The Isolation and Characterization of Perlucin in Pacific Abalone, : A Shell Morphogenic Protein with Potential Responses to Thermal Stress and Starvation.

Perlucin is a shell matrix protein that plays a significant role in regulating shell biomineralization. This study aimed to isolate and characterize the perlucin gene and analyze its expression to explore its role in shell formation, regeneration, and responses to thermal stress and starvation in Pacific abalone. The isolated full-length cDNA sequence of is 1002 bp long, encoding a 163-amino-acid polypeptide with a signal peptide.

EF-Hand-Binding Secreted Protein Hdh-SMP5 Regulates Shell Biomineralization and Responses to Stress in Pacific Abalone, .

The development of a shell is a complex calcium metabolic process involving shell matrix proteins (SMPs). In this study, we describe the isolation, characterization, and expression of SMP5 and investigate its potential regulatory role in the shell biomineralization of Pacific abalone . The full-length cDNA contains 685 bp and encodes a polypeptide of 134 amino acids.

Molecular Cloning and Functional Characterization of Catalase in Stress Physiology, Innate Immunity, Testicular Development, Metamorphosis, and Cryopreserved Sperm of Pacific Abalone.

Catalase is a crucial enzyme of the antioxidant defense system responsible for the maintenance of cellular redox homeostasis. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the molecular regulation of catalase () in stress physiology, innate immunity, testicular development, metamorphosis, and cryopreserved sperm of Pacific abalone. gene was cloned from the digestive gland (DG) of Pacific abalone.

Vital Analysis of Cryopreserved Sperm of Marbled Flounder, .

The marbled flounder () is a commercial flatfish in East Asia. The aim of this study was to improve its sperm cryopreservation protocol based on the vitality assessment of 7-day and 1-year cryopreserved sperm. Four extenders (extender-1: sucrose solution; extender-2: glucose solution; extender-3: fish Ringer's solution; and extender-4: modified fish Ringer's solution) were tested with a combination of five cryoprotectants (CPAs) (dimethyl sulfoxide: MeSO; glycerol: GLY; ethylene glycol: EG; propylene glycol: PG; and methanol: MeOH) at four different concentrations (5, 10, 12, and 15%).

Carbonic Anhydrase in Pacific Abalone : Characterization, Expression, and Role in Biomineralization.

Carbonic anhydrases (CAs) are universal zinc ion containing metalloenzymes that play a pivotal role in various physiological processes. In this study, a CA I (designated as Hdh CA I) was isolated and characterized from the mantle tissue of Pacific abalone, . The full-length cDNA sequence of Hdh CA I was 1,417-bp in length, encoding a protein of 337 amino acids with molecular weight of 37.

Characterization of Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein-5 (IGFBP-5) Gene and Its Potential Roles in Ontogenesis in the Pacific Abalone, .

Insulin-like growth factor binding protein family is known to be involved in regulating biological actions of insulin-like growth factors (IGFs). In the present study, a full-length cDNA encoding the IGFBP-5 gene was cloned and characterized from the cerebral ganglion of . The 921-bp full-length sequence of Hdh IGFBP-5 cDNA transcript had an open reading frame of 411 bp encoding a predicted polypeptide of 136 amino acids, sharing high sequence identities with IGFBP-5 of .

Molecular Identification, Characterization, and Expression Analysis of a Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone Receptor (GnRH-R) in Pacific Abalone, .

A full-length cDNA sequence encoding a GnRH receptor was cloned from the pleuropedal ganglion of the Pacific abalone, . The cloned sequence is 1499-bp in length encoding a protein of 460 amino acid residues, with a molecular mass of 52.22 kDa and an isoelectric point (pI) of 9.

Cryopreservation of sperm from farmed Pacific abalone, Haliotis discus hannai.

This study aimed to improve a sperm cryopreservation protocol for farmed Pacific abalone, Haliotis discus hannai. Dimethyl sulfoxide (MeSO), glycerol, ethylene glycol (EG), propylene glycol (PG), and methanol were chosen as cryoprotectants (CPAs). Four different equilibration time (5, 10, 30, and 60 min), and two types of equilibration temperature (4 °C and 20 °C) were selected at the present experiment.

Identification, characterization, and expression analysis of a serotonin receptor involved in the reproductive process of the Pacific abalone, Haliotis discus hannai.

Serotonin receptor (5-HT) is a biogenic amine acting as a neurotransmitter and neuromodulator that mediates various aspects of reproduction and gametogenesis. The full-length nucleotide sequence of Haliotis discus hannai encodes a protein of 417 amino acids with a predicted molecular mass of 46.54 kDa and isoelectric point of 8.

Molecular Cloning and Characterization of Carbonic Anhydrase XII from Pufferfish (Takifugu rubripes).

In this study, an 1888-bp carbonic anhydrase XII (CA XII) sequence was cloned from the brain of the pufferfish, . The cloned sequence contained a coding region of 1470-bp, which was predicted to translate into a protein of 490 amino acid residues. The predicted protein showed between 68-56% identity with the large yellow croaker (), tilapia (), and Asian arowana () CA XII proteins.

Molecular cloning and characterization of secretory carbonic anhydrase VI in pufferfish (Takifugu rubripes).

Carbonic anhydrase VI (CA VI) has been characterized as a secretory isozyme in mammals. Our present study confirmed the occurrence of CA VI in pufferfish (Takifugu rubripes). In this study, genomic sequence information for the CA VI of pufferfish was used for molecular cloning.

Pericardial synovial sarcoma presenting with large recurrent pericardial effusion.

Primary pericardial synovial sarcoma is an extremely rare disease with a dismal prognosis. Its main presenting symptoms are a large pericardial effusion, signs of cardiac tamponade, and visualization of a pericardial mass on echocardiography. However, the systemic symptoms of fever, cough, and night sweats may present a clinical picture without any apparent pericardial mass on diagnostic imaging, potentially impeding the diagnosis.

Association between BH3 interacting domain death agonist (BID) gene polymorphism and ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament in Korean population.

The purpose of this study was to investigate single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the BH3 interacting domain death agonist (BID) gene as a risk factor in Korean patients with ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL). To investigate the genetic association, two coding SNPs (rs8190315, Ser10Gly; rs2072392, Asp60Asp) of BID were genotyped in 157 OPLL patients and 209 control subjects. SNPStats, SNPAnalyzer Pro, Helixtree, and Haploview 4.

Combined Bacillus licheniformis and Bacillus subtilis infection in a patient with oesophageal perforation.

Species of the genus Bacillus are a common laboratory contaminant, therefore, isolation of these organisms from blood cultures does not always indicate infection. In fact, except for Bacillus anthracis and Bacillus cereus, most species of the genus Bacillus are not considered human pathogens, especially in immunocompetent individuals. Here, we report an unusual presentation of bacteraemia and mediastinitis due to co-infection with Bacillus subtilis and Bacillus licheniformis, which were identified by 16S RNA gene sequencing, in a patient with an oesophageal perforation.

Reduced expression of Raf-1 kinase inhibitory protein predicts regional lymph node metastasis and shorter survival in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

Raf-1 kinase inhibitory protein (RKIP), a suppressor of metastasis, is associated inversely with the progression and metastasis of human malignancies. The present study evaluated relationships between RKIP expression and metastatic potential, clinicopathological characteristics and patient outcome in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). We examined tissue specimens from 138 patients with thoracic ESCC.

Surgical treatment for intra-thoracic migration of acupuncture needles.

The aim of this study was to introduce the experience of diagnosis and treatment for patients with migrated acupuncture needle to pleural cavity and or lung parenchyma. We had treated 5 patients who had acupuncture needles in their thoracic cavity from January 2000 to September 2009. The mean age was 55.

Pulmonary thromboembolectomy for acute pulmonary thromboembolism.

Background: Acute pulmonary thromboembolism is fatal because of abruptly occurring hypoxemia and right ventricular failure. There are several treatment modalities, including anticoagulation, thrombolytics, ECMO (extracorporeal membrane oxygenator), and thromboembolectomy, for managing acute pulmonary thromboembolism.

Materials And Methods: Medical records from January 1999 to December 2004 at our institution were retrospectively reviewed for pulmonary thromboembolectomy.

Microarray Analysis of Gene Expression Profiles in Response to Treatment with Melatonin in Lipopolysaccharide Activated RAW 264.7 Cells.

Melatonin, which is the main product of the pineal gland, has well documented antioxidant and immune-modulatory effects. Macrophages produce molecules that are known to play roles in inflammatory responses. We conducted microarray analysis to evaluate the global gene expression profiles in response to treatment with melatonin in lipopolysaccharide (LPS) activated RAW 264.

Coding single-nucleotide polymorphisms of interleukin-1 gene cluster are not associated with Kawasaki disease in the Korean population.

This study aimed to examine whether coding single-nucleotide polymorphisms (cSNPs) of the interleukin-1 gene cluster [interleukin-1-alpha (IL1α), IL1β, IL-1-receptor antagonist (IL1RN)] are genetic markers of susceptibility to Kawasaki disease (KD) in the Korean population. The study enrolled 109 KD patients and 287 healthy control subjects. Four cSNPs [rs17561 (Ala114Ser) of IL1α, rs1143634 (Phe105Phe) of IL1β, and rs419598 (Ala23Ala) and rs315952 (Ser96Ser) of IL1RN] were genotyped using the restriction fragment-length polymorphism (RFLP) and direct sequencing.

Surgical strategy for pulmonary coarctation in the univentricular heart.

Objective: The placement of a modified Blalock-Taussig shunt in patients suffering from pulmonary coarctation can result in the aggravation of uneven pulmonary blood flow. This may subsequently obviate the possibility of future performance of the Fontan procedure. The objective of this study was to evaluate mid-term results in patients with pulmonary coarctation who had undergone the placement of a modified Blalock-Taussig shunt, coupled with a pulmonary artery angioplasty.

Alternative Fontan connection for apicocaval juxtaposition.

We present an alternative technique to the modified Fontan procedure used in a 3-year-old boy who had complex heart defects with bilateral superior vena cava and apicocaval juxtaposition. The left superior vena caval pathway was used behind the ventricle to connect the inferior vena cava to the pulmonary artery. We proved the technical feasibility of this with good midterm results at the 5-year follow-up angiography.

Early replacement of pulmonary valve after repair of tetralogy: is it really beneficial?

Objectives: Debate on the proper timing of pulmonary valve replacement (PVR) after repair of tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) is still continuing. Significant pulmonary regurgitation (PR) could result in right ventricular (RV) dysfunction, exercise intolerance, arrhythmia, and sudden death. We analyzed clinical results of PVR after repair of TOF to investigate potential risk factor for late outcomes.

Staged biventricular repair of Taussig-Bing anomaly with subaortic stenosis and coarctation of aorta.

We present successful procedures for 2 infants who had the Taussig-Bing anomaly with subaortic stenosis and coarctation of the aorta. The initial procedure was coarctoplasty and the Damus-Kaye-Stansel procedure with modified Blalock-Taussig shunt. The second procedure was intraventricular repair (Kawashima procedure), Damus-Kaye-Stansel take-down and the reuse of native aortic and pulmonary valves 19 and 25 months later.

Aortic arch reconstruction using regional perfusion without circulatory arrest.

Objectives: Deep hypothermic circulatory arrest during repair of aortic arch anomalies may induce neurological complications or myocardial injury. Regional cerebral and myocardial perfusion may eliminate those potential side effects.

Methods: From March 2000 to March 2002, 48 neonates or infants with complex arch anomaly were operated on using the regional perfusion technique.