The avian-specific small heat shock protein HSP25 is a constitutive protector against environmental stresses during blastoderm dormancy

ArticleScientific Reports. 6: 36704 (2016).journal articl

Classification of rice (oryza sativa l. japonica nipponbare) immunophilins (fkbps, cyps) and expression patterns under water stress

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>FK506 binding proteins (FKBPs) and cyclophilins (CYPs) are abundant and ubiquitous proteins belonging to the peptidyl-prolyl <it>cis/trans </it>isomerase (PPIase) superfamily, which regulate much of metabolism through a chaperone or an isomerization of proline residues during protein folding. They are collectively referred to as immunophilin (IMM), being present in almost all cellular organs. In particular, a number of IMMs relate to environmental stresses.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>FKBP and CYP proteins in rice (<it>Oryza sativa </it>cv. Japonica) were identified and classified, and given the appropriate name for each IMM, considering the ortholog-relation with <it>Arabidopsis </it>and <it>Chlamydomonas </it>or molecular weight of the proteins. 29 FKBP and 27 CYP genes can putatively be identified in rice; among them, a number of genes can be putatively classified as orthologs of <it>Arabidopsis </it>IMMs. However, some genes were novel, did not match with those of <it>Arabidopsis </it>and <it>Chlamydomonas</it>, and several genes were paralogs by genetic duplication. Among 56 IMMs in rice, a significant number are regulated by salt and/or desiccation stress. In addition, their expression levels responding to the water-stress have been analyzed in different tissues, and some subcellular IMMs located by means of tagging with GFP protein.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Like other green photosynthetic organisms such as <it>Arabidopsis </it>(23 FKBPs and 29 CYPs) and <it>Chlamydomonas </it>(23 FKBs and 26 CYNs), rice has the highest number of IMM genes among organisms reported so far, suggesting that the numbers relate closely to photosynthesis. Classification of the putative FKBPs and CYPs in rice provides the information about their evolutional/functional significance when comparisons are drawn with the relatively well studied genera, <it>Arabidopsis </it>and <it>Chlamydomonas</it>. In addition, many of the genes upregulated by water stress offer the possibility of manipulating the stress responses in rice.</p

Neutrophilia is more predictive than increased white blood cell counts for short-term mortality after liver transplantation in patients with acute-on-chronic liver failure

Background Acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) is a life-threatening disease that requires urgent liver transplantation (LT). Accurate identification of high-risk patients is essential for predicting post-LT survival. The chronic liver failure consortium ACLF score is a widely accepted risk-stratification score that includes total white blood cell (WBC) counts as a component. This study aimed to evaluate the predictive value of total and differential WBC counts for short-term mortality following LT in patients with ACLF. Methods A total of 685 patients with ACLF who underwent LT between January 2008 and February 2019 were analyzed. Total and differential WBC counts were examined as a function of the model for end-stage liver disease for sodium (MELD-Na) score. The association between total and differential WBC counts and 90-day post-LT mortality was assessed using multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression analysis. Results The total WBC counts and neutrophil ratio were higher in patients with ACLF than in those without ACLF. The neutrophil ratio was significantly associated with 90-day post-LT mortality after adjustment (hazard ratio [HR], 1.04; P = 0.001), whereas total WBC counts were not significantly associated with 90-day post-LT mortality in either univariate or multivariate Cox analyses. The neutrophil ratio demonstrated a relatively linear trend with an increasing MELD-Na score and HR for 90-day post-LT mortality, whereas the total WBC counts exhibited a plateaued pattern. Conclusions Neutrophilia, rather than total WBC counts, is a better prognostic indicator for short-term post-LT mortality in patients with ACLF

Black Cohosh and St. John's Wort (GYNO-Plus®) for Climacteric Symptoms

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to investigate the efficacy of black cohosh (Cimicifuga racemosa) and St. John's wort (Hypericum perforatum) in women with climacteric symptoms, and to assess their effects on vaginal atrophy, hormone levels, and lipid profiles. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this double-blind randomized, placebo-controlled, multicenter study, 89 peri- or postmenopausal women experiencing climacteric symptoms were treated with St. John's wort and black cohosh extract (Gynoplus), Jin-Yang Pharm., Seoul, Korea) or a matched placebo for 12 weeks. Climacteric complaints were evaluated by the Kupperman Index (KI) initially and at 4 and 12 weeks following treatment. Vaginal maturation indices, serum estradiol, FSH, LH, total cholesterol, HDL- cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, and triglyceride levels were measured before and after treatment. From the initial 89 participants, 77 completed the trial (42 in the Gynoplus group, 35 in the placebo group). RESULTS: Baseline characteristics were not significantly different between the two groups. Mean KI scores and hot flushes after 4 and 12 weeks were significantly lower in the Gynoplus group. Differences in superficial cell proportion were not statistically significant. HDL levels decreased in the control group from 60.20 +/- 16.37 to 56.63 +/- 12.67, and increased in the Gynoplus group from 58.32 +/- 11.64 to 59.74 +/- 10.54; this was statistically significant (p=0.04). CONCLUSION: Black cohosh and St. John's wort combination was found to be effective in alleviating climacteric symptoms and might provide benefits to lipid metabolismope

Systolic anterior motion of mitral chordae tendineae: prevalence and clinical implications in liver transplantation

Background Although systolic anterior motion (SAM) of the mitral valve anterior leaflet is well-known to cause hemodynamic perturbation in many anesthetic situations, the prevalence and clinical implication of SAM of mitral chordae tendineae (chordal SAM) in liver transplantation (LT) has not been evaluated. We aimed to assess the impact of chordal SAM on intraoperative postreperfusion syndrome and short and long-term all-cause mortality. Methods We retrospectively evaluated 1751 LT recipients from January 2011 to June 2017 who had preoperative echocardiography. Echocardiography-derived parameters and the prevalence of post-reperfusion syndrome between those with chordal SAM and without chordal SAM were compared. The cumulative mortality rate according to the presence of chordal SAM was evaluated by the Kaplan-Meier survival curve. Results Of the enrolled recipients, 21 (1.2%) had chordal SAM in preoperative echocardiography. Compared to those without chordal SAM, patients with chordal SAM had a smaller end-systolic volume index (median 18 ml/m2 vs. 22 ml/m2, P = 0.015) and end-diastolic volume index (median 52 ml/m2 vs. 63 ml/m2, P = 0.011). However, there was no difference in systolic and diastolic function in echocardiography. The prevalence of intraoperative post-reperfusion syndrome did not show any difference (42.9% vs. 45.3%, P = 1.000). Over the mean 4.8-year follow-up, cumulative 90-day and overall mortality also did not show a difference (Log rank P > 0.05, both). Conclusions Preoperative screening of echocardiography in LT recipients detects 1.2% of chordal SAM. It is found with small left ventricular volume, but is not related with intraoperative post-reperfusion syndrome and short- and long-term postoperative all-cause mortality in LT