Extensive Structural Variations Between Mitochondrial Genomes of CMS and Normal Peppers (Capsicum Annuum L.) Revealed by Complete Nucleotide Sequencing

Cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS) is an inability to produce functional pollen that is caused by mutation of the mitochondrial genome. Comparative analyses of mitochondrial genomes of lines with and without CMS in several species have revealed structural differences between genomes, including extensive rearrangements caused by recombination. However, the mitochondrial genome structure and the DNA rearrangements that may be related to CMS have not been characterized in Capsicum spp. Results: We obtained the complete mitochondrial genome sequences of the pepper CMS line FS4401 (507,452 bp) and the fertile line Jeju (511,530 bp). Comparative analysis between mitochondrial genomes of peppers and tobacco that are included in Solanaceae revealed extensive DNA rearrangements and poor conservation in non-coding DNA. In comparison between pepper lines, FS4401 and Jeju mitochondrial DNAs contained the same complement of protein coding genes except for one additional copy of an atp6 gene (psi atp6-2) in FS4401. In terms of genome structure, we found eighteen syntenic blocks in the two mitochondrial genomes, which have been rearranged in each genome. By contrast, sequences between syntenic blocks, which were specific to each line, accounted for 30,380 and 17,847 bp in FS4401 and Jeju, respectively. The previously-reported CMS candidate genes, orf507 and psi atp6-2, were located on the edges of the largest sequence segments that were specific to FS4401. In this region, large number of small sequence segments which were absent or found on different locations in Jeju mitochondrial genome were combined together. The incorporation of repeats and overlapping of connected sequence segments by a few nucleotides implied that extensive rearrangements by homologous recombination might be involved in evolution of this region. Further analysis using mtDNA pairs from other plant species revealed common features of DNA regions around CMS-associated genes. Conclusions: Although large portion of sequence context was shared by mitochondrial genomes of CMS and male-fertile pepper lines, extensive genome rearrangements were detected. CMS candidate genes located on the edges of highly-rearranged CMS-specific DNA regions and near to repeat sequences. These characteristics were detected among CMS-associated genes in other species, implying a common mechanism might be involved in the evolution of CMS-associated genes.Golden Seed ProjectMinistry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (MAFRA)Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries (MOF)Rural Development Administration (RDA)Korea Forest Service (KFS)Vegetable Breeding Research Center through the R&D Convergence Center Support Program, Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (MAFRA) Republic of Korea 710001-07Molecular Bioscience

Comparative analysis of outcomes after multiport and single-port laparoscopic colectomy in emergency situations: Is single-port laparoscopic colectomy safe and feasible?

SummaryBackground/ObjectiveAlthough consensus has been reached on the superiority of laparoscopy for a majority of conditions underlying acute abdominal pain, the safety and feasibility of single-port laparoscopic colectomy (SPLC) in emergency situations have not been determined.MethodsA prospective electronic database of all emergency patients who underwent either multiport laparoscopic colectomy (MPLC) or SPLC between April 2006 and December 2014 was used to compare the surgical outcomes of these operative methods.ResultsDuring the study period, 31 MPLCs and 76 SPLCs were performed. These two operative methods resulted in similar operating times, transfusion amounts, lengths of stay, postoperative complications, attainment of lymph nodes, and proximal and distal cut margins. However, the SPLC group had a shorter time to first flatus (2.8±1.9 days vs. 3.8±1.5 days, p=0.005), earlier reinitiation of free oral fluids (3.2±2.1 days vs. 4.4±1.8 days, p=0.002), and lesser requirement of narcotic analgesics (2.5±3.9 times vs. 4.7±4.8 times, p=0.017).ConclusionSPLC could be a safe and effective alternative to MPLC, even in emergency situations when performed by surgeons who have overcome the learning curve associated with single-port laparoscopic techniques. The tendency toward earlier returns to bowel function and decreased incidence of postoperative analgesic use would be potential benefits of SPLC in emergency situations

Control of nacre biomineralization by Pif80 in pearl oyster

Molluscan nacre is a fascinating biomineral consisting of a highly organized calcium carbonate composite that provides unique fracture toughness and an iridescent color. Organisms elaborately control biomineralization using organic macromolecules. We propose the involvement of the matrix protein Pif80 from the pearl oyster Pinctada fucata in the development of the inorganic phase during nacre biomineralization, based on experiments using the recombinant form of Pif80. Through interactions with calcium ions, Pif80 participates in the formation of polymer-induced liquid precursor-like amorphous calcium carbonate granules and stabilizes these granules by forming calcium ion-induced coacervates. At the calcification site, the disruption of Pif80 coacervates destabilizes the amorphous mineral precursors, resulting in the growth of a crystalline structure. The redissolved Pif80 controls the growth of aragonite on the polysaccharide substrate, which contributes to the formation of polygonal tablet structure of nacre. Our findings provide insight into the use of organic macromolecules by living organisms in biomineralization.117Ysciescopu

The impact of an educational intervention on parents' decisions to vaccinate their <60-month-old children against influenza

PurposeSeasonal influenza can be prevented by vaccination. Disease prevention in children aged <60 months is of particular importance because of the associated familial and societal burden. Considering that caretakers make the decision to vaccinate their children, the identification of drivers and barriers to vaccination is essential to increase influenza vaccination coverage.MethodsA total of 639 parents participated in the pre- and posteducational survey and 450 parents participated in the study via telephone interviews. The participating parents were asked to rank their agreement with each statement of the survey questionnaire on a scale from 1 (strongly disagree) to 5 (strongly agree), and the scores between pre- and postintervention were compared.ResultsBefore the educational intervention, 105 out of 639 participants reported not to agree to vaccinate their children against influenza. After the intervention, 46 out of the 105 parents changed their opinions about childhood vaccination. The physicians' recommendation received the highest agreement score and was the most important driver to vaccination, whereas the cost of vaccination was the strongest factor for not vaccinating children. In general, the participants significantly changed the agreement scores between pre- and postintervention. However, the unfavorable opinions about vaccination and the convenience of receiving the influenza vaccine did not change significantly.ConclusionThe results of this study indicate that a specific educational intervention involving caregivers is very effective in increasing the influenza vaccination coverage of children aged less than 60 months

A Novel Technique of Morcellation Using a Pneumovesicum After Holmium Laser Enucleation of the Prostate in Complicated Situations: Our Initial Experience and Tips

Purpose To describe our initial experience with a novel method of adenoma retrieval using a pneumovesicum (PNV) after Holmium laser enucleation of the prostate (HoLEP). Methods From January 2016 to April 2018, a total of 93 consecutive patients treated with HoLEP were enrolled in this study. For tissue morcellation, we used the PNV morcellation technique for an initial series of 21 patients and the conventional technique (Lumenis VersaCut) for a consecutive series of 72 patients. We compared efficiency and safety between the novel technique and the traditional technique. Subgroup analysis was performed to assess the effectiveness of the current technique in the large prostate (>70 mL). Results There were significant differences in mean age and prostate volume between the 2 groups. However, there were no significant differences in the baseline characteristics and preoperative parameters in the subgroup analysis of large prostates (>70 mL). The mean morcellation efficiency was higher (8.50±1.94 minutes vs. 1.76±0.45 minutes, P<0.05) and the time of morcellation (7.81±1.25 minutes vs. 34.04±11.14 minutes, P<0.05) was shorter in the PNV group. Moreover, there were no significant differences between groups in hospitalization period (2.62±1.10 days vs. 2.90±1.26 days, P=0.852) and any other postoperative events, including recatheterization, reoperation, clot retention, and urethral stricture (P-value range, 0.194–0.447). In the PNV group, there were some cases of procedure-related complications, including postoperative extravesical leakage (5th case), clot retention (8th case), and recatheterization (9th case). Conclusions This method has a higher tissue retrieval efficacy, with the advantage of excellent visibility compared to conventional morcellation. The current method can be applied when a transurethral morcellator is out of order or cannot be used

Factors of quality of care and their association with smartphone based PHR adoption in South Korean hospitals

Background Healthcare organizations have begun to adopt personal health records (PHR) systems to engage patients, but little is known about factors associated with the adoption of PHR systems at an organizational level. The objective of this study is to investigate factors associated with healthcare organizations’ adoption of PHR systems in South Korea. Methods The units of analysis were hospitals with more than 100 beds. Study data of 313 hospitals were collected from May 1 to June 30, 2020. The PHR adoption status for each hospital was collected from PHR vendors and online searches. Adoption was then confirmed by downloading the hospital’s PHR app and the PHR app was examined to ascertain its available functions. One major outcome variable was PHR adoption status at hospital level. Data were analysed by logistic regressions using SAS 9.4 version. Results Out of 313 hospitals, 103 (32.9%) hospitals adopted PHR systems. The nurse-patient ratio was significantly associated with PHR adoption (OR 0.758; 0.624 to 0.920, p = 0.005). The number of health information management staff was associated with PHR adoption (OR 1.622; 1.228 to 2.141, p = 0.001). The number of CTs was positively associated with PHR adoption (OR 5.346; 1.962 to 14.568, p = 0.001). Among the hospital characteristics, the number of beds was significantly related with PHR adoption in the model of standard of nursing care (OR 1.003; 1.001 to 1.005, p < 0.001), HIM staff (OR 1.004; 1.002 to 1.006, p < 0.001), and technological infrastructure (OR 1.050; 1.003 to 1.006, p < 0.001). Conclusions One-third of study hospitals had adopted PHR systems. Standard of nursing care as well as information technology infrastructure in terms of human resources for health information management and advanced technologies were significantly associated with adoption of PHR systems. A favourable environment for adopting new technologies in general may be associated with the adoption and use of PHR systems.This study was supported for two years by a Pusan National University Research Grant

Effects of Ecklonia cava as fucoidan-rich algae on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, intestinal morphology and caecal microflora in weanling pigs

Objective: In the present study, role of increasing levels of Ecklonia cava (seaweed) supple mentation in diets was investigated on growth performance, coefficient of total tract apparent digestibility (CTTAD) of nutrients, serum immunoglobulins, cecal microflora and intestinal morphology of weanling pigs. Methods: A total of 200 weaned pigs (Landrace×Yorkshire×Duroc; initial body weight 7.08±0.15 kg) were randomly allotted to 4 treatments on the basis of body weight. There were 5 replicate pens in each treatment including 10 pigs of each. Treatments were divided by dietary Ecklonia cava supplementation levels (0%, 0.05%, 0.1%, or 0.15%) in growing finishing diets. There were 2 diet formulation phases throughout the experiment. The pigs were offered the diets ad libitum for the entire period of experiment in meal form. Results: The pigs fed with increasing dietary concentrations of Ecklonia cava had linear increase (p&lt;0.05) in the overall average daily gain, however, there were no significant differences in gain to feed ratio, CTTAD of dry matter and crude protein at both phase I and phase II. Digestibility of gross energy was linearly improved (p&lt;0.05) in phase II. At day 28, pigs fed Ecklonia cava had greater (linear, p&lt;0.05) Lactobacillus spp., fewer Escherichia coli (E. coli) spp. (linear, p&lt;0.05) and a tendency to have fewer cecal Clostridium spp. (p = 0.077). The total anaerobic bacteria were not affected with supplementation of Ecklonia cava in diets. Polynomial contrasts analysis revealed that villus height of the ileum exhibited a linear increase (p&lt;0.05) in response with the increase in the level of dietary Ecklonia cava. However, villus height of duodenum and jejunum, crypt depth, villus height to crypt depth ratio of different segments of the intestine were not affected. Conclusion: The results suggest that Ecklonia cava had beneficial effects on the growth performance, cecal microflora, and intestinal morphology of weanling pigs

Efficacy of prolonged entecavir monotherapy in treatment-naïve chronic hepatitis B patients exhibiting a partial virologic response to entecavir

Background/AimsThe optimal management of patients exhibiting a partial virologic response (PVR) to entecavir (ETV) has not been determined. The aim of this study was to determine the long-term efficacy of prolonged ETV monotherapy in treatment-naïve chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients exhibiting a PVR to ETV therapy.MethodsThis study included 364 treatment-naïve CHB patients treated with ETV for ≥48 weeks and who received continuous ETV monotherapy for ≥96 weeks. PVR was defined as a decrease in serum hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA of more than 2 log10 IU/mL from baseline but with detectable HBV DNA by real-time PCR assay at week 48.ResultsFifty-two of the 364 patients (14.3%) showed a PVR. Among them, 41 patients received continuous ETV monotherapy for ≥96 weeks (median duration 144 weeks, range 96-312 weeks), and 40 of these patients (95%) achieved a virologic response (VR, HBV DNA <20 IU/mL) during prolonged ETV monotherapy (median duration 78 weeks, range 60-288 weeks). The cumulative probabilities of a VR at weeks 96, 144, and 192 from treatment initiation were 78.0%, 92.7%, and 95.1%, respectively. The VR rate was 97.2% (35/36) in HBeAg-positive patients and 100% (5/5) in HBeAg-negative patients. In multivariate analysis, HBeAg positivity (odds ratio [OR], 9.231; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.03-82.91; P=0.047) and a high baseline HBV DNA level (OR, 0.170; 95% CI, 0.08-0.37; P=0.000) were independently associated with a delayed virologic response. No patient developed genotypic resistance to ETV during follow-up.ConclusionsLong-term ETV monotherapy is effective for achieving a VR in treatment-naïve CHB patients exhibiting a PVR to ETV. HBeAg positivity and high baseline HBV DNA level were independently associated with a delayed virologic response