Trophic Ecology of Endangered Gold-Spotted Pond Frog in Ecological Wetland Park and Rice Paddy Habitats.

The gold-spotted pond frog () is an endangered amphibian species in South Korea. In order to obtain ecological information regarding the gold-spotted pond frog's habitat environment and biological interactions, we applied stable isotope analysis to quantify the ecological niche space (ENS) of frogs including black-spotted pond frogs () and bullfrogs () within the food web of two different habitats-an ecological wetland park and a rice paddy. The gold-spotted pond frog population exhibited a broader ENS in the ecological wetland park than in the rice paddy.

Spatiotemporal variability in a copepod community associated with fluctuations in salinity and trophic state in an artificial brackish reservoir at Saemangeum, South Korea.

Saemangeum Reservoir in South Korea is an estuarine system enclosed by a dyke construction, where seawater inflow and retained water outflow are managed by the opening/closing of sluice gates installed in the southern part of the dyke. An exchange of the reservoir water can cause spatiotemporal fluctuations in the salinity and trophic state, which are major drivers determining variation in the composition of biological communities in estuarine systems. Here, we investigated the seasonal and spatial variability in the copepod community and environmental conditions (water temperature, salinity, transparency, chlorophyll a concentration, total nitrogen, total phosphorus and Carlson's trophic state index) based on seasonally conducted field monitoring in the Saemangeum Reservoir from July 2013 to January 2018.

Generation of Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells from Amniotic Fluid Cells of a Fetus with Hb Bart's Disease.

Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) derived from diseased patients behave as a powerful tool for biomedical research and may provide a source for replacement therapies. In this study, we generated iPSCs from amniotic fluid cells of a fetus with Hb Bart's (γ4) disease (- -/- -). The established iPSCs showed pluripotency similar to that of human embryonic stem cells.

Combination of Hb Heze [β144(HC1)Lys→Arg; HBB: c.434A>G] and β-Thalassemia in a Chinese Patient with β-Thalassemia Intermedia.

We first report a novel β chain variant, Hb Heze [β144(HC1)Lys→Arg; HBB: c.434A>G], in a Chinese family. Heterozygous inheritance of the mutation results in a mild β-thalassemia (β-thal) phenotype, whereas compound heterozygosity of Hb Heze with β-thal appears as the cause of β-thal intermedia (β-TI) in our case.

First Report of a Chinese Family Carrying a Double Heterozygosity for Hb Q-Thailand and Hb J-Bangkok.

The double heterozygosity for α and β chain variants leads to the formation of abnormal heterodimer hybrids, which could render laboratory diagnostics in a routine setting difficult. The following is the first report of a double heterozygosity for Hb Q-Thailand [α74(EF3)Asp→His; HBA1: c.223G>C] with α-thalassemia (α-thal) and Hb J-Bangkok [β56(D7)Gly→Asp; HBB: c.

Hb Alesha [β67(E11)Val→Met (GTG>ATG); HBB: c.202G > A] Found in a Chinese Girl.

Mutations that cause destabilization of the hemoglobin (Hb) tetramer are a rare cause of hemolytic anemia. In contrast to the hemolytic anemia caused by enzyme deficiencies, a dominant mode of inheritance characterizes the unstable Hbs. Hb Alesha [β67(E11)Val→Met; HBB: c.

Hydrops Fetalis Associated with Compound Heterozygosity for Hb Zurich-Albisrieden (HBA2: C.178G > C) and the Southeast Asian (- -/) Deletion.

Hb Zurich-Albisrieden [HBA2: c.178G > C; α59(E8)Gly→Arg (α2)] is a rare nondeletional α-thalassemia (α-thal) that results from a nucleotide substitution at codon 59 of the α2-globin gene. In this report, we present a fetus with cardiomegaly, enlarged placenta and increased middle cerebral artery-peak systolic velocity (MCA-PSV) at 25 weeks' gestation.

A New δ-Globin Gene Variant: Hb A2-Fengshun [δ121(GH4)Glu→Lys (HBD: c.364G > A)].

An elevated Hb A2 (α2δ2 level) is a diagnostic marker for heterozygous β-thalassemia (β-thal). Mutations in the δ-globin gene can cause decreased expression of Hb A2, compromising screening for heterozygous β-thal. In this report, we describe a novel missense mutation of the δ-globin [Hb A2-Fengshun or δ121(GH4)Glu→Lys, HBD: c.

Diagnostic Dilemma of Hb Perth [β32(B14)Leu→Pro; HBB: c.98T > C] in Mainland China.

Unstable hemoglobin (Hb) variants represent a rare etiology of congenital hemolytic anemia. Correct diagnosis can be a challenge due to the relative rarity or lack of awareness of this disorder. We report an 18-month-old girl, who presented with a long-standing hemolytic anemia.

First Case of a Compound Heterozygosity for Two Nondeletional α-Thalassemia mutations, Hb Constant Spring and Hb Quong Sze.

Nondeletional α-thalassemia (α-thal) is the result of point mutations in critical regions of the α-globin genes, affecting mRNA processing, mRNA translation, or α-globin stability. Hb Constant Spring (Hb CS, HBA2: c.427T > C) is the most common nondeletional α-thal that results from a nucleotide substitution at the termination codon of the α2-globin gene.

Consequences of Delayed Prenatal Diagnosis of β-Thalassemia in Mainland China.

β-Thalassemia (β-thal) is one of the most common inherited single gene disorders in the world. The aim of this study was to describe the gestational age at prenatal diagnosis (PND) for β-thal in at-risk women in mainland China. All pregnant women at-risk for β-thal and undergoing PND at a Mainland Chinese tertiary obstetric center between January 2005 and December 2014 were included.

[Coix lachryma jobi L varma-yuan induces apoptosis of jurkat cell line in acute T lymphoblast leukemia and its mechanism].

The aim of the present study was to investigate the anti-proliferation and pro-apoptosis effect of Coix lachrymajobi L varma-yuan on acute T lymphoblast leukemia cell line Jurkat cells and its mechanism. Jurkat cells were treated with Coix lachrymajobi L varma-yuan of various concentrations (0, 0.4, 0.