Development of diagnostic SNP markers and a novel SNP genotyping assay for distinguishing opium poppies.

The opium poppy acts as an important natural pain reliever but is also responsible for increased rates of severe drug abuse and addiction owing to its characteristic psychoactive effect. Non-medical illicit use of the poppy plant is markedly increasing worldwide, thereby highlighting the need for a robust species identification strategy. In this study, we identified SNPs within the region of two universal DNA barcodes, matK (maturase K) and the trnL-trnF (tRNA-Leu [3'exon]-tRNA-Phe [exon] intergenic spacer, that are forensically applicable for distinguishing opium poppy species based on a genetic analysis of 164 samples of family Papaveraceae obtained from locations spanning Jeolla-do and Jeju Island, Republic of Korea.

A new minisatellite VNTR marker, Pscp1, discovered for the identification of opium poppy.

Opium poppy, a member of the Papaveraceae family, is an ancient herbaceous plant and well-known medical resource in the pharmaceutical industry. However, opium poppies are grown worldwide for producing illicit drugs, significantly increasing the incidence of narcotic drug abuse. Since the narcotic poppy has not yet been genetically investigated, we characterized a novel variable number tandem repeat (VNTR) marker of forensically important poppy species based on the genetic analysis of 164 samples collected from two locations spanning the Jeolla province and Jeju island of South Korea.

High Quality AlN Layer Grown on Patterned Sapphire Substrates by Hydride Vapor-Phase Epitaxy: A Route for Cost Efficient AlN Templates for Deep Ultraviolet Light Devices.

We report the characteristics of AlN epilayers grown directly on cylindrical-patterned sapphire substrates (CPSS) by hydride vapor-phase epitaxy (HVPE). To evaluate the effect of CPSS, we analyzed the threading dislocation densities (TDDs) of AlN films grown simultaneously on CPSS and flat sapphire substrate (FSS) by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The corresponding TDD is measured to be 5.

Laparoscopic Ablation System for Complete Circumferential Renal Sympathetic Denervation.

Goal: The catheter-based renal denervation (RDN) showed promising results for patients in lowering BP, but there were also many non-responders. One of the possible reasons was the incomplete neural ablation due to the ablation of renal nerves at random sites resulting in asymmetric innervation patterns along the renal artery.

Methods: We developed a laparoscopic ablation system that is optimized for complete RDN regardless of renal arterial innervation and size.

Laparoscopic Renal Denervation System for Treating Resistant Hypertension: Overcoming Limitations of Catheter-Based Approaches.

Goal: In a pivotal clinical trial, the percutaneous catheter-based renal denervation system developed to treat resistant hypertension did not show effectiveness in reducing blood pressure because of its fundamental limitation to ablate deeper nerves present around the renal artery.

Methods: We propose a new renal denervation strategy called laparoscopicdenervation system (LDS) based-on laparoscopy procedure to ablate the renal nerves completely but inhibit the thermal arterial damage.The system has flexible electrodes to bend around the arterial wall to ablate nervesThe simulation study using validated in-silico models evaluated the heat distributionon the outer arterial wall,and an acute animal study (swine model) was conducted to demonstrate the feasibility of LDS in vivo.

Effects of breathing exercises on resting metabolic rate and maximal oxygen uptake.

[Purpose] The aim of the present study is to examine effects of diaphragm breathing exercise and feedback breathing exercise on maximal oxygen uptake and resting metabolic rate. [Participants and Methods] Thirty-eight healthy participants were randomly assigned to two groups; the diaphragm breathing exercise group and the feedback breathing exercise group. The diaphragm breathing exercise group was asked to perform diaphragm respiration, and the feedback breathing exercise group was asked to breathe with feedback breathing device.

Effect of diaphragm breathing exercise applied on the basis of overload principle.

[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to examine effects of diaphragm breathing exercise applied on the basis overload principle on respiratory function. [Subjects and Methods] The subjects of this study were 35 normal adults. They were randomly assigned to two group; the maneuver-diaphragm exercise group and self-diaphragm exercise group.

Effects of diaphragm breathing exercise and feedback breathing exercise on pulmonary function in healthy adults.

[Purpose] The present study investigated effects of diaphragm breathing exercise and feedback breathing exercise on respiratory function. [Subjects and Methods] Thirty-one subjects were randomly assigned to two groups; the feedback breathing exercise group and the maneuver-diaphragm exercise group. The feedback breathing exercise group was asked to breathe with feedback breathing device, and the maneuver-diaphragm exercise group was asked to perform diaphragm respiration.

Ascorbic acid and vitamin C-containing beverages delay the leucomalachite green reaction to detect latent bloodstains.

The leucomalachite green (LMG) test is one of catalytic tests for the detection of latent bloodstains and generally used in forensic field because of convenience and cost/time-effectiveness. However, contamination of latent bloodstains at crime scenes can interfere with the LMG reaction, resulting in false-negative or false-positive decisions. Herein, we examined if ascorbic acid and vitamin C (l-ascorbic acid or ascorbate)-containing beverages affect the LMG reaction.

Effects of Kinesio taping on joint position sense of the ankle.

[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of Kinesio taping on the joint position sense of the ankle. [Subjects and Methods] The subjects of this study were 26 nomal adults who had experienced ankle sprain. Kinesio taping was applied over the ankle medial ligament and ankle lateral ligament with eight pattern reinforcement taping.

Correlation between head posture and proprioceptive function in the cervical region.

[Purpose] The aim of the present study was to investigate correlation between head posture and proprioceptive function in the cervical region. [Subjects and Methods] Seventy-two subjects (35 males and 37 females) participated in this study. For measurement of head posture, the craniovertebral angle was calculated based on the angle between a horizontal line passing through C7 and a line extending from the tragus of the ear to C7.

Effects of increased standing balance on pain in patients with knee osteoarthritis.

[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between standing balance increased through muscle-strengthening exercises and pain in knee osteoarthritis patients. [Subjects and Methods] Thirty knee osteoarthritis patients were equally divided into a strengthening exercise group and an unstable exercise group. Before and after the six-week experiment, the visual analogue scale was measured, and bilateral one-leg standing tests were performed.

The effect of cervical stabilization exercise on active joint position sense: A randomized controlled trial.

We attempted to investigate the effect of cervical stabilization exercise for a period of 5 weeks on active joint position sense in healthy young adults. Twenty-four subjects were randomly assigned to either the exercise group or the control group. The exercise group performed cervical stabilization exercise during the 5-week period.

Effects of craniocervical flexion exercise on upper-limb postural stability during a goal-directed pointing task.

[Purpose] This study investigated the effects of craniocervical flexion exercise on upper-limb postural stability by measuring upper-limb postural tremor during a goal-directed pointing task. [Subjects and Methods] Twenty-four subjects were randomly assigned to the exercise or control group. The exercise group performed craniocervical flexion exercise four days per week for five weeks.

Effects of the ankle angle of an ankle foot orthosis on foot pressure during the gait in healthy adults.

[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of the ankle angle of an ankle foot orthosis (AFO) on foot pressure during the gait in healthy adults. [Subjects] Sixteen healthy males with neither orthopedic nor neurological problems participated in this study. [Methods] Subjects walked on a walkway at a self-selected pace with an AFO set at four different ankle angles (-5°, 0°, 5°, and 10°).

Characteristics of cervical position sense in subjects with forward head posture.

[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of forward head posture (FHP) on proprioception by determining the cervical position-reposition error. [Subjects and Methods] A sample population was divided into two groups in accordance with the craniovertebral angle: the FHP group and the control group. We measured the craniovertebral angle, which is defined as the angle between a horizontal line passing through C7 and a line extending from the tragus of the ear to C7.

The influence of exercise on an unstable surface on the physical function and muscle strength of patients with osteoarthritis of the knee.

[Purpose] This study investigated the influence of exercise on an unstable surface on ROM of the knee, muscle strength and the physical function of patients with osteoarthritis of the knee. [Subjects] The subjects were 30 patients diagnosed with degenerative osteoarthritis of the knee, they were divided into an experimental group (n=15) and a control group (n=15). [Methods] The experimental group performed exercise using an aero step XL (TOGU, Germany) 3 times a week, for 6 weeks.

The anti-adipogenic effects of (-)epigallocatechin gallate are dependent on the WNT/β-catenin pathway.

(-)Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) is the most abundant catechin in green tea and reportedly has anti-obesity and anti-adipogenic effects. In this study, we determined that the up-regulation of the WNT/β-catenin pathway is the anti-adipogenic mechanisms of EGCG in 3T3-L1 cells. EGCG treatment down-regulates the expression of major genes involved in the adipogenesis pathway including peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)γ, CCAAT/enhancer binding protein (C/EBP)α, fatty acid binding protein (FABP)4 and fatty acid synthase (FASN), while up-regulating the nuclear level of β-catenin.

CD53, a suppressor of inflammatory cytokine production, is associated with population asthma risk via the functional promoter polymorphism -1560 C>T.

Background: In this study, the association of asthma with CD53, a member of the tetraspanin family, was assessed for the first time in a mechanism-based study.

Methods: Genetic polymorphisms of CD53 were analyzed in 591 subjects and confirmed in a replication study of 1001 subjects. CD53 mRNA and protein levels were measured in peripheral blood leukocytes, and the effects of the promoter polymorphisms on nuclear factor binding were examined by electrophoretic mobility shift assay.

Anti-adipogenic effects of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 are mediated by the maintenance of the wingless-type MMTV integration site/β-catenin pathway.

1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1,25(OH)2D3), the active metabolite of vitamin D, was found to have anti-adipogenic activity, however, its mechanism of action has not been fully elucidated. In this study, 3T3-L1 preadipocytes were differentiated in the presence and absence of 1,25(OH)2D3, and the expression of the genes and proteins of the wingless-type MMTV integration site (WNT)/β-catenin pathway were analyzed. While the expression of the members of the WNT/β-catenin pathway were significantly downregulated during the adipogenesis of untreated 3T3-L1 cells, 1,25(OH)2D3 treatment was found to maintain the WNT/β-catenin pathway.

Beta-catenin promoter polymorphism is associated with asthma risk in Korean subjects.

Objectives: The effects of β-catenin promoter haplotypes on its mRNA expression levels and asthma risks were investigated in Korean subjects.

Design And Methods: The genotype analyses were conducted by a Taqman method for 684 Korean subjects, 400 controls and 284 with asthma. Measurement of mRNA expression levels in peripheral blood nucleated cells were conducted on subjects whose buffy coat fractions were available (n=185).

Copy number variation of CCL3L1 influences asthma risk by modulating IL-10 expression.

Background: Copy number of Chemokine ligand 3-like 1 (CCL3L1) is associated with various immune disorders. This study was conducted to assess the role of CCL3L1 in asthma by both association analyses of human subjects and in vitro functional analyses.

Methods: We analyzed the copy number of the CCL3L1 gene in 533 Korean subjects (372 controls and 161 asthma patients) by real-time PCR, and investigated the effect of recombinant CCL3L1 protein on THP-1 human monocytic cells that were stimulated with house dust mite extract.

WNT/β-catenin pathway mediates the anti-adipogenic effect of platycodin D, a natural compound found in Platycodon grandiflorum.

Aims: This study was conducted to suggest the role of WNT/β-catenin pathway in the anti-adipogenic effect of platycodin D, a natural compound found in Platycodon grandiflorum.

Main Methods: Gene knockdown experiments using small interfering RNA (siRNA) transfection were conducted to elucidate crucial role of β-catenin in the anti-adipogenic effects of platycodin D. Real-Time PCR and Western blot were used to analyze the expression levels of mRNAs and proteins in the WNT/β-catenin pathway.

WNT/β-catenin pathway is modulated in asthma patients and LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 macrophage cell line.

In the present study, we investigated the possibility that the WNT/β-catenin pathway plays a role in inflammatory responses both in an human inflammatory condition and in an in vitro inflammation model. First, we analyzed gene expression patterns of the peripheral blood cells from asthma patients compared with those from normal subjects using microarray analyses. We found that intracellular signaling molecules of the WNT/β-catenin pathway were significantly changed in asthma patients compared with the levels in the controls.

AICAR, an activator of AMPK, inhibits adipogenesis via the WNT/β-catenin pathway in 3T3-L1 adipocytes.

AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) is known to sense the cellular energy state and regulates various cellular energy metabolism pathways through its activation by AMP, an indicator of a low-energy state. 5-Aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide-1-β-D-ribofuranoside (AICAR), an activator of AMPK, efficiently inhibited the adipogenesis of 3T3-L1 cells. To elucidate its possible mechanism of action, the expression levels of β-catenin and other members of the WNT/β-catenin pathway were analyzed during the adipogenesis of 3T3-L1 cells in the presence or absence of AICAR.