Stent expansion evaluated by optical coherence tomography and subsequent outcomes

Background

Regarding stent expansion indexes, previous optical coherence tomography (OCT) studies have shown minimal stent area (MSA) to be most predictive of adverse events.

Purpose

We sought to evaluate the impact of various stent expansion indexes by post-stent OCT on long-term clinical outcomes, and hence to find OCT-defined optimal stent expansion criteria.

Methods

Of the patients registered in the Yonsei OCT registry, a total of 1071 patients with 1123 native coronary artery lesions treated with new-generation drug-eluting stents under the OCT guidance and analyzable final post-stent OCT were included. Stent expansion indexes and different suboptimal stent expansion criteria were evaluated for their association with device-oriented clinical endpoints (DoCE) including cardiac death, target vessel-related myocardial infarction (TVMI) or stent thrombosis, and target lesion revascularization. Major safety events (MSE) included cardiac death, TVMI or stent thrombosis.

Results

The median follow-up period was 40.6 (interquartile range 22.0–50.0) months. As a continuous variable, MSA, adaptive volumetric stent expansion (stent volume/adaptive reference lumen volume) and overall volumetric stent expansion (stent volume/post-stent lumen volume) were significantly predictive of DoCE. As a categorical criteria, MSA <5.0 mm2 (hazard ratio [HR] 3.80; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.53–9.45), MSA/distal reference lumen area <90% (HR 2.13; 95% CI 1.10–4.14), and overall volumetric stent expansion ≥96.6% (HR 2.38; 95% CI 1.09–5.22) were independently associated with DoCE after adjusting for confounders, and a total malapposition volume ≥7.0 mm3 (HR 3.38; 95% CI 1.05–10.93) was linked to MSE.

Conclusions

This OCT study highlights that sufficient stent expansion to achieve adequate absolute MSA and relative MSA by distal reference lumen area and alleviate significant malapposition is important to improve clinical outcome, but overall stent overexpansion may have deleterious effect.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding sources: None.

Seed Treatment with Illite Enhanced Yield and Nutritional Value of Soybean Sprouts

Soybean sprouts, a nutritional food product, can contribute to food security because they can be grown within a week and do not require sophisticated technology. The yield and quality of soybean sprouts are influenced by various factors, including seed priming and growing conditions. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of seed soaking in different concentrations of illite, a clay mineral, on the yield and quality of soybean sprouts. Soybean seeds soaked in five concentrations (0.5%, 1%, 3%, 5%, and 10%, w/v) of illite or tap water for 8 h were named IP-0.5, IP-1, IP3, IP-5, IP-10, and control, respectively. The highest sprout yield was found in IP-3, followed by IP-1, and IP-5, which had 11.1%, 8.8%, and 7.4% increments, respectively, compared to the control. The content of vitamin C, mineral element, isoflavone, total polyphenol, and total flavonoid was higher in many of the illite-treated soybean sprouts than in the control. The overall results indicated that pre-soaking soybean seeds in lower concentrations (0.5-3%, w/v) of illite could be helpful to enhance the yield and nutritional value of soybean sprouts in an easy and inexpensive way.

Quality Characteristics and Antioxidant Potential of Lemon (Citrus limon Burm. f.) Seed Oil Extracted by Different Methods

Lemon (Citrus limon Burm. f.) is one of the most widely produced and consumed fruits in the world. The seeds of lemon are generally discarded as waste. The purpose of this study was to investigate the quality characteristics and antioxidant potential of lemon seed oil obtained by four extraction methods (roasted-pressing at 170°C, RP-170; roasted-pressing at 100°C, RP-100; cold-pressing, CP; and supercritical fluid, SF). No significant differences in the viscosity, density, and refractive index were observed in the oil obtained from different methods. In the case of Hunter's value, L (lightness) and b (yellowness) values of SF were higher than those of the others. The oil obtained by the CP method exhibited higher levels of Ca (252.17 mg/kg), Cu (2.38 mg/kg), K (225.98 mg/kg), and Mo (0.47 mg/kg) than that of other methods. The highest contents of total phenols (165.90 mg/mL) and flavonoids (21.69 mg/mL) were significantly high in oil obtained by the SF method. Oleic and linoleic acids consisted of principal fatty acids, which were significantly higher in oil obtained by RP-170. Higher amounts of volatile flavor compounds, such as γ-terpinene, sabinene, and limonene, were observed in CP compared to those observed for the other methods. This study elucidates the effects of different methods of oil extraction on the composition of lemon seed oil and highlights potential applications of these benefits in the food, cosmetic, pharmaceutical, and/or fragrance industries.

Genomic Prediction Based on SNP Functional Annotation Using Imputed Whole-Genome Sequence Data in Korean Hanwoo Cattle

Whole-genome sequence (WGS) data are increasingly being applied into genomic predictions, offering a higher predictive ability by including causal mutations or single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) putatively in strong linkage disequilibrium with causal mutations affecting the trait. This study aimed to improve the predictive performance of the customized Hanwoo 50 k SNP panel for four carcass traits in commercial Hanwoo population by adding highly predictive variants from sequence data. A total of 16,892 Hanwoo cattle with phenotypes (i.e., backfat thickness, carcass weight, longissimus muscle area, and marbling score), 50 k genotypes, and WGS imputed genotypes were used. We partitioned imputed WGS data according to functional annotation [intergenic (IGR), intron (ITR), regulatory (REG), synonymous (SYN), and non-synonymous (NSY)] to characterize the genomic regions that will deliver higher predictive power for the traits investigated. Animals were assigned into two groups, the discovery set (7324 animals) used for predictive variant detection and the cross-validation set for genomic prediction. Genome-wide association studies were performed by trait to every genomic region and entire WGS data for the pre-selection of variants. Each set of pre-selected SNPs with different density (1000, 3000, 5000, or 10,000) were added to the 50 k genotypes separately and the predictive performance of each set of genotypes was assessed using the genomic best linear unbiased prediction (GBLUP). Results showed that the predictive performance of the customized Hanwoo 50 k SNP panel can be improved by the addition of pre-selected variants from the WGS data, particularly 3000 variants from each trait, which is then sufficient to improve the prediction accuracy for all traits. When 12,000 pre-selected variants (3000 variants from each trait) were added to the 50 k genotypes, the prediction accuracies increased by 9.9, 9.2, 6.4, and 4.7% for backfat thickness, carcass weight, longissimus muscle area, and marbling score compared to the regular 50 k SNP panel, respectively. In terms of prediction bias, regression coefficients for all sets of genotypes in all traits were close to 1, indicating an unbiased prediction. The strategy used to select variants based on functional annotation did not show a clear advantage compared to using whole-genome. Nonetheless, such pre-selected SNPs from the IGR region gave the highest improvement in prediction accuracy among genomic regions and the values were close to those obtained using the WGS data for all traits. We concluded that additional gain in prediction accuracy when using pre-selected variants appears to be trait-dependent, and using WGS data remained more accurate compared to using a specific genomic region.

Pu-erh Tea Extract Treatment Could Be an Efficient Way to Enhance the Yield and Nutritional Value of Soybean Sprout

Soybean sprouts are one of the most inexpensive and nutritious food items that can be easily grown year-round. Several studies have been conducted to increase their yield and nutritional values. This study was carried out to examine the effects of Pu-erh tea extracts on the production and nutrients content of soybean sprouts. Soybean seeds were soaked in 1%, 2%, or 3% (w/v) tea extracts, or tap water, before keeping for sprout cultivation; the sprout samples were named PE-1, PE-2, PE-3, and the control, respectively. The sprout yields were increased by up to 17% in PE-2 and PE-3 than in the control. The vitamin C, total free amino acid, total mineral, total isoflavone, total polyphenol, and flavonoid contents as well as the antioxidant potentials of the tea extract-treated sprouts were higher than those of the control. The results indicated that pre-soaking soybean seeds in 2% Pu-erh tea extracts could offer an easy, inexpensive, and efficient way to improve the yield and nutritional value of soybean sprouts.

Yield and quality characteristics of Korean red bean sprouts produced with different time of seed soaking

This study was conducted to investigate the yield and quality characteristics of red bean sprouts of three cultivars (Arari, Geomguseul, and Chungju) soaked in water for 0, 6, 12 or 24 h. The sprout yields of 'Arari' and 'Geomguseul' on day 7 were highest with the seeds soaked for 12 h. For 'Chungju', the yields from the seeds soaked for 12 and 24 h were not significantly (p > 0.05) different. Longer hypocotyls and shorter roots, which are also desirable characteristics of good sprouts, were also found in the sprouts with 12 h of seed soaking. The amounts of total minerals, thiamine, total free amino acids, and total phenols and DPPH radical scavenging potential of sprouts of all cultivars were higher than those of their seeds. This study showed that higher yield and better quality of red bean sprouts could be obtained with the seeds soaked for 12 h.

Weighted Genomic Best Linear Unbiased Prediction for Carcass Traits in Hanwoo Cattle

The genomic best linear unbiased prediction (GBLUP) method has been widely used in routine genomic evaluation as it assumes a common variance for all single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP). However, this is unlikely in the case of traits influenced by major SNP. Hence, the present study aimed to improve the accuracy of GBLUP by using the weighted GBLUP (WGBLUP), which gives more weight to important markers for various carcass traits of Hanwoo cattle, such as backfat thickness (BFT), carcass weight (CWT), eye muscle area (EMA), and marbling score (MS). Linear and different nonlinearA SNP weighting procedures under WGBLUP were evaluated and compared with unweighted GBLUP and traditional pedigree-based methods (PBLUP). WGBLUP methods were assessed over ten iterations. Phenotypic data from 10,215 animals from different commercial herds that were slaughtered at approximately 30-month-old of age were used. All these animals were genotyped using customized Hanwoo 50K SNP chip and were divided into a training and a validation population by birth date on 1 November 2015. Genomic prediction accuracies obtained in the nonlinearA weighting methods were higher than those of the linear weighting for all traits. Moreover, unlike with linear methods, no sudden drops in the accuracy were noted after the peak was reached in nonlinearA methods. The average accuracies using PBLUP were 0.37, 0.49, 0.40, and 0.37, and 0.62, 0.74, 0.67, and 0.65 using GBLUP for BFT, CWT, EMA, and MS, respectively. Moreover, these accuracies of genomic prediction were further increased to 4.84% and 2.70% for BFT and CWT, respectively by using the nonlinearA method under the WGBLUP model. For EMA and MS, WGBLUP was as accurate as GBLUP. Our results indicate that the WGBLUP using a nonlinearA weighting method provides improved predictions for CWT and BFT, suggesting that the ability of WGBLUP over the other models by weighting selected SNPs appears to be trait-dependent.

Comparative assessment regarding antioxidative and nutrition potential of Moringa oleifera leaves by bacterial fermentation

Moringa is considered as a miraculous plant because of its outstanding health-promoting properties. Moringa leaves are used in various forms for various purposes owing to its potential against that purpose. This experiment was performed to utilize the hidden potential of Moringa leaves. The Moringa leaves were fermented by Bacillus subtilis KCTC 13,241 for 24, 48, 72 and 96 h to identify the best time duration of fermentation. The antioxidant potential of fermented Moringa leaves was estimated by measuring the total phenolic content (TPC), total isoflavones content (TIFC), DPPH and ABTS free radical scavenging activity and SOD-like activity. In addition to these parameters, the concentration of various total amino acids (TAA) and fatty acids were also determined. The best treatment was 48 h fermented Moringa leaves because of the best results in all measured parameters except in fatty acids concentration. The highest fatty acids concentration was recorded in 24 h fermented leaves. The results of 48 h fermented Moringa leaves regarding TAA, TPC, TIFC, DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging potential and SOD-like activity were 121.95 ± 3.74 mg/g, 310.25 ± 3.77 μg GAE/g, 1083.38 ± 5.92 µg/g, 63.12 ± 2.38%, 78.45 ± 3.32%, and 34.55 ± 1.05% respectively. The palmitic, stearic, oleic, linoleic and linolenic acid concentration in 24 h fermented Moringa leaves was 55.32 ± 1.93, 56.02 ± 2.12, 53.82 ± 2.54, 55.95 ± 1.62 and 56.41 ± 1.43% respectively. In conclusion, the present results disclose that fermented Moringa leaves are the source of natural antioxidants and nutrients.

Dealcoholization of Korean traditional rice wine, takju, combining thermal, bentonite clarification or reverse osmosis treatment

The objective of this study was to prepare low-alcoholic takju. Low-alcohol (3.06%) and dealcoholized (0.04-0.28%) takju samples were prepared by adopting bentonite clarification, heat and reverse osmosis treatments. The dealcoholization of takju, in most cases, significantly (p < 0.05) reduced the total mineral (from 505.80 to 258.61 mg/L), free amino acid (from 989.81 to 293.58 mg/mL), antioxidant potentials and total phenolic (from 345.30 to 156.30 µg GAE/mL) contents remained in the control to RO-3 (takju sample obtained from 3-time reverse osmosis and heat treatment). Similarly, the content of volatile compounds was also significantly (p < 0.05) decreased with the dealcoholization treatments. The finding of this study clearly showed that dealcoholized takju could be prepared but at the expense of reduced nutritional and antioxidant potentials. This study could be an exemplary in promoting traditional beverages in different countries by producing low or alcohol-free drinks.

Effect of Diabetes Education Through Pattern Management on Self-Care and Self-Efficacy in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes

This study investigated the effect of applying a customized diabetes education program through pattern management (PM), using continuous glucose monitoring system (CGMS) results, on individual self-care behaviors and self-efficacy in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Patients with type 2 diabetes who had never received diabetes education, enrolled from March to September 2017, were sequentially assigned to either PM education or control groups. In the PM education group, the CGMS test was first conducted one week before diabetes education and repeated three times by PM in order to obtain data on self-care behaviors and self-efficacy. These results were then compared before and after education at three and six months. The control group received the traditional diabetes education. Self-efficacy showed statistically significant interactions between the two groups over time, indicating a significant difference in the degree of self-efficacy between the PM education and control groups. Diabetes education by PM using CGMS result analysis improved life habits with a positive influence on self-care behaviors and self-efficacy for diabetes management. Further studies are needed to further develop and apply individual diabetes education programs in order to sustain the effects of self-care behaviors and self-efficacy in patients with diabetes who experience a decrease in self-efficacy after three months of education.

Persimmon fruit enhanced quality characteristics and antioxidant potential of beer

Various adjuncts, including fruits, are added for flavoring beer, one of the most famous beverages in the world. The influence of persimmon fruit on antioxidant activities and quality characteristics of beer was investigated in this study. The antioxidant activities measured through DPPH and superoxide and hydroxyl anions scavenging potentials as well as total polyphenol contents of the persimmon-treated beer were significantly (p < 0.05) high compared to the control. The mineral elements Mg, K, and Ca were also significantly (p < 0.05) increased, however toxic heavy metals were not detected in the persimmon beer. Among the persimmon beer samples, the overall acceptance value was significantly (p < 0.05) high when the beer was prepared by adding 150 g of the fruit in 10 L of water. The results suggested that an addition of 150 g of persimmon fruit per 10 L of water could better enrich the nutritional, organoleptic, and antioxidant potentials of beer.

Comparison of antioxidants potential, metabolites, and nutritional profiles of Korean fermented soybean (Cheonggukjang) with Bacillus subtilis KCTC 13241

This study was carried out to determine the effect of different concentrations of Bacillus subtilis (0, 1, 3, 5, and 7%) on the antioxidant potential and biochemical constituents of traditional Korean fermented soybean, Cheonggukjang (CKJ). The antioxidant capacity was studied using the reducing power, 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2-azinobis (3-ethyl-benzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) assays and the total phenolic contents (TPC) were measured using the Folin-Ciocalteu method. CKJ prepared using 1% B. subtilis revealed the highest TPC (5.99 mg/g), total amino acids (7.43 mg/g), DPPH (94.24%), and ABTS (86.03%) radical-scavenging activity and had the highest value of palmitic acid (11.65%), stearic acid (2.87%), and linolenic acid (11.76%). Results showed that the calcium, iron, sodium, and zinc contents increased in the CKJ prepared using 7% B. subtilis from 1481.38 to 1667.32, 41.38 to 317.00, 48.01 to 310.07, and 32.82 to 37.18 mg/kg respectively. In conclusion, the present results indicate that the fermentation of soybean with B. subtilis (KCTC 13241) significantly augments the nutritional and antioxidant potential of CKJ and it can be recommended as a health-promoting food source.

Isolated Acute Appendicitis Caused by Aspergillus in a Patient Who Underwent Lung Transplantation: A Case Report

Invasive aspergillosis is an important cause of morbidity and mortality in patients who have undergone lung transplantation. Aspergillus infections usually involve the respiratory tract, with vascular invasion and subsequent dissemination. However, acute appendicitis associated with localized aspergillosis is rare, especially among patients who have undergone prophylaxis with voriconazole. We present a case of primary Aspergillus appendicitis diagnosed by histologic examination in a patient who underwent lung transplantation. A 51-year-old woman with dermatomyositis underwent lung transplantation for acute interstitial pneumonitis. According to our institution's protocol, the patient was treated with immunosuppressive therapy and prophylaxis with voriconazole, ganciclovir, and trimethoprim sulfamethoxazole during the post-transplantation period. Twenty-eight days after transplantation, the patient developed mild abdominal pain and paralytic ileus. There was no apparent infection sign. Abdominal computerized tomography indicated a wall defect of the appendix with multifocal fluid collection, mesenteric leave thickening, and pneumoperitoneum. These findings were consistent with perforated appendicitis, and the patient underwent an appendectomy. The histopathology examination of the resected appendix showed inflammation and abscess. Periodic acid-Schiff-positive and Grocott-Gomori methenamine silver-positive fungal hyphae with acute-angle branching were observed, demonstrating muscular invasion. A galactomannan antigen test obtained on the same day had negative results. The trough level of voriconazole was well maintained and was subsequently adjusted through monitoring of circulating drug concentration. Simultaneously, other potential sites of disseminated Aspergillus were considered and examined, but no other site of systemic Aspergillus infection was detected. Voriconazole treatment was maintained for 3 months, and no aspergillosis relapse or other invasive fungal infections were observed.

Resveratrol, total phenolic and flavonoid contents, and antioxidant potential of seeds and sprouts of Korean peanuts

Peanut sprouts are gaining increasing popularity as a potential source of functional food. The objective of this study was to investigate yield and food value of peanut sprouts of six Korean peanut genotypes (Daekwang, Akwang, Baekjung, Alogi, Pungan and Heugttangkong) from day 5 through 9. Functional compounds like polyphenol, flavonoid, and resveratrol contents were significantly (p < 0.05) high in the sprouts compared to those in the seeds. Pungan yielded significantly (p < 0.05) high sprouts followed by Alogi. However, antioxidant potentials and functional compounds in the sprouts varied significantly (p < 0.05) with genotype, sprout part, and day after germination. Overall consideration of the yield, functional compounds, and antioxidant potentials of the sprouts suggested that more appropriate time of sprout harvest for Alogi and Pungan was day 5-7 and that for the other genotypes was day 5-8. The yield and functional properties of peanut sprouts significantly varied with genotypes, parts, and age.

Compound K induced apoptosis via endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ release through ryanodine receptor in human lung cancer cells

BACKGROUND

Extended endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress may initiate apoptotic pathways in cancer cells, and ER stress has been reported to possibly increase tumor death in cancer therapy. We previously reported that caspase-8 played an important role in compound K-induced apoptosis via activation of caspase-3 directly or indirectly through Bid cleavage, cytochrome c release, and caspase-9 activation in HL-60 human leukemia cells. The mechanisms leading to apoptosis in A549 and SK-MES-1 human lung cancer cells and the role of ER stress have not yet been understood.

METHODS

The apoptotic effects of compound K were analyzed using flow cytometry, and the changes in protein levels were determined using Western blot analysis. The intracellular calcium levels were monitored by staining with Fura-2/AM and Fluo-3/AM.

RESULTS

Compound K-induced ER stress was confirmed through increased phosphorylation of eIF2α and protein levels of GRP78/BiP, XBP-1S, and IRE1α in human lung cancer cells. Moreover, compound-K led to the accumulation of intracellular calcium and an increase in m-calpain activities that were both significantly inhibited by pretreatment either with BAPTA-AM (an intracellular Ca2+ chelator) or dantrolene (an RyR channel antagonist). These results were correlated with the outcome that compound K induced ER stress-related apoptosis through caspase-12, as z-ATAD-fmk (a specific inhibitor of caspase-12) partially ameliorated this effect. Interestingly, 4-PBA (ER stress inhibitor) dramatically improved the compound K-induced apoptosis.

CONCLUSION

Cell survival and intracellular Ca2+ homeostasis during ER stress in human lung cancer cells are important factors in the induction of the compound K-induced apoptotic pathway.

Measurement of levels of fractional exhaled nitric oxide in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis

SETTING

The role of fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) in the diagnosis and treatment of pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) is uncertain.

OBJECTIVE

To examine the value of FeNO as a biomarker for PTB.

DESIGN

Baseline FeNO levels were compared in 69 PTB patients and 118 healthy controls. The correlation between baseline FeNO levels and clinical variables of tuberculosis were studied. FeNO levels were checked twice in the PTB group, at diagnosis and after 2 months of anti-tuberculosis medication, and factors affecting changes in FeNO levels after treatment were analysed.

RESULTS

FeNO levels were not significantly different in the PTB group and controls (mean ± standard deviation 27.7 ± 17.6 parts per billion [ppb] vs. 27.0 ± 10.8 ppb, P = 0.531). In a multivariate regression analysis, no variable was shown to affect FeNO levels at diagnosis. FeNO levels did not significantly change after 2 months of treatment (26.8 ± 18.3 ppb vs. 24.0 ± 10.7 ppb, P = 0.257). Only PTB with a high FeNO level (>25 ppb) was related to a decline in FeNO levels after 2 months of treatment.

CONCLUSION

FeNO levels do not appear to be affected in PTB patients.

Bacterial Contamination of Computer and Hand Hygiene Compliance in the Emergency Department

Introduction

The aim of this study was to determine the degree and nature of bacterial contamination of computer equipment in three Korean emergency departments (ED).

Methods

Hand hygiene practices of ED doctors and nurses were observed before contact with computer equipment. Microbiological swab samples were obtained from 112 multiple-user computer keyboards and electronic mice in the ED of three teaching hospitals. Isolated organisms were identified by a clinical microbiologist using Gram stain, colony morphology, and susceptibility test.

Results

Of the 112 samples, 103 (92.0%) showed growth of organisms on culture. Thirty-eight (33.9%) pieces of computer equipment yielded multiple bacterial species. Coagulase-negative Staphylococcus was the most common microorganism isolated (85.7%). Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus was obtained from two keyboards in two hospitals (1.8%). Hand hygiene compliance was observed on 29.9% occasions. Hand hygiene compliance after patient contact (38.0%) was higher than after other environmental contact (20.7%).

Conclusions

Multiple user computer equipment in the ED may serve as reservoirs for nosocomial infection. Hand hygiene should be performed before and after using all ED equipment, including computer equipment.

Bacterial Contamination of Computer and Hand Hygiene Compliance in the Emergency Department

Introduction

The aim of this study was to determine the degree and nature of bacterial contamination of computer equipment in three Korean emergency departments (ED).

Methods

Hand hygiene practices of ED doctors and nurses were observed before contact with computer equipment. Microbiological swab samples were obtained from 112 multiple-user computer keyboards and electronic mice in the ED of three teaching hospitals. Isolated organisms were identified by a clinical microbiologist using Gram stain, colony morphology, and susceptibility test.

Results

Of the 112 samples, 103 (92.0%) showed growth of organisms on culture. Thirty-eight (33.9%) pieces of computer equipment yielded multiple bacterial species. Coagulase-negative Staphylococcus was the most common microorganism isolated (85.7%). Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus was obtained from two keyboards in two hospitals (1.8%). Hand hygiene compliance was observed on 29.9% occasions. Hand hygiene compliance after patient contact (38.0%) was higher than after other environmental contact (20.7%).

Conclusions

Multiple user computer equipment in the ED may serve as reservoirs for nosocomial infection. Hand hygiene should be performed before and after using all ED equipment, including computer equipment. (Hong Kong j.emerg.med. 2012;19:387-393)

Effects of Bacterial Fermentation on the Biochemical Constituents and Antioxidant Potential of Fermented and Unfermented Soybeans Using Probiotic Bacillus subtilis (KCTC 13241)

Fermented soybeans, cheonggukjang (CKJ), are considered to be more wholesome than soybeans in Korea. To select the best soybean cultivar for making functional CKJ, a comparison was made between the biological activities of four soybean cultivars in their unfermented soybean (UFS) and CKJ states. Changes in 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical-scavenging activity, 2,2'-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) (ABTS) assays, superoxide dismutase (SOD)-like activity, total phenolic compounds, total amino acids, and isoflavones were investigated. The levels of DPPH, ABTS, SOD-like activity, and total phenolic compounds increased in CKJ among all cultivars. The isoflavone aglycone and total amino acids showed the highest amount in CKJ prepared from soybean cultivar Aga 3. These results suggest that the improved antioxidant activity of CKJ in all cultivars might occur because of the higher levels of aglycones and total phenolic compounds achieved during fermentation. Moreover, CKJ prepared from soybean cultivar Aga 3 showed higher antioxidant activity than the other cultivars and so can be considered for the commercial production of functional foods in the future.

Dietary total, animal, vegetable calcium and type 2 diabetes incidence among Korean adults: The Korean Multi-Rural Communities Cohort (MRCohort)

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Although a possible mechanism for developing type 2 diabetes in relation to calcium intake has been suggested, there is currently little epidemiological evidence on the association between dietary calcium and type 2 diabetes (T2D). This study aimed to evaluate the prospective association between dietary calcium and T2D incidence among adults 40 years of age or over, from the Multi-rural Communities Cohort (MRCohort), South Korea.

METHODS AND RESULTS

In total, 8313 participants (3033 men and 5280 women) who did not have diabetes at baseline were recruited between 2005 and 2013. The incidence rate ratio (IRR) was estimated using a modified Poisson regression model with a robust error estimator. During follow-up (31,570 person-years), 322 T2D cases were newly diagnosed. Dietary calcium (total and vegetable calcium) were inversely associated with the risk of T2D incidence among women (IRR = 0.61, 95% CI = 0.43-0.86, P for trend = 0.007 in third tertile of baseline total calcium intake comparing to the first tertile; IRR = 0.57, 95% CI = 0.39-0.84, P for trend = 0.006 for baseline vegetable calcium intake), not for men. The tendency of those inverse associations remained in both the normal fasting blood glucose group and the impaired fasting blood glucose group and were independent of obesity, smoking, and magnesium intake.

CONCLUSIONS

Total and vegetable calcium may be inversely associated with T2D incidence among women, regardless of impaired fasting blood glucose group or normal group. The associations may be potentially dose-responsive. Moderate dietary calcium may be related to lower risk of T2D incidence comparing to low intake group among women.

Persimmon Fruit Powder May Substitute Indolbi, a Synthetic Growth Regulator, in Soybean Sprout Cultivation

Soybean sprouts are a major food item in Korea. Various studies have been carried out to enhance their yield and nutritional values. The objective of the present study was to examine the influence of persimmon fruit powder and Indolbi, a synthetic plant growth regulator, on the yield and nutritional value of soybean sprouts. Seeds were soaked in tap water containing 0.5%, 1.0%, 2.5% and 5.0% (w/v) persimmon fruit powder and the samples were named as PT-1, PT-2, PT-3, and PT-4, respectively. The yield increment was almost doubled in PT-3 and PT-4 than in the Indolbi treated sprouts on basis of the control. Vitamin C, isoflavones, and total phenolic contents as well as antioxidant potentials (determined by 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl and superoxide anion radical scavenging assays) were also significantly (p < 0.05) higher in PT-3 compared to the Indolbi treatment and the control. However, total free amino acid and magnesium contents of Indolbi- applied sprouts were higher than in the fruit powder treatments. The overall results of the present study showed that persimmon fruit powder can be an option to enhance the yield and nutritional value of soybean sprouts since, due to potential health hazards, the use of synthetic chemicals like Indolbi is less preferred than the natural products.

A Case of Ectopic Paragonimiasis in a 17th Century Korean Mummy

Archaeoparasitological studies on fossilized feces obtained from Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910 CE) mummies have provided invaluable data on the patterns of parasitic infection in pre-modern Korean societies. In our recent radiological investigation of a 17th century Joseon mummy discovered in Cheongdo (South Korea), we located a liver mass just below the diaphragm. Anatomical dissection confirmed the presence of a mass of unknown etiology. A subsequent parasitological examination of a sample of the mass revealed a large number of ancient Paragonimus sp. eggs, making the current report the first archaeoparasitological case of liver abscess caused by ectopic paragonimiasis.

The effect of low-volatile organic compounds, water-based paint on aggravation of allergic disease in schoolchildren

Whether indoor painting aggravates preexisting allergic diseases remains unclear. We aimed to evaluate the impact of new classroom painting on aggravation of asthma, allergic rhinitis (AR), and atopic dermatitis (AD) in children. Studied school was previously painted with conventional water-based paint 20 years ago and had natural ventilation system. We identified a total of 172 children aged 10-12 years with allergic diseases in 17 classrooms, which were allocated to newly painted rooms with low-volatile organic compounds (VOC), water-based paint, or existing rooms. After painting, there was no intervention or internal airflow to influence indoor air environment in both classrooms. We prospectively assessed the symptom severity and serious events of allergic diseases between both classrooms at baseline and after one and eight weeks after painting. At one and eight weeks, there were no significant changes in the Childhood Asthma Control Test scores, the fractional nitric oxide levels, lung function in asthmatic children in either classroom. There were also no significant changes in the severity score of AR or AD, or serious events in all allergic diseases. These findings suggest classroom painting with this new paint at the levels encountered in this study might not be a major aggravating factor for school-aged children with allergic diseases.

Biochemical Constituents and in Vitro Antioxidant and Anticholinesterase Potential of Seeds from Native Korean Persimmon Genotypes

In the current study, the functional and biochemical potential of the seeds of four persimmon cultivars (PC1, PC2, PC3 and PC4) and their role against oxidative stress and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibition were evaluated. In terms of biochemical compositions, free amino acids, fatty acids and organic acids analysis was performed. The free amino acids ranged from 2617.31 (PC2) to 3773.01 μg∙g(-1) dry weight (PC4). Oleic acid and linoleic acid were the principal fatty acids, which were significantly higher in PC4 and PC1, respectively. PC4 presented the highest amount of organic acid content (4212 mg∙kg(-1)), whereas PC2 presented the lowest (2498 mg∙kg(-1)). PC2 contained higher total phenolic content and flavonoid content, whereas PC3 had the lowest amount as compared to other cultivars. The in vitro DPPH, ABTS and superoxide anion radicals scavenging activity increased in a dose-dependent manner, whereas PC2 showed significantly higher scavenging activities as compared to PC1, PC2 and PC4 types. In the case of AChE inhibition, PC4 showed a moderate activity (67.34% ± 1.8%). In conclusion, the current findings reveal that the studied persimmon seeds cultivars are a source of bioactive natural antioxidants and AChE inhibitors. Such natural products could be employed in pharmaceutical and food industries, whilst can also be considered for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's.

Unraveling the effect of structurally different classes of insecticide on germination and early plant growth of soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr]

Although a considerable number of studies about the effect of different insecticides on plant physiology and metabolism have been carried out, research work about the comparative action of structurally different classes of insecticide on physiological and biochemical properties of soybean seed germination and early growth has not been found. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of different classes of insecticides on soybean seed germination and early plant growth. Soybean seeds of Bosuk cultivar were soaked for 24h in distilled water or recommended dose (2mLL(-1), 1mLL(-1), 0.5gL(-1), and 0.5gL(-1) water for insecticides Mepthion, Myungtaja, Actara, and Stonate, respectively) of pesticide solutions of four structurally different classes of insecticides - Mepthion (fenitrothion; organophosphate), Myungtaja (etofenprox; pyrethroid), Actara (thiamethoxam; neonicotinoid), and Stonate (lambda-cyhalothrin cum thiamethoxam; pyrethroid cum neonicotinoid) - which are used for controlling stink bugs in soybean crop. Insecticides containing thiamethoxam and lamda-cyhalothrin cum thiamethoxam showed positive effects on seedling biomass and content of polyphenol and flavonoid, however fenitrothion insecticide reduced the seed germination, seed and seedling vigor, and polyphenol and flavonoid contents in soybean. Results of this study reveal that different classes of insecticide have differential influence on physiologic and metabolic actions like germination, early growth, and antioxidant activities of soybean and this implies that yield and nutrient content also might be affected with the application of different types of insecticide.

Amaranth squalene reduces serum and liver lipid levels in rats fed a cholesterol diet

In this study, the hypocholesterolaemic effect of amaranth grain, oil and squalene are examined. In experiment 1, rats are given a semi-purified diet containing 1% (w/w) cholesterol for four weeks and either amaranth grain (AG; 300 g/kg) or amaranth oil (AO; 90 g/kg) substituted in experimental groups. Both AG and AO lowered serum and hepatic cholesterol and triglyceride levels. Faecal excretion of cholesterol and bile acid in the AO group increased, while AG affected only bile acid excretion. In experiment 2, rats were fed the cholesterol diet for four weeks and injected (i.p.) with saline (control), amaranth squalene (AS) or shark liver squalene (SS, 200 mg/kg) for seven days. The hypolipidaemic effects of AS were evident in both serum and liver. In addition, AS markedly increased faecal excretions of cholesterol and bile acid, and slightly inhibited 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase activity. In contrast, none of these effects were observed in the SS group. This preliminary study suggests that the cholesterol-lowering effect of AS may be mediated by increased faecal elimination of steroids through interference with cholesterol absorption, and that different sources of squalene (plant versus animal) may affect cholesterol metabolism differently.

Abatement of fluorinated compounds using a 2.45GHz microwave plasma torch with a reverse vortex plasma reactor

Abatement of fluorinated compounds (FCs) used in semiconductor and display industries has received an attention due to the increasingly stricter regulation on their emission. We have developed a 2.45GHz microwave plasma torch with reverse vortex reactor (RVR). In order to design a reverse vortex plasma reactor, we calculated a volume fraction and temperature distribution of discharge gas and waste gas in RVR by ANSYS CFX of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulation code. Abatement experiments have been performed with respect to SF6, NF3 by varying plasma power and N2 flow rates, and FCs concentration. Detailed experiments were conducted on the abatement of NF3 and SF6 in terms of destruction and removal efficiency (DRE) using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR). The DRE of 99.9% for NF3 was achieved without an additive gas at the N2 flow rate of 150 liter per minute (L/min) by applying a microwave power of 6kW with RVR. Also, a DRE of SF6 was 99.99% at the N2 flow rate of 60 L/min using an applied microwave power of 6kW. The performance of reverse vortex reactor increased about 43% of NF3 and 29% of SF6 abatements results definition by decomposition energy per liter more than conventional vortex reactor.

Multiple Genes Related to Muscle Identified through a Joint Analysis of a Two-stage Genome-wide Association Study for Racing Performance of 1,156 Thoroughbreds

Thoroughbred, a relatively recent horse breed, is best known for its use in horse racing. Although myostatin (MSTN) variants have been reported to be highly associated with horse racing performance, the trait is more likely to be polygenic in nature. The purpose of this study was to identify genetic variants strongly associated with racing performance by using estimated breeding value (EBV) for race time as a phenotype. We conducted a two-stage genome-wide association study to search for genetic variants associated with the EBV. In the first stage of genome-wide association study, a relatively large number of markers (~54,000 single-nucleotide polymorphisms, SNPs) were evaluated in a small number of samples (240 horses). In the second stage, a relatively small number of markers identified to have large effects (170 SNPs) were evaluated in a much larger number of samples (1,156 horses). We also validated the SNPs related to MSTN known to have large effects on racing performance and found significant associations in the stage two analysis, but not in stage one. We identified 28 significant SNPs related to 17 genes. Among these, six genes have a function related to myogenesis and five genes are involved in muscle maintenance. To our knowledge, these genes are newly reported for the genetic association with racing performance of Thoroughbreds. It complements a recent horse genome-wide association studies of racing performance that identified other SNPs and genes as the most significant variants. These results will help to expand our knowledge of the polygenic nature of racing performance in Thoroughbreds.

Exploring the genetic signature of body size in Yucatan miniature pig

Since being domesticated about 10,000-12,000 years ago, domestic pigs (Sus scrofa domesticus) have been selected for traits of economic importance, in particular large body size. However, Yucatan miniature pigs have been selected for small body size to withstand high temperature environment and for laboratory use. This renders the Yucatan miniature pig a valuable model for understanding the evolution of body size. We investigate the genetic signature for selection of body size in the Yucatan miniature pig. Phylogenetic distance of Yucatan miniature pig was compared to other large swine breeds (Yorkshire, Landrace, Duroc and wild boar). By estimating the XP-EHH statistic using re-sequencing data derived from 70 pigs, we were able to unravel the signatures of selection of body size. We found that both selections at the level of organism, and at the cellular level have occurred. Selection at the higher levels include feed intake, regulation of body weight and increase in mass while selection at the molecular level includes cell cycle and cell proliferation. Positively selected genes probed by XP-EHH may provide insight into the docile character and innate immunity as well as body size of Yucatan miniature pig.

Resveratrol analogue (E)-8-acetoxy-2-[2-(3,4-diacetoxyphenyl)ethenyl]-quinazoline induces G₂/M cell cycle arrest through the activation of ATM/ATR in human cervical carcinoma HeLa cells

Styrylquinazolines are synthetic analogues of resveratrol and have been suggested to cause anti-inflammatory activity by modulating prostaglandin E₂ (PGE₂) production. In the present study, we evaluated cytotoxic effects of various styrylquinazoline derivatives and found that (E)-8-acetoxy-2-[2-(3,4-diacetoxyphenyl)ethenyl]-quinazoline (8-ADEQ) most potently inhibited the proliferation of the human cervical carcinoma HeLa cells. Exploring the growth-inhibitory mechanisms of 8-ADEQ, we found that it causes a cell cycle arrest at the G₂/M phase by DNA flow cytometric analysis, which was accompanied by upregulation of cyclin B1 expression and cyclin-dependent protein kinase 1 (Cdk1) phosphorylation. In addition, we observed that 8-ADEQ causes phosphorylation of the cell division cycle 25C (Cdc25C) protein through the activation of checkpoint kinases 1 (Chk1) and Chk2, which in turn were activated via ataxia telangiectasia mutated (ATM)/ataxia telangiectasia-Rad3-related (ATR) kinases in response to the DNA damage. Furthermore, ATM/ATR inhibitor caffeine, p53- or ATM/ATR-specific siRNA significantly attenuated 8-ADEQ-induced G₂/M arrest. These results suggest that the 8-ADEQ inhibits the proliferation of human cervical cancer HeLa cells by DNA damage-mediated G₂/M cell cycle arrest. 8-ADEQ‑induced G₂/M arrest is mediated by the activation of both Chk1/2-Cdc25 and p53-p21CIP1/WAF1 via ATM/ATR pathway, and indicates that 8-ADEQ appears to have potential in the treatment of cervical cancer.

Association of interleukin-10 promoter region polymorphisms with risk factors of Atherosclerosis

Atherosclerosis is considered as an inflammatory disease, and carotid artery intima-media thickness (IMT) and carotid plaque are generally used as intermediated phenotype of atherosclerosis. The aim of this study was to investigate whether carotid IMT and plaque are associated with promoter region polymorphisms of interleukin 10 (IL-10) gene. We recruited 135 subjects from a rural area of south-eastern part of South Korea. Three polymorphisms in the promoter region of IL-10 (-1082 A/G, -819 T/C and -592 A/C) were genotyped by pyrosequencing. Carotid IMT was measured at common carotid arteries, and carotid bulbs and cardiovascular risk factors such as cholesterol, blood pressure, uric acid and homocysteine were measured using blood samples. Subjects with the minor allele (C) of -819 T/C or the minor allele (C) of -592 A/C showed lower values in carotid IMT than those with major allele homozygote of each polymorphism (P = 0.018 and P = 0.031, respectively). Subjects with carotid plaque were significantly older and showed higher values in carotid IMT, uric acid and homocysteine than those without plaque (P < 0.01, respectively). In conclusion, the promoter region polymorphisms of IL-10 gene associate with carotid IMT and plaque. Further studies with larger samples are needed to provide stronger evidence to justify anti-atheromatous properties of IL-10.

Gibberellin secreting rhizobacterium, Pseudomonas putida H-2-3 modulates the hormonal and stress physiology of soybean to improve the plant growth under saline and drought conditions

The physiological changes in tolerant soybean plants under salt and drought stress conditions with Pseudomonas putida H-2-3 were investigated. A bacterial isolate H-2-3 was isolated from soil and identified as Pseudomonas putida H-2-3 by 16S rDNA sequences. The treatment of P. putida H-2-3 significantly increased the length, fresh and dry weight of shoot and chlorophyll content in gibberellins (GAs) deficient mutant Waito-c rice seedlings over the control, it might be the presence of GA1, GA4, GA9 and GA20. The soybean plant growth was retarded in salt (120 mM sodium chloride) and drought (15% polyethylene glycol) stress conditions at 10 days treatments, while P. putida H-2-3 effectively enhanced the shoot length and fresh weight of plants suffered at salt and drought stress. The chlorophyll content was lower in abiotic stress conditions and bacterial inoculant P. putida H-2-3 mitigated the stress effects by an evidence of higher quantity of chlorophyll content in plants exposed to salt and drought. The stress hormonal analysis revealed that individual treatment of P. putida H-2-3, salt and drought significantly enhanced the abscisic acid and salicylic acid content than their control. P. putida H-2-3 applied to salt and drought stressed plants showed a lower level of abscisic acid and salicylic acid and a higher level of jasmonic acid content. Under stress condition induced by salt and drought in plants expressed higher level of total polyphenol, superoxide dismutase and radical scavenging activity and no significant changes in flavonoids. The bio-inoculant, P. putida H-2-3 modulated those antioxidants by declining superoxide dismutase, flavonoids and radical scavenging activity. P. putida H-2-3 induced tolerance against abiotic stress was confirmed by a reduction of Na content in abiotic stressed plants. The results suggest that P. putida H-2-3 application reprograms the chlorophyll, stress hormones and antioxidants expression in abiotic stress affected soybean plant and improves their growth under stress environment.

Improved methods for selective cryolipolysis results in subcutaneous fat layer reduction in a porcine model

BACKGROUND/AIMS

Cryolipolysis is a noninvasive method for the selective reduction of localized fat tissues. It has demonstrated efficacy in both clinical and preclinical trials; however, despite its popularity, its mechanisms of action and evaluation methods are not yet fully defined. The purpose of this study was to improved methods for cryolipolysis using a porcine model.

METHODS

The abdomens of female PWG micro-pigs were treated with a cooling device (CRYOLIPO II(™)), and we examined the treatment effects using photography, three-dimensional photography, ultrasound, gross, and microscopic pathology, and serum lipid level analyses in order to determine the mechanism of action, efficacy, and safety of CRYOLIPO II(™).

RESULTS

CRYOLIPO II(™) successfully reduced abdominal fat in our porcine model. Gross and microscopic histological results confirmed the noninvasive cold-induced selective subcutaneous fat destruction, and showed increases in pre-adipocyte differentiation and in the activation of lipid catabolism. In particular, we found that CRYOLIPO II(™) may increase PPARδ (delta) levels in adipose tissue at 30-60 days post-treatment.

CONCLUSION

Fat reduction by cryolipolysis was successfully achieved in our porcine model. Thus, our findings indicate that CRYOLIPO II(™) may be a promising fat reduction device for body contouring and fat reduction in humans, and that cryolipolysis exerts its effects, at least partly, by targeting the PPARδ signaling pathway. These results show that both investigative and diagnostic potentials capacity.

Comparative assessment of physicochemical properties of unripe peach (Prunus persica) and Japanese apricot (Prunus mume)

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the physicochemical properties of unripe peach-Prunus persica cv. Mibaekdo (Mibaekdo) and Prunus persica cv. Nagasawa Hakuho (Nagasawa Hakuho) as an alternative to food supplement while Japanese apricot (Prunus mume cv. Backaha) (Backaha) was used as a control sample.

METHODS

The unripe fruits were analyzed for soluble solid ( ˚Brix), titratable acidity, pH, total polyphenol content, 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity, amygdalin content, free amino acid content, organic acid content, free sugar content, and α-amylase activities.

RESULTS

Total polyphenol content of unripe peach ranged between 137.27-151.64 µg/g whereas that of apricot was 160.73 µg/g. DPPH radical scavenging activities of Backaha was the highest (89.16%) followed by Mibaekdo (85.05%) and Nagasawa Hakuho (41.50%). The highest amount of oxalic acid (612.8 mg/100 g) was observed in Mibaekdo while that of Nagasawa Hakuho and Backaha were (184.6±18.1) and (334.8±16.1) mg/100 g, respectively. Amygdalin contents of Mibaekdo, Nagasawa Hakuho and Backaha were 486.61, 548.60 and 174.28 µg/g, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

The results suggest that the unripe fruit of peach has a significant biochemical potential of using as a food supplement with potential health benefit for human health.

Thoroughbred Horse Single Nucleotide Polymorphism and Expression Database: HSDB

Genetics is important for breeding and selection of horses but there is a lack of well-established horse-related browsers or databases. In order to better understand horses, more variants and other integrated information are needed. Thus, we construct a horse genomic variants database including expression and other information. Horse Single Nucleotide Polymorphism and Expression Database (HSDB) (http://snugenome2.snu.ac.kr/HSDB) provides the number of unexplored genomic variants still remaining to be identified in the horse genome including rare variants by using population genome sequences of eighteen horses and RNA-seq of four horses. The identified single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were confirmed by comparing them with SNP chip data and variants of RNA-seq, which showed a concordance level of 99.02% and 96.6%, respectively. Moreover, the database provides the genomic variants with their corresponding transcriptional profiles from the same individuals to help understand the functional aspects of these variants. The database will contribute to genetic improvement and breeding strategies of Thoroughbreds.

Genome-wide Association Study of Integrated Meat Quality-related Traits of the Duroc Pig Breed

The increasing importance of meat quality has implications for animal breeding programs. Research has revealed much about the genetic background of pigs, and many studies have revealed the importance of various genetic factors. Since meat quality is a complex trait which is affected by many factors, consideration of the overall phenotype is very useful to study meat quality. For integrating the phenotypes, we used principle component analysis (PCA). The significant SNPs refer to results of the GRAMMAR method against PC1, PC2 and PC3 of 14 meat quality traits of 181 Duroc pigs. The Genome-wide association study (GWAS) found 26 potential SNPs affecting various meat quality traits. The loci identified are located in or near 23 genes. The SNPs associated with meat quality are in or near five genes (ANK1, BMP6, SHH, PIP4K2A, and FOXN2) and have been reported previously. Twenty-five of the significant SNPs also located in meat quality-related QTL regions, these result supported the QTL effect indirectly. Each single gene typically affects multiple traits. Therefore, it is a useful approach to use integrated traits for the various traits at the same time. This innovative approach using integrated traits could be applied on other GWAS of complex-traits including meat-quality, and the results will contribute to improving meat-quality of pork.

Accurate estimation of effective population size in the korean dairy cattle based on linkage disequilibrium corrected by genomic relationship matrix

Linkage disequilibrium between markers or genetic variants underlying interesting traits affects many genomic methodologies. In many genomic methodologies, the effective population size (Ne) is important to assess the genetic diversity of animal populations. In this study, dairy cattle were genotyped using the Illumina BovineHD Genotyping BeadChips for over 777,000 SNPs located across all autosomes, mitochondria and sex chromosomes, and 70,000 autosomal SNPs were selected randomly for the final analysis. We characterized more accurate linkage disequilibrium in a sample of 96 dairy cattle producing milk in Korea. Estimated linkage disequilibrium was relatively high between closely linked markers (>0.6 at 10 kb) and decreased with increasing distance. Using formulae that related the expected linkage disequilibrium to Ne, and assuming a constant actual population size, Ne was estimated to be approximately 122 in this population. Historical Ne, calculated assuming linear population growth, was suggestive of a rapid increase Ne over the past 10 generations, and increased slowly thereafter. Additionally, we corrected the genomic relationship structure per chromosome in calculating r(2) and estimated Ne. The observed Ne based on r(2) corrected by genomics relationship structure can be rationalized using current knowledge of the history of the dairy cattle breeds producing milk in Korea.

Harmful and beneficial relationships between alcohol consumption and subclinical atherosclerosis

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Arterial stiffness and increased intima-media wall thickness are two of the main predictors of cardiovascular disease (CVD). We evaluated whether brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) and common carotid artery intima-media wall thickness (CCA-IMT) are correlated with alcohol consumption in a cross-sectional study among Korean men and women aged 40 years and over.

METHODS AND RESULTS

All 5539 subjects (2121 men and 3418 women) were participants in the Multi-Rural Communities cohort (MRcohort) study, a part of the Korean Genome Epidemiology Study (KoGES). The baPWV was positively correlated with alcohol consumption in men (p for trend <0.0001). Age (middle-aged versus elderly) modified the effect of alcohol consumption on PWV. On the other hand CCA-IMT decreased with alcohol consumption in men. There was no favorable zone of alcohol consumption in terms of baPWV and CCA-IMT. Adjustment for lipid profiles substantially attenuated the relationship between alcohol consumption and CCA-IMT. There was no clear relation between alcohol consumption and baPWV/CCA-IMT in women.

CONCLUSIONS

Along with a linear harmful relationship between alcohol consumption and arterial stiffness in men there may also be a beneficial relationship between alcohol consumption and carotid intima-wall thickness. The effect of alcohol on arterial stiffness may be slightly stronger in elderly men, and the effect of alcohol on CCA-IMT may be mediated by lipid factors.

Deleted copy number variation of Hanwoo and Holstein using next generation sequencing at the population level

BACKGROUND

Copy number variation (CNV), a source of genetic diversity in mammals, has been shown to underlie biological functions related to production traits. Notwithstanding, there have been few studies conducted on CNVs using next generation sequencing at the population level.

RESULTS

Illumina NGS data was obtained for ten Holsteins, a dairy cattle, and 22 Hanwoo, a beef cattle. The sequence data for each of the 32 animals varied from 13.58-fold to almost 20-fold coverage. We detected a total of 6,811 deleted CNVs across the analyzed individuals (average length = 2732.2 bp) corresponding to 0.74% of the cattle genome (18.6 Mbp of variable sequence). By examining the overlap between CNV deletion regions and genes, we selected 30 genes with the highest deletion scores. These genes were found to be related to the nervous system, more specifically with nervous transmission, neuron motion, and neurogenesis. We regarded these genes as having been effected by the domestication process. Further analysis of the CNV genotyping information revealed 94 putative selected CNVs and 954 breed-specific CNVs.

CONCLUSIONS

This study provides useful information for assessing the impact of CNVs on cattle traits using NGS at the population level.

Preferential location for arterial dissection presenting as golf-related stroke

SUMMARY

Golf-related stroke has not been systematically reviewed. The purpose of our study was to describe in detail this particular stroke syndrome. Seven patients were analyzed at a university hospital and 7 patients were reviewed from MEDLINE literature. General demographics, symptom onset, neurologic signs, radiologic findings, and outcome were investigated. A total of 14 patients including 7 patients from the MEDLINE search were analyzed; all were men, with a mean age of 46.9 ± 12.8 years. Symptom onset was classified as during the golf swing (n = 9), unknown (n = 3), and after playing golf (n = 2). Most patients (n = 12) showed involvement of the vertebral artery and 2 patients showed involvement of the internal carotid artery (P = .008). Nine dissections were found on the right side, 3 on the left side, and 2 were bilateral (P = .046). Twelve patients had extracranial involvement and 2 patients had intracranial involvement (P = .008). Seven patients returned to normal, 5 returned to independence, 1 had unknown status, and 1 died. The anatomic preference of golf-related craniocervical arterial dissection is associated with the extracranial and vertebrobasilar system with a right-sided tendency as the result of stereotypical rotational movement during a golf swing.

Comparison of the Incidence of parenchymal hematoma and poor outcome in patients with carotid terminus occlusion treated with intra-arterial urokinase alone or with combined IV rtPA and intra-arterial urokinase

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Patients with acute CTO generally have a poor prognosis, despite IV or IA thrombolytic treatment. The goal of this study was to analyze the results of patients with CTO who had IA urokinase treatment with or without initial IV rtPA based on a bridging protocol.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Sixteen consecutive patients with acute ischemic stroke due to CTO who had combined IV and IA or a single IA thrombolytic treatment were enrolled. The baseline characteristics and prognosis were described. The patients who did and did not develop a PH shortly after treatment were compared.

RESULTS

The mean age was 66.4 years, and the median initial NIHSS score was 17. The median dose of IA urokinase was 320,000 U, and recanalization (TICI grade II-III) was achieved in 12 patients (75%). However, 5 patients died and 10 patients had poor prognosis with mRS 5-6 at discharge. Six patients (37.5%) with a PH had a higher NIHSS score 1 day after treatment (26.7 versus 13.6, P = .002), and they had more frequent mortality (66.7% versus 10.0%, P = .018) and worse prognosis (mRS 5-6; 100% versus 40%, P = .016) at discharge than patients without PH.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with CTO who received IA urokinase treatment based on a bridging protocol had a poor prognosis. The development of PH might affect this outcome.

Comparison of diamond-like carbon-coated nitinol stents with or without polyethylene glycol grafting and uncoated nitinol stents in a canine iliac artery model

OBJECTIVE

Neointimal hyperplasia is a major complication of endovascular stent placement with consequent in-stent restenosis or occlusion. Improvements in the biocompatibility of stent designs could reduce stent-associated thrombosis and in-stent restenosis. We hypothesised that the use of a diamond-like carbon (DLC)-coated nitinol stent or a polyethylene glycol (PEG)-DLC-coated nitinol stent could reduce the formation of neointimal hyperplasia, thereby improving stent patency with improved biocompatibility.

METHODS

A total of 24 stents were implanted, under general anaesthesia, into the iliac arteries of six dogs (four stents in each dog) using the carotid artery approach. The experimental study dogs were divided into three groups: the uncoated nitinol stent group (n = 8), the DLC-nitinol stent group (n = 8) and the PEG-DLC-nitinol stent group (n = 8).

RESULTS

The mean percentage of neointimal hyperplasia was significantly less in the DLC-nitinol stent group (26.7±7.6%) than in the nitinol stent group (40.0±20.3%) (p = 0.021). However, the mean percentage of neointimal hyperplasia was significantly greater in the PEG-DLC-nitinol stent group (58.7±24.7%) than in the nitinol stent group (40.0±20.3%) (p = 0.01).

CONCLUSION

Our findings indicate that DLC-coated nitinol stents might induce less neointimal hyperplasia than conventional nitinol stents following implantation in a canine iliac artery model; however, the DLC-coated nitinol stent surface when reformed with PEG induces more neointimal hyperplasia than either a conventional or DLC-coated nitinol stent.

Identification of oxidized serum albumin in the cerebrospinal fluid of ischaemic stroke patients

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

  Extensive evidence has shown that oxidative stress mediates neuronal death in animal models of hypoxic-ischaemia. Brain biomarkers of oxidative stress need to be identified in order to better understand and treat brain damage in human stroke patients. The present study was conducted to identify potential target proteins of oxidative stress in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of stroke patients with acute ischaemic brain injury.

METHODS

  We performed two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis to separate protein samples obtained from the CSF of control and stroke patients. To determine protein oxidation levels, oxyblot was then used to detect protein carbonyls that were determined by formation of a stable 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine (DNP) product using an anti-DNP antibody.

RESULTS

  We found that oxidation of serum albumin was increased in the CSF from stroke patients as well as rats who underwent permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion (6.5%, 23%, respectively). In stroke patients, oxidized albumin levels correlated to neurologic indications.

CONCLUSIONS

  The present study suggests that oxidized albumin in CSF can be utilized as an oxidative stress marker in human stroke patients.

Gibberellin-producing endophytic fungi isolated from Monochoria vaginalis

The role of endophytic fungi in plant growth and development is well documented. However, endophytic fungi with growth promotion capacity have never been isolated from weeds previously. In the current study, we isolated 8 fungal endophytes from the roots of Monochoria vaginalis, a serious weed of rice paddy in Korea. These isolates were screened on Waito-C, in order to identify plant growth promoting metabolites. Two fungal isolates (M5.A & M1.5) significantly promoted the plant height and shoot length of Waito-C during preliminary screening experiments. The culture filtrates (CFs) of M5.A and M1.5 also promoted the shoot length of Echinocloa crusgalli. Gibberellins (GAs) analysis of the CFs of M5.A and M1.5 showed that these endophytic fungi secrete higher quantities of GAs as compared with wild-type G. fujikuroi KCCM12329. The CF of M5.A contained bioactive GAs (GA3, 2.8 ng/ml; GA4, 2.6 ng/ml, and GA7, 6.68 ng/ml) in conjunction with physiologically inactive GA9 (1.61 ng/ml) and GA24 (0.18 ng/ml). The CF of M1.5 contained physiologically active GAs (GA3, 1.64 ng/ml; GA4, 1.37 ng/ml and GA7, 6.29 ng/ml) in conjunction with physiologically inactive GA9 (3.44 ng/ml), GA12 (0.3 ng/ml), and GA24 (0.59 ng/ml). M5.A and M1.5 were identified as new strains of Penicillium sp. and Aspergillus sp., respectively, based on their 18S rDNA sequence homology and phylogenetic analysis.

Exogenous gibberellic acid reprograms soybean to higher growth and salt stress tolerance

The agricultural industry is severely affected by salinity due to its high magnitude of adverse impacts and worldwide distribution. We observed the role of exogenous gibberellic acid (GA(3)) in salinity alleviation of soybean. We found that GA(3) application significantly promoted plant length and plant fresh/dry biomass while markedly hindered by NaCl induced salt stress. The adverse effect of salt stress was mitigated by GA(3), as growth attributes significantly recovered, when GA(3) was added to salt stressed soybean plants. Elevated GA(3) treatments increased daidzein and genistein contents (commonly known as phytoestrogens) of soybean leaves under control and salt stress conditions. Phytohormonal analysis of soybean showed that the level of bioactive gibberellins (GA(1) and GA(4)) and jasmonic acid increased in GA(3) treated plants, while the endogenous abscisic acid and salicylic acid contents declined under the same treatment. GA(3) mitigated the adverse effects of salt stress by regulating the level of phytohormones, thus aiding the plant in resuming its normal growth and development. The presence of GA(1) and GA(4) showed that both early-C13-hydroxylation and non-C13-hydroxylation pathways of GA biosynthesis are functional in soybean. It was concluded that GA(3) ameliorates the adverse effects of salt stress and restores normal growth and development of soybean.

Self-assembled growth and luminescence of crystalline Si/SiOx core-shell nanowires

Crystalline Si/SiOx core/shell nanowires (NWs) are self-assembled by annealing Ni-coated hydrogenated Si-rich SiOx (SRO:H) films at 1100 degrees C in the presence of Si powder. Plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition is used to grow 100 nm SRO:H thin films with varying silicon concentration (n(Si)). The NWs vary from SiOx nanowires to Si/SiOx core/shell structures depending on the composition of the SRO:H substrate, with the fraction of core/shell structures increasing with increasing Si concentration. As n(Si) increases from 37 to 43 at.%, the average diameter of the NWs also increases from 48 to 157 nm. A growth model based on the diffusion-assisted vapor-liquid-solid mechanism is proposed to explain how the core/shell structures are self-assembled. Photoluminescence (PL) spectra of the individual NWs have two major emission bands in the near UV (381 nm) and blue (423 nm) ranges at n(Si) = 43 at.%, named as UV and BL PL bands, respectively. In contrast, only the BL PL band is observed at n(Si) < or = 39 at.%. These results suggest that the BL and UV PL bands can be attributed to the defect states in the SiOx shell and at the Si core/SiOx shell interface, respectively, and that the BL band is closely related to the growth process of the NWs.