The Brachial Ankle Pulse Wave Velocity is Associated with the Presence of Significant Coronary Artery Disease but Not the Extent.

Background And Objectives: Arterial stiffness is well known as an important risk factor for cardiovascular disease. At our institution, we assessed the association between arterial stiffness, as determined by brachial ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV), and the extent of coronary artery disease (CAD), as detected by conventional coronary angiography (CAG) in patients who visited the outpatient clinic for angina without any previous history of heart disease. In addition, we evaluated if the level of baPWV could predict the revascularization as a clinical outcome.

Genetic evidence for the reduction of brassinosteroid levels by a BAHD acyltransferase-like protein in Arabidopsis.

Brassinosteroids (BRs) are a group of steroidal hormones involved in plant development. Although the BR biosynthesis pathways are well characterized, the BR inactivation process, which contributes to BR homeostasis, is less understood. Here, we show that a member of the BAHD (for benzylalcohol O-acetyltransferase, anthocyanin O-hydroxycinnamoyltransferase, anthranilate N-hydroxycinnamoyl/benzoyltransferase, and deacetylvindoline 4-O-acetyltransferase) acyltransferase family may play a role in BR homeostasis in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana).

Aortic stenosis and vascular calcifications in alkaptonuria.

Alkaptonuria is a rare metabolic disorder of tyrosine catabolism in which homogentisic acid (HGA) accumulates and is deposited throughout the spine, large joints, cardiovascular system, and various tissues throughout the body. In the cardiovascular system, pigment deposition has been described in the heart valves, endocardium, pericardium, aortic intima and coronary arteries. The prevalence of cardiovascular disease in patients with alkaptonuria varies in previous reports.

Isolation of Staphylococcus simulans from dermatitis in a captive African pygmy hedgehog.

Staphylococcus simulans, a coagulase-negative staphylococcal species, can cause several diseases in humans and animals. This report describes a case of dermatosis characterized by broad, well-circumscribed hyperkeratosis and alopecia on the back of a household pygmy hedgehog (Erinaceous albiventris). Quills and exudates were studied by microscopy.

Differentiation between spontaneous echocardiographic contrast and left atrial appendage thrombus in patients with suspected embolic stroke using two-phase multidetector computed tomography.

The detection of a thrombus at the left atrial appendage (LAA) is an important step for management in a patient with a suspected embolic infarction. However, spontaneous echocardiographic contrast (SEC), which can mimic thrombus, can confuse clinicians in many cases. We examined electrocardiographic-gated 64-slice multidetector computed tomography with a 2-phase scan and transesophageal echocardiography in 314 patients with suspected embolic stroke.

Asymptomatic Babesia microti-like parasite infection in wild raccoon dogs (Nyctereutes procyonoides) in South Korea.

We describe asymptomatic piroplasmosis caused by a Babesia microti-like parasite in wild raccoon dogs (Nyctereutes procyonoides) diagnosed by blood smear and DNA analysis. This is the first description of natural B. microti-like parasite infection in raccoon dogs and suggests that the wild raccoon dog can be a source for B.

Role of cardiac multidetector computed tomography in acute ischemic stroke: a preliminary report.

Background And Purpose: Cardiac multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) is less dependent upon the patient's condition and may be valuable in the diagnosis of embolic sources when the patient's cooperation is limited due to a neurologic deficit. However, its role has never been validated in acute stroke patients whose stroke mechanism is assumed to be embolic.

Methods: Consecutive patients who were admitted with acute ischemic stroke from May 1, 2007 to November 30, 2007 were included in this study.

Heat shock protein cognate 70-4 and an E3 ubiquitin ligase, CHIP, mediate plastid-destined precursor degradation through the ubiquitin-26S proteasome system in Arabidopsis.

Plastid-targeted proteins pass through the cytosol as unfolded precursors. If proteins accumulate in the cytosol, they can form nonspecific aggregates that cause severe cellular damage. Here, we demonstrate that high levels of plastid precursors are degraded through the ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS) in Arabidopsis thaliana cells.

High prevalence of Theileria sp. in wild Chinese Water Deer (Hydropotes inermis argyropus) in South Korea.

Wild Chinese Water Deer exist in large numbers in Northeast Asia, including South Korea. The deer population is so widespread that they are common even in urban areas, resulting in increased contact with humans and domestic animals. The purpose of this study was to examine the prevalence of Theileria sp.

Stent-related cardiac events after non-cardiac surgery: drug-eluting stent vs. bare metal stent.

For evaluation of post-operative stent associated cardiac events after drug-eluting stent (DES) implantation we analyzed data of 138 patients who underwent non-cardiac surgery after DES implantation and compared the data with those of 101 patients who underwent non-cardiac surgery after bare metal stent (BMS) implantation. Three patients (2.2%) in DES group developed post-operative cardiac events and none in BMS group (p=0.

EpsinR2 interacts with clathrin, adaptor protein-3, AtVTI12, and phosphatidylinositol-3-phosphate. Implications for EpsinR2 function in protein trafficking in plant cells.

Members of the epsin family of proteins (epsins) are characterized by the presence of an epsin N-terminal homology (ENTH) domain. Epsins have been implicated in various protein-trafficking pathways in animal and yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) cells. Plant cells also contain multiple epsin-related proteins.

Antifungal effect of eugenol and nerolidol against Microsporum gypseum in a guinea pig model.

Essential oils have been widely used in anti-infectious application. In the present study, we elucidated the antifungal activities of eugenol and nerolidol isolated from Japanese cypress oil in a guinea pig model infected by Microsporum gypseum (M. gypseum).

Functional characterization of sequence motifs in the transit peptide of Arabidopsis small subunit of rubisco.

The transit peptides of nuclear-encoded chloroplast proteins are necessary and sufficient for targeting and import of proteins into chloroplasts. However, the sequence information encoded by transit peptides is not fully understood. In this study, we investigated sequence motifs in the transit peptide of the small subunit of the Rubisco complex by examining the ability of various mutant transit peptides to target green fluorescent protein reporter proteins to chloroplasts in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) leaf protoplasts.

Identification and functional analysis of cystathionine beta-synthase gene mutations in patients with homocystinuria.

Homocystinuria is an autosomal recessive inborn error of metabolism that is most often caused by mutation in the cystathionine beta-synthase (CBS) gene. Patients may develop serious clinical manifestations such as lens dislocation, mental retardation, osteoporosis, and atherothrombotic vascular disease. Over 100 mutations have been reported, but so far, none have been reported in Korea.

The molecular basis of phenylketonuria in Koreans.

Phenylketonuria (PKU) is an inborn error of metabolism that results from a deficiency of phenylalanine hydroxylase (PAH). We characterized the PAH mutations of 79 independent Korean patients with PKU or hyperphenylalaninemia. PAH nucleotide sequence analysis revealed 39 different mutations, including ten novel mutations.