Selection of Catechin Biosynthesis-Related Genes and Functional Analysis from Chromosome-Level Genome Assembly in C. sinensis L. Variety 'Sangmok'.

Camellia is an important plant genus that includes well-known species such as C. sinensis, C. oleifera, and C. japonica. The C. sinensis cultivar 'Sangmok', one of Korea's standard types of tea landraces, is a small evergreen tree or shrub. Genome annotation has shown that Korean tea plants have special and unique benefits and superior components, such as catechin. The genome of Camellia sinensis cultivar 'Sangmok' was assembled on the chromosome level, with a length of 2678.62 Mbp and GC content of 38.16%. Further, 15 chromosome-scale scaffolds comprising 82.43% of the assembly (BUSCO completeness, 94.3%) were identified. Analysis of 68,151 protein-coding genes showed an average of 5.003 exons per gene. Among 82,481 coding sequences, the majority (99.06%) were annotated by Uniprot/Swiss-Prot. Further analysis revealed that 'Sangmok' is closely related to C. sinensis, with a divergence time of 60 million years ago. A total of 3336 exclusive gene families in 'Sangmok' were revealed by gene ontology analysis to play roles in auxin transport and cellular response mechanisms. By comparing these exclusive genes with 551 similar catechin genes, 17 'Sangmok'-specific catechin genes were identified by qRT-PCR, including those involved in phytoalexin biosynthesis and related to cytochrome P450. The 'Sangmok' genome exhibited distinctive genes compared to those of related species. This comprehensive genomic investigation enhances our understanding of the genetic architecture of 'Sangmok' and its specialized functions. The findings contribute valuable insights into the evolutionary and functional aspects of this plant species.

Anatomical proposal of local anesthesia injection for median nerve block in treating hyperhidrosis with botulinum neurotoxin.

INTRODUCTION: Hyperhidrosis, causing excessive sweat, can be treated with Botulinum neurotoxin injection. Botulinum toxin, an effective and safe treatment for hyperhidrosis, unfortunately involves significant pain due to multiple injections. This study aims to propose a more efficient and less painful approach to nerve blocks for relief, by identifying optimal injection points to block the median nerve, thereby enhancing palmar hyperhidrosis treatment. METHODS: This study, involving 52 Korean cadaver arms (mean age 73.5 years), measured the location of the median nerve relative to the transverse line at the pisiform level to establish better nerve block injection sites. RESULTS: In between the extensor carpi radialis and palmaris longus, the median nerve was located at an average distance of 47.39 ± 6.43 mm and 29.39 ± 6.43 mm from the transverse line at the pisiform level. DISCUSSION: To minimize discomfort preceding the botulinum neurotoxin injection, we recommend the optimal injection site for local anesthesia to be located 4 cm distal to the transverse line of the pisiform, within the tendons of the palmaris longus and flexor carpi radialis muscles.

Comparative Transcriptome Analysis between Two Potato Cultivars in Tuber Induction to Reveal Associated Genes with Anthocyanin Accumulation.

Anthocyanins are generally accumulated within a few layers, including the epidermal cells of leaves and stems in plants. Solanum tuberosum cv. 'Jayoung' (hereafter, JY) is known to accumulate anthocyanin both in inner tissues and skins. We discovered that anthocyanin accumulation in the inner tissues of JY was almost diminished (more than 95% was decreased) in tuber induction condition. To investigate the transcriptomic mechanism of anthocyanin accumulation in JY flesh, which can be modulated by growth condition, we performed mRNA sequencing with white-colored flesh tissue of Solanum tuberosum cv. 'Atlantic' (hereafter, 'Daeseo', DS) grown under canonical growth conditions, a JY flesh sample grown under canonical growth conditions, and a JY flesh sample grown under tuber induction conditions. We could identify 36 common DEGs (differentially expressed genes) in JY flesh from canonical growth conditions that showed JY-specifically increased or decreased expression level. These genes were enriched with flavonoid biosynthetic process terms in GO analysis, as well as gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) analysis. Further in silico analysis on expression levels of anthocyanin biosynthetic genes including rate-limiting genes such as StCHS and StCHI followed by RT-PCR and qRT-PCR analysis showed a strong positive correlation with the observed phenotypes. Finally, we identified StWRKY44 from 36 common DEGs as a possible regulator of anthocyanin accumulation, which was further supported by network analysis. In conclusion, we identified StWRKY44 as a putative regulator of tuber-induction-dependent anthocyanin accumulation.

Analysis of Movement Entropy during Community Dance Programs for People with Parkinson's Disease and Older Adults: A Cohort Study.

Dance therapy can improve motor skills, balance, posture, and gait in people diagnosed with Parkinson's disease (PD) and healthy older adults (OA). It is not clear how specific movement patterns during dance promote these benefits. The purpose of this cohort study was to identify differences and complexity in dance movement patterns among different dance styles for PD and OA participants in community dance programs using approximate entropy (ApEn) analysis. The hypothesis was that PD participants will show greater ApEn during dance than OA participants and that the unique dance style of tango with more pronounced foot technique and sharp direction changes will show greater ApEn than smoother dance types such as foxtrot and waltz characterized by gradual changes in direction and gliding movement with rise and fall. Individuals participated in one-hour community dance classes. Movement data were captured using porTable 3D motion capture sensors attached to the arms, torso and legs. Classes were also video recorded to assist in analyzing the dance steps. Movement patterns were captured and ApEn was calculated to quantify the complexity of movements. Participants with PD had greater ApEn in right knee flexion during dance movements than left knee flexion (p = 0.02), greater ApEn of right than left hip flexion (p = 0.05), and greater left hip rotation than right (p = 0.03). There was no significant difference in ApEn of body movements (p > 0.4) or mean body movements (p > 0.3) at any body-segment in OA. ApEn analysis is valuable for quantifying the degree of control and predictability of dance movements and could be used as another tool to assess the movement control of dancers and aid in the development of dance therapies.

The aqueous extract of aged black garlic ameliorates colistin-induced acute kidney injury in rats.

The use of colistin in the treatment of multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacterial infections is restricted due to nephrotoxicity. We investigated the effects of aged black garlic extract (ABGE) on colistin-induced kidney injury in rats. Rats were assigned to four groups. Normal saline was intraperitoneally and intragastrically injected for control group. ABGE was intragastrically injected for garlic group. Ten mg/kg of colistin was intraperitoneally injected for 6 consecutive days for colistin group. One percent of ABGE was done 30 min prior to colistin injection for treatment group. Rats were sacrificed on the next day after last colistin injection. Colistin injection increased the serum levels of blood urea nitrogen and creatinine; however, ABGE prevented deterioration of these serum levels. ABGE also alleviated tubular damage, including vacuolation and necrosis. TUNEL-positive cells were observed less frequently for the ABGE-treated groups. CD68 positive cells were significantly decreased by pretreatment with ABGE. Levels of oxidative stress biomarkers such as 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine and malondialdehyde were lower in the ABGE-treated groups. Levels of NF-κB, inducible NO synthase, COX-2, and TGF-ß1 were lower in rats that had been treated with ABGE injection. Renal levels of IL-1ß and TNF-α were increased by colistin administration whereas renal SOD, catalase, and GSH levels were restored by ABGE administration. These results suggest that ABGE, which has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, might be a potential therapeutic agent to prevent renal toxicity of colistin.

Phytochemicals: Target-Based Therapeutic Strategies for Diabetic Retinopathy.

Background: A variety of causative factors are involved in the initiation of diabetic retinopathy (DR). Current antidiabetic therapies are expensive and not easily accessible by the public. Furthermore, the use of multiple synthetic drugs leads to severe side effects, which worsen the diabetic patient's condition. Medicinal plants and their derived phytochemicals are considered safe and effective treatment and their consumption can reduce the DR risk. In this article, we discuss a variety of medicinal plants, and their noteworthy bio-active constituents, that will be utilized as target based therapeutic strategies for DR. Methods: A broad-spectrum study was conducted using published English works in various electronic databases including Science Direct, PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar. Results: Targeting the multiple pathological factors including ROS, AGEs formation, hexosamine flux, PARP, PKC, and MAPK activation through variety of bioactive constituents in medicinal plants, diabetes progression can be delayed with improved loss of vision. Conclusions: Data reveals that traditional herbs and their prominent bioactive components control and normalize pathological cellular factors involved in DR progression. Therefore, studies should be carried out to explore the protective retinopathy effects of medicinal plants using experimental animal and humans models.

N-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids restore Th17 and Treg balance in collagen antibody-induced arthritis.

N-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) have anti-inflammatory effects and were considered useful for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Recently, several studies suggested that n-3 PUFAs attenuated arthritis in animal model and human, however the mechanism is still unclear. Interleukin 17 (IL-17) is a pro-inflammatory cytokine mainly produced by T helper 17 (Th17) cells which cause tissue inflammation and bone erosion leading to joint destruction. In contrast, regulatory T (Treg) cells down-regulate various immune responses by suppression of naïve T cells. The imbalance between Th17 cells and Tregs cell is important for the pathogenesis of RA. Here, we investigated whether n-3 PUFAs attenuate arthritis in collagen antibody-induced arthritis (CAIA) model. We used fat-1 transgenic mice expressing the Caenorhabditis elegans fat-1 gene encoding an n-3 fatty acid desaturase that converts n-6 to n-3 fatty acids, leading to abundant n-3 fatty acids without the need of a dietary n-3 supply. Clinical arthritis score was significantly attenuated in fat-1 mice compared to wild type (WT) mice on day 7 (1.6±1.8, p = 0.012) and day 9 (1.5±1.6, p = 0.003). Ankle thickness also decreased significantly in fat-1 mice compared to WT mice (1.82±0.11, p = 0.008). The pathologic finding showed that inflammatory cell infiltration and bone destruction were reduced in fat-1 mice compared to WT. The expression levels of IL-17 and related cytokines including IL-6 and IL-23 decreased in the spleen and ankle joint tissue of fat-1 mice compared to WT mice. Furthermore, Treg cells were expanded in the spleen of fat-1 mice and Treg cell differentiation was significantly higher in fat-1 mice than in wild type (p = 0.038). These data suggest that n-3 PUFAs could attenuate arthritis through increasing the expression of FoxP3 and the differentiation of Treg, while reducing IL-17 production. Therefore, dietary supplementation of n-3 PUFAs could have a therapeutic potential for the treatment of RA.

Brain networks governing the golf swing in professional golfers.

Golf, as with most complex motor skills, requires multiple different brain functions, including attention, motor planning, coordination, calculation of timing, and emotional control. In this study we assessed the correlation between swing components and brain connectivity from the cerebellum to the cerebrum. Ten female golf players and 10 age-matched female controls were recruited. In order to determine swing consistency among participants, the standard deviation (SD) of the mean swing speed time and the SD of the mean swing angle were assessed over 30 swings. Functional brain connectivity was assessed by resting state functional MRI. Pro-golfers showed greater positive left cerebellum connectivity to the occipital lobe, temporal lobe, parietal lobe and both frontal lobes compared to controls. The SD of play scores was positively correlated with the SD of the impact angle. Constant swing speed and back swing angle in professional golfers were associated with functional connectivity (FC) between the cerebellum and parietal and frontal lobes. In addition, the constant impact angle in professional golfers was associated with improved golf scores and additional FC of the thalamus.

The Relation Between Injury of the Spinothalamocortical Tract and Central Pain in Chronic Patients With Mild Traumatic Brain Injury.

OBJECTIVES: Little is known about the pathogenetic etiology of central pain in patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI). We investigated the relation between injury of the spinothalamocortical tract (STT) and chronic central pain in patients with mild TBI. DESIGN: Retrospective survey. PARTICIPANTS: We recruited 40 consecutive chronic patients with mild TBI and 21 normal control subjects: 8 patients were excluded by the inclusion criteria and the remaining 32 patients were finally recruited. The patients were classified according to 2 groups based on the presence of central pain: the pain group (22 patients) and the nonpain group (10 patients). METHODS: Diffusion tensor tractography for the STT was performed using the Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging of the Brain Software Library. Values of fractional anisotropy (FA), mean diffusivity (MD), and tract volume of each STT were measured. RESULTS: Lower FA value and tract volume were observed in the pain group than in the nonpain group and the control group (P < .05). By contrast, higher MD value was observed in the pain group than in the nonpain group and the control group (P < .05). However, no significant differences in all diffusion tensor imaging parameters were observed between the nonpain group and the control group (P > .05). CONCLUSIONS: Decreased FA and tract volume and increased MD of the STTs in the pain group appeared to indicate injury of the STT. As a result, we found that injury of the STT is related to the occurrence of central pain in patients with mild TBI. We believe that injury of the STT is a pathogenetic etiology of central pain following mild TBI.

Hempseed oil induces reactive oxygen species- and C/EBP homologous protein-mediated apoptosis in MH7A human rheumatoid arthritis fibroblast-like synovial cells.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: The medicinal efficacy of hempseed (Cannabis sativa L.), which is rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids, in atopic dermatitis, inflammation, and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) has been suggested for centuries. Hempseed has been used as a treatment for these diseases in Korean and Chinese folk medicine. The aim of the study is to investigate the effects of hempseed oil (HO) on MH7A human RA fibroblast-like synovial cells. MATERIALS AND METHODS: MH7A cells were used to study the anti-rheumatoid effects of hempseed (Cannabis sativa L., cv. Cheungsam/Cannabaceae) oil by investigating cell viability, apoptosis, lipid accumulation, oxidative stress, and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress-induced apoptosis. RESULTS: HO treatment reduced the survival rate of MH7A cells and promoted apoptotic cell death in a time- and dose-dependent manner. Both lipid accumulation and the level of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) increased in HO-treated MH7A cells. Co-treatment with the antioxidant Tiron effectively abrogated the cytotoxic effects of HO; the ROS level was reduced, cell viability was recovered, and apoptotic cell death was significantly diminished. Moreover, HO-treated cells exhibited increased expression of the major ER stress markers, glucose-regulated protein 78 and C/EBP homologous protein (CHOP). The siRNA-mediated knockdown of CHOP prevented HO-induced apoptosis. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that HO treatment induced lipid accumulation, ROS production, CHOP expression, and apoptosis in MH7A cells, and that CHOP functions as an anti-rheumatoid factor downstream of HO in MH7A cells.

[Development of a resource-based relative value scale and its conversion factor for advanced nursing practices in the national health insurance].

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to develop a resource-based relative value scale (RBRVS) and its conversion factor for advanced nursing practices carried out by critical care nurse practitioners (CCNP) in intensive care units. METHODS: The methodology was developed by calculating CCNP's RBRVS for 32 advanced nursing services based on CCNP's workload and time spent in the context of national health insurance. A cost analysis was performed to estimate the conversion factor of CCNP's RBRVS. The share of CCNP's contribution to fee-for-service in intensive care units was also analyzed. RESULTS: Calculation of the RBRVS of 32 advanced nursing practices showed a range of points from 100.0 to 1,181.4 and an average of 296.1 points. The relevant conversion factor for advanced nursing practices in CCNP were estimated at 37.3-48.4 won. The contribution rate of CCNP's advanced nursing practices in the relative value scale of the national health insurance was estimated at 0.1-31.3%. CONCLUSION: Measuring the economic value of advanced nursing services will be a basis for esta-blishing a reimbursement system for CCNP's practices and thus encourage a social demand for advanced nurse practitioners.

Generation of biologically contained Ebola viruses.

Ebola virus (EBOV), a public health concern in Africa and a potential biological weapon, is classified as a biosafety level-4 agent because of its high mortality rate and the lack of approved vaccines and antivirals. Basic research into the mechanisms of EBOV pathogenicity and the development of effective countermeasures are restricted by the current biosafety classification of EBOVs. We therefore developed biologically contained EBOV that express a reporter gene instead of the VP30 gene, which encodes an essential transcription factor. A Vero cell line that stably expresses VP30 provides this essential protein in trans and biologically confines the virus to its complete replication cycle in this cell line. This complementation approach is highly efficient because biologically contained EBOVs lacking the VP30 gene grow to titers similar to those obtained with wild-type virus. Moreover, EBOVs lacking the VP30 gene are indistinguishable in their morphology from wild-type virus and are genetically stable, as determined by sequence analysis after seven serial passages in VP30-expressing Vero cells. We propose that this system provides a safe means to handle EBOV outside a biosafety level-4 facility and will stimulate critical studies on the EBOV life cycle as well as large-scale screening efforts for compounds with activity against this lethal virus.