Development of a highly sensitive and rapid detection method for Pea enation mosaic virus using loop-mediated isothermal amplification assay.

The Pea enation mosaic virus (PEMV) has infected plants in the family Leguminosae such as pea, chickpea, faba bean, and lentil plants worldwide that the virus can be transmitted by sap, aphids, and seeds. Among the damages that PEMV disease cause in plants are reduced crop productivity, severely misshapen pods, wart-like outgrowths or proliferation on the surface. Previously, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), reverse transcription (RT)-nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and real-time PCR had been used to detect PEMV.

Mucin gene polymorphisms are associated with endometriosis in Korean women.

Objective: Mucin family members mucin 1 (MUC1) and mucin 4 (MUC4) play an important role in transformation and adhesion, and are known markers for the detection of cancer. However, the pathophysiology of endometriosis associated with the mucin gene is unclear. In this study, we analyzed the relationship between MUC1 and MUC4 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and the risk for endometriosis.

Roles of 5-HT on phase transition of neurite outgrowth in the identified serotoninergic neuron C1, Helisoma trivolvis.

Neurite outgrowth is a morphological marker of neuronal differentiation and neuroregeneration, and the process includes four essential phases, namely initiation, elongation, guidance and cessation. Intrinsic and extrinsic signaling molecules seem to involve morphological changes of neurite outgrowth via various cellular signaling cascades phase transition. Although mechanisms associated with neurite outgrowth have been studied extensively, little is known about how phase transition is regulated during neurite outgrowth.

Characterization of Impaired Cerebrovascular Structure in APP/PS1 Mouse Brains.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is defined by senile plaques, tauopathy and neuronal cell death in specific area of the brain. Recent studies suggest that neurovascular dysfunction may be an integral part of AD pathogenesis, contributing to the onset and development of AD pathologies such as neuronal death, inflammatory response, and breakdown of blood-brain barrier (BBB). In addition, vascular complications caused by age-related metabolic diseases such as diabetes and high blood pressure have high incidence in development of dementia and AD.

Ionic and thermo-switchable polymer-masked mesoporous silica drug-nanocarrier: High drug loading capacity at 10°C and fast drug release completion at 40°C.

The preparation of the ideal smart drug-delivery systems were successfully achieved by the in situ co-polymerization of a vinyl group-functionalized mesoporous silica nanoparticle (f-MSN) with 1-butyl-3-vinyl imidazolium bromide (BVIm) and N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPAAm) monomers. The thickness of the capping copolymer layer, poly(NIPAAm-co-BVIm) (p-NIBIm), was controlled at between 2.5nm and 5nm, depending on the monomers/f-MSN ratio in the reaction solution.

Polymorphisms of small ubiquitin-related modifier genes are associated with risk of Alzheimer's disease in Korean: A case-control study.

Sumoylation regulates transcription factor transactivation, protein-protein interactions, and appropriate subcellular localization of certain proteins. Previous studies have shown that sumoylation of amyloid precursor protein (APP) is associated with decreased levels of amyloid beta (Aβ) proteins, suggesting that sumoylation may play a role in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD). We investigated the association between polymorphisms of the SUMO genes and the risk of AD.

Genetic polymorphisms of interleukin genes and the risk of Alzheimer's disease: An update meta-analysis.

Objectives: Recently, several meta-analyses have reported an association between interleukin (IL) gene polymorphisms and the risk of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Several further papers discussing the relationship with the risk of AD have recently been published. The aim of this meta-analysis was to re-evaluate and update the associations between IL gene polymorphisms and the risk of AD.

Calcium homeostasis modulator 1 gene P86L polymorphism and the risk for alzheimer's disease: A meta-analysis.

Objectives: Recently, many epidemiological studies have demonstrated an association between P86L polymorphism of calcium homeostasis modulator 1 (CALHM1) and risk for Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, the results of these association studies are inconsistent. In this study, we re-evaluated the relation between CALHM1 P86L polymorphism and risk for AD in a meta-analysis.

Loop-mediated Isothermal Amplification Assay to Rapidly Detect Wheat Streak Mosaic Virus in Quarantined Plants.

We developed a loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) method to rapidly diagnose Wheat streak mosaic virus (WSMV) during quarantine inspections of imported wheat, corn, oats, and millet. The LAMP method was developed as a plant quarantine inspection method for the first time, and its simplicity, quickness, specificity and sensitivity were verified compared to current reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and nested PCR quarantine methods. We were able to quickly screen for WSMV at quarantine sites with many test samples; thus, this method is expected to contribute to plant quarantine inspections.

Vitamin D receptor gene polymorphisms and the risk for female reproductive cancers: A meta-analysis.

Vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene polymorphisms and the risks for various breast and ovarian cancers have been reported in many epidemiological studies. However, the associations between VDR gene polymorphisms and the risk for each type of cancer are unclear. The aim of this meta-analysis was to evaluate the associations between VDR gene polymorphisms and female reproductive cancers.

Biofunctionalized carbon nanotubes in neural regeneration: a mini-review.

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have become an intriguing and promising biomaterial platform for the regeneration and functional recovery of damaged nerve tissues. The unique electrical, structural and mechanical properties, diversity of available surface chemistry and cell-penetrating ability of CNTs have made them useful implantable matrices or carriers for the delivery of therapeutic molecules. Although there are still challenges being faced in the clinical applications of CNTs mainly due to their toxicity, many studies to overcome this issue have been published.

Promoter -2518 single nucleotide polymorphism of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 is associated with clinical severity in Behçet's disease.

Objective: We investigated whether promoter -2518 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) of the monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) gene contributes to susceptibility and clinical features or severity in Behçet's disease (BD) patients.

Methods: One hundred and thirty-two BD patients and 113 healthy subjects, matched by sex and age, were enrolled. Promoter -2518 polymorphism of the MCP-1 gene was analyzed using automated sequencing.

Carbon nanotubes in nanocomposites and hybrids with hydroxyapatite for bone replacements.

Hydroxyapatite (HA), as a bone mineral component, has been an attractive bioceramic for the reconstruction of hard tissues. However, its poor mechanical properties, including low fracture toughness and tensile strength, have been a significant challenge to the application of HA for the replacement of load-bearing and/or large bone defects. Among materials studied to reinforce HA, carbon nanotubes (CNTs: single-walled or multiwalled) have recently gained significant attention because of their unprecedented mechanical properties (high strength and toughness) and physicochemical properties (high surface area, electrical and thermal conductivity, and low weight).

G109T polymorphism of SLC22A12 gene is associated with serum uric acid level, but not with metabolic syndrome.

SLC22A12 gene, encoding urate transport 1, has been known to be responsible to urate metabolism. This study sought to determine the association between the novel G109T polymorphism in SLC22A12 with serum uric acid and the development of metabolic syndrome in Korean male subjects. A total of 132 healthy male subjects were enrolled in this study.

Polymorphisms of tumor necrosis factor-α promoter region for susceptibility to HLA-B27-positive ankylosing spondylitis in Korean population.

This study designed to assess the relationship between tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α promoter polymorphisms and disease susceptibility to human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-B27-positive ankylosing spondylitis (AS). One hundred and nineteen HLA-B27(+) AS patients, 95 HLA-B27(+) healthy controls, and 135 random healthy controls were enrolled in this study. Six single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the TNF-α promoter at positions -1031T/C, -863C/A, -857C/T, -646G/A, -308G/A, and -238G/A were analyzed.

Relationship between salivary Chromogranin-A and stress induced by simulated monotonous driving.

The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the use of salivary Chromogranin-A (CgA), which is already used in general as a mental stress marker, for studying the stressful situation created by simulated monotonous driving. After informed consent, 25 healthy male and female subjects were studied under constant environment-controlled conditions. We measured the following physiological variables: blood pressure (BP), cardiac output, total peripheral resistance (TPR), normalized pulse volume (NPV) as an index of alpha-adrenergic sympathetic activity to the finger arteriolar vessels, levels of cortisol and CgA during monotonous driving.

T6092C polymorphism of SLC22A12 gene is associated with serum uric acid concentrations in Korean male subjects.

Background And Object: It has been suggested that the SLC22A12 gene polymorphism may be involved in the mechanism of renal urate handling. The purpose of the current study was to identify the effect of the T6092C polymorphism of the SLC22A12 gene on serum uric acid concentrations in the Korean population.

Methods: We examined 196 healthy subjects (141 males and 55 females) in this study.

Interleukin-17F gene polymorphisms in Korean patients with Behçet's disease.

IL-17 is a novel cytokine that is characterized by an ability to induce several types of cells to secrete proinflammatory cytokines in various inflammatory diseases. This study analyzed the influence of IL-17F gene polymorphisms on disease susceptibility and clinical features. Ninety-nine Behçet's disease (BD) patients and 114 controls were genotyped to analyze three single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) including A126G, G155A, and A161G of the IL-17F gene using automated sequencing.

[Detection of rifampin resistant mycobacterium tuberculosis complex using denaturing HPLC].

Background: Tuberculosis (TB) remains an important cause of morbidity and mortality throughout the world. The surge of TB has been accompanied by an increase in multi-drug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB). In this study, we developed a denaturing HPLC (DHPLC) method for detecting rpoB gene mutation as a rifampin resistance based on sequence.

A novel mutation in the SCN5A gene is associated with Brugada syndrome.

Brugada syndrome (BS) is an inherited cardiac disorder associated with a high risk of sudden cardiac death and is caused by mutations in the SCN5A gene encoding the cardiac sodium channel alpha-subunit (Na(v)1.5). The aim of this study was to identify the genetic cause of familial BS and characterize the electrophysiological properties of a novel SCN5A mutation (W1191X).

Inhibitory effect of jaceosidin isolated from Artemisiaargyi on the function of E6 and E7 oncoproteins of HPV 16.

Jaceosidin (4',5,7-trihydroxy-3',6-dimethoxyflavone) was isolated from Artemisia argyi as a putative oncogene inhibitor. Jaceosidin inhibited binding between oncoprotein E6 of the human papillomavirus and the p53 tumor suppressor protein. In addition, jaceosidin inhibited binding between the E7 oncoprotein and the Rb tumor suppressor protein, and also inhibited the function of HPV-16 harboring cervical cancer cells, including SiHa and CaSki.