Molecular cloning and expression of a novel human cDNA related to the diazepam binding inhibitor

AbstractIn order to isolate the unidentified autoantigens in autoimmune diabetes, a human pancreatic islet cDNA library was constructed and screened with the sera from the diabetic patients. From the library screening, one clone (DRS-1) that strongly reacted with the sera was isolated. Subsequent sequence analysis revealed that the clone was a novel cDNA related to the diazepam binding inhibitor. DRS-1 was expressed in most tissues including liver, lung, tonsil, and thymus, in addition to pancreatic islets. DRS-1 was in vitro translated and the recombinant DRS-1 protein was expressed in Escherichia coli and purified. The size of the in vitro translated or bacterially expressed DRS-1 protein was in agreement with the conceptually translated polypeptide of DRS-1 cDNA. Further studies are required to test whether or not DRS-1 is a new autoantigen in autoimmune diabetes

Strong Contrast Stagnation of Unilateral Vertebral Artery on Three-Dimensional Black Blood-Enhanced MRI Predicts Acute Medulla Infarction

Purpose This study aimed to evaluate angiographic and contrast enhancement (CE) patterns on three-dimensional (3D) black blood (BB) contrast-enhanced MRI in patients with acute medulla infarction. Materials and Methods From January 2020 to August 2021, we retrospectively analyzed stroke 3D BB contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) findings of patients visiting the emergency room for symptom evaluation of acute medulla infarction. In total, 28 patients with acute medulla infarction were enrolled in this study. Four types of 3D BB contrast-enhanced MRI and MRA were classified as follows: 1=unilateral contrast-enhanced vertebral artery (VA)+no visualization of VA on MRA; 2=unilateral enhanced VA+hypoplastic VA; 3=no enhanced VA+unilateral complete occlusion of VA; 4=no enhanced VA+normal VA (including hypoplasia) on MRA. Results Of the 28 patients with acute medulla infarction, 7 (25.0%) showed delayed positive findings after 24 hours on diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI). Of these patients, 19 (67.9%) showed CE of the unilateral VA on 3D BB contrast-enhanced MRI (type 1 and 2). Of the 19 patients with CE of VA on 3D BB contrast-enhanced MRI, 18 showed no visualization of enhanced VA on MRA (type 1), and 1 showed hypoplastic VA. Of the 7 patients with delayed positive findings on DWI, 5 showed CE of the unilateral VA and no visualization of the enhanced VA on MRA (type 1). Symptom onset to door time or initial MR check time was significantly shorter in the groups with delayed positive findings on DWI (P<0.05). Conclusion Unilateral CE on 3D BB contrast-enhanced MRI and no visualization of the VA on MRA are related to the recent occlusion of the distal VA. These findings suggest that the recent occlusion of the distal VA is related to acute medulla infarction, including delayed visualization on DWI

Sustainable and recyclable super engineering thermoplastic from biorenewable monomer

Environmental and health concerns force the search for sustainable super engineering plastics (SEPs) that utilise bio-derived cyclic monomers, e.g. isosorbide instead of restricted petrochemicals. However, previously reported bio-derived thermosets or thermoplastics rarely offer thermal/mechanical properties, scalability, or recycling that match those of petrochemical SEPs. Here we use a phase transfer catalyst to synthesise an isosorbide-based polymer with a high molecular weight >100 kg mol−1, which is reproducible at a 1-kg-scale production. It is transparent and solvent/melt-processible for recycling, with a glass transition temperature of 212 °C, a tensile strength of 78 MPa, and a thermal expansion coefficient of 23.8 ppm K−1. Such a performance combination has not been reported before for bio-based thermoplastics, petrochemical SEPs, or thermosets. Interestingly, quantum chemical simulations show the alicyclic bicyclic ring structure of isosorbide imposes stronger geometric restraint to polymer chain than the aromatic group of bisphenol-A.11Ysciescopu

Estimation of HIV Seroprevalence in Colorectal Hospitals by Questionnaire Survey in Korea, 2002–2007

AbstractObjectivesThe incidence of anal disease is higher among persons with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection than among the general population. We surveyed the status of seroprevalence in colorectal hospitals in Korea.MethodsThe survey was conducted in colorectal hospitals in Korea from November to December 2008. The questionnaire was comprised of six topics about the status of HIV testing in colorectal hospitals. We gathered the data by website (http://hivqa.nih.go.kr/risk) or fax.ResultsAmong 774 colorectal hospitals contacted, 109 (14%) hospitals participated in the survey. Among these, 48 hospitals (44%) performed HIV tests in their own hospitals and 11 (23%) took HIV testing by rapid method. The main reason for recommending an HIV test was surgical operation (54%) followed by endoscope (11%) and health checkup (9%). The annual number of HIV tests increased from 58,647 (at 21 hospitals) in 2002 to 246,709 (at 58 hospitals) in 2007. HIV seroprevalence was >3.0 per 10,000 individuals during 2002–2005, decreased to 2.2 per 10,000 individuals in 2006 and rose to 2.8 per 10,000 individuals in 2007.ConclusionsHIV seroprevalence of colorectal hospitals was more than twice that of general hospitals in Korea. HIV surveillance systems based on colorectal hospitals for HIV/AIDS transmission prevention by early HIV diagnosis are needed

Antiosteoporosis Activity of New Oriental Medicine Preparation (Kyungokgo Mixed with Water Extract of Hovenia dulcis

Protective effect of new oriental medicine (Kyungokgo mixed with water extract of Hovenia dulcis, KOGHD) was assessed on the bone loss induced mice by ovariectomy. In the in vivo experiments, antiosteoporosis effect of KOGHD was investigated using ovariectomized osteoporosis mice model. After 6 weeks of treatment, the mice were euthanized, and the effect of Kyungokgo (KOG) and KOGHD on body weight, spleen weigh, thymus weight, uterine weight, serum biochemical indicators, bone weight and length, immune cell population, bone morphometric parameters, and histological stains was observed. Our results showed that KOGHD prevented the deterioration of trabecular microarchitecture caused by ovariectomy, which were accompanied by the lower levels of bone turnover markers and immune cell population as evidenced by the inhibition of RANKL-mediated osteoclast differentiation without cytotoxic effect on bone marrow derived macrophages (BMMs). Therefore, these results suggest that the Hovenia dulcis (HD) supplementation in the KOG may also prevent and treat bone loss

Effects of Rating Training on Inter-Rater Consistency for Developing a Dental Hygiene Clinical Rater Qualification System

We tried to develop itemized evaluation criteria and a clinical rater qualification system through rating training of inter-rater consistency for experienced clinical dental hygienists and dental hygiene clinical educators. A total of 15 clinical dental hygienists with 1-year careers participated as clinical examination candidates, while 5 dental hygienists with 3-year educations and clinical careers or longer participated as clinical raters. They all took the clinical examination as examinees. The results were compared, and the consistency of competence was measured. The comparison of clinical competence between candidates and clinical raters showed that the candidate group's mean clinical competence ranged from 2.96 to 3.55 on a 5-point system in a total of 3 instruments (Probe, Explorer, Curet), while the clinical rater group's mean clinical competence ranged from 4.05 to 4.29. There was a higher inter-rater consistency after education of raters in the following 4 items: Probe, Explorer, Curet, and insertion on distal surface. The mean score distribution of clinical raters ranged from 75% to 100%, which was more uniform in the competence to detect an artificial calculus than that of candidates (25% to 100%). According to the above results, there was a necessity in the operating clinical rater qualification system for comprehensive dental hygiene clinicians. Furthermore, in order to execute the clinical rater qualification system, it will be necessary to keep conducting a series of studies on educational content, time, frequency, and educator level