First Report of Pseudomonas cichorii Causing Bacterial vein necrosis on Perilla plants [Perilla frutescens (L.) Britton.] in South Korea.

Perilla (Perilla frutescens L.) is the second most important upland crop and the third largest edible oil crop in Korea (Shin and Kim 1994). During a disease survey in Busan, Korea in September 2021, symptoms of vein necrosis were observed in perilla plants, with incidences of approximately 30% and 50% in two fields. Symptoms of spots on the perilla appeared as leaf dryness and spots with water-soaked blotches largely concentrated on the mid-veins of leaves. The lesions were initiated with water-soaked spots on the leaf or stem and gradually turned black or brown. Necrosis was also observed in the stems. A bacterium was isolated on Luria-Bertani (LB) agar from diseased leaf tissues that were surface-disinfected with 70% ethyl alcohol for 3-5 min and then washed with sterile water three times. Three pieces of sterilized leaf tissue (size: 0.5 × 0.5 cm) were mixed with 500 µL sterile water for 30 min, and then the suspension was serially diluted and spread on LB agar. Subsequently, isolates were cultivated on LB agar and King's Medium B agar (KMB) (Schaad et al. 2001), and they were predominantly cream-colored and circular bacterial colonies with undulated margins. The bacterial colonies on KMB displayed fluorescence under 365 nm UV light. The isolates were analyzed with the GEN III MicroPlate (Biolog, Hayward, CA, USA), and all isolates were identified as Pseudomonas cichorii, a devastating plant bacterium that damages a wide range of host plants worldwide, including in South Korea (Hikichi et al. 2013; Ramkumar et al. 2015). To identify the species of the bacterial pathogen, genomic DNA of four isolates (BS4922, BS4167, BS4345, and BS4560) was extracted, and the 16S rRNA gene and hrcRST gene were amplified with universal primers, 27F/1492R and Hcr1/Hcr2, and sequencing was then done (Patel et al. 2019). In the BLAST analysis, the 16S rRNA sequences (GenBank OM060656, OM275434, OM275435, OM275436) showed a 100% and 99% similarity to P. cichorii strains MAFF 302698 (AB724286) and P. cichorii strain Pc-Gd-4 (KU923373), respectively. Further, hrcRST gene sequences (GenBank OM143596, OM268864, OM268865, and OM268866) showed high similarity (>99%) with P. cichorii strain P16-51 (MG518230). A pathogenicity test of the four isolates was performed on 3 - 4 weeks old perilla plants by creating wounds with a needle on the lower leaves and stems, and then the plants were inoculated by spraying inoculum (108 CFU/ml). The plants that served as the negative control were wounded and sprayed with unsterilized water. The inoculated perilla plants were placed in a greenhouse at 28 ± 2oC , 80-85% relative humidity, and a natural photoperiod. The inoculation site began to show symptoms of water-soaked brown lesions. Disease symptoms such as leaf dryness, water-soaked blotches on the mid-vein of leaves, and necrosis on plant stems were observed in the inoculated plants 7-10 days after inoculation, whereas the plants of the negative control group did not show any symptoms. The bacteria were re-isolated from the diseased tissues of the plants, and DNA sequence analysis identified them as P. cichorii. Additionally, all isolates induced hypersensitivity reactions in tobacco and tomato leaves within 24 h after inoculation. To our knowledge, this is the first report of P. cichorii infecting perilla in South Korea. The findings in this study will provide the basic information for the development of diagnostic tools and management measures against P. cichorii in perilla.

The dephosphorylated S8A and S18A mutants of (oat) phytochrome A comprise its two species, phyA' and phyA'', suggesting that autophosphorylation at these sites is not involved in the phyA differentiation.

Phytochrome A (phyA) is represented in plants by two species, phyA' and phyA'', with different properties and modes of action (Sineshchekov, Funct. Plant Biol., 2019, 46, 118-135). They differ by the modification of a serine(s) residue at the N-terminus, possibly, by phosphorylation. To verify if these serines could be the Ser8 and Ser18 (in Avena sativa phyA, AsphyA), whose autophosphorylation modulates AsphyA stability and sensitivity as shown with the use of the serine-to-alanine substitution AsphyA mutants (S8A, S18A and S8/18A) (Han et al., Plant Cell Physiol., 2010, 51, 596-609), we have undertaken low-temperature (85 K) fluorescence investigations of phyA in these transgenic lines. The content and proportion of phyA' and phyA'' were essentially the same in wild-type AsphyA and its mutants, and in endogenous Arabidopsis phyA. All the lines revealed a higher phyA'/phyA'' proportion upon longer germination-inducing preillumination (3 h vs. 15 min white light) supporting our earlier finding that the phyA differentiation into the subpools is light-regulated. These observations and our earlier data imply that this process involves N-terminal serine(s) different from the autophosphorylated Ser8 and Ser18 (in AsphyA) narrowing down the area of further search for the exact site(s) of the phyA modification.

Simultaneous regeneration of calcium lactate and cellulose into PCL nanofiber for biomedical application.

Synthetic polymers are easy to process and have excellent mechanical properties but low wettability and poor cell compatibility limit their applications in tissue scaffolding. In this study, a facile procedure was established to regenerate cellulose and calcium lactate (CaL) into a polycaprolactone (PCL) nanofibrous scaffold for tissue engineering applications. Briefly, varying amounts of lactic acid (LA) was mixed with the blend of PCL and cellulose acetate (CA) solutions and electrospun to fabricate an optimal composite PCL/CA/LA fibrous membrane. Later on, as-prepared membranes were treated with calcium hydroxide solution. This process simultaneously converted CA and LA contents into Cellulose and CaL, respectively. In situ regeneration of Cellulose and CaL into the composite fiber remarkably enhanced the biological and physicochemical properties of the composite fiber. This work provides a novel dual-channel strategy for simultaneous regeneration of biopolymer and bioactive molecule into the PCL nanofiber for regenerative medicine and tissue engineering applications.

Kidney Transplantation Using Expanded-Criteria Deceased Donors: A Comparison With Ideal Deceased Donors and Non-Expanded-Criteria Deceased Donors.

PURPOSE: The use of expanded-criteria deceased-donor (ECD) kidneys must be evaluated within the objective perspective of critical organ shortage and graft function and survival. In this study, we aimed to compare the clinical outcomes of ECD reliance with concurrent use of ideal-criteria deceased donors (IDDs) and non-ECDs in adult renal transplantation. METHODS: Between February 2000 and December 2015, we analyzed 405 deceased-donor renal transplants, specifically 129 grafts (31.9%) from ECDs, 233 grafts (57.5%) from non-ECDs, and 43 grafts (10.6%) from IDDs. ECDs were classified according to the United Network for Organ Sharing guidelines, while an IDD was defined as a younger person (10-39 years of age) with no medical risk factors who died from a traumatic head injury. Donor and recipient risk factors were separately analyzed and correlated with recipient graft function, and survival was evaluated. RESULTS: ECDs were older (56.8 ± 6.3 years); showed increased incidence of hypertension, diabetes, and cerebrovascular brain death; and had a higher pre-retrieval serum creatinine level than the other groups. ECD kidney recipients were also older (50.6 ± 9.8 years), had a shorter waiting time (P = .031), and demonstrated a low frequency of re-transplantation (P = .028). Long-term renal function followed longitudinally was lower in ECD kidney recipients until five years after transplantation, while the glomerular filtration rate (GFR) level at 7 and 10 years did not differ significantly among the groups (P = .074 and .262, respectively). There were no significant differences in terms of graft survival (P = .394) or patient survival (P = .737) among the groups. CONCLUSIONS: Although the long-term renal function followed longitudinally was lower in ECD kidney recipients, the use of renal grafts from ECDs is an acceptable method to resolve the disparity of critical organ shortage. However, the classification of the high-risk group should be updated with consideration given to differences in regional characteristics.

Erratum to: The management of intra-abdominal infections from a global perspective: 2017 WSES guidelines for management of intra-abdominal infections.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1186/s13017-017-0141-6.].

Role of the histone deacetylase inhibitor valproic acid in high-fat diet-induced hypertension via inhibition of HDAC1/angiotensin II axis.

BACKGROUND: Obesity is known as an epidemic worldwide because of consumption of westernized high-fat diets and one of the major risk factors of hypertension. Histone deacetylases (HDACs) control gene expression by regulating histone/non-histone protein deacetylation. HDAC inhibitors exert anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory effects and play a protective role in cardiovascular diseases. In the present study, we tested the effect of an FDA-approved pan-HDAC inhibitor valproic acid (VPA) on high-fat diet (HFD)-induced hypertension in mice. Furthermore, we examined the mechanism of VPA-induced prevention of hypertension. METHODS: Nine-week-old male C57BL/6 mice were fed either a normal diet (ND) or HFD. When the HFD group reached a pre-hypertensive phase (130-140 mm Hg systolic blood pressure), VPA was administered for 6 days (300 mg kg-1 per day). Body weights and blood pressure (BP), expression of renin-angiotensin system (RAS) components and HDAC1 were determined. The direct role of HDAC1 in the expression of RAS components was investigated using gene silencing. RESULTS: HFD accelerated the increase in body weight from 22.4±1.3 to 31.9±3.0 compared to in the ND group from 22.7±0.9 to 26.0±1.7 (P=0.0134 ND vs HFD), systolic BP from 118.5±5.7 to 145.0±3.0 (P<0.001), and diastolic BP from 91.0±13.6 to 121.0±5.0 (P=0.006); BP was not altered in the ND group. HFD increased RAS components and HDAC1 in the kidneys as well as leptin in the plasma. VPA administration prevented the progression of hypertension and inhibited the increase in expression of HDAC1 and RAS components. VPA did not affect plasma leptin level. Knockdown of HDAC1 in MDCK cells decreased the expression of angiotensinogen and type 1 angiotensin II receptor. CONCLUSIONS: VPA prevented HFD-induced hypertension by downregulating angiotensin II and its receptor via inhibition of HDAC1, offering a novel therapeutic option for HFD-induced hypertension.

Progression of Osteoporosis After Kidney Transplantation in Patients With End-Stage Renal Disease.

BACKGROUND: This study investigated the prevalence of osteoporosis and the risk factors for its progression in kidney transplant recipients (KTRs). METHODS: Dual energy X-ray absorptiometry was used to prospectively measure changes in bone mineral density (BMD) before kidney transplantation (KT) and 1 year after transplantation in 207 individuals. We also analyzed the risk factors of osteoporosis progression during this period. RESULTS: Prior to KT, the mean BMD score (T-score of the femur neck area) was -2.1 ± 1.2, and the prevalence of osteoporosis was 41.5% (86/207). At 1 year post-transplantation, the mean BMD score significantly decreased to -2.3 ± 1.1 (P < .001), and the prevalence of osteoporosis increased to 47.3% (98/207; P = .277). The BMD score worsened over the study period in 69.1% (143/207) of patients, improved in 24.1% (50/207), and showed no change in 6.8% (14/207). Minimal intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH) improvement after KT was found to be an independent risk factor of osteoporosis progression. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates progressive loss of BMD after KT and sustained secondary hyperparathyroidism might influence the progression of osteoporosis.

Experiences of Living Donors for Small Bowel Transplantation.

INTRODUCTION: Along with developments in surgical and immunosuppression techniques, the success rate of small bowel transplantation has increased. In Korea, the incidence of small bowel transplantations has increased, and the longest surviving living donor recipient has now survived for over 12 years postsurgery. The purpose of this study was to assess the experiences of living donors for small bowel transplantation before, during, and after the transplantation. METHODS: In one hospital, we conducted interviews, based on open-ended questions, with three small bowel donors. We asked them about experiences during small bowel donation. The living donor's statements were analyzed using interpretive phenomenological analysis. RESULTS: Donors decided to donate because they felt "sorry for the suffering of a family member" and they had "faith in the medical staff." In the early phase after donation, living donors experienced physical changes in their body, including pain, fatigue, altered bowel habits, and abdominal discomfort. Despite temporary limitations in daily and social activities, support from family members allowed the donors to fully recover and return to normal physical, social, and psychological status. The donors mentioned they experienced love and support from their family, as well as satisfaction and pride from donation, during the entire process. CONCLUSION: We hope that the physical, psychological, and social experience of living donors during small bowel transplantation deduced in this study will serve as a foundation for the establishment of an intervention method to provide education before donation and help recovery after donation.

Effect of Donor-Recipient Age Match in Expanded Criteria Deceased Donor Kidney Transplantation.

PURPOSE: Our objective was to investigate the effects of age on patient and graft survival in expanded criteria donor (ECD) renal transplantation. METHODS: Between February 2000 and December 2015, we analyzed 405 deceased donor renal transplants, including 128 grafts (31.9%) from ECDs. Based on recipient age and ECD criteria classification, the recipients were divided into four groups: Group I, non-ECD to recipient age <50 years; Group II, non-ECD to recipient age ≥50 years; Group III, ECD to recipient age <50 years; and Group IV, ECD to recipient age ≥50 years. RESULTS: Among the four groups, there were significant differences in baseline characteristics (age, body mass index [BMI], cause of end-stage renal disease [ESRD], number of kidney transplantations, and use of induction agent). The mean modification of diet in renal disease (MDRD) glomerular filtration rate (GFR) level at 1 month, 6 months, 1 year, 3 years, and 5 years after transplantation was significantly lower in patients with ECDs but MDRD GFR level at 7, 9, and 10 years did not differ significantly (P = .183, .041, and .388, respectively). There were no significant differences in graft survival (P = .400) and patient survival (P = .147). CONCLUSION: Our result shows that, regardless of recipient age, kidney transplants donated by deceased ECDs have similar graft and patient survival.

Abdominal adiposity intensifies the negative effects of ambient air pollution on lung function in Korean men.

BACKGROUND: Some studies have provided the possibility that adipose tissue may mediate air pollution-induced lung dysfunction. Studies using quantified fat mass data are needed to understand the biological mechanisms between adipocyte and air pollution in lung function. We aimed to investigate whether abdominal adiposity measured by computed tomography (CT) modifies the effects of air pollution on lung function in Korean men. METHODS: A total of 1876 men who visited one of two health checkup centers were recruited for this study. Adiposity traits such as visceral adipose tissue (VAT), subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) and total adipose tissue (TAT) areas were measured by CT. We used the annual mean concentrations of ambient air pollutants including nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter ⩽10 µm (PM10). RESULTS: Interquartile range (IQR) increase in annual mean concentration of NO2 was significantly associated with a 2.5% lower forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) and 2.9% lower forced vital capacity (FVC) (both P<0.05). The decrease in lung function was more strongly associated with adiposity traits than with body mass index. In a stratified analysis of adiposity, compared with subjects with low-VAT area (VAT⩽200 cm2), those with high-VAT area (VAT>200 cm2) showed a rapid decrease in FEV1 with each IQR increase in PM10 (ß=-0.0812; 95% confidence interval (CI) =-0.1590, -0.0035) and NO2 (ß=-0.0979; 95% CI=-0.1611, -0.0346). In the high-VAT group, each IQR increase in NO2 content was significantly associated with a 10.6% decrease (ß=-0.1056; 95% CI=-0.1770, -0.0343) in FVC. SAT and TAT areas showed similar patterns. CONCLUSIONS: We report the first finding that abdominal adiposity intensifies the inverse relationship between air pollution and lung function.

Regulatory B Cell-Dependent Islet Transplant Tolerance Is Also Natural Killer Cell Dependent.

Immunologic tolerance to solid organ and islet cell grafts has been achieved in various rodent models by using antibodies directed at CD45RB and Tim-1. We have shown that this form of tolerance depends on regulatory B cells (Bregs). To elucidate further the mechanism by which Bregs induce tolerance, we investigated the requirement of natural killer (NK) and NKT cells in this model. To do so, hyperglycemic B6, µMT, Beige, or CD1d-/- mice received BALB/c islet grafts and treatment with the tolerance-inducing regimen consisting of anti-CD45RB and anti-TIM1. B6 mice depleted of both NK and NKT cells by anti-NK1.1 antibody and mice deficient in NK activity (Beige) did not develop tolerance after dual-antibody treatment. In contrast, transplant tolerance induction was successful in CD1d-/- recipients (deficient in NKT cells), indicating that NK, but not NKT, cells are essential in B cell-dependent tolerance. In addition, reconstitution of Beige host with NK cells restored the ability to induce transplant tolerance with dual-antibody treatment. Transfer of tolerance by B cells from tolerant mice was also dependent on host Nk1.1+ cells. In conclusion, these results show that regulatory function of B cells is dependent on NK cells in this model of transplantation tolerance.

Ureteral Complications in Kidney Transplantation: Analysis and Management of 853 Consecutive Laparoscopic Living-Donor Nephrectomies in a Single Center.

BACKGROUND: We report the incidence and nature of ureteral and surgical complications in our series of 853 consecutive living-donor renal transplants after laparoscopic living-donor nephrectomy. The aim of this study was to analyze the therapeutic approaches to ureteral complications in kidney transplantations and their relationship with recipient outcome. METHODS: The medical records of patients who underwent kidney transplantation from 2000 to 2014 were reviewed retrospectively. After the donor nephrectomies were performed with the use of laparoscopic, hand-assisted laparoscopic, and vesico-ureteral anastomosis, the recipient's ureteral complications were classified according to the mechanism and site of urinary tract involvement: anastomosis stricture, anastomosis leakage, vesico-ureteral reflux, and urolithiasis. RESULTS: Among the 853 cases of kidney transplantation, ureteral complications occurred in 66 patients (7.73%). The most common complication was urinary tract infection caused by vesico-ureteral reflux (n = 24, 2.81%), which was managed with by means of sub-ureteral polydimethylsiloxane injection. The second most common complication was the anastomosis site stricture (n = 23, 2.69%), which was treated by means of ureteral re-implantation or percutaneous nephrostomy. Anastomosis site leakage occurred in 11 patients (1.28%) and was managed by percutaneous nephrostomy with double-J stenting and drainage or ureteral re-implantation. Urolithiasis occurred in 8 patients (0.93%). CONCLUSIONS: There was an 8% rate of recipient ureteral complications at our institution. Of the 66 patients, 46 (5.4%) required surgical repair. The remaining 20 patients with ureteral complications were treated with conservative care or minimally invasive procedures. The keys to successful management of these problems are early diagnosis and prompt reconstruction whenever possible. Most ureteral complications are easily managed with a successful outcome with early intervention.

Impact of Pretransplant Panel-Reactive Antibody Level on Renal Graft Survival in Patients With a Negative Crossmatch and No Donor-Specific Antibody.

BACKGROUND: Patients with high panel-reactive antibody (PRA) levels before transplantation tend to remain on the waiting list longer when considering cadaveric donor transplantation and have worse outcomes than those with lower PRA levels. This study investigated the impact of the pretransplantation PRA level on rejection and graft survival after kidney transplantation in patients with a negative crossmatch (CXM(-)) and no donor-specific antibody (DSA(-)). METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed 513 recipients of kidney allograft treated from January 2009 to April 2013. Those who tested positive on crossmatching, had donor-specific antibodies, were ABO incompatible, or had no PRA level data were excluded (n = 130). The remaining patients were stratified into 3 groups according to their PRA levels: group I, PRA = 0 (314 [80.1%]); group II, PRA ≤50% (27 [7.2%]); and group III, PRA >50% (27 [7.2%]). Graft failure was defined as a return to dialysis, transplant nephrectomy, or death with a functioning kidney. RESULTS: The mean patient follow-up was 30.4 ± 4.6 months. The rejection rate was 20.1% (group I, 18.5% [n = 58] vs group II, 23.8% [n = 10] vs group III, 33.3% [n = 9] [P = .053]). The graft failure rate was 21.7% (group I, 6.4% [n = 20] vs group II. 7.1% [n = 3] vs group III, 7.4% [n = 7] [P = .792]), and the 3-year graft survival rates were 96.3, 92.4, and 92.5%, respectively (P = .851). CONCLUSIONS: The pretransplant PRA level was not significantly associated with graft survival in patients with CXM(-) and DSA(-). However, the rejection rate tended toward significance as the PRA level increased (P = .053).

Clinical Outcome of Simultaneous Native Nephrectomy and Kidney Transplantation in Patients With Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease.

BACKGROUND: End-stage renal disease patients with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease may require native nephrectomy for various indications. However, the appropriate timing for nephrectomy in kidney transplantation and its effect on allograft survival have not been fully investigated. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed 41 kidney transplant recipients with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease in whom transplantation was done simultaneously, after, or without native nephrectomy at Seoul St. Mary's hospital between January 1987 and February 2014. We divided patients into 2 groups based on when native nephrectomy was performed: simultaneously (group A, n = 13) and after or without nephrectomy (group B, n = 28), and compared perioperative outcomes, posttransplantation complications, and allograft survival rates. RESULTS: The mean operative time was significantly longer in group A than in group B (6.48 ± 1.84 vs 5.27 ± 0.84 hours; P = .048). The mean numbers of units required for intraoperative blood transfusions were also significantly higher in group A than in group B (3.66 ± 3.43 vs 0.75 ± 0.26 units; P = .018). However, there were no differences between groups in the incidence of acute rejection and other complications such as postoperative bleeding and infectious complications (P > .05, for all). The allograft survival rate also did not differ between groups (P > .05). CONCLUSIONS: Our study showed that patients undergoing simultaneous nephrectomy and kidney transplantations had clinical outcomes, in terms of complications and allograft survival, that were comparable to those in patients undergoing kidney transplantations with or without previous nephrectomy.

Characteristics of Femoral Motor Neuropathies Induced After Kidney Transplantation: A Case Series.

BACKGROUND: Femoral motor neuropathy (FMN) induced after kidney transplantation (KT) can injure the patient and graft, and it sometimes can leave sequelae on gait. Nevertheless, the cause of FMN has not been determined. We assessed 5 cases of FMN in an attempt to determine the traits induced after KT. METHODS: Patient data about general characteristics, immunologic characteristics, operative findings, post-operative status, and FMN characteristics were assessed. A Bookwalter self-retaining retractor was used and quadruple immunosuppression was implemented in all cases. RESULTS: Five patients had FMN. Four of the 5 patients were women. The mean body mass index (BMI) was 20.38 ± 1.99 kg/m(2) prior to KT and 19.08 ± 1.98 kg/m(2) after KT. The mean graft-recipient weight ratio was 3.46 ± 0.99 g/kg. There was no case of psoas muscle abscess or hematoma. Motor function recovery was obtained 3 to 313 days after rehabilitation. Immediate graft function was favorable in all patients with no rejection or significant complications. CONCLUSIONS: FMN after KT may occur in patients with a lower BMI and higher graft-recipient weight ratio. This study was based on only 5 patients, and therefore further studies with a larger population size are necessary.

Ten-Year Experience With Bowel Transplantation at Seoul St. Mary's Hospital.

A retrospective review of intestinal transplantation (ITx) at Seoul St. Mary's Hospital was made by collecting clinical data over the past 10 years. Fifteen consecutive cases from 2004 were analyzed. Five children and 10 adults (6 months to 69 years of age) were included. Primary diseases in adults included 4 mesenteric vessel thromboses, 2 strangulations, and 1 each of visceral myopathy, malignant gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST), mesenteric lymphangiectasis, and injury. Pediatric cases involved 2 Hirschsprung disease, 2 visceral myopathy, and 1 necrotizing enterocolitis. Three of 7 stomas were closed using a serial transverse enteroplasty procedure before transplantation. The ITx were performed using 3 living-donor Itx, 12 deceased-donor ITx, 14 isolated Itx, and 1 modified multivisceral transplantation. Daclizumab, basiliximab, alemtusumab, or basiliximab with rabbit antithymocyte globulin (rATG) was used for the induction; tacrolimus monotherapy was used as the basic maintenance immunosuppressant; and m-TOR inhibitor was used for renal dysfunction patients. Seven cases of acute cellular rejection were treated with rATG. Three cases of antibody-mediated rejection were treated with rituximab alone or with rituximab and bortezomib combination. There were 4 cases of early mortality within 6 months after Itx. Causes of death were declamping shock, cardiac tamponade with acute cellular rejection, dysmotility, and sepsis. Surgical complications consisted of 1 feeding jejunostomy displacement, and a minor leakage at a colo-colostomy site. One-year survival of the patient and graft was 73.33% (Kaplan-Meier survival curve). Although the total number of ITx is small, its social impact has been remarkable in changing the related laws and reimbursement policy in Korea.

Estimation of surface-level PM concentration from satellite observation taking into account the aerosol vertical profiles and hygroscopicity.

Surface-level PM10 distribution was estimated from the satellite aerosol optical depth (AOD) products, taking the account of vertical profiles and hygroscopicity of aerosols over Jeju, Korea during March 2008 and October 2009. In this study, MODIS AOD data from the Terra and Aqua satellites were corrected with aerosol extinction profiles and relative humidity data. PBLH (Planetary Boundary Layer Height) was determined from MPLNET lidar-derived aerosol extinction coefficient profiles. Through statistical analysis, better agreement in correlation (R = 0.82) between the hourly PM10 concentration and hourly average Sunphotometer AOD was the obtained when vertical fraction method (VFM) considering Haze Layer Height (HLH) and hygroscopic growth factor f(RH) was used. The validity of the derived relationship between satellite AOD and surface PM10 concentration clearly demonstrates that satellite AOD data can be utilized for remote sensing of spatial distribution of regional PM10 concentration.

Pilot Study Evaluating Regulatory T Cell-Promoting Immunosuppression and Nonimmunogenic Donor Antigen Delivery in a Nonhuman Primate Islet Allotransplantation Model.

The full potential of islet transplantation will only be realized through the development of tolerogenic regimens that obviate the need for maintenance immunosuppression. Here, we report an immunotherapy regimen that combines 1-ethyl-3-(3'-dimethylaminopropyl)-carbodiimide (ECDI)-treated donor lymphoid cell infusion (ECDI-DLI) with thymoglobulin, anti-interleukin-6 receptor antibody and rapamycin to achieve prolonged allogeneic islet graft survival in a nonhuman primate (NHP) model. Prolonged graft survival is associated with Treg expansion, donor-specific T cell hyporesponsiveness and a transient absence of donor-specific alloantibody production during the period of graft survival. This regimen shows promise for clinical translation.

Association between salivary amylase (AMY1) gene copy numbers and insulin resistance in asymptomatic Korean men.

AIMS: Salivary amylase gene (AMY1) copy number variations (CNVs) correlate directly with salivary amylase activity and serum amylase levels. Previously, individuals with high AMY1 CNVs exhibited low postprandial glucose levels and postprandial early insulin surge, suggesting that high AMY1 gene copy numbers may play a role in lowering the risk of insulin resistance. METHODS: We verified the relationship between AMY1 CNVs and homeostatic model assessment-insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) in a cohort of 1257 Korean men aged 20-65 years who visited two medical centres for regular health check-ups, and in subgroups of current smokers and regular alcohol drinkers. Individuals with fasting plasma glucose levels > 10.0 mmol/l, HbA1c ≥ 64 mmol/mol (8.0%) or who used oral hypoglycaemic agents or insulin were excluded. RESULTS: AMY1 CNVs correlated negatively with HOMA-IR even after adjusting for covariates (e.g. BMI, systolic blood pressure, triacylglycerol, alcohol consumption, smoking and physical activity). When the participants were divided according to current smoking and alcohol consumption habits, negative correlations between AMY1 CNVs and HOMA-IR were more evident among non-smokers and regular drinkers and were non-significant among smokers and non-regular drinkers. CONCLUSIONS: Low AMY1 CNVs correlated with high insulin resistance in asymptomatic Korean men, and such a relationship presented differently according to the status of smoking and alcohol consumption.