Effectiveness of Switching From Intravenous to Subcutaneous Infliximab in Patients With Inflammatory Bowel Disease: An individual participant data meta-analysis.

Goals: We assessed clinical outcomes over 6 months in an integrated analysis of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients switching from intravenous (IV) to subcutaneous (SC) infliximab (IFX).

Background: Real-world data from large multinational IBD patient populations treated with SC IFX are lacking.

Study: This individual participant data meta-analysis combined anonymized data from 3 real-world cohorts and evaluated clinical remission [Crohn's disease (CD): Harvey-Bradshaw Index (HBI)/modified HBI (mHBI) <5; ulcerative colitis (UC): Simple Clinical Colitis Activity Index (SCCAI)/partial Mayo score (PMS) <3], disease activity (HBI/mHBI/SCCAI/PMS), treatment persistence, pharmacokinetics, immunogenicity, biomarkers [fecal calprotectin (FCP); C-reactive protein (CRP)], and reasons for discontinuation.

The safety and clinical effectiveness of rapid infusion with CT-P10 in patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma or chronic lymphocytic leukemia: A retrospective non-interventional post-authorization safety study in Europe.

Rapid infusion (RI) of the rituximab biosimilar CT-P10 is currently only an approved treatment regimen for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. Although both CT-P10 and reference rituximab are known to be frequently administered using a RI regimen (≤90 min) in clinical practice, published data on the safety of RI of CT-P10 in patients with NHL and CLL are limited. Hence, this study collected real-world safety and effectiveness data on RI-CT-P10 from the medical records of 196 patients with NHL or CLL in 10 European centers, 6 months after the date of the first RI (index date); the infusion-related reaction (IRR) rate was compared to previously published data.

A 5-year Retrospective Analysis of Drug Survival, Safety, and Effectiveness of the Infliximab Biosimilar CT-P13 in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis and Ankylosing Spondylitis.

Background: The infliximab biosimilar CT-P13 has widely received regulatory approval in all indications of reference infliximab, including rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and ankylosing spondylitis (AS).

Objective: This retrospective analysis investigated drug survival and long-term safety and effectiveness of CT-P13 in patients with RA or AS in the Republic of Korea.

Methods: This non-interventional, retrospective, multicenter analysis collected medical record data for adult patients with RA or AS who received CT-P13 treatment at five Korean referral hospitals (2012-2017).

Retention Rate and Safety of Biosimilar CT-P13 in Rheumatoid Arthritis: Data from the Korean College of Rheumatology Biologics Registry.

Objective: The aim was to evaluate long-term drug retention, discontinuation, efficacy and safety of CT-P13 and reference infliximab in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) enrolled in the Korean College of Rheumatology Biologics (KOBIO) registry.

Methods: Patients included adults with RA who received CT-P13 or reference infliximab between December 2012 and December 2017. Drug retention, efficacy (Disease Activity Score in 28 joints [DAS28]-erythrocyte sedimentation rate [ESR] or DAS28-C-reactive protein [CRP] and American College of Rheumatology [ACR] core set measure), and adverse events (AEs) were assessed over 4-years' follow-up.

Retention rate and long-term safety of biosimilar CT-P13 in patients with ankylosing spondylitis: data from the Korean College of Rheumatology Biologics registry.

Objectives: To evaluate the long-term drug retention, efficacy, and safety of the infliximab biosimilar CT-P13 in Korean patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) in clinical practice. The primary outcome was drug retention (i.e.

The in vivo transformation and pharmacokinetic properties of a liquid crystalline drug delivery system.

A liquid crystalline (LC) system, composed of phosphatidylcholine, sorbitan monoleate, and tocopherol acetate, was investigated to understand the in vivo transformation after subcutaneous injection, coupled with the physicochemical and pharmacokinetic properties of the formulation. The rat model was utilized to monitor a pseudo-time course transformation from a precursor LC formulation to the LC matrix, coupled with the blood concentration profiles of the formulations containing leuprolide acetate. Three formulations that result in the H phase, demonstrating dissimilar in vitro release profiles, were used.

Formulation and characterization of a liquid crystalline hexagonal mesophase region of phosphatidylcholine, sorbitan monooleate, and tocopherol acetate for sustained delivery of leuprolide acetate.

Although liquid crystal (LC) systems have been studied before, their utility in drug delivery applications has not been explored in depth. This study examined the development of a 1-month sustained release formulation of leuprolide acetate using an in situ-forming LC matrix. The phase progression upon water absorption was tested through construction of ternary phase diagrams of phosphatidylcholine, sorbitan monooleate, and tocopherol acetate (TA) at increasing water content.

Macrophage cell death and transcriptional response are actively triggered by the fungal virulence factor Cbp1 during H. capsulatum infection.

Microbial pathogens induce or inhibit death of host cells during infection, with significant consequences for virulence and disease progression. Death of an infected host cell can either facilitate release and dissemination of intracellular pathogens or promote pathogen clearance. Histoplasma capsulatum is an intracellular fungal pathogen that replicates robustly within macrophages and triggers macrophage lysis by unknown means.

Overexpression of malic enzyme in the larval stage extends Drosophila lifespan.

Metabolic modifications during the developmental period can extend longevity. We found that malic enzyme (Men) overexpression during the larval period lengthened the lifespan of Drosophila. Men overexpression by S106-GeneSwitch-Gal4 driver increased pyruvate content and NADPH/NADP(+) ratio but reduced triglyceride, glycogen, and ATP levels in the larvae.

Chitosan-based hybrid nanocomplex for siRNA delivery and its application for cancer therapy.

Purpose: Chitosan, a natural and biocompatible cationic polymer, is an attractive carrier for small interfering RNA (siRNA) delivery. The purpose of this study was to develop a chitosan-based hybrid nanocomplex that exhibits enhanced physical stability in the bloodstream compared with conventional chitosan complexes. Hybrid nanocomplexes composed of chitosan, protamine, lecithin, and thiamine pyrophosphate were prepared for systemic delivery of survivin (SVN) siRNA.

Specificity protein 1 expression contributes to Bcl-w-induced aggressiveness in glioblastoma multiforme.

We already had reported that Bcl-w promotes invasion or migration in gastric cancer cells and glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) by activating matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) via specificity protein 1 (Sp1) or β-cateinin, respectively. High expression of Bcl-w also has been reported in GBM which is the most common malignant brain tumor and exhibits aggressive and invasive behavior. These reports propose that Bcl-w-induced signaling is strongly associated with aggressive characteristic of GBM.

Synthesis and anticancer activity of di(3-thienyl)methanol and di(3-thienyl)methane.

Di(3-thienyl)methanol (2) and di(3-thienyl)methane (3) have been synthesized and screened against the T98G (brain cancer) cell line. Treatment induced cell death (MTT and macro-colony assay), growth inhibition, cytogenetic damage (micronuclei formation), were studied as cellular response parameters. Treatment with the compounds enhanced growth inhibition and cell death in a concentration dependent manner in both T98G and HEK (normal) cell lines.

Over-expression of human clusterin increases stress resistance and extends lifespan in Drosophila melanogaster.

Clusterin is a disulfide-linked heterodimeric glycoprotein that has been implicated in a variety of biological processes. Its expression has been shown to be elevated during cellular senescence and normal aging, but it is uncertain whether clusterin protects against aging or whether its expression is a consequence of aging. To investigate the functions of clusterin during organismal aging, we established transgenic Drosophila alleles to induce the expression of the secretory form of human clusterin (hClu(S)) using the Gal4/UAS system.

Misexpression screen delineates novel genes controlling Drosophila lifespan.

In an initial preliminary screen we identified factors associated with controlling Drosophila aging by examining longevity in adults where EP elements induced over-expression or antisense-RNA at genes adjacent to each insertion. Here, we study 45 EP lines that initially showed at least 10% longer mean lifespan than controls. These 45 lines and a daughterless (da)-Gal4 stock were isogenized into a CS10 wild-type background.

Effector-triggered immunity blocks pathogen degradation of an immunity-associated vesicle traffic regulator in Arabidopsis.

Innate immunity in plants can be triggered by microbe- and pathogen-associated molecular patterns. The pathogen-associated molecular pattern-triggered immunity (PTI) is often suppressed by pathogen effectors delivered into the host cell. Plants can overcome pathogen suppression of PTI and reestablish pathogen resistance through effector-triggered immunity (ETI).

Activation of Macrophages by Exopolysaccharide Produced by MK1 Bacterial Strain Isolated from Neungee Mushroom, Sarcodon aspratus.

Background: The MK1 strain, a novel bacterial isolate from soft-rotten tissue of the Neungee mushroom, produces copious amounts of exopolysaccharide (EPS) in a dextrose minimal medium. This study examined the molecular characteristics and immunomodulatory activity of MK1 EPS.

Methods: The EPS in the culture supernatant was purified by cold ethanol precipitation, and characterized by SDS-PAGE/silver staining and Bio-HPLC.

Prospective evaluation of longitudinal changes in human papillomavirus genotype and phylogenetic clade associated with cervical disease progression.

Objective: Changes in the HPV genotype detected in patients over time could alter cervical disease progression. Identification of patterns in the alteration of HPV genotype should also be related to cytological and histological findings. Thus, we assessed the risk for low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (LSIL) or high-grade SIL (HSIL)/squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) associated with alterations in the HPV genotype detected, presence of multiple HPV genotypes, and individual genotyping or HPV clade grouping.

Characterization of Deinococcus radiophilus thioredoxin reductase active with both NADH and NADPH.

Thioredoxin reductase (TrxR, EC 1.6.4.

Detection of sexually transmitted infection and human papillomavirus in negative cytology by multiplex-PCR.

Background: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of human papillomavirus (HPV) and 15 species that cause sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in negative cytology. In addition, we compared the diagnostic performance of multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with widely available techniques used to detect HPV.

Methods: We recruited 235 women of reproductive age who had negative cytology findings in a liquid-based cervical smear.

Characterization of Bacillus phage-K2 isolated from chungkookjang, a fermented soybean foodstuff.

An investigation of a virulent Bacillus phage-K2 (named Bp-K2) isolated from chungkookjang (a fermented soybean foodstuff) was made. Bp-K2 differed in infectivity against a number of Bacillus subtilis strains including starter strains of chungkookjang and natto, being more infectious to Bacillus strains isolated from the chungkookjang, but much less active against a natto strain. Bp-K2 is a small DNA phage whose genome size is about 21 kb.

Iso-superoxide dismutase in Deinococcus grandis, a UV resistant bacterium.

Deinococcus grandis possesses two types of superoxide dismutase (SOD, E. C. 1.

Integration target site selection by a resurrected human endogenous retrovirus.

At least 8% of the human genome was formed by integration of retroviral DNA sequences. Here we analyze the forces directing the accumulation of human endogenous retroviruses (HERVs) by comparing de novo HERV integration targeting with the distribution of fixed HERV elements in the human genome. All known genomic HERVs are inactive due to mutation, but we were able to study integration targeting using a reconstituted consensus HERV-K (designated HERV-K(Con)).

Ergosterol and Water Changes in Tricholoma matsutake Soil Colony during the Mushroom Fruiting Season.

The purpose of this study is to understand spatio-temporal changes of active fungal biomass and water in Tricholoma matsutake soil colonies during the mushroom fruiting season. The active fungal biomass was estimated by analyzing ergosterol content at four different points within four replicated locations in a single circular T. matsutake colony at Ssanggok valley in the Sogri Mt.

Effect of Chitosan Acetate on Bacteria Occurring on Neungee Mushrooms, Sarcodon aspratus.

Minimal growth inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of chitosan acetate (M.W. 60 kDa) on heterotrophic bacteria (strains MK1, S, and R) isolated from the soft-rotten tissues of Neungee mushroom (Sarcodon aspratus) were measured.

Hypermutation of an ancient human retrovirus by APOBEC3G.

Human endogenous retroviruses (HERVs) comprise approximately 8% of the human genome, but all are remnants of ancient retroviral infections and harbor inactivating mutations that render them replication defective. Nevertheless, as viral "fossils," HERVs may provide insights into ancient retrovirus-host interactions and their evolution. Indeed, one endogenous retrovirus [HERV-K(HML-2)], which has replicated in humans for the past few million years but is now thought to be extinct, was recently reconstituted in a functional form, and infection assays based on it have been established.