Fourier Transform Infrared (FT-IR) Spectroscopy and Simple Algorithm Analysis for Rapid and Non-Destructive Assessment of Cotton Fiber Maturity and Crystallinity for Plant Mapping.

Information on boll distribution within a cotton plant is critical to evaluate the adaptation and response of cotton plants to environmental and biotic stress in cotton production. Cotton researchers have applied available conventional fiber measurements, such as the high volume instrument (HVI) and advanced fiber information system (AFIS), to map the location and the timing of boll development and distribution within plants and further to determine within-plant variability of cotton fiber properties. Both HVI and AFIS require numerous cotton bolls combined for the measurement. As an alternative approach, attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared (ATR FT-IR) spectroscopy was proposed to measure fiber maturity (MIR) and crystallinity (CIIR) of a sample as little as 0.5 mg lint. Extending fiber maturity and crystallinity measurement into a single boll for node-by-node mapping, FT-IR method might be advantageous due to less sampling amount compared with HVI and AFIS methods. Results showed that FT-IR technique enabled the evaluation of fiber MIR and CIIR at a boll level, which resulted in average MIR and CIIR values highly correlated with HVI micronaire (MIC) and AFIS maturity ratio (M). Hence, FT-IR technique possesses a good potential for a rapid and non-destructive node-by-node mapping of cotton boll maturity and crystallinity distribution.

Reliability and Agreement Assessment of Sarcopenia Diagnosis through Comparison of Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis and Dual-Energy X-ray Absorptiometry.

A unified diagnostic criterion has yet to be established for sarcopenia. Therefore, we analyzed the reliability and validity of sarcopenia diagnosis using bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) compared with the gold standard, dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA), and evaluated the predictive accuracy of BIA for diagnosis. The clinical trial, involving a total of 239 participants, was conducted between December 2018 and September 2019 on healthy volunteers without significant medical histories. The participants underwent health assessments, followed by sequential DEXA and BIA measurements. In both the low and normal appendicular skeletal muscle (ASM) groups, there were significant differences in the right arm, left arm, right leg, left leg, ASM, and ASM index (ASMI) between DEXA and BIA across all age groups (p < 0.05). BIA tended to overestimate compared to DEXA, but ASMI values for males and females were consistent with the criteria for sarcopenia. Bland-Altman analysis showed that each segment in both the low and normal ASM groups fell within the limits of agreement (LOA). The diagnosis of sarcopenia using BIA was significantly different from that using DEXA. However, it exhibited a significantly high correlation, fell within the LOA, and demonstrated high predictive accuracy. BIA can be considered an effective tool for diagnosing sarcopenia.

Cost-Effectiveness of Age-Expanding Strategy of Latent Tuberculosis Infection Treatment in Household Contacts in South Korea.

PURPOSE: The strategy of latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) treatment in household tuberculosis (TB) contacts has been expanding in South Korea. However, there is little evidence of the cost-effectiveness of LTBI treatment in patients over 35 years of age. This study aimed to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of LTBI treatment among household TB contacts in different age groups in South Korea. MATERIALS AND METHODS: An age-structured model of TB was developed based on the reports from the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency and the National Health Insurance Service. Quality-adjusted life-years (QALY) and the averted number of TB-related deaths were estimated along with discounted costs for a measure of incremental cost-effectiveness ratios. RESULTS: The number of cumulative active TB cases would decrease by 1564 and 7450 under the scenario of LTBI treatment for those aged <35 years and <70 years, respectively, relative to the no-treatment scenario. The treatment strategies for patients aged 0 to <35 years, <55 years, <65 years, and <70 years would add 397, 1482, 3782, and 8491 QALYs at a cost of $660, $5930, $4560, and $2530, respectively, per QALY. For the averted TB-related deaths, LTBI treatment targeting those aged 0 to <35 years, <55 years, <65 years, and <70 years would avert 7, 89, 155, and 186 deaths at a cost of $35900, $99200, $111100, and $115700 per deaths, respectively, in 20 years. CONCLUSION: The age-specific expansion policy of LTBI treatment not only for those under 35 years of age but also for those under 65 years of age among household contacts was cost-effective in terms of QALYs and averted TB deaths.

Comparison of active tuberculosis case finding strategies for immigrants in South Korea: Epidemiology and cost-effectiveness analysis.

BACKGROUND: Tuberculosis (TB) is one of the serious infectious diseases in South Korea, with 49 new cases per 100,000 people and 629 multi-drug resistant (MDR) cases reported in 2020. TB is increasing among immigrants in S. Korea, and various TB case finding strategies are being performed for screening. We compared active case finding (ACF) with passive case finding (semi-PCF) across epidemiological characteristics and investigated a cost-effective strategy for screening immigrants for TB. METHODS: ACF driven by non-governmental organizations and semi-PCF as part of the government's visa renewal process using CXR with additional acid-fast bacilli (AFB) smear and cultures were performed. Epidemiological parameters were compared between the two TB screening projects, and costs were collected. Cost-effectiveness was evaluated using a decision analysis model from the health system perspective. The primary outcome was incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) per averted TB case. Additional probabilistic sensitivity analysis was conducted. RESULTS: ACF (2.02%) showed a higher TB prevalence rate than semi-PCF (0.67%) on CXR. For subjects older than 60 years, the suspected TB rate on CXR was significantly higher in ACF (36.6%) than in semi-PCF (12.2%) (P<0.01). TB incidence among the family visa type was significantly higher in ACF (1.96%) than in semi-PCF (0.88%) (P < 0.0012). Costs for ACF ($666.92) were $20.784 higher than for semi-PCF ($646.13), but TB progression decreased by 0.02, resulting in an ICER of $948.18 per averted TB case. In sensitivity analysis, the indirect costs of ACF and semi-PCF had the highest impact on ICER. CONCLUSION: ACF found more TB cases than semi-PCF through CXR screening, and suspect cases with old age and family visa type were more common in ACF than in semi-PCF. ACF is cost-effective as a TB screening strategy for immigrants.

Assessment of chicken thigh meat quality of Ross 308 broiler of animal welfare certified farm.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate the difference in the thigh meat quality of Ross 308 broiler from conventional and welfare farms. METHODS: Thigh meat samples of Ross 308 broilers (age, 35 d; carcass weight, 1.1 kg) from conventional farm (RCF, n = 60) and animal welfare farms (RAWF, n = 60) were analyzed. Proximate composition, pH, color (lightness, redness, and yellowness), water-holding capacity (WHC), shear force, total aerobic bacteria (TAB), and volatile basic nitrogen (VBN) were measured and the levels of bioactive compounds such as dipeptides (anserine and carnosine), creatine, creatinine, and their anti-oxidation activity were determined. RESULTS: The RCF and RAWF did not differ significantly in their proximate composition, WHC, color, and creatine and carnosine levels. The pH value was significantly lower in RAWF than in RCF on day 7. The shear force value was significantly higher in RAWF than in RCF throughout the storage duration. TAB in RCF on day 9 were significantly higher than those in RAWF. The VBN content of RAWF was significantly lower than that of RCF after 5 days of storage. Creatinine content was significantly higher in RAWF (3.50 mg/100 g) than in RCF (3.08 mg/100 g) on day 1. Along with higher carnosine and anserine contents of RAWF, it had significantly higher 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl and 2,2-azinobis (3-ethyl-benzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) radical scavenging activities than those of RCF. CONCLUSION: These results imply that the animal welfare farming system beneficially affects the overall oxidative stability of Ross 308 thigh meat.

Clinical Utility of Next-Generation Flow-Based Minimal Residual Disease Assessment in Patients with Multiple Myeloma.

Background: Minimal residual disease (MRD) is an important prognostic factor for evaluating a deeper treatment response in patients with multiple myeloma (MM). We evaluated the clinical utility of next-generation flow (NGF)-based MRD assessment in a heterogeneous MM patient population. Methods: Patients with suspected morphological remission after or during MM treatment were prospectively enrolled. In total, 108 bone marrow samples from 90 patients were analyzed using NGF-based MRD assessment according to the EuroFlow protocol, and progression-free survival (PFS) was evaluated according to the International Myeloma Working Group response status, cytogenetic risk, and MRD status. Results: The overall MRD-positive rate was 31.5% (34/108 samples), and MRD-positive patients showed a lower PFS than MRD-negative patients (P=0.005). MRD-positive patients showed inferior PFS than MRD-negative in patients with stringent complete remission (sCR)/complete remission (P=0.014) and high-risk cytogenetic abnormalities (P=0.016). MRD was assessed twice in 18 patients with a median interval of 12 months. Sustained MRD negativity was only observed in patients with sustained sCR, and their PFS was superior to that of patients who were not MRD-negative (P=0.035). Conclusions: Clinical application of NGF-based MRD assessment can provide valuable information for predicting disease progression in patients with MM in remission, including those with high-risk cytogenetic abnormalities.

Caregiving, care burden and awareness of caregivers and patients with dementia in Asian locations: a secondary analysis.

BACKGROUND: This study investigated the differences in caregiver activity, caregiver burden, and awareness of both caregivers and patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) across different Asian locations. METHODS: This was a secondary analysis of a multi-national cohort study that aimed to assess caregiver activity and caregiver burden using the Caregiver Activity Scale (CAS) and Zarit Burden Interview (ZBI), respectively. Patients' awareness of their dementia diagnosis was assessed by asking the following yes/no question: "Do you have dementia?" Caregivers' awareness of the patient's dementia diagnosis was assessed by asking the following yes/no question: "Does your patient have dementia?" RESULTS: In total, 524 caregivers of patients with AD from China, Hong Kong, South Korea, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Taiwan participated. The CAS and ZBI score were significantly different across most locations (p < 0.001 and p = 0.033, respectively). Overall, 56.6% of caregivers and 37.5% of patients had awareness of the dementia diagnosis, and the proportion of patients and caregivers with awareness were also different between each location (all, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Caregiving, caregiver burden, and the awareness of caregivers and patients were different across many Asian locations. With understanding of cultural differences, further public education on dementia could help increase the awareness of patients and caregivers and reduce caregiver burden. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov , NCT02262975 . Registered 13 October 2014.

Health System Costs of Treating Latent Tuberculosis Infection With Four Months of Rifampin Versus Nine Months of Isoniazid in Different Settings.

BACKGROUND: Four months of rifampin treatment for latent tuberculosis infection is safer, has superior treatment completion rates, and is as effective as 9 months of isoniazid. However, daily medication costs are higher for a 4-month rifampin regimen than a 9-month isoniazid regimen. OBJECTIVE: To compare health care use and associated costs of 4 months of rifampin and 9 months of isoniazid. DESIGN: Health system cost comparison using all health care activities recorded during 2 randomized clinical trials. (ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT00931736 and NCT00170209). SETTING: High-income countries (Australia, Canada, Saudi Arabia, and South Korea), middle-income countries (Brazil and Indonesia), and African countries (Benin, Ghana, and Guinea). PARTICIPANTS: Adults and children with clinical or epidemiologic factors associated with increased risk for developing tuberculosis that warranted treatment for latent tuberculosis infection. MEASUREMENTS: Health system costs per participant. RESULTS: A total of 6012 adults and 829 children were included. In both adults and children, greater health system use and higher costs were observed with 9 months of isoniazid than with 4 months of rifampin. In adults, the ratios of costs of 4 months of rifampin versus 9 months of isoniazid were 0.76 (95% CI, 0.70 to 0.82) in high-income countries, 0.90 (CI, 0.85 to 0.96) in middle-income countries, and 0.80 (CI, 0.78 to 0.81) in African countries. Similar findings were observed in the pediatric population. LIMITATION: Costs may have been overestimated because the trial protocol required a minimum number of follow-up visits, although fewer than recommended by many authoritative guidelines. CONCLUSION: A 4-month rifampin regimen was safer and less expensive than 9 months of isoniazid in all settings. This regimen could be adopted by tuberculosis programs in many countries as first-line therapy for latent tuberculosis infection. PRIMARY FUNDING SOURCE: Canadian Institutes of Health Research.

Development of the clinical assessment scale in autoimmune encephalitis.

OBJECTIVE: There is no scale for rating the severity of autoimmune encephalitis (AE). In this study, we aimed to develop a novel scale for rating severity in patients with diverse AE syndromes and to verify the reliability and validity of the developed scale. METHODS: The key items were generated by a panel of experts and selected according to content validity ratios. The developed scale was initially applied to 50 patients with AE (development cohort) to evaluate its acceptability, reproducibility, internal consistency, and construct validity. Then, the scale was applied to another independent cohort (validation cohort, n = 38). RESULTS: A new scale consisting of 9 items (seizure, memory dysfunction, psychiatric symptoms, consciousness, language problems, dyskinesia/dystonia, gait instability and ataxia, brainstem dysfunction, and weakness) was developed. Each item was assigned a value of up to 3 points. The total score could therefore range from 0 to 27. We named the scale the Clinical Assessment Scale in Autoimmune Encephalitis (CASE). The new scale showed excellent interobserver (intraclass correlation coefficient [ICC] = 0.97) and intraobserver (ICC = 0.96) reliability for total scores, was highly correlated with modified Rankin scale (r = 0.86, p < 0.001), and had acceptable internal consistency (Cronbach α = 0.88). Additionally, in the validation cohort, the scale showed high interobserver reliability (ICC = 0.99) and internal consistency (Cronbach α = 0.92). INTERPRETATION: CASE is a novel clinical scale for AE with a high level of clinimetric properties. It would be suitable for application in clinical practice and might help overcome the limitations of current outcome scales for AE. ANN NEUROL 2019;85:352-358.

Assessment of Extent and Role of Tau in Subcortical Vascular Cognitive Impairment Using 18F-AV1451 Positron Emission Tomography Imaging.

Importance: Amyloid-ß (Aß), tau, and cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD), which occasionally coexist, are the most common causes of cognitive impairments in older people. However, whether tau is observed in patients with subcortical vascular cognitive impairment (SVCI), as well as its associations with Aß and CSVD, are not yet established. More importantly, the role of tau underlying cognitive impairments in SVCI is unknown. Objective: To investigate the extent and the role of tau in patients with SVCI using 18F-AV1451, which is a new ligand to detect neurofibrillary tangles in vivo. Design, Setting, and Participants: This cross-sectional study recruited 64 patients with SVCI from June 2015 to December 2016 at Samsung Medical Center, Seoul, Korea. The patients had significant ischemia on brain magnetic resonance imaging, defined as periventricular white matter hyperintensity at least 10 mm and deep white matter hyperintensity at least 25 mm. We excluded 3 patients with SVCI owing to segmentation error during AV1451 positron emission tomography analysis. Main Outcomes and Measures: We calculated CSVD scores based on the volumes of white matter hyperintensities, numbers of lacunes, and microbleeds using magnetic resonance imaging data. The presence of Aß was assessed using fluorine 18-labeled (18F) florbetaben positron emission tomography. Tau was measured using 18F-AV1451 positron emission tomography. We determined the spreading order of tau by sorting the regional frequencies of cortical involvement. We evaluated the complex associations between Aß, CSVD, AV1451 uptake, and cognition in patients with SVCI. Results: Of the 61 patients with SVCI, 44 (72.1%) were women and the mean (SD) age was 78.7 (6.3) years. Patients with SVCI, especially patients with Aß-negative SVCI, showed higher AV1451 uptake in the inferior temporal areas compared with normal control individuals. In patients with SVCI, Aß positivity and CSVD score were each independently associated with increased AV1451 uptake in the medial temporal and inferior temporal regions, respectively. Involvement frequency of AV1451 uptake in the fusiform gyrus, inferior temporal, and precuneus regions were higher than that in the parahippocampal region. In patients with SVCI, higher AV1451 uptake in the inferior temporal and medial temporal regions correlated with worse language and general cognitive function. In patients with SVCI, Aß positivity and CSVD score each correlated with worse general cognitive function, which was completely mediated by AV1451 uptake in the entorhinal cortex and inferior temporal gyrus, respectively. Conclusions and Relevance: Our findings suggest that in SVCI, both Aß and CSVD were independently associated with increased tau accumulation. Furthermore, tau burden played a pivotal role because it was the final common pathway for the cognitive impairment in patients with SVCI.

Machine Learning-based Individual Assessment of Cortical Atrophy Pattern in Alzheimer's Disease Spectrum: Development of the Classifier and Longitudinal Evaluation.

To develop a new method for measuring Alzheimer's disease (AD)-specific similarity of cortical atrophy patterns at the individual-level, we employed an individual-level machine learning algorithm. A total of 869 cognitively normal (CN) individuals and 473 patients with probable AD dementia who underwent high-resolution 3T brain MRI were included. We propose a machine learning-based method for measuring the similarity of an individual subject's cortical atrophy pattern with that of a representative AD patient cohort. In addition, we validated this similarity measure in two longitudinal cohorts consisting of 79 patients with amnestic-mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) and 27 patients with probable AD dementia. Surface-based morphometry classifier for discriminating AD from CN showed sensitivity and specificity values of 87.1% and 93.3%, respectively. In the longitudinal validation study, aMCI-converts had higher atrophy similarity at both baseline (p < 0.001) and first year visits (p < 0.001) relative to non-converters. Similarly, AD patients with faster decline had higher atrophy similarity than slower decliners at baseline (p = 0.042), first year (p = 0.028), and third year visits (p = 0.027). The AD-specific atrophy similarity measure is a novel approach for the prediction of dementia risk and for the evaluation of AD trajectories on an individual subject level.

The moderating effect of religiosity on caregiving burden and depressive symptoms in caregivers of patients with dementia.

OBJECTIVES: This study explored whether religiosity/spirituality has a protective role against negative caregiving outcomes, in a large multicenter nationwide sample of caregivers of patients with dementia in South Korea. Additionally, this study was the first to examine whether religiosity/spirituality could affect caregiving outcomes according to the various religious affiliations of caregivers. METHODS: The study was conducted on a sample of 476 caregivers of patients with dementia participated in the Clinical Research Center for Dementia of South Korea (CREDOS). We examined the moderating effect of each of the three dimensions of religiosity/spirituality (organizational religious activity, ORA; non-organizational religious activity, NORA; intrinsic religiosity, IR) on the relationship between activities of daily living (ADL) of patients with dementia and caregiving burden and depressive symptoms of caregivers, using a series of hierarchical regression analyses. In addition, these analyses were conducted according to the religious affiliations of the caregivers. RESULTS: ORA, NORA, and IR of religiosity/spirituality alleviated the effect of ADL of patients on caregiving burden. ORA and IR moderated the relationship between ADL of patients and depressive symptoms of caregivers. These moderating effects of religiosity on caregiving outcomes were different according to various religious groups. CONCLUSION: We have identified religiosity/spirituality as a protective factor for caregivers of patients with dementia. The sub-dimensions of religiosity as moderators were different by religious affiliations of caregivers. Further studies are needed to investigate the specific religiosity-related factors which could positively impact the mental health of the caregivers of patients with dementia by religions.

Erratum to: The KMDS-NATION Study: Korean Movement Disorders Society Multicenter Assessment of Non-Motor Symptoms and Quality of Life in Parkinson's Disease NATION Study Group.

This corrects the article on p. 393 in vol. 12, PMID: 27819413.

Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR) and Simple Algorithm Analysis for Rapid and Non-Destructive Assessment of Developmental Cotton Fibers.

With cotton fiber growth or maturation, cellulose content in cotton fibers markedly increases. Traditional chemical methods have been developed to determine cellulose content, but it is time-consuming and labor-intensive, mostly owing to the slow hydrolysis process of fiber cellulose components. As one approach, the attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared (ATR FT-IR) spectroscopy technique has also been utilized to monitor cotton cellulose formation, by implementing various spectral interpretation strategies of both multivariate principal component analysis (PCA) and 1-, 2- or 3-band/-variable intensity or intensity ratios. The main objective of this study was to compare the correlations between cellulose content determined by chemical analysis and ATR FT-IR spectral indices acquired by the reported procedures, among developmental Texas Marker-1 (TM-1) and immature fiber (im) mutant cotton fibers. It was observed that the R value, CIIR, and the integrated intensity of the 895 cm-1 band exhibited strong and linear relationships with cellulose content. The results have demonstrated the suitability and utility of ATR FT-IR spectroscopy, combined with a simple algorithm analysis, in assessing cotton fiber cellulose content, maturity, and crystallinity in a manner which is rapid, routine, and non-destructive.

The KMDS-NATION Study: Korean Movement Disorders Society Multicenter Assessment of Non-Motor Symptoms and Quality of Life in Parkinson's Disease NATION Study Group.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Nonmotor symptoms (NMS) in Parkinson's disease (PD) have multisystem origins with heterogeneous manifestations that develop throughout the course of PD. NMS are increasingly recognized as having a significant impact on the health-related quality of life (HrQoL). We aimed to determine the NMS presentation according to PD status, and the associations of NMS with other clinical variables and the HrQoL of Korean PD patients. METHODS: We surveyed patients in 37 movement-disorders clinics throughout Korea. In total, 323 PD patients were recruited for assessment of disease severity and duration, NMS, HrQoL, and other clinical variables including demographics, cognition, sleep scale, fatigability, and symptoms. RESULTS: In total, 98.1% of enrolled PD subjects suffered from various kinds of NMS. The prevalence of NMS and scores in each NMS domain were significantly higher in the PD group, and the NMS worsened as the disease progressed. Among clinical variables, disease duration and depressive mood showed significant correlations with all NMS domains (p<0.001). NMS status impacted HrQoL in PD (rS=0.329, p<0.01), and the association patterns differed with the disease stage. CONCLUSIONS: The results of our survey suggest that NMS in PD are not simply isolated symptoms of degenerative disease, but rather exert significant influences throughout the disease course. A novel clinical approach focused on NMS to develop tailored management strategies is warranted to improve the HrQoL in PD patients.

Professional ethics in complementary and alternative medicines in management of Parkinson's disease.

The practice of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is not, at present, considered an integral part of conventional medicine. As the popularity of CAM grows and access to information about CAM increases through the media and internet where CAMs are often promoted, patients are at risk of exposure unvalidated information. Therefore, there is a need for physicians to examine objectively the efficacy and safety of CAM, compare it with current medications, and become actively involved in the CAM treatment with patients. In accordance with these needs, this manuscript reviews the utility, scientific evidence, safety and cost-effectiveness of CAM in the treatment of Parkinson's disease (PD). We also address the ethical issues of CAM practices.

Assessment of the Abuse Liability of Synthetic Cannabinoid Agonists JWH-030, JWH-175, and JWH-176.

The emergence and use of synthetic cannabinoids have greatly increased in recent years. These substances are easily dispensed over the internet and on the streets. Some synthetic cannabinoids were shown to have abuse liability and were subsequently regulated by authorities. However, there are compounds that are still not regulated probably due to the lack of abuse liability studies. In the present study, we assessed the abuse liability of three synthetic cannabinoids, namely JWH-030, JWH-175, and JWH-176. The abuse liability of these drugs was evaluated in two of the most widely used animal models for assessing the abuse potential of drugs, the conditioned place preference (CPP) and self-administration (SA) test. In addition, the open-field test was utilized to assess the effects of repeated (7 days) treatment and abrupt cessation of these drugs on the psychomotor activity of animals. Results showed that JWH-175 (0.5 mg/kg), but not JWH-030 or JWH-176 at any dose, significantly decreased the locomotor activity of mice. This alteration in locomotor activity was only evident during acute exposure to the drug and was not observed during repeated treatment and abstinence. Similarly, only JWH-175 (0.1 mg/kg) produced significant CPP in rats. On the other hand, none of the drugs tested was self-administered by rats. Taken together, the present results indicate that JWH-175, but not JWH-030 and JWH-176, may have abuse potential. More importantly, our findings indicate the complex psychopharmacological effects of synthetic cannabinoids and the need to closely monitor the production, dispensation, and use of these substances.

Use of Attenuated Total Reflection Fourier Transform Infrared (ATR FT-IR) Spectroscopy in Direct, Nondestructive, and Rapid Assessment of Developmental Cotton Fibers Grown In Planta and in Culture.

Cotton fibers are routinely harvested from cotton plants (in planta), and their end-use qualities depend on their development stages. Cotton fibers are also cultured in controlled laboratory environments, so that cotton researchers can investigate many aspects of experimental protocols in cotton breeding programs at reduced expenses. In this work, attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared (ATR FT-IR) spectra of cotton fibers grown in planta and in culture were collected to explore the potential of FT-IR technique as a simple, rapid, and direct method for characterizing the fiber development. Complementary to visual inspection of spectral variations, principal component analysis (PCA) of ATR FT-IR spectra revealed the occurrence of phase transition from primary to secondary cell wall synthesis and also the difference of starting the phase transition between two types of fibers. Like PCA observation, three simple algorithms were capable of monitoring the secondary cell wall formation effectively. Interestingly and uniquely, simple algorithms were able to detect the subtle discrepancies in fibers older than 25 days post-anthesis, which was not apparent from PCA results. The observation indicated the feasibility of FT-IR technique in rapid, routine, nondestructive, and direct assessment of fiber development for cotton physiology and breeding applications.

Validity of the Korean version of the fear of Alzheimer's disease scale for the assessment of anticipatory dementia.

Anticipatory dementia is related to anxiety, which is a clinical predictor of early conversion to Alzheimer's disease. The Fear of Alzheimer's Disease Scale (FADS) is a reliable and valid instrument to address anticipatory dementia. The aim of the present investigation was to develop the Korean version of the Fear of Alzheimer's Disease Scale (K-FADS) and to verify its reliability and validity. We developed the K-FADS to consist of 30 items with total scores ranging from 0 to 120, as in the original FADS. One hundred eight healthy volunteer participants, drawn from 3 different university hospitals, were evaluated. The K-FADS revealed good reliability (Cronbach α=0.96) and good validity as compared to the Korean version of the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory Form (r=0.242, P=0.013). Test-retest reliability was excellent, as the intra-class correlation coefficient comparing the retest to test was 0.98 (95% confidence interval, 0.96-0.99). Our results show that the K-FADS is a suitable and valuable scale to assess anticipatory dementia in elderly Koreans.

Detection and assessment of clarithromycin inducible resistant strains among Korean Mycobacterium abscessus clinical strains: PCR methods.

BACKGROUND: Mycobacterium abscessus group belongs to a group of rapidly growing mycobacteria (RGM) and, following Mycobacterium avium complex, is the second most common pathogen responsible for lung disease caused by nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM). Clarithromycin is known to be the key drug in the treatment of M. abscessus group disease, but a high failure rate of treatment response is reported due to clarithromycin inducible resistance. METHODS: Using the results from a clarithromycin susceptibility test we examined the proportion of clarithromycin inducible resistant M. abscessus (sensu stricto; hereafter referred to as M. abscessus) clinical strains. Also, we attempted to detect the clarithromycin resistant strains, using the amplification refractory mutation system-PCR (ARMS-PCR) and real-time PCR methods for rapid detection of single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) at position 28 (T or C) of the erm(41) gene of M. abscessus leading to resistance to clarithromycin. RESULTS: Of the 157 M. abscessus clinical strains, clarithromycin susceptible, resistant, and inducible resistant strains accounted for 10.83% (n = 17), 22.29% (n = 35), and 66.88% (n = 105), respectively. Clarithromycin resistant strains were able to separate from clarithromycin susceptible strains by ARMS-PCR and real-time PCR identical to DNA sequence analysis. CONCLUSION: Most M. abscessus clinical strains in Korea are resistant to clarithromycin, and ARMS-PCR and real-time PCR are useful tools for the rapid detection of single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) at position 28 of the erm(41) gene.