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Background: The prevalence of idiopathic scoliosis is rapidly increasing in Korean children, but research on the disorder is limited compared to that in other countries. Accordingly, in the present study, we aimed to investigate the relationship between idiopathic scoliosis and body mass index (BMI) levels in Korean children. Methods: This cross-sectional study enrolled elementary school students and middle school first graders in the Capital Area in Korea. The participants underwent body composition measurements and screening for idiopathic scoliosis. Idiopathic scoliosis was defined as a Cobb angle of ≥10°. The students were classified into three groups—the severely underweight (SUW: BMI < 16 kg/m²) group, the underweight group (UW: 16 ≤ BMI < 18.5 kg/m²), and the normal weight group (NW: 18.5 ≤ BMI < 25 kg/m²) to compare the risk of idiopathic scoliosis across BMI levels. Results: The final cohort comprised 1375 participants. The odds ratio (OR) of idiopathic scoliosis was 0.69 (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.50–0.94) and 0.66 (95% CI: 0.49–0.89) for the UW and the NW groups, respectively, with the SUW group as the reference. This shows that the risk decreased significantly by 31% and 34% in the UW and the NW groups, respectively. After controlling for age and sex, the corresponding ORs were 0.72 (95% CI: 0.52–0.98) and 0.70 (95% CI: 0.51–0.96), and the risk significantly decreased by 28% and 30% in the UW and the NW groups, respectively. Conclusions: Low body weight is closely associated with spinal deformity and idiopathic scoliosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Opioid-induced respiratory depression (OIRD) causes death following an opioid overdose, yet the neurobiological mechanisms of this process are not well understood. Here, we show that neurons within the lateral parabrachial nucleus that express the μ-opioid receptor (PBLOprm1 neurons) are involved in OIRD pathogenesis. PBLOprm1 neuronal activity is tightly correlated with respiratory rate, and this correlation is abolished following morphine injection. Chemogenetic inactivation of PBLOprm1 neurons mimics OIRD in mice, whereas their chemogenetic activation following morphine injection rescues respiratory rhythms to baseline levels. We identified several excitatory G protein–coupled receptors expressed by PBLOprm1 neurons and show that agonists for these receptors restore breathing rates in mice experiencing OIRD. Thus, PBLOprm1 neurons are critical for OIRD pathogenesis, providing a promising therapeutic target for treating OIRD in patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, Based on the analysis of the correlation between internal control quality and earnings management, this article discusses the correlation between internal control quality and real activity earnings management and accrued earnings management. For this study, by introducing the concept, classification, measurement method and model of internal control and earnings management, the research hypothesis of this article was proposed. In this analysis, Use the relevant measurement model to calculate the actual activity earnings management level and accrued earnings management level of the enterprise, as the explained variable, establish a model for regression and were analyzed. Also, this study could find the final results draws a conclusion through empirical research: there is a significant negative correlation between the internal control quality of listed companies, real activity earnings management, and accrued earnings management. On the basis of this conclusion, the analysis of possible causes provides a basis for the development of internal control theory and the supervision and control of earnings management behavior in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbamoyl phosphate synthetase-1 (CPS1) is the major mitochondrial urea cycle enzyme in hepatocytes. It is released into mouse and human blood during acute liver injury, where is has a short half-life. The function of CPS1 in blood and the reason for its short half-life in serum are unknown. We show that CPS1 is released normally into mouse and human bile, and pathologically into blood during acute liver injury. Other cytoplasmic and mitochondrial urea cycle enzymes are also found in normal mouse bile. Serum, bile, and purified CPS1 manifest sedimentation properties that overlap with extracellular vesicles, due to the propensity of CPS1 to aggregate despite being released primarily as a soluble protein. During liver injury, CPS1 in blood is rapidly sequestered by monocytes, leading to monocyte M2-polarization and homing to the liver independent of its enzyme activity. Recombinant CPS1 (rCPS1), but not control r-transferrin, increases hepatic macrophage numbers and phagocytic activity. Notably, rCPS1 does not activate hepatic macrophages directly; rather, it activates bone marrow and circulating monocytes that then home to the liver. rCPS1 administration prevents mouse liver damage induced by Fas ligand or acetaminophen, but this protection is absent in macrophagedeficientmice. Moreover, rCPS1 protects from acetaminophen-induced liver injury even when given therapeutically after injury induction. In summary, CPS1 is normally found in bile but is released by hepatocytes into blood upon liver damage. We demonstrate a nonenzymatic function of CPS1 as an antiinflammatory protective cytokine during acute liver injury. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Decursin is a major biological active component of Angelica gigas Nakai and is known to induce apoptosis of metastatic prostatic cancer cells. Recently, other reports have been commissioned to examine the anticancer activities of this plant. In this study, we evaluated the inhibitory activity and related mechanism of action of decursin against glioblastoma cell line. Decursin demonstrated cytotoxic effects on U87 and C6 glioma cells in a dose-dependent manner but not in primary glial cells. Additionally, decursin increased apoptotic bodies and phosphorylated JNK and p38 in U87 cells. Decursin also down-regulated Bcl-2 as well as cell cycle dependent proteins, CDK-4 and cyclin D1. Furthermore, decursin-induced apoptosis was dependent on the caspase activation in U87 cells. Taken together, our data provide the evidence that decursin induces apoptosis in glioblastoma cells, making it a potential candidate as a chemotherapeutic drug against brain tumor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lipotoxicity-induced mesangial cell apoptosis is implicated in the exacerbation of diabetic nephropathy (DN). Protein arginine methyltransferases (PRMTs) have been known to regulate a variety of biological functions. Recently, it was reported that PRMT1 expression is increased in proximal tubule cells under diabetic conditions. However, their roles in mesangial cells remain unexplored. Thus, we examined the pathophysiological roles of PRMTs in mesangial cell apoptosis. Treatment with palmitate, which mimics cellular lipotoxicity, induced mesangial cell apoptosis via protein kinase RNA-like endoplasmic reticulum kinase (PERK) and ATF6-mediated endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress signaling. Palmitate treatment increased PRMT1 expression and activity in mesangial cells as well. Moreover, palmitate-induced ER stress activation and mesangial cell apoptosis was diminished by PRMT1 knockdown. In the mice study, high fat diet-induced glomerular apoptosis was attenuated in PRMT1 haploinsufficient mice. Together, these results provide evidence that lipotoxicity-induced PRMT1 expression promotes ER stress-mediated mesangial cell apoptosis. Strategies to regulate PRMT1 expression or activity could be used to prevent the exacerbation of DN. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gitelman syndrome is characterized by hypokalemia, metabolic alkalosis, hypocalciuria, and hypomagnesemia. The clinical course of Gitelman syndrome in pregnant women remains unclear, but it is thought to be benign. We report here the first Korean case of atypical eclampsia in a 31-year-old who was diagnosed with Gitelman syndrome incidentally during an antenatal screening test. The patient did well during pregnancy despite significant hypokalemia. At 33 weeks' gestation, the patient exhibited eclampsia, hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, low platelets (HELLP) syndrome, and renal insufficiency without significant hypertension or proteinuria. We explain this unusual clinical course through a review of the relevant literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The purpose of this study was to analyse the association between resting heart rate (RHR) and type 2 diabetes and hypertension in Korean adults.Methods: A total of 5124 participants, who participated in the exercise programme at the National Health Promotion Center between 2007 and 2010 (male=904, female=4220) were analysed in this study. Anthropometrics, body mass index (BMI), blood pressure (BP) and RHR were measured, and blood samples were collected after fasting for at least 12 hours.Results: To investigate the association between RHR and metabolic parameters, participants were divided into quartiles. Participants in the fourth quartile (RHR >80 beats per minute (bpm) showed significantly higher systolic and diastolic BP and glucose compared with participants in the first quartile (RHR <69 bpm). When logistic regression analyses were performed, participants in the fourth quartile of RHR had 2.76 times (95% CI 2.03 to 3.77; absolute risk (AR): 12.1% (166/1371)) higher odds of type 2 diabetes and 1.27 times (95% CI 1.04 to 1.55; AR: 22.2% (304/1371)) higher odds of hypertension compared with those in the first quartile of RHR (type 2 diabetes AR: 5.3% (71/1346); hypertension AR: 18.9% (254/1346)). Multiple regression analyses showed that both BMI and RHR were significantly associated with glucose and mean arterial pressure.Conclusions: RHR is significantly associated with type 2 diabetes and hypertension independent of age, gender, BMI, smoking, drinking and family history of disease. RHR in combination with BMI, and multiple linear regression analyses emphasise the importance of the association of RHR with type 2 diabetes and hypertension in Korean adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In this study, the anti-melanogenesis efficacy of clinically used herbal prescription LASAP-C, which consists of four herbal medicines--Rehmanniae Radix Crudus, Lycii Fructus, Scutellariae Radix, and Angelicae Dahuricae Radix, was investigated. Methods: The chemical profile of LASAP-C was established by conducting ultra-performance liquid chromatography- electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry. Anti-melanogenic efficacy was evaluated by tyrosinase, tyrosinase-related protein (TRP)-1, and TRP-2 expression in B16F10 melanoma cells. In vivo evaluation was performed by using zebrafish model. Results: Molecular evidences suggested that melanin synthesis was inhibited via the down-regulation of tyrosinase, tyrosinase-related protein (TRP)-1, and TRP-2 expression in B16F10 melanoma cells treated with LASAP-C. The anti-melanogenesis efficacy was also confirmed in vivo by using the zebrafish model. Conclusion: The results of this study provide strong evidences that LASAP-C can be used as an active component in cosmeceutical products for reducing excess pigmentation in the human skin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Voltage-sensing phosphatases (VSPs) are homologs of phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN), a phosphatidylinositol 3,4-bisphosphate [PI(3,4)P2] and phosphatidylinositol 3,4,5-trisphosphate [PI(3,4,5)P3] 3-phosphatase. However, VSPs have a wider range of substrates, cleaving 3-phosphate from PI(3,4)P2 and probably PI(3,4,5)P3 as well as 5-phosphate from phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate [PI(4,5)P2] and PI(3,4,5)P3 in response to membrane depolarization. Recent proposals say these reactions have differing voltage dependence. Using Förster resonance energy transfer probes specific for different PIs in living cells with zebrafish VSP, we quantitate both voltagedependent 5- and 3-phosphatase subreactions against endogenous substrates. These activities become apparent with different voltage thresholds, voltage sensitivities, and catalytic rates. As an analytical tool, we refine a kinetic model that includes the endogenous pools of phosphoinositides, endogenous phosphatase and kinase reactions connecting them, and four exogenous voltage-dependent 5- and 3-phosphatase subreactions of VSP. We show that apparent voltage threshold differences for seeing effects of the 5- and 3-phosphatase activities in cells are not due to different intrinsic voltage dependence of these reactions. Rather, the reactions have a common voltage dependence, and apparent differences arise only because each VSP subreaction has a different absolute catalytic rate that begins to surpass the respective endogenous enzyme activities at different voltages. For zebrafish VSP, our modeling revealed that 3-phosphatase activity against PI(3,4,5)P3 is 55-fold slower than 5-phosphatase activity against PI(4,5)P2; thus, PI(4,5)P2 generated more slowly from dephosphorylating PI(3,4,5)P3 might never accumulate.When 5-phosphatase activity was counteracted by coexpression of a phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate 5-kinase, there was accumulation of PI(4,5)P2 in parallel to PI(3,4,5)P3 dephosphorylation, emphasizing that VSPs can cleave the 3-phosphate of PI(3,4,5)P3. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Thromboangiitis obliterans or Buerger's disease is a nonatherosclerotic, segmental, inflammatory vasculitis that is strongly associated with tobacco products and commonly affects the small- and medium-sized arteries of the upper and lower extremities. However, the disease can, rarely, involve large central or visceral arteries. We report here the case of end stage renal disease due to renal artery thrombosis caused by thromboangiitis obliterans. Case presentation: A 51-year-old Korean man who had previously required amputation of both great toes due to thromboangiitis obliterans presented with left flank pain and oliguria. Both his renal arteries were occluded on contrast-enhanced abdominal computed tomography and abdominal angiography. He also had abdominal angina. He had no risk factor of thromboembolism from cardiac origin, atherosclerosis except for tobacco abuse, collagen diseases or hypercoagulable disorders. Renal failure and mesenteric ischemia associated with thromboangiitis obliterans progression was diagnosed. Conclusions: Renal failure due to renal artery thrombosis and mesenteric ischemia represents an unusual manifestation of thromboangiitis obliterans. But once it occurs, it can be life-threatening. When we care for a patient with thromboangiitis obliterans, we should pay attention to this rare disease course, and encourage cessation of the smoking of tobacco products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Peptide: N-glycanase (PNGase) A is used preferentially to cleave the glycans from plant and insect glycopeptides. Although many putative PNGase A homologous genes have been found in the plant and fungus kingdoms through sequence similarity analyses, only several PNGases from plants and one from a filamentous fungus have been characterized. In this study, we identified and characterized a PNGase A-like enzyme, PNGase Yl, in the dimorphic yeast Yarrowia lipolytica. The corresponding gene was cloned and recombinantly expressed in Pichia pastoris. The purified enzyme cleaved glycans from glycopeptides with the maximum activity at pH 5. No metal ions were required for full activity, and rather it was repressed by three metal ions (Fe3+, Cu2+ and Zn2+). Using glycopeptide substrates, PNGase Yl was shown to release various types of N-glycans including high-mannose and complex-type glycans as well as glycans containing core-linked α(1,3)-fucose that are frequently found in plants and insects. Moreover, in comparison with PNGase A, PNGase Yl was able to cleave with higher efficiency the glycans from some denatured glycoproteins. Taken together, our results suggest that PNGase Yl, the first biochemically characterized yeast PNGase A homologue, can be developed through protein engineering as a useful deglycosylation tool for N-glycosylation study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Arginine methylation is responsible for diverse biological functions and is mediated by protein arginine methyltransferases (PRMTs). Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is accompanied by excessive hepatic lipogenesis via liver X receptor α (LXRα). Thus we examined the pathophysiological role of PRMTs in NAFLD and their relationship with LXRα. In this study, palmitic acid (PA) treatment increased PRMT3, which is correlated with the elevation of hepatic lipogenic proteins. The expression of lipogenic proteins was increased by PRMT3 overexpression, but decreased by PRMT3 silencing and use of the PRMT3 knockout (KO) mouse embryonic fibroblast cell line. PRMT3 also increased the transcriptional activity of LXRα by directly binding with LXRα in a methylation-independent manner. In addition, PA treatment translocated PRMT3 to the nucleus. In animal models, a high-fat diet increased the LXRα and PRMT3 expressions and binding, which was not observed in LXRα KO mice. Furthermore, increased PRMT3 expression and its binding with LXRα were observed in NAFLD patients. Taken together, LXRα and PRMT3 expression was increased in cellular and mouse models of NAFLD and human patients, and PRMT3 translocated into the nucleus bound with LXRα as a transcriptional cofactor, which induced lipogenesis. In conclusion, PRMT3 translocation by PA is coupled to the binding of LXRα, which is responsible for the onset of fatty liver. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study was conducted to investigate the effect of Sagunja-tang on the lipid related disease in a rat model of menopausal hyperlipidemia and lipid accumulation in methyl-β-cyclodextrin-induced HepG2 cells. In in vivo study using menopausal hyperlipidemia rats, Sagunja-tang reduced retroperitoneal and perirenal fat, serum lipids, atherogenic index, cardiac risk factor, media thickness, and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis score, when compared to menopausal hyperlipidemia control rats. In HepG2 cells, Sagunja-tang significantly decreased the lipid accumulation, total cholesterol levels, and low-density/very-low-density lipoprotein levels. Moreover, Sagunja-tang reversed the methyl-β-cyclodextrin-induced decrease in the protein levels of critical molecule involved in cholesterol synthesis, sterol regulatory element binding protein-2, and low-density lipoprotein receptor and inhibited protein levels of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase as well as activity Phosphorylation level of AMP-activated protein kinase was stimulated by Sagunja-tang. These results suggest that Sagunja-tang has effect on inhibiting hepatic lipid accumulation through regulation of cholesterol synthesis and AMPK activity in vitro. These observations support the idea that Sagunja-tang is bioavailableboth in vivo and in vitro and could be developed as a preventive and therapeutic agent of hyperlipidemia in postmenopausal females. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background During their reproductive years about 10% of women experience some kind of symptoms before menstruation (PMS) in a degree that affects their quality of life (QOL). Acupuncture and herbal medicine has been a recent favorable therapeutic approach. Thus we aimed to review the effects of acupuncture and herbal medicine in the past decade as a preceding research in order to further investigate the most effective Korean Medicine treatment for PMS/PMDD. Methods A systematic literature search was conducted using electronic databases on studies published between 2002 and 2012. Our review included randomized controlled clinical trials (RCTs) of acupuncture and herbal medicine for PMS/PMDD. Interventions include acupuncture or herbal medicine. Clinical information including statistical tests was extracted from the articles and summarized in tabular form or in the text. Study outcomes were presented as the rate of improvement (%) and/or end-of-treatment scores. Results The search yielded 19 studies. In screening the RCTs, 8 studies in acupuncture and 11 studies in herbal medicine that matched the criteria were identified. Different acupuncture techniques including traditional acupuncture, hand acupuncture and moxibustion, and traditional acupuncture technique with auricular points, have been selected for analysis. In herbal medicine, studies on Vitex Agnus castus, Hypericum perforatum, Xiao yao san, Elsholtzia splendens, Cirsium japonicum, and Gingko biloba L. were identified. Experimental groups with Acupuncture and herbal medicine treatment (all herbal medicine except Cirsium japonicum) had significantly improved results regarding PMS/PMDD. Conclusions Limited evidence supports the efficacy of alternative medicinal interventions such as acupuncture and herbal medicine in controlling premenstrual syndrome and premenstrual dysphoric disorder. Acupuncture and herbal medicine treatments for premenstrual syndrome and premenstrual dysphoric disorder showed a 50% or better reduction of symptoms compared to the initial state. In both acupuncture and herbal medical interventions, there have been no serious adverse events reported, proving the safety of the interventions while most of the interventions provided over 50% relief of symptoms associated with PMS/PMDD. Stricter diagnostic criteria may have excluded many participants from some studies. Also, depending on the severity of symptoms, the rate of improvement in the outcomes of the studies may have greatly differed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rice (Oryza sativa) is one of the major food crops in world agriculture, especially in Asia. However, the possibility of subsequent occurrence of flood and drought is a major constraint to its production. Thus, the unique behavior of rice toward flooding and drought stresses has required special attention to understand its metabohc adaptations. However, despite several decades of research investigations, the cellular metabolism of rice remains largely unclear. In this study, in order to elucidate the physiological characteristics in response to such abiotic stresses, we reconstructed what is to our knowledge the first metabolic/regulatory network model of rice, representing two tissue types: germinating seeds and photorespiring leaves. The phenotypic behavior and metabolic states simulated by the model are highly consistent with our suspension culture experiments as well as previous reports. The in silico simulation results of seed-derived rice ceils indicated (1) the characteristic metabolic utilization of glycolysis and ethanolic fermentation based on oxygen availability and (2) the efficient sucrose breakdown through sucrose synthase instead of invertase. Similarly, flux analysis on photorespiring leaf cells elucidated the crucial role of plastid-cytosol and mitochondrion-cytosol malate transporters in recycling the ammonia liberated during photorespiration and in exporting the excess redox cofactors, respectively. The model simulations also unraveled the essential role of mitochondrial respiration during drought stress. In the future, the combination of experimental and in silico analyses can serve as a promising approach to understand the complex metabolism of rice and potentially help in identifying engineering targets for improving its productivity as well as enabling stress tolerance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The β-subunits of voltage-gated Ca2+ (CaV) channels regulate the functional expression and several biophysical properties of high-voltage-activated CaV channels. We find that CaV β-subunits also determine channel regulation by the membrane phospholipid phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PIP2). When CaV1.3, -2.1, or -2.2 channels are cotransfected with the β3-subunit, a cytosolic protein, they can be inhibited by activating a voltage-sensitive lipid phosphatase to deplete PIP2. When these channels are coexpressed with a β2a-subunit, a palmitoylated peripheral membrane protein, the inhibition is much smaller. PIP2 sensitivity could be increased by disabling the two palmitoylation sites in the β2a-subunit. To further test effects of membrane targeting of CaV β-subunits on PIP2 regulation, the N terminus of Lyn was ligated onto the cytosolic β3-subunit to confer lipidation. This chimera, like the CaV β2a-subunit, displayed plasma membrane localization, slowed the inactivation of CaV2.2 channels, and increased the current density. In addition, the Lyn-β3 subunit significantly decreased CaV channel inhibition by PIP2 depletion. Evidently lipidation and membrane anchoring of CaV β-subunits compete with the PIP2 regulation of high-voltage-activated CaV channels. Compared with expression with CaV β3-subunits alone, inhibition of CaV2.2 channels by PIP2 depletion could be significantly attenuated when β2a was coexpressed with β3. Our data suggest that the CaV currents in neurons would be regulated by membrane PIP2 to a degree that depends on their endogenous β-subunit combinations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This study was undertaken to evaluate the beneficial effects of a modified prescription of Sutaehwan named Sutaehwan-Gami (SG), created by adding Rhizoma dioscoreae and Carthami semen to Sutaehwan, on menopausal symptoms. Methods: To evaluate the estrogenic effect of SG, we first examined estrogen receptor (ER) activation by SG treatment in breast adenocarcinoma cells and confirmed the estrogenic effect of SG in vivo ovariectomized rats. The animals were randomized into four groups: Sham operated group (Sham), saline treated ovariectomized group (OVX), SG treated group (SG) and raloxifene treated group (RLX). Animals were provided with SG at a dose of 500 mg/kg bw/day and RLX at a dose of 5.4 mg/kg bw/day with standard rat pellets for 3 months. Results: SG significantly increased ERα phosphorylation, and its downstream effectors, extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) and protein kinase B (Akt) phosphorylation in breast adenocarcinoma cells. Treatment with SG reversed ovariectomy-induced uterine weight reduction and weight gain. Decreases in the levels of GOT and GPT were observed in the SG group. The significantly reduced E2β level in OVX rats was raised by treatment with SG. Moreover, SG significantly increased the phosphorylation levels of ERK and Akt in the uterus. Conclusion: Taken together, these data indicate that SG has phytoestrogen-like properties through ERK and Akt activation, implying that it could be protective and beneficial for the management of menopausal symptoms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For the ex vivo expansion of CD34 cells, culture conditions were optimized using cytokine cocktails and media change methods. In addition, static, orbital-shake, and stirred cultures were compared. After cultivation, total cell expansion, immunophenotypes, clonogenic ability, and metabolite concentration in media were analyzed. Optimized media change methods enhanced the number of total nucleated cells (TNCs) by 600-fold (from 10 to 6 × 10 cells) in static cultures. Furthermore, intermittent orbital-shake cultures gave the highest fold increase of TNCs and CD34/CD38 cells. These results imply that proliferation of CD34 cells in intermittent shake cultures was more efficient than that in static cultures under optimized culture conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For reconstruction after distal gastrectomy, the Roux-en-Y gastrojejunostomy is superior to the Billroth II gastrojejunostomy in terms of bile reflux. Roux-en-Y gastrojejunostomy prevents reflux gastritis, esophagitis, and carcinogenesis of the gastric remnant. However, the Roux-en-Y gastrojejunostomy is relatively complicated and lengthy. The authors perform a simple, safe Roux-en-Y gastrojejunostomy using modified hemi-double stapling. We applied this technique to 42 patients with gastric cancer. The average operating and reconstruction times were 172.6 ± 42.0 and 26.2 ± 4.8 min, respectively. The postoperative courses were uneventful and the patients were discharged 11.2 ± 2.4 days postoperatively. Neither leakage nor bleeding from the gastrojejunostomy has occurred postoperatively. The postoperative follow-up was 7–24 months and no local recurrence or stricture at the gastrojejunostomy site occurred. Roux-en-Y gastrojejunostomy using the modified hemi-double stapling technique can achieve reconstruction more simply, safely and quickly, and may provide an alternative reconstruction method for distal gastrectomy. Copyright © 2009 S. Karger AG, Basel [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The mesengenic multipotency of cryopreserved periosteum-derived progenitor cells (PDPCs) for chondrogenesis, osteogenesis and adipogenesis was investigated. Differentiation was verified using RT-PCR and histological analysis. For characterization, FACS analysis was performed with specific surface markers of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). Among PDPCs, unsorted periosteum-derived cells (PDCs) and dermal fibroblasts, the most distinct characteristics were found to be CD9, CD105, and CD166. In addition, these markers in PDPCs were continuously maintained until passage 15. We developed a rapid method for the isolation of PDPCs that can differentiate into mesodermal lineages and provide enough cells in a short period of time for allogeneic cell therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Periosteum-derived progenitor cells (PDPCs) could be differentiated into cartilage using atelocollagen as a carrier and in the presence of transforming growth factor-β3 (TGF-β3). Chondrogenesis was verified by RT-PCR and Western blotting. Expression of the type II collagen mRNA was found from the differentiated PDPCs in atelocollagen 3 weeks after chondrogenic induction. The chondrogenic potential of the PDPCs was also verified by histochemical staining for type II collagen protein. Increased production of glycosaminoglycan shows that the PDPCs in atelocollagen could differentiate into chondrocytes under a chondrogenic environment. PDPCs can therefore be used as a cell source for cell-based therapies targeted toward the articular cartilage of the knee. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transgenic suspension cells of Oryza sativa L. cv. Dongjin utilized as a host for producing recombinant human cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen 4-immunoglobulin (hCTLA4Ig) were preserved in liquid nitrogen (−196 °C) after slow prefreezing in a deep freezer (−70 °C). The development of an optimal procedure for long-term storage was investigated by the addition of various concentrations of cryoprotectant mixture and osmoticum in preculture media before cooling. A pre-deep-freezing time of 120 min was the most effective for maintaining cell viability. Compared with mannitol, sorbitol, trehalose, and NaCl under the same osmotic conditions, 0.5 M sucrose was found to be the best osmoticum for preculture media. The cryoprotectant comprising sucrose, glycerol, and dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) was applied to the precultured cells, and a combination of 1 M sucrose, 1 M glycerol, and 1 M DMSO provided the best result. The viability with this optimized condition was 88% after cryocell-banking for 1 day. The expression of hCTLA4Ig in recovered callus from cryopreservation was also kept stable, and the production level was similar to that observed in noncryopreserved cultures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Monitoring of live cells is important in the field of medical science, diagnostics, biology, and the pharmaceutical industry. In this study, live and dead CHO-K1 (Chinese Hamster Ovary) cells were fractionated by continuous-flow extraction in a microfluidic device using immiscible aqueous two-phase extraction technique. The polymer solutions offered stable two-phase flows in microchannel without diffusive mixing. The fundamentals of aqueous two-phase extraction can support stable and reproducible recovery and separation of biomolecules in microfluidic devices. Polyethylene glycol 8000 (PEG 8000, 4%) and dextran T500 (5%) were selected as model polymer solutions. The appropriate flow rates of polymer and cell solutions were suggested. The fractionation efficiency of live and dead CHO K-1 cells from the culture broth was compared in normal macroscale system and microfluidic device. The optimum pH for the fractionation was 6.6 in both the normal and micro-scale systems. The loss of target live cells by sedimentation was circumvented in microfluidic device because of the negligible effect of gravity on the sedimentation. Most live cells were distributed to PEG-rich phase, while dead cells were found at the interface of two polymer solutions in microchannel. In this case, the recovery and fractionation efficiency of live cells in the PDMS-based microfluidic device was 100% and 97.0%, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Periosteum-derived progenitor cells (PDPCs) were isolated by characteristic surface markers. Reproducibility of immunophenotypes of the PDPCs was characterized by flow cytometric analysis using fluorescence-activated cell sorter (FACS). SH2+, SH3+, SH4+, CD9+, CD90+ and CD105+ were important eternal characteristic cell surface markers for the PDPCs. The characterized PDPCs maintained their chondrogenic potential in pellet cultures until the 15th passage from primary cell culture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We propose a new prototype Chinese-to-Korean machine translation system called TOTAL-CK, a prototype transfer based MT system designed for the large-scale practical domain. TOTAL-CK consists of the components of analysis, transfer, and generation. In this paper, we mainly discuss the transfer issues resulting from stylistic structural differences between Chinese and Korean. The dependency grammar formalism is employed for Chinese parsed trees and their equivalent Korean parsed trees. We deal with structural transfer ambiguities that arise when a given source language syntactic pattern is potentially translated by a number of different target language syntactic patterns. Also, structural transfer ambiguities are the major complex transfer problem appearing during dependency transferring, in an SVO pattern that most frequently occurs in Chinese sentences. There are three types of structural transfer ambiguity: transitive transfer, subject-governing transfer and verb-governing transfer. They are discovered by analyzing the ambiguity and the related formalism. Finally, we present a thesaurus-based disambiguation approach for dependency structural transfer, which is adopted in TOTAL-CK. Our approach achieves 94.6% in precision for SVO sentences and 93.5% for overall sentences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]