Karyotype and nucleic acid content in Zantedeschia aethiopica Spr. and Zantedeschia elliottiana Engl.

Analysis of karyotype, nucleic deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) content and sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) were performed in Zantedeschia aethiopica and Zantedeschia elliottiana. Mitotic metaphase in both species showed 2n=32. The chromosomes of both species were quite similar with medium length ranging from 1.55 ± 0.04 to 3.85 ± 0.12 μM in Z. aethiopica and 2.15 ± 0.04 to 3.90 ± 0.12 μM in Z. elliottiana. However, some differences were found in morphology and centromeric position among the chromosomes. Identification of individual chromosomes was carried out using chromosomes length, and centromeric positions. The karyotype of Z. aethiopica was determined to be 2n = 32 = 14 m + 18 sm and of Z. elliottiana to be 2n = 32 = 10 m + 22 sm. The 2C nuclear DNA content was found to be 3.72 ± 0.10 picograms (equivalent to 3638.16 mega base pairs) for Z. aethiopica and 1144.26 ± 0.05 picograms (equivalent to 1144.26 mega base pairs) for Z. elliottiana. Leaf protein analysis showed 11 and 9 bands for Z. aethiopica and Z. elliottiana, respectively, among which some were species specific. These results may provide useful information regarding Zantedeschia for the study of taxonomic relationships, genetics and breeding.Keywords: Zantedeschia, karyotype, mitotic metaphase, chromosomes, flow cytometr

Changes of phenolic compounds in LebZIP2-overexpressing transgenic plants

484-491The bZIP gene is a transcription factor that plays various roles in relation to plant stress and hormone signaling. This gene is also involved in plant environmental stress and herbicide tolerance. We generated Nicotiana benthamiana transgenic plants with LebZIP2-encoding gene isolated from tomatoes using Agrobacterium-mediated transformation. Transgenic seeds harvested from these T0 transgenic plants were grown and examined for gene transfer and changes in phenolic compounds in the T1 generation. RT-PCR analysis using a primer specific to the LebZIP gene confirmed that the gene was transferred to the T1 generation. We analyzed the increase and decrease tendency for 30 phenolic compounds using the T1 generation-transgenic plants and investigated the mechanism between the specifically increased compound and LebZIP2 gene. Gallic acid, homogentisic acid, protocatechuic acid, myricetin, t-cinnamic acid, and b-resorcyclic acid were identified as the phenolic compounds that increased in T1 transgenic plants overexpressing the LebZIP gene. Among these, homogentisic acid at 246.75-1055.19 µg/g, was increased by 2-5 fold in the T1 transgenic plants compared to the control. Protocatechuic acid was found at 1640.54-2456.00 µg/g and was increased by 2-4 fold in T1 transgenic plants. t-Cinnamic acid was present in a small amount of 23.14 µg/g in the control, whereas it was 102.19-135.47 µg/g in T1 transgenic plants, showing an increase of 4-5 folds. These results indicated that homogentisic acid, protocatechuic acid, and t-cinnamic acid among the 30 phenolic compounds analyzed, were significantly increased in LebZIP2-overexpressing T1 transgenic plants, and support the evidence that the LebZIP2 gene is significantly involved in the increment of three phenolic compounds

Exploration of New Electroacupuncture Needle Material

Background. Electro Acupuncture (EA) uses the acupuncture needle as an electrode to apply low-frequency stimulation. For its safe operation, it is essential to prevent any corrosion of the acupuncture needle. Objective. The aim of this study is to find an available material and determine the possibility of producing a standard EA needle that is biocompatible. Methods. Biocompatibility was tested by an MTT assay and cytotoxicity testing. Corrosion was observed with a scanning electron microscope (SEM) after 0.5 mA, 60 min stimulation. The straightness was measured using a gap length of 100 mm, and tensile testing was performed by imposing a maximum tensile load. Results. Phosphor bronze, Ni coated SS304, were deemed inappropriate materials because of mild-to-moderate cytotoxicity and corrosion. Ti-6Al-4V and SS316 showed no cytotoxicity or corrosion. Ti-6Al-4V has a 70 times higher cost and 2.5 times lower conductivity than SS316. The results of both straightness and tensile testing confirmed that SS316 can be manufactured as a standard product. Conclusion. As a result, we confirmed that SS316 can be used a new EA electrode material. We hope that a further study of the maximum capacity of low-frequency stimulation using an SS316 for safe operation

Direct shoot organogenesis from petiole and leaf discs of Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal

An efficient and reproducible procedure is described for direct shoot regeneration using petiole and leaf explants of Withania somnifera (L.). The shoots were mainly induced from the distal end of the petiole, whereas in leaf explants, shoot regeneration was initiated from the basal part and wounded tissue. The regeneration medium that induced the highest numbers of shoots in the petiole and leaf explants was Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with 2 mg/l N6-benzyladenine (BA) alone or with 0.1 mg/l a-naphthalene acetic acid (NAA). The frequency of shoot regeneration was greatly influenced by the type of explant, the carbon source, the orientation of the explant, and the basal medium used in the regeneration medium. Explants produced shoot buds and adventitious shoots within four weeks. Histological analysis of the regenerating shoots showed that the shoot buds emerged from sub epidermal parenchymal cells, with no intermediate callus formation. Plantlets were rooted on MS alone or MS containing different concentrations of 3-indolebutyric acid (IBA). The addition of 1 mg/l IBA to the medium was most effective in inducing root formation. The regenerated plantlets were acclimatized in the greenhouse and successfully transferred to the field, with a 90% survival rate. The acclimatized plants showed normal flowering and were not morphologically different from the seed-derived mother plants.Key words: Histology, medicinal plant, plant growth regulator, plant regeneration, Withania somnifera

Tunable colors of chiral liquid crystal displays

Abstract We report a method of the color variation in the reflective CLC displays depending on thermodynamically and the electric field switching. The reflective wavelength can be thermodynamically switched to reflect green from a cell initially reflecting a red color. Afterwards, the reflective wavelength can be electrically switched to reflect blue color. It is found that continuous decrease of the pitch is mainly originated from the dopant solubility below the critical temperature and stepwise decrease of the pitch is dominantly affected by the thermodynamic property above the critical temperature. The blue color change is a result of the compression to the helical pitches in planar layers in response to the applied voltage

Differential spatial expression of peripheral olfactory neuron-derived BACE1 induces olfactory impairment by region-specific accumulation of beta-amyloid oligomer

Olfactory dysfunction is a common symptom associated with neurodegenerative diseases including Alzheimer's disease (AD). Although evidence exists to suggest that peripheral olfactory organs are involved in the olfactory dysfunction that accompanies AD pathology, the underlying mechanisms are not fully understood. As confirmed using behavioral tests, transgenic mice overexpressing a Swedish mutant form of human amyloid precursor proteins exhibited olfactory impairments prior to evidence of cognitive impairment. By measuring the expression of tyrosine hydroxylase, we observed that specific regions of the olfactory bulb (OB) in Tg2576 mice, specifically the ventral portion exhibited significant decreases in the number of dopaminergic neurons in the periglomerular regions from the early stage of AD. To confirm the direct linkage between these olfactory impairments and AD-related pathology, beta-site amyloid precursor protein cleaving enzyme 1 (BACE1)-the initiating enzyme in A beta genesis-and beta-amyloid peptide (A beta), hallmarks of AD were analyzed. We found that an increase in BACE1 expression coincided with an elevation of amyloid-beta (A beta) oligomers in the ventral region of OB. Moreover, olfactory epithelium (OE), in particular the ectoturbinate in which axons of olfactory sensory neurons (OSNs) have direct connections with the dendrites of mitral/tufted cells in the ventral part of OB, exhibited significant decreases in both thickness and cell number even at early stages. This result suggests that A beta oligomer toxicity in the OE may have induced a decline in the number of OSNs and functional impairment of the olfactory system. We first demonstrated that disproportionate levels of regional damage in the peripheral olfactory system may be a specific symptom of AD with A beta oligomer accumulation occurring prior to damage within the CNS. This regional damage in the olfactory system early in the progression of AD may be closely related to AD-related pathological abnormality and olfactory dysfunction found in AD patients.1

A Pulmonary Paragonimiasis Case Mimicking Metastatic Pulmonary Tumor

Pulmonary paragonimiasis is a relatively rare cause of lung disease revealing a wide variety of radiologic findings, such as air-space consolidation, nodules, and cysts. We describe here a case of pulmonary paragonimiasis in a 27-year-old woman who presented with a 2-month history of cough and sputum. Based on chest computed tomography (CT) scans and fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) findings, the patient was suspected to have a metastatic lung tumor. However, she was diagnosed as having Paragonimus westermani infection by an immunoserological examination using ELISA. Follow-up chest X-ray and CT scans after chemotherapy with praziquantel showed an obvious improvement. There have been several reported cases of pulmonary paragonimiasis mimicking lung tumors on FDG-PET. However, all of them were suspected as primary lung tumors. To our knowledge, this patient represents the first case of paragonimiasis mimicking metastatic lung disease on FDG-PET CT imaging

Diagnostic characteristics of supplemental laboratory criteria for incomplete Kawasaki disease in children with complete Kawasaki disease

PurposeIn 2004, the American Heart Association (AHA) had published an algorithm for the diagnosis of incomplete Kawasaki disease (KD). The aim of the present study was to investigate characteristics of supplemental laboratory criteria in this algorithm.MethodsWe retrospectively examined the medical records of 355 patients with KD who were treated with intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) during the acute phase of the disease. Laboratory data were obtained before the initial IVIG administration and up to 10 days after fever onset. In 106 patients, laboratory testing was performed more than twice.ResultsThe AHA supplemental laboratory criteria were fulfilled in 90 patients (25.4%), and the frequency of laboratory examination (odds ratio [OR], 1.981; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.391-2.821; P<0.001) was a significant predictor of it. The fulfillment of AHA supplemental laboratory criteria was significantly associated with refractoriness to the initial IVIG administration (OR, 2.388; 95% CI, 1.182-4.826; P=0.013) and dilatation of coronary arteries (OR, 2.776; 95% CI, 1.519-5.074; P=0.001).ConclusionRepeated laboratory testing increased the rate of fulfillment of the AHA supplemental laboratory criteria in children with KD

Factors Related to Self-Confidence to Live Alone in Community-Dwelling Older Adults: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background Many older adults prefer to live alone in their own homes, with age-related issues in physical movement, regardless of their cultural background. Importantly, however, to identify the features of successfully ageing in place (AIP), and foster independent living among these individuals, this study explored their level of self-confidence to live alone and its related factors. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional study using secondary data from an earlier study with older adults living alone in South Korea recruited by convenience sampling methods (N = 936, mean age = 77.1 years, 76.1% female). Data regarding the general, health-related, and social characteristics as well as self-confidence to live alone were collected via face-to-face interviews in 2019. Self-confidence to live alone was measured with a numeric rating scale of 0 to 10. Results The average self-confidence score to live alone was 6.59. A regression analysis showed that mould exposure at home, depression, emergency department visits, and loneliness hinder self-confidence to live alone. Meanwhile, such self-confidence was facilitated by independency in instrumental activities of daily living (IADL), interactions with family members, social service utilisation, and social support. Conclusions This study suggests that healthcare providers need to consider the importance of self-confidence to live alone and influencing functional, mental, social, and environmental factors to promote quality of life as well as successful AIP for older adults living alone. Further, self-confidence to live alone could be a new practical index in the field of health and ageing to screen the successful AIP of older adults living alone.This work was supported by a grant from the Korea Health Technology R&D Project through the Korea Health Industry Development Institute (KHDI), funded by the Ministry of Health & Welfare, Republic of Korea (grant number: HI18C1284)