Association between endotoxin levels in dust from indoor swine housing environments and the immune responses of pigs.

Indoor animal husbandry environments are inevitably contaminated with endotoxins. Endotoxin exposure is associated with various inflammatory illnesses in animals. This cross-sectional study evaluated the relationship between the degree of endotoxin exposure and the cellular and humoral immune profiles of fattening pigs. Blood samples were taken from the jugular vein of 47 pigs from ten pig farms in Korea. Whole blood cell counts and plasma immunoglobulin (Ig) classes were determined. Peripheral-blood mononuclear cells were stimulated in vitro with concanavalin A for 48 h, and cytokines released into culture supernatants were measured. The barns in which the pigs lived were assessed for endotoxin levels in the total and respirable dust by using the limulus amebocyte lysate kinetic QCL method. Low and high endotoxin exposures were defined as ≤ 30 and ＞ 30 EU/m³, respectively. Compared to pigs with low endotoxin exposure (n = 19), highly exposed pigs (n = 28) had higher circulating neutrophil and lymphocyte (particularly B cells) counts, IgG and IgE levels, interferon-gamma (IFNγ) and interleukin (IL)-4 productions, and lower IgA levels and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFα) production. The IL-4, IFNγ, and TNFα levels significantly correlated with endotoxin level and/or pig age. Constant exposure of pigs to high levels of airborne endotoxins can lead to aberrant immune profiles.

Neurosphere formation potential resides not in the caudal cell mass, but in the secondary neural tube.

The caudal cell mass (CCM) is known as the main player in secondary neurulation, forming the secondary neural tube (2NT). This suggests that the CCM may have the character of neural progenitor cells. The neural potential of the CCM and the 2NT (CCM + 2NT) was assessed by in vitro culture of neurospheres during Hamburger and Hamilton stages (HH) of secondary neurulation (HH16 to HH32). We also analyzed the neural potential of the developing central nervous system (CNS) by comparing the neurosphere culture from the brain, upper / lower spinal cord, and CCM + 2NT from various HH stages. The CCM + 2NT was capable of forming neurospheres. Of the various HH stages, the greatest number of neurospheres from CCM + 2NT were cultured at HH28. Because the 2NT is most prominent at HH28, we hypothesized that the 2NT, rather than the CCM, had the main potential to produce neurospheres. When the neurospheres were cultured separately from the CCM and the 2NT, 2NT made significantly more neurospheres. When comparing different parts of the CNS, at HH16, the greatest number of neurospheres was formed from the brain. At HH32, it was the CCM + 2NT. The region with the greatest number of neurospheres progressed in a cephalo-caudal direction during development. This study showed that neurospheres can be cultured from CCM + 2NT, and the main player in neurosphere formation was the 2NT. The present study has also revealed cephalo-caudal trend in the neural potential of developing CNS.

Prevention of Cytomegalovirus Transmission via Breast Milk in Extremely Low Birth Weight Infants.

PURPOSE: Extremely low birth weight infants (ELBWIs) have a high risk of acquiring cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection via breast milk and consequently developing serious symptoms. We evaluated whether freeze-thawing or pasteurization could prevent postnatal CMV infection transmitted through breast milk in ELBWIs. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Medical records of 385 ELBWIs with whole milk feeding, and freeze-thawed or pasteurized breast milk feeding were reviewed retrospectively. Postnatally acquired CMV infection was defined as an initial negative and a subsequent positive on follow-up urine CMV DNA polymerase chain reaction screening tests. The incidence, clinical characteristics, symptoms, sequelae, and long-term outcome at corrected age [(CA): 2 years of CMV infection] were analyzed. RESULTS: While no infant developed CMV infection with whole milk (0/22) or pasteurized breast milk (0/62) feeding, postnatal CMV infection was diagnosed in 8% (27/301) of ELBWIs who were fed freeze-thawed breast milk. Gestational age in the CMV group was significantly lower than the control group. In 82% (22/27) of cases, CMV infection was symptomatic and was associated with increased ventilator days and ≥moderate bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD). Neurodevelopmental outcome and growth status at CA 2 years were not different between the study groups. Lower gestational age and freeze-thawed breast milk feeding >60% of total oral intake during the first 8 postnatal weeks were independent risk factors for acquiring postnatal CMV infection. BPD (≥moderate) was the only significant adverse outcome associated with this CMV infection. CONCLUSION: Pasteurization but not freeze-thawing of breast milk eradicated the postnatal acquisition of CMV infection through breast milk.

The timing of surgical ligation for patent ductus arteriosus is associated with neonatal morbidity in extremely preterm infants born at 23-25 weeks of gestation.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate prognostic factors associated with surgical ligation for patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) in extremely preterm infants born at the limits of viability. Ninety infants who were born at 23-25 weeks of gestation and who received surgical ligation were included and their cases were retrospectively reviewed. Infants were classified into two different groups: survivors with no major morbidity (N), and non-survivors or survivors with any major morbidity (M). Clinical characteristics were compared between the groups. Possible prognostic factors were derived from this comparison and further tested by logistic regression analysis. The mean gestational age and the mean birth weight of M were significantly lower than those of N. Notably, the mean postnatal age at time of ligation in N was significantly later than that of the other group (17 ± 12 vs 11 ± 8 days in N and M, respectively). An adjusted analysis showed that delayed ligation (>2 weeks) was uniquely associated with a significantly decreased risk for mortality or composite morbidity after surgical ligation (OR, 0.105; 95% CI, 0.012-0.928). In conclusion, delayed surgical ligation for PDA (>2 weeks) is associated with decreased mortality or morbidities in extremely preterm infants born at 23-25 weeks of gestation.

Diversity effect in category-based inductive reasoning of young children: evidence from two methods.

Previous studies have shown that diverse pieces of evidence, rather than similar pieces of evidence, are considered to have greater strength in adults' inductive reasoning. However, this diversity effect is inconsistently recognized by children. Three experiments using the same materials but different tasks examined whether young children consider the diversity principle in their reasoning. Although Experiment 1 applied a data selection task showed five-year-old children in both China and Korea were not sensitive to the diversity of evidence, Experiments 2 and 3 employed an identification task and demonstrated that children as young as five years were sensitive to diverse evidence. These findings indicated that young children, less than nine years of age, may have diversity effect. Methodological and cultural differences were discussed.

Permissive hyperglycemia in extremely low birth weight infants.

The aim of this study is to evaluate the outcomes of permissive hyperglycemia up to < 300 mg/dL in extremely-low-birth-weight infants (ELBWIs). We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 260 live-born ELBWIs at Samsung Medical Center between 2004 and 2008, grouped according to peak blood glucose level and management during the first 14 days of life. The groups were normoglycemia (N), blood glucose ≤ 200 mg/dL; permissive hyperglycemia (P), blood glucose 201-299 mg/dL without insulin treatment; treated hyperglycemia (T), blood glucose ≥ 300 mg/dL with insulin. Only 15% of patients were grouped as N, with 39% as P and 46% as T. Although P had lower birth weight, P had a similar daily calorie and glucose intake as well as urine output compared to N. There was no significant correlation between blood glucose level and urine output on day 7. Compared to N, P showed faster weight gain and similar mortality, morbidities, and long-term neurological outcomes. Permissive hyperglycemia up to < 300 mg/dL without insulin treatment during the first 14 days of life is not associated with osmotic diuresis or increased mortality or morbidities, suggesting that it is not detrimental in ELBWIs.

Sonographic findings of uterine cervical lymphoma manifesting as multinodular lesions.

Uterine cervical lymphoma, a very rare condition, has rarely been reported in sonographic findings in the English medical literature. We describe a case of uterine cervical lymphoma which was detected initially and depicted on sonography as a multinodular smoothly lobulated heterogeneous mass with some posterior enhancements.

Decreased contact inhibition in mouse adipose mesenchymal stem cells.

The proliferation of embryonic cells or adult stem cells in tissue is critically regulated during development and repair. How limited the proliferation of cells, so far, is not much explored. Cell-cell contact proliferation inhibition is known as a crucial mechanism regulating cell proliferation in vitro and in vivo. In this study we examined the characters of mouse subcutaneous adipose derived stem cells (msADSC) whether they lost or get contact inhibition during in vitro culture. The characters of msADSC growth after confluence were analyzed using confocal microscope and the expression profiles of contact inhibition related genes were analyzed according to the morphological changes using real-time PCR method. msADSC showed overlapping growth between them but not after passage 14. The cell shapes were also changed after passage 14. The expression profiles of genes which are involved in contact inhibition were modified in the msADSC after passage 14. The differentiation ability of msADSCs to adipocyte, chondrocyte and osteocyte was not changed by such changes of gene expression profiles. Based on these results, it is revealed that smADSC were characterized by getting of strong cell-cell contact inhibition after passage 14 but the proliferation and developmental ability were not blocked by the change of cell-cell contact proliferation inhibition. These finding will help to understand the growth of adipose tissue, although further studies are needed to evaluate the physiological meaning of the cell-cell contact proliferation inhibition during in vitro culture of msADSC.

Long-term social outcome in children with moyamoya disease who have reached adulthood.

OBJECT: Although the reported surgical outcome is favorable, there is little information regarding the long-term quality of life in pediatric patients with moyamoya disease (MMD) when they grow to adulthood. The authors conducted a survey to provide details of social adaptation and satisfaction in adults who underwent revascularization surgery for MMD during childhood. METHODS: One hundred twenty-three patients with MMD who had undergone surgery during childhood and were older than 18 years of age were recruited for this study. The authors mailed self-administered questionnaires regarding each patient's education, employment, marriage, driver's license, physical condition, and satisfaction. Sixty-five patients (53%) responded. RESULTS: Compared with the general population, the patients showed a similar rate of attaining a higher education. Forty-nine (80%) of 61 patients who were not currently high school students had entered college or university. However, the presence of neurological deficits on preoperative examination was a negative predictor of entrance into a college or university, as well as employment. Some patients had difficulty in planning marriage because of physical handicaps, and the rate of acquiring a driver's license and actual driving were relatively low. Approximately 80% of the responders were satisfied with their treatment outcomes, but more than one-half reported subjectively assessed neurological problems. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, pediatric patients with MMD showed favorable social adaptation in adulthood. The findings also indicated that early diagnosis and intervention before the establishment of neurological deficits are essential to children with MMD in becoming better socially adapted. Further, more thorough clinical examinations are required during follow-up in patients with MMD.

High-resolution sonographic findings of ovarian granulosa cell tumors: correlation with pathologic findings.

OBJECTIVE: This study was performed to determine the high-resolution sonographic findings of ovarian granulosa cell tumors (GCTs) and to correlate the sonographic findings with the pathologic findings. METHODS: A retrospective review of sonographic findings was conducted on 16 patients with surgically proven ovarian GCTs. Patients' ages ranged from 10 to 64 years (mean, 37.7 years). We evaluated the sizes and morphologic appearances of the ovarian tumors. The blood flow patterns of the tumors were assessed with Doppler sonography (n = 6). Sonographic findings were compared with pathologic findings. RESULTS: The maximal diameters of the masses were 2.0 to 15.4 cm (mean, 8.2 cm). The morphologic appearances of the masses were classified into 3 patterns; solid and cystic (n = 10), solid with a sponge form appearance (n = 4), and entirely solid (n = 2). The measured resistive index and pulsatility index of the solid portions were 0.23 to 0.5 and 0.26 to 0.62, respectively. Pathologic diagnoses of 13 adult ovarian GCTs and 3 juvenile GCTs were obtained. The solid and cystic masses had GCTs with macrofollicular and microfollicular patterns pathologically. The solid masses with a sponge form appearance had prominent hemorrhagic necrosis and diffuse proliferation of granulosa cells with trabecular and microfollicular patterns. The entirely solid masses had diffuse cellular proliferation with a trabecular pattern without cystic changes or hemorrhagic foci. CONCLUSIONS: Sonographic findings of ovarian GCTs included solid and cystic masses, solid masses with a sponge form appearance, and entirely solid masses, and the sonographic findings correlated well with the histopathologic findings.

In utero development of the fetal gall bladder in the Korean population.

OBJECTIVE: To provide reference ranges of the fetal gall bladder in the Korean population. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fetal gall bladder development was evaluated in well-dated, non-anomalous fetuses in the Korean population between February and April 2003 and the visualization rate and reference values were determined from the obtained data. RESULTS: The visualization rate of the fetal gall bladder increased as gestation advanced to a plateau above 90%, which was maintained between 16 and 34 weeks. The measured parameters from the fetal gall bladder had a significant positive relationship with gestational age (p = 0.000 for all cases), and the correlation of length and area with the gestational age (r = 0.741 and r = 0.690, respectively) was better than the correlation of width, height, and volume with gestational age. The repeatability coefficients and coefficients of variation between the two operators were 5.56 mm and 12.9% for the length and 344.11 mm(2) and 33.52% for the area. The median length of the fetal gall bladder in the Korean population was not significantly different from the mean length of gall bladders in the Caucasian and African-American populations (p = 0.915). CONCLUSION: We have provided reference values for the fetal gall bladder throughout the gestation period in the Korean population.

Expression of neuronal markers in the secondary neurulation of chick embryos.

OBJECTIVE: The goal of our study was to evaluate the expression patterns of neuronal antigens during the process of secondary neurulation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Chick embryos of Hamburger and Hamilton stages 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26, 30, 35, 40, and 45 were harvested, and tail sections were processed for neuronal antigen studies. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: The areas and periods showing positive reactions for each antigen are as follows: neuronal cell adhesion molecule (N-CAM): the secondary neural tube and notochord from stages 18 to 26 and the germinal and mantle layers from stages 30 to 45; synaptophysin: the caudal cell mass, secondary neural tube, and notochord from stages 22 to 26, the germinal and mantle layers from stages 30 to 45, and the marginal layer at the later stages of development; neurofilament-associated protein (3A10): the dorsal white matter, dorsal root ganglion, and scattered cells around the germinal layer from stages 35 to 45; and neuronal nuclear-specific protein (NeuN): the mantle layer at stage 35, which shows decreased reaction at stages 40 and 45; islet-1: no remarkable staining on the caudal cell mass or on the other neural structures at all stages. Our results indicate that neuronal markers of the secondary neurulation in chick embryos have their own chronological patterns of expression. At early stages of secondary neurulation, N-CAM and synaptophysin are thought to modulate the differentiation of structures derived from the caudal cell mass. At later stages, N-CAM, synaptophysin, 3A10, and NeuN seem to be involved in the maturation of the caudal spinal cord.

Maribacter polysiphoniae sp. nov., isolated from a red alga.

A novel gliding, heterotrophic, Gram-negative, yellow-orange-pigmented, aerobic, oxidase- and catalase-positive bacterium, designated strain KMM 6151(T), was isolated from the Pacific red alga Polysiphonia japonica. Analysis of the 16S rRNA gene sequence of the strain revealed that it formed a distinct lineage within the genus Maribacter, family Flavobacteriaceae, with sequence similarities in the range 94.6-96.9 %. On the basis of phenotypic, genotypic and phylogenetic data, strain KMM 6151(T) represents a novel species of the genus Maribacter, for which the name Maribacter polysiphoniae sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is KMM 6151(T) (=KCTC 22021(T)=LMG 23671(T)).

Sonographic findings of uterine endometrial stromal sarcoma.

OBJECTIVE: The study was performed to present the sonographic findings of uterine endometrial stromal sarcoma (ESS). MATERIALS AND METHODS: We conducted a retrospective review of sonographic findings of 10 cases that were diagnosed as uterine ESS. The patients' ages ranged from 25 to 51 years (mean age: 36.1 years). The reviews focused on the location, margin, size, number and echotexture of the lesions. Hysterectomy (n = 9) and myomectomy (n = 1) were performed and a pathologic diagnosis was obtained in all cases. RESULTS: The masses were located in the uterine wall (n = 6), or they presented as a polypoid mass protruding into the endometrial cavity from the myometrium (n = 3) or as a central cavity mass (n = 1). The lesion margins were smooth (n = 5), ill defined (n = 2), or smooth with partially nodular extensions (n = 3). The maximal mass length was 38 mm to 160 mm with a mean mass length of 83.5 mm. There were single lesions in eight cases and multiple lesions in two cases. The lesion echotextures were hypoechoic solid (n = 3), heterogeneously intermediate echoic (n = 5), diffuse myometrial thickening with heterogeneous echogenicity (n = 1) and septated cystic (n = 1). CONCLUSION: Endometrial stromal sarcoma presents with four patterns of its sonographic appearance; a polypoid mass with nodular myometrial extension, an intramural mass with an ill defined margin and heterogeneous echogenicity, an ill defined large central cavity mass or, diffuse myometrial thickening.

Inhibition of IL-8 production by green tea polyphenols in human nasal fibroblasts and A549 epithelial cells.

The attraction of leukocytes to tissues is essential in order for inflammation and the host response to infection to occur. Airway inflammation is a very common cause illness with a substantial impact on health care. Neutrophils play an essential role in the host defense and in inflammation, but the latter may trigger and sustain the pathogenesis of a range of acute and chronic diseases. Infiltration of neutrophils occurs as a response to chemoattractant molecules by resident tissue cells. The recruitment of neutrophils in airway inflammation may account for the generation of IL-8. To evaluate the effectiveness of green tea polyphenols in the modulation of airway inflammation through the blocking of neutrophil chemokine production, nasal mucosal fibroblasts and A549 bronchial epithelial cells were analyzed for the production of IL-8. Both nasal mucosal fibroblasts and bronchial epithelial cells produced significant amounts of IL-8 through stimulation of IL-1beta. Tea polyphenols were very effective in the inhibition of IL-8 production. Among the polyphenols tested, EGCG and ECG showed strong inhibitory activity in dose-dependent manners. EGC and EC showed moderate inhibition at 48 h culture, whereas (-)catechin was not effective. Production of IL-8 after stimulation by proinflammatory cytokines in both nasal fibroblasts and bronchial epithelial cells was significantly blocked by pretreatment with green tea polyphenols.

Cytokinetics of secondary neurulation in chick embryos: Hamburger and Hamilton stages 16-45.

OBJECTIVES: In an attempt to understand the events in the secondary neurulation in embryonic stage, we investigated cytokinetic changes in the tail bud of normal developing chick embryos. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We investigated chick embryos of Hamburger and Hamilton stages 16-45 by staining for proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and applying the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated deoxyuridine triphosphate nick-end labeling (TUNEL) method. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: The cytokinetics of secondary neurulation have several distinctive properties: a general chronological delay compared to primary neurulation; absence of ventrodorsal differences; larger rostrocaudal differences; and degeneration of the distal end of the spinal cord in the later stages of development. These differences in morphogenetic and cytokinetic behavior between primary and secondary neurulation may help to improve our understanding of anomalies originating during secondary neurulation.

Chryseobacterium soldanellicola sp. nov. and Chryseobacterium taeanense sp. nov., isolated from roots of sand-dune plants.

Two Gram-negative, yellow-pigmented bacteria designated PSD1-4T and PHA3-4T, isolated from two sand-dune plant species inhabiting coastal areas in Tae-an, Korea, were subjected to taxonomic investigation. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis indicated that both isolates should be placed in the genus Chryseobacterium of the family Flavobacteriaceae. The phenotypic properties of the strains were also consistent with their classification into this genus. The levels of 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity between strain PSD1-4T and other Chryseobacterium species were 95.2-97.2%; those between PHA3-4T and others were 93.7-97.8%. The DNA-DNA relatedness data indicated that strains PSD1-4T and PHA3-4T were clearly different from the nearest species, Chryseobacterium indoltheticum and Chryseobacterium taichungense. The major fatty acids were 13-methyltetradecanoic acid (iso-C15:0), 3-hydroxy-15-methylhexadecanoic acid (iso-C17:0 3-OH) and omega-9-cis-15-methylhexadecenoic acid (iso-C17:1omega9c) for both strains. On the basis of polyphasic taxonomic analysis results, it is evident that each of these strains represents a novel species of Chryseobacterium, for which the names Chryseobacterium soldanellicola sp. nov. (type strain PSD1-4T=KCTC 12382T=NBRC 100864T) and Chryseobacterium taeanense sp. nov. (type strain PHA3-4T=KCTC 12381T=NBRC 100863T) are proposed.

Cyclobacterium amurskyense sp. nov., a novel marine bacterium isolated from sea water.

The taxonomic position of a novel marine, heterotrophic, aerobic, pigmented, non-motile bacterium isolated from sea water was determined. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis revealed that strain KMM 6143T is a member of the genus Cyclobacterium. The results of DNA-DNA hybridization experiments supported by phenotypic and chemotaxonomic data showed that the isolate represents a novel species of the genus Cyclobacterium, for which the name Cyclobacterium amurskyense sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is KMM 6143T (=KCTC 12363T=LMG 23026T).

Pontibacter actiniarum gen. nov., sp. nov., a novel member of the phylum 'Bacteroidetes', and proposal of Reichenbachiella gen. nov. as a replacement for the illegitimate prokaryotic generic name Reichenbachia Nedashkovskaya et al. 2003.

The taxonomic position of a marine, gliding, pink-pigmented, aerobic, heterotrophic and Gram-negative bacterium was established using a polyphasic approach. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis indicated that the strain was a member of the phylum 'Bacteroidetes' in which it occupied a separate lineage. The predominant cellular fatty acids were C15 : 0 iso, C17 : 0 iso 3-OH, summed feature 3 and summed feature 4. The DNA G+C content was 48.7 mol%. Phylogenetic evidence and the results of phenotypic, genotypic and chemotaxonomic analyses strongly support the assignment of the newly isolated bacterium as a member of a novel genus and species, for which the name Pontibacter actiniarum gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is KMM 6156T (=KCTC 12367T=LMG 23027T). It is also proposed that the illegitimate names Reichenbachia and Reichenbachia agariperforans are replaced with Reichenbachiella and Reichenbachiella agariperforans, respectively.

Neural differentiation of caudal cell mass (secondary neurulation) in chick embryos: Hamburger and Hamilton Stages 16-45.

In an attempt to understand the events in the secondary neurulation in embryonic stage, we investigated morphological changes in the tail bud of normal developing chick embryos. Hamburger and Hamilton stage 16-45 embryos were harvested and processed for light microscopic studies. The secondary neural tube is formed by aggregation of the caudal cell mass. Cells are arranged into a cord-like mass (medullary cord), which is continuous with the primary neural tube. Multiple small cavities develop in the medullary cord, and these cavities coalesce into one single lumen. The process of coalescence is completed by stage 35, and the whole neural tube is transformed into one tube with a single continuous lumen. At this stage, the terminal portion of the neural tube is bulged dorsally. Thereafter, the caudal portion of the neural tube regresses, and the proximal portion develops into normal spinal cord. Transient occlusion of the central canal was observed at stage 40 in one sample. The sequence of events elucidated in this study can be used as base-line data for experiments concerning congenital malformations involving secondary neurulation.