Analysis of volatile compounds from three species of Atractylodes by Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry

A total of 99 different volatile compounds were detected through Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) from three species of Atractylodes, namely Atractylodes lancea, Atractylodes japonica, and Atractylodes chinensis. Thirteen-volatile flavor compounds i.e., acid, alcohol, aldehyde, alkane, alkene, alkyne, ester, ketone, monoterpene, oxygenated monoterpene, sesquiterpene, oxygenated sesquiterpene, and oxygenated triterpenoid detected from different species of Atractylodes. It was observed that all the species contained 38 common compounds, while A. lancea contained 7 unique compounds, A. japonica has 4 unique compounds, and A. chinensis hold 6 compounds not detected in the other extracts. In addition, essential oils from A. lancea and A. japonica possessed 11 compounds in common, and A. lancea and A. chinensis possessed 19 compounds in common. The remaining 14 compounds were detected only in A. japonica and A. chinensis. The total content of all components in the species was comparable, with 82.528%, 81.766%, and 81.799% of volatile components being detected for A. lancea, A. japonica, and A. chinensis, respectively. Curzerene was found to be the most predominant compound in both A. lancea (14.1%) and A. chinensis (16.7%), while murolan-3,9(11)-diene-10-peroxy was found predominantly in A. japonica (16.8%). The present study suggests that the identified volatile compounds may possess important biological properties, and could be suitable for application in both oriental medicines and the pharmaceutical industry

Herpes Simplex Virus Type 2 Seroprevalence in Korea: Rapid Increase of HSV-2 Seroprevalence in the 30s in the Southern Part

To determine the characteristics of seroprevalence of herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) infection among Korean people, a cross-sectional study was conducted on three groups in 2004. The three groups consisted of the general public who visited public health centers, commercial sex workers (CSWs), and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected persons. Among the general public, HSV-2 seroprevalence rates for age under the 20s, in the 20s, 30s, 40s and the above 22.6%, 32.7% and 32.3%, respectively, which showed rapid increase of the rate in the 30s (p<0.0001). In case of the above of 19 yr old, women (28.0%) was higher than men (21.7%) (p<0.0001). The rate of CSWs (81.6%) was about 10 times higher than that of general women. In case of HIV-infected men (47.6%), the figure was about 2-3 times higher than that of general men. The low rate in the teens and the 20s proved that it is essential to develop sexually transmitted infections (STIs) prevention programs of education and publicity for them as a precaution measure. This study is the first major study of its kind on HSV-2 and would provide basic data for prevention of STIs including information about target groups subject to vaccination program

Stemness Evaluation of Mesenchymal Stem Cells from Placentas According to Developmental Stage: Comparison to Those from Adult Bone Marrow

This study was done to evaluate the stemness of human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) derived from placenta according to the development stage and to compare the results to those from adult bone marrow (BM). Based on the source of hMSCs, three groups were defined: group I included term placentas, group II included first-trimester placentas, and group III included adult BM samples. The stemness was evaluated by the proliferation capacity, immunophenotypic expression, mesoderm differentiation, expression of pluripotency markers including telomerase activity. The cumulative population doubling, indicating the proliferation capacity, was significantly higher in group II (P<0.001, 31.7±5.8 vs. 15.7±6.2 with group I, 9.2±4.9 with group III). The pattern of immunophenotypic expression and mesoderm differentiation into adipocytes and osteocytes were similar in all three groups. The expression of pluripotency markers including ALP, SSEA-4, TRA-1-60, TRA-1-81, Oct-4, and telomerase were strongly positive in group II, but very faint positive in the other groups. In conclusions, hMSCs from placentas have different characteristics according to their developmental stage and express mesenchymal stemness potentials similar to those from adult human BMs

Prenatally Detected Congenital Perineal Mass Using 3D Ultrasound which was Diagnosed as Lipoblastoma Combined with Anorectal Malformation: Case Report

We report a case of prenatally diagnosed congenital perineal mass which was combined with anorectal malformation. The mass was successfully treated with posterior sagittal anorectoplasty postnatally. On ultrasound examination at a gestational age of 23 weeks the fetal perineal mass were found on the right side. Any other defects were not visible on ultrasonography during whole gestation. Amniocentesis was performed to evaluate the fetal karyotyping and acetylcholinesterase which were also normal. As the fetus grew up, the mass size was slowly increased more and more. At birth, a female neonate had a perineal mass on the right side as expected. During operation, the anal sphincteric displacement was found near the mass and reconstructed through posterior sagittal incision. This is the first reported case of prenatally diagnosed congenital perineal mass, after birth which was diagnosed as lipoblastoma and even combined with anorectal malformation. This case shows that it can be of clinical importance to be aware of this rare fetal perineal mass in prenatal diagnosis and counseling

SRD1 is involved in the auxin-mediated initial thickening growth of storage root by enhancing proliferation of metaxylem and cambium cells in sweetpotato (Ipomoea batatas)

A sweetpotato (Ipomoea batatas cv. ‘Jinhongmi’) MADS-box protein cDNA (SRD1) has been isolated from an early stage storage root cDNA library. The role of the SRD1 gene in the formation of the storage root in sweetpotato was investigated by an expression pattern analysis and characterization of SRD1-overexpressing (ox) transgenic sweetpotato plants. Transcripts of SRD1 were detected only in root tissues, with the fibrous root having low levels of the transcript and the young storage root showing relatively higher transcript levels. SRD1 mRNA was mainly found in the actively dividing cells, including the vascular and cambium cells of the young storage root. The transcript level of SRD1 in the fibrous roots increased in response to 1000 μM indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) applied exogenously. During the early stage of storage root development, the endogenous IAA content and SRD1 transcript level increased concomitantly, suggesting an involvement of SRD1 during the early stage of the auxin-dependent development of the storage root. SRD1-ox sweetpotato plants cultured in vitro produced thicker and shorter fibrous roots than wild-type plants. The metaxylem and cambium cells of the fibrous roots of SRD1-ox plants showed markedly enhanced proliferation, resulting in the fibrous roots of these plants showing an earlier thickening growth than those of wild-type plants. Taken together, these results demonstrate that SRD1 plays a role in the formation of storage roots by activating the proliferation of cambium and metaxylem cells to induce the initial thickening growth of storage roots in an auxin-dependent manner

Gastric Adenocarcinoma with Systemic Metastasis Involving the Intraocular Choroid and Duodenum

Gastric cancer with double metastasis to the orbit and duodenum is extremely rare. We report the case of a patient with gastric adenocarcinoma who presented with synchronous orbital and duodenal metastases at the time of initial diagnosis. A 60-year-old man presented with a 1-month history of visual disorder and pain in his right eye. He underwent ophthalmological examinations. The biopsy results suggested intraocular metastatic carcinoma. We conducted a systemic evaluation to identify primary malignancy. Finally, a diagnosis of advanced gastric adenocarcinoma with multi-organ metastasis was made. He planned to be treated with systemic chemotherapy

Magnetite Deposition Behavior on Alloy 600 and Alloy 690 Tubes in Simulated PWR Secondary Water

Fouling due to magnetite deposition has been a major concern for steam generator (SG) tubing of pressurized water reactors (PWRs). Alloy 690 SG tubes are now used for new plants or are scheduled to replace old Alloy 600 tubes of operating plants. The purpose of this study is to investigate the magnetite deposition behavior on the two different SG tube materials: Alloy 600 and Alloy 690. Deposition tests were conducted under a sub-cooled nucleate flow boiling condition in simulated secondary water of a PWR at 270 &deg;C. After these tests, we observed that the tube surfaces were covered with deposits composed of porous magnetite particles. We found approximately 30% more magnetite deposits on Alloy 600 than on Alloy 690. The electrostatic repulsive force between the magnetite particles and the Alloy 600 surface was only half of that between the magnetite particles and the Alloy 690 surface, resulting in an increase in the deposit mass

Analysis of antioxidant enzyme activity during germination of alfalfa under salt and drought stresses

To understand the adaptability of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) to environmental stresses, we analyzed the activity of several antioxidant enzymes, including superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), ascorbate peroxidase (APX), and catalase (CAT), in alfalfa shoots and roots subjected to salt and drought stresses during germination. The germination rate of six alfalfa cultivars was comparatively studied under 200 mM NaCl or 35% PEG treatment. Alfalfa Xinmu No. 1 and Northstar varieties were selected as stress-tolerant and -sensitive cultivars, respectively, and were used for further characterization. After NaCl or PEG treatment, Xinmu No. I showed enhanced seedling growth, compared with Northstar. Xinmu No. I also exhibited low levels of hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)) production and lipid peroxidation, compared with Northstar. In addition, Xinmu No. 1 showed higher enzymatic activity of SOD, APX, CAT, and POD in its shoots and roots than Northstar. These results seem to indicate that Xinmu No. 1 cultivar's tolerance to salt or drought stresses during germination is associated with enhanced activity of antioxidant enzymes. This study highlights the importance of antioxidant enzymes in the establishment of alfalfa seedlings under drought and salinity conditions typical of desertification. (C) 2009 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved