Label-free optical diagnosis of hepatitis B virus with genetically engineered fusion proteins.

A simple biosensing strategy for the diagnosis of patients with hepatitis B virus (HBV) was developed. This study can be divided into two themes, both of which utilized gold-binding polypeptide (GBP) fusion proteins: HBV surface antigen PreS2 (HBsAg) detection with GBP-fused single chain antibody (GBP-ScFv) and anti-HBsAg detection with GBP-HBsAg. These GBP-fusion proteins can directly bind onto the gold surface via the high binding affinity between the GBP and the gold surface, while at the same time, orient the recognition sites toward the sample for target binding.

Clinical and pathological features of generalized granuloma annulare with their correlation: a retrospective multicenter study in Korea.

Background: Generalized granuloma annulare (GGA) is a benign skin disorder of an unknown etiology. Though some cases of GGA have been reported, few systemic reviews of the clinical and pathological features of GGA have been performed.

Objective: The purpose of this study is to analyze and correlate the clinical and pathological characteristics of GGA in Korean patients.

Ultra-sensitive detection of IgE using biofunctionalized nanoparticle-enhanced SPR.

This paper describes an ultra-sensitive surface-based detection method using nanoparticle-enhanced surface plasmon resonance (SPR) for the detection of immunoglobulin E (IgE) proteins, which could potentially be used for the diagnosis of allergic diseases. Two different probes, anti-IgE and IgE specific aptamers, which can specifically interact with IgE at different epitopes were first investigated for their specific interaction with IgE using SPR. Langmuir adsorption coefficient (K(ads)) values were measured as 2.

A study on the phosphorescent blue organic light-emitting diodes using triplet exciton blocking layer.

We studied the use of N,N'-dicarbazolyl-3,5-benzene (mCP) of the triplet energy level 2.90 eV and p-bis(triphenylsilyly)benzene (UGH2) of the wide triplet energy band gap 3.50 eV as triplet exciton blocking layer (TEBL) to get high efficiency in phosphorescent blue organic light-emitting diodes.

Comparison of analgesic efficacy between single interscalene block combined with a continuous intra-bursal infusion of ropivacaine and continuous interscalene block after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair.

Background: This study evaluated the effectiveness of a continuous interscalene block (CISB) by comparing it with that of a single interscalene block combined with a continuous intra-bursal infusion of ropivacaine (ISB-IB) after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair.

Methods: Patients who had undergone CISB (CISB group; n = 25) were compared with those who had undergone ISB-IB (ISB-IB group; n = 25) for more than 48 hours after surgery. The visual analog scale (VAS) for pain, motor and/or sensory deficit, supplementary analgesics and adverse effects were recorded.

Blue phosphorescent Ir(III) complex with high color purity: fac-tris(2',6'-difluoro-2,3'-bipyridinato-N,C(4'))iridium(III).

A blue phosphorescent iridium(III) complex (1) bearing fluorine-substituted bipyridine (dfpypy) has been synthesized and characterized to investigate the effect of the substitution and replacement of the phenyl ring in ppy (phenylpyridine) with pyridine on the solid state structure and its photoluminescence. The optical properties and electrochemical behaviors of 1 have also been systematically evaluated. The structure of 1 has also been determined by a single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis.

High-efficiency white organic light-emitting diodes using blue and red phosphorescent materials with exciton blocking layer.

High-efficiency white organic light-emitting diodes (WOLEDs) were fabricated with two emissive layers and an exciton blocking layer (EBL) was sandwiched between two phosphorescent dyes, bis(3,5-difluoro-2-(2-pyridyl)phenyl-(2-carboxypyridyl) iridium III (Flrpic) as the blue emission and iridium(III) bis(5-acetyl-2-phenylpyridinato-N,C2') acetylacetonate ((acppy)2Ir(acac)) as the red emission. This EBL effectively prevented a triple-triple energy transfer between the two phosphorescent emissive layers with blue and red emission. The white device showed Commission Internationale De L'Eclairage (CIE(x, y)) coordinates of (0.

Two Cases of Lichen Planus Pigmentosus-inversus Arising from Long-standing Lichen Planus-inversus.

Lichen planus pigmentosus-inversus (LPP-inversus) is an extremely rare variant of lichen planus (LP), and only a few cases have been reported. Its course is characterized by exacerbations and remissions, and it is known to be more chronic than classical LP is. We report two cases of LPP-inversus and offer the suggestion that LPP-inversus may originate from LP of flexural areas.

Reuse of low concentrated electronic wastewater using selected microbe immobilised cell system.

This work describes a novel technology for the reuse of low concentrated electronic wastewater using selected microbe immobilisation cell (SMIC) system. The SMIC system is an innovative technology to maximise the activity of specific microorganisms capable of decomposing tetramethyl ammonium hydroxide (TMAH) as a major organic compound in the low concentrated electronic wastewater. The versatility of the SMIC system has been studied by using continuous-flow reactors.

A Comparison of Acquired Port-wine Stain with Congenital Port-wine Stain Using an Image Analyzer.

Background: Recent reports have proposed that there were no differences between acquired port-wine stain (APWS) and congenital port-wine stain (CPWS) except the onset of disease. Pulsed dye laser (PDL) therapy is regarded as the treatment of choice in PWS. Although in some articles, APWS might have shown a better response to PDL than CPWS, this is still controversial.

Association between complement factor H gene polymorphisms and neovascular age-related macular degeneration in Koreans.

Purpose: This study was undertaken to investigate the association between the complement factor H (CFH) gene and exudative age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in Korean patients.

Methods: Genomic DNA was isolated from the peripheral leukocytes of patients with exudative AMD (n = 114) and control subjects (n = 187). The sole criterion for exudative AMD was the presence of choroidal neovascularization.

Epstein-Barr virus in CD30 anaplastic large cell lymphoma involving the skin and lymphomatoid papulosis in South Korea.

Background: Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-associated cutaneous lymphoproliferative disorders are prevalent in Asia, and less frequent in Western countries.

Aim: To elucidate the possible association of EBV with CD30+ anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL) involving the skin and lymphomatoid papulosis (LyP) in South Korea.

Methods: In situ hybridization for EBV-encoded small RNA (EBER) and immunohistochemistry including viral latent membrane protein-1 (LMP-1) were performed on formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded skin specimens of 26 cases of LyP and 16 cases of CD30+ ALCL involving the skin which were selected from six university hospital medical centers in South Korea.

Protein nanopatterns and biosensors using gold binding polypeptide as a fusion partner.

An efficient strategy for immobilizing proteins on a gold surface was developed by employing the gold binding polypeptide (GBP) as a fusion partner. Using the enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP), severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV) envelope protein (SCVme), and core streptavidin (cSA) of Streptomyces avidinii as model proteins, specific immobilization of the GBP-fusion proteins onto the gold nanoparticles and generation of protein nanopatterns on the bare gold surface were demonstrated. The GBP-fused SCVme bound to gold nanoparticles successfully interacted with its antibody and showed changes in absorbance and color, allowing efficient diagnosis of SARS-CoV.

Polyhydroxyalkanoate chip for the specific immobilization of recombinant proteins and its applications in immunodiagnostics.

In this study, a novel strategy was developed for the highly selective immobilization of proteins, using the polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) depolymerase substrate binding domain (SBD) as an active binding domain. In order to determine the appropriacy of this method for immunodiagnostic assays, the single-chain antibody (ScFv) against the hepatitis B virus (HBV) preS2 surface protein and the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV) envelope protein (SCVe) were fused to the SBD, then directly immobilized on PHA-coated slides via microspotting. The fluorescence-labeled HBV antigen and the antibody against SCVe were then utilized to examine specific interactions on the PHA-coated surfaces.

Selective immobilization of fusion proteins on poly(hydroxyalkanoate) microbeads.

A novel fusion protein system employing the substrate-binding domain (SBD) of poly(hydroxyalkanoate) (PHA) depolymerase was developed for the specific immobilization of proteins on PHA microbeads, and was consequently used for immunoassays. The enhanced green fluorescent protein, red fluorescent protein, and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus envelope protein were used as model proteins, and were selectively and functionally immobilized to the PHA microbeads by fusing them to the SBD. Using this PHA microbead system combined with SBD fusion technology, immunoassays could be successfully carried out.

Micropatterning proteins on polyhydroxyalkanoate substrates by using the substrate binding domain as a fusion partner.

A novel strategy for micropatterning proteins on the surface of polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) biopolymer by microcontact printing (microCP) is described. The substrate binding domain (SBD) of the Pseudomonas stutzeri PHA depolymerase was used as a fusion partner for specifically immobilizing proteins on PHA substrate. Enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) and red fluorescent protein (RFP) fused to the SBD could be specifically immobilized on the micropatterns of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) and poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyhexanoate).

Mutation in the ED1 gene, Ala349Thr, in a Korean patient with X-linked hypohidrotic ectodermal dysplasia developing de novo.

Hypohidrotic ectodermal dysplasia (HED) is a very rare disease characterized by the virtual absence of eccrine glands, dry skin, scanty hair, and dental abnormalities. It is transmitted by an X-linked recessive gene or rarely an autosomal recessive gene. Therefore it is only males who fully express the condition.

Micropatterns of spores displaying heterologous proteins.

Micropatterns of Bacillus thuringiensis spores were generated by a combination of surface chemistry, microcontact printing, and spore surface display technique. The outermost layers of B. thuringiensis spores were engineered to present enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP), and the biospecific interaction between biotin and streptavidin was utilized to spatially direct the EGFP-presenting spores onto the micropatterned surfaces.

Microarrays of peptides elevated on the protein layer for efficient protein kinase assay.

Peptide microarrays can be used for the high-throughput analysis of protein-peptide interactions. However, current peptide microarrays are rather costly to make and require cumbersome steps of introducing novel polymeric surfaces and/or chemical derivatization of peptides. Here, we report a novel method for manufacturing peptide microarrays by elevating the peptide on the layer of protein by a fusion protein approach.

Enhanced production of insulin-like growth factor I fusion protein in Escherichia coli by coexpression of the down-regulated genes identified by transcriptome profiling.

The transcriptome profiles of recombinant Escherichia coli producing human insulin-like growth factor I fusion protein (IGF-I(f)) during the high-cell-density fed-batch culture were analyzed using DNA microarrays. The expression levels of 529 genes were significantly altered after induction. About 200 genes were significantly down-regulated during the production of IGF-I(f) after induction.

Polymorphisms in the melanocortin-1 receptor (MC1R) and agouti signaling protein (ASIP) genes in Korean vitiligo patients.

We have examined the frequency of SNP polymorphisms within the melanocortin-1 receptor (MC1R) and agouti signaling protein (ASIP) genes in 114 Korean vitiligo patients and 111 normal controls to assess the association of these loci with vitiligo risk. Using direct sequencing techniques, we found the following five MC1R coding region SNPs: Arg67Gln (G200A), Val92Met (G274A), Ile120Thr (T359C), Arg160Arg (C478A), and Gln163Arg (A488G). Of these, the most common were Val92Met at 14% in patients vs.

Lenticular fibroxanthomatous nodule.

Purpose: To describe two patients with unique lenticular nodular proliferations.

Design: Observational case reports.

Methods: The clinical histories and pathologic findings of two patients with lenticular nodular proliferations were reviewed.

Does the recipient site influence the hair growth characteristics in hair transplantation?

Background: Recently hair transplantation has been widely applied not only to correct androgenetic alopecia, but also to correct hair loss on other parts of the body such as the eyebrows and pubic area. It is believed that the transplanted hairs will maintain their integrity and characteristics after transplantation to new nonscalp sites.

Objective: To evaluate whether the transplanted hairs maintain their hair growth characteristics after transplantation to a new anatomic site other than the scalp.

Tuning and dissecting electronic and steric effects in ammonium receptors: nonactin vs artificial receptors.

Ion selective electrodes (ISE) based on three different tripodal receptors (5, 6, and 7) have been investigated for sensing ammonium ion. Each receptor is based on three pyrazole groups that can accept three H-bonds from the bound ammonium ion. The receptor based on 4-bromo-3,5-dimethylpyrazole (6) is the most sensitive with a detection limit for ammonium ion of 2.