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As global warming increases day/night temperatures as well as frequencies of heat waves, studying physiological responses in long-term heat stress is required for sustainable yield production in the future. In this study, effects of long-term heat stress on photosynthetic, morphological, and yield parameters of three cherry tomato accessions, HR17, HR22, and HR24, were evaluated. The experiment was conducted under two temperature greenhouse conditions, where temperature set-point for ventilation was 30 °C and 35 °C during the day for 57 days, respectively. Plants were harvested on the 35th days and 57th days after heat treatments, and their physiological and morphological characteristics and yield traits were measured. Under control conditions, HR17 and HR22 had 0.5–0.6 harvest index, while HR24 had 0.3 harvest index. On 35th days after heat treatment, although yield loss percentage of HR17 was high (43%), it produced the highest fruit yield among all three accessions. However, after longer heat treatment, HR24 produced the highest fruit yields among all accessions with the smallest yield loss (34%). Furthermore, yield loss was highly associated with reductions in nitrogen use efficiency and water content in plant body under heat stress. The results of this study will provide breeders with a new insight into selecting heat-tolerant genotypes in cherry tomatoes.

Benefits chitosan-fermented feed additives (CFFAs) particularly in the regulation of the immune system and antimicrobial activity. Therefore, we investigated the immune-enhancing and bacterial clearance effects of CFFA (fermented by Bacillus licheniformis) on broiler chickens Salmonella Gallinarum challenge. We administered 2% or 4% CFFA evaluated its immune-enhancing effects using several immunological experiments, including examination of lysozyme activity, lymphocyte proliferation, and expression of cytokines. We also evaluated the bacterial clearance effects of CFFA against S. Gallinarum. CFFA administration markedly enhanced lysozyme activity, lymphocyte proliferation, and the expression of interleukin (IL)-2, IL-12, tumor necrosis factor alpha, and interferon gamma in the spleen. In broilers challenged with S. Gallinarum, the clinical signs of S. Gallinarum infection and the number of viable bacterial colonies in the feces and tissues decreased in both CFFA groups. Therefore, CFFAs could be good candidates for feed additive to improve nonspecific immune responses and bacterial clearance.

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical characteristics of nondiabetic nephropathy in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients and to find a clinical significance of renal biopsy and immunosuppressive treatment in such a patient. Methods: Renal biopsy results, clinical parameters, and renal outcomes were analyzed in 75 diabetic patients who underwent kidney biopsy at Chungnam National University Hospital from January 1994 to December 2010. Results: The three most common reasons for renal biopsy were nephrotic range proteinuria (44%), proteinuria without diabetic retinopathy (20%), and unexplained decline in renal function (20.0%). Ten patients (13.3%) had only diabetic nephropathy (Group I); 11 patients (14.7%) had diabetic nephropathy with superimposed nondiabetic nephropathy (Group II); and 54 patients (72%) had only nondiabetic nephropathy (Group III). Membranous nephropathy (23.1%), IgA nephropathy (21.5%), and acute tubulointerstitial nephritis (15.4%) were the three most common nondiabetic nephropathies. Group III had shorter duration of diabetes and lesser diabetic retinopathy than Groups I and II (P=0.008). Group II had the lowest baseline estimated glomerular filtration rate (P=0.002), with the greatest proportion of renal deterioration during follow-up (median 38.0 months, P

Purpose. Topotecan and belotecan are camptothecin derivatives that are used to treat small cell lung cancer (SCLC). This study compared the toxicities and efficacies of belotecan and topotecan monotherapies in patients with SCLC. Methods. We retrospectively reviewed data from 94 patients with SCLC (with or without prior chemotherapy) who were treated using belotecan monotherapy (n=59, 188 cycles) or topotecan monotherapy (n=35, 65 cycles) between September 2003 and December 2011. Results. Thrombocytopenia occurred during 42% and 61.5% of the belotecan and topotecan cycles, respectively (p=0.007). Significant differences between belotecan and topotecan were also observed for grade 4/5 lung infection (3.2% versus 10.8%, resp.; p=0.003), all-grade headache (3.2% versus 10.8%, resp.; p=0.017), and grade 4/5 increased liver enzymes (0.5% versus 4.6%, resp.; p=0.023). The median TTPDs, CSSs, and OSs were 14 months and 11.6 months (p=0.646), 10 months and 7 months (p=0.179), and 34.5 months and 21.4 months (p=0.914) after belotecan and topotecan monotherapy, respectively. Conclusions. Belotecan monotherapy may be safer than topotecan monotherapy in SCLC patients. And in terms of efficacy, belotecan could be comparable to topotecan monotherapy.

BACKGROUND Recent studies suggest that high levels of serum uric acid of very early life are a result of the in-utero environment and may lead to elevated blood pressure (BP) in adulthood. However, serum uric acid levels can change throughout life. We investigated the effect of serum uric acid levels in childhood on the BP tracking and analysed BP according to changes in serum uric acid levels in early life. METHODS A total of 449 children from the Ewha Birth and Growth Cohort study underwent at least 2 follow-up examinations. Data were collected across 3 check-up cycles. Serum uric acid levels, BP, and anthropometric characteristics were assessed at 3, 5, and 7 years of age. RESULTS Children with a serum uric acid level higher than the median values had significantly increased systolic BP (SBP) and diastolic BP at 3 years of age. Baseline serum uric acid levels measured at 3 years of age, significantly affected subsequent BP in the sex and body mass index adjusted longitudinal data analysis (P < 0.05). Considering the changing pattern of serum uric acid over time, subjects with high uric acid levels at both 3 and 5 years of age had the highest SBP at 7 years of age. CONCLUSIONS These findings suggest the importance of maintaining an adequate level of serum uric acids from the early life. Appropriate monitoring and intervention of uric acid levels in a high-risk group can reduce the risk of a future increased BP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Dickkopf 1 (DKK1) has been extensively investigated in mouse models of multiple myeloma, which results in osteolytic bone lesions. Elevated DKK1 levels in bone marrow plasma and serum inhibit the differentiation of osteoblast precursors. Present pharmaceutical approaches to target bone lesions are limited to antiresorptive agents. In this study, we developed a cyclized oligopeptide against DKK1-low density lipoprotein receptor-related protein (LRP) 5/6 interaction and tested the effects of the oligopeptide on tumor burden. Materials and Methods: A cyclized oligopeptide based on DKK1-LRP5/6 interactions was synthesized chemically, and its nuclear magnetic resonance structure was assessed. Luciferase reporter assay and mRNA expressions of osteoblast markers were evaluated after oligopeptide treatment. MOPC315.BM.Luc cells were injected into the tail vein of mice, after which cyclized oligopeptide was delivered subcutaneously 6 days a week for 4 weeks. Results: The cyclized oligopeptide containing NXI motif bound to the E1 domain of LRP5/6 effectively on surface plasmon resonance analysis. It abrogated the Wnt-β-catenin signaling inhibited by DKK1, but not by sclerostin, dose dependently. RT-PCR and alkaline phosphatase staining showed increased expressions of osteoblast markers according to the treatment concentrations. Bioluminescence images showed that the treatment of cyclized oligopeptide reduced tumor burden more in oligopeptide treated group than in the vehicle group. Conclusion: The cyclized oligopeptide reported here may be another option for the treatment of tumor burden in multiple myeloma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) is a common cause of antibiotic-associated diarrhea with an increase in severity and frequency in the recent times. CDI can be refractory and relapses, especially in the elderly or patients with significant comorbidities. Conventional treatments with antibiotics often fail to cure the infection. Even when successfully treated, recurrent infection is common. Some studies have reported that fecal transplantation may be effective and safe for the treatment of recurrent and intractable CDI. We present two CDI cases (one recurrent and one refractory) which were treated successfully by fecal transplantation using enema. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract As global temperatures have steadily increased over past decades, studying of the impacts of heat stress on morpho-physiological traits and economic yields of horticultural crops have been increasingly gained attentions by many scientists and farmers. Hot pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) is an important vegetable crop mostly grown in open-fields in South Korea. In this study, the impacts of prolonged heat stress on three hot pepper genotypes differing by levels of stress susceptibility were evaluated. The study was conducted in two different temperature-controlled greenhouses for 75 days. 48 days old plants were grown in control and heat-treated greenhouses where the temperatures had been set at 30 °C and 35 °C during the day for 75 days, respectively. Morphological, physiological, and nutrient characteristics of three accessions were measured. All hot pepper accessions were enabled to recover from prolonged heat stress exposures within approximately a month. The phenomenon of recovery was observed in some significant morphological and physiological characteristics. For example, the plant growth rate and photosynthesis rate significantly increased after 40th days of heat treatment. The heat stress sensitivity varied between genotypes. The plants that produced more fruits over biomass at early stage of heat treatment had relatively slow recovery, resulting in the largest yield loss. This key morphological characteristic can be used for future breeding program to adapt the prolonged heat stress.