The Association of Body Fat and Arterial Stiffness Using the Brachial-Ankle Pulse Wave Velocity.

BACKGROUND: BMI alone may not serve as an index of obesity because it does not reflect body composition. The present study aimed to compare arterial stiffness as assessed by the brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (ba-PWV) among groups defined by body fat percentage (pBF) and BMI. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was based on 1,700 participants (1,044 men and 656 women) who completed a health screening examination at a national hospital between January 2011 and February 2016. Participants were divided into four groups according to BMI and pBF: normal fat and normal weight (NFNW); excessive fat and normal weight (EFNW); normal fat and obese (NFO); and excessive fat and obese (EFO). The ba-PWV and other cardiometabolic factors were compared among the four groups in men and women separately. RESULTS: For both sexes, the NFNW group had a lower metabolic risk compared to that in the other groups (EFNW, NFO, and EFO). After adjusting for multiple variables, the NFO males had a significantly lower ba-PWV compared to those in the other groups, including NFNW males. The NFO group had significantly more skeletal muscle mass and muscle mass compared the other groups (P<0.05). Among women, the NFNW group had a significantly lower ba-PWV compared the other groups, even after adjusting for multiple variables. CONCLUSION: Lower pBF in obese men may be associated with improved cardiovascular risk.

Production of α1,3-galactosyltransferase targeted pigs using transcription activator-like effector nuclease-mediated genome editing technology.

Recent developments in genome editing technology using meganucleases demonstrate an efficient method of producing gene edited pigs. In this study, we examined the effectiveness of the transcription activator-like effector nuclease (TALEN) system in generating specific mutations on the pig genome. Specific TALEN was designed to induce a double-strand break on exon 9 of the porcine α1,3-galactosyltransferase (GGTA1) gene as it is the main cause of hyperacute rejection after xenotransplantation. Human decay-accelerating factor (hDAF) gene, which can produce a complement inhibitor to protect cells from complement attack after xenotransplantation, was also integrated into the genome simultaneously. Plasmids coding for the TALEN pair and hDAF gene were transfected into porcine cells by electroporation to disrupt the porcine GGTA1 gene and express hDAF. The transfected cells were then sorted using a biotin-labeled IB4 lectin attached to magnetic beads to obtain GGTA1 deficient cells. As a result, we established GGTA1 knockout (KO) cell lines with biallelic modification (35.0%) and GGTA1 KO cell lines expressing hDAF (13.0%). When these cells were used for somatic cell nuclear transfer, we successfully obtained live GGTA1 KO pigs expressing hDAF. Our results demonstrate that TALEN-mediated genome editing is efficient and can be successfully used to generate gene edited pigs.

Pap1p-dependent upregulation of thioredoxin 3 and thioredoxin reductase genes from the fission yeast under nitrosative stress.

The thioredoxin system, consisting of thioredoxin, thioredoxin reductase, and NADPH, is involved in the response against a variety of stresses. The TRX3(+) and TrxR(+) genes encode thioredoxin 3 and thioredoxin reductase, respectively, in the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe . Their transcriptional regulations were studied using the lacZ fusion genes. Synthesis of ß-galactosidase from the TRX3(+)-lacZ fusion gene was markedly enhanced by nitric-oxide-generating sodium nitroprusside in the Pap1p-positive cells but not in the Pap1p-negative cells. Similarly, synthesis of ß-galactosidase from the TrxR(+)-lacZ fusion gene was upregulated by sodium nitroprusside in a Pap1p-dependent manner. Synthesis of ß-galactosidase from the TRX3(+)-lacZ and TrxR(+)-lacZ fusion genes was also enhanced by S-nitrosoglutathione in the Pap1p-positive cells but not in the Pap1p-negative cells. In brief, the S. pombe genes encoding thioredoxin 3 and thioredoxin reductase are upregulated under nitrosative stress in a Pap1p-dependent manner.

Anti-inflammatory, antinociceptive and anti-angiogenic activities of a phospholipid mixture purified from porcine lung tissues.

This work aimed to assess anti-inflammatory and related properties of a phospholipid mixture purified from porcine lung tissues, named KT&G101, which is being developed as a novel topical remedy for atopic dermatitis. KT&G101 consists of pure phospholipids, mainly phosphatidylcholine (PC) and other phospholipids such as phosphatidylinositol (PI) and phosphatidylserine (PS). Its predominant PC species is 1,2-dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC). KT&G101 exhibited an anti-angiogenic activity in the chick chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) assay. Oral administration of KT&G101 at the dosages of 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg body weight gave rise to an inhibition of 15.4%, 25.3% and 30.1% in the vascular permeability assay, respectively. In the carrageenan-induced inflammation in the air pouches, KT&G101 significantly diminished the volume of exudates in the pouches, the number of polymorphonuclear leukocytes and nitrite content in exudates. In the acetic acid-induced writhing response, oral administration of KT&G101 at the dosages of 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg body weight showed the reduction of 21.6%, 51.6% and 60.8% in the pain response of mice, respectively. It was also able to diminish the nitric oxide (NO) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels in the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW264.7 macrophage cells. KT&G101 displayed a significant suppression on the induction of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) in the stimulated RAW264.7 cells. However, the free radical scavenging activity of KT&G101 was detected to be very weak in the 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay. Taken together, KT&G101 possesses anti-inflammatory and related antinociceptive and anti-angiogenic activities, which indirectly supports its use as an anti-atopic therapy.

Reichenbachiella faecimaris sp. nov., isolated from a tidal flat, and emended descriptions of the genus Reichenbachiella and Reichenbachiella agariperforans.

A taxonomic study was carried out on two bacterial strains, PCP11(T) and PCP104, isolated from a tidal flat of the Yellow Sea, Korea. Comparative 16S rRNA gene sequence studies showed that these strains belonged to the family Cytophagaceae, phylum Bacteroidetes. Strains PCP11(T) and PCP104 shared 99.4 % sequence similarity and were related most closely to Reichenbachiella agariperforans KMM 3525(T) (95.8 and 96.0 % sequence similarity, respectively). Members of the genera Fulvivirga, Roseivirga, Fabibacter and Marinoscillum were the next closest relatives of the new isolates, with sequence similarities ≤ 91 %. The two isolates were Gram-staining-negative, strictly aerobic, gliding bacteria. They grew in the presence of 1-5 % NaCl, at pH 5.5-8.5 and at 4-35 °C. Strains PCP11(T) and PCP104 shared a number of physiological and biochemical properties with Reichenbachiella agariperforans KMM 3525(T), but they differed from this strain in the hydrolysis of biopolymers and in the production of carotenoid and flexirubin-type pigments. Both strains possessed iso-C(15 : 0), summed feature 4 (C(16 : 1)ω7c and/or iso-C(15 : 0) 2-OH) and C(15 : 0) as major cellular fatty acids. The major respiratory quinone was menaquinone 7 (MK-7). The G+C contents of the genomic DNA of strains PCP11(T) and PCP104 were 39.6 and 41.9 mol%, respectively. On the basis of phenotypic data and phylogenetic inference, it is proposed that the two isolates represent a novel species, Reichenbachiella faecimaris sp. nov., with strain PCP11(T) ( = KACC 14523(T)  = JCM 16588(T)) as the type strain. Emended descriptions of the genus Reichenbachiella and Reichenbachiella agariperforans are also proposed.

Pseudoalteromonas donghaensis sp. nov., isolated from seawater.

A Gram-negative, rod-shaped, motile and aerobic bacterium, designated strain HJ51(T), was isolated from a seawater sample from the East Sea, near South Korea. The isolate grew slowly at 4 °C, was able to grow at 40 °C, required NaCl and grew optimally at pH 6.5-7.0. The G+C content of the genomic DNA was 41.8 mol%. The major fatty acids were summed feature 4 (C(16 : 1)ω7c and/or iso-C(15 : 0) 2-OH), C(16 : 0) and summed feature 7 (C(18 : 1)ω7c, C(18 : 1)ω9t and/or C(18 : 1)ω12t). Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that strain HJ51(T) belonged to the genus Pseudoalteromonas and had 91.7-98.9 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity with type strains of species of the genus Pseudoalteromonas. Strain HJ51(T) had 7.2 % DNA-DNA relatedness with Pseudoalteromonas mariniglutinosa DSM 15203(T) and 12.9 % with Pseudoalteromonas prydzensis DSM 14232(T). On the basis of the phenotypic, phylogenetic and genomic data, strain HJ51(T) represents a novel species of the genus Pseudoalteromonas, for which the name Pseudoalteromonas donghaensis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is HJ51(T) (=KCTC 22219(T)=LMG 24469(T)).

Flavobacterium chungbukense sp. nov., isolated from soil.

A yellow-pigmented, Gram-staining-negative, non-motile, strictly aerobic and rod-shaped bacterium, designated CS100(T), was isolated from soil in Chungbuk, Korea. Phylogenetic analysis and comparative studies based on the 16S rRNA gene sequence showed that strain CS100(T) belonged to the genus Flavobacterium in the family Flavobacteriaceae. Strain CS100(T) showed the highest sequence similarities to Flavobacterium glaciei JCM 13953(T) (97.6 %) and Flavobacterium johnsoniae KACC 11410(T) (97.1 %). Sequence similarity to other members of the genus Flavobacterium was 91.5-97.0 %. Growth occurred at 4-30 °C, at pH 5.0-9.0 and in the presence of 0-2 % (w/v) NaCl. Flexirubin-type pigments were produced. Menaquinone-6 (MK-6) was the major respiratory quinone and the major fatty acids were iso-C(15 : 0) (17.3 %), summed feature 3 (comprising iso-C(15 : 0) 2-OH and/or C(16 : 1)ω7c, 15.5 %) and C(16 : 0) (11.8 %). The DNA G+C content was 36.4 mol%. Strain CS100(T) hydrolysed skimmed milk and gelatin, but not chitin or pectin, and showed oxidase and catalase activities. DNA-DNA relatedness was 3.0 % with F. glaciei JCM 13953(T) and 11.5 % with F. johnsoniae KACC 11410(T). On the basis of the evidence from this study, strain CS100(T) represents a novel species of the genus Flavobacterium, for which the name Flavobacterium chungbukense sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is CS100(T) ( = KACC 15048(T) = JCM 17386(T)).