Alterations in carotid baroreflex control of arterial blood pressure during the menstrual cycle in young women [abstract]

Limited studies have suggested that menstrual cycle variations in sex hormones may influence arterial baroreflex control of heart rate (HR) and sympathetic nerve activity, however, results are equivocal. In addition, the baroreflex control of blood pressure (BP) has not been directly examined as pharmacological perturbations were mainly used to assess baroreflex function

Size-regulated group separation of CoFe2O4 nanoparticles using centrifuge and their magnetic resonance contrast properties

Magnetic nanoparticle (MNP)-based magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast agents (CAs) have been the subject of extensive research over recent decades. The particle size of MNPs varies widely and is known to influence their physicochemical and pharmacokinetic properties. There are two commonly used methods for synthesizing MNPs, organometallic and aqueous solution coprecipitation. The former has the advantage of being able to control the particle size more effectively; however, the resulting particles require a hydrophilic coating in order to be rendered water soluble. The MNPs produced using the latter method are intrinsically water soluble, but they have a relatively wide particle size distribution. Size-controlled water-soluble MNPs have great potential as MRI CAs and in cell sorting and labeling applications. In the present study, we synthesized CoFe(2)O(4) MNPs using an aqueous solution coprecipitation method. The MNPs were subsequently separated into four groups depending on size, by the use of centrifugation at different speeds. The crystal shapes and size distributions of the particles in the four groups were measured and confirmed by transmission electron microscopy and dynamic light scattering. Using X-ray diffraction analysis, the MNPs were found to have an inverse spinel structure. Four MNP groups with well-selected semi-Gaussian-like diameter distributions were obtained, with measured T(2) relaxivities (r(2)) at 4.7 T and room temperature in the range of 60 to 300 mM(−1)s(−1), depending on the particle size. This size regulation method has great promise for applications that require homogeneous-sized MNPs made by an aqueous solution coprecipitation method. Any group of the CoFe(2)O(4) MNPs could be used as initial base cores of MRI T(2) CAs, with almost unique T(2) relaxivity owing to size regulation. The methodology reported here opens up many possibilities for biosensing applications and disease diagnosis. PACS: 75.75.Fk, 78.67.Bf, 61.46.D

Comparison of sedation outcome according to the dose of chloral hydrate in children requiring laceration repair

Purpose To compare the sedation outcome according to the dose of per os chloral hydrate in children who underwent laceration repair in the emergency department (ED). Methods This retrospective study was performed to the children who underwent sedation using chloral hydrate for laceration repair in the ED from January 2015 through November 2015. A total of 370 children aged younger than 6 years underwent the sedation. We compared the induction time, duration of sedation, and ED length of stay (EDLOS) between the single dose (50 mg/kg) and additional dose (plus 25 mg/kg) groups. Results Of 370 children, 335 (90.5%) were sedated successfully, 284 (76.8%) were sedated with initial dose (the single dose group), and 51 (13.8%) were sedated with additional dose (the additional dose group). The induction time and EDLOS were longer in the additional dose group (induction time: 31.0 ± 17.2 minutes vs. 96.2 ± 25.4 minutes, P < 0.001; EDLOS: 137.2 ± 35.5 minutes vs. 193.0 ± 36.0 minutes, P < 0.001). The duration of sedation showed no difference between the 2 groups (44.4 ± 24.0 minutes vs. 42.0 ± 20.8 minutes; P = 0.500). No one had serious adverse reactions. Conclusion Additional dose of chloral hydrate can increase the induction time and EDLOS without increasing the duration of sedation and causing serious adverse reactions. This information may improve the efficiency of ED workflow when shared with parents of the children

Avoid Contamination in Soybean (Glycine Max, L. [Merrill]) Microspores Culture

Microspore culture is done to obtain pure strains. The purpose of soybean microspore culture to obtainquality seeds. Two important step that must be done is isolation of microspores in starvation medium andsubculture into embryogenesis medium. Many factors contributing to the contamination of soybeanmicrospore culture. Contamination in the B medium temperature 34 0C is more common than 4 0C. Vulnerableto contamination because of embryogenesis medium rich in nutrients. Bacterial contaminationcan be caused by internal contaminants such as shape of the anther. Other internal contaminants thatcause diseases such as fungi Colletotrichum truncatum and Phakopsora pachyrhizi. Antagonistic fungiwhich contaminate cultures that Trichoderma spp., Alternaria spp., Fusarium spp. Handling of contaminationis done by selecting the appropriate methods in order to remain viable microspores. Sterilization soybeanflower buds with 20% Tween for 10 minutes and then rinsed with distilled water. Moreover sterilizationwith 4% Hg Cl2 and 10% NaOCl for 10 minutes, rinsed with distilled water times, followed by 96%alcohol for 1 minute, can press up to 70% contamination

Perspectives on single-nucleus RNA sequencing in different cell types and tissues

Single-cell RNA sequencing has become a powerful and essential tool for delineating cellular diversity in normal tissues and alterations in disease states. For certain cell types and conditions, there are difficulties in isolating intact cells for transcriptome profiling due to their fragility, large size, tight interconnections, and other factors. Single-nucleus RNA sequencing (snRNA-seq) is an alternative or complementary approach for cells that are difficult to isolate. In this review, we will provide an overview of the experimental and analysis steps of snRNA-seq to understand the methods and characteristics of general and tissue-specific snRNA-seq data. Knowing the advantages and limitations of snRNA-seq will increase its use and improve the biological interpretation of the data generated using this technique

SNP@Domain: a web resource of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) within protein domain structures and sequences.

The single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in conserved protein regions have been thought to be strong candidates that alter protein functions. Thus, we have developed SNP@Domain, a web resource, to identify SNPs within human protein domains. We annotated SNPs from dbSNP with protein structure-based as well as sequence-based domains: (i) structure-based using SCOP and (ii) sequence-based using Pfam to avoid conflicts from two domain assignment methodologies. Users can investigate SNPs within protein domains with 2D and 3D maps. We expect this visual annotation of SNPs within protein domains will help scientists select and interpret SNPs associated with diseases. A web interface for the SNP@Domain is freely available at http://snpnavigator.net/ and from http://bioportal.net/.This project was supported by the Korean Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) under grant number M10508040002-05N0804-00210 and M10407010001-05N0701-00100. Y.B.C. is supported by Biogreen21 program (20050401-034-791-006-03-00 and 20050301-034-481-006-02-00). Funding to pay the Open Access publication charges for this article was provided by M10407010001-05N0701-00100 grant of MOST

Increased Glutathione Synthesis Following Nrf2 Activation by Vanadyl Sulfate in Human Chang Liver Cells

Jeju ground water, containing vanadium compounds, was shown to increase glutathione (GSH) levels as determined by a colorimetric assay and confocal microscopy. To investigate whether the effects of Jeju ground water on GSH were specifically mediated by vanadium compounds, human Chang liver cells were incubated for 10 passages in media containing deionized distilled water (DDW), Jeju ground water (S1 and S3), and vanadyl sulfate (VOSO4). Vanadyl sulfate scavenged superoxide anion, hydroxyl radical and intracellular reactive oxygen species. Vanadyl sulfate effectively increased cellular GSH level and up-regulated mRNA and protein expression of a catalytic subunit of glutamate cysteine ligase (GCLC), which is involved in GSH synthesis. The induction of GCLC expression by vanadyl sulfate was found to be mediated by transcription factor erythroid transcription factor NF-E2 (Nrf2), which critically regulates GCLC by binding to the antioxidant response elements (AREs). Vanadyl sulfate treatment increased the nuclear translocation of Nrf2 and the accumulation of phosphorylated Nrf2. Extracellular regulated kinase (ERK) contributed to ARE-driven GCLC expression via Nrf2 activation. Vanadyl sulfate induced the expression of the active phospho form of ERK. Taken together, these results suggest that the increase in GSH level by Jeju ground water is, at least in part, due to the effects of vanadyl sulfate via the Nrf2-mediated induction of GCLC

Infective endocarditis caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in a young woman after ear piercing: a case report

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Introduction</p> <p>Ear piercing is a common practice among Korean adolescents and young women and usually is performed by nonmedical personnel, sometimes under suboptimal hygienic conditions. Consequently, ear piercing has been associated with various infectious complications, including fatal infective endocarditis. We report a case of infective endocarditis that was caused by community-associated methicillin-resistant <it>Staphylococcus aureus </it>after ear piercing and that was accompanied by a noticeable facial rash.</p> <p>Case presentation</p> <p>A 29-year-old Korean woman underwent ear piercing six days before hospitalization. On admission, she had fever, erythematous maculopapular rashes on her face, signs of generalized emboli, vegetation in her mitral valve, and methicillin-resistant <it>S. aureus </it>bacteremia. On the basis of the blood culture results, she was treated with vancomycin in combination with gentamicin. On day six of hospitalization, a rupture of the papillary muscle of her mitral valve developed, and emergency cardiac surgery replacing her mitral valve with a prosthetic valve was performed. After eight weeks of antibiotic therapy, she was treated successfully and discharged without significant sequelae.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Numerable cases of body piercing-related infective endocarditis have been reported, and since ear piercing is commonplace nowadays, the importance of risk recognition cannot be overemphasized. In our report, a patient developed infective endocarditis that was caused by methicillin-resistant <it>S. aureus </it>after ear piercing and that was accompanied by an interesting feature, namely facial rash.</p

Multiple mechanisms disrupt the let-7 microRNA family in neuroblastoma

Poor prognosis in neuroblastoma is associated with genetic amplification of MYCN. MYCN is itself a target of let-7, a tumour suppressor family of microRNAs implicated in numerous cancers. LIN28B, an inhibitor of let-7 biogenesis, is overexpressed in neuroblastoma and has been reported to regulate MYCN. Here we show, however, that LIN28B is dispensable in MYCN-amplified neuroblastoma cell lines, despite de-repression of let-7. We further demonstrate that MYCN messenger RNA levels in amplified disease are exceptionally high and sufficient to sponge let-7, which reconciles the dispensability of LIN28B. We found that genetic loss of let-7 is common in neuroblastoma, inversely associated with MYCN amplification, and independently associated with poor outcomes, providing a rationale for chromosomal loss patterns in neuroblastoma. We propose that let-7 disruption by LIN28B, MYCN sponging, or genetic loss is a unifying mechanism of neuroblastoma development with broad implications for cancer pathogenesis.United States. National Institutes of Health (R01GM107536)Alex's Lemonade Stand FoundationHoward Hughes Medical InstituteBoston Children's Hospital. Manton Center for Orphan Disease ResearchNational Institute of General Medical Sciences (U.S.) (T32GM007753

Health benefits of serious involvement in leisure activities among older Korean adults

The existing literature suggests that serious engagement in leisure activities leads to happiness, life satisfaction, and successful aging among older adults. This qualitative study was used to examine the benefits of serious involvement in leisure activities among older Korean adults who were members of a sports club. Using an analytic data analysis, we identified three main themes associated with the benefits of serious engagement in leisure activities: 1) the experience of psychological benefits, 2) the creation of social support, and 3) the enhancement of physical health. These themes indicate that, through serious involvement in certain physical activities, participants gain various health benefits, which may contribute to successful aging