Morphological abnormalities, impaired fetal development and decrease in myostatin expression following somatic cell nuclear transfer in dogs.

Several mammals, including dogs, have been successfully cloned using somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT), but the efficiency of generating normal, live offspring is relatively low. Although the high failure rate has been attributed to incomplete reprogramming of the somatic nuclei during the cloning process, the exact cause is not fully known. To elucidate the cause of death in cloned offspring, 12 deceased offspring cloned by SCNT were necropsied.

Antibodies against non-immunizing antigens derived from a large immune scFv library.

Target-specific antibodies can be rapidly enriched and identified from an antibody library using phage display. Large, naïve antibody libraries derived from synthetic or unimmunized sources can yield antibodies against virtually any antigen, whereas libraries from immunized sources tend to be smaller and are used exclusively against the antigen of immunization. In this study, 25 scFv libraries made from the spleens of immunized rabbits, each with a size ranging from 10(8) to higher than 10(9), were combined into a single large library with > 10(10) individual clones.

A nationwide seroprevalence of total antibody to hepatitis A virus from 2005 to 2009: age and area-adjusted prevalence rates.

Background/aims: Recent outbreak of hepatitis A in Korea is clearly related to the epidemiological shift of hepatitis A virus (HAV). However, nationwide seroprevalence data have been limited. This study estimated the nationwide, age- and area-adjusted anti-HAV prevalence from 2005 to 2009.

Mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma of the third eyelid conjunctiva in a dog.

A 4-year-old, neutered female Cocker Spaniel was presented to the veterinary clinic for protrusion of the left third eyelid. When the third eyelids from both eyes were everted, lobulated masses were present on the bulbar surface. The left third eyelid had a larger protrusion.

Production of double repeated B subunit of Shiga toxin 2e at high levels in transgenic lettuce plants as vaccine material for porcine edema disease.

Pig edema disease is a bacterial disease caused by enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli. E. coli produces Shiga toxin 2e (Stx2e), which is composed of one A subunit (Stx2eA) and five B subunits (Stx2eB).

The protective effect of ENA Actimineral resource A on CCl4-induced liver injury in rats.

ENA Actimineral Resource A (ENA-A) is alkaline water that is composed of refined edible cuttlefish bone and two different species of seaweed, Phymatolithon calcareum and Lithothamnion corallioides. In the present study, ENA-A was investigated as an antioxidant to protect against CCl(4)-induced oxidative stress and hepatotoxicity in rats. Liver injury was induced by either subacute or chronic CCl(4) administration, and the rats had free access to tap water mixed with 0% (control group) or 10% (v/v) ENA-A for 5 or 8 weeks.

Health selection operating between classes and across employment statuses.

Backgrounds: The debate on health selection which describes the influence of health on subsequent social mobility is highly contested. The authors set out to examine the effect of health selection by looking at the effect of previous health status on changes in socio-economic position (SEP) over two time periods.

Method: Data were pooled from 13 waves (1991-2003) of the British Household Panel Survey (BHPS).

Ascorbate promotes carbon tetrachloride-induced hepatic injury in senescence marker protein 30-deficient mice by enhancing inflammation.

The genetic deletion of the senescence marker protein 30 (SMP30) gene results in ascorbate deficiency and the premature aging processes in mice. Apparent liver injury of SMP30(-/-) mice was less severe than those of wild type (WT) mice, upon chronic CCl(4) injection. The purpose of this study was to investigate the pathophysiology underlying the mild CCl(4) toxicity in SMP30(-/-) mice.

Sustained delivery of human growth hormone using a polyelectrolyte complex-loaded thermosensitive polyphosphazene hydrogel.

A combined system of polyelectrolyte complex (PEC) and injectable, biodegradable and thermosensitive poly(organophosphazene) hydrogel has been suggested as an injectable depot for a controlled and sustained delivery of human growth hormone (hGH) to improve patient compliance. PEC was prepared by mixing polycations with hGH to suppress diffusion of hGH from the hydrogel through an enlargement of the hydrodynamic size of hGH. Among the polycations, poly-L-arginine (PLA) formed a large complex with hGH and its size increased as the amount of PLA increased.

Helicobacter pylori accelerates hepatic fibrosis by sensitizing transforming growth factor-β1-induced inflammatory signaling.

Our earlier report has shown that Helicobacter pylori promoted hepatic fibrosis in a murine model. Herein, in order to elucidate the mechanism by which H. pylori accelerate liver fibrosis, the authors investigated the changes in expression levels of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs), p53-related proteins, antioxidants, and proinflammatory cytokines in liver samples.

In vitro inhibition of Helicobacter pylori growth and of adherence of cagA-positive strains to gastric epithelial cells by Lactobacillus paraplantarum KNUC25 isolated from kimchi.

Lactobacillus paraplantarum KNUC25 strain was isolated from overfermented kimchi, a Korean traditional food. The strain had a broad antimicrobial activity spectrum, from gram-positive to gram-negative bacteria. The aim of this study was to evaluate the activity of L.

Changing molecular epidemiology of group B streptococcus in Korea.

The prevalence of group B streptococcus (GBS) among pregnant women and disease burdens in neonates and adults are increasing in Korea. Colonizing isolates, collected by screening pregnant women (n=196), and clinical isolates collected from clinical patients throughout Korea (n=234), were serotyped and screened for antibiotic resistance. Serotype III (29.

[Comparison of the efficacies of silver-containing dressing materials for treating a full-thickness rodent wound infected by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus].

Background: Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) may cause infections during wound dressing. We aimed to compare the antibacterial activities and wound-healing effects of commercially available silver-coated or silver-impregnated wound dressings on MRSA-infected wounds.

Methods: Full-thickness skin defects were made on the back of rats (N=108) and were infected with MRSA.

Vitamin C deficiency attenuates liver fibrosis by way of up-regulated peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma expression in senescence marker protein 30 knockout mice.

Unlabelled: Senescence marker protein 30 (SMP30), an important aging marker molecule that is highly expressed in the liver, has been known to protect hepatocytes from apoptosis by the synthesis of vitamin C. To explore the function of SMP30 in liver fibrosis, the effect of SMP30 deficiency on liver fibrosis was investigated in SMP30 knockout (KO) mice. Moreover, the in vivo results were further confirmed by way of hepatic stellate cell (HSC) isolation.

Frequency of vacuolating cytotoxin A (VacA)-positive Helicobacter pylori seropositivity and TGF-β1 decrease in atrial fibrillation.

The study was performed to determine whether there were any associations of VacA positive Helicobacter pylori and TGF-β1 with atrial fibrillation (AF). The serum levels of antibodies to H. pylori and VacA, and cytokines were assessed using ELISA in 96 subjects.

[Mumps transmission control status and inapparent infection rate among middle and high school students during the 2007-2008 mumps outbreak in Daegu].

Objectives: This study was performed to investigate the mumps transmission control status and inapparent infection rate among middle and high school students in Daegu City during a mumps outbreak.

Methods: Nine schools (two middle schools and seven high schools), which reported a number of mumps cases between 2007 and 2008 were selected for investigation. During March-May 2008, a standard questionnaire was distributed to gather information about case identification, instructed isolation measure, isolation status of mumps cases and related factors, and outdoor activities of non-isolated mumps case.

Fetal death of dogs after the ingestion of a soil conditioner.

Castor beans (Ricinus communis) contain ricin, which is one of the most toxic substances of plant origin. Ricin toxicosis has been reported in different countries with usually ingestion of castor beans or plants in both animals and humans. However, ricin toxicosis by ingestion of some products containing castor oil cake has rarely been reported.

Cationic and thermosensitive protamine conjugated gels for enhancing sustained human growth hormone delivery.

Thermosensitive and cationic poly(organophosphazenes) were designed and synthesized for the sustained delivery of human growth hormone (hGH) charged negatively at the physiological conditions to enhance greatly patient convenience and to improve efficacy and stability. Protamine for a complex formation with hGH was chosen and conjugated to carboxylic acid-terminated poly(organophosphazenes) by a covalent amide linkage. The aqueous solution of the cationic polymer conjugates formed a gel at 37 degrees C regardless of hGH presence.

Epidemiology of group B streptococcus in Korean pregnant women.

Between January 2006 and May 2008, 2624 pregnant S. Korean women between 35-37 weeks gestation were screened for group B streptococcus (GBS). Resistance to antimicrobials was tested by disk diffusion and serotype determined using co-agglutination assays and microarray methods.

Helicobacter pylori promotes hepatic fibrosis in the animal model.

Helicobacter pylori infection has been reported to be very common in patients with chronic liver diseases, including cirrhosis. To elucidate the pathological effect of H. pylori infection on the progression of hepatic fibrosis, C57BL/6 mice and Sprague-Dawley rats were orally inoculated with H.

Salivary mucocele with osseous metaplasia in a dog.

A 4-year-old, male, dachshund was referred to a certain local veterinary hospital because of a soft and fluctuant swelling in the left upper cervical region. The swelling was surgically removed and appeared to be filled with bloody mucus. Grossly, the swelling was identified as salivary mucocele and showed small multifocal whitish ossified tissue on its surface.