THE VARIATION OF QUALITY AND CURRENT SITUATION OF ARSENIC IN THE PLEISTOCENE AQUIFER- MEKONG DELTA

Joint Research on Environmental Science and Technology for the Eart

Identification and analysis of genomic islands in Burkholderia cenocepacia AU 1054 with emphasis on pathogenicity islands

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Diagnostic value of the Vesikari Scoring System for predicting the viral or bacterial pathogens in pediatric gastroenteritis

PurposeTo evaluate the diagnostic value of the Vesikari Scoring System (VSS) as an early predictor of pathogens in children with acute gastroenteritis (AG).MethodsIn this retrospective study, the VSS score, absolute neutrophil count (ANC), and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels were analyzed in 107 hospitalized children with AG, aged 6 months to 17 years. Patients were divided into nonspecific, viral, and bacterial groups according to the pathogens detected using a multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test.ResultsPatients in the bacterial group had significantly higher CRP values and VSS scores compared to those in the viral group and significantly higher VSS scores compared to those in the nonspecific group (P<0.05). Patients in the viral group had significantly higher VSS scores than those in the nonspecific group (P<0.05). Logistic regression analysis revealed that VSS was the most effective diagnostic tool for predicting the type of pathogen (P<0.05). The area under the receiver operating characteristics curve of VSS was significantly greater than that for ANC and CRP (P<0.05). At a cutoff point of 10 in the VSS, an acceptable diagnostic accuracy could be achieved for distinguishing between bacterial and viral pathogens in AG.ConclusionVSS can be considered a useful and reliable infectious marker for pediatric gastroenteritis. VSS may be a good early predictor of the type of pathogen, enabling development of a treatment plan before results from a stool culture or PCR test are available

Characterization of DNA-binding activity of Zα domains from poxviruses and the importance of the β-wing regions in converting B-DNA to Z-DNA

The E3L gene is essential for pathogenesis in vaccinia virus. The E3L gene product consists of an N-terminal Zα domain and a C-terminal double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) binding domain; the left-handed Z-DNA-binding activity of the Zα domain of E3L is required for viral pathogenicity in mice. E3L is highly conserved among poxviruses, including the smallpox virus, and it is likely that the orthologous Zα domains play similar roles. To better understand the biological function of E3L proteins, we have investigated the Z-DNA-binding behavior of five representative Zα domains from poxviruses. Using surface plasmon resonance (SPR), we have demonstrated that these viral Zα domains bind Z-DNA tightly. Ability of Zα[subscript E3L] converting B-DNA to Z-DNA was measured by circular dichroism (CD). The extents to which these Zαs can stabilize Z-DNA vary considerably. Mutational studies demonstrate that residues in the loop of the β-wing play an important role in this stabilization. Notably the Zα domain of vaccinia E3L acquires ability to convert B-DNA to Z-DNA by mutating amino acid residues in this region. Differences in the host cells of the various poxviruses may require different abilities to stabilize Z-DNA; this may be reflected in the observed differences in behavior in these Zα proteins.Korean Science and Engineering Foundation (National Research Laboratory Program (NRL-2006-02287))Korean Science and Engineering Foundation (Ubiquitome Research Program (M10533010002-06N3301-00210))Korean Science and Engineering Foundation (21C Frontier Functional Proteomics Program (FPR06B2-120))National Institutes of Health (U.S.)Ellison Medical FoundationKorea (South). Ministry of Science and Technology (National Laboratory program (NRL-2006-02287)

A preliminary investigation on periodontal disease and rheumatoid arthritis

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