Comparison of Physicochemical and Sensory Properties between Cholesterol-removed Gouda Cheese and Gouda Cheese during Ripening

This study was performed to compare physicochemical and sensory properties of cholesterol-removed Gouda cheese (CRGC) and Gouda cheese made in the laboratory during ripening. Composition, short-chain free fatty acids (SCFFA), texture, color, and sensory properties were measured. In chemical composition analyses, moistures were significantly different between control cheeses (42.86%) and sample cheese (48.32%) (p0.05). The amount of cholesterol in control was 82.52 mg/100 g and the percentage of cholesterol removal was 90.7%. SCFFA increased gradually during ripening and its level of CRGC increased and significantly different from that of control (p0.05). In comparison of the control and sample cheeses, hardness, and springiness were not significantly different, but cohesiveness, gumminess, and chewiness were different (p0.05). However, L* value decreased, while a* and b* values tended to increase significantly (p0.05). Therefore, this study suggests that the quality of cholesterol-removed Gouda cheese is not different from the control cheese

RNA-Guided Genome Editing in Drosophila with the Purified Cas9 Protein

We report a method for generating Drosophila germline mutants effectively via injection of the complex of the purified Cas9 protein, tracrRNA, and gene-specific crRNAs, which may reduce delayed mutations because of the transient activity of the Cas9 protein, combined with the simple mutation detection in GO founders by the T7E1 assay.

Characteristics, stability and release of peanut sprout extracts in powdered microcapsules by spray drying

This study was carried out to investigate the characteristics of powdered microcapsules from peanut sprout extracts prepared by spray drying. The microcapsules were made from medium-chain triglyceride (MCT) as primary coating material and whey protein concentrate (WPC) or maltodextrin (MD) as selected secondary coating materials. The microcapsule studies conducted were microphotograph, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR), particle size, moisture contents, sorption, zeta potential, storage stability, and in-vitro study. The surface of microcapsules coated with WPC were rough and smooth, and particle size ranged from 2.86 to 8.59 lm. An FT-IR study revealed that absorption bands at 1,537 and 1,657 cm1 of microcapsules can be attributed to the protein amide I and II bands of WPC overlapped by the conjugated C=C. The moisture content was 1.33% in the microcapsules coated with WPC. The moisture sorption increased until 18% at the 90% RH. The yield of peanut sprout extracts from microcapsules was 89.01%. In the in-vitro study, the microcapsules released 2.48 and 6.01% at pH 2.0 and 4.0, respectively, in simulated-gastric fluid, and 61.07 and 89.24% at pH 6.0 and 8.0, respectively, in simulated-intestinal fluid. The preservation rate of the microcapsules dropped down to 60.43% from 89.01% during six months of storage. The stability of peanut sprout extracts in the microcapsules was over 80% at 4 and 20C during 10-day storage. The zeta-potential of microcapsules was stable with 30 mV. Based on the data obtained from the present study, the powdered peanut-sprout-extract microcapsules coated with WPC exhibited high stability during storage. Therefore, the powdered microcapsules by spray drying may be useful as a functional ingredient

Phylogenetic Analysis of Cucurbit Chlorotic Yellows Virus from Melon in 2020 in Chungbuk, Korea

Cucurbit chlorotic yellows virus (CCYV) is a plant virus that causes damage to cucurbit crops such as watermelon and cucumber, and is transmitted by an insect vector known as the whitefly. Since CCYV was first detected on cucumber in Chungbuk in 2018, it has been reported in other areas including Gyeongsang in Korea. In 2020, we performed field surveys of yellowing diseases in the greenhouses growing melon and watermelon in Chungbuk (Jincheon and Eumseong). Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction analysis of 79 collected samples including melon, watermelon, and weeds resulted in detection of CCYV in 4 samples: Three samples were singly infected with CCYV and one samples was mixed infected with CCYV, Cucurbit aphid borne yellows virus, and Watermelon mosaic virus. The complete genome sequences of the four collected CCYV melon isolates (ES 1–ES 4) were determined and genetically compared with those of previously reported CCYV isolates retrieved from GenBank. Phylogenetic analyses of RNA 1 and 2 sequences revealed that four ES isolates were clustered in one group and closely related to the CCYV isolates from China. The analysis also revealed very low genetic diversity among the CCYV ES isolates. In general, CCYV isolates showed little genetic diversity, regardless of host or geographic origins. CCYV has the potential to pose a serious threat to melon, watermelon, and cucumber production in Korea. Further studies are needed to examine the pathogenicity and transmissibility of CCYV in weeds and other cucurbits including watermelon

Effects of Huang Bai (Phellodendri Cortex) and Three Other Herbs on GnRH and GH Levels in GT1–7 and GH3 Cells

The present study was to evaluate the effects of Huang Bai, Zhi Mu, Mai Ya, and Xia Ku Cao on hormone using the GT1–7 and GH3 cells. The GT1–7 and GH3 cell lines were incubated with DW; DMSO; and 30, 100, or 300 μg/mL of one of the four extract solutions in serum-free media for 24 hours. The MTT assay was performed to determine the cytotoxicity of the four herbs. The GT1–7 and GH3 cells were incubated in DW, estradiol (GT1–7 only), or noncytotoxic herb solutions in serum-free medium for 24 hours. A quantitative RT-PCR and western blot were performed to measure the GnRH expression in GT1–7 cells and GH expression in GH3 cells. Huang Bai, Zhi Mu, Xia Ku Cao, and Mai Ya inhibited the GnRH mRNA expression in GT1–7 cells, whereas Huang Bai enhanced GH mRNA expression in GH3 cells. Additionally, Xia Ku Cao inhibited GnRH protein expression in GT1–7 cells and Huang Bai promoted GH protein expression in GH3 cells. The findings suggest that Huang Bai can delay puberty by inhibiting GnRH synthesis in the hypothalamus while also accelerating growth by promoting GH synthesis and secretion in the pituitary

Evaluation of age group and sex differences in the measurement of patellar height of pediatric knee in a Korean population

IntroductionVarious methods based on bony landmarks are used to determine patellar height. This study analyzed five methods for patellar height measurement on lateral knee radiographs, namely, the Insall–Salvati, Koshino–Sugimoto, Blackburne–Peel, modified Insall–Salvati, and Caton–Deschamps methods.MethodsOverall, 425 pediatric participants (221 males, 204 females; age range 5–18 years) were included and were divided equally into three age groups (A, 5–10 years; B, 11–13 years; and C, 13–18 years). For the comparison of the applicability of each method, the applicable probabilities for each age group and sex-based differences were analyzed using logistic regression techniques. Intra-rater reliability and inter-rater variability were analyzed by two trained raters.ResultsThe Koshino–Sugimoto method was applicable to all patients. The 80% applicable age of female patients was lower than that of male patients for the Blackburne–Peel (male = 11.9, female = 11) and Caton–Deschamps (male = 11.9, female = 11.1) methods. However, in the Insall–Salvati (male = 12, female = 12.1) and modified Insall–Salvati (male = 12.6, female = 13.1) methods, the 80% applicable age in male patients was lower than that in female patients. The Koshino–Sugimoto method showed the highest variability in group B, while the Insall–Salvati showed the highest variability in group C. In terms of intra-observer reliability, the Caton–Deschamps method showed the same reliability as the Insall–Salvati method, in group C.ConclusionsOur results demonstrated differences in the reliability, variability, and applicability of patellar height measurement methods according to age group. The applicability of patellar height measurement methods also differed according to sex. Therefore, based on age group and sex, different methods should be used for patellar height measurement in pediatric patients

Gene Expression Pattern in Transmitochondrial Cytoplasmic Hybrid Cells Harboring Type 2 Diabetes-Associated Mitochondrial DNA Haplogroups

Decreased mitochondrial function plays a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Recently, it was reported that mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) haplogroups confer genetic susceptibility to T2DM in Koreans and Japanese. Particularly, mtDNA haplogroup N9a is associated with a decreased risk of T2DM, whereas haplogroups D5 and F are associated with an increased risk. To examine functional consequences of these haplogroups without being confounded by the heterogeneous nuclear genomic backgrounds of different subjects, we constructed transmitochondrial cytoplasmic hybrid (cybrid) cells harboring each of the three haplogroups (N9a, D5, and F) in a background of a shared nuclear genome. We compared the functional consequences of the three haplogroups using cell-based assays and gene expression microarrays. Cell-based assays did not detect differences in mitochondrial functions among the haplogroups in terms of ATP generation, reactive oxygen species production, mitochondrial membrane potential, and cellular dehydrogenase activity. However, differential expression and clustering analyses of microarray data revealed that the three haplogroups exhibit a distinctive nuclear gene expression pattern that correlates with their susceptibility to T2DM. Pathway analysis of microarray data identified several differentially regulated metabolic pathways. Notably, compared to the T2DM-resistant haplogroup N9a, the T2DM-susceptible haplogroup F showed down-regulation of oxidative phosphorylation and up-regulation of glycolysis. These results suggest that variations in mtDNA can affect the expression of nuclear genes regulating mitochondrial functions or cellular energetics. Given that impaired mitochondrial function caused by T2DM-associated mtDNA haplogroups is compensated by the nuclear genome, we speculate that defective nuclear compensation, under certain circumstances, might lead to the development of T2DM