Identification of a new HLA-A*24 allele, A*24:313.

The new allele, A*24:313, showed one nucleotide difference with A*24:02:01 (595G>A).

Identification of the novel allele, HLA-C*15:02:01:03, by full-length genomic sequencing.

The HLA-C*15:02:01:03 allele differs from the HLA-C*15:02:01:01 allele by a single-nucleotide substitution in the 5' untranslated region (-42 C>A).

Identification of a new HLA-DRB1*04 allele, DRB1*04:10:03.

The new allele, DRB1*04:10:03, showed one nucleotide difference with DRB1*04:10:01 (705C>T).

Estimation of the 6-digit level allele and haplotype frequencies of HLA-A, -B, and -C in Koreans using ambiguity-solving DNA typing.

Because Korean society is fast becoming multi-ethnic, the determination of ambiguous human leukocyte antigen (HLA) types using HLA allele frequencies is becoming less applicable. In this study, we focused on the development of new technical methods to directly resolve the ambiguities arising from HLA genotyping. One hundred and fifty unrelated healthy Korean adults were included in this study. All alleles from each HLA locus were first divided into 2-4 groups, with each group amplified in a single PCR tube (multi-group-specific amplification, MGSA). To resolve phase ambiguities, some allele groups were also amplified separately in small group-specific amplification (SGSA) tubes. In order to then resolve incomplete sequence ambiguities, primers for MGSA and SGSA were initially designed to cover additional exons. If needed, a heterozygous ambiguity resolving primer (HARP) or sequence specific primer (SSP) was also used. When MGSA and SGSA methods were applied, the rate of phase ambiguity was greatly reduced to an average of 6% (1.3% in HLA-A, 15.7% in -B, and 2.0% in -C). Additional HARP and SSP methods could resolve all the phase ambiguities. Using our proposed method, we also detected three alleles that have not been previously reported in Korea, C*04:82, C*07:18, and C*08:22, and report 6-digit level HLA allele and haplotype frequencies among Koreans. In conclusion, the use of MGSA/SGSA for the initial amplification step is a cost-effective method facilitating timely and accurate reporting, given the continuing increase in the ethnic diversity of the Korean population. The MGSA described here can be applicable to various populations and thus could be shared by the majority of HLA typing laboratories. However, efforts to solve HLA ambiguity should continue, because SGSA, HARPs and SSPs would be specific to a particular population.

Analysis of predictors for lactate elimination after reperfusion in recipients of living-donor liver transplantation.

BACKGROUND: Graft-recipient weight ratio (GRWR) is the only documented predictor that influences the lactate elimination after reperfusion in living-donor liver transplantation (LDLT). This study was performed to investigate the predictors of lactate elimination after reperfusion in recipients of adult LDLT. METHODS: The medical records of 159 patients who underwent LDLT were analyzed. Lactate level (mmol/L) was measured from just before the initiation of surgery (P0) and 5, 60, and 120 minutes after reperfusion of graft (R0, R1, and R2, respectively). The change of lactate level after reperfusion was defined as difference between lactate level measured at R0 and R2. Patients were divided into accumulation and elimination groups. Donor and recipient factors were compared between the 2 groups. RESULTS: Lactate accumulation occurred in 80 of 159 recipients (50.3%), and elimination occurred in 79 (49.7%). GRWR and Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) score were higher in the elimination group. Lactate at R0 was lower in the elimination group. CONCLUSIONS: Higher GRWR and MELD score and lower lactate level immediate after reperfusion of graft were predictors of lactate elimination after reperfusion during adult LDLT.

HLA-B*40:02:18, a new HLA-B*40 allele.

The new allele B*40:02:18 showed one nucleotide difference with B*40:02:01 at codon 111 (CGC/CGT).

A new HLA-A*02 allele, A*02:465.

The new allele A*02:465 showed one nucleotide difference with A*02:06:01 (172G>A).

The novel HLA-C*03:02:02:03 identified by cloning and genomic full-length sequencing.

The sequence of the C*03:02:02:03 differs from that of C*03:02:02:01 by one nucleotide substitution in the 5' UTR at position -57 (C>A).

Identification of a novel HLA-B allele, B*35:01:25, by sequence-based typing in a Korean individual.

The new allele B*35:01:25 showed a single nucleotide substitution compared with B*35:01:01 at codon 238 (GAT/GAC).

Effects of propofol on the expression of matric metalloproteinases in rat cardiac fibroblasts after hypoxia and reoxygenation.

BACKGROUND: Propofol is known to protect the myocardium against ischaemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury through its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs) are involved in cell migration and invasion, and mediate tissue remodelling during I/R injury. They are regulated by various mechanisms including oxidative stress and AKT and ERK pathways. We investigated whether propofol affected the expression of MMPs and subsequent cell migration and invasion and the signalling pathways involved in primary rat cardiac fibroblasts undergoing hypoxia and reoxygenation. METHODS: The phosphorylation of ERK and AKT signalling pathways was examined by western blot analysis in rat primary cardiac fibroblasts after hypoxia and reoxygenation. mRNA expression of MMP and TIMPS was analysed by real-time PCR, and proteolytic activities of MMP-2 and -9 were assessed. The effects of propofol on migration, invasion, wound healing, and cell proliferation activity were evaluated after reoxygenation. RESULTS: Propofol induced AKT and ERK1/2 activation. Subsequent activation of MMPs resulted in increased cell migration, invasion, and wound-healing activity under hypoxia-reoxygenation, which was decreased by LY294002 (AKT inhibitor) and U0126 (ERK inhibitor) in rat cardiac fibroblasts. However, propofol had no effect on proliferation or viability of cardiac fibroblasts after hypoxia-reoxygenation. CONCLUSIONS: Propofol affected the expression of MMPs and TIMPs and subsequently induced cell migration and invasive ability, through activation of the ERK and AKT signalling pathway in hypoxia-reoxygenated rat cardiac fibroblasts.

HLA-DRB1*13:99, a novel HLA-DRB1*13 allele identified by sequence-based typing.

The new allele DRB1*13:99 showed one nucleotide difference with DRB1*13:02:01 at codon 51 (ACG/AAG).

Orthognathic surgery for the Asian patient and the influence of the surgeon's background on treatment.

The aim of this study was to determine whether there are differences in esthetic preferences and orthognathic treatment for Asian patients between US- and Asian-trained surgeons. Twenty-five Caucasian-American, 23 Asian-American, 24 Asian oral and maxillofacial surgeons (OMFS) completed an Institutional Review Board (IRB)-approved survey. They were asked to rate seven Asian male and female profiles from most attractive to least attractive and to choose maxillary advancement, mandibular setback, or no treatment for an Asian male and female patient with a maxillomandibular discrepancy. There was no statistical difference for the most and least attractive rankings among the OMFS. Variations in ranking for intermediate profiles showed a statistical difference between the Asian- and US-trained OMFS. These intermediate profile rankings appeared to explain the differences in surgical treatment. Treatment recommendations for the Asian male among the OMFS, regardless of ethnicity, preferred maxillary advancement. For the Asian female, all Asian-trained OMFS preferred mandibular setback, while nearly 40% of US-trained OMFS preferred maxillary advancement (p=0.003). Differences in surgical management of the Asian patient were dependent on whether the surgeon trained in the US or in Asia and the gender of the patient. There was concordance between the Asian-American and Caucasian-American surgeons.

A novel HLA-A*31 allele, A*31:34, identified by sequence-based typing.

New allele A*31:34 showed one nucleotide difference with A*31:01:02 at codon 166 (GAG/CAG).

B*39:60, a novel HLA-B*39 allele identified by sequence-based typing.

The new allele B*39:60 showed one nucleotide difference with B*39:01:01 at codon 152 (GTG/GCG).

The CLE family of plant polypeptide signaling molecules.

Polypeptide ligands have long been recognized as primary signaling molecules in diverse physiological processes in animal systems. Recent studies in plants have provided major breakthroughs with the discovery that small polypeptides are also involved in many plant biological processes, indicating that the use of polypeptides as signaling molecules in cell-to-cell communication is evolutionarily conserved. The CLAVATA3 (CLV3)/ENDOSPERM SURROUNDING REGION (ESR)-related (CLE) proteins are currently the best understood family of small polypeptides in plants. The recent isolation of MCLV3 from Arabidopsis and TDIF from a Zinnia cell culture system indicates that biologically active CLE polypeptides are produced by post-translational proteolysis and modification, similar to peptide hormone production in animals and yeast. Here, we review exciting discoveries involving the identification of the CLE proteins and their functions in various aspects of plant development, including restriction of stem cell accumulation by CLV3 and inhibition of xylem differentiation by TDIF.

Effect of thermal damage and biaxial loading on the optical properties of a collagenous tissue.

Thermal denaturation can induce marked changes in the optical and mechanical properties of collagenous tissues. The optical properties are important in both therapeutic and diagnostic applications of lasers in medicine. Although mechanical stress can be caused by collagen shrinkage in laser-based therapies, how the mechanical loading state affects the optical properties is not well understood. We used a new computer-controlled biaxial testing system to subject bovine epicardium to various loading conditions both before and after multiple levels of thermal damage. An integrating sphere technique was used to measure transmittance and diffuse reflectance, from which absorption and scattering coefficients were calculated using a Monte Carlo method. Results showed that the scattering coefficient increased with increasing mechanical load but decreased as the degree of thermal damage increased. There was no significant change in the absorption coefficient due to thermal damage over the ranges studied.

Dextromethorphan alters methamphetamine self-administration in the rat.

Various lines of evidence indicate that methamphetamine (METH) self-administration in rats is under dopaminergic control, and NMDA receptors have been shown to control the release of dopamine at its synapse. Consequently, the aim of this study was to observe the effects of dextromethorphan (DM), a non-competitive NMDA antagonist, in rats self-administering METH. The hypothesis was that acute pretreatment of DM (25 mg/kg) would alter response to METH. DM significantly altered self-administration by reducing the number of correct responses for three METH self-administration doses (0.05, 0.1, 0.25 mg/kg). The same pretreatment did not affect responding for food reward. These findings show that the DM was able to selectively alter METH self-administration.