Changes of phenolic compounds in LebZIP2-overexpressing transgenic plants

484-491The bZIP gene is a transcription factor that plays various roles in relation to plant stress and hormone signaling. This gene is also involved in plant environmental stress and herbicide tolerance. We generated Nicotiana benthamiana transgenic plants with LebZIP2-encoding gene isolated from tomatoes using Agrobacterium-mediated transformation. Transgenic seeds harvested from these T0 transgenic plants were grown and examined for gene transfer and changes in phenolic compounds in the T1 generation. RT-PCR analysis using a primer specific to the LebZIP gene confirmed that the gene was transferred to the T1 generation. We analyzed the increase and decrease tendency for 30 phenolic compounds using the T1 generation-transgenic plants and investigated the mechanism between the specifically increased compound and LebZIP2 gene. Gallic acid, homogentisic acid, protocatechuic acid, myricetin, t-cinnamic acid, and b-resorcyclic acid were identified as the phenolic compounds that increased in T1 transgenic plants overexpressing the LebZIP gene. Among these, homogentisic acid at 246.75-1055.19 µg/g, was increased by 2-5 fold in the T1 transgenic plants compared to the control. Protocatechuic acid was found at 1640.54-2456.00 µg/g and was increased by 2-4 fold in T1 transgenic plants. t-Cinnamic acid was present in a small amount of 23.14 µg/g in the control, whereas it was 102.19-135.47 µg/g in T1 transgenic plants, showing an increase of 4-5 folds. These results indicated that homogentisic acid, protocatechuic acid, and t-cinnamic acid among the 30 phenolic compounds analyzed, were significantly increased in LebZIP2-overexpressing T1 transgenic plants, and support the evidence that the LebZIP2 gene is significantly involved in the increment of three phenolic compounds

On-Line Cursive Korean Character Recognition by using Curvature Models

A cursive Korean character consists of several Korean alphabets where connection is present within and among the alphabets. Recognition of Korean characters can be carried out by splitting each character into smaller primitives. Small line segments can be used as the primitives. But this approach requires too much processing time, for there can be many candidate references to be matched to one input character and each reference usually consists of too many primitives. In this paper, we propose an approach using structural curvature models to overcome the difficulties of using small line segments. These models are obtained by segmenting the input character at the points showing sudden change in direction, excessive rotation, etc. By doing this, rather larger and structural curve segments can be used as the basic primitives to be matched resulting in the savings of processing time and better recognition rat

Comparison of the medium cutoff dialyzer and postdilution hemodiafiltration on the removal of small and middle molecule uremic toxins

Background The medium cutoff (MCO) dialyzer increases the removal of several middle molecules more effectively than high-flux hemodialysis (HD). However, comparative data addressing the efficacy and safety of MCO dialyzers vs. postdilution hemodiafiltration (HDF) in Korean patients are lacking. Methods Nine patients with chronic HD were included in this pre-post study. Patients underwent HD with an MCO dialyzer for 4 weeks, followed by a 2-week washout period using a high-flux dialyzer to minimize carryover effects, and then turned over to postdilution HDF for 4 weeks. Reduction ratios and differences in the uremic toxins before and after dialysis were calculated from the MCO dialysis, postdilution HDF, and high-flux HD. In the in vitro study, EA.hy926 cells were incubated with dialyzed serum. Results Compared to postdilution HDF, the MCO dialyzer achieved significantly higher reduction ratios for larger middle molecules (myoglobin, kappa free light chain [κFLC], and lambda FLC [λFLC]). Similarly, the differences in myoglobin, κFLC, and λFLC concentrations before and after the last dialysis session were significantly greater in MCO dialysis than in postdilution HDF. The expression of Bax and nuclear factor κB was decreased in the serum after dialysis with the MCO dialyzer than with HDF. Conclusion Compared with high-volume postdilution HDF, MCO dialysis did not provide greater removal of molecules below 12,000 Da, whereas it was superior in the removal of larger uremic middle molecule toxins in patients with kidney failure. Moreover, these results may be expected to have an anti-apoptotic effect on the human endothelium

Incomplete Distal Renal Tubular Acidosis with Nephrocalcinosis

We report the case of a female patient with incomplete distal renal tubular acidosis with nephrocalcinosis. She was admitted to the hospital because of acute pyelonephritis. Imaging studies showed dual medullary nephrocalcinosis. Subsequent evaluations revealed hypokalemia, hypocalcemia, hypercalciuria, and hypocitraturia with normal acid-base status. A modified tubular acidification test with NH4Cl confirmed a defect of urine acidification, which is compatible with incomplete distal tubular acidosis. We treated our patient with potassium citrate, which corrects hypokalemia and prevents further deposition of calcium salts

Hyponatremia in a Patient with a Sellar Mass

A 59-year-old man with confused mental status was admitted to our hospital. Laboratory reports showed him to have severe hyponatremia, and additional studies revealed panhypopituitarism. Brain magnetic resonance imaging showed a sellar cystic lesion, which consisted of a Rathke cleft cyst. Thus, the mass effect of the Rathke cleft cyst resulted in panhypopituitarism and finally induced euvolemic hyponatremia. On the basis of these results, supplementation with thyroid hormone and glucocorticoid was started, and the patient's serum sodium level was gradually corrected and maintained within the normal range. Here, we report this case of euvolemic hyponatremia caused by a Rathke cleft cyst

THE EFFECTS OF WEARING SPANDEX GARMENT WITH COMPRESSION BAND ON KINEMATIC VARIABLES DURING A GOLF SWING

The purpose of this study was to investigate how spandex garment with compressive band affects kinematic variables during a golf swing. The X-factor and angular velocity of the club in EG were increased during the down swing phase, whereas the significant changes of other kinematic variables were not found in this study. Thus, the effects of wearing spandex garment with compression band cannot be explained as a function of the kinematic variables of interest. It is clear that wearing spandex garment with compressive band may enhance joint stability, which in turn may affect joint kinetics and muscle activation. This has led to suggestions of the need for further kinetic and EMG analyses to evaluate its function

Direct shoot organogenesis from petiole and leaf discs of Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal

An efficient and reproducible procedure is described for direct shoot regeneration using petiole and leaf explants of Withania somnifera (L.). The shoots were mainly induced from the distal end of the petiole, whereas in leaf explants, shoot regeneration was initiated from the basal part and wounded tissue. The regeneration medium that induced the highest numbers of shoots in the petiole and leaf explants was Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with 2 mg/l N6-benzyladenine (BA) alone or with 0.1 mg/l a-naphthalene acetic acid (NAA). The frequency of shoot regeneration was greatly influenced by the type of explant, the carbon source, the orientation of the explant, and the basal medium used in the regeneration medium. Explants produced shoot buds and adventitious shoots within four weeks. Histological analysis of the regenerating shoots showed that the shoot buds emerged from sub epidermal parenchymal cells, with no intermediate callus formation. Plantlets were rooted on MS alone or MS containing different concentrations of 3-indolebutyric acid (IBA). The addition of 1 mg/l IBA to the medium was most effective in inducing root formation. The regenerated plantlets were acclimatized in the greenhouse and successfully transferred to the field, with a 90% survival rate. The acclimatized plants showed normal flowering and were not morphologically different from the seed-derived mother plants.Key words: Histology, medicinal plant, plant growth regulator, plant regeneration, Withania somnifera

Perirenal Fluid Collection after Kidney Transplantation

A 30-year-old male presented with pitting edema. He had received a kidney transplantation 3 months previously. His serum creatinine level was increased, and a renal ultrasound showed hypoechoic fluid collection in the perirenal space and pelvic cavity. We conducted sono-guided percutaneous drainage of the fluid collected in the pelvic cavity. The chemistry of the peritoneal fluid was more equivalent to serum chemistry values than to urinary values. Simple aspiration and treatment with antibiotics were performed. We have presented a case of lymphocele after kidney transplantation. This case suggests that physicians should remember how to differentiate the pelvic cavity fluid collection in patients who have received a kidney transplant