Evaluation of Genetic Stability and Effects of Plant Growth Regulators for in vitro Propagation of Underutilized Vitis amurensis ‘Cheongsan’

Vitis amurensis ‘Cheongsan’ is a plant with high economic value in both medical and agricultural applications. However, its utilization has been restricted owing to difficulties encountered when applying traditional mass propagation methods, requiring instead application of in vitro propagation methods for their mass scale production. Hence, this study was conducted to find the optimal plant growth regulators for shoot multiplication and root induction during in vitro propagation. Among the three cytokinins used at multiple concentrations for culture initiation and shoot multiplication, the most positive response was found with MS medium containing 5.0 μM 6-benzyladenine (BA), compared to more modest responses from other types of cytokinin, such as kinetin (KIN) and thidiazuron (TDZ). For root induction, medium supplemented with α-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) produced a callus and inhibited shoot growth in explants, whereas indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) and indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) did not create any significant problems, but did display differences in root induction efficiencies. Generally, root induction responses with IBA were better that those with IAA. The maximum rooting rates were observed without callus formation and no shoot growth inhibition from explants grown on media supplemented with 0.67 μM IBA. Further, inter-simple sequence repeat (ISSR) analyses revealed that micropropagated plantlets generated in medium supplemented with 5.0 μM BA and 0.67 μM IBA did not lead to genetic variation. Therefore, the application of the in vitro propagation method developed in this study could be used on a commercial scale and will offer opportunities to strengthen the industrial use of V. amurensis ‘Cheongsan’

In vitro embryo rescue for the production of hypotetraploids after cross between hypotetraploid and tetraploid grape cultivars

Consumer demand for seedless grape with high quality and large berry has been increasing. Breeding of hypotetraploid grape was suggested as one of promising methods to satisfy it, but low frequency of hypotetraploid occurrence and low seed germination by abortive embryo were indicated as the major problem to hamper the development of hypotetraploid grape. Hence, this study was carried out to evaluate the basic efficiency of in ovulo embryo culture after the cross between hypotetraploid (‘Hanareum’) and tetraploid (‘Honey Black’ and ‘Kyoho’) grape cultivars on the establishment of hypotetraploid grapes. Embryos and plantlets were hardly obtained in ovules cultured at six after the cross pollination (WAP), but ovules inoculated at 10 WAP produced more embryos as well as plantlets regardless of cross combination. Furthermore, we found that embryo formation was not affected by the basal media in ovules cultured at six WAP, but utilization of specific medium can be more beneficial for embryo formation when ovules were cultured at 10 WAP. A total of 17 plants were obtained from ovules cultured at 10 WAP, and above 50% of plants were identified as hypotetraploid grapes. These results indicate that in vitro embryo rescue after cross pollination between hypotetraploid and tetraploid grape can enhance the efficiency for the breeding of hypotetraploid grapes

Left dominance of EEG abnormalities in patients with transient global amnesia

AbstractPurposeTransient global amnesia (TGA) is a syndrome of unknown etiology. Electroencephalographic (EEG) abnormalities in TGA have been reported previously. We analyzed the frequency and characteristics of EEG abnormalities in patients with TGA.MethodsWe collected EEGs of patients with a clinical diagnosis of TGA who had visited the emergency room or the outpatient clinic over a period of 8 years and compared clinical and demographic characteristics of the patients with normal EEGs with those with abnormal EEGs.ResultsEEG abnormalities were found in 35 (22.9%) out of 153 patients and epileptiform discharges were seen in 26 (74.3%) out of these 35 patients. Spikes or sharp waves were detected on the left side only (48.6%) or on both sides (25.7%), but none of the patients showed spikes or sharp waves on right side only. In six patients the EEG had normalized within three months of presentation, in ten within six months, and in twelve by one year. The EEG remained abnormal in eleven out of the 23 patients one year after presentation.ConclusionIn this largest consecutive EEG study at one center, the proportion of patients with TGA in whom epileptiform discharges were demonstrated within days of the episode of TGA was significantly higher than in the previous literature. EEG abnormalities such as spikes or sharp waves spontaneously disappeared in almost half of cases over one-year of follow-up. There was a clear left dominance of EEG abnormalities in patients with TGA

Effects of Surface Treatment Method Forming New Nano/Micro Hierarchical Structures on Attachment and Proliferation of Osteoblast-like Cells

Titanium (Ti) and Ti-based alloys are commonly used in dental implants, and surface modifications of dental implants are important for achieving osseointegration (i.e., direct connection between the implant surface and bone). This study investigated the effect of an eco-friendly etching solution-a hydrogen peroxide-sodium bicarbonate mixture-on the surface properties and contact angles of osteoblast adhesion and proliferation on Ti surfaces. Disk-shaped Ti specimens were prepared using different surface treatments (machining, sandblasting, and sandblasting/acid-etching), and they were immersed in the etching solution and ultrasonically cleaned. Surface characterization was performed using scanning electron microscopy, digital microscopy, contact angle analysis, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. MG-63 osteoblasts were cultured on the specimens, and their adhesion to the specimen surface and proliferation were examined using staining and the MTT assay, respectively. Additional etching with the etching solution caused the formation of nano/micro hierarchical structures, increased surface roughness, and enhanced hydrophilicity. Osteoblast adhesion and proliferation were found to improve on the modified surfaces. The eco-friendly etching method has the potential to enhance the biological properties of Ti implant surfaces and thereby improve dental implant performance

Dissection of C. elegans behavioral genetics in 3-D environments

The nematode Caenorhabditis elegans is a widely used model for genetic dissection of animal behaviors. Despite extensive technical advances in imaging methods, it remains challenging to visualize and quantify C. elegans behaviors in three-dimensional (3-D) natural environments. Here we developed an innovative 3-D imaging method that enables quantification of C. elegans behavior in 3-D environments. Furthermore, for the first time, we characterized 3-D-specific behavioral phenotypes of mutant worms that have defects in head movement or mechanosensation. This approach allowed us to reveal previously unknown functions of genes in behavioral regulation. We expect that our 3-D imaging method will facilitate new investigations into genetic basis of animal behaviors in natural 3-D environments

Effect of biochars pyrolyzed in N2 and CO2, and feedstock on microbial community in metal(loid)s contaminated soils

Little is known about the effects of applying amendments on soil for immobilizing metal(loid)s on the soil microbial community. Alterations in the microbial community were examined after incubation of treated contaminated soils. One soil was contaminated with Pb and As, a second soil with Cd and Zn. Red pepper stalk (RPS) and biochars produced from RPS in either N2 atmosphere (RPSN) or CO2 atmosphere (RPSC) were applied at a rate of 2.5% to the two soils and incubated for 30 days. Bacterial communities of control and treated soils were characterized by sequencing 16S rRNA genes using the Illumina MiSeq sequencing. In both soils, bacterial richness increased in the amended soils, though somewhat differently between the treatments. Evenness values decreased significantly, and the final overall diversities were reduced. The neutralization of pH, reduced available concentrations of Pb or Cd, and supplementation of available carbon and surface area could be possible factors affecting the community changes. Biochar amendments caused the soil bacterial communities to become more similar than those in the not amended soils. The bacterial community structures at the phylum and genus levels showed that amendment addition might restore the normal bacterial community of soils, and cause soil bacterial communities in contaminated soils to normalize and stabilize

Abalone visceral extract inhibit tumor growth and metastasis by modulating Cox-2 levels and CD8+ T cell activity

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Abalone has long been used as a valuable food source in East Asian countries. Although the nutritional importance of abalone has been reported through <it>in vitro </it>and <it>in vivo </it>studies, there is little evidence about the potential anti-tumor effects of abalone visceral extract. The aim of the present study is to examine anti-tumor efficacy of abalone visceral extract and to elucidate its working mechanism.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>In the present study, we used breast cancer model using BALB/c mouse-derived 4T1 mammary carcinoma and investigated the effect of abalone visceral extract on tumor development. Inhibitory effect against tumor metastasis was assessed by histopathology of lungs. Cox-2 productions by primary and secondary tumor were measured by real-time RT-PCR and immunoblotting (IB). Proliferation assay based on [³H]-thymidine incorporation and measurement of cytokines and effector molecules by RT-PCR were used to confirm tumor suppression efficacy of abalone visceral extract by modulating cytolytic CD8+ T cells. The cytotoxicity of CD8⁺T cell was compared by JAM test.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Oral administration of abalone visceral extract reduced tumor growth (tumor volume and weight) and showed reduced metastasis as confirmed by decreased level of splenomegaly (spleen size and weight) and histological analysis of the lung metastasis (gross analysis and histological staining). Reduced expression of Cox-2 (mRNA and protein) from primary tumor and metastasized lung was also detected. In addition, treatment of abalone visceral extract increased anti-tumor activities of CD8⁺T cells by increasing the proliferation capacity and their cytolytic activity.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Our results suggest that abalone visceral extract has anti-tumor effects by suppressing tumor growth and lung metastasis through decreasing Cox-2 expression level as well as promoting proliferation and cytolytic function of CD8⁺T cells.</p

Application of Computational Lower Extremity Model to Investigate Different Muscle Activities and Joint Force Patterns in Knee Osteoarthritis Patients during Walking

Many experimental and computational studies have reported that osteoarthritis in the knee joint affects knee biomechanics, including joint kinematics, joint contact forces, and muscle activities, due to functional restriction and disability. In this study, differences in muscle activities and joint force patterns between knee osteoarthritis (OA) patients and normal subjects during walking were investigated using the inverse dynamic analysis with a lower extremity musculoskeletal model. Extensor/flexor muscle activations and torque ratios and the joint contact forces were compared between the OA and normal groups. The OA patients had higher extensor muscle forces and lateral component of the knee joint force than normal subjects as well as force and torque ratios of extensor and flexor muscles, while the other parameters had little differences. The results explained that OA patients increased the level of antagonistic cocontraction and the adduction moment on the knee joint. The presented findings and technologies provide insight into biomechanical changes in OA patients and can also be used to evaluate the postoperative functional outcomes of the OA treatments