Evaluation of the use of the tobacco PR-1a promoter to monitor defense gene expression by the luciferase bioluminescence reporter system.

Because of their marked responsiveness to induction signals, genes encoding pathogenesis-related proteins are used as markers to monitor defense gene expression in plants. To develop a non-invasive bioluminescence reporter assay system, we tested acidic PR-1 gene promoters from tobacco and Arabidopsis. These two promoters share common regulatory elements and are believed to show similar responsiveness to various stimuli but the results of transient expression assays by microprojectile bombardment of various plant cells and npr1 mutant Arabidopsis suggest that the tobacco PR-1a promoter is superior to its Arabidopsis counterpart in terms of responsiveness to salicylic acid treatment.

A randomized prospective trial comparing unsedated endoscopy via transnasal and transoral routes using 5.5-mm video endoscopy.

We performed a randomized prospective trial to compare unsedated endoscopy via transnasal and transoral routes using a small-caliber endoscope. Two hundred patients referred for diagnostic esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) were randomly allocated to two groups: those undergoing transnasal (TN) and transoral (TO) endoscopy. We examined the insertion rate, examination duration, nasal pain, pharyngeal pain, number of occurrences of pharyngeal reflex, severity of discomfort throughout the examination, and rate of adverse events.

PBS buffer solutions with different pH values can change porosity of DNA-chitosan complexes.

We examined the effect of phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) solution with different pH values on the formation of porosity in the DNA/chitosan complexes, and evaluated the intercalation behavior of the complexes. Four different PBS solutions with pH = 6.0, 7.

Antibacterial activities and bonding of MMSA/TBB resin containing amphiphilic lipids.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the antibacterial activity of MMA/TBB resin containing newly developed amphiphilic lipids. The amphiphilic lipids, C10-L-Ala/pts and C12-L-Ala/pts, synthesized from the reaction of n-alkyl alcohol and L-alanine were dissolved in MMA at concentrations of 0.5, 1.

Total intraoperative enteroscopy using a colonoscope for detecting the bleeding point.

We report a case of bleeding in the small intestine of a 59-year-old man that was successfully diagnosed and treated by total intraoperative enteroscopy. The patient was admitted to our hospital because of gastrointestinal bleeding. Gastroscopy, colonoscopy and mesenteric arteriography could not identify the bleeding point.