Pericyte actomyosin-mediated contraction at the cell-material interface can modulate the microvascular niche.

Pericytes physically surround the capillary endothelium, contacting and communicating with associated vascular endothelial cells via cell-cell and cell-matrix contacts. Pericyte-endothelial cell interactions thus have the potential to modulate growth and function of the microvasculature. Here we employ the experimental finding that pericytes can buckle a freestanding, underlying membrane via actin-mediated contraction.

Microbial community and metabolomic comparison of irritable bowel syndrome faeces.

Human health relies on the composition of microbiota in an individual's gut and the synthesized metabolites that may alter the gut environment. Gut microbiota and faecal metabolites are involved in several gastrointestinal diseases. In this study, 16S rRNA-specific denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis and quantitative PCR analysis showed that the mean similarity of total bacteria was significantly different (P<0.

Empathic exchanges in online cancer support groups: distinguishing message expression and reception effects.

Past studies on the efficacy of participation in online cancer support groups have primarily focused on the role of expression in the accrual of health benefits for participants. Unfortunately, few steps have been taken to determine whether this observed effect arises solely from the internal mental processes underlying the act of expressing or, perhaps, owes something to a nuanced, multidimensional understanding of expression that includes reception of responses to what is expressed. To test for the multilayered effect, we attend to one of the key concepts in the online support community scholarship: empathy.

Induction of the Intrinsic Apoptotic Pathway by 3-Deazaadenosine Is Mediated by BAX Activation in HL-60 Cells.

3-Deazaadenosine (DZA), a potent inhibitor of S-adenosylhomocysteine hydrolase, was previously proposed to induce intrinsic apoptosis in human leukemic cells. In the present study, we analyzed the mechanism underlying the DZA-induced intrinsic apoptotic pathway. DZA activated typical caspase-dependent apoptosis in HL-60 cells, as demonstrated by an accumulation of hypo-diploidic cells, the processing of multiple procaspases and an inhibitory effect of z-VAD-Fmk on this cell death.

Combined effect of ultrasound and organic acids to reduce Escherichia coli O157:H7, Salmonella Typhimurium, and Listeria monocytogenes on organic fresh lettuce.

This study was performed to compare the effectiveness of individual treatments (ultrasound and organic acids) and their combination on reducing foodborne pathogens on organic fresh lettuce. Lettuce leaves were inoculated with a cocktail of three strains each of Escherichia coli O157:H7, Salmonella Typhimurium, and Listeria monocytogenes and treated with ultrasound (40 kHz) alone, organic acids (0.3, 0.

Endoscopic diagnosis of open-type atrophic gastritis is related to the histological diagnosis of intestinal metaplasia and Cdx2 expression.

Background And Objectives: Long-term Helicobacter pylori infection results in atrophic gastritis and intestinal metaplasia (IM) with Cdx2 expression. We have tried to determine if there was a link between endoscopic and histological diagnosis of IM based on the status of aberrant Cdx2 expression.

Methods: One hundred and one subjects agreed to upper gastrointestinal endoscopic examination, with biopsy sampling for histology, Giemsa, and Cdx2 immunohistochemical staining before and after the treatment.

Vortex-assisted tryptic digestion.

The effect of vortex-induced vibration during tryptic digestion was investigated by applying different vibrational speeds (0, 600, 1200, or 2500 rpm) to digestion solutions for varying durations (10, 20, 30, 40, or 60 min) at two different incubation temperatures (25°C or 37°C). The most rapid digestion was observed with the highest vibrational speed and temperature. With the application of 2500 rpm at 37°C, the tryptic digestion of each of three standard proteins (cytochrome c, myoglobin, or bovine serum albumin) provided complete disappearance of the protein within 60 min, as determined by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry.

Absence of a FOXL2 mutation (402C→G) in the blood of adult-type granulosa cell tumor patients possessing the FOXL2 mutation.

Recently, a new mutation in FOXL2, c.402C→G leading to a p.C134W change, was reported to be found in 97% of adult-type ovarian granulosa cell tumors (GCTs) tested.

The anti-angiogenic peptide, loop 6, binds insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor.

Tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs), the endogenous inhibitors of matrix metalloproteinases, have been shown to possess biological functions that are independent of their ability to inhibit matrix metalloproteinases. We have previously shown that the C-terminal domain of TIMP-2 and, in particular, Loop 6 inhibit capillary endothelial cell proliferation and angiogenesis both in vitro and in vivo. To elucidate the mechanism by which Loop 6 inhibits angiogenesis, we sought to determine whether its biological effects were the result of a known TIMP-2 protein-protein interaction or of a receptor-mediated event.

Rice ternary MADS protein complexes containing class B MADS heterodimer.

To investigate ternary MADS protein complexes involved in the regulation of floral organ development in rice, we identified MADS proteins interacting with the class B MADS heterodimers, OsMADS16-OsMADS4 and OsMADS16-OsMADS2, using yeast three-hybrid assay. The class B heterodimers interacted with OsMADS6, 7, 8, 14 and 17, which belong to AP1-like, SEP-like or AGL6-like MADS proteins, generating ternary complexes. The entire region of the K and C domains of OsMADS4 was required for the formation of the OsMADS16-OsMADS4-OsMADS6 and OsMADS16-OsMADS4-OsMADS7 ternary complexes.

Depressive mood and quality of life in functional gastrointestinal disorders: differences between functional dyspepsia, irritable bowel syndrome and overlap syndrome.

Objective: To investigate the differences in depressive mood and quality of life in patients with between functional dyspepsia (FD), irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and FD-IBS overlap as diagnosed based on Rome III criteria.

Methods: The subjects completed a questionnaire based on Rome III criteria, the Beck Depressive Inventory (BDI) including Cognitive Depression Index (CDI) for depressive mood evaluation and the 36-item Short Form general health survey (SF-36) for quality of life assessment. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy and colonoscopy were performed to exclude organic disease.

Determination of cross sections by overtone mobility spectrometry: evidence for loss of unstable structures at higher overtones.

Overtone mobility spectrometry (OMS) is examined as a means of determining the collision cross sections for multiply charged ubiquitin and substance P ions, as well as for singly charged rafinose and melezitose ions. Overall, values of collision cross section measured by OMS for stable ion conformations are found to be in agreement with values determined by conventional ion mobility spectrometry (IMS) measurements to within ∼1% relative uncertainty. The OMS spectra for ubiquitin ions appear to favor different conformations at higher overtones.

Tumor suppressor ras association domain family 5 (RASSF5/NORE1) mediates death receptor ligand-induced apoptosis.

Epigenetic silencing of RASSF (Ras association domain family) genes RASSF1 and RASSF5 (also called NORE1) by CpG hypermethylation is found frequently in many cancers. Although the physiological roles of RASSF1 have been studied in some detail, the exact functions of RASSF5 are not well understood. Here, we show that RASSF5 plays an important role in mediating apoptosis in response to death receptor ligands, TNF-α and TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand.

Microwave-assisted extraction of human hair proteins.

The effectiveness of microwave-assisted extraction of proteins from human hair samples was evaluated. Extractions were performed from 2-mg hair samples in an extraction solution consisting of 25 mM Tris-HCl (pH 8.5), 2.

Microsatellite alterations at selected tetranucleotide repeats are associated with morphologies of colorectal neoplasias.

Background & Aims: Elevated microsatellite alterations at selected tetranucleotide repeats (EMAST) occurs during microsatellite instability (MSI) that is not associated with major defects in DNA mismatch repair (MMR) but rather the reduced (heterogenous) expression of the MMR protein hMSH3; it occurs in sporadic colorectal tumors. We examined the timing of development of EMAST during progression of colorectal neoplasias and looked for correlations between EMAST and clinical and pathology features of tumors.

Methods: We evaluated tumor samples from a cohort of patients that had 24 adenomas and 84 colorectal cancers.

AMP kinase acts as a negative regulator of RANKL in the differentiation of osteoclasts.

Introduction: AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) has been reported to stimulate differentiation and proliferation of osteoblasts, but the role of AMPK in the physiology of osteoclasts has not been investigated.

Method: Osteoclasts were differentiated from mouse BMMϕs. TRAP-positive multinucleated cells were considered to be osteoclasts using TRAP staining, and resorption area was determined by incubation of cells on dentine discs.

Treatment of atrophic scars with fractional photothermolysis: short-term follow-up.

Background: Various modalities have been used to treat scars, but limited efficacy and problematic side effects have restricted their application.

Objective: To determine the effectiveness and safety of fractional photothermolysis treatment of various atrophic scars in Korean patients.

Methods: Fifty-nine patients with atrophic scars (caused by acne, trauma, herpes zoster, and burns) were treated with fractional photothermolysis using either Fraxel™ SR 750 or Fraxel™ SR 1500 instruments.

Arabidopsis lenc1 mutant displays reduced ABA accumulation by low AtNCED3 expression under osmotic stress.

The plant hormone, abscisic acid (ABA), is a main signal transducer that confers abiotic stress tolerance to plants. Although the pathway of ABA production and the genes catalyzing its biosynthesis are largely defined, the regulatory mechanism of ABA biosynthesis in response to abiotic stress remains much unknown. In this study, to identify upstream genes regulating ABA biosynthesis involved in abiotic stress signal transduction, Arabidopsis thaliana mutants with altered promoter activity of 9-cis-epoxycarotenoid dioxygenase 3 (NCED3), a key gene in ABA biosynthesis, were identified and characterized.

Microbial growth in dry grain food (Sunsik) beverages prepared with water, milk, soymilk, or honey-water.

This study was conducted to investigate the growth of microorganisms, including pathogenic bacteria such as Cronobacter sakazakii and Bacillus cereus, in Sunsik beverages made of water, milk, soymilk, or honey-water during storage at room temperature. Prepared Sunsik beverages were stored at room temperature and the growth of total aerobic counts, Escherichia coli/coliforms, and yeast and mold were measured. Also, samples inoculated with a cocktail of C.

Serum prohepcidin levels in Helicobacter pylori infected patients with iron deficiency anemia.

Background/aims: Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection appears to subvert the human iron regulatory mechanism and thus upregulates hepcidin, resulting in unexplained iron-deficiency anemia (IDA). We evaluated serum prohepcidin levels before and after eradication of H.

Low-dose 1064-nm Q-switched Nd:YAG laser for the treatment of melasma.

Background: Melasma is a common acquired pigmentary disorder which is sometimes hard to treat with conventional methods. Various kinds of modalities have been applied for the treatment of melasma but none shows constantly good results.

Objectives: In this study, we would like to know the effect of low-dose 1064-nm Q-switched Nd:YAG laser (QSNYL) on melasma and want to evaluate the changes of skin after laser treatment.

The origin of non-H. pylori-related positive Giemsa staining in human gastric biopsy specimens: A prospective study.

Background: Upper gastrointestinal endoscopically biopsied specimens are usually sent for the diagnosis of Helicobacter pylori infection. The study aimed to determine the relationship between the origin of positive Giemsa staining and the grade of gastritis based on the updated Sydney system.

Methods: Gastric biopsy specimens taken at the lesser curvature and greater curvature sides of the corpus and greater curvature side of the antrum were stained with H&E, Giemsa, anti-East Asian-specific antibody and anti-H.

Dyrk1A-mediated phosphorylation of Presenilin 1: a functional link between Down syndrome and Alzheimer's disease.

The dual-specificity tyrosine(Y)-phosphorylation-regulated kinase 1A (Dyrk1A) gene is located on human chromosome 21 and encodes a proline-directed protein kinase that might be responsible for mental retardation and early onset of Alzheimer's disease (AD) in Down syndrome (DS) patients. Presenilin 1 (PS1) is a key component of the γ-secretase complex in the generation of β-amyloid (Aβ), an important trigger protein in the pathogenesis of AD. Increased Dyrk1A expression has been reported in human AD and DS brains.