stress-induced apoptosis, resulting in enhanced mAb production. In particular, GSPT1-knockout yielded 2.3-fold increase in maximum mAb concentration in fed-batch culture where hyperosmotic stress naturally occurs due to nutrient feeding. Taken together, this streamlined screening platform allows the identification of novel targets associated with hyperosmotic stress, enabling the development of stress-resistant cells producing recombinant proteins.

Development of an in vitro screening system for synthetic signal peptide in mammalian cell-based protein production.

Optimizing appropriate signal peptides in mammalian cell-based protein production is crucial given that most recombinant proteins produced in mammalian cells are thought to be secreted proteins. Until now, most studies on signal peptide in mammalian cells have replaced native signal peptides with well-known heterologous signal peptides and bioinformatics-based signal peptides. In the present study, we successfully established an in vitro screening system for synthetic signal peptide in CHO cells by combining a degenerate codon-based oligonucleotides library, a site-specific integration system, and a FACS-based antibody detection assay. Three new signal peptides were screened using this new screening system, confirming to have structural properties as signal peptides by the SignalP web server, a neural network-based algorithm that quantifies the signal peptide-ness of amino acid sequences. The novel signal peptides selected in this study increased Fc-fusion protein production in CHO cells by increasing specific protein productivity, whereas they did not negatively affect cell growth. Particularly, the SP-#149 clone showed the highest qp, 0.73 ± 0.01 pg/cell/day from day 1 to day 4, representing a 1.47-fold increase over the native signal peptide in a serum-free suspension culture mode. In addition, replacing native signal peptide with the novel signal peptides did not significantly affect sialylated N-glycan formation, N-terminal cleavage pattern, and biological function of Fc-fusion protein produced in CHO cells. The overall results indicate the utility of a novel in vitro screening system for synthetic signal peptide for mammalian cell-based protein production. KEY POINTS: • An in vitro screening system for synthetic signal peptide in mammalian cells was established • This system combined a degenerate codon-based library, site-specific integration, and a FACS-based detection assay • The novel signal peptides selected in this study could increase Fc-fusion protein production in mammalian cells.

IL-33/regulatory T cell axis triggers the development of a tumor-promoting immune environment in chronic inflammation.

Chronic inflammation's tumor-promoting potential is well-recognized; however, the mechanism underlying the development of this immune environment is unknown. Studying the transition from acute, tumor-suppressive to chronic, tumor-promoting allergic contact dermatitis (ACD) revealed how tumor-promoting chronic inflammation develops. Epidermis-derived interleukin (IL)-33 up-regulation and its induction of regulatory T cell (Treg) accumulation in the skin preceded the transition from acute to chronic ACD and triggered the tumor-promoting immune environment in chronic ACD. Mice lacking IL-33 were protected from chronic ACD and its skin cancer sequela compared with wild-type controls (P = 0.0002). IL-33's direct signaling onto Tregs was required for the development of the tumor-promoting immune environment in the skin. IL-33-Treg signaling was also required for chronic colitis and its associated colorectal cancer development in a colitis model (P < 0.0001). Significantly increased IL-33 and Tregs marked the perilesional skin and colon in patients with cancer-prone chronic inflammatory diseases. Our findings elucidate the role of the IL-33/Treg axis in creating a tumor-promoting immune environment in chronic inflammatory diseases and suggest therapeutic targets for cancer prevention and treatment in high-risk patients.

Atherosclerotic Burden and Vascular Risk in Stroke Patients With Atrial Fibrillation.

Background and Purpose: Data on the effect on vascular outcomes of concomitant atherosclerotic vascular disease (ASVD) with atrial fibrillation (AF) after stroke are limited. This study evaluated the effect of ASVD with AF versus AF only on the risk of vascular events. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed a prospectively registered multicenter database involving 3213 stroke patients with AF. ASVD included extracranial atherosclerosis measured in the proximal portion of the internal carotid artery, intracranial atherosclerosis (all ≥50% stenosis), coronary artery disease, and peripheral artery disease and was categorized into 4 strata depending on the number of ASVDs (0, 1, 2, and 3­4). The independent associations of ASVD with major adverse cardiovascular events, stroke, and all-cause death were assessed. Results: A total of 2670 patients were included (mean age, 73.5±9.8 years; median CHA2DS2-VASc score, 5; interquartile range, 4−6). During the follow-up (mean, 1.7 years), a total of 672 (25.2%) major adverse cardiovascular events, 170 (6.4%) stroke events, and 501 (18.8%) all-cause deaths were noted. The adjusted hazard ratio for major adverse cardiovascular events versus no ASVD was 1.25 (95% CI, 1.00­1.56) for ASVD 1, 1.34 (95% CI, 1.02­1.76) for ASVD 2, and 1.93 (95% CI, 1.24­2.99) for ASVD 3­4. The adjusted hazard ratio for all-cause death versus no ASVD was 1.32 (1.01­1.74), 1.47 (1.06­2.03), and 2.39 (1.47­3.89), respectively. Among ASVD components, the presence of symptomatic or asymptomatic extracranial atherosclerosis was a more potent predictor of major adverse cardiovascular events (1.27 [1.05­1.54]) and all-cause death (1.45 [1.17­1.81]). Conclusions: ASVD burden with AF can be a cumulative marker of a high risk for untoward vascular outcomes. Among ASVD components, extracranial atherosclerosis seems to have a predominant effect.

Safety and Efficacy of Otaplimastat in Patients with Acute Ischemic Stroke Requiring tPA (SAFE-TPA): A Multicenter, Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Phase 2 Study.

OBJECTIVE: Otaplimastat is a neuroprotectant that inhibits matrix metalloprotease pathway, and reduces edema and intracerebral hemorrhage induced by recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rtPA) in animal stroke models. We aimed to assess the safety and efficacy of otaplimastat in patients receiving rtPA. METHODS: This was a phase 2, 2-part, multicenter trial in stroke patients (19-80 years old) receiving rtPA. Intravenous otaplimastat was administered <30 minutes after rtPA. Stage 1 was a single-arm, open-label safety study in 11 patients. Otaplimastat 80 mg was administered twice daily for 3 days. Stage 2 was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study involving 69 patients, assigned (1:1:1) to otaplimastat 40 mg, otaplimastat 80 mg, or a placebo. The primary endpoint was the occurrence of parenchymal hematoma (PH) on day 1. Secondary endpoints included serious adverse events (SAEs), mortality, and modified Rankin scale (mRS) distribution at 90 days (clinicaltrials.gov identifier: NCT02787278). RESULTS: No safety issues were encountered in stage 1. The incidence of PH during stage 2 was comparable: 0 of 22 with the placebo, 0 of 22 with otaplimastat 40 mg, and 1 of 21 with the 80 mg dose. No differences in SAEs (13%, 17%, 14%) or death (8.3%, 4.2%, 4.8%) were observed among the 3 groups. Three adverse events (chills, muscle rigidity, hepatotoxicity) were judged to be related to otaplimastat. INTERPRETATION: Intravenous otaplimastat adjunctive therapy in patients receiving rtPA is feasible and generally safe. The functional efficacy of otaplimastat needs to be investigated with further large trials. ANN NEUROL 2020;87:233-245.

Intravitreal injection of povidone-iodine for the treatment of vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecalis endophthalmitis in rabbit eyes.

The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy of intravitreal povidone-iodine (PI) in the treatment of vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecalis (VRE) endophthalmitis. Fifty New Zealand white rabbits were divided into 5 groups (n = 10 in each group). After the induction of endophthalmitis using VRE (minimum inhibitory concentration [MIC] ≥ 40 µg/mL) in the right eye, Group A, B, C, and D received intravitreal injections of 0.1% PI, 0.3% PI, 0.05% vancomycin, and 0.5% vancomycin, respectively. Eyes in Group E were used as controls. Fundus photography, vitreous culture, electroretinography (ERG), and histologic examinations of the retina were conducted on day 14. A marked improvement in endophthalmitis was observed in Group A, B, C and D, compared to Group E. Fundus photographs showed mild vitreous opacities in Group A and B, and moderate vitreous opacity in Group C. All eyes in Group D had a clear vitreous. In vitreous culture, bacterial growth was found in 6 eyes (100, 200, 200, 400, 500, and 500 colony-forming units) in Group C, but not in Groups A, B, or D. ERG and histological examination also indicated intraocular damage in Group C. Our results show that intravitreal injection of PI, even at low concentrations, was effective for treatment of VRE endophthalmitis, although some vitreous opacity remained. Intravitreal vancomycin injection was also useful to treat resistant strains, if used at a higher concentration within the safety threshold.

Efficacy of intravitreal povidone-iodine administration for the treatment of Candida albicans endophthalmitis in rabbits.

This study aimed to investigate the efficacy of intravitreal povidone-iodine (PI) administration for the treatment of Candida albicans endophthalmitis. Forty New Zealand white rabbits were divided into four groups (n = 10 per group). After the induction of endophthalmitis using Candida albicans, groups A, B, and C received single intravitreal injections of 0.035 mg voriconazole, 0.3 mg PI, and their combination, respectively. Rabbits that were administered sham injections were in group D as controls. Fundus photography, vitreous culture, electroretinography (ERG), and histologic examinations of the retina were conducted on day 7. The anterior chamber flare (grade 0 to 4), severity of iritis (grade 0 to 4), and vitreous opacity (grade 0 to 3) were scored. Candida albicans was cultured in the vitreous sample. On day 7, the vitreous opacities were found in all groups. Compared to that in group D, groups A, B, and C showed a lower score for flare (p < 0.001) and iritis (p < 0.001) and less fungal growth in the vitreous culture (n = 2, 1, 1, and 10 in groups A, B, C, and D, respectively; p < 0.001). Furthermore, ERG and histologic findings demonstrated less affected a- and b-waves and damaged retinal tissues in groups A, B, and C. However, these findings were not different among groups A, B, and C. PI significantly improved Candida albicans endophthalmitis, and the effect was comparable that of the voriconazole, although some vitreous opacities remained. No synergistic effect of the combination of PI and voriconazole was observed. Intravitreal PI may be useful to treat Candida albicans endophthalmitis.

Pre-Admission CHADS2 and CHA2DS2-VASc Scores on Early Neurological Worsening.

BACKGROUND: Stroke risk scores (CHADS2 and CHA2DS2-VASc) not only predict the risk of stroke in atrial fibrillation (AF) patients, but have also been associated with prognosis after stroke. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between stroke risk scores and early neurological deterioration (END) in ischemic stroke patients with AF. METHODS: We included consecutive ischemic stroke patients with AF admitted between January 2013 and December 2015. CHADS2 and CHA2DS2-VASc scores were calculated using the established scoring system. END was defined as an increase ≥2 on the total National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score or ≥1 on the motor NIHSS score within the first 72 h of admission. RESULTS: A total of 2,099 ischemic stroke patients with AF were included. In multivariable analysis, CHA2DS2-VASc score (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 1.17, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.04-1.31) was significantly associated with END after adjusting for confounders. Initial NIHSS score, use of anticoagulants, and intracranial atherosclerosis (ICAS) were also found to be closely associated with END, independent of the CHA2DS2-VASc score. Multivariable analysis stratified by the presence of ICAS demonstrated that both CHA2DS2-VASc (aOR = 1.20, 95% CI = 1.04-1.38) and CHADS2 scores (aOR = 1.24, 95% CI = 1.01-1.52) were closely related to END in only patients with ICAS. In patients without ICAS, neither of the risk scores were associated with END. CONCLUSIONS: High CHA2DS2-VASc score was associated with END in ischemic stroke patients with AF. This close relationship is more pronounced in patients with ICAS.

Post-Stroke Depressive Symptoms: Varying Responses to Escitalopram by Individual Symptoms and Lesion Location.

OBJECTIVE: The efficacy of antidepressants in post-stroke depressive symptoms (PSD) varies. We aimed to examine whether the effect of escitalopram on PSD differs according to individual depressive symptoms and stroke lesion location. METHODS: This is a post hoc analysis of EMOTION (ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT01278498), a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind trial that examined the efficacy of escitalopram on depression in acute stroke patients (237 with placebo, 241 with escitalopram). Depressive symptoms were evaluated with the 10-item Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS). Changes in MADRS and individual item scores at 12 weeks were compared between the treatment groups and among the stroke lesion location groups. Stroke lesion locations were grouped according to the anatomical distribution of serotonin fibers that originate from the midbrain/pons and spread to the forebrain via subcortical structures: "Midbrain-Pons," "Frontal-Subcortical," and "Others." Least-squares means were calculated to demonstrate the independent effect of lesion location. RESULTS: Total MADRS scores decreased more significantly in the escitalopram than in the placebo group, while a significant effect of escitalopram was observed in only 3 items: apparent sadness, reported sadness, pessimistic thoughts. In the lesion location analyses, escitalopram users in the Frontal-Subcortical group showed significant improvement in total MADRS scores (placebo [n = 130] vs. escitalopram [n = 148], least-square mean [95% CI]: -2.3 [-3.5 to -0.2] vs. -4.5 [-5.5 to -3.4], p = .005), while those in the Midbrain-Pons and Others groups did not. CONCLUSIONS: The effect of escitalopram on PSD may be more prominent in patients with particular depressive symptoms and stroke lesion locations, suggesting the need for tailored treatment strategies.

Amplification of EBNA-1 through a single-plasmid vector-based gene amplification system in HEK293 cells as an efficient transient gene expression system.

Our previous work showed that there is a limitation in the use of dihydrofolate reductase (dhfr)/methotrexate (MTX)-mediated gene amplification systems in dhfr-non-deficient HEK293 cells, as endogenous dhfr may interfere with the amplification process. In the present study, we successfully generated Epstein-Barr virus nuclear antigen-1 (EBNA-1)-amplified HEK293 cells in a dhfr-non-deficient HEK293 cell background using a single-plasmid vector-based gene amplification system with shRNA targeting the 3'-UTR of endogenous dhfr. The introduction of this shRNA efficiently downregulated the expression of endogenous dhfr in the HEK293 cells without affecting exogenous dhfr expression. The downregulation of endogenous dhfr improved the efficiency of EBNA-1 amplification, as evidenced by a comparison with the amplification extent in cells lacking shRNA expression at the same MTX concentration. The EBNA-1 expression levels from the EBNA-1-amplified clones selected in this study were higher than those obtained from EBNA-1-amplified clones that were generated using the conventional amplification in our previous study. Consistent with previous studies, EBNA-1 amplification improved the production of the Fc-fusion protein through a specific protein productivity (qp)-enhancing effect, rather than by improving cell growth or transfection efficiency. In addition, the N-glycan profiles in the Fc-fusion protein produced using this transient gene expression (TGE) system were not affected by EBNA-1 amplification. These results indicate the potential utility of EBNA-1-amplified mammalian cells, developed using a single-plasmid vector-based gene amplification system, for efficient protein production. KEY POINTS: • EBNA-1-amplified HEK293 cells were established using gene amplification system. • EBNA-1 amplification in TGE system can increase the Fc-fusion protein productivity. • EBNA-1 amplification does not affect the N-glycan profile in the Fc-fusion protein.

Differential spectroscopic analysis of size-dependent phycobilisome from Spirulina maxima.

C-phycocyanin (C-Pc), a photosynthetic pigment for use as a fluorescent indicator or in pharmaceutical, food, and cosmetic products, exists in a phycobilisome complex with allophycocyanin (APC), phycoerythrin (PE), and linker polypeptides. This heterogeneity makes it difficult to quantify phycobilisome composition in an ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis) spectrum. In this study, derivative analysis of UV-vis spectra was successfully applied to display the distinct wavelengths at which C-Pc, APC, and PE have maximal peaks. In all samples, C-Pc of the largest portion had a "zero-crossing" first order, APC did not have a zero-crossing first order, and PE did not have first derivative for zero crossing or local minimum from the 500 and 700 nm, respectively. The results show that derivative analyses coupled with signal smoothing can be applied to elucidate the composition of phycobilisome under various conditions including purification and environment.

Prevalence and Infection Intensity of Zoonotic Trematode Metacercariae in Fish from Soyang-cheon (Stream), in Wanju-gun, Jeollabuk-do, Korea.

We surveyed on the infection status of zoonotic trematode metacercariae (ZTM) in freshwater fishes from Soyang-cheon (a branch stream of Mangyeong-gang) in Wanju-gun, Jeollabuk-do, the Republic of Korea. A total of 927 fishes were individually examined with the artificial digestion method during 2013-2015 (462 fish in 15 spp.) and 2018-2019 (465 fish in 25 spp.). Clonorchis sinensis metacercariae were detected in 207 (31.4%) out of 659 fishes in 14 positive fish species (PFS), and their mean intensity was 114 per fish infected (PFI). Metagonimus spp. metacercariae were found in 302 (37.4%) out of 808 fishes in 21 PFS, and their mean intensity was 12 PFI. Centrocestus armatus metacercariae were detected in 222 (59.0%) out of 376 fishes in 12 PFS, and their mean intensity was 383 PFI. Echinostoma spp. metacercariae were found in 139 (22.1%) out of 628 fishes in 10 PFS, and their mean intensity was 7 PFI. Clinostomum complanatum metacercariae were detected in 14 (6.5%) out of 214 fishes in 4 PFS, and their mean intensity was 2.4 PFI. Metorchis orientalis metacercariae were detected in 36 (13.5%) out of 267 fishes in 5 PFS, and their mean intensity was 4.3 PFI. Conclusively, the prevalence and infection intensity of ZTM is generally not so high in fishes from Soyang-cheon. However, those of C. sinensis metacercariae are more or less higher in 2 fish species, Pungtungia herzi and Sarcocheilichthys variegatus wakiyae.

Depressive Symptoms in Stroke Patients: Are There Sex Differences?

BACKGROUND: We aimed to examine sex differences in symptom characteristics and pharmacological responses in post-stroke depressive (PSD) symptoms. METHODS: This is a post hoc analysis of EMOTION (ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT01278498), a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind trial that examined the efficacy of escitalopram for 3 months on depression in patients with acute stroke. Depressive symptoms were evaluated using the 10-item Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS). Baseline characteristics, clinical variables, and treatment responses to escitalopram were compared between male and female patients. Treatment responses were defined as changes in MADRS (total score and its components) between baseline and 3 months and were compared between the escitalopram and placebo groups within each sex group. The least square mean was calculated to determine the independent effect of escitalopram, of which interaction was evaluated with patient sex. RESULTS: Of the 478 patients (intention-to-treat population), 187 (39%) were female. Female patients were significantly older than male patients and demonstrated more severe depressive symptoms at baseline (male vs. female, MADRS score, mean [SD]: 9.7 ± 8.0 vs. 12.2 ± 8.4, p = 0.001), especially in apparent sadness, reported sadness, and reduced appetite items. These differences were significant after adjustment for age and the severity of neurologic deficits. The female escitalopram group showed a significant 3-month improvement in MADRS scores (placebo [n = 86] vs. escitalopram [n = 101], least square mean [95% CI] -2.7 [-4.1 to -1.2] vs. -5.0 [-6.4 to -3.6], p = 0.007), and this efficacy was prominent in apparent sadness, reported sadness, and pessimistic thoughts items. However, there was no significant effect of escitalopram on depressive symptoms in the male group. The treatment responses of escitalopram tended to be more pronounced in the female group, particularly in alleviating a subset of depressive symptoms such as apparent sadness (p for interaction = 0.009). CONCLUSION: PSD may differ according to sex in its symptom characteristics and treatment responses to escitalopram, and tailored treatment strategies for PSD may therefore be needed.