Model development to estimate site index values for six major tree species in North Korea

Due to considerable deforestation in North Korea,there is a need to plan forest restoration programs based on scientific forest management.In this study,a methodology was developed for estimating the site index values of six major tree species and the forest productivity potential.The site index values of these tree species were derived in South Korea using the Chapman-Richards equation.These values were used with data from the 6th National Forest Inventory,which included 20 types of edaphic,topographic,and climatic factors,and random forest analysis—a widely used machine learning technique for spatial prediction—to develop a new model for estimating the site index values of these species across South Korea.The prediction accuracy of this model was evaluated using the root mean square error.The results show that the prediction accuracy was high,with a root mean square error of~1m.Moreover,the importance of the variables related to climate and geography was generally high.The proposed site index estimation model for six tree species was applied across North Korea,and its effectiveness tested by comparing the estimated values with those reported in literature from North Korea.The differences between the model outputs and recorded data in the northern alpine regions were presumably due to the lack of data for high-altitude regions in South Korea.This model is based on the determination of the suitability of tree species in restoration efforts.Therefore,it can contribute to the evaluation of forest productivity in North Korea and may help plan efficient forest restoration programs.

8-Hydroxydeoxyguanosine:Not mere biomarker for oxidative stress,but remedy for oxidative stress-implicated gastrointestinal diseases

Reactive oxygen species （ROS） attack guanine bases in DNA easily and form 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine （8-OHdG）, which can bind to thymidine rather than cytosine, based on which, the level of 8-OHdG is gen- erally regarded as a biomarker of mutagenesis conse- quent to oxidative stress. For example, higher levels of 8-OHdG are noted in Helicobacter pylori-associated chronic atrophic gastritis as well as gastric cancer. However, we have found that exogenous 8-OHdG can paradoxically reduce ROS production, attenuate the nuclear factor-KB signaling pathway, and ameliorate the expression of proinflammatory mediators such as interleukin （IL）-I, IL-6, cyclo-oxygenase-2, and induc- ible nitric oxide synthase in addition to expression of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase （NOX）-I, NOX organizer-1 and NOX activator-1 in vari- ous conditions of inflammation-based gastrointestinal （GI） diseases including gastritis, inflammatory bowel disease, pancreatitis, and even colitis-associated carci- nogenesis. Our recent finding that exogenous 8-OHdG was very effective in either inflammation-based or oxidative-stress-associated diseases of stress-related mucosal damage has inspired the hope that synthetic 8-OHdG can be a potential candidate for the treatment of inflammation-based GI diseases, as well as the pre- vention of inflammation-associated GI cancer. In this editorial review, the novel fact that exogenous 8-OHdG can be a functional molecule regulating oxidative- stress-induced gastritis through either antagonizing Rac-guanosine triphosphate binding or blocking the signals responsible for gastric inflammatory cascade is introduced.

Current applications of adipose-derived stem cells and their future perspectives

Adult stem cells have a great potential to treat various diseases. For these cell-based therapies, adipose-derived stem cells(ADSCs) are one of the most promising stem cell types, including embryonic stem cells(ESCs) and induced pluripotent stem cells(iPSCs). ESCs and iPSCs have taken center stage due to their pluripotency. However, ESCs and iPSCs have limitations in ethical issues and in identification of characteristics, respectively. Unlike ESCs and iPSCs, ADSCs do not have such limitations and are not only easily obtained but also uniquely expandable. ADSCs can differentiate into adipocytes, osteoblasts, chondrocytes, myocytes and neurons under specific differentiation conditions, and these kinds of differentiation potential of ADSCs could be applied in regenerative medicine e.g., skin reconstruction, bone and cartilage formation, etc. In this review, the current status of ADSC isolation, differentiation and their therapeutic applications are discussed.

Quality of healing of gastric ulcers: Natural products beyond acid suppression

Gastric ulcer is a chronic disease featured with unexpected complications, including bleeding, stenosis and perforation, as well as a high incidence of recurrence. Clinical treatments for gastric ulcer have allowed the rapid development of potent anti-ulcer drugs during the last several decades. Gastric ulcer healing is successful with conventional treatments including H2-receptor antagonists, and proton pump inhibitors(PPIs) have been essential for ulcer healing and prevention of complications. Additionally, Helicobacter pylori eradication therapy is effective in reducing ulcer recurrence and leads to physiological changes in the gastric mucosa which affect the ulcer healing process. However, in spite of these advancements, some patients have suf-fered from recurrence or intractability in spite of continuous anti-ulcer therapy. A new concept of the quality of ulcer healing(QOUH) was initiated that considers the reconstruction of the mucosal structure and its function for preventing ulcer recurrence. Although several gastroprotection provided these achievements of the QOUH, which PPI or other acid suppressants did not accomplish, we found that gastroprotection that originated from natural products, such as a newer formulation from either Artemisia or S-allyl cysteine from garlic, were very effective in the QOUH, as well as improving clinical symptoms with fewer side effects. In this review, we will introduce the importance of the QOUH in ulcer healing and the achievements from natural products.

Non-microbial approach for Helicobacter pylori as faster track to prevent gastric cancer than simple eradication

Although the International Agency for Research on Cancer declared Helicobacter pylori(H.pylori)as a definite human carcinogen in 1994,the Japanese Society for Helicobacter Research only recently(February 2013)adopted the position that H.pylori infection should be considered as an indication for either amelioration of chronic gastritis or for decreasing gastric cancer mortality.Japanese researchers have found that H.pylori eradication halts progressive mucosal damage and that successful eradication in patients with non-atrophic gastritis most likely prevents subsequent development of gastric cancer.However,those who have already developed atrophic gastritis/gastric atrophy retain potential risk factors for gastric cancer.Because chronic perpetuated progression of H.pylori-associated gastric inflammation is associated with increased morbidity culminating in gastric carcinogenesis,a non-microbial approach to treatment that provides long-term control of gastric inflammation through nutrients and other interventions may be an effective way to decrease this morbidity.This non-microbial approach might represent a new form of prerequisite"rescue"therapy that provides a quicker path to the prevention of gastric cancer as compared to simple eradication.

Antioxidative phytoceuticals to ameliorate pancreatitis in animal models: An answer from nature

Despite enthusiastic efforts directed at elucidating critical underlying mechanisms towards the identification of novel therapeutic targets for severe acute pancreatitis(SAP), the disease remains without a specific therapy to be executed within the first hours to days after onset of symptoms. Although earlier management for SAP should aim to either treat organ failure or reduce infectious complications, the current standard of care for the general management of AP in the first hours to days after onset of symptoms include intravenous fluid replacement, nutritional changes, and the use of analgesics with a close monitoring of vital signs. Furthermore, repeated evaluation of severity is very important, as the condition is particularly unstable in the early stages. In cases where biliary pancreatitis is accompanied by acute cholangitis or in cases where biliary stasis is suspected,an early endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography is recommended.However,practice guidelines regarding the treatment of pancreatitis are suboptimal.In chronic pancreatitis,conservative management strategies include lifestyle modifications and dietary changes followed by analgesics and pancreatic enzyme supplementation.Recently,attention has been focused on phytoceuticals or antioxidants as agents that could surpass the limitations associated with currently available therapies.Because oxidative stress has been shown to play an important role in the pathogenesis of pancreatitis,antioxidants alone or combined with conventional therapy may improve oxidativestress-induced organ damage.Interest in phytoceuticals stems from their potential use as simple,accurate tools for pancreatitis prognostication that could replace older and more tedious methods.Therefore,the use of antioxidative nutrition or phytoceuticals may represent a new direction for clinical research in pancreatitis.In this review article,recent advances in the understanding of the pathogenesis of pancreatitis are discussed and the paradigm shift underway to develop phytoceuticals and antioxidants to treat it is introduced.Despite the promise of studies evaluating the effects of antioxidants/phytoceuticals in pancreatitis,translation to the clinic has thus far been disappointing.However,it is expected that continued research will provide solid evidence to justify the use of antioxidative phytoceuticals in the treatment of pancreatitis.

Improvement of oxidation resistance in graphite for MgO-C refractory through surface modification

Graphite, used as a carbon source in a conventional magnesia-carbon(MgO-C) refractory, was modified with an acid reagent, resulting in a negative charge on the surface of graphite, to enhance the coating efficiency of aluminum(Al) phase, which was compared to the pristine graphite through its dispersibity and oxidation behavior. The graphite particles with and without surface modification were added, respecticely, in an Al(NO3)3 suspension used as a coating reagent, and then filtered at room temperature. The modified graphite shows better disperbility than the pristine graphite, indicating that the coating efficiency of Al precursor is enhanced in the modified graphite. With respect to oxidation behavior, the modified graphite without the coating layer is totally reacted with oxygen at heat treatment of 900 °C in air. However, the Al-coated graphite starts to react with oxygen at heat treatment of 900 °C and fully reacted with oxygen at heat treatment of 1000 °C, showing the gray and white colors, respectively. It is verified that the Al layer is individually and uniformly formed on the surface of graphite and the oxidation resistance of graphite is enhanced owing to the increased coating efficiency of Al precursor.

Predictive proteomic biomarkers for inflammatory bowel disease-associated cancer:Where are we now in the era of the next generation proteomics?

Recent advances in genomic medicine have opened up the possibility of tailored medicine that may eventually replace traditional “one-size-fits all” approaches to the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). In addition to exploring the interactions between hosts and microbes, referred to as the microbiome, a variety of strategies that can be tailored to an individual in the coming era of personalized medicine in the treatment of IBD are being investigated. These include prompt genomic screening of patients at risk of developing IBD, the utility of molecular discrimination of IBD subtypes among patients diagnosed with IBD, and the discovery of proteome biomarkers to diagnose or predict cancer risks. Host genetic factors influence the etiology of IBD, as do microbial ecosystems in the human bowel, which are not uniform, but instead represent many different microhabitats that can be influenced by diet and might affect processes essential to bowel metabolism. Further advances in basic research regarding intestinal inflammation may reveal new insights into the role of inflammatory mediators, referred to as the inflammasome, and the macromolecular complex of metabolites formed by intestinal bacteria. Collectively, knowledge of the inflammasome and metagenomics will lead to the development of biomarkers for IBD that target specific pathogenic mechanisms involved in the spontaneous progress of IBD. In this review article, our recent results regarding the discovery of potential proteomic biomarkers using a label-free quantification technique are introduced and on-going projects contributing to either the discrimination of IBD subtypes or to the prediction of cancer risks are accompanied by updated information from IBD biomarker research.

nhalation of Sevoflurane and Desflurane Can Not Affect QT Interval, Corrected QT, Tp-Te/QT or Tp-Te/JT in Children

To the Editor： Sevoflurane and desflurane are tile most common general anesthetics used in children. Previous study has shown that these agents can affect the electrocardiogram （ECG） markers,i^i leading to fatal ventricular arrhythmia. The followings were identified as useful indices for predicting and estimating the occurrence of a fatal arrhythmia： the interval between the peak and the end of T wave （Tp-Te） the ratio of the Tp-Te interval to the QT interval （[Tp-Te/QT]）, and the JY interval （JT）, which is measured from the end of the QRS complex to Te.

Spatial phase-shifting interferometry with compensation of geometric errors based on genetic algorithm(Invited Paper)

We propose a novel spatial phase-shifting interferometry that exploits a genetic algorithm to compensate for geometric errors. Spatial phase-shifting interferometry is more suitable for measuring objects with properties that change rapidly in time than the temporal phase-shifting interferometry. However, it is more susceptible to the geometric errors since the positions at which interferograms are collected are different. In this letter, we propose a spatial phase-shifting interferometry with separate paths for object and reference waves. Also, the object wave estimate is parameterized in terms of geometric errors, and the error is compensated by using a genetic algorithm.