Thrombectomy in acute vertebrobasilar occlusion: a single-centre experience.

PURPOSE: Acute vertebrobasilar occlusion (VBO) has a grave clinical course; however, thrombectomy in VBO patients has rarely been reported. We retrospectively evaluated the clinical and radiological outcomes of thrombectomy in VBO patients. METHODS: From March 2010 to December 2017, 38 patients with 40 acute VBOs underwent thrombectomy at our hospital. Thrombectomy was performed using catheter aspiration (n = 11, 26.8%) or a stent retriever (n = 29, 70.7%). RESULTS: Good clinical outcomes (3-month modified Rankin scale (mRS) of 2 or lower) were achieved in 9 cases (22.5%), and successful recanalization (thrombolysis in cerebral infarction (TICI) grade of 2b or 3) was achieved in 35 cases (87.5%). Good clinical outcomes were significantly related to aetiologies other than atherosclerosis (p = 0.020) and lower National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) scores on admission (p = 0.025). The clinical and radiological outcomes did not differ significantly between catheter aspiration and stent retriever thrombectomy (p = 1.000 and p = 0.603, respectively); however, stent retriever thrombectomy had a shorter procedure time than catheter aspiration (59.7 ± 31.2 vs. 84.5 ± 35.1 min, p = 0.037). CONCLUSION: In our series, good clinical outcomes were associated with a lower NIHSS score on admission and stroke aetiologies other than atherosclerosis. The two thrombectomy modalities showed similar clinical and radiological outcomes. However, stent retrievers seemed to allow more rapid recanalization than catheter aspiration in VBO.

Neural substrates of cognitive reserve in Alzheimer's disease spectrum and normal aging.

The concept of cognitive reserve (CR) originated from discrepancies between the degree of brain pathology and the severity of clinical manifestations. CR has been characterized through CR proxies, such as education and occupation complexity; however, such approaches have inherent limitations. Although several methods have been developed to overcome these limitations, they fail to reflect the entire Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathology. Meanwhile, graph theory analysis, one of most powerful and flexible approaches, have established remarkable network properties of the brain. The functional and structural brain networks are damaged in neurodegenerative diseases. Therefore, network analysis has been applied to clarify the characteristics of the disease or give insight. Here, using multimodal neuroimaging, we propose an intuitive model to estimate CR based on its original definition, and explore the neural substrates of CR from the perspective of networks and functional connectivity. A total of 87 subjects (21 AD, 32 mild cognitive impairment, and 34 normal aging) underwent tau and amyloid PET, 3D T1-weighted MR, and resting-state fMRI. We hypothesized CR as a residual of actual cognitive performance and expected performance to be related to quantitative factors, such as AD pathology, demographics, and a genetic factor. Then, we correlated this marker using education and occupation complexity as conventional CR proxies. We validated this marker by testing whether it would modulate the effect of brain pathology on memory function. To examine the neural substrates associated with CR, we performed graph analysis to investigate the association between the CR marker and network measures at different granularities in total subjects, AD spectrum and normal aging, respectively. The CR marker from our model was well associated with education and occupation complexity. More directly, the CR marker was revealed to modify the relationship between brain pathology and memory function among AD spectrum. The CR marker was correlated with the global efficiency of the entire network, nodal clustering coefficient, and local efficiency of the right middle-temporal pole. In connectivity analysis, one cluster of edges centered on right middle-temporal pole was significantly correlated with the CR marker. In subgroup analysis, the network measures of right middle-temporal pole still correlated with the CR marker among AD spectrum. However, right precentral gyrus was revealed to be associated with the CR marker in normal aging. This study demonstrates that our intuitive model using multimodal neuroimaging and network perspective adequately and comprehensively captures CR. From a network perspective, CR is associated with the capacity to process information efficiently in the brain. The right middle-temporal pole was revealed to be a pivotal neural substrate of CR in AD spectrum. These findings foster understanding of AD and will be useful to help identify individuals with vulnerability or resistance to AD pathology, and characterize patients for intervention or drug trials.

Inhibitory effect of corn silk on skin pigmentation.

In this study, the inhibitory effect of corn silk on melanin production was evaluated. This study was performed to investigate the inhibitory effect of corn silk on melanin production in Melan-A cells by measuring melanin production and protein expression. The corn silk extract applied on Melan-A cells at a concentration of 100 ppm decreased melanin production by 37.2% without cytotoxicity. This was a better result than arbutin, a positive whitening agent, which exhibited a 26.8% melanin production inhibitory effect at the same concentration. The corn silk extract did not suppress tyrosinase activity but greatly reduced the expression of tyrosinase in Melan-A cells. In addition, corn silk extract was applied to the human face with hyperpigmentation, and skin color was measured to examine the degree of skin pigment reduction. The application of corn silk extract on faces with hyperpigmentation significantly reduced skin pigmentation without abnormal reactions. Based on the results above, corn silk has good prospects for use as a material for suppressing skin pigmentation.

Non-invasive strategy: Developing a topical IL-4Rα-specific nanobody for the treatment of allergic airway diseases.

Inhibiting IL-4 and IL-13 are critical cytokines that induce the pathogenic responses of allergic airway diseases. Currently, monoclonal antibodies targeting IL-4Rα are administered subcutaneously to treat eosinophilic rhinosinusitis and allergic asthma. However, these treatments have several drawbacks. To address these issues, we have developed a novel IL-4Rα-targeting nanobody designed for non-invasive delivery to local inflammatory sites in allergic airway diseases. H5, selected via the ribosomal display applied screening from synthetic nanobody library, underwent dimerization and in-silico affinity maturation using AlphaFold2 and GROMACS resulting in a substantial/dramatic enhancement of its binding affinity. H5 effectively controlled inflammatory markers such as MUC5AC, CCL26, and FOXJ1 in human nasal epithelial cells (HNECs) by inhibiting IL-4 and IL-13 signaling. The bivalent form of H5 showed efficacy in easily accessible cells, such as multi-ciliated cells, while the monovalent variant targeted hard-to-reach cells, such as basal cells of HNECs. In summary, we developed a nanobody that could effectively inhibit inflammatory signaling in HNECs via intranasal administration, showing promise as a non-invasive rhinitis treatment.

The pepper RNA-binding protein CaRBP1 functions in hypersensitive cell death and defense signaling in the cytoplasm.

The regulation of gene expression via post-transcriptional modification by RNA-binding proteins is crucial for plant disease and innate immunity. Here, we report the identification of the pepper (Capsicum annuum) RNA-binding protein1 gene (CaRBP1) as essential for hypersensitive cell death and defense signaling in the cytoplasm. CaRBP1 contains an RNA recognition motif and is rapidly and strongly induced in pepper by avirulent Xanthomonas campestris pv. vesicatoria (Xcv) infection. CaRBP1 displays in vitro RNA- and DNA-binding activity and in planta nucleocytoplasmic localization. Transient expression of CaRBP1 in pepper leaves triggers cell-death and defense responses. Notably, cytoplasmic localization of CaRBP1, mediated by the N-terminal region of CaRBP1, is essential for the hypersensitive cell-death response. Silencing of CaRBP1 in pepper plants significantly enhances susceptibility to avirulent Xcv infection. This is accompanied by compromised hypersensitive cell death, production of reactive oxygen species in oxidative bursts, expression of defense marker genes and accumulation of endogenous salicylic acid and jasmonic acid. Over-expression of CaRBP1 in Arabidopsis confers reduced susceptibility to infection by the biotrophic oomycete Hyaloperonospora arabidopsidis. Together, these results suggest that cytoplasmic localization of CaRBP1 is required for plant signaling of hypersensitive cell-death and defense responses.

Phylogeography and genetic diversity of East Asian Neolitsea sericea (Lauraceae) based on variations in chloroplast DNA sequences.

Neolitsea sericea is an evergreen broad leaved tree in the warm-temperate regions of East Asia. This area is a hotspot for plant species richness and endemism caused by dynamic changes in land configuration during the Quaternary. However, the historical migration of such evergreen tree species is still poorly understood. In an attempt to reconstruct the phylogeographic history of N. sericea during the Quaternary, we identified the chloroplast DNA haplotypes of 287 individuals from 33 populations covering almost all of its geographic range. Analyses were based on sequence data from the trnL-F, psbC-trnS, and rps16 regions. Nine haplotypes were identified. The majority included ancestral types in the southwestern part of the main islands of Japan, with other region-specific haplotypes being found in populations on the Korean Peninsula, Taiwan (Isl. Lanyu), and elsewhere in Japan. A statistical parsimony network revealed two lineages derived from Japanese main islands. One was represented on the Korean Peninsula, the other on Isl. Lanyu. The current distribution of N. sericea has been shaped by colonization via land bridges. During the glacial periods, two primary, but separate migration routes were followed--from the southwestern part of the Japanese main islands to either the Korean Peninsula or Taiwan. In addition, we believe the Zhoushan populations were shaped by post-glacial processes through an ECS land bridge (East China Sea basin) from northern refugia that existed during the late Pleistocene.

The Essential Function of miR-5739 in Embryonic Muscle Development.

Background and Objectives: Embryologically, mesodermal development is closely related to the development of various organs such as muscles, blood vessels, and hearts, which are the main organs that make up the body. However, treatment for mesoderm developmental disorders caused by congenital or acquired factors has so far relied on surgery and drug treatment for symptom relief, and more fundamentally, treatment for mesoderm developmental disorders is needed. Methods and Results: In our study, microRNA (miRNA), which plays an important role in the mesoderm development process, was identified and the developmental function was evaluated. miRNAs consist of small nucleotides, which act as transcription factors that bind to the 3' untranslated region and suppressed target gene expression. We constructed the human embryonic stem cell (hESC) knockout cell line and analyzed the function and characteristics of miR-5739, which plays an important role in mesoderm lineage. miR-5739 acts as a transcription factor targeting SMA, Brachyury T, Hand1, which controls muscle proliferation and differentiation, and KDR gene, which regulates vessel formation in vitro. In vivo results suggest a role in regulating muscle proliferation and differentiation. Gene ontology analysis confirmed that the miR-5739 is closely related to genes that regulate muscle and vessel proliferation and differentiation. Importantly, abnormal expression of miR-5739 was detected in somatic cells derived from patients with congenital muscle disease. Conclusions: Our study demonstrate that miR-5739 gene function significantly affects transcriptional circuits that regulate muscle and vascular differentiation during embryonic development.

Neural mechanisms of acupuncture for peripheral facial nerve palsy: A protocol for systematic review and meta analysis.

BACKGROUND: Peripheral facial nerve palsy (PFNP) is a cranial neuropathy that occurs when the seventh facial nerve is damaged. PFNP seriously affects patients' quality of life, and approximately 30% of patients suffer from sequelae, such as unrecovered palsy, synkinesis, facial muscle contracture, and facial spasm. Many studies have confirmed the effectiveness of acupuncture for the treatment of PFNP. However, the specific mechanism remains unclear and needs to be further explored. Therefore, the purpose of this systematic review is to investigate the neural mechanisms underlying acupuncture treatment for PFNP using neuroimaging methods. METHODS: We will search all published studies from inception to March 2023 using the following databases: MEDLINE, Cochrane Library, EMBASE, CNKI, KMBASE, KISS, ScienceON, and OASIS. All clinical studies evaluating the effectiveness of acupuncture for treating PFNP using functional neuroimaging will be selected without language restrictions. Two reviewers will independently conduct the study selection, data extraction, and risk of bias assessment, according to a predetermined protocol. The outcomes, including the types of functional neuroimaging techniques, brain function alterations, and clinical outcomes, such as the House-Brackmann scale and Sunnybrook Facial Grading System, will also be analyzed. Coordinate-based meta-analysis and subgroup analyses will be performed if possible. RESULTS: This study will analyze the effect of acupuncture on brain activity alterations and clinical improvement in patients with PFNP using functional neuroimaging. CONCLUSION: This study will provide a comprehensive summary and help elucidate the neural mechanisms of acupuncture treatment for PFNP. PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER: CRD42022321827.

The pepper E3 ubiquitin ligase RING1 gene, CaRING1, is required for cell death and the salicylic acid-dependent defense response.

Ubiquitination is essential for ubiquitin/proteasome-mediated protein degradation in plant development and defense. Here, we identified a novel E3 ubiquitin ligase RING1 gene, CaRING1, from pepper (Capsicum annuum). In pepper, CaRING1 expression is induced by avirulent Xanthomonas campestris pv vesicatoria infection. CaRING1 contains an amino-terminal transmembrane domain and a carboxyl-terminal RING domain. In addition, it displays in vitro E3 ubiquitin ligase activity, and the RING domain is essential for E3 ubiquitin ligase activity in CaRING1. CaRING1 also localizes to the plasma membrane. In pepper plants, virus-induced gene silencing of CaRING1 confers enhanced susceptibility to avirulent X. campestris pv vesicatoria infection, which is accompanied by compromised hypersensitive cell death, reduced expression of PATHOGENESIS-RELATED1, and lowered salicylic acid levels in leaves. Transient expression of CaRING1 in pepper leaves induces cell death and the defense response that requires the E3 ubiquitin ligase activity of CaRING1. By contrast, overexpression of CaRING1 in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) confers enhanced resistance to hemibiotrophic Pseudomonas syringae pv tomato and biotrophic Hyaloperonospora arabidopsidis infections. Taken together, these results suggest that CaRING1 is involved in the induction of cell death and the regulation of ubiquitination during the defense response to microbial pathogens.

Isolation and characterization of 13 microsatellite loci from a Korean Endemic Species, Sophora koreensis (Fabaceae).

To evaluate the population genetics structure as a means of devising conservation strategies, we developed microsatellite primers for Sophora koreensis, a narrowly endemic and endangered species in Korea. Thirteen polymorphic microsatellite markers were developed in Korean populations of S. koreensis. Genetic diversity was analyzed in 40 individuals from two populations. The number of alleles per locus ranged from 4 to 14, with observed and expected heterozygosities ranging from 0.200 to 1.000 and from 0.189 to 0.864, respectively. The microsatellite markers described here are valuable tools for the population genetics research of S. koreensis. They can be used to obtain information for creating suitable management strategies to conserve this endemic and endangered species.

Neural mechanisms underlying peripheral facial nerve palsy: A protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis of neuroimaging studies.

BACKGROUND: Peripheral facial nerve palsy is a general term used to describe diseases that cause lower motor neuron lesions in the facial nerve. The most common cause of peripheral facial nerve palsy is idiopathic Bell's palsy (BP), accounting for 60% to 70% of all peripheral facial nerve palsy cases. Idiopathic BP is found in various medical conditions, such as ischemia, viral infection, and neuroinflammation; however, the specific pathophysiology remains unclear. Neuroimaging techniques help understand the neural mechanisms underlying various neurological disorders. In recent years, several studies have applied functional neuroimaging to investigate alterations of brain function in BP patients. However, the results have been inconsistent due to differences in methodology and quality. Moreover, systematic reviews of studies on functional neuroimaging for BP are insufficient. Therefore, the present study aims to verify the neural mechanisms of brain alterations and draw conclusions about the functional reorganization in patients with BP. METHODS: This review includes all suitable studies published on or before October 31, 2022. A thorough search will be conducted using the following databases: MEDLINE, Cochrane Library, Excerpta Medica Database (EMBASE), China Knowledge Resource Integrated Database (CNKI), Korean Medical database (KMBASE), Korean Studies Information Service System (KISS). Clinical studies of BP using functional neuroimaging will be selected. We will apply a coordinate-based meta-analysis because most individual neuroimaging studies provide their results as coordinates in the standard space. The primary outcomes will include the types of functional neuroimaging methods and alterations of brain function in BP patients. The secondary outcomes will include the information about clinical measurement of the disease. Study selection, data extraction, and risk of bias assessment will be conducted. If possible, heterogeneity tests, data synthesis, and subgroup analyses will be conducted. RESULTS: The study will analyze the alterations in brain activity and worsening of clinical symptoms caused by idiopathic BP. CONCLUSION: The aim of this study is to investigate functional reorganization of brain alterations in patients with BP. This review will improve the understanding of the neural mechanisms of BP based on the most recent publications through extensive data retrieval. If sufficient data are collected, a sensitivity analysis is performed to verify the robustness of the conclusions.

Appraising the safety and reporting quality of thread-embedding acupuncture: a protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis.

INTRODUCTION: Thread-embedding acupuncture (TEA) is a special type of acupuncture treatment in which medical threads are inserted into subcutaneous tissues or muscles at therapeutic points. TEA is a medical practice that combines acupuncture and medical threads. As such, it is necessary to evaluate the safety of TEA. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to assess the safety of TEA and reporting quality of studies regarding TEA. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: The systematic review will be conducted using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines and the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions. Searching strategies will be systemically conducted using the following databases from their inception date to September 2022: MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), CiNii, J-STAGE, Korean Medical Database, Korean Studies Information Service System (KISS), ScienceON and Oriental Medicine Advanced Searching Integrated System (OASIS). The search strategies will be adjusted for each database as appropriate. The risk of bias will be assessed using the McMaster tool to identify the quality of harm assessment and reporting in study reports (McHarm). A meta-analysis will be used to synthesise the frequency and incidence of adverse events. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: No ethical approval and consent is required for this systematic review. The results of this systematic review will be disseminated through peer-reviewed publications and conference presentations. PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER: CRD42022297123.

Effectiveness and safety of bee venom pharmacopuncture for rheumatoid arthritis: a systematic review protocol.

INTRODUCTION: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is the common autoimmune disease with low quality of life. The representative treatment is medication and medication usage has improved through update of clinical guidelines, however, there are still limitations. Bee venom (BV) has been reported to have meaningful therapeutic effects and the possibility of alternative options for RA through several types of studies, but there is no well-organised and recent published systematic review (SR). METHODS: We will search randomised controlled trials about the BV on RA from the inception to 31 May 2022 in various databases, manual research and contacting authors. Electronic databases will include MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane library, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, CiNii, J-STAGE, KoreaMed, Korean Medical Database, Korean Studies Information Service System, National Digital Science Library, Korea Institute of Science and Technology Information and Oriental Medicine Advanced Searching Integrated System. With screening and reviewing process, we will identify the eligible studies and extract the needed data. The primary outcome will be the disease activity scores indicating the improvement of RA symptoms (American College of Rheumatology response criteria 20, 50, 70), functions (Health Assessment Questionnaire, Disease Activity Score of 28 joints), joint (Western Ontario and McMaster universities osteoarthritis index), pain (Visual Analogue Scale, Numerical Rating Scale) and effective rate. The secondary outcomes will be the RA-related blood test levels and adverse events. We will perform a meta-analysis by Review Manager software, the assessment of risk of bias by Cochrane Collaboration 'risk of bias' and the determination of quality of evidence by Grades of Recommendation, Assessment, Development and Evaluation. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: Our SR will suggest the clinical evidence of the use of BV for RA to patient, clinicians and policymakers. We will publish our results in a peer-review journal. PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER: CRD42021238058.

Isolation and characterization of 10 microsatellite loci from Korean Leontopodium japonicum (Asteraceae).

PREMISE OF THE STUDY: Microsatellite primers were developed for the alpine plant Leontopodium japonicum to evaluate its population genetics structure as a means for devising future conservation strategies. METHODS AND RESULTS: Ten polymorphic microsatellite markers were developed in Korean populations of L. japonicum. Genetic diversity was analyzed among 38 individuals from two populations. Overall, each locus had 3 to 17 alleles, and their observed and expected heterozygosities ranged from 0.0000 to 0.8750 and from 0.0000 to 0.8929, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The microsatellite markers described here are valuable tools for population genetics research of L. japonicum. They can be used to obtain information about suitable management strategies for protecting other related and endangered "edelweiss" species.

Effects of Cognitive Reserve in Alzheimer's Disease and Cognitively Unimpaired Individuals.

The concept of cognitive reserve (CR) has been proposed as a protective factor that modifies the effect of brain pathology on cognitive performance. It has been characterized through CR proxies; however, they have intrinsic limitations. In this study, we utilized two different datasets containing tau, amyloid PET, and T1 magnetic resonance imaging. First, 91 Alzheimer's disease (AD) continuum subjects were included from Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative 3. CR was conceptualized as the residual between actual cognition and estimated cognition based on amyloid, tau, and neurodegeneration. The proposed marker was tested by the correlation with CR proxy and modulation of brain pathology effects on cognitive function. Second, longitudinal data of baseline 53 AD spectrum and 34 cognitively unimpaired (CU) participants in the MEMORI dataset were analyzed. CR marker was evaluated for the association with disease conversion rate and clinical progression. Applying our multimodal CR model, this study demonstrates the differential effect of CR on clinical progression according to the disease status and the modulating effect on the relationship between brain pathology and cognition. The proposed marker was associated with years of education and modulated the effect of pathological burden on cognitive performance in the AD spectrum. Longitudinally, higher CR marker was associated with lower disease conversion rate among prodromal AD and CU individuals. Higher CR marker was related to exacerbated cognitive decline in the AD spectrum; however, it was associated with a mitigated decline in CU individuals. These results provide evidence that CR may affect the clinical progression differentially depending on the disease status.

Evaluation of a Novel Trocar-Site Closure Device in Laparoscopic Surgery.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: We evaluated the effectiveness and safety of EZ-CloseTM compared to those of hand suture for trocar-site closure according to obesity. METHODS: Fifty-four cases of laparoscopic colorectal surgery were enrolled. For the same patient, the right port site was closed using EZ-CloseTM and left port site was closed by hand suture among cases with port-site diameter ≥10 mm. Cases switched to use of a conventional fascial closure device or with closure time 120 s were considered failures. Closure time was analyzed according to body mass index (BMI) and abdominal wall thickness (AWT). RESULTS: The mean closure time was significantly shorter with EZ-CloseTM than with hand suture (87.9 ± 21.0 vs. 128.0 ± 59.0 s, p < 0.001). The number of failure cases was significantly lower with EZ-CloseTM than with hand suture (7 vs. 27, p < 0.001). The closure time of EZ-CloseTM was significantly shorter than that of hand suture in patients with BMI ≥ 25 and < 27 kg/m2 (n = 15, 85.9 ± 19.8 vs. 135.6 ± 67.9 s, p < 0.014) and ≥ 27 kg/m2 (n = 13, 85.1 ± 18.4 vs. 150.2 ± 70.6 s, p < 0.010). With respect to AWT, the closure time of EZ-CloseTM was significantly shorter than that of hand suture in patients with AWT ≥ 20 and < 26 mm (n = 12, 81.1 ± 11.5 vs. 142.3 ± 83.7 s, p = 0.023) and ≥ 26 mm (n = 17, 85.6 ± 22.6 vs. 160.2 ± 55.5, p < 0.001). No infection and herniation were detected in both trocar sites during the follow-up period (median 20.4 months). CONCLUSION: EZ-CloseTM could provide time efficiency in trocar-site closure, especially in obese patients.

Efficacy of Acupuncture Treatment to Prevent Cerebral Vasospasm After Subarachnoid Hemorrhage: A Double-Blind, Randomized Placebo-Controlled Trial.

Objectives: To investigate the efficacy of acupuncture in preventing cerebral vasospasm following aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) and explore its underlying mechanism. Design: A randomized, double-blinded, and placebo-controlled trial. Setting/Location: Subjects were recruited from Kyung Hee University Hospital at Gangdong, Seoul, Korea Subjects: A total of 50 patients admitted with acute SAH. Interventions: The study group received acupuncture treatments (n = 25), while the control group underwent mock transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation and sham acupuncture (n = 25) six times/week for 2 weeks. Outcome measures: The primary outcome was the incidence of delayed ischemic neurologic deficit (DIND), and secondary measurements included angiographic vasospasm, vasospasm-related infarction, modified Rankin Scale score, and plasma nitric oxide (NO) and endothelin-1 (ET-1) levels. Results: The study group treated with acupuncture showed a lower incidence of DIND (9.1%) than the control group (20.8%); however, this difference in the incidence of DIND was not statistically significant. The study group demonstrated better clinical outcomes, especially in functional recovery. Significant alterations in plasma NO and ET-1 levels after the 2-week intervention were observed only in the study group. Conclusions: Their study shows that acupuncture treatment improved functional recovery after SAH and could potentially prevent cerebral vasospasm. These effects could be attributed to the recovery of endothelial dysfunction by acupuncture through modulating the plasma NO and ET-1 levels. The study protocol has been registered on www.clinicaltrials.gov (NCT02275949).

The pepper calmodulin gene CaCaM1 is involved in reactive oxygen species and nitric oxide generation required for cell death and the defense response.

Calcium signaling has emerged as an important signal transduction pathway of higher plants in response to biotic and abiotic stresses. Ca2+-bound calmodulin (CaM) plays a critical role in decoding and transducing stress signals by activating specific targets. Here, we isolated and functionally characterized the pathogen-responsive CaM gene, Capsicum annuum calmodulin 1 (CaCaM1), from pepper (C. annuum) plants. The cellular function of CaCaM1 was verified by Agrobacterium spp.-mediated transient expression in pepper and transgenic overexpression in Arabidopsis thaliana. Agrobacterium spp.-mediated transient expression of CaCaM1 activated reactive oxygen species (ROS), nitric oxide (NO) generation, and hypersensitive response (HR)-like cell death in pepper leaves, ultimately leading to local acquired resistance to Xanthomonas campestris pv. vesicatoria. CaCaM1-overexpression (OX) Arabidopsis exhibited enhanced resistance to Pseudomonas syringae and Hyaloperonospora parasitica, which was accompanied by enhanced ROS and NO generation and HR-like cell death. Treatment with the calcium-channel blocker suppressed the oxidative and NO bursts and HR-like cell death that were triggered by CaCaM1 expression in pepper and Arabidopsis, suggesting that calcium influx is required for the activation of CaCaM1-mediated defense responses in plants. Upon treatment with the CaM antagonist, virulent P. syringae pv. tomato-induced NO generation was also compromised in CaCaM1-OX leaves. Together, these results suggest that the CaCaM1 gene functions in ROS and NO generation are essential for cell death and defense responses in plants.

MBCAST: A Forecast Model for Marssonina Blotch of Apple in Korea.

A disease forecast model for Marssonina blotch of apple was developed based on field observations on airborne spore catches, weather conditions, and disease incidence in 2013 and 2015. The model consisted of the airborne spore model (ASM) and the daily infection rate model (IRM). It was found that more than 80% of airborne spore catches for the experiment period was made during the spore liberation period (SLP), which is the period of days of a rain event plus the following 2 days. Of 13 rain-related weather variables, number of rainy days with rainfall ≥ 0.5 mm per day (L day ), maximum hourly rainfall (P max ) and average daily maximum wind speed (W avg ) during a rain event were most appropriate in describing variations in air-borne spore catches during SLP (S i ) in 2013. The ASM, S i = 30.280+5.860×L day ×P max -2.123×L day ×P max ×W avg was statistically significant and capable of predicting the amount of airborne spore catches during SLP in 2015. Assuming that airborne conidia liberated during SLP cause leaf infections resulting in symptom appearance after 21 days of incubation period, there was highly significant correlation between the estimated amount of airborne spore catches (S i ) and the daily infection rate (R i ). The IRM, R̂ i = 0.039+0.041×S i , was statistically significant but was not able to predict the daily infection rate in 2015. No weather variables showed statistical significance in explaining variations of the daily infection rate in 2013.

The complete chloroplast genome of hemi-parasitic Pedicularis hallaisanensis (Orobanchaceae).

We determined the complete chloroplast genome of Pedicularis hallaisanensis (Orobanchaceae), a hemi-parasitic perennial herb. This genome is 143,469 bp long and features a large single-copy region (81,664 bp) and a small single-copy region (12,203 bp), separated by two inverted-repeat regions (24,801 bp each). It contains 115 genes - 70 for coding, eight for rRNA, and 37 for tRNA. However, 11 ndh genes have been pseudogenized, truncated, or deleted. Our phylogenetic tree showed that these hemi-parasitic plants are sister to holo-parasitic genera within Orobanchaceae.