Comparative analysis on natural variants of fire blight resistance protein FB_MR5 indicates distinct effector recognition mechanisms.

FB_MR5 is a nucleotide-binding domain and leucine-rich repeat protein identified from wild apple species Malus × robusta 5 conferring disease resistance to bacterial fire blight. FB_MR5 (hereafter MrMR5) recognizes the cysteine protease effector EaAvrRpt2 secreted from the causal agent of bacterial fire blight, Erwinia amylovora. We previously reported that MrMR5 is activated by the C-terminal cleavage product (ACP3) of Malus domestica RIN4 (MdRIN4) produced by EaAvrRpt2-directed proteolysis.

The Synergistic Effects of Environmental and Genetic Factors on the Regulation of Anthocyanin Accumulation in Plant Tissues.

Anthocyanin accumulation is responsible for the coloration of apple fruit, and their accumulation depends on the expression of anthocyanin biosynthesis-related genes. Light is an environmental stimulus that induces fruit color by regulating genes involved in the anthocyanin biosynthesis pathway. In this study, the roles of light and genetic factors on fruit coloration and anthocyanin accumulation in apple fruit were investigated.

Serum Fibroblast Growth Factor 21 and New-Onset Metabolic Syndrome: KoGES-ARIRANG Study.

Purpose: Fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) is a crucial metabolic regulator, with multiple favorable effects on glucose homeostasis and lipid metabolism. Since serum FGF21 level has been implicated as a potential marker for the early identification of metabolic syndrome (MetS), we investigated the association between serum FGF21 level and the development of MetS in a population-based prospective study.

Materials And Methods: We conducted a prospective study of 221 randomly sampled adults without MetS from a general population-based cohort study who were examined from 2005-2008 (baseline) and from 2008-2011 (follow-up).

Combined Effect of Initial and Longitudinal Increases in γ-Glutamyltransferase on Incident Metabolic Syndrome: ARIRANG Study.

Purpose: Although γ-glutamyltransferase (GGT) is well known to be associated with metabolic syndrome (MS), prospective data on baseline and longitudinal changes in GGT levels and incident cases of MS are limited. We aimed to examine prospective associations between changes in GGT levels over time, as well as at baseline, and incident MS in Korean adults.

Materials And Methods: A total of 2579 Korean adults free of MS were followed up for 2.

Knotting of a Cervical Epidural Catheter in the Patient with Post-Herpetic Neuralgia: A Rare Complication.

Epidural block is achieved either by single injection of local anesthetic through an epidural needle or as a continuous block by infusion pump through an epidural catheter. Complications associated with epidural catheters include breakage, entrapment, and knotting. Knotting of epidural catheters is very rare, but knotting in lumbar epidural catheters has been reported in a number of studies, and most of these cases involved removal difficulty.

Transient Oliguria during Anesthesia in Cerebral Salt Wasting Syndrome.

Cerebral salt wasting syndrome is a hyponatremic and hypovolemic condition caused by intracranial disorders, such as head injury, subarachnoid hemorrhage, brain tumor, and brain operations. We report a case of a 5-year-old girl that had cerebral salt wasting syndrome with marked polyuria who showed transient oliguria during general anesthesia. The patient had undergone an operation for traumatic intracranial hemorrhage three months prior and has had marked polyuria and hyponatremia since then.

Arginase Inhibition Restores Peroxynitrite-Induced Endothelial Dysfunction via L-Arginine-Dependent Endothelial Nitric Oxide Synthase Phosphorylation.

Purpose: Peroxynitrite plays a critical role in vascular pathophysiology by increasing arginase activity and decreasing endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) activity. Therefore, the aims of this study were to investigate whether arginase inhibition and L-arginine supplement could restore peroxynitrite-induced endothelial dysfunction and determine the involved mechanism.

Materials And Methods: Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were treated with SIN-1, a peroxynitrite generator, and arginase activity, nitrite/nitrate production, and expression levels of proteins were measured.

A prospective study of total sleep duration and incident metabolic syndrome: the ARIRANG study.

Background And Objective: Chronic sleep deprivation is increasingly common in industrialized societies. Recent data have revealed that chronic sleep deprivation is associated with negative health outcome. While prospective studies lack the predictive value of sleep duration to identify individuals at high risk of new-onset metabolic syndrome, total sleep duration may play a role in the development of metabolic abnormalities.

Atlantoaxial Chordoma in Two Patients with Occipital Neuralgia and Cervicalgia.

Chordoma arises from cellular remnants of the notochord. It is the most common primary malignancy of the spine in adults. Approximately 50% of chordomas arise from the sacrococcygeal area with other areas of the spine giving rise to another 15% of chordomas.

Examination of the Ability of N-acetylcysteine Administration during Anesthesia to Prevent Perioperative Deterioration of Pulmonary Function in Patients Undergoing Nephrectomy.

Background: Postoperative pulmonary complications are associated with significant morbidity and mortality in patients undergoing major surgeries. Acetylcysteine is a known antioxidant and is also used as a mucolytic agent to reduce hypersecretion and the viscosity of mucus secretions by the lung. Several studies have revealed that high doses of N-acetylcysteine can significantly prevent pulmonary complications.

Melanopsin mediates light-dependent relaxation in blood vessels.

Melanopsin (opsin4; Opn4), a non-image-forming opsin, has been linked to a number of behavioral responses to light, including circadian photo-entrainment, light suppression of activity in nocturnal animals, and alertness in diurnal animals. We report a physiological role for Opn4 in regulating blood vessel function, particularly in the context of photorelaxation. Using PCR, we demonstrate that Opn4 (a classic G protein-coupled receptor) is expressed in blood vessels.

Inguinal endometriosis in a patient without a previous history of gynecologic surgery.

Endometriosis, defined as growth of endometrial stroma and glands outside the uterine cavity, is a chronic and recurrent disease that affects patients' quality of life. Ectopic endometrial tissue can proliferate at any location in the body, but the pelvic organs and peritoneum are the most frequent implantation sites. Among extrapelvic endometriosis, inguinal endometriosis is a very rare gynecologic condition usually associated with previous pelvic surgery.

The effects of desflurane and sevoflurane on the intraocular pressure associated with endotracheal intubation in pediatric ophthalmic surgery.

Background: For ophthalmic surgery anesthesia, it is vital that intraocular pressure (IOP) is controlled. Most anesthetic drugs affect IOP dose-dependently, and inhalational anesthetics dose-dependently decrease IOP. In this study, we compared the effects of desflurane and sevoflurane on IOP and hemodynamics in pediatric ophthalmic surgery.

Lumbar plexopathy after radical nephrectomy -A case report-.

Lumbar plexopathy is characterized by an abrupt onset of sensory disturbances, weakness, and loss of deep tendon reflexes of lower extremities. The various causes of lumbar plexopathy include trauma, infections, space-occupying lesion, vascular diseases, metabolic diseases, and the use of drugs such as heroin. Postoperative rhabdomyolysis occurs secondary to prolonged muscle compression due to surgical positioning.

Aging impairs vasodilatory responses in rats.

Background: Aging causes profound changes of stiffness and compliance in the cardiovascular system, which contributes to decreased cardiovascular reserve. Mechanisms of the underlying endothelial vasodilator dysfunction in vasodilator signaling pathways may occur at multiple sites within any of these pathways.

Methods: Age-related changes in the vasculature were investigated in adult young (3-6 months, Y) and old (26-29 month, O) Wistar rats (n = 6).

A comparison of the influence of 2.7% sorbitol-0.54% mannitol and 5% glucose irrigating fluids on plasma serum physiology during hysteroscopic procedures.

Background: 2.7% sorbitol-0.54% mannitol has been selected as an alternative irrigating fluid during endoscopic surgery for its theoretical advantages.

Phenotype-specific down-regulation of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors in the pelvic ganglia of castrated rats: implications for neurogenic erectile dysfunction.

Pelvic ganglia (PG) play critical roles in relaying sympathetic and parasympathetic information from the spinal cord to the penile vasculature and, controlling the penile reflex. Animal studies have shown that androgen deprivation by castration causes erectile dysfunction (ED). Until now, however, neural mechanisms underlying castration-induced ED remain unclear.

Stress-induced cardiomyopathy after general anesthesia for total gastrectomy -A case report-.

Stress-induced cardiomyopathy, which is also known as takotsubo cardiomyopathy, is a cardiac syndrome of a transient, reversible left ventricular dysfunction that is caused by emotional and/or physical stress and surgery. Its clinical manifestations are similar to those of myocardial ischemia without a coronary artery lesion. Stress-induced cardiomyopathy is more common in middle-aged women, and the prognosis is favorable.

The vasorelaxatory effect of the milrinone on the preconstricted rat aorta.

Background: Milrinone, phosphodiesterase III inhibitor, has been used effectively in patients with right heart failure, especially resulted from pulmonary hypertension. However, milrinone is often used with alpha- and beta-adrenergic receptor agonist to prevent severe systemic vasodilation and unfavorable hypotension. Furthermore, structural and functional vasacular changes are associated with aging and are greatest in the aorta.

Dilutional hyponatremia developed during hysteroscopic myomectomy: A case report.

Hysteroscopy is a procedure that may appear minimally invasive, but may result in potentially disastrous complications. A hysteroscopy requires the insertion of a hysteroscope into the uterine cavity and the installation of a suitable distention medium for the visualization of the endometrium. Fluid overload due to the absorption of distention media during hysteroscopy can cause mild to severe complications, including hyponatremia, hypoosmolarity, nausea, vomiting, headache, arrhythmia, blindness, confusion, seizure, cerebral edema, brain herniation, and death.

The effects of bee venom pretreatment of an acupoint on inflammation and hyperalgesia induced by peptidoglycan.

Background: Systemic injection of peptidoglycan (PGN) special polymers, which are the primary structural components of most bacterial cell walls, leads to acute inflammation and pain behavior. This study was conducted to confirm that an intraplantar injection of PGN evoked hindpaw inflammation and hyperalgesia, and to evaluate the effects of bee venom (BV) pretreatment of an acupoint on PGN induced inflammation and hyperalgesia.

Methods: Inflammation and hyperalgesia were induced by injecting PGN into the plantar surface of one hindpaw of the rats.

Nondestructive imaging of hidden figures on license plates by X-ray radiograph.

In this case, we investigated the modified license plates. The evidences had new embossing pressed serial numbers after erasing the original numbers on the license plates by hammering. The X-ray radiograph could visualize the hidden figures; those were virtually unseen by naked eyes or undetectable by ordinary photography.

The effect of pretreatment with thiopental on reducing pain induced by rocuronium injection.

We examined whether pretreatment with a small dose of thiopental was effective in reducing pain induced by the intravenous injection of rocuronium. Withdrawal movement was used to assess pain reduction. Ninety patients were randomly assigned to one of two groups: patients in the control group were pretreated with 2 mL saline, and those in the thiopental group were pretreated with 2 mL (50 mg) thiopental.