A case of diode laser photocoagulation in the treatment of choroidal metastasis of breast carcinoma.

To report a single case of improvement on choroidal metastasis of breast cancer after laser photocoagulation. A 52-year-old female patient who complained of visual disturbance of the right eye with multiple states of metastasis of breast carcinoma. On initial examination, the right best-corrected visual acuity was 0.

Hemispheric asymmetry of speed-dependent intercerebellar connectivity.

The coordinated and timed movements of human limbs require interactive cerebellar functions. We investigated the function of intercerebellar connectivity in controlling the movement speed of both hands with functional MRI experiments. Nine healthy, right-handed subjects performed finger movements at lower and higher speeds, as instructed.

Cyanobacterial glucokinase complements the glucose sensing role of Arabidopsis thaliana hexokinase 1.

Unlike Arabidopsis hexokinase (AtHXK) 1, cyanobacterial glucokinase (cGlk, Sll0593) from Synechocystis sp. PCC6803 does not function endogenously as a glucose sensor for glucose repression of photosynthesis-related genes such as psbA2, psbD2, rbcS, and rbcL. However, when cGlk was constitutively expressed in the cytosol of the glucose insensitive AtHXK 1 null mutant gin2-1, transgenic plants showed glucose sensitive phenotypes similar to those of wild type plants, namely glucose-induced decreases in Chl content and transcript levels of genes encoding Chl binding proteins (CAB1) and Rubisco small subunit (RBCS).

Kale juice improves coronary artery disease risk factors in hypercholesterolemic men.

Objective: To evaluate the effect of 3-month kale (Brassica oleracea acephala) juice supplementation on coronary artery disease risk factors among hypercholesterolemic men.

Methods: Thirty-two men with hypercholesterolemia (> 200 mg/dL) were recruited after annual health examinations among the faculty and staff at university. The subjects consumed 150 mL of kale juice per day for a 12-week intervention period.

Serum adiponectin, C-reactive protein and TNF-alpha levels in obese Korean children.

Aim: To determine whether there are differences of serum adiponectin, CRP and TNF-a levels between obese and non-obese children and to investigate the relationship between childhood obesity and inflammation.

Methods: A total of 103 (73 obese, 30 non-obese) children were evaluated for height, weight, blood pressure and body mass index (BMI). We measured serum adiponectin, hs-CRP, and TNF-alpha levels and analyzed their correlation with BMI, serum glucose, lipid profile and insulin resistance.

Cross talk between P2 purinergic receptors modulates extracellular ATP-mediated interleukin-10 production in rat microglial cells.

Previously we demonstrated that ATP released from LPS-activated microglia induced IL-10 expression in a process involving P2 receptors, in an autocrine fashion. Therefore, in the present study we sought to determine which subtype of P2 receptor was responsible for the modulation of IL-10 expression in ATP-stimulated microglia. We found that the patterns of IL-10 production were dose-dependent (1, 10, 100, 1,000 microM) and bell-shaped.

Activation of nicotinic acetylcholine receptor prevents the production of reactive oxygen species in fibrillar beta amyloid peptide (1-42)-stimulated microglia.

Recent studies have reported that the cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway regulates peripheral inflammatory responses via alpha7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (alpha7 nAChRs) and that acetylcholine and nicotine regulate the expression of proinflammatory mediators such as TNF-alpha and prostaglandin E2 in microglial cultures. In a previous study we showed that ATP released by beta-amyloid-stimulated microglia induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, in a process involving the P2X(7) receptor (P2X(7)R), in an autocrine fashion. These observations led us to investigate whether stimulation by nicotine could regulate fibrillar beta amyloid peptide (1-42) (fAbeta1-42)-induced ROS production by modulating ATP efflux-mediated Ca(2+) influx through P2X(7)R.

Duplicate Publications in Korean medical journals indexed in KoreaMed.

Duplicate publication is considered unethical. It has several negative impacts. To estimate the frequency and characteristics of duplicate publications in Korean medical journals, we reviewed some portion of Korean journal articles.

Free radical production in CA1 neurons induces MIP-1alpha expression, microglia recruitment, and delayed neuronal death after transient forebrain ischemia.

Several studies report microglial accumulation and activation in the CA1 area in response to transient forebrain ischemia (TFI). Here we examine the possibility that free radicals and chemokines mediate the transient activation of microglia. Free radicals are produced primarily in CA1 pyramidal neurons within 2 h of TFI.

Radiologic and pathologic findings of nonpalpable thyroid carcinomas detected by ultrasonography in a medical screening center.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the ultrasonographic and pathologic findings of nonpalpable thyroid carcinomas and reliable guidelines for fine-needle aspiration (FNA).

Methods: Our study was approved by our Institutional Review Board, and written informed consent was waived. Between April 2004 and June 2006, screening ultrasonography was performed for 16,352 self-referred patients in the health care center.

ATP released from beta-amyloid-stimulated microglia induces reactive oxygen species production in an autocrine fashion.

Present study demonstrated that fibrillar beta-amyloid peptide (fAbeta1-42) induced ATP release, which in turn activated NADPH oxidase via the P2X7 receptor (P2X7R). Reactive oxygen species (ROS) production in fAbeta1-42- treated microglia appeared to require Ca2+ influx from extracellular sources, because ROS generation was abolished to control levels in the absence of extracellular Ca2+. Considering previous observation of superoxide generation by Ca2+ influx through P2X7R in microglia, we hypothesized that ROS production in fAbeta-stimulated microglia might be mediated by ATP released from the microglia.

Inhibition of airway allergic disease by co-administration of flagellin with allergen.

Bacterial flagellin, which activates Toll-like receptor 5 and cytosolic pattern recognition receptor Ipaf, has a strong immunomodulatory activity. In the present study, we examined whether intranasal co-administration of flagellin with allergen could modulate established airway hyperresponsiveness and Th2 response using an ovalbumin (OVA)-sensitized mouse model. Balb/c mice sensitized with OVA were treated with OVA-flagellin (FlaB) mixture three times at 1-week intervals.

Colloidal gold nanoparticles as a blood-pool contrast agent for X-ray computed tomography in mice.

Objectives: To present the pharmacokinetics and computed tomographic imaging efficacy of colloidal gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) as a blood-pool agent for x-ray computed tomography (CT).

Methods And Materials: To prepare the colloidal AuNPs, gold nanocrystals were modified using sulfhydrated polyethylene glycol (PEG). Cytotoxicity and histopathologic tests were carried out for toxicity evaluation.

Vibrio vulnificus RTX toxin kills host cells only after contact of the bacteria with host cells.

Vibrio vulnificus causes acute cell death and a fatal septicaemia. In this study, we show that contact with host cells is a prerequisite to the acute cytotoxicity. We screened transposon mutants defective in the contact-dependent cytotoxicity.

Transcriptional regulation of the respiratory genes in the cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 during the early response to glucose feeding.

The coordinated expression of the genes involved in respiration in the photosynthetic cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 during the early period of glucose (Glc) treatment is poorly understood. When photoautotrophically grown cells were supplemented with 10 mm Glc in the light or after a dark adaptation period of 14 h, significant increases in the respiratory activity, as determined by NAD(P)H turnover, respiratory O(2) uptake rate, and cytosolic alkalization, were observed.

Deterministic loading of individual atoms to a high-finesse optical cavity.

Individual laser-cooled atoms are delivered on demand from a single atom magneto-optic trap to a high-finesse optical cavity using an atom conveyor. Strong coupling of the atom with the cavity field allows simultaneous cooling and detection of individual atoms for time scales exceeding 15 s. The single atom scatter rate is studied as a function of probe-cavity detuning and probe Rabi frequency, and the experimental results are in qualitative agreement with theoretical predictions.

Control of flowering time and cold response by a NAC-domain protein in Arabidopsis.

Background: Plants must integrate complex signals from environmental and endogenous cues to fine-tune the timing of flowering. Low temperature is one of the most common environmental stresses that affect flowering time; however, molecular mechanisms underlying the cold temperature regulation of flowering time are not fully understood.

Methodology/principal Findings: We report the identification of a novel regulator, LONG VEGETATIVE PHASE 1 (LOV1), that controls flowering time and cold response.

Extracolonic findings in an asymptomatic screening population undergoing intravenous contrast-enhanced computed tomography colonography.

Background And Aim: The purpose of this study was to evaluate extracolonic findings that could be encountered with computed tomography colonography (CTC) using intravenous (IV) contrast material in an asymptomatic screening population.

Methods: Intravenous contrast medium-enhanced CTC was performed in 2230 asymptomatic adults (mean age, 57.5 years).

Differences in EEG between gifted and average students: neural complexity and functional cluster analysis.

The main aim of the present study was to assess the differences in EEG between gifted and average students. Another aim of the present study was to investigate which brain areas are related to a Rey-Osterrieth complex figure (ROCF) memorizing using a functional cluster (FC) analysis and how the complexity of cortical activities changes in both gifted and average students. The EEG was recorded from 16 electrodes in both 18 right-handed healthy gifted and age-matched average students before and during ROCF memorizing.

Alcohol consumption and fatty acid intakes in the 2001-2002 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

Background: Alcohol consumption has the potential to affect dietary intakes of nutrients; however, little is known about fatty acid intakes among alcohol consumers in the U.S. population.

Defining the concept of primary care in South Korea using a Delphi method.

Backgrounds And Objectives: There is no consensus on the definition of primary care in South Korea. This study's objective was to define the concept of primary care using a Delphi method.

Methods: Three expert panels were formed, consisting of 16 primary care policy researchers, 45 stakeholders, and 16 primary care physicians.

Value of complete metabolic response by (18)F-fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography in oesophageal cancer for prediction of pathologic response and survival after preoperative chemoradiotherapy.

We aimed to assess the ability of (18)F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG)-positron emission tomography (PET) scan to predict pathologic complete response (CR) and survival in patients with oesophageal cancer treated with preoperative chemoradiotherapy (CRT). The study cohort consisted of 62 consecutive patients with operable oesophageal cancer who were treated with preoperative CRT followed by oesophagectomy. Endoscopy, computed tomography (CT) and PET were performed before and after CRT.

CNS midline cells influence the division and survival of lateral glia in the Drosophila nervous system.

Central nervous system (CNS) midline cells are essential for identity determination and differentiation of neurons in the Drosophila nervous system. It is not clear, however, whether CNS midline cells are also involved in the development of lateral glial cells. The roles of CNS midline cells in lateral glia development were elucidated using general markers for lateral glia, such as glial cell missing and reverse polarity, and specific enhancer trap lines labeling the longitudinal, A, B, medial cell body, peripheral, and exit glia.

The pyrH gene of Vibrio vulnificus is an essential in vivo survival factor.

We have suggested an important role of the pyrH gene during the infectious process of Vibrio vulnificus. Previously, we have identified 12 genes expressed preferentially during human infections by using in vivo-induced antigen technology. Among the in vivo-expressed genes, pyrH encodes UMP kinase catalyzing UMP phosphorylation.